Building Drift Estimation Using Acceleration and Strain Measurements

Estimating structural displacements is an essential tool in structural engineering. Different methods have been developed to estimate structural displacements either using direct or indirect measurements. One of the common indirect measurements widely used is the acceleration measurement, due to its lower cost and simple instrument attachment to the structures, and it does not require a fixed reference point as most of direct measurements do. This study presents three methods to estimate structural displacement using acceleration and strain measurements. The first method is based on modifying the time-domain finite impulse response (FIR) filter method to estimate displacements using acceleration measurements through a moving time window. This method is verified using measured data from shake table tests on a small-scale structure. The second method converts strain measurements into displacements based on a scaling strategy, in which acceleration measurements and an assumed diagonal mass matrix are used to derive the modal participation mass ratios. The third method, which is the data fusion method, combines the first two. The use and outcome of all three methods are illustrated with numerical results

Structural Health Monitoring Strategies Using Traditional Sensors and Computer Vision

The vibration-based condition assessment of structures is the predominant method in structural health monitoring. The condition assessment of structures can be determined through the response of structures (i.e., peak displacement and acceleration), or through change characterization (i.e., system and damage identification). This dissertation presents three improved strategies for structural health monitoring using traditional sensors and computer vision. One strategy uses data fusion of acceleration and strain to estimate the displacement of building structures subjected to nonstationary wind load. In particular, this study presents two methods (data fusion A and B) that can accurately estimate both components of the displacement–the pseudo-static and the dynamic components. The two methods are validated numerically using a 20-story structure and experimentally using a small-scale 6-story structure. The second strategy is based on a computer vision method for system identification using consumer-level cameras and small structural motions. The Kanade-Lucas-Tomasi (KLT) and the Phase-Based Motion Processing (PBMP) methods are adopted in the proposed method. The method is validated experimentally using two small-scale steel structures: a 6-story building and a single-span truss bridge. The third strategy relies on the use of computer vision in damage identification by means of the Damage Locating Vector (DLV) method. This study also investigated the impact of using aliased modes in damage identification. The small-scale truss bridge was used for numerical and experimental evaluations of computer vision in system and damage identifications

Liraglutide-Induced Depression with Suicidality in an Obese Adult: A Case Report

Obesity is a major health issue worldwide. Treating adults with obesity often involves lifestyle and diet changes and sometimes medication. Liraglutide is a drug that is being closely studied for treating obesity. However, the potential side effects of liraglutide, particularly its impact on mood and the development of depression, may be of concern. Given the frequent co-occurrence of obesity and depression, it is important to understand how obesity treatments like liraglutide might affect a person’s mood. A 47-year-old schoolteacher with no personal or family history of mental illness or chronic physical condition sought help for his steadily increasing weight. Despite having a sedentary job and reporting no major stress or substance use, he did not attempt to change his diet or activity level, occasionally experiencing sleep difficulties. He was overweight, with a body mass index of 42. The patient was diagnosed with adult obesity and prescribed liraglutide, diet changes, and exercise. Initially, he lost weight, but he also developed depressive symptoms, including fatigue, loss of interest, sleep disturbances, and suicidal ideation. Following cessation of liraglutide treatment, his depression symptoms got better, but his weight slightly increased. This case sheds light on the possible link between liraglutide and depression in managing obesity. It is crucial for healthcare providers to be aware of potential mental health side effects of obesity drugs like liraglutide. Although the exact reasons behind these mood changes are not fully understood, this case emphasizes the need for careful observation and decision-making in treatment. Understanding these issues can help balance the benefits and risks of liraglutide and ensure better care and treatment options for people with obesity

The Syrian Conflict and Its Effect on the Real Local Production Growth and Unemployment in Jordan

The study aims at identifying the Syrian conflict, and its effect on the Jordanian real local production growth. It also aims at identifying the influence of the Syrian refugee crisis on both the Jordan labor market, and unemployment. The study makes an effort at clarifying the state and the challenges of the Jordan market as a result of the migration of the Syrian workers. To achieve the purpose of this study, it follows the methodology that represents the information source and the total numbers of the local production, growth and unemployment. The Okun Law that clarifies the relation between the growth in the real local production and unemployment has been applied. The study has achieved that the effect of the Syrian crisis was as the following: 1-     It entirely affects the local production growth by reducing the whole numbers of production. 2-     It generally affects the unemployment proportion as a result of reducing the national indicators. 3-     The number of male Syrian refugees who affected the Jordan market was larger than female number. The study has come up with some important recommendations like finding developmental plans compatible with the Syrian conflict, encouraging the national employment, and triggering the legal framework in confronting the illegal employment in the light of growth stability in the local production at the level of 2.5%. Key words: The Syrian conflict, the real local production, unemployment, Okun la

The IT Performance in Saudi Arabian Hospitals

The objectives of this research are first to examine the level of implementation of IT in Saudi’s hospitals; to examine possible relationships between IT implementation and performance; to identify the challenges that Saudi’s hospitals face to implement and perform IT. To achieve these objectives, the research will employ various methods. These include questionnaire survey, semi-structured interviews and evaluation methods. The questionnaire survey data analysis showed that there was lack of organisational factors implementation in IT departments in Saudi Arabian hospitals. It showed also there were positive significant relationships between the organisational factors implementation and the IT performance indicator. The semi-structured interviews data analysis suggested a number of factors that negatively affect the implementation of organisational factors in IT department in Saudi Arabian hospitals and these are: supporting the IT department has middle priority, lack of training and knowledge amongst IT department, lack of IT improvement, lack of IT planning, unclear of IT department objectives, customer’s less satisfaction, shortage of expertise, IT professionals’ turnover, lack of ambition amongst IT employees, lack of sharing knowledge. The two evaluations indicated that the assessment for organisational factors implementation in IT departments developed in this research is applicable in practice. This tool can be used by the IT departments in Saudi Arabian hospitals to assess their organisational management implementation efforts. Through using this tool, hospitals can identify improvement possibilities and formulate an effective improvement plan

Effectiveness of a proposed perspective based on self – learning strategy In developing the environmental awareness for the students of middle school at Saudi Arabia

The objective of the research is to present a proposed scenario based on the self-learning strategy and measuring its impact in developing environmental awareness among a sample of middle school students in Saudi Arabia. To achieve this goal, the researcher prepared a list of environmental concepts required for development among students in the intermediate stage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (sample study). The researcher also designed an educational model that adopts the self-learning strategy and builds on it. The above tools were applied to a sample of middle school students in one of the schools of Al-Jouf Educational Administration (60 students) divided into two groups: experimental and control. The results of the study reached the importance of using the method of educational modules in the development of environmental awareness among middle school students in Saudi Arabi

Effectiveness of a proposed perspective based on self – learning strategy In developing the environmental awareness for the students of middle school at Saudi Arabia

The objective of the research is to present a proposed scenario based on the self-learning strategy and measuring its impact in developing environmental awareness among a sample of middle school students in Saudi Arabia. To achieve this goal, the researcher prepared a list of environmental concepts required for development among students in the intermediate stage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (sample study). The researcher also designed an educational model that adopts the self-learning strategy and builds on it. The above tools were applied to a sample of middle school students in one of the schools of Al-Jouf Educational Administration (60 students) divided into two groups: experimental and control. The results of the study reached the importance of using the method of educational modules in the development of environmental awareness among middle school students in Saudi Arabi

A model for waterside oxidation of zircaloy fuel cladding in pressurized water reactors

A model has been developed to predict the long-term oxidation rate of Zircaloy-4 for ex-reactor (autoclave) and in-reactor (PWR) environments and operating conditions. A computer program has been written to solve the oxygen diffusion equation by employing a fully implicit finite difference method for a one dimensional cylindrical geometry. The moving boundary of the oxide is treated by deriving a time dependent relationship to control the speed of the interface motion. New diffusion coefficients for the oxygen in the oxide film have been developed. The proposed diffusion coefficients are a function of temperature and oxygen concentration gradient in the oxide and are derived for both the pre-transition and post-transition regions. To include the in-reactor corrosion behavior, additional factors have been considered, specifically the influence of the heat flux on the oxide-metal interface temperature, the fast neutron flux effect on the acceleration of the corrosion rate, and the effect of the lithium hydroxide concentration on the enhancement of the corrosion rate. This model allows the prediction of the long-term oxidation weight gain and the oxide thickness on Zircaloy-4 in operating conditions which simulate the PWR conditions. The results obtained for ex-reactor (autoclave) and in-reactor oxidation are compared with experimental data existing in the literature. The predictions are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data

The Impact of the Human Resources Empowerment Strategy on Achieving Strategic Objectives in Commercial Banks in Jordan

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the impact of the strategy of empowering human resources in achieving strategic goals in commercial banks in Jordan.   Theoretical Framework: The banks in Jordan are characterized by their diversity, there are three categories of commercial banks: the public sector, the private sector, and foreign banks.it makes it in constant competition, which requires empowering their human resources to achieve the strategic goals they seek.   Design/Methodology/Approach: The study collected (356) answers from employees of nine commercial banks in Jordan and conducted an regression analysis to conclude that empowering human resources has a role in achieving strategic goals, and percentages by adopting the weighted average calculation for the level of application of each. The studied variables.   Findings: The study reached there is an effect of the strategy of empowering human resources represented by participation in decision-making, freedom of responsibility, training and education in achieving strategic goals in the Jordanian trade banks, while there was no effect of the supporting culture strategy in achieving strategic goals in Jordanian commercial banks from the point of view of its employees. And The level of application of the strategy of empowering human resources with its dimensions of training, education, supportive culture, participation in decision-making, and freedom of responsibility is medium, and the level of application of strategic goals of innovation, productivity, and social responsibility is medium.   Research, Practical & Social Implications: The study determines how the application of human resources empowerment strategies in commercial banks can contribute to achieving strategic goals, and the study also identifies the level of following the human resources empowerment strategy, and the Level of implementation of strategic objectives in commercial banks in Jordan. Originality/value: The value of the study to clarify the importance of activating the strategy of empowering human resources as an important factor is necessary in developing strategic goals, especially in the era of knowledge econom

Detecting Zero-day Polymorphic Worms with Jaccard Similarity Algorithm

Zero-day polymorphic worms pose a serious threat to the security of Mobile systems and Internet infrastructure. In many cases, it is difficult to detect worm attacks at an early stage. There is typically little or no time to develop a well-constructed solution during such a worm outbreak. This is because the worms act only to spread from node to node and they bring security concerns to everyone using Internet via any static or mobile node. No system is safe from an aggressive worm crisis. However, many of the characteristics of a worm can be used to defeat it, including its predictable behavior and shared signatures. In this paper, we propose an efficient signature generation method based on string similarity algorithms to generate signatures for Zero-day polymorphic worms. Then, these signatures are practically applied to an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to prevent the network from such attacks. The experimental results show the efficiency of the proposed approach compared to other existing mechanisms