Abstract: This paper examines ethical and social issues which
have proved important when initiating and creating educational spaces within a virtual environment. It focuses on one project, identifying the key decisions made, the barriers to new practice
encountered and the impact these had on the project. It demonstrates
the importance of the 'backstage' ethical and social issues involved in
the creation of a virtual education community and offers conclusions,
and questions, which will inform future research and practice in this
area. These ethical issues are considered using Knobel-s framework
of front-end, in-process and back-end concerns, and include
establishing social practices for the islands, allocating access rights,
considering personal safety and supporting researchers appropriately
within this context.
Abstract: This paper employs a the variable returns to scale DEA
model to take account of risky assets and estimate the operating
efficiencies for the 21 domestic listed securities firms during the
period 2005-2009. Evidence is found that on average the brokerage
securities firms- operating efficiencies are better than integrated
securities firms. Evidence is also found that the technical inefficiency
from inappropriate management constitutes the main source of the
operating inefficiency for both types of securities firms. Moreover, the
scale economies prevail in brokerage and integrated securities firms,
in other words, which exhibit the characteristic of increasing returns to
scale.
Abstract: This paper presents a comparison of metaheuristic
algorithms, Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Ant Colony Optimization
(ACO), in producing freeman chain code (FCC). The main problem
in representing characters using FCC is the length of the FCC
depends on the starting points. Isolated characters, especially the
upper-case characters, usually have branches that make the traversing
process difficult. The study in FCC construction using one
continuous route has not been widely explored. This is our
motivation to use the population-based metaheuristics. The
experimental result shows that the route length using GA is better
than ACO, however, ACO is better in computation time than GA.
Abstract: A vast array of biological materials, especially algae have received increasing attention for heavy metal removal. Algae have been proven to be cheaper, more effective for the removal of metallic elements in aqueous solutions. A fresh water algal strain was isolated from Zoo Lake, Johannesburg, South Africa and identified as Desmodesmus sp. This paper investigates the efficacy of Desmodesmus sp.in removing heavy metals contaminating the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment Area (WCA) water bodies. The biosorption data fitted the pseudo-second order and Langmuir isotherm models. The Langmuir maximum uptakes gave the sequence: Mn2+>Ni2+>Fe2+. The best results for kinetic study was obtained in concentration 120 ppm for Fe3+ and Mn2+, whilst for Ni2+ was at 20 ppm, which is about the same concentrations found in contaminated water in the WCA (Fe3+115 ppm, Mn2+ 121 ppm and Ni2+ 26.5 ppm).
Abstract: Biclustering is a very useful data mining technique for
identifying patterns where different genes are co-related based on a
subset of conditions in gene expression analysis. Association rules
mining is an efficient approach to achieve biclustering as in
BIMODULE algorithm but it is sensitive to the value given to its
input parameters and the discretization procedure used in the
preprocessing step, also when noise is present, classical association
rules miners discover multiple small fragments of the true bicluster,
but miss the true bicluster itself. This paper formally presents a
generalized noise tolerant bicluster model, termed as μBicluster. An
iterative algorithm termed as BIDENS based on the proposed model
is introduced that can discover a set of k possibly overlapping
biclusters simultaneously. Our model uses a more flexible method to
partition the dimensions to preserve meaningful and significant
biclusters. The proposed algorithm allows discovering biclusters that
hard to be discovered by BIMODULE. Experimental study on yeast,
human gene expression data and several artificial datasets shows that
our algorithm offers substantial improvements over several
previously proposed biclustering algorithms.
Abstract: Research has suggested that implicit learning tasks
may rely on episodic processing to generate above chance
performance on the standard classification tasks. The current
research examines the invariant features task (McGeorge and Burton,
1990) and argues that such episodic processing is indeed important.
The results of the experiment suggest that both rejection and
similarity strategies are used by participants in this task to
simultaneously reject unfamiliar items and to accept (falsely) familiar
items. Primarily these decisions are based on the presence of low or
high frequency goal based features of the stimuli presented in the
incidental learning phase. It is proposed that a goal based analysis of
the incidental learning task provides a simple step in understanding
which features of the episodic processing are most important for
explaining the match between incidental, implicit learning and test
performance.
Abstract: In this work, the results of mixing study by a jet mixer in a tank have been investigated in the laboratory scale. The tank dimensions are H/D=1 and the jet entrance have been considered in
the center of upper surface of tank. RNG-k-ε model is used as the
turbulent model for the prediction of the pattern of turbulent flow
inside the tank. For this purpose, a tank with volume of 110 liter is
simulated and it has been divided into 410,000 tetrahedral control
cells for performing the calculations. The grids at the vicinity of the
nozzle and suction pare are finer to get more accurate results. The
experimental results showed that in a vertical jet, the lowest mixing
time takes place at 35 degree. In addition, mixing time decreased by
increasing the Reynolds number. Furthermore, the CFD simulation
predicted the items as well a flow patterns precisely that validates the
experiments.
Abstract: A numerical study on the influence of forward-facing
cavity length upon forward-facing cavity and opposing jet combined
thermal protection system (TPS) cooling efficiency under hypersonic
flow is conducted, by means of which the flow field parameters, heat
flux distribution along the outer body surface are obtained. The
numerical simulation results are validated by experiments and the
cooling effect of the combined TPS with different cavity length is
analyzed. The numerical results show that the combined configuration
dose well in cooling the nose of the hypersonic vehicle. The deeper the
cavity is, the weaker the heat flux is. The recirculation region plays a
key role for the reduction of the aerodynamic heating.
Abstract: In this content analysis research note the aim was to explore to how sustainability and especially environmental issues are conveyed into environmental items in annual reports and disclosures. As The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is a globally wide multistakeholder process, the enterprises using voluntarily GRI framework are considered to be aware of sustainability and environmental concerns. The findings were that although these enterprises included in an environmentally sensitive industry sector and had special capabilities to consider environmental issues there were few GRIreporting enterprises presented substantially detailed environmental items in audited financial statements. There were only slight differences between publishing years 2008 and 2009 - the beginning years of economic turmoil. The environmental issues seemed not to be considered substantial enough for financial reporting as a basis for concerning investment or voting decisions.
Abstract: This paper describes a concept of stereotype student
model in adaptive knowledge acquisition e-learning system. Defined
knowledge stereotypes are based on student's proficiency level and
on Bloom's knowledge taxonomy. The teacher module is responsible
for the whole adaptivity process: the automatic generation of
courseware elements, their dynamic selection and sorting, as well as
their adaptive presentation using templates for statements and
questions. The adaptation of courseware is realized according to
student-s knowledge stereotype.
Abstract: Bringing change to the housing industry requires
multiple efforts from various angles especially to overcome any
resistances in the form of technology, human aspects, financial and
resources. The transition from conventional to sustainable approach
consumes time as it requires changes from different facets in the
industry ranging from individual, organisational to industry level. In
Malaysia, there are various efforts to bring green into the industry but
the progress is low-moderate. Will the current efforts bear larger
fruits in the near future? This study examines the perceptions of the
developers in Malaysia on the future of the green housing sector for
the next 5 years. The introduction of GBI rating system, improvement
of awareness and knowledge among the stakeholders, support from
the government and local industry and the effect of competitive
advantage would support brighter future. Meanwhile, the status quo
in rules and regulation, lack of public interest and demand,
organization disinterest, local authority enforcement and project cost
escalation would hinder a faster progress.
Abstract: The effect of chemical treatment in CdCl2 on the
compositional changes and defect structures of potentially useful ZnS
solar cell thin films prepared by vacuum deposition method was
studied using the complementary Rutherford backscattering (RBS)
and Thermoluminesence (TL) techniques. A series of electron and
hole traps are found in the various as deposited samples studied.
After treatment, perturbation on the intensity is noted; mobile defect
states and charge conversion and/or transfer between defect states are
found.
Abstract: This paper discusses effects of adhesive thickness,
overlap length and material combinations on the single-lap
joints strength from the point of singular stress fields. A useful
method calculating the ratio of intensity of singular stress is
proposed using FEM for different adhesive thickness and
overlap length. It is found that the intensity of singular stress
increases with increasing adhesive thickness, and decreases
with increasing overlap length. The increment and decrement
are different depending on material combinations between
adhesive and adherent.
Abstract: This paper systematically investigates the timedependent
health outcomes for office staff during computer work
using the developed mathematical model. The model describes timedependent
health outcomes in multiple body regions associated with
computer usage. The association is explicitly presented with a doseresponse
relationship which is parametrized by body region
parameters. Using the developed model we perform extensive
investigations of the health outcomes statically and dynamically. We
compare the risk body regions and provide various severity rankings
of the discomfort rate changes with respect to computer-related
workload dynamically for the study population. Application of the
developed model reveals a wide range of findings. Such broad
spectrum of investigations in a single report literature is lacking.
Based upon the model analysis, it is discovered that the highest
average severity level of the discomfort exists in neck, shoulder, eyes,
shoulder joint/upper arm, upper back, low back and head etc. The
biggest weekly changes of discomfort rates are in eyes, neck, head,
shoulder, shoulder joint/upper arm and upper back etc. The fastest
discomfort rate is found in neck, followed by shoulder, eyes, head,
shoulder joint/upper arm and upper back etc. Most of our findings are
consistent with the literature, which demonstrates that the developed
model and results are applicable and valuable and can be utilized to
assess correlation between the amount of computer-related workload
and health risk.
Abstract: The present study is concerned with the free
convective two dimensional flow and heat transfer, within the
framework of Boussinesq approximation, in anisotropic fluid filled
porous rectangular enclosure subjected to end-to-end temperature
difference have been investigated using Lattice Boltzmann method
fornon-Darcy flow model. Effects of the moving lid direction (top,
bottom, left, and right wall moving in the negative and positive x&ydirections),
number of moving walls (one or two opposite walls), the
sliding wall velocity, and four different constant temperatures
opposite walls cases (two surfaces are being insulated and the
twoother surfaces areimposed to be at constant hot and cold
temperature)have been conducted. The results obtained are discussed
in terms of the Nusselt number, vectors, contours, and isotherms.
Abstract: Nowadays increasingly the population makes use of
Information Technology (IT). As such, in recent year the Portuguese
government increased its focus on using the IT for improving
people-s life and began to develop a set of measures to enable the
modernization of the Public Administration, and so reducing the gap
between Public Administration and citizens.Thus the Portuguese
Government launched the Simplex Program. However these
SIMPLEX eGov measures, which have been implemented over the
years, present a serious challenge: how to forecast its impact on
existing Information Systems Architecture (ISA). Thus, this research
is focus in addressing the problem of automating the evaluation of the
actual impact of implementation an eGovSimplification and
Modernization measures in the Information Systems Architecture. To
realize the evaluation we proposes a Framework, which is supported
by some key concepts as: Quality Factors, ISA modeling,
Multicriteria Approach, Polarity Profile and Quality Metrics
Abstract: The present study has been conducted to characterize
the prophenoloxidase (PPO) system of the desert locust, Schistocerca
gregaria following injection of Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Bt).
The bulk of PPO system was associated with haemocytes and a little
amount was found in plasma. This system was activated by different
activators such as laminarin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and trypsin
suggesting that the stimulatory mechanism may involve an enzyme
cascade of one or more associated molecules. These activators did
not activate all the molecules of the cascade. Presence of
phenoloxidase activity (PO) coincides with the appearance of protein
band with molecular weight (MW) 70.154 KD (Kilo Dalton).
Abstract: In this paper, a necessary and sufficient coefficient are given for functions in a class of complex valued meromorphic harmonic univalent functions of the form f = h + g using Salagean operator. Furthermore, distortion theorems, extreme points, convolution condition and convex combinations for this family of meromorphic harmonic functions are obtained.
Abstract: We suggest a novel method to incorporate longterm
redundancy (LTR) in signal time domain compression
methods. The proposition is based on block-sorting and curve
simplification. The proposition is illustrated on the ECG
signal as a post-processor for the FAN method. Test
applications on the new so-obtained FAN+ method using the
MIT-BIH database show substantial improvement of the
compression ratio-distortion behavior for a higher quality
reconstructed signal.
Abstract: An on-demand routing protocol for wireless ad hoc
networks is one that searches for and attempts to discover a route to
some destination node only when a sending node originates a data
packet addressed to that node. In order to avoid the need for such a
route discovery to be performed before each data packet is sent, such
routing protocols must cache routes previously discovered. This
paper presents an analysis of the effect of intelligent caching in a non
clustered network, using on-demand routing protocols in wireless ad
hoc networks. The analysis carried out is based on the Dynamic
Source Routing protocol (DSR), which operates entirely on-demand.
DSR uses the cache in every node to save the paths that are learnt
during route discovery procedure. In this implementation, caching
these paths only at intermediate nodes and using the paths from these
caches when required is tried. This technique helps in storing more
number of routes that are learnt without erasing the entries in the
cache, to store a new route that is learnt.
The simulation results on DSR have shown that this technique
drastically increases the available memory for caching the routes
discovered without affecting the performance of the DSR routing
protocol in any way, except for a small increase in end to end delay.