Modification of NIFFR multipurpose smoking kiln with insulation

A study was conducted on the old NIFFR smoking kiln in order to improve on it. The parameters used to determine the smoking efficiency include the loss in weight of the fish samples, temperature and the time taken to properly smoke the fish using fire wood as smoking fuel. The smoking kiln was tested by smoking three different species of fish: Clarias gariepinus, Oreochromies niloticus, Synodontis membranecious over a period of two hours. The modified smoking kiln was discovered to perform faster. Its advantage over the already existing one is that it is faster in smoking fish to a regular golden brown colour. The temperature of the heat supplied was quite higher about 100~'C to 120~'C than the commonly used drum oven. The smoking kiln has the average oroduction cost of No.90,000

An Improved Slant Path Attenuation Prediction Method in Tropical Climates

An improved method for predicting slant path attenuation in tropical climates is presented in this paper. The proposed approach is based on rain intensity data R_0.01 (mm/h) from 37 tropical and equatorial stations; and is validated by using the measurement data from a few localities in tropical climates. The new method seems to accurately predict the slant path attenuation in tropical localities, and the comparative tests seem to show significant improvement in terms of the RMS of the relative error variable compared to the RMS obtained with the SAM, Crane, and ITU-R prediction models

Feasibility Study of Concrete Louvers for High-rise Residential Buildings in Terms of Cooling Energy Requirements

High-rise residential buildings are increasing worldwide, including cities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Therefore, creating sustainable environments in and around these residential buildings are becoming an important problem. Improving energy efficiency in buildings has received critical attention worldwide. Countries have developed national sustainability strategies that lead to the lower energy consumption while maintaining comfort, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing harmful emissions. In this paper, an analysis of the impact of external shading devices in high-rise residential buildings on energy consumption of a 13-storey building in Sulaimani city is studied. The study is focused on fixed shading elements, explaining the influence of the design of vertical and horizontal shading devices on the total energy consumption of this type of building. The results show that both a single fixed horizontal blind with a depth of 20 cm and a triple vertical shading with the same depth are considered useless. The reduction in cooling loads by two fixed horizontal louvers almost doubled compared to a single fixed horizontal shading with 20 cm. Moreover, triple fixed horizontal louvers with 40 cm have almost the same effect on reducing cooling loads as triple fixed louvers with 60 cm. On the other hand, a triple fixed horizontal shading device with 60 cm has twice the effect on reducing annual cooling loads as a triple fixed vertical shading device with 60 cm

Investigation of the unified rain attenuation prediction method with data from tropical climates

The semi-empirical method recently proposed by Silva Mello and Pontes (SMP) for the prediction of rain attenuation in slant paths is investigated in this letter. The SMP method uses the simplified model of equivalent rain cell and the concept of an effective rain rate. However, substantial deviations were observed in SMP predictions when compared to the rain cell diameters derived from experimental data. The measured rain rates and attenuations were obtained from three tropical climates (Australia, and USM and IIUM both in Malaysia). The measured rain attenuation complementary cumulative distributions (CCDs) were also compared to SMP and the Rec. ITU-R P. 618-11. The test results show that the ITU-R model performs much better compared to SMP method in the three tropical climates

An investigation of the harmonic effects of nonlinear loads on power distributon network

Nonlinear loads are loads that defy ohms law. As a result of changes in impedance, the voltage and current waveforms from the loads are distorted and may be unpredictable in behavior. Heavy presence of a nonlinear load or the presence of many nonlinear loads in a distribution network may significantly introduce harmonics into such network. Harmonics are waveforms whose frequency is an integer of the fundamental frequency. When present in large quantity, harmonics may cause adverse effects not only to other loads on the network but also to the power distribution network. This paper investigates the harmonic effects produced by nonlinear loads on power distribution network. Nonlinear and linear loads were modelled and developed. Using MATLAB/SIMULINK simulation technique, the system was observed to be unstable with un-periodic oscillations and the total harmonic distortion (THD) was found to be 112.04% at maximum.Keywords: Harmonics, Distortion, Negative effects, Simulation, Nonlinear Loa

LTE Coverage Network Planning and Comparison with Different Propagation Models

Long Term Evolution (LTE) is the next step (fourth generation) mobile radio communication technology that succeeds the HSPA.3GPP standardization body. LTE is expected to be the most competitive radio technology in the future to provide high-data-rate transmission, low latency, improved service and reduced costs. This paper focuses on one of the basic steps in the LTE network planning, by employing LTE dimensioning process, such as link budget and planning, for uplink and downlink coverage, as well as categorization of simulated received signal strengths. Also, a comparison of different propagation models, used by ATDI software (free-space, Okumura / Hata / David, Stanford University Interim (SUI), COST-231 Hata and ITU -R 525/526 Deygout). The Okumura / Hata / David’s model showed the highest received power sensitivity (-61 dBm, at 3 km separation distance), while COST-231 Hata model shows the lowest sensitivity at same distance (-96 dBm). In this paper, ATDI planning LTE radio planning software platform has been used for estimating the coverage of UTM, which is a dense urban environment

A novel vision-based multi-functional sensor for normality and position measurements in precise robotic manufacturing

Cobots play an essential role in the fourth industrial revolution and the automation of complex manufacturing processes. However, cobots still face challenges in achieving high precision, which obstructs their usage in precise applications such as the aerospace industry. Nonetheless, advances in perception systems unlock new cobot manufacturing capabilities. This paper presents a novel multi-functional sensor that combines visual and tactile feedback using a single optical sensor, featuring a moving gate mechanism. This work also marks the first integration of Vision-Based Tactile Sensing (VBTS) into a robotic machining end-effector. The sensor provides vision-based tactile perception capabilities for precise normality control and exteroceptive perception for robot localization and positioning. Its performance is experimentally demonstrated in a precise robotic deburring application, where the sensor achieves the high-precision requirements of the aerospace industry with a mean normality error of 0.13° and a mean positioning error of 0.2 mm. These results open a new paradigm for using vision-based sensing for precise robotic manufacturing, which surpasses conventional approaches in terms of precision, weight, size, and cost-effectiveness

Parental Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Paediatric Ear Infections in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A quantitative study

ABSTRACT: Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and care-seeking practices of parents towards childhood ear infections in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between April and June 2018. An online survey was sent to a random selection of parents who were ≥18 years old with children of ≤10 years old. Associations between parental knowledge, attitude, care-seeking practices, socioeconomic status, level of education and age were assessed using the chi square test and logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 782 subjects participated in this study (response rate: 78.2%). Most respondents were knowledgeable (76.2%), had a positive attitude (78.9%) and had positive care-seeking practices (89.5%). There was a statistically significant difference on both bivariate and multivariate analyses (P <0.05) between parental care seeking practice and knowledge. Parents who sought modern approaches to treatment were found to be almost nine times more likely to have a good attitude towards ear infections than those who did not seek treatment (odds ratio = 8.907, 95% confidence interval = 2.655–34.928; P <0.001). A statistically significant relationship was found between good care-seeking practice and age, as well as socioeconomic status (P <0.05 each). Conclusion: This study showed that knowledge, attitude and practice regarding paediatric ear infections were positive in the majority of parents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Future studies should assess other factors that enhance the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding ear infections.Keywords: Otitis Media; Infection; Knowledge; Attitude; Pediatrics; Parents; Saudi Arabia

Possible Antidiabetic Mechanism of Action of Ex-maradi Okra Fruit Variety (Abelmoscus esculentus) on Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

Increasing evidences suggest that postprandial hyperglycemia plays an important role in the development of diabetes complications. Therefore, therapeutic approaches that act via lowering of postprandial glucose leading to reduce insulin requirement are currently very attractive. The present study investigated some possible mechanisms of hypoglycemic action of different parts (Whole Okra „WO‟; Okra Peel „OP‟ and Okra Seed „OS‟) of Ex-maradi Okra fruit variety in the management of diabetes mellitus in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Standard analytical procedures were employed in the study. The results indicated that various parts of Okra fruit have ability to stimulate glycogen synthesis in the liver and delay intestinal absorption of glucose with very significant glucose dialysis retardation index (GDRI) and high glucose adsorption capacity (GAC). Histological examination of the pancreatic tissue after administration of Okra fruit revealed evidence of pancreatic islets cells regeneration. These results suggest that the possible mechanisms of antidiabetic effect of Okra fruit are multidimensional and might involve increased glycogenesis, delay glucose absorption and pancreatic islets regeneration leading to increased insulin secretion. These might help control postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus.Keywords: Diabetes, Glycogen, Glucose, Hyperglycemia, Okr