Effect of population density and dose of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers on performance of green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

This experiment was executed in a split randomized complete block design with three replications. Two plant densities (D), (D1; D2) equal to one plant and two plants per pot and seven fertilizers doses (F), (N0 K0; N1 K0; N1 K1; N2 K0; N2 K2; N0 K1; N0 K2) were investigated. N0, N11 and N2 equal to 0, 0.46, and 0.92 g urea while, K0, K1 and K2 equal to 0, 0.42 and 0.84 g potassium sulfate,  respectively. The results showed that the treatments had no effect on the number of  branches per plant and vice versa the interaction. Lower plant density (D1) and higher dose of both elements (N2 K2) significantly increased shoots dry weight, number of pods and pod yield per plant while, in second season the higher value of those yield parameters was obtained at lower dose of nitrogen (N1 K0), the interaction of those treatments increased significantly plant dry weight. The  interaction between lower plant density (D1) and nitrogen irrespective of their quantity and potassium, (N1 K0; N1 K1; N2 K0 and N2 K2) increased the number of pods and pods yield per plant, while the greatest yield per hectare was obtained at density planting (D2) receiving higher doses of both fertilizer and lower dose of nitrogen (N2 K2: N1 K0) at the first and second season respectively.Keywords: Cultivar Djadida; Nutrient Competition; Vegetative Productivity

The LYRA Instrument Onboard PROBA2: Description and In-Flight Performance

The Large Yield Radiometer (LYRA) is an XUV-EUV-MUV (soft X-ray to mid-ultraviolet) solar radiometer onboard the European Space Agency PROBA2 mission that was launched in November 2009. LYRA acquires solar irradiance measurements at a high cadence (nominally 20 Hz) in four broad spectral channels, from soft X-ray to MUV, that have been chosen for their relevance to solar physics, space weather and aeronomy. In this article, we briefly review the design of the instrument, give an overview of the data products distributed through the instrument website, and describe the way that data are calibrated. We also briefly present a summary of the main fields of research currently under investigation by the LYRA consortium

Simulation of Hetero-junction (GaInP/GaAs) Solar Cell Using AMPS-1D

Photovoltaic conversion is the direct conversion of electromagnetic energy into electrical energy continuously. This electromagnetic energy is the most solar radiation. In this work we performed a computer modelling using AMPS 1D optimization of hetero-junction solar cells GaInP / GaAs configuration for p/n. We studied the influence of the thickness the base layer in the cell offers on the open circuit voltage, the short circuit current and efficiency

Outlining an Intelligent Tutoring System for a University Cooperation Information System

International opening of universities and research institutions is essential in the development of their research and innovation activities. Abdelmalek Essaadi University (AEU) attaches crucial importance to partnership and international cooperation, and actively participates in national and international cooperation and exchange programs. In order to manage the monitoring and evaluation of its cooperation activities as it evolves, the University has set up a system of information on the governance of university cooperation for proper management and managing better partnerships. When setting up a new information system, end-user training in this new management tool is a very important part of this process. For this reason, the University has adopted the idea of developing an intelligent tutoring system. This system will be based on the Moodle platform and will be fully automated and adaptable to the needs of each learner. This article presents the basic design of the intelligent tutoring system incorporated in the management information system of university cooperation SIMACoop of our university and shows the feasibility of the intelligent tutoring system around an information system

Information System for the Governance of University Cooperation

Recognizing the impact of international cooperation in science and technology, all higher education institutions prioritize strategic partnerships. If setting up a partnership is important, its management, monitoring and evaluation of cooperation actions, regular communication among partners, and the ability to allow all parties to monitor the functioning of the partnership are more important. For good co-operation management, an information system becomes a mandatory condition. Abdelmaleek Essaadi’s University team has set up an information system for the governance of a university cooperation called SIMACoop, to support cooperation between governments and universities, and to facilitate the process of partnership management. This system also helps in identifying the shared vision and goals of the partnership members and develops documents that define the partnership terms. In addition, SIMACoop has put in place procedures for maintaining and monitoring the partnership evolution [1]. The purpose of this article is to give a general presentation on SIMACoop’s design and development for the governance of university cooperation

Web Information System for the Governance of University Research

Technology development has proved crucial in analyzing and processing the volume of scientific information that is generated today. Governments are developing scientific and technical information systems that, beyond a database, are a real tool for supporting research management and decision-making in the field of science and technology policy. For the development of higher education in Morocco, the ministry has focused on projects for the management and development of university research. For this purpose, Abdelmalek Essaadi University developed an efficient application dedicated to the management of collaborative extranet called SIMarech (Moroccan Information System of Scientific Research), in order to support, organize and structure all academic activities. It will enable all university stakeholders to use a digital workspace specific to their roles, to access and share information, and interact and engage in national scientific research. This article presents an overview of research management systems and the design and development of SIMarech, which is designed as a tool for monitoring research conducted by a university or other institutions

Heat generation mechanisms of DBD plasma actuators

During the last twenty years DBD plasma actuators have been known by their ability for boundary layer flow control applications. However, their usefulness is not limited to this application field, they also present great utility for applications within the field of heat transfer, such as a way to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of film cooling of gas turbine blades, or de-icing and ice formation prevention. Nevertheless, there is a relative lack of information about DBD’s thermal characteristics and its heat generation mechanisms. This happens due to the extremely high electric fields in the plasma region and consequent impossibility of applying intrusive measurement techniques. Against this background, this work describes the physical mechanisms behind the generation of heat associated to the DBD plasma actuators operation. An experimental technique, based on calorimetric principles, was devised in order to quantify the heat energy generated during the plasma actuators operation. The influence of the dielectric thickness, as well as the dielectric material, were also evaluated during this work. The results were exposed and discussed with the purpose of a better understanding of the heat generation mechanisms behind the operation of DBD plasma actuators

In-flight performance of the solar UV radiometer LYRA/PROBA-2

LYRA is a solar radiometer, part of the PROBA-2 micro-satellite payload (Fig. 1). The PROBA-2 [1] mission has been launched on 02 November 2009 with a Rockot launcher to a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 725 km. Its nominal operation duration is two years with possible extension of 2 years. PROBA-2 is a small satellite developed under an ESA General Support Technology Program (GSTP) contract to perform an in-flight demonstration of new space technologies and support a scientific mission for a set of selected instruments [2]. PROBA-2 host 17 technological demonstrators and 4 scientific instruments. The mission is tracked by the ESA Redu Mission Operation Center. One of the four scientific instruments is LYRA that monitors the solar irradiance at a high cadence (> 20 Hz) in four soft X-Ray to VUV large passbands: the “Lyman-Alpha” channel, the “Herzberg” continuum range, the “Aluminium” and “Zirconium” filter channels. The radiometric calibration is traceable to synchrotron source standards [3]. LYRA benefits from wide bandgap detectors based on diamond. It is the first space assessment of these revolutionary UV detectors for astrophysics. Diamond sensors make the instruments radiation-hard and solar-blind (insensitive to the strong solar visible light) and, therefore, visible light blocking filters become superfluous. To correlate the data of this new detector technology, silicon detectors with well known characteristics are also embarked. Due to the strict allocated mass and power budget (5 kg, 5W), and poor priority to the payload needs on such platform, an optimization and a robustness of the instrument was necessary. The first switch-on occured on 16 November 2009. Since then the instrument performances have been monitored and analyzed during the commissioning period. This paper presents the first-light and preliminary performance analysis

Eclipses observed by LYRA - a sensitive tool to test the models for the solar irradiance

We analyze the light curves of the recent solar eclipses measured by the Herzberg channel (200-220 nm) of the Large Yield RAdiometer (LYRA) onboard PROBA-2. The measurements allow us to accurately retrieve the center- to-limb variations (CLV) of the solar brightness. The formation height of the radiation depends on the observing angle so the examination of the CLV provide information about a broad range of heights in the solar atmosphere. We employ the 1D NLTE radiative transfer COde for Solar Irradiance (COSI) to model the measured light curves and corresponding CLV dependencies. The modeling is used to test and constrain the existing 1D models of the solar atmosphere, e.g. the temperature structure of the photosphere and the treatment of the pseudo- continuum opacities in the Herzberg continuum range. We show that COSI can accurately reproduce not only the irradiance from the entire solar disk, but also the measured CLV. It hence can be used as a reliable tool for modeling the variability of the spectral solar irradiance.Comment: 19 pages, 9 figures, Solar Physic

Detection of Solar Rotational Variability in the LYRA 190 - 222 nm Spectral Band

We analyze the variability of the spectral solar irradiance during the period from 7 January, 2010 until 20 January, 2010 as measured by the Herzberg channel (190-222 nm) of the Large Yield RAdiometer (LYRA) onboard PROBA2. In this period of time observations by the LYRA nominal unit experienced degradation and the signal produced by the Herzberg channel frequently jumped from one level to another. Both these factors significantly complicates the analysis. We present the algorithm which allowed us to extract the solar variability from the LYRA data and compare the results with SORCE/SOLSTICE measurements and with modeling based on the Code for the Solar Irradiance (COSI)