Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine a broader range of sport constraints perceived by young Koreans in Australia who may need to adjust to changing behavioral expectations due to the socio-cultural transitions. Regardless of gender, in terms of quantitative findings, the most important participation constraints within the seven categories were resources, access, interpersonal, affective, religious, socio-cultural, and physical in that order. The most important constraining items were a lack of time, access, information, adaptive skills, and parental and family support in that order. Qualitative research found young Korean’s participation constraints among three categories (time, parental control and interpersonal constraints). It is possible that different ethnic groups would be constrained by different factors; however, this is outside the scope of this study.
Abstract: Cobalt was acid nitric leached from a mixed cobaltcopper
oxide with variable acid concentration. Resulting
experimental data were used to analyze effects of increase in acid
concentration, based on a shrinking core model of the process. The
mathematical simulation demonstrated that the time rate of the
dissolution mechanism is an increasing function of acid
concentration. It was also shown that the magnitude of the acid
concentration effect is time dependent and the increase in acid
concentration is more effective at earlier stage of the dissolution than
at later stage. The remaining process parameters are comprehensively
affected by acid concentration and their interaction is synergetic.
Abstract: This paper focuses on a critical component of the
situational awareness (SA), the control of autonomous vertical flight for tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (TUAV). With the SA strategy,
we proposed a two stage flight control procedure using two autonomous control subsystems to address the dynamics variation
and performance requirement difference in initial and final stages of flight trajectory for a nontrivial nonlinear eight-rotor helicopter
model. This control strategy for chosen model of mini-TUAV has been verified by simulation of hovering maneuvers using software
package Simulink and demonstrated good performance for fast
stabilization of engines in hovering, consequently, fast SA with
economy in energy of batteries can be asserted during search-andrescue
operations.
Abstract: Today, Higher Education in a global scope is subordinated to the greater institutional controls through the policies of the Quality of Education. These include processes of over evaluation of all the academic activities: students- and professors- performance, educational logistics, managerial standards for the administration of institutions of higher education, as well as the establishment of the imaginaries of excellence and prestige as the foundations on which universities of the XXI century will focus their present and future goals and interests. But at the same time higher education systems worldwide are facing the most profound crisis of sense and meaning and attending enormous mutations in their identity. Based in a qualitative research approach, this paper shows the social configurations that the scholars at the Universities in Mexico build around the discourse of the Quality of Education, and how these policies put in risk the social recognition of these individuals.
Abstract: In response to address different development challenges, Tanzania is striving to achieve its fourth attribute of the National Development Vision, i.e. to have a well educated and learned society by the year 2025. One of the most cost effective methods that can reach a large part of the society in a short time is to integrate ICT in education through e-learning initiatives. However, elearning initiatives are challenged by limited or lack of connectivity to majority of secondary schools, especially those in rural and remote areas. This paper has explores the possibility for rural secondary school to access online e-Learning resources from a centralized e- Learning Management System (e-LMS). The scope of this paper is limited to schools that have computers irrespective of internet connectivity, resulting in two categories schools; those with internet access and those without. Different connectivity configurations have been proposed according to the ICT infrastructure status of the respective schools. However, majority of rural secondary schools in Tanzania have neither computers nor internet connection. Therefore this is a challenge to be addressed for the disadvantaged schools to benefit from e-Learning initiatives.
Abstract: In this paper, we represent protein structure by using
graph. A protein structure database will become a graph database.
Each graph is represented by a spectral vector. We use Jacobi
rotation algorithm to calculate the eigenvalues of the normalized
Laplacian representation of adjacency matrix of graph. To measure
the similarity between two graphs, we calculate the Euclidean
distance between two graph spectral vectors. To cluster the graphs,
we use M-tree with the Euclidean distance to cluster spectral vectors.
Besides, M-tree can be used for graph searching in graph database.
Our proposal method was tested with graph database of 100 graphs
representing 100 protein structures downloaded from Protein Data
Bank (PDB) and we compare the result with the SCOP hierarchical
structure.
Abstract: One of the determinants of a firm-s prosperity is the
customers- perceived service quality and satisfaction. While service
quality is wide in scope, and consists of various dimensions, there
may be differences in the relative importance of these dimensions in
affecting customers- overall satisfaction of service quality.
Identifying the relative rank of different dimensions of service quality
is very important in that it can help managers to find out which
service dimensions have a greater effect on customers- overall
satisfaction. Such an insight will consequently lead to more effective
resource allocation which will finally end in higher levels of
customer satisfaction. This issue – despite its criticality- has not
received enough attention so far. Therefore, using a sample of 240
bank customers in Iran, an artificial neural network is developed to
address this gap in the literature. As customers- evaluation of service
quality is a subjective process, artificial neural networks –as a brain
metaphor- may appear to have a potentiality to model such a
complicated process. Proposing a neural network which is able to
predict the customers- overall satisfaction of service quality with a
promising level of accuracy is the first contribution of this study. In
addition, prioritizing the service quality dimensions in affecting
customers- overall satisfaction –by using sensitivity analysis of
neural network- is the second important finding of this paper.
Abstract: The information revealed by derivatives can help to
better characterize digital near-end crosstalk signatures with the
ultimate goal of identifying the specific aggressor signal.
Unfortunately, derivatives tend to be very sensitive to even low
levels of noise. In this work we approximated the derivatives of both
quiet and noisy digital signals using a wavelet-based technique. The
results are presented for Gaussian digital edges, IBIS Model digital
edges, and digital edges in oscilloscope data captured from an actual
printed circuit board. Tradeoffs between accuracy and noise
immunity are presented. The results show that the wavelet technique
can produce first derivative approximations that are accurate to
within 5% or better, even under noisy conditions. The wavelet
technique can be used to calculate the derivative of a digital signal
edge when conventional methods fail.
Abstract: Discovering new biological knowledge from the highthroughput biological data is a major challenge to bioinformatics today. To address this challenge, we developed a new approach for protein classification. Proteins that are evolutionarily- and thereby functionally- related are said to belong to the same classification. Identifying protein classification is of fundamental importance to document the diversity of the known protein universe. It also provides a means to determine the functional roles of newly discovered protein sequences. Our goal is to predict the functional classification of novel protein sequences based on a set of features extracted from each protein sequence. The proposed technique used datasets extracted from the Structural Classification of Proteins (SCOP) database. A set of spectral domain features based on Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is used. The proposed classifier uses multilayer back propagation (MLBP) neural network for protein classification. The maximum classification accuracy is about 91% when applying the classifier to the full four levels of the SCOP database. However, it reaches a maximum of 96% when limiting the classification to the family level. The classification results reveal that spectral domain contains information that can be used for classification with high accuracy. In addition, the results emphasize that sequence similarity measures are of great importance especially at the family level.
Abstract: Self-compacting concrete (SCC), a new kind of high
performance concrete (HPC) have been first developed in Japan in
1986. The development of SCC has made casting of dense
reinforcement and mass concrete convenient, has minimized noise.
Fresh self-compacting concrete (SCC) flows into formwork and
around obstructions under its own weight to fill it completely and
self-compact (without any need for vibration), without any
segregation and blocking. The elimination of the need for
compaction leads to better quality concrete and substantial
improvement of working conditions. SCC mixes generally have a
much higher content of fine fillers, including cement, and produce
excessively high compressive strength concrete, which restricts its
field of application to special concrete only. To use SCC mixes in
general concrete construction practice, requires low cost materials to
make inexpensive concrete.
Rice husk ash (RHA) has been used as a highly reactive
pozzolanic material to improve the microstructure of the interfacial
transition zone (ITZ) between the cement paste and the aggregate in
self compacting concrete. Mechanical experiments of RHA blended
Portland cement concretes revealed that in addition to the pozzolanic
reactivity of RHA (chemical aspect), the particle grading (physical
aspect) of cement and RHA mixtures also exerted significant
influences on the blending efficiency.
The scope of this research was to determine the usefulness of Rice
husk ash (RHA) in the development of economical self compacting
concrete (SCC). The cost of materials will be decreased by reducing
the cement content by using waste material like rice husk ash instead
of.
This paper presents a study on the development of Mechanical
properties up to 180 days of self compacting and ordinary concretes
with rice-husk ash (RHA), from a rice paddy milling industry in
Rasht (Iran). Two different replacement percentages of cement by
RHA, 10%, and 20%, and two different water/cementicious material
ratios (0.40 and 0.35), were used for both of self compacting and
normal concrete specimens. The results are compared with those of
the self compacting concrete without RHA, with compressive,
flexural strength and modulus of elasticity. It is concluded that RHA
provides a positive effect on the Mechanical properties at age after
60 days.
Base of the result self compacting concrete specimens have higher
value than normal concrete specimens in all test except modulus of
elasticity. Also specimens with 20% replacement of cement by RHA
have the best performance.
Abstract: Biodisel is a type of biofuel having similar properties of diesel fuel but lacks substances (undesirable emissions) such as sulfur, nitrogen and aromatic polycyclic. Upon filtration of waste oil, the biodiesel fuel was produced via carrying out transestrification reaction of triglycerides followed by conducting viscosity, density, flash point, cloud point, pour point and copper strip corrosion tests on the samples and comparing with EN14214 and ASTM 6751 standards and all results were found in the permitted limit. The highest yield of biodiesel production reaction was found 46.6435 g when Sodium Hydroxide catalyst in amount of 0.375g was employed, 44.2347 g when Sodium methoxide catalyst in amount of 0.5g was employed and 56.5124 g when acid sulfuric catalyst in amount of 1g was employed and 47.3290 g when two stage reaction was done.
Abstract: The use of magnetic and magnetic/gold core/shell
nanoparticles in biotechnology or medicine has shown good promise
due to their hybrid nature which possesses superior magnetic and
optical properties. Some of these potential applications include
hyperthermia treatment, bio-separations, diagnostics, drug delivery
and toxin removal. Synthesis refinement to control geometric and
magnetic/optical properties, and finding functional surfactants for
biomolecular attachment, are requirements to meet application
specifics.
Various high-temperature preparative methods were used for the
synthesis of iron oxide and gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticles.
Different surface functionalities, such as 11-aminoundecanoic and
11-mercaptoundecanoic acid, were introduced on the surface of the
particles to facilitate further attachment of biomolecular functionality
and drug-like molecules. Nanoparticle thermal stability, composition,
state of aggregation, size and morphology were investigated and the
results from techniques such as Fourier Transform-Infra Red
spectroscopy (FT-IR), Ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV-vis),
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and thermal analysis are
discussed.
Abstract: In this paper a novel scheme for watermarking digital
audio during its compression to MPEG-1 Layer III format is
proposed. For this purpose we slightly modify some of the selected
MDCT coefficients, which are used during MPEG audio
compression procedure. Due to the possibility of modifying different
MDCT coefficients, there will be different choices for embedding the
watermark into audio data, considering robustness and transparency
factors. Our proposed method uses a genetic algorithm to select the
best coefficients to embed the watermark. This genetic selection is
done according to the parameters that are extracted from the
perceptual content of the audio to optimize the robustness and
transparency of the watermark. On the other hand the watermark
security is increased due to the random nature of the genetic
selection. The information of the selected MDCT coefficients that
carry the watermark bits, are saves in a database for future extraction
of the watermark. The proposed method is suitable for online MP3
stores to pursue illegal copies of musical artworks. Experimental
results show that the detection ratio of the watermarks at the bitrate
of 128kbps remains above 90% while the inaudibility of the
watermark is preserved.
Abstract: Nano sized zirconium dioxide in monoclinic phase (m-ZrO2) has been synthesized in pure form through co-precipitation processing at different calcination temperatures and has been characterized by several techniques such as XRD, FT-IR, UV-Vis Spectroscopy and SEM. The dielectric and capacitance values of the pelletized samples have been examined at room temperature as the functions of frequency. The higher dielectric constant value of the sample having larger grain size proves the strong influence of grain size on the dielectric constant.
Abstract: Decisions are regularly made during a project or
daily life. Some decisions are critical and have a direct impact on
project or human success. Formal evaluation is thus required,
especially for crucial decisions, to arrive at the optimal solution
among alternatives to address issues. According to microeconomic
theory, all people-s decisions can be modeled as indifference curves.
The proposed approach supports formal analysis and decision by
constructing indifference curve model from the previous experts-
decision criteria. These knowledge embedded in the system can be
reused or help naïve users select alternative solution of the similar
problem. Moreover, the method is flexible to cope with unlimited
number of factors influencing the decision-making. The preliminary
experimental results of the alternative selection are accurately
matched with the expert-s decisions.
Abstract: This study investigates a voltage-controllable liquid crystals lens with a Fresnel zone electrode. When applying a proper voltage on the liquid crystal cell, a Fresnel-zone-distributed electric field is induced to direct liquid crystals aligned in a concentric structure. Owing to the concentrically aligned liquid crystals, a Fresnel lens is formed. We probe the Fresnel liquid crystal lens using a polarized incident beam with a wavelength of 632.8 nm, finding that the diffraction efficiency depends on the applying voltage. A remarkable diffraction efficiency of ~39.5 % is measured at the voltage of 0.9V. Additionally, a dual focus lens is fabricated by attaching a plane-convex lens to the Fresnel liquid crystals cell. The Fresnel LC lens and the dual focus lens may be applied for DVD/CD pick-up head, confocal microscopy system, or electrically-controlling optical systems.
Abstract: Study was conducted to determine the concentration of
copper, cadmium, lead and zinc in Cabomba furcata that found
abundance in Lake Chini. This aquatic plant was collected randomly
within the lake for heavy metal determination. Water quality
measurement was undertaken in situ for temperature, pH,
conductivity and dissolved oksigen using portable multi sensor probe
YSI model 556. The C. furcata was digested using wet digestion
method and heavy metal concentrations were analysed using Atomic
Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) Perkin Elmer 4100B (flame
method). Result of water quality classify Lake Chini between class II
to class III using Malaysian Water Quality Standard. According to
this standard, Lake Chini has moderate quality, which normal for
natural lake. Heavy metal concentrations in C.furcata were low and
found to be lower than the critical toxic value in aquatic plants. Oneway
ANOVA test indicated the heavy metal concentrations in
C.furcata were significantly differ between sampling location. Water
quality and heavy metal concentrations indicates that Lake Chini was
not receives anthropogenic load from nearby activities.
Abstract: The objective of the present investigation was to
evaluate the morphology of Escherchia coli bacteria in interaction
with SiO2 nanoparticles.
This study was made by atomic force microscopy and quartz
crystal microbalance using SiO2 nanoparticles with 10nm, 50nm and
100nm diameter and bacteria immobilized on polyelectrolyte
multilayer films obtained by spin coating or by “layer by layer”
(LbL) method.
Abstract: Transcription factor p53 has a powerful tumor
suppressing function that is associated with many cancers. However,
p53 of the molecular weight was higher make the limitation across to
skin or cell membrane. Thymidine dinucleotide (pTT), an
oligonucleotide, can activate the p53 transcription factor. pTT is a
hydrophilic and negative charge oligonucleotide, which delivery in to
cell membrane need an appropriate carrier. The aim of this study was
to improve the bioavailability of the nucleotide fragment, thymidine
dinucleotide (pTT), using elasic liposome carriers to deliver the drug
into the skin. The study demonstrate that dioleoylphosphocholine
(DOPC) incorporated with sodium cholate at molar ratio 1:1 can
archived the particle size about 220 nm. This elastic liposome could
penetration through skin from stratum corneum to whole epidermis by
confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Moreover, we observed
the the slight increase in generation of p53 by western blot.
Abstract: In this paper, we have focused on study of swelling kinetics and salt-sensitivity behavior of a superabsorbing hydrogel based on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and acrylic acid and 2- Buthyl methacrylate. The swelling kinetics of the hydrogels with various particle sizes was preliminary investigated as well. The swelling of the hydrogel showed a second order kinetics of swelling in water. In addition, swelling measurements of the synthesized hydrogels in various chloride salt solutions was measured. Results indicated that a swelling-loss with an increase in the ionic strength of the salt solutions.