Abstract: This paper presents a 24 watts SEPIC converter design
and control using microprocessor. SEPIC converter has advantages of
a wide input range and miniaturization caused by the low stress at
elements. There is also an advantage that the input and output are
isolated in MOSFET-off state. This paper presents the PID control
through the SEPIC converter transfer function using a DSP and the
protective circuit for fuel cell from the over-current and
inverse-voltage by using the characteristic of SEPIC converter. Then it
derives them through the experiments.
Abstract: The innovative fuzzy estimator is used to estimate the
ground motion acceleration of the retaining structure in this study. The
Kalman filter without the input term and the fuzzy weighting recursive
least square estimator are two main portions of this method. The
innovation vector can be produced by the Kalman filter, and be
applied to the fuzzy weighting recursive least square estimator to
estimate the acceleration input over time. The excellent performance
of this estimator is demonstrated by comparing it with the use of
difference weighting function, the distinct levels of the measurement
noise covariance and the initial process noise covariance. The
availability and the precision of the proposed method proposed in this
study can be verified by comparing the actual value and the one
obtained by numerical simulation.
Abstract: Image mosaicing is a technique that permits to enlarge the field of view of a camera. For instance, it is employed to achieve panoramas with common cameras or even in scientific applications, to achieve the image of a whole culture in microscopical imaging. Usually, a mosaic of cell cultures is achieved through using automated microscopes. However, this is often performed in batch, through CPU intensive minimization algorithms. In addition, live stem cells are studied in phase contrast, showing a low contrast that cannot be improved further. We present a method to study the flat field from live stem cells images even in case of 100% confluence, this permitting to build accurate mosaics on-line using high performance algorithms.
Abstract: This paper presents a ray tracing simulation technique for characterize the radiowave propagation inside building. The implementation of an algorithm capable of enumerating a large number of propagation paths in interactive time for the special case of 2.5D. The effective dielectric constants of the building structure in the simulations are indicated. The study describes an efficient 2.5D model of ray tracing algorithm were compared with 3D model. The result of the first investigations is that the environment of the indoor wave significantly changes as we change the electric parameters of material constructions. A detailed analysis of the dependence of the indoor wave on the wideband characteristics of the channel: root mean square (RMS) delay spread characteristics and Mean excess delay, is also investigated.
Abstract: In this study, three subtypes of influenza A viruses (pH1N1, H5N1 and H3N2) which naturally infected human were analyzed by bioinformatic approaches to find candidate human cellular miRNAs targeting viral genomes. There were 76 miRNAs targeting influenza A viruses. Among these candidates, 70 miRNAs were subtypes specifically targeting each subtype of influenza A virus including 21 miRNAs targeted subtype H1N1, 27 miRNAs targeted subtype H5N1 and 22 miRNAs targeted subtype H3N2. The remaining 6 miRNAs target on multiple subtypes of influenza A viruses. Uniquely, hsa-miR-3145 is the only one candidate miRNA targeting PB1 gene of all three subtypes. Obviously, most of the candidate miRNAs are targeting on polymerase complex genes (PB2, PB1 and PA) of influenza A viruses. This study predicted potential human miRNAs targeting on different subtypes of influenza A viruses which might be useful for inhibition of viral replication and for better understanding of the interaction between virus and host cell.
Abstract: Renewable natural fibres such as oil palm, flax, and
pineapple leaf can be utilized to obtain new high performance
polymer materials. The reuse of waste natural fibres as reinforcement
for polymer is a sustainable option to the environment. However, due
to its high hydroxyl content of cellulose, natural fibres are
susceptible to absorb water that affects the composite mechanical
properties adversely. Research found that Nano materials such as
Nano Silica Carbide (n-SiC) and Nano Clay can be added into the
polymer composite to overcome this problem by enhancing its
mechanical properties in wet condition. The addition of Nano
material improves the tensile and wear properties, flexural stressstrain
behaviour, fracture toughness, and fracture strength of polymer
natural composites in wet and dry conditions.
Abstract: The fluorescent pseudomonad strain R81 is a root
colonizing rhizobacteria which promotes the growth of many plants
by various mechanisms. Its broth containing siderophore (ironchelating
compound) and 2,4- diacetyl phloroglucinol (DAPG) is
used for preparing bioinoculant formulations for agronomical
applications. Glycerol was found to be the best carbon source for
improved biomass production. Splitting of nitrogen source to NH4Cl
and urea had a stabilizing effect on pH during batch cultivation. Ltryptophan
at 0.5 % in the medium increased the siderophore
production to 850 mg/l. During batch cultivation of the strain in a
bioreactor, a maximum of 4 g/l of dry cell mass, 1.8 g/l of
siderophore and 20 mg/l of DAPG was achieved when glycerol was
15 g/l and C/N ratio was maintained at 12.5. In case of intermittent
feeding of fresh medium during fed-batch cultivation, the dry cell
mass was increased to 25 g/l with improved production of DAPG to
70 mg/l.
Abstract: Monoculture and mixed cultures of microalgae and
the oleaginous yeast for microbial oil productions were investigated
using sugarcane juice as carbon substrate. The monoculture of yeast
Torulaspora maleeae Y30, Torulaspora globosa YU5/2 grew faster
than that of microalgae Chlorella sp. KKU-S2. In monoculture of T.
maleeae Y30, a biomass of 8.267g/L with lipid yield of 0.920g/L
were obtained, while 8.333g/L of biomass with lipid yield of
1.141g/L were obtained for monoculture of T. globosa YU5/2. A
biomass of 1.933g/L with lipid yield of 0.052g/L was found for
monoculture of Chlorella sp. KKU-S2. The biomass concentration in
the mixed culture of the oleaginous yeast with microalgae increased
faster and was higher compared with that in the monocultures. A
biomass of 8.733g/L with lipid yield of 1.564g/L was obtained for a
mixed culture of T. maleeae Y30 with Chlorella sp. KKU-S2, while
8.010g/L of biomass with lipid yield of 2.424g/L was found for
mixed culture of T. globosa YU5/2 with Chlorella sp. KKU-S2.
Maximum cell yield coefficient (YX/S, g/L) was found of 0.323 in
monoculture of Chlorella sp. KKU-S2 but low level of both specific
yield of lipid (YP/X, g lipid/g cells) of 0.027 and volumetric lipid
production rate (QP, g/L/d) of 0.003 were observed. While, maximum
YP/X (0.303), QP (0.105) and maximum process product yield (YP/S,
0.061) were obtained in mixed culture of T. globosa YU5/2 with
Chlorella sp. KKU-S2. The results obtained from the study shows
that mixed culture of yeast with microalgae is a desirable cultivation
process for microbial oil production.
Abstract: This paper presents data annotation models at five levels of granularity (database, relation, column, tuple, and cell) of relational data to address the problem of unsuitability of most relational databases to express annotations. These models do not require any structural and schematic changes to the underlying database. These models are also flexible, extensible, customizable, database-neutral, and platform-independent. This paper also presents an SQL-like query language, named Annotation Query Language (AnQL), to query annotation documents. AnQL is simple to understand and exploits the already-existent wide knowledge and skill set of SQL.
Abstract: This study describes the preparation of a novel proton
conducting membranes based on bacterial cellulose (BC) modified by
grafting of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1 -propanesulfonic acid (AMPS)
through UV-induced graft polymerization. These AMPS-g-BC
membranes have been characterized by various techniques including
FTIR, SEM and TGA, to find their successful grafting of AMPS on
BC, surface morphology and thermal stability, respectively. Physical
properties of AMPS-g-BC membranes have been assessed in terms of
Lamda value( λ ), ion exchange capacity(IEC) and proton
conductivity. The relationship between degree of grafting and AMPS
concentration used for grafting has been determined by weight gain
method. An optimum proton conductivity equal to 2.89x10-2 S cm-1
and IEC value equal to 1.79 mmol g-1 have been obtained when 20
wt% AMPS concentration is used for grafting (i.e. the corresponding
membrane is notated as AMPS20-g-BC).
Abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus infection and
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a global pandemic with
cases reporting from virtually every country and continues to be a
common infection in developing country like India.
Microalbuminuria is a manifestation of human immunodeficiency
virus associated nephropathy. Therefore, microalbuminuria may be
an early marker of human immunodeficiency virus associated
nephropathy, and screening for its presence may be beneficial. A
strikingly high prevalence of microalbuminuria among human
immunodeficiency virus infected patients has been described in
various studies. Risk factors for clinically significant proteinuria
include African - American race, higher human immunodeficiency
virus ribonucleic acid level and lower CD4 lymphocyte count. The
cardiovascular risk factors of increased systolic blood pressure and
increase fasting blood sugar level are strongly associated with
microalbuminuria in human immunodeficiency virus patient. These
results suggest that microalbuminuria may be a sign of current
endothelial dysfunction and micro-vascular disease and there is
substantial risk of future cardiovascular disease events. Positive
contributing factors include early kidney disease such as human
immunodeficiency virus associated nephropathy, a marker of end
organ damage related to co morbidities of diabetes or hypertension,
or more diffuse endothelial cells dysfunction. Nevertheless after
adjustment for non human immunodeficiency virus factors, human
immunodeficiency virus itself is a major risk factor. The presence of
human immunodeficiency virus infection is independent risk to
develop microalbuminuria in human immunodeficiency virus patient.
Cardiovascular risk factors appeared to be stronger predictors of
microalbuminuria than markers of human immunodeficiency virus
severity person with human immunodeficiency virus infection and
microalbuminuria therefore appear to potentially bear the burden of
two separate damage related to known vascular end organ damage
related to know vascular risk factors, and human immunodeficiency
virus specific processes such as the direct viral infection of kidney
cells.The higher prevalence of microalbuminuria among the human
immunodeficiency virus infected could be harbinger of future
increased risks of both kidney and cardiovascular disease. Further
study defining the prognostic significance of microalbuminuria
among human immunodeficiency virus infected persons will be
essential. Microalbuminuria seems to be a predictor of cardiovascular
disease in diabetic and non diabetic subjects, hence it can also be
used for early detection of micro vascular disease in human
immunodeficiency virus positive patients, thus can help to diagnose
the disease at the earliest.
Abstract: Xanthan gum is one of the major commercial
biopolymers. Due to its excellent rheological properties xanthan gum
is used in many applications, mainly in food industry. Commercial
production of xanthan gum uses glucose as the carbon substrate;
consequently the price of xanthan production is high. One of the
ways to decrease xanthan price, is using cheaper substrate like
agricultural wastes. Iran is one of the biggest date producer countries.
However approximately 50% of date production is wasted annually.
The goal of this study is to produce xanthan gum from waste date
using Xanthomonas campestris PTCC1473 by submerged
fermentation. In this study the effect of three variables including
phosphor and nitrogen amount and agitation rate in three levels using
response surface methodology (RSM) has been studied. Results
achieved from statistical analysis Design Expert 7.0.0 software
showed that xanthan increased with increasing level of phosphor.
Low level of nitrogen leaded to higher xanthan production. Xanthan
amount, increasing agitation had positive influence. The statistical
model identified the optimum conditions nitrogen amount=3.15g/l,
phosphor amount=5.03 g/l and agitation=394.8 rpm for xanthan. To
model validation, experiments in optimum conditions for xanthan
gum were carried out. The mean of result for xanthan was 6.72±0.26.
The result was closed to the predicted value by using RSM.
Abstract: Fuel cell's system requires regulating circuit for
voltage and current in order to control power in case of connecting to
other generative devices or load. In this paper Fuel cell system and
convertor, which is a multi-variable system, are controlled using
sliding mode method. Use of weighting matrix in design procedure
made it possible to regulate speed of control. Simulation results show
the robustness and accuracy of proposed controller for controlling
desired of outputs.
Abstract: The Artificial immune systems algorithms are Meta
heuristic optimization method, which are used for clustering and
pattern recognition applications are abundantly. These algorithms in
multimodal optimization problems are more efficient than genetic
algorithms. A major drawback in these algorithms is their slow
convergence to global optimum and their weak stability can be
considered in various running of these algorithms. In this paper,
improved Artificial Immune System Algorithm is introduced for the
first time to overcome its problems of artificial immune system. That
use of the small size of a local search around the memory antibodies
is used for improving the algorithm efficiently. The credibility of the
proposed approach is evaluated by simulations, and it is shown that
the proposed approach achieves better results can be achieved
compared to the standard artificial immune system algorithms
Abstract: Access to information is the key to the empowerment of everybody despite where they are living. This research is to be carried out in respect of the people living in developing countries, considering their plight and complex geographical, demographic, social-economic conditions surrounding the areas they live, which hinder access to information and of professionals providing services such as medical workers, which has led to high death rates and development stagnation. Research on Unified Communications and Integrated Collaborations (UCIC) system in the health sector of developing countries comes in to create a possible solution of bridging the digital canyon among the communities. The aim is to deliver services in a seamless manner to assist health workers situated anywhere to be accessed easily and access information which will help in service delivery. The proposed UCIC provides the most immersive Telepresence experience for one-to-one or many-tomany meetings. Extending to locations anywhere in the world, the transformative platform delivers Ultra-low operating costs through the use of general purpose networks and using special lenses and track systems.
Abstract: There is no doubt that Internet technology is widely used by hotels and its demand is constantly booming. Hotels have largely adopted website information services through using different interactive tools, dimensions and attributes to achieve excellence in functionality and usability but these do not necessary equate with website effectiveness. One way to investigate the effectiveness of hotel website is from the perspective ofe-consumers. This exploratory research is to investigate the perceived importance of websites effectiveness of some selected independent small and medium-sized hotels (SMHs) located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from the perspective of Omanie-consumers by using non-random sampling method. From 400 questionnaire addressed to respondents in 27 organizations in Muscat the capital city of Oman, 173 are valid. Findings of this study assist SMHs management in Dubai with the reallocation of their resources and efforts in order to supportebusiness development and to sustain a competitive advantage.
Abstract: This paper presents an optimization of the hull
separation, i.e. transverse clearance. The main objective is to identify
the feasible speed ranges and find the optimum transverse clearance
considering the minimum wave-making resistance. The dimensions
and the weight of hardware systems installed in the catamaran
structured fuel cell powered USV (Unmanned Surface Vehicle) were
considered as constraints. As the CAE (Computer Aided Engineering)
platform FRIENDSHIP-Framework was used. The hull surface
modeling, DoE (Design of Experiment), Tangent search optimization,
tool integration and the process automation were performed by
FRIENDSHIP-Framework. The hydrodynamic result was evaluated
by XPAN the potential solver of SHIPFLOW.
Abstract: In a travelling wave thermoacoustic device, the
regenerator sandwiched between a pair of (hot and cold) heat
exchangers constitutes the so-called thermoacoustic core, where the
thermoacoustic energy conversion from heat to acoustic power takes
place. The temperature gradient along the regenerator caused by the
two heat exchangers excites and maintains the acoustic wave in the
resonator. The devices are called travelling wave thermoacoustic
systems because the phase angle difference between the pressure and
velocity oscillation is close to zero in the regenerator. This paper
presents the construction and testing of a thermoacoustic engine
equipped with a ceramic regenerator, made from a ceramic material
that is usually used as catalyst substrate in vehicles- exhaust systems,
with fine square channels (900 cells per square inch). The testing
includes the onset temperature difference (minimum temperature
difference required to start the acoustic oscillation in an engine), the
acoustic power output, thermal efficiency and the temperature profile
along the regenerator.
Abstract: This paper presents a integer frequency offset (IFO)
estimation scheme for the 3GPP long term evolution (LTE) downlink
system. Firstly, the conventional joint detection method for IFO and
sector cell index (CID) information is introduced. Secondly, an IFO
estimation without explicit sector CID information is proposed, which
can operate jointly with the proposed IFO estimation and reduce
the time delay in comparison with the conventional joint method.
Also, the proposed method is computationally efficient and has almost
similar performance in comparison with the conventional method over
the Pedestrian and Vehicular channel models.
Abstract: Oxidative stress makes up common incidents in
eukaryotic metabolism. The presence of diverse components
disturbing the equilibrium during oxygen metabolism increases
oxidative damage unspecifically in living cells. Body´s own
ubiquinone (Q10) seems to be a promising drug in defending the
heightened appearance of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Though, its
lipophilic properties require a new strategy in drug formulation to
overcome their low bioavailability. Consequently, the manufacture of
heterogeneous nanodispersions is in focus for medical applications.
The composition of conventional nanodispersions is made up of a
drug-consisting core and a surfactive agent, also named as surfactant.
Long-termed encapsulation of the surfactive components into tissues
might be the consequence of the use during medical therapeutics. The
potential of provoking side-effects is given by their nonbiodegradable
properties. Further improvements during fabrication
process use the incorporation of biodegradable components such as
modified γ-polyglutamic acid which decreases the potential of
prospective side-effects.