Abstract: We present a label-free biosensor based on
electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for the detection of proinflammatory
cytokine Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-α). Secretion of
TNF-α has been correlated to the onset of various diseases including
rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn-s disease etc. Gold electrodes were
patterned on a silicon substrate and self assembled monolayer of
dithiobis-succinimidyl propionate was used to develop the biosensor
which achieved a detection limit of ~57fM. A linear relationship was
also observed between increasing TNF-α concentrations and chargetransfer
resistance within a dynamic range of 1pg/ml – 1ng/ml.
Abstract: This paper focuses on the use of project work as a
pretext for applying the conventions of writing, or the correctness of
mechanics, usage, and sentence formation, in a content-based class in
a Rajabhat University. Its aim was to explore to what extent the
student teachers’ academic achievement of the basic writing features
against the 70% attainment target after the use of project is. The
organization of work around an agreed theme in which the students
reproduce language provided by texts and instructors is expected to
enhance students’ correct writing conventions. The sample of the
study comprised of 38 fourth-year English major students. The data
was collected by means of achievement test and student writing
works. The scores in the summative achievement test were analyzed
by mean score, standard deviation, and percentage. It was found that
the student teachers do more achieve of practicing mechanics and
usage, and less in sentence formation. The students benefited from
the exposure to texts during conducting the project; however, their
automaticity of how and when to form phrases and clauses into
simple/complex sentences had room for improvement.
Abstract: On-line handwritten scripts are usually dealt with pen tip traces from pen-down to pen-up positions. Time evaluation of the pen coordinates is also considered along with trajectory information. However, the data obtained needs a lot of preprocessing including filtering, smoothing, slant removing and size normalization before recognition process. Instead of doing such lengthy preprocessing, this paper presents a simple approach to extract the useful character information. This work evaluates the use of the counter- propagation neural network (CPN) and presents feature extraction mechanism in full detail to work with on-line handwriting recognition. The obtained recognition rates were 60% to 94% using the CPN for different sets of character samples. This paper also describes a performance study in which a recognition mechanism with multiple thresholds is evaluated for counter-propagation architecture. The results indicate that the application of multiple thresholds has significant effect on recognition mechanism. The method is applicable for off-line character recognition as well. The technique is tested for upper-case English alphabets for a number of different styles from different peoples.
Abstract: Needs of an efficient information retrieval in recent
years in increased more then ever because of the frequent use of
digital information in our life. We see a lot of work in the area of
textual information but in multimedia information, we cannot find
much progress. In text based information, new technology of data
mining and data marts are now in working that were started from the
basic concept of database some where in 1960.
In image search and especially in image identification,
computerized system at very initial stages. Even in the area of image
search we cannot see much progress as in the case of text based
search techniques. One main reason for this is the wide spread roots
of image search where many area like artificial intelligence,
statistics, image processing, pattern recognition play their role. Even
human psychology and perception and cultural diversity also have
their share for the design of a good and efficient image recognition
and retrieval system.
A new object based search technique is presented in this paper
where object in the image are identified on the basis of their
geometrical shapes and other features like color and texture where
object-co-relation augments this search process.
To be more focused on objects identification, simple images are
selected for the work to reduce the role of segmentation in overall
process however same technique can also be applied for other
images.
Abstract: Analytical investigation of the sedimentation
processes in the river engineering and hydraulic structures is of vital
importance as this can affect water supply for the cultivating lands in
the command area. The reason being that gradual sediment formation
behind the reservoir can reduce the nominal capacity of these dams.
The aim of the present paper is to analytically investigate
sedimentation process along the river course and behind the storage
reservoirs in general and the Eastern Intake of the Dez Diversion weir
in particular using the SHARC software. Results of the model
indicated the water level at 115.97m whereas the real time
measurement from the river cross section was 115.98 m which
suggests a significantly close relation between them. The average
transported sediment load in the river was measured at 0.25mm ,
from which it can be concluded that nearly 100% of the suspended
loads in river are moving which suggests no sediment settling but
indicates that almost all sediment loads enters into the intake. It was
further showed the average sediment diameter entering the intake to
be 0.293 mm which in turn suggests that about 85% of suspended
sediments in the river entre the intake. Comparison of the results
from the SHARC model with those obtained form the SSIIM
software suggests quite similar outputs but distinguishing the
SHARC model as more appropriate for the analysis of simpler
problems than other model.
Abstract: Post-anthesis drought stress is the most important
problem affecting wheat production in dryland fields, specially in
Mediterranean regions. The main objective of this research was to
evaluate drought tolerance indices in dryland wheat genotypes under
post-anthesis drought stress. The research was including two different
experiments. In each experiment, twenty dryland bread wheat
genotypes were sown in a randomized complete blocks design
(RCBD) with three replications. One of experiments belonged to
rain-fed conditions (post-anthesis drought stress) and other
experiment was under non-stress conditions (with supplemental
irrigation). Different drought tolerance indices include Stress
Tolerance (Tol), Mean Productivity (MP), Geometric Mean
Productivity (GMP), Stress Susceptibility Index (SSI), Stress
Tolerance Index (STI), Harmonic Mean (HAM), Yield Index (YI)
and Yield Stability Index (YSI) were evaluate based on grain yield
under rain-fed (Ys) and supplemental irrigation (Yp) environments.
G10 and G12 were the most tolerant genotypes based on TOL and
SSI. But, based on MP, GMP, STI, HAM and YI indices, G1 and G2
were selected. STI, GMP and MP indices had high correlation with
grain yield under rain-fed and supplementary irrigation conditions
and were recognized as appropriate indices to identify genotypes with
high grain yield and low sensitivity to drought stress environments.
Abstract: The present work deals with thermodynamic analysis
of cascade refrigeration system using ozone friendly refrigerants pair
R507A and R23. R507A is azeotropic mixture composed of HFC
refrigerants R125/R143a (50%/50% wt.). R23 is a single component
HFC refrigerant used as replacement to CFC refrigerant R13 in low
temperature applications. These refrigerants have zero ozone
depletion potential and are non-flammable and as R507A an
azeotropic mixture there is no problem of temperature glide. This
study thermodynamically analyzed R507A-R23 cascade refrigeration
system to optimize the design and operating parameters of the
system. The design and operating parameters include: Condensing,
evaporating, subcooling and superheating temperatures in the high
temperature circuit, temperature difference in the cascade heat
exchanger, Condensing, evaporating, subcooling and superheating
temperatures in the low temperature circuit.
Abstract: Considering the theory of attribute grammars, we use
logical formulas instead of traditional functional semantic rules.
Following the decoration of a derivation tree, a suitable algorithm
should maintain the consistency of the formulas together with the
evaluation of the attributes. This may be a Prolog-like resolution, but
this paper examines a somewhat different strategy, based on
production specialization, local consistency and propagation: given a
derivation tree, it is interactively decorated, i.e. incrementally
checked and evaluated. The non-directed dependencies are
dynamically directed during attribute evaluation.
Abstract: To achieve reliable solutions, today-s numerical and
experimental activities need developing more accurate methods and
utilizing expensive facilities, respectfully in microchannels. The analytical
study can be considered as an alternative approach to alleviate
the preceding difficulties. Among the analytical solutions, those with
high robustness and low complexities are certainly more attractive.
The perturbation theory has been used by many researchers to analyze
microflows. In present work, a compressible microflow with constant
heat flux boundary condition is analyzed. The flow is assumed to be
fully developed and steady. The Mach and Reynolds numbers are also
assumed to be very small. For this case, the creeping phenomenon
may have some effect on the velocity profile. To achieve robustness
solution it is assumed that the flow is quasi-isothermal. In this study,
the creeping term which appears in the slip boundary condition
is formulated by different mathematical formulas. The difference
between this work and the previous ones is that the creeping term
is taken into account and presented in non-dimensionalized form.
The results obtained from perturbation theory are presented based
on four non-dimensionalized parameters including the Reynolds,
Mach, Prandtl and Brinkman numbers. The axial velocity, normal
velocity and pressure profiles are obtained. Solutions for velocities
and pressure for two cases with different Br numbers are compared
with each other and the results show that the effect of creeping
phenomenon on the velocity profile becomes more important when
Br number is less than O(ε).
Abstract: 115 samples of Labeo calbasu ranged 8.0-17.9cm
length with mean11.90±1.96 and 4.9-68.5g weight with mean
22.25±12.54 from the River Chenab, Southern Punjab, Pakistan were
analyzed to investigate length-weight relationships (LWR) of fish in
relation to condition factor (K). Standard length (SL), fork length
(FL), head length (HL) head width (HW), body girth (BG), dorsal fin
length (DFL), dorsal fin base (DFB), pectoral fin length (PcFL),
pelvic fin length (PvFL) and anal fin length (AFL) are found to be
highly correlated with increasing total length and wet body weight (r
> 0.500). Wet body weight has positive (r=0.540) and total length
has no correlation (r=0.344) with calculated Condition factor (K).
The slope “b" in the relationship is 3.27 and intercepts -2.2258.
Abstract: This study discusses the effect of uncertainty on
production levels of a petrochemical complex. Uncertainly or
variations in some model parameters, such as prices, supply and
demand of materials, can affect the optimality or the efficiency of any
chemical process. For any petrochemical complex with many plants,
there are many sources of uncertainty and frequent variations which
require more attention. Many optimization approaches are proposed
in the literature to incorporate uncertainty within the model in order
to obtain a robust solution. In this work, a stability analysis approach
is applied to a deterministic LP model of a petrochemical complex
consists of ten plants to investigate the effect of such variations on
the obtained optimal production levels. The proposed approach can
determinate the allowable variation ranges of some parameters,
mainly objective or RHS coefficients, before the system lose its
optimality. Parameters with relatively narrow range of variations, i.e.
stability limits, are classified as sensitive parameters or constraints
that need accurate estimate or intensive monitoring. These stability
limits offer easy-to-use information to the decision maker and help in
understanding the interaction between some model parameters and
deciding when the system need to be re-optimize. The study shows
that maximum production of ethylene and the prices of intermediate
products are the most sensitive factors that affect the stability of the
optimum solution
Abstract: This paper explores the use of project work in a
content-based instruction in a Rajabhat University, a teacher college,
where student teachers are instructed to perform teaching roles
mainly in basic education level. Its aim is to link theory to practice,
and to help language teachers maximize the full potential of project
work for genuine communication and give real meaning to writing
activity. Two research questions are formulated to guide this study:
a) What is the academic achievement of the students- writing skill
against the 70% attainment target after the use of project to enhance
the skill? and b) To what degree is the development of the students-
writing skills during the course of project to enhance the skill? The
sample of the study comprised of 38 fourth-year English major
students. The data was collected by means of achievement test,
student writing works, and project diary. The scores in the summative
achievement test were analyzed by mean score, standard deviation,
and t-test. Project diary serves as students- record of the language
acquired during the project. List of structures and vocabulary noted in
the diary has shown students- ability to attend to, recognize, and
focus on meaningful patterns of language forms.
Abstract: Databases have become ubiquitous. Almost all IT applications are storing into and retrieving information from databases. Retrieving information from the database requires knowledge of technical languages such as Structured Query Language (SQL). However majority of the users who interact with the databases do not have a technical background and are intimidated by the idea of using languages such as SQL. This has led to the development of a few Natural Language Database Interfaces (NLDBIs). A NLDBI allows the user to query the database in a natural language. This paper highlights on architecture of new NLDBI system, its implementation and discusses on results obtained. In most of the typical NLDBI systems the natural language statement is converted into an internal representation based on the syntactic and semantic knowledge of the natural language. This representation is then converted into queries using a representation converter. A natural language query is translated to an equivalent SQL query after processing through various stages. The work has been experimented on primitive database queries with certain constraints.
Abstract: The present work describes a computational study of
aerodynamic characteristics of GLC305 airfoil clean and with 16.7
min ice shape (rime 212) and 22.5 min ice shape (glaze 944).The
performance of turbulence models SA, Kε, Kω Std, and Kω SST
model are observed against experimental flow fields at different
Mach numbers 0.12, 0.21, 0.28 in a range of Reynolds numbers
3x106, 6x106, and 10.5x106 on clean and iced aircraft airfoil
GLC305. Numerical predictions include lift, drag and pitching
moment coefficients at different Mach numbers and at different angle
of attacks were done. Accuracy of solutions with respect to the
effects of turbulence models, variation of Mach number, initial
conditions, grid resolution and grid spacing near the wall made the
study much sensitive. Navier Stokes equation based computational
technique is used. Results are very close to the experimental results.
It has seen that SA and SST models are more efficient than Kε and
Kω standard in under study problem.
Abstract: With the rapid growth in business size, today-s businesses orient Throughout thirty years local, national and international experience in medicine as a medical student, junior doctor and eventually Consultant and Professor in Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Management, I note significant generalised dissatisfaction among medical students and doctors regarding their medical education and practice. We repeatedly hear complaints from patients about the dysfunctional health care system they are dealing with and subsequently the poor medical service that they are receiving. Medical students are bombarded with lectures, tutorials, clinical rounds and various exams. Clinicians are weighed down with a never-ending array of competing duties. Patients are extremely unhappy about the long waiting lists, loss of their records and the continuous deterioration of the health care service. This problem has been reported in different countries by several authors [1,2,3]. In a trial to solve this dilemma, a genuine idea has been suggested implementing computer technology in medicine [2,3]. Computers in medicine are a medium of international communication of the revolutionary advances being made in the application of the computer to the fields of bioscience and medicine [4,5]. The awareness about using computers in medicine has recently increased all over the world. In Misr University for Science & Technology (MUST), Egypt, medical students are now given hand-held computers (Laptop) with Internet facility making their medical education accessible, convenient and up to date. However, this trial still needs to be validated. Helping the readers to catch up with the on going fast development in this interesting field, the author has decided to continue reviewing the literature, exploring the state-of-art in computer based medicine and up dating the medical professionals especially the local trainee Doctors in Egypt. In part I of this review article we will give a general background discussing the potential use of computer technology in the various aspects of the medical field including education, research, clinical practice and the health care service given to patients. Hope this will help starting changing the culture, promoting the awareness about the importance of implementing information technology (IT) in medicine, which is a field in which such help is needed. An international collaboration is recommended supporting the emerging countries achieving this target.
Abstract: The use of technology is increasingly adopted to
support flexible learning in Higher Education institutions. The
adoption of more sophisticated technologies offers a broad range of
facilities for communication and resource sharing, thereby creating a
flexible learning environment that facilitates and even encourages
students not to physically attend classes. However this emerging
trend seems to contradict class attendance requirements within
universities, inevitably leading to a dilemma between amending
traditional regulations and creating new policies for the higher
education institutions. This study presents an investigation into
student engagement in a technology enhanced/driven flexible
environment along with its relationship to attainment. We propose an
approach to modelling engagement from different perspectives in
terms of indicators and then consider what impact these indicators
have on student academic performance. We have carried out a case
study on the relation between attendance and attainment in a flexible
environment. Although our preliminary results show attendance is
quantitatively correlated with successful student development and
learning outcomes, our results also indicate there is a cohort that did
not follow such a pattern. Nevertheless the preliminary results could
provide an insight into pilot studies in the wider deployment of new
technology to support flexible learning.
Abstract: In this research relationship between to be smooth the
interest and output of accepted companies stock at negotiable paper
exchange of Tehran is studied. Static community capacity included
363 companies member of negotiable paper exchange of Tehran that
54 companies were, by considering research limitation, selected from
2004 to 2009. Needed data for model test in librarian method was
chosen from RAH AVARDE NOVIN informative banks, TADBIR
and collecting needed data was selected from Tehran negotiable
paper exchange archive. Given results show that in spite of belief
among people based on companies have more smooth interest have
more output, but resulted outcomes of test-done reveals that there is
no relation between smooth interest and stock output.
Abstract: This work develops a novel intelligent “model of dynamic decision-making" usingcell assemblies network architecture in robot's movement. The “model of dynamic decision-making" simulates human decision-making, and follows commands to make the correct decisions. The cell assemblies approach consisting of fLIF neurons was used to implement tasks for finding targets and avoiding obstacles. Experimental results show that the cell assemblies approach of can be employed to efficiently complete finding targets and avoiding obstacles tasks and can simulate the human thinking and the mode of information transactions.
Abstract: A handful of propagation textbooks that discuss radio frequency (RF) propagation models merely list out the models and perhaps discuss them rather briefly; this may well be frustrating for the potential first time modeller who's got no idea on how these models could have been derived. This paper fundamentally provides an overture in modelling the radio channel. Explicitly, for the modelling practice discussed here, signal strength field measurements had to be conducted beforehand (this was done at 469 MHz); to be precise, this paper primarily concerns empirically/statistically modelling the radio channel, and thus provides results obtained from empirically modelling the environments in question. This paper, on the whole, proposes three propagation models, corresponding to three experimented environments. Perceptibly, the models have been derived by way of making the most use of statistical measures. Generally speaking, the first two models were derived via simple linear regression analysis, whereas the third have been originated using multiple regression analysis (with five various predictors). Additionally, as implied by the title of this paper, both indoor and outdoor environments have been experimented; however, (somewhat) two of the environments are neither entirely indoor nor entirely outdoor. The other environment, however, is completely indoor.
Abstract: The effect of varying holding temperature on hatching success, occurrence of deformities and mortality rates were investigated for goldlined seabream eggs. Wild broodstock (600 g) were stocked at a 2:1 male-female ratio in a 2 m3 fiberglass tank supplied with filtered seawater (37 g L-1 salinity, temp. range 24±0.5 oC [day] and 22±1 oC [night], DO2 in excess of 5.0mg L-1). Females were injected with 200 IU kg-1 HCG between 08.00 and 10.00 h and returned to tanks to spawn following which eggs were collected by hand using a 100μm net. Fertilized eggs at the gastrulation stage (120 L-1) were randomly placed into one of 12 experimental 6 L aerated (DO2 5 mg L-1) plastic containers with water temperatures maintained at 24±0.5 oC (ambient), 26±0.5 oC, 28± 0.5 oC and 30±0.5 oC using thermostats. Each treatment was undertaken in triplicate using a 12:12 photophase:scotophase photoperiod. No differences were recorded between eggs reared at 24 and 26 oC with respect to viability, deformity, mortality or unhatched egg rates. Increasing temperature reduced the number of viable eggs with those at 30 oC returning poorest performance (P < 0.05). Mortality levels were lowest for eggs incubated at 24 and 26 oC. The greatest level of deformities recorded was that for eggs reared at 28 oC.