Abstract: Fecal coliform bacteria are widely used as indicators of
sewage contamination in surface water. However, there are some
disadvantages in these microbial techniques including time consuming
(18-48h) and inability in discriminating between human and animal
fecal material sources. Therefore, it is necessary to seek a more
specific indicator of human sanitary waste. In this study, the feasibility
was investigated to apply caffeine and human pharmaceutical
compounds to identify the human-source contamination. The
correlation between caffeine and fecal coliform was also explored.
Surface water samples were collected from upstream, middle-stream
and downstream points respectively, along Rochor Canal, as well as 8
locations of Marina Bay. Results indicate that caffeine is a suitable
chemical tracer in Singapore because of its easy detection (in the range
of 0.30-2.0 ng/mL), compared with other chemicals monitored.
Relative low concentrations of human pharmaceutical compounds (<
0.07 ng/mL) in Rochor Canal and Marina Bay water samples make
them hard to be detected and difficult to be chemical tracer. However,
their existence can help to validate sewage contamination. In addition,
it was discovered the high correlation exists between caffeine
concentration and fecal coliform density in the Rochor Canal water
samples, demonstrating that caffeine is highly related to the
human-source contamination.
Abstract: Dual phase steels (DPS)s have a microstructure
consisting of a hard second phase called Martensite in the soft Ferrite
matrix. In recent years, there has been interest in dual-phase steels,
because the application of these materials has made significant usage;
particularly in the automotive sector Composite microstructure of
(DPS)s exhibit interesting characteristic mechanical properties such
as continuous yielding, low yield stress to tensile strength
ratios(YS/UTS), and relatively high formability; which offer
advantages compared with conventional high strength low alloy
steels(HSLAS). The research dealt with the characterization of
damage in (DPS)s. In this study by review the mechanisms of failure
due to volume fraction of martensite second phase; a new method is
introduced to identifying the mechanisms of failure in the various
phases of these types of steels. In this method the acoustic emission
(AE) technique was used to detect damage progression. These failure
mechanisms consist of Ferrite-Martensite interface decohesion and/or
martensite phase fracture. For this aim, dual phase steels with
different volume fraction of martensite second phase has provided by
various heat treatment methods on a low carbon steel (0.1% C), and
then AE monitoring is used during tensile test of these DPSs. From
AE measurements and an energy ratio curve elaborated from the
value of AE energy (it was obtained as the ratio between the strain
energy to the acoustic energy), that allows detecting important
events, corresponding to the sudden drops. These AE signals events
associated with various failure mechanisms are classified for ferrite
and (DPS)s with various amount of Vm and different martensite
morphology. It is found that AE energy increase with increasing Vm.
This increasing of AE energy is because of more contribution of
martensite fracture in the failure of samples with higher Vm. Final
results show a good relationship between the AE signals and the
mechanisms of failure.
Abstract: The main objective of this project is to build an
autonomous microcontroller-based mobile robot for a local robot
soccer competition. The black competition field is equipped with
white lines to serve as the guidance path for competing robots. Two
prototypes of soccer robot embedded with the Basic Stamp II
microcontroller have been developed. Two servo motors are used as
the drive train for the first prototype whereas the second prototype
uses two DC motors as its drive train. To sense the lines, lightdependent
resistors (LDRs) supply the analog inputs for the
microcontroller. The performances of both prototypes are evaluated.
The DC motor-driven robot has produced better trajectory control
over the one using servo motors and has brought the team into the
final round.
Abstract: The purpose of this work is measurement of the
system presampling MTF of a variable resolution x-ray (VRX) CT
scanner. In this paper, we used the parameters of an actual VRX CT
scanner for simulation and study of effect of different focal spot sizes
on system presampling MTF by Monte Carlo method (GATE
simulation software). Focal spot size of 0.6 mm limited the spatial
resolution of the system to 5.5 cy/mm at incident angles of below 17º
for cell#1. By focal spot size of 0.3 mm the spatial resolution
increased up to 11 cy/mm and the limiting effect of focal spot size
appeared at incident angles of below 9º. The focal spot size of 0.3
mm could improve the spatial resolution to some extent but because
of magnification non-uniformity, there is a 10 cy/mm difference
between spatial resolution of cell#1 and cell#256. The focal spot size
of 0.1 mm acted as an ideal point source for this system. The spatial
resolution increased to more than 35 cy/mm and at all incident angles
the spatial resolution was a function of incident angle. By the way
focal spot size of 0.1 mm minimized the effect of magnification nonuniformity.
Abstract: Finding the interpolation function of a given set of nodes is an important problem in scientific computing. In this work a kind of localization is introduced using the radial basis functions which finds a sufficiently smooth solution without consuming large amount of time and computer memory. Some examples will be presented to show the efficiency of the new method.
Abstract: This paper fist examines three set of bivariate cointegrations between any two of current accounts, stock markets, and currency exchange markets in ten Asian countries. Furthermore, we examined the effect of country characters on this bivariate cointegration. Our findings suggest that for three sets of cointegration test, each sample country at least exists one cointegration. India consistently exhibited a bi-directional causal relationship between any two of three indicators. Unlike Pan et al. (2007) and Phylaktis and Ravazzolo (2005), we found that such cointegration is influenced by three characteristics: capital control; flexibility in foreign exchange rates; and the ratio of trade to GDP. These characteristics are the result of liberalization in each Asian country. This implies that liberalization policies are effective on improving the cointegration between any two of financial markets and current account for ten Asian countries.
Abstract: Online news websites are one of the main and wide areas of Mass Media. Since the nineties several Jordanian newspapers were introduced to the World Wide Web to reach various and large numbers of audiances. Examples of these newspapers that have online version are Al-Rai, Ad-Dustor and AlGhad. Other pure online news websites include Ammon and Rum. The main aim of this study is to evaluate online newspaper websites using two assessment measures; usability and web content. This aim is achieved by using a questionnaire based evaluation which is based on the definition of usability and web content in the ISO document as the standard number 9241-part 11. The results are obtained based on 204 audiences- responses. The results of the research showed that the usability factor is relatively good for all Jordanian online newspapers whereas the web content factor is moderate.
Abstract: The building sector is the largest energy consumer and
CO2 emitter in the European Union (EU) and therefore the active
reduction of energy consumption and elimination of energy wastage
are among the main goals in it. Healthy housing and energy
efficiency are affected by many factors which set challenges to
monitoring, control and research of indoor air quality (IAQ) and
energy consumption, especially in old buildings. These challenges
include measurement and equipment costs, for example.
Additionally, the measurement results are difficult to interpret and
their usage in the ventilation control is also limited when taking into
account the energy efficiency of housing at the same time. The main
goal of this study is to develop a cost-effective building monitoring
and control system especially for old buildings. The starting point or
keyword of the development process is a wireless system; otherwise
the installation costs become too high. As the main result, this paper
describes an idea of a wireless building monitoring and control
system. The first prototype of the system has been installed in 10
residential buildings and in 10 school buildings located in the City of
Kuopio, Finland.
Abstract: Simultaneous effects of temperature, immersion time, salt concentration, sucrose concentration, pressure and convective dryer temperature on the combined osmotic dehydration - convective drying of edible button mushrooms were investigated. Experiments were designed according to Central Composite Design with six factors each at five different levels. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to determine the optimum processing conditions that yield maximum water loss and rehydration ratio and minimum solid gain and shrinkage in osmotic-convective drying of edible button mushrooms. Applying surfaces profiler and contour plots optimum operation conditions were found to be temperature of 39 °C, immersion time of 164 min, salt concentration of 14%, sucrose concentration of 53%, pressure of 600 mbar and drying temperature of 40 °C. At these optimum conditions, water loss, solid gain, rehydration ratio and shrinkage were found to be 63.38 (g/100 g initial sample), 3.17 (g/100 g initial sample), 2.26 and 7.15%, respectively.
Abstract: This work relates the development of an optical fiber
(OF) sensor for the detection and quantification of single walled
carbon nanotubes in aqueous solutions. The developed OF displays a
compact design, it requires less expensive materials and equipment
as well as low volume of sample (0.2 mL). This methodology was
also validated by the comparison of its analytical performance with
that of a standard methodology based on ultraviolet-visible
spectroscopy. The developed OF sensor follows the general SDS
calibration proposed for OF sensors as a more suitable calibration
fitting compared with classical calibrations.
Abstract: Water leakage is a serious problem in the maintenance of a waterworks facility. Monitoring the water flow rate is one way to locate leakage. However, conventional flowmeters such as the wet-type flowmeter and the clamp-on type ultrasonic flowmeter require additional construction for their installation and are therefore quite expensive. This paper proposes a novel estimation system for the flow rate in a water pipeline, which employs a vibration sensor. This assembly can be attached to any water pipeline without the need for additional high-cost construction. The vibration sensor is designed based on a condenser microphone. This sensor detects vibration caused by water flowing through a pipeline. It is possible to estimate the water flow rate by measuring the amplitude of the output signal from the vibration sensor. We confirmed the validity of the proposed sensing system experimentally.
Abstract: The modeling of inelastic behavior of plastic materials requires measurements providing information on material response to different multiaxial loading conditions. Different triaxiality conditions and values of Lode parameters have to be
covered for complex description of the material plastic behavior.
Samples geometries providing material plastic behavoiur over the range of interest are proposed with the use of FEM analysis. Round samples with 3 different notches and smooth surface are used
together with butterfly type of samples tested at angle ranging for 0 to
90°. Identification of ductile damage parameters is carried out on
the basis of obtained experimental data for austenitic stainless steel.
The obtained material plastic damage parameters are subsequently applied to FEM simulation of notched CT normally samples used for
fracture mechanics testing and results from the simulation are
compared with real tests.
Abstract: Detection of squirrel cage induction motor (SCIM) broken bars has long been an important but difficult job in the detection area of motor faults. Early detection of this abnormality in the motor would help to avoid costly breakdowns. A new detection method based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) is presented in this paper. Stator current in an induction motor will be measured and characteristic frequency components of faylted rotor will be detected by minimizing a fitness function using pso. Supply frequency and side band frequencies and their amplitudes can be estimated by the proposed method. The proposed method is applied to a faulty motor with one and two broken bars in different loading condition. Experimental results prove that the proposed method is effective and applicable.
Abstract: Excilamps are new UV sources with great potential
for application in wastewater treatment. In the present work, a XeBr
excilamp emitting radiation at 283 nm has been used for the
photodegradation of 4-chlorophenol within a range of concentrations
from 50 to 500 mg L-1. Total removal of 4-chlorophenol was
achieved for all concentrations assayed. The two main photoproduct
intermediates formed along the photodegradation process,
benzoquinone and hydroquinone, although not being completely
removed, remain at very low residual concentrations. Such
concentrations are insignificant compared to the 4-chlorophenol
initial ones and non-toxic. In order to simulate the process and scaleup,
a kinetic model has been developed and validated from the
experimental data.
Abstract: We study the typical domain size and configuration
character of a randomly perturbed system exhibiting continuous
symmetry breaking. As a model system we use rod-like objects
within a cubic lattice interacting via a Lebwohl–Lasher-type
interaction. We describe their local direction with a headless unit
director field. An example of such systems represents nematic LC or
nanotubes. We further introduce impurities of concentration p, which
impose the random anisotropy field-type disorder to directors. We
study the domain-type pattern of molecules as a function of p,
anchoring strength w between a neighboring director and impurity,
temperature, history of samples. In simulations we quenched the
directors either from the random or homogeneous initial
configuration. Our results show that a history of system strongly
influences: i) the average domain coherence length; and ii) the range
of ordering in the system. In the random case the obtained order is
always short ranged (SR). On the contrary, in the homogeneous case,
SR is obtained only for strong enough anchoring and large enough
concentration p. In other cases, the ordering is either of quasi long
range (QLR) or of long range (LR). We further studied memory
effects for the random initial configuration. With increasing external
ordering field B either QLR or LR is realized.
Abstract: The flow field and the motion of the free surface in an
oscillating container are simulated numerically to assess the numerical
approach for studying two-phase flows under oscillating conditions.
Two numerical methods are compared: one is to model the oscillating
container directly using the moving grid of the ALE method, and the
other is to simulate the effect of container motion using the oscillating
body force acting on the fluid in the stationary container. The
two-phase flow field in the container is simulated using the level set
method in both cases. It is found that the calculated results by the body
force method coinsides with those by the moving grid method and the
sloshing behavior is predicted well by both the methods. Theoretical
back ground and limitation of the body force method are discussed,
and the effects of oscillation amplitude and frequency are shown.
Abstract: We have developed a computer program consisting of
6 subtests assessing the children hand dexterity applicable in the
rehabilitation medicine. We have carried out a normative study on a
representative sample of 285 children aged from 7 to 15 (mean age
11.3) and we have proposed clinical standards for three age groups
(7-9, 9-11, 12-15 years). We have shown statistical significance of
differences among the corresponding mean values of the task time
completion. We have also found a strong correlation between the task
time completion and the age of the subjects, as well as we have
performed the test-retest reliability checks in the sample of 84
children, giving the high values of the Pearson coefficients for the
dominant and non-dominant hand in the range 0.740.97 and
0.620.93, respectively.
A new MATLAB-based programming tool aiming at analysis of
cardiologic RR intervals and blood pressure descriptors, is worked
out, too. For each set of data, ten different parameters are extracted: 2
in time domain, 4 in frequency domain and 4 in Poincaré plot
analysis. In addition twelve different parameters of baroreflex
sensitivity are calculated. All these data sets can be visualized in time
domain together with their power spectra and Poincaré plots. If
available, the respiratory oscillation curves can be also plotted for
comparison. Another application processes biological data obtained
from BLAST analysis.
Abstract: This paper reports the influence of sucrose on the
preservation of CO2 hydrate crystal samples. The particle diameter of
hydrate samples were 1.0 and 5.6-8.0 mm. Mass fraction of sucrose in
the sample was 0.16. The samples were stored at the aerated condition
under atmospheric pressure and at the temperature of 253 or 258 K.
The results indicated that the mass fractions of CO2 hydrate in the
samples with sucrose were 0.10 ± 0.03 at the end of 3-week
preservation, regardless of temperature and particle diameter. Mass
fraction of CO2 hydrate in the samples with sucrose was higher than
that of pure CO2 hydrate for 1.0 mm particle diameter, while was
lower than that of pure CO2 hydrate for 5.6-8.0 mm particle diameter.
Discussion is made on the influence of sucrose on the dissociation of
CO2 hydrate and the resulting formation of ice.
Abstract: In this paper, we analyze the effect of noise in a single- ended input differential amplifier working at high frequencies. Both extrinsic and intrinsic noise are analyzed using time domain method employing techniques from stochastic calculus. Stochastic differential equations are used to obtain autocorrelation functions of the output noise voltage and other solution statistics like mean and variance. The analysis leads to important design implications and suggests changes in the device parameters for improved noise characteristics of the differential amplifier.
Abstract: The effect of teaching method on learning
assistance Dunn Review .The study, to compare the effects of
collaboration on teaching mathematics learning courses, including
writing, science, experimental girl students by other methods of
teaching basic first paid and the amount of learning students
methods have been trained to cooperate with other students with
other traditional methods have been trained to compare. The
survey on 100 students in Tehran that using random sampling ¬
cluster of girl students between the first primary selections was
performed. Considering the topic of semi-experimental research
methods used to practice the necessary information by
questionnaire, examination questions by the researcher, in
collaboration with teachers and view authority in this field and
related courses that teach these must have been collected.
Research samples to test and control groups were divided.
Experimental group and control group collaboration using
traditional methods of mathematics courses, including writing and
experimental sciences were trained. Research results using
statistical methods T is obtained in two independent groups show
that, through training assistance will lead to positive results and
student learning in comparison with traditional methods, will
increase also led to collaboration methods increase skills to solve
math lesson practice, better understanding and increased skill
level of students in practical lessons such as science and has been
writing.