The application of BIM tools to explore the dynamic characteristics of smart materials in a contemporary Shanashil building design element

Traditional architecture is known for its crafted facade features that respond to environmental, social and cultural requirements. Contemporary architecture produced façade features that attempted to enhance local design identity and local culture. Despite the advantages of modern technology, architectural elements have difficulties in fulfilling the idea of sustainable elegance that once traditional elements provided. This problem calls for an interdisciplinary design approach to deliver sustainable design solutions that positively adapt to the surrounding environment as well as maintain the state of elegance in design. With this in mind, the research aims to explore the role of new glass technologies to improve the performance and at the same time maintain the design value of traditional façade element “shanashil” in Baghdadi buildings. This research utilises BIM tools and uses smart materials to restore the lost value in design, which mimics the dynamic characteristics observed in nature, inspired by biomimetics strategies. Such qualities are found in the characteristics of smart dynamic glazing material particularly in the switchable, reversible properties of transparency and coloration efficiency. The material characteristics are attached to a 3D digital prototype to visualise the difference between dynamic and static properties through the use of technology tools Revit plugin and smart glazing virtual reality prototype. This research concludes that the dynamic characteristics of smart glazing materials are effective in delivering a multifunctional design quality to collectively blend in harmony with the surrounding environment

Effect of culture on acceptance of telemedicine in Middle Eastern countries: Case study of Jordan and Syria

© Mary Ann Liebert, INC.We investigated issues that affect the use and adoption of telemedicine in Middle Eastern countries, taking the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic as case studies. Our study is based on interviews with key stakeholders (including doctors, technicians, engineers, and decision makers) and questionnaires administered to key stakeholders (including patients), ensuring opinion was gained from people from a full range of backgrounds and roles in the healthcare system. We found doctor and patient resistance was a major issue preventing the adoption of telemedicine in both countries, followed by poor infrastructure, lack of funding, and lack of information technology training. Our research identifies that culture is a greater issue than technical matters for the adoption of telemedicine in Middle Eastern countries. Based on our preliminary results we developed a guideline framework for each country that might be applied to telemedicine projects at the pre-implementation phase. The proposed guideline framework was validated through a return visit to the stakeholders and seeking further opinion

A proposed model for frequency tuned antennas used in mobile communication systems

The antenna is considered as one of the most fundamental elements in wireless communication systems, especially in mobile devices. Desirable specifications of antennas include covering wide range of operating frequencies, while maintaining high quality of system performance over the whole range of operating frequencies. Therefore, the ability of tuning the resonant frequency of the antenna without altering its physical dimensions would be highly recommended in up-and-coming designs of antennas in mobile devices. This research work proposes a model for tuning the operating frequency of the inverted F-antenna over a reasonably wide range of frequencies, via altering the electromagnetic properties of its ferrite material. In this proposed model, it will be shown that the electronic control of the permeability of the ferrite material of the antenna leads effectively to a significant shift in its resonant frequency, and hence to an overall improvement in the performance of the communication system

Steered Beam Adaptive Antenna Arrays

In this chapter, the performance of steered beam adaptive arrays is presented with its corresponding analytical expressions. Computer simulations are used to illustrate the performance of the array under various operating conditions. In this chapter, we ignore the presence of mutual coupling between the array elements. The principal system elements of the adaptive array consist of an array of sensors (antennas), a pattern-forming network, and an adaptive pattern control unit or adaptive processor that adjusts the variable weights in the pattern-forming network. The adaptive pattern control unit may furthermore be conveniently subdivided into a signal processor unit and an adaptive control algorithm. The manner in which these elements are actually implemented depends on the propagation medium in which the array is to operate, the frequency spectrum of interest, and the user’s knowledge of the operational signal environment

The Distinctively Basque Stone Shelters of California’s White Mountains

Basque and French shepherds in California’s White Mountains built dry stone shelters that persist today. Despite French names carved on logs associated with a few of these structures, the typical pattern for these shelters is Basque: they closely resemble the cabañas pastoriles (shepherd’s huts) of Bizkaia. A square floor plan with walls about one meter high enclose a single chamber. The stone work is carefully laid to make one wall face. A narrow doorway, often in a corner, faces downhill in any direction except west and can be flanked by low stone “spurs”. A fireplace is usually built into the south wall. Boulders too large to move are usually in the western wall or northwest corner. Metal, glass, wood, bone or leather artifacts are present. Typically Basque arborglyphs (carvings in aspen trees) are found nearby at lower elevations. It is unclear whether the White Mountains shelters originally had roofs

Bacteriolytic Activity of Coliphages on Diarrhea Associated E. coli

There has been an alarming increase in drug-resistant strains of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) in developing as well as developed countries. Several cases of antimicrobial resistance in DEC have been observed in different parts of the world as a result, there has been a renewed interest in alternative antimicrobial treatments, including bacteriophages. This study was conducted to isolation and characterization of a lytic coliphage from sewage water capable to infect a variety of multidrug resistance DEC strains isolated from children suffering diarrhea, as first step to further usage a lytic coliphage in future.in this study, a coliphage was isolated using spotting method and titrated, using agar overlay technique. The host range of coliphages was assessed on a lawn of E coli bacteria. This study included determination of the latent periods and burst size of coli phage then determines the stability of coliphages to physical and chemical condition (temperature, pH and sunlight exposure).The results shown that, five phages isolate (A, B, C, D and E) were exhibiting a potent lytic activity with clear plaques (1-4mm in diameter). Fifty percent of the E coli strains were infected by phage isolates. It seems, very likely, that the coliphages belonging to 3 different groups (1, 2 and3). The phage growth cycle with a detected latent period of 20 min, a burst size of 160 plaque forming units per infected cell, it was found that the phage could survive at varied pH conditions with reduction in its numbers. A temperature of above 60°C and direct sunlight beyond 8 days was found to be deleterious for survival of the phage. Keywords: key words, coliphages, E. coli, diarrhe