Abstract: This paper proposes a mathematical model and
examines the performance of an exact algorithm for a location–
transportation problems in humanitarian relief. The model determines
the number and location of distribution centers in a relief network,
the amount of relief supplies to be stocked at each distribution center
and the vehicles to take the supplies to meet the needs of disaster
victims under capacity restriction, transportation and budgetary
constraints. The computational experiments are conducted on the
various sizes of problems that are generated. Branch and bound
algorithm is applied for these problems. The results show that this
algorithm can solve problem sizes of up to three candidate locations
with five demand points and one candidate location with up to twenty
demand points without premature termination.
Abstract: Conservation works in Malaysia that is procured by
public organisation usually follow the traditional approach where the
works are tendered based on Bills of Quantities (BQ). One of the
purposes of tendering is to enable the selection of a competent
contractor that offers a competitive price. While competency of the
contractors are assessed by their technical knowledge, experience and
track records, the assessment of pricing will be dependent on the
tender amount. However, the issue currently faced by the
conservation works sector is the difficulty in assessing the
competitiveness and reasonableness of the tender amount due to the
high variance between the tenders amount. Thus, this paper discusses
the factors that cause difficulty to the tenderers in pricing
competitively in a bidding exercise for conservation tenders. Data on
tendering is collected from interviews with conservation works
contractors to gain in-depth understanding of the barriers faced in
pricing tenders of conservation works. Findings from the study lent
support to the contention that the variance of tender amount is very
high amongst tenderers. The factors identified in the survey are the
format of BQ, hidden works, experience and labour and material
costs.
Abstract: In this paper, we consider the vehicle routing problem
with mixed fleet of conventional and heterogenous electric vehicles
and time dependent charging costs, denoted VRP-HFCC, in which
a set of geographically scattered customers have to be served by a
mixed fleet of vehicles composed of a heterogenous fleet of Electric
Vehicles (EVs), having different battery capacities and operating
costs, and Conventional Vehicles (CVs). We include the possibility
of charging EVs in the available charging stations during the routes
in order to serve all customers. Each charging station offers charging
service with a known technology of chargers and time dependent
charging costs. Charging stations are also subject to operating time
windows constraints. EVs are not necessarily compatible with all
available charging technologies and a partial charging is allowed.
Intermittent charging at the depot is also allowed provided that
constraints related to the electricity grid are satisfied.
The objective is to minimize the number of employed vehicles and
then minimize the total travel and charging costs.
In this study, we present a Mixed Integer Programming Model and
develop a Charging Routing Heuristic and a Local Search Heuristic
based on the Inject-Eject routine with different insertion methods. All
heuristics are tested on real data instances.
Abstract: In order to detect and quantify the phenolic contents
of a wastewater with biosensors, two working electrodes based on
modified Poly(Pyrrole) films were fabricated. Enzyme horseradish
peroxidase was used as biomolecule of the prepared electrodes.
Various phenolics were tested at the biosensor. Phenol detection was
realized by electrochemical reduction of quinones produced by
enzymatic activity. Analytical parameters were calculated and the
results were compared with each other.
Abstract: The work studied the effect of germination on
proximate, phenol and flavonoid content and antioxidant activities
(AOA) of African Yam been (AYB). Germination was done in
controlled dark chamber (100% RH, 28oC). The proximate, phenol
and flavonoid content and antioxidant activities before and after
germination were investigated. The crude protein, moisture, and
crude fiber content of germinated AYB were significantly higher
(P
Abstract: It is likely that robots will cross the boundaries of
industry into households over the next decades. With demographic
challenges worldwide, the future ageing populations will require the
introduction of assistive technologies capable of providing, care,
human dignity and quality of life through the aging process. Robotics
technology has a high potential for being used in the areas of social
and healthcare by promoting a wide range of activities such as
entertainment, companionship, supervision or cognitive and physical
assistance. However such close Human Robotics Interaction (HRI)
encompass a rich set of ethical scenarios that need to be addressed
before Socially Assistive Robots (SARs) reach the global markets.
Such interactions with robots may seem a worthy goal for many
technical/financial reasons but inevitably require close attention to
the ethical dimensions of such interactions. This article investigates
the current HRI benchmark of social success. It revises it according
to the ethical principles of beneficence, non-maleficence and justice
aligned with social care ethos. An extension of such benchmark is
proposed based on an empirical study of HRIs conducted with elderly
groups.
Abstract: Fluid viscous damping systems are well suited for
many air vehicles subjected to shock and vibration. These damping
system work with the principle of viscous fluid throttling through the
orifice to create huge pressure difference between compression and
rebound chamber and obtain the required damping force. One
application of such systems is its use in aircraft door system to
counteract the door’s velocity and safely stop it. In exigency
situations like crash or emergency landing where the door doesn’t
open easily, possibly due to unusually tilting of fuselage or some
obstacles or intrusion of debris obstruction to move the parts of the
door, such system can be combined with other systems to provide
needed force to forcefully open the door and also securely stop it
simultaneously within the required time i.e. less than 8 seconds. In
the present study, a hydraulic system called snubber along with other
systems like actuator, gas bottle assembly which together known as
emergency power assist system (EPAS) is designed, built and
experimentally studied to check the magnitude of angular velocity,
damping force and time required to effectively open the door.
Whenever needed, the gas pressure from the bottle is released to
actuate the actuator and at the same time pull the snubber’s piston to
operate the emergency opening of the door. Such EPAS installed in
the suspension arm of the aircraft door is studied explicitly changing
parameters like orifice size, oil level, oil viscosity and bypass valve
gap and its spring of the snubber at varying temperature to generate
the optimum design case. Comparative analysis of the EPAS at
several cases is done and conclusions are made. It is found that
during emergency condition, the system opening time and angular
velocity, when snubber with 0.3mm piston and shaft orifice and
bypass valve gap of 0.5 mm with its original spring is used, shows
significant improvement over the old ones.
Abstract: In this study, an experiment was executed related to
the strength of wooden materials which have been commonly used
both in the past and present against pressure and whether fire
retardant materials used against fire have any effects or not. Totally
81 samples which included 3 different wood species, 3 different
sizes, 2 different fire retardants and 2 unprocessed samples were
prepared. Compressive pressure tests were applied to the prepared
samples, their variance analyses were executed in accordance with
the obtained results and it was aimed to determine the most
convenient wooden materials and fire-retardant coating material. It
was also determined that the species of wood and the species of
coating caused the decrease and/or increase in the resistance against
pressure.
Abstract: In review the generalized data about different methods
of synthesis of biological activity aminated hydroxyanthraquinones is
presented. The basic regularity of a synthesis is analyzed. Action of
temperature, pH, solubility, catalysts and other factors on a reaction
product yield is revealed.
Abstract: Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is the most commonly used method for recovering energy from small sources of heat. The investigation of the ORC in supercritical condition is a new research area as it has a potential to generate high power and thermal efficiency in a waste heat recovery system. This paper presents a steady state ORC model in supercritical condition and its simulations with a real engine’s exhaust data. The key component of ORC, evaporator, is modelled using finite volume method, modelling of all other components of the waste heat recovery system such as pump, expander and condenser are also presented. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of mass flow rate and evaporator outlet temperature on the efficiency of the waste heat recovery process. Additionally, the necessity of maintaining an optimum evaporator outlet temperature is also investigated. Simulation results show that modification of mass flow rate is the key to changing the operating temperature at the evaporator outlet.
Abstract: The paper deals with the problems of the actual
behavior, failure mechanism and load-carrying capacity of the special
bolt connection developed and intended for the assembly connections
of truss main girders of perspective railway temporary steel bridges.
Within the framework of this problem solution, several types of
structural details of assembly joints have been considered as the
conceptual structural design. Based on the preliminary evaluation of
advantages or disadvantages of these ones, in principle two basic
structural configurations – so-called “tooth” and “splice-plate”
connections have been selected for the subsequent detailed
investigation. This investigation is mainly based on the experimental
verification of the actual behavior, strain and failure mechanism and
corresponding strength of the connection, and on its numerical
modeling using FEM. This paper is focused only on the cyclic
loading (fatigue) tests results of “splice-plate” connections and their
evaluation, which have already been finished. Simultaneously with
the fatigue tests, the static loading tests have been realized too, but
these ones, as well as FEM numerical modeling, are not the subject of
this paper.
Abstract: The Blue Nile Basin is the most important tributary of
the Nile River. Egypt and Sudan are almost dependent on water
originated from the Blue Nile. This multi-dependency creates
conflicts among the three countries Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia
making the management of these conflicts as an international issue.
Good assessment of the water resources of the Blue Nile is an
important to help in managing such conflicts. Hydrological models
are good tool for such assessment. This paper presents a critical
review of the nature and variability of the climate and hydrology of
the Blue Nile Basin as a first step of using hydrological modeling to
assess the water resources of the Blue Nile. Many several attempts
are done to develop basin-scale hydrological modeling on the Blue
Nile. Lumped and semi distributed models used averages of
meteorological inputs and watershed characteristics in hydrological
simulation, to analyze runoff for flood control and water resource
management. Distributed models include the temporal and spatial
variability of catchment conditions and meteorological inputs to
allow better representation of the hydrological process. The main
challenge of all used models was to assess the water resources of the
basin is the shortage of the data needed for models calibration and
validation. It is recommended to use distributed model for their
higher accuracy to cope with the great variability and complexity of
the Blue Nile basin and to collect sufficient data to have more
sophisticated and accurate hydrological modeling.
Abstract: This research was conducted in the Mae Sot
Watershed where located in the Moei River Basin at the Upper
Salween River Basin in Tak Province, Thailand. The Mae Sot
Municipality is the largest urban area in Tak Province and situated in
the midstream of the Mae Sot Watershed. It usually faces flash flood
problem after heavy rain due to poor flood management has been
reported since economic rapidly bloom up in recent years. Its
catchment can be classified as ungauged basin with lack of rainfall
data and no any stream gaging station was reported. It was attached
by most severely flood events in 2013 as the worst studied case for
all those communities in this municipality. Moreover, other problems
are also faced in this watershed, such shortage water supply for
domestic consumption and agriculture utilizations including a
deterioration of water quality and landslide as well. The research
aimed to increase capability building and strengthening the
participation of those local community leaders and related agencies to
conduct better water management in urban area was started by mean
of the data collection and illustration of the appropriated application
of some short period rainfall forecasting model as they aim for better
flood relief plan and management through the hydrologic model
system and river analysis system programs. The authors intended to
apply the global rainfall data via the integrated data viewer (IDV)
program from the Unidata with the aim for rainfall forecasting in a
short period of 7-10 days in advance during rainy season instead of
real time record. The IDV product can be present in an advance
period of rainfall with time step of 3-6 hours was introduced to the
communities. The result can be used as input data to the hydrologic
modeling system model (HEC-HMS) for synthesizing flood
hydrographs and use for flood forecasting as well. The authors
applied the river analysis system model (HEC-RAS) to present flood
flow behaviors in the reach of the Mae Sot stream via the downtown
of the Mae Sot City as flood extents as the water surface level at
every cross-sectional profiles of the stream. Both models of HMS and
RAS were tested in 2013 with observed rainfall and inflow-outflow
data from the Mae Sot Dam. The result of HMS showed fit to the
observed data at the dam and applied at upstream boundary discharge
to RAS in order to simulate flood extents and tested in the field, and
the result found satisfying. The product of rainfall from IDV was fair
while compared with observed data. However, it is an appropriate
tool to use in the ungauged catchment to use with flood hydrograph
and river analysis models for future efficient flood relief plan and
management.
Abstract: This article discusses issues related to the System of
Innovation: Comparing economies of Brazil and South Africa.
Having as this study aimed at comparing the Innovation System of
the countries mentioned. Then briefly describe the process of Venture
Capital and present the industry innovation in Brazil and South
Africa. The methodological approach described in this article is
descriptive and the approach is qualitative, taking as a basis
secondary data relating to research articles. The main results are
related to the different forms of financing of Venture Capital used by
countries compared, in addition to the training and economic policy.
And finally, it was highlighted the importance of implementation of
policy reforms for the Brazil and Africa in the innovation process.
Abstract: The effects of basil and/or chamomile seed
supplementation on the growth of Hubbard broiler chicks were
evaluated. The antioxidant effects of these supplements were also
assessed. 120 1-day-old broiler chicks were randomly divided into
four equal groups. The control group (group 1) was fed a basal diet
(BD) without supplementation. Groups 2, 3, and 4 were fed the BD
supplemented with 10g basil, 10g chamomile, and 5g basil plus 5g
chamomile per kg of food, respectively. Basil supplementation alone
or in combination with chamomile non-significantly (P≥0.05)
increased final body weight (3.2% and 0.3%, respectively) and
weight gain (3.5% and 3.6%, respectively) over the experimental
period. Chamomile supplementation alone non-significantly (P≥0.05)
reduced final body weight and weight gain over the experimental
period by 1.7% and 1.7%, respectively. In comparison to the control
group, herbal seed supplementation reduced feed intake and
improved the feed conversion and protein efficiency ratios. In
general, basil seed supplementation stimulated chicken growth and
improved the feed efficiency more effectively than chamomile seed
supplementation. The antioxidant activities of basil and/or chamomile
supplementation were examined in the thymus, bursa, and spleen. In
chickens that received supplements, the level of malondialdehyde
was significantly decreased, whereas the activities of glutathione,
superoxide dismutase, and catalase were significantly increased
(P
Abstract: In this article a comparison was made between Cu and
TiO2 supported catalysts on activated carbon for ozone
decomposition reaction. The activated carbon support in the case of
TiO2/AC sample was prepared by physicochemical pyrolysis and for
Cu/AC samples the supports are chemically modified carbons. The
prepared catalysts were synthesized by impregnation method. The
samples were annealed in two different regimes- in air and under
vacuum. To examine adsorption efficiency of the samples BET
method was used. All investigated catalysts supported on chemically
modified carbons have higher specific surface area compared to the
specific surface area of TiO2 supported catalysts, varying in the range
590÷620 m2/g. The method of synthesis of the precursors had
influenced catalytic activity.
Abstract: Based on the experimental data, the impact of
resistance and reactance of the winding, as well as the magnetic
permeability of the magnetic circuit steel material on the value of the
electromotive force of the induction converter is investigated. The
obtained results allow estimating the main technological spreads and
determining the maximum level of the electromotive force change.
By the method of experiment planning, the expression of a
polynomial for the electromotive force which can be used to estimate
the adequacy of mathematical models to be used at the investigation
and design of induction converters is obtained.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to assess whether
living in proximity to a roofing fiber cement factory in southern
Thailand was associated with physical, mental, social, and spiritual
health domains measured in a self-reported health risk assessment
(HRA) questionnaire. A cross-sectional study was conducted among
community members divided into two groups: near population (living
within 0-2km of factory) and far population (living within 2-5km of
factory) (N=198). A greater proportion of those living far from the
factory (65.34%) reported physical health problems than the near
group (51.04%) (p =0.032). This study has demonstrated that the near
population group had higher proportion of participants with positive
ratings on mental assessment (30.34%) and social health impacts
(28.42%) than far population group (10.59% and 16.67%,
respectively) (p
Abstract: This paper presents two types of microstrip bandpass
filter (BPF) at microwave frequencies. The first one is a tunable BPF
using planar patch resonators based on a varactor diode. The filter is
formed by a triple mode circular patch resonator with two pairs of
slots, in which the varactor diodes are connected. Indeed, this filter is
initially centered at 2.4 GHz; the center frequency of the tunable
patch filter could be tuned up to 1.8 GHz simultaneously with the
bandwidth, reaching high tuning ranges. Lossless simulations were
compared to those considering the substrate dielectric, conductor
losses and the equivalent electrical circuit model of the tuning
element in order to assess their effects. Within these variations,
simulation results showed insertion loss better than 2 dB and return
loss better than 10 dB over the passband. The second structure is a
BPF for ultra-wideband (UWB) applications based on multiple-mode
resonator (MMR) and rectangular-shaped defected ground structure
(DGS). This filter, which is compact size of 25.2 x 3.8 mm2, provides
in the pass band an insertion loss of 0.57 dB and a return loss greater
than 12 dB. The proposed filters presents good performances and the
simulation results are in satisfactory agreement with the
experimentation ones reported elsewhere.
Abstract: Comparisons of financial development across
countries are central to answering many of the questions on factors
leading to economic development. For this reason this study analyzes
the implications of financial system’s development on country’s
economic development. The aim of the article: to analyze the impact
of financial system’s development on economic development. The
following research methods were used: systemic, logical and
comparative analysis of scientific literature, analysis of statistical
data, time series model (Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL)
Model). The empirical results suggest about positive short and long
term effect of stock market development on GDP per capita.