Abstract: The purpose of the study was to determine if, among
32 brain injured adults in community rehabilitation programs, there is
a statistically significant relationship between the degree of severity
of brain injury and these adults- level of self-esteem and stress. The
researcher hypothesized there would be a statistically significant
difference and a statistically significant relationship in self-esteem
and stress levels among and TBI adults. A Pearson product moment
correlational analysis was implemented and results found a
statistically significant relationship between self-esteem and stress
levels. Future recommendations were suggested upon completion of
research.
Abstract: Lately, significant work in the area of Intelligent
Manufacturing has become public and mainly applied within the
frame of industrial purposes. Special efforts have been made in the
implementation of new technologies, management and control
systems, among many others which have all evolved the field. Aware
of all this and due to the scope of new projects and the need of
turning the existing flexible ideas into more autonomous and
intelligent ones, i.e.: Intelligent Manufacturing, the present paper
emerges with the main aim of contributing to the design and analysis
of the material flow in either systems, cells or work stations under
this new “intelligent" denomination. For this, besides offering a
conceptual basis in some of the key points to be taken into account
and some general principles to consider in the design and analysis of
the material flow, also some tips on how to define other possible
alternative material flow scenarios and a classification of the states a
system, cell or workstation are offered as well. All this is done with
the intentions of relating it with the use of simulation tools, for which
these have been briefly addressed with a special focus on the Witness
simulation package. For a better comprehension, the previous
elements are supported by a detailed layout, other figures and a few
expressions which could help obtaining necessary data. Such data and
others will be used in the future, when simulating the scenarios in the
search of the best material flow configurations.
Abstract: In this paper we present semantic assistant agent
(SAA), an open source digital library agent which takes user query
for finding information in the digital library and takes resources-
metadata and stores it semantically. SAA uses Semantic Web to
improve browsing and searching for resources in digital library. All
metadata stored in the library are available in RDF format for
querying and processing by SemanSreach which is a part of SAA
architecture. The architecture includes a generic RDF-based model
that represents relationships among objects and their components.
Queries against these relationships are supported by an RDF triple
store.
Abstract: The main aim of this research is to develop a methodology to encourage people's awareness, knowledge and understanding on the participation of flood management for cultural heritage, as the cooperation and interaction among government section, private section, and public section through role-play gaming simulation theory. The format of this research is to develop Role-play gaming simulation from existing documents, game or role-playing from several sources and existing data of the research site. We found that role-play gaming simulation can be implemented to help improving the understanding of the existing problem and the impact of the flood on cultural heritage, and the role-play game can be developed into the tool to improve people's knowledge, understanding and awareness about people's participation for flood management on cultural heritage, moreover the cooperation among the government, private section and public section will be improved through the theory of role-play gaming simulation.
Abstract: This study investigated the seasonal prevalence of
Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus larvae in three topographical areas
(i.e. mangrove, rice paddy and mountainous areas). Samples were
collected from 300 households in both wet and dry seasons in nine
districts in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Ae. aegypti and Ae.
albopictus were found in 21 out of 29 types of water containers in
mangrove, rice paddy and mountainous areas. Ae. aegypti and Ae.
albopictus laid eggs in different container types depending on season
and topographical areas. Ae. aegypti larvae were found most in metal
box in mangrove and mountainous areas in wet season. Ae.
albopictus larvae were also found most in metal box in mangrove and
mountainous areas in both wet and dry seasons. All Ae. albopictus
larval indices were higher than Ae. aegypti larval indices in all three
topographical areas and both seasons. HI and BI did not differ in
three topographical areas but differed between Aedes sp. HI for both
Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in all three topographical areas in both
seasons were greater than 10 %, except Aedes aegypti in rice paddy
area in wet season. This indicated high risks of DHF transmission in
these areas.
Abstract: The approach of subset selection in polynomial
regression model building assumes that the chosen fixed full set of
predefined basis functions contains a subset that is sufficient to
describe the target relation sufficiently well. However, in most cases
the necessary set of basis functions is not known and needs to be
guessed – a potentially non-trivial (and long) trial and error process.
In our research we consider a potentially more efficient approach –
Adaptive Basis Function Construction (ABFC). It lets the model
building method itself construct the basis functions necessary for
creating a model of arbitrary complexity with adequate predictive
performance. However, there are two issues that to some extent
plague the methods of both the subset selection and the ABFC,
especially when working with relatively small data samples: the
selection bias and the selection instability. We try to correct these
issues by model post-evaluation using Cross-Validation and model
ensembling. To evaluate the proposed method, we empirically
compare it to ABFC methods without ensembling, to a widely used
method of subset selection, as well as to some other well-known
regression modeling methods, using publicly available data sets.
Abstract: The objective of this research is to study of microbial lipid production by locally photosynthetic microalgae and oleaginous yeast via integrated cultivation technique using CO2 emissions from yeast fermentation. A maximum specific growth rate of Chlorella sp. KKU-S2 of 0.284 (1/d) was obtained under an integrated cultivation and a maximum lipid yield of 1.339g/L was found after cultivation for 5 days, while 0.969g/L of lipid yield was obtained after day 6 of cultivation time by using CO2 from air. A high value of volumetric lipid production rate (QP, 0.223 g/L/d), specific product yield (YP/X, 0.194), volumetric cell mass production rate (QX, 1.153 g/L/d) were found by using ambient air CO2 coupled with CO2 emissions from yeast fermentation. Overall lipid yield of 8.33 g/L was obtained (1.339 g/L of Chlorella sp. KKU-S2 and 7.06g/L of T. maleeae Y30) while low lipid yield of 0.969g/L was found using non-integrated cultivation technique. To our knowledge this is the unique report about the lipid production from locally microalgae Chlorella sp. KKU-S2 and yeast T. maleeae Y30 in an integrated technique to improve the biomass and lipid yield by using CO2 emissions from yeast fermentation.
Abstract: As the gradual increase of the enterprise scale, the
firms may possess many manufacturing plants located in different
places geographically. This change will result in the multi-site
production planning problems under the environment of multiple
plants or production resources. Our research proposes the structural
framework to analyze the multi-site planning problems. The analytical
framework is composed of six elements: multi-site conceptual model,
product structure (bill of manufacturing), production strategy,
manufacturing capability and characteristics, production planning
constraints, and key performance indicators. As well as the discussion
of these six ingredients, we also review related literatures in this paper
to match our analytical framework. Finally we take a real-world
practical example of a TFT-LCD manufacturer in Taiwan to explain
our proposed analytical framework for the multi-site production
planning problems.
Abstract: In the Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) method, use of Carbon dioxide flooding whereby CO2 is injected into an oil reservoir to increase output when extracting oil resulted significant recovery worldwide. The carbon dioxide function as a pressurizing agent when mixed into the underground crude oil will reduce its viscosity and will enable a rapid oil flow. Despite the CO2’s advantage in the oil recovery, it may result to asphaltene precipitation a problem that will cause the reduction of oil produced from oil wells. In severe cases, asphaltene precipitation can cause costly blockages in oil pipes and machinery. This paper presents reviews of several studies done on mathematical modeling of asphaltene precipitation. The synthesized result from several researches done on this topic can be used as guide in order to better understand asphaltene precipitation. Likewise, this can be used as initial reference for students, and new researchers doing study on asphaltene precipitation.
Abstract: This research aims to analyze the regenerative burner and the recuperative burner for the different reheating furnaces in the steel industry. The warm air temperatures of the burners are determined to suit with the sizes of the reheating furnaces by considering the air temperature, the fuel cost and the investment cost. The calculations of the payback period and the net present value are studied to compare the burners for the different reheating furnaces. The energy balance is utilized to calculate and compare the energy used in the different sizes of reheating furnaces for each burner. It is found that the warm air temperature is different if the sizes of reheating furnaces are varied. Based on the considerations of the net present value and the payback period, the regenerative burner is suitable for all plants at the same life of the burner. Finally, the sensitivity analysis of all factors has been discussed in this research.
Abstract: In order to evaluation the effects of soil organic
matter and biofertilizer on chickpea quality and biological
nitrogen fixation, field experiments were carried out in 2007
and 2008 growing seasons. In this research the effects of
different strategies for soil fertilization were investigated on
grain yield and yield component, minerals, organic compounds
and cooking time of chickpea. Experimental units were
arranged in split-split plots based on randomized complete
blocks with three replications. Main plots consisted of (G1):
establishing a mixed vegetation of Vicia panunica and
Hordeum vulgare and (G2): control, as green manure levels.
Also, five strategies for obtaining the base fertilizer
requirement including (N1): 20 t.ha-1 farmyard manure; (N2):
10 t.ha-1 compost; (N3): 75 kg.ha-1 triple super phosphate;
(N4): 10 t.ha-1 farmyard manure + 5 t.ha-1 compost and (N5):
10 t.ha-1 farmyard manure + 5 t.ha-1 compost + 50 kg.ha-1
triple super phosphate were considered in sub plots.
Furthermoree four levels of biofertilizers consisted of (B1):
Bacillus lentus + Pseudomonas putida; (B2): Trichoderma
harzianum; (B3): Bacillus lentus + Pseudomonas putida +
Trichoderma harzianum; and (B4): control (without
biofertilizers) were arranged in sub-sub plots. Results showed
that integrating biofertilizers (B3) and green manure (G1)
produced the highest grain yield. The highest amounts of yield
were obtained in G1×N5 interaction. Comparison of all 2-way
and 3-way interactions showed that G1N5B3 was determined
as the superior treatment. Significant increasing of N, P2O5,
K2O, Fe and Mg content in leaves and grains emphasized on
superiority of mentioned treatment because each one of these
nutrients has an approved role in chlorophyll synthesis and
photosynthesis abilities of the crops. The combined application
of compost, farmyard manure and chemical phosphorus (N5)
in addition to having the highest yield, had the best grain
quality due to high protein, starch and total sugar contents, low
crude fiber and reduced cooking time.
Abstract: This policy participation action research explores the
roles of Thai government units during its 2010 fiscal year on how to
create value added to recycling business in the central part of
Thailand. The research aims to a) study how the government plays a
role to support the business, and its problems and obstacles on
supporting the business, b) to design a strategic action – short,
medium, and long term plans -- to create value added to the recycling
business, particularly in local full-loop companies/organizations
licensed by Wongpanit Waste Separation Plant as well as those
licensed by the Department of Provincial Administration. Mixed
method research design, i.e., a combination of quantitative and
qualitative methods is utilized in the present study in both data
collection and analysis procedures. Quantitative data was analyzed
by frequency, percent value, mean scores, and standard deviation,
and aimed to note trend and generalizations. Qualitative data was
collected via semi-structured interviews/focus group interviews to
explore in-depth views of the operators. The sampling included 1,079
operators in eight provinces in the central part of Thailand.
Abstract: This paper is prepared to provide a review of how an automotive manufacturer, ISUZU HICOM Malaysia Co. Ltd. sustained the supply chain management after business process reengineering in 2007. One of the authors is currently undergoing industrial attachment and has spent almost 6 months researching in the production and operation management system of the company. This study was carried out as part of the tasks in the attachment program. The result shows that delivery lateness and outsourcing are the main barriers that affected productivity. From the gap analysis, the authors found that new business process operation had improved suppliers delivery performance.
Abstract: Spatial trends are one of the valuable patterns in geo
databases. They play an important role in data analysis and
knowledge discovery from spatial data. A spatial trend is a regular
change of one or more non spatial attributes when spatially moving
away from a start object. Spatial trend detection is a graph search
problem therefore heuristic methods can be good solution. Artificial
immune system (AIS) is a special method for searching and
optimizing. AIS is a novel evolutionary paradigm inspired by the
biological immune system. The models based on immune system
principles, such as the clonal selection theory, the immune network
model or the negative selection algorithm, have been finding
increasing applications in fields of science and engineering.
In this paper, we develop a novel immunological algorithm based
on clonal selection algorithm (CSA) for spatial trend detection. We
are created neighborhood graph and neighborhood path, then select
spatial trends that their affinity is high for antibody. In an
evolutionary process with artificial immune algorithm, affinity of
low trends is increased with mutation until stop condition is satisfied.
Abstract: The size, complexity and number of databases used
for protein information have caused bioinformatics to lag behind in
adapting to the need to handle this distributed information.
Integrating all the information from different databases into one
database is a challenging problem. Our main research is to develop a
tool which can be used to access and manipulate protein information
from difference databases. In our approach, we have integrated
difference databases such as Swiss-prot, PDB, Interpro, and EMBL
and transformed these databases in flat file format into relational
form using XML and Bioperl. As a result, we showed this tool can
search different sizes of protein information stored in relational
database and the result can be retrieved faster compared to flat file
database. A web based user interface is provided to allow user to
access or search for protein information in the local database.
Abstract: DNA shuffling is a powerful method used for in vitro
evolute molecules with specific functions and has application in areas
such as, for example, pharmaceutical, medical and agricultural
research. The success of such experiments is dependent on a variety
of parameters and conditions that, sometimes, can not be properly
pre-established. Here, two computational models predicting DNA
shuffling results is presented and their use and results are evaluated
against an empirical experiment. The in silico and in vitro results
show agreement indicating the importance of these two models and
motivating the study and development of new models.
Abstract: Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) with elite PSO
parameters has been developed for power flow analysis under
practical constrained situations. Multiple solutions of the power flow
problem are useful in voltage stability assessment of power system.
A method of determination of multiple power flow solutions is
presented using a hybrid of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and
local search technique. The unique and innovative learning factors of
the PSO algorithm are formulated depending upon the node power
mismatch values to be highly adaptive with the power flow problems.
The local search is applied on the pbest solution obtained by the PSO
algorithm in each iteration. The proposed algorithm performs reliably
and provides multiple solutions when applied on standard and illconditioned
systems. The test results show that the performances of
the proposed algorithm under critical conditions are better than the
conventional methods.
Abstract: In this research it is aimed that the effect of some demographic factors on Turkish Adolescents' subjective well being is investigated. 432 adolescents who are 247 girls and 185 boys are participated in this study. They are ages 15-17, and also are high school students. The Positive and Negative Affect Scale and Life Satisfaction Scale are used for measuring adolescents' subjective well being. The ANOVA method is used in order to examine the effect of ages. For gender differences, independent t-test method is used, and finally the Pearson Correlation method is used so as to examine the effect of socio economic statues of adolescents' parents. According to results, there is no gender difference on adolescents' subjective well being. On the other hand, SES and age are effect significantly lover level on adolescents' subjective well being.
Abstract: A general stochastic spatial MIMO channel model is
proposed for evaluating various MIMO techniques in this paper. It can
generate MIMO channels complying with various MIMO
configurations such as smart antenna, spatial diversity and spatial
multiplexing. The modeling method produces the stochastic fading
involving delay spread, Doppler spread, DOA (direction of arrival),
AS (angle spread), PAS (power azimuth Spectrum) of the scatterers,
antenna spacing and the wavelength. It can be applied in various
MIMO technique researches flexibly with low computing complexity.
Abstract: There is a acute water problem especially in the dry
season in and around Perundurai (Erode district, Tamil Nadu, India)
where there are more number of tannery units. Hence an attempt was
made to use the waste water from tannery industry for construction
purpose. The mechanical properties such as compressive strength,
tensile strength, flexural strength etc were studied by casting various
concrete specimens in form of cube, cylinders and beams etc and
were found to be satisfactory. Hence some special properties such as
chloride attack, sulphate attack and chemical attack are considered
and comparatively studied with the conventional potable water. In
this experimental study the results of specimens prepared by using
treated and untreated tannery effluent were compared with the
concrete specimens prepared by using potable water. It was observed
that the concrete had some reduction in strength while subjected to
chloride attack, sulphate attack and chemical attack. So admixtures
were selected and optimized in suitable proportion to counter act the
adverse effects and the results were found to be satisfactory.