Influence of the number of samples on prediction error of visible and near infrared spectroscopy of selected soil properties at the farm scale.

Although visible and near infrared (vis-NIR) spectroscopy has proved to be a fast, inexpensive and relatively accurate tool to measure soil properties, considerable research is required to optimise the calibration procedure and establish robust calibration models. This paper reports on the influence of the number of samples used for the development of farm-scale calibration models for moisture content (MC), total nitrogen (TN) and organic carbon (OC) on the prediction error expressed as root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP). Fresh (wet) soil samples collected from four farms in Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark and the UK were scanned with a fibre type vis-NIR, AgroSpec spectrophotometer (tec5 Technology for Spectroscopy, Germany) with a spectral range of 305 - 2200 nm. Spectra were divided into calibration (two-third) and prediction (one-third) sets and the calibration spectra were subjected to a partial least squares regression (PLSR) with leave-one-out cross validation using Unscrambler 7.8 software (Camo Inc., Oslo, Norway). The RMSEP values of models with large sample number (46 - 84 samples from each farm) were compared with those of models developed using small sample number (25 samples selected from the large sample set of each farm) for the same variation range. Both large set and small set models were validated by the same prediction set for each property. Further PLSR analysis was carried out on samples from the German farm, with different sample number of the calibration set of 25, 50, 75 and 100 samples. Results showed that the large-size dataset models resulted in lower RMSEP values than the small-size dataset models for all the soil properties studied. The results also demonstrated that with the increase in sample number used in the calibration set, RMSEP decreased in almost linear fashion, although the largest decrease was between 25 and 50 samples. Therefore, it is recommended to chose the number of samples according to accuracy required, although 50 soil samples is considered appropriate in this study to establish calibration models of TN, OC and MC with smaller expected prediction errors as compared with smaller sample numbers

Testing the Fiscal Theory of Price Level in Case of Pakistan

The study tests the fiscal theory of price determination for Pakistan’s economy for the period 1970 to 2007. The evidence is less clear cut to infer that authorities are following a certain type of regime fiscal dominant or monetary dominant during the sample period. The liabilities responses negatively to the innovation in surpluses, that is in the subsequent period the liabilities decreases in face of increase in surplus. This characterises monetary dominant regime, the events that give rise to surplus innovation are likely to persist causing the rise in the future surpluses and surpluses pay-off some of the debt causing the fall in the liabilities. By analysing the behaviour of nominal GDP, an innovation in surplus reduces nominal income and decreases the level of debt in the subsequent periods, this analysis also confirms the Ricardian analysis. On the other hand, the study finds that, as predicted by the fiscal theory of price determination, the occurrence of wealth effects of changes in nominal public debt may pass through to prices by increasing inflation variability in case of Pakistan. The implication that comes out of this study is that nominal public liabilities, as reflected either in money growth or in nominal public debt, matter for price stability in case of Pakistan. The authorities may be following different regimes for different time periods during the 1970-2007.Fiscal Theory of Price Level, VAR, Fiscal Policy, Monetary Policy

Subcritical and supercritical fluid extraction a critical review of its analytical usefulness

Subcritical R134a is suggested as a low-pressure alternative to supercritical CO2 in the supercritical fluid extraction technology in particular of palm oil application. Therefore, a measurement of solubility of palm oil in subcritical Rl34a will be carried out at temperatures of 40, 60, 70 and 80°C and pressures up to 300 bar. The solubility of carotene are also will be measured using UV Spectrophotometer. Results obtained from this study will be compared with the previous work and for the first time, simulation for the SFE process of palm oil will be performed using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and it will be implemented in comparisons as well when the operating conditions of the previous findings are different from this study. It is expected that the solubility of the palm oil in subcritical Rl34a is much higher than SC-C02, and it is expected that R134a could be a viable alternative solvent to supercritical carbon dioxide as R134a could be perform well at a lower pressure used whereas can achieved a higher solubility compared to SC-C0

Developmental changes in the histological structure of the testes, and testosterone profiles in male guinea fowls (Numida meleagris)

Owing to the paucity of information on the reproductive biology of guinea fowls, a study involving a total of 66 males was conducted, and documented the developmental changes in histological structure of the testes of guinea cocks from hatching until adulthood. Changes in testosterone synthesis during sexual development were also determined. Age-related changes were analysed using univariate analysis for completely randomised design and means separated using Tukey's test/Kruskal-Wallis test and medians separated by Mann-Whitney U test. Total germ cell population per testis and testicular histological morphometric parameters increased significantly (p < 0.0001) from 12 weeks of age (WOA), and stabilized between 20 and 24 WOA. Peripheral testosterone concentrations increased gradually from 4 WOA, and peaked at 20 WOA. Correlations among all the testicular morphometric parameters were positive and highly significant (p < 0.01). Similarly, significant (p < 0.05) positive correlations existed between testicular weight and testicular sperm production, tubular diameter, Sertoli cell population, tubular length and peripheral testosterone concentration. Testicular sperm production was positively correlated with meiotic index (p < 0.01) and round spermatids population (p < 0.05). The correlations between peripheral testosterone concentrations, tubular diameter and Sertoli efficiency were also significant (p < 0.05) and positive. Testicular morphometric parameters stabilized between 20 and 24 WOA, while peripheral testosterone concentrations showed two patterns of secretion, initial and final phases of increasing and decreasing testosterone secretions, respectively, and may be implicated in the development of histological structures of the testes and spermatogenesis. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Computer Simulation of Current Forces on Motion of Floating Production Storage and Offloading in Irregular Waves

This paper presents the effect of current forces on the motion of forces on Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) in irregular waves. The objective of this research is to compute the motion of FPSO in irregular waves by time domain simulation including the effect of current forces. A study is made on the slowly varying oscillations of a moored single body system in a current and waves. Linear potential theory is used to describe the fluid motion, and three-dimensional source distribution techniques are applied to obtain the hydrodynamic forces and transfer function of the wave exciting forces. OCIMF (1994) data are used for estimation of the current forces. The non-linear time domain simulations have been carried out in irregular waves. Based on it, slowly varying motion responses are examined including the effect of the current forces. Several environmental conditions, such as the current angle of attack, current velocity, significant wave height and mean wave period are considered, which may significantly affect FPSO motion in surge, sway and yaw moments. It is found that the effect of current forces is quite significant when the current velocity is increased. In this simulation, while the current velocity is increased to 3.0 meter/seconds, the impact on FPSO motion is quite significant, which should be taken into consideration from the point of view of safety, failure of mooring systems, operating responses and the dynamic positioning of the FPSO

Penyelenggaraan fasiliti stadium

Penyelenggaraan adalah kerja yang dilakukan untuk memelihara, menjaga, mengendali, memperbaiki dan mengawalselia struktur bangunan, kemudahan, kelengkapan, perkhidmatan bangunan dan persekitaran bagi memastikan bangunan sentiasa berada pada tahap piawaian yang telah ditetapkan. Selain itu, penyelenggaraan juga dapat mempertahankan utiliti dan nilai fasiliti kemudahan serta berada dalam keadaan selamat digunakan

Revisiting an old foe: The face of psychosis in neurosyphilis

A delusional, agitated middle-aged man presented to hospital with a tenacious psychotic episode. Upon appropriate therapy for neurosyphilis, dramatic resolution of this brief episode ensued, prompting a literature review of psychosis associated with neurosyphilis

Reviews on the Properties of Aggregates made with or without Geopolymerisation Method

Aggregates are popular for use in concrete and lightweight concrete applications. Recent research shows that the by-product materials such as fly ash can be used as raw material in producing aggregates and lightweight aggregates. The usage of this material can improve the quality of the aggregates produced compared to conventional in term of structurally strong, physically stable, durable, and environmentally inert. This paper summarized the process and mechanical testing on the fly ash aggregates and lightweight aggregates to be used in concrete