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In the literature, several empirical methods can be found to predict the occurrence of nonlinear soil liquefaction in soil layers. These methods are limited to the seismic conditions and the parameters used in developing the model. This paper seeks to present General Regression Neural Network (GRNN) model that addresses the collective knowledge built in simplified procedure.

The GRNN model incorporates the soil and seismic parameters of the region. It was developed in four phases; identification, collection, implementation, and verification. The data used consisted of 3,895 case records, mostly from the cone penetration test (CPT) results produced from the two major earthquakes that took place in Turkey and Taiwan in 1999. The case records were divided randomly into training, testing and validation datasets. Soil liquefaction decision in terms of seismic demand and seismic capacity is determined by the stress‐based method and strain‐based method, and further tested with the well‐known Chinese criteria.

The results produced by the proposed GRNN model explore effectively the complex relationship between the soil and seismic input parameters and further forecast the liquefaction potential with an overall success ratio of 94 percent. Liquefaction decisions were further validated by the SPT, confirming the viability of the SPT‐to‐CPT data conversion, which is the main limitation of most of the simplified methods.

The proposed GRNN model provides a viable tool to geotechnical engineers to predict seismic condition in sites susceptible to liquefaction. The model can be constantly updated when new data are available, which will improve its predictability.

Differential settlement between foundations’ elements induces additional stresses in the structural elements. In general, the amount of settlement that a structure can undergo without distress is large, provided that the structure settles uniformly. However, based on the fact that the soil under the foundation may not be uniform in nature and the loads transferred from the superstructure to the foundation are variable, differential settlements between the foundation elements are expected. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the stresses induced in a typical ten-storey reinforced concrete building subjected to excessive differential settlement.

In this investigation, excessive differential settlement up to 75 mm is assigned to the center column on the ground floor that represents the most critical case. A three-dimensional finite element model is developed to perform structural analysis using the software SAP2000, and the nonlinear static pushover analysis is performed.

The results of this study show that the building behaves elastically up to 25 mm of differential settlement between its foundation elements, which agrees well with the recommendation given in design manuals. Beyond this value, significant inelastic response is observed in the lower floors and decreases gradually in the higher floors and accordingly, some members have consumed the factor of safety and are in the verge of failure.

Based on the results of this study, recommendations are made for better communication between the structure and the geotechnical engineers to either limit the differential settlements or incorporate these additional stresses during the design stage of the building. Furthermore, the results of the study can be used to recommend to building codes or design manuals to add a load component due to the anticipated differential settlements of the foundation.

This article aims to address an outstanding problem dealing with the structure and its foundation.

Differential settlement between foundation units of a multistory structure has been responsible for serious damage to buildings and often catastrophic failure and loss of life. The dynamic changes in the loading conditions of the structure, and the variability of the underlying ground due to environmental changes, are causing the undesirable differential settlement, which is manifested in the form of additional stresses in beams, columns and distortion of the structure elements. The structural response to the differential settlements depends on the type of the structure (concrete or steel), type of beam-to-column connections (rigid or semi-rigid), number of floors and the spans of the beams in the building. This paper presents the results of a numerical model, which was developed using the finite element technique and the software “ABAQUS” to analyze a nine-floor steel structure. The model was capable to capture the stresses and the strains developed in beams and columns and the relationships of moment–settlement and rotation–settlement for the structural during the differential settlement of its foundation. After validating of the model, data were produced for a wide range of governing parameters for rigid and semi-rigid connections and accordingly the mode of failure. The results can be used as a guideline for the design of steel structures.

Results are useful for those design steel structures.

This study is based on the experimental and numerical data of the authors.

This study provides a guideline for the design of steel structures.

This is the original research developed by the authors.

This article aims to address an outstanding problem dealing with the structure of multi-story buildings subjected to differential settlement of the building's foundation.

Differential settlement between foundation units of multi-story structures has been responsible for causing damage to buildings and often catastrophic failure and loss of life. The dynamic changes in the loading conditions of the structure and the changes in the underlying ground due to environmental changes are causing this undesirable differential settlement, which is manifested in the form of additional stresses in beams, columns and distortion of the structure elements. This study presents the results of an experimental investigation on a prototype model of a multi-story building subjected to differential settlement of the building's foundation. The model is a four-floor aluminum structure, instrumented to measure the stresses induced in the structure elements due to the settlement of a center, edge and corner column, respectively, which represent the critical conditions of the structure.

The experimental results of this study can be used as a guideline for the design of structures.

The current study is the original research developed by the authors.

The paper aims to investigate if the performance of older adults on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were associated or predictive of their functional performance in a geriatric evaluation and management (GEM) inpatient hospital setting. This will inform the occupational therapy assessment and management of older adults admitted to sub-acute GEM settings.

In all, 20 participants (11 men, 9 women, mean age 82 years, SD = 6.93) were recruited from a GEM ward in an Australian hospital. Participants’ cognitive abilities were assessed using the MMSE and MoCA, and their functional performance were assessed using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Spearman’s rho correlations and linear regression analyses were completed. Bootstrapping was applied to the regression analyses to accommodate the small study sample size.

No statistically significant correlations were obtained between the total and subscale scores of the MMSE and FIM or between the total and subscale scores of the MoCA and FIM. In other words, the cognitive and functional abilities of older adults admitted to a GEM setting were not significantly associated in this study.

The findings suggest that the MoCA and the MMSE were not predictive of participants’ functional performance as measure by the FIM in a sub-acute GEM setting. Occupational therapists should be cautious when interpreting participants’ MMSE, MoCA and FIM results and not depend solely on these results in the goal setting and intervention planning processes for clients on GEM wards. Further studies are recommended to confirm these findings.

The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of k-networks in knowledge creation, as existing literature argues that network structure does not provide sufficient explanation per se. This paper proposed diversity as an important construct to explain knowledge creation in SMEs’ k-networks.

First, by reviewing the literature, this paper proposes a hypothesis that predicts a positive association of content and knowledge creation. Then, focusing on patent co-authorship networks of the biotechnology industry in Victoria, this research used an explanatory multiple case study approach to test the formulated hypothesis.

By introducing new constructs, the results provide more insight on the positive association of knowledge content and knowledge creation. Based on the emergent constructs, rival hypotheses are also developed for further research.

Beyond the role of network structure, which has dominated the knowledge network literature, this research highlights how other factors like knowledge diversity are needed to be consider.

The construction industry is considered one of the most dangerous industries especially in developing countries such as Egypt. Although safety in Egypt is regulated by mainly four pivotal legislations, namely, Law No. 12 (2003) and Ministerial Decrees No. 211, 126 and 134, construction accident records in Egypt are high. Accordingly, this paper aims to develop a framework to activate the health and safety regulations in the Egyptian construction industry.

To achieve this aim, a research methodology consisting of a literature review and a survey questionnaire was developed to accomplish three objectives. First, a literature review was used to identify the causes of site accidents and strategies adopted in different countries to improve and enforce safety, safety roles of stakeholders. Second, a survey questionnaire was conducted with a representative sample of large- and medium-sized construction firms in Egypt to examine their perception of the causes of site accidents. Finally, a framework was developed to activate the health and safety regulations in the Egyptian construction industry.

The research identified 16 causes of construction site accidents. These causes were classified into three categories based on the party responsible for the occurrence of site accidents, namely, workers, organization management and government. Results of data analysis showed that “lack of housekeeping” and “lack of governmental inspection for safety” were ranked the highest causes of site accidents in the Egyptian construction industry, whereas “inefficiency of old safety equipment or no safety equipment at all” and “reluctance to input resources for safety” were ranked the least causes.

This research provides valuable information about the nature of the construction industry with a particular focus on site accidents, causes and impacts of construction site accidents. The study highlighted the safety roles of the Egyptian Governmental bodies in Egypt to improve and enforce safety. The research tackled a topic that received scant attention in construction literature especially in the Egypt context. The framework presented in this paper represents a synthesis that is important and adds value to the knowledge in a manner that has not previously occurred in the Egyptian construction industry.

This study aims to develop a biodegradable linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)/starch blends with improved mechanical and flow characteristics and evaluate the probability of using essential oils such as Moringa oleifira and castor oils as green plasticizers and compatibilizers to avoid using harmful chemicals.

Corn starch was blended with LLDPE through the melt blending technique. The corn starch content was varied from 5 to 40 phr in LLDPE. To enhance poor mechanical characteristic of the LLDPE/starch, essential oils such as M. oleifira and castor oils were incorporated into the composites with different concentrations starting from 1 to 7 phr. The essential oils’ effect on mechanical, flow character, thermal stability and electrical properties of the LLDPE/starch was also investigated. The morphology of LLDPE/starch containing essential oils was also investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM).

The results revealed that increasing the corn starch content had an adverse effect on mechanical and flow characteristics of the composites, whereas incorporation of essential oils had increased the flow and mechanical characteristics of the composites. Also, dielectric measurements revealed that permittivity and dielectric loss increased by increasing oil content. Moreover, the values of the blends containing castor oil are higher compared to that containing M. oleifira. The SEM micrographs illustrated that the presence of essential oils in LLDPE/starch enhanced the distribution and the homogeneity of the composites, and the particle size of starch granules became smaller in LLDPE matrix.

This study aims to introduce green plasticizer and compatibilizer to avoid using harmful chemicals in packaging industry.