Abstract: This paper describes dynamic analysis using proposed
fast finite element method for a shock absorbing structure including a
sponge. The structure is supported by nonlinear concentrated springs.
The restoring force of the spring has cubic nonlinearity and linear
hysteresis damping. To calculate damping properties for the structures
including elastic body and porous body, displacement vectors as
common unknown variable are solved under coupled condition. Under
small amplitude, we apply asymptotic method to complex eigenvalue
problem of this system to obtain modal parameters. And then
expressions of modal loss factor are derived approximately. This
approach was proposed by one of the authors previously. We call this
method as Modal Strain and Kinetic Energy Method (MSKE method).
Further, using the modal loss factors, the discretized equations in
physical coordinate are transformed into the nonlinear ordinary
coupled equations using normal coordinate corresponding to linear
natural modes. This transformation yields computation efficiency. As
a numerical example of a shock absorbing structures, we adopt double
skins with a sponge. The double skins are supported by nonlinear
concentrated springs. We clarify influences of amplitude of the input
force on nonlinear and chaotic responses.
Abstract: The objective of this work is to produce heterotrophic
microalgal lipid in flask-batch fermentation. Chlorella sp. KKU-S2
supported maximum values of 0.374 g/L/d, 0.478 g lipid/g cells, and
0.112 g/L/d for volumetric lipid production rate, and specific yield of
lipid, and specific rate of lipid production, respectively when culture
was performed on BG-11 medium supplemented with 50g/L glucose.
Among the carbon sources tested, maximum cell yield coefficient
(YX/S, g/L), maximum specific yield of lipid (YP/X, g lipid/g cells) and
volumetric lipid production rate (QP, g/L/d) were found of 0.728,
0.237, and 0.619, respectively, using sugarcane molasses as carbon
source. The main components of fatty acid from extracted lipid were
palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid which similar
to vegetable oils and suitable for biodiesel production.
Abstract: The paper presents the design concept of a unitselection
text-to-speech synthesis system for the Slovenian language.
Due to its modular and upgradable architecture, the system can be
used in a variety of speech user interface applications, ranging from
server carrier-grade voice portal applications, desktop user interfaces
to specialized embedded devices.
Since memory and processing power requirements are important
factors for a possible implementation in embedded devices, lexica
and speech corpora need to be reduced. We describe a simple and
efficient implementation of a greedy subset selection algorithm that
extracts a compact subset of high coverage text sentences. The
experiment on a reference text corpus showed that the subset
selection algorithm produced a compact sentence subset with a small
redundancy.
The adequacy of the spoken output was evaluated by several
subjective tests as they are recommended by the International
Telecommunication Union ITU.
Abstract: The operating control parameters of injection
flushing type of electrical discharge machining process on stainless
steel 304 workpiece using copper tools are being optimized
according to its individual machining characteristic i.e. Electrode
Wear Ratio (EWR). Higher EWR would give bad dimensional
precision for the EDM machined workpiece because of high
electrode wear. Hence, the quality characteristic for EWR is set to
lower-the-better to achieve the optimum dimensional precision for
the machined workpiece. Taguchi method has been used for the
construction, layout and analysis of the experiment for EWR
machining characteristic. The use of Taguchi method in the
experiment saves a lot of time and cost of preparing and machining
the experiment samples. Therefore, an L18 Orthogonal array
which was the fundamental component in the statistical design of
experiments has been used to plan the experiments and Analysis of
Variance (ANOVA) is used to determine the optimum machining
parameters for this machining characteristic. The control
parameters selected for this optimization experiments are polarity,
pulse on duration, discharge current, discharge voltage, machining
depth, machining diameter and dielectric liquid pressure. The
result had shown that negative polarity machining parameter
setting will decreases EWR.
Abstract: In recent times there has been a growing interest in the
development of quasi-two-dimensional niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5)
as a semiconductor for the potential electronic applications such as
capacitors, filtration, dye-sensitised solar cells and gas sensing
platforms. Therefore once the purpose is established, Nb2O5 can be
prepared in a number of nano- and sub-micron-structural
morphologies that include rods, wires, belts and tubes. In this study
films of Nb2O5 were prepared on gold plated silicon substrate using
spin-coating technique and subsequently by mechanical exfoliation.
The reason this method was employed was to achieve layers of less
than 15nm in thickness. The sintering temperature of the specimen
was 800oC. The morphology and structural characteristics of the
films were analyzed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Raman
Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS).
Abstract: In this paper, we present a new learning algorithm for
anomaly based network intrusion detection using improved self
adaptive naïve Bayesian tree (NBTree), which induces a hybrid of
decision tree and naïve Bayesian classifier. The proposed approach
scales up the balance detections for different attack types and keeps
the false positives at acceptable level in intrusion detection. In
complex and dynamic large intrusion detection dataset, the detection
accuracy of naïve Bayesian classifier does not scale up as well as
decision tree. It has been successfully tested in other problem
domains that naïve Bayesian tree improves the classification rates in
large dataset. In naïve Bayesian tree nodes contain and split as
regular decision-trees, but the leaves contain naïve Bayesian
classifiers. The experimental results on KDD99 benchmark network
intrusion detection dataset demonstrate that this new approach scales
up the detection rates for different attack types and reduces false
positives in network intrusion detection.
Abstract: Hydraulic conductivity is one parameter important for predicting the movement of water and contaminants dissolved in the water through the soil. The hydraulic conductivity is measured on soil samples in the lab and sometimes tests carried out in the field. The hydraulic conductivity has been related to soil particle diameter by a number of investigators. In this study, 25 set of soil samples with sand texture. The results show approximately success in predicting hydraulic conductivity from particle diameters data. The following relationship obtained from multiple linear regressions on data (R2 = 0.52): Where d10, d50 and d60, are the soil particle diameter (mm) that 10%, 50% and 60% of all soil particles are finer (smaller) by weight and Ks, saturated hydraulic conductivity is expressed in m/day. The results of regression analysis showed that d10 play a more significant role with respect to Ks, saturated hydraulic conductivity (m/day), and has been named as the effective parameter in Ks calculation.
Abstract: In this paper, an attempt has been made to obtain nonsensitive
solutions in the multi-objective optimization of a
photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) air collector. The selected objective
functions are overall energy efficiency and exergy efficiency.
Improved thermal, electrical and exergy models are used to calculate
the thermal and electrical parameters, overall energy efficiency,
exergy components and exergy efficiency of a typical PV/T air
collector. A computer simulation program is also developed. The
results of numerical simulation are in good agreement with the
experimental measurements noted in the previous literature. Finally,
multi-objective optimization has been carried out under given
climatic, operating and design parameters. The optimized ranges of
inlet air velocity, duct depth and the objective functions in optimal
Pareto front have been obtained. Furthermore, non-sensitive solutions
from energy or exergy point of view in the results of multi-objective
optimization have been shown.
Abstract: Via a large scale cross-sectional study among Japanese white color workers, the authors aimed to elucidate: (1) the distributions of Sense of Coherence (SOC), which reflect stress coping abilities, (2) the distributions of Life experience; (3) and the association between SOC and Life experience. Anonymous self-administered questionnaires were sent to 15,891 in 2001 and 21,922 in 2011 employees at educational and research institutions in Tsukuba Research Park City. A total of 5,868 (36.9%) and 9,528 (43.5%) respectively workers completed and returned the questionnaire; 5,715 and 9,515 respectively workers without missing data were analyzed. SOC scale scores differed by gender, age, and other demographic features in both study years. Among the life experiences, workers who have got over parenting or management position were higher SOC scale scores adjusted by gender and age. The life experiences that workers have got over could develop their stronger SOC in their life course.
Abstract: H.264/AVC offers a considerably higher improvement
in coding efficiency compared to other compression standards such
as MPEG-2, but computational complexity is increased significantly.
In this paper, we propose selective mode decision schemes for fast
intra prediction mode selection. The objective is to reduce the
computational complexity of the H.264/AVC encoder without
significant rate-distortion performance degradation. In our proposed
schemes, the intra prediction complexity is reduced by limiting the
luma and chroma prediction modes using the directional information
of the 16×16 prediction mode. Experimental results are presented to
show that the proposed schemes reduce the complexity by up to 78%
maintaining the similar PSNR quality with about 1.46% bit rate
increase in average.
Abstract: In this paper an open agent-based modular framework
for personalized and adaptive curriculum generation in e-learning
environment is proposed. Agent-based approaches offer several
potential advantages over alternative approaches. Agent-based
systems exhibit high levels of flexibility and robustness in dynamic
or unpredictable environments by virtue of their intrinsic autonomy.
The presented framework enables integration of different types of
expert agents, various kinds of learning objects and user modeling
techniques. It creates possibilities for adaptive e-learning process.
The KM e-learning system is in a process of implementation in
Varna Free University and will be used for supporting the
educational process at the University.
Abstract: The lubricating properties of commercially available
mucins originating from different animal organs, namely bovine
submaxillary mucin (BSM) and porcine gastric mucin (PGM), have
been characterized at polymeric surfaces for biomedical applications.
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and pin-on-disk tribometry have
been employed for tribological studies at nanoscale and macroscale
contacts, respectively. Polystyrene (PS) was employed to represent
‘rigid’ contacts, whereas poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) was
employed to represent ‘soft contacts’. To understand the lubricating
properties of mucins in correlation with the coverage on surfaces,
adsorption properties of mucins onto the polymeric substrates have
been characterized by means of optical waveguide light-mode
spectroscopy (OWLS). Both mucins showed facile adsorption onto
both polymeric substrates, but the lubricity was highly dependent
upon the pH change between 2 and 7.
Abstract: A computational study at the level density functional theory (DFT) was carried out to investigate the influences of Si and C-doping on the 14N and 27Al quadrupole coupling constant in the (10, 0) zigzag single ? walled Aluminum-Nitride nanotube (AlNNT). To this aim, a 1.16nm, length of AlNNT consisting of 40 Al atoms and 40 N atoms were selected where the end atoms are capped by hydrogen atom. To follow the purpose, three Si atoms and three C atoms were doped instead of three Al atoms and three N atoms as a central ring in the surface of the Si and C-doped AlNNT. At first both of systems optimized at the level of BLYP method and 6-31G (d) basis set and after that, the NQR parameters were calculated at the level BLYP method and 6-311+G** basis set in two optimized forms. The calculate CQ values for both optimized AlNNT systems, raw and Si and C-doped, reveal different electronic environments in the mentioned systems. It was also demonstrated that the end nuclei have the largest CQ values in both considered AlNNT systems. All the calculations were carried out using Gaussian 98 package of program.
Abstract: Successful intelligence (SI) is the integrated set of the
ability needed to attain success in life, within individual-s sociocultural
context. People are successfully intelligent by recognizing
their strengths and weaknesses. They will find ways to strengthen
their weakness and maintain their strength or even improve it. SI
people can shape, select, and adapt to the environments by using
balance of higher-ordered thinking abilities including; critical,
creative, and applicative. Aims: The purposes of this study were to;
1) develop curriculum that promotes SI for nursing students, and 2)
study the effectiveness of the curriculum development. Method:
Research and Development was a method used for this study. The
design was divided into two phases; 1) the curriculum development
which composed of three steps (needs assessment, curriculum
development and curriculum field trail), and 2) the curriculum
implementation. In this phase, a pre-experimental research design
(one group pretest-posttest design) was conducted. The sample
composed of 49 sophomore nursing students of Boromarajonani
College of Nursing, Surin, Thailand who enrolled in Nursing care of
Health problem course I in 2011 academic year. Data were carefully
collected using 4 instruments; 1) Modified essay questions test
(MEQ) 2) Nursing Care Plan evaluation form 3) Group processing
observation form (α = 0.74) and 4) Satisfied evaluation form of
learning (α = 0.82). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics
and content analysis. Results: The results revealed that the sample
had post-test average score of SI higher than pre-test average score
(mean difference was 5.03, S.D. = 2.84). Fifty seven percentages of
the sample passed the MEQ posttest at the criteria of 60 percentages.
Students demonstrated the strategies of how to develop nursing care
plan. Overall, students- satisfaction on teaching performance was at
high level (mean = 4.35, S.D. = 0.46). Conclusion: This curriculum
can promote the attribute of characteristic of SI person and was
highly required to be continued.
Abstract: In this paper, a novel algorithm based on Ridgelet
Transform and support vector machine is proposed for human action
recognition. The Ridgelet transform is a directional multi-resolution
transform and it is more suitable for describing the human action by
performing its directional information to form spatial features
vectors. The dynamic transition between the spatial features is carried
out using both the Principal Component Analysis and clustering
algorithm K-means. First, the Principal Component Analysis is used
to reduce the dimensionality of the obtained vectors. Then, the kmeans
algorithm is then used to perform the obtained vectors to form
the spatio-temporal pattern, called set-of-labels, according to given
periodicity of human action. Finally, a Support Machine classifier is
used to discriminate between the different human actions. Different
tests are conducted on popular Datasets, such as Weizmann and
KTH. The obtained results show that the proposed method provides
more significant accuracy rate and it drives more robustness in very
challenging situations such as lighting changes, scaling and dynamic
environment
Abstract: Information of nodes’ locations is an important
criterion for lots of applications in Wireless Sensor Networks. In the
hop-based range-free localization methods, anchors transmit the
localization messages counting a hop count value to the whole
network. Each node receives this message and calculates its own
distance with anchor in hops and then approximates its own position.
However the estimative distances can provoke large error, and affect
the localization precision. To solve the problem, this paper proposes
an algorithm, which makes the unknown nodes fix the nearest anchor
as a reference and select two other anchors which are the most
accurate to achieve the estimated location. Compared to the DV-Hop
algorithm, experiment results illustrate that proposed algorithm has
less average localization error and is more effective.
Abstract: In this paper the authors propose a flexible electronic solution, to improve the energetic efficiency of a thermo plant. This is achieved by replacing the mechanical gear box, placed traditionally between a gas turbine and a synchronous generator; by a power electronic converter. After reminding problematic of gear boxes and interest of a proposed electronic solution in high power plants, the authors describe a new control strategy for an indirect frequency converter, which is characterized by its high efficiency due to the use of SWM: Square Wave Modulation. The main advantage of this mode is the quasi absence of switching losses. A control method is also proposed to resolve some problems incurred by using square wave modulation, in particular to reduce the harmonics distortion of the output inverter voltage and current. Simulation examples as well as experimental results are included.
Abstract: The rapid improvement of the microprocessor and network has made it possible for the PC cluster to compete with conventional supercomputers. Lots of high throughput type of applications can be satisfied by using the current desktop PCs, especially for those in PC classrooms, and leave the supercomputers for the demands from large scale high performance parallel computations. This paper presents our development on enabling an automated deployment mechanism for cluster computing to utilize the computing power of PCs such as reside in PC classroom. After well deployment, these PCs can be transformed into a pre-configured cluster computing resource immediately without touching the existing education/training environment installed on these PCs. Thus, the training activities will not be affected by this additional activity to harvest idle computing cycles. The time and manpower required to build and manage a computing platform in geographically distributed PC classrooms also can be reduced by this development.
Abstract: The vast amount of information hidden in huge
databases has created tremendous interests in the field of data
mining. This paper examines the possibility of using data clustering
techniques in oral medicine to identify functional relationships
between different attributes and classification of similar patient
examinations. Commonly used data clustering algorithms have been
reviewed and as a result several interesting results have been
gathered.
Abstract: The Baltic States regained independence and started
the pathway from command economy to market economy and
entered European Union at the same time. Latter internationally
recognized evaluations for the countries are diverse. The present
diversity of the Baltic States -Economic Development is a subject of
interest because of the similarities – all three are small, open
economies, countries have similar geographic location and initially
likewise historical and political backgrounds. This article explains
relationship between social environment, business environment and
economic growth. It argues that the elements of social environment
underlie more successful economic development. It researches the
causes, why Estonia has performed better in economic outcomes and
development. The article analyses selection of socio-economic
indicators of all three Baltic States – Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia
for the time period of ten years to include the influence of economic
cycles.