Abstract: A research project dealing with the phytoremediation
of a soil polluted by some heavy metals is currently running. The
case study is represented by a mining area in Hamedan province in
the central west part of Iran. The potential of phytoextraction and
phytostabilization of plants was evaluated considering the
concentration of heavy metals in the plant tissues and also the
bioconcentration factor (BCF) and the translocation factor (TF). Also
the several established criteria were applied to define
hyperaccumulator plants in the studied area. Results showed that
none of the collected plant species were suitable for phytoextraction
of Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn, but among the plants, Euphorbia macroclada
was the most efficient in phytostabilization of Cu and Fe, while,
Ziziphora clinopodioides, Cousinia sp. and Chenopodium botrys
were the most suitable for phytostabilization of Zn and Chondrila
juncea and Stipa barbata had the potential for phytostabilization of
Mn. Using the most common criterion, Euphorbia macroclada and
Verbascum speciosum were Fe hyperaccumulator plants. Present
study showed that native plant species growing on contaminated sites
may have the potential for phytoremediation.
Abstract: The effect of SnO2 surface modification by Ag nanoclusters, synthesized by SILD method, on the operating characteristics of thin film gas sensors was studied and models for the promotional role of Ag additives were discussed. It was found that mentioned above approach can be used for improvement both the sensitivity and the rate of response of the SnO2-based gas sensors to CO and H2. At the same time, the presence of the Ag clusters on the surface of SnO2 depressed the sensor response to ozone.
Abstract: A method of dynamic mesh based airfoil optimization is proposed according to the drawbacks of surrogate model based airfoil optimization. Programs are designed to achieve the dynamic mesh. Boundary condition is add by integrating commercial software Pointwise, meanwhile the CFD calculation is carried out by commercial software Fluent. The data exchange and communication between the software and programs referred above have been accomplished, and the whole optimization process is performed in iSIGHT platform. A simplified airfoil optimization study case is brought out to show that aerodynamic performances of airfoil have been significantly improved, even save massive repeat operations and increase the robustness and credibility of the optimization result. The case above proclaims that dynamic mesh based airfoil optimization is an effective and high efficient method.
Abstract: The rapid growth of e-Commerce services is
significantly observed in the past decade. However, the method to
verify the authenticated users still widely depends on numeric
approaches. A new search on other verification methods suitable for
online e-Commerce is an interesting issue. In this paper, a new online
signature-verification method using angular transformation is
presented. Delay shifts existing in online signatures are estimated by
the estimation method relying on angle representation. In the
proposed signature-verification algorithm, all components of input
signature are extracted by considering the discontinuous break points
on the stream of angular values. Then the estimated delay shift is
captured by comparing with the selected reference signature and the
error matching can be computed as a main feature used for verifying
process. The threshold offsets are calculated by two types of error
characteristics of the signature verification problem, False Rejection
Rate (FRR) and False Acceptance Rate (FAR). The level of these two
error rates depends on the decision threshold chosen whose value is
such as to realize the Equal Error Rate (EER; FAR = FRR). The
experimental results show that through the simple programming,
employed on Internet for demonstrating e-Commerce services, the
proposed method can provide 95.39% correct verifications and 7%
better than DP matching based signature-verification method. In
addition, the signature verification with extracting components
provides more reliable results than using a whole decision making.
Abstract: Organic Flash Cycle (OFC) has potential of improving
efficiency for recovery of low temperature heat sources mainly due to
reducing temperature mismatch in the heat exchanger. In this work
exergetical performance analysis of ORC is conducted for recovery of
low grade heat source. Effects of system parameters such as flash
evaporation temperature or heating temperature are theoretically
investigated on the exergy destructions (anergies) at various
components of the system as well as exergy efficiency. Results show
that exergy efficiency has a peak with respect to the flash temperature,
and the optimum flash temperature increases with the heating
temperature. The component where the largest exergy destruction
occurs varies with the flash temperature or heating temperature.
Abstract: It is difficult to judge ripeness by outward
characteristics such as size or external color. In this paper a nondestructive
method was studied to determine watermelon (Crimson
Sweet) quality. Responses of samples to excitation vibrations were
detected using laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV) technology. Phase
shift between input and output vibrations were extracted overall
frequency range. First and second were derived using frequency
response spectrums. After nondestructive tests, watermelons were
sensory evaluated. So the samples were graded in a range of ripeness
based on overall acceptability (total desired traits consumers).
Regression models were developed to predict quality using obtained
results and sample mass. The determination coefficients of the
calibration and cross validation models were 0.89 and 0.71
respectively. This study demonstrated feasibility of information
which is derived vibration response curves for predicting fruit
quality. The vibration response of watermelon using the LDV method
is measured without direct contact; it is accurate and timely, which
could result in significant advantage for classifying watermelons
based on consumer opinions.
Abstract: In the present paper, a set of parametric FE stress
analyses is carried out for two-planar welded tubular DKT-joints
under two different axial load cases. Analysis results are used to
present general remarks on the effect of geometrical parameters on
the stress concentration factors (SCFs) at the inner saddle, outer
saddle, toe, and heel positions on the main (outer) brace. Then a new
set of SCF parametric equations is developed through nonlinear
regression analysis for the fatigue design of two-planar DKT-joints.
An assessment study of these equations is conducted against the
experimental data; and the satisfaction of the criteria regarding the
acceptance of parametric equations is checked. Significant effort has
been devoted by researchers to the study of SCFs in various uniplanar
tubular connections. Nevertheless, for multi-planar joints
covering the majority of practical applications, very few
investigations have been reported due to the complexity and high
cost involved.
Abstract: Instead of representing individual cognition only, population cognition is represented using artificial neural networks whilst maintaining individuality. This population network trains continuously, simulating adaptation. An implementation of two coexisting populations is compared to the Lotka-Volterra model of predator-prey interaction. Applications include multi-agent systems such as artificial life or computer games.
Abstract: The emergence of networked information and communication has transformed the accessibility and delivery of scholarly information and fundamentally impacted on the processes of research and scholarly communication. The purpose of this study is to investigate disciplinary differences in the use of networked information for research and scholarly communication at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. This study has produced quantitative data about how and why academics within different disciplines utilize networked information that is made available either internally through the university library, or externally through networked services accessed by the Internet. The results indicate some significant differences between the attitudes and practice of academics in the science disciplines when compared to those from the social sciences and humanities. While respondents from science disciplines show overall longer and more frequent use of networked information, respondents from humanities and social sciences indicated more positive attitudes and a greater degree of satisfaction toward library networked services.
Abstract: This paper describes the historical development of
interethnic concord in the Republic of Kazakhstan, and emphasizes
the role of tolerance mentality of the Kazakh people in ethno-political
policy of the country. Moreover, pointing out interethnic concord as a
powerful stabilizing factor, it analyses the specifics of interethnic
policy in multinational Kazakh society. It summarizes that the culture
of interethnic concord can be a model of ethno- political policy of
Kazakhstan.
Abstract: The linear methods of heart rate variability analysis
such as non-parametric (e.g. fast Fourier transform analysis) and
parametric methods (e.g. autoregressive modeling) has become an
established non-invasive tool for marking the cardiac health, but their
sensitivity and specificity were found to be lower than expected with
positive predictive value
Abstract: This study examines the relevance of disclosure
practices in improving the accountability and transparency of
religious nonprofit organizations (RNPOs). The assessment of
disclosure is based on the annual returns of RNPOs for the financial
year 2010. In order to quantify the information disclosed in the
annual returns, partial disclosure indexes of basic information (BI)
disclosure index, financial information (FI) disclosure index and
governance information (GI) disclosure index have been built which
takes into account the content of information items in the annual
returns. The empirical evidence obtained revealed low disclosure
practices among RNPOs in the sample. The multiple regression
results showed that the organizational attribute of the board size
appeared to be the most significant predictor for both partial index on
the extent of BI disclosure index, and FI disclosure index. On the
other hand, the extent of financial information disclosure is related to
the amount of donation received by RNPOs. On GI disclosure index,
the existence of an external audit appeared to be significant variable.
This study has contributed to the academic literature in providing
empirical evidence of the disclosure practices among RNPOs.
Abstract: This study investigated students- perception of self
efficacy and anxiety in acquiring English language, and consequently
examined the relationship existing among the independent variables,
confounding variables and students- performances in the English
language. The researcher tested the research hypotheses using a
sample group of 318 respondents out of the population size of 400
students. The results obtained revealed that there was a significant
moderate negative relationship between English language anxiety
and performance in English language, but no significant relationship
between self-efficacy and English language performance, among the
middle-school students. There was a significant moderate negative
relationship between English language anxiety and self-efficacy. It
was discovered that general self-efficacy and English language
anxiety represented a significantly more powerful set of predictors
than the set of confounding variables. Thus, the study concluded that
English language anxiety and general self-efficacy were significant
predictors of English language performance among middle-school
students in Satri Si Suriyothai School.
Abstract: Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is one of the
most vital planning processes of the project management since it
is considered to be the fundamental of other processes like
scheduling, controlling, assigning responsibilities, etc. In fact
WBS or activity list is the heart of a project and omission of a
simple task can lead to an irrecoverable result. There are some
tools in order to generate a project WBS. One of the most
powerful tools is mind mapping which is the basis of this article.
Mind map is a method for thinking together and helps a project
manager to stimulate the mind of project team members to
generate project WBS. Here we try to generate a WBS of a
sample project involving with the building construction using the
aid of mind map and the artificial intelligence (AI) programming
language. Since mind map structure can not represent data in a
computerized way, we convert it to a semantic network which can
be used by the computer and then extract the final WBS from the
semantic network by the prolog programming language. This
method will result a comprehensive WBS and decrease the
probability of omitting project tasks.
Abstract: School leadership is commonly considered to have a
significant influence on school effectiveness and improvement.
Effective school leaders are expected to successfully introduce and
support change and innovation at the school unit. Despite an
abundance of studies on educational leadership, very few studies
have provided evidence on the link between leadership models, and
specific educational and school outcomes. This is true of a popular
contemporary approach to leadership, namely, distributed leadership.
The paper provides an overview of research findings on the effect of
distributed leadership on educational outcomes. The theoretical basis
for this approach to leadership is presented, with reference to
methodological and research limitations. The paper discusses
research findings and draws their implications for educational
research on school leadership.
Abstract: Pattern recognition is the research area of Artificial Intelligence that studies the operation and design of systems that recognize patterns in the data. Important application areas are image analysis, character recognition, fingerprint classification, speech analysis, DNA sequence identification, man and machine diagnostics, person identification and industrial inspection. The interest in improving the classification systems of data analysis is independent from the context of applications. In fact, in many studies it is often the case to have to recognize and to distinguish groups of various objects, which requires the need for valid instruments capable to perform this task. The objective of this article is to show several methodologies of Artificial Intelligence for data classification applied to biomedical patterns. In particular, this work deals with the realization of a Computer-Aided Detection system (CADe) that is able to assist the radiologist in identifying types of mammary tumor lesions. As an additional biomedical application of the classification systems, we present a study conducted on blood samples which shows how these methods may help to distinguish between carriers of Thalassemia (or Mediterranean Anaemia) and healthy subjects.
Abstract: Hexapod Machine Tool (HMT) is a parallel robot
mostly based on Stewart platform. Identification of kinematic
parameters of HMT is an important step of calibration procedure. In
this paper an algorithm is presented for identifying the kinematic
parameters of HMT using inverse kinematics error model. Based on
this algorithm, the calibration procedure is simulated. Measurement
configurations with maximum observability are decided as the first
step of this algorithm for a robust calibration. The errors occurring in
various configurations are illustrated graphically. It has been shown
that the boundaries of the workspace should be searched for the
maximum observability of errors. The importance of using
configurations with sufficient observability in calibrating hexapod
machine tools is verified by trial calibration with two different
groups of randomly selected configurations. One group is selected to
have sufficient observability and the other is in disregard of the
observability criterion. Simulation results confirm the validity of the
proposed identification algorithm.
Abstract: CT assessment of postoperative spine is challenging in the presence of metal streak artifacts that could deteriorate the
quality of CT images. In this paper, we studied the influence of different acquisition parameters on the magnitude of metal streaking.
A water-bath phantom was constructed with metal insertion similar with postoperative spine assessment. The phantom was scanned with
different acquisition settings and acquired data were reconstructed
using various reconstruction settings. Standardized ROIs were defined within streaking region for image analysis. The result shows
increased kVp and mAs enhanced SNR values by reducing image
noise. Sharper kernel enhanced image quality compared to smooth
kernel, but produced more noise in the images with higher CT fluctuation. The noise between both kernels were significantly
different (P
Abstract: The paper discusses the mathematics of pattern
indexing and its applications to recognition of visual patterns that are
found in video clips. It is shown that (a) pattern indexes can be
represented by collections of inverted patterns, (b) solutions to
pattern classification problems can be found as intersections and
histograms of inverted patterns and, thus, matching of original
patterns avoided.
Abstract: Single side band modulation is a widespread technique in communication with significant impact on communication technologies such as DSL modems and ATSC TV. Its widespread utilization is due to its bandwidth and power saving characteristics. In this paper, we present a new scheme for SSB signal generation which is cost efficient and enjoys superior characteristics in terms of frequency stability, selectivity, and robustness to noise. In the process, we develop novel Hilbert transform properties.