Abstract: The events of October 2010, where terrorists managed to get explosive devices onboard of three passenger aircrafts and two air freighters, demonstrated weaknesses of the international air cargo and airmail security. Ever since, postal security has gained interest among policymakers and authorities. This study augments the limited body of academic literature on the topic bydemarcating areas of postal security, identifying relevant stakeholders in each area, and investigating why these stakeholders engage in postal security. Research is based on a case study on Swiss Post’s mail service.
Abstract: In this paper, a Dynamic Economic Dispatch (DED) model is developed for the system consisting of both thermal generators and wind turbines. The inclusion of a significant amount of wind energy into power systems has resulted in additional constraints on DED to accommodate the intermittent nature of the output. The probability of stochastic wind power based on the Weibull probability density function is included in the model as a constraint; A Here-and-Now Approach. The Environmental Protection Agency-s hourly emission target, which gives the maximum emission during the day, is used as a constraint to reduce the atmospheric pollution. A 69-bus test system with non-smooth cost function is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed model compared with static economic dispatch model with including the wind power.
Abstract: In order to develop any strategy, it is essential to first
identify opportunities, threats, weak and strong points. Assessment of
technology level provides the possibility of concentrating on weak
and strong points. The results of technology assessment have a direct
effect on decision making process in the field of technology transfer
or expansion of internal research capabilities so it has a critical role
in technology management. This paper presents a conceptual model
to analyze the technology capability of a company as a whole and in
four main aspects of technology. This model was tested on 10
automotive parts manufacturers in IRAN. Using this model,
capability level of manufacturers was investigated in four fields of
managing aspects, hard aspects, human aspects, and information and
knowledge aspects. Results show that these firms concentrate on hard
aspect of technology while others aspects are poor and need to be
supported more. So this industry should develop other aspects of
technology as well as hard aspect to have effective and efficient use
of its technology. These paper findings are useful for the technology
planning and management in automotive part manufactures in IRAN
and other Industries which are technology followers and transport
their needed technologies.
Abstract: High redundancy and strong uncertainty are two main characteristics for underwater robotic manipulators with unlimited workspace and mobility, but they also make the motion planning and control difficult and complex. In order to setup the groundwork for the research on control schemes, the mathematical representation is built by using the Denavit-Hartenberg (D-H) method [9]&[12]; in addition to the geometry of the manipulator which was studied for establishing the direct and inverse kinematics. Then, the dynamic model is developed and used by employing the Lagrange theorem. Furthermore, derivation and computer simulation is accomplished using the MATLAB environment. The result obtained is compared with mechanical system dynamics analysis software, ADAMS. In addition, the creation of intelligent artificial skin using Interlink Force Sensing ResistorTM technology is presented as groundwork for future work
Abstract: In this note, a theoretical model for analyzing of
normal penetration of the ogive – nose projectile into metallic targets
is presented .The failure is assumed to be asymmetry petalling and
the analysis is performed by using the energy balance and work done
.The work done consist of the work required for plastic deformation
Wp, the work for transferring the matter to new position Wd and the
work for bending of the petals Wb. In several studies, it has been
shown that we can neglect the loss of energy by temperature.
In this present study, in first, by assuming the crater formation
after perforation, the value of work done is calculated during the
normal penetration of conical projectiles into thin metallic targets.
Then the value of residual velocity and ballistic limit of the projectile
is predicated by using the energy balance. In final, theoretical and
experimental results is compared.
Abstract: In this paper, a simple heuristic genetic algorithm is
used for Multistage Multiuser detection in fast fading environments.
Multipath channels, multiple access interference (MAI) and near far
effect cause the performance of the conventional detector to degrade.
Heuristic Genetic algorithms, a rapidly growing area of artificial
intelligence, uses evolutionary programming for initial search, which
not only helps to converge the solution towards near optimal
performance efficiently but also at a very low complexity as
compared with optimal detector. This holds true for Additive White
Gaussian Noise (AWGN) and multipath fading channels.
Experimental results are presented to show the superior performance
of the proposed techque over the existing methods.
Abstract: Thepurpose of the research is to characterize the levels
of satisfaction of the students in e-learning post-graduate courses,
taking into account specific dimensions of the course which were
considered as benchmarks for the quality of this type of online
learning initiative, as well as the levels of satisfaction towards each
specific indicator identified in each dimension. It was also an aim of
this study to understand how thesedimensions relate to one another.
Using a quantitative research approach in the collection and analysis
of the data, the study involves the participation of the students who
attended on e-learning course in 2010/2011. The conclusions of this
study suggest that online students present relatively high levels of
satisfaction, which points towards a positive experience during the
course. It is possible to note that there is a correlation between the
different dimensions studied, consequently leading to different
improvement strategies. Ultimately, this investigation aims to
contribute to the promotion of quality and the success of e-learning
initiatives in Higher Education.
Abstract: This paper describes WiPoD (Wireless Position
Detector) which is a pure software based location determination and
tracking (positioning) system. It uses empirical signal strength measurements from different wireless access points for mobile user
positioning. It is designed to determine the location of users having
802.11 enabled mobile devices in an 802.11 WLAN infrastructure
and track them in real time. WiPoD is the first main module in our
LBS (Location Based Services) framework. We tested K-Nearest
Neighbor and Triangulation algorithms to estimate the position of a
mobile user. We also give the analysis results of these algorithms for
real time operations. In this paper, we propose a supportable, i.e.
understandable, maintainable, scalable and portable wireless
positioning system architecture for an LBS framework. The WiPoD
software has a multithreaded structure and was designed and implemented with paying attention to supportability features and real-time constraints and using object oriented design principles. We also describe the real-time software design issues of a wireless positioning system which will be part of an LBS framework.
Abstract: In this paper, a comparative study of application of
supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms on illumination
invariant face recognition has been carried out. The supervised
learning has been carried out with the help of using a bi-layered
artificial neural network having one input, two hidden and one output
layer. The gradient descent with momentum and adaptive learning
rate back propagation learning algorithm has been used to implement
the supervised learning in a way that both the inputs and
corresponding outputs are provided at the time of training the
network, thus here is an inherent clustering and optimized learning of
weights which provide us with efficient results.. The unsupervised
learning has been implemented with the help of a modified
Counterpropagation network. The Counterpropagation network
involves the process of clustering followed by application of Outstar
rule to obtain the recognized face. The face recognition system has
been developed for recognizing faces which have varying
illumination intensities, where the database images vary in lighting
with respect to angle of illumination with horizontal and vertical
planes. The supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms have
been implemented and have been tested exhaustively, with and
without application of histogram equalization to get efficient results.
Abstract: Complex assemblies of interacting proteins carry out
most of the interesting jobs in a cell, such as metabolism, DNA
synthesis, mitosis and cell division. These physiological properties
play out as a subtle molecular dance, choreographed by underlying
regulatory networks that control the activities of cyclin-dependent
kinases (CDK). The network can be modeled by a set of nonlinear
differential equations and its behavior predicted by numerical
simulation. In this paper, an innovative approach has been proposed
that uses genetic algorithms to mine a set of behavior data output by
a biological system in order to determine the kinetic parameters of
the system. In our approach, the machine learning method is
integrated with the framework of existent biological information in a
wiring diagram so that its findings are expressed in a form of system
dynamic behavior. By numerical simulations it has been illustrated
that the model is consistent with experiments and successfully shown
that such application of genetic algorithms will highly improve the
performance of mathematical model of the cell division cycle to
simulate such a complicated bio-system.
Abstract: The issue of real-time and reliable report delivery is extremely important for taking effective decision in a real world mission critical Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) based application. The sensor data behaves differently in many ways from the data in traditional databases. WSNs need a mechanism to register, process queries, and disseminate data. In this paper we propose an architectural framework for data placement and management. We propose a reliable and real time approach for data placement and achieving data integrity using self organized sensor clusters. Instead of storing information in individual cluster heads as suggested in some protocols, in our architecture we suggest storing of information of all clusters within a cell in the corresponding base station. For data dissemination and action in the wireless sensor network we propose to use Action and Relay Stations (ARS). To reduce average energy dissipation of sensor nodes, the data is sent to the nearest ARS rather than base station. We have designed our architecture in such a way so as to achieve greater energy savings, enhanced availability and reliability.
Abstract: A fundamental model consisting of charged particles
moving in free space exposed to alternating and direct current (ACDC)
electromagnetic fields is analyzed. Effects of charged particles
initial position and initial velocity to cyclotron resonance frequency
are observed. Strong effects are observed revealing that effects of
electric and magnetic fields on a charged particle in free space
varies with the initial conditions. This indicates the frequency where
maximum displacement occur can be changed. At this frequency
the amplitude of oscillation of the particle displacement becomes
unbounded.
Abstract: Image clustering is a process of grouping images
based on their similarity. The image clustering usually uses the color
component, texture, edge, shape, or mixture of two components, etc.
This research aims to explore image clustering using color
composition. In order to complete this image clustering, three main
components should be considered, which are color space, image
representation (feature extraction), and clustering method itself. We
aim to explore which composition of these factors will produce the
best clustering results by combining various techniques from the
three components. The color spaces use RGB, HSV, and L*a*b*
method. The image representations use Histogram and Gaussian
Mixture Model (GMM), whereas the clustering methods use KMeans
and Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering algorithm. The
results of the experiment show that GMM representation is better
combined with RGB and L*a*b* color space, whereas Histogram is
better combined with HSV. The experiments also show that K-Means
is better than Agglomerative Hierarchical for images clustering.
Abstract: A new numerical method for simultaneously updating mass and stiffness matrices based on incomplete modal measured data is presented. By using the Kronecker product, all the variables that are to be modified can be found out and then can be updated directly. The optimal approximation mass matrix and stiffness matrix which satisfy the required eigenvalue equation and orthogonality condition are found under the Frobenius norm sense. The physical configuration of the analytical model is preserved and the updated model will exactly reproduce the modal measured data. The numerical example seems to indicate that the method is quite accurate and efficient.
Abstract: Factor analysis was applied to two stages biogas
production from banana stem waste allowing a screening of the
experimental variables second stage temperature (T), organic loading
rates (OLR) and hydraulic retention times (HRT). Biogas production
was found to be strongly influenced by all the above experimental
variables. Results from factorial analysis have shown that all
variables which were HRT, OLR and T have significant effect to
biogas production. Increased in HRT and OLR could increased the
biogas yield. The performance was tested under the conditions of
various T (35oC-60oC), OLR (0.3 g TS/l.d–1.9 gTS/l.d), and HRT (3
d–15 d). Conditions for temperature, OLR and HRT in this study
were based on the best range obtained from literature review.
Abstract: Protective effect of ethanolic extract of polyherbal formulation (PHF) was studied on carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage on carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage. Treatment of rats with 250mg /kg body weight of ethanolic extract of PHF protected rats against carbon tetrachloride liver injury by significant lowerering 5’ nucleotidase (5’NT), Gamma Glutamyl transferase (GGT), Glutamate dehdyrogenasse (GDH) and Succinate Dehydrogenase (SDH) levels compared to control. Normalization in these enzyme levels indicates strong hepatoprotective property of PHF extract.
Abstract: Selecting the routes and the assignment of link flow in a computer communication networks are extremely complex combinatorial optimization problems. Metaheuristics, such as genetic or simulated annealing algorithms, are widely applicable heuristic optimization strategies that have shown encouraging results for a large number of difficult combinatorial optimization problems. This paper considers the route selection and hence the flow assignment problem. A genetic algorithm and simulated annealing algorithm are used to solve this problem. A new hybrid algorithm combining the genetic with the simulated annealing algorithm is introduced. A modification of the genetic algorithm is also introduced. Computational experiments with sample networks are reported. The results show that the proposed modified genetic algorithm is efficient in finding good solutions of the flow assignment problem compared with other techniques.
Abstract: In this study rack systems that are structural storage
units of warehouses have been analyzed as structural with Finite
Element Method (FEA). Each cell of discussed rack system storages
pallets which have from 800 kg to 1000 kg weights and
0.80x1.15x1.50 m dimensions. Under this load, total deformations
and equivalent stresses of structural elements and principal stresses,
tensile stresses and shear stresses of connection elements have been
analyzed. The results of analyses have been evaluated according to
resistance limits of structural and connection elements. Obtained
results have been presented as visual and magnitude.
Abstract: Real world Speaker Identification (SI) application
differs from ideal or laboratory conditions causing perturbations that
leads to a mismatch between the training and testing environment
and degrade the performance drastically. Many strategies have been
adopted to cope with acoustical degradation; wavelet based Bayesian
marginal model is one of them. But Bayesian marginal models
cannot model the inter-scale statistical dependencies of different
wavelet scales. Simple nonlinear estimators for wavelet based
denoising assume that the wavelet coefficients in different scales are
independent in nature. However wavelet coefficients have significant
inter-scale dependency. This paper enhances this inter-scale
dependency property by a Circularly Symmetric Probability Density
Function (CS-PDF) related to the family of Spherically Invariant
Random Processes (SIRPs) in Log Gabor Wavelet (LGW) domain
and corresponding joint shrinkage estimator is derived by Maximum
a Posteriori (MAP) estimator. A framework is proposed based on
these to denoise speech signal for automatic speaker identification
problems. The robustness of the proposed framework is tested for
Text Independent Speaker Identification application on 100 speakers
of POLYCOST and 100 speakers of YOHO speech database in three
different noise environments. Experimental results show that the
proposed estimator yields a higher improvement in identification
accuracy compared to other estimators on popular Gaussian Mixture
Model (GMM) based speaker model and Mel-Frequency Cepstral
Coefficient (MFCC) features.
Abstract: The purpose of this research was to study five vital
factors related to employees’ job performance. A total of 250
respondents were sampled from employees who worked at a public
warehouse organization, Bangkok, Thailand. Samples were divided
into two groups according to their work experience. The average
working experience was about 9 years for group one and 28 years for
group two. A questionnaire was utilized as a tool to collect data.
Statistics utilized in this research included frequency, percentage,
mean, standard deviation, t-test analysis, one way ANOVA, and
Pearson Product-moment correlation coefficient. Data were analyzed
by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The findings
disclosed that the majority of respondents were female between 23-
31 years old, single, and hold an undergraduate degree. The average
income of respondents was less than 30,900 baht. The findings also
revealed that the factors of organization chart awareness, job process
and technology, internal environment, employee loyalty, and policy
and management were ranked as medium level. The hypotheses
testing revealed that difference in gender, age, and position had
differences in terms of the awareness of organization chart, job
process and technology, internal environment, employee loyalty, and
policy and management in the same direction with low level.