Association between generation gap in interest, familiarity and application of information and communication technology

Given the introduction of information and communication technology and its rapid progress in every society, its use and application is different between various social institutions in that it demonstrates the difference between previous and present generation. Hence, the research was conducted in the school year 2012-2013 with the aim of applying information technology among female high school students and their mothers in Gorgan Province. The research method is a descriptive-analytical method; using a cluster sampling, of 34 female schools 8 schools were randomly chosen and 260 students were included in the study out of 1625 students. Using collected questionnaires and information obtained from independent t-test the results indicated that there was a significant difference between the mean of familiarity, interest and mothers' and their children's use of information technology. © Medwell Journals, 2016

Characterisation of Structure-Borne Sound Source Using Reception Plate Method

A laboratory-based experiment procedure of reception platemethod for structure-borne sound source characterisation is reported in this paper. he method uses the assumption that the input power from the source installed on the plate is equal to the power dissipated by the plate. In this experiment, rectangular plates having high and low mobility relative to that of the source were used as the reception plates and a small electric fan motor was acting as the structure-borne source. he data representing the source characteristics, namely, the free velocity and the sourcemobility, were obtained and compared with those fromdirectmeasurement. Assumptions and constraints employing this method are discussed

Biomass from Paddy Waste Fibers as Sustainable Acoustic Material

Utilization of biomass for green products is still progressing in the efort to provide alternative clean technology.his paper presents the utilization of natural waste ibers frompaddy as acousticmaterial. Samples of sound absorbingmaterial frompaddy waste ibers were fabricated.he efect of the iber density, that is, the iber weight and the sample thickness, and also the air gap on the sound absorption coeicient is investigated through experiment. he paddy ibers are found to have good acoustic performance with normal incidence absorption coeicient greater than 0.5 from 1 kHz and can reach the average value of 0.8 above 2.5 kHz. his result is comparable against that of the commercial synthetic glass wool. Attachment of a single layer of polyester fabric is shown to further increase the absorption coeicient

Zooplankton Distribution and Species Diversity in Myponga Reservoir, South Australia

Myponga Reservoir is a water storage that supplies drinking water to the southern metropolitan area. It is a highly managed water body with prolonged artificial mixing and regular algicide dosing (CuSO4) to manage water quality problem. The total number of taxa in Myponga was 16 and Cladocera was the dominant taxonomic group in relation to the total number of taxa. In terms of total density, Copepoda were the numerically dominant group in both reservoirs. The most frequently occurring Cladocera were Ceriodaphnia cf. quadrangula, Ceriodaphnia cornuta and Bosmina meridionalis while Asplanchna priodonta was the predominant Rotifera throughout the study. Copepoda were dominated by Calamoecia ampulla and Microcyclops sp., making up the largest portion of total zooplankton density. Observations showed relatively consistent species diversity and density throughout the study in Myponga Reservoir except for low densities during summer for Cladocera and Copepoda groups. Shallow locations have greater zooplankton densities compared to deep locations in the reservoir. Biological factors including the occurrence of green algae and cyanobacteria may influence zooplankton abundance and the dynamics of the community

Development of an indoor air quality checklist for risk assessment of indoor air pollutants by semiquantitative score in nonindustrial workplaces

Background: To meet the current diversified health needs in workplaces, especially in nonindustrial workplaces in developing countries, an indoor air quality (IAQ) component of a participatory occupational safety and health survey should be included. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and suggest a multidisciplinary, integrated IAQ checklist for evaluating the health risk of building occupants. This IAQ checklist proposed to support employers, workers, and assessors in understanding a wide range of important elements in the indoor air environment to promote awareness in nonindustrial workplaces. Methods: The general structure of and specific items in the IAQ checklist were discussed in a focus group meeting with IAQ assessors based upon the result of a literature review, previous industrial code of practice, and previous interviews with company employers and workers. Results: For practicality and validity, several sessions were held to elicit the opinions of company members, and, as a result, modifications were made. The newly developed IAQ checklist was finally formulated, consisting of seven core areas, nine technical areas, and 71 essential items. Each item was linked to a suitable section in the Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality published by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health. Conclusion: Combined usage of an IAQ checklist with the information from the Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality would provide easily comprehensible information and practical support. Intervention and evaluation studies using this newly developed IAQ checklist will clarify the effectiveness of a new approach in evaluating the risk of indoor air pollutants in the workplace

University quality measurement model based on balanced scorecard

A Higher Education Institution (HEI) has the responsibility to track the processes through indicators that guarantee the measurement of the results in almost real time. This article presents the design of a management and quality model of the processes in a university, through the integration of a Balance Scorecard (BSC) and the implementation of an information system. For which it was required: a review of existing tracing and monitoring systems in the academic sector, definition of the requirements of the proposed technological, a diagnosis of the current measurement system of the HEI analyzed, identify measurement indicators and develop a technological tool. The designed model presents a precise and clear methodological guide that can be replicated in any HEI to monitor its processes

Biphenotypic acute leukemia: a report of two cases

We report two cases of biphenotypic acute leukaemia diagnosed in Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM), their clinical, haematological characteristics and response to chemotherapy. Both patients are middle-aged ladies who presented with hepatosplenomegaly and high white cell count, mainly composed of blast cells. Their bone marrow aspirations were hypercellular comprising of more than 90% heterogenous blast cells. Cytochemical analyses show more than 3% positivity towards peroxidase, with smaller blasts showing block positivity towards PAS. Immunophenotypically, the blasts showed dual expression of CD 33 and CD 19, CD 19 and CD34, intra CD22, intra TdT and intraMPO. One of the patients showed presence of the Philadelphia chromosome on cytogenetic analysis which was confirmed by Fluorecsence In Situ Hybridisation (FISH). Molecular analysis also showed presence of the BCR-ABL fusion protein. Both patients were given combination chemotherapy consisting of daunorubicin and cytosine arabinoside.However, the patient with positive Philadelphia chromosome BCR-ABL did not achieve morphological remission after induction chemotherapy. In view of the poor prognosis of this disease, both the patients were planned for upfront peripheral blood stem cell transplantatio

DC Voltage Control and Power-Sharing of Multi-Terminal DC Grids Based on Optimal DC Power Flow and Flexible Voltage Droop Strategy

This paper develops an effective control framework for DC voltage control and power-sharing of multi-terminal DC (MTDC) grids based on an optimal power flow (OPF) procedure and the voltage-droop control. In the proposed approach, an OPF algorithm is executed at the secondary level to find optimal reference of DC voltages and active powers of all voltage-regulating converters. Then, the voltage droop characteristics of voltage-regulating converters, at the primary level, are tuned based on the OPF results such that the operating point of the MTDC grid lies on the voltage droop characteristics. Consequently, the optimally-tuned voltage droop controller leads to the optimal operation of the MTDC grid. In case of variation in load or generation of the grid, a new stable operating point is achieved based on the voltage droop characteristics. By execution of a new OPF, the voltage droop characteristics are re-tuned for optimal operation of the MTDC grid after the occurrence of the load or generation variations. The results of simulation on a grid inspired by CIGRE B4 DC grid test system demonstrate efficient grid performance under the proposed control strategy

Magnetic resonance imaging investigations of position of conus medullaris in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis as a peripheral neuropathy

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a structural 3-dimensional deformity the spine, which is occurring between 10 years of age and skeletal maturity and it mostly affects prepuberbal girls. The etiology of AIS remains unknown and seems should be multifactorial. According to the theories, there could be a shorter spinal cord or a higher location of the conus medullaris and disproportionate growth in neuro-osseous system. This study wants to investigate the position of the conus medullaris in AIS patients with a large curve magnitude in comparison with healthy adolescents. 94 AIS patients consisting of 25 males and 69 females between 11 and 25 years old, based on physical examination and standing posteroanterior roentgenography of the total spine with a Cobb angle more than 40 degrees was chosen. The main curve magnitude of every AIS patient was measured by the Cobb method. Apex of deformity was determined based on SRS definition. Patients� deformity were calcified based on Lenke classification. Magnetic resonance imaging examinations of the total spine were performed in the AIS group, by means of a 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging system. The position of conus medullaris was defined according to the method by saffiudin et al and was assessed based on the age, sex, type of deformity, severity of deformity, kyphosis, lordosis, flexibility, apical vertebra, stable vertebra. The mean age of patients were 16.34 with 6.77 of conus medullaris position in mean, which was lower one-third of L1. Our study showed no significant correlation between the position of conus medullaris with age, weight, preoperative curve, flexibility, types of deformity based on Lenke classification and degree of kyphosis and lordisis. In conclusion, there is the same mean and the distribution of the conus medullaris locations for AIS patients and normal populations. © 2015, E-Century Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved

Vibration Strength Estimation of a Structure-Borne Source: Case Study for a Reception Beam

This paper presents the estimation of vibration strength obtained from reception structure method. It describes a laboratory-based measurement procedure, which determines the strength of a vibration source in terms of its total squared free velocity. The source used in the experiment is a small electric fan motor. Here instead of using the usual flat rectangular plate, a thin stainless steel beam was used as the reception structure. The aim is to validate the data obtained from the reception method with that from the direct measurement. A good agreement is found between the two results, although small discrepancies occur due to the modal behavior of the beam