Abstract: In this study, the designed dual stage membrane
bioreactor (MBR) system was conceptualized for the treatment of
cyanide and heavy metals in electroplating wastewater. The design
consisted of a primary treatment stage to reduce the impact of
fluctuations and the secondary treatment stage to remove the residual
cyanide and heavy metal contaminants in the wastewater under
alkaline pH conditions. The primary treatment stage contained
hydrolyzed Citrus sinensis (C. sinensis) pomace and the secondary
treatment stage contained active Aspergillus awamori (A. awamori)
biomass, supplemented solely with C. sinensis pomace extract from
the hydrolysis process. An average of 76.37%, 95.37%, 93.26 and
94.76% and 99.55%, 99.91%, 99.92% and 99.92% degradation
efficiency for total cyanide (T-CN), including the sorption of nickel
(Ni), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were observed after the first and
second treatment stages, respectively. Furthermore, cyanide
conversion by-products degradation was 99.81% and 99.75 for both
formate (CHOO-) and ammonium (NH4
+) after the second treatment
stage. After the first, second and third regeneration cycles of the C.
sinensis pomace in the first treatment stage, Ni, Zn and Cu removal
achieved was 99.13%, 99.12% and 99.04% (first regeneration cycle),
98.94%, 98.92% and 98.41% (second regeneration cycle) and 98.46
%, 98.44% and 97.91% (third regeneration cycle), respectively.
There was relatively insignificant standard deviation detected in all
the measured parameters in the system which indicated
reproducibility of the remediation efficiency in this continuous
system.
Abstract: Fixed-bed slow pyrolysis experiments of rice husk
have been conducted to determine the effect of pyrolysis
temperature, heating rate, particle size and reactor length on the
pyrolysis product yields. Pyrolysis experiments were performed at
pyrolysis temperature between 400 and 600°C with a constant
heating rate of 60°C/min and particle sizes of 0.60-1.18 mm. The
optimum process conditions for maximum liquid yield from the rice
husk pyrolysis in a fixed bed reactor were also identified. The highest
liquid yield was obtained at a pyrolysis temperature of 500°C,
particle size of
1.18-1.80 mm, with a heating rate of 60°C/min in a 300 mm length
reactor. The obtained yield of, liquid, gas and solid were found be in
the range of 22.57-31.78 %, 27.75-42.26 % and 34.17-42.52 % (all
weight basics) respectively at different pyrolysis conditions. The
results indicate that the effects of pyrolysis temperature and particle
size on the pyrolysis yield are more significant than that of heating
rate and reactor length. The functional groups and chemical
compositions present in the liquid obtained at optimum conditions
were identified by Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy
and Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectroscopy (GC/MS) analysis
respectively.
Abstract: The design requirements for successful human
accommodation in urban spaces are well known; and the range of
facilities available for meeting urban water quality and quantity
requirements is also well established. Their competing requirements
must be reconciled in order for urban spaces to be successful for
both. This paper outlines the separate human and water imperatives
and their interactions in urban spaces. Stormwater management
facilities- relative potential contributions to urban spaces are
contrasted, and design choices for achieving those potentials are
described. This study uses human success of urban space as the
evaluative criterion of stormwater amenity: human values call on
stormwater facilities to contribute to successful human spaces.
Placing water-s contribution under the overall idea of successful
urban space is an evolution from previous subjective evaluations.
The information is based on photographs and notes from
approximately 1,000 stormwater facilities and urban sites collected
during the last 35 years in North America and overseas, and the
author-s experience on multi-disciplinary design teams. This
conceptual study combines the disciplinary roles of engineering,
landscape architecture, and sociology in effecting successful urban
design.
Abstract: Determination of nano particle size is substantial since
the nano particle size exerts a significant effect on various properties
of nano materials. Accordingly, proposing non-destructive, accurate
and rapid techniques for this aim is of high interest. There are some
conventional techniques to investigate the morphology and grain size
of nano particles such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM),
atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD).
Vibrational spectroscopy is utilized to characterize different
compounds and applied for evaluation of the average particle size
based on relationship between particle size and near infrared spectra
[1,4] , but it has never been applied in quantitative morphological
analysis of nano materials. So far, the potential application of nearinfrared
(NIR) spectroscopy with its ability in rapid analysis of
powdered materials with minimal sample preparation, has been
suggested for particle size determination of powdered
pharmaceuticals. The relationship between particle size and diffuse
reflectance (DR) spectra in near infrared region has been applied to
introduce a method for estimation of particle size. Back propagation
artificial neural network (BP-ANN) as a nonlinear model was applied
to estimate average particle size based on near infrared diffuse
reflectance spectra. Thirty five different nano TiO2 samples with
different particle size were analyzed by DR-FTNIR spectrometry and
the obtained data were processed by BP- ANN.
Abstract: The Japanese integrative approach to social systems
can be observed in supply chain management as well as in the
relationship between public and private sectors. Both the Lean
Production System and the Developmental State Model are
characterized by efforts towards the achievement of mutual goals,
resulting in initiatives for capacity building which emphasize the
system level. In Brazil, although organizations undertake efforts to
build capabilities at the individual and organizational levels, the
system level is being neglected. Fieldwork data confirmed the findings
of other studies in terms of the lack of integration in supply chain
management in the Brazilian automobile industry. Moreover, due to
the absence of an active role of the Brazilian state in its relationship
with the private sector, automakers are not fully exploiting the
opportunities in the domestic and regional markets. For promoting a
higher level of economic growth as well as to increase the degree of
spill-over of technologies and techniques, a more integrative approach
is needed.
Abstract: The Major Depressive Disorder has been a burden of
medical expense in Taiwan as well as the situation around the world.
Major Depressive Disorder can be defined into different categories by
previous human activities. According to machine learning, we can
classify emotion in correct textual language in advance. It can help
medical diagnosis to recognize the variance in Major Depressive
Disorder automatically. Association language incremental is the
characteristic and relationship that can discovery words in sentence.
There is an overlapping-category problem for classification. In this
paper, we would like to improve the performance in classification in
principle of no overlapping-category problems. We present an
approach that to discovery words in sentence and it can find in high
frequency in the same time and can-t overlap in each category, called
Association Language Features by its Category (ALFC).
Experimental results show that ALFC distinguish well in Major
Depressive Disorder and have better performance. We also compare
the approach with baseline and mutual information that use single
words alone or correlation measure.
Abstract: A virtual collaborative classroom was created at East Carolina University, using videoconference technology via regular internet to bring students from 18 different countries, 2 at a time, to the ECU classroom in real time to learn about each other-s culture. Students from two countries are partnered one on one, they meet for 4-5 weeks, and submit a joint paper. Then the same process is repeated for two other countries. Lectures and student discussions are managed with pre-determined topics and questions. Classes are conducted in English and reading assignments are placed on the website. Administratively all partners are independent, students pay fees and get credits at their home institution. Familiarity with technology, knowledge in cultural understanding and attitude change were assessed, only attitude changes are reported in this paper. After taking this course, all students stated their comfort level in working with, and their desire to interact with, culturally different others grew stronger and their xenophobia and isolationist attitudes decreased.
Abstract: A DEA model can generally evaluate the performance
using multiple inputs and outputs for the same period. However, it is
hard to avoid the production lead time phenomenon some times, such
as long-term project or marketing activity. A couple of models have
been suggested to capture this time lag issue in the context of DEA.
This paper develops a dual-MPO model to deal with time lag effect in
evaluating efficiency. A numerical example is also given to show that
the proposed model can be used to get efficiency and reference set of
inefficient DMUs and to obtain projected target value of input
attributes for inefficient DMUs to be efficient.
Abstract: This study adopted previous fault patterns, results of
detection analysis, historical records and data, and experts-
experiences to establish fuzzy principles and estimate the failure
probability index of components of a power transformer. Considering
that actual parameters and limiting conditions of parameters may
differ, this study used the standard data of IEC, IEEE, and CIGRE as
condition parameters. According to the characteristics of each
condition parameter, relative degradation was introduced to reflect the
degree of influence of the factors on the transformer condition. The
method of fuzzy mathematics was adopted to determine the
subordinate function of the transformer condition. The calculation
used the Matlab Fuzzy Tool Box to select the condition parameters of
coil winding, iron core, bushing, OLTC, insulating oil and other
auxiliary components and factors (e.g., load records, performance
history, and maintenance records) of the transformer to establish the
fuzzy principles. Examples were presented to support the rationality
and effectiveness of the evaluation method of power transformer
performance conditions, as based on fuzzy comprehensive evaluation.
Abstract: We have investigated the effect of piezoelectric (PZ)
polarization property in binary as well as in ternary wurtzite nitrides.
It is found that with the presence of PZ polarization property, the
phonon group velocity is modified. The change in phonon group
velocity due to PZ polarization effect directly depends on
piezoelectric tensor value. Using different piezoelectric tensor values
recommended by different workers in the literature, percent change in
group velocities of phonons has been estimated. The Debye
temperatures and frequencies of binary nitrides GaN, AlN and InN
are also calculated using the modified group velocities. For ternary
nitrides AlxGa(1-x)N, InxGa(1-x)N and InxAl(1-x)N, the phonon group
velocities have been calculated as a functions of composition. A
small positive bowing is observed in phonon group velocities of
ternary alloys. Percent variations in phonon group velocities are also
calculated for a straightforward comparison among ternary nitrides.
The results are expected to show a change in phonon relaxation rates
and thermal conductivity of III-nitrides when piezoelectric
polarization property is taken into consideration.
Abstract: The effect of the rotational speed and axial torque on
the diagnostics of tapered rolling element bearing defects was
investigated. The accelerometer was mounted on the bearing housing
and connected to Sound and Vibration Analyzer (SVAN 958) and
was used to measure the accelerations from the bearing housing. The
data obtained from the bearing was processed to detect damage of the
bearing using statistical tools and the results were subsequently
analyzed to see if bearing damage had been captured. From this study
it can be seen that damage is more evident when the bearing is
loaded. Also, at the incipient stage of damage the crest factor and
kurtosis values are high but as time progresses the crest factors and
kurtosis values decrease whereas the peak and RMS values are low at
the incipient stage but increase with damage.
Abstract: How to effectively allocate system resource to process
the Client request by Gateway servers is a challenging problem. In
this paper, we propose an improved scheme for autonomous
performance of Gateway servers under highly dynamic traffic loads.
We devise a methodology to calculate Queue Length and Waiting
Time utilizing Gateway Server information to reduce response time
variance in presence of bursty traffic. The most widespread
contemplation is performance, because Gateway Servers must offer
cost-effective and high-availability services in the elongated period,
thus they have to be scaled to meet the expected load. Performance
measurements can be the base for performance modeling and
prediction. With the help of performance models, the performance
metrics (like buffer estimation, waiting time) can be determined at
the development process. This paper describes the possible queue
models those can be applied in the estimation of queue length to
estimate the final value of the memory size. Both simulation and
experimental studies using synthesized workloads and analysis of
real-world Gateway Servers demonstrate the effectiveness of the
proposed system.
Abstract: Direct conversion of methane to methanol by partial oxidation in a thermal reactor has a poor yield of about 2% which is less than the expected economical yield of about 10%. Conventional thermal catalytic reactors have been proposed to be superseded by plasma reactors as a promising approach, due to strength of the electrical energy which can break C-H bonds of methane. Among the plasma techniques, non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma chemical process is one of the most future promising technologies in synthesizing methanol. The purpose of this paper is presenting a brief review of CH4 oxidation with O2 in DBD plasma reactors based on the recent investigations. For this reason, the effect of various parameters of reactor configuration, feed ratio, applied voltage, residence time (gas flow rate), type of applied catalyst, pressure and reactor wall temperature on methane conversion and methanol selectivity are discussed.
Abstract: The problem of exponential stability and periodicity for a class of cellular neural networks (DCNNs) with time-varying delays is investigated. By dividing the network state variables into subgroups according to the characters of the neural networks, some sufficient conditions for exponential stability and periodicity are derived via the methods of variation parameters and inequality techniques. These conditions are represented by some blocks of the interconnection matrices. Compared with some previous methods, the method used in this paper does not resort to any Lyapunov function, and the results derived in this paper improve and generalize some earlier criteria established in the literature cited therein. Two examples are discussed to illustrate the main results.
Abstract: Irradiation is considered one of the most efficient technological processes for the reduction of microorganisms in food. It can be used to improve the safety of food products, and to extend their shelf lives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of gamma irradiation for improvement of saffron shelf life. Samples were treated with 0 (none irradiated), 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 kGy of gamma irradiation and held for 2 months. The control and irradiated samples were underwent microbial analysis, chemical characteristics and sensory evaluation at 30 days intervals. Microbial analysis indicated that irradiation had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on the reduction of microbial loads. There was no significant difference in sensory quality and chemical characteristics during storage in saffron.
Abstract: An attempt has been made to determine the strength
and impact properties of Cr-Mo steel weld and base materials by
varying the current during manual metal arc welding. Toughness over
a temperature range from -32 to 100°C of base, heat affected zone
(HAZ) and weld zones at three current settings are made. It is
observed that the deterioration in notch toughness at any zone with
the temperature decreases. The values of notch toughness for all
zones at -32°C are almost same for any current settings. The values
of notch toughness at HAZ area are higher than that of weld area due
to the coarsening of ferrite grain of HAZ occurs with higher heat
input. From microhardness and microstructure result, it can be
concluded that large inclusion content in weld deposit is the cause of
lower notch toughness value.
Abstract: In order to investigate water deficit stress on 24 of
soybean (Glycine Max. L) cultivars and lines in temperate climate, an
experiment was conducted in Iran Seed and Plant Improvement
Institute. Stress levels were irrigation after evaporation of 50, 100,
150 mm water from pan, class A. Randomized Completely Block
Design was arranged for each stress levels. Some traits such as, node
number, plant height, pod number per area, grain number per pod,
grain number per area, 1000 grains weight, grain yield and harvest
index were measured. Results showed that water deficit stress had
significant effect on node number, plant height, pod number per area,
grain number per pod, grain number per area, 1000 grains weight and
harvest index. Also all of agronomic traits except harvest index
influenced significantly by cultivars and lines. The least and most
grain yield was belonged to Ronak X Williams and M41 x Clark
respectively.
Abstract: A wireless sensor network with a large number of tiny sensor nodes can be used as an effective tool for gathering data in various situations. One of the major issues in wireless sensor networks is developing an energy-efficient routing protocol which has a significant impact on the overall lifetime of the sensor network. In this paper, we propose a novel hierarchical with static clustering routing protocol called Energy-Efficient Protocol with Static Clustering (EEPSC). EEPSC, partitions the network into static clusters, eliminates the overhead of dynamic clustering and utilizes temporary-cluster-heads to distribute the energy load among high-power sensor nodes; thus extends network lifetime. We have conducted simulation-based evaluations to compare the performance of EEPSC against Low-Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (LEACH). Our experiment results show that EEPSC outperforms LEACH in terms of network lifetime and power consumption minimization.
Abstract: In this work, study the location of interface in a stirred vessel with Rushton impeller by computational fluid dynamic was presented. To modeling rotating the impeller, sliding mesh (SM) technique was used and standard k-ε model was selected for turbulence closure. Mean tangential, radial and axial velocities and also turbulent kinetic energy (k) and turbulent dissipation rate (ε) in various points of tank was investigated. Results show sensitivity of system to location of interface and radius of 7 to 10cm for interface in the vessel with existence characteristics cause to increase the accuracy of simulation.
Abstract: Coarse and fine particulate matter were collected at a
residential area at Vashi, Navi Mumbai and the filter samples were
analysed for trace elements using PIXE technique. The trend of
particulate matter showed higher concentrations during winter than
the summer and monsoon concentration levels. High concentrations
of elements related to soil and sea salt were found in PM10 and
PM2.5. Also high levels of zinc and sulphur found in the particulates
of both the size fractions. EF analysis showed enrichment of Cu, Cr
and Mn only in the fine fraction suggesting their origin from
anthropogenic sources. The EF value was observed to be maximum
for As, Pb and Zn in the fine particulates. However, crustal derived
elements showed very low EF values indicating their origin from
soil. The PCA based multivariate studies identified soil, sea salt,
combustion and Se sources as common sources for coarse and
additionally an industrial source has also been identified for fine
particles.