Abstract: Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures strengthened
with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) lack in thermal resistance under
elevated temperatures in the event of fire. This phenomenon led to
the lining of strengthened concrete with thin high performance
cementitious composites (THPCC) to protect the substrate against
elevated temperature. Elevated temperature effects on THPCC, based
on different cementitious materials have been studied in the past but
high-alumina cement (HAC)-based THPCC have not been well
characterized. This research study will focus on the THPCC based on
HAC replaced by 60%, 70%, 80% and 85% of ground granulated
blast furnace slag (GGBS). Samples were evaluated by the
measurement of their mechanical strength (28 & 56 days of curing)
after exposed to 400°C, 600°C and 28°C of room temperature for
comparison and corroborated by their microstructure study. Results
showed that among all mixtures, the mix containing only HAC
showed the highest compressive strength after exposed to 600°C as
compared to other mixtures. However, the tensile strength of THPCC
made of HAC and 60% GGBS content was comparable to the
THPCC with HAC only after exposed to 600°C. Field emission
scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images of THPCC
accompanying Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis
revealed that the microstructure deteriorated considerably after
exposure to elevated temperatures which led to the decrease in
mechanical strength.
Abstract: In modern agriculture, polymeric hydrogels are
known as a component able to hold an amount of water due to their
3-dimensional network structure and their tendency to absorb water
in humid environments. In addition, these hydrogels are able to
controllably release the fertilisers and pesticides loaded in them.
Therefore, they deliver these materials to the plants' roots and help
them with growing. These hydrogels also reduce the pollution of
underground water sources by preventing the active components
from leaching. In this study, sIPN acrylamide based hydrogels are
synthesised by using acrylamide free radical, potassium acrylate, and
linear polyvinyl alcohol. Ammonium nitrate is loaded in the hydrogel
as the fertiliser. The effect of various amounts of monomers and
linear polymer, measured in molar ratio, on the swelling rate,
equilibrium swelling, and release of ammonium nitrate is studied.
Abstract: The article deals with the classification of alternative water resources in terms of potential risks which is the prerequisite for incorporating these water resources to the emergency plans. The classification is based on the quantification of risks resulting from possible damage, disruption or total destruction of water resource caused by natural and anthropogenic hazards, assessment of water quality and availability, traffic accessibility of the assessed resource and finally its water yield. The aim is to achieve the development of an integrated rescue system, which will be capable of supplying the population with drinking water on the whole stricken territory during the states of emergency.
Abstract: In this paper, two centrifugal model tests (case 1: raft
foundation, case 2: 2x2 piled raft foundation) were conducted in
order to evaluate the effect of ground subsidence on load sharing
among piles and raft and settlement of raft and piled raft
foundations. For each case, two conditions consisting of undrained
(without groundwater pumping) and drained (with groundwater
pumping) conditions were considered. Vertical loads were applied
to the models after the foundations were completely consolidated by
selfweight at 50g. The results show that load sharing by the piles in
piled raft foundation (piled load share) for drained condition
decreases faster than that for undrained condition. Settlement of
both raft and piled raft foundations for drained condition increases
more quickly than that for undrained condition. In addition, the
settlement of raft foundation increases more largely than the
settlement of piled raft foundation for drained condition.
Abstract: Due to increased number of terrorist attacks in recent years, loads induced by explosions need to be incorporated in building designs. For safer performance of a structure, its foundation should have sufficient strength and stability. Therefore, prior to any reconstruction or rehabilitation of a building subjected to blast, it is important to examine adverse effects on the foundation caused by blast induced ground shocks. This paper evaluates the effects of a buried explosion on a pile foundation. It treats the dynamic response of the pile in saturated sand, using explicit dynamic nonlinear finite element software LS-DYNA. The blast induced wave propagation in the soil and the horizontal deformation of pile are presented and the results are discussed. Further, a parametric study is carried out to evaluate the effect of varying the explosive shape on the pile response. This information can be used to evaluate the vulnerability of piled foundations to credible blast events as well as develop guidance for their design.
Abstract: Despite the internet, which is one of the mass media
that has become quite common in recent years, the relationship of
Advertisement with Television and Cinema, which have always
drawn attention of researchers as basic media and where visual use is
in the foreground, have also become the subject of various studies.
Based on the assumption that the known fundamental effects of
advertisements on consumers are closely related to the creative
process of advertisements as well as the nature and characteristics of
the medium where they are used, these basic mass media (Television
and Cinema) and the consumer motivations of the advertisements
they broadcast have become a focus of study.
Given that the viewers of the mass media in question have shifted
from a passive position to a more active one especially in recent years
and approach contents of advertisements, as they do all contents, in a
more critical and “pitiless" manner, it is possible to say that
individuals make more use of advertisements than in the past and
combine their individual goals with the goals of the advertisements.
This study, which aims at finding out what the goals of these new
individual advertisement use are, how they are shaped by the distinct
characteristics of Television and Cinema, where visuality takes
precedence as basic mass media, and what kind of places they occupy
in the minds of consumers, has determined consumers- motivations
as: “Entertainment", “Escapism", “Play", “Monitoring/Discovery",
“Opposite Sex" and “Aspirations and Role Models".
This study intends to reveal the differences or similarities among
the needs and hence the gratifications of viewers who consume
advertisements on Television or at the Cinema, which are two basic
media where visuality is prioritized.
Abstract: We report the electronic structure and optical
properties of NdF3 compound. Our calculations are based on density
functional theory (DFT) using the full potential linearized augmented
plane wave (FPLAPW) method with the inclusion of spin orbit
coupling. We employed the local spin density approximation (LSDA)
and Coulomb-corrected local spin density approximation, known for
treating the highly correlated 4f electrons properly, is able to
reproduce the correct insulating ground state. We find that the
standard LSDA approach is incapable of correctly describing the
electronic properties of such materials since it positions the f-bands
incorrectly resulting in an incorrect metallic ground state. On the
other hand, LSDA + U approximation, known for treating the highly
correlated 4f electrons properly, is able to reproduce the correct
insulating ground state. Interestingly, however, we do not find any
significant differences in the optical properties calculated using
LSDA, and LSDA + U suggesting that the 4f electrons do not play a
decisive role in the optical properties of these compounds. The
reflectivity for NdF3 compound stays low till 7 eV which is
consistent with their large energy gaps. The calculated energy gaps
are in good agreement with experiments. Our calculated reflectivity
compares well with the experimental data and the results are analyzed
in the light of band to band transitions.
Abstract: Background: Blunt aortic trauma (BAT) includes
various morphological changes that occur during deceleration,
acceleration and/or body compression in traffic accidents. The
various forms of BAT, from limited laceration of the intima to
complete transection of the aorta, depends on the force acting on the
vessel wall and the tolerance of the aorta to injury. The force depends
on the change in velocity, the dynamics of the accident and of the
seating position in the car. Tolerance to aortic injury depends on the
anatomy, histological structure and pathomorphological alterations
due to aging or disease of the aortic wall.
An overview of the literature and medical documentation reveals
that different terms are used to describe certain forms of BAT, which
can lead to misinterpretation of findings or diagnoses. We therefore,
propose a classification that would enable uniform systematic
screening of all forms of BAT. We have classified BAT into three
morphologycal types: TYPE I (intramural), TYPE II (transmural) and
TYPE III (multiple) aortic ruptures with appropriate subtypes.
Methods: All car accident casualties examined at the Institute of
Forensic Medicine from 2001 to 2009 were included in this
retrospective study. Autopsy reports were used to determine the
occurrence of each morphological type of BAT in deceased drivers,
front seat passengers and other passengers in cars and to define the
morphology of BAT in relation to the accident dynamics and the age
of the fatalities.
Results: A total of 391 fatalities in car accidents were included in
the study. TYPE I, TYPE II and TYPE III BAT were observed in
10,9%, 55,6% and 33,5%, respectively. The incidence of BAT in
drivers, front seat and other passengers was 36,7%, 43,1% and
28,6%, respectively. In frontal collisions, the incidence of BAT was
32,7%, in lateral collisions 54,2%, and in other traffic accidents
29,3%. The average age of fatalities with BAT was 42,8 years and of
those without BAT 39,1 years.
Conclusion: Identification and early recognition of the risk factors
of BAT following a traffic accident is crucial for successful treatment
of patients with BAT. Front seat passengers over 50 years of age who
have been injured in a lateral collision are the most at risk of BAT.
Abstract: Many states are now committed to implementing
international human rights standards domestically. In terms of
practical governance, how might effectiveness be measured? A facevalue
answer can be found in domestic laws and institutions relating
to human rights. However, this article provides two further tools to
help states assess their status on the spectrum of robust to fragile
human rights governance. The first recognises that each state has its
own 'human rights history' and the ideal end stage is robust human
rights governance, and the second is developing criteria to assess
robustness. Although a New Zealand case study is used to illustrate
these tools, the widespread adoption of human rights standards by
many states inevitably means that the issues are relevant to other
countries. This is even though there will always be varying degrees of
similarity-difference in constitutional background and developed or
emerging human rights systems.
Abstract: Existing ground movement surveillance technologies
at airports are subjected to limitations due to shadowing effects or
multiple reflections. Therefore, there is a strong demand for a new
sensing technology, which will be cost effective and will provide
detection of non-cooperative targets under any weather conditions.
This paper aims to present a new intelligent system, developed
within the framework of the EC-funded ISMAEL project, which is
based on a new magnetic sensing technology and provides detection,
tracking and automatic classification of targets moving on the airport
surface. The system is currently being installed at two European
airports. Initial experimental results under real airport traffic
demonstrate the great potential of the proposed system.
Abstract: Gaussian mixture background model is widely used in
moving target detection of the image sequences. However, traditional
Gaussian mixture background model usually considers the time
continuity of the pixels, and establishes background through statistical
distribution of pixels without taking into account the pixels- spatial
similarity, which will cause noise, imperfection and other problems.
This paper proposes a new Gaussian mixture modeling approach,
which combines the color and gradient of the spatial information, and
integrates the spatial information of the pixel sequences to establish
Gaussian mixture background. The experimental results show that the
movement background can be extracted accurately and efficiently, and
the algorithm is more robust, and can work in real time in tracking
applications.
Abstract: It is important to give input information without other device in AR system. One solution is using hand for augmented reality application. Many researchers have proposed different solutions for hand interface in augmented reality. Analyze Histogram and connecting factor is can be example for that. Various Direction searching is one of robust way to recognition hand but it takes too much calculating time. And background should be distinguished with skin color. This paper proposes a hand tracking method to control the 3D object in augmented reality using depth device and skin color. Also in this work discussed relationship between several markers, which is based on relationship between camera and marker. One marker used for displaying virtual object and three markers for detecting hand gesture and manipulating the virtual object.
Abstract: This paper presents the application of a signal intensity independent registration criterion for non-rigid body registration of medical images. The criterion is defined as the weighted ratio image of two images. The ratio is computed on a voxel per voxel basis and weighting is performed by setting the ratios between signal and background voxels to a standard high value. The mean squared value of the weighted ratio is computed over the union of the signal areas of the two images and it is minimized using the Chebyshev polynomial approximation. The geometric transformation model adopted is a local cubic B-splines based model.
Abstract: In this paper, the feasibility study of using a hybrid
system of ground heat exchangers (GHE) and direct evaporative
cooling system in arid weather condition has been performed. The
model is applied for Yazd and Kerman, two cities with arid weather
condition in Iran. The system composed of three sections: Ground-
Coupled-Circuit (GCC), Direct Evaporative Cooler (DEC) and
Cooling Coil Unite (CCU). The GCC provides the necessary precooling
for DEC. The GCC includes four vertical GHE which are
designed in series configuration. Simulation results show that
hybridization of GCC and DEC could provide comfort condition
whereas DEC alone did not. Based on the results the cooling
effectiveness of a hybrid system is more than unity. Thus, this novel
hybrid system could decrease the air temperature below the ambient
wet-bulb temperature. This environmentally clean and energy
efficient system can be considered as an alternative to the mechanical
vapor compression systems.
Abstract: This paper presents a highly efficient algorithm for detecting and tracking humans and objects in video surveillance sequences. Mean shift clustering is applied on backgrounddifferenced image sequences. For efficiency, all calculations are performed on integral images. Novel corresponding exponential integral kernels are introduced to allow the application of nonuniform kernels for clustering, which dramatically increases robustness without giving up the efficiency of the integral data structures. Experimental results demonstrating the power of this approach are presented.
Abstract: Arsenic in the sediments of the ash lagoons of the coal-fired power plant in Pagbilao, Quezon Province in the Philippines was sequentially extracted to determine its potential for leaching to the groundwater and the adjacent marine environment. Results show that 89% of the As is bound to the quasi-crystalline Fe/Mn oxides and hydroxide matrix in the sediments, whereas, the adsorbed and exchangeable As hosted by the clay minerals, representing those that are easiest to release from the sediment matrix, is below 10% of the acid leachable As. These As in these sediment matrices represent the possible maximum amount of As that can be released and supplied to the groundwater and the adjacent marine environment. Of the 89% reducible As, up to 4% is associated with the easily reducible variety, whereas, the rest is more strongly bonded by the moderately reducible variety. Based on the long-term As content of the lagoon water, the average desorption rate of As is calculated to be very low -- 0.3-0.5% on the average and 0.6% on the maximum. This indicates that As is well-fixed by its sediment matrices in the ash lagoon, attenuating the influx of As into the adjacent groundwater and marine environments.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to summarize the
following protection of scouring countermeasures by using
Bentonite-Enhanced Sand (BES) mixtures. The concept of
underground improvement is being used in this study to reduce the
void of the sand. The sand bentonite mixture was used to bond the
ground soil conditions surrounding the pile of integral bridge. The
right composition of sand bentonite mixture was proposed based on
previous findings. The swelling effect of bentonite also was
investigated to ensure there is no adverse impact to the structure of
the integral bridge. ScourScour, another name for severe erosion,
occurs when the erosive capacity of water resulting from natural and
manmade events exceeds the ability of earth materials to resist its
effects. According to AASHTO LRFD Specifications (Section
C3.7.5), scour is the most common reason for the collapse of
highway bridges in the United States
Abstract: Background Contact lens (CL) wear can cause
changes in blinking and corneal staining. Aims and Objectives To
determine the effects of CL materials (HEMA and SiHy) on
spontaneous blink rate, blinking patterns and corneal staining after 2
months of wear. Methods Ninety subjects in 3 groups (control,
HEMA and SiHy) were assessed at baseline and 2-months. Blink rate
was recorded using a video camera. Blinking patterns were assessed
with digital camera and slit lamp biomicroscope. Corneal staining
was graded using IER grading scale Results There were no significant
differences in all parameters at baseline. At 2 months, CL wearers
showed significant increment in average blink rate (F1.626, 47.141 =
7.250, p = 0.003; F2,58 = 6.240, p = 0.004) and corneal staining (χ2
2,
n=30 = 31.921, p < 0.001; χ2
2, n=30 = 26.909, p < 0.001). Conclusion
Blinking characteristics and corneal staining were not influence by
soft CL materials.
Abstract: In this article, we are going to do a study that consist in the configuration of a link between an earth station to broadcast multimedia service and a user of this service via a geostationary satellite in Ka- band and the set up of the different components of this link and then to make the calculation of the link budget for this system. The application carried out in this work, allows us to calculate the link budget in both directions: the uplink and downlink, as well as all parameters used in the calculation and the development of a link budget. Finally, we will try to verify using the application developed the feasibility of implementation of this system.
Abstract: Atrazine, a herbicide widely used in sugarcane and corn production, is a frequently detected groundwater contaminant. An atrazine-degrading bacterium, strain KB02, was obtained from long-term atrazine-treated sugarcane field soils in Kanchanaburi province of Thailand. Strain KB02 had a rod-to-coccus morphological cycle during growth. Sequence analysis of the PCR product indicated that the 16S rRNA gene in strain KB02 was ranging from 97-98% identical to the same region in Klebsiella sp. Based on biochemical, physiological analysis and 16S rDNA sequence analysis of one representative isolate, strain KB02, the isolates belong to the genus Klebsiella in the family Enterobacteriaceae. Interestingly that the various primers for atzA, B and C failed to amplify genomic DNA of strain KB02. Whereas the expected PCR product of atzA, B and C were obtained from the reference strain, Arthrobacter sp. strain KU001.