Abstract: Recently, it is found that telegraph equation is more suitable than ordinary diffusion equation in modelling reaction diffusion for such branches of sciences. In this paper, a numerical solution for the one-dimensional hyperbolic telegraph equation by using the collocation method using the septic splines is proposed. The scheme works in a similar fashion as finite difference methods. Test problems are used to validate our scheme by calculate L2-norm and L∞-norm. The accuracy of the presented method is demonstrated by two test problems. The numerical results are found to be in good agreement with the exact solutions.
Abstract: Very few studies have examined performance
implications of strategic alliance announcements in the information
technologies industry from a resource-based view. Furthermore, none
of these studies have investigated resource congruence and alliance
motive as potential sources of abnormal firm performance. This paper
extends upon current resource-based literature to discover and explore
linkages between these concepts and the practical performance of
strategic alliances. This study finds that strategic alliance
announcements have provided overall abnormal positive returns, and
that marketing alliances with marketing resource incongruence have
also contributed to significant firm performance.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was primarily assessing how important economic factors namely: The Thai export price of white rice, the exchange rate, and the world rice consumption affect the overall Thai white rice export, using historical data during the period 1989-2013 from the Thai Rice Exporters Association, and Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. The co-integration method, regression analysis, and error correction model were applied to investigate the econometric model. The findings indicated that in the long-run, the world rice consumption, the exchange rate, and the Thai export price of white rice were the important factors affecting the export quantity of Thai white rice respectively, as indicated by their significant coefficients. Meanwhile, the rice export price was an important factor affecting the export quantity of Thai white rice in the short-run. This information is useful in the business, export opportunities, price competitiveness, and policymaker in Thailand.
Abstract: Organizational structure of the Turkish state
universities is a form of bureaucracy, a high efficient system in
rational and formal control. According to the dimensional approach
bureaucracy can occur in an organization in a degree, as some
bureaucracy characteristics can be stronger than others. In addition,
the units of an organization due to their different specific
characteristic properties can perceive the bureaucracy differently. In
the study, Hall-s Organizational Inventory, which was developed for
evaluating the degree of bureaucratization from the dimensional
perspective, is used to find out if there is a difference in the
perception of the bureaucracy between the academicians working in
three different departments and two faculties in the same university.
Abstract: We provide a supervised speech-independent voice recognition technique in this paper. In the feature extraction stage we propose a mel-cepstral based approach. Our feature vector classification method uses a special nonlinear metric, derived from the Hausdorff distance for sets, and a minimum mean distance classifier.
Abstract: This paper discusses a new, systematic approach to
the synthesis of a NP-hard class of non-regenerative Boolean
networks, described by FON[FOFF]={mi}[{Mi}], where for every
mj[Mj]∈{mi}[{Mi}], there exists another mk[Mk]∈{mi}[{Mi}], such
that their Hamming distance HD(mj, mk)=HD(Mj, Mk)=O(n), (where
'n' represents the number of distinct primary inputs). The method
automatically ensures exact minimization for certain important selfdual
functions with 2n-1 points in its one-set. The elements meant for
grouping are determined from a newly proposed weighted incidence
matrix. Then the binary value corresponding to the candidate pair is
correlated with the proposed binary value matrix to enable direct
synthesis. We recommend algebraic factorization operations as a post
processing step to enable reduction in literal count. The algorithm
can be implemented in any high level language and achieves best
cost optimization for the problem dealt with, irrespective of the
number of inputs. For other cases, the method is iterated to
subsequently reduce it to a problem of O(n-1), O(n-2),.... and then
solved. In addition, it leads to optimal results for problems exhibiting
higher degree of adjacency, with a different interpretation of the
heuristic, and the results are comparable with other methods.
In terms of literal cost, at the technology independent stage, the
circuits synthesized using our algorithm enabled net savings over
AOI (AND-OR-Invert) logic, AND-EXOR logic (EXOR Sum-of-
Products or ESOP forms) and AND-OR-EXOR logic by 45.57%,
41.78% and 41.78% respectively for the various problems.
Circuit level simulations were performed for a wide variety of
case studies at 3.3V and 2.5V supply to validate the performance of
the proposed method and the quality of the resulting synthesized
circuits at two different voltage corners. Power estimation was
carried out for a 0.35micron TSMC CMOS process technology. In
comparison with AOI logic, the proposed method enabled mean
savings in power by 42.46%. With respect to AND-EXOR logic, the
proposed method yielded power savings to the tune of 31.88%, while
in comparison with AND-OR-EXOR level networks; average power
savings of 33.23% was obtained.
Abstract: In the present research, a finite element model is
presented to study the geometrical and material nonlinear behavior of
reinforced concrete plane frames considering soil-structure
interaction. The nonlinear behaviors of concrete and reinforcing steel
are considered both in compression and tension up to failure. The
model takes account also for the number, diameter, and distribution
of rebar along every cross section. Soil behavior is taken into
consideration using four different models; namely: linear-, nonlinear
Winkler's model, and linear-, nonlinear continuum model. A
computer program (NARC) is specially developed in order to
perform the analysis. The results achieved by the present model show
good agreement with both theoretical and experimental published
literature. The nonlinear behavior of a rectangular frame resting on
soft soil up to failure using the proposed model is introduced for
demonstration.
Abstract: This research is to study the types of products and
services that employs 'ambient media and respective techniques in its
advertisement materials. Data collection has been done via analyses of a total of 62 advertisements that employed ambient media
approach in Thailand during the years 2004 to 2011. The 62 advertisement were qualifying advertisements of the Adman Awards
& Symposium under the category of Outdoor & Ambience. Analysis
results reveal that there is a total of 14 products and services that
chooses to utilize ambient media in its advertisement. Amongst all ambient media techniques, 'intrusion' uses the value of a medium in
its representation of content most often. Following intrusion is 'interaction', where consumers are invited to participate and interact
with the advertising materials. 'Illusion' ranks third in its ability to subject the viewers to distortions of reality that makes the division
between reality and fantasy less clear.
Abstract: Median filters with larger windows offer greater smoothing and are more robust than the median filters of smaller windows. However, the larger median smoothers (the median filters with the larger windows) fail to track low order polynomial trends in the signals. Due to this, constant regions are produced at the signal corners, leading to the loss of fine details. In this paper, an algorithm, which combines the ability of the 3-point median smoother in preserving the low order polynomial trends and the superior noise filtering characteristics of the larger median smoother, is introduced. The proposed algorithm (called the combiner algorithm in this paper) is evaluated for its performance on a test image corrupted with different types of noise and the results obtained are included.
Abstract: Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) has many
applications in traffic systems (highway electronic toll collection, red
light violation enforcement, border and customs checkpoints, etc.).
License Plate Recognition is an effective form of AVI systems. In
this study, a smart and simple algorithm is presented for vehicle-s
license plate recognition system. The proposed algorithm consists of
three major parts: Extraction of plate region, segmentation of
characters and recognition of plate characters. For extracting the
plate region, edge detection algorithms and smearing algorithms are
used. In segmentation part, smearing algorithms, filtering and some
morphological algorithms are used. And finally statistical based
template matching is used for recognition of plate characters. The
performance of the proposed algorithm has been tested on real
images. Based on the experimental results, we noted that our
algorithm shows superior performance in car license plate
recognition.
Abstract: We propose a reduced-ordermodel for the instantaneous
hydrodynamic force on a cylinder. The model consists of a system of
two ordinary differential equations (ODEs), which can be integrated
in time to yield very accurate histories of the resultant force and
its direction. In contrast to several existing models, the proposed
model considers the actual (total) hydrodynamic force rather than its
perpendicular or parallel projection (the lift and drag), and captures
the complete force rather than the oscillatory part only. We study
and provide descriptions of the relationship between the model
parameters, evaluated utilizing results from numerical simulations,
and the Reynolds number so that the model can be used at any
arbitrary value within the considered range of 100 to 500 to provide
accurate representation of the force without the need to perform timeconsuming
simulations and solving the partial differential equations
(PDEs) governing the flow field.
Abstract: In this paper a new maximum power point tracking
algorithm for photovoltaic arrays is proposed. The algorithm detects
the maximum power point of the PV. The computed maximum
power is used as a reference value (set point) of the control system.
ON/OFF power controller with hysteresis band is used to control the
operation of a Buck chopper such that the PV module always
operates at its maximum power computed from the MPPT algorithm.
The major difference between the proposed algorithm and other
techniques is that the proposed algorithm is used to control directly
the power drawn from the PV.
The proposed MPPT has several advantages: simplicity, high
convergence speed, and independent on PV array characteristics. The
algorithm is tested under various operating conditions. The obtained
results have proven that the MPP is tracked even under sudden
change of irradiation level.
Abstract: We report the results of an lattice Boltzmann
simulation of magnetohydrodynamic damping of sidewall convection
in a rectangular enclosure filled with a porous medium. In particular
we investigate the suppression of convection when a steady magnetic
field is applied in the vertical direction. The left and right vertical
walls of the cavity are kept at constant but different temperatures
while both the top and bottom horizontal walls are insulated. The
effects of the controlling parameters involved in the heat transfer and
hydrodynamic characteristics are studied in detail. The heat and mass
transfer mechanisms and the flow characteristics inside the enclosure
depended strongly on the strength of the magnetic field and Darcy
number. The average Nusselt number decreases with rising values of
the Hartmann number while this increases with increasing values of
the Darcy number.
Abstract: Nanotechnology is the science of creating, using and
manipulating objects which have at least one dimension in range of
0.1 to 100 nanometers. In other words, nanotechnology is
reconstructing a substance using its individual atoms and arranging
them in a way that is desirable for our purpose.
The main reason that nanotechnology has been attracting
attentions is the unique properties that objects show when they are
formed at nano-scale. These differing characteristics that nano-scale
materials show compared to their nature-existing form is both useful
in creating high quality products and dangerous when being in
contact with body or spread in environment.
In order to control and lower the risk of such nano-scale particles,
the main following three topics should be considered:
1) First of all, these materials would cause long term diseases that
may show their effects on body years after being penetrated in human
organs and since this science has become recently developed in
industrial scale not enough information is available about their
hazards on body.
2) The second is that these particles can easily spread out in
environment and remain in air, soil or water for very long time,
besides their high ability to penetrate body skin and causing new
kinds of diseases.
3) The third one is that to protect body and environment against
the danger of these particles, the protective barriers must be finer than
these small objects and such defenses are hard to accomplish.
This paper will review, discuss and assess the risks that human and
environment face as this new science develops at a high rate.
Abstract: Fuzzy fingerprint vault is a recently developed cryptographic construct based on the polynomial reconstruction problem to secure critical data with the fingerprint data. However, the previous researches are not applicable to the fingerprint having a few minutiae since they use a fixed degree of the polynomial without considering the number of fingerprint minutiae. To solve this problem, we use an adaptive degree of the polynomial considering the number of minutiae extracted from each user. Also, we apply multiple polynomials to avoid the possible degradation of the security of a simple solution(i.e., using a low-degree polynomial). Based on the experimental results, our method can make the possible attack difficult 2192 times more than using a low-degree polynomial as well as verify the users having a few minutiae.
Abstract: This paper studies the duration or survival time of commercial banks active in the Moscovian three month Rouble deposits market, during the 1994-1997 period. The privatization process of the Russian commercial banking industry, after the 1988 banking reform, caused a massive entry of new banks followed by a period of high rates of exit. As a consequence, many firms went bankrupt without refunding their deposits. Therefore, both for the banks and for the banks- depositors, it is of interest to analyze which are the significant characteristics that motivate the exit or the closing of the bank. We propose a different methodology based on penalized weighted least squares which represents a very general, flexible and innovative approach for this type of analysis. The more relevant results are that smaller banks exit sooner, banks that enter the market in the last part of the study have shorter durations. As expected, the more experienced banks have a longer duration in the market. In addition, the mean survival time is lower for banks which offer extreme interest rates.
Abstract: Trust is essential for further and wider acceptance of
contemporary e-services. It was first addressed almost thirty years
ago in Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria standard by
the US DoD. But this and other proposed approaches of that
period were actually solving security. Roughly some ten years ago,
methodologies followed that addressed trust phenomenon at its core,
and they were based on Bayesian statistics and its derivatives, while
some approaches were based on game theory. However, trust is a
manifestation of judgment and reasoning processes. It has to be dealt
with in accordance with this fact and adequately supported in cyber
environment. On the basis of the results in the field of psychology
and our own findings, a methodology called qualitative algebra has
been developed, which deals with so far overlooked elements of trust
phenomenon. It complements existing methodologies and provides a
basis for a practical technical solution that supports management of
trust in contemporary computing environments. Such solution is also
presented at the end of this paper.
Abstract: This paper presents the outcomes of a qualitative
study which aims to investigate the pedagogical potentials of serious
games in the preparation of future teachers. The authors discuss the
existing problems and barriers associated with the organization of
teaching practices in Bulgaria as part of the pre-service teacher
training, as well as the attitudes and perceptions of the interviewed
academics, teachers and trainees concerning the integration of serious
games in the teaching practicum. The study outcomes strongly
confirm the positive attitudes of the respondents to the introduction
of virtual learning environments for the development of professional
skills of future teachers as a supplement to the traditional forms of
education. Through the inclusion of serious games it is expected to
improve the quality of practical training of pre-service teachers as
they overcome many of the problems identified in the existing
teaching practices. The outcomes of the study will inform the design
of the educational simulation software which is part of the project
SimAula Tomorrow's Teachers Training.
Abstract: Heating is inevitable in any bearing operation. This
leads to not only the thinning of the lubricant but also could lead to a
thermal deformation of the bearing. The present work is an attempt to
analyze the influence of thermal deformation on the thermohydrodynamic
lubrication of infinitely long tilted pad slider rough
bearings. As a consequence of heating the slider is deformed and is
assumed to take a parabolic shape. Also the asperities expand leading
to smaller effective film thickness. Two different types of surface
roughness are considered: longitudinal roughness and transverse
roughness. Christensen-s stochastic approach is used to derive the
Reynolds-type equations. Density and viscosity are considered to be
temperature dependent. The modified Reynolds equation, momentum
equation, continuity equation and energy equation are decoupled and
solved using finite difference method to yield various bearing
characteristics. From the numerical simulations it is observed that the
performance of the bearing is significantly affected by the thermal
distortion of the slider and asperities and even the parallel sliders
seem to carry some load.
Abstract: Isobaric vapor-liquid equilibrium measurements are
reported for binary mixture of 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran and Cumene
at 97.3 kPa. The data were obtained using a vapor recirculating type
(modified Othmer's) equilibrium still. The mixture shows slight
negative deviation from ideality. The system does not form an
azeotrope. The experimental data obtained in this study are
thermodynamically consistent according to the Herington test. The
activity coefficients have been satisfactorily correlated by means of
the Margules, and NRTL equations. Excess Gibbs free energy has
been calculated from the experimental data. The values of activity
coefficients have also been obtained by the UNIFAC group
contribution method.