Abstract: During 2011 and 2012 seasons, Zaghloul date palms received four sprays of silicon (Si) at 0.05 to 0.1% and selenium (Se) at 0.01 to 0.02%. Growth, nutritional status, yield as well as physical and chemical characteristics of the fruits in response to application of silicon and selenium were investigated. Single and combined applications of silicon at 0.05 to 0.1% and selenium at 0.01 to 0.02% was very effective in enhancing the leaf area, total chlorophylls, percentages of N, P and K in the leaves, yield, bunch weight as well as physical and chemical characteristics of the fruits in relative to the check treatment. Silicon was superior to selenium in this respect. Combined application was favorable than using each alone in this connection. Treating Zaghloul date palms four times with a mixture of silicon at 0.05% + selenium at 0.01% resulted in an economical yield and producing better fruit quality.
Abstract: Leave of absence is important in maintaining a good
status of human resource quality. Allowing the employees temporarily
free from the routine assignments can vitalize the workers- morality
and productivity. This is particularly critical to secure a satisfactory
service quality for healthcare professionals of which were typically
featured with labor intensive and complicated works to perform. As
one of the veteran hospitals that were found and operated by the
Veteran Department of Taiwan, the nursing staff of the case hospital
was squeezed to an extreme minimum level under the pressure of a
tight budgeting. Leave of absence on schedule became extremely
difficult, especially for the intensive care units (ICU), in which
required close monitoring over the cared patients, and that had more
easily driven the ICU nurses nervous. Even worse, the deferred leaves
were more than 10 days at any time in the ICU because of a fluctuating
occupancy. As a result, these had brought a bad setback to this
particular nursing team, and consequently defeated the job
performance and service quality. To solve this problem and
accordingly to strengthen their morality, a project team was organized
across different departments specific for this. Sufficient information
regarding jobs and positions requirements, labor resources, and actual
working hours in detail were collected and analyzed in the team
meetings. Several alternatives were finalized. These included job
rotating, job combination, leave on impromptu and cross-departmental
redeployment. Consequently, the deferred leave days sharply reduced
70% to a level of 3 or less days. This improvement had not only
provided good shelter for the ICU nurses that improved their job
performance and patient safety but also encouraged the nurses active
participating of a project and learned the skills of solving problems
with colleagues.
Abstract: the data quality is a kind of complex and unstructured concept, which is concerned by information systems managers. The reason of this attention is the high amount of Expenses for maintenance and cleaning of the inefficient data. Such a data more than its expenses of lack of quality, cause wrong statistics, analysis and decisions in organizations. Therefor the managers intend to improve the quality of their information systems' data. One of the basic subjects of quality improvement is the evaluation of the amount of it. In this paper, we present a precautionary method, which with its application the data of information systems would have a better quality. Our method would cover different dimensions of data quality; therefor it has necessary integrity. The presented method has tested on three dimensions of accuracy, value-added and believability and the results confirm the improvement and integrity of this method.
Abstract: The current trend of increasing quality and demands
of the final product is affected by time analysis of the entire
manufacturing process. The primary requirement of manufacturing is
to produce as many products as soon as possible, at the lowest
possible cost, but of course with the highest quality. Such
requirements may be satisfied only if all the elements entering and
affecting the production cycle are in a fully functional condition.
These elements consist of sensory equipment and intelligent control
elements that are essential for building intelligent manufacturing
systems. The intelligent manufacturing paradigm includes a new
approach to production system structure design. Intelligent behaviors
are based on the monitoring of important parameters of system and
its environment. The flexible reaction to changes. The realization and
utilization of this design paradigm as an "intelligent manufacturing
system" enables the flexible system reaction to production
requirement as soon as environmental changes too. Results of these
flexible reactions are a smaller layout space, be decreasing of
production and investment costs and be increasing of productivity.
Intelligent manufacturing system itself should be a system that can
flexibly respond to changes in entering and exiting the process in
interaction with the surroundings.
Abstract: Assessment for image quality traditionally needs its
original image as a reference. The conventional method for assessment
like Mean Square Error (MSE) or Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR)
is invalid when there is no reference. In this paper, we present a new
No-Reference (NR) assessment of image quality using blur and noise.
The recent camera applications provide high quality images by help of
digital Image Signal Processor (ISP). Since the images taken by the
high performance of digital camera have few blocking and ringing
artifacts, we only focus on the blur and noise for predicting the
objective image quality. The experimental results show that the
proposed assessment method gives high correlation with subjective
Difference Mean Opinion Score (DMOS). Furthermore, the proposed
method provides very low computational load in spatial domain and
similar extraction of characteristics to human perceptional assessment.
Abstract: The important issue considered in the widespread deployment of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is an efficiency of the energy consumption. In this paper, we present a study of the optimal relay station planning problems using Binary Integer Linear Programming (BILP) model to minimize the energy consumption in WSNs. Our key contribution is that the proposed model not only ensures the required network lifetime but also guarantees the radio connectivity at high level of communication quality. Specially, we take into account effects of noise, signal quality limitation and bit error rate characteristics. Numerical experiments were conducted in various network scenarios. We analyzed the effects of different sensor node densities and distribution on the energy consumption.
Abstract: This experiment was conducted to investigate the
effect of different levels of dietary chromium yeast (Cr-yeast) on
thigh meat quality of broiler chicks reared under heat stress
condition. Two hundred and forty Ross male chickens in heat stress
condition (33±3°C) were allocated to five treatments in a completely
randomized design. Treatments were supplemented with 0 (control),
200, 400, 800 and 1200 μg kg-1 Cr in the form of Cr yeast. Twelve
chicks from each treatment were slaughtered at 42 d, to evaluate
moisture, protein, lipid, pH and lipid oxidation of thigh meat.
Protein, moisture, lipid and pH of thigh meat were not affected by
supplemental Cr. Thigh meat lipid tended to decrease in broilers
received 1200 μg kg-1. Storage time increased lipid oxidation of
meat (P
Abstract: A study was carried out to determine the effect of water quality on flotation performance. The experimental test work comprised of batch flotation tests using Denver lab cell for a period of 10 minutes. Nine different test runs were carried out in triplicates to ensure reproducibility using different water types from different thickener overflows, return and sewage effluent water (process water) and portable water. The water sources differed in pH, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids and conductivity. Process water was found to reduce the concentrate recovery and mass pull, while portable water increased the concentrate recovery and mass pull. Portable water reduced the concentrate grade while process water increased the concentrate grade. It is proposed that a combination of process water and portable water supply be used in flotation circuits to balance the different effects that the different water types have on the flotation efficiency.
Abstract: Ozone (O3) is considered as one of the most
phytotoxic pollutants with deleterious effects on living and non living
components of Ecosystems. It reduces growth and yield of many
crops as well as alters the physiology and crop quality. The present
study described series of experiments to investigate the effects of
ambient O3 at different locations with different ambient levels of O3
depending on proximity to pollutant source and ranged between 17
ppb/h in control experiment to 112 ppb/h in industrial area
respectively. The ambient levels in other three locations (King Saud
University botanical garden, King Fahd Rd, and Almanakh Garden)
were 61,61,77 ppb/h respectively. Tow legume crops species (vicia
vaba L ; and Pisum sativum) differ in their phenology and sensitivity
were used. The results showed a significant negative effect to ozone
on morphology, number of injured leaves, growth and productivity
with a difference in the degree of response depending on the plant
type. Visia Faba showed sensitivity to ozone to number and leaf area
and the degree of injury leaves 3, pisum sativum show higher
sensitivity for the gas for degree of injury 1,The relative growth rate
and seed weight, it turns out there is no significant difference
between the two plants in plant height and number of seeds.
Abstract: The vast amount of information on the World Wide
Web is created and published by many different types of providers.
Unlike books and journals, most of this information is not subject to
editing or peer review by experts. This lack of quality control and the
explosion of web sites make the task of finding quality information
on the web especially critical. Meanwhile new facilities for
producing web pages such as Blogs make this issue more significant
because Blogs have simple content management tools enabling nonexperts
to build easily updatable web diaries or online journals. On
the other hand despite a decade of active research in information
quality (IQ) there is no framework for measuring information quality
on the Blogs yet. This paper presents a novel experimental
framework for ranking quality of information on the Weblog. The
results of data analysis revealed seven IQ dimensions for the Weblog.
For each dimension, variables and related coefficients were
calculated so that presented framework is able to assess IQ of
Weblogs automatically.
Abstract: To model the human visual system (HVS) in the region of interest, we propose a new objective metric evaluation adapted to wavelet foveation-based image compression quality measurement, which exploits a foveation setup filter implementation technique in the DWT domain, based especially on the point and region of fixation of the human eye. This model is then used to predict the visible divergences between an original and compressed image with respect to this region field and yields an adapted and local measure error by removing all peripheral errors. The technique, which we call foveation wavelet visible difference prediction (FWVDP), is demonstrated on a number of noisy images all of which have the same local peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR), but visibly different errors. We show that the FWVDP reliably predicts the fixation areas of interest where error is masked, due to high image contrast, and the areas where the error is visible, due to low image contrast. The paper also suggests ways in which the FWVDP can be used to determine a visually optimal quantization strategy for foveation-based wavelet coefficients and to produce a quantitative local measure of image quality.
Abstract: Measures of complexity and entropy have not converged to a single quantitative description of levels of organization of complex systems. The need for such a measure is increasingly necessary in all disciplines studying complex systems. To address this problem, starting from the most fundamental principle in Physics, here a new measure for quantity of organization and rate of self-organization in complex systems based on the principle of least (stationary) action is applied to a model system - the central processing unit (CPU) of computers. The quantity of organization for several generations of CPUs shows a double exponential rate of change of organization with time. The exact functional dependence has a fine, S-shaped structure, revealing some of the mechanisms of self-organization. The principle of least action helps to explain the mechanism of increase of organization through quantity accumulation and constraint and curvature minimization with an attractor, the least average sum of actions of all elements and for all motions. This approach can help describe, quantify, measure, manage, design and predict future behavior of complex systems to achieve the highest rates of self organization to improve their quality. It can be applied to other complex systems from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Ecology, Economics, Cities, network theory and others where complex systems are present.
Abstract: Power Factor (PF) is one of the most important parameters in the electrical systems, especially in the water pumping station. The low power factor value of the water pumping stations causes penalty for the electrical bill. There are many methods use for power factor improvement. Each one of them uses a capacitor on the electrical power network. The position of the capacitors is varied depends on many factors such as; voltage level and capacitors rating. Adding capacitors on the motor terminals increase the supply power factor from 0.8 to more than 0.9 but these capacitors cause some problems for the electrical grid network, such as increasing the harmonic contents of the grid line voltage. In this paper the effects of using capacitors in the water pumping stations to improve the power factor value on the harmonic contents of the electrical grid network are studied. One of large water pumping stations in Kafr El-Shikh Governorate in Egypt was used, as a case study. The effect of capacitors on the line voltage harmonic contents is measured. The station uses capacitors to improve the PF values at the 1 lkv grid network. The power supply harmonics values are measured by a power quality analyzer at different loading conditions. The results showed that; the capacitors improved the power factor value of the feeder and its value increased than 0.9. But the THD values are increased by adding these capacitors. The harmonic analysis showed that; the 13th, 17th, and 19th harmonics orders are increased also by adding the capacitors.
Abstract: A new Meta heuristic approach called "Randomized gravitational emulation search algorithm (RGES)" for solving vertex covering problems has been designed. This algorithm is found upon introducing randomization concept along with the two of the four primary parameters -velocity- and -gravity- in physics. A new heuristic operator is introduced in the domain of RGES to maintain feasibility specifically for the vertex covering problem to yield best solutions. The performance of this algorithm has been evaluated on a large set of benchmark problems from OR-library. Computational results showed that the randomized gravitational emulation search algorithm - based heuristic is capable of producing high quality solutions. The performance of this heuristic when compared with other existing heuristic algorithms is found to be excellent in terms of solution quality.
Abstract: Active power filter continues to be a powerful tool to control harmonics in power systems thereby enhancing the power quality. This paper presents a fuzzy tuned PID controller based shunt active filter to diminish the harmonics caused by non linear loads like thyristor bridge rectifiers and imbalanced loads. Here Fuzzy controller provides the tuning of PID, based on firing of thyristor bridge rectifiers and variations in input rms current. The shunt APF system is implemented with three phase current controlled Voltage Source Inverter (VSI) and is connected at the point of common coupling for compensating the current harmonics by injecting equal but opposite filter currents. These controllers are capable of controlling dc-side capacitor voltage and estimating reference currents. Hysteresis Current Controller (HCC) is used to generate switching signals for the voltage source inverter. Simulation studies are carried out with non linear loads like thyristor bridge rectifier along with unbalanced loads and the results proved that the APF along with fuzzy tuned PID controller work flawlessly for different firing angles of non linear load.
Abstract: This survey of recent literature examines the link between growth and poverty. It is widely accepted that economic growth is a necessary condition for sustainable poverty reduction. But it is the fact that the economic growth of some countries has been pro-poor while others not. Some factors such as labor market, policies and demographic factors may lead to a weak relationship between economic performance and poverty rate. In this sense pro-growth policies should be pro-poor to increase the poverty alleviation effects of the growth. The purpose of this study is to review the recent studies on the effects of macroeconomic policies on poverty and inequality and to review the poverty analyses which examine the relationship between growth, poverty and inequality. Also this study provides some facts about the relationship between economic growth, inequality and poverty from Turkey. Keywordseconomic growth, inequality, macroeconomic policy, poverty
Abstract: Quality control is the crucial step for ISO 9001
Quality System Management Standard for companies. While
measuring the quality level of both raw material and semi
product/product, the calibration of the measuring device is an
essential requirement. Calibration suppliers are in the service sector
and therefore the calibration supplier selection is becoming a worthy
topic for improving service quality.
This study presents the results of a questionnaire about the
selection criteria of a calibration supplier. The questionnaire was
applied to 103 companies and the results are discussed in this paper.
The analysis was made with MINITAB 14.0 statistical programs.
“Competence of documentations" and “technical capability" are
defined as the prerequisites because of the ISO/IEC17025:2005
standard. Also “warranties and complaint policy", “communication",
“service features", “quality" and “performance history" are defined as
very important criteria for calibration supplier selection.
Abstract: In this paper we propose a new content-weighted
method for full reference (FR) video quality control using a region of
interest (ROI) and wherein two-component weighted metrics for Deaf
People Video Communication. In our approach, an image is
partitioned into region of interest and into region "dry-as-dust", then
region of interest is partitioned into two parts: edges and background
(smooth regions), while the another methods (metrics) combined and
weighted three or more parts as edges, edges errors, texture, smooth
regions, blur, block distance etc. as we proposed. Using another idea
that different image regions from deaf people video communication
have different perceptual significance relative to quality. Intensity
edges certainly contain considerable image information and are
perceptually significant.
Abstract: The effects of irrigation with dairy factory wastewater
on soil properties were investigated at two sites that had received
irrigation for > 60 years. Two adjoining paired sites that had never
received DFE were also sampled as well as another seven fields from
a wider area around the factory. In comparison with paired sites that
had not received effluent, long-term wastewater irrigation resulted in
an increase in pH, EC, extractable P, exchangeable Na and K and
ESP. These changes were related to the use of phosphoric acid,
NaOH and KOH as cleaning agents in the factory. Soil organic C
content was unaffected by DFE irrigation but the size (microbial
biomass C and N) and activity (basal respiration) of the soil
microbial community were increased. These increases were
attributed to regular inputs of soluble C (e.g. lactose) present as milk
residues in the wastewater. Principal component analysis (PCA) of
the soils data from all 11sites confirmed that the main effects of DFE
irrigation were an increase in exchangeable Na, extractable P and
microbial biomass C, an accumulation of soluble salts and a liming
effect. PCA analysis of soil bacterial community structure, using
PCR-DGGE of 16S rDNA fragments, generally separated individual
sites from one another but did not group them according to irrigation
history. Thus, whilst the size and activity of the soil microbial
community were increased, the structure and diversity of the
bacterial community remained unaffected.
Abstract: Software reuse can be considered as the most realistic
and promising way to improve software engineering productivity and
quality. Automated assistance for software reuse involves the
representation, classification, retrieval and adaptation of components.
The representation and retrieval of components are important to
software reuse in Component-Based on Software Development
(CBSD). However, current industrial component models mainly focus
on the implement techniques and ignore the semantic information
about component, so it is difficult to retrieve the components that
satisfy user-s requirements. This paper presents a method of business
component retrieval based on specification matching to solve the
software reuse of enterprise information system. First, a business
component model oriented reuse is proposed. In our model, the
business data type is represented as sign data type based on XML,
which can express the variable business data type that can describe the
variety of business operations. Based on this model, we propose
specification match relationships in two levels: business operation
level and business component level. In business operation level, we
use input business data types, output business data types and the
taxonomy of business operations evaluate the similarity between
business operations. In the business component level, we propose five
specification matches between business components. To retrieval
reusable business components, we propose the measure of similarity
degrees to calculate the similarities between business components.
Finally, a business component retrieval command like SQL is
proposed to help user to retrieve approximate business components
from component repository.