IMC Based Fractional Order Controller for Three Interacting Tank Process

In model based control, performance of the controlled plant considerably depends on the accuracy of real plant being modelled. In present work, an attempt has been made to design Internal Model Control (IMC), for three interacting tank process for liquid level control. To avoid complexities in controller design, the third order three interacting tank process is modelled to First Order Plus Dead Time (FOPDT) model. Exploiting the admirable features of Fractional Calculus, the higher order model is also modelled to Fractional Order First Order Plus Dead Time (FO-FOPDT) model, which further reduces the modelling error. Moving to control section, different IMC schemes have been proposed, where the fractional order filter is introduced along with the conventional integer order filter. Various simulations have been performed to show the greatness of Fractional order modelled system & fractional order filters over conventional integer order modelled system & integer order filters respectively. Both for parameters estimation of reduced order model and filter tuning, Genetic Algorithm (GA) is being applied. 

Non-integer IMC based PID Design for Load Frequency Control of Power System Through Reduced Model Order

This paper deals with non-integer internal model control (FIMC) based proportional-integral-derivative(PID) design for load frequency control (LFC) of single area non-reheated thermal power system under parameter divergence and random load disturbance. Firstly, a fractional second order plus dead time(SOPDT) reduced system model is obtained using genetic algorithm through step error minimization. Secondly, a FIMC based PID controller is designed for single area power system based on reduced system model. Proposed controller is equipped with single area non-reheated thermal power system. The resulting controller is tested using MATLAB/SIMULINK under various conditions. The simulation results show that the controller can accommodate system parameter uncertainty and load disturbance. Further, simulation shows that it maintains robust performance as well as minimizes the effect of load fluctuations on frequency deviation. Finally, the proposed method applied to two area power system to show the effectiveness

GERM CELL TUMOURS OF THE OVARY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: A CLINICAL STUDY OF 109 PATIENTS IN A SPECIALIZED CANCER CENTRE

Objective: Paediatric ovarian germ cell tumours (GCTs) are rare tumours withmalignant tumours extremely rare.Methods: All the paediatric patients who received treatment for histology proven ovarian GCT at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital from January 2006 to December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients over the age of 18 years were excluded from the study. A total of 109 patients were included in the study. A set of parameters were identified to record initial clinical presentation and examination, imaging and laboratory investigations including tumour marker levels. Decisions of multidisciplinary team meetings, surgical treatment, neo adjuvant, adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation data retrieved. Data analysiscarried out using SPSS 20.Results: In total 109 girls presented to our hospital during the study period, most of them above the age of 5 years, with dysgerminoma being the most common followed by yolk sac tumour. Most of the patients received treatment outside our hospital and were referred here for chemoradiotherapy. Fertility preserving surgery was the most commonly performed surgical procedure with a mean follow-up of 50.4 months and >75% overall 5-year survival.Conclusion: Regardless of histologic types, the outcomes of GCT can be improved with a multidisciplinary approach.Key words: Dysgerminomas, germ cell tumours, ovarian tumour

Teachers’ practical teaching methods for electronic course in vocational colleges

There are many challenges faced by teachers to ensure that every student is able to master the knowledge which is in line with the industry. Hence, the practical teaching approach that is used by teachers needs to be in line with the syllabus that is being constructed. Teachers are seen to be important characters in order to ensure that each student can master the contents of the lessons in the classroom well. The objective of this study is to investigate the practical methods of teaching electronic subject at Vocational Colleges which is often used by teachers in conducting the practical workshop. Quantitative studies were employed using questionnaires and the respondents of this research were 135 electronic teachers in 58 Vocational Colleges which offer Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technology courses. Descriptive analysis was used in this study and the data such as mean, standard deviation and ranking were analysed. The results showed that the Electronics teachers used several methods in delivering the electronic practical subjects which are in line with the industry nowadays. Based on this study, teachers used several practical teaching methods in class in order to ensure that every student will understand and they can use it when they become professional workers in specific electronics industry

CFD Investigation of Empty Flanged Diffuser Augmented Wind Turbine

Enclosing a wind turbine within a Flanged diffuser is an innovative mean to increase the power harvested by turbine blades and it is among the most effective devices for increasing wind turbine energy. The geometric parameters of the empty flanged diffuser contribute efficiently to increase mass flow in the diffuser, hence improve the turbine performance. The study presents developed models of the geometrical parameters of an empty flanged diffuser that suitable for a scaled-down (1-6.5) horizontal axis wind turbine, the geometry parameters were involved the diffuser length, diffuser angle, flange height and flange angle. The geometrical models were verified and CFD investigated in 2-D and 3-D domains. Results obtained from CFD simulations show that when using a compact size of flanged diffuser within optimum geometrical parameters can give well acceptable for flow velocity increase at suggested place for the turbine rotor install where the increase in flow velocity is due to lower pressure at the outlet of the diffuser. As there is also a significant effect of the flange angle on increasing the flow velocity inside the diffuser where the rate of increase in wind velocity at turbine position was calculated for two flange angles (0 ÌŠ and 5 ÌŠ ) . In another hand, the results also provided information on the velocity contours and velocity streamlines around diffuser geometry

Allergic dermatitis in a bull: a case report

A case of skin lesions in a 2 year old Kedah-kelantan cross bull was presented to the Large Animal unit of the University Veterinary Hospital, Universiti Putra Malaysia. Physical examination revealed that the vital parameters were all within the normal range. However, there were multiple circumscribed skin lesions (1-2cm) along the dorsal spine and on all the limbs. Examination of the farm house environment revealed marshy areas with Cullicoides infestations. The wound was dressed with diluted chlorhexidine and povidone iodine followed by topical application of dermapred (antibacterial + anti-inflammatory) agent. The bull was given intramuscular injections of chlorpheniramine melate 1ml/50kg, Penicillin 15mg/kg and flunixin meglumine1.1mg/kg. The haemogram showed lymphocytosis, monocytosis, eosinophilia, basophilia and neutrophilia with left shift. The farmer was advised to clear the bush and drainages around the farm. A follow up visit to the farm one week after the treatment showed a significant improvement as the wound had dried up and the lesions are healing

Young People-Social Problem-Solving Skills: Development and Psychometric Properties

There is a lack of culturally suitable tools to measure social problem-solving skills among young people in Malaysia. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the reliability and validity of our newly invented 14-item Young People-Social Problem-Solving Skills (YP-SPSS) questionnaire. Cronbach’s alpha analysis shows that YP-SPSS has good reliability (α=0.7640), and the factor loadings for the fourteen items are above 0.5. Exploratory Factor Analysis suggests four factors: emotional awareness, insight into having problems, steps in solving problems, and analyzing the problems. The study shows that this questionnaire is statistically suitable to measure the social problem-solving of young people

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was USD 92 492 million using approach 1 and USD 73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was USD 95 004 million using approach 1 and USD 75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially.publishedVersio

Effects of a high-dose 24-h infusion of tranexamic acid on death and thromboembolic events in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding (HALT-IT): an international randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Tranexamic acid reduces surgical bleeding and reduces death due to bleeding in patients with trauma. Meta-analyses of small trials show that tranexamic acid might decrease deaths from gastrointestinal bleeding. We aimed to assess the effects of tranexamic acid in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods: We did an international, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 164 hospitals in 15 countries. Patients were enrolled if the responsible clinician was uncertain whether to use tranexamic acid, were aged above the minimum age considered an adult in their country (either aged 16 years and older or aged 18 years and older), and had significant (defined as at risk of bleeding to death) upper or lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients were randomly assigned by selection of a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Patients received either a loading dose of 1 g tranexamic acid, which was added to 100 mL infusion bag of 0·9% sodium chloride and infused by slow intravenous injection over 10 min, followed by a maintenance dose of 3 g tranexamic acid added to 1 L of any isotonic intravenous solution and infused at 125 mg/h for 24 h, or placebo (sodium chloride 0·9%). Patients, caregivers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. The primary outcome was death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation; analysis excluded patients who received neither dose of the allocated treatment and those for whom outcome data on death were unavailable. This trial was registered with Current Controlled Trials, ISRCTN11225767, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01658124. Findings: Between July 4, 2013, and June 21, 2019, we randomly allocated 12 009 patients to receive tranexamic acid (5994, 49·9%) or matching placebo (6015, 50·1%), of whom 11 952 (99·5%) received the first dose of the allocated treatment. Death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation occurred in 222 (4%) of 5956 patients in the tranexamic acid group and in 226 (4%) of 5981 patients in the placebo group (risk ratio [RR] 0·99, 95% CI 0·82–1·18). Arterial thromboembolic events (myocardial infarction or stroke) were similar in the tranexamic acid group and placebo group (42 [0·7%] of 5952 vs 46 [0·8%] of 5977; 0·92; 0·60 to 1·39). Venous thromboembolic events (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) were higher in tranexamic acid group than in the placebo group (48 [0·8%] of 5952 vs 26 [0·4%] of 5977; RR 1·85; 95% CI 1·15 to 2·98). Interpretation: We found that tranexamic acid did not reduce death from gastrointestinal bleeding. On the basis of our results, tranexamic acid should not be used for the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding outside the context of a randomised trial

Studies on the effect of swirl intensity and fuel mixtures on combustion and flame characteristics of swirl burner

The characteristic of swirling flames produced by a rotating double concentric burner is described. The effect of rotational speed, mixture ratio and mixture velocity on the shape, dynamics and height of premixed flames is studied. The effect of tube rotational speed, fuel velocity, annular air velocity and nozzle geometry on the characteristic of nonpremixed flame is also described. The emphasis of this investigation is on the study of the influence of burner rotation on the form of the premixed and nonpremixed flames. It is shown that for premixed flame as the angular velocity of rotation increases with low and moderate velocity it buckles. Buckling becomes more prominent as the angular velocity increases and eventually the flame enters the burner. At sufficiently high rotational speeds, flame stabilization on top of the burner rim becomes impossible and the flame enters into the tube, i.e. immersed flame. Rotation shortens the flame and causes the flame to stabilize at a position nearer to the nozzle exit. Lean premixedflames studies are conducted for low, moderate and high velocity mixtures. In low jet velocities, as the burner tube starts to rotate, the flame shape is dramatically altered. The outer flame cone is shown to become wider and shorter in height. The rotating premixed flame buckles, forming a cusp flame shape. For moderate jet flow velocities, burner rotation causes the flame to form a double cone shape with one taller than the other. Lean flames at high rotational speeds have a very dynamic appearance. Experiments are also conducted on rotating nonpremixed flames. Generally, rotation enhances external mixing in originally nonpremixed flows. Starting from an originally diffusion flames the orange flame zone first increases as the rotation starts. As the rotation is fully established, a bright blue flame replaces the orange flame