Abstract: The structural interpretation of a part of eastern Potwar
(Missa Keswal) has been carried out with available seismological,
seismic and well data. Seismological data contains both the source
parameters and fault plane solution (FPS) parameters and seismic data
contains ten seismic lines that were re-interpreted by using well data.
Structural interpretation depicts two broad types of fault sets namely,
thrust and back thrust faults. These faults together give rise to pop up
structures in the study area and also responsible for many structural
traps and seismicity. Seismic interpretation includes time and depth
contour maps of Chorgali Formation while seismological interpretation
includes focal mechanism solution (FMS), depth, frequency,
magnitude bar graphs and renewal of Seismotectonic map. The Focal
Mechanism Solutions (FMS) that surrounds the study area are
correlated with the different geological and structural maps of the area
for the determination of the nature of subsurface faults. Results of
structural interpretation from both seismic and seismological data
show good correlation. It is hoped that the present work will help in
better understanding of the variations in the subsurface structure and
can be a useful tool for earthquake prediction, planning of oil field and
reservoir monitoring.
Abstract: Deep Brain Stimulation or DBS is a surgical treatment for Parkinson-s Disease with three stimulation parameters: frequency, pulse width, and voltage. The parameters should be selected appropriately to achieve effective treatment. This selection now, performs clinically. The aim of this research is to study chaotic behavior of recorded tremor of patients under DBS in order to present a computational method to recognize stimulation optimum voltage. We obtained some chaotic features of tremor signal, and discovered embedding space of it has an attractor, and its largest Lyapunov exponent is positive, which show tremor signal has chaotic behavior, also we found out, in optimal voltage, entropy and embedding space variance of tremor signal have minimum values in comparison with other voltages. These differences can help neurologists recognize optimal voltage numerically, which leads to reduce patients' role and discomfort in optimizing stimulation parameters and to do treatment with high accuracy.
Abstract: In neural networks, when new patterns are learned by a network, the new information radically interferes with previously stored patterns. This drawback is called catastrophic forgetting or catastrophic interference. In this paper, we propose a biologically inspired neural network model which overcomes this problem. The proposed model consists of two distinct networks: one is a Hopfield type of chaotic associative memory and the other is a multilayer neural network. We consider that these networks correspond to the hippocampus and the neocortex of the brain, respectively. Information given is firstly stored in the hippocampal network with fast learning algorithm. Then the stored information is recalled by chaotic behavior of each neuron in the hippocampal network. Finally, it is consolidated in the neocortical network by using pseudopatterns. Computer simulation results show that the proposed model has much better ability to avoid catastrophic forgetting in comparison with conventional models.
Abstract: Virtual environments are a hot topic in academia and more importantly in courses offered via distance education. Today-s gaming generation view virtual worlds as strong social and interactive mediums for communicating and socializing. And while institutions of higher education are challenged with increasing enrollment while balancing budget cuts, offering effective courses via distance education become a valid option. Educators can utilize virtual worlds to offer students an enhanced learning environment which has the power to alleviate feelings of isolation through the promotion of communication, interaction, collaboration, teamwork, feedback, engagement and constructivists learning activities. This paper focuses on the use of virtual environments to facilitate interaction in distance education courses so as to produce positive learning outcomes for students. Furthermore, the instructional strategies were reviewed and discussed for use in virtual worlds to enhance learning within a social context.
Abstract: Exposure to ambient air pollution has been linked to a
number of health outcomes, starting from modest transient changes in
the respiratory tract and impaired pulmonary function, continuing to
restrict activity/reduce performance and to the increase emergency
rooms visits, hospital admissions or mortality. The increase of
allergenic symptoms has been associated with air contaminants such
as ozone, particulate matter, fungal spores and pollen.
Considering the potential relevance of crossed effects of nonbiological
pollutants and airborne pollens and fungal spores on
allergy worsening, the aim of this work was to evaluate the influence
of non-biological pollutants (O3 and PM10) and meteorological
parameters on the concentrations of pollen and fungal spores using
multiple linear regressions.
The data considered in this study were collected in Oporto which
is the second largest Portuguese city, located in the North. Daily
mean of O3, PM10, pollen and fungal spore concentrations,
temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, wind velocity, pollen
and fungal spore concentrations, for 2003, 2004 and 2005 were
considered. Results showed that the 90th percentile of the adjusted
coefficient of determination, P90 (R2aj), of the multiple regressions
varied from 0.613 to 0.916 for pollen and from 0.275 to 0.512 for
fungal spores. O3 and PM10 showed to have some influence on the
biological pollutants. Among the meteorological parameters
analysed, temperature was the one that most influenced the pollen
and fungal spores airborne concentrations. Relative humidity also
showed to have some influence on the fungal spore dispersion.
Nevertheless, the models for each pollen and fungal spore were
different depending on the analysed period, which means that the
correlations identified as statistically significant can not be, even so,
consistent enough.
Abstract: In this paper we present a GP-based method for automatically evolve projections, so that data can be more easily classified in the projected spaces. At the same time, our approach can reduce dimensionality by constructing more relevant attributes. Fitness of each projection measures how easy is to classify the dataset after applying the projection. This is quickly computed by a Simple Linear Perceptron. We have tested our approach in three domains. The experiments show that it obtains good results, compared to other Machine Learning approaches, while reducing dimensionality in many cases.
Abstract: Since Software testing becomes an important part of
Software development in order to improve the quality of software,
many automation tools are created to help testing functionality of
software. There are a few issues about usability of these tools, one is
that the result log which is generated from tools contains useless
information that the tester cannot use result log to communicate
efficiently, or the result log needs to use a specific application to open.
This paper introduces a new method, SBTAR that improves usability
of automated test tools in a part of a result log. The practice will use
the capability of tools named as IBM Rational Robot to create a
customized function, the function would generate new format of a
result log which contains useful information faster and easier to
understand than using the original result log which was generated
from the tools. This result log also increases flexibility by Microsoft
Word or WordPad to make them readable.
Abstract: Accurate modeling of high speed RLC interconnects
has become a necessity to address signal integrity issues in current
VLSI design. To accurately model a dispersive system of interconnects
at higher frequencies; a full-wave analysis is required.
However, conventional circuit simulation of interconnects with full
wave models is extremely CPU expensive. We present an algorithm
for reducing large VLSI circuits to much smaller ones with similar
input-output behavior. A key feature of our method, called Frequency
Shift Technique, is that it is capable of reducing linear time-varying
systems. This enables it to capture frequency-translation and sampling
behavior, important in communication subsystems such as mixers,
RF components and switched-capacitor filters. Reduction is obtained
by projecting the original system described by linear differential
equations into a lower dimension. Experiments have been carried out
using Cadence Design Simulator cwhich indicates that the proposed
technique achieves more % reduction with less CPU time than the
other model order reduction techniques existing in literature. We
also present applications to RF circuit subsystems, obtaining size
reductions and evaluation speedups of orders of magnitude with
insignificant loss of accuracy.
Abstract: Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems are
widely in use to improve quality, reliability of wireless transmission
and increase the spectral efficiency. However in MIMO systems,
multiple copies of data are received after experiencing various
channel effects. The limitations on account of complexity due to
number of antennas in case of conventional decoding techniques have
been looked into. Accordingly we propose a modified sphere decoder
(MSD-1) algorithm with lower complexity and give rise to system
with high spectral efficiency. With the aim to increase signal
diversity we apply rotated quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM)
constellation in multi dimensional space. Finally, we propose a new
architecture involving space time trellis code (STTC) concatenated
with space time block code (STBC) using MSD-1 at the receiver for
improving system performance. The system gains have been verified
with channel state information (CSI) errors.
Abstract: Supplement use is common in athletes. Besides their cost, they may have side effects on health and performance. 250 questionnaires were distributed among female athletes (mean age 27.08 years). The questionnaire aimed to explore the frequency, type, believes, attitudes and knowledge regarding dietary supplements. Knowledge was good in 30.3%, fair in 60.2%, and poor in 9.1% of respondents. 65.3% of athletes did not use supplements regularly. The most widely used supplements were vitamins (48.4%), minerals (42.9%), energy supplements (21.3%), and herbals (20.9%). 68.9% of athletes believed in their efficacy. 34.4% experienced performance enhancement and 6.8% of reported side effects. 68.2% reported little knowledge and 60.9% were eager to learn more. In conclusion, many of the female athletes believe in the efficacy of supplements and think they are an unavoidable part of competitive sports. However, their information is not sufficient. We have to stress on education, consulting sessions, and rational prescription.
Abstract: The study of cytokine expression in mice under the
influence of inactivated poliovirus and Imovaks polio vaccine in
combination with derivatives of chitosan shows various kinds of
processes. There is a significant increase in IL-12 in the serum of
immunized animals, which should stimulate the production of IFN-γ
NK-cells and T-cells and polarize the immune response to Th1 type.
Thus, the derivatives of chitosan can promote cell component of the
immune response, providing a full antiviral immunity.
Abstract: The future of Higher Education Institutions (HEI) depend on their ability to attract and retain students, increase recognition and prestige. In order to respond to the 'customers' increasingly demanding, HEI need to identify the key factors that influence the satisfaction of a 'customers', thereby creating competitive advantages. These determinants of satisfaction are important elements that guide the strategy of an institution and allow the successful achievement of strategic plans, both teaching and administrative, to offer their ‘costumers’ services and products with higher quality. Following this way of thinking, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the satisfaction with the service quality of the School of Technology and Management of Bragança (ESTiG), of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, identifying, thus, the dimensions related to the quality of services that might influence students' satisfaction. The results showed that, in general, the students are satisfied with the performance of ESTiG.
Abstract: Climate change causes severe effects on natural
habitats, especially wetlands. These challenges require the adaptation
of their management to probable effects of climate change. A
compilation of necessary changes in land management was collected
in a Hungarian area being both national park and Natura 2000 SAC
and SCI site in favor of increasing the resilience and reducing
vulnerability. Several factors, such as ecological aspects, nature
conservation and climatic adaptation should be combined with social
and economic factors during the process of developing climate
change adapted management on vulnerable wetlands. Planning
adaptive management should be determined by a priority order of
conservation aims and evaluation of factors at the determined
planning unit. Mowing techniques, frequency and exact date should
be observed as well as grazing species and their breed, due to
different grazing, group forming and trampling habits. Integrating
landscape history and historical land development into the planning
process is essential.
Abstract: Silver-exchanged zeolites and clays are used in
polymer composites to confer broad-spectrum antimicrobial
properties on a range of functional materials. Tobermorite is a layer
lattice mineral whose potential as a carrier for Ag+ ions in
antibacterial composites has not yet been investigated. Accordingly,
in this study, synthetic tobermorite was ion-exchanged with 10 wt%
silver ions and the resulting material was incorporated into a
composite film with chitosan. Chitosan is a biocompatible,
biodegradable derivative of chitin, a polysaccharide obtained from
the shells of crustaceans. The solvent-cast Ag+-exchanged
tobermorite-chitosan films were found to exhibit antimicrobial action
against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas
aeruginosa.
Abstract: This article deals with the popularity of candidates for the president of the United States of America. The popularity is assessed according to public comments on the Web 2.0. Social networking, blogging and online forums (collectively Web 2.0) are for common Internet users the easiest way to share their personal opinions, thoughts, and ideas with the entire world. However, the web content diversity, variety of technologies and website structure differences, all of these make the Web 2.0 a network of heterogeneous data, where things are difficult to find for common users. The introductory part of the article describes methodology for gathering and processing data from Web 2.0. The next part of the article is focused on the evaluation and content analysis of obtained information, which write about presidential candidates.
Abstract: Green home rating has emerged as an important
agenda to practice the principles of sustainability. In Malaysia, the
establishment of the 'Green Building Index ' Residential New
Construction- (GBI-RNC) has brought this agenda closer to the
stakeholders of the local green building industry. GBI-RNC focuses
on the evaluation of the environmental impacts posed by houses
rather than assessing the Triple-Bottom-Line (TBL) of Sustainability
which also include socio-economic factors. Therefore, as part of a
wider study, a survey was conducted to gather the backgrounds of
green building stakeholders in Malaysia and their responses to a
number of exploratory questions regarding the setting up of a
framework to rate green homes against the TBL. This paper reports
the findings from Section A and B from this survey and discusses
them accordingly with a conclusion that forms part of the basis for a
new generation green home rating framework specifically for use in
Malaysia.
Abstract: This study demonstrates the feasibility of joining the commercial pure copper plates by friction stir welding (FSW). Microstructure, microhardness and tensile properties in terms of the joint efficiency were found 94.03 % compare to as receive base material (BM). The average hardness at the top was higher than bottom. Hardness of weld zone was higher than the base material. Different microstructure zones were revealed by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The stirred zone (SZ) exhibited primary two phases namely, recrystallized grains and fine precipitates in matrix of copper.
Abstract: Stegnography is a new way of secret
communication the most widely used mechanism on account
of its simplicity is the use of the least significant bit. We have
used the least significant bit (2 LSB and 4 LSB) substitution
method. Depending upon the characteristics of the individual
portions of cover image we decide whether to use 2 LSB or 4
LSB thus it is an adaptive stegnography technique. We used
one of the three channels to behave as indicator to indicate the
presence of hidden data in other two channels. The module
showed impressive results in terms of capacity to hide the
data. In proposed method, instead of using RGB color space
directly, YCbCr color space is used to make use of human
visual system characteristic.
Abstract: At the end of the 17th Century the Greek orthodox
Archbishop in Venice -Meletios Typaldos- decided to turn the
doctrine of the orthodox Greeks into Catholicism. More than 5.000
Greeks were living in Venice then. Their leadership -the Greek
confraternity- fought against Meletios. Participants in this conflict
were the Pope, the ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople and Peter
the Great of Russia. All the play according to my opinion -which is
followed by evidence and theoretical support is a strong conflict
between the two actors -the Archbishop and the Confraternity- and
the object of conflict is the change of the Greek orthodox beliefs to
Catholicism. Ethnicity especially for Greeks of the era is identified
with orthodoxy. So this was a conflict of identity. The results of that
conflict were of tremendous importance to the Greeks in Venice and
affected them for long.
Abstract: In this paper, we use Generalized Hamiltonian systems approach to synchronize a modified sixth-order Chua's circuit, which generates hyperchaotic dynamics. Synchronization is obtained between the master and slave dynamics with the slave being given by an observer. We apply this approach to transmit private information (analog and binary), while the encoding remains potentially secure.