Evaluation on the application of life cycle matrix (LCM) in forecasting housing needs and housing demand in developed and developing countries

The accuracy of forecasting of housing needs and demand is crucial to the preparation of development plan because residential land constitutes a greater share of the developed area of cities. Presently, many common methods are based on aggregate method, headship rates, household size, backlog and other accounting methods. Many of these methods have their strengths and weaknesses contributed by the assumptions and ‘intelligent guesses’ used in the calculations. This paper aims to explore alternative method of forecasting housing needs and demand by using Life Cycle Matrix. As a household undergoes change of stages in family life cycle, one’s housing needs and demand are experiencing gradual change. Therefore, it is essential to consider the life cycle change of a household in the analysis and forecasting of housing needs and demands. Life Cycle Matrix was initiated in Japan in 1980s to estimate housing needs based on population cohort and household distribution pattern. Comparative analysis using LCM is also being carried out in developed countries (Japan and United Kingdom) and developing countries (Philippines and Malaysia)

Punching shear capacity of flat slab-column junctions (a study by 3-D non-linear finite element analysis)

This thesis presents a study of punching shear capacity of flat slab-column junctions. A three dimensional non-linear finite element program based on 20 node isoparametric solid element was used for the investigation. The non-linear 3-D elastic isotropic model proposed by Motsovos was used to describe the behaviour of concrete before cracking or crushing. After cracking, a yield criteria for 2-D model similar to Kupfer-Hilsdorf was used and concrete was assumed to be anisotropic. No softening in compression is assumed. Smeared crack approach with simple tension stiffening and shear retention equations were employed to mimic the post-cracking behaviour of concrete. Reinforcing bars were represented by one dimensional element embedded in the solid elements and for both tension and compression, linear elastic-plastic behaviour is assumed. A comparison was first made between the predictions of slab behaviour using Kotsovos' model (In-house program) and plasticity based model used in the commercial package ABAQUS. From this it was concluded that Kotsovos' concrete model is a good model for the three dimensional analysis of the punching shear problem but the ABAQUS model was unsuitable. In order to achieve an accurate and economical solution for the non-linear analysis, a parametric study was carried out to choose a suitable analytical model. After having chosen the "best" concrete model, over 175 slabs from different sources were analysed using a constant set parameters. The analysis includes various types connections (interior, edge and corner) with and without shear reinforcement, subjected to shear force alone or to a combination of shear force and unbalanced moment. These slabs cover most of the factors affecting punching shear strength, such as slab thickness, flexural reinforcement ratios, concrete strength, and column size. This study also includes the effect of in-plane restraint on punching shear strength of slabs

The Fast Hartley Transform on a Parallel Processor

In 1942, Hartley proposed a new formulation of the Fourier integral identity by using cas (wt) as the transform kernel, where cas(wt) = cos(wt) + sin(wt), is an abbreviation for cosine and sine. It is called the Hartley transform and has many properties similar to those of the Fourier transform. The important distinctions are that the Hartley transform of a real-valued function is also real valued, and the inverse transformation is operation as the direct transformation. the same integral Furthermore, its evaluation does not involve complex functions. This is a potential advantage if the transform is to be explicitly computed. The discrete Fourier transform (DFT) has the same transform kernel as the Fourier transform. In 1983, Bracewell introduced the discrete Hartley transform (DHT) by using Hartley’s transform kernel, i.e. cas(wt). The DHT can apply to numerical spectral analysis and convolution. Unlike the DFT, no additional program is required for the inverse DHT as it is the same as the direct transformation. If the real and imaginary parts of the DFT are expressly required, then they are directly obtainable as the even and odd parts of the DHT. The power spectrum can also be obtained directly from the DHT without first calculating the real and imaginary parts of the DFT as in the usual way of calculating power spectra. In 1984, Bracewell worked out a fast algorithm for performing the DHT of a data sequence of H elements in a time proportional to Nlog2N. He proved that the fast Hartley transform (FHT) is as fast as or faster than the fast Fourier transform (FFT) and serves for all uses such as spectral analysis, digital signal processing, and convolution to which the FFT is at present applied. Since then, many discussions on the FHT [5-10] and its applications were aroused. The vector processor (VP) was initiated by Miron in It is an adjunct to an IBM personal computer in which a sequence of data is passed from the host\u27s memory to a row of mathematical coprocessors, operated on simultaneously by each of a sequence of the coprocessor\u27s instructions, and then the results are passed back to the main memory. It is a single-instruction, multiple-data stream (SIMD) computer system. The purpose of this device is to economically achieve maximum speed in the computer execution of a group of scientific calculations. Since the FHT is applied on a data sequence of N elements, where N is usually very large, it is a good candidate to be performed on the vector processor and theoretically, a great improvement on the computer execution time should be obtained. The Hartley transform, the DHT, and their properties will be presented in the subsequent chapters. The derivation of the DFT from the DHT will also be illustrated. Finally, a software system for computing the DHT on a VP will be discussed. and its performance will also be evaluated

Phylogenetic Engineering of the Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Large Subunit in \u3ci\u3eChlamydomonas Reinhardtii\u3c/i\u3e

Thirty-four residues in the large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) may account for the kinetic differences between Rubisco enzyme from green algae and land plants. By substituting these phylogenetic residues as groups and combinations of groups in the large subunit of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with those of land-plant Rubisco, the functions and relationships of these phylogenetic groups were determined. A phylogenetic-group substitution at the base of catalytic loop 6 of the large subunit decreases the CO2/O2 specificity of the enzyme, but function is restored by a further phylogenetic-group substitution at the carboxy-terminal tail. Therefore, these two regions of the large subunit, which sandwich loop 6, are complementary. In addition, combining substitutions at the base of loop 6 and the large/small-subunit interface region produces a mutant enzyme that has to be complemented by the land-plant small subunit for function in Chlamydomonas. On the other hand, substitutions in a-helix G of the large subunit reduce the holoenzyme level, and, because Chlamydomonas mutants with additional substitutions in α-helices 7 and 8 cannot be recovered as photosynthetic-transformants, the three α helices appear to influence holoenzyme assembly. A previous study showed that substituting five large-subunit residues and a small-subunit loop with land-plant identities produced an enzyme (termed penta/ABSO ) with land-plant catalytic properties. In the present study, through structural dissection, it is concluded that all the residues substituted in penta/ABSO are required for the shift towards land-plant catalysis. Among the residues substituted in penta/ABSO is methyl-Cys-256, which indicates that posttranslational modifications of the large subunit may also play a role in catalysis. Further study of cysteine methylation and proline hydroxylation showed that mutations of methyl-Cys-256 and hydroxy-Pro-104 influence catalysis. The current study complements previous knowledge about Rubisco, and provides further structural targets for the beneficial engineering of Rubisco. Advisor: Robert J. Spreitze

Size and Rate Effects on Mechanical Behavior of Ultra High Performance Concrete

Cor-Tuf, broadly characterize as a reactive powder concrete is a type of cementitious material. Cementitious materials have been observed to exhibit a strain-rate dependent mechanical behavior. The mechanical behavior of cementitious materials can also depend significantly on specimen sizes. Therefore it is crucial to determine the behavior of Cor-Tuf with different specimen sizes for high-rate applications. For this purpose, split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB), also known as Kolsky bar was utilized to determine the dynamic behavior of Cor-Tuf for different specimen sizes under uniaxial dynamic compression loading at different strain rates. It was observed that as strain rate increases the compressive strength decreases for the small specimen. However for specimens at larger diameter, the compressive strength was observed to be rate independent. The Young\u27s modulus decreases as strain rate increases for all specimen sizes. However the critical strain and energy absorption per unit volume was observed to increase as the strain rate increases

Phylogenetic Engineering of the Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Large Subunit in \u3ci\u3eChlamydomonas Reinhardtii\u3c/i\u3e

Thirty-four residues in the large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) may account for the kinetic differences between Rubisco enzyme from green algae and land plants. By substituting these phylogenetic residues as groups and combinations of groups in the large subunit of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with those of land-plant Rubisco, the functions and relationships of these phylogenetic groups were determined. A phylogenetic-group substitution at the base of catalytic loop 6 of the large subunit decreases the CO2/O2 specificity of the enzyme, but function is restored by a further phylogenetic-group substitution at the carboxy-terminal tail. Therefore, these two regions of the large subunit, which sandwich loop 6, are complementary. In addition, combining substitutions at the base of loop 6 and the large/small-subunit interface region produces a mutant enzyme that has to be complemented by the land-plant small subunit for function in Chlamydomonas. On the other hand, substitutions in a-helix G of the large subunit reduce the holoenzyme level, and, because Chlamydomonas mutants with additional substitutions in α-helices 7 and 8 cannot be recovered as photosynthetic-transformants, the three α helices appear to influence holoenzyme assembly. A previous study showed that substituting five large-subunit residues and a small-subunit loop with land-plant identities produced an enzyme (termed penta/ABSO ) with land-plant catalytic properties. In the present study, through structural dissection, it is concluded that all the residues substituted in penta/ABSO are required for the shift towards land-plant catalysis. Among the residues substituted in penta/ABSO is methyl-Cys-256, which indicates that posttranslational modifications of the large subunit may also play a role in catalysis. Further study of cysteine methylation and proline hydroxylation showed that mutations of methyl-Cys-256 and hydroxy-Pro-104 influence catalysis. The current study complements previous knowledge about Rubisco, and provides further structural targets for the beneficial engineering of Rubisco. Advisor: Robert J. Spreitze

Entrepreneurial Inclination Among Business Students: a Malaysian Study

Entrepreneurship has been the fundamental topics of discussion among the politicians, economists, and academics. Business creation is especially critical in developing countries to stimulate economic growth. The present study attempts to examine entrepreneurial inclination among students who are a potential source of entrepreneurs. The fi ndings of the present research study indicate that majority of our business students are not entrepreneurial-inclined. They do not seem to possess strong entrepreneurial characteristics and entrepreneurial skills, and they are not keen in starting a new business. The roles of higher institutes of education and the government in promoting entrepreneurship are discussed

USING YOUTUBETM VIDEO SHARING IN TRAINING HOW TO COACH STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

This paper provides a brief background on the Lesson Study approach and its variant forms such as Modified Lesson Study, Learning Study and Virtual Experiential Learning Study. In addition, the authors have included a brief discussion about information and communication technology (ICT) and its impact in both education and professional training that has given rise to the development of the Quasi-Lesson Study (QLS). The main ICT contribution highlighted in this paper is the YouTube video-sharing service that can be used in the training of teachers and/or allied educators in both mainstream and special schools as well as educational therapists working in private learning centers/remedial learning clinics in Singapore and Malaysia today. YouTube sharing is used at various phases in the QLS cycle to help a teacher, allied educator or educational therapist become better equipped with not only the know-what (i.e., content knowledge and skills), but also the know-how (i.e., techniques and strategies) when working with students with special needs. How YouTubeTM sharing can help in overcoming the constraints of coordinating a lesson observation and other challenges in traditional Lesson Study, such as the awkwardness of being observed, is also discussed. More professional training ideas may thus spin off from the QLS concept, as others may be inspired to transcend the limits of traditional Lesson Study through the QLS approach.    Article visualizations

FROM TEACHERS AND FAMILY TO COMMUNITY: WHAT SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE FOR OUR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

One of the most pressing issues that most countries, including Malaysia and Singapore, are facing today is meeting the needs of their children with special needs. Teachers in mainstream schools (as well as special schools) have seen more and more children with special needs in their regular classroom settings and these children are unable to cope with the regular curriculum. Families with children with special needs are also desperate for help from the schools their children are attending as they are unable to cope with them at home. As the community begins to see more and more children with special needs in their midst, there is now a conscious awareness of the need to provide adequate services and appropriate resources to support these children. In this paper, the authors have attempted to raise this issue by exploring and questioning what kind of support teachers, family and community can provide in terms of services and resources for children with special needs, if there is, indeed, such a support available.   Article visualizations