Processing of Bio-Polymer Based Nanocomposite for Fused Filament Fabrication

Polylactic acid (PLA) is perhaps one of the best known polymers produced from renewable raw materials such as sugar cane and corn starch. Several studies have focused on improving the properties of PLA by incorporating nanofillers in polymer matrix. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) is a nanofiller from natural sources (typically wood pulp) that is used to reinforce and modify the mechanical properties and biodegradability of PLA. In this work, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) reinforced polylactic acid composite was produced in 1, 2, 5 and 10 wt % CNC content by a single-screw extruder in filament form. The effect of cellulose content on the thermal properties of the bio-composite were studied. Differential scanning calorimetry results showed shift in the glass transition temperature and a change in the melting temperatures, where 10% CNC content showed highest reduction in melting temperature. Cellulose proved to increase the crystallinity of the matrix compared to the neat PLA, 1% cellulose exhibited the highest cold crystallization peak. Precision filament (1.75 mm in diameter) was made for fused deposition modeling (3D printing) in order to study the mechanical properties of the bio-composites. The tensile modulus increased in 1% cellulose composites (4.55 GPa) compared to neat PLA (3.03 GPa) for the printed samples. However, the elongation at break reduced when comparing neat PLA (8.7%) while in 1% cellulose was (2.9%)

A Comparative Study of postgraduate Students' Satisfaction with the Quality of Educational Services in the Syrian Coast - A Field Study in the Faculty of Economics in Tishreen and Tartous Universities)

The aim of this study is to identify the quality of educational services offered by the Faculty of Economics in Tishreen and Tartous Universities from postgraduate students' point of view, and to determine the level of students' satisfaction with the educational services provided. The study population consisted of postgraduate students in the Faculty of Economics in both Tishreen and Tartous Universities. The researcher used the analytical descriptive method to measure students' satisfaction with the quality of educational services provided. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to postgraduate students in order to measure the quality of educational services in both Universities. SPSS was used to study and analyze data. Data analysis showed dissatisfaction with the quality of educational services provided by the Faculty of Economics in Tishreen University, and  satisfaction with the quality of the educational services provided by the Faculty of Economics in Tartous University from postgraduate students' point of view according to the quality dimensions of the educational services (i.e. tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, empathy, trust and safety).  

Developing Assessment Framework for Strategic Transportation Projects in Qatar

This paper presents Transportation Assessment Framework and process for selecting, defining, and naming assessment criteria to be used in transport appraisal. The approach is based on a review of national and international practices in transportation planning and appraisal around the world but is adapted to attend the needs and particularities of the Qatar transportation system, according to Transportation Master Plan for Qatar (TMPQ) vision and objectives. The TMPQ vision is derived from four key strategic themes: development, sustainability, livability and culture. The outcome of the research is a comprehensive list, developed using this framework, of 37 transport assessment criteria encompassing direct project impacts, indirect societal impacts, and environmental impacts. This list can serve as a starting point for planners wishing to conduct appraisal for strategic transport projects. A Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) procedure and parameter are also developed as part of TAF for a more detailed assessment of the Preferred Scenario(s), covering the impacts (costs and benefits) which can be quantified and monetized. An Excel-based CBA tool is developed and applied to produce the main economic indicators for the preferred scenario, which form part of the assessment criteria that can be monetized

Data-centric communication framework for multicast iec 61850 routable GOOSE messages over the WAN in modern power systems

In this paper, a data-centric communication framework is proposed for multicast routable generic object-oriented substation event (GOOSE) messages (MRGM) over the wide area network (WAN) for effective substation-to-substation (SS2SS) and substation to control center (SS2CC) communications. In this structure, the IEC 61850 GOOSE message is transmitted over the WAN using the data distribution service (DDS) as a fast, reliable, and secure data-centric communication middleware. The main feature of this framework is its multicast capability, where several authorized subscribers can receive a published message simultaneously. This can significantly improve the system monitoring and control of the protection systems in modern smart grids, where intelligent schemes can be applied. The effectiveness of the proposed platform, in terms of total end-to-end delay between participants, is evaluated through experimental results obtained from the actual hardware-based test setup developed at the Florida International University (FIU) smart grid testbed. The results demonstrate that the latency between sending and receiving a GOOSE message among participants is within its maximum time span defined by the IEC 61850-90-5 working group for communications over the WAN

Reconstructing diffusely-diseased LAD using long-opening LAD-Endarterectomy followed by direct LIMA anastomosis versus indirect LIMA grafting to an on-lay saphenous vein patch: Comparative prospective study

AbstractBackgroundSurgical revascularization of CAD patients having diffusely-diseased LAD is a difficult surgical problem. Following long LAD-endarterectomy (LAD-LCE), some surgical centers prefer long direct LIMA-to-LAD grafting; others perform LIMA grafts to on-lay SVG patch. Favoring either technique depends on multiple factors and is still questionable. This study was performed to compare the experience and early results of using direct LIMA-to-LAD anastomosis with endarterectomy to indirect anastomosis by LIMA-to on-lay SVGs during standard CABG.MethodsThirty patients who had IHD with diffusely-diseased LAD coronary vessel were included in a prospective comparative study starting from March 2011 till March 2014, in Kasr al Aini's University Hospitals. All patients had diffusely-diseased LAD for which they were subjected to long opening LAD-CE. Patients were divided into two groups: Group I (15 patients) underwent direct long segment LIMA-to-LAD implantation with CE; while in group II (15 patients) underwent LIMA grafting on an on-lay SVG. Follow-up was done over the first year postoperatively: major cardiac adverse events, death, MI, hospital readmission, reoperation and/or revascularization were followed since discharge and over one year later.ResultsTwo patients died in each group (total mortality 13%). In group I, one due to refractory LV failure; and one due to refractory ventricular arrhythmias. In group II, a patient died due to mediastinitis and a second patient died due to progressive liver failure. There were no MI, CHF, or CNS complications.ConclusionLIMA-to-LAD following long-opening LAD-LCE could be safely-performed using both techniques. Both procedures were technically successful to revascularize diffusely-diseased LAD

The Syntax of Answers to Positive Polar Questions in Jordanian Arabic

Responses to a polar question have recently received much attention in the syntactic literature (e.g., Yaisomanag, 2012 on Thi; Wu, 2016 on Taiwanese, Servidio et al., 2018 on Italian; among others). However, the syntax of yes-no questions in Arabic has been undermined in the literature. The present study provides a syntactic analysis of answers to positive/neutral polar questions in Jordanian Arabic. Jordanian Arabic is particularly relevant here because its system allows for a variety of answer expressions. For example, an answer to a polar question could be in the form of a particle (a: ‘yes’ and laʔ ‘no’) or a finite verb echoing the verb of the question. Following Holmberg (2016), we demonstrate that these expressions are full sentences derived by ellipses. We assume that a yes-no question has an unvalued, free polarity variable [±Pol] that needs to be assigned a value. Deriving the answer would provide a value for this variable. This involves copying the TP of the question and merging an answer particle or an abstract polarity feature (affirmative or negative) in spec-Foc to value the unvalued feature of Pol; then the TP of the answer gets deleted at the PF component under identity with the TP of the question

Single nucleotide polymorphism E23K of KCNJ11 gene and other risk factors associated with type-2 diabetes mellitus in Gaza

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a multifactorial disease in which environmental triggers interact with genetic variants in predisposition to disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate (E23K) SNP in KCNJ11 gene as a possible contributor to T2DM among Gaza City patients. Also to consider relation between E23K SNP and other risk factors for T2DM. Two hundred male and female individuals were examined: 100 T2DM patients and 100 control individuals. The glucose level was determined, and the groups were genotyped for the SNP (E23K) by PCR/RFLP technique using the BanII restriction enzyme. A questionnaire was completed to evaluate the role of physical and environmental risk factors for T2DM. There was a strong statistically significant relation between the E23K polymorphism and T2DM (P= 0.000). Forty three percent of cases were E/K compared to 29% of controls; and 15% of cases were K/K compared to 3% of controls. Obesity, persistent stress, absence of physical activity and low level of education were also significantly related to T2DM (P= 0.000). The mean fasting blood sugar level was significantly higher among the cases than the control, and particularly among homozygous and heterozygous cases (P= 0.000). In conclusion, risk factors that are significantly related with T2DM patients in Gaza city include the E23K polymorphism, obesity, persistent stress, absence of physical activity, and low level of education. The inheritance of the K allele predisposes for T2DM, provided that other genetic or/and physical and environmental risk factors be present