Abstract: Webcam systems now function as the new privileged
vantage points from which to view the city. This transformation of
CCTV technology from surveillance to promotional tool is significant
because its'scopic regime' presents, back to the public, a new virtual
'site' that sits alongside its real-time counterpart. Significantly,
thisraw 'image' data can, in fact,be co-optedand processed so as to
disrupt their original purpose. This paper will demonstrate this
disruptive capacity through an architectural project. It will reveal how
the adaption the webcam image offers a technical springboard by
which to initiate alternate urban form making decisions and subvert
the disciplinary reliance on the 'flat' orthographic plan. In so doing,
the paper will show how this 'digital material' exceeds the imagistic
function of the image; shiftingit from being a vehicle of signification
to a site of affect.
Abstract: This work describes the aerodynamic characteristic for
aircraft wing model with and without bird feather like winglet. The
aerofoil used to construct the whole structure is NACA 653-218
Rectangular wing and this aerofoil has been used to compare the
result with previous research using winglet. The model of the
rectangular wing with bird feather like winglet has been fabricated
using polystyrene before design using CATIA P3 V5R13 software
and finally fabricated in wood. The experimental analysis for the
aerodynamic characteristic for rectangular wing without winglet,
wing with horizontal winglet and wing with 60 degree inclination
winglet for Reynolds number 1.66×105, 2.08×105 and 2.50×105 have
been carried out in open loop low speed wind tunnel at the
Aerodynamics laboratory in Universiti Putra Malaysia. The
experimental result shows 25-30 % reduction in drag coefficient and
10-20 % increase in lift coefficient by using bird feather like winglet
for angle of attack of 8 degree.
Abstract: In this paper, acoustic techniques are used to detect hidden insect infestations of date palm tress (Phoenix dactylifera L.). In particular, we use an acoustic instrument for early discovery of the presence of a destructive insect pest commonly known as the Red Date Palm Weevil (RDPW) and scientifically as Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier). This type of insect attacks date palm tress and causes irreversible damages at late stages. As a result, the infected trees must be destroyed. Therefore, early presence detection is a major part in controlling the spread and economic damage caused by this type of infestation. Furthermore monitoring and early detection of the disease can asses in taking appropriate measures such as isolating or treating the infected trees. The acoustic system is evaluated in terms of its ability for early discovery of hidden bests inside the tested tree. When signal acquisitions is completed for a number of date palms, a signal processing technique known as time-frequency analysis is evaluated in terms of providing an estimate that can be visually used to recognize the acoustic signature of the RDPW. The testing instrument was tested in the laboratory first then; it was used on suspected or infested tress in the field. The final results indicate that the acoustic monitoring approach along with signal processing techniques are very promising for the early detection of presence of the larva as well as the adult pest in the date palms.
Abstract: Modeling transfer phenomena in several chemical
engineering operations leads to the resolution of partial differential
equations systems. According to the complexity of the operations
mechanisms, the equations present a nonlinear form and analytical
solution became difficult, we have then to use numerical methods
which are based on approximations in order to transform a
differential system to an algebraic one.Finite element method is one
of numerical methods which can be used to obtain an accurate
solution in many complex cases of chemical engineering.The packed
columns find a large application like contactor for liquid-liquid
systems such solvent extraction. In the literature, the modeling of this
type of equipment received less attention in comparison with the
plate columns.A mathematical bidimensionnal model with radial and
axial dispersion, simulating packed tower extraction behavior was
developed and a partial differential equation was solved using the
finite element method by adopting the Galerkine model. We
developed a Mathcad program, which can be used for a similar
equations and concentration profiles are obtained along the column.
The influence of radial dispersion was prooved and it can-t be
neglected, the results were compared with experimental concentration
at the top of the column in the extraction system:
acetone/toluene/water.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is description of the notion of
the death for prisoners and the ways of deal with. They express
indifference, coldness, inability to accept the blame, they have no
shame and no empathy. Is it enough to perform acts verging on the
death. In this paper we described mechanisms and regularities of selfdestructive
behaviour in the view of the relevant literature? The
explanation of the phenomenon is of a biological and sociopsychological
nature. It must be clearly stated that all forms of selfdestructive
behaviour result from various impulses, conflicts and
deficits. That is why they should be treated differently in terms of
motivation and functions which they perform in a given group of
people. Behind self-destruction there seems to be a motivational
mechanism which forces prisoners to rebel and fight against the hated
law and penitentiary systems. The imprisoned believe that pain and
suffering inflicted on them by themselves are better than passive
acceptance of repression. The variety of self-destruction acts is wide,
and some of them take strange forms. We assume that a life-death
barrier is a kind of game for them. If they cannot change the
degrading situation, their life loses sense.
Abstract: Main Memory Database systems (MMDB) store their
data in main physical memory and provide very high-speed access.
Conventional database systems are optimized for the particular
characteristics of disk storage mechanisms. Memory resident
systems, on the other hand, use different optimizations to structure
and organize data, as well as to make it reliable.
This paper provides a brief overview on MMDBs and one of the
memory resident systems named FastDB and compares the
processing time of this system with a typical disc resident database
based on the results of the implementation of TPC benchmarks
environment on both.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to understand the main
sources of copper (Cu) accumulation in target organs of tilapia
(Oreochromis mossambicus) and to investigate how the organism
mediate the process of Cu accumulation under prolonged conditions.
By measuring both dietary and waterborne Cu accumulation and total
concentrations in tilapia with biokinetic modeling approach, we were
able to clarify the biokinetic coping mechanisms for the long term Cu
accumulation. This study showed that water and food are both the
major source of Cu for the muscle and liver of tilapia. This implied
that control the Cu concentration in these two routes will be correlated
to the Cu bioavailability for tilapia. We found that exposure duration
and level of waterborne Cu drove the Cu accumulation in tilapia. The
ability for Cu biouptake and depuration in organs of tilapia were
actively mediated under prolonged exposure conditions. Generally,
the uptake rate, depuration rate and net bioaccumulation ability in all
selected organs decreased with the increasing level of waterborne Cu
and extension of exposure duration.Muscle tissues accounted for over
50%of the total accumulated Cu and played a key role in buffering the
Cu burden in the initial period of exposure, alternatively, the liver
acted a more important role in the storage of Cu with the extension of
exposures. We concluded that assumption of the constant biokinetic
rates could lead to incorrect predictions with overestimating the
long-term Cu accumulation in ecotoxicological risk assessments.
Abstract: Numerical study of a plane jet occurring in a vertical
heated channel is carried out. The aim is to explore the influence of
the forced flow, issued from a flat nozzle located in the entry section
of a channel, on the up-going fluid along the channel walls. The
Reynolds number based on the nozzle width and the jet velocity
ranges between 3 103 and 2.104; whereas, the Grashof number based
on the channel length and the wall temperature difference is 2.57
1010. Computations are established for a symmetrically heated
channel and various nozzle positions. The system of governing
equations is solved with a finite volumes method. The obtained
results show that the jet-wall interactions activate the heat transfer,
the position variation modifies the heat transfer especially for low
Reynolds numbers: the heat transfer is enhanced for the adjacent
wall; however it is decreased for the opposite one. The numerical
velocity and temperature fields are post-processed to compute the
quantities of engineering interest such as the induced mass flow rate,
and the Nusselt number along the plates.
Abstract: Dust storms are one of the most costly and destructive
events in many desert regions. They can cause massive damages both
in natural environments and human lives. This paper is aimed at
presenting a preliminary study on dust storms, as a major natural
hazard in arid and semi-arid regions. As a case study, dust storm
events occurred in Zabol city located in Sistan Region of Iran was
analyzed to diagnose and predict dust storms. The identification and
prediction of dust storm events could have significant impacts on
damages reduction. Present models for this purpose are complicated
and not appropriate for many areas with poor-data environments. The
present study explores Gamma test for identifying inputs of ANNs
model, for dust storm prediction. Results indicate that more attempts
must be carried out concerning dust storms identification and
segregate between various dust storm types.
Abstract: The more recent satellite projects/programs makes
extensive usage of real – time embedded systems. 16 bit processors
which meet the Mil-Std-1750 standard architecture have been used in
on-board systems. Most of the Space Applications have been written
in ADA. From a futuristic point of view, 32 bit/ 64 bit processors are
needed in the area of spacecraft computing and therefore an effort is
desirable in the study and survey of 64 bit architectures for space
applications. This will also result in significant technology
development in terms of VLSI and software tools for ADA (as the
legacy code is in ADA).
There are several basic requirements for a special processor for
this purpose. They include Radiation Hardened (RadHard) devices,
very low power dissipation, compatibility with existing operational
systems, scalable architectures for higher computational needs,
reliability, higher memory and I/O bandwidth, predictability, realtime
operating system and manufacturability of such processors.
Further on, these may include selection of FPGA devices, selection
of EDA tool chains, design flow, partitioning of the design, pin
count, performance evaluation, timing analysis etc.
This project deals with a brief study of 32 and 64 bit processors
readily available in the market and designing/ fabricating a 64 bit
RISC processor named RISC MicroProcessor with added
functionalities of an extended double precision floating point unit
and a 32 bit signal processing unit acting as co-processors. In this
paper, we emphasize the ease and importance of using Open Core
(OpenSparc T1 Verilog RTL) and Open “Source" EDA tools such as
Icarus to develop FPGA based prototypes quickly. Commercial tools
such as Xilinx ISE for Synthesis are also used when appropriate.
Abstract: In the context of computer numerical control (CNC) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM), the capabilities of programming languages such as symbolic and intuitive programming, program portability and geometrical portfolio have special importance. They allow to save time and to avoid errors during part programming and permit code re-usage. Our updated literature review indicates that the current state of art presents voids in parametric programming, program portability and programming flexibility. In response to this situation, this article presents a compiler implementation for EGCL (Extended G-code Language), a new, enriched CNC programming language which allows the use of descriptive variable names, geometrical functions and flow-control statements (if-then-else, while). Our compiler produces low-level generic, elementary ISO-compliant Gcode, thus allowing for flexibility in the choice of the executing CNC machine and in portability. Our results show that readable variable names and flow control statements allow a simplified and intuitive part programming and permit re-usage of the programs. Future work includes allowing the programmer to define own functions in terms of EGCL, in contrast to the current status of having them as library built-in functions.
Abstract: In the present essay, a model of choice by actors is analysedby utilizing the theory of chaos to explain how change comes about. Then, by using ancient and modern sources of literature, the theory of the social contract is analysed as a historical phenomenon that first appeared during the period of Classical Greece. Then, based on the findings of this analysis, the practice of direct democracy and public choice in ancient Athens is analysed, through two historical cases: Eubulus and Lycurgus political program in the second half of the 4th century. The main finding of this research is that these policies can be interpreted as an implementation of a social contract, through which citizens were taking decisions based on rational choice according to economic considerations.
Abstract: We address the balancing problem of transfer lines in
this paper to find the optimal line balancing that minimizes the nonproductive
time. We focus on the tool change time and face
orientation change time both of which influence the makespane. We
consider machine capacity limitations and technological constraints
associated with the manufacturing process of auto cylinder heads.
The problem is represented by a mixed integer programming model
that aims at distributing the design features to workstations and
sequencing the machining processes at a minimum non-productive
time. The proposed model is solved by an algorithm established using
linearization schemes and Benders- decomposition approach. The
experiments show the efficiency of the algorithm in reaching the
exact solution of small and medium problem instances at reasonable
time.
Abstract: This paper proposes a new method for analyzing textual data. The method deals with items of textual data, where each item is described based on various viewpoints. The method acquires 2- class classification models of the viewpoints by applying an inductive learning method to items with multiple viewpoints. The method infers whether the viewpoints are assigned to the new items or not by using the models. The method extracts expressions from the new items classified into the viewpoints and extracts characteristic expressions corresponding to the viewpoints by comparing the frequency of expressions among the viewpoints. This paper also applies the method to questionnaire data given by guests at a hotel and verifies its effect through numerical experiments.
Abstract: Some believe that stigma is the worst side effect of the
people who have mental illness. Mental illness researchers have
focused on the influence of mass media on the stigmatization of the
people with mental illness. However, no studies have investigated the
effects of the interactive media, such as blogs, on the stigmatization
of mentally ill people, even though the media have a significant
influence on people in all areas of life. The purpose of this study is to
investigate the use of interactivity in destigmatization of the mentally
ill and the moderating effect of self-construal (independent versus
interdependent self-construal) on the relation between interactivity
and destigmatization. The findings suggested that people in the
human-human interaction condition had less social distance toward
people with mental illness. Additionally, participants with higher
independence showed more favorable affection and less social
distance toward mentally ill people. Finally, direct contact with
mentally ill people increased a person-s positive affect toward people
with mental illness. The current study should provide insights for
mental health practitioners by suggesting how they can use
interactive media to approach the public that stigmatizes the mentally
ill.
Abstract: Long terms variation of solar insolation had been
widely studied. However, its parallel observations in short time scale
is rather lacking. This paper aims to investigate the short time scale
evolution of solar radiation spectrum (UV, PAR, and NIR bands) due
to atmospheric aerosols and water vapors. A total of 25 days of
global and diffused solar spectrum ranges from air mass 2 to 6 were
collected using ground-based spectrometer with shadowband
technique. The result shows that variation of solar radiation is the
least in UV fraction, followed by PAR and the most in NIR. Broader
variations in PAR and NIR are associated with the short time scale
fluctuations of aerosol and water vapors. The corresponding daily
evolution of UV, PAR, and NIR fractions implies that aerosol and
water vapors variation could also be responsible for the deviation
pattern in the Langley-plot analysis.
Abstract: In this paper, by using the continuation theorem of coincidence degree theory, M-matrix theory and constructing some suitable Lyapunov functions, some sufficient conditions are obtained for the existence and global exponential stability of periodic solutions of recurrent neural networks with distributed delays and impulses on time scales. Without assuming the boundedness of the activation functions gj, hj , these results are less restrictive than those given in the earlier references.
Abstract: Effective evaluation of software development effort is an important aspect of successful project management. Based on a large database with 4106 projects ever developed, this study statistically examines the factors that influence development effort. The factors found to be significant for effort are project size, average number of developers that worked on the project, type of development, development language, development platform, and the use of rapid application development. Among these factors, project size is the most critical cost driver. Unsurprisingly, this study found that the use of CASE tools does not necessarily reduce development effort, which adds support to the claim that the use of tools is subtle. As many of the current estimation models are rarely or unsuccessfully used, this study proposes a parsimonious parametric model for the prediction of effort which is both simple and more accurate than previous models.
Abstract: In this paper the concept of the cosets of an anti Lfuzzy
normal subgroup of a group is given. Furthermore, the group
G/A of cosets of an anti L-fuzzy normal subgroup A of a group
G is shown to be isomorphic to a factor group of G in a natural
way. Finally, we prove that if f : G1 -→ G2 is an epimorphism of
groups, then there is a one-to-one order-preserving correspondence
between the anti L-fuzzy normal subgroups of G2 and those of G1
which are constant on the kernel of f.
Abstract: Optimization is often a critical issue for most system
design problems. Evolutionary Algorithms are population-based,
stochastic search techniques, widely used as efficient global
optimizers. However, finding optimal solution to complex high
dimensional, multimodal problems often require highly
computationally expensive function evaluations and hence are
practically prohibitive. The Dynamic Approximate Fitness based
Hybrid EA (DAFHEA) model presented in our earlier work [14]
reduced computation time by controlled use of meta-models to
partially replace the actual function evaluation by approximate
function evaluation. However, the underlying assumption in
DAFHEA is that the training samples for the meta-model are
generated from a single uniform model. Situations like model
formation involving variable input dimensions and noisy data
certainly can not be covered by this assumption. In this paper we
present an enhanced version of DAFHEA that incorporates a
multiple-model based learning approach for the SVM approximator.
DAFHEA-II (the enhanced version of the DAFHEA framework) also
overcomes the high computational expense involved with additional
clustering requirements of the original DAFHEA framework. The
proposed framework has been tested on several benchmark functions
and the empirical results illustrate the advantages of the proposed
technique.