Abstract: In this paper, we present a quantum statistical
mechanical formulation from our recently analytical expressions for
partial-wave transition matrix of a three-particle system. We report
the quantum reactive cross sections for three-body scattering
processes 1+(2,3)→1+(2,3) as well as recombination
1+(2,3)→1+(3,1) between one atom and a weakly-bound dimer. The
analytical expressions of three-particle transition matrices and their
corresponding cross-sections were obtained from the threedimensional
Faddeev equations subjected to the rank-two non-local
separable potentials of the generalized Yamaguchi form. The
equilibrium quantum statistical mechanical properties such partition
function and equation of state as well as non-equilibrium quantum
statistical properties such as transport cross-sections and their
corresponding transport collision integrals were formulated
analytically. This leads to obtain the transport properties, such as
viscosity and diffusion coefficient of a moderate dense gas.
Abstract: The aims of study were investigation on chemical
composition essential oil and the effect of extract of Coronilla varia
on antimicrobial and cytotoxicity activity. The essential oils of
Coronilla varia is obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by
(GC/MS) for determining their chemical composition and
identification of their components. Antibacterial activity of plant
extract was determined by disc diffusion method and anticancer
activity measured by MTT assay. The major components in essential
oil were Caryophyllene Oxide (60.19%), Alphacadinol (4.13%) and
Homoadantaneca Robexylic Acid (3.31%). The extracts from
Coronilla varia had interesting activity against Proteus mirabilis in
the concentration of 700 μg/disc and did not show any activity
against Staphylococus aureus, Bacillus subtillis, Klebsiella
pneumonia and Entrobacter cloacae. The positive control,
Ampicillin, Chloramphenicol and Cenphalothin had shown zone of
inhibition resistant all bacteria. The ethanol extract of Corohilla varia
inhibited on MCF7 cell lines. IC50 0.6(mg/ml) was the optimum
concentration of extract from Coronilla varia inhibition of cell line
growth. The MCF7 cancer cell line and Proteus mirabilis were more
sensitive to Coronilla varia ethanol extract.
Abstract: Numerous investigations suggest that Mesenchymal
Stem Cells (MSCs) in general represent a valuable tool for therapy of
symptoms related to chronic inflammatory diseases. Blue Horizon
Stem Cell Therapy Program is a leading provider of adult and
children’s stem cell therapies. Uniquely we have safely and
efficiently treated more than 600 patients with documenting each
procedure. The purpose of our study is primarily to monitor the
immune response in order to validate the safety of intravenous
infusion of human umbilical cord blood derived MSCs (UC-MSCs),
and secondly, to evaluate effects on biomarkers associated with
chronic inflammation. Nine patients were treated for conditions
associated with chronic inflammation and for the purpose of antiaging.
They have been given one intravenous infusion of UCMSCs.
Our study of blood test markers of 9 patients with chronic
inflammation before and within three months after MSCs treatment
demonstrates that there is no significant changes and MSCs treatment
was safe for the patients. Analysis of different indicators of chronic
inflammation and aging included in initial, 24-hours, two weeks and
three months protocols showed that stem cell treatment was safe for
the patients; there were no adverse reactions. Moreover data from
follow up protocols demonstrates significant improvement in energy
level, hair, nails growth and skin conditions. Intravenously
administered UC-MSCs were safe and effective in the improvement
of symptoms related to chronic inflammation. Further close
monitoring and inclusion of more patients are necessary to fully
characterize the advantages of UC-MSCs application in treatment of
symptoms related to chronic inflammation.
Abstract: In recent years, the use of the aluminum based alloys
in the industry and technology are increasing. Alloying elements in
aluminum have further been improving the strength and stiffness
properties that provide superior compared to other metals. In this
study, investigation of physical properties (microstructure,
microhardness, tensile strength, electrical conductivity and thermal
properties) in the Al-12.6wt.%Si-%2wt.Ni ternary alloy were
investigated. Al-Si-Ni alloy was prepared in vacuum atmosphere. The
samples were directionally solidified upwards with different growth
rate V (8.3−165.45 μm/s) at constant temperature gradient G (7.73
K/mm). The flake spacings (λ), microhardness (HV), ultimate tensile
strength (σ), electrical resistivity (ρ) and thermal properties (H, Cp,
Tm) of the samples were measured. Influence of the growth rate and
spacings on microhardness, ultimate tensile strength and electrical
resistivity were investigated and relationships between them were
obtained. According to results, λ values decrease with increasing V,
but HV, σ and ρ values increase with increasing V. Variations of
electrical resistivity (ρ) of solidified samples were also measured.
The enthalpy of fusion (H) and specific heat (Cp) for the alloy was
also determined by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) from
heating trace during the transformation from liquid to solid. The
results in this work were compared with the previous similar
experimental results.
Abstract: One of the most critical decision points in the design of a
face recognition system is the choice of an appropriate face representation.
Effective feature descriptors are expected to convey sufficient, invariant
and non-redundant facial information. In this work we propose a set of
Hahn moments as a new approach for feature description. Hahn moments
have been widely used in image analysis due to their invariance, nonredundancy
and the ability to extract features either globally and locally.
To assess the applicability of Hahn moments to Face Recognition we
conduct two experiments on the Olivetti Research Laboratory (ORL)
database and University of Notre-Dame (UND) X1 biometric collection.
Fusion of the global features along with the features from local facial
regions are used as an input for the conventional k-NN classifier. The
method reaches an accuracy of 93% of correctly recognized subjects for
the ORL database and 94% for the UND database.
Abstract: Work presented is interested in the characterization of
the quasistatic mechanical properties and in fatigue of a composite
laminated in jute/epoxy. The natural fibers offer promising prospects
thanks to their interesting specific properties, because of their low
density, but also with their bio-deterioration. Several scientific
studies highlighted the good mechanical resistance of the vegetable
fiber composites reinforced, even after several recycling. Because of
the environmental standards that become increasingly severe, one
attends the emergence of eco-materials at the base of natural fibers
such as flax, bamboo, hemp, sisal, jute. The fatigue tests on
elementary vegetable fibers show an increase of about 60% of the
rigidity of elementary fibers of hemp subjected to cyclic loadings. In
this study, the test-tubes manufactured by the method infusion have
sequences of stacking of 0/90° and ± 45° for the shearing and tensile
tests. The quasistatic tests reveal a variability of the mechanical
properties of about 8%. The tensile fatigue tests were carried out for
levels of constraints equivalent to half of the ultimate values of the
composite. Once the fatigue tests carried out for well-defined values
of cycles, a series of static tests of traction type highlights the
influence of the number of cycles on the quasi-static mechanical
behavior of the laminate jute/epoxy.
Abstract: In order to obtain efficient pollutants removal in
small-scale wastewater treatment plants, uniform water flow has to be
achieved. The experimental setup, designed for treating high-load
wastewater (leachate), consists of two aerobic biological reactors and
a lamellar settler. Both biological tanks were aerated by using three
different types of aeration systems - perforated pipes, membrane air
diffusers and tube ceramic diffusers. The possibility of homogenizing
the water mass with each of the air diffusion systems was evaluated
comparatively. The oxygen concentration was determined by optical
sensors with data logging. The experimental data was analyzed
comparatively for all three different air dispersion systems aiming to
identify the oxygen concentration variation during different
operational conditions. The Oxygenation Capacity was calculated for
each of the three systems and used as performance and selection
parameter. The global mass transfer coefficients were also evaluated
as important tools in designing the aeration system. Even though
using the tubular porous diffusers leads to higher oxygen
concentration compared to the perforated pipe system (which
provides medium-sized bubbles in the aqueous solution), it doesn’t
achieve the threshold limit of 80% oxygen saturation in less than 30
minutes. The study has shown that the optimal solution for the
studied configuration was the radial air diffusers which ensure an
oxygen saturation of 80% in 20 minutes. An increment of the values
was identified when the air flow was increased.
Abstract: Particle size distribution, the most important
characteristics of aerosols, is obtained through electrical
characterization techniques. The dynamics of charged nanoparticles
under the influence of electric field in Electrical Mobility
Spectrometer (EMS) reveals the size distribution of these particles.
The accuracy of this measurement is influenced by flow conditions,
geometry, electric field and particle charging process, therefore by
the transfer function (transfer matrix) of the instrument. In this work,
a wire-cylinder corona charger was designed and the combined fielddiffusion
charging process of injected poly-disperse aerosol particles
was numerically simulated as a prerequisite for the study of a
multichannel EMS. The result, a cloud of particles with no uniform
charge distribution, was introduced to the EMS. The flow pattern and
electric field in the EMS were simulated using Computational Fluid
Dynamics (CFD) to obtain particle trajectories in the device and
therefore to calculate the reported signal by each electrometer.
According to the output signals (resulted from bombardment of
particles and transferring their charges as currents), we proposed a
modification to the size of detecting rings (which are connected to
electrometers) in order to evaluate particle size distributions more
accurately. Based on the capability of the system to transfer
information contents about size distribution of the injected particles,
we proposed a benchmark for the assessment of optimality of the
design. This method applies the concept of Von Neumann entropy
and borrows the definition of entropy from information theory
(Shannon entropy) to measure optimality. Entropy, according to the
Shannon entropy, is the ''average amount of information contained in
an event, sample or character extracted from a data stream''.
Evaluating the responses (signals) which were obtained via various
configurations of detecting rings, the best configuration which gave
the best predictions about the size distributions of injected particles,
was the modified configuration. It was also the one that had the
maximum amount of entropy. A reasonable consistency was also
observed between the accuracy of the predictions and the entropy
content of each configuration. In this method, entropy is extracted
from the transfer matrix of the instrument for each configuration.
Ultimately, various clouds of particles were introduced to the
simulations and predicted size distributions were compared to the
exact size distributions.
Abstract: This paper represents an experimental study of LPG
diffusion flame at elevated preheated air temperatures. The flame is
stabilized in a vertical water-cooled combustor by using air swirler. An
experimental test rig was designed to investigate the different
operating conditions. The burner head is designed so that the LPG fuel
issued centrally and surrounded by the swirling air issues from an air
swirler. There are three air swirlers having the same dimensions but
having different blade angles to give different swirl numbers of 0.5,
0.87 and 1.5. The combustion air was heated electrically before
entering the combustor up to a temperature about 500 K. Five air to
fuel mass ratios of 15, 20, 30, 40 and 50 were also studied. The effect
of preheated air temperature, swirl number and air to fuel mass ratios
on the temperature maps, visible flame length, high temperature region
(size) and exhaust species concentrations are studied. Some results
show that as the preheated air temperature increases, the volume of
high temperature region also increased but the flame length decreased.
Increasing the preheated air temperature, EINOx, EICO2 and EIO2
increased, while EICO decreased. Increasing the preheated air
temperature from 300 to 500 K, for all air swirl numbers used, the
highest increase in EINOx, EICO2 and EIO2 are 141, 4 and 65%,
respectively.
Abstract: Ceramic Waste Aggregates (CWAs) were made from
electric porcelain insulator wastes supplied from an electric power
company, which were crushed and ground to fine aggregate sizes. In
this study, to develop the CWA mortar as an eco–efficient, ground
granulated blast–furnace slag (GGBS) as a Supplementary
Cementitious Material (SCM) was incorporated. The water–to–binder
ratio (W/B) of the CWA mortars was varied at 0.4, 0.5, and 0.6. The
cement of the CWA mortar was replaced by GGBS at 20 and 40% by
volume (at about 18 and 37% by weight). Mechanical properties of
compressive and splitting tensile strengths, and elastic modulus were
evaluated at the age of 7, 28, and 91 days. Moreover, the chloride
ingress test was carried out on the CWA mortars in a 5.0% NaCl
solution for 48 weeks. The chloride diffusion was assessed by using an
electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). To consider the relation of the
apparent chloride diffusion coefficient and the pore size, the pore size
distribution test was also performed using a mercury intrusion
porosimetry at the same time with the EPMA. The compressive
strength of the CWA mortars with the GGBS was higher than that
without the GGBS at the age of 28 and 91 days. The resistance to the
chloride ingress of the CWA mortar was effective in proportion to the
GGBS replacement level.
Abstract: In dynamic system theory a mathematical model is
often used to describe their properties. In order to find a transfer
matrix of a dynamic system we need to calculate an inverse matrix.
The paper contains the fusion of the classical theory and the
procedures used in the theory of automated control for calculating the
inverse matrix. The final part of the paper models the given problem
by the Matlab.
Abstract: This paper deals with the study of reflection and
transmission characteristics of acoustic waves at the interface of a
semiconductor half-space and elastic solid. The amplitude ratios
(reflection and transmission coefficients) of reflected and transmitted
waves to that of incident wave varying with the incident angles have
been examined for the case of quasi-longitudinal wave. The special
cases of normal and grazing incidence have also been derived with
the help of Gauss elimination method. The mathematical model
consisting of governing partial differential equations of motion and
charge carriers’ diffusion of n-type semiconductors and elastic solid
has been solved both analytically and numerically in the study. The
numerical computations of reflection and transmission coefficients
has been carried out by using MATLAB programming software for
silicon (Si) semiconductor and copper elastic solid. The computer
simulated results have been plotted graphically for Si
semiconductors. The study may be useful in semiconductors,
geology, and seismology in addition to surface acoustic wave (SAW)
devices.
Abstract: The purpose of the paper is to estimate the US small
wind turbines market potential and forecast the small wind turbines
sales in the US. The forecasting method is based on the application of
the Bass model and the generalized Bass model of innovations
diffusion under replacement purchases. In the work an exponential
distribution is used for modeling of replacement purchases. Only one
parameter of such distribution is determined by average lifetime of
small wind turbines. The identification of the model parameters is
based on nonlinear regression analysis on the basis of the annual
sales statistics which has been published by the American Wind
Energy Association (AWEA) since 2001 up to 2012. The estimation
of the US average market potential of small wind turbines (for
adoption purchases) without account of price changes is 57080
(confidence interval from 49294 to 64866 at P = 0.95) under average
lifetime of wind turbines 15 years, and 62402 (confidence interval
from 54154 to 70648 at P = 0.95) under average lifetime of wind
turbines 20 years. In the first case the explained variance is 90,7%,
while in the second - 91,8%. The effect of the wind turbines price
changes on their sales was estimated using generalized Bass model.
This required a price forecast. To do this, the polynomial regression
function, which is based on the Berkeley Lab statistics, was used. The
estimation of the US average market potential of small wind turbines
(for adoption purchases) in that case is 42542 (confidence interval
from 32863 to 52221 at P = 0.95) under average lifetime of wind
turbines 15 years, and 47426 (confidence interval from 36092 to
58760 at P = 0.95) under average lifetime of wind turbines 20 years.
In the first case the explained variance is 95,3%, while in the second
– 95,3%.
Abstract: The paper presents new results concerning selection of
optimal information fusion formula for ensembles of C-OTDR
channels. The goal of information fusion is to create an integral
classificator designed for effective classification of seismoacoustic
target events. The LPBoost (LP-β and LP-B variants), the Multiple
Kernel Learning, and Weighing of Inversely as Lipschitz Constants
(WILC) approaches were compared. The WILC is a brand new
approach to optimal fusion of Lipschitz Classifiers Ensembles.
Results of practical usage are presented.
Abstract: Medicinal plants are now gaining attractiveness in
treatment of bacterial infections and food preservation. The objective
of this study was to assess antibacterial activity of some medicinal
plants on pathogenic bacteria. Screening of antibacterial activity of
aqueous and methanol extracts of some plants: Jojoba, Ginger, Sage,
Thyme and Clove against Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhimurium,
Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli
were investigated. Antibacterial activity was performed by agar
diffusion and disc diffusion method. Jatropha, Jojoba, Clove and
Ginger extracts showed notable bacterial activity in the first
screening step then selected to be tested against Bacillus cereus
(Gram+), Staphylococcus aureus (Gram+) and Salmonella
typhimurium (Gram−) and their effect was compared using
antibiotics as control. Screening results showed potential antibacterial
activity of the tested plant extracts against the screened bacterial
strains. It was found that methanol extracts exhibited higher
antibacterial activity than aqueous extracts. Methanol extract of
Jatropha showed the highest inhibition zone against Staphylococcus
aureus (Gram+) with 24.00 mm diameter, compared to the other
plant extracts followed by clove. Meanwhile, the inhibition zones of
methanol extracts of Jojoba and Ginger were the same (12mm).The
Gram-positive bacteria were found to be more sensitive to aqueous
and methanol extracts than Gram-negative bacteria.
Abstract: The posterior reference for the ala tragal line is a
cause of confusion, with different authors suggesting different
locations as to the superior, middle or inferior part of the tragus. This
study was conducted on 200 subjects to evaluate if any correlation
exists between the variation of angulation of palatal throat form and
the relative parallelism of occlusal plane to ala-tragal line at different
tragal levels. A custom made Occlusal Plane Analyzer was used to
check the parallelism between the ala-tragal line and occlusal plane.
A lateral cephalogram was shot for each subject to measure the
angulation of the palatal throat form. Fisher’s exact test was used to
evaluate the correlation between the angulation of the palatal throat
form and the relative parallelism of occlusal plane to the ala tragal
line. Also, a classification was formulated for the palatal throat form,
based on confidence interval. From the results of the study, the
inferior part, middle part and superior part of the tragus were seen as
the reference points in 49.5%, 32% and 18.5% of the subjects
respectively. Class I palatal throat form (41degree-50 degree), Class
II palatal throat form (below 41 degree) and Class III palatal throat
form (above 50 degree) were seen in 42%, 43% and 15% of the
subjects respectively. It was also concluded that there is no
significant correlation between the variation in the angulations of the
palatal throat form and the relative parallelism of occlusal plane to
the ala-tragal line.
Abstract: The atmospheres in many cities along the coastal lines
in the world have been rapidly changed to coastal-industrial
atmosphere. Hence, it is vital to investigate the corrosion behavior of
steel exposed to this kind of environment. In this present study,
Electrochemical Impedance Spectrography (EIS) and film thickness
measurement were applied to monitor the corrosion behavior of
weathering steel covered with a thin layer of the electrolyte in a
wet-dry cyclic condition, simulating a coastal-industrial environment
at 25oC and 60% RH. The results indicate that in all cycles, the
corrosion rate increases during the drying process due to an increase in
anion concentration and an acceleration of oxygen diffusion enhanced
by the effect of the thinning out of the electrolyte. During the wet-dry
cyclic corrosion test, the long-term corrosion behavior of this steel
depends on the periods of exposure. Corrosion process is first
accelerated and then decelerated. The decelerating corrosion process is
contributed to the formation of the protective rust, favored by the
wet-dry cycle and the acid regeneration process during the rusting
process.
Abstract: In this work, we explore the capability of the mean
shift algorithm as a powerful preprocessing tool for improving the
quality of spatial data, acquired from airborne scanners, from densely
built urban areas. On one hand, high resolution image data corrupted
by noise caused by lossy compression techniques are appropriately
smoothed while at the same time preserving the optical edges and, on
the other, low resolution LiDAR data in the form of normalized
Digital Surface Map (nDSM) is upsampled through the joint mean
shift algorithm. Experiments on both the edge-preserving smoothing
and upsampling capabilities using synthetic RGB-z data show that the
mean shift algorithm is superior to bilateral filtering as well as to
other classical smoothing and upsampling algorithms. Application of
the proposed methodology for 3D reconstruction of buildings of a
pilot region of Athens, Greece results in a significant visual
improvement of the 3D building block model.
Abstract: The article represents the results of research of
antitumor activity of different structural types of plant flavonoids
extracted by authors from Polygonum L. plants in commercial
reserves at the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. For the first
time ever the results comparative research of antitumor activity of
plant flavonoids of different structural groups and their synthetic
derivatives have been represented. The results of determination of
toxicity of flavonoids in single parenteral infusion conditions have
been represented. Experimental substantiation of possible
mechanisms of antiproliferative and cytotoxic action of flavonoids
has been suggested. The perspectives of usage of plant flavonoids as
medications and creation of effective dosage forms of antitumor
medicines on their basis have been substantiated.
Abstract: High pressure turbine (HPT) blades of DV – 2 jet
engines are made from Ni – based superalloy. This alloy was
originally manufactured in the Soviet Union and referred as ŽS6K.
For improving alloy’s high temperature resistance are blades coated
with Al – Si diffusion layer. A regular operation temperature of HPT
blades vary from 705°C to 750°C depending on jet engine regime.
An overcrossing working temperature range causes degradation of
the protective coating as well as base material which microstructure
is formed by the gamma matrix and strengthening phase gamma
prime (forming small particles in the microstructure). Diffusion
processes inside the material during exposition of the material to high
temperatures causes mainly coarsening of the gamma prime particles,
thus decreasing its strengthening effect. Degradation of the Al – Si
coating caused its thickness growth. All the microstructure changes
and coating layer thickness growth results in decreasing of the turbine
blade operation lifetime.