Abstract: Not all proteins have the same nutritional value, since
protein quality strongly depends on its amino acid composition and
digestibility. The meat of game animals could be a high protein
source because of its well-balanced essential amino acids
composition. Investigations about biochemical composition of game
meat such as wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa), roe deer (Capreolus
capreolus) and beaver (Castor fiber) are not very much. Therefore,
the aim of the investigation was evaluate protein composition of
game meat hunted in Latvia. The biochemical analysis, evaluation of
connective tissue and essential amino acids in meat samples were
done, the amino acids score were calculate. Results of analysis
showed that protein content 20.88-22.05% of all types of meat
samples is not different statistically. The content of connective tissue
from 1.3% in roe deer till 1.5% in beaver meat allowed classified
game animal as high quality meat. The sum of essential amino acids
in game meat samples were determined 7.05–8.26g100g-1. Roe deer
meat has highest protein content and lowest content of connective
tissues among game meat hunted in Latvia. Concluded that amino
acid score for limiting amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine is high
and shows high biological value of game meat.
Abstract: To increase the quality of learning, teacher and learner need mutual effort for realization of educational value. For this purpose, we need to manage the co-creational education among teacher and learners. In this research, we try to find a feature of co-creational education. To be more precise, we analyzed learners’ reports by natural language processing, and extract some features that describe the state of the co-creational education.
Abstract: In this paper, an improved active snubber cell is proposed on account of soft switching (SS) family of pulse width modulation (PWM) DC-DC converters. The improved snubber cell provides zero-voltage transition (ZVT) turn on and zero-current transition (ZCT) turn off for main switch. The snubber cell decreases EMI noise and operates with SS in a wide range of line and load voltages. Besides, all of the semiconductor devices in the converter operate with SS. There is no additional voltage and current stress on the main devices. Additionally, extra voltage stress does not occur on the auxiliary switch and its current stress is acceptable value. The improved converter has a low cost and simple structure. The theoretical analysis of converter is clarified and the operating states are given in detail. The experimental results of converter are obtained by prototype of 500 W and 100 kHz. It is observed that the experimental results and theoretical analysis of converter are suitable with each other perfectly.
Abstract: To focus on the vibration mode of a cone loudspeaker,
which acts as an electroacoustic transducer, excitation experiments
were performed using two types of loudspeaker units: one employing
an impulse hammer and the other a sweep signal. The on-axis sound
pressure frequency properties of the loudspeaker were evaluated, and
the characteristic properties of the loudspeakers were successfully
determined in both excitation experiments. Moreover, under
conditions identical to the experiment conditions, a coupled analysis of
the vibration-acoustics of the cone loudspeaker was performed using
an acoustic analysis software program that considers the impact of
damping caused by air viscosity. The result of sound pressure
frequency properties with the numerical analysis are the most closely
match that measured in the excitation experiments over a wide range
of frequency bands.
Abstract: Healthcare waste management continues to present an
array of challenges for developing countries, and Liberia is of no
exception. There is insufficient information available regarding the
generation, handling, and disposal of health care waste. This face
serves as an impediment to healthcare management schemes. The
specific objective of this study is to present an evaluation of the
current health care management practices in Liberia. It also presented
procedures, techniques used, methods of handling, transportation, and
disposal methods of wastes as well as the quantity and composition
of health care waste. This study was conducted as an investigative
case study, covering three different health care facilities; a hospital, a
health center, and a clinic in Monrovia, Montserrado County. The
average waste generation was found to be 0-7kg per day at the clinic
and health center and 8-15kg per/day at the hospital. The composition
of the waste includes hazardous and non-hazardous waste i.e. plastic,
papers, sharps, and pathological elements etc. Nevertheless, the
investigation showed that the healthcare waste generated by the
surveyed healthcare facilities were not properly handled because of
insufficient guidelines for separate collection, and classification, and
adequate methods for storage and proper disposal of generated
wastes. This therefore indicates that there is a need for improvement
within the healthcare waste management system to improve the
existing situation.
Abstract: Copreneurship is a term used to describe the business
pattern of operations run by married couples who share commitment,
goals, and responsibilities in handling a business. Research conducted
overseas showed that copreneurship business activities grew quickly
and played a role in elevating families’ and nations’ socio-economic
standards. In Malaysia, copreneurship has long been cultivated by
spouses. Thus, this study aimed to explore the factors that motivate
married partners to start a copreneurship business, and who is the
dominant partner in the management of this business. The study
participants are four entrepreneurial couples who are SME business
operators selected through purposive sampling. In-depth interviews
and direct observation were used as methods of measurement for
triangulation of qualitative data in this study. The findings of the
interviews were administered using NVivo 8.0 software. The result
shows that freedom is a key factor that drives entrepreneurs to set up
copreneurship businesses, and that the husband dominates the
management aspects of the business. The study gives an overview of
the parties involved in entrepreneurship to provide understanding of
the copreneurship concept as it is practiced. This study provides
academic value by creating understanding of the importance of a
harmonious family institution specifically for forming entrepreneurs
in the familial environment in Malaysia.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to show how state plays a
regulatory role in the relations of distribution by analyzing tax and
expenditure in Turkey. This paper has two main arguments. First,
state intervenes in economic and social life via budget policies and
steers the relations of distribution within the scope of the
reproduction of the capital accumulation and legitimacy. Secondly, a
great amount of public expenditure benefits capital owners while
state gains its tax income mainly from low and middle income
groups.
Abstract: The importance of culture and tourism in the attractiveness and competitiveness of the countries is central, and many regions are evidencing their cultural assets, tangible and intangible, as a means to create comparative advantages in tourism and produce a distinctive place in response to the pressures of globalization. Culture and tourism are interlinked because of their obvious combination and growth potential. Cultural tourism is a crucial global tourism market with fast growing. Regions can develop significant relations between culture and tourism to increase their attractiveness as places to visit, live and invest, increasing their competitiveness. Accordingly, having new and creative approach to historical areas as cultural value-based destinations can improve their conditions to promote tourism. Furthermore, in 21st century, media become the most important factor affecting the development of urban cities, including public places. As a result of the digital revolution, re-imaging and re-linkage public places by media are essential to create more interactions between public spaces and users, interaction media display, and urban screens, one of the most important defined media. This interaction can transform the urban space from being neglected to be more interactive space with users, especially the pedestrians. The paper focuses on The Walled City of Famagusta. As many other historic quarters elsewhere in the world, is in a process, of decay and deterioration, and its functionally distinctive areas are severely threatened by physical, functional, locational, and image obsolescence at varying degrees. So the focus on the future development of this area through tourism promotion can be an appropriate decision for the monument enhancement of the spatial quality in Walled City of Famagusta. In this paper, it is aimed to identify the effects of these new digital factors to transform public spaces especially in historic urban areas to promote creative tourism. Accordingly, two different analysis methods are used as well as a theoretical review. The first is case study on site and the second is Close ended questionnaire, test many concepts raised in this paper. The physical analysis on site carried out in order to evaluate the walled city restoration for touristic purpose. Besides, theoretical review is done in order to provide background to the subject and cleared Factors to attract tourists.
Abstract: MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA found in
many different species. They play crucial roles in cancer such as
biological processes of apoptosis and proliferation. The identification
of microRNA-target genes can be an essential first step towards to
reveal the role of microRNA in various cancer types. In this paper,
we predict miRNA-target genes for lung cancer by integrating
prediction scores from miRanda and PITA algorithms used as a
feature vector of miRNA-target interaction. Then, machine-learning
algorithms were implemented for making a final prediction. The
approach developed in this study should be of value for future studies
into understanding the role of miRNAs in molecular mechanisms
enabling lung cancer formation.
Abstract: An experiment to verify the relationships between
physiological indexes of an e-learner and the presence or absence of an
operation during e-learning is described. Electroencephalogram
(EEG), hemoencephalography (HEG), skin conductance (SC), and
blood volume pulse (BVP) values were measured while participants
performed experimental learning tasks. The results show that there are
significant differences between the SC values when reading with
clicking on learning materials and the SC values when reading without
clicking, and between the HEG ratio when reading (with and without
clicking) and the HEG ratio when resting for four of five participants.
We conclude that the SC signals can be used to estimate whether or not
a learner is performing an active task and that the HEG ratios can be
used to estimate whether a learner is learning.
Abstract: Cavities are frequently found beneath conduits on pile
foundations in old embankments. Cavity reduces seepage length
significantly and consequently causes piping failure of embankments.
Case studies of embankment failures indicate that the relative
settlement between ground and pile supported-concrete conduit was
the main reason of the cavity. In this paper, an attempt to simulate the
cavity-induced piping failure mechanism was made using finite
element numerical method. Piping potential is examined by carrying
out parametric study for influencing factors such as cavity length,
water level, and flow conditions. The concentration of hydraulic
gradient adjacent to cavity was found. It is found that the hydraulic
gradient close to the cavity exceeds considerably the critical hydraulic
gradient causing piping. Piping failure potential due to the existence of
cavity is evaluated and contour map for the potential risk of an
embankment for piping failure is proposed.
Abstract: The effectiveness of microchannels in enhancing heat
transfer has been demonstrated in the semiconductor industry. In
order to tap the microscale heat transfer effects into macro
geometries, overcoming the cost and technological constraints,
microscale passages were created in macro geometries machined
using conventional fabrication methods. A cylindrical insert was
placed within a pipe, and geometrical profiles were created on the
outer surface of the insert to enhance heat transfer under steady-state
single-phase liquid flow conditions. However, while heat transfer
coefficient values of above 10 kW/m2·K were achieved, the heat
transfer enhancement was accompanied by undesirable pressure drop
increment. Therefore, this study aims to address the high pressure
drop issue using Constructal theory, a universal design law for both
animate and inanimate systems. Two designs based on Constructal theory were developed to study
the effectiveness of Constructal features in reducing the pressure drop
increment as compared to parallel channels, which are commonly
found in microchannel fabrication. The hydrodynamic and heat
transfer performance for the Tree insert and Constructal fin (Cfin)
insert were studied using experimental methods, and the underlying
mechanisms were substantiated by numerical results. In technical
terms, the objective is to achieve at least comparable increment in
both heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop, if not higher
increment in the former parameter. Results show that the Tree insert improved the heat transfer
performance by more than 16 percent at low flow rates, as compared
to the Tree-parallel insert. However, the heat transfer enhancement
reduced to less than 5 percent at high Reynolds numbers. On the
other hand, the pressure drop increment stayed almost constant at 20
percent. This suggests that the Tree insert has better heat transfer
performance in the low Reynolds number region. More importantly,
the Cfin insert displayed improved heat transfer performance along
with favourable hydrodynamic performance, as compared to Cfinparallel
insert, at all flow rates in this study. At 2 L/min, the
enhancement of heat transfer was more than 30 percent, with 20
percent pressure drop increment, as compared to Cfin-parallel insert.
Furthermore, comparable increment in both heat transfer coefficient
and pressure drop was observed at 8 L/min. In other words, the Cfin
insert successfully achieved the objective of this study. Analysis of the results suggests that bifurcation of flows is
effective in reducing the increment in pressure drop relative to heat
transfer enhancement. Optimising the geometries of the Constructal
fins is therefore the potential future study in achieving a bigger stride
in energy efficiency at much lower costs.
Abstract: Digital technologies offer many opportunities in the
design and implementation of brand communication and advertising.
Augmented reality (AR) is an innovative technology in marketing
communication that focuses on the fact that virtual interaction with a
product ad offers additional value to consumers. AR enables
consumers to obtain (almost) real product experiences by the way of
virtual information even before the purchase of a certain product.
Aim of AR applications in relation with advertising is in-depth
examination of product characteristics to enhance product knowledge
as well as brand knowledge. Interactive design of advertising
provides observers with an intense examination of a specific
advertising message and therefore leads to better brand knowledge.
The elaboration likelihood model and the central route to persuasion
strongly support this argumentation. Nevertheless, AR in brand
communication is still in an initial stage and therefore scientific
findings about the impact of AR on information processing and brand
attitude are rare. The aim of this paper is to empirically investigate
the potential of AR applications in combination with traditional print
advertising. To that effect an experimental design with different
levels of interactivity is built to measure the impact of interactivity of
an ad on different variables o advertising effectiveness.
Abstract: The tribological test with Pin-On-Disc configuration
measures friction and wear properties in dry or lubricated sliding
surfaces of a variety of materials and coatings. Polymeric matrix
composites loaded with mineral filler were used, 1%, 3%, 10%, 30%,
and 50% mass percentage of filler, to reduce the material cost by
using mineral tailings. Using a pin-on-disc tribometer to quantify
coefficient of friction and wear resistance of the specimens. The
parameters known to performing the test were 300 rpm rotation,
normal load of 16N and duration of 33.5 minutes. The composite
with 10% mineral filler performed better, considering that the wear
resistance was good when compared to the other compositions and an
average low coefficient of friction, in the order of μ ≤ 0.15.
Abstract: Historic paths in today's cities are facing the pressure
of the urban development due to the rapid urban growth. Every new
development is tearing the old urban fabric and the socio-economic
character of the historic paths. Furthermore, in some cases historic
paths suffer from negligence and decay. Kom El Dekka historic path
was one of those deteriorated paths in the city of Alexandria, Egypt,
in spite of its high heritage and socio-economic value. Therefore,
there was a need to develop urban regeneration strategies as a part of
a wider sustainable development vision, to handle the situation and
revitalize the path as a livable space in the heart of the city. This
study aims to develop a comprehensive assessment methodology to
evaluate the different values of the path and to create community-oriented
and economic-based analysis methodology for its socio-economic
values. These analysis and assessments provide strategies
for any regeneration action plan for Kom El Dekka historic path.
Abstract: Microstructure and fabric of soils play an important
role on structural properties e.g. stiffness and strength of compacted
earthwork. Traditional quality control monitoring based on moisturedensity
tests neither reflects the variability of soil microstructure nor
provides a direct assessment of structural property, which is the
ultimate objective of the earthwork quality control. Since stiffness
and strength are sensitive to soil microstructure and fabric, any
independent test methods that provide simple, rapid, and direct
measurement of stiffness and strength are anticipated to provide an
effective assessment of compacted earthen materials’ uniformity. In
this study, the soil stiffness gauge (SSG) and the dynamic cone
penetrometer (DCP) were respectively utilized to measure and
monitor the stiffness and strength in companion with traditional
moisture-density measurements of various earthen materials used in
Thailand road construction projects. The practical earthwork quality
control criteria are presented herein in order to assure proper
earthwork quality control and uniform structural property of
compacted earthworks.
Abstract: Community living adjacent to forests and Protected
Areas, especially in South Asian countries, have a common practice
in extracting resources for their living and livelihoods. This
extraction of resources, because the way it is done, destroys the biophysical
features of the area. Deforestation, wildlife poaching, illegal
logging, unauthorized hill cutting etc. are some of the serious issues
of concern for the sustainability of the natural resources that has a
direct impact on environment and climate as a whole. To ensure
community involvement in conservation initiatives of the state,
community based forest management, commonly known as Comanagement,
has been in practice in 6 South Asian countries. These
are -India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
Involving community in forestry management was initiated first in
Bangladesh in 1979 and reached as an effective co-management
approach through a several paradigm shifts. This idea of Comanagement
has been institutionalized through a Government Order
(GO) by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of
Bangladesh on November 23, 2009. This GO clearly defines the
structure and functions of Co-management and its different bodies.
Bangladesh Forest Department has been working in association with
community to conserve and manage the Forests and Protected areas
of Bangladesh following this legal document. Demographically
young people constitute the largest segment of population in
Bangladesh. This group, if properly sensitized, can produce valuable
impacts on the conservation initiatives, both by community and
government. This study traced the major factors that motivate
community youths to work effectively with different tiers of comanagement
organizations in conservation of forests and Protected
Areas of Bangladesh. For the purpose of this study, 3 FGDs were
conducted with 30 youths from the community living around the
Protected Areas of Cox’s bazar, South East corner of Bangladesh,
who are actively involved in Co-management organizations. KII were
conducted with 5 key officials of Forest Department stationed at
Cox’s Bazar. 2 FGDs were conducted with the representatives of 7
Co-management organizations working in Cox’s Bazar region and
approaches of different community outreach activities conducted for
forest conservation by 3 private organizations and Projects have been
reviewed. Also secondary literatures were reviewed for the history
and evolution of Co-management in Bangladesh and six South Asian
countries. This study found that innovative community outreach
activities that are financed by public and private sectors involving
youths and community as a whole have played a pivotal role in
conservation of forests and Protected Areas of the region. This
approach can be replicated in other regions of Bangladesh as well as
other countries of South Asia where Co-Management exists in
practice.
Abstract: The rapid growth of the human population and the
environmental degradation associated with increased consumption of
resources raises concerns on sustainability. Social sustainability
constitutes one of the three dimensions of sustainability together with
environmental and economic dimensions. Even though there is not an
agreement on what social sustainability consists of, it is a well known
fact that it necessitates user participation. The fore, this study aims to
observe and analyze the role of user participation on social
sustainability. In this paper, the links between user participation and indicators of
social sustainability have been searched. In order to achieve this, first
of all a literature review on social sustainability has been done;
accordingly, the information obtained from researches has been used
in the evaluation of the projects conducted in the developing
countries considering user participation. These examples are taken as
role models with pros and cons for the development of the checklist
for the evaluation of the case studies. Furthermore, a case study over
the post earthquake residential settlements in Turkey have been
conducted. The case study projects are selected considering different building
scales (differing number of residential units), scale of the problem
(post-earthquake settlements, rehabilitation of shanty dwellings) and
the variety of users (differing socio-economic dimensions). Decisionmaking,
design, building and usage processes of the selected projects
and actors of these processes have been investigated in the context of
social sustainability. The cases include: New Gourna Village by
Hassan Fathy, Quinta Monroy dwelling units conducted in Chile by
Alejandro Aravena and Beyköy and Beriköy projects in Turkey
aiming to solve the problem of housing which have appeared after the
earthquake happened in 1999 have been investigated. Results of the
study possible links between social sustainability indicators and user
participation and links between user participation and the
peculiarities of place. Results are compared and discussed in order to find possible
solutions to form social sustainability through user participation.
Results show that social sustainability issues depend on communities'
characteristics, socio-economic conditions and user profile but user
participation has positive effects on some social sustainability
indicators like user satisfaction, a sense of belonging and social
stability.
Abstract: In general, it is desirable to finish the weld quickly,
before a large volume of surrounding metal heats up and expands.
The welding process used, type, welding current and speed of travel,
thus, affect the degree of shrinkage and distortion of a weldment. The
use of mechanized welding equipment reduces welding time, metal
affected zone and consequently distortion. This article helps to define
what weld distortion is and then provide a practical understanding of
the causes of distortion, effects of shrinkage in butt joint welded
assemblies using TI6AL4VA and Aluminium AA2024 alloy sheet.
The beam offset position to the joint interface towards titanium and
aluminium side. The factors affecting distortion during welding is
also given. Test results reveal that welding speed is the significant
parameter to decide the extent of distortion. Also welding from Al
side reduces the distortion while Ti side increases the distortion.
Abstract: Surface characteristics of Bacillus megaterium strain
were investigated; zeta potential, FTIR and contact angle were
measured. Surface energy components including Lifshitz-van der
Waals, Hamaker constant, and acid/base components (Lewis
acid/Lewis base) were calculated from the contact angle data. The
results showed that the microbial cells were negatively charged over
all pH regions with high values at alkaline region. A hydrophilic
nature for the strain was confirmed by contact angle and free energy
of adhesion between microbial cells. Adsorption affinity of the strain
toward dolomite was studied at different pH values. The results
showed that the cells had a high affinity to dolomite at acid pH
comparing to neutral and alkaline pH. Extended DLVO theory was
applied to calculate interaction energy between B. megaterium cells
and dolomite particles. The adsorption results were in agreement with
the results of Extended DLVO approach. Surface changes occurred
on dolomite surface after the bio-treatment were monitored; contact
angle decreased from 69° to 38° and the mineral’s floatability
decreased from 95% to 25% after the treatment.