A simulation optimisation tool for planning of low-income housing projects

Construction of low-income housing projects is a recurring process and is associated with uncertainties that arise from the unavailability of resources. This paper presents a case study that discusses how computer simulation and optimisation are used to aid government agencies and/or contractors in planning of such projects. It illustrates the optimisation of project objectives, taking into consideration the interaction amongst involved resources. As such, total duration and the associated total costs, including direct and indirect costs, can be estimated and optimised. One Youth Habitation project that is executed in 6th of October City in Egypt is analysed in a step-by-step procedure to demonstrate the capability of proposed computer simulation and optimisation prototype (named LIHouse{_}Sim) in the modelling construction of low-income housing projects using bearing block walls with hollow core technique. The presented tool proves its practicality to contractors in estimating the time and costs of the recurring process of low-income housing construction, considering complex interdependencies between construction resources and the uncertainties associated with construction activities. The LIHouse{_}Sim prototype is used to perform a wide analysis for the alternative of the effective optimisation criteria in the bearing block walls/hollow core technique and for the genetic algorithm optimisation approach elements.     

Micromechanics modeling of viscoelastic properties of hybrid composites with shunted and arbitrarily oriented piezoelectric inclusions

A comprehensive micromechanics model is developed to estimate the effective viscoelastic properties of hybrid composites containing polymer matrix, conductive inclusions and shunted piezoelectric inclusions. The model is derived using the viscoelastic correspondence principle in conjunction with the Mori-Tanaka approach and the orientation averaging scheme. Three dimensional complex moduli are explicitly presented for hybrid composites with any orientation distribution. The model is first validated by comparison with available experimental results. Then, the loss factors are examined for hybrid composites with inclusions of various volume fractions and of shapes ranging from thin disks to long fibers. It is seen that hybrid composites with randomly oriented inclusions exhibit shear loss factors which are not possible with monolithic piezoelectric plate. Furthermore, the numerical results indicate that composites with long spheroid inclusions provide the best damping performance. The results recommend that aligned inclusion composites are good for alleviating longitudinal oscillations. If oscillation energy needs to be dissipated in all directions and for all modes, three dimensional random composites should be used. It is also observed that spherical inclusion composites cannot improve shear damping irrespective of the orientation and the volume fraction. In general, to achieve a pronounced damping piezoelectric inclusions that lie in aspect ratio range 0.1?α?2 should be avoided.     

Cytotoxic T Cell Expression of Leukocyte-Associated Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor-1 (LAIR-1) in Viral Hepatitis C-Mediated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pathogenesis involves liver inflammation, therefore, despite successful treatment, hepatitis C virus (HCV) may progress to HCC from initiated liver cirrhosis. Cytotoxic T cells (Tcs) are known to be involved in HCV-related cirrhotic complications and HCC pathogenesis. The inhibitory checkpoint leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 (LAIR-1) is expressed on Tcs. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether the Tc expression level of LAIR-1 is associated with HCC progression and to evaluate LAIR-1 expression as a noninvasive biomarker for HCC progression in the context of liver cirrhosis related to HCV genotype 4 (G4) in Egyptian patients’ peripheral venous blood liquid biopsy. A total of 64 patients with HCC and 37 patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled in this case-controlled study, and their LAIR-1 expression on Tc related to the progression of liver cirrhosis was examined and compared to that of the apparently healthy control group (n = 20). LAIR-1 expression was analyzed using flow cytometry. Results: The HCC group had significantly higher LAIR-1 expression on Tc and percentage of Tc positive for LAIR-1 (LAIR-1+Tc%) than the HCV G4-related liver cirrhosis group. LAIR-1+Tc% was correlated with the HCC surrogate tumor marker AFP (r = 0.367, p = 0.001) and insulin resistance and inflammation prognostic ratios/indices. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve revealed that adding LAIR-1+Tc% to AFP can distinguish HCC transformation in the Egyptian patients’ cohort. Upregulated LAIR-1 expression on Tc could be a potential screening noninvasive molecular marker for chronic inflammatory HCV G4 related liver cirrhosis. Moreover, LAIR-1 expression on Tc may be one of the players involved in the progression of liver cirrhosis to HCC.     

Does environmental stress affect economic growth: evidence from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries?

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - The current paper empirically investigates the effect of environmental stress on economic growth in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries during...     

Detection of Abnormal Activities from Various Signals Based on Statistical Analysis

We perceive big data with massive datasets of complex and variegated structures in the modern era. Such attributes formulate hindrances while analyzing and storing the data to generate apt aftermaths. Privacy and security are the colossal perturb in the domain space of extensive data analysis. In this paper, our foremost priority is the computing technologies that focus on big data, IoT (Internet of Things), Cloud Computing, Blockchain, and fog computing. Among these, Cloud Computing follows the role of providing on-demand services to their customers by optimizing the cost factor. AWS, Azure, Google Cloud are the major cloud providers today. Fog computing offers new insights into the extension of cloud computing systems by procuring services to the edges of the network. In collaboration with multiple technologies, the Internet of Things takes this into effect, which solves the labyrinth of dealing with advanced services considering its significance in varied application domains. The Blockchain is a dataset that entertains many applications ranging from the fields of crypto-currency to smart contracts. The prospect of this research paper is to present the critical analysis and review it under the umbrella of existing extensive data systems. In this paper, we attend to critics' reviews and address the existing threats to the security of extensive data systems. Moreover, we scrutinize the security attacks on computing systems based upon Cloud, Blockchain, IoT, and fog. This paper lucidly illustrates the different threat behaviour and their impacts on complementary computational technologies. The authors have mooted a precise analysis of cloud-based technologies and discussed their defense mechanism and the security issues of mobile healthcare.

     

Decline of natural killer cell target binding and lytic activity in mice exposed to rotation stress.

Examined the effect of rotation-induced stress on (1) the percentage distribution of natural killer (NK) YAC-1 target-binding cells and (2) NK cell activity from splenic lymphocytes of C3H/HeJ mice. Following a 6-day stress regimen, a marked decline in both the percentage of target-binding cells and in NK cell activity was observed. This decline was first evident 13 days after initiation of stress and persisted for 2 wks. Data indicate that intermittent rotation stress over a 6-day period results in a delayed but persistent deleterious effect on NK-YAC-1 target binding and NK cell activity that may be involved in cancer progression of the host. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fast and accurate analytic formulas for calculating the parametersof a general broadside-coupled coplanar waveguide for (M)MICapplications

Fast and accurate analytic formulas for calculating the quasistatic transverse electromagnetic (TEM) parameters of a general broadside-coupled coplanar waveguide (GBSC CPW) are presented. Simplicity, high speed of computation, and accuracy suggest the use of these formulas for (M)MIC CAD (monolithic) microwave integrated circuit computer-aided design programs. Numerical calculations are presented to investigate various electrical properties of the structure. An asymmetrical BSC CPW and the single CPW resulting from connecting the two coupled strips of the GBSC CPW at the input and the output ports are analyzed. Criteria are obtained to ensure the coplanar behavior of the structure     

A multi-criterion decision-making model for contractor prequalification selection

The factors used in this model are financial stability, experience, references, past performance, current work load, staff availability, manpower resources, company organization, office location, experience in geographic location of project, quality performance, failure to complete contracts, procurement experience, safety consciousness and claim attitude.     

Persistence of some phenylamide pesticides in the aquatic environment—II. Adsorption on clay minerals

Adsorption of IPC, CIPC, Linuron, Neburon and Vitavax on bentonite clays (H-, Fe- and Ca-forms) was investigated. Adsorption was found to conform with Freundlich's equation and to depend on the nature of saturating cation as well as the chemical structure of phenylamides. Considerable amounts of bentonite are needed to bring about effective removal of these pesticides from polluted water. The role of suspended clay minerals in the decontamination of surface waters will be rather limited.