Abstract: STRIM (Statistical Test Rule Induction Method) has been proposed as a method to effectively induct if-then rules from the decision table which is considered as a sample set obtained from the population of interest. Its usefulness has been confirmed by simulation experiments specifying rules in advance, and by comparison with conventional methods. However, scope for future development remains before STRIM can be applied to the analysis of real-world data sets. The first requirement is to determine the size of the dataset needed for inducting true rules, since finding statistically significant rules is the core of the method. The second is to examine the capacity of rule induction from datasets with contaminated attribute values created by missing data and noise, since real-world datasets usually contain such contaminated data. This paper examines the first problem theoretically, in connection with the rule length. The second problem is then examined in a simulation experiment, utilizing the critical size of dataset derived from the first step. The experimental results show that STRIM is highly robust in the analysis of datasets with contaminated attribute values, and hence is applicable to real-world data
Abstract: In this study, three robust predicting methods, namely artificial neural network (ANN), adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and support vector machine (SVM) were used for computing the resonant frequency of A-shaped compact microstrip antennas (ACMAs) operating at UHF band. Firstly, the resonant frequencies of 144 ACMAs with various dimensions and electrical parameters were simulated with the help of IE3D™ based on method of moment (MoM). The ANN, ANFIS and SVM models for computing the resonant frequency were then built by considering the simulation data. 124 simulated ACMAs were utilized for training and the remaining 20 ACMAs were used for testing the ANN, ANFIS and SVM models. The performance of the ANN, ANFIS and SVM models are compared in the training and test process. The average percentage errors (APE) regarding the computed resonant frequencies for training of the ANN, ANFIS and SVM were obtained as 0.457%, 0.399% and 0.600%, respectively. The constructed models were then tested and APE values as 0.601% for ANN, 0.744% for ANFIS and 0.623% for SVM were achieved. The results obtained here show that ANN, ANFIS and SVM methods can be successfully applied to compute the resonant frequency of ACMAs, since they are useful and versatile methods that yield accurate results.
Abstract: Experimental economics is subject to criticism with
regards to frequently discussed the trade-off between internal and
external validity requirements, which seems to be critically flawed.
This paper evaluates incompatibility of trade-off condition and
condition of internal validity as a prerequisite for external validity. In
addition, it outlines the imprecise concept of artificiality, which is
found to be rather improving the external validity and seems to
strengthen the illusory status of external versus internal validity
tension. Internal validity is further analyzed with regards to Duhem-
Quine problem, where unpredictability argument is significantly
weakened trough application of inductivism within the illustrative
hypothetical-deductive model. Our discussion partially weakens
critical arguments related to the robustness of results in experimental
economics, if the perfectly controlled experimental environment is
secured.
Abstract: As technology-based service industries grow
drastically worldwide; companies are recognizing the importance of
market preoccupancy and have made an effort to capture a large
market to gain the upper hand. To this end, a focus on patents can be
used to determine the properties of a technology, as well as to capture
advantages in technical skills, in comparison with the firm’s
competitors. However, technology-based services largely depend not
only on their technological value but also their economic value, due
to the recognized worth that is passed to a plurality of users. Thus, it
is important to determine whether there are any competitors in the
target areas and what services they provide in any field. Despite this
importance, little effort has been made to systematically benchmark
competitors in order to identify business opportunities. Thus, this
study aims to not only identify each position of technology-centered
service companies in complex market dynamics, but also to discover
new business opportunities. For this, we try to consider both
technology and market environments simultaneously by utilizing
patent data as a representative proxy for technology and trademark
dates as an index for a firm’s target goods and services. Theoretically,
this is one of the earliest attempts to combine patent data and
trademark data to analyze corporate strategies. In practice, the
research results are expected to be used as a decision criterion to
diagnose the economic value that companies can obtain by entering
the market, as well as the technological value to be passed onto their
customers. Thus, the proposed approach can be useful to support
effective technology and business strategies in a firm.
Abstract: Any signal transmitted over a channel is corrupted by noise and interference. A host of channel coding techniques has been proposed to alleviate the effect of such noise and interference. Among these Turbo codes are recommended, because of increased capacity at higher transmission rates and superior performance over convolutional codes. The multimedia elements which are associated with ample amount of data are best protected by Turbo codes. Turbo decoder employs Maximum A-posteriori Probability (MAP) and Soft Output Viterbi Decoding (SOVA) algorithms. Conventional Turbo coded systems employ Equal Error Protection (EEP) in which the protection of all the data in an information message is uniform. Some applications involve Unequal Error Protection (UEP) in which the level of protection is higher for important information bits than that of other bits. In this work, enhancement to the traditional Log MAP decoding algorithm is being done by using optimized scaling factors for both the decoders. The error correcting performance in presence of UEP in Additive White Gaussian Noise channel (AWGN) and Rayleigh fading are analyzed for the transmission of image with Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) as source coding technique. This paper compares the performance of log MAP, Modified log MAP (MlogMAP) and Enhanced log MAP (ElogMAP) algorithms used for image transmission. The MlogMAP algorithm is found to be best for lower Eb/N0 values but for higher Eb/N0 ElogMAP performs better with optimized scaling factors. The performance comparison of AWGN with fading channel indicates the robustness of the proposed algorithm. According to the performance of three different message classes, class3 would be more protected than other two classes. From the performance analysis, it is observed that ElogMAP algorithm with UEP is best for transmission of an image compared to Log MAP and MlogMAP decoding algorithms.
Abstract: Past literature on business incubators distinguished incubators based on their mission statements. However, more and more mission statements become a slogan rather than a reality. It is therefore more appropriate to identify business incubators based on their real activities, rather than the missions they declared. With a sample of technology business incubators (TBIs) in China, we try to investigate business incubators’ real activities by examining the incubation efficiency along the following five dimensions, i.e., survival of new ventures, technology transfer, local economic growth, job creation, and profit generation. Furthermore, we identified six types of business incubators. The results indicate that generally Chinese TBIs have a greater preference for acquiring profits over other dimensions.
Abstract: The venture capital becomes more and more advanced
and effective source of the innovation project financing, connected
with a high-risk level. In the developed countries, it plays a key role
in transforming innovation projects into successful businesses and
creating the prosperity of the modern economy. In Russia, there are
many necessary preconditions for creation of the effective venture
investment system: the network of the public institutes for innovation
financing operates; there is a significant number of the small and
medium-sized enterprises, capable to sell production with good
market potential. However, the current system does not confirm the
necessary level of efficiency in practice that can be substantially
explained by the absence of the accurate plan of action to form the
national venture model and by the lack of experience of successful
venture deals with profitable exits in Russian economy. This paper
studies the influence of various factors on the venture industry
development by the example of the IT-sector in Russia. The choice of
the sector is based on the fact, that this segment is the main driver of
the venture capital market growth in Russia, and the necessary set of
data exists. The size of investment of the second round is used as the
dependent variable. To analyse the influence of the previous round,
such determinant as the volume of the previous (first) round
investments is used. There is also used a dummy variable in
regression to examine that the participation of an investor with high
reputation and experience in the previous round can influence the size
of the next investment round. The regression analysis of short-term
interrelations between studied variables reveals prevailing influence
of the volume of the first round investments on the venture
investments volume of the second round. The most important
determinant of the value of the second-round investment is the value
of first–round investment, so it means that the most competitive on
the Russian market are the start-up teams that can attract more money
on the start, and the target market growth is not the factor of crucial
importance. This supports the point of view that VC in Russia is
driven by endogenous factors and not by exogenous ones that are
based on global market growth.
Abstract: Electrohydraulic servo system have been used in industry in a wide number of applications. Its dynamics are highly nonlinear and also have large extent of model uncertainties and external disturbances. In this paper, a robust back-stepping control (RBSC) scheme is proposed to overcome the problem of disturbances and system uncertainties effectively and to improve the tracking performance of EHS systems. In order to implement the proposed control scheme, the system uncertainties in EHS systems are considered as total leakage coefficient and effective oil volume. In addition, in order to obtain the virtual controls for stabilizing system, the update rule for the system uncertainty term is induced by the Lyapunov control function (LCF). To verify the performance and robustness of the proposed control system, computer simulation of the proposed control system using Matlab/Simulink Software is executed. From the computer simulation, it was found that the RBSC system produces the desired tracking performance and has robustness to the disturbances and system uncertainties of EHS systems.
Abstract: To solve these problems, we investigated the management system of heating enterprise, including strategic planning based on the balanced scorecard (BSC), quality management in accordance with the standards of the Quality Management System (QMS) ISO 9001 and analysis of the system based on expert judgment using fuzzy inference. To carry out our work we used the theory of fuzzy sets, the QMS in accordance with ISO 9001, BSC, method of construction of business processes according to the notation IDEF0, theory of modeling using Matlab software simulation tools and graphical programming LabVIEW. The results of the work are as follows: We determined possibilities of improving the management of heat-supply plant-based on QMS; after the justification and adaptation of software tool it has been used to automate a series of functions for the management and reduction of resources and for the maintenance of the system up to date; an application for the analysis of the QMS based on fuzzy inference has been created with novel organization of communication software with the application enabling the analysis of relevant data of enterprise management system.
Abstract: Hybrid electric vehicles can reduce pollution and
improve fuel economy. Power-split hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs)
provide two power paths between the internal combustion engine
(ICE) and energy storage system (ESS) through the gears of an
electrically variable transmission (EVT). EVT allows ICE to operate
independently from vehicle speed all the time. Therefore, the ICE can
operate in the efficient region of its characteristic brake specific fuel
consumption (BSFC) map. The two-mode powertrain can operate in
input-split or compound-split EVT modes and in four different fixed
gear configurations. Power-split architecture is advantageous because
it combines conventional series and parallel power paths. This
research focuses on input-split and compound-split modes in the
two-mode power-split powertrain. Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC) for an
internal combustion engine (ICE) and PI control for electric machines
(EMs) are derived for the urban driving cycle simulation. These
control algorithms reduce vehicle fuel consumption and improve ICE
efficiency while maintaining the state of charge (SOC) of the energy
storage system in an efficient range.
Abstract: In this paper we propose a computer-aided solution
with Genetic Algorithms in order to reduce the drafting of reports:
FMEA analysis and Control Plan required in the manufacture of the
product launch and improved knowledge development teams for
future projects. The solution allows to the design team to introduce
data entry required to FMEA. The actual analysis is performed using
Genetic Algorithms to find optimum between RPN risk factor and
cost of production. A feature of Genetic Algorithms is that they are
used as a means of finding solutions for multi criteria optimization
problems. In our case, along with three specific FMEA risk factors is
considered and reduce production cost. Analysis tool will generate
final reports for all FMEA processes. The data obtained in FMEA
reports are automatically integrated with other entered parameters in
Control Plan. Implementation of the solution is in the form of an
application running in an intranet on two servers: one containing
analysis and plan generation engine and the other containing the
database where the initial parameters and results are stored. The
results can then be used as starting solutions in the synthesis of other
projects. The solution was applied to welding processes, laser cutting
and bending to manufacture chassis for buses. Advantages of the
solution are efficient elaboration of documents in the current project
by automatically generating reports FMEA and Control Plan using
multiple criteria optimization of production and build a solid
knowledge base for future projects. The solution which we propose is
a cheap alternative to other solutions on the market using Open
Source tools in implementation.
Abstract: In this study, the pedestrian simulation VISWALK
integration and application platform ant algorithms written program
made to construct a renovation engineering schedule planning mode.
The use of simulation analysis platform construction site when the user
running the simulation, after calculating the user walks in the case of
construction delays, the ant algorithm to find out the minimum delay
time schedule plan, and add volume and unit area deactivated loss of
business computing, and finally to the owners and users of two
different positions cut considerations pick out the best schedule
planning. To assess and validate its effectiveness, this study
constructed the model imported floor of a shopping mall floor
renovation engineering cases. Verify that the case can be found from
the mode of the proposed project schedule planning program can
effectively reduce the delay time and the user's walking mall loss of
business, the impact of the operation on the renovation engineering
facilities in the building to a minimum.
Abstract: This paper addresses a cutting edge method of
business demand forecasting, based on an empirical probability
function when the historical behavior of the data is random.
Additionally, it presents error determination based on the numerical
method technique ‘propagation of errors.’ The methodology was
conducted characterization and process diagnostics demand planning
as part of the production management, then new ways to predict its
value through techniques of probability and to calculate their mistake
investigated, it was tools used numerical methods. All this based on
the behavior of the data. This analysis was determined considering
the specific business circumstances of a company in the sector of
communications, located in the city of Bogota, Colombia. In
conclusion, using this application it was possible to obtain the
adequate stock of the products required by the company to provide its
services, helping the company reduce its service time, increase the
client satisfaction rate, reduce stock which has not been in rotation
for a long time, code its inventory, and plan reorder points for the
replenishment of stock.
Abstract: This study examines the feasibility of indirect solar
desalination in oil producing countries in the Middle East and North
Africa (MENA) region. It relies on value engineering (VE) and costbenefit
with sensitivity analyses to identify optimal coupling
configurations of desalination and solar energy technologies. A
comparative return on investment was assessed as a function of water
costs for varied plant capacities (25,000 to 75,000 m3/day), project
lifetimes (15 to 25 years), and discount rates (5 to 15%) taking into
consideration water and energy subsidies, land cost as well as
environmental externalities in the form of carbon credit related to
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction. The results showed
reverse osmosis (RO) coupled with photovoltaic technologies (PVs)
as the most promising configuration, robust across different prices for
Brent oil, discount rates, as well as different project lifetimes.
Environmental externalities and subsidies analysis revealed that a
16% reduction in existing subsidy on water tariffs would ensure
economic viability. Additionally, while land costs affect investment
attractiveness, the viability of RO coupled with PV remains possible
for a land purchase cost
Abstract: This study is aiming at establishing the relationship
between the optical signal of flame and an equivalent ratio of flame. In
this experiment, flame optical signal in a furnace is measured using
photodiode. The combustion system is composed of metal fiber burner
and vertical furnace, and flame chemiluminescence is measured at
various experimental conditions. In this study, the flame
chemiluminescence of laminar premixed flame is measured using
commercially available photodiode. It is experimentally investigated
the relationship between equivalent ratio and photodiode signal. In
addition, the strategy of combustion control method is proposed using
the optical signal and fuel pressure.
The results showed that certain relationship between optical data of
photodiode and equivalence ratio exists, and this leads to the
successful application of this system for instantaneous measurement of
equivalence ration of the combustion system.
Abstract: Because blueberries are worldwide recognized as a
good source of beneficial components, their consumption has
increased in the past decades, and so have the scientific works about
their properties. Hence, this work was undertaken to evaluate the
effect of some production and conservation factors on the properties
of blueberries from cultivar Bluecrop. The physical and chemical
analyses were done according to established methodologies and then
all data was treated using software SPSS for assessment of the
possible differences among the factors investigated and/or the
correlations between the variables at study. The results showed that
location of production influenced some of the berries properties
(caliber, sugars, antioxidant activity, color and texture) and that the
age of the bushes was correlated with moisture, sugars and acidity, as
well as lightness. On the other hand, altitude of the farm only was
correlated to sugar content. With regards to conservation, it
influenced only anthocyanins content and DPPH antioxidant activity.
Finally, the type of extract and the order of extraction had a
pronounced influence on all the phenolic properties evaluated.
Abstract: Among various active filters, shunt active filter is a
viable solution for reactive power and harmonics compensation. In
this paper, the SRF plan is used to generate current reference for
compensation and conventional PI controllers were used as the
controller to compensate the reactive power. The design of the closed
loop controllers is reserved simple by modeling them as first order
systems. Computationally uncomplicated and efficient SVM system
is used in the present work for better utilization of dc bus voltage.
The rating of shunt active filter has been finalized based on the
reactive power demand of the selected reactive load. The proposed
control and SVM technique are validated by simulating in MATLAB
software.
Abstract: Computational fluid dynamics analysis of the burning
of syngas fuels derived from biomass and plastic solid waste mixture
through gasification process is presented in this paper. The syngas
fuel is burned in gas turbine can combustor. Gas turbine can
combustor with swirl is designed to burn the fuel efficiently and
reduce the emissions. The main objective is to test the impact of the
alternative syngas fuel compositions and lower heating value on the
combustion performance and emissions. The syngas fuel is produced
by blending palm kernel shell (PKS) with polyethylene (PE) waste
via catalytic steam gasification (fluidized bed reactor). High
hydrogen content syngas fuel was obtained by mixing 30% PE waste
with PKS. The syngas composition obtained through the gasification
process is 76.2% H2, 8.53% CO, 4.39% CO2 and 10.90% CH4. The
lower heating value of the syngas fuel is LHV = 15.98 MJ/m3. Three
fuels were tested in this study natural gas (100%CH4), syngas fuel
and pure hydrogen (100% H2). The power from the combustor was
kept constant for all the fuels tested in this study. The effect of syngas
fuel composition and lower heating value on the flame shape, gas
temperature, mass of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxides
(NOX) per unit of energy generation is presented in this paper. The
results show an increase of the peak flame temperature and NO mass
fractions for the syngas and hydrogen fuels compared to natural gas
fuel combustion. Lower average CO2 emissions at the exit of the
combustor are obtained for the syngas compared to the natural gas
fuel.
Abstract: Microbes have been used to solve environmental
problems for many years. The role of microorganism to sequester,
precipitate or alter the oxidation state of various heavy metals has
been extensively studied. Treatment using microorganism interacts
with toxic metal are very diverse. The purpose of this research is to
remove the mercury using Pseudomonas putida (P. putida), pure
culture ATTC 49128 at optimum growth parameters such as
techniques of culture, acclimatization time and speed of incubator
shaker. Thus, in this study, the optimum growth parameters of P.
putida were obtained to achieve the maximum of mercury removal.
Based on the optimum parameters of P. putida for specific growth
rate, the removal of two different mercury concentration, 1 ppm and
4 ppm were studied. From mercury nitrate solution, a mercuryresistant
bacterial strain which is able to reduce from ionic mercury
to metallic mercury was used to reduce ionic mercury. The overall
levels of mercury removal in this study were between 80% and 89%.
The information obtained in this study is of fundamental for
understanding of the survival of P. putida ATTC 49128 in mercury
solution. Thus, microbial mercury removal is a potential
bioremediation for wastewater especially in petrochemical industries
in Malaysia.
Abstract: The comprehensive CFD models have been used to
represent and study the heterogeneous combustion of biomass. In the
present work, the operation of a global flue gas circuit in the sugarcane
bagasse combustion, from wind boxes below primary air grate
supply, passing by bagasse insertion in swirl burners and boiler
furnace, to boiler bank outlet is simulated. It uses five different
meshes representing each part of this system located in sequence:
wind boxes and grate, boiler furnace, swirl burners, superheaters and
boiler bank. The model considers turbulence using standard k-ε,
combustion using EDM, radiation heat transfer using DTM with 16
ray directions and bagasse particle tracking represented by Schiller-
Naumann model. The results showed good agreement with expected
behavior found in literature and equipment design. The more detailed
results view in separated parts of flue gas system allows observing
some flow behaviors that cannot be represented by usual
simplifications like bagasse supply under homogeneous axial and
rotational vectors and others that can be represented using new
considerations like the representation of 26 thousand grate orifices by
144 rectangular inlets.