Sharif Digital Repository

A vast amount of death in the world has been attributed to atherosclerosis. This disease causes plaque formation and finally lack of blood supply to an organ. The prominent aim of this study is proposing an accurate and simple model to investigate the process of arterial wall thickening. In order to investigate LDL (low density lipoprotein) accumulation in arterial wall which is considered the first stage of atherosclerosis, a four layer model for arterial wall consisting of endothelium, intima, IEL and media is presented. All layers are treated as homogenous porous media. The four-layer arterial wall model is the most powerful and reliable tool for modeling LDL transport within arterial... 

Exploring the effects of advertisement on attitude toward a brand has been a major concern to marketing scholars for decades. However, the literature on brand attitudes is so broad and the areas of focus of researchers are so fragmented that cognitive and affective elements and processes involved are often studied in isolation, neglecting the joint effects of these variables and resulting in a disconnected literature. In this paper, an integrative model of determinants and moderators of attitude toward the brand is provided along with a brief literature review of its formation and change. Key features of the model are: 1) comprehensive discussions on antecedents and moderators of brand... 

A numerical model has been developed for the determination of liquid flow permeability through columnar dendrite during growth and segregation in Al-Si mushy alloys. The model is inclusive of two stages, first numerical evolution of the dendrite shape during growth, and second numerical determination of the permeability. Simulation results shown which Si concentration by transform of dendrite shape dendrite could reduce of the interdendritic liquid permeability. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved  

Background: Many deficiencies of minimally invasive robotic surgery systems can be eliminated by using automated laparoscopic tools with force measurement and control capability. Method: A fully modular, automated laparoscopic instrument with a proximal force sensory system was designed and fabricated. The efficacy of the instrument was evaluated experimentally when functioning in an autonomous force-controlled grasping scheme. Results: The designed instrument was shown to work easily with standard laparoscopic tools, with the whole distal part detachable for autoclave sterilization. The root mean squared error (RMSE) of the actual pinch force from the target ramp was 0.318 N; it was 0.402 N... 

The currently available robotic systems rely on rigid heart stabilizers to perform totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass (TECAB) surgery on beating hearts. Although such stabilizers facilitate the anastomosis procedure by immobilizing the heart and holding the surgery site steady, they can cause damage to the heart tissue and rupture of the capillary vessels, due to applying relatively large pressures on the epicardium. In this paper, we propose an advanced robotic approach to perform TECAB on a beating heart with minimal invasiveness. The idea comes from the fact that the main pulsations of the heart occur as excursions in normal direction, i.e., perpendicular to the heart surface. We... 

In this study, a new model was developed to calculate gas pressure at the melt/foam interface due to foam degradation during mould filling in the lost foam casting process. Different aspects of the process, such as foam degradation, gas elimination, and permeability of the refractory coating, were incorporated into this model. A computational fluid dynamic code was developed based on the numerical technique of the solution algorithm-volume of fluid (SOLA-VOF) for the simulation and prediction of the melt flow. In order to verify the computational results of the simulation, a thin plate of grey iron at 1350 °C was poured into a transparent foam mould. The mould filling process was recorded... 

In this investigation, a computational-model has been developed, including heat transfer and the effects of the resistance of a metal-mold interface and pressure, for simulation of the solidification process. Simulation of the interface resistance is based on the Zero Thickness Element (ZTE), utilizing the Finite Element Method (FEM). Solid boundary conditions, including contact resistances, have been modified by a pressure gradient in each of the ZTE. The pressure gradient has been modeled, based on experimental data. In order to verify the computational results, an Al-11.5 wt% Si alloy was poured into a permanent mold and the temperature of the interface was measured by a data acquisition... 

A new mathematical model has been developed to simulate mould filling in the lost foam casting process, using the finite difference method. The simulation of molten flow and track of free surfaces is based on the SOLA-VOF numerical technique. An algorithm was developed to calculate the gas pressure of the evaporated foam during the mould filling. The effect of backpressure on the filling behaviour was modelled with an experimental function by adding three-dimensions 3DVOF functions. In order to verify the computational results, a thin grey iron plate was poured into a transparent mould. Cavity filling, foam depolymerization and gap formation were recorded with a 16mm high-speed camera. A... 

There are many activated sludge plants (ASP) in Iran. Most of them are overloaded and as a result their efficiency is very low. A combined laboratory-scale system (5 L reactors) consisting of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) and aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR) was operated at 20 and 30°C with pH between 7.6 and 8.4. The experiment was run to optimize treatment of high-strength enriched municipal wastewater of the Ekbatan treatment plant located in west Tehran. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the wastewater was enriched due to the addition of molasses and milk powder. To prevent pH fluctuation of the influent, NaHCO3 and K2HPO4 were added to the wastewater. The excess sludge... 

A vast number of deaths in the world have been attributed to atherosclerosis. The prominent aim of this study is proposing an accurate and simple model to investigate the process of arterial wall thickening. In order to investigate LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) accumulation in arterial wall, a four layer model for arterial wall consisting of endothelium, intima, IEL, and media is presented. All layers are treated as homogenous porous media. This model has been solved both numerically and analytically. Obtained accumulated LDL in the intima is used to calculate oxidized LDL flux. Also, the presented model and clinical data are used to prepare the growth model for arterial wall. Furthermore,... 

Background: Autonomous grasping of soft tissues can facilitate the robotic surgery procedures. The previous attempts for implementing auto-grasping have been based on a simplistic representation of the actual surgery maneuvers. Method: A generalized three-zone grasp model was introduced to consider the effect of the pull force angulation on the grasp mode, that is, damage, slip, or safe grasp. Also, an extended auto-grasping algorithm was proposed in which the trigger force is automatically controlled against the pull force magnitude and direction, to achieve a safe and secure grasp. Results: The autonomous grasping experiments against a varying pull force in a phantom study indicated a good... 

In this investigation a new model was developed to calculate gas pressure at the melt/foam interface (Gap) resulting from foam degradation during mould filling in the lost foam casting (LFC) process. Different aspects of the process, such as foam degradation, gas elimination, transient mass, heat transfer, and permeability of the refractory coating were incorporated into this model. A computational fluid dynamic (CFD) code was developed based on the numerical technique of the Solution Algorithm-Volume of Fluid (SOLA-VOF) utilizing model, for the simulation and prediction of the fluid flow in the LFC process. In order to verify the computational results of the simulation, a thin plate of grey... 

In this work, the flow stress behavior of a metal matrix composite AA2017-10% SiCp was studied by means of the uni-axial compression test. The composite was first produced by stir casting technique and then, hot extrusion with the ratio of 18:1 was carried out to achieve a microstructure with a homogeneous distribution of SiC particles. In the next stage, the isothermal compression tests were conducted on the cylindrical specimens up to the true strain of 0.6. The experiments were performed at temperatures between room temperature to 400°C and strain rates of 0.003, 0.03 and 0.3s-1. Negative strain rate sensitivity was observed in the temperatures less than 250°C indicating the occurrence of... 

In this investigation, simulation of the 3D flow of incompressible molten metal in a mould cavity has been carried out. A code has been developed to include heat transfer and permeability of coating utilizing the finite difference method (FDM). To achieve this, solid and free boundary conditions have been modified and a new algorithm has been proposed to calculate the effect of coating permeability during mould filling. In this algorithm, the effect of coating permeability on the filling pattern has been modelled and compared with an experiment. The modelling of molten metal flow and the location of free surfaces has been simulated based on the SOLution Algorithm-Volume Of Fraction... 

A new non-symmetric 5R-SPM is introduced and a geometrical approach is developed to analyze its configurations and singularities. The proposed methodology determines the type of configuration of a 5R-SPM, i.e. regular, singular, or out-of-workspace and also the type of singularity, i.e. instantaneous or finite, only based on geometric parameters and without solving verbose kinematic equations. It also provides insights into the workspace and singularities of 5R-SPMs, in the preliminary stage of design. The mechanism was analyzed by both the new geometrical approach and conventional methods for comparison. The geometrical approach could intuitively detect all the singularities observed by the... 

In this investigation, an algorithm was developed to calculate the gas pressure at the melt/foam interface (gap) owing to degraded foam during mould filling in the lost foam casting process (LFC). The effect of back-pressure on mould filling was modelled using a new experimental function by the addition of a three-dimensional volume of fluid (3D-VOF) function. The molten flow and free surface were simulated using the solution algorithm-VOF (SOLA-VOF) numerical technique. To simulate the three-dimensional incompressible flow in the LFC, the pressure boundary conditions, heat transfer and foam gas pressure effect were modified. Finally, in order to verify the computational results of... 

In this investigation a mathematical model has been developed for simulation of the incompressible flow with free surface during mould filling. The simulation 3D melt flow with free surface is based on the SOLA-VOF technique. In the model the effects of variations parameters including heat and mass transfer as well as influences of backpressure, and friction have been considered. The solid and free boundary conditions have been modified and a new algorithm has been developed to calculate the effect of wall-slip ratio, during mold filling. In this algorithm, the effect of wall-slip ratio on the filling pattern has been modeled with an experimental function. In order to verify the... 

In this investigation a computational model has been developed which includes heat and mass transfer as well as effects of backpressure, and mould wall friction for the simulation of incompressible flow with free surfaces in mould cavity filling. The simulation of flow with free surfaces is based on the SOLA-VOF numerical algorithm, utilizing the finite difference method. The solid and free boundary conditions have been modified and a new algorithm has been developed to calculate the effect of cavity pressure and wall-slip ratio, during mould filling. In this algorithm, the effect of wall-slip ratio on filling pattern has been modeled with an experimental function. In order to verify the... 

High molecular mass of naphthalene make it non-biodegradable and the biological methods for treated the pollutant are much time consuming. In this paper, two methods of ozonation and aeration are used to remove naphthalene. Because of the industrial wastewater has a great range of pH, in this study different concentrations of soluble naphthalene are placed in variable pH conditions, different contact times and changes in amount of aeration and ozonation. ANOVA results indicated a significant difference between two methods. The average removal of naphthalene by use of ozonation is 55 % and 37 % for aeration. As results, the best conditions that naphthalene are removed is in acidic environment...