Abstract: Food contamination occurs during post process
handling. This leads to spoilage and growth of pathogenic
microorganisms in the food, thereby reducing its shelf life or
spreading of food borne diseases. Several methods are tried and one
of which is use of antimicrobial packaging. Here, papain, a protease
enzyme, is covalently immobilized with the help of glutarldehyde on
polyurethane and used as a food wrap to protect food from microbial
contamination. Covalent immobilization of papain was achieved at a
pH of 7.4; temperature of 4°C; glutaraldehyde concentration of 0.5%;
incubation time of 24h; and 50mg of papain. The formation of -C=Nobserved
in the Fourier transform infrared spectrum confirmed the
immobilization of the enzyme on the polymer. Immobilized enzyme
retained higher activity than the native free enzyme. The modified
polyurethane showed better reduction of Staphylococcus aureus
biofilm than bare polymer film (eight folds reduction in live colonies,
two times reduction in protein and 6 times reduction in
carbohydrates). The efficacy of this was studied by wrapping it over
S. aureus contaminated cottage cheese (paneer) and cheese and
stored at a temperature of 4°C for 7days. The modified film reduced
the bacterial contamination by eight folds when compared to the bare
film. FTIR also indicated reduction in lipids, sugars and proteins in
the biofilm.
Abstract: The liver is the strongest regenerating organ of the
organism, and even with 2/3 surgically removed, it can regenerate
completely. Hence liver cirrhosis may only develop when the
regenerating system is off.
We present the results of a comparative study of structural and
functional characteristics of rat liver tissue under the conditions of
toxic liver cirrhosis development, induced by carbon tetrachloride,
and its prevention/treatment by natural compounds with antioxidant
and immune stimulating action. Studies were made on Wister rats,
weighing 120~140 g. Grape seeds extracts, separately and in
combination with well-known anticirrhotic drug ursodeoxycholic
acid (Urdoxa), have demonstrated effectiveness in prevention of liver
cirrhosis development and its treatment.
Abstract: Pavement surface unevenness plays a pivotal role on
roughness index of road which affects on riding comfort ability.
Comfort ability refers to the degree of protection offered to vehicle
occupants from uneven elements in the road surface. So, it is
preferable to have a lower roughness index value for a better riding
quality of road users. Roughness is generally defined as an
expression of irregularities in the pavement surface which can be
measured using different equipments like MERLIN, Bump integrator,
Profilometer etc. Among them Bump Integrator is quite simple and
less time consuming in case of long road sections. A case study is
conducted on low volume roads in West District in Tripura to
determine roughness index (RI) using Bump Integrator at the
standard speed of 32 km/h. But it becomes too tough to maintain the
requisite standard speed throughout the road section. The speed of
Bump Integrator (BI) has to lower or higher in some distinctive
situations. So, it becomes necessary to convert these roughness index
values of other speeds to the standard speed of 32 km/h. This paper
highlights on that roughness index conversional model. Using SPSS
(Statistical Package of Social Sciences) software a generalized
equation is derived among the RI value at standard speed of 32 km/h
and RI value at other speed conditions.
Abstract: Self-service technologies (SSTs) make an important
contribution to the daily life of people nowadays. However, the
introduction of SST does not lead to its usage. Thereby, this paper
was an attempt on discovery of the most preferred SST in the
customers’ point of view. To fulfill this aim, the Analytical Hierarchy
Process (AHP) was applied based on Saaty’s questionnaire which
was administered to the customers of e-banking services located in
Golestan providence, northern Iran. This study used qualitative
factors in association with the intention of consumers’ usage of SSTs
to rank three SSTs: ATM, mobile banking and internet banking. The
results showed that mobile banking get the highest weight in
consumers’ point of view. This research can be useful both for
managers and service providers and also for customers who intend to
use e-banking.
Abstract: The substantial similarity of fatigue mechanism in a
new test rig for rolling contact fatigue (RCF) has been investigated. A
new reduced-scale test rig is designed to perform controlled RCF
tests in wheel-rail materials. The fatigue mechanism of the rig is
evaluated in this study using a combined finite element-fatigue
prediction approach. The influences of loading conditions on fatigue
crack initiation have been studied. Furthermore, the effects of some
artificial defects (squat-shape) on fatigue lives are examined. To
simulate the vehicle-track interaction by means of the test rig, a threedimensional
finite element (FE) model is built up. The nonlinear
material behaviour of the rail steel is modelled in the contact
interface. The results of FE simulations are combined with the critical
plane concept to determine the material points with the greatest
possibility of fatigue failure. Based on the stress-strain responses, by
employing of previously postulated criteria for fatigue crack initiation
(plastic shakedown and ratchetting), fatigue life analysis is carried
out. The results are reported for various loading conditions and
different defect sizes. Afterward, the cyclic mechanism of the test rig
is evaluated from the operational viewpoint. The results of fatigue
life predictions are compared with the expected number of cycles of
the test rig by its cyclic nature. Finally, the estimative duration of the
experiments until fatigue crack initiation is roughly determined.
Abstract: In the second decade of the XXI century the role of
tourism destination attractiveness is becoming increasingly important
for destination management. Competition in tourism market moves
from ordinary service quality to provision of unforgettable emotional
experience for tourists. The main purpose of the present study is to
identify the perception of the tourism destinations based on the
number of factors related to its tourist attractiveness.
The content analysis method was used to analyze the on-line
tourist feedback data immensely available in Social Media and in
travel related sites. The collected data made it possible to procure the
information which is necessary to understand the perceived
attractiveness of the destinations and key destination appeal factors
that are important for Russian leisure travelers.
Results of the present study demonstrate key attractiveness factors
or destination ‘properties’ that were unveiled as the most important
for Russian leisure tourists. The study targeted five main Spanish
tourism destinations that initially were determined by in-depth
interview with a number of Russian nationals who had visited Spain
at least once.
The research results can be useful for Spanish Tourism
Organization Representation office in Russia as well as for the other
national tourism organizations in order to promote their respective
destinations for Russian travelers focusing on main attractiveness
factors identified in this study.
Abstract: Recently, there have been a lot of earthquakes in Japan.
It is necessary to promote seismic isolation devices for buildings. The
devices have been hardly diffused in attached houses, because the
devices are very expensive. We should develop a low-cost seismic
isolation device for detached houses. We suggested a new seismic
isolation device which uses a two-layer circular tube as a unit. If
hysteresis is produced in the two-layer circular tube under lateral
compression load, we think that the two-layer circular tube can have
energy absorbing capacity. It is necessary to contact the outer layer
and the inner layer to produce hysteresis. We have previously reported
how the inner layer comes in contact with the outer layer from a
perspective of analysis used mechanics of materials. We have clarified
that the inner layer comes in contact with the outer layer under a lateral
compression load. In this paper, we explored contact area between the
outer layer and the inner layer under a lateral compression load by
using FEA. We think that changing the inner layer’s thickness is
effective in increase the contact area. In order to change the inner
layer’s thickness, we changed the shape of the inner layer. As a result,
the contact area changes depending on the inner layer’s thickness.
Additionally, we experimented to check whether hysteresis occurs in
fact. As a consequence, we can reveal hysteresis in the two-layer
circular tube under the condition.
Abstract: Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. (Bignoniaceae) is a
reputed traditional remedy for various human ailments such as skin
diseases, microbial infections, melanoma, stomach troubles,
metabolic disorders, malaria and general pains. In spite of the fruit
being widely used for purposes related to its antibacterial and
antifungal properties, the chemical constituents associated with the
activity have not been fully identified. To elucidate the active
principles, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of fruit extracts
and purified fractions against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus
faecalis, Moraxella catarrhalis, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans
and Candida tropicalis. Shade-dried fruits were powdered and
extracted with hydroalcoholic (1:1) mixture by soaking at room
temperature for 72 h. The crude extract was further fractionated by
column chromatography, with successive elution using hexane,
dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol. The
dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions were combined and
subjected to column chromatography to furnish a wax and oil from
the eluates of 20% and 40% ethyl acetate in hexane, respectively. The
GC-MS and GC×GC-MS results revealed that linoleic acid, linolenic
acid, palmitic acid, arachidic acid and stearic acid were the major
constituents in both oil and wax. The crude hydroalcoholic extract
exhibited the strongest activity with MICs of 0.125-0.5 mg/mL,
followed by the ethyl acetate (MICs = 0.125-1.0 mg/mL),
dichloromethane (MICs = 0.250-2.0 mg/mL), hexane (MICs = 0.25-
2.0 mg/mL), acetone (MICs = 0.5-2.0 mg/mL) and methanol (MICs =
1.0-2.0 mg/mL), whereas the wax (MICs = 2.0-4.0 mg/mL) and oil
(MICs = 4.0-8.0 mg/mL) showed poor activity. The study concludes
that synergistic interactions of chemical constituents could be
responsible for the antimicrobial activity of K. africana fruits, which
needs a more holistic approach to understand the mechanism of its
antimicrobial activity.
Abstract: Renewable energy is derived from natural processes
that are replenished constantly. Included in the definition is
electricity and heat generated from solar, wind, ocean, hydropower,
biomass, geothermal resources, and bio-fuels and hydrogen derived
from renewable resources. Each of these sources has unique
characteristics which influence how and where they are used. This
paper presents the modeling the simulation of solar and hydro hybrid
energy sources in MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. It simulates
all quantities of Hybrid Electrical Power system (HEPS) such as AC
output current of the inverter that injected to the load/grid, load
current, grid current. It also simulates power output from PV and
Hydraulic Turbine Generator (HTG), power delivered to or from grid
and finally power factor of the inverter for PV, HTG and grid. The
proposed circuit uses instantaneous p-q (real-imaginary) power
theory.
Abstract: The objective of this study is to analyze the
prophylactic usage of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) along
pregnancy and the correlation between their usage and month/week
of pregnancy, in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, at
Clinical Hospital in Tetovo. A retrospective study was undertaken
during 01 January – 31 December 2012. Over of one year, the total
number of patients was 4636. Among the 1447 (32.21%) pregnant
women, 298 (20.59%) of them were prescribed LMWH. The majority
of patients given LMWH, 119 (39.93%) were diagnosed
hypercoagulable. The age group with the highest attendance was 25-
35, 141 patients (47.32%). For 195 (65.44%) patients, this was their
first pregnancy. Earliest stage of using LMWH was the second month
of pregnancy 4 (1.34%) cases. The most common patients were 70
women along the seventh month (23.49%), followed by 68 in the
ninth month of pregnancy (22.81%). Women in the 28th gestational
week, were found to be the most affected, a total of 55 (78.57%) were
in that week. Clexane 2000 and Fraxiparine 0.3 were the most
common for which low molecular weight heparin was prescribed.
The number of patients which received Clexane 2000 was 84
(28.19%), followed by those with Fraxiparine 0.3 81 (27.18%). The
administration of LMWH is associated with long hospitalization
(median 14,6 days).
Abstract: Life Cycle Cost (LCC) is one of the goals and key
pillars of the construction management science because it comprises
many of the functions and processes necessary, which assist
organisations and agencies to achieve their goals. It has therefore
become important to design and control assets during their whole life
cycle, from the design and planning phase through to disposal phase.
LCCA is aimed to improve the decision making system in the
ownership of assets by taking into account all the cost elements
including to the asset throughout its life.
Current application of LCC approach is impractical during
misunderstanding of the advantages of LCC. This main objective of
this research is to show a different relationship between capital cost
and long-term running costs. One hundred and thirty eight actual
building projects in United Kingdom (UK) were used in order to
achieve and measure the above-mentioned objective of the study. The
result shown that LCC is one of the most significant tools should be
considered on the decision making process.
Abstract: Stress Corrosion Crack (SCC) in pipeline is a type of
environmentally assisted cracking (EAC), since its discovery in 1965
as a possible cause of failure in pipeline, SCC has caused, on
average, one of two failures per year in the U.S, According to the
NACE SCC DA a pipe line segment is considered susceptible to SCC
if all of the following factors are met: The operating stress exceeds
60% of specified minimum yield strength (SMYS), the operating
temperature exceeds 38°C, the segment is less than 32 km
downstream from a compressor station, the age of the pipeline is
greater than 10 years and the coating type is other than Fusion
Bonded Epoxy(FBE). In this paper as a practical experience in
NISOC, Direct Assessment (DA) Method is used for identification
SCC defect in unpiggable pipeline located downstream of
compressor station.
Abstract: Recently, an increasing number of researchers have
been focusing on working out realistic solutions to sustainability
problems. As sustainability issues gain higher importance for
organisations, the management of such decisions becomes critical.
Knowledge representation is a fundamental issue of complex
knowledge based systems. Many types of sustainability problems
would benefit from models based on experts’ knowledge. Cognitive
maps have been used for analyzing and aiding decision making. A
cognitive map can be made of almost any system or problem. A
fuzzy cognitive map (FCM) can successfully represent knowledge
and human experience, introducing concepts to represent the essential
elements and the cause and effect relationships among the concepts to
model the behaviour of any system. Integrated waste management
systems (IWMS) are complex systems that can be decomposed to
non-related and related subsystems and elements, where many factors
have to be taken into consideration that may be complementary,
contradictory, and competitive; these factors influence each other and
determine the overall decision process of the system. The goal of the
present paper is to construct an efficient IWMS which considers
various factors. The authors’ intention is to propose an expert based
system design approach for implementing expert decision support in
the area of IWMSs and introduces an appropriate methodology for
the development and analysis of group FCM. A framework for such a
methodology consisting of the development and application phases is
presented.
Abstract: Stochastic User Equilibrium (SUE) model is a widely
used traffic assignment model in transportation planning, which is
regarded more advanced than Deterministic User Equilibrium (DUE)
model. However, a problem exists that the performance of the SUE
model depends on its error term parameter. The objective of this
paper is to propose a systematic method of determining the
appropriate error term parameter value for the SUE model. First, the
significance of the parameter is explored through a numerical
example. Second, the parameter calibration method is developed
based on the Logit-based route choice model. The calibration process
is realized through multiple nonlinear regression, using sequential
quadratic programming combined with least square method. Finally,
case analysis is conducted to demonstrate the application of the
calibration process and validate the better performance of the SUE
model calibrated by the proposed method compared to the SUE
models under other parameter values and the DUE model.
Abstract: This paper presents a 4-DOF nonlinear model of a
cracked de Laval rotor-stator system derived based on Energy
Principles. The model has been used to simulate coupled torsionallateral
response of the faulty system with multiple parametric
excitations; rotor-stator-rub, a breathing transverse crack, eccentric
mass and an axial force. Nonlinearity of a “breathing” crack is
incorporated in the model using a simple hinge mechanism suitable
for a shallow crack. Response of the system while passing via its
critical speed with intermittent rotor-stator rub is analyzed. Effects of
eccentricity with phase and acceleration are investigated. Features of
crack, rub and eccentricity in vibration response are explored for
condition monitoring. The presence of a crack and rub are observable
in the power spectrum despite excitations by an axial force and rotor
unbalance. Obtained results are consistent with existing literature and
could be adopted into rotor condition monitoring strategies.
Abstract: The article discusses multimodal mobility in
contemporary societies as a main planning and organization issue in
the functioning of administrative bodies, a problem which really
exists in the space of contemporary cities in terms of shaping modern
transport systems. The article presents classification of available
resources and initiatives undertaken for developing multimodal
mobility. Solutions can be divided into three groups of measures –
physical measures in the form of changes of the transport network
infrastructure, organizational ones (including transport policy) and
information measures. The latter ones include in particular direct
support for people travelling in the transport network by providing
information about ways of using available means of transport. A
special measure contributing to this end is a trip planner. The article
compares several selected planners. It includes a short description of
the Green Travelling Project, which aims at developing a planner
supporting environmentally friendly solutions in terms of transport
network operation. The article summarizes preliminary findings of
the project.
Abstract: reliability-based methodology for the assessment
and evaluation of reinforced concrete (R/C) structural elements of
concrete structures is presented herein. The results of the reliability
analysis and assessment for R/C structural elements were verified by
the results obtained through deterministic methods. The outcomes of
the reliability-based analysis were compared against currently
adopted safety limits that are incorporated in the reliability indices
β’s, according to international standards and codes. The methodology
is based on probabilistic analysis using reliability concepts and
statistics of the main random variables that are relevant to the subject
matter, and for which they are to be used in the performance-function
equation(s) associated with the structural elements under study.
These methodology techniques can result in reliability index β, which
is commonly known as the reliability index or reliability measure
value that can be utilized to assess and evaluate the safety, human
risk, and functionality of the structural component. Also, these
methods can result in revised partial safety factor values for certain
target reliability indices that can be used for the purpose of
redesigning the R/C elements of the building and in which they could
assist in considering some other remedial actions to improve the
safety and functionality of the member.
Abstract: Urban greenery remains the bastion of urban
landscape and a key to sustainable development due to its integral
connections to the general health and wellbeing of urban residents.
However, in an era of rapid urbanisation, recent studies indicate that
urban greenery, especially ecologically sensitive areas, in many
African cities is becoming increasingly depleted. Given the scale and
rate of natural and anthropogenic change, effective management of
urban greenery as the ultimate goal of restoring depleting urban
landscapes is urgent. This review advocates for an urban resilience
model to managing urban greenery.
Abstract: Web-based Cognitive Writing Instruction (WeCWI) is
a hybrid e-framework for the development of a web-based instruction
(WBI), which contributes towards instructional design and language
development. WeCWI divides its contribution in instructional design
into macro and micro perspectives. In macro perspective, being a 21st
century educator by disseminating knowledge and sharing ideas with
the in-class and global learners is initiated. By leveraging the virtue
of technology, WeCWI aims to transform an educator into an
aggregator, curator, publisher, social networker and ultimately, a
web-based instructor. Since the most notable contribution of
integrating technology is being a tool of teaching as well as a
stimulus for learning, WeCWI focuses on the use of contemporary
web tools based on the multiple roles played by the 21st century
educator. The micro perspective in instructional design draws
attention to the pedagogical approaches focusing on three main
aspects: reading, discussion, and writing. With the effective use of
pedagogical approaches through free reading and enterprises,
technology adds new dimensions and expands the boundaries of
learning capacity. Lastly, WeCWI also imparts the fundamental
theories and models for web-based instructors’ awareness such as
interactionist theory, cognitive information processing (CIP) theory,
computer-mediated communication (CMC), e-learning interactionalbased
model, inquiry models, sensory mind model, and leaning styles
model.
Abstract: This paper focuses on the presentation of results
which were obtained as a part of the project FR-TI 3/742: “System of
Lightweight Materials for Finishing of Buildings with Waste Raw
Materials”. Attention was paid to the light weighting of polymermodified
mortars applicable as adhesives, screeds and repair mortars.
In terms of repair mortars, they were ones intended for the sanitation
of aerated concrete.