Abstract: The purpose of this theoretical literature review is to
study the relevant academic literature on lack of cardiorespiratory
fitness and its effects on children. The total of thirty eight relevant
documents were identified and considered for this review which
nineteen of those were original research articles published in peer
reviewed journals. The other nineteen articles were statistical
documents. This literature review is structured to examine 5 effects
in deficiency of cardiorespiratory fitness in school aged children (A)
Relative Age Effect (RAE), (B) Obesity, (C) Inadequate fitness level
(D) Unhealthy life style, and (E) Academics. The categories provide
a theoretical framework for future studies where results are driven
from the literature review. The study discusses that regular physical fitness assists children
and adolescents to develop healthy physical activity behaviors which
can be sustained throughout adult life. Conclusion suggests that
advocacy for increasing physical activity and decreasing sedentary
behaviors at school and home are necessary.
Abstract: An industrial system for the production of white
liquor of a paper industry, Klabin Paraná Papéis, formed by ten
reactors was modeled, simulated, and analyzed. The developed model
considered possible water losses by evaporation and reaction, in
addition to variations in volumetric flow of lime mud across the
reactors due to composition variations. The model predictions agreed
well with the process measurements at the plant and the results
showed that the slaking reaction is nearly complete at the third
causticizing reactor, while causticizing ends by the seventh reactor.
Water loss due to slaking reaction and evaporation occurs more
pronouncedly in the slaking reaction than in the final causticizing
reactors; nevertheless, the lime mud flow remains nearly constant
across the reactors.
Abstract: Cortisol is essential to the regulation of the immune
system and pathological yawning is a symptom of multiple sclerosis
(MS). Electromyography activity (EMG) in the jaw muscles typically
rises when the muscles are moved – extended or flexed; and yawning
has been shown to be highly correlated with cortisol levels in healthy
people as shown in the Thompson Cortisol Hypothesis. It is likely
that these elevated cortisol levels are also seen in people with MS.
The possible link between EMG in the jaw muscles and rises in saliva
cortisol levels during yawning were investigated in a randomized
controlled trial of 60 volunteers aged 18-69 years who were exposed
to conditions that were designed to elicit the yawning response.
Saliva samples were collected at the start and after yawning, or at the
end of the presentation of yawning-provoking stimuli, in the absence
of a yawn, and EMG data was additionally collected during rest and
yawning phases. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Yawning
Susceptibility Scale, General Health Questionnaire, demographic,
and health details were collected and the following exclusion criteria
were adopted: chronic fatigue, diabetes, fibromyalgia, heart
condition, high blood pressure, hormone replacement therapy,
multiple sclerosis, and stroke. Significant differences were found
between the saliva cortisol samples for the yawners, t (23) = -4.263, p
= 0.000, as compared with the non-yawners between rest and poststimuli,
which was non-significant. There were also significant
differences between yawners and non-yawners for the EMG
potentials with the yawners having higher rest and post-yawning
potentials. Significant evidence was found to support the Thompson
Cortisol Hypothesis suggesting that rises in cortisol levels are
associated with the yawning response. Further research is underway
to explore the use of cortisol as a potential diagnostic tool as an assist
to the early diagnosis of symptoms related to neurological disorders.
Bournemouth University Research & Ethics approval granted:
JC28/1/13-KA6/9/13. Professional code of conduct, confidentiality,
and safety issues have been addressed and approved in the Ethics
submission. Trials identification number: ISRCTN61942768.
http://www.controlled-trials.com/isrctn/
Abstract: This article presents an alternative collapse capacity
intensity measure in the three elements form which is influenced by
the spectral ordinates at periods longer than that of the first mode
period at near and far source sites. A parameter, denoted by β, is
defined by which the spectral ordinate effects, up to the effective
period (2T1), on the intensity measure are taken into account. The
methodology permits to meet the hazard-levelled target extreme
event in the probabilistic and deterministic forms. A MATLAB code
is developed involving OpenSees to calculate the collapse capacities
of the 8 archetype RC structures having 2 to 20 stories for regression
process. The incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) method is used to
calculate the structure’s collapse values accounting for the element
stiffness and strength deterioration. The general near field set
presented by FEMA is used in a series of performing nonlinear
analyses. 8 linear relationships are developed for the 8structutres
leading to the correlation coefficient up to 0.93. A collapse capacity
near field prediction equation is developed taking into account the
results of regression processes obtained from the 8 structures. The
proposed prediction equation is validated against a set of actual near
field records leading to a good agreement. Implementation of the
proposed equation to the four archetype RC structures demonstrated
different collapse capacities at near field site compared to those of
FEMA. The reasons of differences are believed to be due to
accounting for the spectral shape effects.
Abstract: This paper describes three lumped parameters models
for the study of the dynamic behavior of a boom crane. The models
here proposed allows to evaluate the fluctuations of the load arising
from the rope and structure elasticity and from the type of the
motion command imposed by the winch. A calculation software
was developed in order to determine the actual acceleration of the
lifted mass and the dynamic overload during the lifting phase. Some
application examples are presented, with the aim of showing the
correlation between the magnitude of the stress and the type of the
employed motion command.
Abstract: In this study, it has been studied to determine the
relationship between business performance and strategic flexibility,
which is defined to be the strategic choice that provides the ability of
rapidly responding the changes of the dynamic environment of the
companies, for having competitive advantages. In this context a field
study has been conducted over 56 companies, which are active in
informatics and electronics sectors in TEKNOKENT. As a result of
the study it has been determined that; strategic flexibility has an
effect on business performance and there is a positive and
statistically significant relationship between strategic flexibility and
business performance.
Abstract: Current study established for EEG signal analysis in
patients with language disorder. Language disorder can be defined as
meaningful delay in the use or understanding of spoken or written
language. The disorder can include the content or meaning of
language, its form, or its use. Here we applied Z-score, power
spectrum, and coherence methods to discriminate the language
disorder data from healthy ones. Power spectrum of each channel in
alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and theta frequency bands was measured.
In addition, intra hemispheric Z-score obtained by scoring algorithm.
Obtained results showed high Z-score and power spectrum in
posterior regions. Therefore, we can conclude that peoples with
language disorder have high brain activity in frontal region of brain
in comparison with healthy peoples. Results showed that high coherence correlates with irregularities
in the ERP and is often found during complex task, whereas low
coherence is often found in pathological conditions. The results of the
Z-score analysis of the brain dynamics showed higher Z-score peak
frequency in delta, theta and beta sub bands of Language Disorder
patients. In this analysis there were activity signs in both hemispheres
and the left-dominant hemisphere was more active than the right.
Abstract: This paper proposes for the first time symbolic
formula of the power spectrum of CMOS Cross Couple Oscillator
and its modified circuit. Many principles existed to derived power
spectrum in microwave textbook such as impedance, admittance
parameters, ABCD, H parameters, etc. It can be compared by graph
of power spectrum which methodology is the best from the point of
view of practical measurement setup such as condition of impedance
parameter which used superposition of current to derived (its current
injection at the other port of the circuit is zero, which is impossible in
reality). Four graphs of impedance parameters of cross couple
oscillator are proposed. After that four graphs of scattering
parameters of CMOS cross coupled oscillator will be shown.
Abstract: High moisture content in fruits generates post-harvest
problems such as mechanical, biochemical, microbial and physical
losses. Dehydration, which is based on the reduction of water activity
of the fruit, is a common option for overcoming such losses.
However, regular hot air drying could affect negatively the quality
properties of the fruit due to the long residence time at high
temperature. Power ultrasound (US) application during the
convective drying has been used as a novel method able to enhance
drying rate and, consequently, to decrease drying time. In the present
study, a new approach was tested to evaluate the effect of US on the
drying time, the final antioxidant activity (AA) and the total
polyphenol content (TPC) of banana slices (BS), mango slices (MS)
and guava slices (GS). There were also studied the drying kinetics
with nine different models from which water effective diffusivities
(Deff) (with or without shrinkage corrections) were calculated.
Compared with the corresponding control tests, US assisted drying
for fruit slices showed reductions in drying time between 16.23 and
30.19%, 11.34 and 32.73%, and 19.25 and 47.51% for the MS, BS
and GS respectively. Considering shrinkage effects, Deff calculated
values ranged from 1.67*10-10 to 3.18*10-10 m2/s, 3.96*10-10 and
5.57*10-10 m2/s and 4.61*10-10 to 8.16*10-10 m2/s for the BS, MS and
GS samples respectively. Reductions of TPC and AA (as DPPH)
were observed compared with the original content in fresh fruit data
in all kinds of drying assays.
Abstract: Cloud Computing refers to applications delivered as
services over the internet, and the datacenters that provide those
services with hardware and systems software. These were earlier
referred to as Software as a Service (SaaS). Scheduling is justified by
job components (called tasks), lack of information. In fact, in a large
fraction of jobs from machine learning, bio-computing, and image
processing domains, it is possible to estimate the maximum time
required for a task in the job. This study focuses on Trust based
scheduling to improve cloud security by modifying Heterogeneous
Earliest Finish Time (HEFT) algorithm. It also proposes TR-HEFT
(Trust Reputation HEFT) which is then compared to Dynamic Load
Scheduling.
Abstract: Ceramic obtained on the base of aluminum oxide has
wide application range, because it has unique properties, for example,
wear-resistance, dielectric characteristics, and exploitation ability at
high temperatures and in corrosive atmosphere. Low temperature
synthesis of α-Al2O3 is energo-economical process and it is topical
for developing technologies of corundum ceramics fabrication. In the present work possibilities of low temperature transformation
of oxyhydroxides in α-Al2O3, during the presence of small amount of
rare–earth elements compounds (also Th, Re), have been discussed.
Aluminum unstable oxyhydroxides have been obtained by hydrolysis
of aluminium isopropoxide, nitrates, sulphate, and chloride in
alkaline environment at 80-90ºC temperatures. β-Al(OH)3 has been
received from aluminum powder by ultrasonic development. Drying
of oxyhydroxide sol has been conducted with presence of various
types seeds, which amount reaches 0,1-0,2% (mas). Neodymium,
holmium, thorium, lanthanum, cerium, gadolinium, disprosium
nitrates and rhenium carbonyls have been used as seeds and they
have been added to the sol specimens in amount of 0.1-0.2% (mas)
calculated on metals. Annealing of obtained gels is carried out at 70–
1100ºC for 2 hrs. The same specimen transforms in α-Al2O3 at
1100ºC. At this temperature in case of presence of lanthanum and
gadolinium transformation takes place by 70-85%. In case of
presence of thorium stabilization of γ-and θ-phases takes place. It is
established, that thorium causes inhibition of α-phase generation at
1100ºC, and at the time when in all other doped specimens α-phase is
generated at lower temperatures (1000-1050ºC). Synthesis of various
type compounds and simultaneous consolidation has developed in the
furnace of OXY-GON. Composite materials containing oxide and
non-oxide components close to theoretical data have been obtained in
this furnace respectively. During the work the following devices have
been used: X-ray diffractometer DRON-3M (Cu-Kα, Ni filter,
2º/min), High temperature vacuum furnace OXY-GON, electronic
scanning microscopes Nikon ECLIPSE LV 150, NMM-800TRF,
planetary mill Pulverisette 7 premium line, SHIMADZU Dynamic
Ultra Micro Hardness Tester, DUH-211S, Analysette 12 Dyna sizer.
Abstract: An experimental study with four different types of bed
conditions was carried out to understand the effect of roughness in
open channel flow at two different Reynolds numbers. The bed
conditions include a smooth surface and three different roughness
conditions, which were generated using sand grains with a median
diameter of 2.46 mm. The three rough conditions include a surface
with distributed roughness, a surface with continuously distributed
roughness and a sand bed with a permeable interface. A commercial
two-component fibre-optic LDA system was used to conduct the
velocity measurements. The variables of interest include the mean
velocity, turbulence intensity, correlation between the streamwise and
the wall normal turbulence, Reynolds shear stress and velocity triple
products. Quadrant decomposition was used to extract the magnitude
of the Reynolds shear stress of the turbulent bursting events. The
effect of roughness was evident throughout the flow depth. The
results show that distributed roughness has the greatest roughness
effect followed by the sand bed and the continuous roughness.
Compared to the smooth bed, the streamwise turbulence intensity
reduces but the vertical turbulence intensity increases at a location
very close to the bed due to the introduction of roughness. Although
the same sand grain is used to create the three different rough bed
conditions, the difference in the turbulence intensity is an indication
that the specific geometry of the roughness has an influence on
turbulence structure.
Abstract: Financial inclusion has become a crucially important
factor in debates on economic inequality posing challenges to the
financial systems of countries around the world. Nowadays
governments and banks are concerned about creating products that
allow access to wide sectors of the population. The creation of
banking products by the financial sector for people with low incomes
tends to lead to improvements in the quality of life of vulnerable parts
of the population. In countries with notable social and economic
inequalities, financial inclusion is a key aspect for equitable
economic growth. This study is based on the case of Colombia, which is a country
with a strong record of economic growth over the past decade.
Nevertheless, corruption, unemployment, and poverty contribute to
uncertainty regarding the country’s future growth prospects. This study wants to explain the situation of financial exclusion and
financial inclusion with respect to the Colombian case. Financial
inclusion is going to be studied from the perspective of social
innovation.
Abstract: In the present study we have investigated axial
buckling characteristics of nanocomposite beams reinforced by
single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Various types of beam
theories including Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, Timoshenko beam
theory and Reddy beam theory were used to analyze the buckling
behavior of carbon nanotube-reinforced composite beams.
Generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) method was utilized to
discretize the governing differential equations along with four
commonly used boundary conditions. The material properties of the
nanocomposite beams were obtained using molecular dynamic (MD)
simulation corresponding to both short-(10,10) SWCNT and long-
(10,10) SWCNT composites which were embedded by amorphous
polyethylene matrix. Then the results obtained directly from MD
simulations were matched with those calculated by the mixture rule
to extract appropriate values of carbon nanotube efficiency
parameters accounting for the scale-dependent material properties.
The selected numerical results were presented to indicate the
influences of nanotube volume fractions and end supports on the
critical axial buckling loads of nanocomposite beams relevant to
long- and short-nanotube composites.
Abstract: This paper describes a subarray based low
computational design method of multiuser massive multiple
input multiple output (MIMO) system. In our previous works, use of
large array is assumed only in transmitter, but this study considers
the case both of transmitter and receiver sides are equipped with
large array antennas. For this aim, receive arrays are also divided
into several subarrays, and the former proposed method is modified
for the synthesis of a large array from subarrays in both ends.
Through computer simulations, it is verified that the performance
of the proposed method is degraded compared with the original
approach, but it can achieve the improvement in the aspect of
complexity, namely, significant reduction of the computational load
to the practical level.
Abstract: Evaluation of the excavation-induced ground
movements is an important design aspect of support systems in urban
areas. Geological and geotechnical conditions of an excavation area
have significant effects on excavation-induced ground movements and
the related damage. This paper is aimed at studying the performance of
excavation walls supported by nails in jointed rock medium. The
performance of nailed walls is investigated based on evaluating the
excavation-induced ground movements. For this purpose, a set of
calibrated 2D finite element models are developed by taking into
account the nail-rock-structure interactions, the anisotropic properties
of jointed rock, and the staged construction process. The results of this
paper highlight effects of different parameters such as joint
inclinations, anisotropy of rocks and nail inclinations on deformation
parameters of excavation wall supported by nails.
Abstract: The knitted fabric suffers a deformation in its
dimensions due to stretching and tension factors, transverse and
longitudinal respectively, during the process in rectilinear knitting
machines so it performs a dry relaxation shrinkage procedure and
thermal action of prefixed to obtain stable conditions in the knitting.
This paper presents a dry relaxation shrinkage prediction of Bordeaux
fiber using a feed forward neural network and linear regression
models. Six operational alternatives of shrinkage were predicted. A
comparison of the results was performed finding neural network
models with higher levels of explanation of the variability and
prediction. The presence of different reposes is included. The models
were obtained through a neural toolbox of Matlab and Minitab
software with real data in a knitting company of Southern
Guanajuato. The results allow predicting dry relaxation shrinkage of
each alternative operation.
Abstract: The need to merge software artifacts seems inherent
to modern software development. Distribution of development over
several teams and breaking tasks into smaller, more manageable
pieces are an effective means to deal with the kind of complexity. In
each case, the separately developed artifacts need to be assembled as
efficiently as possible into a consistent whole in which the parts still
function as described. In addition, earlier changes are introduced into
the life cycle and easier is their management by designers.
Interaction-based specifications such as UML sequence diagrams
have been found effective in this regard. As a result, sequence
diagrams can be used not only for capturing system behaviors but
also for merging changes in order to create a new version. The
objective of this paper is to suggest a new approach to deal with the
problem of software merging at the level of sequence diagrams by
using the concept of dependence analysis that captures, formally, all
mapping, and differences between elements of sequence diagrams
and serves as a key concept to create a new version of sequence
diagram.
Abstract: Urinary Tract Infections are considered as one of the
most common bacterial infections with an estimated annual global
incidence of 150 million. Antimicrobial drug resistance is one of the
major threats due to wide spread usage of uncontrolled antibiotics. In
this study, a total number of 9149 urine samples were collected from
R.H Patiala and processed in the Department of Microbiology G. M.
C Patiala (January 2013 to December 2013). Urine samples were
inoculated on MacConkey’s and blood agar plates and incubated at
370C for 24 hrs. The organisms were identified by colony characters,
Gram’s staining, and biochemical reactions. Antimicrobial
susceptibility of the isolates was determined against various
antimicrobial agents (Hi – Media Mumbai India) by Kirby Bauer
DISK diffusion method on Muller Hinton agar plates. Maximum patients were in the age group of 21-30 yrs followed by
31-40 yrs. Males (34%) are less prone to urinary tract infections than
females (66%). Culture was positive in 25% of the samples.
Escherichia coli was the most common isolate 60.3% followed by
Klebsiella pneumoniae 13.5%, Proteus spp. 9% and Staphylococcus
aureus 7.6%. Most of the urinary isolates were sensitive to,
carbepenems, Aztreonam, Amikacin, and Piperacillin + Tazobactum.
All the isolates showed a good sensitivity towards Nitrofurantoin
(82%). ESBL production was found to be 70.6% in Escherichia coli
and 29.4% in Klebsiella pneumonia. Susceptibility of ESBL
producers to Imipenem, Nitrofurantoin and Amikacin were found to
be 100%, 76%, and 75% respectively. Uropathogens are increasingly
showing resistance to many antibiotics making empiric management
of outpatient UTIs challenging. Ampicillin, Cotrimoxazole and
Ciprofloxacin should not be used in empiric treatment. Nitrofurantoin
could be used in lower urinary tract infection. Knowledge of
uropathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern in a
geographical region will help in appropriate and judicious antibiotic
usage in a health care setup.
Abstract: In this paper, we present a comparative study of three
methods of 2D face recognition system such as: Iso-Geodesic Curves
(IGC), Geodesic Distance (GD) and Geodesic-Intensity Histogram
(GIH). These approaches are based on computing of geodesic
distance between points of facial surface and between facial curves.
In this study we represented the image at gray level as a 2D surface in
a 3D space, with the third coordinate proportional to the intensity
values of pixels. In the classifying step, we use: Neural Networks
(NN), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) and Support Vector Machines
(SVM). The images used in our experiments are from two wellknown
databases of face images ORL and YaleB. ORL data base was
used to evaluate the performance of methods under conditions where
the pose and sample size are varied, and the database YaleB was used
to examine the performance of the systems when the facial
expressions and lighting are varied.