Proposal for Designing of New BIOS Program

In this paper, a proposal for designing and implementation of general BIOS program have been done. This program consider as a modified version derived from previous versions with configure and adding a new activities differs from the others BIOS programs such as learning students, help and adjusting components using mouse only (never using the keyboard) in all windows of the implemented program. Also, the program has a flexibility to add any necessary function or activity

Performance evaluation of CCM and TSCP routing protocols within/without data fusing in WSNs

Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is a large number of small sensor devices that can connect each other wirelessly.WSNs applications are rapidly growing in last decades, furthermore, in WSN research, energy is one of the important issues that must consider when designing a new protocol. Due to the fact, almost all of nodes' energy deplete in the communication part, and the data fusing directly impact the performance of routing protocol.This paper studies the impact of data fusing for chain based routing protocols.In this study, ns-3 simulator used to evaluate Chain-Cluster Mixed (CCM) and Two Stage Chain Protocol (TSCP) routing protocols with deterministic nodes deployment. The experiments show that TSCP overcomes CCM in network lifetime when data fusing applied while CCM overcomes TSCP in the same metric with non-fusing of data for First Node Die (FND), 10%, 25%, 50% and Last node (LND). Furthermore, CCM is still playing a good behavior in delay for both approaches. The main conclusion for this paper is non-fusing of data must be applied when design new routing protocol to study all the packets traffic behaviors in the path from source to destination

Impact of Body Mass Index on Vascular Calcification and Pericardial Fat Volume Among Patients with Suspected Coronary Artery Disease

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effect of body mass index (BMI) on the relationship between pericardial fat volume (PFV), aortic root calcification (ARC) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) among patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: This cross-sectional study took place between January and December 2014 at the Kufa University Teaching Hospital, Najaf, Iraq. A total of 130 consecutive patients with an intermediate pretest probability of ischaemic heart disease who underwent 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (CT) angiography during the study period were recruited. Of these, 111 were included in the study and divided into groups according to BMI. Imaging markers were measured on CT angiography. Results: A total of 28 patients were obese, while 42 and 41 were overweight and normal weight, respectively. The median PFV, CAC and ARC was 109 cm3 (interquartile range [IQR]: 52–176 cm3), 0 Agatston score (IQR: 0–52 Agatston score) and 0 Agatston score (IQR: 0–15 Agatston score), respectively, in the normal weight group in comparison to 79 cm3 (IQR: 43–138 cm3), 0 Agatston score (IQR: 0–54 Agatston score) and 0 Agatston score (IQR: 0–0 Agatston score), respectively, in the obese group. Significant correlations were observed between PFV and CAC (r2 = 0.22; P = 0.002) and ARC and CAC (r2 = 0.37; P <0.001) in the normal weight group. However, no significant correlations were observed for obese and overweight patients. Conclusion: These findings indicate that BMI may not be an accurate tool for measuring adiposity or assessing subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in patients with suspected CAD

Physical, chemical and morphology characterisation of nano ceramic powder as bitumen modification

The physical, chemical and morphology characteristics of the ceramic source enable its waste to be a novel modifier for bitumen. This study employed the top-down approach via dry grinding in a mechanical ball mill to generate a nanoceramic powder (NCP). As a result, NCP was successfully generated with an optimum duration of 15 h and optimum Ball-to-Powder Ratio (BPR) of 10:1. The results also indicated that the particle size of NCP was significantly decreased to less than 100 nm. XRD pattern and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of the NCP-modified bitumen (NCPMB) indicated good dispersion of the NCP within the bitumen matrix. This improvement led, in turn, to decrease in the penetration and to increase in softening point and rutting resistance factor (G*/sin δ) of the NCPMB. In addition, the contact angle results indicated that the presence of NCP increased the number of heteroatoms and, hence, the polarity of the modified bitumen, thereby improving the adhesion of bitumen toward the aggregate. A small difference in softening point between the top and bottom is an indicator of NCPMB with good high-temperature storage stability. Asphalt Pavement Analyser (APA) outcomes reaffirmed the structural improvement of the modified asphalt mixture and rutting resistance was increased

Trip generation rate of fast-food restaurants in Johor Bahru area

This study is an attempt to give some insights on the trip generation rates of fast-food restaurants located in Johor Bahru area and the parameters affecting the trip generation rate for the selected land use type. In Malaysia, trip generation has often been treated lightly, and inadequate research works have been carried out. Although the Malaysia Trip Generation Manual (2010) is a concise and easy to use reference, the models for fast-food restaurants do not consider some of the features of fast-food restaurants similar to those provided in the Institute of Transportation Engineers’ (ITE) methodology. This study considered three (03) parameters to establish a relationship with the trip generation rates of the selected land use type. Statistically significant parameters have been determined which were a) gross floor area of the restaurant b) number of parking space c) number of seats, then prediction models for trip generation rates and equation have been developed. The average vehicle trip rates developed in this study also were compared with those reported in ITE Trip Generation Manual 9th edition (2012) and Malaysia Trip Generation Manual 1st edition (2010). The comparison showed that the rates found in this study were lower than those reported in ITE Manual and higher than the rates mentioned in Malaysia Trip Generation Manual

Gender disparity impact on the vascular calcification and pericardial fat volume in patients with suspected coronary artery disease

AbstractBackgroundThere is no consensus in the literature on the influence of gender on the correlations between coronary artery calcification (CAC) with aortic root calcification (ARC) and pericardial fat volume (PFV).ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of gender on the correlations between PFV, CAC and ARC in Iraqi patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) assessed by multi-detector CT (MDCT).MethodsOne hundred and thirty consecutive Iraqi patients with intermediate pretest probability of ischemic heart disease who underwent MDCT examination for assessment of CAD were recruited between January and December 2014. Of these, 111 patients were found to be eligible and were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into a male group (n=54) and a female group (n=57).ResultsIn male patients, PFV showed no significant correlation with CAC and ARC. CAC showed a significant correlation with ARC (r=0.392, P=0.003). The correlation between CAC and ARC persisted even after adjustment for PFV, age and cardiac risk factors (P=0.01, CI=0.067–0.492). In female patients, PFV showed a significant correlation with CAC (r=0.413, P=0.001) and this correlation persisted even after multivariate regression adjustment for ARC, age and cardiac risk factors (P=0.016, CI=0.067–0.612) while there was no significant correlation between PFV and ARC. ARC showed no significant correlation with CAC and PFV. ARC showed a significant association with male gender (P=0.04) while there was no significant difference in PFV and CAC between the two groups of study.ConclusionPFV was significantly associated with CAC in female patients while ARC showed a significant association with CAC in male patients

Marshall properties of asphalt mixture containing garnet waste

Waste materials have become increasingly popular for recycling due to high awareness of the environmental impact of waste disposal. Numbers and amounts of waste materials produced increase yearly and Garnet waste is one of the industrial wastes that getting attention among the mining and blasting industries. Garnet is a group of silicate minerals. Its important properties such as angular fractures and relatively high hardness, specific gravity and resistance to degradation combined with its ability to be recycled make it desirable for many industrial applications. This study aims to investigate the potential of using garnet waste as fine aggregate replacement in hot mix asphalt for asphalt pavement. The Garnet was designed to replace up to 25% aggregate in the asphalt mixture of AC14 and compare with granite aggregate as conventional asphalt sample. The Marshall mix design method was undertaken for both mixture types and detailed Marshall properties were compared i.e. volumetric properties, optimum bitumen content, stability and flow. In addition, the Garnet waste was characterized for its size distribution and chemical composition. The results show that the performance of the garnet waste aggregate is within the specification and could be potentially used as aggregates replacement in hot mix asphalt

Performance of nanoceramic powder on the chemical and physical properties of bitumen

Approximately 30% of industrially produced ceramic materials worldwide are dumped as waste in land-fills. Thus, these materials are a major environmental concern. Reusing or recycling these ceramic wastes for constructive purposes remains challenging. In this work, we evaluated for the first time the modified chemical and physical properties of bitumen incorporated with inorganic nanoceramic powder (NCP) produced from the ceramic wastes. Chemical and morphological properties of bitumen with NCP were determined. Bitumen specimens were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray fluo-rescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Physical and rheological properties of the specimens were also examined by penetra-tion, softening point, and dynamic shear rheometer tests. Morphological analysis revealed the formation of an interaction between the SiAOASi stretching vibration and hydrocarbon molecules. This interaction resulted from the incorporation of NCP into the unmodified bitumen matrix. The interaction increased the viscosity and reassembled the asphaltene particles. Thus, a new asphaltene sheet was generated, and the aromatic bonds (C@C) were strengthened. AFM results reaffirmed the structural improvement of bitumen. Furthermore, the elasticity of bitumen and viscoelasticity of its matrix increased. These improvements can be attributed to the formation of the polyaromatic structure

Physical, chemical and morphology characterisation of nano ceramic powder as bitumen modification

The physical, chemical and morphology characteristics of the ceramic source enable its waste to be a novel modifier for bitumen. This study employed the top-down approach via dry grinding in a mechanical ball mill to generate a nanoceramic powder (NCP). As a result, NCP was successfully generated with an optimum duration of 15 h and optimum Ball-to-Powder Ratio (BPR) of 10:1. The results also indicated that the particle size of NCP was significantly decreased to less than 100 nm. XRD pattern and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of the NCP-modified bitumen (NCPMB) indicated good dispersion of the NCP within the bitumen matrix. This improvement led, in turn, to decrease in the penetration and to increase in softening point and rutting resistance factor (G*/sin d) of the NCPMB. In addition, the contact angle results indicated that the presence of NCP increased the number of heteroatoms and, hence, the polarity of the modified bitumen, thereby improving the adhesion of bitumen toward the aggregate. A small difference in softening point between the top and bottom is an indicator of NCPMB with good high-temperature storage stability. Asphalt Pavement Analyser (APA) outcomes reaffirmed the structural improvement of the modified asphalt mixture and rutting resistance was increased

Privacy-Preserving Mobility Model and Optimization-Based Advanced Cluster Head Selection (P2O-ACH) for Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

In vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs), due to the fast-moving mobile nodes, the topology changes frequently. This dynamically changing topology produces congestion and instability. To overcome this issue, privacy-preserving optimization-based cluster head selection (P2O-ACH) is proposed. One of the major drawbacks analyzed in the earlier cluster-based VANETs is that it creates a maximum number of clusters for communication that leads to an increase in energy consumption which reflects in a degradation of the performance. In this paper, enhanced rider optimization algorithm (ROA)-based CH selection is performed and that optimally selects the CH so that effective clusters are created. By analyzing this, the behavior of the bypass rider’s CH is chosen, and this forms the optimized clusters, and during the process of transmission, privacy-preserving mobility patterns are used to secure the network from all kinds of malfunctions which are performed by the new vehicle blending and migration process. The proposed P2O-ACH is simulated using NS-2, and for performance analysis, two scenarios are taken, which contain a varying number of vehicles and varying speeds. For a varying number of vehicles and speeds, the considered parameters are energy efficiency, energy consumption, network lifetime, packet delivery ratio, packet loss, network latency, network throughput, and routing overhead. From the results, it is understood that the proposed method performed better when compared with earlier work, such as GWO-CH, ACO-SCRS, and QMM-VANET