Abstract: Flexible pavement made with neat asphalt binder is not enough to resist heavy traffic loads as well as harsh environmental condition found in Riyadh region. Therefore, there is a need to modify asphalt binder with polymers to satisfy such conditions. There are several types of polymers that are used to modify asphalt binder. The objective of this paper is to compare the rheological properties of six polymer modified asphalt binders (Lucolast7010, Anglomak2144, Paveflex140, SBS KTR401, EE-2 and Crumb rubber) obtained from asphalt manufacturer plants. The rheological properties of polymer modified asphalt binders were tested using conventional tests such as penetration, softening point and viscosity; and SHRP tests such as dynamic shear rheometer and bending beam rheometer. The results have indicated that the polymer modified asphalt binders have lower penetration and higher softening point than neat asphalt indicating an improvement in stiffness of asphalt binder, and as a result, more resistant to rutting. Moreover, the dynamic shear rheometer results have shown that all modifiers used in this study improved the binder properties and satisfied the Superpave specifications except SBS KTR401 which failed to satisfy the rutting parameter (G*/sinδ).
Abstract: Plants as therapeutic agents are used as drug in many parts of the world. Medicinal plants are mostly used in developing countries due to culture acceptability, belief or due to lack of easy access to primary health care services. Jatropha curcas is a plant from the Euphorbiaceae family which is widely used in Northern Nigeria as an anti-diarrheal agent. This study was conducted to determine the anti-diarrheal effect of the leaf extract on castor oil induced diarrhea in albino rats. The leaves of J. curcas were collected from Balanga Local government in Gombe State, north-eastern Nigeria; due to its bioavailability. The leaves were air-dried at room temperature and ground to powder. Phytochemical screening was done and different concentrations of the extract was prepared and administered to the different categories of experimental animals. From the results, aqueous leaf extract of Jatropha curcas at doses of 200mg/Kg and 400mg/Kg was found to reduce the mean stool score as compared to control rats, however, maximum reduction was achieved with the standard drug of Loperamide (5mg/Kg). Treatment of diarrhea with 200mg/Kg of the extract did not produce any significant decrease in stool fluid content but was found to be significant in those rats that were treated with 400mg/Kg of the extract at 2hours (0.05±0.02) and 4hours (0.01±0.01). A significant reduction of diarrhea in the experimental animals signifies it to possess some anti-diarrheal activity.
Abstract: Anthropogenic sources of zinc (Zn), including industrial emissions and effluents, Zn–rich fertilizer materials and pesticides containing Zn, can contribute to increasing the concentration of soluble Zn at levels toxic to plants in acid sandy soils. The application of municipal sewage sludge or biosolids (MBS) which contain metal immobilizing agents on coarse-textured soils could improve the metal sorption capacity of the low-CEC soils. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the sorption of Zn in surface samples (0-15 cm) of six Quebec (Canada) soils amended with MBS (pH 6.9) from Val d’Or (Quebec, Canada). Soil samples amended with increasing amounts (0 to 20%) of MBS were equilibrated with various amounts of Zn as ZnCl2 in 0.01 M CaCl2 for 48 hours at room temperature. Sorbed Zn was calculated from the difference between the initial and final Zn concentration in solution. Zn sorption data conformed to the linear form of Freundlich equation. The amount of sorbed Zn increased considerably with increasing MBS rate. Analysis of variance revealed a highly significant effect (p ≤ 0.001) of soil texture and MBS rate on the amount of sorbed Zn. The average values of the Zn-sorption capacity of MBS-amended coarse-textured soils were lower than those of MBS-amended fine textured soils. The two sandy soils (86-99% sand) amended with MBS retained 2- to 5-fold Zn than those without MBS (control). Significant Pearson correlation coefficients between the Zn sorption isotherm parameter, i.e. the Freundlich sorption isotherm (KF), and commonly measured physical and chemical entities were obtained. Among all the soil properties measured, soil pH gave the best significant correlation coefficients (p ≤ 0.001) for soils receiving 0, 5 and 10% MBS. Furthermore, KF values were positively correlated with soil clay content, exchangeable basic cations (Ca, Mg or K), CEC and clay content to CEC ratio. From these results, it can be concluded that (i) municipal biosolids provide sorption sites that have a strong affinity for Zn, (ii) both soil texture, especially clay content, and soil pH are the main factors controlling anthropogenic Zn sorption in the municipal biosolids-amended soils, and (iii) the effect of municipal biosolids on Zn sorption will be more pronounced for a sandy soil than for a clay soil.
Abstract: The sun is an inexhaustible source and harness its potential both for heating and power generation is one of the most promising and necessary alternatives, mainly due to environmental issues. However, it should be noted that this has always been present in the generation of energy on earth, only indirectly, since it is responsible for virtually all other energy sources, such as generating source of evaporation of the water cycle, allowing the impoundment and the consequent generation of electricity (hydroelectric power); winds are caused by atmospheric induction caused by large scale solar radiation; petroleum, coal and natural gas were generated from waste plants and animals that originally derived energy required for their development of solar radiation. This paper presents a study on the feasibility of using solar energy for water heating in homes. A simplified methodology developed for formulation of solar heating operation model of water in alternative systems of solar energy in Brazil, and compared it to that in the international market. Across this research, it was possible to create new paradigms for alternative applications to the use of solar energy.
Abstract: Control system for hi-tech industries could be realized generally and deeply by a special document. Vast heavy industries such as power plants with a large number of I/O signals are controlled by a distributed control system (DCS). This system comprises of so many parts from field level to high control level, and junior instrument engineers may be confused by this enormous information. The key document which can solve this problem is “control configuration system diagram” for each type of DCS. This is a road map that covers all of activities respect to control system in each industrial plant and inevitable to be studied by whom corresponded. It plays an important role from designing control system start point until the end; deliver the system to operate. This should be inserted in bid documents, contracts, purchasing specification and used in different periods of project EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction). Separate parts of DCS are categorized here in order of importance and a brief description and some practical plan is offered. This article could be useful for all instrument and control engineers who worked is EPC projects.
Abstract: Measurement of the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) is an important tool in diagnostic examination of concrete. In this method piezoelectric transducers are normally held in direct contact with the concrete surface. The current study aims to test the hypothesis that a preferential coupling effect might exist i.e. that the speed of sound measured depends on the couplant used. In this study, different coupling media of varying acoustic impedance were placed between the transducers and concrete samples made with constant aggregate content but with different compressive strengths. The preliminary results show that using coupling materials (both solid and a range of liquid substances) has an effect on the pulse velocity measured in a given concrete. The effect varies depending on the material used. The UPV measurements with solid coupling were higher than these from the liquid coupling at all strength levels. The tests using couplants generally recorded lower UPV values than the conventional test, except when carbon fiber composite was used, which retuned higher values. Analysis of variances (ANOVA) was performed to confirm that there are statistically significant differences between the measurements recorded using a conventional system and a coupled system.
Abstract: Following plants-barley (Hordeum sativum), alfalfa
(Medicago sativa), grass mixture (red fescue-75%, long-term
ryegrass - 20% Kentucky bluegrass - 10%), oilseed rape (Brassica
napus biennis), resistant to growth in the contaminated soil with oil
content of 15.8 g / kg 25.9 g / kg soil were used. Analysis of the
population showed that the oil pollution reduces the number of
bacteria in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of plants and enhances the
amount of spore-forming bacteria and saprotrophic micromycetes. It
was shown that regardless of the plant, dominance of Pseudomonas
and Bacillus genera bacteria was typical for the rhizosphere and
rhizoplane of plants. The frequency of bacteria of these genera was
more than 60%. Oil pollution changes the ratio of occurrence of
various types of bacteria in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of plants.
Besides the Pseudomonas and Bacillus genera, in the presence of
hydrocarbons in the root zone of plants dominant and most typical
were the representatives of the Mycobacterium and Rhodococcus
genera. Together the number was between 62% to 72%.
Abstract: Flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGD) is a waste
material arouse from coal power plants. Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is a
biomaterial with porous structure. In this study, FGD gypsum which
retrieved from coal power plant in Turkey was characterized and
HAP particles which can be used as an adsorbent in wastewater
treatment application were synthesized from the FGD gypsum. The
raw materials are characterized by using X Ray Diffraction (XRD)
and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques and
produced HAP are characterized by using XRD. As a result, HAP
particles were synthesized at the molar ratio of 5:10, 5:15, 5:20, 5:24,
at room temperature, in alkaline medium (pH=11) and in 1 hour-reaction
time. Among these conditions, 5:20 had the best result.
Abstract: Present paper enumerates highlights of seasonal
variation in floristic composition and ecological strategies for the
management of ‘Gujar Tal’ at Jaunpur in tropical semi-arid region of
eastern U.P. (India). Total composition of macrophytes recorded was
47 from 26 families with maximum 6 plant species of Cyperaceae
from April, 2012 to March, 2013 at certain periodic intervals.
Maximum number of plants (39) was present during winter followed
by (37) rainy and (27) summer seasons. The distribution pattern
depicted that maximum number of plants (27) was of marshy and
swampy habitats usually transitional between land and water.
Abstract: Voltage level must be raised in order to deliver the
produced energy to the consumption zones with less loss and less
cost. Power transformers used to raise or lower voltage are important
parts of the energy transmission system. Power transformers used in
switchgear and power generation plants stay in human's intensive
habitat zones as a result of expanding cities. Accordingly, noise
levels produced by power transformers have begun more and more
important and they have established itself as one of the research field.
In this research, the noise cause on transformers has been
investigated, it's causes has been examined and noise measurement
techniques have been introduced. Examples of transformer noise test
results are submitted and precautions to be taken were discussed for
the purpose of decreasing of the noise which will occurred by
transformers.
Abstract: Green roof system is considered a relatively new
concept in Malaysia even though it has been implemented widely in
the developed countries. Generally, green roofs provide many
benefits such as enhancing aesthetical quality of the built
environment, reduce urban heat island effect, reduce energy
consumption, improve stormwater attenuation, and reduce noise
pollution. A better understanding on the implementation of green roof
system in Malaysia is crucial, as Malaysia’s climate is different if
compared with the climate in temperate countries where most of the
green roof studies have been conducted. This study has concentrated
on the technical aspect of green roof system which focuses on i) types
of plants and method of planting; ii) engineering design for green
roof system; iii) its hydrological performance on reducing stormwater
runoff; and iv) benefits of green roofs with respect to energy.
Literature review has been conducted to identify the development and
obstacles associated with green roofs systems in Malaysia. The study
had identified the challenges and potentials of green roofs
development in Malaysia. This study also provided the
recommendations on standard design and strategies on the
implementation of green roofs in Malaysia in the near future.
Abstract: Medicinal and aromatic plants are promising and are characterized by the biosynthesis of odorous molecules that make up the so-called essential oils (EO), which have long been known for their antiseptic and therapeutic activity in folk medicine. Essential oils have many therapeutic properties. In herbal medicine, they are used for their antiseptic properties against infectious diseases of fungal origin, against dermatophytes, those of bacterial origin. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of drying in the shade on the water content and on the content of essential oils extracted from leaves of Eucalyptus camendulensis for better quality control of medicinal and aromatic plants. The water content of the Eucalyptus camendulensis plant material decreases during the drying process. It decreased from 100% to 0.006% for the drying in the shade after ten days. The moisture content is practically constant at the end of the drying period. The drying in the shade increases the concentration of essential oils of Eucalyptus camendulensis. When the leaves of Eucalyptus camendulensis plant are in the shade, the maximum of the essential oil content was obtained on the eighth day, the recorded value was 1.43% ± 0.01%. Beyond these periods, the content continuously drop in before stabilizing. The optimum drying time is between 6 and 9 days.
Abstract: There was a scenario present day that drying of fresh
fruits and vegetables by indirect solar drying by using mechanical
device; hence, an effort was made to develop a small scale solar
tunnel dryer (STD). Drying of spinach is carried out to analyze the
performance of the dryer and to study its drying characteristics. To
evaluate the performance of dryer the independent variables were
selected as air flow rate, loading density and shade net while collector
efficiency, drying efficiency, overall efficiency and specific energy
consumption were selected as responses during performing the
experiments. The spinach was dried from initial moisture content
88.21-94.04% (w.b.) to final moisture content 3.50-5.13% (w.b.). The
drying time considerably reduced as compared to open sun drying of
spinach as sun drying took 15 h for drying. The average collector
efficiency, drying efficiency and overall efficiency were in the range
28.73-61.15%, 11.63% to 22.13%, and 7.61-14.66%, respectively.
Abstract: Despite the wide spread use of synthetic dyes, natural
dyes are still exploited and used to enhance its inherent aesthetic
qualities as a major material for beautification of the body. Centuries
before the discovery of synthetic dyes, natural dyes were the only
source of dye open to mankind. Dyes are extracted from plant -
leaves, roots and barks, insect secretions, and minerals. However,
research findings have made it clear that of all, plants- leaves, roots,
barks or flowers are the most explored and exploited in which henna
(Lawsonia innermis L.) is one of those plants. Experiment has also
shown that henna is used in body painting in conjunction with an
alkaline (Ammonium Sulphate) as a fixing agent. This of course
gives a clue that if colour derived from henna is properly
investigated, it may not only be used for body decoration but
possibly, may have affinity to fiber substrate. This paper investigates
the dyeing potentials – dye ability and fastness qualities of henna dye
extracts on cotton and linen fibers using mordants like ammonium
sulphate and other alkalis (hydrosulphate and caustic soda, potash,
common salt, potassium alum). Hot and cold water and ethanol
solvent were used in the extraction of the dye to investigate the most
effective method, dye ability, and fastness qualities of these extracts
under room temperature. The results of the experiment show that
cotton have a high rate of dye intake than other fiber. On a similar
note, the colours obtained depend most on the solvent used. In
conclusion, hot water extraction appears more effective. While the
colours obtained from ethanol and both cold hot methods of
extraction range from light to dark yellow, light green to army green
and to some extent shades of brown hues.
Abstract: Test automation allows performing difficult and time
consuming manual software testing tasks efficiently, quickly and
repeatedly. However, development and maintenance of automated
tests is expensive, so it needs a proper prioritization what to automate
first. This paper describes a simple yet efficient approach for such
prioritization of test cases based on the effort needed for both manual
execution and software test automation. The suggested approach is
very flexible because it allows working with a variety of assessment
methods, and adding or removing new candidates at any time. The
theoretical ideas presented in this article have been successfully
applied in real world situations in several software companies by the
authors and their colleagues including testing of real estate websites,
cryptographic and authentication solutions, OSGi-based middleware
framework that has been applied in various systems for smart homes,
connected cars, production plants, sensors, home appliances, car head
units and engine control units (ECU), vending machines, medical
devices, industry equipment and other devices that either contain or
are connected to an embedded service gateway.
Abstract: Sewage sludge is a biomass resource that can create a
solid fuel and electricity. Utilizing sewage sludge as a renewable
energy can contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases. In Japan,
the "National Plan for the Promotion of Biomass Utilization" and the
“Priority Plan for Social Infrastructure Development" were approved
at cabinet meetings in December 2010 and August 2012, respectively,
to promote the energy utilization of sewage sludge. This study
investigated costs and greenhouse gas emission in different sewage
sludge treatments with technologies for energy from sewage sludge.
Expenses were estimated based on capital costs and O&M costs
including energy consumption of solid fuel plants and biogas power
generation plants for sewage sludge. Results showed that the cost of
sludge digestion treatment with solid fuel technologies was 8% lower
than landfill disposal. The greenhouse gas emission of sludge
digestion treatment with solid fuel technologies was also 6,390t as
CO2 smaller than landfill disposal. Biogas power generation reduced
the electricity of a wastewater treatment plant by 30% and the cost by
5%.
Abstract: Coal fly ash, an industrial by product of coal
combustion thermal power plants is considered as a hazardous
material and its improper disposal has become an environmental
issue. On the other hand, manufacturing conventional clay bricks
involves on consumption of large amount of clay and leads
substantial depletion of topsoil. This paper unveils the possibility of
using fly ash as a partial replacement of clay for brick manufacturing
considering the local technology practiced in Bangladesh. The effect
of fly ash with different replacing ratio (0%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and
50% by volume) of clay on properties of bricks was studied. Bricks
were made in the field parallel to ordinary bricks marked with
specific number for different percentage to identify them at time of
testing. No physical distortion is observed in fly ash brick after
burning in the kiln. Results from laboratory test show that
compressive strength of brick is decreased with the increase of fly
ash and maximum compressive strength is found to be 19.6 MPa at
20% of fly ash. In addition, water absorption of fly ash brick is
increased with the increase of fly ash. The abrasion value and
Specific gravity of coarse aggregate prepared from brick with fly ash
also studied and the results of this study suggests that 20% fly ash
can be considered as the optimum fly ash content for producing good
quality bricks utilizing present practiced technology.
Abstract: We regard forecasting of energy consumption by
private production areas of a large industrial facility as well as by the
facility itself. As for production areas, the forecast is made based on
empirical dependencies of the specific energy consumption and the
production output. As for the facility itself, implementation of the
task to minimize the energy consumption forecasting error is based
on adjustment of the facility’s actual energy consumption values
evaluated with the metering device and the total design energy
consumption of separate production areas of the facility. The
suggested procedure of optimal energy consumption was tested based
on the actual data of core product output and energy consumption by
a group of workshops and power plants of the large iron and steel
facility. Test results show that implementation of this procedure gives
the mean accuracy of energy consumption forecasting for winter
2014 of 0.11% for the group of workshops and 0.137% for the power
plants.
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted in the Agricultural
Research Station, at El-Ghoraieb, Assiut to study dry seed yield
performance of two locally adapted cultivars (‘Azmerly’ and ‘Cream
7’) and two line introductions (IT81D-1032 and IT82D-812) of
common cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) grown at three
different within-row spaces (20, 30 and 40 cm) and two planting
dates in the summer (April 15th and 30th) and in the fall season (Aug.
12th and 27th) of two successive seasons. The data showed that total
dry-seed yield produced by plants grown at 20 cm was greater than at
30 cm in all cvs/lines in both years. Increases in 1000-seed weight
were detected in cv ‘Azmerly’ and line IT82D-812 when they were
grown at 30 cm as compared with 20 cm in the summer season.
However, in the fall season such increases were found in all cvs/lines.
Planting at 40 cm produced seeds of greater weight than planting at
30 cm for all cvs/lines in the fall season and also in cv. Cream 7 and
line IT82D-812 in the summer season, while all cvs/lines in the fall
Planting on April 15th in the summer and also planting on Aug. 12th
in the fall had plants which showed increases in 1000-seed weight
and total dry-seed yield. The greatest 1000-seed weight was found in
the line IT81D-1032 in the summer season and in the line IT82D-812
in the fall season. The sum up results revealed that ‘Azmerly’
produced greater dry-seed yield than ‘Cream 7’ and both of them
were superior to the line IT82D-812 and IT81D-1032 in the summer
season. In the fall, however, the line IT82D-812 produced greater
dry-seed yield than the other cultivars/lines.
Abstract: Excessive fretting wear at the taper-trunnion junction
(trunnionosis) apparently contributes to the high failure rates of hip
implants. Implant wear and corrosion lead to the release of metal
particulate debris and subsequent release of metal ions at the tapertrunnion
surface. This results in a type of metal poisoning referred to
as metallosis. The consequences of metal poisoning include;
osteolysis (bone loss), osteoarthritis (pain), aseptic loosening of the
prosthesis and revision surgery. Follow up after revision surgery,
metal debris particles are commonly found in numerous locations. Background: A stable connection between the femoral ball head
(taper) and stem (trunnion) is necessary to prevent relative motions
and corrosion at the taper junction. Hence, the importance of
component assembly cannot be over-emphasized. Therefore, the aim
of this study is to determine the influence of head-stem junction
assembly by press fitting and the subsequent
disengagement/disassembly on the connection strength between the
taper ball head and stem. Methods: CoCr femoral heads were assembled with High stainless
hydrogen steel stem (trunnion) by Push-in i.e. press fit; and
disengaged by pull-out test. The strength and stability of the two
connections were evaluated by measuring the head pull-out forces
according to ISO 7206-10 standards. Findings: The head-stem junction strength linearly increases with
assembly forces.