Abstract: Supermarkets are the most electricity-intensive type of
commercial buildings. The unsuitable indoor environment of a
supermarket provided by abnormal HVAC operations incurs waste
energy consumption in refrigeration systems. This current study
briefly describes significantly solid backgrounds and proposes easyto-
use analysis terminology for investigating the impact of HVAC
operations on refrigeration power consumption using the field-test
data obtained from building automation system (BAS). With solid
backgrounds and prior knowledge, expected energy interactions
between HVAC and refrigeration systems are proposed through
Pearson’s correlation analysis (R value) by considering correlations
between equipment power consumption and dominantly independent
variables (driving force conditions).The R value can be conveniently
utilized to evaluate how strong relations between equipment
operations and driving force parameters are. The calculated R values
obtained from field data are compared to expected ranges of R values
computed by energy interaction methodology. The comparisons can
separate the operational conditions of equipment into faulty and
normal conditions. This analysis can simply investigate the condition
of equipment operations or building sensors because equipment could
be abnormal conditions due to routine operations or faulty
commissioning processes in field tests. With systematically solid and
easy-to-use backgrounds of interactions provided in the present
article, the procedures can be utilized as a tool to evaluate the proper
commissioning and routine operations of HVAC and refrigeration
systems to detect simple faults (e.g. sensors and driving force
environment of refrigeration systems and equipment set-point) and
optimize power consumption in supermarket buildings. Moreover,
the analysis will be used to further study the FDD research for
supermarkets in future.
Abstract: Esterification of p-bromo-m-cresol led to formation of
2-(4-bromo-3-methylphenoxy)acetate (1). 2-(4-Bromo-3-methyl
phenoxy)acetohydrazide (2) is derived from Compound (1) by
hydrazination. Compound (2) was reacted with different aromatic
aldehydes to yield N-(substituted benzylidiene)-2-(4-bromo-3-methyl
phenoxy)acetamide(3a-c). Cyclization of compound (3a-c) with
thioglycolic acid yielded 2-(4-bromo-3-methylphenoxy)-N-(4-oxo-2-
arylthiazolidin-3-yl) acetamide (4a-c). The newly synthesized
compounds were characterized on the basis of spectral studies and
evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activities.
Abstract: Due to the large amount of information in the World
Wide Web (WWW, web) and the lengthy and usually linearly
ordered result lists of web search engines that do not indicate
semantic relationships between their entries, the search for topically
similar and related documents can become a tedious task. Especially,
the process of formulating queries with proper terms representing
specific information needs requires much effort from the user. This
problem gets even bigger when the user's knowledge on a subject and
its technical terms is not sufficient enough to do so. This article
presents the new and interactive search application DocAnalyser that
addresses this problem by enabling users to find similar and related
web documents based on automatic query formulation and state-ofthe-
art search word extraction. Additionally, this tool can be used to
track topics across semantically connected web documents.
Abstract: Recently, there have been a lot of earthquakes in Japan.
It is necessary to promote seismic isolation devices for buildings. The
devices have been hardly diffused in attached houses, because the
devices are very expensive. We should develop a low-cost seismic
isolation device for detached houses. We suggested a new seismic
isolation device which uses a two-layer circular tube as a unit. If
hysteresis is produced in the two-layer circular tube under lateral
compression load, we think that the two-layer circular tube can have
energy absorbing capacity. It is necessary to contact the outer layer
and the inner layer to produce hysteresis. We have previously reported
how the inner layer comes in contact with the outer layer from a
perspective of analysis used mechanics of materials. We have clarified
that the inner layer comes in contact with the outer layer under a lateral
compression load. In this paper, we explored contact area between the
outer layer and the inner layer under a lateral compression load by
using FEA. We think that changing the inner layer’s thickness is
effective in increase the contact area. In order to change the inner
layer’s thickness, we changed the shape of the inner layer. As a result,
the contact area changes depending on the inner layer’s thickness.
Additionally, we experimented to check whether hysteresis occurs in
fact. As a consequence, we can reveal hysteresis in the two-layer
circular tube under the condition.
Abstract: Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. (Bignoniaceae) is a
reputed traditional remedy for various human ailments such as skin
diseases, microbial infections, melanoma, stomach troubles,
metabolic disorders, malaria and general pains. In spite of the fruit
being widely used for purposes related to its antibacterial and
antifungal properties, the chemical constituents associated with the
activity have not been fully identified. To elucidate the active
principles, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of fruit extracts
and purified fractions against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus
faecalis, Moraxella catarrhalis, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans
and Candida tropicalis. Shade-dried fruits were powdered and
extracted with hydroalcoholic (1:1) mixture by soaking at room
temperature for 72 h. The crude extract was further fractionated by
column chromatography, with successive elution using hexane,
dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol. The
dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions were combined and
subjected to column chromatography to furnish a wax and oil from
the eluates of 20% and 40% ethyl acetate in hexane, respectively. The
GC-MS and GC×GC-MS results revealed that linoleic acid, linolenic
acid, palmitic acid, arachidic acid and stearic acid were the major
constituents in both oil and wax. The crude hydroalcoholic extract
exhibited the strongest activity with MICs of 0.125-0.5 mg/mL,
followed by the ethyl acetate (MICs = 0.125-1.0 mg/mL),
dichloromethane (MICs = 0.250-2.0 mg/mL), hexane (MICs = 0.25-
2.0 mg/mL), acetone (MICs = 0.5-2.0 mg/mL) and methanol (MICs =
1.0-2.0 mg/mL), whereas the wax (MICs = 2.0-4.0 mg/mL) and oil
(MICs = 4.0-8.0 mg/mL) showed poor activity. The study concludes
that synergistic interactions of chemical constituents could be
responsible for the antimicrobial activity of K. africana fruits, which
needs a more holistic approach to understand the mechanism of its
antimicrobial activity.
Abstract: Apps are today the most important possibility to adapt
mobile phones and computers to fulfill the special needs of their
users. Location- and context-sensitive programs are hereby the key to
support the interaction of the user with his/her environment and also
to avoid an overload with a plenty of dispensable information. The
contribution shows, how a trusted, secure and really bi-directional
communication and interaction among users and their environment
can be established and used, e.g. in the field of home automation.
Abstract: The reachable set bounding estimation for distributed
delay systems with disturbances is a new problem. In this paper,we
consider this problem subject to not only time varying delay and
polytopic uncertainties but also distributed delay systems which is
not studied fully untill now. we can obtain improved non-ellipsoidal
reachable set estimation for neural networks with time-varying delay
by the maximal Lyapunov-Krasovskii fuctional which is constructed
as the pointwise maximum of a family of Lyapunov-Krasovskii
fuctionals corresponds to vertexes of uncertain polytope.On the other
hand,matrix inequalities containing only one scalar and Matlabs
LMI Toolbox is utilized to give a non-ellipsoidal description of the
reachable set.finally,numerical examples are given to illustrate the
existing results.
Abstract: The psychological impact of peer influence on its
individual group members, can make them resist HIV/AIDS
counselling and testing. This study investigated the correlate of peer
influence and resistance to HIV/AIDS counselling and testing among
students in tertiary institutions in Kano state, Nigeria. To achieve
this, three null hypotheses were postulated and tested. Cross-
Sectional Survey Design was employed in which 1512 sample was
selected from a student population of 104,841.Simple Random
Sampling was used in the selection. A self-developed 20-item scale
called Peer Influence and Psychological Resistance Inventory
(PIPRI) was used for data collection. Pearson Product Moment
Correlation (PPMCC) via test-retest method was applied to estimate a
reliability coefficient of 0.86 for the scale. Data obtained was
analyzed using t-test and PPMCC at 0.05 level of confidence. Results
reveal 26.3% (397) of the respondents being influenced by their peer
group, while 39.8% showed resistance. Also, the t-tests and PPMCC
statistics were greater than their respective critical values. This shows
that there was a significant gender difference in peer influence and a
difference between peer influence and resistance to HIV/AIDS
counselling and testing. However, a positive relationship between
peer influence and resistance to HIV/AIDS counselling and testing
was shown. A major recommendation offered suggests the use of
reinforcement and social support for positive attitudes and
maintenance of safe behaviour among students who patronize
HIV/AIDS counselling.
Abstract: Cement-based grouts has been used successfully to
repair cracks in many concrete structures such as bridges, tunnels,
buildings and to consolidate soils or rock foundations. In the present
study the rheological characterization of cement grout with
water/binder ratio (W/B) is fixed at 0.5. The effect of the replacement
of cement by bentonite (2 to 10% wt) in presence of superplasticizer
(0.5% wt) was investigated. Several rheological tests were carried out
by using controlled-stress rheometer equipped with vane geometry in
temperature of 20°C. To highlight the influence of bentonite and
superplasticizer on the rheological behavior of grout cement, various
flow tests in a range of shear rate from 0 to 200 s-1 were observed.
Cement grout showed a non-Newtonian viscosity behavior at all
concentrations of bentonite. Three parameter model Herschel-
Bulkley was chosen for fitting of experimental data. Based on the
values of correlation coefficients of the estimated parameters, The
Herschel-Bulkley law model well described the rheological behavior
of the grouts. Test results showed that the dosage of bentonite
increases the viscosity and yield stress of the system and introduces
more thixotropy. While the addition of both bentonite and
superplasticizer with cement grout improve significantly the fluidity
and reduced the yield stress due to the action of dispersion of SP.
Abstract: Nations are still finding it quite difficult to win mega
sport competitions despite the major contribution of sport to society
in terms of social and economic development, personal health, and in
education. Even though the world of sports has been transformed into
a huge global economy, it is important to note that the first step of
sport is usually its introduction to children at school through physical
education or PE. In other words, nations who do not win mega sport
competitions also suffer from a weak and neglected PE system. This
problem of the neglect of PE systems is the main motivation of this
research aimed at examining the factors affecting the perceived
awareness of physical education teachers on the ICTs that are
adoptable for the teaching and learning of physical education. Two
types of research objectives will materialize this aim: relevant
theories will be identified in relation to the analysis of the perceived
ICT awareness of PE teachers and subsequent models will be
compiled and designed from existing literature; the empirical testing
of such theories and models will also be achieved through the survey
of PE teachers from the Camperdown magisterial district of the
KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The main hypothesis at the
heart of this study is the relationship between the demographics of PE
teachers, their behavior both as individuals and as social entities, and
their perceived awareness of the ICTs that are adoptable for PE, as
postulated by existing literature; except that this study categorizes
human behavior under performance expectancy, computer attitude,
and social influence. This hypothesis was partially confirmed by the
survey conducted by this research in the sense that performance
expectancy and teachers’ age, gender, computer usage, and class size
were found to be the only factors affecting their awareness of ICTs
for physical education.
Abstract: The world wide web network is a network with a
complex topology, the main properties of which are the distribution
of degrees in power law, A low clustering coefficient and a weak
average distance. Modeling the web as a graph allows locating the
information in little time and consequently offering a help in the
construction of the research engine. Here, we present a model based
on the already existing probabilistic graphs with all the aforesaid
characteristics. This work will consist in studying the web in order to
know its structuring thus it will enable us to modelize it more easily
and propose a possible algorithm for its exploration.
Abstract: In order to study the effect of drought stress on grain
yield, yield components and associated traits of durum wheat
cultivars, an experiment was done as split plot arrangement using
randomized complete block design with three replications in Ilam
province, Iran in 2009-2010 cropping season. Different levels of
irrigation (Full irrigation, drought stress at stem elongation,
Flowering and grain formation stages) were considered as a main plot
and three durum wheat cultivars (Yavaros, Seimareh and Karkheh)
were assigned as a sub plot. The results showed that drought stress
was significant on grain yield, spike.m-2, grain. Spike-1, 1000-grain
weight, biological yield, harvest index and protein content. Drought
stress at all stages caused a loss in grain yield and its components.
Full irrigation had the highest grain yield and yield components.
Drought stress at stem elongation, flowering and grain formation
stages caused a reduction in spike.m-2, grain.spike-1 and 1000-grain
weight, respectively. Protein content was significantly affected by
drought stress. The highest protein content was obtained from
drought stress at grain formation stage. Cultivars had an influence on
grain yield and yield components. Yavaros and Seimareh cultivars
had the highest and lowest grain yield, respectively. Interaction effect
between drought stress and cultivar had a significant effect on grain
and yield components. Full irrigation and Yavaros cultivar had the
highest grain yield and drought stress at grain formation stage and
Seimareh cultivar had the lowest grain yield, respectively.
Abstract: The development of the agricultural sector in Ghana
has been reliant on the use of irrigation systems to ensure food
security. However, the manual operation of these systems has not
facilitated their maximum efficiency due to human limitations.
This paper seeks to address this problem by designing and
implementing an efficient, cost effective automated system which
monitors and controls the water flow of irrigation through
communication with an authorized operator via text messages. The
automatic control component of the system is timer based with an
Atmega32 microcontroller and a real time clock from the SM5100B
cellular module. For monitoring purposes, the system sends periodic
notification of the system on the performance of duty via SMS to the
authorized person(s). Moreover, the GSM based Irrigation
Monitoring and Control System saves time and labour and reduces
cost of operating irrigation systems by saving electricity usage and
conserving water.
Field tests conducted have proven its operational efficiency and
ease of assessment of farm irrigation equipment due to its costeffectiveness
and data logging capabilities.
Abstract: Different services based on different switching
techniques in wireless networks leads to drastic changes in the
properties of network traffic. Because of these diversities in services,
network traffic is expected to undergo qualitative and quantitative
variations. Hence, assumption of traffic characteristics and the
prediction of network events become more complex for the wireless
networks. In this paper, the traffic characteristics have been studied
by collecting traces from the mobile switching centre (MSC). The
traces include initiation and termination time, originating node, home
station id, foreign station id. Traffic parameters namely, call interarrival
and holding times were estimated statistically. The results
show that call inter-arrival and distribution time in this wireless
network is heavy-tailed and follow gamma distributions. They are
asymptotically long-range dependent. It is also found that the call
holding times are best fitted with lognormal distribution. Based on
these observations, an analytical model for performance estimation is
also proposed.
Abstract: Renewable energy is derived from natural processes
that are replenished constantly. Included in the definition is
electricity and heat generated from solar, wind, ocean, hydropower,
biomass, geothermal resources, and bio-fuels and hydrogen derived
from renewable resources. Each of these sources has unique
characteristics which influence how and where they are used. This
paper presents the modeling the simulation of solar and hydro hybrid
energy sources in MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. It simulates
all quantities of Hybrid Electrical Power system (HEPS) such as AC
output current of the inverter that injected to the load/grid, load
current, grid current. It also simulates power output from PV and
Hydraulic Turbine Generator (HTG), power delivered to or from grid
and finally power factor of the inverter for PV, HTG and grid. The
proposed circuit uses instantaneous p-q (real-imaginary) power
theory.
Abstract: In this paper a scheme is proposed for generating
a programmable current reference which can be implemented
in the CMOS technology. The current can be varied over a
wide range by changing an external voltage applied to one
of the control gates of FGMOS (Floating Gate MOSFET).
For a range of supply voltages and temperature, CMOS
current reference is found to be dependent, this dependence
is compensated by subtracting two current outputs with the
same dependencies on the supply voltage and temperature.
The system performance is found to improve with the
use of FGMOS. Mathematical analysis of the proposed
circuit is done to establish supply voltage and temperature
independence. Simulation and performance evaluation of the
proposed current reference circuit is done using TANNER
EDA Tools. The current reference shows the supply and
temperature dependencies of 520 ppm/V and 312 ppm/oC,
respectively. The proposed current reference can operate down
to 0.9 V supply.
Abstract: In this paper, numerical solution of system of
Fredholm and Volterra integral equations by means of the Spline
collocation method is considered. This approximation reduces the
system of integral equations to an explicit system of algebraic
equations. The solution is collocated by cubic B-spline and the
integrand is approximated by the Newton-Cotes formula. The error
analysis of proposed numerical method is studied theoretically. The
results are compared with the results obtained by other methods to
illustrate the accuracy and the implementation of our method.
Abstract: The current study explored the effect of economic
development, financial development and institutional quality on
environmental destruction in upper-middle income countries during
the time period of 1999-2011. The dependent variable is logarithm of
carbon dioxide emissions that can be considered as an index for
destruction or quality of the environment given to its effects on the
environment. Financial development and institutional development
variables as well as some control variables were considered. In order
to study cross-sectional correlation among the countries under study,
Pesaran and Friz test was used. Since the results of both tests show
cross-sectional correlation in the countries under study, seemingly
unrelated regression method was utilized for model estimation. The
results disclosed that Kuznets’ environmental curve hypothesis is
confirmed in upper-middle income countries and also, financial
development and institutional quality have a significant effect on
environmental quality. The results of this study can be considered by
policy makers in countries with different income groups to have
access to a growth accompanied by improved environmental quality.
Abstract: The main goal of this paper was evaluate the effect of
diets containing different levels of probiotic on performance and milk
composition of lactating cows.
Eight Holstein cows were distributed in two 4x4 Latin square. The
diets were based on corn silage, concentrate and the treatment (0, 3, 6
or 9 grams of probiotic/animal/day). It was evaluated the dry matter
intake of nutrients, milk yield and composition.
The use of probiotics did not affect the nutrient intake (p>0.05)
neither the daily milk production or corrected to 4% fat (p>0.05).
However, it was observed that there was a significant fall in milk
composition with higher levels of probiotics supplementation.
These results emphasize the need of further studies with different
experimental designs or improve the number of Latin square with
longer periods of adaptation.
Abstract: A finite difference/front tracking method is used to
study the motion of three-dimensional deformable drops suspended in
plane Poiseuille flow at non-zero Reynolds numbers. A parallel
version of the code was used to study the behavior of suspension on a
reasonable grid resolution (grids). The viscosity and density of drops
are assumed to be equal to that of the suspending medium. The effect
of the Reynolds number is studied in detail. It is found that drops
with small deformation behave like rigid particles and migrate to an
equilibrium position about half way between the wall and the
centerline (the Segre-Silberberg effect). However, for highly
deformable drops there is a tendency for drops to migrate to the
middle of the channel, and the maximum concentration occurs at the
centerline. The effective viscosity of suspension and the fluctuation
energy of the flow across the channel increases with the Reynolds
number of the flow.