Abstract: Grey mold on grape is caused by the fungus Botrytis
cinerea Pers. Trichodex WP, a new biofungicide, that contains fungal
spores of Trichoderma harzianum Rifai, was used for biological
control of Grey mold on grape. The efficacy of Trichodex WP has
been reported from many experiments. Experiments were carried out
in the locality – Banatski Karlovac, on grapevine species – talijanski
rizling. The trials were set according to instructions of methods
PP1/152(2) and PP1/17(3) , according to a fully randomized block
design. Phytotoxicity was estimated by PP methods 1/135(2), the
intensity of infection according to Towsend Heuberger , the
efficiency by Abbott, the analysis of variance with Duncan test and
PP/181(2). Application of Trichodex WP is limited to the first two
treatments. Other treatments are performed with the fungicides based
on a.i. procymidone, vinclozoline and iprodione.
Abstract: In this paper usefulness of quasi-Newton iteration
procedure in parameters estimation of the conditional variance
equation within BHHH algorithm is presented. Analytical solution of
maximization of the likelihood function using first and second
derivatives is too complex when the variance is time-varying. The
advantage of BHHH algorithm in comparison to the other
optimization algorithms is that requires no third derivatives with
assured convergence. To simplify optimization procedure BHHH
algorithm uses the approximation of the matrix of second derivatives
according to information identity. However, parameters estimation in
a/symmetric GARCH(1,1) model assuming normal distribution of
returns is not that simple, i.e. it is difficult to solve it analytically.
Maximum of the likelihood function can be founded by iteration
procedure until no further increase can be found. Because the
solutions of the numerical optimization are very sensitive to the
initial values, GARCH(1,1) model starting parameters are defined.
The number of iterations can be reduced using starting values close
to the global maximum. Optimization procedure will be illustrated in
framework of modeling volatility on daily basis of the most liquid
stocks on Croatian capital market: Podravka stocks (food industry),
Petrokemija stocks (fertilizer industry) and Ericsson Nikola Tesla
stocks (information-s-communications industry).
Abstract: Mobile marketing through mobile messaging service
has highly impressive growth as it enables e-business firms to
communicate with their customers effectively. Educational
institutions hence start using this service to enhance communication
with their students. Previous studies, however, have limited
understanding of applying mobile messaging service in education.
This study proposes a theoretical model to understand the drivers of
students- intentions to use the university-s mobile messaging service.
The model indicates that social influence, perceived control and
attitudes affect students- intention to use the university-s mobile
messaging service. It also provides five antecedents of students-
attitudes–perceived utility (information utility, entertainment utility,
and social utility), innovativeness, information seeking, transaction
specificity (content specificity, sender specificity, and time
specificity) and privacy concern. The proposed model enables
universities to understand what students concern about the use of a
mobile messaging service in universities and handle the service more
effectively. The paper discusses the model development and
concludes with limitations and implications of the proposed model.
Abstract: The paper contains a review of the literature in terms of the critical analysis of methodologies of university ranking systems. Furthermore, the initiatives supported by the European Commission (U-Map, U-Multirank) and CHE Ranking are described. Special attention is paid to the tendencies in the development of ranking systems. According to the author, the ranking organizations should abandon the classic form of ranking, namely a hierarchical ordering of universities from “the best" to “the worse". In the empirical part of this paper, using one of the method of cluster analysis called k-means clustering, the author presents university classifications of the top universities from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University-s (SJTU) Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).
Abstract: We develop new nonlinear methods of
immunofluorescence analysis for a sensitive technology of
respiratory burst reaction of DNA fluorescence due to oxidative
activity in the peripheral blood neutrophils. Histograms in flow
cytometry experiments represent a fluorescence flashes frequency as
functions of fluorescence intensity. We used the Shannon-Weaver
index for definition of neutrophils- biodiversity and Hurst index for
definition of fractal-s correlations in immunofluorescence for
different donors, as the basic quantitative criteria for medical
diagnostics of health status. We analyze frequencies of flashes,
information, Shannon entropies and their fractals in
immunofluorescence networks due to reduction of histogram range.
We found the number of simplest universal correlations for
biodiversity, information and Hurst index in diagnostics and
classification of pathologies for wide spectra of diseases. In addition
is determined the clear criterion of a common immunity and human
health status in a form of yes/no answers type. These answers based
on peculiarities of information in immunofluorescence networks and
biodiversity of neutrophils. Experimental data analysis has shown the
existence of homeostasis for information entropy in oxidative activity
of DNA in neutrophil nuclei for all donors.
Abstract: The inherent complexity in nowadays- business
environments is forcing organizations to be attentive to the dynamics
in several fronts. Therefore, the management of technological
innovation is continually faced with uncertainty about the future.
These issues lead to a need for a systemic perspective, able to analyze
the consequences of interactions between different factors. The field
of technology foresight has proposed methods and tools to deal with
this broader perspective. In an attempt to provide a method to analyze
the complex interactions between events in several areas, departing
from the identification of the most strategic competencies, this paper
presents a methodology based on the Delphi method and Quality
Function Deployment. This methodology is applied in a sheet metal
processing equipment manufacturer, as a case study.
Abstract: This study proposes a novel recommender system to
provide the advertisements of context-aware services. Our proposed
model is designed to apply a modified collaborative filtering (CF)
algorithm with regard to the several dimensions for the personalization
of mobile devices – location, time and the user-s needs type. In
particular, we employ a classification rule to understand user-s needs
type using a decision tree algorithm. In addition, we collect primary
data from the mobile phone users and apply them to the proposed
model to validate its effectiveness. Experimental results show that the
proposed system makes more accurate and satisfactory advertisements
than comparative systems.
Abstract: Olomouc is a unique and complex landmark with
widespread forestation and land use. This research work was
conducted to assess important and complex land use change
trajectories in Olomouc region. Multi-temporal satellite data from
1991, 2001 and 2013 were used to extract land use/cover types by
object oriented classification method. To achieve the objectives, three
different aspects were used: (1) Calculate the quantity of each
transition; (2) Allocate location based landscape pattern (3) Compare
land use/cover evaluation procedure. Land cover change trajectories
shows that 16.69% agriculture, 54.33% forest and 21.98% other areas
(settlement, pasture and water-body) were stable in all three decade.
Approximately 30% of the study area maintained as a same land cove
type from 1991 to 2013. Here broad scale of political and socioeconomic
factors was also affect the rate and direction of landscape
changes. Distance from the settlements was the most important
predictor of land cover change trajectories. This showed that most of
landscape trajectories were caused by socio-economic activities and
mainly led to virtuous change on the ecological environment.
Abstract: Since the 1990s the American furniture industry faces a transition period. Manufacturers, one of its most important actors made its entrance into the retail industry. This shift has had deep consequences not only for the American furniture industry as a whole, but also for other international furniture industries, especially the Chinese. The present work aims to analyze this actor based on the distinction provided by the Global Commodity Chain Theory. It stresses its characteristics, structure, operational way and importance for both the U.S. and the Chinese furniture industries.
Abstract: Risk management is an essential fraction of project management, which plays a significant role in project success. Many failures associated with Web projects are the consequences of poor awareness of the risks involved and lack of process models that can serve as a guideline for the development of Web based applications. To circumvent this problem, contemporary process models have been devised for the development of conventional software. This paper introduces the WPRiMA (Web Project Risk Management Assessment) as the tool, which is used to implement RIAP, the risk identification architecture pattern model, which focuses upon the data from the proprietor-s and vendor-s perspectives. The paper also illustrates how WPRiMA tool works and how it can be used to calculate the risk level for a given Web project, to generate recommendations in order to facilitate risk avoidance in a project, and to improve the prospects of early risk management.
Abstract: Network warfare is an emerging concept that focuses on the network and computer based forms through which information is attacked and defended. Various computer and network security concepts thus play a role in network warfare. Due the intricacy of the various interacting components, a model to better understand the complexity in a network warfare environment would be beneficial. Non-quantitative modeling is a useful method to better characterize the field due to the rich ideas that can be generated based on the use of secular associations, chronological origins, linked concepts, categorizations and context specifications. This paper proposes the use of non-quantitative methods through a morphological analysis to better explore and define the influential conditions in a network warfare environment.
Abstract: This paper presents a numerical analysis of the
performance of a three-bladed Darrieus vertical-axis wind turbine
based on the DU91-W2-250 airfoil. A complete campaign of 2-D
simulations, performed for several values of tip speed ratio and based
on RANS unsteady calculations, has been performed to obtain the
rotor torque and power curves. Rotor performances have been
compared with the results of a previous work based on the use of the
NACA 0021 airfoil. Both the power coefficient and the torque
coefficient have been determined as a function of the tip speed ratio.
The flow field around rotor blades has also been analyzed. As a final
result, the performance of the DU airfoil based rotor appears to be
lower than the one based on the NACA 0021 blade section. This
behavior could be due to the higher stall characteristics of the NACA
profile, being the separation zone at the trailing edge more extended
for the DU airfoil.
Abstract: This paper explains how mobile learning assures sustainable e-education for multicultural group of students. This paper reports the impact of mobile learning on distance education in multicultural environment. The emergence of learning technologies through CD, internet, and mobile is increasingly adopted by distance institutes for quick delivery and cost-effective purposes. Their sustainability is conditioned by the structure of learners as well as the teaching community. The experimental study was conducted among the distant learners of Vinayaka Missions University located at Salem in India. Students were drawn from multicultural environment based on different languages, religions, class and communities. During the mobile learning sessions, the students, who are divided on language, religion, class and community, were dominated by play impulse rather than study anxiety or cultural inhibitions. This study confirmed that mobile learning improved the performance of the students despite their division based on region, language or culture. In other words, technology was able to transcend the relative deprivation in the multicultural groups. It also confirms sustainable e-education through mobile learning and cost-effective system of instruction. Mobile learning appropriates the self-motivation and play impulse of the young learners in providing sustainable e-education to multicultural social groups of students.
Abstract: Encoded information based on synchronization of coupled chaotic Nd:YAG lasers in master-slave configuration is numerically studied. Encoding, transmission, and decoding of information in optical chaotic communication with a single channel is presented. We analyze the robustness of the encrypted audio transmission in a channel noise. In order to illustrate this synchronization robustness, we present two cases of study: synchronization and transmission with a single channel without and with noise in the channel.
Abstract: This article is an extension and a practical application
approach of Wheeler-s NEBIC theory (Net Enabled Business
Innovation Cycle). NEBIC theory is a new approach in IS research
and can be used for dynamic environment related to new technology.
Firms can follow the market changes rapidly with support of the IT
resources. Flexible firms adapt their market strategies, and respond
more quickly to customers changing behaviors. When every leading
firm in an industry has access to the same IT resources, the way that
these IT resources are managed will determine the competitive
advantages or disadvantages of firm. From Dynamic Capabilities
Perspective and from newly introduced NEBIC theory by Wheeler,
we know that only IT resources cannot deliver customer value but
good configuration of those resources can guarantee customer value
by choosing the right emerging technology, grasping the right
economic opportunities through business innovation and growth. We
found evidences in literature that SOA (Service Oriented
Architecture) is a promising emerging technology which can deliver
the desired economic opportunity through modularity, flexibility and
loose-coupling. SOA can also help firms to connect in network which
can open a new window of opportunity to collaborate in innovation
and right kind of outsourcing. There are many articles and research
reports indicates that failure rate in outsourcing is very high but at the
same time research indicates that successful outsourcing projects
adds tangible and intangible benefits to the service consumer.
Business executives and policy makers in the west should not afraid
of outsourcing but they should choose the right strategy through the
use of emerging technology to significantly reduce the failure rate in
outsourcing.
Abstract: This paper proposes a new of cloud computing for individual computer users to share applications in distributed communities, called community-based personal cloud computing (CPCC). The paper also presents a prototype design and implementation of CPCC. The users of CPCC are able to share their computing applications with other users of the community. Any member of the community is able to execute remote applications shared by other members. The remote applications behave in the same way as their local counterparts, allowing the user to enter input, receive output as well as providing the access to the local data of the user. CPCC provides a peer-to-peer (P2P) environment where each peer provides applications which can be used by the other peers that are connected CPCC.
Abstract: Construction delay is unavoidable in developing
countries including Malaysia. It is defined as time overrun or
extension of time for completion of a project. The purpose of the
study is to determine the causes of delay in Malaysian construction
industries based on previous worldwide research. The field survey
conducted includes the experienced developers, consultants and
contractors in Malaysia. 34 causes of the construction delay have
been determined and 24 have been selected using the Rasch model
analysis. The analysis result will be used as the baseline for the next
research to find the causes of delay in the Malaysian construction
industry taking place in Malaysian higher learning institutions.
Abstract: A sequential decision problem, based on the task ofidentifying the species of trees given acoustic echo data collectedfrom them, is considered with well-known stochastic classifiers,including single and mixture Gaussian models. Echoes are processedwith a preprocessing stage based on a model of mammalian cochlearfiltering, using a new discrete low-pass filter characteristic. Stoppingtime performance of the sequential decision process is evaluated andcompared. It is observed that the new low pass filter processingresults in faster sequential decisions.
Abstract: This study describes a capillary-based device
integrated with the heating and cooling modules for polymerase chain
reaction (PCR). The device consists of the reaction
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) capillary, the aluminum blocks, and is
equipped with two cartridge heaters, a thermoelectric (TE) cooler, a
fan, and some thermocouples for temperature control. The cartridge
heaters are placed into the heating blocks and maintained at two
different temperatures to achieve the denaturation and the extension
step. Some thermocouples inserted into the capillary are used to obtain
the transient temperature profiles of the reaction sample during
thermal cycles. A 483-bp DNA template is amplified successfully in
the designed system and the traditional thermal cycler. This work
should be interesting to persons involved in the high-temperature
based reactions and genomics or cell analysis.
Abstract: This work presents an approach for the construction of a hybrid color-texture space by using mutual information. Feature extraction is done by the Laws filter with SVM (Support Vectors Machine) as a classifier. The classification is applied on the VisTex database and a SPOT HRV (XS) image representing two forest areas in the region of Rabat in Morocco. The result of classification obtained in the hybrid space is compared with the one obtained in the RGB color space.