Abstract: Efforts to secure supervisory control and data acquisition
(SCADA) systems must be supported under the guidance of
sound security policies and mechanisms to enforce them. Critical
elements of the policy must be systematically translated into a format
that can be used by policy enforcement components. Ideally, the
goal is to ensure that the enforced policy is a close reflection of
the specified policy. However, security controls commonly used to
enforce policies in the IT environment were not designed to satisfy
the specific needs of the SCADA environment. This paper presents
a language, based on the well-known XACML framework, for the
expression of authorization policies for SCADA systems.
Abstract: This paper presents an overview of the design and
implementation of an online rule-based Expert Systems for Islamic
medication. T his Online Islamic Medication Expert System (OIMES)
focuses on physical illnesses only. Knowledge base of this Expert
System contains exhaustively the types of illness together with their
related cures or treatments/therapies, obtained exclusively from the
Quran and Hadith. Extensive research and study are conducted to
ensure that the Expert System is able to provide the most suitable
treatment with reference to the relevant verses cited in Quran or
Hadith. These verses come together with their related 'actions'
(bodily actions/gestures or some acts) to be performed by the patient
to treat a particular illness/sickness. These verses and the instructions
for the 'actions' are to be displayed unambiguously on the computer
screen. The online platform provides the advantage for patient getting
treatment practically anytime and anywhere as long as the computer
and Internet facility exist. Patient does not need to make appointment
to see an expert for a therapy.
Abstract: This paper proposes a new performance characterization for the test strategy intended for second order filters denominated Transient Analysis Method (TRAM). We evaluate the ability of the addressed test strategy for detecting deviation faults under simultaneous statistical fluctuation of the non-faulty parameters. For this purpose, we use Monte Carlo simulations and a fault model that considers as faulty only one component of the filter under test while the others components adopt random values (within their tolerance band) obtained from their statistical distributions. The new data reported here show (for the filters under study) the presence of hard-to-test components and relatively low fault coverage values for small deviation faults. These results suggest that the fault coverage value obtained using only nominal values for the non-faulty components (the traditional evaluation of TRAM) seem to be a poor predictor of the test performance.
Abstract: By the application of an improved back-propagation
neural network (BPNN), a model of current densities for a solid oxide
fuel cell (SOFC) with 10 layers is established in this study. To build
the learning data of BPNN, Taguchi orthogonal array is applied to
arrange the conditions of operating parameters, which totally 7 factors
act as the inputs of BPNN. Also, the average current densities
achieved by numerical method acts as the outputs of BPNN.
Comparing with the direct solution, the learning errors for all learning
data are smaller than 0.117%, and the predicting errors for 27
forecasting cases are less than 0.231%. The results show that the
presented model effectively builds a mathematical algorithm to predict
performance of a SOFC stack immediately in real time.
Also, the calculating algorithms are applied to proceed with the
optimization of the average current density for a SOFC stack. The
operating performance window of a SOFC stack is found to be
between 41137.11 and 53907.89. Furthermore, an inverse predicting
model of operating parameters of a SOFC stack is developed here by
the calculating algorithms of the improved BPNN, which is proved to
effectively predict operating parameters to achieve a desired
performance output of a SOFC stack.
Abstract: The effects of coatings based on sodium alginate (S.A) and carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC) on the color and moisture characteristics of potato round slices were investigated. It is the first time that this combination of polysaccharides is used as edible coating which alone had the best performance as inhibitor of potato color discoloration during the storage of 15 days at 4oC. When ascorbic acid (AA) and green tea (GT) were added in the above edible coating its effects on potato round slices changed. The mixtures of sodium alginate and carboxyl methyl cellulose with ascorbic acid or with green tea behave as a potential moisture barrier, resulting to the extent of potato samples self–life. These data suggests that both GT and AA are potential inhibitors of dehydration in potatoes and not only natural antioxidants.
Abstract: Agriculture products are being more demanding in
market today. To increase its productivity, automation to produce
these products will be very helpful. The purpose of this work is to
measure and determine the ripeness and quality of watermelon. The
textures on watermelon skin will be captured using digital camera.
These images will be filtered using image processing technique. All
these information gathered will be trained using ANN to determine
the watermelon ripeness accuracy. Initial results showed that the best
model has produced percentage accuracy of 86.51%, when measured
at 32 hidden units with a balanced percentage rate of training dataset.
Abstract: Building Sector is the major electricity consumer and
it is costly to building owners. Therefore the application of thermal
energy storage (TES) has gained attractive to reduce energy cost.
Many attractive tariff packages are being offered by the electricity
provider to promote TES. The tariff packages offered higher cost of
electricity during peak period and lower cost of electricity during off
peak period. This paper presented the return of initial investment by
implementing a centralized air-conditioning plant integrated with
thermal energy storage with partially operation strategies. Building
load profile will be calculated hourly according to building
specification and building usage trend. TES operation conditions will
be designed according to building load demand profile, storage
capacity, tariff packages and peak/off peak period. The Payback
Period analysis method was used to evaluate economic analysis. The
investment is considered a good investment where by the initial cost
is recovered less than ten than seven years.
Abstract: This paper may be considered as combination of both pervasive computing and Differential GPS (global positioning satellite) which relates to control automatic traffic signals in such a
way as to pre-empt normal signal operation and permit lifesaving vehicles. Before knowing the arrival of the lifesaving vehicles from
the signal there is a chance of clearing the traffic. Traffic signal
preemption system includes a vehicle equipped with onboard computer system capable of capturing diagnostic information and
estimated location of the lifesaving vehicle using the information provided by GPS receiver connected to the onboard computer system
and transmitting the information-s using a wireless transmitter via a
wireless network. The fleet management system connected to a
wireless receiver is capable of receiving the information transmitted
by the lifesaving vehicle .A computer is also located at the
intersection uses corrected vehicle position, speed & direction
measurements, in conjunction with previously recorded data defining
approach routes to the intersection, to determine the optimum time to
switch a traffic light controller to preemption mode so that lifesaving
vehicles can pass safely. In case when the ambulance need to take a
“U" turn in a heavy traffic area we suggest a solution. Now we are
going to make use of computerized median which uses LINKED
BLOCKS (removable) to solve the above problem.
Abstract: The Sphere Method is a flexible interior point algorithm for linear programming problems. This was developed mainly by Professor Katta G. Murty. It consists of two steps, the centering step and the descent step. The centering step is the most expensive part of the algorithm. In this centering step we proposed some improvements such as introducing two or more initial feasible solutions as we solve for the more favorable new solution by objective value while working with the rigorous updates of the feasible region along with some ideas integrated in the descent step. An illustration is given confirming the advantage of using the proposed procedure.
Abstract: In this study arsenate [As(V)] removal from drinking water by coagulation process was investigated. Ferric chloride (FeCl3.6H2O) and ferrous sulfate (FeSO4.7H2O) were used as coagulant. The effects of major operating variables such as coagulant dose (1–30 mg/L) and pH (5.5–9.5) were investigated. Ferric chloride and ferrous sulfate were found as effective and reliable coagulant due to required dose, residual arsenate and coagulant concentration. Optimum pH values for maximum arsenate removal for ferrous sulfate and ferric chloride were found as 8 and 7.5. The arsenate removal efficiency decreased at neutral and acidic pH values for Fe(II) and at the high acidic and high alkaline pH for Fe(III). It was found that the increase of coagulant dose caused a substantial increase in the arsenate removal. But above a certain ferric chloride and ferrous sulfate dosage, the increase in arsenate removal was not significant. Ferric chloride and ferrous sulfate dose above 8 mg/L slightly increased arsenate removal.
Abstract: The objective of this paper is to support the application of Open Innovation practices in firms and organizations by the assessment and management of Intellectual Capital. Intellectual Capital constituents are analyzed in order to verify their capability of acting as key drivers of Open Innovation processes and, therefore, of creating value. A methodology is defined to settle a procedure which helps to select the most relevant Intellectual Capital value drivers and to provide Communities of Innovation with strategic and managerial guidelines in sustaining Open Innovation paradigm. An application of the methodology is developed within a specifically addressed project and its results are hereafter examined.
Abstract: The effect of concentration of reduction agent of
sodium borohydrate (NaBH4) on the properties of silicon
nanoparticles synthesized via microemulsion route is reported. In
this work, the concentration of the silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4) that
served as silicon source with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and
polyethylene glycol (PEG) as stabilizer and surfactant, respectively,
are keep fixed. Four samples with varied concentration of NaBH4
from 0.05 M to 0.20 M were synthesized. It was found that the lowest
concentration of NaBH4 gave better formation of silicon
nanoparticles.
Abstract: This paper investigates the structure and content of the
wine lists in upscale restaurants in Portugal (N=61). The respondents
considered that a wine list should be easy to use and to modify, welldesigned,
modern and varied. Respondents also stated that they
perform on average 6 revisions to the wine list per year. The
restaurant owner, the restaurant manager and the sommelier were the
main persons in charge of the wine list design. One of the most
important reasons for selecting wines across most restaurants was to
‘complement the menu’ and ‘pairing food with wine’. Restaurants
also reported to be relatively independent from suppliers and
magazine evaluations. Moreover, this work revealed that the
restaurant wine list is considered by restaurateurs as a strategic tool to
sell wine as a complement to the menu, to improve customer
satisfaction and loyalty, to increase restaurant value and to enhance a
successful positioning.
Abstract: The current methods of predictive controllers are
utilized for those processes in which the rate of output variations is
not high. For such processes, therefore, stability can be achieved by
implementing the constrained predictive controller or applying
infinite prediction horizon. When the rate of the output growth is
high (e.g. for unstable nonminimum phase process) the stabilization
seems to be problematic. In order to avoid this, it is suggested to
change the method in the way that: first, the prediction error growth
should be decreased at the early stage of the prediction horizon, and
second, the rate of the error variation should be penalized. The
growth of the error is decreased through adjusting its weighting
coefficients in the cost function. Reduction in the error variation is
possible by adding the first order derivate of the error into the cost
function. By studying different examples it is shown that using these
two remedies together, the closed-loop stability of unstable
nonminimum phase process can be achieved.
Abstract: Automatic detection of syllable repetition is one of the
important parameter in assessing the stuttered speech objectively.
The existing method which uses artificial neural network (ANN)
requires high levels of agreement as prerequisite before attempting to
train and test ANNs to separate fluent and nonfluent. We propose
automatic detection method for syllable repetition in read speech for
objective assessment of stuttered disfluencies which uses a novel
approach and has four stages comprising of segmentation, feature
extraction, score matching and decision logic. Feature extraction is
implemented using well know Mel frequency Cepstra coefficient
(MFCC). Score matching is done using Dynamic Time Warping
(DTW) between the syllables. The Decision logic is implemented by
Perceptron based on the score given by score matching. Although
many methods are available for segmentation, in this paper it is done
manually. Here the assessment by human judges on the read speech
of 10 adults who stutter are described using corresponding method
and the result was 83%.
Abstract: New methodologies for XOR-XNOR circuits are
proposed to improve the speed and power as these circuits are basic
building blocks of many arithmetic circuits. This paper evaluates and
compares the performance of various XOR-XNOR circuits. The
performance of the XOR-XNOR circuits based on TSMC 0.18μm
process models at all range of the supply voltage starting from 0.6V
to 3.3V is evaluated by the comparison of the simulation results
obtained from HSPICE. Simulation results reveal that the proposed
circuit exhibit lower PDP and EDP, more power efficient and faster
when compared with best available XOR-XNOR circuits in the
literature.
Abstract: This paper presents a speed fuzzy sliding mode
controller for a vector controlled induction machine (IM) fed by a
voltage source inverter (PWM).
The sliding mode based fuzzy control method is developed to
achieve fast response, a best disturbance rejection and to maintain a
good decoupling.
The problem with sliding mode control is that there is high
frequency switching around the sliding mode surface. The FSMC is
the combination of the robustness of Sliding Mode Control (SMC)
and the smoothness of Fuzzy Logic (FL). To reduce the torque
fluctuations (chattering), the sign function used in the conventional
SMC is substituted with a fuzzy logic algorithm.
The proposed algorithm was simulated by Matlab/Simulink
software and simulation results show that the performance of the
control scheme is robust and the chattering problem is solved.
Abstract: The Bangnanglee Sub-district Administrative Office,
Thailand had initiated a policy to environmental protection with
encouraging household waste management in order to promote civil
responsibility for domestic hygienic. This research studied the
household behaviors on solid waste and wastewater management. A
sample population of 306 families answered a questionnaire. The
study showed that, on average, domestic activities had produced 1.93
kilograms of waste per household per day. It has been found that 79%
of the households made several attempts to reduce their own amount
of waste. 80% of the households stationed their own garbage bins.
71% managed their waste by selling recyclable products. As for the
rest of the waste, 51% burned them, while 29% disposed their waste
in the nearby public trashcans and other 13% have them buried. As
for wastewater, 60% of the households disposed it into the sewage,
whereas 30% disposed them right from their elevated house.
Abstract: For controlling urban transportations, traffic lights
show similar behavior for different kinds of vehicles at intersections.
Emergency vehicles need special behavior at intersections, so traffic
lights should behave in different manner when emergency vehicles
approach them. At the present time, intelligent traffic lights control
urban transportations intelligently. In this paper the ethical aspect of
this topic is considered. A model is proposed for adding special
component to emergency vehicles and traffic lights for controlling
traffic in ethical manner. The proposed model is simulated by JADE.
Abstract: We present an explicit expression to estimate driving voltage attenuation through RC networks representation of an ultrahigh- speed image sensor. Elmore delay metric for a fundamental RC chain is employed as the first-order approximation. By application of dimensional analysis to SPICE simulation data, we found a simple expression that significantly improves the accuracy of the approximation. Estimation error of the resultant expression for uniform RC networks is less than 2%. Similarly, another simple closed-form model to estimate 50 % delay through fundamental RC networks is also derived with sufficient accuracy. The framework of this analysis can be extended to address delay or attenuation issues of other VLSI structures.