Intelligent Personalized Searching

Search engine is a very useful tool for almost everyone nowadays. People use search engine for the purpose of searching about their personal finance, restaurants, electronic products, and travel information, to name a few. As helpful as search engines are in terms of providing information, they can also manipulate people behaviors because most people trust online information without a doubt. Furthermore, ordinary users usually only pay attention the highest-ranking pages from the search results. Knowing this predictable user behavior, search engine providers such as Google and Yahoo take advantage and use it as a tool for them to generate profit. Search engine providers are enterprise companies with the goal to generate profit, and an easy way for them to do so is by ranking up particular web pages to promote the product or services of their own or their paid customers. The results from search engine could be misleading. The goal of this project is to filter the bias from search results and provide best matches on behalf of users’ interest

An Object-Oriented Language-Database Integration Model: The Composition-Filters Approach

This paper introduces a new model, based on so-called object-composition filters, that uniformly integrates database-like features into an object-oriented language. The focus is on providing persistent dynamic data structures, data sharing, transactions, multiple views and associative access, integrated with the object-oriented paradigm. The main contribution is that the database-like features are part of this new object-oriented model, and therefore, are uniformly integrated with object-oriented features such as data abstraction, encapsulation, message passing and inheritance. This approach eliminates the problems associated with existing systems such as lack of reusability and extensibility for database operations, the violation of encapsulation, the need to define specific types such as sets, and the incapability to support multiple views. The model is illustrated through the object-oriented language Sina

Assessment of environmental impact of gemstone mining in Ijero-Ekiti, Nigeria

Purpose. To examine the environmental impacts of gemstone mining activities on the people of Ijero-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Methods. Soil and water test were carried out on samples from the mine and its environment. Remote sensing as a tool for environmental assessment was introduced to generate the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Land Use Land Cover maps using ArcGIS 10 software. Findings. Water test carried out on stream, well and pond shows that some of the samples are slightly acidic. Total Dissolved Solid and hardness analysis show ranges lower than the acceptable limit given by Nigerian Industrial Standard and the World Health Organization (WHO). Iron concentration was found to be exceptionally higher than the permissible standard given by the WHO rendering the water resources unfit for drinking. Soil test carried out in the area proved that the soil is good for agriculture as it is high in nitrogen and organic matter content. Originality. This assertion can be back up by the results of the NDVI analysis which shows an increase in vegetation index from 0.2190 in the year of 1991 to 0.2435 in the year of 2013. Land use change detection analysis also showed a slight change in land use over the year from 2005 to 2010. This may be attributed to the fact that the gemstone mining is conducted on a small scale. Practical implications. Test results can be used in making recommendations to the community. Farmers cultivating land where samples S1 and S4 were taken need to apply fertilizer to bring up the percentage of organic matter of the soil. Provision of drinkable water sources should be made to the community. Remote sensing as the applied tool has proved its usefulness in environmental degradation assessing. It gives the possibility of generating an environmental database for impact assessment in regional context which can be a difficult task when carried out by the conventional method.Мета. Вивчити вплив на навколишнє середовище і жителів Іжеро-Екіті (штат Екіті, Нігерія) розробки родовищ дорогоцінного каміння. Методика. Для проведення досліджень проведено відбір проб ґрунтів і води з прилеглої місцевості шахти. Застосовано дистанційне зондування в якості інструменту екологічної оцінки для визначення нормалізованого відносного індексу рослинності (НВІР), а також карти землекористування й рослинного покриву за допомогою програмного забезпечення ArcGIS 10. Результати. Встановлено, що взяті у діючій свердловині та ставку-відстійнику зразки води є слабокислотними. Повний аналіз розчиненої твердої речовини й аналіз на жорсткість води показали менший розкид величин, ніж допустима межа, що визначена галузевим стандартом Нігерії та Всесвітньої організацій охорони здоров’я (ВООЗ), а рівень концентрації заліза значно вище допустимих меж, визначених ВООЗ для водних ресурсів, непридатних для пиття. Аналіз ґрунту в цьому районі підтвердив, що він придатний для сільського господарства, оскільки містить багато азоту й органічної речовини. Наукова новизна. За результатами аналізу НОІР спостерігається зростання вегетативного індексу з 0.2190 у 1991 році до 0.2435 у 2013 році. Аналіз визначення змін у землекористуванні також показав незначне річне різноманіття протягом року з 2005 до 2010. Це пояснюється тим фактом, що видобуток дорогоцінного каміння ведеться в невеликих масштабах. Практична значимість. Результати аналізів якості ґрунтів і води в районі видобутку можна використовувати при складанні рекомендацій для місцевого населення. Для підвищення продуктивності аграрного сектора в районі, де були взяті проби S1 і S4, слід застосовувати добриво, аби збільшити процентний вміст органічної речовини у ґрунті. Дистанційне зондування довело свою ефективність для оцінки погіршення екологічноїЦель. Изучить воздействие на окружающую среду и жителей Ижеро-Экити (штат Экити, Нигерия) разработки месторождений драгоценных камней. Методика. Для проведения исследований произведен отбор проб почв и воды из окрестностей шахты. Применено дистанционное зондирование в качестве инструмента экологической оценки для определения нормализованного относительного индекса растительности (НОИР), а также карты землепользования и растительного покрова посредством программного обеспечения ArcGIS 10. Результаты. Установлено, что взятые в действующей скважине и пруде-отстойнике образцы воды являются слабокислотными. Полный анализ растворенного твердого вещества и анализ на жесткость воды показали меньший разброс величин, чем допустимый предел, определенный отраслевым стандартом Нигерии и Всемирной организаций здравоохранения (ВОЗ), а уровень концентрации железа значительно выше приемлемых пределов, определенных ВОЗ для водных ресурсов, непригодных для питья. Анализ почвы в этом районе подтвердил, что она пригодна для сельского хозяйства, поскольку содержит много азота и органического вещества. Научная новизна. По результатам анализа НОИР наблюдается рост вегетативного индекса с 0.2190 в 1991 году до 0.2435 в 2013 году. Анализ определения изменений в землепользовании также показал незначительное годовое разнообразие на протяжении года с 2005 до 2010. Это объясняется тем фактом, что добыча драгоценных камней ведется в небольших масштабах. Практическая значимость. Результаты анализов качества почв и воды в районе добычи можно использовать при составлении рекомендаций для местного населения. Для повышения продуктивности аграрного сектора в районе, где были взяты пробы S1 и S4, следует применять удобрение, чтобы увеличить процентное содержание органического вещества в почве. Дистанционное зондирование доказало свою эффективность для оценки ухудшения экологической ситуации. Это дает возможность создания базы данных региональной оценки состояния окружающей среды, что весьма затруднительно при использовании традиционной методики.This research is sponsored by FUTA 003/15 project. The authors appreciate their contribution toward the success of the work. Input of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) is also appreciated

Considerations for a design and operations knowledge support system for Space Station Freedom

Engineering and operations of modern engineered systems depend critically upon detailed design and operations knowledge that is accurate and authoritative. A design and operations knowledge support system (DOKSS) is a modern computer-based information system providing knowledge about the creation, evolution, and growth of an engineered system. The purpose of a DOKSS is to provide convenient and effective access to this multifaceted information. The complexity of Space Station Freedom's (SSF's) systems, elements, interfaces, and organizations makes convenient access to design knowledge especially important, when compared to simpler systems. The life cycle length, being 30 or more years, adds a new dimension to space operations, maintenance, and evolution. Provided here is a review and discussion of design knowledge support systems to be delivered and operated as a critical part of the engineered system. A concept of a DOKSS for Space Station Freedom (SSF) is presented. This is followed by a detailed discussion of a DOKSS for the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center and Work Package-2 portions of SSF

Object Oriented Terrain Databases For Visual Simulators

Report on a project to develop methodologies and solutions to the problem of representation and utilization of dynamic terrain on a real-time simulator

IOT-Based Gemstone Detection and Analysis System

“A gemstone is a mineral stone that be formed from the result of geological processes and has a hardness above 7 Mohs” [2]. [1] This current research is undertaken to create a system that can identify the gemstones of the Corundum Family. According to [2], there are four characteristics that can be used to identify the type of gemstone based on physical aspects. These four aspects are refraction of light, the color, density, and hardness of the mineral contained in the stone. One of the countries that produce the most gemstones and has the highest proportion of gemstones is Sri Lanka. There are 200 diverse types of gemstones around the globe, but only about 75 distinct kinds of coloured and colourless gemstones from 10 primary families could be discovered in Sri Lanka. Although Sri Lanka is naturally rich in the gemstone industry, the methods or techniques that are used to verify and validate gemstones are yet manual and traditional. The gemstone trade continues to thrive as miners and traders are far more knowledgeable about the different varieties of gemstone families. The method of verifying gemstones is fraught with challenges for both clients and traders.  This research is conducted to invent an Internet of Things (IoT) based gemstone detector that can identify gemstones based on their refractive index, colour, and Cut-Shape, it is possible to effectively address the issues that customers and traders both confront. The refractive index, colour, and Cut-Shape of the gemstone will be determined via image processing, and the IoT device will be utilized to cluster the other elements

An Object memory for an object-oriented database management system

Ankara : The Department of Computer Engineering and Information Sciences and the Institute of Engineering and Sciences of Bilkent Univ. , 1988.Thesis (Master's) -- Bilkent University), 1988.Includes bibliographical references leaves 86-89.Object-oriented paradigm is an approach that can be applied in various areas of computing. In this approach, each entity is represented by an object which captures the state and the behaviour of the entity. In this thesis, a focused survey of object-oriented paradigm in general and object-oriented database management systems in particular has been carried out and an object memory module is designed and implemented for an object-oriented database management system prototype. The object memory module handles the representation, access and manipulation of objects in the system and provides the primitive functions that are necessary in the development of the prototype.Kesim, F NihanM.S

Associations between natural resource extraction and incidence of acute and chronic health conditions: evidence from Tanzania

Natural resource extraction projects are often accompanied by complex environmental and social-ecological changes. In this paper, we evaluated the association between commodity extraction and the incidence of diseases. We retrieved council (district)-level outpatient data from all public and private health facilities from the District Health Information System (DHIS2). We combined this information with population data from the 2012 national population census and a geocoded list of resource extraction projects from the Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST). We used Poisson regression with random effects and cluster-robust standard errors to estimate the district-level associations between the presence of three types of commodity extraction (metals, gemstone, and construction materials) and the total number of patients in each disease category in each year. Metal extraction was associated with reduced incidence of several diseases, including chronic diseases (IRR = 0.61, CI: 0.47-0.80), mental health disorders (IRR = 0.66, CI: 0.47-0.92), and undernutrition (IRR = 0.69, CI: 0.55-0.88). Extraction of construction materials was associated with an increased incidence of chronic diseases (IRR = 1.47, CI: 1.15-1.87). This study found that the presence of natural resources commodity extraction is significantly associated with changes in disease-specific patient volumes reported in Tanzania's DHIS2. These associations differed substantially between commodities, with the most protective effects shown from metal extraction