Abstract: Based on an analysis of the current research and application of Road maintenance, geographic information system (WebGIS) and ArcGIS Server, the platform overhead construction for Road maintenance development is studied and the key issues are presented, including the organization and design of spatial data on the basis of the geodatabase technology, middleware technology, tiles cache index technology and dynamic segmentation of WebGIS. Road maintenance geographic information platform is put forward through the researching ideas of analysis of the system design. The design and application of WebGIS system are discussed on the basis of a case study of BaNan district of Chongqing highway maintenance management .The feasibility of the theories and methods are validated through the system.
Abstract: This paper provides a key driver-based conceptual framework that can be used to improve a firm-s success in commercializing technology and in new product innovation resulting from collaboration with other organizations through strategic alliances. Based on a qualitative study using an interview approach, strategic alliances of entrepreneurs in the food processing industry in Thailand are explored. This paper describes factors affecting decisions to collaborate through alliances. It identifies four issues: maintaining the efficiency of the value chain for production capability, adapting to present and future competition, careful assessment of value of outcomes, and management of innovation. We consider five driving factors: resource orientation, assessment of risk, business opportunity, sharing of benefits and confidence in alliance partners. These factors will be of interest to entrepreneurs and policy makers with regard to further understanding of the direction of business strategies.
Abstract: In this research, heat transfer of a poly Ethylene
fluidized bed reactor without reaction were studied experimentally
and computationally at different superficial gas velocities. A multifluid
Eulerian computational model incorporating the kinetic theory
for solid particles was developed and used to simulate the heat
conducting gas–solid flows in a fluidized bed configuration.
Momentum exchange coefficients were evaluated using the Syamlal–
O-Brien drag functions. Temperature distributions of different phases
in the reactor were also computed. Good agreement was found
between the model predictions and the experimentally obtained data
for the bed expansion ratio as well as the qualitative gas–solid flow
patterns. The simulation and experimental results showed that the gas
temperature decreases as it moves upward in the reactor, while the
solid particle temperature increases. Pressure drop and temperature
distribution predicted by the simulations were in good agreement
with the experimental measurements at superficial gas velocities
higher than the minimum fluidization velocity. Also, the predicted
time-average local voidage profiles were in reasonable agreement
with the experimental results. The study showed that the
computational model was capable of predicting the heat transfer and
the hydrodynamic behavior of gas-solid fluidized bed flows with
reasonable accuracy.
Abstract: When acid is pumped into damaged reservoirs for
damage removal/stimulation, distorted inflow of acid into the
formation occurs caused by acid preferentially traveling into highly
permeable regions over low permeable regions, or (in general) into
the path of least resistance. This can lead to poor zonal coverage and
hence warrants diversion to carry out an effective placement of acid.
Diversion is desirably a reversible technique of temporarily reducing
the permeability of high perm zones, thereby forcing the acid into
lower perm zones.
The uniqueness of each reservoir can pose several challenges to
engineers attempting to devise optimum and effective diversion
strategies. Diversion techniques include mechanical placement and/or
chemical diversion of treatment fluids, further sub-classified into ball
sealers, bridge plugs, packers, particulate diverters, viscous gels,
crosslinked gels, relative permeability modifiers (RPMs), foams,
and/or the use of placement techniques, such as coiled tubing (CT)
and the maximum pressure difference and injection rate (MAPDIR)
methodology.
It is not always realized that the effectiveness of diverters greatly
depends on reservoir properties, such as formation type, temperature,
reservoir permeability, heterogeneity, and physical well
characteristics (e.g., completion type, well deviation, length of
treatment interval, multiple intervals, etc.). This paper reviews the
mechanisms by which each variety of diverter functions and
discusses the effect of various reservoir properties on the efficiency
of diversion techniques. Guidelines are recommended to help
enhance productivity from zones of interest by choosing the best
methods of diversion while pumping an optimized amount of
treatment fluid. The success of an overall acid treatment often
depends on the effectiveness of the diverting agents.
Abstract: The aim of this study is to show innovative techniques that describe the effectiveness of individuals diagnosed with antisocial personality disorders (ASPD). The author presents information about hate schemas regarding persons with ASPD and their understanding of the role of hate. The data of 60 prisoners with ASPD, 40 prisoners without ASPD, and 60 men without antisocial tendencies, has been analyzed. The participants were asked to describe their hate inspired by a photograph. The narrative discourse was analyzed, the three groups were compared. The results show the differences between the inmates with ASPD, those without ASPD, and the controls. The antisocial individuals describe hate as an ambivalent feeling with low emotional intensity, i.e., actors (in stories) are presented more as positives than as partners. They use different mechanisms to keep them from understanding the meaning of the emotional situation. The schema's characteristics were expressed in narratives attributed to high Psychopathy.
Abstract: To understand complex living system an effort has
made by mechanical engineers and dentists to deliver prompt
products and services to patients concerned about their aesthetic look.
Since two decades various bracket systems have designed involving
techniques like milling, injection molding which are technically not
flexible for the customized dental product development. The aim of
this paper to design, develop a customized system which is
economical and mainly emphasizes the expertise design and
integration of engineering and dental fields. A custom made selfadjustable
lingual bracket and customized implants are designed and
developed using computer aided design (CAD) and rapid prototyping
technology (RPT) to improve the smiles and to overcome the
difficulties associated with conventional ones. Lengthy orthodontic
treatment usually not accepted by the patients because the patient
compliance is lost. Patient-s compliance can be improved by
facilitating faster tooth movements by designing a localized dental
vibrator using advanced engineering principles.
Abstract: The purpose of this article is to briefly review the opportunities that social media present to counselors and psychologists. Particular attention was given to understanding some of the more important common risks inherent in social media and the potential ethical dilemmas which may arise for counselors and psychologists who embrace them in their practice. Key considerations of issues pertinent to an online presence such as multiple relationships, visibility and privacy, maintaining ethical principles and professional boundaries are being discussed.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to propose a mathematical
model to determine invariant sets, set covering, orbits and, in
particular, attractors in the set of tourism variables. Analysis was
carried out based on a pre-designed algorithm and applying our
interpretation of chaos theory developed in the context of General
Systems Theory. This article sets out the causal relationships
associated with tourist flows in order to enable the formulation of
appropriate strategies. Our results can be applied to numerous cases.
For example, in the analysis of tourist flows, these findings can be
used to determine whether the behaviour of certain groups affects that
of other groups and to analyse tourist behaviour in terms of the most
relevant variables. Unlike statistical analyses that merely provide
information on current data, our method uses orbit analysis to
forecast, if attractors are found, the behaviour of tourist variables in
the immediate future.
Abstract: With the globalized production and logistics
environment, the need for reducing the product development interval
and lead time, having a faster response to orders, conforming to quality
standards, fair tracking, and boosting information exchanging
activities with customers and partners, and coping with changes in the
management environment, manufacturers are in dire need of an
information management system in their manufacturing environments.
There are lots of information systems that have been designed to
manage the condition or operation of equipment in the field but
existing systems have a decentralized architecture, which is not
unified. Also, these systems cannot effectively handle the status data
extraction process upon encountering a problem related to protocols or
changes in the equipment or the setting. In this regard, this paper will
introduce a system for processing and saving the status info of
production equipment, which uses standard representation formats, to
enable flexible responses to and support for variables in the field
equipment. This system can be used for a variety of manufacturing and
equipment settings and is capable of interacting with higher-tier
systems such as MES.
Abstract: In recent years, sustainable supply chain management
(SSCM) has been widely researched in academic domain. However,
due to the traditional operational role and the complexity of supply
chain management in the cement industry, a relatively small amount
of research has been conducted on cement supply chain simulation
integrated with sustainability criteria. This paper analyses the cement
supply chain operations using the Push-Pull supply chain
frameworks, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology; and
proposal integration approach, proposes three supply chain scenarios
based on Make-To-Stock (MTS), Pack-To-Order (PTO) and Grind-
To-Order (GTO) strategies. A Discrete-Event Simulation (DES)
model of SSCM is constructed using Arena software to implement
the three-target scenarios. We conclude with the simulation results
that (GTO) is the optimal supply chain strategy that demonstrates the
best economic, ecological and social performance in the cement
industry.
Abstract: Because of increasing demands for security in today-s
society and also due to paying much more attention to machine
vision, biometric researches, pattern recognition and data retrieval in
color images, face detection has got more application. In this article
we present a scientific approach for modeling human skin color, and
also offer an algorithm that tries to detect faces within color images
by combination of skin features and determined threshold in the
model. Proposed model is based on statistical data in different color
spaces. Offered algorithm, using some specified color threshold, first,
divides image pixels into two groups: skin pixel group and non-skin
pixel group and then based on some geometric features of face
decides which area belongs to face.
Two main results that we received from this research are as follow:
first, proposed model can be applied easily on different databases and
color spaces to establish proper threshold. Second, our algorithm can
adapt itself with runtime condition and its results demonstrate
desirable progress in comparison with similar cases.
Abstract: This work is focused on the steady boundary layer flow
near the forward stagnation point of plane and axisymmetric bodies
towards a stretching sheet. The no slip condition on the solid
boundary is replaced by the partial slip condition. The analytical
solutions for the velocity distributions are obtained for the various
values of the ratio of free stream velocity and stretching velocity, slip
parameter, the suction and injection velocity parameter, magnetic
parameter and dimensionality index parameter in the series forms with
the help of homotopy analysis method (HAM). Convergence of the
series is explicitly discussed. Results show that the flow and the skin
friction coefficient depend heavily on the velocity slip factor. In
addition, the effects of all the parameters mentioned above were more
pronounced for plane flows than for axisymmetric flows.
Abstract: This paper presents a web based remote access
microcontroller laboratory. Because of accelerated development in
electronics and computer technologies, microcontroller-based devices
and appliances are found in all aspects of our daily life. Before the
implementation of remote access microcontroller laboratory an
experiment set is developed by teaching staff for training
microcontrollers. Requirement of technical teaching and industrial
applications are considered when experiment set is designed.
Students can make the experiments by connecting to the experiment
set which is connected to the computer that set as the web server. The
students can program the microcontroller, can control digital and
analog inputs and can observe experiment. Laboratory experiment
web page can be accessed via www.elab.aku.edu.tr address.
Abstract: The quantitative determination of several trace
elements (Cr, As, Se, Cd, Hg, Pb) existing as inorganic impurities in
some oriental herb-products such as Lingzhi Mushroom capsules,
Philamin powder, etc using ICP-MS has been studied. Various
instrumental parameters such as power, gas flow rate, sample depth, as
well as the concentration of nitric acid and thick background due to
high concentration of possible interferences on the determination of
these above-mentioned elements was investigated and the optimum
working conditions of the sample measurement on ICP-MS
(Agilent-7500a) were reported. Appropriate isotope internal standards
were also used to improve the accuracy of mercury determination.
Optimal parameters for sampling digestion were also investigated. The
recovery of analytical procedure was examined by using a Certified
Reference Material (IAEA-CRM 359). The recommended procedure
was then applied for the quantitative determination of Cr, As, Se, Cd,
Hg, Pb in Lingzhi Mushroom capsule, and Philamine powder samples.
The reproducibility of sample measurement (average value between
94 and 102%) and the uncertainty of analytical data (less than 20%)
are acceptable.
Abstract: Since the feasibility study of R&D programs have been
initiated for efficient public R&D investments, year 2008, feasibility
studies have improved in terms of precision. Although experience
related to these studies of R&D programs have increased to a certain
point, still methodological improvement is required. The feasibility
studies of R&D programs are consisted of various viewpoints, such as
technology, policy, and economics. This research is to provide
improvement methods to the economic perspective; especially the cost
estimation process of R&D activities. First of all, the fundamental
concept of cost estimation is reviewed. After the review, a statistical
and econometric analysis method is applied as empirical analysis.
Conclusively, limitations and further research directions are provided.
Abstract: In this paper a unified approach via block-pulse functions (BPFs) or shifted Legendre polynomials (SLPs) is presented to solve the linear-quadratic-Gaussian (LQG) control problem. Also a recursive algorithm is proposed to solve the above problem via BPFs. By using the elegant operational properties of orthogonal functions (BPFs or SLPs) these computationally attractive algorithms are developed. To demonstrate the validity of the proposed approaches a numerical example is included.
Abstract: This study investigates the relationships between
Work Motivation, Work Stress, and Job Satisfaction toward
cross-strait employees. The target subjects are three
manufacturing firms in Mainland China and Taiwan. Out of 450
distributed surveys, 352 valid surveys were obtained with the
response rate of 78.22%.The findings have addressed three main
pull factors toward cross-strait employees in choosing jobs, which
are (1) high level of firm stability, (2) good firm image, and (3)
good employee benefits. In addition, various employee attributes
exert different impacts on Work Motivation, Work Stress, and
Job Satisfaction. The comparison between expected and actual
perceived Job Satisfaction toward cross-strait employees shows
that “salary" ranks highest regarding expected Job Satisfaction
whereas “co-worker relationship" ranks highest regarding actual
perceived Job Satisfaction, which implies actual perceived Job
Satisfaction do not match employee expectations. Therefore, this
research further concludes that there exists differences between
employees- expected and actual perceived Job Satisfaction.
Abstract: Large scale climate signals and their teleconnections can influence hydro-meteorological variables on a local scale. Several extreme flow and timing measures, including high flow and low flow measures, from 62 hydrometric stations in Canada are investigated to detect possible linkages with several large scale climate indices. The streamflow data used in this study are derived from the Canadian Reference Hydrometric Basin Network and are characterized by relatively pristine and stable land-use conditions with a minimum of 40 years of record. A composite analysis approach was used to identify linkages between extreme flow and timing measures and climate indices. The approach involves determining the 10 highest and 10 lowest values of various climate indices from the data record. Extreme flow and timing measures for each station were examined for the years associated with the 10 largest values and the years associated with the 10 smallest values. In each case, a re-sampling approach was applied to determine if the 10 values of extreme flow measures differed significantly from the series mean. Results indicate that several stations are impacted by the large scale climate indices considered in this study. The results allow the determination of any relationship between stations that exhibit a statistically significant trend and stations for which the extreme measures exhibit a linkage with the climate indices.
Abstract: Many studies have shown that parallelization decreases efficiency [1], [2]. There are many reasons for these decrements. This paper investigates those which appear in the context of parallel data integration. Integration processes generally cannot be allocated to packages of identical size (i. e. tasks of identical complexity). The reason for this is unknown heterogeneous input data which result in variable task lengths. Process delay is defined by the slowest processing node. It leads to a detrimental effect on the total processing time. With a real world example, this study will show that while process delay does initially increase with the introduction of more nodes it ultimately decreases again after a certain point. The example will make use of the cloud computing platform Hadoop and be run inside Amazon-s EC2 compute cloud. A stochastic model will be set up which can explain this effect.
Abstract: The sanitary sewerage connection rate becomes an
important indicator of advanced cities. Following the construction of
sanitary sewerages, the maintenance and management systems are
required for keeping pipelines and facilities functioning well. These
maintenance tasks often require sewer workers to enter the manholes
and the pipelines, which are confined spaces short of natural
ventilation and full of hazardous substances. Working in sewers could
be easily exposed to a risk of adverse health effects. This paper
proposes the use of Bayesian belief networks (BBN) as a higher level
of noncarcinogenic health risk assessment of sewer workers. On the
basis of the epidemiological studies, the actual hospital attendance
records and expert experiences, the BBN is capable of capturing the
probabilistic relationships between the hazardous substances in sewers
and their adverse health effects, and accordingly inferring the
morbidity and mortality of the adverse health effects. The provision of
the morbidity and mortality rates of the related diseases is more
informative and can alleviate the drawbacks of conventional methods.