Abstract: This study endeavors to evaluate the effects of farmers’ training program on the adoption of improved farming practices, the output of rice farming, and the income as well as the profit from rice farming by employing an ex-post non-experimental data in Sierra Leone. It was established that participating in farmers’ training program increased the possibility of adoption of the improved farming activities that were implemented in the study area. Through the training program also, the proceeds from rice production was also established to have increased considerably. These results were in line with the assumption that one of the main constraints on the growth in agricultural output particularly rice cultivation in most African states is the lack of efficient extension programs.
Abstract: In this paper we are to find the optimum multiwavelet for compression of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals and then, selecting it for using with SPIHT codec. At present, it is not well known which multiwavelet is the best choice for optimum compression of ECG. In this work, we examine different multiwavelets on 24 sets of ECG data with entirely different characteristics, selected from MIT-BIH database. For assessing the functionality of the different multiwavelets in compressing ECG signals, in addition to known factors such as Compression Ratio (CR), Percent Root Difference (PRD), Distortion (D), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) in compression literature, we also employed the Cross Correlation (CC) criterion for studying the morphological relations between the reconstructed and the original ECG signal and Signal to reconstruction Noise Ratio (SNR). The simulation results show that the Cardinal Balanced Multiwavelet (cardbal2) by the means of identity (Id) prefiltering method to be the best effective transformation. After finding the most efficient multiwavelet, we apply SPIHT coding algorithm on the transformed signal by this multiwavelet.
Abstract: Applying a rigorous process to optimize the elements
of a supply-chain network resulted in reduction of the waiting time
for a service provider and customer. Different sources of downtime
of hydraulic pressure controller/calibrator (HPC) were causing
interruptions in the operations. The process examined all the issues to
drive greater efficiencies. The issues included inherent design issues
with HPC pump, contamination of the HPC with impurities, and the
lead time required for annual calibration in the USA.
HPC is used for mandatory testing/verification of formation
tester/pressure measurement/logging-while drilling tools by oilfield
service providers, including Halliburton.
After market study andanalysis, it was concluded that the current
HPC model is best suited in the oilfield industry. To use theexisting
HPC model effectively, design andcontamination issues were
addressed through design and process improvements. An optimum
network is proposed after comparing different supply-chain models
for calibration lead-time reduction.
Abstract: Iran is one of the greatest producers of date in the
world. However due to lack of information about its viscoelastic
properties, much of the production downgraded during harvesting
and postharvesting processes. In this study the effect of temperature
and moisture content of product were investigated on stress
relaxation characteristics. Therefore, the freshly harvested date
(kabkab) at tamar stage were put in controlled environment chamber
to obtain different temperature levels (25, 35, 45, and 55 0C) and
moisture contents (8.5, 8.7, 9.2, 15.3, 20, 32.2 %d.b.). A texture
analyzer TAXT2 (Stable Microsystems, UK) was used to apply
uniaxial compression tests. A chamber capable to control temperature
was designed and fabricated around the plunger of texture analyzer to
control the temperature during the experiment. As a new approach a
CCD camera (A4tech, 30 fps) was mounted on a cylindrical glass
probe to scan and record contact area between date and disk.
Afterwards, pictures were analyzed using image processing toolbox
of Matlab software. Individual date fruit was uniaxially compressed
at speed of 1 mm/s. The constant strain of 30% of thickness of date
was applied to the horizontally oriented fruit. To select a suitable
model for describing stress relaxation of date, experimental data were
fitted with three famous stress relaxation models including the
generalized Maxwell, Nussinovitch, and Pelege. The constant in
mentioned model were determined and correlated with temperature
and moisture content of product using non-linear regression analysis.
It was found that Generalized Maxwell and Nussinovitch models
appropriately describe viscoelastic characteristics of date fruits as
compared to Peleg mode.
Abstract: This paper presents a Neural Network (NN) identification of icing parameters in an A340 aircraft and a reconfiguration technique to keep the A/C performance close to the performance prior to icing. Five aircraft parameters are assumed to be considerably affected by icing. The off-line training for identifying the clear and iced dynamics is based on the Levenberg-Marquard Backpropagation algorithm. The icing parameters are located in the system matrix. The physical locations of the icing are assumed at the right and left wings. The reconfiguration is based on the technique known as the control mixer approach or pseudo inverse technique. This technique generates the new control input vector such that the A/C dynamics is not much affected by icing. In the simulations, the longitudinal and lateral dynamics of an Airbus A340 aircraft model are considered, and the stability derivatives affected by icing are identified. The simulation results show the successful NN identification of the icing parameters and the reconfigured flight dynamics having the similar performance before the icing. In other words, the destabilizing icing affect is compensated.
Abstract: Dried tomato peel (DTP) was tested in vivo (n=10) in 42 week-old laying hens at rates of 0, 40, 70, 100 and 130g/kg DM feed. Laying hens were fed in group 120 g DM/day/animal for 26 days. After 21 days, feed intake was not affected after DTP incorporation (97% of the offered feed in the five groups). Laying rate was not significantly different after DTP incorporation at 4 and 10% from the control group. Egg yolk resulting from DTP-enriched diets, contained lower amounts of cholesterol (14 to 17mg/g) and triglyceride (188mg/g) compared to the control group (22 and 241 mg/g, respectively) (P
Abstract: Intercropping is one of the sustainable agricultural
factors. The SPAD meter can be used to predict nitrogen index
reliably, it may also be a useful tool for assessing the relative impact
of weeds on crops. In order to study the effect of weeds on SPAD in
corn (Zea mays L.), sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and borage
(Borago officinalis L.) in intercropping system, a factorial experiment
was conducted in three replications in 2011. Experimental factors
were included intercropping of corn with sweet basil and borage in
different ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100 corn: borage or
sweet basil) and weed infestation (weed control and weed
interference). The results showed that intercropping of corn with
sweet basil and borage increased the SPAD value of corn compare to
monoculture in weed interference condition. Sweet basil SPAD value
in weed control treatments (43.66) was more than weed interference
treatments (40.17). Corn could increase the borage SPAD value
compare to monoculture in weed interference treatments.
Abstract: Active vibration control is an important problem in
structures. The objective of active vibration control is to reduce the vibrations of a system by automatic modification of the system-s
structural response. In this paper, the modeling and design of a fast
output sampling feedback controller for a smart flexible beam system embedded with shear sensors and actuators for SISO system using
Timoshenko beam theory is proposed. FEM theory, Timoshenko beam theory and the state space techniques are used to model the
aluminum cantilever beam. For the SISO case, the beam is divided into 5 finite elements and the control actuator is placed at finite
element position 1, whereas the sensor is varied from position 2 to 5, i.e., from the nearby fixed end to the free end. Controllers are
designed using FOS method and the performance of the designed FOS controller is evaluated for vibration control for 4 SISO models
of the same plant. The effect of placing the sensor at different locations on the beam is observed and the performance of the
controller is evaluated for vibration control. Some of the limitations of the Euler-Bernoulli theory such as the neglection of shear and
axial displacement are being considered here, thus giving rise to an accurate beam model. Embedded shear sensors and actuators have
been considered in this paper instead of the surface mounted sensors
and actuators for vibration suppression because of lot of advantages. In controlling the vibration modes, the first three dominant modes of
vibration of the system are considered.
Abstract: The perfect operation of common Active Filters is depended on accuracy of identification system distortion. Also, using a suitable method in current injection and reactive power compensation, leads to increased filter performance. Due to this fact, this paper presents a method based on predictive current control theory in shunt active filter applications. The harmonics of the load current is identified by using o–d–q reference frame on load current and eliminating the DC part of d–q components. Then, the rest of these components deliver to predictive current controller as a Threephase reference current by using Park inverse transformation. System is modeled in discreet time domain. The proposed method has been tested using MATLAB model for a nonlinear load (with Total Harmonic Distortion=20%). The simulation results indicate that the proposed filter leads to flowing a sinusoidal current (THD=0.15%) through the source. In addition, the results show that the filter tracks the reference current accurately.
Abstract: This paper and its companion (Part 2) deal with
modeling and optimization of two NP-hard problems in production
planning of flexible manufacturing system (FMS), part type selection
problem and loading problem. The part type selection problem and
the loading problem are strongly related and heavily influence the
system-s efficiency and productivity. The complexity of the problems
is harder when flexibilities of operations such as the possibility of
operation processed on alternative machines with alternative tools are
considered. These problems have been modeled and solved
simultaneously by using real coded genetic algorithms (RCGA)
which uses an array of real numbers as chromosome representation.
These real numbers can be converted into part type sequence and
machines that are used to process the part types. This first part of the
papers focuses on the modeling of the problems and discussing how
the novel chromosome representation can be applied to solve the
problems. The second part will discuss the effectiveness of the
RCGA to solve various test bed problems.
Abstract: Improving performance measures in the construction
processes has been a major concern for managers and decision
makers in the industry. They seek for ways to recognize the key
factors which have the largest effect on the process. Identifying such
factors can guide them to focus on the right parts of the process in
order to gain the best possible result. In the present study design of
experiment (DOE) has been applied to a computer simulation model
of brick laying process to determine significant factors while
productivity has been chosen as the response of the experiment. To
this end, four controllable factors and their interaction have been
experimented and the best factor level has been calculated for each
one. The results indicate that three factors, namely, labor of brick,
labor of mortar and inter arrival time of mortar along with interaction
of labor of brick and labor of mortar are significant.
Abstract: A pot experiment was carried out under controlled
conditions to evaluate the residual effects of different doses of
atrazine+alachlor and foramsulfuron used in corn fields on the
growth and physiology of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). A split-plot
experiment in CRD with 4 replications was used. The main plots
consisted of herbicide type (atrazine+alachlor mixture and
foramsulfuron) and the sub-plots were different residual doses of the
herbicides (0, 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 40%, 50% and 100%). 7 cm
diameter pots were filled with a virgin soil and seeds of rapeseed cv.
Hayola were planted in them. The pots were kept under controlled
conditions for 8 weeks after germination. At harvest, the growth
parameters and the chlorophyll contents of the leaves were
determined. The results showed that the growth of rapeseed plants
was completely prevented at the highest residual doses of the
herbicides (50 and 100 %). The growth parameters of rapeseed plants
were affected by all doses of both types of the herbicide as compared
to the controls. The residual effects of atrazine+alachlor mixture in
reducing the growth parameters of rapeseed were more pronounced
as compared to the residual effects of foramsulfuron alone.
Abstract: Radio propagation from point-to-point is affected by
the physical channel in many ways. A signal arriving at a destination
travels through a number of different paths which are referred to as
multi-paths. Research in this area of wireless communications has
progressed well over the years with the research taking different
angles of focus. By this is meant that some researchers focus on
ways of reducing or eluding Multipath effects whilst others focus on
ways of mitigating the effects of Multipath through compensation
schemes. Baseband processing is seen as one field of signal
processing that is cardinal to the advancement of software defined
radio technology. This has led to wide research into the carrying out
certain algorithms at baseband. This paper considers compensating
for Multipath for Frequency Modulated signals. The compensation
process is carried out at Radio frequency (RF) and at Quadrature
baseband (QBB) and the results are compared. Simulations are
carried out using MatLab so as to show the benefits of working at
lower QBB frequencies than at RF.
Abstract: Human amniotic membrane (HAM) is a useful
biological material for the reconstruction of damaged ocular surface.
The processing and preservation of HAM is critical to prevent the
patients undergoing amniotic membrane transplant (AMT) from cross
infections. For HAM preparation human placenta is obtained after an
elective cesarean delivery. Before collection, the donor is screened
for seronegativity of HCV, Hbs Ag, HIV and Syphilis. After
collection, placenta is washed in balanced salt solution (BSS) in
sterile environment. Amniotic membrane is then separated from the
placenta as well as chorion while keeping the preparation in BSS.
Scrapping of HAM is then carried out manually until all the debris is
removed and clear transparent membrane is acquired. Nitrocellulose
membrane filters are then placed on the stromal side of HAM, cut
around the edges with little membrane folded towards other side
making it easy to separate during surgery. HAM is finally stored in
solution of glycerine and Dulbecco-s Modified Eagle Medium
(DMEM) in 1:1 ratio containing antibiotics. The capped borosil vials
containing HAM are kept at -80°C until use. This vial is thawed to
room temperature and opened under sterile operation theatre
conditions at the time of surgery.
Abstract: Partial Discharge measurement is a very important
means of assessing the integrity of insulation systems in a High
Voltage apparatus. In compressed gas insulation systems, floating
particles can initiate partial discharge activities which adversely
affect the working of insulation. Partial Discharges below the
inception voltage also plays a crucial in damaging the integrity of
insulation over a period of time. This paper discusses the effect of
loose and fixed Copper and Nichrome wire particles on the PD
characteristics in SF6-N2 (10:90) gas mixtures at a pressure of
0.4MPa. The Partial Discharge statistical parameters and their
correlation to the observed results are discussed.
Abstract: Many factors affect the success of Machine Learning
(ML) on a given task. The representation and quality of the instance
data is first and foremost. If there is much irrelevant and redundant
information present or noisy and unreliable data, then knowledge
discovery during the training phase is more difficult. It is well known
that data preparation and filtering steps take considerable amount of
processing time in ML problems. Data pre-processing includes data
cleaning, normalization, transformation, feature extraction and
selection, etc. The product of data pre-processing is the final training
set. It would be nice if a single sequence of data pre-processing
algorithms had the best performance for each data set but this is not
happened. Thus, we present the most well know algorithms for each
step of data pre-processing so that one achieves the best performance
for their data set.
Abstract: Classes on creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship
are becoming quite popular at universities throughout the world.
However, it is not easy for business students to get involved to
innovative activities, especially patent application. The present study
investigated how to enhance business students- intention to participate
in innovative activities and which incentives universities should
consider. A 22-item research scale was used, and confirmatory factor
analysis was conducted to verify its reliability and validity. Multiple
regression and discriminant analyses were also conducted. The results
demonstrate the effect of growth-need strength on innovative behavior
and indicate that the theory of planned behavior can explain and
predict business students- intention to participate in innovative
activities. Additionally, the results suggest that applying our proposed
model in practice would effectively strengthen business students-
intentions to engage in innovative activities.
Abstract: This article proposes modeling, simulation and
kinematic and workspace analysis of a spatial cable suspended robot
as incompletely Restrained Positioning Mechanism (IRPM). These
types of robots have six cables equal to the number of degrees of
freedom. After modeling, the kinds of workspace are defined then an
statically reachable combined workspace for different geometric
structures of fixed and moving platform is obtained. This workspace
is defined as the situations of reference point of the moving platform
(center of mass) which under external forces such as weight and with
ignorance of inertial effects, the moving platform should be in static
equilibrium under conditions that length of all cables must not be
exceeded from the maximum value and all of cables must be at
tension (they must have non-negative tension forces). Then the effect
of various parameters such as the size of moving platform, the size of
fixed platform, geometric configuration of robots, magnitude of
applied forces and moments to moving platform on workspace of
these robots with different geometric configuration are investigated.
Obtained results should be effective in employing these robots under
different conditions of applied wrench for increasing the workspace
volume.
Abstract: This paper addresses a stock-cutting problem with rotation of items and without the guillotine cutting constraint. In order to solve the large-scale problem effectively and efficiently, we propose a simple but fast heuristic algorithm. It is shown that this heuristic outperforms the latest published algorithms for large-scale problem instances.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate hydrogen production from alcohol wastewater by anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR) under thermophillic operation. The ASBR unit used in this study had a liquid holding volume of 4 L and was operated at 6 cycles per day. The seed sludge taken from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket unit treating the same wastewater was boiled at 95 °C for 15 min before being fed to the ASBR unit. The ASBR system was operated at different COD loading rates at a thermophillic temperature (55 °C), and controlled pH of 5.5. When the system was operated under optimum conditions (providing maximum hydrogen production performance) at a feed COD of 60 000 mg/l, and a COD loading rate of 68 kg/m3 d, the produced gas contained 43 % H2 content in the produced gas. Moreover, the hydrogen yield and the specific hydrogen production rate (SHPR) were 130 ml H2/g COD removed and 2100 ml H2/l d, respectively.