Abstract: The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is the goal
of regional economic integration by 2015. In the region, tourism is an
activity that is important, especially as a source of foreign currency, a
source of employment creation and a source of income bringing to the
region. Given the complexity of the issues entailing the concept of
sustainable tourism, this paper tries to assess tourism sustainability
with the ASEAN, based on a number of quantitative indicators for all
the ten economies, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia,
Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, and Brunei. The
methodological framework will provide a number of benchmarks of
tourism activities in these countries. They include identification of the
dimensions; for example, economic, socio-ecologic, infrastructure
and indicators, method of scaling, chart representation and evaluation
on Asian countries. This specification shows that a similar level of
tourism activity might introduce different implementation in the
tourism activity and might have different consequences for the socioecological
environment and sustainability. The heterogeneity of
developing countries exposed briefly here would be useful to detect
and prepare for coping with the main problems of each country in
their tourism activities, as well as competitiveness and value creation
of tourism for ASEAN economic community, and will compare with
other parts of the world.
Abstract: The goal of this paper is to specify factors influencing
the profitability of selected banks. Next, a model will be created to
help establish variables that have a demonstrable influence on the
development of the selected banks' profitability ratios. Czech banks
and their international parent companies were selected for analyzing
profitability. Banks categorized as large banks (according to the
Czech National Bank's system, which ranks banks according to
balance sheet total) were selected to represent the Czech banks. Two
ratios, the return on assets ratio (ROA) and the return on equity ratio
(ROE) are used to assess bank profitability. Six endogenous and four
external indicators were selected from among other factors that
influence bank profitability. The data analyzed were for 2001–2013.
First, correlation analysis, which was supposed to eliminate
correlated values, was conducted. A large number of correlated
values were established on the basis of this analysis. The strongly
correlated values were omitted. Despite this, the subsequent
regression analysis of profitability for the individual banks that were
selected did not confirm that the selected variables influenced their
profitability. The studied factors' influence on bank profitability was
demonstrated only for Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka and Société
Générale using regression analysis. For Československa Obchodni
Banka, it was demonstrated that inflation level and the amount of the
central bank's interest rate influenced the return on assets ratio and
that capital adequacy and market concentration influenced the return
on equity ratio for Société Générale.
Abstract: Wind energy is rapidly emerging as the primary
source of electricity in the Philippines, although developing an
accurate wind resource model is difficult. In this study, Weather
Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model, an open source mesoscale
Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model, was used to produce a
1-year atmospheric simulation with 4 km resolution on the Ilocos
Region of the Philippines. The WRF output (netCDF) extracts the
annual mean wind speed data using a Python-based Graphical User
Interface. Lastly, wind resource assessment was produced using a
GIS software. Results of the study showed that it is more flexible to
use Python scripts than using other post-processing tools in dealing
with netCDF files. Using WRF Model, Python, and Geographic
Information Systems, a reliable wind resource map is produced.
Abstract: Geological and tectonic framework indicates that
Bangladesh is one of the most seismically active regions in the world.
The Bengal Basin is at the junction of three major interacting plates:
the Indian, Eurasian, and Burma Plates. Besides there are many
active faults within the region, e.g. the large Dauki fault in the north.
The country has experienced a number of destructive earthquakes due
to the movement of these active faults. Current seismic provisions of
Bangladesh are mostly based on earthquake data prior to the 1990.
Given the record of earthquakes post 1990, there is a need to revisit
the design provisions of the code. This paper compares the base shear
demand of three major cities in Bangladesh: Dhaka (the capital city),
Sylhet, and Chittagong for earthquake scenarios of magnitudes
7.0MW, 7.5MW, 8.0MW, and 8.5MW using a stochastic model. In
particular, the stochastic model allows the flexibility to input region
specific parameters such as shear wave velocity profile (that were
developed from Global Crustal Model CRUST2.0) and include the
effects of attenuation as individual components. Effects of soil
amplification were analysed using the Extended Component
Attenuation Model (ECAM). Results show that the estimated base
shear demand is higher in comparison with code provisions leading to
the suggestion of additional seismic design consideration in the study
regions.
Abstract: The application of ESS (Energy Storage Systems) in
the future grids has been the solution of the microgrid. However, high
investment costs necessitate accurate modeling and control strategy of
ESS to justify its economic viability and further underutilization.
Therefore, the reasonable control strategy for ESS which is subjected
to generator and usage helps to curtail the cost of investment and
operation costs. The rated frequency in power system is decreased
when the load is increasing unexpectedly; hence the thermal power is
operated at the capacity of only its 95% for the Governor Free (GF) to
adjust the frequency as reserve (5%) in practice. The ESS can be
utilized with governor at the same time for the frequency response due
to characteristic of its fast response speed and moreover, the cost of
ESS is declined rapidly to the reasonable price. This paper presents the
ESS control strategy to extend usage of the ESS taken account into
governor’s ramp rate and reduce the governor’s intervention as well.
All results in this paper are simulated by MATLAB.
Abstract: The rapid development technology and widespread
Internet make business environment changing a lot. In order to stand in
the global market and to keep subsistence, “changing” is unspoken
rule for the company’s survival. The purpose of this paper is building
up change model by using SWOT, strategy map, KPI and change
management theory. The research findings indicate that the company
needs to deal with employee’s resistance emotion firstly before
building up change model. The ways of providing performance
appraisal reward, consulting and counseling mechanisms that will
great help to achieve reducing staff negative emotions and motivate
staff’s efficiencies also. To revise strategy map, modify corporate
culture, and improve internal operational processes which is based on
change model. Through the change model, the increasing growth rate
of net income helps company to achieve the goals and be a leading
brand of precision machinery industry.
Abstract: This paper describes the development of a DNA-based
nanobiosensor to detect the dengue virus in mosquito using
electrically active magnetic (EAM) nanoparticles as concentrator and
electrochemical transducer. The biosensor detection encompasses
two sets of oligonucleotide probes that are specific to the dengue
virus: the detector probe labeled with the EAM nanoparticles and the
biotinylated capture probe. The DNA targets are double hybridized to
the detector and the capture probes and concentrated from
nonspecific DNA fragments by applying a magnetic field.
Subsequently, the DNA sandwiched targets (EAM-detector probe–
DNA target–capture probe-biotin) are captured on streptavidin
modified screen printed carbon electrodes through the biotinylated
capture probes. Detection is achieved electrochemically by measuring
the oxidation–reduction signal of the EAM nanoparticles. Results
indicate that the biosensor is able to detect the redox signal of the
EAM nanoparticles at dengue DNA concentrations as low as 10
ng/μl.
Abstract: Within Rapid Prototyping technologies are used many
types of materials. Many of them are recyclable but there are still as
plastic like, so practically they do not degrade in the landfill.
Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the special plastic materials, which
are biodegradable and available for 3D printing within Fused
Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology. The question is, if the
mechanical properties of produced models are comparable to similar
technical plastic materials which are usual for prototype production.
Presented paper shows the experiments results for tensile strength
measurements for specimens prepared with different 3D printer
settings and model orientation. Paper contains also the comparison of
tensile strength values with values measured on specimens produced
by conventional technologies as injection moulding.
Abstract: This paper is concerned with the ways in which
Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) affect women’s lives
and perceptions regarding their infertility, contraception and
reproductive health. The paper is based on a qualitative feminist
survey study to explore and analyze issues arising from the use of
ARTs by women in New Delhi, the capital of India. A rapid growth in
the number of fertility clinics has been noticed recently. A critical
analysis of interviews revealed that these technologies are used and
developed for making profits at the cost of women’s lives. In this
way, these technologies are influencing and changing the traditional
patterns of motherhood requiring a rethinking about new ways of
reproduction introduced through the use of ARTs.
Abstract: Noninvasive diagnostics of diseases via breath
analysis has attracted considerable scientific and clinical interest for
many years and become more and more promising with the rapid
advancements in nanotechnology and biotechnology. The volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath, which are mainly
blood borne, particularly provide highly valuable information about
individuals’ physiological and pathophysiological conditions.
Additionally, breath analysis is noninvasive, real-time, painless, and
agreeable to patients. We have developed a wireless sensor array
based on single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-functionalized single-walled
carbon nanotubes (SWNT) for the detection of a number of
physiological indicators in breath. Seven DNA sequences were used
to functionalize SWNT sensors to detect trace amount of methanol,
benzene, dimethyl sulfide, hydrogen sulfide, acetone, and ethanol,
which are indicators of heavy smoking, excessive drinking, and
diseases such as lung cancer, breast cancer, and diabetes. Our test
results indicated that DNA functionalized SWNT sensors exhibit
great selectivity, sensitivity, and repeatability; and different
molecules can be distinguished through pattern recognition enabled
by this sensor array. Furthermore, the experimental sensing results
are consistent with the Molecular Dynamics simulated ssDNAmolecular
target interaction rankings. Thus, the DNA-SWNT sensor
array has great potential to be applied in chemical or biomolecular
detection for the noninvasive diagnostics of diseases and personal
health monitoring.
Abstract: Direct Torque Control (DTC) is an AC drive control
method especially designed to provide fast and robust responses. In
this paper a progressive algorithm for direct torque control of threephase
induction drive system supplied by photovoltaic arrays using
voltage source inverter to control motor torque and flux with
maximum power point tracking at different level of insolation is
presented. Experimental results of the new DTC method obtained by
an experimental rapid prototype system for drives are presented.
Simulation and experimental results confirm that the proposed system
gives quick, robust torque and speed responses at constant switching
frequencies.
Abstract: At a global level, water stewardship, water stress and
water security are crucial factors in tourism planning and
development considerations. Challenges associated with water is of
particular concern to the Maldives as there is limited availability of
freshwater, high dependency on desalinated water, and high unit cost
associated with desalinating water. While the Maldives is promoted
as an example of sustainable tourism, a key sustainability challenge
facing tourism dependent communities is the efficient use and
management of available water resources. A water crisis event in the
capital island of Maldives highlighted how precarious water related
issues are in this tourism dependent destination. Applying
netnography, the focus of this working paper is to present community
perceptions of how government policies addressed Malé Water and
Sewerage Company (MWSC) water crisis event.
Abstract: The purposes of hydraulic gate are to maintain the
functions of storing and draining water. It bears long-term hydraulic
pressure and earthquake force and is very important for reservoir and
waterpower plant. The high tensile strength of steel plate is used as
constructional material of hydraulic gate. The cracks and rusts,
induced by the defects of material, bad construction and seismic
excitation and under water respectively, thus, the mechanics
phenomena of gate with crack are probing into the cause of stress
concentration, induced high crack increase rate, affect the safety and
usage of hydroelectric power plant. Stress distribution analysis is a
very important and essential surveying technique to analyze
bi-material and singular point problems. The finite difference
infinitely small element method has been demonstrated, suitable for
analyzing the buckling phenomena of welding seam and steel plate
with crack. Especially, this method can easily analyze the singularity
of kink crack. Nevertheless, the construction form and deformation
shape of some gates are three-dimensional system. Therefore, the
three-dimensional Digital Image Correlation (DIC) has been
developed and applied to analyze the strain variation of steel plate with
crack at weld joint. The proposed Digital image correlation (DIC)
technique is an only non-contact method for measuring the variation of
test object. According to rapid development of digital camera, the cost
of this digital image correlation technique has been reduced.
Otherwise, this DIC method provides with the advantages of widely
practical application of indoor test and field test without the restriction
on the size of test object. Thus, the research purpose of this research is
to develop and apply this technique to monitor mechanics crack
variations of weld steel hydraulic gate and its conformation under
action of loading. The imagines can be picked from real time
monitoring process to analyze the strain change of each loading stage.
The proposed 3-Dimensional digital image correlation method,
developed in the study, is applied to analyze the post-buckling
phenomenon and buckling tendency of welded steel plate with crack.
Then, the stress intensity of 3-dimensional analysis of different
materials and enhanced materials in steel plate has been analyzed in
this paper. The test results show that this proposed three-dimensional
DIC method can precisely detect the crack variation of welded steel
plate under different loading stages. Especially, this proposed DIC
method can detect and identify the crack position and the other flaws
of the welded steel plate that the traditional test methods hardly detect
these kind phenomena. Therefore, this proposed three-dimensional
DIC method can apply to observe the mechanics phenomena of
composite materials subjected to loading and operating.
Abstract: The education sector is constantly faced with rapid
changes in technologies in terms of ensuring that the curriculum is up
to date and in terms of making sure that students are aware of these
technological changes. This challenge can be seen as the motivation
for this study, which is to examine the factors affecting computing
students’ awareness of the latest Information Technologies (ICTs).
The aim of this study is divided into two sub-objectives which are:
the selection of relevant theories and the design of a conceptual
model to support it as well as the empirical testing of the designed
model. The first objective is achieved by a review of existing
literature on technology adoption theories and models. The second
objective is achieved using a survey of computing students in the four
universities of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Data
collected from this survey is analyzed using Statistical package for
the Social Science (SPSS) using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and
Pearson correlations. The main hypothesis of this study is that there is
a relationship between the demographics and the prior conditions of
the computing students and their awareness of general ICT trends and
of Digital Switch Over (DSO) a new technology which involves the
change from analog to digital television broadcasting in order to
achieve improved spectrum efficiency. The prior conditions of the
computing students that were considered in this study are students’
perceived exposure to career guidance and students’ perceived
curriculum currency. The results of this study confirm that gender,
ethnicity, and high school computing course affect students’
perceived curriculum currency while high school location affects
students’ awareness of DSO. The results of this study also confirm
that there is a relationship between students prior conditions and their
awareness of general ICT trends and DSO in particular.
Abstract: Kurtbogazi Dam has gained special meaning for Ankara, Turkey for the last decade due to the rapid depletion of nearby resources of drinking water. In this study, the results of the analyses of Kurtbogazi Dam outlet water and the rivers flowing into the Kurtbogazi Dam were discussed for the period of last five years between 2008 and 2012. Some physical and chemical properties (pH, temperature, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), nitrate, phosphate and chlorine) of these water resources were evaluated. They were classified according to the Council Directive (75/440/EEC). Moreover, the properties of these surface waters were assessed to determine the quality of water for drinking and irrigation purposes using Piper, US Salinity Laboratory and Wilcox diagrams. The results showed that all the water resources are acceptable level as surface water except for Pazar Stream in terms of ortho-phosphate and BOD5 concentration for 2008.
Abstract: Cancer is still one of the serious diseases threatening
the lives of human beings. How to have an early diagnosis and
effective treatment for tumors is a very important issue. The animal
carcinoma model can provide a simulation tool for the studies of
pathogenesis, biological characteristics, and therapeutic effects.
Recently, drug delivery systems have been rapidly developed to
effectively improve the therapeutic effects. Liposome plays an
increasingly important role in clinical diagnosis and therapy for
delivering a pharmaceutic or contrast agent to the targeted sites.
Liposome can be absorbed and excreted by the human body, and is
well known that no harm to the human body. This study aimed to
compare the therapeutic effects between encapsulated (doxorubicin
liposomal, Lipodox) and un-encapsulated (doxorubicin, Dox)
anti-tumor drugs using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Twenty-four New Zealand rabbits implanted with VX2 carcinoma at
left thighs were classified into three groups: control group (untreated),
Dox-treated group, and LipoDox-treated group, 8 rabbits for each
group. MRI scans were performed three days after tumor implantation.
A 1.5T GE Signa HDxt whole body MRI scanner with a high
resolution knee coil was used in this study. After a 3-plane localizer
scan was performed, three-dimensional (3D) fast spin echo (FSE)
T2-weighted Images (T2WI) was used for tumor volumetric
quantification. Afterwards, two-dimensional (2D) spoiled gradient
recalled echo (SPGR) dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI was
used for tumor perfusion evaluation. DCE-MRI was designed to
acquire four baseline images, followed by contrast agent Gd-DOTA
injection through the ear vein of rabbit. A series of 32 images were
acquired to observe the signals change over time in the tumor and
muscle. The MRI scanning was scheduled on a weekly basis for a
period of four weeks to observe the tumor progression longitudinally.
The Dox and LipoDox treatments were prescribed 3 times in the first
week immediately after the first MRI scan; i.e. 3 days after VX2 tumor
implantation. ImageJ was used to quantitate tumor volume and time
course signal enhancement on DCE images. The changes of tumor size
showed that the growth of VX2 tumors was effectively inhibited for
both LipoDox-treated and Dox-treated groups. Furthermore, the tumor
volume of LipoDox-treated group was significantly lower than that of
Dox-treated group, which implies that LipoDox has better therapeutic effect than Dox. The signal intensity of LipoDox-treated group is
significantly lower than that of the other two groups, which implies
that targeted therapeutic drug remained in the tumor tissue. This study
provides a radiation-free and non-invasive MRI method for
therapeutic monitoring of targeted liposome on an animal tumor
model.
Abstract: In this article, we used the residual correction method
to deal with transient thermoelastic problems with a hollow spherical
region when the continuum medium possesses spherically isotropic
thermoelastic properties. Based on linear thermoelastic theory, the
equations of hyperbolic heat conduction and thermoelastic motion
were combined to establish the thermoelastic dynamic model with
consideration of the deformation acceleration effect and non-Fourier
effect under the condition of transient thermal shock. The approximate
solutions of temperature and displacement distributions are obtained
using the residual correction method based on the maximum principle
in combination with the finite difference method, making it easier and
faster to obtain upper and lower approximations of exact solutions.
The proposed method is found to be an effective numerical method
with satisfactory accuracy. Moreover, the result shows that the effect
of transient thermal shock induced by deformation acceleration is
enhanced by non-Fourier heat conduction with increased peak stress.
The influence on the stress increases with the thermal relaxation time.
Abstract: Background: To compare the thinning patterns of the
ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and peripapillary retinal
nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) as measured using Cirrus high-definition
optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT) in patients with visual field
(VF) defects that respect the vertical meridian. Methods: Twenty eyes of eleven patients with VF defects that
respect the vertical meridian were enrolled retrospectively. The
thicknesses of the macular GCIPL and pRNFL were measured using
Cirrus HD-OCT. The 5% and 1% thinning area index (TAI) was
calculated as the proportion of abnormally thin sectors at the 5% and
1% probability level within the area corresponding to the affected VF.
The 5% and 1% TAI were compared between the GCIPL and pRNFL
measurements. Results: The color-coded GCIPL deviation map showed a
characteristic vertical thinning pattern of the GCIPL, which is also
seen in the VF of patients with brain lesions. The 5% and 1% TAI
were significantly higher in the GCIPL measurements than in the
pRNFL measurements (all P < 0.01). Conclusions: Macular GCIPL analysis clearly visualized a
characteristic topographic pattern of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss
in patients with VF defects that respect the vertical meridian, unlike
pRNFL measurements. Macular GCIPL measurements provide more
valuable information than pRNFL measurements for detecting the
loss of RGCs in patients with retrograde degeneration of the optic
nerve fibers.
Abstract: Evolutionary Algorithms (EAs) have been used
widely through evolution theory to discover acceptable solutions that
corresponds to challenges such as natural resources management.
EAs are also used to solve varied problems in the real world. EAs
have been rapidly identified for its ease in handling multiple
objective problems. Reservoir operations is a vital and researchable
area which has been studied in the last few decades due to the limited
nature of water resources that is found mostly in the semi-arid
regions of the world. The state of some developing economy that
depends on electricity for overall development through hydropower
production, a renewable form of energy, is appalling due to water
scarcity. This paper presents a review of the applications of
evolutionary algorithms to reservoir operation for hydropower
production. This review includes the discussion on areas such as
genetic algorithm, differential evolution, and reservoir operation. It
also identified the research gaps discovered in these areas. The results
of this study will be an eye opener for researchers and decision
makers to think deeply of the adverse effect of water scarcity and
drought towards economic development of a nation. Hence, it
becomes imperative to identify evolutionary algorithms that can
address this issue which can hamper effective hydropower
generation.
Abstract: Electronic mediums such as websites, feeds, blogs and
social media sites are on a daily basis influencing our decision
making, are improving our productivity and are shaping futures of
many consumers and service/product providers. This research
identifies that both customers and business providers heavily rely on
smart phone applications. Based on this, mobile applications
available on iTunes store were studied. It was identified that fruit and
vegetable related applications used by consumers can broadly be
categorized into purchase applications, diaries, tracking health
applications, trip farm location and cooking applications. On the
other hand, applications used by farmers can broadly be classified as:
weather tracking, pests / fertilizer applications and general social
media applications such as Facebook. To blur this farmer-consumer
application divide, our research utilizes Context Specific
eTransformation Framework and based on it identifies characteristic
future consumer-farmer applications will need to have so that the
current divide can be narrowed and consequently better farmerconsumer
supply chain link established.