Analysis of a laterally loaded rigid cylinder embedded in an elastoplastic

An analytical approach has been developed to predict the response of a rigid disc embedded in elastoplastic media. The governing differential equations are obtained using the principle of minimizing the potential energy. The displacement components in cylindrical coordinates could be represented by Fourier series. The fitted method is used to determine the Fourier series harmonic coefficients. Validation is made against finite element analysis and previously published solutions

The Role of Social Media Engagement and Emotional Intelligence in Successful Employment

Purpose This paper focusses on demonstrating the role of social media engagement and considering emotional intelligence (hereafter EI) as a critical concept to successful employment, mainly when individuals fail to reach the desired employment despite “meeting” the role requirements. Design/methodology/approach The authors adopted a qualitative approach through semi-structured in-depth interviews of some randomly selected university students in the UK, young adults aged 19–32. The participants were selected based on different demographics to provide a broader and less biased representation of young adults in the UK. Findings This research suggests that recruitment organisations should introduce the latest requirements and trends of employers to ensure that the expectations of employers and potential candidates are aligned to improve the employment rate in young adults. Originality/value This research extends the literature regarding EI in social media engagement and successful employment. It also brings new perspectives on successful employment in young adults by demonstrating the role of social media engagement and EI traits leading to a conceptual framework exploring successful employment based on the role of social media engagement and EI

A Fuzzy-Logic Approach to Dynamic Bayesian Severity Level Classification of Driver Distraction Using Image Recognition

open access articleDetecting and classifying driver distractions is crucial in the prevention of road accidents. These distractions impact both driver behavior and vehicle dynamics. Knowing the degree of driver distraction can aid in accident prevention techniques, including transitioning of control to a level 4 semi- autonomous vehicle, when a high distraction severity level is reached. Thus, enhancement of Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) is a critical component in the safety of vehicle drivers and other road users. In this paper, a new methodology is introduced, using an expert knowledge rule system to predict the severity of distraction in a contiguous set of video frames using the Naturalistic Driving American University of Cairo (AUC) Distraction Dataset. A multi-class distraction system comprises the face orientation, drivers’ activities, hands and previous driver distraction, a severity classification model is developed as a discrete dynamic Bayesian (DDB). Furthermore, a Mamdani-based fuzzy system was implemented to detect multi- class of distractions into a severity level of safe, careless or dangerous driving. Thus, if a high level of severity is reached the semi-autonomous vehicle will take control. The result further shows that some instances of driver’s distraction may quickly transition from a careless to dangerous driving in a multi-class distraction context

Functional properties of enzymatically modified protein from fish waste

Fish flour from dried waste consisting of head, tail, fins and entrails was enzimatically hydrolysed using various proteases and the hydrolysate was spray dried. The functional properties such as water-fat absorption ratio, foaming and solubility index of the hydrolysates and fish flour revealed that some of the products might find significant uses in the food and/or cosmetics industry. Electrophoretic separation of the proteins from the fish flour and of the hydrolysates indicated that almost all the flour proteins are susceptible to proteolytic cleavage with the exception of one or two. The extent of degree of hydrolysis from 43-70.3% with a simultaneous decrease in unpleasant smell suggest an economical tool for minimizing odour pollution due to fish industry waste deterioration

A study on natural ventilation performance in selected historical building in Kuala Lumpur

The application of Natural Ventilation System in old and historical buildings at the vicinity of Kuala Lumpur was analysed. The adopted study viewed on the occupants’ comfort against the performed activities in the buildings. Investigation carried out to explain the extent of the effects of natural ventilation on occupants and other factors influencing comfort level inside and outside the buildings. Through this mechanism the enhancement of the natural ventilation may be executed in order to have more comfortable ventilation. The main aim of this work is to establish a relationship between comfort level and ventilation system, and at the same time to identify factors that contribute to occupants’ comfort level and buildings condition. The research method involved the distribution of questionnaires and face to face interview with building occupants. Data assessment and analysis are carried out on both quantitative and qualitative. A total of 32 questionnaires were distributed mainly to building proprietors along shop lot at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Brickfields and Jalan Bangsar. The measurement of the buildings’ inside and outside temperature and relative humidity were taken by employing Higro-Termometer Digital and Indoor Air Quality Monitors respectively. The two atmospheric parameters were selected to correlate with comfort level and to determine factors which influence the building conditions. All collected atmospheric data were then analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) computer software. In this work, frequency and average temperature analytical method were used. The results show that there is a significant correlation between ventilation systems used inside buildings with comfort level. Consequently, the results obtained would assist in the improvement of the building occupants’ comfort level in the future

Probing the Solute-Solvent Interaction of an Azo-Bonded Prodrug in Neat and Binary Media: Combined Experimental and Computational Study

Preferential solvation has significant importance in interpreting the molecular physicochemical properties of wide spectrum of materials in solution. In this work, the solute-solvent interaction of pro-drug Sulfasalazine (SSZ) in neat and binary media was investigated experimentally and computationally. The solute-solvent interactions of interest were spectrophotometrically probed and computationally investigated for providing insights concerning the molecular aspects of SSZ:media interaction. Experimentally, the obtained results in 1,4-dioxane:water binary mixture demonstrated a dramatic non-linear changes in the spectral behavior of SSZ indicative of the dependency of its molecular behaviors on the compositions of the molecular microenvironment in the essence of solute-solvent interaction. Computationally, geometry optimization and simulation of the absorption spectra of SSZ in media of interest were performed employing DFT and TD-DFT methods, respectively, where the solvent effects on the absorption were examined implicitly using IEFPCM method. Obtained results revealed a nonpolar nature of the molecular orbitals that are directly involved in the SSZ:medium interaction. As in good correspondence with the experimental results, these simulations demonstrated that these orbitals are of non-polar nature and hence minimally affected by polarity of the media and in turn favoring the non-polar molecular environments. On the other hand, the molecular origin of SSZ:media interaction was demonstrated explicitly through complexation of SSZ with water molecules revealing a cooperative hydrogen bonding stabilization with an average length of 1.90 Å. The findings of this work demonstrate the significance of the preferential solvation and composition of the molecular microenvironment on the physicochemical properties of molecules of pharmaceutical importance. © 2019, The Author(s).Scopu

IDENTIFIKASI ASPEK GELOMBANG BUNYI KELUARAN ALAT MUSIK SASANDO TRADISIONAL DAN SASANDO ELEKTRIK

ABSTRAK Telah dilakukan penelitian tentang identifikasi aspek gelombang bunyi alat musik sasando tradisional dan sasando elektrik. Subjek penelitian ini adalah bunyi alat musik sasando tradisional dan sasando elektrik yang bertipe sasando biola dengan jumlah dawai 32. Bunyi alat musik sasando direkam dengan mikrofon Havit Straight M-80 dan dianalisis menggunakan perangkat lunak Wavepad sound editor. Aspek gelombang bunyi ditentukan dengan menggunakan metode Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). Sampel original bunyi sasando tradisional dan sasando elektrik dengan rentang frekuensi dari 86 Hz sampai 1206 Hz dan 97 Hz sampai 1077 Hz. Rentang intensitas dari sasando tradisional dan sasando elektrik secara berturut-turut (-45,95398906) dB sampai (-12,38564365) dB dan (-33,44661942) dB sampai (-9,780729931) dB. Kemudian dengan perangkat lunak excel diperoleh grafik data bunyi sasando tradisional dan sasando elektrik berupa grafik intensitas, frekuensi dan noise. Setelah dilakukan filter terhadap sampel original bunyi sasando tradisional dan sasando elektrik, yang mempengaruhi kualitas gelombang bunyi adalah adalah rentang noise pada sampel bunyi  dari pengolahan data -2 dB sampai 0 dB dan -4,22  dB sampai -0,14 dB dengan persentase noise 0 % sampai 8,27 % dan 0,57 % sampai 22,76 %. Sebagian besar persentasi noise berpengaruh pada bunyi asli.   Kata Kunci: Sasando, sampel original, mikrofon Havit Straight M-80, Wavepad sound editor, metode Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), frekuensi, intensitas, noise.   ABSTRACT Research has been conducted on the identification of aspects of the sound waves of traditional Sasando musical instruments and Sasando electric. The subject of this research is the sound of traditional Sasando musical instruments and Sasando electric type of Sasando violin with 32 strings. The sounds of Sasando musical instruments were recorded with the Havit Straight M-80 microphone and analyzed using Wavepad sound editor software. Sound wave aspects are determined using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) method. Original samples of traditional Sasando sound and Sasando electric range in frequency from 86 Hz to 1206 Hz and 97 Hz to 1077 Hz. The intensity ranges from traditional Sasando and Sasando electric are (-45,95398906) dB to (-12,38564365) dB and (-33,44661942) dB to (-9,780729931) dB. Then with Excel software obtained data graphs of traditional Sasando sound and Sasando electric in the form of graphs of intensity, frequency and noise. After filtering the original samples of traditional Sasando sound and Sasando electric, what affects the sound wave quality is the range of noise in the sound sample from data processing of -2 dB to 0 dB and -4.22 dB to -0.14 dB with a percentage of noise 0 % to 8.27% and 0.57% to 22.76%. Most of the noise percentage affects the original sound. Keywords: Sasando, original sample, Havit Straight M-80 microphone, Wavepad sound editor, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) method, frequency, intensity, noise

Impaired expression of sex hormone receptors in male reproductive organs of diabetic rat in response to oral antidiabetic drugs

Introduction. Few oral antidiabetic drugs have been evaluated for their reproductive complication. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of metformin, pioglitazone and sitagliptin on the structure of male reproductive system through an immunohistopathological study. Material and methods. Sprague-Dawley male rats were injected with streptozotocin. The diabetic rats were divided into four groups (n = 8/each group); diabetic control, metformin-, pioglitazone- and sitagliptin-treated groups in addition to a normal control group (n = 8). At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for biochemical assessment. Testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle were dissected and processed for histopathological examination using routine and immune-staining. Results. All drugs significantly (p < 0.05) decreased fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglycerides and malondialdehyde compared to the diabetic control group. Metformin has induced the least pathologic changes on the structure of the testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle among the studied drugs. Metformin succeeded to restore weights of testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle as well as testosterone hormone level back to values of the NC group while the pioglitazone and sitagliptin failed to do that. A significant reduction (p < 0.05) in testicular ERa and ERb immunoexpression of pioglitazone-treated group as well as suppression of ERb and AR immunoreactivity in in epididymus and seminal vesicles of pioglitazone- and sitagliptin-treated rats were observed compared to the control animals. Conclusions. Histological structure as well ER and AR expression in the system organs were negatively and significantly affected with all studied drugs. Metformin has the least effect on the structure of the studied male reproductive organs. Thus, pioglitazone and sitagliptin treatment should be avoided in young male diabetic patients

Accounting for the Effects of Oil Prices on Exchange Rate in Nigeria: Empirical Evidence from Linear and Non-Linear ARDL Models

This study empirically examines the impact oil prices on the exchange rate in Nigeria. Time series annual dataset spanning 1980 to 2018 was estimated using the linear and nonlinear ARDL model developed by Pesaran and Shin, (1998) & Pesaran, et al. (2001) and Shin, et al. (2014); where oil prices, nominal exchange rate, interest rate, and oil revenue serves as the variables for analysis.  From the result of the linear-ARDL models  both the long run and short-run revealed that oil price has positive and significant impact on exchange rate. Similarly, the nonlinear model also revealed that in both the long run and the short-run, both the rising and falling oil prices have an increasing impact on exchange rate. Policy implication for the findings suggests that, the authority should hold the exchange rate constant during a stable period of oil prices in order to exert pressure on the foreign currency so that the oil prices will continue to have increasing impact on exchange rate as it was during the rising and falling periods

Accounting for the Effects of Oil Prices on Exchange Rate in Nigeria: Empirical Evidence from Linear and Non-Linear ARDL Models

This study empirically examines the impact oil prices on the exchange rate in Nigeria. Time series annual dataset spanning 1980 to 2018 was estimated using the linear and nonlinear ARDL model developed by Pesaran and Shin, (1998) & Pesaran, et al. (2001) and Shin, et al. (2014); where oil prices, nominal exchange rate, interest rate, and oil revenue serves as the variables for analysis.  From the result of the linear-ARDL models  both the long run and short-run revealed that oil price has positive and significant impact on exchange rate. Similarly, the nonlinear model also revealed that in both the long run and the short-run, both the rising and falling oil prices have an increasing impact on exchange rate. Policy implication for the findings suggests that, the authority should hold the exchange rate constant during a stable period of oil prices in order to exert pressure on the foreign currency so that the oil prices will continue to have increasing impact on exchange rate as it was during the rising and falling periods