Abstract: The importance for manipulating an incorporated
scaffold and directing cell behaviors is well appreciated for tissue
engineering. Here, we developed newly nano-topographic oxidized
silicon nanosponges capable of being various chemical modifications
to provide much insight into the fundamental biology of how cells
interact with their surrounding environment in vitro. A wet etching
technique is exerted to allow us fabricated the silicon nanosponges in a
high-throughput manner. Furthermore, various organo-silane
chemicals enabled self-assembled on the surfaces by vapor deposition.
We have found that Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells displayed
certain distinguishable morphogenesis, adherent responses, and
biochemical properties while cultured on these chemical modified
nano-topographic structures in compared with the planar oxidized
silicon counterparts, indicating that cell behaviors can be influenced
by certain physical characteristic derived from nano-topography in
addition to the hydrophobicity of contact surfaces crucial for cell
adhesion and spreading. Of particular, there were predominant
nano-actin punches and slender protrusions formed while cells were
cultured on the nano-topographic structures. This study shed potential
applications of these nano-topographic biomaterials for controlling
cell development in tissue engineering or basic cell biology research.
Abstract: Post cracking behavior and load –bearing capacity of
the steel fiber reinforced high-strength concrete (SFRHSC) are
dependent on the number of fibers are crossing the weakest crack
(bridged the crack) and their orientation to the crack surface. Filling
the mould by SFRHSC, fibers are moving and rotating with the
concrete matrix flow till the motion stops in each internal point of the
concrete body. Filling the same mould from the different ends
SFRHSC samples with the different internal structures (and different
strength) can be obtained. Numerical flow simulations (using Newton
and Bingham flow models) were realized, as well as single fiber
planar motion and rotation numerical and experimental investigation
(in viscous flow) was performed. X-ray pictures for prismatic
samples were obtained and internal fiber positions and orientations
were analyzed. Similarly fiber positions and orientations in cracked
cross-section were recognized and were compared with numerically
simulated. Structural SFRHSC fracture model was created based on
single fiber pull-out laws, which were determined experimentally.
Model predictions were validated by 15x15x60cm prisms 4 point
bending tests.
Abstract: An experiment was conducted under controlled
conditions to study the effect of water extract of leaves, shoots and
roots of either Sisymbrium irio L. =SISIR and/or Descurainia
sophia (L.) Schur =DESSO on the germination and primary growth
of wheat. A split-split plot experiment in CRD with three
replications was used. The main plots were the type of weed: i.e.
SISIR and DESSO and the sub-plots were type of organ: i.e. leaf,
stem and root and, the sub-sub plots were concentration of the
water extract of each organ of the weeds: i.e. 0, 2, 4 and 8 % w/v.
The plant materials were cut in 2-3 cm pieces and then were
ground in a blender. The crushed materials were weighed
according to experimental protocol and the final volume was
reached to 100 ml in distilled water in dark bottles. All bottles were
put on a shaker for 24 hours. The solutions were filtered by muslin
cloth. Whatman paper, 9 cm in diameter, were put in petri dishes
and twenty seeds of wheat were put on it and 5 ml distilled water
or water extract of weeds were added to each petri dish. All petri
dishes were put in constant temperature of 15 0C incubator.
The results showed that the SISIR water extract had a greater
inhibitory effects on germination and primary growth of wheat
than those of DESSO water extract. The water extracts of the
leaves of both weeds had the greatest inhibitory effects on
germination and primary growth of wheat, compared to those of
stems and roots. Increasing the concentration of water extract of
leaves, stems and roots of both weeds up to 8 % caused the greatest
inhibitory effects to wheat and reduced the germination rate and
primary growth of it linearly.
Abstract: This paper presents three new methodologies for the
basic operations, which aim at finding new ways of computing union
(maximum) and intersection (minimum) membership values by
taking into effect the entire membership values in a fuzzy set. The
new methodologies are conceptually simple and easy from the
application point of view and are illustrated with a variety of
problems such as Cartesian product of two fuzzy sets, max –min
composition of two fuzzy sets in different product spaces and an
application of an inverted pendulum to determine the impact of the
new methodologies. The results clearly indicate a difference based on
the nature of the fuzzy sets under consideration and hence will be
highly useful in quite a few applications where different values have
significant impact on the behavior of the system.
Abstract: Traditional development of wireless sensor network
mote is generally based on SoC1 platform. Such method of
development faces three main drawbacks: lack of flexibility in terms
of development due to low resource and rigid architecture of SoC;
low capability of evolution and portability versus performance if
specific micro-controller architecture features are used; and the rapid
obsolescence of micro-controller comparing to the long lifetime of
power plants or any industrial installations. To overcome these
drawbacks, we have explored a new approach of development of
wireless sensor network mote using a hybrid FPGA technology. The
application of such approach is illustrated through the
implementation of an innovative wireless sensor network protocol
called OCARI.
Abstract: Verification of real-time software systems can be
expensive in terms of time and resources. Testing is the main method
of proving correctness but has been shown to be a long and time
consuming process. Everyday engineers are usually unwilling to
adopt formal approaches to correctness because of the overhead
associated with developing their knowledge of such techniques.
Performance modelling techniques allow systems to be evaluated
with respect to timing constraints. This paper describes PARTES, a
framework which guides the extraction of performance models from
programs written in an annotated subset of C.
Abstract: This paper discusses the cued speech recognition
methods in videoconference. Cued speech is a specific gesture
language that is used for communication between deaf people. We
define the criteria for sentence intelligibility according to answers of
testing subjects (deaf people). In our tests we use 30 sample videos
coded by H.264 codec with various bit-rates and various speed of
cued speech. Additionally, we define the criteria for consonant sign
recognizability in single-handed finger alphabet (dactyl) analogically
to acoustics. We use another 12 sample videos coded by H.264 codec
with various bit-rates in four different video formats. To interpret the
results we apply the standard scale for subjective video quality
evaluation and the percentual evaluation of intelligibility as in
acoustics. From the results we construct the minimum coded bit-rate
recommendations for every spatial resolution.
Abstract: A therapeutic success is the aim of any therapeutic
intervention, but a therapeutic failure is the other side of the same
coin. The purpose of this study is to present the activity of a personal
development group, composed of 14 participants (psychologists,
doctors and a priest) registered for a 2 days course of integrative
psychotherapy. The objectives of this study are centred on: the
management of the personal development group breaking moment
realized by the therapist/trainer; the analysis of the trainer’s personal
situation and of some group participants and the brief presentation of
the main work methods applied on participants in the repairing of the
therapeutic relation and in the counter transfer management. The
therapist’s orientation is an integrative one and the demarche realized
includes T.A. techniques, role play, Gestalt and family systemic
psychotherapy. The conclusions obtained represent landmarks for the
future activity within that group and strengthen the therapeutic
relation with the group.
Abstract: The possibility of producing drinking water from
brackish ground water using Vacuum membrane distillation (VMD)
process was studied. It is a rising technology for seawater or brine
desalination process. The process simply consists of a flat sheet
hydrophobic micro porous PTFE membrane and diaphragm vacuum
pump without a condenser for the water recovery or trap. In this
work, VMD performance was investigated for aqueous NaCl solution
and natural ground water. The influence of operational parameters
such as feed flow rate (30 to 55 l/h), feed temperature (313 to 333 K),
feed salt concentration (5000 to 7000 mg/l) and permeate pressure
(1.5 to 6 kPa) on the membrane distillation (MD) permeation flux
have been investigated. The maximum flux reached to 28.34 kg/m2 h
at feed temperature, 333 K; vacuum pressure, 1.5 kPa; feed flow rate,
55 l/h and feed salt concentration, 7000 mg/l. The negligible effects
in the reduction of permeate flux found over 150 h experimental run
for salt water. But for the natural ground water application over 75 h,
scale deposits observed on the membrane surface and 29% reduction
in the permeate flux over 75 h. This reduction can be eliminated by
acidification of feed water. Hence, promote the research attention in
apply of VMD for the ground water purification over today-s
conventional RO operation.
Abstract: This paper focuses on the probabilistic numerical
solution of the problems in biomechanics and mining. Applications of
Simulation-Based Reliability Assessment (SBRA) Method are
presented in the solution of designing of the external fixators applied
in traumatology and orthopaedics (these fixators can be applied for
the treatment of open and unstable fractures etc.) and in the solution
of a hard rock (ore) disintegration process (i.e. the bit moves into the
ore and subsequently disintegrates it, the results are compared with
experiments, new design of excavation tool is proposed.
Abstract: A multiple-option analytical model for the evaluation of the energy performance and distribution of aerodynamic forces acting on a vertical-axis Darrieus wind turbine depending on both rotor architecture and operating conditions is presented. For this purpose, a numerical algorithm, capable of generating the desired rotor conformation depending on design geometric parameters, is coupled to a Single/Double-Disk Multiple-Streamtube Blade Element – Momentum code. Both single and double-disk configurations are analyzed and model predictions are compared to literature experimental data in order to test the capability of the code for predicting rotor performance. Effective airfoil characteristics based on local blade Reynolds number are obtained through interpolation of literature low-Reynolds airfoil databases. Some corrections are introduced inside the original model with the aim of simulating also the effects of blade dynamic stall, rotor streamtube expansion and blade finite aspect ratio, for which a new empirical relationship to better fit the experimental data is proposed. In order to predict also open field rotor operation, a freestream wind shear profile is implemented, reproducing the effect of atmospheric boundary layer.
Abstract: This paper focuses on a critical component of the
situational awareness (SA), the control of autonomous vertical flight for tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (TUAV). With the SA strategy,
we proposed a two stage flight control procedure using two autonomous control subsystems to address the dynamics variation
and performance requirement difference in initial and final stages of flight trajectory for a nontrivial nonlinear eight-rotor helicopter
model. This control strategy for chosen model of mini-TUAV has been verified by simulation of hovering maneuvers using software
package Simulink and demonstrated good performance for fast
stabilization of engines in hovering, consequently, fast SA with
economy in energy of batteries can be asserted during search-andrescue
operations.
Abstract: The six sigma method is a project-driven management approach to improve the organization-s products, services, and processes by continually reducing defects in the organization. Understanding the key features, obstacles, and shortcomings of the six sigma method allows organizations to better support their strategic directions, and increasing needs for coaching, mentoring, and training. It also provides opportunities to better implement six sigma projects. The purpose of this paper is the survey of six sigma process and its impact on the organizational productivity. So I have studied key concepts , problem solving process of six sigmaas well as the survey of important fields such as: DMAIC, six sigma and productivity applied programme, and other advantages of six sigma. In the end of this paper, present research conclusions. (direct and positive relation between six sigma and productivity)
Abstract: Arbitrarily shaped video objects are an important
concept in modern video coding methods. The techniques presently
used are not based on image elements but rather video objects having
an arbitrary shape. In this paper, spatial shape error concealment
techniques to be used for object-based image in error-prone
environments are proposed. We consider a geometric shape
representation consisting of the object boundary, which can be
extracted from the α-plane. Three different approaches are used to
replace a missing boundary segment: Bézier interpolation, Bézier
approximation and NURBS approximation. Experimental results on
object shape with different concealment difficulty demonstrate the
performance of the proposed methods. Comparisons with proposed
methods are also presented.
Abstract: Web applications have become very complex and
crucial, especially when combined with areas such as CRM
(Customer Relationship Management) and BPR (Business Process
Reengineering), the scientific community has focused attention to
Web applications design, development, analysis, and testing, by
studying and proposing methodologies and tools. This paper
proposes an approach to automatic multi-dimensional concern
mining for Web Applications, based on concepts analysis, impact
analysis, and token-based concern identification. This approach lets
the user to analyse and traverse Web software relevant to a particular
concern (concept, goal, purpose, etc.) via multi-dimensional
separation of concerns, to document, understand and test Web
applications. This technique was developed in the context of WAAT
(Web Applications Analysis and Testing) project. A semi-automatic
tool to support this technique is currently under development.
Abstract: The new programming technologies allow for the
creation of components which can be automatically or manually
assembled to reach a new experience in knowledge understanding
and mastering or in getting skills for a specific knowledge area. The
project proposes an interactive framework that permits the creation,
combination and utilization of components that are specific to
mathematical training in high schools.
The main framework-s objectives are:
• authoring lessons by the teacher or the students; all they need
are simple operating skills for Equation Editor (or something
similar, or Latex); the rest are just drag & drop operations,
inserting data into a grid, or navigating through menus
• allowing sonorous presentations of mathematical texts and
solving hints (easier understood by the students)
• offering graphical representations of a mathematical function
edited in Equation
• storing of learning objects in a database
• storing of predefined lessons (efficient for expressions and
commands, the rest being calculations; allows a high
compression)
• viewing and/or modifying predefined lessons, according to the
curricula
The whole thing is focused on a mathematical expressions minicompiler,
storing the code that will be later used for different
purposes (tables, graphics, and optimisations).
Programming technologies used. A Visual C# .NET
implementation is proposed. New and innovative digital learning
objects for mathematics will be developed; they are capable to
interpret, contextualize and react depending on the architecture
where they are assembled.
Abstract: This paper presented two new efficient algorithms
for contour approximation. The proposed algorithm is compared
with Ramer (good quality), Triangle (faster) and Trapezoid (fastest)
in this work; which are briefly described. Cartesian co-ordinates of
an input contour are processed in such a manner that finally
contours is presented by a set of selected vertices of the edge of the
contour. In the paper the main idea of the analyzed procedures for
contour compression is performed. For comparison, the mean
square error and signal-to-noise ratio criterions are used.
Computational time of analyzed methods is estimated depending on
a number of numerical operations. Experimental results are
obtained both in terms of image quality, compression ratios, and
speed. The main advantages of the analyzed algorithm is small
numbers of the arithmetic operations compared to the existing
algorithms.
Abstract: Self-compacting concrete (SCC), a new kind of high
performance concrete (HPC) have been first developed in Japan in
1986. The development of SCC has made casting of dense
reinforcement and mass concrete convenient, has minimized noise.
Fresh self-compacting concrete (SCC) flows into formwork and
around obstructions under its own weight to fill it completely and
self-compact (without any need for vibration), without any
segregation and blocking. The elimination of the need for
compaction leads to better quality concrete and substantial
improvement of working conditions. SCC mixes generally have a
much higher content of fine fillers, including cement, and produce
excessively high compressive strength concrete, which restricts its
field of application to special concrete only. To use SCC mixes in
general concrete construction practice, requires low cost materials to
make inexpensive concrete.
Rice husk ash (RHA) has been used as a highly reactive
pozzolanic material to improve the microstructure of the interfacial
transition zone (ITZ) between the cement paste and the aggregate in
self compacting concrete. Mechanical experiments of RHA blended
Portland cement concretes revealed that in addition to the pozzolanic
reactivity of RHA (chemical aspect), the particle grading (physical
aspect) of cement and RHA mixtures also exerted significant
influences on the blending efficiency.
The scope of this research was to determine the usefulness of Rice
husk ash (RHA) in the development of economical self compacting
concrete (SCC). The cost of materials will be decreased by reducing
the cement content by using waste material like rice husk ash instead
of.
This paper presents a study on the development of Mechanical
properties up to 180 days of self compacting and ordinary concretes
with rice-husk ash (RHA), from a rice paddy milling industry in
Rasht (Iran). Two different replacement percentages of cement by
RHA, 10%, and 20%, and two different water/cementicious material
ratios (0.40 and 0.35), were used for both of self compacting and
normal concrete specimens. The results are compared with those of
the self compacting concrete without RHA, with compressive,
flexural strength and modulus of elasticity. It is concluded that RHA
provides a positive effect on the Mechanical properties at age after
60 days.
Base of the result self compacting concrete specimens have higher
value than normal concrete specimens in all test except modulus of
elasticity. Also specimens with 20% replacement of cement by RHA
have the best performance.
Abstract: Chronic hepatitis B can evolve to cirrhosis and liver
cancer. Interferon is the only effective treatment, for carefully selected
patients, but it is very expensive. Some of the selection criteria are
based on liver biopsy, an invasive, costly and painful medical procedure.
Therefore, developing efficient non-invasive selection systems,
could be in the patients benefit and also save money. We investigated
the possibility to create intelligent systems to assist the Interferon
therapeutical decision, mainly by predicting with acceptable accuracy
the results of the biopsy. We used a knowledge discovery in integrated
medical data - imaging, clinical, and laboratory data. The resulted
intelligent systems, tested on 500 patients with chronic hepatitis
B, based on C5.0 decision trees and boosting, predict with 100%
accuracy the results of the liver biopsy. Also, by integrating the other
patients selection criteria, they offer a non-invasive support for the
correct Interferon therapeutic decision. To our best knowledge, these
decision systems outperformed all similar systems published in the
literature, and offer a realistic opportunity to replace liver biopsy in
this medical context.
Abstract: Taking into account the link between the efficiency of
a detector and the complexity of a stealth mechanism, we propose in
this paper a new formalism for stealth using graph theory.