Abstract: The aim of this study is to compare the effect of the ultrasonic pre treatment on the removal of heavy metals (Iron, Zinc and Copper) from Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) by Denver Cell flotation. Synthetic AMD and individual metal solutions are used in the initial experiments to optimise the process conditions for real AMD. Three different process methods, ultrasound treatment followed by Denver flotation cell, Denver flotation cell alone and ultrasonic treatments run simultaneously with the Denver flotation cell were tested for every sample. Precipitation of the metal solutions by using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and application of the optimum frother dosage followed by flotation significantly reduced the metal content of the AMD.
Abstract: The use of the oncologic index ISTER allows for a more effective planning of the radiotherapic facilities in the hospitals. Any change in the radiotherapy treatment, due to unexpected stops, may be adapted by recalculating the doses to the new treatment duration while keeping the optimal prognosis. The results obtained in a simulation model on millions of patients allow the definition of optimal success probability algorithms.
Abstract: Investment in a constructed facility represents a cost in
the short term that returns benefits only over the long term use of the
facility. Thus, the costs occur earlier than the benefits, and the owners
of facilities must obtain the capital resources to finance the costs of
construction. A project cannot proceed without an adequate
financing, and the cost of providing an adequate financing can be
quite large. For these reasons, the attention to the project finance is an
important aspect of project management. Finance is also a concern to
the other organizations involved in a project such as the general
contractor and material suppliers. Unless an owner immediately and
completely covers the costs incurred by each participant, these
organizations face financing problems of their own. At a more
general level, the project finance is the only one aspect of the general
problem of corporate finance. If numerous projects are considered
and financed together, then the net cash flow requirements constitute
the corporate financing problem for capital investment. Whether
project finance is performed at the project or at the corporate level
does not alter the basic financing problem .In this paper, we will first
consider facility financing from the owner's perspective, with due
consideration for its interaction with other organizations involved in a
project. Later, we discuss the problems of construction financing
which are crucial to the profitability and solvency of construction
contractors. The objective of this paper is to present the steps utilized
to determine the best combination of minimum project financing.
The proposed model considers financing; schedule and maximum net
area .The proposed model is called Project Financing and Schedule
Integration using Genetic Algorithms "PFSIGA". This model
intended to determine more steps (maximum net area) for any project
with a subproject. An illustrative example will demonstrate the
feature of this technique. The model verification and testing are put
into consideration.
Abstract: Today, the Internet based communication has widen
the opportunity of event monitoring system in the medical field.
There is always a need of analyzing and designing secure and reliable
mobile communication between the hospital and biomedical
engineers mobile units. This study has been carried out to find
possible solution using SIP-based event notification for alerting the
technical staff about the Biomedical Device (BMD) status and
Patients treatment session. The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) can
be used to create a medical event notification system. SIP can work
on a variety of devices. Its adoption as the protocol of choice for third
generation wireless networks allows for a robust and scalable
environment. One of the advantages of SIP is that it supports personal
mobility through the separation of user addressing and device
addressing. The solution for Telemed alert notification system is
based on SIP - Specific Event Notification. The aim of this project is
to extend mobility service to the hospital technicians who are using
Telemedicine system.
Abstract: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the
potential of hollow microneedles for enhancing the transdermal
delivery of Bovine Serum Albumin (MW~66,000 Da)-Fluorescein
Isothiocyanate (BSA-FITC) conjugate, a hydrophilic large molecular
compound. Moreover, the effect of different formulations was
evaluated. The series of binary mixtures composed of propylene
glycol (PG) and pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution (PBS) was
prepared and used as a medium for BSA-FITC. The results showed
that there was no permeation of BSA-FITC solution across the
neonatal porcine skin without using hollow microneedles, whereas
the cumulative amount of BSA-FITC released at 8 h through the
neonatal porcine skin was about 60-70% when using hollow
microneedles. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that the higher
volume of PG in binary mixtures injected, the lower cumulative
amount of BSA-FITC released and release rate of BSA-FITC from
skin. These release profiles of BSA-FITC in binary mixtures were
expressed by Fick-s law of diffusion. These results suggest the
utilization of hollow microneedle to enhance transdermal delivery of
protein and provide useful information for designing an effective
hollow microneedle system.
Abstract: The purpose of research was to know the role of
immunogenic protein of 49 kDa from V.alginolyticus which capable
to initiate molecule expression of MHC Class II in receptor of
Cromileptes altivelis. The method used was in vivo experimental
research through testing of immunogenic protein 49 kDa from
V.alginolyticus at Cromileptes altivelis (size of 250 - 300 grams)
using 3 times booster by injecting an immunogenic protein in a
intramuscular manner. Response of expressed MHC molecule was
shown using immunocytochemistry method and SEM. Results
indicated that adhesin V.alginolyticus 49 kDa which have
immunogenic character could trigger expression of MHC class II on
receptor of grouper and has been proven by staining using
immunocytochemistry and SEM with labeling using antibody anti
MHC (anti mouse). This visible expression based on binding between
epitopes antigen and antibody anti MHC in the receptor. Using
immunocytochemistry, intracellular response of MHC to in vivo
induction of immunogenic adhesin from V.alginolyticus was shown.
Abstract: The hydrolysis kinetics of polycrystalline lithium hydride (LiH) in argon at various low humidities was measured by gravimetry and Raman spectroscopy with ambient water concentration ranging from 200 to 1200 ppm. The results showed that LiH hydrolysis curve revealed a paralinear shape, which was attributed to two different reaction stages that forming different products as explained by the 'Layer Diffusion Control' model. Based on the model, a novel two-stage rate equation for LiH hydrolysis reactions was developed and used to fit the experimental data for determination of Li2O steady thickness Hs and the ultimate hydrolysis rate vs. The fitted data presented a rise of Hs as ambient water concentration cw increased. However, in spite of the negative effect imposed by Hs increasing, the upward trend of vs remained, which implied that water concentration, rather than Li2O thickness, played a predominant role in LiH hydrolysis kinetics. In addition, the proportional relationship between vsHs and cw predicted by rate equation and confirmed by gravimetric data validated the model in such conditions.
Abstract: This study deals with Computational Fluid Dynamics
(CFD) studies of the interactions between the air flow and louvered
fins which equipped the automotive heat exchangers. 3D numerical
simulation results are obtained by using the ANSYS Fluent 13.0 code
and compared to experimental data. The paper studies the effect of
louver angle and louver pitch geometrical parameters, on overall
thermal hydraulic performances of louvered fins.
The comparison between CFD simulations and experimental data
show that established 3-D CFD model gives a good agreement. The
validation agrees, with about 7% of deviation respectively of friction
and Colburn factors to experimental results. As first, it is found that
the louver angle has a strong influence on the heat transfer rate. Then,
louver angle and louver pitch variation of the louvers and their effects
on thermal hydraulic performances are studied. In addition to this
study, it is shown that the second half of the fin takes has a
significant contribution on pressure drop increase without any
increase in heat transfer.
Abstract: Our study proposes an alternative method in building
Fuzzy Rule-Based System (FRB) from Support Vector Machine
(SVM). The first set of fuzzy IF-THEN rules is obtained through
an equivalence of the SVM decision network and the zero-ordered
Sugeno FRB type of the Adaptive Network Fuzzy Inference System
(ANFIS). The second set of rules is generated by combining the
first set based on strength of firing signals of support vectors using
Gaussian kernel. The final set of rules is then obtained from the
second set through input scatter partitioning. A distinctive advantage
of our method is the guarantee that the number of final fuzzy IFTHEN
rules is not more than the number of support vectors in the
trained SVM. The final FRB system obtained is capable of performing
classification with results comparable to its SVM counterpart, but it
has an advantage over the black-boxed SVM in that it may reveal
human comprehensible patterns.
Abstract: The article is about government programs and projects
and their description which are aimed at improving the socioeconomic
situation in the Republic of Kazakhstan. A brief historical
overview, as well as information about current socio-economic,
political and transitional contexts of the country are provided. Two
theories were described in the article to inform this descriptive study.
According to the United Nation's Development Reports for 2005 and
2011, the country's human development index (HDI) rose by several
points despite the socio-economic and political imbalances taking
place in the republic since it gained its independence in 1991. It is
stated in the article that government support programs are one of the
crucial factors that increase the population welfare which in its turn
may lead to reduction of social crisis processes in the country.
Abstract: Australian government agencies have a natural desire
to provide migrants a wide range of opportunities. Consequently,
government online services should be equally available to migrants
with a non-English speaking background (NESB). Despite the
commendable efforts of governments and local agencies in Australia
to provide such services, in reality, many NESB communities are not
taking advantage of these services. This article–based on an
extensive case study regarding the use of online government services
by the Arabic NESB community in Australia–reports on the
possible reasons for this issue, as well as suggestions for
improvement. The conclusion is that Australia should implement
ICT-based or e-government policies, programmes, and services that
more accurately reflect migrant cultures and languages so that
migrant integration can be more fully accomplished. Specifically, this
article presents an NESB Model that adopts the value of usercentricity
or a more individual-focused approach to government
online services in Australia.
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: This paper investigates the effectiveness of the use of
seismic isolation devices on the overall 3D seismic response of
curved highway viaducts with an emphasis on expansion joints.
Furthermore, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the use of cable
restrainers is presented. For this purpose, the bridge seismic
performance has been evaluated on four different radii of curvature,
considering two cases: restrained and unrestrained curved viaducts.
Depending on the radius of curvature, three-dimensional non-linear
dynamic analysis shows the vulnerability of curved viaducts to
pounding and deck unseating damage. In this study, the efficiency of
using LRB supports combined with cable restrainers on curved
viaducts is demonstrated, not only by reducing in all cases the
possible damage, but also by providing a similar behavior in the
viaducts despite of curvature radius.
Abstract: This paper proposes a simple model of economic geography within the Dixit-Stiglitz-Iceberg framework that may be used to analyze migration patterns among three cities. The cost–benefit tradeoffs affecting incentives for three types of migration, including echelon migration, are discussed. This paper develops a tractable, heterogeneous-agent, general equilibrium model, where agents share constant human capital, and explores the relationship between the benefits of echelon migration and gross human capital. Using Chinese numerical solutions, we study the manifestation of echelon migration and how it responds to changes in transportation cost and elasticity of substitution. Numerical results demonstrate that (i) there are positive relationships between a migration-s benefit-and-wage ratio, (ii) there are positive relationships between gross human capital ratios and wage ratios as to origin and destination, and (iii) we identify 13 varieties of human capital convergence among cities. In particular, this model predicts population shock resulting from the processes of migration choice and echelon migration.
Abstract: In this paper, the modelling and design of artificial neural network architecture for load forecasting purposes is investigated. The primary pre-requisite for power system planning is to arrive at realistic estimates of future demand of power, which is known as Load Forecasting. Short Term Load Forecasting (STLF) helps in determining the economic, reliable and secure operating strategies for power system. The dependence of load on several factors makes the load forecasting a very challenging job. An over estimation of the load may cause premature investment and unnecessary blocking of the capital where as under estimation of load may result in shortage of equipment and circuits. It is always better to plan the system for the load slightly higher than expected one so that no exigency may arise. In this paper, a load-forecasting model is proposed using a multilayer neural network with an appropriately modified back propagation learning algorithm. Once the neural network model is designed and trained, it can forecast the load of the power system 24 hours ahead on daily basis and can also forecast the cumulative load on daily basis. The real load data that is used for the Artificial Neural Network training was taken from LDC, Gujarat Electricity Board, Jambuva, Gujarat, India. The results show that the load forecasting of the ANN model follows the actual load pattern more accurately throughout the forecasted period.
Abstract: The cost of damage to the non-structural systems in
critical facilities like nuclear power plants and hospitals can exceed
80% of the total cost of damage during an earthquake. The failure of
nonstructural components, especially, piping systems led to leakage of
water and subsequent shut-down of hospitals immediately after the
event. Consequently, the evaluation of performance of these types of
structural configurations has become necessary to mitigate the risk and
to achieve reliable designs.
This paper focuses on a methodology to evaluate the static and
dynamic characteristics of complex actual piping system based on
NFPA-13 and SMACNA guidelines. The result of this study revealed
that current piping system subjected to design lateral force and design
spectrum based on UBC-97 was failed in both cases and mode shapes
between piping system and building structure were very different
Abstract: Crystallization has been used for the separation of
chloronitrobenzene or CNBs, which are isomeric substances (o-, mand
p-CNB) and important intermediates in chemical productions. Effects of feed composition on the crystallization of m- and p-CNB was first studied. The results conform to the binary phase diagram of
m- and p-CNB. After that, effects of FAU zeolites (NaX, CaX, BaX, NaY and CaY) above the eutectic composition (63.5 and 65.0 wt% m-CNB in the feed) was also investigated. The results showed that
the FAU zeolites significantly affected the precipitates, the
composition of which was shifted from being rich in m-CNB to rich
in p-CNB. Effects of the number of FAU zeolites on the precipitate composition was then studied. The results revealed that the
precipitates from the lower number of the zeolites had higher p-CNB purity than those from the higher number of zeolite.
Abstract: This paper presents an integrated knowledge-based
approach to multi-scale modeling of aquatic systems, with a view to
enhancing predictive power and aiding environmental management
and policy-making. The basic phases of this approach have been
exemplified in the case of a bay in Saronicos Gulf (Attiki, Greece).
The results showed a significant problem with rising phytoplankton
blooms linked to excessive microbial growth, arisen mostly due to
increased nitrogen inflows; therefore, the nitrification/denitrification
processes of the benthic and water column sub-systems have
provided the quality variables to be monitored for assessing
environmental status. It is thereby demonstrated that the proposed
approach facilitates modeling choices and implementation option
decisions, while it provides substantial support for knowledge and
experience capitalization in long-term water management.
Abstract: Samples of CoFe2-xCrxO4 where x varies from 0.0 to 0.5 were prepared by co-precipitation route. These samples were sintered at 750°C for 2 hours. These particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) at room temperature. The FCC spinel structure was confirmed by XRD patterns of the samples. The crystallite sizes of these particles were calculated from the most intense peak by Scherrer formula. The crystallite sizes lie in the range of 37-60 nm. The lattice parameter was found decreasing upon substitution of Cr. DC electrical resistivity was measured as a function of temperature. The room temperature thermoelectric power was measured for the prepared samples. The magnitude of Seebeck coefficient depends on the composition and resistivity of the samples.
Abstract: Impinging jets are widely used in industrial cooling
systems for their high heat transfer characteristics at stagnation points.
However, the heat transfer characteristics are low in the downstream
direction. In order to improve the heat transfer coefficient further
downstream, investigations introducing ribs on jet-cooled flat plates
have been conducted. Most studies regarding the heat-transfer
enhancement using a rib-roughened wall have dealt with the rib pitch.
In this paper, we focused on the rib spacing and demonstrated that the
rib spacing must be more than 6 times the nozzle width to improve heat
transfer at Reynolds number Re=5.0×103 because it is necessary to
have enough space to allow reattachment of flow behind the first rib.