Abstract: Optical biosensors have become a powerful detection
and analysis tool for wide-ranging applications in biomedical research,
pharmaceuticals and environmental monitoring. This study carried out
the computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based simulations to explore
the dispersion phenomenon in the micro channel of an optical
biosensor. The predicted time sequences of concentration contours
were utilized to better understand the dispersion development occurred
in different geometric shapes of micro channels. The simulation results
showed the surface concentrations at the sensing probe (with the best
performance of a grating coupler) in respect of time to appraise the
dispersion effect and therefore identify the design configurations
resulting in minimum dispersion.
Abstract: The objective of this study is to conduct computational
fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations for evaluating the cooling efficacy
from vegetation implanted in a public park in the Taipei, Taiwan. To
probe the impacts of park renewal by means of adding three pavilions
and supplementary green areas on urban microclimates, the simulated
results have revealed that the park having a higher percentage of green
coverage ratio (GCR) tended to experience a better cooling effect.
These findings can be used to explore the effects of different greening
modifications on urban environments for achieving an effective
thermal comfort in urban public spaces.
Abstract: The rationale behind this study is considering
combating and preventing the phenomenon of trafficking in human
beings from a multidisciplinary perspective that involves many layers
of the society.
Trafficking in human beings is an abhorrent phenomenon highly
affecting negatively the victims and their families in both human and
material aspect, sometimes causing irreversible damages. The longer
term effects of this phenomenon, in countries with a weak economic
development and extremely young and dynamic population, such as
Kosovo, without proper measures to prevented and control can cause
tremendous damages in the society. Given the fact that a complete
eradication of this phenomenon is almost impossible, efforts should
be concentrated at least on the prevention and controlling aspects.
Treating trafficking in human beings based on traditional police
tactics, methods and proceedings cannot bring satisfactory results.
There is no doubt that a multi-disciplinary approach is an
irreplaceable requirement, in other words, a combination of authentic
and functional proactive and reactive methods, techniques and tactics.
Obviously, police must exercise its role in preventing and combating
trafficking in human beings, a role sanctioned by the law, however,
police role and contribution cannot by any means considered
complete if all segments of the society are not included in these
efforts. Naturally, civil society should have an important share in
these collaborative and interactive efforts especially in preventive
activities such as: awareness on trafficking risks and damages,
proactive engagement in drafting appropriate legislation and
strategies, law enforcement monitoring and direct or indirect
involvement in protective and supporting activities which benefit the
victims of trafficking etc.
Abstract: This paper addresses the design of hospital Intensive
Care Unit windows for the achievement of visual comfort and energy
savings. The aim was to identify the window size and shading system
configurations that could fulfill daylighting adequacy, avoid glare
and reduce energy consumption. The study focused on addressing the
effect of utilizing different shading systems in association with a
range of Window-to-Wall Ratios (WWR) in different orientations
under the desert clear-sky of Cairo, Egypt.
The results of this study demonstrated that solar penetration is a
critical concern affecting the design of ICU windows in desert
locations, as in Cairo, Egypt. Use of shading systems was found to be
essential in providing acceptable daylight performance and energy
saving. Careful positioning of the ICU window towards a proper
orientation can dramatically improve performance. It was observed
that ICU windows facing the north direction enjoyed the widest range
of successful window configuration possibilities at different WWRs.
ICU windows facing south enjoyed a reasonable number of
configuration options as well. By contrast, the ICU windows facing
the east orientation had a very limited number of options that provide
acceptable performance. These require additional local shading
measures at certain times due to glare incidence. Moreover, use of
horizontal sun breakers and solar screens to protect the ICU windows
proved to be more successful than the other alternatives in a wide
range of Window to Wall Ratios. By contrast, the use of light shelves
and vertical shading devices seemed questionable.
Abstract: Electrodeposition is a simple and economic technique
for precision coating of different shaped substrates with pure metal,
alloy or composite films. Dc electrodeposition was used to produce
Cr, Co-Cr and Co-Cr/TiO2 nano-composite coatings from Cr(III)
based electrolytes onto 316L SS substrates. The effects of TiO2 nanoparticles
concentration on co-deposition of these particles along with
Cr content and microhardness of the coatings were investigated.
Morphology of the Cr, Co-Cr and Co-Cr/TiO2 coatings besides their
tribological behavior were studied. The results showed that increment
of TiO2 nanoparticles concentration from 0 to 30 g L-1 in the bath
increased their co-deposition and Cr content of the coatings from 0 to
3.5 wt.% and from 23.7 to 31.2 wt.%, respectively. Microhardness of
Cr coating was about 920 Hv which was higher than Co-Cr and even
Co-Cr/TiO2 films. Microhardness of Co-Cr and Co-Cr/TiO2 coatings
were improved by increasing their Cr and TiO2 content. All the
coatings had nodular morphology and contained microcracks.
Nodules sizes and the number of microcracks in the alloy and
composite coatings were lower than the Cr film. Wear results
revealed that the Co-Cr/TiO2 coating had the lowest wear loss
between all the samples, while the Cr film had the worst wear
resistance.
Abstract: The fatigue life of tubular joints commonly found in
offshore industry is not only dependent on the value of hot-spot stress
(HSS), but is also significantly influenced by the through-thethickness
stress distribution characterized by the degree of bending
(DoB). The determination of DoB values in a tubular joint is essential
for improving the accuracy of fatigue life estimation using the stresslife
(S–N) method and particularly for predicting the fatigue crack
growth based on the fracture mechanics (FM) approach. In the
present paper, data extracted from finite element (FE) analyses of
tubular KT-joints, verified against experimental data and parametric
equations, was used to investigate the effects of geometrical
parameters on DoB values at the crown 0°, saddle, and crown 180°
positions along the weld toe of central brace in tubular KT-joints
subjected to axial loading. Parametric study was followed by a set of
nonlinear regression analyses to derive DoB parametric formulas for
the fatigue analysis of KT-joints under axial loads. The tubular KTjoint
is a quite common joint type found in steel offshore structures.
However, despite the crucial role of the DoB in evaluating the fatigue
performance of tubular joints, this paper is the first attempt to study
and formulate the DoB values in KT-joints.
Abstract: Water miscible cutting fluids are conventionally used to lubricate and cool the machining zone. But issues related to health hazards, maintenance and disposal costs have limited their usage, leading to application of Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL). To increase the effectiveness of MQL, nanocutting fluids are proposed. In the present work, water miscible nanographite cutting fluids of varying concentration are applied at cutting zone by two systems A and B. System A utilizes high pressure air and supplies cutting fluid at a flow rate of 1ml/min. System B uses low pressure air and supplies cutting fluid at a flow rate of 5ml/min. Their performance in machining is evaluated by measuring cutting temperatures, tool wear, cutting forces and surface roughness and compared with dry machining and flood machining. Application of nanocutting fluid using both systems showed better performance than dry machining. Cutting temperatures and cutting forces obtained by both techniques are more than flood machining. But tool wear and surface roughness showed improvement compared to flood machining. Economic analysis has been carried out in all the cases to decide the applicability of the techniques.
Abstract: In this paper, a summary of analytical and
experimental studies into the behavior of a new hysteretic damper,
designed for seismic protection of structures is presented. The Multidirectional
Torsional Hysteretic Damper (MRSD) is a patented
invention in which a symmetrical arrangement of identical cylindrical
steel cores is so configured as to yield in torsion while the structure
experiences planar movements due to earthquake shakings. The new
device has certain desirable properties. Notably, it is characterized by
a variable and controllable-via-design post-elastic stiffness. The
mentioned property is a result of MRSD’s kinematic configuration
which produces this geometric hardening, rather than being a
secondary large-displacement effect. Additionally, the new system is
capable of reaching high force and displacement capacities, shows
high levels of damping, and very stable cyclic response. The device
has gone through many stages of design refinement, multiple
prototype verification tests and development of design guide-lines
and computer codes to facilitate its implementation in practice.
Practicality of the new device, as offspring of an academic sphere, is
assured through extensive collaboration with industry in its final
design stages, prototyping and verification test programs.
Abstract: Damage status of RC buildings is greatly influenced
by the characteristics of the imposed ground motion. Peak Ground
Acceleration and frequency contents are considered the main two
factors that affect ground motion characteristics; hence, affecting the
seismic response of RC structures and consequently their damage
state. A detailed investigation on the combined effects of these two
factors on damage assessment of RC buildings is carried out. Twenty
one earthquake records are analyzed and arranged into three groups,
according to their frequency contents. These records are used in an
investigation to define the expected damage state that would be
attained by RC buildings, if subjected to varying ground motion
characteristics. The damage assessment is conducted through
examining drift ratios and damage indices of the overall structure and
the significant structural components of RC building. Base and story
shear of RC building model, are also investigated, for cases when the
model is subjected to the chosen twenty one earthquake records.
Nonlinear dynamic analyses are performed on a 2-dimensional model
of a 12-story RC building.
Abstract: The main purpose of this study was to figure out
employees’ attitudes toward the new performance appraisal program
and to examine whether three different types of appraisal processes
differentially affected job satisfaction and employee engagement. The
second purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship
between performance appraisal reform, job satisfaction, and employee
engagement. A large polyester and textile corporation had 2046
non-operational employees in February 2014. The valid participants
were 1474 (72.04%) in this study. Data analysis included descriptive
statistics, one-way ANOVA, one-way MANOVA, Pearson correlation,
Content Validity Index, the exploratory factor analysis, and reliability
analysis. The general results showed that employees who received the
new performance appraisal program evaluated the program more
positively and showed more job satisfaction than those who did not. In
particular, the implementation effects of this new performance
appraisal program were most highly rated by employees who used the
KPI to rate their job performance. Moreover, employees’ attitudes
toward the new performance appraisal program were positively related
to their job satisfaction and employee engagement. Lastly, most
employees regarded themselves as engaged workers. To sum up, the
HR department of this company has made an effective contribution to
performance appraisal reforms.
Abstract: Auditory hallucinations among the most invalidating
and distressing experiences reported by patients diagnosed with
schizophrenia, leading to feelings of powerlessness and helplessness
towards their illness. In more severe cases, these auditory
hallucinations can take the form of commanding voices, which are
often related to high suicidality rates in these patients. Several
authors propose that the meanings attributed to the hallucinatory
experience, rather than characteristics like form and content, can be
determinant in patients’ reactions to hallucinatory activity,
particularly in the case of voice-hearing experiences. In this study, 48
patients diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia presenting auditory
hallucinations were studied. Multiple regression analyses were
computed to study the influence of several developmental aspects,
such as family and social dynamics, bullying, depression, and sociocognitive
variables on the auditory hallucinations, on patients’
attributions and relationships with their voices, and on the resulting
invalidation of hallucinatory experience. Overall, results showed how
relationships with voices can mirror several aspects of interpersonal
relationship with others, and how self-schemas, depression and actual
social relationships help shaping the voice-hearing experience. Early
experiences of victimization and submission help predict the
attributions of omnipotence of the voices, and increased hostility
from parents seems to increase the malevolence of the voices,
suggesting that socio-cognitive factors can significantly contribute to
the etiology and maintenance of auditory hallucinations. The
understanding of the characteristics of auditory hallucinations and the
relationships patients established with their voices can allow the
development of more promising therapeutic interventions that can be
more effective in decreasing invalidation caused by this devastating
mental illness.
Abstract: Cerebellar ataxia is a steadily progressive
neurodegenerative disease associated with loss of motor control,
leaving patients unable to walk, talk, or perform activities of daily
living. Direct motor instruction in cerebella ataxia patients has limited
effectiveness, presumably because an inappropriate closed-loop
cerebellar response to the inevitable observed error confounds motor
learning mechanisms. Could the use of EEG based BCI provide
advanced biofeedback to improve motor imagery and provide a
“backdoor” to improving motor performance in ataxia patients? In
order to determine the feasibility of using EEG-based BCI control in
this population, we compare the ability to modulate mu-band power
(8-12 Hz) by performing a cued motor imagery task in an ataxia
patient and healthy control.
Abstract: Roles of the vegetation to mitigate the erosion of the
stream bed or to facilitate the deposition of the fine sediments by the
species of the aquatic plants were presented. Field investigation on the
estimation of the change of the bed level and the estimation of the flow
characteristics were performed. The results showed that Phragmites
japonica has the mitigation function of 0.3m-0.4m of the erosion in the
range of higher than 1.0m/s of flow velocity at the vegetated region.
Phragmites communis has the mitigation function of 0.2m-0.3m of the
erosion in the range of higher than 0.7m/s of flow velocity at the
vegetated region. Salix gracilistyla has greater role than Phragmites
japonica and Phragmites communis to sustain the stable channel. It
has the mitigation function of 0.4m-0.5m of the erosion in the range of
higher than 1.4m/s of flow velocity. Miscanthus sacchariflorus has a
weak role compared with that of Phragmites japonica and Salix
gracilistyla, but it has still function for sustaining the stable bed. From
these results, the vegetation has effective roles to mitigate the erosion
or to facilitate the deposition of the stream bed.
Abstract: The addition of lime as Ca(OH)2 to sewage sludge to
destroy pathogens (Escherichia coli), was evaluated also in relation
to heavy metal bioavailability.
The obtained results show that the use of calcium hydroxide at the
dose of 3% effectively destroyed pathogens ensuring the stability at
high pH values over long period and the duration of the sewage
sludge stabilization. In general, lime addition decreased the total
extractability of heavy metals indicating a reduced bioavailability of
these elements. This is particularly important for a safe utilization in
agricultural soils to reduce the possible transfer of heavy metals to
the food chain.
Abstract: Froth flotation remains to date as one of the most used
metallurgical processes for concentrating metal-bearing minerals in
ores. Oxide ores are relatively less amenable to froth flotation and
require a judicious choice of reagents for the recovery of metals to be
optimised. Laboratory batch flotation tests were conducted to
determine the effect of two types of gasoil-rinkalore mixtures on the
flotation response of a copper cobalt oxide ore sample. The head
assay conducted on the initial ore sample showed that it contained
about 2.90% of Cu, 0.12% of Co.
Upon the flotation test work, the results obtained indicated that the
concentrate obtained with use of the mixture gazoil-rinkalore RX
yielded 8.24% Cu and 0.22% Co concentrate grades with recoveries
of 76.0% Cu and 78.0% Co respectively. But, the concentrate
obtained by use of the mixture gazoil-rinkalore RX3 yielded
relatively bad results with 5.92% Cu and 0.18% Cu concentrate
grades with recoveries of 70.3% Cu and 65.3% Co respectively.
Abstract: In order to use bitumen in hot mix asphalt, it must
have specific characteristics. There are some methods to reach these
properties. Using polymer modifiers are one of the methods to
modify the bitumen properties. In this paper the effect of Styrene-
Butadiene-Rubber that is one of the bitumen polymer modifiers on
rheology properties of bitumen is studied. In this regard, the
rheological properties of base bitumen and the modified bitumen with
3, 4, and 5 percent of Styrene-Butadiene-Rubber (SBR) were
analysed. The results show that bitumen modified with 5 percent of
SBR has the best performance than the other samples.
Abstract: This paper presents the design and characterization of
analog readout interface circuits for ion sensitive field effect
transistor (ISFET) and ion selective electrode (ISE) based sensor.
These interface circuits are implemented using MIMOS’s 0.35um
CMOS technology and experimentally characterized under 24-leads
QFN package. The characterization evaluates the circuit’s
functionality, output sensitivity and output linearity. Commercial
sensors for both ISFET and ISE are employed together with glass
reference electrode during testing. The test result shows that the
designed interface circuits manage to readout signals produced by
both sensors with measured sensitivity of ISFET and ISE sensor are
54mV/pH and 62mV/decade, respectively. The characterized output
linearity for both circuits achieves above 0.999 Rsquare. The readout
also has demonstrated reliable operation by passing all qualifications
in reliability test plan.
Abstract: The concept of national security in Iran is a
permanently effective factor in acceptance or rejection of many
international obligations. These obligations had been defined
according to the type of legislation of Iran in many aspects.
Therefore, there are several treaties at international level which
requires Iran’s security to come in contact with obligations in these
treaties in a way that an obstacle to join to them and their passage in
parliament. This issue is a typical category which every country pays
attention to be accepted in treaties or to include their national
security in that treaties and also they can see the related treaties from
this perspective, but this issue that 'what is the concept of Iran’s
national security', and 'To what extent it is changed in recent years,
especially after Islamic Revolution' are important issues that can be
criticized. Thus, this study is trying to assess singed treaties from the
perspective of Iran’s national security according of the true meaning
of treaty and to investigate how the international treaties may be in
conflict with Iran’s national security.
Abstract: On the basis of the theory of nonlinear elasticity, the
effect of homogeneous stress on the propagation of Lamb waves in
an initially isotropic hyperelastic plate is analysed. The equations
governing the propagation of small amplitude waves in the prestressed
plate are derived using the theory of small deformations
superimposed on large deformations. By enforcing traction free
boundary conditions at the upper and lower surfaces of the plate,
acoustoelastic dispersion equations for Lamb wave propagation are
obtained, which are solved numerically. Results are given for an
aluminum plate subjected to a range of applied stresses.
Abstract: There are many perceived advantages of microwave
ablation have driven researchers to develop innovative antennas to
effectively treat deep-seated, non-resectable hepatic tumors. In this
paper a coaxial antenna with a miniaturized sleeve choke has been
discussed for microwave interstitial ablation therapy, in order to
reduce backward heating effects irrespective of the insertion depth
into the tissue. Two dimensional Finite Element Method (FEM) is
used to simulate and measure the results of miniaturized sleeve choke
antenna. This paper emphasizes the importance of factors that can
affect simulation accuracy, which include mesh resolution, surface
heating and reflection coefficient. Quarter wavelength choke
effectiveness has been discussed by comparing it with the unchoked
antenna with same dimensions.