handporn.net http://www.qscience.com/content/journals/connect?TRACK=RSS Please follow the links to view the content.http://www.qscience.com/content/journals/10.5339/connect.2014.5?TRACK=RSS In recent years, concern about the environment has been highlighted in many areas of life. Our limited resources are damaged, the future of human life disturbs this planet, thus leaders and thinkers have to create a solution. The influence of green marketing tools have been analysed in this study, namely the eco-label, eco-brand and environmental advertisement. The sampling used was available cluster sampling. Tehran city is divided into four parts, North, South, East and West. The western and northern areas of the city were selected and we distributed our questionnaire. The sample size was 384 people. Formulae and data was analysed using the Spearman correlation test and multiple regression analysis. The results show that environmental advertisement had the most significant effect on consumer purchasing behavior and eco-brand had the least effect.Narges Delafrooz, Mohammad Taleghani and Bahareh NouriMon Jan 28 14:13:14 UTC 2019Zhttp://www.qscience.com/content/journals/10.5339/connect.2012.9?TRACK=RSS Abstract In this review, the story of Qatar’s economic emergence is told chronologically, beginning with Qatar’s independence and the discovery of the North Field gas reservoir in 1971 and ending with the steps that Qatar is now taking as it transitions towards a more diversified and innovative economy.Ibrahim Ibrahim and Frank HarriganMon Jan 28 14:13:05 UTC 2019Zhttp://www.qscience.com/content/journals/10.5339/connect.2014.8?TRACK=RSS Presently various carbon-based materials are used to achieve different surface functions and coatings for anti-corrosion and electrochemical application. These are in the form of homogeneous composite materials and chemically modified polymers, with many patent pending in this field. However, association of performing anticorrosion, adherence crosslinking and hydrophobic solutions with other surface functions are more often required, including additional simultaneous tribologic, antiwear, electrochemical, optical and optoelectronic properties. Among the wide range of diamond-like and related coating materials, tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C), combines many interesting, simultaneous and superior material properties compared with first generation hard carbon coatings. Especially when ta-C can be modified and adapted for its properties to a specific application by doping with multilayer and gradient configuration, thus offering many new and interesting perspectives of application. We review and discuss common coatings, by comparison and deduction. The corresponding updated and recently developed fundamentals are also considered to show the potential for better performing and up-scaled anti-corrosion and electrochemical solutions.Stéphane NeuvilleMon Jan 28 14:13:36 UTC 2019Zhttp://www.qscience.com/content/journals/10.5339/connect.2017.qgbc.6?TRACK=RSS The assessment of adaptive facades presents a barrier as there is no established assessment technique. Many of the available facade performance evaluation systems or frameworks have limited applicability for such advanced building facades. The complexity of adaptive or dynamic facades' evaluation is related to the performance evaluation of facade elements, systems, and overall building performance coupled with occupant behavior and occupant satisfaction. In this context, this paper presents a case study of an adaptive sunscreen facade and evaluation of its performance and occupant behavior. The evaluation mainly focuses on pre- and post-construction phases of adaptive facades: the design assist phase (including the durability test, visual mockup, onsite mashrabiya mounting, and weather stripping), the commissioning phase (field verification and performance testing), and the monitoring phase. The selected project is a 150-meter-high twin tower that stands with a honeycomb-inspired structure and automated dynamic solar screen that responds to the sun's movement. These solar screens respond dynamically and automatically to the angle of the sun, which improves the control over energy consumption, solar radiation, and glare with the ability to allow natural light into the building. This paper is part of the research activities of working group 3 of the European COST Action 1403 on “Adaptive Facades”. Different methods were used for evaluation and these include the following: interviews with the architect, facade engineer, technical control specialist and occupants, reviews of standards and codes, review of energy models, and a systematic design process mapping. A documentation of the case study describing the post-construction occupant comfort and facade operation was prepared. This paper's audience comprises mainly project managers, architects, and building facade engineers together with facility managers who are concerned with the process of design, construction, and operation of adaptive sunscreens facades. The outcome of this study identifies quantifiable performance indicators and effective strategies for the design and performance evaluation of optimal adaptive facades.Shady AttiaMon Jan 28 14:12:55 UTC 2019Zhttp://www.qscience.com/content/journals/10.5339/connect.2012.3?TRACK=RSS Abstract The study of phytoplankton diversity and its seasonal variation was carried out by sampling water taken from the Santragachi Lake, of West Bengal between November 2009 and July 2010. Various physico-chemical variables were recorded and the correlation of this with phytoplankton density was established using Canonical Correspondence Analysis. This showed that the density of phytoplankton was higher when temperature and nutrients were increased. A total of 29 phytoplankton taxa belonging to Chlorophyta (10), Cyanobacteria (8), Charophyta (5), Bacillariophyta (4), and Euglenozoa (2) were recorded from nine samples taken within the study period. Chlorophyta species dominated mostly in variety and percentage composition while Euglenozoa species representatives had the least expression. Bio-indication showed a low diverse community in the monsoon period with better water quality than in pre- and post-monsoon seasons. Various diversity indices (Shannon–Wiener diversity index, Gleason species richness index, Pielou evenness index, and Naughton dominance index) were used to establish the seasonal variation of phytoplankton. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index was most useful in indicating the trophic status of the water as well as the pollution status, which in this case, depicted a moderate level of pollution of this lake.Subhabrata Ghosh, Sophia Barinova and Jai Prakash KeshriMon Jan 28 14:13:18 UTC 2019Zhttp://www.qscience.com/content/journals/10.5339/connect.2014.22?TRACK=RSS This work outlines the issue of sustainable development in a global context as well as examining the potential for success, in terms of development strategy, in Qatar. The aim of the paper is threefold: Define sustainable development and what pursuing a path of “sustainable development” means for Qatar. Outline the challenges facing Qatar in terms of realizing the vision of sustainable development; and explore currently unrealized opportunities for sustainable development.Renee A. RicherMon Jan 28 14:13:27 UTC 2019Zhttp://www.qscience.com/content/journals/10.5339/connect.2014.24?TRACK=RSS Most cases of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are associated with the presence of BCR-ABL1 fusion gene; a molecular anomaly that introduced targeting therapy to CML. This study was setup primarily to optimize the real-time quantification detection of BCR-ABL1 transcripts, in order to pave the way for using this method as a diagnostic tool to support the clinical management of CML patients in Qatar. A secondary objective was to evaluate the response of CML patients to Imatinib (IM) and exploit adaption of this technique as an indicator of emerging drug resistance reported in Qatar. Peripheral blood (PB) samples from 26 CML patients receiving Imatinib, were analysed via serial Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to monitor the ratio of BCR-ABL1 to normal ABL1 transcripts. EuropeanLeukemia Net (ELN) 2006 and 2009 guidelines were employed to assess the molecular response to Imatinib. For patients to be classified as optimal responders, major molecular response (MMR) had to be achieved by 18 months of treatment.1 Patients responding to Imatinib achieved major molecular response (MMR) during the 1st year of treatment; while patients who resisted Imatinib treatment did not achieve any molecular response within this time frame. This was the first molecular study to evaluate the molecular response of CML patients (citizens and residents) to IM in Qatar.Nader I. Al-Dewik, Andrew P. Jewell, Mohammed A. Yassin, Hanadi R. El-Ayoubi and Hisham M. MorsiMon Jan 28 14:13:42 UTC 2019Zhttp://www.qscience.com/content/journals/10.5339/connect.2016.3?TRACK=RSS Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a resourceful technology that offers a large selection of solutions that are readily adaptable to tissue engineering of artificial heart valves (HVs). Different deposition techniques could be used to produce complex architectures, such as the three-layered architecture of leaflets. Once the assembly is complete, the growth of cells in the scaffold would enable the deposition of cell-specific extracellular matrix proteins. 3D printing technology is a rapidly evolving field that first needs to be understood and then explored by tissue engineers, so that it could be used to create efficient scaffolds. On the other hand, to print the HV scaffold, a basic understanding of the fundamental structural and mechanical aspects of the HV should be gained. This review is focused on alginate that can be used as a building material due to its unique properties confirmed by the successful application of alginate-based biomaterials for the treatment of myocardial infarction in humans. Within the field of biomedicine, there is a broad scope for the application of alginate including wound healing, cell transplantation, delivery of bioactive agents, such as chemical drugs and proteins, heat burns, acid reflux, and weight control applications. The non-thrombogenic nature of this polymer has made it an attractive candidate for cardiac applications, including scaffold fabrication for heart valve tissue engineering (HVTE). The next essential property of alginate is its ability to form films, fibers, beads, and virtually any shape in a variety of sizes. Moreover, alginate possesses several prime properties that make it suitable for use in free-form fabrication techniques. The first property is its ability, when dissolved, to increase the viscosity of aqueous solutions, which is particularly important in formulating extrudable mixtures for 3D printing. The second property is its ability to form gels in mild conditions, for example, by adding calcium salt to an aqueous solution of alginate. The latter property is a basis for reactive extrusion- and inkjet printing-based solid free-form fabrication. Both techniques enable the production of scaffolds for cell encapsulation, which increases the seeding efficiency of fabricated structures. The objective of this article is to review methods for the fabrication of alginate hydrogels in the context of HVTE.Albert Ryszard LiberskiMon Jan 28 14:13:12 UTC 2019Zhttp://www.qscience.com/content/journals/10.5339/connect.2013.26?TRACK=RSS We present a geometric argument that explains why some systems having vanishing largest Lyapunov exponent have underlying dynamic aspects which can be effectively described by the Tsallis entropy. We rely on a comparison of the generalised additivity of the Tsallis entropy versus the ordinary additivity of the BGS entropy. We translate this comparison, in metric terms, by using an effective hyperbolic metric on the configuration/phase space for the Tsallis entropy versus the Euclidean one in the case of the BGS entropy. Solving the Jacobi equation for such hyperbolic metrics effectively sets the largest Lyapunov exponent computed, with respect to the corresponding Euclidean metric, to zero. This conclusion is in agreement with all currently known results on systems that have a simple asymptotic behaviour, and are described by the Tsallis entropy.Nikos KalogeropoulosSat Apr 13 19:10:04 UTC 2019Zhttp://www.qscience.com/content/journals/10.5339/connect.2012.12?TRACK=RSS We present a geometric, model-independent, argument that aims to explain why the Tsallis entropy describes systems exhibiting “weak chaos”, namely systems whose underlying dynamics has vanishing largest Lyapunov exponent. Our argument relies on properties of a deformation map of the reals induced by the Tsallis entropy, and its conclusion agrees with all currently known results.Nikos KalogeropoulosMon Jan 28 14:13:18 UTC 2019Z