19 research outputs found
A microsimulation-based analysis for driving behaviour modelling on a congested expressway
No full textRecently, simulation models have been widely used around the world to evaluate the performance of different traffic facilities and management strategies for efficient and sustainable transportation systems. One of the keys factors for ensuring the reliability of the models in reflecting local conditions is the calibration and validation of microsimulation models. The majority of the existing calibration efforts focus is on the experimental designs of driver behaviour and lane-changing parameters. Towards this end, this paper describes the necessary procedure for the calibration and validation of a microscopic model using the VISSIM software, during peak hours. The procedure is applied on Muscat Expressway in the Sultanate of Oman. The calibration parameters and the measure-of-effectiveness are identified by using multi-parameter sensitivity analysis. The optimum values for these parameters are obtained by minimising errors between simulated data and field data. In our proposed model, we used traffic volume and travel speed for model calibration, as well as average travel time for validation of the calibrated model. The achieved results showed that driving characteristics significantly impacted the merging/diverging traffic flow ratio in the merging area, the link length and the distance between on-ramps and off-ramps, as well as the percentage of heavy vehicles. The results also showed that having both the advanced merging and cooperative lane-change settings active, along with safety distance reduction factor, necessary lane change, minimum headway (front/rear), and emergency stop, had a significant influence on simulation precision, especially at on-ramps and off-ramps. Finally, our proposed model can be utilized as a base for future traffic strategy analysis and intelligent transportation systems evaluation to help decision makers with long-term and sustainable development decisionsFarrag, SG (corresponding author), Hasselt Univ, Transportat Res Inst, Hasselt, Belgium.
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected], SG (corresponding author), Hasselt Univ, Transportat Res Inst, Hasselt, Belgium.
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Corrigendum to "Investigations into structure-property relationships of novel Ru(II) dyes with N,N'-Diethyl group in ancillary ligand for dye-sensitized solar cells" [Dyes Pigments 171(2019) 107754-107762](S0143720819314639)(10.1016/j.dyepig.2019.107754)
No full textThe authors regret the typos in the author names and affiliations. The authors would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused. Correction: The correct author names and affiliations should read as follows: Saba Ashrafa,b,d, Rui Sud, Javeed Akhtarc, Humaira M. Siddiqib, Ahmed Shujae, Khalid Al-Saadf, Siham Y. Al-Qaradawif, Ahmed El-Shafeid*[email protected] aSulaiman Bin Abdullah Aba Al-Khail - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Science (SA-CIRBS), International Islamic University, Sector H-10, Islamabad, Pakistan bDepartment of Chemistry, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan cMaterials Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mirpur, 10250, AK, Pakistan dPolymer and Color Chemistry Program & Fiber and Polymer Science Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA eCentre for Advanced Electronics and Photovoltaic Engineering (CAEPE), International Islamic University, Sector H-10, Islamabad, Pakistan fDepartment of Chemistry and Earth Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, QatarScopu
La politique de communication ou comment gérer son image par des règles partagées
No full textDans un environnement sociopolitique dynamique, les organisations sont soucieuses de développer une image publique appropriée. Cela ne peut se réaliser que par l’adoption d’une véritable politique de communication. Cet outil stratégique permet de contrôler les flux communicationnels tant à l’interne qu’à l’externe, notamment dans un contexte technologique influant sur la circulation de l’information. L’auteur expose les particularités de cette politique, les modalités de son élaboration et de sa mise en œuvre.In a constantly changing socio-political environment, organizations tend to develop and maintain a good public image. This can be done by adopting a communication policy. This strategic tool allows to control communication flows both internally and externally, notably in a technological context affecting the circulation of information. The author examines the properties of this policy, the methods of its elaboration and its implementation
A comparative study of phenotypic traits linked to drought tolerance in 83 olive tree varieties grown in Moroccan and French collections
No full textInternational audienceOlea europaea L. is one of the most widespread tree crops in the Mediterranean Basin and the high genetic and phenotypic diversity of cultivars reflects the long evolutionary history of the species in the region. We assessed the intraspecific variability of 83 olive cultivars from different Mediterranean countries, by screening leaf and stem traits involved in plant water-use strategies. The trees were maintained in the worldwide olive germplasm bank of Marrakech (WOGBM), Morocco, and in the French olive Germplasm bank of Porquerolles Island (FOGB), France. Our results showed a considerable phenotypic variability among the varieties within each of the collections, which is partially related to the genetic group ('Eastern', 'Western', and 'Central' Mediterranean Basin and 'admixed') to which each variety can be assigned. Significant differences in average trait values between the two collections were also found for certain traits. Trees maintained in the WOGBM were found to be more conservative, showing higher leaf mass per area, leaf dry matter content and wood density. Our study brings new insights as to how traits of olive cultivars differ among genetic groups. This will allow one to identify the most relevant traits to use for an easy and quick screening of olive germplasm in the broad perspective of sustainability of the olive sector in the Mediterranean Basin
Study of Moroccan Monumental Heritage Traditional for Valorization and Conservation of Collective Memory and for Socio-eco- Tourism Sustainable Development-case Kasbah Chellah, Rabat
No full textAbstractLike any historical monument flap and around the world, the archaeological site of Chellah named world heritage known chemical and physical degradation due to known natural agents: rainwater, runoff, temperature, humidity, ground movement, bacteria and air pollution. To remedy these degradations several actions were taken by the authorities concerned, but these actions were traditional, superficial and temporary and therefore they brought little lasting remedy to such degradation. To do this, we will try in the present work to analyze these factors degrading to better design the inventory of the monument Chellah
The Effect of Consciousness- Raising Tasks on Improving Algerian EFL Students’ Use of Discourse Markers in Speaking
No full textThe investigation described in this dissertation aims at studying some aspects of spoken discourse which are discourse markers, and will consider in particular the production of those devices by EFL students of English as well as the effect of consciousness-raising tasks on improving discourse competence and communicative language performance of non-native speakers of English in Algeria. In this context a quasi experimental research was adopted consisting of two groups of twenty (20) Algerian students each belonging to first year English LMD: one constitutes the experimental group while the other represents the control one. Theexperiment was conducted in three phases during which three techniques were adopted in the collection of the required data; i.e. we employed two written tests (a pre- test and a post- test), two interviews (from which we derived student corpora) and a questionnaire. The study reveals some development in the students’ discourse competence as far as the use of spoken discourse markers is concerned; nevertheless, a discrepancy is noticed in the frequency and use of those targeted features when compared with a subcorpus of native speakers’ talks containing 460,050 words, already employed by the author [15], selected from the whole CANCODE pedagogical corpus. Moreover, the investigation unveiled that some discourse markers were overused or underused whereas others were misused or not used at all
SPECTROSCOPIC STRUCTURAL INVESTIGATIONS OF CHARGE-TRANSFER COMPLEXES OF n-DONORS AND SIGMA- AND PI-ACCEPTORS
No full textAuthor Institution: Department of Chemistry and Earth Sciences, Qatar University, P.O.Box 2713 Doha, QatarMolecular charge transfer complexes of n-electron donors such as amines, pyridines and polynitrogen cyclic bases with both sigma- and pi-acceptors have been studied spectrophotometrically in chloroform. The reaction stoichiometries were determined using photometric titration methods. The formed CT-complexes are characterized and formulated based on electronic and infrared spectra as well as elemental and thermal measurements
Intraspecific variation and phenotypic plasticity of olive varieties in response to contrasting environmental conditions
No full textAssessing the extent of genotypic and phenotypic trait variation within a genetically diversified species is crucial to understanding how plants cope with environmental differences. We examine these components in Olea europaea L. europaea, one of the most widespread and diverse tree crops cultivated in the Mediterranean Basin, a region facing rapid climatic shifts with increasing summer drought. We compared trait values of 83 olive varieties from different Mediterranean countries, grown in two ex situ varietal collections with contrasting environments: subhumid and semi-arid climates. Ten leaf-, stem- and branch traits related to resource and water use were compared across 50 varieties within each site, and phenotypic plasticity was assessed for the 17 varieties common to them. Trait plasticity was assessed with the phenotypic dissimilarity index while varietal plasticity was assessed in multidimensional trait space with the multivariate plasticity index. Our results showed considerable phenotypic variability within (up to 59.54%) and between (up to 39.17%) sites. Varieties grown in semi-arid conditions were more conservative, showing denser leaves and wood, and thicker bark. Common varieties exhibited contrasting degrees of plasticity across traits, demonstrating that high plasticity for some traits does not necessarily imply overall plasticity. Additionally, varieties with conservative trait values were not less plastic than more acquisitive varieties. Varieties showed distinct phenotypic adjustments across sites, with trait variations indicating acclimation strategies to reduce water loss in the arid environment. Our results also suggest that acclimation to different environments occurs through the adjustment of multiple traits, complicating plasticity comparisons across varieties
Intraspecific variation and phenotypic plasticity of olive varieties in response to contrasting environmental conditions
No full textInternational audienceAssessing the extent of genotypic and phenotypic trait variation within a genetically diversified species is crucial to understanding how plants cope with environmental differences. We examine these components in Olea europaea L. europaea, one of the most widespread and diverse tree crops cultivated in the Mediterranean Basin, a region facing rapid climatic shifts with increasing summer drought. We compared trait values of 83 olive varieties from different Mediterranean countries, grown in two ex situ varietal collections with contrasting environments: subhumid and semi-arid climates. Ten leaf-, stem-and branch traits related to resource and water use were compared across 50 varieties within each site, and phenotypic plasticity was assessed for the 17 varieties common to them. Trait plasticity was assessed with the phenotypic dissimilarity index while varietal plasticity was assessed in multidimensional trait space with the multivariate plasticity index. Our results showed considerable phenotypic variability within (up to 59.54%) and between (up to 39.17%) sites. Varieties grown in semi-arid conditions were more conservative, showing denser leaves and wood, and thicker bark. Common varieties exhibited contrasting degrees of plasticity across traits, demonstrating that high plasticity for some traits does not necessarily imply overall plasticity. Additionally, varieties with conservative trait values were not less plastic than more acquisitive varieties. Varieties showed distinct phenotypic adjustments across sites, with trait variations indicating acclimation strategies to reduce water loss in the arid environment. Our results also suggest that acclimation to different environments occurs through the adjustment of multiple traits, complicating plasticity comparisons across varieties
Building a child’s trust before a medical procedure: a linguistic case study
No full textWhen a paediatrician establishes a trusting relationship with their patient, the chance of a positive outcome multiplies. A calm child, who participates fully in the communicative exchange is more receptive to the clinician’s requests and reports weaker sensations of pain. This experience stays with the child, shaping how they approach their health care as adults. Our qualitative case study unpacks the linguistic aspects of a 32-minute videoed and transcribed exchange between a paediatrician (co-author) and a five-year-old boy she is preparing for a risky procedure. It asks: what linguistic strategies reduce his anxiety? Non-pharmacological methods are key here, as deep sedation is problematic. Our study explains the communicative techniques that the paediatrician exploits. We identify how they function, and how seemingly dis-connected strategies group naturally under a few general principles. This is important for professional development because fewer overarching principles are easier to grasp and subsequently to deploy. Our inter-disciplinary approach, which relies on real data, can be replicated and expanded with health care professionals to enable them to act concretely on their language productions
