Search results for: tests for series
5171 How Accountants Can Save the World
Authors: Todd Sayre
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The proprietary balance sheet represents equity as the shareholders’ net worth. FASB (1985) codified the proprietary format with the justification that shareholders, like partners and proprietors, owned and had “ownership interests” in the net assets. The results of the hypotheses tests imply that shareholders do not resemble owners nor do they have ownership interests in the net assets. Accordingly, the paper argues that replacing the proprietary format with an entity format in corporate reporting would not only help corporate reports to be more representationally faithful, but would also help people to recognize that are entities onto themselves.Keywords: proprietary theory, entity theory, earned capital approach, corporate governance
Procedia PDF Downloads 295170 Autonomous Quantum Competitive Learning
Authors: Mohammed A. Zidan, Alaa Sagheer, Nasser Metwally
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Real-time learning is an important goal that most of artificial intelligence researches try to achieve it. There are a lot of problems and applications which require low cost learning such as learn a robot to be able to classify and recognize patterns in real time and real-time recall. In this contribution, we suggest a model of quantum competitive learning based on a series of quantum gates and additional operator. The proposed model enables to recognize any incomplete patterns, where we can increase the probability of recognizing the pattern at the expense of the undesired ones. Moreover, these undesired ones could be utilized as new patterns for the system. The proposed model is much better compared with classical approaches and more powerful than the current quantum competitive learning approaches.Keywords: competitive learning, quantum gates, quantum gates, winner-take-all
Procedia PDF Downloads 4765169 Blood Flow Estimator of the Left Ventricular Assist Device Based in Look-Up-Table: In vitro Tests
Authors: Tarcisio F. Leao, Bruno Utiyama, Jeison Fonseca, Eduardo Bock, Aron Andrade
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This work presents a blood flow estimator based in Look-Up-Table (LUT) for control of Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD). This device has been used as bridge to transplantation or as destination therapy to treat patients with heart failure (HF). Destination Therapy application requires a high performance LVAD; thus, a stable control is important to keep adequate interaction between heart and device. LVAD control provides an adequate cardiac output while sustaining an appropriate flow and pressure blood perfusion, also described as physiologic control. Because thrombus formation and system reliability reduction, sensors are not desirable to measure these variables (flow and pressure blood). To achieve this, control systems have been researched to estimate blood flow. LVAD used in the study is composed by blood centrifugal pump, control, and power supply. This technique used pump and actuator (motor) parameters of LVAD, such as speed and electric current. Estimator relates electromechanical torque (motor or actuator) and hydraulic power (blood pump) via LUT. An in vitro Mock Loop was used to evaluate deviations between blood flow estimated and actual. A solution with glycerin (50%) and water was used to simulate the blood viscosity with hematocrit 45%. Tests were carried out with variation hematocrit: 25%, 45% and 58% of hematocrit, or 40%, 50% and 60% of glycerin in water solution, respectively. Test with bovine blood was carried out (42% hematocrit). Mock Loop is composed: reservoir, tubes, pressure and flow sensors, and fluid (or blood), beyond LVAD. Estimator based in LUT is patented, number BR1020160068363, in Brazil. Mean deviation is 0.23 ± 0.07 L/min for mean flow estimated. Larger mean deviation was 0.5 L/min considering hematocrit variation. This estimator achieved deviation adequate for physiologic control implementation. Future works will evaluate flow estimation performance in control system of LVAD.Keywords: blood pump, flow estimator, left ventricular assist device, look-up-table
Procedia PDF Downloads 1895168 Analytical Soliton Solutions of the Fractional Jaulent-Miodek System
Authors: Sajeda Elbashabsheh, Kamel Al-Khaled
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This paper applies a modified Laplace Adomian decomposition method to solve the time-fractional JaulentMiodek system. The method produce convergent series solutions with easily compatible components. This paper considers the Caputo fractional derivative. The effectiveness and applicability of the method are demonstrated by comparing its results with those of prior studies. Results are presented in tables and figures. These solutions might be imperative and significant for the explanation of some practical physical phenomena. All computations and figures in the work are done using MATHEMATICA. The numerical results demonstrate that the current methods are effective, reliable, and simple to i implement for nonlinear fractional partial differential equations.Keywords: approximate solutions, Jaulent-Miodek system, Adomian decomposition method, solitons
Procedia PDF Downloads 495167 Temporal Progression of Episodic Memory as Function of Encoding Condition and Age: Further Investigation of Action Memory in School-Aged Children
Authors: Farzaneh Badinlou, Reza Kormi-Nouri, Monika Knopf
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Studies of adults' episodic memory have found that enacted encoding not only improve recall performance but also retrieve faster during the recall period. The current study focused on exploring the temporal progression of different encoding conditions in younger and older school children. 204 students from two age group of 8 and 14 participated in this study. During the study phase, we studied action encoding in two forms; participants performed the phrases by themselves (SPT), and observed the performance of the experimenter (EPT), which were compared with verbal encoding; participants listened to verbal action phrases (VT). At test phase, we used immediate and delayed free recall tests. We observed significant differences in memory performance as function of age group, and encoding conditions in both immediate and delayed free recall tests. Moreover, temporal progression of recall was faster in older children when compared with younger ones. The interaction of age-group and encoding condition was only significant in delayed recall displaying that younger children performed better in EPT whereas older children outperformed in SPT. It was proposed that enactment effect in form of SPT enhances item-specific processing, whereas EPT improves relational information processing and this differential processes are responsible for the results achieved in younger and older children. The role of memory strategies and information processing methods in younger and older children were considered in this study. Moreover, the temporal progression of recall was faster in action encoding in the form of SPT and EPT compared with verbal encoding in both immediate and delayed free recall and size of enactment effect was constantly increased throughout the recall period. The results of the present study provide further evidence that the action memory is explained with an emphasis on the notion of information processing and strategic views. These results also reveal the temporal progression of recall as a new dimension of episodic memory in children.Keywords: action memory, enactment effect, episodic memory, school-aged children, temporal progression
Procedia PDF Downloads 2805166 The Implications of Some Social Variables in Increasing the Unemployed in Egypt
Authors: Mohamed Elkhouli
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This research sets out to identify some social factors or variables that may need to be controlled in order to decrease the volume of unemployed in Egypt. As well as, it comes to investigate the relationship between a set of social variables and unemployment issue in Egypt in the sake of determining the most important social variables influencing the rise of unemployed during the time series targeted (2002-2012). Highlighting the unemployment issue is becoming an increasingly important topic in all countries throughout the world resulting from expand their globalization efforts. In general, the study tries to determine what the most social priorities are likely to adopt seriously by the Egypt's government in order to solve the unemployed problem. The results showed that the low value for both of small projects and the total value of disbursed social security respectively have significant impact on increasing the No. of unemployed in Egypt, according to the target period by the current study.Keywords: Egypt, social status, unemployment, unemployed
Procedia PDF Downloads 3305165 Comparative Study Performance of the Induction Motor between SMC and NLC Modes Control
Authors: A. Oukaci, R. Toufouti, D. Dib, l. Atarsia
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This article presents a multitude of alternative techniques to control the vector control, namely the nonlinear control and sliding mode control. Moreover, the implementation of their control law applied to the high-performance to the induction motor with the objective to improve the tracking control, ensure stability robustness to parameter variations and disturbance rejection. Tests are performed numerical simulations in the Matlab/Simulink interface, the results demonstrate the efficiency and dynamic performance of the proposed strategy.Keywords: Induction Motor (IM), Non-linear Control (NLC), Sliding Mode Control (SMC), nonlinear sliding surface
Procedia PDF Downloads 5745164 The Relationship between Functional Movement Screening Test and Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders in Emergency Nurse and Emergency Medical Services Staff Shiraz, Iran, 2017
Authors: Akram Sadat Jafari Roodbandi, Alireza Choobineh, Nazanin Hosseini, Vafa Feyzi
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Introduction: Physical fitness and optimum functional movement are essential for efficiently performing job tasks without fatigue and injury. Functional Movement Screening (FMS) tests are used in screening of athletes and military forces. Nurses and emergency medical staff are obliged to perform many physical activities such as transporting patients, CPR operations, etc. due to the nature of their jobs. This study aimed to assess relationship between FMS test score and the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in emergency nurses and emergency medical services (EMS) staff. Methods: 134 male and female emergency nurses and EMS technicians participated in this cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study. After video tutorial and practical training of how to do FMS test, the participants carried out the test while they were wearing comfortable clothes. The final score of the FMS test ranges from 0 to 21. The score of 14 is considered weak in the functional movement base on FMS test protocol. In addition to the demographic data questionnaire, the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire was also completed for each participant. SPSS software was used for statistical analysis with a significance level of 0.05. Results: Totally, 49.3% (n=66) of the subjects were female. The mean age and work experience of the subjects were 35.3 ± 8.7 and 11.4 ± 7.7, respectively. The highest prevalence of MSDs was observed at the knee and lower back with 32.8% (n=44) and 23.1% (n=31), respectively. 26 (19.4%) health worker had FMS test score of 14 and less. The results of the Spearman correlation test showed that the FMS test score was significantly associated with MSDs (r=-0.419, p < 0.0001). It meant that MSDs increased with the decrease of the FMS test score. Age, sex, and MSDs were the remaining significant factors in linear regression logistic model with dependent variable of FMS test score. Conclusion: FMS test seems to be a usable screening tool in pre-employment and periodic medical tests for occupations that require physical fitness and optimum functional movements.Keywords: functional movement, musculoskeletal disorders, health care worker, screening test
Procedia PDF Downloads 1355163 Accelerated Carbonation of Construction Materials by Using Slag from Steel and Metal Production as Substitute for Conventional Raw Materials
Authors: Karen Fuchs, Michael Prokein, Nils Mölders, Manfred Renner, Eckhard Weidner
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Due to the high CO₂ emissions, the energy consumption for the production of sand-lime bricks is of great concern. Especially the production of quicklime from limestone and the energy consumption for hydrothermal curing contribute to high CO₂ emissions. Hydrothermal curing is carried out under a saturated steam atmosphere at about 15 bar and 200°C for 12 hours. Therefore, we are investigating the opportunity to replace quicklime and sand in the production of building materials with different types of slag as calcium-rich waste from steel production. We are also investigating the possibility of substituting conventional hydrothermal curing with CO₂ curing. Six different slags (Linz-Donawitz (LD), ferrochrome (FeCr), ladle (LS), stainless steel (SS), ladle furnace (LF), electric arc furnace (EAF)) provided by "thyssenkrupp MillServices & Systems GmbH" were ground at "Loesche GmbH". Cylindrical blocks with a diameter of 100 mm were pressed at 12 MPa. The composition of the blocks varied between pure slag and mixtures of slag and sand. The effects of pressure, temperature, and time on the CO₂ curing process were studied in a 2-liter high-pressure autoclave. Pressures between 0.1 and 5 MPa, temperatures between 25 and 140°C, and curing times between 1 and 100 hours were considered. The quality of the CO₂-cured blocks was determined by measuring the compressive strength by "Ruhrbaustoffwerke GmbH & Co. KG." The degree of carbonation was determined by total inorganic carbon (TIC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The pH trends in the cross-section of the blocks were monitored using phenolphthalein as a liquid pH indicator. The parameter set that yielded the best performing material was tested on all slag types. In addition, the method was scaled to steel slag-based building blocks (240 mm x 115 mm x 60 mm) provided by "Ruhrbaustoffwerke GmbH & Co. KG" and CO₂-cured in a 20-liter high-pressure autoclave. The results show that CO₂ curing of building blocks consisting of pure wetted LD slag leads to severe cracking of the cylindrical specimens. The high CO₂ uptake leads to an expansion of the specimens. However, if LD slag is used only proportionally to replace quicklime completely and sand proportionally, dimensionally stable bricks with high compressive strength are produced. The tests to determine the optimum pressure and temperature show 2 MPa and 50°C as promising parameters for the CO₂ curing process. At these parameters and after 3 h, the compressive strength of LD slag blocks reaches the highest average value of almost 50 N/mm². This is more than double that of conventional sand-lime bricks. Longer CO₂ curing times do not result in higher compressive strengths. XRD and TIC measurements confirmed the formation of carbonates. All tested slag-based bricks show higher compressive strengths compared to conventional sand-lime bricks. However, the type of slag has a significant influence on the compressive strength values. The results of the tests in the 20-liter plant agreed well with the results of the 2-liter tests. With its comparatively moderate operating conditions, the CO₂ curing process has a high potential for saving CO₂ emissions.Keywords: CO₂ curing, carbonation, CCU, steel slag
Procedia PDF Downloads 1085162 Metallacyclodimeric Array Containing Both Suprachannels and Cages: Selective Reservoir and Recognition of Diiodomethane
Authors: Daseul Lee, Jeong Jun Lee, Ok-Sang Jung
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Self-assembly of a series of ZnX2 (X- = Cl-, Br-, and I-) with 2,3-bis(4’-nicotinamidephenoxy)naphthalene (L) as a new bidentate pyridyl-donor ligand yields systematic metallacyclodimeric unit, [ZnX2L]2. The supramolecule constitutes a characteristically stacked forming both 1D suprachannels and cages. Weak C-H⋯π and inter-digitated π⋯π interactions are main driving forces in the formation of both suprachannels and cages. The slightly different features between the suprachannel and cage have been investigated by 1H NMR and TG analysis, which solvent quantitatively exchange within only suprachannels. Photo-unstable CH2I2 molecules are stabilized via capturing within suprachannels, which is monitored by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Furthermore, the photoluminescence intensity, from the chromophore naphthyl moiety of [ZnCl2L]2, gradually decreases with the addition of CH2I2. And washing off the CH2I2 by dichloromethane returned the PL intensity back to its approximately original signal.Keywords: metallacyclodimer, suprachannel, π⋯π interaction, molecular recognition
Procedia PDF Downloads 3245161 A Mini Radar System for Low Altitude Targets Detection
Authors: Kangkang Wu, Kaizhi Wang, Zhijun Yuan
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This paper deals with a mini radar system aimed at detecting small targets at the low latitude. The radar operates at Ku-band in the frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) mode with two receiving channels. The radar system has the characteristics of compactness, mobility, and low power consumption. This paper focuses on the implementation of the radar system, and the Block least mean square (Block LMS) algorithm is applied to minimize the fortuitous distortion. It is validated from a series of experiments that the track of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can be easily distinguished with the radar system.Keywords: unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), interference, Block Least Mean Square (Block LMS) Algorithm, Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW)
Procedia PDF Downloads 3245160 Building up of European Administrative Space at Central and Local Level as a Key Challenge for the Kosovo's Further State Building Process
Authors: Arlinda Memetaj
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Building up of a well-functioning administrative justice system is one of the key prerequisites for ensuring the existence of an accountable and efficient public administration in Kosovo as well. To this aim, the country has already established an almost comprehensive legislative and institutional frameworks. The latter derives from (among others) the Kosovo`s Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU of 2016. A series of efforts are being presently still undertaken by all relevant domestic and international stakeholders being active in both the Kosovo`s public administration reform and the country` s system of a local self-government. Both systems are thus under a constant state of reform. Despite the aforesaid, there is still a series of shortcomings in the country in above context. There is a lot of backlog of administrative cases in the Prishtina Administrative court; there is a public lack in judiciary; the public administration is organized in a fragmented way; the administrative laws are still not properly implemented at local level; the municipalities` legislative and executive branches are not sufficiently transparent for the ordinary citizens ... Against the above short background, the full paper firstly outlines the legislative and institutional framework of the Kosovo's systems of an administrative justice and local self-government (on the basis of the fact that public administration and local government are not separate fields). It then illustrates the key specific shortcomings in those fields, as seen from the perspective of the citizens' right to good administration. It finally claims that the current status quo situation in the country may be resolved (among others) by granting Kosovo a status of full member state of the Council of Europe or at least granting it with a temporary status of a contracting party of (among others) the European Human Rights Convention. The later would enable all Kosovo citizens (regardless their ethnic or other origin whose human rights are violated by the Kosovo`s relative administrative authorities including the administrative courts) to bring their case/s before the respective well-known European Strasbourg-based Human Rights Court. This would consequently put the State under permanent and full monitoring process, with a view to obliging the country to properly implement the European Court`s decisions (as adopted by this court in those cases). This would be a benefit first of all for the very Kosovo`s ordinary citizens regardless their ethnic or other background. It would provide for a particular positive input in the ongoing efforts being undertaken by Kosovo and Serbia states within the EU-facilitated Dialogue, with a view to building up of an integral administrative justice system at central and local level in the whole Kosovo` s territory. The main method used in this paper is the descriptive, analytical and comparative one.Keywords: administrative courts, administrative justice, administrative procedure, benefit, European Human Rights Court, human rights, monitoring, reform.
Procedia PDF Downloads 3065159 To Upgrade Quality Services of Fashion Designer by Minimizing thought Communication Gap, Using the Projective Personality Tests
Authors: A. Hira Masood, B. Umer Hameed, C. Ezza Nasir
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Contemporary studies support the strong co-relation between psychology and design. This study elaborates how different psychological personality test can help a fashion designer to judge the needs of their clients with respect to have products which will satisfy the client's request concerning costumised clothing. This study will also help the designer to improve the lacking in the personality and will enable him to put his effort in required areas for grooming the customer, control and direct organization regarding quality maintenance. The use of psychology test to support the choice of certain design strategies that how the right clothing can make client a better intellectual with enhanced self-esteem and confidence. Different projective personality test are being used to suggest to evaluate personality traits. The Rorschach Inkblot Test is projective mental comprising of 10 ink-blots synonymous with the clinical brain research. Lüsher Color Diagnostics measures a person’s psycho physical state, his or her ability to withstand stress to perform and communicate. HTP is a projective responsibility test measuring self-perception, attitudes. The TAT test intend to evaluate a person’s patterns of thoughts, attitudes, observation, capacity and emotional response to this ambiguous test materials. No doubt designers are already crucially redesigning the individuals by their attires, but to expose the behavioral mechanism of the customer, designers should be able to recognize the hidden complexity behind his client by using the above mentioned methods. The study positively finds the design and psychology need to become substantially contacted in order to create a new regime of norms to groom a personality under the concentration and services of a fashion designer in terms of clothing, This interactive activity altimately upgrade design team to help customers to find the suited way to satisfy their needs and wishes, offer client relible relationship and quality management services, and to become more disereable.Keywords: projective personality tests, customized clothing, Rorschach Inkblot test, TAT, HTP, Lüsher color diagnostics, quality management services
Procedia PDF Downloads 5605158 The Quest for Personal Protective Equipment Arc Rating: Implications for Electrical Workers' Safety and Health
Authors: Marcio Bottaro, Luis Eduardo Caires, Thais Ohara de Carvalho, Paulo Futoshi Obase, Hedio Tatizawa
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Since the primary numerical metric used to evaluate Personal Protective Equipment – PPE, including protective clothing or other equipment designs, is typically derived from a single arc rating report, researchers and occupational safety professionals have raised significant concerns regarding the reliability of assigning a safety rating based on a single thermal performance test. Moreover, questions arise about the adequacy of determining PPE conformity solely from a single arc flash test. Although it is well known that the arc rated PPE work and show unquestionable evolution in workers’ safety, a tendency to pursue every higher arc rating value is evidenced in the marketing, and in Brazil, it has been a special concern on the reliability of such practice of “select” a more convenient arc rating report to use as base parameter on final PPE test and subsequently certification process. In fact, this procedure is not forbidden and it ends up being supported and encouraged due to the way such tests are conducted according to international standards. Although commonly practiced, variations in test laboratory procedures, as well as inherent variations in materials such as textiles, introduce significant concerns regarding the reliability of higher reference values across batches of final products. This study highlights the discrepancies between claimed arc rating values and those obtained through laboratory testing over time for various textile materials. The findings reveal that focusing on the upper margins of thermal characterization can lead to adverse effects on the final versions of PPE, which are ostensibly ready for worker use. Deterministic failures such as charring, dripping, and breakopen in proof undergarments were observed, with a notable increase in the frequency of these failures in 2024 tests in Brazilian arc flash laboratory. These results underscore the urgent need for advancements in standardization processes to ensure the reliability of PPE and safety of workers.Keywords: arc rating, arc flash protection, arc flash risk, PPE certification, PPE open arc test
Procedia PDF Downloads 115157 Ordered Mesoporous Carbons of Different Morphology for Loading and Controlled Release of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
Authors: Aleksander Ejsmont, Aleksandra Galarda, Joanna Goscianska
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Smart porous carriers with defined structure and physicochemical properties are required for releasing the therapeutic drug with precise control of delivery time and location in the body. Due to their non-toxicity, ordered structure, chemical, and thermal stability, mesoporous carbons can be considered as modern carriers for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) whose effectiveness needs frequent dosing algorithms. Such an API-carrier system, if programmed precisely, may stabilize the pharmaceutical and increase its dissolution leading to enhanced bioavailability. The substance conjugated with the material, through its prior adsorption, can later be successfully applied internally to the organism, as well as externally if the API release is feasible under these conditions. In the present study, ordered mesoporous carbons of different morphologies and structures, prepared by hard template method, were applied as carriers in the adsorption and controlled release of active pharmaceutical ingredients. In the first stage, the carbon materials were synthesized and functionalized with carboxylic groups by chemical oxidation using ammonium persulfate solution and then with amine groups. Materials obtained were thoroughly characterized with respect to morphology (scanning electron microscopy), structure (X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy), characteristic functional groups (FT-IR spectroscopy), acid-base nature of surface groups (Boehm titration), parameters of the porous structure (low-temperature nitrogen adsorption) and thermal stability (TG analysis). This was followed by a series of tests of adsorption and release of paracetamol, benzocaine, and losartan potassium. Drug release experiments were performed in the simulated gastric fluid of pH 1.2 and phosphate buffer of pH 7.2 or 6.8 at 37.0 °C. The XRD patterns in the small-angle range and TEM images revealed that functionalization of mesoporous carbons with carboxylic or amine groups leads to the decreased ordering of their structure. Moreover, the modification caused a considerable reduction of the carbon-specific surface area and pore volume, but it simultaneously resulted in changing their acid-base properties. Mesoporous carbon materials exhibit different morphologies, which affect the host-guest interactions during the adsorption process of active pharmaceutical ingredients. All mesoporous carbons show high adsorption capacity towards drugs. The sorption capacity of materials is mainly affected by BET surface area and the structure/size matching between adsorbent and adsorbate. Selected APIs are linked to the surface of carbon materials mainly by hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, and electrostatic interactions. The release behavior of API is highly dependent on the physicochemical properties of mesoporous carbons. The release rate of APIs could be regulated by the introduction of functional groups and by changing the pH of the receptor medium. Acknowledgments—This research was supported by the National Science Centre, Poland (project SONATA-12 no: 2016/23/D/NZ7/01347).Keywords: ordered mesoporous carbons, sorption capacity, drug delivery, carbon nanocarriers
Procedia PDF Downloads 1795156 Study of a Developed Model Describing a Vacuum Membrane Distillation Unit Coupled to Solar Energy
Authors: Fatma Khaled, Khaoula Hidouri, Bechir Chaouachi
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Desalination using solar energy coupled with membrane techniques such as vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) is considered as an interesting alternative for the production of pure water. During this work, a developed model of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hollow fiber membrane module of a VMD unit of seawater was carried out. This simulation leads to establishing a comparison between the effects of two different equations of the vaporization latent heat on the membrane surface temperature and on the unit productivity. Besides, in order to study the effect of putting membrane modules in series on the outlet fluid temperature and on the productivity of the process, a simulation was executed.Keywords: vacuum membrane distillation, membrane module, membrane temperature, productivity
Procedia PDF Downloads 1975155 Pattern Recognition Search: An Advancement Over Interpolation Search
Authors: Shahpar Yilmaz, Yasir Nadeem, Syed A. Mehdi
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Searching for a record in a dataset is always a frequent task for any data structure-related application. Hence, a fast and efficient algorithm for the approach has its importance in yielding the quickest results and enhancing the overall productivity of the company. Interpolation search is one such technique used to search through a sorted set of elements. This paper proposes a new algorithm, an advancement over interpolation search for the application of search over a sorted array. Pattern Recognition Search or PR Search (PRS), like interpolation search, is a pattern-based divide and conquer algorithm whose objective is to reduce the sample size in order to quicken the process and it does so by treating the array as a perfect arithmetic progression series and thereby deducing the key element’s position. We look to highlight some of the key drawbacks of interpolation search, which are accounted for in the Pattern Recognition Search.Keywords: array, complexity, index, sorting, space, time
Procedia PDF Downloads 2505154 An Incremental Refinement Approach to a Development of Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Using Event-B
Authors: Rajaa Filali, Mohamed Bouhdadi
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This paper presents an incremental development of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) in Event-B. DHCP is widely used communication protocol, which provides a standard mechanism to obtain configuration parameters. The specification is performed in a stepwise manner and verified through a series of refinements. The Event-B formal method uses the Rodin platform to modeling and verifying some properties of the protocol such as safety, liveness and deadlock freedom. To model and verify the protocol, we use the formal technique Event-B which provides an accessible and rigorous development method. This interaction between modelling and proving reduces the complexity and helps to eliminate misunderstandings, inconsistencies, and specification gaps.Keywords: DHCP protocol, Event-B, refinement, proof obligation, Rodin
Procedia PDF Downloads 2335153 Designing a Robust Controller for a 6 Linkage Robot
Authors: G. Khamooshian
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One of the main points of application of the mechanisms of the series and parallel is the subject of managing them. The control of this mechanism and similar mechanisms is one that has always been the intention of the scholars. On the other hand, modeling the behavior of the system is difficult due to the large number of its parameters, and it leads to complex equations that are difficult to solve and eventually difficult to control. In this paper, a six-linkage robot has been presented that could be used in different areas such as medical robots. Using these robots needs a robust control. In this paper, the system equations are first found, and then the system conversion function is written. A new controller has been designed for this robot which could be used in other parallel robots and could be very useful. Parallel robots are so important in robotics because of their stability, so methods for control of them are important and the robust controller, especially in parallel robots, makes a sense.Keywords: 3-RRS, 6 linkage, parallel robot, control
Procedia PDF Downloads 1625152 150 KVA Multifunction Laboratory Test Unit Based on Power-Frequency Converter
Authors: Bartosz Kedra, Robert Malkowski
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This paper provides description and presentation of laboratory test unit built basing on 150 kVA power frequency converter and Simulink RealTime platform. Assumptions, based on criteria which load and generator types may be simulated using discussed device, are presented, as well as control algorithm structure. As laboratory setup contains transformer with thyristor controlled tap changer, a wider scope of setup capabilities is presented. Information about used communication interface, data maintenance, and storage solution as well as used Simulink real-time features is presented. List and description of all measurements are provided. Potential of laboratory setup modifications is evaluated. For purposes of Rapid Control Prototyping, a dedicated environment was used Simulink RealTime. Therefore, load model Functional Unit Controller is based on a PC computer with I/O cards and Simulink RealTime software. Simulink RealTime was used to create real-time applications directly from Simulink models. In the next step, applications were loaded on a target computer connected to physical devices that provided opportunity to perform Hardware in the Loop (HIL) tests, as well as the mentioned Rapid Control Prototyping process. With Simulink RealTime, Simulink models were extended with I/O cards driver blocks that made automatic generation of real-time applications and performing interactive or automated runs on a dedicated target computer equipped with a real-time kernel, multicore CPU, and I/O cards possible. Results of performed laboratory tests are presented. Different load configurations are described and experimental results are presented. This includes simulation of under frequency load shedding, frequency and voltage dependent characteristics of groups of load units, time characteristics of group of different load units in a chosen area and arbitrary active and reactive power regulation basing on defined schedule.Keywords: MATLAB, power converter, Simulink Real-Time, thyristor-controlled tap changer
Procedia PDF Downloads 3285151 Effect of Molecular Weight Distribution on Toughening Performance of Polybutadiene in Polystyrene
Authors: Mohamad Mohsen Yavarizadeh
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Polystyrene (PS) and related homopolymers are brittle materials that typically fail in tensile tests at very low strains. These polymers can be toughened by the addition of rubbery particles which initiate a large number of crazes that produce substantial plastic strain at relatively low stresses. Considerable energy is dissipated in the formation of these crazes, producing a relatively tough material that shows an impact toughness of more than 5 times of pure PS. While cross linking of rubbery phase is necessary in aforementioned mechanism of toughening, another mechanism of toughening was also introduced in which low molecular weight liquid rubbers can also toughen PS when dispersed in the form of small pools in the glassy matrix without any cross linking. However, this new mechanism which is based on local plasticization, fails to act properly at high strain rate deformations, i.e. impact tests. In this work, the idea of combination of these two mechanisms was tried. To do so, Polybutadiene rubbers (PB) with bimodal distribution of molecular weight were prepared in which, comparable fractions of very high and very low molecular weight rubbers were mixed. Incorporation of these materials in PS matrix in a reactive process resulted in more significant increases in toughness of PS. In other words, although low molecular weight PB is ineffective in high strain rate impact test by itself, it showed a significant synergistic effect when combined with high molecular weight PB. Surprisingly, incorporation of just 10% of low molecular weight PB doubled the impact toughness of regular high impact PS (HIPS). It was observed that most of rubbery particles could initiate crazes. The effectiveness of low molecular weight PB in impact test was attributed to low strain rate deformation of each individual craze as a result of producing a large number of crazes in this material. In other words, high molecular weight PB chains make it possible to have an appropriate dispersion of rubbery phase in order to create a large number of crazes in the PS matrix and consequently decrease the velocity of each craze. Low molecular weight PB, in turn, would have enough time to locally plasticize craze fibrils and enhance the energy dissipation.Keywords: molecular weight distribution, polystyrene, toughness, homopolymer
Procedia PDF Downloads 4445150 Enhancement of Hardness Related Properties of Grey Cast Iron Powder Reinforced AA7075 Metal Matrix Composites Through T6 and T8 Heat Treatments
Authors: S. S. Sharma, P. R. Prabhu, K. Jagannath, Achutha Kini U., Gowri Shankar M. C.
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In present global scenario, aluminum alloys are coining the attention of many innovators as competing structural materials for automotive and space applications. Comparing to other challenging alloys, especially, 7xxx series aluminum alloys have been studied seriously because of their benefits such as moderate strength; better deforming characteristics, excellent chemical decay resistance, and affordable cost. 7075 Al-alloys have been used in the transportation industry for the fabrication of several types of automobile parts, such as wheel covers, panels and structures. It is expected that substitution of such aluminum alloys for steels will result in great improvements in energy economy, durability and recyclability. However, it is necessary to improve the strength and the formability levels at low temperatures in aluminium alloys for still better applications. Aluminum–Zinc–Magnesium with or without other wetting agent denoted as 7XXX series alloys are medium strength heat treatable alloys. Cu, Mn and Si are the other solute elements which contribute for the improvement in mechanical properties achievable by selecting and tailoring the suitable heat treatment process. On subjecting to suitable treatments like age hardening or cold deformation assisted heat treatments, known as low temperature thermomechanical treatments (LTMT) the challenging properties might be incorporated. T6 is the age hardening or precipitation hardening process with artificial aging cycle whereas T8 comprises of LTMT treatment aged artificially with X% cold deformation. When the cold deformation is provided after solution treatment, there is increase in hardness related properties such as wear resistance, yield and ultimate strength, toughness with the expense of ductility. During precipitation hardening both hardness and strength of the samples are increasing. Decreasing peak hardness value with increasing aging temperature is the well-known behavior of age hardenable alloys. The peak hardness value is further increasing when room temperature deformation is positively supported with age hardening known as thermomechanical treatment. Considering these aspects, it is intended to perform heat treatment and evaluate hardness, tensile strength, wear resistance and distribution pattern of reinforcement in the matrix. 2 to 2.5 and 3 to 3.5 times increase in hardness is reported in age hardening and LTMT treatments respectively as compared to as-cast composite. There was better distribution of reinforcements in the matrix, nearly two fold increase in strength levels and upto 5 times increase in wear resistance are also observed in the present study.Keywords: reinforcement, precipitation, thermomechanical, dislocation, strain hardening
Procedia PDF Downloads 3135149 Lee-Carter Mortality Forecasting Method with Dynamic Normal Inverse Gaussian Mortality Index
Authors: Funda Kul, İsmail Gür
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Pension scheme providers have to price mortality risk by accurate mortality forecasting method. There are many mortality-forecasting methods constructed and used in literature. The Lee-Carter model is the first model to consider stochastic improvement trends in life expectancy. It is still precisely used. Mortality forecasting is done by mortality index in the Lee-Carter model. It is assumed that mortality index fits ARIMA time series model. In this paper, we propose and use dynamic normal inverse gaussian distribution to modeling mortality indes in the Lee-Carter model. Using population mortality data for Italy, France, and Turkey, the model is forecasting capability is investigated, and a comparative analysis with other models is ensured by some well-known benchmarking criterions.Keywords: mortality, forecasting, lee-carter model, normal inverse gaussian distribution
Procedia PDF Downloads 3645148 Seismic Behavior of Existing Reinforced Concrete Buildings in California under Mainshock-Aftershock Scenarios
Authors: Ahmed Mantawy, James C. Anderson
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Numerous cases of earthquakes (main-shocks) that were followed by aftershocks have been recorded in California. In 1992 a pair of strong earthquakes occurred within three hours of each other in Southern California. The first shock occurred near the community of Landers and was assigned a magnitude of 7.3 then the second shock occurred near the city of Big Bear about 20 miles west of the initial shock and was assigned a magnitude of 6.2. In the same year, a series of three earthquakes occurred over two days in the Cape-Mendocino area of Northern California. The main-shock was assigned a magnitude of 7.0 while the second and the third shocks were both assigned a value of 6.6. This paper investigates the effect of a main-shock accompanied with aftershocks of significant intensity on reinforced concrete (RC) frame buildings to indicate nonlinear behavior using PERFORM-3D software. A 6-story building in San Bruno and a 20-story building in North Hollywood were selected for the study as both of them have RC moment resisting frame systems. The buildings are also instrumented at multiple floor levels as a part of the California Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (CSMIP). Both buildings have recorded responses during past events such as Loma-Prieta and Northridge earthquakes which were used in verifying the response parameters of the numerical models in PERFORM-3D. The verification of the numerical models shows good agreement between the calculated and the recorded response values. Then, different scenarios of a main-shock followed by a series of aftershocks from real cases in California were applied to the building models in order to investigate the structural behavior of the moment-resisting frame system. The behavior was evaluated in terms of the lateral floor displacements, the ductility demands, and the inelastic behavior at critical locations. The analysis results showed that permanent displacements may have happened due to the plastic deformation during the main-shock that can lead to higher displacements during after-shocks. Also, the inelastic response at plastic hinges during the main-shock can change the hysteretic behavior during the aftershocks. Higher ductility demands can also occur when buildings are subjected to trains of ground motions compared to the case of individual ground motions. A general conclusion is that the occurrence of aftershocks following an earthquake can lead to increased damage within the elements of an RC frame buildings. Current code provisions for seismic design do not consider the probability of significant aftershocks when designing a new building in zones of high seismic activity.Keywords: reinforced concrete, existing buildings, aftershocks, damage accumulation
Procedia PDF Downloads 2835147 Factors Affecting Test Automation Stability and Their Solutions
Authors: Nagmani Lnu
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Test automation is a vital requirement of any organization to release products faster to their customers. In most cases, an organization has an approach to developing automation but struggles to maintain it. It results in an increased number of Flaky Tests, reducing return on investments and stakeholders’ confidence. Challenges grow in multiple folds when automation is for UI behaviors. This paper describes the approaches taken to identify the root cause of automation instability in an extensive payments application and the best practices to address that using processes, tools, and technologies, resulting in a 75% reduction of effort.Keywords: automation stability, test stability, Flaky Test, test quality, test automation quality
Procedia PDF Downloads 895146 A Quantitative Study of the Evolution of Open Source Software Communities
Authors: M. R. Martinez-Torres, S. L. Toral, M. Olmedilla
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Typically, virtual communities exhibit the well-known phenomenon of participation inequality, which means that only a small percentage of users is responsible of the majority of contributions. However, the sustainability of the community requires that the group of active users must be continuously nurtured with new users that gain expertise through a participation process. This paper analyzes the time evolution of Open Source Software (OSS) communities, considering users that join/abandon the community over time and several topological properties of the network when modeled as a social network. More specifically, the paper analyzes the role of those users rejoining the community and their influence in the global characteristics of the network.Keywords: open source communities, social network Analysis, time series, virtual communities
Procedia PDF Downloads 5265145 Co-integration for Soft Commodities with Non-Constant Volatility
Authors: E. Channol, O. Collet, N. Kostyuchyk, T. Mesbah, Quoc Hoang Long Nguyen
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In this paper, a pricing model is proposed for co-integrated commodities extending Larsson model. The futures formulae have been derived and tests have been performed with non-constant volatility. The model has been applied to energy commodities (gas, CO2, energy) and soft commodities (corn, wheat). Results show that non-constant volatility leads to more accurate short term prices, which provides better evaluation of value-at-risk and more generally improve the risk management.Keywords: co-integration, soft commodities, risk management, value-at-risk
Procedia PDF Downloads 5515144 Sustainable Traditional Architecture and Urban Planning in Hot–Humid Climate of Iran
Authors: Farnaz Nazem
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This paper concentrates on the sustainable traditional architecture and urban planning in hot-humid regions of Iran. In a vast country such as Iran with different climatic zones traditional builders have presented series of logical solutions for human comfort. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate traditional architecture in hot-humid climate of Iran as a sample of sustainable architecture. Iranian traditional architecture has been able to response to environmental problems for a long period of time. Its features are based on climatic factors, local construction materials of hot-humid regions and culture. This paper concludes that Iranian traditional architecture can be addressed as a sustainable architecture.Keywords: hot-humid climate, Iran, sustainable traditional architecture, urban planning
Procedia PDF Downloads 6135143 A New Approach for Generalized First Derivative of Nonsmooth Functions Using Optimization
Authors: Mohammad Mehdi Mazarei, Ali Asghar Behroozpoor
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In this paper, we define an optimization problem corresponding to smooth and nonsmooth functions which its optimal solution is the first derivative of these functions in a domain. For this purpose, a linear programming problem corresponding to optimization problem is obtained. The optimal solution of this linear programming problem is the approximate generalized first derivative. In fact, we approximate generalized first derivative of nonsmooth functions as tailor series. We show the efficiency of our approach by some smooth and nonsmooth functions in some examples.Keywords: general derivative, linear programming, optimization problem, smooth and nonsmooth functions
Procedia PDF Downloads 5595142 Clinical Trial of VEUPLEXᵀᴹ TBI Assay to Help Diagnose Traumatic Brain Injury by Quantifying Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein and Ubiquitin Carboxy-Terminal Hydrolase L1 in the Serum of Patients Suspected of Mild TBI by Fluorescence Immunoassay
Authors: Moon Jung Kim, Guil Rhim
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The clinical sensitivity of the “VEUPLEXTM TBI assay”, a clinical trial medical device, in mild traumatic brain injury was 28.6% (95% CI, 19.7%-37.5%), and the clinical specificity was 94.0% (95% CI, 89.3%). -98.7%). In addition, when the results analyzed by marker were put together, the sensitivity was higher when interpreting the two tests together than the two tests, UCHL1 and GFAP alone. Additionally, when sensitivity and specificity were analyzed based on CT results for the mild traumatic brain injury patient group, the clinical sensitivity for 2 CT-positive cases was 50.0% (95% CI: 1.3%-98.7%), and 19 CT-negative cases. The clinical specificity for cases was 68.4% (95% CI: 43.5% - 87.4%). Since the low clinical sensitivity for the two CT-positive cases was not statistically significant due to the small number of samples analyzed, it was judged necessary to secure and analyze more samples in the future. Regarding the clinical specificity analysis results for 19 CT-negative cases, there were a large number of patients who were actually clinically diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injury but actually received a CT-negative result, and about 31.6% of them showed abnormal results on VEUPLEXTM TBI assay. Although traumatic brain injury could not be detected in 31.6% of the CT scans, the possibility of actually suffering a mild brain injury could not be ruled out, so it was judged that this could be confirmed through follow-up observation of the patient. In addition, among patients with mild traumatic brain injury, CT examinations were not performed in many cases because the symptoms were very mild, but among these patients, about 25% or more showed abnormal results in the VEUPLEXTM TBI assay. In fact, no damage is observed with the naked eye immediately after traumatic brain injury, and traumatic brain injury is not observed even on CT. But in some cases, brain hemorrhage may occur (delayed cerebral hemorrhage) after a certain period of time, so the patients who did show abnormal results on VEUPLEXTM TBI assay should be followed up for the delayed cerebral hemorrhage. In conclusion, it was judged that it was difficult to judge mild traumatic brain injury with the VEUPLEXTM TBI assay only through clinical findings without CT results, that is, based on the GCS value. Even in the case of CT, it does not detect all mild traumatic brain injury, so it is difficult to necessarily judge that there is no traumatic brain injury, even if there is no evidence of traumatic brain injury in CT. And in the long term, more patients should be included to evaluate the usefulness of the VEUPLEXTM TBI assay in the detection of microscopic traumatic brain injuries without using CT.Keywords: brain injury, traumatic brain injury, GFAP, UCHL1
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