Pakistan, a developing country lies in an earthquake prone region with moderate-to-strong ground motions. Recent earthquakes revealed the seismic vulnerability of existing building stock, leading to monetary loss, casualties and fatalities. Kashmir earthquake (2005) resulted in huge loss of lives and livelihood. However, the country lacks tools for earthquake risk assessment and mitigation. The objective of this research work is to develop seismic vulnerabilities of substandard reinforced concrete frame structures for the determination of risk in terms of monetary loss, casualties and fatalities for the Mansehra district of Pakistan under Kashmir earthquake 2005. CFRP retrofit technique is utilized to improve the seismic vulnerability of existing RC building stock for risk mitigation purposes. A hypothetical four story reinforced concrete frame structure, representative of the construction practices in the study region is designed under gravity load. Vulnerability curve is generated by using capacity spectrum method for unconfined and confined structures. Earthquake risk assessment framework for RC frames is developed for socio and economic analysis. Hazard of the region for a single event of Kashmir earthquake 2005 is determined in ArcGIS environment. Using seismic hazard, and seismic vulnerability of confined and unconfined frames, seismic risk in terms of monetary loss, casualties and fatalities is calculated.

Abstract: It is always important to determine the distribution of insurance claims in order to estimate future expected values. This study seeks to determine the appropriate best fit model using sample data from Dormaa Health Insurance Directorate. Sample data collected from Dormaa Presbyterian Hospital of the Dormaa Municipal Health Insurance Scheme was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), Excel spreadsheet, and Easy fit. It was found that the appropriate best fit model for the sample claims of the Dormaa Presbyterian Hospital follows lognormal distribution.

Abstract: Almost every verbal component can be converted to a visual one. This conversion emerges when meaning is produced by structural use of the material. In this paper there are two example which are designed by Nazmiye Ozturk. One of them is “Inflection and Surflexion”. The second one is “Equal Combinations and Structural Continuity”. Inflection, and Equal Combinations, which are constitutive concepts in Robert Venturi’s book “Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture”, are transformed into two design experiments.

Abstract: FDI is considered to be an essential catalyst for trade liberalization and economic growth in both developing as well as developed countries. From the past several-decades countries around the world are struggling to attract foreign investors for filling their capital, skills and technological gaps and consequently FDI had grown at least twice as rapidly as trade This study is an attempt to thoroughly analyze these two crucial modes of resource and knowledge diffusion for Pakistan by empirical analysis of foreign trade and FDI from 1980-2016. ARDL approach is utilized for the statistical analysis with support of various techniques applied to FDI in Pakistan being dependent variables in econometric models. The empirical results of this study shows the positive and significant effect of foreign trade in FDI of Pakistan, coinciding with theory, supported by both sign of the coefficient and probability value.

Abstract: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the external auditory canal is an uncommon malignancy. Patients of such disease often initially present with nonspecific symptoms, such as ear discharge and otalgia as in chronic otitis media. reatment of EAC carcinomas is generally based on the combination of surgery and radiotherapy. Patients with EAC must initially be treated radically, and for them, early diagnosis and referral to an institution with experience in this kind of surgery is important. In this case report we aim to present a patient with ECA SCC who was misdiagnosed and treated for chronic otitis externa for a long time.

Abstract: This thesis analyzes the behavioral characteristics of network users on the campus network. After capturing and processing communication data and recovering sessions, we can know the group behaviors of the campus users. What’s more, the use of the diskless computer among the cadets can also be seen from this analysis. On the one hand, such analysis can offer the theoretical basis for campus network. On the other hand, this work can help the administrative know more about the cadets’ study situation on the campus network and make better management. To some degree, the analysis reflects the importance of network users’ behavior analysis network management.

Abstract: In this study, the effects of IBA doses (0, 500 and 1500 ppm) and root thickness of the R. damascena Mill cuttings on rooting rates, root counts, root lengths and shoot numbers were investigated. The results showed that IBA doses significantly affected rooting rates (p<0.05). The highest rooting rate (77.67%) was obtained from thick root cuttings with 500 ppm IBA dose application. The highest root number per cutting was found as 6.00 in thick cuttings and cuttings having no IBA application. The longest root branch per cutting was determined to be in the thick root cuttings and control cuttings (7.93 cm). The average number of root branch per cutting was determined as 0.77 in thin root cuttings and control cuttings. To conclude, R. damascena can easily be propagated with root cuttings with appropriate IBA doses, suggesting that the thicker root cuttings should be chosen for R. damascena propagation.

Abstract: In this study, it is aimed to determine the factors causing visual pollution in Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University campus, to remove the visual pollution and to take measures to prevent it. A survey was conducted to determine the perceptions of the academic and administrative staff and students of the Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University about the visual pollution of the campus. As the survey study was planned to represent the whole campus, it was aimed to include 2 academicians, 2 administrative staff and 2 students in each department in equal proportion to all faculties within the campus. The questionnaire was conducted by face-to-face interview with 100 people at random selection. The survey results were evaluated in the SPSS package program. As a result of the study, the opinions of the students, academic and administrative staff of Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University about the visual pollution of the structural and plant equipments in the campus have been determined. Preventive measures have been developed to eliminate visual pollution in designated areas.

Abstract: It would be required to impart hydrophobic and hence antimicrobial property to inherently hydrophilic ceramic wall tiles in order to reduce health risks. For this purpose an industrially applicable ceramic wall tile opaque glaze was modified by the addition of the various organic materials. The organic matter included in the industrial glazes most probably acted as agents leaving pores behind and changing the liquefaction temperature of the glaze on the pore borders, and forming protruding microscale surface structures by burning and gasifying out during gloss firing. The optimum temperature range for gloss firing of the modified industrial opaque wall tile glaze was determined as 960-980°C by thermal microscope measurements and TG analysis. The SEM images of the surfaces revealed microscaled surface morphologies which might be potentially instrumental in the hydrophobic surface formation due to the trapped air gaps between the tile surface and the sessile water drops in accord with Cassie-Baxter model. The surface topography obtained in this way by polyvinyl butyrate and modifications provided hydrophobic contact angles.

Abstract: The addition of filler materials to a polymer is a common practice to improve strength, stiffness, toughness, hardness, conductivity, wear resistance, as well as reducing the processing cost significantly. In this study the effect of waste graphite as a cost effective reinforcement in epoxy matrices for improving the mechanical properties was investigated. As the graphite content increased bending modulus, hardness and bulk density increased and bending strength and total porosity decreased.

Abstract: Diesel engines are used around the globe in many transportation and power production activities. These engines consume large amounts of fuel and produce many dangerous pollutants. If we add to this all, the coming day for the depletion of oil, all these things together require consideration of alternatives to reduce the consumption of diesel oil and its pollutants. In this study, we navigate through the scientific research space and review the latest findings of science in this regard. There are substitutes for diesel, including fully compensated, or mixing with it to reduce pollutants. All these alternatives have their positives and negatives. To this day, diesel fuel is still dominating the ignition engines and has not yet achieved a competitive advantage in terms of combustion efficiency.

Abstract: In order to develop the sustainability of bridge engineering design in many design offices of underdeveloped countries, this work outlines design guidelines by examining the behavior of bridges vertical displacement in relation to several parameters such as the moving speed, the track irregularities, the span-length, the elasticity modulus, the cross-section geometry and the material damping. A simply supported Euler-Bernoulli bridge-beam model coupled to a multiple moving point loading under different conditions is developed based on the Hooke’s law, the Navier’s hypothesis and the Saint-Venant’s principle. Obtained results give a deeper understanding on the influence of these parameters in the initial design, and show that the use of a single dynamic magnification factor alone, for different bridge parameters, is not technically optimal for an improved dynamic analysis of existing and under-design bridges, and that local Design Bureau should implement a more sustainable design methodology to tackle uncertainties in bridge behavioral responses for its wider understanding.

Abstract: An accurate formulation to predict the thermal post-buckling load carrying capacity of orthotropic circular plates based on von Kàrmàn nonlinearities is reported in this paper. The governing differential equations of circular plates with orthotropic material properties are converted into linear differential equations employing the nondimensional parameters. The radial edge load is evaluated by assuming suitable admissible functions for the lateral displacement. Simply supported and clamped boundary conditions are considered in this study. The Rayleigh - Ritz method of total potential energy gives the values of linear buckling load. The thermal postbuckling load of orthotropic circular plates is evaluated using the radial edge load and linear buckling load. The influences of suitable admissible functions on the lateral displacement are also discussed. The numerical results obtained from the present investigation are compared with the known results reported in the literature and are in good agreement within the engineering accuracy. The error percentage of the results has been predicted and a maximum error is found out to be 4.02 % for simply supported and 3.67 % for clamped boundary conditions respectively.

Abstract: This study was carried out to determine the possibilities of vegetative propagation of the widespread 5 Rhododendron species (R. ponticum L, R. luteum Sweet, R. smirnovii Trautv, R.ungernii Trautv, and R. caucasicum Pallas) in Turkey. The plant material was obtained as shoot tip cuttings from Black Sea Region flora at three times (June, July and August). The respective cutting materials were subjected to 5 Indole-3-butryic acid (IBA) doses (0, 4000, 8000, 12000 and 16000 ppm) and planted in acidic peat and perlite mixture under mist propagation in greenhouse condition. Sixty cuttings (20 cuttings with 3 replicates) were used for each treatment. Totally, 300 cuttings were used. Results showed that three rhododendron species (R. ponticum, R. luteum and R. smirnovii) were successfully rooted but the others (R. ungerni and R. caucasicum) were not. Only 16.000 ppm IBA gave the highest rooting rate (46.67%). The highest rooting rates were obtained in R. ponticum as 46.66 % from August cuttings, in R. luteum as 38.33 % from June cuttings and R. smirnovii as13.33% from August cuttings. To conclude, when the cutting materials were obtained in summer season, their rooting rates were quite low in Rhododendron species, suggesting that when it is difficult to reach these plants in heavy winter conditions, it can be worked on summer cuttings even low rate of rooting.

Abstract: In this study, it was aimed to determine certain microbiological characteristics, mineral contents heavy metal levels in 16 Aho cheeses of Sürmene and Araklı districts of Trabzon and to determine the suitability of the Turkish Food Codex. Mineral ingredient and heavy component contents have been identified based on ICP-OES implementation and in mg kg-1 unit type. In Aho cheese samples the average levels of the mineral contents and heavy metals in the Aho cheeses were determined as; calcium 3628.30±355.07 mg kg-1, potassium 461.20±33.48 mg kg-1, sodium 8463.75±658.97 mg kg-1, magnesium 163.42±10.96 mg kg-1, iron 5.46±1.29 mg kg-1, zinc 27.04±2.62 mg kg-1, copper 1.358±0.13 mg kg-1, manganese 0.31±0.17 mg kg-1, phosphorus 4187.05±327.60 mg kg-1, lead 0.174±0.04 mg kg-1 and cadmium 0.028±0.04 mg kg-1. The microbiological values obtained were as follows; yeast and moulds 4.12±0.09 log cfu g-1, total aerobic mesophilic bacteria 6.72±0.11 log cfu g-1, Lactobacilli bacteria counts in the MRS agar 6.42±0.05 log cfu g-1. Coliforms and Staphylococcus aureus were <10 in all samples. As a result, it was determined that the mineral contents and heavy metal levels of the cheese samples were within the limits determined by the Turkish Food Codex for some foods.