Abstract: Candida spp. are common and aggressive pathogens.
Because of the growing resistance of Candida spp. to current
antifungals, novel targets, found in Candida spp. but not in humans
or other flora, have to be identified. The alternative oxidase (AOX)
is one such possibility. This enzyme is insensitive to cyanide, but is
sensitive to compounds such as salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM),
disulfiram and n-alkyl gallates. The growth Candida albicans was
inhibited by SHAM (Ki = 9-15 mM) and cyanide (Ki = 2-4 mM),
albeit to differing extents. The rate of O2 uptake was inhibited by
less than 10% by 25 mM SHAM and by about 90% by 250 μM
KCN. Although SHAM substantially inhibited the growth of C.
albicans, it is unlikely that the inhibition of AOX was the cause.
Salicylhydroxamic acid is used therapeutically in the treatment of
urinary tract infections and urolithiasis, but it also has some potential
in the treatment of C. albicans infection.
Abstract: This paper considers the problem of Null-Steering beamforming using Neural Network (NN) approach for antenna array system. Two cases are presented. First, unlike the other authors, the estimated Direction Of Arrivals (DOAs) are used for antenna array weights NN-based determination and the imprecise DOAs estimations are taken into account. Second, the blind null-steering beamforming is presented. In this case the antenna array outputs are presented at the input of the NN without DOAs estimation. The results of computer simulations will show much better relative mean error performances of the first NN approach compared to the NNbased blind beamforming.
Abstract: This paper describes the shape optimization of impeller
blades for a anti-heeling bidirectional axial flow pump used in ships.
In general, a bidirectional axial pump has an efficiency much lower
than the classical unidirectional pump because of the symmetry of the
blade type. In this paper, by focusing on a pump impeller, the shape of
blades is redesigned to reach a higher efficiency in a bidirectional axial
pump. The commercial code employed in this simulation is CFX v.13.
CFD result of pump torque, head, and hydraulic efficiency was
compared. The orthogonal array (OA) and analysis of variance
(ANOVA) techniques and surrogate model based optimization using
orthogonal polynomial, are employed to determine the main effects
and their optimal design variables. According to the optimal design,
we confirm an effective design variable in impeller blades and explain
the optimal solution, the usefulness for satisfying the constraints of
pump torque and head.
Abstract: The present work faces the problem of automatic enumeration and recognition of an unknown and time-varying number of environmental sound sources while using a single microphone. The assumption that is made is that the sound recorded is a realization of sound sources belonging to a group of audio classes which is known a-priori. We describe two variations of the same principle which is to calculate the distance between the current unknown audio frame and all possible combinations of the classes that are assumed to span the soundscene. We concentrate on categorizing environmental sound sources, such as birds, insects etc. in the task of monitoring the biodiversity of a specific habitat.
Abstract: The multiple traveling salesman problem (mTSP) can be used to model many practical problems. The mTSP is more complicated than the traveling salesman problem (TSP) because it requires determining which cities to assign to each salesman, as well as the optimal ordering of the cities within each salesman's tour. Previous studies proposed that Genetic Algorithm (GA), Integer Programming (IP) and several neural network (NN) approaches could be used to solve mTSP. This paper compared the results for mTSP, solved with Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Nearest Neighbor Algorithm (NNA). The number of cities is clustered into a few groups using k-means clustering technique. The number of groups depends on the number of salesman. Then, each group is solved with NNA and GA as an independent TSP. It is found that k-means clustering and NNA are superior to GA in terms of performance (evaluated by fitness function) and computing time.
Abstract: Due to the emergence of “Humanized Healthcare"
introduced by Professor Dr. Prawase Wasi in 2003[1], the
development of this paradigm tends to be widely implemented. The
organizations included Healthcare Accreditation Institute (public
organization), National Health Foundation, Mahidol University in
cooperation with Thai Health Promotion Foundation, and National
Health Security Office (Thailand) have selected the hospitals or
infirmaries that are qualified for humanized healthcare since 2008-
2010 and 35 of them are chosen to be the outstandingly navigating
organizations for the development of humanized healthcare,
humanized healthcare award [2].
The research aims to study the current issue, characteristics and
patterns of hospital administration contributing to humanized
healthcare system in Thailand. The selected case studies are from
four hospitals including Dansai Crown Prince Hospital, Leoi;
Ubolrattana Hospital, Khon Kaen; Kapho Hospital, Pattani; and
Prathai Hospital, Nakhonrachasima. The methodology is in-depth
interviewing with 10 staffs working as hospital executive directors,
and representatives from leader groups including directors,
multidisciplinary hospital committees, personnel development
committees, physicians and nurses in each hospital. (Total=40) In
addition, focus group discussions between hospital staffs and general
people (including patients and their relatives, the community leader,
and other people) are held by means of setting 4 groups including 8
people within each group. (Total=128) The observation on the
working in each hospital is also implemented. The findings of the
study reveal that there are five important aspects found in each
hospital including (1) the quality improvement under the mental and
spiritual development policy from the chief executives and lead
teams, leaders as Role model and they have visionary leadership; (2)
the participation hospital administration system focusing on learning
process and stakeholder- needs, spiritual human resource
management and development; (3) the relationship among people
especially staffs, team work skills, mutual understanding, effective
communication and personal inner-development; (4) organization
culture relevant to the awareness of patients- rights as well as the
participation policy including spiritual growth achieving to the same
goals, sharing vision, developing public mind, and caring; and (5)
healing structures or environment providing warmth and convenience
for hospital staffs, patients and their relatives and visitors.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose the Modified Synchronous Detection (MSD) Method for determining the reference compensating currents of the shunt active power filter under non sinusoidal voltages conditions. For controlling the inverter switching we used the PI regulator. The numerical simulation results, using Power System Blockset Toolbox PSB of Matlab, from a complete structure, are presented and discussed.
Abstract: This research studied the appropriate factors and conditions for laminated bamboo bending by Design of Experiments (DOE). The interested factors affecting the spring back in laminates bamboo were (1) time, (2) thickness, and (3) frequency. This experiment tested the specimen by using high frequency machine and measured its spring back immediately and next 24 hours for comparing the spring back ratio. Results from the experiments showed that significant factors having major influence to bending of laminates bamboo were thickness and frequency. The appropriate conditions of thickness and frequency were 4 mm. and 1.5 respectively.
Abstract: This paper presents an optimization technique to economic load dispatch (ELD) problems with considering the daily load patterns and generator constraints using a particle swarm optimization (PSO). The objective is to minimize the fuel cost. The optimization problem is subject to system constraints consisting of power balance and generation output of each units. The application of a constriction factor into PSO is a useful strategy to ensure convergence of the particle swarm algorithm. The proposed method is able to determine, the output power generation for all of the power generation units, so that the total constraint cost function is minimized. The performance of the developed methodology is demonstrated by case studies in test system of fifteen-generation units. The results show that the proposed algorithm scan give the minimum total cost of generation while satisfying all the constraints and benefiting greatly from saving in power loss reduction
Abstract: This paper proposed a nonlinear model predictive
control (MPC) method for the control of gantry crane. One of the main
motivations to apply MPC to control gantry crane is based on its
ability to handle control constraints for multivariable systems. A
pre-compensator is constructed to compensate the input nonlinearity
(nonsymmetric dead zone with saturation) by using its inverse
function. By well tuning the weighting function matrices, the control
system can properly compromise the control between crane position
and swing angle. The proposed control algorithm was implemented for
the control of gantry crane system in System Control Lab of University
of Technology, Sydney (UTS), and achieved desired experimental
results.
Abstract: The increase in energy demand has raised concerns
over adverse impacts on the environment from energy generation. It
is important to understand the status of energy consumption for
institutions such as Curtin Sarawak to ensure the sustainability of
energy usage, and also to reduce its costs. In this study, a preliminary
audit framework was developed and was conducted around the
Malaysian campus to obtain information such as the number and
specifications of electrical appliances, built-up area and ambient
temperature to understand the relationship of these factors with
energy consumption. It was found that the number and types of
electrical appliances, population and activities in the campus
impacted the energy consumption of Curtin Sarawak directly.
However, the built-up area and ambient temperature showed no clear
correlation with energy consumption. An investigation of the diurnal
and seasonal energy consumption of the campus was also carried out.
From the data, recommendations were made to improve the energy
efficiency of the campus.
Abstract: In this study, inhibition of Microcystis aeruginosa by
antialgal alleochemical gramine, was studied by analyzing algal
metabolic activity (represented by esterase and total dehydrogenase
activities) and cell ultrastructure (showing morphological and
ultrastructure alterations using transmission electron microscopy and
DNA ladder analysis). After gramine exposure, esterase and total
dehydrogenase activities were increased firstly but decreased later. In
contrast with the controls, the cells exposed to gramine showed
apparent ultrastructure alterations with thylakoids in breakage,
phycobilins in decrease, lipid and cyanophycin granules abundant
firstly but dissolved afterwards, DNA in fragementation. The
occurrence of increase of metabolic activity and specific granules
reflected that the resistance of cellular response to gramine was
initiated. DNA fragementation associated with the increase of
metabolic activity and specific granules hinted that gramine caused M.
aeruginosa cells to initiate some morphotype of programmed cell
death.
Abstract: In this paper, we study the stability of n-dimensional linear fractional neutral differential equation with time delays. By using the Laplace transform, we introduce a characteristic equation for the above system with multiple time delays. We discover that if all roots of the characteristic equation have negative parts, then the equilibrium of the above linear system with fractional order is Lyapunov globally asymptotical stable if the equilibrium exist that is almost the same as that of classical differential equations. An example is provided to show the effectiveness of the approach presented in this paper.
Abstract: The problem of complex use of water resources in
Central Asia by taking into consideration the sovereignty of the states
and increasing demand on use of water for economic aspects are
considered. Complex program with appropriate mathematical
software intended for calculation of possible variants of using the
Amudarya up-stream water resources according to satisfaction of
incompatible requirements of the national economics in irrigation
and energy generation is proposed.
Abstract: A numerical study is presented on convective heat transfer in enclosures. The results are addressed to automotive headlights containing new-age light sources like Light Emitting Diodes (LED). The heat transfer from the heat source (LED) to the enclosure walls is investigated for mixed convection as interaction of the forced convection flow from an inlet and an outlet port and the natural convection at the heat source. Unlike existing studies, inlet and outlet port are thermally coupled and do not serve to remove hot fluid. The input power of the heat source is expressed by the Rayleigh number. The internal position of the heat source, the aspect ratio of the enclosure, and the inclination angle of one wall are varied. The results are given in terms of the global Nusselt number and the enclosure Nusselt number that characterize the heat transfer from the source and from the interior fluid to the enclosure walls, respectively. It is found that the heat transfer from the source to the fluid can be maximized if the source is placed in the main stream from the inlet to the outlet port. In this case, the Reynolds number and heat source position have the major impact on the heat transfer. A disadvantageous position has been found where natural and forced convection compete each other. The overall heat transfer from the source to the wall increases with increasing Reynolds number as well as with increasing aspect ratio and decreasing inclination angle. The heat transfer from the interior fluid to the enclosure wall increases upon decreasing the aspect ratio and increasing the inclination angle. This counteracting behaviour is caused by the variation of the area of the enclosure wall. All mixed convection results are compared to the natural convection limit.
Abstract: Iron ore and coal are the two major important raw
materials being used in Iron making industries. Usually ore fines
containing around 5% Alumina are rejected due to higher proportion
of alumina. Therefore, a technology or process which may reduce
the alumina content by 2% by beneficiation process will be highly
attractive . In addition fine coals with ash content is used nearly 12%
is directly injected in blast furnace. Fast fluidization is a technology
by using dry beneficiation of coal and iron ore can be done. During
the fluidization process the iron ore band coal is fluidized at high
velocity in the riser of a fast fluidized bed, the heavier and coarse
particles is generally settled at the bottom in a dense zone of the riser
while the finer and lighter particle are entrained to the top dilute zone
and then via a cyclone is fed back to the bottom of the riser column.
Most of the alumina and low ash fine size coals being lighter are
expected to move up to the riser and by a natural beneficiation of
ores is expected to take place in the riser. Therefore in this study an
attempt has been made for dry beneficiation of iron ore and coal in a
fluidized bed and its hydrodynamic characterization.
Abstract: In this paper we define generalized differential operators from some well-known operators on the class A of analytic functions in the unit disk U = {z ∈ C : |z| < 1}. New classes containing these operators are investigated. Also univalence of integral operator is considered.
Abstract: In recent years the large scale use of the power electronic equipment has led to an increase of harmonics in the power system. The harmonics results into a poor power quality and have great adverse economical impact on the utilities and customers. Current harmonics are one of the most common power quality problems and are usually resolved by using shunt active filter (SHAF). The main objective of this work is to develop PI and Fuzzy logic controllers (FLC) to analyze the performance of Shunt Active Filter for mitigating current harmonics under balanced and unbalanced sinusoidal source voltage conditions for normal load and increased load. When the supply voltages are ideal (balanced), both PI and FLC are converging to the same compensation characteristics. However, the supply voltages are non-ideal (unbalanced), FLC offers outstanding results. Simulation results validate the superiority of FLC with triangular membership function over the PI controller.
Abstract: Experiments with pumpkin-rowanberry marmalade
candies were carried out at the Faculty of Food Technology of the
Latvia University of Agriculture. The objective of this investigation
was to evaluate the quality changes of pumpkin-rowanberry
marmalade candies packed in different packaging materials during
the storage of 15 weeks, and to find the most suitable packaging
material for prolongation of low sugar marmalade candies shelf-life.
An active packaging in combination with modified atmosphere
(MAP, CO2 100%) was examined and compared with traditional
packaging in air ambiance. Polymer Multibarrier 60 and paper bags
were used. Influence of iron based oxygen absorber in sachets of 500
cc obtained from Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Europe Ageless® on the
marmalade candies’ quality was tested during shelf life. Samples of
80±5 g were packaged in polymer pouches (110 mm x 110 mm),
hermetically sealed by MULTIVAC C300 vacuum chamber machine,
and stored in a room temperature +21±0.5 °C. The physiochemical
properties –moisture content, hardness, aw, pH, changes of
atmosphere content (CO2 and O2), ascorbic acid, total carotenoids,
total phenols in headspace of packs, and microbial conditions were
analysed before packaging and in the 1st, 3rd , 5th, 8th, 11th and 15th
weeks of storage.
Abstract: Nowadays, the earth is countered with serious problem
of air pollution. This problem has been started from the industrial
revolution and has been faster in recent years, so that leads the earth
to ecological and environmental disaster. One of its results is the
global warming problem and its related increase in global
temperature. The most important factors in air pollution especially in
urban environments are Automobiles and residential buildings that are
the biggest consumers of the fossil energies, so that if the residential
buildings as a big part of the consumers of such energies reduce their
consumption rate, the air pollution will be decreased. Since
Metropolises are the main centers of air pollution in the world,
assessment and analysis of efficient strategies in decreasing air
pollution in such cities, can lead to the desirable and suitable results
and can solve the problem at least in critical level. Tabriz city is one
of the most important metropolises in North west of Iran that about
two million people are living there. for its situation in cold dry
climate, has a high rate of fossil energies consumption that make air
pollution in its urban environment. These two factors, being both
metropolis and in cold dry climate, make this article try to analyze the
strategies of climatic design in old districts of the city and use them in
new districts of the future. These strategies can be used in this city
and other similar cities and pave the way to reduce energy
consumption and related air pollution to save whole world.