Abstract: This paper presents a method of evaluating the effect
of aggregate angularity on hot mix asphalt (HMA) properties and its
relationship to the Permanent Deformation resistance. The research
concluded that aggregate particle angularity had a significant effect
on the Permanent Deformation performance, and also that with an
increase in coarse aggregate angularity there was an increase in the
resistance of mixes to Permanent Deformation. A comparison
between the measured data and predictive data of permanent
deformation predictive models showed the limits of existing
prediction models. The numerical analysis described the permanent
deformation zones and concluded that angularity has an effect of the
onset of these zones. Prediction of permanent deformation help road
agencies and by extension economists and engineers determine the
best approach for maintenance, rehabilitation, and new construction
works of the road infrastructure.
Abstract: Some plants of genus Schinus have been used in the
folk medicine as topical antiseptic, digestive, purgative, diuretic,
analgesic or antidepressant, and also for respiratory and urinary
infections. Chemical composition of essential oils of S. molle and S.
terebinthifolius had been evaluated and presented high variability
according with the part of the plant studied and with the geographic
and climatic regions. The pharmacological properties, namely
antimicrobial, anti-tumoural and anti-inflammatory activities are
conditioned by chemical composition of essential oils. Taking into
account the difficulty to infer the pharmacological properties of
Schinus essential oils without hard experimental approach, this work
will focus on the development of a decision support system, in terms
of its knowledge representation and reasoning procedures, under a
formal framework based on Logic Programming, complemented with
an approach to computing centered on Artificial Neural Networks
and the respective Degree-of-Confidence that one has on such an
occurrence.
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: Any variation in environmental characteristics of
geomorphosites would lead to destabilisation of their geotouristic
values all around the planet. The Urmia lake, with an area of
approximately 5,500 km2 and a catchment area of 51,876 km2, and to
which various reasons over time, especially in the last fifty years
have seen a sharp decline and have decreased by about 93 % in two
recent decades. These variations are not only driving significant
changes in the morphology and ecology of the present lake
landscape, but at the same time are shaping newly formed
morphologies, which vanished some valuable geomorphosites or
develop into smaller geomorphosites with significant value from a
scientific and cultural point of view. This paper analyses and
discusses features and evolution in several representative coastal and
island geomorphosites. For this purpose, a total of 23 geomorphosites
were studied in two data series (1963 and 2015) and the respective
data were compared and analysed. The results showed, the total loss
in geomorphosites area in a half century amounted to a loss of more
than 90% of the valuable geomorphosites. Moreover, the comparison
between the mean yearly value of coastal area lost over the entire
period and the yearly average calculated for the shorter period (1998-
2014) clearly indicates a pattern of acceleration. This acceleration in
the rate of reduction in lake area was seen in most of the southern
half of the lake. In the region as well, the general water-level falling
is not only causing the loss of a significant water resource, which is
followed by major impact on regional ecosystems, but is also driving
the most marked recent (last century) changes in the geotouristic
landscapes. In fact, the disappearance of geomorphosites means the
loss of tourism phenomenon. In this context attention must be paid to
the question of conservation. The action needed to safeguard
geomorphosites includes: 1) Preventive action, 2) Corrective action,
and 3) Sharing knowledge.
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: 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 comprehensive CFD models have been used to
represent and study the heterogeneous combustion of biomass. In the
present work, the operation of a global flue gas circuit in the sugarcane
bagasse combustion, from wind boxes below primary air grate
supply, passing by bagasse insertion in swirl burners and boiler
furnace, to boiler bank outlet is simulated. It uses five different
meshes representing each part of this system located in sequence:
wind boxes and grate, boiler furnace, swirl burners, superheaters and
boiler bank. The model considers turbulence using standard k-ε,
combustion using EDM, radiation heat transfer using DTM with 16
ray directions and bagasse particle tracking represented by Schiller-
Naumann model. The results showed good agreement with expected
behavior found in literature and equipment design. The more detailed
results view in separated parts of flue gas system allows observing
some flow behaviors that cannot be represented by usual
simplifications like bagasse supply under homogeneous axial and
rotational vectors and others that can be represented using new
considerations like the representation of 26 thousand grate orifices by
144 rectangular inlets.
Abstract: This article is to introduce the meaning and form of
social quality moving process as indicated by members of two suburb
communities with different social and cultural contexts. The form of
social quality moving process is very significant for the community
and social development, because it will make the people living
together with sustainable happiness.
This is a qualitative study involving 30 key-informants from two
suburb communities. Data were collected though key-informant
interviews, and analyzed using logical content description and
descriptive statistics.
This research found that on the social quality component, the
people in both communities stressed the procedure for social qualitymaking.
This includes the generousness, sharing and assisting among
people in the communities. These practices helped making people to
live together with sustainable happiness. Living as a family or appear
to be a family is the major social characteristic of these two
communities.
This research also found that form of social quality’s moving
process of both communities stress relation of human and nature;
“nature overpower humans” paradigm and influence of religious
doctrine that emphasizes relations among humans. Both criteria make
the form of social’s moving process simple, adaptive to nature and
caring for opinion sharing and understanding among each other
before action. This form of social quality’s moving process is
composed of 4 steps; (1) awareness building, (2) motivation to
change, (3) participation from every party which is concerned (4)
self-reliance.
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: The chemical and physical characteristics of rainwater
harvested from a typical rooftop were progressively studied. The
samples of rainwater collected were analyzed for pH, major ion
concentrations, TDS, turbidity, conductivity. All the Physicochemical
constituents fell within the WHO guideline limits at some points as
rainfall progresses except the pH. All the components of rainwater
quality measured during the study showed higher concentrations
during the early stages of rainfall and reduce as time progresses.
There was a downward trend in terms of pH as rain progressed, with
18% of the samples recording pH below the WHO limit of 6.5-8.0. It
was observed that iron concentration was above the WHO threshold
value of 0.3 mg/l on occasions of heavy rains. The results revealed
that most of physicochemical characteristics of rainwater samples
were generally below the WHO threshold, as such, the rainwater
characteristics showed satisfactory conditions in terms of
physicochemical constituents.
Abstract: We present a refined multiscale Shannon entropy for
analyzing electroencephalogram (EEG), which reflects the underlying
dynamics of EEG over multiple scales. The rationale behind
this method is that neurological signals such as EEG possess
distinct dynamics over different spectral modes. To deal with the
nonlinear and nonstationary nature of EEG, the recently developed
empirical mode decomposition (EMD) is incorporated, allowing a
decomposition of EEG into its inherent spectral components, referred
to as intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). By calculating the Shannon
entropy of IMFs in a time-dependent manner and summing them over
adaptive multiple scales, it results in an adaptive subscale entropy
measure of EEG. Simulation and experimental results show that
the proposed entropy properly reveals the dynamical changes over
multiple scales.
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: In statistics parameter theory, usually the
parameter estimations have two kinds, one is the least-square
estimation (LSE), and the other is the best linear unbiased
estimation (BLUE). Due to the determining theorem of
minimum variance unbiased estimator (MVUE), the parameter
estimation of BLUE in linear model is most ideal. But since
the calculations are complicated or the covariance is not
given, people are hardly to get the solution. Therefore, people
prefer to use LSE rather than BLUE. And this substitution
will take some losses. To quantize the losses, many scholars
have presented many kinds of different relative efficiencies in
different views. For the linear weighted regression model, this
paper discusses the relative efficiencies of LSE of β to BLUE
of β. It also defines two new relative efficiencies and gives
their lower bounds.
Abstract: Software fault prediction models are created by using
the source code, processed metrics from the same or previous version
of code and related fault data. Some company do not store and keep
track of all artifacts which are required for software fault prediction.
To construct fault prediction model for such company, the training
data from the other projects can be one potential solution. Earlier we
predicted the fault the less cost it requires to correct. The training
data consists of metrics data and related fault data at function/module
level. This paper investigates fault predictions at early stage using the
cross-project data focusing on the design metrics. In this study,
empirical analysis is carried out to validate design metrics for cross
project fault prediction. The machine learning techniques used for
evaluation is Naïve Bayes. The design phase metrics of other projects
can be used as initial guideline for the projects where no previous
fault data is available. We analyze seven datasets from NASA
Metrics Data Program which offer design as well as code metrics.
Overall, the results of cross project is comparable to the within
company data learning.