Critical rationalism faces difficulty in Karl Popper’s Socratic formulation: “I may be wrong, and you may be right, and by an effort, we may find the truth.” But the Socratic elenchus, using refutations, can only give us negative knowledge of general principles, which is not the wisdom we seek. Affirmatively, we can only find a collection of opinions to be coherent, which is one of many. Francis Bacon proposed an improved elenchus to find general truths. You must take up a limited topic to study, then cross-examine your evidence for and against its apparent nature. Experiments contrary to evidence and presumed knowledge are entered as self-contradictions in tables of opposition recorded in an “experimental and natural history.” Such an account highlights a challenging puzzle if the account is to be made coherent. With enough problematized evidence, a coherent reading, or a solution of the puzzle, will be unique. Being both coherent and unique, it will be the truth about that limited reality being investigated. Unlike the method of hypothesis (“Anticipating Nature”), deciphering a coherent model is “Interpreting Nature,” allowing us to find a general truth on a limited topic. Isaac Newton achieved great success using Robert Boyle’s mechanistic version of this method. Using the “experimental philosophy,” he discovered general principles of optics and astronomy.

Lactation length is different in individual cows, which is generally converted to a 305-day standard using curve fitting models for genetic and management practices. Individual curves do not have a standard shape in all cases, and can deviate from the standard pattern according to factors such as individual differences, and type of fitted models. These non-standard curves, called atypical, resulted from incorrect estimated parameters of the curves; which consist of: continuously increasing or decreasing and reversed standards. This study was conducted to investigate the importance of atypical curves in estimation of 305-day milk production, by fitting two nonlinear models? Wood (empirical) and Pollott (biological), on 7659 and 6692 test-day milk yield of 977 and 776 first calving Iranian Simmental and Jersey cows, during 2007-2020, using R software. Different patterns obtained based on the combination of increasing (b) and decreasing (c) phase parameters of curves. The number of standard curves from the Pollott and Wood models were 85.5% and 62.2% for Simmental, and 83.1% and 70.6% for Jersey cows, respectively. Only continuously increasing curves were observed in both breeds in Pollott model (14.8% and 16.9%, Simmental and Jersey cows, respectively); Whereas in Wood model, all 3 groups of atypical curves were observed, which the reversed standard was the most (22.3% and 16.5%, Simmental and Jersey cows, respectively). Based on the findings, at the time of standardizing the production of dairy cows (national evaluations), not only differences between breeds, but also special attention to the production of atypical curves, should be paid (to correct or discard them).

Piano key weir has a higher effective length in comparison with other weir types. Piano key weir Lateral weirs can be employed in irrigation and drainage networks, flood control systems and water & waste-water systems instead of common side weirs. Keeping in view that discharge coefficient evaluation of the weirs is mandatory in channels having longitudinal curvatures, in this investigation; discharge coefficient of a Type-C piano key weir was studied in 30-degree sector of a channel having longitudinal curvature. During course of investigating 12 piano key weirs were investigated by performing 133 experiments on discharge flow. Influential parameters were defined using dimensional analysis and then their impact was analyzed. An experimental equation was developed for discharge coefficient calculation in the conditions under consideration. The accuracy of the equation was acceptable by having a correlation coefficient of 0. 916 and mean absolute error of 0. 089. Therefore, it can be suggested that the equation can be used for discharge coefficient estimation in design of piano key side weir.

The interaction of Fe2O3, Fe3O4 and SiO2 nanoparticles with proteinase K activity was investigated using UV-vis spectroscopy. Proteinase K EC (3.4.21.14) is a member of serine protease family, which is produced from fungus Tritirachum album Limber. The effects of nanoparticles on proteinase K activity were studies at 40oC in pH 7.0 using sodium phosphate as buffer. It was found that in the presence of nano-Fe2O3 and nano-Fe3O4, Vmax was decreased but Km was constant. This results indicated that nano-Fe2O3 and nano-Fe3O4 acted as noncompetitive inhibitors. In the presence of nano-SiO2 the amount of Km increased but Vmax decreased, that showed nano-SiO2 acted as a mixed inhibitor. The dissociation constant (Ki) value for binding nano-Fe2O3, nano-Fe3O4 to proteinase K was equal to 11mM and 8.5mM respectively that indicated the binding of nano-Fe3O4 to the enzyme was stronger than nano-Fe2O3. The KI and Ki value for nano-SiO2 was 22.5mM and 8mM respectively.

In this study, the effect of the ratio of different nanoparticle compositions on the viscosity performance of the base oil is investigated. The aim of this study is to achieve the characteristics of optimal nanolubricants. The experiments are performed at temperatures of 5-55°, C, volume fractions of 0. 05-1% and shear rates of 665. 5-10664s-1. Experimental results showed that nanofluids have a non-Newtonian and quasi-plastic behavior. The maximum viscosity reductions are obtained for MWCNT / Al2O3 (10%: 90%)-10W40 and MWCNT / Al2O3 (40%: 60%)-10W40 at-8. 13% and-10. 85%, respectively. The results show that MWCNT/Al2O3(10%: 90%)/10W40 nanofluids have better lubrication performance at engine start (lower oil viscosity) and engine movement (more controlled behavior) than competing nanofliud. Using the response level method, to predict the target response data, a normalized three-variable-three-degree model with the characteristics of the power transfer function, λ,=-0. 15 and a constant value equal to zero is presented. Margin of deviation is in the range of-2. 72 %

The aim of the present paper is to review a novel modular constructional element for the building and construction industries that was patented by Coventry University. Modular elements have been used in the past in the construction of structures in order to speed construction and cut on time and cost. The modular element, the subject of this study, comprises hexagonal elements made of steel or other appropriate material, assembled together to form a constructional assembly of honeycomb form secured by fixings that clamp together the sides of adjacent elements. Concrete, or other appropriate material, is disposed within the elements providing a composite type of action. Reinforcement is also present in the form of bars or tubes, providing extra strength to the assembled element. The novel type of modular construction has potential applications in the building, construction, substructure and highways sectors. It could be used as a permanent or temporary structure for roofs and walls. It may also be used for concrete pavements, tunnelling, and retaining wall structures.

The aim of the present paper is to reviews a novel modular constructional element for the building and construction industries that was patented by Coventry University. Modular elements have been used in the past in the construction of structures in order to speed construction and cut on time and cost. The modular element, the subject of this study, comprises hexagonal elements made of steel or other appropriate material, assembled together to form a constructional assembly of honeycomb form secured by fixings that clamp together the sides of adjacent elements. Concrete, or other appropriate material, is disposed within the elements providing a composite type of action. Reinforcement is also present in the form of bars or tubes, providing extra strength to the assembled element. The novel type of modular construction has potential applications in the building, construction, substructure and highways sectors. It could be used as a permanent or temporary structure for roofs and walls. It may also be used for concrete pavements, tunneling, and retaining wall structures.

This study investigated the effects of high temperature exposure on the compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths of concrete containing glass fiber. A total of 108 cubic specimens (150 mm × 150 mm × 150 mm), cylindrical specimens (300 mm × 150 mm), and prismatic specimens (500 mm × 150 mm × 150 mm) were prepared for compressive, tensile, and flexural strength testing, respectively. The specimens were incorporated with 1%, 2%, and 3% glass fiber and cured for 28 days to derive the desired strengths. The specimens were then annealed and subjected to experiments in which they were exposed to high temperature (600° C) for 30 minutes, one hour, and two hours. The specimens were cooled via slow cooling (exposure to air) and fast cooling (water spraying immediately after exposure to heat). Results showed that the presence of glass fiber exerted different effects on specimen strength and that heat caused the formation of numerous cracks in the specimens.

The use of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) blanket propulsion system in ships, even with low efficiencies, has particular benefits that can make them an appropriate option for the marine designers. Accordingly, any attempt to increase the efficiency of these systems requires full recognition of their performance in different conditions. In the present study, as a continuation of previous numerical works by the current authors, a magneto-hydrodynamic blanket propulsion system has been built and experimentally studied through examining the MHD forces produced in different voltages. Copper and gold have been used and compared as electrodes and the high advantage of gold has been demonstrated. The effect of electrolysis on the behavior of the blanket is analyzed. It has been demonstrated that although electrolysis restricts high currents in lower voltages (lower than ~140V) and the saturation of hydrogen decreases the MHD forces due to low electrical current (~140V up to ~160V), the saturation of hydrogen around cathode at high voltages (more than ~160V), makes a dielectric barrier which soon breaks down and make the production of plasma possible, which in turn highly increases the thrust force of the MHD blanket. Therefore, three regimes have been introduced and described for the MHD blanket; the electrolysis regime, the transition regime, and the hot plasma regime. Based on the obtained results, one may conclude that the present results have offered good evidence about the possibility of increasing the MHD blanket performance through plasma production in water.

In the pressure flushing the amount of the flushed sediments depend on many parameters such as water depth in the reservoir, outflow discharge through bottom outlets, kind and particle size of the deposited sediments. In this study the effects of these parameters was investigated. In this research, laboratory experiments were performed to investigate the flushing process during pressure flushing. Therefore a physical model was constructed at Shahid Chamran university, Ahvaz. The overall dimensions of the flume were, 7m long, 1.5m wide and height. The experiments were carried out with 5 outflow discharge, 3 water depths, and 3 size of sediment. In general 45 experiments were carried out. The results of these experiments show that when outlet was opened, sediments near outlet released under the water pressure and a after some minutes a scour cone was developed around the outlet. The results of this study show that for a constant water depth, the increasing of the outflow discharge would cause the scour cone volume and its length was increased. Also the decreasing of the particle sediments has positive effect on the increasing of the scour cone volume and its length. Based on the non-dimensional analysis and statistical analysis with SPSS software, relations as linear multiple regression are offered for determining of the scour cone volume and its length with R2=0.87 and R2=0.90, respectively. According to the coefficients of correlation indices, multiple regression models have a high prediction performance.