13 research outputs found
The Combined Finite/Discrete Element Method in Transient Dynamics of Reinforced Concrete Structures under Blast Loading
No full textPhDThe research here presented has employed the newly evolved finite-discrete element
method in the development of novel numerical solutions for the analysis of failure and
collapse of reinforced concrete structures under hazardous blast loads. The first step to
achieving this was to study the structural response, failure and collapse of individual
structural elements. Thus the research in this area is taken further by using numerical
solutions to study the behaviour of reinforced concrete beams to the point of failure.
The results are implemented into the combined finite-discrete element method through a
novel computationally efficient two noded beam element. Numerical integration across
the cross section of the beam element is applied to facilitate the application of nonlinear
constitutive laws for both steel and concrete for the case of multi-axial bending
coupled with axial force. The accuracy of this new element is tested and validated under
both static and dynamic loading situations using analytical solutions together with
experiments undertaken at the University of Alberta and The Swiss Federal Institute of
Technology. The proposed element has the advantage of reducing the size of the
problem by fifty percent through the elimination of the rotational degrees of freedom
using static condensationT. he new element,w hen coupledw ith NBS contactd etection,
enables the same finite element mesh to be used for the discretised contact solutions,
thus further reducing the CPU time required. When implemented into the finite-discrete
element method, the proposed numerical solution also takes into account contact-impact
and inertia effects. It is therefore both an accurate and CPU efficient solution to the
combined finite-discrete element analysis of structural response, failure and collapse of
real life structuresw hen subjectedt o hazardouslo ads as demonstratedin the thesis.
T Bangas
Arab Tribalism, Traditionalism and its Implications during the Early Annals of Islamic Polity
No full text<p><em><span>In all human civilisations, there is the concept of prejudice, which is one of the requirements for the survival of a society. One trait of the pre-Islamic Arabs that persisted fundamentally among the Arabs even after Islam is prejudice. Prejudice, which was pervasive among pre-Islamic Arabs, was crucial to post-Islamic Arab developments as well as to the happenings inside the Islamic world. The contribution made by the Arab tribes to the spread of Islam, the strengthening of Dar al-Islam [House of Islam], as well as in the Umayyad dynasty's reign and governance. Each confederation of tribes spearheaded the spread of Islam in a distinct direction, with the Bani Mudhar leading the way towards the east and the Bani Qahtan leading the way towards the west, due to the historical rivalry between the two groups. Tribal disputes were a means by which the Umayyads kept their hold on power; nevertheless, the Abbasids skillfully employed this strategy to establish a new dynasty. Muslim authors like Ibn Khaldun and Al-Maqrizi have discussed these divisions, highlighting their importance in the expansion of Islamic Empire. Arab tribes played a significant role in conquering territories, forming the first Muslim dynasty, and controlling power through tribal disputes. Tribal rivalry was a tactic employed by the Abbasids and Umayyads to share power; this was also the reason behind the Umayyads' downfall and the inception of the Abbasid revolt. This research aims to investigate the bias inside the Arab tribal system and its fallout and implications.</span></em></p>
<p><span>Key words: tribes, Bani Qahtan, Bani Mudhar, Marwanids, Abbasids</span></p>
The Islamic Glorious Epoch through the March of History
No full text<p><strong><span>Abstract</span></strong></p>
<p><em><span>This study discusses the key elements that developed Islam's "Golden Age" and their contributions. Beginning with the reign of Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid (c. 786–809) and concluding with the Abbasid Caliphate's fall with the Mongol invasions and the sack of Baghdad in 1258 CE, this period of Islamic growth lasted nearly five centuries.<span> </span>On the other hand, some scholars define Islam's Golden Age more broadly and across a longer period of time.<span> </span></span></em></p>
<p><em><span>All concur, however, that the Golden Age represents a truly remarkable period in human history that spans several centuries and includes the exceptional accomplishments of Islamic scholars, humanists, and scientists across a wide range of disciplines, including finance, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and Islamic and European monetary systems.<span> </span>The main contributions to human progress made by the Abbasid, Fatimid, and Umayyad dynasties in Baghdad, Cairo, and Andalusia are briefly listed here. It also provides several examples of the lasting contributions made by the Islamic Golden Age from antiquity to the present, many of which laid the foundation for a prosperous future for both Islamic societies and the world at large.</span></em></p>
<p><strong><span>Key Words: </span></strong><span>Golden Age, Islamic civilisation, Muslim Dynasties, Baghdad, Muslim Art.</span></p>
An Empirical Study to Investigate Collaboration Among Developers in Open Source Software (OSS)
No full textThe value of teamwork is being recognized by project owners, resulting in an increased acknowledgement of collaboration among developers in software engineering. A good understanding of how developers work together could positively impact software development practices. In this paper, we investigate the collaboration habits of developers in project files by leveraging the World of Code (WoC) dataset and GitHub API. We first identify the collaboration level of developers within the project files, such as the source, test, documentation, and build files, using the Author Cross Entropy (ACE). From the results we find out that test files report the highest degree of collaboration among the developers, perhaps because collaboration is critical to ensure convergence of functionality tests. Furthermore, the source code files show the least degree of collaboration, perhaps because of code ownership and the complexity and difficulty in code modification. Secondly, given the widespread usage of the Python programming language, we investigate the Python code tokens that are more prone to change and collaboration. Our findings offer insights into the specific project files and Python code tokens that developers typically collaborate on in the open-source community. This information can be used by researchers and developers to enhance existing collaboration platforms and tools
MSR_challenge_Collaboration_OSS
No full textProject owners are realizing the benefits of teamwork, leading to increased recognition of collaboration among developers in software engineering. A good understanding of how developers work together could positively impact software development practices. To investigate the collaboration habits of developers in project files we leverage the World of Code (WoC) dataset and GitHub API, in this paper. We first identify the collaborations levels of developers in the project files, such as the source, test, documentation, and build files, using the Author Cross Entropy (ACE). We find out that test files report the highest degree of collaboration among the developers, perhaps because collaboration is critical to ensure the convergence of functionality tests. Furthermore, the source code files show the least degree of collaboration, perhaps because of code ownership and the complexity and difficulty in code modification. Secondly, given the widespread usage of the Python programming language, we investigate the Python code tokens that are more prone to change and require collaboration. Our findings offer insights into the specific project files and Python code tokens that developers typically collaborate on in the open-source community. This information can be used by researchers and developers to enhance existing collaboration platforms and tools.</p
Algorithms to anonymize structured medical and healthcare data: A systematic review
No full textIntroduction: With many anonymization algorithms developed for structured medical health data (SMHD) in the last decade, our systematic review provides a comprehensive bird’s eye view of algorithms for SMHD anonymization. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to the recommendations in the Cochrane Handbook for Reviews of Interventions and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Eligible articles from the PubMed, ACM digital library, Medline, IEEE, Embase, Web of Science Collection, Scopus, ProQuest Dissertation, and Theses Global databases were identified through systematic searches. The following parameters were extracted from the eligible studies: author, year of publication, sample size, and relevant algorithms and/or software applied to anonymize SMHD, along with the summary of outcomes. Results: Among 1,804 initial hits, the present study considered 63 records including research articles, reviews, and books. Seventy five evaluated the anonymization of demographic data, 18 assessed diagnosis codes, and 3 assessed genomic data. One of the most common approaches was k-anonymity, which was utilized mainly for demographic data, often in combination with another algorithm; e.g., l-diversity. No approaches have yet been developed for protection against membership disclosure attacks on diagnosis codes. Conclusion: This study reviewed and categorized different anonymization approaches for MHD according to the anonymized data types (demographics, diagnosis codes, and genomic data). Further research is needed to develop more efficient algorithms for the anonymization of diagnosis codes and genomic data. The risk of reidentification can be minimized with adequate application of the addressed anonymization approaches. Systematic Review Registration: [http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero], identifier [CRD42021228200]
Who are the Pioneers? A Critical Analysis of Innovation and Expertise in Cutaneous Noninvasive and Minimally Invasive Cosmetic and Surgical Procedures
No full textBACKGROUND: Few studies illustrate the contributions made by various specialties in pioneering commonly performed noninvasive and minimally invasive cosmetic and surgical procedures.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the contributions made by various specialties in pioneering noninvasive and minimally invasive cosmetic and surgical procedures.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Key words using the Medical Search Headings Database were used to query in the Thomson Reuters Web of Science Database. The 25 most highly cited studies were sorted according to the citation number. The author specialty was identified and assigned scores based on the number of citations.
RESULTS: Dermatology was identified as the specialty with the greatest contribution to botulinum toxin treatments for rhytides, injectable fillers, laser treatments, chemical peels, and noninvasive body contouring. Neurology was identified as the leading specialty in botulinum toxin treatments for hyperhidrosis, and vascular surgery was identified as leading specialty in sclerotherapy. Plastic surgery was identified as having made the greatest contribution to hair transplantation, and liposuction.
CONCLUSION: Dermatology was identified as the leading specialty for the majority of noninvasive and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. Other specialties have also contributed important literature to this area
National guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma
No full text©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe
Author Correction:A reproducible extended ex-vivo normothermic machine liver perfusion protocol utilising improved nutrition and targeted vascular flows
No full textCorrection to: Communications Medicine https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-024-00636-2, published online 24 October 2024.In the version of the article initially published, in the “Perfusate constitution” section of the Methods, the text “sodium taurocholic acid (Merck Millipore) was infused at 7.7 mg/h” should have read “sodium taurocholic acid (VWR Chemicals, USA) was infused at 140 mg/h” and has now been corrected in the HTML and PDF versions of the article.</div
