The multi-fuzzy N-soft set and its applications to decision-making

Neural Computing and Applications - The goal of this paper is to introduce a novel hybrid model called multi-fuzzy N-soft set, and to design an adjustable decision-making methodology for solving...     

An Efficient Schema Transformation Technique for Data Migration from Relational to Column-Oriented Databases

Data transformation is the core process in migrating database from relational database to NoSQL database such as column-oriented database. However, there is no standard guideline for data transformation from relational database to NoSQL database. A number of schema transformation techniques have been proposed to improve data transformation process and resulted better query processing time when compared to the relational database query processing time. However, these approaches produced redundant tables in the resulted schema that in turn consume large unnecessary storage size and produce high query processing time due to the generated schema with redundant column families in the transformed column-oriented database. In this paper, an efficient data transformation technique from relational database to column-oriented database is proposed. The proposed schema transformation technique is based on the combination of denormalization approach, data access pattern and multiple-nested schema. In order to validate the proposed work, the proposed technique is implemented by transforming data from MySQL database to HBase database. A benchmark transformation technique is also performed in which the query processing time and the storage size are compared. Based on the experimental results, the proposed transformation technique showed significant improvement in terms query processing time and storage space usage due to the reduced number of column families in the column-oriented database.     

Region-based surveillance video retrieval with effective object representation

Retrieving the most relevant video frames that contain the object specified in a given query (query-by-region) remains a challenging task. Two common challenges of region-based retrieval approaches are to accurately extract or segment object(s) and select a proper matching strategy. This paper addresses these problems by proposing a retrieval approach that uses a new region-based matching technique equipped with an effective object representation method. In the first stage, the proposed approach selects the most informative instances of each object that appeared in the video by utilizing an adapted clustering algorithm over the extracted features. In the retrieval stage, the new matching technique returns the most relevant sequences of video by mapping a given region with those identified representative instances of objects based on their similarity scores. The proposed approach is evaluated on standard datasets and the results demonstrate a 31% improvement in the retrieval performance compared to other state-of-the-art methods.     

Facile Synthesis and Characterization of Palm CNF-ZnO Nanocomposites with Antibacterial and Reinforcing Properties

Cellulose nanofibers (CNF) isolated from plant biomass have attracted considerable interests in polymer engineering. The limitations associated with CNF-based nanocomposites are often linked to the time-consuming preparation methods and lack of desired surface functionalities. Herein, we demonstrate the feasibility of preparing a multifunctional CNF-zinc oxide (CNF-ZnO) nanocomposite with dual antibacterial and reinforcing properties via a facile and efficient ultrasound route. We characterized and examined the antibacterial and mechanical reinforcement performances of our ultrasonically induced nanocomposite. Based on our electron microscopy analyses, the ZnO deposited onto the nanofibrous network had a flake-like morphology with particle sizes ranging between 21 to 34 nm. pH levels between 8–10 led to the formation of ultrafine ZnO particles with a uniform size distribution. The resultant CNF-ZnO composite showed improved thermal stability compared to pure CNF. The composite showed potent inhibitory activities against Gram-positive (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)) and Gram-negative Salmonella typhi (S. typhi) bacteria. A CNF-ZnO-reinforced natural rubber (NR/CNF-ZnO) composite film, which was produced via latex mixing and casting methods, exhibited up to 42% improvement in tensile strength compared with the neat NR. The findings of this study suggest that ultrasonically-synthesized palm CNF-ZnO nanocomposites could find potential applications in the biomedical field and in the development of high strength rubber composites.     

Enhancement of stack ventilation in hot and humid climate using a combination of roof solar collector and vertical stack

In the hot and humid climate, stack ventilation is inefficient due to small temperature difference between the inside and outside of naturally ventilated buildings. Hence, solar induced ventilation is a feasible alternative in enhancing the stack ventilation. This paper aims to investigate the effectiveness of a proposed solar induced ventilation strategy, which combines a roof solar collector and a vertical stack, in enhancing the stack ventilation performance in the hot and humid climate. The methodology selected for the investigation is physical experimental modelling which was carried out in the actual environment. The results are presented and discussed in terms of two performance variables: air temperature and air velocity. The findings indicate that the proposed strategy is able to enhance the stack ventilation, both in semi-clear sky and overcast sky conditions. The highest air temperature difference between the air inside the stack and the ambient air (T_i−T_o) is achieved in the semi-clear sky condition, which is about 9.9 °C (45.8 °C–35.9 °C). Meanwhile, in the overcast sky condition, the highest air temperature difference (T_i−T_o) is 6.2 °C (39.3 °C–33.1 °C). The experimental results also indicate good agreement with the theoretical results for the glass temperature, the air temperature in the roof solar collector’s channel and the absorber temperature. The findings also show that wind has significant effect to the induced air velocity by the proposed strategy.     

Effects of Modified Atmosphere Packaging with Various Carbon Dioxide Composition on Biogenic Amines Formation in Indian Mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) stored at 5 ± 1°C

The profile of major biogenic amines was investigated in Indian mackerel packed in modified atmosphere for up to 12 days at 5 ± 1°C. Beheaded and gutted Indian mackerel was packed under different carbon dioxide compositions to study the effects on biogenic amines formation. The treatments were control air (C), vacuum packaging (VP), 30% CO₂/65% N₂/5% O₂ (M30C), 60% CO₂/35% N₂/5% O₂ (M60C), 80% CO₂/15% N₂/5% O₂ (M80C) and 100% CO₂ (M100C). Each amine responded differently to different CO₂ levels. After 12 days of storage, concentrations of histamine were reduced by 6.4%, 8.5%, 70.3%, 78.8% and 90.2% in fish packed under VP, M30C, M60C, M80C and M100C, respectively as compared with control air. Changes in putrescine and cadaverine showed a similar pattern. Gas mix of M30C and VP stimulated the formation of tyramine reaching 203 and 172 ppm, respectively. Higher composition of CO₂ had a significant inhibitory effect on tyramine concentration (p < 0.05). There were parallel increases of putrescine and spermidine in C, VP and M30C. No significant effect of CO₂ was observed on spermine (p > 0.05). After 9 days of storage, more than 300 ppm of histamine was detected in mackerel packed in VP and M30C; therefore, these atmospheres pose a histamine intoxication risk. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) analysis using artificial neural network (ANN)

Dengue fever (DF) is an acute febrile viral disease frequently presented with headache, bone or joint and muscular pains, and rash. A significant percentage of DF patients develop a more severe form of disease, known as dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). DHF is the complication of DF. The main pathophysiology of DHF is the development of plasma leakage from the capillary, resulting in haemoconcentration, ascites, and pleural effusion that may lead to shock following defervescence of fever. Therefore, accurate prediction of the day of defervescence of fever is critical for clinician to decide on patient management strategy. To date, no known literature describes of any attempt to predict the day of defervescence of fever in DF patients. This paper describes a non-invasive prediction system for predicting the day of defervescence of fever in dengue patients using artificial neural network. The developed system bases its prediction solely on the clinical symptoms and signs and uses the multilayer feed-forward neural networks (MFNN). The results show that the proposed system is able to predict the day of defervescence in dengue patients with 90% prediction accuracy.     

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) Triggers Inflammatory Responses in Macrophages

We were the first to previously report that microcystin-LR (MC-LR) has limited effects within the colons of healthy mice but has toxic effects within colons of mice with pre-existing inflammatory bowel disease. In the current investigation, we aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which MC-LR exacerbates colitis and to identify effective therapeutic targets. Through our current investigation, we report that there is a significantly greater recruitment of macrophages into colonic tissue with pre-existing colitis in the presence of MC-LR than in the absence of MC-LR. This is seen quantitatively through IHC staining and the enumeration of F4/80-positive macrophages and through gene expression analysis for Cd68, Cd11b, and Cd163. Exposure of isolated macrophages to MC-LR was found to directly upregulate macrophage activation markers Tnf and Il1b. Through a high-throughput, unbiased kinase activity profiling strategy, MC-LR-induced phosphorylation events were compared with potential inhibitors, and doramapimod was found to effectively prevent MC-LR-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages.