An Integrated Method for Determination of the Oswald Factor in a Multi-Fidelity Design Environment

Aircraft conceptual design often focuses on unconventional configurations like for example forward swept wings. Assessing the characteristics of these configurations usually requires the use of physic based analysis modules. This is due to the fact that for unconventional configurations no sucient database for historic based analysis modules is available. Nevertheless, physic based models require a lot of input data and their computational cost can be high. Generating input values in a trade study manually is work-intensive and error-prone. Conceptual design modules can be used to generate sucient input data for physic based models and their results can be re-integrated into the conceptual design phase. In this study a direct link between a conceptual design module and an aerodynamic design module is presented. Geometric information is generated by the conceptual design module and the physic based results, in form of the Oswald factor, are then fed back. Apart from the direct link, an equation for determination of the Oswald factor is derived via a Symbolic Regression Approach

Form processing with the Hough transform

A form document processing system based on the Hough transform (HT) is developed. It performs form identification and form registration. For form identification, HT is applied off-line to master forms to calculate form features and build-up the feature database, and it is performed on-line for the input (scanned) forms to extract features to identify the form type based on feature matching. The derived features are rotation, translation and scale invariant. The proposed form description is compact, thereby allows for fast identification. The registration is feature/knowledge based. Two methods for control points detection are discussed; one implements template matching for finding frame corners. The second approach is based on detection of line crossings via the analysis of the parameter space of the HT. Detected control points are used to calculate parameters of geometrical transform and perform coordinates translation. Linear conformal and projective transforms are tested. The system is featured by fast and reliable type identification, and the moderate preprocessing time, which is attained by proper design of the Hough space

BMW – Mastering the Crises with “New Efficiency?”

Purpose Make a contribution on company business models and typical reactions to economic crises. Design/methodology/approach Media-analysis-based case study. Findings Crisis is handled through drawing on a strategy deriving from the typical features of the company; through the crisis these features are even intensified. Research limitations/implications Multinational companies are complex and only transparent to a small degree; the empirical data therefore rests on a database with articles. Social implications Social implications can be seen at the BMW as a functioning example for social partnership as a form of economic embeddedness at the societal level

ANALISIS DAN PERANCANGAN SIKLUS PENDAPATAN BERBASIS CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT UNTUK MENINGKATKAN LOYALITAS PELANGGAN PADA UD “MITRA BARU” DI MATARAM

This study aims to analyze and design Revenue cycle based on Customer Relationship Management at UD "Mitra Baru" located in Mataram, NTB. This research uses qualitative approach with UD "Mitra Baru". UD "Mitra Baru" is a business entity engaged in the distribution or as a distributor. The products distributed include biscuits, drinking water, and sachets. The main role of distributor activity is largely supported by the leading role of sales, manager, and administration. The analysis is based on the application of Customer Relationship Management, as well as the size of customer loyalty to UD "Mitra Baru", thus finding various issues related to earnings cycle. Problems are also known through interviews. Problems are supported by various policies that are implemented, among others: sanctions in the form of reprimands, communication via mobile phone, monitoring process, and recording on Customer Record Card. Problems include: database problems, product offerings, customer complaints, lack of online tools, mapping areas, lack of communication with outlets, and customer loyalty. The results of research on UD "Mitra Baru" is in the form of recommendations that can be used as a system design for increased loyalty. Recommendations include: Membership card, Customer Service Party, Website or online system, database addition, and improvement of Control. These recommendations are appropriate for the development of UD "Mitra Baru" business. This shows that a Customer Relationship Management is very important to improve customer loyalty. The main objective of the internal party is to sustain the business in terms of income continues to grow primarily through customer relations

Rainfall depth-duration-frequency curves for short-duration precipitation events in Sicily (Italy)

The design criteria of the hydraulic infrastructures, including, for instance, those for flood defense, urban drainage systems, reservoirs spillways and bridges, are based on the coupled analysis of the magnitude of rainfall events for a fixed duration and their estimated annual exceedance probability. The well-known rainfall depth-duration-frequency (DDF) curves, typically derived from the analysis of long historical annual maxima data series, synthesize the relationships between rainfall depth, duration and exceedance probability which is usually expressed as a return period. The time-resolution of rainfall data typically available for the construction of DDF curves and provided by gauges having large sample size, is hourly or coarser; this has allowed the definition of statistically consistent and reliable curves, suitable for rainfall duration hourly or longer, while, for shorter duration, empirical relationships with a high degree of approximation are generally used. Small river basins and plot-size areas with short response time, as well as urban drainage systems, are expected to be particularly vulnerable to sub-hourly intense rainfall events. Many practical applications, design procedures and mathematical models indeed require a finer time-resolution (i.e. sub - hourly). Moreover, in many regions of the world, such as the Sicily (Italy), an intensification of short-duration rainfall events is observed probably in response to the ongoing climate changes. This work proposes an approach for estimating the distribution of sub-hourly extreme rainfalls and extending depth–duration–frequency (DDF) curves derived for duration over the hourly also to sub-hourly durations. The approach is applied in Sicily starting from the coupled analysis of two different databases. The former (OA-ARRA database) contains long series of annual maxima for the fixed duration of 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours for about 250 gauges, while the latter (SIAS database), include 10-minutes rainfall data series for about 100 gauges collected during the last 15 years (from 2003 to now), form which annual maxima time-series for fixed sub-hourly duration are derived. The approach includes a procedure for pairing raingauges, provided from the two databases, according to a distance- and elevation-based criterion and consolidated inference statistical techniques for the coupled analysis of the data-series from the two gauges

Sistem Informasi Absensi, Penggajian, dan Pinjaman Pegawai pada PT. X

PT. X is a manufacturing company, which makes production machines and supporting parts. PT X does not yet fully have an information sistemfor company administration processes, therefore some obstacles occur because the company has not implemented a computer-based information sistem(CBIS). The company has problems with attendance, payroll, and employee loan processes. The company is currently still using Microsoft Excel as a tool for employee administration activities. The use of MS. Excel is quite helpful, but there are still deficiencies in the process of recording data and reporting. Therefore, it is necessary to design a sistemthat is connected to the database so that administrative activities can be well integrated and avoid data redundancy. In this study, the system development method used is the prototype method, while the sistems approach method used is Object-Oriented with analysis and design tools using UML. The results of this study are in the form of attendance information sistemdesign, payroll, and employee loans

Derivation of new design rainfall in Qatar using L-moment based index frequency approach

AbstractFor stormwater system design, flood estimation and many other environmental assessment tasks, design rainfall is an essential input. Estimation of design rainfall is generally made using a regionalization technique based on a regional database of observed rainfalls. Many countries have derived their own generalized design rainfall data, which are generally expressed in the form of intensity–duration–frequency (IDF) curves. In Qatar, situated in an arid region, the existing IDF data were developed in 1991 using a limited data set. This paper presents the development of new IDF data for the State of Qatar using the method of L-moments and the index regional frequency analysis approach. The daily rainfall data from 32 stations located in Qatar and nearby Gulf countries have been used to form a homogeneous region. It has been found that the Pearson Type 3 distribution best fits the 24-h duration annual maximum rainfall data in the Qatar region. For the ungauged case, a prediction equation is developed where mean annual maximum rainfall is expressed as a function of climatic and physiographic characteristics. From a leave-one-out validation, it has been found that the developed prediction equation can estimate mean annual maximum rainfall with a median relative error of about 5.5%. Finally, an approximate method is used to obtain design rainfalls for other durations due to the limitations of continuous pluviograph data in Qatar. The new set of IDF curves is based on a much bigger dataset than the existing 1991 IDF curves. It is expected that the new IDF curves will have wider application in Qatar and will provide a statistically sound basis for storm water design, flood and environmental studies. The method can be applied to other middle-eastern states and similar arid countries in the world

Correlation Analysis for Protein Evolutionary Family Based on Amino Acid Position Mutations and Application in PDZ Domain

BACKGROUND: It has been widely recognized that the mutations at specific directions are caused by the functional constraints in protein family and the directional mutations at certain positions control the evolutionary direction of the protein family. The mutations at different positions, even distantly separated, are mutually coupled and form an evolutionary network. Finding the controlling mutative positions and the mutative network among residues are firstly important for protein rational design and enzyme engineering. METHODOLOGY: A computational approach, namely amino acid position conservation-mutation correlation analysis (CMCA), is developed to predict mutually mutative positions and find the evolutionary network in protein family. The amino acid position mutative function, which is the foundational equation of CMCA measuring the mutation of a residue at a position, is derived from the MSA (multiple structure alignment) database of protein evolutionary family. Then the position conservation correlation matrix and position mutation correlation matrix is constructed from the amino acid position mutative equation. Unlike traditional SCA (statistical coupling analysis) approach, which is based on the statistical analysis of position conservations, the CMCA focuses on the correlation analysis of position mutations. CONCLUSIONS: As an example the CMCA approach is used to study the PDZ domain of protein family, and the results well illustrate the distantly allosteric mechanism in PDZ protein family, and find the functional mutative network among residues. We expect that the CMCA approach may find applications in protein engineering study, and suggest new strategy to improve bioactivities and physicochemical properties of enzymes

Towards a national trauma registry for the United Arab Emirates

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Trauma is a major health problem in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well as worldwide. Trauma registries provide large longitudinal databases for analysis and policy improvement. We aim in this paper to report on the development and evolution of a national trauma registry using a staged approach by developing a single-center registry, a two-center registry, and then a multi-center registry. The three registries were established by developing suitable data collection forms, databases, and interfaces to these databases. The first two registries collected data for a finite period of time and the third is underway. The steps taken to establish these registries depend on whether the registry is intended as a single-center or multi-center registry.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Several issues arose and were resolved during the development of these registries such as the relational design of the database, whether to use a standalone database management system or a web-based system, and the usability and security of the system. The inclusion of preventive medicine data elements is important in a trauma registry and the focus on road traffic collision data elements is essential in a country such as the UAE. The first two registries provided valuable data which has been analyzed and published.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The main factors leading to the successful establishment of a multi-center trauma registry are the development of a concise data entry form, development of a user-friendly secure web-based database system, the availability of a computer and Internet connection in each data collection center, funded data entry personnel well trained in extracting medical data from the medical record and entering it into the computer, and experienced personnel in trauma injuries and data analysis to continuously maintain and analyze the registry.</p

An Intelligent Approach to High Quantity Automated Machining

Purpose: To investigate the possibility of application of knowledge-based expert systems to facilitate the task of techno-economical feasibility analysis of utilization of special purpose machines for high quantity production tasks. Also, to study the possibility of assisting special purpose machine designers in applying knowledge-based expert systems in the design task in order to reduce required machine design time, improve machine design efficiency, and eliminate possible human errors. Design/methodology/approach: Development of a knowledge-based expert system has been proposed to help decide where to utilize special purpose machines to accomplish the production task. The knowledge-based expert system consists of a rule-base which contains qualitative human knowledge and expertise in the form of if-then rules; and a database which contains qualitative information of machining operations, and characteristics of standardized special purpose machine components. Findings: A case study has been presented where an analysis has been made on the basis of techno-economical considerations for a typical part with three machining operations to be produced in large quantities. It has been concluded that for the given production task, special purpose machines would result in a significant 59% reduction of costs compared to CNC machines, and 95.5% compared to traditional machines. The proposed methodology also reduces the time and effort needed for decision making on utilization of special purpose machines and determination of machine layout. In addition, it minimizes the level of expertise required to perform these functions and eliminates possible human errors. Research limitations/implications: The current system focuses on drilling and drilling-related operations which cover about 60% of all machining operations. More work is needed to cover other machining operations including milling. Also the KBES developed currently works on a standalone basis. Work is in progress to integrate it with a 3D CAD modelling system. Upon completion the information could be directly extracted from the CAD system, eliminating the need for manual data input by the user. Originality/value: In spite of a large number of publications on machine tool design in the literature, publications on special purpose machines are very limited. The method of techno-economical analysis presented here for utilization of special purpose machines in comparison with other production alternatives is of great value to manufacturing engineers and specialists. Also the methodology presented for machine design and implementation is highly valued by machine tool designers and manufacturers