Abstract: Simulation of occlusal function during laboratory
material-s testing becomes essential in predicting long-term
performance before clinical usage. The aim of the study was to assess
the influence of chamfer preparation depth on failure risk of heat
pressed ceramic crowns with and without zirconia framework by
means of finite element analysis. 3D models of maxillary central
incisor, prepared for full ceramic crowns with different depths of the
chamfer margin (between 0.8 and 1.2 mm) and 6-degree tapered
walls together with the overlying crowns were generated using
literature data (Fig. 1, 2). The crowns were designed with and
without a zirconia framework with a thickness of 0.4 mm. For all
preparations and crowns, stresses in the pressed ceramic crown,
zirconia framework, pressed ceramic veneer, and dentin were
evaluated separately. The highest stresses were registered in the
dentin. The depth of the preparations had no significant influence on
the stress values of the teeth and pressed ceramics for the studied
cases, only for the zirconia framework. The zirconia framework
decreases the stress values in the veneer.
Abstract: Due to the call of global warming effects, city planners aim at actions for reducing carbon emission. One of the approaches is to promote the usage of public transportation system toward the transit-oriented-development. For example, rapid transit system in Taipei city and Kaohsiung city are opening. However, until November 2008 the average daily patronage counted only 113,774 passengers at Kaohsiung MRT systems, much less than which was expected. Now the crucial questions: how the public transport competes with private transport? And more importantly, what factors would enhance the use of public transport? To give the answers to those questions, our study first applied regression to analyze the factors attracting people to use public transport around cities in the world. It is shown in our study that the number of MRT stations, city population, cost of living, transit fare, density, gasoline price, and scooter being a major mode of transport are the major factors. Subsequently, our study identified successful and unsuccessful cities in regard of the public transport usage based on the diagnosis of regression residuals. Finally, by comparing transportation strategies adopted by those successful cities, our conclusion stated that Kaohsiung City could apply strategies such as increasing parking fees, reducing parking spaces in downtown area, and reducing transfer time by providing more bus services and public bikes to promote the usage of public transport.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to discuss a low-cost methodology that can predict traffic flow conflicts and quantitatively rank crash expectancies (based on relative probability) for various traffic facilities. This paper focuses on the application of statistical distributions to model traffic flow and Monte Carlo techniques to simulate traffic and discusses how to create a tool in order to predict the possibility of a traffic crash. A low-cost data collection methodology has been discussed for the heterogeneous traffic flow that exists and a GIS platform has been proposed to thematically represent traffic flow from simulations and the probability of a crash. Furthermore, discussions have been made to reflect the dynamism of the model in reference to its adaptability, adequacy, economy, and efficiency to ensure adoption.
Abstract: In hypersonic environments, the aerothermal effect
makes it difficult for the optical side windows of optical guided
missiles to withstand high heat. This produces cracking or breaking,
resulting in an inability to function. This study used computational
fluid mechanics to investigate the external cooling jet conditions of
optical side windows. The turbulent models k-ε and k-ω were
simulated. To be in better accord with actual aerothermal
environments, a thermal radiation model was added to examine
suitable amounts of external coolants and the optical window
problems of aero-thermodynamics. The simulation results indicate that
when there are no external cooling jets, because airflow on the optical
window and the tail groove produce vortices, the temperatures in these
two locations reach a peak of approximately 1600 K. When the
external cooling jets worked at 0.15 kg/s, the surface temperature of
the optical windows dropped to approximately 280 K. When adding
thermal radiation conditions, because heat flux dissipation was faster,
the surface temperature of the optical windows fell from 280 K to
approximately 260 K. The difference in influence of the different
turbulence models k-ε and k-ω on optical window surface temperature
was not significant.
Abstract: The question of interethnic and interreligious conflicts
in ex-Yugoslavia receives much attention within the framework of
the international context created after 1991 because of the impact of
these conflicts on the security and the stability of the region of
Balkans and of Europe.
This paper focuses on the rationales leading to the declaration of
independence by Kosovo according to ethnic and religious criteria
and analyzes why these same rationales were not applied in Bosnia
and Herzegovina. The approach undertaken aims at comparatively
examining the cases of Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the
same time, it aims at understanding the political decision making of
the international community in the case of Kosovo. Specifically, was
this a good political decision for the security and the stability of the
region of Balkans, of Europe, or even for global security and
stability?
This research starts with an overview on the European security
framework post 1991, paying particular attention to Kosovo and
Bosnia and Herzegovina. It then presents the theoretical and
methodological framework and compares the representative cases.
Using the constructivism issue and the comparative methodology, it
arrives at the results of the study. An important issue of the paper is
the thesis that this event modifies the principles of international law
and creates dangerous precedents for regional stability in the
Balkans.
Abstract: Expression and secretion of inflammation markers are
disturbed in obesity. Interleukin-6 reduces body fat mass. The
common G-174C polymorphism in the promoter of IL-6 gene has
been reported that effects on transcriptional regulation. The objective
was to investigate association of the common polymorphism G-174C
with obesity in Iranian population. The present study is cross
sectional association study that included 242 individuals (110 men
and 132 women). Serum IL-6 levels, C-reactive protein, fasting
blood glucose and blood lipids profile were measured .BMI and
WHR were calculated. Genotyping is carried out by PCR and RFLP.
The frequencies of G and C allele were 64.5% and 35.5%,
respectively. The G-174C polymorphism was not associated with
BMI and WHR. However in obese individual, fasting blood glucose
was significantly higher in carrier of C allele compared with the noncarrier.
The IL-6 G-174C polymorphism is not a risk factor for
obesity in Iranian population.
Abstract: This experiment discusses the effects of fracture
parameters such as depth, length, width, angle and the number of the
fracture to the conductance properties of laterite using the DUK-2B
digital electrical measurement system combined with the method of
simulating the fractures. The results of experiment show that the
changes of fracture parameters produce effects to the conductance
properties of laterite. There is a clear degressive period of the
conductivity of laterite during increasing the depth, length, width, or
the angle and the quantity of fracture gradually. When the depth of
fracture exceeds the half thickness of the soil body, the conductivity of
laterite shows evidently non-linear diminishing pattern and the
amplitude of decrease tends to increase. The length of fracture has
fewer effects than the depth to the conductivity. When the width of
fracture reaches some fixed values, the change of the conductivity is
less sensitive to the change of the width, and at this time, the
conductivity of laterite maintains at a stable level. When the angle of
fracture is less than 45°, the decrease of the conductivity is more
clearly as the angle increases. But when angle is more than 45°,
change of the conductivity is relatively gentle as the angle increases.
The increasing quantity of the fracture causes the other fracture
parameters having great impact on the change of conductivity. When
moisture content and temperature were unchanged, depth and angle of
fractures are the major factors affecting the conductivity of laterite
soil; quantity, length, and width are minor influencing factors. The
sensitivity of fracture parameters affect conductivity of laterite soil is:
depth >angles >quantity >length >width.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to examine factors related to system environment (namely, system quality and vendor support) that influences ERP implementation success in Iranian companies. Implementation success is identified using user satisfaction and organizational impact perspective. The study adopts the survey questionnaire approach to collect empirical data. The questionnaire was distributed to ERP users and a total of 384 responses were used for analysis. The results illustrated that both system quality and vendor support have significant effect on ERP implementation success. This implies that companies must ensure they source for the best available system and a vendor that is dependable, reliable and trustworthy.
Abstract: Twenty four New Zealand white rabbits (12 does and
12 bucks) and twenty four Flanders (12 does and 12 bucks) rabbits,
allotted into two feeding regime (6 for each breed, 3 males and 3
females) first one fed commercial ration and second one fed
commercial diet plus sodium butyrate (300 g/ton). The obtained
results showed that at end of 8th week experimental period New
Zealand white rabbits were heavier body weight than Flanders rabbits
(1934.55+39.05 vs. 1802.5+30.99 g); significantly high body weight
gain during experimental period especially during 8th week
(136.1+3.5 vs. 126.8+1.8 g/week); better feed conversion ratio during
all weeks of experiment from first week (3.07+0.16 vs. 3.12+0.10)
till the 8th week of experiment (5.54+0.16 vs. 5.76+0.07) with
significantly high dressing percentages (0.54+0.01 vs. 0.52+0.01).
Also all carcass cuts were significantly high in New Zealand white
rabbits than Flanders. Females rabbits (at the same age) were lower
body weight than males from start of experiment (941.1+39.8
vs.972.1+33.5 g) till the end of experiment (1833.64+37.69 vs.
1903.41+36.93 g); gained less during all weeks of experiment except
during 8th week (132.1+2.3 vs. 130.9+3.4 g/week), with lower
dressing percentage (0.52+0.01 vs. 0.53+0.01) and lighter carcass
cuts than males, however, they had better feed conversion ratio
during 1st week, 7th week and 8th week of experiment. Addition of
300g sodium butyrate/ton of rabbit increased the body weight of
rabbits at the end of experimental period (1882.71+26.45 vs.
1851.5+49.82 g); improve body weight gain at 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and
7th week of experiment and significantly improve feed conversion
ratio during all weeks of the experiment from 1st week (2.85+0.07
vs. 3.30+0.15) till the 8th week of the experiment (5.51+0.12 vs.
5.77+0.12). Also the dressing percentage was higher in Sodium
butyrate fed groups than control one (0.53+0.01 vs. 0.52+0.01) and
the most important results of feeding sodium butyrate is the reducing
of the mortality percentage in rabbits during 8 week experiment to
zero percentage as compared with 16% in control group.
Abstract: An IEC technique is described for a multi-objective
search of conceptual solutions. The survivability of solutions is
influenced by both model-based fitness and subjective human
preferences. The concepts- preferences are articulated via a hierarchy
of sub-concepts. The suggested method produces an objectivesubjective
front. Academic example is employed to demonstrate the
proposed approach.
Abstract: The literature has argued that firms based in industrial districts enjoy advantages for creating internal knowledge and absorbing external knowledge as a consequence of to the knowledge flows and spillovers that exist in the district. However, empirical evidence to show how belonging to an industrial district affects the business processes of creation and absorption of knowledge is scarce and, moreover, empirical research has not taken into account the influence of variations in the flows of knowledge circulating in each cluster. This study aims to extend empirical evidence on the effect that the stock of shared competencies in industrial districts has on the business processes of creation and absorption of knowledge, through data from an initial study on 952 firms and 35 industrial districts in Spain.
Abstract: The objective of this research was to study influence
parameters affecting to mechanical property of austenitic stainless
steel grade 304 (AISI 304) with Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW).
The research was applying factorial design experiment, which have
following interested parameters: welding current at 80, 90, and 100
Amps, welding speeds at 250, 300, and 350 mm/min, and shield gas
of 75% Ar + 25% CO2, 70% Ar + 25% CO2 + 5% O2 and 69.5% Ar +
25% CO2 + 5% O2 + 0.5% He gas. The study was done in following
aspects: ultimate tensile strength and elongation. A research study of
ultimate tensile strength found that main factor effect, which had the
highest strength to AISI 304 welding was shield gas of 70% Ar +
25% CO2 + 5% O2 at average of 954.81 N/mm2. Result of the highest
elongation was showed significantly different at interaction effect
between shield gas of 69.5%Ar+25%CO2+5%O2+.5%He and
welding speed at 250 mm/min at 47.94%.
Abstract: Many water supply systems in Australia are currently
undergoing significant reconfiguration due to reductions in long term
average rainfall and resulting low inflows to water supply reservoirs
since the second half of the 20th century. When water supply systems
undergo change, it is necessary to develop new operating rules,
which should consider climate, because the climate change is likely
to further reduce inflows. In addition, water resource systems are
increasingly intended to be operated to meet complex and multiple
objectives representing social, economic, environmental and
sustainability criteria. This is further complicated by conflicting
preferences on these objectives from diverse stakeholders. This paper
describes a methodology to develop optimum operating rules for
complex multi-reservoir systems undergoing significant change,
considering all of the above issues. The methodology is demonstrated
using the Grampians water supply system in northwest Victoria,
Australia. Initial work conducted on the project is also presented in
this paper.
Abstract: Rainfall records of rainfall station including the
rainfall potential per hour and rainfall mass of five heavy storms are
explored, respectively from 2001 to 2010. The rationalization formula
is to investigate the capability of flood peak duration of flood
detention pond in different rainfall conditions. The stable flood
detention model is also proposed by using system dynamic control
theory to get the message of flood detention pond in this research.
When rainfall frequency of one hour rainfall duration is more than
100-year frequency which exceeds the flood detention standard of
20-year frequency for the flood detention pond, the flood peak
duration of flood detention pond is 1.7 hours at most even though the
flood detention pond with maximum drainage potential about 15.0
m3/s of pumping system is constructed. If the rainfall peak current is
more than maximum drainage potential, the flood peak duration of
flood detention pond is about 1.9 hours at most. The flood detention
pond is the key factor of stable drainage control and flood prevention.
The critical factors of flood disaster is not only rainfall mass, but also
rainfall frequency of heavy storm in different rainfall duration and
flood detention frequency of flood detention system.
Abstract: With previous studies that examined the importance
of functional store image and CSR, this study is aimed at examining
their effects in the self-congruity model in influencing store loyalty.
In particular, this study developed and tested a structural model in the
context of retailing industry on the self-congruity theory. Whilst
much of the self-congruity studies have incorporated functional store
image, there has been lack of studies that examined social
responsibility image of retail stores in the self-congruity studies.
Findings indicate that self-congruity influence on store loyalty was
mediated by both functional store image and social responsibility
image. In influencing store loyalty, the findings have shown that
social responsibility image has a stronger influence on store loyalty
than functional store image. This study offers important findings and
implications for future research as it presents a new framework on
the importance of social responsibility image.
Abstract: Westudy a dual-channel supply chain under
decentralized setting in which manufacturer sells to retailer and to
customers directly usingan online channel. A customer chooses the
purchase-channel based on price and service quality. Also, to buy
product from the retail store, the customer incurs a transportation cost
influenced by the fluctuating gasoline cost. Both companies are under
the revenue sharing contract. In this contract the retailer share a
portion of the revenue to the manufacturer while the manufacturer
will charge the lower wholesales price. The numerical result shows
that the effects of gasoline costs, the revenue sharing ratio and the
wholesale price play an important role in determining optimal prices.
The result shows that when the gasoline price fluctuatesthe optimal
on-line priceis relatively stable while the optimal retail price moves
in the opposite direction of the gasoline prices.
Abstract: Stress-strain curve of inter-tube connected carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced polymer composite under axial loading generated from molecular dynamics simulation is presented. Comparison of the response to axial mechanical loading between this composite system with composite systems reinforced by long, continuous CNTs (replicated via periodic boundary conditions) and short, discontinuous CNTs has been made. Simulation results showed that the inter-tube connection improved the mechanical properties of short discontinuous CNTs dramatically. Though still weaker than long CNT/polymer composite, more remarkable increase in the stiffness relative to the polymer was observed in the inter-tube connected CNT/polymer composite than in the discontinuous CNT/polymer composite. The manually introduced bridge break process resulted in a stress-strain curve of ductile fracture mode, which is consistent with the experimental result.
Abstract: This paper presents a numerical approach for the static
and dynamic analysis of hydrodynamic radial journal bearings. In the
first part, the effect of shaft and housing deformability on pressure
distribution within oil film is investigated. An iterative algorithm that
couples Reynolds equation with a plane finite elements (FE)
structural model is solved. Viscosity-to-pressure dependency (Vogel-
Barus equation) is also included. The deformed lubrication gap and
the overall stress state are obtained. Numerical results are presented
with reference to a typical journal bearing configuration at two
different inlet oil temperatures. Obtained results show the great
influence of bearing components structural deformation on oil
pressure distribution, compared with results for ideally rigid
components. In the second part, a numerical approach based on
perturbation method is used to compute stiffness and damping
matrices, which characterize the journal bearing dynamic behavior.
Abstract: This paper investigates the relationship between state and business in the context of structural and institutional transformations in Indonesia following the collapse of the New Order regime in 1998. Since 1998, Indonesia has embarked on a shift from an authoritarian to democratic polity and from a centralised to a decentralised system of governance, transforming the country into the third largest democracy and one of the most decentralised states in the world. This paper examines whether the transformation of the Indonesian state has altered the pattern of state and business relations with focus on clientism and corruption as the key dependent variable, and probes how/to what extent this has changed as a result of the transformation and the ensuring shifts in business and state relations. Based on interviews with key government and business actors as well as prominent scholars in Indonesia, it is found that since the demise of the New Order, business associations in Indonesia have become more independent of state control and more influential in public decision-making whereas the government has become more responsive of business concerns and more committed to combat corruption and clientism. However, these changes have not necessarily rendered business people completely leave individualclientelistic relationship with the government, and simply pursue wider sectoral and business-wide collectivism as an alternative way of channelling their aspirations, which is expected to help reduce corruption and clientism in Indonesia. This paper concludes that democratisation and a more open politics may have helped reduce corruption and clientism in Indonesia through changes in government. However, it is still difficult to imply that such political transformation has fostered business collective action and a broader, more encompassing pattern of business lobbying and activism, which is expected to help reduce corruption and clientism.
Abstract: The minimal condition for symmetry breaking in morphogenesis of cellular population was investigated using cellular automata based on reaction-diffusion dynamics. In particular, the study looked for the possibility of the emergence of branching structures due to mechanical interactions. The model used two types of cells an external gradient. The results showed that the external gradient influenced movement of cell type-I, also revealed that clusters formed by cells type-II worked as barrier to movement of cells type-I.