Abstract: Laser Doppler flowmetry is a modern method of noninvasive
microcirculation investigation. The aim of our study was to
use this method in the examination of patients with secondary
lymphedema of the lower extremities and obliterating atherosclerosis
of lower extremities. In the analysis of the amplitude-frequency
spectrum of secondary lymphedema patients we have identified
remarkable changes. To describe the changes we used a special
amplitude rate. In both of patients groups this rate was significally
(p
Abstract: Two optimized strategies were successfully established
to develop biomolecule-based magnetic nanoassemblies.
Streptavidin-coated and amine-coated magnetic nanoparticles were
chosen as model scaffolds onto which double-stranded DNA and
human immunoglobulin G were specifically conjugated in succession,
using biotin-streptavidin interaction or covalent cross-linkers. The
success of this study opens the prospect of developing selective and
sensitive nanoparticle-based structures for diagnostics or drug
delivery.
Abstract: In this paper, we carry over some of the results which
are valid on a certain class of Moufang-Klingenberg planes M(A)
coordinatized by an local alternative ring A := A(ε) = A+Aε of
dual numbers to finite projective Klingenberg plane M(A) obtained
by taking local ring Zq (where prime power q = pk) instead of A.
So, we show that the collineation group of M(A) acts transitively
on 4-gons, and that any 6-figure corresponds to only one inversible
m ∈ A.
Abstract: The distance between two objects is an important
problem in CAGD, CAD and CG etc. It will be presented in this paper
that a simple and quick method to estimate the distance between a
point and a Bezier curve on a Bezier surface.
Abstract: The paper aims at investigating influence of medium
capacity on linear adsorbed solute dispersion into chemically
heterogeneous fixed beds. A discrete chemical heterogeneity
distribution is considered in the one-dimensional advectivedispersive
equation. The partial differential equation is solved using
finite volumes method based on the Adam-Bashforth algorithm.
Increased dispersion is estimated by comparing breakthrough curves
second order moments and keeping identical hydrodynamic
properties. As a result, dispersion increase due to chemical
heterogeneity depends on the column size and surprisingly on the
solid capacity. The more intense capacity is, the more important
solute dispersion is. Medium length which is known to favour this
effect vanishing according to the linear adsorption in fixed bed seems
to create nonmonotonous variation of dispersion because of the
heterogeneity. This nonmonotonous behaviour is also favoured by
high capacities.
Abstract: This paper presents PSS (Power system stabilizer) design based on optimal fuzzy PID (OFPID). OFPID based PSS design is considered for single-machine power systems. The main motivation for this design is to stabilize or to control low-frequency oscillation on power systems. Firstly, describing the linear PID control then to combine this PID control with fuzzy logic control mechanism. Finally, Fuzzy PID parameters (Kp. Kd, KI, Kupd, Kui) are tuned by Genetic Algorthm (GA) to reach optimal global stability. The effectiveness of the proposed PSS in increasing the damping of system electromechanical oscillation is demonstrated in a one-machine-infinite-bus system
Abstract: The hybridisation of genetic algorithm with heuristics has been shown to be one of an effective way to improve its performance. In this work, genetic algorithm hybridised with four heuristics including a new heuristic called neighbourhood improvement were investigated through the classical travelling salesman problem. The experimental results showed that the proposed heuristic outperformed other heuristics both in terms of quality of the results obtained and the computational time.
Abstract: In this paper we propose a novel method for human
face segmentation using the elliptical structure of the human head. It
makes use of the information present in the edge map of the image.
In this approach we use the fact that the eigenvalues of covariance
matrix represent the elliptical structure. The large and small
eigenvalues of covariance matrix are associated with major and
minor axial lengths of an ellipse. The other elliptical parameters are
used to identify the centre and orientation of the face. Since an
Elliptical Hough Transform requires 5D Hough Space, the Circular
Hough Transform (CHT) is used to evaluate the elliptical parameters.
Sparse matrix technique is used to perform CHT, as it squeeze zero
elements, and have only a small number of non-zero elements,
thereby having an advantage of less storage space and computational
time. Neighborhood suppression scheme is used to identify the valid
Hough peaks. The accurate position of the circumference pixels for
occluded and distorted ellipses is identified using Bresenham-s
Raster Scan Algorithm which uses the geometrical symmetry
properties. This method does not require the evaluation of tangents
for curvature contours, which are very sensitive to noise. The method
has been evaluated on several images with different face orientations.
Abstract: Use of a sliding joint is an effective method to
decrease the stress in foundation structure where there is a horizontal
deformation of subsoil (areas afflicted with underground mining) or
horizontal deformation of a foundation structure (pre-stressed
foundations, creep, shrinkage, temperature deformation). A
convenient material for a sliding joint is a bitumen asphalt belt.
Experiments for different types of bitumen belts were undertaken at
the Faculty of Civil Engineering - VSB Technical University of
Ostrava in 2008. This year an extension of the 2008 experiments is in
progress and the shear resistance of a slide joint is being tested as a
function of temperature in a temperature controlled room. In this
paper experimental results of temperature dependant shear resistance
are presented. The result of the experiments should be the sliding
joint shear resistance as a function of deformation velocity and
temperature. This relationship is used for numerical analysis of
stress/strain relation between foundation structure and subsoil. Using
a rheological slide joint could lead to a decrease of the reinforcement
amount, and contribute to higher reliability of foundation structure
and thus enable design of more durable and sustainable building
structures.
Abstract: In this paper a simple terrain evaluation method for
hexapod robot is introduced. This method is based on feet coordinate
evaluation when all are on the ground. Depending on the feet
coordinate differences the local terrain evaluation is possible. Terrain
evaluation is necessary for right gait selection and/or body position
correction. For terrain roughness evaluation three planes are plotted:
two of them as definition points use opposite feet coordinates, third
coincides with the robot body plane. The leaning angle of body plane
is evaluated measuring gravity force using three-axis accelerometer.
Terrain roughness evaluation method is based on angle estimation
between normal vectors of these planes. Aim of this work is to
present a simple method for embedded robot controller, allowing to
find the best further movement settings.
Abstract: This project aims to investigate the potential of
torrefaction to improve the properties of Malaysian palm kernel shell
(PKS) as a solid fuel. A study towards torrefaction of PKS was
performed under various temperature and residence time of 240, 260,
and 280oC and 30, 60, and 90 minutes respectively. The torrefied
PKS was characterized in terms of the mass yield, energy yield,
elemental composition analysis, calorific value analysis, moisture and
volatile matter contents, and ash and fixed carbon contents. The mass
and energy yield changes in the torrefied PKS were observed to
prove that the temperature has more effect compare to residence time
in the torrefaction process. The C content of PKS increases while H
and O contents decrease after torrefaction, which resulted in higher
heating value between 5 to 16%. Meanwhile, torrefaction caused the
ash and fixed carbon content of PKS to increase, and the moisture
and volatile matter to decrease.
Abstract: Due to the rise of aging population, effective utilization
of healthcare resources has become an important issue. With the
advance of ICT technology, the application of tele-healthcare service
has received more attention than ever. The main purpose of this
research is to investigate how to conduct innovative design for
tele-healthcare service based on user-s perspectives. First, the
healthcare service blueprint was used to describe the processes
of tele-healthcare service delivery, and then construct PZB service
quality gap model based on the literature and practitioners-
interviews. Next, TRIZ theory is applied to implement service
innovation. We found the proposed service innovation procedures can
effectively improve the quality of service design.
Abstract: The Czech Republic is a country whose economy has
undergone a transformation since 1989. Since joining the EU it has
been striving to reduce the differences in its economic standard and
the quality of its institutional environment in comparison with
developed countries. According to an assessment carried out by the
World Bank, the Czech Republic was long classed as a country
whose institutional development was seen as problematic. For many
years one of the things it was rated most poorly on was its bankruptcy
law. The new Insolvency Act, which is a modern law in terms of its
treatment of bankruptcy, was first adopted in the Czech Republic in
2006. This law, together with other regulatory measures, offers debtridden
Czech economic subjects legal instruments which are well
established and in common practice in developed market economies.
Since then, analyses performed by the World Bank and the London
EBRD have shown that there have been significant steps forward in
the quality of Czech bankruptcy law. The Czech Republic still lacks
an analytical apparatus which can offer a structured characterisation
of the general and specific conditions of Czech company and
household debt which is subject to current changes in the global
economy. This area has so far not been given the attention it
deserves. The lack of research is particularly clear as regards analysis
of household debt and householders- ability to settle their debts in a
reasonable manner using legal and other state means of regulation.
We assume that Czech households have recourse to a modern
insolvency law, yet the effective application of this law is hampered
by the inconsistencies in the formal and informal institutions
involved in resolving debt. This in turn is based on the assumption
that this lack of consistency is more marked in cases of personal
bankruptcy. Our aim is to identify the symptoms which indicate that
for some time the effective application of bankruptcy law in the
Czech Republic will be hindered by factors originating in
householders- relative inability to identify the risks of falling into
debt.
Abstract: This research explores visitor-s expectations of service
quality in intelligent living space showroom – Living 3.0 in Taiwan.
Based on the five dimensions of PZB service quality, a specialist
questionnaire is utilized to establish a complete service quality
evaluation framework for Living 3.0. In this research, analysis
hierarchy process (AHP) is applied to find the relative weights among
the criteria. Finally, the service quality evaluation framework and
evaluation results can be used as a guide for Living 3.0 proprietors to
review, improve, and enhance service planning and service qualities in
the future.
Abstract: With increasing number of wireless devices like
laptops, Wi-Fi Web Cams, network extenders, etc., a new kind of
problems appeared, mostly related to poor Wi-Fi throughput or
communication problems. In this paper an investigation on wireless
networks and it-s saturation in Vilnius City and its surrounding is
presented, covering the main problems of wireless saturation and
network load during day. Also an investigation on wireless channel
selection and noise levels were made, showing the impact of
neighbor AP to signal and noise levels and how it changes during the
day.
Abstract: In this paper, the problem of stability criteria of neural networks (NNs) with two-additive time-varying delay compenents is investigated. The relationship between the time-varying delay and its lower and upper bounds is taken into account when estimating the upper bound of the derivative of Lyapunov functional. As a result, some improved delay stability criteria for NNs with two-additive time-varying delay components are proposed. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Abstract: A magnetohydrodynamic mixed convective flow in a
cavity was studied in this paper. The lower surface of cavity was
heated from below whereas other walls of the cavity were thermally
isolated. The governing two-dimensional flow equations have been
solved by using finite volume code. The effects of magnetic field
were studied on flow and temperature field and heat transfer
performance at a wide range of parameters, Such as Hartmann
(0≤Ha≤100) and Reynolds (1≤Re≤100) numbers. The results showed
that as Hartman number increases the Nusselt number, representing
heat transfer from the cavity decreases.
Abstract: In this paper a comprehensive model of a fossil fueled
power plant (FFPP) is developed in order to evaluate the
performance of a newly designed turbine follower controller.
Considering the drawbacks of previous works, an overall model is
developed to minimize the error between each subsystem model
output and the experimental data obtained at the actual power plant.
The developed model is organized in two main subsystems namely;
Boiler and Turbine. Considering each FFPP subsystem
characteristics, different modeling approaches are developed. For
economizer, evaporator, superheater and reheater, first order models
are determined based on principles of mass and energy conservation.
Simulations verify the accuracy of the developed models. Due to the
nonlinear characteristics of attemperator, a new model, based on a
genetic-fuzzy systems utilizing Pittsburgh approach is developed
showing a promising performance vis-à-vis those derived with other
methods like ANFIS. The optimization constraints are handled
utilizing penalty functions. The effect of increasing the number of
rules and membership functions on the performance of the proposed
model is also studied and evaluated. The turbine model is developed
based on the equation of adiabatic expansion. Parameters of all
evaluated models are tuned by means of evolutionary algorithms.
Based on the developed model a fuzzy PI controller is developed. It
is then successfully implemented in the turbine follower control
strategy of the plant. In this control strategy instead of keeping
control parameters constant, they are adjusted on-line with regard to
the error and the error rate. It is shown that the response of the
system improves significantly. It is also shown that fuel consumption
decreases considerably.
Abstract: The separation efficiency of a hydrocyclone has
extensively been considered on the rigid particle assumption. A
collection of experimental studies have demonstrated their
discrepancies from the modeling and simulation results. These
discrepancies caused by the actual particle elasticity have generally
led to a larger amount of energy consumption in the separation
process. In this paper, the influence of particle elasticity on the
separation efficiency of a hydrocyclone system was investigated
through the Finite Element (FE) simulations using crude oil droplets
as the elastic particles. A Reitema-s design hydrocyclone with a
diameter of 8 mm was employed to investigate the separation
mechanism of the crude oil droplets from water. The cut-size
diameter eter of the crude oil was 10 - Ðçm in order to fit with the
operating range of the adopted hydrocylone model. Typical
parameters influencing the performance of hydrocyclone were varied
with the feed pressure in the range of 0.3 - 0.6 MPa and feed
concentration between 0.05 – 0.1 w%. In the simulation, the Finite
Element scheme was applied to investigate the particle-flow
interaction occurred in the crude oil system during the process. The
interaction of a single oil droplet at the size of 10 - Ðçm to the flow
field was observed. The feed concentration fell in the dilute flow
regime so the particle-particle interaction was ignored in the study.
The results exhibited the higher power requirement for the separation
of the elastic particulate system when compared with the rigid
particulate system.
Abstract: The presence of chemical bonding between functionalized carbon nanotubes and matrix in carbon nanotube reinforced composites is modeled by elastic beam elements representing covalent bonding characteristics. Neglecting other reinforcing mechanisms in the composite such as relatively weak interatomic Van der Waals forces, this model shows close results to the Rule of Mixtures model-s prediction for effective Young-s modulus of a Representative Volume Element of composite for small volume fractions (~1%) and high aspect ratios (L/D>200) of CNTs.