Abstract: This paper considers a multi criteria cell formation
problem in Cellular Manufacturing System (CMS). Minimizing the
number of voids and exceptional elements in cells simultaneously are
two proposed objective functions. This problem is an Np-hard
problem according to the literature, and therefore, we can-t find the
optimal solution by an exact method. In this paper we developed two
ant algorithms, Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) and Max-Min Ant
System (MMAS), based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Both
of them try to find the efficient solutions based on efficiency concept
in DEA. Each artificial ant is considered as a Decision Making Unit
(DMU). For each DMU we considered two inputs, the values of
objective functions, and one output, the value of one for all of them.
In order to evaluate performance of proposed methods we provided
an experimental design with some empirical problem in three
different sizes, small, medium and large. We defined three different
criteria that show which algorithm has the best performance.
Abstract: A. niger XP isolated from Vietnam produces very low amount of acidic phytase with optimal pH at 2.5 and 5.5. The phytase production of this strain was successfully improved through gene cloning and expression. A 1.4 - kb DNA fragment containing the coding region of the phyA gene was amplified by PCR and inserted into the expression vector pPICZαA with a signal peptide α- factor, under the control of AOX1 promoter. The recombined plasmid was transformed into the host strain P. pastoris KM71H and X33 by electroporation. Both host strains could efficiently express and secret phytase. The multicopy strains were screened for over expression of phytase. All the selected multicopy strains of P. pastoris X33 were examined for phytase activity, the maximum phytase yield of 1329 IU/ml was obtained after 4 days of incubation in medium BMM. The recombinant protein with MW of 97.4 KW showed to be the only one protein secreted in the culture broth. Multicopy transformant P. pastoris X33 supposed to be potential candidate for producing the commercial preparation of phytase.
Abstract: The forest fires in Thailand are annual occurrence which is the cause of air pollutions. This study intended to estimate the emission from forest fire during 2005-2009 using MODerateresolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) sensor aboard the Terra and Aqua satellites, experimental data, and statistical data. The forest fire emission is estimated using equation established by Seiler and Crutzen in 1982. The spatial and temporal variation of forest fire emission is analyzed and displayed in the form of grid density map. From the satellite data analysis suggested between 2005 and 2009, the number of fire hotspots occurred 86,877 fire hotspots with a significant highest (more than 80% of fire hotspots) in the deciduous forest. The peak period of the forest fire is in January to May. The estimation on the emissions from forest fires during 2005 to 2009 indicated that the amount of CO, CO2, CH4, and N2O was about 3,133,845 tons, 47,610.337 tons, 204,905 tons, and 6,027 tons, respectively, or about 6,171,264 tons of CO2eq. They also emitted 256,132 tons of PM10. The year 2007 was found to be the year when the emissions were the largest. Annually, March is the period that has the maximum amount of forest fire emissions. The areas with high density of forest fire emission were the forests situated in the northern, the western, and the upper northeastern parts of the country.
Abstract: In recent years various types of electric vehicles
has gained again increasing attention as an environmentally
benign technology in transport. Especially for urban areas with
high local pollution this Zero-emission technology (at the point
of use) is considered to provide proper solutions. Yet, the bad
economics and the limited driving ranges are still major barriers
for a broader market penetration of battery electric vehicles
(BEV) and of fuel cell vehicles (FCV). The major result of our
analyses is that the most important precondition for a further
dissemination of BEV in urban areas are emission-free zones.
This is an instrument which allows the promotion of BEV
without providing excessive subsidies. In addition, it is
important to note that the full benefits of EV can only be
harvested if the electricity used is produced from renewable
energy sources. That is to say, it has to be ensured that the use of
BEV in urban areas is clearly linked to a green electricity
purchase model. And moreover, the introduction of a CO2-
emission-based tax system would support this requirement.
Abstract: The project describes the modeling of various
architectures mechatronics specifically morphologies of robots in an educational environment. Each structure developed by students of
pre-school, primary and secondary was created using the concept of
reverse engineering in a constructivist environment, to later be integrated in educational software that promotes the teaching of
educational Robotics in a virtual and economic environment.
Abstract: In this paper, we present a new method for
incorporating global shift invariance in support vector machines.
Unlike other approaches which incorporate a feature extraction stage,
we first scale the image and then classify it by using the modified
support vector machines classifier. Shift invariance is achieved by
replacing dot products between patterns used by the SVM classifier
with the maximum cross-correlation value between them. Unlike the
normal approach, in which the patterns are treated as vectors, in our
approach the patterns are treated as matrices (or images). Crosscorrelation
is computed by using computationally efficient
techniques such as the fast Fourier transform. The method has been
tested on the ORL face database. The tests indicate that this method
can improve the recognition rate of an SVM classifier.
Abstract: Intradiscal and intervertebral pressure transducers
were developed. They were used to map the pressures in the nucleus
and within the annulus of the human spinal segments. Their stressrelaxation
were recorded over a period of time for nucleus
pressure, applied load, and peripherial strain against time. The
results show that for normal discs, pressures in the nucleus are
viscoelastic in nature with the applied compressive load.
Mechanical strains which develop around the periphery of the
vertebral body are also viscoelastic with the applied compressive
load. Applied compressive load against time also shows viscoelastic
behavior. However, annulus does not respond viscoelastically with
the applied load. It showed a linear response to compressive loading.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the
controversial subject of tax incentives to promote regional
development. Although extensive research has been conducted, a
review of the literature gives an inconclusive answer to whether
economic incentives are effective. One reason is the fact that for
some researchers “effective" means the significant location of new
firms in targeted areas, while for others the creation of jobs
regardless if new firms are arriving in a significant fashion. We
present this dichotomy by analyzing a tax incentive program via both
alternatives: location and job creation. The contribution of the paper
is to inform policymakers about the potential opportunities and
pitfalls when designing incentive strategies. This is particularly
relevant, given that both the US and Europe have been promoting
incentives as a tool for regional economic development.
Abstract: The Kowsar dam supply water for different usages
such as drinking, industrial, agricultural and aquaculture farms
usages and located next to the city of Dehdashat in Kohgiluye and
Boyerahmad province in southern Iran. There are some towns and
villages on the Kowsar dam watersheds, which Dehdasht and Choram
are the most important and populated cities in this area. The study
was undertaken to assess the status of water quality in the urban areas
of the Kowsar dam. A total of 28 water samples were collected from
6 stations on surface water and 1 station from groundwater on the
watershed of the Kowsar dam. All the samples were analyzed for Ni
concentration using standard procedures. The results were compared
with other national and international standards. Among the analyzed
samples, as the maximum value of Nickel (0.01 mg/L) was observed
on the station 2 at the autumn 2010, all the samples analyzed were
within the maximum admissible limits by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency, EU, WHO and the Iranian. In
general results of the present study have shown that a Ni mean value
of station No. 2 with 0.006 mg/L is higher than the other stations. Ni
level of all samples and stations have had normal values and this is an
indication of pollution potential and hazards because of human
activity and waste water of towns in the areas, which can effect on
human health implications in future. This research, therefore,
recommends the government and other responsible authorities to take
suitable improving measures in the Kowsar dam watersheds.
Abstract: Methanol-to-olefins (MTO) coupled with
transformation of coal or natural gas to methanol gives an interesting
and promising way to produce ethylene and propylene. To investigate
solid concentration in gas-solid fluidized bed for methanol-to-olefins
process catalyzed by SAPO-34, a cold model experiment system is
established in this paper. The system comprises a gas distributor in a
300mm internal diameter and 5000mm height acrylic column, the
fiber optic probe system and series of cyclones. The experiments are
carried out at ambient conditions and under different superficial gas
velocity ranging from 0.3930m/s to 0.7860m/s and different initial bed
height ranging from 600mm to 1200mm. The effects of radial
distance, axial distance, superficial gas velocity, initial bed height on
solid concentration in the bed are discussed. The effects of distributor
shape and porosity on solid concentration are also discussed. The
time-averaged solid concentration profiles under different conditions
are obtained.
Abstract: The objective of this study is to investigate fire
behaviors, experimentally and numerically, in a scaled version of an
underground station. The effect of ventilation velocity on the fire is
examined. Fire experiments are simulated by burning 10 ml
isopropyl alcohol fuel in a fire pool with dimensions 5cm x 10cm x 4
mm at the center of 1/100 scaled underground station model. A
commercial CFD program FLUENT was used in numerical
simulations. For air flow simulations, k-ω SST turbulence model and
for combustion simulation, non-premixed combustion model are
used. This study showed that, the ventilation velocity is increased
from 1 m/s to 3 m/s the maximum temperature in the station is found
to be less for ventilation velocity of 1 m/s. The reason for these
experimental result lies on the relative dominance of oxygen supply
effect on cooling effect. Without piston effect, maximum temperature
occurs above the fuel pool. However, when the ventilation velocity
increased the flame was tilted in the direction of ventilation and the
location of maximum temperature moves along the flow direction.
The velocities measured experimentally in the station at different
locations are well matched by the CFD simulation results. The
prediction of general flow pattern is satisfactory with the smoke
visualization tests. The backlayering in velocity is well predicted by
CFD simulation. However, all over the station, the CFD simulations
predicted higher temperatures compared to experimental
measurements.
Abstract: Bicycle usage for exercise, recreation, and commuting
to work in Australia shows that pedal cycling is the fourth most
popular activity with 10.6% increase in participants between 2001
and 2007. As with other means of transport, accident and injury
becomes common although mandatory bicycle helmet wearing has
been introduced. The research aims to develop a face surrogate made
of sandwich of rigid foam and rubber sheets to represent human
facial bone under blunt impact. The facial surrogate will serve as an
important test device for further development of facial-impact
protection for cyclist. A test procedure was developed to simulate the
energy of impact and record data to evaluate the effect of impact on
facial bones. Drop tests were performed to establish a suitable
combination of materials. It was found that the sandwich structure of
rigid extruded-polystyrene foam (density of 40 kg/m3 with a pattern
of 6-mm-holes), Neoprene rubber sponge, and Abrasaflex rubber
backing, had impact characteristics comparable to that of human
facial bone. In particular, the foam thickness of 30 mm and 25 mm
was found suitable to represent human zygoma (cheekbone) and
maxilla (upper-jaw bone), respectively.
Abstract: The present paper develops and validates a numerical procedure for the calculation of turbulent combustive flow in converging and diverging ducts and throuh simulation of the heat transfer processes, the amount of production and spread of Nox pollutant has been measured. A marching integration solution procedure employing the TDMA is used to solve the discretized equations. The turbulence model is the Prandtl Mixing Length method. Modeling the combustion process is done by the use of Arrhenius and Eddy Dissipation method. Thermal mechanism has been utilized for modeling the process of forming the nitrogen oxides. Finite difference method and Genmix numerical code are used for numerical solution of equations. Our results indicate the important influence of the limiting diverging angle of diffuser on the coefficient of recovering of pressure. Moreover, due to the intense dependence of Nox pollutant to the maximum temperature in the domain with this feature, the Nox pollutant amount is also in maximum level.
Abstract: This paper presents comparative emission study of
newly introduced gasoline/LPG bifuel automotive engine in Indian
market. Emissions were tested as per LPG-Bharat stage III driving
cycle. Emission tests were carried out for urban cycle and extra urban
cycle. Total time for urban and extra urban cycle was 1180 sec.
Engine was run in LPG mode by using conversion system. Emissions
were tested as per standard procedure and were compared. Corrected
emissions were computed by deducting ambient reading from sample
reading. Paper describes detail emission test procedure and results
obtained. CO emissions were in the range of38.9 to 111.3 ppm. HC
emissions were in the range of 18.2 to 62.6 ppm. Nox emissions were
08 to 3.9 ppm and CO2 emissions were from 6719.2 to 8051 ppm.
Paper throws light on emission results of LPG vehicles recently
introduced in Indian automobile market. Objectives of this
experimental study were to measure emissions of engines in gasoline
& LPG mode and compare them.
Abstract: From past many decades human beings are suffering
from plethora of natural disasters. Occurrence of disasters is a
frequent process; it changes conceptual myths as more and more
advancement are made. Although we are living in technological era
but in developing countries like Pakistan disasters are shaped by
socially constructed roles. The need is to understand the most
vulnerable group of society i.e. females; their issues are complex in
nature because of undermined gender status in the society. There is a
need to identify maximum issues regarding females and to enhance
the achievement of millennium development goals (MDGs). Gender
issues are of great concern all around the globe including Pakistan.
Here female visibility in society is low, and also during disasters, the
failure to understand the reality that concentrates on double burden
including productive and reproductive care. Women have to
contribute a lot in society so we need to make them more disaster
resilient. For this non-structural measures like awareness, trainings
and education must be carried out. In rural and in urban settings in
any disaster like earthquake or flood, elements like gender
perspective, their age, physical health, demographic issues contribute
towards vulnerability. In Pakistan the gender issues in disasters were
of less concern before 2005 earthquake and 2010 floods. Significant
achievements are made after 2010 floods when gender and child cell
was created to provide all facilities to women and girls. The aim of
the study is to highlight all necessary facilities in a disaster to build
coping mechanism in females from basic rights till advance level
including education.
Abstract: The objective of this research is to investigate the
advantages of using large-diameter 0.7 inch prestressing strands in
pretention applications. The advantages of large-diameter strands are
mainly beneficial in the heavy construction applications. Bridges and
tunnels are subjected to a higher daily traffic with an exponential
increase in trucks ultimate weight, which raise the demand for higher
structural capacity of bridges and tunnels. In this research, precast
prestressed I-girders were considered as a case study. Flexure
capacities of girders fabricated using 0.7 inch strands and different
concrete strengths were calculated and compared to capacities of 0.6
inch strands girders fabricated using equivalent concrete strength.
The effect of bridge deck concrete strength on composite deck-girder
section capacity was investigated due to its possible effect on final
section capacity. Finally, a comparison was made to compare the
bridge cross-section of girders designed using regular 0.6 inch strands
and the large-diameter 0.7 inch. The research findings showed that
structural advantages of 0.7 inch strands allow for using fewer bridge
girders, reduced material quantity, and light-weight members. The
structural advantages of 0.7 inch strands are maximized when high
strength concrete (HSC) are used in girder fabrication, and concrete
of minimum 5ksi compressive strength is used in pouring bridge
decks. The use of 0.7 inch strands in bridge industry can partially
contribute to the improvement of bridge conditions, minimize
construction cost, and reduce the construction duration of the project.
Abstract: In this paper a new maximum power point tracking
algorithm for photovoltaic arrays is proposed. The algorithm detects
the maximum power point of the PV. The computed maximum
power is used as a reference value (set point) of the control system.
ON/OFF power controller with hysteresis band is used to control the
operation of a Buck chopper such that the PV module always
operates at its maximum power computed from the MPPT algorithm.
The major difference between the proposed algorithm and other
techniques is that the proposed algorithm is used to control directly
the power drawn from the PV.
The proposed MPPT has several advantages: simplicity, high
convergence speed, and independent on PV array characteristics. The
algorithm is tested under various operating conditions. The obtained
results have proven that the MPP is tracked even under sudden
change of irradiation level.
Abstract: Salinity is a measure of the amount of salts in the
water. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) as salinity parameter are often
determined using laborious and time consuming laboratory tests, but
it may be more appropriate and economical to develop a method
which uses a more simple soil salinity index. Because dissolved ions
increase salinity as well as conductivity, the two measures are
related. The aim of this research was determine of constant
coefficients for predicting of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) based on
Electrical Conductivity (EC) with Statistics of Correlation
coefficient, Root mean square error, Maximum error, Mean Bias
error, Mean absolute error, Relative error and Coefficient of residual
mass. For this purpose, two experimental areas (S1, S2) of Khuzestan
province-IRAN were selected and four treatments with three
replications by series of double rings were applied. The treatments
were included 25cm, 50cm, 75cm and 100cm water application. The
results showed the values 16.3 & 12.4 were the best constant
coefficients for predicting of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) based on
EC in Pilot S1 and S2 with correlation coefficient 0.977 & 0.997 and
191.1 & 106.1 Root mean square errors (RMSE) respectively.
Abstract: This paper presents the possibilities of using Weibull statistical distribution in modeling the distribution of defects in ERP systems. There follows a case study, which examines helpdesk records of defects that were reported as the result of one ERP subsystem upgrade. The result of the applied modeling is in modeling the reliability of the ERP system from a user perspective with estimated parameters like expected maximum number of defects in one day or predicted minimum of defects between two upgrades. Applied measurement-based analysis framework is proved to be suitable in predicting future states of the reliability of the observed ERP subsystems.
Abstract: Development, calibration and validation of a threedimensional
model of the Legform impactor for pedestrian crash with
bumper are presented. Lower limb injury is becoming an increasingly
important concern in vehicle safety for both occupants and
pedestrians. In order to prevent lower extremity injuries to a
pedestrian when struck by a car, it is important to elucidate the
loadings from car front structures on the lower extremities and the
injury mechanism caused by these loadings. An impact test
procedure with a legform addressing lower limb injuries in car
pedestrian accidents has been proposed by EEVC/WG17. In this
study a modified legform impactor is introduced and validated
against EEVC/WG17 criteria. The finite element model of this
legform is developed using LS-DYNA software. Total mass of
legform impactor is 13.4 kg.Technical specifications including the
mass and location of the center of gravity and moment of inertia
about a horizontal axis through the respective centre of gravity in
femur and tibia are determined. The obtained results of legform
impactor static and dynamic tests are as specified in the
EEVC/WG17.