A novel bubble function scheme for the finite element solution of engineering flow problems

This thesis is devoted to the study of some difficulties of practical implementation of finite element solution of differential equations within the context of multi-scale engineering flow problems. In particular, stabilized finite elements and issues associated with computer implementation of these schemes are discussed and a novel technique towards practical implementation of such schemes is presented. The idea behind this novel technique is to introduce elemental shape functions of the polynomial forms that acquire higher degrees and are optimized at the element level, using the least squares minimization of the residual. This technique provides a practical scheme that improves the accuracy of the finite element solution while using crude discretization. The method of residual free bubble functions is the point of our departure. [Continues.

Inelastic seismic behavior of stiffening systems : multi-span simply-supported (MSSS) bridges

Stiffening behavior can result from interaction between a structure (base system) and its surrounding environment as in the MSSS bridge soil-structure interaction. In this study, three MSSS bridge cases are parametrically analyzed and their dynamic characteristics and behavior are presented and discussed. Later, for investigating stiffening behavior, a simplified stiffening model is introduced and an extensive parametric study with more than 367,000 analyzed cases is performed. In the parametric study, different stiffening parameters (i.e., stiffness, strength, gap size, and mass), 41 strong motion records, and several damage criteria are considered and effects of the stiffening parameters variations on the dynamic response of simple stiffening systems are presented. It is shown that on the average the displacement response is lower for stiffening systems, consistent with pushover analysis based on the seismic codes. However, considering many other damage indices like dissipated hysteretic energy and low-cycle fatigue damage index, it is quite likely that a stiffening system would sustain more damage than an elastic-plastic system. At the end, suitable design response spectra for stiffening systems are developed and their practical implications for MSSS bridges are demonstrated

The Investigation of Compliment Response Patterns across Gender and Age among Advanced EFL Learners

Compliment responses (CRs) as manifestations of social-cultural standards and politeness varieties of a certain speech community are prevalent types of speech acts which are vulnerable to be misunderstood and therefore cause communication breakdown. Having this in mind, the recent study aimed at investigating compliment response strategies of Iranian advanced EFL learners across gender and age. The data were collected through application of a Discourse Completion Task (DCT), borrowed from Chen and Yang (2010), with four situational settings (appearance, clothing, ability, and possession) to 50 male and 50 female advanced EFL learners of an English institute in Iran. Based on qualitative data analysis, no difference was shown between the CR strategies employed by male and female participants in terms of frequency. Likewise, it was revealed that the frequency of CR strategies used by teenage and adult groups was very close. However, scrutinizing the emerging themes, besides similarities between the given groups, some subtle differences in the terminology of the employed strategies were detected

Polar Kerr Effect in Multiband Spin-Orbit Coupled Superconductors

We undertake a theoretical analysis to probe the Kerr spectrum within the superconducting phase of strontium ruthenate, where the Kerr rotation experiments demonstrate the existence of a superconducting state with broken time reversal symmetry. We find that spin-orbit coupling changes the hybridization along the Fermi surface's diagonal zone mainly affects Hall transport. We show that the dominant Hall response arises mainly from the quasi-1D orbitals $d_{yz}$ and $d_{xz}$, linked to their hybridization, while other contributions are negligible. This establishes that, the breaking of time reversal symmetry of quasi-1D orbitals can account for the existence of the Kerr angle, irrespective of the order symmetry specific to the $d_{xy}$ orbital. Moreover, the optical Hall conductivity and Kerr angle estimated for the hypothesised superconducting orders also closely match the experimental findings, providing important novel insight on the role of the spin-orbit coupling, hybridization, and emergent order.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure

Superconducting transformers for power, energy, and transportation applications: An introduction to superconducting technology for transformer engineers

Superconducting transformers have advantages over their conventional counterparts, making them a killer technology in electric power grids and renewable energy systems, as well as transportation applications requiring high power transmission capacity. Compared to conventional transformers, superconducting transformers offer low weight, small size, high fault tolerance, fault current limitation, significant overload capability, and no environmental issues or fire hazards. Power systems and microgrids are candidates for the implementation of superconducting transformers when they include distributed generation and renewable energy, especially wind farms. Transportation applications also benefit from the highly compact structure and lightweight superconducting transformers. This paper introduces opportunities offered by superconducting transformers for supplying power with high reliability, stability, and safety

Evaluation of critical success factors in total quality management implementation and prioritization with AHP - case study: Pars Oil and Gas Company

Total Quality Management claiming superior results in the work has acquired a particular position among other different methods; however, despite all the positive features many organizations have not been successful in applying TQM. There are many reasons for this lack of success which can be either due to a lack of familiarity and attention to the critical success factors in the implementation of Total Quality Management. This research aims to answer two main questions: 1) what critical success factors in the implementation of Total Quality Management are proposed in Pars Oil and Gas Company based on the Malcolm Baldrige model? 2) What is the priority of critical success factors in the implementation of Total Quality Management based on different levels of management`s perspective? The literature related to the first question was studied and the factors were classified into seven groups based on the Baldrige global model. Then, these factors were evaluated according to Baldrige check list based on which 47% of total 1000 points was acquired by the organization. Leadership 47%, Strategic Planning 54%, Customer Focus 41%, Measurement, Analysis and Knowledge Management 41%, Workforce Focus 38%, Operations Focus 46% and Results 51%. For second question, a questionnaire was made to prioritize critical success factors and the weight of each factor in relation to each other was evaluated according to subject`s answers using AHP method by Expert choice software. Therefore, from the perspective of managers in different levels, the factors are prioritized as Leadership, Strategic Planning, Customer Focus, Operations Focus, Results, Measurement, Analysis and Knowledge Management, Workforce Focus. In conclusion, shortcomings and required information for managers and organization were provided based on the results

Effect of probiotics in diarrhea and GE Reflux in pediatrics.

Probiotics are defined as nonpathogenic bacterial depravities (Lactobacillus GG Enterococcus faecium,Lactobacilus acidophilus & Bifidobacterium bifidum) that provides better ,and normal intestinal floral and  function ,which balances Intestinal micro-organism and supports the immune system. One of the most common form of diarrhea is Antibiotic induced diarrhea, in which probiotics are used as preservative therapy. A significant number of patients with diarrhea are children (infant –toddler), who have underdeveloped immune system and diarrhea may cause life-threatening event. GE reflux is a common disease in infants. probiotics are now taking a part in the treatment of these children but it is not approved by FDA, although some surveys have shown its benefits. Introduction: The aim of this study is to see the role of probiotics in prevention and treatment of diarrhea and control of GE reflux, versus its high cost. Methods and Results: Four groups were studied in this analysis. The first group had diarrhea without probiotic treatment, the second group were patients with GE Reflux without probiotic treatment. The third group had diarrhea treated with probiotics, and the fourth group had GE reflux and were treated with probiotics. We used patients precise age, weight. variables were sex(female/male)age, (months), weight duration of disease with and without probiotics. In this study mean age was 24 months ,the minimum was 6 months and maximum was 78 months.58%of them were male and 42% were female. The mean treatment duration in group1 was 10 days. In third group was 7days which was reduced by 3 days. The mean treatment duration in group 2 was nearby 26 days. In third group was  near 25 days. Conclusions: Probiotics have significantly reduced the duration of diarrhea but there has not been a prominent improvement in duration of disease in GE Reflux