Simulation and Performance Evaluation of Shunt Hybrid Power Filter for Power Quality Improvement Using PQ Theory

This work proposes the design of shunt hybrid filter using instantaneous power theory to improve the power quality and simulation has been carried out for 3 phase distribution system feeding different types of non linear loads. The proposed filter consists of parallel combination of 5th and 7th tuned selective harmonic elimination passive filters, which is connected in series with a small rating IGBTs based voltage source inverter. In this work, principle of compensation and filtering behavior of the system has been discussed in detail. Instantaneous real and reactive power theory based controller has been designed to estimate the reference current from the distorted current. In order to reduce the harmonics, generated reference currents are tracked by voltage source inverter using hysteresis band current controller. The performance of the hybrid scheme is evaluated for various nonlinear loads using Matlab/ Simulink tool. The detailed analysis has been carried out on harmonics reduction and DC bus voltage regulation and the simulation result ensures the feasibility of suggested control strategy. The proposed topology improves the filtering performance of the passive filter in hybrid scheme

An Enhanced Least Significant Bit Steganography to Improve the Effectiveness of Graphical Password Authentication

Authentication means acknowledging a user’s identity. It is the way of associating a request with a set of identity. The identification provided is an authorized user’s information on a personal computer system or within an authentication server. A graphical password is a validation system in which user has to select from images, in a particular order, presented in a graphical user + interface (GUI). Graphical passwords can be easily remembered, as users remember images better than words. Also, the system should be more unaffected by brute-force attacks, because there is practically an infinite search space. Complex text passwords are hard to remember and simple textual passwords are easy to guess. Graphical passwords provide more robustness and memorability. It is a secure mechanism to provide authenticated sign up to a system

An Enhanced Least Significant Bit Steganography to Improve the Effectiveness of Graphical Password Authentication

Authentication means acknowledging a user’s identity. It is the way of associating a request with a set of identity. The identification provided is an authorized user’s information on a personal computer system or within an authentication server. A graphical password is a validation system in which user has to select from images, in a particular order, presented in a graphical user + interface (GUI). Graphical passwords can be easily remembered, as users remember images better than words. Also, the system should be more unaffected by brute-force attacks, because there is practically an infinite search space. Complex text passwords are hard to remember and simple textual passwords are easy to guess. Graphical passwords provide more robustness and memorability. It is a secure mechanism to provide authenticated sign up to a system

Myo2p is the major motor involved in actomyosin ring contraction in fission yeast

Cytokinesis in many eukaryotes requires an actomyosin-based contractile ring [1]. In fission yeast, cytokinesis involves the type II myosins Myo2p and Myp2p and the type V myosin Myo51p [2]. A recent study by Laplante et al. [3], using deletion mutants of myp2 and myo51 and the mis-sense mutant myo2-E1 [4], concluded that each myosin has distinct functions and proposed that Myp2p plays the dominant role in actomyosin ring contraction. Here we present evidence that Myo2p, not Myp2p, is likely to be the major motor driving actomyosin ring contractility. Since the previous work [3] was performed at 25°C, the permissive temperature for myo2-E1, we compared cytokinesis timings in myo2-E1 and myo2Δ at 25°C and found that myo2-E1 is only partially compromised at 25°C. Furthermore, we find that myp2Δ and myp2Δ myo51Δ double mutants contract actomyosin rings at ∼90% of the rate of wild-type cells at 30°C and 36°C, suggesting that Myp2p plays a minimal role in ring contraction at these temperatures. Finally, ring contraction in our myo2-E1 strain took longer at 25°C than previously reported [3]. Although faster-acting alleles of myo2 will be required to evaluate its contribution at 25°C, our work establishes that Myo2p is the major motor involved in ring contraction, under most, if not all, conditions

Comparing Map Learning between Touchscreen-Based Visual and Haptic Displays: A Behavioral Evaluation with Blind and Sighted Users

The ubiquity of multimodal smart devices affords new opportunities for eyes-free applications for conveying graphical information to both sighted and visually impaired users. Using previously established haptic design guidelines for generic rendering of graphical content on touchscreen interfaces, the current study evaluates the learning and mental representation of digital maps, representing a key real-world translational eyes-free application. Two experiments involving 12 blind participants and 16 sighted participants compared cognitive map development and test performance on a range of spatio-behavioral tasks across three information-matched learning-mode conditions: (1) our prototype vibro-audio map (VAM), (2) traditional hardcopy-tactile maps, and (3) visual maps. Results demonstrated that when perceptual parameters of the stimuli were matched between modalities during haptic and visual map learning, test performance was highly similar (functionally equivalent) between the learning modes and participant groups. These results suggest equivalent cognitive map formation between both blind and sighted users and between maps learned from different sensory inputs, providing compelling evidence supporting the development of amodal spatial representations in the brain. The practical implications of these results include empirical evidence supporting a growing interest in the efficacy of multisensory interfaces as a primary interaction style for people both with and without vision. Findings challenge the long-held assumption that blind people exhibit deficits on global spatial tasks compared to their sighted peers, with results also providing empirical support for the methodological use of sighted participants in studies pertaining to technologies primarily aimed at supporting blind users

Thermo mechanical and Control Behaviour of Copper based Shape Memory Alloy Bimorph Actuator towards the Development of Micro Positioning System

A shape memory alloy (SMA) bimorph actuator is a composite structure composed of flexible polyimide substrate and SMA thin film deposited using thermal evaporation technique. In this work, the substrate thickness in the range of 25 - 75 mm was selected for the development of CuAlNiMn SMA bimorph actuator. An investigation on the control behavior of copper based SMA bimorph towards the development of micro positioning system has been performed. The actuation behavior of the SMA bimorph was studied using electrical actuation. Subsequently, a proportional integral derivative (PID) controller was designed to control the bimorph actuator with proper tuning of gain parameters. The displacement of the bimorph actuator was controlled through dedicated experimental setup consisted of laser displacement sensor, data acquisition system and LabVIEW software. The CuAlNiMn SMA bimorph actuator resulted in a satisfying control performance which can be extended to MEMS applications. A preliminary prototype of the SMA bimorph actuator based micro positioning system has been developed

Identification of Phytochemical Constituents of Aegle marmelos Responsible for Antimicrobial Activity against Selected Pathogenic Organisms

Antimicrobial activity and phytochemical constituents of an ethanolic extract of Aegle marmelos were investigated. The phytochemical screening of the crude extract revealed the presence of Alkaloids, Cardiac glycosides, Terpenoids, Saponins, Tannis, Flavonoids, and Steroids. The crude ethanolic extract was tested for antimicrobial activity against gram positive organisms of Bacillus subtilis (NCIM: 3471), Staphylococcus aureus (NCIM: 2079), gram negative Escherichia coli (NCIM: 2065) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (NCIM: 2200) at different concentrations levels of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 mg/ml. At the 2.5 mg/ml concentration, gram negative Escherichia coli exhibits a zone of inhibition about 25.7mm; Pseudomonas aeruginosa 19.9mm; gram positive Staphylococcus aureus 29.0 mm; and Bacillus subtilis, a maximum zone of inhibition about 28.1 mm as compared to the control drug penicillin. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis exhibit a maximum zone of inhibition, hence they were considered as susceptible to the plant extracts but Staphylococcus aureus doesn’t exhibit such a zone of inhibition and is therefore considered as resistant

COMPANY CREDIBILITY: A TOOL TO TRIGGER POSITIVE CSR IMAGE IN THE CAUSE-BRAND ALLIANCE CONTEXT IN INDONESIA

Purpose of study: This research aims to analyze the mediating effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) image in the effect of company credibility dimensions (trustworthiness and expertise) on participation intention, in the cause–brand alliance (CBA) context. Methodology: The sample design which is used is purposive sampling with the sample criteria as the stakeholders of the University of Lampung, Indonesia. Data were collected by direct interview. Multiple regression analysis is used to test the hypotheses with 160 university’s stakeholders, using purposive sampling. Result: The results show that trustworthiness and expertise have a directly positive significant effect on CSR image. However, expertise statistically has a greater positive significant effect on consumer participation intention toward the CBA than trustworthiness. This finding is contrary to the contrast-effect theoretical framework (Dean, 2003) and balance theory (Heider, 1958). Newly finding is that CSR image considered a mediating role in the effect of trustworthiness and expertise credibility on participation intention. Implications: This implies that in the context of CBA, the company’s trustworthiness and expertise can be a more useful tool to trigger the positive CSR image in encouraging the stakeholders’ perception to buy the products and services or brand of the company implementing CSR, because CBA practices are considered as a genuine social cause, not as a promotion tool. Novelty/Originality of this study: In this study, the collected data uses the cross-sectional design and the CBA context uses CBA practices implemented by agriculture, education service, beverage industry, and a bank stated-owned enterprise