Abstract: This technical contribution treats of a novel approach
to condition-oriented maintenance as elaborated by Collaborative
Research Centre 653 at the Leibniz University in Hanover. The
objective resides in the targeted analysis of information about a
component's lifecycle for maintenance purposes. The information in
question is collected by means of the Collaborative Research Centre's
innovative technologies. This enables preventive maintenance of
components on the basis of their condition. This contribution initially
explains condition-oriented maintenance, before introducing the
Collaborative Research Centre and finally presenting the
methodology for analyzing the information. The current state of
development is described and an outlook provided for expanding the
methodology.
Abstract: The development of active and stable catalysts
without noble metals for low temperature oxidation of exhaust gases
remains a significant challenge. The purpose of this study is to
determine the influence of the preparation method on the catalytic
activity of the supported copper-manganese mixed oxides in terms of
VOCs oxidation. The catalysts were prepared by impregnation of γ-
Al2O3 with copper and manganese nitrates and acetates and the
possibilities for CO, CH3OH and dimethyl ether (DME) oxidation
were evaluated using continuous flow equipment with a four-channel
isothermal stainless steel reactor. Effect of the support, Cu/Mn mole
ratio, heat treatment of the precursor and active component loading
were investigated. Highly active alumina supported Cu-Mn catalysts
for CO and VOCs oxidation were synthesized. The effect of
preparation conditions on the activity behavior of the catalysts was
discussed.
The synergetic interaction between copper and manganese species
increases the activity for complete oxidation over mixed catalysts.
Type of support, calcination temperature and active component
loading along with catalyst composition are important factors,
determining catalytic activity. Cu/Mn molar ratio of 1:5, heat
treatment at 450oC and 20 % active component loading are the best
compromise for production of active catalyst for simultaneous
combustion of CO, CH3OH and DME.
Abstract: Stratified double extreme ranked set sampling
(SDERSS) method is introduced and considered for estimating the
population mean. The SDERSS is compared with the simple random
sampling (SRS), stratified ranked set sampling (SRSS) and stratified
simple set sampling (SSRS). It is shown that the SDERSS estimator
is an unbiased of the population mean and more efficient than the
estimators using SRS, SRSS and SSRS when the underlying
distribution of the variable of interest is symmetric or asymmetric.
Abstract: Recently, the green architecture becomes a
significant way to a sustainable future. Green building designs
involve finding the balance between comfortable homebuilding and
sustainable environment. Moreover, the utilization of the new
technologies such as artificial intelligence techniques are used to
complement current practices in creating greener structures to keep
the built environment more sustainable. The most common objectives
in green buildings should be designed to minimize the overall impact
of the built environment that effect on ecosystems in general and in
particularly human health and natural environment. This will lead to
protecting occupant health, improving employee productivity,
reducing pollution and sustaining the environmental. In green
building design, multiple parameters which may be interrelated,
contradicting, vague and of qualitative/quantitative nature are
broaden to use. This paper presents a comprehensive critical state- ofart-
review of current practices based on fuzzy and its combination
techniques. Also, presented how green architecture/building can be
improved using the technologies that been used for analysis to seek
optimal green solutions strategies and models to assist in making the
best possible decision out of different alternatives.
Abstract: The formulated problem of optimization of the
technological process of water treatment for thermal power plants is
considered in this article. The problem is of multiparametric nature.
To optimize the process, namely, reduce the amount of waste water, a
new technology was developed to reuse such water. A mathematical
model of the technology of wastewater reuse was developed.
Optimization parameters were determined. The model consists of a
material balance equation, an equation describing the kinetics of ion
exchange for the non-equilibrium case and an equation for the ion
exchange isotherm. The material balance equation includes a
nonlinear term that depends on the kinetics of ion exchange. A direct
problem of calculating the impurity concentration at the outlet of the
water treatment plant was numerically solved. The direct problem
was approximated by an implicit point-to-point computation
difference scheme. The inverse problem was formulated as relates to
determination of the parameters of the mathematical model of the
water treatment plant operating in non-equilibrium conditions. The
formulated inverse problem was solved. Following the results of
calculation the time of start of the filter regeneration process was
determined, as well as the period of regeneration process and the
amount of regeneration and wash water. Multi-parameter
optimization of water treatment process for thermal power plants
allowed decreasing the amount of wastewater by 15%.
Abstract: Neuroplasticity or the flexibility of the neural system
is the ability of the brain to adapt to the lack or deterioration of sense
and the capability of the neural system to modify itself through
changing shape and function. Not only have studies revealed that
neuroplasticity does not end in childhood, but also they have proven
that it continues till the end of life and is not limited to the neural
system and covers the cognitive system as well. In the field of
cognition, neuroplasticity is defined as the ability to change old
thoughts according to new conditions and the individuals' differences
in using various styles of cognitive regulation inducing several social,
emotional and cognitive outcomes. This paper attempts to discuss and
define major theories and principles of neuroplasticity and elaborate
on nature or nurture.
Abstract: Considering palm oil as non-drying oil owing to its
low iodine value, an attempt was taken to increase the unsaturation in
the fatty acid chains of palm oil for the preparation of alkyds. To
increase the unsaturation in the palm oil, sulphuric acid (SA) and
para-toluene sulphonic acid (PTSA) was used prior to alcoholysis for
the dehydration process. The iodine number of the oil samples was
checked for the unsaturation measurement by Wijs method. Alkyd
resin was prepared using the dehydrated palm oil by following
alcoholysis and esterification reaction. To improve the film properties
0.5wt.% multi-wall carbon nano tubes (MWCNTs) were used to
manufacture polymeric film. The properties of the resins were
characterized by various physico-chemical properties such as density,
viscosity, iodine value, saponification value, etc. Structural
elucidation was confirmed by Fourier transform of infrared
spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance; surfaces of the
films were examined by field-emission scanning electron microscope.
In addition, pencil hardness and chemical resistivity was also
measured by using standard methods. The effect of enhancement of
the unsaturation in the fatty acid chain found significant and
motivational. The resin prepared with dehydrated palm oil showed
improved properties regarding hardness and chemical resistivity
testing. The incorporation of MWCNTs enhanced the thermal
stability and hardness of the films as well.
Abstract: Within the framework of this research, the regulatory
documents, which are in force in relation to this industry, were
analyzed. The main attention is turned to their modernization and
necessity of their compliance with European standards.
It is a current issue to direct the efforts of state policy on support
of business by implementing infrastructural projects, as well as by
development of human resources, which may be possible by
supporting the relevant higher and vocational studying-educational
programs.
Abstract: Peace education supports a holistic appreciation for
the value of life and the interdependence of all living systems. Peace
education aims to build a culture of peace. One way of building a
culture of peace is through environmental stewardship. This study
sought to find out the environmental stewardship practices in selected
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines and how
these environmental stewardship practices lead to building a culture
of peace. The findings revealed that there is still room for
improvement in implementing environmental stewardship in schools
through academic service learning. In addition, the following
manifestations are implemented very satisfactorily in schools: 1)
waste reduction, reuse, and recycling, 2) community service, and 3)
clean and green surroundings. Administrators of schools in the study
lead their staff and students in implementing environmental
stewardship. It could be concluded that those involved in
environmental stewardship display an acceptable culture of peace,
particularly solidarity, respect for persons, and inner peace.
Abstract: Information technology and information systems are
currently at a tipping point. The digital age fundamentally transforms
a large number of industries in the ways they work. Lines between
business and technology blur. Researchers have acknowledged that
this is the time in which the IT/IS organisation needs to re-strategize
itself. In this paper, the author provides a structured review of the IS
and organisation design literature addressing the question of how the
digital age changes the design categories of an IT/IS organisation
design. The findings show that most papers just analyse single
aspects of either IT/IS relevant information or generic organisation
design elements but miss a holistic ‘big-picture’ onto an IT/IS
organisation design. This paper creates a holistic IT/IS organisation
design framework bringing together the IS research strand, the digital
strand and the generic organisation design strand. The research
identified four IT/IS organisation design categories (strategy,
structure, processes and people) and discusses the importance of two
additional categories (sourcing and governance). The authors findings
point to a first anchor point from which further research needs to be
conducted to develop a holistic IT/IS organisation design framework.
Abstract: Paraffinic oils were submitted to microbial action. The
microorganisms consisted of bacteria of the genera Pseudomonas sp.
and Bacillus lincheniforms. The alterations in interfacial tension were
determined using a tensometer and applying the hanging drop
technique at room temperature (299 K ±275 K). The alteration in the
constitution of the paraffins was evaluated by means of gas
chromatography. The microbial activity was observed to reduce
interfacial tension by 54 to 78%, as well as consuming the paraffins
C19 to C29 and producing paraffins C36 to C44. The LIFirr technique
made it possible to determine the microbial action quickly.
Abstract: If teamwork is the key to organizational learning,
productivity and growth, then, why do some teams succeed in
achieving these, while others falter at different stages? Building
teams in higher education institutions has been a challenge and an
open-ended constructivist approach was considered on an
experimental basis for this study to address this challenge. For this
research, teams of students from the MBA program were chosen to
study the effect of teamwork in learning, the motivation levels among
student team members, and the effect of collaboration in achieving
team goals. The teams were built on shared vision and goals,
cohesion was ensured, positive induction in the form of faculty
mentoring was provided for each participating team and the results
have been presented with conclusions and suggestions.
Abstract: Data mining idea is mounting rapidly in admiration
and also in their popularity. The foremost aspire of data mining
method is to extract data from a huge data set into several forms that
could be comprehended for additional use. The data mining is a
technology that contains with rich potential resources which could be
supportive for industries and businesses that pay attention to collect
the necessary information of the data to discover their customer’s
performances. For extracting data there are several methods are
available such as Classification, Clustering, Association,
Discovering, and Visualization… etc., which has its individual and
diverse algorithms towards the effort to fit an appropriate model to
the data. STATISTICA mostly deals with excessive groups of data
that imposes vast rigorous computational constraints. These results
trials challenge cause the emergence of powerful STATISTICA Data
Mining technologies. In this survey an overview of the STATISTICA
software is illustrated along with their significant features.
Abstract: This paper argues nation-building theories that
prioritize democratic governance best explain the successful postindependence
development of Botswana. Three main competing
schools of thought exist regarding the sequencing of policies that
should occur to re-build weakened or failed states. The first posits
that economic development should receive foremost attention, while
democratization and a binding sense of nationalism can wait. A
second group of experts identified constructing a sense of nationalism
among a populace is necessary first, so that the state receives popular
legitimacy and obedience that are prerequisites for development.
Botswana, though, transitioned into a multi-party democracy and
prosperous open economy due to the utilization of traditional
democratic structures, enlightened and accountable leadership, and an
educated technocratic civil service. With these political foundations
already in place when the discovery of diamonds occurred, the
resulting revenues were spent wisely on projects that grew the
economy, improved basic living standards, and attracted foreign
investment. Thus democratization preceded, and therefore provided
an accountable basis for, economic development that might otherwise
have been squandered by greedy and isolated elites to the detriment
of the greater population. Botswana was one of the poorest nations in
the world at the time of its independence in 1966, with little
infrastructure, a dependence on apartheid South Africa for trade, and
a largely subsistence economy. Over the next thirty years, though, its
economy grew the fastest of any nation in the world. The transparent
and judicious use of diamond returns is only a partial explanation, as
the government also pursued economic diversification, mass
education, and rural development in response to public needs.
As nation-building has become a project undertaken by nations
and multilateral agencies such as the United Nations and the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization, Botswana may provide best practices
that others should follow in attempting to reconstruct economically
and politically unstable states.
Abstract: Degradation of agricultural soils has increased rapidly
during the last 20 years due to the indiscriminate use of pesticides
and other anthropogenic activities. Currently, there is an urgent need
of soil restoration to increase agricultural production. Utilization of
sewage sludge or municipal solid waste is an important way to
recycle nutrient elements and improve soil quality. With these
amendments, nutrient availability in the aqueous phase might be
increased and production of healthier crops can be accomplished.
This research project aimed to achieve sustainable management of
tropical agricultural soils, specifically in Puerto Rico, through the
amendment of water treatment plant sludge’s. This practice avoids
landfill disposal of sewage sludge and at the same time results costeffective
practice for recycling solid waste residues. Coriander
sativum was cultivated in a compost-soil-sludge mixture at different
proportions. Results showed that Coriander grown in a mixture of
25% compost+50% Voladora soi+25% sludge had the best growth
and development. High chlorophyll content (33.01 ± 0.8) was
observed in Coriander plants cultivated in 25% compost+62.5%
Coloso soil+ 12.5% sludge compared to plants grown with no sludge
(32.59 ± 0.7). ICP-OES analysis showed variations in mineral
element contents (macro and micronutrients) in coriander plant
grown I soil amended with sludge and compost.
Abstract: The key role in phenomenological modelling of cyclic
plasticity is good understanding of stress-strain behaviour of given
material. There are many models describing behaviour of materials
using numerous parameters and constants. Combination of individual
parameters in those material models significantly determines whether
observed and predicted results are in compliance. Parameter
identification techniques such as random gradient, genetic algorithm
and sensitivity analysis are used for identification of parameters using
numerical modelling and simulation. In this paper genetic algorithm
and sensitivity analysis are used to study effect of 4 parameters of
modified AbdelKarim-Ohno cyclic plasticity model. Results
predicted by Finite Element (FE) simulation are compared with
experimental data from biaxial ratcheting test with semi-elliptical
loading path.
Abstract: This paper reports the numerical simulation of doublediffusive
natural convection flows within a horizontal annular filled
with a saturated porous medium. The analysis concerns the influence
of the different parameters governing the problem, namely, the
Rayleigh number Ra, the Lewis number Le and the buoyancy ratio N,
on the heat and mass transfer and on the flow structure, in the case of
a fixed radius ratio R = 2. The numerical model used for the
discretization of the dimensionless equations governing the problem
is based on the finite difference method, using the ADI scheme. The
study is focused on steady-state solutions in the cooperation situation.
Abstract: The value co-creation has gained much attention in
sales research, but less is known about how salespeople and
customers interact in the authentic business to business (B2B) sales
meetings. The study presented in this paper empirically contributes to
existing research by presenting authentic B2B sales meetings that
were video recorded and analyzed using observation and qualitative
content analysis methods. This paper aims to study key elements of
successful sales interactions between salespeople and customers/
buyers. This study points out that salespeople are selling value rather
than the products or services themselves, which are only enablers in
realizing business benefits. Therefore, our findings suggest that
promoting and easing open discourse is an essential part of a
successful sales encounter. A better understanding of how
salespeople and customers successfully interact would help
salespeople to develop their interpersonal sales skills.
Abstract: The objective of countercyclical capital buffer is to
encourage banks to build up buffers in good times that can be drawn
down in bad times. The aim of the report is to assess such decisions
by banks derived from three approaches. The approaches are the
aggregate credit-to-GDP ratio, credit growth as well as banking
sector profits. The approaches are implemented for Estonia, Latvia
and Lithuania for the time period 2000-2012. The report compares
three approaches and analyses their relevance to the Baltic States by
testing the correlation between a growth in studied variables and a
growth of corresponding gaps. Methods used in the empirical part of
the report are econometric analysis as well as economic analysis,
development indicators, relative and absolute indicators and other
methods. The research outcome is a cross-Baltic comparison of two
alternative approaches to establish or release a countercyclical capital
buffer by banks and their implications for each Baltic country.
Abstract: The effects of hypertension are often lethal thus its
early detection and prevention is very important for everybody. In
this paper, a neural network (NN) model was developed and trained
based on a dataset of hypertension causative parameters in order to
forecast the likelihood of occurrence of hypertension in patients. Our
research goal was to analyze the potential of the presented NN to
predict, for a period of time, the risk of hypertension or the risk of
developing this disease for patients that are or not currently
hypertensive. The results of the analysis for a given patient can
support doctors in taking pro-active measures for averting the
occurrence of hypertension such as recommendations regarding the
patient behavior in order to lower his hypertension risk. Moreover,
the paper envisages a set of three example scenarios in order to
determine the age when the patient becomes hypertensive, i.e.
determine the threshold for hypertensive age, to analyze what
happens if the threshold hypertensive age is set to a certain age and
the weight of the patient if being varied, and, to set the ideal weight
for the patient and analyze what happens with the threshold of
hypertensive age.