Abstract: Concrete strength evaluated from compression tests
on cores is affected by several factors causing differences from the
in-situ strength at the location from which the core specimen was
extracted. Among the factors, there is the damage possibly occurring
during the drilling phase that generally leads to underestimate the
actual in-situ strength. In order to quantify this effect, in this study
two wide datasets have been examined, including: (i) about 500 core
specimens extracted from Reinforced Concrete existing structures,
and (ii) about 600 cube specimens taken during the construction of
new structures in the framework of routine acceptance control. The
two experimental datasets have been compared in terms of
compression strength and specific weight values, accounting for the
main factors affecting a concrete property, that is type and amount of
cement, aggregates' grading, type and maximum size of aggregates,
water/cement ratio, placing and curing modality, concrete age. The
results show that the magnitude of the strength reduction due to
drilling damage is strongly affected by the actual properties of
concrete, being inversely proportional to its strength. Therefore, the
application of a single value of the correction coefficient, as generally
suggested in the technical literature and in structural codes, appears
inappropriate. A set of values of the drilling damage coefficient is
suggested as a function of the strength obtained from compressive
tests on cores.
Abstract: The aim of this article is to explain how features of attacks could be extracted from the packets. It also explains how vectors could be built and then applied to the input of any analysis stage. For analyzing, the work deploys the Feedforward-Back propagation neural network to act as misuse intrusion detection system. It uses ten types if attacks as example for training and testing the neural network. It explains how the packets are analyzed to extract features. The work shows how selecting the right features, building correct vectors and how correct identification of the training methods with nodes- number in hidden layer of any neural network affecting the accuracy of system. In addition, the work shows how to get values of optimal weights and use them to initialize the Artificial Neural Network.
Abstract: The research object was wheat bread. Experiments
were carried out at the Faculty of Food Technology of the Latvia
University of Agriculture. An active packaging in combination with
modified atmosphere (MAP, CO2 60% and N2 40%) was examined
and compared with traditional packaging in air ambiance. Polymer
Multibarrier 60, PP and OPP bags were used. Influence of iron based
oxygen absorber in sachets of 100 cc obtained from Mitsubishi Gas
Chemical Europe Ageless® was tested on the quality during the shelf
of wheat bread. Samples of 40±4 g were packaged in polymer
pouches (110 mm x 120 mm), hermetically sealed by MULTIVAC
C300 vacuum chamber machine, and stored in room temperature
+21.0±0.5 °C. The physiochemical properties – weight losses,
moisture content, hardness, pH, colour, changes of atmosphere
content (CO2 and O2) in headspace of packs, and microbial
conditions were analysed before packaging and in the 7th, 14th, 21st
and 28th days of storage.
Abstract: A novel thermo-sensitive superabsorbent hydrogel
with salt- and pH-responsiveness properties was obtained by grafting
of mixtures of acrylic acid (AA) and N-isopropylacrylamide
(NIPAM) monomers onto kappa-carrageenan, kC, using ammonium
persulfate (APS) as a free radical initiator in the presence of
methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker. Infrared
spectroscopy was carried out to confirm the chemical structure of the
hydrogel. Moreover, morphology of the samples was examined by
scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of MBA
concentration and AA/NIPAM weight ratio on the water absorbency
capacity has been investigated. The swelling variations of hydrogels
were explained according to swelling theory based on the hydrogel
chemical structure. The hydrogels exhibited salt-sensitivity and
cation exchange properties. The temperature- and pH-reversibility
properties of the hydrogels make the intelligent polymers as good
candidates for considering as potential carriers for bioactive agents,
e.g. drugs.
Abstract: The trial in the city, located 170 kilometers from the
Iranian city of Ahvaz was Omidiyeh. The main factor in this project
includes 4 levels in control (without hormones), use of hormones in
the seed, vegetative and flowering stage respectively. And sub-plots
included 3 varieties of vetch in three levels, with local names, was the
jewel in the study of light and Auxin in the vegetative and
reproductive different times in different varieties of vetch was
investigated. This test has been taken in the plots in a randomized
complete block with four replications. In order to study the effects of
the hormone Auxin in the growth stages (seed, vegetative and
flowering) to control (no hormone Auxin) on three local varieties of
vetch, the essence of light and plant height, number of pods per plant,
seed number The pods, seeds per plant, grain weight, grain yield,
plant dry weight and protein content were measured. Among the
vetch varieties for plant height, number of pods per plant, a seed per
plant, grain weight, grain yield, and plant dry weight and protein
levels of 1 percent of plant and seed number per pod per plant at 5%
level of There was no significant difference. Interactions for grain
yield per plant, grain yield and protein levels of 1 percent and the
number of seeds per pod and seed weight are significant differences
in levels 5 and plant height and plant dry weight of the interaction
were INFLUENCE There was no significant difference in them.
Abstract: This study was conducted Ismailoglu grape type (Vitis
vinifera L.) and its vine which was aged 15 was grown on its own
root in a vegetation period of 2013 in Nevşehir province in Turkey.
In this research, it was investigated whether the applications of
Control (C), 1/3 cluster tip reduction (1/3 CTR), shoot tip reduction
(STR), 1/3 CTR + STR, TKI-HUMAS (TKI-HM) (Soil) (S), TKIHM
(Foliar) (F), TKI-HM (S + F), 1/3 CTR + TKI-HM (S), 1/3 CTR
+ TKI-HM (F), 1/3 CTR + TKI-HM (S+F), STR + TKI-HM (S), STR
+ TKI-HM (F), STR + TKI-HM (S + F), 1/3 CTR + STR+TKI-HM
(S), 1/3 CTR + STR + TKI-HM (F), 1/3 CTR + STR + TKI-HM (S +
F) on yield and yield components of Ismailoglu grape type. The
results were obtained as the highest fresh grape yield (16.15 kg/vine)
with TKI-HM (S), as the highest cluster weight (652.39 g) with 1/3
CTR + STR, as the highest 100 berry weight (419.07 g) with 1/3
CTR + STR + TKI-HM (F), as the highest maturity index (44.06)
with 1/3 CTR, as the highest must yield (810.00 ml) with STR +
TKI-HM (F), as the highest intensity of L* color (42.04) with TKIHM
(S + F), as the highest intensity of a* color (2.60) with 1/3 CTR
+ TKI-HM (S), as the highest intensity of b* color (7.16) with 1/3
CTR + TKI-HM (S) applications. To increase the fresh grape yield of
Ismailoglu grape type can be recommended TKI-HM (S) application.
Abstract: This paper aims to develop an algorithm of finite
capacity material requirement planning (FCMRP) system for a multistage
assembly flow shop. The developed FCMRP system has two
main stages. The first stage is to allocate operations to the first and
second priority work centers and also determine the sequence of the
operations on each work center. The second stage is to determine the
optimal start time of each operation by using a linear programming
model. Real data from a factory is used to analyze and evaluate the
effectiveness of the proposed FCMRP system and also to guarantee a
practical solution to the user. There are five performance measures,
namely, the total tardiness, the number of tardy orders, the total
earliness, the number of early orders, and the average flow-time. The
proposed FCMRP system offers an adjustable solution which is a
compromised solution among the conflicting performance measures.
The user can adjust the weight of each performance measure to
obtain the desired performance. The result shows that the combination
of FCMRP NP3 and EDD outperforms other combinations
in term of overall performance index. The calculation time for the
proposed FCMRP system is about 10 minutes which is practical for
the planners of the factory.
Abstract: Scheduling for the flexible job shop is very important
in both fields of production management and combinatorial
optimization. However, it quit difficult to achieve an optimal solution
to this problem with traditional optimization approaches owing to the
high computational complexity. The combining of several
optimization criteria induces additional complexity and new
problems. In this paper, a Pareto approach to solve the multi
objective flexible job shop scheduling problems is proposed. The
objectives considered are to minimize the overall completion time
(makespan) and total weighted tardiness (TWT). An effective
simulated annealing algorithm based on the proposed approach is
presented to solve multi objective flexible job shop scheduling
problem. An external memory of non-dominated solutions is
considered to save and update the non-dominated solutions during
the solution process. Numerical examples are used to evaluate and
study the performance of the proposed algorithm. The proposed
algorithm can be applied easily in real factory conditions and for
large size problems. It should thus be useful to both practitioners and
researchers.
Abstract: The innovative fuzzy estimator is used to estimate the
ground motion acceleration of the retaining structure in this study. The
Kalman filter without the input term and the fuzzy weighting recursive
least square estimator are two main portions of this method. The
innovation vector can be produced by the Kalman filter, and be
applied to the fuzzy weighting recursive least square estimator to
estimate the acceleration input over time. The excellent performance
of this estimator is demonstrated by comparing it with the use of
difference weighting function, the distinct levels of the measurement
noise covariance and the initial process noise covariance. The
availability and the precision of the proposed method proposed in this
study can be verified by comparing the actual value and the one
obtained by numerical simulation.
Abstract: Currently, there is no database or local norms for the
physical performance of Malaysian rugby players. This database or
norms are vital for Malaysian-s sports development as programs can
be setup to improve the current status. This pilot study was
conducted to evaluate the status of our semi professional rugby
players. The rugby players were randomly selected from the
Malaysian National team and several clubs in the Klang valley, Kuala
Lumpur Malaysia. 54 male rugby players (Age: 24.41 ± 4.06 years)
were selected for this pilot study. Height, bodyweight, percentage
body fat and body mass index (BMI) and several other physical tests
were performed. Results from the BLEEP test revealed an average of
level 9, shuttle 2 for the players. Interestingly, forwards were taller,
heavier, and had lower maximal aerobic power than backs in the
same team. In conclusion, the physical characteristics of the rugby
players were much lower when compared to international players
from other countries. From this pilot study, the physical performance
of the Malaysian team must be improved in order to further develop
the sports.
Abstract: This study aims to assess the vulnerability and risk of
the coastal areas of Taijiang to abnormal oceanographic phenomena.
In addition, this study aims to investigate and collect data regarding
the disaster losses, land utilization, and other social, economic, and
environmental issues in these coastal areas to construct a coastal
vulnerability and risk map based on the obtained climate-change risk
assessment results. Considering the indexes of the three coastal
vulnerability dimensions, namely, man-made facilities, environmental
geography, and social economy, this study adopted the equal
weighting process and Analytic Hierarchy Process to analyze the
vulnerability of these coastal areas to disasters caused by climatic
changes. Among the areas with high coastal vulnerability to climatic
changes, three towns had the highest coastal vulnerability and four had
the highest relative vulnerability. Areas with lower disaster risks were
found to be increasingly vulnerable to disasters caused by climatic
changes as time progresses.
Abstract: This paper describes the development of an
autonomous robot for painting the interior walls of buildings. The
robot consists of a painting arm with an end effector roller that scans
the walls vertically and a mobile platform to give horizontal feed to
paint the whole area of the wall. The painting arm has a planar twolink
mechanism with two joints. Joints are driven from a stepping
motor through a ball screw-nut mechanism. Four ultrasonic sensors
are attached to the mobile platform and used to maintain a certain
distance from the facing wall and to avoid collision with side walls.
When settled on adjusted distance from the wall, the controller starts
the painting process autonomously. Simplicity, relatively low weight
and short painting time were considered in our design. Different
modules constituting the robot have been separately tested then
integrated. Experiments have shown successfulness of the robot in its
intended tasks.
Abstract: A thirty Rahmani weaned male lambs of average body weight (27.28±1.40 kg) were randomly allotted to three similar groups, ten lambs in each, to study the benefit of commercial feed additives Tonilisat (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and Roemin W2 (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium and Lactose) as growth promoters on lambs performance, digestibility, rumen activity and some blood constituents. The experiment lasted about 107 days. Three experimental groups were allotted as control group: received the basal ration, T1 group: received the basal ration supplemented with Tonilisat as (0.5kg/ ton concentrate feed mixture) and T2 group: received the basal ration supplemented with Roemin W2 (1kg/ ton concentrate feed mixture). Our study revealed that addition of Tonilisat significantly increased digestion coefficient of crude protein than that of the control group, Furthermore, the supplementation of Tonilisat or Roemin W2 increased (p
Abstract: This study describes the preparation of a novel proton
conducting membranes based on bacterial cellulose (BC) modified by
grafting of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1 -propanesulfonic acid (AMPS)
through UV-induced graft polymerization. These AMPS-g-BC
membranes have been characterized by various techniques including
FTIR, SEM and TGA, to find their successful grafting of AMPS on
BC, surface morphology and thermal stability, respectively. Physical
properties of AMPS-g-BC membranes have been assessed in terms of
Lamda value( λ ), ion exchange capacity(IEC) and proton
conductivity. The relationship between degree of grafting and AMPS
concentration used for grafting has been determined by weight gain
method. An optimum proton conductivity equal to 2.89x10-2 S cm-1
and IEC value equal to 1.79 mmol g-1 have been obtained when 20
wt% AMPS concentration is used for grafting (i.e. the corresponding
membrane is notated as AMPS20-g-BC).
Abstract: The design of weight is one of the important parts in
fuzzy decision making, as it would have a deep effect on the evaluation
results. Entropy is one of the weight measure based on objective
evaluation. Non--probabilistic-type entropy measures for fuzzy set
and interval type-2 fuzzy sets (IT2FS) have been developed and applied
to weight measure. Since the entropy for (IT2FS) for decision
making yet to be explored, this paper proposes a new objective
weight method by using entropy weight method for multiple attribute
decision making (MADM). This paper utilizes the nature of IT2FS
concept in the evaluation process to assess the attribute weight based
on the credibility of data. An example was presented to demonstrate
the feasibility of the new method in decision making. The entropy
measure of interval type-2 fuzzy sets yield flexible judgment and
could be applied in decision making environment.
Abstract: A new fuzzy filter is presented for noise reduction of
images corrupted with additive noise. The filter consists of two
stages. In the first stage, all the pixels of image are processed for
determining noisy pixels. For this, a fuzzy rule based system
associates a degree to each pixel. The degree of a pixel is a real
number in the range [0,1], which denotes a probability that the pixel
is not considered as a noisy pixel. In the second stage, another fuzzy
rule based system is employed. It uses the output of the previous
fuzzy system to perform fuzzy smoothing by weighting the
contributions of neighboring pixel values. Experimental results are
obtained to show the feasibility of the proposed filter. These results
are also compared to other filters by numerical measure and visual
inspection.
Abstract: Fuel cell's system requires regulating circuit for
voltage and current in order to control power in case of connecting to
other generative devices or load. In this paper Fuel cell system and
convertor, which is a multi-variable system, are controlled using
sliding mode method. Use of weighting matrix in design procedure
made it possible to regulate speed of control. Simulation results show
the robustness and accuracy of proposed controller for controlling
desired of outputs.
Abstract: In this study Vitaton (an organic supplement which
contains fermentative β-carotene) and synthetic astaxanthin
(CAROPHYLL® Pink) were evaluated as pro-growth factors in
Rainbow trout diet. An 8 week feeding trial was conducted to
determine the effects of Vitaton versus astaxanthin on rearing factors,
survival rate and visual flesh color of Rainbow trout
(Oncorhnchynchus mykiss) with initial weight of 196±5. Four
practical diets were formulated to contain 50 and 80 (ppm) of β-
carotene and astaxanthin and also a control diet was prepared without
any pigment. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of fish rearing in
fresh water. Fish were fed twice daily. The water temperature
fluctuated from 12 to 15 (C˚) and also dissolved oxygen content was
between 7 to 7.5 (mg/lit) during the experimental period. At the end
of the experiment, growth and food utilization parameters and
survival rate were unaffected by dietary treatments (p>0.05). Also,
there was no significant difference between carcass yield within
treatments (p>0.05). No significant difference recognized between
visual flesh color (SalmoFan score) of fish fed Vitaton-containing
diets. On the contrary, feeding on diets containing 50 and 80 (ppm)
of astaxanthin, increased SalmoFan score (flesh astaxanthin
concentration) from
Abstract: There is no doubt that Internet technology is widely used by hotels and its demand is constantly booming. Hotels have largely adopted website information services through using different interactive tools, dimensions and attributes to achieve excellence in functionality and usability but these do not necessary equate with website effectiveness. One way to investigate the effectiveness of hotel website is from the perspective ofe-consumers. This exploratory research is to investigate the perceived importance of websites effectiveness of some selected independent small and medium-sized hotels (SMHs) located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from the perspective of Omanie-consumers by using non-random sampling method. From 400 questionnaire addressed to respondents in 27 organizations in Muscat the capital city of Oman, 173 are valid. Findings of this study assist SMHs management in Dubai with the reallocation of their resources and efforts in order to supportebusiness development and to sustain a competitive advantage.
Abstract: This paper presents an optimization of the hull
separation, i.e. transverse clearance. The main objective is to identify
the feasible speed ranges and find the optimum transverse clearance
considering the minimum wave-making resistance. The dimensions
and the weight of hardware systems installed in the catamaran
structured fuel cell powered USV (Unmanned Surface Vehicle) were
considered as constraints. As the CAE (Computer Aided Engineering)
platform FRIENDSHIP-Framework was used. The hull surface
modeling, DoE (Design of Experiment), Tangent search optimization,
tool integration and the process automation were performed by
FRIENDSHIP-Framework. The hydrodynamic result was evaluated
by XPAN the potential solver of SHIPFLOW.