Functions of fuzzy logic based controllers used in smart building

The main aim of this study is to support design and development processes of advanced fuzzy-logic-based controller for smart buildings e.g., heating, ventilation and air conditioning, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and indoor lighting control systems. Moreover, the proposed methodology can be used to assess systems energy and environmental performances, also compare energy usages of fuzzy control systems with the performances of conventional on/off and proportional integral derivative controller (PID). The main objective and purpose of using fuzzy-logic-based model and control is to precisely control indoor thermal comfort e.g., temperature, humidity, air quality, air velocity, thermal comfort, and energy balance. Moreover, this article present and highlight mathematical models of indoor temperature and humidity transfer matrix, uncertainties of users’ comfort preference set-points and a fuzzy algorithm

دلالة السياق القرآني في تفسير سورة الفاتحة عند المحقق سعيد بن خلفان الخليلي = The significance of the Qur’anic context in the interpretation of Surat Al-Fatiha according to the investigator Saeed bin Khalfan Al-Khalili

يهدف هذا البحث إلى التعريف بمنهجية المحقق سعيد بن خلفان الخليلي العالم الفقيه الأصولي العماني حيث يعد من الشخصيات المهمة في دراسة علوم القرآن خلال القرن الثالث عشر الهجري، حيث تميز باهتمامه البالغ بعلوم القرآن وتفسيره، وقدم جهدًا كبيرًا في تفسير سورة الفاتحة والتي تعتبر من أعظم السور في القرآن الكريم. ومن معالم منهجية المحقق الخليلي في تفسير سورة الفاتحة استخدام أسلوب الدلالة اللغوية واعتمد على السياق والأسلوب الإشاري، وبهذا قدم تفسيرًا شاملًا يستخلص منه مضامين إيمانية توجه المسلمين في أداء واجباتهم الدينية. وقد كتب رسالة في تفسير سورة الفاتحة موجودة ضمن الجزء الثالث عشر من كتابه "تمهيد قواعد الإيمان وتقييد شوارد مسائل الأحكام والأديان"، مستخلصاً مضامين إيمانية حيوية. وقد ارتأى الباحثان توظيف المنهج الاستقرائي والمنهج التحليلي للوصول إلى منهجية المحقق الخليلي في تفسير سورة الفاتحة التي حوت مضامين القرآن كله، ومما توصلا إليه على سبيل المثال: أن للفظ القرآني أثر على السياق، كما للسياق السابق واللاحق أثر في الوصول للهدايات القرآنية التي تُتخذ منهجاً لحياة إيمانية كما أرادها المولى عز وجل. وهكذا ظهر جلياً أن للمحقق سعيد بن خلفان الخليلي رؤية تكاملية تضم عدة دلالات في آن واحد لإيصال فحوى معنى الآيات الكريمة لتالي كتاب الله الحكيم. ***** The investigator Saeed bin Khalafan Al-Khalili is a scholar, jurist, and Omani fundamentalist. He paid great attention to the sciences of the Qur’an in the thirteenth century AH, and interpreted many Qur’anic verses and wrote a treatise on the interpretation of Surat AlFatihah, which is found in the thirteenth part of his book “Tamheed: Qawaeid Al'iiman”. He interpreted the mother of the book in a linguistic, contextual, and indicative way, extracting faith contents from what the verses guide to in the greatest surah that a Muslim needs to perform his five duties daily. And because of the nature of the research, the two researchers decided to employ the inductive analytical approach to reach the methodology of the investigator Al-Khalili in interpreting Surat Al-Fatihah, which contained the contents of the entire Qur’an. For example, they reached: That the Qur’anic word influences the context, as well as for the previous and subsequent context, an effect in reaching the Qur’anic guidance that adopts a methodology for a life of faith as God Almighty wanted. And so, it became clear that the investigator Saeed bin Khalafan Al-Khalili has an integrative vision that includes several connotations at one time to convey the essence of the meaning of the noble verses to the follower of the book of God Almighty

Forecasting future prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Syria

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasingly becoming a major public health problem worldwide. Estimating the future burden of diabetes is instrumental to guide the public health response to the epidemic. This study aims to project the prevalence of T2DM among adults in Syria over the period 2003?2022 by applying a modelling approach to the country?s own data. Methods Future prevalence of T2DM in Syria was estimated among adults aged 25æyears and older for the period 2003?2022 using the IMPACT Diabetes Model (a discrete-state Markov model). Results According to our model, the prevalence of T2DM in Syria is projected to double in the period between 2003 and 2022 (from 10% to 21%). The projected increase in T2DM prevalence is higher in men (148%) than in women (93%). The increase in prevalence of T2DM is expected to be most marked in people younger than 55æyears especially the 25?34æyears age group. Conclusions The future projections of T2DM in Syria put it amongst countries with the highest levels of T2DM worldwide. It is estimated that by 2022 approximately a fifth of the Syrian population aged 25æyears and older will have T2DM

Neolithic arrowheads and Bronze Age industry at Saruq al Hadid, UAE

Among growing indications of human occupation in the coastal regions of southern and southeastern Arabia extending into the Neolithic and beyond, this study introduces new archaeological evidence, namely bifacial arrowheads and trihedral points, suggesting human presence at the Saruq Al-Hadid site in the fringe of Rub’ Al Khali during the mid-Holocene period. Human activities in the site are dated to the ‘Dark Millennium’ and Bronze Age. We suggest that Contexts 10 and 8 are an extension of the activities of the Horizon IV, located 20 m to the West. This is evidenced by the similarity in the simple reduction strategies applied in both to produce microliths, which are dated in both as well to the Wadi Suq and Late Bronze Age periods. However, there is a notable difference in bone density, with Horizon IV exhibiting higher density. Moreover, the almost complete absence of end products in Contexts 10 and 8 contrasts with their prevalence in Horizon IV. And the absence of final products in Contexts 10 and 8, with their high percentage in the Horizon IV. Taken together, these indications, coupled with the low density of lithics in Contexts 10 and 8 as well as those unearthed in area F, suggest that Horizon IV was the focal point of activities during the Wadi Suq period and the Late Bronze Age.peer-reviewe

Concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies: Status and analysis

Concentrated solar power (CSP) technology is a promising renewable energy technology worldwide. However, many challenges facing this technology nowadays. These challenges are mentioned in this review study. For the first time, this work summarized and compared around 143 CSP projects worldwide in terms of status, capacity, concentrator technologies, land use factor, efficiency, country and many other factors. Further, the various challenges facing the spread-out of this system are highlighted in terms of the heat transfer fluids (HTF), various energy storage (ES) technologies, cooling techniques, water management, and the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE). Also, various thermophysical properties of the HTF are compared within the applicable range of the CSP operation. At the end of the review, various hybridization technologies for the CSP with various renewable energy sources, including photovoltaic, wind, and geothermal, are highlighted and compared. The pioneering country in using CSP, leading concentrator technology, suitable ES technology, and efficient hybrid technique based on the LCOE are determined. The analyzed data in this study is essential for predicting the future of the CSP in the markets and its contribution to reducing global warming potential

Association between smoking and chronic kidney disease: a case control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains one of the main challenges in clinical nephrology. Therefore, identifying the pathophysiological mechanisms and the independent preventable risk factors helps in decreasing the number of patients suffering end stage renal disease and slowing its progression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Smoking data was analyzed in patients with CKD throughout 2005-2009. One hundred and ninety-eight patients who had recently been diagnosed with stage three CKD or higher according to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) 2002 Classification were studied. The control group was randomly selected and then matched with the case subjects using a computerized randomization technique. The relative risk was estimated by computing odds ratio (OR) by using multinomial logistic regression in SPSS ® for Windows between the two groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Smoking significantly increases the risk of CKD (OR = 1.6, <it>p </it>= 0.009, 95% CI = 1.12-2.29). When compared to nonsmokers, current smokers have an increased risk of having CKD (OR = 1.63 <it>p </it>= 0.02, 95% CI = 1.08-2.45), while former smokers did not have a statistically significant difference. The risk increased with high cumulative quantity (OR among smokers with > 30 pack-years was 2.6, <it>p </it>= 0.00, 95% CI = 1.53-4.41). Smoking increased the risk of CKD the most for those classified as hypertensive nephropathy (OR = 2.85, <it>p </it>= 0.01, 95% CI = 1.27-6.39) and diabetic nephropathy (2.24, <it>p </it>= 0.005, 95% CI = 1.27-3.96). No statistically significant difference in risk was found for glomerulonephritis patients or any other causes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study suggests that heavy cigarette smoking increases the risk of CKD overall and particularly for CKD classified as hypertensive nephropathy and diabetic nephropathy.</p

Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Systems

The use of fossil fuels has contributed to climate change and global warming, which has led to a growing need for renewable and ecologically friendly alternatives to these. It is accepted that renewable energy sources are the ideal option to substitute fossil fuels in the near future. Significant progress has been made to produce renewable energy sources with acceptable prices at a commercial scale, such as solar, wind, and biomass energies. This success has been due to technological advances that can use renewable energy sources effectively at lower prices. More work is needed to maximize the capacity of renewable energy sources with a focus on their dispatchability, where the function of storage is considered crucial. Furthermore, hybrid renewable energy systems are needed with good energy management to balance the various renewable energy sources’ production/consumption/storage. This work covers the progress done in the main renewable energy sources at a commercial scale, including solar, wind, biomass, and hybrid renewable energy sources. Moreover, energy management between the various renewable energy sources and storage systems is discussed. Finally, this work discusses the recent progress in green hydrogen production and fuel cells that could pave the way for commercial usage of renewable energy in a wide range of applications

Transformers Improvement and Environment Conservation by Using Synthetic Esters in Egypt

Distribution transformer (DT) is a crucial component in power systems as it exchanges energies between different voltage levels or between utility grid and DC microgrids. Nevertheless, the operation of an oil-immersed DT is limited by the thermal and electrical capabilities of the internal insulating liquid. This paper aims to raise the efficiency of distribution transformers and preserve the environment by using a biodegradable insulating liquid instead of the conventional mineral insulating oil (MIO). This work examines the Egyptian case, where a real distribution network located in middle Egypt is selected as a pilot project. Study and analysis of the status que of the insulation system inside DTs are done with the aid of fault-tree analysis. The deficiency of the insulation system is confirmed by conducting an electronic survey of 100 expert participants. The most appropriate solution among three different alternatives is confirmed using the weighting and ranking method. The best choice suitable for the selected area is the substitution of MIO by synthetic ester (SE). The technical and environmental advantages achieved by the presented solution are discussed. The feasibility studies have proven that the solution is positively acceptable in all aspects. An execution plan is established for the application of proposed solution on the selected Egyptian distribution network.Science Foundation IrelandUCD Energy Institut