Facing the growing problem of the electric power consumption in Egyptian residential building using building performance simulation program

Egypt has been experiencing recurrent power cuts especially at the summer, with the problem being made worse by the extra demands placed on the electrical grid by the advent of the holy month of Ramadan. Electricity shortages are now a problem in Cairo, Alexandria, Sohag, Qena, Luxor, Aswan, and Nubia, as well as in the Nile Delta governorates of Beheira and Qalioubiya. The aim of this study is to develop a model for the Egyptian residential building using Building Performance Simulation Program and make sensitivity analysis on some variables effecting the electric power consumption in order to help faceting the growing problem in Egypt. The model was created using the IES-VE 2012 (Integrated Environmental Solution ). The simulation model was verified against the survey data for the Egyptian apartment and same model simulated using energy Plus simulation tool. The results of the program describing different situations for energy using profile for the air conditions, lighting and equipments in respect to building layout and construction climate and pattern of use. This model can be used in the future to help in reducing the electric power consumption in the residential building

De-Centralized and Centralized Control for Realistic EMS Maglev Systems

A comparative study of de-centralized and centralized controllers when used with real EMS Maglev Systems is introduced. This comparison is divided into two parts. Part I is concerned with numerical simulation and experimental testing on a two ton six-magnet EMS Maglev vehicle. Levitation and lateral control with these controllers individually and when including flux feedback control in combination with these controllers to enhance stability are introduced. The centralized controller is better than the de-centralized one when the system is exposed to a lateral disturbing force such as wind gusts. The flux feedback control when combined with de-centralized or centralized controllers does improve the stability and is more resistant and robust with respect to the air gap variations. Part II is concerned with the study of Maglev vehicle-girder dynamic interaction system and the comparison between these two controllers on this typical system based on performance and ride quality achieved. Numerical simulations of the ODU EMS Maglev vehicle interacting with girder are conducted with these two different controllers. The de-centralized and centralized control for EMS Maglev systems that interact with a flexible girder provides similar ride quality

Evaluation of some phenolic extracts against aphids (Aphis craccivora) Koch under laboratory conditions

Local farmers worldwide have complained in recent years that insect pests have become resistant to the majority of insecticides, owing to pesticide abuse. In addition, highly poisonous and harmful substances may cause health and environmental dangers. Friendly alternatives such as plant extracts are the main targets as substituents to synthetic pesticides. The present study aimed to extract total phenols from some plants and evaluate their efficacy on aphids, Aphis craccivora, under laboratory conditions. Four methanolic plant extracts from Punica granatum, Lantana camara, Portulaca oleracea and Ziziphus jujuba, containing phenolic components were evaluated against A. craccivora through: slide dipping, spraying, and leaf dipping techniques. Generally, positive relationships between the concentrations of the tested phenolic extracts and their mortality percentages were noticed in the case of slide dipping and spraying techniques. Conversely, no biological efficacy was found using the leaf dipping technique. The descending order of effectiveness of the tested extracts depending on their EC50 values was 0.017, 0.321, 1.142 and 16.114 ppm for Z. jujuba, P. oleraceae P. granatum and L. comara, respectively, in the case of the slide dipping technique. In contrast, P. granatum, L. camara, P. oleraceae and Z. jujuba had EC50 values of 0.0023, 0.017, 0.321 and 2.3409 ppm, respectively, in the case of the spraying technique. Additionally, a direct proportion was found between mortality percentages and treatment period for plant extracts under study with both techniques. After formulation and completion of additional essential field research, phenols isolated from the plants under study could be employed to combat A. craccivora

Prediction of Business Failure as a Criterion for Evaluating the Usefulness of Alternative Accounting Measures

This study examines the usefulness of general price level information (GPL) and current cost information (CC) originally provided by SFAS No. 33 as compared to historical cost information (HC) in predicting bankruptcy. The study also examines the usefulness of GPL data versus CC data when each supplements HC data. In addition, this study tests the usefulness of the three types of information systems combined in one model (HC, GPL, and CC) versus HC data in predicting bankruptcy. The study focuses on the predictability of business failure using financial ratios as predictors. A comparison of these predictors is made in order to identify the accounting system that yields a better prediction of bankruptcy. Two multivariate statistical techniques, multiple discriminant analysis (MDA) and logistic regression analysis (LRA), are used to derive the ex—post classification and the ex-ante prediction results. Six functions are developed, based on ratios computed with HC, CC, GPL, the combined HC and GPL, the combined HC and CC, and the combined HC, GPL, and CC. The resulting functions are used to classify 40 firms as failed or nonfailed. The analysis is repeated for three time bases—one, two, and three years before bankruptcy. The main results of the various analyses indicate that the combined HC and CC model has more discriminant power than does the HC, the GPL, or the combined HC and GPL models in each of the three years before bankruptcy. The results also show that there are significant differences in the overall classification rate derived from the combined HC, GPL, and CC model and the HC model, the GPL model, or the combined HC and GPL model . The differences between the combined HC and CC and the combined HC, GPL, and CC models are not significant in each of the three years before bankruptcy. The results also indicate that the differences in the the performance of MDA and LRA are not significant except in the second year before bankruptcy when the combined HC and GPL model is used

Effect of Mobility on the Quality of Life among Older Adults in Geriatric Home at Makkah Al-Mukarramah

Background: Mobility limitations are common in older adults, affecting the physical, psychological, and social aspects of an older adult's life. The term quality of life (QOL) references the general well-being of individuals and societies. The term is used in a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development, healthcare, and politics. Quality of life should not be confused with the concept of standard of living, which is based primarily on income. Instead, standard indicators of the quality of life include not only wealth and employment but also the built environment, physical and mental health, education, recreation and leisure time, and social belonging Quality of life (QOL) is aboard concept affected in a complex way by the person’s physical health, psychological state, social relationship, and the relationship to salient feature of the environment. Aim: This study aimed to assess the nature of relationship between mobility on QOL in older adults through assessing the older adults’ mobility, Activity of daily living (ADL) and QOL. Subjects and methods: A descriptive study was conducted on a convenient sample of 75 older adults in Social Care Home at Makkah AL-Mukarramah. Tools of data collection were an interview questionnaire form to collect socio-demographic characteristics, Elderly Mobility Scale (EMS), WHOQOL-BREF, and ADL. Results: The current study revealed that nearly half of older adults their ages ranged from (>75- 85 years) and more than two thirds of them had osteoarthritis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and urinary incontinence, more than half of the study sample were received assistance in bathing, dressing, and continence and more than half of subjects feeds themselves without assistance. Conclusion: There is a strong positively relationship between QOL, ADL, and elderly mobility (EM). Most of the older adults at geriatric home are completely dependent in ADL and mobility. Also there was highly statistically significant difference between QOL and EM. Recommendation: Training exercise must be provided upon initial range of motion of older adult, and encourage the older adult to applied ADLs.Key words: Mobility, Quality of Life, Older Adult and Geriatric Home

Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Nano-adsorbent Materials in the Sorption of Pb(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Mn(II), Li(I) from Aqueous Solution

In this study, nano-adsorbent materials were synthesized from two different precursors by thermal activation technique. The first was the synthesizing of nano-zinc silicate from chemical reagents of zinc oxide and commercial silica gel. The second was the preparation of nano-pore size activated carbon from different biomass. The synthesized nano-adsorbent materials were characterized by different techniques; Surface Area, FTIR, XRD and SEM. The prepared nano-adsorbent materials were applied in the sorption and separation of some heavy metals from aqueous solution. These metals includes; Pb (II), Ni(II), Co(II), Mn(II) and Li(I). Some factors affecting on the sorption process (e.g. contact time and pH) were investigated. It was found that: the nano-zinc silicate (of ratio 1:1 thermally treated at 700 0C) and nano-pores activated carbon (prepared from saw dust impregnated with 70% H3PO4 overnight, then heated to 500 0C in presence of steam for 80 min.) were the best samples for sorption and separation of concerned heavy metals