Abstract: Discovering new biological knowledge from the highthroughput biological data is a major challenge to bioinformatics today. To address this challenge, we developed a new approach for protein classification. Proteins that are evolutionarily- and thereby functionally- related are said to belong to the same classification. Identifying protein classification is of fundamental importance to document the diversity of the known protein universe. It also provides a means to determine the functional roles of newly discovered protein sequences. Our goal is to predict the functional classification of novel protein sequences based on a set of features extracted from each protein sequence. The proposed technique used datasets extracted from the Structural Classification of Proteins (SCOP) database. A set of spectral domain features based on Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is used. The proposed classifier uses multilayer back propagation (MLBP) neural network for protein classification. The maximum classification accuracy is about 91% when applying the classifier to the full four levels of the SCOP database. However, it reaches a maximum of 96% when limiting the classification to the family level. The classification results reveal that spectral domain contains information that can be used for classification with high accuracy. In addition, the results emphasize that sequence similarity measures are of great importance especially at the family level.
Abstract: This research project is developed in order to study
managerial styles of modern Thai executives. The thorough
understanding will lead to continuous improvement and efficient
performance of Thai business organizations. Regarding managerial
skills, Thai executives focus heavily upon human skills. Also, the
negotiator roles are most emphasis in their management. In addition,
Thai executives pay most attention to the fundamental management
principles including Harmony and Unity of Direction of the
organizations. Moreover, the management techniques, consisting of
Team work and Career Planning are of their main concern. Finally,
Thai executives wish to enhance their firms- image and employees-
morale through conducting the ethical and socially responsible
activities. The major tactic deployed to stimulate employees- ethical
behaviors and mindset is Code of Ethics development.
Abstract: This is a cross-cultural study that determines South
African multinational enterprises (MNEs) entry strategies as they
invest in Africa. An integrated theoretical framework comprising the
transaction cost theory, Uppsala model, eclectic paradigm and the
distance framework was adopted. A sample of 40 South African
MNEs with 415 existing FDI entries in Africa was drawn. Using an
ordered logistic regression model, the impact of culture on the choice
of degree of control by South African MNEs in Africa was
determined. Cultural distance was one of significant factors that
influenced South African MNEs- choice of degree of control.
Furthermore, South African MNEs are risk averse in all countries in
Africa but minimize the risks differently across sectors. Service
sectors chooses to own their subsidiaries 100% and avoid dealing
with the locals while manufacturing, resources and construction
choose to have a local partner to share the risk.
Abstract: Renewed interest in propeller propulsion on aircraft
configurations combined with higher propeller loads lead to the question how the effects of the propulsion on model support disturbances
should be accounted for. In this paper, the determination of engine power effects on support interference of sting-mounted models is
demonstrated by a measurement on a four-engine turboprop aircraft.
CFD results on a more generic model are presented in order to clarify
the possible mechanism behind engine power effects on support
interference. The engine slipstream induces a local change in angle
of sideslip at the model sting thereby influencing the sting near-field and far-field effects. Whether or not the net result of these changes
in the disturbance pattern leads to a significant engine power effect depends on the configuration of the wind tunnel model and the test
setup.
Abstract: This paper presented two new efficient algorithms
for contour approximation. The proposed algorithm is compared
with Ramer (good quality), Triangle (faster) and Trapezoid (fastest)
in this work; which are briefly described. Cartesian co-ordinates of
an input contour are processed in such a manner that finally
contours is presented by a set of selected vertices of the edge of the
contour. In the paper the main idea of the analyzed procedures for
contour compression is performed. For comparison, the mean
square error and signal-to-noise ratio criterions are used.
Computational time of analyzed methods is estimated depending on
a number of numerical operations. Experimental results are
obtained both in terms of image quality, compression ratios, and
speed. The main advantages of the analyzed algorithm is small
numbers of the arithmetic operations compared to the existing
algorithms.
Abstract: In a liberalized electricity market, it is not surprising
that different customers require different power quality (PQ) levels at
different price. Power quality related to several power disturbances is
described by many parameters, so how to define a comprehensive
hierarchy evaluation system of power quality (PQCHES) has become
a concerned issue. In this paper, based on four electromagnetic
compatibility (EMC) levels, the numerical range of each power
disturbance is divided into five grades (Grade I –Grade V), and the
“barrel principle" of power quality is used for the assessment of
overall PQ performance with only one grade indicator. A case study
based on actual monitored data of PQ shows that the site PQ grade
indicates the electromagnetic environment level and also expresses the
characteristics of loads served by the site.
The shortest plank principle of PQ barrel is an incentive
mechanism, which can combine with the rewards/penalty mechanism
(RPM) of consumed energy “on quality demand", to stimulate utilities
to improve the overall PQ level and also stimulate end-user more
“smart" under the infrastructure of future SmartGrid..
Abstract: In this paper an approaches for increasing the
effectiveness of error detection in computer network channels with
Pulse-Amplitude Modulation (PAM) has been proposed. Proposed
approaches are based on consideration of special feature of errors,
which are appearances in line with PAM. The first approach consists
of CRC modification specifically for line with PAM. The second
approach is base of weighted checksums using. The way for
checksum components coding has been developed. It has been shown
that proposed checksum modification ensure superior digital data
control transformation reliability for channels with PAM in compare
to CRC.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to remove the two principal
noises which disturb the surface electromyography signal
(Diaphragm). These signals are the electrocardiogram ECG artefact
and the power line interference artefact. The algorithm proposed
focuses on a new Lean Mean Square (LMS) Widrow adaptive
structure. These structures require a reference signal that is correlated
with the noise contaminating the signal. The noise references are
then extracted : first with a noise reference mathematically
constructed using two different cosine functions; 50Hz (the
fundamental) function and 150Hz (the first harmonic) function for
the power line interference and second with a matching pursuit
technique combined to an LMS structure for the ECG artefact
estimation. The two removal procedures are attained without the use
of supplementary electrodes. These techniques of filtering are
validated on real records of surface diaphragm electromyography
signal. The performance of the proposed methods was compared with
already conducted research results.
Abstract: Information Technology (IT) projects are always
accompanied by various risks and because of high rate of failure in
such projects, managing risks in order to neutralize or at least
decrease their effects on the success of the project is strongly
essential. In this paper, fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) is
exploited as a means of risk evaluation methodology to prioritize and
organize risk factors faced in IT projects. A real case of IT projects, a
project of design and implementation of an integrated information
system in a vehicle producing company in Iran is studied. Related
risk factors are identified and then expert qualitative judgments about
these factors are acquired. Translating these judgments to fuzzy
numbers and using them as an input to FAHP, risk factors are then
ranked and prioritized by FAHP in order to make project managers
aware of more important risks and enable them to adopt suitable
measures to deal with these highly devastative risks.
Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the
effect of abdominal exercises versus abdominal supporting
belt on abdominal efficiency and inter-recti separation
following vaginal delivery.30 primiparous post-natal women
participated in this study. Their age ranged from (25 - 35)
years and their BMI < 30 Kg/m2. Participants were assigned
randomly into 2groups, participants of group (A) used
abdominal belt from the 2nd day following delivery, till the end
of puerperium (6 weeks), while participants of group (B)
engaged into abdominal exercises program from the 2nd day
following delivery for 6 weeks. The results of the present
study revealed that although there was no statistical difference
in waist circumference between both groups, participation in
abdominal exercise program produced a pronounced reduction
in waist/hip ratio, and inter-recti separation and also caused
significant increase in abdominal muscles strength (peak
torque, maximum repetition total work and average power)
higher than the use of abdominal belt.
Abstract: The role of neighborhood center as semi public (the
balance space) is disappeared in bonding between private and public
in new urbanism. In this way, a hierarchical principle in the
traditional neighborhood center appears to create or develop the
conditions for residents` relationships and belonging. This paper
evaluates significant of hierarchical principles of the neighborhood
center in residents` territoriality and its factors. In this way Miandeh
neighborhood center from Boshrooyeh city was determined as a case
study area. Results indicated that a hierarchical principle is the best
instrument to improve the territoriality as the subcomponent of place
belonging in residents. The findings help the urban designer to
revitalization the neighborhoods and proceedings in organization of
physical space.
Abstract: Self-compacting concrete (SCC), a new kind of high
performance concrete (HPC) have been first developed in Japan in
1986. The development of SCC has made casting of dense
reinforcement and mass concrete convenient, has minimized noise.
Fresh self-compacting concrete (SCC) flows into formwork and
around obstructions under its own weight to fill it completely and
self-compact (without any need for vibration), without any
segregation and blocking. The elimination of the need for
compaction leads to better quality concrete and substantial
improvement of working conditions. SCC mixes generally have a
much higher content of fine fillers, including cement, and produce
excessively high compressive strength concrete, which restricts its
field of application to special concrete only. To use SCC mixes in
general concrete construction practice, requires low cost materials to
make inexpensive concrete.
Rice husk ash (RHA) has been used as a highly reactive
pozzolanic material to improve the microstructure of the interfacial
transition zone (ITZ) between the cement paste and the aggregate in
self compacting concrete. Mechanical experiments of RHA blended
Portland cement concretes revealed that in addition to the pozzolanic
reactivity of RHA (chemical aspect), the particle grading (physical
aspect) of cement and RHA mixtures also exerted significant
influences on the blending efficiency.
The scope of this research was to determine the usefulness of Rice
husk ash (RHA) in the development of economical self compacting
concrete (SCC). The cost of materials will be decreased by reducing
the cement content by using waste material like rice husk ash instead
of.
This paper presents a study on the development of Mechanical
properties up to 180 days of self compacting and ordinary concretes
with rice-husk ash (RHA), from a rice paddy milling industry in
Rasht (Iran). Two different replacement percentages of cement by
RHA, 10%, and 20%, and two different water/cementicious material
ratios (0.40 and 0.35), were used for both of self compacting and
normal concrete specimens. The results are compared with those of
the self compacting concrete without RHA, with compressive,
flexural strength and modulus of elasticity. It is concluded that RHA
provides a positive effect on the Mechanical properties at age after
60 days.
Base of the result self compacting concrete specimens have higher
value than normal concrete specimens in all test except modulus of
elasticity. Also specimens with 20% replacement of cement by RHA
have the best performance.
Abstract: This paper focuses on robust design and optimization
of industrial production wastes. Past literatures were reviewed to case
study Clamason Industries Limited (CIL) - a leading ladder-tops
manufacturer. A painstaking study of the firm-s practices at the shop
floor revealed that Over-production, Waiting time, Excess inventory,
and Defects are the major wastes that are impeding their progress and
profitability. Design expert8 software was used to apply Taguchi
robust design and response surface methodology in order to model,
analyse and optimise the wastes cost in CIL. Waiting time and overproduction
rank first and second in contributing to the costs of wastes
in CIL. For minimal wastes cost the control factors of overproduction,
waiting-time, defects and excess-inventory must be set at
0.30, 390.70, 4 and 55.70 respectively for CIL. The optimal value of
cost of wastes for the months studied was 22.3679. Finally, a
recommendation was made that for the company to enhance their
profitability and customer satisfaction, they must adopt the Shingeo
Shingo-s Single Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED), which will
immediately tackle the waste of waiting by drastically reducing their
setup time.
Abstract: This paper proposes a set of quasi-static mathematical
model of magnetic fields caused by high voltage conductors of
distribution transformer by using a set of second-order partial
differential equation. The modification for complex magnetic field
analysis and time-harmonic simulation are also utilized. In this
research, transformers were study in both balanced and unbalanced
loading conditions. Computer-based simulation utilizing the threedimensional
finite element method (3-D FEM) is exploited as a tool
for visualizing magnetic fields distribution volume a distribution
transformer. Finite Element Method (FEM) is one among popular
numerical methods that is able to handle problem complexity in
various forms. At present, the FEM has been widely applied in most
engineering fields. Even for problems of magnetic field distribution,
the FEM is able to estimate solutions of Maxwell-s equations
governing the power transmission systems. The computer simulation
based on the use of the FEM has been developed in MATLAB
programming environment.
Abstract: This paper describes a new measuring algorithm for
three-dimensional (3-D) braided composite material .Braided angle is
an important parameter of braided composites. The objective of this
paper is to present an automatic measuring system. In the paper, the
algorithm is performed by using vcµ6.0 language on PC. An
advanced filtered algorithm for image of 3-D braided composites
material performs has been developed. The procedure is completely
automatic and relies on the gray scale information content of the
images and their local wavelet transform modulus maxims.
Experimental results show that the proposed method is feasible.
The algorithm was tested on both carbon-fiber and glass-fiber
performs.
Abstract: Chronic hepatitis B can evolve to cirrhosis and liver
cancer. Interferon is the only effective treatment, for carefully selected
patients, but it is very expensive. Some of the selection criteria are
based on liver biopsy, an invasive, costly and painful medical procedure.
Therefore, developing efficient non-invasive selection systems,
could be in the patients benefit and also save money. We investigated
the possibility to create intelligent systems to assist the Interferon
therapeutical decision, mainly by predicting with acceptable accuracy
the results of the biopsy. We used a knowledge discovery in integrated
medical data - imaging, clinical, and laboratory data. The resulted
intelligent systems, tested on 500 patients with chronic hepatitis
B, based on C5.0 decision trees and boosting, predict with 100%
accuracy the results of the liver biopsy. Also, by integrating the other
patients selection criteria, they offer a non-invasive support for the
correct Interferon therapeutic decision. To our best knowledge, these
decision systems outperformed all similar systems published in the
literature, and offer a realistic opportunity to replace liver biopsy in
this medical context.
Abstract: Anaerobic treatment has many advantages over other
biological method particularly when used to treat complex
wastewater such as petroleum refinery wastewater. In this study two
Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactors were operated
in parallel to treat six volumetric organic loads (0.58, 1.21, 0.89,
2.34, 1.47 and 4.14 kg COD/m3·d) to evaluate the chemical oxygen
demand (COD) removal efficiency. The reactors were continuously
adapting to the changing of operation condition with increase in the
removal efficiency or slight decrease until the last load which was
more than two times the load, at which the reactor stressed and the
removal efficiency decreased to 75% with effluent concentration of
1746 mg COD/L. Other parameters were also monitored such as pH,
alkalinity, volatile fatty acid and gas production rate. The UASB
reactor was suitable to treat petroleum refinery wastewater and the
highest COD removal rate was 83% at 1215 kg/m3·d with COD
concentration about 356 mg/L in the effluent.
Abstract: The forest stand consisted of four layers. The species
composition between the third and the bottom layers was almost
similar, whereas it was almost exclusive between the top and the lower
three layers. The values of Shannon-s index H' and Pielou-s index
J ' tended to increase from the bottom layer upward, except for
H' -value of the top layer. The values of H' and J ' were 4.21 bit
and 0.73, respectively, for the total stand. High woody species
diversity of the forest depended on large trees in the upper layers,
which trend was different from a subtropical evergreen broadleaf
forest grown in silicate habitat in the northern part of Okinawa Island.
The spatial distribution of trees was overlapped between the third and
the bottom layers, whereas it was independent or slightly exclusive
between the top and the lower three layers. Mean tree weight of each
layer decreased from the top toward the bottom layer, whereas the
corresponding tree density increased from the top downward. This
relationship was analogous to the process of self-thinning plant
populations.
Abstract: Dextran is a D-glucose polymer which is produced by
Leuconostoc mesenteroides grown in a sucrose-rich media. The
organism was obtained from the Persian Type Culture Collection
(PTCC) and was transferred in MRS broth medium at 30°C and pH
6.8 for 24 h. After preparation of inoculums, organisms were
inoculated into five liquid fermentation media containing either
molasses or cheese whey or different combinations of cheese whey
and molasses. After certain fermentation period, the produced
dextran was separated and dried. Dextran yield was calculated and
significant differences in different media were observed.
Furthermore, FT-IR analysis was performed and the results showed
that there were no significant differences in the produced dextran
structures.
Abstract: Amarindra-vinitchai-mahaisuraya Bhiman throne hall
is one of the most significant throne halls in the grand palace in the
Ratthanakosin city situated in Bangkok, Thailand. This is the first
group of throne halls built in order to serve as a place for meetings,
performing state affairs and royal duties until the present time. The
structure and pattern of architectural design including the decoration
and interior design of the throne hall obviously exhibits and convey
the status of the king under the context of Thai society in the early
period of Ratthanakosin era. According to the tradition of ruling the
kingdom in absolute monarchy which had been in place since
Ayutthaya era (A.D.1350-1767), the king was deemed as Deva Raja,
the highest power and authority over the kingdom and as the greatest
emperor of the universe (Chakkravatin). The architectural design
adopted the concept of “Prasada" or Viman which served as the
dwelling place of the gods and was presented in the form of “Thai
traditional architecture" For the interior design of the throne hall, it
had been adopted to be the heaven and the centre of the Universe in
line with the cosmological beliefs of ancient people described in
scripture Tribhumikatha (Tri Bhumi) written by Phra Maha Thamma
Raja (Phraya Lithai) of the Sukhothai era (A.D.1347-1368).
According to this belief, the throne hall had been designed to represent
mount Meru, the central of the universe. On the top end of Mount
Meru is situated the Viman and dwelling place of Indra who is the king
of gods according to the idea of Deva Raja (the king god Avatar). At
the same time, Indra also existed as the king of the universe
simultaneously.