Flatwise and edgewise compression strengths of sandwich panel with silica aerogel mat

Facade of building are mainly made up from red clay brick and concrete block. However, both materials are having high thermal mass and promote high indoor thermal discomfort level. Therefore, it is necessary to invent new building material that have low thermal mass and able achieve strength required. Silica aerogel possesses properties of lightweight and low thermal conductivity as compared to other construction materials. In this study, sandwich panel with silica aerogel mat was studied where the properties of sandwich panel silica aerogel mat are rarely found in previous investigations. Before checking its reliability as thermal insulation panel, the mechanical properties of this panel was investigate. The panel was made-up by concrete wythes with type N mortar and the silica aerogel mats with different thickness. Both concrete wythes were casted and then attached together with silica aerogel mat as the cover. 3 types of panel with different insulation thickness were then tested for flatwise and edgewise compression test. From the results, it was found that core thickness of silica aerogel mat has less influence in flatwise and edgewise compression strengths of the sandwich panel. All specimens achieved minimum strength of type N mortar. Therefore, it is recommended to be used in construction that has equivalent application of type N morta

Compressive and Flexural Strengths of Mortar with Silica Aerogel Powder

Excessive usage of sand in construction industries has generated many environmental issues. Silica aerogel, is able to minimise environmental issues while providing thermal resistance for building materials. Silica aerogel has properties such as lightweight, nano-porous and very low thermal conductivity compared to sand in the mortar matrix. This paper studied the compression and flexural strengths of mortar with silica aerogel as a sand replacement. Cement to sand ratio of 1:3 was used and sand was replaced with silica aerogel in the volumes of 15%, 20% and 25%. 15% volume of sand replacement with silica aerogel powder was the optimum ratio as it possessed the highest strength during experimental work. All the specimens were able to achieve the minimum strength for Type N non load bearing wall with the optimum ratio of 15% volume silica aerogel powder. In conclusion, silica aerogel mortar achieved the minimum strength of type N mortar

Price discovery : evidence from stock cross-listed on NASDAQ and SGX

This study investigates the price discovery process between NASDAQ and SGX, attempting to establish the non-existence of a dominant-satellite relationship between both markets. This justifies the decision of Creative Technology Ltd to delist from NASDAQ. In addition, availability of arbitrage opportunities is investigated to ascertain the level of market integration

The Singapore bond market : its development and future directions.

The purpose of this project is to investigate the underlying factors that are hindering the development of the Singapore Bond Market and to solicit recommendations from the professionals in the industry on ways to help this development

A REVIEW ON THE BEHAVIOUR, PROPERTIES AND FAVOURABLE CHARACTERISTICS FOR THERMALLY INSULATED CONCRETE FOR TROPICAL CLIMATE

Tropical outdoor environment affects indoor temperature that consecutively interferes with human thermal comfort since most time is nowadays spent within buildings. A satisfactory indoor comfort can be achieved by providing a good building envelope. Therefore, the materials applied in constructing the building envelope should show characteristics of maintaining indoor temperature from the hot and humid outdoor environment utilizing heat transfer restriction through the thermal barrier implementation. In this regard, the thermal properties and performance of these materials are essential for building construction. Concrete, the main constituent in many building materials, has long been the key element in achieving human thermal comfort in the tropical climate. Nonetheless, there exists much room for improvement for conventional concrete in offering indoor thermal comfort, and thus leading to the need for innovative advances through the enhancement of thermal insulation properties by introducing novel additive materials. Therefore, this paper reviews the thermal insulation concrete including their thermal characteristics, classification, approach, added insulation material types, and usage in the context of tropical climates, concerning human thermal comfort. Key thermal properties needed for good thermal insulation performance have been discussed, from which beneficial behaviours relevant to thermal comfort are accordingly highlighted. Based on the reviewed materials and behaviours, recommendations for the most efficient method and characteristics to maintain indoor thermal comfort in tropical countries are consequently offered. Additionally, suggestions for future exploration are given where research gaps are identified. In summary, aerogel is the best thermal insulation material (lowest thermal conductivity, fire resistance and sustainable material) and incorporation of aerogel into concrete matrix able to produce thermal insulated concrete. In conclusion, thermally insulated concrete can reduce indoor temperature and therefore maintain indoor thermal comfort while capable of reducing electricity consumption for good thermal cycle sustainability

The ageing population : it's impact on medical insurance industry in Singapore

With the problem of Singapore's ageing population comes the problem of maintaining the physical and mental well being of the elderly. An impending problem faced by the elderly ( defined to be persons aged 60 and above in this project ) is the high costs of medical services, surgical and hospitalization fees. This problem is more pronounced in the light of Singapore's increasing health care costs. Medical insurance may provide a hedge against high medical costs incurred by the elderly. This project aims to look at the problem areas encountered by the insurers when providing medical products and what measures may be taken to overcome them. It will recommend how current medical products can be modified, as well as some other possible strategies that can be adopted, so as to ensure profitability for the insurer as well as provide protection for the elderly. · It also looks at how the two proposed schemes under the recommendations of "The White Paper on Affordable Healthcare" will affect the elderly. The two schemes are the increase in contribution to the CPF Medisave account and Medishield II respectively. Finally, recommendations for future products will be made, taking into consideration the design and pricing of the product, the underwriting, marketing, administration and claims administration aspects.BUSINES

Trade and investment.

This dissertation documents and discusses Thailand's trade and investment polices and business opportunities with three objectives.Master of Business Administration (Banking & Finance

Deposited poly-Si as on-demand linewidth compensator for on-chip Fabry-Perot interferometer and vertical linear variable optical filter bandpass and passband manipulation

Deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) is an important process for etching vertical structures for microelectromechanical systems. Due to the sidewall profile of some photoresists as well as effects from upstream processes, bulk micromachined structures, to a certain extent, could differ from expected. Concerning photonics applications, minute deviations from the intended design might alter its optical characteristics. The most popular approach is to introduce a compensation factor during mask design. However, such a method is not robust enough to accommodate batch variations due to varying process conditions. In one particular example specific to this work, the simulated passband for a Si-air Fabry–Perot interferometer configuration was 3.67 μm. However, post DRIE the passband was measured to be 3.40 μm. To resolve this discrepancy, linewidth compensation using low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) poly-Si is presented. When 170 and 194 nm of poly-Si were separately deposited, the passbands redshifted to 3.54 and 3.57 μm, respectively. With the LPCVD poly-Si layer being highly conformable, the full width half maximum remains unchanged at 80 nm. An on-chip linear variable optical filter was demonstrated with a compensation of 194 nm poly-Si. It was observed that the working range redshifted from 3.0–3.9 μm to 3.3–4.5 μm.Economic Development Board (EDB)SCKG is grateful for the EDB-IPP postgraduate scholarship dispensed by Economic Development Board of Singapore. Authors are grateful to KaiLiang Chuan (Excelitas Technologies, Singapore), Yuan Hsi Chan and Rambhatla Murthy (Excelitas, Montreal). SCKG would like to thank Shurui Wang (Park Systems) and Tom Tiwald (J A Woollam) for their assistance in AFM and ellipsometry measurement and analysis, respectively. The authors would like to thank Goh Constance and Pang Alvin for taking time to proofread this manuscript

Transitional care for the highest risk patients: findings of a randomised control study

Background: Interventions to prevent readmissions of patients at highest risk have not been rigorously evaluated. We conducted a randomised controlled trial to determine if a post-discharge transitional care programme can reduce readmissions of such patients in Singapore.Methods: We randomised 840 patients with two or more unscheduled readmissions in the prior 90 days and Length of stay, Acuity of admission, Comorbidity of patient, Emergency department utilisation score ≥10 to the intervention programme (n = 419) or control (n = 421). Patients allocated to the intervention group received post-discharge surveillance by a multidisciplinary integrated care team and early review in the clinic. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with at least one unscheduled readmission within 30 days after discharge.Results: We found no statistically significant reduction in readmissions or emergency department visits in patients on the intervention group compared to usual care. However, patients in the intervention group reported greater patient satisfaction (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Any beneficial effect of interventions initiated after discharge is small for high-risk patients with multiple comorbidity and complex care needs. Future transitional care interventions should focus on providing the entire cycle of care for such patients starting from time of admission to final transition to the primary care setting.Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, no NCT0232575

Applying the Integrated Practice Unit Concept to a Modified Virtual Ward Model of Care for Patients at Highest Risk of Readmission: A Randomized Controlled Trial

<div><p>Background</p><p>Emerging evidence from the virtual ward care model showed that multidisciplinary case management are inadequate to reduce readmissions or death for high risk patients. There is consensus that interventions should encompass both pre-hospital discharge and post-discharge transitional care to be effective. Integrated practice units (IPU) had been proposed as an approach of restructuring the organization and work processes of multidisciplinary teams to achieve value in healthcare. Our primary objective is to evaluate if the novel application of the IPU concept to organize a modified virtual ward model incorporating pre-hospital discharge transitional care can reduce readmissions of patients at highest risk for readmission.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We conducted an open label, assessor blinded randomized controlled trial on patients with one or more unscheduled readmissions in the prior 90 days and LACE score ≥ 10. 840 patients were randomized in 1:1 ratio and blocks of 6 to the intervention program (n = 420) or control (n = 420). Allocation concealment was effected via an off-site telephone service maintained by a hospital administrator. Intervention patients received discharge planning, medication reconciliation, coaching on self-management of chronic diseases using standardized action plans and an individualized care plan complete with written discharge instructions, appointments schedule, medication changes and the contact information of the outpatient VW nurse before discharge. At discharge, care is handed over to the outpatient VW team. Patients were closely monitored in the VW for three months that included a telephone review within 72 hours of discharge, home assessment, regular telephone reviews to identify early complications and early review clinics for patients who destabilize. The VW meet daily to discuss new patients and review care plans for patients. Control patients received standard hospital care that included a standardized patient copy of the hospital discharge summary listing their medical diagnoses and medications; and follow up is arranged with a primary care provider or specialist as considered necessary. The primary outcome was the unplanned readmission rate to any hospital within 30 days of discharge. Secondary outcomes included the unplanned readmission rate, emergency department (ED) attendance rate to any hospital and the probability without readmission or death up to 180 days of discharge. Length of stay and mortality rate at 90-day were compared between the two groups. Outcome data were objectively retrieved from the hospital and National Electronic Health Records by a blinded outcome assessor.</p><p>Findings</p><p>All patients’ outcomes were included in an intention-to-treat analysis. The characteristics of both study groups were similar. Patients in the intervention group had a significant reduction in the number of 30-day readmissions, IRR 0.67 (95% CI, 0.52 to 0.86, p = 0.001) and the number of 30-day emergency department attendances, IRR 0.60 (95% CI, 0.46 to 0.79, p<0.001) compared to those receiving standard hospital care. The effectiveness was sustained at 90 and 180 days. The intervention group utilized 1164 fewer hospital bed days at 90-day post discharge. No adverse events were reported.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Applying the integrated practice unit concept to the virtual ward program resulted in reduced readmissions in patients who are at highest risk of readmission.</p></div