This paper presents the artificial bee colony (ABC) based steady state analysis of self-excited induction generator (SEIG). ABC algorithm minimizes the total admittance of the induction machine to calculate the frequency and magnetizing reactance corresponding to any rotor speed, load impedance and excitation capacitance. The results obtained by ABC algorithm are compared with the results from numerical method. The results coincides with the numerical method. The performance of SEIG is calculated using the optimized parameter obtained by ABC algorithm. This technique proves to be efficient in solving nonlinear constrained optimization problems and analysing the performance of SEIG.
Osteoporosis affects about 48% of postmenopausal Saudi women, and this disease has a strong genetic component. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) was the first candidate gene to be studied in this field, and most attention has been focused on polymorphisms situated on the 3’flank of VDR recognized by the restriction enzymes BsmI, ApaI and TaqI. On the other hand, since these polymorphisms are all located in intron 8 and the proximal region of exon 9, they are in strong linkage disequilibrium that allowed them to be studied as a haplotype. The relationship between VDR polymorphisms and BMD is controversial in different ethnic groups studied. In order to evaluate the contribution of the VDR alleles in bone mass loss, the Bsm-Apa-Taq haplotypes in the VDR gene were studied in eighty Saudi postmenopausal women. These women were divided into three groups according to their T-score to: normal, osteopenia and osteoporosis groups. The target region of VDR gene was isolated and amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The products of PCR were digested by restriction enzymes: ApaI, TaqI and BsmI and electrophoresed on agarose gel. Eleven different haplotypes were found. None of the individual VDR gene polymorphisms or haplotypes displayed an association between the different groups and they presented similar pattern to Caucasians. In conclusion, there was no relation effect between VDR gene haplotypes and BMD or osteoporosis in a sample of Saudi women. Using the same methodology in a large sample of Saudi young females is recommended.
The present work deals with the effects of Luni-Solar perturbations on the motion of an Earth satellite in a low and intermediate altitude orbits, and the resonance they produce. The apsidal resonances and those arising from the commensurability with the nodal period are analyzed up to O(J_2^2,(r_1⁄r_d )^2 ) . We obtained 10 new resonant vectors more than those previously obtained by Cook [6]. In the third body attraction terms are retained up to O(r_1⁄r_d )^2. Where r_1, r_d are the geocentric distances of the satellite and the disturbing body, and J_2 is the second zonal harmonic.
Food poisoning is becoming a globally feared health problem and recognized as a major health concern in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium that lives in human and animal intestines. It is the most important food-borne pathogen of public health interest incriminated in poultry meat worldwide, and is isolated from poultry meat, cows, sheep and goats. E.coli infection becomes endemic and causes high morbidity with a range of clinical manifestations such as severe diarrhea that is often bloody, severe abdominal pain, vomiting and low grade fever. It also contributes to significant economic loss due to the cost of surveillance investigation, treatment and prevention of illness. E.coli species in various food samples are detected by many methods with molecular techniques such as PCR being considered the gold standard in detection of E.coli, followed by Most Probable Number (MPN) method which uses different selective media to isolate bacteria E.coli. Food safety attracts more attention from the government and public worldwide. This mini review article aims at reporting specific incidences of E.coli as a food borne pathogen in KSA and the attempts to curb the dissemination of the pathogen to ameliorate public health and prevent disease in the kingdom.
The purpose of this research is to examine cultural differences on love types (passionate love and companionate love) and subjective well-being, including life satisfaction, and positive and negative emotions between Turkish and American young people. The research was conducted with a total of 246 university students (127 Turkish and 119 American) participating voluntarily. Cultural differences emerged for love types and subjective well-being. The findings were discussed with respect to individualistic and collectivistic cultural characteristics.\n\n\nKey Words: Emerging adults, young people, love types, passionate, companionate, subjective well-being, life satisfaction, positive-negative emotions.
In this study, true user requirements, based on the service science management and engineering (SSME) concept, are explored in this case study of a university course registration system design. In contrast to the original top-down designed system, we use SSME to improve system satisfaction and acceptance in the education field. Thus, course registration workflows are treated as a service redesign to achieve student satisfaction. We use SSME tools to uncover true user requirements, and use those to redesign the school information system process. A real world case study is reported and its implications are discussed.
The corporate derivative usage has grown rapidly over the recent decade and firm’s increasingly using derivatives to hedge their risk in order to handle the volatility of interest rate and foreign exchange. The empirical research on the valuation effect of derivative on firm still remains debated. This study seeks to investigate the valuation effect of derivative usage on Pakistani non-financial firms listed in Karachi Stock Exchange. \nThe empirical analysis was performed by using the data of 75 non-financial firms listed in Karachi Stock Exchange over the period 2007-2011. This study uses secondary data derived from financial statement of the selected firms and quantitative approach was applied in this regard. Firstly, the non parametric test – Mann-Whitney U (MWU) test – was used to differentiate the dynamics of derivatives users and non users. However, Pearson correlation matrix was applied to estimate the model whose results were checked through ordinary least square (OLS) model. Tobin’s q was used as a proxy of the market value of the firm and foreign exchange and interest rate derivatives are used as independent variable along with some control variables, namely; size, leverage, profitability and dividend per share.\nThe results of Mann-Whitney U test characterize derivative user firms as large size, higher profitability and higher dividend which ultimately become the cause and ingredients of high firm’s value. Hence the empirical findings of this paper concluded that the derivative usage has value relevance with firms and it was considered as a value maximizing activity. We found that foreign exchange and interest rate derivatives are significantly and positively related to the firm value. \n\nThe bottom line of this study states that the firm’ s which uses derivative instruments, enjoys the higher profitability, proper risk management and economies of scale which ultimately leads towards the maximization of market value. However, interest rate and foreign exchange derivatives play their key role in this regard.\nThis study contributes in the following manner: first, it gives better impending and understanding for decision making about diversification strategy in Pakistan and pin point the relationship between diversification, corporate performance and risk. This study gave a bottom line that the non-diversified firms performs outperform the diversified firms and hence got economies of scale as compared to the diversified firms and secondly it fills the gap of above said core issue which through its empirical examination.\n\nKey words\nDerivatives, Interest Rate Derivatives (IND), Foreign Exchange Derivatives (FXD), Non-Financial Firms, Firm’s Value, MWU Test, Pakistan.
Purpose \nThe aim of the study was to analyze influence of adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil on outcome in patients with gastric cancer treated with radical surgery.\nMethods\nOne hundred fifteen patients with gastric cancer were analyzed. Inclusion criteria were pathologically confirmed gastric cancer and radical surgery (D2 total gastrectomy). Patients were divided into two groups: Group I-patients with adjuvant chemotheraphy (ACT) after surgery. Group II -patients without ACT after surgery. \nResults\nDisease free interval (DFI) for patients in Group I was 35,1±18,8 months and overall survival (OS) was 39,7 ± 17,3 months, while DFI in patients in Group II was 32,1±19,6 months and OS was 38,1±17,1 months. No statistical difference was in DFI (z = 0,858; p > 0,05), and OS between compared groups (z = 0,480; p > 0,05). ROC curve (AUC 0,648; p < 0,05) revealed that death risk is more than 70 % when 3 positive lymph nodes were confirmed by pathologyst. \nConclusions\nACT protocol does not significantly affect OS neither it prolongs DFI. Our findings force the need for use more potent ACT protocols or combined therapy in oncology practice
The Patagonian lakes has a glacial origin and some of these are associated to glaciers that generate specific optical properties, such as water colorations due glacier sediments, also these lakes are oligotrophic with low crustacean zooplankton species number. The aim of the present study was analyze potential associations between optical properties and zooplankton communities in Tagua Tagua lake (41° S). The results revealed inverse associations in reflectance of bands 3 and 7 of LANDSAT TM+ with Daphnia ambigua, Mesocyclops araucanus and nauplius, and direct Neobosmina chilensis and ciclopoids copepodites, whereas it was inverse relations between bands 5 and 2 with B. gracilipes and calanoid copepodites. These results would agree with few reports for other similar Patagonian lakes.
