Experimental Analysis of Multi-phase flows in orifice

In order to understand the behavior of multi-phase flow through orifices in horizontal pipes, an experimental approach is applied that utilizes the available flow rig in the multi-phase flow laboratory at the University of Stavanger. A test pipe of 0.7m was created that would allow easy changing of orifices. Several different geometries were used in the pipe to compare flow mechanisms at different flow rates. Superficial velocities for water ranged from 0.35 to 0.75 m/s and from 0.04 m/s to 0.1 m/s for air. Pressure drop across the orifice was measured, and a video system was used in order to obtain images of flow under selected conditions. Orifice meters have been widely used in single-phase metering. However, a simplistic approach to understanding multi-phase flow has been applied. Therefore, in addition to understanding fluid dynamics in a single-hole orifice, a multi-hole orifice is also used. It is observed that to some extent pressure fluctuations are reduced when using a multi-hole orifice plate. Therefore, a hypothesis involving multiple jets that reduce the overall disturbance is made. The recorded pressure drop signals give insights into the flow behavior, and results indicated that at higher pressure drops, a significant amount of air flows through orifice. Hence, the results of this study have demonstrated an ability to visualize flow disturbances across orifice plates with cheaper materials and replicate the industrial process in the multi-phase flow lab

Extent of risk management implementation in some of rock laboratory tests for tunnel projects by means of AHP method

In any project, especially infrastructure ones such as tunnels, tests play a major role in predicting and showing the properties of the ground built on. For such construction through a rock mountain terrain, it is quite not easy to predict the engineering property of such materials. Since working with rock is a quite challenge because of the nature of rock materials, it needs a lot of care and persuasion when dealing with such. For such rock materials, it needs both of field and laboratory tests to ensure the process of obtaining the final engineering property of the materials. This paper concentrate on some of the laboratory tests required for tunnel project held in rock profile sites. Emphasizing on safety, accuracy that enquired during such tests and try to run those under risk management process by means of AHP to get the responded weights for those factors such as test procedure with average of weight (49.43%) indicates the caution to be taken during test beside major parameters such as sample size and mass in accurate manner to avoid risk in test and results obtained

Contribution of AHP method in prioritizing risk factors regarding tunnel project phases

Tunnel projects are consistently regarded to be mostly a complex and risky engineering projects, owing to the features of the projects, since they increasingly achieve high risk and complexity during the execution of the project. this led to the fact that the necessity of risk management understanding and implementing is a crucial quest with the intention to obtain tunnel project objectives considering (time, cost, quality & safety) to avoid time and cost overruns and any other obstacles. it was observed the most affecting objective was Safety (47.3%) by AHP method in which it is actually reasonable as such project of tunnel need a great concern regarding that matter for many reasons for instance the closed construction area, ventilation considerations, blasting, and so on. the second major objective is quality (31.1%) in which as experts always say it has to be maintained as a high quality as possible

Optimizing Stroke Care In Baluchistan

Stroke is the second leading cause of death after ischemic heart disease.(1) Pakistan, currently the fifth most populous country of the world, has limited data on prevalence of stroke and its risk factors. Only two small-scale population-based studies conducted in Karachi showed stroke prevalence of 4.8% and 19.1%. (1) One study conducted in KP province of Pakistan showed estimated stroke prevalence of 1.2%. (1) The burden of stroke risk factors in Pakistan is enormous. Diabetes and hypertension are the most common risk factors in Pakistan. (2) Other common risk factors in Pakistan are active smoking, obesity, and family history of ischemic heart diseases (2) Pashtuns are reported to have higher prevalence of hypertension as compared to other ethnic groups in Pakistan (2) Unfortunately, no study has been conducted in Baluchistan (Province of Pakistan) to determine the prevalence of stroke and its risk factors in Baluchista

To What Extent is the Free Market Compatible With the ‘Strong State’?

Contradictory views persist among neoliberals, social democrats and social liberals regarding relationships between free market and the nation State. In one hand, neoliberals suggest that the development of the free market puts constraints on the role of the state. Yet empirical evidence to support this view is lacking and range of commentators show not only resilience but even the expansion of state spending. Moreover, the article highlights that the State has welcomed globalization for the betterment of the society and subsequently it is restructuring itself to accommodate the changes to be effective on a desired way. Keywords: Globalization, Strong State, Free Market, State Control and Liberalism

Global Corruption Hoax: Politicization of the Concept of Corruption and the Issues of Corruption Measurement Indices

Often we observe that the third world countries always top the corruption indices compare to the developed West. This incident naturally leads to the question of why - Is it because the third world countries are significantly more corrupt than the developed countries? Or, is there any other reason behind this issue?--these are the questions that are explored in this article. To be more specific, this article critically explores contemporary arguments regarding inherent issues of corruption and various aspects of measurement techniques of corruption indices (e.g. definition issue, identification problem, clandestine nature of corruption, perceptual problem, validity and reliability of corruption data). Thus, by examining the innate complex nature of corruption, the article argue that, in many cases, in comparison to the developed West, corruption of developing nations may not be as deep as the corruption indices, which are also contested, accuse. In addition, the article emphasizes that the corruption issue is specifically targeted towards the third world countries more so than the developed countries. Keywords: corruption, governance, corruption indices, corruption measuremen

Reinterpreting mobile learning : an activity theoretic analysis of the use of portable devices in higher education

Although there is growing interest in investigating mobile learning, it is not well conceptualised. This thesis investigates the concept of 'mobile learning' by exploring students' routine learning activities mediated by the use of tools and taking place in mUltiple contexts. The exploration does not focus on what and whether students are learning; rather, it focuses on how they use tools to accomplish learning practices. This involves exploring the relationship between context and learning practices.\ud This thesis draws on three case studies that examined the use of portable devices in two Institutions of Higher Education with different contexts: traditional learning and portable technology assisted learning. The methodology used in the studies focused on collecting data that reflects on students' actual utilisation of portable devices and the continuity of that in different contexts (formal and informal) using observations and log files collected from students' portables. In addition, it considered triangulating students' self reports collected through questionnaires and interviews. Moreover, the methodology aimed at capturing the context of learning activities to consider and understand the relationship between context and learning activities. The empirical data was analysed using the concepts of activity theory (Engestrom, 1987) and a theory of mobile learning (Sharples et a1., 2007c).\ud The research led to presenting a conceptualisation of mobile learning using activity theory based on the concept of context-crossing. Context is embodied as the physical as well as the social features of the learning activities which also influences and is influenced by learning activities. The study also found that both new and old portable devices are important for students engaged in mobile learning, however, new portable technologies enable students to practise learning activities and create contexts that students using conventional devices could not do or create. \u

The impact of metformin on cardiovascular markers in type 1 diabetes :MERIT study

PhD ThesisType 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is characterised by an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Metformin has been shown to have cardio-protective properties in type 2 diabetes. We aimed to determine if the cardio-protective effect of metformin is mediated by modulating circulatory biomarkers in T1DM whilst maintaining unchanged glycemic control. Twenty-three T1DM patients without overt CVD were treated with metformin for eight weeks (treatment group-TG). They were matched with nine T1DM patients on standard treatment (SG) and twenty-three age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers (HC). Insulin dose was adjusted to keep unchanged glycaemic control in TG. We evaluated endothelial progenitor cells (cEPCs-CD45dimCD34+VEGFR2+ ), circulatory endothelial cells (cECs-CD45dimCD133−CD34+CD144+ ), , microRNAs (miR), cytokines (all groups), microparticles (MP) and peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) (except SG). At baseline, TG had lower cEPCs, Pro-angiogenic cells (PACs), (Colony forming Unit) CFU-Hills’ colonies, and PACs adhesion and higher cECs, Endothelial-MPs(EMPAnnexinV+CD31+CD41- ) and Platelet-MPs (PMP-AnnexinV+CD31+CD41+ ) versus HC. Metformin improved cEPCs, PACs, CFU-Hills’ colonies, cECs number and PACs adhesion in TG to levels seen in HC whilst EMPs and PMPs levels did not change. miR-21, miR-222, miR-195, miR-210, miR-223 and miR-320 levels were higher in TG when compared to HC. In TG, miR-21, miR-222, miR-195 and miR-210 levels reduced significantly after metformin treatment. Inflammatory cytokines and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) were higher in T1DM when compared to HC. Vascular injury markers were not raised in T1DM when compared to HC. After metformin treatment, TIMP-1, IL-6 and thrombomodulin levels reduced significantly. In TG, metformin treatment significantly modulated eleven genes in PBMC. These genes were involved in MAP signalling kinase pathway, inflammatory response, cell movement, death, signalling and survival. ii We have demonstrated that metformin can potentially shift the balance towards vascular repair. This can be mediated via improvement in EPC mobilisation, survival, inflammatory status and proangiogenic miRs. independent of metformin’s glucose lowering effect. However further long-term cardiovascular outcome studies in T1DM are still required.Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation

Aplastic Anemia: Clinicohaematological Features, Treatment and Outcome Analysis

Objective: To determine the clinicohaematological features, treatment and outcome of children diagnosed with aplastic anemia at a single institution. Study Design: Observational study. Place and Duration of Study: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 1999 till December 2008. Methodology: Medical records of children aged less than 15 years of age diagnosed with aplastic anemia were reviewed. Clinicohaematological features, treatment and its response to therapy and outcome were recorded. Results were described in percentages. Results: Ninety patients were diagnosed to have aplastic anemia (AA); 65 were male during the study period. Age ranged from 1 to 15 years. Fever in 65 patients (72.2%), pallor in 53 (58.8%), skin bleeding in 49 (54.4%) and epistaxis in 31(34.4%) were the most common and frequent presenting features. Congenital (Fanconi’s) anemia was found in 15 (16.6%) and acquired idiopathic in 75 (83.4%) of patients. Very severe aplastic anemia (VSAA) was seen in 29 (32.2%), 26 (28.9%) had severe AA and 17 (18.9%) had moderate AA. Eight patients (8.9%) underwent haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), 12 (13.3%) received immunosuppressive therapy (IST) and 70 patients (77.7%) received other and supportive therapy. Five (62.5%) patients showed complete response to HSCT and 3 (37.5%) failed to engraft. IST showed complete response in 3 (25%), partial response in 5 (41.6%) and no response in 4 (33.3%). Twenty two patients (24.4%) expired either due to infection in 16 (72.7%, fungal in 6, bacterial in 10) and intracranial haemorrhage in 6 (27.3%) cases. Conclusion: Majority of cases with AA were acquired and idiopathic in etiology. VSAA and SAA were frequent. Response to HSCT and IST was sub-optimal

A review on water disinfection with plant products-

BackgroundConventional techniques for water disinfection are fraught with issues like personnel exposure to damaging radiation and formation of harmful and carcinogenic disinfection byproducts. There are difficulties related to transportation and handling, and expensive capital and working costs also are involved like costs associated with on-site generation of disinfectants. There is a dire need for newer disinfection technologies that are environment and health friendly.Scope and benefitsThis article reviews the use of natural disinfectants derived from plants to enhance the quality of water. Researchers have utilized herbal extracts, phytochemicals, and phytochemical-metal complexes for the disinfection of water. Various factors for these chemicals like efficacy, toxicity, cost, and water solubility have been discussed and some useful phytochemical disinfectants are also identified. These disinfection methods particularly when using only pure phytochemicals are generally thought to be free from the deleterious effects associated with chlorination and other conventional technologies. Inherently, chlorinated and other harmful disinfection byproducts are not formed.Key findings and conclusionsIn various studies eugenol, thymol and extracts of Ocimum sanctum and Azadirachta indica have been utilized with fairly effective disinfection capabilities. The significant antimicrobial effects of allicin, berteroin, sanguinarine, and thymol are reflected from their very low minimum inhibitory concentration values. Even so, presently the efficiency of phytochemicals is not comparable to conventional disinfectants. The use of phytochemical metal complexes is, however, a plausible option that might be investigated further. The metal complexes because of their greater water solubility than pure phytochemicals result in improved disinfection efficiency. Notable among those are flavonoid-metal complexes that should be considered further for use in water disinfection. It is also concluded that phytochemicals may be added to water that has also been disinfected with some other commonly-used technology. A way to do this may be to design a fixed bed tower of phyto-disinfectant through which water should pass