Abstract: Polymeric micro-cantilevers (Cs) are rapidly
becoming popular for MEMS applications such as chemo- and biosensing
as well as purely electromechanical applications such as
microrelays. Polymer materials present suitable physical and
chemical properties combined with low-cost mass production. Hence,
micro-cantilevers made of polymers indicate much more
biocompatibility and adaptability of rapid prototyping along with
mechanical properties. This research studies the effects of three
process and one size factors on the filling behaviour in micro cavity,
and the role of each in the replication of micro parts using different
polymer materials i.e. polypropylene (PP) SABIC 56M10 and
acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) Magnum 8434 . In particular,
the following factors are considered: barrel temperature, mould
temperature, injection speed and the thickness of micro features. The
study revealed that the barrel temperature and the injection speed are
the key factors affecting the flow length of micro features replicated
in PP and ABS. For both materials, an increase of feature sizes
improves the melt flow. However, the melt fill of micro features does
not increase linearly with the increase of their thickness.
Abstract: Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation is popular for
variable frequency drives. The method has several advantages over
carried based PWM and is computation intensive. The
implementation of SVPWM for multilevel inverter requires special
attention and at the same time consumes considerable resources. Due
to faster processing power and reduced over all computational
burden, FPGAs are being investigated as an alternative for other
controllers. In this paper, a space vector PWM algorithm is
implemented using FPGA which requires less computational area and
is modular in structure. The algorithm is verified experimentally for
Neutral Point Clamped inverter using FPGA development board
xc3s5000-4fg900.
Abstract: The current tools for real time management of sewer
systems are based on two software tools: the software of weather
forecast and the software of hydraulic simulation. The use of the first
ones is an important cause of imprecision and uncertainty, the use of
the second requires temporal important steps of decision because of
their need in times of calculation. This way of proceeding fact that
the obtained results are generally different from those waited. The major idea of this project is to change the basic paradigm by
approaching the problem by the "automatic" face rather than by that
"hydrology". The objective is to make possible the realization of a
large number of simulations at very short times (a few seconds)
allowing to take place weather forecasts by using directly the real
time meditative pluviometric data. The aim is to reach a system
where the decision-making is realized from reliable data and where
the correction of the error is permanent. A first model of control laws was realized and tested with different
return-period rainfalls. The gains obtained in rejecting volume vary
from 19 to 100 %. The development of a new algorithm was then
used to optimize calculation time and thus to overcome the
subsequent combinatorial problem in our first approach. Finally, this
new algorithm was tested with 16- year-rainfall series. The obtained
gains are 40 % of total volume rejected to the natural environment
and of 65 % in the number of discharges.
Abstract: This paper is aimed to study combustion characteristics
of low NOx burner using petroleum cokes as fuel. The petroleum coke,
which is produced through the oil refining process, is an attractive fuel
in terms of its high heating value and low price. But petroleum coke is
a challenging fuel because of its low volatile content, high sulfur and
nitrogen content, which give rise to undesirable emission
characteristics and low ignitability. Therefore, the research and
development regarding the petroleum coke burner is needed for
applying this industrial system. In this study, combustion and emission
characteristics of petroleum cokes burner are experimentally
investigated in an industrial steam boiler. The low NOx burner is
designed to control fuel and air mixing to achieve staged combustion,
which, in turn reduces both flame temperature and oxygen. Air
distribution ratio of triple staged air is optimized experimentally. The
result showed that NOx concentration is lowest when overfire air is
used, and the burner function at a fuel rich condition. That is, the
burner is operated at the equivalence ratio of 1.67 and overall
equivalence ratio including overfire air is kept 0.87.
Abstract: Two normal populations with different means and same
variance are considered, where the variance is known. The population
with the smaller sample mean is selected. Various estimators are
constructed for the mean of the selected normal population. Finally,
they are compared with respect to the bias and MSE risks by
the mehod of Monte-Carlo simulation and their performances are
analysed with the help of graphs.
Abstract: In some applications, such as image recognition or
compression, segmentation refers to the process of partitioning a
digital image into multiple segments. Image segmentation is typically
used to locate objects and boundaries (lines, curves, etc.) in images.
Image segmentation is to classify or cluster an image into several
parts (regions) according to the feature of image, for example, the
pixel value or the frequency response. More precisely, image
segmentation is the process of assigning a label to every pixel in an
image such that pixels with the same label share certain visual
characteristics. The result of image segmentation is a set of segments
that collectively cover the entire image, or a set of contours extracted
from the image. Several image segmentation algorithms were
proposed to segment an image before recognition or compression. Up
to now, many image segmentation algorithms exist and be
extensively applied in science and daily life. According to their
segmentation method, we can approximately categorize them into
region-based segmentation, data clustering, and edge-base
segmentation. In this paper, we give a study of several popular image
segmentation algorithms that are available.
Abstract: This study presents a hybrid metaheuristic algorithm
to obtain optimum designs for steel space buildings. The optimum
design problem of three-dimensional steel frames is mathematically
formulated according to provisions of LRFD-AISC (Load and
Resistance factor design of American Institute of Steel Construction).
Design constraints such as the strength requirements of structural
members, the displacement limitations, the inter-story drift and the
other structural constraints are derived from LRFD-AISC
specification. In this study, a hybrid algorithm by using teachinglearning
based optimization (TLBO) and harmony search (HS)
algorithms is employed to solve the stated optimum design problem.
These algorithms are two of the recent additions to metaheuristic
techniques of numerical optimization and have been an efficient tool
for solving discrete programming problems. Using these two
algorithms in collaboration creates a more powerful tool and
mitigates each other’s weaknesses. To demonstrate the powerful
performance of presented hybrid algorithm, the optimum design of a
large scale steel building is presented and the results are compared to
the previously obtained results available in the literature.
Abstract: Main purpose of this study is to identify the impact of
government expenditure on economic growth in Asian Countries.
Consequently, main objective is to analyze whether government
expenditure causes economic growth in Asian countries vice versa
and then scrutinizing long-run equilibrium relationship exists
between them. The study completely based on secondary data. The
methodology being quantitative that includes econometrical
techniques of cointegration, panel fixed effects model and granger
causality in the context of panel data of Asian countries; Singapore,
Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, China, Sri Lanka, India and
Bhutan with 44 observations in each country, totaling to 396
observations from 1970 to 2013. The model used is the random
effects panel OLS model. As with the above methodology, the study
found the fascinating outcome. At first, empirical findings exhibit a
momentous positive impact of government expenditure on Gross
Domestic Production in Asian region. Secondly, government
expenditure and economic growth indicate a long-run relationship in
Asian countries. In conclusion, there is a unidirectional causality
from economic growth to government expenditure and government
expenditure to economic growth in Asian countries. Hence the study
is validated that it is in line with the Keynesian theory and Wagner’s
law as well. Consequently, it can be concluded that role of
government would play a vital role in economic growth of Asian
Countries. However; if government expenditure did not figure out
with the economy’s needs it might be considerably inspiration the
economy in a negative way so that society bears the costs.
Abstract: The aims of study were investigation on chemical
composition essential oil and the effect of extract of Coronilla varia
on antimicrobial and cytotoxicity activity. The essential oils of
Coronilla varia is obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by
(GC/MS) for determining their chemical composition and
identification of their components. Antibacterial activity of plant
extract was determined by disc diffusion method and anticancer
activity measured by MTT assay. The major components in essential
oil were Caryophyllene Oxide (60.19%), Alphacadinol (4.13%) and
Homoadantaneca Robexylic Acid (3.31%). The extracts from
Coronilla varia had interesting activity against Proteus mirabilis in
the concentration of 700 μg/disc and did not show any activity
against Staphylococus aureus, Bacillus subtillis, Klebsiella
pneumonia and Entrobacter cloacae. The positive control,
Ampicillin, Chloramphenicol and Cenphalothin had shown zone of
inhibition resistant all bacteria. The ethanol extract of Corohilla varia
inhibited on MCF7 cell lines. IC50 0.6(mg/ml) was the optimum
concentration of extract from Coronilla varia inhibition of cell line
growth. The MCF7 cancer cell line and Proteus mirabilis were more
sensitive to Coronilla varia ethanol extract.
Abstract: Tamil handwritten document is taken as a key source of data to identify the writer. Tamil is a classical language which has 247 characters include compound characters, consonants, vowels and special character. Most characters of Tamil are multifaceted in nature. Handwriting is a unique feature of an individual. Writer may change their handwritings according to their frame of mind and this place a risky challenge in identifying the writer. A new discriminative model with pooled features of handwriting is proposed and implemented using support vector machine. It has been reported on 100% of prediction accuracy by RBF and polynomial kernel based classification model.
Abstract: Water resource systems modeling has constantly been
a challenge through history for human beings. As the innovative
methodological development is evolving alongside computer sciences
on one hand, researches are likely to confront more complex and
larger water resources systems due to new challenges regarding
increased water demands, climate change and human interventions,
socio-economic concerns, and environment protection and
sustainability. In this research, an automatic calibration scheme has
been applied on the Gilan’s large-scale water resource model using
mathematical programming. The water resource model’s calibration
is developed in order to attune unknown water return flows from
demand sites in the complex Sefidroud irrigation network and other
related areas. The calibration procedure is validated by comparing
several gauged river outflows from the system in the past with model
results. The calibration results are pleasantly reasonable presenting a
rational insight of the system. Subsequently, the unknown optimized
parameters were used in a basin-scale linear optimization model with
the ability to evaluate the system’s performance against a reduced
inflow scenario in future. Results showed an acceptable match
between predicted and observed outflows from the system at selected
hydrometric stations. Moreover, an efficient operating policy was
determined for Sefidroud dam leading to a minimum water shortage
in the reduced inflow scenario.
Abstract: Groundwater is vital to the livelihoods and health of the majority of the people, since it provides almost the entire water resource for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses. Groundwater quality comprises the physical, chemical and bacteriological qualities. The present investigation was carried out to determine the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of the ground water sources in the residential areas of Karakulam Grama Panchayath in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala state in India. Karakulam is located in the eastern suburbs of Thiruvananthapuram city. The major drinking water source of the residents in the study area is wells. The present study aims to assess the portability and irrigational suitability of groundwater in the study area. The water samples were collected from randomly selected dug wells and bore wells in the study area during post monsoon and pre monsoon seasons of the year 2014 after a preliminary field survey. The physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters of the water samples were analyzed following standard procedures. The concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Pb and Mn) in the acid digested water samples were determined by using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results showed that the pH of well water samples ranged from acidic to alkaline level. In majority of well water samples (>54 %) the iron and magnesium content were found high in both the seasons studied, and the values were above the permissible limits of WHO drinking water quality standards. Bacteriological analyses showed that 63% of the wells were contaminated with total coliforms in both the seasons studied. Irrigational suitability of groundwater was assessed by determining the chemical indices like Sodium Percentage (%Na), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), Permeability Index (PI), and the results indicate that the well water in the study area are good for irrigation purposes. Therefore, the study reveals the degradation of drinking water quality groundwater sources in Karakulam Grama Panchayath in Thiruvananthapuram District, Keralain terms of its chemical and bacteriological characteristics, and is not potable without proper treatment. In the study, more than 1/3rdof the well water samples tested were positive for total coliforms, and the bacterial contamination may pose threat to public health. The study recommends the need for periodic well water quality monitoring in the study area and to conduct awareness programs among the residents.
Abstract: As per the statistical data, the Doubly-fed Induction
Generator (DFIG) based wind turbine with variable speed and
variable pitch control is the most common wind turbine in the
growing wind market. This machine is usually used on the grid
connected wind energy conversion system to satisfy grid code
requirements such as grid stability, Fault Ride Through (FRT), power
quality improvement, grid synchronization and power control etc.
Though the requirements are not fulfilled directly by the machine, the
control strategy is used in both the stator as well as rotor side along
with power electronic converters to fulfil the requirements stated
above. To satisfy the grid code requirements of wind turbine, usually
grid side converter is playing a major role. So in order to improve the
operation capacity of wind turbine under critical situation, the
intensive study of both machine side converter control and grid side
converter control is necessary In this paper DFIG is modeled using
power components as variables and the performance of the DFIG
system is analysed under grid voltage fluctuations. The voltage
fluctuations are made by lowering and raising the voltage values in
the utility grid intentionally for the purpose of simulation keeping in
view of different grid disturbances.
Abstract: The paper identifies the features of Polish sports clubs
in the particular organizational forms: profit and nonprofit.
Identification and description of these features is carried out in terms
of financial efficiency of the given organizational form. Under the
terms of the efficiency the research allows you to specify the
advantages of particular organizational sports club form and the
following limitations. Paper considers features of sports clubs in
range of Polish conditions as legal regulations. The sources of the
functioning efficiency of sports clubs may lie in the organizational
forms in which they operate. Each of the available forms can be
considered either a for-profit or nonprofit enterprise. Depending on
this classification there are different capabilities of increasing
organizational and financial efficiency of a given sports club. Authors
start with general classification and difference between for-profit and
non-profit sport clubs. Next identifies specific financial and
organizational conditions of both organizational form and then show
examples of mixed activity forms and their efficiency effect.
Abstract: Anammox is a novel and promising technology that has changed the traditional concept of biological nitrogen removal. The process facilitates direct oxidation of ammonical nitrogen under anaerobic conditions with nitrite as an electron acceptor without addition of external carbon sources. The present study investigated the feasibility of Anammox Hybrid Reactor (AHR) combining the dual advantages of suspended and attached growth media for biodegradation of ammonical nitrogen in wastewater. Experimental unit consisted of 4 nos. of 5L capacity AHR inoculated with mixed seed culture containing anoxic and activated sludge (1:1). The process was established by feeding the reactors with synthetic wastewater containing NH4-H and NO2-N in the ratio 1:1 at HRT (hydraulic retention time) of 1 day. The reactors were gradually acclimated to higher ammonium concentration till it attained pseudo steady state removal at a total nitrogen concentration of 1200 mg/l. During this period, the performance of the AHR was monitored at twelve different HRTs varying from 0.25-3.0 d with increasing NLR from 0.4 to 4.8 kg N/m3d. AHR demonstrated significantly higher nitrogen removal (95.1%) at optimal HRT of 1 day. Filter media in AHR contributed an additional 27.2% ammonium removal in addition to 72% reduction in the sludge washout rate. This may be attributed to the functional mechanism of filter media which acts as a mechanical sieve and reduces the sludge washout rate many folds. This enhances the biomass retention capacity of the reactor by 25%, which is the key parameter for successful operation of high rate bioreactors. The effluent nitrate concentration, which is one of the bottlenecks of anammox process was also minimised significantly (42.3-52.3 mg/L). Process kinetics was evaluated using first order and Grau-second order models. The first-order substrate removal rate constant was found as 13.0 d-1. Model validation revealed that Grau second order model was more precise and predicted effluent nitrogen concentration with least error (1.84±10%). A new mathematical model based on mass balance was developed to predict N2 gas in AHR. The mass balance model derived from total nitrogen dictated significantly higher correlation (R2=0.986) and predicted N2 gas with least error of precision (0.12±8.49%). SEM study of biomass indicated the presence of heterogeneous population of cocci and rod shaped bacteria of average diameter varying from 1.2-1.5 mm. Owing to enhanced NRE coupled with meagre production of effluent nitrate and its ability to retain high biomass, AHR proved to be the most competitive reactor configuration for dealing with nitrogen laden wastewater.
Abstract: The present study is a functional analysis of the
relationship between castes which indicates the dynamics of the caste
structure in the rural setting. The researcher has tried to show both
the cooperation and competition on important ceremonial and social
occasions. The real India exists in the villages, so we need to know
about their solidarity and also what the village life is and has been
shaping into. We need to emphasize a microcosmic study of Indian
rural life. Furthermore, caste integration is an acute problem country
faces today. To resolve this we are required to know the dynamics of
behavior of the people of different castes and for the study of the
caste dynamics a study of caste relations are needed. The present
study is an attempt in this direction.
Abstract: Web mining is to discover and extract useful
Information. Different users may have different search goals when
they search by giving queries and submitting it to a search engine.
The inference and analysis of user search goals can be very useful for
providing an experience result for a user search query. In this project,
we propose a novel approach to infer user search goals by analyzing
search web logs. First, we propose a novel approach to infer user
search goals by analyzing search engine query logs, the feedback
sessions are constructed from user click-through logs and it
efficiently reflect the information needed for users. Second we
propose a preprocessing technique to clean the unnecessary data’s
from web log file (feedback session). Third we propose a technique
to generate pseudo-documents to representation of feedback sessions
for clustering. Finally we implement k-medoids clustering algorithm
to discover different user search goals and to provide a more optimal
result for a search query based on feedback sessions for the user.
Abstract: Linear stability analysis of double diffusive convection
in a horizontal porous layer saturated with fluid is examined by
considering the effects of viscous dissipation, concentration based
internal heat source and vertical throughflow. The basic steady
state solution for Governing equations is derived. Linear stability
analysis has been implemented numerically by using shooting
and Runge-kutta methods. Critical thermal Rayleigh number Rac
is obtained for various values of solutal Rayleigh number Sa,
vertical Peclet number Pe, Gebhart number Ge, Lewis number
Le and measure of concentration based internal heat source
γ. It is observed that Ge has destabilizing effect for upward
throughflow and stabilizing effect for downward throughflow. And
γ has considerable destabilizing effect for upward throughflow and
insignificant destabilizing effect for downward throughflow.
Abstract: This study intends to show the influence of the
hydrolytic degradation on the properties of the e-PTFE/NOMEX®
membranes used in fire-protective clothing. The modification of
water vapour permeability, morphology and chemical structure was
examined by MOCON Permatran, electron microscopy scanning
(SEM), and ATR-FTIR, respectively. A decrease in permeability to
water vapour of the aged samples was observed following closure of
transpiration pores. Analysis of fiber morphology indicates the
appearance of defects at the fibers surface with the presence of micro
cavities. ATR-FTIR analysis reveals the presence of a new absorption
band attributed to carboxylic acid terminal groups generated during
the amide bond hydrolysis.
Abstract: Ecological systems are exposed and are influenced by
various natural and anthropogenic disturbances. They produce
various effects and states seeking response symmetry to a state of
global phase coherence or stability and balance of their food webs.
This research project addresses the development of a computational
methodology for modeling plankton food webs. The use of
algorithms to establish connections, the generation of representative
fuzzy multigraphs and application of technical analysis of complex
networks provide a set of tools for defining, analyzing and evaluating
community structure of coastal aquatic ecosystems, beyond the
estimate of possible external impacts to the networks. Thus, this
study aims to develop computational systems and data models to
assess how these ecological networks are structurally and
functionally organized, to analyze the types and degree of
compartmentalization and synchronization between oscillatory and
interconnected elements network and the influence of disturbances on
the overall pattern of rhythmicity of the system.