Abstract: Behavior of dams against the seismic loads has been
studied by many researchers. Most of them proposed new numerical
methods to investigate the dam safety. In this paper, to study the
effect of nonlinear parameters of concrete in gravity dams, a twodimensional
approach was used including the finite element method,
staggered method and smeared crack approach. Effective parameters
in the models are physical properties of concrete such as modulus of
elasticity, tensile strength and specific fracture energy. Two different
models were used in foundation (mass-less and massed) in order to
determine the seismic response of concrete gravity dams. Results
show that when the nonlinear analysis includes the dam- foundation
interaction, the foundation-s mass, flexibility and radiation damping
are important in gravity dam-s response.
Abstract: The technique of k-anonymization has been proposed to obfuscate private data through associating it with at least k identities. This paper investigates the basic tabular structures that
underline the notion of k-anonymization using cell suppression.
These structures are studied under idealized conditions to identify the
essential features of the k-anonymization notion. We optimize data kanonymization
through requiring a minimum number of anonymized
values that are balanced over all columns and rows. We study the
relationship between the sizes of the anonymized tables, the value k, and the number of attributes. This study has a theoretical value through contributing to develop a mathematical foundation of the kanonymization
concept. Its practical significance is still to be
investigated.
Abstract: Inferring the network structure from time series data
is a hard problem, especially if the time series is short and noisy.
DNA microarray is a technology allowing to monitor the mRNA
concentration of thousands of genes simultaneously that produces
data of these characteristics. In this study we try to investigate the
influence of the experimental design on the quality of the result.
More precisely, we investigate the influence of two different types of
random single gene perturbations on the inference of genetic networks
from time series data. To obtain an objective quality measure for
this influence we simulate gene expression values with a biologically
plausible model of a known network structure. Within this framework
we study the influence of single gene knock-outs in opposite to
linearly controlled expression for single genes on the quality of the
infered network structure.
Abstract: A novel biomass composite inspired from wood porous
structure was manufactured by impregnating vinyl monomer into
wood cellular structure under vacuum conditions, and initiating the
monomer for in situ polymerization through a thermal treatment. The
vacuum condition was studied, and the mechanical properties of the
composite were also tested. SEM observation shows that polymer
generated in the wood porous structure, and strongly interacted with
wood matrix; and the polymer content increased with vacuum value
increasing. FTIR indicates that polymer grafted onto wood matrix,
resulting chemical complex between them. The rate of monomer
loading increased with increasing vacuum value and time, accordance
with rate of polymer loading. The compression strength and modulus
of elasticity linearly increased with the increasing rate of polymer
loading. Results indicate that the novel biomass composite possesses
good mechanical properties capable of applying in the fields of
construction, traffic and so forth.
Abstract: The aim of this work is to present a multi-objective optimization method to find maximum efficiency kinematics for a flapping wing unmanned aerial vehicle. We restrained our study to rectangular wings with the same profile along the span and to harmonic dihedral motion. It is assumed that the birdlike aerial vehicle (whose span and surface area were fixed respectively to 1m and 0.15m2) is in horizontal mechanically balanced motion at fixed speed. We used two flight physics models to describe the vehicle aerodynamic performances, namely DeLaurier-s model, which has been used in many studies dealing with flapping wings, and the model proposed by Dae-Kwan et al. Then, a constrained multi-objective optimization of the propulsive efficiency is performed using a recent evolutionary multi-objective algorithm called є-MOEA. Firstly, we show that feasible solutions (i.e. solutions that fulfil the imposed constraints) can be obtained using Dae-Kwan et al.-s model. Secondly, we highlight that a single objective optimization approach (weighted sum method for example) can also give optimal solutions as good as the multi-objective one which nevertheless offers the advantage of directly generating the set of the best trade-offs. Finally, we show that the DeLaurier-s model does not yield feasible solutions.
Abstract: The medical data statistical analysis often requires the
using of some special techniques, because of the particularities of
these data. The principal components analysis and the data clustering
are two statistical methods for data mining very useful in the medical
field, the first one as a method to decrease the number of studied
parameters, and the second one as a method to analyze the
connections between diagnosis and the data about the patient-s
condition. In this paper we investigate the implications obtained from
a specific data analysis technique: the data clustering preceded by a
selection of the most relevant parameters, made using the principal
components analysis. Our assumption was that, using the principal
components analysis before data clustering - in order to select and to
classify only the most relevant parameters – the accuracy of
clustering is improved, but the practical results showed the opposite
fact: the clustering accuracy decreases, with a percentage
approximately equal with the percentage of information loss reported
by the principal components analysis.
Abstract: The excessive use of agricultural pesticides and the
resulting contamination of food and beds of rivers have been a
recurring problem nowadays. Some of these substances can cause
changes in endocrine balance and impair reproductive function of
human and animal population. In the present study, we evaluated the
possible effects of the fungicide cuprous copper oxide Sandoz® on
pregnant Wistar rats. They received a daily oral administration of 103
or 3.103 mg/kg of the fungicide from the 6th to the 15th day of
gestation. On day 21 of gestation, the maternal and fetal toxicity
parameters and indices were determined. The administration of
cuprous oxide (Copper Sandoz) in Wistar rats, the period of
organogenesis, revealed no evidence of maternal toxicity or embryo
at the studied doses.
Abstract: Different types of aggregation operators such as the
ordered weighted quasi-arithmetic mean (Quasi-OWA) operator and
the normalized Hamming distance are studied. We introduce the use
of the OWA operator in generalized distances such as the quasiarithmetic
distance. We will call these new distance aggregation the
ordered weighted quasi-arithmetic distance (Quasi-OWAD) operator.
We develop a general overview of this type of generalization and
study some of their main properties such as the distinction between
descending and ascending orders. We also consider different families
of Quasi-OWAD operators such as the Minkowski ordered weighted
averaging distance (MOWAD) operator, the ordered weighted
averaging distance (OWAD) operator, the Euclidean ordered
weighted averaging distance (EOWAD) operator, the normalized
quasi-arithmetic distance, etc.
Abstract: Evapotranspiration (ET) is a major component of the hydrologic cycle and its accurate estimation is essential for hydrological studies. In past, various estimation methods have been developed for different climatological data, and the accuracy of these methods varies with climatic conditions. Reference crop evapotranspiration (ET0) is a key variable in procedures established for estimating evapotranspiration rates of agricultural crops. Values of ET0 are used with crop coefficients for many aspects of irrigation and water resources planning and management. Numerous methods are used for estimating ET0. As per internationally accepted procedures outlined in the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization-s Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 56(FAO-56), use of Penman-Monteith equation is recommended for computing ET0 from ground based climatological observations. In the present study, seven methods have been selected for performance evaluation. User friendly software has been developed using programming language visual basic. The visual basic has ability to create graphical environment using less coding. For given data availability the developed software estimates reference evapotranspiration for any given area and period for which data is available. The accuracy of the software has been checked by the examples given in FAO-56.The developed software is a user friendly tool for estimating ET0 under different data availability and climatic conditions.
Abstract: Among all microRNAs (miRNAs) in 12 plant species investigated in this study, only miR398 targeted the copper chaperone for superoxide dismutase (CCS). The nucleotide sequences of miRNA binding sites were located in the mRNA protein-coding sequence (CDS) and were highly homologous. These binding sites in CCS mRNA encoded a conservative GDLGTL hexapeptide. The binding sites for miR398 in the CDS of superoxide dismutase 1 mRNA encoded GDLGN pentapeptide. The conservative miR398 binding site located in the CDS of superoxide dismutase 2 mRNA encoded the GDLGNI hexapeptide. The miR398 binding site in the CDS of superoxide dismutase 3 mRNA encoded the GDLGNI or GDLGNV hexapeptide. Gene expression of the entire superoxide dismutase family in the studied plant species was regulated only by miR398. All members of the miR398 family, i.e. miR398a,b,c were connected to one site for each CuZnSOD and chaperone mRNA.
Abstract: Power line channel is proposed as an alternative for broadband data transmission especially in developing countries like Tanzania [1]. However the channel is affected by stochastic attenuation and deep notches which can lead to the limitation of channel capacity and achievable data rate. Various studies have characterized the channel without giving exactly the maximum performance and limitation in data transfer rate may be this is due to complexity of channel modeling being used. In this paper the channel performance of medium voltage, low voltage and indoor power line channel is presented. In the investigations orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with phase shift keying (PSK) as carrier modulation schemes is considered, for indoor, medium and low voltage channels with typical ten branches and also Golay coding is applied for medium voltage channel. From channels, frequency response deep notches are observed in various frequencies which can lead to reduce the achievable data rate. However, is observed that data rate up to 240Mbps is realized for a signal to noise ratio of about 50dB for indoor and low voltage channels, however for medium voltage a typical link with ten branches is affected by strong multipath and coding is required for feasible broadband data transfer.
Abstract: Heavy metal transfer in soil profiles is a major
environmental concern because even slow transport through the soil
may eventually lead to deterioration of groundwater quality. The use
of sewage sludge and effluents from wastewater treatment plants for
irrigation of agricultural lands is on the rise particularly in peri-urban
area of developing countries. In this study soil samples under sludge
application and wastewater irrigation were studied and soil samples
were collected in the soil profiles from the surface to 100 cm in
depth. For this purpose, three plots were made in a treatment plant in
south of Tehran-Iran. First plot was irrigated just with effluent from
wastewater treatment plant, second plot with simulated heavy metals
concentration equal 50 years irrigation and in third plot sewage
sludge and effluent was used. Trace metals concentration (Cd, Cu)
were determined for soil samples. The results indicate movement of
metals was observed, but the most concentration of metals was found
in topsoil samples. The most of Cadmium concentration was
measured in the topsoil of plot 3, 4.5mg/kg and Maximum cadmium
movement was observed in 0-20 cm. The most concentration of
copper was 27.76mg/kg, and maximum percolation in 0-20 cm.
Metals (Cd, Cu) were measured in leached water. Preferential flow
and metal complexation with soluble organic apparently allow
leaching of heavy metals.
Abstract: This paper deals with infinite time horizon fuzzy Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) models for deteriorating items with
stock dependent demand rate and nonlinear holding costs by taking deterioration rate θ0 as a triangular fuzzy number (θ0 −δ 1, θ0, θ0 +δ 2), where 1 2 0 0
Abstract: Increasing attention has been given in academia to the concept of corporate social responsibility. Also, the number of companies that undertake social responsibility initiatives has been boosting day by day since behaving in a socially responsible manner brings a lot to the companies. Literature provides various benefits of social responsibility and under which situations these benefits could be realized. However, most of these studies focus on one aspect of the consequences of behaving in a socially responsible manner and there is no study that unifies the conditions that a company should fulfill to make customers prefer its brand. This study aims to fill this gap. More specifically, the purpose of this study is to identify the conditions that a socially responsible company should fulfill in order to attract customers. To this end, a scale is developed and its reliability and validity is assessed through the method of Multitrait- Multimethod Matrix.
Abstract: Novel nitrogen removal technologies via nitrite
pathway attract increasing interest in recent years. In this study,
batch experiments were performed to investigate nitrite accumulation
characteristics and shifts in nitrifying community structure at
different growth environments including ammonia concentration, pH
and alkalinity. It was found that nitrite accumulation ratios were
maintained at around 95% at studied conditions, and the optimum pH
and Alk/N (ratio between alkalinity and nitrogen) for ammonium
oxidization were 8.5 and 8.33, respectively. Fluorescence in situ
hybridization analysis of nitrifying bacteria showed that high free
ammonia (from influent ammonium or caused by high pH)
significantly altered the structure of nitrifying community, leading to
abundance of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), especially
Nitrososmonas, and inhibition of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB).
The results suggest that free ammonia plays more important role than
other studied conditions on nitrite accumulation.
Abstract: This paper considers the benefits gained by using an
efficient quality of service management such as DiffServ technique to
improve the performance of military communications. Low delay and
no blockage must be achieved especially for real time tactical data.
All traffic flows generated by different applications do not need same
bandwidth, same latency, same error ratio and this scalable technique
of packet management based on priority levels is analysed. End to
end architectures supporting various traffic flows and including lowbandwidth
and high-delay HF or SHF military links as well as
unprotected Internet sub domains are studied. A tuning of Diffserv
parameters is proposed in accordance with different loads of various
traffic and different operational situations.
Abstract: In this study, static batch fermentation was used for bacterial cellulose production in date syrup solution (Bx. 10%) at 28°C using Gluconacetobacter. xylinus (PTCC 1734). The physicochemical properties of standard Sigma CMC and the produced carboxymethyl bacterial cellulose (CMBC) were studied using FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). According to the FT-IR spectra the bands at 1664 and 1431 cm-1 indicate that carboxylic acid groups and carboxylate groups exist on the surface. The SEM imaging of CMBC and CMC carried out in magnification of 1K. Comparing the SEM imaging obviously showed that the ribbon shape in CMC remained but the length of ribbons became shorter while that shape changed to flake shape for CMBC. Determination of the area under XRD patterns demonstrated that the crystallinity amount of CMC was more than that for CMBC (51.08% and 81.84% for CMBC and CMC, respectively).
Abstract: Diesel Engines emit complex mixtures of inorganic
and organic compounds in the form of both solid and vapour phase
particles. Most of the particulates released are ultrafine nanoparticles
which are detrimental to human health and can easily enter the body
by respiration. The emissions standards on particulate matter release
from diesel engines are constantly upgraded within the European
Union and with future regulations based on the particles numbers
released instead of merely mass, the need for effective aftertreatment
devices will increase. Standard particulate filters in the form of wall
flow filters can have problems with high soot accumulation,
producing a large exhaust backpressure. A potential solution would
be to combine the standard filter with a flow through filter to reduce
the load on the wall flow filter. In this paper soot particle trapping has
been simulated in different continuous flow filters of monolithic
structure including the use of promoters, at laminar flow conditions.
An Euler Lagrange model, the discrete phase model in Ansys used
with user defined functions for forces acting on particles. A method
to quickly screen trapping of 5 nm and 10 nm particles in different
catalysts designs with tracers was also developed.
Simulations of square duct monoliths with promoters show that the
strength of the vortices produced are not enough to give a high
amount of particle deposition on the catalyst walls. The smallest
particles in the simulations, 5 and 10 nm particles were trapped to a
higher extent, than larger particles up to 1000 nm, in all studied
geometries with the predominant deposition mechanism being
Brownian diffusion. The comparison of the different filters designed
with a wall flow filter does show that the options for altering a design
of a flow through filter, without imposing a too large pressure drop
penalty are good.
Abstract: A new approach to predict the 3D structures of proteins by combining the knowledge-based method and Molecular Dynamics Simulation is presented on the chicken villin headpiece subdomain (HP-36). Comparative modeling is employed as the knowledge-based method to predict the core region (Ala9-Asn28) of the protein while the remaining residues are built as extended regions (Met1-Lys8; Leu29-Phe36) which then further refined using Molecular Dynamics Simulation for 120 ns. Since the core region is built based on a high sequence identity to the template (65%) resulting in RMSD of 1.39 Å from the native, it is believed that this well-developed core region can act as a 'nucleation center' for subsequent rapid downhill folding. Results also demonstrate that the formation of the non-native contact which tends to hamper folding rate can be avoided. The best 3D model that exhibits most of the native characteristics is identified using clustering method which then further ranked based on the conformational free energies. It is found that the backbone RMSD of the best model compared to the NMR-MDavg is 1.01 Å and 3.53 Å, for the core region and the complete protein, respectively. In addition to this, the conformational free energy of the best model is lower by 5.85 kcal/mol as compared to the NMR-MDavg. This structure prediction protocol is shown to be effective in predicting the 3D structure of small globular protein with a considerable accuracy in much shorter time compared to the conventional Molecular Dynamics simulation alone.
Abstract: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are characterized
by abnormalities in social interaction and communication, as well as
repetitive and stereotyped behaviors. Although various studies have
been conducted in ASDs etiology across the world, it seems that they
are still unknown in Middle East. Some scientific researches have
been conducted on ASDs in Middle East (ME) especially in
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
A systematic literature review was performed to identify the ASDs
studies in KSA. Accordingly, PubMed, ISI web of Science and
Google were searched to find KSA and ME studies in ASDs. The
main focus of this review work is to outline an improved
understanding of the underpinnings of ASD in order to achieve
therapeutic interventions and we will discuss the main problem we
waiting for solution with reference with role of Transcranial
Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to modulate cortical activity improve
understanding ASD.