Abstract: Wikis are considered to be part of Web 2.0
technologies that potentially support collaborative learning and
writing. Wikis provide opportunities for multiple users to work on
the same document simultaneously. Most wikis have also a page for
written group discussion. Nevertheless, wikis may be used in
different ways depending on the pedagogy being used, and the
constraints imposed by the course design. This work explores
students- uses of wiki in teacher education. The analysis is based on a
taxonomy for classifying students- activities and actions carried out
on the wiki. The article also discusses the implications for using
wikis as collaborative writing tools in teacher education.
Abstract: It is suggested to evaluate environmental performance
of energy sector using Data Envelopment Analysis with nondiscretionary
factors (DEA-ND) with relative indicators as inputs and
outputs. The latter allows for comparison of the objects essentially
different in size. Inclusion of non-discretionary factors serves
separation of the indicators that are beyond the control of the objects.
A virtual perfect object comprised of maximal outputs and minimal
inputs was added to the group of actual ones. In this setting, explicit
solution of the DEA-ND problem was obtained. Energy sector of the
United States was analyzed using suggested approach for the period
of 1980 – 2006 with expected values of economic indicators for 2030
used for forming the perfect object. It was obtained that
environmental performance has been increasing steadily for the
period from 7.7% through 50.0% but still remains well below the
prospected level
Abstract: The purpose of this research is to develop a security model for voice eavesdropping protection over digital networks. The proposed model provides an encryption scheme and a personal secret key exchange between communicating parties, a so-called voice data transformation system, resulting in a real-privacy conversation. The operation of this system comprises two main steps as follows: The first one is the personal secret key exchange for using the keys in the data encryption process during conversation. The key owner could freely make his/her choice in key selection, so it is recommended that one should exchange a different key for a different conversational party, and record the key for each case into the memory provided in the client device. The next step is to set and record another personal option of encryption, either taking all frames or just partial frames, so-called the figure of 1:M. Using different personal secret keys and different sets of 1:M to different parties without the intervention of the service operator, would result in posing quite a big problem for any eavesdroppers who attempt to discover the key used during the conversation, especially in a short period of time. Thus, it is quite safe and effective to protect the case of voice eavesdropping. The results of the implementation indicate that the system can perform its function accurately as designed. In this regard, the proposed system is suitable for effective use in voice eavesdropping protection over digital networks, without any requirements to change presently existing network systems, mobile phone network and VoIP, for instance.
Abstract: Nowadays Multilevel inverters are widely using in various applications. Modulation strategy at fundamental switching frequency like, SHEPWM is prominent technique to eliminate lower order of harmonics with less switching losses and better harmonic profile. The equations which are formed by SHE are highly nonlinear transcendental in nature, there may exist single, multiple or even no solutions for a particular MI. However, some loads such as electrical drives, it is required to operate in whole range of MI. In order to solve SHE equations for whole range of MI, intelligent techniques are well suited to solve equations so as to produce lest %THDV. Hence, this paper uses Continuous genetic algorithm for minimising harmonics. This paper also presents wavelet based analysis of harmonics. The developed algorithm is simulated and %THD from FFT analysis and Wavelet analysis are compared. MATLAB programming environment and SIMULINK models are used whenever necessary.
Abstract: Identifying and classifying intersections according to
severity is very important for implementation of safety related
counter measures and effective models are needed to compare and
assess the severity. Highway safety organizations have considered
intersection safety among their priorities. In spite of significant
advances in highways safety, the large numbers of crashes with high
severities still occur in the highways. Investigation of influential
factors on crashes enables engineers to carry out calculations in order
to reduce crash severity. Previous studies lacked a model capable of
simultaneous illustration of the influence of human factors, road,
vehicle, weather conditions and traffic features including traffic
volume and flow speed on the crash severity. Thus, this paper is
aimed at developing the models to illustrate the simultaneous
influence of these variables on the crash severity in urban highways.
The models represented in this study have been developed using
binary Logit Models. SPSS software has been used to calibrate the
models. It must be mentioned that backward regression method in
SPSS was used to identify the significant variables in the model.
Consider to obtained results it can be concluded that the main
factor in increasing of crash severity in urban highways are driver
age, movement with reverse gear, technical defect of the vehicle,
vehicle collision with motorcycle and bicycle, bridge, frontal impact
collisions, frontal-lateral collisions and multi-vehicle crashes in
urban highways which always increase the crash severity in urban
highways.
Abstract: Educational games (EG) seem to have lots of potential due to digital games popularity and preferences of our younger generations of learners. However, most studies focus on game design and its effectiveness while little has been known about the factors that can affect users to accept or to reject EG for their learning. User acceptance research try to understand the determinants of information systems (IS) adoption among users by investigating both systems factors and users factors. Upon the lack of knowledge on acceptance factors for educational games, we seek to understand the issue. This study proposed a model of acceptance factors based on Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). We use original model (performance expectancy, effort expectancy and social influence) together with two new determinants (learning opportunities and enjoyment). We will also investigate the effect of gender and gaming experience that moderate the proposed factors.
Abstract: Agriculture is one of the single largest sectors of Bangladesh economy. Bangladesh is an agro based country and predominantly is an agrarian economy. It is the backbone of the economy of Bangladesh. Around 75% of the total population directly or indirectly depends on agriculture and near about 84% of the total population lives in rural areas almost depend on agriculture for livelihood. Agriculture includes the sub-sectors of crop, livestock, forestry and fisheries. The contribution of all sub sectors is around 22.83 percent to national GDP in 2003-2004. The crops sub sector alone contributes 12.94 percent of GDP.
Abstract: Soil erosion is the most serious problem faced at
global and local level. So planning of soil conservation measures has
become prominent agenda in the view of water basin managers. To
plan for the soil conservation measures, the information on soil
erosion is essential. Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), Revised
Universal Soil Loss Equation 1 (RUSLE1or RUSLE) and Modified
Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE), RUSLE 1.06, RUSLE1.06c,
RUSLE2 are most widely used conventional erosion estimation
methods. The essential drawbacks of USLE, RUSLE1 equations are
that they are based on average annual values of its parameters and so
their applicability to small temporal scale is questionable. Also these
equations do not estimate runoff generated soil erosion. So
applicability of these equations to estimate runoff generated soil
erosion is questionable. Data used in formation of USLE, RUSLE1
equations was plot data so its applicability at greater spatial scale
needs some scale correction factors to be induced. On the other hand
MUSLE is unsuitable for predicting sediment yield of small and large
events. Although the new revised forms of USLE like RUSLE 1.06,
RUSLE1.06c and RUSLE2 were land use independent and they have
almost cleared all the drawbacks in earlier versions like USLE and
RUSLE1, they are based on the regional data of specific area and
their applicability to other areas having different climate, soil, land
use is questionable. These conventional equations are applicable for
sheet and rill erosion and unable to predict gully erosion and spatial
pattern of rills. So the research was focused on development of nonconventional
(other than conventional) methods of soil erosion
estimation. When these non-conventional methods are combined with
GIS and RS, gives spatial distribution of soil erosion. In the present
paper the review of literature on non- conventional methods of soil
erosion estimation supported by GIS and RS is presented.
Abstract: Analysis for the generalized thermoelastic Lamb
waves, which propagates in anisotropic thin plates in generalized
thermoelasticity, is presented employing normal mode expansion
method. The displacement and temperature fields are expressed by a
summation of the symmetric and antisymmetric thermoelastic modes
in the surface thermal stresses and thermal gradient free orthotropic
plate, therefore the theory is particularly appropriate for waveform
analyses of Lamb waves in thin anisotropic plates. The transient
waveforms excited by the thermoelastic expansion are analyzed for
an orthotropic thin plate. The obtained results show that the theory
provides a quantitative analysis to characterize anisotropic
thermoelastic stiffness properties of plates by wave detection. Finally
numerical calculations have been presented for a NaF crystal, and the
dispersion curves for the lowest modes of the symmetric and
antisymmetric vibrations are represented graphically at different
values of thermal relaxation time. However, the methods can be used
for other materials as well
Abstract: Mobile banking services present a unique growth
opportunity for mobile operators in emerging markets, and have
already made good progress in bringing financial services to the
previously unbanked populations of many developing countries. The
potential is amazing, but what about the risks? In the complex
process of establishing a mobile banking business model, many kinds
of risks and factors need to be monitored and well-managed. Risk
identification is the first stage of risk management. Correct risk
identification ensures risk management effectiveness. Keeping the
risks low makes it possible to use the full potential of mobile banking
and carry out the planned business strategy. The focus should be on
adoption of consumers which is the main risk factor of mobile
banking services.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose a high capacity image hiding
technology based on pixel prediction and the difference of modified histogram. This approach is used the pixel prediction and the
difference of modified histogram to calculate the best embedding point.
This approach can improve the predictive accuracy and increase the pixel difference to advance the hiding capacity. We also use the
histogram modification to prevent the overflow and underflow. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed method within the
same average hiding capacity can still keep high quality of image and low distortion
Abstract: Introduction applicability of high-speed cutting stock problem (CSP) is presented in this paper. Due to the orders continued coming in from various on-line ways for a professional cutting company, to stay competitive, such a business has to focus on sustained production at high levels. In others words, operators have to keep the machine running to stay ahead of the pack. Therefore, the continuous stock cutting problem with setup is proposed to minimize the cutting time and pattern changing time to meet the on-line given demand. In this paper, a novel method is proposed to solve the problem directly by using cutting patterns directly. A major advantage of the proposed method in series on-line production is that the system can adjust the cutting plan according to the floating orders. Examples with multiple items are demonstrated. The results show considerable efficiency and reliability in high-speed cutting of CSP.
Abstract: Optical burst switching(OBS) is considered as one of
preferable network technologies for the next generation Internet. The
Internet has two traffic classes, i.e. real-time bursts and reliable bursts.
It is an important subject for OBS to achieve cooperated operation of
real-time bursts and reliable bursts. In this paper, we proposes a new
effective traffic control method named Separate TB+LB (Token
Bucket + Leaky Bucket : TB+LB) method. The proposed method
presents a new Token Bucket scheme for real-time bursts called as
RBO-TB (Real-time Bursts Oriented Token Bucket). The method also
applies the LB method to reliable bursts for obtaining better
performance. This paper verifies the effectiveness of the Separate
TB+LB method through the performance evaluation.
Abstract: Here, a new idea to speed up the operation of
complex valued time delay neural networks is presented. The whole
data are collected together in a long vector and then tested as a one
input pattern. The proposed fast complex valued time delay neural
networks uses cross correlation in the frequency domain between the
tested data and the input weights of neural networks. It is proved
mathematically that the number of computation steps required for
the presented fast complex valued time delay neural networks is less
than that needed by classical time delay neural networks. Simulation
results using MATLAB confirm the theoretical computations.
Abstract: In the globalization context and competitiveness, the role of a university is further enhanced. University is no longer confined to traditional roles. Universities need to interact with others in order to be relevant and progressive. Symbiosis relationships between the university and industry are very significant because the relationship between those two can foster economic development of a nation. In a world of fast changing technology and competition, it is necessary for the university to collaborate with industry to combine efforts fostering the diffusion of knowledge, increasing research and development, patenting innovation and commercializing products. It has become increasingly accepted that the necessity of close university-industry interactions as a mean of national economic prosperity. Therefore, this paper is aim to examine the level of linkages in university-industry interactions to which promotes the regional economic growth and development. This paper will explore the formation of linkages between the Higher Education Institution (University Technology MARA) and industries located in the Klang Valley region of Malaysia. It will present the university-industry linkages with emphasis on the type of linkages existed, the benefits of having such linkages to promote regional economic development and finally the constraints that might impede the linkages and potentials to enhance the linkages towards economic growth and development.
Abstract: In this paper, a new reversible watermarking method is presented that reduces the size of a stereoscopic image sequence while keeping its content visible. The proposed technique embeds the residuals of the right frames to the corresponding frames of the left sequence, halving the total capacity. The residual frames may result in after a disparity compensated procedure between the two video streams or by a joint motion and disparity compensation. The residuals are usually lossy compressed before embedding because of the limited embedding capacity of the left frames. The watermarked frames are visible at a high quality and at any instant the stereoscopic video may be recovered by an inverse process. In fact, the left frames may be exactly recovered whereas the right ones are slightly distorted as the residuals are not embedded intact. The employed embedding method reorders the left frame into an array of consecutive pixel pairs and embeds a number of bits according to their intensity difference. In this way, it hides a number of bits in intensity smooth areas and most of the data in textured areas where resulting distortions are less visible. The experimental evaluation demonstrates that the proposed scheme is quite effective.
Abstract: The paper shows how the perceptions of five organizational virtuousness dimensions (optimism, trust, compassion, integrity, and forgiveness) explain organizational citizenship behaviors (altruism, sportsmanship, courtesy, conscientiousness, and civic virtue). A sample comprising 216 individuals from 14 industrial organizations was collected. Individuals reported their perceptions of organizational virtuousness, their organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB) being reported by their supervisors. The main findings are the following: (a) the perceptions of trust predict altruism; (b) the perceptions of integrity predict civic virtue.
Abstract: Existing underground pipe jacking methods use a
reinforcing rod in a steel tube to obtain structural stiffness. However,
some problems such as inconvenience of works and expensive
materials resulted from limited working space and reinforcing works
are existed. To resolve these problems, a new pipe jacking method,
namely PST (Prestressed Segment Tunnel) method, was developed
which used joint to connect the steel segment and form erection
structure. For evaluating the flexural capacity of the PST method
structure, a experimental test was conducted. The parameters
considered in the test were span-to-depth ratio of segment, diameter of
steel tube at the corner, prestressing force, and welding of joint. The
flexural behaviours with the effect of load capacity in serviceability
state according to different parameters were examined.. The frame
with long segments could increase flexural stiffness and the specimen
with large diameter of concave corner showed excellent resistance
ability to the negative moment. In addition, welding of joints increased
the flexural capacity.
Abstract: The progress of concentrations of particular heavy metals was assessed in chosen localities in region Moravia, the Czech Republic, from 2007 to 2009. Particular metals were observed in localities with various types and characterization of zone. Pb, Ni, As and Cd were emphasized as a result of their toxicity and potential adverse health effect to the exposed population. The progress of metal concentrations and their health effects in the most polluted localities were examined. According to the results, the air pollution limit values were not exceeded. Based on the health risk assessment, the probability of developing tumorous diseases is acceptable, except for the increased probability of cancer risk from long-term exposure to As.
Abstract: This paper presents a tested research concept that
implements a complex evolutionary algorithm, genetic algorithm
(GA), in a multi-microcontroller environment. Parallel Distributed
Genetic Algorithm (PDGA) is employed in adaptive beam forming
technique to reduce power usage of adaptive antenna at WCDMA
base station. Adaptive antenna has dynamic beam that requires more
advanced beam forming algorithm such as genetic algorithm which
requires heavy computation and memory space. Microcontrollers are
low resource platforms that are normally not associated with GAs,
which are typically resource intensive. The aim of this project was to
design a cooperative multiprocessor system by expanding the role of
small scale PIC microcontrollers to optimize WCDMA base station
transmitter power. Implementation results have shown that PDGA
multi-microcontroller system returned optimal transmitted power
compared to conventional GA.