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The static performance of arch dams during construction and reservoir impoundment is assessed taking into account the effects of uncertainties presented in the model properties as well as the loading conditions. Dez arch dam is chosen as the case study; it is modeled along with its rock foundation using the finite element method considering the stage construction. Since previous studies concentrated on simplified models and approaches, comprehensive study of the arch dam model along with efficient and state-of-the-art uncertainty methods are incorporated in this investigation. The reliability method is performed to assess the safety level and the sensitivity analyses for identifying critical input factors and their interaction effects on the response of the dam. Global sensitivity analysis based on improved Latin hypercube sampling is employed in this study to indicate the influence of each random variable and their interaction on variance of the responses. Four levels of model advancement are considered for the dam-foundation system: 1) Monolithic dam without any joint founded on the homogeneous rock foundation, 2) monolithic dam founded on the inhomogeneous foundation including soft rock layers, 3) jointed dam including the peripheral and contraction joints founded on the homogeneous foundation, and 4) jointed dam founded on the inhomogeneous foundation. For each model, proper performance indices are defined through limit-state functions. In this manner, the effects of input parameters in each performance level of the dam are investigated. The outcome of this study is defining the importance of input factors in each stage and model based on the variance of the dam response. Moreover, the results of sampling are computed in order to assess the safety level of the dam in miscellaneous loading and modeling conditions.

This study was conducted to investigate the potential for replacing corn with oak acorn (OA), a tannin-rich feedstuff, and the possible role of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in reducing detrimental effects of OA on broilers. A 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used with three levels of OA (0, 150, and 200 g/kg diet), with and without 10 g/kg PEG. A total of 528 one-day-old male and female Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to one of six experimental treatments, with four replicates of 22 birds each. OA was included in the starter (days 1–21) and finisher (days 22–42) diets as a replacement for corn, without changing the dietary levels of other ingredients. The results indicated that dietary inclusion of OA, without PEG, significantly reduced bodyweight gain (BWG) overall (days 1–42) and resulted in worse finisher and overall feed conversion ratios (FCR). PEG had no significant effect on the performance of birds fed diets without OA, but improved overall the BWG of birds receiving 150 and 200 g/kg OA as well as finisher and overall the FCR of birds given 150 g/kg OA. Liver and pancreas weights were not significantly influenced by OA level, PEG or their interaction. Feeding with 200 g/kg OA had deleterious effects on some tibia traits. In conclusion, a significant interaction between OA level and PEG indicates that PEG has the potential to reduce the adverse effects of OA, leading to improved performance. Thus, up to 150 g/kg OA could be included in PEG-supplemented diets, without adverse effects on performance or the tibia traits of broilers. Keywords : High-tannin feedstuff, performance, poultry nutrition, tibia characteristic

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of period on the performance, immunity, and some stress indicators of broilers fed 2 levels of protein and stocked at a normal or high stocking density. Experimental treatments consisted of a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with 2 levels of prebiotic (with or without prebiotic), 2 levels of dietary CP [NRC-recommended or low CP level (85% of NRC-recommended level)], and 2 levels of stocking density (10 birds/m(2) as the normal density or 16 birds/m(2) as the high density), for a total of 8 treatments. Each treatment had 5 replicates (cages). Birds were reared in 3-tiered battery cages with wire floors in an open-sided housing system under natural tropical conditions. Housing and general management practices were similar for all treatment groups. Starter and finisher diets in mash form were fed from 1 to 21 d and 22 to 42 d of age, respectively. Supplementation with a prebiotic had no significant effect on performance, immunity, and stress indicators (blood glucose, cholesterol, corticosterone, and heterophil:lymphocyte ratio). Protein level significantly influenced broiler performance but did not affect immunity or stress indicators (except for cholesterol level). The normal stocking density resulted in better FCR and also higher antibody titer against Newcastle disease compared with the high stocking density. However, density had no significant effect on blood levels of glucose, cholesterol, corticosterone, and the heterophil:lymphocyte ratio. Significant interactions between protein level and stocking density were observed for BW gain and final BW. The results indicated that, under the conditions of this experiment, dietary addition of a prebiotic had no significant effect on the performance, immunity, and stress indicators of broilers.

A novel microstrip slot antenna for UWB (ultra wideband) antenna applications is proposed. A square ring slot antenna is filled by an H shape slot as a parasitic element. This structure is fed by a single microstrip line with a fork like-tuning stub. Experiments are carried out to investigate its return loss, its radiation behavior, which exhibit good radiation pattern and impedance bandwidth over the entire band of frequency.

Negative Bias Temperature Instability (NBTI) in pMOS transistors has become a major reliability concern in the state-of-the art digital circuit design. This paper discusses the effects of NBTI on 32nm technology high fan-in dynamic OR gate, which is widely used in high-performance circuits. The delay degradation and power dissipation of domino logic, as well as the Unity Noise Gain (UNG), are analyzed in the presence of NBTI degradation. We have shown the degradation in the output inverter pMOS transistor of the domino gate has a dominant impact on the delay in comparison with the keeper impact. Based on this analysis we have proposed that upsizing just the output inverter pMOS transistor can compensate for the NBTI degradation. Moreover, the impact of tuning the duty cycle of the clock has been investigated. It has been shown that although the keeper and the precharge transistors experience more NBTI degradation by increasing the low level in the clock signal, the total performance of the circuit will improve. We have also proposed an adaptive compensation technique based on Forward Body Biasing (FBB), to recover the performance of the aged circuit.

A core process in investment banks is evaluation of loan requests. In this paper we have presented the development of a rule based expert system for evaluation of loan request. The purpose of system is to evaluate the loan request and do some sensitivity analyses on the evaluation result to find the critical criteria. To achieve this purpose, Inference engine works both forward (evaluation) and backward chaining (sensitivity analysis). This system is designed for the Iranian bank of Industry and Mine

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited arrhythmia characterized by ST-segment elevation in V 1 -V 2 leads followed by negative T-wave on standard ECG, and high risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD). A wide range of supraventricular arrhythmias and conduction disturbances was described for BrS. The disease was considered of the high frequency in Southeast Asia, but current estimation of BrS is at least 1:10 000 in all ethnic groups. At least 17 genes are known to be responsible for BrS. Approximately 15-30% of individuals with Brugada syndrome cases are affected by mutations in SCN5A gene. In this study we discuss the clinical polymorphism and surgical treatment in a large family with Brugada syndrome caused by p.A735V mutation in SCN5A gene.