Abstract: In this paper, a Dynamic Economic Dispatch (DED) model is developed for the system consisting of both thermal generators and wind turbines. The inclusion of a significant amount of wind energy into power systems has resulted in additional constraints on DED to accommodate the intermittent nature of the output. The probability of stochastic wind power based on the Weibull probability density function is included in the model as a constraint; A Here-and-Now Approach. The Environmental Protection Agency-s hourly emission target, which gives the maximum emission during the day, is used as a constraint to reduce the atmospheric pollution. A 69-bus test system with non-smooth cost function is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed model compared with static economic dispatch model with including the wind power.
Abstract: In order to develop any strategy, it is essential to first
identify opportunities, threats, weak and strong points. Assessment of
technology level provides the possibility of concentrating on weak
and strong points. The results of technology assessment have a direct
effect on decision making process in the field of technology transfer
or expansion of internal research capabilities so it has a critical role
in technology management. This paper presents a conceptual model
to analyze the technology capability of a company as a whole and in
four main aspects of technology. This model was tested on 10
automotive parts manufacturers in IRAN. Using this model,
capability level of manufacturers was investigated in four fields of
managing aspects, hard aspects, human aspects, and information and
knowledge aspects. Results show that these firms concentrate on hard
aspect of technology while others aspects are poor and need to be
supported more. So this industry should develop other aspects of
technology as well as hard aspect to have effective and efficient use
of its technology. These paper findings are useful for the technology
planning and management in automotive part manufactures in IRAN
and other Industries which are technology followers and transport
their needed technologies.
Abstract: High redundancy and strong uncertainty are two main characteristics for underwater robotic manipulators with unlimited workspace and mobility, but they also make the motion planning and control difficult and complex. In order to setup the groundwork for the research on control schemes, the mathematical representation is built by using the Denavit-Hartenberg (D-H) method [9]&[12]; in addition to the geometry of the manipulator which was studied for establishing the direct and inverse kinematics. Then, the dynamic model is developed and used by employing the Lagrange theorem. Furthermore, derivation and computer simulation is accomplished using the MATLAB environment. The result obtained is compared with mechanical system dynamics analysis software, ADAMS. In addition, the creation of intelligent artificial skin using Interlink Force Sensing ResistorTM technology is presented as groundwork for future work
Abstract: In this paper, a simple heuristic genetic algorithm is
used for Multistage Multiuser detection in fast fading environments.
Multipath channels, multiple access interference (MAI) and near far
effect cause the performance of the conventional detector to degrade.
Heuristic Genetic algorithms, a rapidly growing area of artificial
intelligence, uses evolutionary programming for initial search, which
not only helps to converge the solution towards near optimal
performance efficiently but also at a very low complexity as
compared with optimal detector. This holds true for Additive White
Gaussian Noise (AWGN) and multipath fading channels.
Experimental results are presented to show the superior performance
of the proposed techque over the existing methods.
Abstract: Sensor Network are emerging as a new tool for
important application in diverse fields like military surveillance,
habitat monitoring, weather, home electrical appliances and others.
Technically, sensor network nodes are limited in respect to energy
supply, computational capacity and communication bandwidth. In
order to prolong the lifetime of the sensor nodes, designing efficient
routing protocol is very critical. In this paper, we illustrate the
existing routing protocol for wireless sensor network using data
centric approach and present performance analysis of these protocols.
The paper focuses in the performance analysis of specific protocol
namely Directed Diffusion and SPIN. This analysis reveals that the
energy usage is important features which need to be taken into
consideration while designing routing protocol for wireless sensor
network.
Abstract: Thepurpose of the research is to characterize the levels
of satisfaction of the students in e-learning post-graduate courses,
taking into account specific dimensions of the course which were
considered as benchmarks for the quality of this type of online
learning initiative, as well as the levels of satisfaction towards each
specific indicator identified in each dimension. It was also an aim of
this study to understand how thesedimensions relate to one another.
Using a quantitative research approach in the collection and analysis
of the data, the study involves the participation of the students who
attended on e-learning course in 2010/2011. The conclusions of this
study suggest that online students present relatively high levels of
satisfaction, which points towards a positive experience during the
course. It is possible to note that there is a correlation between the
different dimensions studied, consequently leading to different
improvement strategies. Ultimately, this investigation aims to
contribute to the promotion of quality and the success of e-learning
initiatives in Higher Education.
Abstract: This paper describes WiPoD (Wireless Position
Detector) which is a pure software based location determination and
tracking (positioning) system. It uses empirical signal strength measurements from different wireless access points for mobile user
positioning. It is designed to determine the location of users having
802.11 enabled mobile devices in an 802.11 WLAN infrastructure
and track them in real time. WiPoD is the first main module in our
LBS (Location Based Services) framework. We tested K-Nearest
Neighbor and Triangulation algorithms to estimate the position of a
mobile user. We also give the analysis results of these algorithms for
real time operations. In this paper, we propose a supportable, i.e.
understandable, maintainable, scalable and portable wireless
positioning system architecture for an LBS framework. The WiPoD
software has a multithreaded structure and was designed and implemented with paying attention to supportability features and real-time constraints and using object oriented design principles. We also describe the real-time software design issues of a wireless positioning system which will be part of an LBS framework.
Abstract: In this paper, a comparative study of application of
supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms on illumination
invariant face recognition has been carried out. The supervised
learning has been carried out with the help of using a bi-layered
artificial neural network having one input, two hidden and one output
layer. The gradient descent with momentum and adaptive learning
rate back propagation learning algorithm has been used to implement
the supervised learning in a way that both the inputs and
corresponding outputs are provided at the time of training the
network, thus here is an inherent clustering and optimized learning of
weights which provide us with efficient results.. The unsupervised
learning has been implemented with the help of a modified
Counterpropagation network. The Counterpropagation network
involves the process of clustering followed by application of Outstar
rule to obtain the recognized face. The face recognition system has
been developed for recognizing faces which have varying
illumination intensities, where the database images vary in lighting
with respect to angle of illumination with horizontal and vertical
planes. The supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms have
been implemented and have been tested exhaustively, with and
without application of histogram equalization to get efficient results.
Abstract: Image clustering is a process of grouping images
based on their similarity. The image clustering usually uses the color
component, texture, edge, shape, or mixture of two components, etc.
This research aims to explore image clustering using color
composition. In order to complete this image clustering, three main
components should be considered, which are color space, image
representation (feature extraction), and clustering method itself. We
aim to explore which composition of these factors will produce the
best clustering results by combining various techniques from the
three components. The color spaces use RGB, HSV, and L*a*b*
method. The image representations use Histogram and Gaussian
Mixture Model (GMM), whereas the clustering methods use KMeans
and Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering algorithm. The
results of the experiment show that GMM representation is better
combined with RGB and L*a*b* color space, whereas Histogram is
better combined with HSV. The experiments also show that K-Means
is better than Agglomerative Hierarchical for images clustering.
Abstract: A new numerical method for simultaneously updating mass and stiffness matrices based on incomplete modal measured data is presented. By using the Kronecker product, all the variables that are to be modified can be found out and then can be updated directly. The optimal approximation mass matrix and stiffness matrix which satisfy the required eigenvalue equation and orthogonality condition are found under the Frobenius norm sense. The physical configuration of the analytical model is preserved and the updated model will exactly reproduce the modal measured data. The numerical example seems to indicate that the method is quite accurate and efficient.
Abstract: Factor analysis was applied to two stages biogas
production from banana stem waste allowing a screening of the
experimental variables second stage temperature (T), organic loading
rates (OLR) and hydraulic retention times (HRT). Biogas production
was found to be strongly influenced by all the above experimental
variables. Results from factorial analysis have shown that all
variables which were HRT, OLR and T have significant effect to
biogas production. Increased in HRT and OLR could increased the
biogas yield. The performance was tested under the conditions of
various T (35oC-60oC), OLR (0.3 g TS/l.d–1.9 gTS/l.d), and HRT (3
d–15 d). Conditions for temperature, OLR and HRT in this study
were based on the best range obtained from literature review.
Abstract: In this study rack systems that are structural storage
units of warehouses have been analyzed as structural with Finite
Element Method (FEA). Each cell of discussed rack system storages
pallets which have from 800 kg to 1000 kg weights and
0.80x1.15x1.50 m dimensions. Under this load, total deformations
and equivalent stresses of structural elements and principal stresses,
tensile stresses and shear stresses of connection elements have been
analyzed. The results of analyses have been evaluated according to
resistance limits of structural and connection elements. Obtained
results have been presented as visual and magnitude.
Abstract: In this paper we propose a method which improves the efficiency of video coding. Our method combines an adaptive GOP (group of pictures) structure and the shot cut detection. We have analyzed different approaches for shot cut detection with aim to choose the most appropriate one. The next step is to situate N frames to the positions of detected cuts during the process of video encoding. Finally the efficiency of the proposed method is confirmed by simulations and the obtained results are compared with fixed GOP structures of sizes 4, 8, 12, 16, 32, 64, 128 and GOP structure with length of entire video. Proposed method achieved the gain in bit rate from 0.37% to 50.59%, while providing PSNR (Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio) gain from 1.33% to 0.26% in comparison to simulated fixed GOP structures.
Abstract: This study was carried out to develop a flotation
procedure for an oxide copper ore from a Region in Central Africa
for producing an 18% copper concentrate for downstream processing
at maximum recovery from a 4% copper feed grade. The copper
recoveries achieved from the test work were less than 50% despite
changes in reagent conditions (multistage sulphidisation, use of RCA
emulsion and mixture, use of AM 2, etc). The poor recoveries were
attributed to the mineralogy of the ore from which copper silicates
accounted for approximately 70% (mass) of the copper minerals in
the ore. These can be complex and difficult to float using
conventional flotation methods. Best results were obtained using
basic sulphidisation procedures, a high flotation temperature and
extended flotation residence time.
Abstract: A new, combinatorial model for analyzing and inter-
preting an electrocardiogram (ECG) is presented. An application of
the model is QRS peak detection. This is demonstrated with an
online algorithm, which is shown to be space as well as time efficient.
Experimental results on the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia database show that
this novel approach is promising. Further uses for this approach are
discussed, such as taking advantage of its small memory requirements
and interpreting large amounts of pre-recorded ECG data.
Abstract: Pyrolysis of waste tire is one of alternative technique
to produce petrochemicals, such as light olefins, mixed C4, and monoaromatics.
Noble metals supported on acid zeolite catalysts were
reported as potential catalysts to produce the high valuable products
from waste tire pyrolysis. Especially, Pd supported on HBeta gave a
high yield of olefins, mixed C4, and mono-aromatics. Due to the high
prices of noble metals, the objective of this work was to investigate
whether or not a non-noble Ni metal can be used as a substitute of a
noble metal, Pd, supported on HBeta as a catalyst for waste tire pyrolysis.
Ni metal was selected in this work because Ni has high activity
in cracking, isomerization, hydrogenation and the ring opening of
hydrocarbons Moreover, Ni is an element in the same group as Pd
noble metal, which is VIIIB group, aiming to produce high valuable
products similarly obtained from Pd. The amount of Ni was varied as
5, 10, and 20% by weight, for comparison with a fixed 1 wt% Pd,
using incipient wetness impregnation. The results showed that as a
petrochemical-producing catalyst, 10%Ni/HBeta performed better
than 1%Pd/HBeta because it did not only produce the highest yield of
olefins and cooking gases, but the yields were also higher than
1%Pd/HBeta. 5%Ni/HBeta can be used as a substitute of
1%Pd/HBeta for similar crude production because its crude contains
the similar amounts of naphtha and saturated HCs, although it gave
no concentration of light mono-aromatics (C6-C11) in the oil. Additionally,
10%Ni/HBeta that gave high olefins and cooking gases was
found to give a fairly high concentration of the light mono-aromatics
in the oil.
Abstract: The demand of hydrocarbons has increased the
construction of pipelines and the protection of the physical and
mechanical integrity of the already existing infrastructure. Corrosion
is the main reason of failures in the pipeline and it is mostly produced
by acid (HCOOCH3). In this basis, a CFD code was used, in order to
study the corrosion of internal wall of hydrocarbons pipeline. In this
situation, the corrosion phenomenon shows a growing deposit, which
causes defect damages (welding or fabrication) at diverse positions
along the pipeline. The solution of the pipeline corrosion is based on
the diminution of the Naphthenic acid.
Abstract: The Spalart and Allmaras turbulence model has been
implemented in a numerical code to study the compressible turbulent
flows, which the system of governing equations is solved with a
finite volume approach using a structured grid. The AUSM+ scheme
is used to calculate the inviscid fluxes. Different benchmark
problems have been computed to validate the implementation and
numerical results are shown. A special Attention is paid to wall jet
applications. In this study, the jet is submitted to various wall
boundary conditions (adiabatic or uniform heat flux) in forced
convection regime and both two-dimensional and axisymmetric wall
jets are considered. The comparison between the numerical results
and experimental data has given the validity of this turbulence model
to study the turbulent wall jets especially in engineering applications.
Abstract: Relevant agricultural information disseminator
(extension agent) ratio of 1:3500 farm families which become a
menace to agricultural production capacity in developing countries
necessitate this study. Out of 4 zones in the state, 24 extension agents
in each zone, 4 extension agents using cell phones and 120 farmers
using cell phone and 120 other farmers not using cell phone were
purposively selected to give 240 farmers that participated in the
research. Data were collected using interview guide and analysized
using frequency, percentage and t-test.. Frequency of contact with
agricultural information centers revealed that cell phone user farmers
had greater means score of X 41.43 contact as against the low mean
X19.32 contact recorded by farmers receiving agricultural
information from extension agents not using cell phone and their
production was statistically significant at P < 0.05. Usage of cell
phone increase extension agent contact and increase farmers-
production capacity.
Abstract: Optimal design of structure has a main role in reduction of material usage which leads to deduction in the final cost of construction projects. Evolutionary approaches are found to be more successful techniques for solving size and shape structural optimization problem since it uses a stochastic random search instead of a gradient search. By reviewing the recent literature works the problem found was the optimization of weight. A new meta-heuristic algorithm called as Cuckoo Search (CS) Algorithm has used for the optimization of the total weight of the truss structures. This paper has used set of 10 bars and 25 bars trusses for the testing purpose. The main objective of this work is to reduce the number of iterations, weight and the total time consumption. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the present method, minimum weight design of truss structures is performed and the results of the CS are compared with other algorithms.