Modelling Constraints in the Conceptual Design Process with TRIZ and F3

Constraint stimulates creativity and is the key to understanding complexity. The benefit of the constraint-based problem is that it can spark ideas for new knowledge, new possibilities, and new opportunities. In every design, boundaries, controls and restraints exist. The constraint model in this paper shows the relationship among Form-Fit-Function (F3), Functional Analysis Model (FAM) and Su-Field. The constraint-based techniques improve problem solving in the preliminary design and satisfy ideal conceptual design. Constraints lift and improve creativity by reframing problems in a creative way. The best way to visualize constraints is by adopting design parameters and embedding them in the conceptual design stage, and continuously diagnosing them to ensure that the design does not violate the constraint requirements. This paper aims to model design constraints as a criterion for generating creative ideas and solutions, and suggest as a systematic entity in the conceptual design process. The model will be useful as a guide for developing an understanding of constraints in the conceptual design process

Modelling the conceptual design process with hybridization of TRIZ methodology and systematic design approach

The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) methodology is known to be very effective in complex problem solving. The method, however, needs enhancements in the safety considerations at the earlier stage of conceptual design. This paper presents a hybridized TRIZ methodology with the work of Pahl and Beitz, Systematic Design Approach (SDA) through an effective modelling. This modelling helps in critical problem solving in conceptual design of aircraft parts. The process is applied to a case study of selected aircraft components with a proposal of a systematic and creative methodology in the conceptual designing process. The implications of this study will help aircraft designers to optimize the aircraft parts design in an effective and creative way

ETS-1 oncoprotein expression is decreased in aggressive papillary transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder: An immunohistochemical study

Introduction: ETS-1 proto-oncogene is a transcription factor that plays multiple roles in the process of oncogenesis and helps in the process of tumor invasion. ETS-1 oncoprotein correlation with high grade and invasive tumors is controversial; as it is found to be upregulated with some tumors and down regulated with others. Expression of ETS-1 in urinary bladder carcinoma (UBC) and its correlation with tumor differentiation and invasiveness are still under-investigated. So far, there is no reliable prognostic marker has been proved for detection of the tumor progression and recurrence.Objectives: To analyze the correlation between ETS-1 oncoprotein immunohistochemical expression and the different stages and grades of the primary papillary transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.Patients and methods: This is a retrospective cross sectional study that included archival material from 150 cancer cases and 24 control biopsies.Results: There was a decreased ETS-1 oncoprotein expression with increasing stage and grade of the tumor with a highly significant statistical correlation (P = 0.001). With the quantitative assessment of the immunohistochemical results and using ROC (receiver operating characteristics) curve, cut-off values were found, that were associated with high grade and muscle invasive tumors (≤30% and ≤20%, respectively).Conclusion: ETS-1 oncoprotein is down regulated with high grade and highly invasive urinary bladder papillary transitional cell carcinomas. This oncoprotein may be used as an independent prognostic marker to predict the aggressive papillary transitional carcinomas with high invasive potential. More studies are needed to confirm our results.Keywords: Papillary transitional cell carcinoma; ETS-1; Prognostic marker; Immunohistochemical; Stage; Grad

Effect of reagent type on the froth floatation of Sokoto phosphate ore

Effect of reagent type on the froth floatation of Sokoto phosphate ore for its beneficiation has been established. The samples of the Sokoto phosphate mineral ore used for the research work were sourced from mining locations in Dange-Shuni, Bodinga, Yabo, Wurno, and Rabbah Local Government Areas of Sokoto State. Size-Assay analysis conducted on scrubbed Sokoto Phosphates nodules revealed that nodules had a size distribution with 80% passing 29.3 mm. Flotation Tests using AERO704 (fatty Acid), Alkyl Hydroxamates, Melamine as collectors (alone or mixed with diesel), MIBC as frother, Calcium Hydroxide and Sulphuric Acid as pH regulators and Dextrin, Sodium Silicate and Aluminium Chloride as depressants produced poor P2O5 separation in the flotation products due to very poor liberation associated with very fine mineral grains. Based on the results obtained, AERO704 Collector gave the best result with aP2O5 recovery pH of 10

Effect of particle size on the froth floatation of Sokoto phosphate ore

Effect of particle size on the froth floatation of Sokoto phosphate ore for its beneficiation has been investigated and established. The research has been conducted using various reagents, pH(s) at different sieve size fractions. Bench scale flotation tests were carried out on -250+180μm, -180+106μm, -106+75μm, -75+45μm and -45+38μm particle size fractions after screening in order to determine the optimum flotation feed size distribution using 1 liter Denver flotation cell. The results of the scoping flotation studies using a conditioning Pulp Density of 60%Solids, pH9, 800g/t reagent dosage for AERO704 Promoter (Fatty Acid) and flotation pulp density of 28.5% Solids show that +106μm particle size gave the highest assay content of 20.4% P2O5 with a recovery of 76.2% compared to +38μm (19.9%P2O5 and recovery of 43.2%) and +180μm (19.4%P2O5 and 24.1% recovery) in their floats (concentrates) but with no perfect separation as the tailings fraction also contained similar grades with slight differences

Generally Covariant Actions for Multiple D-branes

We develop a formalism that allows us to write actions for multiple D-branes with manifest general covariance. While the matrix coordinates of the D-branes have a complicated transformation law under coordinate transformations, we find that these may be promoted to (redundant) matrix fields on the transverse space with a simple covariant transformation law. Using these fields, we define a covariant distribution function (a matrix generalization of the delta function which describes the location of a single brane). The final actions take the form of an integral over the curved space of a scalar single-trace action built from the covariant matrix fields, tensors involving the metric, and the covariant distribution function. For diagonal matrices, the integral localizes to the positions of the individual branes, giving N copies of the single-brane action.Comment: 34 pages, LaTeX. v2: comments and refs adde

Stability properties of asphalt mixture incorporating coconut shell

This study aims to evaluate the effect of coconut shell at varying percentages as an aggregatereplacement on the stability properties of the asphalt mixture. The performance of thespecimen was evaluated through stability, stiffness, density and flow tests. Five coconut shellpercentages namely 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% by weight volumes were used as aggregates replacements in asphaltic concrete. The mixture design incorporating the penetration grade 60/70 bitumen was used for specimen testing. The optimum content of bitumen for asphalt mixtures was 5%. Test results showed that ththe stability, stiffness, density and flow of specimen increased with the increase of coconut shell content to a peak level (10%) and then decreased with further additions of coconut shell. Results also indicated that 10% coconut shell was the optimum replacement as an aggregate in the asphaltic concrete.Keywords: stability; coconut; stiffness; density; flow

Ambulance Response Time at Three Selected Tertiary Hospitals In Malaysia: Performance of Hospital-Based Ambulance Equipped With Computerized Call Centre System

AbstractIntroduction. The importance of rapid ambulance response to emergency medical crises is undeniable and early access to advanced care is a crucial to safe life. Modern computerized call centre and the hospital based ambulance are believed to enhance the quality of service delivery. However, whether it will further reduce the response time is debatable.Methodology. A cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2012 until July 2012 at three selected tertiary hospitals in Malaysia. The aims were to determine and compare the association of response time in the hospital based ambulance and community-based ambulance and hospital with computerized call centre system and the call centre using voice only respectively. The ambulance response time was expressed in a median and interquartile range (IQR) and Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine the associations between types of ambulance and computerized call centre system versus voice only. Wilcoxon Rank Sign Test was used to assess the significance of means difference.Result. A hospital-based ambulance had the median of 0.19 minutes while community-based ambulance had the median of 0.20 minutes (The Z score - 0.916, P value - 0.360). The hospital with computer call centre had the median of 0.19 minutes while hospital without computer call centre had the median of 0.20 minutes (The Z score - 0.816, P value - 0.414).Conclusions. The response time of hospital-based ambulance equipped with computerized call center system is comparable in three selected tertiary hospitals in Malaysia. Keywords: Ambulance response time; Hospital-based ambulance; computerised call centre

Assessment of adoption and utilisation of superior rice germplasm by smallholder farmers in four rice producing zones of Nigeria

Conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources is essential to the sustainable development of agricultural production and rural in production zones in Nigeria. This study, therefore investigated the utilisation of recently released superior rice germplasm among smallholder farmers in Nigeria. A post- crop varietal release impact assessment was conducted in Oyo, Ekiti, Kwara and Ebonyi states of Nigeria in 2019. Structured questionnaires were administered to 120 farmers using a simple random sampling technique. Result from the study revealed that ricefarmers are mainly males, middle aged, married, with some form of education. They have medium (3-6 household member) household size with longer years of farming experiences. Inadequate capital and limited credit facilities, plant disease, birds and insect infestation are the major constraints encountered by the farmers. Result of the correlation analysis shows that there was no significant relationship between sources of planting materials and frequently planted varieties (r = 0.100 and p = 0.786). However, there was significant relationship between production  constraints and frequently planted varieties (r = 0.010 and p = 0.648). It is recommended that more channels of credit facilities should be provided to rice farmers by governments at various levels to improve their level productivity. Keywords: Rice, adoption, genetic resources, utilisation, smallholder farmer

Mechanical properties of kenaf fibre reinforced floreon biocomposites with magnesium hydroxide filler

This paper presents a study of the mechanical properties of Kenaf fibre (KF) reinforced floreon (FLO)/ magnesium hydroxide (MH) bio-composites. The mixing of all materials was done by using a 21 mm lab twin screw extruder followed by hot pressing. The composite sheet was then cut into specimens for testing purposes. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the cross-section of the interface. In this regard, insufficient resin for fibre wetting, hydrolytic degradation on the biopolymer and poor interfacial bonding were attributed to the low strength profile. Yet, further addition of KF increased the tensile strength and flexural to 18.91 MPa and 73.09MPa, respectively. Nevertheless, inserting KF and MH filler were found to have a positive outcome on the flexural modulus by especially 10KF5MH and 10KF10MH for 3.02GPa and 3.17GPa, respectively. Insertion of KF and MH showed the deterioration of impact strength. However, addition of KF increased the impact strength to 16.82 J/m2. FLO is a hydrophobic biopolymer, and showed only 0.49% of the total water absorption in 14 days. Meanwhile, for the first 24 hours, the rates of water absorption were very high for all bio-composites. Hence, it is worth mentioning that the high contents of KF in bio-composites were found to have higher saturation period and higher total amount of water absorption while the MH caused shorter saturation period but lower total amount of water absorption. However, incompatibility of the interface bonding had increased the water absorption of KF/FLO/MH composites. 5KF5MH and 10KF5MH recorded water absorption at 10.65% and 13.33%. On the other hand, 10KF10MH was saturated at day 6 with 6.59 % of water absorption. Although 10KF5MH specimen did not have the best performance in mechanical properties, higher flame retardancy shall provide KF reinforced FLO composite with MH filler for more applications in the advanced sector, especially a hazardous environment