19 research outputs found
Study of particle suspensions in microfluidics for the development of optical devices
No full textThe vision of this PhD research project is to create a microfluidic system for controlling the locations of suspended particles in order to form three dimensional (3D) objects on demand. To realize this, the author implemented a microfluidic system that can apply suitable and desired forces on particles on demand. Particles of various refractive indices were placed close to each other in order to form a media having reconfigurable and tuneable properties. Light was coupled into such well-controlled particles in order to form dynamically tuned objects suspended in liquid such as optical waveguides. The dielectrophoretic (DEP) force was used for manipulating the locations of particles as it is capable of focusing and scattering suspended particles from pre-determined locations. Additionally, when combined with hydrodynamic forces, the DEP force was able to form densely packed areas of such particles with non-turbulent boundaries. The research was implemented in three stages. In the first stage, the author utilized a platform consisting of a microfluidic system integrated with DEP microelectrodes, microfluidics and optical peripherals for the coupling of light. Light was directly coupled into densely packed silicon dioxide (SiO2) particles with diameters of 230 and 450 nm, respectively. Light was transmitted via the closely packed 230 nm particles and in contrast was significantly scattered by the 450 nm particles. The outcomes, which were resulted from this initial stage, were the first demonstration of a dynamically tuneable optical waveguide based on the DEP focused particles in microfluidics. In the second stage of his research, the author integrated a multi mode polymeric waveguide into the microfluidic system. Tungsten trioxide (WO3) and SiO2 particles with diameters of 80 and 450 nm were investigated. The findings demonstrated that the densely packed WO3 particles were able to couple light from the polymeric waveguide, while the SiO2 particles did not affect the transmission of the optical signals significantly. The investigations of the second stage platform resulted in the first demonstration of optical waveguide tuning based on DEP focused particles. Finally, in the third stage of this research, the author implemented a quasi single mode polymeric waveguide integrated with the microfluidics. The author used WO3, zinc oxide (ZnO) and SiO2 particles with diameters of 80, 50 and 72 nm, respectively. Under the DEP force, these particles were able to interact with the optical guided modes. The results show that the WO3 particles were capable of forming layers of packed particles with anti-resonant characteristics. In particular, the fundamental mode was strongly coupled to the packed WO3 particles. However, under certain particle focusing conditions, the first order mode was anti-resonant to the closely packed WO3 particles as it was largely isolated. These findings were the first demonstration of the coupling and manipulation of optical guided modes using DEP focused particles with resonant and anti-resonant behaviors
The role of cultural beliefs in contributing to risky road use behaviour in Pakistan
No full textBackground\ud
Pakistan has the highest population rate of road fatalities in South Asia (25.3 fatalities per 100,000 people: Global Status Report on Road Safety, WHO 2009). Along with road environment and vehicle factors, human factors make a substantial contribution to traffic safety in Pakistan. Beliefs about road crash causation and prevention have been demonstrated to contribute to risky road use behaviour and resistance to preventive measures in a handful of other developing countries, but has not been explored in Pakistan. In particular, fatalism (whether based on religion, other cultural beliefs or experience) has been highlighted as a barrier to achieving changes in attitudes and behaviour.\ud
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Aims\ud
The research reported here aimed (i) to explore perceptions of road crash causation among policy makers, police officers, professional drivers and car drivers in Pakistan; (ii) to identify how cultural and religious beliefs influence road use behaviour in Pakistan; and (iii) to understand how fatalistic beliefs may work as obstacles to road safety interventions.\ud
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Methods\ud
In-depth interviews were conducted by the primary author (mostly in Urdu) in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad with 12 professional drivers (taxi, bus and truck), 4 car drivers, 6 police officers, 4 policy makers and 2 religious orators. All but two were Muslim, two were female, and they were drawn from a wide range of ages (24 to 60) and educational backgrounds. The interviews were taped and transcribed, then translated into English and analysed for themes related to the aims.\ud
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Results\ud
Fatalism emerged as a pervasive belief utilised to justify risky road use behaviour and to resist messages about preventive measures. There was a strong religious underpinning to the statement of fatalistic beliefs (this reflects popular conceptions of Islam rather than scholarly interpretations), but also an overlap with superstitious beliefs which have longer-standing roots in Pakistani culture. These beliefs were not limited to people of poor educational background or position. A particular issue which was explored in more detail was the way in which these beliefs and their interpretation within Pakistani society contributed to poor police reporting of crashes.\ud
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Discussion and conclusions\ud
The pervasive nature of fatalistic beliefs in Pakistan affects road user behaviour by supporting continued risk taking behaviour on the road, and by interfering with public health messages about behaviours which would reduce the risk of traffic crashes. The widespread influence of these beliefs on the ways that people respond to traffic crashes and the death of family members contribute to low crash reporting rates and to a system which is difficult to change. The promotion of an evidence-based approach to road user behaviour is recommended, along with improved professional education for police and policy makers.\u
Load transfer from high-strength concrete columns through lower strength concrete slabs
No full textSix specimens were tested to investigate the effects on high strength concrete columns due to the presence of ordinary strength floor concrete layer in between. The specimens consisted of four sandwiched type of columns and two edge columns. The four columns, 55 in. long, had a 7 in. layer of floor concrete. These column specimens were designed to study the influence of longitudinal as well as lateral steel on the strength characteristics and behavior of the floor concrete. Two edge columns specimens consisted of two column sections separated by a 7 in. floor slab extending beyond the column faces in three directions. The data from these tests combined with the previously reported similar studies was analyzed to find the appropriate parameters for the estimation of the apparent strength of the floor concrete to be used in the calculation of load carrying capacity of columns. The analysis reveals that Sec. 10.13 of the ACI code is not based on the appropriate parameters. The allowable ratio of 1.4 between the two concrete strengths within which there is no requirement to reduce the column capacity is not considered appropriate. Similarly, the calculation of the apparent floor concrete strength in case of interior columns as per Sec. 10.13.3 was also found to be too unconservative.Mechanics of materials approach used for the analysis of the composite materials was applied for theoretical analysis of the problem. This approach with the use of the available test data lead to an expression for the calculation of the apparent floor concrete strength applicable to all kinds of columns in structures. A similar but simpler and more conservative expression was also devised purely on data analysis. These empirical relationships can be expressed asf\sbsp{cp}{\prime} = 2.0\ \lambda\sb{G}\ {f\sbsp{cc}{\prime}\ f\sbsp{cf}{\prime}\over f\sbsp{cc}{\prime} + f\sbsp{cf}{\prime}}The concrete strengths in the above equation are replaced by their square roots in the expression deduced from the mechanics of materials approach.Made available in DSpace on 2011-05-07T14:15:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Nuclear Terrorism in South Asia: Potential Threats/Challenges and Options: Post 9/11 Analysis
Get PDFNuclear terrorism has emerged as one of the principal concerns for states maintaining nuclear weapons technology as well as states maintaining peaceful nuclear programs. The idea is that non-state entities, in pursuance of their goals of achieving maximum tactical leverage over states, aspire to either jeopardize nuclear facilities as a means to warrant a radiological anomaly or would, in worst case scenario, acquire or construct weaponized devices. The concept of Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) or Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) is both argued as a plausibility and as a reality in current global technological layout. More specified to South Asia, where non-state entities are allegedly employed for transnational target acquisition and the where the security paradigms are hampered by technological inferiority, it is speculatively concluded that chances of such occurrences are marginally higher as compare to other nations. Vulnerabilities of South Asia pertaining to radiological terrorism are extended internationally based upon proliferation patterns in South Asia, utilization of proxies for achievement of leverage, comparative technological inferiority of nuclear facilities and auxiliary systems, spread and introduction of terrorism in South Asia, lack of understanding of nuclear terrorism and inability to proactively participate in international non-proliferation regimes and designs. Important considerations in these regards would then have to focus on efficacy of security infrastructure from production to disposal and from civilian to military nuclear installations. Where in South Asia, states have maintained secrecy and state control over nuclear installations, radiological terrorism seems a highly unlikely scenario postulation but being cautious is still operationally necessar
Clear cell carcinoma of ovary with associated mucinous cystadenoma and endometriosis
Get PDFA 45 year old woman presented with right sided ovarian mass with multiple omental deposits and liver metastases. The right ovary was enlarged and showed a partly cystic partly solid cut surface. Histological picture showed clear cell carcinoma with areas of mucinous cystadenoma and endometriosis. Clear cell carcinoma is known to be associated with endometriosis. To the best of author\u27s knowledge, it\u27s association with mucinous cystadenoma has been described only once in the literature, where clear cell carcinoma was shown to be associated with mucinous cystadenoma without any evidence of endometriosis
OPTIMALISASI SEARCH ENGINE & SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING : STRATEGI MENINGKATKAN MINAT WISATAWAN DI KABUPATEN BANDUNG BARAT (KBB): Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing, Brand Knowledge, Travel Interest, West Bandung Regency Tourism
No full textIndonesia has incredible natural beauty, cultural diversity, and interesting historical values. West Bandung Regency (KBB), is one of the places where tourism is growing rapidly. This is indicated by the number of tourist destinations spread across two divisions (12) sub-districts in the West Bandung Regency (KBB) area, currently the total number of tourist destinations in the KBB area is forty-one destinations. However, based on data from the West Java Regional Opinion Agency, in 2021 there was a decrease in the number of tourists by 44%, this cannot be ignored considering the large potential for regional income from natural tourism in the KBB region. Through this research, the author aims to analyze the utilization of search engine optimization, social media marketing as an effort to increase tourist interest in the West Bandung Regency (KBB) area which ultimately has an impact on customer live value for the tourism sector. The respondents in this study were 150 people who live in Bandung and Jabodetabek. The results of this study indicate that there is a significant influence of the application of SMM and SEO on the formation of brand knowledge and indirectly has an impact on interest in traveling to Sarae Hills tourist area, West Bandung Regency, precisely has a significant impact on preferential and exploratory interest. However, the interactivity indicator in the SMM variable has a fairly low influence, this is because the information conveyed through Sarae Hills social media content is considered informative enough. Furthermore, in the SEO variable, organic search engine optimization is still a solution, considering the impact of organic search optimization has a long-term impact on the formation of company value
Shape Analysis of Traffic Flow Curves Using a Hybrid Computational Analysis
No full textAbstractThis paper highlights and validates the use of shape analysis using Mathematical Morphology tools as a means to develop meaningful clustering of historical data. Furthermore, through clustering more appropriate grouping can be accomplished that can result in the better parameterization or estimation of models. This results in more effective prediction model development. Hence, in an effort to highlight this within the research herein, a Back-Propagation Neural Network is used to validate the classification achieved through the employment of MM tools. Specifically, the Granulometric Size Distribution (GSD) is used to achieve clustering of daily traffic flow patterns based solely on their shape. To ascertain the significance of shape in traffic analysis, a comparative classification analysis of original data and GSD transformed data is carried out. The results demonstrate the significance of functional shape in traffic analysis. In addition, the results validate the need for clustering prior to prediction. It is determined that a span of two through four years of traffic data is found sufficient for training to produce satisfactory BPNN performance
Wilayah Khorasan and Its Regional Implications
Get PDFThis paper provides a comprehensive account of Islamic State’s presence in itsself-proclaimed Wilayah Khorasan over the territories of Afghanistan and Pakistan. It further examines the competing Jihadi groups; Al-Qaeda, Afghan Taliban and Islamic State of Khorasan (ISK), that exist and challenge each other in South Asia. This paper analyzes the responses of local jihadi groups towards or against the rise of ISK by illustrating the key factors which determines why and how any group cooperates with the other. Based on the activities, strength and progress of Wilayah Khorasan in Afghanistan and Pakistan, this study highlights the potential threat that it currently poses to these states and to the regional stability in future and suggests practical recommendations in order to counter this emerging challenge
