Kinematic Self-Similar Plane Symmetric Solutions

This paper is devoted to classify the most general plane symmetric spacetimes according to kinematic self-similar perfect fluid and dust solutions. We provide a classification of the kinematic self-similarity of the first, second, zeroth and infinite kinds with different equations of state, where the self-similar vector is not only tilted but also orthogonal and parallel to the fluid flow. This scheme of classification yields twenty four plane symmetric kinematic self-similar solutions. Some of these solutions turn out to be vacuum. These solutions can be matched with the already classified plane symmetric solutions under particular coordinate transformations. As a result, these reduce to sixteen independent plane symmetric kinematic self-similar solutions.Comment: 29 pages, accepted for publication in Classical Quantum Gravit

Financial model for private finance initiative projects applied to school buildings

Private Finance Initiative (PFI) has become a major procurement method in the UK and worldwide. The number of signed PFI deals is growing, but competition is restricted to those companies that are able to afford the initial investment. The bidding cost of PFI projects are high, and bidding companies are not compensated if the client does not award them the project. This is the reason behind several recent high-profile tender xvithdra« als. and is considered a major barrier for private companies wanting to take part in the bidding process. There is an obvious need for a tool to enable construction organizations to participate in PFI projects; one that can support these organizations in a decision-making process that is compatible with their project selection strategies, and will allow them to bid for PFI projects with clearer goals and reduced costs. A computer-based financial model was developed to predict the cost and cash flow of PFI projects, enabling project teams to assess investment decisions at the tendering stage. The proposed model consists of four modules to identify the required building area, predict the construction cost, distribute the occupancy cost, and predict the cash flow of the project. The output of the model provides the project investment results, such as the Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR), payback period and investment growth ratio. The model can predict the unitary payment but also allows the user to define the unitary payment. The reports of the model contain the cash flow and investment ratio for both types of unitary payment. The model attempts to provide the information required to assess the feasibility and affordability of the project. It gives the private sector the chance to assess the project before they spend unrecoupable funds on the project. It allows the public sector to determine the project cost, cash flow, unitary charge, and provide the information to be used for the Public Sector Comparator. The data required for the development of the model was collected from different sources. The model was initially developed on spreadsheet software: the final version was transformed into a web-based model using the Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) and Javascript programming languages. The completed model was then sent to many practitioners for validation and assessment of both the concept and numerical application. The responses received show the valuable role the model could play in PFI projects.Ministry of Higher Education, Saudi Arabi

Energy and Momentum of a Class of Rotating Gravitational Waves

We calculate energy and momentum for a class of cylindrical rotating gravitational waves using Einstein and Papapetrou's prescriptions. It is shown that the results obtained are reduced to the special case of the cylindrical gravitational waves already available in the literature.Comment: 11 pages, no figure, Late

Psychometric properties of the king spiritual intelligence questionnaire (KSIQ) in physical veterans of Iran-Iraq warfare

Aims: The study's purpose was to determine reliability and validity of the King spiritual intelligence questionnaires in veterans of Iran-Iraq Warfare. Methods: In this cross sectional study, 300 veterans of the Iran-Iraq war completed the King spiritual intelligence questionnaires. Principal components analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation was used to assess domain structure of the King spiritual intelligence questionnaires. Internal and external consistency reliability was assessed with Cronbach's alpha and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: Internal consistency of King spiritual intelligence questions estimated with Cronbach's alpha, 0.872 and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC).872 (CI 95%: 0.84 -0.89). The construct validity of the questionnaire was calculated using exploratory factor analysis that showed 3 factors with Eigen values of greater than one, which explained in total 44.7% of the variance. (1, 8 items, α= 0.87; 2, 5. items; α = 0.89; 3, 2 items, α= 0.51). Conclusion: The Persian version of King spiritual intelligence questionnaire demonstrated suitable validity and reliability among the Veterans of Iran-Iraq Warfare. With the consideration of the proper psychometric characteristics, this questionnaire can be used to further research spiritual intelligence in this population

Catheter associated urinary tract infection among patients attending some selected hospitals in Kano Metropolis

Background: Catheter-associated urinary tract infection has become one of the major global health concerns, especially in developing countries including Nigeria. Risk factors for CAUTIs include prolongation of the catheterization and possible contamination of the indwelling catheter by normal microbial flora. Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate catheter-associated urinary tract infection among patients attending some selected hospitals in the Kano metropolis. Methodology: This is cross sectional prospective study among 231 consented patients, ages ≥18 years that were catheterize. Urine samples were collected and subjected to standard bacteriological procedure for culture and sensitivity test. Patient data were collected using structured questionnaire. Result: The overall CAUTIs incidence of 163(70.6%) was obtained in this study, Escherichia coli was the highest uropathogene 62(38.0%) obtained followed by 58(35.6%) with Staphylococcus aureus. Majority of the participants are male 89(54.6%) and participants within the age group of 68 – 77 years had the highest incidence 37(22.7%) and least incidence was obtained among ages group ≥88 years 3(1.8%). Nitrofurantoin and Amoxicillin were found to be the most active antibiotics. Prolonging stay of the catheter showed the great impart in the occurrence of CAUTIs. Conclusion: An incidence rate of 70.6% was obtained in this study. The present study revealed the presence of bacteria associated with urinary catheters in individuals with UTIs. High incidence was observed in male participant than female counterpart. Keywords: Catheter; CAUTIs; E. coli; Urinary tract infection

Familial reciprocal translocation t (8; 17)(p23; q21) in a woman with recurrent spontaneous abortion

This work presents the results of cytogenetic analysis of a couple referred to our genetics laboratory with ten first trimester abortions and one IVF failure. The male showed a normal (46, XY) karyotype whereas the female was found to carry an apparently balanced reciprocal translocation [46, XX, t (8; 17)(p23; q21)]. Two sisters and two brothers of the eight siblings of the female proved to have the same translocation. Although the female's father is deceased and his sample was not available for investigation. The origin of this translocation must be paternal since the female's mother harbored a normal karyotype. It is concluded that the history of recurrent pregnancy losses in the couple is due to the production of unbalanced gametes in the female as a result of the reciprocal translocation she has and the couple was advised to undergo a PGD for embryo selection prior to their future IVF trials. The authors also recommend that all RSA couples with normal routine work-up results should be offered chromosomal analysis without delay

Energy Distribution associated with Static Axisymmetric Solutions

This paper has been addressed to a very old but burning problem of energy in General Relativity. We evaluate energy and momentum densities for the static and axisymmetric solutions. This specializes to two metrics, i.e., Erez-Rosen and the gamma metrics, belonging to the Weyl class. We apply four well-known prescriptions of Einstein, Landau-Lifshitz, Papaterou and M$\ddot{o}$ller to compute energy-momentum density components. We obtain that these prescriptions do not provide similar energy density, however momentum becomes constant in each case. The results can be matched under particular boundary conditions.Comment: 18 pages, accepted for publication in Astrophysics and SpaceScienc

Matter collineations of Spacetime Homogeneous G\"odel-type Metrics

The spacetime homogeneous G\"odel-type spacetimes which have four classes of metrics are studied according to their matter collineations. The obtained results are compared with Killing vectors and Ricci collineations. It is found that these spacetimes have infinite number of matter collineations in degenerate case, i.e. det$(T_{ab}) = 0$, and do not admit proper matter collineations in non-degenerate case, i.e. det$(T_{ab}) \ne 0$. The degenerate case has the new constraints on the parameters $m$ and $w$ which characterize the causality features of the G\"odel-type spacetimes.Comment: 12 pages, LaTex, no figures, Class. Quantum.Grav.20 (2003) 216

Charged Perfect Fluid Cylindrical Gravitational Collapse

This paper is devoted to study the charged perfect fluid cylindrical gravitational collapse. For this purpose, we find a new analytical solution of the field equations for non-static cylindrically symmetric spacetime. We discuss physical properties of the solution which predict gravitational collapse. It is concluded that in the presence of electromagnetic field the outgoing gravitational waves are absent. Further, it turns out that when longitudinal length reduces to zero due to resultant action of gravity and electromagnetic field, then the end state of the gravitational collapse is a conical singularity. We also explore the smooth matching of the collapsing cylindrical solution to a static cylindrically symmetric solution. In this matching, we take a special choice of constant radius of the boundary surface. We conclude that the gravitational and Coulomb forces of the system balance each other.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Fractional order modelling of zero length column desorption response for adsorbents with variable particle sizes

This manuscript analyses the data generated by a Zero Length Column (ZLC) diffusion experimental set-up, for 1,3 Di-isopropyl benzene in a 100% alumina matrix with variable particle size. The time evolution of the phenomena resembles those of fractional order systems, namely those with a fast initial transient followed by long and slow tails. The experimental measurements are best fitted with the Harris model revealing a power law behavior