Abstract: Mutations of the telomeric copy of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene cause spinal muscular atrophy. A deletion of the Eef1a2 gene leads to lower motor neuron degeneration in wasted mice. Indirect evidences have been shown that the eEF1A protein family may interact with SMN, and our previous study showed that abnormalities of neuromuscular junctions in wasted mice were similar to those of Smn mutant mice. To determine potential colocalization between SMN and tissue-specific translation elongation factor 1A2 (eEF1A2), an immunochemical analysis of HeLa cells transfected with the plasmid pcDNA3.1(+)C-hEEF1A2- myc and a new quantitative test of colocalization by intensity correlation analysis (ICA) was used to explore the association of SMN and eEF1A2. Here the results showed that eEF1A2 redistributed from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in response to serum and epidermal growth factor. In the cytoplasm, compelling evidence showed that staining for myc-tagged eEF1A2 varied in synchrony with that for SMN, consistent with the formation of a SMN-eEF1A2 complex in the cytoplasm of HeLa cells. These findings suggest that eEF1A2 may colocalize with SMN in the cytoplasm and may be a component of the SMN complex. However, the limitation of the ICA method is an inability to resolve colocalization in components of small organelles such as the nucleus.
Abstract: Quantitative Investigation of impact of the factors' contribution towards measuring the reusability of software components could be helpful in evaluating the quality of developed or developing reusable software components and in identification of reusable component from existing legacy systems; that can save cost of developing the software from scratch. But the issue of the relative significance of contributing factors has remained relatively unexplored. In this paper, we have use the Taguchi's approach in analyzing the significance of different structural attributes or factors in deciding the reusability level of a particular component. The results obtained shows that the complexity is the most important factor in deciding the better Reusability of a function oriented Software. In case of Object Oriented Software, Coupling and Complexity collectively play significant role in high reusability.
Abstract: Friction-stir welding has received a huge interest in the last few years. The many advantages of this promising process have led researchers to present different theoretical and experimental explanation of the process. The way to quantitatively and qualitatively control the different parameters of the friction-stir welding process has not been paved. In this study, a refined energybased model that estimates the energy generated due to friction and plastic deformation is presented. The effect of the plastic deformation at low energy levels is significant and hence a scale factor is introduced to control its effect. The predicted heat energy and the obtained maximum temperature using our model are compared to the theoretical and experimental results available in the literature and a good agreement is obtained. The model is applied to AA6000 and AA7000 series.
Abstract: Managers as the key employees have a very important
role in maintaining the workforce performance which is critical to the
construction companies- success in the future. If motivated
employees start with motivated managers probably it would seem
plausible if the de-motivated ones start with de-motivated managers.
This study aims to analyze the importance of motivated managers to
their successes and construction companies- successes. In this study,
a quantitative method was used and the study area was in Medan,
North Sumatera. Questionnaire survey was distributed directly to
construction companies in Medan which are listed in the
Construction Services Development Board. A total of 60 managers
responded and the completed questionnaires were analyzed using the
descriptive analysis. The results indicated that the respondents
acknowledge the importance of motivation among themselves to the
projects and construction companies- success, implying that it is vital
to maintain the motivation and good performance of the workforce.
Abstract: To model the human visual system (HVS) in the region of interest, we propose a new objective metric evaluation adapted to wavelet foveation-based image compression quality measurement, which exploits a foveation setup filter implementation technique in the DWT domain, based especially on the point and region of fixation of the human eye. This model is then used to predict the visible divergences between an original and compressed image with respect to this region field and yields an adapted and local measure error by removing all peripheral errors. The technique, which we call foveation wavelet visible difference prediction (FWVDP), is demonstrated on a number of noisy images all of which have the same local peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR), but visibly different errors. We show that the FWVDP reliably predicts the fixation areas of interest where error is masked, due to high image contrast, and the areas where the error is visible, due to low image contrast. The paper also suggests ways in which the FWVDP can be used to determine a visually optimal quantization strategy for foveation-based wavelet coefficients and to produce a quantitative local measure of image quality.
Abstract: A Matlab based software for logistic regression is developed to enhance the process of teaching quantitative topics and assist researchers with analyzing wide area of applications where categorical data is involved. The software offers an option of performing stepwise logistic regression to select the most significant predictors. The software includes a feature to detect influential observations in data, and investigates the effect of dropping or misclassifying an observation on a predictor variable. The input data may consist either as a set of individual responses (yes/no) with the predictor variables or as grouped records summarizing various categories for each unique set of predictor variables' values. Graphical displays are used to output various statistical results and to assess the goodness of fit of the logistic regression model. The software recognizes possible convergence constraints when present in data, and the user is notified accordingly.
Abstract: A comparative evaluation of acute toxicity of
synthesized nano silvers using two different procedures (biological
and chemical reduction methods) and silver ions on bacteria
Vibrio fischeri was investigated. The bacterial light inhibition test as
a toxicological endpoint was used by applying of a homemade
luminometer. To compare the toxicity effects as a quantitative
parameter, a nominal effective concentrations (EC) of chemicals and
a susceptibility constant (Z-value) of bacteria, after 5 min and 30 min
exposure times, were calculated. After 5 and 30 min contact times,
the EC50 values of two silver nanoparticles and the EC20 values were
about similar. It demonstrates that toxicity of silvers was independent
of their procedure. The EC values of nanoparticles were larger than
those of the silver ions. The susceptibilities(Z- Values) of V.fischeri
(L/mg) to the silver ions were greater than those of the nano silvers.
According to the EC and Z values, the toxicity of silvers decreased in
the following order: Silver ions >> silver nanoparticles from
chemical reduction method ~ silver nanoparticles from biological
method.
Abstract: Key management is a vital component in any modern security protocol. Due to scalability and practical implementation considerations automatic key management seems a natural choice in significantly large virtual private networks (VPNs). In this context IETF Internet Key Exchange (IKE) is the most promising protocol under permanent review. We have made a humble effort to pinpoint IKEv2 net gain over IKEv1 due to recent modifications in its original structure, along with a brief overview of salient improvements between the two versions. We have used US National Institute of Technology NIIST VPN simulator to get some comparisons of important performance metrics.
Abstract: Grid computing provides a virtual framework for
controlled sharing of resources across institutional boundaries.
Recently, trust has been recognised as an important factor for
selection of optimal resources in a grid. We introduce a new method
that provides a quantitative trust value, based on the past interactions
and present environment characteristics. This quantitative trust value
is used to select a suitable resource for a job and eliminates run time
failures arising from incompatible user-resource pairs. The proposed
work will act as a tool to calculate the trust values of the various
components of the grid and there by improves the success rate of the
jobs submitted to the resource on the grid. The access to a resource
not only depend on the identity and behaviour of the resource but
also upon its context of transaction, time of transaction, connectivity
bandwidth, availability of the resource and load on the resource. The
quality of the recommender is also evaluated based on the accuracy
of the feedback provided about a resource. The jobs are submitted for
execution to the selected resource after finding the overall trust value
of the resource. The overall trust value is computed with respect to
the subjective and objective parameters.
Abstract: Measures of complexity and entropy have not converged to a single quantitative description of levels of organization of complex systems. The need for such a measure is increasingly necessary in all disciplines studying complex systems. To address this problem, starting from the most fundamental principle in Physics, here a new measure for quantity of organization and rate of self-organization in complex systems based on the principle of least (stationary) action is applied to a model system - the central processing unit (CPU) of computers. The quantity of organization for several generations of CPUs shows a double exponential rate of change of organization with time. The exact functional dependence has a fine, S-shaped structure, revealing some of the mechanisms of self-organization. The principle of least action helps to explain the mechanism of increase of organization through quantity accumulation and constraint and curvature minimization with an attractor, the least average sum of actions of all elements and for all motions. This approach can help describe, quantify, measure, manage, design and predict future behavior of complex systems to achieve the highest rates of self organization to improve their quality. It can be applied to other complex systems from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Ecology, Economics, Cities, network theory and others where complex systems are present.
Abstract: Vibration characteristics of subcooled flow boiling on
thin and long structures such as a heating rod were recently
investigated by the author. The results show that the intensity of the
subcooled boiling-induced vibration (SBIV) was influenced strongly
by the conditions of the subcooling temperature, linear power density
and flow velocity. Implosive bubble formation and collapse are the
main nature of subcooled boiling, and their behaviors are the only
sources to originate from SBIV. Therefore, in order to explain the
phenomenon of SBIV, it is essential to obtain reliable information
about bubble behavior in subcooled boiling conditions. This was
investigated at different conditions of coolant subcooling
temperatures of 25 to 75°C, coolant flow velocities of 0.16 to
0.53m/s, and linear power densities of 100 to 600 W/cm. High speed
photography at 13,500 frames per second was performed at these
conditions. The results show that even at the highest subcooling
condition, the absolute majority of bubbles collapse very close to the
surface after detaching from the heating surface. Based on these
observations, a simple model of surface tension and momentum
change is introduced to offer a rough quantitative estimate of the
force exerted on the heating surface during the bubble ebullition. The
formation of a typical bubble in subcooled boiling is predicted to
exert an excitation force in the order of 10-4 N.
Abstract: A sensitive and specific method for quantitative
determination of aflatoxins(B1, B2, G1,G2), deoxynivalenol,
fumonisin(B1,B2), ochratoxin A, zearalenone, T-2 and HT-2 in
roasted and ground grains using liquid chromatography combined
with tandem mass spectrometry. A double extraction using a
phosphate buffer solution followed by methanol was applied to
achieve effective co extraction of 11 mycotoxins. A multitoxin
immunoaffinity column for all these mycotoxins was used to clean up
the extract. The LODs of mycotoxins were 0.1~6.1 μg/kg, LOQs were
0.3~18.4 μg/kg. Forty seven samples collected from Seoul (Korea) for
mycotoxin contamination monitoring. The results showed that the
occurrence of zearalenone and deoxynivalenol were frequent.
Zearalenone was detected in all samples and deoxynivalenol was
detected in 80.9 % samples in the range 0.626 ~ 29.264 μg/kg and N.D
~ 48.332 μg/kg respectively. Fumonisins and ochratoxin A were
detected in 46.8% samples and 17 % samples respectively, aflatoxins
and T-2/HT-2 toxins were not detected all samples.
Abstract: In data mining, the association rules are used to find
for the associations between the different items of the transactions
database. As the data collected and stored, rules of value can be found
through association rules, which can be applied to help managers
execute marketing strategies and establish sound market frameworks.
This paper aims to use Fuzzy Frequent Pattern growth (FFP-growth)
to derive from fuzzy association rules. At first, we apply fuzzy
partition methods and decide a membership function of quantitative
value for each transaction item. Next, we implement FFP-growth
to deal with the process of data mining. In addition, in order to
understand the impact of Apriori algorithm and FFP-growth algorithm
on the execution time and the number of generated association
rules, the experiment will be performed by using different sizes of
databases and thresholds. Lastly, the experiment results show FFPgrowth
algorithm is more efficient than other existing methods.
Abstract: For scores of years now, several microfinance
organizations, non governmental organizations and other welfare
organizations have, with a view to aiding the progress of
communities rooted in poverty have been focusing on creating
microentrepreneurs, besides taking several other measures. In recent
times, business corporations have joined forces to combat poverty by
taking up microenterprise development. Hindustan Unilever Limited
(HUL), the Indian subsidiary of Unilever Limited exemplifies this
through its Project Shakti. The company through the Project creates
rural women entrepreneurs by making them direct to home sales
distributors of its products in villages that have thus far been ignored
by multinational corporations. The members participating in Project
Shakti are largely self help group members. The paper focuses on
assessing the impact made by the company on the members engaged
in Project Shakti. The analysis involves use of quantitative methods
to study the effect of Project Shakti on those self help group
members engaged in Project Shakti and those not engaged with
Project Shakti. Path analysis has been used to study the impact made
on those members engaged in Project Shakti. Significant differences
were observed on fronts of entrepreneurial development, economic
empowerment and social empowerment between members associated
with Project Shakti and those not associated with Project Shakti.
Path analysis demonstrated that involvement in Project Shakti led to
entrepreneurial development resulting in economic empowerment
that in turn led to social empowerment and that these three elements
independently induced a feeling of privilege in the women for being
associated with the Project.
Abstract: The hydrologic time series data display periodic
structure and periodic autoregressive process receives considerable
attention in modeling of such series. In this communication long
term record of monthly waste flow of Lyari river is utilized to
quantify by using PAR modeling technique. The parameters of
model are estimated by using Frances & Paap methodology. This
study shows that periodic autoregressive model of order 2 is the most
parsimonious model for assessing periodicity in waste flow of the
river. A careful statistical analysis of residuals of PAR (2) model is
used for establishing goodness of fit. The forecast by using proposed
model confirms significance and effectiveness of the model.
Abstract: Team efficacy beliefs show promise in enhancing
team performance. Using a model-based quantitative research design,
we investigated the antecedents and performance consequences of
generalized team efficacy (potency) in a sample of 56 capital projects
executed by 15 Fortune 500 companies in the process industries.
Empirical analysis of our field survey identified that generalized
team efficacy beliefs were positively associated with an objective
measure of project cost performance. Regression analysis revealed
that team competence, empowering leadership, and performance
feedback all predicted generalized team efficacy beliefs. Tests of
mediation revealed that generalized team efficacy fully mediated
between these three inputs and project cost performance.
Abstract: This paper presents the combination of different precipitation data sets and the distributed hydrological model, in order to examine the flood runoff reproductivity of scattered observation catchments. The precipitation data sets were obtained from observation using rain-gages, satellite based estimate (TRMM), and numerical weather prediction model (NWP), then were coupled with the super tank model. The case study was conducted in three basins (small, medium, and large size) located in Central Vietnam. Calculated hydrographs based on ground observation rainfall showed best fit to measured stream flow, while those obtained from TRMM and NWP showed high uncertainty of peak discharges. However, calculated hydrographs using the adjusted rainfield depicted a promising alternative for the application of TRMM and NWP in flood modeling for scattered observation catchments, especially for the extension of forecast lead time.
Abstract: This paper investigates the indices of a creative city in
Isfahan. Its main aim is to evaluate quantitative status of the creative
city indices in Isfahan city, analyze the dispersion and distribution of
these indices in Isfahan city. Concerning these, this study tries to
analyze the creative city indices in fifteen area of Isfahan through
secondary data, questionnaire, TOPSIS model, Shannon entropy and
SPSS. Based on this, the fifteen areas of Isfahan city have been
ranked with 12 factors of creative city indices. The results of studies
show that fifteen areas of Isfahan city are not equally benefiting from
creative indices and there is much difference between the areas of
Isfahan city.
Abstract: New graph similarity methods have been proposed in this work with the aim to refining the chemical information extracted from molecules matching. For this purpose, data fusion of the isomorphic and nonisomorphic subgraphs into a new similarity measure, the Approximate Similarity, was carried out by several approaches. The application of the proposed method to the development of quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) has provided reliable tools for predicting several pharmacological parameters: binding of steroids to the globulin-corticosteroid receptor, the activity of benzodiazepine receptor compounds, and the blood brain barrier permeability. Acceptable results were obtained for the models presented here.
Abstract: The increasing recognition of the need for education to be closely aligned with team playing, project based learning and problem solving approaches has increase the interest in collaborative learning among university and college instructors. Using online collaboration learning in learning can enhance the outcome and achievement of students as well as improve their communication, critical thinking and personnel skills. The current research aims at examining the effect of OCL on the student's achievement at Kingdom of Bahrain. Numbers of objectives were set to achieve the aim of the research include: investigating the current situation regarding the collaborative learning and OCL at the Kingdom of Bahrain by identifying the advantages and effectiveness of OCL as a learning tool over traditional learning, examining the factors that affect OCL as well as examining the impact of OCL on the student's achievement. To achieve these objectives, quantitative method was adopted. Two hundred and thirty one questionnaires were distributed to students in different local and private universities at Kingdom of Bahrain. The findings of the research show that most of the students prefer to use FTFCL in learning and that OCL is already adopted in some universities especially in University of Bahrain. Moreover, the most factors affecting the adopted OCL are perceived readiness, and guidance and support.