Search results for: coprecipitation method

Authors: Manuel A. Guzman, Davide Forcellini, Ricardo Moreno, Diego H. Giraldo

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Elastomeric bearings (EB) are used in many applications, such as base isolation of bridges, seismic protection and vibration control of other structures and machinery. Their versatility is due to their particular behavior since they have different stiffness in the vertical and horizontal directions, allowing to sustain vertical loads and at the same time horizontal displacements. Therefore, vertical, horizontal and bending stiffnesses are important parameters to take into account in the design of EB. In order to acquire a proper design methodology of EB all three, theoretical, finite element analysis and experimental, approaches should be taken into account to assess stability due to different loading states, predict their behavior and consequently their effects on the dynamic response of structures, and understand complex behavior and properties of rubber-like materials respectively. In particular, the recent large-displacement theory on the stability of EB formulated by Forcellini and Kelly is validated with both numerical simulations using the finite element method, and experimental results set at the University of Antioquia in Medellin, Colombia. In this regard, this study reproduces the behavior of EB under compression loads and investigates the stability behavior with the three mentioned points of view.

Keywords: elastomeric bearings, experimental tests, numerical simulations, stability, large-displacement theory

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Authors: Mohamed Ahmed AbdelKawy, A. H. El-Shazly

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In this study, Nano iron-copper core-shell was synthesized by using Kinetic energy micro reactor ( K-M reactor). The reaction between nano-pure iron with copper sulphate pentahydrate (CuSO4.5H2O) beside NaCMC as a stabilizer at K-M reactor gives many advantages in comparison with the traditional chemical method for production of nano iron-Copper core-shell in batch reactor. Many factors were investigated for its effect on the process performance such as initial concentrations of nano iron and copper sulphate pentahydrate solution. Different techniques were used for investigation and characterization of the produced nano iron particles such as SEM, XRD, UV-Vis, XPS, TEM and PSD. The produced Nano iron-copper core-shell particle using micro mixer showed better characteristics than those produced using batch reactor in different aspects such as homogeneity of the produced particles, particle size distribution and size, as core diameter 10nm particle size were obtained. The results showed that 10 nm core diameter were obtained using Micro mixer as compared to 80 nm core diameter in one-fourth the time required by using traditional batch reactor and high thickness of copper shell and good stability.

Keywords: nano iron, core-shell, reduction reaction, K-M reactor

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Authors: Nathan Estrada, Fangjun Shu, Yanxing Wang

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The heat and mass transfer characteristics of a simple shear flow over a surface covered with staggered herringbone structures are numerically investigated using the lattice Boltzmann method. The focus is on the effect of ridge angle of the structures on the enhancement of heat and mass transfer. In the simulation, the temperature and mass concentration are modeled as a passive scalar released from the moving top wall and absorbed at the structured bottom wall. Reynolds number is fixed at 100. Two Prandtl or Schmidt numbers, 1 and 10, are considered. The results show that the advective scalar transport plays a more important role at larger Schmidt numbers. The fluid travels downward with higher scalar concentration into the grooves at the backward grove tips and travel upward with lower scalar concentration at the forward grove tips. Different tile angles result in different flow advection in wall-normal direction and thus different heat and mass transport efficiencies. The maximum enhancement is achieved at an angle between 15o and 30o. The mechanism of heat and mass transfer is analyzed in detail.

Keywords: fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, microfluidics, staggered herringbone mixer

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Authors: Julieta Daniela Chelaru, Maria Gorea

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The massive demolition of old buildings in recent years has generated tons of waste, especially brick waste. Thus, a concern of recent research is the use of this waste for the production of environmentally friendly concrete. At the same time, corrosion in classical concrete is a current problem. In this context, in the present paper a study was carried out on the corrosion of metal reinforcement in cement mortars with brick waste. The corrosion process was analyzed on four compositions of mortars without and with 15 %, 25 % and 35 % bricks waste replacing the sand. The brick waste has a majority content in SiO2, Al₂O₃, FeO₃ and CaO. The grain size distribution of brick waste was close to that of the sand (dₘₐₓ = 3 mm). The preparation method of the samples was similar to ordinary mortars. The corrosion properties of concrete, at different waste bricks concentrations, on rebar, were investigated by electrochemical measurements (Tafel curves and EIS) at 1 and 6 months. The results obtained at 6 months revealed that the addition of the bricks waste in mortar are improved the anticorrosion properties, in the case of all samples compared with the sample with 0% bricks waste. The best results were obtained in the case of the sample with 15% bricks waste (the efficiency was ≈ 90 %). The corrosion intermediary layer formed on the rebar surface was determined by SEM-EDX.

Keywords: EIS, steel corrosion, steel reinforced concrete, waste materials

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Authors: E. Zarei, M. Bazaei, A. Seifi, A. Keshavarzi

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Amos Rapoport, based on his anthropology approach, believed that the space origins from the human body and influences on human body mutually. As a holistic approach in architecture, Contextualism describes a collection of views in philosophy which emphasize the context in which an action, utterance, or expression occurs, and argues that, in some important respect, the action, utterance, or expression can only be understood relative to that context. In this approach, the main goal – studying the role of cultural component in the Contextualism construction shaping up, based on Amos Rapoport’s anthropology approach- has being done by descriptive- analytic method. The results of the research indicate that in the field of Contextualism designing, referring to the cultural aspects are as necessary as the physical dimensions of a construction. Rapoport believes that the shape of a construction is influenced by cultural aspects and he suggests a kind of mutual interaction between human and environment that should be considered in housing. The mail goal of contextual architecture is to establish an interaction between environment, human and culture. According to this approach, a desirable design should be in harmony with this approach.

Keywords: Amos Rapoport, anthropology, contextual architecture, culture

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Authors: Nouf Alourfi

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This study examines the metabolism of amitriptyline (AMI) and verapamil (VER) using a KNIME-based method. KNIME improved workflow is an open-source data-analytics platform that integrates a number of open-source metabolomics tools such as CFMID and MetFrag to provide standard data visualisations, predict candidate metabolites, assess them against experimental data, and produce reports on identified metabolites. The use of this workflow is demonstrated by employing three types of liver microsomes (human, rat, and Guinea pig) to study the in vitro metabolism of the two drugs (AMI and VER). This workflow is used to create and treat UPLC-MS (Orbitrap) data. The formulas and structures of these drugs' metabolites can be assigned automatically. The key metabolic routes for amitriptyline are hydroxylation, N-dealkylation, N-oxidation, and conjugation, while N-demethylation, O-demethylation and N-dealkylation, and conjugation are the primary metabolic routes for verapamil. The identified metabolites are compatible to the published, clarifying the solidity of the workflow technique and the usage of computational tools like KNIME in supporting the integration and interoperability of emerging novel software packages in the metabolomics area.

Keywords: KNIME, CFMID, MetFrag, Data Analysis, Metabolomics

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Authors: S. Shamohammadi, L. Razavi

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This paper based on the principle concepts of SCS-CN model, a new mathematical model for computation of retention potential (S) presented. In the mathematical model, not only precipitation-runoff concepts in SCS-CN model are precisely represented in a mathematical form, but also new concepts, called “maximum retention” and “total retention” is introduced, and concepts of potential retention capacity, maximum retention, and total retention have been separated from each other. In the proposed model, actual retention (F), maximum actual retention (Fmax), total retention (S), maximum retention (Smax), and potential retention (Sp), for the first time clearly defined, so that Sp is not variable, but a function of morphological characteristics of the watershed. Indeed, based on the mathematical relation of the conceptual curve of SCS-CN model, the proposed model provides a new method for the computation of actual retention in watershed and it simply determined runoff based on. In the corresponding relations, in addition to Precipitation (P), Initial retention (Ia), cumulative values of actual retention capacity (F), total retention (S), runoff (Q), antecedent moisture (M), potential retention (Sp), total retention (S), we introduced Fmax and Fmin referring to maximum and minimum actual retention, respectively. As well as, ksh is a coefficient which depends on morphological characteristics of the watershed. Advantages of the modified version versus the original model include a better precision, higher performance, easier calibration and speed computing.

Keywords: model, mathematical, retention, watershed, SCS

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Authors: E. Osorio Schmied

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Architects commonly attempt a depiction of organic forms when their works are inspired by nature, regardless of the building site. Nevertheless it is also possible to try matching structures with natural scenery, by applying a phenomenological approach in terms of spatial operations, regarding perceptions from nature through architectural aspects such as protection, views, and orientation. This method acknowledges a relationship between place and space, where intentions towards tangible facts then become design statements. Although spaces resulting from such a process may present an effective response to the environment, they can also offer further outcomes beyond the realm of form. The hypothesis is that, in addition to recognising a bond between architecture and nature, it is also plausible to associate such perceptions with the inner ambient of buildings, by analysing features such as daylight. The case study of a single-family house in a rainforest near Valdivia, Chilean Patagonia is presented, with the intention of addressing the above notions through a discussion of the actual effects of inhabiting a place by way of a series of insights, including a revision of diagrams and photographs that assist in understanding the implications of this design practice. In addition, figures based on post-occupancy behaviour and daylighting performance relate both architectural and environmental issues to a decision-making process motivated by the observation of nature.

Keywords: architecture, design statements, nature, perception

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Authors: Hardi Alunaza, Mauidhotu Rofiq

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This research is attempted to describe the role of KontraS as track-6 on multi track diplomacy for conflict resolution in Myanmar in 2015. The researcher took the specific interest on multi track diplomacy and transnational advocacy concepts to analyze the phenomena. Furthermore, this essay is using the descriptive method with a qualitative approach. The data collection technique is literature study consisting of books, journals, and including data from the reliable website in supporting the explanation of this research. The result of this research is divided into two important points in explaining the role of KontraS in cases of human rights crisis in Myanmar. First, KontraS as human rights NGO in Indonesia was able to advocate against human rights violence that occurred in other countries by encouraging Indonesian Government to take part in the resolution of human rights issues affecting the Rohingya people in Burma. Also, KontraS take advantages of transnational advocacy networks as a form of politics and accountabilities responsibility of Non-Governmental Organization against human rights crisis in other countries.

Keywords: conflict resolution, human rights crisis, multi track diplomacy, transnational advocacy

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Authors: Jiahe Liu, HongyangYu, Feng Qian, Miao Luo

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The aim of this study was to improve the effects of human body 3D reconstruction. The MvP algorithm was adopted to obtain key point information from multiple perspectives. This algorithm allowed the capture of human posture and joint positions from multiple angles, providing more comprehensive and accurate data. The study also incorporated the SMPL-X model, which has been widely used for human body modeling, to achieve more accurate 3D reconstruction results. The use of the MvP algorithm made it possible to observe the reconstructed object from multiple angles, thus reducing the problems of blind spots and missing information. This algorithm was able to effectively capture key point information, including the position and rotation angle of limbs, providing key data for subsequent 3D reconstruction. Compared with traditional single-view methods, the method of multi-view fusion significantly improved the accuracy and stability of reconstruction. By combining the MvP algorithm with the SMPL-X model, we successfully achieved better human body 3D reconstruction effects. The SMPL-X model is highly scalable and can generate highly realistic 3D human body models, thus providing more detail and shape information.

Keywords: 3D human reconstruction, multi-view, joint point, SMPL-X

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Authors: Meziani Samira, Menadi Noreddine, Labga Lahouaria, Chenni Fatima Zohra, Toumi Asma

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A comparative study between two varieties of soya beans was carried out in this work. The method consists of studying and proceeding to prepare a by-product (Flour) from two varieties of soybeans, a Chinese variety imported and marketed in Algeria. The chemical composition of ash, protein and fat was determined in this study. The minerals, namely potassium and sodium, were measured by flame spectrophotometer. In addition, the estimation of the polyphenol content and evaluation of the antioxidant activity Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power assay (FRAP) f the methanol extracts of the flours were also carried out. The result revealed that soy flour from two cultivars, on average, contained 8% moisture, more than 50% protein, 1.58-1.87g fat, and 0.28-0.30g of ash. A slight difference was found for contents of 489 mg/ml of K + and 20 mg/ml of NA +. In addition, the phenolic content of the methanolic extracts gives a value of almost 37 mg EAG / g for both cultivars of soy flour. The estimated Reductive Antioxidant Iron (FRAP) potency of soy flour might be related to its polyphenol richness, which is similar to the variety of China. The flour Soya varieties tested contained a significant amount of protein and phenolic compounds with good antioxidant properties.

Keywords: soye beans, soya flour, protein, total polyphenols

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Authors: Michael Sunday Afolayan

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This research work examined the challenges bedevilling the development of legal framework for electronic commercial transactions (e-commerce) in Nigeria. Nigeria does not have a clear-cut legislation regulating electronic commerce in its jurisdiction despite the geometrical rate of growth and adoption of this method of trade. It specifically posed a great challenge looking at taxation, evidential and jurisdictional issues in e-commerce in Nigeria. The author in a broader research work which is abridged here, traced the origin and development of e-commerce and the attendant laws applicable in Nigeria, examining their sufficiency or otherwise. In carrying out the research work, doctrinal mode of legal research was adopted, examining both primary and secondary sources of legal research materials within their contextual meanings. It was found that the failure to enact a law which has direct regulatory bearing on e-commerce in Nigeria has led to adoption and application of circumstantial laws, rules and common law principles to tackle the problems arising out of electronic commercial transactions, especially in the areas of taxation, evidential and jurisdictional challenges. It was ultimately suggested that there is urgent need to sign into law, the Electronic Transaction Bill which had already been passed by the National Assembly since 2017.

Keywords: e-commerce, legislation, taxation, evidential, jurisdiction

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Authors: Fariba Azizi, Firoozeh Haghighi, Viliam Makis

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In this paper, we propose a method to model the relationship between failure time and degradation for a simple step stress test where underlying degradation path is linear and different causes of failure are possible. It is assumed that the intensity function depends only on the degradation value. No assumptions are made about the distribution of the failure times. A simple step-stress test is used to shorten failure time of products and a tampered failure rate (TFR) model is proposed to describe the effect of the changing stress on the intensities. We assume that some of the products that fail during the test have a cause of failure that is only known to belong to a certain subset of all possible failures. This case is known as masking. In the presence of masking, the maximum likelihood estimates (MLEs) of the model parameters are obtained through an expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm by treating the causes of failure as missing values. The effect of incomplete information on the estimation of parameters is studied through a Monte-Carlo simulation. Finally, a real example is analyzed to illustrate the application of the proposed methods.

Keywords: cause of failure, linear degradation path, reliability function, expectation-maximization algorithm, intensity, masked data

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Authors: Gamze Uslu, Sebnem Baydere, Alper K. Demir

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In this study, data loss tolerance of Support Vector Machines (SVM) based activity recognition model and multi activity classification performance when data are received over a lossy wireless sensor network is examined. Initially, the classification algorithm we use is evaluated in terms of resilience to random data loss with 3D acceleration sensor data for sitting, lying, walking and standing actions. The results show that the proposed classification method can recognize these activities successfully despite high data loss. Secondly, the effect of differentiated quality of service performance on activity recognition success is measured with activity data acquired from a multi hop wireless sensor network, which introduces high data loss. The effect of number of nodes on the reliability and multi activity classification success is demonstrated in simulation environment. To the best of our knowledge, the effect of data loss in a wireless sensor network on activity detection success rate of an SVM based classification algorithm has not been studied before.

Keywords: activity recognition, support vector machines, acceleration sensor, wireless sensor networks, packet loss

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Authors: Mohammad Alenezi

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Hierarchical nanostructures with higher dimensionality, consisting of nanostructure building blocks such as nanowires, nanotubes, or nanosheets are very attractive. They hold great properties like the high surface-to-volume ratio and well-ordered porous structures, which can be very challenging to attain for other mono-morphological nanostructures. Well-ordered hierarchical nanostructures with high surface-to-volume ratios facilitate gas diffusion into their surfaces as well as scattering of light. Therefore, hierarchical nanostructures are expected to perform highly as gas sensors. A multistage controlled hydrothermal synthesis method to fabricate high-performance single ZnO brushlike hierarchical nanostructure gas sensor from initial nanowires is reported. The performance of the sensor based on brush-like hierarchical nanostructure is analyzed and compared to that of a nanowire gas sensor. The hierarchical gas sensor demonstrated high sensitivity toward low concentration of acetone at high speed of response. The enhancement in the hierarchical sensor performance is attributed to the increased surface to volume ratio, reduction in dimensionality of the nanowire building blocks, formation of junctions between the initial nanowire and the secondary nanowires, and enhanced gas diffusion into the surfaces of the hierarchical nanostructures.

Keywords: metal oxide, nanostructure, hydrothermal, sensor

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Authors: Najme lari, Shahrokh Ahangarani, Ali Shanaghi

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Nanostructure silica antireflective surfaces were fabricated on glasses by Sol-Gel technique. Various silica sols (varying in composition: tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) concentration and Triton additive) were synthesized by the polymeric process and then subsequently coated on substrates. Silica thin films were investigated by using UV-Visible Spectroscopy; Fourier-Transformed Infrared Spectrophotometer and Filed Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy were used. Results indicated that dense silica layers, obtained from the polymeric method, permit a considerable reduction of these light reflections compared with uncoated glasses in all the cases studied, but the degree of reduction is different depending on the composition of the precursor solution. It was found that the transmittance increased from 0.915 for the bare slide up to 0.96 for the best made sample corresponding to the Triton-doped silica. The addition of Triton x-100 to the silica sols improved the optical property of thin film because of it helps to create nanoporous in the coating. Also the results showed SiO2 content is an effective parameter to prepare the antireflective films. Loss of SiO2 cause to rapid the reactions and Si-O-Si bonding form better under this condition.

Keywords: sol–gel, silica thin films, antireflective coatings, optical properties, triton

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Authors: R. Ziaie Moayed, E. Khavaninzadeh, M. Ghorbani Tochaee

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Direct shear test is widely used in soil mechanics experiment to determine the shear strength parameters of granular soils. For analysis of soil stability problems such as bearing capacity, slope stability and lateral pressure on soil retaining structures, the shear strength parameters must be known well. In the present study, shear strength parameters are determined in silty-sand mixtures. Direct shear tests are performed on 161 Firoozkooh sand with different silt content at a relative density of 70% in three vertical stress of 100, 150, and 200 kPa. Wet tamping method is used for soil sample preparation, and the results include diagrams of shear stress versus shear deformation and sample height changes against shear deformation. Accordingly, in different silt percent, the shear strength parameters of the soil such as internal friction angle and dilation angle are calculated and compared. According to the results, when the sample contains up to 10% silt, peak shear strength and internal friction angle have an upward trend. However, if the sample contains 10% to 50% of silt a downward trend is seen in peak shear strength and internal friction angle.

Keywords: shear strength parameters, direct shear test, silty sand, shear stress, shear deformation

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Authors: Mafarja Majdi, Salwani Abdullah, Najmeh S. Jaddi

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One of the global combinatorial optimization problems in machine learning is feature selection. It concerned with removing the irrelevant, noisy, and redundant data, along with keeping the original meaning of the original data. Attribute reduction in rough set theory is an important feature selection method. Since attribute reduction is an NP-hard problem, it is necessary to investigate fast and effective approximate algorithms. In this paper, we proposed two feature selection mechanisms based on memetic algorithms (MAs) which combine the genetic algorithm with a fuzzy record to record travel algorithm and a fuzzy controlled great deluge algorithm to identify a good balance between local search and genetic search. In order to verify the proposed approaches, numerical experiments are carried out on thirteen datasets. The results show that the MAs approaches are efficient in solving attribute reduction problems when compared with other meta-heuristic approaches.

Keywords: rough set theory, attribute reduction, fuzzy logic, memetic algorithms, record to record algorithm, great deluge algorithm

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Authors: Rizka Yunita, Mas Aji Rizki Wijayanto

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Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is the solution to explain how fluid dynamics behavior. In this work, we obtain the effect of channel width of two-dimensional fluid visualization. Using a horizontal water tunnel and flowing soap film, we got a visualization of continuous film that can be observe a graphical overview of the flow that occurs on a space or field in which the fluid flow. The horizontal water tunnel we used, divided into three parts, expansion area, parallel area that used to test the data, and contraction area. The width of channel is the boundary of parallel area with the originally width of 7.2 cm, and the variation of channel width we observed is about 1 cm and its times. To compute the velocity, vortex shedding, and other physical parameters of fluid, we used the cyclinder circular as an obstacle to create a von Karman vortex in fluid and analyzed that phenomenon by using Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV) method and comparing Reynolds number and Strouhal number from the visualization we got. More than width the channel, the film is more turbulent and have a separation zones that occurs of uncontinuous flowing fluid.

Keywords: flow visualization, width of channel, vortex, Reynolds number, Strouhal number

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Authors: Harish Aryal, Roger Hague, Daniel Sotelo, Felipe Astete Salinas

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This paper presents a comparative study of different coolants, materials, and temperatures that can affect the effectiveness of heat exchangers that are used in small modular reactors. The corrugated plate heat exchangers were chosen out of different plate options for testing purposes because of their ease of access and better performance than other existing heat exchangers in recent years. SolidWorks enables us to see various results between water coolants and helium coolants acting upon different types of conducting metals, which were selected from different fluids that ultimately satisfied accessibility requirements and were compatible with the software. Though not every element, material, fluid, or method was used in the testing phase, their purpose is to help further research that is to come since the innovation of nuclear power is the future. The tests that were performed are to help better understand the constant necessities that are seen in heat exchangers and through every adjustment see what the breaking points or improvements in the machine are. Depending on consumers and researchers, the results may give further feedback as to show why different types of materials and fluids would be preferred and why it is necessary to keep failures to improve future research.

Keywords: heat exchangers, Solidworks, coolants, small modular reactors, nuclear power, nanofluids, Nusselt number, friction factor, Reynolds number

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Authors: Dhruveshi B. Rana, Nirav P. Vaghela, Jigar N. Mehta

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Objective: To assess the relationships among age, gender, anthropometrics and dynamic balance in 5 to 12 years of children in Anand city. Method: Cross-sectional study was conducted. 150 school going children of 5-12 (75-girls, 75-boys) years were recruited from the school of the Anand city-Shivam English Medium school, Veer Vithalbhai Patel school, Adarsh Primary school. Height, weight, arm length, and foot length were measured in 150 children of 5 to 12 years. Dynamic balance was assessed using Time Up and Go Test, Functional Reach Test, Pediatric Balance Scale. Results: Positive relationship (r = 0.58 and r= 0.77) were found between increasing age and FRT and PBS scores. A negative relationship (r = - 0.46) was observed between age of boys and TUG test. Significant gender by age group difference was observed in FRT. Arm length and height has the strongest influence on FRT, and age, height, foot length; and arm length has the strongest influence on PBS. Conclusions: Age and arm length have the strongest relationship with the dynamic balance (FRT, PBS). Dynamic balance ability is directly related to the age. It helps the pediatric therapists in selecting dynamic balance test according to the age.

Keywords: age, gender, anthropometric, dynamic balance

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Authors: Sorin Muraru

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Computational generation of carbon nanostructures is still a very demanding process. This work provides an alternative to manual molecular modeling through an algorithm meant to automate the design of such structures. Specifically, carbon nanochimneys are obtained through the bonding of a carbon nanotube with the smaller edge of an open carbon nanocone. The methods of connection rely on mathematical, geometrical and chemical properties. Non-hexagonal rings are used in order to perform the correct bonding of dangling bonds. Once obtained, they are useful for thermal transport, gas storage or other applications such as gas separation. The carbon nanochimneys are meant to produce a less steep connection between structures such as the carbon nanotube and graphene sheet, as in the pillared graphene, but can also provide functionality on its own. The method relies on connecting dangling bonds at the edges of the two carbon nanostructures, employing the use of two different types of auxiliary structures on a case-by-case basis. The code is implemented in Python 3.7 and generates an output file in the .pdb format containing all the system’s coordinates. Acknowledgment: This work was supported by a grant of the Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and innovation funding (UEFISCDI), project number PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2016-24-2, contract TE 122/2018.

Keywords: carbon nanochimneys, computational, carbon nanotube, carbon nanocone, molecular modeling, carbon nanostructures

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Authors: Badreddine Chemali, Boualem Tiliouine

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This article presents the main results of a numerical investigation on the uncertainty of dynamic response of structures with statistically correlated random damping Gamma distributed. A computational method based on a Linear Statistical Model (LSM) is implemented to predict second order statistics for the response of a typical industrial building structure. The significance of random damping with correlated parameters and its implications on the sensitivity of structural peak response in the neighborhood of a resonant frequency are discussed in light of considerable ranges of damping uncertainties and correlation coefficients. The results are compared to those generated using Monte Carlo simulation techniques. The numerical results obtained show the importance of damping uncertainty and statistical correlation of damping coefficients when obtaining accurate probabilistic estimates of dynamic response of structures. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the LSM model to efficiently predict uncertainty propagation for structural dynamic problems with correlated damping parameters is demonstrated.

Keywords: correlated random damping, linear statistical model, Monte Carlo simulation, uncertainty of dynamic response

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Authors: Kankurize Josiane, Nizigama Mediatrice

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Introduction: Burundi records a still high infant mortality rate. Despite efforts to reduce it, prematurity is still the leading cause of death in the neonatal period. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of care for premature babies hospitalized in the neonatology unit of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kamenge. Method: This was a descriptive and evaluative prospective carried out in the neonatology unit of the CHUK (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kamenge) from December 1, 2016, to May 31, 2017, including 70 premature babies, 65 mothers of premature babies and 15 providers including a pediatrician and 14 nurses. Using a tool developed by the World Health Organization and adapted to the local context by national experts, the quality of care for premature babies was assessed. Results: Prematurity accounted for 44.05% of hospitalizations in neonatology at the University Hospital of Kamenge. The assessment of the quality of care for premature babies was of low quality, with an average global score of 2/5 (50%), indicating that there is a considerable need for improvement to reach the standards. Conclusion: Efforts must be made to have infrastructures, materials, and human resources sufficient in quality and quantity so that the neonatology unit of the CHUK can be efficient and optimize the care of premature babies.

Keywords: quality of care, evaluation, premature, standards

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Authors: Chukwuma Mgboji

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Since the advent of Artificial Intelligence, robots have become a major stay in developing societies. Robots are deployed in Education, Health, Food and in other spheres of life. Nigeria a country in West Africa has a very low profile in the advancement of Artificial Intelligence especially in the grass roots. The benefits of Artificial intelligence are not fully maximised and harnessed. Advances in artificial intelligence are perceived as impossible or observed as irrelevant. This study seeks to ascertain the needed skills for the development of artificialintelligence amongst secondary schools in Nigeria. The study focused on South East Nigeria with Five states namely Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra and Enugu. The sample size is 1000 students drawn from Five Government owned Universities offering Computer Science, Computer Education, Electronics Engineering across the Five South East states. Survey method was used to solicit responses from respondents. The findings from the study identified mathematical skills, analytical skills, problem solving skills, computing skills, programming skills, algorithm skills amongst others. The result of this study to the best of the author’s knowledge will be highly beneficial to all stakeholders involved in the advancements and development of artificial intelligence.

Keywords: artificial intelligence, secondary school, robotics, skills

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Authors: Svanik Garg

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The center of our galaxy is often referred to as the ‘galactic center’ and has many theories associated with its true nature. Given the existence of interstellar dust and bright stars, it is nearly impossible to observe its position, about 24,000 light-years away. Due to this uncertainty, humans have often speculated what could exist at a vantage point upon which the entire galaxy spirals and revolves, with wild theories ranging from the presence of dark matter to black holes and wormholes. Data up till now on the same is very limited, and conclusions are to the best of the author's knowledge, as the only method to view the galactic center is through x-ray and infrared imaging, which counter the problems mentioned earlier. This paper examines, first, the existence of a galactic center, then the methods to identify what it might contain, and lastly, possible conclusions along with implications of the findings. Several secondary sources, along with a python tool to analyze x-ray readings were used to identify the true nature of what lies in the center of the galaxy, whether it be a void due to the existence of dark energy or a black hole. Using this roughly 4-part examination, as a result of this study, a plausible definition of the galactic center was formulated, keeping in mind the rather wild theories, data and different ideas proposed by researchers. This paper aims to dissect the theory of a galactic center and identify its nature to help understand what it shows about galaxies and our universe.

Keywords: milky way, galaxy, dark energy, stars

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Authors: Aroona Hashmi

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The prime motive for this endeavor was to explore the tenth grade English class students’ preferred learning styles studying in government secondary school so that English subject teachers could tailor their pedagogical strategies in relation to their students learning needs. The further aim of this study was to identify any significance difference among the students on a gender basis, area basis and different categories of school basis. The population of this study consisting of all the secondary level schools working in the government sector and positioned in the province of Punjab. The multi-stage cluster sampling method was employed while selecting the study sample from the population. The scale used for the identification of students’ learning styles in this study was developed by Grasha-Riechmann. The data collected through learning style scale was analyzed by employing descriptive statistics technique. The results from data analysis depict that learning styles of the majority of students found to be Collaborative and Competitive. Overall, no considerable difference was surfaced between male-female, urban-rural, general-other categories of 10th grade English class students learning styles.

Keywords: learning style, learning style scale, grade, government sector

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Authors: Kashif Jabbar

Abstract:

Milk adulteration is a global concern, and the current study was plan to synthesize Selenium nanoparticles by green method using plant extract of garlic, Allium Sativum, and to characterize Selenium nanoparticles through different analytical techniques and to apply Selenium nanoparticles as fast and easy technique for the detection of salicylic acid in milk. The highly selective, sensitive, and quick interference green synthesis-based sensing of possible milk adulterants i.e., salicylic acid, has been reported here. Salicylic acid interacts with nanoparticles through strong bonding interactions, hence resulting in an interruption within the formation of selenium nanoparticles which is confirmed by UV-VIS spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. This interaction in the synthesis of nanoparticles resulted in transmittance wavelength that decrease with the increasing amount of salicylic acid, showing strong binding of selenium nanoparticles with adulterant, thereby permitting in-situ fast detection of salicylic acid from milk having a limit of detection at 10-3 mol and linear coefficient correlation of 0.9907. Conclusively, it can be draw that colloidal selenium could be synthesize successfully by garlic extract in order to serve as a probe for fast and cheap testing of milk adulteration.

Keywords: adulteration, green synthesis, selenium nanoparticles, salicylic acid, aggregation

Procedia PDF Downloads 82

Authors: Sivakumar Singaravelu, Giriprasath Ramanathan, M. D. Raja, Uma Tirichurapalli Sivagnanam

Abstract:

The goal of the present study was to develop and evaluate composite film for tissue engineering application. The keratin was extracted from bovine horn and used for preparation of keratin (HK), physiologically clotted fibrin (PCF) and gelatin (G) blend films in different stoichiometric ratios (1:1:1, 1:1:2 and 1:1:3) by using solvent casting method. The composite films (HK-PCF-G) were characterized physiochemically using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The mechanical properties of the composite films were analyzed. The results of tensile strength show that ultimate strength and elongation were 10.72 Mpa and 4.83 MPA respectively for 1:1:3 ratio combination. The SEM image showed a slight smooth surface for 1:1:3 ratio combination compared to other films. In order to impart antibacterial activities, the composite films were loaded with Mupirocin (MP) to act against infection. The composite films acted as a suitable carrier to protect and release the drug in a controlled manner. This developed composite film would be a suitable alternative material for tissue engineering application.

Keywords: bovine horn, keratin, fibrin, gelatin, tensile strength

Procedia PDF Downloads 449

Authors: Zhen Sun

Abstract:

The study adopts the method of visual social semiotics to analyze a sample of fashion photos that were recently published in Chinese fashion magazines that target towards both male and female readers. It identifies a new visual trend in fashion photography, which is characterized by two features. First, the photos represent young, confident, and stylish female models with lower-class sloppy old men. The visual inharmony between the sexually desirable women and the aged men has suggested an impossibly accomplished sexuality and eroticism. Though the women are still under the male gaze, they are depicted as unreachable objects of voyeurism other than sexual objects subordinated to men. Second, the represented people are usually put in the backdrop of tasteless or vulgar Chinese town life, which is congruent with the images of men but makes the modern city girls out of place. The photographers intentionally contrast the images of women with that of men and with the background, which implies an imaginary binary division of modern Orientalism and the photographers’ self-orientalization strategy. Under the theoretical umbrella of neoliberal postfeminism, this study defines a new kind of gynocentric stereotype in Chinese fashion photography, which challenges the previous observations on gender portrayals in fashion magazines.

Keywords: fashion photography, gynocentrism, neoliberal postfeminism, self-orientalization

Procedia PDF Downloads 424