Abstract: Cyberspace has become a more viable arena for
budding artists to share musical acts through digital forms. The
increasing relevance of online communities has attracted scholars
from various fields demonstrating its influence on social capital. This
paper extends this understanding of social capital among Filipino
music artists belonging to the SoundCloud Philippines Facebook
Group.
The study makes use of various qualitative data obtained from
key-informant interviews and participant observation of online and
physical encounters, analyzed using the case study approach.
Soundcloud Philippines has over seven-hundred members and is
composed of Filipino singers, instrumentalists, composers, arrangers,
producers, multimedia artists and event managers. Group interactions
are a mix of online encounters based on Facebook and SoundCloud
and physical encounters through meet-ups and events. Benefits
reaped from the community are informational, technical,
instrumental, promotional, motivational and social support. Under the
guidance of online group administrators, collaborative activities such
as music productions, concerts and events transpire. Most conflicts
and problems arising are resolved peacefully. Social capital in
SoundCloud Philippines is mobilized through recognition, respect
and reciprocity.
Abstract: This paper presents Carrier Sense Multiple Access
(CSMA) communication models based on SoC design methodology.
Such a model can be used to support the modeling of the complex
wireless communication systems. Therefore, the use of such
communication model is an important technique in the construction
of high-performance communication. SystemC has been chosen
because it provides a homogeneous design flow for complex designs
(i.e. SoC and IP-based design). We use a swarm system to validate
CSMA designed model and to show how advantages of incorporating
communication early in the design process. The wireless
communication created through the modeling of CSMA protocol that
can be used to achieve communication between all the agents and to
coordinate access to the shared medium (channel).
Abstract: Interstitial free steels possess better formability and
have many applications in automotive industries. Forming limit
diagrams (FLDs) indicate the formability of materials which can be
determined by experimental and finite element (FE) simulations.
FLDs were determined experimentally by LDH test, utilizing optical
strain measurement system for measuring the strains in different
width specimens and by FE simulations in Interstitial Free (IF) and
Interstitial Free High Strength (IFHS) steels. In this study, the
experimental and FE simulated FLDs are compared and also the
stress based FLDs were investigated.
Abstract: Today architecture has become as a powerful media
for introducing cultures to the world, which in turn brings about a
change in the global insight, power gaining, investment, and
development. Islamic architecture is based on the language of Koran
and shows the depth and richness of Islam through the spiritual soul.
This is in a way that belief in monotheism and faith in Islamic
teachings are manifested as Islam's aesthetic thought in Islamic
architecture. Unfortunately, Islamic architecture has been damaged a
lot due to the lack of the necessary information, and also successive
wars that have overtaken the Moslems as well as the dominance of
colonizing counties.
Islamic architecture is rooted in the history, culture and
civilization of Moslems, but its deficiencies and shortcomings should
be removed through systematizing the Islamic architecture
researchers. Islamic countries should act in a way that the art of
Islamic architecture shows its true place in different architecture eras
and makes everybody aware that Islamic architecture has a historical
root and is connected eternally to the genuineness, religious art, and
Moslems' culture and civilization.
Abstract: The Chair of Thermal Engineering at Poznan
University of Technology has been conducted research works on the
possibilities of using carbon nanostructures in energy and mechanics
applications for a couple of years. Those studies have provided results in a form of co-operation with foreign research centres, numerous publications and patent
applications.
Authors of this paper have studied the influence of multi-walled
carbon nanostructures on changes in static friction arising when steel
surfaces were moved. Tests were made using the original test stand
consisting of automatically controlled inclined plane driven by
precise stepper motors. Computer program created in the LabView
environment was responsible for monitoring of the stand operation,
accuracy of measurements and archiving the obtained results. Such a
solution enabled to obtain high accuracy and repeatability of all
conducted experiments.
Tests and analysis of the obtained results allowed us to determine
how additional layers of carbon nanostructures influenced on changes
of static friction coefficients. At the same time, we analyzed the
potential possibilities of applying nanostructures under consideration
in mechanics.
Abstract: One of the functions of the commercial heavy vehicle
is to safely and efficiently transport goods and people. Due to its size
and carrying capacity, it is important to study the vehicle dynamic
stability during cornering. Study has shown that there are a number of
overloaded heavy vehicles or permissible Gross Vehicle Weight
(GVW) violations recorded at selected areas in Malaysia assigned by
its type and category. Thus, the objective of this study is to
investigate the correlation and effect of the GVW on heavy vehicle
stability during cornering event using simulation. Various selected
heavy vehicle types and category are simulated using IPG/Truck
Maker® with different GVW and road condition (coefficient of
friction of road surface), while the speed, driver characteristic, center
of gravity of load and road geometry are constant. Based on the
analysis, the relationship between GVW and lateral acceleration were
established. As expected, on the same value of coefficient of friction,
the maximum lateral acceleration would be increased as the GVW
increases.
Abstract: Remote arid areas of the vast expanses of the African
deserts hold huge subterranean reserves of brackish water resources
waiting for economic development. This work presents design
guidelines as well as initial performance data of new autonomous
solar desalination equipment which could help local communities
produce their own fresh water using solar energy only and, why not,
contribute to transforming desert lands into lush gardens. The output
of solar distillation equipments are typically low and in the range of 3
l/m2/day on the average. This new design with an integrated, water
based, environmentally-friendly solar heat storage system produced 5
l/m2/day in early spring weather. Equipment output during summer
exceeded 9 liters per m2 per day.
Abstract: This paper presents the ‘Eye Ball Motion Controlled
Wheelchair using IR Sensors’ for the elderly and differently abled
people. In this eye tracking based technology, three Proximity
Infrared (IR) sensor modules are mounted on an eye frame to trace
the movement of the iris. Since, IR sensors detect only white objects;
a unique sequence of digital bits is generated corresponding to each
eye movement. These signals are then processed via a micro
controller IC (PIC18F452) to control the motors of the wheelchair.
The potential and efficiency of previously developed rehabilitation
systems that use head motion, chin control, sip-n-puff control, voice
recognition, and EEG signals variedly have also been explored in
detail. They were found to be inconvenient as they served either
limited usability or non-affordability. After multiple regression
analyses, the proposed design was developed as a cost-effective,
flexible and stream-lined alternative for people who have trouble
adopting conventional assistive technologies.
Abstract: Let us consider that the entire universe is composed of
a single hydrogen atom within which the electron is moving around
the proton. In this case, according to classical theories of physics,
radiation, photons respectively, should be absorbed by the electron.
Depending on the number of photons absorbed, the electron radius of
rotation around the proton is established. Until now, the principle of
photons absorption by electrons and the electron transition to a new
energy level, namely to a higher radius of rotation around the proton,
is not clarified in physics. This paper aims to demonstrate that
radiation, photons respectively, have mass and negative electrostatic
charge similar to electrons but infinitely smaller. The experiments
which demonstrate this theory are simple: thermal expansion,
photoelectric effect and thermonuclear reaction.
Abstract: Market is an important factor for start-ups to look into
during decision-making in product development and related areas.
Emerging country markets are more uncertain in terms of information
availability and institutional supports. The literature review of market
uncertainty reveals the need for identifying factors representing the
market uncertainty. This paper identifies factors for market
uncertainty using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and confirmed
the number of factor retention using an alternative factor retention
criterion ‘Parallel Analysis’. 500 entrepreneurs, engaged in start-ups
from all over India participated in the study. This paper concludes
with the factor structure of ‘market uncertainty’ having dimensions of
uncertainty in industry orientation, uncertainty in customer
orientation and uncertainty in marketing orientation.
Abstract: In this study, breeding biology and induced breeding
of freshwater mud eel, Monopterus cuchia was observed during the
experimental period from February to June, 2013. Breeding biology
of freshwater mud eel, Monopterus cuchia was considered in terms of
gonadosomatic index, length-weight relationship of gonad, ova
diameter and fecundity. The ova diameter was recorded from 0.3 mm
to 4.30 mm and the individual fecundity was recorded from 155 to
1495 while relative fecundity was found from 2.64 to 12.45. The
fecundity related to body weight and length of fish was also
discussed. A peak of GSI was observed 2.14±0.2 in male and 5.1
±1.09 in female. Induced breeding of freshwater mud eel,
Monopterus cuchia was also practiced with different doses of
different inducing agents like pituitary gland (PG), human chorionic
gonadotropin (HCG), Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and
Ovuline-a synthetic hormone in different environmental conditions.
However, it was observed that the artificial breeding of freshwater
mud eel, Monopterus cuchia was not yet succeeded through inducing
agents in captive conditions, rather the inducing agent showed
negative impacts on fecundity and ovarian tissues. It was seen that
mature eggs in the oviduct were reduced, absorbed and some eggs
were found in spoiled condition.
Abstract: 3-roller conical bending process is widely used in the
industries for manufacturing of conical sections and shells. It
involves static as well dynamic bending stages. Analytical models for
prediction of bending force during static as well as dynamic bending
stage are available in the literature. In this paper bending forces
required for static bending stage and dynamic bending stages have
been compared using the analytical models. It is concluded that force
required for dynamic bending is very less as compared to the bending
force required during the static bending stage.
Abstract: Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU), a
subsidiary of ExxonMobil and the highest crude oil & condensate
producer in Nigeria has its operational base and an oil terminal, the
Qua Iboe terminal (QIT) located at Ibeno, Nigeria. Other oil
companies like Network Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd,
Frontier Oil Ltd; Shell Petroleum Development Company Ltd; Elf
Petroleum Nigeria Ltd and Nigerian Agip Energy, a subsidiary of the
Italian ENI E&P operate onshore, on the continental shelf and in deep
offshore of the Atlantic Ocean, respectively with the coastal waters of
Ibeno, Nigeria as the nearest shoreline. This study was designed to
delineate the oil-polluted sites in Ibeno, Nigeria using
microbiological and physico-chemical characterization of soils,
sediments and ground and surface water samples from the study area.
Results obtained revealed that there have been significant recent
hydrocarbon inputs into this environment as observed from the high
counts of hydrocarbonoclastic microorganisms in excess of 1% at all
the stations sampled. Moreover, high concentrations of THC, BTEX
and heavy metals contents in all the samples analyzed corroborate the
high recent crude oil input into the study area. The results also
showed that the pollution of the different environmental media
sampled were of varying degrees, following the trend: ground water
> surface water > sediments > soils.
Abstract: This paper presents an application of Artificial Neural
Network (ANN) algorithm for improving power system voltage
stability. The training data is obtained by solving several normal and
abnormal conditions using the Linear Programming technique. The
selected objective function gives minimum deviation of the reactive
power control variables, which leads to the maximization of
minimum Eigen value of load flow Jacobian. The considered reactive
power control variables are switchable VAR compensators, OLTC
transformers and excitation of generators. The method has been
implemented on a modified IEEE 30-bus test system. The results
obtain from the test clearly show that the trained neural network is
capable of improving the voltage stability in power system with a
high level of precision and speed.
Abstract: This study found that most corporate personnel are
using social media to communicate with colleagues to make the
process of working more efficient. Complete satisfaction occurred on
the use of security within the University’s computer network. The
social network usage for communication, collaboration,
entertainment and demonstrating concerns accounted for fifty percent
of variance to predict interpersonal relationships of corporate
personnel. This evaluation on the effectiveness of social networking
involved 213 corporate personnel’s. The data was collected by
questionnaires. This data was analyzed by using percentage, mean,
and standard deviation.
The results from the analysis and the effectiveness of using online
social networks were derived from the attitude of private users and
safety data within the security system. The results showed that the
effectiveness on the use of an online social network for corporate
personnel of Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University was specifically at
a good level, and the overall effects of each aspect was (Ẋ=3.11).
Abstract: Land Use Land Cover (LULC) changes due to human
activities and natural causes have become a major environmental
concern. Assessment of temporal remote sensing data provides
information about LULC impacts on environment. Land Surface
Temperature (LST) is one of the important components for modeling
environmental changes in climatological, hydrological, and
agricultural studies. In this study, LULC changes (September 7, 1984
and July 8, 2014) especially in agricultural lands together with
population changes (1985-2014) and LST status were investigated
using remotely sensed and census data in South Marmara Watershed,
Turkey. LULC changes were determined using Landsat TM and
Landsat OLI data acquired in 1984 and 2014 summers. Six-band TM
and OLI images were classified using supervised classification
method to prepare LULC map including five classes including Forest
(F), Grazing Land (G), Agricultural Land (A), Water Surface (W),
Residential Area-Bare Soil (R-B) classes. The LST image was also
derived from thermal bands of the same dates.
LULC classification results showed that forest areas, agricultural
lands, water surfaces and residential area-bare soils were increased as
65751 ha, 20163 ha, 1924 ha and 20462 ha respectively. In
comparison, a dramatic decrement occurred in grazing land (107985
ha) within three decades. The population increased 29% between
years 1984-2014 in whole study area. Along with the natural causes,
migration also caused this increase since the study area has an
important employment potential. LULC was transformed among the
classes due to the expansion in residential, commercial and industrial
areas as well as political decisions. In the study, results showed that
agricultural lands around the settlement areas transformed to
residential areas in 30 years.
The LST images showed that mean temperatures were ranged
between 26-32°C in 1984 and 27-33°C in 2014. Minimum
temperature of agricultural lands was increased 3°C and reached to
23°C. In contrast, maximum temperature of A class decreased to
41°C from 44°C. Considering temperatures of the 2014 R-B class and
1984 status of same areas, it was seen that mean, min and max
temperatures increased by 2°C.
As a result, the dynamism of population, LULC and LST resulted
in increasing mean and maximum surface temperatures, living
spaces/industrial areas and agricultural lands.
Abstract: The aim of this research was to reveal the link
between mental variables, such as spatial abilities, memory, intellect
and professional experience of drivers.
Participants were allocated to four groups: no experience,
inexperienced, skilled and professionals (total 85 participants). The
level of ability for spatial navigation and indicator of nonverbal
memory grow along the process of accumulation of driving
experience. At high levels of driving experience, this tendency is
especially noticeable. The professionals having personal
achievements in driving (racing) differ from skilled drivers in better
feeling of direction, which is specific for them not just in a short-term
situation of an experimental task, but also in life-size perspective.
The level of ability of mental rotation does not grow with the growth
of driving experience, which confirms the multiple intelligence
theory according to which spatial abilities represent specific, other
than logical intelligence type of intellect. The link between spatial
abilities, memory, intellect and professional experience of drivers
seems to be different relating spatial navigation or mental rotation as
different kinds of spatial abilities.
Abstract: In this paper, the actuality of the study, and the role of
subjective well-being problem in modern psychology and the
comprehending of subjective well-being by current students is
defined. The purpose of this research is to educe peculiarities of
comprehending of subjective well-being by students with various
levels of emotional intelligence. Methods of research are adapted
Russian-Language questionnaire of K. Riff 'The scales of
psychological well-being'; emotional intelligence questionnaire of D.
V. Lusin. The research involved 72 students from different
universities and disciplines aged between 18 and 24. Analyzing the
results of the studies, it can be concluded that the understanding of
happiness in different groups of students with high and low levels of
overall emotional intelligence is different, as well as differentiated by
gender. Students with a higher level of happiness possess more
capacity and higher need to control their emotions, to cause and
maintain the desired emotions and control something undesirable.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose moving object detection
method which is helpful for driver to safely take his/her car out of
parking lot. When moving objects such as motorbikes, pedestrians,
the other cars and some obstacles are detected at the rear-side of host
vehicle, the proposed algorithm can provide to driver warning. We
assume that the host vehicle is just before departure. Gaussian
Mixture Model (GMM) based background subtraction is basically
applied. Pre-processing such as smoothing and post-processing as
morphological filtering are added. We examine “which color space
has better performance for detection of moving objects?” Three color
spaces including RGB, YCbCr, and Y are applied and compared, in
terms of detection rate. Through simulation, we prove that RGB
space is more suitable for moving object detection based on
background subtraction.
Abstract: It is an established fact that polymers have several
physical limitations such as low stiffness and low resistance to
impact on loading. Hence, polymers do not usually have requisite
mechanical strength for application in various fields. The
reinforcement by high strength fibers provides the polymer
substantially enhanced mechanical properties and makes them more
suitable for a large number of diverse applications. This research
evaluates the effects of particulate Cow bone and Groundnut shell
additions on the mechanical properties and microstructure of cow
bone and groundnut shell reinforced epoxy composite in order to
assess the possibility of using it as a material for engineering
applications. Cow bone and groundnut shell particles reinforced with
epoxy (CBRPC and GSRPC) was prepared by varying the cow bone
and groundnut shell particles from 0-25 wt% with 5 wt% intervals. A
Hybrid of the Cow bone and Groundnut shell (HGSCB) reinforce
with epoxy was also prepared. The mechanical properties of the
developed composites were investigated. Optical microscopy was
used to examine the microstructure of the composites. The results
revealed that mechanical properties did not increase uniformly with
additions in filler but exhibited maximum properties at specific
percentages of filler additions. From the Microscopic evaluation, it
was discovered that homogeneity decreases with increase in % filler,
this could be due to poor interfacial bonding.