Assessing the level of understanding of contractors regarding the workers' productivity in construction industry

Productivity of workers is important to enhance the completion of the project within the required time and quality. Majority of the project elements and activities are based on labour performance. Construction activities are recognized as labour-intensive as it rely more on human efforts. Contractors have duties to handle the work in it best way for increasing the quality and decreasing time and also cost. Frequently, at construction sites it is observed that contractors do not pay attention to the productivity of workers and its effect on the overall productivity. Usually they do not measure labour productivity in the construction projects and also they cannot compare productivity rates in the construction sites. The aim of this study is to assess the level of understanding of contractors regarding the workers’ productivity in construction industry of Iran. The data is collected through questionnaires and interviews. The data is analysed using Average Index and SPSS. From the study, the level of understanding of contractors regarding the workers’ productivity in construction industry is “Understand”. The contractors understand the impact of productivity on cost, time and quality

Performance evaluation of a mobile road traffic infraction registration system through benchmark

The rapid development of roads and the increasing number of vehicles have complicated road traffic enforcement in many countries due to limited resources of the traffic police, specifically when traffic infraction registration is done manually. The efficiency of the traffic police can be improved by a computer-based method. This study focused on mobile traffic infraction registration system benchmarking which is used to evaluate the server performance under load. The study attempts to provide a clear guideline for the performance evaluation of mobile road traffic infraction registration system, whereby the traffic police can make decision based on them to migrate from the manual-method toward computer-based method. A closed form of benchmark tool was used for the evaluation of the system performance. The tool was configured to imitate ramp scenarios, and statistics were gathered. The server was monitored at different times and works. Contributing factors include bottleneck, traffic, and response time, which are related with criteria and measurements. The system resource was also monitored for the tests

Improving response time in traf fic police infraction registration system

Advanced of civilian wireless network infrastructure made the mobile devices increasingly popular. One of the main police requirements is information systems to provide information for police anywhere and anytime. Mobile equipments are widely used for communication but lacking of security makes it unsuitable for transmitting the confidential data. In this paper, we discuss requirements of the traffic police data center firstly, and then propose a solution for improving response time of traffic police data center. Policemen in the system can use various kinds of mobile terminals, such as mobile phones, tablet PCs, personal digital assistants, and laptops equipped with wireless LAN (WLAN) or General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) device to access data in the central database. The system addresses the requirement of security and transaction speed, and can be extended to the other mobile information systems such as e-commerce

Premature failure analysis of forged cold back-up roll in a continuous tandem mill

In this paper, premature failure of a forged back-up roll from a continuous tandem mill was investigated. Microstructural evolutions of the spalled specimen and surface of the roll were characterized by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and ferritscopy, while hardness value of the specimen was measured by Vickers hardness testing. The results revealed that the presence of pore and MnS inclusion with spherical and oval morphologies were the main contributing factors responsible for the poor life of the back-up roll. In addition, metal pick up and subsequently strip welding on the surface of the work roll were found as the major causes of failure in work roll which led to spalling occurrence in the back-up roll. Furthermore, relatively high percentage of retained austenite, say 9%, in outer surface of the back-up roll contributed spalling due to conversion of this meta-stable phase to martensite and creation of volume expansion on the outer surface through work hardening during mill campaign

Genotype × environment interaction by AMMI and GGE biplot analysis in three consecutive generations of wheat (Triticum aestivum) under normal and drought stress conditions

Thirty six wheat genotypes derived from diallel crosses from F1 to F3 and their parents were evaluated in six different environments for the stability of performance. Performance was measured by seed yield per plant under drought and non-drought stress conditions. The experiment was conducted as a randomised complete block design with three replications in over one year. Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and Genotype main effect and genotype x environment interaction (GGE) were employed in the evaluation of genotypes; AMMI analyses showed significant (P< 0.01) G × E, (genotype × environment interaction) with respect to plant seed yield. The AMMI stability value (ASV) revealed that cross number 14 (Irena × Veery) is stable. GGE-biplot models showed that the six environments used for the study belonged to two mega-environments. The GGE results also confirmed crosses number 11 (Irena × Chamran) and 17 (S-78-11 × Chamran) as the most stable, and recommended for the creation of hybrids. Based on environment 3 (F3 population, drought) with an inbreeding depression effect, hybrid number 17 (S-78-11 × Chamran) was identified as the best line due to its stability and high yield

Genetic behaviour for plant capacity to produce chlorophyll in wheat (Triticum aestivum) under drought stress.

The study was conducted with the objective of identifying parents to be used in a breeding program to develop high chlorophyll varieties. Combining ability, heterosis and inheritance of chlorophyll content, including chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll (a+b), were investigated in bread wheat obtained from half-diallel crossings among eight parental lines.Cultivars with names of Irena/Babax//Pastor, S-78-11, Tajan, Chamran, Moghan3, Hamoon, Veery/Nacozari and Hirmand have different capacities to produce chlorophyll. Eight parental genotypes and their resulting 28 F1s were grown in three replications of randomised complete block design. Drought stress was performed with irrigation at 75% soil moisture depletion, the data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and combining abilities were carried out according to Griffing’s method 2, model 1. The study was conducted with the objective of identifying parents to be used in a breeding program to develop high chlorophyll varieties. General combining ability and specific combining ability effects were significant for traits’ chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll; however, non-additive gene effects were predominant over additive effects. The line Irena/Babax//Pastor transmitted high chlorophyll content based on general combining ability to progenies that were made with it. Broad-sense heritabilities were high and strict-sense heritabilities were low for the traits, confirming the importance of non-additive gene effects. This could bring definition of reduced selection efficiency for these mentioned traits

A queueing model for evaluating traffic police infraction registration system

This paper is a consequence of a main project, the project is a novel experiment which provides "live" traffic ticket issuing and registration. One of the main police requirements is information systems to provide information for police anywhere and anytime. We made some efforts to improve police performance with new solution. Advanced of civilian wireless network infrastructure made the mobile devices increasingly popular. Mobile equipments are widely used for communication but lacking of security makes it unsuitable for transmitting the confidential data. In this paper, we discuss requirements of the traffic police data center firstly, and then this paper is produce a generally applicable queuing model that abstracts all Traffic Police Data Center components, in a queuing model of a Traffic Police Data Center, the customers are officers, the servers are located on Traffic Police Data Center (TPDC) and queues are populated by traffic tickets that wait for the services. Finally, we focus on the resources monitoring

Gene action for physiological parameters and use of relative water content (RWC) for selection of tolerant and high yield genotypes in F2 population of wheat

In order to identify parents suitable for use in a breeding program for the development of high quality and high yield varieties of bread wheat with drought tolerant genotypes, the combining ability and gene action for certain physiological traits were investigated in half-diallel crossings among eight parental lines. The cultivars investigated (Irena/Babax//Pastor, S-78-11, Tajan, Chamran, Moghan3, Hamoon, Veery/Nacozari and Hirmand) possess different tolerance levels to drought stress. Eight parental genotypes, and their resulting 28 F2 generations, were grown in a triplicate randomised complete block design.Drought stress and non-stress conditions were achieved through irrigation at 75% and 25% soil moisture depletion. Data were subjected to analysis of variance, combining abilities factor analysis and correlation analysis between drought tolerance indices and factor scores (according to Griffing's method 2, model 1). General combining ability and specific combining ability effects were significant for traits; however, non-additive gene effects were dominant over additive effects. The cultivar Chamran transmitted high relative water content (RWC) to its progeny, based on general combining ability. Broad-sense heritability was high and strict-sense heritability was low for the traits, confirming the importance of non-additive gene effects. The results of factor analysis revealed that three factors explained approximately 70% of total variation; these factors were strongly influenced by chlorophyll a and b, proline content, cell membrane stability, RWC and plant yield. Based on drought stress indices (STI and GMP), the cross Irena×Chamran was the most tolerant genotype. Correlation coefficients between two drought stress indices and the third factor from the factor analysis, which influenced RWC and plant yield, were positive and significant. Thus, RWC may be a good criterion for selection of tolerant genotypes with higher yields in breeding programmes

Deletion of Insulin-Degrading Enzyme Elicits Antipodal, Age-Dependent Effects on Glucose and Insulin Tolerance

Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is widely recognized as the principal protease responsible for the clearance and inactivation of insulin, but its role in glycemic control in vivo is poorly understood. We present here the first longitudinal characterization, to our knowledge, of glucose regulation in mice with pancellular deletion of the IDE gene (IDE-KO mice).IDE-KO mice and wild-type (WT) littermates were characterized at 2, 4, and 6 months of age in terms of body weight, basal glucose and insulin levels, and insulin and glucose tolerance. Consistent with a functional role for IDE in insulin clearance, fasting serum insulin levels in IDE-KO mice were found to be ∼3-fold higher than those in wild-type (WT) controls at all ages examined. In agreement with previous observations, 6-mo-old IDE-KO mice exhibited a severe diabetic phenotype characterized by increased body weight and pronounced glucose and insulin intolerance. In marked contrast, 2-mo-old IDE-KO mice exhibited multiple signs of improved glycemic control, including lower fasting glucose levels, lower body mass, and modestly enhanced insulin and glucose tolerance relative to WT controls. Biochemically, the emergence of the diabetic phenotype in IDE-KO mice correlated with age-dependent reductions in insulin receptor (IR) levels in muscle, adipose, and liver tissue. Primary adipocytes harvested from 6-mo-old IDE-KO mice also showed functional impairments in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake.Our results indicate that the diabetic phenotype in IDE-KO mice is not a primary consequence of IDE deficiency, but is instead an emergent compensatory response to chronic hyperinsulinemia resulting from complete deletion of IDE in all tissues throughout life. Significantly, our findings provide new evidence to support the idea that partial and/or transient inhibition of IDE may constitute a valid approach to the treatment of diabetes

Frequency and clinical patterns of stroke in Iran - Systematic and critical review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cerebrovascular disease is the second commonest cause of death, and over a third of stroke deaths occur in developing countries. To fulfil the current gap on data, this systematic review is focused on the frequency of stroke, risk factors, stroke types and mortality in Iran.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirteen relevant articles were identified by keyword searching of PubMed, Iranmedex, Iranian University index Libraries and the official national data on burden of diseases.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The publication dates ranged from 1990 to 2008. The annual stroke incidence of various ages ranged from 23 to 103 per 100,000 population. This is comparable to the figures from Arab Countries, higher than sub-Saharan Africa, but lower than developed countries, India, the Caribbean, Latin America, and China. Similarly to other countries, ischaemic stroke was the commonest subtype. Likewise, the most common related risk factor is hypertension in adults, but cardiac causes in young stroke. The 28-day case fatality rate is reported at 19-31%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Data on the epidemiology of stroke, its pattern and risk factors from Iran is scarce, but the available data highlights relatively low incidence of stroke. This may reflect a similarity towards the neighbouring nations, and a contrast with the West.</p