Abstract: The Taiwan government has invested approximately
21 billion NT dollars in the construction of bicycle paths since
bicycling has gained huge popularity as a healthy leisure and
recreational activity. This study focuses on the behavior of
recreational bicyclists in Danshuei and Bali, northern Taiwan. Data
were collected from a field investigation carried out along the
Danshuei bicycle path and Bali left-bank bicycle path. A total of 578
questionnaires were gathered for data analysis. Descriptive statistics
and Chi-Square tests were used to assess bicyclists- behaviors. The
frequency shows that, in these areas, Danshuei and Bali, most
bicyclists rented bicycles, rode the bicycle path in the afternoon for
about 2 hours. The used the bicycle path one time per week. For most,
it was the first time to ride these bicycle paths. There were significant
differences in distribution of bicycle ownership, time of day, duration
of ride, ride frequency, and whether riding occurred on weekdays or
weekends. Results indicated that most bicyclists in Danshuei and Bali
were infrequent users.
Abstract: This paper deals with the analysis of active constrained layer damping (ACLD) of doubly curved laminated composite shells using active fiber composite (AFC) materials. The constraining layer of the ACLD treatment has been considered to be made of the AFC materials. A three dimensional energy based finite element model of the smart doubly curved laminated composite shell integrated with a patch of such ACLD treatment has been developed to demonstrate the performance of the patch on enhancing the damping characteristics of the doubly curved laminated composite shells. Particular emphasis has been placed on studying the effect of variation of piezoelectric fiber orientation angle in the constraining AFC layer on the control authority of the ACLD patch.
Abstract: This paper presents an overview of current municipal
solid waste management in Khoram Abad city.
According to data collected by the local authorities, the waste
generation rate is estimated to be 800 g/cap.d with density of 243
kg/m3. Solid waste is stored in different types of containers at the
source of generation in different areas of the city.
Local Authority is responsible for waste collection, transportation.
Municipality is responsible for waste collection, using private sector
contracts.
At present, both mechanical and manual methods are used to
collect residential waste. Manual methods of collection are the most
commonly used for waste collection in most parts of the city.
Land filling is the main disposal method in this city. But it has
some obvious problem and deficiencies
The current state of solid waste management has been improved
slightly in the last decade. By more actions can reduce the human and
environmental risks.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose a fixed formatting method of PPX(Pretty Printer for XML). PPX is a query language for XML database which has extensive formatting capability that produces HTML as the result of a query. The fixed formatting method is to completely specify the combination of variables and layout specification operators within the layout expression of the GENERATE clause of PPX. In the experiment, a quick comparison shows that PPX requires far less description compared to XSLT or XQuery programs doing the same tasks.
Abstract: Online Communities are an example of sociallyaware,
self-organising, complex adaptive computing systems.
The multi-agent systems (MAS) paradigm coordinated by
self-organisation mechanisms has been used as an effective
way for the simulation and modeling of such systems. In this
paper, we propose a model for simulating an online health
community using a situated multi-agent system approach,
governed by the co-evolution of the social and spatial
organisations of the agents.
Abstract: This paper examines the modeling and analysis of a
cruise control system using a Petri net based approach, task graphs,
invariant analysis and behavioral properties. It shows how the
structures used can be verified and optimized.
Abstract: This paper presents a new color face image database
for benchmarking of automatic face detection algorithms and human
skin segmentation techniques. It is named the VT-AAST image
database, and is divided into four parts. Part one is a set of 286 color
photographs that include a total of 1027 faces in the original format
given by our digital cameras, offering a wide range of difference in
orientation, pose, environment, illumination, facial expression and
race. Part two contains the same set in a different file format. The
third part is a set of corresponding image files that contain human
colored skin regions resulting from a manual segmentation
procedure. The fourth part of the database has the same regions
converted into grayscale. The database is available on-line for
noncommercial use. In this paper, descriptions of the database
development, organization, format as well as information needed for
benchmarking of algorithms are depicted in detail.
Abstract: In the last few years, the Semantic Web gained scientific acceptance as a means of relationships identification in knowledge base, widely known by semantic association. Query about complex relationships between entities is a strong requirement for many applications in analytical domains. In bioinformatics for example, it is critical to extract exchanges between proteins. Currently, the widely known result of such queries is to provide paths between connected entities from data graph. However, they do not always give good results while facing the user need by the best association or a set of limited best association, because they only consider all existing paths but ignore the path evaluation. In this paper, we present an approach for supporting association discovery queries. Our proposal includes (i) a query language PmSPRQL which provides a multiparadigm query expressions for association extraction and (ii) some quantification measures making easy the process of association ranking. The originality of our proposal is demonstrated by a performance evaluation of our approach on real world datasets.
Abstract: QoS routing is an important component of Traffic
Engineering in networks that provide QoS guarantees. QoS routing is dependent on the link state information which is typically flooded across the network. This affects both the quality
of the routing and the utilization of the network resources. In
this paper, we examine establishing QoS routes with partial state
updates in wired sensor networks.
Abstract: Various solar energy technologies exist and they have
different application techniques in the generation of electrical power.
The widespread use of photovoltaic (PV) modules in such
technologies has been limited by relatively high costs and low
efficiencies. The efficiency of PV panels decreases as the operating
temperatures increase. This is due to the affect of solar intensity and
ambient temperature. In this work, Computational Fluid Dynamics
(CFD) was used to model the heat transfer from a standard PV panel
and thus determine the rate of dissipation of heat. To accurately
model the specific climatic conditions of the United Arab Emirates
(UAE), a case study of a new build green building in Dubai was
used. A finned heat pipe arrangement is proposed and analyzed to
determine the improved heat dissipation and thus improved
performance efficiency of the PV panel. A prototype of the
arrangement is built for experimental testing to validate the CFD
modeling and proof of concept.
Abstract: Arenga pinnata is an abundantly natural fiber that can be used for sound proof material. However, the scientific data of acoustics properties of Arenga pinnata was not available yet. In this study the sound absorption of pure arenga pinnata was measured. The thickness of Arenga pinnata was varied in 10 mm, 20 mm, 30mm, and 40mm. This work was carried out to investigate the potential of using Arenga pinnata fiber as raw material for sound absorbing material. Impedance Tube Method was used to measure sound absorption coefficient (α). The Measurements was done in accordance with ASTM E1050-98, that is the standard test method for impedance and absorption of acoustical materials using a tube, two microphones and a digital frequency analysis system . The results showed that sound absorption coefficients of Arenga pinnata were good from 2000 Hz to 5000 Hz within the range of 0.75 – 0.90. The optimum sound absorption coefficient was obtained from the thickness of 40 mm. These results indicated that Arenga pinnata fiber is promising to be used as raw material of sound absorbing material with low cost, light, and biodegradable.
Abstract: This paper describes Clinical Document Architecture Release Two (CDA R2) standard and a client application for messaging with SAĞLIK-NET project developed by The Ministry of Health of Turkey. CDA R2 , developed by Health Level 7 (HL7) organization and approved by American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in 2004, to standardize medical information to be able to share semantically and syntactically. In this study, a client application compatible with HL7 V3 for a project named SAĞLIKNET, aimed to build a National Health Information System by Turkey. Moreover, CDA conformance of this application will also be evaluated.
Abstract: Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is the engine
driving high-throughput protein identification. Protein mixtures possibly
representing thousands of proteins from multiple species are
treated with proteolytic enzymes, cutting the proteins into smaller
peptides that are then analyzed generating MS/MS spectra. The
task of determining the identity of the peptide from its spectrum
is currently the weak point in the process. Current approaches to de
novo sequencing are able to compute candidate peptides efficiently.
The problem lies in the limitations of current scoring functions. In this
paper we introduce the concept of proteome signature. By examining
proteins and compiling proteome signatures (amino acid usage) it is
possible to characterize likely combinations of amino acids and better
distinguish between candidate peptides. Our results strongly support
the hypothesis that a scoring function that considers amino acid usage
patterns is better able to distinguish between candidate peptides. This
in turn leads to higher accuracy in peptide prediction.
Abstract: This research presents a system for post processing of
data that takes mined flat rules as input and discovers crisp as well as
fuzzy hierarchical structures using Learning Classifier System
approach. Learning Classifier System (LCS) is basically a machine
learning technique that combines evolutionary computing,
reinforcement learning, supervised or unsupervised learning and
heuristics to produce adaptive systems. A LCS learns by interacting
with an environment from which it receives feedback in the form of
numerical reward. Learning is achieved by trying to maximize the
amount of reward received. Crisp description for a concept usually
cannot represent human knowledge completely and practically. In the
proposed Learning Classifier System initial population is constructed
as a random collection of HPR–trees (related production rules) and
crisp / fuzzy hierarchies are evolved. A fuzzy subsumption relation is
suggested for the proposed system and based on Subsumption Matrix
(SM), a suitable fitness function is proposed. Suitable genetic
operators are proposed for the chosen chromosome representation
method. For implementing reinforcement a suitable reward and
punishment scheme is also proposed. Experimental results are
presented to demonstrate the performance of the proposed system.
Abstract: This study aims to investigate how much both son and
daughter trust their father and what are the underlying reasons they
trust their father. The results revealed five main reasons why
Malaysian adolescents trust their father. Those reasons are related to
the role of father, father-child relationship, father-s characteristics,
father-s nurturing nature and father-s attitude and behavior. A total of
1022 students (males = 241, females = 781) from one of public
university in Sabah, Malaysia participated in the study. The
participants completed open-ended questionnaires developed by Kim
(2008), asking how much the adolescents trust their father, and the
reasons why they trust their father. The data was analysed by using
the indigenous psychology method proposed by [1] Findings of this
study revealed the pattern of trust towards father for both Malaysian
male and female adolescents. The results contributed new
information about Malaysian adolescents- trust towards their father
form the indigenous context. The implications of finding will be
discussed.
Abstract: Bootstrapping has gained popularity in different tests of hypotheses as an alternative in using asymptotic distribution if one is not sure of the distribution of the test statistic under a null hypothesis. This method, in general, has two variants – the parametric and the nonparametric approaches. However, issues on reliability of this method always arise in many applications. This paper addresses the issue on reliability by establishing a reliability measure in terms of quantiles with respect to asymptotic distribution, when this is approximately correct. The test of hypotheses used is Ftest. The simulated results show that using nonparametric bootstrapping in F-test gives better reliability than parametric bootstrapping with relatively higher degrees of freedom.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to determine Frenet-Serret invariants of non-null curves in Lorentzian 5-space. First, we define a vector product of four vectors, by this way, we present a method to calculate Frenet-Serret invariants of the non-null curves. Additionally, an algebraic example of presented method is illustrated.
Abstract: Let G be a Hamiltonian graph. A factor F of G is called
a Hamiltonian factor if F contains a Hamiltonian cycle. In this paper,
two sufficient conditions are given, which are two neighborhood
conditions for a Hamiltonian graph G to have a Hamiltonian factor.
Abstract: Mega urban transport projects (MUTPs) are
increasingly being used in urban environments to ameliorate the
problem of congestion. However, a number of problems with regard
to mega projects have been identified. In particular the seemingly
institutionalised over estimation of economic benefits and persistent
cost over runs, could mean that the wrong projects are selected, and
that the projects that are selected cost more than they should. Studies
to date have produced a number of solutions to these problems,
perhaps most notably, the various methods for the inclusion of the
private sector in project provision. However the problems have
shown significant intractability in the face of these solutions. This
paper provides a detailed examination of some of the problems
facing mega projects and then examines Foucault-s theory of
'governmentality' as a possible frame of analysis which might shed
light on the intractability of the problems that have been identified,
through an identification of the art of government in which MUTPs
occur.
Abstract: This paper describes a system, in which various methods of text summarizing can be adapted to Polish. A structure of the system is presented. A modular construction of the system and access to the system via the Internet are signaled.