Abstract: The innovative intelligent fuzzy weighted input
estimation method (FWIEM) can be applied to the inverse heat
transfer conduction problem (IHCP) to estimate the unknown
time-varying heat flux of the multilayer materials as presented in this
paper. The feasibility of this method can be verified by adopting the
temperature measurement experiment. The experiment modular may
be designed by using the copper sample which is stacked up 4
aluminum samples with different thicknesses. Furthermore, the
bottoms of copper samples are heated by applying the standard heat
source, and the temperatures on the tops of aluminum are measured by
using the thermocouples. The temperature measurements are then
regarded as the inputs into the presented method to estimate the heat
flux in the bottoms of copper samples. The influence on the estimation
caused by the temperature measurement of the sample with different
thickness, the processing noise covariance Q, the weighting factor γ ,
the sampling time interval Δt , and the space discrete interval Δx ,
will be investigated by utilizing the experiment verification. The
results show that this method is efficient and robust to estimate the
unknown time-varying heat input of the multilayer materials.
Abstract: Several approaches such as linear programming, network
modeling, greedy heuristic and decision support system are well-known
approaches in solving irregular airline operation problem. This paper
presents an alternative approach based on Multi Objective Micro Genetic
Algorithm. The aim of this research is to introduce the concept of Multi
Objective Micro Genetic Algorithm as a tool to solve irregular airline
operation, combine and reroute problem. The experiment result indicated
that the model could obtain optimal solutions within a few second.
Abstract: A study was conducted to determine the effect of
feeding glycerol on dairy cows performance. Twenty four Holstein
Friesian crossbred (>87.5% Holstein Friesian) lactating dairy cows in
early lactation; averaging 13+2.4 kg of milk, 64+45 days in milk,
55+16 months old and 325+26 kg live weight, were stratified for
milk yield, days in milk, age, stage of lactation and body weight, and
then randomly allocated to three treatment groups. All cows were fed
approximate 8 kg of concentrate together with ad libitum corn silage
and freely access to clean water. Nil or 150 and 300g of glycerol
were supplemented to the cows according to treatment groups. All
cows consumed similar concentrate, corn silage and total DM and
NELP. There were no significant differences in DM intake, CP intake,
NELP intake, milk and milk composition yields. All cows had similar
fat, protein, lactose, solid not fat and total solid percentage. All cows
gain similar live weight. The present study indicated that,
supplementation of glycerol did not enhance milk yield, milk
composition and live weight change.
Abstract: The high temperature degree and uniform
Temperature Distribution (TD) on surface of cookware which contact
with food are effective factors for improving cookware application.
Additionally, the ability of pan material in retaining the heat and nonreactivity
with foods are other significant properties. It is difficult for
single material to meet a wide variety of demands such as superior
thermal and chemical properties. Multi-Layer Plate (MLP) makes
more regular TD. In this study the main objectives are to find the best
structure (single or multi-layer) and materials to provide maximum
temperature degree and uniform TD up side surface of pan. And also
heat retaining of used metals with goal of improving the thermal
quality of pan to economize the energy. To achieve this aim were
employed Finite Element Method (FEM) for analyzing transient
thermal behavior of applied materials. The analysis has been
extended for different metals, we achieved the best temperature
profile and heat retaining in Copper/ Stainless Steel MLP.
Abstract: A new generation of manufacturing machines
so-called MIMCA (modular and integrated machine control
architecture) capable of handling much increased complexity in
manufacturing control-systems is presented. Requirement for more
flexible and effective control systems for manufacturing machine
systems is investigated and dimensioned-which highlights a need for
improved means of coordinating and monitoring production
machinery and equipment used to- transport material. The MIMCA
supports simulation based on machine modeling, was conceived by
the authors to address the issues. Essentially MIMCA comprises an
organized unification of selected architectural frameworks and
modeling methods, which include: NISTRCS, UMC and Colored
Timed Petri nets (CTPN). The unification has been achieved; to
support the design and construction of hierarchical and distributed
machine control which realized the concurrent operation of reusable
and distributed machine control components; ability to handle
growing complexity; and support requirements for real- time control
systems. Thus MIMCA enables mapping between 'what a machine
should do' and 'how the machine does it' in a well-defined but
flexible way designed to facilitate reconfiguration of machine
systems.
Abstract: This research investigates the design of a low-cost 3D
spatial interaction approach using the Wii Remote for immersive
Head-Mounted Display (HMD) virtual reality. Current virtual reality
applications that incorporate the Wii Remote are either desktop
virtual reality applications or systems that use large screen displays.
However, the requirements for an HMD virtual reality system differ
from such systems. This is mainly because in HMD virtual reality,
the display screen does not remain at a fixed location. The user views
the virtual environment through display screens that are in front of
the user-s eyes and when the user moves his/her head, these screens
move as well. This means that the display has to be updated in realtime
based on where the user is currently looking. Normal usage of
the Wii Remote requires the controller to be pointed in a certain
direction, typically towards the display. This is too restrictive for
HMD virtual reality systems that ideally require the user to be able to
turn around in the virtual environment. Previous work proposed a
design to achieve this, however it suffered from a number of
drawbacks. The aim of this study is to look into a suitable method of
using the Wii Remote for 3D interaction in a space around the user
for HMD virtual reality. This paper presents an overview of issues
that had to be considered, the system design as well as experimental
results.
Abstract: Calcium is a vital second messenger used in signal transduction. Calcium controls secretion, cell movement, muscular contraction, cell differentiation, ciliary beating and so on. Two theories have been used to simplify the system of reaction-diffusion equations of calcium into a single equation. One is excess buffer approximation (EBA) which assumes that mobile buffer is present in excess and cannot be saturated. The other is rapid buffer approximation (RBA), which assumes that calcium binding to buffer is rapid compared to calcium diffusion rate. In the present work, attempt has been made to develop a model for calcium diffusion under excess buffer approximation in neuron cells. This model incorporates the effect of [Na+] influx on [Ca2+] diffusion,variable calcium and sodium sources, sodium-calcium exchange protein, Sarcolemmal Calcium ATPase pump, sodium and calcium channels. The proposed mathematical model leads to a system of partial differential equations which have been solved numerically using Forward Time Centered Space (FTCS) approach. The numerical results have been used to study the relationships among different types of parameters such as buffer concentration, association rate, calcium permeability.
Abstract: Use of fly ash as a supplementary cementing material
in large volumes can bring both technological and economic benefits
for concrete industry. In this investigation mix proportions for high
volume fly ash concrete were determined at cement replacement
levels of 50%, 55%, 60% and 65% with low calcium fly ash. Flexural
and compressive strengths of different mixes were measured at ages
of 7, 28 and 90 days. Flexural strength of composite section prepared
from pavement quality and lean high volume fly ash concrete was
determined at the age of 28 days. High volume fly ash concrete mixes
exhibited higher rate of strength gain and age factors than
corresponding reference concrete mixes. The optimum cement
replacement level for pavement quality concrete was found to be
60%. The consideration of bond between pavement quality and lean
of high volume fly ash concrete will be beneficial in design of rigid
pavements.
Abstract: After reporting a literature review on Customer
Relationship Management (CRM) and knowledge management, some
important issued arise, in particular related to the lack of success of
CRM strategies implementation. The paper contributes to this
proposing an integrated model of CRM success taking into account
complementary factors such as organizational factors, technology,
knowledge management and customer orientation.
Abstract: Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni (natural sweetener) belongs
to Asteraceae family and can be used as substitute of artificial
sweeteners for diabetic patients. Conventionally, it is cultivated by
seeds or stem cutting, but seed viability rate is poor. A protocol for
callus induction and multiplication was developed to produce large
no. of calli in short period. Surface sterilized nodal, leaf and root
explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with
different concentrations of plant hormone like, IBA, kinetin, NAA,
2,4-D, and NAA in combination with 2,4-D. 100% callusing was
observed from leaf explants cultured on combination of NAA and
2,4-D after three weeks while with 2,4-D, only 10% callusing was
observed. Calli obtained from leaf and root explants were shiny green
while with nodal explants it was hard and brown. The present
findings deal with induction of callusing in Stevia to achieve the
rapid callus multiplication for study of steviol glycosides in callus
culture.
Abstract: Microbubbbles incorporating ultrasound have been used to increase the efficacy of targeted drug delivery, because microstreaming induced by cavitating bubbles affects the drug perfusion into the target cells and tissues. In order to clarify the physical effects of microstreaming on drug perfusion into tissues, a preliminary experimental study of perfusion enhancement by a stably oscillating microbubble was performed. Microstreaming was induced by an oscillating bubble at 15 kHz, and perfusion of dye into an agar phantom was optically measured by histology on agar phantom. Surface color intensity and the penetration length of dye in the agar phantom were increased more than 70% and 30%, respectively, due to the microstreaming induced by an oscillating bubble. The mass of dye perfused into a tissue phantom for 30 s was increased about 80% in the phantom with an oscillating bubble. This preliminary experiment shows the physical effects of steady streaming by an oscillating bubble can enhance the drug perfusion into the tissues while minimizing the biological effects.
Abstract: Despite the relatively large number of studies that
have examined the use of appeals in advertisements, research on the
use of appeals in green advertisements is still underdeveloped and
needs to be investigated further, as it is definitely a tool for marketers
to create illustrious ads. In this study, content analysis was employed
to examine the nature of green advertising appeals and to match the
appeals with the green advertisements. Two different types of green
print advertisings, product orientation and organizational image
orientation were used. Thirty highly educated participants with
different backgrounds were asked individually to ascertain three
appeals out of thirty-four given appeals found among forty real green
advertisements. To analyze participant responses and to group them
based on common appeals, two-step K-mean clustering is used. The
clustering solution indicates that eye-catching graphics and
imaginative appeals are highly notable in both types of green ads.
Depressed, meaningful and sad appeals are found to be highly used in
organizational image orientation ads, whereas, corporate image,
informative and natural appeals are found to be essential for product
orientation ads.
Abstract: Due to the legacy of apartheid segregation South Africa remains a divided society where most voters live in politically homogenous social environments. This paper argues that political discussion within one’s social context plays a primary role in shaping political attitudes and vote choice. Using data from the Comparative National Elections Project 2004 and 2009 South African post-election surveys, the paper explores the extent of social context partisan homogeneity in South Africa and finds that voters are not overly embedded in homogenous social contexts. It then demonstrates the consequences of partisan homogeneity on voting behavior. Homogenous social contexts tend to encourage stronger partisan loyalties and fewer defections in vote choice while voters in more heterogeneous contexts show less consistency in their attitudes and behaviour. Finally, the analysis shows how momentous sociopolitical events at the time of a particular election can change the social context, with important consequences for electoral outcomes.
Abstract: In recent years, several severe large-scale influenza
outbreaks happened in many countries, such as SARS in 2005 or
H1N1 in 2009. Those influenza Epidemics have greatly impacts not
only on people-s life and health, but medical systems in different
countries. Although severe diseases are more experienced, they are not
fully controlled. Governments have different policies to control the
spreads of diseases. However, those policies have both positive and
negative social or economical influence on people and society.
Therefore, it is necessary and essential to develop an appropriate
model for evaluations of policies. Consequently, a proper measure can
be implemented to confront the diseases. The main goal of this study is
to develop a SIR-based model for the further evaluations of the
candidate policies during the influenza outbreaks.
Abstract: The Želazny Most tailing pond is one of the largest
facilities worldwide for waste disposal from the copper mines located
in South-West Poland. A potential failure of the dam would allow
more than 10 million cubic meters of contaminated slurry to flow to
the valley, causing immense environmental problems to the
surrounding area. Thus, the determination of the strength properties
of the dam's soils and their variability is of utmost importance.
An extensive site investigation consisting of more than 480 cone
penetration tests (CPTs) with or without pore water pressure
measurements were conducted within a period of 13 years to study
the mechanical properties of the tailings body. The present work
investigates the point variability of the soil strength parameters
(effective friction angle
Abstract: Nowadays, one of the most important problems of the
metropolises and the world large cities is the habitant traffic difficulty
and lack of sufficient parking site for the vehicles. Esfahan city as the
third metropolis of Iran has encountered with the vehicles parkingplace
problems in the most parts of fourteen regions of the city. The
non principled and non systematic dispersal and lack of parking sites
in the city has created an unfavorable status for its traffic and has
caused the air and sound pollutions increase; in addition, it wastes the
most portions of the citizenship and travelers' charge and time in
urban pathways and disturbs their mental and psychical calmness,
thus leads to their intensive dissatisfaction. In this study, by the usage
of AHP model in GIS environment, the effective criteria in selecting
the public parking sites have been combined with each other, and the
results of the created layers overlapping represent the parking
utilitarian vastness and widths. The achieved results of this research
indicate the pretty appropriate public parking sites selection in region
number 3 of Esfahan; but inconsequential dispersal and lack of these
parking sites in this region have caused abundant transportation
problems in Esfahan city.
Abstract: We present an implementation of an Online Exhibition System (OES) web service(s) that reflects our experiences with using web service development packages and software process models. The system provides major functionality that exists in similar packages. While developing such a complex web service, we gained insightful experience (i) in the traditional software development processes: waterfall model and evolutionary development and their fitness to web services development, (ii) in the fitness and effectiveness of a major web services development kit.
Abstract: Nowadays, manufacturers are facing great challenges
with regard to the production of green products due to the emerging issue of hazardous substance management (HSM). In particular,
environmental legislation pressures have yielded to increased risk,
manufacturing complexity and green components demands. The green principles were expanded to many departments within
organization, including supply chain. Green supply chain
management (GSCM) was emerging in the last few years. This idea
covers every stage in manufacturing from the first to the last stage of
life cycle. From product lifecycle concept, the cycle starts at the design of a product. QFD is a customer-driven product development
tool, considered as a structured management approach for efficiently
translating customer needs into design requirements and parts deployment, as well as manufacturing plans and controls in order to
achieve higher customer satisfaction. This paper develops an Eco-
QFD to provide a framework for designing Eco-mobile phone by integrating the life cycle analysis LCA into QFD throughout the entire product development process.
Abstract: Electronic commerce is growing rapidly with on-line
sales already heading for hundreds of billion dollars per year. Due to
the huge amount of money transferred everyday, an increased
security level is required. In this work we present the architecture of
an intelligent speaker verification system, which is able to accurately
verify the registered users of an e-commerce service using only their
voices as an input. According to the proposed architecture, a
transaction-based e-commerce application should be complemented
by a biometric server where customer-s unique set of speech models
(voiceprint) is stored. The verification procedure requests from the
user to pronounce a personalized sequence of digits and after
capturing speech and extracting voice features at the client side are
sent back to the biometric server. The biometric server uses pattern
recognition to decide whether the received features match the stored
voiceprint of the customer who claims to be, and accordingly grants
verification. The proposed architecture can provide e-commerce
applications with a higher degree of certainty regarding the identity
of a customer, and prevent impostors to execute fraudulent
transactions.
Abstract: A lot of recent research have spoken on the relation
between the increase of the homocysteinemia and some kinds of
cancer . For that, our study was based on the research of a possible
relation between the increase of the concentration of this amino-acid
in the plasma and the appearance of the disease of the Acute
Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in a part of Algerian children with Berber
origin in the East of Algeria . The study has done on 47 ill persons
with an average age of (09±06 ) years , with whom the disease has
diagnosed by blood and marrow examination in the hospital of blood
diseases in the CHU of Batna, and on 194 healthy witnesses of the
same age. The two groups were benefited by a dosage of the
concentration of the homocysteine vitamin B9 ,vitamin B12 , and
also of the study of special polymorphisms of indispensable enzymes
in the metabolism of this acid , and that by the use of the method (
Light cycler ) Real time PCR , on the following enzymes : MS (
C2756G ), MSR ( A66G ) ,MTHFR1 ( C677T ) and MTHFR2
(A1298C). The obtained results have revealed that the rate of the
homozygote muted genotype is the less frequent in the two groups ,
and that exist at list one genotype of each enzyme in the ill group and
in which the percentage exceed with remarkable way the same
genotype in the healthy group and we notice specially the muted
genotype GG of -the methionine synthetase-and the form TT of the
enzyme – methyline tetra hydrofolate reductase – We notice the
existence of considerable number of genotypes in the ill group lied
with characteristic increase of this Amino-acid ,and that for the
reduction of the biologic activity of these enzymes which become
inefficient in the transfer of the homocysteine into the methionine
and cause the diminution of the biologic activity of these enzymes
and with consequence the reduction of the percentage of methylic
radicals in the DNA of studied genes and that lead to the increase of
the activity and the capacity of transcription , and it-s so probably
that this last one is one of the factors of this disease especially if we
know that the specific check-up of vitamins is normal and similar in
the two groups , which ovoid the hypothesis of the reduction of
vitamins . We notice also that the heterozygote genotype is the less in
the sick category except the MTHFR2. Wild genotype is more
frequent in the witness group except MSR. Even these results are
partials; they open a new way in the genetic diagnosis of this
malicious disease which allow a precocious diagnosis and the use of
an effective and appropriated treatment in the same time.