Abstract: Images are important in disease research, education,
and clinical medicine. This paper presents a Web Service Platform
(WSP) for support multiple programming languages to access image
from biomedical databases. The main function WSP is to allow web
users access image from biomedical databases. The WSP will
receive web user-s queries. After that, it will send to Querying
Server (QS) and the QS will search and retrieve data from
biomedical databases. Finally, the information will display to the
web users. Simple application is developed and tested for
experiment purpose. Result from experiment indicated WSP can be
used in biomedical environment.
Abstract: With the increase of economic behavior and the upgrade
of living standar, the ratio for people in Taiwan who own automobiles
and motorcycles have recently increased with multiples. Therefore,
parking issues will be a big challenge to facilitate traffic network and
ensure urban life quality. The Parking Guidance and Information
System is one of important systems for Advanced Traveler Information
Services (ATIS). This research proposes a parking guidance and
information system which integrates GPS and 3G network for a map on
the Geographic Information System to solution inadequate of roadside
information kanban. The system proposed in this study mainly includes
Parking Host, Parking Guidance and Information Server, Geographic
Map and Information System as well as Parking Guidance and
Information Browser. The study results show this system can increase
driver-s efficiency to find parking space and efficiently enhance
parking convenience in comparison with roadside kanban system.
Abstract: As new challenges emerge in power electrical
workplace safety, it is the responsibility of the systems designer to
seek out new approaches and solutions that address them. Design
decisions made today will impact cost, safety and serviceability of
the installed systems for 40 or 50 years during the useful life for the
owner. Studies have shown that this cost is an order of magnitude of
7 to 10 times the installed cost of the power distribution equipment.
This paper reviews some aspects of earthing system design in power
substation surrounded by residential houses. The electrical potential
rise and split factors are discussed and a few recommendations are
provided to achieve a safety voltage in the area beyond the boundary
of the substation.
Abstract: Researches show that probability-statistical methods application, especially at the early stage of the aviation Gas Turbine Engine (GTE) technical condition diagnosing, when the flight information has property of the fuzzy, limitation and uncertainty is unfounded. Hence the efficiency of application of new technology Soft Computing at these diagnosing stages with the using of the Fuzzy Logic and Neural Networks methods is considered. According to the purpose of this problem training with high accuracy of fuzzy multiple linear and non-linear models (fuzzy regression equations) which received on the statistical fuzzy data basis is made. For GTE technical condition more adequate model making dynamics of skewness and kurtosis coefficients- changes are analysed. Researches of skewness and kurtosis coefficients values- changes show that, distributions of GTE workand output parameters of the multiple linear and non-linear generalised models at presence of noise measured (the new recursive Least Squares Method (LSM)). The developed GTE condition monitoring system provides stage-by-stage estimation of engine technical conditions. As application of the given technique the estimation of the new operating aviation engine technical condition was made.
Abstract: This research involved fingerprints on ballistics after shooting. Two objectives of research were as follow; (1) to study the duration of the existence of latent fingerprints on .38, .45, 9 mm and .223 cartridge case after shooting, and (2) to compare the effectiveness of the detection of latent fingerprints by Black Powder, Super Glue, Perma Blue and Gun Bluing. The latent fingerprint appearance were studied on .38, .45, 9 mm. and .223 cartridge cases before and after shooting with Black Powder, Super Glue, Perma Blue and Gun Bluing. The detection times were 3 minute, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66, 72, 78 and 84 hours respectively. As a result of the study, it can be conclude that
Before shooting, the detection of latent fingerprints on 38, .45, and 9 mm. and .223 cartridge cases with Black Powder, Super Glue, Perma Blue and Gun Bluing can detect the fingerprints at all detection times.
After shooting, the detection of latent fingerprints on .38, .45, 9 mm. and .223 cartridge cases with Black Powder, Super Glue did not appear. The detection of latent fingerprints on .38, .45, 9 mm. cartridge cases with Perma Blue and Gun Bluing were found 100% of the time and the detection of latent fingerprints on .223 cartridge cases with Perma Blue and Gun Bluing were found 40% and 46.67% of the time, respectively.
Abstract: Online auctions are not very popular in Croatia. The
main reason for this is a very limited number of services which can
be used by Croatian users. Until recent times, even selling through
the most popular online auction site eBay wasn't possible because
PayPal services could not make payment to bank or debit card
accounts in Croatia. Furthermore, many foreign sellers do not offer
delivery of their products to Croatia which means that large
quantities of goods initially offered on such sites are not available.
With that in mind, it is necessary to analyze the buying and selling
habits of Croatian users and existing online auction sites, both
Croatian and foreign, and create a model for new domestic site. This
site will have to exploit every positive aspect of existing models and
neutralize every negative perception indicated by users in the survey
so that, hopefully, it would attract new users.
Abstract: In the national and professional music of oral tradition
of many people in the East there is the metric formula called “ussuli",
that is to say rhythmic constructions of different character and a
composition. Ussuli in translation from Arabic means the law. The
cultural contacts of the ancient and medieval inhabitants of the
Central Asia, India, China, East Turkestan, Iraq, Afghanistan,
Turkey, and Iran have played a certain role in formation of both
musical and dancing heritage of each of these people. During
theatrical shows many dances were performed under the
accompaniment of percussion instruments as nagra, dayulpaz, doll.
The abovementioned tools are used as the obligatory accompanying
tool in an orchestra and at support of dancing acts as the solo tool.
Dynamics of development of a dancing composition, at times
execution of technique of movement depends on various
combinations of ussuli and their receptions of execution.
Abstract: Optimization study of the diesters biolubricant oleyl 9(12)-hydroxy-10(13)-oleioxy-12(9)-octadecanoate (OLHYOOT) was synthesized in the presence of sulfuric acid (SA) as catalyst has been done. Optimum conditions of the experiment to obtain high yield% of OLHYOOT were predicted at ratio of OL/HYOOA of 1:1 g/g, ratio of SA/HYOOA of 0.20:1 g/g, reaction temperature 110 °C and 4.5 h of reaction time. At this condition, the Yield% of OLHYOOT was 88.7. Disappearance of carboxylic acid (C=O) peak has observed by FTIR with appearance ester (C=O) at 1738 cm-1. 1H NMR spectra analyses confirmed the result of OLHYOOT with appearance ester (-CHOCOR) at 4.05ppm and also the 13C-NMR confirmed the result with appearance ester (C=O) peak at 173.93ppm.
Abstract: Liposomal magnetofection is the most powerful nonviral method for the nucleic acid delivery into the cultured cancer cells and widely used for in vitro applications. Use of the static magnetic field condition may result in non-uniform distribution of aggregate complexes on the surface of cultured cells. To prevent this, we developed the new device which allows to concentrate aggregate complexes under dynamic magnetic field, assisting more contact of these complexes with cellular membrane and, possibly, stimulating endocytosis. Newly developed device for magnetofection under dynamic gradient magnetic field, “DynaFECTOR", was used to compare transfection efficiency of human liver hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 with that obtained by lipofection and magnetofection. The effect of two parameters on transfection efficiency, incubation time under dynamic magnetic field and rotation frequency of magnet, was estimated. Liposomal magnetofection under dynamic gradient magnetic field showed the highest transfection efficiency for HepG2 cells.
Abstract: This paper presents Cost per Equivalent Wafer Out, which we find useful in wafer fab operational cost monitoring and controlling. It removes the loading and product mix effect in the cost variance analysis. The operation heads, therefore, could immediately focus on identifying areas for cost improvement. Without this, they would have to measure the impact of the loading variance and product mix variance between actual and budgeted prior to make any decision on cost improvement. Cost per Equivalent Wafer Out, thereby, increases efficiency in wafer fab operational cost monitoring and controlling.
Abstract: Aligned and random nanofibrous scaffolds of PVA/PCL/nHA were fabricated by electrospinning method. The composite nanofibrous scaffolds were subjected to detailed analysis. Morphological investigations revealed that the prepared nanofibers have uniform morphology and the average fiber diameters of aligned and random scaffolds were 135.5 and 290 nm, respectively. The obtained scaffolds have a porous structure with porosity of 88 and 76% for random and aligned nanofibers, respectively. Furthermore, FTIR analysis demonstrated that there were strong intramolecular interactions between the molecules of PVA/PCL/nHA. On the other hand, mechanical characterizations show that aligning the nanofibers, could significantly improve the rigidity of the resultant biocomposite nanofibrous scaffolds.
Abstract: Asiatic Houbara ( Chlamydotis macqueenii ) is a
flagship and vulnerable species. In-situ conservation of this
threatened species demands for knowledge of its habitat selection.
The aim of this study was to determine habitat variables influencing
birds wintering and breeding selection in semi- arid central Iran.
Habitat features of the detected nest and pellet sites were compared
with paired and random plots by quantifying a number of habitat
variables. In wintering habitat use at micro scale houbara selected
sites where vegetation cover was significantly lower compard to
control sites( p< 0.001). Areas with low number of larger plant
species (p=0.03) that were not too close to a vegetation
patch(p
Abstract: The study explored varied types of human smiles and
extracted most of the key factors affecting the smiles. These key
factors then were converted into a set of control points which could
serve to satisfy the needs for creation of facial expression for 3D
animators and be further applied to the face simulation for robots in the
future. First, hundreds of human smile pictures were collected and
analyzed to identify the key factors for face expression. Then, the
factors were converted into a set of control points and sizing
parameters calculated proportionally. Finally, two different faces
were constructed for validating the parameters via the process of
simulating smiles of the same type as the original one.
Abstract: Urban road network traffic has become one of the
most studied research topics in the last decades. This is mainly due to
the enlargement of the cities and the growing number of motor
vehicles traveling in this road network. One of the most sensitive
problems is to verify if the network is congestion-free. Another
related problem is the automatic reconfiguration of the network
without building new roads to alleviate congestions. These problems
require an accurate model of the traffic to determine the steady state
of the system. An alternative is to simulate the traffic to see if there
are congestions and when and where they occur. One key issue is to
find an adequate model for road intersections. Once the model
established, either a large scale model is built or the intersection is
represented by its performance measures and simulation for analysis.
In both cases, it is important to seek the queueing model to represent
the road intersection. In this paper, we propose to model the road
intersection as a BCMP queueing network and we compare this
analytical model against a simulation model for validation.
Abstract: Weblog is an Internet tool that is believed to possess
great potential to facilitate learning in education. This study wants to
know if weblog can be used to promote students- critical thinking. It
used a group of secondary two students from a Singapore school to
write weblogs as a means of substitution for their traditional
handwritten assignments. The topics for the weblogging are taken
from History syllabus but modified to suit the purpose of this study.
Weblogs from the students were collected and analysed using a
known coding system for measuring critical thinking. Results show
that the topic for blogging is crucial in determining the types of
critical thinking employed by the students. Students are seen to
display critical thinking traits in the areas of information sourcing,
linking information to arguments and viewpoints justification.
Students- criticalness is more profound when the information for
writing a topic is readily available. Otherwise, they tend to be less
critical and subjective. The study also found that students lack the
ability to source for external information suggesting that students
may need to be taught information literacy in order to widen their use
of critical thinking skills.
Abstract: Prostate cancer is one of the most frequent cancers in men and is a major cause of mortality in the most of countries. In many diagnostic and treatment procedures for prostate disease accurate detection of prostate boundaries in transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) images is required. This is a challenging and difficult task due to weak prostate boundaries, speckle noise and the short range of gray levels. In this paper a novel method for automatic prostate segmentation in TRUS images is presented. This method involves preprocessing (edge preserving noise reduction and smoothing) and prostate segmentation. The speckle reduction has been achieved by using stick filter and top-hat transform has been implemented for smoothing. A feed forward neural network and local binary pattern together have been use to find a point inside prostate object. Finally the boundary of prostate is extracted by the inside point and an active contour algorithm. A numbers of experiments are conducted to validate this method and results showed that this new algorithm extracted the prostate boundary with MSE less than 4.6% relative to boundary provided manually by physicians.
Abstract: In seismic survey, the information regarding the
velocity of compression wave (Vp) as well as shear wave (Vs) are
very useful especially during the seismic interpretation. Previous
studies showed that both Vp and Vs determined by above methods
are totally different with respect to each other but offered good
approximation. In this study, both Vp and Vs of consolidated granite
rock were studied by using ultrasonic testing method and seismic
refraction method. In ultrasonic testing, two different condition of
rock are used which is dry and wet. The differences between Vp and
Vs getting by using ultrasonic testing and seismic refraction were
investigated and studied. The effect of water content in granite rock
towards the value of Vp and Vs during ultrasonic testing are also
measured. Within this work, the tolerance of the differences between
the velocity of seismic wave getting from ultrasonic testing and the
velocity of seismic wave getting from seismic refraction are also
measured and investigated.
Abstract: As business environments are rapidly changing,
the manufacturing system must be reconfigured to adapt to
various customer needs. In order to cope with this challenge, it
is quintessential to test industrial control logic rapidly and
easily in the design time, and monitor operational behavior in
the run time of automated manufacturing system. Proposed
integrated model for virtual prototyping and operational
monitoring of industrial control logic is to improve limitations
of current ladder programming practices and general discrete
event simulation method. Each plant layout model using HMI
package and object-oriented control logic model is designed
independently and is executed simultaneously in integrated
manner to reflect design practices of automation system in the
design time. Control logic is designed and executed using UML
activity diagram without considering complicated control
behavior to deal with current trend of reconfigurable
manufacturing. After the physical installation, layout model of
virtual prototype constructed in the design time is reused for
operational monitoring of system behavior during run time.
Abstract: The peculiarities of the nanoscale structure-phase
states formed after electroexplosive carburizing and subsequent
electron-beam treatment of technically pure titanium surface in different regimes are established by methods of transmission electron
diffraction microscopy and physical mechanisms are discussed. Electroexplosive carburizing leads to surface layer formation
(40 m thickness) with increased (in 3.5 times) microhardness. It consists of β-titanium, graphite (monocrystals 100-150 nm,
polycrystals 5-10 nm, amorphous particles 3-5nm), TiC (5-10 nm), β-Ti02 (2-20nm). After electron-beam treatment additionally increasing the microhardness the surface layer consists of TiC.
Abstract: Biodiesel as an alternative fuel for diesel engines has been developed for some three decades now. While it is gaining wide acceptance in Europe, USA and some parts of Asia, the same cannot be said of Africa. With more than 35 countries in the continent depending on imported crude oil, it is necessary to look for alternative fuels which can be produced from resources available locally within any country. Hence this study presents performance of single cylinder diesel engine using blends of shea butter biodiesel. Shea butter was transformed into biodiesel by transesterification process. Tests are conducted to compare the biodiesel with baseline diesel fuel in terms of engine performance and exhaust emission characteristics. The results obtained showed that the addition of biodiesel to diesel fuel decreases the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and increases the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC). These results are expected due to the lower energy content of biodiesel fuel. On the other hand while the NOx emissions increased with increase in biodiesel content in the fuel blends, the emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), un-burnt hydrocarbon (UHC) and smoke opacity decreased. The engine performance which indicates that the biodiesel has properties and characteristics similar to diesel fuel and the reductions in exhaust emissions make shea butter biodiesel a viable additive or substitute to diesel fuel.