bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diversity of Yeasts Involved in Cocoa Fermentation of Six Major Cocoa-Producing Regions in Ivory Coast
Authors: Koff Odilon , Samagaci Lamine , Goualie Bernadette , Niamke Sebastien
Published: November 2017

Cocoa beans (Theobroma cacao L.) are the raw material for chocolate production. Fermentation of cocoa pulp is crucial for developing chocolate flavor precursors. This fermentation is led by a succession of complex microbial communities where yeasts play key roles during the first stages of the process. In this study, we identified and analyzed the growth dynamics of yeasts involved in cocoa bean fermentation of six major cocoaproducing regions in Ivory Coast. A total of 743 yeasts were isolated, and were identified by sequencing of D1/D2 regions of 26S rDNA gene. These isolates included 11 species with a predominance of Pichia kudriavzevii (44,81 %), Pichia kluyveri (20,99 %) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (18,97 %) respectively. In addition, the length polymorphism of the genetic marker ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and PCR-RFLP analysis revealed an intraspecific diversity within the three-main species involved in cocoa fermentation of six major local regions in Ivory Coast. This intraspecific diversity could be exploited for selecting appropriate starter cultures.
Étude Cinétique De La Dégradation Du Piclorame En Solution Aqueuse Par Photolyse Directe Et Par Photocatalyse
Authors: Baba Soro Donafologo , Narcisse Aboua Kouassi , Moussa Diarra , Léonce Kouadio David , Ladji Meite , Coulibaly Yaya , Sory Traore Karim , Mamadou Kone
Published: November 2017

The treatment of pesticides is a necessity in view of the stability and toxicity of the pesticides that generate them. The objective of this work is to study the degradation of picloram in aqueous medium under UV irradiation. It is a selective and systemic herbicide that can control woody plants and broadleaf weeds. The irradiations were carried out using a mercury vapor lamp of wavelength λ = 365 nm. A high performance liquid chromatograph equipped with a UV / visible detector was used to analyze the samples. The degradation of picloram in aqueous medium was carried out by direct photolysis and photocatalysis. In direct photolysis, a low rate of product degradation (6.9 %) was obtained after 225 min of irradiation. Photolysis in the presence of a catalyst (TiO2) accelerated the degradation of the molecule. Experiments demonstrating the effect of the concentration of the catalyst showed that the optimum concentration corresponding to a maximum degradation of picloram is 4 mg / L (62.68 %). The study of the influence of the pH of the solution on the degradation indicates that the molecule degrades better in an acid medium (pH = 5) with a rate of 62 % in 225 min  of irradiation. Apparent order 1 degradation kinetics were observed in all cases.
Risk Factors in Obstetric Hysterectomy in a Second Level Hospital in Mexico
Authors: Malagon Genaro Vega , Garcia Luis Nelson Bautista , Lugo Silvia Barrios , Malagón Jesús Vega , Santos Alma Becerril , Morales Javier Avila
Published: November 2017

Objective - To determine the risk factors for obstetric hysterectomy in a second level hospital in Mexico. Methodology.- Epidemiological study of cases and controls from January 2014 to December 2016 at the Child and Women Specialties Hospital of Querétaro. The cases were 56 women with obstetric hysterectomy, controls, 56 women without the procedure, sampling was random simple probabilistic in both groups, analyzed: age, schooling, parity, route of abortion, antecedent of previous cesarean sections, Uterine hypotonia, placental accretismo. For the analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics were used with chi2 test, student t, odds ratio (O.R.), and I.C. 95%, and a value of p <0.05). Results.-The mean age of the group of cases was 30.3 years (D.E. of 7,139) and the controls of 25.08 (D.E. of 5.979) with a p: <0.05. The factors that showed statistically significant difference (p: <0.05) were: Placental acretism (O.R., 126.17); Hypotonia or uterine atony (O.R., 8.22); Multiparity of 3 or more pregnancies (O.R., 5.11); Age of 28 years or more (O.R. of 4.86), placenta previa (O.R. of 3.11); Antecedent of two previous C-sections (O.R. of 2.77); Route of interruption of pregnancy by cesarean section (O.R. of 2.75) and cesarean antecedent (O.R. of 2.55). There was one maternal death in the case group. Conclusions: Obstetric hysterectomy is an emergency surgery, so the risk factors for this complication must be identified during prenatal care.
La Gestión Urbana Ambiental En América Latina, 1970 - 2017
Authors: Edelman David J. , Schuster Micaela , Said Janett
Published: November 2017

While Urban Environmental Management has received increasing worldwide attention in the last 50 years, much of the international attention to this growing field has focused, as is the case with most scientific fields, on the English language literature. Nevertheless, much professional work of interest has been taking place in Latin America, where the problems of the urban environment have been identified early and considered major difficulties in the development of this heavily urbanised region. Consequently, the purpose of the research that this article summarises is to address the Spanish and Portuguese language literature written in Latin America on Latin America itself to identify the trends in the field that have emerged, and are continuing to emerge, there and, eventually, to determine what lessons they offer to other regions.
Arquitetura da Produção Rural: o Parque Agrário como uma possibilidade de valorização dos recursos patrimoniais para os Perímetros Irrigados do Nordeste do Brasil
Authors: Braga Luci Merhy Martins , Argollo Ferrão André Munhoz de
Published: November 2017

Este estudo apresenta o caso em que o desenvolvimento socioeconômico de uma região modifica a paisagem sendo respaldado por processos sustentáveis que se assentam sobre adequado plano de gestão de recursos hídricos e avançada tecnologia de irrigação e produção agrícola. Trata-se de enxergar os Perímetros Irrigados brasileiros como agente resultante e ao mesmo tempo indutor dos processos e dos avanços técnico-científicos da engenharia e da arquitetura, gerando riqueza e importante patrimônio agroindustrial associados. Este trabalho faz uma abordagem dos processos culturais e dos processos produtivos dentro dos perímetros e, propõe a uma comparação com os Parques Agrários, principalmente no continente europeu, usados como ferramenta de ordenação territorial.
Una experiencia participativa de gestión del espacio público y valorización del patrimonio: restauración de las plazas de La Paz, Las Chacras, Quebracho Ladeado, Loma Bola y Cruz de Caña para su integración al circuito turístico de Traslasierra
Authors: Buguñá Patricia , Cometta Catalina , Ilvento Paula , Fernandez Eliana
Published: November 2017

La experiencia que se presenta se está llevando a cabo en la localidad de La Paz, Provincia de Córdoba, Argentina. La Municipalidad de la Paz, abarca pequeños poblados y cuenta con una población de aproximadamente 2000 habitantes. El proyecto se enmarca dentro de un programa de promoción del Desarrollo Sustentable para municipios desarrollado desde el Instituto del Ambiente Humano “Liliana Rainis” de la Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño (FAUD) de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC). El proyecto de intervención de las plazas de La Paz, Las Chacras, Quebracho Ladeado, Cruz de Caña y Loma Bola presenta como objetivo fundamental su restauración, puesta en valor e integración al circuito turístico de la Región de Traslasierra que, conjuntamente con la integración de las Capillas al espacio de las plazas intenta revitalizar estos espacios públicos para el desarrollo de actividades culturales, turísticas y artesanales locales.
Rede de inovação e pesquisa para a agricultura do Brasil baseada em modelo de desenvolvimento regional
Authors: Cruvinel Paulo Estevão
Published: November 2017

A Rede de Inovação e Prospecção Tecnológica para o Agronegócio (RIPA) foi estabelecida no âmbito do CT-Agro/FINEP/CNPq como parte de uma estratégia focada em arranjo colaborativo para a promoção do processo de inovação da agricultura no Brasil. Este trabalho apresenta os instrumentos que foram utilizados para a antenagem de ameaças e de oportunidades, bem como para a caracterização das demandas envolvendo governança corporativa compartilhada e modelo fundamentado em desenvolvimento regional.
A paisagem cultural em sítios históricos rurais de imigração italiana
Authors: Luca Virginia Gomes de , Santiago Alina Gonçalves
Published: November 2017

Este trabalho busca reconhecer a paisagem cultural em sítios históricos rurais de imigração italiana como detentora de valor patrimonial e identidade. A abordagem a respeito das paisagens rurais resulta das observações e análise dos aspectos culturais e do conjunto de práticas cujo significado ajuda a compreender a verdadeira dimensão do patrimônio rural da imigração italiana. Sua relevância encontra-se no estudo dastransformações da paisagem por meio dos valores e costumes dessas comunidades, que resultou em uma nova categoria patrimonial denominada paisagem cultural. A pesquisa bibliográfica buscou demonstrar a importância da paisagem enquanto detentora de valor patrimonial e foi complementada pela pesquisa de campo realizada na localidade de Rio Maior, no município de Urussanga/ Santa Catarina. Também foi realizada uma pesquisa sobre a localidade de Erto e Casso, local de onde vieram os imigrantes que iniciaram a colonização da localidade de Rio Maior, com o intuito de demonstrar as divergências e similaridades da arquitetura e da paisagem dos cassanos na Itália e da produzida por eles no sul do estado de Santa Catarina. Os conjuntos edificados cuja implantação, características arquitetônicas e técnicas construtivas singulares no contexto nacional são testemunhos de hábitos, costumes e usos característicos da área de imigração em Santa Catarina durante o século XIX e XX. Desta maneira, foi possível identificar como o imigrante italiano transformou seu entorno, seja por meio da organização espacial de sua moradia, seja pela sua relação de troca com a natureza.
Vista Alegre Fábrica de Porcelana: um caso de arquitectura sustentável
Authors: Campolargo Margarida Coquim , Fonseca Maria Teresa Saraiva Dias
Published: November 2017

Este trabalho estuda a unidade fabril da Vista Alegre, criada em 1824, em Ílhavo (Portugal), procurando identificar os fundamentos teóricos e práticos que lhe deram origem. Para um melhor entendimento dos princípios gerais que fundamentam e contextualizam o projecto empresarial de José Ferreira Pinto Basto contribui o estudo elaborado sobre a cidade industrial e as utopias do século XIX. Todavia, para interpretar as escolhas do fundador é também necessário conhecer o panorama nacional da época e as características do local de implantação. A evolução urbana do complexo encontra-se associada à criação de um modelo social. Os períodos de expansão correspondem a projectos específicos que apontam para uma constante remodelação e modernização do espaço. Foi feito um trabalho de sistematização por ruas sendo aqui expostas algumas das conclusões. Analisou-se ainda a repercussão que este desenvolvimento tem na população e a forma como afecta as relações sociais. Neste modelo tudo é planeado mas a população acaba por se adaptar de tal forma que tudo parece inato. Este complexo fabril surge como um espaço autónomo e sustentável. O aglomerado urbano promove o equilíbrio e a interligação entre o edificado e a envolvente bem como a relação do individuo com a sociedade. O exercício quiçá mais importante deste trabalho está relacionado com a tentativa de completar a análise dos modelos teóricos com uma avaliação da forma como se comportam quando implementados num espaço concreto. Pretendemos identificar as características que fizeram funcionar o modelo da Vista Alegre e os elementos perturbadores de um equilíbrio construído.
Benefício Assistencial para estrangeiros: a efetivação, no caso brasileiro, do caráter universal dos direitos fundamentais
Authors: Copetti Neto Alfredo , Aguirre Lissandra Espinosa de Mello , Aguirre Lissandra Espinosa de Mello
Published: November 2017

O texto analisa a possibilidade da atribuição do Benefício Assistencial para Estrangeiros diante do sistema Constitucional Brasileiro. O Estudo parte da compreensão dos direitos fundamentais e da fundamentalidade dos direitos sociais, vistos como vetores de inclusão social e diminuição das desigualdades sociais. Diante disto, a Assistência Social aos desamparados representa discurso em prol da Dignidade Humana e da Igualdade. Destarte, tendo com objetivo a República Federativa do Brasil a construção de uma sociedade livre justa e solidária a erradicação da pobreza e a diminuição das desigualdades, propõe-se a discussão do tema.
Pengaruh Tetua Jantan terhadap Komponen Buah dan Biji Hasil Persilangan Enam Genotipe Kakao Mulia
Authors: Tresniawati Cici , Dani Dani , Wardiana Edi
Published: November 2017

In cacao crossing process, the genetic symptoms of direct effect of male parent as a pollen source on pod and beans performances generated from their crossing are called as the xenia effect.  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of male parents on characters of pod and bean components generated from the crossing of several genotypes of fine cacao. The research was conducted at Kalikempit Afdeling of PTPN XII, Tulungrejo Village, Glenmore District, Banyuwangi Regency, East Java Province, at an altitude of 340 m asl, Latosol type of soil, and C type of climate, from May until December 2014. Crossing combinations were (1) DR 38 x DR 1, (2) DR 38 x DR 38, (3) DR 2 x DR 1, (4) DR 2 x DR 2, (5) DRC 16 x DR 38, and (6) DRC 16 x DRC 16.  Variables observed were the quantitative and qualitative characters of pod and bean component. The results showed that male parent DR 1 crossed with female parent DR 2 contributed in increasing fresh bean weight (34.70%), fresh bean/pod weight (44.32%), fresh single bean weight (31.00%), pod apex and base constriction shapes. Meanwhile DR 38 crossed with DRC 16 showed xenia effect on fresh bean weight (47.01%), bean (31.22%), and qualitative characters i.e. the colour of mature pod and the availability of bottle neck. All of crossing combinations produced white colour beans above 85% thus qualified as good. DR 2 and DR 38 are potential male parents to enhance the number of white bean.
On the Klinkenberg Effect of Multicomponent Gases
Authors: Wang Shihao , Pan Zhengfu , Zhang Juncheng , Yang Zhenzhou , Wang Yonghong , Wu Yu-Shu , Li Xiaopeng , Lukyanov Alexander
Published: November 2017

In unconventional gas formations, due to the narrow pore size, gas molecules slip at the wall of the pore, known as the Klinkenberg effect. Although the Klinkenberg effect of single component gas has been thoroughly investigated, an accurate correlation for Klinkenberg effects on multicomponent gas flow has not been formulated so far. In this paper, we aim to quantify the multicomponent gas Klinkenberg effect by deriving a non-empirical correlation that can be directly used in reservoir engineering applications.

Our approach is based on kinetic theory, we calculate the mean free path of gas mixtures, and capture the loss of horizontal flux momentum of gas flux after the molecule diffusively reflect at the wall. The horizontal flux momentum acts as shear stress on gas flow. In this sense, the loss of momentum induces reduction of viscosity and enhancement of permeability (mass transfer). By quantifying the loss of horizontal momentum as well as the reduction of viscosity, we can solve the gas slippage coefficient for the multicomponent gas flow system.

We have brought out a second-order non-empirical gas slippage correlation for the multicomponent Klinkenberg effect problem. Our model well captures the mass transfer mechanism of gas mixtures. The accuracy of our model has been compared to and validated by both molecular dynamics simulation and physical experimental (tube-flooding). We have also investigated the effect of wall roughness on the reflection of gas molecules, which fundamentally reveals the origin of gas slippage effect. Our correlation can be readily implemented in compositional reservoir simulators to investigate gas flow in unconventional formations, such as shale and tight sandstone.

Compared to existing approaches, our approach has several novelties and advantages. First, our approach is a non-empirical gas slippage correlation for gas mixtures. The model is based on the kinetic theory of gasses, originating from the first principals. Secondly, our model is capable of handling a wide range of Knudsen numbers. Last, compared to Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) and Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM), our approach requires much less computing resources.
Irrigation Water Acidification to Neutralize Alkalinity for Nursery Crop Production: Substrate pH, Electrical Conductivity, Nutrient Concentrations, and Plant Nutrition and Growth
Authors: Albano Joseph P. , Altland James , Merhaut Donald J. , Wilson Sandra B. , Wilson P. Chris
Published: November 2017

Liming agents (LAs) in irrigation water, typically associated with carbonates and bicarbonates of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), contribute to water alkalinity. Repeated application of LA to container crops can cause media-solution pH to rise overtime, that uncorrected, can lead to a nutrient availability imbalance that may be suboptimal for plant-growth due to nutrient disorder(s). To correct high levels of LA in irrigation water, growers can inject acid into their irrigation system to neutralize alkalinity. Therefore, a 52-week study was conducted using irrigation water, substrate, and plants from a commercial nursery in Florida that has a history of poor water quality and plant production problems related to high alkalinity irrigation water. The objectives of the study were to assess substrate pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and nutrients, and plant nutrition and growth for thyrallis (Galphimia gracilis Bartl.) to irrigation water acidification. Treatments consisted of irrigation water acidified with sulfuric acid (H2SO4) to neutralize 0% (control), 40%, or 80% of calcium carbonates (CaCO3) yielding a CaCO3 (meq·L−1)/pH levels of 5 [High Alkalinity (H-A)]/7.37, 3 [Medium Alkalinity (M-A)]//6.37, and 1 [Low Alkalinity (L-A)]//4.79, respectively. Substrate analysis by the 1:2 dilution method at the end of the study was significant (P < 0.05) for pH 6.2, 5.2, and 4.7 for the H-A, M-A, and L-A treatments, respectively, and for nutrients Ca, Mn, and Zn. Foliar nutrient levels were statistically significant (P < 0.05) for alkalinity treatment for Fe, K, Mn, P, and Zn. Alkalinity treatment was significant (P < 0.05) for growth, leaf greenness (by SPAD), and quality (by survey) with the M-A treatment producing more biomass, having greener leaves, and the highest aesthetic quality value than the H-A or L-A treatments. A qualitative survey of root systems at harvest showed that the M-A and L-A treatment root systems were greater than the H-A treatment based on visual side-wall root development. These data demonstrate that irrigation water acidification does alter substrate pH and nutrients and plant tissue nutrient levels and growth over a long-term production cycle typical for nursery crops.
Pollen Quantity and Viability in 65 Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) Cultivars
Authors: Wu Jiefang , Fu Danwen , Chen Jiezhen , Cai Changhe , Yan Qian , Ou Liangxi
Published: November 2017

The characteristics of litchi pollen have drawn increasing attention in recent years. Previous studies indicated that there are significant differences in the quantity and viability of litchi pollen grains among different varieties and flowering stages. Moreover, the same variety may show a different quantity of pollen grains and viability in different years. There is still a lack of systematic studies on the change of pollen germination rate and pollen amount in different varieties and at different flowering stages. In this study, the changes in the germination rate of pollen at different development stages were studied. It was primarily revealed that the pollen germination rate already approached its peak upon the filament extends fully, but the anther does not dehisce the developmental stage. In 2009 and 2010, the viability and number of pollen grains per anther were investigated in 65 litchi cultivars, and a difference was observed among cultivars. The pollen germination rate ranged between 20.14% (‘Wuchali’) and 54.69% (‘Donlongmili’). The number of pollen grains per anther ranged between 1555 (‘Zhongshanzhuangyuanhong’) and 7455 (‘Houye’). Sixty-five litchi cultivars were classified into six clusters based on the pollen quantity and germination rate. Most litchi cultivars can produce large amounts of viable and compatible pollen grains during the flowering period. Thus, our results indicate that the pollen amount and germination rate might not be the only factors restricting the successful pollination of litchi.
Prediction of Bitter Pit in ‘Honeycrisp’ Apples and Best Management Implications
Authors: Baugher Tara Auxt , Marini Richard , Schupp James R. , Watkins Christopher B.
Published: November 2017

During a 3-year study of bitter pit in commercial ‘Honeycrisp’ apple (Malus ×domestica) orchards, incidence was associated with low calcium (Ca) levels in fruit peel; high ratios of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and/or magnesium (Mg) to Ca in fruit peel; excessive terminal shoot length; and low crop load. Peel N and Mg concentrations were negatively correlated and peel Ca concentration positively correlated with crop density (CD). Shoot length (SL) was not consistently correlated with peel N, Mg, or phosphorus (P) and was negatively correlated with only Ca. A two-variable model that included SL and the ratio of N to Ca explained more than 65% of bitter pit incidence. The model has implications for best management of the cultivar in the field and during storage.
Controlled Atmosphere pO2 Alters Ripening Dynamics of 1-MCP treated ‘d’Anjou’ Pear (Pyrus communis L.) Fruit
Authors: Mattheis James P.
Published: November 2017

Ripening and development of physiological disorders and decay were assessed in ‘d’Anjou’ pear fruit after 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment and cold storage in air or controlled atmosphere (CA). Fruit were exposed after harvest to 0 or 12.6 μmol·L−1 1-MCP and then stored at 0.5 °C in air or 1, 3, or 5 kPa O2 with 0.5 kPa CO2. Pears were held poststorage at 20 °C for 7 days before analysis. 1-MCP fruit usually had higher hue compared with controls. Softening after removal from storage was delayed in 1-MCP fruit regardless of storage atmosphere; however, control fruit stored in air or CA ripened to below 23 N, a minimum value for consumer acceptance, after all storage durations. 1-MCP fruit stored in air, 3, or 5 kPa O2 softened in the outer cortex (fruit surface to 8 mm into the cortex) to below 23 N only after 9 m, however, only fruit stored in air softened to less than 23 N in the inner cortex (8 mm to coreline). 1-MCP treatment also delayed deformation in cortex tissue tensile strength (TTS); after six or more months, 1-MCP fruit TTS was lower compared with those for control fruit. After 9 m, 1-MCP fruit stored in air had TTS values similar to those of controls whereas values for fruit stored in CA increased with CA O2 concentration. Titratable acidity was higher in 1-MCP-treated fruit stored in air (6 m only) or 3 or 5 kPa O2 compared with controls. Superficial scald developed after 6 m on control fruit stored in air or 5 kPa O2 and on control CA fruit regardless of O2 concentration after 9 m. No 1-MCP fruit developed scald. The results indicate ‘d’Anjou’ pear ripening in response to 1-MCP is influenced by storage pO2 as well as storage duration, and at the 1-MCP treatment concentration used, softening to a consumer standard for firmness occurred only in fruit cold stored in air for 9 months plus a 7-day poststorage ripening period. These fruit had peel hue less than 100, and the yellow peel color may not be consistent with current market expectations.
A SOLAR-POWERED WHITE LED-BASED UV-VIS SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC SYSTEM MANAGED BY PC FOR AIR POLLUTION DETECTION IN FARAWAY AND UNFRIENDLY LOCATIONS
Authors: Visconti P. , Primiceri P. , de Fazio R. , Ekuakille A. Lay
Published: November 2017

This research work regards the design and realization of an absorption spectrophotometer based on a LED light source in place of the usually employed Xenon lamp. The advantage of the use of LED technology resides in several factors such as the reducing of the analyte temperature variations and thus noise generation, which occur if a Xenon light source is used, beside of the high luminous efficiency, reliability, operating duration, lower maintenance and a lower power consumption. This last factor allows to supply the entire designed apparatus using a solar panel thus making the system easly portable for use even in places where the electricity network is absent. An optical filtering system was realized in order to detect the analyte absorption for each wavelength range selected by the optical filters. A PC-interfaced PIC-based control unit used to manage the different functionalities required by the spectophotometer was realized and tested. The control unit acquires and processes, via the developed firmware, the raw data provided by different sensors employed in the system. The sensors are used to monitor analyte temperature and humidity values, to control the analyte pressure and to acquire the luminous intensity value of the light beam before and after passing through the analyte. Finally, the realized electronic control unit actuates different mechanical sections (stepper motor, solenoid valve), sincronyzing and controlling the data exchange between hardware sections, microcontroller and the PC.
ASSESSMENT TO EFFECTIVENESS OF THE NEW EARLY STREAMER EMISSION LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM
Authors: Chen Yen-Hong A. , Lin Kai-Jan , Li Yu-Chu M.
Published: November 2017

A novel early streamer emission (ESE) lightning air terminal system is designed and fabricated. By comparing the intercepted artificial lightning striking numbers of the new ESE lightning protection device and the conventional lightning rod (CLR) lightning protection device in laboratory, the effectiveness of intercepting the artificial lightning strokes by the new ESE lightning protection device is superior to that by the conventional lightning rod lightning protection device. A modified Tesla Coil (TC) discharging by powering AC voltage up to 650 kV with the controlled triggering function generator is used to produce simulated lightning strokes. The top tips of both devices in the same horizontal plane are placed at the same distance to the modified TC during all the test processes. Exchanging their positions makes no obvious difference between the recorded results. The test data validate the effectiveness of the new ESE lightning protection device under the laboratory environment.
APPLICATION OF RADIAL BASIS FUNCTION NEURAL NETWORK TO PREDICT EXCHANGE RATE WITH FINANCIAL TIME SERIES
Authors: SUN AI , CHANG JUI-FANG
Published: November 2017

The literature indicates that exchange rates are largely unforecastable from the fact that the overwhelming majority of studies have employed linear models in forecasting exchange rates. In this paper, we applied Radial Basis Function Neural Network (RBFNN) to predict exchange rate, motived by the fact that RBFNN have the ability to implicitly detect complex nonlinear relationships between dependent and independent variables as it “learns” the relationship inherent in the exchange rate data presented to it. The model learning algorithm uses a diverse data set for training so as to adapt itself quickly for new exchange rate data. We apply the RBFNN to panel data of the exchange rates (USD/EUR, JPN/USD, USD/GBP, USD/CHY) are examined and optimized to be used for time-series predictions, some experiments testified the proposed method is effective and feasible.
OUTPUT BASED INPUT SHAPING FOR OPTIMAL CONTROL OF SINGLE LINK FLEXIBLE MANIPULATOR
Authors: Tahir Nura Musa , Hassan Sabo Miya , Mohamed Zaharuddin , Ibrahim Ahmed Garba
Published: November 2017

Endpoint residual vibrations and oscillations due to flexible and rigid body motions are big challenges in control of single link flexible manipulators, it makes positioning of payload difficult especially when using various payloads. This paper present output based input shaping with two different control algorithms for optimal control of single link flexible manipulators. Output based filter (OBF) is designed using the signal output of the system and then incorporated with both linear quadratic regulator (LQR) and PID separately for position and residual vibration control. The Robustness of these control algorithms are tested by changing the payloads from 0g to30g, 50g and 70g in each case. Based on MATLAB simulation results and time response analysis, LQR-OBF outperformed the PID-OBF in both tracking and vibration reduction.
DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PREDICTIVE CONTROLLERS ON THE RECTIFIER AND QUASI IMPEDANCESOURCE INVERTER IN A WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM BASED ON PERMANENT MAGNET SYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR
Authors: Fard Hamed Javaheri
Published: November 2017

Two controllers are proposed in this paper. These controllers have been designed and implemented on the rectifier and quasi impedance-source inverter (QZSI) in the wind energy conversion system based on permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG). Model based predictive control strategy (MBPC) has been used at the proposed design for both controllers. Control of parameters such as load current, inductor current and capacitor voltage are the major aim of design of predictive controllers; hence; two cost function (CF) are employed to realize this subject which in those exist objective controls. The MATLAB-simulation and experimental results show that the predictive controllers can be robust and effective in controlling the desired parameters.
MODELING AND DESIGNING A FULL BEAMFORMER FOR ACOUSTIC SENSING AND MEASUREMENT
Authors: Lay-Ekuakille A. , Giannoccaro N.I. , Casciaro S. , Conversano F. , Velazquez R.
Published: November 2017

Acoustic sensing is a viable approach for solving issues related to many applications, namely, biomedical, distance measurements, mechanical, health infrastructure monitoring, etc. It is generally sustainable and of no negative impact on the object under test. The use of acoustic sensing under beamforming technique is an important asset to be exploited, especially for the aforementioned applications. This paper illustrates a generalized approach of modeling and designing a full beamfomer using two specific classes: LCMP (Linear Constrained Minimum Power) beamformers that are used to overcome robustness limitations and MVDR (Minimum Variance Distortionless Response) beamformers. Any aspect of modeling and designing is always related to the DOA (Direction of Arrival). The obtained results are based on assumptions extracted from an actual case of constructed system.
A Memory Efficient Hardware Based Pattern Matching and Protein Alignment Schemes for Highly Complex Databases
Authors: AntoBennet M. , Sankaranarayanan S. , Deepika M. , Nanthini N. , Bhuvaneshwari S. , Priyanka M.
Published: November 2017

Protein sequence alignment to find correlation between different species, or genetic mutations etc. is the most computational intensive task when performing protein comparison. To speed-up the alignment, Systolic Arrays (SAs) have been used. In order to avoid the internal-loop problem which reduces the performance, pipeline interleaving strategy has been presented. This strategy is applied to an SA for Smith Waterman (SW) algorithm which is an alignment algorithm to locally align two proteins. In the proposed system, the above methodology has been extended to implement a memory efficient FPGA-hardware based Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS) to speed up network processing. The pattern matching in Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) is done using SNORT to find the pattern of intrusions. A Finite State Machine (FSM) based Processing Elements (PE) unit to achieve minimum number of states for pattern matching and bit wise early intrusion detection to increase the throughput by pipelining is presented.
Detecting IP Based Attack On Cloud Server Using Passive IP Traceback
Authors: Divakar V , Vijayarangam S
Published: November 2017

In computer network security, IP address spoofing plays a major role in the creation of Internet Protocol (IP) packets with a fake or forged source IP address and this may lead to major attacks to cloud centre. When the identities of user information are forged by spoofing or masquerade as another computing system. Whether the basic protocol for sending data in the Internet communication are based on the Internet Protocol (“IP”). In network communication header of each IP packet consist of source and destination address of the packet. The source address contains where the packet was sent origin address. In that IP spoofing can be performed by forging the original header from sender it act like packet is sent from origin with different address, an attacker can make it appear that the packet was sent by a different machine. So that the IP Spoofing attack can be placed to further attacks comes into place of impersonating system. This can avoided by a novel solution, named Passive IP Trace back (PIT), to avoid the challenges in operation. To capture the origins of IP spoofing traffic is difficult to locate. As long as the real locations of spoofing are not identified, they cannot be determined from launching further attacks. Identifying the origins of spoofing traffic can help build a reputation system for network place, which would be helpful to push the corresponding ISPs to verify IP source address.
Gsm Based Soldier Tracking System and Monitoring Using Wireless Communication
Authors: Chakravarth P. , Natarajan S. , Anto Bennet M.
Published: November 2017

To design a soldier tracking system using wireless system for monitoring the parameters of soldier are as Body temperature & Temperature. Biomedical sensors: Here to find the health status of soldier we are using a body temp sensor to measure body temperature as well as pulse rate sensor. These parameters are then signal conditioned and will be stored in the memory. One of the fundamental challenges in military operations lays in that the Soldier not able to communicate with control room administrator. In addition, each organization needs to enforce certain administrative and operational work when they interact over the network owned and operated by other organizations. Thus, without careful planning and coordination, one troop cannot communicate with the troops or leverage the communication infrastructure operated by the country troops in the same region. The purpose of this investigation was to test the components of the Soldier Tracking and Performance Measurement System against the statement of requirements as found in the Request for Proposal. Secondary aims of this investigation included gathering data that will allow potential users of the system to understand its capabilities and limitations, as well as allow efficient planning of both time and resources necessary to ensure efficient and productive use of the system for training the solider.
Learning to Rank and Classification of Bug Reports Using SVM and Feature Evaluation
Authors: Rajeswari S. , Sharavanan S. , Vijai R. , Balajee RM
Published: November 2017

When a new bug report is received, developers usually need to reproduce the bug and perform code reviews to find the cause, a process that can be tedious and time consuming. A tool for ranking all the source files with respect to how likely they are to contain the cause of the bug would enable developers to narrow down their search and improve productivity. This project introduces an adaptive ranking approach that leverages project knowledge through functional decomposition of source code, API descriptions of library components, the bugfixing history, the code change history, and the file dependency graph. Given a bug report, the ranking score of each source file is computed as a weighted combination of an array of features, where the weights are trained automatically on previously solved bug reports using a learning-to-rank technique. I applied SVM (Support Virtual Machine) to classify the bug reports to identify, which category the bug belongs to. It helps to fix the critical defects early. The ranking system evaluated on six large scale open source Java projects, using the beforefix version of the project for every bug report. The experimental results show that the learning-to-rank approach outperforms three recent state-of-the-art methods. In particular, proposed method makes correct recommendations within the top 10 ranked source files for over 70 percent of the bug reports in the Eclipse Platform and Tomcat projects.
Specific Absorption Rate Assessment on Human Head Due to Radiations by Mobile Phone Antenna
Authors: Anto Bennet M. , Surekha Poomathi J. , Kalpana C. , Sariga Priya S.
Published: November 2017

Development of mobile phone communication infrastructure in the world has promoted which lead public concern over possible health effect exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic energy (RFEME) emanating from mobile phone antenna. The Micro-strip patch antenna plays an important role in electromagnetic energy transmitting and receiving phenomena in mobile phone. This paper makes an effort to assess the mobile radiation exposure effect on 4 years child, 8years child and an adult head model. Hand held device model having micro-strip antenna is used for human interaction. The software simulation performed by Computer simulation technique (CST) software based on Finite difference Time Domain Technique yields specific absorption rate and 3D-thermal distribution on spherical human head.
Performance and Analysis of Low Power, Areaefficient and High Speed Carryfast Adder
Authors: AntoBennet M. , Sankaranarayanan S. , BanuPriya V. , Pretheena PJaya , Yamini S. , Supriya S.
Published: November 2017

Carry Select Adder (CSLA) is one of the fastest adders used in many data-processing processors to perform fast arithmetic functions. From the structure of the CSLA, it is clear that there is scope for reducing the area and power consumption in the CSLA. This work uses a simple and efficient gate-level modification to significantly reduce the area and power of the CSLA. Based on this modification 8, 16,32,and 64-bit square-root CSLA (SQRT CSLA) architecture have been developed and compared with the regular SQRT CSLA architecture. The proposed design has reduced area and power as compared with the regular SQRT CSLA with only a slight increase in the delay. This work evaluates the performance of the proposed designs in terms of delay, area, power. Binary to Excess-1 Converter (BEC) instead of RCA with the regular CSLA to achieve lower area and power consumption. The main advantage of this BEC logic comes from the lesser number of logic gates than the n-bit Full Adder structure. The delay and area evaluation methodology of the basic adder blocks. The SQRT CSLA has been chosen for comparison with the proposed design as it has a more balanced delay, and requires lower power and area. Reducing the area and power consumption in the CSLA. Efficient gate-level modification to significantly reduce the area and powerof the CSLA.
Nanorobot Movement: Challenges and Biologically inspired solutions
Authors: Sharma N. N. , Mittal R.K.
Published: November 2017

Nanorobotics is the technology of creating machines or robots of the size of few hundred nanometres and below consisting of components of nanoscale or molecular size. There is an all around development in nanotechnology towards realization of nanorobots in the last two decades. In the present work, the compilation of advancement in nanotechnology in context to nanorobots is done. The challenges and issues in movement of a nanorobot and innovations present in nature to overcome the difficulties in moving at nano-size regimes are discussed. The efficiency aspect in context to artificial nanorobot is also presented.
A Design of Gain-scheduled Congestion Controllers using State Predictive Observers
Authors: Azuma Takehito , Uchida Masashi
Published: November 2017

In this paper, a design problem of congestion controllers is discussed for TCP/AQM(Transmission Control Protocol/Active Queue Management) networks. The proposed method consists of two control techniques. First one is based on a gain-scheduling technique considering nonlinearities of TCP/AQM networks. But the designed congestion controller is a state feedback controller and it is impossible to embed the congestion controller in real computer networks. To avoid this problem, second one is based on a design technique of state predictive observer for linear time-delay systems. Thus it can be possible to embed the congestion controller in real networks by combining these methods. Firstly dynamical models of TCP/AQM are described as linear systems with self-scheduling parameters, which also depend on information delay. Here it is distinguishing to focus on constraints on the maximum queue length and TCP window-size, which are the network resources in TCP/AQM networks. And a design method of memoryless state feedback controllers is shown for linear system with a self-scheduling parameter and an information delay. But the designed gain- scheduled congestion controller is a state feedback controller and it is impossible to apply this controller to computer networks directly. Thus observers are also designed and the observer-based congestion controllers are derived.
Iterative Feedback Tuning (IFT) of Head Positioning Servomechanism in Hard Disk Drive
Authors: Al Mamun A. , Tan K.C. , Wong W.E.
Published: November 2017

Actuators used in hard disk drives (HDD) are produced en mass and therefore their dynamic properties vary within a given tolerance bound. A nominal model representing the batch of actuators is used to design the head positioning servomechanism. Equal performance can not be expected for all actuators when such controller is used. Disk drive servomechanism is expected to provide performance with increasingly tighter tolerance as the demand for higher storage capacity continues. Moreover, physical properties of any actuator may change over time causing the degradation of performance. All these issues demand for good on-line tuning of controller. This paper explores the usage of Iterative Feedback Tuning (IFT) in HDD servomechanism. Improved performance of the tuned controller is demonstrated using simulation and experimental results.
Scaling Issues in Large Networks of Small Sensors: Energy and Communication Management
Authors: Siegel Mel
Published: November 2017

We discuss five scaling-related issues in robotics and robotic systems. They are unified by an understanding of the fundamental engineering constraints imposed by the essentially fixed fundamental strength of materials and the essentially fixed practical density at which energy can be stored. These constraints have profound effects on when big bodies are in danger of collapsing under their own weight and when small bodies are in danger of running out of fuel. The section on strength provides a review of the lesson that small is strong, big is weak. The section on speed relates design and scale to inherent speed capability, including a discussion of why humanoid robots walk in unnaturallooking ways. The section on energy reinforces the realization that stored energy scales as the cube of a body’s characteristic linear dimension, whereas its baseline power requirement usually scales as a lower power, e.g., the square of that dimension, so running time and range usually decrease cripplingly rapidly with size. The section on power shows how baseline power – and its dependence on speed – in combination with stored energy determines a body’s running time and range. The section on communication discusses scale-related communication quality and duration, especially in systems that are simultaneously large and small, e.g., in networks composed of a very large number of very small robot-like nodes.
Evolution Of A Suite Of Smart Millimetre Wave Radar Systems For Situational Awareness And Automation In Mines
Authors: Brooker Graham , Bishop Mark , Hennessy Ross
Published: November 2017

This paper defines the issues required for the development of successful visualisation sensors for use in open cut and underground mines. It examines the mine environment and considers both the reflectivity of the rock and attenuation effects of dust and water droplets. Millimetre wave technology, as an alternative to the more commonly used laser and sonar implementations, is selected due to its superior penetration through adverse atmospheric conditions. Of the available radar techniques, frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) is selected as being the most robust. The theoretical performance of a number of 94GHz FMCW millimetre wave radar systems is determined and these confirm the capability of these sensors in the mining environment. The paper describes implementations of FMCW radar sensors for simple ranging, two dimensional line scanning and three dimensional imaging that are based on a common ranging module and in the case of the 2D and 3D applications, a common swash-plate mirror scanner. Data obtained during field trials in mines is presented to justify the selection of this technology
Nanocrystalline ZnO based MEMS Gas Sensors with CMOS ASIC for Mining Applications
Authors: Futane N.P. , Bhattacharyya P. , Barma S. , Roychaudhuri C. , Saha H.
Published: November 2017

In this paper a nanocrystalline (nc) zinc oxide based hybrid gas sensor with signal conditioning ASIC has been reported for sensing and transmitting the information about methane concentration from the underground coalmine environment. A low power, low temperature nc zinc oxide MEMS based gas sensor has been designed, fabricated and tested for the purpose with a power consumption of ~70mW and sensitivity of 76.6 % at 1.0% methane concentration at a sensor operating temperature of 150°C. For transmitting the output of the gas sensor, a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) chip integrated with a low noise amplifier has been fabricated in 0.3 5 μm CMOS technology to convert the voltage output of the gas sensor to desirable frequency. The power consumption of the chip has been obtained to be around 3mW. The amplifier gain is set suitably ~13 to apply the desirable control voltage (~1.2V-3.2V)to the VCO. The noise of the amplifier has 1/2 been obtained to be around 2μV/Hz . The output frequency of the VCO varies from 20kHz to 100kHz for the change in methane concentration from 0 to 1%. The output of the VCO chip can be applied as a modulating signal to a commercially available transceiver, which transmits the signal to the control room.
A Broadband Spectroscopic Sensor Probe
Authors: Woodhead I M , Platt I , Christie J H , Krenek S
Published: November 2017

The electrical properties of many materials are closely related to their composition and to their moisture content in particular. For sensor development, characterising the response of a particular volume of material over a broad frequency range is desirable, since separate measurements could generate errors due to spatial variability. A coaxial probe has been designed for measurement of the permittivity of smooth and flat, solid or liquid samples over the frequency range from 1 Hz to 6 GHz. Although the probe is capable of a very wide frequency range, separate instruments are generally required, and here we focus on measurements above 1MHz. We demonstrate measurements in the frequency domain using a vector network analyser, and in the time domain using a broadband oscilloscope. For switching, we employed a coaxial switch and demonstrate how that is included within the instrument calibration. Calibration of the probe used three References: an open circuit, short circuit (indium foil) and a reference liquid, ideally chosen for a permittivity similar to that of the sample. The sample complex permittivity was calculated by a numerical model which used as inputs, the measured reflection coefficient and physical measurements of the probe geometry.