Constructability Analysis in the Design Firm

The timely execution of a construction project is very important to the owner, who makes plans and commitments on the basis of the project’s anticipated completion date. Failure of design professionals to consider how a builder will implement the design can result in scheduling problems, delays, and disputes during the construction process. Constructability of design is a subjective scale that depends basically on a number of interdependent project-related factors. Many design firms have a formal (explicit) constructability program that is launched as early as the conceptual planning stage of the project. This research examines design professionals’ efforts to pursue constructability and provides recommendations for performing constructability reviews in an efficient and effective manner.     

Numerical prediction of three-dimensional fiber orientation in Hele-Shaw flows

A numerical technique is developed to determine the three-dimensional fiber orientation in complex flows. The fiber orientation state is specified in terms of orientation tensors, which are used in several constitutive models. This method is applied to quasi-steady state Hele-Shaw flows in order to predict the flow-induced fiber orientation during injection molding at zero volume fraction limit. At the inlet, a number of fibers are introduced at a specified rate into the flow and each fiber location is traced during the mold filling. Along these determined paths, the independent components of fourth order orientation tensors are solved, describing the orientation state. The numerical grid generation technique, which is suitable for complex mold shapes, is employed for the flow solution. Orientation ellipsoids are calculated from the second order tensors and are used to present the fiber orientation results. The numerical solutions are obtained for channel and converging flows. Planar, longitudinal, and transverse orientation results are generated from the orthogonal projections of the orientation ellipsoids.     

3-D micro-ceramic components from hydrothermally processed carbon nanotube–boehmite powders by electrophoretic deposition

Boehmite/multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite powders were prepared by hydrothermal processing. Starting chemical of aluminum acetate powders (2Al(OH)(C₂H₃O₂)₂) and MWCNTs were mixed for the formation of stoichiometric boehmite powders in an attempt to synthesize MWCNT-reinforced boehmite nano-powders via hydrothermal synthesis at 200 °C for 2 h. Kinetically stable suspensions of MWCNT–boehmite composite powders were prepared and subsequently electrophoretic deposition (EPD) was applied to obtain complex shape products in the form of micro-gears. It is shown that the EPD technique is a powerful tool to manufacture small components in a short time. Detail TEM observations also indicated that hydrothermal processing provides an ideal environment to obtain homogeneous mixtures of MWCNT–boehmite powders due to effective surface functionalization of MWCNTs under hydrothermal conditions.     

Calculation of Detonation Properties of Gaseous Explosives Using Generalized Reduced Gradient Nonlinear Optimization

In this paper, a study on the development of a numerical modeling of the detonation of C H N O‐based gaseous explosives is presented. In accordance with the numerical model, a FORTRAN computer code named GasPX has been developed to compute both the detonation point and the detonation properties on the basis of Chapman–Jouguet (C‐J) theory. The determination of the detonation properties in GasPX is performed in chemical equilibrium and steady‐state conditions. GasPX has two improvements over other thermodynamic equilibrium codes, which predict steady‐state detonation properties of gaseous explosives. First, GasPX employs a nonlinear optimization code based on Generalized Reduced Gradient (GRG) algorithm to compute the equilibrium composition of the detonation products. This optimization code provides a higher level of robustness of the solutions and global optimum determination efficiency. Second, GasPX can calculate the solid carbon formation in the products for gaseous explosives with high carbon content. Detonation properties such as detonation pressure, detonation temperature, detonation energy, mole fractions of species at the detonation point, etc. have been calculated by GasPX for many gaseous explosives. The comparison between the results from this study and those of CEA code by NASA and the experimental studies in the literature are in good agreement.     

Phenolic composition,enzyme inhibitory,and antioxidant activity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bituminaria bituminosa</Emphasis>

This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities of ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts of Bituminaria bituminosa. In phosphomolybdenum assay, the methanol extract showed the highest activity (166.78 μmol TEs/g dry plant). The water extract exhibited the highest scavenging activity on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^?) and 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazloine-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS^?+). In addition, it exhibited the highest activity in cupric ion reducing (CUPRAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays (41.26 and 46.82 μmol TEs/g dry plant). The extracts did not show cholinesterase and tyrosinase inhibitory activity. However, α-glucosidase inhibition assay resulted in the superiority of water extract (1233.86 μmol ACEs/g dry plant). In the case of α-amylase inhibitory assay, the ethyl acetate extract showed the highest activity (53.65 μmol ACEs/g dry plant). The water extract exhibited the highest phenolic content (31.70 μmol GAEs/g dry plant). In contrast, the methanol extract was found rich in flavonoid compounds (5.29 μmol REs/g dry plant). The water extract contained considerable amounts of rosmarinic acid, luteolin, quercetin, and rutin. Therefore, it can be used as a source of new and alternative antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory agents.     

The use of basalt powder as a natural heterogeneous catalyst in the Fenton and Photo-Fenton oxidation of cationic dyes

The use of naturally present heterogeneous catalysts has recently been an essential issue in the Fenton and photo-Fenton processes. In this study, the uses of basalt as a catalyst for the Fenton and photo-Fenton reactions for methylene Blue (MB) and Basic Red 18 (BR18) degradations were investigated. Basalt was selected because of the presence of the iron (III) oxide in the structure. Basalt was characterized by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis to obtain the chemical composition and the crystalline phase. The surface charge and the surface area were obtained by zeta potential and Brunauer Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were utilized to explore the functional group and the surface morphology. Fenton and photo-Fenton processes were applied to explore the best degradation method. Adsorption was also tested and the adsorption process had minimum removal efficiency (12% for MB and 17% for BR18). The removal efficiencies for MB and BR18 by the Fenton process were 87% and 28%, respectively. The photo-Fenton process had maximum removal efficiency with 100% for MB and 70% for BR18. The optimum conditions were 70 mg/L dye concentration, 5 mM H₂O₂, 1.0 g/L basalt loading and pH 2. Basalt has shown reuse capability as a catalyst for three consecutive cycles.     

Fuzzy multiattribute evaluation of R&D projects using a real options valuation model

R&D project selection decision is very important in two ways. First, in many organizations, R&D budget represents huge investment. Project selection decisions could be thought with the strategic objectives and plans of the firm. Second, R&D projects' organizational returns are multidimensional in nature and risky in terms of projected outcome. Real options approach helps to calculate this risky side of the selection process. This paper considers that multidimensional side of the R&D project selection process. Another consideration is the vagueness in the evaluation process. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process, which takes monetary (fuzzy real option value) and nonmonetary (capability, success probability, trends, etc.) criteria into account, is used to make this selection among alternative R&D projects. A real case study is given to illustrate the application of the proposed approach. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Predictors of attitudinal and behavioral outcomes in mobile advertising: A field experiment

The study examines consumer responses to SMS-based mobile advertising campaigns using a field experiment with actual behavioral responses. Specifically, the effects of message characteristics (i.e., incentives and prior permission) and individual differences of message recipients (i.e., content involvement, prior experience with the mobile medium, and medium-fit perceptions) on the attitudinal and behavioral outcomes of such campaigns are investigated. Perceived intrusiveness of the message and attitude toward the campaign are conceptualized as key attitudinal reactions triggered by a mobile advertising message, which in turn influence the behavioral responses generated by the campaign. Findings suggest that, in comparison to permission and incentive, individual differences are stronger determinants of responses to mobile advertising campaigns. Additionally, intriguing insights with respect to the effectiveness of different types of incentives are provided.     

Physical and mechanical properties of Gokceada: Imbros (NE Aegean Sea) Island andesites

The physical and mechanical properties of the andesite forming much of the island of Gökçeada (Imbros), Turkey, were investigated using 54 mm samples cores from 12 blocks obtained from a quarry. The results were evaluated using regression analysis and good empirical relationships were obtained.