Abstract: In the era of great competition, understanding and satisfying
customers- requirements are the critical tasks for a company
to make a profits. Customer relationship management (CRM) thus
becomes an important business issue at present. With the help of
the data mining techniques, the manager can explore and analyze
from a large quantity of data to discover meaningful patterns and
rules. Among all methods, well-known association rule is most
commonly seen. This paper is based on Apriori algorithm and uses
genetic algorithms combining a data mining method to discover fuzzy
classification rules. The mined results can be applied in CRM to
help decision marker make correct business decisions for marketing
strategies.
Abstract: On the territory of France fenugreek is spread since long on a line from the Gironde to the Italian border. In Belarus experimental cultivation has begun since 2004. Experiments with fenugreek variety Ovari 4 were conducted about time of sowing in order to study their growth, development, and evaluation of productivity in the North-east part of Belarus and Central part of France. Reaching full ripeness of seeds the plants of fenugreek in the Central part of France requires about 94-97 days. Average seeds yield of 2011-2012 is 1259 kg/ha. Plant height is about 36,8 cm. Plants were affected by aphid and in the high moist agro-climatic conditions by powdery mildew. In North-east part of Belarus plants need 86-93 days to full ripeness. Plants of fenugreek have steam about 59 cm. The average seeds yield of 2007-2009 was about 723 kg/ha. Plants were resistant to aphid and diseases.
Abstract: An experiment was conducted on the comparative
study of drip and furrow irrigation methods at the farmer-s field in
Umar Kot. The total area under experiment about 4000m2 was
divided into two equal portions. One portion about 40m X 50m was
occupied by drip and the other portion about 40m X 50m by furrow
irrigation method. Soil at the experimental site was clay loam in
texture for 0-60cm depth; average dry bulk density and field capacity
was 1.16g/cm3 and 28.5% respectively. The results reveal that the
drip irrigation method saved 56.4% water and gave 22% more yield
as compared to that of furrow irrigation method. Higher water use
efficiency about 4.87 was obtained in drip irrigation method; whereas
lower water used efficiency about 1.66 was obtained in furrow
irrigation method. The present study suggests farming community to
adopt drip irrigation method instead of old traditional flooding
methods.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize a futureoriented
human work environment and organizational activity in
deep mines that entails a vision of good and safe workplace. Futureoriented
technological challenges and mental images required for
modern work organization design were appraised. It is argued that an
intelligent-deep-mine covering the entire value chain, including
environmental issues and with work organization that supports good
working and social conditions towards increased human productivity
could be designed. With such intelligent system and work
organization in place, the mining industry could be seen as a place
where cooperation, skills development and gender equality are key
components. By this perspective, both the youth and women might
view mining activity as an attractive job and the work environment
as a safe, and this could go a long way in breaking the unequal
gender balance that exists in most mines today.
Abstract: The concept of flexible manufacturing is highly
appealing in gaining a competitive edge in the market by quickly
adapting to the changing customer needs. Scheduling jobs on flexible
manufacturing systems (FMSs) is a challenging task of managing the
available flexibility on the shop floor to react to the dynamics of the
environment in real-time. In this paper, an agent-oriented scheduling
framework that can be integrated with a real or a simulated FMS is
proposed. This framework works in stochastic environments with a
dynamic model of job arrival. It supports a hierarchical cooperative
scheduling that builds on the available flexibility of the shop floor.
Testing the framework on a model of a real FMS showed the
capability of the proposed approach to overcome the drawbacks of
the conventional approaches and maintain a near optimal solution
despite the dynamics of the operational environment.
Abstract: This paper describes a research project on Year 3 primary school students in Malaysia in their use of computer-based video game to enhance learning of multiplication facts (tables) in the Mathematics subject. This study attempts to investigate whether video games could actually contribute to positive effect on children-s learning or otherwise. In conducting this study, the researchers assume a neutral stand in the investigation as an unbiased outcome of the study would render reliable response to the impact of video games in education which would contribute to the literature of technology-based education as well as impact to the pedagogical aspect of formal education. In order to conduct the study, a subject (Mathematics) with a specific topic area in the subject (multiplication facts) is chosen. The study adopts a causal-comparative research to investigate the impact of the inclusion of a computer-based video game designed to teach multiplication facts to primary level students. Sample size is 100 students divided into two i.e., A: conventional group and B conventional group aided by video games. The conventional group (A) would be taught multiplication facts (timetables) and skills conventionally. The other group (B) underwent the same lessons but with supplementary activity: a computer-based video game on multiplication which is called Timez-Attack. Analysis of marks accrued from pre-test will be compared to post- test using comparisons of means, t tests, and ANOVA tests to investigate the impact of computer games as an added learning activity. The findings revealed that video games as a supplementary activity to classroom learning brings significant and positive effect on students- retention and mastery of multiplication tables as compared to students who rely only upon formal classroom instructions.
Abstract: Many non-conventional adsorbent have been studied
as economic alternative to commercial activated carbon and mostly
agricultural waste have been introduced such as rubber leaf powder
and hazelnut shell. Microwave Incinerated Rice Husk Ash
(MIRHA), produced from the rice husk is one of the low-cost
materials that were used as adsorbent of heavy metal. The aim of
this research was to study the feasibility of using MIRHA500 and
MIRHA800 as adsorbent for the removal of Cu(II) metal ions from
aqueous solutions by the batch studies. The adsorption of Cu(II) into
MIRHA500 and MIRH800 favors Fruendlich isotherm and imply
pseudo – kinetic second order which applied chemisorptions
Abstract: In this paper, using a model transformation approach a system of linear delay differential equations (DDEs) with multiple delays is converted to a non-delayed initial value problem. The variational iteration method (VIM) is then applied to obtain the approximate analytical solutions. Numerical results are given for several examples involving scalar and second order systems. Comparisons with the classical fourth-order Runge-Kutta method (RK4) verify that this method is very effective and convenient.
Abstract: An organic bulk heterojunction (BHJ) was fabricated using a blended film containing Copper (II) tetrakis(4-acumylphenoxy) phthalocyanine (Tc-CuPc) along with [6,6]-Phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). Weight ratio between Tc-CuPc and PCBM was 1:1. The electrical properties of Tc-CuPc: PCBM BHJ were examined. Rectifying nature of the BHJ was displayed by current-voltage (I-V) curves, recorded in dark and at various temperatures. At low voltages, conduction was ohmic succeeded by space-charge limiting current (SCLC) conduction at higher voltages in which exponential trap distribution was dominant. Series resistance, shunt resistance, ideality factor, effective barrier height and mobility at room temperature were found to be 526 4, 482 k4, 3.7, 0.17 eV and 2×10-7 cm2V-1s-1 respectively. Temperature effect towards different BHJ parameters was observed under dark condition.
Abstract: Teaching and learning about sustainability is a pedagogical endeavour with various innate difficulties and increased demands. Higher education has a dual role to play in addressing this challenge: to identify and explore innovative approaches and tools for addressing the complex and value-laden nature of sustainability in more meaningful ways, and to help teachers to integrate these approaches into their practice through appropriate professional development programs. The study reported here was designed and carried out within the context of a Masters course in Environmental Education. Eight teachers were collaboratively engaged in reconstructing a digital game microworld which was deliberately designed by the researchers to be questioned and evoke critical discussion on the idea of ‘sustainable city’. The study was based on the design-based research method. The findings indicate that the teachers’ involvement in processes of co-constructing the microworld initiated discussion and reflection upon the concepts of sustainability and sustainable lifestyles.
Abstract: The objective of this work is to present a expertise on
flooding hazard analysis and how to reduce the risk. The analysis
concerns the disaster induced by the flood on November 10/11, 2001
in the Bab El Oued district of the city of Algiers.The study begins by
an expertise of damages in related with the urban environment and
the history of the urban growth of the site. After this phase, the work
is focalized on the identification of the existing correlations between
the development of the town and its vulnerability. The final step
consists to elaborate the interpretations on the interactions between
the urban growth, the sewerage network and the vulnerability of the
urban system.In conclusion, several recommendations are formulated
permitting the mitigation of the risk in the future. The principal
recommendations concern the new urban operations and the existing
urbanized sites.
Abstract: Air bubbles have been detected in human circulation
of end-stage renal disease patients who are treated by hemodialysis.
The consequence of air embolism, air bubbles, is under recognized
and usually overlooked in daily practice. This paper shows results of
a capacitor based detection method that capable of detecting the
presence of air bubbles in the blood stream in different frequencies.
The method is based on a parallel plates capacitor made of platinum
with an area of 1.5 cm2 and a distance between the two plates is 1cm.
The dielectric material used in this capacitor is Dextran70 solution
which mimics blood rheology. Simulations were carried out using
RC circuit at two frequencies 30Hz and 3 kHz and results compared
with experiments and theory. It is observed that by injecting air
bubbles of different diameters into the device, there were significant
changes in the capacitance of the capacitor. Furthermore, it is
observed that the output voltage from the circuit increased with
increasing air bubble diameter. These results demonstrate the
feasibility of this approach in improving air bubble detection in
Hemodialysis.
Abstract: This paper presents the communication network for
machine vision system to implement to control systems and logistics
applications in industrial environment. The real-time distributed over
the network is very important for communication among vision node,
image processing and control as well as the distributed I/O node. A
robust implementation both with respect to camera packaging and
data transmission has been accounted. This network consists of a
gigabit Ethernet network and a switch with integrated fire-wall is
used to distribute the data and provide connection to the imaging
control station and IEC-61131 conform signal integration comprising
the Modbus TCP protocol. The real-time and delay time properties
each part on the network were considered and worked out in this
paper.
Abstract: A research project dealing with the phytoremediation
of a soil polluted by some heavy metals is currently running. The
case study is represented by a mining area in Hamedan province in
the central west part of Iran. The potential of phytoextraction and
phytostabilization of plants was evaluated considering the
concentration of heavy metals in the plant tissues and also the
bioconcentration factor (BCF) and the translocation factor (TF). Also
the several established criteria were applied to define
hyperaccumulator plants in the studied area. Results showed that
none of the collected plant species were suitable for phytoextraction
of Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn, but among the plants, Euphorbia macroclada
was the most efficient in phytostabilization of Cu and Fe, while,
Ziziphora clinopodioides, Cousinia sp. and Chenopodium botrys
were the most suitable for phytostabilization of Zn and Chondrila
juncea and Stipa barbata had the potential for phytostabilization of
Mn. Using the most common criterion, Euphorbia macroclada and
Verbascum speciosum were Fe hyperaccumulator plants. Present
study showed that native plant species growing on contaminated sites
may have the potential for phytoremediation.
Abstract: The effect of SnO2 surface modification by Ag nanoclusters, synthesized by SILD method, on the operating characteristics of thin film gas sensors was studied and models for the promotional role of Ag additives were discussed. It was found that mentioned above approach can be used for improvement both the sensitivity and the rate of response of the SnO2-based gas sensors to CO and H2. At the same time, the presence of the Ag clusters on the surface of SnO2 depressed the sensor response to ozone.
Abstract: A method of dynamic mesh based airfoil optimization is proposed according to the drawbacks of surrogate model based airfoil optimization. Programs are designed to achieve the dynamic mesh. Boundary condition is add by integrating commercial software Pointwise, meanwhile the CFD calculation is carried out by commercial software Fluent. The data exchange and communication between the software and programs referred above have been accomplished, and the whole optimization process is performed in iSIGHT platform. A simplified airfoil optimization study case is brought out to show that aerodynamic performances of airfoil have been significantly improved, even save massive repeat operations and increase the robustness and credibility of the optimization result. The case above proclaims that dynamic mesh based airfoil optimization is an effective and high efficient method.
Abstract: The rapid growth of e-Commerce services is
significantly observed in the past decade. However, the method to
verify the authenticated users still widely depends on numeric
approaches. A new search on other verification methods suitable for
online e-Commerce is an interesting issue. In this paper, a new online
signature-verification method using angular transformation is
presented. Delay shifts existing in online signatures are estimated by
the estimation method relying on angle representation. In the
proposed signature-verification algorithm, all components of input
signature are extracted by considering the discontinuous break points
on the stream of angular values. Then the estimated delay shift is
captured by comparing with the selected reference signature and the
error matching can be computed as a main feature used for verifying
process. The threshold offsets are calculated by two types of error
characteristics of the signature verification problem, False Rejection
Rate (FRR) and False Acceptance Rate (FAR). The level of these two
error rates depends on the decision threshold chosen whose value is
such as to realize the Equal Error Rate (EER; FAR = FRR). The
experimental results show that through the simple programming,
employed on Internet for demonstrating e-Commerce services, the
proposed method can provide 95.39% correct verifications and 7%
better than DP matching based signature-verification method. In
addition, the signature verification with extracting components
provides more reliable results than using a whole decision making.
Abstract: Organic Flash Cycle (OFC) has potential of improving
efficiency for recovery of low temperature heat sources mainly due to
reducing temperature mismatch in the heat exchanger. In this work
exergetical performance analysis of ORC is conducted for recovery of
low grade heat source. Effects of system parameters such as flash
evaporation temperature or heating temperature are theoretically
investigated on the exergy destructions (anergies) at various
components of the system as well as exergy efficiency. Results show
that exergy efficiency has a peak with respect to the flash temperature,
and the optimum flash temperature increases with the heating
temperature. The component where the largest exergy destruction
occurs varies with the flash temperature or heating temperature.
Abstract: It is difficult to judge ripeness by outward
characteristics such as size or external color. In this paper a nondestructive
method was studied to determine watermelon (Crimson
Sweet) quality. Responses of samples to excitation vibrations were
detected using laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV) technology. Phase
shift between input and output vibrations were extracted overall
frequency range. First and second were derived using frequency
response spectrums. After nondestructive tests, watermelons were
sensory evaluated. So the samples were graded in a range of ripeness
based on overall acceptability (total desired traits consumers).
Regression models were developed to predict quality using obtained
results and sample mass. The determination coefficients of the
calibration and cross validation models were 0.89 and 0.71
respectively. This study demonstrated feasibility of information
which is derived vibration response curves for predicting fruit
quality. The vibration response of watermelon using the LDV method
is measured without direct contact; it is accurate and timely, which
could result in significant advantage for classifying watermelons
based on consumer opinions.
Abstract: In the present paper, a set of parametric FE stress
analyses is carried out for two-planar welded tubular DKT-joints
under two different axial load cases. Analysis results are used to
present general remarks on the effect of geometrical parameters on
the stress concentration factors (SCFs) at the inner saddle, outer
saddle, toe, and heel positions on the main (outer) brace. Then a new
set of SCF parametric equations is developed through nonlinear
regression analysis for the fatigue design of two-planar DKT-joints.
An assessment study of these equations is conducted against the
experimental data; and the satisfaction of the criteria regarding the
acceptance of parametric equations is checked. Significant effort has
been devoted by researchers to the study of SCFs in various uniplanar
tubular connections. Nevertheless, for multi-planar joints
covering the majority of practical applications, very few
investigations have been reported due to the complexity and high
cost involved.