Abstract: This study was conducted using the data collected at the mouth of Jen-Gen River to investigate and analyze chromium (Cr) contained in the sediments, and to evaluate the accumulation of Cr and the degree of its potential risk. The results show that samples collected at all monitoring stations near the mouth of Jen-Gen River contain 92–567 mg/kg of Cr with average of 366±166 mg/kg. The spatial distribution of Cr reveals that the Cr concentration is relatively high in the river mouth region, and gradually diminishes toward the harbor region. This indicates that upstream industrial and municipal wastewater discharges along the river bank are major sources of pollution. The accumulation factor and potential ecological risk index indicate that the sedimentation at Jen-Gen River mouth has the most serious degree of Cr accumulation and the highest ecological potential risk.
Abstract: Speeding represents one of the main concerns for road safety and it still is a subject for research. The need to address this problem and to understand why drivers over speed increases especially in Romania, where in 2011, speed was the main cause of car accidents. This article addresses this problem by using the theory of planned behaviour. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of young Romanian drivers (18 to 25 years) and several path analyses were made in order to verify if the model proposed by the theory of planned behaviour fits the data. One interesting result is that perceived behavioural control does not predict the intention to speed or self-reported driving speed, but subjective norms do. This implies that peers and social environment have a greater impact on young Romanian drivers than we thought.
Abstract: TTV is an unenveloped circular single-stranded DNA
virus with a diameter of 30-32 nm that first was described in 1997 in
Japan. TTV was detected in various populations without proven
pathology, including blood donors and in patients with chronic HBV
and HCV hepatitis. The aim of this study was to determine the
prevalence of TTV DNA in Iranian patients with chronic hepatitis B
and C. Viral TTV-DNA was studied in 442 samples (202 with HBV,
138 with HCV and 102 controls) collected from west south of Iran.
All extracted serum DNA was amplified by TTV ORF1 gene specific
primers using the semi nested PCR technique. TTV DNA was
detected in the serum of 8.9% and 10.8% patients with chronic
hepatitis B and C, respectively. Prevalence of TTV-DNA in the serum
of 102 controls was 2.9%. Results showed significant relation of TTV
with HBV and HCV in patients by using T test examination (P
Abstract: Fruit drying is a well known process mostly used for
preservation of fruits. Osmotic dehydration of apricot slices were
carried out in three different salt-sucrose concentrations and four
different temperatures. Also three different weight ratios of solution
to sample were conducted to one set of experiments. The dehydration
curves were constructed using Peleg-s model. Increasing the solution
volume increased the mass transfer rate and hence the solid gain
increased rapidly. Increasing the volume of osmotic media caused an
increase in overall mass transfer but a 'solution to sample' ratio of 5:1
gave the best product quality. The best temperature and concentration
that had a high water loss to solid gain ratio and an acceptable taste
were 40°C and 5%, respectively.
Abstract: In this paper, a novel multipurpose audio watermarking
algorithm is proposed based on Vector Quantization (VQ) in Discrete
Cosine Transform (DCT) domain using the codeword labeling and
index-bit constrained method. By using this algorithm, it can fulfill the
requirements of both the copyright protection and content integrity
authentication at the same time for the multimedia artworks. The
robust watermark is embedded in the middle frequency coefficients of
the DCT transform during the labeled codeword vector quantization
procedure. The fragile watermark is embedded into the indices of the
high frequency coefficients of the DCT transform by using the
constrained index vector quantization method for the purpose of
integrity authentication of the original audio signals. Both the robust
and the fragile watermarks can be extracted without the original audio
signals, and the simulation results show that our algorithm is effective
with regard to the transparency, robustness and the authentication
requirements
Abstract: In the framework of the image compression by
Wavelet Transforms, we propose a perceptual method by
incorporating Human Visual System (HVS) characteristics in the
quantization stage. Indeed, human eyes haven-t an equal sensitivity
across the frequency bandwidth. Therefore, the clarity of the
reconstructed images can be improved by weighting the quantization
according to the Contrast Sensitivity Function (CSF). The visual
artifact at low bit rate is minimized. To evaluate our method, we use
the Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) and a new evaluating criteria
witch takes into account visual criteria. The experimental results
illustrate that our technique shows improvement on image quality at
the same compression ratio.
Abstract: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) performing their
operations for a long time have been attracting much attention in
military and civil aviation industries for the past decade. The
applicable field of UAV is changing from the military purpose only to
the civil one. Because of their low operation cost, high reliability and
the necessity of various application areas, numerous development
programs have been initiated around the world. To obtain the optimal
solutions of the design variable (i.e., sectional airfoil profile, wing
taper ratio and sweep) for high performance of UAVs, both the lift and
lift-to-drag ratio are maximized whereas the pitching moment should
be minimized, simultaneously. It is found that the lift force and
lift-to-drag ratio are linearly dependent and a unique and dominant
solution are existed. However, a trade-off phenomenon is observed
between the lift-to-drag ratio and pitching moment. As the result of
optimization, sixty-five (65) non-dominated Pareto individuals at the
cutting edge of design spaces that are decided by airfoil shapes can be
obtained.
Abstract: In recent decade's tourism industry is one of main
reasons of the social and economical development for many
countries; so these countries try to gain more portion of it for
themselves. The excessive natural and cultural touristy potentialities
in Iran made this country to be one of the most attractive sightseeing
areas, although; Iran has got the lowest rate of tourists. Khark Island
is about 32 km. It is a beautiful coral reef coast; about 98% of oil
export has been done through this place. The ecotourism
potentialities of Khark and Kharko Islands (about 3.7km far from
Khark) are the reason to consider ecotourism and the main activity in
these islands which is exporting oil at the same time. This article
refers to way of measuring the geographical coordination of the
place, and the potentialities, ecotourism attraction of the islands and
introduces some ideas in order to expand tourism in the islands.
Abstract: This paper presents a novel approach for the design of
microwave circuits using Adaptive Network Fuzzy Inference
Optimizer (ANFIO). The method takes advantage of direct synthesis
of subsections of the amplifier using very fast and accurate ANFIO
models based on exact simulations using ADS. A mapping from
course space to fine space known as space mapping is also used. The
proposed synthesis approach takes into account the noise and
scattering parameters due to parasitic elements to achieve optimal
results. The overall ANFIO system is capable of designing different
LNAs at different noise and scattering criteria. This approach offers
significantly reduced time in the design of microwave amplifiers
within the validity range of the ANFIO system. The method has been
proven to work efficiently for a 2.4GHz LNA example. The S21 of
10.1 dB and noise figure (NF) of 2.7 dB achieved for ANFIO while
S21 of 9.05 dB and NF of 2.6 dB achieved for ANN.
Abstract: In our modern society electricity is vital to our health,
safety, comfort and well-being. While our daily use of electricity is
often taken for granted, public concern has arisen about potential
adverse health effects from electric and magnetic – electromagnetic –
fields (EMFs) produced by our use of electricity.
This paper aims to compare between the measured magnetic field
values and the simulated models for the indoor medium to low
voltage (MV/LV) distribution substations.
To calculate the magnetic flux density in the substations,
interactive software SUBCALC is used which is based on closed
form solution of the Biot-Savart law with 3D conductor model.
The comparison between the measured values and the simulated
models was acceptable. However there were some discrepancies, as
expected, may be due to the current variation during measurements.
Abstract: The use of synthetic retardants in polymeric insulated
cables is not uncommon in the high voltage engineering to study
electrical treeing phenomenon. However few studies on organic
materials for the same investigation have been carried. .This paper
describes the study on the effects of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch
(OPEFB) microfiller on the tree initiation and propagation in silicone
rubber with different weight percentages (wt %) of filler to insulation
bulk material. The weight percentages used were 0 wt % and 1 wt %
respectively. It was found that the OPEFB retards the propagation of
the electrical treeing development. For tree inception study, the
addition of 1(wt %) OPEFB has increase the tree inception voltage of
silicone rubber. So, OPEFB is a potential retardant to the initiation
and growth of electrical treeing occurring in polymeric materials for
high voltage application. However more studies on the effects of
physical and electrical properties of OPEFB as a tree retardant
material are required.
Abstract: The study entitled “The Construction of Interactive
Computer Multimedia Instruction on Basic Japanese Vocabulary"
was aimed: 1) To construct the interactive computer multimedia
instruction on Basic Japanese Vocabulary, 2) To find out
multimedia-s quality, 3) To examine the student-s satisfaction and 4)
To study the learning achievement in Basic Japanese vocabulary. The
sampling group used in this study was composed of 40 1st year
student in Educational Communications and Technology Department,
Faculty of Industrial Education and Technology, King Mongkut-s
University of Technology Thonburi, in the academic year 2553 B.E.
(2010). According to research results, we found that 1). The quality
assessment by 3 mass media experts was at 4.72 on average or at high
level. 2) In terms of contents, the evaluation by 3 experts was at 4.81
on average or at high level. 3) In terms of achievement, there was a
statistical significance between before and after the treatment at the
.05 level. 4) The satisfaction of students towards the interactive
computer multimedia Instruction on “Basic Japanese Vocabulary"
was 4.35 on average, or at high level.
Abstract: In contrast to existing methods which do not take into account multiconnectivity in a broad sense of this term, we develop mathematical models and highly effective combination (BIEM and FDM) numerical methods of calculation of stationary and quasistationary temperature field of a profile part of a blade with convective cooling (from the point of view of realization on PC). The theoretical substantiation of these methods is proved by appropriate theorems. For it, converging quadrature processes have been developed and the estimations of errors in the terms of A.Ziqmound continuity modules have been received. For visualization of profiles are used: the method of the least squares with automatic conjecture, device spline, smooth replenishment and neural nets. Boundary conditions of heat exchange are determined from the solution of the corresponding integral equations and empirical relationships. The reliability of designed methods is proved by calculation and experimental investigations heat and hydraulic characteristics of the gas turbine first stage nozzle blade.
Abstract: The issue of classifying objects into one of predefined
groups when the measured variables are mixed with different types
of variables has been part of interest among statisticians in many
years. Some methods for dealing with such situation have been
introduced that include parametric, semi-parametric and nonparametric
approaches. This paper attempts to discuss on a problem
in classifying a data when the number of measured mixed variables is
larger than the size of the sample. A propose idea that integrates a
dimensionality reduction technique via principal component analysis
and a discriminant function based on the location model is discussed.
The study aims in offering practitioners another potential tool in a
classification problem that is possible to be considered when the
observed variables are mixed and too large.
Abstract: Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) is environmentally
benign deicing chemicals that can replace sodium chloride that is
widely used on roads and highways at present for snow and ice control
to provide safe driving conditions during winter. The price of CMA
from petroleum-derived acetic acid is quite expensive. The bamboo
vinegar is the by-product from bamboo charcoal production. The
bamboo vinegar was used to prepare calcium acetate as raw materials,
and its deicing and corrosive performances were studied in this paper.
The results show that the freezing temperature of calcium acetate is
lower than that of sodium chloride when they have same molar
concentration, the deicing performance of calcium acetate is better
than that of sodium chloride when they have same moles, while the
deicing performance of sodium chloride is better than that of calcium
acetate. The corrosion of sodium chloride on iron-nail and steel-nail is
larger than that of calcium acetate whether they have same mass
concentration or same molar concentration, and the corrosion of
sodium chloride and calcium acetate on iron-nail is larger than that on
steel-nail, and calcium acetate almost hasn't corrosion on steel-nail.
Abstract: The tensile properties of Mg-3%Al nanocrystalline
alloys were investigated at different test environment. Bulk
nanocrystalline samples of these alloy was successfully prepared by
mechanical alloying (MA) followed by cold compaction, sintering,
and hot extrusion process. The crystal size of the consolidated milled
sample was calculated by X-Ray line profile analysis. The
deformation mechanism and microstructural characteristic at
different test condition was discussed extensively. At room
temperature, relatively lower value of activation volume (AV) and
higher value of strain rate sensitivity (SRS) suggests that new rate
controlling mechanism accommodating plastic flow in the present
nanocrystalline sample. The deformation behavior and the
microstructural character of the present samples were discussed in
details.
Abstract: Interpolated contour maps drawn for aluminum,
copper and molybdenum in downstream monitoring boreholes of
water dam in Miduk Copper Complex and the values of pH, redox
potential (Eh) and distance from water dam indicate different trends
of variation and behavior of these three elements in downward
groundwater resources. As these maps exhibit, aluminum is dominant
in the most alkaline (pH = 9-11) borehole (MB5) to water dam. The
highest concentration of molybdenum is found in the nearest
borehole (MB6) to water dam. Main concentration of copper is
observed in the most oxidized borehole (MB3 with Eh=293.2mV).
The spatial difference among sampling stations can be attributed to
the existence of faults and diaclases in the geologic structure of
Miduk region which causes the groundwater sampling sites to be
impressed by different contamination sources (toe seepage and upper
seepage water originated from different zones of tailings dump).
Abstract: In a 10-week (May – August, 2008) Phase I trial, 840, 1+ rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, received a commercial oral immunomodulator, Fin Immune™, at four different dosages (0, 10, 20 and 30 mg g-1) to evaluate immune response and growth. The overall objective of was to determine an optimal dosage of this product for rainbow trout that provides enhanced immunity with maximal growth and health. Biweekly blood samples were taken from 10 randomly selected fish in each tank (30 samples per treatment) to evaluate the duration of enhanced immunity conferred by Fin-Immune™. The immunological assessment included serum white blood cell (lymphocyte, neutrophil) densities and blood hematocrit (packed cell volume %). Of these three variables, only lymphocyte density increased significantly among trout fed Fin- Immune™ at 20 and 30 mg g-1 which peaked at week 6. At week 7, all trout were switched to regular feed (lacking Fin-Immune™) and by week 10, lymphocyte levels decreased among all levels but were still greater than at week 0. There was growth impairment at the highest dose of Fin-Immune™ tested (30 mg g-1) which can be associated with a physiological compensatory mechanism due to a dose-specific threshold level. Thus, our main objective of this Phase I study was achieved, the 20 mg g-1 dose of Fin-Immune™ should be the most efficacious (of those we tested) to use for a Phase II disease challenge trial.
Abstract: This study was conducted to examine the effects of ketum extract on development of Chrysomya rufifacies and to analyze the presence of mitragynine in the larvae samples. 110 newly emerged first instar larvae of C. rufifacies were introduced on ketum extract-mixed cow liver at doses of 0, 20, 40 and 60g. Blowfly development rate was determined with 12 hour intervals and
mitragynine in larvae was extracted and quantitated. C. rufifacies in control group took about 192 hours to complete their development from first instar larvae to adult blowfly; meanwhile blowfly form from the highest dose of ketum was 264 hours. Mitragynine was detected in all groups of treatment, except for control. In conclusion, the presence of mitragynine in C. rufifacies is affected in delaying development rates of the blowfly for up to 62 hours or 3 days. Chemical analysis of mitragynine from larvae samples showed that this alkaloid present in all specimens analyzed.
Abstract: A novel feature selection strategy to improve the recognition accuracy on the faces that are affected due to nonuniform illumination, partial occlusions and varying expressions is proposed in this paper. This technique is applicable especially in scenarios where the possibility of obtaining a reliable intra-class probability distribution is minimal due to fewer numbers of training samples. Phase congruency features in an image are defined as the points where the Fourier components of that image are maximally inphase. These features are invariant to brightness and contrast of the image under consideration. This property allows to achieve the goal of lighting invariant face recognition. Phase congruency maps of the training samples are generated and a novel modular feature selection strategy is implemented. Smaller sub regions from a predefined neighborhood within the phase congruency images of the training samples are merged to obtain a large set of features. These features are arranged in the order of increasing distance between the sub regions involved in merging. The assumption behind the proposed implementation of the region merging and arrangement strategy is that, local dependencies among the pixels are more important than global dependencies. The obtained feature sets are then arranged in the decreasing order of discriminating capability using a criterion function, which is the ratio of the between class variance to the within class variance of the sample set, in the PCA domain. The results indicate high improvement in the classification performance compared to baseline algorithms.