Abstract: Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer
which has good mechanical properties, however, its brittleness limits
its usage especially in packaging materials. Therefore, in this work,
PLA based polyurethane films were prepared by synthesizing with
different types of isocyanates; methylene diisocyanate (MDI) and
hexamethylene diisocyanates (HDI). For this purpose, PLA based
polyurethane must have good strength and flexibility. Therefore,
polycaprolactone which has better flexibility were prepared with
PLA. An effective way to endow polylactic acid with toughness is
through chain-extension reaction of the polylactic acid pre-polymer
with polycaprolactone used as chain extender. Polyurethane prepared
from MDI showed brittle behaviour, while, polyurethane prepared
from HDI showed flexibility at same concentrations.
Abstract: Biometallic materials are the most important materials for use in biomedical applications especially in manufacturing a variety of biological artificial replacements in a modern worlds, e.g. hip, knee or shoulder joints, due to their advanced characteristics. Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are used extensively in biomedical applications based on their high specific strength and excellent corrosion resistance. Beta-Ti alloys containing completely biocompatible elements are exceptionally prospective materials for manufacturing of bioimplants. They have superior mechanical, chemical and electrochemical properties for use as biomaterials. These biomaterials have the ability to introduce the most important property of biochemical compatibility which is low elastic modulus. This review examines current information on the recent developments in alloying elements leading to improvements of beta Ti alloys for use as biomaterials. Moreover, this paper focuses mainly on the evolution, evaluation and development of the modulus of elasticity as an effective factor on the performance of beta alloys.
Abstract: In recent years, in addition to face the external threats such as energy shortages and climate change, traffic congestion and environmental pollution have become anxious problems for many cities. Considering private automobile-oriented urban development had produced many negative environmental and social impacts, the transit-oriented development (TOD) has been considered as a sustainable urban model. TOD encourages public transport combined with friendly walking and cycling environment designs, however, non-motorized modes help improving human health, energy saving, and reducing carbon emissions. Due to environmental changes often affect the planners’ decision-making; this research applies dynamic network process (DNP) which includes the time dependent concept to promoting friendly walking and cycling environmental designs as an advanced planning support system for environment improvements.
This research aims to discuss what kinds of design strategies can improve a friendly walking and cycling environment under TOD. First of all, we collate and analyze environment designing factors by reviewing the relevant literatures as well as divide into three aspects of “safety”, “convenience”, and “amenity” from fifteen environment designing factors. Furthermore, we utilize fuzzy Delphi Technique (FDT) expert questionnaire to filter out the more important designing criteria for the study case. Finally, we utilized DNP expert questionnaire to obtain the weights changes at different time points for each design criterion. Based on the changing trends of each criterion weight, we are able to develop appropriate designing strategies as the reference for planners to allocate resources in a dynamic environment. In order to illustrate the approach we propose in this research, Taipei city as one example has been used as an empirical study, and the results are in depth analyzed to explain the application of our proposed approach.
Abstract: Anti-scatter grids used in radiographic imaging for the contrast enhancement leave specific artifacts. Those artifacts may be visible or may cause Moiré effect when digital image is resized on a diagnostic monitor. In this paper we propose an automated grid artifactsdetection and suppression algorithm which is still an actual problem. Grid artifacts detection is based on statistical approach in spatial domain. Grid artifacts suppression is based on Kaiser bandstop filter transfer function design and application avoiding ringing artifacts. Experimental results are discussed and concluded with description of advantages over existing approaches.
Abstract: The most important problem occurs on oil spills in sea
water is to reduce the oil spills size. This study deals with the
development of high pressurized nozzle using dispersion method for
oil leakage in offshore. 3D numerical simulation results were
obtained using ANSYS Fluent 13.0 code and correlate with the
experimental data for validation. This paper studies the contribution
of the process on flow speed and pressure of the flow from two
different geometrical designs of nozzles and to generate a spray
pattern suitable for dispersant application. Factor of size distribution
of droplets generated by the nozzle is calculated using pressures
ranging from 2 to 6 bars. Results obtain from both analyses shows a
significant spray pattern and flow distribution as well as distance.
Results also show a significant contribution on the effect of oil
leakage in terms of the diameter of the oil spills break up.
Abstract: This research analyzes factors affecting the success of Bitcoin Value within Thailand and develops a guideline for self-reliance for effective business implementation. Samples in this study included 121 people through surveys. The results revealed four main factors affecting the success as follows: 1) A great majority didn't know what Bitcoin was. 2) Didn't grasp the concept of a digital currency or see the benefit of a digital currency. 3) There is a great need to educate the next generation of learners on the benefits of Bitcoin within the community. 4) Future Career training should be pursued in applied Bitcoin development.
The guideline for self-reliance planning consisted of 4 aspects: 1) Local communities need to develop awareness of the usefulness of Bitcoin and share the value of Bitcoin among friends and family. 2) Computer Science and Business Management staff should develop skills to expand on the benefits of Bitcoin within their departments. 3) Further research should be pursued on how Bitcoin Value can improve business and tourism within Thailand. Local communities should focus on developing Bitcoin awareness by encouraging street vendors to accept Bitcoin as another form of payment for services rendered. 4) Development planning: by arranging meet up groups to conduct further education on Bitcoin and share solutions on adoption into every day usage.
Abstract: Heat transfer from flat tube is studied numerically. Reynolds number is defined base on equivalent circular tube which is varied in range of 100 to 300. In these range of Reynolds number flow is considered to be laminar, unsteady, and incompressible. Equations are solved by using finite volume method. Results show that increasing l/D from 1 to 2 has insignificant effect on heat transfer and Nusselt number of flat tube is slightly lower than circular tube. However, thermal-hydraulic performance of flat tube is up to 2.7 times greater than circular tube.
Abstract: Metal matrix composites (MMCs) have gained a
considerable interest in the last three decades. Conventional powder
metallurgy production route often involves the addition of reinforcing
phases into the metal matrix directly, which leads to poor wetting
behavior between ceramic phase and metal matrix and the
segregation of reinforcements. The commonly used elements for
ceramic phase formation in iron based MMCs are Ti, Nb, Mo, W, V
and C, B. The aim of the present paper is to investigate the effect of
sintering temperature and V-B addition on densification, phase
development, microstructure, and hardness of Fe–V-B composites
(Fe-(5-10) wt. %B – 25 wt. %V alloys) prepared by powder
metallurgy process. Metal powder mixes were pressed uniaxial and
sintered at different temperatures (ranging from 1300 to 1400ºC) for
1h. The microstructure of the (V, B) Fe composites was studied with
the help of high magnification optical microscope and XRD.
Experimental results show that (V, B) Fe composites can be produced
by conventional powder metallurgy route.
Abstract: The effect of tillage technology of maize on intensity of weed infestation and weed species composition was observed at experimental field. Maize is grown consecutively since 2001. The experimental site is situated at an altitude of 230 m above sea level in the Czech Republic. Variants of tillage technology are CT: plowing – conventional tillage 0.22 m, MT: loosening – disc tillage on the depth of 0.1 – 0.12 m, NT: direct sowing – without tillage. The evaluation of weed infestation was carried out by numerical method in years 2012 and 2013. Within the monitoring were found 20 various species of weeds. Conventional tillage (CT) primarily supports the occurrence of perennial weeds (Cirsium arvense, Convolvulus arvensis). Late spring species (Chenopodium album, Echinochloa crus-galli) were more frequently noticed on variants of loosening (MT) and direct sowing (NT). Different tillage causes a significant change of weed species spectrum in maize.
Abstract: Chaotic analysis has been performed on the river flow time series before and after applying the wavelet based de-noising techniques in order to investigate the noise content effects on chaotic nature of flow series. In this study, 38 years of monthly runoff data of three gauging stations were used. Gauging stations were located in Ghar-e-Aghaj river basin, Fars province, Iran. Noise level of time series was estimated with the aid of Gaussian kernel algorithm. This step was found to be crucial in preventing removal of the vital data such as memory, correlation and trend from the time series in addition to the noise during de-noising process.
Abstract: Advances in the field of image processing envision a
new era of evaluation techniques and application of procedures in
various different fields. One such field being considered is the
biomedical field for prognosis as well as diagnosis of diseases. This
plethora of methods though provides a wide range of options to select
from, it also proves confusion in selecting the apt process and also in
finding which one is more suitable. Our objective is to use a series of
techniques on bone scans, so as to detect the occurrence of
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as accurately as possible. Amongst other
techniques existing in the field our proposed system tends to be more
effective as it depends on new methodologies that have been proved
to be better and more consistent than others. Computer aided
diagnosis will provide more accurate and infallible rate of
consistency that will help to improve the efficiency of the system.
The image first undergoes histogram smoothing and specification,
morphing operation, boundary detection by edge following algorithm
and finally image subtraction to determine the presence of
rheumatoid arthritis in a more efficient and effective way. Using preprocessing
noises are removed from images and using segmentation,
region of interest is found and Histogram smoothing is applied for a
specific portion of the images. Gray level co-occurrence matrix
(GLCM) features like Mean, Median, Energy, Correlation, Bone
Mineral Density (BMD) and etc. After finding all the features it
stores in the database. This dataset is trained with inflamed and noninflamed
values and with the help of neural network all the new
images are checked properly for their status and Rough set is
implemented for further reduction.
Abstract: In this study, too, an attempt was made to reveal the
place and effects of information technologies on the lives and
education of gifted children based on the views of gifted. To this end,
the effects of information technologies on gifted are general skills,
technology use, academic and social skills, and cooperative and
personal skills were investigated. These skills were explored
depending on whether or not gifted had their own computers, had
internet connection at home, or how often they use the internet,
average time period they spent at the computer, how often they
played computer games and their use of social media.
The study was conducted using the screening model with a
quantitative approach. The sample of the study consisted of 129
gifted attending 5-12th classes in 12 provinces in different regions of
Turkey. 64 of the participants were female while 65 were male. The
research data were collected using the using computer of gifted and
information technologies (UCIT) questionnaire which was developed
by the researchers and given its final form after receiving expert
view.
As a result of the study, it was found that UCIT use improved
foreign language speaking skills of gifted, enabled them to get to
know and understand different cultures, and made use of computer
and information technologies while they study. At the end of the
study these result were obtained: Gifted have positive idea using
computer and communication technology. There are differences
whether using the internet about the ideas UCIT. But there are not
differences whether having computer, inhabited city, grade level,
having internet at home, daily and weekly internet usage durations,
playing the computer and internet game, having Facebook and
Twitter account about the UCIT.
UCIT contribute to the development of gifted vocabulary, allows
knowing and understand different cultures, developing foreign
language speaking skills, gifted do not give up computer when they
do their homework, improve their reading, listening, understanding
and writing skills in a foreign language.
Gifted children want to have transition to the use of tablets in
education. They think UCIT facilitates doing their homework,
contributes learning more information in a shorter time. They'd like
to use computer-assisted instruction programs at courses. They think
they will be more successful in the future if their computer skills are
good. But gifted students prefer teacher instead of teaching with
computers and they said that learning can be run from home without
going to school.
Abstract: In this study, a liquid phase microextraction by hollow fiber (HF-LPME) combined with high performance liquid chromatography-UV detector was applied to preconcentrate and determine trace levels of Cyproheptadine in human urine and plasma samples. Cyproheptadine was extracted from 10 mL alkaline aqueous solution (pH: 9.81) into an organic solvent (n-octnol) which was immobilized in the wall pores of a hollow fiber. Then was back-extracted into an acidified aqueous solution (pH: 2.59) located inside the lumen of the hollow fiber. This method is simple, efficient and cost-effective. It is based on pH gradient and differences between two aqueous phases. In order to optimize the HF-LPME some affecting parameters including the pH of donor and acceptor phases, the type of organic solvent, ionic strength, stirring rate, extraction time and temperature were studied and optimized. Under optimal conditions enrichment factor, limit of detection (LOD) and relative standard deviation (RSD(%), n=3) were up to 112, 15 μg.L−1 and 2.7, respectively.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial effect of Helichrysum arenarium L. essential oil in "in-vitro" condition on the growth of seven microbial species including Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Saccharomyces cereviciae, Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus using micro-dilution method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal or fungicidal concentration (MBC, MFC) were determined for the essential oil at ten concentrations. Finally, the sensitivity of tested microbes to essential oil of H. arenarium was investigated. Results showed that Bacillus subtilis (MIC=781.25 and MBC=6250 µg/ml) was more resistance than two other bacterial species. Among the tested yeasts, Saccharomyces cereviciae (MIC=97.65 and MFC=781.25 µg/ml) was more sensitive than Candida albicans while among the fungal species, growth of Aspergillus parasiticus inhibited at lower concentration of oil than the Aspergillus flavus. The extracted essential oil exhibited the same MIC value in the liquid medium against all fungal strains (48.82 µg/ml), while different activity against A. flavus and A. parasiticus was observed in this medium with MFC values of 6250 and 390.625µg/ml, respectively. The results of the present study indicated that Helichrysum arenarium L essential oil had significant (P
Abstract: This research aims to study the level of democratic political culture and the factors that affect the democratic political culture of 5th and 6th graders under the authority of Dusit District Office, Bangkok by using stratified sampling for probability sampling and using purposive sampling for non-probability sampling to collect data toward the distribution of questionnaires to 300 respondents. This covers all of the schools under the authority of Dusit District Office. The researcher analyzed the data by using descriptive statistics which include arithmetic mean, standard deviation, and inferential statistics which are Independent Samples T-test (T-test) and One-Way ANOVA (F-test). The researcher also collected data by interviewing the target groups, and then analyzed the data by the use of descriptive analysis. The result shows that 5th and 6th graders under the authority of Dusit District Office, Bangkok have exposed to democratic political culture at high level in overall. When considering each part, it found out that the part that has highest mean is “the constitutional democratic governmental system is suitable for Thailand” statement. The part with the lowest mean is “corruption (cheat and defraud) is normal in Thai society” statement. The factor that affects democratic political culture is grade levels, occupations of mothers, and attention in news and political movements.
Abstract: Each of the countries around the world has different
ways of management and many of them depend on people to
administrate their country. Thailand, for example, empowers the
sovereignty of Thai people under constitution; however, our Thai
voting system is not able to flow fast enough under the current
Political management system. The sovereignty of Thai people is
addressing this problem through representatives during current
elections, in order to set a new policy for the countries ideology to
change in the House and the Cabinet.
This is particularly important in a democracy to be developed
under our current political institution. The Organic Act on Political
Parties 2007 is the establishment we have today that is causing
confrontations within the establishment. There are many political
parties that will soon be abolished. Many political parties have
already been subsidized. This research study is to analyze the legal
problems with the political party establishment under the Organic Act
on Political Parties 2007.
This will focus on the freedom of each political establishment
compared to an effective political operation. Textbooks and academic
papers will be referenced from studies home and abroad.
The study revealed that Organic Act on Political Parties 2007 has
strict provisions on the political structure over the number of
members and the number of branches involved within political
parties system.
Such operations shall be completed within one year; but under the
existing laws the small parties are not able to participate with the
bigger parties. The cities are capable of fulfilling small political party
requirements but fail to become coalesced because the current laws
won't allow them to be united as one. It is important to allow all
independent political parties to join our current political structure.
Board members can’t help the smaller parties to become a large
organization under the existing Thai laws.
Creating a new establishment that functions efficiently throughout
all branches would be one solution to these legal problems between
all political parties. With this new operation, individual political
parties can participate with the bigger parties during elections. Until
current political institutions change their system to accommodate
public opinion, these current Thai laws will continue to be a problem
with all political parties in Thailand.
Abstract: The objectives were to study language learning strategies (LLSs) employed by Chinese students, and the frequency of LLSs they used, and examine the relationship between the use of LLSs and gender. The Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) by Oxford was administered to thirty-six Chinese students at Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University in Thailand. The data obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Three useful findings were found on the use of LLSs reported by Chinese students. First, Chinese students used overall LLSs at a high level. Second, among the six strategy groups, Chinese students employed compensation strategy most frequently and memory strategy least frequently. Third, the research results also revealed that gender had significant effect on Chinese Student’s use of overall LLSs.
Abstract: Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is a non-invasive and
non-ionizing imaging modality that combines the absorption contrast
of light with ultrasound resolution. Laser is used to deposit optical
energy into a target (i.e., optical fluence). Consequently, the target
temperature rises, and then thermal expansion occurs that leads to
generating a PA signal. In general, most image reconstruction
algorithms for PAI assume uniform fluence within an imaging object.
However, it is known that optical fluence distribution within the
object is non-uniform. This could affect the reconstruction of PA
images. In this study, we have investigated the influence of optical
fluence distribution on PA back-propagation imaging using finite
element method. The uniform fluence was simulated as a triangular
waveform within the object of interest. The non-uniform fluence
distribution was estimated by solving light propagation within a
tissue model via Monte Carlo method. The results show that the PA
signal in the case of non-uniform fluence is wider than the uniform
case by 23%. The frequency spectrum of the PA signal due to the
non-uniform fluence has missed some high frequency components in
comparison to the uniform case. Consequently, the reconstructed
image with the non-uniform fluence exhibits a strong smoothing
effect.
Abstract: In this paper we introduce a bacteria-leukocyte model
with bacteria chemotaxsis. We assume that bacteria develop a tactic
defence mechanism as a response to Leukocyte phagocytosis. We
explore the effect of this tactic motion on Turing space in two
parameter spaces. A fine tuning of bacterial chemotaxis shows a
significant effect on developing a non-uniform steady state.
Abstract: In this paper, we introduce a method for improving
the embedded Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg4(5) method. At each integration
step, the proposed method is comprised of two equations for the
solution and the error, respectively. These solution and error are
obtained by solving an initial value problem whose solution has the
information of the error at each integration step. The constructed algorithm
controls both the error and the time step size simultaneously and
possesses a good performance in the computational cost compared to
the original method. For the assessment of the effectiveness, EULR
problem is numerically solved.