Structural Behaviour of Load-Bearing Interlocking Hollow Block Masonry

The structural behaviour of an interlocking block system has been investigated in this research. The interlocking blocks developed by the Housing Research Center, Universiti Putra Malaysia have been used to assemble a number of prisms and wall panels. This interlocking block system has been filed for a patent. Three types of individual blocks are utilized in this research, these are stretcher, comer and half block units. I The research covers the production of the block using a manually controlled machine which has been developed for the production of the three different types of block. The test program includes testing of individual blocks, prisms and different wall panels. Forty individual blocks have been tested under axial compression. Ten prisms have been tested under axial1oad. The failure mechanism were recorded for each type of specimen. Sixteen wall specimens having different height (slenderness ratio), subjected to load applied at different eccentricities, have been tested. The selected heights of the tested walls are 1.2, 1.8, 2.4 and 3.0m. The eccentricity of the applied load is another important parameter considered in testing the wall specimens to simulate the actual nature of the applied load in construction. The values are 0, 20, 40 and 55mm measured from the centerline of the wall panels. The structural behaviour of the wall panel specimens were studied in terms of the load-deflection characteristic, strain-stress distribution, efficiency of the wall and the failure mode of the interlocking walls. The study focuses on the differences and similarities of the behaviour of interlocking walls compared to bonded walls. BS 5628: Part 1: 1978 was used to explore the behaviour of the bonded walls. The study showed that the strength of the interlocking block and its interlocking mechanism were sufficient and that the block can be used for construction of load bearing walls. Based on the test results, a number of mathematical equations have been proposed to predict the reduction in the wall efficiency with the increases of the eccentricity of the applied load and the slenderness ratio of the wall. A design procedure has also been proposed to be used in the design of load bearing interlocking hollow block system

Experimental Study on the Limits of Flow Regimes for Different Configurations of Stepped Spillway

Flow over a stepped spillway can be divided mainly into three flow regimes that are nappe, transition and skimming depending upon the discharge and the dimensions of the stepped spillway. The determination of the flow regime is a very important aspect in the design of stepped spillway due to the different properties for each flow regime. Experimental work on flow regime limits for stepped spillways has been conducted using twelve stepped spillway models. The models were manufactured with three downstream slope angles: 25, 35 and 45°, and four numbers of steps: 5, 10, 15 and 20. Five configurations of steps were tested, which are conventional Flat, pooled, porous end sills, pooled with gabions and porous end sills with gabions. The results revealed that the end sills highly affect flow regime type; this effect is primarily for the lower limits of skimming flow. Using end sills increases the range of transition flow regime (by increasing the lower limit of skimming flow) as well as increases the instabilities that occur in this flow regime. Gabions reduce the effects of end sills on the lower limit of skimming flow regime to near the limit of flat steps. New empirical equations were suggested based upon the experimental results. Keywords: Flow Regimes, Gabions Steps, Nappe Flow Regime, Pooled Steps, Skimming Flow Regime, Stepped Spillway, Transition Flow Regime

DIAGNOSE EYES DISEASES USING VARIOUS FEATURES EXTRACTION APPROACHES AND MACHINE LEARNING ALGORITHMS

Ophthalmic diseases like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts are the main cause of visual impairment worldwide. With the use of the fundus images, it could be difficult for a clinician to detect eye diseases early enough. By other hand, the diagnoses of eye disease are prone to errors, challenging and labor-intensive. Thus, for the purpose of identifying various eye problems with the use of the fundus images, a system of automated ocular disease detection with computer-assisted tools is needed. Due to machine learning (ML) algorithms' advanced skills for image classification, this kind of system is feasible. An essential area of artificial intelligence)AI (is machine learning. Ophthalmologists will soon be able to deliver accurate diagnoses and support individualized healthcare thanks to the general capacity of machine learning to automatically identify, find, and grade pathological aspects in ocular disorders. This work presents a ML-based method for targeted ocular detection. The Ocular Disease Intelligent Recognition (ODIR) dataset, which includes 5,000 images of 8 different fundus types, was classified using machine learning methods. Various ocular diseases are represented by these classes. In this study, the dataset was divided into 70% training data and 30% test data, and preprocessing operations were performed on all images starting from color image conversion to grayscale, histogram equalization, BLUR, and resizing operation. The feature extraction represents the next phase in this study ,two algorithms are applied to perform the extraction of features which includes: SIFT(Scale-invariant feature transform) and GLCM(Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix), ODIR dataset is then subjected to the classification techniques Naïve Bayes, Decision Tree, Random Forest, and K-nearest Neighbor. This study achieved the highest accuracy for binary classification (abnormal and normal) which is 75% (NB algorithm), 62% (RF algorithm), 53% (KNN algorithm), 51% (DT algorithm) and achieved the highest accuracy for multiclass classification (types of eye diseases) which is 88% (RF algorithm), 61% (KNN algorithm) 42% (NB algorithm), and 39% (DT algorithm)

Evidence based medical use of aloe vera extracts, short review of literature

The use of aloe vera is being promoted for a large variety of conditions. The aim of this review was to summarize all available research papers on aloe vera preparations with a view to providing evidence for or against its clinical effectiveness. Independent literature searches were conducted in PubMed. All studies of controlled clinical trials, observational studies and case series were included. There were no restrictions on the language of publication. All studies were read by all authors and data were extracted in a standardized, pre-defined manner. Even though there are some promising results, clinical effectiveness of oral or topical aloe vera is not sufficiently defined at present

59. Early and late results of routine leaflet augmentation for complete atrio-ventricular septal defect repair

Complete AVSD (CAVSD) is characterized by the presence of a common atrio-ventricular (AV) orifice, an inter-atrial communication, and a ventricular septal defect (VSD). Results of surgical correction of atrio-ventricular septal defects (AVSDs) have improved over the last decades; however, the need for reoperation for left atrio-ventricular valve regurgitation, after primary AVSD repair remains a major concern. The aim of our study is to assess the outcome of the routine leaflet augmentation technique in CAVSD repair. A retrospective database and chart review analysis of all patients who underwent AV canal repair at king Abdul-Aziz Cardiac Center during period from 1999 to September 2014 was conducted. Demographic data, associated anomalies, operative data, ICU and hospital course were reviewed. Early outcomes were reviewed for postoperative complications (Chylothorax, complete AV block, Arrhythmias, early mortality) and late outcomes were reviewed for Left AV valve regurgitation requiring for re-intervention and late mortality. Two hundred and sixty patients underwent leaflet augmentation technique to repair complete AVSD, between January 1999 and September 2014. The mean age was (131.5months), and mean weight (6.06kg). A variety of concomitant procedures were performed at the time of repair of the CAVSD, including a total of 49 patients (18.8%) who underwent PDA ligation. Repair of TV (Right AV valve) was performed in 11 patients (4.2%), 9 patients (3.46%) required RVOTO resection, in 5 patients (1.92%), PA plasty was done and 2 patients (0.76%) required ECMO after CAVSD repair. Regarding reoperations, a total of 17 patients (of 260) required reoperation after initial CAVSD repair. The most common indication for reoperation was left AV valve regurgitation in 16 patients (6%) in the follow up period up to 15years. One patient (0.38%) required diaphragmatic plication. The overall mortality was 3 patients (1.1%). Leaflet augmentation for the repair of the complete AVSD, represent a good surgical alternative technique, allows for good exposure, good LAVV reconstruction and close to anatomical repair and results in reduced incidence of late Left atrio-ventricular valve regurgitation

Interactions between nation branding and corporate branding

The aim of this article is studying interactions between nation branding and corporate branding through reviewing the literature. Results show that both branding of a country and its corporates have influence to each other, either positive or negative effect that is called virtuous cycle or a vicious cycle. In fact, these two types of branding, act as a synergistic reinforcement tool to protect, improve or enhance the other one and therefore should be observed and maintained simustainasly.Keywords: National Reputation, CorporateBranding, Brand Positive Cycle, National Identit

Technology Based Firm's Financing: An Operational Model For Malaysia

Venture capital (VC) as a method of funding technology based firms (TBFs) is a concept which emerged from the United States of America since over 30 years and has spread tremendously across the world. This concept has gained considerable awareness in Malaysia since the early 1990’s when goverment established the first venture capital company to promote and accelerate the development of the venture capital concept and also encourage the commercialization of technology based products through the management of the technology transfer funds. Due to the difficulty technology based firms owners go through in the process of growing their innovations particularly during the initial phase of growth of their businesses their is need to encourage financial managers to take up equity stakes and help nurture technology based firms to maturity. As a result of the perception in some quarters that their is a dearth of investments in the Malaysian VC industry which they opined has contributed to the slow pace of growth recorded in the industry despite huge government financial support. This study adopts a grounded theory approach (within-method triangulation) to collect data from 34 respondents in the industry. The model proposed in this study will benefit stakeholders to evaluate technology based firms