Autocorrelated process control: Geometric Brownian Motion approach versus Box-Jenkins approach

Existing of autocorrelation will bring a significant effect on the performance and accuracy of process control if the problem does not handle carefully. When dealing with autocorrelated process, Box-Jenkins method will be preferred because of the popularity. However, the computation of Box-Jenkins method is too complicated and challenging which cause of time-consuming. Therefore, an alternative method which known as Geometric Brownian Motion (GBM) is introduced to monitor the autocorrelated process. One real case of furnace temperature data is conducted to compare the performance of Box-Jenkins and GBM methods in monitoring autocorrelation process. Both methods give the same results in terms of model accuracy and monitoring process control. Yet, GBM is superior compared to Box-Jenkins method due to its simplicity and practically with shorter computational time

Clustering for binary data sets by using genetic algorithm-incremental K-means

This research was initially driven by the lack of clustering algorithms that specifically focus in binary data. To overcome this gap in knowledge, a promising technique for analysing this type of data became the main subject in this research, namely Genetic Algorithms (GA). For the purpose of this research, GA was combined with the Incremental Kmeans (IKM) algorithm to cluster the binary data streams. In GAIKM, the objective function was based on a few sufficient statistics that may be easily and quickly calculated on binary numbers. The implementation of IKM will give an advantage in terms of fast convergence. The results show that GAIKM is an efficient and effective new clustering algorithm compared to the clustering algorithms and to the IKM itself. In conclusion, the GAIKM outperformed other clustering algorithms such as GCUK, IKM, Scalable K-means (SKM) and K-means clustering and paves the way for future research involving missing data and outliers

Optical characterization on ITO/TiO2/P3HT/Areca Catechu/au for thin film hybrid solar cell

In this research, dye sensitized solar cell is fabricated by a combination of inorganic titanium dioxide nanoparticles sensitized by a locally available natural dye extract from organic Areca Catechu nut. This hybrid solar cells are fabricated accordingly by deposition of ITO/TiO2/P3HT/Areca Catechu/Au by using electrochemical method. The deposition rates of TiO2 are varied from 0.05, 0.07, 0.09 to 0.11 vs-1 whereas the number of scan of each layers are fixed to 5. The absorption spectra analysis is carried out in the wavelength range 200 to 600 nm, showed a wide and significant absorption spectrum in UV and visible regions. Analysis shows that scan rate affects the electrical conductivity of hybrid solar cell. The highest conductivity is recorded at 0.278 Scm-1 corresponding to the scan rate of 0.07 Vs-1at a potential value of 3.5 V

Probiotic administration of Litopenaeus vannamei: Is there any negative effect on the fatty acid profile of meat?

It has been found that appropriate probiotic applications increased growth performance and disease resistance in shrimp. Bacillus subtilis has been suggested as a potent probiotic in improving growth performance and enhancing immune response in white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. The aim of this work was to evaluate the possible effect of B. subtilis administration on the meat fatty acid profile of white shrimp, L. vannamei. Two groups of shrimps received B. subtilis strains L10 and G1 from the B. subtilis-supplemented feed (10^5 and 10^8 CFU g^-1) while two other groups received it from the rearing water (10^5 and 10^8 CFU ml^-1). One group received no B. subtilis and served as control. According to the results, there was no significant difference between the muscle fatty acid profiles of shrimps administrated by probiotic and control group. This study showed that B. subtilis administration, in either diets or water, did not have any negative effect on fatty acid profiles of L. vannamei meat

n vivo antiulcer activity of the aqueous extract of Bauhinia purpurea leaf.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Bauhinia purpurea (Fabaceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used to treat various ailments, including ulcers. In order to establish pharmacological properties of the leaf of Bauhinia purpurea, studies were performed on antiulcer activity of the plant's aqueous extract. Materials and methods The Bauhinia purpurea aqueous extract (BPAE) was prepared in the doses of 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg. Antiulcer activity of BPAE was evaluated by absolute ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer, and pyloric ligation models. Acute toxicity was also carried out. Results BPAE, at the dose of 5000 mg/kg, did not cause any signs of toxicity to rats when given orally. Oral administration of BPAE exhibited antiulcer activity (p < 0.05) in all models used. However, the dose-dependent activity was observed only in the absolute ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model. Histological studies supported the observed antiulcer activity of BPAE. In pyloric ligation assay, BPAE increased the gastric wall mucus secretion. Conclusions The BPAE exhibits antiulcer activity, which could be due to the presence of saponins or sugar-free polyphenols, and, thus, confirmed the traditional uses of Bauhinia purpurea in the treatment of ulcers

Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

(First paragraph) Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) have recently been proposed as one of the promising ad hoc networking techniques that can provide both drivers and passengers with a safe and enjoyable driving experience. VANETs can be used for many applications with vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications. In the United States, motor vehicle traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for all motorists between two and thirty-four years of age. In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 33,808 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. The US Department of Transportation (US-DOT) estimates that over half of all congestion events are caused by highway incidents rather than by rush-hour traffic in big cities. The US-DOT also notes that in a single year, congested highways due to traffic incidents cost over $75 billion in lost worker productivity and over 8.4 billion gallons of fuel. Some of the significant applications of VANETs are road safety applications including collision and other safety warning systems, driver convenience and information systems, and, in the future, intelligent traffic management systems

Effect of Surface Hardness on Joint Contact Forces during Barefoot Running: A Pilot Study

This paper presents an experimental pilot study on the effect of different surface hardness to the joint contact force during barefoot running. Peak joint contact forces during the stance phase of a male subject that running barefoot on three types of surface with different hardness level (concrete, artificial grass and rubber) were investigated experimentally. Differences in peak joint contact force at the ankle, medial tibiofemoral, lateral tibiofemoral, hip and patellofemoral due to surface effects were analysed using Freebody (Version2.1) software. The result showed that the pattern of peak joint contact force was similar for ankle with medial tibiofemoral and hip with lateral patellofemoral. The joint contact force was varied in the varying of the surface hardness. The correlation between various surface hardness and joint contact force was found at the ankle and medial tibiofemoral joint. However, the findings of this pilot study provide the insight into the method and approach selected for the experiment be suitable for an actual experiment for more subjects

LIPASE IMMOBILIZATION ON FIBERS GRAFTED WITH POLYGLYCIDYL METHACHRYLATE

ABSTRACT: Lipase enzyme originated from wheat germ was immobilized on nylon -6- grafted with polyglycidyl methachrylate (PGMA). The immobilization of enzyme experiments were designed and studied using face centred central composite design (FCCCD) under response surface methodology (RSM). Prior to immobilization, the polymer was activated with diethyl amine/ethanol to introduce an amine functional group to facilitate covalent bonding with the enzyme. The immobilized and free enzymes were characterized for effect of temperature and pH on enzyme activity, stability, storage and reusability as well as kinetics studies. ANOVA revealed that optimum lipase activity of 0.287 U/ml was achieved at immobilization time of 5 h, pH of 6 and 1.0 mg/ml for enzyme concentration. The optimum temperatures and pH for immobilized and free enzymes were 45 °C and 35 °C, and 8 and 7, respectively. The immobilized enzyme showed higher stability compared to free enzyme. The immobilized enzyme retained 18% of its activity after being recycled 8 times. In a storage stability test, immobilized lipase was able to retain 70% of its activity after being stored for 30 days, while free enzyme activity dropped to 15 % after 20 days of storage. ABSTRAK:Enzim Lipase telah dihasilkan daripada mikroorganisma pegun gandum di atas nilon -6- dan digraf bersama poliglisidel methakrilet (PGMA). Enzim pegun ini direka dan dikaji secara eksperimen menggunakan reka bentuk campuran pusat pada permukaan (FCCCD) di bawah kaedah tindak balas permukaan (RSM). Sebelum menjadi pegun, polimer ini telah diaktifkan dengan dietil amine/ethanol bagi menghasilkan kumpulan fungsi amine bagi membantu ikatan kovalen atom pada enzim. Enzim pegun dan bebas ini telah dikategorikan mengikut kesan enzim ke atas suhu, aktiviti enzim ke atas kesan pH, kestabilan, keboleh-simpanan dan keboleh-gunaan balik, serta ujian tindak balas kinetik. ANOVA membuktikan bahawa aktiviti optimum enzim lipase ini adalah sebanyak 0.287 U/ml telah terhasil selama 5 jam pegun, pada pH 6 dan kepekatan enzim sebanyak 1.0 mg/ml. Suhu dan pH optimum, pada enzim pegun dan enzim bebas ini adalah pada 45 °C dan 35 °C, dan pH 8 dan 7, masing-masing. Enzim pegun ini menunjukkan lebih stabil daripada enzim bebas. Enzim pegun dilihat kekal 18% daripada aktivitinya selepas 8 kali ulangan. Melalui ujian kestabilan simpanan, enzim lipase pegun dapat mengekalkan 70% daripada aktivinya selepas disimpan selama 30 hari, manakala aktiviti enzim bebas telah menurun kepada 15% selepas 20 hari dalam simpanan