Abstract: An international cooperation between educators in
Australia and the US has led to a reconceptualization of the teaching
of a library science course at Appalachian State University. The
pedagogy of Action Learning coupled with a 3D virtual learning
environment immerses students in a social constructivist learning
space that incorporates and supports interaction and reflection. The
intent of this study was to build a bridge between theory and practice
by providing students with a tool set that promoted personal and
social reflection, and created and scaffolded a community of practice.
Besides, action learning is an educational process whereby the fifty
graduate students experienced their own actions and experience to
improve performance.
Abstract: A complex valued neural network is a neural network, which consists of complex valued input and/or weights and/or thresholds and/or activation functions. Complex-valued neural networks have been widening the scope of applications not only in electronics and informatics, but also in social systems. One of the most important applications of the complex valued neural network is in image and vision processing. In Neural networks, radial basis functions are often used for interpolation in multidimensional space. A Radial Basis function is a function, which has built into it a distance criterion with respect to a centre. Radial basis functions have often been applied in the area of neural networks where they may be used as a replacement for the sigmoid hidden layer transfer characteristic in multi-layer perceptron. This paper aims to present exhaustive results of using RBF units in a complex-valued neural network model that uses the back-propagation algorithm (called 'Complex-BP') for learning. Our experiments results demonstrate the effectiveness of a Radial basis function in a complex valued neural network in image recognition over a real valued neural network. We have studied and stated various observations like effect of learning rates, ranges of the initial weights randomly selected, error functions used and number of iterations for the convergence of error on a neural network model with RBF units. Some inherent properties of this complex back propagation algorithm are also studied and discussed.
Abstract: Molodstov-s soft sets theory was originally proposed
as general mathematical tool for dealing with uncertainty problems. The matrix form has been introduced in soft set and some of its
properties have been discussed. However, the formulation of soft
matrix in group decision making problem only with equal importance
weights of criteria, which does not show the true opinion of decision maker on each criteria. The aim of this paper is to propose a method
for solving group decision making problem incorporating the importance of criteria by using soft matrices in a more objective manner. The weight of each criterion is calculated by using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. An example of house
selection process is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Abstract: This paper is taken into consideration the problem of cryptanalysis of stream ciphers. There is some attempts need to improve the existing attacks on stream cipher and to make an attempt to distinguish the portions of cipher text obtained by the encryption of plain text in which some parts of the text are random and the rest are non-random. This paper presents a tutorial introduction to symmetric cryptography. The basic information theoretic and computational properties of classic and modern cryptographic systems are presented, followed by an examination of the application of cryptography to the security of VoIP system in computer networks using LFSR algorithm. The implementation program will be developed Java 2. LFSR algorithm is appropriate for the encryption and decryption of online streaming data, e.g. VoIP (voice chatting over IP). This paper is implemented the encryption module of speech signals to cipher text and decryption module of cipher text to speech signals.
Abstract: Genetic algorithms (GAs) have been widely used for
global optimization problems. The GA performance depends highly
on the choice of the search space for each parameter to be optimized.
Often, this choice is a problem-based experience. The search space
being a set of potential solutions may contain the global optimum
and/or other local optimums. A bad choice of this search space
results in poor solutions. In this paper, our approach consists in
extending the search space boundaries during the GA optimization,
only when it is required. This leads to more diversification of GA
population by new solutions that were not available with fixed search
space boundaries. So, these dynamic search spaces can improve the
GA optimization performances. The proposed approach is applied to
power system stabilizer optimization for multimachine power system
(16-generator and 68-bus). The obtained results are evaluated and
compared with those obtained by ordinary GAs. Eigenvalue analysis
and nonlinear system simulation results show the effectiveness of the
proposed approach to damp out the electromechanical oscillation and
enhance the global system stability.
Abstract: We summarize information that facilitates choosing an ontology language for knowledge intensive applications. This paper is a short version of the ontology language state-of-the-art and evolution analysis carried out for choosing an ontology language in the IST Esperonto project. At first, we analyze changes and evolution that took place in the filed of Semantic Web languages during the last years, in particular, around the ontology languages of the RDF/S and OWL family. Second, we present current trends in development of Semantic Web languages, in particular, rule support extensions for Semantic Web languages and emerging ontology languages such as WSMO languages.
Abstract: Industrial surveys shows that manufacturing
companies define the qualities of thermal removing process based on
the dimension and physical appearance of the cutting material
surface. Therefore, the roughness of the surface area of the material
cut by the plasma arc cutting process and the rate of the removed
material by the manual plasma arc cutting machine was importantly
considered. Plasma arc cutter Selco Genesis 90 was used to cut
Standard AISI 1017 Steel of 200 mm x100 mm x 6 mm manually
based on the selected parameters setting. The material removal rate
(MRR) was measured by determining the weight of the specimens
before and after the cutting process. The surface roughness (SR)
analysis was conducted using Mitutoyo CS-3100 to determine the
average roughness value (Ra). Taguchi method was utilized to
achieve optimum condition for both outputs studied. The
microstructure analysis in the region of the cutting surface is
performed using SEM. The results reveal that the SR values are
inversely proportional to the MRR values. The quality of the surface
roughness depends on the dross peak that occurred after the cutting
process.
Abstract: In this paper, an extended method of the directionally constrained minimization of power (DCMP) algorithm for broadband signals is proposed. The DCMP algorithm is one of the useful techniques of extracting a target signal from observed signals of a microphone array system. In the DCMP algorithm, output power of the microphone array is minimized under a constraint of constant responses to directions of arrival (DOAs) of specific signals. In our algorithm, by limiting the directional constraint to the perpendicular direction to the sensor array system, the calculating time is reduced.
Abstract: Sensors have been used in various kinds of academic
fields and applications. In this article, we propose the idea of
modularized sensors that combine multiple sensor modules into a
unique sensor. We divide a sensor into several units according to
functionalities. Each unit has different sensor modules, which share
the same type of connectors and can be serially and arbitrarily
connected each other. A user can combine different sensor modules
into a sensor platform according to requirements. Compared with
current modularized sensors, the proposed sensor platform is highly
flexible and reusable. We have implemented the prototype of the
proposed sensor platform, and the experimental results show the
proposed platform can work correctly.
Abstract: A novel algorithm for construct a seamless video mosaic of the entire panorama continuously by automatically analyzing and managing feature points, including management of quantity and quality, from the sequence is presented. Since a video contains significant redundancy, so that not all consecutive video images are required to create a mosaic. Only some key images need to be selected. Meanwhile, feature-based methods for mosaicing rely on correction of feature points? correspondence deeply, and if the key images have large frame interval, the mosaic will often be interrupted by the scarcity of corresponding feature points. A unique character of the method is its ability to handle all the problems above in video mosaicing. Experiments have been performed under various conditions, the results show that our method could achieve fast and accurate video mosaic construction. Keywords?video mosaic, feature points management, homography estimation.
Abstract: Dual bell nozzle is a promising one among the altitude
adaptation nozzle concepts, which offer increased nozzle
performance in rocket engines. Its advantage is the simplicity it offers
due to the absence of any additional mechanical device or movable
parts. Hence it offers reliability along with improved nozzle
performance as demanded by future launch vehicles. Among other
issues, the flow transition to the extension nozzle of a dual bell
nozzle is one of the major issues being studied in the development of
dual bell nozzle. A parameter named over-expansion factor, which
controls the value of the wall inflection angle, has been reported to
have substantial influence in this transition process. This paper
studies, through CFD and cold flow experiments, the effect of overexpansion
factor on flow transition in dual bell nozzles.
Abstract: From the beginning of creation, human being has ever
fought against the ecosystem by changes has made in environment.
The most environmental changes on the nature have been done after
starting the concentrated life in the same region. Dams are one of the
most important buildings in water resources and transferring. These
buildings have been made from old times without access to
hydrological, hydraulically, hydro mechanical information. Dams
have positive and negative effects on environment. Constructing a
dam relatively causes equal ecological consequences. According to
different criteria, environmental effects of dams can lead short term
and long term damages. These effects may influence on the situation
and treatment of meteorology, biology, culture, ancient works, etc
and severely causes to change and complicate it. So considering
importance of positive effects of dam construction, it is necessary to
minimize negative environmental effects of dams to achieve a stable
development. In this article the considered effects and their solutions
in influencing on assessment of destructive environmental effects of
dams construction have been surveyed and presented.
Abstract: The use of e-business in small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) has been recently received an enormous attention
in information systems research by both academic and practitioners.
With the adoption of new and efficient technologies to enhance
businesses, Thai SMEs should be able to compete worldwide.
Unfortunately, most of the owners are not used to new technologies.
It is clear that most Thai SMEs prefer to work manually rather than
electronically. This paper aims to provide a fundamental conceptual
framework for E-business adoption by Thai SMEs. Rooted in
Knowledge transfer model, several factors are identified, which drive
and enable e-business adoption. By overlooking the benefits
associated with implementing new technologies, it is difficult for
Thai SMEs to perform well enough to compete globally. The paper
also helps Thai SMEs to understand factors related to E-business
adoption.
Abstract: This paper addresses linear quadratic regulation (LQR)
for variable speed variable pitch wind turbines. Because of the
inherent nonlinearity of wind turbine, a set of operating conditions is
identified and then a LQR controller is designed for each operating
point. The feedback controller gains are then interpolated linearly to
get control law for the entire operating region. Besides, the
aerodynamic torque and effective wind speed are estimated online to
get the gain-scheduling variable for implementing the controller. The
potential of the method is verified through simulation with the help of
MATLAB/Simulink and GH Bladed. The performance and
mechanical load when using LQR are also compared with that when
using PI controller.
Abstract: One major difficulty that faces developers of
concurrent and distributed software is analysis for concurrency based
faults like deadlocks. Petri nets are used extensively in the
verification of correctness of concurrent programs. ECATNets are a
category of algebraic Petri nets based on a sound combination of
algebraic abstract types and high-level Petri nets. ECATNets have
'sound' and 'complete' semantics because of their integration in
rewriting logic and its programming language Maude. Rewriting
logic is considered as one of very powerful logics in terms of
description, verification and programming of concurrent systems We
proposed previously a method for translating Ada-95 tasking
programs to ECATNets formalism (Ada-ECATNet) and we showed
that ECATNets formalism provides a more compact translation for
Ada programs compared to the other approaches based on simple
Petri nets or Colored Petri nets. We showed also previously how the
ECATNet formalism offers to Ada many validation and verification
tools like simulation, Model Checking, accessibility analysis and
static analysis. In this paper, we describe the implementation of our
translation of the Ada programs into ECATNets.
Abstract: Environmental contamination is a common problem in ex-industrial and industrial sites. This article gives a brief description of general applied environmental investigation methodologies and possible remediation applications in Latvia. Most of contaminated areas are situated in former and active industrial, military areas and ports. Industrial and logistic activities very often have been with great impact for more than hundred years thus the contamination level with heavy metals, hydrocarbons, pesticides, persistent organic pollutants is high and is threatening health and environment in general. 242 territories now are numbered as contaminated and fixed in the National Register of contaminated territories in Latvia. Research and remediation of contamination in densely populated areas are of important environmental policy domain. Four different investigation case studies of contaminated areas are given describing the history of use, environmental quality assessment as well as planned environmental management actions. All four case study locations are situated in Riga - the capital of the Republic of Latvia. The aim of this paper is to analyze the situation and problems with management of contaminated areas in Latvia, give description of field research methods and recommendations for remediation industry based on scientific data and innovations.
Abstract: Electronic nose (array of chemical sensors) are widely
used in food industry and pollution control. Also it could be used to
locate or detect the direction of the source of emission odors. Usually
this task is performed by electronic nose (ENose) cooperated with
mobile vehicles, but when a source is instantaneous or surrounding is
hard for vehicles to reach, problem occurs. Thus a method for
stationary ENose to detect the direction of the source and locate the
source will be required. A novel method which uses the ratio between
the responses of different sensors as a discriminant to determine the
direction of source in natural wind surroundings is presented in this
paper. The result shows that the method is accurate and easily to be
implemented. This method could be also used in movably, as an
optimized algorithm for robot tracking source location.
Abstract: It is important for an autonomous mobile robot to know
where it is in any time in an indoor environment. In this paper, we
design a relative self-localization algorithm. The algorithm compare
the interest point in two images and compute the relative displacement
and orientation to determent the posture. Firstly, we use the SURF
algorithm to extract the interest points of the ceiling. Second, in order
to reduce amount of calculation, a replacement SURF is used to extract
orientation and description of the interest points. At last, according to
the transformation of the interest points in two images, the relative
self-localization of the mobile robot will be estimated greatly.
Abstract: We present a novel scheme to recognize isolated speech
signals using certain statistical parameters derived from those signals.
The determination of the statistical estimates is based on extracted
signal information rather than the original signal information in
order to reduce the computational complexity. Subtle details of
these estimates, after extracting the speech signal from ambience
noise, are first exploited to segregate the polysyllabic words from
the monosyllabic ones. Precise recognition of each distinct word is
then carried out by analyzing the histogram, obtained from these
information.
Abstract: This work deals with the design of the robotic assembly
system for the roller clamps. The task is characterized by high speed,
high yield and safety engagement. This paper describes the design of
different parts of an automated high speed machine to assemble the
parts of roller clamps. The roller clamp robotic assembly system
performs various processes in the assembly line which include clamp
body and roller feeding, inserting the roller into the clamp body, and
dividing the rejected clamp and successfully assembled clamp into
their own tray. The electrical/electronics design of the machine is
discussed. The target is to design a cost effective, minimum
maintenance and high speed machine for the industry applications.