Abstract: Energy consumption is a very important topic these
days especially regarding air conditioning in residential buildings,
since this takes the biggest amount of energy in buildings total
consumption, residential buildings constitute the biggest percentage
of energy consumption in Bahrain.
This research reflects on the effects of shading percentage in
different solar orientations on the energy consumption inside
residential buildings (domestic dwellings).
The research as found that, there are different effects of shading in
changing building orientation:
• 0.69% for the shading percentage 25% when the building is
oriented to the north (0º);
• 18.59% for 75% of shading in north-west orientation
(325º);
• The best effect for shading is in north-west orientation
(315º);
• The less effect for shading was in case of the building
orientation is the north (0º).
Abstract: This paper studied the synthesis of monoacylglycerol (monolaurin) by glycerolysis of coconut oil and crude glycerol, catalyzed by Carica papaya lipase. Coconut oil obtained from cold pressed extraction method and crude glycerol obtained from the biodiesel plant in Department of Chemistry, Uttaradit Rajabhat University, Thailand which used oils were used as raw materials for biodiesel production through transesterification process catalyzed by sodium hydroxide. The influences of the following variables were studied: (i) type of organic solvent, (ii) molar ratio of substrate, (iii) reaction temperature, (iv) reaction time, (v) lipase dosage, and (vi) initial water activity of enzyme. High yields in monoacylglycerol (58.35%) were obtained with molar ratio of glycerol to oil at 8:1 in ethanol, temperature was controlled at 45oC for 36 hours, the amount of enzyme used was 20 wt% of oil and initial water activity of enzyme at 0.53.
Abstract: A mammal-s body can be seen as a blood vessel with
complex tunnels. When heart pumps blood periodically, blood runs
through blood vessels and rebounds from walls of blood vessels.
Blood pressure signals can be measured with complex but periodic
patterns. When an artery is clamped during a surgical operation, the
spectrum of blood pressure signals will be different from that of
normal situation. In this investigation, intestinal artery clamping
operations were conducted to a pig for simulating the situation of
intestinal blocking during a surgical operation. Similarity theory is a
convenient and easy tool to prove that patterns of blood pressure
signals of intestinal artery blocking and unblocking are surely
different. And, the algorithm of Hilbert Huang Transform can be
applied to extract the character parameters of blood pressure pattern.
In conclusion, the patterns of blood pressure signals of two different
situations, intestinal artery blocking and unblocking, can be
distinguished by these character parameters defined in this paper.
Abstract: Formulation of biological profile is one of the modern roles of forensic anthropologist. The present study was conducted to estimate height using foot and shoeprint length of Malaysian population. The present work can be very useful information in the process of identification of individual in forensic cases based on shoeprint evidence. It can help to narrow down suspects and ease the police investigation. Besides, stature is important parameters in determining the partial identify of unidentified and mutilated bodies. Thus, this study can help the problem encountered in cases of mass disaster, massacre, explosions and assault cases. This is because it is very hard to identify parts of bodies in these cases where people are dismembered and become unrecognizable. Samples in this research were collected from 200 Malaysian adults (100 males and 100 females) with age ranging from 20 to 45 years old. In this research, shoeprint length were measured based on the print of the shoes made from the flat shoes. Other information like gender, foot length and height of subject were also recorded. The data was analyzed using IBM® SPSS Statistics 19 software. Results indicated that, foot length has a strong correlation with stature than shoeprint length for both sides of the feet. However, in the unknown, where the gender was undetermined have shown a better correlation in foot length and shoeprint length parameter compared to males and females analyzed separately. In addition, prediction equations are developed to estimate the stature using linear regression analysis of foot length and shoeprint length. However, foot lengths give better prediction than shoeprint length.
Abstract: This paper suggests a calibration method to reduce
errors occurring due to mobile robot sliding during location estimation
using the Dead-reckoning. Due to sliding of the mobile robot caused
between its wheels and the road surface while on free run, location
estimation can be erroneous. Sliding especially occurs during
cornering of mobile robot. Therefore, in order to reduce these frequent
sliding errors in cornering, we calibrated the mobile robot-s heading
values using a vision camera and templates of the ceiling.
Abstract: In this research, natural canthaxanthin as one of the
most important carotenoids was extracted from Dietzia
natronolimnaea HS-1. The changes of canthaxanthin enriched in oilin-
water emulsions with vegetable oil (5 mg/ 100 mL), Arabic gum (5
mg/100 mL), and potassium sorbate (0.5 g/100 mL) was investigated.
The effects of different pH (3, 5 and 7), as well as, time treatment (3,
18 and 33 days) in the environmental temperature (24°C) on the
degradation were studied by response surface methodology (RSM).
The Hunter values (L*, a*, and b*) and the concentration of
canthaxanthin (C, mg/L) illustrated more degradation of this pigment
at low pHs (pH≤ 4) by passing the time (days≥10) with R² 97.00%,
91.31%, 97.60%, and 99.54% for C, L*, a*, and b* respectively. The
predicted model were found to be significant (p
Abstract: Crypto System Identification is one of the challenging tasks in Crypt analysis. The paper discusses the possibility of employing Neural Networks for identification of Cipher Systems from cipher texts. Cascade Correlation Neural Network and Back Propagation Network have been employed for identification of Cipher Systems. Very large collection of cipher texts were generated using a Block Cipher (Enhanced RC6) and a Stream Cipher (SEAL). Promising results were obtained in terms of accuracy using both the Neural Network models but it was observed that the Cascade Correlation Neural Network Model performed better compared to Back Propagation Network.
Abstract: The paper investigates the relationship between the foreign direct investment (FDI) and the corporate governance or transparency by investigating the country-level FDI flows, FDI inward performance, corporate governance and transparency variables. From the regression analysis with Newey-West estimator of 28 country panel data from 1990- 2002, we find strong positive relationships between corporate governance or transparency level of hosting countries and FDI inward performance within hosting countries. A strong positive relationship is found between anti-director rights level or number of analysts of hosting countries and FDI inward performance within hosting countries. Also, we find a positive relationship between the number of analysts of hosting countries and FDI inflows. The empirical results are consistent with stock market liberalizations and corporate governance explanations of reasons for FDI.
Abstract: China apparel industry, which is deeply embedded in
the global production network (GPN), faces the dual pressures of
social upgrading and economic upgrading. Based on the survey in
Ningbo apparel cluster, the paper shows the state of corporate social
responsibility (CSR) in China apparel industry is better than before.
And the investigation indicates that the firms who practice CSR
actively perform better both socially and economically than those who
inactively. The research demonstrates that CSR can be an initial
capital rather than cost, and “doing well by doing good" is also existed
in labor intensive industry.
Abstract: Dichotomization of the outcome by a single cut-off point is an important part of various medical studies. Usually the relationship between the resulted dichotomized dependent variable and explanatory variables is analyzed with linear regression, probit regression or logistic regression. However, in many real-life situations, a certain cut-off point dividing the outcome into two groups is unknown and can be specified only approximately, i.e. surrounded by some (small) uncertainty. It means that in order to have any practical meaning the regression model must be robust to this uncertainty. In this paper, we show that neither the beta in the linear regression model, nor its significance level is robust to the small variations in the dichotomization cut-off point. As an alternative robust approach to the problem of uncertain medical categories, we propose to use the linear regression model with the fuzzy membership function as a dependent variable. This fuzzy membership function denotes to what degree the value of the underlying (continuous) outcome falls below or above the dichotomization cut-off point. In the paper, we demonstrate that the linear regression model of the fuzzy dependent variable can be insensitive against the uncertainty in the cut-off point location. In the paper we present the modeling results from the real study of low hemoglobin levels in infants. We systematically test the robustness of the binomial regression model and the linear regression model with the fuzzy dependent variable by changing the boundary for the category Anemia and show that the behavior of the latter model persists over a quite wide interval.
Abstract: In this paper after reviewing some previous studies, in
order to optimize the above knee prosthesis, beside the inertial
properties a new controlling parameter is informed. This controlling
parameter makes the prosthesis able to act as a multi behavior system
when the amputee is opposing to different environments. This active
prosthesis with the new controlling parameter can simplify the
control of prosthesis and reduce the rate of energy consumption in
comparison to recently presented similar prosthesis “Agonistantagonist
active knee prosthesis".
In this paper three models are generated, a passive, an active, and
an optimized active prosthesis. Second order Taylor series is the
numerical method in solution of the models equations and the
optimization procedure is genetic algorithm.
Modeling the prosthesis which comprises this new controlling
parameter (SEP) during the swing phase represents acceptable results
in comparison to natural behavior of shank. Reported results in this
paper represent 3.3 degrees as the maximum deviation of models
shank angle from the natural pattern. The natural gait pattern belongs
to walking at the speed of 81 m/min.
Abstract: The measurements of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K using
gamma spectrometry and radon concentration and exhalation rates
measurements using solid state nuclear track (LR-115, Type-II
plastic) detectors are used to asses a first order exposure risk for the
persons residing in Fatehbad and Hissar districts of Western Haryana,
India. The concentration of Radium, Thorium and Potassium in the
soil samples varies from 13.37 Bq m-3 to 24.67 Bq m-3, 34.67 Bq m-3
to 67.34 Bq m-3 and 298.78 Bq m-3 to 405.67 Bq m-3 respectively
with average values of 18.78, 47.35 and 361.57 Bq m-3 respectively.
The radium equivalent activity (Raeq) calculated for the same soil
samples varies from 92.72 Bq m-3 to 140.6 Bq m-3 with an average
value of 111.80 Bq m-3. The values of absorbed dose and annual
effective dose (indoors and outdoors) are found to vary from 44.18
nGy h-1 to 65.23 nGy h-1, 0.22 mSv y-1 to 0.32 mSv y-1 and 0.05 mSv
y-1 to 0.08 mSv y-1 respectively. The radon concentration and
exhalation rates have also been reported. The radium equivalent
activities in all the soil samples were found to be lower than the limit
(370 Bq kg-1) set in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) report and the value of Hex in all the samples
is less than unity.
Abstract: Ontologies and tagging systems are two different ways to organize the knowledge present in the current Web. In this paper we propose a simple method to model folksonomies, as tagging systems, with ontologies. We show the scalability of the method using real data sets. The modeling method is composed of a generic ontology that represents any folksonomy and an algorithm to transform the information contained in folksonomies to the generic ontology. The method allows representing folksonomies at any instant of time.
Abstract: Recent years have witnessed the rapid development of
the Internet and telecommunication techniques. Information security
is becoming more and more important. Applications such as covert
communication, copyright protection, etc, stimulate the research of
information hiding techniques. Traditionally, encryption is used to
realize the communication security. However, important information
is not protected once decoded. Steganography is the art and science
of communicating in a way which hides the existence of the communication.
Important information is firstly hidden in a host data, such
as digital image, video or audio, etc, and then transmitted secretly
to the receiver.In this paper a data hiding model with high security
features combining both cryptography using finite state sequential
machine and image based steganography technique for communicating
information more securely between two locations is proposed.
The authors incorporated the idea of secret key for authentication
at both ends in order to achieve high level of security. Before the
embedding operation the secret information has been encrypted with
the help of finite-state sequential machine and segmented in different
parts. The cover image is also segmented in different objects through
normalized cut.Each part of the encoded secret information has been
embedded with the help of a novel image steganographic method
(PMM) on different cuts of the cover image to form different stego
objects. Finally stego image is formed by combining different stego
objects and transmit to the receiver side. At the receiving end different
opposite processes should run to get the back the original secret
message.
Abstract: Ultrasonic machining (USM) is a non-traditional
machining process being widely used for commercial machining of
brittle and fragile materials such as glass, ceramics and
semiconductor materials. However, USM could be a viable
alternative for machining a tough material such as titanium; and this
aspect needs to be explored through experimental research. This
investigation is focused on exploring the use of ultrasonic machining
for commercial machining of pure titanium (ASTM Grade-I) and
evaluation of tool wear rate (TWR) under controlled experimental
conditions. The optimal settings of parameters are determined
through experiments planned, conducted and analyzed using Taguchi
method. In all, the paper focuses on parametric optimization of
ultrasonic machining of pure titanium metal with TWR as response,
and validation of the optimized value of TWR by conducting
confirmatory experiments.
Abstract: Coal fly ash (CFA) generated by coal-based thermal
power plants is mainly composed of some oxides having high
crystallinity, like quartz and mullite. In this study, the effect of CFA
crystallinity toward lead adsorption capacity was investigated. To get
solid with various crystallinity, the solution of sodium hydroxide
(NaOH) of 1-7 M was used to treat CFA at various temperature and
reflux time. Furthermore, to evaluate the effect of NaOH-treated CFA
with respect to adsorption capacity, the treated CFA were examine as
adsorbent for removing lead in the solution. The result shows that
using NaOH to treat CFA causes crystallinity of quartz and mullite
decrease. At higher NaOH concentration (>3M), in addition the
damage of quartz and mullite crystallinity is followed by crystal
formation called hydroxysodalite. The lower crystalllinity, the higher
adsorption capacity.
Abstract: The aim of the article is to describe modern
contemporary systems of employees' remuneration used in
organizations, to give a general overview of these questions based on
the questionnaire survey made by the authors, as well as to assess
possible effects of economic crisis in this area. It is necessary to be
aware of the fact that firm's success in the contemporary business
environment depends not only on the technical equipment, financial
resources, availability of raw materials and information and effective
management, but one of the crucial factors of firm's success is its
human potential. The article emphasizes that the well working
remuneration system has a very important position in the
organization in the broadest sense. The paper also aims to the current
situation in the area of employees' remuneration in one of Czech
Republic regions, in the Moravian-Silesian Region.
Abstract: Normally business changes are made in order to
change a level of activity in some way, whether it is sales, cash flow,
productivity, or product portfolio. When attempts are made to make
such changes, too often the business reverts to the old levels of
activity as soon as management attention is diverted. Risk
management is a field of growing interest to project managers as well
as in general business and organizational management. There are
several approaches used to manage risk in projects and this paper is a
brief outline of some that you might encounter, with an indication of
their strengths and weaknesses.
Abstract: In this paper, we investigate the problem of the existence, uniqueness and global asymptotic stability of the equilibrium point for a class of neural networks, the neutral system has mixed time delays and parameter uncertainties. Under the assumption that the activation functions are globally Lipschitz continuous, we drive a new criterion for the robust stability of a class of neural networks with time delays by utilizing the Lyapunov stability theorems and the Homomorphic mapping theorem. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness and the advantage of the proposed main results.
Abstract: This study is a descriptive-normative research. It
attempted to investigate the restaurants’ firm performance in terms of
the customers and restaurant personnel’s degree of satisfaction. A
total of 12 restaurants in Bangkok, Thailand that offer Thai cuisine
were included in this study. It involved 24 stockholders/managers,
120 subordinates and 360 customers. General Managers and
restaurants’ stockholders, 10 staffs, and 30 costumers for each
restaurant were chosen for random sampling. This study found that
respondents are slightly satisfied with their work environment but are
generally satisfied with the accessibility to transportation, to malls,
convenience, safety, recreation, noise-free, and attraction; customers
find the Quality of Food in most Thai Cuisines like services, prices of
food, sales promotion, and capital and length of service satisfactory.
Therefore, both stockholder-related and personnel-related factors
which are influenced by restaurant, personnel, and customer-related
factors are partially accepted whereas; customer-related factors which
are influenced by restaurant, personnel and customer-related factors
are rejected.