Abstract: World has entered in 21st century. The technology of
computer graphics and digital cameras is prevalent. High resolution
display and printer are available. Therefore high resolution images
are needed in order to produce high quality display images and high
quality prints. However, since high resolution images are not usually
provided, there is a need to magnify the original images. One
common difficulty in the previous magnification techniques is that of
preserving details, i.e. edges and at the same time smoothing the data
for not introducing the spurious artefacts. A definitive solution to this
is still an open issue. In this paper an image magnification using
adaptive interpolation by pixel level data-dependent geometrical
shapes is proposed that tries to take into account information about
the edges (sharp luminance variations) and smoothness of the image.
It calculate threshold, classify interpolation region in the form of
geometrical shapes and then assign suitable values inside
interpolation region to the undefined pixels while preserving the
sharp luminance variations and smoothness at the same time.
The results of proposed technique has been compared qualitatively
and quantitatively with five other techniques. In which the qualitative
results show that the proposed method beats completely the Nearest
Neighbouring (NN), bilinear(BL) and bicubic(BC) interpolation. The
quantitative results are competitive and consistent with NN, BL, BC
and others.
Abstract: This paper focuses on a critical component of the situational awareness (SA), the control of autonomous vertical flight for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Autonomous vertical flight is a challenging but important task for tactical UAVs to achieve high level of autonomy under adverse conditions. With the SA strategy, we proposed a two stage flight control procedure using two autonomous control subsystems to address the dynamics variation and performance requirement difference in initial and final stages of flight trajectory for a nontrivial nonlinear trirotor mini-UAV model. This control strategy for chosen mini-UAV model has been verified by simulation of hovering maneuvers using software package Simulink and demonstrated good performance for fast SA in realtime search-and-rescue operations.
Abstract: Many new experimental films which were free from conventional movie forms have appeared since Nubellbak Movement in the late 1950s. Forty years after the movement started, on March 13th, 1995, on the 100th anniversary of the birth of film, the declaration called Dogme 95, was issued in Copenhagen, Denmark. It aimed to create a new style of avant-garde film, and showed a tendency toward being anti-Hollywood and anti-genre, which were against the highly popular Hollywood trend of movies based on large-scale investment. The main idea of Dogme 95 is the opposition to 'the writer's doctrine' that a film should be the artist's individual work and to 'the overuse of technology' in film. The key figures declared ten principles called 'Vow of Chastity', by which new movie forms were to be produced. Interview (2000), directed by Byunhyuk, was made in 2000, five years after Dogme 95 was declared. This movie was dedicated as the first Asian Dogme. This study will survey the relationship between Korean film and the Vow of Chastity through the Korean films released in theaters from a viewpoint of technology and content. It also will call attention to its effects on and significance to Korean film in modern society.
Abstract: Many firms implemented various initiatives such as outsourced manufacturing which could make a supply chain (SC) more vulnerable to various types of disruptions. So managing risk has become a critical component of SC management. Different types of SC vulnerability management methodologies have been proposed for managing SC risk, most offer only point-based solutions that deal with a limited set of risks. This research aims to reinforce SC risk management by proposing an integrated approach. SC risks are identified and a risk index classification structure is created. Then we develop a SC risk assessment approach based on the analytic network process (ANP) and the VIKOR methods under the fuzzy environment where the vagueness and subjectivity are handled with linguistic terms parameterized by triangular fuzzy numbers. By using FANP, risks weights are calculated and then inserted to the FVIKOR to rank the SC members and find the most risky partner.
Abstract: In this paper, the Tabu search algorithm is used to
solve a transportation problem which consists of determining the
shortest routes with the appropriate vehicle capacity to facilitate the
travel of the students attending the University of Mauritius. The aim
of this work is to minimize the total cost of the distance travelled by
the vehicles in serving all the customers. An initial solution is
obtained by the TOUR algorithm which basically constructs a giant
tour containing all the customers and partitions it in an optimal way
so as to produce a set of feasible routes. The Tabu search algorithm
then makes use of a search procedure, a swapping procedure and the
intensification and diversification mechanism to find the best set of
feasible routes.
Abstract: Recommender systems are usually regarded as an
important marketing tool in the e-commerce. They use important
information about users to facilitate accurate recommendation. The
information includes user context such as location, time and interest
for personalization of mobile users. We can easily collect information
about location and time because mobile devices communicate with the
base station of the service provider. However, information about user
interest can-t be easily collected because user interest can not be
captured automatically without user-s approval process. User interest
usually represented as a need. In this study, we classify needs into two
types according to prior research. This study investigates the
usefulness of data mining techniques for classifying user need type for
recommendation systems. We employ several data mining techniques
including artificial neural networks, decision trees, case-based
reasoning, and multivariate discriminant analysis. Experimental
results show that CHAID algorithm outperforms other models for
classifying user need type. This study performs McNemar test to
examine the statistical significance of the differences of classification
results. The results of McNemar test also show that CHAID performs
better than the other models with statistical significance.
Abstract: The discrete-time uncertain system with time delay is investigated for bounded input bounded output (BIBO). By constructing an augmented Lyapunov function, three different sufficient conditions are established for BIBO stabilization. These conditions are expressed in the form of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), whose feasibility can be easily checked by using Matlab LMI Toolbox. Two numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the derived results.
Abstract: There are few studies on eggshell of leatherback turtle
which is endangered species in Thailand. This study was focusing on
the ultrastructure and elemental composition of leatherback turtle
eggshells collected from Andaman Sea Shore, Thailand during the
nesting season using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Three
eggshell layers of leatherback turtle; the outer cuticle layer or
calcareous layer, the middle layer or middle multistrata layer and the
inner fibrous layer were recognized. The outer calcareous layer was
thick and porosity which consisted of loose nodular units of various
crystal shapes and sizes. The loose attachment between these units
resulted in numerous spaces and openings. The middle layer was
compact thick with several multistrata and contained numerous
openings connecting to both outer cuticle layer and inner fibrous
layer. The inner fibrous layer was compact and thin, and composed of
numerous reticular fibers. Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis
detector revealed energy spectrum of X-rays character emitted from
all elements on each layer. The percentages of all elements were
found in the following order: carbon (C) > oxygen (O) > calcium
(Ca) > sulfur (S) > potassium (K) > aluminum (Al) > iodine (I) >
silicon (Si) > chlorine (Cl) > sodium (Na) > fluorine (F) >
phosphorus (P) > magnesium (Mg). Each layer consisted of high
percentage of CaCO3 (approximately 98%) implying that it was
essential for turtle embryonic development. A significant difference
was found in the percentages of Ca and Mo in the 3layers. Moreover,
transition metal, metal and toxic non-metal contaminations were
found in leatherback turtle eggshell samples. These were palladium
(Pd), molybdenum (Mo), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), lead (Pb), and
bromine (Br). The contamination elements were seen in the outer
layers except for Mo. All elements were readily observed and
mapped using Smiling program. X-ray images which mapped the
location of all elements were showed. Calcium containing in the
eggshell appeared in high contents and was widely distributing in
clusters of the outer cuticle layer to form CaCO3 structure. Moreover,
the accumulation of Na and Cl was observed to form NaCl which was
widely distributing in 3 eggshell layers. The results from this study
would be valuable on assessing the emergent success in this
endangered species.
Abstract: We present an operator for a propositional linear temporal logic over infinite schedules of iterated transactions, which, when applied to a formula, asserts that any schedule satisfying the formula is serializable. The resulting logic is suitable for specifying and verifying consistency properties of concurrent transaction management systems, that can be defined in terms of serializability, as well as other general safety and liveness properties. A strict form of serializability is used requiring that, whenever the read and write steps of a transaction occurrence precede the read and write steps of another transaction occurrence in a schedule, the first transaction must precede the second transaction in an equivalent serial schedule. This work improves on previous work in providing a propositional temporal logic with a serializability operator that is of the same PSPACE complete computational complexity as standard propositional linear temporal logic without a serializability operator.
Abstract: In Thailand, the practice of pre-hospital Emergency
Medical Service (EMS) in each area reveals the different growth
rates and effectiveness of the practices. Those can be found as the
diverse quality and quantity. To shorten the learning curve prior to
speed-up the practices in other areas, story telling and lessons learnt
from the effective practices are valued as meaningful knowledge. To
this paper, it was to ascertain the factors, lessons learnt and best
practices that have impact as contributing to the success of prehospital
EMS system. Those were formulized as model prior to
speedup the practice in other areas. To develop the model, Malcolm
Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA), which is widely
recognized as a framework for organizational quality assessment and
improvement, was chosen as the discussion framework. Remarkably,
this study was based on the consideration of knowledge capture;
however it was not to complete the loop of knowledge activities.
Nevertheless, it was to highlight the recognition of knowledge
capture, which is the initiation of knowledge management.
Abstract: The rising growth of the GSM cellular phone industry has tightening competition level between providers in making strategies enhancing the market shares in Indonesia. Tsel, as one of those companies, has to determine the proper strategy to sustain as well as improve the market share without reducing its operational income level. Portfolio simulation model is designed with a dynamic system approach. The result of this research is a recommendation to the company by optimizing its technological policies, services, and promotions. The tariff policies and the signal quality should not be the main focus because this company has had a large number of customers and a good infrastructural condition.
Abstract: Age and sex are biological terms that are socioculturally
constructed for marriage and marital sexual behavior in
every society. Marriage is a universal norm that makes legitimate
sexual behavior between a man and a woman in marital life cycle to
gain bio-social purposes. Cross-cultural studies reveal that marital
sexual frequency as a part of marital sexual behavior not only varies
within the couple-s life cycle, but also varies between and among
couples in diverse cultures. The purpose of the study was to compare
marital sexual frequency in association with age status and length of
marital relationship between Muslim and Santal couples in rural
Bangladesh. For this we assumed that (1) Santal culture compared to
Muslim culture preferred earlier age at marriage for meeting marital
sexual purposes in rural Bangladesh; (2) Marital duration among the
Muslim couples was higher than that among the Santal couples; (3)
Sexual frequency among the younger couples in both the ethnic
communities was higher than the older couples; (4) Sexual frequency
across the Muslim couples- marital life cycle was higher than that the
Santal couples- marital life cycle. In so doing, 288 active couples
(145 for Muslim and 143 for Santal) selected by cluster random
sampling were interviewed with questionnaire method. The findings
of Independent Samples T Test on age at marriage, current age,
marital duration and sexual frequency independently reveal that there
were significant differences in sexual frequency not only across the
couples- life cycle but also vary between the Muslim and Santal
couples in relation to marital duration. The results of Pearson-s Inter-
Correlation Coefficients reveal that although age at marriage, current
age and marital duration for husband and wife were significantly
positive correlated with each other between the communities, there
were significantly negative correlation between the age at marriage,
current age, marital duration and sexual frequency among the
selected couples between the communities.
Abstract: Micro droplet formation is considered as a growing
emerging area of research due to its wide-range application in
chemistry as well as biology. The mechanism of micro droplet
formation using two immiscible liquids running through a T-junction
has been widely studied.
We believe that the flow of these two immiscible phases can be of
greater important factor that could have an impact on out-flow
hydrodynamic behavior, the droplets generated and the size of the
droplets. In this study, the type of the capillary tubes used also
represents another important factor that can have an impact on the
generation of micro droplets.
The tygon capillary tubing with hydrophilic inner surface doesn't
allow regular out-flows due to the fact that the continuous phase
doesn't adhere to the wall of the capillary inner surface.
Teflon capillary tubing, presents better wettability than tygon
tubing, and allows to obtain steady and regular regimes of out-flow,
and the micro droplets are homogeneoussize.
The size of the droplets is directly dependent on the flows of the
continuous and dispersed phases. Thus, as increasing the flow of the
continuous phase, to flow of the dispersed phase stationary, the size
of the drops decreases. Inversely, while increasing the flow of the
dispersed phase, to flow of the continuous phase stationary, the size
of the droplet increases.
Abstract: As communications systems and technology become more advanced and complex, it will be increasingly important to focus on users- individual needs. Personalization and effective user profile management will be necessary to ensure the uptake and success of new services and devices and it is therefore important to focus on the users- requirements in this area and define solutions that meet these requirements. The work on personalization and user profiles emerged from earlier ETSI work on a Universal Communications Identifier (UCI) which is a unique identifier of the user rather than a range of identifiers of the many of communication devices or services (e.g. numbers of fixed phone at home/work, mobile phones, fax and email addresses). This paper describes work on personalization including standardized information and preferences and an architectural framework providing a description of how personalization can be integrated in Next Generation Networks, together with the UCI concept.
Abstract: These days we face with so many advertisements in
magazines, those mentioned coaching is pragmatic specialties which
help people make change in their lives. Up to know Specialty coaches
are not necessarily therapists, consultants or psychologist, thus they
may not know psychological theories. The International Coach
Federation identifies "facilitating learning and results" as one of its
four core coach competencies, without understanding learning
theories coaching practice hangs in theoretical abyss. Thus the aim of
this article is investigating learning theories within coaching process.
Therefore, I reviewed some cognitive and behavioral learning
theories and analyzed their contribution with coaching process which
has been introduced in mentor coaches and ICF certified coaches'
papers and books. The result demonstrated that coaching profession
is strongly grounded in learning theories, and it will be strengthened
by the validation of theories and evidence-based research as we move
forward. Thus, it needs more research in order to applying effective
theoretical frameworks.
Abstract: We investigated the effects of modified
preprogrammed training mode Chase Trainer from Balance Trainer
(BT3, HurLab, Tampere, Finland) on athlete who experienced
unilateral Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS). Twenty-seven
athletes with mean age= 14.23 ±1.31 years, height = 164.89 ± 7.85
cm, weight = 56.94 ± 9.28 kg were randomly assigned to two groups:
experiment (EG; n = 14) and injured (IG; n = 13). EG performed a
series of Chase Trainer program which required them to shift their
body weight at different directions, speeds and angle of leaning twice
a week for duration of 8 weeks. The static postural control and
perceived pain level measures were taken at baseline, after 6 weeks
and 8 weeks of training. There was no significant difference in any of
tested variables between EG and IG before and after 6-week the
intervention period. However, after 8-week of training, the postural
control (eyes open) and perceived pain level of EG improved
compared to IG (p
Abstract: In this paper a nonlinear model is presented to
demonstrate the relation between production and marketing
departments. By introducing some functions such as pricing cost and
market share loss functions it will be tried to show some aspects of
market modelling which has not been regarded before. The proposed
model will be a constrained signomial geometric programming
model. For model solving, after variables- modifications an iterative
technique based on the concept of geometric mean will be introduced
to solve the resulting non-standard posynomial model which can be
applied to a wide variety of models in non-standard posynomial
geometric programming form. At the end a numerical analysis will
be presented to accredit the validity of the mentioned model.
Abstract: This paper presents a vocoder to obtain high quality synthetic speech at 600 bps. To reduce the bit rate, the algorithm is based on a sinusoidally excited linear prediction model which extracts few coding parameters, and three consecutive frames are grouped into a superframe and jointly vector quantization is used to obtain high coding efficiency. The inter-frame redundancy is exploited with distinct quantization schemes for different unvoiced/voiced frame combinations in the superframe. Experimental results show that the quality of the proposed coder is better than that of 2.4kbps LPC10e and achieves approximately the same as that of 2.4kbps MELP and with high robustness.
Abstract: Clustering techniques have been used by many intelligent software agents to group similar access patterns of the Web users into high level themes which express users intentions and interests. However, such techniques have been mostly focusing on one salient feature of the Web document visited by the user, namely the extracted keywords. The major aim of these techniques is to come up with an optimal threshold for the number of keywords needed to produce more focused themes. In this paper we focus on both keyword and similarity thresholds to generate themes with concentrated themes, and hence build a more sound model of the user behavior. The purpose of this paper is two fold: use distance based clustering methods to recognize overall themes from the Proxy log file, and suggest an efficient cut off levels for the keyword and similarity thresholds which tend to produce more optimal clusters with better focus and efficient size.
Abstract: With constraints on data availability and for study of power system stability it is adequate to model the synchronous generator with field circuit and one equivalent damper on q-axis known as the model 1.1. This paper presents a systematic procedure for modelling and simulation of a single-machine infinite-bus power system installed with a thyristor controlled series compensator (TCSC) where the synchronous generator is represented by model 1.1, so that impact of TCSC on power system stability can be more reasonably evaluated. The model of the example power system is developed using MATLAB/SIMULINK which can be can be used for teaching the power system stability phenomena, and also for research works especially to develop generator controllers using advanced technologies. Further, the parameters of the TCSC controller are optimized using genetic algorithm. The non-linear simulation results are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.