Abstract: In this study, electric field distribution analyses for
three pylon models are carried out by a Finite Element Method
(FEM) based software. Analyses are performed in both stationary and
time domains to observe instantaneous values along with the
effective ones. Considering the results of the study, different line
geometries is considerably affecting the magnitude and distribution
of electric field although the line voltages are the same. Furthermore,
it is observed that maximum values of instantaneous electric field
obtained in time domain analysis are quite higher than the effective
ones in stationary mode. In consequence, electric field distribution
analyses should be individually made for each different line model
and the limit exposure values or distances to residential buildings
should be defined according to the results obtained.
Abstract: The right to basic sanitation, was elevated to the
category of fundamental right by the Constitution of 1988 to protect
the ecologically balanced environment, ensuring social rights to
health and adequate housing and put the dignity of the human person
as the foundation of the Brazilian Democratic State. Before their
essentiality to humans, this article seeks to understand why universal
access to basic sanitation is a goal so difficult to achieve in Brazil.
Therefore, this research uses the deductive and analytical method.
Given the nature of the research literature, research techniques were
centered in specialized books on the subject, journals, theses and
dissertations, laws, relevant law case and raising social indicators
relating to the theme. The relevance of the topic stems, among other
things, the fact that sanitation services are essential for a dignified
life, i.e., everyone is entitled to the maintenance of the necessary
existence conditions are satisfied. However, the effectiveness of this
right is undermined in society, since Brazil has huge deficit in
sanitation services, denying thus a worthy life to most of the
population. Thus, it can be seen that the provision of water and
sewage services in Brazil is still characterized by a large imbalance,
since the municipalities with lower population index have greater
disability in the sanitation service. The truth is that the precariousness
of water and sewage services in Brazil is still very concentrated in the
North and Northeast regions, limiting the effective implementation of
the Law 11.445/2007 in the country. Therefore, there is urgent need
for a positive service by the State in the provision of sanitation
services in order to prevent and control disease, improve quality of
life and productivity of individuals, besides preventing contamination
of water resources. More than just social and economic necessity,
there is a government duty to implement such services. In this sense,
given the current scenario, to achieve universal access to basic
sanitation imposes many hurdles. These are mainly in the field of
properly formulated and implemented public policies, i.e., it requires
an excellent institutional organization, management services,
strategic planning, social control, in order to provide answers to
complex challenges.
Abstract: This paper presents the influences on the entrainment
of serpentines by grinding and reagents during copper–nickel sulfide
flotation. The previous bench flotation tests were performed to extract
the metallic values from the ore in Yunnan Mine, China and the
relatively satisfied results with recoveries of 86.92% Cu, 54.92% Ni,
and 74.73% Pt+Pd in the concentrate were harvested at their grades of
4.02%, 3.24% and 76.61 g/t, respectively. However, the content of
MgO in the concentrate was still more than 19%. Micro-flotation tests
were conducted with the objective of figuring out the influences on the
entrainment of serpentines into the concentrate by particle size,
flocculants or depressants and collectors, as well as visual
observations in suspension by OLYMPUS camera. All the tests results
pointed to the presences of both “entrapped-in” serpentines and its
coating on the hydrophobic flocs resulted from strong collectors
(combination of butyl xanthate, butyl ammonium dithophosphate,
even after adding carboxymethyl cellulose as effective depressant.
And fine grinding may escalate the entrainment of serpentines in the
concentrate.
Abstract: The present work is aimed at examining carbon steel
oil pipelines corrosion using three natural extracts (Eruca Sativa,
Rosell and Mango peels) that are used as inhibitors of different
concentrations ranging from 0.05-0.1wt. %. Two sulphur compounds
are used as corrosion mediums. Weight loss method was used for
measuring the corrosion rate of the carbon steel specimens immersed
in technical white oil at 100ºC at various time intervals in absence
and presence of the two sulphur compounds. The corroded specimens
are examined using the chemical wear test, scratch test and hardness
test. The scratch test is carried out using scratch loads from 0.5 Kg to
2.0 Kg. The scratch width is obtained at various scratch load and test
conditions. The Brinell hardness test is carried out and investigated
for both corroded and inhibited specimens. The results showed that
three natural extracts can be used as environmentally friendly
corrosion inhibitors.
Abstract: This paper treats different aspects of entropy measure
in classical information theory and statistical quantum mechanics, it
presents the possibility of extending the definition of Von Neumann
entropy to image and array processing. In the first part, we generalize
the quantum entropy using singular values of arbitrary rectangular
matrices to measure the randomness and the quality of denoising
operation, this new definition of entropy can be implemented to
compare the performance analysis of filtering methods. In the second
part, we apply the concept of pure state in quantum formalism
to generalize the maximum entropy method for narrowband and
farfield source localization problem. Several computer simulation
results are illustrated to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed
techniques.
Abstract: In this paper, monitoring and control of tap changer
mechanism of a transformer implementation in an Intelligent
Electronic Device (IED) is discussed. It has been a custom for
decades to provide a separate panel for on load tap changer control
for monitoring the tap position. However, this facility cannot either
record or transfer the information to remote control centers. As there
is a technology shift towards the smart grid protection and control
standards, the need for implementing remote control and monitoring
has necessitated the implementation of this feature in numerical
relays. This paper deals with the programming, settings and logic
implementation which is applicable to both IEC 61850 compatible
and non-compatible IEDs thereby eliminating the need for separate
tap changer control equipment. The monitoring mechanism has been
implemented in a 28MVA, 110 /6.9kV transformer with 16 tap
position with GE make T60 IED at Ultratech cement limited
Gulbarga, Karnataka and is in successful service.
Abstract: Useful lifetime evaluation of chevron rubber spring
was very important in design procedure to assure the safety and
reliability. It is, therefore, necessary to establish a suitable criterion
for the replacement period of chevron rubber spring. In this study, we
performed characteristic analysis and useful lifetime prediction of
chevron rubber spring. Rubber material coefficient was obtained by
curve fittings of uniaxial tension equibiaxial tension and pure shear
test. Computer simulation was executed to predict and evaluate the
load capacity and stiffness for chevron rubber spring. In order to
useful lifetime prediction of rubber material, we carried out the
compression set with heat aging test in an oven at the temperature
ranging from 50°C to 100°C during a period 180 days. By using the
Arrhenius plot, several useful lifetime prediction equations for rubber
material was proposed.
Abstract: By enhancing the applicatıon of grounds for
establishment and due to the lack of appropriate sites, engineers
attempt to seek out a new method to reduce the weakness of soils. İn
aspect of economic situation, various ways have been used to
decrease the weak grounds. Because of the rapid development of
infrastructural facilities, spreading the construction operation is an
obligation. Furthermore, in various sites with the really bad soil
situation, engineers have considered obvious problems. One of the
most essential ways for developing the weak soils is stone column.
Obviously, the method was introduced in France in 1830 to improve
a native soil initially. Stone columns have an expanding range of
usage in different rough foundation sites all over the world to
increase the bearing capacity, to reduce the whole and differential
settlements, to enhance the rate of consolidation, to stabilize slopes
stability of embankments and to increase the liquefaction resistance
as well. A recent procedure called installing vertical nails along the
round stone columns in order to make better the performance of
considered columns is offered. Moreover, thanks to the enhancing the
nail diameter, number and embedment nail depth, the positive points
of vertical circumferential nails increases. Based on the result of this
study, load caring capacity will be develop with enhancing the length
and the power of reinforcements in vertical encasement stone column
(CESC). In this study, the main purpose is comparing two methods of
stone columns (installed a nail surrounding the stone columns and
using geogrid on clay) for enhancing the bearing capacity, decreasing
the whole and various settlements.
Abstract: Consumers are demanding novel beverages that are
healthier, convenient and have appealing consumer acceptance. The
objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of adding grape
polyphenols and the influence of presenting health claims on the
sensory acceptability of wines. Fresh red sorrel calyces were
fermented into wines. The total soluble solids of the pectinase-treated
sorrel puree were from 4°Brix to 23.8°Brix. Polyphenol in the form
of grape pomace extract was added to sorrel wines (w/v) in specified
levels to give 0. 25. 50 and 75 ppm. A focus group comprising of 12
panelists was use to select the level of polyphenol to be added to
sorrel wines for sensory preference The sensory attributed of the
wines which were evaluated were colour, clarity, aroma, flavor,
mouth-feel, sweetness, astringency and overall preference. The sorrel
wine which was most preferred from focus group evaluation was
presented for hedonic rating. In the first stage of hedonic testing, the
sorrel wine was served chilled at 7°C for 24 h prior to sensory
evaluation. Each panelist was provided with a questionnaire and was
asked to rate the wines on colour, aroma, flavor, mouth-feel,
sweetness, astringency and overall acceptability using a 9-point
hedonic scale. In the second stage of hedonic testing, the panelist
were instructed to read a health abstract on the health benefits of
polyphenolic compounds and again to rate sorrel wine with added 25
ppm polyphenol. Paired t-test was used for the analysis of the
influence of presenting health information on polyphenols on hedonic
scoring of sorrel wines. Focus groups found that the addition of
polyphenol addition had no significant effect on sensory color and
aroma but affected clarity and flavor. A 25 ppm wine was liked
moderately in overall acceptability. The presentation of information
on the health benefit of polyphenols in sorrel wines to panelists had
no significant influence on the sensory acceptance of wine. More
than half of panelists would drink this wine now and then. This wine
had color L 19.86±0.68, chroma 2.10±0.12, hue° 16.90 ±3.10 and
alcohol content of 13.0%. The sorrel wine was liked moderately in
overall acceptability with the added polyphenols.
Abstract: This paper presents a fully Lagrangian coupled
Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) solver for simulations of
fluid-structure interactions, which is based on the Moving Particle
Semi-implicit (MPS) method to solve the governing equations
corresponding to incompressible flows as well as elastic structures.
The developed solver is verified by reproducing the high velocity
impact loads of deformable thin wedges with three different materials
such as mild steel, aluminium and tin during water entry. The present
simulation results for aluminium are compared with analytical solution
derived from the hydrodynamic Wagner model and linear Wan’s
theory. And also, the impact pressure and strain on the water entry
wedge with three different materials, such as mild steel, aluminium
and tin, are simulated and the effects of hydro-elasticity are discussed.
Abstract: Batch production plants provide a wide range of
scheduling problems. In pharmaceutical industries a batch process
is usually described by a recipe, consisting of an ordering of tasks
to produce the desired product. In this research work we focused
on pharmaceutical production processes requiring the culture of
a microorganism population (i.e. bacteria, yeasts or antibiotics).
Several sources of uncertainty may influence the yield of the culture
processes, including (i) low performance and quality of the cultured
microorganism population or (ii) microbial contamination. For
these reasons, robustness is a valuable property for the considered
application context. In particular, a robust schedule will not collapse
immediately when a cell of microorganisms has to be thrown away
due to a microbial contamination. Indeed, a robust schedule should
change locally in small proportions and the overall performance
measure (i.e. makespan, lateness) should change a little if at all.
In this research work we formulated a constraint programming
optimization (COP) model for the robust planning of antibiotics
production. We developed a discrete-time model with a multi-criteria
objective, ordering the different criteria and performing a
lexicographic optimization. A feasible solution of the proposed
COP model is a schedule of a given set of tasks onto available
resources. The schedule has to satisfy tasks precedence constraints,
resource capacity constraints and time constraints. In particular
time constraints model tasks duedates and resource availability
time windows constraints. To improve the schedule robustness, we
modeled the concept of (a, b) super-solutions, where (a, b) are input
parameters of the COP model. An (a, b) super-solution is one in
which if a variables (i.e. the completion times of a culture tasks)
lose their values (i.e. cultures are contaminated), the solution can be
repaired by assigning these variables values with a new values (i.e.
the completion times of a backup culture tasks) and at most b other
variables (i.e. delaying the completion of at most b other tasks).
The efficiency and applicability of the proposed model is
demonstrated by solving instances taken from a real-life
pharmaceutical company. Computational results showed that
the determined super-solutions are near-optimal.
Abstract: The aim of this work was to characterize a potential
target group of people interested in participating into a training
program in organic farming in the context of mobile-learning. The
information sought addressed in particular, but not exclusively,
possible contents, formats and forms of evaluation that will
contribute to define the course objectives and curriculum, as well as
to ensure that the course meets the needs of the learners and their
preferences. The sample was selected among different European
countries. The questionnaires were delivered electronically for
answering on-line and in the end 135 consented valid questionnaires
were obtained. The results allowed characterizing the target group
and identifying their training needs and preferences towards m-learning
formats, giving valuable tools to design the training offer.
Abstract: The global demand for long-tailed macaques for
medical experimentation has continued to increase. Fulfillment of
Indonesian export demands has been mostly from natural habitats,
based on a harvesting quota. This quota has been determined
according to the total catch for a given year, and not based on
consideration of any demographic parameters or physical
environmental factors with regard to the animal; hence threatening
the sustainability of the various populations. It is therefore necessary
to formulate a method for calculating a sustainable harvesting quota,
based on population parameters in natural habitats. Considering the
possibility of variations in habitat characteristics and population
parameters, a time series observation of demographic and
physical/biotic parameters, in various habitats, was performed on 13
groups of long-tailed macaques, distributed throughout the West
Java, Lampung and Yogyakarta areas of Indonesia. These provinces
were selected for comparison of the influence of human/tourism
activities. Data on population parameters that was collected included
data on life expectancy according to age class, numbers of
individuals by sex and age class, and ‘ratio of infants to reproductive
females’. The estimation of population growth was based on a
population dynamic growth model: the Leslie matrix. The harvesting
quota was calculated as being the difference between the actual
population size and the MVP (minimum viable population) for each
sex and age class. Observation indicated that there were variations within group size
(24–106 individuals), gender (sex) ratio (1:1 to 1:1.3), life expectancy
value (0.30 to 0.93), and ‘ratio of infants to reproductive females’
(0.23 to 1.56). Results of subsequent calculations showed that
sustainable harvesting quotas for each studied group of long-tailed
macaques, ranged from 29 to 110 individuals. An estimation model
of the MVP for each age class was formulated as Log Y = 0.315 +
0.884 Log Ni (number of individual on ith age class). This study also
found that life expectancy for the juvenile age class was affected by
the humidity under tree stands, and dietary plants’ density at sapling,
pole and tree stages (equation: Y=2.296 – 1.535 RH + 0.002 Kpcg –
0.002 Ktg – 0.001 Kphn, R2 = 89.6% with a significance value of
0.001). By contrast, for the sub-adult-adult age class, life expectancy
was significantly affected by slope (equation: Y=0.377 = 0.012 Kml,
R2 = 50.4%, with significance level of 0.007). The infant-toreproductive-
female ratio was affected by humidity under tree stands,
and dietary plant density at sapling and pole stages (equation: Y = -
1.432 + 2.172 RH – 0.004 Kpcg + 0.003 Ktg, R2 = 82.0% with
significance level of 0.001). This research confirmed the importance
of population parameters in determining the minimum viable
population, and that MVP varied according to habitat characteristics
(especially food availability). It would be difficult therefore, to
formulate a general mathematical equation model for determining a
harvesting quota for the species as a whole.
Abstract: This paper develops and investigates a framework for
the assessment of customer involvement in the service design process
of result oriented product-service systems in order to improve the
service offering in a business-to-business (B2B) context. The
framework comprises five main criteria and fifteen sub-criteria that
contribute to customer involvement in a hierarchy using a maturity
grid to highlight the strengths and weaknesses for each criterion. To
develop the customer involvement framework, an extensive literature
review related to service design, result oriented product-service
system (PSS) and customer involvement in service design was
carried out. Key factors that significantly influence customer
involvement from industry and literature were identified to develop
the framework. A major contribution of the developed framework
includes a hierarchy of appropriate criteria for assessing customer
involvement in the service design process within results oriented
PSS; the definition of four maturity levels which are suitable to
describe the whole spectrum of customer involvement in the service
design process; and finally, The paper concludes by enabling service
providers to: take proactive decisions; screen and evaluate new
services; improve perceived service quality; and provide barriers
against imitation.
Abstract: In this paper, we present a new segmentation approach
for focal liver lesions in contrast enhanced ultrasound imaging. This
approach, based on a two-cluster Fuzzy C-Means methodology,
considers type-II fuzzy sets to handle uncertainty due to the image
modality (presence of speckle noise, low contrast, etc.), and to
calculate the optimum inter-cluster threshold. Fine boundaries are
detected by a local recursive merging of ambiguous pixels. The
method has been tested on a representative database. Compared to
both Otsu and type-I Fuzzy C-Means techniques, the proposed
method significantly reduces the segmentation errors.
Abstract: Sewer deposits have been identified as a major cause
of dysfunctions in combined sewer systems regarding sewer
management, which induces different negative consequents resulting
in poor hydraulic conveyance, environmental damages as well as
worker’s health. In order to overcome the problematics of
sedimentation, flushing has been considered as the most operative
and cost-effective way to minimize the sediments impacts and
prevent such challenges. Flushing, by prompting turbulent wave
effects, can modify the bed form depending on the hydraulic
properties and geometrical characteristics of the conduit. So far, the
dynamics of the bed-load during high-flow events in combined sewer
systems as a complex environment is not well understood, mostly due
to lack of measuring devices capable to work in the “hostile” in
combined sewer system correctly. In this regards, a one-episode
flushing issue from an opening gate valve with weir function was
carried out in a trunk sewer in Paris to understand its cleansing
efficiency on the sediments (thickness: 0-30 cm). During more than
1h of flushing within 5 m distance in downstream of this flushing
device, a maximum flowrate and a maximum level of water have
been recorded at 5 m in downstream of the gate as 4.1 m3/s and 2.1
m respectively. This paper is aimed to evaluate the efficiency of this
type of gate for around 1.1 km (from the point -50 m to +1050 m in
downstream from the gate) by (i) determining bed grain-size
distribution and sediments evolution through the sewer channel, as
well as their organic matter content, and (ii) identifying sections that
exhibit more changes in their texture after the flush. For the first one,
two series of sampling were taken from the sewer length and then
analyzed in laboratory, one before flushing and second after, at same
points among the sewer channel. Hence, a non-intrusive sampling
instrument has undertaken to extract the sediments smaller than the
fine gravels. The comparison between sediments texture after the
flush operation and the initial state, revealed the most modified zones
by the flush effect, regarding the sewer invert slope and hydraulic
parameters in the zone up to 400 m from the gate. At this distance,
despite the increase of sediment grain-size rages, D50 (median grainsize)
varies between 0.6 mm and 1.1 mm compared to 0.8 mm and 10
mm before and after flushing, respectively. Overall, regarding the
sewer channel invert slope, results indicate that grains smaller than
sands (< 2 mm) are more transported to downstream along about 400
m from the gate: in average 69% before against 38% after the flush
with more dispersion of grain-sizes distributions. Furthermore, high
effect of the channel bed irregularities on the bed material evolution
has been observed after the flush.
Abstract: This study integrates a larger research empirical
project that examines second language (SL) learners’ profiles and
valid procedures to perform complete and diagnostic assessment in
schools. 102 learners of Portuguese as a SL aged 7 and 17 years
speakers of distinct home languages were assessed in several
linguistic tasks. In this article, we focused on writing performance in
the specific task of narrative essay composition. The written outputs
were measured using the score in six components adapted from an
English SL assessment context (Alberta Education): linguistic
vocabulary, grammar, syntax, strategy, socio-linguistic, and
discourse. The writing processes and strategies in Portuguese
language used by different immigrant students were analysed to
determine features and diversity of deficits on authentic texts
performed by SL writers. Differentiated performance was based on
the diversity of the following variables: grades, previous schooling,
home language, instruction in first language, and exposure to
Portuguese as Second Language. Indo-Aryan languages speakers
showed low writing scores compared to their peers and the type of
language and respective cognitive mapping (such as Mandarin and
Arabic) was the predictor, not linguistic distance. Home language
instruction should also be prominently considered in further research
to understand specificities of cognitive academic profile in a
Romance languages learning context. Additionally, this study also
examined the teachers’ representations that will be here addressed to
understand educational implications of second language teaching in
psychological distress of different minorities in schools of specific
host countries.
Abstract: Speaker Identification (SI) is the task of establishing
identity of an individual based on his/her voice characteristics. The SI
task is typically achieved by two-stage signal processing: training and
testing. The training process calculates speaker specific feature
parameters from the speech and generates speaker models
accordingly. In the testing phase, speech samples from unknown
speakers are compared with the models and classified. Even though
performance of speaker identification systems has improved due to
recent advances in speech processing techniques, there is still need of
improvement. In this paper, a Closed-Set Tex-Independent Speaker
Identification System (CISI) based on a Multiple Classifier System
(MCS) is proposed, using Mel Frequency Cepstrum Coefficient
(MFCC) as feature extraction and suitable combination of vector
quantization (VQ) and Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) together
with Expectation Maximization algorithm (EM) for speaker
modeling. The use of Voice Activity Detector (VAD) with a hybrid
approach based on Short Time Energy (STE) and Statistical
Modeling of Background Noise in the pre-processing step of the
feature extraction yields a better and more robust automatic speaker
identification system. Also investigation of Linde-Buzo-Gray (LBG)
clustering algorithm for initialization of GMM, for estimating the
underlying parameters, in the EM step improved the convergence rate
and systems performance. It also uses relative index as confidence
measures in case of contradiction in identification process by GMM
and VQ as well. Simulation results carried out on voxforge.org
speech database using MATLAB highlight the efficacy of the
proposed method compared to earlier work.
Abstract: This paper deals with nonlinear vibration analysis
using finite element method for frame structures consisting of elastic
and viscoelastic damping layers supported by multiple nonlinear
concentrated springs with hysteresis damping. The frame is supported
by four nonlinear concentrated springs near the four corners. The
restoring forces of the springs have cubic non-linearity and linear
component of the nonlinear springs has complex quantity to represent
linear hysteresis damping. The damping layer of the frame structures
has complex modulus of elasticity. Further, the discretized equations in
physical coordinate are transformed into the nonlinear ordinary
coupled differential equations using normal coordinate corresponding
to linear natural modes. Comparing shares of strain energy of the
elastic frame, the damping layer and the springs, we evaluate the
influences of the damping couplings on the linear and nonlinear impact
responses. We also investigate influences of damping changed by
stiffness of the elastic frame on the nonlinear coupling in the damped
impact responses.
Abstract: Work presented is interested in the characterization of
the quasistatic mechanical properties and in fatigue of a composite
laminated in jute/epoxy. The natural fibers offer promising prospects
thanks to their interesting specific properties, because of their low
density, but also with their bio-deterioration. Several scientific
studies highlighted the good mechanical resistance of the vegetable
fiber composites reinforced, even after several recycling. Because of
the environmental standards that become increasingly severe, one
attends the emergence of eco-materials at the base of natural fibers
such as flax, bamboo, hemp, sisal, jute. The fatigue tests on
elementary vegetable fibers show an increase of about 60% of the
rigidity of elementary fibers of hemp subjected to cyclic loadings. In
this study, the test-tubes manufactured by the method infusion have
sequences of stacking of 0/90° and ± 45° for the shearing and tensile
tests. The quasistatic tests reveal a variability of the mechanical
properties of about 8%. The tensile fatigue tests were carried out for
levels of constraints equivalent to half of the ultimate values of the
composite. Once the fatigue tests carried out for well-defined values
of cycles, a series of static tests of traction type highlights the
influence of the number of cycles on the quasi-static mechanical
behavior of the laminate jute/epoxy.