• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.29-36
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• 2023

Blockchain is an emerging technology that is used to address ownership, centrality, and security issues in different fields. The blockchain technology has converted centralized applications into decentralized and distributed ones. In existing sharing economy applications, there are issues related to low efficiency and high complexity of services. However, blockchain technology can be adopted to overcome these issues by effectively opening up secure information channels of the sharing economy industry and other related parties, encouraging industry integration and improving the ability of sharing economy organizations to readily gain required information. This paper discusses blockchain technology to enhance the development of insurance services by proposing a five-layer decentralized model. The Najm for Insurance Services Company in Saudi Arabia was employed in a case study for applying the proposed model to effectively solve the issue of online underwriting, and to securely and efficiently enhance the verification and validation of transactions. The paper concludes with a review of the lessons learned and provides suggestions for blockchain application development process.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.269-289
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• 2019

This study investigated experimentally the response of thick reinforced concrete specimens having hollow cores with critical parameters. The investigation includes testing of twelve specimens that are solid and hollow-core slab models. Each specimen consists of two pieces, the piece dimensions are (1.2 m) length, (0.3 m) width and (20 cm) thickness tested under both monotonic and repeated loading. The test program is carried out to study the effects of load type, core diameters, core shape, number of cores, and steel fiber existence. Load versus deflection at mid span, failure modes, and crack patterns were obtained during the test. The test results showed that core shape and core number has remarkable influenced on cracking pattern, ultimate load, and failure mode. Also, when considering repeated loading protocol, the ultimate load capacity, load at yielding, and ductility is reduced.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.831-837
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• 2022

Numerical investigation on dynamic characteristics of sandwich plates under periodic and thermal loads has been presented by assuming that the plate has three layers which are a foam core and two skins. The foam core made of Aluminum has porosities with uniform and graded dispersions. The sandwich plate has been supposed to be affected by periodical compressive loads. Also, temperature variation causes uniform thermal load. The formulation has been established based upon a higher-order plate theory and Ritz method has been used to solve the equations of motion. The stability boundaries have also been obtained performing Bolotin's method. It will be indicated that stability boundaries of the sandwich plate depend on periodical load parameters, porosities, skin thickness and temperature.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2023

In the present work, the vibration characteristics of sandwich nanocomposite shells, fortified with graphene platelets (GPLs) have been researched. The shell has been considered as the stadium roof shape with double curvatures under vibration due to earthquake. The nanocomposite has the matrix of concrete which is fortified with uniform or linear dispersions of GPLs. Also, the core possesses cellular type square architecture for which the effective elastic modulus has been defined in the context of relative density based relations. Based upon the classic shell strains containing two identical curvatures, the governing equations have been established and solved through differential quadrature approach. It will be seen that the vibrational frequencies rely on the core relative density, height of layers, the amount and dispersions of GPLs and even shell geometric parameters.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.203-214
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• 2013

This study investigates quantitative methods for assessment of infrared analysis of concrete admixtures using correlation coefficients by performing IR scans following the ASTM C494/C494M-11 specifications. In order to achieve this goal, numerous IR scans were performed on specimens supplied by the manufacturer from different batches to ensure uniformity and equivalency. These scans were then analyzed to create correlation coefficients for each admixture. The correlation coefficients were used to quantitatively evaluate and interpret IR Scans of job samples. The study focused on 23 most commonly used concrete admixtures by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT). They include air-entrainers, accelerators, retarders, water reducers, and other combinations of these admixtures. Their correlation coefficients were established by analyzing a total of 12 scans of each admixture from three different batches supplied by the manufacturer at different time intervals. In order to validate the obtained correlation coefficients and establish a target correlation, job samples were tested and compared to the obtained correlations. The study also evaluated the effects of drying time and using different types of KBr on correlation coefficients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.5113-5117
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• 2012

Prohibitin (PHB) is a chaperone protein which is highly conserved evolutionarily. It shows significant homology with the Drosophila cc gene which is considered important for development and differentiation of Drosophila melanogaster. Investigations have revealed an involvement of PHB in cellular proliferation and development, apoptosis, signal transduction, mitochondrial function and regulation of the estrogen and androgen receptors. Therefore, we conducted the present study to analyze mutations in the highly conserved region in Indian female breast cancer patients. Conventional PCR-SSCP and Automated DNA sequencing were performed with a total of 105 breast cancer samples along with adjacent normal tissue. Of the total, 14.2% (15/105) demonstrated a mutation status of prohibitin observed in our study population. We identified a novel missense mutation (Thr>Ser), a novel deletion of T nucleotide in an intron adjacent to intron-exon boundary and a previously determined missense mutation (Val>Ala). A statistically significant correlation was obtained which suggested that prohibitin may be associated with tumor development and/or progression of at least some proportion of breast cancers.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.162-168
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• 2019

PURPOSE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of occlusal adjustments on the surface roughness of yttria-tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) and wear of opposing artificial enamel. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Twenty-five Y-TZP slabs from each brand (Lava, 3M and Bruxzir, Glidewell Laboratories) with different surface conditions (Control polished - CPZ; Polished/ground - GRZ; Polished/ground/repolished - RPZ; Glazed - GZ; Porcelain-veneered - PVZ; n=5) were abraded (500,000 cycles, 80 N) against artificial enamel (6 mm diameter steatite). Y-TZP roughness (in ${\mu}m$) before and after chewing simulation (CS) and antagonist steatite volume loss (in $mm^3$) were evaluated using a contact surface profilometer. Y-TZP roughness was analyzed by three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and steatite wear by two-way ANOVA and Tukey Honest Difference (HSD) (P=.05). RESULTS. There was no effect of Y-TZP brand on surface roughness (P=.216) and steatite loss (P=.064). A significant interaction effect (P<.001) between surface condition and CS on Y-TZP roughness was observed. GZ specimens showed higher roughness after CS (before CS - $3.7{\pm}1.8{\mu}m$; after CS - $13.54{\pm}3.11{\mu}m$), with partial removal of the glaze layer. Indenters abraded against CPZ ($0.09{\pm}0.03mm^3$) were worn more than those abraded against PVZ ($0.02{\pm}0.01mm^3$) and GZ ($0.02{\pm}0.01mm^3$). Higher wear caused by direct abrasion against zirconia was confirmed by SEM. CONCLUSION. Polishing with an intraoral polishing system did not reduce the roughness of zirconia. Wear of the opposing artificial enamel was affected by the material on the surface rather than the finishing technique applied, indicating that polished zirconia is more deleterious to artificial enamel than are glazed and porcelain-veneered restorations.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.492-498
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• 2010

Both metabolic syndrome (MetS) and elevated LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) increase the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We hypothesized that low HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) would further increase CVD risk in women having both conditions. To assess this, we recruited 89 women with MetS (25-72 y) and LDL-C ${\geq}$ 2.6 mmol/L. To determine whether plasma HDL-C concentrations were associated with dietary components, circulating atherogenic particles, and other risk factors for CVD, we divided the subjects into two groups: high HDL-C (H-HDL) (${\geq}$ 1.3 mmol/L, n=32) and low HDL-C (L-HDL) (< 1.3 mmol/L, n=57). Plasma lipids, insulin, adiponectin, apolipoproteins, oxidized LDL, Lipoprotein(a), and lipoprotein size and subfractions were measured, and 3-d dietary records were used to assess macronutrient intake. Women with L-HDL had higher sugar intake and glycemic load (P< 0.05), higher plasma insulin (P< 0.01), lower adiponectin (P< 0.05), and higher numbers of atherogenic lipoproteins such as large VLDL (P < 0.01) and small LDL (P<0.001) than the H-HDL group. Women with L-HDL also had larger VLDL and both smaller LDL and HDL particle diameters (P<0.001). HDL-C was positively correlated with LDL size (r=0.691, P<0.0001) and HDL size (r=0.606, P<0.001), and inversely correlated with VLDL size (r=-0.327, P<0.01). We concluded that L-HDL could be used as a marker for increased numbers of circulating atherogenic lipoproteins as well as increased insulin resistance in women who are already at risk for CVD.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2169-2190
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• 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many aspects of human life. The pandemic not only caused millions of fatalities and problems but also changed public sentiment and behavior. Owing to the magnitude of this pandemic, governments worldwide adopted full lockdown measures that attracted much discussion on social media platforms. To investigate the effects of these lockdown measures, this study performed sentiment analysis and latent Dirichlet allocation topic modeling on textual data from Twitter published during the three lockdown waves in Malaysia between 2020 and 2021. Three lockdown measures were identified, the related data for the first two weeks of each lockdown were collected and analysed to understand the public sentiment. The changes between these lockdowns were identified, and the latent topics were highlighted. Most of the public sentiment focused on the first lockdown as reflected in the large number of latent topics generated during this period. The overall sentiment for each lockdown was mostly positive, followed by neutral and then negative. Topic modelling results identified staying at home, quarantine and lockdown as the main aspects of discussion for the first lockdown, whilst importance of health measures and government efforts were the main aspects for the second and third lockdowns. Governments may utilise these findings to understand public sentiment and to formulate precautionary measures that can assure the safety of their citizens and tend to their most pressing problems. These results also highlight the importance of positive messaging during difficult times, establishing digital interventions and formulating new policies to improve the reaction of the public to emergency situations.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.489-501
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• 2024

Geopolymers are part of a class of materials characterized by properties combining polymers, ceramics, and cement. These include exceptionally high thermal and chemical stability, excellent mechanical strength and durability in aggressive environments. This work deals with the synthesis, characterization, and sustainability evaluation of GP_GBFS-MK geopolymers by alkaline activation of a granulated blast furnace slag-metakaolin mixture. In the first step, elemental and oxide analyses by XRF and EDS showed that the main constituents of GP_GBFS-MK geopolymers are silicon, sodium, and aluminium oxides. The structural analyses by XRD and FTIR confirmed that the geopolymerization for GP_GBFS-MK geopolymers did occur, accompanied by the formation of disordered networks from the blends and a modification to the microstructure by the geopolymerization process. Similarly, the microstructural study made by SEM showed that the GP_GBFS-MK geopolymers are constituted by aluminosilicates in the form of dense clusters on which are adsorbed particles of unreacted GBFS in the form of spheroids and white residues of the alkaline activating solution. In addition, the study of the sustainability evaluation of GP_GBFS-MK geopolymers showed that the water absorption of geopolymeric materials is lower than that of OPC cement. As for the elevated temperature resistance, the analyses indicated an excellent elevated temperature resistance of GP_GBFS-MK. In the same way, the study of the resistance to chemical aggressions showed that the GP_GBFS-MK geopolymeric materials are unattackable, contrary to the OPC cement-based materials which are strongly altered.