Abstract: The statistical study has become indispensable for various fields of knowledge. Not any different, in Geotechnics the study of probabilistic and statistical methods has gained power considering its use in characterizing the uncertainties inherent in soil properties. One of the situations where engineers are constantly faced is the definition of a probability distribution that represents significantly the sampled data. To be able to discard bad distributions, goodness-of-fit tests are necessary. In this paper, three non-parametric goodness-of-fit tests are applied to a data set computationally generated to test the goodness-of-fit of them to a series of known distributions. It is shown that the use of normal distribution does not always provide satisfactory results regarding physical and behavioral representation of the modeled parameters.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is analyzing the relationship
between trust and social capital of people with using Social Network
Analysis. In this study, two aspects of social capital will be focused:
Bonding, homophilous social capital (BoSC), and Bridging,
heterophilous social capital (BrSC). These two aspects diverge each
other regarding to the social theories. The other concept of the study
is Trust (Tr), namely interpersonal trust, willing to ascribe good
intentions to and have confidence in the words and actions of other
people. In this study, the sample group, 61 people, was selected from
a private firm from the defense industry. The relation between
BoSC/BrSC and Tr is shown by using Social Network Analysis
(SNA) and statistical analysis with Likert type-questionnaire. The
results of the analysis show the Cronbach’s alpha value is 0.756 and
social capital values (BoSC/BrSC) is not correlated with Tr values of
the people.
Abstract: Mineral product, waste concrete (fine aggregates),
waste in the optical field, industry, and construction employ separators
to separate solids and classify them according to their size. Various
sorting machines are used in the industrial field such as those operating
under electrical properties, centrifugal force, wind power, vibration,
and magnetic force. Study on separators has been carried out to
contribute to the environmental industry. In this study, we perform
CFD analysis for understanding the basic mechanism of the separation
of waste concrete (fine aggregate) particles from air with a machine
built with a rotor with blades. In CFD, we first performed
two-dimensional particle tracking for various particle sizes for the
model with 1 degree, 1.5 degree, and 2 degree angle between each
blade to verify the boundary conditions and the method of rotating
domain method to be used in 3D. Then we developed 3D numerical
model with ANSYS CFX to calculate the air flow and track the
particles. We judged the capability of particle separation for given size
by counting the number of particles escaping from the domain toward
the exit among 10 particles issued at the inlet. We confirm that
particles experience stagnant behavior near the exit of the rotating
blades where the centrifugal force acting on the particles is in balance
with the air drag force. It was also found that the minimum particle
size that can be separated by the machine with the rotor is determined
by its capability to stay at the outlet of the rotor channels.
Abstract: This experimental study consists of a characterization
of epoxy grout where an amount of 2% of graphene nanoplatelets
particles were added to commercial epoxy resin to evaluate their
behavior regarding neat epoxy resin. Compressive tests, tensile tests
and flexural tests were conducted to study the effect of graphene
nanoplatelets on neat epoxy resin. By comparing graphene-based and
neat epoxy grout, there is no significant increase of strength due to
weak interface in the graphene nanoplatelets/epoxy composites.
From this experiment, the tension and flexural strength of graphenebased
epoxy grouts is slightly lower than ones of neat epoxy grout.
Nevertheless, the addition of graphene has produced more consistent
results according to a smaller standard deviation of strength.
Furthermore, the graphene has also improved the ductility of the
grout, hence reducing its brittle behaviour. This shows that the
performance of graphene-based grout is reliably predictable and able
to minimise sudden rupture. This is important since repair design of
damaged pipeline is of deterministic nature.
Abstract: Companies face increasing challenges in research due
to higher costs and risks. The intensifying technology complexity and
interdisciplinarity require unique know-how. Therefore, companies
need to decide whether research shall be conducted internally or
externally with partners. On the other hand, research institutes meet
increasing efforts to achieve good financing and to maintain high
research reputation. Therefore, relevant research topics need to be
identified and specialization of competency is necessary. However,
additional competences for solving interdisciplinary research projects
are also often required. Secured financing can be achieved by
bonding industry partners as well as public fundings. The realization
of faster and better research drives companies and research institutes
to cooperate in organized research networks, which are managed by
an administrative organization. For an effective and efficient
cooperation, necessary processes, roles, tools and a set of rules need
to be determined. Goal of this paper is to show the state-of-art
research and to propose a governance framework for organized
research networks.
Abstract: This first-attempt study revealed that decolorized
intermediates of azo dyes could act as redox mediators to assist
wastewater (WW) decolorization due to enhancement of
electron-transport phenomena. Electrochemical impedance spectra
indicated that hydroxyl and amino-substituent(s) were functional
group(s) as redox-mediator(s). As azo dyes are usually multiple
benzene-rings structured, their derived decolorized intermediates are
likely to play roles of electron shuttles due to lower barrier of energy
gap for electron shuttling. According to cyclic voltammetric profiles,
redox mediating characteristics of decolorized intermediates of azo
dyes (e.g., RBu171, RR198, RR141, RBk5) were clearly disclosed.
With supplementation of biodecolorized metabolites of RR141 and
198, decolorization performance of could be evidently augmented.
This study also suggested the optimal modes of microbial fuel cell
(MFC)-assisted WW decolorization would be plug-flow or batch
mode of operation with no mix. Single chamber-MFCs would be more
favourable than double chamber MFCs due to non-mixing contacting
reactor scheme for operation.
Abstract: Green and renewable energy is getting extraordinary
consideration today, because of ecological concerns made by blazing
of fossil powers. Photovoltaic and wind power generation are the
basic decisions for delivering power in this respects. Producing
power by the sun based photovoltaic systems is known to the world,
yet control makers may get confounded to pick between on-grid and
off-grid systems. In this exploration work, an endeavor is made to
compare the off-grid (stand-alone) and on-grid (grid-connected)
frameworks. The work presents relative examination, between two
distinctive PV frameworks situated at V.V.P. Engineering College,
Rajkot. The first framework is 100 kW remain solitary and the
second is 60 kW network joined. The real-time parameters compared
are; output voltage, load current, power in-flow, power output,
performance ratio, yield factor, and capacity factor. The voltage
changes and the power variances in both frameworks are given
exceptional consideration and the examination is made between the
two frameworks to judge the focal points and confinements of both
the frameworks.
Abstract: Online measurement of the product quality is a
challenging task in cement production, especially in the production of
Celitement, a novel environmentally friendly hydraulic binder. The
mineralogy and chemical composition of clinker in ordinary Portland
cement production is measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and
X-ray fluorescence (XRF), where only crystalline constituents can be
detected. But only a small part of the Celitement components can be
measured via XRD, because most constituents have an amorphous
structure. This paper describes the development of algorithms
suitable for an on-line monitoring of the final processing step of
Celitement based on NIR-data. For calibration intermediate products
were dried at different temperatures and ground for variable
durations. The products were analyzed using XRD and
thermogravimetric analyses together with NIR-spectroscopy to
investigate the dependency between the drying and the milling
processes on one and the NIR-signal on the other side. As a result,
different characteristic parameters have been defined. A short
overview of the Celitement process and the challenging tasks of the
online measurement and evaluation of the product quality will be
presented. Subsequently, methods for systematic development of
near-infrared calibration models and the determination of the final
calibration model will be introduced. The application of the model on
experimental data illustrates that NIR-spectroscopy allows for a quick
and sufficiently exact determination of crucial process parameters.
Abstract: Fresh concrete has one of dynamic properties known
as slump. Slump of concrete is design to compatible with placing
method. Due to hydration reaction of cement, the slump of concrete
is loss through time. Therefore, delayed concrete probably get reject
because slump is unacceptable. In order to recover the slump of
delayed concrete the second dose of superplasticizer (naphthalene
based type F) is added into the system, the slump recovery can be
done as long as the concrete is not setting. By adding superplasticizer
as solution for recover unusable slump loss concrete may affects
other concrete properties. Therefore, this paper was observed setting
times and compressive strength of concrete after being re-dose with
chemical admixture type F (superplasticizer, naphthalene based) for
slump recovery. The concrete used in this study was fly ash concrete
with fly ash replacement of 0%, 30% and 50% respectively. Concrete
mix designed for test specimen was prepared with paste content (ratio
of volume of cement to volume of void in the aggregate) of 1.2 and
1.3, water-to-binder ratio (w/b) range of 0.3 to 0.58, initial dose of
superplasticizer (SP) range from 0.5 to 1.6%. The setting times of
concrete were tested both before and after re-dosed with different
amount of second dose and time of dosing. The research was
concluded that addition of second dose of superplasticizer would
increase both initial and final setting times accordingly to dosage of
addition. As for fly ash concrete, the prolongation effect was higher
as the replacement of fly ash increase. The prolongation effect can
reach up to maximum about 4 hours. In case of compressive strength,
the re-dosed concrete has strength fluctuation within acceptable range
of ±10%.
Abstract: This paper describes the development of new class of
epoxy based rice husk filled jute reinforced composites. Rice husk
flour is added in 0%, 1%, 3%, 5% by weight. Epoxy resin and
triethylenetetramine (T.E.T.A) is used as matrix and hardener
respectively. It investigates the mechanical properties of the
composites and a comparison is done for monolithic jute composite
and the filled ones. The specimens are prepared according to the
ASTM standards and experimentation is carried out using INSTRON
8801. The result shows that with the increase of filler percentage the
tensile properties increases but compressive and flexural properties
decreases.
Abstract: This article discusses the passage of RDB to XML
documents (schema and data) based on metadata and semantic
enrichment, which makes the RDB under flattened shape and is
enriched by the object concept. The integration and exploitation of
the object concept in the XML uses a syntax allowing for the
verification of the conformity of the document XML during the
creation. The information extracted from the RDB is therefore
analyzed and filtered in order to adjust according to the structure of
the XML files and the associated object model. Those implemented
in the XML document through a SQL query are built dynamically. A
prototype was implemented to realize automatic migration, and so
proves the effectiveness of this particular approach.
Abstract: The purposes of this study were to: 1) investigate
operation conditions of SME automotive part industry in Bangkok
and vicinity and 2) to compare operation problem levels of SME
automotive part industry in Bangkok and vicinity according to the
sizes of the enterprises. Samples in this study included 196
entrepreneurs of SME automotive part industry in Bangkok and
vicinity derived from simple random sampling and calculation from
R. V. Krejcie and D. W. Morgan’s tables. Research statistics included
frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and T-test. The
results revealed that in general the problem levels of SME automotive
part industry in Bangkok and vicinity were high. When considering
in details, it was found that the problem levels were high at every
aspect, i.e. personal, production, export, finance, and marketing
respectively. The comparison of the problem levels according to the
sizes of the enterprises revealed statistically significant differences at
.05. When considering on each aspect, it was found that the aspect
with the statistical difference at .05 included 5 aspects, i.e.
production, marketing, finance, personal, and export. The findings
also showed that small enterprises faced more severe problems than
those of medium enterprises.
Abstract: Social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook
attracts over 500 million users across the world, for those users, their
social life, even their practical life, has become interrelated. Their
interaction with social networking has affected their life forever.
Accordingly, social networking sites have become among the main
channels that are responsible for vast dissemination of different kinds
of information during real time events. This popularity in Social
networking has led to different problems including the possibility of
exposing incorrect information to their users through fake accounts
which results to the spread of malicious content during life events.
This situation can result to a huge damage in the real world to the
society in general including citizens, business entities, and others. In this paper, we present a classification method for detecting the
fake accounts on Twitter. The study determines the minimized set of
the main factors that influence the detection of the fake accounts on
Twitter, and then the determined factors are applied using different
classification techniques. A comparison of the results of these
techniques has been performed and the most accurate algorithm is
selected according to the accuracy of the results. The study has been
compared with different recent researches in the same area; this
comparison has proved the accuracy of the proposed study. We claim
that this study can be continuously applied on Twitter social network
to automatically detect the fake accounts; moreover, the study can be
applied on different social network sites such as Facebook with minor
changes according to the nature of the social network which are
discussed in this paper.
Abstract: A myriad of environmental issues face the Nigerian
industrial region, resulting from; oil and gas production, mining,
manufacturing and domestic wastes. Amidst these, much effort has
been directed by stakeholders in the Nigerian oil producing regions,
because of the impacts of the region on the wider Nigerian economy.
Although collaborative environmental management has been noted as
an effective approach in managing environmental issues, little
attention has been given to the roles and practices of stakeholders in
effecting a collaborative environmental management framework for
the Nigerian oil-producing region. This paper produces a framework
to expand and deepen knowledge relating to stakeholders aspects of
collaborative roles in managing environmental issues in the Nigeria
oil-producing region. The knowledge is derived from analysis of
stakeholders’ practices – studied through multiple case studies using
document analysis. Selected documents of key stakeholders –
Nigerian government agencies, multi-national oil companies and host
communities, were analyzed. Open and selective coding was
employed manually during document analysis of data collected from
the offices and websites of the stakeholders. The findings showed
that the stakeholders have a range of roles, practices, interests, drivers
and barriers regarding their collaborative roles in managing
environmental issues. While they have interests for efficient resource
use, compliance to standards, sharing of responsibilities, generating
of new solutions, and shared objectives; there is evidence of major
barriers and these include resource allocation, disjointed policy,
ineffective monitoring, diverse socio- economic interests, lack of
stakeholders’ commitment and limited knowledge sharing. However,
host communities hold deep concerns over the collaborative roles of
stakeholders for economic interests, particularly, where government
agencies and multi-national oil companies are involved. With these
barriers and concerns, a genuine stakeholders’ collaboration is found
to be limited, and as a result, optimal environmental management
practices and policies have not been successfully implemented in the
Nigeria oil-producing region. A framework is produced that describes
practices that characterize collaborative environmental management
might be employed to satisfy the stakeholders’ interests. The
framework recommends critical factors, based on the findings, which
may guide a collaborative environmental management in the oil
producing regions. The recommendations are designed to re-define
the practices of stakeholders in managing environmental issues in the
oil producing regions, not as something wholly new, but as an
approach essential for implementing a sustainable environmental
policy. This research outcome may clarify areas for future research as
well as to contribute to industry guidance in the area of collaborative
environmental management.
Abstract: In this paper, according to the classical algorithm
LSQR for solving the least-squares problem, an iterative method is
proposed for least-squares solution of constrained matrix equation. By
using the Kronecker product, the matrix-form LSQR is presented to
obtain the like-minimum norm and minimum norm solutions in a
constrained matrix set for the symmetric arrowhead matrices. Finally,
numerical examples are also given to investigate the performance.
Abstract: As one of the convenient and noninvasive sensing
approaches, the automatic limb girth measurement has been applied
to detect intention behind human motion from muscle deformation.
The sensing validity has been elaborated by preliminary researches
but still need more fundamental studies, especially on kinetic
contraction modes. Based on the novel fabric strain sensors, a soft
and smart limb girth measurement system was developed by the
authors’ group, which can measure the limb girth in-motion.
Experiments were carried out on elbow isometric flexion and elbow
isokinetic flexion (biceps’ isokinetic contractions) of 90°/s, 60°/s, and
120°/s for 10 subjects (2 canoeists and 8 ordinary people). After
removal of natural circumferential increments due to elbow position,
the joint torque is found not uniformly sensitive to the limb
circumferential strains, but declining as elbow joint angle rises,
regardless of the angular speed. Moreover, the maximum joint torque
was found as an exponential function of the joint’s angular speed.
This research highly contributes to the application of the automatic
limb girth measuring during kinetic contractions, and it is useful to
predict the contraction level of voluntary skeletal muscles.
Abstract: The change of conditions for production companies in
high-wage countries is characterized by the globalization of
competition and the transition of a supplier´s to a buyer´s market. The
companies need to face the challenges of reacting flexibly to these
changes. Due to the significant and increasing degree of automation,
assembly has become the most expensive production process.
Regarding the reduction of production cost, assembly consequently
offers a considerable rationalizing potential. Therefore, an
aerodynamic feeding system has been developed at the Institute of
Production Systems and Logistics (IFA), Leibniz Universitaet
Hannover. This system has been enabled to adjust itself by using a
genetic algorithm. The longer this genetic algorithm is executed the
better is the feeding quality. In this paper, the relation between the
system´s setting time and the feeding quality is observed and a
function which enables the user to achieve the minimum of the total
feeding time is presented.
Abstract: This paper aimed to introduce the solution of concrete
slump recovery using chemical admixture type-F (superplasticizer,
naphthalene base) to the practice in order to solve unusable concrete
problem due to concrete loss its slump, especially for those tropical
countries that have faster slump loss rate. In the other hand, randomly
adding superplasticizer into concrete can cause concrete to segregate.
Therefore, this paper also develops the estimation model used to
calculate amount of second dose of superplasticizer need for concrete
slump recovery. Fresh properties of ordinary Portland cement
concrete with volumetric ratio of paste to void between aggregate
(paste content) of 1.1-1.3 with water-cement ratio zone of 0.30 to
0.67 and initial superplasticizer (naphthalene base) of 0.25%-1.6%
were tested for initial slump and slump loss for every 30 minutes for
one and half hour by slump cone test. Those concretes with slump
loss range from 10% to 90% were re-dosed and successfully
recovered back to its initial slump. Slump after re-dosed was tested
by slump cone test. From the result, it has been concluded that, slump
loss was slower for those mix with high initial dose of
superplasticizer due to addition of superplasticizer will disturb
cement hydration. The required second dose of superplasticizer was
affected by two major parameters, which were water-cement ratio
and paste content, where lower water-cement ratio and paste content
cause an increase in require second dose of superplasticizer. The
amount of second dose of superplasticizer is higher as the solid
content within the system is increase, solid can be either from cement
particles or aggregate. The data was analyzed to form an equation use
to estimate the amount of second dosage requirement of
superplasticizer to recovery slump to its original.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to propose a general
framework for storing, analyzing, and extracting knowledge from
two-dimensional echocardiographic images, color Doppler images,
non-medical images, and general data sets. A number of high
performance data mining algorithms have been used to carry out this
task. Our framework encompasses four layers namely physical
storage, object identification, knowledge discovery, user level.
Techniques such as active contour model to identify the cardiac
chambers, pixel classification to segment the color Doppler echo
image, universal model for image retrieval, Bayesian method for
classification, parallel algorithms for image segmentation, etc., were
employed. Using the feature vector database that have been
efficiently constructed, one can perform various data mining tasks
like clustering, classification, etc. with efficient algorithms along
with image mining given a query image. All these facilities are
included in the framework that is supported by state-of-the-art user
interface (UI). The algorithms were tested with actual patient data
and Coral image database and the results show that their performance
is better than the results reported already.
Abstract: Frozen shrimp industry plays an important role in the
development of production industry of the country. There has been a
continuing development to response the increasing demand; however,
there have been some problems in running the enterprises. The
purposes of this study are to: 1) investigate problems related to basic
factors in operating frozen shrimp industry based on the
entrepreneurs’ points of view. The enterprises involved in this study
were small and medium industry receiving Thai Frozen Foods
Association. 2) Compare the problems of the frozen shrimp industry
according to their sizes of operation in 3 provinces of the central
region Thailand. Population in this study consisted of 148 managers
from 148 frozen shrimp enterprises Thai Frozen Foods Association
which 77 were small size and 71 were medium size. The data were
analyzed to find percentage, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, and
independent sample T-test with the significant hypothesis at .05. The
results revealed that the problems of the frozen shrimp industries of
both size were in high level. The needs for government supporting
were in high level. The comparison of the problems and the basic
factors between the small and medium size enterprises showed no
statistically significant level. The problems that they mentioned
included raw materials, labors, production, marketing, and the need
for academic supporting from the government sector.