Smart e-trader: A prototype information management system for UAE stock markets

This paper presents a new online smart trading approach for investors in UAE stock markets. Smart trader is a web-based information management system that provides investors with real time stock market information and personalized stock recommendations. A study was conducted to assess the needs for such system in UAE markets and found a strong demand for it among investors. A new system architecture is also proposed, called smart e- trader, to accommodate investors\u27 new needs and preferences. A prototype system of smart trader has been implemented to evaluate the usefulness and effectiveness of the new approach. The findings of this research suggests that deploying a smart online stock trading applications in UAE markets would help investors make an informative investment decisions as well as assist them manage their stock trading transactions

DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF TAPERED THIN-WALLED MASTS

Three methods are used to investigate the behaviour of cantilevered and linearly tapered thin-walled high masts under different kinds of dynamic loadings. First, the mast is represented as a single degree of freedom system with a prescribed shape function defining the mast deformation. Second, the finite element approach utilizing beam elements is used. Third, the governing partial differential equation of motion is solved using the finite difference approach. The effect of mesh density, load pattern, tapering ratio and height of masts on the behaviour of these masts is investigated. Results indicate that the finite difference method provides a better solution than the single degree of freedom and finite element methods. An increase in the taper ratio results in a decrease in the lateral displacements for both the concentrated and the distributed dynamic loadings. However, the increase in the taper ratio results in an increase in the lateral displacements during base motion. Masts with a high taper ratio experience lower natural frequencies than masts with a low taper ratio for the same material properties and height

Implications of Synchronous IVR Radio on Syrian Refugee Health and Community Dynamics

With 1,033,513 Syrian refugees adding a strain on the Lebanese healthcare system, innovation is key to improving access to healthcare. Our previous work identified the potential for technology to improve access to antenatal care services and increase refugee agency. Using (1) paper mock ups and a mobile based prototype, (2) process mapping, (3) focus groups and interviews and (4) key informant meetings, we explored the concept of refugee led community radio shows to deliver peer-led healthcare. We observed the influence of community radio shows on Syrian refugee health education, community dynamics and community agency in relationships between healthcare providers and refugees. Refugees were positively impacted through situating the technology within the community. We highlight issues around trust, agency, understanding, sel-forganization and privacy that resulted from running the shows through mock ups and a mobile based prototype. Our findings inform future work in community run radio shows

Reproducibility of adipogenic responses to metabolism disrupting chemicals in the 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte model system: An interlaboratory study

The 3T3-L1 murine pre-adipocyte line is an established cell culture model for screening Metabolism Disrupting Chemicals (MDCs). Despite a need to accurately identify MDCs for further evaluation, relatively little research has been performed to comprehensively evaluate reproducibility across laboratories, assess factors that might contribute to varying degrees of differentiation between laboratories (media additives, plastics, cell source, etc.), or to standardize protocols. As such, the goals of this study were to assess interlaboratory variability of efficacy and potency outcomes for triglyceride accumulation and pre-adipocyte proliferation using the mouse 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cell assay to test chemicals. Ten laboratories from five different countries participated. Each laboratory evaluated one reference chemical (rosiglitazone) and three blinded test chemicals (tributyltin chloride, pyraclostrobin, and bisphenol A) using: 1) their Laboratory-specific 3T3-L1 Cells (LC) and their Laboratory-specific differentiation Protocol (LP), 2) Shared 3T3-L1 Cells (SC) with LP, 3) LC with a Shared differentiation Protocol (SP), and 4) SC with SP. Blinded test chemical responses were analyzed by the coordinating laboratory. The magnitude and range of bioactivities reported varied considerably across laboratories and test conditions, though the presence or absence of activity for each tested chemical was more consistent. Triglyceride accumulation activity determinations for rosiglitazone ranged from 90 to 100% across test conditions, but 30–70 % for pre-adipocyte proliferation; this was 40–80 % for triglyceride accumulation induced by pyraclostrobin, 80–100 % for tributyltin, and 80–100 % for bisphenol A. Consistency was much lower for pre-adipocyte proliferation, with 30–70 % active determinations for pyraclostrobin, 30–50 % for tributyltin, and 20–40 % for bisphenol A. Greater consistency was observed for the SC/SP assessment. As such, working to develop a standardized adipogenic differentiation protocol represents the best strategy for improving consistency of adipogenic responses using the 3T3-L1 model to reproducibly identify MDCs and increase confidence in reported outcomes.Over-arching project supported by grants [R01 ES016099 to HMS; R00 ES030405 to CDK] from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS); University of Turin; European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement GOLIATH No. 825489; Brunel University London; NIEHS (1K22ES026208 and R01ES027863); NIEHS (Z0ES102785); Spanish Institute of Health Carlos III (grant FIS-PI16/01812)

On the use of viscosity as a regularisation technique for hardening/softening constitutive models

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:DXN041951 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

An evaluation of three sprue designs for titanium cast removable partial denture frameworks

PLEASE NOTE: This work is protected by copyright. Downloading is restricted to the BU community: please click Download and log in with a valid BU account to access. If you are the author of this work and would like to make it publicly available, please contact [email protected] (M.Sc.D.)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, 1997 (Restorative Sciences).Includes bibliographical references: (leaves 119-125).Although titanium has been used to cast removable-partial-denture frameworks, the casting process is arduous and requires specialized equipment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of three different sprue designs (tree, ball, circular) to produce complete, void-free castings for removable­ partial-denture frameworks made from commercially pure titanium. A cast with a Kennedy Class III, modification I partially edentulous pattern was used for this study. The blocked-out cast was modified to facilitate assessment of the completeness of the casting of the clasp arms. Thirty refractory casts were made (Titavest PP, J, Morita Corp., Osaka, Japan). Ten wax patterns for each sprue design were fabricated and invested with ethyl silicate investment (Titavest PS, J Morita Corp.). Castings were made with an arc-type automatic casting machine in an argon atmosphere (Cyclarc, J. Morita Corp.). The castings were examined with radiographic equipment (General Electric Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin) to detect the presence of voids in the castings, and the completeness of each casting was visually verified. Data were tabulated and statistically analyzed by using a one­way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by student Newman-Keuls test. Results indicated no statistically significant differences in the total number of porosities between the three sprue designs (p=0.51). Results of completeness of the castings were evaluated by using chi-square test, which revealed a statistically significant deference between the three sprue designs (P=0.008). Currently, the manufacturer recommends a sprue design similar to the tree sprue. Addition of a ball reservoir to each tree sprue will produce a sprue design similar to the one used in this study and should improve the reliability of the casting technique. This study evaluated the different sprue systems with only one framework design, namely, a maxillary tooth-borne casting with a palatal-strap major connector. Results may be different for other framework designs

Uplift resistance of buried pipelines at low cover-diameter ratios

Reliable estimates for the maximum available uplift resistance from the backfill soil are essential to prevent upheaval buckling of buried pipelines. The current design code DNV RP F110 does not offer guidance on how to predict the uplift resistance when the cover:pipe diameter (H/D) ratio is less than 2. Hence the current industry practice is to discount the shear contribution from uplift resitance for design scenarios with H/D ratios less than 1. The necessity of this extra conservatism is assessed through a series of full-scale and centrifuge tests, 21 in total, at the Schofield Centre, University of Cambridge. Backfill types include saturated loose sand, saturated dense sand and dry gravel. Data revealed that the Vertical Slip Surface Model remains applicable for design scenarios in loose sand, dense sand and gravel with H/D ratios less than 1, and that there is no evidence that the contribution from shear should be ignored at these low H/D ratios. For uplift events in gravel, the shear component seems reliable if the cover is more than 1-2 times the average particle size (D50), and more research effort is currenty being carried out to verify this conclusion. Strain analysis from the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique proves that the Vertical Slip Surface Model is a good representation of the true uplift deformation mechanism in loose sand at H/D ratios between 0.5 and 3.5. At very low H/D ratios (H/D < 0.5), the deformation mechanism is more wedge-like, but the increased contribution from soil weight is likely to be compensated by the reduced shear contributions. Hence the design equation based on the Vertical Slip Surface Model still produces good estimates for the maximum available uplift resistance. The evolution of shear strain field from PIV analysis provides useful insight into how uplift resistance is mobilized as the uplift event progresses. Copyright 2010, Offshore Technology Conference