Abstract: Internet is nowadays included to all National Curriculums of the elementary school. A comparative study of their
goals leads to the conclusion that a complete curriculum should aim to student-s acquisition of the abilities to navigate and search for
information and additionally to emphasize on the evaluation of the information provided by the World Wide Web. In a constructivistic knowledge framework the design of a course has to take under
consideration the conceptual representations of students. The following paper presents the conceptual representation of students of eleven years old, attending the Sixth Grade of Greek Elementary School about World Wide Web and their use in the design and
implementation of an innovative course.
Abstract: This paper and its companion (Part 2) deal with
modeling and optimization of two NP-hard problems in production
planning of flexible manufacturing system (FMS), part type selection
problem and loading problem. The part type selection problem and
the loading problem are strongly related and heavily influence the
system-s efficiency and productivity. The complexity of the problems
is harder when flexibilities of operations such as the possibility of
operation processed on alternative machines with alternative tools are
considered. These problems have been modeled and solved
simultaneously by using real coded genetic algorithms (RCGA)
which uses an array of real numbers as chromosome representation.
These real numbers can be converted into part type sequence and
machines that are used to process the part types. This first part of the
papers focuses on the modeling of the problems and discussing how
the novel chromosome representation can be applied to solve the
problems. The second part will discuss the effectiveness of the
RCGA to solve various test bed problems.
Abstract: Back-to-back static synchronous compensator (BtBSTATCOM) consists of two back-to-back voltage-source converters (VSC) with a common DC link in a substation. This configuration extends the capabilities of conventional STATCOM that bidirectional active power transfer from one bus to another is possible. In this paper, VSCs are designed in quasi multi-pulse form in which GTOs are triggered only once per cycle in PSCAD/EMTDC. The design details of VSCs as well as gate switching circuits and controllers are fully represented. Regulation modes of BtBSTATCOM are verified and tested on a multi-machine power system through different simulation cases. The results presented in the form of typical time responses show that practical PI controllers are almost robust and stable in case of start-up, set-point change, and line faults.
Abstract: Improving performance measures in the construction
processes has been a major concern for managers and decision
makers in the industry. They seek for ways to recognize the key
factors which have the largest effect on the process. Identifying such
factors can guide them to focus on the right parts of the process in
order to gain the best possible result. In the present study design of
experiment (DOE) has been applied to a computer simulation model
of brick laying process to determine significant factors while
productivity has been chosen as the response of the experiment. To
this end, four controllable factors and their interaction have been
experimented and the best factor level has been calculated for each
one. The results indicate that three factors, namely, labor of brick,
labor of mortar and inter arrival time of mortar along with interaction
of labor of brick and labor of mortar are significant.
Abstract: A pot experiment was carried out under controlled
conditions to evaluate the residual effects of different doses of
atrazine+alachlor and foramsulfuron used in corn fields on the
growth and physiology of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). A split-plot
experiment in CRD with 4 replications was used. The main plots
consisted of herbicide type (atrazine+alachlor mixture and
foramsulfuron) and the sub-plots were different residual doses of the
herbicides (0, 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 40%, 50% and 100%). 7 cm
diameter pots were filled with a virgin soil and seeds of rapeseed cv.
Hayola were planted in them. The pots were kept under controlled
conditions for 8 weeks after germination. At harvest, the growth
parameters and the chlorophyll contents of the leaves were
determined. The results showed that the growth of rapeseed plants
was completely prevented at the highest residual doses of the
herbicides (50 and 100 %). The growth parameters of rapeseed plants
were affected by all doses of both types of the herbicide as compared
to the controls. The residual effects of atrazine+alachlor mixture in
reducing the growth parameters of rapeseed were more pronounced
as compared to the residual effects of foramsulfuron alone.
Abstract: Radio propagation from point-to-point is affected by
the physical channel in many ways. A signal arriving at a destination
travels through a number of different paths which are referred to as
multi-paths. Research in this area of wireless communications has
progressed well over the years with the research taking different
angles of focus. By this is meant that some researchers focus on
ways of reducing or eluding Multipath effects whilst others focus on
ways of mitigating the effects of Multipath through compensation
schemes. Baseband processing is seen as one field of signal
processing that is cardinal to the advancement of software defined
radio technology. This has led to wide research into the carrying out
certain algorithms at baseband. This paper considers compensating
for Multipath for Frequency Modulated signals. The compensation
process is carried out at Radio frequency (RF) and at Quadrature
baseband (QBB) and the results are compared. Simulations are
carried out using MatLab so as to show the benefits of working at
lower QBB frequencies than at RF.
Abstract: The paper presents an optimization study based on
genetic algorithms (GA-s) for a radio-frequency applicator used in
heating dielectric band products. The weakly coupled electro-thermal
problem is analyzed using 2D-FEM. The design variables in the
optimization process are: the voltage of a supplementary “guard"
electrode and six geometric parameters of the applicator. Two
objective functions are used: temperature uniformity and total active
power absorbed by the dielectric. Both mono-objective and multiobjective
formulations are implemented in GA optimization.
Abstract: Heart disease (HD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the modern society. Medical diagnosis is an important but complicated task that should be performed accurately and efficiently and its automation would be very useful. All doctors are unfortunately not equally skilled in every sub specialty and they are in many places a scarce resource. A system for automated medical diagnosis would enhance medical care and reduce costs. In this paper, a new approach based on coactive neuro-fuzzy inference system (CANFIS) was presented for prediction of heart disease. The proposed CANFIS model combined the neural network adaptive capabilities and the fuzzy logic qualitative approach which is then integrated with genetic algorithm to diagnose the presence of the disease. The performances of the CANFIS model were evaluated in terms of training performances and classification accuracies and the results showed that the proposed CANFIS model has great potential in predicting the heart disease.
Abstract: Rotation or tilt present in an image capture by digital
means can be detected and corrected using Artificial Neural Network
(ANN) for application with a Face Recognition System (FRS). Principal
Component Analysis (PCA) features of faces at different angles
are used to train an ANN which detects the rotation for an input image
and corrected using a set of operations implemented using another
system based on ANN. The work also deals with the recognition
of human faces with features from the foreheads, eyes, nose and
mouths as decision support entities of the system configured using
a Generalized Feed Forward Artificial Neural Network (GFFANN).
These features are combined to provide a reinforced decision for
verification of a person-s identity despite illumination variations. The
complete system performing facial image rotation detection, correction
and recognition using re-enforced decision support provides a
success rate in the higher 90s.
Abstract: Human amniotic membrane (HAM) is a useful
biological material for the reconstruction of damaged ocular surface.
The processing and preservation of HAM is critical to prevent the
patients undergoing amniotic membrane transplant (AMT) from cross
infections. For HAM preparation human placenta is obtained after an
elective cesarean delivery. Before collection, the donor is screened
for seronegativity of HCV, Hbs Ag, HIV and Syphilis. After
collection, placenta is washed in balanced salt solution (BSS) in
sterile environment. Amniotic membrane is then separated from the
placenta as well as chorion while keeping the preparation in BSS.
Scrapping of HAM is then carried out manually until all the debris is
removed and clear transparent membrane is acquired. Nitrocellulose
membrane filters are then placed on the stromal side of HAM, cut
around the edges with little membrane folded towards other side
making it easy to separate during surgery. HAM is finally stored in
solution of glycerine and Dulbecco-s Modified Eagle Medium
(DMEM) in 1:1 ratio containing antibiotics. The capped borosil vials
containing HAM are kept at -80°C until use. This vial is thawed to
room temperature and opened under sterile operation theatre
conditions at the time of surgery.
Abstract: Partial Discharge measurement is a very important
means of assessing the integrity of insulation systems in a High
Voltage apparatus. In compressed gas insulation systems, floating
particles can initiate partial discharge activities which adversely
affect the working of insulation. Partial Discharges below the
inception voltage also plays a crucial in damaging the integrity of
insulation over a period of time. This paper discusses the effect of
loose and fixed Copper and Nichrome wire particles on the PD
characteristics in SF6-N2 (10:90) gas mixtures at a pressure of
0.4MPa. The Partial Discharge statistical parameters and their
correlation to the observed results are discussed.
Abstract: The objective this study was to characterize and
develop anthropomorphic liver phantoms in tomography hepatic
procedures for quality control and improvement professionals in
nuclear medicine. For the conformation of the anthropomorphic
phantom was used in plaster and acrylic. We constructed three
phantoms representing processes with liver cirrhosis. The phantoms
were filled with 99mTc diluted with water to obtain the scintigraphic
images. Tomography images were analyzed anterior and posterior
phantom representing a body with a greater degree cirrhotic. It was
noted that the phantoms allow the acquisition of images similar to
real liver with cirrhosis. Simulations of hemangiomas may contribute
to continued professional education of nuclear medicine, on the
question of image acquisition, allowing of the study parameters such
of the matrix, energy window and count statistics.
Abstract: In the present paper, the three-dimensional
temperature field of tool is determined during the machining and
compared with experimental work on C45 workpiece using carbide
cutting tool inserts. During the metal cutting operations, high
temperature is generated in the tool cutting edge which influence on
the rate of tool wear. Temperature is most important characteristic of
machining processes; since many parameters such as cutting speed,
surface quality and cutting forces depend on the temperature and high
temperatures can cause high mechanical stresses which lead to early
tool wear and reduce tool life. Therefore, considerable attention is
paid to determine tool temperatures. The experiments are carried out
for dry and orthogonal machining condition. The results show that
the increase of tool temperature depends on depth of cut and
especially cutting speed in high range of cutting conditions.
Abstract: Physiological activity of the pineal gland with specific
responses in the reproductive territory may be interpreted by
monitoring the process parameters used in poultry practice in
different age batches of laying hens. As biological material were
used 105 laying hens, clinically healthy, belonging to ALBO SL-
2000 hybrid, raised on ground, from which blood samples were taken
at the age of 12 and 28 weeks. The haematological examinations
were concerned to obtain the total number of erythrocytes and
leukocytes and the main erythrocyte constant (RBC, PCV, MCV,
MCH, MCHC and WBC). The results allow the interpretation of the
reproductive status through the dynamics of the presented values.
Abstract: Qk
n has been shown as an alternative to the hypercube
family. For any even integer k ≥ 4 and any integer n ≥ 2, Qk
n is
a bipartite graph. In this paper, we will prove that given any pair of
vertices, w and b, from different partite sets of Qk
n, there exist 2n
internally disjoint paths between w and b, denoted by {Pi | 0 ≤ i ≤ 2n-1}, such that 2n-1
i=0 Pi covers all vertices of Qk
n. The result is
optimal since each vertex of Qk
n has exactly 2n neighbors.
Abstract: In this paper, we investigated vector control of an induction machine taking into account discretization problems of the command. In the purpose to show how to include in a discrete model of this current control and with rotor time constant update. The results of simulation obtained are very satisfaisant. That was possible thanks to the good choice of the values of the parameters of the regulators used which shows, the founded good of the method used, for the choice of the parameters of the discrete regulators. The simulation results are presented at the end of this paper.
Abstract: Many factors affect the success of Machine Learning
(ML) on a given task. The representation and quality of the instance
data is first and foremost. If there is much irrelevant and redundant
information present or noisy and unreliable data, then knowledge
discovery during the training phase is more difficult. It is well known
that data preparation and filtering steps take considerable amount of
processing time in ML problems. Data pre-processing includes data
cleaning, normalization, transformation, feature extraction and
selection, etc. The product of data pre-processing is the final training
set. It would be nice if a single sequence of data pre-processing
algorithms had the best performance for each data set but this is not
happened. Thus, we present the most well know algorithms for each
step of data pre-processing so that one achieves the best performance
for their data set.
Abstract: Classes on creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship
are becoming quite popular at universities throughout the world.
However, it is not easy for business students to get involved to
innovative activities, especially patent application. The present study
investigated how to enhance business students- intention to participate
in innovative activities and which incentives universities should
consider. A 22-item research scale was used, and confirmatory factor
analysis was conducted to verify its reliability and validity. Multiple
regression and discriminant analyses were also conducted. The results
demonstrate the effect of growth-need strength on innovative behavior
and indicate that the theory of planned behavior can explain and
predict business students- intention to participate in innovative
activities. Additionally, the results suggest that applying our proposed
model in practice would effectively strengthen business students-
intentions to engage in innovative activities.
Abstract: This article proposes modeling, simulation and
kinematic and workspace analysis of a spatial cable suspended robot
as incompletely Restrained Positioning Mechanism (IRPM). These
types of robots have six cables equal to the number of degrees of
freedom. After modeling, the kinds of workspace are defined then an
statically reachable combined workspace for different geometric
structures of fixed and moving platform is obtained. This workspace
is defined as the situations of reference point of the moving platform
(center of mass) which under external forces such as weight and with
ignorance of inertial effects, the moving platform should be in static
equilibrium under conditions that length of all cables must not be
exceeded from the maximum value and all of cables must be at
tension (they must have non-negative tension forces). Then the effect
of various parameters such as the size of moving platform, the size of
fixed platform, geometric configuration of robots, magnitude of
applied forces and moments to moving platform on workspace of
these robots with different geometric configuration are investigated.
Obtained results should be effective in employing these robots under
different conditions of applied wrench for increasing the workspace
volume.
Abstract: Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) comprises of sensor
nodes which are designed to sense the environment, transmit sensed
data back to the base station via multi-hop routing to reconstruct
physical phenomena. Since physical phenomena exists significant
overlaps between temporal redundancy and spatial redundancy, it is
necessary to use Redundancy Suppression Algorithms (RSA) for sensor
node to lower energy consumption by reducing the transmission
of redundancy. A conventional algorithm of RSAs is threshold-based
RSA, which sets threshold to suppress redundant data. Although
many temporal and spatial RSAs are proposed, temporal-spatial RSA
are seldom to be proposed because it is difficult to determine when
to utilize temporal or spatial RSAs. In this paper, we proposed a
novel temporal-spatial redundancy suppression algorithm, Codebookbase
Redundancy Suppression Mechanism (CRSM). CRSM adopts
vector quantization to generate a codebook, which is easily used to
implement temporal-spatial RSA. CRSM not only achieves power
saving and reliability for WSN, but also provides the predictability
of network lifetime. Simulation result shows that the network lifetime
of CRSM outperforms at least 23% of that of other RSAs.