The hybrid of floating stone column by numerical and physical evaluation

Rapid population growth amplifying demand for accommodation and infrastructure has resulted in soft ground being increasingly used in construction. Problems related to soft ground can be remedied by adopting a ground improvement technique. The stone column is one of the most effective and feasible techniques for soft clay soil improvement. Stone columns increase bearing capacity and reduce the settlement of soil. However, soft ground of more than 40 meters depth makes stone column treatment costlier. The design of floating stone columns within soft ground is sometimes needs to adopt. However, this method is not popular compared to the end bearing stone columns due to low mobilised shear resistance and resulted in higher occurrence of punching failure. This research is aimed for addressing the shortcoming floating stone columns with proposing the hybrid dimension floating stone columns. The hybrid stone column size able to increase the mobilised shear resistance, decrease punching failure, and reduce the volume of aggregates. In the present work, finite element analysis was performed using the program PLAXIS 2D. An elastic-perfectly plastic constitutive soil model relation based on the Mohr-Coulomb criterion was utilized to predict the behaviour of soft clay strengthen by stone column. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the hybrid stone column size with the Design-Expert 6.0.4 software. The laboratory physical model tests were performed based on the sizes of optimum hybrid stone column size proposed by RSM. The results revealed that the optimal parameter of the uniform diameter of 44 mm with a length of 100 mm increases its load bearing capacity of 3260.7 N and the lowest settlement was recorded at a diameter of 24.2 mm with a length of 400 mm to achieve 25.8 mm of settlement. Moreover, the hybrid column size i.e. the first stone column diameter of 43 mm and second diameter of 21.2 mm with the same lengths of 200 mm each diameter able to achieve load-bearing capacity of 3350.9 N and settlement of 24.5 mm. Thus, by comparing with the uniform diameter stone column of 44 mm and length of 400 mm, the hybrid column able to increase the load bearing capacity by 3% and decrease the settlement by 5%. In addition, a good agreement was obtained between the numerical and physical models with variation 25%. In addition, the hybrid stone column size is able to reduce the volume of aggregates up to 40%

Determinants of industrial embeddedness: Evidence from African manufacturing firms

Recent developments in policy initiatives as well as some current practical events have combined to put the spotlight on the issue of industrial embeddedness in sub-Saharan Africa. Though extant research documents, some stylized facts, as determinants of its manifestations of their relevance to realities in the sub-continent, have until now been overlooked. Yet, it is difficult to ignore the fact that its constituent economies possess some peculiar attributes with potentially significant implications for embeddedness behaviour. Using data for the country of Lesotho, a probit model is estimated to ascertain the veracity of some of the widely acclaimed explanatory factors. We find, as we argue, that among all, the issue of supply potentials appears the most important

Demographic, Social and Economic Changes in Tharparkar (1988-2006) - An Analysis

This study is firstever in nature and belongs to Thaparkar but the concept is general and can be replicated in mostly rain-fed areaes of the world. This study attempts to find out demographic, social and economic changes and its prospects. To achieve mandated task, the study is focussed on: Firstly, to find out the existing trends of demographic changes in the district. Secondly, to identify ever-increasing population and demographic problems and policy implementation gap, and finally, the paper attempts to suggest policy recommendations for sustainable management of demographic problems. Data analysis, findings and recommendations would be beneficial to the policy makers, planers, government, NGOs, and donnor agerncies for further planning of the developlment policies. Demographic, social and economic changes are the variables for special analysis. Therefore, an attempt has been made to test the following hypothesises. It was hypothysed that: (i). Higher the population growth rate, lower the afforidability power. (ii). Higher the literacy ratio, lower the population growth. (iii). Higher the literacy ratio, higher the living status. (iv). Higher the urbanization, higher the literacy ratio. (v). When the literacy rate increases, the positive development also increases in social sectors. (vi). Population density increases, the income growth rate decresaes.Rain-fed Areas; Demographic; Social and Economic Changes; Transient and Incoherent Grazing

Livlihood Diversification and Opinion Polls’ Analysis: Evidence From Tharparkar-Sindh (Pakistan)

In this paper attempt has been made: (i) to analyse the opinion poll of Tharis about livilihood and its diversifaction, (ii) to identify the livlihood available resources and attitute of Tharis to these resources. Poll question’s answers are analysed accordingly to draw conclusion from this analysis. Study reveals that Tharis have interest in agriclture especially livestock being their main source of livelihood and crops are failed due to shortage of rain fall. Sheep and Goats are the main growing livestock of Thar and Tharis love to rear these cashable livestocks with intrest because it is easily saleable. Thus it is the sustainable source of income for them. In Thar District the agriculture can be linked to rain falls only. Attitude of Tharis indicates that some of them are ready to divert from conventional agricultural work to other income generating businesses. Therefore, there is a need to create awareness about new opportunities within their district.Livilihood Diversification; Tharparkar; Agroculture; Livestock; Sustanable Source

Telemedicine: Blood Pressure Monitoring System for Individual Use through Internet

Hypertension and Hypotension are common diseases in Malaysians and the world at large. If not treated, they predispose the patient to more serious conditions like coronary heart disease and stroke. Regular blood pressure monitoring at home can be helpful in the management of the diseases. Doctors can use the data to evaluate the patient's condition and institute treatment. In this project, an Internet-based Blood Pressure Monitoring System (IBPMS) was developed, as a new application in telemedicine, for monitoring the patient's blood pressure at home. The data is automatically sent to the hospital database via the Internet. This system consisted of both hardware and software. A serial interface card connected to a blood pressure device was designed and tested. The software, which included a graphical display of blood pressure and homepage, was developed. The IBPMS system was designed and tested. The software, Visual Designer, was used to create the system, graphical display and control the operation of the interface card, while Hyper Text Mark-up Language (HTML) was used to develop the homepage. The complete IBPMS has been designed and experimentally tested with four subjects of ages from 25 to 30 years old. The measurement has been taken under the required room temperature and proper setting. Then these results have been compared with the real readings by using Omron blood pressure monitoring device. The difference is found to be within the range of the standard error. Thus, it can be stated that the developed IBPMS system is a convenient tool to patients for regular blood pressure monitoring at home and an important and useful application to the telemedicine service

A gravity model of mortality rates for two related populations

The mortality rate dynamics between two related but different-sized populations are modeled consistently using a new stochastic mortality model that we call the gravity model. The larger population is modeled independently, and the smaller population is modeled in terms of spreads (or deviations) relative to the evolution of the former, but the spreads in the period and cohort effects between the larger and smaller populations depend on gravity or spread reversion parameters for the two effects. The larger the two gravity parameters, the more strongly the smaller population’s mortality rates move in line with those of the larger population in the long run. This is important where it is believed that the mortality rates between related populations should not diverge over time on grounds of biological reasonableness. The model is illustrated using an extension of the Age-Period-Cohort model and mortality rate data for English and Welsh males representing a large population and the Continuous Mortality Investigation assured male lives representing a smaller related population.Gravity model; mortality rates; related populations