Abstract: Diets high in processed foods have been found to lack
essential micro-nutrients for optimum human development and
overall health. Some micro-nutrients such as copper (Cu) have been
found to enhance the inflammatory response through its oxidative
functions, thereby having a role in cardiovascular disease, metabolic
syndrome, diabetes and related complications. This research study
was designed to determine if food crops could be bio-fortified with
micro-nutrients by growing sprouts on mineral fortified fiber mats. In
the feasibility study described in this contribution, recycled cellulose
fibers and clay, saturated with either micro-nutrient copper ions or
copper nanoparticles, were converted to a novel mineral-cellulose
fiber carrier of essential micro-nutrient and of antimicrobial
properties. Seeds of Medicago sativa (alfalfa), purchased from a
commercial, organic supplier were germinated on engineered
cellulose fiber mats. After the appearance of the first leaves, the
sprouts were dehydrated and analyzed for Cu content. Nutrient
analysis showed ~2 increase in Cu of the sprouts grown on the fiber
mats with copper particles, and ~4 increase on mats with ionic copper
as compared to the control samples. This study illustrates the
potential for the use of engineered mats as a viable way to increase
the micro-nutrient composition of locally-grown food crops and the
need for additional research to determine the uptake, nutritional
implications and risks of micro-nutrient bio-fortification.
Abstract: Nature constantly changes as a result of human
necessities. This change mostly feels in natural water sources which
are reconstructed with an effect of dams and motorways. In other
respects, visual quality of the landscape gets a new and different
character during and after the construction of dams and motorways.
Changing and specialization new landscapes will be very important
to protection-usage balance to explore sustainable usage facilities.
The main cause of the selection of Artvin city is that it has very
important geographical location and one of the most attraction points
in the World with its biodiversity, conservation areas and natural
landscape characteristics. Many hydroelectric station and 7 dams are
situated, 3 of them have already been built on the Çoruh River in the
province of Artvin. As a result of dams, motorways route were reshaped
and the ways which have already changed because of
elevation is directly affected several of natural destruction. In
contrast, many different reservoirs in Coruh Basin provide new vista
point that has high visual quality. In this study, we would like to
evaluate with sustainable landscape design in 76 km river corridor,
which is mainly based on Deriner, Borçka and Muratlı Dams and
determination of their basin-lakes recreational potential and
opportunities. Lastly, we are going to give some suggestion about the
potential of the corridor.
Abstract: The current statuses of lifetime test of LaB6 hollow
cathode at the Lanzhou Institute of Physics (LIP), China, was
described. 5A LaB6 hollow cathode was design for LIPS-200 40mN
Xenon ion thruster, and it could be used for LHT-100 80 mN Hall
thruster, too. Life test of the discharge and neutralizer modes of LHC-5
hollow cathode were stared in October 2011, and cumulative operation
time reached 17,300 and 16,100 hours in April 2015, respectively. The
life of cathode was designed more than 11,000 hours. Parameters of
discharge and key structure dimensions were monitored in different
stage of life test indicated that cathodes were health enough. The test
will continue until the cathode cannot work or operation parameter is
not in normally. The result of the endurance test of cathode
demonstrated that the LaB6 hollow cathode is satisfied for the required
of thruster in life and performance.
Abstract: Numerical study of the static response of
homogeneous clay stratum considering a wide range of cohesion and
subject to foundation loads is presented. The linear elastic–perfectly
plastic constitutive relation with the von Mises yield criterion were
utilised to develop a numerically cost effective finite element model
for the soil while imposing a rigid body constrain to the foundation
footing. From the analyses carried out, estimate of the bearing
capacity factor, Nc as well as the ultimate load-carrying capacities of
these soils, effect of cohesion on foundation settlements, stress fields
and failure propagation were obtained. These are consistent with
other findings in the literature and hence can be a useful guide in
design of safe foundations in clay soils for buildings and other
structure.
Abstract: The analytical bright two soliton solution of the 3-
coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations with variable coefficients in
birefringent optical fiber is obtained by Darboux transformation
method. To the design of ultra-speed optical devices, Soliton
interaction and control in birefringence fiber is investigated. Lax pair
is constructed for N coupled NLS system through AKNS method.
Using two-soliton solution, we demonstrate different interaction
behaviors of solitons in birefringent fiber depending on the choice of
control parameters. Our results shows that interactions of optical
solitons have some specific applications such as construction of logic
gates, optical computing, soliton switching, and soliton amplification
in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system.
Abstract: Highly developed technology and highly competitive
global market highlight the important role of competitive advantages
and operation performances in sustainable company operation.
Activity-Based Costing (ABC) provides accurate operation cost and
operation performance information. Rich literatures provide relevant
research with cases study on Activity-Based Costing application, but
the research on cause relationship between key success factors and its
specific outcome, such as profitability or share market are few. These
relationships provide the ways to handle the key success factors to
achieve the specific outcomes for ensuring to promote the competitive
advantages and operation performances. The main purposes of this
research are exploring the key success paths by Key Success Paths
approach which will lead the ways to apply Activity-Base Costing.
The Key Success Paths is the innovative method which is exploring
the cause relationships and explaining what are the effects of key
success factors to specific outcomes of Activity-Based Costing
implementation. The cause relationships between key success factors
and successful specific outcomes are Key Success Paths (KSPs). KSPs
are the guidelines to lead the cost management strategies to achieve the
goals of competitive advantages and operation performances. The
research findings indicate that good management system design may
affect the well outcomes of Activity-Based Costing application and
achieve to outstanding competitive advantage, operating performance
and profitability as well by KSPs exploration.
Abstract: Chatter vibrations, occurring during cutting process,
cause vibration between the cutting tool and workpiece, which
deteriorates surface roughness and reduces tool life. The purpose of
this study is to investigate the influence of cutting parameters and
tool construction on surface roughness and vibration in turning of
aluminum alloy AA2024. A new design of cutting tool is proposed,
which is filled up with epoxy granite in order to improve damping
capacity of the tool. Experiments were performed at the lathe using
carbide cutting insert coated with TiC and two different cutting tools
made of AISI 5140 steel. Taguchi L9 orthogonal array was applied to
design of experiment and to optimize cutting conditions. By the help
of signal-to-noise ratio and analysis of variance the optimal cutting
condition and the effect of the cutting parameters on surface
roughness and vibration were determined. Effectiveness of Taguchi
method was verified by confirmation test. It was revealed that new
cutting tool with epoxy granite has reduced vibration and surface
roughness due to high damping properties of epoxy granite in
toolholder.
Abstract: The plastic industry plays very important role in the
economy of any country. It is generally among the leading share of
the economy of the country. Since metals and their alloys are very
rarely available on the earth. Therefore, to produce plastic products
and components, which finds application in many industrial as well
as household consumer products is beneficial. Since 50% plastic
products are manufactured by injection moulding process. For
production of better quality product, we have to control quality
characteristics and performance of the product. The process
parameters plays a significant role in production of plastic, hence the
control of process parameter is essential. In this paper the effect of
the parameters selection on injection moulding process has been
described. It is to define suitable parameters in producing plastic
product. Selecting the process parameter by trial and error is neither
desirable nor acceptable, as it is often tends to increase the cost and
time. Hence, optimization of processing parameter of injection
moulding process is essential. The experiments were designed with
Taguchi’s orthogonal array to achieve the result with least number of
experiments. Plastic material polypropylene is studied. Tensile
strength test of material is done on universal testing machine, which
is produced by injection moulding machine. By using Taguchi
technique with the help of MiniTab-14 software the best value of
injection pressure, melt temperature, packing pressure and packing
time is obtained. We found that process parameter packing pressure
contribute more in production of good tensile plastic product.
Abstract: Fading noise degrades the performance of cellular
communication, most notably in femto- and pico-cells in 3G and 4G
systems. When the wireless channel consists of a small number of
scattering paths, the statistics of fading noise is not analytically
tractable and poses a serious challenge to developing closed
canonical forms that can be analysed and used in the design of
efficient and optimal receivers. In this context, noise is multiplicative
and is referred to as stochastically local fading. In many analytical
investigation of multiplicative noise, the exponential or Gamma
statistics are invoked. More recent advances by the author of this
paper utilized a Poisson modulated-weighted generalized Laguerre
polynomials with controlling parameters and uncorrelated noise
assumptions. In this paper, we investigate the statistics of multidiversity
stochastically local area fading channel when the channel
consists of randomly distributed Rayleigh and Rician scattering
centers with a coherent Nakagami-distributed line of sight component
and an underlying doubly stochastic Poisson process driven by a
lognormal intensity. These combined statistics form a unifying triply
stochastic filtered marked Poisson point process model.
Abstract: The aim of sustainable architecture is to design
buildings with the least adverse effects on the environment and
provide better conditions for people. What building forms make the
best use of land? This question was addressed in the late 1960s at the
center of Land Use and Built Form Studies in Cambridge. This led to
a number of influential papers which had a great influence on the
practice of urban design. This paper concentrates on the results of
sustainability caused by climatic conditions in Iranian traditional
architecture in hot-arid regions. As people spent a significant amount
of their time in houses, it was very important to have such houses to
fulfill their needs physically and spiritually as well as satisfying their
cultural and religious aspects of their lifestyles. In a vast country such
as Iran with different climatic zones, traditional builders have
presented series of logical solutions for human comfort. These
solutions have been able to response to the environmental problems
for a long period of time. As a result, by considering the experience
in traditional architecture of hot–arid climate in Iran, it is possible to
attain sustainable architecture.
Abstract: The paper will focus on the strategic development
deriving from the evolution of the traditional courtyard spatial
organization towards a new, contemporary sustainable way of living.
New sustainable approaches that engulf the social issues, the notion
of place, the understanding of weather architecture blended together
with the bioclimatic behavior will be seen through a series of
experimental case studies in the island of Cyprus, inspired and
originated from its traditional wisdom, ranging from small scale of
living to urban interventions. Weather and nature will be seen as co-architectural authors with
architects. Furthermore, the building will be seen not as an object but
rather as a vessel of human activities. This will further enhance the
notion of merging the material and immaterial, the built and unbuilt,
subject-human, and the object-building. This eventually will enable
to generate the discussion of the understanding of the building in
relation to the place and its inhabitants, where the human topography
is more important than the material topography. The specificities of
the divided island and the dealing with sites that are in vicinity with
the diving Green Line will further trigger explorations dealing with
the regeneration issues and the social sustainability offering
unprecedented opportunities for innovative sustainable ways of
living. Opening up a discourse with premises of weather-nature, materialimmaterial,
human-material topographies in relation to the contested
sites of the borders will lead us to develop innovative strategies for a
profound, both technical and social sustainability, which fruitfully
yields to innovative living built environments, responding to the ever
changing environmental and social needs. As a starting point, a case study in Kaimakli in Nicosia, a
refurbishment with an extension of a traditional house, already
engulfs all the traditional/ vernacular wisdom of the bioclimatic
architecture. The project focusses on the direct and quite obvious
bioclimatic features such as south orientation and cross ventilation.
Furthermore, it tries to reinvent the adaptation of these parameters in
order to turn the whole house to a contemporary living environment.
In order to succeed this, evolutions of traditional architectural
elements and spatial conditions are integrated in a way that does not
only respond to some certain weather conditions, but they integrate
and blend the weather within the built environment. A series of
innovations aiming at maximum flexibility is proposed. The house
can finally be transformed into a winter enclosure, while for the most
part of the year it turns into a ‘camping’ living environment. Parallel to experimental interventions in existing traditional units,
we will proceed examining the implementation of the same
developed methodology in designing living units and complexes.
Malleable courtyard organizations that attempt to blend the
traditional wisdom with the contemporary needs for living, the
weather and nature with the built environment will be seen tested in
both horizontal and vertical developments. Social activities are seen as directly affected and forged by the
weather conditions thus generating a new social identity of people where people are directly involved and interacting with the weather.
The human actions and interaction with the built, material
environment in order to respond to weather will be seen as the result
of balancing the social with the technological sustainability, the
immaterial, and the material aspects of the living environment.
Abstract: A solar receiver is designed for operation under
extremely uneven heat flux distribution, cyclic weather, and cloud
transient cycle conditions, which can include large thermal stress and
even receiver failure. In this study, the effect of different oil velocity
on convection coefficient factor and impact of wind velocity on local
Nusselt number by Finite Volume Method will be analyzed. This
study is organized to give an overview of the numerical modeling
using a MATLAB software, as an accurate, time efficient and
economical way of analyzing the heat transfer trends over stationary
receiver tube for different Reynolds number. The results reveal when
oil velocity is below 0.33m/s, the value of convection coefficient is
negligible at low temperature. The numerical graphs indicate that
when oil velocity increases up to 1.2 m/s, heat convection coefficient
increases significantly. In fact, a reduction in oil velocity causes a
reduction in heat conduction through the glass envelope. In addition,
the different local Nusselt number is reduced when the wind blows
toward the concave side of the collector and it has a significant effect
on heat losses reduction through the glass envelope.
Abstract: Direct Torque Control (DTC) is an AC drive control
method especially designed to provide fast and robust responses. In
this paper a progressive algorithm for direct torque control of threephase
induction drive system supplied by photovoltaic arrays using
voltage source inverter to control motor torque and flux with
maximum power point tracking at different level of insolation is
presented. Experimental results of the new DTC method obtained by
an experimental rapid prototype system for drives are presented.
Simulation and experimental results confirm that the proposed system
gives quick, robust torque and speed responses at constant switching
frequencies.
Abstract: A method of effective planning and control of
industrial facility energy consumption is offered. The method allows
optimally arranging the management and full control of complex
production facilities in accordance with the criteria of minimal
technical and economic losses at the forecasting control. The method
is based on the optimal construction of the power efficiency
characteristics with the prescribed accuracy. The problem of optimal
designing of the forecasting model is solved on the basis of three
criteria: maximizing the weighted sum of the points of forecasting
with the prescribed accuracy; the solving of the problem by the
standard principles at the incomplete statistic data on the basis of
minimization of the regularized function; minimizing the technical
and economic losses due to the forecasting errors.
Abstract: Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) has been
introduced and globally gained increasing attention on its usefulness.
Continuous application of EMS may lead to the increment of muscle
mass and indirectly will increase the strength. This study can be used
as an alternative to help people especially those living a sedentary
lifestyle to improve their muscle activity without having to go
through a heavy workout session. Therefore, this study intended to
investigate the effectiveness of EMS training program in 5 weeks
interventions towards male body composition. It was a quasiexperimental
design, held at the Impulse Studio Bangsar, which
examined the effects of EMS training towards skeletal muscle mass
among the subjects. Fifteen subjects (n = 15) were selected to assist
in this study. The demographic data showed that, the average age of
the subjects was 43.07 years old ± 9.90, height (173.4 cm ± 9.09) and
weight was (85.79 kg ± 18.07). Results showed that there was a
significant difference on the skeletal muscle mass (p = 0.01 < 0.05),
upper body (p = 0.01 < 0.05) and lower body (p = 0.00 < 0.05).
Therefore, the null hypothesis has been rejected in this study. As a
conclusion, the application of EMS towards body composition can
increase the muscle size and strength. This method has been proven
to be able to improve athlete strength and thus, may be implemented
in the sports science area of knowledge.
Abstract: Globally, many women are still disadvantaged when it
comes to business opportunities. Entrepreneurship development
programs, specifically designed to assist women entrepreneurs, are
assisting in solving this problem to a certain extent. The purpose of
this study is to identify the factors that motivate females to start their
own business. Females, from three different groups (2013, 2014 and
2015), who were all enrolled in a short learning program specifically
designed for women in early start-up stage or intending to start a
business, were asked what motivated them to start a business. The
results indicated that, from all three groups, the majority of the
women wanted to start a business to be independent and have
freedom and to add towards a social goal. The results further
indicated that in general, women would enter into entrepreneurship
activity due to pull factors rather than push factors.
Abstract: A Multi-dimensional computational fluid dynamics
(CFD) two-phase model was developed with the aim to simulate
the in-core coolant circuit of a pressurized heavy water reactor
(PHWR) of a commercial nuclear power plant (NPP). Due to the
fact that this PHWR is a Reactor Pressure Vessel type (RPV),
three-dimensional (3D) detailed modelling of the large reservoirs of
the RPV (the upper and lower plenums and the downcomer) were
coupled with an in-house finite volume one-dimensional (1D) code
in order to model the 451 coolant channels housing the nuclear fuel.
Regarding the 1D code, suitable empirical correlations for taking into
account the in-channel distributed (friction losses) and concentrated
(spacer grids, inlet and outlet throttles) pressure losses were used.
A local power distribution at each one of the coolant channels
was also taken into account. The heat transfer between the coolant
and the surrounding moderator was accurately calculated using a
two-dimensional theoretical model. The implementation of subcooled
boiling and condensation models in the 1D code along with the use
of functions for representing the thermal and dynamic properties of
the coolant and moderator (heavy water) allow to have estimations
of the in-core steam generation under nominal flow conditions for a
generic fission power distribution. The in-core mass flow distribution
results for steady state nominal conditions are in agreement with the
expected from design, thus getting a first assessment of the coupled
1/3D model. Results for nominal condition were compared with
those obtained with a previous 1/3D single-phase model getting more
realistic temperature patterns, also allowing visualize low values of
void fraction inside the upper plenum. It must be mentioned that the
current results were obtained by imposing prescribed fission power
functions from literature. Therefore, results are showed with the aim
of point out the potentiality of the developed model.
Abstract: In this study, static and dynamic responses of a typical
reinforced concrete solid slab, designed to British Standard (BS 8110:
1997) and under self and live loadings for dance halls are reported.
Linear perturbation analysis using finite element method was
employed for modal, impulse loading and frequency response
analyses of the slab under the aforementioned loading condition.
Results from the static and dynamic analyses, comprising of the slab
fundamental frequencies and mode shapes, dynamic amplification
factor, maximum deflection, stress distributions among other
valuable outcomes are presented and discussed. These were gauged
with the limiting provisions in the design code with a view of
justifying valid optimization objective function for the structure that
can ensure both adequate strength and economical section for large
clear span slabs. This is necessary owing to the continued increase in
cost of erecting building structures and the squeeze on public finance
globally.
Abstract: The education sector is constantly faced with rapid
changes in technologies in terms of ensuring that the curriculum is up
to date and in terms of making sure that students are aware of these
technological changes. This challenge can be seen as the motivation
for this study, which is to examine the factors affecting computing
students’ awareness of the latest Information Technologies (ICTs).
The aim of this study is divided into two sub-objectives which are:
the selection of relevant theories and the design of a conceptual
model to support it as well as the empirical testing of the designed
model. The first objective is achieved by a review of existing
literature on technology adoption theories and models. The second
objective is achieved using a survey of computing students in the four
universities of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Data
collected from this survey is analyzed using Statistical package for
the Social Science (SPSS) using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and
Pearson correlations. The main hypothesis of this study is that there is
a relationship between the demographics and the prior conditions of
the computing students and their awareness of general ICT trends and
of Digital Switch Over (DSO) a new technology which involves the
change from analog to digital television broadcasting in order to
achieve improved spectrum efficiency. The prior conditions of the
computing students that were considered in this study are students’
perceived exposure to career guidance and students’ perceived
curriculum currency. The results of this study confirm that gender,
ethnicity, and high school computing course affect students’
perceived curriculum currency while high school location affects
students’ awareness of DSO. The results of this study also confirm
that there is a relationship between students prior conditions and their
awareness of general ICT trends and DSO in particular.
Abstract: This study presents experimental and optimization of
nanoparticle mass concentration and heat input based on the total
thermal resistance (Rth) of loop heat pipe (LHP), employed for PCCPU
cooling. In this study, silica nanoparticles (SiO2) in water with
particle mass concentration ranged from 0% (pure water) to 1% is
considered as the working fluid within the LHP. The experimental
design and optimization is accomplished by the design of
experimental tool, Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The
results show that the nanoparticle mass concentration and the heat
input have significant effect on the Rth of LHP. For a given heat
input, the Rth is found to decrease with the increase of the
nanoparticle mass concentration up to 0.5% and increased thereafter.
It is also found that the Rth is decreased when the heat input is
increased from 20W to 60W. The results are optimized with the
objective of minimizing the Rth, using Design-Expert software, and
the optimized nanoparticle mass concentration and heat input are
0.48% and 59.97W, respectively, the minimum thermal resistance
being 2.66 (ºC/W).