Abstract: We present here the results for a comparative study of
some techniques, available in the literature, related to the relevance
feedback mechanism in the case of a short-term learning. Only one
method among those considered here is belonging to the data mining
field which is the K-nearest neighbors algorithm (KNN) while the
rest of the methods is related purely to the information retrieval field
and they fall under the purview of the following three major axes:
Shifting query, Feature Weighting and the optimization of the
parameters of similarity metric. As a contribution, and in addition to
the comparative purpose, we propose a new version of the KNN
algorithm referred to as an incremental KNN which is distinct from
the original version in the sense that besides the influence of the
seeds, the rate of the actual target image is influenced also by the
images already rated. The results presented here have been obtained
after experiments conducted on the Wang database for one iteration
and utilizing color moments on the RGB space. This compact
descriptor, Color Moments, is adequate for the efficiency purposes
needed in the case of interactive systems. The results obtained allow
us to claim that the proposed algorithm proves good results; it even
outperforms a wide range of techniques available in the literature.
Abstract: Fuzzy logic approach is used in this study to predict
the tractive performance in terms of traction force, and motion
resistance for an intelligent air cushion track vehicle while it operates
in the swamp peat. The system is effective to control the intelligent
air –cushion system with measuring the vehicle traction force (TF),
motion resistance (MR), cushion clearance height (CH) and cushion
pressure (CP). Sinkage measuring sensor, magnetic switch, pressure
sensor, micro controller, control valves and battery are incorporated
with the Fuzzy logic system (FLS) to investigate experimentally the
TF, MR, CH, and CP. In this study, a comparison for tractive
performance of an intelligent air cushion track vehicle has been
performed with the results obtained from the predicted values of FLS
and experimental actual values. The mean relative error of actual and
predicted values from the FLS model on traction force, and total
motion resistance are found as 5.58 %, and 6.78 % respectively. For
all parameters, the relative error of predicted values are found to be
less than the acceptable limits. The goodness of fit of the prediction
values from the FLS model on TF, and MR are found as 0.90, and
0.98 respectively.
Abstract: In this paper, a solution is presented for a robotic
manipulation problem in industrial settings. The problem is sensing
objects on a conveyor belt, identifying the target, planning and
tracking an interception trajectory between end effector and the
target. Such a problem could be formulated as combining object
recognition, tracking and interception. For this purpose, we integrated
a vision system to the manipulation system and employed tracking
algorithms. The control approach is implemented on a real industrial
manipulation setting, which consists of a conveyor belt, objects
moving on it, a robotic manipulator, and a visual sensor above the
conveyor. The trjectory for robotic interception at a rendezvous point
on the conveyor belt is analytically calculated. Test results show that
tracking the raget along this trajectory results in interception and
grabbing of the target object.
Abstract: This paper presents how the real-time chatter
prevention can be realized by feedback of acoustic cutting signal, and
the efficacy of the proposed adaptive spindle speed tuning algorithm is
verified by intensive experimental simulations. A pair of
microphones, perpendicular to each other, is used to acquire the
acoustic cutting signal resulting from milling chatter. A real-time
feedback control loop is constructed for spindle speed compensation
so that the milling process can be ensured to be within the stability
zone of stability lobe diagram. Acoustic Chatter Signal Index (ACSI)
and Spindle Speed Compensation Strategy (SSCS) are proposed to
quantify the acoustic signal and actively tune the spindle speed
respectively. By converting the acoustic feedback signal into ACSI,
an appropriate Spindle Speed Compensation Rate (SSCR) can be
determined by SSCS based on real-time chatter level or ACSI.
Accordingly, the compensation command, referred to as Added-On
Voltage (AOV), is applied to increase/decrease the spindle motor
speed. By inspection on the precision and quality of the workpiece
surface after milling, the efficacy of the real-time chatter prevention
strategy via acoustic signal feedback is further assured.
Abstract: In this contribution an innovative platform is being
presented that integrates intelligent agents in legacy e-learning environments. It introduces the design and development of a scalable
and interoperable integration platform supporting various assessment agents for e-learning environments. The agents are implemented in
order to provide intelligent assessment services to computational intelligent techniques such as Bayesian Networks and Genetic
Algorithms. The utilization of new and emerging technologies like web services allows integrating the provided services to any web
based legacy e-learning environment.
Abstract: Run-offs are considered as important hydrological factors in feasibility studies of river engineering and irrigation-related projects under arid and semi-arid condition. Flood control is one of the crucial factor, the management of which while mitigates its destructive consequences, abstracts considerable volume of renewable water resources. The methodology applied here was based on Mizumura, which applied a mathematical model for simple tank to simulate the rainfall-run-off process in a particular water basin using the data from the observational hydrograph. The model was applied in the Dez River water basin adjacent to Greater Dezful region, Iran in order to simulate and estimate the floods. Results indicated that the calculated hydrographs using the simple tank method, SCS-CN model and the observation hydrographs had a close proximity. It was also found that on average the flood time and discharge peaks in the simple tank were closer to the observational data than the CN method. On the other hand, the calculated flood volume in the CN model was significantly closer to the observational data than the simple tank model.
Abstract: The application of the synchronous dynamic random
access memory (SDRAM) has gone beyond the scope of personal
computers for quite a long time. It comes into hand whenever a big
amount of low price and still high speed memory is needed. Most of
the newly developed stand alone embedded devices in the field of
image, video and sound processing take more and more use of it. The
big amount of low price memory has its trade off – the speed. In
order to take use of the full potential of the memory, an efficient
controller is needed. Efficient stands for maximum random accesses
to the memory both for reading and writing and less area after
implementation. This paper proposes a target device independent
DDR SDRAM pipelined controller and provides performance
comparison with available solutions.
Abstract: Selecting the word translation from a set of target
language words, one that conveys the correct sense of source word
and makes more fluent target language output, is one of core
problems in machine translation. In this paper we compare the 3
methods of estimating word translation probabilities for selecting the
translation word in Thai – English Machine Translation. The 3
methods are (1) Method based on frequency of word translation, (2)
Method based on collocation of word translation, and (3) Method
based on Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithm. For evaluation
we used Thai – English parallel sentences generated by NECTEC.
The method based on EM algorithm is the best method in comparison
to the other methods and gives the satisfying results.
Abstract: Recently, a great number of theoretical frameworks
have been proposed to develop the linkages between knowledge
management (KM) and organizational strategies. However, while
there has been much theorizing and case study in the area, validated
research models integrating KM and information technology
strategies for empirical testing of these theories have been scarce. In
this research, we try to develop a research model for explaining the
relationship between KM strategy and IT strategy and their effects on
performance. Finally, meaningful propositions and conclusions are
derived, and suggestions for future research are proposed and
discussed.
Abstract: This paper presents the stabilization potential of Class
F pond ash (PA) from a coal fired thermal power station on tropical
peat soil. Peat or highly organic soils are well known for their high
compressibility, natural moisture content, low shear strength and
long-term settlement. This study investigates the effect of different
amount (i.e., 5, 10, 15 and 20%) of PA on peat soil, collected from
Sarawak, Malaysia, mainly compaction and unconfined compressive
strength (UCS) properties. The amounts of PA added to the peat soil
sample as percentage of the dry peat soil mass. With the increase in
PA content, the maximum dry density (MDD) of peat soil increases,
while the optimum moisture content (OMC) decreases. The UCS
value of the peat soils increases significantly with the increase of PA
content and also with curing periods. This improvement on
compressive strength of tropical peat soils indicates that PA has the
potential to be used as a stabilizer for tropical peat soil. Also, the use
of PA in soil stabilization helps in reducing the pond volume and
achieving environment friendly as well as a sustainable development
of natural resources.
Abstract: New advancement of technology and never satisfying demands of the civilization are putting huge pressure on the natural fuel resources and these resources are at a constant threat to its sustainability. To get the best out of the automobile, the optimum balance between performance and fuel economy is important. In the present state of art, either of the above two aspects are taken into mind while designing and development process which puts the other in the loss as increase in fuel economy leads to decrement in performance and vice-versa. In-depth observation of the vehicle dynamics apparently shows that large amount of energy is lost during braking and likewise large amount of fuel is consumed to reclaim the initial state, this leads to lower fuel efficiency to gain the same performance. Current use of Kinetic Energy Recovery System is only limited to sports vehicles only because of the higher cost of this system. They are also temporary in nature as power can be squeezed only during a small time duration and use of superior parts leads to high cost, which results on concentration on performance only and neglecting the fuel economy. In this paper Kinetic Energy Recovery System for storing the power and then using the same while accelerating has been discussed. The major storing element in this system is a Flat Spiral Spring that will store energy by compression and torsion.
The use of spring ensure the permanent storage of energy until used by the driver unlike present mechanical regeneration system in which the energy stored decreases with time and is eventually lost. A combination of internal gears and spur gears will be used in order to make the energy release uniform which will lead to safe usage. The system can be used to improve the fuel efficiency by assisting in overcoming the vehicle’s inertia after braking or to provide instant acceleration whenever required by the driver. The performance characteristics of the system including response time, mechanical efficiency and overall increase in efficiency are demonstrated. This technology makes the KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) more flexible and economical allowing specific application while at the same time increasing the time frame and ease of usage.
Abstract: Curing of paints by exposure to UV radiations is
emerging as one of the best film forming technique as an alternative
to traditional solvent borne oxidative and thermal curing coatings.
The composition and chemistry of UV curable coatings and role of
multifunctional and monofunctional monomers, oligomers, and
photoinitiators have been discussed. The limitations imposed by
thermodynamic equilibrium and tendency for acrylic double bond
polymerizations during synthesis of multifunctional acrylates have
been presented. Aim of present investigation was thus to explore the
reaction variables associated with synthesis of multifunctional
acrylates. Zirconium oxychloride was evaluated as catalyst against
regular acid functional catalyst. The catalyzed synthesis of glyceryl
acrylate and neopentyl glycol acrylate was conducted by variation of
following reaction parameters: two different reactant molar ratios-
1:4 and 1:6; catalyst usage in % by moles on polyol- 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5
and two different reaction temperatures- 45 and 75 0C. The reaction
was monitored by determination of acid value and hydroxy value at
regular intervals, besides TLC, HPLC, and FTIR analysis of
intermediates and products. On the basis of determination of reaction
progress over 1-60 hrs, the esterification reaction was observed to
follow 2nd order kinetics with rate constant varying from 1*10-4 to
7*10-4. The thermal and catalytic components of second order rate
constant and energy of activation were also determined. Uses of
these kinetic and thermodynamic parameters in design of reactor for
manufacture of multifunctional acrylate ester have been presented.
The synthesized multifunctional acrylates were used to formulate and
apply UV curable clear coat followed by determination of curing
characteristics and mechanical properties of cured film. The overall
curing rates less than 05 min. were easily attained indicating
economical viability of radiation curable system due to faster
production schedules
Abstract: With the advent of emerging personal computing paradigms such as ubiquitous and mobile computing, Web contents are becoming accessible from a wide range of mobile devices. Since these devices do not have the same rendering capabilities, Web contents need to be adapted for transparent access from a variety of client agents. Such content adaptation results in better rendering and faster delivery to the client device. Nevertheless, Web content adaptation sets new challenges for semantic markup. This paper presents an advanced components platform, called MorfeoSMC, enabling the development of mobility applications and services according to a channel model based on Services Oriented Architecture (SOA) principles. It then goes on to describe the potential for integration with the Semantic Web through a novel framework of external semantic annotation of mobile Web contents. The role of semantic annotation in this framework is to describe the contents of individual documents themselves, assuring the preservation of the semantics during the process of adapting content rendering, as well as to exploit these semantic annotations in a novel user profile-aware content adaptation process. Semantic Web content adaptation is a way of adding value to and facilitates repurposing of Web contents (enhanced browsing, Web Services location and access, etc).
Abstract: A dynamic software risk assessment model is
presented. Analogies between dynamic financial analysis and
software risk assessment models are established and based on these
analogies it suggested that dynamic risk model for software projects
is the way to move forward for the risk assessment of software
project. It is shown how software risk assessment change during
different phases of a software project and hence requires a dynamic
risk assessment model to capture these variations. Further evolution
of dynamic financial analysis models is discussed and mapped to the
evolution of software risk assessment models.
Abstract: This research seeks to investigate the frequency and
profitability of index arbitrage opportunities involving the SET50
futures, SET50 component stocks, and the ThaiDEX SET50 ETF
(ticker symbol: TDEX). In particular, the frequency and profit of
arbitrage are measured in the following three arbitrage tests: (1)
SET50 futures vs. ThaiDEX SET50 ETF, (2) SET50 futures vs.
SET50 component stocks, and (3) ThaiDEX SET50 ETF vs. SET50
component stocks are investigated. For tests (2) and (3), the problems
involve conic optimization and quadratic programming as subproblems.
This research is first to apply conic optimization and
quadratic programming techniques in the context of index arbitrage
and is first to investigate such index arbitrage in the Thai equity and
derivatives markets. Thus, the contribution of this study is twofold.
First, its results would help understand the contribution of the
derivatives securities to the efficiency of the Thai markets. Second,
the methodology employed in this study can be applied to other
geographical markets, with minor adjustments.
Abstract: Reversible logic is becoming more and more prominent
as the technology sets higher demands on heat, power, scaling
and stability. Reversible gates are able at any time to "undo" the
current step or function. Multiple-valued logic has the advantage of
transporting and evaluating higher bits each clock cycle than binary.
Moreover, we demonstrate in this paper, combining these disciplines
we can construct powerful multiple-valued reversible logic structures.
In this paper a reversible block implemented by pseudo floatinggate
can perform AD-function and a DA-function as its reverse
application.
Abstract: An alternative approach to the use of Discrete Fourier
Transform (DFT) for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) reconstruction
is the use of parametric modeling technique. This method
is suitable for problems in which the image can be modeled by
explicit known source functions with a few adjustable parameters.
Despite the success reported in the use of modeling technique as an
alternative MRI reconstruction technique, two important problems
constitutes challenges to the applicability of this method, these are
estimation of Model order and model coefficient determination. In
this paper, five of the suggested method of evaluating the model
order have been evaluated, these are: The Final Prediction Error
(FPE), Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Residual Variance (RV),
Minimum Description Length (MDL) and Hannan and Quinn (HNQ)
criterion. These criteria were evaluated on MRI data sets based on the
method of Transient Error Reconstruction Algorithm (TERA). The
result for each criterion is compared to result obtained by the use of a
fixed order technique and three measures of similarity were evaluated.
Result obtained shows that the use of MDL gives the highest measure
of similarity to that use by a fixed order technique.
Abstract: This paper investigates the influence of various
parameters on the behaviour of water droplets on polymeric surfaces
under high electric fields. An inclined plane test was carried out to
understand the droplet behaviour in strong electric field. Parameters
such as water droplet conductivity, droplet volume, polymeric
surface roughness and droplet positioning with respect to the
electrodes were studied. The flashover voltage is affected by all
aforementioned parameters. The droplet positioning is in some cases
more vital than the droplet volume. Surface damages were analysed
using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) studies and by Energy
dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX). It is observes that magnitude of
discharge have direct influence on amount of surface da
Abstract: In the last years numerous applications of Human-
Computer Interaction have exploited the capabilities of Time-of-
Flight cameras for achieving more and more comfortable and precise
interactions. In particular, gesture recognition is one of the most active
fields. This work presents a new method for interacting with a virtual
object in a 3D space. Our approach is based on the fusion of depth
data, supplied by a ToF camera, with color information, supplied
by a HD webcam. The hand detection procedure does not require
any learning phase and is able to concurrently manage gestures of
two hands. The system is robust to the presence in the scene of
other objects or people, thanks to the use of the Kalman filter for
maintaining the tracking of the hands.
Abstract: The paper is included within the framework of a
complex research program, which was initiated from the hypothesis
arguing on the existence of a correlation between pineal indolic and
peptide hormones and the somatic development rhythm, including
thus the epithalamium-epiphysis complex involvement. At birds,
pineal gland contains a circadian oscillator, playing a main role in the
temporal organization of the cerebral functions. The secretion of
pineal indolic hormones is characterized by a high endogenous
rhythmic alternation, modulated by the light/darkness (L/D)
succession and by temperature as well. The research has been carried
out using 100 chicken broilers - “Ross" commercial hybrid,
randomly allocated in two experimental batches: Lc batch, reared
under a 12L/12D lighting schedule and Lexp batch, which was photic
pinealectomised through continuous exposition to light (150 lux, 24
hours, 56 days). Chemical and physical features of the meat issued
from breast fillet and thighs muscles have been studied, determining
the dry matter, proteins, fat, collagen, salt content and pH value, as
well. Besides the variations of meat chemical composition in relation
with lighting schedule, other parameters have been studied: live
weight dynamics, feed intake and somatic development degree. The
achieved results became significant since chickens have 7 days of
age, some variations of the studied parameters being registered,
revealing that the pineal gland physiologic activity, in relation with
the lighting schedule, could be interpreted through the monitoring of
the somatic development technological parameters, usually studied
within the chicken broilers rearing aviculture practice.