Abstract: This research presents the main ideas to implement an
intelligent system composed by communicating wireless sensors
measuring environmental data linked to drought indicators (such as
air temperature, soil moisture , etc...). On the other hand, the setting
up of a spatio temporal database communicating with a Web mapping
application for a monitoring in real time in activity 24:00 /day, 7
days/week is proposed to allow the screening of the drought
parameters time evolution and their extraction. Thus this system
helps detecting surfaces touched by the phenomenon of drought.
Spatio-temporal conceptual models seek to answer the users who
need to manage soil water content for irrigating or fertilizing or other
activities pursuing crop yield augmentation. Effectively, spatiotemporal
conceptual models enable users to obtain a diagram of
readable and easy data to apprehend. Based on socio-economic
information, it helps identifying people impacted by the phenomena
with the corresponding severity especially that this information is
accessible by farmers and stakeholders themselves. The study will be
applied in Siliana watershed Northern Tunisia.
Abstract: In insulation and cooling of power transformers
various liquids are used. Mineral oils have wide availability and low
cost. However, they have a poor biodegradability potential and lower
fire point in comparison with other insulating liquids. Use of a liquid
having high biodegradability is important due to environmental
consideration. This paper investigates edible corn oil as an alternative
to mineral oil. Various properties of mineral and corn oil like
breakdown voltage, dissipation factor, relative dielectric constant,
power loss and resistivity were measured according to different
standards.
Abstract: This paper describes the development of a boundary
fitted nested grid (BFNG) model to compute tsunami propagation of
2004 Indonesian tsunami in Southern Thailand coastal waters. We
develop a numerical model employing the shallow water nested
model and an orthogonal boundary fitted grid to investigate the
tsunami impact on the Southern Thailand due to the Indonesian
tsunami of 2004. Comparisons of water surface elevation obtained
from numerical simulations and field measurements are made.
Abstract: Indonesia has experienced annual forest fires that have
rapidly destroyed and degraded its forests. Fires in the peat swamp
forests of Riau Province, have set the stage for problems to worsen,
this being the ecosystem most prone to fires (which are also the most
difficult, to extinguish). Despite various efforts to curb deforestation,
and forest degradation processes, severe forest fires are still
occurring. To find an effective solution, the basic causes of the
problems must be identified. It is therefore critical to have an indepth
understanding of the underlying causal factors that have
contributed to deforestation and forest degradation as a whole, in
order to attain reductions in their rates. An assessment of the drivers of deforestation and forest
degradation was carried out, in order to design and implement
measures that could slow these destructive processes. Research was
conducted in Giam Siak Kecil–Bukit Batu Biosphere Reserve
(GSKBB BR), in the Riau Province of Sumatera, Indonesia. A
biosphere reserve was selected as the study site because such reserves
aim to reconcile conservation with sustainable development. A
biosphere reserve should promote a range of local human activities,
together with development values that are in line spatially and
economically with the area conservation values, through use of a
zoning system. Moreover, GSKBB BR is an area with vast peatlands,
and is experiencing forest fires annually. Various factors were
analysed to assess the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation
in GSKBB BR; data were collected from focus group discussions
with stakeholders, key informant interviews with key stakeholders,
field observation and a literature review. Landsat satellite imagery was used to map forest-cover changes
for various periods. Analysis of landsat images, taken during the
period 2010-2014, revealed that within the non-protected area of core
zone, there was a trend towards decreasing peat swamp forest areas,
increasing land clearance, and increasing areas of community oilpalm
and rubber plantations. Fire was used for land clearing and most
of the forest fires occurred in the most populous area (the transition
area). The study found a relationship between the deforested/
degraded areas, and certain distance variables, i.e. distance from
roads, villages and the borders between the core area and the buffer
zone. The further the distance from the core area of the reserve, the
higher was the degree of deforestation and forest degradation. Research findings suggested that agricultural expansion may be
the direct cause of deforestation and forest degradation in the reserve,
whereas socio-economic factors were the underlying driver of forest
cover changes; such factors consisting of a combination of sociocultural,
infrastructural, technological, institutional (policy and governance), demographic (population pressure) and economic
(market demand) considerations. These findings indicated that local
factors/problems were the critical causes of deforestation and
degradation in GSKBB BR. This research therefore concluded that
reductions in deforestation and forest degradation in GSKBB BR
could be achieved through ‘local actor’-tailored approaches such as
community empowerment.
Abstract: A compact Ultra Wide Band (UWB) antenna with coplanar
waveguide feed has been designed and results are verified in
this paper. The antenna has been designed on FR4 substrate with
dielectric constant (εr) of 4.4 and dimensions of 32mm x 26mm x
0.8mm. The presented antenna shows return loss characteristics in the
band of 3.1 to 10.6 GHz as prescribed by FCC, USA. Parametric
studies have been done and results thus obtained have been
presented. Simulated results have been verified on Rohde & Swartz
VNA. The measured results are in good agreement with simulated
results which make the presented antenna suitable to be used for
wearable applications. Performance analysis of antenna has also been
shown in the presence of three layered Human Arm model. Results
obtained in presence of Human Arm model has been compared with
that in free space.
Abstract: Studying on the response of vegetation phenology to
climate change at different temporal and spatial scales is important for
understanding and predicting future terrestrial ecosystem dynamics
and the adaptation of ecosystems to global change. In this study, the
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) dataset and climate
data were used to analyze the dynamics of grassland phenology as well
as their correlation with climatic factors in different eco-geographic
regions and elevation units across the Tibetan Plateau. The results
showed that during 2003–2012, the start of the grassland greening
season (SOS) appeared later while the end of the growing season
(EOS) appeared earlier following the plateau’s precipitation and heat
gradients from southeast to northwest. The multi-year mean value of
SOS showed differences between various eco-geographic regions and
was significantly impacted by average elevation and regional average
precipitation during spring. Regional mean differences for EOS were
mainly regulated by mean temperature during autumn. Changes in
trends of SOS in the central and eastern eco-geographic regions were
coupled to the mean temperature during spring, advancing by about
7d/°C. However, in the two southwestern eco-geographic regions,
SOS was delayed significantly due to the impact of spring
precipitation. The results also showed that the SOS occurred later with
increasing elevation, as expected, with a delay rate of 0.66 d/100m.
For 2003–2012, SOS showed an advancing trend in low-elevation
areas, but a delayed trend in high-elevation areas, while EOS was
delayed in low-elevation areas, but advanced in high-elevation areas.
Grassland SOS and EOS changes may be influenced by a variety of
other environmental factors in each eco-geographic region.
Abstract: Industries produce millions of cubic meters of effluent
every year and the wastewater produced may be released into the
surrounding water bodies, treated on-site or at municipal treatment
plants. The determination of organic matter in the wastewater
generated is very important to avoid any negative effect on the
aquatic ecosystem. The scope of the present work is to assess the
physicochemical composition of the wastewater produced from one
of the brewery industry in South Africa. This is to estimate the
environmental impact of its discharge into the receiving water bodies
or the municipal treatment plant. The parameters monitored for the
quantitative analysis of brewery wastewater include biological
oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total
suspended solids, volatile suspended solids, ammonia, total oxidized
nitrogen, nitrate, nitrite, phosphorus and alkalinity content. In
average, the COD concentration of the brewery effluent was 5340.97
mg/l with average pH values of 4.0 to 6.7. The BOD5 and the solids
content of the wastewater from the brewery industry were high. This
means that the effluent is very rich in organic content and its
discharge into the water bodies or the municipal treatment plant could
cause environmental pollution or damage the treatment plant. In
addition, there were variations in the wastewater composition
throughout the monitoring period. This might be as a result of
different activities that take place during the production process, as
well as the effects of peak period of beer production on the water
usage.
Abstract: Different terms of the Statistical Process Control (SPC)
has sketch in the fuzzy environment. However, Measurement System
Analysis (MSA), as a main branch of the SPC, is rarely investigated
in fuzzy area. This procedure assesses the suitability of the data to be
used in later stages or decisions of the SPC. Therefore, this research
focuses on some important measures of MSA and through a new
method introduces the measures in fuzzy environment. In this
method, which works based on Buckley approach, imprecision and
vagueness nature of the real world measurement are considered
simultaneously. To do so, fuzzy version of the gauge capability (Cg
and Cgk) are introduced. The method is also explained through
example clearly.
Abstract: In order to help the expert to validate association rules
extracted from data, some quality measures are proposed in the
literature. We distinguish two categories: objective and subjective
measures. The first one depends on a fixed threshold and on data
quality from which the rules are extracted. The second one consists
on providing to the expert some tools in the objective to explore and
visualize rules during the evaluation step. However, the number of
extracted rules to validate remains high. Thus, the manually mining
rules task is very hard. To solve this problem, we propose, in this
paper, a semi-automatic method to assist the expert during the
association rule's validation. Our method uses rule-based
classification as follow: (i) We transform association rules into
classification rules (classifiers), (ii) We use the generated classifiers
for data classification. (iii) We visualize association rules with their
quality classification to give an idea to the expert and to assist him
during validation process.
Abstract: Based on the hypothesis that disaster risk is
constructed socially and historically, this article shows the
importance of keeping alive the historical memory of disaster by
means of architectural and urban heritage conservation. This is
illustrated with three examples of Latin American World Heritage
cities, where disasters like floods and earthquakes have shaped urban
form. Therefore, the study of urban form or "Urban Morphology" is
proposed as a tool to understand and analyze urban transformations
with the documentation of the occurrence of disasters. Lessons
learned from such cities may be useful to reduce disasters risk in
contemporary built environments.
Abstract: The microstrip antennas area has seen some inventive
work in recent years and is now one of the most dynamic fields of
antenna theory. A novel and simple wideband monopole antenna is
presented printed on a single dielectric substrate which is fed by a 50
ohm microstrip line having a low-profile antenna structure with two
parallel s-shaped meandered line of same size. This antenna is fed by
a coaxial feeding tube. In this research, S–form microstrip patch antenna is designed from
measuring the prototypes of the proposed antenna one available
bands with 10db return loss bandwidths of about GPS application
(GPS L2 1490 MHz) and covering the 1400 to 1580 MHz frequency
band at 1.5 GHz, the simulated results for main parameters such as
return loss, impedance bandwidth, radiation patterns, and gains are
also discussed herein. The modeling study shows that such antennas,
in simplicity design and supply, can satisfy GPS application. Two
parallel slots are incorporated to disturb the surface flow path,
introducing local inductive effect. This antenna is fed by a coaxial
feeding tube.
Abstract: Liquid-Liquid Equilibrium (LLE) data are measured
for the ternary mixtures of water + 1-butanol + butyl acetate and
quaternary mixtures of water + 1-butanol + butyl acetate + glycerol at
atmospheric pressure at 313.15 K. In addition, isothermal
vapor–liquid–liquid equilibrium (VLLE) data are determined
experimentally at 333.15 K. The region of heterogeneity is found to
increase as the hydrophilic agent (glycerol) is introduced into the
aqueous mixtures. The experimental data are correlated with the
NRTL model. The predicted results from the solution model with the
model parameters determined from the constituent binaries are also
compared with the experimental values.
Abstract: A flow column has been innovatively used in the
design of a new electrocoagulation reactor (ECR1) that will reduce
the temperature of water being treated; where the flow columns work
as a radiator for the water being treated. In order to investigate the
performance of ECR1 and compare it to that of traditional reactors;
600 mL water samples with an initial temperature of 350C were
pumped continuously through these reactors for 30 min at current
density of 1 mA/cm2. The temperature of water being treated was
measured at 5 minutes intervals over a 30 minutes period using a
thermometer. Additional experiments were commenced to investigate
the effects of initial temperature (15-350C), water conductivity (0.15
– 1.2 S) and current density (0.5 -3 mA/cm2) on the performance of
ECR1.
The results obtained demonstrated that the ECR1, at a current
density of 1 mA/cm2 and continuous flow model, reduced water
temperature from 350C to the vicinity of 280C during the first 15
minutes and kept the same level till the end of the treatment time.
While, the temperature increased from 28.1 to 29.80C and from 29.8
to 31.90C in the batch and the traditional continuous flow models
respectively. In term of initial temperature, ECR1 maintained the
temperature of water being treated within the range of 22 to 280C
without the need for external cooling system even when the initial
temperatures varied over a wide range (15 to 350C). The influent
water conductivity was found to be a significant variable that affect
the temperature. The desirable value of water conductivity is 0.6 S.
However, it was found that the water temperature increased rapidly
with a higher current density.
Abstract: This paper presents the results obtained by numerical
simulation using the software ANSYS CFX-CFD for the air
pollutants dispersion in the atmosphere coming from the evacuation
of combustion gases resulting from the fuel combustion in an electric
thermal power plant. The model uses the Navier-Stokes equation to
simulate the dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere. It is
considered as important factors in elaboration of simulation the
atmospheric conditions (pressure, temperature, wind speed, wind
direction), the exhaust velocity of the combustion gases, chimney
height and the obstacles (buildings). Using the air quality monitoring
stations it is measured the concentrations of main pollutants (SO2,
NOx and PM). The pollutants were monitored over a period of 3
months, after that the average concentration are calculated, which is
used by the software. The concentrations are: 8.915 μg/m3 (NOx),
9.587 μg/m3 (SO2) and 42 μg/m3 (PM). A comparison of test data
with simulation results demonstrated that CFX was able to describe
the dispersion of the pollutant as well the concentration of this
pollutants in the atmosphere.
Abstract: In this paper, analysis of an infinite beam resting on
multilayer tensionless extensible geosynthetic reinforced granular
fill-poor soil system overlying soft soil strata under moving load with
constant velocity is presented. The beam is subjected to a
concentrated load moving with constant velocity. The upper
reinforced granular bed is modeled by a rough membrane embedded
in Pasternak shear layer overlying a series of compressible nonlinear
winkler springs representing the underlying the very poor soil. The
multilayer tensionless extensible geosynthetic layer has been
assumed to deform such that at interface the geosynthetic and the soil
have some deformation. Nonlinear behaviour of granular fill and the
very poor soil has been considered in the analysis by means of
hyperbolic constitutive relationships. Governing differential
equations of the soil foundation system have been obtained and
solved with the help of appropriate boundary conditions. The solution
has been obtained by employing finite difference method by means of
Gauss-Siedal iterative scheme. Detailed parametric study has been
conducted to study the influence of various parameters on the
response of soil–foundation system under consideration by means of
deflection and bending moment in the beam and tension mobilized in
the geosynthetic layer. These parameters include magnitude of
applied load, velocity of load, damping, ultimate resistance of poor
soil and granular fill layer. Range of values of parameters has been
considered as per Indian Railway conditions. This study clearly
observed that the comparisons of multilayer tensionless extensible
geosynthetic reinforcement with poor foundation soil and magnitude
of applied load, relative compressibility of granular fill and ultimate
resistance of poor soil has significant influence on the response of
soil–foundation system.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is the discrimination of 28
postmenopausal with osteoporotic femoral fractures from an agematched
control group of 28 women using texture analysis based on
fractals. Two pre-processing approaches are applied on radiographic
images; these techniques are compared to highlight the choice of the
pre-processing method. Furthermore, the values of the fractal
dimension are compared to those of the fractal signature in terms of
the classification of the two populations. In a second analysis, the
BMD measure at proximal femur was compared to the fractal
analysis, the latter, which is a non-invasive technique, allowed a
better discrimination; the results confirm that the fractal analysis of
texture on calcaneus radiographs is able to discriminate osteoporotic
patients with femoral fracture from controls. This discrimination was
efficient compared to that obtained by BMD alone. It was also
present in comparing subgroups with overlapping values of BMD.
Abstract: In this paper comprehensive studies have been carried
out for the design optimization of a waste heat recovery system for
effectively utilizing the domestic air conditioner heat energy for
producing hot water. Numerical studies have been carried for the
geometry optimization of a waste heat recovery system for domestic
air conditioners. Numerical computations have been carried out using
a validated 2d pressure based, unsteady, 2nd-order implicit, SST k-ω
turbulence model. In the numerical study, a fully implicit finite
volume scheme of the compressible, Reynolds-Averaged, Navier-
Stokes equations is employed. At identical inflow and boundary
conditions various geometries were tried and effort has been taken for
proposing the best design criteria. Several combinations of pipe line
shapes viz., straight and spiral with different number of coils for the
radiator have been attempted and accordingly the design criteria has
been proposed for the waste heat recovery system design. We have
concluded that, within the given envelope, the geometry optimization
is a meaningful objective for getting better performance of waste heat
recovery system for air conditioners.
Abstract: Background: Muscle Energy Techniques (MET) have
been widely used by manual therapists over the past years, but still
limited research validated its use and there was limited evidence to
substantiate the theories used to explain its effects. Objective: To
investigate the effect of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) on anterior
pelvic tilt in patients with lumbar spondylosis. Design: Randomized
controlled trial. Subjects: Thirty patients with anterior pelvic tilt from
both sexes were involved, aged between 35 to 50 years old and they
were divided into MET and control groups with 15 patients in each.
Methods: All patients received 3sessions/week for 4 weeks where the
study group received MET, Ultrasound and Infrared, and the control
group received U.S and I.R only. Pelvic angle was measured by
palpation meter, pain severity by the visual analogue scale and
functional disabilities by the Oswestry disability index. Results: Both
groups showed significant improvement in all measured variables.
The MET group was significantly better than the control group in
pelvic angle, pain severity, and functional disability as p-value were
(0.001, 0.0001, 0.0001) respectively. Conclusion and implication: the
study group fulfilled greater improvement in all measured variables
than the control group which implies that application of MET in
combination with U.S and I.R were more effective in improving
pelvic tilting angle, pain severity and functional disabilities than
using electrotherapy only.
Abstract: To evaluate the vigor of wheat seeds and stress of
premature aging effects on germination percentage, root length and
shoot length of five wheat cultivars that include Vynak, Karkheh,
Chamran, Star and Kavir which underwent a period of zero, two,
three, four days in terms of premature aging with 41°C temperature
and 100% relative humidity. Seed germination percentage, root
length and shoot length in these conditions were measured. This
experiment was conducted as a factorial completely randomized
design with four replications in laboratory conditions. The results
showed that each of aging treatments used in this experiment can be
used to detect differences in vigor of wheat varieties. Wheat cultivars
illustrated significant differences in germination percentage, root
length and shoot length in terms of premature aging. The wheat
cultivars; Astar and Vynak had maximum germination percentage
and Karkheh, respectively Kavir and Chamran had lowest percentage
of seed germination. Reactions of root and shoot length of wheat
cultivars was also different. The results showed that the seeds with a
stronger vigor affected less in premature aging condition and the
difference between the percentage of seed germination under normal
conditions and stress was significant and the seeds with the weaker
vigor were more sensitive to the premature aging stress and the
premature aging had more severe negative impact on seed vigor.
Abstract: This paper presents results of the survey regarding the
awareness about HIV/AIDS among HIV-infected individuals. A
questionnaire covering various aspects of HIV-infection was
conducted among 110 HIV-infected individuals who attended the
G.A. Zaharyan Moscow Tuberculosis Clinic, Department for
treatment of TB patients with HIV. The questionnaire included
questions about modes of HIV transmission and preventive measures
against HIV/AIDS, as well as questions about age, gender, education
and employment status. The survey revealed that the respondents in
the whole had a good knowledge regarding modes of HIV
transmission and preventive measures against HIV/AIDS: about
83,6% male respondents and 85,7% female respondents gave an
accurate answers regarding the HIV-infection. However, the
overwhelming majority of the study participants, that is, 88,5% men
and 98% women, was quite ignorant about the risk of acquiring HIV
through saliva and toothbrush of HIV-infected individual. Though
that risk is rather insignificant, it is still biologically possible. And
this gap in knowledge needs to be filled. As the study showed another
point of concern was the fact, that despite the knowledge of HIV
transmission risk through unprotected sex about 40% percent of HIVpositive
men and 25% of HIV-positive women did not insist on using
condoms with their sexual partners. These findings indicate that there
are still some aspects about HIV-infection which needed to be
clarified and explained through more detailed and specific
educational programs.