Imaging of solid flow in a gravity flow rig using infra-red tomography

Information on flow regimes is vital in the analysis and measurement of industrial process flow. Almost all currently available method of measuring the flow of two-component mixtures in industrial pipelines endeavors to average a property of the flow over the pipe cross-section. They do not give information on the nature of the flow regime and they are unsuitable for accurate measurement where the component distribution is spatially or time varying. The overall aim of this project is to investigate the use of an optical tomography method based on infra-red sensors for real-time monitoring of solid particles conveyed by a rotary valve in a pneumatic pipeline. The infra-red tomography system can be divided into two distinct portions of hardware and software development process. The hardware development process covers the infra-red sensor selection, fixtures and signals conditioning circuits, and control circuits. The software development involves data acquisition system, sensor modeling, image algorithms, and programming for a tomographic display to provide solids flow information in pipeline such as concentration and velocity profiles. Collimating the radiated beam from a light source and passing it via a flow regime ensures that the intensity of radiation detected on the opposite side is linked to the distribution and the absorption coefficients of the different phases in the path of the beam. The information is obtained from the combination of two orthogonal and two diagonal light projection system and 30 cycles of real-time measurements. Those information on the flow captured using upstream and downstream infra-red sensors are digitized by the DAS system before it was passed into a computer for analysis such as image reconstructions and cross-correlation process that provide velocity profiles represented by 16 × 16 pixels mapped onto the pipe cross-section. This project successfully developed and tested an infra-red tomography system to display two-dimensional images of concentration and velocity

Planar electromagnetic sensor based estimation of nitrate contamination in water sources using independent component analysis

The main advantages of electromagnetic sensors can be listed as low-cost, convenient, suitable for in-situ measurement system, rapid response, and high durability. In this paper, the output parameters of the planar electromagnetic sensor have been observed with different kind of water samples at different concentrations. The output parameters have been derived and tested to be incorporated with independent component analysis (ICA) and used as inputs for an analysis model. The analysis model targeted to estimate the amount of nitrate contamination in water samples with the assistance of ICA based on FastICA fixed point algorithm under the contrast functions of pow3, tanh, gauss, and skew. Nitrates sample in the form of ammonium nitrates (NH 4NO 3), each of different concentration between 5 mg and 20 mg dissolved in 1 litre of deionized water (Milli-Q) was used as one of the main references. The analysis model was tested with eight sets of mixed NH 4NO 3 and (NH 4) 2HPO 4 water samples. It is seen from the results that the model can acceptably detect the presence of nitrate added in Milli-Q water and capable of distinguishing the concentration level in the presence of other type of contamination. The system and approach presented in this paper has the potential to be used as a useful low-cost tool for water sources monitoring

[Malaysia] Early Education and Development in Malaysia: Issues and Challenges in Providing a Framework for a Multiethnic Society

This paper provides a brief overview of early education in Malaysia with focus on the issues and challenges in providing quality early education for a multiethnic society. Conflicting interests between majority and minority ethnic groups not only cause different educational outcomes and expectations for children and families but also create challenges to the government to provide quality and equality of education to all young children. Some suggestions for a framework for early education in Malaysia are discussed

DEVELOPMENT AND ANALYSIS OF HYBRID SOLAR DRYER WITH BIOMASS BACKUP HEATER

The application of solar drying, especially in the agricultural areas, has been proven to be practical, economical, and environmental friendly. However, the drying process is limited only on a sunny environment and often interrupted during the cloudy or rainy days and also at night. A hybrid dryer with thermal backup technique has been adopted to overcome the limitation of solar dryer. The combination of the systems is expected to create 24 hours a day of non-interrupted drying process. The study on the drying system was carried out by three analysis techniques; analytical, experimental and numerical. The conceptual design of the experimental model was based on analytical modeling of the drying process using solar, or the backing up heat source, or both of them simultaneously. The work was extended to involve numerical simulation of the fluid flow inside the developed hybrid dryer by employing CFD technique using FLUENT® software under different operational modes. Chillies and empty fruit bunch (EFB) as food and waste product respectively has been selected for the materials to be dried. They were dried under different modes, which were ‘only solar’, ‘thermal backup alone’ and ‘solar-thermal backup’ (hybrid). Open sun drying was also conducted and considered as a reference for comparison. It was found that the fastest drying process was in the hybrid drying mode. Moisture content of chillies and EFB were reduced from 80% to 5% and 75% to 6% within 2.33 and 1.33 days of drying, respectively. The hybrid drying efficiencies of chillies and EFB were considerably high as compared to only solar and thermal alone mode which were 6.85% and 11% respectively. The experimental measurements have shown good agreement with the simulated results, with maximum percent of error of 15%. Hybrid mode was the most appropriate mode for drying application since it meets the required drying temperature. Also, it was capable to reduce the drying period considerably. The simulation results were validated by comparing with the experimental measurements

Bio-Based Self-Healing Mortar

This paper investigates the effects of alkaliphilic spore-forming bacteria of the genus Bacillus on the compressive strength of the mortar cube and the healing capacity of the bacteria as healing agent on mortar containing crack. The experiments were carried out using cube test, stereomicroscopy and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). Cracked mortar specimen with and without the presence of the bacteria-healing agent were prepared. Results showed that the inclusion of these bio-healing agent in mortar mixtures cause more pore volume, which has no significant effect on compressive strength development at 28 days. In the series of healing capacity test, the cracks were significantly healed in bacteria-based than in control specimens after 28 days incubated in water bath and thus, increase permeability resistance of bacteria-based mortar specimens

Childcare Practices in Three Asian Countries

Childcare practices such as feeding, toilet training, sleeping arrangement and discipline in three Asian countries (Chinese, Japan, and India) are compared. These countries differ from each other in culture, religion, language and ethnic makeup from Euro-American culture. The differences in childcare practices are broadly related to the differences in family values, traditions, and religions among these countries. Educational implications of sensitivity to cultural differences are also discussed

How Parents Can Encourage Creativity in Children

Henry, age four, wanted to be a knight for Halloween. The day before he learned the Biblical soldier terms of breast plate of righteousness, sword of faith and helmet of salvation. However, the day after Halloween the sword became a fire hose, the breastplate a fire fighting vest, the helmet was tipped back to protect his neck and the distinctive rhythmic sounds of a firefighters oxygen supply could be heard coming through the former knights face piece which was now a smoke filtering mask. The creativity vivaciousness of a four year old led the adults in his life to say, “What next?” Children are apt to be far more gifted that their parents or teachers realize – and in different ways. IQ tests do not measure creativity talent (Fasko, 2001; Proctor & Burnett, 2004). By depending on them, we miss seventy of our most gifted youngsters. Most children start life with valuable creative potential. Unfortunately many of them have it knocked out them by the time they reach the fourth grade (Worthington & Carruthers 2003). It is that parents and teachers deliberately squelch creativity; it is rather that they fail to recognize (Runco, 2003). They mistake it for unruliness, eccentricity and even stupidity. Creativity involves getting away from the obvious, safe and expected an

“Math is Hard,” Said Mrs. Ford; “Not for Me,” Said Mrs. Honda: Does Culture Matter in Teaching and Learning in Elementary Mathematics?

This article is a discussion of the practices of teaching and learning in elementary mathematics from the perspectives of Eastern and Western cultures. It focuses on the differences in teaching pedagogy in math between the United States and three Asian countries: Singapore, Japan, and China

Feasibility of field implementation of fortified lentils to improve iron status status of adolescent girls in Bangladesh

The purpose of this crossover study was to establish methodology and logistics to conduct future large-scale community-based efficacy studies. A crossover trial was carried out in which adolescent girls consumed fortified lentil consisting of 2 different cooking preparation styles (thick vs thin) and 3 different lentil ‘portion size’ of raw weight 25 g, 37.5 g and 50 g. The cooked lentils were served 5 days a week over 12 weeks mixed with a standard cup (250 mL) of cooked rice among 100 adolescent girls. Small cotyledon lentil (iron 75-90 ppm) were fortified using NaFeEDTA iron fortificant solution with 1600 ppm of Fe at the Crop Development Centre (CDC), University of Saskatchewan. Visual Analog Scales (VAS) were used to measure the rating of hunger, satiety, and palatability before the serving of the meal, after one bite of the meal and after finishing the meal. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were carried out with the participants’ mother/guardian to evaluate acceptability and lentil preparation styles at the end of the trial. Mean (SD) age and age of menarche of the adolescent girls were 12.85 (2.00) and 12.06 (0.94) years, respectively. Fifty-four percent heard about iron deficiency anemia, and 48% were of the opinion that eating more iron-rich foods could prevent anemia. The results showed that thick preparation of cooked lentil at 37.5 g portion size had higher positive scores in all VAS variables compared to the thin preparation. Considering the raw amount served, the thick preparation of lentil at 37.5 g would provide 6.9 mg Fe/d. This would cover approximately 86% (and 66% who have started to menstruate) and 46% of the RDA for adolescent girls aged 9-13 years and 14-18 years, respectively. A thick preparation of cooked lentil at 200 g (37.5 g raw lentil amount) would be preferable for a fortified lentil intervention in future human efficacy trials