Abstract: In MPEG and H.26x standards, to eliminate the
temporal redundancy we use motion estimation. Given that the
motion estimation stage is very complex in terms of computational
effort, a hardware implementation on a re-configurable circuit is
crucial for the requirements of different real time multimedia
applications. In this paper, we present hardware architecture for
motion estimation based on "Full Search Block Matching" (FSBM)
algorithm. This architecture presents minimum latency, maximum
throughput, full utilization of hardware resources such as embedded
memory blocks, and combining both pipelining and parallel
processing techniques. Our design is described in VHDL language,
verified by simulation and implemented in a Stratix II
EP2S130F1020C4 FPGA circuit. The experiment result show that the
optimum operating clock frequency of the proposed design is 89MHz
which achieves 160M pixels/sec.
Abstract: Does the spatial perspective provide a common thread for rural sociology? Have rural sociologists succeeded in bringing order to their data using spatial analysis models and techniques? A trial answer to such questions, as touchstones of theoretical and applied sociological studies in rural areas, is the point at issue in the present paper. Spatial analyses have changed the way rural sociologists approach scientific problems. Rural sociology is spatial by nature because much, if not most, of its research topics has a spatial “awareness." However, such spatial awareness is not quite the same as spatial analysis because it is not typically associated with underlying theories and hypotheses about spatial patterns that are designed to be tested for their specific spatial content. This paper presents pressing issues for future research to reintroduce mainstream rural sociology to the concept of space.
Abstract: In this article an isotropic linear elastic half-space with
a cylindrical cavity of finite length is considered to be under the
effect of a ring shape time-harmonic torsion force applied at an
arbitrary depth on the surface of the cavity. The equation of
equilibrium has been written in a cylindrical coordinate system. By
means of Fourier cosine integral transform, the non-zero
displacement component is obtained in the transformed domain. With
the aid of the inversion theorem of the Fourier cosine integral
transform, the displacement is obtained in the real domain. With the
aid of boundary conditions, the involved boundary value problem for
the fundamental solution is reduced to a generalized Cauchy singular
integral equation. Integral representation of the stress and
displacement are obtained, and it is shown that their degenerated
form to the static problem coincides with existing solutions in the
literature.
Abstract: Wheat prediction was carried out using different meteorological variables together with agro meteorological indices in Ardebil district for the years 2004-2005 & 2005–2006. On the basis of correlation coefficients, standard error of estimate as well as relative deviation of predicted yield from actual yield using different statistical models, the best subset of agro meteorological indices were selected including daily minimum temperature (Tmin), accumulated difference of maximum & minimum temperatures (TD), growing degree days (GDD), accumulated water vapor pressure deficit (VPD), sunshine hours (SH) & potential evapotranspiration (PET). Yield prediction was done two months in advance before harvesting time which was coincide with commencement of reproductive stage of wheat (5th of June). It revealed that in the final statistical models, 83% of wheat yield variability was accounted for variation in above agro meteorological indices.
Abstract: Present study focuses on studying the oscillatory
behavior of jet diffusion flames. At a particular jet exit velocity, the
flames are seen to exhibit natural flickering. Initially the flickering
process is not continuous. In this transition region as well as in the
continuous flickering regime, the flickering displays multiple
frequency oscillations. The response of the flame to the exit velocity
profile of the burner is also studied using three types of burners. The
entire range of natural flickering is investigated by capturing high
speed digital images and processing them using a MATLAB code.
Abstract: Green buildings have been commonly cited to be more
expensive than conventional buildings. However, limited research
has been conducted to clearly identify elements that contribute to this
cost differential. The construction cost of buildings can be typically
divided into “hard" costs and “soft" cost elements. Using a review
analysis of existing literature, the study identified six main elements
in green buildings that contribute to the general cost elements that are
“soft" in nature. The six elements found are insurance, developer-s
experience, design cost, certification, commissioning and energy
modeling. Out of the six elements, most literatures have highlighted
the increase in design cost for green design as compared to
conventional design due to additional architectural and engineering
costs, eco-charettes, extra design time, and the further need for a
green consultant. The study concluded that these elements of soft cost
contribute to the green premium or cost differential of green
buildings.
Abstract: The stability analysis of Marangoni convection in porous media with a deformable upper free surface is investigated. The linear stability theory and the normal mode analysis are applied and the resulting eigenvalue problem is solved exactly. The Darcy law and the Brinkman model are used to describe the flow in the porous medium heated from below. The effect of the Crispation number, Bond number and the Biot number are analyzed for the stability of the system. It is found that a decrease in the Crispation number and an increase in the Bond number delay the onset of convection in porous media. In addition, the system becomes more stable when the Biot number is increases and the Daeff number is decreases.
Abstract: Presents a concept for a multidisciplinary process
supporting effective task transitions between different technical
domains during the architectural design stage.
A system configuration challenge is the multifunctional driven
increased solution space. As a consequence, more iteration is needed
to find a global optimum, i.e. a compromise between involved
disciplines without negative impact on development time. Since state
of the art standards like ISO 15288 and VDI 2206 do not provide a
detailed methodology on multidisciplinary design process, higher
uncertainties regarding final specifications arise. This leads to the
need of more detailed and standardized concepts or processes which
could mitigate risks.
The performed work is based on analysis of multidisciplinary
interaction, of modeling and simulation techniques. To demonstrate
and prove the applicability of the presented concept, it is applied to
the design of aircraft high lift systems, in the context of the
engineering disciplines kinematics, actuation, monitoring, installation
and structure design.
Abstract: Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were
performed to compute nitrogen-14 and boron-11 nuclear quadrupole
resonance (NQR) spectroscopy parameters in the representative
model of armchair boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) for the first time.
The considered model consisting of 1 nm length of H-capped (5, 5)
single-wall BNNT were first allowed to fully relax and then the NQR
calculations were carried out on the geometrically optimized model.
The evaluated nuclear quadrupole coupling constants and asymmetry
parameters for the mentioned nuclei reveal that the model can be
divided into seven layers of nuclei with an equivalent electrostatic
environment where those nuclei at the ends of tubes have a very
strong electrostatic environment compared to the other nuclei along
the length of tubes. The calculations were performed via Gaussian 98
package of program.
Abstract: This study is to evaluate the behavior of integral and
segmental specimens through static and cyclic tests. Integral
specimens were made with the same size to be compared with
segmental specimens that were made by connected precast members.
To evaluate its bending performance and serviceability, 1 integral and
3 segmental specimens were tested under static load. And 1 integral
and 2 segmental specimens were tested under cyclic load, respectively.
Different load ranges were considered in the cyclic tests to evaluate the
safety and serviceability. The test results showed that under static
loading, segmental specimens had about 94% of the integral
specimen's maximum moment, averagely. Under cyclic loading, the
segmental specimens showed that had enough safety in the range of
higher than service load and enough serviceability. In conclusion, the
maximum crack width (0.16mm) satisfied the allowable crack width
(0.30mm) in the range of service load.
Abstract: Coriander is an annual and herbaceous plant, belong to
the apiaceae family. This plant is cultivated world widely. It is well
known for having medicinal properties. The aim of this experiment
was to study seed quality of species grown in Kermanshah
conditions. The experiment was carried out in research farm, Campus
of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Kermanshah,
Iran. Coriander (local type) was grown in late spring May (5th and
20th) and Jun (4th and 19th), and plant density (10, 30, 50 and 70
plants m-2) in 2009. The experimental plots were laid out in a
factorial according to a randomized complete block design with three
replications. The fruits were harvest between 83.5 – 106.5 days after
sowing. The essential oil and oil content was extracted by Clevenger
and Soxhlet apparatuses, respectively. Results showed that delay at
planting date increased the oil content. Also, with the increase at
plant density was decreased oil content and essential oil.
Abstract: This paper is concerned with studying the forgetting factor of the recursive least square (RLS). A new dynamic forgetting factor (DFF) for RLS algorithm is presented. The proposed DFF-RLS is compared to other methods. Better performance at convergence and tracking of noisy chirp sinusoid is achieved. The control of the forgetting factor at DFF-RLS is based on the gradient of inverse correlation matrix. Compared with the gradient of mean square error algorithm, the proposed approach provides faster tracking and smaller mean square error. In low signal-to-noise ratios, the performance of the proposed method is superior to other approaches.
Abstract: Various assisted reproductive techniques have been
developed and refined to obtain a large number of offspring from
genetically superior animals or obtain offspring from infertile (or
subfertile) animals. The embryo transfer is one assisted reproductive
technique developed well, aimed at increased productivity of selected
females, disease control, importation and exportation of livestock,
rapid screening of AI sires for genetically recessive characteristics,
treatment or circumvention of certain types of infertility. Embryo
transfer also is a useful research tool for evaluating fetal and maternal
interactions. This technique has been applied to nearly every species
of domestic animal and many species of wildlife and exotic animals,
including humans and non-human primates. The successful of
embryo transfers have been limited to within-animal, homologous
replacement of the embryos. There are several examples of
interspecific and intergeneric embryo transfers in which embryos
implanted but did not develop to term: sheep and goat, mouse and rat.
An immunological rejections and placental incompatibility between
the embryo and the surrogate mother appear to restrict interspecific
embryo transfer/interspecific pregnancy. Recently, preimplantation
embryo manipulation procedures have been applied, such as
technique of inner cell mass transfer. This technique will possible to
overcome the reproductive barrier interspecific embryo
transfer/interspecific pregnancy, if there is a protective mechanism
which prevents recognition of the foreign fetus by the mother of the
other species
Abstract: commercially produced in Malaysia granular
palm shell activated carbon (PSAC) was biomodified with
bacterial biomass (Bacillus subtilis) to produce a hybrid
biosorbent of higher efficiency. The obtained biosorbent was
evaluated in terms of adsorption capacity to remove copper
and zinc metal ions from aqueous solutions. The adsorption
capacity was evaluated in batch adsorption experiments where
concentrations of metal ions varied from 20 to 350 mg/L. A
range of pH from 3 to 6 of aqueous solutions containing metal
ions was tested. Langmuir adsorption model was used to
interpret the experimental data. Comparison of the adsorption
data of the biomodified and original palm shell activated
carbon showed higher uptake of metal ions by the hybrid
biosorbent. A trend in metal ions uptake increase with the
increase in the solution-s pH was observed. The surface
characterization data indicated a decrease in the total surface
area for the hybrid biosorbent; however the uptake of copper
and zinc by it was at least equal to the original PSAC at pH 4
and 5. The highest capacity of the hybrid biosorbent was
observed at pH 5 and comprised 22 mg/g and 19 mg/g for
copper and zinc, respectively. The adsorption capacity at the
lowest pH of 3 was significantly low. The experimental results
facilitated identification of potential factors influencing the
adsorption of copper and zinc onto biomodified and original
palm shell activated carbon.
Abstract: Voltage collapse is instability of heavily loaded electric
power systems that cause to declining voltages and blackout. Power
systems are predicated to become more heavily loaded in the future
decade as the demand for electric power rises while economic and
environmental concerns limit the construction of new transmission
and generation capacity. Heavily loaded power systems are closer to
their stability limits and voltage collapse blackouts will occur if
suitable monitoring and control measures are not taken. To control
transmission lines, it can be used from FACTS devices.
In this paper Harmony search algorithm (HSA) and Genetic
Algorithm (GA) have applied to determine optimal location of
FACTS devices in a power system to improve power system stability.
Three types of FACTS devices (TCPAT, UPFS, and SVC) have been
introduced. Bus under voltage has been solved by controlling reactive
power of shunt compensator. Also a combined series-shunt
compensators has been also used to control transmission power flow
and bus voltage simultaneously.
Different scenarios have been considered. First TCPAT, UPFS, and
SVC are placed solely in transmission lines and indices have been
calculated. Then two types of above controller try to improve
parameters randomly. The last scenario tries to make better voltage
stability index and losses by implementation of three types controller
simultaneously. These scenarios are executed on typical 34-bus test
system and yields efficiency in improvement of voltage profile and
reduction of power losses; it also may permit an increase in power
transfer capacity, maximum loading, and voltage stability margin.
Abstract: In this work, a Modified Functional Link Artificial
Neural Network (M-FLANN) is proposed which is simpler than a
Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) and improves upon the universal
approximation capability of Functional Link Artificial Neural
Network (FLANN). MLP and its variants: Direct Linear Feedthrough
Artificial Neural Network (DLFANN), FLANN and
M-FLANN have been implemented to model a simulated Water Bath
System and a Continually Stirred Tank Heater (CSTH). Their
convergence speed and generalization ability have been compared.
The networks have been tested for their interpolation and
extrapolation capability using noise-free and noisy data. The results
show that M-FLANN which is computationally cheap, performs
better and has greater generalization ability than other networks
considered in the work.
Abstract: The scalar wave equation for a potential in a curved space time, i.e., the Laplace-Beltrami equation has been studied in this work. An action principle is used to derive a finite element algorithm for determining the modes of propagation inside a waveguide of arbitrary shape. Generalizing this idea, the Maxwell theory in a curved space time determines a set of linear partial differential equations for the four electromagnetic potentials given by the metric of space-time. Similar to the Einstein-s formulation of the field equations of gravitation, these equations are also derived from an action principle. In this paper, the expressions for the action functional of the electromagnetic field have been derived in the presence of gravitational field.
Abstract: Sweet potato products are necessary for the provision
of essential nutrients in every household, regardless of their poverty
status. Their consumption appears to be highly influenced by socioeconomic
factors, such as malnutrition, food insecurity and
unemployment. Therefore, market availability is crucial for these
cultivars to resolve some of the socio-economic factors. The aim of
the study was to investigate market availability of sweet potato
cultivars in the North West Province. In this study, both qualitative
and quantitative research methodologies were used. Qualitative
methodology was used to explain the quantitative outcomes of the
variables. On the other hand, quantitative results were used to test the
hypothesis. The study used SPSS software to analyse the data. Crosstabulation
and Chi-square statistics were used to obtain the
descriptive and inferential analyses, respectively. The study found
that the Blesbok cultivar is dominating the markets of the North West
Province, with the Monate cultivar dominating in the Bojanala
Platinum (75%) and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati (25%) districts. It
is also found that a unit increase in the supply of sweet potato
cultivars in both local and district municipal markets is accompanied
by a reduced demand of 28% and 33% at district and local markets,
respectively. All these results were found to be significant at p
Abstract: This paper presents a new adaptive impedance control
strategy, based on Function Approximation Technique (FAT) to
compensate for unknown non-flat environment shape or time-varying
environment location. The target impedance in the force controllable
direction is modified by incorporating adaptive compensators and the
uncertainties are represented by FAT, allowing the update law to be
derived easily. The force error feedback is utilized in the estimation
and the accurate knowledge of the environment parameters are not
required by the algorithm. It is shown mathematically that the
stability of the controller is guaranteed based on Lyapunov theory.
Simulation results presented to demonstrate the validity of the
proposed controller.
Abstract: The institutions seek to improve their performance
and quality of service, so that their patients are satisfied. This
research project aims, conduct a time study program in the area of
gynecological surgery, to determine the current level of capacity and
optimize the programming time in order to adequately respond to
demand. The system is analyzed by waiting lines and uses the
simulation using ARENA to evaluate proposals for improvement and
optimization programming time each of the surgeries.