Abstract: Istanbul-Karakoy Port, field of this study, has lost its
former significance in time due to the transformation of urban
functions. Today, activities for regeneration of this region continue in
two forms and scales. First of these activities is the "planned
transformation projects," which also includes “Galataport project”,
and the second one is "spontaneous transformation," which consists
of individual interventions. Galataport project that based on the idea
of arranging the area specifically for tourists was prepared in 2005
and became a topic of tremendous public debate. On the other hand,
the "spontaneous transformation" that is observed in Karakoy District
starts in 2004 with the foundation of “Istanbul Modern Museum”
which allowed the cultural integration of old naval warehouses of the
port to the daily life. Following this adaptive reuse intervention, the
district started to accommodate numerous art galleries, studios, caféworkshops
and design stores. In this context, this paper first examines
regeneration studies in obsolete port regions, analyzes the planned
and ongoing socio-spatial transformations in the specific case of
Karakoy and performs a critical review of the sustainability of the
proposals on how to reinstate the district in the active life of Istanbul.
Abstract: Social Avoidance is one of the most important
problems that face a good number of disabled students. It results from
the negative attitudes of non-disabled students, teachers and others.
Some of the past research has shown that non-disabled individuals
hold negative attitudes toward persons with disabilities. The present
study aims to alleviate Social Avoidance by applying the Cognitive
Behavioral Intervention. 24 Blind students aged 19–24 (university students) were randomly
chosen we compared an experimental group (consisted of 12
students) who went through the intervention program, with a control
group (12 students also) who did not go through such intervention.
We used the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS) to assess
social anxiety and distress behavior. The author used many
techniques of cognitive behavioral intervention such as modeling,
cognitive restructuring, extension, contingency contracts, selfmonitoring,
assertiveness training, role play, encouragement and
others. Statistically, T-test was employed to test the research
hypothesis. Result showed that there is a significance difference between the
experimental group and the control group after the intervention and
also at the follow up stages of the Social Avoidance and Distress
Scale. Also for the experimental group, there is a significance
difference before the intervention and the follow up stages for the
scale. Results showed that, there is a decrease in social avoidance.
Accordingly, cognitive behavioral intervention program was
successful in decreasing social avoidance for blind students.
Abstract: Structural analysis of flexible pavements has been and still is currently performed using multi-layer elastic theory. However, for thinly surfaced pavements subjected to low to medium volumes of traffics, the importance of non-linear stress-strain behavior of unbound granular materials (UGM) requires the use of more sophisticated numerical models for structural design and performance of such pavements. In the present work, nonlinear unbound aggregates constitutive model is implemented within an axisymmetric finite element code developed to simulate the nonlinear behavior of pavement structures including two local aggregates of different mineralogical nature, typically used in Algerian pavements. The performance of the mechanical model is examined about its capability of representing adequately, under various conditions, the granular material non-linearity in pavement analysis. In addition, deflection data collected by Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) are incorporated into the analysis in order to assess the sensitivity of critical pavement design criteria and pavement design life to the constitutive model. Finally, conclusions of engineering significance are formulated.
Abstract: This paper explores and provides substantiated
evidence on the usage patterns of Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs) by female users at Vhembe District in Limpopo-
Province, South Africa. The study presents a comprehensive picture
on the usage of ICTs from female users’ perspective. The
significance of this study stems from the need to assess the role,
relevance and usage patterns of ICTs such as smartphones,
computers, laptops, and iPods, the internet and social networking
sites among females following the developments of new media
technologies in society. The objective of the study is to investigate
the usability and accessibility of ICTs to empower female users in
South Africa. The study used quantitative and qualitative research
methods to determine the major ideas, perceptions and usage patterns
of ICTs by users. Data collection involved the use of structured selfadministered
questionnaire from two groups of respondents who
participated in this study. Thus, (n=50) female students at the
University of Venda provided their ideas and perceptions about the
usefulness and usage patterns of ICTs such as smartphones, the
Internet and computers at the university level, whereas, the second
group were (n=50) learners from Makhado Comprehensive School
who provided their perceptions and ideas about the use of ICTs at the
high school level. The researcher also noted that the findings of the
study were useful as a guideline and model for ICT intervention that
could work as an empowerment to women in South Africa. It was
observed that the central purpose of ICTs among female users was to
search for information regarding assignment writing, conducting
research, dating, exchanging ideas and networking with friends and
relatives. This was demonstrated by a high number of females who
used ICTs for e-learning (62%) and social purposes (85%).
Therefore, the study revealed that most females used ICTs for social
purposes and accessing the internet rather than for entertainment, a
gesture that provides an opportune space to empower rural women in
South Africa.
Abstract: This study aims to increase understanding of the
transition of business models in servitization. The significance of
service in all business has increased dramatically during the past
decades. Service-dominant logic (SDL) describes this change in the
economy and questions the goods-dominant logic on which business
has primarily been based in the past. A business model canvas is one
of the most cited and used tools in defining end developing business
models. The starting point of this paper lies in the notion that the
traditional business model canvas is inherently goods-oriented and
best suits for product-based business. However, the basic differences
between goods and services necessitate changes in business model
representations when proceeding in servitization. Therefore, new
knowledge is needed on how the conception of business model and
the business model canvas as its representation should be altered in
servitized firms in order to better serve business developers and interfirm
co-creation. That is to say, compared to products, services are
intangible and they are co-produced between the supplier and the
customer. Value is always co-created in interaction between a
supplier and a customer, and customer experience primarily depends
on how well the interaction succeeds between the actors. The role of
service experience is even stronger in service business compared to
product business, as services are co-produced with the customer. This paper provides business model developers with a service
business model canvas, which takes into account the intangible,
interactive, and relational nature of service. The study employs a
design science approach that contributes to theory development via
design artifacts. This study utilizes qualitative data gathered in
workshops with ten companies from various industries. In particular,
key differences between Goods-dominant logic (GDL) and SDLbased
business models are identified when an industrial firm
proceeds in servitization. As the result of the study, an updated version of the business
model canvas is provided based on service-dominant logic. The
service business model canvas ensures a stronger customer focus and
includes aspects salient for services, such as interaction between
companies, service co-production, and customer experience. It can be
used for the analysis and development of a current service business
model of a company or for designing a new business model. It
facilitates customer-focused new service design and service
development. It aids in the identification of development needs, and
facilitates the creation of a common view of the business model.
Therefore, the service business model canvas can be regarded as a
boundary object, which facilitates the creation of a common
understanding of the business model between several actors involved.
The study contributes to the business model and service business
development disciplines by providing a managerial tool for
practitioners in service development. It also provides research insight
into how servitization challenges companies’ business models.
Abstract: The goal of the modern education system is to prepare
students to be able to adapt to ever-changing life situations. They
must be able to acquire required knowledge independently; apply
such knowledge in practice to solve various problems by using
modern technologies; think critically and creatively; competently use
information; be communicative, work in a team; and develop their
own moral values, intellect and cultural awareness. As a result, the
status of education significantly increases; new requirements to its
quality have been formed. In recent years the competency-based
approach in education has become of significant interest. This
approach is a strengthening of applied and practical characteristics of
a school education and leads to the forming of the key students’
competencies which define their success in future life. In this article,
the authors’ attention focuses on a range of key competencies,
educational, informational and communicative and on the possibility
to develop such competencies via STEM education. This research
shows the change in students’ attitude towards scientific disciplines
such as mathematics, general science, technology and engineering as
a result of STEM education. Two staged analyzed questionnaires
completed by students of forms II to IV in the republic of Trinidad
and Tobago allowed the authors to categorize students between two
levels that represent students’ attitude to various disciplines. The
significance of differences between selected levels was confirmed
with the use of Pearson’s chi-squared test. In summary, the analysis
of obtained data makes it possible to conclude that STEM education
has a great potential for development of core students’ competencies
and encourage the development of positive student attitude towards
the above mentioned above scientific disciplines.
Abstract: The global demand for long-tailed macaques for
medical experimentation has continued to increase. Fulfillment of
Indonesian export demands has been mostly from natural habitats,
based on a harvesting quota. This quota has been determined
according to the total catch for a given year, and not based on
consideration of any demographic parameters or physical
environmental factors with regard to the animal; hence threatening
the sustainability of the various populations. It is therefore necessary
to formulate a method for calculating a sustainable harvesting quota,
based on population parameters in natural habitats. Considering the
possibility of variations in habitat characteristics and population
parameters, a time series observation of demographic and
physical/biotic parameters, in various habitats, was performed on 13
groups of long-tailed macaques, distributed throughout the West
Java, Lampung and Yogyakarta areas of Indonesia. These provinces
were selected for comparison of the influence of human/tourism
activities. Data on population parameters that was collected included
data on life expectancy according to age class, numbers of
individuals by sex and age class, and ‘ratio of infants to reproductive
females’. The estimation of population growth was based on a
population dynamic growth model: the Leslie matrix. The harvesting
quota was calculated as being the difference between the actual
population size and the MVP (minimum viable population) for each
sex and age class. Observation indicated that there were variations within group size
(24–106 individuals), gender (sex) ratio (1:1 to 1:1.3), life expectancy
value (0.30 to 0.93), and ‘ratio of infants to reproductive females’
(0.23 to 1.56). Results of subsequent calculations showed that
sustainable harvesting quotas for each studied group of long-tailed
macaques, ranged from 29 to 110 individuals. An estimation model
of the MVP for each age class was formulated as Log Y = 0.315 +
0.884 Log Ni (number of individual on ith age class). This study also
found that life expectancy for the juvenile age class was affected by
the humidity under tree stands, and dietary plants’ density at sapling,
pole and tree stages (equation: Y=2.296 – 1.535 RH + 0.002 Kpcg –
0.002 Ktg – 0.001 Kphn, R2 = 89.6% with a significance value of
0.001). By contrast, for the sub-adult-adult age class, life expectancy
was significantly affected by slope (equation: Y=0.377 = 0.012 Kml,
R2 = 50.4%, with significance level of 0.007). The infant-toreproductive-
female ratio was affected by humidity under tree stands,
and dietary plant density at sapling and pole stages (equation: Y = -
1.432 + 2.172 RH – 0.004 Kpcg + 0.003 Ktg, R2 = 82.0% with
significance level of 0.001). This research confirmed the importance
of population parameters in determining the minimum viable
population, and that MVP varied according to habitat characteristics
(especially food availability). It would be difficult therefore, to
formulate a general mathematical equation model for determining a
harvesting quota for the species as a whole.
Abstract: As the Silicon oxide scaled down in MOSFET
technology to few nanometers, gate Direct Tunneling (DT) in
Floating gate (FGMOSFET) devices has become a major concern for
analog designers. FGMOSFET has been used in many low-voltage
and low-power applications, however, there is no accurate model that
account for DT gate leakage in nano-scale. This paper studied and
analyzed different simulation models for FGMOSFET using TSMC
90-nm technology. The simulation results for FGMOSFET cascade
current mirror shows the impact of DT on circuit performance in
terms of current and voltage without the need for fabrication. This
works shows the significance of using an accurate model for
FGMOSFET in nan-scale technologies.
Abstract: This study compares the intensity of game load among
player positions and between the 1st and the 2nd half of the games.
Two guards, three forwards, and three centers (female basketball
players) participated in this study. The heart rate (HR) and its
development were monitored during two competitive games.
Statistically insignificant differences in the intensity of game load
were recorded between guards, forwards, and centers below and
above 85% of the maximal heart rate (HRmax) and in the mean HR as
% of HRmax (87.81±3.79%, 87.02±4.37%, and 88.76±3.54%,
respectively). Moreover, when the 1st and the 2nd half of the games
were compared in the mean HR (87.89±4.18% vs. 88.14±3.63% of
HRmax), no statistical significance was recorded. This information can
be useful for coaching staff, to manage and to precisely plan the
training process.
Abstract: Accurate forecasting of fresh produce demand is one
the challenges faced by Small Medium Enterprise (SME)
wholesalers. This paper is an attempt to understand the cause for the
high level of variability such as weather, holidays etc., in demand of
SME wholesalers. Therefore, understanding the significance of
unidentified factors may improve the forecasting accuracy. This
paper presents the current literature on the factors used to predict
demand and the existing forecasting techniques of short shelf life
products. It then investigates a variety of internal and external
possible factors, some of which is not used by other researchers in the
demand prediction process. The results presented in this paper are
further analysed using a number of techniques to minimize noise in
the data. For the analysis past sales data (January 2009 to May 2014)
from a UK based SME wholesaler is used and the results presented
are limited to product ‘Milk’ focused on café’s in derby. The
correlation analysis is done to check the dependencies of variability
factor on the actual demand. Further PCA analysis is done to
understand the significance of factors identified using correlation.
The PCA results suggest that the cloud cover, weather summary and
temperature are the most significant factors that can be used in
forecasting the demand. The correlation of the above three factors
increased relative to monthly and becomes more stable compared to
the weekly and daily demand.
Abstract: Traditionally, the embodied energy of design choices
which reduce operational energy were assumed to have a negligible
impact on the life cycle energy of buildings. However with new
buildings having considerably lower operational energy, the
significance of embodied energy increases. A life cycle assessment of
a population of house designs was conducted in a mild and mixed
climate zone. It was determined not only that embodied energy
dominates life cycle energy, but that the impact on embodied of
design choices was of equal significance to the impact on operational
energy.
Abstract: Residential buildings consume significant amounts of
energy and produce large amount of emissions and waste. However,
there is a substantial potential for energy savings in this sector which
needs to be evaluated over the life cycle of residential buildings. Life
Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology has been employed to study
the primary energy uses and associated environmental impacts of
different phases (i.e., product, construction, use, end of life, and
beyond building life) for residential buildings. Four different
alternatives of residential buildings in Vancouver (BC, Canada) with
a 50-year lifespan have been evaluated, including High Rise
Apartment (HRA), Low Rise Apartment (LRA), Single family
Attached House (SAH), and Single family Detached House (SDH).
Life cycle performance of the buildings is evaluated for embodied
energy, embodied environmental impacts, operational energy,
operational environmental impacts, total life-cycle energy, and total
life cycle environmental impacts. Estimation of operational energy
and LCA are performed using DesignBuilder software and Athena
Impact estimator software respectively.
The study results revealed that over the life span of the buildings,
the relationship between the energy use and the environmental
impacts are identical. LRA is found to be the best alternative in terms
of embodied energy use and embodied environmental impacts; while,
HRA showed the best life-cycle performance in terms of minimum
energy use and environmental impacts. Sensitivity analysis has also
been carried out to study the influence of building service lifespan
over 50, 75, and 100 years on the relative significance of embodied
energy and total life cycle energy. The life-cycle energy requirements
for SDH are found to be a significant component among the four
types of residential buildings. The overall disclose that the primary
operations of these buildings accounts for 90% of the total life cycle
energy which far outweighs minor differences in embodied effects
between the buildings.
Abstract: Food poisoning and infection by bacteria are of public
health significance to both developing and developed countries.
Samples of ogi (akamu) prepared from white and yellow variety of
maize sold in Uturu and Okigwe were analyzed together with the
laboratory prepared ogi for bacterial quality using the standard
microbiological methods. The analyses showed that both white and
yellow variety had total bacterial counts (cfu/g) of 4.0 ×107 and 3.9 x
107 for the laboratory prepared ogi while the commercial ogi had 5.2
x 107 and 4.9 x107, 4.9 x107 and 4.5 x107, 5.4 x107 and 5.0 x107 for
Eke-Okigwe, Up-gate and Nkwo-Achara market respectively. The
Staphylococcal counts ranged from 2.0 x 102 to 5.0 x102 and 1.0 x
102 to 4.0 x102 for the white and yellow variety from the different
markets while Staphylococcal growth was not recorded on the
laboratory prepared ogi. The laboratory prepared ogi had no Coliform
growth while the commercially prepared ogi had counts of 0.5 x103
to 1.6 x 103 for white variety and 0.3 x 103 to 1.1 x103 for yellow
variety respectively. The Lactic acid bacterial count of 3.5x106 and
3.0x106 was recorded for the laboratory ogi while the commercially
prepared ogi ranged from 3.2x106 to 4.2x106 (white variety) and 3.0
x106 to 3.9 x106 (yellow). The presence of bacteria isolates from the
commercial and laboratory fermented ogi showed that Lactobacillus
sp, Leuconostoc sp and Citrobacter sp were present in all the
samples, Micrococcus sp and Klebsiella sp were isolated from Eke-
Okigwe and ABSU-up-gate markets varieties respectively, E. coli
and Staphylococcus sp were present in Eke-Okigwe and Nkwo-
Achara markets while Salmonella sp were isolated from the three
markets. Hence, there are chances of contracting food borne diseases
from commercially prepared ogi. Therefore, there is the need for
sanitary measures in the production of fermented cereals so as to
minimize the rate of food borne pathogens during processing and
storage.
Abstract: Hemoglobin (HB) indicates anemia level and by
extension may reflect the nutritional level and perhaps the immunity
of an individual. Some antiretroviral drugs like Zidovudine are
known to cause anemia in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
A cross sectional study using demographic data and blood specimen
from 218 female commercial sex workers attending antiretroviral
therapy (ART) clinics was conducted between December, 2009 and
July, 2011 to assess the effect of zidovudine on hematologic, and
RNA viral load of female sex workers receiving antiretroviral
treatment in north western Nigeria. Anemia is a common and serious
complication of both HIV infection and its treatment. In the setting of
HIV infection, anemia has been associated with decreased quality of
life, functional status, and survival. Antiretroviral therapy,
particularly the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), has
been associated with a decrease in the incidence and severity of
anemia in HIV-infected patients who have received a HAART
regimen for at least 1 year. In this study, result has shown that of the
218 patients, 26 with hemoglobin count between 5.1 – 10g/dl were
observed to have the highest viral load count of 300,000 –
350,000copies/ml. It was also observed that most patients (190) with
HB of 10.1 – 15.0g/dl had viral load count of 200,000 – 250,000
copies /ml. An inverse relationship therefore exists i.e. the lower the
hemoglobin level, the higher the viral load count even though the test
statistics did not show any significance between the two (P = 0.206).
This shows that multivariate logistic regression analysis
demonstrated that anemia was associated with a CD4 + cell count
below 50/μL, female sex workers with a viral load above 100,000
copies/mL, who use zidovudine.
Severe anemia was less prevalent in this study population than in
historical comparators; however, mild to moderate anemia rates
remain high. The study therefore recommends that hematological and
virologic parameters be monitored closely in patients receiving first
line ART regimen.
Abstract: The main objective of this article is to examine the
impact of interest rates on investments in Poland in the context of
financial crisis. The paper also investigates the dependence of bank
loans to enterprises on interbank market rates. The article studies the
impact of interbank market rate on the level of investments in Poland.
Besides, this article focuses on the research of the correlation
between the level of corporate loans and the amount of investments
in Poland in order to determine the indirect impact of central bank
interest rates through the transmission mechanism of monetary policy
on the real economy. To achieve the objective we have used
econometric and statistical research methods like: econometric model
and Pearson correlation coefficient.
This analysis suggests that the central bank reference rate
inversely proportionally affects the level of investments in Poland
and this dependence is moderate. This is also important issue because
it is related to preparing of Poland to accession to euro area. The
research is important from both theoretical and empirical points of
view. The formulated conclusions and recommendations determine
the practical significance of the paper which may be used in the
decision making process of monetary and economic authorities of the
country.
Abstract: The purpose of the study was to find out the effects of
Aquatic and Land plyometric training on selected physical variables
in intercollegiate male handball players. To achieve this purpose of
the study, forty five handball players of Sardar Vallabhbhai National
Institute of Technology, Surat, Gujarat were selected as players at
random and their age ranged between 18 to 21 years. The selected
players were divided into three equal groups of fifteen players each.
Group I underwent Aquatic plyometric training, Group II underwent
Land plyometric training and Group III Control group for three days
per week for twelve weeks. Control Group did not participate in any
special training programme apart from their regular activities as per
their curriculum. The following physical fitness variables namely
speed; leg explosive power and agility were selected as dependent
variables. All the players of three groups were tested on selected
dependent variables prior to and immediately after the training
programme. The analysis of covariance was used to analyze the
significant difference, if any among the groups. Since, three groups
were compared, whenever the obtained ‘F’ ratio for adjusted posttest
was found to be significant, the Scheffe’s test to find out the paired
mean differences, if any. The 0.05 level of confidence was fixed as
the level of significance to test the ‘F’ ratio obtained by the analysis
of covariance, which was considered as an appropriate. The result of
the study indicates due to Aquatic and Land plyometric training on
speed, explosive power, and agility has been improved significantly.
Abstract: Biodiesel as an alternative diesel fuel is steadily gaining more attention and significance. However, there are some drawbacks while using biodiesel regarding its properties that requires it to be blended with petrol based diesel and/or additives to improve the fuel characteristics. This study analyses thermal cracking as an alternative technology to improve biodiesel characteristics in which, FAME based biodiesel produced by transesterification of castor oil is fed into a continuous thermal cracking reactor at temperatures range of 450-500°C and flowrate range of 20-40 g/hr. Experiments designed by response surface methodology and subsequent statistical studies show that temperature and feed flowrate significantly affect the products yield. Response surfaces were used to study the impact of temperature and flowrate on the product properties. After each experiment, the produced crude bio-oil was distilled and diesel cut was separated. As shorter chain molecules are produced through thermal cracking, the distillation curve of the diesel cut fitted more with petrol based diesel curve in comparison to the biodiesel. Moreover, the produced diesel cut properties adequately pose within property ranges defined by the related standard of petrol based diesel. Cold flow properties, high heating value as the main drawbacks of the biodiesel are improved by this technology. Thermal cracking decreases kinematic viscosity, Flash point and cetane number.
Abstract: Complex lifting entry was selected for precise landing
performance during the Mars Science Laboratory entry. This study
aims to develop the three-dimensional numerical method for precise
computation and the surface panel method for rapid engineering
prediction. Detailed flow field analysis for Mars exploration mission
was performed by carrying on a series of fully three-dimensional
Navier-Stokes computations. The static aerodynamic performance was
then discussed, including the surface pressure, lift and drag coefficient,
lift-to-drag ratio with the numerical and engineering method.
Computation results shown that the shock layer is thin because of
lower effective specific heat ratio, and that calculated results from both
methods agree well with each other, and is consistent with the
reference data. Aerodynamic performance analysis shows that CG
location determines trim characteristics and pitch stability, and certain
radially and axially shift of the CG location can alter the capsule lifting
entry performance, which is of vital significance for the aerodynamic
configuration design and inner instrument layout of the Mars entry
capsule.
Abstract: Rapid growth of Information Technologies (IT) has
had huge influence on enterprises, and it has contributed to its
promotion and increasingly extensive use in enterprises. Information
Technologies have to a large extent determined the processes taking
place in an enterprise; what is more, IT development has brought the
need to adopt a brand new approach to human resources management
in an enterprise. The use of IT in human resource management
(HRM) is of high importance due to the growing role of information
and information technologies. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the
use of information technologies in human resources management in
enterprises. These practices will be presented in the following areas:
recruitment and selection, development and training, employee
assessment, motivation, talent management, personnel service.
Results of conducted survey show diversity of solutions applied in
particular areas of human resource management. In the future, further
development in this area should be expected, as well as integration of
individual HRM areas, growing mobile-enabled HR processes and
their transfer into the cloud. Presented IT solutions applied in HRM
are highly innovative, which is of great significance due to their
possible implementation in other enterprises.
Abstract: Due to the increasing efforts on saving our natural
environment a change in the structure of energy resources can be
observed - an increasing fraction of a renewable energy sources.
In many countries traditional underground coal mining loses its
significance but there are still countries, like Poland or Germany, in
which the coal based technologies have the greatest fraction in a total
energy production. This necessitates to make an effort to limit the
costs and negative effects of underground coal mining. The longwall
complex is as essential part of the underground coal mining. The
safety and the effectiveness of the work is strongly dependent of the
diagnostic state of powered roof supports.
The building of a useful and reliable diagnostic system requires
a lot of data. As the acquisition of a data of any possible operating
conditions it is important to have a possibility to generate a demanded
artificial working characteristics. In this paper a new approach of
modelling a leg pressure in the single unit of powered roof support.
The model is a result of the analysis of a typical working cycles.