Abstract: The most important component affecting the
efficiency of photovoltaic power systems are solar panels. In other
words, efficiency of these systems are significantly affected due to
the being low efficiency of solar panel. Thus, solar panels should be
operated under maximum power point conditions through a power
converter. In this study, design of boost converter has been carried
out with maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm which is
incremental conductance (Inc-Cond). By using this algorithm,
importance of power converter in MPPT hardware design, impacts of
MPPT operation have been shown. It is worth noting that initial
operation point is the main criteria for determining the MPPT
performance. In addition, it is shown that if value of load resistance is
lower than critical value, failure operation is realized. For these
analyzes, direct duty control is used for simplifying the control.
Abstract: A feeding experiment was conducted to determine the
optimum dietary protein and lipid levels for juvenile fancy carp. Eight
experimental diets were formulated to contain four protein levels (200,
300, 400 and 500 g kg-1) with two lipid levels (70 and 140 g kg-1).
Triplicate groups of fish (initial weight, 12.1±0.2 g fish-1) were
hand-fed the diets to apparent satiation for 8 weeks. Fish growth
performance, feed utilization and feed intake were significantly
(P0.05). Weight gain and feed efficiency ratio tended to
increase as dietary protein level increased up to 400 and 500 g kg-1,
respectively. Daily feed intake of fish decreased with increasing
dietary protein level and that of fish fed diet contained 500 g kg-1
protein was significantly lower than other fish groups. The protein
efficiency ratio of fish fed 400 and 500 g kg-1 protein was lower than
that of fish fed 200 and 300 g kg-1 protein. Moisture, crude protein and
crude lipid contents of muscle and liver were significantly affected by
dietary protein, but not by dietary lipid level (P>0.05). The increase in
dietary lipid level resulted in an increase in linoleic acid in liver and
muscle paralleled with a decrease in n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids
content in muscle of fish. In considering these results, it was concluded
that the diet containing 400 g kg-1 protein with 70 g kg-1 lipid level is
optimal for growth and efficient feed utilization of juvenile fancy carp.
Abstract: Nowadays, the successful implementation of ICTs is
vital for almost any kind of organization. Good governance and ICT
management are essential for delivering value, managing
technological risks, managing resources and performance
measurement. In addition, outsourcing is a strategic IT service
solution which complements IT services provided internally in
organizations. This paper proposes the measurement tools of a new
holistic maturity model based on standards ISO/IEC 20000 and
ISO/IEC 38500, and the frameworks and best practices of ITIL and
COBIT, with a specific focus on IT outsourcing. These measurement
tools allow independent validation and practical application in the
field of higher education, using a questionnaire, metrics tables, and
continuous improvement plan tables as part of the measurement
process. Guidelines and standards are proposed in the model for
facilitating adaptation to universities and achieving excellence in the
outsourcing of IT services.
Abstract: Since large part of electricity is generated by using
fossil based resources, energy is an important agenda for countries. In
this context, renewable energy sources are alternative to conventional
sources due to the depletion of fossil resources, increasing awareness
of climate change and global warming concerns. Solar, wind and
hydropower energy are the main renewable energy sources. Among
of them, since installed capacity of wind power has increased
approximately eight times between 2008 - November of 2014, wind
energy is a promising source for Turkey. Furthermore, signing of
Kyoto Protocol can be accepted as a milestone for Turkey's energy
policy. Turkish Government has announced Vision 2023 (energy
targets by 2023) in 2010-2014 Strategic Plan prepared by Ministry of
Energy and Natural Resources (MENR). Energy targets in this plan
can be summarized as follows: Share of renewable energy sources in
electricity generation is 30% of total electricity generation by 2023.
Installed capacity of wind energy will be 20 GW by 2023. Other
renewable energy sources such as solar, hydropower and geothermal
are encouraged with new incentive mechanisms. Dependence on
foreign energy is reduced for sustainability and energy security. On
the other hand, since Turkey is surrounded by three coastal areas,
wind energy potential is convenient for wind power application. As
of November of 2014, total installed capacity of wind power plants is
3.51 GW and a lot of wind power plants are under construction with
capacity 1.16 GW. Turkish government also encourages the locally
manufactured equipments. In this context, one of the projects funded
by private sector, universities and TUBİTAK names as MILRES is
an important project aimed to promote the use wind energy in
electricity generation. Within this project, wind turbine with 500 kW
power has been produced and will be installed at the beginning of the
2015. After that, by using the experience obtained from the first
phase of the project, a wind turbine with 2.5 MW power will be
manufactured in an industrial scale.
Abstract: Due to water shortage, application of saline water for
irrigation is an urgent in agriculture. In this study the effect of
calcium and potassium application as additive in saline root media for
reduce salinity adverse effects was investigated on tomato growth in
a hydroponic system with unequal distribution of salts in the root
media, which was divided in to two equal parts containing full
Johnson nutrient solution and 40 mMNaCl solution, alone or in
combination with KCl (6 mM), CaCl2 (4 mM), K+Ca (3+2 mM) or
half-strength Johnson nutrient solution. The root splits were
exchanged every 7 days. Results showed that addition of calcium,
calcium-potassium and nutrition elements equivalent to half the
concentration of Johnson formula to the saline-half of culture media
minimized the reduction in plant growth caused by NaCl, although
addition of potassium to culture media wasn’t effective. The greatest
concentration of sodium was observed at the shoot of treatments
which had smallest growth. According to the results of this study, in
case of dynamic and non-uniform distribution of salts in the root
media, by addition of additive to the saline solution, it would be
possible to use of saline water with no significant growth reduction.
Abstract: Starting in 2020, an EU-wide CO2-limitation of
95 g/km is scheduled for the average of an OEMs passenger car fleet.
Taking that into consideration additional improvement measures of
the Diesel cycle are necessary in order to reduce fuel consumption
and emissions while boosting, or at the least, keeping performance
values at the same time.
The present article deals with the possibilities of an optimized
air/water charge air cooler, also called iCAC (indirect Charge Air
Cooler) for a Diesel passenger car amongst extreme-boundary
conditions. In this context, the precise objective was to show the
impact of improved intercooling with reference to the engine working
process (fuel consumption and NOx-emissions). Several extremeboundaries
- e.g. varying ambient temperatures or mountainous
routes - that will become very important in the near future regarding
RDE (Real Driving emissions) were subject of the investigation.
With the introduction of RDE in 2017 (EU6c measure), the
controversial NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) will belong to
the past and the OEMs will have to avoid harmful emissions in any
conceivable real life situation.
This is certainly going to lead to optimization-measurements at the
powertrain, which again is going to make the implementation of
iCACs, presently solely used for the premium class, more and more
attractive for compact class cars. The investigations showed a benefit
in FC between 1 and 3% for the iCAC in real world conditions.
Abstract: Water spray cooling is a technique typically used in
heat treatment and other metallurgical processes where controlled
temperature regimes are required. Water spray cooling is used in
static (without movement) or dynamic (with movement of the steel
plate) regimes. The static regime is notable for the fixed position of
the hot steel plate and fixed spray nozzle. This regime is typical for
quenching systems focused on heat treatment of the steel plate. The
second application of spray cooling is the dynamic regime. The
dynamic regime is notable for its static section cooling system and
moving steel plate. This regime is used in rolling and finishing mills.
The fixed position of cooling sections with nozzles and the
movement of the steel plate produce nonhomogeneous water
distribution on the steel plate. The length of cooling sections and
placement of water nozzles in combination with the nonhomogeneity
of water distribution lead to discontinued or interrupted cooling
conditions. The impact of static and dynamic regimes on cooling
intensity and the heat transfer coefficient during the cooling process
of steel plates is an important issue.
Heat treatment of steel is accompanied by oxide scale growth. The
oxide scale layers can significantly modify the cooling properties and
intensity during the cooling. The combination of static and dynamic
(section) regimes with the variable thickness of the oxide scale layer
on the steel surface impact the final cooling intensity. The study of
the influence of the oxide scale layers with different cooling regimes
was carried out using experimental measurements and numerical
analysis. The experimental measurements compared both types of
cooling regimes and the cooling of scale-free surfaces and oxidized
surfaces. A numerical analysis was prepared to simulate the cooling
process with different conditions of the section and samples with
different oxide scale layers.
Abstract: Given the importance of ports as links in the global
supply chains and because they are key elements to induce
competitiveness in their hinterlands, the number of studies devoted to
port governance, management and operations has increased in the last
decades. Some of these studies address the port governance model as
an element to improve coordination among the actors of the portlogistics
chain and to generate a better port performance. In this
context, the present study analyzes the governance of Port of Santos
through individual interviews with port managers, based on a
conceptual model that considers the key dimensions associated with
port governance. The results reinforce the usefulness of the applied
model and highlight some existing improvement opportunities in the
port studied.
Abstract: Strong anion exchange resins with QN+OH-, have the
potential to be developed and employed as heterogeneous catalyst for
transesterification, as they are chemically stable to leaching of the
functional group. Nine different SIERs (SIER1-9) with QN+OH-were
prepared by suspension polymerization of vinylbenzyl chloridedivinylbenzene
(VBC-DVB) copolymers in the presence of n-heptane
(pore-forming agent). The amine group was successfully grafted into
the polymeric resin beads through functionalization with
trimethylamine. These SIERs are then used as a catalyst for the
transesterification of triacetin with methanol. A set of differential
equations that represents the Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-
Watson (LHHW) and Eley-Rideal (ER) models for the
transesterification reaction were developed. These kinetic models of
LHHW and ER were fitted to the experimental data. Overall, the
synthesized ion exchange resin-catalyzed reaction were welldescribed
by the Eley-Rideal model compared to LHHW models,
with sum of square error (SSE) of 0.742 and 0.996, respectively.
Abstract: Currently, thorium fuel has been especially noticed
because of its proliferation resistance than long half-life alpha emitter
minor actinides, breeding capability in fast and thermal neutron flux
and mono-isotopic naturally abundant. In recent years, efficiency of
minor actinide burning up in PWRs has been investigated. Hence, a
minor actinide-contained thorium based fuel matrix can confront both
proliferation resistance and nuclear waste depletion aims. In the
present work, minor actinide depletion rate in a CANDU-type nuclear
core modeled using MCNP code has been investigated. The obtained
effects of minor actinide load as mixture of thorium fuel matrix on
the core neutronics has been studied with comparing presence and
non-presence of minor actinide component in the fuel matrix.
Depletion rate of minor actinides in the MA-contained fuel has been
calculated using different power loads. According to the obtained
computational data, minor actinide loading in the modeled core
results in more negative reactivity coefficients. The MA-contained
fuel achieves less radial peaking factor in the modeled core. The
obtained computational results showed 140 kg of 464 kg initial load
of minor actinide has been depleted in during a 6-year burn up in 10
MW power.
Abstract: Particles exhausted from cars have adverse impacts on
human health. The study developed a three-dimensional particle
dispersion numerical model including particle coagulation to simulate
the particle concentration distribution under idling conditions in a
residential underground garage. The simulation results demonstrate
that particle disperses much faster in the vertical direction than that in
horizontal direction. The enhancement of particle dispersion in the
vertical direction due to the increase of cars with engine running is
much stronger than that in the car exhaust direction. Particle dispersion
from each pair of adjacent cars has little influence on each other in the
study. Average particle concentration after 120 seconds exhaust is
1.8-4.5 times higher than the initial total particles at ambient
environment. Particle pollution in the residential underground garage
is severe.
Abstract: Factors affecting construction unit cost vary
depending on a country’s political, economic, social and
technological inclinations. Factors affecting construction costs have
been studied from various perspectives. Analysis of cost factors
requires an appreciation of a country’s practices. Identified cost
factors provide an indication of a country’s construction economic
strata. The purpose of this paper is to identify the essential factors
that affect unit cost estimation and their breakdown using artificial
neural networks. Twenty five (25) identified cost factors in road
construction were subjected to a questionnaire survey and employing
SPSS factor analysis the factors were reduced to eight. The 8 factors
were analysed using neural network (NN) to determine the
proportionate breakdown of the cost factors in a given construction
unit rate. NN predicted that political environment accounted 44% of
the unit rate followed by contractor capacity at 22% and financial
delays, project feasibility and overhead & profit each at 11%. Project
location, material availability and corruption perception index had
minimal impact on the unit cost from the training data provided.
Quantified cost factors can be incorporated in unit cost estimation
models (UCEM) to produce more accurate estimates. This can create
improvements in the cost estimation of infrastructure projects and
establish a benchmark standard to assist the process of alignment of
work practises and training of new staff, permitting the on-going
development of best practises in cost estimation to become more
effective.
Abstract: This paper presents a new structure of microstrip band
pass filter (BPF) based on coupled stepped impedance resonators.
Each filter consists of two coupled stepped impedance resonators
connected to microstrip feed lines. The coupled junction is utilized to
connect the two BPFs to the antenna. This two band pass filters are
designed and simulated to operate for the digital communication
system (DCS) and Industrial Scientific and Medical (ISM) bands at
1.8 GHz and 2.45 GHz respectively. The proposed circuit presents
good performances with an insertion loss lower than 2.3 dB and
isolation between the two channels greater than 21 dB. The prototype
of the optimized diplexer have been investigated numerically by
using ADS Agilent and verified with CST microwave software.
Abstract: Carbon fiber reinforced polymersarewidely used to strengthen steel structural elements. These structural elements are normally subjected to static, dynamic and fatigue loadings during their life-time. CFRP laminate is commonly used to strengthen these structures under the subjected loads. A number of studies have focused on the characteristics of CFRP sheets bonded to steel members under static, dynamic and fatigue loadings. However, there is a gap in understanding the bonding behavior between CFRP laminates and steel members under impact loading. This paper shows the effect of high load rates on this bond. CFRP laminate CFK 150/2000 was used to strengthen steel joints using Araldite 420 epoxy. The results show that applying a high load rate significantly affects the bond strength but has little influence on the effective bond length.
Abstract: In this study, attempt has been made to investigate the
relationship specifically the causal relation between fund unit prices
of Islamic equity unit trust fund which measure by fund NAV and the
selected macro-economic variables of Malaysian economy by using
VECM causality test and Granger causality test. Monthly data has
been used from Jan, 2006 to Dec, 2012 for all the variables. The
findings of the study showed that industrial production index,
political election and financial crisis are the only variables having
unidirectional causal relationship with fund unit price. However the
global oil price is having bidirectional causality with fund NAV.
Thus, it is concluded that the equity unit trust fund industry in
Malaysia is an inefficient market with respect to the industrial
production index, global oil prices, political election and financial
crisis. However the market is approaching towards informational
efficiency at least with respect to four macroeconomic variables,
treasury bill rate, money supply, foreign exchange rate, and
corruption index.
Abstract: Climate change confronts the built environment with
many new challenges in the form of more severe and frequent hydrometeorological
events. A series of strategies is proposed whereby the
various aspects of buildings and their sites can be made more resilient
to the effects of such events.
Abstract: There exists some time lag between the consumption of
inputs and the production of outputs. This time lag effect should be
considered in calculating efficiency of decision making units (DMU).
Recently, a couple of DEA models were developed for considering
time lag effect in efficiency evaluation of research activities. However,
these models can’t discriminate efficient DMUs because of the nature
of basic DEA model in which efficiency scores are limited to ‘1’. This
problem can be resolved a super-efficiency model. However, a super
efficiency model sometimes causes infeasibility problem. This paper
suggests an output oriented super-efficiency model for efficiency
evaluation under the consideration of time lag effect. A case example
using a long term research project is given to compare the suggested
model with the MpO model.
Abstract: Developing young people’s employability is a key
policy issue for ensuring their successful transition to the labour
market and their access to career oriented employment. The youths of
today irrespective of their gender need to acquire the knowledge,
skills and attitudes that will enable them to create or find jobs as well
as cope with unpredictable labour market changes throughout their
working lives. In a study carried out to determine the influence of
gender on job-competencies requirements of chemical-based
industries and undergraduate-competencies acquisition by chemists
working in the industries, all chemistry graduates working in twenty
(20) chemical-based industries that were randomly selected from six
sectors of chemical-based industries in Lagos and Ogun States of
Nigeria were administered with Job-competencies required and
undergraduate-competencies acquired assessment questionnaire. The
data were analysed using means and independent sample t-test. The
findings revealed that the population of female chemists working in
chemical-based industries is low compared with the number of male
chemists; furthermore, job-competencies requirements are found not
to be gender biased while there is no significant difference in
undergraduate-competencies acquisition of male and female
chemists. This suggests that females should be given the same
opportunity of employment in chemical-based industries as their male
counterparts. The study also revealed the level of acquisition of
undergraduate competencies as related to the needs of chemicalbased
industries.
Abstract: In this paper, effect of marginal quality groundwater
on yield of cotton crop and soil salinity was studied. In this
connection, three irrigation treatments each with four replications
were applied. These treatments were i) use of canal water (T1), ii) use
of marginal quality groundwater from tubewell (T2), and iii)
conjunctive use by mixing with the ratio of 1:1 of canal water and
marginal quality tubewell water (T3).
Water was applied to the crop cultivated in Kharif season 2011; its
quantity has been measured using cut-throat flume. Total 11 watering
each of 50 mm depth have been applied from 20th April to 20th July,
2011. Further, irrigations were stopped due to monsoon rainfall up to
crop harvesting.
Maximum crop yield (seed cotton) was observed under T1 which
was 1,517 kg/ha followed by T3 (mixed canal and tubewell water)
having 1009 kg/ha and T2 i.e. marginal quality groundwater having
709 kg/ha. This concludes that crop yield in T2 and T3 in comparison
to T1was reduced by about 53 and 30% respectively.
It has been observed that yield of cotton crop is below potential
limit for three treatments due to unexpected rainfall at the time of full
flowering season; thus the yield was adversely affected.
However, salt deposition in soil profiles was not observed that is
due to leaching effect of heavy rainfall occurred during monsoon
season.
Abstract: In this study which has been conducted in Akçasu
Forest Range District of Devrek Forest Directorate; 3 methods (weed
control with labourer power, cover removal with Hitachi F20
Excavator, and weed control with agricultural equipment mounted on
a Ferguson 240S agriculture tractor) were utilized in weed control
efforts in regeneration of degraded oriental beech forests have been
compared. In this respect, 3 methods have been compared by
determining certain work hours and standard durations of unit areas
(1 hectare). For this purpose, evaluating the tasks made with human
and machine force from the aspects of duration, productivity and
costs, it has been aimed to determine the most productive method in
accordance with the actual ecological conditions of research field.
Within the scope of the study, the time studies have been conducted
for 3 methods used in weed control efforts. While carrying out those
studies, the performed implementations have been evaluated by
dividing them into business stages. Also, the actual data have been
used while calculating the cost accounts. In those calculations, the
latest formulas and equations which are also used in developed
countries have been utilized. The variance of analysis (ANOVA) was
used in order to determine whether there is any statistically
significant difference among obtained results, and the Duncan test
was used for grouping if there is significant difference. According to
the measurements and findings carried out within the scope of this
study, it has been found during living cover removal efforts in
regeneration efforts in demolished oriental beech forests that the
removal of weed layer in 1 hectare of field has taken 920 hours with
labourer force, 15.1 hours with excavator and 60 hours with an
equipment mounted on a tractor. On the other hand, it has been
determined that the cost of removal of living cover in unit area (1
hectare) was 3220.00 TL for labourer power, 1250 TL for excavator
and 1825 TL for equipment mounted on a tractor.
According to the obtained results, it has been found that the
utilization of excavator in weed control effort in regeneration of
degraded oriental beech regions under actual ecological conditions of
research field has been found to be more productive from both of
aspects of duration and costs. These determinations carried out
should be repeated in weed control efforts in degraded forest fields
with different ecological conditions, it is compulsory for finding the
most efficient weed control method. These findings will light the way
of technical staff of forestry directorate in determination of the most
effective and economic weed control method. Thus, the more actual
data will be used while preparing the weed control budgets, and there
will be significant contributions to national economy. Also the results of this and similar studies are very important for developing the policies for our forestry in short and long term.