Abstract: A sensory network consists of multiple detection
locations called sensor nodes, each of which is tiny, featherweight
and portable. A single path routing protocols in wireless sensor
network can lead to holes in the network, since only the nodes
present in the single path is used for the data transmission. Apart
from the advantages like reduced computation, complexity and
resource utilization, there are some drawbacks like throughput,
increased traffic load and delay in data delivery. Therefore, multipath
routing protocols are preferred for WSN. Distributing the traffic
among multiple paths increases the network lifetime. We propose a
scheme, for the data to be transmitted through a dominant path to
save energy. In order to obtain a high delivery ratio, a basic route
reconstruction protocol is utilized to reconstruct the path whenever a
failure is detected. A basic reconstruction routing (BRR) algorithm is
proposed, in which a node can leap over path failure by using the
already existing routing information from its neighbourhood while
the composed data is transmitted from the source to the sink. In order
to save the energy and attain high data delivery ratio, data is
transmitted along a multiple path, which is achieved by BRR
algorithm whenever a failure is detected. Further, the analysis of
how the proposed protocol overcomes the drawback of the existing
protocols is presented. The performance of our protocol is compared
to AOMDV and energy efficient node-disjoint multipath routing
protocol (EENDMRP). The system is implemented using NS-2.34.
The simulation results show that the proposed protocol has high
delivery ratio with low energy consumption.
Abstract: Complex lifting entry was selected for precise landing
performance during the Mars Science Laboratory entry. This study
aims to develop the three-dimensional numerical method for precise
computation and the surface panel method for rapid engineering
prediction. Detailed flow field analysis for Mars exploration mission
was performed by carrying on a series of fully three-dimensional
Navier-Stokes computations. The static aerodynamic performance was
then discussed, including the surface pressure, lift and drag coefficient,
lift-to-drag ratio with the numerical and engineering method.
Computation results shown that the shock layer is thin because of
lower effective specific heat ratio, and that calculated results from both
methods agree well with each other, and is consistent with the
reference data. Aerodynamic performance analysis shows that CG
location determines trim characteristics and pitch stability, and certain
radially and axially shift of the CG location can alter the capsule lifting
entry performance, which is of vital significance for the aerodynamic
configuration design and inner instrument layout of the Mars entry
capsule.
Abstract: Image segmentation and color identification is an
important process used in various emerging fields like intelligent
robotics. A method is proposed for the manipulator to grasp and place
the color object into correct location. The existing methods such as
PSO, has problems like accelerating the convergence speed and
converging to a local minimum leading to sub optimal performance.
To improve the performance, we are using watershed algorithm and
for color identification, we are using EPSO. EPSO method is used to
reduce the probability of being stuck in the local minimum. The
proposed method offers the particles a more powerful global
exploration capability. EPSO methods can determine the particles
stuck in the local minimum and can also enhance learning speed as
the particle movement will be faster.
Abstract: Whey is the lactose rich by-product of the dairy
industry, having good amount of nutrient reservoir. Most abundant
nutrients are lactose, soluble proteins, lipids and mineral salts.
Disposing of whey by most of milk plants which do not have proper
pre-treatment system is the major issue. As a result of which, there
can be significant loss of potential food and energy source. Thus,
whey has been explored as the substrate for the synthesis of different
value added products such as enzymes. β-galactosidase is one of the
important enzymes and has become the major focus of research due
to its ability to catalyze both hydrolytic as well as
transgalactosylation reaction simultaneously. The enzyme is widely
used in dairy industry as it catalyzes the transformation of lactose to
glucose and galactose, making it suitable for the lactose intolerant
people. The enzyme is intracellular in both bacteria and yeast,
whereas for molds, it has an extracellular location. The present work
was carried to utilize the whey for the production of β-galactosidase
enzyme using both yeast and fungal cultures. The yeast isolate
Kluyveromyces marxianus WIG2 and various fungal strains have
been used in the present study. Different disruption techniques have
also been investigated for the extraction of the enzyme produced
intracellularly from yeast cells. Among the different methods tested
for the disruption of yeast cells, SDS-chloroform showed the
maximum β-galactosidase activity. In case of the tested fungal
cultures, Aureobasidium pullulans NCIM 1050 was observed to be
the maximum extracellular enzyme producer.
Abstract: Because blueberries are worldwide recognized as a
good source of beneficial components, their consumption has
increased in the past decades, and so have the scientific works about
their properties. Hence, this work was undertaken to evaluate the
effect of some production and conservation factors on the properties
of blueberries from cultivar Bluecrop. The physical and chemical
analyses were done according to established methodologies and then
all data was treated using software SPSS for assessment of the
possible differences among the factors investigated and/or the
correlations between the variables at study. The results showed that
location of production influenced some of the berries properties
(caliber, sugars, antioxidant activity, color and texture) and that the
age of the bushes was correlated with moisture, sugars and acidity, as
well as lightness. On the other hand, altitude of the farm only was
correlated to sugar content. With regards to conservation, it
influenced only anthocyanins content and DPPH antioxidant activity.
Finally, the type of extract and the order of extraction had a
pronounced influence on all the phenolic properties evaluated.
Abstract: Driver fatigue is an important factor in the increasing
number of road accidents. Dynamic template matching method was
proposed to address the problem of real-time driver fatigue detection
system based on eye-tracking. An effective vision based approach
was used to analyze the driver’s eye state to detect fatigue. The driver
fatigue system consists of Face detection, Eye detection, Eye
tracking, and Fatigue detection. Initially frames are captured from a
color video in a car dashboard and transformed from RGB into YCbCr
color space to detect the driver’s face. Canny edge operator was used
to estimating the eye region and the locations of eyes are extracted.
The extracted eyes were considered as a template matching for eye
tracking. Edge Map Overlapping (EMO) and Edge Pixel Count
(EPC) matching function were used for eye tracking which is used to
improve the matching accuracy. The pixel of eyeball was tracked
from the eye regions which are used to determine the fatigue state of
the driver.
Abstract: This paper presents the results of an experimental
study undertaken to evaluate the local bond stress-slip response of
short embedment of reinforcing bars in normal concrete (NC) and
high performance fiber reinforced cement composites (HPFRCC)
blocks. Long embedment was investigated as well to gain insights on
the distribution of strain, slip, bar stress and bond stress along the bar
especially in post-yield range. A total of 12 specimens were tested,
by means of pull-out of the reinforcing bars from concrete blocks. It
was found that the enhancement of local bond strength can be
reached up to 50% and ductility of the bond behavior was improved
significantly if HPFRCC is used. Also, under a constant strain at
loaded end, HPFRCC has delayed yielding of bars at other location
from the loaded end. Hence, the reduction of bond stress was slower
for HPFRCC in comparison with NC. Due to the same reason, the
total slips at loaded end for HPFRCC was smaller than NC as
expected. Test results indicated that HPFRCC has better bond slip
behavior which makes it a suitable material to be employed in
anchorage zone such as beam-column joints.
Abstract: This paper presents a novel algorithm for secure,
reliable and flexible transmission of big data in two hop wireless
networks using cooperative jamming scheme. Two hop wireless
networks consist of source, relay and destination nodes. Big data has
to transmit from source to relay and from relay to destination by
deploying security in physical layer. Cooperative jamming scheme
determines transmission of big data in more secure manner by
protecting it from eavesdroppers and malicious nodes of unknown
location. The novel algorithm that ensures secure and energy balance
transmission of big data, includes selection of data transmitting
region, segmenting the selected region, determining probability ratio
for each node (capture node, non-capture and eavesdropper node) in
every segment, evaluating the probability using binary based
evaluation. If it is secure transmission resume with the two- hop
transmission of big data, otherwise prevent the attackers by
cooperative jamming scheme and transmit the data in two-hop
transmission.
Abstract: This paper addresses the design of hospital Intensive
Care Unit windows for the achievement of visual comfort and energy
savings. The aim was to identify the window size and shading system
configurations that could fulfill daylighting adequacy, avoid glare
and reduce energy consumption. The study focused on addressing the
effect of utilizing different shading systems in association with a
range of Window-to-Wall Ratios (WWR) in different orientations
under the desert clear-sky of Cairo, Egypt.
The results of this study demonstrated that solar penetration is a
critical concern affecting the design of ICU windows in desert
locations, as in Cairo, Egypt. Use of shading systems was found to be
essential in providing acceptable daylight performance and energy
saving. Careful positioning of the ICU window towards a proper
orientation can dramatically improve performance. It was observed
that ICU windows facing the north direction enjoyed the widest range
of successful window configuration possibilities at different WWRs.
ICU windows facing south enjoyed a reasonable number of
configuration options as well. By contrast, the ICU windows facing
the east orientation had a very limited number of options that provide
acceptable performance. These require additional local shading
measures at certain times due to glare incidence. Moreover, use of
horizontal sun breakers and solar screens to protect the ICU windows
proved to be more successful than the other alternatives in a wide
range of Window to Wall Ratios. By contrast, the use of light shelves
and vertical shading devices seemed questionable.
Abstract: Transportation of long turbine blades from one place
to another is a difficult process. Hence a feasibility study of
modularization of wind turbine blade was taken from structural
standpoint through finite element analysis. Initially, a non-segmented
blade is modeled and its structural behavior is evaluated to serve as
reference. The resonant, static bending and fatigue tests are simulated
in accordance with IEC61400-23 standard for comparison purpose.
The non-segmented test blade is separated at suitable location based
on trade off studies and the segments are joined with an innovative
double strap bonded joint configuration. The adhesive joint is
modeled by adopting cohesive zone modeling approach in ANSYS.
The developed blade model is analyzed for its structural response
through simulation. Performances of both the blades are found to be
similar, which indicates that, efficient segmentation of the long blade
is possible which facilitates easy transportation of the blades and on
site reassembling. The location selected for segmentation and
adopted joint configuration has resulted in an efficient segmented
blade model which proves the methodology adopted for segmentation
was quite effective. The developed segmented blade appears to be the
viable alternative considering its structural response specifically in
fatigue within considered assumptions.
Abstract: Plasmin plays an important role in the human
circulatory system owing to its catalytic ability of fibrinolysis. The
immediate injection of plasmin in patients of strokes has intrigued
many scientists to design vectors that can transport plasmin to the
desired location in human body. Here we predict the structure of
human plasmin and investigate the interaction of plasmin with the
gold-nanoparticle.
Because the crystal structure of plasminogen has been solved, we
deleted N-terminal domain (Pan-apple domain) of plasminogen and
generate a mimic of the active form of this enzyme (plasmin). We
conducted a simulated annealing process on plasmin and discovered a
very large conformation occurs. Kringle domains 1, 4 and 5 had been
observed to leave its original location relative to the main body of the
enzyme and the original doughnut shape of this enzyme has been
transformed to a V-shaped by opening its two arms. This observation
of conformational change is consistent with the experimental results of
neutron scattering and centrifugation.
We subsequently docked the plasmin on the simulated gold surface
to predict their interaction. The V-shaped plasmin could utilize its
Kringle domain and catalytic domain to contact the gold surface.
Our findings not only reveal the flexibility of plasmin structure but
also provide a guide for the design of a plasmin-gold nanoparticle.
Abstract: Quantitative analyses of whisker movements provide a
means to study functional recovery and regeneration of mouse facial
nerve after an injury. However, accurate tracking of the mouse whisker
movement is challenging. Most methods for whisker tracking require
manual intervention, e.g. fixing the head of the mouse during a study.
Here we describe a semi-automated image processing method, which
is applied to high-speed video recordings of free-moving mice to track
the whisker movements. We first track the head movement of a mouse
by delineating the lower head contour frame-by-frame that allows for
detection of the location and orientation of the head. Then, a region of
interest is identified for each frame; the subsequent application of a
mask and the Hough transform detects the selected whiskers on each
side of the head. Our approach is used to examine the functional
recovery of damaged facial nerves in mice over a course of 21 days.
Abstract: The concentrations of heavy metals in sediments of
Qua Iboe River Estuary (QIRE) were monitored at four different
sampling locations in wet and dry seasons. A preliminary survey to
determine the four sampling stations along the river continuum
showed that the area spanned between
Abstract: Microstructural and hardening changes of
Fe-0.2wt.%V alloy and pure Fe irradiated with 100 keV hydrogen ions
at room temperature were investigated. It was found that dislocation
density varies dramatically after irradiation, ranging from dislocation
free to dense areas with tangled and complex dislocation
configuration. As the irradiated Fe-0.2wt.%V samples were annealed
at 773 K, the irradiation-induced dislocation loops disappear, while
many small precipitates with enriched C distribute in the matrix. Some
large precipitates with enriched V were also observed. The hardness of
Fe-0.2wt.%V alloy and pure Fe increases after irradiation, which
ascribes to the formation of dislocation loops in the irradiated
specimens. Compared with pure Fe, the size of the
irradiation-introduced dislocation loops in Fe-0.2wt.%V alloy
decreases and the density increases, the change of the hardness also
decreases.
Abstract: This paper examines the utilization of public-private
partnerships for the building and operation of wastewater treatment
plants. Our research focuses on risk allocation in this kind of projects.
Our analysis builds on more than hundred wastewater treatment
plants built and operated through PPP projects in Aragon (Spain).
The paper illustrates the consequences of an inadequate management
of construction risk and an unsuitable transfer of demand risk in
wastewater treatment plants. It also shows that the involvement of
many public bodies at local, regional and national level further
increases the complexity of this kind of projects and make time
delays more likely.
Abstract: Waste load allocation (WLA) policies may use multiobjective
optimization methods to find the most appropriate and
sustainable solutions. These usually intend to simultaneously
minimize two criteria, total abatement costs (TC) and environmental
violations (EV). If other criteria, such as inequity, need for
minimization as well, it requires introducing more binary
optimizations through different scenarios. In order to reduce the
calculation steps, this study presents value index as an innovative
decision making approach. Since the value index contains both the
environmental violation and treatment costs, it can be maximized
simultaneously with the equity index. It implies that the definition of
different scenarios for environmental violations is no longer required.
Furthermore, the solution is not necessarily the point with minimized
total costs or environmental violations. This idea is testified for Haraz
River, in north of Iran. Here, the dissolved oxygen (DO) level of river
is simulated by Streeter-Phelps equation in MATLAB software. The
WLA is determined for fish farms using multi-objective particle
swarm optimization (MOPSO) in two scenarios. At first, the trade-off
curves of TC-EV and TC-Inequity are plotted separately as the
conventional approach. In the second, the Value-Equity curve is
derived. The comparative results show that the solutions are in a
similar range of inequity with lower total costs. This is due to the
freedom of environmental violation attained in value index. As a
result, the conventional approach can well be replaced by the value
index particularly for problems optimizing these objectives. This
reduces the process to achieve the best solutions and may find better
classification for scenario definition. It is also concluded that decision
makers are better to focus on value index and weighting its contents
to find the most sustainable alternatives based on their requirements.
Abstract: The posterior reference for the ala tragal line is a
cause of confusion, with different authors suggesting different
locations as to the superior, middle or inferior part of the tragus. This
study was conducted on 200 subjects to evaluate if any correlation
exists between the variation of angulation of palatal throat form and
the relative parallelism of occlusal plane to ala-tragal line at different
tragal levels. A custom made Occlusal Plane Analyzer was used to
check the parallelism between the ala-tragal line and occlusal plane.
A lateral cephalogram was shot for each subject to measure the
angulation of the palatal throat form. Fisher’s exact test was used to
evaluate the correlation between the angulation of the palatal throat
form and the relative parallelism of occlusal plane to the ala tragal
line. Also, a classification was formulated for the palatal throat form,
based on confidence interval. From the results of the study, the
inferior part, middle part and superior part of the tragus were seen as
the reference points in 49.5%, 32% and 18.5% of the subjects
respectively. Class I palatal throat form (41degree-50 degree), Class
II palatal throat form (below 41 degree) and Class III palatal throat
form (above 50 degree) were seen in 42%, 43% and 15% of the
subjects respectively. It was also concluded that there is no
significant correlation between the variation in the angulations of the
palatal throat form and the relative parallelism of occlusal plane to
the ala-tragal line.
Abstract: Failure of typical seismic frames has been found by
plastic hinge occurring on beams section near column faces. On the
other hand, the seismic capacity of the frames can be enhanced if the
plastic hinges of the beams are shifted away from the column faces.
This paper presents detailing of reinforcements in the interior beam–
column connections aiming to relocate the plastic hinge of reinforced
concrete and precast concrete frames. Four specimens were tested
under quasi-static cyclic load including two monolithic specimens
and two precast specimens. For one monolithic specimen, typical
seismic reinforcement was provided and considered as a reference
specimen named M1. The other reinforced concrete frame M2
contained additional intermediate steel in the connection area
compared with the specimen M1. For the precast specimens,
embedded T-section steels in joint were provided, with and without
diagonal bars in the connection area for specimen P1 and P2,
respectively. The test results indicated the ductile failure with beam
flexural failure in monolithic specimen M1 and the intermediate steel
increased strength and improved joint performance of specimen M2.
For the precast specimens, cracks generated at the end of the steel
inserts. However, slipping of reinforcing steel lapped in top of the
beams was seen before yielding of the main bars leading to the brittle
failure. The diagonal bars in precast specimens P2 improved the
connection stiffness and the energy dissipation capacity.
Abstract: Ibeno, Nigeria hosts the operational base of Mobil
Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU), a subsidiary of ExxonMobil
and the current highest oil & condensate producer in Nigeria. Besides
MPNU, other oil companies operate onshore, on the continental shelf
and deep offshore of the Atlantic Ocean in Ibeno, Nigeria. This study
was designed to delineate oil polluted sites in Ibeno, Nigeria using
geophysical methods of electrical resistivity (ER) and ground
penetrating radar (GPR). Results obtained revealed that there have
been hydrocarbon contaminations of this environment by past crude
oil spills as observed from high resistivity values and GPR profiles
which clearly show the distribution, thickness and lateral extent of
hydrocarbon contamination as represented on the radargram reflector
tones. Contaminations were of varying degrees, ranging from slight
to high, indicating levels of substantial attenuation of crude oil
contamination over time. Moreover, the display of relatively lower
resistivities of locations outside the impacted areas compared to
resistivity values within the impacted areas and the 3-D Cartesian
images of oil contaminant plume depicted by red, light brown and
magenta for high, low and very low oil impacted areas, respectively
confirmed significant recent pollution of the study area with crude
oil.
Abstract: Cloud computing is the innovative and leading
information technology model for enabling convenient, on-demand
network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources
that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal
management effort. In this paper, we aim at the development of
workflow management system for cloud computing platforms based
on our previous research on the dynamic allocation of the cloud
computing resources and its workflow process. We took advantage of
the HTML5 technology and developed web-based workflow interface.
In order to enable the combination of many tasks running on the cloud
platform in sequence, we designed a mechanism and developed an
execution engine for workflow management on clouds. We also
established a prediction model which was integrated with job queuing
system to estimate the waiting time and cost of the individual tasks on
different computing nodes, therefore helping users achieve maximum
performance at lowest payment. This proposed effort has the potential
to positively provide an efficient, resilience and elastic environment
for cloud computing platform. This development also helps boost user
productivity by promoting a flexible workflow interface that lets users
design and control their tasks' flow from anywhere.