bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with increased hospitalisation risk among nursing home residents in Sweden: a prospective study with a three‐year follow‐up
Authors: Hallgren Jenny , Ernsth Bravell Marie , Mölstad Sigvard , Östgren Carl Johan , Midlöv Patrik , Dahl Aslan Anna K.
Published: December 2015

Background

Hospitalisation of nursing home residents might lead to deteriorating health.

Aim

To evaluate physical and psychological factors associated with hospitalisation risk among nursing home residents.

Design

Prospective study with three years of follow‐up.

Methods

Four hundred and twenty‐nine Swedish nursing home residents, ages 65–101 years, from 11 nursing homes in three municipalities were followed during three years. The participants' physical and psychological status was assessed at baseline. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate factors associated with hospitalisation risk using STATA.

Results

Of the 429 participants, 196 (45.7%) were hospitalised at least once during the three‐year follow‐up period, and 109 (25.4%) during the first six months of the study. The most common causes of hospitalisation were cardiovascular diseases or complications due to falls. A Cox regression model showed that residents who have had previous falls (P < 0.001), are malnourished (P < 0.001), use a greater number of drugs (P < 0.001) and have more diseases (P < 0.001), are at an increased risk of hospitalisation.

Conclusion

Nursing home residents are frequently hospitalised, often due to falls or cardiovascular diseases. Study results underscore the relationships between malnutrition, previous falls, greater numbers of drugs and diseases and higher risk of hospitalisation.

Implications for practice

Preventive interventions aimed at malnutrition and falls at the nursing home could potentially reduce the number of hospitalisations. With improved education and support to nurses concerning risk assessment at the nursing homes, it may be possible to reduce the numbers of avoidable hospitalisation among nursing home residents and in the long run improve quality of life and reduce suffering.
Enduring Simples and the Stages They Compose
Authors: Brzozowski Jacek
Published: December 2015

In this article I introduce a hybrid view of persistence whereby simple objects persist by enduring while composite objects persist by being stage‐related. I first show how, by sharing certain features and not others with the standard (non‐hybrid) views of persistence, this hybrid view navigates two metaphysical problems that have been raised against such standard (non‐hybrid) views. I then consider some implications of the view by addressing a couple of worries that may be raised against it. I conclude that this hybrid view provides an attractive theory, one that deserves further investigation in the debate on persistence.
Chemical composition of cornicle secretion of the brown citrus aphid Toxoptera citricida
Authors: Alfaress Serine , Hijaz Faraj , Killiny Nabil
Published: December 2015

Brown citrus aphid Toxoptera citricida Kirkadly is considered as an important pest of citrus because it vectors citrus tristeza closterovirus. Aphids secrete a fluid from their cornicles as a defensive mechanism against natural enemies. Earlier studies on cornicle secretions of aphids focus only on triglycerides and fatty acids. In the present study, three different methods are used to investigate the chemical composition of the cornicle fluid of T. citricida. Gas chromatography with flame ionization detection is used to detect and quantify the triglycerides after trimethylsilyl derivatization, and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) is used to determine the fatty acid composition after derivatization with boron trifluoride–methanol. Other compounds are detected using GC‐MS after methoxyamine hydrochloride and N‐methyl‐N‐(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide derivatization. The major fatty acid in the cornicle secretion of T. citricida is palmitic acid. Oleic, stearic, myristic, myristoleic and sorbic acids are also detected, although in low amounts. Sorboyl, dipalmitoyl (C6‐2, C16, C16) and disorboyl, stearoyl (C6‐2, C6‐2, C18) are the main triglycerides detected in cornicle secretion. Trehalose is the most predominant sugar (558.2 mm), followed by glucose (92.0 mm) and inositol (48.8 mm). Many amino acids, including proline, glycine, alanine and serine, are also detected. In addition, the cornicle secretion is rich in many organic acids, including malic, citric, succinic and lactic acid. Information obtained from the present study improves our understanding of the chemical composition of the cornicle secretion of the brown citrus aphid.
Indian Gaming: The Declining Democratic Advantage in State Legislative Elections
Authors: Garner Andrew , Skopek Tracy
Published: December 2015

As policy making for Indian gaming and other tribal issues has shifted from the federal government to state politics and state legislatures over the past several decades, the role of American Indians in the electoral process in state legislative elections deserves greater scholarly attention. We examine changes in voting patterns among state legislative elections over a 40‐year period for districts with and without casinos. In the past, Democrats held a large advantage in casino districts both in terms of the two‐party vote share and in terms of incumbents running unopposed when seeking reelection. Since the 1990s, this traditional Democratic advantage has largely disappeared to a point where the two parties compete at rough parity in these districts. In several states, American Indians represent a sizeable and potentially influential voting bloc.

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The Political Economy of Trade Protection in Colombia
Authors: De Lombaerde Philippe
Published: December 2015

This article sheds new light on the interaction between trade policy formation, politics, and the economy in Colombia in the 20th century. The author combines original ex post interview data on the apertura process that took off in the 1990s with a meta‐analysis of earlier studies on the political and economic history of Colombia. The analysis allows for a better understanding of the applicability of standard political‐economy models to explain empirically the levels of protection of the manufacturing industry. More specifically, the article sheds new light on the determination of tariff levels, the interaction of conflicting interest groups, the degree of autonomy of the government and the bureaucrats, and the relationship between the ideological profiles of governments and the orientation of their trade policies. It is argued that the Colombian case has wider relevance for understanding the formation of trade policies in other countries in Latin America, especially in contexts with diversified economic structures and shifting government coalitions.

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The Political Economy of Economic Adjustment Programs in the Eurozone: A Detailed Policy Analysis
Authors: J. Hazakis Konstantinos
Published: December 2015

The euro area debt crisis has pointed more than ever before to the importance of effective reforms and sustainable macroeconomics. Indeed, rising doubts that Eurozone countries with low industrial competitiveness will be able to repay high international liabilities render adjustment a cardinal issue for European cohesion. Evidently, a compelling necessity exists for well‐designed Economic Adjustment Programs (EAPs). This article proposes an ideal EAP type of how to perceive the main stages of adjustment within the Eurozone, underlining their operational/cognitive links as well as the required catalysts for success implementation of adjustment strategy. The proposed holistic adjustment framework treats macroeconomic, microeconomic, financial, and structural reforms not as isolated issue areas but rather as interdependent and mutually vulnerable issue areas. Emphasis is placed on domestic political economy considerations and the necessary societal reform alliance capable and willing to carry out adjustment.

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Angelaki, Marina, and
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Metabolic changes and associated cytokinin signals in response to nitrate assimilation in roots and shoots of Lolium perenne
Authors: Roche Jessica , Love Jonathan , Guo Qianqian , Song Jiancheng , Cao Mingshu , Fraser Karl , Huege Jan , Jones Chris , Novák Ondřej , Turnbull Matthew H. , Jameson Paula E.
Published: December 2015

The efficiency of inorganic nitrogen (N) assimilation is a critical component of fertilizer use by plants and of forage production in Lolium perenne, an important pasture species worldwide. We present a spatiotemporal description of nitrate use efficiency in terms of metabolic responses and carbohydrate remobilization, together with components of cytokinin signal transduction following nitrate addition to N‐impoverished plants. Perennial ryegrass (L. perenne cv. Grasslands Nui) plants were grown for 10 weeks in unfertilized soil and then treated with nitrate (5 mM) hydroponically. Metabolomic analysis by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry revealed a dynamic interaction between N and carbon metabolism over a week‐long time course represented by the relative abundance of amino acids, tricarboxylic acid intermediates and stored water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSCs). The initial response to N addition was characterized by a rapid remobilization of carbon stores from the low‐molecular weight WSC, along with an increase in N content and assimilation into free amino acids. Subsequently, the shoot became the main source of carbon through remobilization of a large pool of high‐molecular weight WSC. Associated quantification of cytokinin levels and expression profiling of putative cytokinin response regulator genes by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction support a role for cytokinin in the mediation of the response to N addition in perennial ryegrass. The presence of high levels of cis‐zeatin‐type cytokinins is discussed in the context of hormonal homeostasis under the stress of steady‐state N deficiency.
Salivary biomarkers for dental caries
Authors: Gao Xiaoli , Jiang Shan , Koh David , Hsu Chin‐Ying Stephen
Published: December 2015

As a highly prevalent multifactorial disease, dental caries afflicts a large proportion of the world's population. As teeth are constantly bathed in saliva, the constituents and properties of this oral fluid play an essential role in the occurrence and progression of dental caries. Various inorganic (water and electrolytes) and organic (proteins and peptides) components may protect teeth from dental caries. This occurs via several functions, such as clearance of food debris and sugar, aggregation and elimination of microorganisms, buffering actions to neutralize acid, maintaining supersaturation with respect to tooth mineral, participation in formation of the acquired pellicle and antimicrobial defense. Modest evidence is available on the associations between dental caries and several salivary parameters, including flow rate, buffering capacity and abundance of mutans streptococci. Despite some controversial findings, the main body of the literature supports an elevated caries prevalence and/or incidence among people with a pathologically low saliva flow rate, compromised buffering capacity and early colonization or high titer of mutans streptococci in saliva. The evidence remains weak and/or inconsistent on the association between dental caries and other saliva parameters, such as other possible cariogenic species (Lactobacillus spp., Streptococcus sanguis group, Streptococcus salivarius, Actinomyces spp. and Candida albicans), diversity of saliva microbiomes, inorganic and organic constituents (electrolytes, immunoglobulins, other proteins and peptides) and some functional properties (sugar clearance rate, etc.). The complex interactions between salivary components and functions suggest that saliva has to be considered in its entirety to account for its total effects on teeth.
Personalized medicine: an update of salivary biomarkers for periodontal diseases
Authors: Korte Dina L. , Kinney Janet
Published: December 2015

This article provides an up‐to‐date review of the more robust salivary biomarkers, as well as of panels of combinatorial markers and periodontal pathogens, that reveal high sensitivity and specificity for enhancing clinical decision‐making in periodontal disease progression, risk and diagnosis. Periodontal diseases are complex and require an inflammatory response to bacterial pathogens in a susceptible host to stimulate tissue destruction. When used alone, traditional clinical assessments provide a diagnosis of periodontitis only after the biologic onset of the disease process, and are unable to substantiate disease activity or future risk. New technologies are becoming available that are capable of measuring combinations of inflammatory cytokines and proteinases for rapid chair‐side testing. Utilizing saliva to identify and measure specific phenotypes and host‐derived mediators will allow highly individualized diagnosis, prognosis and treatments for periodontal diseases. This personalized medicine approach will strengthen the power of the clinical oral examination and medical history assessments, providing patients with evidence‐based, targeted risk care.
Gingival crevicular fluid as a source of biomarkers for periodontitis
Authors: Barros Silvana P. , Williams Ray , Offenbacher Steven , Morelli Thiago
Published: December 2015

In evaluating the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases, the diagnostic potential of gingival crevicular fluid has been extensively explored during the last twenty years, from initially just confirming health and disease states to more recently investigating it as a potential prognostic tool. As host susceptibility is a critical determinant in periodontal disease pathogenesis, the inflammatory mediator levels present in gingival crevicular fluid represent relevant risk indicators for disease activity. Considerable work has been carried out to identify the many different cytokine inflammatory pathways and microbial stimuli that are associated with periodontal disease pathogenesis. Now, ‘omics’ approaches aim to summarize how these pathways interact and probably converge to create critical inflammatory networks. More recently, gingival crevicular fluid metabolomics appears promising as an additional diagnostic method. Biofilm structure and the host inflammatory response to the microbial challenge may induce specific inflammatory signatures. Host genetics and epigenetics may also modulate microbial colonization, adding to the multiplicity of potential causal pathways. Omics analyses of gingival crevicular fluid, measuring microbial and host interactions in association with the onset and progression of periodontal diseases, still show the potential to expand the landscape for the discovery of diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic markers.
Clinical and technical considerations in the analysis of gingival crevicular fluid
Authors: Wassall Rebecca R. , Preshaw Philip M.
Published: December 2015

Despite the technical challenges involved when collecting, processing and analyzing gingival crevicular fluid samples, research using gingival crevicular fluid has, and will continue to play, a fundamental role in expanding our understanding of periodontal pathogenesis and healing outcomes following treatment. A review of the literature, however, clearly demonstrates that there is considerable variation in the methods used for collection, processing and analysis of gingival crevicular fluid samples by different research groups around the world. Inconsistent or inadequate reporting impairs interpretation of results, prevents accurate comparison of data between studies and potentially limits the conclusions that can be made from a larger body of evidence. The precise methods used for collection and analysis of gingival crevicular fluid (including calibration studies required before definitive clinical studies) should be reported in detail, either in the methods section of published papers or as an online supplementary file, so that other researchers may reproduce the methodology. Only with clear and transparent reporting will the full impact of future gingival crevicular fluid research be realized. This paper discusses the complexities of gingival crevicular fluid collection and analysis and provides guidance to researchers working in this field.
The physiology of salivary secretion
Authors: Proctor Gordon B.
Published: December 2015

Saliva in the mouth is a biofluid produced mainly by three pairs of major salivary glands – the submandibular, parotid and sublingual glands – along with secretions from many minor submucosal salivary glands. Salivary gland secretion is a nerve‐mediated reflex and the volume of saliva secreted is dependent on the intensity and type of taste and on chemosensory, masticatory or tactile stimulation. Long periods of low (resting or unstimulated) flow are broken by short periods of high flow, which is stimulated by taste and mastication. The nerve‐mediated salivary reflex is modulated by nerve signals from other centers in the central nervous system, which is most obvious as hyposalivation at times of anxiety. An example of other neurohormonal influences on the salivary reflex is the circadian rhythm, which affects salivary flow and ionic composition. Cholinergic parasympathetic and adrenergic sympathetic autonomic nerves evoke salivary secretion, signaling through muscarinic M3 and adrenoceptors on salivary acinar cells and leading to secretion of fluid and salivary proteins. Saliva gland acinar cells are chloride and sodium secreting, and the isotonic fluid produced is rendered hypotonic by salivary gland duct cells as it flows to the mouth. The major proteins present in saliva are secreted by salivary glands, creating viscoelasticity and enabling the coating of oral surfaces with saliva. Salivary films are essential for maintaining oral health and regulating the oral microbiome. Saliva in the mouth contains a range of validated and potential disease biomarkers derived from epithelial cells, neutrophils, the microbiome, gingival crevicular fluid and serum. For example, cortisol levels are used in the assessment of stress, matrix metalloproteinases‐8 and ‐9 appear to be promising markers of caries and periodontal disease, and a panel of mRNA and proteins has been proposed as a marker of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Understanding the mechanisms by which components enter saliva is an important aspect of validating their use as biomarkers of health and disease.
Salivary cytokines as biomarkers of periodontal diseases
Authors: Jaedicke Katrin M. , Preshaw Philip M. , Taylor John J.
Published: December 2015

Research into biomarkers of periodontitis is driven by mainly three targets: to identify ‘at risk’ patients before periodontal tissue destruction occurs; to determine disease activity and progression; and to build up our understanding of this complex disease with the purpose of finding new therapeutic targets. Whilst blood and gingival crevicular fluid were previously the biological samples of choice, saliva has recently gained more attention as a readily accessible oral fluid which has a mediator profile similar to that of serum and gingival crevicular fluid. The aim of this paper was to give a comprehensive overview of salivary cytokines in periodontitis, highlighting extensively studied cytokines such as interleukin‐1beta and interleukin‐6, but also cytokines that have been the subject of only a few studies and which warrant further investigation. Cross‐sectional and longitudinal studies of salivary cytokines, and the potential of cytokines as periodontitis biomarkers, are evaluated. Finally, a discussion of potential confounding factors, such as concurrent systemic diseases and smoking, is presented.
Generating Usable Knowledge through an Experimental Approach to Public Administration
Authors: Jilke Sebastian , Van de Walle Steven , Kim Soonhee
Published: December 2015

This introduction to the symposium on experimental methods in public administration shows how using experimental methods generates not only research that is empirically credible, but also relates to the real world of public administration. The ten articles in the symposium subject classic public administration theories or hypotheses that have been generated in nonexperimental research to rigorous testing using experimental methods. The first group of articles consists of studies with citizens who interact with government. The second group consists of three studies with public officials.
The Impact of Public Branding: An Experimental Study on the Effects of Branding Policy on Citizen Trust
Authors: Karens René , Eshuis Jasper , Klijn Erik‐Hans , Voets Joris
Published: December 2015

Branding has become common in the public sector as brands are increasingly used to influence citizens’ associations with public organizations and public services. Using experimental research replicated in three European countries, this article investigates the effect of using the European Union (EU) brand on trust in policies. Experiments were conducted among economics students in Belgium, Poland, and The Netherlands to test the hypothesis that adding EU brand elements to policies positively affects trust in those policies. The results show a consistent positive and significant effect of applying the EU brand to trust in the policies in all countries and for both policies included in the experiment—even in The Netherlands, a country characterized by a negative overall EU sentiment. These findings provide some of the first empirical evidence of the effectiveness of branding for public policy.
Fixed‐time Insemination in Pasture‐based Medium‐sized Dairy Operations of Northern Germany and an Attempt to Replace GnRH by hCG
Authors: Marthold D , Detterer J , Koenig von Borstel U , Gauly M , Holtz W
Published: December 2015

Contents

A field study was conducted aimed at (i) evaluating the practicability of a fixed‐time insemination regime for medium‐sized dairy operations of north‐western Germany, representative for many regions of Central Europe and (ii) substituting hCG for GnRH as ovulation‐inducing agent at the end of a presynch or ovsynch protocol in an attempt to reduce the incidence of premature luteal regression. Cows of two herds synchronized by presynch and two herds synchronized by ovsynch protocol were randomly allotted to three subgroups; in one group ovulation was induced by the GnRH analog buserelin, in another by hCG, whereas a third group remained untreated. The synchronized groups were fixed‐time inseminated; the untreated group bred to observed oestrus. Relative to untreated herd mates, pregnancy rate in cows subjected to a presynch protocol with buserelin as ovulation‐inducing agent was 74%; for hCG it was 60%. In cows subjected to an ovsynch protocol, the corresponding relative pregnancy rates reached 138% in the case of buserelin and 95% in the case of hCG. Average service interval was shortened by 1 week in the presynch and delayed by 2 weeks in the ovsynch group. It may be concluded that fixed‐time insemination of cows synchronized via ovsynch protocol with buserelin as ovulation‐inducing agent is practicable and may help improve efficiency and reduce the work load involved with herd management in medium‐sized dairy operations. The substitution of hCG for buserelin was found to be not advisable.
Through the Looking Glass of History: A New Vision for Labor Education
Authors: Mantsios Gregory
Published: December 2015

This article explores the potential of labor education in the context of significant challenges: It examines a number of historical and contemporary models and suggests building on those models to develop a new framework for the field of labor education that is more comprehensive and conceptually different from the one generally employed. The author argues for a broader definition of Labor Studies (one that is community oriented), envisions a wider role for labor educators (one that includes engagement with workforce development initiatives), and calls for labor colleges or labor schools to be established with public funding both nationally and locally.
The Indian Railway Workers and the Crisis of 1974
Authors: Samaddar Ranabir
Published: December 2015

1974 was the year of a momentous crisis in India as well as the year of the general strike by the railway workers in the country. This was in a sense the last of the classic general strikes in India, and certainly the last general strike in the railway industry. The article discusses as the backdrop to the strike the crisis in Indian economy and politics, and then moves on to the response of the working class to the crisis. If this is the general theme, the article in particular discusses the role of the rank and file in railway workers' resistance. The article traces the events of 1973, and shows how through the year of 1973 the mood of the working people had become defiant and shifted fundamentally to the left. Significantly, vital sectors of economy, the infrastructure and logistical industry in particular, experienced more unrest and work stoppages, with consequences and chain reactions spread all over. The defiant mood the workers proved scant respect and obedience of the people toward the forces of authority, law, and order. The crisis devoured the workers' own traditional organizational form and style also. In the context of all these, the article suggests a return to a discussion on the classic question of the meaning of crisis. It argues that for an analysis of the historical process of labor mobilization in the time of a crisis, the development or nondevelopment of rank and file becomes a matter of fundamental importance.
Labor Force Fragmentation in Contemporary Cyprus
Authors: Ioannou Gregoris
Published: December 2015

The concept of segmentation is mainly used to describe division in the labor market and the formation of primary and secondary markets, or division within the firm into a core and a peripheral labor force. This theoretical formulation that focuses on employment terms and conditions, although valid at a general level, becomes inadequate once the researcher observes closely actual workplace conditions. I argue that there is a multiplicity of segmentation factors and levels, social as well as work‐related, which produce identifications and differentiations and social cleavages, which reflect and sustain differentials of power resulting in labor force fragmentation. Gender, ethnicity, and age may combine with skills and occupational positions leading into the construction of formal and informal hierarchies. Drawing on data from Cyprus, this article illustrates the basic institutional, economic, cultural, and social factors producing labor force fragmentation contributing to the relevant literature with new empirical findings.
The United Auto Workers and the Emergence of Labor Environmentalism
Authors: Van Alstyne Andrew D.
Published: December 2015

Recent collaboration between labor unions and environmental organizations has sparked significant interest in “blue‐green” coalitions. Drawing on archival research, this article explores the United Auto Workers' labor environmentalism in the late 1960s and 1970s, when the union promoted a broad environmental agenda. Eventually the union went as far as incorporating environmental concerns in collective bargaining and calling for an end to the internal combustion engine. These actions are particularly noteworthy because they challenged the union's economic foundation: the automobile industry. However, as a closer examination of the record shows, there was a significant disjuncture between the union's international leadership, which pushed a broad vision of labor environmentalism, and its rank‐and‐file membership, which proved resistant to the issue. By the close of the 1970s, the conjunction of economic pressures and declining power in relation to management led the union to retreat from its environmental actions.
Crushing Strikes through the U.S. Military, 1875–1915
Authors: Gronowicz Anthony
Published: December 2015

In the wake of the Civil War, a triumphant Northern railroad industry aimed to bind together the entire nation with a crosshatching of railroads linking farm, factory, and city. Railroad tycoons soon ran the halls of Congress and state legislatures seeking funding for their projects. By 1873, the stock market, oversaturated with bloated railroad stock, collapsed to throw millions of men out of work. Those who remained endured wage cuts of up to 50 percent and seasonal work, and so went on strike against this assault on their livelihoods. The protest summit was reached in 1877 with the Great Railroad Strike. To enforce robber baron will, massive military force was deployed after Thomas A. Scott, CEO of the largest corporation in the world, the Pennsylvania Railroad, rigged the 1876 presidential election so a Republican president would be the one to remove federal troops occupying the South and use them to break strikes in the rest of the country and deal with Native American unrest over being forced from their lands. This article is adapted from a chapter of the author's forthcoming epic 78‐chapter history of the U.S.
COMPACT MICROSTRIP BAND-PASS FILTER FOR EMI REDUCTION
Authors: Ibrahim Jahun Kabir , Abdirahman Mohamud Shire Hussein Mohamed Hagi Hassan , Orozi Sougui Ali , Dahlan S. H.
Published: December 2015

Compact microstrip band-pass filter design using parallel coupled lines is presented in this paper. The microstrip lines are calculated and constructed using CST studio with two input and output ports of the filter structure are printed over Defected Ground Structure (DGS).The proposed symmetrical structure offers a simple and compact design while exhibiting an improved stop-band characteristics in comparison to conventional coupled microstrip line filter structure. The simulation and measurements of 2GHz prototype band pass filter are presented. The measured result agrees well with the simulation data. Compared with conventional parallel coupled line band pass filter, the second, third and fourth spurious responses are suppressed; in addition, the size of the prototype filter circuit is reduced up to 20.8%.
ANN AND GIS-ASSISTED METHODOLOGY FOR WIND RESOURCE ASSESSMENT (WRA) IN SARAWAK
Authors: Lawan S. M. , Abidin W. A. W. Z. , Lawan A. M. , Mustapha M. , Bichi S. L.
Published: December 2015

Wind energy is a reliable, clean source and has emerged as one of the dependable, and the best performing developing renewable energy around the world. It has insignificant environmental impacts, compared to other energy sources. In Sarawak, Malaysia, wind resource varies depending on the location. An inadequate number of wind stations are the major obstacles that slow down the growing of green energy in the region. Site selection is a crucial issue for potential investors and policy makers. This paper examines the spatial distribution and the amount of potential wind power and energy densities for wind energy production and suitable locations in Sarawak. A geographical Information System (GIS) assisted methodology, which includes wind speed, power and energy densities using the existing wind station and based on the newly developed prediction model called topographical neural network (TNN) were used. Kriging interpolation was employed for a simple interpolation of data between locations. The results show that the northeast, northwest and coastal regions have better prospects of wind energy. The studied GIS methodology can be applied for identification of the most suitable locations for wind energy harvesting. The developed maps can further be used in micro-siting and economic evaluation analysis.
TEMPERATURE PROFILE COMPARISON THROUGH CONCRETE STRUCTURES USING ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUE
Authors: Ituma Egba Ernest , Mohammad Zakari Nasiru , Balubaid Saeed , Suleiman Jibrin Hassan
Published: December 2015

Concrete structures are always exposed to the influence of environmental conditions. Mechanical properties of concrete structures undergo changes due to temperature variation. Temperature reading varies with time, season, location and point. This manuscript compared temperature profile of various sizes of rectangular concrete structure. The thickness of the concrete structures ranges from 50 mm to 500 mm at regular intervals of 25 mm. One-dimensional transient heat conduction analytical method was used to generate data for the analysis. Findings showed that time taken for unit change of temperature at centre of rectangular concrete structure varies in a polynomial order with the thickness of the structure. Similarly, the gradient of the dimensionless surface temperature and thickness of structure is steeper as the thickness approaches zero. Furthermore, temperature values at specific points vary as thickness changes. Therefore, mechanical properties of concrete structures also vary from point to point since the properties are temperature dependent. More studies to accommodate temperature distribution through various concrete shapes should be done since temperature gradient through concrete structures depends on geometry.
PROPERTIES OF MORTAR CONTAINING CERAMIC POWDER WASTE AS CEMENT REPLACEMENT
Authors: Samadi Mostafa , Hussin Mohd Warid , Seung Lee Han , Mohd Sam Abdul Rahman , A. Ismail Mohamed , Abdul Shukor Lim Nor Hasanah , Ariffin Nur Farhayu , A. Khalid Nur Hafizah
Published: December 2015

Ceramic materials are largely used in all over the world and consequently, large quantities of wastes are produced simultaneously by tile manufacturers and construction industry. Nevertheless, part of these wastes and those produced by the construction industry are dumped in landfills. This paper presents the effect of using ceramic waste in mortar as cement replacement. Four mortar mixes were prepared in this study and focuses on the effect of ceramic powder as cement replacement on the strength development and the morphology of the mortar. The microstructural characteristics of the mortar were investigated by scanning field emission electron microscopy (FESEM) and the mineralogical properties was investigated using the X-ray diffraction (XRD).  The cement was replaced by ceramic powder from 0% to 60% by weight of cement. The specimens were cast in 50 x 50 x 50 mm cube and water curing regime was used until the age of testing. The fineness of ceramic powder used is less than 45µm. The developments of compressive strength were studied for all samples. It is found that the optimum replacement that gave the highest strength was 40% replacement. It was also found that the use of ceramic powder enhanced the microstructure and strength properties of the mortar.
NON-DIMENSIONAL DISTRIBUTION PATTERN ANALYSIS OF PARTICLE TRANSPORTATION IN SIMPLIFIED PIPELINE SYSTEM
Authors: Ngali Mohd Zamani , Osman Kahar , Zakaria Nazri Huzaimi
Published: December 2015

Sustainable preservation of pipeline system that deal with particle transportation is more appealing these days. In petroleum industries for instance, sand transported through the pipelines pose serious problems ranging from blockage, corrosion, abrasion and reduction in pipe efficiency to loss of pipe integrity. Accurate four-dimensional simulation that caters the transient effect of the phenomena is used to promote sustainability in design, evaluation and maintenance procedures. This is employed to minimize conventional practices which are costly and inefficient. This work demonstrates the advantages of applying four-dimensional Splitting Fluid-Particle Solver to simulate particle transportation within a simplified pipeline system. Single-phase fluid with solid sphere particles are the assumptions while drift and gravitational forces are taken into account. Effect of fluid flow rate and particle weight alterations are observed within vertical curled and 2-1-2 segmental pipeline. Flow rate variation on multiple inputs shows that proper simulation is essential in order to predict fluid flow behavior prior to pipeline construction. Particle weight variation shows that simulation can lead to better prediction of potential areas of blockage, corrosion, abrasion and other piping system issues. This work proves that four-dimensional simulation can promote sustainability, cost effectiveness and efficiency of pipeline system management.
LONG TERM STUDIES ON COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF HIGH VOLUME NANO PALM OIL FUEL ASH MORTAR MIXES
Authors: Hussin Mohd Warid , Abdul Shukor Lim Nor Hasanah , Mohd. Sam Abdul Rahman , Samadi Mostafa , A. Ismail Mohamed , Ariffin Nur Farhayu , A. Khalid Nur Hafizah , Abd Majid Muhd Zaimi , Mirza Jahangir , Lateef Habeeb
Published: December 2015

Palm oil fuel ash is a waste material that can be used as partial cement replacement. However, its reactivity as pozzolanic material depends on the size of the particle. This paper presents the effects of nano size palm oil fuel ash on the long term characteristics of mortar. The study covers basic properties of mortar including the morphology, porosity, compressive strength and microstructural with regards to the variations in the mix design of the mortar. The palm oil fuel ash used has gone through heat treatment and was ground to a nano size with the percentage replacement of cement used was 60%, 80% and 100%. The different types of mortar samples were cast in a 70x70x70mm cube for compressive strength test. All casting and testing of the samples were conducted in the laboratory at ambient temperature. The results show that the use of 80% nano size palm oil fuel ash has produced higher compressive strength at the age of 28 days by 32% compared to the control mortar. Grinding the palm oil fuel ash to a nano size particle has improved the reactivity of the ash and because of it is a waste material it reduces the cost of the mortar. The experimental result also show that the compressive strength of the 80% nano size palm oil fuel ash mortar at 365 days was 25% higher than its strength at 28 days. In addition, the porosity of the 80% nano palm oil fuel ash mortar was reduced by 51% at the age of 1 year. The overall results have revealed that the use of high volume nano palm oil fuel ash can enhances the mortar properties and due to the high percentage of replacement it can contribute to a more sustainable construction.
DEVELOPING METHODOLOGY FOR CRADLE TO GRAVE COST PLANNING FOR INDUSTRIALISED BUILDING SYSTEM (IBS) IN MALAYSIA
Authors: Shamsuddin Siti Mazzuana , Zakaria Rozana , Mohamed Sarajul Fikri , Saleh Abd. Latif , Utomo Christiono , Abd Majid Muhd Zaimi , Yahya Khairulzan
Published: December 2015

This paper presents a proposed research methodology undertaken by a researcher to investigate the most accurate and appropriate method to generate a cradle to grave cost planning for Industrialised Building System (IBS) in the Malaysian construction industry. The methodology was intended to bring out accurate results and provide useful sources for the induction of emerging insights relating to the problem identified, which is how the current cost planning used for IBS projects helps in terms of cost control from pre-contract until the demolition of the building. At the end of this research, a proposed cradle to grave cost planning method was produced. To achieve the aims and objectives of this research, both quantitative and qualitative methods were applied. A quantitative research method in the form of a questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate which method is mostly used in preparing cost planning for IBS both from contractors’ and consultants’ point of view. The next stage of data collection was involved in-depth qualitative investigation using face-to face interviews meant to get in-depth views of each cost planning method’s advantages and barriers and what does it need to include to produce an effective cost planning for IBS elements. To complete the triangulation approach, expert group participations and validation were conducted to contribute essential thoughts in producing a comprehensive cradle to grave cost planning method, as well as validating the findings from the research. This method offers alternatives of cost planning and control over the project, and suitable for either IBS or conventional method.
BOND STRESS IN GROUTED SPIRAL CONNECTORS
Authors: Abd Rahman Ahmad Baharuddin , Mahdinezhad Mahyar , Ibrahim Izni Syahrizal , Mohamed Roslli Noor
Published: December 2015

Grouted connections are defined as the system used to join steel rebars available in precast components by means of grouting the splice sleeve and steel rebars together. The bond between the infill material and the steel bar is the key factor that governs the capacity and the performance of the connection. This study was carried out to investigate the parameters that affect the bond-slip relations in the connection. The variables in this study were the pitch distance of the spiral and reinforcement bar diameter. Altogether, 21 specimens were prepared in which 3 of them were the control specimens. Each splice sleeve utilized a spiral surrounding the main bars and 4Y10 steel splice bars which were welded to the inner surface of the spiral. All the grout filled splices were tested under increasing tensile loading. The experiments examined the bond stress-slip behaviour as well as the failure mode of the splices. The results indicate that by using the spiral without the vertical bars could not increase the bond capacity of the splices significantly. The results also showed that by reducing the bar diameter and the pitch distance of the spiral led to a higher bond strength. The highest bond stress was observed in the specimen with the lowest pitch distance and smaller bar diameter.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS IN GREEN HIGHWAY
Authors: Muhd Rooshdi Raja Rafidah Raja , Abd Majid Muhd Zaimi , Sahamir Shaza Rina
Published: December 2015

Sustainable development principles have been implemented in various sectors including construction. Proper development and operation of infrastructure projects such highways can contribute significantly to the mission of sustainable development. Previous studies shown that most of conventional highways are unsustainable in many ways. Highways are facing severe challenge such as deteriorating condition, congestion, energy supply, and shortfall of funding for maintenance and capacity expansion to meet increasing demand. However at the same time, they consume huge amount of natural minerals and energy and generate waste and emission which contributing to climate changes and global warming. Therefore, sustainable design, construction, operation and maintenance have become priority these day. The aim of this paper is to determine critical elements for sustainable design and construction based on ranking of the priority level of the weighted value of each criteria. The questionnaires survey were developed and distributed to related respondents in order to obtain the agreement level for the element. The data was analysed using SPSS with factor analysis method.  Result from the analysis shown the criteria, weightage and score for main criteria for sustainable design and construction activities for green highway.
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF EIGHT METALLIC YIELDING DAMPERS
Authors: Aghlara Reza , Md. Tahir Mahmood , Adnan A.
Published: December 2015

The seismic resistance of structures can be enhanced by using passive energy dissipation devices in order to dissipate earthquake energy. One of these devices is metallic yielding dampers which is low-cost, but highly-efficient. This paper aims to compare four key variables among eight metallic yielding dampers. Theses four parameters are equivalent viscose damping ratio, large load to weight, ductility and cumulative displacement. The dampers were selected based on the availability of the experimental data in the literature. As the first step of the methodology eight particular dampers with its load-displacement curve were carefully chosen to study. Three dissimilar last loops of force-displacement hysteresis were selected and drawn for each damper. Then the above mentioned parameters were calculated and compared to get results and draw conclusion. The outcomes reveal the relationship of the four studied parameters with each other. The results show there is a relationship between the mechanisms of energy dissipation with the specific range of equivalent viscous damping ratio in the studied metallic dampers.
RISK CLASSIFICATION AND BARRIER OF IMPLEMENTING RISK MANAGEMENT IN OIL AND GAS CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES
Authors: Dehdasht Gholamreza , Mohamad Zin Rosli , Keyvanfar Ali
Published: December 2015

Risk management is one of the most essential and significant part of construction projects due to assuring the attainment of project goals. Because of increasing global energy, more attention is needed to be paid towards risk management in oil and gas companies. The aim of this study is to improve the implementation of risk management within contractor companies in the oil and gas construction project through the evaluation of the most import risk groups and the barriers of implementing risk management in this part of industry. The current study is carried out in Iran and the scope of study includes only the construction project in oil and gas companies. A total of 48 questionnaires were distributed to the respondents and only 35 were obtained duly answered. The data was analyzed using  SPSS software during the preliminary stage of this study, a variety of risk groups have been studied, six of it were identified to be the most probable in  oil and gas construction projects which includes financial, technical, contractual, design and construction, policy and political, and weather and environmental risk groups. Among these groups “financial risk” is the most critical group, while “weather and environmental” is the least critical group. The important barriers of implementing risk management are lack of expertise in techniques, lack of familiarity with techniques and lack of information and knowledge.