Prediction of the High-Temperature Performance of a Geopolymer Modified Asphalt Binder using Artificial Neural Networks

Complexity in the behaviour of an asphalt binder is further escalated with geopolymer (fly ash and alkali liquid) modification, thus making it difficult to accurately predict the performance of the binder. This study employs artificial neural network modelling to predict the complex shear modulus, storage modulus, loss modulus and phase angle outcomes of experimental results from dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) oscillation tests under four separate scenarios. The proposed artificial neural network models received test conditions (temperature and frequency) and three different geopolymer concentrations (3%, 5% and 7% by the weight of bitumen) as the predictor parameters.  The variants of the optimal algorithms were Levenberg-Marquardt (LM), Scaled conjugate gradient and Polak-Ribiere conjugate gradient (CPG) training algorithms with different combinations of network structures and tan-sig and log-sig as activation functions. The coefficient of determination, covariance and root mean square error (RMSE) were used as statistical measures of model prediction performance. Based on the statistical performance indicators, the LM algorithm with a 3-5-1 network architecture and tan-sig as the activation function was the best performing model for predicting the complex modulus with R2 values of 0.996 for the training dataset and 0.971 for the testing dataset and RMSE values of 0.118 and 0.139 for the training and testing datasets, respectively. Furthermore, it was observed that the least efficient model was the phase angle prediction model developed with the CPG training algorithm, which had a 3-8-1 network architecture and log-sig as the activation function.  The model yielded R2 values of 0.909 and 0.829 for the training and testing datasets, respectively. Poor prediction performance for the testing dataset indicated that the model was unable to learn complexity in the data and would perform below a significance level of 0.90 in predicting using untrained data

Heat budget studies of the north Arabian Sea during summer and winter seasons, 1992

In this study heat budget components and momentum flux for August and January 1992 over the north Arabian Sea are computed. The marine meteorological data measured on board during the cruises of PAK-US joint project (NASEER) are used for the computation. Significant differences were found in the heat budget components as well as in the momentum flux during different monsoon periods over the north Arabian Sea. The latent heat flux was always positive and attributed to the large vapour pressure gradient. The computed moisture and latent heat fluxes in January were higher than August The highest value of latent heat flux 309 W/m2 at station 8 was evaluated. These higher latent heat fluxes were due to the large vapour pressure gradient, air-sea temperature difference, the wind speed, and the prevailing wind direction (from north and northeast). Negative values of sensible heat fluxes in both seasons indicate that the heat transfer was from the atmosphere to the ocean. The negative values of net heat gain indicate that the sea surface field became an energy sink: or the sea surface supplied more energy to the atmosphere than it received from it. Large variation in the momentum flux mainly attributed to the variation in the wind speed. Aerial averages of heat and momentum fluxes were also computed

PENGUKURAN KUALITAS WEBSITE TERHADAP KEPUASAN PENGGUNA BERDASARKAN METODE WEBQUAL 4.0

Mata kuliah Kerja Praktek, Kualifikasi Penelitian, dan Tugas Akhir merupakan mata kuliah wajib, artinya mata kuliah tersebut merupakan salah satu syarat lulus menjadi sarjana di Teknik Informatika Universitas Pasundan. Mahasiswa yang akan menyelesaikan mata kuliah Kerja Praktek atau Kualifikasi Penelitian diwajibkan untuk melakukan seminar, sedangkan yang akan menyelesaikan mata kuliah Tugas Akhir diwajibkan untuk melakukan sidang. Tahapan untuk mengajukan seminar atau sidang tersebut dilakukan melalui website Kerja Praktek dan Tugas Akhir Teknik Informatika Universitas Pasundan. Website Kerja Praktek dan Tugas Akhir Teknik Informatika Universitas Pasundan dibuat dengan tujuan untuk meningkatkan kinerja layanan Teknik Informatika Universitas Pasundan. Oleh sebab itu website tersebut harus memiliki kualitas yang baik terhadap penggunanya. Untuk mengukur kualitas website Kerja Praktek dan Tugas Akhir Teknik Informatika Universitas Pasundan diperlukan metode pengukuran Webqual 4.0 yang terdiri dari tiga variabel yaitu usability (kegunaan), information quality (kualitas informasi), dan service interaction quality (kualitas interaksi layanan). Hasil dari pengukuran kualitas website Kerja Praktek dan Tugas Akhir Teknik Informatika Universitas Pasundan yaitu tingkat kepuasan penggunanya. Harapan dari hasil pengukuran yang telah dilakukan, pihak Teknik Informatika Universitas Pasundan bisa mempertahankan aspek-aspek dari tiga variabel yang menurut penggunan sudah baik serta memperbaiki aspek-aspek yang menurut pelanggan kurang baik. Hasil tersebut dapat dijadikan sebagai acuan untuk pengembangan dan perbaikan website Kerja Praktek dan Tugas Akhir Teknik Informatika Universitas Pasundan. Kata kunci : Pengukuran, Kualitas, Website, Kerja Praktek dan Tugas Akhir Teknik Informatika Universitas Pasundan, Webqual 4.

Toisen polven maahanmuuttajanuorten haasteet ja tuen tarpeet toisen asteen koulutuksessa

Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli tutkia toisen sukupolven maahanmuuttajataustaisten nuorten haasteita ja tuen tarpeita toisen asteen koulutuksessa. Tutkimus on tehty Turussa vuonna 2015 alkaneessa Aqoon-hankeessa, jota hallinnoi Turun Kanava Nuoriso ry. Hankkeen rahoittaa Raha-automaattiyhdistyksen ”Paikka auki – nuoret työelämään” avustusohjelma. Tutkimuksessa on selvitetty minkälaista tukea nuoret saavat koulusta, perheeltä, ystäviltä, Aqoon-hankkeelta ja muista verkostoista koulunkäyntiin liittyen. Tutkimuksen tulokset palvelevat Turun Kanava Nuorisoa ry:tä ja muita asiasta kiinnostuneita tahoja. Tutkimusaihe on ajankohtainen, kun toisen polven maahanmuuttajataustaisten nuorten määrä on kasvussa Turussa ja koko Suomessa. Toisen polven maahanmuuttajataustaisilla on myös kantaväestöön verrattuna suurempi riski pudota toisen asteen koulutuksesta. Tutkimus on tehty kvalitatiivisena tutkimuksena ja menetelmänä on käytetty puolistrukturoitua haastattelua. Tutkimuksessa on haastateltu kuutta nuorta ja aineistoa on analysoitu sisällönanalyysimenetelmällä. Yleisesti aiempi tutkimus osoittaa, että toisen polven maahanmuuttajataustaisilla oppilailla on kantaväestöön verrattuna suurempi riski pudota toisen asteen koulutuksesta. Tutkimuksessamme ilmeni, että nuoret tarvitsevat enemmän tietoa ja ohjausta erilaisiin koulutusaloihin liittyen. Nuoret tarvitsevat tukea muilta tahoilta, jos heidän vanhempansa eivät tunne Suomen koulutusjärjestelmää. Nuorilla näytti olevan haasteita myös identiteettiin liittyen, kun he eivät kokeneet täysin samaistuvansa kumpaankaan vanhempien lähtömaan tai valtaväestön kulttuuriin. Tutkimuksessa haastatelluilla nuorilla oli korkeat tavoitteet koulutuksen suhteen ja halu menestyä elämässään.The main objective of this research was to investigate the challenges faced by second generation immigrant youth and their needs for support in upper secondary school. The research was conducted alongside Turun Kanava Nuoriso ry’s “Aqoon project” in the beginning of the year 2015 in Turku. The project was funded by Finnish Slot Machine Association as part of the “Open place – youth for employment support program. The study has through different dimensions looked at what kind of support youth get from schools, family, friends, Aqoon project as well as other interested parties. The results of this research will be used by Turun Kanava Nuoriso ry as well as other interested parties. The subject of this study is relatively a topical theme due the increasing number of second generation immigrant youth in the city Turku and the whole Finland. The study was conducted through qualitative research method and semistructured interview was used. A total of six youngsters aged between 16-18 years old was interviewed and data was analyzed using content analysis method. The previews studies has revealed that second generation immigrant youth are at higher risk compared to their Finnish counterparts in terms of dropping out from secondary schools. Furthermore, the study has revealed that youth with immigrant background need more information and a variety of educational guidance and assistance particularly those whose parents have limited knowledge about Finnish educational system. Significantly, the study also found that youth seem to face a unique set of cultural challenges including identity and sense of belonging. All those interviewed during the study had higher and stronger commitment to education and desire to succeed in life

An Electrophoretic Taxonomic Study on Serum Proteins of Acanthobrama marmid, Leuciscus cephalus, and Chondrostoma regium

In this study, native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Native-PAGE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) were applied to the serum proteins of Leuciscus cephalus, Acanthobrama marmid and Chondrostoma regium (Cyprinidae) fish taken from) the Karakaya Dam (Malatya, Turkey). The electrophoregrams showed that there were similarities and differences in the molecular weight (MW) of the serum proteins among the three species. In the Native-PAGE, the total number of serum protein bands of L. cephalus, A. marmid and C. regium were 5, 8, 7, respectively. In the SDS-PAGE, 13 protein bands were obtained in L. cephalus, 11 in A. marmid and 11 in C. regium. In the electrophoregrams obtained from native-PAGE, the MW of the protein bands were found to be different in the fish species except the 80.3 kD protein band which was detected in the three fish species. In the SDS-PAGE, the protein band of 21.7 kD was observed in the three fish species. Protein bands of 63.4, 52.3 and 49.5 kD were present only in L. cephalus and C. regium. On the other hand, it was seen that other protein bands had similar molecular weights

Biometry of the Fishes Barbus plebejus and Barbus capito from Çoruh Basin, Turkey

Metric and meristic characters are important to identify fish species and their habitat peculiarities. There are many species that belong to the fish genus Barbus, which is found in tropical and extratropical regions, but there are few studies covering the Coruh basin. Two subspecies of Barbus were found in the Coruh River system of Eastern Anatolia, Turkey: Barbus plebejus escherichi and Barbus capito capito. We collected specimens in seven localities for measurement. The number of vertebra were determined radiographically. Some specimens of B. capito capito have a sharper snout in the segments of Coruh where the water flows faster, suggesting a modification related to current. The biometric measurements vary geographically and could be related to abiotic and biotic factors in the habitat

Biometry of the fishes Barbus plebejus and Barbus capito from Coruh Basin, Turkey

PubMed ID: 19637697Metric and meristic characters are important to identify fish species and their habitat peculiarities. There are many species that belong to the fish genus Barbus, which is found in tropical and extratropical regions, but there are few studies covering the Coruh basin. Two subspecies of Barbus were found in the Coruh River system of Eastern Anatolia, Turkey: Barbus plebejus escherichi and Barbus capito capito. We collected specimens in seven localities for measurement. The number of vertebra were determined radiographically. Some specimens of B. capito capito have a sharper snout in the segments of Coruh where the water flows faster, suggesting a modification related to current. The biometric measurements vary geographically and could be related to abiotic and biotic factors in the habitat

Evaluating the Performance of Aluminum Oxide Nanoparticle-Modified Asphalt Binder and Modelling the Viscoelastic Properties by Using Artificial Neural Networks and Support Vector Machines

The effect of aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al2O3) on the 60/70 penetration of asphalt cement (AC) was investigated in terms of the physical and rheological characteristics by using the Superpave testing procedures. Al2O3 at 3, 5, and 7% concentrations were blended with 60/70 penetration of grade AC. Conventional testing procedures were adopted regarding the physical characteristics, while dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) testing procedures were conducted to evaluate the high and low temperature failure parameters. In addition, heuristic modelling techniques, artificial neural networks (ANN), and support vector machines (SVM) were employed to predict the performance characteristics of AC by using the mechanical testing conditions. The frequency sweep test and multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) test results revealed that the optimum composition of Al2O3 was at 5% concentration considering the high temperature performance characteristics since further addition of the Al2O3 resulted in degradation in the enhanced properties due to agglomeration of the nanoparticles in the blend. On the contrary, Al2O3 5% demonstrated the lowest viscoelastic behavior at intermediate temperatures. The higher complex modulus (G∗) and lower phase angle (δ) parameters indicated that the increase in stiffness due to the modification process was at the cost of losing elastic properties against fatigue cracking. Moreover, based on the statistical performance indicator, coefficient of determination (R2), it was observed that the ANN models for predicting G∗ and δ achieved a prediction accuracy of 0.989 and 0.911 while SVM models were able to achieve 0.984 and 0.929, respectively, considering the training datasets. On the other hand, it was noted that SVM models outperformed the ANN models in terms of a smaller gap between the results obtained from the training and testing datasets. The difference between the training and testing datasets for G∗ and δ parameters for the SVM models were 3.2% and 6.8% while for the ANN models, the differences were 11.6% and 9.5%, respectively, indicating that the ANN models were more prone to the overfitting phenomenon