Abstract: International trade involves both large and small firms
engaged in business overseas. Possible drivers that force companies
to enter international markets include increasing competition at the
domestic market, maturing domestic markets, and limited domestic
market opportunities. Technology is an important driving factor in
shaping international marketing strategy as well as in driving force
towards a more global marketplace, especially technology in
communication. It includes telephones, the internet, computer
systems and e-mail. There are three main marketing strategy choices,
namely standardization approach, adaptation approach and middleof-
the-road approach that companies implement to overseas markets.
The decision depends on situations and factors facing the companies
in the international markets. In this paper, the contingency concept is
considered that no single strategy can be effective in all contexts.
The effect of strategy on performance depends on specific situational
variables. Strategic fit is employed to investigate export marketing
strategy adaptation under certain environmental conditions, which in
turn can lead to superior performance.
Abstract: Climate change causes severe effects on natural
habitats, especially wetlands. These challenges require the adaptation
of their management to probable effects of climate change. A
compilation of necessary changes in land management was collected
in a Hungarian area being both national park and Natura 2000 SAC
and SCI site in favor of increasing the resilience and reducing
vulnerability. Several factors, such as ecological aspects, nature
conservation and climatic adaptation should be combined with social
and economic factors during the process of developing climate
change adapted management on vulnerable wetlands. Planning
adaptive management should be determined by a priority order of
conservation aims and evaluation of factors at the determined
planning unit. Mowing techniques, frequency and exact date should
be observed as well as grazing species and their breed, due to
different grazing, group forming and trampling habits. Integrating
landscape history and historical land development into the planning
process is essential.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with raw or heat-treated sunflower oil seed with two levels of 7.5% or 15% on unsaturated fatty acids in milk fat and performances of high-yielding lactating cows. Twenty early lactating Holstein cows were used in a complete randomized design. Treatments included: 1) CON, control (without sunflower oil seed). 2) LS-UT, 7.5% raw sunflower oil seed. 3) LS-HT, 7.5% heat-treated sunflower oil seed. 4) HS-UT, 15% raw sunflower oil seed. 5) HS-HT, 15% heat-treated sunflower oil seed. Experimental period lasted for 4 wk, with first 2 wk used for adaptation to the diets. Supplementation with 7.5% raw sunflower seed (LS-UT) tended to decrease milk yield, with 28.37 kg/d compared with the control (34.75 kg/d). Milk fat percentage was increased with the HS-UT treatment that obtained 3.71% compared with CON that was 3.39% and without significant different. Milk protein percent was decreased high level sunflower oil seed treatments (15%) with 3.18% whereas CON treatment is caused 3.40% protein. The cows fed added low sunflower heat-treated (LS-HT) produced milk with the highest content of total unsaturated fatty acid with 32.59 g/100g of milk fat compared with the HS-UT with 23.59 g/100g of milk fat. Content of C18 unsaturated fatty acids in milk fat increased from 21.68 g/100g of fat in the HS-UT to 22.50, 23.98, 27.39 and 30.30 g/100g of fat from the cow fed HS-HT, CON, LS-UT and LS-HT treatments, respectively. C18:2 isomers of fatty acid in milk were greater by LSHT supplementation with significant effect (P < 0.05). Total of C18 unsaturated fatty acids content was significantly higher in milk of animal fed added low heat-treated sunflower (7.5%) than those fed with high sunflower. In all, results of this study showed that diet cow's supplementation with sunflower oil seed tended to reduce milk production of lactating cows but can improve C18 UFA (Unsaturated Fatty Acid) content in milk fat. 7.5% level of sunflower oil seed that heated seemed to be the optimal source to increase UFA production.
Abstract: In this work, we study the problem of determining
the minimum scheduling length that can satisfy end-to-end (ETE)
traffic demand in scheduling-based multihop WSNs with cooperative
multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission scheme. Specifically,
we present a cross-layer formulation for the joint routing,
scheduling and stream control problem by incorporating various
power and rate adaptation schemes, and taking into account an
antenna beam pattern model and the signal-to-interference-and-noise
(SINR) constraint at the receiver. In the context, we also propose
column generation (CG) solutions to get rid of the complexity
requiring the enumeration of all possible sets of scheduling links.
Abstract: In the paper an effective context based lossless coding
technique is presented. Three principal and few auxiliary contexts are
defined. The predictor adaptation technique is an improved CoBALP
algorithm, denoted CoBALP+. Cumulated predictor error combining
8 bias estimators is calculated. It is shown experimentally that
indeed, the new technique is time-effective while it outperforms the
well known methods having reasonable time complexity, and is
inferior only to extremely computationally complex ones.
Abstract: Decision feedback equalizers are commonly employed to reduce the error caused by intersymbol interference. Here, an adaptive decision feedback equalizer is presented with a new adaptation algorithm. The algorithm follows a block-based approach of normalized least mean square (NLMS) algorithm with set-membership filtering and achieves a significantly less computational complexity over its conventional NLMS counterpart with set-membership filtering. It is shown in the results that the proposed algorithm yields similar type of bit error rate performance over a reasonable signal to noise ratio in comparison with the latter one.
Abstract: Technology transfer is a common method for
companies to acquire new technology and presents both challenges
and substantial benefits. In some cases especially in developing
countries, the mere possession of technology does not guarantee a
competitive advantage if the appropriate infrastructure is not in place.
In this paper, we identify the localization factors needed to provide a
better understanding of the conditions necessary for localization in
order to benefit from future technology developments. Our
theoretical and empirical analyses allow us to identify several factors
in the technology transfer process that affect localization and provide
leverage in enhancing capabilities and absorptive capacity.The
impact factors are categorized within different groups of government,
firms, institutes and market, and are verified through the empirical
survey of a technology transfer experience. Moreover, statistical
analysis has allowed a deeper understanding of the importance of
each factor and has enabled each group to prioritize their
organizational policies to effectively localize their technology.
Abstract: Purpose: To develop a method for automatic segmentation of adipose and muscular tissue in thighs from magnetic resonance images. Materials and methods: Thirty obese women were scanned on a Siemens Impact Expert 1T resonance machine. 1500 images were finally used in the tests. The developed segmentation method is a recursive and multilevel process that makes use of several concepts such as shaped histograms, adaptative thresholding and connectivity. The segmentation process was implemented in Matlab and operates without the need of any user interaction. The whole set of images were segmented with the developed method. An expert radiologist segmented the same set of images following a manual procedure with the aid of the SliceOmatic software (Tomovision). These constituted our 'goal standard'. Results: The number of coincidental pixels of the automatic and manual segmentation procedures was measured. The average results were above 90 % of success in most of the images. Conclusions: The proposed approach allows effective automatic segmentation of MRIs from thighs, comparable to expert manual performance.
Abstract: The African Diaspora in Singapore (and larger Asia)
is a topic that has received little scholarly attention and research. This
exploratory study will analyze the changing identity of Africans
throughout the process of cultural adaptation in Singapore. For the
focus of this study, “black Africans" will be defined as any black
Africans from sub-Saharan Africa who have lived in Singapore for at
least six months. The dialectic relationship between Singaporean
conceptions of black African identity and African self-consciousness
will be analyzed from the perspective of black Africans so as to
evaluate the impact of intercultural discourse on the evolution of the
African identity in Singapore.
Abstract: A new Feed-Forward/Feedback Generalized
Minimum Variance Pole-placement Controller to incorporate the
robustness of classical pole-placement into the flexibility of
generalized minimum variance self-tuning controller for Single-Input
Single-Output (SISO) has been proposed in this paper. The design,
which provides the user with an adaptive mechanism, which ensures
that the closed loop poles are, located at their pre-specified positions.
In addition, the controller design which has a feed-forward/feedback
structure overcomes the certain limitations existing in similar poleplacement
control designs whilst retaining the simplicity of
adaptation mechanisms used in other designs. It tracks set-point
changes with the desired speed of response, penalizes excessive
control action, and can be applied to non-minimum phase systems.
Besides, at steady state, the controller has the ability to regulate the
constant load disturbance to zero. Example simulation results using
both simulated and real plant models demonstrate the effectiveness of
the proposed controller.
Abstract: This paper presents an adaptive nonlinear position
controller with velocity constraint, capable of combining the
input-output linearization technique and Lyapunov stability theory.
Based on the Lyapunov stability theory, the adaptation law of the
proposed controller is derived along with the verification of the overall
system-s stability. Computer simulation results demonstrate that the
proposed controller is robust and it can ensure transient stability of
BLDCM, under the occurrence of a large sudden fault.
Abstract: An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of the level of performance stabilization on the human adaptability to perceptual-motor perturbation in a complex coincident timing task. Three levels of performance stabilization were established operationally: pre-stabilization, stabilization, and super-stabilization groups. Each group practiced the task until reached its level of stabilization in a constant sequence of movements and under a constant time constraint before exposure to perturbation. The results clearly showed that performance stabilization is a pre-condition for adaptation. Moreover, variability before reaching stabilization is harmful to adaptation and persistent variability after stabilization is beneficial. Moreover, the behavior of variability is specific to each measure.
Abstract: A retrospective study was undertaken to record the
occurrence and pattern of fractures in small animals (dogs and cats)
from year 2005 to 2010. A total of 650 cases were presented in small
animal surgery unit out of which of 116 (dogs and cats) were
presented with history of fractures of different bones. A total of
17.8% (116/650) cases were of fractures which constituted dogs 67%
while cats were 23%. The majority of animals were intact. Trauma in
the form of road side accident was the principal cause of fractures in
dogs whereas as in cats it was fall from height. The ages of the
fractured dog ranged from 4 months to 12 years whereas in cat it was
from 4 weeks to 10 years. The femoral fractures represented 37.5%
and 25% respectively in dogs and cats. Diaphysis, distal metaphyseal
and supracondylar fractures were the most affected sites in dog and
cats. Tibial fracture in dogs and cats represented 21.5% and 10%
while humoral fractures were 7.9% and 14% in dogs and cats
respectively. Humoral condyler fractures were most commonly seen
in puppies aged 4 to 6 months. Fractured radius-ulna incidence was
19% and 14% in dogs and cats respectively. Other fractures recorded
were of lumbar vertebrae, mandible and metacarpals etc. The
management comprised of external and internal fixation in both the
species. The most common internal fixation technique employed was
Intramedullary fixation in long followed by other methods like stack
or cross pinning, wiring etc as per findings in the cases. The cast
bandage was used majorly as mean for external coaptation. The
paper discusses the outcome of the case as per the technique
employed.
Abstract: A new method of adaptation in a partially integrated learning environment that includes electronic textbook (ET) and integrated tutoring system (ITS) is described. The algorithm of adaptation is described in detail. It includes: establishment of Interconnections of operations and concepts; estimate of the concept mastering level (for all concepts); estimate of student-s non-mastering level on the current learning step of information on each page of ET; creation of a rank-order list of links to the e-manual pages containing information that require repeated work.
Abstract: Emerging Adulthood, the period during ages 18 to 25,
is a new conceptualitation proposed by Arnett which is especially
prevalent in the industrialized countries. Turkey is basically a
developing country having a young population structure.
Investigating the presence of such a life period in such a culture
might be helpful in understanding educational and psychological
needs of people who are in their twenties. With the aim of
investigating Emerging Adulthood in Turkey, a well-known
instrument (IDEA, 2003) was adapted to Turkish language and
Turkish culture. The scale was administered to 296 participants
between 15 and 34 ages and validity and reliability were conducted.
Exploratory factor analysis revealed three subscales. Reliability
coefficients of the scale (Cronbach a) was found as .69. Test-retest
reliability coefficients was found for the scale as .81. Finally, “The
IDEA" with 20 items was obtained to be used in the Turkish
population. The instrument is ready to be administered among
Turkish young people for the investigation of transition to adulthood,
and whether such a emerging adulthood period really existed.
Abstract: This paper addresses the design of predictive
networked controller with adaptation of a communication delay. The
networked control system contains random delays from sensor to
controller and from controller to actuator. The proposed predictive
controller includes an adaptation loop which decreases the influence
of communication delay on the control performance. Also, the
predictive controller contains a filter which improves the robustness
of the control system. The performance of the proposed adaptive
predictive controller is demonstrated by simulation results in
comparison with PI controller and predictive controller with constant
delay.
Abstract: Student-s movements have been going increasing in
last decades. International students can have different psychological
and sociological problems in their adaptation process. Depression is
one of the most important problems in this procedure. This research
purposed to reveal level of foreign students- depression, kinds of
interpersonal communication networks (host/ethnic interpersonal
communication) and media usage (host/ethnic media usage).
Additionally study aimed to display the relationship between
depression and communication (host/ethnic interpersonal
communication and host/ethnic media usage) among foreign
university students. A field research was performed among 283
foreign university students who have been attending 8 different
universities in Turkey. A purposeful sampling technique was used in
this research cause of data collect facilities. Results indicated that
58.3% of foreign students- depression stage was “intermediate" while
33.2% of foreign students- depression level was “low". Add to this,
host interpersonal communication behaviors and Turkish web sites
usages were negatively and significantly correlated with depression.
Abstract: This study was a part of the three-year longitudinal
research on setting up an math learning model for the disadvantaged
students in Taiwan. A target 2nd grade class with 10 regular students
and 6 disadvantaged students at a disadvantaged area in Taipei
participated in this study. Two units of a market basal math textbook
concerning fractions, three-dimensional figures, weight and capacity
were adapted to enhance their math learning motivations, confidences
and effects. The findings were (1) curriculum adaptation was effective
on enhancing students- learning motivations, confidences and effects;
(2) story-type problems and illustrations decreased difficulties on
understanding math language for students from new immigrant
families and students with special needs; (3) “concrete –
semiconcrete – abstract" teaching strategies and hands-on activities
were essential to raise students learning interests and effects; and (4)
curriculum adaptation knowledge and skills needed to be included in
the pre- and in-service teacher training programs.
Abstract: This paper describes a concept of stereotype student
model in adaptive knowledge acquisition e-learning system. Defined
knowledge stereotypes are based on student's proficiency level and
on Bloom's knowledge taxonomy. The teacher module is responsible
for the whole adaptivity process: the automatic generation of
courseware elements, their dynamic selection and sorting, as well as
their adaptive presentation using templates for statements and
questions. The adaptation of courseware is realized according to
student-s knowledge stereotype.
Abstract: Variable channel conditions in underwater networks,
and variable distances between sensors due to water current, leads to
variable bit error rate (BER). This variability in BER has great
effects on energy efficiency of error correction techniques used. In
this paper an efficient energy adaptive hybrid error correction
technique (AHECT) is proposed. AHECT adaptively changes error
technique from pure retransmission (ARQ) in a low BER case to a
hybrid technique with variable encoding rates (ARQ & FEC) in a
high BER cases. An adaptation algorithm depends on a precalculated
packet acceptance rate (PAR) look-up table, current BER,
packet size and error correction technique used is proposed. Based
on this adaptation algorithm a periodically 3-bit feedback is added to
the acknowledgment packet to state which error correction technique
is suitable for the current channel conditions and distance.
Comparative studies were done between this technique and other
techniques, and the results show that AHECT is more energy
efficient and has high probability of success than all those
techniques.