In this paper, we presented a literature review on clean energy between 1993 and 2012. We organized these studies into six main categories: (i) production of clean energy, (ii) energy policy, (iii) energy efficient management, (iv) energy technology R&D policy, (v) managing the energy use, and (vi) the relationship between clean energy and economy. All of the papers in the review distributed to the main and sub-categories were based on their main contents. A comprehensive list of references is also presented at the end of this paper. It is hoped that the review will be a good resource for anyone who is interested in clean energy research, and will help to stimulate further interest in this area.

As the goal of education, the educational ideal expresses the requirements and the aspirations of a society in a particular historical moment, in the shape of a desirable pattern of human personality; the educational ideal is a credo. The rational man, the personality in progress, does not act before understanding and trusting something. Goal-oriented belief feeds the spirit, organizes the forces, leads on before the unknown, surmounts obstacles and lends strength. One of the challenges already launched within contemporary society is the need for re-thinking school, formal education, alongside of non-formal and informal education, in their various way of articulation. Efficient learning manifests itself in cognitive productivity and creativity only if they are based on the potential qualities of pupils. High potential children, due to the configuration of their personality (asynchronous development) fall into a category that must be protected by specific educational measures, fact reflected in the European legislation in the field: they need increased attention from the pedagogical community for their integration within a coherent educational system. The absence of a framework adequate to their outstanding endowment may lead, on one hand, to the loss of their high creative potential and, on the other; there is the risk of onset of alienation, failure and school abandonment, as well as that of developing antisocial behaviour . Therefore, gifted children must have adequate learning conditions to allow them to fully turn to account their potential, to their own interests and to that of their society. Wasting talents means wasting human resources by not identifying their intellectual potential in due time.

The purpose of this is to map the intellectual structure of supply chain management(SCM) studies in this century, this study proposes a generic model of invisible network of knowledge through which the most important publications and the most influential scholars as well as the correlations among these publications can be identified. In this study, bibliometric and social network analysis techniques are used to investigate the intellectual pillars of the diversification literature. By analyzing 152,181 citations of 3,463 articles published in SSCI and SCI journals in diversification area between 2001and 2012, this study maps an invisible network of knowledge of diversification studies. The study found that the results of the mapping present a solid foundation for a knowledge network in diversification area ,and help identify the invisible network of knowledge that traces the evolution of SCM research, and provide a valuable tool for researchers toaccess the literature in this area.

In this paper, we prove the generalized Hyers-Ulam stability of the transport equation, $u_t(x,t) + b \\cdot D_x u(x,t) = 0$, in a class of continuously differentiable functions.

In this paper we give some interesting relationship between the Bernstein\npolynomials and the twisted (h, q)-tangent polynomials by using fermionic p-adic q-integral\non Zp.

The main aim of the paper is the presentation the strategy of the European Union’s economic growth - Europe\n2020. To the particular goals of the research belong the presentation of the innovation system in the creation of competitiveness,\nthe innovation system and innovation process at the level of the region, constructed advantage, the Triple Helix model, Europe\n2020 strategy and Innovation Union and Horizon 2020 as the financial instrument implementing the Innovation Union. The\nimportant results of the research is the conclusion that in the innovation process also in the European Union very important are the\nconnection between science, market (industry) and government. There is positive dependence between innovation activity and\neffectiveness of the innovation process. The more interaction and cooperation it can observe on the regional level than on the\nstate. The new programme of the scientific and innovation research Europe 2020 and Innovation Union are very important factors\nof the strategy the European Union’s economic growth .

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Lepidium meyenii Walp powder on serum indices and some metabolic responses in race horses. Eighteen race horses, 6.5±1.17 years old, were divided into three groups. During 45 days, control group was fed basal diet, experimental groups M50 and M75 were fed basal diet plus 50 and 75 g/day maca extract, respectively. There were no significant differences between groups for initial and final body weight (BW), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and blood hemogram values during the study (P>0.05). On day 45, while M75 had higher aspartate transaminase (AST) level than M50, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) level in this group were higher than both control and M50 (p<0.05). M75 had lower Mg level than control (p<0.037). After feeding, M50 had higher adiponectin level than control and M75 at 30th min. (p<0.05). Insulin level in M50 and M75 were lower than control at 60th min., but it was higher in M50 than M75 at 120th min. (p<0.003). Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in M50 were lower than control at 60th min. before feeding and were higher than M75 at 15th min. after feeding (p<0.05). Triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations were higher in M75 than other groups (p<0.001). Similarly, M75 had higher thyroxine (T4) concentration than control and M50 during the study (p>0.05). The differences between groups were found statistically significant only at 60th min. In conclusion, it was determined that 50 or 75 g/day maca supplementation had no negative effect or risk for health in horses.

This work experimentally and numerically studies large deflection of slender cantilever beam of linear elastic material, subjected to a combined loading which consists of internal vertical uniformly distributed continuous load and external vertical concentrated load and a horizontal concentrated load at the free end of the beam. We got equations with the help of large deflection theory, and present the differential equation governing the behaviour of this system and show that that this equation, although straightforward in appearance, is in fact rather difficult to solve due to the presence of a non-linear term. A numerical evaluation is used to evaluate the system and calculate Young`s modulus of the beam material. With simple experiment we show, how a Young`s modulus can be obtained and then the phenomenon of the large elastic sideways deflection of a column under compressive loading is investigated and elastica of buckled column is calculated.

Synovial chondromatosis of Hoffa’s body is very uncommon. We report a 18-year-old female patient with synovial chondromatosis and a calcified mass inside the Hoffa’s body who presented with mechanical impairment of the knee and pain in its anterior aspect. The bony mass in the Hoffa’s body was evident on the X-ray and MRI exploration showed synovial affectation. During the arthroscopy, all pathological synovial was removed and the bony mass was extirpated through a mini-arthrotomy. Diagnosis of a giant synovial osteochondromatosis was confirmed by histology and malignancy was ruled out. Two years after surgery the patient was asymptomatic and motion range was complete.

Thirty two rats were divided into four groups (8 rats/each) named as 1, 2, 3 and 4. Group 1 were fed basal diet and served as a control group. Whereas, group 2 were fed the basal diet mixed with 1% cholesterol ( high cholesterol diet). Groups 3 and 4 were fed the high cholesterol diet mixed with fenugreek seed powder 5% and 10%, respectively. Total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and alanine transaminase (ALT) activity were significantly increased (32.4 ± 0.2 mg/dl; 12.2 ± 1.5 mg/dl; 26.5 ± 0.6 IU/l) whereas, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) concentration was decreased significantly (11.9 ± 1.6 mg/dl) in rats fed high cholesterol diet compared to control group (28.1 ± 0.1; 6.0 ± 1.3; 22.7 ± 0.4; 13.9 ± 1.5), respectively. Inclusion of both concentrations of fenugreek in high cholesterol diet reduced serum total cholesterol (30.5 ± 0.1; 29.5± 0.5) and ALT activity (22.1 ± 0.5; 21.7 ± 0.7), respectively compared to rats fed high cholesterol diet and control groups. Histopathological findings revealed fatty changes in liver of rats fed high cholesterol diet which recovered by dietary supplementation of fenugreek seed powder. Only, inclusion of lower concentration of fenugreek in diet of rats fed high cholesterol reduced LDL-c concentration (6.2 ± 1.2) and increased HDL-c concentration (15.0 ± 1.0) compared to rats fed high cholesterol diet and the control group. Conclusively, inclusion of low dose of fenugreek (5%) in ration of rats was recommended than the high dose (10%).

Background\nThe mechanism of atherogenesis has not yet fully understood despite the different studies in this area. This study aimed to evaluate the role of zinc (Zn)-supplemented with high cholesterol diet (HCD) on the serum and whole blood rheological properties of rabbits fed a HCD. \nMaterials and methods\nTwenty-four New Zealand white rabbits were divided into control, HCD, and HCD + Zn groups. The HCD group was fed a diet with 1.0% cholesterol and 1.0% olive oil. The HCD + Zn group was fed a diet with 1.0% cholesterol, 1.0% olive oil, and Zn. Blood viscosity, shear stress, and torque (%) were measured at shear rates ranging from 225 to 1875 s-1 for serum and 75 to 900 s-1 for whole blood.\nResults\nSerum viscosity and shear stress in HCD rabbits were significantly higher at all shear rates compared to controls; while whole blood viscosity and shear stress in HCD rabbits were significantly lower at all shear rates compared to controls. Viscosity and shear stress in both serum and whole blood from rabbits in the HCD + Zn group returned to normal values at all shear rates.\nConclusions\nThe rheological properties plays important role during the progression of atherosclerosis. The Zn supplemented with HCD to rabbits delays or retards the progression of atherosclerosis. Changes in blood serum viscosity could reflect changes in non-clotting proteins, glucose, nutrients, and trace elements; while changes in whole blood viscosity could result from changes in hematocrit, hemoglobin, and erythrocyte count. One of the factors responsible for increasing the serum viscosity values of HCD rabbits might be attributed to increase in Fe and decrease in Zn levels in blood serum.

This paper shows the design, simulation and implementation of Finite Impulse Response (FIR) digital filters through the use of computational tools and the Texas Instruments TMS320C50 DSP processor. A treatment of the digital filters is developed, presenting its corresponding assignment of coefficients to the types: low pass, high pass and subwoofer, considering different cut-off frequencies. The hardware is performed based on platform DSK (DSP Starter Kit) processor and real-time processing algorithms are designed and implemented on the DSP. The results are shown by comparative curves of magnitude and phase responses.

The goal of this study would be to extend the idea of dynamic abilities and design co-creation. In previous studies have emphasized that components factors of dynamic capabilities are differ based on specific firm or industry. Thus, this study look at component factors of dynamic capabilities in the context of multi-products aggressive ITC firm. This paper gives an in-depth analysis of ASUSTech Taiwan, a leading and aggressive company in the ITC industry in Taiwan, which showed an impressive ability to develop new products and developing a co-creation framework with product design and innovation. This paper discusses the key dimensions of dynamic capabilities in the context of multi-products enterprise (DCMP) and explores the sub-dimensions of each key dimension. A case study using grounded theory approach is used to translate the data through three phases, open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. Findings highlight that DCMP enterprise are made up of the network clustering the nodes of one of the central high-frequency keywords that were mapped, such as: Innovation, User, R&D, Technology, Co-design, Management, Organization, and Network. This study also identifies the three dynamic capabilities and their sub-dimensions as an important basis for continuous innovation. As well as contributing to the emerging literature on continuous innovation, Three capabilities we mentioned also contribute to the literature on dynamic capabilities and co-creation: Excellent service and innovation support capability, maintain technological leadership capability, and ensure utmost reliability and compatibility capability. Discussion links the findings to previous literature and shows how these three component factors are all based on a coherent combination of sub-dimensions. As a further appreciation of the origins of competitive advantage is to be found in a better analytical and empirical understanding of the managerial processes which allows some firms to be ahead and stay ahead of the game, and the component factors of dynamic capabilities, we hope that this study has contributed to clarifying the nature and content of some of these valuable managerial processes.

A sensor able to evaluate the antioxidant activity, has been developed using adenosine and guanosine nucleosides immobilized on carbon electrodes. The experimental variables were optimized for both nucleosides and two carbon electrodes (glassy carbon, GCE, and carbon paste, CPE), showing small differences due mainly to the surface of the CPE that is greater than the CGE. The effect of the simultaneous immobilization of both nucleosides was also studied. The sensor was validated using Fenton reagent in the absence and presence of ascorbic acid as antioxidant. It was observed that the antioxidant protects the nucleoside immobilized on the electrode surface from the oxidizing action of Fenton\'s reagent.

The present paper studies two types of definite integrals of trigonometric functions and uses Maple for verification. The Fourier series expansions of these definite integrals can be obtained using generalized Cauchy integral formula and differentiation term by term theorem. On the other hand, some examples are used to demonstrate the calculations.

In this research, we propose two algorithms for solving the equilibrium problem and fixed point problem which will lead to the approximation method for minimization problems. \n Furthermore, we also propose the strong convergence theorem for our mentioned scheme without the properties of metric projection under the suitable conditions.

This paper deals with the regularity for the nonlinear\nintegrodifferential equations governed by the variational inequality\nin Hilbert spaces, and a variation of constant formula for\nsolutions is established. It is to extend the regularity for solutions of second order variational inequalities to the nonlinear variational inequalities of hyperbolic type with nonlinear perturbations on condition of the Lipschitz continuity of the nonlinear terms. A simple example to which our main result can be applied is given.

In all models of creation of objects, products or development, it is essential today to consider a sustainable development and eco-design dimension and give value to each project created. \nIn addition to factors related to optimization of resources, the use of materials and minimizing waste, it is important to be attentive to the parameters of comfort and use. Designers need to expand their environmental knowledge, develop co-creation and be open to the inventiveness of citizens in a multi-disciplinary environment. To assist design teams in creative session or small businesses in the development of their product, we propose a methodological approach that will allow to guide potential users to eco-innovative product, space or process concepts. As a starting point, an overall qualitative and multi-criteria matrix will allow impact assessment and its prioritization. An application, based on inventive principles will be adapted and complete the reflection for the choice of an eco-innovative solution.

“Erciyes Tigers” are an elite group of high altitude climbers. They have been climbing Erciyes Mountain (3500 m, in Kayseri, Turkey) once a week at least for ten years. When they climb Erciyes in winter, they also take a snow bath. This study investigated the effects of regular high altitude climbing on the metabolic and hematological responses of mountaineers. Venous blood samples were taken to investigate hematological, biochemical parameters and some hormone values from 21 mountaineers and 16 healthy age-matched sedentary volunteers at resting condition. The neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio was calculated. The N/L was associated with an increased risk of long-term mortality and it could provide a good measure of exercise stress and subsequent recovery. Most of the hematological and biochemical parameters i.e., erythrocyte, leukocyte, hemoglobin and hematocrit values did not change significantly. The neutrophil to lymphocyte (N/L) ratio was significantly (p<0.04) decreased in the mountaineer compared with the sedentary group. Total protein (p<0.000) and albumin (0.001) were lower, while ferritin (p<0.04), creatine (p<0.03) and creatine phosphokinase levels (p<0.01) were higher in mountaineers. Our results show that regular high altitude climbing increased serum levels of some acute-phase proteins and these increments were not transient.

This study was conducted to determine the recovery and conservative effects of aerated hydration (AH) performed at 25 °C for 48 hours on pepper cultivar Çalabi seeds before and after accelerated aging (AA) at 45 °C and 100% RH for 48, 72, 96, 120 and 144 hours. In this study, germination percentage, mean germination time and emergence percentage were investigated to evaluate maintenance of seed viability, electrical conductivity (EC) test for vigor performance that was conducted at 25 °C after 4, 8 and 24 h of imbibition and Na+ and K+ content of soaked water of aged seeds. The results showed that the AA caused a dramatic drop in germination and emergence, and an increase in mean germination time, while aerated hydration annulled the adverse effects of aging. However, AH before AA was not beneficial for improving seed quality of aged pepper seeds as it showed the lowest emergence. EC values increased when imbibition duration was extended. Increased aging duration gave higher EC values compared to control, but AH led to a significant reduction in EC. Increased EC resulted from increasing the Na+ and K+ ions in the solution. EC test was found a helpful method for predicting seed quality because it is negatively associated with germination and emergence but, closely related to Na+ and K+ contents. It was concluded that AH was effective to repair germination and emergence performance of aged pepper seeds while it was not suitable for protecting the seeds against aging.

This paper analyses the technical efficiency of European railways in the period 1984–2005. Our results reveal first that the use of bootstrapping indicates a certain degree of sensitivity of the efficiency measurements to sampling variation. The efficiency decreases slightly and the DEA efficiency score overestimates the operational efficiency. Second, the corrected efficiency decreases from 1984 to 1989 and then increases until 2005 with some ups and downs. Third, the analysis of convergence indicates a worsening of efficiency, but in the sub-period 1995 to 2005 the efficiency improves. Fourth, controlling for environmental factors, the reforms generate increased railway efficiency.

The purpose of this study is to contribute with new empirical evidence to the existing researches about business games learning effectiveness in management science, and to value the business simulator that best suits students´ educational needs from an academic approach. To do so, a multi-criteria methodology, the analytic hierarchy process has been implemented. This tool can be used in any field, and will allow select, within a set of games, the most suitable one according to series of criteria based on the instructor’s judgments. So with the proposed methodology instructors will be able to select the most suitable game according to its educational needs.

We investigate spectral properties of some Time operator which are obtained\nthrough Canonical Commutation Relation (CCR) and discuss some differences between Spectral Measure (SPM) and Positive Operator Valued Measure (POVM) on quantum mechanics. When “time” is regard as an observation, we must note the framework of Hilbert space and the character of the relation between the observation and the operator.

In this paper we will present a world while environment crisis due to the high contamination levels in sanitary landfills and how by recovering plastic materials as particles and infusing them, we manufacture new and stronger construction concrete bricks. The main objective in this research paper is to determine an appropriate supply formulation for plastic infused bricks greater than or equal to 64 kgf/cm2. This was according to the NMX-C-036-ONNCCE-2004 standard specification. In the test where the total hardness compression reliability was computed, we could notice that it exceeded hardness of 64 kgf/cm2 and strength of 90 kgf/cm2. To verify the research hypothesis we sampled a value according to the t- distribution using Minitab 16 where P was within 0.027. As such, we accepted the maintained hypothesis.

Background The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of different gamma-radiation doses on hematological and dimensional properties of rat blood in vivo in an attempt to understand the toxicity and the potential role of gamma-irradiation as a therapeutic tool. Methods 60 healthy male Wistar-Kyoto rats were used in this study. Animals were randomly divided into five groups, 4 gamma-irradiated rat groups [(The 1st group irradiated with five gamma radiation; the 2nd group irradiated with 25Gy; the 3rd group irradiated with 50 Gy); the 4th group irradiated with 100Gy] and one control group. Then different hematological parameters measured using the standard hematological techniques. Results After irradiating the 4 gamma-irradiated rat groups with different gamma radiation doses, a significant decrease in white blood cells (WBCs) count, lymphocytes (LYM), red blood cells (RBCs) count, hemoglobin (HGB), and hematocrit (HCT) was observed compared with the control. While a significant increase in monocytes (MON), neutrophils (NEU), basophils (BAS), eosinophils (EOS), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red distribution width (%RDW) was observed. A non-significant decrease in platelets (PLTs) count observed with gamma radiation doses compared with the control. Conclusions The organism becomes susceptible to any infection that may point toward a bone marrow problem as well as production of an infection or toxic reactions or chemicals. A low RBCs count or low HGB or HCT may suggest anemia. The cessation of erythrocytes production in the bone marrow. The increase in RBCs size indicates changes in morphology and deformability of RBCs confirmed by slightly increase in the red cell distribution width.

The design, simulation and comparison of the performance of controllers applied to a robot with three Degrees Of Freedom (DOF) are presented. Four controllers are prepared to test the robot\'s dynamic model: predictive; hyperbolic sine-cosine; sliding mode; and a hybrid composed of a predictive + hyperbolic sine-cosine controller. A simulator is developed by means of the MatLab/Simulink software, which allows analyzing the dynamic performance of the robot and of the designed controllers. The manipulator robot is made to follow a test trajectory which, thanks to the proposed controllers, it can do. The results of the performance of this manipulator and of its controllers, for each of the three joints, are compared by means of RMS indices, considering joint errors according to the imposed trajectory and to the controller used.

Modeling and control of a redundant robot with five Degrees Freedom (DOF) of the SCARA (Selective Compliant Assembly Robot Arm) manipulator type is presented. Through homogeneous transformation matrices the inverse kinematic model of the redundant robot is obtained. By means of a modification of the classical sliding mode control law through a hyperbolic function, we get a new algorithm, which together with the learning and adaptive controllers, is applied to the model. A simulation environment is designed and implemented using MatLab/Simulink programming tools that include the actuator dynamics. This simulation environment is used to carry out different tests of the redundant manipulator model together with each controller as they are made to follow a trajectory in space. The results, obtained through a simulation environment, were represented by comparative curves and RMS indices of the joint and Cartesian errors, and they showed that the redundant manipulator model followed the test trajectory with less pronounced maximum errors using the adaptive controller than the other controllers, with more homogeneous motions of the manipulator.

The natural frequency of the micro piezoelectric vibration generator has been defined when the generator is manufactured. When the natural frequency of the micro piezoelectric vibration generator is inconsistent with the frequency of vibration source, output power will sharply decrease, and it cannot normally supply power. In order to make the natural frequency of the generator approach the frequency of vibration source, on the basis of the relationship between the piezoelectric capacitance and the Young\'s modulus, the author adopts capacitance frequency modulation technology to turn the bending stiffness of the cantilever beam and the natural frequency of the micro piezoelectric vibration generator. At the same time, adjusting the size of the cantilever tip mass, it can enlarge the piezoelectric generator frequency range, and the piezoelectric generator has a wide operating frequency. Experimental results show that the natural frequency of the piezoelectric generator reduced from 69.8Hz to 46.5Hz after the mass is added at the end of the cantilever beam. When the bypass capacitance varies from 0nF to 30nF, the natural frequency of the generator can be continuously adjusted from 46.5Hz to 42.4Hz. When the frequency in reality is smaller than the natural frequency of the piezoelectric vibration generator, the methods can make the natural frequency approach the frequency of vibration source.

A graph G=(V,E,w), where V and E are finite set of vertices and edges respectively, is a directed weighted graph with weights denoted by w(e)>0 for each edge e ∈ E. Given two vertices and ∈ V, P(s,t) is the shortest path between and containing the least sum of edge weights on the path from to . The properties of the graph representation, using matrix structures to represent the graph in normal flow and reverse representations, are considered. Based on these structures, a new algorithm determines the candidate subgraphs and prunes every subgraph that is either unreachable from the given source vertex or does not lead to the given destination , benefiting from the rich information inherent in the matrix and reverse matrix structure representations of the graph. This improves the shortest path algorithm significantly.

A work methodology consisting of four stages is presented, that allows fault tolerant communication, using the master/slave communication model between a PC master and a 3-DOF robot slave, by means of the Modbus protocol. In particular, the first of those stages is implemented. The analysis, selection and use of all the hardware and software tools for the implementation and simulation of industrial communications by means of the Modbus protocol are described. An analysis is made of various existing softwares for communication with the Modbus protocol as well as for developing the corresponding hardware, i.e., MatLab, LabVIEW, Proteus, MPLAB, C Compiler, INTOUCH, SCADA Software, Modbus Communication, WINTECH Software, and Modbus Poll, among others. Using LabVIEW and Proteus a methodology is presented that allowed the implementation of an application for successful RS 232 Rx/Tx serial communication.

The implementation of a “Virtual Instrument” developed in MatLab/Simulink that allows the analysis of the measurement of mechanical vibrations in rotating machines is presented. To accomplish this, we identified the main rotating machines used in industry, the parameters that can be relevant when an analysis of vibration is made, the typical vibration frequency spectra of certain electrical and mechanical failures, the most common regulations employed by the industry with respect to vibration levels in rotating machinery, the tools that are used for vibration analysis, and tools for developing MatLab software that includes features for storing and managing data from a data base, also allowing an analysis and diagnosis of vibration in rotating machines.\nThe development cost for this virtual instrument is very low compared with the tens of thousands of dollars of their equivalents now available in the market.

The upfront cost to deploy a Software as a Service (SaaS) application has been drastically reduced with the advent of cloud computing. This has significantly lowered the entry barrier allowing many small businesses and start-ups to become providers of SaaS applications. However, getting past the entry barrier quickly leads to other challenges. Perhaps the largest challenge for many organizations involves selecting the right architecture and technologies for enabling their SaaS application to easily integrate with customers’ existing software. \nThis paper proposes a high-level architecture and technology selection that supports the rapid development of Community Software as a Service (CSaaS) cloud based application that can be easily integrated into a customer’s existing web property.