Construction projects and the environment in Palestine

Continuing the series of papers on construction in Palestine, one of the most densely populated areas in the world, the author concentrates on the need for harmonized development to sustain the environment. An analysis of the Gaza seaport project demonstrates the need to educate professionals working within the construction industry on environmental issues, in particular the steps needed in carrying out the environmental impact assessment of any construction project. The author believes that further studies to increase knowledge are needed. Poursuivant sa serie d'articles sur les activites du batiment en Palestine, l'une des regions les plus peuplees au monde, l'auteur se penche ici sur la necessite d'un amenagement harmonise soucieux de l'environnement et s'inscrivant dans la duree. Suite a une analyse du projet de port: maritime a Gaza, il apparait clairement que les professionnels du secteur de la construction ont besoin d'une formation dans le domaine de la protection de l'environnement, en particulier pour la realisation d'etudes d'impact sur l'environnement de projets de construction. L'auteur estime que des etudes complementaires sont necessaires pour approfondir les connaissances en la matiere.     

On a consistent field transfer in non linear inelastic analysis and ultimate load computation

In this work we propose a field transfer operator for remeshing carried out in the course of incremental analysis of a non linear inelastic behavior. The proposed procedure is geared towards the ultimate load computation of a complex structure, where we choose the appropriate mesh grading for each different phase of computations, starting with a coarse mesh for the initial linear response and going towards a more refined mesh for highly nonlinear inelastic response. The proposed projection operator is developed on the basis of diffuse approximation method. The key feature of such an operator is to guarantee the conservation of relevant mechanics quantities which ensures a superior performance of the proposed field transfer with respect to the standard remeshing procedure. We present the illustrative results both for an isotropic damage model and standard plasticity model, indicating very satisfying performance.     

Measurements and statistical model calculations of activation cross-sections for 26Mg(n,α)23Ne reaction between 13.6 and 14.9 MeV neutron energies

Activation cross-sections were measured at neutron energies from 13.6 to 14.9 MeV for the reaction ²⁶Mg(n,α)²³Ne. The production of relatively short-lived activity and the spectra accumulation have been carried out by the cyclic activation method. Corrections were made for the effects of gamma-ray attenuation, random coincidence summing (pulse pile-up), dead time, and scattered low energy neutron contribution. Statistical model calculations for which the pre-equilibrium emission effects are taken into consideration were also performed. Results were compared with the previous investigations.     

A study on the optical properties of three‐armed polystyrene and poly(styrene‐b‐isobutyl methacrylate)

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of three‐armed polystyrene[PS] and poly(styrene‐b‐isobutyl methacrylate)[PS‐b‐PiBμMA] were accomplished using an initiator with tri‐active C‐Br end group function and cuprous (I) bromide/2,2′‐bipyridyne catalytic system. The characterization obtained by FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR, and GPC techniques. The average molecular weight and polydispersity of PS and PS‐b‐PiBμMA were determined as 19,800, 29,300 and as 1.37 and 1.15, respectively, which indicates that the constant concentration of growing chains are present throughout the polymerization. The refractive index and extinction coefficient of the samples were determined in the visible range as a function of wavelength. The refractive index dispersion curves of the thin films were fitted by the Cauchy‐Sellmeier model. The width of localized states (E_u) values changed inversely with optical band gaps (E_g) of the films. While the calculated E_u values of films for initiator, PS and PS‐b‐PiBμMA were determined as 2.72, 2.98, and 2.94 eV, the E_g values were determined as 3.43; 3.11, and 3.16 eV, respectively. The dispersion parameters of thin films were determined. These parameters changed in the investigated wavelength ranges. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Metabolic fingerprint of patients showing responsiveness to treatment of septic shock in intensive care unit

Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine - An early metabolic signature associated with the responsiveness to treatment can be useful in the better management of septic shock...     

Determination of pistachio drying behaviour and conditions in a solar drying system

The main object of this study is to determine the drying behaviour and conditions of shelled and unshelled pistachio samples using both solar assisted and open sun drying. For each drying experiment, 100 g each of unshelled and shelled pistachio were used. The least‐squares method was applied to find the drying curve equation of pistachio. During the experiments, shelf temperatures, weight loss of pistachio, moisture content of air, and distribution of solar radiation were measured; and presented depending on the drying time. Also, the mass shrinkage ratios of shelled and unshelled pistachio samples were determined, and the experimental uncertainty ratio was calculated as 15–16.5 per cent based on the experimental results. It was deduced that the shelled and unshelled pistachio samples in the solar assisted forced convection dryer were perfectly dried at temperatures of 50±10°C in the time period of 6 h. Whereas, the samples in the open sun drying were not sufficiently dried at temperatures of 28±4°C in the same time period. Hence, it is suggested that the pistachio samples with approximately 29.0 per cent of moisture are dried in the solar assisted convection dryer at 50±10°C of temperature in the time period of approximately 6 h in order to protect from the negative climatic and environmental effects. However, it is not desirable to dry the pistachio samples in the open sun because of greater drying time, dirt, dust and harmful insects. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Predicting catastrophic temperature changes based on past events via a CNN-LSTM regression mechanism

Neural Computing and Applications - The modelling and prediction of extreme temperature changes in enclosed compartments is a domain with applications ranging from residential fire alarms,...     

The influence of nitrogen doping on reduced graphene oxide as highly cyclable Li-ion battery anode with enhanced performance

A straightforward, one-step route has been established to fabricate reduced- (rGO) and nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (NrGO) with remarkable lithium-ion storage properties. The graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized as starting material by improved Hummers’ method. Thereafter, thermally annealing GO with NH₃ at elevated temperature to synthesize NrGO was yielded a more open structure with nitrogen sites suitable for enhanced Li intercalation. NrGO exhibited a reversible capacity of 240 mAhg^?1 at 10 Ag^-1 after 500 cycles with 90% capacity retention, which is the best result achieved among graphene oxide-based anodes at this current density. In contrast to rGO, NrGO cells exhibited a gradually increasing capacity profile, reaching up to 114% of the initial capacity at 0.1, 2, and 10 Ag^-1 current densities. Results showed that high occupancy of pyridinic N within NrGO enhanced battery performance and cell kinetics upon cycling which offers long-time operability at high current density.     

Oxygen-Generating Cryogels Restore T Cell Mediated Cytotoxicity in Hypoxic Tumors

Solid tumors are protected from antitumor immune responses due to their hypoxic microenvironments. Weakening hypoxia-driven immunosuppression by hyperoxic breathing of 60% oxygen has shown to be effective in unleashing antitumor immune cells against solid tumors. However, efficacy of systemic oxygenation is limited against solid tumors outside of lungs and has been associated with unwanted side effects. As a result, it is essential to develop targeted oxygenation alternatives to weaken tumor hypoxia as novel approaches to restore immune responses against cancer. Herein, injectable oxygen-generating cryogels (O₂-cryogels) to reverse tumor-induced hypoxia are reported. These macroporous biomaterials are designed to locally deliver oxygen, inhibit the expression of hypoxia-inducible genes in hypoxic melanoma cells, and reduce the accumulation of immunosuppressive extracellular adenosine. The data show that O₂-cryogels enhance T cell-mediated secretion of cytotoxic proteins, restoring the killing ability of tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, O₂-cryogels provide a unique and safe platform to supply oxygen as a coadjuvant in hypoxic tumors and have the potential to improve cancer immunotherapies.