Abstract: Fibre cement plates, often used in construction,
generally are made using quartz as an inert material, cement as a
binder and cellulose as a fibre. This paper, first of all, investigates the
mechanical properties and durability of fibre cement plates when
quartz is both partly and fully replaced with diatomite. Diatomite
does not only have lower density compared to quartz but also has
high pozzolanic activity. The main objective of this paper is the
investigation of the effects of supplementary cementing materials
(SCMs) on the short and long term mechanical properties and
durability characteristics of fibre cement plates prepared using
diatomite. Supplementary cementing materials such as ground
granulated blast furnace slug (GGBS) and fly ash (FA) are used in
this study. Volume proportions of 10, 20, 30 and 40% of GGBS and
FA are used as partial replacement materials to cement. Short and
long term mechanical properties such as compressive and flexural
strengths as well as sorptivity characteristics and mass were
investigated. Consistency and setting time at each replacement levels
of SCMs were also recorded. The effects of using supplementary
cementing materials on the carbonation and sulphate resistance of
fibre cement plates were then experimented. The results, first of all,
show that the use of diatomite as a full or partial replacement to
quartz resulted in a systematic decrease in total mass of the fibre
cement plates. The reduction of mass was largely due to the lower
density and finer particle size of diatomite compared to quartz. The
use of diatomite did not only reduce the mass of these plates but also
increased the compressive strength significantly as a result of its high
pozzolanic activity. The replacement levels of both GGBS and FA
resulted in a systematic decrease in short term compressive strength
with increasing replacement levels. This was essentially expected as
the total rate of hydration is much lower in GGBS and FA than that
of cement. Long term results however, indicated that the compressive
strength of fibre cement plates prepared using both GGBS and FA
increases with time and hence the compressive strength of plates
prepared using SCMs is either equivalent or more than the
compressive strength of plates prepared using cement alone.
Durability characteristics of fibre cement plates prepared using SCMs
were enhanced significantly. Measurements of sopritivty
characteristics were also indicated that the plates prepared using
SCMs has much lower water absorption capacities compared to
plates prepared cement alone. Much higher resistance to carbonation
and sulphate attach were observed with plates prepared using SCMs.
The results presented in this paper show that the use of SCMs does
not only support the production of more sustainable construction
materials but also enhances the mechanical properties and durability
characteristics of fibre cement plates.
Abstract: Continuous upflow filters can combine the nutrient
(nitrogen and phosphate) and suspended solid removal in one unit
process. The contaminant removal could be achieved chemically or
biologically; in both processes the filter removal efficiency depends
on the interaction between the packed filter media and the influent. In
this paper a residence time distribution (RTD) study was carried out
to understand and compare the transfer behaviour of contaminants
through a selected filter media packed in a laboratory-scale
continuous up flow filter; the selected filter media are limestone and
white dolomite. The experimental work was conducted by injecting a
tracer (red drain dye tracer –RDD) into the filtration system and then
measuring the tracer concentration at the outflow as a function of
time; the tracer injection was applied at hydraulic loading rates
(HLRs) (3.8 to 15.2 m h-1). The results were analysed according to
the cumulative distribution function F(t) to estimate the residence
time of the tracer molecules inside the filter media. The mean
residence time (MRT) and variance σ2 are two moments of RTD that
were calculated to compare the RTD characteristics of limestone with
white dolomite. The results showed that the exit-age distribution of
the tracer looks better at HLRs (3.8 to 7.6 m h-1) and (3.8 m h-1) for
limestone and white dolomite respectively. At these HLRs the
cumulative distribution function F(t) revealed that the residence time
of the tracer inside the limestone was longer than in the white
dolomite; whereas all the tracer took 8 minutes to leave the white
dolomite at 3.8 m h-1. On the other hand, the same amount of the
tracer took 10 minutes to leave the limestone at the same HLR. In
conclusion, the determination of the optimal level of hydraulic
loading rate, which achieved the better influent distribution over the
filtration system, helps to identify the applicability of the material as
filter media. Further work will be applied to examine the efficiency
of the limestone and white dolomite for phosphate removal by
pumping a phosphate solution into the filter at HLRs (3.8 to 7.6 m h-1).
Abstract: The sea waves carry thousands of GWs of power
globally. Although there are a number of different approaches to
harness offshore energy, they are likely to be expensive, practically
challenging, and vulnerable to storms. Therefore, this paper considers
using the near shore waves for generating mechanical and electrical
power. It introduces two new approaches, the wave manipulation and
using a variable duct turbine, for intercepting very wide wave fronts
and coping with the fluctuations of the wave height and the sea level,
respectively. The first approach effectively allows capturing much
more energy yet with a much narrower turbine rotor. The second
approach allows using a rotor with a smaller radius but captures
energy of higher wave fronts at higher sea levels yet preventing it
from totally submerging. To illustrate the effectiveness of the first
approach, the paper contains a description and the simulation results
of a scale model of a wave manipulator. Then, it includes the results
of testing a physical model of the manipulator and a single duct, axial
flow turbine in a wave flume in the laboratory. The paper also
includes comparisons of theoretical predictions, simulation results,
and wave flume tests with respect to the incident energy, loss in wave
manipulation, minimal loss, brake torque, and the angular velocity.
Abstract: Diagnostic enzymes like aspartate aminotransferase
(AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase
(ALP) were determined as indices of heavy metal pollution in Tilapia
guinensis. Three different sets of fishes treated with lead (Pb), iron
(Fe) and copper (Cu) were used for the study while a fourth group
with no heavy metal served as a control. Fishes in each of the groups
were exposed to 2.65mg/l of Pb, 0.85mg/l of Fe and 0.35 mg/l of Cu
in aerated aquaria for 96 hours. Tissue fractionation of the liver
tissues was carried out and the three diagnostic enzymes (AST, ALT,
and ALP) were estimated. Serum levels of the same diagnostic
enzymes were also measured. The mean values of the serum enzyme
activity for ALP in each experimental group were 19.5±1.62,
29.67±2.17 and 1.15±0.27 IU/L for Pb, Fe and Cu groups compared
with 9.99±1.34 IU/L enzyme activity in the control. This result
showed that Pb and Fe caused increased release of the enzyme into
the blood circulation indicating increased tissue damage while Cu
caused a reduction in the serum level as compared with the level in
the control group. The mean values of enzyme activity obtained in
the liver were 102.14±6.12, 140.17±2.06 and 168.23±3.52 IU/L for
Pb, Fe and Cu groups, respectively compared to 91.20±9.42 IU/L
enzyme activity for the control group. The serum and liver AST and
ALT activities obtained in Pb, Fe, Cu and control groups are
reported. It was generally noted that the presence of the heavy metal
caused liver tissues damage and consequent increased level of the
diagnostic enzymes in the serum.
Abstract: Rapid Prototyping (RP) technologies enable physical
parts to be produced from various materials without depending on the
conventional tooling. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is one of
the famous RP processes used at present. Tensile strength and
compressive strength resistance will be identified for different sample
structures and different layer orientations of ABS rapid prototype
solid models. The samples will be fabricated by a FDM rapid
prototyping machine in different layer orientations with variations in
internal geometrical structure. The 0° orientation where layers were
deposited along the length of the samples displayed superior strength
and impact resistance over all the other orientations. The anisotropic
properties were probably caused by weak interlayer bonding and
interlayer porosity.
Abstract: Socio-economic development, which is seen around
the world today, has contributed to the emergence of new problems
of a social nature. Different political, historical, geographical or
economic conditions cause that, in addition to global issues of social
policy such as an aging population, unemployment, migration,
countries, regions, there are also specific new problems that require
diagnosis, individualized approach and efficient, planned solutions.
These should include, among others, digital addiction, peer violence,
obesity among children, the problem of ‘legal highs’, stress,
depression, diseases associated with environmental pollution etc. The
central authorities, selected most often with the tools specific to
representative democracy, that is, the general election, for many
reasons, inter alia, organizational, communication, are not able to
effectively diagnose their intensity, territorial distribution, and thus to
effectively fight them. This article aims to show how in Poland,
citizens influence solving problems related to the broader social
policy implemented at the local government level and indicates the
possibilities of improving those solutions. The conclusions of
theoretical analysis have been supported by empirical studies, which
tested the use of instruments of participatory democracy in the
planning and creation of communal strategies for solving social
problems in one of the Polish voivodeships.
Abstract: In recent years a new method of combination
treatment for cancer has been developed and studied that has led to
significant advancements in the field of cancer therapy. Hyperthermia
is a traditional therapy that, along with a creation of a medically
approved level of heat with the help of an alternating magnetic AC
current, results in the destruction of cancer cells by heat. This paper
gives details regarding the production of the spherical nanocomposite
PVA/γ-Fe2O3 in order to be used for medical purposes such as tumor
treatment by hyperthermia. To reach a suitable and evenly distributed
temperature, the nanocomposite with core-shell morphology and
spherical form within a 100 to 200 nanometer size was created using
phase separation emulsion, in which the magnetic nano-particles γ-
Fe2O3 with an average particle size of 20 nano-meters and with
different percentages of 0.2, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 were covered by
polyvinyl alcohol. The main concern in hyperthermia and heat
treatment is achieving desirable specific absorption rate (SAR) and
one of the most critical factors in SAR is particle size. In this project
all attempts has been done to reach minimal size and consequently
maximum SAR. The morphological analysis of the spherical
structure of the nanocomposite PVA/γ-Fe2O3 was achieved by SEM
analyses and the study of the chemical bonds created was made
possible by FTIR analysis. To investigate the manner of magnetic
nanocomposite particle size distribution a DLS experiment was
conducted. Moreover, to determine the magnetic behavior of the γ-
Fe2O3 particle and the nanocomposite PVA/γ-Fe2O3 in different
concentrations a VSM test was conducted. To sum up, creating
magnetic nanocomposites with a spherical morphology that would be
employed for drug loading opens doors to new approaches in
developing nanocomposites that provide efficient heat and a
controlled release of drug simultaneously inside the magnetic field,
which are among their positive characteristics that could significantly
improve the recovery process in patients.
Abstract: This paper describes the main features of a knowledge-based system evaluation method. System evaluation is placed in the context of a hybrid legal decision-support system, Advisory Support for Home Settlement in Divorce (ASHSD). Legal knowledge for ASHSD is represented in two forms, as rules and previously decided cases. Besides distinguishing the two different forms of knowledge representation, the paper outlines the actual use of these forms in a computational framework that is designed to generate a plausible solution for a given case, by using rule-based reasoning (RBR) and case-based reasoning (CBR) in an integrated environment. The nature of suitability assessment of a solution has been considered as a multiple criteria decision-making process in ASHAD evaluation. The evaluation was performed by a combination of discussions and questionnaires with different user groups. The answers to questionnaires used in this evaluations method have been measured as a fuzzy linguistic term. The finding suggests that fuzzy linguistic evaluation is practical and meaningful in knowledge-based system development purpose.
Abstract: In this paper, we proposed a novel SCR (Silicon Controlled
Rectifier) - based ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) protection device for I/O
and power clamp. The proposed device has a higher holding voltage
characteristic than conventional SCR. These characteristics enable to have
latch-up immunity under normal operating conditions as well as superior full
chip ESD protection. The proposed device was analyzed to figure out
electrical characteristics and tolerance robustness in term of individual
design parameters (D1, D2, D3). They are investigated by using the
Synopsys TCAD simulator. As a result of simulation, holding voltage
increased with different design parameters. The holding voltage of the
proposed device changes from 3.3V to 7.9V. Also, N-Stack structure ESD
device with the high holding voltage is proposed. In the simulation results,
2-stack has holding voltage of 6.8V and 3-stack has holding voltage of
10.5V. The simulation results show that holding voltage of stacking
structure can be larger than the operation voltage of high-voltage
application.
Abstract: The Figaro AM-1 sensor module which employs TGS
2600 model gas sensor in air quality assessment was used. The
system was coupled with a microprocessor that enables sensor
module to create warning message via telephone. This low cot sensor
system’s performance was compared with a DiagNose II commercial
electronic nose system. Both air quality sensor and electronic nose
system employ metal oxide chemical gas sensors. In the study
experimental setup, data acquisition methods for electronic nose
system, and performance of the low cost air quality system were
evaluated and explained.
Abstract: Construction and reconstruction of settlements and
individual municipalities, environmental management and the
creation, deployment of the forces of production and building
transport and technical equipment requires a large expenditure of
material and human resources. That is why the economic aspects of
the majority decision in these planes built in the foreground and are
often decisive. Thereby but more serious is that the economic aspects
of the settlement, the creation and function remain in their whole,
unprocessed, and cannot speak of a set of individual techniques and
methods traditional indicators and experiments with new approaches.
This is true both at the level of the national economy, and in their
own urban designs. Still a few remain identified specific economic
shaping patterns of settlement and the less it is possible to speak of
their control. Also practical assessing economics of specific solutions
are often used non-apt indicators in addition to economics usually
identifies with the lowest acquisition cost or high-intensity land use
with little regard for functional efficiency and little studied much
higher operating and maintenance costs".
Abstract: Biodiesel, as an alternative renewable fuel, has been
receiving increasing attention due to the limited supply of fossil fuels
and the increasing need for energy. Microalgae are promising source
for lipids, which can be converted to biodiesel. The biodiesel
production from microalgae lipids using lipase catalyzed reaction in
supercritical CO2 medium has several advantages over conventional
production processes. However, identifying the optimum microalgae
lipid extraction and transesterification conditions is still a challenge.
In this study, the quality of biodiesel produced from lipids extracted
from Scenedesmus sp. and their enzymatic transesterification using
supercritical carbon dioxide have been investigated. At the optimum
conditions, the highest biodiesel production yield was found to be
82%. The fuel properties of the produced biodiesel, without any
separation step, at optimum reaction condition, were determined and
compared to ASTM standards. The properties were found to comply
with the limits, and showed a low glycerol content, without any
separation step.
Abstract: The legality of some countries or agencies’ acts to spy
on personal phone calls of the public became a hot topic to many
social groups’ talks. It is believed that this act is considered an
invasion to someone’s privacy. Such act may be justified if it is
singling out specific cases but to spy without limits is very
unacceptable. This paper discusses the needs for not only a simple
and light weight technique to secure mobile voice calls but also a
technique that is independent from any encryption standard or library.
It then presents and tests one encrypting algorithm that is based of
Frequency scrambling technique to show fair and delay-free process
that can be used to protect phone calls from such spying acts.
Abstract: Radial profiles of particle velocities were investigated
in a 6.1m high methanol-to-olefins cold model experimental device
using a TSI laser Doppler velocimeter. The effect of axial height on
flow development was not obvious in fully developed region under the
same operating condition. Superficial gas velocity and solid
circulating rate had significant influence on particle velocity in the
center region of the riser. Besides, comparisons among rising,
descending and average particle velocity were conducted. The particle
average velocity was similar to the rising particle velocity and higher
than the descending particle velocity in radial locations except the wall
region of riser.
Abstract: When printing a plate (or dish) by an FDM 3D printer,
the process normally requires support material, which causes several
problems. This paper proposes a method for forming thin plates
without using wasteful support material. This method requires several
extraordinary parameter values when slicing plates. The experiments
show that the plates can, for the most part, be successfully formed
using a conventional slicer and a 3D printer; however, seams between
layers spoil them and the quality of printed objects strongly depends
on the slicer.
Abstract: This paper presents an application of a “Systematic
Soft Domain Driven Design Framework” as a soft systems approach
to domain-driven design of information systems development. The
framework use SSM as a guiding methodology within which we have
embedded a sequence of design tasks based on the UML leading to
the implementation of a software system using the Naked Objects
framework. This framework have been used in action research
projects that have involved the investigation and modelling of
business processes using object-oriented domain models and the
implementation of software systems based on those domain models.
Within this framework, Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is used as
a guiding methodology to explore the problem situation and to
develop the domain model using UML for the given business
domain. The framework is proposed and evaluated in our previous
works, and a real case study “Information Retrieval System for
academic research” is used, in this paper, to show further practice and
evaluation of the framework in different business domain. We argue
that there are advantages from combining and using techniques from
different methodologies in this way for business domain modelling.
The framework is overviewed and justified as multimethodology
using Mingers multimethodology ideas.
Abstract: In this paper, we investigated the athermal pressure
behavior of the structural and elastic properties of scheelite BaWO4
phase up to 7 GPa using the ab initio pseudo-potential method. The
calculated lattice parameters pressure relation have been compared
with the experimental values and found to be in good agreement with
these results. Moreover, we present for the first time the investigation
of the elastic properties of this compound using the density functional
perturbation theory (DFPT). It is shown that this phase is
mechanically stable up to 7 GPa after analyzing the calculated elastic
constants. Other relevant quantities such as bulk modulus, pressure
derivative of bulk modulus, shear modulus; Young’s modulus,
Poisson’s ratio, anisotropy factors, Debye temperature and sound
velocity have been calculated. The obtained results, which are
reported for the first time to the best of the author’s knowledge, can
facilitate assessment of possible applications of the title material.
Abstract: This paper proposed the comparison made between
Multi-Carrier Pulse Width Modulation, Sinusoidal Pulse Width
Modulation and Selective Harmonic Elimination Pulse Width
Modulation technique for minimization of Total Harmonic Distortion
in Cascaded H-Bridge Multi-Level Inverter. In Multicarrier Pulse
Width Modulation method by using Alternate Position of Disposition
scheme for switching pulse generation to Multi-Level Inverter.
Another carrier based approach; Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation
method is also implemented to define the switching pulse generation
system in the multi-level inverter. In Selective Harmonic Elimination
method using Genetic Algorithm and Particle Swarm Optimization
algorithm for define the required switching angles to eliminate low
order harmonics from the inverter output voltage waveform and
reduce the total harmonic distortion value. So, the results validate that
the Selective Harmonic Elimination Pulse Width Modulation method
does capably eliminate a great number of precise harmonics and
minimize the Total Harmonic Distortion value in output voltage
waveform in compared with Multi-Carrier Pulse Width Modulation
method, Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation method. In this paper,
comparison of simulation results shows that the Selective Harmonic
Elimination method can attain optimal harmonic minimization
solution better than Multi-Carrier Pulse Width Modulation method,
Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation method.
Abstract: In addition to environmental parameters like rain,
temperature diseases on crop is a major factor which affects
production quality & quantity of crop yield. Hence disease
management is a key issue in agriculture. For the management of
disease, it needs to be detected at early stage. So, treat it properly &
control spread of the disease. Now a day, it is possible to use the
images of diseased leaf to detect the type of disease by using image
processing techniques. This can be achieved by extracting features
from the images which can be further used with classification
algorithms or content based image retrieval systems. In this paper,
color image is used to extract the features such as mean and standard
deviation after the process of region cropping. The selected features
are taken from the cropped image with different image size samples.
Then, the extracted features are taken in to the account for
classification using Fuzzy Inference System (FIS).
Abstract: This study aimed to determine the possible protective effects of L‐carnitine against gentamicin‐induced nephrotoxicity. Forty male albino rats were divided into 4 groups (10 rats each); Group 1: normal control, group 2: induced nephrotoxicity (gentamicin 50 mg/kg/day S.C; 8 days), group 3: treated with L‐ carnitine (40 mg/kg/d SC for 12 days) and group 4: treated with L‐ carnitine 4 days before and for 8 days in concomitant with gentamicin. Gentamicin‐induced nephrotoxicity (group 2): caused significant increase in serum urea, creatinine, urinary N‐acetyl‐B‐D‐ glucosaminidase (NAG), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), urinary total protein and kidney tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) with significant decrease in serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), serum catalase and creatinine clearance and marked tubular necrosis in the proximal convoluted tubules with interruption in the basement membrane around the necrotic tubule compared to the normal control group. L‐carnitine 4 days before and for 8 days in concomitant with gentamicin (group 4) offered marked decrease in serum urea, serum creatinine, urinary NAG, urinary GGT, urinary proteins and kidney tissue MDA, with marked increase in serum SOD, serum catalase and creatinine clearance with marked improvement in the tubular damage compared to gentamicin‐induced nephrotoxicity group. L‐carnitine administered for 12 days produced no change in the parameters mentioned above as compared to the normal control group. In conclusion: L‐carnitine could reduce most of the biochemical parameters and also improve the histopathological features of kidney asscociated with gentamicin induced‐nephrotoxicity.