Abstract: This research paper reports on the feasibility and viability of eggshells ash and its effects on the water content and setting time of cement. An experiment was carried out to determine the quantity of water required in order to follow standard cement paste of normal consistency in accordance with MS EN 196-3:2007. The eggshells ash passing the 90µm sieve was used in the investigation. Eggshells ash with percentage of 0%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% were constituted to replace the cement. Chemical properties of both eggshells ash and cement are compared. From the results obtained, both eggshells ash and cement have the same chemical composition and primary composition which is the calcium compounds. Results from the setting time show that by adding the eggshells ash to the cement, the setting time of the cement decreases. In short, the higher amount of eggshells ash, the faster the rate of setting and apply to all percentage of eggshells ash that were used in this investigation. Both initial and final setting times fulfill the setting time requirements by Malaysian Standard. Hence, it is suggested that eggshells ash can be used as an admixture in concrete mix.
Abstract: Cytotoxic platinum compounds play a major role in the chemotherapy of a large number of human cancers. However, due to the severe side effects for the patient and other problems associated with their use, there is a need for the development of more efficient drugs and new methods for their selective delivery to the tumours. One way to achieve the latter could be in the use of nanoparticular substrates that can adsorb or chemically bind the drug. In the cell, the drug is supposed to be slowly released, either by physical desorption or by dissolution of the particle framework. Ideally, the cytotoxic properties of the platinum drug unfold only then, in the cancer cell and over a longer period of time due to the gradual release. In this paper, we report on our first steps in this direction. The binding properties of a series of cytotoxic Pt(II) oxadiazoline compounds to mesoporous silica particles has been studied by NMR and UV/vis spectroscopy. High loadings were achieved when the Pt(II) compound was relatively polar, and has been dissolved in a relatively nonpolar solvent before the silica was added. Typically, 6-10 hours were required for complete equilibration, suggesting the adsorption did not only occur to the outer surface but also to the interior of the pores. The untreated and Pt(II) loaded particles were characterised by C, H, N combustion analysis, BET/BJH nitrogen sorption, electron microscopy (REM and TEM) and EDX. With the latter methods we were able to demonstrate the homogenous distribution of the Pt(II) compound on and in the silica particles, and no Pt(II) bulk precipitate had formed. The in vitro cytotoxicity in a human cancer cell line (HeLa) has been determined for one of the new platinum compounds adsorbed to mesoporous silica particles of different size, and compared with the corresponding compound in solution. The IC50 data are similar in all cases, suggesting that the release of the Pt(II) compound was relatively fast and possibly occurred before the particles reached the cells. Overall, the platinum drug is chemically stable on silica and retained its activity upon prolonged storage.
Abstract: This paper describes the Message Passing Interface
(MPI) implementation of ADETRAN language, and its evaluation
on SX-ACE supercomputers. ADETRAN language includes pdo
statement that specifies the data distribution and parallel computations
and pass statement that specifies the redistribution of arrays. Two
methods for implementation of pass statement are discussed and the
performance evaluation using Splitting-Up CG method is presented.
The effectiveness of the parallelization is evaluated and the advantage
of one dimensional distribution is empirically confirmed by using the
results of experiments.
Abstract: Introduction: Student nurses must develop skills in observation, communication and reflection as well as public health knowledge from their first year of training. This paper will explain a method developed for students to collect their own findings about public health in urban areas. These areas are both rich in the history of old public health that informs the content of many traditional public health walks, but are also locations where new public health concerns about chronic disease are concentrated. The learning method explained in this paper enables students to collect their own data and write original work as first year students. Examples of their findings will be given. Methodology: In small groups, health care students are instructed to walk in neighbourhoods near to the hospitals they will soon attend as apprentice nurses. On their walks, they wander slowly, engage in conversations, and enter places open to the public. As they drift, they observe with all five senses in the real three dimensional world to collect data for their reflective accounts of old and new public health. They are encouraged to stop for refreshments and taste, as well as look, hear, smell, and touch while on their walk. They reflect as a group and later develop an individual reflective account in which they write up their deep reflections about what they observed on their walk. In preparation for their walk, they are encouraged to look at studies of quality of Life and other neighbourhood statistics as well as undertaking a risk assessment for their walk. Findings: Reflecting on their walks, students apply theoretical concepts around social determinants of health and health inequalities to develop their understanding of communities in the neighbourhoods visited. They write about the treasured historical architecture made of stone, bronze and marble which have outlived those who built them; but also how the streets are used now. The students develop their observations into thematic analyses such as: what we drink as illustrated by the empty coke can tossed into a now disused drinking fountain; the shift in home-life balance illustrated by streets where families once lived over the shop which are now walked by commuters weaving around each other as they talk on their mobile phones; and security on the street, with CCTV cameras placed at regular intervals, signs warning trespasses and barbed wire; but little evidence of local people watching the street. Conclusion: In evaluations of their first year, students have reported the health walk as one of their best experiences. The innovative approach was commended by the UK governing body of nurse education and it received a quality award from the nurse education funding body. This approach to education allows students to develop skills in the real world and write original work.
Abstract: The fluid-structure coupling is a natural phenomenon which reflects the effects of two continuums: fluid and structure of different types in the reciprocal action on each other, involving knowledge of elasticity and fluid mechanics. The solution for such problems is based on the relations of continuum mechanics and is mostly solved with numerical methods. It is a computational challenge to solve such problems because of the complex geometries, intricate physics of fluids, and complicated fluid-structure interactions. The way in which the interaction between fluid and solid is described gives the largest opportunity for reducing the computational effort. In this paper, a problem of fluid structure interaction is investigated with two-way coupling method. The formulation Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) was used, by considering a dynamic grid, where the solid is described by a Lagrangian formulation and the fluid by a Eulerian formulation. The simulation was made on the ANSYS software.
Abstract: Coffee is a widely consumed beverage with many components such as caffeine, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and minerals. Coffee consumption continues to increase due to its physiological effects, its pleasant taste, and aroma. Robusta and Arabica are two basic types of coffee beans. The coffee bean used for Turkish coffee is Arabica. There are many elements in the structure of coffee and have various effect on human health such as Sodium (Na), Boron (B), Magnesium (Mg) and Iron (Fe). In this study, the amounts of Mg, Na, Fe, and B contents in Turkish coffee are determined and effect of sugar addition is investigated for conscious consumption. The analysis of the contents of coffees was determined by using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). From the results of the experiments the Mg, Na, Fe and B contents of Turkish coffee after sugar addition were found as 19.83, 1.04, 0.02, 0.21 ppm, while without using sugar these concentrations were found 21.46, 0.81, 0.008 and 0.16 ppm. In addition, element contents were calculated for 1, 3 and 5 cups of coffee in order to investigate the health effects.
Abstract: The paper presents and energy management strategy for a Fuel Cell, Ultracapacitor, Battery hybrid energy storage. The fuel cell hybrid power system is devised basically for emergency power requirements and transient load applications. The power density of an Ultracapacitor is extremely high and for a battery, it is subtle. For a fuel cell, the value of power density is medium. The energy density of these three stockpiling gadgets is contrarily about the power density, i.e. for the batteries it is most noteworthy and for the Ultracapacitor, it is least. Again the fuel cell has medium energy density. The proposed Energy Management System (EMS) is trying to rationalize these parameters viz. the energy density and power density. The working of the fuel cell, Ultracapacitor and batteries are controlled in a coordinated environment in a way to optimize the energy usage and at the same time to get benefits of power and energy density from their inherent characteristics. MATLAB/ Simulink® based test bench is created by using different DC-DC converters for all energy storage devices and an inverter is modeled to supply the time varying load. The results provided by the EMS are highly satisfactory that proves its adaptability.
Abstract: Jabal Omar is located in the western side of Makkah city in Saudi Arabia. The proposed Jabal Omar Development project includes several multi-storey buildings, roads, bridges and below ground structures founded at various depths. In this study, geological mapping and site inspection which covered pre-selected areas were carried out within the easily accessed parts. Geological features; including rock types, structures, degree of weathering, and geotechnical hazards were observed and analyzed with specified software and also were documented in form of photographs. The presence of joints and fractures in the area made the rock blocks small and weak. The site is full of jointing; it was observed that, the northern side consists of 3 to 4 jointing systems with 2 random fractures associated with dykes. The southern part is affected by 2 to 3 jointing systems with minor fault and shear zones. From the field measurements and observations, it was concluded that, the Jabal Omar intruded by andesitic and basaltic dykes of different thickness and orientation. These dykes made the outcrop weak, highly deformed and made the rock masses sensitive to weathering.
Abstract: The study of Sanitary landfill in Bang Nok-khwaek
municipality consists of two procedures. First, to survey and create
the spatial database by using physical factor, environmental factor,
economical factor and social factor to follow the method of
Geographic information system: GIS, second, to analyze the proper
spatial for allocating the sanitary landfill in Bang Nok-khwaek
municipality by using Overlay techniques to calculate the weighting
linear total in Arc GIS program.
The study found that there are 2.49 sq.km. proper spatial for the
sanitary landfill in Bang Nok-khwaek municipals city which is
66.76% of the whole area. The highest proper spatial is 0.02 sq.km.
which is 0.54%, The high proper spatial is 0.3 sq.km. which is
8.04%, the moderate spatial is 1.62 sq.km. which is 43.43% and the
low proper spatial is 0.55 sq.km. which is 14.75%. These results will
be used as the guideline to select the sanitary landfill area in
accordance with sanitation standard for Subdistrict Administrative
Organization and Subbdistrict Municipality in Samut Songkhram
provice.
Abstract: The damage caused by surge waves generated in water
bodies by flow-like landslides can be very high in terms of human
lives and economic losses. The complicated phenomena occurred in
this highly unsteady process are difficult to model because three
interacting phases: air, water and sediment are involved. The problem
therefore is challenging since the effects of non-Newtonian fluid
describing the rheology of the flow-like landslides, multi-phase flow
and free surface have to be included in the simulation. In this work, the
commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package FLUENT is
used to model the surge waves due to flow-like landslides. The
comparison between the numerical results and experimental data
reported in the literature confirms the accuracy of the method.
Abstract: This paper describes the use of by-products as
adsorbents for removing heavy metals from aqueous effluent
solutions. Products of almond skin, walnut shell, saw dust, rice bran
and egg shell were evaluated as metal ion adsorbents in aqueous
solutions. A comparative study was done with commercial adsorbents
like ion exchange resins and activated carbon too. Batch experiments
were investigated to determine the affinity of all of biomasses for,
Cd(ΙΙ), Cr(ΙΙΙ), Ni(ΙΙ), and Pb(ΙΙ) metal ions at pH 5. The rate of
metal ion removal in the synthetic wastewater by the biomass was
evaluated by measuring final concentration of synthetic wastewater.
At a concentration of metal ion (50 mg/L), egg shell adsorbed high
levels (98.6 – 99.7%) of Pb(ΙΙ) and Cr(ΙΙΙ) and walnut shell adsorbed
high levels (35.3 – 65.4%) of Ni(ΙΙ) and Cd(ΙΙ). In this study, it has
been shown that by-products were excellent adsorbents for removal
of toxic ions from wastewater with efficiency comparable to
commercially available adsorbents, but at a reduced cost. Also
statistical studies using Independent Sample t Test and ANOVA Oneway
for statistical comparison between various elements adsorption
showed that there isn’t a significant difference in some elements
adsorption percentage by by-products and commercial adsorbents.
Abstract: Nanocomposites of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and
date wood fiber were prepared after modification of the host matrix
by reactive extrusion grafting of maleic anhydride. Chemical and
mechanical treatment of date wood flour (WF) was conducted to
obtain nanocrystalline cellulose. Layered silicates (clay) were
partially intercalated with date wood fiber, and the modified layered
silicate was used as filler in the PP matrix via a melt-blending
process. The tensile strength of composites prepared from wood fiber
modified clay was greater than that of the iPP-clay and iPP-WF
composites at a 6% filler concentration, whereas deterioration of
mechanical properties was observed when clay and WF were used
alone for reinforcement. The dispersion of the filler in the matrix
significantly decreased after clay modification with cellulose at
higher concentrations, as shown by X-ray diffraction (XRD) data.
Abstract: Proper selection of welding parameters for getting
excellent weld is a challenge. HAZ simulation helps in identifying
suitable welding parameters like heating rate, cooling rate, peak
temperature, and energy input. In this study, the influence of weld
thermal cycle of heat affected zone (HAZ) is simulated for
Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) using Gleeble ® 3800 thermomechanical
simulator. A (Micro-alloyed) MA steel plate of thickness
18 mm having yield strength 450MPa is used for making test
specimens. Determination of the mechanical properties of weld
simulated specimens including Charpy V-notch toughness and
hardness is performed. Peak temperatures of 1300°C, 1150°C,
1000°C, 900°C, 800°C, heat energy input of 22KJ/cm and preheat
temperatures of 30°C have been used with Rykalin-3D simulation
model. It is found that the impact toughness (75J) is the best for the
simulated HAZ specimen at the peak temperature 900ºC. For parent
steel, impact toughness value is 26.8J at -50°C in transverse
direction.
Abstract: Fuzzy regression models are useful for investigating
the relationship between explanatory variables and responses in fuzzy
environments. To overcome the deficiencies of previous models and
increase the explanatory power of fuzzy data, the graded mean
integration (GMI) representation is applied to determine
representative crisp regression coefficients. A fuzzy regression model
is constructed based on the modified dissemblance index (MDI),
which can precisely measure the actual total error. Compared with
previous studies based on the proposed MDI and distance criterion, the
results from commonly used test examples show that the proposed
fuzzy linear regression model has higher explanatory power and
forecasting accuracy.
Abstract: Forecasting electricity load plays a crucial role regards
decision making and planning for economical purposes. Besides, in
the light of the recent privatization and deregulation of the power
industry, the forecasting of future electricity load turned out to be a
very challenging problem. Empirical data about electricity load
highlights a clear seasonal behavior (higher load during the winter
season), which is partly due to climatic effects. We also emphasize
the presence of load periodicity at a weekly basis (electricity load is
usually lower on weekends or holidays) and at daily basis (electricity
load is clearly influenced by the hour). Finally, a long-term trend may
depend on the general economic situation (for example, industrial
production affects electricity load). All these features must be
captured by the model.
The purpose of this paper is then to build an hourly electricity load
model. The deterministic component of the model requires non-linear
regression and Fourier series while we will investigate the stochastic
component through econometrical tools.
The calibration of the parameters’ model will be performed by
using data coming from the Italian market in a 6 year period (2007-
2012). Then, we will perform a Monte Carlo simulation in order to
compare the simulated data respect to the real data (both in-sample
and out-of-sample inspection). The reliability of the model will be
deduced thanks to standard tests which highlight a good fitting of the
simulated values.
Abstract: Biological processes based on oxidation of sulfur
compounds by chemolithotrophic microorganisms are emerging as an
efficient and eco-friendly technique for removal of sulfur from the
coal. In the present article, study was carried out to investigate the
potential of biodesulfurization process in removing the sulfur from
lignite coal sample collected from a Mongolian coal mine. The batch
biodesulfurization experiments were conducted in 2.5 L borosilicate
baffle type reactors at 35 ºC using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans.
The effect of pulp density on efficiency of biodesulfurization was
investigated at different solids concentration (1-10%) of coal. The
results of the present study suggested that the rate of desulfurization
was retarded at higher coal pulp density. The optimum pulp density
found 5% at which about 48% of the total sulfur was removed from
the coal.
Abstract: Topology optimization technique utilizes constant
element densities as design parameters. Finally, optimal distribution
contours of the material densities between voids (0) and solids (1) in
design domain represent the determination of topology. It means that
regions with element density values become occupied by solids in
design domain, while there are only void phases in regions where no
density values exist. Therefore the void regions of topology
optimization results provide design information to decide appropriate
depositions of web-opening in structure. Contrary to the basic
objective of the topology optimization technique which is to obtain
optimal topology of structures, this present study proposes a new idea
that topology optimization results can be also utilized for decision of
proper web-opening’s position. Numerical examples of linear
elastostatic structures demonstrate efficiency of methodological
design processes using topology optimization in order to determinate
the proper deposition of web-openings.
Abstract: Object manipulation techniques in robotics can be
categorized in two major groups including manipulation with grasp
and manipulation without grasp. The original aim of this paper is to
develop an object manipulation method where in addition to being
grasp-less, the manipulation task is done in a passive approach. In
this method, linear and angular positions of the object are changed
and its manipulation path is controlled. The manipulation path is a
helix track with constant radius and incline. The method presented in
this paper proposes a system which has not the actuator and the active
controller. So this system requires a passive mechanical intelligence
to convey the object from the status of the source along the specified
path to the goal state. This intelligent is created based on utilizing the
geometry of the system components. A general set up for the
components of the system is considered to satisfy the required
conditions. Then after kinematical analysis, detailed dimensions and
geometry of the mechanism is obtained. The kinematical results are
verified by simulation in ADAMS.
Abstract: The purposes of this study are 1) to study the frequent
English writing errors of students registering the course: Reading and
Writing English for Academic Purposes II, and 2) to find out the
results of writing error correction by using coded indirect corrective
feedback and writing error treatments. Samples include 28 2nd year
English Major students, Faculty of Education, Suan Sunandha
Rajabhat University. Tool for experimental study includes the lesson
plan of the course; Reading and Writing English for Academic
Purposes II, and tool for data collection includes 4 writing tests of
short texts. The research findings disclose that frequent English
writing errors found in this course comprise 7 types of grammatical
errors, namely Fragment sentence, Subject-verb agreement, Wrong
form of verb tense, Singular or plural noun endings, Run-ons
sentence, Wrong form of verb pattern and Lack of parallel structure.
Moreover, it is found that the results of writing error correction by
using coded indirect corrective feedback and error treatment reveal
the overall reduction of the frequent English writing errors and the
increase of students’ achievement in the writing of short texts with
the significance at .05.
Abstract: The paper analyses the role of small farms in socio-economic development of agriculture in Georgia and evaluates modern concepts regarding the development of the farms of this size. The scale of farms in Georgia is studied and the major problems are revealed. Opportunities and directions of diversification are discussed from the point of increasing the share of Georgian grapes and wine both on domestic and international markets. It’s shown that the size of vineyard areas is directly reflected on the grape and wine production potential. Accordingly, vineyard area and grape production dynamics is discussed. Comparative analysis of small farms in Georgia and Italy is made and the major differences are identified. Diversification is evaluated based on cost-benefit analysis on the one hand and on the other hand, from the point of promoting economic activities, protecting nature and rural area development. The paper provides proofs for the outcomes of diversification. The key hindering factors for the development of small farms are identified and corresponding conclusions are made, based on which recommendations for diversification of the farms of this size are developed.