Application of infrared vision system for potato thermal control

The article proposes a solution to the problem of determining the values of potato tubers tissue thermophysical characteristics. The solution of this problem makes it possible to calculate the optimal regime parameters of potato quality active thermal control, which can be used for automatic sorting. In order to solve this problem, we propose a non-contact non-destructive control method based on a pulsed laser heating of a potato tuber flat surface area and subsequent use of time integral characteristics of temperature and heat flow, as well as a measuring device developed on the basis of physical and mathematical models of the method. The method was used by the authors to determine the thermal conductivity, heat capacity and coefficient of thermal diffusivity of different quality potato tissues: both healthy and affected by phyto-diseases. The studies have shown that the thermal conductivity of plant tissues depends on the presence of structural disturbances in them as a result of phyto-diseases. This fact confirms the possibility of using thermal non-destructive control of potatoes tissues provided the correct choice of power and the duration of the thermal effect on the object of control

Urban Social Landscapes And Urban Places: Processes Of Making And Informing Maronite Identity In Beirut

This research looks at the Maronites of Beirut and examines, from their perspective, the role of belonging, imagined geographies, and memories of place in the processes of making and informing Maronite identity in Beirut after the civil war of 1975. The civil war of 1975 allows me to examine the city’s change in demographics in relation to the Green Line that divided the city between a Muslim West Beirut, and a Christian Eastern Beirut during the civil war. The thesis approaches Beirut’s homogenous neighborhoods, a result of the city’s cantonization during the civil war, as problematic for the future of the country. The first major contribution of this research is an illustration of the city from a Maronite perspective; I offer a pre-1975 Beirut and its neighborhoods compared with a post-civil war Beirut. The second chapter contributing to the body of research is a chapter that examines one specific neighborhood of the city and its major role in the processes of identity making for Maronites in Beirut. I identify consociational democracy as an institutionalized divide in the country that prevents the different ethno-religious groups from effectively communicating; in turn, this divide, illustrated by the city’s homogenous neighborhoods, reinforces the misconceptions and exclusive imagined geographies fostered within. In my research, I interviewed 24 Maronites including those with lived experiences in the city before the civil war, and a younger generation who do not remember the civil war; I compare and contrast their experience to propose a way forward

Experimental Verification of a Generalized Control Method for Constant Switching Frequency Three Phase Pwm Boost Rectifier under Extremely Unbalanced Operating Conditions

This thesis presents experimental verification of a generalized control method for constant switching frequency Three-phase PWM Boost Type Rectifier under extremely unbalanced operating conditions in the power system. In this model, a hysteresis current controller has been implemented using a high-speed micro-controller to generate the gate signals. Even though a constant switching frequency was achieved in the previous model, while in simulation using MATLAB/Simulink, it wasn’t achieved experimentally due to the low processing speed of the DSpace processor ds1104. This problem has been resolved by using the “C2000 Delfino MCUs F28377S Launchpad ” from Texas Instruments to implement Hysteresis Current Controller that generate the gate signal of the three-phase PWM boost rectifier. The model has been verified to work under the conditions of extremely unbalanced input voltages and unbalanced input impedances with constant switching frequency in closed-loop and open-loop control

Perceived stress levels and health promoting behaviors among NAIA and NCAA Division I student athletes

Scope and Method of Study: The purpose of this study was to assess perceived stress levels and health promoting behaviors among collegiate student athletes. The relationship between stress and health promoting behaviors was also examined, as well as if differences in this relationship existed based on gender and/or level of intercollegiate competition. Fifty three student athletes competing at a NAIA institution and 45 student athletes competing at a NCAA Division I institution completed the Perceived Stress Scale, The Inventory of College Students' Recent Life Experiences, and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II.Findings and Conclusions: All student athletes reported moderate levels of perceived stress and a typical level of wellness. A significant negative relationship existed between stress and health promoting behaviors, supporting the idea that stress contributes to pathological states through changes in one's health behavior. The amount of variance in health promoting behaviors accounted for by stress was different based on level of competition, suggesting that stress affects health promoting behaviors differently in the two levels of competition. Results from a MANOVA indicate that differences exist in stress and health promoting behaviors across gender and level of competition, but not the combination of the two. Post hoc analysis showed that participants at the NAIA institution reported significantly more stress than those at the NCAA Division I institution, and that females reported more health promoting behaviors than males. These results suggest that differences in the relationship between stress and health promoting behaviors which exist between genders operate independently from differences which exist in level of competition. Further research examining stress, health promoting behaviors, and the relationship in between should be performed to further clarify how, if, and why these variables relate, and possibly change, across time and type of participant

Enhanced Model of Nonlinear Spiral High Voltage Divider

This paper deals with the enhanced accurate DC and RF model of nonlinear spiral polysilicon voltage divider. The high resistance polysilicon divider is a sensing part of the high voltage start-up MOSFET transistor that can operate up to 700 V. This paper presents the structure of a proposed model, implemented voltage, frequency and temperature dependency, and scalability. A special attention is paid to the ability of the created model to cover the mismatch and influence of a variation of process parameters on the device characteristics. Finally, the comparison of measured data vs. simulation is presented in order to confirm the model validity and a typical application is demonstrated