Performance Analysis of Multi-Antenna Relay Networks over Nakagami-m Fading Channel

In this chapter, the authors present the performance of multi-antenna selective combining decode-and- forward (SC-DF) relay networks over independent and identically distributed (i.i.d) Nakagami-m fading channels. The outage probability, moment generation function, symbol error probability and average channel capacity are derived in closed-form using the Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR) statistical character- istics. After that, the authors formulate the outage probability problem, optimize it with an approximated problem, and then solve it analytically. Finally, for comparison with analytical formulas, the authors perform some Monte-Carlo simulations

Assessment The Agricultural Student's Attitudes Towards Organic Farming (Case of Iran)

A surveying research was conducted to study and recognize the knowledge and attitude of students toward organic farming at three universities of Iran in 2010. Our consumption patterns and environmental behaviors are rooted in long lived practices and habits. Social norms and values are among the factors that determine what we buy or what we think about organic products. As they are largely unconscious it is difficult to change them. Students are the agriculturist of tomorrow; therefore policies aimed at developing organic farming should address the needs of this group. To discover agriculturist's knowledge organic farming, a survey among 100 agricultural students was conducted. Questionnaire was used to examine students’ knowledge regarding organic farming. Finding is shown that agriculturist's awareness towards organic farming are low, especially in Pests management and Organic product standards aspect. The result of factor analysis showed that nine factors named as concepts, Nutrient safety and security, Organic farming economic, Organic farming extension, Social issue, fertility, Pests management, Environment safety, Organic product standard explained 73.71% of total variance that the first factor accounts for 11.98% of the variance, the second 10.954%, the third 9.191%, the fourth 8.505%, the fifth 8.426%, the sixth 7.536%, the seventh 7.015%, the eighth 5.746% and the ninth 4.364%. In conclusion, to enhance student knowledge about organic farming, it is important that curriculum develops for familiar student with organic farming practices and concepts such as: ecological equilibrium, agro ecosystem sustainability, new technology and indigenous knowledge, nutrition value, human safety, favorite yield production, soil structure improvement, erosion reduces and etc

An Effective Multi-Population Based Hybrid Genetic Algorithm for Job Shop Scheduling Problem

The job shop scheduling problem is a well known practical planning problem in the manufacturing sector. We have considered the JSSP with an objective of minimizing makespan. In this paper, a multi-population based hybrid genetic algorithm is developed for solving the JSSP. The population is divided in several groups at first and the hybrid algorithm is applied to the disjoint groups. Then the migration operator is used. The proposed approach, MP-HGA, have been compared with other algorithms for job-shop scheduling and evaluated with satisfactory results on a set of JSSPs derived from classical job-shop scheduling benchmarks. We have solved 15 benchmark problems and compared results obtained with a number of algorithms established in the literature. The experimental results show that MP-HGA could gain the best known makespan in 13 out of 15 problems

The atomic structure and chemistry of Fe-rich steps on antiphase boundaries in Ti-doped Bi_0.9Nd_0.15FeO3

Stepped antiphase boundaries are frequently observed in Ti-doped Bi<sub>0.85</sub>Nd<sub>0.15</sub>FeO<sub>3</sub>, related to the novel planar antiphase boundaries reported recently. The atomic structure and chemistry of these steps are determined by a combination of high angle annular dark field and bright field scanning transmission electron microscopy imaging, together with electron energy loss spectroscopy. The core of these steps is found to consist of 4 edge-sharing FeO<sub>6</sub> octahedra. The structure is confirmed by image simulations using a frozen phonon multislice approach. The steps are also found to be negatively charged and, like the planar boundaries studied previously, result in polarisation of the surrounding perovskite matrix

Evaluation of the spray generated by a greenhouse spraying robot

 In this study, characterization of an automatic greenhouse spraying system containing a full cone spray nozzle is presented.  Spray flow rate of the nozzle as a function of incoming pressure to the nozzle, together with distribution of mean drop size, two components of drop velocity and uniformity of the generated spray are given in this study.  Based on the results obtained, mean droplet size at the centreline of the spray is much smaller than dose in the outer side of the full cone spray.  Uniformity of the generated spray by a given nozzle should be examined before application, especially if the nozzle is not new.  The average generated drop size by the examined nozzle is less than 60 μm which is suitable for the insecticide or fungicide applications.   Keywords: spray, nozzle, full-cone nozzle, insecticide, uniformit

Research Paper Silicon alleviates salt stress, decreases malondialdehyde content and affects petal color of saltstressed cut rose (Rosa xhybrida L.) ‘Hot Lady’

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of silicon (Si) application on cut rose (Rosa xhybrida L.) ‘Hot Lady’ under two levels of salt stress. Four Si concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 150 ppm) as Si were combined with a 25 mM NaCl (EC 3.8) level in the nutrient solution supplied to the plants. Addition of Si partially maintained membrane permeability but only fully restored it to control levels in the Si50 and Si100 treatments. 150 ppm Si with or without NaCl could not alleviate or decrease cell wall damages. Inclusion of Si significantly reduced malondialdehyde content and chlorophyll content of salt-stressed plants in all treatments except that of 150 ppm. Maximum chlorophyll content was noticed when 50 ppm Si was supplied. Addition of 50 ppm Si increased the flower number in both plants grown under salinity and unstressed conditions. However,no significant difference was observed between 100 and 50 ppm Si accompanying with NaCl. Plants treated with NaCl alone showed a reduction in plant leaf area, while the reduction in plants treated withNaCl plus 50 and 100 ppm Si were like control and other unstressed plants

GASA-JOSH: a Hybrid Evolutionary-Annealing Approach for Job-Shop Scheduling Problem

The job-shop scheduling problem is well known for its complexity as an NP-hard problem. We have considered JSSPs with an objective of minimizing makespan. In this paper, we develope a hybrid approach for solving JSSPs called GASA-JOSH. In GASA-JOSH, the population is divided in non-cooperative groups. Each group must refer to a method pool and choose genetic algorithm or simulated annealing to solve the problem. The best result of each group is maintained in a solution set, and then the best solution to the whole population is chosen among the elements of the solution set and reported as outcome. The proposed approach have been compared with other algorithms for job-shop scheduling and evaluated with satisfactory results on a large set of JSSPs derived from classical job-shop scheduling benchmarks. We have solved 23 benchmark problems and compared results obtained with a number of algorithms established in the literature

A study on the ethical components of nursing practice (moral distress, ethical sensitivity, ethical decision)

This paper is an applied research in terms of objective and a descriptive research in terms of method. Having prepared the research plan, a questionnaire was designed based on goals and hypotheses of the research and was sent to the statistical universe. Also this paper is a field research in terms of data collection. As regards theoretical bases of the research, library data collection method has been applied. So, the required data has been gathered by referring to the related references, books, libraries and so on. To design a questionnaire and gather the opinions of the statistical universe members, field study method and researcher-made questionnaire have been used. The statistical universe comprises nurses and head of ICU and head nurses of Najmieh Hospital in Tehran. The respondents were selected by random sampling method. Also to estimate sample size, Morgan table was applied. The statistical universe consists of 65 members and according to the table, 56 questionnaires were determined for the research. So 60 questionnaires were sent and 58 ones were returned. Face and content validity of the research tool were approved by experts. The test reliability was estimated 0.777 by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient. In this paper, factor analysis based on partial least squares structural equations method has been applied to analyze more important factors and coefficients, estimate independent variables coefficients and even determine effectiveness of each independent variable on each other and determine appropriateness of the questions and their coefficients in explaining the related index. The main result of this paper presents a proper model for the relation of effective variables on nurse performance by using regression model. © IDOSI Publications, 2014

Time Series Imputation via L1 Norm-Based Singular Spectrum Analysis

Missing values in time series data is a well-known and important problem which many researchers have studied extensively in various fields. In this paper, a new nonparametric approach for missing value imputation in time series is proposed. The main novelty of this research is applying the L1 norm-based version of Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA), namely L1-SSA which is robust against outliers. The performance of the new imputation method has been compared with many other established methods. The comparison is done by applying them to various real and simulated time series. The obtained results confirm that the SSA-based methods, especially L1-SSA can provide better imputation in comparison to other methods

Factors affecting ethical behavior in pediatric occupational therapy: A qualitative study

Background: It is the responsibility of each occupational therapist to always act ethically and professionally in a clinical setting. However, there is little information available concerning the factors influencing ethical behavior of occupational therapists at work. Since no study has been conducted in Iran on this topic, this qualitative study aimed to identify the factors influencing ethical behavior of pediatric occupational therapists. Methods: Twelve pediatric occupational therapists participated in this study. The sampling was purposeful, and the interviews continued until reaching data saturation. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. The data were analyzed by qualitative content analysis, and the ethics of qualitative research was considered. Results: The factors influencing ethical behavior were classified into four main categories including organizational factors, therapist related factors, client's family issues, and social factors. Conclusion: This study identified numerous factors influencing the ethical behavior of pediatric occupational therapists that could be used to train occupational therapists, human resources managers, professional policy makers, and could also be used to conduct future researches, and produce tools