Abstract: This paper presents the ‘Eye Ball Motion Controlled
Wheelchair using IR Sensors’ for the elderly and differently abled
people. In this eye tracking based technology, three Proximity
Infrared (IR) sensor modules are mounted on an eye frame to trace
the movement of the iris. Since, IR sensors detect only white objects;
a unique sequence of digital bits is generated corresponding to each
eye movement. These signals are then processed via a micro
controller IC (PIC18F452) to control the motors of the wheelchair.
The potential and efficiency of previously developed rehabilitation
systems that use head motion, chin control, sip-n-puff control, voice
recognition, and EEG signals variedly have also been explored in
detail. They were found to be inconvenient as they served either
limited usability or non-affordability. After multiple regression
analyses, the proposed design was developed as a cost-effective,
flexible and stream-lined alternative for people who have trouble
adopting conventional assistive technologies.
Abstract: This paper presents an application of Artificial Neural
Network (ANN) algorithm for improving power system voltage
stability. The training data is obtained by solving several normal and
abnormal conditions using the Linear Programming technique. The
selected objective function gives minimum deviation of the reactive
power control variables, which leads to the maximization of
minimum Eigen value of load flow Jacobian. The considered reactive
power control variables are switchable VAR compensators, OLTC
transformers and excitation of generators. The method has been
implemented on a modified IEEE 30-bus test system. The results
obtain from the test clearly show that the trained neural network is
capable of improving the voltage stability in power system with a
high level of precision and speed.
Abstract: In this paper, the actuality of the study, and the role of
subjective well-being problem in modern psychology and the
comprehending of subjective well-being by current students is
defined. The purpose of this research is to educe peculiarities of
comprehending of subjective well-being by students with various
levels of emotional intelligence. Methods of research are adapted
Russian-Language questionnaire of K. Riff 'The scales of
psychological well-being'; emotional intelligence questionnaire of D.
V. Lusin. The research involved 72 students from different
universities and disciplines aged between 18 and 24. Analyzing the
results of the studies, it can be concluded that the understanding of
happiness in different groups of students with high and low levels of
overall emotional intelligence is different, as well as differentiated by
gender. Students with a higher level of happiness possess more
capacity and higher need to control their emotions, to cause and
maintain the desired emotions and control something undesirable.
Abstract: Implementation of advanced technologies requires
sophisticated instruments that deal with the operation, control,
restoration and protection of rapidly growing power system network
under normal and abnormal conditions. Presently, the applications of
Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) are widely found in real time
operation, monitoring, controlling and analysis of power system
network as it eliminates the various limitations of supervisory control
and data acquisition system (SCADA) conventionally used in power
system. The use of PMU data is very rapidly increasing its
importance for online and offline analysis. Wide area measurement
system (WAMS) is developed as new technology by use of multiple
PMUs in power system. The present paper proposes a model of
Matlab based PMU using Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT)
algorithm and evaluation of its operation under different
contingencies. In this paper, PMU based two bus system having
WAMS network is presented as a case study.
Abstract: Rice bran is normally used as a raw material for rice
bran oil production or sold as feed with a low price. Conventionally,
the protein in defatted rice bran was extracted using alkaline
extraction and acid precipitation, which involves in chemical usage
and lowering some nutritious component. This study was conducted
in order to extract of rice bran protein concentrate (RBPC) from
defatted rice bran using enzymes and employing polysaccharides in a
precipitating step. The properties of RBPC obtained will be compared
to those of a control sample extracted using a conventional method.
The results showed that extraction of protein from rice bran using
enzymes exhibited the higher protein recovery compared to that
extraction with alkaline. The extraction conditions using alcalase 2%
(v/w) at 50 C, pH 9.5 gave the highest protein (2.44%) and yield
(32.09%) in extracted solution compared to other enzymes. Rice bran
protein concentrate powder prepared by a precipitation step using
alginate (protein in solution: alginate 1:0.016) exhibited the highest
protein (27.55%) and yield (6.84%). Precipitation using alginate was
better than that of acid. RBPC extracted with alkaline (ALK) or
enzyme alcalase (ALC), then precipitated with alginate (AL)
(samples RBP-ALK-AL and RBP-ALC-AL) yielded the precipitation
rate of 75% and 91.30%, respectively. Therefore, protein
precipitation using alginate was then selected. Amino acid profile of
control sample, and sample precipitated with alginate, as compared to
casein and soy protein isolated, showed that control sample showed
the highest content among all sample. Functional property study of
RBP showed that the highest nitrogen solubility occurred in pH 8-10.
There was no statically significant between emulsion capacity and
emulsion stability of control and sample precipitated by alginate.
However, control sample showed a higher of foaming capacity and
foaming stability compared to those of sample precipitated with
alginate. The finding was successful in terms of minimizing
chemicals used in extraction and precipitation steps in preparation of
rice bran protein concentrate. This research involves in a production
of value-added product in which the double amount of protein (28%)
compared to original amount (14%) contained in rice bran could be
beneficial in terms of adding to food products e.g. healthy drink with
high protein and fiber. In addition, the basic knowledge of functional
property of rice bran protein concentrate was obtained, which can be
used to appropriately select the application of this value-added
product from rice bran.
Abstract: Model predictive control is a kind of optimal feedback
control in which control performance over a finite future is optimized
with a performance index that has a moving initial time and a moving
terminal time. This paper examines the stability of model predictive
control for linear discrete-time systems with additive stochastic
disturbances. A sufficient condition for the stability of the closed-loop
system with model predictive control is derived by means of a linear
matrix inequality. The objective of this paper is to show the results
of computational simulations in order to verify the effectiveness of
the obtained stability condition.
Abstract: In the field of fashion design, 3D Mannequin is a kind
of assisting tool which could rapidly realize the design concepts.
While the concept of 3D Mannequin is applied to the computer added
fashion design, it will connect with the development and the
application of design platform and system. Thus, the situation
mentioned above revealed a truth that it is very critical to develop a
module of 3D Mannequin which would correspond with the necessity
of fashion design. This research proposes a concrete plan that
developing and constructing a system of 3D Mannequin with Kinect.
In the content, ergonomic measurements of objective human features
could be attained real-time through the implement with depth camera
of Kinect, and then the mesh morphing can be implemented through
transformed the locations of the control-points on the model by
inputting those ergonomic data to get an exclusive 3D mannequin
model. In the proposed methodology, after the scanned points from the
Kinect are revised for accuracy and smoothening, a complete human
feature would be reconstructed by the ICP algorithm with the method
of image processing. Also, the objective human feature could be
recognized to analyze and get real measurements. Furthermore, the
data of ergonomic measurements could be applied to shape morphing
for the division of 3D Mannequin reconstructed by feature curves. Due
to a standardized and customer-oriented 3D Mannequin would be
generated by the implement of subdivision, the research could be
applied to the fashion design or the presentation and display of 3D
virtual clothes. In order to examine the practicality of research
structure, a system of 3D Mannequin would be constructed with JAVA
program in this study. Through the revision of experiments the
practicability-contained research result would come out.
Abstract: Diagnostic enzymes like aspartate aminotransferase
(AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase
(ALP) were determined as indices of heavy metal pollution in Tilapia
guinensis. Three different sets of fishes treated with lead (Pb), iron
(Fe) and copper (Cu) were used for the study while a fourth group
with no heavy metal served as a control. Fishes in each of the groups
were exposed to 2.65mg/l of Pb, 0.85mg/l of Fe and 0.35 mg/l of Cu
in aerated aquaria for 96 hours. Tissue fractionation of the liver
tissues was carried out and the three diagnostic enzymes (AST, ALT,
and ALP) were estimated. Serum levels of the same diagnostic
enzymes were also measured. The mean values of the serum enzyme
activity for ALP in each experimental group were 19.5±1.62,
29.67±2.17 and 1.15±0.27 IU/L for Pb, Fe and Cu groups compared
with 9.99±1.34 IU/L enzyme activity in the control. This result
showed that Pb and Fe caused increased release of the enzyme into
the blood circulation indicating increased tissue damage while Cu
caused a reduction in the serum level as compared with the level in
the control group. The mean values of enzyme activity obtained in
the liver were 102.14±6.12, 140.17±2.06 and 168.23±3.52 IU/L for
Pb, Fe and Cu groups, respectively compared to 91.20±9.42 IU/L
enzyme activity for the control group. The serum and liver AST and
ALT activities obtained in Pb, Fe, Cu and control groups are
reported. It was generally noted that the presence of the heavy metal
caused liver tissues damage and consequent increased level of the
diagnostic enzymes in the serum.
Abstract: In recent years a new method of combination
treatment for cancer has been developed and studied that has led to
significant advancements in the field of cancer therapy. Hyperthermia
is a traditional therapy that, along with a creation of a medically
approved level of heat with the help of an alternating magnetic AC
current, results in the destruction of cancer cells by heat. This paper
gives details regarding the production of the spherical nanocomposite
PVA/γ-Fe2O3 in order to be used for medical purposes such as tumor
treatment by hyperthermia. To reach a suitable and evenly distributed
temperature, the nanocomposite with core-shell morphology and
spherical form within a 100 to 200 nanometer size was created using
phase separation emulsion, in which the magnetic nano-particles γ-
Fe2O3 with an average particle size of 20 nano-meters and with
different percentages of 0.2, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 were covered by
polyvinyl alcohol. The main concern in hyperthermia and heat
treatment is achieving desirable specific absorption rate (SAR) and
one of the most critical factors in SAR is particle size. In this project
all attempts has been done to reach minimal size and consequently
maximum SAR. The morphological analysis of the spherical
structure of the nanocomposite PVA/γ-Fe2O3 was achieved by SEM
analyses and the study of the chemical bonds created was made
possible by FTIR analysis. To investigate the manner of magnetic
nanocomposite particle size distribution a DLS experiment was
conducted. Moreover, to determine the magnetic behavior of the γ-
Fe2O3 particle and the nanocomposite PVA/γ-Fe2O3 in different
concentrations a VSM test was conducted. To sum up, creating
magnetic nanocomposites with a spherical morphology that would be
employed for drug loading opens doors to new approaches in
developing nanocomposites that provide efficient heat and a
controlled release of drug simultaneously inside the magnetic field,
which are among their positive characteristics that could significantly
improve the recovery process in patients.
Abstract: In this paper, we proposed a novel SCR (Silicon Controlled
Rectifier) - based ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) protection device for I/O
and power clamp. The proposed device has a higher holding voltage
characteristic than conventional SCR. These characteristics enable to have
latch-up immunity under normal operating conditions as well as superior full
chip ESD protection. The proposed device was analyzed to figure out
electrical characteristics and tolerance robustness in term of individual
design parameters (D1, D2, D3). They are investigated by using the
Synopsys TCAD simulator. As a result of simulation, holding voltage
increased with different design parameters. The holding voltage of the
proposed device changes from 3.3V to 7.9V. Also, N-Stack structure ESD
device with the high holding voltage is proposed. In the simulation results,
2-stack has holding voltage of 6.8V and 3-stack has holding voltage of
10.5V. The simulation results show that holding voltage of stacking
structure can be larger than the operation voltage of high-voltage
application.
Abstract: Construction and reconstruction of settlements and
individual municipalities, environmental management and the
creation, deployment of the forces of production and building
transport and technical equipment requires a large expenditure of
material and human resources. That is why the economic aspects of
the majority decision in these planes built in the foreground and are
often decisive. Thereby but more serious is that the economic aspects
of the settlement, the creation and function remain in their whole,
unprocessed, and cannot speak of a set of individual techniques and
methods traditional indicators and experiments with new approaches.
This is true both at the level of the national economy, and in their
own urban designs. Still a few remain identified specific economic
shaping patterns of settlement and the less it is possible to speak of
their control. Also practical assessing economics of specific solutions
are often used non-apt indicators in addition to economics usually
identifies with the lowest acquisition cost or high-intensity land use
with little regard for functional efficiency and little studied much
higher operating and maintenance costs".
Abstract: In addition to environmental parameters like rain,
temperature diseases on crop is a major factor which affects
production quality & quantity of crop yield. Hence disease
management is a key issue in agriculture. For the management of
disease, it needs to be detected at early stage. So, treat it properly &
control spread of the disease. Now a day, it is possible to use the
images of diseased leaf to detect the type of disease by using image
processing techniques. This can be achieved by extracting features
from the images which can be further used with classification
algorithms or content based image retrieval systems. In this paper,
color image is used to extract the features such as mean and standard
deviation after the process of region cropping. The selected features
are taken from the cropped image with different image size samples.
Then, the extracted features are taken in to the account for
classification using Fuzzy Inference System (FIS).
Abstract: This study aimed to determine the possible protective effects of L‐carnitine against gentamicin‐induced nephrotoxicity. Forty male albino rats were divided into 4 groups (10 rats each); Group 1: normal control, group 2: induced nephrotoxicity (gentamicin 50 mg/kg/day S.C; 8 days), group 3: treated with L‐ carnitine (40 mg/kg/d SC for 12 days) and group 4: treated with L‐ carnitine 4 days before and for 8 days in concomitant with gentamicin. Gentamicin‐induced nephrotoxicity (group 2): caused significant increase in serum urea, creatinine, urinary N‐acetyl‐B‐D‐ glucosaminidase (NAG), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), urinary total protein and kidney tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) with significant decrease in serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), serum catalase and creatinine clearance and marked tubular necrosis in the proximal convoluted tubules with interruption in the basement membrane around the necrotic tubule compared to the normal control group. L‐carnitine 4 days before and for 8 days in concomitant with gentamicin (group 4) offered marked decrease in serum urea, serum creatinine, urinary NAG, urinary GGT, urinary proteins and kidney tissue MDA, with marked increase in serum SOD, serum catalase and creatinine clearance with marked improvement in the tubular damage compared to gentamicin‐induced nephrotoxicity group. L‐carnitine administered for 12 days produced no change in the parameters mentioned above as compared to the normal control group. In conclusion: L‐carnitine could reduce most of the biochemical parameters and also improve the histopathological features of kidney asscociated with gentamicin induced‐nephrotoxicity.
Abstract: Experimental investigations of the DC electric field effect on thermal decomposition of biomass, formation of the axial flow of volatiles (CO, H2, CxHy), mixing of volatiles with swirling airflow at low swirl intensity (S ≈ 0.2-0.35), their ignition and on formation of combustion dynamics are carried out with the aim to understand the mechanism of electric field influence on biomass gasification, combustion of volatiles and heat energy production. The DC electric field effect on combustion dynamics was studied by varying the positive bias voltage of the central electrode from 0.6 kV to 3 kV, whereas the ion current was limited to 2 mA. The results of experimental investigations confirm the field-enhanced biomass gasification with enhanced release of volatiles and the development of endothermic processes at the primary stage of thermochemical conversion of biomass determining the field-enhanced heat energy consumption with the correlating decrease of the flame temperature and heat energy production at this stage of flame formation. Further, the field-enhanced radial expansion of the flame reaction zone correlates with a more complete combustion of volatiles increasing the combustion efficiency by 3% and decreasing the mass fraction of CO, H2 and CxHy in the products, whereas by 10% increases the average volume fraction of CO2 and the heat energy production downstream the combustor increases by 5-10%
Abstract: This paper proposes a novel heuristic algorithm that aims to determine the best size and location of distributed generators in unbalanced distribution networks. The proposed heuristic algorithm can deal with the planning cases where power loss is to be optimized without violating the system practical constraints. The distributed generation units in the proposed algorithm is modeled as voltage controlled node with the flexibility to be converted to constant power factor node in case of reactive power limit violation. The proposed algorithm is implemented in MATLAB and tested on the IEEE 37 -node feeder. The results obtained show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Abstract: This study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of Teaching Games For Understanding (TGFU) in improving the hockey tactical skills and state self-confidence among 16-year-old students. Two hundred fifty-nine (259) school students were selected for the study based on the intact sampling method. One class was used as the control group (Boys=60, Girls=70), while another as the treatment group (Boys=60, Girls=69) underwent intervention with TGFU in physical education class conducted twice a week for four weeks. The Games Performance Assessment Instrument was used to observe the hockey tactical skills and The State Self-Confidence Inventory was used to determine the state of self-confidence among the students. After four weeks, ANCOVA analysis indicated the treatment groups had significant improvement in hockey tactical skills with F (1, 118) =313.37, p
Abstract: Intermittent behavior near the boundary of phase
synchronization in the presence of noise is studied. In certain range of
the coupling parameter and noise intensity the intermittency of eyelet
and ring intermittencies is shown to take place. Main results are
illustrated using the example of two unidirectional coupled Rössler
systems. Similar behavior is shown to take place in two
hydrodynamical models of Pierce diode coupled unidirectional.
Abstract: Toxicity of copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and iron (Fe) to
Tilapia guinensis was carried out for 4 days with a view to
determining their effects on the liver and muscle tissues. Tilapia
guinensis samples of about 10 - 14cm length and 0.2 – 0.4kg weight
each were obtained from University of Calabar fish ponds and
acclimated for three (3) days before the experimental set up.
Survivors after the 96-hr LC50 test period were selected from test
solutions of the heavy metals for the histopathological studies.
Histological preparations of liver and muscle tissues were randomly
examined for histopathological lesions. Results of the histological
examinations showed gross abnormalities in the liver tissues due to
pathological and degenerative changes compared to liver and muscle
tissues from control samples (tilapia fishes from aquaria without
heavy metals). Extensive hepatocyte necrosis with chronic
inflammatory changes was observed in the liver of fishes exposed to
Cu solution. Similar but less damaging effects were observed in the
liver of fishes exposed to Pb and Fe. The extent of lesion observed
was therefore heavy metal-related. However, no pathologic changes
occurred in the muscle tissues.
Abstract: This paper focuses on a critical component of the
situational awareness (SA), the control of autonomous vertical flight
for vectored thrust aerial vehicle (VTAV). With the SA strategy, we
proposed a neural network motion control procedure to address the
dynamics variation and performance requirement difference of flight
trajectory for a VTAV. This control strategy with using of NARMAL2
neurocontroller for chosen model of VTAV has been verified by
simulation of take-off and forward maneuvers using software
package Simulink and demonstrated good performance for fast
stabilization of motors, consequently, fast SA with economy in
energy can be asserted during search-and-rescue operations.
Abstract: A pilot field study was conducted at the Jagjeetpur
Municipal Sewage treatment plant situated in the Haridwar town in
Uttarakhand state, India. The objectives of the present study were to
study the effect of treated wastewater on the production of various
paddy varieties (Sharbati, PR-114, PB-1, Menaka, PB1121 and PB
1509) and the emission of GHG gases (CO2, CH4 and N2O) as
compared to the same varieties grown in the control plots irrigated
with fresh water. Of late, the concept of water footprint assessment
has emerged, which explains enumeration of various types of water
footprints of an agricultural entity from its production to processing
stages. Paddy, the most water demanding staple crop of Uttarakhand
state, displayed a high green water footprint value of 2474.12 m3/
Ton. Most of the wastewater irrigated varieties displayed up to 6%
increase in production, except Menaka and PB-1121, which showed a
reduction in production (6% and 3% respectively), due to pest and
insect infestation. The treated wastewater was observed to be rich in
Nitrogen (55.94 mg/ml Nitrate), Phosphorus (54.24 mg/ml) and
Potassium (9.78 mg/ml), thus rejuvenating the soil quality and not
requiring any external nutritional supplements. A Percentage increase
of GHG gases of irrigation with treated municipal wastewater as
compared to control plots was observed as 0.4% - 8.6% (CH4), 1.1%
- 9.2% (CO2), and 0.07% - 5.8% (N2O). The variety, Sharbati,
displayed maximum production (5.5 ton/ha) and emerged as the most
resistant variety against pests and insects. The emission values of
CH4, CO2 and N2O were 729.31 mg/m2/d, 322.10 mg/m2/d and
400.21 mg/m2/d in water stagnant condition.
This study highlighted a successful possibility of reuse of
wastewater for non-potable purposes offering the potential for
exploiting this resource that can replace or reduce the existing use of
fresh water sources in agriculture sector.