Archives-June... 

In this paper, we present an efficient technique for compression of enhancement layers in scalable video coding (SVC). First we propose an improved interlayer prediction scheme which exploits the inherent redundancy of the underlying Laplacian pyramid with non biorthogonal filters. Secondly we introduce an orthogonal transform in parallel with the current 4x4 transform to improve the coding efficiency of the enhancement layer further. The improved prediction and the transform are implemented in the SVC reference software JSVM 4.0 as additional prediction modes. Experimental results demonstrate coding gains up to 1 dB for I pictures, and up to 0.7 dB for both I and P pictures, over a current implementation.

Wireless Sensor Networks consists of spatially distributed autonomous sensors called nodes which co-operatively monitor a physical or environmental condition. Due to the scarce energy reserves in the sensor networks it is necessary to design protocols which minimize the energy consumption. In this paper, we firstly analyze the LEACH protocol in a homogeneous environment and then present a novel clustering based routing protocol for sensor networks. The simulation results show that the proposed protocol prolongs the network lifetime with 70% of the nodes remaining alive when compared to LEACH.

Conversion within quantities of same units and between quantities of different units is a thorny subject to Elective and Integrated Science students of Bueman Senior High School and its treatment by tutors sometimes becomes very difficult such that most tutors resort to handling the subject theoretically / abstractly. When this happens most students seemed not to comprehend the subject. In view of this, one aspect of the DTM-Conversion model (i.e. D-Conversion model) was tested on first year Elective Science and Integrated Science students of Bueman Senior High School, Jasikan. The DTM-Conversion Model is a model that has been designed by the researcher to make the teaching of conversion in measurement very easy to tutors and meaningful to students. The D-Conversion Model was tested on forty nine (49) 2011/2012 first year Elective science students and forty nine (49) Integrated Science Students’ all of Bueman Senior High School by teaching the D-Conversion Model for a period of two hours. A five item test was administered, collected and recorded. Comparison of the two test results i.e. Test before the lesson (TBL), and Test with the use of the D-Conversion model (TDC) showed that, Elective and Integrated Science students seemed to comprehend conversion of length in measurement when the D-Conversion model was employed.

The present study aimed at investigating different reading comprehension strategies applied by Iranian B.A students of translation while translating a text from English to Persian. In doing so, thirty-two students (sixteen sophomores and sixteen seniors) were given a text with a nearly high level of difficulty to be translated. This level of difficulty was double-checked by two professors in advance. Each and every step taken during the process of translation was then tape-recorded and further placed in the classes of ‘general’ vs. ‘local’ reading comprehension strategies pointed out by Block (1992), which is based on think-aloud protocols. The results of the Chi-Square tests indicated that there were statistically significant differences in terms of the frequencies of local strategies among the ‘higher’ vs. the ‘lower’ level of students. The findings also revealed that there were no statistically significant differences in using the general strategies among such students.

The aim of present research is to determine and prioritize criteria and scales of evaluating cohesive training systems. Present paper attempts to provide a paradigm for better devising of universities' cohesive training systems by identifying such scales. In terms of its aim, this research is an applied one and in terms of data collection method, it is descriptive and survey one. Its population includes elite training experts in the colleges and institutes affiliated to University of Tehran. It attempts to study domestic and foreign papers and to identify criteria and scales for evaluating cohesive training systems. Library method is used to gather information on theoretical basics, literature and to identify aspects and scales. Identified aspects include: content, flexibility, organizational structure, usage convenience, usage services and apparent form. By using the experts opinions, importance ratio of each one of scales and aspects is determined. Also for evaluating the status of this scales in golestan system of Tehran university a questionnaire is compiled. that its admissibility and permanence is confirmed. Then the questionnaire in a sample (of our case) is distributed. In data analysis, T-test: statistical test is used to examine the status of scales and aspects. The results of this test indicated that the organizational structure scales and usage convenience have middle status, the status of flexibility, usage services and apparent form is undesirable, and the content have a desirable status.

An analytical solution is obtained for advection-dispersion equation in one-dimension semi-infinite longitudinal domain. The solute dispersion parameter is considered temporally dependent and flow velocity is uniform. The zero order production term which is inversely proportional to the dispersion coefficient is also considered. Initially the space domain is the linear combination of uniform input and ratio of zero order production and flow velocity with position variable. Laplace transform used to get the analytical solution.

With the developing economies like India has opened their flood gates for foreign players as a part of economic reforms many foreign automobile companies like Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot and Volvo etc has entered into Indian market. This has also attracted the giant auto component suppliers throughout the world to come and invest in the Indian automotive industry. As the protection from the government to the small and medium auto component manufacturers has been lifted , the only way they can survive , if they do understand need of market better than their competitors and do adopt better B2B marketing strategies and become marketing oriented rather than production or sales oriented. As it has been found that firms with better marketing orientation has good record of business success. Hence this paper makes an attempt in finding relationship between marketing orientation and performance of small and medium sized auto component manufacturers. It was found that firms with higher level marketing orientation has better profit growth over firms with low level of marketing orientation. The findings are of immense value to marketing practitioners and academicians.

The levels of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls were analyzed in four different fish species sampled from the Volta lake in Ghana. Fish muscles were subjected to soxhlet extraction for 16 h and further analysed by Gas Chromatography. The mean concentration of the HCHs, Drins, DDTs CHLs and HCB ranged from 4.03 to 13.04 ng/g; 3.46 to 12.29 ng/g; 7.96 to 38.05 ng/g; 4.55 to 39.62 ng/g and 0.34 to 1.21 ng/g respectively. Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, Clarias gariepinus, Oreochromis niloticus and Tilapia zilli were the increasing order of magnitude of organochlorine pesticides detected among the species of fish. PCB concentration in the fishes ranged from a minimum of 0.90 ng/g to a maximum of 7.76 ng/g. The potential effect of contamination was assessed through the calculation of acceptable daily intake of organochlorines in the different fish species prescribed for human consumption. It was observed that the exposure of Ghanaian population through the consumption of fish from the Volta lake is relatively low and does not presently pose significant health risk.

Determination of pesticide residues in food is very essential in human health and it is becoming a major priority in the cocoa value chain. Hence, organophosphorous pesticide residues in dried cocoa beans from Ondo and Osun States, Nigeria were determined using Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and the detected levels of these residues were compared with the European Union Maximum Residue Levels (EU MRLs). Samples were milled separately and 10 g milled samples were weighed into 40 ml Dichloromethane (DCM) in a beaker and later sonicated. The extracts were subjected to gel permeation chromatography to separate lipids from the extracts, which were later subjected to fractionation. Among the organophosphous pesticide residues detected in the samples from the states were dichlorvos, diazion, phosphamidon, pirimiphos-methyl, chlorpyrifos, isofenphos and carbofenothion with their being levels higher than EU MRLs, suggesting that the produce were not safe for human consumption and the residues could pose some health risk to the consumers.

Any unaccustomed activity especially eccentric exercises leads to features like pain, oedema lack of strength and range of motion in corresponding joints and muscles. These features typically start 8-12 hrs following activity, peaking between 24-48 hrs and lasting 96 hrs or beyond 96 hrs post activity. This phenomenon is called Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and is also known as muscle fever. It was first explained by Theodre Hough(1905) and since then new theories have been postulated to understand it. Physiotherapy is one of the major main stays of its management. Even though pharmacological agents have been researched on efficacy is not well established .Physiotherapy management includes many interventions like cryotherapy, thermotherapy, stretching, exercises, electrical currents, Soft tissue massage. This review is humble attempt to understand the basic mechanisms underlying delayed onset muscle soreness and its management with special emphasis on physiotherapy management.