Abstract: Sudoku is a kind of logic puzzles. Each puzzle consists
of a board, which is a 9×9 cells, divided into nine 3×3 subblocks
and a set of numbers from 1 to 9. The aim of this puzzle is to
fill in every cell of the board with a number from 1 to 9 such
that in every row, every column, and every subblock contains each
number exactly one. Sudoku puzzles belong to combinatorial problem
(NP complete). Sudoku puzzles can be solved by using a variety of
techniques/algorithms such as genetic algorithms, heuristics, integer
programming, and so on. In this paper, we propose a new approach for
solving Sudoku which is by modelling them as block-world problems.
In block-world problems, there are a number of boxes on the table
with a particular order or arrangement. The objective of this problem
is to change this arrangement into the targeted arrangement with the
help of two types of robots. In this paper, we present three models
for Sudoku. We modellized Sudoku as parameterized multi-agent
systems. A parameterized multi-agent system is a multi-agent system
which consists of several uniform/similar agents and the number of
the agents in the system is stated as the parameter of this system. We
use Temporal Logic of Actions (TLA) for formalizing our models.
Abstract: Ammonia nitrogen is one of the most hazardous
water pollutants, discharging into water receptors through industrial
effluents. Negative environmental impacts of such chemical species
in hydrosphere include accelerated eutrophication, water toxicity and
harming the aquatics. Natural zeolite clinoptilolite has very high
selectivity & capacity for ammonium cation sorption. It occurs in
high abundances and rich mines of this zeolite exist in different parts
of Iran and thus are available more cheaply and with different sizing.
The aim of this study is to investigate ammonia nitrogen removal
over this natural sorbent from real samples of high polluted
wastewater discharging from a fertilizer producing plant. The
experimental results showed that this natural sorbent without even
any pre treatment system & with the same particle size available in
Iranian markets has still high capability & selectivity in ammonia
nitrogen removal both in batch and continuous tests.
Abstract: A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence, species characterization and associated risk factors with Eimeria (E.) in sheep of district Toba Tek Singh from April, 2009 to March, 2010. Of the total 486 faecal samples examined for Eimeria, 209 (43%) were found infected with five species of Eimeria. Amongst the identified species of Eimeria, E. ovinoidalis was the commonest one (48.32%), followed in order by E. ahsata, E. intricata, E. parva and E. faurei with prevalence of 45.45, 28.71, 24.40 and 19.14 percent respectively. Peak prevalence was observed in August. Wet season (rainy and post-rainy) was found to be favourable for Eimeria infection. Lambs had significantly higher prevalence (P < 0.05) of Eimeria than adults. Similarly higher prevalence of Eimeria was observed in female as compared to male. Among management and husbandry practices; watering system, housing system, floor type and herd size strongly influenced the prevalence of Eimeria. Coccidiosis was more prevalent in closed housing system, non-cemented floor type, pond watered animals and larger herds (P < 0.05) as compared to open housing system, partially cemented floor type, tap watered animals and smaller herds respectively. Feeding system, breed and body condition of animals were not found as risk factors (P>0.05) influencing prevalence of Eimeria.
Abstract: This paper treats a discrete-time batch arrival queue with single working vacation. The main purpose of this paper is to present a performance analysis of this system by using the supplementary variable technique. For this purpose, we first analyze the Markov chain underlying the queueing system and obtain its ergodicity condition. Next, we present the stationary distributions of the system length as well as some performance measures at random epochs by using the supplementary variable method. Thirdly, still based on the supplementary variable method we give the probability generating function (PGF) of the number of customers at the beginning of a busy period and give a stochastic decomposition formulae for the PGF of the stationary system length at the departure epochs. Additionally, we investigate the relation between our discretetime system and its continuous counterpart. Finally, some numerical examples show the influence of the parameters on some crucial performance characteristics of the system.
Abstract: Supply chain management has become more
challenging with the emerging trend of globalization and
sustainability. Lately, research related to perishable products supply
chains, in particular agricultural food products, has emerged. This is
attributed to the additional complexity of managing this type of
supply chains with the recently increased concern of public health,
food quality, food safety, demand and price variability, and the
limited lifetime of these products. Inventory management for agrifood
supply chains is of vital importance due to the product
perishability and customers- strive for quality. This paper
concentrates on developing a simulation model of a real life case
study of a two echelon production-distribution system for agri-food
products. The objective is to improve a set of performance measures
by developing a simulation model that helps in evaluating and
analysing the performance of these supply chains. Simulation results
showed that it can help in improving overall system performance.
Abstract: The paper is concerned with the technological process of renovation of shafts used in industrial manufacturing for extruding of sheet material. In the classical renovation technologies, a chrome based coating is applied to the working surface of the shaft in galvanic baths. The process, however, is known to be exclusively harmful due to the waste cyanide products. In this work, we present an advanced nanotechnology based on nonelectric chemical laying of a nickel coating with included nanoparticles. The technology is environmentally harmless and the new coating features an increased hardness and wear resistance. Results from experimental tests of the nanostructured nickel coating are presented and discussed.
Abstract: Antimicrobial (AM) starch-based films were
developed by incorporating chitosan and lauric acid as antimicrobial
agent into starch-based film. Chitosan has wide range of applications
as a biomaterial, but barriers still exist to its broader use due to its
physical and chemical limitations. In this work, a series of
starch/chitosan (SC) blend films containing 8% of lauric acid was
prepared by casting method. The structure of the film was
characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Xray
diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
The results indicated that there were strong interactions were present
between the hydroxyl groups of starch and the amino groups of
chitosan resulting in a good miscibility between starch and chitosan
in the blend films. Physical properties and optical properties of the
AM starch-based film were evaluated. The AM starch-based films
incorporated with chitosan and lauric acid showed an improvement in
water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) and addition of starch
content provided more transparent films while the yellowness of the
film attributed to the higher chitosan content. The improvement in
water barrier properties was mainly attributed to the hydrophobicity
of lauric acid and optimum chitosan or starch content. AM starch
based film also showed excellent oxygen barrier. Obtaining films
with good oxygen permeability would be an indication of the
potential use of these antimicrobial packaging as a natural packaging
and an alternative packaging to the synthetic polymer to protect food
from oxidation reactions
Abstract: In this paper, a data mining model to SMEs for detecting financial and operational risk indicators by data mining is presenting. The identification of the risk factors by clarifying the relationship between the variables defines the discovery of knowledge from the financial and operational variables. Automatic and estimation oriented information discovery process coincides the definition of data mining. During the formation of model; an easy to understand, easy to interpret and easy to apply utilitarian model that is far from the requirement of theoretical background is targeted by the discovery of the implicit relationships between the data and the identification of effect level of every factor. In addition, this paper is based on a project which was funded by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK).
Abstract: For many industrial applications plate heat
exchangers are demonstrating a large superiority over the
other types of heat exchangers. The efficiency of such a
device depends on numerous factors the effect of which needs
to be analysed and accurately evaluated.
In this paper we present a theoretical analysis of a cocurrent
plate heat exchanger and the results of its numerical
simulation.
Knowing the hot and the cold fluid streams inlet temperatures,
the respective heat capacities mCp
and the value of the
overall heat transfer coefficient, a 1-D mathematical model
based on the steady flow energy balance for a differential
length of the device is developed resulting in a set of N first
order differential equations with boundary conditions where N
is the number of channels.For specific heat exchanger
geometry and operational parameters, the problem is
numerically solved using the shooting method.
The simulation allows the prediction of the temperature
map in the heat exchanger and hence, the evaluation of its
performances. A parametric analysis is performed to evaluate
the influence of the R-parameter on the e-NTU values. For
practical purposes effectiveness-NTU graphs are elaborated
for specific heat exchanger geometry and different operating
conditions.
Abstract: Malaria is a serious, acute and chronic relapsing
infection to humans. It is characterized by periodic attacks of chills,
fever, nausea, vomiting, back pain, increased sweating anemia,
splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen) and often-fatal
complications.The malaria disease is caused by the multiplication of
protozoa parasite of the genus Plasmodium. Malaria in humans is due
to 4 types of malaria parasites such that Plasmodium falciparum,
Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale.
P.vivax malaria differs from P. falciparum malaria in that a person
suffering from P. vivax malaria can experience relapses of the
disease. Between the relapses, the malaria parasite will remain
dormant in the liver of the patient, leading to the patient being
classified as being in the dormant class. A mathematical model for
the transmission of P. vivax is developed in which the human
population is divided into four classes, the susceptible, the infected,
the dormant and the recovered. In this paper, we formulate the
dynamical model of P. vivax malaria to see the distribution of this
disease at the district level.
Abstract: This paper presents the Literature Review of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips to reinforced concrete (RC) as a strengthening solution for T-beams. Although a great deal of research has been carried out on Rectangular beams strengthened with Fibre-Reinforced Polymer composites (FRP), Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have been increasingly studied for their application in the flexural or shear strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) members. A detailed discussion of the shearstrengthening repair with FRP is undertaken. This paper will be limited to research of CFRP material externally bonded to the tensile face of concrete beams. In particular, research studying the effect of externally applied CFRP materials on the shear performance of reinforced concrete beams will be reported.
Abstract: In order to avoid the potentially devastating
consequences of global warming and climate change, the carbon
dioxide “CO2" emissions caused due to anthropogenic activities must
be reduced considerably. This paper presents the first study
examining the feasibility of carbon sequestration in construction and
demolition “C&D" waste. Experiments were carried out in a self
fabricated Batch Reactor at 40ºC, relative humidity of 50-70%, and
flow rate of CO2 at 10L/min for 1 hour for water-to-solids ratio of 0.2
to 1.2. The effect of surface area was found by comparing the
theoretical extent of carbonation of two different sieve sizes (0.3mm
and 2.36mm) of C&D waste. A 38.44% of the theoretical extent of
carbonation equating to 4% CO2 sequestration extent was obtained
for C&D waste sample for 0.3mm sieve size. Qualitative,
quantitative and morphological analyses were done to validate
carbonate formation using X-ray diffraction “X.R.D.," thermal
gravimetric analysis “T.G.A., “X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy
“X.R.F.," and scanning electron microscopy “S.E.M".
Abstract: In this paper, the robust exponential stability problem of uncertain discrete-time recurrent neural networks with timevarying delay is investigated. By constructing a new augmented Lyapunov-Krasovskii function, some new improved stability criteria are obtained in forms of linear matrix inequality (LMI). Compared with some recent results in literature, the conservatism of the new criteria is reduced notably. Two numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the less conservatism and effectiveness of the proposed results.
Abstract: Vinegar or sour wine is a product of alcoholic and
subsequent acetous fermentation of sugary precursors derived from
several fruits or starchy substrates. This delicious food additive and
supplement contains not less than 4 grams of acetic acid in 100 cubic
centimeters at 20°C. Among the large number of bacteria that are
able to produce acetic acid, only few genera are used in vinegar
industry most significant of which are Acetobacter and
Gluconobacter. In this research we isolated and identified an
Acetobacter strain from Iranian apricot, a very delicious and sensitive
summer fruit to decay, we gathered from fruit's stores in Isfahan,
Iran. The main culture media we used were Carr, GYC, Frateur and
an industrial medium for vinegar production. We isolated this strain
using a novel miniature fermentor we made at Pars Yeema
Biotechnologists Co., Isfahan Science and Technology Town (ISTT),
Isfahan, Iran. The microscopic examinations of isolated strain from
Iranian apricot showed gram negative rods to cocobacilli. Their
catalase reaction was positive and oxidase reaction was negative and
could ferment ethanol to acetic acid. Also it showed an acceptable
growth in 5%, 7% and 9% ethanol concentrations at 30°C using
modified Carr media after 24, 48 and 96 hours incubation
respectively. According to its tolerance against high concentrations of
ethanol after four days incubation and its high acetic acid production,
8.53%, after 144 hours, this strain could be considered as a suitable
industrial strain for a production of a new type of vinegar, apricot
vinegar, with a new and delicious taste. In conclusion this is the first
report of isolation and identification of an Acetobacter strain from
Iranian apricot with a very good tolerance against high ethanol
concentrations as well as high acetic acid productivity in an
acceptable incubation period of time industrially. This strain could be
used in vinegar industry to convert apricot spoilage to a beneficiary
product and mentioned characteristics have made it as an amenable
strain in food and agricultural biotechnology.
Abstract: Among the various cooling processes in industrial
applications such as: electronic devices, heat exchangers, gas
turbines, etc. Gas turbine blades cooling is the most challenging one.
One of the most common practices is using ribbed wall because of
the boundary layer excitation and therefore making the ultimate
cooling. Vortex formation between rib and channel wall will result in
a complicated behavior of flow regime. At the other hand, selecting
the most efficient method for capturing the best results comparing to
experimental works would be a fascinating issue. In this paper 4
common methods in turbulence modeling: standard k-e, rationalized
k-e with enhanced wall boundary layer treatment, k-w and RSM
(Reynolds stress model) are employed to a square ribbed channel to
investigate the separation and thermal behavior of the flow in the
channel. Finally all results from different methods which are used in
this paper will be compared with experimental data available in
literature to ensure the numerical method accuracy.
Abstract: Newton-Raphson State Estimation method using bus
admittance matrix remains as an efficient and most popular method to
estimate the state variables. Elements of Jacobian matrix are computed
from standard expressions which lack physical significance. In this
paper, elements of the state estimation Jacobian matrix are obtained
considering the power flow measurements in the network elements.
These elements are processed one-by-one and the Jacobian matrix H is
updated suitably in a simple manner. The constructed Jacobian matrix
H is integrated with Weight Least Square method to estimate the state
variables. The suggested procedure is successfully tested on IEEE
standard systems.
Abstract: Continuous measurements and multivariate methods are applied in researching the effects of energy consumption on indoor air quality (IAQ) in a Finnish one-family house. Measured data used in this study was collected continuously in a house in Kuopio, Eastern Finland, during fourteen months long period. Consumption parameters measured were the consumptions of district heat, electricity and water. Indoor parameters gathered were temperature, relative humidity (RH), the concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) and differential air pressure. In this study, self-organizing map (SOM) and Sammon's mapping were applied to resolve the effects of energy consumption on indoor air quality. Namely, the SOM was qualified as a suitable method having a property to summarize the multivariable dependencies into easily observable two-dimensional map. Accompanying that, the Sammon's mapping method was used to cluster pre-processed data to find similarities of the variables, expressing distances and groups in the data. The methods used were able to distinguish 7 different clusters characterizing indoor air quality and energy efficiency in the study house. The results indicate, that the cost implications in euros of heating and electricity energy vary according to the differential pressure, concentration of carbon dioxide, temperature and season.
Abstract: The globalization of the Indian economy has thrown a great challenge to the Indian industries in respect of productivity, quality, cost, delivery etc. Achieving success• the global market has required fundamental shift in the way business is conducted and has dramatically affected virtually every aspect of process industry. The internal manufacturing process and supporting infrastructure should be such that it can compete successfully in global markets with better flexibility and delivery. The paper deals with a case study of a reputed process industry, some changes in the process has been suggested, which leads to reduction in labor cost and production cost.
Abstract: The effect of muscle loss due to transfemoral
amputation, on energy expenditure of hip joint and individual
residual muscles was simulated. During swing phase of gait, with
each muscle as an ideal force generator, the lower extremity was
modeled as a two-degree of freedom linkage, for which hip and knee
were joints. According to results, muscle loss will not lead to higher
energy expenditure of hip joint, as long as other parameters of limb
remain unaffected. This finding maybe due to the role of biarticular
muscles in hip and knee joints motion. Moreover, if hip flexors are
removed from the residual limb, residual flexors, and if hip extensors
are removed, residual extensors will do more work. In line with the
common practice in transfemoral amputation, this result demonstrates
during transfemoral amputation, it is important to maintain the length
of residual limb as much as possible.
Abstract: The treatment of the industrial wastewater can be
particularly difficult in the presence of toxic compounds. Excessive
concentration of Chromium in soluble form is toxic to a wide variety
of living organisms. Biological removal of heavy metals using natural
and genetically engineered microorganisms has aroused great interest
because of its lower impact on the environment. Ralston
metallidurans, formerly known as Alcaligenes eutrophus is a LProteobacterium
colonizing industrial wastewater with a high content
of heavy metals. Tris-buffered mineral salt medium was used for
growing Alcaligenes eutrophus AE104 (pEBZ141). The cells were
cultivated for 18 h at 30 oC in Tris-buffered mineral salt medium
containing 3 mM disodium sulphate and 46 mM sodium gluconate as
the carbon source. The cells were harvested by centrifugation,
washed, and suspended in 10 mM Tris HCl, pH 7.0, containing 46
mM sodium gluconate, and 5 mM Chromium. Interaction among
induction of chr resistance determinant, and chromate reduction have
been demonstrated. Results of this study show that the above bacteria
can be very useful for bioremediation of chromium from industrial
wastewater.