Abstract: We evaluated the effect of sensory (direct current
(DC), 600μA) and motor (monophasic current, pulse duration 300μs,
100 Hz, 2.5-3mA) intensities of cathodal electrical stimulation (ES)
current to release VEGF and biomechanical properties of wound. 54
male Sprague-dawley rats were randomly assigned into one control
and two experimental groups. A full thickness skin incision was
made on animals- dorsal region. The experimental groups received
ES for 1h/day and every other day. VEGF expression was measured
in skin on the 7th day after surgical incision and tensile strength was
measured on 21st day. On the 7th day, the values of skin VEGF in the
sensory group were significantly greater than those of the other
groups (p < 0.05). Sensory and Motor intensity stimulation, can not
improve the biomechanical properties of the repaired wounds.
It seems the mechanical environment induced by sensory and
motor intensity of electrical stimulation, could not simulate the role
of normal daily stress and strain to maturation of collagen fibers and
their cross links. Further work is needed to determine the relationship
between VEGF expression after ES and its effect on tensile strength
of healed wound.
Abstract: The charge-exchange xenon (CEX) ion generated by ion thruster can backflow to the surface of spacecraft and threaten to the safety of spacecraft operation. In order to evaluate the effects of the induced plasma environment in backflow regions on the spacecraft, we designed a spherical single Langmuir probe of 5.8cm in diameter for measuring low-density plasma parameters in backflow region of ion thruster. In practice, the tests are performed in a two-dimensional array (40cm×60cm) composed of 20 sites. The experiment results illustrate that the electron temperature ranges from 3.71eV to 3.96eV, with the mean value of 3.82eV and the standard deviation of 0.064eV. The electron density ranges from 8.30×1012/m3 to 1.66×1013/m3, with the mean value of 1.30×1013/m3 and the standard deviation of 2.15×1012/m3. All data is analyzed according to the “ideal" plasma conditions of Maxwellian distributions.
Abstract: This article considers with the influence of selected economic indicators for the development of the Zlin region. Development of the region is mainly influenced by business entities which are located in the region, as well as investors who contribute to the development of regions. For the development of the region it is necessary for skilled workers remain in the region and not to leave these skilled workers. The above-mentioned and other factors are affecting the development of each region.
Abstract: A mammography image is composed of low contrast area where the breast tissues and the breast abnormalities such as microcalcification can hardly be differentiated by the medical practitioner. This paper presents the application of active contour models (Snakes) for the segmentation of microcalcification in mammography images. Comparison on the microcalcifiation areas segmented by the Balloon Snake, Gradient Vector Flow (GVF) Snake, and Distance Snake is done against the true value of the microcalcification area. The true area value is the average microcalcification area in the original mammography image traced by the expert radiologists. From fifty images tested, the result obtained shows that the accuracy of the Balloon Snake, GVF Snake, and Distance Snake in segmenting boundaries of microcalcification are 96.01%, 95.74%, and 95.70% accuracy respectively. This implies that the Balloon Snake is a better segmentation method to locate the exact boundary of a microcalcification region.
Abstract: The distribution, enrichment, accumulation, and potential ecological risk of copper (Cu) in the surface sediments of northern Kaohsiung Harbor, Taiwan were investigated. Sediment samples from 12 locations of northern Kaohsiung Harbor were collected and characterized for Cu, aluminum, water content, organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, total grease and grain size. Results showed that the Cu concentrations varied from 6.9–244 mg/kg with an average of 109±66 mg/kg. The spatial distribution of Cu reveals that the Cu concentration is relatively high in the river mouth region, and gradually diminishes toward the harbor entrance region. This indicates that upstream industrial and municipal wastewater discharges along the river bank are major sources of Cu pollution. Results from the enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index analyses imply that the sediments collected from the river mouth can be characterized between moderate and moderately severe degree enrichment and between none to medium and moderate accumulation of Cu, respectively. However, results of potential ecological risk index indicate that the sediment has low ecological potential risk.
Abstract: This paper presents the experimental results of a
single cylinder Enfield engine using an electronically controlled fuel
injection system which was developed to carry out exhaustive tests
using neat CNG, and mixtures of hydrogen in compressed natural gas
(HCNG) as 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% by energy. Experiments were
performed at 2000 and 2400 rpm with wide open throttle and varying
the equivalence ratio. Hydrogen which has fast burning rate, when
added to compressed natural gas, enhances its flame propagation rate.
The emissions of HC, CO, decreased with increasing percentage of
hydrogen but NOx was found to increase. The results indicated a
marked improvement in the brake thermal efficiency with the
increase in percentage of hydrogen added. The improved thermal
efficiency was clearly observed to be more in lean region as
compared to rich region. This study is expected to reduce vehicular
emissions along with increase in thermal efficiency and thus help in
reduction of further environmental degradation.
Abstract: Saudi Arabia in recent years has seen drastic increase
in traffic related crashes. With population of over 29 million, Saudi
Arabia is considered as a fast growing and emerging economy. The
rapid population increase and economic growth has resulted in rapid
expansion of transportation infrastructure, which has led to increase
in road crashes. Saudi Ministry of Interior reported more than 7,000
people killed and 68,000 injured in 2011 ranking Saudi Arabia to be
one of the worst worldwide in traffic safety. The traffic safety issues
in the country also result in distress to road users and cause and
economic loss exceeding 3.7 billion Euros annually. Keeping this in
view, the researchers in Saudi Arabia are investigating ways to
improve traffic safety conditions in the country. This paper presents a
multilevel approach to collect traffic safety related data required to do
traffic safety studies in the region. Two highway corridors including
King Fahd Highway 39 kilometre and Gulf Cooperation Council
Highway 42 kilometre long connecting the cities of Dammam and
Khobar were selected as a study area. Traffic data collected included
traffic counts, crash data, travel time data, and speed data. The
collected data was analysed using geographic information system to
evaluate any correlation. Further research is needed to investigate the
effectiveness of traffic safety related data when collected in a
concerted effort.
Abstract: This paper presents an optimized methodology to
folded cascode operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) design.
The design is done in different regions of operation, weak inversion,
strong inversion and moderate inversion using the gm/ID methodology
in order to optimize MOS transistor sizing.
Using 0.35μm CMOS process, the designed folded cascode OTA
achieves a DC gain of 77.5dB and a unity-gain frequency of 430MHz
in strong inversion mode. In moderate inversion mode, it has a 92dB
DC gain and provides a gain bandwidth product of around 69MHz.
The OTA circuit has a DC gain of 75.5dB and unity-gain frequency
limited to 19.14MHZ in weak inversion region.
Abstract: This paper presents a new true RMS-to-DC converter
circuit based on a square-root-domain squarer/divider. The circuit is
designed by employing up-down translinear loop and using of
MOSFET transistors that operate in strong inversion saturation
region. The converter offer advantages of two-quadrant input current,
low circuit complexity, low supply voltage (1.2V) and immunity
from the body effect. The circuit has been simulated by HSPICE.
The simulation results are seen to conform to the theoretical analysis
and shows benefits of the proposed circuit.
Abstract: In this research three methods of Maximum Likelihood, Mahalanobis Distance and Minimum Distance were analyzed in the Western part of Isfahan province in the Iran country. For this purpose, the IRS satellite images and various land preparation uses in region including rangelands, irrigation farming, dry farming, gardens and urban areas were separated and identified. In these methods, matrix error and Kappa index were calculated and accuracy of each method, based on percentages: 53.13, 56.64 and 48.44, were obtained respectively. Considering the low accuracy of these methods to separate land uses due to spread of the land uses, it-s suggested the visual interpretation of the map, to preparing the land use map in this region. The map prepared by visual interpretation is in high accuracy if it will be accompany with the visit of the region.
Abstract: Technical laboratories are typically considered as
highly hazardous places in the polytechnic institution when
addressing the problems of high incidences and fatality rates. In
conjunction with several topics covered in the technical curricular,
safety and health precaution should be highlighted in order to
connect to few key ideas of being safe. Therefore the assessment of
safety awareness in terms of safety and health about hazardous and
risks at laboratories is needed and has to be incorporated with
technical education and other training programmes. The purpose of
this study was to determine the efficacy of technical laboratory safety
in one of the polytechnics in northern region. The study examined
three related issues that were; the availability of safety material and
equipment, safety practice adopted by technical teachers and
administrator-s safety attitudes in enforcing safety to the students. A
model of efficacy technical laboratory was developed to test the
linear relationship between existing safety material and equipment,
teachers- safety practice and administrators- attitude in enforcing
safety and to identify which of technical laboratory safety issues was
the most pertinent factor to realize safety in technical laboratory.
This was done by analyzing survey-based data sets particularly those
obtained from samples of 210 students in the polytechnic. The
Pearson Correlation was used to measure the association between the
variables and to test the research hypotheses. The result of the study
has found that there was a significant correlation between existing
safety material and equipment, safety practice adopted by teacher
and administrator-s attitude. There was also a significant relationship
between technical laboratory safety and safety practice adopted by
teacher and between technical laboratory safety and administrator
attitude. Hence, safety practice adopted by teacher and administrator
attitude is vital in realizing technical laboratory safety.
Abstract: The National Blood Center, Thai Red Cross Society is
responsible for providing blood to hospitals all over the country.
When any hospital needs blood, it will have to send the vehicle to
pick up at the NBC. There are a lot of vehicles to pick up blood at the
NBC every day. Each vehicle is usually empty for inbound trip and a
little loaded for outbound. The NBC realized such waste or loss and
there have been the third party offered to distribute blood and charge
for fee. This paper proposes to apply the vehicle routing problem
(VRP) for estimating the fair price. The idea is tested with the real
data during seven-day period of 6 – 12 July 2010 to estimate the fair
price for transporting blood in Bangkok Metropolitan Region.
Abstract: The development of One Tambon One Product
(OTOP) became the policy of the government in 1997 after the
former Prime Minister had been in power. The strategy of sections is
currently set for the policy. OTOP has become the part of the way of
community lives around the country. OTOP may be developed under
changing into ASEAN economic community in 2015 because of the
flow of capitals, productions, and many workers in the region. All
sectors are improved for the change. The purposes of study were to
study the strength and weakness of the OTOP-creating process via its
policy and to lead to the strategy to be able to apply before changing.
The methodology is qualitative to study its policy including
document and to interview experienced persons. The findings showed
that the effort of improvement of all sectors obviously involves with
OTOP development. Particularly, the strategic administration of
OTOP is in every level of the state, central sector, region, and
community.
Abstract: With the explosive growth of information sources available on the World Wide Web, it has become increasingly difficult to identify the relevant pieces of information, since web pages are often cluttered with irrelevant content like advertisements, navigation-panels, copyright notices etc., surrounding the main content of the web page. Hence, tools for the mining of data regions, data records and data items need to be developed in order to provide value-added services. Currently available automatic techniques to mine data regions from web pages are still unsatisfactory because of their poor performance and tag-dependence. In this paper a novel method to extract data items from the web pages automatically is proposed. It comprises of two steps: (1) Identification and Extraction of the data regions based on visual clues information. (2) Identification of data records and extraction of data items from a data region. For step1, a novel and more effective method is proposed based on visual clues, which finds the data regions formed by all types of tags using visual clues. For step2 a more effective method namely, Extraction of Data Items from web Pages (EDIP), is adopted to mine data items. The EDIP technique is a list-based approach in which the list is a linear data structure. The proposed technique is able to mine the non-contiguous data records and can correctly identify data regions, irrespective of the type of tag in which it is bound. Our experimental results show that the proposed technique performs better than the existing techniques.
Abstract: There are two types of drought as conceptual drought
and operational drought. The three parameters as the beginning, the
end and the degree of severity of the drought can be identifying in
operational drought by average precipitation in the whole region. One
of the methods classified to measure drought is Reconnaissance
Drought Index (RDI). Evapotranspiration is calculated using
Penman-Monteith method by analyzing thirty nine years prolong
climatic data. The evapotranspiration is then utilized in RDI to
classify normalized and standardized RDI. These RDI classifications
led to what kind of drought faced in Bhavnagar region on 12 month
time scale basis. The comparison between actual drought conditions
and RDI method used to find out drought are also illustrated. It can
be concluded that the index results of drought in a particular year are
same in both methods but having different index values where as
severity remain same.
Abstract: Raman spectroscopy are used to characterize the
chemical changes in normoxic polyhydroxyethylacrylate gel
dosimeter (PHEA) induced by radiation. Irradiations in the low dose
region are performed and the polymerizations of PHEA gels are
monitored by the observing the changes of Raman shift intensity of
the carbon covalent bond of PHEA originated from both monomer
and the cross-linker. The variation in peak intensities with absorbed
dose was observed. As the dose increase, the peak intensities of
covalent bond of carbon in the polymer gels decrease. This point out
that the amount of absorbed dose affect the polymerization of
polymer gels. As the absorbed dose increase, the polymerizations
also increase. Results verify that PHEA gel dosimeters are sensitive
even in lower dose region.
Abstract: From the beginning of creation, human being has ever
fought against the ecosystem by changes has made in environment.
The most environmental changes on the nature have been done after
starting the concentrated life in the same region. Dams are one of the
most important buildings in water resources and transferring. These
buildings have been made from old times without access to
hydrological, hydraulically, hydro mechanical information. Dams
have positive and negative effects on environment. Constructing a
dam relatively causes equal ecological consequences. According to
different criteria, environmental effects of dams can lead short term
and long term damages. These effects may influence on the situation
and treatment of meteorology, biology, culture, ancient works, etc
and severely causes to change and complicate it. So considering
importance of positive effects of dam construction, it is necessary to
minimize negative environmental effects of dams to achieve a stable
development. In this article the considered effects and their solutions
in influencing on assessment of destructive environmental effects of
dams construction have been surveyed and presented.
Abstract: This paper addresses linear quadratic regulation (LQR)
for variable speed variable pitch wind turbines. Because of the
inherent nonlinearity of wind turbine, a set of operating conditions is
identified and then a LQR controller is designed for each operating
point. The feedback controller gains are then interpolated linearly to
get control law for the entire operating region. Besides, the
aerodynamic torque and effective wind speed are estimated online to
get the gain-scheduling variable for implementing the controller. The
potential of the method is verified through simulation with the help of
MATLAB/Simulink and GH Bladed. The performance and
mechanical load when using LQR are also compared with that when
using PI controller.
Abstract: This article is dedicated to the question of regionalism
and regionalization in contemporary international relations, with a
specific focus on Central Asia. The article addresses the question of
whether or not Central Asia can be referred to as a true geopolitical
region. In addressing this question, the authors examine particular
factors that are essential for the formation of a region, including those
tied to the economy, energy, culture, and labor migration.
Abstract: Disparity in India has been persisting since independence causing many socioeconomic problems and its removal has become the most prime objective of the planned development in India. Hence the paper attempts to study the disparity at State and Regional level and gives inclusive planning guidelines to achieve balanced regional development. At State level, the relative socioeconomic backwardness of Vidarbha Region based on Interregional analysis using selected indicators like Foreign Direct Investment, Human Development Index, Per Capita District Domestic Product has been assessed and broad guidelines have been proposed. In the later part at Regional level, the relative backwardness of districts based on Intraregional analysis using socioeconomic indicators has been assessed within Nagpur sub region and factors responsible for backwardness & disparity have been indicated. The policy guidelines for Identified sub region have been proposed based on the most significant factor and their extent of relationship explaining backwardness Nagpur sub region.