Abstract: Massive rock avalanches formed some of the largest landslide deposits on Earth and they represent one of the major geohazards in high-relief mountains. This paper interprets a very large sedimentary fan (the Sernio fan, Valtellina, Northern Italy), located 20 Km SW from Val Pola Rock avalanche (1987), as the deposit of a partial collapse of a Deep Seated Gravitational Slope Deformation (DSGSD), afterwards eroded and buried by debris flows. The proposed emplacement sequence has been reconstructed based on geomorphological, structural and mechanical evidences. The Sernio fan is actually considered anomalous with reference to the very high ratio between the fan area (≈ 4.5km2) and the basin area (≈ 3km2). The morphology of the fan area is characterised by steep slopes (dip ≈ 20%) and the fan apex is extended for 1.8 km inside the small catchment basin. This sedimentary fan was originated by a landslide that interested a part of a large deep-seated gravitational slope deformation, involving a wide area of about 55 km². The main controlling factor is tectonic and it is related to the proximity to regional fault systems and the consequent occurrence of fault weak rocks (GSI locally lower than 10 with compressive stress lower than 20MPa). Moreover, the fan deposit shows sedimentary evidences of recent debris flow events. The best current explanation of the Sernio fan involves an initial failure of some hundreds of Mm3. The run-out was quite limited because of the morphology of Valtellina’s valley floor, and the deposit filled the main valley forming a landslide dam, as confirmed by the lacustrine deposits detected upstream the fan. Nowadays the debris flow events represent the main hazard in the study area.
Abstract: This paper introduces the concept and principle of data
cleaning, analyzes the types and causes of dirty data, and proposes
several key steps of typical cleaning process, puts forward a well
scalability and versatility data cleaning framework, in view of data
with attribute dependency relation, designs several of violation data
discovery algorithms by formal formula, which can obtain inconsistent
data to all target columns with condition attribute dependent no matter
data is structured (SQL) or unstructured (NoSql), and gives 6 data
cleaning methods based on these algorithms.
Abstract: Natural fibers are used in polymer composites to
improve mechanical properties to replace inorganic reinforcing
agents produced by non-renewable resources. The present study
investigates the tensile and flexural behaviors of palm fibers-high
density polyethylene (HDPE) composite as a function of volume
fraction. The surface of the fibers was treated by mercerization
treatments to improve the wetting behavior of the apolar HDPE. The
treatment characterization was obtained by scanning electron
microscopy, X-Ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. Results
evidences that a good adhesion interfacial between fibers-matrix
caused an increase strength and modulus flexural as well as tensile
strength in the modified fibers/HDPE composites when compared to
the pure HDPE and untreated fibers reinforced composites.
Abstract: Presented article outlines a rationale, why it is
necessary to develop competence about infrastructure risk in water
transport. Climate changes are evident and require special attention
and global monitoring. Current risk assessment methods for Inland
waterway transport just consider some dramatic events. We present a
new method for the assessment of risk and vulnerability of inland
waterway transport where river depth represents a crucial part. The
analysis of water level changes in the lower Danube was done for two
significant periods (1965-1979 and 1998-2012).
Abstract: Three purified diets were formulated using fish meal,
soya bean, wheat flour, palm oil, minerals and maltose. The
carbohydrate in the diets was increased from 5 to 15% by changing
the cellulose content to study the effect of dietary carbohydrate level
on the growth parameters of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. The
protein and the lipid contents were kept constant in all the diets. The
results showed that, weight gain, protein efficiency ratio, net protein
utilisation and hepatosomatic index of fish fed the diet containing
15% cellulose were the lowest among all groups. Addition, the fish
fed the diet containing 5% cellulose had the best specific growth rate,
and food conversion ratio. While, there was no effect of the dietary
cellulose levels on condition factor and survival rate. These results
indicate that Nile tilapia fingerlings are able to utilize dietary
cellulose does not exceed 10% in their feed for optimum growth.
Abstract: Analyzing the relation networks between the hospital
buildings which have complex structure and distinctive spatial
relationships is quite difficult. The hospital buildings which require
specialty in spatial relationship solutions during design and selfinnovation
through the developing technology should survive and
keep giving service even after the disasters such as earthquakes. In
this study, a hospital building where the load-bearing system was
strengthened because of the insufficient earthquake performance and
the construction of an additional building was required to meet the
increasing need for space was discussed and a comparative spatial
evaluation of the hospital building was made with regard to its status
before the change and after the change. For this reason, spatial
organizations of the building before change and after the change were
analyzed by means of Space Syntax method and the effects of the
change on space organization parameters were searched by applying
an analytical procedure. Using Depthmap UCL software,
Connectivity, Visual Mean Depth, Beta and Visual Integration
analyses were conducted. Based on the data obtained after the
analyses, it was seen that the relationships between spaces of the
building increased after the change and the building has become more
explicit and understandable for the occupants. Furthermore, it was
determined according to findings of the analysis that the increase in
depth causes difficulty in perceiving the spaces and the changes
considering this problem generally ease spatial use.
Abstract: Urban areas, as they have been developed and operate
today, are areas of accumulation of a significant amount of people
and a large number of activities that generate desires and reasons for
traveling. The territorial expansion of the cities as well as the need to
preserve the importance of the central city areas lead to the
continuous increase of transportation needs which in the limited
urban space results in creating serious traffic and operational
problems. The modern perception of urban planning is directed towards more
holistic approaches and integrated policies that make it economically
competitive, socially just and more environmentally friendly. Over
the last 25 years, the goal of sustainable transport development has
been central to the agenda of any plan or policy for the city. The
modern planning of urban space takes into account the economic and
social aspects of the city and the importance of the environment to
sustainable urban development. In this context, the European Union
promotes direct or indirect related interventions according to the
cohesion and environmental policies; many countries even had the
chance to actually test them. This paper explores the methods and processes that have been
developed towards this direction and presents a review and
systematic presentation of this work. The ultimate purpose of this
research is to effectively use this review to create a decision making
methodological framework which can be the basis of a useful
operational tool for sustainable urban planning.
Abstract: Istanbul-Karakoy Port, field of this study, has lost its
former significance in time due to the transformation of urban
functions. Today, activities for regeneration of this region continue in
two forms and scales. First of these activities is the "planned
transformation projects," which also includes “Galataport project”,
and the second one is "spontaneous transformation," which consists
of individual interventions. Galataport project that based on the idea
of arranging the area specifically for tourists was prepared in 2005
and became a topic of tremendous public debate. On the other hand,
the "spontaneous transformation" that is observed in Karakoy District
starts in 2004 with the foundation of “Istanbul Modern Museum”
which allowed the cultural integration of old naval warehouses of the
port to the daily life. Following this adaptive reuse intervention, the
district started to accommodate numerous art galleries, studios, caféworkshops
and design stores. In this context, this paper first examines
regeneration studies in obsolete port regions, analyzes the planned
and ongoing socio-spatial transformations in the specific case of
Karakoy and performs a critical review of the sustainability of the
proposals on how to reinstate the district in the active life of Istanbul.
Abstract: Social Avoidance is one of the most important
problems that face a good number of disabled students. It results from
the negative attitudes of non-disabled students, teachers and others.
Some of the past research has shown that non-disabled individuals
hold negative attitudes toward persons with disabilities. The present
study aims to alleviate Social Avoidance by applying the Cognitive
Behavioral Intervention. 24 Blind students aged 19–24 (university students) were randomly
chosen we compared an experimental group (consisted of 12
students) who went through the intervention program, with a control
group (12 students also) who did not go through such intervention.
We used the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS) to assess
social anxiety and distress behavior. The author used many
techniques of cognitive behavioral intervention such as modeling,
cognitive restructuring, extension, contingency contracts, selfmonitoring,
assertiveness training, role play, encouragement and
others. Statistically, T-test was employed to test the research
hypothesis. Result showed that there is a significance difference between the
experimental group and the control group after the intervention and
also at the follow up stages of the Social Avoidance and Distress
Scale. Also for the experimental group, there is a significance
difference before the intervention and the follow up stages for the
scale. Results showed that, there is a decrease in social avoidance.
Accordingly, cognitive behavioral intervention program was
successful in decreasing social avoidance for blind students.
Abstract: This research studies the joint production,
maintenance and subcontracting control policy for an unreliable
deteriorating manufacturing system. Production activities are
controlled by a derivation of the Hedging Point Policy, and given that
the system is subject to deterioration, it reduces progressively its
capacity to satisfy product demand. Multiple deterioration effects are
considered, reflected mainly in the quality of the parts produced and
the reliability of the machine. Subcontracting is available as support
to satisfy product demand; also, overhaul maintenance can be
conducted to reduce the effects of deterioration. The main objective
of the research is to determine simultaneously the production,
maintenance and subcontracting rate, which minimize the total,
incurred cost. A stochastic dynamic programming model is
developed and solved through a simulation-based approach
composed of statistical analysis and optimization with the response
surface methodology. The obtained results highlight the strong
interactions between production, deterioration and quality, which
justify the development of an integrated model. A numerical example
and a sensitivity analysis are presented to validate our results.
Abstract: We investigated ecotoxicity and performed experiment
for removing ZnO nanoparticles in water. Short term exposure of
hatching test using fertilized eggs (O. latipes) showed deformity in
5ppm of ZnO nanoparticles solution. And in 10ppm ZnO nanoparticles
solution delayed hatching was observed. Hereine, chemical
precipitation method was suggested for removing ZnO nanoparticles
in water. The precipitated ZnO nanoparticles showed the form of ZnS
after addition of Na2S, and the form of Zn3(PO4)2 for Na2HPO4. The
removal efficiency of ZnO nanoparticles in water was closed to 100%
for two cases. In ecotoxicity evaluation of as-precipitated ZnS and
Zn3(PO4)2, they did not cause any acute toxicity for D. magna. It is
noted that this precipitation treatment of ZnO is effective to reduce the
potential cytotoxicity.
Abstract: The ventilated façade has great advantages when
compared to traditional façades as it reduces the air conditioning
thermal loads due to the stack effect induced by solar radiation in the
air chamber. Optimizing energy consumption by using a ventilated
façade can be used not only in newly built buildings but also it can be
implemented in existing buildings, opening the field of
implementation to energy building retrofitting works. In this sense, the following three prototypes of façade where
designed, built and further analyzed in this research: non-ventilated
façade (NVF); slightly ventilated façade (SLVF) and strongly
ventilated façade (STVF). The construction characteristics of the
three facades are based on the Spanish regulation of building
construction “Technical Building Code”. The façades have been
monitored by type-k thermocouples in a representative day of the
summer season in Madrid (Spain). Moreover, an analysis of variance
(ANOVA) with repeated measures, studying the thermal lag in the
ventilated and no-ventilated façades has been designed. Results show that STVF façade presents higher levels of thermal
inertia as the thermal lag reduces up to 17% (daily mean) compared
to the non-ventilated façade. In addition, the statistical analysis
proves that an increase of the ventilation holes size in STVF façades
can improve the thermal lag significantly (p >0.05) when compared
to the SLVF façade.
Abstract: Evolution strategy (ES) is a well-known instance of evolutionary algorithms, and there have been many studies on ES. In this paper, the author proposes an extended ES for solving fuzzy-valued optimization problems. In the proposed ES, genotype values are not real numbers but fuzzy numbers. Evolutionary processes in the ES are extended so that it can handle genotype instances with fuzzy numbers. In this study, the proposed method is experimentally applied to the evolution of neural networks with fuzzy weights and biases. Results reveal that fuzzy neural networks evolved using the proposed ES with fuzzy genotype values can model hidden target fuzzy functions even though no training data are explicitly provided. Next, the proposed method is evaluated in terms of variations in specifying fuzzy numbers as genotype values. One of the mostly adopted fuzzy numbers is a symmetric triangular one that can be specified by its lower and upper bounds (LU) or its center and width (CW). Experimental results revealed that the LU model contributed better to the fuzzy ES than the CW model, which indicates that the LU model should be adopted in future applications of the proposed method.
Abstract: Home Energy Management System (HEMS), which makes the residential consumers, contribute to the demand response is attracting attention in recent years. An aim of HEMS is to minimize their electricity cost by controlling the use of their appliances according to electricity price. The use of appliances in HEMS may be affected by some conditions such as external temperature and electricity price. Therefore, the user’s usage pattern of appliances should be modeled according to the external conditions, and the resultant usage pattern is related to the user’s comfortability on use of each appliances. This paper proposes a methodology to model the usage pattern based on the historical data with the copula function. Through copula function, the usage range of each appliance can be obtained and is able to satisfy the appropriate user’s comfort according to the external conditions for next day. Within the usage range, an optimal scheduling for appliances would be conducted so as to minimize an electricity cost with considering user’s comfort. Among the home appliance, electric heater (EH) is a representative appliance, which is affected by the external temperature. In this paper, an optimal scheduling algorithm for an electric heater (EH) is addressed based on the method of branch and bound. As a result, scenarios for the EH usage are obtained according to user’s comfort levels and then the residential consumer would select the best scenario. The case study shows the effects of the proposed algorithm compared with the traditional operation of the EH, and it represents impacts of the comfort level on the scheduling result.
Abstract: This paper studied the flow shop scheduling problem under machine availability constraints. The machines are subject to flexible preventive maintenance activities. The nonresumable scenario for the jobs was considered. That is, when a job is interrupted by an unavailability period of a machine it should be restarted from the beginning. The objective is to minimize the total tardiness time for the jobs and the advance/tardiness for the maintenance activities. To solve the problem, a genetic algorithm was developed and successfully tested and validated on many problem instances. The computational results showed that the new genetic algorithm outperforms another earlier proposed algorithm.
Abstract: Structural analysis of flexible pavements has been and still is currently performed using multi-layer elastic theory. However, for thinly surfaced pavements subjected to low to medium volumes of traffics, the importance of non-linear stress-strain behavior of unbound granular materials (UGM) requires the use of more sophisticated numerical models for structural design and performance of such pavements. In the present work, nonlinear unbound aggregates constitutive model is implemented within an axisymmetric finite element code developed to simulate the nonlinear behavior of pavement structures including two local aggregates of different mineralogical nature, typically used in Algerian pavements. The performance of the mechanical model is examined about its capability of representing adequately, under various conditions, the granular material non-linearity in pavement analysis. In addition, deflection data collected by Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) are incorporated into the analysis in order to assess the sensitivity of critical pavement design criteria and pavement design life to the constitutive model. Finally, conclusions of engineering significance are formulated.
Abstract: The Portuguese footwear industry had in the last five years a remarkable performance in the exportation values, the trade balance and others economic indicators. After a long period of difficulties and with a strong reduction of companies and employees since 1994 until 2009, the Portuguese footwear industry changed the strategy and is now a success case between the international players of footwear. Only the Italian industry sells footwear with a higher value than the Portuguese and the distance between them is decreasing year by year. This paper analyses how the Portuguese footwear companies innovate and make innovation, according the classification proposed by the Oslo Manual. Also, analyses the strategy follow in the innovation process and shows the linkage between the type of innovation and the strategy of innovation. The research methodology was qualitative and the strategy for data collection was the case study. The qualitative data will be analyzed with the MAXQDA software. The economic results of the footwear companies studied shows differences between all of them and these differences are related with the innovation strategy adopted. The companies focused in product and marketing innovation, oriented to their target market, have higher ratios “turnover per worker” than the companies focused in process innovation. However, all the footwear companies in this “low-tech” industry create value and contribute to a positive foreign trade of 1.310 million euros in 2013. The growth strategies implemented has the participation of the sectorial organizations in several innovative projects. And it’s obvious that cooperation between all of them is a critical element to the performance achieved by the companies and the innovation observed. The Portuguese footwear sector has in the last years an excellent performance (economic results, exportation values, trade balance, brands and international image) and his performance is strongly related with the strategy in innovation followed, the type of innovation and the networks in the cluster. A simplified model, called “Ace of Diamonds”, is proposed by the authors and explains the way how this performance was reached by the seven companies that participate in the study (two of them are the leaders in the setor), and if this model can be used in others traditional and “low-tech” industries.
Abstract: One of the major problems being faced by human society is that the global temperature is believed to be rising due to human activity that releases carbon IV Oxide (CO2) to the atmosphere. Carbon IV Oxide is the most important greenhouse gas influencing global warming and possible climate change. With climate change becoming alarming, reducing CO2 in our atmosphere has become a primary goal of international efforts. Forest lands are major sink and could absorb large quantities of carbon if the trees are judiciously managed. The study aims at estimating the carbon sequestration capacity of Pinus caribaea (pine) and Tectona grandis (Teak) under the prevailing environmental conditions and exploring tree growth variables that influences the carbon sequestration capacity in Omo Forest Reserve, Ogun State, Nigeria. Improving forest management by manipulating growth characteristics that influences carbon sequestration could be an adaptive strategy of forestry to climate change. Random sampling was used to select Temporary Sample Plots (TSPs) in the study area from where complete enumeration of growth variables was carried out within the plots. The data collected were subjected to descriptive and correlational analyses. The results showed that average carbon stored by Pine and Teak are 994.4±188.3 Kg and 1350.7±180.6 Kg respectively. The difference in carbon stored in the species is significant enough to consider choice of species relevant in climate change adaptation strategy. Tree growth variables influence the capacity of the tree to sequester carbon. Height, diameter, volume, wood density and age are positively correlated to carbon sequestration. These tree growth variables could be manipulated by the forest manager as an adaptive strategy for climate change while plantations of high wood density species could be relevant for management strategy to increase carbon storage.
Abstract: The Gezi Park protests of 2013 have significantly changed the Turkish agenda and its effects have been felt historically. The protests, which rapidly spread throughout the country, were triggered by the proposal to recreate the Ottoman Army Barracks to function as a shopping mall on Gezi Park located in Istanbul’s Taksim neighbourhood despite the oppositions of several NGOs and when trees were cut in the park for this purpose. Once the news that the construction vehicles entered the park on May 27 spread on social media, activists moved into the park to stop the demolition, against whom the police used disproportioned force. With this police intervention and the then prime-minister Tayyip Erdoğan's insistent statements about the construction plans, the protests turned into anti- government demonstrations, which then spread to the rest of the country, mainly in big cities like Ankara and Izmir. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ June 23rd reports, 2.5 million people joined the demonstrations in 79 provinces, that is all of them, except for the provinces of Bayburt and Bingöl, while even more people shared their opinions via social networks. As a result of these events, 8 civilians and 2 security personnel lost their lives, namely police chief Mustafa Sarı, police officer Ahmet Küçükdağ, citizens Mehmet Ayvalıtaş, Abdullah Cömert, Ethem Sarısülük, Ali İsmail Korkmaz, Ahmet Atakan, Berkin Elvan, Burak Can Karamanoğlu, Mehmet İstif, and Elif Çermik, and 8163 more were injured. Besides being a turning point in Turkish history, the Gezi Park protests also had broad repercussions in both in Turkish and in global media, which focused on Turkey throughout the events. Our study conducts content analysis of three Turkish reporting newspapers with varying ideological standpoints, Hürriyet, Cumhuriyet ve Yeni Şafak, in order to reveal their basic approach to news casting in context of the Gezi Park protests. Headlines, news segments, and news content relating to the Gezi protests were treated and analysed for this purpose. The aim of this study is to understand the social effects of the Gezi Park protests through media samples with varying political attitudes towards news casting.
Abstract: This paper focuses on how judiciaries in post-conflict societies can gain legitimacy through reformation. Legitimacy plays a pivotal role in shaping people’s behavior to submit to the law and verifies the rightfulness of an organ for taking binding decisions. Among various dynamics, judicial independence, access to justice and behavioral changes of the judicial officials broadly contribute to legitimation of judiciary in general, and the courts in particular. Increasing independence of judiciary through reform limits, inter alia, government interference in judicial issues and protects basic rights of the citizens. Judicial independence does not only matter in institutional terms, individual independence also influences the impartiality and integrity of judges, which can be increased through education and better administration of justice. Finally, access to justice as an intertwined concept both at the legal and moral spectrum of judicial reform avails justice to the citizens and increases the level of public trust and confidence. Efficient legal decisions on fostering such elements through holistic reform create a rule of law atmosphere. Citizens neither accept an illegitimate judiciary nor do they trust its decisions. Lack of such tolerance and confidence deters the rule of law and thus, undermines the democratic development of a society.