• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.149-156
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• 2011

The performance measurement of construction firms is considered as a competitive advantage to develop and improve their performance to have place in the market and stay able to face the continuous challenge. Egyptian construction firms (ECF) started recently to adopt quality management system (QMS) as a way to develop and improve their performance as previous studies showed. However, measuring that performance to include all the firm's aspects in a competitive way is a crucial process for the ECF's culture. The research is trying to indicate the role of the QMS implementation in measuring performance (MP) through developing a model for measuring performance on the organization level, and explore its impact on the organization that adopt quality management system. This model is based on specific elements and their related indicators which have been derived from national approaches and models of measuring performance (benchmarking, quality awards and six sigma).Elements determination and the status of their real practice has been investigated through a questionnaire to a representative sample of ECF. This model determines the performance level (PL) of the organization that measured by a mean of a point system. Weights of the elements in the point system considered both the elements' importance in the international models and its real practice in the Egyptian construction firms. So, the final outcome of the model reveals the level of firm performance that helps the firm to identify the weak points against the strong ones, Confirm the priorities and identify new opportunities for developing, and Check the position of the company in the market among the others. Another questionnaire has been developed to be distributed on a group of Experts on measuring performance for the purpose of model validation. The majority of surveyed experts agreed that the proposed model can be applied effectively.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.541-550
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• 2010

A new $N_4O_3$ heptadentate ligand, N,N'-Bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)-1,3-bis[(2-aminoethyl)amino]-2-propanol(H-BAP 4HCl)was synthesized. The hydrochloric acid salts of Br-BAP 4HCl, Cl-BAP 4HCl, $CH_3O$-BAP 4HCl and $CH_3$-BAP 4HCl containing Br-, Cl-, H-, $CH_3O-$ and $CH_{3^-}$ groups at the para-site of the phenol group of the H-BAP were synthesized. The structures of the ligands were confirmed by C. H. N. atomic analysis and $^1H$ NMR, $^{13}C$ NMR, UV-visible and mass spectra. The elemental stepwise protonation constants(${logK_n}^H$) of the synthesized $N_4O_3$ ligands showed six steps of the proton dissociation. The orders of the overall dissociation constants($log{\beta}_p$) of the ligands were Br-BAP < Cl-BAP < H-BAP < $CH_3O$-BAP < $CH_3$-BAP. The orders agreed well with that of Hammett substituent constants($\sigma_p$). The calculated stability constants($logK_{ML}$) between the ligands and transition metal ions agreed well with the order of the overall proton dissociation constants of the ligands but they showed a reverse order in Hammestt substituent constants($\sigma_p$). The order of the stability constants between the transition metal ions with the ligands were Co(II) < Ni(II) < Cu(II) > Zn(II) > Cd(II) > Pb(II).

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 2001

The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the apical leakage in extracted teeth filled with gutta-percha subsequent to dressing with one of three different calcium hydroxide preparations. Thirty six extracted teeth with single canal were used in this study. After working length determination, canals were prepared with K flexo files to a #40 at the working length. Step-back flaring was produced by using #45, #50 K flexo files and #2, #3, #4 Gates Glidden burs. The teeth were randomly divided into 3 groups of 10 each : the remaining six teeth were used for negative and positive leakage control: Group 1, dressed with pure calcium hydroxide powder (Sigma, USA) mixed with distilled water; Group 2, dressed with Metapaste (Metadent, Korea) ; Group 3, dressed with Vitapex (Neo Dental, Japan). Teeth were sealed with Caviton (GC, Japan) and incubated in 100% humidity, at 37$^{\circ}C$ for 1 wk. All kinds of calcium hydroxide were removed from the canal with a MAF and 5% NaOCl. The canals were filled with AH-26$^{\circledR}$ sealer and gutta-percha using lateral condensation technique, incubated in 100% humidity, at 37$^{\circ}C$ for 2 days for the sealer to be set. The teeth were coated twice with nail varnish except for an area of approximately 2mm surrounding the apical foramen. All specimens were placed in 2% methylene blue solution for 2 days. The root were sectioned longitudinally, the amount of apical leakage was measured to the most coronal part of the root canal to which the dye had penetrated. The independent measurements were made for each root using a stereomicroscope ($\times$40 magnification) and the average was recorded for statistical analysis. The results were as follows ; 1. The mean of apical leakage in group of pure calcium hydroxide ranged 0.102$\pm$0.156mm, in Metapaste$^{\circledR}$ ranged 0.062$\pm$0.069mm, and in Vitapex$^{\circledR}$ ranged 0.067$\pm$0.072mm. 2. Group of pure calcium hydroxide exhibited more leakage than those of 2 manufactured calcium hydroxide preparations, but it was not statistically significant. 3. Group of water-based Metapaste$^{\circledR}$ showed lesser leakage than that of oil-based Vitapex$^{\circledR}$, but it was not statistically significant.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2001

The crystal structures of fully dehydrated $Pd^{2+}$ - and $TI^{+}$ -exchanged zeolite X, $Pd_{18}TI_{56}Si_{100}Al_{92}O_{384}(Pd_{18}TI_{50-}X$, a = $24.935(4)\AA$ and $Pd_{21}TI_{50}Si_{100}Al_{92}O_{384}(Pd_{21}TI_{50-}X$ a = $24.914(4)\AA)$, have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods in the cubic space group Fd3 at $21(1)^{\circ}C.$ The crystals were prepared using an exchange solution that had a $Pd(NH_3)_4Cl_2\;:TINO_3$ mole ratio of 50 : 1 and 200 : 1, respectively, with a total concentration of 0.05M for 4 days. After dehydration at $360^{\circ}C$ and 2 ${\times}$$10^{-6}$ Torr in flowing oxygen for 2 days, the crystals were evacuated at $21(1)^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours. They were refined to the final error indices $R_1$ = 0.045 and $R_2$ = 0.038 with 344 reflections for $Pd_{18}Tl_{56-}X$, and $R_1$ = 0.043 and $R_2$ = 0.045 with 280 reflections for $Pd_{21}Tl_{50-}X$; I > $3\sigma(I).$ In the structure of dehydrated $Pd_{18}Tl_{56-}X$, eighteen $Pd^{2+}$ ions and fourteen $TI^{+}$ ions are located at site I'. About twenty-seven $TI^{+}$ ions occupy site II recessed $1.74\AA$ into a supercage from the plane of three oxygens. The remaining fifteen $TI^{+}$ ions are distributed over two non-equivalent III' sites, with occupancies of 11 and 4, respectively. In the structure of $Pd_{21}Tl_{50-}X$, twenty $Pd^{2+}$ and ten $TI^{+}$ ions occupy site I', and one $Pd^{2+}$ ion is at site I. About twenty-three $TI^{+}$ ions occupy site II, and the remaining seventeen $TI^{+}$ ions are distributed over two different III' sites. $Pd^{2+}$ ions show a limit of exchange (ca. 39% and 46%), though their concentration of exchange was much higher than that of $TI^{+}$ ions. $Pd^{2+}$ ions tend to occupy site I', where they fit the double six-ring plane as nearly ideal trigonal planar. $TI^{+}$ ions fill the remaining I' sites, then occupy site II and two different III' sites. The two crystal structures show that approximately two and one-half I' sites per sodalite cage may be occupied by $Pd^{2+}$ ions. The remaining I' sites are occupied by $TI^{+}$ ions with Tl-O bond distance that is shorter than the sum of their ionic radii. The electrostatic repulsion between two large $TI^{+}$ ions and between $TI^{+}$ and $Pd^{2+}$ ions in the same $\beta-cage$ pushes each other to the charged six-ring planes. It causes the Tl-O bond to have some covalent character. However, $TI^{+}$ ions at site II form ionic bonds with three oxygens because the super-cage has the available space to obtain the reliable ionic bonds.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.191-198
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• 1993

The crystal structures of $Cd_{6-}A$ evacuated at $2{\times}10^{-6}$ torr and $750^{\circ}C$ (a = 12.204(1) $\AA$) and dehydrated $Cd_{6-}A$ reacted with 0.1 torr of Cs vapor at $250^{\circ}C$ for 12 hours (a = 12.279(1) $\AA$) have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group Pm3m at $21(1)^{\circ}C.$ Their structures were refined to final error indices, $R_1=$ 0.081 and $R_2=$ 0.091 with 151 reflections and $R_1=$ 0.095 and $R_2=$ 0.089 with 82 reflections, respectively, for which I > $3\sigma(I).$ In vacuum dehydrated $Cd_{6-}A$, six $Cd^{2+}$ ions occupy threefold-axis positions near 6-ring, recessed 0.460(3) $\AA$ into the sodalite cavity from the (111) plane at O(3) : Cd-O(3) = 2.18(2) $\AA$ and O(3)-Cd-O(3) = $115.7(4)^{\circ}.$ Upon treating it with 0.1 torr of Cs vapor at $250^{\circ}C$, all 6 $Cd^{2+}$ ions in dehydrated $Cd_{6-}A$ are reduced by Cs vapor and Cs species are found at 4 crystallographic sites : 3.0 $Cs^+$ ions lie at the centers of the 8-rings at sites of $D_{4h}$ symmetry; ca. 9.0 Cs+ ions lie on the threefold axes of unit cell, ca. 7 in the large cavity and ca. 2 in the sodalite cavity; ca. 0.5 $Cs^+$ ion is found near a 4-ring. In this structure, ca. 12.5 Cs species are found per unit cell, more than the twelve $Cs^+$ ions needed to balance the anionic charge of zeolite framework, indicating that sorption of Cs0 has occurred. The occupancies observed are simply explained by two unit cell arrangements, $Cs_{12}-A$ and $Cs_{13}-A$. About 50% of unit cells may have two $Cs^+$ ions in sodalite unit near opposite 6-rings, six in the large cavity near 6-ring and one in the large cavity near a 4-ring. The remaining 50% of unit cells may have two Cs species in the sodalite unit which are closely associated with two out of 8 $Cs^+$ ions in the large cavity to form linear $(Cs_4)^{3+}$ clusters. These clusters lie on threefold axes and extend through the centers of sodalite units. In all unit cells, three $Cs^+$ ions fill equipoints of symmetry $D_{4h}$ at the centers of 8-rings.

• Korean Journal of Crystallography
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.59-68
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• 2004

Three crystal structures of dehydrated partially $Co^{2+}-exchanged$ zeolite A treated with 0.6 Torr of K at $300^{\circ}C$ (for 12 hrs, 6 hrs, and 2 hrs) vapor have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group Pm3m at 21(1)$^{\circ}C(a=12.181(1)\;{\AA},\;a=12.184(1)\;{\AA},\;and\;a=12.215(1)\;{\AA})\;respectively)$. Their structures were refined to the final error indices, R(weight) of 0.090 with 10 reflections, 0.091 with 82 reflections, and 0.090 with 80 reflections, respectively, for which $1>\sigma(I)$. In each structure, all four $Co^{2+}$ and four $Na^+$ ions to be reduced by K atoms. The cobalt and sodium atoms produced are no longer found in the zeolite. K species are found at five different crystallographic sites: three $K^+$ ions lie at the planes of 8-rings, filling that position, ca. 11.5 K^+$ ions lie on threefold axes, ca. 4.0 in the large cavity and ca. 4.0 in the sodalite cavity, and ca. 0.5 $K^+$ ion is found near a 4-ring. ca. three $K^0$ atoms are found deep into the large cavity on threefold axes. In these structures, crystallographic results show that cationic tetrahedral $K_4$ (and/or triangular $K_3$) clusters have formed in the sodalites of zeolite A. The $K_4$ and/or $K_3$ clusters coordinate trigonally to three oxygens of a six-oxygen ring. The partially reduced ions of these clusters interact primarily with oxygen atoms of the zeolite structure rather than with each other. ca. 14.5K species are found per unit cell, more than the twelve $K^+$ ions needed to balance the anionic charge of zeolite framework, indicating that sorption of $K^0$ has occurred. The three $K^0$ atoms in the large cavity are closely associated with three out of four $K^+$ ions in the large cavity to form $K_7^{4+}$ clusters. The $K_7^{4+}$ cluster not interacts primarily with framework oxygens.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.898-908
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• 1998

The aim of this experiments were to assess the time-interval change of motional characteristics in frozen-thawed semen of Korean native cattle (KNC) by using computer aided semen analysis (CASA) technology. Twenty-six KNC frozen semen straws were obtained from Korean KNC improvement department, livestock improvement main division, national livestock cooperatives federation in Korea. Specimens were allowed to thaw at $37^{\circ}C$ for 30 sec in water bath. Semen analysis was performed on semen image analysis system (SIAS, Medical supply, Korea) adjusted to the gate settings and used the semen droplet ($5{\mu}l$) placed on Makler counting chamber (Sefi medical instrument, Israel) prewarmed at $37^{\circ}C$. The same person used the same micropipette to fill the Makler counting chamber. A total of 150 or more of sperms were analysed in each specimen by a single trained person by scanning at least 5 to 10 fields. The measurement parameters in SIAS were as follows ; frame rate = 30 frames per sec, image capture = 1 sec, minimum motile speed = $10{\mu}m/s$, maximum countable sperm number = 400. Statistical analysis was done by Student t-test with use of the Sigma plot program on a IBM personal computer. The dancemean(DNM) and hyperactivated sperm(HYP) of frozen-thawed KNC semen kinematics were significantly decreased(p < 0.05) after 10 min of incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ water bath. But, wobble(WOB) of same sample semen was significantly increased(p < 0.05) after 10 min of incubation and significantly decrease(p < 0.05) after 60 min of same incubation. And, after 30 mim of incubation, significantly differences were found most of motion kinematics, motifity(MOT), curvilinear velocity(VCL), straight line velocity(VSL), average path velocity(VAP), amplitude of lateral head displacement(ALH), beat cross frequency(BCF), mean angular displacement(MAD), dance(DNC), on same sample semen. The DNM of KNC semen sample was variable kinematics after 30 min of incubation. Also, the linearity(LIN) and straightness(STR) was significantly decreased(p < 0.05) from 60 min of incubation. In conclusion, the AI within 30 min after thawing of frozen semen can be an effective method for obtaining high fertility rate in KNC reproductive program.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.975-981
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• 2013

A robust optimization is only one of the ways to minimize the effects of variances in design variables on the objective functions at the preliminary design stage. To predict the variances and to formulate the probabilistic constraints are the most important procedures for the robust optimization formulation. Though several methods such as the process capability index and the six sigma technique were proposed for the prediction and formulation of the variances and probabilistic constraints, respectively, there are few attempts using a percent defective which has been widely applied in the quality control of the manufacturing process for probabilistic constraints. In this study, the robust optimization for a lower control arm of automobile vehicle was carried out, in which the design space showing the mean and variance sensitivity of weight and stress was explored before robust optimization for a lower control arm. The 2nd order Taylor expansion for calculating the standard deviation was used to improve the numerical accuracy for predicting the variances. Simplex algorithm which does not use the gradient information in optimization was used to convert constrained optimization into unconstrained one in robust optimization.

• Journal of Auto-vehicle Safety Association
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2016

The Child Occupant Safety Assessment was first introduced and carried out by Euro NCAP in 2003, with the goal of ensuring manufacturers to develop safe vehicles for passengers of all ages; the objective was to evaluate the safety and protection offered by different Child Restraint Systems (CRS) in the event of a crash. In 2013, the formerly used P child dummy series was replaced by newer and more biofidelic Q1.5 and Q3 child dummies, representing 1.5 and 3 year old children respectively. The frontal and side impact dynamic performances of the Q1.5 and Q3 were tested within all classes of vehicles assessed by Euro NCAP at the time. As an extension to that initiative, Q6 and Q10 child dummies were later developed representing children of 6 and 10 years old. Since the protection of larger children during vehicle crashes relies greatly on the interaction of vehicle restraint systems such as seat belt and the CRS, instrumented Q6 and Q10 dummies will be used to assess the protection offered in the event of front and side impact crashes. In this paper, we focused on injury criteria of Q6 and Q10 child dummies at 64 kph 40% offset frontal crash test. The whole procedure was designed with DFSS analysis. The full vehicle sled test results of both dummies were conducted with different restraint systems settled through previous sled test. It showed that several injury criteria and image data were collected as the result of the full vehicle sled test. Based on the results of these investigations, this paper describes which factor is most important and combination shows the best performance when evaluating rear seat occupant protection for Q6 and Q10 child dummies.

• Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.377-389
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• 2011

A higher quality level is generally perceived by customers as improved performance by assigning a correspondingly higher satisfaction score. The third generation index $C_{pmk}$ is more powerful than two useful indices $C_p$ and $C_{pk}$ that have been widely used in six sigma industries to assess process performance. In actual manufacturing industries, process capability analysis often entails characterizing or assessing processes or products based on more than one engineering specification or quality characteristic. Since these characteristics are related, it is a risky undertaking to represent the variation of even a univariate characteristic by a single index. Therefore, the desirability of using vector-valued process capability index(PCI) arises quite naturally. In this paper, we consider more powerful vector-valued process capability index $C_{pmk}$ = ($C_{pmkx}$, $C_{pmky}$)$^t$ that consider the univariate process capability index $C_{pmk}$. First, we examine the process capability index $C_{pmk}$ and plug-in estimator $\hat{C}_{pmk}$. In addition, we derive its asymptotic distribution and variance-covariance matrix $V_{pmk}$ for the vector valued process capability index $C_{pmk}$. Under the assumption of bivariate normal distribution, we study asymptotic confidence regions of our vector-valued process capability index $C_{pmk}$ = ($C_{pmkx}$, $C_{pmky}$)$^t$.