Abstract: In view of the requirements of the current industrial
processes, the instrumentation plays a critical role. In this context,
this work aims to raise some the operating characteristics of the level
and flow transmitters, in addition to observing their similarities and
possible limitations configurations.
Abstract: The practical efficient approach is suggested to estimate the high-speed objects instant bounds in C-OTDR monitoring systems. In case of super-dynamic objects (trains, cars) is difficult to obtain the adequate estimate of the instantaneous object localization because of estimation lag. In other words, reliable estimation coordinates of monitored object requires taking some time for data observation collection by means of C-OTDR system, and only if the required sample volume will be collected the final decision could be issued. But it is contrary to requirements of many real applications. For example, in rail traffic management systems we need to get data of the dynamic objects localization in real time. The way to solve this problem is to use the set of statistical independent parameters of C-OTDR signals for obtaining the most reliable solution in real time. The parameters of this type we can call as «signaling parameters» (SP). There are several the SP’s which carry information about dynamic objects instant localization for each of COTDR channels. The problem is that some of these parameters are very sensitive to dynamics of seismoacoustic emission sources, but are non-stable. On the other hand, in case the SP is very stable it becomes insensitive as rule. This report contains describing of the method for SP’s co-processing which is designed to get the most effective dynamic objects localization estimates in the C-OTDR monitoring system framework.
Abstract: In VLSI, testing plays an important role. Major
problem in testing are test data volume and test power. The important
solution to reduce test data volume and test time is test data
compression. The Proposed technique combines the bit maskdictionary
and 2n pattern run length-coding method and provides a
substantial improvement in the compression efficiency without
introducing any additional decompression penalty. This method has
been implemented using Mat lab and HDL Language to reduce test
data volume and memory requirements. This method is applied on
various benchmark test sets and compared the results with other
existing methods. The proposed technique can achieve a compression
ratio up to 86%.
Abstract: A sliding door system is used in commercial vehicles
and passenger cars to allow a larger unobstructed access to the
interior for loading and unloading. The movement of a sliding door
on vehicle body is ensured by mechanisms and tracks having special
cross-section which is manufactured by roll forming and stretch
bending process. There are three tracks and three mechanisms which
are called upper, central and lower on a sliding door system. There
are static requirements as strength on different directions, rigidity for
mechanisms, door drop off, door sag; dynamic requirements as high
energy slam opening-closing and durability requirement to validate
these products. In addition, there is a kinematic requirement to find
out force values from door handle during manual operating. In this
study, finite element analysis and physical test results which are
realized for sliding door systems will be shared comparatively.
Abstract: This research will give the introductory ideas for
cultural adaption of B2C E-Service design in Germany. By the
intense competition of E-Service development, many companies have
realized the importance of understanding the emotional and cultural
characteristics of their customers. Ignoring customers’ needs and
requirements throughout the E-Service design can lead to faults,
mistakes, and gaps. The term of E-Service usability now is changed
not only to develop high quality E-Services, but also to be extended
to include customer satisfaction and provide for them to feel local.
Abstract: This study presents a hybrid metaheuristic algorithm
to obtain optimum designs for steel space buildings. The optimum
design problem of three-dimensional steel frames is mathematically
formulated according to provisions of LRFD-AISC (Load and
Resistance factor design of American Institute of Steel Construction).
Design constraints such as the strength requirements of structural
members, the displacement limitations, the inter-story drift and the
other structural constraints are derived from LRFD-AISC
specification. In this study, a hybrid algorithm by using teachinglearning
based optimization (TLBO) and harmony search (HS)
algorithms is employed to solve the stated optimum design problem.
These algorithms are two of the recent additions to metaheuristic
techniques of numerical optimization and have been an efficient tool
for solving discrete programming problems. Using these two
algorithms in collaboration creates a more powerful tool and
mitigates each other’s weaknesses. To demonstrate the powerful
performance of presented hybrid algorithm, the optimum design of a
large scale steel building is presented and the results are compared to
the previously obtained results available in the literature.
Abstract: As per the statistical data, the Doubly-fed Induction
Generator (DFIG) based wind turbine with variable speed and
variable pitch control is the most common wind turbine in the
growing wind market. This machine is usually used on the grid
connected wind energy conversion system to satisfy grid code
requirements such as grid stability, Fault Ride Through (FRT), power
quality improvement, grid synchronization and power control etc.
Though the requirements are not fulfilled directly by the machine, the
control strategy is used in both the stator as well as rotor side along
with power electronic converters to fulfil the requirements stated
above. To satisfy the grid code requirements of wind turbine, usually
grid side converter is playing a major role. So in order to improve the
operation capacity of wind turbine under critical situation, the
intensive study of both machine side converter control and grid side
converter control is necessary In this paper DFIG is modeled using
power components as variables and the performance of the DFIG
system is analysed under grid voltage fluctuations. The voltage
fluctuations are made by lowering and raising the voltage values in
the utility grid intentionally for the purpose of simulation keeping in
view of different grid disturbances.
Abstract: Adequate analgesia following caesarean section
decreases morbidity, hastens ambulation, improves patient outcome
and facilitates care of the newborn. Intrathecal magnesium, an
NMDA antagonist, has been shown to prolong analgesia without
significant side effects in healthy parturients. The aim of this study
was to evaluate the onset and duration of sensory and motor block,
hemodynamic effect, postoperative analgesia, and adverse effects of
magnesium or fentanyl given intrathecally with hyperbaric 0.5%
bupivacaine in patients with mild preeclampsia undergoing caesarean
section. Sixty women with mild preeclampsia undergoing elective
caesarean section were included in a prospective, double blind,
controlled trial. Patients were randomly assigned to receive spinal
anesthesia with 2 mL 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 12.5 μg
fentanyl (group F) or 0.1 ml of 50% magnesium sulphate (50 mg)
(group M) with 0.15ml preservative free distilled water. Onset,
duration and recovery of sensory and motor block, time to maximum
sensory block, duration of spinal anaesthesia and postoperative
analgesic requirements were studied. Statistical comparison was
carried out using the Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests and
Independent Student’s t-test where appropriate. The onset of both
sensory and motor block was slower in the magnesium group. The
duration of spinal anaesthesia (246 vs. 284) and motor block (186.3
vs. 210) were significantly longer in the magnesium group. Total
analgesic top up requirement was less in group M. Hemodynamic
parameters were similar in both the groups. Intrathecal magnesium
caused minimal side effects. Since Fentanyl and other opioid
congeners are not available throughout the country easily,
magnesium with its easy availability and less side effect profile can
be a cost effective alternative to fentanyl in managing pregnancy
induced hypertension (PIH) patients given along with Bupivacaine
intrathecally in caesarean section.
Abstract: The goal of the modern education system is to prepare
students to be able to adapt to ever-changing life situations. They
must be able to acquire required knowledge independently; apply
such knowledge in practice to solve various problems by using
modern technologies; think critically and creatively; competently use
information; be communicative, work in a team; and develop their
own moral values, intellect and cultural awareness. As a result, the
status of education significantly increases; new requirements to its
quality have been formed. In recent years the competency-based
approach in education has become of significant interest. This
approach is a strengthening of applied and practical characteristics of
a school education and leads to the forming of the key students’
competencies which define their success in future life. In this article,
the authors’ attention focuses on a range of key competencies,
educational, informational and communicative and on the possibility
to develop such competencies via STEM education. This research
shows the change in students’ attitude towards scientific disciplines
such as mathematics, general science, technology and engineering as
a result of STEM education. Two staged analyzed questionnaires
completed by students of forms II to IV in the republic of Trinidad
and Tobago allowed the authors to categorize students between two
levels that represent students’ attitude to various disciplines. The
significance of differences between selected levels was confirmed
with the use of Pearson’s chi-squared test. In summary, the analysis
of obtained data makes it possible to conclude that STEM education
has a great potential for development of core students’ competencies
and encourage the development of positive student attitude towards
the above mentioned above scientific disciplines.
Abstract: The localization information is crucial for the
operation of WSN. There are principally two types of localization
algorithms. The Range-based localization algorithm has strict
requirements on hardware, thus is expensive to be implemented in
practice. The Range-free localization algorithm reduces the hardware
cost. However, it can only achieve high accuracy in ideal scenarios.
In this paper, we locate unknown nodes by incorporating the
advantages of these two types of methods. The proposed algorithm
makes the unknown nodes select the nearest anchor using the
Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) and choose two other
anchors which are the most accurate to achieve the estimated
location. Our algorithm improves the localization accuracy compared
with previous algorithms, which has been demonstrated by the
simulating results.
Abstract: Over the past few years, a lot of research has been
conducted to bring Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) into various
areas of Air Traffic Control (ATC), such as air traffic control
simulation and training, monitoring live operators for with the aim
of safety improvements, air traffic controller workload measurement
and conducting analysis on large quantities controller-pilot speech.
Due to the high accuracy requirements of the ATC context and its
unique challenges, automatic speech recognition has not been widely
adopted in this field. With the aim of providing a good starting
point for researchers who are interested bringing automatic speech
recognition into ATC, this paper gives an overview of possibilities
and challenges of applying automatic speech recognition in air traffic
control. To provide this overview, we present an updated literature
review of speech recognition technologies in general, as well as
specific approaches relevant to the ATC context. Based on this
literature review, criteria for selecting speech recognition approaches
for the ATC domain are presented, and remaining challenges and
possible solutions are discussed.
Abstract: Based on application requirements, nodes are static or
mobile in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Mobility poses
challenges in protocol design, especially at the link layer requiring
mobility adaptation algorithms to localize mobile nodes and predict
link quality to be established with them. This study implements
XMAC and Berkeley Media Access Control (BMAC) routing
protocols to evaluate performance under WSN’s static and mobility
conditions. This paper gives a comparative study of mobility-aware
MAC protocols. Routing protocol performance, based on Average
End to End Delay, Average Packet Delivery Ratio, Average Number
of hops, and Jitter is evaluated.
Abstract: Research Objectives: The roles and activities of
Human Resource Management (HRM) have changed a lot in the past
years. Driven by a changing environment and therefore new business
requirements, the scope of human resource (HR) activities has
widened. The extent to which these activities should focus on
strategic issues to support the long term success of a company has
been discussed in science for many years. As many economies of
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) experienced a phase of transition
after the socialist era and are now recovering from the 2008 global
crisis it is needed to examine the current state of HR positioning.
Furthermore a trend in HR work developing from rather
administrative units to being strategic partners of management can be
noticed. This leads to the question of better understanding the
underlying competencies which are necessary to support
organisations. This topic was addressed by the international study
“HR Competencies in international comparison”. The quantitative
survey was conducted by the Institute for Human Resources &
Organisation of FHWien University of Applied Science of WKW (A)
in cooperation with partner universities in the countries Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia. Methodology: Using the
questionnaire developed by Dave Ulrich we tested whether the HR
Competency model can be used for Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia. After performing confirmatory and
exploratory factor analysis for the whole data set containing all five
countries we could clearly distinguish between four competencies. In
a further step our analysis focused on median and average
comparisons between the HR competency dimensions. Conclusion:
Our literature review, in alignment with other studies, shows a
relatively rapid pace of development of HR Roles and HR
Competencies in BCSS in the past decades. Comparing data from
BCSS and Austria we still can notice that regards strategic orientation
there is a lack in BCSS countries, thus competencies are not as
developed as in Austria. This leads us to the tentative conclusion that
HR has undergone a rapid change but is still in a State of Transition
from being a rather administrative unit to performing the role of a
strategic partner.
Abstract: The goal of this experiment is to evaluate the
effectiveness of different leachate pre-treatment options in terms of
COD and ammonia removal. This research focused on the evaluation
of physical-chemical methods for pre-treatment of leachate that
would be effective and rapid in order to satisfy the requirements of
the sewer discharge by-laws. The four pre-treatment options
evaluated were: air stripping, chemical coagulation, electrocoagulation
and advanced oxidation with sodium ferrate. Chemical
coagulation reported the best COD removal rate at 43%, compared to
18% for both air stripping and electro-coagulation, and 20% for
oxidation with sodium ferrate. On the other hand, air stripping was
far superior to the other treatment options in terms of ammonia
removal with 86%. Oxidation with sodium ferrate reached only 16%,
while chemical coagulation and electro-coagulation removed less
than 10%. When combined, air stripping and chemical coagulation
removed up to 50% COD and 85% ammonia.
Abstract: Numerical studies have been carried out using a
validated two-dimensional standard k-omega turbulence model for
the design optimization of a thrust vector control system using shock
induced self-impinging supersonic secondary double jet. Parametric
analytical studies have been carried out at different secondary
injection locations to identifying the highest unsymmetrical
distribution of the main gas flow due to shock waves, which produces
a desirable side force more lucratively for vectoring. The results from
the parametric studies of the case on hand reveal that the shock
induced self-impinging supersonic secondary double jet is more
efficient in certain locations at the divergent region of a CD nozzle
than a case with supersonic single jet with same mass flow rate. We
observed that the best axial location of the self-impinging supersonic
secondary double jet nozzle with a given jet interaction angle, built-in
to a CD nozzle having area ratio 1.797, is 0.991 times the primary
nozzle throat diameter from the throat location. We also observed
that the flexible steering is possible after invoking ON/OFF facility to
the secondary nozzles for meeting the onboard mission requirements.
Through our case studies we concluded that the supersonic self-impinging
secondary double jet at predesigned jet interaction angle
and location can provide more flexible steering options facilitating
with 8.81% higher thrust vectoring efficiency than the conventional
supersonic single secondary jet without compromising the payload
capability of any supersonic aerospace vehicle.
Abstract: Since 1920, the industry has almost completely
changed the rivets production techniques for the manufacture of
permanent welding join production of structures and manufacture of
other products. The welding arc is the process more widely used in
industries. This is accomplished by the heat of an electric arc which
melts the base metal while the molten metal droplets are transferred
through the arc to the welding pool, protected from the atmosphere
by a gas curtain. The GMAW (Gas metal arc welding) process is
influenced by variables such as: current, polarity, welding speed,
electrode: extension, position, moving direction; type of joint,
welder's ability, among others. It is remarkable that the knowledge
and control of these variables are essential for obtaining satisfactory
quality welds, knowing that are interconnected so that changes in one
of them requiring changes in one or more of the other to produce the
desired results. The optimum values are affected by the type of base
metal, the electrode composition, the welding position and the quality
requirements. Thus, this paper proposes a new methodology, adding
the variable vibration through a mechanism developed for GMAW
welding, in order to improve the mechanical and metallurgical
properties which does not affect the ability of the welder and enables
repeatability of the welds made. For confirmation metallographic
analysis and mechanical tests were made.
Abstract: Residential buildings consume significant amounts of
energy and produce large amount of emissions and waste. However,
there is a substantial potential for energy savings in this sector which
needs to be evaluated over the life cycle of residential buildings. Life
Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology has been employed to study
the primary energy uses and associated environmental impacts of
different phases (i.e., product, construction, use, end of life, and
beyond building life) for residential buildings. Four different
alternatives of residential buildings in Vancouver (BC, Canada) with
a 50-year lifespan have been evaluated, including High Rise
Apartment (HRA), Low Rise Apartment (LRA), Single family
Attached House (SAH), and Single family Detached House (SDH).
Life cycle performance of the buildings is evaluated for embodied
energy, embodied environmental impacts, operational energy,
operational environmental impacts, total life-cycle energy, and total
life cycle environmental impacts. Estimation of operational energy
and LCA are performed using DesignBuilder software and Athena
Impact estimator software respectively.
The study results revealed that over the life span of the buildings,
the relationship between the energy use and the environmental
impacts are identical. LRA is found to be the best alternative in terms
of embodied energy use and embodied environmental impacts; while,
HRA showed the best life-cycle performance in terms of minimum
energy use and environmental impacts. Sensitivity analysis has also
been carried out to study the influence of building service lifespan
over 50, 75, and 100 years on the relative significance of embodied
energy and total life cycle energy. The life-cycle energy requirements
for SDH are found to be a significant component among the four
types of residential buildings. The overall disclose that the primary
operations of these buildings accounts for 90% of the total life cycle
energy which far outweighs minor differences in embodied effects
between the buildings.
Abstract: Cemented carbides, owing to their excellent
mechanical properties, have been of immense interest in the field of
hard materials for the past few decades. A number of processing
techniques have been developed to obtain high quality carbide tools,
with a wide range of grain size depending on the application and
requirements. Microwave sintering is one of the heating processes,
which has been used to prepare a wide range of materials including
ceramics. A deep understanding of microwave sintering and its
contribution towards control of grain growth and on deformation of
the resulting carbide materials requires further studies and attention.
In addition, the effect of binder materials and their behavior during
microwave sintering is another area that requires clear understanding.
This review aims to focus on microwave sintering, providing
information of how the process works and what type of materials it is
best suited for. In addition, a closer look at some microwave sintered
Tungsten Carbide-Cobalt samples will be taken and discussed,
highlighting some of the key issues and challenges faced in this
research area.
Abstract: It is a major challenge to build a bridge superstructure
that has long-term durability and low maintenance requirements. A
solution to this challenge may be to use new materials or to
implement new structural systems. Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP)
composites have continued to play an important role in solving some
of persistent problems in infrastructure applications because of its
high specific strength, light weight, and durability. In this study, the
concept of the hybrid FRP-concrete structural systems is applied to a
bridge superstructure. The hybrid FRP-concrete bridge superstructure
is intended to have durable, structurally sound, and cost effective
hybrid system that will take full advantage of the inherent properties
of both FRP materials and concrete. In this study, two hybrid FRP-concrete
bridge systems were investigated. The first system consists
of trapezoidal cell units forming a bridge superstructure. The second
one is formed by arch cells. The two systems rely on using cellular
components to form the core of the bridge superstructure, and an
outer shell to warp around those cells to form the integral unit of the
bridge. Both systems were investigated analytically by using finite
element (FE) analysis. From the rigorous FE studies, it was
concluded that first system is more efficient than the second.
Abstract: An Acoustic Micro-Energy Harvester (AMEH) is
developed to convert wasted acoustical energy into useful electrical
energy. AMEH is mathematically modeled using Lumped Element
Modelling (LEM) and Euler-Bernoulli beam (EBB) modelling. An
experiment is designed to validate the mathematical model and assess
the feasibility of AMEH. Comparison of theoretical and experimental
data on critical parameter value such as Mm, Cms, dm and Ceb showed
the variances are within 1% to 6%, which is reasonably acceptable.
Then, AMEH undergoes bandwidth tuning for performance
optimization. The AMEH successfully produces 0.9V/(m/s^2) and
1.79μW/(m^2/s^4) at 60Hz and 400kΩ resistive load which only
show variances about 7% compared to theoretical data. At 1g and
60Hz resonance frequency, the averaged power output is about
2.2mW which fulfilled a range of wireless sensors and
communication peripherals power requirements. Finally, the design
for AMEH is assessed, validated and deemed as a feasible design.