Abstract: Pretreatment is an essential step in the conversion of
lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugar that used for biobutanol
production. Among pretreatment processes, microwave is considered
to improve pretreatment efficiency due to its high heating efficiency,
easy operation, and easily to combine with chemical reaction. The
main objectives of this work are to investigate the feasibility of
microwave pretreatment to enhance enzymatic hydrolysis of
corncobs and to determine the optimal conditions using response
surface methodology. Corncobs were pretreated via two-stage
pretreatment in dilute sodium hydroxide (2 %) followed by dilute
sulfuric acid 1 %. Pretreated corncobs were subjected to enzymatic
hydrolysis to produce reducing sugar. Statistical experimental design
was used to optimize pretreatment parameters including temperature,
residence time and solid-to-liquid ratio to achieve the highest amount
of glucose. The results revealed that solid-to-liquid ratio and
temperature had a significant effect on the amount of glucose.
Abstract: Student-s movements have been going increasing in
last decades. International students can have different psychological
and sociological problems in their adaptation process. Depression is
one of the most important problems in this procedure. This research
purposed to reveal level of foreign students- depression, kinds of
interpersonal communication networks (host/ethnic interpersonal
communication) and media usage (host/ethnic media usage).
Additionally study aimed to display the relationship between
depression and communication (host/ethnic interpersonal
communication and host/ethnic media usage) among foreign
university students. A field research was performed among 283
foreign university students who have been attending 8 different
universities in Turkey. A purposeful sampling technique was used in
this research cause of data collect facilities. Results indicated that
58.3% of foreign students- depression stage was “intermediate" while
33.2% of foreign students- depression level was “low". Add to this,
host interpersonal communication behaviors and Turkish web sites
usages were negatively and significantly correlated with depression.
Abstract: Sedimentation in reservoirs lowers the quality of
consumed water, reduce the volume of reservoir, lowers the
controllable amount of flood, increases the risk of water overflow
during possible floods and the risk of reversal and reduction of dam's
useful life. So in all stages of dam establishment such as cognitive
studies, phase-1 studies of design, control, construction and
maintenance, the problem of sedimentation in reservoir should be
considered. What engineers need to do is examine and develop the
methods to keep effective capacity of a reservoir, however engineers
should also consider the influences of the methods on the flood
disaster, functions of water use facilities and environmental
issues.This article first examines the sedimentation in reservoirs and
shows how to control it and then discusses the studies about the
sedimens in Siazakh Dam.
Abstract: Lateral expansion is a factor defining the level of
confinement in reinforced concrete columns. Therefore, predicting
the lateral strain relationship with axial strain becomes an important
issue. Measuring lateral strains in experiments is difficult and only
few report experimental lateral strains. Among the existing analytical
formulations, two recent models are compared with available test
results in this paper with shortcomings highlighted. A new analytical
model is proposed here for lateral strain axial strain relationship and
is based on the supposition that the concrete behaves linear elastic in
the early stages of loading and then nonlinear hardening up to the
peak stress and then volumetric expansion. The proposal for the
lateral strain axial strain relationship after the peak stress is mainly
based on the hypothesis that the plastic lateral strain varies linearly
with the plastic axial strain and it is shown that this is related to the
lateral confinement level.
Abstract: As a vital activity for companies, new product
development (NPD) is also a very risky process due to the high
uncertainty degree encountered at every development stage and the
inevitable dependence on how previous steps are successfully
accomplished. Hence, there is an apparent need to evaluate new
product initiatives systematically and make accurate decisions under
uncertainty. Another major concern is the time pressure to launch a
significant number of new products to preserve and increase the
competitive power of the company. In this work, we propose an
integrated decision-making framework based on neural networks and
fuzzy logic to make appropriate decisions and accelerate the
evaluation process. We are especially interested in the two initial
stages where new product ideas are selected (go/no go decision) and
the implementation order of the corresponding projects are
determined. We show that this two-staged intelligent approach allows
practitioners to roughly and quickly separate good and bad product
ideas by making use of previous experiences, and then, analyze a
more shortened list rigorously.
Abstract: Pyritisation halos are identified in weathering crusts and unconsolidated formations at five locations within large fault structure of the Urals’ eastern slope. Electron microscopy reveals the presence of inclusions and growths on pyrite faces – normally on cubic pyrite with striations, or combinations of cubes and other forms. Following neogenesis types are established: native elements and intermetallic compounds (including gold and silver), halogenides, sulphides, sulfosalts, tellurides, sulphotellurides,
selenides, tungstates, sulphates, phosphates, carbon-based substances. Direct relationship is noted between amount and diversity of such mineral phases, and proximity to and scale of ore-grade mineralization. Gold and silver, both in native form and within tellurides, presence of lead (galena, native lead), native tungsten, and, possibly, molybdenite and sulfosalts can indicate gold-bearing formations. First find of native tungsten in the Urals is for the first time – in crystallised and druse-like form. Link is suggested between unusual mineralization and “reducing” hydrothermal fluids from deep-seated faults at later stages of Urals’ reactivation.
Abstract: The main objective of this paper is to provide an efficient tool for delineating brain tumors in three-dimensional magnetic resonance images. To achieve this goal, we use basically a level-sets approach to delineating three-dimensional brain tumors. Then we introduce a compression plan of 3D brain structures based for the meshes simplification, adapted for time to the specific needs of the telemedicine and to the capacities restricted by network communication. We present here the main stages of our system, and preliminary results which are very encouraging for clinical practice.
Abstract: One very interesting field of research in Pattern Recognition that has gained much attention in recent times is Gesture Recognition. In this paper, we consider a form of dynamic hand gestures that are characterized by total movement of the hand (arm) in space. For these types of gestures, the shape of the hand (palm) during gesturing does not bear any significance. In our work, we propose a model-based method for tracking hand motion in space, thereby estimating the hand motion trajectory. We employ the dynamic time warping (DTW) algorithm for time alignment and normalization of spatio-temporal variations that exist among samples belonging to the same gesture class. During training, one template trajectory and one prototype feature vector are generated for every gesture class. Features used in our work include some static and dynamic motion trajectory features. Recognition is accomplished in two stages. In the first stage, all unlikely gesture classes are eliminated by comparing the input gesture trajectory to all the template trajectories. In the next stage, feature vector extracted from the input gesture is compared to all the class prototype feature vectors using a distance classifier. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed trajectory estimator and classifier is suitable for Human Computer Interaction (HCI) platform.
Abstract: Waterlogging reduces shoot and root growth and final
yield of wheat. Waterlogged sites have a combination of low slope,
high rainfall, heavy texture and low permeability. This study was
aimed the importance of waterlogging on root growth and wheat
yield. In order to study the effects of different waterlogging duration
(0, 10, 20 and 30 days) at growth stages (1-leaf stage, tillering stage
and stem elongation stage) on root growth of wheat cultivars
(Chamran, Vee/Nac and Yavaroos), one pot experiment was carried
out. The experiment was a factorial according to a RCBD with three
replications. Results showed that root dry weight and total root
length in the anthesis and grain ripening stages and biological and
grain yields were significantly different between cultivars, growth
stages and waterlogging durations. Vee/Nac was found superior with
respect to other cultivars. Susceptibility to waterlogging at different
growth stages for cultivars was 1-leaf stage > tillering stage > stem
elongation stage. Under waterlogging treatments, grain and
biological yields, were decreased 44.5 and 39.8%, respectively. Root
length and root dry weight were reduced 55.1 and 45.2%,
respectively, too. In this experiment, decrease at root growth because
of waterlogging reduced grain and biological yields. Based on the
results, even short period (10 days) of waterlogging had
unrecoverable effects on the root growth and grain yield of wheat.
Abstract: An application framework provides a reusable
design and implementation for a family of software systems.
Frameworks are introduced to reduce the cost of a product line
(i.e., family of products that share the common features). Software
testing is a time consuming and costly ongoing activity during the
application software development process. Generating reusable test
cases for the framework applications at the framework
development stage, and providing and using the test cases to test
part of the framework application whenever the framework is used
reduces the application development time and cost considerably.
Framework Interface Classes (FICs) are classes introduced by
the framework hooks to be implemented at the application
development stage. They can have reusable test cases generated at
the framework development stage and provided with the
framework to test the implementations of the FICs at the
application development stage. In this paper, we conduct a case
study using thirteen applications developed using three
frameworks; one domain oriented and two application oriented.
The results show that, in general, the percentage of the number of
FICs in the applications developed using domain frameworks is, on
average, greater than the percentage of the number of FICs in the
applications developed using application frameworks.
Consequently, the reduction of the application unit testing time
using the reusable test cases generated for domain frameworks is,
in general, greater than the reduction of the application unit testing
time using the reusable test cases generated for application
frameworks.
Abstract: Liveable city is referred to as the quality of life in an
area that contributes towards a safe, healthy and enjoyable place. This
paper discusses the role of the streets- activities in making Kuala
Lumpur a liveable city and the happiness level of the residents
towards the city-s street activities. The study was conducted using the
residents of Kuala Lumpur. A mixed method technique is used with
the quantitative data as a main data and supported by the qualitative
data. Data were collected using questionnaires, observation and also
an interview session with a sample of residents of Kuala Lumpur.
The sampling technique is based on multistage cluster data sampling.
The findings revealed that, there is still no significant relationship
between the length of stay of the resident in Kuala Lumpur with the
happiness level towards the street activities that occurred in the city.
Abstract: Transnational corporations (TNCs) are playing a major role in global R&D, not only through activities in their home countries but also increasingly abroad. However, the process of R&D offshoring is not yet discussed thoroughly. Based on in-depth case study on Agilent China Communications Operation, this paper presents a stage model for theorizing the R&D offshoring process. This stage model outlines 5 maturity levels of organization and the offshoring process: Subsidiary team, Mirror team, Independent team, Mirror sector and the Independent sector (from software engineering point of view, it is similar to the local team's capability level of maturity model). Moreover, the paper gives a detailed discussion on the relevant characteristics, as well as the ability/responsibility of transfer, priorities and the corresponding organization structure. It also gives the characteristics and key points of different level-s R&D offshoring implementation using actual team practice.
Abstract: Nowadays due to globalization of economy and
competition environment, innovation and technology plays key role
at creation of wealth and economic growth of countries. In fact
prompt growth of practical and technologic knowledge may results in
social benefits for countries when changes into effective innovation.
Considering the importance of innovation for the development of
countries, this study addresses the radical technological innovation
introduced by nanopapers at different stages of producing paper
including stock preparation, using authorized additives, fillers and
pigments, using retention, calender, stages of producing conductive
paper, porous nanopaper and Layer by layer self-assembly. Research
results show that in coming years the jungle related products will lose
considerable portion of their market share, unless embracing radical
innovation. Although incremental innovations can make this industry
still competitive in mid-term, but to have economic growth and
competitive advantage in long term, radical innovations are
necessary. Radical innovations can lead to new products and
materials which their applications in packaging industry can produce
value added. However application of nanotechnology in this industry
can be costly, it can be done in cooperation with other industries to
make the maximum use of nanotechnology possible. Therefore this
technology can be used in all the production process resulting in the
mass production of simple and flexible papers with low cost and
special properties such as facility at shape, form, easy transportation,
light weight, recovery and recycle marketing abilities, and sealing.
Improving the resistance of the packaging materials without reducing
the performance of packaging materials enhances the quality and the
value added of packaging. Improving the cellulose at nano scale can
have considerable electron optical and magnetic effects leading to
improvement in packaging and value added. Comparing to the
specifications of thermoplastic products and ordinary papers,
nanopapers show much better performance in terms of effective
mechanical indexes such as the modulus of elasticity, tensile strength,
and strain-stress. In densities lower than 640 kgm -3, due to the
network structure of nanofibers and the balanced and randomized
distribution of NFC in flat space, these specifications will even
improve more. For nanopapers, strains are 1,4Gpa, 84Mpa and 17%,
13,3 Gpa, 214Mpa and 10% respectively. In layer by layer self
assembly method (LbL) the tensile strength of nanopaper with Tio3
particles and Sio2 and halloysite clay nanotube are 30,4 ±7.6Nm/g
and 13,6 ±0.8Nm/g and 14±0.3,3Nm/g respectively that fall within
acceptable range of similar samples with virgin fiber. The usage of
improved brightness and porosity index in nanopapers can create
more competitive advantages at packaging industry.
Abstract: This paper examines ethical and social issues which
have proved important when initiating and creating educational spaces within a virtual environment. It focuses on one project, identifying the key decisions made, the barriers to new practice
encountered and the impact these had on the project. It demonstrates
the importance of the 'backstage' ethical and social issues involved in
the creation of a virtual education community and offers conclusions,
and questions, which will inform future research and practice in this
area. These ethical issues are considered using Knobel-s framework
of front-end, in-process and back-end concerns, and include
establishing social practices for the islands, allocating access rights,
considering personal safety and supporting researchers appropriately
within this context.
Abstract: This paper focuses on a critical component of the situational awareness (SA), the control of autonomous vertical flight for tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (TUAV). With the SA strategy, we proposed a two stage flight control procedure using two autonomous control subsystems to address the dynamics variation and performance requirement difference in initial and final stages of flight trajectory for an unmanned helicopter model with coaxial rotor and ducted fan configuration. This control strategy for chosen model of TUAV has been verified by simulation of hovering maneuvers using software package Simulink and demonstrated good performance for fast stabilization of engines in hovering, consequently, fast SA with economy in energy can be asserted during search-and-rescue operations.
Abstract: The existing image coding standards generally degrades at low bit-rates because of the underlying block based Discrete Cosine Transform scheme. Over the past decade, the success of wavelets in solving many different problems has contributed to its unprecedented popularity. Due to implementation constraints scalar wavelets do not posses all the properties such as orthogonality, short support, linear phase symmetry, and a high order of approximation through vanishing moments simultaneously, which are very much essential for signal processing. New class of wavelets called 'Multiwavelets' which posses more than one scaling function overcomes this problem. This paper presents a new image coding scheme based on non linear approximation of multiwavelet coefficients along with multistage vector quantization. The performance of the proposed scheme is compared with the results obtained from scalar wavelets.
Abstract: Design for cost (DFC) is a method that reduces life
cycle cost (LCC) from the angle of designers. Multiple domain
features mapping (MDFM) methodology was given in DFC. Using
MDFM, we can use design features to estimate the LCC. From the
angle of DFC, the design features of family cars were obtained, such
as all dimensions, engine power and emission volume. At the
conceptual design stage, cars- LCC were estimated using back
propagation (BP) artificial neural networks (ANN) method and
case-based reasoning (CBR). Hamming space was used to measure the
similarity among cases in CBR method. Levenberg-Marquardt (LM)
algorithm and genetic algorithm (GA) were used in ANN. The
differences of LCC estimation model between CBR and artificial
neural networks (ANN) were provided. ANN and CBR separately
each method has its shortcomings. By combining ANN and CBR
improved results accuracy was obtained. Firstly, using ANN selected
some design features that affect LCC. Then using LCC estimation
results of ANN could raise the accuracy of LCC estimation in CBR
method. Thirdly, using ANN estimate LCC errors and correct errors in
CBR-s estimation results if the accuracy is not enough accurate.
Finally, economically family cars and sport utility vehicle (SUV) was
given as LCC estimation cases using this hybrid approach combining
ANN and CBR.
Abstract: Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) processes is an
important joining process widely used in metal fabrication
industries. This paper addresses modeling and optimization of this
technique using a set of experimental data and regression analysis.
The set of experimental data has been used to assess the influence
of GMAW process parameters in weld bead geometry. The
process variables considered here include voltage (V); wire feed
rate (F); torch Angle (A); welding speed (S) and nozzle-to-plate
distance (D). The process output characteristics include weld bead
height, width and penetration. The Taguchi method and regression
modeling are used in order to establish the relationships between
input and output parameters. The adequacy of the model is
evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique. In the
next stage, the proposed model is embedded into a Simulated
Annealing (SA) algorithm to optimize the GMAW process
parameters. The objective is to determine a suitable set of process
parameters that can produce desired bead geometry, considering
the ranges of the process parameters. Computational results prove
the effectiveness of the proposed model and optimization
procedure.
Abstract: This paper describes the development, modeling, and
testing of skyhook and MiniMax control strategies of semi-active
suspension. The control performances are investigated using
Matlab/Simulink [1], with a two-degree-of-freedom quarter car semiactive
suspension system model. The comparison and evaluation of
control result are made using software-in-the-loop simulation (SILS)
method. This paper also outlines the development of a hardware-inthe-
loop simulation (HILS) system. The simulation results show that
skyhook strategy can significantly reduce the resonant peak of body
and provide improvement in vehicle ride comfort. Otherwise,
MiniMax strategy can be employed to effectively improve drive
safety of vehicle by influencing wheel load. The two strategies can
be switched to control semi-active suspension system to fulfill
different requirement of vehicle in different stages.
Abstract: Article is devoted to the problem of Kazakhstan people national values in the conditions of the Republic of Kazakhstan independence. Formation of ethnos national values is viewed as the mandatory constituent of this process in contemporary conditions. The article shows the dynamics of forming socialspiritual basis of Kazakhstan people-s national values. It depicts peculiarities of interethnic relations in poly-ethnic and multiconfessional Kazakhstan. The study reviews in every detail various directions of the state social policy development in the sphere of national values. It is aimed to consolidation of the society to achieve the shared objective, i.e. building democratic and civilized state. The author discloses peculiarities of ethnos national values development using specific sources. It is underlined that renewal and modernization of Kazakhstan society represents new stage in the national value development, and its typical feature is integration process based on peoples- friendship, cultural principles of interethnic communication.