Knowledge-based and integrated monitoring and diagnosis in autonomous power systems

A new technique of knowledge-based and integrated monitoring and diagnosis (KBIMD) to deal with abnormalities and incipient or potential failures in autonomous power systems is presented. The KBIMD conception is discussed as a new function of autonomous power system automation. Available diagnostic modelling, system structure, principles and strategies are suggested. In order to verify the feasibility of the KBIMD, a preliminary prototype expert system is designed to simulate the KBIMD function in a main electric network of the autonomous power system

A knowledge-based approach to improving optimization techniques in system planning

A knowledge-based (KB) approach to improve mathematical programming techniques used in the system planning environment is presented. The KB system assists in selecting appropriate optimization algorithms, objective functions, constraints and parameters. The scheme is implemented by integrating symbolic computation of rules derived from operator and planner's experience and is used for generalized optimization packages. The KB optimization software package is capable of improving the overall planning process which includes correction of given violations. The method was demonstrated on a large scale power system discussed in the paper

Regulation of Adrenergic and Imidazole Preferring Receptors in the Rabbit

The studies reported in this thesis were designed to investigate the effects of chronic adrenoceptor drug treatment on central and peripheral alpha2-adrenoceptor number in the rabbit. In addition, functional studies were carried out using the central depressor response to clonidine injection and vascular pressor response to bolus doses of alpha-methylnoradrenaline injection to examine central and peripheral responses, respectively. The effects of chronic adrenergic drug treatment on alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor number were examined in rabbit forebrain and hindbrain membranes and were compared with the effects in the periphery (kidney membranes) where appropriate. Also changes in receptor number were then compared with functional changes. In preliminary experiments, it was observed that [3H]yohimbine and [3H] idazoxan which have been described as alpha2-adrenoceptor ligands bind to the tissues used in these studies with different characteristics. This observation led to detailed examination and characterization of these binding sites (chapter three). The displacement of these ligands from their binding sites by a range of adrenergic drugs was examined. It was found that [3H]yohimbine bound to alpha2-receptors while [3H]idazoxan in addition to binding at alph2-receptors bound principally to a non-adrenergic site. In chapter four, the effects of chronic treatment with the alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonists yohimbine and idazoxan on alpha2-adrenergic receptors were examined and compared with effects on the non-adrenergic site labelled by [3H] idazoxan. Functional changes occurring as a result of these treatments were also examined. Chronic yohimbine and idazoxan treatments significantly attenuated both vascular pressor responses to alpha-methylnoradrenaline bolus doses and the central depressor response to intracisternal clonidine. Yohimbine treatment significantly elevated [3H]yohimbine binding to both forebrain and hindbrain but reduced [3H]idazoxan binding to kidney membranes with no change in the brain. Idazoxan treatment significantly increased [3H] yohimbine binding to the forebrain and decreased [3H]idazoxan binding to the kidney. In chapter five, the effects of chronic amitriptyline treatment either alone or in combination with idazoxan or yohimbine on alpha2-adrenergic and non-adrenergic binding sites along with effects on beta-adrenoceptor number were studied. Increasing catecholamine concentrations in the brain indirectly by chronic amitriptyline administration, significantly reduced [3H]yohimbine binding to the hindbrain but not the forebram. [3H] Idazoxan binding sites were not significantly affected by this treatment. Neither treatment with amitriptyline alone nor when combined with alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonists had any significant effects on the number of [3H]dihydroalprenolol ([3H]DHA) binding sites. Chapter six examined the effects of direct infusion of catecholamines into the rabbit brain via intracerebroventricular infusion. Neither adrenaline nor noradrenaline had any significant effect on [3H]DHA or [3H]yohimbine binding sites although chronic adrenaline but not noradrenaline infusion significantly attenuated the depressor response to clonidine injection. Adrenaline infusion significantly reduced [3H]idazoxan binding to the right cerebrum. Chapter seven studied effects of chronic guanabenz infusion on both number and function of alpha2-adrenoceptors. Chronic infusion with the alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist guanabenz significantly reduced [3H] yohimbine binding to both forebrain and hindbrain although no changes in kidney membranes were observed, while the number of [3H]idazoxan binding site in the kidney but not the forebrain or hindbrain was significantly reduced. Both the depressor and pressor responses to clonidine and alpha-methylnoradrenaline respectively were significantly attenuated by this treatment. Chapter eight was aimed at bringing all the results in this thesis together, making comparisons, drawing conclusions and making proposals for future studies. In this thesis it was observed that agonists can cause down regulation and antagonists up-regulation of the [3H] yohimbine binding site. Finally, no changes in beta-adrenoceptor number were observed in the rabbit brain during either catecholamine or amitriptyline treatments. This contrasts with observations in rat brain and reports of changes in beta-adrenoceptor number during catecholamine infusion into the periphery of rabbits. Small subtype changes may have occurred which were not detected, or alternatively, beta-adrenoceptors in rabbit brain are relatively resistant to down-regulation

Trace element assessment in water of river kassa system, jos-plateau Nigeria

Detailed geochemical investigation of water from River Kassa was carried out to assess trace element distribution in the river system. The results showed significant enrichment of these elements Pb, As, Co, Cr, V, Ni and Fe. The value of index of geoaccumulation (Igeo) is approximately 2; for Zn and Pb which indicates, moderate contamination. Areas of the river system with anomalous value of trace element concentrations are those where mine tailings have been deposited close to the river channel or places where run off from adjoining farmlands and settlements enter the river. The major sources of contamination are mining and agricultural activities on the flood plain of this river. The anomalous concentration of As, V, Cr, Co and Pb need further investigation in view of their health implications on man and aquatic lives

Effect of peroxidized soyabeans oil on acid and alkaline phosphatase activities of some rat bones

Soyabean oil was deep fried in an open air for two hours daily for ten days at a temperature of 2000c ± 200c. The peroxide value and Free Fatty acids of the deep fried soyabean oil was determined and found to be higher 35.00 ± 0.02 and 5.04 ± 0.40 than the fresh soyabean oil 20.00 ± 7.07 and 2.24 ± 0.01 respectively. This is an index of peroxidation of the soyabean oil. The peroxidized soyabean oil was used in the formulation of diet at 5% and 15% levels and fed to male albino rats of wistar strain for six weeks. The bone (Tibia and Femur) of the animals were then studied weekly for alkaline and acid phospatase enzyme activities. The activities of these enzymes at 5% level were reduced when compared to the control groups. At 15% level, the activity was higher. There were no significant difference between the activities of the enzymes studied at all levels when compared to the control group (p>0.05). This shows that there is little or no effect due to toxic intake of peroxidized soyabean oil on the enzyme activities in bone of the animals.Keywords: Alkaline phospatase, Acid phospatase, Femur, Tibia, Peroxidatio

Development of a semi-active car suspension control system using magneto-rheological damper model

In this paper, the development of a semi- active suspension control of quarter car model using fuzzy-based controller has been done. The quarter car model to be used here can be described as a nonlinear two degrees of freedom system which is subject to excitation from different road profile. The semi-active control is designed as the fuzzy control inferred by using two single input rule fuzzy modules, and the road model is used as the control force is released by actuating an electromagnetic shaker. To implement semi-active suspension system experimentally, the MR damper is used here as the adjustable damper. The MR damper is a control device that consists of a hydraulic cylinder filled with magnetically polarizable particles suspended in a liquid. MR dampers dissipate vibration by absorbing energy. Magnetorheological (MR) fluids dampers are very effective to control vibration, which use MR fluids to produce controllable damping force and provide both the reliability of passive systems and the facility of active control systems with small power supply. Due to their mechanical simplicity, high dynamic range, low power requirements, large force capacity, and robustness, offer an attractive means of vibration protection. The objectives of this are modeling of semi-active suspension system, developing controller and understanding the characteristics of the MR damper to provide effective damping for the purpose of suspension isolation or suppression car model. In this work pid, fuzzy logic and fuzzy-hybrid controller are used to control semi-active car suspension system

Production of Biodegradable Detergent from Castor Oil

This research work was carried out with the objective of extraction of oil from castor seeds and its utilization to produce a biodegradable detergent. Solvent extraction method was employed in extracting the oil and the total percent oil yield was found to be 23.8%. The experimentally determined saponification value of the oil was 183.7275mgKOH/g of oil. The detergent efficiency, determined as a measure of the foamability of the detergent was found to be 2.6cm. The pH tests revealed mildly basic properties. The color, scent and efficiency of the detergent were improved with the addition of bleaching agent, perfume and foaming agents respectively. Keywords: Castor seeds, Castor Oil, Biodegradable detergent, Saponification DOI: 10.7176/CMR/11-1-0

Application of intelligent technique for development of Colpitts oscillator

In this paper, new method of Colpitts oscillator designing through combination of Genetic Algorithm and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) has been suggested. The Thevenin's resistors for the common base Colpitts oscillator are optimized through application of GA and ANN. The developed common base Colpitts oscillator has shortest transient time response and stable Direct Current (DC) stability in the long term operation. Involvement of GA and ANN successfully optimize between transient time response and steady state response of common base oscillator. Application of these two artificial intelligent techniques assist faster selection of optimizes components values such as resistance values during circuit development rather than conventional method which used intuition techniques to develop the circuit

Design and development of intelligent fingerprint-based security system

Traditionally, user authentication is meant to provide an identification number or a password that is unique and well protected to assure the overall system security. This type of security system is very fragile in an area where a higher level of security system is required. Biometrics-based system offers a new and better approach to user authentication. Biometrics authentication is an automated method whereby an individual identity is confirmed by examining a unique physiological trait or behavioural characteristic, such as fingerprint, iris, or signature, since physiological traits have stable physical characteristics. The design and development of a fingerprint-based security system, comprising the scanner, interface system, Boltzmann machine neural network and access control system is discussed in this paper. The integration between the hardware and the software is completed by using Visual Basic 6 programming language. The results obtained both for the simulation studies and testing of the integrated system with real-life physical system have demonstrated the practicality of such system as well as its potential applications in many fields

NANOTECHNOLOGY BASED GAS SENSING DEVICES

poster abstractGas sensors have a wide range of applications, and many of these applications require very high sensitivity. Types of gas sensors include electrochemical, chemiresistor, infrared point, infrared imaging, semiconductors, ultrasonic and holographic sensors. Nanotechnology is a branch of engineering and science that deals with materials, processes, and devices at nanoscale, one billionth of a meter. Using nanotechnology highly sensitive sensors can be produced. This poster will present chemiresistor sensors developed using nanotechnology at Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute (INDI). Poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene) (PVDF-HFP), Carbon black, and carbon nanotube materials were used. Sensors were fabricated using photolithography and spin-coating or spraying methods. The sensors were then tested with acetone, ethanol, water vapor, and other gasses using a sensor testing setup and a data logger system. The poster will present fabrication methods and experimental results. Mentor: Maher Rizkalla, and Sudir Shrestha, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI