Dynamic Effects of Moving Loads on the Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement Responses

In this paper, to analyze the Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (JPCP), a 3-D dynamic model of the pavement was modeled using ABAQUS. Moving load with different speed and interaction between the Dowel bar and concrete has been considered in this research. The output for the strain in the joints has been validated with accurate experimental results. Research has shown that the finite element analysis, is an accurate and efficient method to model the interaction between the dowel bar and surrounding concrete. The results showed that with increasing the speed of moving load, the maximum strain in joints decreases. Such reduction is about 18% for the 20 ton axial load and the speed of 120 km/hr. relative to the speed of 32 km/hr. In addition, with increasing the axial load, the maximum strain in the joints increases. This increase is more for the lower speeds. In addition, it is found that decreasing the loading speed and increasing the axial load will result in increasing the maximum strain and maximum stress in the connected area of dowel bar and surrounding concrete. Thus it may become more than the ultimate tensile strength and result in initiate cracking in the tensile area of concrete slab, especially in the joints. Furthermore, the results showed that changing the mechanical specification of concrete would not significantly affect the maximum strain in the JPCP, which using C50 instead of C25, the maximum strain would increase about 10%. However, the mechanical specification of JPCP could affect the cracking propagation and concrete durability

Visual Evoked Potential Findings in Patients with Dyslexia

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the Visual Evoked Potential (VEP) findings in patients with dyslexia and in normal individuals.Patients and Methods: In this case-control study, we evaluated 26 eyes from 13 dyslexic patients over the period of 2018-2022. The control group consisted of 26 eyes from 13 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. VEP was recorded for both the case and control groups. We compared the latency (in milliseconds) and amplitude of the VEP P100 peak between the patients and the controls.Results: The mean latency of the VEP P100 peak was significantly higher in the patient group, measuring 108.92 ± 3.84 milliseconds, compared to 97.46 ± 2.8 milliseconds in the control group (P < 0.01). Additionally, the mean amplitude of the VEP, P100 peak in the case group was significantly lower, at 2.96 ± 1.12 microvolts, in contrast to 6.38 ± 1.6 microvolts observed in the control group (P < 0.01).Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it is concluded that dyslexia may influence the visual pathway of the visual system, leading to changes that could potentially be evaluated using VEP testing

Review of recent progress in sintering of solid-state batteries:Application and modelling

The increasing demand for advanced energy storage solutions has fuelled an increasing need for cutting-edge technologies that can provide high battery capacity, safety, and environmental sustainability. This comprehensive review article embarks on an exploration of the latest advances in solid-state batteries, offering a panoramic view of their evolution. Another pivotal aspect of this review is an in-depth analysis of recent advancements in battery materials sintering techniques, with a particular focus on cold sintering and flash sintering. By delving into the fundamental principles of sintering, we illustrate the substantial potential of these innovative methods in shaping the future of energy storage technologies. These techniques are instrumental in streamlining the manufacturing process of solid-state batteries, making them more efficient and sustainable. Additionally, the review extends its scope to encompass the modelling of these sintering processes, emphasising their helpful role in the sintering of solid-state batteries. Furthermore, the article ventures into the modelling of solid-state batteries, introducing the powerful tool of machine learning to enhance the understanding and optimisation of these advanced energy storage systems. This synergy between modelling and machine learning promises to expedite the development of robust and cost-effective solid-state batteries

Practical Components of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Weight Loss in Women: Directed Qualitative Content Analysis

Introduction: In recent decades, cognitive-behavioral programs for reducing weight have had remarkable success. Generally, in these programs, many components are involved which lengthen the duration of therapy, and also it is not clear which one of the components is more practical for individuals. The present research attempted to answer the question regarding which components of cognitive-behavioral therapy were more practical in peoples’ everyday life for keeping the lost weight or losing weight. Method: This was a qualitative study based on directed content analysis. A purposeful sampling procedure was used which aimed at women who had undergone cognitive-behavioral therapy for weight loss, and who were able to keep their weight loss or had lost more weight at least 6 months after therapy. The semi-structured interviewing by cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist specialized in weight loss was ended with 18 people of these participants. Primary coding was done deductively based on Cooper and colleagues’ program for cognitive-behavioral therapy for weight loss. In addition, final components were approved by a matched group of women not in the sample, and by cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist specialized in weight loss. Results: From 35 primary components which were extracted deductively from the cognitive-behavioral protocol, only 17 components were approved by individual women who had undergone cognitive-behavioral therapy; such that the majority of these women reported using most of these 17 components in their everyday lives, or evaluated them as highly important and practical for losing weight during therapy. Conclusion: The findings indicate that among many components involved in cognitive-behavioral therapy, only part of them are executed and practical, and that the rest of methods or components are forgotten or are not used. Therefore, it seems possible to focus cognitive-behavioral therapy on most practical components. Keywords: Cognitive-behavioral therapy, Weight loss, Qualitative research, Wome

Online prediction of arrival and departure times in each station for passenger trains using machine learning methods

The prediction of delays and their reduction in all modes of passenger transportation, especially rail transportation, is of great importance and annually attracts the attention of many researchers. Train delays can be anticipated by predicting the arrival times of trains at stations. In this paper, a train operated by Raja Company, which travels daily on the Tehran-Mashhad route, has been investigated. This train route consists of 50 stations, of which five main stations, including Tehran, Garmsar, Semnan, Shahrud, and Mashhad, have been selected to predict the train's arrival and departure times at each of these stations. For this purpose, data related to the train timetable and the operations carried out at these five main stations over three years from 2018 to 2020 have been collected. Then, modeling was conducted to predict real-time arrival and departure times for each of these stations. Artificial neural networks, random forest regression, gradient boosting regression, and extreme gradient boosting regression were used for prediction modeling. After evaluating these models, the approach that yielded the best results based on the experimental data was selected for predicting the arrival and departure times at each station

Effect of inadequate lap splice length on the collapse probability of concrete wall buildings in Malaysia

Background: In recent decades, Malaysia has shown a significant increase in the number of constructed high-rise buildings due to rapid urbanization and an increase in its population. However, due to the country's low seismicity, the majority of such tall buildings and infrastructures have not been designed against seismic actions. Therefore, they do not comply with the required seismic detailing and often suffer from inadequate lap splice length. After the 2015 Sabah earthquake that imposed significant damage to public buildings, the seismic vulnerability of buildings in Malaysia received increasing attention. As a result, researchers have tried to quantify the seismic vulnerability of buildings in Malaysia through the development of fragility curves. Objectives: In Malaysia, most developed seismic fragility curves for buildings have not taken into account the effect of inadequate lap splice length. Therefore, this study investigates to what extent an inadequate lap splice length can alter the concrete wall buildings’ probability of collapse. Methods: Two 25-story concrete wall buildings with an identical plan but different parking levels were selected. Fifteen natural far-field earthquake records were used in the incremental dynamic analysis to calculate the inter-story drift demand and capacities. The inelastic response of beams and columns was simulated through the lumped plasticity model, and that of concrete walls and slabs was taken into account through the fiber-based distributed plasticity model. The effect of inadequate lap splice length in columns was simulated in the finite element models using the proposed method in ASCE/SEI 41-17 code. The developed fragility curves were compared with those established by other researchers for the same buildings. Results: It was observed that seismic-induced damage mostly concentrated on the columns of parking levels while the concrete walls remained in the elastic region. The obtained inter-story drift capacities were all less than 2%. Besides, the inter-story drift capacities of interior frames were less than half of exterior frames. The exterior frame of the building with three parking levels exhibited a larger probability of exceeding the CP limit state than the interior frame. A similar observation was made for the building with five parking levels when the PGA was more than 0.25g. Moreover, the probability of exceeding the CP limit state of the exterior frame with three parking levels was significantly more than that of the exterior frame with five parking levels. A similar observation was made for the interior frames when the PGA was larger than 0.2g. Furthermore, the conducted comparison showed that an inadequate lap splice length could increase the concrete wall buildings’ probability of collapse between 38 to 89%. The increase in the collapse probability of the interior frame with five parking levels was almost twice that of the exterior frame. Conclusion: It was concluded that the inadequate lap splice length could significantly reduce columns’ rotational capacity and result in brittle failure mode and limited residual strength. Besides, the inadequate lap splice length of columns reduced the inter-story drift capacity of investigated buildings and significantly increased their probability of collapse. Therefore, it was strongly suggested to include the effect of inadequate lap splice length in the finite element models when conducting seismic vulnerability studies

Can Quality of Life Questionnaires be Used in Diabetics to Assess the Relation Between HbA1c and Patients' Domain Aspects?

Over the past few decades, quality of life (QOL) has become an important concept in medical researches and treatments. Different meaningful reasons are given for this development. In the current research two standard questionnaires for evaluating of QOL were selected. First one, was a questionnaire from The World Health Organization (WHOQOL-BREF 26) and the second one, The Iranian Diabetics' Quality of Life (IRDQOL). The goal of this study is to assess the relation between different domains of these questionnaires and HbA1c in diabetics. A random sample of Iranian adult outpatient diabetics (n=76) was selected and they completed the WHOQOL and IRDQOL assessment instruments. In addition HbA1c was measured in these patients by calorimetric method. Comparisons were made between scores of "questionnaires' domains" and "HbA1c". Data analysis was carried out by the use of T-test, Spearman correlation coefficient, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and non-parametric statistical methods including Spearman correlation coefficient. Data analysis shows Psychological domain score in IRDQOL is lower than in WHOQOL and it is significant (P<0.0001). Physical domain score in IRDQOL is lower than WHOQOL and it is significant (P<0.0001). In WHOQOL questionnaire, analysis data showed when the patient's age increased, physical and psychological domain's score decreased. There is probably no relation between questionnaire domains and HbA1c in diabetics. Based on the findings in this research, there was obviously almost no difference between the two questionnaires for checking the QOL, but in IRDQOL spiritual domain is a very unreliable domain

Dynamic Turn Conformation of a Short Tryptophan-Rich Cationic Antimicrobial Peptide and Its Interaction with Phospholipid Membranes

Cationic antimicrobial peptides are promising sources for novel therapeutic agents against multi-drug-resistant bacteria. HHC-36 (KRW­WKW­WRR) is a simple but effective antimicrobial peptide with similar or superior activity compared with several conventional antibiotics. In this biophysical study, unique conformational properties of this peptide and some of its analogs as well as its interaction with lipid membranes are investigated in detail. Circular dichroism (CD) and molecular dynamics modeling studies of HHC-36 in different environments reveal a dynamic amphipathic structure composed of competing turn conformations with free energies lower than that of the unfolded state, implying a strong influence of tryptophan interactions in formation of the turns. CD spectra and gel electrophoresis also show strong evidence of self-association of this peptide in aqueous milieu and interaction with both neutrally and negatively charged lipid membrane systems. Isothermal titration calorimetry and acrylamide fluorescence quenching experiments emphasize the preference of HHC-36 for negatively charged vesicles. In addition, dye leakage experiments suggest that this peptide functions through a surface-associated mechanism with weak lytic activity against bacterial model membranes