Abstract: According to the demand of the power and
refrigeration industry, the theoretical and practical teachings of the
Thermal Energy and Power Engineering characteristic specialty in
china are studied. The teaching reform and practice of the Thermal
Energy and Power Engineering specialty have been carried out,
including construction and reform measures, teaching reform and
practice, features, and achievements. Proved by practices, the
theoretical and practical teaching effects are obvious. The study results
can provides certain reference experience for theoretical and practical
teachings of the related specialties in china.
Abstract: Currently, seismic probabilistic risk assessments
(SPRA) for nuclear facilities use In-Structure Response Spectra
(ISRS) in the calculation of fragilities for systems and components.
ISRS are calculated via dynamic analyses of the host building
subjected to two orthogonal components of horizontal ground
motion. Each component is defined as the median motion in any
horizontal direction. Structural engineers applied the components
along selected X and Y Cartesian axes. The ISRS at different
locations in the building are also calculated in the X and Y directions.
The choice of the directions of X and Y are not specified by the
ground motion model with respect to geographic coordinates, and are
rather arbitrarily selected by the structural engineer. Normally, X and
Y coincide with the “principal” axes of the building, in the
understanding that this practice is generally conservative. For SPRA
purposes, however, it is desirable to remove any conservatism in the
estimates of median ISRS. This paper examines the effects of the
direction of horizontal seismic motion on the ISRS on typical nuclear
structure. We also evaluate the variability of ISRS calculated along
different horizontal directions. Our results indicate that some central
measures of the ISRS provide robust estimates that are practically
independent of the selection of the directions of the horizontal
Cartesian axes.
Abstract: To evaluate the factors which predetermine the
coronary artery disease in patients having positive Exercise Tolerance
Test (ETT) that is treadmill results and coronary artery findings. This
descriptive study was conducted at Department of Cardiology,
Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital & Research Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh
from 1st January, 2014 to 31st August, 2014. All patients who had
done ETT (treadmill) for chest pain diagnosis were studied. One
hundred and four patients underwent coronary angiogram after
positive treadmill result. Patients were divided into two groups
depending upon the angiographic findings, i.e. true positive and false
positive. Positive treadmill test patients who have coronary artery
involvement these are called true positive and who have no
involvement they are called false positive group. Both groups were
compared with each other. Out of 104 patients, 81 (77.9%) patients
had true positive ETT and 23 (22.1%) patients had false positive
ETT. The mean age of patients in positive ETT was 53.46± 8.06
years and male mean age was 53.63±8.36 years and female was
52.87±7.0 years. Sixty nine (85.19%) male patients and twelve
(14.81%) female patients had true positive ETT, whereas 15
(65.21%) males and 8 (34.79%) females had false positive ETT, this
was statistically significant (p
Abstract: Vacuum insulation panel (VIP) is a promising thermal
insulator for buildings, refrigerator, LNG carrier and so on. In general,
it has the thermal conductivity of 2~4 mW/m·K. However, this thermal
conductivity is that measured at the center of VIP. The total effective
thermal conductivity of VIP is larger than this value due to the edge
conduction through the envelope. In this paper, the edge conduction of
VIP is examined theoretically, numerically and experimentally. To
confirm the existence of the edge conduction, numerical analysis is
performed for simple two-dimensional VIP model and a theoretical
model is proposed to calculate the edge conductivity. Also, the edge
conductivity is measured using the vacuum guarded hot plate and the
experiment is validated against numerical analysis. The results show
that the edge conductivity is dependent on the width of panel and
thickness of Al-foil. To reduce the edge conduction, it is recommended
that the VIP should be made as big as possible or made of thin Al film
envelope.
Abstract: In today’s highly competitive, dynamic and
technology driven business circumstances, marketers are under
steady pressure to deliver the best. Organizations are continuously
improving and upgrading themselves to meet customer expectations
and demands. Technology has not only changed the way in which
business is done in modern times but has also transformed the way to
reach out to target audience. Marketers have identified most recent
media options to communicate and convince potential customers.
Numerous scholars have studied the research domain of advertising
and have tried to recognize different measures of advertisement
effectiveness in context of various media. The objective of this paper
is to critically review accessible literature on advertisement
effectiveness in context of varied advertising media, recognize major
gaps in the literature and identify future research prospects on the
basis of critical analysis of literature.
Abstract: Skin detection is an important task for computer
vision systems. A good method of skin detection means a good and
successful result of the system.
The colour is a good descriptor for image segmentation and
classification; it allows detecting skin colour in the images. The
lighting changes and the objects that have a colour similar than skin
colour make the operation of skin detection difficult.
In this paper, we proposed a method using the YCbCr colour space
for skin detection and lighting effects elimination, then we use the
information of texture to eliminate the false regions detected by the
YCbCr skin model.
Abstract: Predicting earthquakes is an important issue in the
study of geography. Accurate prediction of earthquakes can help
people to take effective measures to minimize the loss of personal
and economic damage, such as large casualties, destruction of
buildings and broken of traffic, occurred within a few seconds.
United States Geological Survey (USGS) science organization
provides reliable scientific information about Earthquake Existed
throughout history & the Preliminary database from the National
Center Earthquake Information (NEIC) show some useful factors to
predict an earthquake in a seismic area like Aleutian Arc in the U.S.
state of Alaska. The main advantage of this prediction method that it
does not require any assumption, it makes prediction according to the
future evolution of the object's time series. The article compares
between simulation data result from trained BP and RBF neural
network versus actual output result from the system calculations.
Therefore, this article focuses on analysis of data relating to real
earthquakes. Evaluation results show better accuracy and higher
speed by using radial basis functions (RBF) neural network.
Abstract: Guided by the theory of learning styles, this study is
based on the development of a multimedia learning application for
students with mastery learning style. The learning material was
developed by applying a graduated difficulty learning strategy.
Algebra was chosen as the learning topic for this application. The
effectiveness of this application in helping students learn is measured
by giving a pre- and post-test. The result shows that students who
learn using the learning material that matches their preferred learning
style perform better than the students with a non-personalized
learning material.
Abstract: Maturity models, used descriptively to explain
changes in reality or normatively to guide managers to make
interventions to make organizations more effective and efficient, are
based on the principles of statistical quality control and PDCA
continuous improvement (Plan, Do, Check, Act). Some frameworks
developed over the concept of maturity models include COBIT,
CMM, and ITIL.
This paper presents some limitations of traditional maturity
models, most of them related to the mechanistic and reductionist
principles over which those models are built. As systems theory helps
the understanding of the dynamics of organizations and
organizational change, the development of a systemic maturity model
can help to overcome some of those limitations.
This document proposes a systemic maturity model, based on a
systemic conceptualization of organizations, focused on the study of
the functioning of the parties, the relationships among them, and their
behavior as a whole. The concept of maturity from the system theory
perspective is conceptually defined as an emergent property of the
organization, which arises as a result of the degree of alignment and
integration of their processes. This concept is operationalized through
a systemic function that measures the maturity of organizations, and
finally validated by the measuring of maturity in some organizations.
For its operationalization and validation, the model was applied to
measure the maturity of organizational Governance, Risk and
Compliance (GRC) processes.
Abstract: The Lean Environmental Management Integration
System (LEMIS) framework development is integration between lean
core element and ISO 14001. The curiosity on the relationship
between continuous improvement and sustainability of lean
implementation has influenced this study toward LEMIS.
Characteristic of ISO 14001 standard clauses and core elements of
lean principles are explored from past studies and literature reviews.
Survey was carried out on ISO 14001 certified companies to examine
continual improvement by implementing the ISO 14001 standard.
The study found that there is a significant and positive relationship
between Lean Principles: value, value stream, flow, pull and
perfection with the ISO 14001 requirements. LEMIS is significant to
support the continuous improvement and sustainability. The
integration system can be implemented to any manufacturing
company. It gives awareness on the importance on why organizations
need to sustain its environmental management system. In the
meantime, the lean principle can be adapted in order to streamline
daily activities of the company. Throughout the study, it had proven
that there is no sacrifice or trade-off between lean principles with ISO
14001 requirements. The framework developed in the study can be
further simplified in the future, especially the method of crossing
each sub requirements of ISO 14001 standard with the core elements
of Lean principles in this study.
Abstract: Violet Sr–Al–O:Eu2+ phosphor particles were
synthesized from a metal–ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
solution of Sr, Al, Eu, and particulate alumina via spray drying and
sintering in a reducing atmosphere. The crystal structures and emission
properties at 85–300 K were investigated. The composition of the
violet Sr–Al–O:Eu2+ phosphor particles was determined from various
Sr–Al–O:Eu2+ phosphors by their emission properties’ dependence
on temperature. The highly crystalline SrAl12O19:Eu2+ emission phases
were confirmed by their crystallite sizes and the activation energies for
the 4f5d–8S7/2 transition of the Eu2+ ion. These results showed that the
material identification for the violet Sr–Al–O:Eu2+ phosphor was
accomplished by the low-temperature luminescence measurements.
Abstract: The purpose of this work is examining the multiproduct
multi-stage in a battery production line. To improve the
performances of an assembly production line by determine the
efficiency of each workstation. Data collected from every
workstation. The data are throughput rate, number of operator, and
number of parts that arrive and leaves during part processing. Data
for the number of parts that arrives and leaves are collected at least at
the amount of ten samples to make the data is possible to be analyzed
by Chi-Squared Goodness Test and queuing theory. Measures of this
model served as the comparison with the standard data available in
the company. Validation of the task time value resulted by comparing
it with the task time value based on the company database. Some
performance factors for the multi-product multi-stage in a battery
production line in this work are shown.
The efficiency in each workstation was also shown. Total
production time to produce each part can be determined by adding
the total task time in each workstation. To reduce the queuing time
and increase the efficiency based on the analysis any probably
improvement should be done. One probably action is by increasing
the number of operators how manually operate this workstation.
Abstract: This research work is concerned with the life cycle
assessment (LCA) of an expressway, as well as its infrastructure, in
Thailand. The life cycle of an expressway encompasses the raw
material acquisition phase, the construction phase, the use or service
phase, the rehabilitation phase, and finally the demolition and
disposal phase. The LCA in this research was carried out using CML
baseline 2000 and in accordance with the ISO 14040 standard. A
functional unit refers to transportation of one person over one
kilometer of a 3-lane expressway with a 50-year lifetime. This
research has revealed that the construction phase produced the largest
proportion of the environmental impact (81.46%), followed by the
service, rehabilitation, demolition and disposal phases and
transportation at 11.97%, 3.72% 0.33% and 2.52%, respectively. For
the expressway under study, the total carbon footprint over its
lifetime is equivalent to 245,639 tons CO2-eq per 1 kilometer
functional unit, with the phases of construction, service,
rehabilitation, demolition and disposal and transportation
contributing 153,690; 73,773; 3693, 755 and 13,728 tons CO2-eq,
respectively. The findings could be adopted as a benchmark against
which the environmental impacts of future similar projects can be
measured.
Abstract: Due to the determination of the pollution status of
fresh resources in the Egyptian territorial waters is very important for
public health; this study was carried out to reveal the levels of heavy
metals in the shellfish and their environment and its relation to the
highly developed industrial activities in those areas. A total of 100
shellfish samples from the Rosetta, Edku, El-Maadiya, Abo-Kir and
El-Max coasts [10 crustaceans (shrimp) and 10 mollusks (oysters)]
were randomly collected from each coast. Additionally, 10 samples
from both the water and the sediment were collected from each coast.
Each collected sample was analyzed for cadmium, chromium,
copper, lead and zinc residues using a Perkin Elmer atomic
absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results showed that the
levels of heavy metals were higher in the water and sediment from
Abo-Kir. The heavy metal levels decreased successively for the
Rosetta, Edku, El-Maadiya, and El-Max coasts, and the
concentrations of heavy metals, except copper and zinc, in shellfish
exhibited the same pattern. For the concentration of heavy metals in
shellfish tissue, the highest was zinc and the concentrations decreased
successively for copper, lead, chromium and cadmium for all coasts,
except the Abo-Kir coast, where the chromium level was highest and
the other metals decreased successively for zinc, copper, lead and
cadmium. In Rosetta, chromium was higher only in the mollusks,
while the level of this metal was lower in the crustaceans; this trend
was observed at the Edku, El-Maadiya and El-Max coasts as well.
Herein, we discuss the importance of such contamination for public
health and the sources of shellfish contamination with heavy metals.
We suggest measures to minimize and prevent these pollutants in the
aquatic environment and, furthermore, how to protect humans from
excessive intake.
Abstract: The use of mobile phones is growing tremendously all
over the world. In Tanzania there are a number of operators licensed
by Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) aiming
at attracting customers into their networks. So far
telecommunications market competition has been very stiff. Various
measures are being taken by mobile operators to survive in the
market. Such measure include introducing of different air time
bundles on daily, weekly and monthly at lower tariffs. Other
measures include the introduction of normal tariff, tourist package
and one network. Despite of all these strategies, there is a dynamic
competition in the market which needs to be explored. Some
influences which attract customers to choose a certain mobile
operator are of particular interest. This paper is investigating if the
network effects and Quality of Services (QoS) influence mobile
customers in selection of their mobile network operators. Seventy
seven students from high learning institutions in Dodoma
Municipality in Tanzania participated in responding to prepared
questionnaires. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for
Social Science (SPSS) Software. The results indicate that, network
coverage does influence customers in selection of mobile operators.
In addition, this paper proposes further research in some areas
especially where the study came up with different findings from what
the theory has in place.
Abstract: City shrinkage is one of the thorny problems that many
European cities have to face with nowadays. It is mainly expressed as
the decrease of population in these cities. Eastern Germany is one of
the pioneers of European shrinking cities with long shrinking history.
The paper selects one representative shrinking city Halle (Saale) in
eastern Germany as research objective, collecting and investigating
nearly 20 years (1993-2010) municipal data after the reunification of
Germany. These data based on five dimensions, which are
demographic, economic, social, spatial and environmental and total 16
eligible variables. Factor Analysis is used to deal with these variables
in order to assess the most important factors affecting shrinking Halle.
The results show that there are three main factors determine the
shrinkage of Halle, respectively named “demographical and
economical factor”, “social stability factor”, and “city vitality factor”.
The three factors act at different time period of Halle’s shrinkage: from
1993 to 1997 the demographical and economical factor played an
important role; from 1997 to 2004 the social stability factor is
significant to city shrinkage; since 2005 city vitality factor determines
the shrinkage of Halle. In recent years, the shrinkage in Halle mitigates
that shows the sign of growing population. Thus the city Halle should
focus on attaching more importance on the city vitality factor to
prevent the city from shrinkage. Meanwhile, the city should possess a
positive perspective to shift the growth-oriented development to tap
the potential of shrinking cities. This method is expected to apply to
further research and other shrinking cities
Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine effect of
dietary essential oil (EO) compounds, which contained
cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, peppermint, coriander, cumin, lemongrass,
and an organic carrier on feed intake, milk composition, and rumen
fermentation of dairy cows during heat exposure. Thirty-two Holstein
cows (days in milk= 60 ± 5) were assigned to one of two treatment
groups: a Control and EO fed. The experiment lasted 28 days. Dry
matter intake (DMI) was measured daily while and milk production
was measured weekly. Our result showed that DMI and milk yield
was decreased (P < 0.01) in control cows relative to EO cows.
Furthermore, supplementation with EO was associated with a
decrease in the molar proportion of propionate (P < 0.05) and
increase (P < 0.05) in acetate to propionate ratio. In conclusion, EO
supplementations in diets can be useful nutritional modification to
alleviate for the decrease DMI and milk production during heat
exposure in lactating dairy cows.
Abstract: Domestic goats (Capra hircus) are extremely diverse
species and principal animal genetic resource of the developing
world. These facilitate a persistent supply of meat, milk, fibre, and
skin and are considered as important revenue generators in small
pastoral environments. This study aimed to fingerprint β-LG gene at
PCR-RFLP level in native Saudi goat breeds (Ardi, Habsi and Harri)
in an attempt to have a preliminary image of β-LG genotypic patterns
in Saudi breeds as compared to other foreign breeds such as Indian
and Egyptian. Also, the Phylogenetic analysis was done to investigate
evolutionary trends and similarities among the caprine β-LG gene
with that of the other domestic specie, viz. cow, buffalo and sheep.
Blood samples were collected from 300 animals (100 for each breed)
and genomic DNA was extracted. A fragment of the β-LG gene
(427bp) was amplified using specific primers. Subsequent digestion
with Sac II restriction endonuclease revealed two alleles (A and B)
and three different banding patterns or genotypes i.e. AA, AB and
BB. The statistical analysis showed a general trend that β-LG AA
genotype had higher milk yield than β-LG AB and β-LG BB
genotypes. Nucleotide sequencing of the selected β-LG fragments
was done and submitted to GenBank NCBI (Accession No.
KJ544248, KJ588275, KJ588276, KJ783455, KJ783456 and
KJ874959). Phylogenetic analysis on the basis of nucleotide
sequences of native Saudi goats indicated evolutional similarity with
the GenBank reference sequences of goat, Bubalus bubalis and Bos
taurus. However, the origin of sheep which is the most closely
related from the evolutionary point of view, was located some
distance away.
Abstract: The Quad Tree Decomposition based performance
analysis of compressed image data communication for lossy and
lossless through wireless sensor network is presented. Images have
considerably higher storage requirement than text. While transmitting
a multimedia content there is chance of the packets being dropped
due to noise and interference. At the receiver end the packets that
carry valuable information might be damaged or lost due to noise,
interference and congestion. In order to avoid the valuable
information from being dropped various retransmission schemes have
been proposed. In this proposed scheme QTD is used. QTD is an
image segmentation method that divides the image into homogeneous
areas. In this proposed scheme involves analysis of parameters such
as compression ratio, peak signal to noise ratio, mean square error,
bits per pixel in compressed image and analysis of difficulties during
data packet communication in Wireless Sensor Networks. By
considering the above, this paper is to use the QTD to improve the
compression ratio as well as visual quality and the algorithm in
MATLAB 7.1 and NS2 Simulator software tool.
Abstract: This work is focused on the study of valuation of
recycled concrete aggregates, by measuring certain properties of
concrete in the fresh and hardened state. In this study, rheological
tests and physic-mechanical characterization on concretes and
mortars were conducted with recycled concrete whose geometric
properties were identified aggregates. Mortars were elaborated with
recycled fine aggregate (0/5mm) and concretes were manufactured
using recycled coarse aggregates (5/12.5 mm and 12.5/20 mm). First,
a study of the mortars was conducted to determine the effectiveness
of polycarboxylate superplasticizer on the workability of these and
their action deflocculating of the recycled sand. The rheological
behavior of mortars based on fine aggregate recycled was
characterized. The results confirm that the mortars composed of
different fractions of recycled sand (0 /5) have a better mechanical
properties (compressive and flexural strength) compared to normal
mortar. Also, the mechanical strengths of concretes made with
recycled aggregates (5/12.5 mm and 12.5/20 mm), are comparable to
those of conventional concrete with conventional aggregates,
provided that the implementation can be improved by the addition of
a superplasticizer.