Abstract: This study links up the theories of social psychology,
economics and sport management to assess the impact of sport
participation on subjective well-being (SWB) and use a simple statistic
method to estimate the relative monetary value that sport participation
derives SWB for Taiwan-s college students. By constructing proper
measurements on sport participation and SWB respectively, a
structural equation model (SEM) is developed to perform a
confirmatory factory analysis, and the causal relationship between
sport participation and SWB as well as the effect of the demographic
variables on these two concepts are also discussed.
Abstract: Fractional Fourier Transform is a powerful tool,
which is a generalization of the classical Fourier Transform. This
paper provides a mathematical relation relating the span in Fractional
Fourier domain with the amplitude and phase functions of the signal,
which is further used to study the variation of quality factor with
different values of the transform order. It is seen that with the
increase in the number of transients in the signal, the deviation of
average Fractional Fourier span from the frequency bandwidth
increases. Also, with the increase in the transient nature of the signal,
the optimum value of transform order can be estimated based on the
quality factor variation, and this value is found to be very close to
that for which one can obtain the most compact representation. With
the entire mathematical analysis and experimentation, we consolidate
the fact that Fractional Fourier Transform gives more optimal
representations for a number of transform orders than Fourier
transform.
Abstract: We consider a single-echelon, single-item inventory
system where both demand and lead-time are stochastic. Continuous
review policy is used to control the inventory system. The objective
is to calculate the reorder point level under stochastic parameters. A
case study is presented in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Abstract: Sensitive and predictive DILI (Drug Induced Liver
Injury) biomarkers are needed in drug R&D to improve early
detection of hepatotoxicity. The discovery of DILI biomarkers that
demonstrate the predictive power to identify individuals at risk to
DILI would represent a major advance in the development of
personalized healthcare approaches. In this healthy volunteer
acetaminophen study (4g/day for 7 days, with 3 monitored nontreatment
days before and 4 after), 450 serum samples from 32
subjects were analyzed using protein profiling by antibody
suspension bead arrays. Multiparallel protein profiles were generated
using a DILI target protein array with 300 antibodies, where the
antibodies were selected based on previous literature findings of
putative DILI biomarkers and a screening process using pre dose
samples from the same cohort. Of the 32 subjects, 16 were found to
develop an elevated ALT value (2Xbaseline, responders). Using the
plasma profiling approach together with multivariate statistical
analysis some novel findings linked to lipid metabolism were found
and more important, endogenous protein profiles in baseline samples
(prior to treatment) with predictive power for ALT elevations were
identified.
Abstract: Groundwater is one of the most important water resources in Fars province. Based on this study, 95 percent of the total annual water consumption in Fars is used for agriculture, whereas the percentages for domestic and industrial uses are 4 and 1 percent, respectively. Population growth, urban and industrial growth, and agricultural development in Fars have created a condition of water stress. In this province, farmers and other users are pumping groundwater faster than its natural replenishment rate, causing a continuous drop in groundwater tables and depletion of this resource. In this research variation of groundwater level , their effects and ways to help control groundwater levels in some plains of Fars were evaluated .Excessive exploitation of groundwater in Darab, Jahrom, Estahban, Arsanjan, Khir and Niriz plains of Fars caused the groundwater levels fall too fast or to unacceptable levels. The average drawdown of the water table in Arsanjan, Khir. Estahban and Niriz plain plains were 12,8, 9 and 6 meters during 16,11,11 and 13 years ago respectively. This not only reduces available water resources and well yields but also can saline water intrusion, reductions in river flow and in wetland areas , drying springs, and ground subsidence, considerable increase in pumping costs and a significant decline in crop yields as a result of the increasing salinity. Finally based on situation and condition of the aquifer some suggestions are recommended.
Abstract: While service quality is acceptably most valued in the tourism industry, the issue of safety and security plays a key role in sustaining the industry success. Such an issue has been part of Thailand-s tourism development and promotion for several years. Evidently, the Tourist Police Department was set up for this purpose. Its main responsibility is to deal with international tourists- safety and confidence in travelling within Thai territory. However, to strengthen the tourism safety of the country, it is important to better understand international tourists- safety concerns about Thailand. This article seeks to compare international tourists- safety needs and Thai tourist polices- perception towards the tourists- safety concern to determine what measure should be taken to assure the tourist of Thailand-s secure environment. Through the employment of quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches, the tourism safety need of international tourists from Europe, North America and Asia was excavated, how Thai tourist polices and local polices perceived the international tourist-s safety concern was investigated, and opinion and experiences about how the police deal with international tourists- problems in eight touristic areas were also explored. A comparative result reveals a certain degrees of differences in international tourists- safety needs and Thai polices- perception towards their needs. The tourism safety prevention and protection measure and practice are also suggested.
Abstract: Hardness of the widely used structural steel is of vital
importance since it may help in the determination of many
mechanical properties of a material under loading situations. In order
to obtain reliable information for design, properties homogeneity
should be validated. In the current study the hardness variation over
the different diameters of the same AISI 4140 bar is investigated.
Measurements were taken on the two faces of the stock at equally
spaced eight sectors and fifteen layers. Statistical and graphical
analysis are performed to asses the distribution of hardness
measurements over the specified area. Hardness measurements
showed some degree of dispersion with about ± 10% of its nominal
value provided by manufacturer. Hardness value is found to have a
slight decrease trend as the diameter is reduced. However, an
opposite behavior is noticed regarding the sequence of the sector
indicating a nonuniform distribution over the same area either on the
same face or considering the corresponding sector on the other face
(cross section) of the same material bar.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the effects
of an altitude training camp on heart rate variability and
performance in elite triathletes. Ten athletes completed 20 days of live-high, train-low training at 1650m. Athletes
underwent pre and post 800-m swim time trials at sea-level, and two heart rate variability tests at 1650m on the first and
last day of the training camp. Based on their time trial results,
athletes were divided into responders and non-responders. Relative to the non-responders, the responders sympathetic-toparasympathetic
ratio decreased substantially after 20 days of altitude training (-0.68 ± 1.08 and -1.2 ± 0.96, mean ± 90%
confidence interval for supine and standing respectively). In
addition, sympathetic activity while standing was also
substantially lower post-altitude in the responders compared to the non-responders (-1869 ± 4764 ms2). Results indicate that
responders demonstrated a change to more vagal
predominance compared to non-responders.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is comparing and analysing
of the financial characteristics for development methods of the urban development project in the established area, focusing on the
multi-level replotting.
Analysis showed that the type of the lowest expenditure was
'combination type of group-land and multi-level replotting' and the type of the highest profitability was 'multi-level replotting type'. But
'multi-level replotting type' has still risk of amount of cost for the additional architecture. In addition, we subdivided standard amount
for liquidation of replotting and analysed income-expenditure flow.
Analysis showed that both of 'multi-level replotting type' and 'combination type of group-land and multi-level replotting' improved
profitability of project and property change ratio. However, when the
standard was under a certain amount, amount of original property for the replotting was increased exponentially, and profitability of project.
Abstract: Biclustering aims at identifying several biclusters that
reveal potential local patterns from a microarray matrix. A bicluster is
a sub-matrix of the microarray consisting of only a subset of genes
co-regulates in a subset of conditions. In this study, we extend the
motif of subspace clustering to present a K-biclusters clustering (KBC)
algorithm for the microarray biclustering issue. Besides minimizing
the dissimilarities between genes and bicluster centers within all
biclusters, the objective function of the KBC algorithm additionally
takes into account how to minimize the residues within all biclusters
based on the mean square residue model. In addition, the objective
function also maximizes the entropy of conditions to stimulate more
conditions to contribute the identification of biclusters. The KBC
algorithm adopts the K-means type clustering process to efficiently
make the partition of K biclusters be optimized. A set of experiments
on a practical microarray dataset are demonstrated to show the
performance of the proposed KBC algorithm.
Abstract: The evaluation of unit cell neutronic parameters and
lifetime for some innovant reactors without on sit-refuling will be
held in this work. the behavior of some small and medium reactors
without on site refueling with triso and cermet fuel. For the FBNR
long life except we propose to change the enrichment of the Cermet
MFE to 9%. For the AFPR reactor we can see that the use of the
Cermet MFE can extend the life of this reactor but to maintain the
same life period for AFPR-SC we most use burnup poison to have the
same slope for Kinf (Burnup). PFPWR50 cell behaves almost in
same way using both fuels Cermet and TRISO. So we can conclude
that PFPWR50 reactor, with CERMET Fuel, is kept among the long
cycle reactors and with the new configuration we avoid subcriticality
at the beginning of cycle. The evaluation of unit cell neutronic
parameters reveals a good agreement with the goal of BWR-PB
concept. It is found out that the Triso fuel assembly lifetime can be
extended for a reasonably long period without being refueled,
approximately up to 48GWd/t burnup. Using coated particles fuels
with the Cermet composition can be more extended the fuel assembly
life time, approximately 52 GWd/t.
Abstract: The application of stability theory has led to detailed studies of different types of vessels; however, the shortage of information relating to multihull vessels demanded further investigation. This study shows that the position of the hulls has a very influential effect on both the transverse and longitudinal stability of the tricore. HSC stability code is applied for the optimisation of the hull configurations. Such optimization criteria would undoubtedly aid the performance of the vessel for both commercial or leisure purposes
Abstract: Heavy rainfall greatly affects the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft. There are many accidents of aircraft caused by aerodynamic efficiency degradation by heavy rain. In this Paper we have studied the heavy rain effects on the aerodynamic efficiency of NACA 64-210 & NACA 0012 airfoils. For our analysis, CFD method and preprocessing grid generator are used as our main analytical tools, and the simulation of rain is accomplished via two phase flow approach-s Discrete Phase Model (DPM). Raindrops are assumed to be non-interacting, non-deforming, non-evaporating and non-spinning spheres. Both airfoil sections exhibited significant reduction in lift and increase in drag for a given lift condition in simulated rain. The most significant difference between these two airfoils was the sensitivity of the NACA 64-210 to liquid water content (LWC), while NACA 0012 performance losses in the rain environment is not a function of LWC . It is expected that the quantitative information gained in this paper will be useful to the operational airline industry and greater effort such as small scale and full scale flight tests should put in this direction to further improve aviation safety.
Abstract: In this study, shaking table tests are performed to investigate the behavior of excess pore water pressure in different soft soil-foundations of soil-structure interaction (SSI) system. The variation of the behaviors under cycled minor shock is observed. Moreover, The generation and variation mechanism of excess pore water pressure under earthquake excitation in different soft soilfoundations are analyzed and discussed.
Abstract: In today-s information age, numbers of organizations
are still arguing on capitalizing the values of Information Technology
(IT) and Knowledge Management (KM) to which individuals can
benefit from and effective communication among the individuals can
be established. IT exists in enabling positive improvement for
communication among knowledge workers (k-workers) with a
number of social network technology domains at workplace. The
acceptance of digital discourse in sharing of knowledge and
facilitating the knowledge and information flows at most of the
organizations indeed impose the culture of knowledge sharing in
Digital Social Networks (DSN). Therefore, this study examines
whether the k-workers with IT background would confer an effect on
the three knowledge characteristics -- conceptual, contextual, and
operational. Derived from these three knowledge characteristics, five
potential factors will be examined on the effects of knowledge
exchange via e-mail domain as the chosen query. It is expected, that
the results could provide such a parameter in exploring how DSN
contributes in supporting the k-workers- virtues, performance and
qualities as well as revealing the mutual point between IT and KM.
Abstract: Roadways in Amman city face many problems consequent upon poor drainage systems. Evaluation tools are necessary to identify those roads needing improvement in their drainage system, and those needing regular maintenance. This work aims at evaluating drainage conditions in selected roadways in Amman city with the intent of identifying the problems encountered in their drainage systems. Three sites in the vicinity of Amman city have been selected and then inspected via several field visits to determine the state of their existing drainage systems and define the major problems encountered in these systems. The evaluation tool used in this study is based on visual inspection supported by photographs that depicted the defined problems. Following the field assessment, the drainage system in each road was rated as excellent, fair, good, or poor. The study reveals that more than 60% of the roadways in the selected sites were in poor drainage conditions, which lead to tremendous environmental problems. This assessment serves as a guide for local decision makers to help plan for the maintenance of Amman city roadways drainage systems, and propose ways of managing the associated problems.
Abstract: This study explores perceptions of English as a Foreign
Language (EFL) learners on using computer mediated communication
technology in their learner of English. The data consists of
observations of both synchronous and asynchronous communication
participants engaged in for over a period of 4 months, which included
online, and offline communication protocols, open-ended interviews
and reflection papers composed by participants.
Content analysis of interview data and the written documents listed
above, as well as, member check and triangulation techniques are the
major data analysis strategies. The findings suggest that participants
generally do not benefit from computer-mediated communication in
terms of its effect in learning a foreign language. Participants regarded
the nature of CMC as artificial, or pseudo communication that did not
aid their authentic communicational skills in English. The results of
this study sheds lights on insufficient and inconclusive findings, which
most quantitative CMC studies previously generated.
Abstract: ZnO nanocrystals with mean diameter size 14 nm
have been prepared by precipitation method, and examined as
photocatalyst for the UV-induced degradation of insecticide diazinon
as deputy of organic pollutant in aqueous solution. The effects of
various parameters, such as illumination time, the amount of
photocatalyst, initial pH values and initial concentration of
insecticide on the photocatalytic degradation diazinon were
investigated to find desired conditions. In this case, the desired
parameters were also tested for the treatment of real water containing
the insecticide. Photodegradation efficiency of diazinon was
compared between commercial and prepared ZnO nanocrystals. The
results indicated that UV/ZnO process applying prepared
nanocrystalline ZnO offered electrical energy efficiency and
quantum yield better than commercial ZnO. The present study, on the
base of Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism, illustrated a pseudo
first-order kinetic model with rate constant of surface reaction equal
to 0.209 mg l-1 min-1 and adsorption equilibrium constant of 0.124 l
mg-1.
Abstract: Human skull is shown to exhibit numerous sexually dimorphic traits. Estimation of sex is a challenging task especially when a part of skull is brought for medicolegal investigation. The present research was planned to evaluate the sexing potential of the dimensions of foramen magnum in forensic identification by craniometric analysis. Length and breadth of the foramen magnum was measured using Vernier calipers and the area of foramen magnum was calculated. The length, breadth, and area of foramen magnum were found to be larger in males than females. Sexual dimorphism index was calculated to estimate the sexing potential of each variable. The study observations are suggestive of the limited utility of the craniometric analysis of foramen magnum during the examination of skull and its parts in estimation of sex.
Abstract: Under the limitation of investment budget, a utility
company is required to maximize the utilization of their existing
assets during their life cycle satisfying both engineering and financial
requirements. However, utility does not have knowledge about the
status of each asset in the portfolio neither in terms of technical nor
financial values. This paper presents a knowledge based model for
the utility companies in order to make an optimal decision on power
transformer with their utilization. CommonKADS methodology, a
structured development for knowledge and expertise representation,
is utilized for designing and developing knowledge based model. A
case study of One MVA power transformer of Nepal Electricity
Authority is presented. The results show that the reusable knowledge
can be categorized, modeled and utilized within the utility company
using the proposed methodologies. Moreover, the results depict that
utility company can achieve both engineering and financial benefits
from its utilization.