Abstract: The continuous decline of petroleum and natural gas
reserves and non linear rise of oil price has brought about a
realisation of the need for a change in our perpetual dependence on
the fossil fuel. A day to day increased consumption of crude and
petroleum products has made a considerable impact on our foreign
exchange reserves. Hence, an alternate resource for the conversion of
energy (both liquid and gas) is essential for the substitution of
conventional fuels. Biomass is the alternate solution for the present
scenario. Biomass can be converted into both liquid as well as
gaseous fuels and other feedstocks for the industries.
Abstract: Vancron 40, a nitrided powder metallurgical tool
Steel, is used in cold work applications where the predominant failure
mechanisms are adhesive wear or galling. Typical applications of
Vancron 40 are among others fine blanking, cold extrusion, deep
drawing and cold work rolls for cluster mills. Vancron 40 positive
results for cold work rolls for cluster mills and as a tool for some
severe metal forming process makes it competitive compared to other
type of work rolls that require higher precision, among others in cold
rolling of thin stainless steel, which required high surface finish
quality. In this project, three roll materials for cold rolling of stainless
steel strip was examined, Vancron 40, Narva 12B (a high-carbon,
high-chromium tool steel alloyed with tungsten) and Supra 3 (a
Chromium-molybdenum tungsten-vanadium alloyed high speed
steel). The purpose of this project was to study the depth profiles of
the ironed stainless steel strips, emergence of galling and to study the
lubrication performance used by steel industries. Laboratory
experiments were conducted to examine scratch of the strip, galling
and surface roughness of the roll materials under severe tribological
conditions. The critical sliding length for onset of galling was
estimated for stainless steel with four different lubricants. Laboratory
experiments result of performance evaluation of resistance capability
of rolls toward adhesive wear under severe conditions for low and
high reductions. Vancron 40 in combination with cold rolling
lubricant gave good surface quality, prevents galling of
metal surfaces and good bearing capacity.
Abstract: This paper introduces novel approaches to partitioning
and mapping in terms of model-based embedded multicore system
engineering and further discusses benefits, industrial relevance and
features in common with existing approaches. In order to assess
and evaluate results, both approaches have been applied to a real
industrial application as well as to various prototypical demonstrative
applications, that have been developed and implemented for
different purposes. Evaluations show, that such applications improve
significantly according to performance, energy efficiency, meeting
timing constraints and covering maintaining issues by using
the AMALTHEA platform and the implemented approaches.
Furthermore, the model-based design provides an open, expandable,
platform independent and scalable exchange format between
OEMs, suppliers and developers on different levels. Our proposed
mechanisms provide meaningful multicore system utilization since
load balancing by means of partitioning and mapping is effectively
performed with regard to the modeled systems including hardware,
software, operating system, scheduling, constraints, configuration and
more data.
Abstract: Many issues about the relationship between auditors in
auditing practices with its stakeholders often heard. It appears in
perspectives of bringing out the variety of phenomena affecting from
the audit practice of greed and not appreciating from the
independency of the audit profession and professional code of ethics.
It becomes a logical consequence in practicing of capitalism in
accounting. The main purpose of this article would like to uncover
the existing auditing practices in Indonesia, especially in Java that
associated with a strong influence of Javanese culture with reluctant
/”shy", politely, "legowo (gratefully accepted)", "ngemong"
(friendly), "not mentholo" (lenient), "tepo seliro" (tolerance),
"ngajeni" (respectful), "acquiescent" and also reveals its relationships
with Non Javanese culture in facing the conflict of interest in
practical of auditing world. The method used by interpretive
approach that emphasizes the role of language, interpret and
understand and see social reality as something other than a label,
name or concept. Global practices in auditing of each country have
particular cultures that affect the standard set by those regulatory
standards results the adaptation of IAS. The majority of parties in
Indonesia is dominated by Javanese racial regulators, so Java culture
is embedded in every audit practices and those conditions in Java
leads auditors in having similar behaviour, sometimes interfere with
standard Java code of conduct must be executed by an auditor.
Auditors who live in Java have the characters of Javanese culture that
is hard to avoid in the audit practice. However, practically, the
auditors still are relevant in their profession.
Abstract: Member States shall establish zones and
agglomerations throughout their territory to assess and manage air
quality in order to comply with European directives.
In Italy decree 155/2010, transposing Directive 2008/50/EC on
ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, merged into a single
act the previous provisions on ambient air quality assessment and
management, including those resulting from the implementation of
Directive 2004/107/EC relating to arsenic, cadmium, nickel, mercury
and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air.
Decree 155/2010 introduced stricter rules for identifying zones on
the basis of the characteristics of the territory in spite of considering
pollution levels, as it was in the past. The implementation of such
new criteria has reduced the great variability of the previous zoning,
leading to a significant reduction of the total number of zones and to
a complete and uniform ambient air quality assessment and
management throughout the Country.
The present document is related to the new zones definition in
Italy according to Decree 155/2010. In particular the paper contains
the description and the analysis of the outcome of zoning and
classification.
Abstract: Physics Education Research (PER) results have shown
that students do not achieve the expected level of competency in
understanding the concepts of different domains of Physics learning
when taught by the traditional teaching methods, the concepts of
Electricity and Magnetism (E&M) being one among them.
Simulation being one of the valuable instructional tools renders an
opportunity to visualize varied experiences with such concepts.
Considering the electric force concept which requires extensive use
of vector representations, we report here the outcome of the research
results pertaining to the student understanding of this concept and the
role of simulation in using vector representation. The simulation
platform provides a positive impact on the use of vector
representation.
The first stage of this study involves eliciting and analyzing
student responses to questions that probe their understanding of the
concept of electrostatic force and this is followed by four stages of
student interviews as they use the interactive simulations of electric
force in one dimension. Student responses to the questions are
recorded in real time using electronic pad. A validation test interview
is conducted to evaluate students' understanding of the electric force
concept after using interactive simulation. Results indicate lack of
procedural knowledge of the vector representation. The study
emphasizes the need for the choice of appropriate simulation and
mode of induction for learning.
Abstract: Company managers are always looking for more and
more opportunities to succeed in today's fiercely competitive market.
To maintain your place among the successful companies on the
market today or to come up with a revolutionary business idea is
much more difficult than before. Each new or improved method, tool,
or approach that can improve the functioning of business processes or
even of the entire system is worth checking and verification. The use
of simulation in the design of manufacturing systems and their
management in practice is one of the ways without increased risk,
which makes it possible to find the optimal parameters of
manufacturing processes and systems. The paper presents an example
of use of simulation for solution of the bottleneck problem in the
concrete company.
Abstract: Conventional educational practices, do not offer all
the required skills for teachers to successfully survive in today’s
workplace. Due to poor professional training, a big gap exists across
the curriculum plan and the teacher practices in the classroom. As
such, raising the quality of teaching through ICT-enabled training and
professional development of teachers should be an urgent priority.
‘Mobile Learning’, in that vein, is an increasingly growing field of
educational research and practice across schools and work places. In
this paper, we propose a novel Mobile learning system that allows the
users to learn through an intelligent mobile learning in cooperatively
every-time and every-where. The system will reduce the training cost
and increase consistency, efficiency, and data reliability. To establish
that our system will display neither functional nor performance
failure, the evaluation strategy is based on formal observation of
users interacting with system followed by questionnaires and
structured interviews.
Abstract: Job Scheduling plays an important role for efficient
utilization of grid resources available across different domains and
geographical zones. Scheduling of jobs is challenging and NPcomplete.
Evolutionary / Swarm Intelligence algorithms have been
extensively used to address the NP problem in grid scheduling.
Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) has been proposed for optimization
problems based on foraging behaviour of bees. This work proposes a
modified ABC algorithm, Cluster Heterogeneous Earliest First Min-
Min Artificial Bee Colony (CHMM-ABC), to optimally schedule
jobs for the available resources. The proposed model utilizes a novel
Heterogeneous Earliest Finish Time (HEFT) Heuristic Algorithm
along with Min-Min algorithm to identify the initial food source.
Simulation results show the performance improvement of the
proposed algorithm over other swarm intelligence techniques.
Abstract: The prepreg process among the CFRP (Carbon Fiber
Reinforced Plastic) forming methods is the short term of
‘Pre-impregnation’, which is widely used for aerospace composites
that require a high quality property such as a fiber-reinforced woven
fabric, in which an epoxy hardening resin is impregnated the reality.
However, that this process requires continuous researches and
developments for its commercialization because the delamination
characteristically develops between the layers when a great weight is
loaded from outside to supplement such demerit, three lamination
methods among the prepreg lamination methods of CFRP were
designed to minimize the delamination between the layers due to
external impacts. Further, the newly designed methods and the
existing lamination methods were analyzed through a mechanical
characteristic test, Interlaminar Shear Strength test. The Interlaminar
Shear Strength test result confirmed that the newly proposed three
lamination methods, i.e. the Roll, Half and Zigzag laminations,
presented more excellent strengths compared to the conventional Ply
lamination. The interlaminar shear strength in the roll method with
relatively dense fiber distribution was approximately 1.75% higher
than that in the existing ply lamination method, and in the half method,
it was approximately 0.78% higher.
Abstract: In this paper, the electromagnetic shielding
characteristics of an up-to-date typical carbon filler material, carbon
fiber used with a metal mesh were investigated. Carbon fiber
12k-prepregs, where carbon fibers were impregnated with epoxy, were
laminated with wire meshes, vacuum bag-molded and hardened to
manufacture hybrid-type specimens, with which an electromagnetic
shield test was performed in accordance with ASTM D4935-10,
through which was known as the most excellent reproducibility is
obtainable among electromagnetic shield tests. In addition, glass fiber
prepregs whose electromagnetic shielding effect were known as
insignificant were laminated and formed with wire meshes to verify
the validity of the electromagnetic shield effect of wire meshes in
order to confirm the electromagnetic shielding effect of metal meshes
corresponding existing carbon fiber 12k-prepregs. By grafting carbon
fibers, on which studies are being actively underway in the
environmental aspects and electromagnetic shielding effect, with
hybrid-type wire meshes that were analysed through the tests, in this
study, the applicability and possibility are proposed.
Abstract: Bacterial strains capable of degradation of malathion
from the domestic sewage were isolated by an enrichment culture
technique. Three bacterial strains were screened and identified as
Acinetobacter baumannii (AFA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PS1),
and Pseudomonas mendocina (PS2) based on morphological,
biochemical identification and 16S rRNA sequence analysis.
Acinetobacter baumannii AFA was the most efficient malathion
degrading bacterium, so used for further biodegradation study. AFA
was able to grow in mineral salt medium (MSM) supplemented with
malathion (100 mg/l) as a sole carbon source, and within 14 days,
84% of the initial dose was degraded by the isolate measured by high
performance liquid chromatography. Strain AFA could also degrade
other organophosphorus compounds including diazinon, chlorpyrifos
and fenitrothion. The effect of different culture conditions on the
degradation of malathion like inoculum density, other carbon or
nitrogen sources, temperature and shaking were examined.
Degradation of malathion and bacterial cell growth were accelerated
when culture media were supplemented with yeast extract, glucose
and citrate. The optimum conditions for malathion degradation by
strain AFA were; an inoculum density of 1.5x 10^12CFU/ml at 30°C
with shaking. A specific polymerase chain reaction primers were
designed manually using multiple sequence alignment of the
corresponding carboxylesterase enzymes of Acinetobacter species.
Sequencing result of amplified PCR product and phylogenetic
analysis showed low degree of homology with the other
carboxylesterase enzymes of Acinetobacter strains, so we suggested
that this enzyme is a novel esterase enzyme. Isolated bacterial strains
may have potential role for use in bioremediation of malathion
contaminated.
Abstract: The development, operation and maintenance of
Integrated Waste Management Systems (IWMS) affects essentially
the sustainable concern of every region. The features of such systems
have great influence on all of the components of sustainability. In
order to reach the optimal way of processes, a comprehensive
mapping of the variables affecting the future efficiency of the system
is needed such as analysis of the interconnections among the
components and modeling of their interactions. The planning of a
IWMS is based fundamentally on technical and economical
opportunities and the legal framework. Modeling the sustainability
and operation effectiveness of a certain IWMS is not in the scope of
the present research. The complexity of the systems and the large
number of the variables require the utilization of a complex approach
to model the outcomes and future risks. This complex method should
be able to evaluate the logical framework of the factors composing
the system and the interconnections between them. The authors of
this paper studied the usability of the Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM)
approach modeling the future operation of IWMS’s. The approach
requires two input data set. One is the connection matrix containing
all the factors affecting the system in focus with all the
interconnections. The other input data set is the time series, a
retrospective reconstruction of the weights and roles of the factors.
This paper introduces a novel method to develop time series by
content analysis.
Abstract: This study examines several critical dimensions of eservice
quality overlooked in the existing literature and proposes a
model and instrument framework for measuring customer perceived
e-service quality in the banking sector. The initial design was derived
from a pool of instrument dimensions and their items from the
existing literature review by content analysis. Based on focused
group discussion, nine dimensions were extracted. An exploratory
factor analysis approach was applied to data from a survey of 323
respondents. The instrument has been designed specifically for the
banking sector. Research data was collected from bank customers
who use electronic banking in a developing economy. A nine-factor
instrument has been proposed to measure the e-service quality. The
instrument has been checked for reliability. The validity and sample
place limited the applicability of the instrument across economies and
service categories. Future research must be conducted to check the
validity. This instrument can help bankers in developing economies
like India to measure the e-service quality and make improvements.
The present study offers a systematic procedure that provides insights
on to the conceptual and empirical comprehension of customer
perceived e-service quality and its constituents.
Abstract: In medical imaging, segmentation of different areas of
human body like bones, organs, tissues, etc. is an important issue.
Image segmentation allows isolating the object of interest for further
processing that can lead for example to 3D model reconstruction of
whole organs. Difficulty of this procedure varies from trivial for
bones to quite difficult for organs like liver. The liver is being
considered as one of the most difficult human body organ to segment.
It is mainly for its complexity, shape versatility and proximity of
other organs and tissues. Due to this facts usually substantial user
effort has to be applied to obtain satisfactory results of the image
segmentation. Process of image segmentation then deteriorates from
automatic or semi-automatic to fairly manual one. In this paper,
overview of selected available software applications that can handle
semi-automatic image segmentation with further 3D volume
reconstruction of human liver is presented. The applications are being
evaluated based on the segmentation results of several consecutive
DICOM images covering the abdominal area of the human body.
Abstract: The absorption power generation cycle based on the
ammonia-water mixture has attracted much attention for efficient
recovery of low-grade energy sources. In this paper a thermodynamic
performance analysis is carried out for a Kalina cycle using
ammonia-water mixture as a working fluid for efficient conversion of
low-temperature heat source in the form of sensible energy. The
effects of the source temperature on the system performance are
extensively investigated by using the thermodynamic models. The
results show that the source temperature as well as the ammonia mass
fraction affects greatly on the thermodynamic performance of the
cycle.
Abstract: An attempt has been made in the present
communication to elucidate the efficacy of robust ANOVA methods
to analyse horticultural field experimental data in the presence of
outliers. Results obtained fortify the use of robust ANOVA methods
as there was substantiate reduction in error mean square, and hence
the probability of committing Type I error, as compared to the regular
approach.
Abstract: The Ising ferromagnet, consisting of magnetic spins, is
the simplest system showing phase transitions and critical phenomena
at finite temperatures. The Ising ferromagnet has played a central role
in our understanding of phase transitions and critical phenomena.
Also, the Ising ferromagnet explains the gas-liquid phase transitions
accurately. In particular, the Ising ferromagnet in a nonzero magnetic
field has been one of the most intriguing and outstanding unsolved
problems. We study analytically the partition function zeros in the
complex magnetic-field plane and the Yang-Lee edge singularity of
the infinite-range Ising ferromagnet in an external magnetic field.
In addition, we compare the Yang-Lee edge singularity of the
infinite-range Ising ferromagnet with that of the square-lattice Ising
ferromagnet in an external magnetic field.
Abstract: This research study is an exploration of the selfdirected
professional development of teachers who teach in public
schools in an era of democracy and educational change in South
Africa. Amidst an ever-changing educational system, the teachers in
this study position themselves as self-directed teacher-learners where
they adopt particular learning practices which enable change within
the broader discourses of public schooling. Life-story interviews
were used to enter into the private and public spaces of five teachers
which offer glimpses of how particular systems shaped their
identities, and how the meanings of self-directed teacher-learner
shaped their learning practices. Through the Multidimensional
Framework of Analysis and Interpretation the teachers’ stories were
analysed through three lenses: restorying the field texts - the self
through story; the teacher-learner in relation to social contexts, and
practices of self-directed learning. This study shows that as teacherlearners
learn for change through self-directed learning practices,
they develop their agency as transformative intellectuals, which is
necessary for the reworking of South African public schools.
Abstract: Digital image correlation (DIC) is a contactless fullfield
displacement and strain reconstruction technique commonly
used in the field of experimental mechanics. Comparing with
physical measuring devices, such as strain gauges, which only
provide very restricted coverage and are expensive to deploy widely,
the DIC technique provides the result with full-field coverage and
relative high accuracy using an inexpensive and simple experimental
setup. It is very important to study the natural patterns effect on the
DIC technique because the preparation of the artificial patterns is
time consuming and hectic process. The objective of this research is
to study the effect of using images having natural pattern on the
performance of DIC. A systematical simulation method is used to
build simulated deformed images used in DIC. A parameter (subset
size) used in DIC can have an effect on the processing and accuracy
of DIC and even cause DIC to failure. Regarding to the picture
parameters (correlation coefficient), the higher similarity of two
subset can lead the DIC process to fail and make the result more
inaccurate. The pictures with good and bad quality for DIC methods
have been presented and more importantly, it is a systematic way to
evaluate the quality of the picture with natural patterns before they
install the measurement devices.