Efficient optimisation of building design using a genetic algorithm

Several conventions on climate change, such as the Kyoto Protocol, the European Union Protocol, and the UK White Paper, have been issued to control and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Research has been conducted to find friendly environment sources of energy such as renewable energy, and to reduce greenhouses gas emissions by reducing the use of conventional energy. Analysis of the energy consumption from a perspective of end-use indicates that buildings are one of the main energy consumers. Optimization of building design has the potential to save 22% to 32% of building energy consumption [Caldas and Norford, 2001; EU, 2002; and Wetter and Wright, 2003]. There are several optimization algorithms that have been developed to solve engineering problems. However, in this research a probabilistic optimization algorithm (a binary encoded Genetic Algorithms, GA), has been implemented to optimize building design with the aim of finding nearoptimum design solutions with the minimum number of new function calls. The main aim of this research is to identify a GA structure and control parameters that is effective in solving whole building optimization problems, including large scale constrained problems having many design variables. The research is restricted to the single objective, minimising building energy. The performance of the GA was evaluated for two building optimization problems, both based on an example five zone air-conditioned building located in Chicago, USA. The first example is for an unconstrained minimization of building energy use, the optimization of the building construction design. The second problem extends this to include the HVAC system control variables and as a result, includes constraints on the occupant thermal comfort. In each experiment, the performance of the GA was examined for different population sizes, crossover probability, and the mutation rate. The maximum number of new function calls (and building simulations) was restricted in each experiment set (this being the GA stopping criterion). The number of new function calls was selected to allow the optimization problem to be solved in a practical time. For the unconstrained problem, 12 GA control parameter sets were evaluated (with a total of 60,000 building simulations). Whereas for the constrained problem, eight sets of parameters were evaluated. Again the experiments were requiring a further 60,000 trial simulations. The results showed that GA performance was insensitive to most GA control parameter values, such as crossover probability and mutation rate. However, the control parameter that had the most significant effect was the population size. The small population sizes (5 individuals) gave better results on the unconstrained problem, whereas the mid-size population size (15 individuals) showed better result with the constrained problem. It can be concluded from this research that a binary encoded GA with small population sizes can be used to solve unconstrained building optimization problems with 500 or less building simulation calls. However, large scale constrained building optimization problems require in the order of 2000-3000 simulations.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

A Study on Consumer Preferences for E Shopping with reference to Bahraini Consumers

Technology based Internet has shortened the gap between continents, countries, cities, towns and villages and people. Different parts of the people have similar tastes, perceptions, styles and accessibility. Now Online shopping has opened the doors of globalization as it facilitate all the information about the product from anywhere around the world and it can be accessed 24/7. Therefore organizations have changed their selling and buying strategy. An even consumer preferences also has changed in terms of choices, quality, services, selling and buying. The main reason behind this is that, most of the electronic devices apps are well connected to the internet. Therefore, consumers are showing very enthusiastic behavior to buy and sell their chosen product. Keeping these benefits in their mind consumers are acting very smart and showing lots of interest to do online shopping, why because its saves time, easy payment and it will display many options to choose best of the best of his choice of product. The present study is to know which factors are influences Bahraini consumers to go for E shopping. The study further discloses that which professions are showing interest in E shopping in Bahrain. The Researchers dropped their suggestions for E tailors and consumers so that it can be implemented for further success. Key words: E shopping, consumers, payment mode, purchase mode

Efficient Genetic Algorithm sets for optimizing constrained building design problem

The main aim of this paper is to find the appropriate set of Genetic Algorithm (GA), control parameters that attain the optimum, or near optimum solutions, in a reasonable computational time for constrained building optimization problem. Eight different combinations of control parameters of binary coded GA were tested in a hypothetical building problem by changing 80 variables. The results showed that GA performance was insensitive to some GA control parameter values such as crossover probability and mutation rate. However, population size was the most influential control parameter on the GA performance. In particular, the population sizes (15 individuals) require less computational time to reach the optimum solution. In particular, a binary encoded GA with relatively small population sizes can be used to solve constrained building optimization problems within 750 building simulation calls

Survival Rate of Patients with Cardiothoracic Injuries in Road Traffic Accidents, and their Relationship with ISS, GCS and blood transfusions.

Severe thoracic trauma is one of the major causes of injury-related mortality. In the United States, thoracic trauma results in one-fourth of all trauma deaths. Globally, cardiothoracic trauma is also a major contributor to mortality. The most common cardiothoracic injuries include rib fractures, thoracic vertebral fractures, haemothorax, pneumothorax, flail chest, and lung contusions. The purpose of the present study was to determine the survival rate of patients with cardiovascular injuries in road traffic accidents and its relationship with ISS, GCS and blood transfusions at King Khalid Hospital. This study is a useful addition to the literature, as research in this topic is lacking. A total of 189 patients were transported to the hospital with cardiothoracic injuries during the study period. Data was gathered regarding age, gender, nationality, vehicle user type, anatomical region injured, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Injury Severity Score (ISS), blood transfusion, treatment and mortality rate. The neurological status was assessed using the GCS score. Injury Severity Scores were calculated to categorize the injury severity. The mean patient age was 31.81 years, with a peak age of between 21–30 years. Males predominated (93.7%) with a male to female ratio of 15:1. Most of the patients were Saudi nationals (61.3%). Overall mortality was 7.9%. Factors that were significantly associated with mortality were head and neck involvement, ICU admission, age (above 60), treatment delivered, and blood transfusions. Cardiothoracic trauma is associated with a high mortality rate, which may depend on the clinical presentation such as GCS, ISS, degree of shock, pattern of injuries, and associated injuries. Immediate management is vital for patients with life-threatening cardiothoracic trauma, as mortality is high if the diagnosis is missed, wrong or left untreated

Cloud Computing Delivery and Delivery Models: Opportunity and Challenges

The rapid growth of Internet and computing field results in several technological advantages. In the meanwhile, security challenges that emerge along with the growth complicate the aspects of cloud based computing. Security is by now one of the most pressing concerns in Internet business where cloud computing lies in. Cloud-based services are evolving each day introducing new business trends. Since cloud computing entails storage of information in remote servers, unauthorized access to such sensitive information becomes a looming concern. The advantages offered by cloud computing, without robust security measures and flexibility, could lead to lose its credibility. This paper reviews various aspects of cloud computing and issues inherent within its contexts. This paper has identified the gap within the topic of study through the creation of the conceptual framework, which is designed as the way of attempting to connect the different concepts. The intention of the theoretical framework is to determine the potential gaps in the research and link the gaps by the present study and its results. The delivery of both, the cloud computing as well as its models is a relatively new phenomenon within the academic libraries where the study is at the stages of nascent. The conceptual framework could not be comprehensive. Instead, it was a progressive work. Thus, this new topic could be added to form the branch within the theoretical framework. This article tries to look at different concepts of cloud computing as well as the issues, which are inherent within its contexts. It analyzes this part due to the advent and growth in the sector of cloud computing, which is developing the platform for the computing in the future

Alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzyme inhibition and antioxidant potential of 3-oxolupenal and katononic acid isolated from Nuxia oppositifolia

Nuxia oppositifolia is traditionally used in diabetes treatment in many Arabian countries; however, scientific evidence is lacking. Hence, the present study explored the antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of the plant extracts and their purified compounds. The methanolic crude extract of N. oppositifolia was partitioned using a two-solvent system. The n-hexane fraction was purified by silica gel column chromatography to yield several compounds including katononic acid and 3-oxolupenal. Antidiabetic activities were assessed by α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition. Antioxidant capacities were examined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging assays. Further, the interaction between enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) and ligands (3-oxolupenal and katononic acid) was followed by fluorescence quenching and molecular docking studies. 3-oxolupenal and katononic acid showed IC50 values of 46.2 µg/mL (101.6 µM) and 52.4 µg/mL (119.3 µM), respectively against the amylase inhibition. 3-oxolupenal (62.3 µg/mL or 141.9 µM) exhibited more potent inhibition against α-glucosidases compared to katononic acid (88.6 µg/mL or 194.8 µM). In terms of antioxidant activity, the relatively polar crude extract and n-butanol fraction showed the greatest DPPH and ABTS scavenging activity. However, the antioxidant activities of the purified compounds were in the low to moderate range. Molecular docking studies confirmed that 3-oxolupenal and katononic acid interacted strongly with the active site residues of both α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Fluorescence quenching results also suggest that 3-oxolupenal and katononic acid have a good affinity towards both α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. This study provides preliminary data for the plant’s use in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Cloud computing services and its Effect on tertiary education : Using google classroom

This paper examines the effectiveness of the Google Classroom App in learning for higher education institutions in Oman. The massive advancement in technology has contributed to changes in learning and delivery of learning resources in the classroom. Thus, it has saved the resources and reduced the cost of learning associated with the traditional learning model. The main goal of this paper is to investigate the students' perception about the cloud computing services accessibility, ease of use and usefulness by measuring the implementation effectiveness of Google Classroom as a mode of teaching. This study used quantitative approach mode to determine the effectiveness and the effect of using Google Classroom e-learning model, 225 completed questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS tool. Its evident that using Google Classroom for the learning is more effective and gained highest level of satisfaction among the learners. As a general result of this work students can use Google classroom in very comfortable and easy way really on the ability of online, remote, and time unconstrained conditions. The students also like to learn through the lecturer with the support of google classroom

Encapsulated deep eutectic solvent for esterification of free fatty acid

A novel encapsulated deep eutectic solvent (DES) was introduced for biodiesel production via a two-step process. The DES was encapsulated in medical capsules and were used to reduce the free fatty acid (FFA) content of acidic crude palm oil (ACPO) to the minimum acceptable level (< 1%). The DES was synthesized from methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide (MTPB) and p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA). The effects pertaining to different operating conditions such as capsule dosage, reaction time, molar ratio, and reaction temperature were optimized. The FFA content of ACPO was reduced from existing 9.61% to less than 1% under optimum operating conditions. This indicated that encapsulated MTPB-DES performed high catalytic activity in FFA esterification reaction and showed considerable activity even after four consecutive recycling runs. The produced biodiesel after acid esterification and alkaline transesterification met the EN14214 international biodiesel standard specifications. To our best knowledge, this is the first study to introduce an acidic catalyst in capsule form. This method presents a new route for the safe storage of new materials to be used for biofuel production. Conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS) representation of the DES using σ-profile and σ-potential graphs indicated that MTPB and PTSA is a compatible combination due to the balanced presence and affinity towards hydrogen bond donor and hydrogen bond acceptor in each constituent