The three-stage entrepreneurial model to empower recycling product designers.

Two of every five Egyptian youth aged 20-24 suffer unemployment and abject poverty. And while 40% of Egyptians have entrepreneurial intentions only 2.9% manage to establish their businesses past the 3.5-year mark of regulated operation. The main reasons for this failure have been defined to be: the poor entrepreneurial education at all stages, the poor legal &commercial infrastructure, as well as lack of supportive government programmes. The proposed solution is a three-stage process; it begins with formulating a ‘matrix model’, which is a detailed workplan for the transfer of an entrepreneurial idea from concept to a sustainable business, then developing a successful alpha product line that would allow business operation &sustenance, and then giving room for research and development of new similar products by incubating entrepreneurial ideas that can be turned into profitable product lines later on. The matrix model is the product-customised version of “Egyptian Ecosystem Theory of Change” by Saeed et al, 2015. The alpha product proposed is a flooring tile created from cleaned and shredded trash at the AUC Sustainable Development labs by heat-pressing plastics as a binder and redbrick as a filler, to create an environmentally friendly product line, then the tile is set to be tested against relevant ASTM standards for flooring tiles. Then, the proposed business model is to use part of the revenue to sponsor research and development, provided it is based on the ‘private incubator’ model. The idea is seen to positively impact the society by providing employment for the young entrepreneurs, the economy by boosting production and investment opportunities, as well as the environment by encouraging a recycling economy. This conforms with sustainable development goal number 8.6 which promotes substantially reducing the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training

Understanding the dynamics of even-aged stands of Brutia pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) in the coastal region of Syria based on a distance-independent individual-tree growth model

Introduction and objectives: The correct assessment of resources is a key condition for ensuring the sustainable supply of forest resources. In Syria, sustainable forest management is limited, because there is practically not enough knowledge on how to determine an annual growth, how future developments can be predicted, how the site productivity and the optimal rotation age can be accurately estimated, or which thinning regime is best suitable. To cover these gaps and to answer the questions, objective of the work is to develop an individual-tree growth model based on real-time series. Methodology and results: The study analyzed existing inventory data that came from 61 plots (51 for modeling and 10 for validation). The data used to develop the individual tree growth model could be categorized into four groups: Measured and calculated individual trees, variables describing the growth, measured plot variables, calculated stand variables.e.g. Stand basal area, stand volume, mean stand height…. Plot-wise equations for tree height, crown diameter and crown length were used to model the missing data values. The also analyzed the factors affecting the individual tree growth: competition and the site index. The study analyzed the competition using a set of distance-dependent and independent competition indices. The results found it that distance-independent and dependent competition indices have a consistent negative impact on tree basal area increment. On another hand, competition stimulates a little the height increment before start decreasing as competition increases. The best distance-independent indices were candidate for further modeling. Site index which is a measure of potential site productivity and it is defined in this work as stand dominant height at given age. The study tested 10 equations. Sloboda equation was confirmed as most appropriate for site index characterization of Pinus brutia stands in Syria. Then, the study tested the statistical models for describing the important life processes of single trees which consists of growth and mortality equations. Growth equations included diameter increment, height increment, crown ratio and generalized height-diameter equation. The study developed diameter increment equation as function of tree size, site characteristics (site index and geo-climatic variation OGV), and competition variables. The equation showed good performance for explaining the variations in diameter increment, where the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.58. One supplementary equation for diameter increment equation was fitted without geo-climatic variation (OGV) and showed similar performance. XVIII The study developed two individual tree height increment equations: linearized height increment in similar way to that developed to diameter increment, and the second equation is Modifier-Potential height increment by achieving Nagel‟s equation (1999). Modifier-Potential height increment is more desirable to be applied in pure even stands of Pinus brutia forests because it gave better results than linearized height increment, and requires less information. The study also developed the crown ratio equation using tree size, competition, and site variables. The exponential equation performed best. Concerning the height-diameter relationship, the study tested 4 equations. The equation proposed by Mirkovich (1958) provides more satisfactory results as compared to the other tested equations. Finally, the study developed the mortality equation as function of stand variables, competition and site variables and could be applied deterministically or stochastically. The study implemented the forest simulation PINUS-SYRIA in NETLOGO. The simulation model allowed us to simulate the behavior of the individual-tree growth mortality dynamics under different conditions (site characteristics and competition) which allowed deep understanding of dynamic of Pinus brutia stands in Syria, and it showed that stochastic and deterministic simulations of mortality equation yield different results for the same single-tree model and the same initial conditions. The model applied forest management scenarios to suggest the optimal rotation age and most appropriate thinning regime. Thinning improved the growth rates for diameter at breast height, tree height and tree volume, the improvement on diameter increment is clearer than on height increment, and optimal rotation age was determined upon site index and density. Finally, the study tested the individual-tree growth model by using independent data and applying the global sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: The PINUS-Syria Model can be applied effectively in several aspects of forest management. Firstly, it can be used for sustainable forest management as determining the rotation length in the absence of thinning and simulating the effect of different scenarios of thinning regimes on the stand development. Based on the simulation results, this study suggests one thinning scenarios with heavy intensity in good and very good sites, and one or two thinning with moderate, heavy or very heavy thinning in medium and poor sites depending on the density.:ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS V TABLE OF CONTENTS VII LIST OF FIGURES X LIST OF TABLES XII APPENDICES XIV ABBREVIATIONS XV SUMMARY XVII ZUSAMMENFASSUNG XIX 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Forest growth and yield models 2 1.2.1 Site productivity 5 1.2.2 Competition 6 1.2.3 Individual-tree diameter increment 9 1.2.4 Individual-tree height increment 11 1.2.5 Individual-tree mortality 12 1.2.6 Individual-tree crown ratio 15 1.2.7 Height-diameter relations 15 1.2.8 Model evaluation 16 1.2.9 Thinning treatment 17 1.3 Individual-based simulation tools 18 1.4 Objective and research questions of this thesis 19 2 MATERIAL AND METHODS 21 2.1 Study area and sites 21 2.2 General research framework 26 2.3 Data collection 28 2.3.1 Tree level variables 28 2.3.2 Stand level variables 29 2.4 Data preparation 30 2.4.1 Height, crown diameter and crown length curves 30 2.4.2 Calculation of tree variables 31 2.4.3 Calculation of stand level variables 34 2.5 Studying the factors that affect individual-tree growth 36 2.5.1 Competition Analysis 36 2.5.2 Developing the site index 40 2.5.2.1 Fitting the site index equation 40 2.5.2.2 Selection of reference age for site index 41 2.6 Individual-tree growth model 43 2.6.1 Development of diameter increment equation 43 2.6.2 Development of height increment equation 44 2.6.2.1 Development of linearized height increment equation 44 2.6.2.2 Development potential modifier height increment 45 2.6.3 Development of individual-tree crown ratio 46 2.6.4 Generalized height- diameter equation 48 2.6.5 Development of individual-tree mortality equation 48 2.7 Simulation of individual-tree growth model 51 2.7.1 The purpose 51 2.7.2 Entities stand variables and scales 51 2.7.3 Process overview and scheduling 52 2.7.4 Design concepts 53 1. Basic principles 53 2. Emergence 53 3. Interaction 55 4. Observation 55 5. Sensing 55 6. Stochasticity 55 7.Initialization 55 2.7.5 Sub-models 56 2.8 Methods used for model evaluation 57 2.8.1 Sensitivity analysis 57 2.8.2 Validation procedure 57 3 RESULTS 59 3.1 Results of initial data processing 59 3.1.1 The results of height curve fitting 59 3.1.2 Calculation of stand variables 60 3.1.3 Crown diameter curves 61 3.1.4 Crown length curves 62 3.2 Competition indices 62 3.2.1 Spearman correlation test 63 3.2.2 Determination of appropriate competition indices 63 3.3 Site index 67 3.4 Individual-tree growth model 70 3.4.1 Diameter increment equation 70 3.4.2 Development of height increment equations 73 3.4.2.1 Development of realized height increment equation 73 3.4.2.2 Development of potential-modifier height increment 75 3.4.3 Crown ratio equation 76 3.4.4 Generalized height-diameter relationship 78 3.4.5 Mortality equation 79 3.5 Simulation of individual-tree growth model 82 3.5.1 Short-term prediction of a eight-year period 82 3.5.2 Model plausibility 84 3.5.3 Sensitivity analysis 89 3.5.4 Application of the PINUS-Syria Model 92 3.5.4.1 Optimal rotation age 92 3.5.4.2 Thinning treatment 93 4 DISCUSSION 96 4.1 Data collection, size and representation 96 4.2 Individual tree’s response to competition 98 4.3 Site curves of Pinus brutia and forest yield 100 4.4 Individual-tree growth model 102 4.4.1 Diameter increment equation 102 4.4.2 Height increment equations 103 4.4.3 Crown ratio 105 4.4.4 Height-diameter equations 106 4.4.5 Mortality equation 107 4.5 Model Applications 110 4.6 Outlook on the future 112 REFERENCES 114 APPENDICES 12

Carotid Artery Stent Continued Expansion Days After Deployment, Without Post Stent Deployment Angioplasty.

This is a carotid artery stent (CAS) case report, which avoids post-stent deployment angioplasty (Post-SDA), with duplex confirmed continued stent expansion at 1, 3 and 30-day post deployment. This report confirms that self-expanding nitinol stents in the carotid artery may not require Post-SDA. We believe CAS can be performed without Post-SDA, which helps reduce the occurrence of intraoperative hemodynamic depression

ISSUES IN THE SUBTITLING AND DUBBING OF ENGLISH-LANGUAGE FILMS INTO ARABIC: PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

ABSTRACT This study investigates the problems that translators tend to face in the subtitling and dubbing of English-language films and television programmes into Arabic and suggests solutions for these problems. In the light of an examination of the generic features of audiovisual translation and of the particular cultural constraints inherent in translation for Arabic-speaking audiences, it is proposed that certain elements of translation theory can be useful in overcoming the technical and cultural barriers identified. This proposition is tested through analysis of the translation of three feature films, one television sitcom and an animation series that have been subtitled and dubbed into Arabic, with a particular focus on the translation of dialect, swear words, and humour. Technical, linguistic and cultural issues constitute a challenge to Arabic translators who need to deal with: 1) the limitations on screen such as space, time, lip and character synchronizations; 2) the issue of rendering English dialects into Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and 3) the problem of culture which restricts them when they want to translate taboo expressions. This results in a loss (partial or complete) of the source film’s message. Each of the audiovisual works mentioned above was considered as a case study that was analysed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Interviews, experiments and a questionnaire were conducted in this respect to find answers to the research questions. The interviews aimed to gather evidence of how professionals translate, what problems they face and what possible solutions they may suggest for them. The experiments and the questionnaire, on the other hand, were audience-focused tools in the sense that sample audiences watched and judged the ability of a translation both in subtitled and dubbed forms to deliver the message of a movie to them, and therefore, provided evidence on the relative effectiveness of different translation procedures. Based on this, solutions were both suggested and tested in terms of their viability to overcome the barriers that emerge during the subtitling and dubbing of dialect, swear words and humour into Arabic. The findings show that translators have significant scope for improving the quality of their output, especially by adopting a more functional translation approach that can help them successfully deal with the difficulties inherent in this type of translation and make the translated dialogue have a similar effect on the target audience as that which the source text has on its audience

Joint modeling of traffic related crashes: a Copula based approch

The study contributes to safety literature on transportation safety by employing copula based models for count frequency analysis at a macro-level. Most studies in the transportation safety area identify a single count variable (such as vehicular, pedestrian or bicycle crash counts) for a spatial unit and study the impact of exogenous variables. While the traditional count models perform adequately in the presence of a single count variable, it is necessary to modify these approaches to examine multiple dependent variables for each study unit. To that extent, the current research effort contributes to literature by developing two multivariate models based on copula methodology. First, a copula based bivariate negative binomial model for pedestrian and bicyclist crash frequency analysis is developed. Second, a multivariate negative binomial model for crashes involving non-motorized road users, passenger cars, vans, light trucks and heavy trucks is proposed. The proposed approaches also accommodate for potential heterogeneity (across zones) in the dependency structure. The formulated models are estimated using traffic crash count data at the Statewide Traffic Analysis Zone (STAZ) level for the state of Florida for the years 2010 through 2012. The STAZ level variables considered in our analysis include exposure measures, socio-economic characteristics, road network characteristics and land use attributes. A policy analysis is also conducted along with a representation of hotspot identification to illustrate the applicability of the proposed model for planning purposes. The development of such spatial profiles will allow planners to identify high risk zones for screening and treatment purposes

Incoherent single pion electroproduction on the deuteron with polarization effects

Incoherent pion electroproduction on the deuteron is studied from threshold up to the second resonance region with special emphasis on the influence of final state interaction, in particular on polarization observables. The elementary $\gamma N\to\pi N$ amplitude is taken from the MAID-2003 model. Final state interaction is included by considering complete rescattering in the final $NN$ and $\pi N$ subsystems. Their influence on the structure functions governing the semi-exclusive differential cross section, where besides the scattered electron only the produced pion is detected, is investigated in detail. For charged pion-production the effect of $NN$-rescattering is moderate whereas $\pi N$-rescattering is almost negligible, except very close to threshold. $NN$-rescattering appears much stronger in neutral pion production for which the primary mechanism is the elimination of a significant spurious coherent contribution in the impulse approximation. Sizeable effects are also found in some of the polarization structure functions for beam and/or target polarizations.Comment: 20 pages including 14 figure

Non invasive assessment of right ventricle in patients with operated tetralogy of Fallot

The objective of this study was to evaluate right ventricular function in patients with right ventricular volume overload in patients with (tetralogy of Fallot, and pulmonary atresia + VSD ) underwent corrective surgery; with echocardiography measure that can be easily applied; and to study the relationship between ProBNP and the contractile function of the right ventricle, dilated right atrium, and the consequences of pulmonary insufficiency . Methods: The study included 50 patients (50% males, mean age 30.64 ± 13.30 years) with prior cardiac surgical intervention of TDF (90%) or pulmonary atresia + VSD (10%). (49 pz) have performed a cardiac MRI and clinical evaluation, (47 pz) echocardiogram, (48 pz) ECG, (34 pz) a cardiopulmonary exercise testing, (29 pz) a dosage of ProBNP. Results: The S-wave velocity (p 35. ProBNP correlated positively and significantly with the area of the right atrium (p = 0.0001), and negative and significant with VO2 max (p = 0.04). Those who have increased pulmonary insufficiency (PVR fraction> 30%) have a significantly increased RVED volume (p = 0.01), reduced VO2 max (p = 0.04), and lower ejection fraction of LV (p = 0.02) than the group of patients with PVR ≤ 30. Conclusion: The TAPSE and S-wave velocity are fundamental and may become the technique of choice for routine assessment of RV systolic function in adult patients with TOF. The monitoring of the Pro BNP is probably a choice, given the simplicity and their information that correlate with the test cardiopulmonary. In view of the ventricular-ventricular interaction, so measures to maintain or restore the functioning of the pulmonary valve could preserve biventricular function