Abstract: The choice evaluation between oil-immersed and dry-type transformers is often controlled by cost, location, and application. This paper compares the electrical performance of liquid- filled and dry-type transformers, which will assist the customer to choose the right and efficient ones for particular applications. An accurate assessment of the time-average flux density, electric field intensity and voltage distribution in an oil-insulated and a dry-type transformer have been computed and investigated. The detailed transformer modeling and analysis has been carried out to determine electrical parameter distributions. The models of oil-immersed and dry-type transformers are developed and solved by using the finite element method (FEM) to compare the electrical parameters. The effects of non-uniform and non-coherent voltage gradient, flux density and electric field distribution on the power losses and insulation properties of transformers are studied in detail. The results show that, for the same voltage and kilo-volt-ampere (kVA) rating, oil-immersed transformers have better insulation properties and less hysteresis losses than the dry-type.
Abstract: Cellulose acetate (CA) is a natural biodegradable polymer. It forms transparent films by the casting technique. CA suffers from high degree of water permeability as well as the low thermal stability at high temperatures. To adjust the CA polymeric films to the manufacture of food packaging, its thermal and mechanical properties should be improved. The modification of CA by grafting it with N-Amino phenyl maleimide (N-APhM) led to the construction of hydrophobic branches throughout the polymeric matrix which reduced its wettability as compared to the parent CA. The branches built onto the polymeric chains had been characterized by UV/Vis, 13C-NMR and ESEM. The improvement of the thermal properties was investigated and compared to the parent CA using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), differential thermal analysis (DTA), contact angle and mechanical testing measurements. The results revealed that the water-uptake was reduced by increasing the graft percentage. The thermal and mechanical properties were also improved.
Abstract: Lead contamination of agricultural land mainly vegetated with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) has been investigated. The metal derived from the discharge of sludge from a ceramic industry in the past had used lead paints. The results showed very high values of lead concentration in many soil samples. In order to assess the lead soil contamination, a sequential extraction with H2O, KNO3, EDTA was performed, and the chemical forms of lead in the soil were evaluated. More than 70% of lead was in a potentially bioavailable form. Analysis of Lolium perenne showed elevated lead concentration. A Freundlich-like model was used to describe the transferability of the metal from the soil to the plant.
Abstract: Crank shaft length, connecting rod length, crank angle, engine rpm, cylinder bore, mass of piston and compression ratio are the inputs that can control the performance of the slider crank mechanism and then its efficiency. Several combinations of these seven inputs are used and compared. The throughput engine torque predicted by the simulation is analyzed through two different regression models, with and without interaction terms, developed according to multi-linear regression using LU decomposition to solve system of algebraic equations. These models are validated. A regression model in seven inputs including their interaction terms lowered the polynomial degree from 3rd degree to 1st degree and suggested valid predictions and stable explanations.
Abstract: Many ophthalmologists can examine declines in visual sensitivity at arbitrary points on the retina using a precise perimetry device with a fundus camera function. However, the retinal layer causing the decline in visual sensitivity cannot be identified by this method. We studied an electroretinogram (ERG) function that can move the center of the multifocal hexagonal stimulus array in order to investigate cryptogenic diseases, such as macular dystrophy, acute zonal occult outer retinopathy, and multiple evanescent white dot syndrome. An electroretinographic optical system, specifically a perimetric optical system, was added to an experimental device carrying the same optical system as a fundus camera. We also added an infrared camera, a cold mirror, a halogen lamp, and a monitor. The software was generated to show the multifocal hexagonal stimulus array on the monitor using C++Builder XE8 and to move the center of the array up and down as well as back and forth. We used a multifunction I/O device and its design platform LabVIEW for data retrieval. The plate electrodes were used to measure electrodermal activities around the eyes. We used a multifocal hexagonal stimulus array with 37 elements in the software. The center of the multifocal hexagonal stimulus array could be adjusted to the same position as the examination target of the precise perimetry. We successfully added the moving ERG function to the experimental ophthalmologic device.
Abstract: Studying DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) sequence is useful in biological processes and it is applied in the fields such as diagnostic and forensic research. DNA is the hereditary information in human and almost all other organisms. It is passed to their generations. Earlier stage detection of defective DNA sequence may lead to many developments in the field of Bioinformatics. Nowadays various tedious techniques are used to identify defective DNA. The proposed work is to analyze and identify the cancer-causing DNA motif in a given sequence. Initially the human DNA sequence is separated as k-mers using k-mer separation rule. The separated k-mers are clustered using Self Organizing Map (SOM). Using Levenshtein distance measure, cancer associated DNA motif is identified from the k-mer clusters. Experimental results of this work indicate the presence or absence of cancer causing DNA motif. If the cancer associated DNA motif is found in DNA, it is declared as the cancer disease causing DNA sequence. Otherwise the input human DNA is declared as normal sequence. Finally, elapsed time is calculated for finding the presence of cancer causing DNA motif using clustering formation. It is compared with normal process of finding cancer causing DNA motif. Locating cancer associated motif is easier in cluster formation process than the other one. The proposed work will be an initiative aid for finding genetic disease related research.
Abstract: Due to the numerous advantages of steel corrugated
web girders, its application field is growing for bridges as well as for
buildings. The global stability behavior of such girders is
significantly larger than those of conventional I-girders with flat web,
thus the application of the structural steel material can be
significantly reduced. Design codes and specifications do not provide
clear and complete rules or recommendations for the determination of
the lateral torsional buckling (LTB) resistance of corrugated web
girders. Therefore, the authors made a thorough investigation
regarding the LTB resistance of the corrugated web girders. Finite
element (FE) simulations have been performed to develop new
design formulas for the determination of the LTB resistance of
trapezoidally corrugated web girders. FE model is developed
considering geometrical and material nonlinear analysis using
equivalent geometric imperfections (GMNI analysis). The equivalent
geometric imperfections involve the initial geometric imperfections
and residual stresses coming from rolling, welding and flame cutting.
Imperfection sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the
necessary magnitudes regarding only the first eigenmodes shape
imperfections. By the help of the validated FE model, an extended
parametric study is carried out to investigate the LTB resistance for
different trapezoidal corrugation profiles. First, the critical moment of
a specific girder was calculated by FE model. The critical moments
from the FE calculations are compared to the previous analytical
calculation proposals. Then, nonlinear analysis was carried out to
determine the ultimate resistance. Due to the numerical
investigations, new proposals are developed for the determination of
the LTB resistance of trapezoidally corrugated web girders through a
modification factor on the design method related to the conventional
flat web girders.
Abstract: The latent heat thermal energy storage system is a
thrust area of research due to exuberant thermal energy storage
potential. The thermal performance of PCM is significantly
augmented by installation of the high thermal conductivity fins. The
objective of the present study is to obtain optimum size and location
of the fins to enhance diffusion heat transfer without altering overall
melting time. Hence, the constructal theory is employed to eliminate,
resize, and re-position the fins. A numerical code based on conjugate
heat transfer coupled enthalpy porosity approached is developed to
solve Navier-Stoke and energy equation. The numerical results show
that the constructal fin design has enhanced the thermal performance
along with the increase in the overall volume of PCM when
compared to conventional. The overall volume of PCM is found to be
increased by half of total of volume of fins. The elimination and repositioning
the fins at high temperature gradient from low
temperature gradient is found to be vital.
Abstract: The discussion about elements of cultural heritage and
their relevance among the ancient villages is comparably insufficient.
The protection work is strongly influenced by touristic development
and cultural gimmick, resulting in low protection efficiency and many
omissions. Historical villages as the cultural settlement patterns bear a
large number of heritage relics. They were regionally scattered with a
clear characteristic of gathering. First of all, this study proposes the
association and similarities of the forming mechanism between four
historic cultural villages in Mian Mountain. Secondly, the study
reveals that these villages own the strategic pass, underground
passage, and the mountain barrier. Thirdly, based on the differentiated
characteristics of villages’ space, the study discusses about the
integrated conservation from three levels: the regional heritage
conservation, the cultural line shaping, and the featured brand
building.
Abstract: In this paper, an (irregular) case relating to base circle, root circle, and pressure angle has been discussed and a computer programme has been developed to simulate and plot spur gear tooth profile, including involute and trochoid curves based on the formulation of rack cutter using different values of pressure angle and profile shift factor and it gave the values of all important geometric parameters. The results showed the flexibility of this approach and versatility of the programme to draw many different cases of spur gear teeth of any module, pressure angle, profile shift factor, number of teeth and rack cutter tip radius. The procedure developed can be extended to produce finite element models of heretofore intractable geometrical forms, to exploring fabrication of nonstandard tooth forms also. Finite elements model of these irregular cases have been built using above programme, and modal analysis has been done using ANSYS software, and natural frequencies of these selected cases have been obtained and discussed.
Abstract: The purpose of the present research is to equate two
test forms as part of a study to evaluate the educational effectiveness
of the ARTé: Mecenas art history learning game. The researcher
applied Item Response Theory (IRT) procedures to calculate item,
test, and mean-sigma equating parameters. With the sample size
n=134, test parameters indicated “good” model fit but low Test
Information Functions and more acute than expected equating
parameters. Therefore, the researcher applied equipercentile equating
and linear equating to raw scores and compared the equated form
parameters and effect sizes from each method. Item scaling in IRT
enables the researcher to select a subset of well-discriminating items.
The mean-sigma step produces a mean-slope adjustment from the
anchor items, which was used to scale the score on the new form
(Form R) to the reference form (Form Q) scale. In equipercentile
equating, scores are adjusted to align the proportion of scores in each
quintile segment. Linear equating produces a mean-slope adjustment,
which was applied to all core items on the new form. The study
followed a quasi-experimental design with purposeful sampling of
students enrolled in a college level art history course (n=134) and
counterbalancing design to distribute both forms on the pre- and posttests.
The Experimental Group (n=82) was asked to play ARTé:
Mecenas online and complete Level 4 of the game within a two-week
period; 37 participants completed Level 4. Over the same period, the
Control Group (n=52) did not play the game. The researcher
examined between group differences from post-test scores on test
Form Q and Form R by full-factorial Two-Way ANOVA. The raw
score analysis indicated a 1.29% direct effect of form, which was
statistically non-significant but may be practically significant. The
researcher repeated the between group differences analysis with all
three equating methods. For the IRT mean-sigma adjusted scores,
form had a direct effect of 8.39%. Mean-sigma equating with a small
sample may have resulted in inaccurate equating parameters.
Equipercentile equating aligned test means and standard deviations,
but resultant skewness and kurtosis worsened compared to raw score
parameters. Form had a 3.18% direct effect. Linear equating
produced the lowest Form effect, approaching 0%. Using linearly
equated scores, the researcher conducted an ANCOVA to examine
the effect size in terms of prior knowledge. The between group effect
size for the Control Group versus Experimental Group participants
who completed the game was 14.39% with a 4.77% effect size
attributed to pre-test score. Playing and completing the game
increased art history knowledge, and individuals with low prior
knowledge tended to gain more from pre- to post test. Ultimately,
researchers should approach test equating based on their theoretical
stance on Classical Test Theory and IRT and the respective assumptions. Regardless of the approach or method, test equating
requires a representative sample of sufficient size. With small sample
sizes, the application of a range of equating approaches can expose
item and test features for review, inform interpretation, and identify
paths for improving instruments for future study.
Abstract: The world-wide population of people over 60 years
of age is growing rapidly. The explosion is placing increasingly
onerous demands on individual families, multiple industries and
entire countries. Current, human-intensive approaches to eldercare
are not sustainable, but IoT and AI technologies can help. The
Knowledge Reactor (KR) is a contextual, data fusion engine built to
address this and other similar problems. It fuses and centralizes IoT
and System of Record/Engagement data into a reactive knowledge
graph. Cognitive applications and services are constructed with its
multiagent architecture. The KR can scale-up and scaledown, because
it exploits container-based, horizontally scalable services for graph
store (JanusGraph) and pub-sub (Kafka) technologies. While the KR
can be applied to many domains that require IoT and AI technologies,
this paper describes how the KR specifically supports the challenging
domain of cognitive eldercare. Rule- and machine learning-based
analytics infer activities of daily living from IoT sensor readings. KR
scalability, adaptability, flexibility and usability are demonstrated.
Abstract: This paper describes the design and implementation of
web system for continuable and viable collaboration. This study
proposes the improvement of the system based on a result of a certain
practice. As contemporary higher education information environments
transform, this study highlights the significance of university identity
and college identity that are formed continuously through independent
activities of the students. Based on these discussions, the present study
proposes a practical media environment design which facilitates the
processes of organizational identity formation based on a continuous
and cyclical model. Even if users change by this system, the
communication system continues operation and cooperation. The
activity becomes the archive and produces new activity. Based on the
result, this study elaborates a plan with a re-design by a system from
the viewpoint of second-order cybernetics. Systems theory is a
theoretical foundation for our study.
Abstract: Tire noise has a significant impact on ride quality
and vehicle interior comfort, even at low frequency. Reduction of
tire noise is especially important due to strict state and federal
environmental regulations. The primary sources of tire noise are the
low frequency structure-borne noise and the noise that originates from
the release of trapped air between the tire tread and road surface
during each revolution of the tire. The frequency response of the tire
changes at low and high frequency. At low frequency, the tension
and bending moment become dominant, while the internal structure
and local deformation become dominant at higher frequencies. Here,
we analyze tire response in terms of deformation and rolling velocity
at low revolution frequency. An Abaqus FEA finite element model
is used to calculate the static and dynamic response of a rolling tire
under different rolling conditions. The natural frequencies and mode
shapes of a deformed tire are calculated with the FEA package where
the subspace-based steady state dynamic analysis calculates dynamic
response of tire subjected to harmonic excitation. The analysis was
conducted on the dynamic response at the road (contact point of tire
and road surface) and side nodes of a static and rolling tire when
the tire was excited with 200 N vertical load for a frequency ranging
from 20 to 200 Hz. The results show that frequency has little effect on
tire deformation up to 80 Hz. But between 80 and 200 Hz, the radial
and lateral components of displacement of the road and side nodes
exhibited significant oscillation. For the static analysis, the fluctuation
was sharp and frequent and decreased with frequency. In contrast, the
fluctuation was periodic in nature for the dynamic response of the
rolling tire. In addition to the dynamic analysis, a steady state rolling
analysis was also performed on the tire traveling at ground velocity
with a constant angular motion. The purpose of the computation
was to demonstrate the effect of rotating motion on deformation and
rolling velocity with respect to a fixed Newtonian reference point.
The analysis showed a significant variation in deformation and rolling
velocity due to centrifugal and Coriolis acceleration with respect to
a fixed Newtonian point on ground.
Abstract: Jesus and Socrates shared a remarkable gift; a channel of inner spiritual communication, to afford them truthful guidance in their respective religious discourse. Jesus is part of the Trinity; he is the Son, the Son of God. In mortal life he is the son of a carpenter. He called on all peoples to repent of their sins but fell foul of the authorities and was crucified. Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher and the son of an artisan. His mission is to drive the Athenians to investigate truth, but he too incurs the displeasure of fellow citizens, to the extent of execution. The accusations made against them centre around, in Jesus’ case, proclaiming himself the Son of God, with the means to pardon, and in Socrates’, that a daimonion, an inner voice, speaks to him in his heart. Jesus talks with God directly through prayer, as the pneuma of God, i.e. to pneuma to hagion, or Holy Spirit, is with him. Socrates seems to enter what we would now think of as a trance-like condition, wherein he communicates with his inner daimonion, who directs him to take courage on the righteous path.
Abstract: Bullet penetration in steel plate is investigated with
the help of three-dimensional, non-linear, transient, dynamic, finite
elements analysis using explicit time integration code LSDYNA. The
effect of large strain, strain-rate and temperature at very high velocity
regime was studied from number of simulations of semi-spherical
nose shape bullet penetration through single layered circular plate
with 2 mm thickness at impact velocities of 500, 1000, and 1500 m/s
with the help of Johnson Cook material model. Mie-Gruneisen
equation of state is used in conjunction with Johnson Cook material
model to determine pressure-volume relationship at various points of
interests. Two material models viz. Plastic-Kinematic and Johnson-
Cook resulted in different deformation patterns in steel plate. It is
observed from the simulation results that the velocity drop and loss of
kinetic energy occurred very quickly up to perforation of plate, after
that the change in velocity and changes in kinetic energy are
negligibly small. The physics behind this kind of behaviour is
presented in the paper.
Abstract: Deteriorating quality of the pedestrian environment
and the increasing risk of pedestrian crashes are major concerns for
most of the cities in India. The recent shift in the priority to
motorized transport and the abating condition of existing pedestrian
facilities can be considered as prime reasons for the increasing
pedestrian related crashes in India. Bengaluru City – the IT capital
hub of the nation is not much different from this. The increase in
number of pedestrian crashes in Bengaluru reflects the same. To
resolve this issue and to ensure safe, sustainable and pedestrian
friendly sidewalks, Govt. of Karnataka, India has implemented
newfangled pedestrian sidewalks popularized programme named
Tender S.U.R.E. (Specifications for Urban Road Execution) projects.
Tender SURE adopts unique urban street design guidelines where the
pedestrians are given prime preference. The present study presents an
assessment of the quality and performance of the pedestrian side walk
and the walkability index of the newly built pedestrian friendly
sidewalks. Various physical and environmental factors affecting
pedestrian safety are identified and studied in detail. The pedestrian
mobility is quantified through Pedestrian Level of Service (PLoS)
and the pedestrian walking comfort is measured by calculating the
Walkability Index (WI). It is observed that the new initiatives taken
in reference to improving pedestrian safety have succeeded in
Bengaluru by attaining a level of Service of ‘A’ and with a good WI
score.
Abstract: Background: Islands in the Mediterranean region offer
opportunities for various industries to take advantage of the
facilitation and use of versatile floating structures in coastal areas. In
the context of dense land use, marine structures can contribute to
ensure both terrestrial and marine resource sustainability. Objective:
The aim of this paper is to present and critically discuss an array of
issues that characterize the design process of a floating structure for
coastal areas and to present the challenges and opportunities of
providing such multifunctional and versatile structures around the
Maltese coastline. Research Design: A three-tier research design
commenced with a systematic literature review. Semi-structured
interviews with stakeholders including a naval architect, a marine
engineer and civil designers were conducted. A second stage
preceded a focus group with stakeholders in design and construction
of marine lightweight structures. The three tier research design
ensured triangulation of issues. All phases of the study were
governed by research ethics. Findings: Findings were grouped into
three main themes: excellence, impact and implementation. These
included design considerations, applications and potential impacts on
local industry. Literature for the design and construction of marine
structures in the Maltese Islands presented multiple gaps in the
application of marine structures for local industries. Weather
conditions, depth of sea bed and wave actions presented limitations
on the design capabilities of the structure. Conclusion: Water
structures offer great potential and conclusions demonstrate the
applicability of such designs for Maltese waters. There is still no such
provision within Maltese coastal areas for multi-purpose use. The
introduction of such facilities presents a range of benefits for visiting
tourists and locals thereby offering wide range of services to tourism
and marine industry. Costs for construction and adverse weather
conditions were amongst the main limitations that shaped design
capacities of the water structures.
Abstract: The Extended Enterprise Resource Planning (ERPII)
system usually requires massive amounts of storage space, powerful
servers, and large upfront and ongoing investments to purchase and
manage the software and the related hardware which are not
affordable for organizations. In recent decades, organizations prefer
to adapt their business structures with new technologies for
remaining competitive in the world economy. Therefore, cloud
computing (which is one of the tools of information technology (IT))
is a modern system that reveals the next-generation application
architecture. Also, cloud computing has had some advantages that
reduce costs in many ways such as: lower upfront costs for all
computing infrastructure and lower cost of maintaining and
supporting. On the other hand, traditional ERPII is not responding for
huge amounts of data and relations between the organizations. In this
study, based on a literature study, ERPII is investigated in the context
of cloud computing where the organizations operate more efficiently.
Also, ERPII conditions have a response to needs of organizations in
large amounts of data and relations between the organizations.
Abstract: The psychological present has an actual extension.
When a sequence of instantaneous stimuli falls in this short interval
of time, observers perceive a compresence of events in succession
and the temporal order depends on the qualitative relationships
between the perceptual properties of the events. Two experiments
were carried out to study the influence of perceptual grouping, with
and without temporal displacement, on the duration of auditory
sequences. The psychophysical method of adjustment was adopted.
The first experiment investigated the effect of temporal displacement
of a white noise on sequence duration. The second experiment
investigated the effect of temporal displacement, along the pitch
dimension, on temporal shortening of sequence. The results suggest
that the temporal order of sounds, in the case of temporal
displacement, is organized along the pitch dimension.