Abstract: Natural ventilation is an important means to improve indoor thermal comfort and reduce the energy consumption. A solar chimney system is an enhancing natural draft device, which uses solar radiation to heat the air inside the chimney, thereby converting the thermal energy into kinetic energy. The present study considered some parameters such as chimney width and solar intensity, which were believed to have a significant effect on space ventilation. Fluent CFD software was used to predict buoyant air flow and flow rates in the cavities. The results were compared with available published experimental and theoretical data from the literature. There was an acceptable trend match between the present results and the published data for the room air change per hour, ACH. Further, it was noticed that the solar intensity has a more significant effect on ACH.
Abstract: Rural villagers in Thailand have unique skill for producing craft using local materials. However, the appearance and function of their products are not suited to the demand of international market. The Thai government policy on sustainable economy emphasises the necessity to incorporate a design strategy that will draw out the unique qualities and add value to the products, while raising the satisfaction of international consumer. As an industrial designer, the author sees opportunities that design can enhance sustainability of Thai local products through the potentials that available in village-based enterprises. This research attempts to address, how best use design to practically solve the problems in the development of Thais product in. The privilege solution is expressed through the design of design strategy that supports sustain economic development of microenterprise in Thailand in the way that aligns with product design development. This consideration integrates together with global business outlook in the development of products from rural communities.
Abstract: Only recently have water ethics received focused interest in the international water community. Because water is metabolically basic to life, an ethical dimension persists in every decision related to water. Water ethics at once express human society-s approach to water and act as guidelines for behaviour. Ideas around water are often implicit and embedded as assumptions. They can be entrenched in behaviour and difficult to contest because they are difficult to “see". By explicitly revealing the ethical ideas underlying water-related decisions, human society-s relationship with water, and with natural systems of which water is part, can be contested and shifted or be accepted with conscious intention by human society. In recent decades, improved understanding of water-s importance for ecosystem functioning and ecological services for human survival is moving us beyond this growth-driven, supplyfocused management paradigm. Environmental ethics challenge this paradigm by extending the ethical sphere to the environment and thus water or water Resources management per se. An ethical approach is a legitimate, important, and often ignored approach to effect change in environmental decision making. This qualitative research explores principles of water ethics and examines the underlying ethical precepts of selected water policy examples. The constructed water ethic principles act as a set of criteria against which a policy comparison can be established. This study shows that water Resources management is a progressive issue by embracing full public participation and a new planning model, and knowledgegeneration initiatives.
Abstract: The rapid adoption of Internet has turned the Millennial Teens- life like a lightning speed. Empirical evidence has illustrated that Pathological Internet Use (PIU) among them ensure long-term success to the market players in the children industry. However, it creates concerns among their care takers as it generates mental disorder among some of them. The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of PIU and identify its outcomes among urban Millennial Teens. It aims to develop a theoretical framework based on a modified Media System Dependency (MSD) Theory that integrates important systems and components that determine and resulted from PIU.
Abstract: In this paper we propose a multi-agent architecture for web information retrieval using fuzzy logic based result fusion mechanism. The model is designed in JADE framework and takes advantage of JXTA agent communication method to allow agent communication through firewalls and network address translators. This approach enables developers to build and deploy P2P applications through a unified medium to manage agent-based document retrieval from multiple sources.
Abstract: Programmable logic controllers are the main controllers in the today's industries; they are used for several applications in industrial control systems and there are lots of examples exist from the PLC applications in industries especially in big companies and plants such as refineries, power plants, petrochemical companies, steel companies, and food and production companies. In the PLCs there are some functions in the function library in software that can be used in PLC programs as basic program elements. The aim of this project are introducing and implementing a new function block of a neural network to the function library of PLC. This block can be applied for some control applications or nonlinear functions calculations after it has been trained for these applications. The implemented neural network is a Perceptron neural network with three layers, three input nodes and one output node. The block can be used in manual or automatic mode. In this paper the structure of the implemented function block, the parameters and the training method of the network are presented by considering the especial method of PLC programming and its complexities. Finally the application of the new block is compared with a classic simulated block and the results are presented.
Abstract: A road pricing game is a game where various stakeholders and/or regions with different (and usually conflicting) objectives compete for toll setting in a given transportation network to satisfy their individual objectives. We investigate some classical game theoretical solution concepts for the road pricing game. We establish results for the road pricing game so that stakeholders and/or regions playing such a game will beforehand know what is obtainable. This will save time and argument, and above all, get rid of the feelings of unfairness among the competing actors and road users. Among the classical solution concepts we investigate is Nash equilibrium. In particular, we show that no pure Nash equilibrium exists among the actors, and further illustrate that even “mixed Nash equilibrium" may not be achievable in the road pricing game. The paper also demonstrates the type of coalitions that are not only reachable, but also stable and profitable for the actors involved.
Abstract: Due to today-s turbulent environment, manufacturing resources, particularly in assembly, must be reconfigured frequently. These reconfigurations are caused by various, partly cyclic, influencing factors. Hence, it is important to evaluate the innovation ability - the capability of resources to implement innovations quickly and efficiently without large expense - of manufacturing resources. For this purpose, a new methodology is presented in this article. Within the methodology, design structure matrices and graph theory are used. The results of the methodology include different indices to evaluate the innovation ability of the manufacturing resources. Due to the cyclicity of the influencing factors, the methodology can be used to synchronize the realization of adaptations.
Abstract: Bagging and boosting are among the most popular re-sampling ensemble methods that generate and combine a diversity of regression models using the same learning algorithm as base-learner. Boosting algorithms are considered stronger than bagging on noise-free data. However, there are strong empirical indications that bagging is much more robust than boosting in noisy settings. For this reason, in this work we built an ensemble using an averaging methodology of bagging and boosting ensembles with 10 sub-learners in each one. We performed a comparison with simple bagging and boosting ensembles with 25 sub-learners on standard benchmark datasets and the proposed ensemble gave better accuracy.
Abstract: Omni directional mobile robots have been popularly
employed in several applications especially in soccer player robots
considered in Robocup competitions. However, Omni directional
navigation system, Omni-vision system and solenoid kicking
mechanism in such mobile robots have not ever been combined. This
situation brings the idea of a robot with no head direction into
existence, a comprehensive Omni directional mobile robot. Such a
robot can respond more quickly and it would be capable for more
sophisticated behaviors with multi-sensor data fusion algorithm for
global localization base on the data fusion. This paper has tried to
focus on the research improvements in the mechanical, electrical and
software design of the robots of team ADRO Iran. The main
improvements are the world model, the new strategy framework,
mechanical structure, Omni-vision sensor for object detection, robot
path planning, active ball handling mechanism and the new kicker
design, , and other subjects related to mobile robot
Abstract: Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy is the first
cognitive behavior therapy which was introduced by Albert Ellis.
This is a systematic and structured psychotherapy which is effective
in treating various psychological problems. A patient, 25 years old
male, experienced intense fear and situational panic attack to return
to his faculty and to face his class-mates after a long absence (2
years). This social anxiety disorder was a major factor that impeded
the progress of his study. He was treated with the use of behavioural
technique such as relaxation breathing technique and cognitive
techniques such as imagery, cognitive restructuring, rationalization
technique and systematic desensitization. The patient reported
positive improvement in the anxiety disorder, able to progress well in
studies and lead a better quality of life as a student.
Abstract: A cognitive collaborative reinforcement learning
algorithm (CCRL) that incorporates an advisor into the learning
process is developed to improve supervised learning. An autonomous
learner is enabled with a self awareness cognitive skill to decide
when to solicit instructions from the advisor. The learner can also
assess the value of advice, and accept or reject it. The method is
evaluated for robotic motion planning using simulation. Tests are
conducted for advisors with skill levels from expert to novice. The
CCRL algorithm and a combined method integrating its logic with
Clouse-s Introspection Approach, outperformed a base-line fully
autonomous learner, and demonstrated robust performance when
dealing with various advisor skill levels, learning to accept advice
received from an expert, while rejecting that of less skilled
collaborators. Although the CCRL algorithm is based on RL, it fits
other machine learning methods, since advisor-s actions are only
added to the outer layer.
Abstract: The recovery of metal values and safe disposal of
spent catalyst is gaining interest due to both its hazardous nature and
increased regulation associated with disposal methods. Prior to the
recovery of the valuable metals, removal of entrained deposits limit
the diffusion of lixiviate resulting in low recovery of metals must be
taken into consideration. Therefore, petroleum refinery spent catalyst
was subjected to acetone washing and roasting at 500oC. The treated
samples were investigated for metals bioleaching using
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans in batch reactors and the leaching
efficiencies were compared. It was found out that acetone washed
spent catalysts results in better metal recovery compare to roasted
spent. About 83% Ni, 20% Al, 50% Mo and 73% V were leached
using the acetone washed spent catalyst. In both the cases, Ni, V and
Mo was high compared to Al.
Abstract: The SOM has several beneficial features which make
it a useful method for data mining. One of the most important
features is the ability to preserve the topology in the projection.
There are several measures that can be used to quantify the goodness
of the map in order to obtain the optimal projection, including the
average quantization error and many topological errors. Many
researches have studied how the topology preservation should be
measured. One option consists of using the topographic error which
considers the ratio of data vectors for which the first and second best
BMUs are not adjacent. In this work we present a study of the
behaviour of the topographic error in different kinds of maps. We
have found that this error devaluates the rectangular maps and we
have studied the reasons why this happens. Finally, we suggest a new
topological error to improve the deficiency of the topographic error.
Abstract: During recent years, attention in 'Green Computing'
has moved research into energy-saving techniques for home
computers to enterprise systems' Client and Server machines. Saving
energy or reduction of carbon footprints is one of the aspects of
Green Computing. The research in the direction of Green Computing
is more than just saving energy and reducing carbon foot prints. This
study provides a brief account of Green Computing. The emphasis of
this study is on current trends in Green Computing; challenges in the
field of Green Computing and the future trends of Green Computing.
Abstract: There are several means to measure the oxidation of edible oils, such as the acid value, the peroxide value, and the anisidine value. However, these means require large quantities of reagents and are time-consuming tasks. Therefore, a more convenient and time-saving way to measure the oxidation of edible oils is required. In this report, an edible oil condition sensor was fabricated by using single-walled nanotubes (SWNT). In order to test the sensor, oxidized edible oils, each one at a different acid value, were prepared. The SWNT sensors were immersed into these oxidized oils and the resistance changes in the sensors were measured. It was found that the conductivity of the sensors decreased as the oxidation level of oil increased. This result suggests that a change of the oil components induced by the oxidation process in edible oils is related to the conductivity change in the SWNT sensor.
Abstract: Protective clothing limits heat transfer and hampers
task performance due to the increased weight. Militarism protective
clothing enables humans to operate in adverse environments. In the
selection and evaluation of militarism protective clothing attention
should be given to heat strain, ergonomic and fit issues next to the
actual protection it offers.
Fifty Male healthy subjects participated in the study. The subjects
were dressed in shorts, T-shirts, socks, sneakers and four deferent
kinds of militarism protective clothing such as CS, CSB, CS with
NBC protection and CS with NBC- protection added.
Ergonomically and psychological strains of every four cloths were
investigated on subjects by walking on a treadmill (7km/hour) with a
19.7 kg backpack. As a result of these tests were showed that, the
highest heart rate was found wearing the NBC-protection added
outfit, the highest temperatures were observed wearing NBCprotection
added, followed by respectively CS with NBC protection,
CSB and CS and the highest value for thermal comfort (implying
worst thermal comfort) was observed wearing NBC-protection
added.
Abstract: This paper presents a model of case based corporate
memory named ReCaRo (REsource, CAse, ROle). The approach
suggested in ReCaRo decomposes the domain to model through a set
of components. These components represent the objects developed by
the company during its activity. They are reused, and sometimes,
while bringing adaptations. These components are enriched by
knowledge after each reuse. ReCaRo builds the corporate memory on
the basis of these components. It models two types of knowledge: 1)
Business Knowledge, which constitutes the main knowledge capital
of the company, refers to its basic skill, thus, directly to the
components and 2) the Experience Knowledge which is a specialised
knowledge and represents the experience gained during the handling
of business knowledge. ReCaRo builds corporate memories which
are made up of five communicating ones.
Abstract: Optimizing equipment selection in heavy earthwork
operations is a critical key in the success of any construction project.
The objective of this research incentive was geared towards
developing a computer model to assist contractors and construction
managers in estimating the cost of heavy earthwork operations.
Economical operation analysis was conducted for an equipment fleet
taking into consideration the owning and operating costs involved in
earthwork operations. The model is being developed in a Microsoft
environment and is capable of being integrated with other estimating
and optimization models. In this study, Caterpillar® Performance
Handbook [5] was the main resource used to obtain specifications of
selected equipment. The implementation of the model shall give
optimum selection of equipment fleet not only based on cost
effectiveness but also in terms of versatility. To validate the model, a
case study of an actual dam construction project was selected to
quantify its degree of accuracy.
Abstract: IEEE 802.11e is the enhanced version of the IEEE
802.11 MAC dedicated to provide Quality of Service of wireless
network. It supports QoS by the service differentiation and
prioritization mechanism. Data traffic receives different priority
based on QoS requirements. Fundamentally, applications are divided
into four Access Categories (AC). Each AC has its own buffer queue
and behaves as an independent backoff entity. Every frame with a
specific priority of data traffic is assigned to one of these access
categories. IEEE 802.11e EDCA (Enhanced Distributed Channel
Access) is designed to enhance the IEEE 802.11 DCF (Distributed
Coordination Function) mechanisms by providing a distributed
access method that can support service differentiation among
different classes of traffic. Performance of IEEE 802.11e MAC layer
with different ACs is evaluated to understand the actual benefits
deriving from the MAC enhancements.