Numerical modeling of boundary shear stress distribution in compound channel flow

Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Hydroscience and Engineering, Philadelphia, PA, September 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1860/732In compound channels, turbulence effects of bed friction and large shear layer at the interaction region between the slow moving flow in the flood plain and fast moving flow in the main channel results in a complex three dimensional flow structure. This structure implies the necessity of 3D numerical models. In the present investigation, shear stress distribution at boundaries of compound channels was calculated using a 3-D shallow water numerical model. To develop the model, a multilayer scheme was implemented. Since one of the important features of flow in such channels is the effect of turbulence on flow behavior, a Prandtle mixing length model, a Nezu-Rodi zero equation model, and a two-equation standard k −ε model were applied in the present research and their results were compared. To verify flow behavior for these turbulence models in different relative depths two sets of experimental data were utilized. Results showed that the model was able to show correctly the trend of shear stress distribution in such a complex flow especially at higher relative depths and could be used in practical engineering calculations. All three turbulence models showed similar results with slightly better results found from the k −ε model

The effect of endurance training on addicted women’s level of alkaline phosphates who use methadone

Introduction: Previous studies indicated that endurance exercise is effective to decrease or increase the levels of liver enzymes. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of endurance training on alkaline phosphates (ALP) enzyme in Iranian addicted women with methadone.Methods: Thirty Iranian female addicted prisoners and thirty non-addicted encompassed the sampling. The mean of age, height, weight, %BF, body mass index (BMI), and VO2max of experimental group was 33.8 years, 162.2 cm, 62.2 kg, 33.10, 24.22 kg/m2 and 16.18 ml/kg respectively. The case group was supposed to run with 65% HRmax for 2 weeks (3 sessions in a week and for 25 minutes), 65%-75% HRmax for 3 weeks (3 sessions in a week for 35 minutes) and 75%-85% HRmax for 3 weeks (3 sessions in a week for 40 minutes). The blood samples were collected in amount of 5 ml 48 hours before the first session and after the last session of the protocol. The history of heart and liver diseases or hepatitis was not reported in case group.Results: The level of ALP between case and control group in post-test was not significant. The level of ALP in post-test in contrast with pre-test in both groups was increased but this was not statistically significant in case group (P > 0.05).Conclusion: According to the results, the level of ALP in post-test in experimental group did not change after endurance training. Therefore, the investigation of other factors such as having suitable diet habits, quitting smoking, increasing the period of training is recommended for these types of addicts

Coordinating occupant behavior for building energy and comfort management using multi-agent systems

Issue for Planning Future Cities-Selected papers from the 2010 eCAADe Conference</p

Retraction Note: The frequency and pattern of antibiotic resistance among Klebsiella spp. isolated from nosocomial infection in Khorramabad hospital

Report of Health Care regretfully retracts the article “The frequency and pattern of antibiotic resistance among Klebsiella spp. isolated from nosocomial infection in Khorramabad hospital” which was published in this journal in December 19, 2014. Based on recommendations from COPE, we retracted this paper, which is a duplicate and self-plagiarism of the paper entitled “Comparison frequency and Determination antibiotic resistance pattern of Klebsiella SPP. isolated from Nosocomial infection in Khorramabad Shohadaye Ashayer hospital” published in Bulletin of Environment, Pharmacology and Life Sciences (November 2014; 3(12): 149-154)

Modelling personal thermal sensations using C-Support Vector Classification (C-SVC) algorithm

The personalised conditioning system (PCS) is widely studied. Potentially, it is able to reduce energy consumption while securing occupants’ thermal comfort requirements. It has been suggested that automatic optimised operation schemes for PCS should be introduced to avoid energy wastage and discomfort caused by inappropriate operation. In certain automatic operation schemes, personalised thermal sensation models are applied as key components to help in setting targets for PCS operation. In this research, a novel personal thermal sensation modelling method based on the C-Support Vector Classification (C-SVC) algorithm has been developed for PCS control. The personal thermal sensation modelling has been regarded as a classification problem. During the modelling process, the method ‘learns’ an occupant’s thermal preferences from his/her feedback, environmental parameters and personal physiological and behavioural factors. The modelling method has been verified by comparing the actual thermal sensation vote (TSV) with the modelled one based on 20 individual cases. Furthermore, the accuracy of each individual thermal sensation model has been compared with the outcomes of the PMV model. The results indicate that the modelling method presented in this paper is an effective tool to model personal thermal sensations and could be integrated within the PCS for optimised system operation and control

A novel spatiotemporal home heating controller design: system emulation and field testing

We have developed a spatiotemporal heating control algorithm for use in homes. This system utilises a combination of relatively low-tech hardware interfaced with electric heating systems and a smartphone interface to this hardware, and a central server that progressively learns users’ room-specific presence profiles and thermal preferences. This paper describes the associated spatiotemporal heating control algorithm, its evaluation utilising the dynamic building performance simulation software EnergyPlus, and a longitudinal deployment of the algorithm controlling a quasi-autonomous spatiotemporal home heating system in three domestic homes. In this we focus on the prediction of occupants’ presence and preferred set-point temperature as well as on the calculation of optimum start time and the utilisation of user-scheduled absences; this for two comfort strategies: to maximise comfort and to minimise discomfort. The former aims to deliver conditions equating to a ‘neutral’ thermal sensation, whereas the latter targets a ‘slightly cool’ sensation with corresponding heating energy savings. Simulation results confirmed that the algorithm functions as intended and that it is capable of reducing energy demand by a factor of seven compared with EnergyStar recommended settings for programmable thermostats. Field study results align with these findings and highlight the possibility to reduce energy under the minimise discomfort strategy without compromising on occupants’ thermal comfort

Patterns of thermal preference and Visual Thermal Landscaping model in the workplace

The main purpose of research on occupant behaviour is to enhance building energy performance. However, it is difficult to reduce the energy use without understanding the occupant, their needs and preferences. Individual differences and preferences for the thermal environment in relation to the spatial context are overlooked in the main stream of research. This study investigates the patterns of occupant thermal preference based on individual differences in perceiving the thermal environment to enhance user comfort and energy performance. A novel method of Visual Thermal Landscaping is used, which is a qualitative method to analyse occupant comfort and user behaviour according to the spatial context. This method drives away from the notion of ‘thermal neutrality’ and generic results, rather it opens to details and meaning through a qualitative analysis of personal-comfort, based on individual differences and spatial context information. Field test studies of thermal comfort were applied in five office buildings in the UK, Sweden and Japan with overall 2,313 data sets. The primary contribution of the study was the recognition of four patterns of thermal preference, including consistent directional preference; fluctuating preference; high tolerance and sensitive to thermal changes; and high tolerance and not-sensitive to thermal changes. The results were further examined in a longitudinal field test study of thermal comfort. In several cases, occupant thermal comfort and preferences were observed to be influenced by the impact of outdoor conditions, when the windows were fixed. Practical solutions for research, practice and building design were recommended with direct implications on occupant comfort and energy use