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Structuring the outline for an architectural design studio experience has a significant role in students’ meaningful design experiences. Meaningful experience is related with students’ receptivity and idea generation for the ill-structured problems of architectural design. This identification influences the study, which investigates the application of a model for structuring the design studio experience, organized to occur in two phases; problem reception and problem solving. The model employs a combination of two different techniques with a special focus on reflexivity. It completes the extensions level required for the ICE Approach with the C-Sketch ideation technique by employing their adapted versions for architectural design studio practice. The common features of these techniques are their adaptability to any problem, explication centered and process oriented natures, focus on effective brainstorming and suitability on design teamwork studies. There is a remarkable potential to correlate the results of the two techniques.

The model was processed within a vertical design studio at Gazi University, Department of Architecture. It enabled getting use of diverse backgrounds within a design team by structuring the collective design process and optimizing the contribution rates of the team members. The method was employed to guide the design study of the experimental group of two teams with ten members in total. The control group was the randomly selected two teams from other teams that did not apply the model, with eleven members in total. The members of the two groups were applied a semi-structured questionnaire at the end of the semester, with a special focus on the internal consistency within the answers of the members of a single team. The results of the qualitative study indicated that the explication based structuring of the design studio experience has had a positive impact on achieving consistency and coherency in the design processes of the experimental groups.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of Mg²⁺substitution on the magnetic and electrical properties of Li_0.35−x Mg_2x Zn_0.3 Fe_2.35−xO₄ thick films synthesized with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix.

The nanoferrites Li_0.35−x Mg_2x Zn_0.3 Fe_2.35−xO₄ (x=0, 0.07, 0.14, 0.21, 0.28 and 0.35) were synthesized by chemical technique using aqueous solution of PVA (the matrix) and thick films were fabricated by screen printing technique. The DC magnetic hysteresis measurements, AC magnetic susceptibility and DC electrical resistivity were measured as a function of temperature.

The lattice parameter of thick film Li_0.35−x Mg_2x Zn_0.3 Fe_2.35−xO₄ (x=0, 0.07, 0.14, 0.21, 0.28 and 0.35) increases with the substitution of Mg²⁺ions for Li¹⁺and Fe³⁺. The surface morphology of the thick films showed the grain size increasing with Mg²⁺substitution till x=0.21 and then decreasing for the higher concentrations of magnesium. The magnetic moment n_B (μ_B) computed from the M_s obtained by extrapolation of the magnetization curve showed a gradual decrease with the composition till x=0.21, beyond which a sudden decrease was observed. The resistivity of the films at room temperature had variation with composition x, similar to that of magnetic moment. The activation energies ΔE_F and ΔE_P were found to vary with composition x of the ferrite system.

The paper reports, for the first time, the magnetic and electrical properties of fritless Li_0.35−xMg_2xZn_0.3Fe_2.35−xO₄ thick films using PVA polymer matrix. Up to x=0.21 (Mg²⁺), grain size increases and Curie temperature decreases beyond which reverse effect takes place.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a general mathematical model for the evaluation of the bending and vibration responses of the skew sandwich composite plate using higher-order shear deformation theory. The sandwich structural components are highly preferable in modern engineering application because of their desirable structural advantages despite the manufacturing and analysis complexities. The present model is developed to solve the bending and vibration problem of the skew sandwich composite plate with adequate accuracy numerically in the absence of the experimental analysis.

The skew sandwich composite plate structure is modelled in the present analysis by considering laminated face sheet in conjunction with isotropic and/or orthotropic core numerically with the help of the higher-order mathematical model. Further, the responses are computed numerically with the help of in-house computer code developed in matrix laboratory (MATLAB) environment in conjunction with finite element (FE) steps. The system governing equations are derived via variational technique for the computation of the static and the frequency responses.

The skew sandwich composite plate is investigated using the higher-order kinematic model where the transverse displacement through the thickness is considered to be linear. The convergence and the validation study of the bending and the frequency values of the sandwich structure indicate the necessary accuracy. Further, the current model has been used to highlight the applicability of the higher-order kinematics for the evaluation of the sandwich structural responses (frequency and static deflections) for different design parameters.

In the present paper, the bending and the vibration responses of the skew sandwich composite plate are analysed numerically using the equivalent single-layer higher-order kinematic theory for the isotropic and the orthotropic core numerically with the help of isoparametric FE steps. Finally, it is understood that the present model is capable of solving the sandwich structural responses with less computation cost and adequate accuracy.

The last two decades were characterised by uncertainty in financial markets due to volatile interest rates. Consequently bond and money managers were interested in minimising interest rate risk. This was accomplished by developing immunisation strategies derived from the concept of duration. Consequently, almost all the relevant literature is limited to bond portfolio management. In this paper duration and immunisation concepts are discussed in the context of financial management: working capital management and capital budgeting techniques. In Section I, a brief review of bond duration measure is made. Section II describes the application of duration measures in bond immunisation strategies. In Section III, a duration measure is developed for working capital management technique. Section IV contains some secondary capital budgeting technique based on duration measure.

The traditional practice for maintenance, quality control and production scheduling is to plan independently irrespective of an interrelationship exist between them. The purpose of this paper is to develop an approach for integrating maintenance, quality control and production scheduling. The objective is to investigate the benefits of the integrated effect in terms of the expected total cost of system operation of the three functions.

The proposed approach is based on the conditional reliability of the components. Cost model for integrating selective maintenance, quality control using sampling-based procedure and production scheduling is developed using the conditional reliability. An integrated approach is such that, first an optimal schedule for the batches to be processed is obtained independently while the maintenance and quality control decisions are optimized considering the optimal schedule on the machine. The expected total cost of conventional approach, i.e. “No integration” is calculated to compare the effectiveness of integrated approach.

The integrated approach have shown a higher cost saving as compared to the independent planning approach. The approach is practical to implement as the results are obtained in a reasonable computational time.

The approach presented in this paper is generic and can be applied at planned as well as unplanned opportunities. The proposed integrated approach is dynamic in nature, as during maintenance opportunities, it is possible to optimize the decision on maintenance, quality control and production scheduling considering the current age of components and production requirement.

The originality of the paper is in the approach for integration of the three elements of shop floor operations that are usually treated separately and rarely touched upon by researchers in the literature.

The purpose of this paper is to apply a 3D methodology to assess the heating hazard on transformer covers and present a practical tool to design amagnetic inserts arrangement.

A practical 3D methodology linking an electromagnetic analytical formulation with thermal finite element method is used for computation. Such methodology allows the evaluation of the temperature on metallic device elements heated by electromagnetic induction. This is a 3D problem which in the case of power transformers becomes especially difficult to apply due to the discretization requirement into the thin skin depth penetration compared to big machine dimensions.

From the numerical solution of the temperature field, decisions on dimensions and different amagnetic inserts arrangements can be taken to avoid hot spots on transformer covers.

Some parameters presented in the model as heat exchange coefficients and material properties are difficult to determine from formulae or from the literature. The accuracy of the results strongly depends on the proper identification of those parameters, which the authors adjust based on measurements.

Differing from previous works found in the literature, which focus their results in power loss computation methods, this paper evaluates losses in terms of temperature distribution, which is easier to measure and validate over transformer covers. Moreover, an experimental work is presented where the temperature distribution is measured over a steel cover plate and a cover plate with amagnetic insert.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of Kuwait Infection Control Directorate educational program in improving knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of environmental service workers (ESWs) regarding the management of infectious and sharps waste.

An interventional educational pre-test/post-test study was conducted over seven months, on a sample of 102 ESWs in Farwaniya General Government Hospital, Kuwait. Educational sessions and practical training using the KAP approach were applied during the intervention phase. The KAP of the participants were assessed using a questionnaire and observation checklist in the pre- and post-intervention phases.

Improvement in all aspects of the KAP regarding infectious and sharps waste management was observed among the participants after implementation of the intervention, with a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-test results (p<0.01).

The applied multi-component educational program in the current study can be successfully implemented for ESWs in all government hospitals in Kuwait and other countries with similar settings.

The aim of this paper is to investigate permittivity of nano structured Ni_0.7‐xCo_xZn_0.3Fe₂O₄ thick films at microwave frequencies.

Nanosized Ni_0.7‐xCo_xZn_0.3Fe₂O₄ ferrites with x=0, 0.04, 0.08 and 0.12 were prepared by sucrose precursor technique using the constituent metal nitrates. Thick films of the ferrites were fabricated on alumina substrates by screen‐printing technique. Microwave dielectric constant (ε′) and the loss factor (ε″) for the thick films were measured by VSWR slotted section method in the 8‐18 GHz range of frequencies. Microwave attenuation properties were studied using a waveguide reflectometer set up.

Both the ε′ and ε″ were found to vary with frequency and composition x. It is observed that, value of ε′ increases with increase in x, due to the increase in bulk density and reduction in porosity of the material, that resulted due to the substitution of cobalt in Ni‐Zn ferrite. The microwave transmission loss offered by the thick films was found to increase with the increase in cobalt concentration x. Within the band width of 4 GHz (from 12‐16 GHz), all the films except that with x=0.04 offered the reflection loss of less than 3 dB.

The dielectric constant of Ni_0.7‐xCo_xZn_0.3Fe₂O₄ thick films have been reported for the first time. These thick films provide scope for cost effective planar ferrite devices.

The aim of this paper is to investigate microwave Ku band absorbance, complex permittivity, and permeability of SrFe₁₂O₁₉ thick films by a simple and novel waveguide technique.

The glass frit free or fritless strontium hexaferrite thick films were formulated on alumina by screen printing technique from the powder synthesized by chemical co precipitation method for pH 11 adjusted during the reaction. The 13‐18 GHz frequency band microwave absorbance of the SrFe₁₂O₁₉ thick films by a simple waveguide method. The complex permittivity and permeability of strontium hexaferrite thick films was measured by voltage standing wave ratio technique.

SrFe₁₂O₁₉ thick films show high ∼80 percent absorbance in the whole 13‐18 GHz frequency band. The thickness dependant microwave properties of strontium hexaferrite thick films were observed. The real permittivity ε′ lies in between eight and 35 with the variation in thickness of the thick film SrFe₁₂O₁₉. The real microwave permeability μ′ of strontium hexaferrite thick films lies in the range 1.12‐6.41. The resonance type behavior was observed at frequency 14.3 GHz. The SrFe₁₂O₁₉ thick film of thickness 30 μm could be a wide band (∼5,000 MHz) absorber with absorbance ∼87 percent for the whole 13‐18 GHz frequency band.

The complex permeability of strontium hexaferrite thick films was measured by simple novel waveguide method. The high absorbance (∼87 percent) of thick film SrFe₁₂O₁₉ over a broad band ∼5,000 MHz will be useful in achieving RAM coatings required for 13‐18 GHz frequency band.

In hot and dry climates, air conditioning accounts for a large portion of total energy consumption; therefore, this paper aims to investigate the impact of sol-air temperature and ground temperature on the loss of cooling energy in hot and dry regions of Iran.

In line with this objective, the values of sol-air temperature along different directions and ground temperature at different depths were assessed with respect to climatic data of Yazd City. The impact of sol-air temperature and ground temperature on the rate of heat loss was investigated. So, energy loss of the walls aligned to four primary directions was calculated. This process was repeated for a 36 m² building with three different shape factors. All analyses were conducted for the period from May to September, during which buildings need to be cooled by air conditioners.

Numerical analyses conducted for hot and dry climate show that sol-air temperature leads to a 41-17 per cent increase in the wall’s energy loss compared with ambient temperature. Meanwhile, building the wall below the surface leads to a significant reduction in energy loss. For example, building the wall 400 cm below the surface leads to about 74.8-79.2 per cent energy saving compared with above ground design. The results also show that increasing the direct contact between soil and building envelope decreases the energy loss, so energy loss of a building that is built 400 cm below the surface is 53.7-55.3 per cent lower than that of a building built above the surface.

The impact of sol-air temperature and ground temperature on the cooling energy loss of a building in hot and dry climate was investigated. Numerical analysis shows that solar radiation increases heat loss from building envelope. Soil temperature fluctuations decrease with depth. Heat loss from building envelope in an underground building is lower than that from building envelope in a building built above the ground. Three different shape factors showed that sol-air temperature has the maximum impact on square-shaped plan and minimal impact on buildings with east-west orientation.