Abstract: Big Data and analytics have gained a huge momentum
in recent years. Big Data feeds into the field of Learning Analytics
(LA) that may allow academic institutions to better understand the
learners’ needs and proactively address them. Hence, it is important
to have an understanding of Big Data and its applications. The
purpose of this descriptive paper is to provide an overview of Big
Data, the technologies used in Big Data, and some of the applications
of Big Data in education. Additionally, it discusses some of the
concerns related to Big Data and current research trends. While Big
Data can provide big benefits, it is important that institutions
understand their own needs, infrastructure, resources, and limitation
before jumping on the Big Data bandwagon.
Abstract: The effect of N2 pretreatment on the catalytic activity
of tungsten-based catalysts was investigated in the metathesis of
ethylene and trans-2-butene at 450oC and atmospheric pressure. The
presence of tungsten active species was confirmed by UV-Vis and
Raman spectroscopy. Compared to the WO3-based catalysts treated
in air, higher amount of WO4 2-tetrahedral species and lower amount
of WO3 crystalline species were observed on the N2-treated ones.
These contribute to the higher conversion of 2-butene and propylene
selectivity during 10 h time-on-stream. Moreover, N2 treatment led to
lower amount of coke formation as revealed by TPO of the spent
catalysts.
Abstract: Theory of Mind (ToM) refers to the ability to infer
another’s mental state. With appropriate ToM, one can behave well in
social interactions. A growing body of evidence has demonstrated that
patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) may damage ToM by
affecting on regions of the underlying neural network of ToM.
However, the question of whether there is cerebral laterality for ToM
functions remains open. This study aimed to examine whether there is
cerebral lateralization for ToM abilities in TLE patients. Sixty-seven
adult TLE patients and 30 matched healthy controls (HC) were
recruited. Patients were classified into right (RTLE), left (LTLE), and
bilateral (BTLE) TLE groups on the basis of a consensus panel review
of their seizure semiology, EEG findings, and brain imaging results.
All participants completed an intellectual test and four tasks measuring
basic and advanced ToM. The results showed that, on all ToM tasks,
(1) each patient group performed worse than HC; (2) there were no
significant differences between LTLE and RTLE groups; and (3) the
BTLE group performed the worst. It appears that the neural network
responsible for ToM is distributed evenly between the cerebral
hemispheres.
Abstract: This work sets out to debate the tensions involved in
the processes of contamination and self-purification in the urban
space, particularly in the streams that run through the Buenos Aires
metropolitan area. For much of their course, those streams are piped;
their waters do not come into contact with the outdoors until they
have reached deeply impoverished urban areas with high levels of
environmental contamination. These are peripheral zones that, until
thirty years ago, were marshlands and fields. They are now densely
populated areas largely lacking in urban infrastructure.
The Cárcova neighborhood, where this project is underway, is in
the José León Suárez section of General San Martín county, Buenos
Aires province. A stretch of José León Suarez canal crosses the
neighborhood. Starting upstream, this canal carries pollutants due to
the sewage and industrial waste released into it. Further downstream,
in the neighborhood, domestic drainage is poured into the stream. In
this paper, we formulate a hypothesis diametrical to the one that
holds that these neighborhoods are the primary source of
contamination, suggesting instead that in the stretch of the canal that
runs through the neighborhood the stream’s waters are actually
cleaned and the sediments accumulate pollutants. Indeed, the
stretches of water that runs through these neighborhoods act as water
processing plants for the metropolis.
This project has studied the different organic-load polluting
contributions to the water in a certain stretch of the canal, the
reduction of that load over the course of the canal, and the
incorporation of pollutants into the sediments. We have found that
the surface water has considerable ability to self-purify, mostly due to
processes of sedimentation and adsorption. The polluting load is
accumulated in the sediments where that load stabilizes slowly by
means of anaerobic processes. In this study, we also investigated the
risks of sediment management and the use of the processes studied
here in controlled conditions as tools of environmental restoration.
Abstract: This study attempts to identify the factors influencing
on women empowerment of rural area in Sri Lanka through micro
finance services. Data were collected from one hundred (100) rural
women involving self-employment activities through a questionnaire
using direct personal interviews. Judgment and Convenience Random
sampling technique was used to select the sample size from three
Divisional Secretariat divisions of Kandawalai, Poonakari and
Karachchi in Kilinochchi District. The factor analysis was performed
on fourteen (14) variables for screening and reducing the variables to
identify the influencing factors on empowerment. Multiple regression
analysis was used to identify the relationship between the three
empowerment factors and the impact of micro finance on overall
empowerment of rural women. The result of this study summarized
the variables into three factors namely decision making, freedom to
mobility and family support and which are positively associated with
empowerment. In addition to this the value of adjusted R2 is 0.248
indicates that all the variables extracted can be explained 24.8% of
the variation in the women empowerment through microfinance.
Independent variables of these three factors have positive correlation
with women empowerment as well as significant values at 5 percent
level.
Abstract: The Scheduling and mapping of tasks on a set of
processors is considered as a critical problem in parallel and
distributed computing system. This paper deals with the problem of
dynamic scheduling on a special type of multiprocessor architecture
known as Linear Crossed Cube (LCQ) network. This proposed
multiprocessor is a hybrid network which combines the features of
both linear types of architectures as well as cube based architectures.
Two standard dynamic scheduling schemes namely Minimum
Distance Scheduling (MDS) and Two Round Scheduling (TRS)
schemes are implemented on the LCQ network. Parallel tasks are
mapped and the imbalance of load is evaluated on different set of
processors in LCQ network. The simulations results are evaluated
and effort is made by means of through analysis of the results to
obtain the best solution for the given network in term of load
imbalance left and execution time. The other performance matrices
like speedup and efficiency are also evaluated with the given
dynamic algorithms.
Abstract: Present study is carried out on six lane divided urban
arterial road in Patna and Pune city of India. Both the road having
distinct differences in terms of the vehicle composition and the road
side parking. Arterial road in Patan city has 33% of non-motorized
mode, whereas Pune arterial road dominated by 65% of Two wheeler.
Also road side parking is observed in Patna city. The field studies
using videography techniques are carried out for traffic data
collection. Data are extracted for one minute duration for vehicle
composition, speed variation and flow rate on selected arterial road of
the two cities. Speed flow relationship is developed and capacity is
determine. Equivalency factor in terms of dynamic car unit is
determine to represent the vehicle is single unit. The variation in the
capacity due to side friction, presence of non motorized traffic and
effective utilization of lane width is compared at concluding remarks.
Abstract: The model tests were conducted in the laboratory
without and with Plastic recycled polymer in fly ash steep slopes
overlaying soft foundation soils like fly ash and powai soil in order to
check the stability of steep slope. In this experiment, fly ash is used
as a filling material and Plastic Recycled Polymers of diameter =
3mm and length = 4mm were made from waste plastic product (lower
grade plastic product). The properties of fly ash and Plastic recycled
polymers are determined. From the experiments, load and settlement
have measured. From these data, load –settlement curves have
reported. It has been observed from test results that load carrying
capacity of mixture fly ash with Plastic Recycled Polymers slope is
more than that of fly ash slope. The deformation of Plastic Recycled
Polymers slope is slightly more than that of fly ash slope. A Finite
Element Method (F.E.M.) was also evaluated using PLAXIS 3D
version. The failure pattern, deformations and factor of safety are
reported based on analytical programme. The results from
experimental data and analytical programme are compared and
reported.
Abstract: Due to rapid pressured of population growth, city has
started to lose its old tradition. City becomes congested with
uncomfortably living. Urban renewal refers orderly development of
settlements as well as land redevelopment. For this paper Chittagong
city has been selected as study area. It had a great tradition but it has
been losing its concord. Land use pattern of this place is also
haphazard due to lack of planning intervention. Renewal plan is
needed to ascertain suitable redevelopment and to recommend on
preservation of city heritage structure. The goal of this study is to
prepare a renewal plan using local planning approach. Social impact
methods have been used to achieve this goal. Both primary and
secondary data are used to achieve the goal. This study may find out
a complete solution for healthy living in old Part of city. This study
will help to preserve its tradition and makes urban lives more livable.
Abstract: This study presented to reduce earthquake damage and
emergency rehabilitation of critical structures such as schools, hightech
factories, and hospitals due to strong ground motions associated
with climate changes. Regarding recent trend, a strong earthquake
causes serious damage to critical structures and then the critical
structure might be influenced by sequence aftershocks (or tsunami)
due to fault plane adjustments. Therefore, in order to improve seismic
performance of critical structures, retrofitted or strengthening study
of the structures under aftershocks sequence after emergency
rehabilitation of the structures subjected to strong earthquakes is
widely carried out. Consequently, this study used composite material
for emergency rehabilitation of the structure rather than concrete and
steel materials because of high strength and stiffness, lightweight,
rapid manufacturing, and dynamic performance. Also, this study was
to develop or improve the seismic performance or seismic retrofit of
critical structures subjected to strong ground motions and earthquake
aftershocks, by utilizing GFRP-Corrugated Infill Panels (GCIP).
Abstract: Organizational tendencies towards computer-based
information processing have been observed noticeably in the
third-world countries. Many enterprises are taking major initiatives
towards computerized working environment because of massive
benefits of computer-based information processing. However,
designing and developing information resource management software
for small and mid-size enterprises under budget costs and strict
deadline is always challenging for software engineers. Therefore, we
introduced an approach to design mid-size enterprise software by
using the Waterfall model, which is one of the SDLC (Software
Development Life Cycles), in a cost effective way. To fulfill research
objectives, in this study, we developed mid-sized enterprise software
named “BSK Management System” that assists enterprise software
clients with information resource management and perform complex
organizational tasks. Waterfall model phases have been applied to
ensure that all functions, user requirements, strategic goals, and
objectives are met. In addition, Rich Picture, Structured English, and
Data Dictionary have been implemented and investigated properly in
engineering manner. Furthermore, an assessment survey with 20
participants has been conducted to investigate the usability and
performance of the proposed software. The survey results indicated
that our system featured simple interfaces, easy operation and
maintenance, quick processing, and reliable and accurate transactions.
Abstract: The following article presents Technology Centre of
Ostrava (TCO) in the Czech Republic describing the structure and
main research areas realized by the project ENET - Energy Units for
Utilization of non Traditional Energy Sources. More details are
presented from the research program dealing with transformation,
accumulation and distribution of electric energy. Technology Centre
has its own energy mix consisting of alternative sources of fuel
sources that use of process gases from the storage part and also the
energy from distribution network. The article will be focus on the
properties and application possibilities SiC semiconductor devices for
power semiconductor converter for photovoltaic systems.
Abstract: This paper shows in detail the mathematical model of
direct and inverse kinematics for a robot manipulator (welding type)
with four degrees of freedom. Using the D-H parameters, screw
theory, numerical, geometric and interpolation methods, the
theoretical and practical values of the position of robot were
determined using an optimized algorithm for inverse kinematics
obtaining the values of the particular joints in order to determine the
virtual paths in a relatively short time.
Abstract: Moringa oleifera is a nutritious vegetable tree with
varieties of potential uses, as almost every part of the Moringa
oleifera tree can be used for food. This study was conducted in Oyo
State, Nigeria, to find out the level of acceptability of Moringa
oleifera diversified products among rural and urban dwellers.
Purposive sampling was used to select two local governments’ areas.
Stratified sampling technique was also used to select one community
each from rural and urban areas while snowball sampling technique
was used to select ten respondents each from the two communities,
making a total number of forty respondents. Data were analyzed
using frequencies, percentages, Chi-square, Pearson Product Moment
Correlation and regression analysis. Result from the study revealed
that majority of the respondents (80%) fell within the age range of
20-49 years and 55% of them were male, 55% were married, 70% of
them were Christians, 80% of them had tertiary education. The result
also showed that 85% were aware of the Moringa plant and (65%) of
them have consumed Moringa oleifera and the perception statements
on the benefits of Moringa oleifera indicated that (52.5%) of the
respondents rated Moringa oleifera to be favorable, most of them had
high acceptability for Moringa egusi soup, Moringa tea, Moringa pap
and yam pottage with Moringa. The result of the hypotheses testing
showed that there is a significant relationship between sex of the
respondents and acceptability of the diversified Moringa oleifera
products (x2=6.465, p = 0.011). There is also a significant
relationship between family size of the respondents level of
acceptability of the Moringa oleifera products (r = 0.327, p = 0.040).
Based on the level of acceptability of Moringa oleifera diversified
products; the plant is of great economic importance to the populace.
Therefore, there should be more public awareness through the media
to enlighten people on the beneficial effects of Moringa oleifera.
Abstract: Objects are usually horizontally sliced when printed by 3D printers. Therefore, if an object to be printed, such as a collection of fibers, originally has natural direction in shape, the printed direction contradicts with the natural direction. By using proper tools, such as field-oriented 3D paint software, field-oriented solid modelers, field-based tool-path generation software, and non-horizontal FDM 3D printers, the natural direction can be modeled and objects can be printed in a direction that is consistent with the natural direction. This consistence results in embodiment of momentum or force in expressions of the printed object. To achieve this goal, several design and manufacturing problems, but not all, have been solved. An application of this method is (Japanese) 3D calligraphy.
Abstract: The advent of social networking technologies has been
met with mixed reactions in academic and corporate circles around
the world. This study explored the influence of social network in
current era, the relation being maintained between the Social
networking site and its user by the extent of use, benefits and latest
technologies. The study followed a descriptive research design
wherein a questionnaire was used as the main research tool. The data
collected was analyzed using SPSS 16. Data was gathered from 1205
users and analyzed in accordance with the objectives of the study.
The analysis of the results seem to suggest that the majority of users
were mainly using Facebook, despite of concerns raised about the
disclosure of personal information on social network sites, users
continue to disclose huge quantity of personal information, they find
that reading privacy policy is time consuming and changes made can
result into improper settings.
Abstract: Recently, there is a lot of interest in the field of under
water optical wireless communication for short range because of
its high bandwidth. But in most of the previous works line of
sight propagation or single scattering of photons only considered.
In practical case this is not applicable because of beam blockage in
underwater and multiple scattering also occurred during the photons
propagation through water. In this paper we consider a non-line
of sight underwater wireless optical communication system with
multiple scattering and examine the performance of the system using
monte carlo simulation. The distribution scattering angle of photons
are modeled by Henyey-Greenstein method. The average bit error
rate is calculated using on-off keying modulation for different water
types.
Abstract: Present paper describes method of obtaining clay
ceramic foam (CCF) and foam concrete (FC), by direct foaming with
high speed mixer-disperser (HSMD). Three foaming agents (FA) are
compared for the FC and CCF production: SCHÄUMUNGSMITTEL
W 53 FLÜSSIG (Zschimmer & Schwarz Gmbh, Germany), SCF-
1245 (Sika, test sample, Latvia) and FAB-12 (Elade, Latvija). CCF
were obtained at 950, 1000°C, 1150°C and 1150°C firing temperature
and have mechanical compressive strength 1.2, 2.55 and 4.3 MPa and
porosity 79.4, 75.1, 71.6%, respectively. Obtained FC has 6-14 MPa
compressive strength and porosity 44-55%. The goal of this work
was development of a sustainable and durable ceramic cellular
structures using HSMD.
Abstract: The past two decades, Thailand faced the natural
disasters, for instance, Gay typhoon in 1989, tsunami in 2004, and
huge flood in 2011. The disaster management in Thailand was
improved both structure and mechanism for cope with the natural
disaster since 2007. However, the natural disaster management in
Thailand has various problems, for examples, cooperation between
related an organizations have not unity, inadequate resources, the
natural disaster management of public sectors not proactive, people
has not awareness the risk of the natural disaster, and communities
did not participate in the natural disaster management.
Objective of this study is to find the methods for capacity building
in the natural disaster management of Thailand. The concept and
information about the capacity building and the natural disaster
management of Thailand were reviewed and analyzed by classifying
and organizing data. The result found that the methods for capacity
building in the natural disaster management of Thailand should be
consist of 1) link operation and information in the natural disaster
management between nation, province, local and community levels,
2) enhance competency and resources of public sectors which relate
to the natural disaster management, 3) establish proactive natural
disaster management both planning and implementation, 4)
decentralize the natural disaster management to local government
organizations, 5) construct public awareness in the natural disaster
management to community, 6) support Community Based Disaster
Risk Management (CBDRM) seriously, and 7) emphasis on
participation in the natural disaster management of all stakeholders.
Abstract: Breast cancer is considered as a substantial health
concern and practicing mammography screening [MS] is important in
minimizing its related morbidity. So it is essential to have a better
understanding of breast cancer screening behaviors of women and
factors that influence utilization of them. The aim of this study is to
identify the factors that are linked to MS behaviors among the
Egyptian women. A cross-sectional descriptive design was carried
out to provide a snapshot of the factors that are linked to MS
behaviors. A convenience sample of 311 women was utilized and all
eligible participants admitted to the Women Imaging Unit who are 40
years of age or above, coming for mammography assessment, not
pregnant or breast feeding and who accepted to participate in the
study were included. A structured questionnaire was developed by
the researchers and contains three parts; Socio-demographic data;
Motivating factors associated with MS; and association between MS
and model of behavior change. The analyzed data indicated that most
of the participated women (66.6%) belonged to the age group of 40-
49.A high proportion of participants (58.1%) of group having
previous MS influenced by their neighbors to practice MS, whereas
32.7 % in group not having previous MS were influenced by family
members which indicated significant differences (P