Abstract: It is a well-established fact that terrorism is one of the foremost threats to present-day international security. The creation of tools or mechanisms for confronting it in an effective and efficient manner will only be possible by way of an objective assessment of the phenomenon. In order to achieve this, this paper has the following three main objectives: Firstly, setting out to find the reasons that have prevented the establishment of a universally accepted definition of terrorism, and consequently trying to outline the main features defining the face of the terrorist threat in order to discover the fundamental goals of what is now a serious blight on world society. Secondly, trying to explain the differences between a terrorist movement and a terrorist organisation, and the reasons for which a terrorist movement can be led to transform itself into an organisation. After analysing these motivations and the characteristics of a terrorist organisation, an example of the latter will be succinctly analysed to help the reader understand the ideas expressed. Lastly, discovering and exposing the factors that can lead to the appearance of terrorist tendencies, and discussing the most efficient and effective responses that can be given to this global security threat.
Abstract: The modeling lung respiratory system that has complex anatomy and biophysics presents several challenges including tissue-driven flow patterns and wall motion. Also, the pulmonary lung system because of that they stretch and recoil with each breath, has not static walls and structures. The direct relationship between air flow and tissue motion in the lung structures naturally prefers an FSI simulation technique. Therefore, in order to toward the realistic simulation of pulmonary breathing mechanics the development of a coupled FSI computational model is an important step. A simple but physiologically relevant three-dimensional deep long geometry is designed and fluid-structure interaction (FSI) coupling technique is utilized for simulating the deformation of the lung parenchyma tissue that produces airflow fields. The real understanding of respiratory tissue system as a complex phenomenon have been investigated with respect to respiratory patterns, fluid dynamics and tissue viscoelasticity and tidal breathing period.
Abstract: Boiling process is characterized by the rapid
formation of vapour bubbles at the solid–liquid interface (nucleate
boiling) with pre-existing vapour or gas pockets. Computational fluid
dynamics (CFD) is an important tool to study bubble dynamics. In
the present study, CFD simulation has been carried out to determine
the bubble detachment diameter and its terminal velocity. Volume of
fluid method is used to model the bubble and the surrounding by
solving single set of momentum equations and tracking the volume
fraction of each of the fluids throughout the domain. In the
simulation, bubble is generated by allowing water-vapour to enter a
cylinder filled with liquid water through an inlet at the bottom. After
the bubble is fully formed, the bubble detaches from the surface and
rises up during which the bubble accelerates due to the net balance
between buoyancy force and viscous drag. Finally when these forces
exactly balance each other, it attains a constant terminal velocity. The
bubble detachment diameter and the terminal velocity of the bubble
are captured by the monitor function provided in FLUENT. The
detachment diameter and the terminal velocity obtained are compared
with the established results based on the shape of the bubble. A good
agreement is obtained between the results obtained from simulation
and the equations in comparison with the established results.
Abstract: This paper presents an approach for the classification of
an unstructured format description for identification of file formats.
The main contribution of this work is the employment of data mining
techniques to support file format selection with just the unstructured
text description that comprises the most important format features for
a particular organisation. Subsequently, the file format indentification
method employs file format classifier and associated configurations to
support digital preservation experts with an estimation of required file
format. Our goal is to make use of a format specification knowledge
base aggregated from a different Web sources in order to select file
format for a particular institution. Using the naive Bayes method,
the decision support system recommends to an expert, the file format
for his institution. The proposed methods facilitate the selection of
file format and the quality of a digital preservation process. The
presented approach is meant to facilitate decision making for the
preservation of digital content in libraries and archives using domain
expert knowledge and specifications of file formats. To facilitate
decision-making, the aggregated information about the file formats is
presented as a file format vocabulary that comprises most common
terms that are characteristic for all researched formats. The goal is to
suggest a particular file format based on this vocabulary for analysis
by an expert. The sample file format calculation and the calculation
results including probabilities are presented in the evaluation section.
Abstract: In this study, the experiments were carried out to
determine the best coolant for the quenching process among waterbased
silica, alumina, titania and copper oxide nanofluids (0.1 vol%).
A sphere made up off brass material was used in the experiments.
When the spherical test specimen was heated at high temperatures, it
was suddenly immersed into the nanofluids. All experiments were
carried out at saturated conditions and under atmospheric pressure.
After the experiments, the cooling curves were obtained by using the
temperature-time data of the specimen. The experimental results
showed that the cooling performance of test specimen depended on
the type of nanofluids. The silica nanoparticles enhanced the
performance of boiling heat transfer and it is the best coolant for the
quenching among other nanoparticles.
Abstract: The security of cloud services is the concern of cloud
service providers. In this paper, we will mention different
classifications of cloud attacks referred by specialized organizations.
Each agency has its classification of well-defined properties. The
purpose is to present a high-level classification of current research in
cloud computing security. This classification is organized around
attack strategies and corresponding defenses.
Abstract: Past literature on business incubators distinguished incubators based on their mission statements. However, more and more mission statements become a slogan rather than a reality. It is therefore more appropriate to identify business incubators based on their real activities, rather than the missions they declared. With a sample of technology business incubators (TBIs) in China, we try to investigate business incubators’ real activities by examining the incubation efficiency along the following five dimensions, i.e., survival of new ventures, technology transfer, local economic growth, job creation, and profit generation. Furthermore, we identified six types of business incubators. The results indicate that generally Chinese TBIs have a greater preference for acquiring profits over other dimensions.
Abstract: To solve these problems, we investigated the management system of heating enterprise, including strategic planning based on the balanced scorecard (BSC), quality management in accordance with the standards of the Quality Management System (QMS) ISO 9001 and analysis of the system based on expert judgment using fuzzy inference. To carry out our work we used the theory of fuzzy sets, the QMS in accordance with ISO 9001, BSC, method of construction of business processes according to the notation IDEF0, theory of modeling using Matlab software simulation tools and graphical programming LabVIEW. The results of the work are as follows: We determined possibilities of improving the management of heat-supply plant-based on QMS; after the justification and adaptation of software tool it has been used to automate a series of functions for the management and reduction of resources and for the maintenance of the system up to date; an application for the analysis of the QMS based on fuzzy inference has been created with novel organization of communication software with the application enabling the analysis of relevant data of enterprise management system.
Abstract: Security can be defined as the degree of resistance to, or protection from harm. It applies to any vulnerable and valuable assets, such as persons, dwellings, communities, nations or organizations. Cybercrime is any crime committed or facilitated via the Internet. It is any criminal activity involving computers and networks. It can range from fraud to unsolicited emails (spam). It includes the distant theft of government or corporate secrets through criminal trespass into remote systems around the globe. Nigeria like any other nations of the world is currently having her own share of the menace that has been used even as tools by terrorists. This paper is an attempt at presenting cyber security as an issue that requires a coordinated national response. It also acknowledges and advocates the key roles to be played by stakeholders and the importance of forging strong partnerships to prevent and tackle cybercrime in Nigeria.
Abstract: For this study, a town based soil database created in
Gümüsçay District of Biga Town, Çanakkale, Turkey. Crop and
livestock production are major activities in the district. Nutrient
management is mainly based on commercial fertilizer application
ignoring the livestock manure. Within the boundaries of district, 122
soil sampling points determined over the satellite image. Soil samples
collected from the determined points with the help of handheld
Global Positioning System. Labeled samples were sent to a
commercial laboratory to determine 11 soil parameters including
salinity, pH, lime, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium,
iron, manganese, copper and zinc. Based on the test results soil maps
for mentioned parameters were developed using remote sensing, GIS,
and geostatistical analysis. In this study we developed a GIS database
that will be used for soil nutrient management. Methods were
explained and soil maps and their interpretations were summarized in
the study.
Abstract: In the immunologic sense, clinical infection is a state
of failure of the immune system to combat the pathogenic weapon of
the bacteria invading the host. A motile gram negative vibroid
organism associated with marked mono and poly nuclear cell
responses was traced during the examination of a clinical material
from an infected common carp Cyprinus carpio. On primary plate
culture, growth was shown to be pure, dense population of an
Aeromonas-like colony morphotype. The pure isolate was found to
be; Aerobic, facultatively anaerobic, non-halophilic, grew at 0C, and
37C, oxidase positive utilizes glucose through fermentative pathway,
resist 0/129 and novobiocin, produces alanine and lysine
decarboxylases but non-producing ornithine dehydrolases. Tests for
the in vitro determinants of pathogenicity has shown to be; Betahaemolytic
onto blood agar, gelatinase, casienase and amylase
producer. Three in vivo determinants of pathogenicity were tested as,
the lethal dose fifty, the pathogenesis and pathogenicity. It was
evident that 0.1 milliliter of the causal bacterial cell suspension of a
density 1 x 107 CFU/ml injected intramuscularly into an average of
100gms fish toke five days incubation period, then at the day six
morbidity and mortality were initiated. LD50 was recorded at the day
12 post-infection. Use of an LD50 doses to study the pathogenicity,
reveals mononuclear and polynuclear cell responses, on examining
the stained direct films of the clinical materials from the
experimentally infected fish. Re-isolation tests confirm that the reisolant
is same. The course of the infection in natural case was shown
manifestation of; skin ulceration, haemorrhage and descaling. On
evisceration, the internal organs were shown; congestion in the
intestines, spleen and, air sacs. The induced infection showed a
milder form of these manifestations. The grading of the virulence of
this organism was virulent causing chronic course of infections as
indicated from the pathogenesis and pathogenicity studies. Thus the
infectious bacteria were consistent with Aeromonas hydrophila, and
the infection was chronic.
Abstract: The research was conducted in order to determine the
organizational socialization levels of nurses working in hospitals in
the form of a descriptive study.
The research population was composed of nurses employed in
public and private sector hospitals in the province of Konya with 0-3
years of professional experience in the hospitals (N=1200); and the
sample was composed of 495 nurses that accepted to take part in the
study voluntarily. Statistical evaluation of data was conducted in
SPSS.16 software.
The results of the study revealed that the total score taken by
nurses at the organizational socialization scale was 262.95; and this
was close to the maximum score. Particularly the departmental
socialization sub-dimension proved to be higher in comparison to the
other two dimensions (organization socialization and task
socialization). Statistically meaningful differences were found in the
levels of organization socialization in relation to the status of
organizational orientation training, level of education and age group.
Abstract: An investigation of adaptable winglets for enhancing
morphing aircraft performance is described in this paper. The
concepts investigated consist of various winglet configurations
fundamentally centered on a baseline swept wing. The impetus for
the work was to identify and optimize winglets to enhance the
aerodynamic efficiency of a morphing aircraft. All computations
were performed with Athena Vortex Lattice modelling with varying
degrees of twist and cant angle considered. The results from this
work indicate that if adaptable winglets were employed on aircraft’s
improvements in aircraft performance could be achieved.
Abstract: Aluminium matrix composites with alumina
reinforcements give superior mechanical & physical properties. Their
applications in several fields like automobile, aerospace, defense,
sports, electronics, bio-medical and other industrial purposes are
becoming essential for the last several decades. In the present work,
fabrication of hybrid composite was done by Stir casting technique
using Al 6061 as a matrix with alumina and silicon carbide (SiC) as
reinforcement materials. The weight percentage of alumina is varied
from 2 to 4% and the silicon carbide weight percentage is maintained
constant at 2%. Hardness and wear tests are performed in the as cast
and heat treated conditions. Age hardening treatment was performed
on the specimen with solutionizing at 550°C, aging at two
temperatures (150 and 200°C) for different time durations. Hardness
distribution curves are drawn and peak hardness values are recorded.
Hardness increase was very sensitive with respect to the decrease in
aging temperature. There was an improvement in wear resistance of
the peak aged material when aged at lower temperature. Also
increase in weight percent of alumina, increases wear resistance at
lower temperature but opposite behavior was seen when aged at
higher temperature.
Abstract: Nowadays, the main goal for modern horticultural
production is an increase the quality. In recent years, the use of
organic fertilizers or biostimulants that can be applied in agriculture
to improve quali-quantitative crop yields has encountered increasing
interest. Biostimulants are gaining importance also for their possible
use in organic and sustainable agriculture, to avoid excessive
fertilizer applications. Consecutive experimental trials were carried
out in the Apulia region (southern Italy) on three herbaceous crops
(cauliflower, pepper, fennel) grown in pots under conventional and
organic fertilization systems without and with biostimulants. The aim
was to determine the effects of three biostimulants (Siapton®10L,
Micotech L, Lysodin Alga-Fert) on quali-quantitative yield
characteristics. At harvest, the quali-quantitative yield characteristics
of each crop were determined. All of the experimental data were
subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), and when significant
effects were detected, the means were compared using Tukey’s tests.
These data show large differences in these yield characteristics
between conventional and organic crops, particularly highlighting
higher yields for the conventional crops, while variable results were
generally observed when the biostimulants were applied. In this
context, there were no effects of the biostimulants on the quantitative
yield, whereas there were low positive effects on the qualitative
characteristics, as related to higher dry matter content of cauliflower,
and higher soluble solids content of pepper. Moreover, there were
evident positive effects of the biostimulants with fennel, due to the
lower nitrate content. These latter data are in line with most of the
published literature obtained for other herbaceous crops.
Abstract: Total Quality Management (TQM) is a managerial
approach that improves the competitiveness of the industry,
meanwhile Information technology (IT) was introduced with TQM
for handling the technical issues which is supported by quality
experts for fulfilling the customers’ requirement. Present paper aims
to utilise AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) methodology to
priorities and rank the hierarchy levels of TQM enablers and IT
resource together for its successful implementation in the Information
and Communication Technology (ICT) industry. A total of 17 TQM
enablers (nine) and IT resources (eight) were identified and
partitioned into 3 categories and were prioritised by AHP approach.
The finding indicates that the 17 sub-criteria can be grouped into
three main categories namely organizing, tools and techniques, and
culture and people. Further, out of 17 sub-criteria, three sub-criteria:
top management commitment and support, total employee
involvement, and continuous improvement got highest priority
whereas three sub-criteria such as structural equation modelling,
culture change, and customer satisfaction got lowest priority. The
result suggests a hierarchy model for ICT industry to prioritise the
enablers and resources as well as to improve the TQM and IT
performance in the ICT industry. This paper has some managerial
implication which suggests the managers of ICT industry to
implement TQM and IT together in their organizations to get
maximum benefits and how to utilize available resources. At the end,
conclusions, limitation, future scope of the study are presented.
Abstract: Reticence is a prominent and complex phenomenon
which occurs in foreign language classrooms and influences students’
oral passivity. The present study investigated the extent in which
students experience reticence in the EFL classrooms and explored the
underlying factors triggering reticence. The participants were 104
Iranian freshmen undergraduate male and female EFL students, who
enrolled in listening and speaking courses, all majoring in English
studying at Islamic Azad University Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch and
University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran. To collect the data, the Reticence
Scale-12 (RS-12) questionnaire which measures the level of reticence
consisting of six dimensions (anxiety, knowledge, timing,
organization, skills, and memory) was administered to the
participants. The statistical analyses showed that the reticent level
was high among the Iranian EFL undergraduate students, and their
major problems were feelings of anxiety and delivery skills.
Moreover, the results revealed that factors such as low English
proficiency, the teaching method, and lack of confidence contributed
to the students’ reticence in Iranian EFL classrooms. It can be
implied that language teachers’ awareness of learners’ reticence can
help them choose more appropriate activities and provide a friendly
environment enhancing hopefully more effective participation of EFL
learners. The findings can have implications for EFL teachers,
learners and policy makers.
Abstract: This article proposes a new method for application in
communication circuit systems that increase efficiency, PAE, output
power and gain in the circuit. The proposed method is based on a
combination of switching class-E and class-J and has been termed
class-EJ. This method was investigated using both theory and
simulation to confirm ∼72% PAE and output power of >39dBm. The
combination and design of the proposed power amplifier accrues gain
of over 15dB in the 2.9 to 3.5GHz frequency bandwidth. This circuit
was designed using MOSFET and high power transistors. The loadand
source-pull method achieved the best input and output networks
using lumped elements. The proposed technique was investigated for
fundamental and second harmonics having desirable amplitudes for
the output signal.
Abstract: Among various active filters, shunt active filter is a
viable solution for reactive power and harmonics compensation. In
this paper, the SRF plan is used to generate current reference for
compensation and conventional PI controllers were used as the
controller to compensate the reactive power. The design of the closed
loop controllers is reserved simple by modeling them as first order
systems. Computationally uncomplicated and efficient SVM system
is used in the present work for better utilization of dc bus voltage.
The rating of shunt active filter has been finalized based on the
reactive power demand of the selected reactive load. The proposed
control and SVM technique are validated by simulating in MATLAB
software.
Abstract: Atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions are considered
as the greatest environmental challenge the world is facing today.
The tasks to control the emissions include the recovery of CO2 from
flue gas. This concern has been improved due to recent advances in
materials process engineering resulting in the development of
inorganic gas separation membranes with excellent thermal and
mechanical stability required for most gas separations. This paper,
therefore, evaluates the performance of a highly selective inorganic
membrane for CO2 recovery applications. Analysis of results
obtained is in agreement with experimental literature data. Further
results show the prediction performance of the membranes for gas
separation and the future direction of research. The materials
selection and the membrane preparation techniques are discussed.
Method of improving the interface defects in the membrane and its
effect on the separation performance has also been reviewed and in
addition advances to totally exploit the potential usage of this
innovative membrane.