Abstract: The substantial development of the construction
industry has forced the cement industry, its major support, to focus
on achieving maximum productivity to meet the growing demand for
this material. This means that the reliability of a cement production
system needs to be at the highest level that can be achieved by good
maintenance. This paper studies the extent to which the
implementation of RCM is needed as a strategy for increasing the
reliability of the production systems component can be increased,
thus ensuring continuous productivity. In a case study of four Libyan
cement factories, 80 employees were surveyed and 12 top and middle
managers interviewed. It is evident that these factories usually
breakdown more often than once per month which has led to a
decline in productivity. In many times they cannot achieve the
minimum level of production amount. This has resulted from the
poor reliability of their production systems as a result of poor or
insufficient maintenance. It has been found that most of the factories’
employees misunderstand maintenance and its importance. The main
cause of this problem is the lack of qualified and trained staff, but in
addition it has been found that most employees are not found to be
motivated as a result of a lack of management support and interest. In
response to these findings, it has been suggested that the RCM
strategy should be implemented in the four factories. The results
show the importance of the development of maintenance strategies
through the implementation of RCM in these factories. The purpose
of it would be to overcome the problems that could secure the
reliability of the production systems. This study could be a useful
source of information for academic researchers and the industrial
organizations which are still experiencing problems in maintenance
practices.
Abstract: This paper presents the results of an experimental
study undertaken to evaluate the local bond stress-slip response of
short embedment of reinforcing bars in normal concrete (NC) and
high performance fiber reinforced cement composites (HPFRCC)
blocks. Long embedment was investigated as well to gain insights on
the distribution of strain, slip, bar stress and bond stress along the bar
especially in post-yield range. A total of 12 specimens were tested,
by means of pull-out of the reinforcing bars from concrete blocks. It
was found that the enhancement of local bond strength can be
reached up to 50% and ductility of the bond behavior was improved
significantly if HPFRCC is used. Also, under a constant strain at
loaded end, HPFRCC has delayed yielding of bars at other location
from the loaded end. Hence, the reduction of bond stress was slower
for HPFRCC in comparison with NC. Due to the same reason, the
total slips at loaded end for HPFRCC was smaller than NC as
expected. Test results indicated that HPFRCC has better bond slip
behavior which makes it a suitable material to be employed in
anchorage zone such as beam-column joints.
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: 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: In this research, TRACE model of Chinshan BWR/4
nuclear power plant (NPP) has been developed for the simulation and
analysis of ultimate response guideline (URG).The main actions of
URG are the depressurization and low pressure water injection of
reactor and containment venting. This research focuses to verify the
URG efficiency under Fukushima-like conditions. TRACE analysis
results show that the URG can keep the PCT below the criteria
1088.7 K under Fukushima-like conditions. It indicated that Chinshan
NPP was safe.
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: A Japanese manga character, Doraemon, was made by
Fujiko F. Fujio in 1969, was made into animation in 1973. The main
character, Doraemon, is a robot cat, and is a well-known Japanese
animated character. However, Doraemon is not only regarded as an
animation character but it is also used in educational and technological
programs in Japan.
This paper focuses on the background of Doraemon, educational
and technological perspectives on Doraemon, and comparison of the
original Japanese animation and the US remade version, and the
animator Fujiko’s dreams and hopes for Doraemon will be examined.
Since Doraemon has been exported as animation and manga to
overseas, perspectives toward Doraemon have changed. For example,
changes of stories and characters can been seen in the present
Doraemon animation. Not only the overseas TV productions which
broadcast Doraemon but also the Japanese production has to consider
violence, sexuality, etc. when editing episodes. Because of
representation of cultural differences, Japanese animation is thought to
contain more violence, discrimination, and sexuality in animation.
With responses from overseas, the Japanese production was cautious
about the US remade version. They cared about the US Broadcast
Standard, and tried to consider US customs and culture in the US
remade version. Seeing the difference, acculturation is necessary for
exports of animation overseas. Moreover, observing different aspects
of Doraemon domestically, Doraemon provides dreams and hopes to
children.
Abstract: Transportation of long turbine blades from one place
to another is a difficult process. Hence a feasibility study of
modularization of wind turbine blade was taken from structural
standpoint through finite element analysis. Initially, a non-segmented
blade is modeled and its structural behavior is evaluated to serve as
reference. The resonant, static bending and fatigue tests are simulated
in accordance with IEC61400-23 standard for comparison purpose.
The non-segmented test blade is separated at suitable location based
on trade off studies and the segments are joined with an innovative
double strap bonded joint configuration. The adhesive joint is
modeled by adopting cohesive zone modeling approach in ANSYS.
The developed blade model is analyzed for its structural response
through simulation. Performances of both the blades are found to be
similar, which indicates that, efficient segmentation of the long blade
is possible which facilitates easy transportation of the blades and on
site reassembling. The location selected for segmentation and
adopted joint configuration has resulted in an efficient segmented
blade model which proves the methodology adopted for segmentation
was quite effective. The developed segmented blade appears to be the
viable alternative considering its structural response specifically in
fatigue within considered assumptions.
Abstract: Fabric textures are very common in our daily life.
However, the representation of fabric textures has never been explored
from neuroscience view. Theoretical studies suggest that primary
visual cortex (V1) uses a sparse code to efficiently represent natural
images. However, how the simple cells in V1 encode the artificial
textures is still a mystery. So, here we will take fabric texture as
stimulus to study the response of independent component analysis that
is established to model the receptive field of simple cells in V1. We
choose 140 types of fabrics to get the classical fabric textures as
materials. Experiment results indicate that the receptive fields of
simple cells have obvious selectivity in orientation, frequency and
phase when drifting gratings are used to determine their tuning
properties. Additionally, the distribution of optimal orientation and
frequency shows that the patch size selected from each original fabric
image has a significant effect on the frequency selectivity.
Abstract: The aim of the current study was to develop and
validate a Response to Stressful Situations Scale (RSSS) for the
Portuguese population. This scale assesses the degree of stress
experienced in scenarios that can constitute positive, negative and
more neutral stressors, and also describes the physiological,
emotional and behavioral reactions to those events according to their
intensity. These scenarios include typical stressor scenarios relevant
to patients with schizophrenia, which are currently absent from most
scales, assessing specific risks that these stressors may bring on
subjects, which may prove useful in non-clinical and clinical
populations (i.e. Patients with mood or anxiety disorders,
schizophrenia). Results from Principal Components Analysis and
Confirmatory Factor Analysis of two adult samples from general
population allowed to confirm a three-factor model with good fit
indices: χ2 (144)= 370.211, p = 0.000; GFI = 0.928; CFI = 0.927; TLI =
0.914, RMSEA = 0.055, P(rmsea ≤0.005) = .096; PCFI = .781.
Further data analysis of the scale revealed that RSSS is an adequate
assessment tool of stress response in adults to be used in further
research and clinical settings, with good psychometric characteristics,
adequate divergent and convergent validity, good temporal stability
and high internal consistency.
Abstract: Dielectric ceramic samples in the BaO-Re2O3-TiO2
ternary system were synthesized with structural formula Ba2-
xRe4+2x/3Ti8O24 where Re= rare earth metal and Re= Sm and La where
x varies from 0.0 to 0.6 with step size 0.1. Polycrystalline samples
were prepared by the conventional solid state reaction technique. The
dielectric, electrical and impedance analysis of all the samples in the
frequency range 1KHz- 1MHz at room temperature (25°C) have been
done to get the understanding of electrical conduction and dielectric
relaxation and their correlation. Dielectric response of the samples at
lower frequencies shows dielectric dispersion while at higher
frequencies it shows dielectric relaxation. The ac conductivity is well
fitted by the Jonscher law. The spectroscopic data in the impedance
plane confirms the existence of grain contribution to the relaxation.
All the properties are found out to be function of frequency as well as
the amount of substitution.
Abstract: The polymer foil used for manufacturing of
laminated glass members behaves in a viscoelastic manner with
temperature dependance. This contribution aims at incorporating
the time/temperature-dependent behavior of interlayer to our earlier
elastic finite element model for laminated glass beams. The model
is based on a refined beam theory: each layer behaves according
to the finite-strain shear deformable formulation by Reissner and
the adjacent layers are connected via the Lagrange multipliers
ensuring the inter-layer compatibility of a laminated unit. The
time/temperature-dependent behavior of the interlayer is accounted
for by the generalized Maxwell model and by the time-temperature
superposition principle due to the Williams, Landel, and Ferry.
The resulting system is solved by the Newton method with
consistent linearization and the viscoelastic response is determined
incrementally by the exponential algorithm. By comparing the model
predictions against available experimental data, we demonstrate that
the proposed formulation is reliable and accurately reproduces the
behavior of the laminated glass units.
Abstract: This paper presents a rank correlation curve. The
traditional correlation coefficient is valid for both continuous
variables and for integer variables using rank statistics. Since
the correlation coefficient has already been established in rank
statistics by Spearman, such a calculation can be extended to
the correlation curve.
This paper presents two survey questions. The survey
collected non-continuous variables. We will show weak to
moderate correlation. Obviously, one question has a negative
effect on the other. A review of the qualitative literature
can answer which question and why. The rank correlation
curve shows which collection of responses has a positive
slope and which collection of responses has a negative slope.
Such information is unavailable from the flat, ”first-glance”
correlation statistics.
Abstract: The use of engineered nanomaterials has increased as
a result of their positive impact on many sectors of the economy,
including agriculture. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are now used to
enhance seed germination, plant growth, and photosynthetic quantum
efficiency and as antimicrobial agents to control plant diseases. In
this study, we examined the effect of AgNP dosage on the seed
germination of three plant species: corn (Zea mays L.), watermelon
(Citrullus lanatus [Thunb.] Matsum. & Nakai) and zucchini
(Cucurbita pepo L.). This experiment was designed to study the
effect of AgNPs on germination percentage, germination rate, mean
germination time, root length and fresh and dry weight of seedlings
for the three species. Seven concentrations (0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2
and 2.5 mg/ml) of AgNPs were examined at the seed germination
stage. The three species had different dose responses to AgNPs in
terms of germination parameters and the measured growth
characteristics. The germination rates of the three plants were
enhanced in response to AgNPs. Significant enhancement of the
germination percentage values was observed after treatment of the
watermelon and zucchini plants with AgNPs in comparison with
untreated seeds. AgNPs showed a toxic effect on corn root
elongation, whereas watermelon and zucchini seedling growth were
positively affected by certain concentrations of AgNPs. This study
showed that exposure to AgNPs caused both positive and negative
effects on plant growth and germination.
Abstract: This work assesses the cortical and the sub-cortical
neural activity recorded from rodents using entropy and mutual
information based approaches to study how hypothermia affects neural
activity. By applying the multi-scale entropy and Shannon entropy, we
quantify the degree of the regularity embedded in the cortical and
sub-cortical neurons and characterize the dependency of entropy of
these regions on temperature. We study also the degree of the mutual
information on thalamocortical pathway depending on temperature.
The latter is most likely an indicator of coupling between these highly
connected structures in response to temperature manipulation leading
to arousal after global cerebral ischemia.
Abstract: The aim of this research is to identify the key factors in shipping company’s port selection in order to providing their requirement. To identify and rank factors that play the main role in selecting port for providing the ship requirement, at the first step, data were collected via Semi-structured interviews, the aim was to generate knowledge on how shipping company select the port and suppliers for providing their needs. 37 port selection factors were chosen from the previous researches and field interviews and have been categorized into two groups of port's factor and the factors of services of suppliers companies. The current study adopts a questionnaire survey to the main shipping companies' operators in Iran. Their responses reveal that level of services of supplying companies and customs rules play the important role in selecting the ports. Our findings could affect decisions made by port authorities to consider that supporting the privet sections for ship chandelling business could have the best result in attracting ships.
Abstract: We evaluate the performance of a numerical method
for global optimization of expensive functions. The method is using a
response surface to guide the search for the global optimum. This
metamodel could be based on radial basis functions, kriging, or a
combination of different models. We discuss how to set the cyclic
parameters of the optimization method to get a balance between local
and global search. We also discuss the eventual problem with Runge
oscillations in the response surface.
Abstract: Agro-industry is one of major industries that have
strong impacts on national economic incomes, growth, stability, and
sustainable development. Moreover, this industry also has strong
influences on social, cultural and political issues. Furthermore, this
industry, as producing primary and secondary products, is facing
challenges from such diverse factors such as demand inconsistency,
intense international competition, technological advancements and
new competitors. In order to maintain and to improve industry’s
competitiveness in both domestics and international markets, science
and technology are key factors. Besides hard sciences and
technologies, modern industrial engineering concepts such as Just in
Time (JIT) Total Quality Management (TQM), Quick Response
(QR), Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Lean can be very
effective to support to increase efficiency and effectiveness of these
agricultural products on world stage. Onion is one of Thailand’s
major export products which bring back national incomes. But, it is
also facing challenges in many ways. This paper focused its interests
in onion packing process and its related activities such as storage and
shipment from one of major packing plant and storage in Mae Wang
District, Chiang Mai, Thailand, by applying Toyota Production
System (TPS) or Lean concepts, to improve process capability
throughout the entire packing and distribution process which will be
profitable for the whole onion supply chain. And it will be beneficial
to other related agricultural products in Thailand and other ASEAN
countries.
Abstract: Indonesian higher education has experienced
significant changes over the last decade. In 1999, the government
published an overall strategy for decentralisation and enhancement of
local autonomy in many sectors, including (higher) education.
Indonesian higher education reforms have forced universities to
restructure their internal university governance to become more
entrepreneurial. These new types of internal university governance
are likely to affect the institutions’ leadership and management. This
paper discusses the approach and findings of a study on the
managerial leadership styles of deans in Indonesian universities. The
study aims to get a better understanding of styles exhibited by deans
manifested in their behaviours. Using the theories of reasoned action
and planned behaviour, in combination with the competing values
framework, a large-scale survey was conducted to gather information
on the deans’ behaviours, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived
behavioural control. Based on the responses of a sample of 218
deans, the study identifies a number of leadership styles: the Master,
the Competitive Consultant, the Consensual Goal-Setter, the Focused
Team Captain, and the Informed Trust-Builder style. The study
demonstrates that attitudes are the primary determinant of the styles
that were found. Perceived behavioural control is a factor that
explains some managerial leadership styles. By understanding the
attitudes of deans in Indonesian universities, and their leadership
styles, universities can strengthen their management and governance,
and thus improve their effectiveness.