Abstract: The aim for this research is to deliberately discuss
how and why the contexts of culture are the main significant factors
which need to be considered when conducting the international
business oversea. As a consequence of understanding these various
factors, the researcher would be able to infer some suggestions to the
international organizations. With this in mind, the results of the
understanding in a national culture environment can support the
organizations to settle its international strategies which may be useful
to develop the national export and import effectiveness. This data
collecting methods will be concentrated upon 5-10 interviews from
the senior members and business officers in the international
company in Thailand by e-mail interview and analyses the individual
manager’s viewpoint. As well as, focus on the questionnaires which
the respondents were selected randomly around 100 samples from
UK and Thailand, together with providing a functional sample size
and comparable to data. The results of the study question the role of
national culture, which contributed to in international business
effectiveness and emphasize the positive and negative aspects, as
well as suggestions to business investors are informed.
Abstract: The increasing development of wireless networks and
the widespread popularity of handheld devices such as Personal
Digital Assistants (PDAs), mobile phones and wireless tablets
represents an incredible opportunity to enable mobile devices as a
universal payment method, involving daily financial transactions.
Unfortunately, some issues hampering the widespread acceptance of
mobile payment such as accountability properties, privacy protection,
limitation of wireless network and mobile device. Recently, many
public-key cryptography based mobile payment protocol have been
proposed. However, limited capabilities of mobile devices and
wireless networks make these protocols are unsuitable for mobile
network. Moreover, these protocols were designed to preserve
traditional flow of payment data, which is vulnerable to attack and
increase the user-s risk. In this paper, we propose a private mobile
payment protocol which based on client centric model and by
employing symmetric key operations. The proposed mobile payment
protocol not only minimizes the computational operations and
communication passes between the engaging parties, but also
achieves a completely privacy protection for the payer. The future
work will concentrate on improving the verification solution to
support mobile user authentication and authorization for mobile
payment transactions.
Abstract: Knowledge is a key asset for any organisation to
sustain competitive advantages, but it is difficult to identify and
represent knowledge which is needed to perform activities in
business processes. The effective knowledge management and
support for relevant business activities definitely gives a huge impact
to the performance of the organisation as a whole. This is because
that knowledge have the functions of directing, coordinating and
controlling actions within business processes. The study has
introduced organisational morphology, a norm-based approach by
applying semiotic theories which emphasise on the representation of
knowledge in norms. This approach is concerned with the
identification of activities into three categories: substantive,
communication and control activities. All activities are directed by
norms; hence three types of norms exist; each is associated to a
category of activities. The paper describes the approach briefly and
illustrates the application of this approach through a case study of
academic activities in higher education institutions. The result of the
study shows that the approach provides an effective way to profile
business knowledge and the profile enables the understanding and
specification of business requirements of an organisation.
Abstract: Nonspecific protein adsorption generally occurs on
any solid surfaces and usually has adverse consequences. Adsorption
of proteins onto a solid surface is believed to be the initial and
controlling step in biofouling. Surfaces modified with end-tethered
poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) have been shown to be protein-resistant
to some degree. In this study, the adsorption of β-casein and
lysozyme was performed on 6 different types of surfaces where PEG
was tethered onto stainless steel by polyethylene imine (PEI) through
either OH or NHS end groups. Protein adsorption was also performed
on the bare stainless steel surface as a control. The adsorption was
conducted at 23 °C and pH 7.2. In situ QCM-D was used to
determine PEG adsorption kinetics, plateau PEG chain densities,
protein adsorption kinetics and plateau protein adsorbed quantities.
PEG grafting density was the highest for a NHS coupled chain,
around 0.5 chains / nm2. Interestingly, lysozyme which has smaller
size than β-casein, appeared to adsorb much less mass than that of β-
casein. Overall, the surface with high PEG grafting density exhibited
a good protein rejection.
Abstract: Due to the limited energy resources, energy efficient operation of sensor node is a key issue in wireless sensor networks. Clustering is an effective method to prolong the lifetime of energy constrained wireless sensor network. However, clustering in wireless sensor network faces several challenges such as selection of an optimal group of sensor nodes as cluster, optimum selection of cluster head, energy balanced optimal strategy for rotating the role of cluster head in a cluster, maintaining intra and inter cluster connectivity and optimal data routing in the network. In this paper, we propose a protocol supporting an energy efficient clustering, cluster head selection/rotation and data routing method to prolong the lifetime of sensor network. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed protocol prolongs network lifetime due to the use of efficient clustering, cluster head selection/rotation and data routing.
Abstract: In the oil and gas industry, energy prediction can help
the distributor and customer to forecast the outgoing and incoming
gas through the pipeline. It will also help to eliminate any
uncertainties in gas metering for billing purposes. The objective of
this paper is to develop Neural Network Model for energy
consumption and analyze the performance model. This paper
provides a comprehensive review on published research on the
energy consumption prediction which focuses on structures and the
parameters used in developing Neural Network models. This paper is
then focused on the parameter selection of the neural network
prediction model development for energy consumption and analysis
on the result. The most reliable model that gives the most accurate
result is proposed for the prediction. The result shows that the
proposed neural network energy prediction model is able to
demonstrate an adequate performance with least Root Mean Square
Error.
Abstract: Climate change has profound consequences for the agriculture of south-eastern Australia and its climate-induced water shortage in the Murray-Darling Basin. Post Keynesian Economics (PKE) macro-dynamics, along with Kaleckian investment and growth theory, are used to develop an ecological-economic system dynamics model of this complex nonlinear river basin system. The Murray- Darling Basin Simulation Model (MDB-SM) uses the principles of PKE to incorporate the fundamental uncertainty of economic behaviors of farmers regarding the investments they make and the climate change they face, particularly as regards water ecosystem services. MDB-SM provides a framework for macroeconomic policies, especially for long-term fiscal policy and for policy directed at the sustainability of agricultural water, as measured by socio-economic well-being considerations, which include sustainable consumption and investment in the river basin. The model can also reproduce other ecological and economic aspects and, for certain parameters and initial values, exhibit endogenous business cycles and ecological sustainability with realistic characteristics. Most importantly, MDBSM provides a platform for the analysis of alternative economic policy scenarios. These results reveal the importance of understanding water ecosystem adaptation under climate change by integrating a PKE macroeconomic analytical framework with the system dynamics modelling approach. Once parameterised and supplied with historical initial values, MDB-SM should prove to be a practical tool to provide alternative long-term policy simulations of agricultural water and socio-economic well-being.
Abstract: The daily increase of organic waste materials resulting
from different activities in the country is one of the main factors for
the pollution of environment. Today, with regard to the low level of
the output of using traditional methods, the high cost of disposal
waste materials and environmental pollutions, the use of modern
methods such as anaerobic digestion for the production of biogas has
been prevailing. The collected biogas from the process of anaerobic
digestion, as a renewable energy source similar to natural gas but
with a less methane and heating value is usable. Today, with the help
of technologies of filtration and proper preparation, access to biogas
with features fully similar to natural gas has become possible. At
present biogas is one of the main sources of supplying electrical and
thermal energy and also an appropriate option to be used in four
stroke engine, diesel engine, sterling engine, gas turbine, gas micro
turbine and fuel cell to produce electricity. The use of biogas for
different reasons which returns to socio-economic and environmental
advantages has been noticed in CHP for the production of energy in
the world. The production of biogas from the technology of anaerobic
digestion and its application in CHP power plants in Iran can not only
supply part of the energy demands in the country, but it can
materialize moving in line with the sustainable development. In this
article, the necessity of the development of CHP plants with biogas
fuels in the country will be dealt based on studies performed from the
economic, environmental and social aspects. Also to prove the
importance of the establishment of these kinds of power plants from
the economic point of view, necessary calculations has been done as
a case study for a CHP power plant with a biogas fuel.
Abstract: This research work proposed a study of fruit bruise detection by means of a biospeckle method, selecting the papaya fruit (Carica papaya) as testing body. Papaya is recognized as a fruit of outstanding nutritional qualities, showing high vitamin A content, calcium, carbohydrates, exhibiting high popularity all over the world, considering consumption and acceptability. The commercialization of papaya faces special problems which are associated to bruise generation during harvesting, packing and transportation. Papaya is classified as climacteric fruit, permitting to be harvested before the maturation is completed. However, by one side bruise generation is partially controlled once the fruit flesh exhibits high mechanical firmness. By the other side, mechanical loads can set a future bruise at that maturation stage, when it can not be detected yet by conventional methods. Mechanical damages of fruit skin leave an entrance door to microorganisms and pathogens, which will cause severe losses of quality attributes. Traditional techniques of fruit quality inspection include total soluble solids determination, mechanical firmness tests, visual inspections, which would hardly meet required conditions for a fully automated process. However, the pertinent literature reveals a new method named biospeckle which is based on the laser reflectance and interference phenomenon. The laser biospeckle or dynamic speckle is quantified by means of the Moment of Inertia, named after its mechanical counterpart due to similarity between the defining formulae. Biospeckle techniques are able to quantify biological activities of living tissues, which has been applied to seed viability analysis, vegetable senescence and similar topics. Since the biospeckle techniques can monitor tissue physiology, it could also detect changes in the fruit caused by mechanical damages. The proposed technique holds non invasive character, being able to generate numerical results consistent with an adequate automation. The experimental tests associated to this research work included the selection of papaya fruit at different maturation stages which were submitted to artificial mechanical bruising tests. Damages were visually compared with the frequency maps yielded by the biospeckle technique. Results were considered in close agreement.
Abstract: K-Means (KM) is considered one of the major
algorithms widely used in clustering. However, it still has some
problems, and one of them is in its initialization step where it is
normally done randomly. Another problem for KM is that it
converges to local minima. Genetic algorithms are one of the
evolutionary algorithms inspired from nature and utilized in the field
of clustering. In this paper, we propose two algorithms to solve the
initialization problem, Genetic Algorithm Initializes KM (GAIK) and
KM Initializes Genetic Algorithm (KIGA). To show the effectiveness
and efficiency of our algorithms, a comparative study was done
among GAIK, KIGA, Genetic-based Clustering Algorithm (GCA),
and FCM [19].
Abstract: Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) address is decreasing and a rapid transition method to the next generation IP address (IPv6) should be established. This study aims to evaluate and select the best performance of the IPv6 address network transitionmechanisms, such as IPv4/IPv6 dual stack, transport Relay Translation (TRT) and Reverse Proxy with additional features. It is also aim to prove that faster access can be done while ensuring optimal usage of available resources used during the test and actual implementation. This study used two test methods such asInternet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)ping and ApacheBenchmark (AB) methodsto evaluate the performance.Performance metrics for this study include aspects ofaverageaccessin one second,time takenfor singleaccess,thedata transfer speed and the costof additional requirements.Reverse Proxy with Caching featureis the most efficientmechanism because of it simpler configurationandthe best performerfrom the test conducted.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose improved versions of DVHop
algorithm as QDV-Hop algorithm and UDV-Hop algorithm for
better localization without the need for additional range measurement
hardware. The proposed algorithm focuses on third step of DV-Hop,
first error terms from estimated distances between unknown node and
anchor nodes is separated and then minimized. In the QDV-Hop
algorithm, quadratic programming is used to minimize the error to
obtain better localization. However, quadratic programming requires
a special optimization tool box that increases computational
complexity. On the other hand, UDV-Hop algorithm achieves
localization accuracy similar to that of QDV-Hop by solving
unconstrained optimization problem that results in solving a system
of linear equations without much increase in computational
complexity. Simulation results show that the performance of our
proposed schemes (QDV-Hop and UDV-Hop) is superior to DV-Hop
and DV-Hop based algorithms in all considered scenarios.
Abstract: The Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) is used by
computers to map logical addresses (IP) to physical addresses
(MAC). However ARP is an all trusting protocol and is stateless
which makes it vulnerable to many ARP cache poisoning attacks
such as Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) and Denial of service (DoS)
attacks. These flaws result in security breaches thus weakening the
appeal of the computer for exchange of sensitive data. In this paper
we describe ARP, outline several possible ARP cache poisoning
attacks and give the detailed of some attack scenarios in network
having both wired and wireless hosts. We have analyzed each of
proposed solutions, identify their strengths and limitations. Finally
get that no solution offers a feasible solution. Hence, this paper
presents an efficient and secure version of ARP that is able to cope
up with all these types of attacks and is also a feasible solution. It is a
stateful protocol, by storing the information of the Request frame in
the ARP cache, to reduce the chances of various types of attacks in
ARP. It is more efficient and secure by broadcasting ARP Reply
frame in the network and storing related entries in the ARP cache
each time when communication take place.
Abstract: The paper applies a discourse analytical approach to investigate important concepts influencing the infrastructure planning process in the region of Scania in southern Sweden. Two discourses, one concerning regional development and one concerning sustainability are identified, discussed and contrasted. It is argued that the perceptions of problems and their suggested solutions related to transportation are based on specific ideas, in turn dependent on the importance given to certain concepts, such as regional enlargement, Scania as a transit region, the national environmental quality goals and regional attractiveness. These concepts, their underlying meaning structures and their relevance for the infrastructure planning process are analyzed. The handling of conflicting interests in the planning process, and the possible implications this may have is also discussed. The results indicate that the regional development discourse is dominant and although the solutions to the problems caused by transport are framed in similar ways in the two discourses a harmonization between conflicting goals is proving difficult to achieve.
Abstract: This paper attempts to highlight the significant role of
knowledge management practices (KMP) and competencies in
improving the performance and efficiency of public sector
organizations. It appears that public sector organizations in
developing countries have not received much attention in the
research literature of knowledge management and competencies.
Therefore, this paper seeks to explore the role of KMP and
competencies in achieving superior performance among public sector
organizations in Malaysia in the broader perspective. Survey
questionnaires were distributed to all Administrative and Diplomatic
Officers (ADS) from 28 ministries located in Putrajaya, Malaysia.
This paper also examines preliminary empirical results on the
relationship between support for knowledge management practices,
competencies, and orientation in Malaysia-s public organizations.
This paper supports the notion that the practices of knowledge
management at the organizational level are a prerequisite for
successful organizational performance. In conclusion, the results not
only have the potential to contribute theoretically to both
management strategy and knowledge management field literature but
also to the area of organizational performance.
Abstract: Geometric design is an important part of planning
process design for physical highway to fill up basic function of roads,
to give good traffic service. It is found that most of the road safety
problems occur at the horizontal curves and complex-compound
curves. In this paper, review on Sagarinn-Myinsain Portion of Nay
Pyi Taw - Mandalay highway has been conducted in aspect of
geometric design induced road safety condition. Horizontal
alignment of geometric features and curve details are reviewed based
on (AASHTO) standard and revised by Autodesk Land Desktop
Software. Moreover, 85th Percentile Operation Speeds (V85) with
driver confidence on horizontal curves is evaluated in order to obtain
the range of highway safety factor (FS). The length of the selected
highway portion is 13.65 miles and 8 lanes. The results of this study
can be used to investigate the possible hazardous locations in
advance and to revise how design radius and super elevation should
be for better road safety performance for the selected portion.
Moreover, the relationship between highway safety and highway
geometry characteristics can also be known.
Abstract: We report in this paper the procedure of a system of
automatic speech recognition based on techniques of the dynamic
programming. The technique of temporal retiming is a technique
used to synchronize between two forms to compare. We will see how
this technique is adapted to the field of the automatic speech
recognition. We will expose, in a first place, the theory of the
function of retiming which is used to compare and to adjust an
unknown form with a whole of forms of reference constituting the
vocabulary of the application. Then we will give, in the second place,
the various algorithms necessary to their implementation on machine.
The algorithms which we will present were tested on part of the
corpus of words in Arab language Arabdic-10 [4] and gave whole
satisfaction. These algorithms are effective insofar as we apply them
to the small ones or average vocabularies.
Abstract: Due to new distributed database applications such as
huge deductive database systems, the search complexity is constantly
increasing and we need better algorithms to speedup traditional
relational database queries. An optimal dynamic programming
method for such high dimensional queries has the big disadvantage of
its exponential order and thus we are interested in semi-optimal but
faster approaches. In this work we present a multi-agent based
mechanism to meet this demand and also compare the result with
some commonly used query optimization algorithms.
Abstract: This paper is concerned with the production of an Arabic word semantic similarity benchmark dataset. It is the first of its kind for Arabic which was particularly developed to assess the accuracy of word semantic similarity measurements. Semantic similarity is an essential component to numerous applications in fields such as natural language processing, artificial intelligence, linguistics, and psychology. Most of the reported work has been done for English. To the best of our knowledge, there is no word similarity measure developed specifically for Arabic. In this paper, an Arabic benchmark dataset of 70 word pairs is presented. New methods and best possible available techniques have been used in this study to produce the Arabic dataset. This includes selecting and creating materials, collecting human ratings from a representative sample of participants, and calculating the overall ratings. This dataset will make a substantial contribution to future work in the field of Arabic WSS and hopefully it will be considered as a reference basis from which to evaluate and compare different methodologies in the field.
Abstract: Locating the critical slip surface with the minimum factor of safety for a rock slope is a difficult problem. In recent years, some modern global optimization methods have been developed with success in treating various types of problems, but very few of such methods have been applied to rock mechanical problems. In this paper, use of hybrid model based on artificial immune system and cellular learning automata is proposed. The results show that the algorithm is an effective and efficient optimization method with a high level of confidence rate.