Abstract: This paper deals with behavior and capacity of
punching shear force for flat slabs produced from steel fiber
reinforced self compacting concrete (SFRSCC) by application
nonlinear finite element method. Nonlinear finite element analysis on
nine slab specimens was achieved by using ANSYS software. A
general description of the finite element method, theoretical modeling
of concrete and reinforcement are presented. The nonlinear finite
element analysis program ANSYS is utilized owing to its capabilities
to predict either the response of reinforced concrete slabs in the post
elastic range or the ultimate strength of a flat slabs produced from
steel fiber reinforced self compacting concrete (SFRSCC). In order to
verify the analytical model used in this research using test results of
the experimental data, the finite element analysis were performed
then a parametric study of the effect ratio of flexural reinforcement,
ratio of the upper reinforcement, and volume fraction of steel fibers
were investigated. A comparison between the experimental results
and those predicted by the existing models are presented. Results and
conclusions may be useful for designers, have been raised, and
represented.
Abstract: This study defines a methodology to compute unitary costs for freight transportation modes. The main objective was to gather relevant costs data to support the formulation and evaluation of railway, road, pipelines and port projects. This article will concentrate on the following steps: Compilation and analysis of relevant modal cost studies, Methodological adjustments to make cost figures comparable between studies, Definition of typology and scope of transportation modes, Analysis and validation of cost values for relevant freight transportation modes in Chile. In order to define the comparison methodology for the costs between the different transportation modes, it was necessary to consider that the relevant cost depends on who performs the comparison. Thus, for the transportation user (e.g. exporter) the pertinent costs are the mode tariffs, whereas from the operators perspective (e.g. rail manager), the pertinent costs are the operating costs of each mode.
Abstract: This study presents the application of artificial
neural network for modeling the phenolic compound
migration through vertical soil column. A three layered feed
forward neural network with back propagation training
algorithm was developed using forty eight experimental data
sets obtained from laboratory fixed bed vertical column tests.
The input parameters used in the model were the influent
concentration of phenol(mg/L) on the top end of the soil
column, depth of the soil column (cm), elapsed time after
phenol injection (hr), percentage of clay (%), percentage of
silt (%) in soils. The output of the ANN was the effluent
phenol concentration (mg/L) from the bottom end of the soil
columns. The ANN predicted results were compared with the
experimental results of the laboratory tests and the accuracy of
the ANN model was evaluated.
Abstract: spherical porous carbon particles with
controllable porosity with a mean size of 2.5m have been
prepared using a spray drying method with organic particle
colloidal template. As a precursor, a mixing solution of carbon
nanopowder and polystyrene (PS) particles as a template was
used. The result showed that the particles with a good porous
structure could be obtained. The pore size and shape (spherical)
were identical to the initial template, giving a potential way for
further developments. The control of particle porosity was also
possible and reported in this paper, in which this control could
be achieved by means of PS concentration.
Abstract: This paper presented the results of an experimental
investigation into the axial fatigue behavior of a 5086 aluminum
alloy which have several notch-aspect ratios a0/c0 and notch
thickness ratio a/t with semi-elliptical surface cracks. Tests were
conducted in la b air for stress levels of 50 % of their yield
strength. Experiments were carried out for various notch to
thickness ratios. Crack growth rates of test specimens both in
surface and depth directions were determined by using die
penetration method. Fuzzy Logic method was used to predict the
deep direction crack growth because the dept of the crack is
considerably difficult to measure.
Abstract: This paper reports on the results of experimental investigations on the performance of a jet pump operated under selected primary flows to optimize the related parameters. For this purpose a two-phase flow jet pump was used employing various profiles of nozzles as the primary device which was designed, fabricated and used along with the combination of mixing tube and diffuser. The profiles employed were circular, conical, and elliptical. The diameter of the nozzle used was 4 mm. The area ratio of the jet pump was 0.16. The test facility created for this purpose was an open loop continuous circulation system. Performance of the jet pump was obtained as iso-efficiency curves on characteristic curves drawn for various water flow rates. To perform the suction capability, evacuation test was conducted at best efficiency point for all the profiles.
Abstract: Over the past few years, XML (eXtensible Mark-up
Language) has emerged as the standard for information
representation and data exchange over the Internet. This paper
provides a kick-start for new researches venturing in XML databases
field. We survey the storage representation for XML document,
review the XML query processing and optimization techniques with
respect to the particular storage instance. Various optimization
technologies have been developed to solve the query retrieval and
updating problems. Towards the later year, most researchers
proposed hybrid optimization techniques. Hybrid system opens the
possibility of covering each technology-s weakness by its strengths.
This paper reviews the advantages and limitations of optimization
techniques.
Abstract: In this paper, numerical simulation is used to
investigate the thermal performance of liquid cooling heatsink with
microchannels due to geometric arrangement. Commercial software
ICEPAK is utilized for the analysis. The considered parameters
include aspect ratio, porosity and the length and height of
microchannel. The aspect ratio varies from 3 to 16 and the length of
microchannel is 10mm, 14mm, and 18mm. The height of
microchannel is 2mm, 3mm and 4mm. It is found short channel have
better thermal efficiency than long channel at 490Pa. No matter the
length of channel the best aspect ratio is 4. It is also noted that pressure
difference at 2940Pa the best aspect ratio from 4 to 8, it means pressure
difference affect aspect ratio, effective thermal resistance at low
pressure difference but lower effective thermal resistance at high
pressure difference.
Abstract: Sense-antisense gene pair (SAGP) is a pair of two oppositely transcribed genes sharing a common region on a chromosome. In the mammalian genomes, SAGPs can be organized in more complex sense-antisense gene architectures (CSAGA) in which at least one gene could share loci with two or more antisense partners. Many dozens of CSAGAs can be found in the human genome. However, CSAGAs have not been systematically identified and characterized in context of their role in human diseases including cancers. In this work we characterize the structural-functional properties of a cluster of 5 genes –TMEM97, IFT20, TNFAIP1, POLDIP2 and TMEM199, termed TNFAIP1 / POLDIP2 module. This cluster is organized as CSAGA in cytoband 17q11.2. Affymetrix U133A&B expression data of two large cohorts (410 atients, in total) of breast cancer patients and patient survival data were used. For the both studied cohorts, we demonstrate (i) strong and reproducible transcriptional co-regulatory patterns of genes of TNFAIP1/POLDIP2 module in breast cancer cell subtypes and (ii) significant associations of TNFAIP1/POLDIP2 CSAGA with amplification of the CSAGA region in breast cancer, (ii) cancer aggressiveness (e.g. genetic grades) and (iv) disease free patient-s survival. Moreover, gene pairs of this module demonstrate strong synergetic effect in the prognosis of time of breast cancer relapse. We suggest that TNFAIP1/ POLDIP2 cluster can be considered as a novel type of structural-functional gene modules in the human genome.
Abstract: This paper examines the readability of the chairman’s narratives, as determined by the Flesch score, of a Malaysian public listed company’s corporate reports from 1962 to 2009. It partially supports earlier studies which demonstrated that corporate reports were difficult to read, and had shown very negligible decrease in difficulty over time. Net profit to sales and readability was significantly positively correlated but number of financial statements was significantly negatively correlated with readability.
Abstract:
Innovation is becoming more and more important in
modern society. There are a lot of researches on different kinds of
innovation but marketing innovation is one kind of innovation that
has not been studied frequently before. Marketing innovation is
defined as a new way in which companies can market themselves to
potential or existing customers.
The study shows some key elements for marketing innovation that
are worth paying attention to when implementing marketing
innovation projects. Examples of such key elements are: paying
attention to the neglected market, suitable market segmentatio
reliable market information, public relationship, increased customer
value, combination of market factors, explore different marketing
channels and the use of technology in combination with what? Beside
the key elements for marketing innovation, we also present some
risks that may occur, such as cost, market uncertainty, information
leakage, imitation and overdependence on experience.
By proposing a set of indicators to measure marketing innovation,
the article offers solutions for marketing innovation implementation
so that any organization can achieve optimal results.
Abstract: The integral form of equations of motion of composite
beams subjected to varying time loads are discretized using a
developed finite element model. The model consists of a straight five
node twenty-two degrees of freedom beam element. The stability
analysis of the beams is studied by solving the matrix form
characteristic equations of the system. The principle of virtual work
and the first order shear deformation theory are employed to analyze
the beams with large deformation and small strains. The regions of
dynamic instability of the beam are determined by solving the
obtained Mathieu form of differential equations. The effects of nonconservative
loads, shear stiffness, and damping parameters on
stability and response of the beams are examined. Several numerical
calculations are presented to compare the results with data reported
by other researchers.
Abstract: In this paper we present a novel method, which
reduces the computational complexity of abrupt cut detection. We
have proposed fast algorithm, where the similarity of frames within
defined step is evaluated instead of comparing successive frames.
Based on the results of simulation on large video collection, the
proposed fast algorithm is able to achieve 80% reduction of needed
frames comparisons compared to actually used methods without the
shot cut detection accuracy degradation.
Abstract: For sterilization of Phalaenopsis culture medium without autoclaving, selected single sterilizing agents and in combinations were added to a 25ml Hyponex medium in a 120ml glass container. Treated liquid and solid media, supplemented with sterilizing agents, were compared to a control medium, autoclaved at 121°C for 15min. It was found that 90(L of 10% povidone-iodine, 150(L of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite, 150(L of 2% mercurochrome, 90(L of 2.5% iodine + 2.5% potassium iodine in combination with 10% providone-iodine (1:3) and 30(L of 2.5% iodine + 2.5% potassium iodide in combination with 2% mercurochrome showed 100% sterile conditions in liquid medium but provided 75, 100, 50, 75 and 80% sterile conditions, respectively, in solid medium. For growth of Phalaenopsis protocorms, 90(L of 10% povidone-iodine in liquid Hyponex medium gave the comparable growth of protocorms to control medium while 150(L of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite in solid medium provided the promising growth of protocorms. Growth of protocorms, whole fresh weight, numbers of leaf and root, root length and number of protocorm-like bodies, was discussed.
Abstract: Even it has been recognized that Shape Memory
Alloys (SMA) have a significant potential for deployment actuators,
the number of applications of SMA-based actuators to the present
day is still quite small, due to the need of deep understanding of the
thermo-mechanical behavior of SMA, causing an important need for
a mathematical model able to describe all thermo-mechanical
properties of SMA by relatively simple final set of constitutive
equations. SMAs offer attractive potentials such as: reversible strains
of several percent, generation of high recovery stresses and high
power / weight ratios. The paper tries to provide an overview of the
shape memory functions and a presentation of the designed and
developed temperature control system used for a gripper actuated by
two pairs of differential SMA active springs. An experimental setup
was established, using electrical energy for actuator-s springs heating
process. As for holding the temperature of the SMA springs at certain
level for a long time was developed a control system in order to
avoid the active elements overheating.
Abstract: A climate dependent model is proposed to simulate
the population of Aedes aegypti mosquito. In developing the model,
average temperature of Shah Alam, Malaysia was used to determine
the development rate of each stage of the life cycle of mosquito.
Rainfall dependent function was proposed to simulate the hatching
rate of the eggs under several assumptions. The proposed transition
matrix was obtained and used to simulate the population of eggs,
larvae, pupae and adults mosquito. It was found that the peak of
mosquito abundance comes during a relatively dry period following a
heavy rainfall. In addition, lag time between the peaks of mosquito
abundance and dengue fever cases in Shah Alam was estimated.
Abstract: In this paper the complete rotor system including
elastic shaft with distributed mass, allowing for the effects of oil film
in bearings. Also, flexibility of foundation is modeled. As a whole
this article is a relatively complete research in modeling and
vibration analysis of rotor considering gyroscopic effect, damping,
dependency of stiffness and damping coefficients on frequency and
solving the vibration equations including these parameters. On the
basis of finite element method and utilizing four element types
including element of shaft, disk, bearing and foundation and using
MATLAB, a computer program is written. So the responses in
several cases and considering different effects are obtained. Then the
results are compared with each other, with exact solutions and results
of other papers.
Abstract: In this investigation, anatase TiO2 thin films were
grown by radio frequency magnetron sputtering on glass substrates at
a high sputtering pressure and room temperature. The anatase films
were then annealed at 300-600 °C in air for a period of 1 hour. To
examine the structure and morphology of the films, X-ray diffraction
(XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) methods were used
respectively. From X-ray diffraction patterns of the TiO2 films, it was
found that the as-deposited film showed some differences compared
with the annealed films and the intensities of the peaks of the
crystalline phase increased with the increase of annealing
temperature. From AFM images, the distinct variations in the
morphology of the thin films were also observed. The optical
constants were characterized using the transmission spectra of the
films obtained by UV-VIS-IR spectrophotometer. Besides, optical
thickness of the film deposited at room temperature was calculated
and cross-checked by taking a cross-sectional image through SEM.
The optical band gaps were evaluated through Tauc model. It was
observed that TiO2 films produced at room temperatures exhibited
high visible transmittance and transmittance decreased slightly with
the increase of annealing temperatures. The films were found to be
crystalline having anatase phase. The refractive index of the films
was found from 2.31-2.35 in the visible range. The extinction
coefficient was nearly zero in the visible range and was found to
increase with annealing temperature. The allowed indirect optical
band gap of the films was estimated to be in the range from 3.39 to
3.42 eV which showed a small variation. The allowed direct band
gap was found to increase from 3.67 to 3.72 eV. The porosity was
also found to decrease at a higher annealing temperature making the
film compact and dense.
Abstract: In recent years, copulas have become very popular in
financial research and actuarial science as they are more flexible in
modelling the co-movements and relationships of risk factors as compared
to the conventional linear correlation coefficient by Pearson.
However, a precise estimation of the copula parameters is vital in
order to correctly capture the (possibly nonlinear) dependence structure
and joint tail events. In this study, we employ two optimization
heuristics, namely Differential Evolution and Threshold Accepting to
tackle the parameter estimation of multivariate t distribution models
in the EML approach. Since the evolutionary optimizer does not rely
on gradient search, the EML approach can be applied to estimation of
more complicated copula models such as high-dimensional copulas.
Our experimental study shows that the proposed method provides
more robust and more accurate estimates as compared to the IFM
approach.
Abstract: Fertilization plays an important role in crop growth and soil improvement. This study was conducted to determine the best fertilization system for wheat production. Experiments were arranged in a complete block design with three replications in two years. Main plots consisted of six methods of fertilization including (N1): farmyard manure; (N2): compost; (N3): chemical fertilizers; (N4): farmyard manure + compost; (N5): farmyard manure + compost + chemical fertilizers and (N6): control were arranged in sub plots. The addition of compost or farm yard manure significantly increased the soil microbial biomass carbon in comparison to the chemical fertilizer. The dehydrogenase, phosphatase and urease activities in the N3 treatment were significantly lower than in the farm yard manure and compost treatments.