Abstract: In current common research reports, salient regions
are usually defined as those regions that could present the main
meaningful or semantic contents. However, there are no uniform
saliency metrics that could describe the saliency of implicit image
regions. Most common metrics take those regions as salient regions,
which have many abrupt changes or some unpredictable
characteristics. But, this metric will fail to detect those salient useful
regions with flat textures. In fact, according to human semantic
perceptions, color and texture distinctions are the main characteristics
that could distinct different regions. Thus, we present a novel saliency
metric coupled with color and texture features, and its corresponding
salient region extraction methods. In order to evaluate the
corresponding saliency values of implicit regions in one image, three
main colors and multi-resolution Gabor features are respectively used
for color and texture features. For each region, its saliency value is
actually to evaluate the total sum of its Euclidean distances for other
regions in the color and texture spaces. A special synthesized image
and several practical images with main salient regions are used to
evaluate the performance of the proposed saliency metric and other
several common metrics, i.e., scale saliency, wavelet transform
modulus maxima point density, and important index based metrics.
Experiment results verified that the proposed saliency metric could
achieve more robust performance than those common saliency
metrics.
Abstract: In this paper, creep constitutive equations of base
(Parent) and weld materials of the weldment for cold-drawn 304L
stainless steel have been obtained experimentally. For this purpose,
test samples have been generated from cold drawn bars and weld
material according to the ASTM standard. The creep behavior and
properties have been examined for these materials by conducting uniaxial
creep tests. Constant temperatures and constant load uni-axial
creep tests have been carried out at two high temperatures, 680 and
720 oC, subjected to constant loads, which produce initial stresses
ranging from 240 to 360 MPa. The experimental data have been used
to obtain the creep constitutive parameters using numerical
optimization techniques.
Abstract: The paper considers a single-server queue with fixedsize
batch Poisson arrivals and exponential service times, a model
that is useful for a buffer that accepts messages arriving as fixed size
batches of packets and releases them one packet at time. Transient
performance measures for queues have long been recognized as
being complementary to the steady-state analysis. The focus of the
paper is on the use of the functions that arise in the analysis of the
transient behaviour of the queuing system. The paper exploits
practical modelling to obtain a solution to the integral equation
encountered in the analysis. Results obtained indicate that under
heavy load conditions, there is significant disparity in the statistics
between the transient and steady state values.
Abstract: The epoxidation of soybean oil at temperature of 600C
was provided the best result in terms of attaching the –OH
functionality. Temperatures below and above 600C it is likely the
attaching reaction did not proceed sufficiently fast. The considerable
yield below 40%, implies the oil is not completely converted, it is not
possible by conventional methods, because the epoxide decomposes
at the temperature required. The objective of this work was the
development of catalyst toward the conversion of epoxide and polyol
with reaction temperature at 50,60, and 700C. The effect of different
type of catalyst were studied, the effect of alcohols with different
molecular configuration was determined which leads to selective
addition of alcohols to the epoxide oils.
Abstract: Complexity, as a theoretical background has made it
easier to understand and explain the features and dynamic behavior
of various complex systems. As the common theoretical background
has confirmed, borrowing the terminology for design from the
natural sciences has helped to control and understand urban
complexity. Phenomena like self-organization, evolution and
adaptation are appropriate to describe the formerly inaccessible
characteristics of the complex environment in unpredictable bottomup
systems. Increased computing capacity has been a key element in
capturing the chaotic nature of these systems.
A paradigm shift in urban planning and architectural design has
forced us to give up the illusion of total control in urban
environment, and consequently to seek for novel methods for
steering the development. New methods using dynamic modeling
have offered a real option for more thorough understanding of
complexity and urban processes. At best new approaches may renew
the design processes so that we get a better grip on the complex
world via more flexible processes, support urban environmental
diversity and respond to our needs beyond basic welfare by liberating
ourselves from the standardized minimalism.
A complex system and its features are as such beyond human
ethics. Self-organization or evolution is either good or bad. Their
mechanisms are by nature devoid of reason. They are common in
urban dynamics in both natural processes and gas. They are features
of a complex system, and they cannot be prevented. Yet their
dynamics can be studied and supported.
The paradigm of complexity and new design approaches has been
criticized for a lack of humanity and morality, but the ethical
implications of scientific or computational design processes have not
been much discussed. It is important to distinguish the (unexciting)
ethics of the theory and tools from the ethics of computer aided
processes based on ethical decisions. Urban planning and architecture
cannot be based on the survival of the fittest; however, the natural
dynamics of the system cannot be impeded on grounds of being
“non-human".
In this paper the ethical challenges of using the dynamic models
are contemplated in light of a few examples of new architecture and
dynamic urban models and literature. It is suggested that ethical
challenges in computational design processes could be reframed
under the concepts of responsibility and transparency.
Abstract: The use of the oncologic index ISTER allows for a more effective planning of the radiotherapic facilities in the hospitals. Any change in the radiotherapy treatment, due to unexpected stops, may be adapted by recalculating the doses to the new treatment duration while keeping the optimal prognosis. The results obtained in a simulation model on millions of patients allow the definition of optimal success probability algorithms.
Abstract: Nowadays, the challenge in hydraulic turbine design is
the multi-objective design of turbine runner to reach higher
efficiency. The hydraulic performance of a turbine is strictly depends
on runner blades shape. The present paper focuses on the application
of the multi-objective optimization algorithm to the design of a small
Francis turbine runner. The optimization exercise focuses on the
efficiency improvement at the best efficiency operating point (BEP)
of the GAMM Francis turbine. A global optimization method based
on artificial neural networks (ANN) and genetic algorithms (GA)
coupled by 3D Navier-Stokes flow solver has been used to improve
the performance of an initial geometry of a Francis runner. The
results show the good ability of optimization algorithm and the final
geometry has better efficiency with initial geometry. The goal was to
optimize the geometry of the blades of GAMM turbine runner which
leads to maximum total efficiency by changing the design parameters
of camber line in at least 5 sections of a blade. The efficiency of the
optimized geometry is improved from 90.7% to 92.5%. Finally,
design parameters and the way of selection have been considered and
discussed.
Abstract: In this study we applied thermal lens (TL) technique
to study the effect of size on thermal diffusivity of cadmium sulphide
(CdS) nanofluid prepared by using γ-radiation method containing
particles with different sizes. In TL experimental set up a diode laser
of wavelength 514 nm and intensity stabilized He-Ne laser were used
as the excitation source and the probe beam respectively,
respectively. The experimental results showed that the thermal
diffusivity value of CdS nanofluid increases when the of particle size
increased.
Abstract: Laboratory activities have produced benefits in
student learning. With current drives of new technology resources
and evolving era of education methods, renewal status of learning
and teaching in laboratory methods are in progress, for both learners
and the educators. To enhance learning outcomes in laboratory works
particularly in engineering practices and testing, learning via handson
by instruction may not sufficient. This paper describes and
compares techniques and implementation of traditional (expository)
with open-ended laboratory (problem-based) for two consecutive
cohorts studying environmental laboratory course in civil engineering
program. The transition of traditional to problem-based findings and
effect were investigated in terms of course assessment student
feedback survey, course outcome learning measurement and student
performance grades. It was proved that students have demonstrated
better performance in their grades and 12% increase in the course
outcome (CO) in problem-based open-ended laboratory style than
traditional method; although in perception, students has responded
less favorable in their feedback.
Abstract: The paper is devoted to stochastic analysis of finite
dimensional difference equation with dependent on ergodic Markov
chain increments, which are proportional to small parameter ". A
point-form solution of this difference equation may be represented
as vertexes of a time-dependent continuous broken line given on the
segment [0,1] with "-dependent scaling of intervals between vertexes.
Tending " to zero one may apply stochastic averaging and diffusion
approximation procedures and construct continuous approximation of
the initial stochastic iterations as an ordinary or stochastic Ito differential
equation. The paper proves that for sufficiently small " these
equations may be successfully applied not only to approximate finite
number of iterations but also for asymptotic analysis of iterations,
when number of iterations tends to infinity.
Abstract: The entropy of intuitionistic fuzzy sets is used to indicate the degree of fuzziness of an interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy set(IvIFS). In this paper, we deal with the entropies of IvIFS. Firstly, we propose a family of entropies on IvIFS with a parameter λ ∈ [0, 1], which generalize two entropy measures defined independently by Zhang and Wei, for IvIFS, and then we prove that the
new entropy is an increasing function with respect to the parameter λ. Furthermore, a new multiple attribute decision making (MADM) method using entropy-based attribute weights is proposed to deal with the decision making situations where the alternatives on attributes are expressed by IvIFS and the attribute weights information is unknown. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the applications of the proposed method.
Abstract: In this paper stress and strain for two rotating thin
wall cylinder fitted together with initial interference and overlap are
computed. Also stress value for variation of initial interference is
calculated.
At first problem is considered without rotation and next angular
velocity increased from 0 to 50000 rev/min and stress in each stage
is calculated. The important point is that when stress become very
small in magnitude the angular velocity is critical and two cylinders
will separate. The critical speed i.e. speed of separation is calculated
in each step.
Abstract: The speech signal conveys information about the
identity of the speaker. The area of speaker identification is
concerned with extracting the identity of the person speaking the
utterance. As speech interaction with computers becomes more
pervasive in activities such as the telephone, financial transactions
and information retrieval from speech databases, the utility of
automatically identifying a speaker is based solely on vocal
characteristic. This paper emphasizes on text dependent speaker
identification, which deals with detecting a particular speaker from a
known population. The system prompts the user to provide speech
utterance. System identifies the user by comparing the codebook of
speech utterance with those of the stored in the database and lists,
which contain the most likely speakers, could have given that speech
utterance. The speech signal is recorded for N speakers further the
features are extracted. Feature extraction is done by means of LPC
coefficients, calculating AMDF, and DFT. The neural network is
trained by applying these features as input parameters. The features
are stored in templates for further comparison. The features for the
speaker who has to be identified are extracted and compared with the
stored templates using Back Propogation Algorithm. Here, the
trained network corresponds to the output; the input is the extracted
features of the speaker to be identified. The network does the weight
adjustment and the best match is found to identify the speaker. The
number of epochs required to get the target decides the network
performance.
Abstract: Primary barrier of membrane type LNG containment system consist of corrugated 304L stainless steel. This 304L stainless steel is austenitic stainless steel which shows different material behaviors owing to phase transformation during the plastic work. Even though corrugated primary barriers are subjected to significant amounts of pre-strain due to press working, quantitative mechanical behavior on the effect of pre-straining at cryogenic temperatures are not available. In this study, pre-strain level and pre-strain temperature dependent tensile tests are carried to investigate mechanical behaviors. Also, constitutive equations with material parameters are suggested for a verification study.
Abstract: The goal of this project is to design a system to
recognition voice commands. Most of voice recognition systems
contain two main modules as follow “feature extraction" and “feature
matching". In this project, MFCC algorithm is used to simulate
feature extraction module. Using this algorithm, the cepstral
coefficients are calculated on mel frequency scale. VQ (vector
quantization) method will be used for reduction of amount of data to
decrease computation time. In the feature matching stage Euclidean
distance is applied as similarity criterion. Because of high accuracy
of used algorithms, the accuracy of this voice command system is
high. Using these algorithms, by at least 5 times repetition for each
command, in a single training session, and then twice in each testing
session zero error rate in recognition of commands is achieved.
Abstract: Multi-agent system approach has proven to be an effective and appropriate abstraction level to construct whole models of a diversity of biological problems, integrating aspects which can be found both in "micro" and "macro" approaches when modeling this type of phenomena. Taking into account these considerations, this paper presents the important computational characteristics to be gathered into a novel bioinformatics framework built upon a multiagent architecture. The version of the tool presented herein allows studying and exploring complex problems belonging principally to structural biology, such as protein folding. The bioinformatics framework is used as a virtual laboratory to explore a minimalist model of protein folding as a test case. In order to show the laboratory concept of the platform as well as its flexibility and adaptability, we studied the folding of two particular sequences, one of 45-mer and another of 64-mer, both described by an HP model (only hydrophobic and polar residues) and coarse grained 2D-square lattice. According to the discussion section of this piece of work, these two sequences were chosen as breaking points towards the platform, in order to determine the tools to be created or improved in such a way to overcome the needs of a particular computation and analysis of a given tough sequence. The backwards philosophy herein is that the continuous studying of sequences provides itself important points to be added into the platform, to any time improve its efficiency, as is demonstrated herein.
Abstract: Investment in a constructed facility represents a cost in
the short term that returns benefits only over the long term use of the
facility. Thus, the costs occur earlier than the benefits, and the owners
of facilities must obtain the capital resources to finance the costs of
construction. A project cannot proceed without an adequate
financing, and the cost of providing an adequate financing can be
quite large. For these reasons, the attention to the project finance is an
important aspect of project management. Finance is also a concern to
the other organizations involved in a project such as the general
contractor and material suppliers. Unless an owner immediately and
completely covers the costs incurred by each participant, these
organizations face financing problems of their own. At a more
general level, the project finance is the only one aspect of the general
problem of corporate finance. If numerous projects are considered
and financed together, then the net cash flow requirements constitute
the corporate financing problem for capital investment. Whether
project finance is performed at the project or at the corporate level
does not alter the basic financing problem .In this paper, we will first
consider facility financing from the owner's perspective, with due
consideration for its interaction with other organizations involved in a
project. Later, we discuss the problems of construction financing
which are crucial to the profitability and solvency of construction
contractors. The objective of this paper is to present the steps utilized
to determine the best combination of minimum project financing.
The proposed model considers financing; schedule and maximum net
area .The proposed model is called Project Financing and Schedule
Integration using Genetic Algorithms "PFSIGA". This model
intended to determine more steps (maximum net area) for any project
with a subproject. An illustrative example will demonstrate the
feature of this technique. The model verification and testing are put
into consideration.
Abstract: Today, the Internet based communication has widen
the opportunity of event monitoring system in the medical field.
There is always a need of analyzing and designing secure and reliable
mobile communication between the hospital and biomedical
engineers mobile units. This study has been carried out to find
possible solution using SIP-based event notification for alerting the
technical staff about the Biomedical Device (BMD) status and
Patients treatment session. The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) can
be used to create a medical event notification system. SIP can work
on a variety of devices. Its adoption as the protocol of choice for third
generation wireless networks allows for a robust and scalable
environment. One of the advantages of SIP is that it supports personal
mobility through the separation of user addressing and device
addressing. The solution for Telemed alert notification system is
based on SIP - Specific Event Notification. The aim of this project is
to extend mobility service to the hospital technicians who are using
Telemedicine system.
Abstract: Perspective of food security in 21 century showed
shortage of food that production is faced to vital problem. Food
security strategy is applied longtime method to assess required food.
Meanwhile, nanotechnology revolution changes the world face.
Nanotechnology is adequate method utilize of its characteristics to
decrease environmental problems and possible further access to food
for small farmers. This article will show impact of production and
adoption of nanocrops on food security. Population is researchers of
agricultural research center of Esfahan province. The results of study
show that there was a relationship between uses, conversion,
distribution, and production of nanocrops, operative human
resources, operative circumstance, and constrains of usage of
nanocrops and food security. Multivariate regression analysis by
enter model shows that operative circumstance, use, production and
constrains of usage of nanocrops had positive impact on food security
and they determine in four steps 20 percent of it.
Abstract: The technical realization of data transmission using
glass fiber began after the development of diode laser in year 1962.
The erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA's) in high speed networks
allow information to be transmitted over longer distances without
using of signal amplification repeaters. These kinds of fibers are
doped with erbium atoms which have energy levels in its atomic
structure for amplifying light at 1550nm. When a carried signal wave
at 1550nm enters the erbium fiber, the light stimulates the excited
erbium atoms which pumped with laser beam at 980nm as additional
light. The wavelength and intensity of the semiconductor lasers
depend on the temperature of active zone and the injection current.
The present paper shows the effect of the diode lasers temperature
and injection current on the optical amplification. From the results of
in- and output power one may calculate the max. optical gain by
erbium doped fiber amplifier.