Abstract: By enhancing the applicatıon of grounds for
establishment and due to the lack of appropriate sites, engineers
attempt to seek out a new method to reduce the weakness of soils. İn
aspect of economic situation, various ways have been used to
decrease the weak grounds. Because of the rapid development of
infrastructural facilities, spreading the construction operation is an
obligation. Furthermore, in various sites with the really bad soil
situation, engineers have considered obvious problems. One of the
most essential ways for developing the weak soils is stone column.
Obviously, the method was introduced in France in 1830 to improve
a native soil initially. Stone columns have an expanding range of
usage in different rough foundation sites all over the world to
increase the bearing capacity, to reduce the whole and differential
settlements, to enhance the rate of consolidation, to stabilize slopes
stability of embankments and to increase the liquefaction resistance
as well. A recent procedure called installing vertical nails along the
round stone columns in order to make better the performance of
considered columns is offered. Moreover, thanks to the enhancing the
nail diameter, number and embedment nail depth, the positive points
of vertical circumferential nails increases. Based on the result of this
study, load caring capacity will be develop with enhancing the length
and the power of reinforcements in vertical encasement stone column
(CESC). In this study, the main purpose is comparing two methods of
stone columns (installed a nail surrounding the stone columns and
using geogrid on clay) for enhancing the bearing capacity, decreasing
the whole and various settlements.
Abstract: This paper discusses the propagation of sound waves in
air, specifically in narrow rectangular pathways of an occluded-ear
simulator for acoustic measurements. In narrow pathways, both the
speed of sound and the phase of the sound waves are affected by the
damping of the air viscosity. Herein, we propose a new finite-element
method (FEM) that considers the effects of the air viscosity. The
method was developed as an extension of existing FEMs for porous,
sound-absorbing materials. The results of a numerical calculation for a
three-dimensional ear-simulator model using the proposed FEM were
validated by comparing with theoretical lumped-parameter modeling
analysis and standard values.
Abstract: Standard Gibbs energy of formation ΔGfor(298.15) of
lanthanide-iron double oxides of garnet-type crystal structure
R3Fe5O12 - RIG (R – are rare earth ions) from initial oxides are
evaluated. The calculation is based on the data of standard entropies
S298.15 and standard enthalpies ΔH298.15 of formation of compounds
which are involved in the process of garnets synthesis. Gibbs energy
of formation is presented as temperature function ΔGfor(T) for the
range 300-1600K. The necessary starting thermodynamic data were
obtained from calorimetric study of heat capacity – temperature
functions and by using the semi-empirical method for calculation of
ΔH298.15 of formation. Thermodynamic functions for standard
temperature – enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs energy - are
recommended as reference data for technological evaluations.
Through the structural series of rare earth-iron garnets the correlation
between thermodynamic properties and characteristics of lanthanide
ions are elucidated.
Abstract: Low Temperature Matrix Isolation - Electron
Paramagnetic Resonance (LTMI-EPR) Spectroscopy was utilized to
identify the species of iron oxide nanoparticles generated during the
oxidative pyrolysis of 1-methylnaphthalene (1-MN). The otherwise
gas-phase reactions of 1--MN were impacted by a polypropylenimine
tetra-hexacontaamine dendrimer complexed with iron (III) nitrate
nonahydrate diluted in air under atmospheric conditions. The EPR
fine structure of Fe (III)2O3 nanoparticles clusters, characterized by gfactors
of 2.00, 2.28, 3.76 and 4.37 were detected on a cold finger
maintained at 77 K after accumulation over a multitude of
experiments. Additionally, a high valence Fe (IV) paramagnetic
intermediate and superoxide anion-radicals, O2•- adsorbed on
nanoparticle surfaces in the form of Fe (IV) --- O2•- were detected
from the quenching area of Zone 1 in the gas-phase.
Abstract: The present study applies the inverse method and
three-dimensional CFD commercial software in conjunction with the
experimental temperature data to investigate the heat transfer and fluid
flow characteristics of the plate-fin heat sink in a rectangular closed
enclosure. The inverse method with the finite difference method and
the experimental temperature data is applied to determine the
approximate heat transfer coefficient. Later, based on the obtained
results, the zero-equation turbulence model is used to obtain the heat
transfer and fluid flow characteristics between two fins. T0 validate
the accuracy of the results obtained, the comparison of the heat transfer
coefficient is made. The obtained temperature at selected
measurement locations of the fin is also compared with experimental
data. The effect of the height of the rectangular enclosure on the
obtained results is discussed.
Abstract: This research presents the main ideas to implement an
intelligent system composed by communicating wireless sensors
measuring environmental data linked to drought indicators (such as
air temperature, soil moisture , etc...). On the other hand, the setting
up of a spatio temporal database communicating with a Web mapping
application for a monitoring in real time in activity 24:00 /day, 7
days/week is proposed to allow the screening of the drought
parameters time evolution and their extraction. Thus this system
helps detecting surfaces touched by the phenomenon of drought.
Spatio-temporal conceptual models seek to answer the users who
need to manage soil water content for irrigating or fertilizing or other
activities pursuing crop yield augmentation. Effectively, spatiotemporal
conceptual models enable users to obtain a diagram of
readable and easy data to apprehend. Based on socio-economic
information, it helps identifying people impacted by the phenomena
with the corresponding severity especially that this information is
accessible by farmers and stakeholders themselves. The study will be
applied in Siliana watershed Northern Tunisia.
Abstract: The influence of physicochemical water quality
parameters on the abundance and diversity of caddisfly larvae was
studied in seven sampling stations in Mae Tao and Mae Ku
watersheds, Mae Sot District, Tak Province, northern Thailand. The
streams: MK2 and MK8 as reference site, and impacted streams
(MT1-MT5) were sampled bi-monthly during July 2011 to May
2012. A total of 4,584 individual of caddisfly larvae belonging to 10
family and 17 genera were found. The larvae of family
Hydropsychidae were the most abundance, followed by
Philopotamidae, Odontoceridae, and Leptoceridae, respectively. The
genus Cheumatopsyche, Hydropsyche, and Chimarra were the most
abundance genera in this study. Results of CCA ordination showed
the total dissolved solids, sulfate, water temperature, dissolved
oxygen and pH were the most important physicochemical factors to
affect distribution of caddisflies communities. Changes in the
caddisfly fauna may indicate changes in physicochemical factors
owing to agricultural pollution, urbanization, or other human
activities. Results revealed that the order Trichoptera, identified to
species or genus, can be potentially used to assess environmental
water quality status in freshwater ecosystems.
Abstract: In order to help the expert to validate association rules
extracted from data, some quality measures are proposed in the
literature. We distinguish two categories: objective and subjective
measures. The first one depends on a fixed threshold and on data
quality from which the rules are extracted. The second one consists
on providing to the expert some tools in the objective to explore and
visualize rules during the evaluation step. However, the number of
extracted rules to validate remains high. Thus, the manually mining
rules task is very hard. To solve this problem, we propose, in this
paper, a semi-automatic method to assist the expert during the
association rule's validation. Our method uses rule-based
classification as follow: (i) We transform association rules into
classification rules (classifiers), (ii) We use the generated classifiers
for data classification. (iii) We visualize association rules with their
quality classification to give an idea to the expert and to assist him
during validation process.
Abstract: Synthesis of gold nanoparticles has attracted much
attention since the pioneering discovery of the high catalytic activity
of supported gold nanoparticles in the reaction of CO oxidation at
low temperature. In this research field, we used Na-montmorillonite
for gold nanoparticles stabilization; various gold loading percentage
1, 2 and 5% were used for gold nanoparticles preparation. The gold
nanoparticles were obtained using chemical reduction method using
NaBH4 as reductant agent. The obtained gold nanoparticles stabilized
in Na-montmorillonite were used as catalysts for the reduction of 4-
nitrophenol to aminophenol with sodium borohydride at room
temperature. The UV-Vis results confirmed directly the gold
nanoparticles formation. The XRD and N2 adsorption results showed
the formation of gold nanoparticles in the pores of montmorillonite
with an average size of 5 nm obtained on samples with 2% gold
loading percentage. The gold particles size increased with the
increase of gold loading percentage. The reduction reaction of 4-
nitrophenol into 4-aminophenol with NaBH4 catalyzed by Au-Namontmorillonite
catalyst exhibits remarkably a high activity; the
reaction was completed within 9 min for 1%Au-Na-montmorillonite
and within 3 min for 2%Au-Na-montmorillonite.
Abstract: In this paper comprehensive studies have been carried
out for the design optimization of a waste heat recovery system for
effectively utilizing the domestic air conditioner heat energy for
producing hot water. Numerical studies have been carried for the
geometry optimization of a waste heat recovery system for domestic
air conditioners. Numerical computations have been carried out using
a validated 2d pressure based, unsteady, 2nd-order implicit, SST k-ω
turbulence model. In the numerical study, a fully implicit finite
volume scheme of the compressible, Reynolds-Averaged, Navier-
Stokes equations is employed. At identical inflow and boundary
conditions various geometries were tried and effort has been taken for
proposing the best design criteria. Several combinations of pipe line
shapes viz., straight and spiral with different number of coils for the
radiator have been attempted and accordingly the design criteria has
been proposed for the waste heat recovery system design. We have
concluded that, within the given envelope, the geometry optimization
is a meaningful objective for getting better performance of waste heat
recovery system for air conditioners.
Abstract: Background: Muscle Energy Techniques (MET) have
been widely used by manual therapists over the past years, but still
limited research validated its use and there was limited evidence to
substantiate the theories used to explain its effects. Objective: To
investigate the effect of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) on anterior
pelvic tilt in patients with lumbar spondylosis. Design: Randomized
controlled trial. Subjects: Thirty patients with anterior pelvic tilt from
both sexes were involved, aged between 35 to 50 years old and they
were divided into MET and control groups with 15 patients in each.
Methods: All patients received 3sessions/week for 4 weeks where the
study group received MET, Ultrasound and Infrared, and the control
group received U.S and I.R only. Pelvic angle was measured by
palpation meter, pain severity by the visual analogue scale and
functional disabilities by the Oswestry disability index. Results: Both
groups showed significant improvement in all measured variables.
The MET group was significantly better than the control group in
pelvic angle, pain severity, and functional disability as p-value were
(0.001, 0.0001, 0.0001) respectively. Conclusion and implication: the
study group fulfilled greater improvement in all measured variables
than the control group which implies that application of MET in
combination with U.S and I.R were more effective in improving
pelvic tilting angle, pain severity and functional disabilities than
using electrotherapy only.
Abstract: Workflow scheduling is an important part of cloud
computing and based on different criteria it decides cost, execution
time, and performances. A cloud workflow system is a platform
service facilitating automation of distributed applications based on
new cloud infrastructure. An aspect which differentiates cloud
workflow system from others is market-oriented business model, an
innovation which challenges conventional workflow scheduling
strategies. Time and Cost optimization algorithm for scheduling
Hybrid Clouds (TCHC) algorithm decides which resource should be
chartered from public providers is combined with a new De-De
algorithm considering that every instance of single and multiple
workflows work without deadlocks. To offset this, two new concepts
- De-De Dodging Algorithm and Priority Based Decisive Algorithm -
combine with conventional deadlock avoidance issues by proposing
one algorithm that maximizes active (not just allocated) resource use
and reduces Makespan.
Abstract: Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) is the most common primary
mineral used for the commercial production of copper. The low
dissolution efficiency of chalcopyrite in sulfate media has prevented
an efficient industrial leaching of this mineral in sulfate media. Ferric
ions, bacteria, oxygen and other oxidants have been used as oxidizing
agents in the leaching of chalcopyrite in sulfate and chloride media
under atmospheric or pressure leaching conditions. Two leaching
methods were studied to evaluate chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) dissolution
in acid media. First, the conventional oxidative acid leaching method
was carried out using sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and potassium
dichromate (K2Cr2O7) as oxidant at atmospheric pressure. Second,
microwave-assisted acid leaching was performed using the
microwave accelerated reaction system (MARS) for same reaction
media. Parameters affecting the copper extraction such as leaching
time, leaching temperature, concentration of H2SO4 and
concentration of K2Cr2O7 were investigated. The results of
conventional acid leaching experiments were compared to the
microwave leaching method. It was found that the copper extraction
obtained under high temperature and high concentrations of oxidant
with microwave leaching is higher than those obtained
conventionally. 81% copper extraction was obtained by the
conventional oxidative acid leaching method in 180 min, with the
concentration of 0.3 mol/L K2Cr2O7 in 0.5M H2SO4 at 50 ºC, while
93.5% copper extraction was obtained in 60 min with microwave
leaching method under same conditions.
Abstract: Biodiesel is one of the alternative fuels that promising
for substituting petro diesel as energy source which is advantage on
sustainability and ecofriendly. Due to the raw material that tend to
decompose during storage, biodiesel also have the same characteristic
that tend to decompose and formed higher acid value which is the
result of oxidation to double bond on a chain of ester. Decomposition of biodiesel due to oxidation reaction could
prevent by introduce a small amount of antioxidant. The origin of raw
materials and the process for producing biodiesel will determine the
effectiveness of antioxidant. The quality degradation on biodiesel
could evaluate by measuring iodine value and acid number of
biodiesel. Biodiesel made from high fatty acid Jatropha curcas oil by using
esterification and transesterification process will stand on the quality
by introduce 90 ppm pyrogallol powder on the biodiesel, which could
increase Induction period time from 2 hours to more than 6 hours in
rancimat test evaluation.
Abstract: In this paper, we provided a literature survey on the
artificial stock problem (ASM). The paper began by exploring the
complexity of the stock market and the needs for ASM. ASM
aims to investigate the link between individual behaviors (micro
level) and financial market dynamics (macro level). The variety of
patterns at the macro level is a function of the AFM complexity. The
financial market system is a complex system where the relationship
between the micro and macro level cannot be captured analytically.
Computational approaches, such as simulation, are expected to
comprehend this connection. Agent-based simulation is a simulation
technique commonly used to build AFMs. The paper proceeds by
discussing the components of the ASM. We consider the roles
of behavioral finance (BF) alongside the traditionally risk-averse
assumption in the construction of agent’s attributes. Also, the
influence of social networks in the developing of agents interactions is
addressed. Network topologies such as a small world, distance-based,
and scale-free networks may be utilized to outline economic
collaborations. In addition, the primary methods for developing
agents learning and adaptive abilities have been summarized.
These incorporated approach such as Genetic Algorithm, Genetic
Programming, Artificial neural network and Reinforcement Learning.
In addition, the most common statistical properties (the stylized facts)
of stock that are used for calibration and validation of ASM are
discussed. Besides, we have reviewed the major related previous
studies and categorize the utilized approaches as a part of these
studies. Finally, research directions and potential research questions
are argued. The research directions of ASM may focus on the macro
level by analyzing the market dynamic or on the micro level by
investigating the wealth distributions of the agents.
Abstract: To tackle the air pollution issues, Plug-in Hybrid
Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) are proposed as an appropriate solution.
Charging a large amount of PHEV batteries, if not controlled, would
have negative impacts on the distribution system. The control process
of charging of these vehicles can be centralized in parking lots that
may provide a chance for better coordination than the individual
charging in houses. In this paper, an optimization-based approach is
proposed to determine the optimum PHEV parking capacities in
candidate nodes of the distribution system. In so doing, a profile for
charging and discharging of PHEVs is developed in order to flatten
the network load profile. Then, this profile is used in solving an
optimization problem to minimize the distribution system losses. The
outputs of the proposed method are the proper place for PHEV
parking lots and optimum capacity for each parking. The application
of the proposed method on the IEEE-34 node test feeder verifies the
effectiveness of the method.
Abstract: Plants can contain a wide variety of substances with
antioxidative properties which are associated with important health
benefits. These positive health effects are of great importance at a
time when the environment is laden with many toxic substances. Five
selected herbal plants namely, Mimosa pudica, Phyllanthus niruri,
Ceiba pentandra, Eleusine polydactyla and Trema amboinensi, were
chosen for the experiment to investigate their total phenolics content
and antioxidant activities using ABTS radical cation decolorization
power, and ferric reducing antioxidant power. The total phenolic
content of each herbal plants ranges from 0.84 to 42.59 mg gallic acid
equivalent/g. The antioxidant activity in the ABTS radical cation
decolorization power varies from 0.005 to 0.362 mg trolox
equivalent/g and the FRAP ranges from 0.30 to 28.42 mg gallic acid
equivalent/g. Among the five medicinal plants, Mimosa pudica has
been an excellent performer in terms of the 3 parameters measured; it
is followed by Phyllanthus niruri. The 5 herbal plants do not have
equivalent antioxidant power. The relative high values for M. pudica
and P. niruri supports the medicinal value of both plants. The total
phenolics, ABTS and FRAP correlate strongly with one another.
Abstract: Polyaniline is an indispensible component in lightemitting
devices (LEDs), televisions, cellular telephones, automotive,
corrosion-resistant coatings, actuators etc. The electrical conductivity
properties was found be increased by introduction of metal nano
particles. In the present study, an attempt has been made to utilize
platinum nano particles to achieve the improved electrical properties.
Polyaniline and Pt-polyaniline composite are synthesized by
electrochemical routes. X-ray diffractometer confirms the amorphous
nature of polyaniline. The Bragg’s diffraction peaks correspond to
platinum nanoparticles in Pt-polyaniline composite and
thermogravimetric analyzer indicates its decomposition at certain
temperature. The Scanning Electron Micrographs of colloidal
platinum nanoparticles were spherical, uniform shape in the
composite. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the PANI and
composites were also studied which indicate a significant decreasing
resistivity than PANI-Platinum after introduction of pt nanoparticles
in the matrix of polyaniline (PANI).
Abstract: The output error of the globoidal cam mechanism can
be considered as a relevant indicator of mechanism performance,
because it determines kinematic and dynamical behavior of
mechanical transmission. Based on the differential geometry and the
rigid body transformations, the mathematical model of surface
geometry of the globoidal cam is established. Then we present the
analytical expression of the output error (including the transmission
error and the displacement error along the output axis) by considering
different manufacture and assembly errors. The effects of the center
distance error, the perpendicular error between input and output axes
and the rotational angle error of the globoidal cam on the output error
are systematically analyzed. A globoidal cam mechanism which is
widely used in automatic tool changer of CNC machines is applied for
illustration. Our results show that the perpendicular error and the
rotational angle error have little effects on the transmission error but
have great effects on the displacement error along the output axis. This
study plays an important role in the design, manufacture and assembly
of the globoidal cam mechanism.
Abstract: Typical load-bearing biological materials like bone,
mineralized tendon and shell, are biocomposites made from both
organic (collagen) and inorganic (biomineral) materials. This
amazing class of materials with intrinsic internally designed
hierarchical structures show superior mechanical properties with
regard to their weak components from which they are formed.
Extensive investigations concentrating on static loading conditions
have been done to study the biological materials failure. However,
most of the damage and failure mechanisms in load-bearing
biological materials will occur whenever their structures are exposed
to dynamic loading conditions. The main question needed to be
answered here is: What is the relation between the layout and
architecture of the load-bearing biological materials and their
dynamic behavior? In this work, a staggered model has been
developed based on the structure of natural materials at nanoscale and
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) has been used to study the dynamic
behavior of the structure of load-bearing biological materials to
answer why the staggered arrangement has been selected by nature to
make the nanocomposite structure of most of the biological materials.
The results showed that the staggered structures will efficiently
attenuate the stress wave rather than the layered structure.
Furthermore, such staggered architecture is effectively in charge of
utilizing the capacity of the biostructure to resist both normal and
shear loads. In this work, the geometrical parameters of the model
like the thickness and aspect ratio of the mineral inclusions selected
from the typical range of the experimentally observed feature sizes
and layout dimensions of the biological materials such as bone and
mineralized tendon. Furthermore, the numerical results validated with
existing theoretical solutions. Findings of the present work emphasize
on the significant effects of dynamic behavior on the natural
evolution of load-bearing biological materials and can help scientists
to design bioinspired materials in the laboratories.