Research ArticleOpen accessIn the abstractGait Optimization of Biped Robot during Double Support Phase by Pure Dynamic SynthesisNima Jamshidi, Mostafa RostamiThis paper deals with dynamic optimization of biped locomotion. The main focus of this research is motion optimization of double support phase. The optimization problem is dealt by using Pontryagins Maximum Principal. For motion optimization of double support phase, the closed kinematic chain has been considered to be opened at appropriate joint and the components of ground reaction forces has … …American Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol. 5, Issue 9 · 30 Sep 2008 · 7,127 accessesView PDFCite
Research ArticleOpen accessIn the abstractA Typical Case Study: Solid Waste Management in Petroleum RefineriesJadea S. Alshammari, Fatma K. Gad, Ahmed A.M. Elgibaly, Abdul Rehman KhanThe current environmental concerns have forced developed and developing countries to reduce air, water and land pollution for sustainable growth. Solid refinery waste is cocktail of hydrocarbons, water, heavy metal and fine solids and is substantial in quantity. The principal processes of waste management focus mainly on waste source reduction, reusing, recycling, composting, incineration with or without energy recovery, fuel … …American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Vol. 4, Issue 4 · 31 Aug 2008 · 9,767 accessesView PDFCite
Research ArticleOpen accessIn the abstractField Behavior of A High Anchored Reinforced Earth WallFaisal Hj Ali, Bujang B.K. Huat, Lee Chee HaiSince the invention of Reinforced Earth by the French architect Hendri Vidal in 1966, numerous reinforced soil walls have been designed and constructed all over the world. In this study the focus was on a particular type of reinforced wall called Nehemiah wall which differed from the Vidal type in the sense that instead of steel strips, the reinforcing elements … …American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Vol. 4, Issue 4 · 31 Aug 2008 · 7,258 accessesView PDFCite
Research ArticleOpen accessIn the abstractEffect of Earthquakes on Some Kind of BuildingsJ. Alberto Escobar S., J. Antonio Mendoza, Roberto Gómez M.A new method that simplifies the current static seismic torsion design procedure for buildings is proposed. Distribution of the shear forces among the storey-resistant elements designed by torsion and of the factors which affect the design eccentricity, specially accidental eccentricity, are studied. It is demonstrated that the effect of accidental eccentricity is always additive for the structural elements. There is … …American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Vol. 4, Issue 3 · 30 Jun 2008 · 6,347 accessesView PDFCite
Research ArticleOpen accessIn the abstractAn Ethical Appraisal of Hormesis: Towards a Rational Discourse on the Acceptability of Risks and BenefitsOrtwin RennIt is ethically mandated that potential beneficial aspects of low exposure to potentially hazardous material are incorporated in the risk-benefit balancing procedure. The potential harm done by pollutants does not justify the invocation of a categorical principle. Minimisation of risk is not required if health benefits are also at stake. Society needs to find an informed consent on the threshold … …American Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vol. 3, Issue 1 · 31 Mar 2008 · 7,078 accessesView PDFCite
Research ArticleOpen accessIn the abstractInvestigation of Pile- Soil Interaction Subjected to Lateral Loads in Layered SoilsA. Avaei, Abdoul R. Ghotbi, M. AryafarTo stabilize infrastructures such as tall buildings, bridges, etc., piles are used to resist lateral loads created from earth pressure, wind, waves and earthquake extensively. Pile design requires understanding of how the load is transferred from a pile to surrounding soil and vice versa. Pile properties, soil stress-strain behavior and pile-soil interaction play important roles in pile-response subjected to lateral … …American Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Vol. 1, Issue 1 · 31 Mar 2008 · 7,339 accessesView PDFCite
Research ArticleOpen accessIn the abstractThe Determinants of Urban Household Poverty in MalaysiaT. Y. Mok, C. Gan, A. SanyalSince independence in 1950s Malaysia has been recognized as one of the more successful countries in fighting poverty: head count ratio came down to 5.7% by 2004. However the recent process of rapid urbanization has led to an increase of urban poverty aggravated further by the 1997 Asian financial crisis. It is important to understand the nature and scale of … …Journal of Social Sciences, Vol. 3, Issue 4 · 31 Dec 2007 · 9,855 accessesView PDFCite
Research ArticleOpen accessIn the abstractLightning Over-Voltages on Amman-Aqaba 400 KV LineGhassan Halasa, Ibrahim Badran, Hafez El-ZayyatAn attempt is made to evaluate the lightning over-voltage failure rate for Amman- Aqaba 400kV transmission line by studying the geographical and temporal characteristics of lightning causing the line forced outages. The line was divided into three sections based on weather and pollution conditions. It was found that the line failure rate due to lightning over-voltages is low compared to … …American Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol. 4, Issue 12 · 31 Dec 2007 · 6,632 accessesView PDFCite
Research ArticleOpen accessIn the abstractSociopolitical Instability and Economic Growth Empirical Evidence from Sri LankaChangsheng Xu, Santhirasegaram Selvarathinam, Wen Xing LiSociopolitical instability severely affects economic growth in short and long run. This study analyzes that sociopolitical instability measured by proxy measure; annual growth rate of tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka during 1960-2005 adversely affects economic growth. Our empirical findings based on ordinary lease square econometric estimation, show that sociopolitical instability negatively and significantly affect economic growth. Reduction of economic growth … …American Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol. 4, Issue 12 · 31 Dec 2007 · 6,879 accessesView PDFCite
Research ArticleOpen accessIn the abstractMathematical Modeling for Shakedown Analysis of Offshore StructuresMohammad Javad Fadaee, Hamed Saffari, Ramin TabatabaeiThe shakedown analysis process of an offshore structure having elastic-plastic material presented. The finite element model of the structure has been developed first, and then a simple method has been applied for shakedown analysis using matrix tool. Simplifying the relationships together with applying the theory concepts of shakedown analysis is one of the characteristics of the presented method for practical … …American Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol. 4, Issue 7 · 31 Jul 2007 · 7,065 accessesView PDFCite