Calibration of GFS model by using real time weather data for water requirement forecasting of vegetables in Chtouka region

In the ultimate goal to forecast weather parameters in the agriculture field and precisely in predicting water requirements, a software was developed based on Global forecasting system. To assess its reliability, data of six weather stations were used in the Chtouka region to provide measured weather parameters and allow, thus, software calibration. Air temperature, air humidity, global radiation, evapotranspiration, precipitation and wind speed/direction are studied as weather parameters. Based on statistical comparisons using normalized root mean square error (NRSE), absolute percentage error (MAPE) and mean bias error (MBE), the software was revealed efficient to provide reliable temperature, global radiation and evapotranspiration forecasting but remains unable to predict relative humidity, wind speed/direction and precipitation in an accurate way

Intermolecular interactions effects on magnetization tunnelling in molecular magnets

Using a pure quantum calculations and magnons approach, we investigated the magnetic properties of SMMs with crystal-field anisotropy. Our analysis introduces a clear physical mechanism for the appearance of the magnetic plateaus in the system which is related to tunnel and relaxation magnetization effects. We consider two cases of interest: when the SMM are completely independent and when there are inter-cluster magnetic couplings, especially super exchange and dipolar interactions. In such case, we give a special attention to single-ion anisotropies and dipole-dipole interactions. The dispersion relations and magnetization behaviours are explored and analyzed in the quantum magnons formalism taking into account the experimental reality and using commonly parameters values.Using a pure quantum calculations and magnons approach, we investigated the magnetic properties of SMMs with crystal-field anisotropy. Our analysis introduces a clear physical mechanism for the appearance of the magnetic plateaus in the system which is related to tunnel and relaxation magnetization effects. We consider two cases of interest: when the SMM are completely independent and when there are inter-cluster magnetic couplings, especially super exchange and dipolar interactions. In such case, we give a special attention to single-ion anisotropies and dipole-dipole interactions. The dispersion relations and magnetization behaviours are explored and analyzed in the quantum magnons formalism taking into account the experimental reality and using commonly parameters values

Identification of viscoelastic material properties based on Big Bang-Big Crunch optimization method

An efficient identification method of the dynamic properties of viscoelastic damping materials using an optimization technique is proposed. A Zener fractional derivative model is used to describe the frequency-dependent dynamic characteristics of materials. In this study, the viscoelastic material is used in a Passive Constrained Layer Damping (PCLD) configuration in order to increase the shear deformation in the material. Mean Square Velocities (MSVs) of a clamped-free beam covered with a PCLD patch are measured in an environmental chamber at different frequencies and used as reference MSVs. The excitation force is performed thinks to a low mass magnet fixed on the beam and placed inside a coil subjected to an electrical current. Numerical MSVs are calculated using an equivalent single layer plate model with warping functions chosen to ensure continuity of transverse shear stresses and displacements layer's interfaces

First measurement of the helicity asymmetry E in eta photoproduction on the proton

Results are presented for the first measurement of the double-polarization helicity asymmetry E for the eta photoproduction reaction gamma p - \u3e eta p. Data were obtained using the FROzen Spin Target (FROST) with the CLAS spectrometer in Hall B at Jefferson Lab, covering a range of center-of-mass energy W from threshold to 2.15 GeV and a large range in center-of-mass polar angle. As an initial application of these data, the results have been incorporated into the Julich-Bonn model to examine the case for the existence of a narrow N* resonance between 1.66 and 1.70 GeV. The addition of these data to the world database results in marked changes in the predictions for the Eobservable from that model. Further comparison with several theoretical approaches indicates these data will significantly enhance our understanding of nucleon resonances. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V

Exclusive pi(0) electroproduction at W \u3e 2 GeV with CLAS

Exclusive neutral-pion electroproduction (ep -\u3e e\u27p\u27pi(0)) was measured at Jefferson Lab with a 5.75-GeV electron beam and the CLAS detector. Differential cross sections d(4)sigma/dtdQ(2)dx(B)d phi(pi) and structure functions sigma(T) + sigma(L), sigma(TT), and sigma(LT) as functions of t were obtained over a wide range of Q(2) and x(B). The data are compared with Regge and handbag theoretical calculations. Analyses in both frameworks find that a large dominance of transverse processes is necessary to explain the experimental results. For the Regge analysis it is found that the inclusion of vector meson rescattering processes is necessary to bring the magnitude of the calculated and measured structure functions into rough agreement. In the handbag framework, there are two independent calculations, both of which appear to roughly explain the magnitude of the structure functions in terms of transversity generalized parton distributions

Transverse polarization of Sigma(+)(1189) in photoproduction on a hydrogen target in CLAS

Experimental results on the Sigma(+)(1189) hyperon transverse polarization in photoproduction on a hydrogen target using the CLAS detector at Jefferson Laboratory are presented. The Sigma(+)(1189) was reconstructed in the exclusive reaction gamma + p -\u3e K-s(0) + Sigma(+)(1189) via the Sigma(+) -\u3e p pi(0) decay mode. The K-s(0) was reconstructed in the invariant mass of two oppositely charged pions with the pi(0) identified in the missing mass of the detected p pi(+)pi(-) final state. Experimental data were collected in the photon energy range E-gamma = 1.0-3.5 GeV (root s range 1.66-2.73 GeV). We observe a large negative polarization of up to 95%. As the mechanism of transverse polarization of hyperons produced in unpolarized photoproduction experiments is still not well understood, these results will help to distinguish between different theoretical models on hyperon production and provide valuable information for the searches of missing baryon resonances

First measurement of the polarization observable E in the (p)over-right-arrow((gamma)over-right-arrow, pi(+))n reaction up to 2.25 GeV

First results from the longitudinally polarized frozen-spin target (FROST) program are reported. The double-polarization observable E, for the reaction (p) over right arrow((gamma) over right arrow, pi( + ))n, has been measured using a circularly polarized tagged-photon beam, with energies from 0.35 to 2.37 GeV. The final-state pions were detected with the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer in Hall B at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. These polarization data agree fairly well with previous partial-wave analyses at low photon energies. Over much of the covered energy range, however, significant deviations are observed, particularly in the high-energy region where high-L multipoles contribute. The data have been included in new multipole analyses resulting in updated nucleon resonance parameters. We report updated fits from the Bonn-Gatchina, Jfilich-Bonn, and SAID groups. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V

Assessment of organo-mineral fraction during storage of oil refinery sludge

The biotransformation during storage of petroleum refinery sludge was evaluated by physicochemical and spectroscopy analyses. The abatement rate of organic matter  has reached 50.5% after 14 months of storage. The humic substances have decreased of about 49% at the end of storage indicating that the OM was mineralized into inorganic compounds (CO2, N2…). The XRD of dried samples shows the presence of a large proportion of silica (SiO2), carbonate (CaCO3), Hercynite (Al2FeO4) and hemihydrate calcium sulphate (2CaSO4.H2O).  Hematite (Fe2O3) and anhydrite (CaSO4) were found as a new appeared phase. Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn were the most identified heavy metals in the petroleum samples. Their increase at the end of storage was explain by the organic matter degradation. FTIR analysis show that the carbonate, sulphate and silica are the most identified compounds beside the organic matter

Exploiting Biological Nitrogen Fixation: A Route Towards a Sustainable Agriculture

For all living organisms, nitrogen is an essential element, while being the most limiting in ecosystems and for crop production. Despite the significant contribution of synthetic fertilizers, nitrogen requirements for food production increase from year to year, while the overuse of agrochemicals compromise soil health and agricultural sustainability. One alternative to overcome this problem is biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Indeed, more than 60% of the fixed N on Earth results from BNF. Therefore, optimizing BNF in agriculture is more and more urgent to help meet the demand of the food production needs for the growing world population. This optimization will require a good knowledge of the diversity of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, the mechanisms of fixation, and the selection and formulation of efficient N-fixing microorganisms as biofertilizers. Good understanding of BNF process may allow the transfer of this ability to other non-fixing microorganisms or to non-leguminous plants with high added value. This minireview covers a brief history on BNF, cycle and mechanisms of nitrogen fixation, biofertilizers market value, and use of biofertilizers in agriculture. The minireview focuses particularly on some of the most effective microbial products marketed to date, their efficiency, and success-limiting in agriculture. It also highlights opportunities and difficulties of transferring nitrogen fixation capacity in cereals