Abstract: In this paper, the Tabu search algorithm is used to
solve a transportation problem which consists of determining the
shortest routes with the appropriate vehicle capacity to facilitate the
travel of the students attending the University of Mauritius. The aim
of this work is to minimize the total cost of the distance travelled by
the vehicles in serving all the customers. An initial solution is
obtained by the TOUR algorithm which basically constructs a giant
tour containing all the customers and partitions it in an optimal way
so as to produce a set of feasible routes. The Tabu search algorithm
then makes use of a search procedure, a swapping procedure and the
intensification and diversification mechanism to find the best set of
feasible routes.
Abstract: Recommender systems are usually regarded as an
important marketing tool in the e-commerce. They use important
information about users to facilitate accurate recommendation. The
information includes user context such as location, time and interest
for personalization of mobile users. We can easily collect information
about location and time because mobile devices communicate with the
base station of the service provider. However, information about user
interest can-t be easily collected because user interest can not be
captured automatically without user-s approval process. User interest
usually represented as a need. In this study, we classify needs into two
types according to prior research. This study investigates the
usefulness of data mining techniques for classifying user need type for
recommendation systems. We employ several data mining techniques
including artificial neural networks, decision trees, case-based
reasoning, and multivariate discriminant analysis. Experimental
results show that CHAID algorithm outperforms other models for
classifying user need type. This study performs McNemar test to
examine the statistical significance of the differences of classification
results. The results of McNemar test also show that CHAID performs
better than the other models with statistical significance.
Abstract: We have developed an energy based approach for identifying the binding sites and important residues for binding in protein-protein complexes. We found that the residues and residuepairs with charged and aromatic side chains are important for binding. These residues influence to form cation-¤Ç, electrostatic and aromatic interactions. Our observation has been verified with the experimental binding specificity of protein-protein complexes and found good agreement with experiments. The analysis on surrounding hydrophobicity reveals that the binding residues are less hydrophobic than non-binding sites, which suggests that the hydrophobic core are important for folding and stability whereas the surface seeking residues play a critical role in binding. Further, the propensity of residues in the binding sites of receptors and ligands, number of medium and long-range contacts, and influence of neighboring residues will be discussed.
Abstract: The discrete-time uncertain system with time delay is investigated for bounded input bounded output (BIBO). By constructing an augmented Lyapunov function, three different sufficient conditions are established for BIBO stabilization. These conditions are expressed in the form of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), whose feasibility can be easily checked by using Matlab LMI Toolbox. Two numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the derived results.
Abstract: There are few studies on eggshell of leatherback turtle
which is endangered species in Thailand. This study was focusing on
the ultrastructure and elemental composition of leatherback turtle
eggshells collected from Andaman Sea Shore, Thailand during the
nesting season using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Three
eggshell layers of leatherback turtle; the outer cuticle layer or
calcareous layer, the middle layer or middle multistrata layer and the
inner fibrous layer were recognized. The outer calcareous layer was
thick and porosity which consisted of loose nodular units of various
crystal shapes and sizes. The loose attachment between these units
resulted in numerous spaces and openings. The middle layer was
compact thick with several multistrata and contained numerous
openings connecting to both outer cuticle layer and inner fibrous
layer. The inner fibrous layer was compact and thin, and composed of
numerous reticular fibers. Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis
detector revealed energy spectrum of X-rays character emitted from
all elements on each layer. The percentages of all elements were
found in the following order: carbon (C) > oxygen (O) > calcium
(Ca) > sulfur (S) > potassium (K) > aluminum (Al) > iodine (I) >
silicon (Si) > chlorine (Cl) > sodium (Na) > fluorine (F) >
phosphorus (P) > magnesium (Mg). Each layer consisted of high
percentage of CaCO3 (approximately 98%) implying that it was
essential for turtle embryonic development. A significant difference
was found in the percentages of Ca and Mo in the 3layers. Moreover,
transition metal, metal and toxic non-metal contaminations were
found in leatherback turtle eggshell samples. These were palladium
(Pd), molybdenum (Mo), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), lead (Pb), and
bromine (Br). The contamination elements were seen in the outer
layers except for Mo. All elements were readily observed and
mapped using Smiling program. X-ray images which mapped the
location of all elements were showed. Calcium containing in the
eggshell appeared in high contents and was widely distributing in
clusters of the outer cuticle layer to form CaCO3 structure. Moreover,
the accumulation of Na and Cl was observed to form NaCl which was
widely distributing in 3 eggshell layers. The results from this study
would be valuable on assessing the emergent success in this
endangered species.
Abstract: The effect of different tempering temperatures and heat treatment times on the corrosion resistance of austenitic stainless steels in oxalic acid was studied in this work using conventional weight loss and electrochemical measurements. Typical 304 and 316 stainless steel samples were tempered at 150oC, 250oC and 350oC after being austenized at 1050oC for 10 minutes. These samples were then immersed in 1.0M oxalic acid and their weight losses were measured at every five days for 30 days. The results show that corrosion of both types of ASS samples increased with an increase in tempering temperature and time and this was due to the precipitation of chromium carbides at the grain boundaries of these metals. Electrochemical results also confirm that the 304 ASS is more susceptible to corrosion than 316 ASS in this medium. This is attributed to the molybdenum in the composition of the latter. The metallographic images of these samples showed non–uniform distribution of precipitated chromium carbides at the grain boundaries of these metals and unevenly distributed carbides and retained austenite phases which cause galvanic effects in the medium.
Abstract: In Thailand, the practice of pre-hospital Emergency
Medical Service (EMS) in each area reveals the different growth
rates and effectiveness of the practices. Those can be found as the
diverse quality and quantity. To shorten the learning curve prior to
speed-up the practices in other areas, story telling and lessons learnt
from the effective practices are valued as meaningful knowledge. To
this paper, it was to ascertain the factors, lessons learnt and best
practices that have impact as contributing to the success of prehospital
EMS system. Those were formulized as model prior to
speedup the practice in other areas. To develop the model, Malcolm
Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA), which is widely
recognized as a framework for organizational quality assessment and
improvement, was chosen as the discussion framework. Remarkably,
this study was based on the consideration of knowledge capture;
however it was not to complete the loop of knowledge activities.
Nevertheless, it was to highlight the recognition of knowledge
capture, which is the initiation of knowledge management.
Abstract: The paper studies implications between knowledge spillovers and technological innovation capability in the following three aspects: firstly, the paper debates on the effect of knowledge spillover on some perspectives of technological innovation ability; secondly, it discusses how different roles of knowledge spillover affect the technological innovation capability; finally, the paper creates the model of the factors of knowledge spillovers influencing to technological innovation capability. It concludes that knowledge spillovers affect all the main aspects of technological innovation ultimately to impact of technological innovation capabilities.
Abstract: The incessant discomfort for Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) exhibited by students in some tertiary institutions in Kano State, Nigeria is capable of causing Psychological Resistance as well as jeopardizing the purpose of HIV intervention. This study investigated the Prevalence of Psychological Resistance to VCT of HIV/AIDS among students of tertiary institutions in the state. Two null hypotheses were postulated and tested. Cross- Sectional Survey Design was employed in which 1512 sample was selected from a student population of 104,841 following Stratified Random Sampling technique. A self-developed 20-item scale whose reliability coefficient is 0.83 was used for data collection. Data analyzed via Chi-square and t-test reveals a prevalence of 38% with males (Mean=0.34; SD=0.475) constituting 60% and females (Mean=0.45; SD=0.498) 40%. Also, the calculated chi-square and ttest were not significant at 0.05 as such the null hypotheses were upheld. Recommendation offered suggests the use of reinforcement and social support for students who patronize HIV/AIDS counselling.
Abstract: The city of Suceava, one of the most important
medieval capital of Moldova, owes its urban genesis to the power
center established in its territory at the turn of the thirteenth and
fourteenth centuries. Freed from the effective control exercised by
the Emir Nogai through Alanians, the local center of power evolved
as the main representative of the interests of indigenous people in
relation to the Hungarian Angevin dinasty and to their
representatives from Maramures. From this perspective, the political
and military role of the settlement of Suceava was archeologically
proved by the discovery of extensive fortifications, unrivaled in the
first half of the XIVth century-s Moldavia. At the end of that century,
voivod Peter I decides to move the capital of the state from Siret to
Suceava. That option stimulated the development of the settlement
on specific urban coordinates.
Abstract: The rising growth of the GSM cellular phone industry has tightening competition level between providers in making strategies enhancing the market shares in Indonesia. Tsel, as one of those companies, has to determine the proper strategy to sustain as well as improve the market share without reducing its operational income level. Portfolio simulation model is designed with a dynamic system approach. The result of this research is a recommendation to the company by optimizing its technological policies, services, and promotions. The tariff policies and the signal quality should not be the main focus because this company has had a large number of customers and a good infrastructural condition.
Abstract: The bioassay-guided isolation and purification of an
ethyl acetate extract of Aspergillus terreus MC751 led to the
characterization of butyrolactone I as an antidiabetic and antioxidant.
The antidiabetic activity of butyrolactone I was evaluated by α-
glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition assays. Butyrolactone I
demonstrated significant concentration-dependent, mixed-type
inhibitory activity against yeast α-glucosidase with an IC50 of 54μM.
However, the compound exhibited less activity against rat intestinal
α-glucosidase and α-amylase. This is the first report on α-glucosidase
inhibitory activity of butyrolactone I. The antioxidative activity of
butyrolactone I was evaluated based on scavenging effects on 1,1-
diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (IC50 =51 μM) and hydrogen
peroxide (IC50= 141 μM) radicals as well as a reducing power assay.
The results suggest that butyrolactone I is a promising antidiabetic as
well as antioxidant and should be considered for clinical trials.
Abstract: Age and sex are biological terms that are socioculturally
constructed for marriage and marital sexual behavior in
every society. Marriage is a universal norm that makes legitimate
sexual behavior between a man and a woman in marital life cycle to
gain bio-social purposes. Cross-cultural studies reveal that marital
sexual frequency as a part of marital sexual behavior not only varies
within the couple-s life cycle, but also varies between and among
couples in diverse cultures. The purpose of the study was to compare
marital sexual frequency in association with age status and length of
marital relationship between Muslim and Santal couples in rural
Bangladesh. For this we assumed that (1) Santal culture compared to
Muslim culture preferred earlier age at marriage for meeting marital
sexual purposes in rural Bangladesh; (2) Marital duration among the
Muslim couples was higher than that among the Santal couples; (3)
Sexual frequency among the younger couples in both the ethnic
communities was higher than the older couples; (4) Sexual frequency
across the Muslim couples- marital life cycle was higher than that the
Santal couples- marital life cycle. In so doing, 288 active couples
(145 for Muslim and 143 for Santal) selected by cluster random
sampling were interviewed with questionnaire method. The findings
of Independent Samples T Test on age at marriage, current age,
marital duration and sexual frequency independently reveal that there
were significant differences in sexual frequency not only across the
couples- life cycle but also vary between the Muslim and Santal
couples in relation to marital duration. The results of Pearson-s Inter-
Correlation Coefficients reveal that although age at marriage, current
age and marital duration for husband and wife were significantly
positive correlated with each other between the communities, there
were significantly negative correlation between the age at marriage,
current age, marital duration and sexual frequency among the
selected couples between the communities.
Abstract: The radio frequency identification (RFID) is a
technology for automatic identification of items, particularly in
supply chain, but it is becoming increasingly important for industrial
applications. Unlike barcode technology that detects the optical
signals reflected from barcode labels, RFID uses radio waves to
transmit the information from an RFID tag affixed to the physical
object. In contrast to today most often use of this technology in
warehouse inventory and supply chain, the focus of this paper is an
overview of the structure of RFID systems used by RFID technology
and it also presents a solution based on the application of RFID for
brand authentication, traceability and tracking, by implementing a
production management system and extending its use to traders.
Abstract: These days we face with so many advertisements in
magazines, those mentioned coaching is pragmatic specialties which
help people make change in their lives. Up to know Specialty coaches
are not necessarily therapists, consultants or psychologist, thus they
may not know psychological theories. The International Coach
Federation identifies "facilitating learning and results" as one of its
four core coach competencies, without understanding learning
theories coaching practice hangs in theoretical abyss. Thus the aim of
this article is investigating learning theories within coaching process.
Therefore, I reviewed some cognitive and behavioral learning
theories and analyzed their contribution with coaching process which
has been introduced in mentor coaches and ICF certified coaches'
papers and books. The result demonstrated that coaching profession
is strongly grounded in learning theories, and it will be strengthened
by the validation of theories and evidence-based research as we move
forward. Thus, it needs more research in order to applying effective
theoretical frameworks.
Abstract: In this paper a nonlinear model is presented to
demonstrate the relation between production and marketing
departments. By introducing some functions such as pricing cost and
market share loss functions it will be tried to show some aspects of
market modelling which has not been regarded before. The proposed
model will be a constrained signomial geometric programming
model. For model solving, after variables- modifications an iterative
technique based on the concept of geometric mean will be introduced
to solve the resulting non-standard posynomial model which can be
applied to a wide variety of models in non-standard posynomial
geometric programming form. At the end a numerical analysis will
be presented to accredit the validity of the mentioned model.
Abstract: A new method for low complexity image coding is presented, that permits different settings and great scalability in the generation of the final bit stream. This coding presents a continuoustone still image compression system that groups loss and lossless compression making use of finite arithmetic reversible transforms. Both transformation in the space of color and wavelet transformation are reversible. The transformed coefficients are coded by means of a coding system in depending on a subdivision into smaller components (CFDS) similar to the bit importance codification. The subcomponents so obtained are reordered by means of a highly configure alignment system depending on the application that makes possible the re-configure of the elements of the image and obtaining different levels of importance from which the bit stream will be generated. The subcomponents of each level of importance are coded using a variable length entropy coding system (VBLm) that permits the generation of an embedded bit stream. This bit stream supposes itself a bit stream that codes a compressed still image. However, the use of a packing system on the bit stream after the VBLm allows the realization of a final highly scalable bit stream from a basic image level and one or several enhance levels.
Abstract: When designing information systems that deal with
large amount of domain knowledge, system designers need to consider
ambiguities of labeling termsin domain vocabulary for navigating
users in the information space. The goal of this study is to develop a
methodology for system designers to label navigation items, taking
account of ambiguities stems from synonyms or polysemes of labeling
terms. In this paper, we propose a method for concept labeling based
on mappings between domain ontology andthesaurus, and report
results of an empirical evaluation.
Abstract: In this paper, collocation based cubic B-spline and
extended cubic uniform B-spline method are considered for
solving one-dimensional heat equation with a nonlocal initial
condition. Finite difference and θ-weighted scheme is used for
time and space discretization respectively. The stability of the
method is analyzed by the Von Neumann method. Accuracy of
the methods is illustrated with an example. The numerical results
are obtained and compared with the analytical solutions.
Abstract: In this paper flow around two cam shaped cylinders had been studied numerically. The equivalent diameter of cylinders is 27.6 mm. The space between center to center of two cam shaped cylinders is define as longitudinal pitch ratio and it varies in range of
2 varies in range of 50