Abstract: This paper introduces an approach to construct a set of criteria for evaluating alternative options. Content analysis was used to collet criterion elements. Then the elements were classified and organized yielding to hierarchic structure. The reliability of the constructed criteria was evaluated in an experiment. Finally the criteria were used to evaluate alternative options indecision-making.
Abstract: The main aim of this research is to investigate a novel technique for implementing a more natural and intelligent conversation system. Conversation systems are designed to converse like a human as much as their intelligent allows. Sometimes, we can think that they are the embodiment of Turing-s vision. It usually to return a predetermined answer in a predetermined order, but conversations abound with uncertainties of various kinds. This research will focus on an integrated natural language processing approach. This approach includes an integrated knowledge-base construction module, a conversation understanding and generator module, and a state manager module. We discuss effectiveness of this approach based on an experiment.
Abstract: In this work, we examine fluid mixing in a full three-stream mixing channel with longitudinal vortex generators (LVGs) built on the channel bottom by numerical simulation and experiment. The effects of the asymmetrical arrangement and the attack angle of the LVGs on fluid mixing are investigated. The results show that the micromixer with LVGs at a small asymmetry index (defined by the ratio of the distance from the center plane of the gap between the winglets to the center plane of the main channel to the width of the main channel) is superior to the micromixer with symmetric LVGs and that with LVGs at a large asymmetry index. The micromixer using five mixing modules of the LVGs with an attack angle between 16.5 degrees and 22.5 degrees can achieve excellent mixing over a wide range of Reynolds numbers. Here, we call a section of channel with two pairs of staggered asymmetrical LVGs a mixing module. Besides, the micromixer with LVGs at a small attack angle is more efficient than that with a larger attack angle when pressure losses are taken into account.
Abstract: The purpose of this research was to study the inspector performance by using computer based training (CBT). Visual inspection task was printed circuit board (PCB) simulated on several types of defects. Subjects were 16 undergraduate randomly selected from King Mongkut-s University of Technology Thonburi and test for 20/20. Then, they were equally divided on performance into two groups (control and treatment groups) and were provided information before running the experiment. Only treatment group was provided feedback information after first experiment. Results revealed that treatment group was showed significantly difference at the level of 0.01. The treatment group showed high percentage on defects detected. Moreover, the attitude of inspectors on using the CBT to inspection was showed on good. These results have been showed that CBT could be used for training to improve inspector performance.
Abstract: The main objective of this research was to investigate
the biosorption capacity for biofilms of sulphate reducing bacteria
(SRB) to remove heavy metals, such as Zn, Pb and Cd from
rainwater using laboratory-scale reactors containing mixed support
media. Evidence showed that biosorption had contributed to removal
of heavy metals including Zn, Pb and Cd in presence of SRB and
SRB were also found in the aqueous samples from reactors.
However, the SRB and specific families (Desulfobacteriaceae and
Desulfovibrionaceae) were found mainly in the biomass samples
taken from all reactors at the end of the experiment. EDX-analysis
of reactor solids at end of experiment showed that heavy metals Zn,
Pb and Cd had also accumulated in these precipitates.
Abstract: We study the spatial design of experiment and we want to select a most informative subset, having prespecified size, from a set of correlated random variables. The problem arises in many applied domains, such as meteorology, environmental statistics, and statistical geology. In these applications, observations can be collected at different locations and possibly at different times. In spatial design, when the design region and the set of interest are discrete then the covariance matrix completely describe any objective function and our goal is to choose a feasible design that minimizes the resulting uncertainty. The problem is recast as that of maximizing the determinant of the covariance matrix of the chosen subset. This problem is NP-hard. For using these designs in computer experiments, in many cases, the design space is very large and it's not possible to calculate the exact optimal solution. Heuristic optimization methods can discover efficient experiment designs in situations where traditional designs cannot be applied, exchange methods are ineffective and exact solution not possible. We developed a GA algorithm to take advantage of the exploratory power of this algorithm. The successful application of this method is demonstrated in large design space. We consider a real case of design of experiment. In our problem, design space is very large and for solving the problem, we used proposed GA algorithm.
Abstract: In this research saffron samples were prepared from
farms and sampling was done in four states contain : sampling from
fresh saffron of petal with forceps , sampling from fresh saffron of
petal by hands, sampling from dried sample by warm air in shadow,
sampling from dried sample which dried by dryer. Samples collected
and kept in sterile tubes and containers and carried to laboratory and
maintained until experiment. Microbial experiments were performed
to determine microbial load such as total count, Staphylococcus
aureus, coli form, E.coli, mold and yeast. Results showed that in
picking and drying stages the contamination amount increases in
saffron samples. There was a significant difference between the
microbial load of picked up saffron by forceps and by hands, and
also between dried saffron by warm air in shadow and by dryer.
Abstract: The output beam quality of multi transverse modes of
laser, are relatively poor. In order to obtain better beam quality, one
may use an aperture inside the laser resonator. In this case, various
transverse modes can be selected. We have selected various
transverse modes both by simulation and doing experiment. By
inserting a circular aperture inside the diode end-pumped Nd:YAG
pulsed laser resonator, we have obtained 00 TEM , 01 TEM
, 20 TEM and have studied which parameters, can change the mode
shape. Then, we have determined the beam quality factor of TEM00
gaussian mode.
Abstract: Quality control charts are very effective in detecting
out of control signals but when a control chart signals an out of
control condition of the process mean, searching for a special cause
in the vicinity of the signal time would not always lead to prompt
identification of the source(s) of the out of control condition as the
change point in the process parameter(s) is usually different from the
signal time. It is very important to manufacturer to determine at what
point and which parameters in the past caused the signal. Early
warning of process change would expedite the search for the special
causes and enhance quality at lower cost. In this paper the quality
variables under investigation are assumed to follow a multivariate
normal distribution with known means and variance-covariance
matrix and the process means after one step change remain at the new
level until the special cause is being identified and removed, also it is
supposed that only one variable could be changed at the same time.
This research applies artificial neural network (ANN) to identify the
time the change occurred and the parameter which caused the change
or shift. The performance of the approach was assessed through a
computer simulation experiment. The results show that neural
network performs effectively and equally well for the whole shift
magnitude which has been considered.
Abstract: A mathematical model of the surface roughness
has been developed by using response surface methodology
(RSM) in grinding of AISI D2 cold work tool steels. Analysis
of variance (ANOVA) was used to check the validity of the
model. Low and high value for work speed and feed rate are
decided from design of experiment. The influences of all
machining parameters on surface roughness have been
analyzed based on the developed mathematical model. The
developed prediction equation shows that both the feed rate
and work speed are the most important factor that influences
the surface roughness. The surface roughness was found to be
the lowers with the used of low feed rate and low work speed.
Accuracy of the best model was proved with the testing data.
Abstract: The present investigation aimed to study the
histomorphometric characterizations of the thyroid gland of the duck.
Five adult male and five adult female ducks were used in the
experiment. Results showed that the overall histological structure of
the thyroid gland of the duck were similar to those of the other
vertebrae. The gland consisted of roughly spherical randomly
distributed micro and macrofollicles with very little interstitial tissue
between them. Each follicle is lined by a single layer of epithelial
cells enclosing a cavity, the follicular cavity, which is filled with
colloid. Ultrastructural findings showed that the apical surface of the
follicular cells bears a variable number of short, irregularly
distributed microvilli which are apparently more numerous on the
columnar cells than on the lower, relatively inactive cells.
Mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum occupy the
subnuclear region of the follicular cell, whereas the Golgi complex,
free ribosomes and colloid droplets were found in the apical
cytoplasm. At light or electron microscopic levels, there was no sex
difference in histomorphometric characteristics of the thyroid
glands.ls.
Abstract: Fatigue is the major threat in service of steel structure
subjected to fluctuating loads. With the additional effect of corrosion
and presence of weld joints the fatigue failure may become more
critical in structural steel. One of the apt examples of such structural
is the sailing ship. This is experiencing a constant stress due to
floating and a pulsating bending load due to the waves. This paper
describes an attempt to verify theory of fatigue in fracture mechanics
approach with experimentation to determine the constants of crack
growth curve. For this, specimen is prepared from the ship building
steel and it is subjected to a pulsating bending load with a known
defect. Fatigue crack and its nature is observed in this experiment.
Application of fracture mechanics approach in fatigue with a simple
practical experiment is conducted and constants of crack growth
equation are investigated.
Abstract: The forming process parameters of Selective Laser
Sintering(SLS) directly affect the forming efficiency and forming
quality. Therefore, to determine reasonable process parameters is
particularly important. In this paper, the weight of each target of the
forming quality and efficiency is firstly calculated with the Analytic
Hierarchy Process. And then the size of each target is measured by
orthogonal experiment. Finally, the sum of the product of each target
with the weight is compared to the process parameters in each group
and obtained the optimal molding process parameters.
Abstract: This paper presents the findings of two experiments that were performed on the Redundancy in Wireless Connection Model (RiWC) using the 802.11b standard. The experiments were simulated using OPNET 11.5 Modeler software. The first was aimed at finding the maximum number of simultaneous Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) users the model would support under the G.711 and G.729 codec standards when the packetization interval was 10 milliseconds (ms). The second experiment examined the model?s VoIP user capacity using the G.729 codec standard along with background traffic using the same packetization interval as in the first experiment. To determine the capacity of the model under various experiments, we checked three metrics: jitter, delay and data loss. When background traffic was added, we checked the response time in addition to the previous three metrics. The findings of the first experiment indicated that the maximum number of simultaneous VoIP users the model was able to support was 5, which is consistent with recent research findings. When using the G.729 codec, the model was able to support up to 16 VoIP users; similar experiments in current literature have indicated a maximum of 7 users. The finding of the second experiment demonstrated that the maximum number of VoIP users the model was able to support was 12, with the existence of background traffic.
Abstract: The heterotrophic seedling growth can be defined as a
product of two components: (1) the weight of mobilized seed reserve,
and (2) conversion efficiency of utilized seed reserve to seedling
tissue. The first component can be further divided into (1) initial seed
weight, and (2) the fraction of seed reserve, which is mobilized. The
objective of this study was the identification of the sensitive seedling
growth component(s) in response to drought and salinity stresses.
Two experiments were separately conducted using various salinity
levels (osmotic pressure) of 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1, 1.25 and 1.5 MPa
created using NaCl as first experiment and by polyethylene glycol
(drought stress) of 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1, 1.2 and 1.4 MPa in second
experiment. Seeds of five crops species (Hordeum vulgare, Brassica
napus, Zea mays, Medicago sativa and Medicago scutellata) were
used in each experiment. In both experiments, seedling growth,
fraction of seed reserve utilization and weight of mobilized seed
reserve decreased with increasing drought and salt intensity.
However, drought and salinity stresses had no effect on the
conversion efficiency. It was concluded that the sensitive component
of seedling growth is the weight of mobilized seed reserve.
Abstract: The innovative intelligent fuzzy weighted input
estimation method (FWIEM) can be applied to the inverse heat
transfer conduction problem (IHCP) to estimate the unknown
time-varying heat flux of the multilayer materials as presented in this
paper. The feasibility of this method can be verified by adopting the
temperature measurement experiment. The experiment modular may
be designed by using the copper sample which is stacked up 4
aluminum samples with different thicknesses. Furthermore, the
bottoms of copper samples are heated by applying the standard heat
source, and the temperatures on the tops of aluminum are measured by
using the thermocouples. The temperature measurements are then
regarded as the inputs into the presented method to estimate the heat
flux in the bottoms of copper samples. The influence on the estimation
caused by the temperature measurement of the sample with different
thickness, the processing noise covariance Q, the weighting factor γ ,
the sampling time interval Δt , and the space discrete interval Δx ,
will be investigated by utilizing the experiment verification. The
results show that this method is efficient and robust to estimate the
unknown time-varying heat input of the multilayer materials.
Abstract: Group contribution methods such as the UNIFAC are
of major interest to researchers and engineers involved synthesis,
feasibility studies, design and optimization of separation processes as
well as other applications of industrial use. Reliable knowledge of
the phase equilibrium behavior is crucial for the prediction of the fate
of the chemical in the environment and other applications. The
objective of this study was to predict the solubility of selected
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in glycol polymers and
biodiesel. Measurements can be expensive and time consuming,
hence the need for thermodynamic models. The results obtained in
this study for the infinite dilution activity coefficients compare very
well those published in literature obtained through measurements. It
is suggested that in preliminary design or feasibility studies of
absorption systems for the abatement of volatile organic compounds,
prediction procedures should be implemented while accurate fluid
phase equilibrium data should be obtained from experiment.
Abstract: The aim of the present investigation was to compare
sex differences in thyroid gland structure of rabbits. Five adult male
and five adult female (3.1-3.5 kg body weight) New Zealand white
rabbits were used in the experiment. Results showed that at light
microscopic level, there was no sex difference in microscopic
appearance of the thyroid glands. At electron microscopic level,
however, the mitochondria and the microvilli of the follicular cells
are more numerous and the Golgi complex is also more extensive in
male rabbits in comparison to females. Results obtained from
micrometric measurements showed that the volume density of the
follicles is higher in males than in females, but the differences are not
statistically significant .The volume density of epithelium and the
height of follicular cells are significantly greater in males than in
females and reverse is true about the volume density of interstitium
(p
Abstract: The blood ducts must be occluded to avoid loss of
blood from vessels in laparoscopic surgeries. This paper presents a
locking mechanism to be used in a ligation laparoscopic procedure
(LigLAP I), as an alternative solution for a stapling procedure.
Currently, stapling devices are being used to occlude vessels. Using
these devices may result in some problems, including injury of bile
duct, taking up a great deal of space behind the vessel, and bile leak.
In this new procedure, a two-layer suture occludes a vessel. A
locking mechanism is also required to hold the suture. Since there is
a limited space at the device tip, a Shape Memory Alloy (SMA)
actuator is used in this mechanism. Suitability for cleanroom
applications, small size, and silent performance are among the
advantages of SMA actuators in biomedical applications. An
experimental study is conducted to examine the function of the
locking mechanism. To set up the experiment, a prototype of a
locking mechanism is built using nitinol, which is a nickel-titanium
shape memory alloy. The locking mechanism successfully locks a
polymer suture for all runs of the experiment. In addition, the effects
of various surface materials on the applied pulling forces are studied.
Various materials are mounted at the mechanism tip to compare the
maximum pulling forces applied to the suture for each material. The
results show that the various surface materials on the device tip
provide large differences in the applied pulling forces.
Abstract: DNA shuffling is a powerful method used for in vitro
evolute molecules with specific functions and has application in areas
such as, for example, pharmaceutical, medical and agricultural
research. The success of such experiments is dependent on a variety
of parameters and conditions that, sometimes, can not be properly
pre-established. Here, two computational models predicting DNA
shuffling results is presented and their use and results are evaluated
against an empirical experiment. The in silico and in vitro results
show agreement indicating the importance of these two models and
motivating the study and development of new models.