Economic Analysis of Cassava Production in Saki-West Local Government Area of Oyo State

This study focused on analyzing the economics of cassava production in Saki–West LGA of Oyo state, Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 121 cassava farmers. Descriptive statistics and regression model were employed as analytical techniques. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, to identify the constraints being faced by the cassava farmers and the type of cropping system they practiced. Budgetary and regression analyses were used to determine the profitability of cassava production in the study area. The result of the descriptive analysis of the respondents revealed that their mean age is 50.71 years, 84.3% of the farmers were male while the rest percentages (15.78%) were female, a large percentage (86%) of the cassava farmers were married  and most (68.7%) of the respondents have family size ≤ 10. From the BCR analysis, the benefit cost ratio of 1.7 showed that cassava production was highly profitable in the study area. The result of the regression analysis showed that farm size and Family labour were statistically significant at 1% and had positive influence on farmer’s revenue. This is because the larger the farm size, the longer the hours spent on farming activities by the household and the higher the revenue. However, the age, labour cost, cost of cassava cuttings and years of farming experience were not statistically significant to the farmer’s revenue. Policies that will make more land available to farmers will increase the farmer’s revenue and total output, thus reducing the plague of poverty and unemployment. Keywords: Benefit Cost Ratio, Cassava, Constraints and Profitabilit

A Brief Review of Factors Affecting the Mechanical Properties of Fused Deposition Modelling Part

The mechanical properties of Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) parts are the most common indicator used to define its potential for a specific application. The reasons behind the low strength of FDM printed part or in relative it is not strong enough as conventionally manufactured countered part is an anisotropic characteristic due to the existent of voids between deposition line as well as low strength of thermoplastic material itself. This paper reviews the factors influencing mechanical properties of FDM part from various aspects including, the development of new material as FDM filament, process parameters optimization, process parameter adjustment, and other methods for achieving better mechanical properties of FDM parts. It was found that, the limit for FDM applications are due to limitation of material available for filament feedstock and the nature of FDM process that introduced voids between lines. In additions the review shows that the majority of research in FDM parameter is about the cause and effect relationship, but lack of research to relate this effect to the mechanism that control the bond formation

Ionic regulation ability in Rutilus frisii kutum fingerlings during sea water adaptation.

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of weight on the ionic regulation ability of reared Rutilus frisii kutum fingerlings during adaptation to the seawater and downstream migration. Accordingly, the ionic regulation ability of Cl-, K+, Na+ and Mg2+ in kutum fingerlings with weights of 1, 3, 5 and 7 g in three different salinities, that is 13‰ (the Caspian Sea salinity), 7‰ (estuarine area) and fresh water (as control, 0.3-0.5‰), were assessed. The blood samples were provided before being transferred as control (fresh water) and during adaptation to the sea and estuary water in a period of up to 336 h by a pooling method. The measurements of ions were carried out for blood serum Na+ and K+ and alsoplasma Cl-1 and Mg2+ by photometric methods. This investigation showed that ionic regulatory ability of kutum fingerlings depends on their weights. Results of ionic changes during the duration of 336 h (14 days) proved that unlike kutum fingerling with weights of 3, 5 and 7 g, the ionic regulation system in 1 g fingerlings were not able to expel excess ions. Further 1 g kutum were not physiologically ready (smolt) for downstream migration

UJI PERFORMA BATERAI UNTUK BEBAN UTAMA MOTOR DC PERAHU PULANG HARI

Perahu nelayan “pulang hari” rancangan Pusat Pengkajian dan Perekayasaan Teknologi Kelautan dan Perikanan (P3TKP) telah berhasil dibuat untuk memenuhi keinginan nelayan akan transportasi yang aman dan ekonomis. Pemanfaatan motor listrik dimaksudkan agar nelayan terbebas dari bahan bakar minyak (BBM) dan sebagai upaya menjaga lingkungan perairan dari buangan limbah BBM. Dalam penelitian ini penulis melakukan pengamatan terhadap laju pengambilan energi dari aki ke beban utama dengan lima variasi baling-baling sehingga dapat diprediksi jumlah kebutuhan aki agar perahu dapat beroperasi dalam 8 sampai 9 jam per hari operasi. Dari uji kolam menggunakan motor DC 370 watt dan 2 buah aki 100 Ah, aki telah berhasil menyuplai energi ke beban utama motor DC dengan pengambilan daya (recharge) adalah 2 volt tiap 10 menit dengan arus listrik (ampere) berubah-ubah pada kondisi kecepatan (rpm) yang berubah-ubah pula

A Note on Redesign Material Substitution and Topology Optimization in a Lightweight Robotic Gripper

The gripper is required because it is the portion of the robot that makes direct contact with the object being grasped. It should weigh as little as possible without compromising functionality or its performance. This study aims to reconsider the construction of a lightweight robotic gripper by modifying the gripper's materials and topology. Using the finite element (FE) method, several types of gripper materials were evaluated for static stress. On the basis of the results of the FE analysis, the optimal material candidate was chosen using the weighted objective method. Using the Fusion 360 software, the topology of the selected material was then optimized in an effort to achieve the 40% weight reduction’s objective. In addition, the suggested optimized geometry is then fine-tuned so that it can be manufactured as efficiently as possible. The final step in the validation of the robotic gripper's design was stress static analysis. The revised gripper design has a mass of 0.08 kg, a reduction of 94% from the original mass, and a safety factor of 3.67%, which satisfies the desired level of performance for the robotic gripper. Utilizing different materials and optimizing the gripper's topology can significantly reduce the overall mass of a robotic gripper. &nbsp

ANALISIS STABILITAS TERHADAP OPERASIONAL DESAIN KAPAL IKAN 20 GT DI PALABUHANRATU

Stabilitas merupakan salah satu aspek keselamatan dari sebuah desain kapal. Penelitian ini dilakukan di Palabuhanratu menggunakan desain kapal ikan berukuran 20 GT. Pada penelitian ini dilakukan analisis stabilitas pada 5 kondisi pembebanan kapal sehingga menghasilkan kapal yang baik sesuai standarisasi yang telah ditetapkan. Analisis stabilitas yang digunakan untuk mendapatkan lengan penegak GZ dilakukan dengan bantuan perangkat lunak untuk periode oleng menggunakan rumus International Maritime Organization (IMO) dan untuk mengetahui tinggi gelombang menggunakan rumus angkatan laut Jerman. Dari hasil penelitian menunjukkan kelima kondisi pembebanan yang terjadi di kapal memiliki stabilitas yang baik sesuai dengan kriteria yang telah ditetapkan oleh International Maritime Organization (IMO), periode oleng yang terjadi pada kapal berdasarkan kelima kondisi pembebanan berkisar 2,47-3,04 detik dan tinggi gelombang maksimal yang diterima oleh kapal sebesar 1,41 m dengan panjang gelombang sebesar 15,2 m

Analisa Kinerja IDSL/PUMMA untuk Peringatan Dini Tsunami di Pangandaran

Salah satu alat untuk peringatan dini tsunami, IDSL (Inexpensive Device for Sea Level Measurement) atau PUMMA (Perangkat Ukur Murah untuk Muka Air laut) yang merupakan sebuat stasiun pasang surut real-time telah terpasang di Pantai Pangandaran sejak Oktober 2019. Tulisan ini bertujuan untuk menganalisa kinerja IDSL/PUMMA berdasarkan parameter-parameter penting untuk peringatan dini tsunami seperti kerapatan data, kecepatan transmisi data, kualitas gambar CCTV camera, dan kemampuan memberikan peringatan dini itu sendiri. Data selama 9 bulan pertama berhasil dianalisa berdasarkan parameter-parameter tersebut diperkuat dengan pemodelan tsunami di Selatan Jawa menggunakan model numrik COMCOT. Hasil analisa memperlihatkan bahwa IDSL/PUMMA bekerja dengan baik dengan memberikan data valid dengan kerapatan setiap 10 detik sebanyak lebih dari 91% dengan kecepatan transmisi data di bawah 25 detik (99%). Sementara itu, gambar CCTV camera dengan kualitas baik dan sedang mencapai 69%. Berdasarkan hasil pemodelan tsunami, deteksi langsung anomali muka air tidak dapat dilakukan kurang dari 5 menit. Namun, peringatan dini tsunami berpotensi dikeluarkan melalui guncangan atau pergerakan anjungan stasiun pasang surut yang diakibatkan oleh gempabumi. Berdasarkan hasil analisa kinerja secara keseluruhan,  IDSL/PUMMA dan sistem sejenis lainnya sangat layak untuk dijadikan penguat sistem peringatan dini tsunami di Indonesia

Concurrent dinoprostone and oxytocin for labor induction in term premature rupture of membranes a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of concurrent vaginal dinoprostone and oxytocin infusion against oxytocin infusion for labor induction in premature rupture of membranes (PROM) on vaginal delivery within 12 hours and patient satisfaction. METHODS: Nulliparas with uncomplicated PROM at term, a Bishop score less than or equal to 6, and who required labor induction were recruited for a double-blind randomized trial. Participants were randomly assigned to 3-mg dinoprostone pessary and oxytocin infusion or placebo and oxytocin infusion. A cardiotocogram was performed before induction and maintained to delivery. Dinoprostone pessary or placebo was placed in the posterior vaginal fornix. Oxytocin intravenous infusion was commenced at 2 milliunits/min and doubled every 30 minutes to a maximum of 32 milliunits/min. Oxytocin infusion rate was titrated to achieve four contractions every 10 minutes. Primary outcomes were vaginal delivery within 12 hours and maternal satisfaction with the birth process using a visual analog scale WAS) from 0 to 10 (higher score, greater satisfaction). RESULTS: One hundred fourteen women were available for analysis. Vaginal delivery rates within 12 hours were 25 of 57 (43.9) for concurrent treatment compared with 27/57 (47.4) (relative risk 0.9, 95 confidence interval 0.6-1.4, P = .85) for oxytocin only; median VAS was 8 (interquartile range IQR 2) compared with 8 (IQR 2), P = .38. Uterine hyperstimulation was 14% compared with 5.3%, P = .20; overall vaginal delivery rates were 59.6% compared with 64.9%, P = .70; and induction to vaginal delivery interval 9.7 hours compared with 9.4 hours P = .75 for concurrent treatment compared with oxytocin, respectively. There was no significant difference for any other outcome. CONCLUSION: Concurrent vaginal dinoprostone and intravenous oxytocin for labor induction of term PROM did not expedite delivery or improve patient satisfaction. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials, www.controlled-trials.com, ISRCTN7437634

Dynamic modelling and sensitivity analysis of a tubular SOFC fuelled with NH3 as a possible replacement for H2

A dynamic model of an ammonia fed-tubular solid oxide fuel cell (NH 3-SOFC) is developed and presented. The model accounts for diffusion, inherent impedance, transport (heat and mass transfer), electrochemical reactions, activation and concentration polarizations of electrodes and the ammonia decomposition reaction. Sensitivity analyses are conducted upon the effects of design parameters on the fuel cell performance. Dynamic output voltage, fuel-cell-tube temperature and efficiency responses to step changes in the inlet fuel flow pressure with different values of design parameters are discussed. It is found that among the studied parameters, the inner cell tube diameter has the strongest effect on fuel cell efficiency. On the other hand, the influence of cathodic porosity on fuel cell performance and transient response is higher than that of the anodic porosity. The transient response with different sizes of micro and macro-structures is studied and it is observed that changing the fuel cell length has the most effect. Also NH 3-SOFC is compared with H 2-SOFC and it is found that the performance of the former is close to that of the latter thus signifying that ammonia is a suitable fuel for substituting in place of hydrogen

Modeling of a tubular-SOFC: the effect of the thermal radiation of fuel components and CO participating in the electrochemical process

A mathematical model based on first principles is developed to study the effect of heat and electrochemical phenomena on a tubul solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The model accounts fordiffusion, inherent impedance, transport (momentum, heat and mass transfer) processes, internal reforming/shifting reaction, electrochemical processes, and potential losses (activation, concentration, and ohmic losses). Thermal radiation of fuel gaseous components is considered in detail in this work in contrast to other reported work in the literature. The effect of thermal radiation on SOFC performance is shown by comparing with a model without this factor. Simulation results indicate that at higher inlet fuel flow pressures and also larger SOFC lengths the effect of thermal radiation on SOFC temperature becomes more significant. In this study, the H2 and CO oxidation is also studied and the effect of CO oxidation on SOFC performance is reported. The results show that the model which accounts for the electrochemical reaction ofCO results in better SOFC performance than other reported models. This work also reveals that at low inlet fuel flow pressures the CO and H2 electrochemical reactions are competitive and significantly dependent on the CO/H2 ratio inside the triple phase boundary. © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA,Weinheim