Abstract: Mass-mail type worms have threatened to become a large problem for the Internet. Although many researchers have analyzed such worms, there are few studies that consider worm propagation via mailing lists. In this paper, we present a mass-mailing type worm propagation model including the mailing list effect on the propagation. We study its propagation by simulation with a real e¬mail social network model. We show that the impact of the mailing list on the mass-mail worm propagation is significant, even if the mailing list is not large.
Abstract: European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) is the European reference for interoperable and safer signaling systems to efficiently manage trains running. If implemented, it allows trains cross seamlessly intra-European national borders. ERTMS has defined a secure communication protocol, EURORADIO, based on open communication networks. Its RadioInfill function can improve the reaction of the signaling system to changes in line conditions, avoiding unnecessary braking: its advantages in terms of power saving and travel time has been analyzed. In this paper a software implementation of the EURORADIO protocol with RadioInfill for ERTMS Level 1 using GSM-R is illustrated as part of the SR-Secure Italian project. In this building-blocks architecture the EURORADIO layers communicates together through modular Application Programm Interfaces. Security coding rules and railway industry requirements specified by EN 50128 standard have been respected. The proposed implementation has successfully passed conformity tests and has been tested on a computer-based simulator.
Abstract: This study is about an application of King Bhumibol
Adulyadej’s “Learn Wisely” (LW) concept in instructional design
and management process at the Faculty of Education, Suan Sunahdha
Rajabhat University. The concept suggests four strategies for true
learning. Related literature and significant LW methods in teaching
and learning are also reviewed and then applied in designing a
pedagogy learning module. The design has been implemented in
three classrooms with a total of 115 sophomore student teachers.
After one consecutive semester of managing and adjusting the
process by instructors and experts using collected data from minutes,
assessment of learning management, satisfaction and learning
achievement of the students, it is found that the effective SSRU
model of LW instructional method comprises of five steps.
Abstract: Computational study of two dimensional supersonic reacting hydrogen-air flows is performed to investigate the nitrogen effects on ignition delay time for premixed and diffusion flames. Chemical reaction is treated using detail kinetics and the advection upstream splitting method is used to calculate the numerical inviscid fluxes. The results show that just in stoichiometric condition for both premixed and diffusion flames, there is monotone dependency of the ignition delay time to the nitrogen addition. In other situations, the optimal condition from ignition viewpoint should be found using numerical investigations.
Abstract: Thirty three re-wetting tests were conducted at
different combinations of temperatures (5.7- 46.30C) and relative
humidites (48.2-88.6%) with barley. Two most commonly used thinlayer
drying and rewetting models i.e. Page and Diffusion were
compared for their ability to the fit the experimental re-wetting data
based on the standard error of estimate (SEE) of the measured and
simulated moisture contents. The comparison shows both the Page
and Diffusion models fit the re-wetting experimental data of barley
well. The average SEE values for the Page and Diffusion models
were 0.176 % d.b. and 0.199 % d.b., respectively. The Page and
Diffusion models were found to be most suitable equations, to
describe the thin-layer re-wetting characteristics of barley over a
typically five day re-wetting. These two models can be used for the
simulation of deep-bed re-wetting of barley occurring during
ventilated storage and deep bed drying.
Abstract: Climate change leading to global warming affects the
earth through many different ways such as weather (temperature, precipitation, humidity and the other parameters of weather), snow coverage and ice melting, sea level rise, hydrological cycles, quality of water, agriculture, forests, ecosystems and health. One of the most
affected areas by climate change is hydrology and water resources.
Regions where majority of runoff consists of snow melt are more
sensitive to climate change. The first step of climate change studies
is to establish trends of significant climate variables including precipitation,
temperature and flow data to detect any potential climate
change impacts already happened. Two popular non-parametric trend
analysis methods, Mann-Kendal and Spearman-s Rho were applied
to Upper Euphrates Basin (Turkey) to detect trends of precipitation,
temperatures (maximum, minimum and average) and streamflow.
Abstract: A subsea hydrocarbon production system can undergo planned and unplanned shutdowns during the life of the field. The thermal FEA is used to simulate the cool down to verify the insulation design of the subsea equipment, but it is also used to derive an acceptable insulation design for the cold spots. The driving factors of subsea analyses require fast responding and accurate models of the equipment cool down. This paper presents cool down analysis carried out by a Krylov subspace reduction method, and compares this approach to the commonly used FEA solvers. The model considered represents a typical component of a subsea production system, a closed valve on a dead leg. The results from the Krylov reduction method exhibits the least error and requires the shortest computational time to reach the solution. These findings make the Krylov model order reduction method very suitable for the above mentioned subsea applications.
Abstract: The production of glass, ceramic materials and many non-ferrous metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, etc.), ferrous metals (pig iron) and others is connected with the use of a considerable number of initial solid raw materials. Before carrying out the basic technological processes (oxidized roasting, melting, agglomeration, baking) it is necessary to mix and homogenize the raw materials that have different chemical and phase content, granulometry and humidity. For this purpose zinc sulfide concentrates differing in origin are studied for their more complete characteristics using chemical, X-ray diffraction analyses, DTA and TGA as well as Mössbauer spectroscopy. The phases established in most concentrates are: β-ZnS, mZnS.nFeS, FeS2, CuFeS2, PbS, SiO2 (α-quartz). With the help of the developed by us a Web-based information system for a continued period of time different mix proportions from zinc concentrates are calculated and used in practice (roasting in fluidized bed reactor), which have to conform to the technological requirements of the zinc hydrometallurgical technological scheme.
Abstract: Recently, Genetic Algorithms (GA) and Differential
Evolution (DE) algorithm technique have attracted considerable
attention among various modern heuristic optimization techniques.
Since the two approaches are supposed to find a solution to a given
objective function but employ different strategies and computational
effort, it is appropriate to compare their performance. This paper
presents the application and performance comparison of DE and GA
optimization techniques, for flexible ac transmission system
(FACTS)-based controller design. The design objective is to enhance
the power system stability. The design problem of the FACTS-based
controller is formulated as an optimization problem and both the PSO
and GA optimization techniques are employed to search for optimal
controller parameters. The performance of both optimization
techniques has been compared. Further, the optimized controllers are
tested on a weekly connected power system subjected to different
disturbances, and their performance is compared with the
conventional power system stabilizer (CPSS). The eigenvalue
analysis and non-linear simulation results are presented and
compared to show the effectiveness of both the techniques in
designing a FACTS-based controller, to enhance power system
stability.
Abstract: After the accounting scandals and the financial crisis, regulators have stressed the need for more financial experts on boards. Several studies conducted in countries with developed capital markets report positive effects of board financial competencies. As each country offers a different context and specific institutional factors this paper addresses the subject in the context of Romania. The Romanian capital market offers an interesting research field because of the heterogeneity of listed firms. After analyzing board members education based on public information posted on listed companies websites and their annual reports we found a positive association between the proportion of board members holding a postgraduate degree in financial fields and market based performance measured by Tobin q. We found also that the proportion of Board members holding degrees in financial fields is higher in bigger firms and firms with more concentrated ownership.
Abstract: The H.264/AVC standard uses an intra prediction, 9
directional modes for 4x4 luma blocks and 8x8 luma blocks, 4
directional modes for 16x16 macroblock and 8x8 chroma blocks,
respectively. It means that, for a macroblock, it has to perform 736
different RDO calculation before a best RDO modes is determined.
With this Multiple intra-mode prediction, intra coding of H.264/AVC
offers a considerably higher improvement in coding efficiency
compared to other compression standards, but computational
complexity is increased significantly. This paper presents a fast intra
prediction algorithm for H.264/AVC intra prediction based a
characteristic of homogeneity information. In this study, the gradient
prediction method used to predict the homogeneous area and the
quadratic prediction function used to predict the nonhomogeneous
area. Based on the correlation between the homogeneity and block
size, the smaller block is predicted by gradient prediction and
quadratic prediction, so the bigger block is predicted by gradient
prediction. Experimental results are presented to show that the
proposed method reduce the complexity by up to 76.07%
maintaining the similar PSNR quality with about 1.94%bit rate
increase in average.
Abstract: Magnesium wastes and scraps, one of the metal wastes, are produced by many industrial activities, all over the world. Their growing size is becoming a future problem for the world. In this study, the use of magnesium wastes as a raw material in the production of the magnesium borate hydrates are aimed. The method used in the experiments is hydrothermal synthesis. The conditions are set to, waste magnesium to B2O3, 1:3 as a molar ratio. Four different reaction times are studied which are 30, 60, 120 and 240 minutes. For the identification analyses X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy techniques are used. As a result at all the reaction times magnesium borate hydrates are synthesized and the most crystalline forms are obtained at a reaction time of 120 minutes. The overall yields of the production are found between the values of 65-80 %.
Abstract: Removal of PCP by a system combining
biodegradation by biofilm and adsorption was investigated here.
Three studies were conducted employing batch tests, sequencing
batch reactor (SBR) and continuous biofilm activated carbon
column reactor (BACCOR). The combination of biofilm-GAC
batch process removed about 30% more PCP than GAC adsorption
alone. For the SBR processes, both the suspended and attached
biomass could remove more than 90% of the PCP after
acclimatisation. BACCOR was able to remove more than 98% of
PCP-Na at concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 mg/L, at empty
bed contact time (EBCT) ranging from 0.75 to 4 hours. Pure and
mixed cultures from BACCOR were tested for use of PCP as sole
carbon and energy source under aerobic conditions. The isolates
were able to degrade up to 42% of PCP under aerobic conditions in
pure cultures. However, mixed cultures were found able to degrade
more than 99% PCP indicating interdependence of species.
Abstract: Environmental performance of the U.S. States is investigated for the period of 1990 – 2007 using Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). The SFA accounts for both efficiency measure and stochastic noise affecting a frontier. The frontier is formed using indicators of GDP, energy consumption, population, and CO2 emissions. For comparability, all indicators are expressed as ratios to total. Statistical information of the Energy Information Agency of the United States is used. Obtained results reveal the bell - shaped dynamics of environmental efficiency scores. The average efficiency scores rise from 97.6% in 1990 to 99.6% in 1999, and then fall to 98.4% in 2007. The main factor is insufficient decrease in the rate of growth of CO2 emissions with regards to the growth of GDP, population and energy consumption. Data for 2008 following the research period allow for an assumption that the environmental performance of the U.S. States has improved in the last years.
Abstract: In this paper, an analysis is presented, which
demonstrates the effect pre-logic factoring could have on an
automated combinational logic synthesis process succeeding it. The
impact of pre-logic factoring for some arbitrary combinatorial
circuits synthesized within a FPGA based logic design environment
has been analyzed previously. This paper explores a similar effect,
but with the non-regenerative logic synthesized using elements of a
commercial standard cell library. On an overall basis, the results
obtained pertaining to the analysis on a variety of MCNC/IWLS
combinational logic benchmark circuits indicate that pre-logic
factoring has the potential to facilitate simultaneous power, delay and
area optimized synthesis solutions in many cases.
Abstract: This study reports the preparation of soft magnetic ribbons of Fe-based amorphous alloys using the single-roller melt-spinning technique. Ribbon width varied from 142 mm to 213 mm and, with a thickness of approximately 22 μm 2 μm. The microstructure and magnetic properties of the ribbons were characterized by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and electrical resistivity measurements (ERM). The amorphous material properties dependence of the cooling rate and nozzle pressure have uneven surface in ribbon thicknesses are investigated. Magnetic measurement results indicate that some region of the ribbon exhibits good magnetic properties, higher saturation induction and lower coercivity. However, due to the uneven surface of 213 mm wide ribbon, the magnetic responses are not uniformly distributed. To understand the transformer magnetic performances, this study analyzes the measurements of a three-phase 2 MVA amorphous-cored transformer. Experimental results confirm that the transformer with a ribbon width of 142 mm has better magnetic properties in terms of lower core loss, exciting power, and audible noise.
Abstract: METIS is the Multi Element Telescope for Imaging
and Spectroscopy, a Coronagraph aboard the European Space
Agency-s Solar Orbiter Mission aimed at the observation of the solar
corona via both VIS and UV/EUV narrow-band imaging and spectroscopy. METIS, with its multi-wavelength capabilities, will
study in detail the physical processes responsible for the corona heating and the origin and properties of the slow and fast solar wind.
METIS electronics will collect and process scientific data thanks to its detectors proximity electronics, the digital front-end subsystem
electronics and the MPPU, the Main Power and Processing Unit,
hosting a space-qualified processor, memories and some rad-hard
FPGAs acting as digital controllers.This paper reports on the overall
METIS electronics architecture and data processing capabilities
conceived to address all the scientific issues as a trade-off solution between requirements and allocated resources, just before the
Preliminary Design Review as an ESA milestone in April 2012.
Abstract: Energy intensity(energy consumption intensity) is a
global index which computes the required energy for producing a
specific value of goods and services in each country. It is computed
in terms of initial energy supply or final energy consumption. In this
study (research) Divisia method is used to decompose energy
consumption and energy intensity. This method decomposes
consumption and energy intensity to production effects, structural
and net intensity and could be done as time series or two-periodical.
This study analytically investigates consumption changes and energy
intensity on economical sectors of Iran and more specific on road
transportation(rail road and road).Our results show that the
contribution of structural effect (change in economical activities
combination) is very low and the effect of net energy consumption
has the higher contribution in consumption changes and energy
intensity. In other words, the high consumption of energy is due to
Intensity of energy consumption and is not to structural effect of
transportation sector.
Abstract: This paper examines the issues, the dangers and the
saving graces of life in a transparent global community where there is
truly “no place to hide". In recent years, social networks and online
groups have transformed issues of privacy and the ways in which we
perceive and interact with others. The idea of reputation is critical to
this dynamic. The discussion begins with a brief etymological history
of the concept of reputation and moves to an exploration of how and
why online communication changes our basic nature, our various
selves and the Bakhtin idea of the polyphonic nature of truth. The
discussion considers the damaging effects of bullying and gossip,
both of which constitute an assault on reputation and the latter of
which is not limited to the lifetime of the person. It concludes with
guidelines and specific recommendations.
Abstract: The empirical mode decomposition (EMD) represents any time series into a finite set of basis functions. The bases are termed as intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) which are mutually orthogonal containing minimum amount of cross-information. The EMD successively extracts the IMFs with the highest local frequencies in a recursive way, which yields effectively a set low-pass filters based entirely on the properties exhibited by the data. In this paper, EMD is applied to explore the properties of the multi-year air temperature and to observe its effects on climate change under global warming. This method decomposes the original time-series into intrinsic time scale. It is capable of analyzing nonlinear, non-stationary climatic time series that cause problems to many linear statistical methods and their users. The analysis results show that the mode of EMD presents seasonal variability. The most of the IMFs have normal distribution and the energy density distribution of the IMFs satisfies Chi-square distribution. The IMFs are more effective in isolating physical processes of various time-scales and also statistically significant. The analysis results also show that the EMD method provides a good job to find many characteristics on inter annual climate. The results suggest that climate fluctuations of every single element such as temperature are the results of variations in the global atmospheric circulation.