Abstract: A physically based, spatially-distributed water quality model is being developed to simulate spatial and temporal distributions of material transport in the Great Lakes Watersheds of the U.S. Multiple databases of meteorology, land use, topography, hydrography, soils, agricultural statistics, and water quality were used to estimate nonpoint source loading potential in the study watersheds. Animal manure production was computed from tabulations of animals by zip code area for the census years of 1987, 1992, 1997, and 2002. Relative chemical loadings for agricultural land use were calculated from fertilizer and pesticide estimates by crop for the same periods. Comparison of these estimates to the monitored total phosphorous load indicates that both point and nonpoint sources are major contributors to the total nutrient loads in the study watersheds, with nonpoint sources being the largest contributor, particularly in the rural watersheds. These estimates are used as the input to the distributed water quality model for simulating pollutant transport through surface and subsurface processes to Great Lakes waters. Visualization and GIS interfaces are developed to visualize the spatial and temporal distribution of the pollutant transport in support of water management programs.
Abstract: With optimized bandwidth and latency discrepancy ratios, Node Gain Scores (NGSs) are determined and used as a basis for shaping the max-heap overlay. The NGSs - determined as the respective bandwidth-latency-products - govern the construction of max-heap-form overlays. Each NGS is earned as a synergy of discrepancy ratio of the bandwidth requested with respect to the estimated available bandwidth, and latency discrepancy ratio between the nodes and the source node. The tree leads to enhanceddelivery overlay multicasting – increasing packet delivery which could, otherwise, be hindered by induced packet loss occurring in other schemes not considering the synergy of these parameters on placing the nodes on the overlays. The NGS is a function of four main parameters – estimated available bandwidth, Ba; individual node's requested bandwidth, Br; proposed node latency to its prospective parent (Lp); and suggested best latency as advised by source node (Lb). Bandwidth discrepancy ratio (BDR) and latency discrepancy ratio (LDR) carry weights of α and (1,000 - α ) , respectively, with arbitrary chosen α ranging between 0 and 1,000 to ensure that the NGS values, used as node IDs, maintain a good possibility of uniqueness and balance between the most critical factor between the BDR and the LDR. A max-heap-form tree is constructed with assumption that all nodes possess NGS less than the source node. To maintain a sense of load balance, children of each level's siblings are evenly distributed such that a node can not accept a second child, and so on, until all its siblings able to do so, have already acquired the same number of children. That is so logically done from left to right in a conceptual overlay tree. The records of the pair-wise approximate available bandwidths as measured by a pathChirp scheme at individual nodes are maintained. Evaluation measures as compared to other schemes – Bandwidth Aware multicaSt architecturE (BASE), Tree Building Control Protocol (TBCP), and Host Multicast Tree Protocol (HMTP) - have been conducted. This new scheme generally performs better in terms of trade-off between packet delivery ratio; link stress; control overhead; and end-to-end delays.
Abstract: In this article, we present a web server based solution
for implementing a system for intelligent navigation. In this solution
we use real time collected data and traffic history to establish the best
route for navigation. This is a low cost solution that is easily to
implement and extend. There is no need any infrastructure at road
network level except only a device that collect data about traffic in
key road crossing. The presented solution creates a strong base for
traffic pursuit and offers an infrastructure for navigation applications.
Abstract: In this paper we propose a new knowledge model using
the Dempster-Shafer-s evidence theory for image segmentation and
fusion. The proposed method is composed essentially of two steps.
First, mass distributions in Dempster-Shafer theory are obtained from
the membership degrees of each pixel covering the three image
components (R, G and B). Each membership-s degree is determined by
applying Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) clustering to the gray levels of the
three images. Second, the fusion process consists in defining three
discernment frames which are associated with the three images to be
fused, and then combining them to form a new frame of discernment.
The strategy used to define mass distributions in the combined
framework is discussed in detail. The proposed fusion method is
illustrated in the context of image segmentation. Experimental
investigations and comparative studies with the other previous methods
are carried out showing thus the robustness and superiority of the
proposed method in terms of image segmentation.
Abstract: In this work, I present a review on Sparse Distributed
Memory for Small Cues (SDMSCue), a variant of Sparse Distributed
Memory (SDM) that is capable of handling small cues. I then conduct
and show some cognitive experiments on SDMSCue to test its
cognitive soundness compared to SDM. Small cues refer to input
cues that are presented to memory for reading associations; but have
many missing parts or fields from them. The original SDM failed to
handle such a problem. SDMSCue handles and overcomes this
pitfall. The main idea in SDMSCue; is the repeated projection of the
semantic space on smaller subspaces; that are selected based on the
input cue length and pattern. This process allows for Read/Write
operations using an input cue that is missing a large portion.
SDMSCue is augmented with the use of genetic algorithms for
memory allocation and initialization. I claim that SDM functionality
is a subset of SDMSCue functionality.
Abstract: In today-s hip hop world where everyone is running
short of time and works hap hazardly,the similar scene is common on
the roads while in traffic.To do away with the fatal consequences of
such speedy traffics on rushy lanes, a software to analyse and keep
account of the traffic and subsequent conjestion is being used in the
developed countries. This software has being implemented and used
with the help of a suppprt tool called Critical Analysis Reporting
Environment.There has been two existing versions of this tool.The
current research paper involves examining the issues and probles
while using these two practically. Further a hybrid architecture is
proposed for the same that retains the quality and performance of
both and is better in terms of coupling of components , maintainence
and many other features.
Abstract: Electronics Products that achieve high levels of integrated communications, computing and entertainment, multimedia features in small, stylish and robust new form factors are winning in the market place. Due to the high costs that an industry may undergo and how a high yield is directly proportional to high profits, IC (Integrated Circuit) manufacturers struggle to maximize yield, but today-s customers demand miniaturization, low costs, high performance and excellent reliability making the yield maximization a never ending research of an enhanced assembly process. With factors such as minimum tolerances, tighter parameter variations a systematic approach is needed in order to predict the assembly process. In order to evaluate the quality of upcoming circuits, yield models are used which not only predict manufacturing costs but also provide vital information in order to ease the process of correction when the yields fall below expectations. For an IC manufacturer to obtain higher assembly yields all factors such as boards, placement, components, the material from which the components are made of and processes must be taken into consideration. Effective placement yield depends heavily on machine accuracy and the vision of the system which needs the ability to recognize the features on the board and component to place the device accurately on the pads and bumps of the PCB. There are currently two methods for accurate positioning, using the edge of the package and using solder ball locations also called footprints. The only assumption that a yield model makes is that all boards and devices are completely functional. This paper will focus on the Monte Carlo method which consists in a class of computational algorithms (information processed algorithms) which depends on repeated random samplings in order to compute the results. This method utilized in order to recreate the simulation of placement and assembly processes within a production line.
Abstract: High-frequency (HF) communications have been used by military organizations for more than 90 years. The opportunity of very long range communications without the need for advanced equipment makes HF a convenient and inexpensive alternative of satellite communications. Besides the advantages, voice and data transmission over HF is a challenging task, because the HF channel generally suffers from Doppler shift and spread, multi-path, cochannel interference, and many other sources of noise. In constructing an HF data modem, all these effects must be taken into account. STANAG 4539 is a NATO standard for high-speed data transmission over HF. It allows data rates up to 12800 bps over an HF channel of 3 kHz. In this work, an efficient implementation of STANAG 4539 on a single Texas Instruments- TMS320C6747 DSP chip is described. The state-of-the-art algorithms used in the receiver and the efficiency of the implementation enables real-time high-speed data / digitized voice transmission over poor HF channels.
Abstract: A numbers of important developments have led to an
increasing attractiveness for very high speed electrical machines
(either motor or generator). Specifically the increasing switching
speed of power electronics, high energy magnets, high strength
retaining materials, better high speed bearings and improvements in
design analysis are the primary drivers in a move to higher speed. The
design challenges come in the mechanical design both in terms of
strength and resonant modes and in the electromagnetic design
particularly in respect of iron losses and ac losses in the various
conducting parts including the rotor. This paper describes detailed
design work which has been done on a 50,000 rpm, 50kW permanent
magnet( PM) synchronous machine. It describes work on
electromagnetic and rotor eddy current losses using a variety of
methods including both 2D finite element analysis
Abstract: The objective of this research is to develop an advanced driver assistance system characterized with the functions of lane departure warning (LDW), forward collision warning (FCW) and adaptive front-lighting system (AFS). The system is mainly configured a CCD/CMOS camera to acquire the images of roadway ahead in association with the analysis made by an image-processing unit concerning the lane ahead and the preceding vehicles. The input image captured by a camera is used to recognize the lane and the preceding vehicle positions by image detection and DROI (Dynamic Range of Interesting) algorithms. Therefore, the system is able to issue real-time auditory and visual outputs of warning when a driver is departing the lane or driving too close to approach the preceding vehicle unwittingly so that the danger could be prevented from occurring. During the nighttime, in addition to the foregoing warning functions, the system is able to control the bending light of headlamp to provide an immediate light illumination when making a turn at a curved lane and adjust the level automatically to reduce the lighting interference against the oncoming vehicles driving in the opposite direction by the curvature of lane and the vanishing point estimations. The experimental results show that the integrated vehicle image system is robust to most environments such as the lane detection and preceding vehicle detection average accuracy performances are both above 90 %.
Abstract: The mesoporous MoO3/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was prepared
by incipient wetness impregnation method aiming to investigate the
effect of drying method and molybdenum content on the catalyst
property and performance towards the oxidation of benzothiophene
(BT), dibenzothiophene (DBT) and 4,6-dimethyle dibenzothiophene
(4,6-DMDBT) with H2O2 for deep oxidative desulfurization of diesel
fuel. The catalyst was characterized by XRD, BET, BJH and SEM
method. The catalyst with 10wt.% and 15wt.% Mo content represent
same optimum performance for DBT and 4,6-DMDBT removal, but
a catalyst with 10wt.% Mo has higher efficiency than 15wt.% Mo for
BT conversion. The SEM images show that use of rotary evaporator
in drying step reaches a more homogenous impregnation. The
oxidation reactivity of different sulfur compounds was studied which
followed the order of DBT>4,6-DMDBT>>BT.
Abstract: Liposomal magnetofection is a simple, highly efficient
technology for cell transfection, demonstrating better outcome than a
number of other common gene delivery methods. However,
aggregate complexes distribution over the cell surface is non-uniform
due to the gradient of the permanent magnetic field. The aim of this
study was to estimate the efficiency of liposomal magnetofection for
prostate carcinoma PC3 cell line using newly designed device,
“DynaFECTOR", ensuring magnetofection in a dynamic gradient
magnetic field. Liposomal magnetofection in a dynamic gradient
magnetic field demonstrated the highest transfection efficiency for
PC3 cells – it increased for 21% in comparison with liposomal
magnetofection and for 42% in comparison with lipofection alone.
The optimal incubation time under dynamic magnetic field for PC3
cell line was 5 minutes and the optimal rotation frequency of
magnets – 5 rpm. The new approach also revealed lower cytotoxic
effect to cells than liposomal magnetofection.
Abstract: Direct fermentation of 226 white rose tapioca stem to
ethanol by Fusarium oxysporum was studied in a batch reactor.
Fermentation of ethanol can be achieved by sequential pretreatment
using dilute acid and dilute alkali solutions using 100 mesh tapioca
stem particles. The quantitative effects of substrate concentration, pH
and temperature on ethanol concentration were optimized using a full
factorial central composite design experiment. The optimum process
conditions were then obtained using response surface methodology.
The quadratic model indicated that substrate concentration of 33g/l,
pH 5.52 and a temperature of 30.13oC were found to be optimum for
maximum ethanol concentration of 8.64g/l. The predicted optimum
process conditions obtained using response surface methodology was
verified through confirmatory experiments. Leudeking-piret model
was used to study the product formation kinetics for the production
of ethanol and the model parameters were evaluated using
experimental data.
Abstract: On the basis of Bayesian inference using the
maximizer of the posterior marginal estimate, we carry out phase
unwrapping using multiple interferograms via generalized mean-field
theory. Numerical calculations for a typical wave-front in remote
sensing using the synthetic aperture radar interferometry, phase
diagram in hyper-parameter space clarifies that the present method
succeeds in phase unwrapping perfectly under the constraint of
surface- consistency condition, if the interferograms are not corrupted
by any noises. Also, we find that prior is useful for extending a phase
in which phase unwrapping under the constraint of the
surface-consistency condition. These results are quantitatively
confirmed by the Monte Carlo simulation.
Abstract: We present the results of a case study aiming to assess the reflection of the tourism community in the Web and its usability to propose new ways to communicate visually. The wealth of information contained in the Web and the clear facilities to communicate personals points of view makes of the social web a new space of exploration. In this way, social web allow the sharing of information between communities with similar interests. However, the tourism community remains unexplored as is the case of the information covered in travel stories. Along the Web, we find multiples sites allowing the users to communicate their experiences and personal points of view of a particular place of the world. This cultural heritage is found in multiple documents, usually very little supplemented with photos, so they are difficult to explore due to the lack of visual information. This paper explores the possibility of analyzing travel stories to display them visually on maps and generate new knowledge such as patterns of travel routes. This way, travel narratives published in electronic formats can be very important especially to the tourism community because of the great amount of knowledge that can be extracted. Our approach is based on the use of a Geoparsing Web Service to extract geographic coordinates from travel narratives in order to draw the geo-positions and link the documents into a map image.
Abstract: Two novel hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysts:
FeN4/C and FeN2/C, were prepared using an impregnation-pyrolysis
method. The two materials were investigated as catalysts for
hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and hydrodearomitization (HDA) of
model compounds. The turnover frequency of the two FeN catalysts
is comparable to (FeN4/C) or even higher (FeN2/C) than that of
MoNi/Al2O3. The FeN4/C catalyst also exhibited catalytic activity
toward HDA.
Abstract: In CMOS integrated circuit design there is a trade-off between static power consumption and technology scaling. Recently, the power density has increased due to combination of higher clock speeds, greater functional integration, and smaller process geometries. As a result static power consumption is becoming more dominant. This is a challenge for the circuit designers. However, the designers do have a few methods which they can use to reduce this static power consumption. But all of these methods have some drawbacks. In order to achieve lower static power consumption, one has to sacrifice design area and circuit performance. In this paper, we propose a new method to reduce static power in the CMOS VLSI circuit using Variable Body Biasing technique without being penalized in area requirement and circuit performance.
Abstract: Determination of wellbore problems during a
production/injection process might be evaluated thorough
temperature log analysis. Other applications of this kind of log
analysis may also include evaluation of fluid distribution analysis
along the wellbore and identification of anomalies encountered
during production/injection process. While the accuracy of such
prediction is paramount, the common method of determination of a
wellbore temperature log includes use of steady-state energy balance
equations, which hardly describe the real conditions as observed in
typical oil and gas flowing wells during production operation; and
thus increase level of uncertainties. In this study, a practical method
has been proposed through development of a simplified semianalytical
model to apply for predicting temperature profile along the
wellbore. The developed model includes an overall heat transfer
coefficient accounting all modes of heat transferring mechanism,
which has been focused on the prediction of a temperature profile as
a function of depth for the injection/production wells. The model has
been validated with the results obtained from numerical simulation.
Abstract: In this study, synthesis of biomemitic patterned nano
hydroxyapatite-starch biocomposites using different concentration of
starch to evaluate effect of polymer alteration on biocomposites
structural properties has been reported. Formation of hydroxyapatite
nano particles was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier
transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Size and morphology of the
samples were characterized using scanning and transmission electron
microscopy (SEM and TEM). It seems that by increasing starch
content, the more active site of polymer (oxygen atoms) can be
provided for interaction with Ca2+ followed by phosphate and
hydroxyl group.
Abstract: Post cracking behavior and load –bearing capacity of
the steel fiber reinforced high-strength concrete (SFRHSC) are
dependent on the number of fibers are crossing the weakest crack
(bridged the crack) and their orientation to the crack surface. Filling
the mould by SFRHSC, fibers are moving and rotating with the
concrete matrix flow till the motion stops in each internal point of the
concrete body. Filling the same mould from the different ends
SFRHSC samples with the different internal structures (and different
strength) can be obtained. Numerical flow simulations (using Newton
and Bingham flow models) were realized, as well as single fiber
planar motion and rotation numerical and experimental investigation
(in viscous flow) was performed. X-ray pictures for prismatic
samples were obtained and internal fiber positions and orientations
were analyzed. Similarly fiber positions and orientations in cracked
cross-section were recognized and were compared with numerically
simulated. Structural SFRHSC fracture model was created based on
single fiber pull-out laws, which were determined experimentally.
Model predictions were validated by 15x15x60cm prisms 4 point
bending tests.