• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.371-384
• /
• 2017

Physical and mechanical properties of rocks are of interest in many fields, including materials science, petrophysics, geophysics and geotechnical engineering. Uniaxial compressive strength UCS is one of the key mechanical properties, while density and porosity are important physical parameters for the characterization of rocks. The economic interest of carbonate rocks is very important in chemical or biological procedures and in the field of construction. Carbonate rocks exploitation depends on their quality and their physical, chemical and geotechnical characteristics. A fast, economic and reliable technique would be an evolutionary advance in the exploration of carbonate rocks. This paper discusses the ability of ultrasonic wave velocity to evaluate some mechanical and physical parameters within carbonate rocks (collected from different regions within Tunisia). The ultrasonic technique was used to establish empirical correlations allowing the estimation of UCS values, the density and the porosity of carbonate rocks. The results illustrated the behavior of ultrasonic pulse velocity as a function of the applied stress. The main output of the work is the confirmation that ultrasonic velocity can be effectively used as a simple and economical non-destructive method for a preliminary prediction of mechanical behavior and physical properties of rocks.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.697-703
• /
• 2018

Compressive strength is one of the most important engineering properties of concrete, and testing of the compressive strength of concrete specimens is often costly and time consuming. In order to provide the time for concrete form removal, re-shoring to slab, project scheduling and quality control, it is necessary to predict the concrete strength based upon the early strength data. However, concrete compressive strength is affected by many factors, such as quality of raw materials, water cement ratio, ratio of fine aggregate to coarse aggregate, age of concrete, compaction of concrete, temperature, relative humidity and curing of concrete. The concrete compressive strength is a quite nonlinear function that changes depend on the materials used in the concrete and the time. This paper presents an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) for the prediction of concrete compressive strength. The training of fuzzy system was performed by a hybrid method of gradient descent method and least squares algorithm, and the subtractive clustering algorithm (SCA) was utilized for optimizing the number of fuzzy rules. Experimental data on concrete compressive strength in the literature were used to validate and evaluate the performance of the proposed ANFIS model. Further, predictions from three models (the back propagation neural network model, the statistics model, and the ANFIS model) were compared with the experimental data. The results show that the proposed ANFIS model is a feasible, efficient, and accurate tool for predicting the concrete compressive strength.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• v.8 no.10
• /
• pp.65-76
• /
• 2021

This study aims at investigating the effect of product innovation accounting on the market success of instant food and convenience food businesses in Thailand with customer response capability as the mediator. In addition, it examines the effects of management accounting systems, marketing intelligence, and technology orientation on product innovation accounting. The sample for this study is 258 instant food and convenience food businesses in Thailand. To test the research relationships, a structural equation model is used. The results of this study show that product innovation accounting has a significant effect on both customer response capability and market success. Similarly, customer response capability significantly leads to market success while it mediates the product innovation accounting-market success relationship. Testing the antecedents of the research relationships, management accounting system, marketing intelligence, and technology orientation potentially affect product innovation accounting. Accordingly, product innovation accounting is a key source of competitive advantage. Product innovation accounting must be recognized by company management as a strategic tool for competing in markets and environments. They must invest their resources and capabilities to create and develop product innovation accounting principles, as well as encouraging their staff to implement and use these principles in the workplace.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.621-629
• /
• 2021

Shigella flexneri is a facultative intracellular pathogen that causes bacillary dysentery in humans. Infection with S. flexneri can result in more than a million deaths yearly and most of the victims are children in developing countries. Therefore, identifying novel and unique drug targets against this pathogen is instrumental to overcome the problem of drug resistance to the antibiotics given to patients as the current therapy. In this study, a comparative analysis of the metabolic pathways of the host and pathogen was performed to identify this pathogen's essential enzymes for the survival and propose potential drug targets. First, we extracted the metabolic pathways of the host, Homo sapiens, and pathogen, S. flexneri, from the KEGG database. Next, we manually compared the pathways to categorize those that were exclusive to the pathogen. Further, all enzymes for the 26 unique pathways were extracted and submitted to the Geptop tool to identify essential enzymes for further screening in determining the feasibility of the therapeutic targets that were predicted and analyzed using PPI network analysis, subcellular localization, druggability testing, gene ontology and epitope mapping. Using these various criteria, we narrowed it down to prioritize 5 novel drug targets against S. flexneri and one vaccine drug targets against all strains of Shigella. Hence, we suggest the identified enzymes as the best putative drug targets for the effective treatment of S. flexneri.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.25-37
• /
• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument for measuring nursing information literacy competency, and then to examine the validity and reliability of the instrument. Methods: The developmental process of the instrument includes construction of a conceptual framework, generation of initial items, verification of content validity, preliminary study, extraction of final items, and psychometric testing. Its content validity was verified by three experts from nursing and nursing informatics. Its construct, convergent, and discriminant validity was examined in confirmatory factor analysis. Finally, its criterion validity was measured with Pearson's correlation. The tool's reliability was examined by Cronbach's ${\alpha}$. The participants include 382 nurses from four hospitals and one university hospital. Results: Twenty seven items in total were selected for the final scale, and the results of the confirmatory factor analysis were supported with acceptable model fit, which were named competency for identifying problem, potential sources for information, searching fine information, evaluating information, acquising and managing of information, using information ethically, and integrating new information. The convergent, discriminant and criterion validities were also supported. The Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ coefficient was .93. Conclusion: The instrument is valid and reliable to comprehensively assess nurses' information literacy competency, and to provide a basic direction for developing nursing information literacy program.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
• /
• v.23 no.12
• /
• pp.241-248
• /
• 2018

Recently, there have been calls for approaching from the irrationality point of view to better explain the privacy paradox phenomenon. This study is a kind of response to them. The aim of the study is to investigate how satisfying competence needs, one of basic psychological needs suggested in self-determination theory, affects irrational information disclosure decision (i.e., risk-benefit assessment). To do this, the study builds an irrationality-based model in which competence needs satisfaction affects both perceived risks negatively and perceived benefits (i.e., relationship building and maintenance), which in turn determine a level of self-disclosure. Based on the data from Facebook users which is collected by a large sample survey (N=1050), the study analyzes it using Mplus, a powerful structure equation modeling tool. The study results reveal that while the relationship between competence needs satisfaction and perceived relationship building and maintenance is statistically significant, the relationship between competence needs satisfaction and perceived risks insignificant. These findings imply that people who is in a high level of competence needs satisfaction is more likely to respond to some opportunities for social benefits and in turn disclose more information about self.

• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2019

In modern times, X-ray imaging has become a necessary tool for early diagnosis, quality control, nondestructive testing, and security screening. X-ray imaging equipment generally comprises an X-ray generator and an image sensor. Most commercially available X-ray generators employ filament-thermionic electron-based X-ray tubes, thus demonstrating typical analog behavior, such as slow response and large stray X-rays. Furthermore, digital X-ray sources, which have been studied extensively using field electron emitters manufactured from nanometer-scale materials, provide fast and accurately controlled ultra-shot X-rays. This could usher in a new era of X-ray imaging in medical diagnosis and nondestructive inspections. Specifically, digital X-ray sources, with reduced X-ray dose, can significantly improve the temporal and spatial resolution of fluoroscopy and computed tomography. Recently, digital X-ray tube technologies based on carbon nanotubes, developed by Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, have been transferred to several companies and commercialized for dental imaging for the first time.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.23-34
• /
• 2018

Objectives : This review aims to evaluate the effects and the safety of Chuna manual therapy(CMT) for pediatric functional constipation. Methods : We searched 10 electronic databases(Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CAJ, Oasis, RISS, KISS, NDSL, KMBASE, KISTI) and related 2 journals until October 2018. We included randomized controlled trials(RCTs) of testing CMT for pediatric functional constipation. The methodological quality of RCTs related assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results : 16 RCTs were eligible in our inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis of 11 studies showed positive for use CMT for pediatric functional constipation. CMT significantly improved total efficancy rate compared with medications (P < 0.00001). Conclusions : There is evidence of CMT for pediatric functional constipation with meta-analysis. However, our systematic review has limited evidence to support CMT for pediatric functional constipation. because the quality of relevant trials is relatively poor. Further well-designed RCTs should be encouraged. the quality of relevant trials is relatively poor.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2018

Objectives : To evaluate the evidence supporting the effectiveness and safety of Chuna manual therapy(CMT) for lumbar spinal stenosis Methods : We searched 10 electronic databases(Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CAJ, RISS, KISS, KISTI, KMBASE, DBpia, NDSL) and related 2 journals up to October 2018. We included randomized controlled trials(RCTs) of testing CMT for lumbar spinal stenosis patients. The methodological quality of RCTs related assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool 1.0. Results : Three RCTs were eligible in our inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis of 3 studies showed positive results for the using CMT for lumbar spinal stenosis. Conclusions : The review found favorable evidence of CMT for treating lumbar spinal stenosis with meta-analysis. However, our systematic review has limited evidence to support CMT for lumbar spinal stenosis because of low quality of original articles and further well-designed RCTs should be encouraged.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.1025-1032
• /
• 2021

The study investigates factors affecting the loyalty of Food Delivery Application (FDA) service in Thailand. This study employs quantitative research methodology with a non-probability sampling method to draw 510 FDA samples from the FDA users in Thailand. The online questionnaires with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.886 were used as a research tool to collect data from samples. By using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze data, the results show that trustworthiness, social influence, system design, and task-technology fit affect the user's technology acceptance, which also show the significant relationship with the loyalty of FDA users in Thailand. The study checks the harmony with the statistics; χ2 = 258.686, df. =160, χ2/df. = 1.616, p-value = 0.050, CMIN/DF = 1.616, GFI = 0.960, AGFI = 0.969, TLI = 0.953, CFI = 0.965, RMSEA = 0.047, significant level at 0.05, along with testing the weight factor. In conclusion, the research model was harmonious with the empirical data at the significant level 0.05. The finding of this study suggested that the FDA service provider might apply this research finding to develop a greater understanding of the FDA's customer loyalty, as well as determine marketing strategies, identify opportunities, and create a competitive advantage in the future.