Abstract: The use of synthetic retardants in polymeric insulated
cables is not uncommon in the high voltage engineering to study
electrical treeing phenomenon. However few studies on organic
materials for the same investigation have been carried. .This paper
describes the study on the effects of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch
(OPEFB) microfiller on the tree initiation and propagation in silicone
rubber with different weight percentages (wt %) of filler to insulation
bulk material. The weight percentages used were 0 wt % and 1 wt %
respectively. It was found that the OPEFB retards the propagation of
the electrical treeing development. For tree inception study, the
addition of 1(wt %) OPEFB has increase the tree inception voltage of
silicone rubber. So, OPEFB is a potential retardant to the initiation
and growth of electrical treeing occurring in polymeric materials for
high voltage application. However more studies on the effects of
physical and electrical properties of OPEFB as a tree retardant
material are required.
Abstract: Circular knitting machine makes the fabric with more than two knitting tools. Variation of yarn tension between different knitting tools causes different loop length of stitches duration knitting process. In this research, a new intelligent method is applied to control loop length of stitches in various tools based on ideal shape of stitches and real angle of stitches direction while different loop length of stitches causes stitches deformation and deviation those of angle. To measure deviation of stitch direction against variation of tensions, image processing technique was applied to pictures of different fabrics with constant front light. After that, the rate of deformation is translated to needed compensation of loop length cam degree to cure stitches deformation. A fuzzy control algorithm was applied to loop length modification in knitting tools. The presented method was experienced for different knitted fabrics of various structures and yarns. The results show that presented method is useable for control of loop length variation between different knitting tools based on stitch deformation for various knitted fabrics with different fabric structures, densities and yarn types.
Abstract: The study entitled “The Construction of Interactive
Computer Multimedia Instruction on Basic Japanese Vocabulary"
was aimed: 1) To construct the interactive computer multimedia
instruction on Basic Japanese Vocabulary, 2) To find out
multimedia-s quality, 3) To examine the student-s satisfaction and 4)
To study the learning achievement in Basic Japanese vocabulary. The
sampling group used in this study was composed of 40 1st year
student in Educational Communications and Technology Department,
Faculty of Industrial Education and Technology, King Mongkut-s
University of Technology Thonburi, in the academic year 2553 B.E.
(2010). According to research results, we found that 1). The quality
assessment by 3 mass media experts was at 4.72 on average or at high
level. 2) In terms of contents, the evaluation by 3 experts was at 4.81
on average or at high level. 3) In terms of achievement, there was a
statistical significance between before and after the treatment at the
.05 level. 4) The satisfaction of students towards the interactive
computer multimedia Instruction on “Basic Japanese Vocabulary"
was 4.35 on average, or at high level.
Abstract: This paper presents a smart-card applet that is able to
verify X.509 certificates and to use the public key contained in the
certificate for verifying digital signatures that have been created
using the corresponding private key, e.g. for the purpose of authenticating
the certificate owner against the card. The approach has been
implemented as an operating prototype on Java cards.
Abstract: In this paper we present a novel error model for
packet loss and subsequent error description. The proposed model
simulates the error performance of wireless communication link. The
model is designed as two independent Markov chains, where the first
one is used for packet generation and the second one generates
correctly and incorrectly transmitted bits for received packets from
the first chain. The statistical analyses of real communication on the
wireless link are used for determination of model-s parameters. Using
the obtained parameters and the implementation of the generator, we
collected generated traffic. The obtained results generated by
proposed model are compared with the real data collection.
Abstract: This study was conducted to examine the effects of ketum extract on development of Chrysomya rufifacies and to analyze the presence of mitragynine in the larvae samples. 110 newly emerged first instar larvae of C. rufifacies were introduced on ketum extract-mixed cow liver at doses of 0, 20, 40 and 60g. Blowfly development rate was determined with 12 hour intervals and
mitragynine in larvae was extracted and quantitated. C. rufifacies in control group took about 192 hours to complete their development from first instar larvae to adult blowfly; meanwhile blowfly form from the highest dose of ketum was 264 hours. Mitragynine was detected in all groups of treatment, except for control. In conclusion, the presence of mitragynine in C. rufifacies is affected in delaying development rates of the blowfly for up to 62 hours or 3 days. Chemical analysis of mitragynine from larvae samples showed that this alkaloid present in all specimens analyzed.
Abstract: In the past, there were many bridge-s collapses due to
lack of bridge structural capacity information. Most of concrete
bridge health was relied on information from visual inspection, which
sometime was inadequate. This study was conducted in order to
investigate relationship between bridge structural condition and
bridge visual condition. This study was a part of a big project
conducted at Department of Highways of Thailand. In this study, 31
bridges including slab-type bridges, plank-girder bridges, prestressed
box-beam bridges, prestressed I-girder bridges and prestressed multibeam
bridges were selected for visual inspection and load test. It was
found a positive correlation between bridge appearance and bridge-s
load carrying capacity. However, statistical characteristic revealed
low correlation between them.
Abstract: Skin color can provide a useful and robust cue
for human-related image analysis, such as face detection,
pornographic image filtering, hand detection and tracking,
people retrieval in databases and Internet, etc. The major
problem of such kinds of skin color detection algorithms is
that it is time consuming and hence cannot be applied to a real
time system. To overcome this problem, we introduce a new
fast technique for skin detection which can be applied in a real
time system. In this technique, instead of testing each image
pixel to label it as skin or non-skin (as in classic techniques),
we skip a set of pixels. The reason of the skipping process is
the high probability that neighbors of the skin color pixels are
also skin pixels, especially in adult images and vise versa. The
proposed method can rapidly detect skin and non-skin color
pixels, which in turn dramatically reduce the CPU time
required for the protection process. Since many fast detection
techniques are based on image resizing, we apply our
proposed pixel skipping technique with image resizing to
obtain better results. The performance evaluation of the
proposed skipping and hybrid techniques in terms of the
measured CPU time is presented. Experimental results
demonstrate that the proposed methods achieve better result
than the relevant classic method.
Abstract: Although the field of parametric Pattern Recognition (PR) has been thoroughly studied for over five decades, the use of the Order Statistics (OS) of the distributions to achieve this has not been reported. The pioneering work on using OS for classification was presented in [1] for the Uniform distribution, where it was shown that optimal PR can be achieved in a counter-intuitive manner, diametrically opposed to the Bayesian paradigm, i.e., by comparing the testing sample to a few samples distant from the mean. This must be contrasted with the Bayesian paradigm in which, if we are allowed to compare the testing sample with only a single point in the feature space from each class, the optimal strategy would be to achieve this based on the (Mahalanobis) distance from the corresponding central points, for example, the means. In [2], we showed that the results could be extended for a few symmetric distributions within the exponential family. In this paper, we attempt to extend these results significantly by considering asymmetric distributions within the exponential family, for some of which even the closed form expressions of the cumulative distribution functions are not available. These distributions include the Rayleigh, Gamma and certain Beta distributions. As in [1] and [2], the new scheme, referred to as Classification by Moments of Order Statistics (CMOS), attains an accuracy very close to the optimal Bayes’ bound, as has been shown both theoretically and by rigorous experimental testing.
Abstract: The present study was carried out to evaluate the
nutritional value of sorghum flour during processing of injera
(unleavened thick bread). The proximate composition of sorghum
flour before and after fermentation and that of injera was determined.
Compared to the raw flour and fermented one, injera had low protein
(11.55%), ash (1.57%) and fat (2.40%) contents but high in fiber
content. Moreover, injera was found to have significantly (P ≤ 0.05)
higher energy (389.08 Kcal/100g) compared to raw and fermented
sorghum flour. Injera contained lower levels of anti-nutritional
factors (polyphenols, phytate and tannins) compared to raw and
fermented sorghum. Also it was found to be rich in Ca
(4.75mg/100g), Fe (3.95 mg/100g), and Cu (0.7 mg/100g) compared
to that of raw and fermented flour. Moreover, both the extractable
minerals and protein digestibility were high for injera due to low
amount of anti-nutrients. Injera was found to contain an appreciable
amount of amino acids except arginine and tyrosine.
Abstract: The effect of cross linking of the protein isolates of
three legumes with the microbial enzyme transglutaminase (EC
2.3.2.13) on the functional properties at different NaCl concentration
was studied. The reduction in the total free amino groups (OD340) of
the polymerized protein showed that TGase treatment cross-linking
the protein subunit of each legume. The solubility of the protein
polymer of each legume was greatly improved at high concentration
of NaCl. At 1.2 M NaCl the solubility of the native legumes protein
was significantly decreased but after polymerization slightly
improved. Cross linked proteins were less turbid on heating to higher
temperature as compared to native proteins and the temperature at
which the protein turns turbid also increased in the polymerized
proteins. The emulsifying and foaming properties of the protein
polymer were greatly improved at all concentrations of NaCl for all
legumes.
Abstract: Several researchers have proposed methods about
combination of Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Fuzzy Logic (the use of
GA to obtain fuzzy rules and application of fuzzy logic in
optimization of GA). In this paper, we suggest a new method in
which fuzzy decision making is used to improve the performance of
genetic algorithm. In the suggested method, we determine the alleles
that enhance the fitness of chromosomes and try to insert them to the
next generation.
In this algorithm we try to present an innovative vaccination in the
process of reproduction in genetic algorithm, with considering the
trade off between exploration and exploitation.
Abstract: Business Process Management (BPM) helps in optimizing the business processes inside an enterprise. But BPM architecture does not provide any help for extending the enterprise. Modern business environments and rapidly changing technologies are asking for brisk changes in the business processes. Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) can help in enabling the success of enterprise-wide BPM. SOA supports agility in software development that is directly related to achieve loose coupling of interacting software agents. Agility is a premium concern of the current software designing architectures. Together, BPM and SOA provide a perfect combination for enterprise computing. SOA provides the capabilities for services to be combined together and to support and create an agile, flexible enterprise. But there are still many questions to answer; BPM is better or SOA? and what is the future track of BPM and SOA? This paper tries to answer some of these important questions.
Abstract: This paper presents a novel three-phase utility
frequency to high frequency soft switching power conversion circuit
with dual mode pulse width modulation and pulse density modulation
for high power induction heating applications as melting of steel and
non ferrous metals, annealing of metals, surface hardening of steel
and cast iron work pieces and hot water producers, steamers and
super heated steamers. This high frequency power conversion circuit
can operate from three-phase systems to produce high current for
high power induction heating applications under the principles of
ZVS and it can regulate its ac output power from the rated value to a
low power level. A dual mode modulation control scheme based on
high frequency PWM in synchronization with the utility frequency
positive and negative half cycles for the proposed high frequency
conversion circuit and utility frequency pulse density modulation is
produced to extend its soft switching operating range for wide ac
output power regulation. A dual packs heat exchanger assembly is
designed to be used in consumer and industrial fluid pipeline systems
and it is proved to be suitable for the hot water, steam and super
heated steam producers. Experiment and simulation results are given
in this paper to verify the operation principles of the proposed ac
conversion circuit and to evaluate its power regulation and
conversion efficiency. Also, the paper presents a mutual coupling
model of the induction heating load instead of equivalent transformer
circuit model.
Abstract: Quality of school meals is one of the major concerns of governments and international organizations worldwide. This study aims to evaluate nutritional compliance of meals served at a Portuguese primary school considering the portions stated by Portuguese Education Ministry. To evaluate adequacy of portions served, weighing of all meal components offered to students and leftovers was performed during ten consecutive days at two different moments. Plate waste (%) was calculated by the ratio of food discarded and food served to the children. Nutritional evaluation of menus was made using the Portuguese Food Composition Table. Meals evaluated showed a percent contribution to energetic daily intake higher than recommendations. Meals served to children were considered high energy and protein dense. No significant waste of soup was accounted and the main meal components wasted were fish and vegetables. It will be necessary to adjust portions indicated by Ministry of Education in order to comply with recommendations and reduce food waste.
Abstract: Due to adverse pressure gradient along the diverging
walls of wide-angled diffusers, the attached flow separates from
one wall and remains attached permanently to the other wall in a
process called stalling. Stalled diffusers render the whole fluid flow
system, in which they are part of, very inefficient. There is then an
engineering need to try to understand the whole process of diffuser
stall if any meaningful attempts to improve on diffuser efficiency
are to be made. In this regard, this paper provides a data bank
contribution for the mean flow-field in wide-angled diffusers where
the complete velocity and static pressure fields, and pressure recovery
data for diffusers in the fully stalled flow regime are experimentally
measured. The measurements were carried out at Reynolds numbers
between 1.07×105 and 2.14×105 based on inlet hydraulic diameter
and centreline velocity for diffusers whose divergence angles were
between 30Ôùª and 50Ôùª. Variation of Reynolds number did not significantly
affect the velocity and static pressure profiles. The wall static
pressure recovery was found to be more sensitive to changes in the
Reynolds number. By increasing the velocity from 10 m/s to 20 m/s,
the wall static pressure recovery increased by 8.31%. However, as the
divergence angle was increased, a similar increase in the Reynolds
number resulted in a higher percentage increase in pressure recovery.
Experimental results showed that regardless of the wall to which
the flow was attached, both the velocity and pressure fields were
replicated with discrepancies below 2%.
Abstract: Most HWRs currently use natural uranium fuel. Using enriched uranium fuel results in a significant improvement in fuel cycle costs and uranium utilization. On the other hand, reactivity changes of HWRs over the full range of operating conditions from cold shutdown to full power are small. This reduces the required reactivity worth of control devices and minimizes local flux distribution perturbations, minimizing potential problems due to transient local overheating of fuel. Analyzing heavy water effectiveness on neutronic parameters such as enrichment requirements, peaking factor and reactivity is important and should pay attention as primary concepts of a HWR core designing. Two nuclear nuclear reactors of CANDU-type and hexagonal-type reactor cores of 33 fuel assemblies and 19 assemblies in 1.04 P/D have been respectively simulated using MCNP-4C code. Using heavy water and light water as moderator have been compared for achieving less reactivity insertion and enrichment requirements. Two fuel matrixes of (232Th/235U)O2 and (238/235U)O2 have been compared to achieve more economical and safe design. Heavy water not only decreased enrichment needs, but it concluded in negative reactivity insertions during moderator density variations. Thorium oxide fuel assemblies of 2.3% enrichment loaded into the core of heavy water moderator resulted in 0.751 fission to absorption ratio and peaking factor of 1.7 using. Heavy water not only provides negative reactivity insertion during temperature raises which changes moderator density but concluded in 2 to 10 kg reduction of enrichment requirements, depend on geometry type.
Abstract: In many ways, biomedical analysis is analogous to possibilistic reasoning. In spite of that, there are hardly any applications of possibility theory in biology or medicine. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the use of possibility theory in an epidemiological study. In the paper, we build the possibility distribution for the controlled bloodstream concentrations of any physiologically active substance through few approximate considerations. This possibility distribution is tested later against the empirical histograms obtained from the panel study of the eight different physiologically active substances in 417 individuals.
Abstract: A Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT) Processor is
capable of executing instructions from multiple threads in the same
cycle. SMT in fact was introduced as a powerful architecture to
superscalar to increase the throughput of the processor.
Simultaneous Multithreading is a technique that permits multiple
instructions from multiple independent applications or threads to
compete limited resources each cycle. While the fetch unit has been
identified as one of the major bottlenecks of SMT architecture, several
fetch schemes were proposed by prior works to enhance the fetching
efficiency and overall performance.
In this paper, we propose a novel fetch policy called queue situation
identifier (QSI) which counts some kind of long latency instructions of
each thread each cycle then properly selects which threads to fetch
next cycle. Simulation results show that in best case our fetch policy
can achieve 30% on speedup and also can reduce the data cache level 1
miss rate.
Abstract: Acute toxicity of nano SiO2, ZnO, MCM-41 (Meso
pore silica), Cu, Multi Wall Carbon Nano Tube (MWCNT), Single
Wall Carbon Nano Tube (SWCNT) , Fe (Coated) to bacteria Vibrio
fischeri using a homemade luminometer , was evaluated. The values
of the nominal effective concentrations (EC), causing 20% and 50%
inhibition of biouminescence, using two mathematical models at two
times of 5 and 30 minutes were calculated. Luminometer was
designed with Photomultiplier (PMT) detector. Luminol
chemiluminescence reaction was carried out for the calibration graph.
In the linear calibration range, the correlation coefficients and
coefficient of Variation (CV) were 0.988 and 3.21% respectively
which demonstrate the accuracy and reproducibility of the instrument
that are suitable. The important part of this research depends on how
to optimize the best condition for maximum bioluminescence. The
culture of Vibrio fischeri with optimal conditions in liquid media,
were stirring at 120 rpm at a temperature of 150C to 180C and were
incubated for 24 to 72 hours while solid medium was held at 180C
and for 48 hours. Suspension of nanoparticles ZnO, after 30 min
contact time to bacteria Vibrio fischeri, showed the highest toxicity
while SiO2 nanoparticles showed the lowest toxicity. After 5 min
exposure time, the toxicity of ZnO was the strongest and MCM-41
was the weakest toxicant component.