Abstract: The operation of nuclear power plants involves
continuous monitoring of the environment in their area. This
monitoring is performed using a complex data acquisition system,
which collects status information about the system itself and values
of many important physical variables e.g. temperature, humidity,
dose rate etc. This paper describes a proposal and optimization of
communication that takes place in teledosimetric system between the
central control server responsible for the data processing and storing
and the decentralized measuring stations, which are measuring the
physical variables. Analyzes of ongoing communication were
performed and consequently the optimization of the system
architecture and communication was done.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate
perceptions of climate change risk to forest ecosystems and forestbased
communities as well as perceived effectiveness of adaptation
strategies for climate change as well as challenges for adaptation.
Data was gathered using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire.
Simple random selection technique was applied. For the majority of
issues, the responses were obtained on multi-point likert scales, and
the scores provided were, in turn, used to estimate the means and
other useful estimates. A composite knowledge index developed
using correct responses to a set of self-rated statements were used to
evaluate the issues. The mean of the knowledge index was 0.64. Also
all respondents recorded values of the knowledge index above 0.25.
Increase forest fire was perceived by respondents as the greatest risk
to forest eco-system. Decrease access to water supplies was perceived
as the greatest risk to livelihoods of forest based communities. The
most effective adaptation strategy relevant to climate change risks to
forest eco-systems and forest based communities livelihoods in
Kathmandu valley in Nepal as perceived by the respondents was
reforestation and afforestation. As well, lack of public awareness was
perceived as the major limitation for climate change adaptation.
However, perceived risks as well as effective adaptation strategies
showed an inconsistent association with knowledge indicators and
social-cultural variables. The results provide useful information to
any party who involve with climate change issues in Nepal, since
such attempts would be more effective once the people’s perceptions
on these aspects are taken into account.
Abstract: Collapsible soils go through radical rearrangement of
their particles when triggered by water, stress or/and vibration,
causing loss of volume. This loss of volume in soil as seen in
foundation failures has caused millions of dollars’ worth of damages
to public facilities and infrastructure and so has an adverse effect on
the society and people. Despite these consequences and the several
studies that are available, more research is still required in the study
of soil collapsibility. Discerning the pedogenesis (formation) of soils
and investigating the combined effects of the different geological soil
properties is key to elucidating and quantifying soils collapsibility.
This study presents a novel laboratory testing regime that would be
undertaken on soil samples where the effects of soil type, compactive
variables (moisture content, density, void ratio, degree of saturation)
and loading are analyzed. It is anticipated that results obtained would
be useful in mapping the trend of the combined effect thus the basis
for evaluating soil collapsibility or collapse potentials encountered in
construction with volume loss problems attributed to collapse.
Abstract: Present study is aimed on the cutting process of circular
cross-section rods where the fracture is used to separate one rod
into two pieces. Incorporating the phenomenological ductile fracture
model into the explicit formulation of finite element method, the
process can be analyzed without the necessity of realizing too many
real experiments which could be expensive in case of repetitive
testing in different conditions. In the present paper, the steel AISI
1045 was examined and the tensile tests of smooth and notched
cylindrical bars were conducted together with biaxial testing of the
notched tube specimens to calibrate material constants of selected
phenomenological ductile fracture models. These were implemented
into the Abaqus/Explicit through user subroutine VUMAT and used
for cutting process simulation. As the calibration process is based
on variables which cannot be obtained directly from experiments,
numerical simulations of fracture tests are inevitable part of the
calibration. Finally, experiments regarding the cutting process were
carried out and predictive capability of selected fracture models is
discussed. Concluding remarks then make the summary of gained
experience both with the calibration and application of particular
ductile fracture criteria.
Abstract: In today’s world, the LED display has been used for
presenting visual information under various circumstances. Such
information is an important intermediary in the human information
processing. Researchers have been investigated diverse factors that
influence this process effectiveness. The letter size is undoubtedly
one major factor that has been tested and recommended by many
standards and guidelines. However, viewing information on the
display from direct perpendicular position is a typical assumption
whereas many actual events are required viewing from the angles.
This current research aims to study the effect of oblique viewing
angle and viewing distance on ability to recognize alphabet, number,
and English word. The total of ten participants was volunteered to our
3 x 4 x 4 within subject study. Independent variables include three
distance levels (2, 6, and 12 m), four oblique angles (0, 45, 60, 75
degree), and four target types (alphabet, number, short word, and
long word). Following the method of constant stimuli our study
suggests that the larger oblique angle, ranging from 0 to 75 degree
from the line of sight, results in significant higher legibility threshold
or larger font size required (p-value < 0.05). Viewing distance factor
also shows to have significant effect on the threshold (p-value
Abstract: A new small–scale test rig developed for rolling
contact fatigue (RCF) investigations in wheel–rail material. This
paper presents the scaling strategy of the rig based on dimensional
analysis and mechanical modelling. The new experimental rig is
indeed a spinning frame structure with multiple wheel components
over a fixed rail-track ring, capable of simulating continuous wheelrail
contact in a laboratory scale. This paper describes the
dimensional design of the rig, to derive its overall scaling strategy
and to determine the key elements’ specifications. Finite element
(FE) modelling is used to simulate the mechanical behavior of the rig
with two sample scale factors of 1/5 and 1/7. The results of FE
models are compared with the actual railway system to observe the
effectiveness of the chosen scales. The mechanical properties of the
components and variables of the system are finally determined
through the design process.
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: This paper presents reliability indices evaluation of the
rotor core magnetization of the induction motor operated as a self
excited induction generator by using probability distribution approach
and Monte Carlo simulation. Parallel capacitors with calculated
minimum capacitive value across the terminals of the induction motor
operated as a SEIG with unregulated shaft speed have been connected
during the experimental study. A three phase, 4 poles, 50Hz, 5.5 hp,
12.3A, 230V induction motor coupled with DC Shunt Motor was
tested in the electrical machine laboratory with variable reactive loads.
Based on this experimental study, it is possible to choose a reliable
induction machines operated as a SEIG for unregulated renewable
energy application in remote area or where grid is not available.
Failure density function, cumulative failure distribution function,
survivor function, hazard model, probability of success and
probability of failure for reliability evaluation of the three phase
induction motor operating as a SEIG have been presented graphically
in this paper.
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: Students’ achievement and motivation in learning
English in Malaysia is a worrying trend as it is lagging behind several
other countries in Asia. Thus, necessary actions have to be taken by
the parties concerned to overcome this problem. The purpose of this
research was to study the effects of drill and practice courseware on
students’ achievement and motivation in learning English language.
A multimedia courseware was developed for this purpose. The
independent variable was the drill and practice courseware while the
dependent variables were the students’ achievement and motivation.
Their achievement was measured using pre-test and post-test scores,
while motivation was measured using a questionnaire. A total of 60
students from three vernacular primary schools in a northern state in
Malaysia were randomly selected in this study. The findings indicate:
(1) a significant difference between the students’ pre-test and posttest
scores after using the courseware, (2) no significant difference in
the achievement score between male and female students after using
the courseware, (3) a significant difference in motivation score
between the female and the male students, and (4) while the female
students scored significantly higher than the male students in the
aspects of relevance, confidence and satisfaction, no significant
difference in terms of attention was observed between them. Overall,
the findings clearly indicate that although the female students are
significantly more motivated than their male students, they are
equally good in terms of achievement after learning from the
courseware. Through this study, the drill and practice courseware is
proven to influence the students’ learning and motivation.
Abstract: This experimental study aims at studying the
conversion of macro-algae into bioethanol under several steps of
procedure: preparation, pre-treatment, fermentation, and distillation.
The main objective of this work was to investigate the role of buffer’s
type as a stabiliser of pH level and fermentation time on the yield of
ethanol. For this purpose, experiments were carried out on biomass
macro-algae to de-couple the pre-treatment and fermentation
processes from those associated with distillation process. β-
glucosidase was used as cellulose decomposer during hydrolysis step
and yeast was used during fermentation process. The species of
macro-algae utilised as energy feedstock was Ulva lactuca and it was
harvested from southern coast of Central of Java Island – Indonesia.
Experiments were conducted in a simple fermenter over a different
buffer: citrate buffer and acetic buffer, and over a range of
fermentation times between 5 to 20 days. The ethanol production was
found to be significantly affected by both variables. The optimum
time of fermentation was 10 days with citrate buffer; result in
0.88458% of ethanol, and the ethanol content after distillation
process was shown 0.985015%.
Abstract: This study discovers a novel framework of individual
level technology adoption known as I-P (Individual- Privacy) towards
health information application in Smart National Identity Card. Many
countries introduced smart national identity card (SNIC) with various
applications such as health information application embedded inside
it. However, the degree to which citizens accept and use some of the
embedded applications in smart national identity remains unknown to
many governments and application providers as well. Moreover, the
factors of trust, perceived risk, Privacy concern and perceived
credibility need to be incorporated into more comprehensive models
such as extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of
Technology known as UTAUT2. UTAUT2 is a mainly widespread
and leading theory up to now. This research identifies factors
affecting the citizens’ behavioural intention to use health information
application embedded in SNIC and extends better understanding on
the relevant factors that the government and the application providers
would need to consider in predicting citizens’ new technology
acceptance in the future. We propose a conceptual framework by
combining the UTAUT2 and Privacy Calculus Model constructs and
also adding perceived credibility as a new variable. The proposed
framework may provide assistance to any government planning,
decision, and policy makers involving e-government projects.
Empirical study may be conducted in the future to provide proof and
empirically validate this I-P framework.
Abstract: The purpose of this project is to carry out an analysis
and determine the profile of actual lean manufacturing processes in
the Metropolitan Area of Bucaramanga. Through the analysis of
qualitative and quantitative variables it was possible to establish how
these manufacturers develop production practices that ensure their
competitiveness and productivity in the market.
In this study, a random sample of metallurgic and wrought iron
companies was applied, following which a quantitative focus and
analysis was used to formulate a qualitative methodology for
measuring the level of lean manufacturing procedures in the industry.
A qualitative evaluation was also carried out through a multivariate
analysis using the Numerical Taxonomy System (NTSYS) program
which should allow for the determination of Lean Manufacturing
profiles.
Through the results it was possible to observe how the companies
in the sector are doing with respect to Lean Manufacturing Practices,
as well as identify the level of management that these companies
practice with respect to this topic. In addition, it was possible to
ascertain that there is no one dominant profile in the sector when it
comes to Lean Manufacturing.
It was established that the companies in the metallurgic and
wrought iron industry show low levels of Lean Manufacturing
implementation. Each one carries out diverse actions that are
insufficient to consolidate a sectoral strategy for developing a
competitive advantage which enables them to tie together a
production strategy.
Abstract: reliability-based methodology for the assessment
and evaluation of reinforced concrete (R/C) structural elements of
concrete structures is presented herein. The results of the reliability
analysis and assessment for R/C structural elements were verified by
the results obtained through deterministic methods. The outcomes of
the reliability-based analysis were compared against currently
adopted safety limits that are incorporated in the reliability indices
β’s, according to international standards and codes. The methodology
is based on probabilistic analysis using reliability concepts and
statistics of the main random variables that are relevant to the subject
matter, and for which they are to be used in the performance-function
equation(s) associated with the structural elements under study.
These methodology techniques can result in reliability index β, which
is commonly known as the reliability index or reliability measure
value that can be utilized to assess and evaluate the safety, human
risk, and functionality of the structural component. Also, these
methods can result in revised partial safety factor values for certain
target reliability indices that can be used for the purpose of
redesigning the R/C elements of the building and in which they could
assist in considering some other remedial actions to improve the
safety and functionality of the member.
Abstract: The effect of trucks on the level of service is
determined by considering passenger car equivalents (PCE) of trucks.
The current version of Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) uses a
single PCE value for all tucks combined. However, the composition
of truck traffic varies from location to location; therefore, a single
PCE value for all trucks may not correctly represent the impact of
truck traffic at specific locations. Consequently, present study
developed separate PCE values for single-unit and combination
trucks to replace the single value provided in the HCM on different
freeways. Site specific PCE values, were developed using concept of
spatial lagging headways (that is the distance between rear bumpers
of two vehicles in a traffic stream) measured from field traffic data.
The study used data from four locations on a single urban freeway
and three different rural freeways in Indiana. Three-stage-leastsquares
(3SLS) regression techniques were used to generate models
that predicted lagging headways for passenger cars, single unit trucks
(SUT), and combination trucks (CT). The estimated PCE values for
single-unit and combination truck for basic urban freeways (level
terrain) were: 1.35 and 1.60, respectively. For rural freeways the
estimated PCE values for single-unit and combination truck were:
1.30 and 1.45, respectively. As expected, traffic variables such as
vehicle flow rates and speed have significant impacts on vehicle
headways. Study results revealed that the use of separate PCE values
for different truck classes can have significant influence on the LOS
estimation.
Abstract: The effect of Zn2+, Mg2+, and Ba2+ on Saccharomyces
pastorianus performance was evaluated in this study at independent
and three variable combinations. After 96 h of fermentation, high
wort fermentability (%F) = 29.53 was obtained in medium containing
900:4 ppm Mg2+ + Ba2+. Increased ethanol yield 7.35 %(v/v) and
7.13 %(v/v) were obtained in media containing 900:4 ppm Mg2+ +
Ba2+ and 12:900 ppm Zn2+ + Mg2+. Decrease %F = 22.54 and ethanol
yield 6.18 % (v/v) was obtained in medium containing 12:4 ppm Zn2+
+ Ba2+. In media containing the individual ions, increased %F =
27.94 and 26.03 were recorded for media containing 700 ppm Mg2+
and 2 ppm Ba2+ , with ethanol yield of 7.88% (v/v) and 7.62% (v/v)
respectively. Reduced %F and ethanol yield was observed for 10 ppm
Zn2+ and 4 ppm Ba2+ media. The impact of Ba2+ at 1 and 2 ppm was
significant.
Abstract: The European Union Survey on Income and Living
Conditions (EU-SILC) is a popular survey which provides
information on income, poverty, social exclusion and living
conditions of households and individuals in the European Union.
The EU-SILC contains variables which may contain outliers. The
presence of outliers can have an impact on the measures and
indicators used by the EU-SILC. In this paper, we used data sets
from various countries to analyze the presence of outliers. In addition,
we obtain some indicators after removing these outliers, and a
comparison between both situations can be observed. Finally, some
conclusions are obtained.
Abstract: The relationship between eigenstructure (eigenvalues
and eigenvectors) and latent structure (latent roots and latent vectors)
is established. In control theory eigenstructure is associated with
the state space description of a dynamic multi-variable system and
a latent structure is associated with its matrix fraction description.
Beginning with block controller and block observer state space forms
and moving on to any general state space form, we develop the
identities that relate eigenvectors and latent vectors in either direction.
Numerical examples illustrate this result. A brief discussion of the
potential of these identities in linear control system design follows.
Additionally, we present a consequent result: a quick and easy
method to solve the polynomial eigenvalue problem for regular matrix
polynomials.
Abstract: During welding, the amount of heat present in weld
zones determines the quality of weldment produced. Thus, the heat
distribution characteristics and its magnitude in weld zones with
respect to process variables such as tool pin-shoulder rotational and
traveling speed during welding is analyzed using thermal finite
element analyses method. For this purpose, transient thermal finite
element analyses are performed to model the temperatures
distribution and its quantities in weld-zones with respect to process
variables such as rotational speed and traveling speed during welding.
Commercially available software Altair HyperWork is used to model
three-dimensional tool pin-shoulder vs. workpieces and to simulate
the friction stir process. The results show that increasing tool
rotational speed, at a constant traveling speed, will increase the
amount of heat generated in weld-zones. In contrary, increasing
traveling speed, at constant tool pin-shoulder rotational speeds, will
reduce the amount of heat generated in weld zones.
Abstract: Recent perceived climate variability raises concerns
with unprecedented hydrological phenomena and extremes.
Distribution and circulation of the waters of the Earth become
increasingly difficult to determine because of additional uncertainty
related to anthropogenic emissions. The world wide observed
changes in the large-scale hydrological cycle have been related to an
increase in the observed temperature over several decades. Although
the effect of change in climate on hydrology provides a general
picture of possible hydrological global change, new tools and
frameworks for modelling hydrological series with nonstationary
characteristics at finer scales, are required for assessing climate
change impacts. Of the downscaling techniques, dynamic
downscaling is usually based on the use of Regional Climate Models
(RCMs), which generate finer resolution output based on atmospheric
physics over a region using General Circulation Model (GCM) fields
as boundary conditions. However, RCMs are not expected to capture
the observed spatial precipitation extremes at a fine cell scale or at a
basin scale. Statistical downscaling derives a statistical or empirical
relationship between the variables simulated by the GCMs, called
predictors, and station-scale hydrologic variables, called predictands.
The main focus of the paper is on the need for using statistical
downscaling techniques for projection of local hydrometeorological
variables under climate change scenarios. The projections can be then
served as a means of input source to various hydrologic models to
obtain streamflow, evapotranspiration, soil moisture and other
hydrological variables of interest.