Abstract: The present work analyses different parameters of pressure die casting to minimize the casting defects. Pressure diecasting is usually applied for casting of aluminium alloys. Good surface finish with required tolerances and dimensional accuracy can be achieved by optimization of controllable process parameters such as solidification time, molten temperature, filling time, injection pressure and plunger velocity. Moreover, by selection of optimum process parameters the pressure die casting defects such as porosity, insufficient spread of molten material, flash etc. are also minimized. Therefore, a pressure die casting component, carburetor housing of aluminium alloy (Al2Si2O5) has been considered. The effects of selected process parameters on casting defects and subsequent setting of parameters with the levels have been accomplished by Taguchi-s parameter design approach. The experiments have been performed as per the combination of levels of different process parameters suggested by L18 orthogonal array. Analyses of variance have been performed for mean and signal-to-noise ratio to estimate the percent contribution of different process parameters. Confidence interval has also been estimated for 95% consistency level and three conformational experiments have been performed to validate the optimum level of different parameters. Overall 2.352% reduction in defects has been observed with the help of suggested optimum process parameters.
Abstract: The scale, complexity and worldwide geographical
spread of the LHC computing and data analysis problems are
unprecedented in scientific research. The complexity of processing
and accessing this data is increased substantially by the size and
global span of the major experiments, combined with the limited
wide area network bandwidth available. We present the latest
generation of the MONARC (MOdels of Networked Analysis at
Regional Centers) simulation framework, as a design and modeling
tool for large scale distributed systems applied to HEP experiments.
We present simulation experiments designed to evaluate the
capabilities of the current real-world distributed infrastructure to
support existing physics analysis processes and the means by which
the experiments bands together to meet the technical challenges
posed by the storage, access and computing requirements of LHC
data analysis within the CMS experiment.
Abstract: Not all types of mobile phone are successful in entering the market because some types of the mobile phone have a negative perception of user. Therefore, it is important to understand the influence of mobile phone's characteristics in the local user perception. This research investigates the influence of QWERTY mobile phone's forms in the perception of Indonesian user. First, some alternatives of mobile phone-s form are developed based on a certain number of mobile phone's models. At the second stage, some word pairs as design attributes of the mobile phone are chosen to represent the user perception of mobile phone. At the final stage, a survey is conducted to investigate the influence of the developed form alternatives to the user perception. Based on the research, users perceive mobile phone's form with curved top and straight bottom shapes and mobile phone's form with slider and antenna as the most negative form. Meanwhile, mobile phone's form with curved top and bottom shapes and mobile phone-s form without slider and antenna are perceived by the user as the most positive form.
Abstract: In the past decade, artificial neural networks (ANNs)
have been regarded as an instrument for problem-solving and
decision-making; indeed, they have already done with a substantial
efficiency and effectiveness improvement in industries and businesses.
In this paper, the Back-Propagation neural Networks (BPNs) will be
modulated to demonstrate the performance of the collaborative
forecasting (CF) function of a Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and
Replenishment (CPFR®) system. CPFR functions the balance between
the sufficient product supply and the necessary customer demand in a
Supply and Demand Chain (SDC). Several classical standard BPN will
be grouped, collaborated and exploited for the easy implementation of
the proposed modular ANN framework based on the topology of a
SDC. Each individual BPN is applied as a modular tool to perform the
task of forecasting SKUs (Stock-Keeping Units) levels that are
managed and supervised at a POS (point of sale), a wholesaler, and a
manufacturer in an SDC. The proposed modular BPN-based CF
system will be exemplified and experimentally verified using lots of
datasets of the simulated SDC. The experimental results showed that a
complex CF problem can be divided into a group of simpler
sub-problems based on the single independent trading partners
distributed over SDC, and its SKU forecasting accuracy was satisfied
when the system forecasted values compared to the original simulated
SDC data. The primary task of implementing an autonomous CF
involves the study of supervised ANN learning methodology which
aims at making “knowledgeable" decision for the best SKU sales plan
and stocks management.
Abstract: In this paper, a neural tree (NT) classifier having a
simple perceptron at each node is considered. A new concept for
making a balanced tree is applied in the learning algorithm of the
tree. At each node, if the perceptron classification is not accurate and
unbalanced, then it is replaced by a new perceptron. This separates
the training set in such a way that almost the equal number of patterns
fall into each of the classes. Moreover, each perceptron is trained only
for the classes which are present at respective node and ignore other
classes. Splitting nodes are employed into the neural tree architecture
to divide the training set when the current perceptron node repeats
the same classification of the parent node. A new error function based
on the depth of the tree is introduced to reduce the computational
time for the training of a perceptron. Experiments are performed to
check the efficiency and encouraging results are obtained in terms of
accuracy and computational costs.
Abstract: The Ad Hoc on demand distance vector (AODV) routing protocol is designed for mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). AODV offers quick adaptation to dynamic link conditions; it is characterized by low memory overhead and low network utilization. The security issues related to the protocol remain challenging for the wireless network designers. Numerous schemes have been proposed for establishing secure communication between end users, these schemes identify that the secure operation of AODV is a bi tier task (routing and secure exchange of information at separate levels). Our endeavor in this paper would focus on achieving the routing and secure data exchange in a single step. This will facilitate the user nodes to perform routing, mutual authentications, generation and secure exchange of session key in one step thus ensuring confidentiality, integrity and authentication of data exchange in a more suitable way.
Abstract: Wireless location is to determine the mobile station (MS) location in a wireless cellular communications system. When fewer base stations (BSs) may be available for location purposes or the measurements with large errors in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) environments, it is necessary to integrate all available heterogeneous measurements to achieve high location accuracy. This paper illustrates a hybrid proposed schemes that combine time of arrival (TOA) at three BSs and angle of arrival (AOA) information at the serving BS to give a location estimate of the MS. The proposed schemes mitigate the NLOS effect simply by the weighted sum of the intersections between three TOA circles and the AOA line without requiring a priori information about the NLOS error. Simulation results show that the proposed methods can achieve better accuracy when compare with Taylor series algorithm (TSA) and the hybrid lines of position algorithm (HLOP).
Abstract: In recent years demolished concrete waste handling and management is the new primary challenging issue faced by the countries all over the world. It is very challenging and hectic problem that has to be tackled in an indigenous manner, it is desirable to completely recycle demolished concrete waste in order to protect natural resources and reduce environmental pollution. In this research paper an experimental study is carried out to investigate the feasibility and recycling of demolished waste concrete for new construction. The present investigation to be focused on recycling demolished waste materials in order to reduce construction cost and resolving housing problems faced by the low income communities of the world. The crushed demolished concrete wastes is segregated by sieving to obtain required sizes of aggregate, several tests were conducted to determine the aggregate properties before recycling it into new concrete. This research shows that the recycled aggregate that are obtained from site make good quality concrete. The compressive strength test results of partial replacement and full recycled aggregate concrete and are found to be higher than the compressive strength of normal concrete with new aggregate.
Abstract: The elimimation of mefenamic acid has been carried
out by photolysis, ozonation, adsorption onto activated carbon (AC)
and combinations of the previous single systems (O3+AC and
O3+UV). The results obtained indicate that mefenamic acid is not
photo-reactive, showing a relatively low quantum yield of the order
of 6 x 10-4 mol Einstein-1. Application of ozone to mefenamic
aqueous solutions instantaneously eliminates the pharmaceutical,
achieving simultaneously a 40% of mineralization. Addition of AC to
the ozonation process does not enhance the process, moreover,
mineralization is completely inhibited if compared to results obtained
by single ozonation. The combination of ozone and UV radiation led
to the best results in terms of mineralization (60% after 120 min).
Abstract: Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) is a perennial herb belonging to the Brassicaceae family and contains biologically active substances. The aim of the current research was to determine best method for extraction of phenolic compounds from horseradish roots showing high antiradical activity. Three genotypes (No. 105; No. 106 and variety ‘Turku’) of horseradish roots were extracted with eight different solvents: n-hexane, ethyl acetate, diethyl ether, 2-propanol, acetone, ethanol (95%), ethanol / water / acetic acid (80/20/1 v/v/v) and ethanol / water (80/20 by volume) using two extraction methods (conventional and Soxhlet). As the best solvents ethanol and ethanol / water solutions can be chosen. Although in Soxhlet extracts TPC was higher, scavenging activity of DPPH˙ radicals did not increase. It can be concluded that using Soxhlet extraction method more compounds that are not effective antioxidants.
Abstract: This paper proposes the hypothesis that multilateralism and regionalism are complementary, and that regional income convergence is likely with a like minded and committed regionalism that often has links geographically and culturally. The association between international trade, income per capita, and regional income convergence in founder members of ASEAN and SAARC, is explored by applying the Lumsdaine, and Papell approach. The causal relationships between the above variables are also studied in respective trade blocs by using Granger causality tests. The conclusion is that global reforms have had a greater impact on increasing trade for both trade blocs and induced convergence only in ASEAN-5 countries. The experience of ASEAN countries shows a two-way causal relationship between the flow from trade to regional income convergence, and vice versa. There is no evidence in SAARC countries for income convergence and causality.
Abstract: To minimize power losses, it is important to
determine the location and size of local generators to be placed in
unbalanced power distribution systems. On account of some inherent
features of unbalanced distribution systems, such as radial structure,
large number of nodes, a wide range of X/R ratios, the conventional
techniques developed for the transmission systems generally fail on
the determination of optimum size and location of distributed
generators (DGs). This paper presents a simple method for
investigating the problem of contemporaneously choosing best
location and size of DG in three-phase unbalanced radial distribution
system (URDS) for power loss minimization and to improve the
voltage profile of the system. Best location of the DG is determined
by using voltage index analysis and size of DG is computed by
variational technique algorithm according to available standard size
of DGs. This paper presents the results of simulations for 25-bus and
IEEE 37- bus Unbalanced Radial Distribution system.
Abstract: A novel direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation technique, which uses a conventional multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm with periodic signals, is applied to a single RF-port parasitic array antenna for direction finding. Simulation results show that the proposed method gives high resolution (1 degree) DOA estimation in an uncorrelated signal environment. The novelty lies in that the MUSIC algorithm is applied to a simplified antenna configuration. Only one RF port and one analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) are used in this antenna, which features low DC power consumption, low cost, and ease of fabrication. Modifications to the conventional MUSIC algorithm do not bring much additional complexity. The proposed technique is also free from the negative influence by the mutual coupling between elements. Therefore, the technique has great potential to be implemented into the existing wireless mobile communications systems, especially at the power consumption limited mobile terminals, to provide additional position location (PL) services.
Abstract: Interior brick-infill partitions are usually considered as
non-structural components and only their weight is accounted for in
practical structural design. In this study, their effect on the progressive
collapse resistance of an RC building subjected to sudden column loss
is investigated. Three notional column loss conditions with four
different brick-infill locations are considered. Column-loss response
analyses of the RC building with and without brick infills are carried
out. Analysis results indicate that the collapse resistance is only
slightly influenced by the brick infills due to their brittle failure
characteristic. Even so, they may help to reduce the inelastic
displacement response under column loss. For practical engineering, it
is reasonably conservative to only consider the weight of brick-infill
partitions in the structural analysis.
Abstract: The association between emotional inhibition strategies linked to depression has been showed inconsistent among studies. Mild emotional inhibition maybe benefit for social interaction, especially for female among East Asian cultures. The present study aimed to examine whether the inhibition–depression relationship is dependent on level of emotion inhibition and gender context, given differing value of suppressing emotional displays. We hypothesized that the negative associations between inhibition and adolescent depression would not directly, in which affected by interaction between emotion inhibition and gender. To test this hypothesis, we asked 309 junior high school students which age range from 12 to14 years old to report on their use of emotion inhibition and depression syndrome. A multiple regressions analysis revealed that significant interaction that gender as a moderator to the relationships between emotion inhibition and adolescent depression. The group with the highest level of depression was girls with high levels of emotion inhibition, whose depression score was higher than that of boys with high levels of emotion inhibition. The result highlights that the importance of context in understanding the inhibition-depression relationship.
Abstract: The successful implementation of Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) is not confined to Information Technology systems and required changes of the whole enterprise. In order to adapt IT and business, the enterprise requires adequate and measurable methods. The adoption of SOA creates new problem with regard to measuring and analysis the performance. In fact the enterprise should investigate to what extent the development of services will increase the value of business. It is required for every business to measure the extent of SOA adaptation with the goals of enterprise. Moreover, precise performance metrics and their combination with the advanced evaluation methodologies as a solution should be defined. The aim of this paper is to present a systematic methodology for designing a measurement system at the technical and business levels, so that: (1) it will determine measurement metrics precisely (2) the results will be analysed by mapping identified metrics to the measurement tools.
Abstract: This paper investigated the organizational
innovativeness of public listed housing developers in Malaysia. We
conceptualized organizational innovativeness as a multi-dimensional
construct consisting of 5 dimensions: market innovativeness, product
innovativeness, process innovativeness, behavior innovativeness and
strategic innovativeness. We carried out questionnaire survey with all
accessible public listed developers in Malaysia and received a 56
percent response. We found that the innovativeness of public listed
housing developers is low. The study extends the knowledge on
innovativeness theory by using a multi-dimensional contructs to
conceptualize the innovativeness of public listed housing developers
in Malaysia where all this while most studies focused on single
dimensional construct of innovativeness. The paper ends by
providing some explanations for the results.
Abstract: The wireless link can be unreliable in realistic wireless
sensor networks (WSNs). Energy efficient and reliable data
forwarding is important because each node has limited resources.
Therefore, we must suggest an optimal solution that considers using
the information of the node-s characteristics. Previous routing
protocols were unsuited to realistic asymmetric WSNs. In this paper,
we propose a Protocol that considers Both sides of Link-quality and
Energy (PBLE), an optimal routing protocol that balances modified
link-quality, distance and energy. Additionally, we propose a node
scheduling method. PBLE achieves a longer lifetime than previous
routing protocols and is more energy-efficient. PBLE uses energy,
local information and both sides of PRR in a 1-hop distance. We
explain how to send data packets to the destination node using the
node's information. Simulation shows PBLE improves delivery rate
and network lifetime compared to previous schemes. Moreover, we
show the improvement in various WSN environments.
Abstract: This study is concerned with the investigation of the
suitability of several empirical and semi-empirical drying models
available in the literature to define drying behavior of viscose yarn
bobbins. For this purpose, firstly, experimental drying behaviour of
viscose bobbins was determined on an experimental dryer setup
which was designed and manufactured based on hot-air bobbin
dryers used in textile industry. Afterwards, drying models considered
were fitted to the experimentally obtained moisture ratios. Drying
parameters were drying temperature and bobbin diameter. The fit
was performed by selecting the values for constants in the models in
such a way that these values make the sum of the squared differences
between the experimental and the model results for moisture ratio
minimum. Suitability of fitting was specified as comparing the
correlation coefficient, standard error and mean square deviation.
The results show that the most appropriate model in describing the
drying curves of viscose bobbins is the Page model.
Abstract: This paper observed the interhemispheric conjugate
auroral activity occurred on 21 September 2009. The GPS derived
ionospheric total electron content (TEC) during a weak substorm
interval recorded at interhemispheric conjugate points at Husafell in
Iceland and Syowa in Antarctica is investigated to look at their
signatures on the auroral features. Selection of all-sky camera (ASC)
images and keogram at Tjörnes and Syowa during the interval
00:47:54 – 00:50:14 UT on 21 September 2009 found that the auroral
activity had exerted their influence on the GPS TEC as a
consequence of varying interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) By
polarity.