Abstract: The crude methanol extracts of five indigenous vegetables namely, Amarathus tricolor, Basella rubra L., Chochurus olitorius L., Ipomea batatas, and Momordica chuchinensis L., were examined for their phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical. The values for DPPH radical scavenging activity ranged from 7.6-89.53% with B. rubra and I. batatas having the lowest and highest values, respectively. The total flavonoid content of all five indigenous vegetables ranged from 74.65-277.3 mg quercetin equivalent per gram of dried vegetable material while the total phenolic content ranged from 1.93-6.15 mg gallic acid equivalent per gram dried material. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, carbohydrates and reducing sugars, which may also be associated with the antioxidant activity shown by these indigenous vegetables.
Abstract: Given the limited research on Small and Mediumsized
Enterprises’ (SMEs) contribution to Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) and even scarcer research on Swiss SMEs, this
paper helps to fill these gaps by enabling the identification of supranational
SME parameters. Thus, the paper investigates the current
state of SME practices in Switzerland and across 15 other countries.
Combining the degree to which SMEs demonstrate an explicit (or
business case) approach or see CSR as an implicit moral activity with
the assessment of their attributes for “variety of capitalism” defines
the framework of this comparative analysis. To outline Swiss small
business CSR patterns in particular, 40 SME owner-managers were
interviewed. A secondary data analysis of studies from different
countries laid groundwork for this comparative overview of small
business CSR. The paper identifies Swiss small business CSR as
driven by norms, values, and by the aspiration to contribute to
society, thus, as an implicit part of the day-to-day business. Similar to
most Central European, Mediterranean, Nordic, and Asian countries,
explicit CSR is still very rare in Swiss SMEs. Astonishingly, also
British and American SMEs follow this pattern in spite of their strong
and distinctly liberal market economies. Though other findings show
that nationality matters this research concludes that SME culture and
an informal CSR agenda are strongly formative and superseding even
forces of market economies, nationally cultural patterns, and
language. Hence, classifications of countries by their market system,
as found in the comparative capitalism literature, do not match the
CSR practices in SMEs as they do not mirror the peculiarities of their
business. This raises questions on the universality and
generalisability of unmediated, explicit management concepts,
especially in the context of small firms.
Abstract: This study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of Teaching Games For Understanding (TGFU) in improving the hockey tactical skills and state self-confidence among 16-year-old students. Two hundred fifty-nine (259) school students were selected for the study based on the intact sampling method. One class was used as the control group (Boys=60, Girls=70), while another as the treatment group (Boys=60, Girls=69) underwent intervention with TGFU in physical education class conducted twice a week for four weeks. The Games Performance Assessment Instrument was used to observe the hockey tactical skills and The State Self-Confidence Inventory was used to determine the state of self-confidence among the students. After four weeks, ANCOVA analysis indicated the treatment groups had significant improvement in hockey tactical skills with F (1, 118) =313.37, p
Abstract: This paper reviews the model-based qualitative and
quantitative Operations Management research in the context of
Construction Supply Chain Management (CSCM). Construction
industry has been traditionally blamed for low productivity, cost and
time overruns, waste, high fragmentation and adversarial
relationships. The construction industry has been slower than other
industries to employ the Supply Chain Management (SCM) concept
and develop models that support the decision-making and planning.
However the last decade there is a distinct shift from a project-based
to a supply-based approach of construction management. CSCM
comes up as a new promising management tool of construction
operations and improves the performance of construction projects in
terms of cost, time and quality. Modeling the Construction Supply
Chain (CSC) offers the means to reap the benefits of SCM, make
informed decisions and gain competitive advantage. Different
modeling approaches and methodologies have been applied in the
multi-disciplinary and heterogeneous research field of CSCM. The
literature review reveals that a considerable percentage of the CSC
modeling research accommodates conceptual or process models
which present general management frameworks and do not relate to
acknowledged soft Operations Research methods. We particularly
focus on the model-based quantitative research and categorize the
CSCM models depending on their scope, objectives, modeling
approach, solution methods and software used. Although over the last
few years there has been clearly an increase of research papers on
quantitative CSC models, we identify that the relevant literature is
very fragmented with limited applications of simulation,
mathematical programming and simulation-based optimization. Most
applications are project-specific or study only parts of the supply
system. Thus, some complex interdependencies within construction
are neglected and the implementation of the integrated supply chain
management is hindered. We conclude this paper by giving future
research directions and emphasizing the need to develop optimization
models for integrated CSCM. We stress that CSC modeling needs a
multi-dimensional, system-wide and long-term perspective. Finally,
prior applications of SCM to other industries have to be taken into
account in order to model CSCs, but not without translating the
generic concepts to the context of construction industry.
Abstract: Model transformation, as a pivotal aspect of Modeldriven
engineering, attracts more and more attentions both from
researchers and practitioners. Many domains (enterprise engineering,
software engineering, knowledge engineering, etc.) use model
transformation principles and practices to serve to their domain
specific problems; furthermore, model transformation could also be
used to fulfill the gap between different domains: by sharing and
exchanging knowledge. Since model transformation has been widely
used, there comes new requirement on it: effectively and efficiently
define the transformation process and reduce manual effort that
involved in. This paper presents an automatic model transformation
methodology based on semantic and syntactic comparisons, and
focuses particularly on granularity issue that existed in transformation
process. Comparing to the traditional model transformation
methodologies, this methodology serves to a general purpose: crossdomain
methodology. Semantic and syntactic checking
measurements are combined into a refined transformation process,
which solves the granularity issue. Moreover, semantic and syntactic
comparisons are supported by software tool; manual effort is replaced
in this way.
Abstract: Designing cost-efficient, secure network protocols for
Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is a challenging problem because
sensors are resource-limited wireless devices. Security services such
as authentication and improved pairwise key establishment are
critical to high efficient networks with sensor nodes. For sensor
nodes to correspond securely with each other efficiently, usage of
cryptographic techniques is necessary. In this paper, two key
predistribution schemes that enable a mobile sink to establish a
secure data-communication link, on the fly, with any sensor nodes.
The intermediate nodes along the path to the sink are able to verify
the authenticity and integrity of the incoming packets using a
predicted value of the key generated by the sender’s essential power.
The proposed schemes are based on the pairwise key with the mobile
sink, our analytical results clearly show that our schemes perform
better in terms of network resilience to node capture than existing
schemes if used in wireless sensor networks with mobile sinks.
Abstract: This research aims to develop an algorithm to
generate a schedule of multiple cranes that will maximize load
throughputs in anodizing operation. The algorithm proposed utilizes
an enumerative strategy to search for constant time between
successive loads and crane covering range over baths. The computer
program developed is able to generate a near-optimal crane schedule
within reasonable times, i.e. within 10 minutes. Its results are
compared with existing solutions from an aluminum extrusion
industry. The program can be used to generate crane schedules for
mixed products, thus allowing mixed-model line balancing to
improve overall cycle times.
Abstract: This paper presents a computational study of steady
state three dimensional very high turbulent flow and heat transfer
characteristics in a constant temperature-surfaced circular duct fitted
with 900 hemispherical inline baffles. The computations are based on
realizable k-ɛ model with standard wall function considering the
finite volume method, and the SIMPLE algorithm has been
implemented. Computational Study are carried out for Reynolds
number, Re ranging from 80000 to 120000, Prandtl Number, Pr of
0.73, Pitch Ratios, PR of 1,2,3,4,5 based on the hydraulic diameter of
the channel, hydrodynamic entry length, thermal entry length and the
test section. Ansys Fluent 15.0 software has been used to solve the
flow field. Study reveals that circular pipe having baffles has a higher
Nusselt number and friction factor compared to the smooth circular
pipe without baffles. Maximum Nusselt number and friction factor
are obtained for the PR=5 and PR=1 respectively. Nusselt number
increases while pitch ratio increases in the range of study; however,
friction factor also decreases up to PR 3 and after which it becomes
almost constant up to PR 5. Thermal enhancement factor increases
with increasing pitch ratio but with slightly decreasing Reynolds
number in the range of study and becomes almost constant at higher
Reynolds number. The computational results reveal that optimum
thermal enhancement factor of 900 inline hemispherical baffle is
about 1.23 for pitch ratio 5 at Reynolds number 120000.It also shows
that the optimum pitch ratio for which the baffles can be installed in
such very high turbulent flows should be 5. Results show that pitch
ratio and Reynolds number play an important role on both fluid flow
and heat transfer characteristics.
Abstract: The aim of this investigation is to elaborate nearinfrared
methods for testing and recognition of chemical components
and quality in “Pannon wheat” allied (i.e. true to variety or variety
identified) milling fractions as well as to develop spectroscopic
methods following the milling processes and evaluate the stability of
the milling technology by different types of milling products and
according to sampling times, respectively. These wheat categories
produced under industrial conditions where samples were collected
versus sampling time and maximum or minimum yields. The changes
of the main chemical components (such as starch, protein, lipid) and
physical properties of fractions (particle size) were analysed by
dispersive spectrophotometers using visible (VIS) and near-infrared
(NIR) regions of the electromagnetic radiation. Close correlation
were obtained between the data of spectroscopic measurement
techniques processed by various chemometric methods (e.g. principal
component analysis [PCA], cluster analysis [CA]) and operation
condition of milling technology. It is obvious that NIR methods are
able to detect the deviation of the yield parameters and differences of
the sampling times by a wide variety of fractions, respectively. NIR
technology can be used in the sensitive monitoring of milling
technology.
Abstract: Any signal transmitted over a channel is corrupted by noise and interference. A host of channel coding techniques has been proposed to alleviate the effect of such noise and interference. Among these Turbo codes are recommended, because of increased capacity at higher transmission rates and superior performance over convolutional codes. The multimedia elements which are associated with ample amount of data are best protected by Turbo codes. Turbo decoder employs Maximum A-posteriori Probability (MAP) and Soft Output Viterbi Decoding (SOVA) algorithms. Conventional Turbo coded systems employ Equal Error Protection (EEP) in which the protection of all the data in an information message is uniform. Some applications involve Unequal Error Protection (UEP) in which the level of protection is higher for important information bits than that of other bits. In this work, enhancement to the traditional Log MAP decoding algorithm is being done by using optimized scaling factors for both the decoders. The error correcting performance in presence of UEP in Additive White Gaussian Noise channel (AWGN) and Rayleigh fading are analyzed for the transmission of image with Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) as source coding technique. This paper compares the performance of log MAP, Modified log MAP (MlogMAP) and Enhanced log MAP (ElogMAP) algorithms used for image transmission. The MlogMAP algorithm is found to be best for lower Eb/N0 values but for higher Eb/N0 ElogMAP performs better with optimized scaling factors. The performance comparison of AWGN with fading channel indicates the robustness of the proposed algorithm. According to the performance of three different message classes, class3 would be more protected than other two classes. From the performance analysis, it is observed that ElogMAP algorithm with UEP is best for transmission of an image compared to Log MAP and MlogMAP decoding algorithms.
Abstract: A sensory network consists of multiple detection
locations called sensor nodes, each of which is tiny, featherweight
and portable. A single path routing protocols in wireless sensor
network can lead to holes in the network, since only the nodes
present in the single path is used for the data transmission. Apart
from the advantages like reduced computation, complexity and
resource utilization, there are some drawbacks like throughput,
increased traffic load and delay in data delivery. Therefore, multipath
routing protocols are preferred for WSN. Distributing the traffic
among multiple paths increases the network lifetime. We propose a
scheme, for the data to be transmitted through a dominant path to
save energy. In order to obtain a high delivery ratio, a basic route
reconstruction protocol is utilized to reconstruct the path whenever a
failure is detected. A basic reconstruction routing (BRR) algorithm is
proposed, in which a node can leap over path failure by using the
already existing routing information from its neighbourhood while
the composed data is transmitted from the source to the sink. In order
to save the energy and attain high data delivery ratio, data is
transmitted along a multiple path, which is achieved by BRR
algorithm whenever a failure is detected. Further, the analysis of
how the proposed protocol overcomes the drawback of the existing
protocols is presented. The performance of our protocol is compared
to AOMDV and energy efficient node-disjoint multipath routing
protocol (EENDMRP). The system is implemented using NS-2.34.
The simulation results show that the proposed protocol has high
delivery ratio with low energy consumption.
Abstract: The venture capital becomes more and more advanced
and effective source of the innovation project financing, connected
with a high-risk level. In the developed countries, it plays a key role
in transforming innovation projects into successful businesses and
creating the prosperity of the modern economy. In Russia, there are
many necessary preconditions for creation of the effective venture
investment system: the network of the public institutes for innovation
financing operates; there is a significant number of the small and
medium-sized enterprises, capable to sell production with good
market potential. However, the current system does not confirm the
necessary level of efficiency in practice that can be substantially
explained by the absence of the accurate plan of action to form the
national venture model and by the lack of experience of successful
venture deals with profitable exits in Russian economy. This paper
studies the influence of various factors on the venture industry
development by the example of the IT-sector in Russia. The choice of
the sector is based on the fact, that this segment is the main driver of
the venture capital market growth in Russia, and the necessary set of
data exists. The size of investment of the second round is used as the
dependent variable. To analyse the influence of the previous round,
such determinant as the volume of the previous (first) round
investments is used. There is also used a dummy variable in
regression to examine that the participation of an investor with high
reputation and experience in the previous round can influence the size
of the next investment round. The regression analysis of short-term
interrelations between studied variables reveals prevailing influence
of the volume of the first round investments on the venture
investments volume of the second round. The most important
determinant of the value of the second-round investment is the value
of first–round investment, so it means that the most competitive on
the Russian market are the start-up teams that can attract more money
on the start, and the target market growth is not the factor of crucial
importance. This supports the point of view that VC in Russia is
driven by endogenous factors and not by exogenous ones that are
based on global market growth.
Abstract: Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline drug used to treat many cancer diseases. Similarly to other cytostatic drugs, DOX has serious side effects; the biggest obstacle is the cardiotoxicity. With the aim of lowering the negative side effects and to target the DOX into the tumor tissue, the different nanoparticles (NPs) are studied. The aim of this work was to synthetized different NPs and conjugated them with DOX and determine the binding capacity of the NPs. For this experiment, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene oxide (GO), fullerene (FUL) and liposomes (LIP) were used. The highest binding capacity was observed in GO (85%). Subsequently the toxicity of NPs and NPs-DOX conjugates was analyzed in in vivo system (chicken embryos). Some NPs (GO) can increase the toxicity of DOX, whereas other NPs (LIP, CNTs) decrease DOX toxicity.
Abstract: In this paper, we are interested in the problem of
finding similar images in a large database. For this purpose we
propose a new algorithm based on a combination of the 2-D
histogram intersection in the HSV space and statistical moments. The
proposed histogram is based on a 3x3 window and not only on the
intensity of the pixel. This approach overcome the drawback of the
conventional 1-D histogram which is ignoring the spatial distribution
of pixels in the image, while the statistical moments are used to
escape the effects of the discretisation of the color space which is
intrinsic to the use of histograms. We compare the performance of
our new algorithm to various methods of the state of the art and we
show that it has several advantages. It is fast, consumes little memory
and requires no learning. To validate our results, we apply this
algorithm to search for similar images in different image databases.
Abstract: More than 3000 plants of notable phyto-therapeutic
value grow in South Africa; these include Cissampelos capensis,
commonly known in Afrikaans as dawidjie or dawidjiewortel. C.
capensis is the most significant and popular medicinal plant used by
the Khoisan as well as other rural groups in the Western region of
South Africa. Its rhizomes are traditionally used to treat male fertility
problems. Yet, no studies have investigated the effects of this plant or
its extracts on human spermatozoa. Therefore, this study aimed at
investigating the effects of C. capensis rhizome extract (CRE)
fractions on ejaculated human spermatozoa in vitro. Spermatozoa
from a total of 77 semen samples were washed with human tubular
fluid medium supplemented with bovine serum albumin (HTF-BSA)
and incubated for 2 hours with 20 μg/ml progesterone (P4) followed
by incubation with different concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.5, 5, 50, 200
μg/ml) of fractionated CRE (F1=0% MeOH, F2=30% MeOH,
F3=60% MeOH and F4=100% MeOH) for 1.5 hours at 37°C. A
sample without addition of CRE fractions served as control. Samples
were analyzed for sperm motility, reactive oxygen species (ROS),
DNA-fragmentation, acrosome reaction and capacitation. Results
showed that F1 resulted in significantly higher values for ROS,
capacitation and hyper-activation compared to F2, F3, and F4 with
P4-stimulated samples generally having higher values. No significant
effect was found for the other parameters. In conclusion, alkaloids
present in F1 of CRE appear to have triggered sperm intrinsic ROS
production leading to sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction
induced by P4.
Abstract: Steady three-dimensional and two free surface waves
generated by moving bodies are presented, the flow problem to be
simulated is rich in complexity and poses many modeling challenges
because of the existence of breaking waves around the ship hull, and
because of the interaction of the two-phase flow with the turbulent
boundary layer. The results of several simulations are reported. The
first study was performed for NACA0012 of hydrofoil with different
meshes, this section is analyzed at h/c= 1, 0345 for 2D. In the second
simulation a mathematically defined Wigley hull form is used to
investigate the application of a commercial CFD code in prediction of
the total resistance and its components from tangential and normal
forces on the hull wetted surface. The computed resistance and wave
profiles are used to estimate the coefficient of the total resistance for
Wigley hull advancing in calm water under steady conditions. The
commercial CFD software FLUENT version 12 is used for the
computations in the present study. The calculated grid is established
using the code computer GAMBIT 2.3.26. The shear stress k-ωSST
model is used for turbulence modeling and the volume of fluid
technique is employed to simulate the free-surface motion. The
second order upwind scheme is used for discretizing the convection
terms in the momentum transport equations, the Modified HRIC
scheme for VOF discretization. The results obtained compare well
with the experimental data.
Abstract: Copper (I) oxide microparticles with the morphology
of cubic and hollow sphere were synthesized with the assistance of
surfactant as the shape controller. Both particles were then subjected
to study the catalytic activity and observed the results of shape effects
of catalysts on rate of catalytic reaction. The decolorizing reaction of
crystal violet and sodium hydroxide was chosen and measured the
decreasing of reactant with respect to times using spectrophotometer.
The result revealed that morphology of crystal had no effect on the
catalytic activity for crystal violet reaction but contributed to total
surface area predominantly.
Abstract: Whey is the lactose rich by-product of the dairy
industry, having good amount of nutrient reservoir. Most abundant
nutrients are lactose, soluble proteins, lipids and mineral salts.
Disposing of whey by most of milk plants which do not have proper
pre-treatment system is the major issue. As a result of which, there
can be significant loss of potential food and energy source. Thus,
whey has been explored as the substrate for the synthesis of different
value added products such as enzymes. β-galactosidase is one of the
important enzymes and has become the major focus of research due
to its ability to catalyze both hydrolytic as well as
transgalactosylation reaction simultaneously. The enzyme is widely
used in dairy industry as it catalyzes the transformation of lactose to
glucose and galactose, making it suitable for the lactose intolerant
people. The enzyme is intracellular in both bacteria and yeast,
whereas for molds, it has an extracellular location. The present work
was carried to utilize the whey for the production of β-galactosidase
enzyme using both yeast and fungal cultures. The yeast isolate
Kluyveromyces marxianus WIG2 and various fungal strains have
been used in the present study. Different disruption techniques have
also been investigated for the extraction of the enzyme produced
intracellularly from yeast cells. Among the different methods tested
for the disruption of yeast cells, SDS-chloroform showed the
maximum β-galactosidase activity. In case of the tested fungal
cultures, Aureobasidium pullulans NCIM 1050 was observed to be
the maximum extracellular enzyme producer.
Abstract: This study examines the feasibility of indirect solar
desalination in oil producing countries in the Middle East and North
Africa (MENA) region. It relies on value engineering (VE) and costbenefit
with sensitivity analyses to identify optimal coupling
configurations of desalination and solar energy technologies. A
comparative return on investment was assessed as a function of water
costs for varied plant capacities (25,000 to 75,000 m3/day), project
lifetimes (15 to 25 years), and discount rates (5 to 15%) taking into
consideration water and energy subsidies, land cost as well as
environmental externalities in the form of carbon credit related to
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction. The results showed
reverse osmosis (RO) coupled with photovoltaic technologies (PVs)
as the most promising configuration, robust across different prices for
Brent oil, discount rates, as well as different project lifetimes.
Environmental externalities and subsidies analysis revealed that a
16% reduction in existing subsidy on water tariffs would ensure
economic viability. Additionally, while land costs affect investment
attractiveness, the viability of RO coupled with PV remains possible
for a land purchase cost
Abstract: Steady three-dimensional and two free surface waves
generated by moving bodies are presented, the flow problem to be
simulated is rich in complexity and poses many modeling challenges
because of the existence of breaking waves around the ship hull, and
because of the interaction of the two-phase flow with the turbulent
boundary layer. The results of several simulations are reported. The
first study was performed for NACA0012 of hydrofoil with different
meshes, this section is analyzed at h/c= 1, 0345 for 2D. In the second
simulation a mathematically defined Wigley hull form is used to
investigate the application of a commercial CFD code in prediction of
the total resistance and its components from tangential and normal
forces on the hull wetted surface. The computed resistance and wave
profiles are used to estimate the coefficient of the total resistance for
Wigley hull advancing in calm water under steady conditions. The
commercial CFD software FLUENT version 12 is used for the
computations in the present study. The calculated grid is established
using the code computer GAMBIT 2.3.26. The shear stress k-ωSST
model is used for turbulence modeling and the volume of fluid
technique is employed to simulate the free-surface motion. The
second order upwind scheme is used for discretizing the convection
terms in the momentum transport equations, the Modified HRIC
scheme for VOF discretization. The results obtained compare well
with the experimental data.