Numerical biomodels are precious tools for biomechanical engineering to assist understanding of physical phenomena. Finite element modeling is utilized in computer simulation technique using finite element models (FEM) to analyze in biomechanics view points. Computer aided designed (CAD) models match as a congruent anatomical model of a patient are required implementing accurate analysis of biomodels. Computerized Tomography (CT) images were used for the three-dimensional (3D) bio-modeling, and engineering analyses. In this study, three different methods were compared to get appropriate biomodel.
The study of test fairness is of crucial importance in the context of standardized high-stakes tests used to make selection decisions at different levels, for different purposes and across different groups of test takers. Fairness must be ensured in every stage of test development: from test design stage through the research stage (Kunnan, 2004). Researchers are particularly concerned about the possibility that standardized high-stakes tests such as Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) may be used inappropriately to make score-based interpretations and decisions, which may introduce unfair consequences to different groups of test takers. These concerns have increased social and educational demands, subjecting these tests to rigorous validation research. \nThis study seeks to expand research in the area of test fairness. To this end, an argument-based approach to test fairness, developed by Xi (2010), is adopted to investigate the degree of fairness of standardized high-stakes tests of TOEFL iBT. The study was conducted based on mixed method research and involved multi-level data collection and analyses procedures on the first interface of the framework called Domain definition. The results indicated that the test suffers from fairness issues in the domain definition inference based on the evidence found. \n\nKey words: Test fairness, interpretive argument, validity TOEFL iBT test.
Research relating to the understanding of probability concepts among students have been investigated from various different perspectives and this study is no exception. The purpose of is to examine students’ perceived understanding and competency in probability concepts while focusing on the learning styles among students of the Malay culture. A convenient sample of 81 undergraduate students from the mathematical and computer sciences programmes at a local public university in Malaysia were subjected to a survey investigation. An attempt in using Rasch analysis to explore students’ perceived understanding and competency revealed that students perceived a good understanding of probability concepts after they have gone through lessons on probability concepts, as measured by the relevant constructs. The study also revealed that having a good understanding of the concepts does not necessarily mean that students possessed a high ability to perform well in the test. In its connection with the learning styles, more than half of the students interviewed consider themselves as assimilators, i.e., preference for reviewing, reflecting and learning from experience followed by converger, i.e., trying out what have been learned.
Because of industries’ enormous effects on economy and environment, industrial site selection is a critical issue in urban planning process. Choosing a location of a manufacturing plant is a complex task involving a variety of criteria, which are different from one country to another. The present work describes two types of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) called Boolean logic and weighted linear combination (WLC) to evaluate the suitability of Isfahan city (Iran) for industries. In the first phase of the study, selection criteria were defined. Then, the relative importances (weights) of criteria were estimated using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). At the next stage, weighted criteria were aggregated to the find suitable industrial sites. The results of the current study found four suitable patches for industrial establishment and argued that WLC procedure provided more flexibility than Boolean logic.
To provide technology solutions and applications in major hospitals, who are working to initiate improvements in the safety, quality and affordability of healthcare services.In this paper we targeted to drive the next wave of healthcare boom to make India the most preferred healthcare destination in the world. To an application-level differentiated service policy for supporting application-level QoS in the health care sector. The main part of our work is to make it easy for end-users to make use of the benefits of new technologies like WiMAX. The paramedic onboard the ambulance can be used to quickly and easily establish an end-to-end communication path without specialist training, allowing them to concentrate on what they do best – saving lives. Bandwidth can be reserved for the ambulance’s critical communications, identifying data traffic and prioritizing it, ensuring communications are not blocked by low-priority data traffic, such as emails.
This paper aims to investigate whether sovereign rating changes have any effect on stock return in an emerging market, in particular the Amman Stock exchange(ASE). In the study, I apply the event study methodology to analyze the effect of (10) announcements from rating agency S&P500;, Moody’s over the period 2003-2011, Using the daily closing price of Amman market index from August 1, 2003 to October 30, 2011. The findings of the study reveal that the effect of Sovereign rating is present in Amman Stock Exchange. The rating downgrades and upgrades for both foreign and local currency government bond, and country ceiling for foreign and local currency bond have significant (positive/ negative) effects on stock return.\n These results suggest that Amman Stock exchange (ASE) quickly absorb the credit announcements (positive/negative) in 10 days after announcement date. So the credit rating announcements provide some informational content to the investors in Amman Stock exchange (ASE), especially the case of credit upgrade and credit downgrade.
Does paper-and-pencil versus internet-based questionnaires provide same results from university student’s surveys? This study compares responses from a paper-and-pencil survey to those from a web-based survey in terms of measurement reliability, validity, and equivalence using homogenous demographic profiles of the undergraduates studying in Taiwan. Several similarities and differences were found between two types of survey in this study. For examples, contents of the survey items (i.e., internet-related vs. behavior-related) and survey environments significantly influence the distribution of responses. The normal distribution, internal consistency, in addition to construct, and convergent validity for individual construct are quite similar. However, the nomological validity evidence was not demonstrated through structural equation modeling across two survey modes. Implications and future research are also discussed.
Diabetic is one the important cost related problems. And also it gives the numerous eye problems for humans like Diabetic retinopathy. In this work a new method to recognition of the eye have been investigated. Edge detection is one of the important modules of any image processing technique. In this work we have proposed the edge detection technique based on Region of Interest (ROI), Edge Length (EL), Lag of accommodation (LOA) and Contrast (C) to recognize the Human eye. The performance of the proposed system has been verified and validated with existing standard values which was collected the standard and famous eye hospital in Coimbatore. This technique is a novel technique to identify the Diabetic retinopathy and also the proposed technique shows significant results and also we can able to predict some other problems associated with human eye.
This paper focuses on distraction in communication among secondary school students. The objectives of the study were to identify the theme and discuss the distraction during interaction. The samples of the study consisted of twelve subjects from a secondary school. The subjects were divided into groups of fours. They were given a task on storyboard for a video clip production. The activity took place in six week for three hours a week. The results of the study revealed that the subjects had given positive impact towards learning where they were actively involved in the task given.
This paper focuses on the conflict in discussion among secondary school students. The objectives of the study were to investigate and discuss the types of conflict in the discussion. The samples of the study were fifteen subjects from a secondary school. The subjects were given a topic of discussion and they were divided into groups of fours. The subjects discussed the topic and they were given the chance to raise any conflict during the discussion. The results of the study revealed that the discussion helped the subjects to be actively involved in the discussion and increased the confidence towards learning. It is hoped that future study will focus on the advantages of conflict in discussion among learners.
This paper investigates a framework that actively find out the correlative relationship data items using an improved association rule mining algorithm. It helps to avoid the replication of same items. This proposed paper is an improved version of apriori algorithm that is focused on four features namely, initial task is to prepare and select transaction data, second Generate itemsets that determines the rule constraints for knowledge, third mine k-frequent itemsets using the transaction data and finally, generate association rule that establishes the knowledge base and provide better results compared to existing method. This system helps us to obtain a homologous decision rules as an output of given input.
This paper presents a bio inspired neuromorphic photoreceptors model of human retina and realized using analog mixed-signal (AMS) VLSI behavioral modeling. The proposed model is referred with the VAN Hateren and Snippe model. A single cell may be divided into compartments, and numerically simulated results of these models were compared with physiological data. Approaches could eventually provide the basis for a model of the whole retina
To solve the problems of large flux and torque ripples and inconstant switching frequency in direct torque control (DTC) for three phase induction motor and to eliminate speed sensor since it deteriorates system reliability and increases the cost of system. Improvement model reference adaptive system (IMRAS) based on reference speed, rotor flux, and stator current is proposed to estimate the rotor speed. In addition, stator flux and stator flux angle are used to compute the stator voltage in direct and quadrature reference frame. These voltages in d-q axis are converted to α-β voltages based on inverse park transformation and apply to SVM. From the output of SVM, the motor control signal is generated and the speed of the induction motor regulated toward the rated speed. Simulation results verify that this proposed method of DTC-SVM scheme could effectively decrease flux and torque ripples, make inverters have constant switching frequency and the speed estimation method could accurately track the reference and has good dynamic and static performance.
In this study the effect of constrained layer materials on the damping characteristics of beam type structures are investigated with the focus of reducing the added weight to the structure. Composite materials are widely used in aeronautical, marine and automotive industries, because of their excellent mechanical properties, low density and ease of manufacture. Commercially available E-glass fibers and polyester resins are used to make to composite laminates. These composite patches are boned on the surface of the beam at different covering length. Finite element software ANSYS has been used to model the sandwiched beam. Harmonic response analysis is carried out to get the frequency response function of the system analyzed. Modal loss factors are predicted by half power bandwidth method. Finally experiments are conducted to validate the numerical results. With the use of composite materials the added weight has been reduced to nearly 33% as compared with the isotropic materials such as aluminium. The comparisons are made between the loss factor of composite constraining layer and aluminium and steel constraining layer to show the efficiency of proposed method.
In this study, the impact of the Self-Awareness and Problem-Solving Skills Training Program with Therapeutic Cards, developed for the adolescents, on the problem-solving skills and self-concept were investigated in 9th grade students. The study sample consisted of 60 students, 30 of which formed the experimental group and 30 were the control group. In this study, as pretest and post-test, the Piers Harris Self-Concept Scale and Problem-Solving Inventory were used. It was concluded from the results that the program had a positive effect on the students
This paper discusses a Particle Swarm Optimization to coordinate wind and thermal generation dispatch. As wind power penetrations increase in current power systems, its impact to conventional thermal unit should be investigated due to the intermittency and unpredictability of wind power generation. Development of better wind thermal coordination economic dispatch is necessary to determine the optimal dispatch scheme that can integrate wind power reliably and efficiently. In this paper, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique is proposed for solving wind-thermal coordination problem. An algorithm is developed to deal with the equality and inequality constraints of the problem for accelerating the optimization process. The simulation results show that the PSO method is capable of obtaining higher quality solutions efficiently in wind-thermal coordination problems.
Relative conductivity of leaves, peroxides, malondialdehyde, total chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, relative water content of all these provenances in eight Camptotheca acuminata provenances were assayed under drought stress. The results showed significant differences from these parameters, and as well as different treatments among these provenances under drought stress (P<0.01). Principal component analysis indicated that under light drought stress four principal component (Cumulative contribution rate was 96.00%) is necessary to effectively reflect the general information of the selected parameters, but only three (Cumulative contribution rate was 94.61%) under severe drought stress. Taking together, provenances Kunming of Yunnan (KM), Shaoyang of Hunan (SY) and Guizhou of Guiyang (GZ) adapted well under the light drought stress, while Nanjing of Jiangsu (NJ), Changxin (CX) and Longquan of Zhejiang (LQ) adapted well under the severe drought stress. Revealing the drought resistance of different provenances would contribute to planting and camptothecin harvest in future.
Determining of the exercise intensity is very important in terms of low fatigue. Little information is available on the contraction level of the trunk muscles during whole body tilts with and without axial rotation related fatigue. This study was to investigate the difference EMG activation level between whole body tilts with and without axial rotation. 20 healthy male subjects were participated. The SEMG activity measured the five bilateral trunk muscles at eight axial rotation angles with 12 tilt angles along 15° intervals. As a result, with respect to co-contraction of abdominal and back muscle, tilt with 45° axial rotation was more balanced than without axial rotation in the same tilt angle and was maintained at an approximate level of 40% MVC at over 60° tilt angle. Lumbar stabilization exercise using whole body tilts would be more effective with axial rotation than without axial rotation in terms of muscle co-contraction and low fatigue.
A system is developed to recognize handwritten Tamil characters using a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) approach, for a subset of the Tamil characters. The image is scanned using standard scanner. The output of the scanned image is preprocessed. In preprocessing the image is digitized. The digitized image is segmented as line, word and characters. The segmented characters are pre-classified. A character image is considered for feature extraction using image glyph algorithms. The feature set (Image glyph) of each character is stored in the database. The database of the image glyph is created. The image glyphs of handwritten characters are considered for recognition. The glyph set is used for pre-recognition based on these features. The extracted features are passed to HMM where the characters are recognized.
Food insecurity is a common problem among the low-income households in the developing countries including Malaysia. Household food insecurity can contribute to nutritional deficiencies and consequently affect physical well-being of the family members. This paper aims to review studies that have given effort to measure food insecurity and nutritional status at household level in Malaysia. The paper also focuses on the coping strategies that households frequently adopt to minimize food insecurity. Literatures were identified from various sources such as journals, reports, proceedings and related documents by searching comprehensively both electronic and non-electronic databases. Based on the review of literatures, it was found that majority of the low-income households in rural communities of Malaysia suffer from some kind of food insecurity-household food insecurity, individual food insecurity or child hunger. Food insecure households usually live below the poverty line and a portion of them is categorized as hardcore poor. It was also reported that relatively higher proportion of children from food insecure households are stunting, underweight and wasting as well as women are overweight, obese and at risk waist circumference. Households suffering from food insufficiency frequently apply a variety of food and non-food related coping strategies to minimize the risk of food insecurity. Therefore, integrated efforts between agencies, communities and families are very much necessary to prevent food insecurity as well as improve nutritional status of the poor households of the country. \n\nKey words: Food insecurity, Nutritional status, Coping strategies, Household, Malaysia.
Differentiated Services (DiffServ) was proposed as a solution for providing QoS for Internet applications. Our first objective is to fairly schedule Internet Protocol packets in the DiffServ domain and reduce the inter transmission time from the same stream in Grant Based Round Robin (GBRR) Scheduling. GBRR has the capabilities of reducing the frame lengths. Secondly, to give a chance to all traffic classes to have bandwidth access by avoiding the lower priority class starvation in Bandwidth Based Round Robin (BBRR) wired Scheduling. BBRR maintain fair bandwidth allocation for competing network streams. BBRR proved no packet loss. BBRR is compared with GBRR in terms of transmission rate, jitter, scheduling, latency, delay and bandwidth. In a cellular network, the channels from the base-station to the mobile users undergo flat fading which is a type of fading in a communications channel that fades all frequencies in the channel in the same amount. Delay and traffic occurs results in the wastage of channel bandwidth. Thirdly, we proposed a Longest Iterated queue First (LIF) wireless Scheduling in which there is no wastage of channel bandwidth. We simulated the existing Delay Optimal Opportunistic Scheduling and compared with LIF and proved that LIF give maximum network throughput.
The present world inevitably depends on conventional fossil fuel for a range of utilities like industrial production, electricity generation, transportation and domestic purposes. Regardless of its increased demand, the non renewable fuel resources are diminishing in an alarming rate. The environmental pollution effect of conventional diesel is frightening. The pollution effect of diesel begins from its production and lasts till its exhausts after combustion. The research work is carried on to find a suitable renewable fuel with reduced emissions as a substitute for downsized fossil fuels. The combination pongamia pinnata biodiesel and hydrogen is tested in experimental set up of CI engine with AVL gas analyser. The emission parameter like NOx, HC, CO and CO2 are measured. The experimental study analysis is made for various fuel combinations of Hydrogen, Pongamia Pinnata Biodiesel and DEE comparing with conventional Diesel. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) technique is implemented for further reduction of emission and the obtained results are compared.
When the classical optimization procedures were found to be inefficient in solving real world complex problems, the growth rate of non-conventional optimization procedures becomes exponential. Recent publications and articles of many researchers belonging to different fields exhibit the success of the implementation such non-conventional optimization algorithms. In this article, the chief mechanism of particle swarm optimization procedure and its time based control parameters are exploited to have a basic idea of this algorithm. For better understanding, the marker planning of raw materials in the manufacturing of leaf spring assembly is considered. The leaf spring assembly consists of approximately twelve leaves having unique dimensions. The utilization of raw material will be the maximum since the trim loss is reduced to minimum during the marker planning operation. Thus the costs related to the purchase and maintenance of materials is reduced, simultaneously a green manufacturing environment can also be created. The main focus of this article lies in the exploration of the swarm intelligence procedure along with the successful implementation of the same PSO and TSM algorithm in the real time manufacturing environment. The outcome resulted out of the experiments conducted highlights the easy implementation and adoptability of the developed optimization procedure.
Most of the research works on energy saving methods for air conditioning have focused on large chillers. A majority of the office buildings, classrooms and residential buildings are equipped with single split air conditioning systems. Hence, this research work discusses energy conservation in a split air conditioning system, with a helical type intercooler that acts as a heat exchanger. The inter cooler used as a coolant like mixture of water and anti-freezing materials like ethylene glycol with ratio of 70:30. The inter cooler reduces the refrigerant entry temperature in the evaporator by 5 to 6°C and also compressor outlet temperature by 30°C from 70 to 40°C. The compressor’s running time is reduced from 44 minutes 30 seconds to 23 minutes. The required indoor temperature of 18°C is reached in 18 minutes 30 seconds earlier. It is evident that the time taken for cooling by the modified system is 48.31 % less than that of the existing split air condition system. The new modified system reduces the energy consumption, and also indirectly reduces global warming.
Friction welding has proved to be a reliable and economical way of producing good quality welds. The present study is focussed on optimization of Weld Characteristics of Al/SiCp composites. During friction welding the upset pressure, frictional pressure and speed of rotation were considered as vital parameters which determine the quality of joints and understanding them helps in determining the optimum parameters and the ways to improve the design and manufacture of welding machines. The Experiments were conducted using Taguchi’s orthogonal matrix array and the mechanical tests were carried out on the weldments. The responses were optimized using Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the results obtained were compared.
We used remote sensing data to detect the evidence of neotectonic deformation in conjunction with fieldwork observations. The utilized satellite data include Landsat, SRTM90 m, Aster data, and QuickBird and IRS images. This study focuses on Dehshir and Anar fault zones in central Iran. Along Dehshir strike-slip fault zone; the activity of tectonic has displaced perpendicularly travertine deposits ~190 m (since Quaternary) and alluvial fans and drainages 7-55 m horizontally in Holocene. Perpendicular displacement along Dehshir fault zone and subsequent erosion of hanging-wall has scatteringly created erosion surfaces in Quaternary. Oldest fan displacement of Dehshir strike-slip fault zone can be documented ~1000 m in Marvast area. Along Dehshir and Anar fault zones the existing springs can be regarded as a witness of the fault activity since they are stretched as linear trend. The Anar strike-slip faulting has displaced border of Anar playa(belong to Quaternary) ~1000 m and caused sharp scarp similar to wall-like feature (~40 m). We estimate 11.5 m (Mean) offset in the north of Anar that is a new evidence of morphotectonic in Late Holocene. The results show the rate of offsets is different but the patterns of displacements along the strike-slip fault zone play in the same structure.
A mixed-kernel ε-SVM is constructed by combining RBF kernel and polynomial kernel linearly in order to use SVM to predict more effectively and overcome some typical shortcomings(like weak generalized performance and learning capability of normal SVM. As there are many problems existing in standard PSO in the process of the latter stage, such as serious concussion, inclination-tendency and the high possibility of being involved in local maximum value. An improved PSO algorithm is proposed to solve the above problems at the same time as well as its mathematic model and algorithmic procedure are given. In the improved PSO, the following-factor of random-particle\'s maximum value is imported to the expressions of momentum and the velocity of normal PSO algorithm, then the new momentum expression is back embedded to the newly updated velocity formular, by which particle can weaken the concussion and inclination tendency simultaneously. A function simulation and a real-data based experiment prove that the mixed kernel ε-SVM based on improved PSO presented in this paper has good advantages over many other predicting algorithms in forecasting precision, convergence velocity, robustness and simplicity, therefore, it\'s a valuable regression algorithm to be spread.
As nano material has become the major quest of every researchers due to it numerous advantages and applications, nano porous devices constitute emerging platforms that allowing wider room for exploration. Here in this study, an ultrasonic enhanced anodic electrochemical etching fabrication of silicon nano porous by simple technique, uniform silicon nanopores with pore diameter of < 20 nm were fabricated. The surface and cross-sectional morphology reveal that the method produce uniform nano silicon porous layer with smaller silicon pores with high etching efficiency. The study also demostrated that the silicon nano porous exhibited excellent optical properties which shows a reflection and PL spectra with PL peak located between 800-860 nm
This review examines research on teaching English language at the collegiate contexts with a particular focus on the merging of language learning activity and regular set of activities based on a particular relevant field. The overarching question framing this review is: What is the base for the activity of language learning and how are they instantiated as curricula and instruction at the college level? To respond to this question content for teaching language in India is analyzed and addressed as evidenced in published research. The review concludes by suggesting overarching contexts and approaches for the promotion of language learning activity and directions for future research.
– In this work, a 2D axi-symmetric model of finite element method (FEM) model has been developed to analyze the contact behavior in resistance spot welding (RSW) process using commercial software ANSYS. We propose the process of welding whose final objective is to study the mechanical contact behavior state in the interface electrode –worksheet and worksheet - worksheet of the RSW. So we can change lot of parameters such as electrode force, electrode radius and depth of worksheet.\n\nKeywords: resistance spot welding (RSW); finite element method (FEM); stress; contact pressure; mechanical behavior.
Malay quatrain has been introduced since long time ago among the Malay\ncommunities. It has also been used until today in formal ceremonies like the\nweddings, meetings and speeches. The Malay quatrain has also been taught in schools\nin order to inculcate the culture among children at young age. Therefore, this study\nascertains the perspective of Malay quatrain in the media technology. The objectives\nof the study were to identify the types of Malay quatrain favored by the students and\ndiscuss the interactions of the students during the process of learning. The samples of\nthe study involved 20 volunteered subjects from a school in Malaysia. The subjects\nwere nine year olds male and female students. The subjects were given a website\nwhich consists of Malay quatrain activities. The Malay quatrains consisted of moral\nvalues that were able to be understood among the students. The subjects were in pairs\nand they were to try out the website and discuss their opinion about the Malay\nquatrain. The interactions among the subjects were taped and selected interactions\nrelated to the study were analyzed. The discourse analysis method was used to\nanalyze the interactions. The results of the study revealed that the subjects would\nprefer the Malay quatrain which has the value of love among family members, friends\nand teachers. It is hoped that future research concentrates on the use the Malay\nquatrain with aesthetic values among children at primary schools.
The study focuses on the use of blog writing in learning the Malay language. The\nobjectives of the study were to identify and analyze the adjectives and verbs in the\nblog. The samples of the study consisted of six volunteer female subjects from a\nMalay language class at a university in Korea. The subjects were given a task to write\na story about their experiences and feelings toward the autumn season. The subjects\nwere told to write at least a hundred words of writing in the blog. The writings from\nthe subjects were analyzed by using the discourse analysis method. The results of the\nstudy revealed that each subject managed to write at least five adjectives and five\nverbs in his/her writing. The subjects also managed to write interesting experiences\nand stories in the blog. It is hoped that future studies will focus on blog writing as\nother means of grammar usage.
Simple and cost-effective position sensorless control for permanent magnet brushless DC (BLDC) motor drives using virtual instrumentation is proposed in this paper. It is based on the generation of quasi-square current waveforms, unlike the conventional methods, the proposed method presents advantages such as very simple control scheme, without needing to triangular carrier modulation, and balanced phase currents. The proposed position sensorless technique is based on the detection of zero crossing points of three voltage functions that are derived from the difference between the lines’ voltage measured at the terminals of the motor. Virtual instrumentation programme. Virtually created the components and find the position information from line voltage difference. Instead of many techniques this indirect position detection technique has the advantage of the third order harmonics elimination. Conventionally PMBLDC motors exited by six switch inverters. The position information detected virtually using LabVIEW. Cost-effective design is becoming one of the most important concerns for the modern motor control research. Based on that the proposed VI based sensorless technique using FPGA is implemented for Four switch inverter instead of six switch.
