Abstract: The objective of the research was to evaluate the
quality of milk pomade sweet – sherbet packed in different packaging
materials (Multibarrier 60, met.BOPET/PE, Aluthen), by several
packaging technologies – active and modified atmosphere (MAP)
(consisting of 100% CO2), and control – in air ambiance.
Experiments were carried out at the Faculty of Food Technology of
Latvia University of Agriculture. Samples were stored at the room
temperature +21±1 °C. The physiochemical properties – weight
losses, moisture, hardening, colour and changes in headspace
atmosphere concentration (CO2 and O2) of packs were analysed
before packaging and after 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 storage weeks.
Abstract: Abrasive waterjet is a novel machining process capable of processing wide range of hard-to-machine materials. This research addresses modeling and optimization of the process parameters for this machining technique. To model the process a set of experimental data has been used to evaluate the effects of various parameter settings in cutting 6063-T6 aluminum alloy. The process variables considered here include nozzle diameter, jet traverse rate, jet pressure and abrasive flow rate. Depth of cut, as one of the most important output characteristics, has been evaluated based on different parameter settings. The Taguchi method and regression modeling are used in order to establish the relationships between input and output parameters. The adequacy of the model is evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique. The pairwise effects of process parameters settings on process response outputs are also shown graphically. The proposed model is then embedded into a Simulated Annealing algorithm to optimize the process parameters. The optimization is carried out for any desired values of depth of cut. The objective is to determine proper levels of process parameters in order to obtain a certain level of depth of cut. Computational results demonstrate that the proposed solution procedure is quite effective in solving such multi-variable problems.
Abstract: This paper presents a sensing system for 3D sensing
and mapping by a tracked mobile robot with an arm-type sensor
movable unit and a laser range finder (LRF). The arm-type sensor
movable unit is mounted on the robot and the LRF is installed at the
end of the unit. This system enables the sensor to change position and
orientation so that it avoids occlusions according to terrain by this
mechanism. This sensing system is also able to change the height of
the LRF by keeping its orientation flat for efficient sensing. In this kind
of mapping, it may be difficult for moving robot to apply mapping
algorithms such as the iterative closest point (ICP) because sets of the
2D data at each sensor height may be distant in a common surface. In
order for this kind of mapping, the authors therefore applied
interpolation to generate plausible model data for ICP. The results of
several experiments provided validity of these kinds of sensing and
mapping in this sensing system.
Abstract: Image retrieval is a topic where scientific interest is currently high. The important steps associated with image retrieval system are the extraction of discriminative features and a feasible similarity metric for retrieving the database images that are similar in content with the search image. Gabor filtering is a widely adopted technique for feature extraction from the texture images. The recently proposed sparsity promoting l1-norm minimization technique finds the sparsest solution of an under-determined system of linear equations. In the present paper, the l1-norm minimization technique as a similarity metric is used in image retrieval. It is demonstrated through simulation results that the l1-norm minimization technique provides a promising alternative to existing similarity metrics. In particular, the cases where the l1-norm minimization technique works better than the Euclidean distance metric are singled out.
Abstract: The paper presents the method developed to assess
rating points of objects with qualitative indexes. The novelty of the
method lies in the fact that the authors use linguistic scales that allow
to formalize the values of the indexes with the help of fuzzy sets. As
a result it is possible to operate correctly with dissimilar indexes on
the unified basis and to get stable final results. The obtained rating
points are used in decision making based on fuzzy expert opinions.
Abstract: One of the major disadvantages of the minimally
invasive surgery (MIS) is the lack of tactile feedback to the surgeon.
In order to identify and avoid any damage to the grasped complex
tissue by endoscopic graspers, it is important to measure the local
softness of tissue during MIS. One way to display the measured
softness to the surgeon is a graphical method. In this paper, a new
tactile sensor has been reported. The tactile sensor consists of an
array of four softness sensors, which are integrated into the jaws of a
modified commercial endoscopic grasper. Each individual softness
sensor consists of two piezoelectric polymer Polyvinylidene Fluoride
(PVDF) films, which are positioned below a rigid and a compliant
cylinder. The compliant cylinder is fabricated using a micro molding
technique. The combination of output voltages from PVDF films is
used to determine the softness of the grasped object. The theoretical
analysis of the sensor is also presented.
A method has been developed with the aim of reproducing the
tactile softness to the surgeon by using a graphical method. In this
approach, the proposed system, including the interfacing and the data
acquisition card, receives signals from the array of softness sensors.
After the signals are processed, the tactile information is displayed
by means of a color coding method. It is shown that the degrees of
softness of the grasped objects/tissues can be visually differentiated
and displayed on a monitor.
Abstract: An adaptive Fuzzy Inference Perceptual model has
been proposed for watermarking of digital images. The model
depends on the human visual characteristics of image sub-regions in
the frequency multi-resolution wavelet domain. In the proposed
model, a multi-variable fuzzy based architecture has been designed to
produce a perceptual membership degree for both candidate
embedding sub-regions and strength watermark embedding factor.
Different sizes of benchmark images with different sizes of
watermarks have been applied on the model. Several experimental
attacks have been applied such as JPEG compression, noises and
rotation, to ensure the robustness of the scheme. In addition, the
model has been compared with different watermarking schemes. The
proposed model showed its robustness to attacks and at the same time
achieved a high level of imperceptibility.
Abstract: Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films of polyaniline (PANI) grown onto ITO coated glass substrates were utilized for the fabrication of Uric acid biosensor for efficient detection of uric acid by immobilizing Uricase via EDC–NHS coupling. The modified electrodes were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The response characteristics after immobilization of uricase were studied using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. The uricase/PANI/ITO/glass bioelectrode studied by CV and EIS techniques revealed detection of uric acid in a wide range of 0.05 mM to 1.0 mM, covering the physiological range in blood. A low Michaelis–Menten constant (Km) of 0.21 mM indicates the higher affinity of immobilized Uricase towards its analyte (uric acid). The fabricated uric acid biosensor based on PANI LB films exhibits excellent sensitivity of 0.21 mA/mM with a response time of 4 s, good reproducibility, long shelf life (8 weeks) and high selectivity.
Abstract: Meat and meat products for human consumption are one of main sources of protein, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Popular variety of meat product is meatballs, which can be enriched with valuable product – Jerusalem artichoke powder, made from dried and grinded Jerusalem artichoke tubers, it is raw material with low-calorie, low fat, rich in dietary fibres, minerals, and vitamins. The results of this study indicate that that people could accept the new product - meatballs with Jerusalem artichoke powder and Jerusalem artichoke powder is suitable for meatballs preparation, in result them is possible to improve meatballs sensory and physical properties.
Abstract: Due to the coexistence of different Radio Access
Technologies (RATs), Next Generation Wireless Networks (NGWN)
are predicted to be heterogeneous in nature. The coexistence of
different RATs requires a need for Common Radio Resource
Management (CRRM) to support the provision of Quality of Service
(QoS) and the efficient utilization of radio resources. RAT selection
algorithms are part of the CRRM algorithms. Simply, their role is to
verify if an incoming call will be suitable to fit into a heterogeneous
wireless network, and to decide which of the available RATs is most
suitable to fit the need of the incoming call and admit it.
Guaranteeing the requirements of QoS for all accepted calls and at
the same time being able to provide the most efficient utilization of
the available radio resources is the goal of RAT selection algorithm.
The normal call admission control algorithms are designed for
homogeneous wireless networks and they do not provide a solution
to fit a heterogeneous wireless network which represents the NGWN.
Therefore, there is a need to develop RAT selection algorithm for
heterogeneous wireless network. In this paper, we propose an
approach for RAT selection which includes receiving different
criteria, assessing and making decisions, then selecting the most
suitable RAT for incoming calls. A comprehensive survey of
different RAT selection algorithms for a heterogeneous wireless
network is studied.
Abstract: In the gas refineries of Iran-s South Pars Gas
Complex, Sulfrex demercaptanization process is used to remove
volatile and corrosive mercaptans from liquefied petroleum gases by
caustic solution. This process consists of two steps. Removing low
molecular weight mercaptans and regeneration exhaust caustic. Some
parameters such as LPG feed temperature, caustic concentration and
feed-s mercaptan in extraction step and sodium mercaptide content in
caustic, catalyst concentration, caustic temperature, air injection rate
in regeneration step are effective factors. In this paper was focused on
temperature factor that play key role in mercaptans extraction and
caustic regeneration. The experimental results demonstrated by
optimization of temperature, sodium mercaptide content in caustic
because of good oxidation minimized and sulfur impurities in
product reduced.
Abstract: In this paper, we study a new modified Novikov equation for its classical and nonclassical symmetries and use the symmetries to reduce it to a nonlinear ordinary differential equation (ODE). With the aid of solutions of the nonlinear ODE by using the modified (G/G)-expansion method proposed recently, multiple exact traveling wave solutions are obtained and the traveling wave solutions are expressed by the hyperbolic functions, trigonometric functions and rational functions.
Abstract: Through inward perceptions, we intuitively expect
distributed software development to increase the risks associated with
achieving cost, schedule, and quality goals. To compound this
problem, agile software development (ASD) insists one of the main
ingredients of its success is cohesive communication attributed to
collocation of the development team. The following study identified
the degree of communication richness needed to achieve comparable
software quality (reduce pre-release defects) between distributed and
collocated teams. This paper explores the relevancy of
communication richness in various development phases and its
impact on quality. Through examination of a large distributed agile
development project, this investigation seeks to understand the levels
of communication required within each ASD phase to produce
comparable quality results achieved by collocated teams. Obviously,
a multitude of factors affects the outcome of software projects.
However, within distributed agile software development teams, the
mode of communication is one of the critical components required to
achieve team cohesiveness and effectiveness. As such, this study
constructs a distributed agile communication model (DAC-M) for
potential application to similar distributed agile development efforts
using the measurement of the suitable level of communication. The
results of the study show that less rich communication methods, in
the appropriate phase, might be satisfactory to achieve equivalent
quality in distributed ASD efforts.
Abstract: Field Association (FA) terms are a limited set of discriminating terms that give us the knowledge to identify document fields which are effective in document classification, similar file retrieval and passage retrieval. But the problem lies in the lack of an effective method to extract automatically relevant Arabic FA Terms to build a comprehensive dictionary. Moreover, all previous studies are based on FA terms in English and Japanese, and the extension of FA terms to other language such Arabic could be definitely strengthen further researches. This paper presents a new method to extract, Arabic FA Terms from domain-specific corpora using part-of-speech (POS) pattern rules and corpora comparison. Experimental evaluation is carried out for 14 different fields using 251 MB of domain-specific corpora obtained from Arabic Wikipedia dumps and Alhyah news selected average of 2,825 FA Terms (single and compound) per field. From the experimental results, recall and precision are 84% and 79% respectively. Therefore, this method selects higher number of relevant Arabic FA Terms at high precision and recall.
Abstract: The cycles of the steam-injection gas-turbine systems are studied. The analyses of the parametric effects and the optimal operating conditions for the steam-injection gas-turbine (STIG) system and the regenerative steam-injection gas-turbine (RSTIG) system are investigated to ensure the maximum performance. Using the analytic model, the performance parameters of the system such as thermal efficiency, fuel consumption and specific power, and also the optimal operating conditions are evaluated in terms of pressure ratio, steam injection ratio, ambient temperature and turbine inlet temperature (TIT). It is shown that the computational results are presented to have a notable enhancement of thermal efficiency and specific power.
Abstract: In the Northern hemisphere, sheep reproduction is
seasonal (September-November). Among several natural factors
influencing the reproduction status of rams, we studied the daylight
length and temperature. Rams from different breeds were studied:
Merinos de Palas (half-precocious), Karakul de Botosani (halfbelated)
and Turcana (belated breed, low reproductive plasticity). In
Merinos de Palas, ejaculate volume during sexual repose is 51.3%
from normal quantity. When autumn climate was experimentally
induced, ejaculate volume reached 98.45% (Merinos), 94.97%
(Karakul) and 97.59% (Turcana). Semen density increased from
1.031-1.033 till 1.035 after exposition to artificial light and
temperature conditions. Spermatozoids mobility and sperm pH
improved, passing over 82% and 6.75, values identical to those in the
natural reproduction season. Behaviour analysis after
photoperiodicity indicated that over 83.3% Merinos and Karakul
males and all Turcana rams exteriorised normal and intense sexual
reflexes. Certain effort and reduced expenses brought rams in good
condition, producing higher quantity and quality sperm.
Abstract: Mobile robots are used in a large field of scenarios,
like exploring contaminated areas, repairing oil rigs under water,
finding survivors in collapsed buildings, etc. Currently, there is no
unified intuitive user interface (UI) to control such complex mobile
robots. As a consequence, some scenarios are done without the
exploitation of experience and intuition of human teleoperators.
A novel framework has been developed to embed a flexible and
modular UI into a complete 3-D virtual reality simulation system.
This new approach wants to access maximum benefits of human
operators. Sensor information received from the robot is prepared for
an intuitive visualization. Virtual reality metaphors support the
operator in his decisions. These metaphors are integrated into a real
time stereo video stream. This approach is not restricted to any
specific type of mobile robot and allows for the operation of different
robot types with a consistent concept and user interface.
Abstract: The present project was conducted with the
circumferential-fuel-jets inverse diffusion flame (CIDF) burner
burning liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) enriched with 50% of
hydrogen fuel (H2). The range of stable operation of the CIDF burner
in terms of Reynolds number (from laminar to turbulent flow regions),
equivalence ratio and fuel jet velocity of LPG of the 50% H2-LPG
mixed fuel was identified. Experiments were also carried out to
investigate the flame structures of the LPG flame and LPG enriched H2
flame. Experimental results obtained from these two flames were
compared to fully explore the influence of hydrogen addition on flame
stability. Flame heights obtained by burning these two kinds of fuels at
various equivalence ratios were compared and correlated with the
Global Momentum Ratio (GMR).
Abstract: Investigations of the unimolecular decomposition of
vinyl ethyl ether (VEE), vinyl propyl ether (VPE) and vinyl butyl
ether (VBE) have shown that activation of the molecule of a ether
results in formation of a cyclic construction - the transition state (TS),
which may lead to the displacement of the thermodynamic
equilibrium towards the reaction products. The TS is obtained by
applying energy minimization relative to the ground state of an ether
under the program MM2 when taking into account the hydrogen bond
formation between a hydrogen atom of alkyl residue and the extreme
atom of carbon of the vinyl group. The dissociation of TS up to the
products is studied by energy minimization procedure using the
mathematical program Gaussian. The obtained calculation data for
VEE testify that the decomposition of this ether may be conditioned
by hydrogen bond formation for two possible versions: when α- or β-
hydrogen atoms of the ethyl group are bound to carbon atom of the
vinyl group. Applying the same calculation methods to other ethers
(VPE and VBE) it is shown that only in the case of hydrogen bonding
between α-hydrogen atom of the alkyl residue and the extreme atom
of carbon of the vinyl group (αH---C) results in decay of theses
ethers.
Abstract: The pulp and paper mill effluent is one of the high
polluting effluent amongst the effluents obtained from polluting
industries. All the available methods for treatment of pulp and paper
mill effluent have certain drawbacks. The coagulation is one of the
cheapest process for treatment of various organic effluents. Thus, the
removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and colour of paper mill
effluent is studied using coagulation process. The batch coagulation
process was performed using various coagulants like: aluminium
chloride, poly aluminium chloride and copper sulphate. The initial
pH of the effluent (Coagulation pH) has tremendous effect on COD
and colour removal. Poly aluminium chloride (PAC) as coagulant
reduced COD to 84 % and 92 % of colour was removed at an
optimum pH 5 and coagulant dose of 8 ml l-1. With aluminium
chloride at an optimum pH = 4 and coagulant dose of 5 g l-1, 74 %
COD and 86 % colour removal were observed. The results using
copper sulphate as coagulant (a less commercial coagulant) were
encouraging. At an optimum pH 6 and mass loading of 5 g l-1, 76 %
COD reduction and 78 % colour reduction were obtained. It was also
observed that after addition of coagulant, the pH of the effluent
decreases. The decrease in pH was highest for AlCl3, which was
followed by PAC and CuSO4. Significant amount of COD reductions
was obtained by coagulation process. Since the coagulation process
is the first stage for treatment of effluent and some of the coagulant
cations usually remain in the treated effluents. Thus, cation like
copper may be one of the good catalyst for second stage of treatment
process like wet oxidation. The copper has been found to be good
oxidation catalyst then iron and aluminum.