Abstract: Adequate and reliable estimates of aquifer parameters
are of utmost importance for proper management of vital
groundwater resources. At present scenario, the ground water is
polluted because of industrial waste disposed over the land and the
contaminants are transported in the aquifer from one area to another
area, which is depending on the characteristics of the aquifer and
contaminants. To know the contaminant transport, the accurate
estimation of aquifer properties is highly needed. Conventionally,
these properties are estimated through pumping tests carried out on
water wells. The occurrence and movement of ground water in the
aquifer are characteristically defined by the aquifer parameters. The
pumping (aquifer) test is the standard technique for estimating
various hydraulic properties of aquifer systems, viz., transmissivity
(T), hydraulic conductivity (K), storage coefficient (S) etc., for which
the graphical method is widely used. The study area for conducting
pumping test is Pydibheemavaram Industrial area near the coastal
belt of Srikulam, AP, India. The main objective of the present work is
to estimate the aquifer properties for developing contaminant
transport model for the study area.
Abstract: Background: To compare the thinning patterns of the
ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and peripapillary retinal
nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) as measured using Cirrus high-definition
optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT) in patients with visual field
(VF) defects that respect the vertical meridian. Methods: Twenty eyes of eleven patients with VF defects that
respect the vertical meridian were enrolled retrospectively. The
thicknesses of the macular GCIPL and pRNFL were measured using
Cirrus HD-OCT. The 5% and 1% thinning area index (TAI) was
calculated as the proportion of abnormally thin sectors at the 5% and
1% probability level within the area corresponding to the affected VF.
The 5% and 1% TAI were compared between the GCIPL and pRNFL
measurements. Results: The color-coded GCIPL deviation map showed a
characteristic vertical thinning pattern of the GCIPL, which is also
seen in the VF of patients with brain lesions. The 5% and 1% TAI
were significantly higher in the GCIPL measurements than in the
pRNFL measurements (all P < 0.01). Conclusions: Macular GCIPL analysis clearly visualized a
characteristic topographic pattern of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss
in patients with VF defects that respect the vertical meridian, unlike
pRNFL measurements. Macular GCIPL measurements provide more
valuable information than pRNFL measurements for detecting the
loss of RGCs in patients with retrograde degeneration of the optic
nerve fibers.
Abstract: The goal of this paper is proposing a supply chain
value dashboard in home appliance manufacturing firms to create
more value for all stakeholders via balanced scorecard approach.
Balanced scorecard is an effective approach that managers have used
to evaluate supply chain performance in many fields but there is a
lack of enough attention to all supply chain stakeholders, improving
value creation and, defining correlation between value indicators and
performance measuring quantitatively. In this research the key
stakeholders in home appliance supply chain, value indicators with
respect to create more value for stakeholders and the most important
metrics to evaluate supply chain value performance based on
balanced scorecard approach have been selected via literature review.
The most important indicators based on expert’s judgment acquired
by in survey focused on creating more value for. Structural equation
modelling has been used to disclose relations between value
indicators and balanced scorecard metrics. The important result of
this research is identifying effective value dashboard to create more
value for all stakeholders in supply chain via balanced scorecard
approach and based on an empirical study covering ten home
appliance manufacturing firms in Iran. Home appliance
manufacturing firms can increase their stakeholder's satisfaction by
using this value dashboard.
Abstract: Adoption of Information Systems (IS) is receiving
increasing attention such that its implications have been closely
monitored and studied by the IS management community, industry
and professional gatekeepers. Building on previous research
regarding the adoption of technology, this paper develops and
validates an integrated model of the adoption of mobile banking. The
model originates from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and
the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). This paper intends to offer a
preliminary scrutiny of the antecedents of the adoption of mobile
banking services in the context of a developing country. Data was
collected from Pakistan. The findings showed that an integrated TAM
and TPB model greatly explains the adoption intention of mobile
banking; and perceived behavioural control and its antecedents play a
significant role in predicting adoption Theoretical and managerial
implications of findings are presented and discussed.
Abstract: In a world characterized by greed and the lust for
power and its attendant trappings, abuse of legal power is nothing
new to most of us. Legal abuses of power abound in all fields of
human endeavour. Accounts of such abuses dominate the mass media
and for the average individual, no single day goes by without his
getting to hear about at least one such occurrence. This paper briefly
looks at the meaning of legal power, what legal abuse is all about, its
causes, and some of its manifestations in the society. Its
consequences will also be discussed and some suggestions for reform
will be made. In the course of the paper, references will be made to
various jurisdictions around the world.
Abstract: Manufacturing tolerancing is intended to determine
the intermediate geometrical and dimensional states of the part during
its manufacturing process. These manufacturing dimensions also
serve to satisfy not only the functional requirements given in the
definition drawing, but also the manufacturing constraints, for
example geometrical defects of the machine, vibration and the wear
of the cutting tool. The choice of positioning has an important influence on the cost
and quality of manufacture. To avoid this problem, a two-step
approach has been developed. The first step is dedicated to the
determination of the optimum position. As for the second step, a
study was carried out for the tightening effect on the tolerance
interval.
Abstract: An unrecorded experiment of use of the smartphone
as a tool for practical classes of histology is presented in this paper.
Behavior and learning of students of science courses at the University
were analyzed and compared as well as the mode of teaching of this
discipline and the appreciation of the students, using either digital
photographs taken by phone or drawings for record microscopic
observations, analyze and interpret histological sections of human or
animal tissues.
Abstract: The traditional rhythms of the West African country
of Guinea have played a centuries-long role in defining the different
people groups that make up the country. Throughout their history,
before and since colonization by the French, the different ethnicities
have used their traditional music as a distinct part of their historical
identities. That is starting to change. Guinea is an impoverished
nation created in the early twentieth-century with little regard for the
history and cultures of the people who were included. The traditional
rhythms of the different people groups and their heritages have
remained. Fifteen individual traditional Guinean rhythms were
chosen to represent popular rhythms from the four geographical
regions of Guinea. Each rhythm was traced back to its native village
and video recorded on-site by as many different local performing
groups as could be located. The cyclical patterns rhythms were
transcribed via a circular, spatial design and then copied into a box
notation system where sounds happening at the same time could be
studied. These rhythms were analyzed for their consistency-overperformance
in a Fundamental Rhythm Pattern analysis so rhythms
could be compared for how they are changing through different
performances. The analysis showed that the traditional rhythm
performances of the Middle and Forest Guinea regions were the most
cohesive and showed the least evidence of change between
performances. The role of music in each of these regions is both
limited and focused. The Coastal and High Guinea regions have
much in common historically through their ethnic history and
modern-day trade connections, but the rhythm performances seem to
be less consistent and demonstrate more changes in how they are
performed today. In each of these regions the role and usage of music
is much freer and wide-spread. In spite of advances being made as a
country, different ethnic groups still frequently only respond and
participate (dance and sing) to the music of their native ethnicity.
There is some evidence that this self-imposed musical barrier is
beginning to change and evolve, partially through the development of
better roads, more access to electricity and technology, the nationwide
Ebola health crisis, and a growing self-identification as a
unified nation.
Abstract: The relationship dependence between RSS and distance
in an enclosed environment is an important consideration because it is
a factor that can influence the reliability of any localization algorithm
founded on RSS. Several algorithms effectively reduce the variance of
RSS to improve localization or accuracy performance. Our proposed
algorithm essentially avoids this pitfall and consequently, its high
adaptability in the face of erratic radio signal. Using 3 anchors in
close proximity of each other, we are able to establish that RSS can be
used as reliable indicator for localization with an acceptable degree of
accuracy. Inherent in this concept, is the ability for each prospective
anchor to validate (guarantee) the position or the proximity of the
other 2 anchors involved in the localization and vice versa. This
procedure ensures that the uncertainties of radio signals due to
multipath effects in enclosed environments are minimized. A major
driver of this idea is the implicit topological relationship among
sensors due to raw radio signal strength. The algorithm is an area
based algorithm; however, it does not trade accuracy for precision
(i.e the size of the returned area).
Abstract: Cryosorption pumps are considered safe, quiet, and
ultra-high vacuum production pumps which have their application
from Semiconductor industries to ITER [International Thermonuclear
Experimental Reactor] units. The principle of physisorption of gases
over highly porous materials like activated charcoal at cryogenic
temperatures (below -1500°C) is involved in determining the
pumping speed of gases like Helium, Hydrogen, Argon, and
Nitrogen. This paper aims at providing detailed overview of
development of Cryosorption pump and characterization of different
activated charcoal materials that optimizes the performance of the
pump. Different grades of charcoal were tested in order to determine
the pumping speed of the pump and were compared with
commercially available Varian cryopanel. The results for bare panel,
bare panel with adhesive, cryopanel with pellets, and cryopanel with
granules were obtained and compared. The comparison showed that
cryopanel adhered with small granules gave better pumping speeds
than large sized pellets.
Abstract: Digital cameras to reduce cost, use an image sensor to
capture color images. Color Filter Array (CFA) in digital cameras
permits only one of the three primary (red-green-blue) colors to be
sensed in a pixel and interpolates the two missing components
through a method named demosaicking. Captured data is interpolated
into a full color image and compressed in applications. Color
interpolation before compression leads to data redundancy. This
paper proposes a new Vector Quantization (VQ) technique to
construct a VQ codebook with Differential Evolution (DE)
Algorithm. The new technique is compared to conventional Linde-
Buzo-Gray (LBG) method.
Abstract: In this paper, we present an application of Riemannian
geometry for processing non-Euclidean image data. We consider the
image as residing in a Riemannian manifold, for developing a new
method to brain edge detection and brain extraction. Automating this
process is a challenge due to the high diversity in appearance brain
tissue, among different patients and sequences. The main contribution, in this paper, is the use of an edge-based
anisotropic diffusion tensor for the segmentation task by integrating
both image edge geometry and Riemannian manifold (geodesic,
metric tensor) to regularize the convergence contour and extract
complex anatomical structures. We check the accuracy of the
segmentation results on simulated brain MRI scans of single
T1-weighted, T2-weighted and Proton Density sequences. We
validate our approach using two different databases: BrainWeb
database, and MRI Multiple sclerosis Database (MRI MS DB). We
have compared, qualitatively and quantitatively, our approach with
the well-known brain extraction algorithms. We show that using
a Riemannian manifolds to medical image analysis improves the
efficient results to brain extraction, in real time, outperforming the
results of the standard techniques.
Abstract: The article deals with the readiness of military
professionals for challenging situations. It discusses higher
requirements on the psychical endurance of military professionals
arising from the specific nature of the military occupation, which is
typical for being very difficult to maintain regularity, which is in
accordance with the hygiene of work alternated by relaxation. The
soldier must be able to serve in the long term and constantly intense
performance that goes beyond human tolerance to stress situations. A
challenging situation is always associated with overcoming
difficulties, obstacles and complicated circumstances or using
unusual methods, ways and means to achieve the desired (expected)
objectives, performing a given task or satisfying an important need.
This paper describes the categories of challenging situations, their
classification and characteristics. Attention is also paid to the
formation of personality in challenging situations, coping with stress
in challenging situations, Phases of solutions of stressful situations,
resistance to challenging life situations and its factors. Finally, the
article is focused on increasing the readiness of military professionals
for challenging situations.
Abstract: This article describes the results of research focused
on quality of railway freight transport services. Improvement of these
services has a crucial importance in customer considering on the
future use of railway transport. Processes filling the customer
demands and output quality assessment were defined as a part of the
research. In this contribution is introduced the map of quality
planning and the algorithm of applied methodology. It characterizes a
model which takes into account characters of transportation with
linking a perception services quality in ordinary and extraordinary
operation. Despite the fact that rail freight transport has its solid
position in the transport market, lots of carriers worldwide have been
experiencing a stagnation for a couple of years. Therefore, specific
results of the research have a significant importance and belong to
numerous initiatives aimed to develop and support railway transport
not only by creating a single railway area or reducing noise but also
by promoting railway services. This contribution is focused also on
the application of dynamic quality models which represent an
innovative method of evaluation quality services. Through this
conception, time factor, expected, and perceived quality in each
moment of the transportation process can be taken into account.
Abstract: Scheduled waste management is very important in
environmental and health aspects. In delivering services, highway
industry has been indirectly involved in producing scheduled wastes.
This paper aims to define the scheduled waste, to provide a
conceptual framework of the scheduled waste management in
highway industry, to highlight the effect of improper management of
scheduled waste and to encourage future researchers to identify and
share the present practice of scheduled waste management in their
country. The understanding on effective management of scheduled
waste will help the operators of highway industry, the academicians,
future researchers, and encourage a friendly environment around the
world. The study on scheduled waste management in highway
industry is very crucial as highway transverse and run along
kilometers crossing the various type of environment, residential and
schools. Using Environmental Quality (Scheduled Waste)
Regulations 2005 as a guide, this conceptual paper highlight several
scheduled wastes produced by highway industry in Malaysia and
provide a conceptual framework of scheduled waste management that
focused on the highway industry. Understanding on scheduled waste
management is vital in order to preserve the environment. Besides
that, the waste substances are hazardous to human being. Many
diseases have been associated with the improper management of
schedule waste such as cancer, throat irritation and respiration
problem.
Abstract: The growth in the demand of electrical energy is
leading to load on the Power system which increases the occurrence
of frequent oscillations in the system. The reason for the oscillations
is due to the lack of damping torque which is required to dominate
the disturbances of Power system. By using FACT devices, such as
Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) can control power flow,
reduce sub-synchronous resonances and increase transient stability.
Hence, UPFC is used to damp the oscillations occurred in Power
system. This research focuses on adapting the neuro fuzzy controller
for the UPFC design by connecting the infinite bus (SMIB - Single
machine Infinite Bus) to a linearized model of synchronous machine
(Heffron-Phillips) in the power system. This model gains the
capability to improve the transient stability and to damp the
oscillations of the system.
Abstract: Prediction of maximum local scour is necessary for
the safety and economical design of the bridges. A number of
equations have been developed over the years to predict local scour
depth using laboratory data and a few pier equations have also been
proposed using field data. Most of these equations are empirical in
nature as indicated by the past publications. In this paper attempts
have been made to compute local depth of scour around bridge pier in
dimensional and non-dimensional form by using linear regression,
simple regression and SVM (Poly & Rbf) techniques along with few
conventional empirical equations. The outcome of this study suggests
that the SVM (Poly & Rbf) based modeling can be employed as an
alternate to linear regression, simple regression and the conventional
empirical equations in predicting scour depth of bridge piers. The
results of present study on the basis of non-dimensional form of
bridge pier scour indicate the improvement in the performance of
SVM (Poly & Rbf) in comparison to dimensional form of scour.
Abstract: In this article, the radial displacement error correction
capability of a high precision spindle grinding caused by unbalance
force was investigated. The spindle shaft is considered as a flexible
rotor mounted on two sets of angular contact ball bearing. Finite
element methods (FEM) have been adopted for obtaining the
equation of motion of the spindle. In this paper, firstly, natural
frequencies, critical frequencies, and amplitude of the unbalance
response caused by residual unbalance are determined in order to
investigate the spindle behaviors. Furthermore, an optimization
design algorithm is employed to minimize radial displacement of the
spindle which considers dimension of the spindle shaft, the dynamic
characteristics of the bearings, critical frequencies and amplitude of
the unbalance response, and computes optimum spindle diameters
and stiffness and damping of the bearings. Numerical simulation
results show that by optimizing the spindle diameters, and stiffness
and damping in the bearings, radial displacement of the spindle can
be reduced. A spindle about 4 μm radial displacement error can be
compensated with 2 μm accuracy. This certainly can improve the
accuracy of the product of machining.
Abstract: Abstract—[Tris (1,10-phenanthroline) lanthanum(III)]
trithiocyanate is a new compound that has shown high ability for
stopping the synthesis of DNA and also acting as a photosensitizer.
Nowadays, the radiation dose assessment resource (RADAR) method
is known as the most common method for absorbed dose calculation.
177Lu was produced by (n, gamma) reaction in a research reactor.
177Lu-PL3 was prepared in the optimized condition. The
radiochemical yield was checked by ITLC method. The
biodistribution of the complex was investigated by intravenously
injection to wild-type rats via their tail veins. In this study, the
absorbed dose of 177Lu-PL3 to human organs was estimated by
RADAR method. 177Lu was prepared with a specific activity of 2.6-3
GBq.mg-1 and radionuclide purity of 99.98 %. Final preparation of
the radiolabelled complex showed high radiochemical purity of >
99%. The results show that liver and spleen have received the highest
absorbed dose of 1.051 and 0.441 mSv/MBq, respectively. The
absorbed dose values for these two dose-limiting tissues suggest
more biological studies special in tumor-bearing animals.
Abstract: In this paper, a comparative performance analysis of
mostly used four nonlinearity cancellation techniques used to realize
the passive resistor by MOS transistors, is presented. The comparison
is done by using an integrator circuit which is employing sequentially
Op-amp, OTRA and ICCII as active element. All of the circuits are
implemented by MOS-C realization and simulated by PSPICE
program using 0.35μm process TSMC MOSIS model parameters.
With MOS-C realization, the circuits became electronically tunable
and fully integrable which is very important in IC design. The output
waveforms, frequency responses, THD analysis results and features
of the nonlinearity cancellation techniques are also given.