Abstract: This study presents a hybrid metaheuristic algorithm
to obtain optimum designs for steel space buildings. The optimum
design problem of three-dimensional steel frames is mathematically
formulated according to provisions of LRFD-AISC (Load and
Resistance factor design of American Institute of Steel Construction).
Design constraints such as the strength requirements of structural
members, the displacement limitations, the inter-story drift and the
other structural constraints are derived from LRFD-AISC
specification. In this study, a hybrid algorithm by using teachinglearning
based optimization (TLBO) and harmony search (HS)
algorithms is employed to solve the stated optimum design problem.
These algorithms are two of the recent additions to metaheuristic
techniques of numerical optimization and have been an efficient tool
for solving discrete programming problems. Using these two
algorithms in collaboration creates a more powerful tool and
mitigates each other’s weaknesses. To demonstrate the powerful
performance of presented hybrid algorithm, the optimum design of a
large scale steel building is presented and the results are compared to
the previously obtained results available in the literature.
Abstract: This study was to explore and utilize the fresh rind of
mangosteen Index Colour 5 as an upcoming raw material for the
production of natural dyes. Rind from the fresh mangosteen Index
Colour 5 was utilized to extract the dyes. The established extracts
were experimented on silk fabrics via three types of mordanting and
dyeing procedures; pre-mordanting, simultaneous mordanting and
post-mordanting. As a result, the applications of the freeze-drying
methodology and mechanizable equipment have helped to produce
excellent range of natural colours. Silk fabric treated simultaneously
with mordanting and dyeing with extract dye Index Colour 5
produced a brilliant shade of the red colour and the colour from this
index is also discovered sensitive to light and washing during the
fastness tests. The preliminary evaluation and instrumentation
analysis allowed us to examine whether the application of different
mordanting and dyeing procedures with the same extract samples and
concentrations affected the colours and shades of the fabric samples.
Abstract: Regions with extreme climate conditions such as
Astana city require energy saving measures to increase energy
performance of buildings which are responsible for more than 40% of
total energy consumption. Identification of optimal building
geometry is one of key factors to be considered. Architectural form of
a building has impact on space heating and cooling energy use,
however the interrelationship between the geometry and resultant
energy use is not always readily apparent. This paper presents a
comparative case study of two prototypical buildings with compact
building shape to assess its impact on energy performance.
Abstract: Main purpose of this study is to identify the impact of
government expenditure on economic growth in Asian Countries.
Consequently, main objective is to analyze whether government
expenditure causes economic growth in Asian countries vice versa
and then scrutinizing long-run equilibrium relationship exists
between them. The study completely based on secondary data. The
methodology being quantitative that includes econometrical
techniques of cointegration, panel fixed effects model and granger
causality in the context of panel data of Asian countries; Singapore,
Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, China, Sri Lanka, India and
Bhutan with 44 observations in each country, totaling to 396
observations from 1970 to 2013. The model used is the random
effects panel OLS model. As with the above methodology, the study
found the fascinating outcome. At first, empirical findings exhibit a
momentous positive impact of government expenditure on Gross
Domestic Production in Asian region. Secondly, government
expenditure and economic growth indicate a long-run relationship in
Asian countries. In conclusion, there is a unidirectional causality
from economic growth to government expenditure and government
expenditure to economic growth in Asian countries. Hence the study
is validated that it is in line with the Keynesian theory and Wagner’s
law as well. Consequently, it can be concluded that role of
government would play a vital role in economic growth of Asian
Countries. However; if government expenditure did not figure out
with the economy’s needs it might be considerably inspiration the
economy in a negative way so that society bears the costs.
Abstract: In this paper, we study the optical nonlinearities of
Silver sulfide (Ag2S) nanostructures dispersed in the Dimethyl
sulfoxide (DMSO) under exposure to 532 nm, 15 nanosecond (ns)
pulsed laser irradiation. Ultraviolet–visible absorption spectrometry
(UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron
microscopy (TEM) are used to characterize the obtained nanocrystal
samples. The band gap energy of colloid is determined by analyzing
the UV–Vis absorption spectra of the Ag2S NPs using the band
theory of semiconductors. Z-scan technique is used to characterize
the optical nonlinear properties of the Ag2S nanoparticles (NPs).
Large enhancement of two photon absorption effect is observed with
increase in concentration of the Ag2S nanoparticles using open Zscan
measurements in the ns laser regime. The values of the nonlinear
absorption coefficients are determined based on the local nonlinear
responses including two photon absorption. The observed aperture
dependence of the Ag2S NP limiting performance indicates that the
nonlinear scattering plays an important role in the limiting action of
the sample. The concentration dependence of the optical liming is
also investigated. Our results demonstrate that the optical limiting
threshold decreases with increasing the silver sulfide NPs in DMSO.
Abstract: In many countries, governments have been promoting the involvement of private sector entities to enter into long-term agreements for the development and delivery of large infrastructure projects, with a focus on overcoming the limitations upon public fund of the traditional approach. The involvement of private sector through public private partnerships (PPP) brings in new capital investments, value for money and additional risks to handle. Worldwide research studies have shown that an objective, systematic, reliable and useroriented risk assessment process and an optimal allocation mechanism among different stakeholders is crucial to the successful completion. In this framework, this paper, which is the first stage of a research study, aims to identify the main risks for the delivery of PPP projects. A review of cross-countries research projects and case studies was performed to map the key risks affecting PPP infrastructure delivery. The matrix of mapping offers a summary of the frequency of factors, clustered in eleven categories: construction, design, economic, legal, market, natural, operation, political, project finance, project selection and relationship. Results will highlight the most critical risk factors, and will hopefully assist the project managers in directing the managerial attention in the further stages of risk allocation.
Abstract: Water resource systems modeling has constantly been
a challenge through history for human beings. As the innovative
methodological development is evolving alongside computer sciences
on one hand, researches are likely to confront more complex and
larger water resources systems due to new challenges regarding
increased water demands, climate change and human interventions,
socio-economic concerns, and environment protection and
sustainability. In this research, an automatic calibration scheme has
been applied on the Gilan’s large-scale water resource model using
mathematical programming. The water resource model’s calibration
is developed in order to attune unknown water return flows from
demand sites in the complex Sefidroud irrigation network and other
related areas. The calibration procedure is validated by comparing
several gauged river outflows from the system in the past with model
results. The calibration results are pleasantly reasonable presenting a
rational insight of the system. Subsequently, the unknown optimized
parameters were used in a basin-scale linear optimization model with
the ability to evaluate the system’s performance against a reduced
inflow scenario in future. Results showed an acceptable match
between predicted and observed outflows from the system at selected
hydrometric stations. Moreover, an efficient operating policy was
determined for Sefidroud dam leading to a minimum water shortage
in the reduced inflow scenario.
Abstract: Groundwater is vital to the livelihoods and health of the majority of the people, since it provides almost the entire water resource for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses. Groundwater quality comprises the physical, chemical and bacteriological qualities. The present investigation was carried out to determine the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of the ground water sources in the residential areas of Karakulam Grama Panchayath in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala state in India. Karakulam is located in the eastern suburbs of Thiruvananthapuram city. The major drinking water source of the residents in the study area is wells. The present study aims to assess the portability and irrigational suitability of groundwater in the study area. The water samples were collected from randomly selected dug wells and bore wells in the study area during post monsoon and pre monsoon seasons of the year 2014 after a preliminary field survey. The physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters of the water samples were analyzed following standard procedures. The concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Pb and Mn) in the acid digested water samples were determined by using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results showed that the pH of well water samples ranged from acidic to alkaline level. In majority of well water samples (>54 %) the iron and magnesium content were found high in both the seasons studied, and the values were above the permissible limits of WHO drinking water quality standards. Bacteriological analyses showed that 63% of the wells were contaminated with total coliforms in both the seasons studied. Irrigational suitability of groundwater was assessed by determining the chemical indices like Sodium Percentage (%Na), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), Permeability Index (PI), and the results indicate that the well water in the study area are good for irrigation purposes. Therefore, the study reveals the degradation of drinking water quality groundwater sources in Karakulam Grama Panchayath in Thiruvananthapuram District, Keralain terms of its chemical and bacteriological characteristics, and is not potable without proper treatment. In the study, more than 1/3rdof the well water samples tested were positive for total coliforms, and the bacterial contamination may pose threat to public health. The study recommends the need for periodic well water quality monitoring in the study area and to conduct awareness programs among the residents.
Abstract: In this paper we studied sono catalytic oxidative desulfurization of oil and diesel fraction from “Zhanazhol” oil deposits. We have established that the combined effect of the ultrasonic field and oxidant (ozone-air mixture) in the presence of the catalyst on the oil is potentially very effective method of desulfurization of oil and oil products. This method allows increasing the degree of desulfurization of oil by 62%.
Abstract: Unsatisfactory experiences due to an information shortage regarding the future pay-offs of actual choices, yield satisficing decision-making. This research will examine, for the first time in the literature, the motivation behind suboptimal decisions due to uncertainty by subjecting Adam Smith’s and Jeremy Bentham’s assumptions about the nature of the actions that lead to satisficing behavior, in order to clarify the theoretical background of a “consumption-based satisfactory time” concept. The contribution of this paper with respect to the existing literature is threefold: firstly, it is showed in this paper that Adam Smith’s uncertainty is related to the problem of the constancy of ideas and not related directly to beliefs. Secondly, possessions, as in Jeremy Bentham’s oeuvre, are assumed to be just as pleasing, as protecting and improving the actual or expected quality of life, so long as they reduce any displeasure due to the undesired outcomes of uncertainty. Finally, each consumption decision incurs its own satisfactory time period, owed to not feeling hungry, being healthy, not having transportation…etc. This reveals that the level of satisfaction is indeed a behavioral phenomenon where its value would depend on the simultaneous satisfaction derived from all activities.
Abstract: The influence of cultivation factors such as content of ammonium sulfate, glucose and water in the culture medium and particle size of dry orange waste, on their bioconversion for pectinase production was studied using complete factorial design. A polygalacturonase (PG) was isolated using ion exchange chromatography under gradient elution 0-0,5 m/l NaCl (column equilibrate with acetate buffer pH 4,5), subsequently by sephadex G75 column chromatography was applied and the molecular weight was obtained about 51,28 KDa. Purified PG enzyme exhibits a pH and temperature optima of activity at 5 and 35°C respectively. Treatment of apple juice by purified enzyme extract yielded a clear juice, which was competitive with juice yielded by pure Sigma Aldrich Aspergillus niger enzyme.
Abstract: This study investigated the impact of inflectional and derivational morphemic analysis awareness on ESL secondary school students’ vocabulary learning strategy. The quasi-experimental study was conducted with 106 low proficiency secondary school students in two experimental groups (inflectional and derivational) and one control group. The students’ vocabulary acquisition was assessed through two measures: Morphemic Analysis Test and Vocabulary- Morphemic Test in the pretest and posttest before and after an intervention programme. Results of ANCOVA revealed that both the experimental groups achieved a significant score in Morphemic Analysis Test and Vocabulary-Morphemic Test. However, the inflectional group obtained a fairly higher score than the derivational group. Thus, the results indicated that ESL low proficiency secondary school students performed better on inflectional morphemic awareness as compared to derivatives. The results also showed that the awareness of inflectional morphology contributed more on the vocabulary acquisition. Importantly, learning inflectional morphology can help ESL low proficiency secondary school students to develop both morphemic awareness and vocabulary gain. Theoretically, these findings show that not all morphemes are equally useful to students for their language development. Practically, these findings indicate that morphological instruction should at least be included in remediation and instructional efforts with struggling learners across all grade levels, allowing them to focus on meaning within the word before they attempt the text in large for better comprehension. Also, by methodologically, by conducting individualized intervention and assessment this study provided fresh empirical evidence to support the existing literature on morphemic analysis awareness and vocabulary learning strategy. Thus, a major pedagogical implication of the study is that morphemic analysis awareness strategy is a definite boon for ESL secondary school students in learning English vocabulary.
Abstract: The importance of energy efficiency within the production processes increases steadily. For a comprehensive assessment of energy efficiency within the production process, unfortunately no tools exist or have been developed yet. Therefore the Institute for Factory Automation and Production Systems at the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg has developed two methods with the goal of achieving transparency and a quantitative assessment of energy efficiency namely EEV (Energy Efficiency Value) and EPE (Energetic Process Efficiency). This paper describes the basics and state-of-the-art as well as the developed approaches.
Abstract: A multilayer passive shield composed of low-activity
lead (Pb), copper (Cu), tin (Sn) and iron (Fe) was designed and
manufactured for a coaxial HPGe detector placed at a surface
laboratory for reducing background radiation and radiation dose to
the personnel. The performance of the shield was evaluated and
efficiency curves of the detector were plotted by using of various
standard sources in different distances. Monte Carlo simulations and
a set of TLD chips were used for dose estimation in two distances of
20 and 40 cm. The results show that the shield reduced background
spectrum and the personnel dose more than 95%.
Abstract: The web services applications for digital reference
service (WSDRS) of LIS model is an informal model that claims to
reduce the problems of digital reference services in libraries. It uses
web services technology to provide efficient way of satisfying users’
needs in the reference section of libraries. The formal WSDRS model
consists of the Z specifications of all the informal specifications of
the model. This paper discusses the formal validation of the Z
specifications of WSDRS model. The authors formally verify and
thus validate the properties of the model using Z/EVES theorem
prover.
Abstract: As per the statistical data, the Doubly-fed Induction
Generator (DFIG) based wind turbine with variable speed and
variable pitch control is the most common wind turbine in the
growing wind market. This machine is usually used on the grid
connected wind energy conversion system to satisfy grid code
requirements such as grid stability, Fault Ride Through (FRT), power
quality improvement, grid synchronization and power control etc.
Though the requirements are not fulfilled directly by the machine, the
control strategy is used in both the stator as well as rotor side along
with power electronic converters to fulfil the requirements stated
above. To satisfy the grid code requirements of wind turbine, usually
grid side converter is playing a major role. So in order to improve the
operation capacity of wind turbine under critical situation, the
intensive study of both machine side converter control and grid side
converter control is necessary In this paper DFIG is modeled using
power components as variables and the performance of the DFIG
system is analysed under grid voltage fluctuations. The voltage
fluctuations are made by lowering and raising the voltage values in
the utility grid intentionally for the purpose of simulation keeping in
view of different grid disturbances.
Abstract: It is an indispensible strategy to adopt greenery
approach on architectural bases so as to improve ecological habitats,
decrease heat-island effect, purify air quality, and relieve surface
runoff as well as noise pollution, all of which are done in an attempt to
achieve sustainable environment. How we can do with plant design to
attain the best visual quality and ideal carbon dioxide fixation depends
on whether or not we can appropriately make use of greenery
according to the nature of architectural bases. To achieve the goal, it is
a need that architects and landscape architects should be provided with
sufficient local references. Current greenery studies focus mainly on
the heat-island effect of urban with large scale. Most of the architects
still rely on people with years of expertise regarding the adoption and
disposition of plantation in connection with microclimate scale.
Therefore, environmental design, which integrates science and
aesthetics, requires fundamental research on landscape environment
technology divided from building environment technology. By doing
so, we can create mutual benefits between green building and the
environment. This issue is extremely important for the greening design
of the bases of green buildings in cities and various open spaces. The
purpose of this study is to establish plant selection and allocation
strategies under different building sunshade levels. Initially, with the
shading of sunshine on the greening bases as the starting point, the
effects of the shades produced by different building types on the
greening strategies were analyzed. Then, by measuring the PAR
(photosynthetic active radiation), the relative DLI (daily light integral)
was calculated, while the DLI Map was established in order to
evaluate the effects of the building shading on the established
environmental greening, thereby serving as a reference for plant
selection and allocation. The discussion results were to be applied in
the evaluation of environment greening of greening buildings and
establish the “right plant, right place” design strategy of multi-level
ecological greening for application in urban design and landscape
design development, as well as the greening criteria to feedback to the
eco-city greening buildings.
Abstract: As a by-product of the biodiesel industries, glycerol
has been vastly generated which surpasses the market demand. It is
imperative to develop an efficient glycerol valorization processes in
minimizing the net energy requirement and intensifying the biodiesel
production. In this study, base-catalyzed transesterification of
glycerol with dimethyl carbonate using microwave irradiation as
heating method to produce glycerol carbonate was conducted by
varying grades of glycerol, i.e. 70%, 86% and 99% purity, that is
obtained from biodiesel plant. Metal oxide catalysts were used with
varying operating parameters including reaction time, DMC/glycerol
molar ratio, catalyst weight %, temperature and stirring speed. From
the study on the effect of different operating parameters it was found
that the type of catalyst used has the most significant effect on the
transesterification reaction. Amidst the metal oxide catalysts
examined, CaO gave the best performance. This study indicates the
feasibility of producing glycerol carbonate using different grade of
glycerol in both conventional thermal activation and microwave
irradiation with CaO as catalyst. Microwave assisted
transesterification (MAT) of glycerol into glycerol carbonate has
demonstrated itself as an energy efficient route by achieving 94.2%
yield of GC at 65°C, 5 minutes reaction time, 1 wt% CaO and
DMC/glycerol molar ratio of 2. The advantages of MAT
transesterification route has made the direct utilization of bioglycerol
from biodiesel production without the need of purification. This has
marked a more economical and less-energy intensive glycerol
carbonate synthesis route.
Abstract: Nowadays, energy dissipation devices are commonly
used in structures. High rate of energy absorption during earthquakes
is the benefit of using such devices, which results in damage
reduction of structural elements, specifically columns. The hysteretic
damping capacity of energy dissipation devices is the key point that it
may adversely make analysis and design process complicated. This
effect may be generally represented by Equivalent Viscous Damping
(EVD). The equivalent viscous damping might be obtained from the
expected hysteretic behavior regarding to the design or maximum
considered displacement of a structure. In this paper, the hysteretic
damping coefficient of a steel Moment Resisting Frame (MRF),
which its performance is enhanced by a Buckling Restrained Brace
(BRB) system has been evaluated. Having foresight of damping
fraction between BRB and MRF is inevitable for seismic design
procedures like Direct Displacement-Based Design (DDBD) method.
This paper presents an approach to calculate the damping fraction for
such systems by carrying out the dynamic nonlinear time history
analysis (NTHA) under harmonic loading, which is tuned to the
natural system frequency. Two MRF structures, one equipped with
BRB and the other without BRB are simultaneously studied.
Extensive analysis shows that proportion of each system damping
fraction may be calculated by its shear story portion. In this way,
contribution of each BRB in the floors and their general contribution
in the structural performance may be clearly recognized, in advance.
Abstract: In recent decades, probabilistic constrained optimal
control problems have attracted much attention in many research
fields. Although probabilistic constraints are generally intractable
in an optimization problem, several tractable methods haven been
proposed to handle probabilistic constraints. In most methods,
probabilistic constraints are reduced to deterministic constraints
that are tractable in an optimization problem. However, there is a
gap between the transformed deterministic constraints in case of
known and unknown probability distribution. This paper examines
the conservativeness of probabilistic constrained optimization method
for unknown probability distribution. The objective of this paper is
to provide a quantitative assessment of the conservatism for tractable
constraints in probabilistic constrained optimization with unknown
probability distribution.