A Knowledge-Based Expert System for Innovative Transportation Financing Techniques

Abstract: This paper discusses the development of a medium-sized knowledge-based expert system for selection of appropriate innovative financing technique(s) for transportation projects by several state and local governments. The steps involved in the development of the expert system, namely, problem identification, conceptualization, knowledge acquisition, knowledge representation, implementation, and testing and evaluation, are discussed. The process of organizing the available knowledge of innovative financing techniques, as well as the process leading to the selection of one or more of them for a particular project, is encoded in the knowledge base of the expert system developed for the purpose. The working system was tested and validated by comparing the output of the system against the recommendations made by transportation professionals in counties and cities in various states. The tests indicate favorable results for the system. The operational system can be used as a decision support system as well as a teaching tool for transportation engineers, planners, private developers, and government officials.     

Measurement and simulation of room acoustics parameters in traditional and modern bath buildings

This paper presents the results of a number of case studies concerning measurement and simulation of room acoustical parameters in both historical and contemporary instances of bath spaces. Historical instances of such spaces are, in our study, traditional hammam (bath) buildings in Mediterranean and north-African countries (Algeria, Morocco, Syria). Modern instances include a modern hammam, a spa, and an indoor swimming pool in central Europe (Austria). The analysis is based on data obtained from measurements and simulations of pertinent indicators of room acoustic quality in such spaces. The results of the analysis permit the identification of certain salient features of room acoustics in highly humid spaces and corresponding technical challenges (e.g., excessive reverberation and high noise exposure). Moreover, the results allow for the statistically grounded estimation of uncertainties in simulation of room acoustics in architectural spaces.     

Sound propagation in urban canyons: a case study of simulation reliability

Problems associated with increased urban noise exposure – especially due to road traffic – are well known. However, the acoustic planning of urban areas and the potential of simulation still does not receive sufficient attention. In this context, the present contribution focuses on urban canyons via comparison of measured and simulated sound levels. Toward this end, a room acoustic simulation tool was deployed to model two areas in the city of Vienna. Simulation results were shown to generally agree with the measurements. The contribution includes also a sensitivity analysis to explore the impact of variations in model assumptions on simulation results.     

Design of ionic liquid 1,3-disulfonic acid imidazolium hydrogen sulfate as a dual-catalyst for the one-pot multi-component synthesis of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles

Novel ionic liquid 1,3-disulfonic acid imidazolium hydrogen sulfate {[Dsim]HSO₄} efficiently catalyzes the synthesis of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles via the one-pot multi-component condensation of benzyl with aldehydes, primary amines and ammonium acetate at 90 °C under solvent-free conditions. Dual hydrogen-bond donors can be used to direct the assembly of this catalyst and the efficiency of it.     

A Magnetic Particle‐Supported Sulfonic Acid Catalyst: Tuning Catalytic Activity between Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysis

Surface functionalization of magnetic particles is an elegant way to bridge the gap between heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis. The introduction of magnetic particles (MPs) in a variety of solid matrices allows the combination of well‐known procedures for catalyst heterogenization with techniques for magnetic separation. We have conveniently loaded sulfonic acid groups on magnetic particles supports in which chlorosulfonic acid is used as sulfonating agent. The main targets are room temperature, solvent‐free conditions, rapid (immediately) and easy immobilization technique, and low cost precursors for the preparation of highly active and stable MPs with high densities of functional groups. The inorganic, magnetic, solid acid catalyst was characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and titration. The catalyst is active for the Hantzsch reaction and the products are isolated in high to excellent yields (90–98%). Supporting this acid catalyst on magnetic particles offers a simple and non‐energy‐intensive method for recovery and reuse of the catalyst by applying an external magnet. Isolated catalysts were reused for new rounds of reactions without significant loss of their catalytic activity.     

Effect of Boron on Carbide Coarsening at 873?K (600?°C) in 9?to 12?pct Chromium Steels

The addition of small amounts of boron to 9 to 12?pct chromium steels has been found to decrease their creep rate at 823?K to 923?K (550?°C to 650?°C). In this article, the behavior of boron during austenitizing, tempering, and isothermal heat treatment at 873?K (600?°C) is studied using high-resolution microscopy and microanalysis as well as using atomistic modeling. It was found that increasing the boron content from 9 to 40?ppm decreased the coarsening constant of M₂₃C₆ by a factor of almost 2. Most of the added boron was incorporated in M₂₃C₆. Atomistic modeling showed that boron diffusion in ferrite is dominated by an interstitial mechanism at 873?K (600?°C). However, the generation of vacancies when carbide precipitates dissolve may promote a distribution with substitutional boron atoms. The absence of a fast mechanism for the transition from substitutional to interstitial occupancy will make the slow substitutional boron diffusion in the matrix rate controlling for the coarsening process.     

Optimization process planning using hybrid genetic algorithm and intelligent search for job shop machining

Optimization of process planning is considered as the key technology for computer-aided process planning which is a rather complex and difficult procedure. A good process plan of a part is built up based on two elements: (1) the optimized sequence of the operations of the part; and (2) the optimized selection of the machine, cutting tool and Tool Access Direction (TAD) for each operation. In the present work, the process planning is divided into preliminary planning, and secondary/detailed planning. In the preliminary stage, based on the analysis of order and clustering constraints as a compulsive constraint aggregation in operation sequencing and using an intelligent searching strategy, the feasible sequences are generated. Then, in the detailed planning stage, using the genetic algorithm which prunes the initial feasible sequences, the optimized operation sequence and the optimized selection of the machine, cutting tool and TAD for each operation based on optimization constraints as an additive constraint aggregation are obtained. The main contribution of this work is the optimization of sequence of the operations of the part, and optimization of machine selection, cutting tool and TAD for each operation using the intelligent search and genetic algorithm simultaneously.     

Effort and effectiveness considerations in computational design evaluation: a case study

Computational building evaluation tools have the potential to provide an effective means to support informed design decision making. Computational modeling, however, comes with a cost. Thereby, the most important cost factor is not software acquisition, but the time needed for learning and using the software. The extent of required time and effort is believed to be one of the main hindrances toward the pervasive use of computational building performance assessment tools by designers: Currently, modeling applications are mostly used, if at all, in the later stages of design and by specialists, rather than architects. However, few studies have explicitly dealt with the ascertainment and quantification of the actual effort needed to understand, master, and apply computational building evaluation tools. Thus, little factual information is available as to the cost and burden of computational building evaluation and its effectiveness in building design support. In this context, the present paper describes a case study, whose motivation was to estimate the time and effort needed by novice designers to computationally evaluate the performance of building designs. A group of senior architecture students participated in the study, learning and using a software application to assess the energy performance of six project submissions for a school building design competition. The outcome of this study (time investment ranges for various components of the modeling activity) was evaluated and further extrapolated to estimate the effort needed for a more comprehensive computational assessment of the environmental performance of these designs.     

A solid phase extraction procedure for Fe3+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions on 2-phenyl-1H-benzo[d] imidazole loaded on Triton X-100-coated polyvinyl chloride

A new and efficient solid phase extraction method is described for the preconcentration of trace heavy metal ions. The method is based on the adsorption of Fe(3+), Cu(2+) and Zn(2+) on 2-phenyl-1H-benzo[d] imidazole (PHBI) loaded on Triton X-100-coated polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The influences of the analytical parameters including pH and sample volume were investigated. Common coexisting ions did not interfere on the separation and determination of analytes under study. The adsorbed analytes were desorbed by using 5 mL of 4 mol L(-1) nitric acid. The preconcentration factor is 90. The detection limits (3 sigma) were in the range of 0.95-1 microg L(-1). The sorbent exhibited excellent stability and its sorption capacity under optimum conditions has been found to be more than 2.7 mg of ions per gram of sorbent. The recoveries of analytes were generally higher than 95%. The relative standard deviations (R.S.D.s) were generally lower than 4%. The method has been successfully applied to some real samples.     

Breaking anonymity of some recent lightweight RFID authentication protocols

Wireless Networks - Due to their impressive advantages, Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) systems are ubiquitously found in various novel applications. These applications are usually in need of...