Abstract: An experiment to verify the relationships between
physiological indexes of an e-learner and the presence or absence of an
operation during e-learning is described. Electroencephalogram
(EEG), hemoencephalography (HEG), skin conductance (SC), and
blood volume pulse (BVP) values were measured while participants
performed experimental learning tasks. The results show that there are
significant differences between the SC values when reading with
clicking on learning materials and the SC values when reading without
clicking, and between the HEG ratio when reading (with and without
clicking) and the HEG ratio when resting for four of five participants.
We conclude that the SC signals can be used to estimate whether or not
a learner is performing an active task and that the HEG ratios can be
used to estimate whether a learner is learning.
Abstract: The effect of upstream surface roughness over a
smooth forward facing step in an open channel was investigated
using a particle image velocimetry technique. Three different
upstream surface topographies consisting of hydraulically smooth
wall, sandpaper 36 grit and sand grains were examined. Besides the
wall roughness conditions, all other upstream flow characteristics
were kept constant. It was also observed that upstream roughness
decreased the approach velocity by 2% and 10% but increased the
turbulence intensity by 14% and 35% at the wall-normal distance
corresponding to the top plane of the step compared to smooth
upstream. The results showed that roughness decreased the
reattachment lengths by 14% and 30% compared to smooth upstream.
Although the magnitudes of maximum positive and negative
Reynolds shear stress in separated and reattached region were 0.02Ue
for all the cases, the physical size of both the maximum and
minimum contour levels were decreased by increasing upstream
roughness.
Abstract: In order to understand whether there is a better than the
learning function of learning methods and improve the CAD Courses
for enterprise’s design human resource development, this research is
applied in learning practical learning computer graphics software. In
this study, Revit building information model for learning content,
design of two different modes of learning curriculum to learning,
learning functions, respectively, and project learning. Via a post-test,
questionnaires and student interviews, etc., to study the effectiveness
of a comparative analysis of two different modes of learning. Students
participate in a period of three weeks after a total of nine-hour course,
and finally written and hands-on test. In addition, fill in the
questionnaire response by the student learning, a total of fifteen
questionnaire title, problem type into the base operating software,
application software and software-based concept features three
directions. In addition to the questionnaire, and participants were
invited to two different learning methods to conduct interviews to
learn more about learning students the idea of two different modes.
The study found that the ad hoc short-term courses in learning, better
learning outcomes. On the other hand, functional style for the whole
course students are more satisfied, and the ad hoc style student is
difficult to accept the ad hoc style of learning.
Abstract: This research provides a technical account of
estimating Transition Probability using Time-homogeneous Markov
Jump Process applying by South African HIV/AIDS data from the
Statistics South Africa. It employs Maximum Likelihood Estimator
(MLE) model to explore the possible influence of Transition
Probability of mortality cases in which case the data was based on
actual Statistics South Africa. This was conducted via an integrated
demographic and epidemiological model of South African HIV/AIDS
epidemic. The model was fitted to age-specific HIV prevalence data
and recorded death data using MLE model. Though the previous
model results suggest HIV in South Africa has declined and AIDS
mortality rates have declined since 2002 – 2013, in contrast, our
results differ evidently with the generally accepted HIV models
(Spectrum/EPP and ASSA2008) in South Africa. However, there is
the need for supplementary research to be conducted to enhance the
demographic parameters in the model and as well apply it to each of
the nine (9) provinces of South Africa.
Abstract: The combination of the properties of graphene oxide
(OG) and PVDF homopolymer makes their combined composite
materials as multifunctional systems with great potential. Knowledge
of the molecular structure is essential for better use. In this work, the
degradation of PVDF polymer exposed to gamma irradiation in
oxygen atmosphere in high dose rate has been studied and compared
to degradation of PVDF/OG composites. The samples were irradiated
with a Co-60 source at constant dose rate, with doses ranging from
100 kGy to 1,000 kGy. In FTIR data shown that the formation of
oxidation products was at the both samples with formation of
carbonyl and hydroxyl groups amongst the most prevalent products
in the pure PVDF samples. In the other hand, the composites samples
exhibit less presence of degradation products with predominant
formation of carbonyl groups, these results also seen in the UV-Vis
analysis. The results show that the samples of composites may have
greater resistance to the irradiation process, since they have less
degradation products than pure PVDF samples seen by spectroscopic
techniques.
Abstract: Community living adjacent to forests and Protected
Areas, especially in South Asian countries, have a common practice
in extracting resources for their living and livelihoods. This
extraction of resources, because the way it is done, destroys the biophysical
features of the area. Deforestation, wildlife poaching, illegal
logging, unauthorized hill cutting etc. are some of the serious issues
of concern for the sustainability of the natural resources that has a
direct impact on environment and climate as a whole. To ensure
community involvement in conservation initiatives of the state,
community based forest management, commonly known as Comanagement,
has been in practice in 6 South Asian countries. These
are -India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
Involving community in forestry management was initiated first in
Bangladesh in 1979 and reached as an effective co-management
approach through a several paradigm shifts. This idea of Comanagement
has been institutionalized through a Government Order
(GO) by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of
Bangladesh on November 23, 2009. This GO clearly defines the
structure and functions of Co-management and its different bodies.
Bangladesh Forest Department has been working in association with
community to conserve and manage the Forests and Protected areas
of Bangladesh following this legal document. Demographically
young people constitute the largest segment of population in
Bangladesh. This group, if properly sensitized, can produce valuable
impacts on the conservation initiatives, both by community and
government. This study traced the major factors that motivate
community youths to work effectively with different tiers of comanagement
organizations in conservation of forests and Protected
Areas of Bangladesh. For the purpose of this study, 3 FGDs were
conducted with 30 youths from the community living around the
Protected Areas of Cox’s bazar, South East corner of Bangladesh,
who are actively involved in Co-management organizations. KII were
conducted with 5 key officials of Forest Department stationed at
Cox’s Bazar. 2 FGDs were conducted with the representatives of 7
Co-management organizations working in Cox’s Bazar region and
approaches of different community outreach activities conducted for
forest conservation by 3 private organizations and Projects have been
reviewed. Also secondary literatures were reviewed for the history
and evolution of Co-management in Bangladesh and six South Asian
countries. This study found that innovative community outreach
activities that are financed by public and private sectors involving
youths and community as a whole have played a pivotal role in
conservation of forests and Protected Areas of the region. This
approach can be replicated in other regions of Bangladesh as well as
other countries of South Asia where Co-Management exists in
practice.
Abstract: This paper analyzes the institutionalization of social
protest in Spain. In the current crisis Podemos party seems to
represent the political positions of the most affected citizens by the
economic situation. It studies using quantitative techniques (statistical
bivariate analysis), focusing on the exploitation of several bases of
statistics data from the Center for Sociological and Research of
Spanish Government, 15M movement characterization to its
institutionalization in the Podemos party. Making a comparison
between the participant's profile by the 15M and the social bases of
Podemos votes. Data on the transformation of the socio-demographic
profile of the fans, connoisseurs and 15M participants and voters are
given.
Abstract: We present an approach to triangle mesh simplification
designed to be executed on the GPU. We use a quadric error metric
to calculate an error value for each vertex of the mesh and order all
vertices based on this value. This step is followed by the parallel
removal of a number of vertices with the lowest calculated error
values. To allow for the parallel removal of multiple vertices we use
a set of per-vertex boundaries that prevent mesh foldovers even when
simplification operations are performed on neighbouring vertices. We
execute multiple iterations of the calculation of the vertex errors,
ordering of the error values and removal of vertices until either a
desired number of vertices remains in the mesh or a minimum error
value is reached. This parallel approach is used to speed up the
simplification process while maintaining mesh topology and avoiding
foldovers at every step of the simplification.
Abstract: Pain management is a question of quality of life and
an indicator for nursing quality. Chronic pain which is predominant
in oncology and palliative nursing situations is perceived today as a
multifactorial, individual emotional experience with specific
characteristics including the sociocultural dimension when dealing
with migrant patients. This dimension of chronic pain is of major
importance in professional nursing of migrant patients in hospices or
palliative care units. Objectives of the study are: 1. To find out more
about the sociocultural views on pain and nursing care, on customs
and nursing practices connected with pain of both Turkish Muslim
and German Christian women, 2. To improve individual and family
oriented nursing practice with view to sociocultural needs of patients
in severe pain in palliative care. In a qualitative-explorative comparative study 4 groups of women,
Turkish Muslims immigrants (4 from the first generation, 5 from the
second generation) and German Christian women of two generations
(5 of each age group) of the same age groups as the Turkish women
and with similar educational backgrounds were interviewed (semistructured
ethnographic interviews using Spradley, 1979) on their
perceptions and experiences of pain and nursing care within their
families. For both target groups the presentation will demonstrate the
following results in detail: Utterance of pain as well as “private” and
“public” pain vary within different societies and cultures. Permitted
forms of pain utterance are learned in childhood and determine
attitudes and expectations in adulthood. Language, especially when
metaphors and symbols are used, plays a major role for
misunderstandings. The sociocultural context of illness may include
specific beliefs that are important to the patients and yet seem more
than far-fetched from a biomedical perspective. Pain can be an
influential factor in family relationships where respect or hierarchies
do not allow the direct utterance of individual needs. Specific
resources are often, although not exclusively, linked to religious
convictions and are significantly helpful in reducing pain. The discussion will evaluate the results of the study with view to
the relevant literature and present nursing interventions and
instruments beyond medication that are helpful when dealing with
patients from various socio-cultural backgrounds in painful end-oflife
situations.
Abstract: In this paper, we investigate the low-lying energy
levels of the two-dimensional parabolic graphene quantum dots
(GQDs) in the presence of topological defects with long range
Coulomb impurity and subjected to an external uniform magnetic
field. The low-lying energy levels of the system are obtained within
the framework of the perturbation theory. We theoretically
demonstrate that a valley splitting can be controlled by geometrical
parameters of the graphene quantum dots and/or by tuning a uniform
magnetic field, as well as topological defects. It is found that, for
parabolic graphene dots, the valley splitting occurs due to the
introduction of spatial confinement. The corresponding splitting is
enhanced by the introduction of a uniform magnetic field and it
increases by increasing the angle of the cone in subcritical regime.
Abstract: The increasing availability of information about earth
surface elevation (Digital Elevation Models DEM) generated from
different sources (remote sensing, Aerial Images, Lidar) poses the
question about how to integrate and make available to the most than
possible audience this huge amount of data. In order to exploit the potential of 3D elevation representation the
quality of data management plays a fundamental role. Due to the high
acquisition costs and the huge amount of generated data, highresolution
terrain surveys tend to be small or medium sized and
available on limited portion of earth. Here comes the need to merge
large-scale height maps that typically are made available for free at
worldwide level, with very specific high resolute datasets. One the
other hand, the third dimension increases the user experience and the
data representation quality, unlocking new possibilities in data
analysis for civil protection, real estate, urban planning, environment
monitoring, etc. The open-source 3D virtual globes, which are
trending topics in Geovisual Analytics, aim at improving the
visualization of geographical data provided by standard web services
or with proprietary formats. Typically, 3D Virtual globes like do not
offer an open-source tool that allows the generation of a terrain
elevation data structure starting from heterogeneous-resolution terrain
datasets. This paper describes a technological solution aimed to set
up a so-called “Terrain Builder”. This tool is able to merge
heterogeneous-resolution datasets, and to provide a multi-resolution
worldwide terrain services fully compatible with CesiumJS and
therefore accessible via web using traditional browser without any
additional plug-in.
Abstract: In this research, students’ scientific attitude, computer anxiety, educational use of the Internet, academic achievement, and problematic use of the Internet are analyzed based on different variables (gender, parents’ educational level and daily access to the Internet). The research group involves 361 students from two middle schools which are located in the center of Konya. The “general survey method” is adopted in the research. In accordance with the purpose of the study, percentage, mean, standard deviation, independent samples t--‐test, ANOVA (variance) are employed in the study. A total of four scales are implemented. These four scales include a total of 13 sub-dimensions. The scores from these scales and their subscales are studied in terms of various variables. In the research, students’ scientific attitude, computer anxiety, educational use of the Internet, the problematic Internet use and academic achievement (gender, parent educational level, and daily access to the Internet) are investigated based on various variables and some significant relations are found.
Abstract: Thoracotomy is a great surgery that has serious pulmonary complications, so purpose of this study was to determine the response of diaphragmatic excursion to inspiratory muscle trainer post thoracotomy. Thirty patients of both sexes (16 men and 14 women) with age ranged from 20 to 40 years old had done thoracotomy participated in this study. The practical work was done in cardiothoracic department, Kasr-El-Aini hospital at faculty of medicine for individuals 3 days Post operatively. Patients were assigned into two groups: group A (study group) included 15 patients (8 men and 7 women) who received inspiratory muscle training by using inspiratory muscle trainer for 20 minutes and routine chest physiotherapy (deep breathing, cough and early ambulation) twice daily, 3 days per week for one month. Group B (control group) included 15 patients (8 men and 7 women) who received the routine chest physiotherapy only (deep breathing, cough and early ambulation) twice daily, 3 days per week for one month. Ultrasonography was used to evaluate the changes in diaphragmatic excursion before and after training program. Statistical analysis revealed a significant increase in diaphragmatic excursion in the study group (59.52%) more than control group (18.66%) after using inspiratory muscle trainer post operatively in patients post thoracotomy. It was concluded that the inspiratory muscle training device increases diaphragmatic excursion in patients post thoracotomy through improving inspiratory muscle strength and improving mechanics of breathing and using of inspiratory muscle trainer as a method of physical therapy rehabilitation to reduce post-operative pulmonary complications post thoracotomy.
Abstract: In this study, total fatty acid composition of muscle
lipids of Cyprinus carpio L. living in Suğla Dam Lake, Altinapa Dam
Lake, Eğirdir Lake and Burdur Lake were determined using GC.
During this study, for the summer season of July was taken from each
region of the land and they were stored in deep-freeze set to -20
degrees until the analysis date. At the end of the analyses, 30
different fatty acids were found in the composition of Cyprinus
carpio L. which lives in different lakes. Cyprinus carpio Suğla Dam
Lake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), were higher than other
lakes. Cyprinus carpio L. was the highest in the major SFA palmitic
acid. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of carp, the most abundant
fish species in all lakes, were found to be higher than those of
saturated fatty acids (SFA) in all lakes. Palmitic acid was the major
SFA in all lakes. Oleic acid was identified as the major MUFA.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was the most abundant in all lakes. ω3
fatty acid composition was higher than the percentage of the
percentage ω6 fatty acids in all lake. ω3/ω6 rates of Cyprinus carpio
L. Suğla Dam Lake, Altinapa Dam Lake, Eğirdir Lake and Burdur
Lake, 2.12, 1.19, 2.15, 2.87, and 2.82, respectively. Docosahexaenoic
acid (DHA) was the major PUFA in Eğirdir and Burdur lakes,
whereas linoleic acid (LA) was the major PUFA in Altinapa and
Suğla Dam Lakes. It was shown that the fatty acid composition in the
muscle of carp was significantly influenced by different lakes.
Abstract: This paper looks at healing performances as
ethnographic expressions of local knowledge and culture embedded
within the Malay psyche and gemeinschaft. As society develops and
progresses, these healing performances are caught within conflicting
trajectories which become compounded by the contestations of
tradition, religious concerns, locality and modernity. As
exemplifications of the Malay ethos, these performances practice
common rituals, cater to the innate needs of the practitioners and
serve the targeted, closed, local community. This paper traces the
ethnographic methods in documenting these practices as rituals of
healing in a post-modern world. It delineates the ethnographic
concepts used to analyze these rituals, and to semiotically read the
varied binarial oppositions and juxtapositions. The paper concludes
by highlighting the reconciliatory processes involved in maintaining
these ritual performances as exemplifications of the Malay ethos
playing an important role in the re-aligning, re-balancing and healing
of the Malay community’s psyche.
Abstract: In this current contribution, authors are dedicated to
investigate influence of the crystal lamellae orientation on
electromechanical behaviors of relaxor ferroelectric Poly
(vinylidene fluoride –trifluoroethylene -chlorotrifluoroethylene)
(P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE)) films by control of polymer microstructure,
aiming to picture the full map of structure-property relationship. In
order to define their crystal orientation films, terpolymer films were
fabricated by solution-casting, stretching and hot-pressing process.
Differential scanning calorimetry, impedance analyzer, and tensile
strength techniques were employed to characterize crystallographic
parameters, dielectric permittivity, and elastic Young’s modulus
respectively. In addition, large electrical induced out-of-plane
electrostrictive strain was obtained by cantilever beam mode.
Consequently, as-casted pristine films exhibited surprisingly high
electrostrictive strain 0.1774% due to considerably small value of
elastic Young’s modulus although relatively low dielectric
permittivity. Such reasons contributed to large mechanical elastic
energy density. Instead, due to 2 folds increase of elastic Young’s
modulus and less than 50% augmentation of dielectric constant, fullycrystallized
film showed weak electrostrictive behavior and
mechanical energy density as well. And subjected to mechanical
stretching process, Film C exhibited stronger dielectric constant and
out-performed electrostrictive strain over Film B because edge-on
crystal lamellae orientation induced by uniaxially mechanical stretch.
Hot-press films were compared in term of cooling rate. Rather large
electrostrictive strain of 0.2788% for hot-pressed Film D in
quenching process was observed although its dielectric permittivity
equivalent to that of pristine as-casted Film A, showing highest
mechanical elastic energy density value of 359.5 J/m3. In hot-press
cooling process, dielectric permittivity of Film E saw values at 48.8
concomitant with ca.100% increase of Young’s modulus. Films with
intermediate mechanical energy density were obtained.
Abstract: The simulation in wind tunnel is used thoroughly to model real situations of drainages of air. Besides the automotive industry, a great number of applications can be numbered: dispersion of pollutant, studies of pedestrians’ comfort, and dispersion of particles. This work had the objective of visualizing the characteristics aerodynamics of two automobiles in different ways. To accomplish that drainage of air a fan that generated a speed exists (measured with anemometer of hot thread) of 4,1m/s and 4,95m/s. To visualize the path of the air through the cars, in the wind tunnel, smoke was used, obtained with it burns of vegetable oil. For “to do smoke” vegetable oil was used, that was burned for a tension of 20V generated by a thread of 2,5mm. The cars were placed inside of the wind tunnel with the drainage of “air-smoke” and photographed, registering like this the path lines around them, in the 3 different speeds.
Abstract: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease which affects the
central nervous system and causes balance problem. In clinical, this
disorder is usually evaluated using static posturography. Some linear
or nonlinear measures, extracted from the posturographic data (i.e.
center of pressure, COP) recorded during a balance test, has been
used to analyze postural control of MS patients. In this study, the
trend (TREND) and the sample entropy (SampEn), two nonlinear
parameters were chosen to investigate their relationships with the
expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score. 40 volunteers with
different EDSS scores participated in our experiments with eyes open
(EO) and closed (EC). TREND and 2 types of SampEn (SampEn1
and SampEn2) were calculated for each combined COP’s position
signal. The results have shown that TREND had a weak negative
correlation to EDSS while SampEn2 had a strong positive correlation
to EDSS. Compared to TREND and SampEn1, SampEn2 showed a
better significant correlation to EDSS and an ability to discriminate
the MS patients in the EC case. In addition, the outcome of the study
suggests that the multi-dimensional nonlinear analysis could provide
some information about the impact of disability progression in MS on
dynamics of the COP data.
Abstract: In this paper, an approach for the liver tumor detection
in computed tomography (CT) images is represented. The detection
process is based on classifying the features of target liver cell to
either tumor or non-tumor. Fractional differential (FD) is applied for
enhancement of Liver CT images, with the aim of enhancing texture
and edge features. Later on, a fusion method is applied to merge
between the various enhanced images and produce a variety of
feature improvement, which will increase the accuracy of
classification. Each image is divided into NxN non-overlapping
blocks, to extract the desired features. Support vector machines
(SVM) classifier is trained later on a supplied dataset different from
the tested one. Finally, the block cells are identified whether they are
classified as tumor or not. Our approach is validated on a group of
patients’ CT liver tumor datasets. The experiment results
demonstrated the efficiency of detection in the proposed technique.
Abstract: Advances in spatial and spectral resolution of satellite
images have led to tremendous growth in large image databases. The
data we acquire through satellites, radars, and sensors consists of
important geographical information that can be used for remote
sensing applications such as region planning, disaster management.
Spatial data classification and object recognition are important tasks
for many applications. However, classifying objects and identifying
them manually from images is a difficult task. Object recognition is
often considered as a classification problem, this task can be
performed using machine-learning techniques. Despite of many
machine-learning algorithms, the classification is done using
supervised classifiers such as Support Vector Machines (SVM) as the
area of interest is known. We proposed a classification method,
which considers neighboring pixels in a region for feature extraction
and it evaluates classifications precisely according to neighboring
classes for semantic interpretation of region of interest (ROI). A
dataset has been created for training and testing purpose; we
generated the attributes by considering pixel intensity values and
mean values of reflectance. We demonstrated the benefits of using
knowledge discovery and data-mining techniques, which can be on
image data for accurate information extraction and classification from
high spatial resolution remote sensing imagery.