The study was conducted to identify indoor air quality and the level of thermal comfort in various selected locations in Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment （FKAB）, University Kebangsaan Malaysia （UKM） wi...The study was conducted to identify indoor air quality and the level of thermal comfort in various selected locations in Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment （FKAB）, University Kebangsaan Malaysia （UKM） with built-up area of 250,936 fie. The indoor air quality and thermal comfort were measured at various selected locations by using indoor air quality equipment （Thermal Comfort SERI）. The thermal comfort assessments are based on Malaysian Code of Practice Indoor Air Quality 2005 and Moderate Thermal Environments-Determination of the PMV and PPD indices specification of the condition for thermal comfort （ISO7730：1994） From the data analysis, the FKAB building is considered inadequately vented space. The concentration of CO2 for all sampling area evaluated exceeds the recommended concentration （〉 1000 ppm）. The ventilation system used in FKAB building is designed by delivering fix amount of fresh air into building from external building without consideration on the number of occupants. This common ventilation design will increase the amount of CO2 dramatically all day long and these reflect the inefficiency of energy used. The faculty needs to be equipped with a comprehensive energy management system that can allow detailed documentation of continuous performance of all energy system and consumption in the building.展开更多
The notoriety of the shortage of qualified professionals in the engineering segment to meet the existing projects and also the future ones is worrying the academic community. These challenges show how the lack of appr...The notoriety of the shortage of qualified professionals in the engineering segment to meet the existing projects and also the future ones is worrying the academic community. These challenges show how the lack of appropriate courses and low expenses with incentives to research and extension programs can affect the formation of the future engineer. Therefore, universities have the mission to develop teaching, research and extension, offering to the students new opportunities for diverse technical training, scientific and humanist formation. It is noted, however, that such activities in many engineering courses, especially scientific research, are not being prioritized by the universities. In light of this, the present paper aims to register measure and evaluate the participation of the students in scientific initiation in the four engineering courses of the Faculty of Engineering of the Minas Gerais State University. Sticking to the disparities presented by the four courses studied, in relation to the participation in research projects, the results showed a greater engagement of students of Environmental Engineering and Mining Engineering courses regarding the other engineering courses. In addition, a better divulgation and a greater involvement of teachers in projects were identified as the main recurring challenges to the access in scientific research by the students of this institution.展开更多
The deep cement mixing(DCM)is used to improve the capacity and reduce the settlement of the soft ground by forming cemented clay columns.The investigation on the mechanical behaviour of the DCM samples is limited to e...The deep cement mixing(DCM)is used to improve the capacity and reduce the settlement of the soft ground by forming cemented clay columns.The investigation on the mechanical behaviour of the DCM samples is limited to either laboratory-prepared samples or in-situ samples under unconfined compression.In this study,a series of drained and undrained triaxial shearing tests was performed on the in-situ cored DCM samples with high cement content to assess their mechanical behaviours.It is found that the drainage condition affects significantly the stiffness,peak and residual strengths of the DCM samples,which is mainly due to the state of excess pore water pressure at different strain levels,i.e.being positive before the peak deviatoric stress and negative after the peak deviatoric stress,in the undrained tests.The slope of the failure envelope changes obviously with the confining pressures,being steeper at lower stress levels and flatter at higher stress levels.The strength parameters,effective cohesion and friction angle obtained from lower stress levels(c′0 andφ′0)are 400 kPa and 58°,respectively,which are deemed to be true for design in most DCM applications where the in-situ stress levels are normally at lower values of 50-200 kPa.Additionally,the computed tomography(CT)scanning system was adopted to visualize the internal structures of DCM samples.It is found that the clay pockets existing inside the DCM samples due to uneven mixing affect markedly their stress-strain behaviour,which is one of the main reasons for the high variability of the DCM samples.展开更多
The ability to accurately predict urban traffic flows is crucial for optimising city operations.Consequently,various methods for forecasting urban traffic have been developed,focusing on analysing historical data to u...The ability to accurately predict urban traffic flows is crucial for optimising city operations.Consequently,various methods for forecasting urban traffic have been developed,focusing on analysing historical data to understand complex mobility patterns.Deep learning techniques,such as graph neural networks(GNNs),are popular for their ability to capture spatio-temporal dependencies.However,these models often become overly complex due to the large number of hyper-parameters involved.In this study,we introduce Dynamic Multi-Graph Spatial-Temporal Graph Neural Ordinary Differential Equation Networks(DMST-GNODE),a framework based on ordinary differential equations(ODEs)that autonomously discovers effective spatial-temporal graph neural network(STGNN)architectures for traffic prediction tasks.The comparative analysis of DMST-GNODE and baseline models indicates that DMST-GNODE model demonstrates superior performance across multiple datasets,consistently achieving the lowest Root Mean Square Error(RMSE)and Mean Absolute Error(MAE)values,alongside the highest accuracy.On the BKK(Bangkok)dataset,it outperformed other models with an RMSE of 3.3165 and an accuracy of 0.9367 for a 20-min interval,maintaining this trend across 40 and 60 min.Similarly,on the PeMS08 dataset,DMST-GNODE achieved the best performance with an RMSE of 19.4863 and an accuracy of 0.9377 at 20 min,demonstrating its effectiveness over longer periods.The Los_Loop dataset results further emphasise this model’s advantage,with an RMSE of 3.3422 and an accuracy of 0.7643 at 20 min,consistently maintaining superiority across all time intervals.These numerical highlights indicate that DMST-GNODE not only outperforms baseline models but also achieves higher accuracy and lower errors across different time intervals and datasets.展开更多
Soil desiccation cracking is a common phenomenon on the earth surface.Numerical modeling is an effective approach to study the desiccation cracking mechanism of soil.This work develops a novel 3D moisture diffusion di...Soil desiccation cracking is a common phenomenon on the earth surface.Numerical modeling is an effective approach to study the desiccation cracking mechanism of soil.This work develops a novel 3D moisture diffusion discrete model that is capable of dynamically assessing the effect of cracking on moisture diffusion and allowing moisture to be discontinuous on both sides of the cracks.Then,the parametric analysis of the moisture exchange coefficient in the 3D moisture diffusion discrete model is carried out for moisture diffusion in continuous media,and the selection criterion of the moisture exchange coefficient for the unbroken cohesive element is given.Subsequently,an example of moisture migration in a medium with one crack is provided to illustrate the crack hindering effect on moisture migration.Finally,combining the 3D moisture diffusion discrete model with the finite-discrete element method(FDEM),the moisture diffusion-fracture coupling model is built to study the desiccation cracking in a strip soil and the crack pattern of a rectangular soil.The evolution of crack area and volume with moisture content is quantitatively analyzed.The modeling number and average width of cracks in the strip soil show a good consistency with the experimental results,and the crack pattern of the rectangular soil matches well with the existing numerical results,validating the coupled moisture diffusion-fracture model.Additionally,the parametric study of soil desiccation cracking is performed.The developed model offers a powerful tool for exploring soil desiccation cracking.展开更多
The intricate hierarchical structure of musculoskeletal tissues,including bone and interface tissues,necessitates the use of complex scaffold designs and material structures to serve as tissue-engineered substitutes.T...The intricate hierarchical structure of musculoskeletal tissues,including bone and interface tissues,necessitates the use of complex scaffold designs and material structures to serve as tissue-engineered substitutes.This has led to growing interest in the development of gradient bone scaffolds with hierarchical structures mimicking the extracellular matrix of native tissues to achieve improved therapeutic outcomes.Building on the anatomical characteristics of bone and interfacial tissues,this review provides a summary of current strategies used to design and fabricate biomimetic gradient scaffolds for repairing musculoskeletal tissues,specifically focusing on methods used to construct compositional and structural gradients within the scaffolds.The latest applications of gradient scaffolds for the regeneration of bone,osteochondral,and tendon-to-bone interfaces are presented.Furthermore,the current progress of testing gradient scaffolds in physiologically relevant animal models of skeletal repair is discussed,as well as the challenges and prospects of moving these scaffolds into clinical application for treating musculoskeletal injuries.展开更多
The emergence of smart grids in India is propelled by an intricate interaction of market dynamics,regulatory structures,and stakeholder obligations.This study analyzes the primary factors that are driving the widespre...The emergence of smart grids in India is propelled by an intricate interaction of market dynamics,regulatory structures,and stakeholder obligations.This study analyzes the primary factors that are driving the widespread use of smart grid technologies and outlines the specific roles and obligations of different stakeholders,such as government entities,utility companies,technology suppliers,and consumers.Government activities and regulations are crucial in facilitating the implementation of smart grid technology by offering financial incentives,regulatory assistance,and strategic guidance.Utility firms have the responsibility of implementing and integrating smart grid infrastructure,with an emphasis on improving the dependability of the grid,minimizing losses in transmission and distribution,and integrating renewable energy sources.Technology companies offer the essential hardware and software solutions,which stimulate creativity and enhance efficiency.Consumers actively engage in the energy ecosystem by participating in demand response,implementing energy saving measures,and adopting distributed energy resources like solar panels and electric vehicles.This study examines the difficulties and possibilities in India’s smart grid industry,highlighting the importance of cooperation among stakeholders to build a strong,effective,and environmentally friendly energy future.展开更多
Despite the global attention towards pollution,it remains a significant global threat and challenge for both developed and developing countries.Urbanization and economic development influence different types of pollut...Despite the global attention towards pollution,it remains a significant global threat and challenge for both developed and developing countries.Urbanization and economic development influence different types of pollution.Visual pollution is considered a new phenomenon referring to the impact of existing and growing mainstream pollution which impairs an individual’s ability to enjoy visits or views.Recently,Jordanian cities have expanded in response to urbanization and ongoing development.Irbid City has the second largest population in Jordan after the capital Amman City highest population density in Jordan.In the modern era,Irbid City dramatically increased in population and dimension.The growth of the demographic population has been significant and has led to overpopulation,rapid urbanization,and unresolved problems associated with spatial planning and infrastructures leading to different types of pollution including visual pollution.The study area focuses on the city center with the most crowded population through field visits and actual observations.The study technique is descriptive and analytical,with a focus on meticulous monitoring and a follow-up-based questionnaire which is a tool for the study,involving data collection,classification,presentation,analysis,interpretation,and exploration to identify new facts and generalizations that can help solve current issues of visual pollution.The study provides recommendations for Irbid Municipal to eliminate visual pollution,in parallel with stricter supervision from the municipality during the building process to ensure proper implementation of the new rules,adopting an integrated policy for the city with the rest of the social,political,sensory,cultural,economic,and functional aspects,so that this policy is in the short and long term.展开更多
Rapid urbanization has been happening around the world,leading to many challenges and difficulties in infrastructure,communication network,transportation,environmental and organizational problems.Proper and responsibl...Rapid urbanization has been happening around the world,leading to many challenges and difficulties in infrastructure,communication network,transportation,environmental and organizational problems.Proper and responsible management of urban resources plays a significant role in sustainable development.Smart sustainable cities use ICTs(Information and Communication Technologies)to improve quality of life,efficiency of urban operation and services.The latest advancement in communication,technology,data management,and IoT(Internet of Things)provide a tremendous role for practical implementations and adoption of devices and entities.Smart sustainable cities can be intellectualized as an innovative approach of controlling urban resources and valuable components based on the latest advancement in ICT.Our study focuses on reviewing and discussing the literature that states the vital components of IoT associated with smart sustainable cities in general and specifically with green energy.展开更多
The critical role of patient-reported outcome measures(PROMs)in enhancing clinical decision-making and promoting patient-centered care has gained a profound significance in scientific research.PROMs encapsulate a pati...The critical role of patient-reported outcome measures(PROMs)in enhancing clinical decision-making and promoting patient-centered care has gained a profound significance in scientific research.PROMs encapsulate a patient's health status directly from their perspective,encompassing various domains such as symptom severity,functional status,and overall quality of life.By integrating PROMs into routine clinical practice and research,healthcare providers can achieve a more nuanced understanding of patient experiences and tailor treatments accordingly.The deployment of PROMs supports dynamic patient-provider interactions,fostering better patient engagement and adherence to tre-atment plans.Moreover,PROMs are pivotal in clinical settings for monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy,particularly in chronic and mental health conditions.However,challenges in implementing PROMs include data collection and management,integration into existing health systems,and acceptance by patients and providers.Overcoming these barriers necessitates technological advancements,policy development,and continuous education to enhance the acceptability and effectiveness of PROMs.The paper concludes with recommendations for future research and policy-making aimed at optimizing the use and impact of PROMs across healthcare settings.展开更多
In this paper we emphasize statistical links between solar activity and orbital motion with various terrestrial phenomena: terrestrial temperature, sea levels, ice areas, frequencies of volcanic eruptions, and Oceanic...In this paper we emphasize statistical links between solar activity and orbital motion with various terrestrial phenomena: terrestrial temperature, sea levels, ice areas, frequencies of volcanic eruptions, and Oceanic Nino Index (ONI). Solar activity links. The solar activity indices are expressed through the averaged sunspot numbers SSN and the summary curve of eigen vectors of the solar background magnetic field (SBMF). The terrestrial temperature (GLB dataset), global sea level, and volcanic eruption frequencies are shown from the wavelet analysis to have a clear link to the SBMF index, which has the same significant period of 21.4 years. The ice and snow areas in the Northern hemisphere are found to vary with a period of 10.7 years equal to the usual sunspot activity cycle while in the Southern hemispheres, no links to solar activity are detected. Solar orbital motion links. The variations of total solar irradiance (TSI) measured from the abundance of 14C isotope during the Holocene are shown to have a similar period of 2200-2300 years (Hallstatt’s cycle) as the solar inertial motion (SIM) induced by the gravitation of large planets, In the current millennium the amount of TSI deposited on Earth in the March-September to Northern hemisphere is ≈1.2% higher than in the September to March in the Southern hemisphere. The wavelet analysis of ONI revealed the two significant periods of 4.5 and 12 years. The first one is shown to have a link to the lunar perigee period variations while the second period is linked to the Jupiter period of revolution about the Sun whose gravitation seems to trigger terrestrial tectonic processes leading to volcanic eruptions. The ONI variation is noticeably linked to the occurrence of underwater volcanic eruptions (correlation of 25%), which, in turn, are linked to the tidal forces of Jupiter, the Moon and the Sun in its inertial motion. Joint effects of the solar activity and the solar and planetary orbital motion are likely to govern the current changes in the terrestrial environment defining continuing climate change.展开更多
The effects of a harmonically exciting monopole source on an infinitely long cylindrical cavity embedded entirely within a fluid-saturated poroelastic formation of infinite extent are examined theoretically.It is assu...The effects of a harmonically exciting monopole source on an infinitely long cylindrical cavity embedded entirely within a fluid-saturated poroelastic formation of infinite extent are examined theoretically.It is assumed that the source is located outside the cavity at a specified distance from the borehole axis.The magnitudes of the hoop and radial stresses beside the pore pressures exerted on the interface and inside the porous medium surrounding the borehole are calculated and discussed.Biot's poroelastic modeling along with three types of boundary conditions for the cylindrical interface including the ideal fluid,empty borehole,and rigid inclusion with a hard boundary is employed for the analysis.Utilizing a proper translational addition theorem for expressing the incident spherical wave in terms of cylindrical wave expansions,the proposed boundary conditions at the interface are satisfied.Stresses are formulated by means of wave potential functions in a three-dimensional(3D)manner.The effects of the frequency and the radial distance between the source and borehole on the induced stresses are examined for the first cylindrical modes over frequency spectra.Two permeability conditions for the interface and three types of soils for the porous formation are considered throughout the analysis.To give an overall outline of the study,a numerical example is presented.The results clearly indicate that the distance is a key parameter and has considerable effects on the induced stress values.In addition,the interface permeability condition and soil characteristics play an important role in determining the dynamic response of the borehole.Finally,the obtained results are compared with the relevant analyses existing in the literature for some limit cases,and good agreement is achieved.展开更多
Concrete is one of the most important elements in building construction.However,concrete used in construction is susceptible to damage due to corrosion.The influence of corrosive substances causes changes in the reinf...Concrete is one of the most important elements in building construction.However,concrete used in construction is susceptible to damage due to corrosion.The influence of corrosive substances causes changes in the reinforcing steel and affects the strength of the structure.The repair method is one approach to overcome this problem.This research aims to determine the effect of grouting and jacketing repairs on corroded concrete.The concrete used has dimensions of 15 cm×15 cm×60 cm with planned corrosion variations of 50%,60%,and 70%.The test objects were tested using the Non-Destructive Testing(NDT)method using Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity(UPV).The test results show that the average speed of normal concrete is 5070 m/s,while the lowest average speed is 3070 m/s on the 70%planned corrosion test object.The test object was then given a load of 1600 kgf.At this stage,there is a decrease in speed and wave shape with the lowest average speed obtained at 2753 m/s.The repair method is an effort to restore concrete performance by using grouting and jacketing.Grouting is done by injecting mortar material into it.Jacketing involves adding thickness to the existing concrete layer with additional layers of concrete.After improvements were made,there was an improvement in the UPV test,with a peak speed value of 4910 m/s.Repairing concrete by filling cracks can improve concrete continuity and reduce waveform distortion,thereby increasing wave propagation speed.展开更多
Professional and trade skills are required for handling the construction related projects;Construction industries of the present day however lack useful information concerning different practices,patterns and trends i...Professional and trade skills are required for handling the construction related projects;Construction industries of the present day however lack useful information concerning different practices,patterns and trends involved in risk management.Considering this,the present study focuses on the aforementioned variables of risk management by quantitative analysis specifically in the domain of construction industry.This study has used IBM’s SPSS(Statistical Package for Social Sciences)version 25.0 to analyze the results.This study is an initiative to assess the impact of risk management in the construction sector of Jordan.It will assist the construction sector for exploring the limitations with respect to integrate effective risk management.A sense of competition will be developed through a comparison of risk factors of construction projects among the project stakeholders such as contractors should enhance their risk management practices.展开更多
Due to the continuously increasing building and construction industry,sand has become one of the most questioned raw materials worldwide.However,the available amount of sand suitable for concrete production is orders ...Due to the continuously increasing building and construction industry,sand has become one of the most questioned raw materials worldwide.However,the available amount of sand suitable for concrete production is orders of magnitude lower that the demand and consumption.Even though desert sand is sufficiently available,it is not usable for realizing stable concrete due to its surface shape.Against this background,the suitability of energy-efficient‘cold'dielectric barrier discharge plasma operated at atmospheric pressure for improving the properties of concrete produced from desert sand was investigated in this contribution.It is shown that such plasma treatment allows for a certain roughening and re-shaping of sand grains.As a result,the mass flow of treated sand is decreased due to an improved wedging of sand grains.This leads to a certain increase in compressive strength of concrete samples.Even though this increase is marginal,the suitability of the applied type of plasma for modification of the geometry and surface chemistry of sand grains was proven,showing its basic potential for the treatment and preconditioning of sand used for concrete,mortar or plastering.展开更多
During drilling operations,cyclic loading is exerted on the wellbore wall by the vibrations of the drill string.This loading could lead to rock fatigue,which in turn might result in wellbore failure.In this study,a nu...During drilling operations,cyclic loading is exerted on the wellbore wall by the vibrations of the drill string.This loading could lead to rock fatigue,which in turn might result in wellbore failure.In this study,a numerical model is developed to simulate the effects of repeated loading on rock fatigue and failure.The simulation is based on an elasto-plastic constitutive model coupled with a damage mechanics approach,which allows us to examine the wellbore instability due to drill string vibrations.The model is verified with the existing data in the literature related to experiments on impact of a steel ball against a curved wall.The findings indicate that cyclic loading increases the development of plastic strain around the wellbore significantly compared to static conditions,promoting rock fatigue.Furthermore,the cyclic loading expands the radius of the yielded zone substantially,a critical factor for maintaining wellbore integrity.The proposed model can be used to evaluate the wellbore stability under repetitive loading caused by the drill string action.展开更多
Wetlands play a number of vital roles in the ecosystem, such as serving as nutrient sinks, preventing floods, storing carbon, and filtering water. Encroachment on wetlands has led to substantial economic and environme...Wetlands play a number of vital roles in the ecosystem, such as serving as nutrient sinks, preventing floods, storing carbon, and filtering water. Encroachment on wetlands has led to substantial economic and environmental losses, including water quality degradation, loss of biodiversity and natural habitats, reduced climate mitigation as well as social and health risks. This study evaluated the effect of different land use types on nutrient stock distribution across varying soil depths in Busega wetland. The soil samples were collected in three different land uses (annually cultivated areas, perennially cultivated areas, and the undisturbed wetland area) at three different depths (0 - 10 cm, 10 - 20 cm, and 20 - 30 cm) in 2021. The soil samples were analyzed for physicochemical soil properties including soil texture and nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and potassium concentrations. The interaction between land use type and soil depth did not have a significant effect on nutrient distribution. However, our results showed that the main effects of land use type and soil depth influenced nutrient stock distribution across the wetland. Higher nutrient concentrations were observed under perennial cropping system than in both annual cropping system and the undisturbed wetland area. Soils under perennial cropping systems had the highest soil organic matter (1.45%), calcium (2.06 Cmol/Kg) and potassium (0.091 Cmol/Kg) levels. Higher soil organic matter (1.40%), nitrogen (0.22%), calcium (1.74 Cmol/Kg), and potassium (0.07 Cmol/Kg) were found at the mid-soil depth of 10 - 20 cm. Our results show substantial nutrient changes due to agricultural activities in the Busega wetland, suggesting further research is urgently needed to determine if these changes have adverse effects on biodiversity and water quality of the wetland and nearby water resources.展开更多
Resonant linear and nonlinear properties in terahertz range of 2D materials graphene and silicene placed into a bias magnetic field are investigated theoretically on the base of the quasi-classical kinetic theory. Whe...Resonant linear and nonlinear properties in terahertz range of 2D materials graphene and silicene placed into a bias magnetic field are investigated theoretically on the base of the quasi-classical kinetic theory. When the electromagnetic frequency is close to the cyclotron one, the linear conductivity increases two orders. Under the resonant frequencies nonlinearity becomes essential at low magnitudes of terahertz electric fields. In absence of a bias magnetic field the nonlinear dependences of the surface electric currents on terahertz electric field are practically the same simulated from kinetics and electron hydrodynamics with nonzero “kinetic” electron effective mass. Graphene possesses higher values of nonlinearity of the resonant conductivity, whereas in absence of a bias magnetic field, the electron nonlinearity is higher in silicene.展开更多
Clay deposits typically exhibit significant degrees of heterogeneity and anisotropy in their strength and stiffness properties.Such non-monotonic responses can significantly impact the stability analysis and design of...Clay deposits typically exhibit significant degrees of heterogeneity and anisotropy in their strength and stiffness properties.Such non-monotonic responses can significantly impact the stability analysis and design of overlying shallow foundations.In this study,the undrained bearing capacity of shallow foundations resting on inhomogeneous and anisotropic clay layers subjected to oblique-eccentric combined loading is investigated through a comprehensive series of finite element limit analysis(FELA)based on the well-established lower-bound theorem and second-order cone programming(SOCP).The heterogeneity of normally consolidated(NC)clays is simulated by adopting a well-known general model of undrained shear strength increasing linearly with depth.In contrast,for overconsolidated(OC)clays,the variation of undrained shear strength with depth is considered to follow a bilinear trend.Furthermore,the inherent anisotropy is accounted for by adopting different values of undrained shear strength along different directions within the soil medium,employing an iterative-based algorithm.The results of numerical simulations are utilized to investigate the influences of natural soil heterogeneity and inherent anisotropy on the ultimate bearing capacity,failure envelope,and failure mechanism of shallow foundations subjected to the various combinations of vertical-horizontal(V-H)and vertical-moment(V-M)loads.展开更多
This paper investigates the free vibration and transient response of interconnected structures including double curved beams and intermediate straight beams,which are all constructed from functionally graded porous(FG...This paper investigates the free vibration and transient response of interconnected structures including double curved beams and intermediate straight beams,which are all constructed from functionally graded porous(FGP)materials.The strain potential and kinetic energies of each beam along with the work done by the external force are calculated.Additionally,a higher-order beam element is introduced to derive stiffness and mass matrices,along with the force vector.The curved and straight beams are discretized,and their assembled stiffness,mass matrices,and force vectors,are obtained.Continuity conditions at the joints are used to derive the total matrices of the entire structure.Subsequently,the natural frequencies and transient response of the system are determined.The accuracy of the mathematical model and the self-developed computer program is validated through the comparison of the obtained results with those of the existing literature and commercial software ANSYS,demonstrating excellent agreement.Furthermore,a comprehensive study is conducted to investigate the effects of various parameters on the free vibration and transient response of the considered structure.展开更多
文摘The study was conducted to identify indoor air quality and the level of thermal comfort in various selected locations in Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment （FKAB）, University Kebangsaan Malaysia （UKM） with built-up area of 250,936 fie. The indoor air quality and thermal comfort were measured at various selected locations by using indoor air quality equipment （Thermal Comfort SERI）. The thermal comfort assessments are based on Malaysian Code of Practice Indoor Air Quality 2005 and Moderate Thermal Environments-Determination of the PMV and PPD indices specification of the condition for thermal comfort （ISO7730：1994） From the data analysis, the FKAB building is considered inadequately vented space. The concentration of CO2 for all sampling area evaluated exceeds the recommended concentration （〉 1000 ppm）. The ventilation system used in FKAB building is designed by delivering fix amount of fresh air into building from external building without consideration on the number of occupants. This common ventilation design will increase the amount of CO2 dramatically all day long and these reflect the inefficiency of energy used. The faculty needs to be equipped with a comprehensive energy management system that can allow detailed documentation of continuous performance of all energy system and consumption in the building.
文摘The notoriety of the shortage of qualified professionals in the engineering segment to meet the existing projects and also the future ones is worrying the academic community. These challenges show how the lack of appropriate courses and low expenses with incentives to research and extension programs can affect the formation of the future engineer. Therefore, universities have the mission to develop teaching, research and extension, offering to the students new opportunities for diverse technical training, scientific and humanist formation. It is noted, however, that such activities in many engineering courses, especially scientific research, are not being prioritized by the universities. In light of this, the present paper aims to register measure and evaluate the participation of the students in scientific initiation in the four engineering courses of the Faculty of Engineering of the Minas Gerais State University. Sticking to the disparities presented by the four courses studied, in relation to the participation in research projects, the results showed a greater engagement of students of Environmental Engineering and Mining Engineering courses regarding the other engineering courses. In addition, a better divulgation and a greater involvement of teachers in projects were identified as the main recurring challenges to the access in scientific research by the students of this institution.
基金funded by the Environment and Conservation Fund(Grant Nos.2020-170 and 2021-156)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42102327).
文摘The deep cement mixing(DCM)is used to improve the capacity and reduce the settlement of the soft ground by forming cemented clay columns.The investigation on the mechanical behaviour of the DCM samples is limited to either laboratory-prepared samples or in-situ samples under unconfined compression.In this study,a series of drained and undrained triaxial shearing tests was performed on the in-situ cored DCM samples with high cement content to assess their mechanical behaviours.It is found that the drainage condition affects significantly the stiffness,peak and residual strengths of the DCM samples,which is mainly due to the state of excess pore water pressure at different strain levels,i.e.being positive before the peak deviatoric stress and negative after the peak deviatoric stress,in the undrained tests.The slope of the failure envelope changes obviously with the confining pressures,being steeper at lower stress levels and flatter at higher stress levels.The strength parameters,effective cohesion and friction angle obtained from lower stress levels(c′0 andφ′0)are 400 kPa and 58°,respectively,which are deemed to be true for design in most DCM applications where the in-situ stress levels are normally at lower values of 50-200 kPa.Additionally,the computed tomography(CT)scanning system was adopted to visualize the internal structures of DCM samples.It is found that the clay pockets existing inside the DCM samples due to uneven mixing affect markedly their stress-strain behaviour,which is one of the main reasons for the high variability of the DCM samples.
文摘The ability to accurately predict urban traffic flows is crucial for optimising city operations.Consequently,various methods for forecasting urban traffic have been developed,focusing on analysing historical data to understand complex mobility patterns.Deep learning techniques,such as graph neural networks(GNNs),are popular for their ability to capture spatio-temporal dependencies.However,these models often become overly complex due to the large number of hyper-parameters involved.In this study,we introduce Dynamic Multi-Graph Spatial-Temporal Graph Neural Ordinary Differential Equation Networks(DMST-GNODE),a framework based on ordinary differential equations(ODEs)that autonomously discovers effective spatial-temporal graph neural network(STGNN)architectures for traffic prediction tasks.The comparative analysis of DMST-GNODE and baseline models indicates that DMST-GNODE model demonstrates superior performance across multiple datasets,consistently achieving the lowest Root Mean Square Error(RMSE)and Mean Absolute Error(MAE)values,alongside the highest accuracy.On the BKK(Bangkok)dataset,it outperformed other models with an RMSE of 3.3165 and an accuracy of 0.9367 for a 20-min interval,maintaining this trend across 40 and 60 min.Similarly,on the PeMS08 dataset,DMST-GNODE achieved the best performance with an RMSE of 19.4863 and an accuracy of 0.9377 at 20 min,demonstrating its effectiveness over longer periods.The Los_Loop dataset results further emphasise this model’s advantage,with an RMSE of 3.3422 and an accuracy of 0.7643 at 20 min,consistently maintaining superiority across all time intervals.These numerical highlights indicate that DMST-GNODE not only outperforms baseline models but also achieves higher accuracy and lower errors across different time intervals and datasets.
基金supported by the State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Construction and Healthy Operation and Maintenance of Deep Underground Engineering(Grant No.SKLGDUEK2206)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11872340).
文摘Soil desiccation cracking is a common phenomenon on the earth surface.Numerical modeling is an effective approach to study the desiccation cracking mechanism of soil.This work develops a novel 3D moisture diffusion discrete model that is capable of dynamically assessing the effect of cracking on moisture diffusion and allowing moisture to be discontinuous on both sides of the cracks.Then,the parametric analysis of the moisture exchange coefficient in the 3D moisture diffusion discrete model is carried out for moisture diffusion in continuous media,and the selection criterion of the moisture exchange coefficient for the unbroken cohesive element is given.Subsequently,an example of moisture migration in a medium with one crack is provided to illustrate the crack hindering effect on moisture migration.Finally,combining the 3D moisture diffusion discrete model with the finite-discrete element method(FDEM),the moisture diffusion-fracture coupling model is built to study the desiccation cracking in a strip soil and the crack pattern of a rectangular soil.The evolution of crack area and volume with moisture content is quantitatively analyzed.The modeling number and average width of cracks in the strip soil show a good consistency with the experimental results,and the crack pattern of the rectangular soil matches well with the existing numerical results,validating the coupled moisture diffusion-fracture model.Additionally,the parametric study of soil desiccation cracking is performed.The developed model offers a powerful tool for exploring soil desiccation cracking.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52473121,52403370 and 52221006)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(buctrc202020,buctrc202312).
文摘The intricate hierarchical structure of musculoskeletal tissues,including bone and interface tissues,necessitates the use of complex scaffold designs and material structures to serve as tissue-engineered substitutes.This has led to growing interest in the development of gradient bone scaffolds with hierarchical structures mimicking the extracellular matrix of native tissues to achieve improved therapeutic outcomes.Building on the anatomical characteristics of bone and interfacial tissues,this review provides a summary of current strategies used to design and fabricate biomimetic gradient scaffolds for repairing musculoskeletal tissues,specifically focusing on methods used to construct compositional and structural gradients within the scaffolds.The latest applications of gradient scaffolds for the regeneration of bone,osteochondral,and tendon-to-bone interfaces are presented.Furthermore,the current progress of testing gradient scaffolds in physiologically relevant animal models of skeletal repair is discussed,as well as the challenges and prospects of moving these scaffolds into clinical application for treating musculoskeletal injuries.
文摘The emergence of smart grids in India is propelled by an intricate interaction of market dynamics,regulatory structures,and stakeholder obligations.This study analyzes the primary factors that are driving the widespread use of smart grid technologies and outlines the specific roles and obligations of different stakeholders,such as government entities,utility companies,technology suppliers,and consumers.Government activities and regulations are crucial in facilitating the implementation of smart grid technology by offering financial incentives,regulatory assistance,and strategic guidance.Utility firms have the responsibility of implementing and integrating smart grid infrastructure,with an emphasis on improving the dependability of the grid,minimizing losses in transmission and distribution,and integrating renewable energy sources.Technology companies offer the essential hardware and software solutions,which stimulate creativity and enhance efficiency.Consumers actively engage in the energy ecosystem by participating in demand response,implementing energy saving measures,and adopting distributed energy resources like solar panels and electric vehicles.This study examines the difficulties and possibilities in India’s smart grid industry,highlighting the importance of cooperation among stakeholders to build a strong,effective,and environmentally friendly energy future.
文摘Despite the global attention towards pollution,it remains a significant global threat and challenge for both developed and developing countries.Urbanization and economic development influence different types of pollution.Visual pollution is considered a new phenomenon referring to the impact of existing and growing mainstream pollution which impairs an individual’s ability to enjoy visits or views.Recently,Jordanian cities have expanded in response to urbanization and ongoing development.Irbid City has the second largest population in Jordan after the capital Amman City highest population density in Jordan.In the modern era,Irbid City dramatically increased in population and dimension.The growth of the demographic population has been significant and has led to overpopulation,rapid urbanization,and unresolved problems associated with spatial planning and infrastructures leading to different types of pollution including visual pollution.The study area focuses on the city center with the most crowded population through field visits and actual observations.The study technique is descriptive and analytical,with a focus on meticulous monitoring and a follow-up-based questionnaire which is a tool for the study,involving data collection,classification,presentation,analysis,interpretation,and exploration to identify new facts and generalizations that can help solve current issues of visual pollution.The study provides recommendations for Irbid Municipal to eliminate visual pollution,in parallel with stricter supervision from the municipality during the building process to ensure proper implementation of the new rules,adopting an integrated policy for the city with the rest of the social,political,sensory,cultural,economic,and functional aspects,so that this policy is in the short and long term.
文摘Rapid urbanization has been happening around the world,leading to many challenges and difficulties in infrastructure,communication network,transportation,environmental and organizational problems.Proper and responsible management of urban resources plays a significant role in sustainable development.Smart sustainable cities use ICTs(Information and Communication Technologies)to improve quality of life,efficiency of urban operation and services.The latest advancement in communication,technology,data management,and IoT(Internet of Things)provide a tremendous role for practical implementations and adoption of devices and entities.Smart sustainable cities can be intellectualized as an innovative approach of controlling urban resources and valuable components based on the latest advancement in ICT.Our study focuses on reviewing and discussing the literature that states the vital components of IoT associated with smart sustainable cities in general and specifically with green energy.
文摘The critical role of patient-reported outcome measures(PROMs)in enhancing clinical decision-making and promoting patient-centered care has gained a profound significance in scientific research.PROMs encapsulate a patient's health status directly from their perspective,encompassing various domains such as symptom severity,functional status,and overall quality of life.By integrating PROMs into routine clinical practice and research,healthcare providers can achieve a more nuanced understanding of patient experiences and tailor treatments accordingly.The deployment of PROMs supports dynamic patient-provider interactions,fostering better patient engagement and adherence to tre-atment plans.Moreover,PROMs are pivotal in clinical settings for monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy,particularly in chronic and mental health conditions.However,challenges in implementing PROMs include data collection and management,integration into existing health systems,and acceptance by patients and providers.Overcoming these barriers necessitates technological advancements,policy development,and continuous education to enhance the acceptability and effectiveness of PROMs.The paper concludes with recommendations for future research and policy-making aimed at optimizing the use and impact of PROMs across healthcare settings.
文摘In this paper we emphasize statistical links between solar activity and orbital motion with various terrestrial phenomena: terrestrial temperature, sea levels, ice areas, frequencies of volcanic eruptions, and Oceanic Nino Index (ONI). Solar activity links. The solar activity indices are expressed through the averaged sunspot numbers SSN and the summary curve of eigen vectors of the solar background magnetic field (SBMF). The terrestrial temperature (GLB dataset), global sea level, and volcanic eruption frequencies are shown from the wavelet analysis to have a clear link to the SBMF index, which has the same significant period of 21.4 years. The ice and snow areas in the Northern hemisphere are found to vary with a period of 10.7 years equal to the usual sunspot activity cycle while in the Southern hemispheres, no links to solar activity are detected. Solar orbital motion links. The variations of total solar irradiance (TSI) measured from the abundance of 14C isotope during the Holocene are shown to have a similar period of 2200-2300 years (Hallstatt’s cycle) as the solar inertial motion (SIM) induced by the gravitation of large planets, In the current millennium the amount of TSI deposited on Earth in the March-September to Northern hemisphere is ≈1.2% higher than in the September to March in the Southern hemisphere. The wavelet analysis of ONI revealed the two significant periods of 4.5 and 12 years. The first one is shown to have a link to the lunar perigee period variations while the second period is linked to the Jupiter period of revolution about the Sun whose gravitation seems to trigger terrestrial tectonic processes leading to volcanic eruptions. The ONI variation is noticeably linked to the occurrence of underwater volcanic eruptions (correlation of 25%), which, in turn, are linked to the tidal forces of Jupiter, the Moon and the Sun in its inertial motion. Joint effects of the solar activity and the solar and planetary orbital motion are likely to govern the current changes in the terrestrial environment defining continuing climate change.
文摘The effects of a harmonically exciting monopole source on an infinitely long cylindrical cavity embedded entirely within a fluid-saturated poroelastic formation of infinite extent are examined theoretically.It is assumed that the source is located outside the cavity at a specified distance from the borehole axis.The magnitudes of the hoop and radial stresses beside the pore pressures exerted on the interface and inside the porous medium surrounding the borehole are calculated and discussed.Biot's poroelastic modeling along with three types of boundary conditions for the cylindrical interface including the ideal fluid,empty borehole,and rigid inclusion with a hard boundary is employed for the analysis.Utilizing a proper translational addition theorem for expressing the incident spherical wave in terms of cylindrical wave expansions,the proposed boundary conditions at the interface are satisfied.Stresses are formulated by means of wave potential functions in a three-dimensional(3D)manner.The effects of the frequency and the radial distance between the source and borehole on the induced stresses are examined for the first cylindrical modes over frequency spectra.Two permeability conditions for the interface and three types of soils for the porous formation are considered throughout the analysis.To give an overall outline of the study,a numerical example is presented.The results clearly indicate that the distance is a key parameter and has considerable effects on the induced stress values.In addition,the interface permeability condition and soil characteristics play an important role in determining the dynamic response of the borehole.Finally,the obtained results are compared with the relevant analyses existing in the literature for some limit cases,and good agreement is achieved.
基金supported by the Ministry of Education,Culture,Research,and Technology(Indonesia),Grant number 107/E5/PG.02.00.PL/2024,AZ.
文摘Concrete is one of the most important elements in building construction.However,concrete used in construction is susceptible to damage due to corrosion.The influence of corrosive substances causes changes in the reinforcing steel and affects the strength of the structure.The repair method is one approach to overcome this problem.This research aims to determine the effect of grouting and jacketing repairs on corroded concrete.The concrete used has dimensions of 15 cm×15 cm×60 cm with planned corrosion variations of 50%,60%,and 70%.The test objects were tested using the Non-Destructive Testing(NDT)method using Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity(UPV).The test results show that the average speed of normal concrete is 5070 m/s,while the lowest average speed is 3070 m/s on the 70%planned corrosion test object.The test object was then given a load of 1600 kgf.At this stage,there is a decrease in speed and wave shape with the lowest average speed obtained at 2753 m/s.The repair method is an effort to restore concrete performance by using grouting and jacketing.Grouting is done by injecting mortar material into it.Jacketing involves adding thickness to the existing concrete layer with additional layers of concrete.After improvements were made,there was an improvement in the UPV test,with a peak speed value of 4910 m/s.Repairing concrete by filling cracks can improve concrete continuity and reduce waveform distortion,thereby increasing wave propagation speed.
文摘Professional and trade skills are required for handling the construction related projects;Construction industries of the present day however lack useful information concerning different practices,patterns and trends involved in risk management.Considering this,the present study focuses on the aforementioned variables of risk management by quantitative analysis specifically in the domain of construction industry.This study has used IBM’s SPSS(Statistical Package for Social Sciences)version 25.0 to analyze the results.This study is an initiative to assess the impact of risk management in the construction sector of Jordan.It will assist the construction sector for exploring the limitations with respect to integrate effective risk management.A sense of competition will be developed through a comparison of risk factors of construction projects among the project stakeholders such as contractors should enhance their risk management practices.
基金funded by the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung(Nos.13FH6I06IA and 13FH6I08IA)。
文摘Due to the continuously increasing building and construction industry,sand has become one of the most questioned raw materials worldwide.However,the available amount of sand suitable for concrete production is orders of magnitude lower that the demand and consumption.Even though desert sand is sufficiently available,it is not usable for realizing stable concrete due to its surface shape.Against this background,the suitability of energy-efficient‘cold'dielectric barrier discharge plasma operated at atmospheric pressure for improving the properties of concrete produced from desert sand was investigated in this contribution.It is shown that such plasma treatment allows for a certain roughening and re-shaping of sand grains.As a result,the mass flow of treated sand is decreased due to an improved wedging of sand grains.This leads to a certain increase in compressive strength of concrete samples.Even though this increase is marginal,the suitability of the applied type of plasma for modification of the geometry and surface chemistry of sand grains was proven,showing its basic potential for the treatment and preconditioning of sand used for concrete,mortar or plastering.
基金funded by the Research council of Norway,Equinor and Sekal with NFR(Grant No.308826).
文摘During drilling operations,cyclic loading is exerted on the wellbore wall by the vibrations of the drill string.This loading could lead to rock fatigue,which in turn might result in wellbore failure.In this study,a numerical model is developed to simulate the effects of repeated loading on rock fatigue and failure.The simulation is based on an elasto-plastic constitutive model coupled with a damage mechanics approach,which allows us to examine the wellbore instability due to drill string vibrations.The model is verified with the existing data in the literature related to experiments on impact of a steel ball against a curved wall.The findings indicate that cyclic loading increases the development of plastic strain around the wellbore significantly compared to static conditions,promoting rock fatigue.Furthermore,the cyclic loading expands the radius of the yielded zone substantially,a critical factor for maintaining wellbore integrity.The proposed model can be used to evaluate the wellbore stability under repetitive loading caused by the drill string action.
文摘Wetlands play a number of vital roles in the ecosystem, such as serving as nutrient sinks, preventing floods, storing carbon, and filtering water. Encroachment on wetlands has led to substantial economic and environmental losses, including water quality degradation, loss of biodiversity and natural habitats, reduced climate mitigation as well as social and health risks. This study evaluated the effect of different land use types on nutrient stock distribution across varying soil depths in Busega wetland. The soil samples were collected in three different land uses (annually cultivated areas, perennially cultivated areas, and the undisturbed wetland area) at three different depths (0 - 10 cm, 10 - 20 cm, and 20 - 30 cm) in 2021. The soil samples were analyzed for physicochemical soil properties including soil texture and nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and potassium concentrations. The interaction between land use type and soil depth did not have a significant effect on nutrient distribution. However, our results showed that the main effects of land use type and soil depth influenced nutrient stock distribution across the wetland. Higher nutrient concentrations were observed under perennial cropping system than in both annual cropping system and the undisturbed wetland area. Soils under perennial cropping systems had the highest soil organic matter (1.45%), calcium (2.06 Cmol/Kg) and potassium (0.091 Cmol/Kg) levels. Higher soil organic matter (1.40%), nitrogen (0.22%), calcium (1.74 Cmol/Kg), and potassium (0.07 Cmol/Kg) were found at the mid-soil depth of 10 - 20 cm. Our results show substantial nutrient changes due to agricultural activities in the Busega wetland, suggesting further research is urgently needed to determine if these changes have adverse effects on biodiversity and water quality of the wetland and nearby water resources.
文摘Resonant linear and nonlinear properties in terahertz range of 2D materials graphene and silicene placed into a bias magnetic field are investigated theoretically on the base of the quasi-classical kinetic theory. When the electromagnetic frequency is close to the cyclotron one, the linear conductivity increases two orders. Under the resonant frequencies nonlinearity becomes essential at low magnitudes of terahertz electric fields. In absence of a bias magnetic field the nonlinear dependences of the surface electric currents on terahertz electric field are practically the same simulated from kinetics and electron hydrodynamics with nonzero “kinetic” electron effective mass. Graphene possesses higher values of nonlinearity of the resonant conductivity, whereas in absence of a bias magnetic field, the electron nonlinearity is higher in silicene.
文摘Clay deposits typically exhibit significant degrees of heterogeneity and anisotropy in their strength and stiffness properties.Such non-monotonic responses can significantly impact the stability analysis and design of overlying shallow foundations.In this study,the undrained bearing capacity of shallow foundations resting on inhomogeneous and anisotropic clay layers subjected to oblique-eccentric combined loading is investigated through a comprehensive series of finite element limit analysis(FELA)based on the well-established lower-bound theorem and second-order cone programming(SOCP).The heterogeneity of normally consolidated(NC)clays is simulated by adopting a well-known general model of undrained shear strength increasing linearly with depth.In contrast,for overconsolidated(OC)clays,the variation of undrained shear strength with depth is considered to follow a bilinear trend.Furthermore,the inherent anisotropy is accounted for by adopting different values of undrained shear strength along different directions within the soil medium,employing an iterative-based algorithm.The results of numerical simulations are utilized to investigate the influences of natural soil heterogeneity and inherent anisotropy on the ultimate bearing capacity,failure envelope,and failure mechanism of shallow foundations subjected to the various combinations of vertical-horizontal(V-H)and vertical-moment(V-M)loads.
文摘This paper investigates the free vibration and transient response of interconnected structures including double curved beams and intermediate straight beams,which are all constructed from functionally graded porous(FGP)materials.The strain potential and kinetic energies of each beam along with the work done by the external force are calculated.Additionally,a higher-order beam element is introduced to derive stiffness and mass matrices,along with the force vector.The curved and straight beams are discretized,and their assembled stiffness,mass matrices,and force vectors,are obtained.Continuity conditions at the joints are used to derive the total matrices of the entire structure.Subsequently,the natural frequencies and transient response of the system are determined.The accuracy of the mathematical model and the self-developed computer program is validated through the comparison of the obtained results with those of the existing literature and commercial software ANSYS,demonstrating excellent agreement.Furthermore,a comprehensive study is conducted to investigate the effects of various parameters on the free vibration and transient response of the considered structure.
