Abstract: The feature extraction method(s) used to recognize
hand-printed characters play an important role in ICR applications.
In order to achieve high recognition rate for a recognition system, the
choice of a feature that suits for the given script is certainly an
important task. Even if a new feature required to be designed for a
given script, it is essential to know the recognition ability of the
existing features for that script. Devanagari script is being used in
various Indian languages besides Hindi the mother tongue of majority
of Indians. This research examines a variety of feature extraction
approaches, which have been used in various ICR/OCR applications,
in context to Devanagari hand-printed script. The study is conducted
theoretically and experimentally on more that 10 feature extraction
methods. The various feature extraction methods have been evaluated
on Devanagari hand-printed database comprising more than 25000
characters belonging to 43 alphabets. The recognition ability of the
features have been evaluated using three classifiers i.e. k-NN, MLP
and SVM.
Abstract: During the last couple of years, the degree of dependence on IT systems has reached a dimension nobody imagined to be possible 10 years ago. The increased usage of mobile devices (e.g., smart phones), wireless sensor networks and embedded devices (Internet of Things) are only some examples of the dependency of modern societies on cyber space. At the same time, the complexity of IT applications, e.g., because of the increasing use of cloud computing, is rising continuously. Along with this, the threats to IT security have increased both quantitatively and qualitatively, as recent examples like STUXNET or the supposed cyber attack on Illinois water system are proofing impressively. Once isolated control systems are nowadays often publicly available - a fact that has never been intended by the developers. Threats to IT systems don’t care about areas of responsibility. Especially with regard to Cyber Warfare, IT threats are no longer limited to company or industry boundaries, administrative jurisdictions or state boundaries. One of the important countermeasures is increased cooperation among the participants especially in the field of Cyber Defence. Besides political and legal challenges, there are technical ones as well. A better, at least partially automated exchange of information is essential to (i) enable sophisticated situational awareness and to (ii) counter the attacker in a coordinated way. Therefore, this publication performs an evaluation of state of the art Intrusion Detection Message Exchange protocols in order to guarantee a secure information exchange between different entities.
Abstract: Achievement motivation is believed to promote
giftedness attracting people to invest in many programs to adopt
gifted students providing them with challenging activities.
Intellectual giftedness is founded on the fluid intelligence and
extends to more specific abilities through the growth and inputs from
the achievement motivation. Acknowledging the roles played by the
motivation in the development of giftedness leads to an effective
nurturing of gifted individuals. However, no study has investigated
the direct and indirect effects of the achievement motivation and
fluid intelligence on intellectual giftedness. Thus, this study
investigated the contribution of motivation factors to giftedness
development by conducting tests of fluid intelligence using Cattell
Culture Fair Test (CCFT) and analytical abilities using culture
reduced test items covering problem solving, pattern recognition,
audio-logic, audio-matrices, and artificial language, and self report
questionnaire for the motivational factors. A number of 180 highscoring
students were selected using CCFT from a leading university
in Malaysia. Structural equation modeling was employed using Amos
V.16 to determine the direct and indirect effects of achievement
motivation factors (self confidence, success, perseverance,
competition, autonomy, responsibility, ambition, and locus of
control) on the intellectual giftedness. The findings showed that the
hypothesized model fitted the data, supporting the model postulates
and showed significant and strong direct and indirect effects of the
motivation and fluid intelligence on the intellectual giftedness.
Abstract: Inter-organizational Workflow (IOW) is commonly
used to support the collaboration between heterogeneous and
distributed business processes of different autonomous organizations
in order to achieve a common goal. E-government is considered as an
application field of IOW. The coordination of the different
organizations is the fundamental problem in IOW and remains the
major cause of failure in e-government projects. In this paper, we
introduce a new coordination model for IOW that improves the
collaboration between government administrations and that respects
IOW requirements applied to e-government. For this purpose, we
adopt a Multi-Agent approach, which deals more easily with interorganizational
digital government characteristics: distribution,
heterogeneity and autonomy. Our model integrates also different
technologies to deal with the semantic and technologic
interoperability. Moreover, it conserves the existing systems of
government administrations by offering a distributed coordination
based on interfaces communication. This is especially applied in
developing countries, where administrations are not necessary
equipped with workflow systems. The use of our coordination
techniques allows an easier migration for an e-government solution
and with a lower cost. To illustrate the applicability of the proposed
model, we present a case study of an identity card creation in Tunisia.
Abstract: A new low-voltage floating gate MOSFET (FGMOS)
based squarer using square law characteristic of the FGMOS is
proposed in this paper. The major advantages of the squarer are simplicity,
rail-to-rail input dynamic range, low total harmonic distortion,
and low power consumption. The proposed circuit is biased without
body effect. The circuit is designed and simulated using SPICE in
0.25μm CMOS technology. The squarer is operated at the supply
voltages of ±0.75V . The total harmonic distortion (THD) for the
input signal 0.75Vpp at 25 KHz, and maximum power consumption
were found to be less than 1% and 319μW respectively.
Abstract: The recent global financial problem urges government
to play role in stimulating the economy due to the fact that private
sector has little ability to purchase during the recession. A concerned
question is whether the increased government spending crowds out
private consumption and whether it helps stimulate the economy. If
the government spending policy is effective; the private consumption
is expected to increase and can compensate the recent extra
government expense. In this study, the government spending is
categorized into government consumption spending and government
capital spending. The study firstly examines consumer consumption
along the line with the demand function in microeconomic theory.
Three categories of private consumption are used in the study. Those
are food consumption, non food consumption, and services
consumption. The dynamic Almost Ideal Demand System of the three
categories of the private consumption is estimated using the Vector
Error Correction Mechanism model. The estimated model indicates
the substituting effects (negative impacts) of the government
consumption spending on budget shares of private non food
consumption and of the government capital spending on budget share
of private food consumption, respectively. Nevertheless the result
does not necessarily indicate whether the negative effects of changes
in the budget shares of the non food and the food consumption means
fallen total private consumption. Microeconomic consumer demand
analysis clearly indicates changes in component structure of
aggregate expenditure in the economy as a result of the government
spending policy. The macroeconomic concept of aggregate demand
comprising consumption, investment, government spending (the
government consumption spending and the government capital
spending), export, and import are used to estimate for their
relationship using the Vector Error Correction Mechanism model.
The macroeconomic study found no effect of the government capital
spending on either the private consumption or the growth of GDP
while the government consumption spending has negative effect on
the growth of GDP. Therefore no crowding out effect of the
government spending is found on the private consumption but it is
ineffective and even inefficient expenditure as found reducing growth
of the GDP in the context of Thailand.
Abstract: The UML modeling of complex distributed systems often is a great challenge due to the large amount of parallel real-time operating components. In this paper the problems of verification of such systems are discussed. ECPN, an Extended Colored Petri Net is defined to formally describe state transitions of components and interactions among components. The relationship between sequence diagrams and Free Choice Petri Nets is investigated. Free Choice Petri Net theory helps verifying the liveness of sequence diagrams. By converting sequence diagrams to ECPNs and then comparing behaviors of sequence diagram ECPNs and statecharts, the consistency among models is analyzed. Finally, a verification process for an example model is demonstrated.
Abstract: Large scale systems such as computational Grid is
a distributed computing infrastructure that can provide globally
available network resources. The evolution of information processing
systems in Data Grid is characterized by a strong decentralization of
data in several fields whose objective is to ensure the availability and
the reliability of the data in the reason to provide a fault tolerance
and scalability, which cannot be possible only with the use of the
techniques of replication. Unfortunately the use of these techniques
has a height cost, because it is necessary to maintain consistency
between the distributed data. Nevertheless, to agree to live with
certain imperfections can improve the performance of the system by
improving competition. In this paper, we propose a multi-layer protocol
combining the pessimistic and optimistic approaches conceived
for the data consistency maintenance in large scale systems. Our
approach is based on a hierarchical representation model with tree
layers, whose objective is with double vocation, because it initially
makes it possible to reduce response times compared to completely
pessimistic approach and it the second time to improve the quality
of service compared to an optimistic approach.
Abstract: In this paper, we analyzed the pattern of urban spatial structure of Siheung City that had been divided into two parts and presented alternative plans in order to get rid of these phenomena. Concerning patterns of urban spatial structure, we examined it through means of analyzing status of land use, population density and distribution of residence, status of distribution of main facilities, medical facilities, status of distribution of cultural facilities, distribution of land prices and traffic volume trends. The results of study revealed that status of facilities distribution and distribution of land prices, etc. were bisected by the surrounding area of former municipal office and the district of Sihwa, which were both regarded as one apex of the city divide, forming a duo-centric city. In order to get rid of this problem concerned with urban spatial structure that has been bisected, it is required that measures in order to expand facilities in Siheung City should be taken.
Abstract: Future space vehicles will require the use of non-toxic, cryogenic propellants, because of the performance advantages over the toxic hypergolic propellants and also because of the environmental and handling concerns. A prototypical capillary flow liquid acquisition device (LAD) for cryogenic propellants was fabricated with a mesh screen, covering a rectangular flow channel with a cylindrical outlet tube, and was tested with liquid oxygen (LOX). In order to better understand the performance in various gravity environments and orientations with different submersion depths of the LAD, a series of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of LOX flow through the LAD screen channel, including horizontally and vertically submersions of the LAD channel assembly at normal gravity environment was conducted. Gravity effects on the flow field in LAD channel are inspected and analyzed through comparing the simulations.
Abstract: NFκB is a transcription factor regulating many
function of the vessel wall. In the normal condition , NFκB is
revealed diffuse cytoplasmic expressionsuggesting that the system is
inactive. The presence of activation NFκB provide a potential
pathway for the rapid transcriptional of a variety of genes encoding
cytokines, growth factors, adhesion molecules and procoagulatory
factors. It is likely to play an important role in chronic inflamatory
disease involved atherosclerosis. There are many stimuli with the
potential to active NFκB, including hyperlipidemia. We used 24 mice
which was divided in 6 groups. The HFD given by et libitum
procedure during 2, 4, and 6 months. The parameters in this study
were the amount of NFKB activation ,H2O2 as ROS and VCAM-1 as
a product of NFKB activation. H2O2 colorimetryc assay performed
directly using Anti Rat H2O2 ELISA Kit. The NFKB and VCAM-1
detection obtained from aorta mice, measured by ELISA kit and
imunohistochemistry. There was a significant difference activation of
H2O2, NFKB and VCAM-1 level at induce HFD after 2, 4 and 6
months. It suggest that HFD induce ROS formation and increase the
activation of NFKB as one of atherosclerosis marker that caused by
hyperlipidemia as classical atheroschlerosis risk factor.
Abstract: Not with standing the importance of foreign highly
skilled professionals for host economies, there is a paucity of
research studies investigating the role of the corporate social context
during the integration process. This research aims to address this
paucity by exploring the role of social capital in the integration of
foreign health professionals. It does so by using a qualitative research
approach. In this pilot study the hospital sector forms this study-s
sample and interviews were conducted with HR managers, foreign
health professionals and external HR consultants. It was found that
most of the participating hospitals had not established specific HR
practices and had only partly linked the development of
organisational social capital with a successful integration process.
This research contributes, for example, to the HR literature on the
integration of self-initiated expatriates by analysing the role of HRM
in generating organisational social capital needed for a successful
integration process.
Abstract: The aim of the research is to understand whether the accuracy of customer detection of employee emotional labor strategy would influence the overall service satisfaction. From path analysis, it was found that employee-s positive emotions positively influenced service quality. Service quality in turn influenced Customer detection of employee emotional deep action strategy and Customer detection of employee emotional surface action strategy. Lastly, Customer detection of employee emotional deep action strategy and Customer detection of employee emotional surface action strategy positively influenced service satisfaction. Based on the analysis results, suggestions are proposed to provide reference for human resource management and use in relative fields.
Abstract: Road signs are the elements of roads with a lot of
influence in driver-s behavior. So that signals can fulfill its function,
they must overcome visibility and durability requirements,
particularly needed at night, when the coefficient of retroreflection
becomes a decisive factor in ensuring road safety. Accepting that the
visibility of the signage has implications for people-s safety, we
understand the importance to fulfill its function: to foster the highest
standards of service and safety in drivers. The usual conditions of
perception of any sign are determined by: age of the driver, reflective
material, luminosity, vehicle speed and emplacement. In this way,
this paper evaluates the different signals to increase the safety road.
Abstract: As seen in literature, about 70% of the improvement initiatives fail, and a significant number do not even get started. This paper analyses the problem of failing initiatives on Software Process Improvement (SPI), and proposes good practices supported by motivational tools that can help minimizing failures. It elaborates on the hypothesis that human factors are poorly addressed by deployers, especially because implementation guides usually emphasize only technical factors. This research was conducted with SPI deployers and analyses 32 SPI initiatives. The results indicate that although human factors are not commonly highlighted in guidelines, the successful initiatives usually address human factors implicitly. This research shows that practices based on human factors indeed perform a crucial role on successful implantations of SPI, proposes change management as a theoretical framework to introduce those practices in the SPI context and suggests some motivational tools based on SPI deployers experience to support it.
Abstract: In over deployed sensor networks, one approach
to Conserve energy is to keep only a small subset of sensors
active at Any instant. For the coverage problems, the monitoring
area in a set of points that require sensing, called demand points, and
consider that the node coverage area is a circle of range R, where R
is the sensing range, If the Distance between a demand point and
a sensor node is less than R, the node is able to cover this point. We
consider a wireless sensor network consisting of a set of sensors
deployed randomly. A point in the monitored area is covered if it is
within the sensing range of a sensor. In some applications, when the
network is sufficiently dense, area coverage can be approximated by
guaranteeing point coverage. In this case, all the points of wireless
devices could be used to represent the whole area, and the working
sensors are supposed to cover all the sensors. We also introduce
Hybrid Algorithm and challenges related to coverage in sensor
networks.
Abstract: This paper fist examines three set of bivariate cointegrations between any two of current accounts, stock markets, and currency exchange markets in ten Asian countries. Furthermore, we examined the effect of country characters on this bivariate cointegration. Our findings suggest that for three sets of cointegration test, each sample country at least exists one cointegration. India consistently exhibited a bi-directional causal relationship between any two of three indicators. Unlike Pan et al. (2007) and Phylaktis and Ravazzolo (2005), we found that such cointegration is influenced by three characteristics: capital control; flexibility in foreign exchange rates; and the ratio of trade to GDP. These characteristics are the result of liberalization in each Asian country. This implies that liberalization policies are effective on improving the cointegration between any two of financial markets and current account for ten Asian countries.
Abstract: Although the World Wide Web is considered the
largest source of information there exists nowadays, due to its
inherent dynamic characteristics, the task of finding useful and
qualified information can become a very frustrating experience. This
study presents a research on the information mining systems in the
Web; and proposes an implementation of these systems by means of
components that can be built using the technology of Web services.
This implies that they can encompass features offered by a services
oriented architecture (SOA) and specific components may be used by
other tools, independent of platforms or programming languages.
Hence, the main objective of this work is to provide an architecture
to Web mining systems, divided into stages, where each step is a
component that will incorporate the characteristics of SOA. The
separation of these steps was designed based upon the existing
literature. Interesting results were obtained and are shown here.
Abstract: For the efficient and safe use of the cable-stayed
bridge, a design based on the detailed local analysis of the cable anchor
system is required. Also, a theoretical design process for the anchor
system should be prepared and reviewed. Generally, the size of the
fixing pipe in the anchor system is decided according to the
specifications prepared by cable-manufacturing companies, and
accordingly, there is difficulty determining the initial inner diameters
of the fixing pipes. As such, there is no choice but to use the products
with the existing sizes. In this study, the existing design process of the
fixing pipe, is a type of guide pipe anchor in the cable anchor system,
is reviewed, a formula determining the thickness of the fixing pipe is
proposed, and the convenience and validity of the suggested equation
is compared with the results of the existing designs to verify its
convenience and validity.
Abstract: Traffic Density provides an indication of the level of
service being provided to the road users. Hence, there is a need to
study the traffic flow characteristics with specific reference to
density in detail. When the length and speed of the vehicles in a
traffic stream vary significantly, the concept of occupancy, rather
than density, is more appropriate to describe traffic concentration.
When the concept of occupancy is applied to heterogeneous traffic
condition, it is necessary to consider the area of the road space and
the area of the vehicles as the bases. Hence, a new concept named,
'area-occupancy' is proposed here. It has been found that the
estimated area-occupancy gives consistent values irrespective of
change in traffic composition.