Indoor Localisation and Mapping using Laser Range Finder

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is one of the uprising and evolving branches in the field of robotics. SLAM gives a robot the capability of drawing a consistent map of the surrounding area while simultaneously localizing itself within the map without the need of having prior data about the surrounding like a pre-encoded map or localization aids like the Global Positioning System (GPS)

Guanxi-type relationships (shabakat al-alakat) and relationship marketing : new linkages in the Egyptian SME sector

Establishing strong, high-quality relationships with customers can be an important element in conducting business throughout the world, particularly in complex and highly competitive markets. This study attempts to explore and examine the differences and possible linkages between two important approaches to building relationships: guanxi and relationship marketing. Guanxi-type relationships tend to work at the inter-personal level, whereas relationship marketing tends to operate at the inter-organisational level.Despite the fact that both concepts are well known individually, a dearth of critical comparison remains in academic literature, even though evidence suggests that managers can use the linkages between the approaches to improve customer recruitment and retention. More importantly, although prior research implies an association between guanxi and relationship marketing, to date, no studies have sought to link the two concepts, and therefore a unified model does not exist.Moreover, hardly any work has been done to explore guanxi-type relationships in the Arab world generally and the Egyptian context specifically, although Hutchings and Weir (2006a, 2006b) highlighted that networks, and in particular guanxi-type relationships, in the Arab world remain insufficiently researched and there is a dearth of literature exploring these. Furthermore, an informed body of knowledge, explaining guanxi-type relationships in the Arab world and comparing the networking styles of China and the Arab world, does not exist.Informed by these issues, this study attempted to address these research gaps by employing a mixed method design through two phases of research. In the first phase, twenty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with academics, experts and practitioners in the Egyptian SME sector. The aim of this phase was to explore the nature, meaning and variables of guanxi-type relationships in the Egyptian context, identify the variables of relationship marketing, and define the relationship between these two strands, and how organisations can link them and transform personal relationships into organisational relationships to retain their customers. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis and Nvivo9 software.This phase formed the foundation for the second phase, which employed a quantitative research design to collect primary data using 305 self-administered questionnaires from customers of SMEs in Egypt. The aim of the second phase was empirically to test a model that links guanxi-type relationships and relationship marketing and their association with relationship quality and customer retention. Through testing the research model, the study sought empirical evidence for building the organisational types of relationship involved in relationship marketing instead of the personal type of relationship involved in guanxi-type relationships, thereby enhancing customer retention and avoiding the problem of employees taking customers with them, when leaving the company. The data were analysed using SPSS19 and SPSS macros, employing multivariate data analysis techniques including exploratory factor analysis (EFA), multiple regression analysis, hierarchal multiple regression analysis, bootstrapping method and crosstabulation.The findings of the first phase revealed that guanxi-type relationships in Egypt stem from the principles of Islam and Christianity and have become rooted and embedded in the Egyptian culture. Moreover, the Egyptian type of social network (guanxi-type relationships in Egypt) can be called shabakat al-alakat (network of relationships). Eight characteristics of shabakat al-alakat have been determined: social, personal, intangible, transferable, contextual, emotional, of religious origin, and long-term. In addition, shabakat al-alakat is a multi-dimensional construct that can be measured through five variables affectional bonding, empathy, reciprocity, personal trust and face.Moreover, the findings of the second phase showed that shabakat al-alakat (guanxi-type relationships in Egypt), relationship investment programmes (financial and structural), relationship marketing and relationship quality have a significant positive relationship with customer retention. The results also highlighted that relationship investment programmes (financial and structural) and relationship marketing have a significant positive relationship with relationship quality. In addition, relationship quality mediates the relationship between relationship marketing and customer retention, as well as relationship investment programmes (financial and structural) and customer retention. Furthermore, the findings confirmed the interaction effect of shabakat al-alakat in the relationship between relationship marketing and customer retention. Overall, the proposed research model was validated.Three major contributions stem from this research. First, this study contributes to knowledge by establishing and providing a comprehensive framework of all aspects of the social network in Egypt (shabakat al-alakat or guanxi-type relationships in Egypt): its origin; meaning; name; characteristics; variables; advantages and disadvantages and its role in attracting new customers. The second contribution comes from the novel model, which links guanxi-type relationships with relationship marketing and the impact of this link on customer retention. The third contribution comes from introducing a way to transfer the personal type of relationship involved in guanxi-type relationships to the organisational type of relationship involved in relationship marketing and transferring guanxi-type relationships from the uninstitutionalised and interpersonal level to the institutionalised or organisational level.It is hoped that future research will build on these results so that further avenues can be explored

Influence of deep excavation on behavior of adjacent single pile: effect of pile location

Even when located atop piles, deep excavations might result in Settlement and harm to nearby buildings. This work aims to investigate single-pile reactions to deep-braced excavation-induced soil movement in soft clay with a sand covering. The main goal of the experiment is to determine how a vertical single pile responds to produced axial force, lateral deflection, induced bending moment, and pile settlement. The pile\u27s diameter (dp) is 5 meters, and its embedded length (Lp) is 22 meters. The pile horizontally from the diaphragm wall is situated 3.75 meters (.25 He). The pile was simulated using the Embedded pile structural element. To enhance comprehension of the behavior of a single pile, a parametric analysis was conducted. to offer more information regarding the pile\u27s response. Design, procedure, and strategy A thorough three-dimensional numerical study is performed to explore pile responses during a nearby deep-braced excavation using the explicit finite element code PLAXIS 3D. Conclusions: The acquired data made it possible to fully comprehend the phenomena of soil-pile-structure interactions as well as the pile reaction. The results show that there could be significant axial forces, lateral deflections, and bending moments in the surrounding piles as a result of the deep excavation. Parametric research revealed that the position of the pile has a significant impact on the pile reactions. This work used 3D numerical modeling to fully examine the pile reaction in multi-layered soil. In this investigation, the Hardening soil model with small-strain stiffness was employed to account for the soil\u27s nonlinear small-strain behavior

Influence of deep excavation on behavior of adjacent single pile: effect of pile location

Even when located atop piles, deep excavations might result in Settlement and harm to nearby buildings. This work aims to investigate single-pile reactions to deep-braced excavation-induced soil movement in soft clay with a sand covering. The main goal of the experiment is to determine how a vertical single pile responds to produced axial force, lateral deflection, induced bending moment, and pile settlement. The pile\u27s diameter (dp) is 5 meters, and its embedded length (Lp) is 22 meters. The pile horizontally from the diaphragm wall is situated 3.75 meters (.25 He). The pile was simulated using the Embedded pile structural element. To enhance comprehension of the behavior of a single pile, a parametric analysis was conducted. to offer more information regarding the pile\u27s response. Design, procedure, and strategy A thorough three-dimensional numerical study is performed to explore pile responses during a nearby deep-braced excavation using the explicit finite element code PLAXIS 3D. Conclusions: The acquired data made it possible to fully comprehend the phenomena of soil-pile-structure interactions as well as the pile reaction. The results show that there could be significant axial forces, lateral deflections, and bending moments in the surrounding piles as a result of the deep excavation. Parametric research revealed that the position of the pile has a significant impact on the pile reactions. This work used 3D numerical modeling to fully examine the pile reaction in multi-layered soil. In this investigation, the Hardening soil model with small-strain stiffness was employed to account for the soil\u27s nonlinear small-strain behavior

Fatwa Change in the Legal Provisions: Justifications and Controls

In Islam, fatwa is considered a serious matter because of its clear impact on the organization of the life of the believers. In fact, Islam did not make fatwa rigid rather it is flexible to include developments in society. Also, changes of the Fatwa are permissible should certain justifications calls for it, such as: a change of customs and habits, or a change of interests, or the diversity of means and so on. That being said, this change is not arbitrary, it is governed by controls and conditions, including not contradicting religious texts and taking into account scientific progress in the various walks of life. In addition, the change must come from a diligent scholar, who may be an individual or a group, and who has the ability to balance the pros and cons. It is also required that the change must be warranted, and it must not be compromised by nepotism and/or favoritis

Spectrophotometric and theoretical studies on the determination of etilefrine hydrochloride in pharmaceutical formulations and biological samples

Purpose: To develop a simple and cost effective spectrophotometric method for the determination of etilefrine hydrochloride (ET) in pharmaceutical formulations and human plasma.Methods: The method is based on extraction of ET into chloroform as ion-pair  complexes with bromocresol green (BCG) and methyl orange (MO) in acidic medium. The interaction of ET with BCG and MO reagents were investigated using  B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. The geometrical parameters of the interacting species and the ion pairs formed were characterized based on their frontier  molecular orbitals, atomic charges, electrostatic potential map, as well as NBO analysis.Results: The colored species exhibited absorption maxima at 410 and 479 nm for the two systems in universal buffer of pH range (3.0 - 3.5), with molar absorptivity of 2.4 × 104 and 1.7 × 104 Lmol-1cm-1, for BCG and MO methods, respectively. The methods demonstrated good linearity with correlation coefficient ranging from  0.9987 – 0.9991 in the concentration ranges 0.5 – 16 and 2.0 – 18 μgmL-1 for BCG and MO methods, respectively. The composition ratio of the ion-association complexes was 1:1 in all cases as established by Job’s method. Sandell,s  sensitivity, correlation coefficient, detection and quantification limits were also calculated. Molecular descriptors were obtained based on optimized structures of the molecules under investigation, by applying the B3LYP/6-31G(d) method, and used to interpret the mode of interaction between these molecules to form the investigated ion pairs.Conclusion: The proposed methods make use of simple reagents, which a basic  analytical laboratory can afford. No interference was observed from common  pharmaceutical excipients and additives. ETMO ion pair has a larger interaction energy (higher stability) than ET-BCG ion pair as inferred from their interaction energies.Keywords: Density functional theory, Etilefrine hydrochloride, Ion pair complex, Spectrophotometry, Bromocresol green, Methyl orange, Geometric analysi

Indoor Localisation and Mapping using Laser Range Finder

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is one of the uprising and evolving branches in the field of robotics. SLAM gives a robot the capability of drawing a consistent map of the surrounding area while simultaneously localizing itself within the map without the need of having prior data about the surrounding like a pre-encoded map or localization aids like the Global Positioning System (GPS)

Customer Value and Data Mining in Segmentation Analysis

Customer Value is the accessed value that a customer has to an organization. In Business, the customer is always right. This statement gives us the impression that all customers are viewed as equal in terms of potential value. Each customer is treated differently according to how much profit they can bring to a company. We use various Data Mining techniques to determine who are these customers and how we can acquire more customers like them who can bring more profit. A loyal customer will be treated differently than a customer that rarely do business with the organization. These customers are usually given bonus gifts and special offers as a form of thanks for their loyalty thus further strengthening that bond. Companies need a way to determine which of their hundreds of thousands of customers are deserving of this attention. Customer Value Segments are used in this specific situation

Prevalence of extensively drug-resistant gram negative bacilli in surgical intensive care in Egypt

Introduction: the prevalence of extensively drug resistant gram negative bacilli (XDR-GNB) is rapidly progressing; however in Egypt data are sparse. We conducted the present study to  quantify the incidence, risk factors and outcome of patients harboring XDR-GNB. Methods: a one year prospective study was done by collecting all the bacteriological reports  for cultures sent from the surgical intensive care unit, Cairo university teaching hospital.  XDR-GNB were defined as any gram negative bacilli resistant to three or more classes of  antimicrobial agents .Patients with XDR-GNB compared with those sustaining non extensively drug-resistant infection. A multivariate logistic regression model was created to identify independent predictors of multi-resistance. Results: during one-year study period, a total of 152 samples (65%) out of 234 gram negative  bacilli samples developed extensively drug resistant infection. XDR strains were significantly  higher in Acinetobacterspp (86%), followed by Pseudomonas (63%), then Proteus (61%),  Klebsiella (52%), and E coli (47%). Fourth generation cephalosporine (Cefipime) had the lowest susceptibility (10%) followed by third generation cephalosporines (11%), Quinolones (31%), Amikacin (42%), Tazobactam (52%), Carbapinems (52%), and colistin (90%).Relaparotomy was the only significant risk factor for acquisition of XDR infection. Conclusion: extensively drug-resistant gram negative infections are frequent in our ICU. This  is an alarming health care issue in Egypt which emphasizes the need to rigorously implement  infection control practices