Showing papers in "International Journal of Research in 2009"

Soil stabilization with flyash and rice husk ash.

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to upgrade expansive soil as a construction material using rice husk ash (RHA) and flyash, which are waste materials. Remolded expansive clay was blended with RHA and flyash and strength tests were conducted. The potential of RHA-flyash blend as a swell reduction layer between the footing of a foundation and subgrade was studied. In order to examine the importance of the study, a cost comparison was made for the preparation of the sub-base of a highway project with and without the admixture stabilizations. Stress strain behavior of unconfined compressive strength showed that failure stress and strains increased by 106% and 50% respectively when the flyash content was increased from 0 to 25%. When the RHA content was increased from 0 to 12%, Unconfined Compressive Stress increased by 97% while CBR improved by 47%. Therefore, an RHA content of 12% and a flyash content of 25% are recommended for strengthening the expansive subgrade soil. A flyash content of 15% is recommended for blending into RHA for forming a swell reduction layer because of its satisfactory performance in the laboratory tests.

Experimental use of participatory 3-dimensional models in island community-based disaster risk management

Abstract: This article documents an attempt to integrate Participatory 3-Dimensional Models (P3DM) into Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM). It particularly focuses on the islet of Divinubo, located off the island of Samar on the Pacific edge of the Philippine archipelago. The P3DM methodology proved to be useful for many reasons it facilitates the participation of the population; raises people's awareness of their territory; allows the 3-dimensional mapping of natural and other hazards, threatened assets, vulnerabilities and capacities; better enables CBDRM to be integrated into the larger development framework; proves very useful in marginalised areas like small islands; is cheap to set up and easy to reproduce; and may provide valuable data for scientists interested in disaster research. There are several issues that turned out to be instrumental in the successful implementation of such a methodology, since neither the scientists nor the sole NGO sector were able to achieve the best results with the community on their own but had to work together. The article also emphasises that it is critical to complete a long-term confidence-building stage before attempting to implement the project.

Reinventing policing through the prism of the colonial kiap

Abstract: Few institutions globalised more quickly to every nation on earth than the one Sir Robert Peel invented in 1829. The argument of this essay is that the transplantation involved has very often lacked contextual attunement to local conditions. Consequently, a great many nations have police that are promoters of tyranny, privilege and corruption rather than defenders of liberty. The particular argument of our contribution is that there has been excessive transplantation of urban policing models into societies where village life is more the norm. In this regard, we suggest there is something to learn from pre-Peelian police in the first world and colonial policing in the third world.

Policing Melanesia – international expectations and local realities

Abstract: Substantial Australian assistance has been directed at strengthening state policing structures in the Melanesian countries of the Southwest Pacific, namely Papua New Guinea (PNG), Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji. The scale and intensity of this assistance have increased in the post-9/11, 2001 period, as exemplified by the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands and the Enhanced Cooperation Program in PNG, both of which contain significant state policing components. However, the priority placed by international donors on reforming state police has not been matched by local demands for such reform. A key reason for this lies in the plurality of providers of policing and other justice services that exists in Melanesia. We argue that the Weberian ideal of the state monopolising security was never a smart idea in the Melanesian context and that police reform needs to engage creatively with the larger spectrum of policing and justice providers if it is to achieve real and lasting improve...

Modified adaptive center eighted median filter for uppressingimpulsive noise in images

Abstract: In this paper, a new switch median filter is presented for suppression of impulsive noise in image. The proposed filter is Modified Adaptive Center Weighted Median (MACWM) filter with an adjustable central weight obtained by partitioning the observation vector space. Dominant points of the proposed approach are partitioning of observation vector space using clustering method, training procedure using LMS algorithm then freezing weights in each block are applied to test image. The proposed method includes fuzzy clustering part for clustering the observed vector of each pixel into one of M mutually exclusive blocks. In the training phase, Least Mean Square (LMS) algorithm use to train center weight in each block then obtained weights used in testing phase. Final results shows better performance in the impulse noise reduction over standard images relative the median (MED) filter, the switching scheme I (SWM-I) filter, the signal dependent rank order mean (SD-ROM) filter, the tristate median (TSM) filter, the fast peer group filter (FPGF), the fuzzy median (FM) filter, the PFM filter and the adaptive center weighted median (ACWM) filter.

Insitutional and social responses to hazards related to Karthala volcano, Comoros: Part I: Analysis of the May 2006 eruptive crisis

Abstract: This paper aims at understanding the failure of the crisis management system during the 2006 eruption of Karthala volcano on Grande Comore Island. Since 2005, the eruptive activity of Karthala volcano had increased, with higher intensity and frequency. These changes should have led Grande Comore to be better prepared for confronting a volcanic threat. But the following analysis demonstrates that the country remained unprepared to face even a minor eruptive event. The weaknesses that led to poor crisis management are detailed and analysed and suggestions for improvement are made.

Environmental survey and quality control tests of X-ray diagnostic facility of a large Nigerian hospital.

Abstract: Environmental monitoring and quality control test of X-ray facilities of a large Nigerian hospital was carried out. The results show that the facilities for safety were grossly inadequate and the dose rates of 4.0μSv/hr and 5.0 μSv/hr were recorded at the reception and outside the entrance door respectively. The dose rates at the adjacent ultrasound scan room and waiting lobby are at least a factor of 40 higher than the background dose rate each, indicating higher health risk to the visitors and personnel at the hospital. However, recommendations on how to improve on the safety of the patient and personnel were sent to the management of the X-ray unit of the hospital. Nevertheless, follow-up study indicate improved facilities and safety measures.

Child, family and community characteristics associated with school readiness in Jordan

Abstract: The present study investigated demographic differences in school readiness within Jordan, a particularly interesting context because of wide-spread national reform currently sweeping the education system in Jordan. Teacher reports and researcher direct assessments of the school readiness of a national sample of 4,681 Jordanian first grade children were used to describe the levels of school readiness of children with respect to seven demographic characteristics. Higher levels of school readiness were associated with male gender, higher family income, higher paternal education, higher maternal education, smaller family size, fewer siblings, and urban residence. Taken together, the findings highlight the importance of Jordanian education reform, one aim of which is to improve the school readiness of all children by implementing public kindergartens, especially in poor, rural areas.

Institutional and social responses to hazards related to Karthala volcano, Comoros. Part II - Deep-seated root causes of Comorian vulnerabilities

Abstract: Although Karthala volcano in Grande Comore Island has erupted four times since 2005, the government and the local population still remain unprepared for a major eruptive crisis. The reasons for this lack of preparation lie in a deep tangle of political, socio-economic, cultural, and environmental factors. Consequently, the population accepts the volcanic threat in different ways and to different levels. The ways in which Comorians deal with this threat lead to important changes in their society (eg social links evolving, exposure to volcanic hazards in exchange for some improvements in daily life, and easier access to resources). On a national scale, deep structural adjustments are required in order to reduce vulnerability sustainably.

Police as international peacekeepers

Abstract: The proliferation of weak and failing states in recent years has been accompanied by a significant expansion of the role of police as peacekeepers. The cross-cultural delivery of traditional community policing services, in settings that are often less than stable, is a formidable task. This paper introduces a number of essays that discuss the challenges faced by police in a peacekeeping role.

Stochastic behaviour of sugar plant with 2-out-of-3:f boilers and pre-empitive resume repair.

Abstract: In this paper, the authors have studied stochastic behaviour of an industrial problem related to sugar plant. A sugar plant is complex system with various subsystems; viz., feeding system, cane cutters, crushing system, boilers and the mills. The system under consideration is Non-Markovian, supplementary variables have been used to convert this in Markovian. Mathematical model of considered system has been solved be using Laplace transform. Transition-state diagram has been shown in fig-1(b). Reliability, M.T.T.F and availability of the system have been computed. Ergodic behaviour and a particular case for the considered system have been obtained to improve practical utility of the model. A numerical illustration and its graphical representation have also been appended in the end to highlight important results of the study.

Evaluation of the serum total antioxidant status level in health workers exposed to low radiation doses in a large Nigerian hospital.

Abstract: Free radicals especially the reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the etiology of over hundred diseases. Antioxidants terminate the detrimental effect of free radicals by interacting with them. Radiation is one of the major exogenous sources of free radicals in man and it has been proved that ionizing radiation produces ROS in biological system capable of destroying biomolecules, namely DNA, lipid, proteins and carbohydrate The objective of this study is to measure the serum total antioxidant status (TAS) level in health workers in the Department of Radiology of a tertiary institution in Nigeria. A case controlled study of 49 subjects made up of 23 subjects working with X-ray machines and 26 unexposed individuals. The result shows that the mean serum TAS in exposed subjects (1.96mmol/L± 0.98) did not differ significantly when compared with that of the corresponding control group (2.42mmol/L±0.70).The serum TAS in workers exposed to chronic low radiation dose from x-ray machines and controls show no significant difference.

Islands and archaeological research in Western France

Abstract: The Brittany region corresponds to the largest peninsula of France, including hundreds of isles and small islands. Almost all of these islands contain remains of ancient human occupation dating from Prehistoric times and historical periods: megalithic monuments, Neolithic and Metal Ages settlements, Stone Age tool deposits, pre-Roman salt production workshops, early Christian hermitages and chapels, fish traps built at various periods, and so on. This paper aims to present a collaborative research project dedicated to island archaeological research in Western France. The geographical, cultural and historical background throws light on the genesis and development of the collaborative research carried out over the past two decades by the AMARAI Association 1 ; the objectives, methods, content and main results of the research projects are summarised, along with a short presentation of the plans and prospects that aim at opening up new perspectives on coastal and island archaeology in Western France.

Jersey and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon : the influence of geographical marginalities and cultural resurgences on economic development of islands borders

Abstract: Despite their obvious differences, comparing Jersey with Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon cases makes sense due to their both respective institutional status and location. Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, situated close from the Canadian island of Newfoundland, is fully included within French Republic but doesn't belong to European Union. So it has room for manoeuvre further ordinary abilities allotted to some part of metropolitan territory. Jersey, British Crown's dependency, lies 24 kilometres off the Cotentin Peninsula, part of the French region of Basse-Normandie. Out of United Kingdom, and by extension out of EU, it was able to develop a set of skilled activities, mainly in the financial sector. Each at their quite different level and temporality, these island-border territories are therefore institutional and geographical margins trending to develop dematerialised activities integrating extended spatial system. Besides this issue, the paper will also stress the other hand of the island's relational pattern which lead them to remember former and rather forgotten cultural links which has existed with their neighbourhood. These resurgence is noticed as well considering Jersey for which it seems like a counterbalance to the global drift movement their financial industry involves, as about Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, specially concerning the reactivation of links with Acadia.

Comparison of Hydrodynamic and Monte Carlo Simulation of Electron Transport in Submicrometre n+nn+ SiC Structure

Abstract: A hydrodynamic approach based on velocity and energy conservation equations is developed and used for the simultaneous evaluation of the electronic steady-state transport in an n+nn+ SiC structure. An original decomposition of velocity and energy profiles along the structure in terms of field, convective and diffusion contributions is presented. Monte Carlo simulation of electron transport in this device has also carried out. The anode voltage ranges from 10 to 50 V. The distributions of electron energies and electron velocities, and the profiles of the electron density, electric field and average electron velocity are computed. Based on these data, the excellent agreement of the hydrodynamic approach with Monte Carlo simulations is discussed.