Machining feature-based system for supporting step-compliant milling process

STEP standards aims at setting up a standard description method for product data and providing a neutral exchanging mechanism that is independent of all the information processing systems for product information model. STEP Part 21 is the first implementation method from EXPRESS language and implemented successfully in CAD data. However, this text file consists of purely geometrical and topological data is hardly to be applied in machining process planning which requires machining features enriched data. The aim of this research is developing a new methodology to translate the EXPRESS language model of CAD STEP data into a new product data representation and enriched in machining features which is more beneficial to machining process planning. In this research, a target Database Management System (DBMS) was proposed for developing this system by using its fourth-generation tools that allow rapid development of applications through the provision of nonprocedural query language, reports generators, form generators, graphics generators, and application generators. The use of fourth-generation tools can improve productivity significantly and produce program that are easier to maintain. From this research, a new product data representation in a compact new table format is generated. Then this new product data representation has gone through a series of data enrichment process, such as normal face direction generation, edge convexity/concavity determination and machining features with transition feature recognition. Lastly, this new enriched product data representation is verified by generating to a new STEP standard data format which is according to ISO1030-224 standard format and providing an important part of solution for supporting STEP-compliant process planning and applications in milling process

Experimental and simulation analysis for performance enhancement of elliptical savonius wind turbine by modifying blade shapes

Savonius turbines are drag-based rotors which operate due to a pressure difference between the advancing and retreating blades. After going through an exhaustive literature review, it was realized that the Savonius wind turbines are an applicable option at low wind speed areas, where the counterpart of these turbines cannot work efficiently. Nevertheless, the existing design is still under research to make it more applicable in urban areas. Therefore, the research objective was to develop and test an elliptical Savonius wind turbine to improving its performance in terms of power and torque coefficients by modifying blade shapes and overlap ratio. In the beginning, a series of 2D unsteady simulations (CFD-Fluent version 19.1) of the Savonius elliptical turbine has been performed to study the overlap ratio of blades and the effect of the turbulence models. Conventional elliptical Savonius turbine was modified by changing the overlap ratio from the value (OR=0.15) to (OR=0.2) and called as the Model-A. Then, the concave surface of the blade Model-A was modified (as zigzag shape) and called as Model-B. The blade shape of the Model-B was modified by adding bypass channels for each blade to creating new configuration was called the Model-C. The experimental work begins with the manufacturing of the models (A, B and C) of the blade using 3D printing technology. Models were tested by the wind tunnel in Aerodynamic laboratory (UTHM) with four cases of wind velocity. 2D simulation result for Model-A at OR= 0.2, where the increase in maximum power coefficient value obtained was 3.85% and 7.69% compared to overlap ratio (0.15 and 0.1), respectively. The result of the experimental test was obtained the maximum power coefficient (0.296, 0.292, 0.291, and 0.295) at wind velocity (6 m/s, 8 m/s, 9 m/s, and 10 m/s), respectively for Model-B. The Model-C result in the maximum power coefficient (0.28) compared with Model-A (0.26). The 3D unsteady simulation also has been done to visualisation the behaviour of flow around Model-B and it show a good agreement with experimental test results

Development of limiting dilution viability pcr method to assess the effectiveness of selected biocides to treat indoor fungi growth

Indoor fungal contamination should be treated with cost-effective and green methods. Biocides have direct biological effect on living organisms but the evidence on their control of indoor fungal contamination is scarce. Using conventional cultivation to evaluate their effectiveness is time consuming while polymerase chain reaction (PCR) provides a fast and reliable alternative. The incorporation of serial dilution technique and viability information in PCR has made it suitable to evaluate the effectiveness of biocides. Thus, this study aimed to assess the antifungal ability of biocides, zinc salicylate (ZS), calcium benzoate (CB) and potassium sorbate (KS) to treat indoor fungal contamination through developing limiting dilution viability PCR (vPCR). These biocides were selected as they successfully controlled the growth of indoor waterborne fungi previously. Indoor air sampling revealed that higher educational building of computer studies (Building A) and of civil engineering studies (Building B) were contaminated by 509 CFU/m3 and 805.7 CFU/m3 of indoor airborne fungi, respectively. Two indoor fungi, Talaromyces spp. and Aspergillus niger were identified. They were subjected to biocides-treatment and subsequent conventional cultivation and limiting dilution vPCR due to their potential risks against humans’ health. The limiting dilution vPCR was developed by incorporating the pre-treatment of propidium monoazide (PMA) before deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction and the serial dilution of the DNA template in PCR. This approach was proven to effectively enumerate the effectiveness of biocides to treat indoor fungi. KS was shown to have the best effectiveness (100%) to prevent the growth of Talaromyces spp, followed by ZS (80.8%) and CB (no effect). KS also showed the best effectiveness against A. niger (100%) at the early stage of the study but its effect reduced with time. ZS showed durable effect (66.67%) against A. niger Day 9 cultures. Inconstant results were indicated by cultivation method. This study has provided a cheaper, more accurate and suitable approach to determine the effectiveness of treatment of indoor fungi than cultivation methods

Application of palm shell activated carbon filter as a medium of indoor air contaminant adsorbent for indoor air quality improvement

For decades, the inclusion of activated carbon (AC) adsorption technique through filtration has gained significant interest on improvement of indoor air quality (IAQ) by reducing level of pollutant. The interest of reseachers in palm shell AC (PSAC) keep increase owing to the fact that this material has superior characteristic as compared to commercial AC. However, the investigation of PSAC performance for air filtration are still limited and no research could be found on relating the effect of burner for carbonization on PSAC properties. Therefore, the current research was focused on producing PSAC by using new fabricated burner, exploring the effect of combination of physical and chemical activation towards PSAC properties and investigating of PSAC air filter performance used in Mechanical Ventilation Air Conditioning (MVAC) system. Preliminary studies began with IAQ monitoring in different building condition. The present data revealed that at certain situation, the buildings environment was below than satisfactory level and required mitigation plan by introducing new air filtration media in MVAC system. The best quality of charcoal was obtained by Horizontal burner with less fume formation during carbonization process compare to other design. The physical properties analysis of palm shell charcoal showed the carbonization time (CT) 2 hours gained better charcoal properties and highly recommended to continue into the activation process. After the activation process, PSAC physical+chemical shows significantly higher pore development, surface area and adsorption capacity compare to the other process. The lowest density and the highest porosity up to 0.4632 g/cm and 7.11% was calculated while the highest Iodine number of 1091.05 mg/g and BET surface area of 713.7 m 3 /g was obtained respectively in PSAC physical+chemical. Meanwhile, microstructure and composition analysis shows that, PSAC physical+chemical fully produced honeycomb form of porosity and comprised of C, O, K and Ca contents for high adsorption capacity. The improvement of IAQ in the buildings was achieved with the application of PSAC air filter which shows low concentration of CO2 with 302 ppm, CO with 0.4 ppm , TVOC with 0.1 ppm and PM10 with 0.02mg/m 2 respectively compare to the commercial filter

ITSB: An Intelligent Tutoring System Authoring Tool

Abstract. Intelligent Tutoring System Builder (ITSB) is an authoring tool designed and developed to aid teachers in constructing intelligent tutoring systems in a multidisciplinary fields. The teacher is needed to create a set of pedagogical fundamentals, which, in line, are inured to automatically build up a broad tutor framework and construct an intelligent tutoring system. In this paper an explanation of the theory and the architecture of the tool is outlined. A presentation of several system components, the requirements of the different components, integration of these components in ITSB tool are shown. Furthermore, implanting of requirements, cognitive principle, and common design fundamentals in the tool to ease the use of teachers. A variety of design matters, an example of building an intelligent tutoring system for teaching Java language using ITSB tool and an evaluation are presented

Stories with happy endings: Preventing pet dog attacks on children

A number of dog safety resources have been produced as a result of this research. Obtain a copy of the children’s leaflet (about 5-6yrs) in English from https://hdl.handle.net/10289/968. Obtain a copy of the children’s leaflet (about 5-6yrs) in Te Reo Maori from https://hdl.handle.net/10289/975. Obtain a copy of the children’s booklet (about 8-9yrs) in English from https://hdl.handle.net/10289/930. Obtain a copy of the children’s booklet (about 8-9yrs) in Te Reo Maori from https://hdl.handle.net/10289/984. Obtain a copy of the parents’/caregivers’ booklet in English from https://hdl.handle.net/10289/931. The Te Reo Maori version of the parents’/caregivers’ booklet will be available in 2009.This 2007-8 CAPFNZ Summer Research Scholarship had as its objective the identification of valid and reliable guidelines for safe interaction between children and pet dogs in their homes or known to them and their incorporation in a range of age-appropriate educational resources

The State of American Indian & Alaska Native Education in California 2014

The findings from the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center's 2012 report confirmed the need for greater efforts to prepare, to recruit, to retain, and to graduate Native youth from institutions of higher education. In particular, the realization that AI/AN enrollment rates are declining across the CSUs was alarming. These results provided the basis to delve deeper into the program, outreach, and support of postsecondary institutions in the 2014 report to determine where enrollment and transfer numbers are decreasing or increasing; to determine what the best practices at state colleges and universities to attract, retain, and graduate AI/ANs are; and correspondingly to determine where we, as educators of AI/AN students in the state of California, need to improve