Abstract: Brown seaweeds are abundant in Portuguese coastline
and represent an almost unexploited marine economic resource. One
of the most common species, easily available for harvesting in the
northwest coast, is Saccorhiza polyschides grows in the lowest shore
and costal rocky reefs. It is almost exclusively used by local farmers
as natural fertilizer, but contains a substantial amount of valuable
compounds, particularly alginates, natural biopolymers of high
interest for many industrial applications.
Alginates are natural polysaccharides present in cell walls of
brown seaweed, highly biocompatible, with particular properties that
make them of high interest for the food, biotechnology, cosmetics
and pharmaceutical industries. Conventional extraction processes are
based on thermal treatment. They are lengthy and consume high
amounts of energy and solvents. In recent years, microwave-assisted
extraction (MAE) has shown enormous potential to overcome major
drawbacks that outcome from conventional plant material extraction
(thermal and/or solvent based) techniques, being also successfully
applied to the extraction of agar, fucoidans and alginates. In the
present study, acid pretreatment of brown seaweed Saccorhiza
polyschides for subsequent microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of
alginate was optimized. Seaweeds were collected in Northwest
Portuguese coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean between May and
August, 2014. Experimental design was used to assess the effect of
temperature and acid pretreatment time in alginate extraction.
Response surface methodology allowed the determination of the
optimum MAE conditions: 40 mL of HCl 0.1 M per g of dried
seaweed with constant stirring at 20ºC during 14h. Optimal acid
pretreatment conditions have enhanced significantly MAE of
alginates from Saccorhiza polyschides, thus contributing for the
development of a viable, more environmental friendly alternative to
conventional processes.
Abstract: The objective of meta-analysis is to combine results
from several independent studies in order to create generalization
and provide evidence base for decision making. But recent studies
show that the magnitude of effect size estimates reported in many
areas of research significantly changed over time and this can
impair the results and conclusions of meta-analysis. A number of
sequential methods have been proposed for monitoring the effect
size estimates in meta-analysis. However they are based on statistical
theory applicable only to fixed effect model (FEM) of meta-analysis.
For random-effects model (REM), the analysis incorporates the
heterogeneity variance, τ 2 and its estimation create complications.
In this paper we study the use of a truncated CUSUM-type test with
asymptotically valid critical values for sequential monitoring in REM.
Simulation results show that the test does not control the Type I error
well, and is not recommended. Further work required to derive an
appropriate test in this important area of applications.
Abstract: The Smart Help for persons with disability (PWD) is a
part of the project SMARTDISABLE which aims to develop relevant
solution for PWD that target to provide an adequate workplace
environment for them. It would support PWD needs smartly through
smart help to allow them access to relevant information and
communicate with other effectively and flexibly, and smart editor
that assist them in their daily work. It will assist PWD in knowledge
processing and creation as well as being able to be productive at the
work place. The technical work of the project involves design of a
technological scenario for the Ambient Intelligence (AmI) - based
assistive technologies at the workplace consisting of an integrated
universal smart solution that suits many different impairment
conditions and will be designed to empower the Physically disabled
persons (PDP) with the capability to access and effectively utilize the
ICTs in order to execute knowledge rich working tasks with
minimum efforts and with sufficient comfort level. The proposed
technology solution for PWD will support voice recognition along
with normal keyboard and mouse to control the smart help and smart
editor with dynamic auto display interface that satisfies the
requirements for different PWD group. In addition, a smart help will
provide intelligent intervention based on the behavior of PWD to
guide them and warn them about possible misbehavior. PWD can
communicate with others using Voice over IP controlled by voice
recognition. Moreover, Auto Emergency Help Response would be
supported to assist PWD in case of emergency. This proposed
technology solution intended to make PWD very effective at the
work environment and flexible using voice to conduct their tasks at
the work environment. The proposed solution aims to provide
favorable outcomes that assist PWD at the work place, with the
opportunity to participate in PWD assistive technology innovation
market which is still small and rapidly growing as well as upgrading
their quality of life to become similar to the normal people at the
workplace. Finally, the proposed smart help solution is applicable in
all workplace setting, including offices, manufacturing, hospital, etc.
Abstract: In this study, epoxy composite specimens reinforced
with multi-walled carbon nanotube filler were fabricated using shear
mixer and ultra-sonication processor. The mechanical and thermal
properties of the fabricated specimens were measured and evaluated.
From the electron microscope images and the results from the
measurements of tensile strengths, the specimens having 0.6 wt%
nanotube content show better dispersion and higher strength than those
of the other specimens. The Young’s moduli of the specimens
increased as the contents of the nanotube filler in the matrix were
increased. The specimen having a 0.6 wt% nanotube filler content
showed higher thermal conductivity than that of the other specimens.
While, in the measurement of thermal expansion, specimens having
0.4 and 0.6 wt% filler contents showed a lower value of thermal
expansion than that of the other specimens. On the basis of the
measured and evaluated properties of the composites, we believe that
the simple and time-saving fabrication process used in this study was
sufficient to obtain improved properties of the specimens.
Abstract: This paper aims to represent the commercial activity
of a city taking as source data the social network Foursquare. The
city of Murcia is selected as case study, and the location-based
social network Foursquare is the main source of information. After
carrying out a reorganisation of the user-generated data extracted
from Foursquare, it is possible to graphically display on a map the
various city spaces and venues especially those related to commercial,
food and entertainment sector businesses. The obtained visualisation
provides information about activity patterns in the city of Murcia
according to the people‘s interests and preferences and, moreover,
interesting facts about certain characteristics of the town itself.
Abstract: This paper presents the application of the Discrete
Component Model for heating and evaporation to multi-component
biodiesel fuel droplets in direct injection internal combustion engines.
This model takes into account the effects of temperature gradient,
recirculation and species diffusion inside droplets. A distinctive
feature of the model used in the analysis is that it is based on the
analytical solutions to the temperature and species diffusion
equations inside the droplets. Nineteen types of biodiesel fuels are
considered. It is shown that a simplistic model, based on the
approximation of biodiesel fuel by a single component or ignoring
the diffusion of components of biodiesel fuel, leads to noticeable
errors in predicted droplet evaporation time and time evolution of
droplet surface temperature and radius.
Abstract: Social media continues to grow, and user interfaces
may become more appealing if cultural characteristics are
incorporated into their design.
Facebook was designed in the west, and the original language was
English. Subsequently, the words in the user interface were translated
to other languages, including Arabic.
Arabic words are written from right to left, and English is written
from left to right. The translated version may misrepresent the
original design and users’ preferences may be influenced by their
culture, which should be considered in the user interface design.
Previous research indicates that users are more comfortable when
interacting with a user interface, which relates to their own culture.
Therefore, this paper, using a survey, investigates the preferences of
Saudi Arabians on the Arabic version of the user interface of
Facebook.
Abstract: Communicating and managing customers’
requirements in software development projects play a vital role in the
software development process. While it is difficult to do so locally, it
is even more difficult to communicate these requirements over
distributed boundaries and to convey them to multiple distribution
customers. This paper discusses the communication of multiple
distribution customers’ requirements in the context of customised
software products. The main purpose is to understand the challenges
of communicating and managing customisation requirements across
distributed boundaries. We propose a model for Communicating
Customisation Requirements of Multi-Clients in a Distributed
Domain (CCRD). Thereafter, we evaluate that model by presenting
the findings of a case study conducted with a company with
customisation projects for 18 distributed customers. Then, we
compare the outputs of the real case process and the outputs of the
CCRD model using simulation methods. Our conjecture is that the
CCRD model can reduce the challenge of communication
requirements over distributed organisational boundaries, and the
delay in decision making and in the entire customisation process
time.
Abstract: This paper discusses the role of music as a ludic
activity and constituent element of voice in the construction and
consolidation of the relationship of the baby and his/her mother or
caretaker, evaluating its implications in his/her psychic structure and
constitution as a subject. The work was based on the research
developed as part of the author’s doctoral activities carried out from
her insertion in a project of the Music Department of Federal
University of Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, which objective was the
development of musical activities with groups of babies from 0 to 24
months old and their caretakers. Observations, video recordings of
the meetings, audio testemonies, and evaluation tools applied to
group participants were used as instruments for this research.
Information was collected on the participation of 195 babies, among
which 8 were more focused on through interviews with their mothers
or caretakers. These interviews were analyzed based on the
referential of French Discourse Analysis, Psychoanalysis, Psychology
of Development and Musical Education. The results of the research
were complemented by other posterior experiences that the author
developed with similar groups, in a context of a private clinic. The
information collected allowed the observation of the ludic and
structural functions of musical activities, when developed in a
structured environment, as well as the importance of the musicality of
the mother’s voice to the psychical structuring of the baby, allowing
his/her insertion in the language and his/her constitution as a subject.
Abstract: In EFL programs, rating scales used in writing
assessment are often constructed by intuition. Intuition-based scales
tend to provide inaccurate and divisive ratings of learners’ writing
performance. Hence, following an empirical approach, this study
attempted to develop a rating scale for elementary-level writing at an
EFL program in Saudi Arabia. Towards this goal, 98 students’ essays
were scored and then coded using comprehensive taxonomy of
writing constructs and their measures. An automatic linear modeling
was run to find out which measures would best predict essay scores.
A nonparametric ANOVA, the Kruskal-Wallis test, was then used to
determine which measures could best differentiate among scoring
levels. Findings indicated that there were certain measures that could
serve as either good predictors of essay scores or differentiators
among scoring levels, or both. The main conclusion was that a rating
scale can be empirically developed using predictive and
discriminative statistical tests.
Abstract: Children are more susceptible to medication errors
than adults. Medication administration process is the last stage in the
medication treatment process and most of the errors detected in this
stage. Little research has been undertaken about medication errors in
children in the Middle East countries. This study was aimed to
evaluate how the paediatric nurses adhere to the medication
administration policy and also to identify any medication preparation
and administration errors or any risk factors. An observational,
prospective study of medication administration process from when
the nurses preparing patient medication until administration stage
(May to August 2014) was conducted in Saudi Arabia. Twelve
paediatric nurses serving 90 paediatric patients were observed. 456
drug administered doses were evaluated. Adherence rate was variable
in 7 steps out of 16 steps. Patient allergy information, dose
calculation, drug expiry date were the steps in medication
administration with lowest adherence rates. 63 medication
preparation and administration errors were identified with error rate
13.8% of medication administrations. No potentially life-threating
errors were witnessed. Few logistic and administrative factors were
reported. The results showed that the medication administration
policy and procedure need an urgent revision to be more sensible for
nurses in practice. Nurses’ knowledge and skills regarding to the
medication administration process should be improved.
Abstract: Recommendation systems are widely used in
e-commerce applications. The engine of a current recommendation
system recommends items to a particular user based on user
preferences and previous high ratings. Various recommendation
schemes such as collaborative filtering and content-based approaches
are used to build a recommendation system. Most of current
recommendation systems were developed to fit a certain domain such
as books, articles, and movies. We propose1 a hybrid framework
recommendation system to be applied on two dimensional spaces
(User × Item) with a large number of Users and a small number
of Items. Moreover, our proposed framework makes use of both
favorite and non-favorite items of a particular user. The proposed
framework is built upon the integration of association rules mining
and the content-based approach. The results of experiments show
that our proposed framework can provide accurate recommendations
to users.
Abstract: Monocopter is a single-wing rotary flying vehicle
which has the capability of hovering. This flying vehicle includes two
dynamic parts in which more efficiency can be expected rather than
other Micro UAVs due to the extended area of wing compared to its
fuselage. Low cost and simple mechanism in comparison to other
vehicles such as helicopter are the most important specifications of
this flying vehicle.
In the previous paper we discussed the introduction of the final
system but in this paper, the experimental design process of
Monocopter and its control algorithm has been investigated in
general. Also the editorial bugs in the previous article have been
corrected and some translational ambiguities have been resolved.
Initially by constructing several prototypes and carrying out many
flight tests the main design parameters of this air vehicle were
obtained by experimental measurements. Eventually the required
main monocopter for this project was constructed. After construction
of the monocopter in order to design, implementation and testing of
control algorithms first a simple optic system used for determining
the heading angle. After doing numerous tests on Test Stand, the
control algorithm designed and timing of applying control inputs
adjusted. Then other control parameters of system were tuned in
flight tests. Eventually the final control system designed and
implemented using the AHRS sensor and the final operational tests
performed successfully.
Abstract: Aerated concrete is a load bearing construction
material, which has high heat insulation parameters. Walls can be
erected from aerated concrete masonry constructions and in perfect
circumstances additional heat insulation is not required. The most
common problem in aerated concrete heat insulation properties is the
humidity distribution throughout the cross section of the masonry
elements as well as proper and conducted drying process of the
aerated concrete construction because only dry aerated concrete
masonry constructions can reach high heat insulation parameters.
In order to monitor drying process of the masonry and detect
humidity distribution throughout the cross section of aerated concrete
masonry construction application of electrical impedance
spectrometry is applied. Further test results and methodology of this
non-destructive testing method is described in this paper.
Abstract: Structured Query Language (SQL) is the standard de facto language to access and manipulate data in a relational database. Although SQL is a language that is simple and powerful, most novice users will have trouble with SQL syntax. Thus, we are presenting SQL generator tool which is capable of translating actions and displaying SQL commands and data sets simultaneously. The tool was developed based on Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern. The MVC pattern is a widely used software design pattern that enforces the separation between the input, processing, and output of an application. Developers take full advantage of it to reduce the complexity in architectural design and to increase flexibility and reuse of code. In addition, we use White-Box testing for the code verification in the Model module.
Abstract: Urban public spaces are sutured with a range of
surveillance and sensor technologies that claim to enable new forms
of ‘data based citizen participation’, but also increase the tendency
for ‘function-creep’, whereby vast amounts of data are gathered,
stored and analysed in a broad application of urban surveillance. This
kind of monitoring and capacity for surveillance connects with
attempts by civic authorities to regulate, restrict, rebrand and reframe
urban public spaces. A direct consequence of the increasingly
security driven, policed, privatised and surveilled nature of public
space is the exclusion or ‘unfavourable inclusion’ of those considered
flawed and unwelcome in the ‘spectacular’ consumption spaces of
many major urban centres. In the name of urban regeneration,
programs of securitisation, ‘gentrification’ and ‘creative’ and ‘smart’
city initiatives refashion public space as sites of selective inclusion
and exclusion. In this context of monitoring and control procedures,
in particular, children and young people’s use of space in parks,
neighbourhoods, shopping malls and streets is often viewed as a
threat to the social order, requiring various forms of remedial action.
This paper suggests that cities, places and spaces and those who
seek to use them, can be resilient in working to maintain and extend
democratic freedoms and processes enshrined in Marshall’s concept
of citizenship, calling sensor and surveillance systems to account.
Such accountability could better inform the implementation of public
policy around the design, build and governance of public space and
also understandings of urban citizenship in the sensor saturated urban
environment.
Abstract: Creating a database scheme is essentially a manual
process. From a requirement specification the information contained
within has to be analyzed and reduced into a set of tables, attributes
and relationships. This is a time consuming process that has to go
through several stages before an acceptable database schema is
achieved. The purpose of this paper is to implement a Natural
Language Processing (NLP) based tool to produce a relational
database from a requirement specification. The Stanford CoreNLP
version 3.3.1 and the Java programming were used to implement the
proposed model. The outcome of this study indicates that a first draft
of a relational database schema can be extracted from a requirement
specification by using NLP tools and techniques with minimum user
intervention. Therefore this method is a step forward in finding a
solution that requires little or no user intervention.
Abstract: We report on the use of strong external optical
feedback to enhance the modulation response of semiconductor lasers
over a frequency passband around modulation frequencies higher
than 60 GHz. We show that this modulation enhancement is a type of
photon-photon resonance (PPR) of oscillating modes in the external
cavity formed between the laser and the external reflector. The study
is based on a time-delay rate equation model that takes into account
both the strong feedback and multiple reflections in the external
cavity. We examine the harmonic and intermodulation distortions
associated with single and two-tone modulations in the mm-wave
band of the resonant modulation. We show that compared with
solitary lasers modulated around the carrier-photon resonance
frequency, the present mm-wave modulated signal has lower
distortions.
Abstract: We model and simulate the combined effect of fiber
dispersion and frequency chirp of a directly modulated high-speed
laser diode on the figures of merit of a non-amplified 40-Gbps optical
fiber link. We consider both the return to zero (RZ) and non-return to
zero (NRZ) patterns of the pseudorandom modulation bits. The
performance of the fiber communication system is assessed by the
fiber-length limitation due to the fiber dispersion. We study the
influence of replacing standard single-mode fibers by non-zero
dispersion-shifted fibers on the maximum fiber length and evaluate
the associated power penalty. We introduce new dispersion
tolerances for 1-dB power penalty of the RZ and NRZ 40-Gbps
optical fiber links.
Abstract: This study presents a cost-effective approach for rapid
fabricating modeling platforms utilized in fused deposition modeling
system. A small-batch production of modeling platforms about 20
pieces can be obtained economically through silicone rubber mold
using vacuum casting without applying the plastic injection molding.
The air venting systems is crucial for fabricating modeling platform
using vacuum casting. Modeling platforms fabricated can be used for
building rapid prototyping model after sandblasting. This study offers
industrial value because it has both time-effectiveness and
cost-effectiveness.