Abstract: Alone with fast urbanization in world, traffic control
became a big issue in urban construction. Having an efficient and
reliable traffic control system is crucial to macro-traffic control.
Traffic signal is used to manage conflicting requirement by allocating
different sets of mutually compatible traffic movement during distinct
time interval. Many approaches have been made proposed to solve
this discrete stochastic problem. Recognizing the need to minimize
right-of-way impacts while efficiently handling the anticipated high
traffic volumes, the proposed alternative system gives effective
design. This model allows for increased traffic capacity and reduces
delays by eliminating a step in maneuvering through the freeway
interchange. The concept proposed in this paper involves
construction of bridges and ramps at intersection of four roads to
control the vehicular congestion and to prevent traffic breakdown.
Abstract: Microalgae Meyerella planktonica is a potential
biofuel source because it can grow in bulk in either autotrophic or
heterotrophic condition. However, the quantitative growth of this
algal type is still low as it tends to precipitates on the bottom.
Besides, the lipid concentration is still low when grown in
autotrophic condition. In contrast, heterotrophic condition can
enhance the lipid concentration. The combination of autotrophic
condition and agitation treatment was conducted to increase the
density of the culture. On the other hand, a heterotrophic condition
was set up to raise the lipid production. A two-stage experiment
was applied to increase the density at the first step and to increase
the lipid concentration in the next step. The autotrophic condition
resulted higher density but lower lipid concentration compared to
heterotrophic one. The agitation treatment produced higher density
in both autotrophic and heterotrophic conditions. The two-stage
experiment managed to enhance the density during the autotrophic
stage and the lipid concentration during the heterotrophic stage.
The highest yield was performed by using 0.4% v/v glycerol as a
carbon source (2.9±0.016 x 10^6 cells w/w) attained 7 days after the
heterotrophic stage began. The lipid concentration was stable
starting from day 7.
Abstract: In this article, the antibiogram and heavy metal
resistance profile of the bacteria isolated from total 34 studied
animals (Pelophylax ridibundus = 12; Mauremys rivulata = 14;
Natrix natrix = 8) captured around the Biga Stream, are described.
There was no database information on antibiogram and heavy metal
resistance profile of bacteria from these area’s amphibians and
reptiles.
A total of 200 bacteria were successfully isolated from cloaca and
oral samples of the aquatic amphibians and reptiles as well as from
the water sample. According to Jaccard’s similarity index, the degree
of similarity in the bacterial flora was quite high among the
amphibian and reptile species under examination, whereas it was
different from the bacterial diversity in the water sample. The most
frequent isolates were A. hydrophila (31.5%), B. pseudomallei
(8.5%), and C. freundii (7%). The total numbers of bacteria obtained
were as follows: 45 in P. ridibundus, 45 in N. natrix 30 in M.
rivulata, and 80 in the water sample. The result showed that
cefmetazole was the most effective antibiotic to control the bacteria
isolated in this study and that approximately 93.33% of the bacterial
isolates were sensitive to this antibiotic. The multiple antibiotic
resistances (MAR) index indicated that P. ridibundus (0.95) > N.
natrix (0.89) > M. rivulata (0.39). Furthermore, all the tested heavy
metals (Pb+2, Cu+2, Cr+3, and Mn+2) inhibit the growth of the bacterial
isolates at different rates. Therefore, it indicated that the water source
of the animals was contaminated with both antibiotic residues and
heavy metals.
Abstract: In our research we aimed to test a managerial
approach for the fuzzy front end (FFE) of innovation by creating
controlled experiment/ business case in a breakthrough innovation
development. The experiment was in the sport industry and covered
all aspects of the customer discovery stage from ideation to
prototyping followed by patent application. In the paper we describe
and analyze mile stones, tasks, management challenges, decisions
made to create the break through innovation, evaluate overall
managerial efficiency that was at the considered FFE stage.
We set managerial outcome of the FFE stage as a valid product
concept in hand. In our paper we introduce hypothetical construct
“Q-factor” that helps us in the experiment to distinguish quality of
FFE outcomes.
The experiment simulated for entrepreneur the FFE of innovation
and put on his shoulders responsibility for the outcome of valid
product concept. While developing managerial approach to reach the
outcome there was a decision to look on product concept from the
cognitive psychology and cognitive science point of view. This view
helped us to develop the profile of a person whose projection (mental
representation) of a new product could optimize for a manager or
entrepreneur FFE activities. In the experiment this profile was tested
to develop breakthrough innovation for swimmers. Following the
managerial approach the product concept was created to help
swimmers to feel/sense water. The working prototype was developed
to estimate the product concept validity and value added effect for
customers.
Based on feedback from coachers and swimmers there were strong
positive effect that gave high value for customers, and for the
experiment – the valid product concept being developed by proposed
managerial approach for the FFE.
In conclusions there is a suggestion of managerial approach that
was derived from experiment.
Abstract: Subspace channel estimation methods have been
studied widely, where the subspace of the covariance matrix is
decomposed to separate the signal subspace from noise subspace. The
decomposition is normally done by using either the eigenvalue
decomposition (EVD) or the singular value decomposition (SVD) of
the auto-correlation matrix (ACM). However, the subspace
decomposition process is computationally expensive. This paper
considers the estimation of the multipath slow frequency hopping
(FH) channel using noise space based method. In particular, an
efficient method is proposed to estimate the multipath time delays by
applying multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm which is
based on the null space extracted by the rank revealing LU (RRLU)
factorization. As a result, precise information is provided by the
RRLU about the numerical null space and the rank, (i.e., important
tool in linear algebra). The simulation results demonstrate the
effectiveness of the proposed novel method by approximately
decreasing the computational complexity to the half as compared
with RRQR methods keeping the same performance.
Abstract: Exact solution of an unsteady MHD flow of elasticoviscous
fluid through a porous media in a tube of spherical cross
section under the influence of magnetic field and constant pressure
gradient has been obtained in this paper. Initially, the flow is
generated by a constant pressure gradient. After attaining the steady
state, the pressure gradient is suddenly withdrawn and the resulting
fluid motion in a tube of spherical cross section by taking into
account of the porosity factor and magnetic parameter of the
bounding surface is investigated. The problem is solved in two-stages
the first stage is a steady motion in tube under the influence of a
constant pressure gradient, the second stage concern with an unsteady
motion. The problem is solved employing separation of variables
technique. The results are expressed in terms of a non-dimensional
porosity parameter (K), magnetic parameter (m) and elasticoviscosity
parameter (β), which depends on the Non-Newtonian
coefficient. The flow parameters are found to be identical with that of
Newtonian case as elastic-viscosity parameter and magnetic
parameter tends to zero and porosity tends to infinity. It is seen that
the effect of elastico-viscosity parameter, porosity parameter and
magnetic parameter of the bounding surface has significant effect on
the velocity parameter.
Abstract: The main objective of this paper is to provide a new
methodology for road safety assessment in Oman through the
development of suitable accident prediction models. GLM technique
with Poisson or NBR using SAS package was carried out to develop
these models. The paper utilized the accidents data of 31 un-signalized
T-intersections during three years. Five goodness-of-fit
measures were used to assess the overall quality of the developed
models. Two types of models were developed separately; the flow-based
models including only traffic exposure functions, and the full
models containing both exposure functions and other significant
geometry and traffic variables.
The results show that, traffic exposure functions produced much
better fit to the accident data. The most effective geometric variables
were major-road mean speed, minor-road 85th percentile speed,
major-road lane width, distance to the nearest junction, and right-turn
curb radius.
The developed models can be used for intersection treatment or
upgrading and specify the appropriate design parameters of T-intersections.
Finally, the models presented in this thesis reflect the intersection
conditions in Oman and could represent the typical conditions in
several countries in the middle east area, especially gulf countries.
Abstract: This study examined how individuals in their
respective teams contributed to innovation performance besides
defining the term of innovation in their own respective views. This
study also identified factors that motivated University staff to
contribute to the innovation products. In addition, it examined
whether there is a significant relationship between professional
training level and the length of service among university staff
towards innovation and to what extent do the two variables
contributed towards innovative products. The significance of this
study is that it revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the
university staff when contributing to innovation performance.
Stratified-random sampling was employed to determine the samples
representing the population of lecturers in the study, involving 123
lecturers in one of the local universities in Malaysia. The method
employed to analyze the data is through categorizing into themes for
the open-ended questions besides using descriptive and inferential
statistics for the quantitative data. This study revealed that two types
of definition for the term “innovation” exist among the university
staff, namely, creation of new product or new approach to do things
as well as value-added creative way to upgrade or improve existing
process and service to be more efficient. This study found that the
most prominent factor that propels them towards innovation is to
improve the product in order to benefit users, followed by selfsatisfaction
and recognition. This implies that the staff in the
organization viewed the creation of innovative products as a process
of growth to fulfill the needs of others and also to realize their
personal potential. This study also found that there was only a
significant relationship between the professional training level and
the length of service of 4 - 6 years among the university staff. The
rest of the groups based on the length of service showed that there
was no significant relationship with the professional training level
towards innovation. Moreover, results of the study on directional
measures depicted that the relationship for the length of service of 4-
6 years with professional training level among the university staff is
quite weak. This implies that good organization management lies on
the shoulders of the key leaders who enlighten the path to be
followed by the staff.
Abstract: The number of persons with implanted cardiac
pacemakers (PM) has increased in Western countries. The aim of this
paper is to investigate the possible situations where persons with a
PM may be exposed to extremely low frequency (ELF) electric (EF)
and magnetic fields (MF) that may disturb their PM. Based on our
earlier studies, it is possible to find such high public exposure to EFs
only in some places near 400 kV power lines, where an EF may
disturb a PM in unipolar mode. Such EFs cannot be found near 110
kV power lines. Disturbing MFs can be found near welding
machines. However, we do not have measurement data from welding.
Based on literature and earlier studies at Tampere University of
Technology, it is difficult to find public EF or MF exposure that is
high enough to interfere with PMs.
Abstract: In 2010-2011, the research on zooplankton was
conducted in the southern part of the Baltic Sea to determine seasonal
variability in changes occurring throughout the zooplankton in 2010
and 2011, both in the region of Gdańsk Deep, and in the western part
of Gdańsk Bay. The research in the sea showed that the taxonomic
composition of holoplankton in the southern part of the Baltic Sea
was similar to that recorded in this region for many years. The
maximum values of abundance and biomass of zooplankton both in
the Deep and the Bay of Gdańsk were observed in the summer
season. Copepoda dominated in the composition of zooplankton for
almost the entire study period, while rotifers occurred in larger
numbers only in the summer 2010 in the Gdańsk Deep as well as in
May and July 2010 in the western part of Gdańsk Bay, and
meroplankton – in April 2011.
Abstract: The performance of box-type solar cookers has been
reported by several researchers but little attention was paid to the
effect of the type of insulation material on the energy and exergy
efficiency of these cookers. This research aimed at evaluating the
energy and exergy efficiencies of the box-type cookers containing
different insulation materials. Energy and exergy efficiencies of five
box-type solar cookers insulated with maize cob, air (control), maize
husk, coconut coir and polyurethane foam respectively were obtained
over a period of three years. The cookers were evaluated using water
heating test procedures in determining the energy and exergy
analysis. The results were subjected to statistical analysis using
ANOVA. The result shows that the average energy input for the five
solar cookers were: 245.5, 252.2, 248.7, 241.5 and 245.5J
respectively while their respective average energy losses were: 201.2,
212.7, 208.4, 189.1 and 199.8J. The average exergy input for five
cookers were: 228.2, 234.4, 231.1, 224.4 and 228.2J respectively
while their respective average exergy losses were: 223.4, 230.6,
226.9, 218.9 and 223.0J. The energy and exergy efficiency was
highest in the cooker with coconut coir (37.35 and 3.90%
respectively) in the first year but was lowest for air (11 and 1.07%
respectively) in the third year. Statistical analysis showed significant
difference between the energy and exergy efficiencies over the years.
These results reiterate the importance of a good insulating material
for a box-type solar cooker.
Abstract: Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) is
granting a new group of advanced power electronic devices emerging
for enhancement of the power system performance. Unified Power
Flow Controller (UPFC) is a recent version of FACTS devices for
power system applications. The back-up energy supply system
incorporated with UPFC is providing a complete control of real and
reactive power at the same time and hence is competent to improve
the performance of an electrical power system. In this article, backup
energy supply unit such as superconducting magnetic energy storage
(SMES) is integrated with UPFC. In addition, comparative
exploration of UPFC–battery, UPFC–UC and UPFC–SMES
performance is evaluated through the vibrant simulation by using
MATLAB/Simulink software.
Abstract: Depositional environment and source potential of the
different organic-rich levels of Devonian age (up to 990m thick) from
the onshore EC-1 well (Southern Tunisia) were investigated based on
the analysis of more than 130 cutting samples by different
geochemical techniques (Rock-Eval pyrolysis, GC-MS). The
obtained results including Rock Eval Pyrolysis data and biomarker
distribution (terpanes, steranes and aromatics) have been used to
describe the depositional environment and to assess the thermal
maturity of the Devonian organic matter. These results show that the
Emsian deposits exhibit poor to fair TOC contents. The associated
organic matter is composed of mixed kerogen (type II/III), as
indicated by the predominance of C29 steranes over C27 and C28
homologous, that was deposited in a slightly reduced environment
favoring organic matter preservation. Thermal maturity assessed from
Tmax, TNR and MPI-1 values shows a mature stage of organic
matter. The Middle Devonian (Eifelian) shales are rich in type II
organic matter that was deposited in an open marine depositional
environment. The TOC values are high and vary between 2 and 7%
indicating good to excellent source rock. The relatively high HI
values (reaching 547 mg HC/g TOC) and the low values of t19/t23
tricyclic terpane ratio (< 0.2) confirm the marine origin of the organic
matter (type II). During the Upper Devonian, the organic matter was
deposited under variable redox conditions, oxic to suboxic which is
clearly indicated by the low C35/C34 hopanes ratio, immature to
marginally mature with the vitrinite reflectance ranging from 0.5 to
0.7 Ro and Tmax value of 426°C-436 °C and the TOC values range
between 0.8% to 4%.
Abstract: Taking into account the significance of measuring the
daily use of the study space in the libraries in order to develop and
reorganize the space for enhancing the efficiency of the study space,
the current study aimed to apply GIS in analyzing the study halls of
the Central Library and Document Center of Tehran University in
order to determine how study desks and chairs were used by the
students. The study used a combination of survey-descriptive and
system design method. In order to gather the required data, surveydescriptive
method was used. For implementing and entering data
into ArcGIS and analyzing the data and displaying the results on the
maps of the study halls of the library, system design method was
utilized. The design of the spatial database of the use of the study
halls was measured through the extent of occupancy of the space by
the library users and the maps of the study halls of the central library
of Tehran University as the case study. The results showed that
Abooreyhan hall had the highest rate of occupancy of the desks and
chairs compared to the other halls. The Hall of Science and
Technology, with an average occupancy rate of 0.39 for the tables
represented the lowest number of users and Rashid al-Dins hall, and
Science and Technology hall with an average occupancy rate (0.40)
had the lowest number of users for seats. In this study, the
comparison of the space occupied at different periods in the morning,
evenings, afternoons, and several months was performed through
GIS. This system analyzed the space relationships effectively and
efficiently. The output of this study would be used by administrators
and librarians to determine the exact extent of use of the equipment
of the study halls and librarians can use the output map to design the
space more efficiently at the library.
Abstract: In this paper, a numerical simulation of a finned store
separating from a wing-pylon configuration has been studied and
validated. A dynamic unstructured tetrahedral mesh approach is
accomplished by using three grid sizes to numerically solving the
discretized three dimensional, inviscid and compressible Euler
equations. The method used for computations of separation of an
external store assuming quasi-steady flow condition. Computations of
quasi-steady flow have been directly coupled to a six degree-offreedom
(6DOF) rigid-body motion code to generate store
trajectories. The pressure coefficients at four different angular cuts
and time histories of various trajectory parameters and wing pressure
distribution during the store separation are compared for every grid
size with published experimental data.
Abstract: The mechanisms underlying the association between
obesity and asthma may be related to a decreased immunological
tolerance induced by a defective function of regulatory T cells
(Tregs). The aim of this study is to establish the potential link
between these diseases and CD4+, CD25+ FoxP3+ Tregs as well as T
helper cells (Ths) in children. This is a prospective case control
study. Obese (n:40), asthmatic (n:40), asthmatic obese (n:40) and
healthy children (n:40), who don't have any acute or chronic diseases,
were included in this study. Obese children were evaluated according
to WHO criteria. Asthmatic patients were chosen based on GINA
criteria. Parents were asked to fill up the questionnaire. Informed
consent forms were taken. Blood samples were marked with CD4+,
CD25+ and FoxP3+ in order to determine Tregs and Ths by flow
cytometric method. Statistical analyses were performed. p≤0.05 was
chosen as meaningful threshold. Tregs exhibiting anti-inflammatory
nature were significantly lower in obese (0,16%; p≤0,001), asthmatic
(0,25%; p≤0,01) and asthmatic obese (0,29%; p≤0,05) groups than
the control group (0,38%). Ths were counted higher in asthma group
than the control (p≤0,01) and obese (p≤0,001) groups. T cell
immunity plays important roles in obesity and asthma pathogeneses.
Decreased numbers of Tregs found in obese, asthmatic and asthmatic
obese children may help to elucidate some questions in
pathophysiology of these diseases. For HOMA-IR levels, any
significant difference was not noted between control and obese
groups, but statistically higher values were found for obese
asthmatics. The values obtained in all groups were found to be below
the critical cut off points. This finding has made the statistically
significant difference observed between Tregs of obese, asthmatic,
obese asthmatic and control groups much more valuable. These
findings will be useful in diagnosis and treatment of these disorders
and future studies are needed. The production and propagation of
Tregs may be promising in alternative asthma and obesity treatments.
Abstract: Experimental study of natural convection heat transfer
inside smooth and rough surfaces of vertical and inclined equilateral
triangular channels of different inclination angles with a uniformly
heated surface are performed. The inclination angle is changed from
15º to 90º. Smooth and rough surface of average roughness (0.02mm)
are used and their effect on the heat transfer characteristics are
studied. The local and average heat transfer coefficients and Nusselt
number are obtained for smooth and rough channels at different heat
flux values, different inclination angles and different Rayleigh
numbers (Ra) 6.48 × 105 ≤ Ra ≤ 4.78 × 106. The results show that
the local Nusselt number decreases with increase of axial distance
from the lower end of the triangular channel to a point near the upper
end of channel, and then, it slightly increases. Higher values of local
Nusselt number for rough channel along the axial distance compared
with the smooth channel. The average Nusselt number of rough
channel is higher than that of smooth channel by about 8.1% for
inclined case at θ = 45o and 10% for vertical case. The results
obtained are correlated using dimensionless groups for both rough
and smooth surfaces of the inclined and vertical triangular channels.
Abstract: In the current work, a three-dimensional geometry of a
75% stenosed blood vessel is analyzed. Large eddy simulation (LES)
with the help of a dynamic subgrid scale Smagorinsky model is
applied to model the turbulent pulsatile flow. The geometry, the
transmural pressure and the properties of the blood and the elastic
boundary were based on clinical measurement data. For the flexible
wall model, a thin solid region is constructed around the 75%
stenosed blood vessel. The deformation of this solid region was
modelled as a deforming boundary to reduce the computational cost
of the solid model. Fluid-structure interaction is realized via a twoway
coupling between the blood flow modelled via LES and the
deforming vessel. The information of the flow pressure and the wall
motion was exchanged continually during the cycle by an arbitrary
Lagrangian-Eulerian method. The boundary condition of current time
step depended on previous solutions. The fluctuation of the velocity
in the post-stenotic region was analyzed in the study. The axial
velocity at normalized position Z=0.5 shows a negative value near
the vessel wall. The displacement of the elastic boundary was
concerned in this study. In particular, the wall displacement at the
systole and the diastole were compared. The negative displacement at
the stenosis indicates a collapse at the maximum velocity and the
deceleration phase.
Abstract: Background - The TrendCare Patient Dependency
System is currently used by a large number of maternity Services
across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. In 2012, 2013 and
2014 validation studies were initiated in all three countries to validate
the acuity tools used for women in labour, and postnatal mothers and
babies. This paper will present the findings of the validation study.
Aim - The aim of this study was to; identify if the care hours
provided by the TrendCare acuity system was an accurate reflection
of the care required by women and babies; obtain evidence of
changes required to acuity indicators and/or category timings to
ensure the TrendCare acuity system remains reliable and valid across
a range of maternity care models in three countries.
Method - A non-experimental action research methodology was
used across maternity services in four District Health Boards in New
Zealand, a large tertiary and a large secondary maternity service in
Singapore and a large public maternity service in Australia.
Standardised data collection forms and timing devices were used to
collect midwife contact times, with women and babies included in the
study. Rejection processes excluded samples when care was not
completed/rationed, and contact timing forms were incomplete. The
variances between actual timed midwife/mother/baby contact and the
TrendCare acuity category times were identified and investigated.
Results - Thirty two (88.9%) of the 36 TrendCare acuity category
timings, fell within the variance tolerance levels when compared to
the actual timings recorded for midwifery care. Four (11.1%)
TrendCare categories provided less minutes of care than the actual
timings and exceeded the variance tolerance level. These were all
night shift category timings. Nine postnatal categories were not able
to be compared as the sample size for these categories was
statistically insignificant. 100% of labour ward TrendCare categories
matched actual timings for midwifery care, all falling within the
variance tolerance levels.
The actual time provided by core midwifery staff to assist lead
maternity carer (LMC) midwives in New Zealand labour wards
showed a significant deviation to previous studies. The findings of
the study demonstrated the need for additional time allocations in
TrendCare to accommodate an increased level of assistance given to
LMC midwives.
Conclusion - The results demonstrated the importance of regularly
validating the TrendCare category timings with actual timings of the
care hours provided. It was evident from the findings that variances
to models of care and length of stay in maternity units have increased
midwifery workloads on the night shift. The level of assistance
provided by the core labour ward staff to the LMC midwife has
increased substantially.
Outcomes - As a consequence of this study, changes were made to
the night duty TrendCare maternity categories, additional acuity
indicators were developed and times for assisting LMC midwives in
labour ward increased. The updated TrendCare version was delivered
to maternity services in 2014.
Abstract: It is well known that in recent years magnetic
materials have received increased attention due to their properties.
For this reason a significant number of patents that were published
during the last decade are oriented towards synthesis and study of
such materials. The aim of this work is to create and study ferrite
nanocrystalline materials with spinel structure, using sol-gel
technology with participation of auto-combustion. This method is
perspective in that it is a cheap and low-temperature technique that
allows for the fine control on the product’s chemical composition.