Linear Algebra Methods for the Control of Multidimensional Systems

The purpose of the thesis is to develop a comprehensive theory of the geometric control for N-dimensional systems. Two possible representations and their structural invariance properties of 2-D systems will be considered and generalised to the N-dimensional case: the Fornasini-Marchesini first order model and Fornasini-Marchesini second order model. In addition, necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of solutions for the implicit 2-D Fornasini-Marchesini models will be provided, and generalised to the N-dimensional case

Generic Model for Mobile Tourists Guide System (GMMTGS)

Nowadays, information discovery becomes more relevant to peoples' lifestyle with the implementation of mobile technology. In different ways, people can gather information they need just about anywhere without having to be physically connected to the Internet. With the support of Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), the development of mobile application turns to be realistic and reliable as it follows the correct protocol. This study has developed and designed a generic mobile tourist system based on tourists' requirements. The study used the JSP language and MYSQL server for the system development. Furthermore, the proposed system was tested using use test case with five students. Finally, the proposed generic mobile tourists guide system aims to satisfy tourist needs

Fiberoptic bronchoscopic cryo-ablation of central bronchial lung cancer

AbstractBackgroundRadiotherapy and chemotherapy are the standard palliative treatments in patients with inoperable carcinoma of the lung present with obstruction of the central airway but have limited effectiveness in reopening obstructed airways. Cryosurgery is one of the several techniques that can be used to reopen an obstructed tracheobronchial lumen.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate safety and clinical efficacy of flexible cryoprobe as an important option to treat the patients with inoperable obstructive central bronchial lung tumors.Patients and methodsThis study was conducted on 38 patients with central endobronchial malignant tumor. A flexible cryoprobe was used during flexible bronchoscopy. The endobronchial tumors and symptoms were assessed 2 and 6weeks after cryotherapy.ResultsAfter 6weeks, the endobronchial lesions were completely removed in 32/38 patients (∼85%), partly removed in 4/38 patients (∼10%), and could not be removed in 2/38 patients (∼5%), with a symptomatic improvement in dyspnea, cough and hemoptysis 78%, 63.0%, 85% after 2weeks and up to 89%, 84.0%, 100% after 6weeks respectively.ConclusionCryotherapy using fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a safe with a high efficacy technique in treating endobronchial malignant obstructive lesions

Function, Ecology and Evolution of Seed Size in Hakea (Proteaceae)

This study investigated function, ecology and evolution of variation in seed size in Hakea (Proteaceae). I first revealed that the evolution of seed size is phylogenetically constrained. Using a series of glasshouse experiments, I further demonstrated that small-seeded Hakea species gain fitness advantage in environment with dry summer through rapid germination, early seedling emergence, and early true leaves emergence; small-seeded Hakea species are also better to tolerate herbivore predation than large-seeded congeners

On a coupled system of functional integral equations of Urysohn type

In this paper we shall study some existence theorems of solutions for a coupled system of functional integral equations of Urysohn type

On the Energy Efficiency of MapReduce Shuffling Operations in Data Centers

This paper aims to quantitatively measure the impact of different data centers networking topologies on the performance and energy efficiency of shuffling operations in MapReduce. Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) models are utilized to optimize the shuffling in several data center topologies with electronic, hybrid, and all-optical switching while maximizing the throughput and reducing the power consumption. The results indicate that the networking topology has a significant impact on the performance of MapReduce. They also indicate that with comparable performance, optical-based data centers can achieve an average of 54% reduction in the energy consumption when compared to electronic switching data centers

Halotolerant streptomycetes isolated from soil at Taif region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) I: Purification, salt tolerance range, biological and molecular identification

This study focuses on isolation and purification of some halotolerant streptomycetes from soil and sea water of western region, KSA as a source of salt tolerance gene(s). A few numbers (32) of streptomycetes-like colonies (SLC) were isolated and purified from two regions. From Jeddah, a number of 22 out of the 32 SLC were obtained, distributed between the sea water 12 (54.55%) and sea sediment soil 6 (27.27%).From Taif-soil, only 10 SLC were isolated. Results show that 31 SLC were grown on 3.5% salt, while, in the presence of 7.0% salt, 2, 3, 18, and 4 showed abundant (+++), moderate (++), weak (+), and in doubt (±) growth, respectively. Only five SLC were not able to grow at 7% salt. At the level of 10.5% salt, the number of SLC was decreased up to 4 (2 (+++), 1 (++) and 1(+)). In either 14% or 21% salt, four isolates were varied in their ability in growth as moderate or weak growth was recorded. These isolates were considered as halotolerant as they were able to grow in either the presence or normal growth medium. The four isolates which tolerate 14% salt (isolates 4 and 6) and 21% salt (isolates 2 and 8) were completely identified. The streptomycete isolate 2 appeared to be related to Streptomyces cirratus. Comparing the cultural, morphological and physiological characteristics of Streptomyces isolate 4 and 6, they were very likely to be strains of S. rishiriensis and S. alboflavus, respectively. Streptomyces isolate 8 was identified as a strain of S. luteogriseus. The nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA gene was partially determined using the DNA template of the Streptomyces isolate 8. Results show that a final sequence of about 1462 nts was obtained and compared with eight universal Streptomyces and bacterial strains. This isolate could be classified as a new species of gray Streptomyces, and it was suggested to be named a new halotolerant Streptomyces sp. TSA-KSA strain (GenBank AB731746).Keywords: Streptomyces, halotolerant, identification, 16S rRNA, Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(19), pp. 2565-257

Halotolerant streptomycetes isolated from soil at Taif region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia II: RAPD-PCR analysis and salt tolerance-gene isolation

The genus Streptomyces is represented in nature by the largest number of species and varieties among the family Streptomycetaceae. This study aimed at extracting the DNA of four halotolerant Streptomyces strains followed by determination of DNA fingerprinting of them using a molecular tool. A trail to isolate salt tolerance gene(s) from their DNA was also aimed. RAPD-PCR technique was applied using seven RAPD-PCR primers. Results show that a total 71 fragments (65 polymorphic and six monomorphic) were amplified from the DNA of the four identified Streptomyces strains. The fragments were divided into polymorphic and monomorphic fragments. Three primers named OPA11, OPB15 and OPC07 did not show any monomorphic fragments. A number of 43 (7, 7, 8, 2, 9, 6 and 4) representing 60.56% were considered as unique DNA markers, and were amplified using OPA11, OPB15, OPC07, OPC18, OPD04, OPE05 and OPO14, respectively. Data shows similarity matrix between the four identified Streptomycs strains based on RAPD-PCR analysis ranged from 21.8 to 40.0. Results show that the P5CR gene was detected in the DNA extracts of three species, namely, Streptomyces cirratus-02; Streptomyces rishiriensis-04; Streptomyces luteogriseus-08, while, mtlD gene was only found in the DNA extracts of S. cirratus-02.Keywords: Streptomyces, halotolerant, salt tolerance genes, RAPD-PCR, Taif, KSAAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(13), pp. 1452-145

Molecular studies on some soil-Streptomyces strains of western region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)

Random amplified polymorphic of DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) analysis of the DNA extracted from seven Streptomyces strains of western region, KSA was the aim of this study. Partial sequence of 16S rRNA gene of Streptomyces polychromogenes was also attempted. Results show that a total number of 240 amplified fragments were amplified using 10 RAPD-PCR primers (OPA11, OPB10, OPB15, OPC03, OPC07, OPC18, OPD05, OPE05, OPO14 and OPO17). A total number of 97, 73, 88, 79, 100, 108 and 82 fragments were amplified from the DNA extracts of S. polychromogenes, Streptomyces chattanoogensis, Streptomyces lucensis, Streptomyces antibioticus, Streptomyces violans, Streptomyces griseorubiginosus and Streptomyces violaceus, respectively. An obvious variation in the amplified fragments was recorded using the 10 RAPD-PCR primers (31, 27, 17, 19, 23, 29, 24, 26, 23 and 21 fragments for the primers, respectively). The highest similarity (66.7%) was found between S. lucensis and S. chattanoogensis; lowest similarity (35%) was recorded between the gray S. chattanoogensis and the red S. violaceus. The 16S rRNA gene was isolated via PCR from the DNA of S. polychromogenes (1) and sequenced. Fragments of 1003 and 837 nts were amplified using the forward and reverse primers, respectively. On matching, a final sequence of about 1452 nts (GenBank: JQ962978.1) was obtained and compared with five universal Streptomyces strains and four bacterial clones. The percent identities between the isolate of this study and the compared bacterial strains was lowest (79.1%) compared to HQ844464.1 and highest (98.3%) compared to EU520331.1. Based on the phenotypic and genotypic (16S rRNA gene) features, the strain could be classified as a new strain of S. polychromogenes.Keywords: Identification, Streptomyces, RAPD-PCR, 16S rRNA gene, KSAAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(19), pp. 2558-256