Deciphering Surfaces of Trans-Neptunian and Kuiper Belt Objects using Radiative Scattering Models, Machine Learning, and Laboratory Experiments

Decoding surface-atmospheric interactions and volatile transport mechanisms on trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) and Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) involves an in-depth understanding of physical and thermal properties and spatial distribution of surface constituents – nitrogen (N2), methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), and water (H2O) ices. This thesis implements a combination of radiative scattering models, machine learning techniques, and laboratory experiments to investigate the uncertainties in grain size estimation of ices, the spatial distribution of surface compositions on Pluto, and the thermal properties of volatiles found on TNOs and KBOs. Radiative scattering models (Mie theory and Hapke approximations) were used to compare single scattering albedos of N2, CH4, and H2O ices from their optical constants at near-infrared wavelengths (1 – 5 µm). Based on the results of Chapters 2 and 3, this thesis recommends using the Mie model for unknown spectra of outer solar system bodies in estimating grain sizes of surface ices. When using an approximation for radiative transfer models (RTMs), we recommend using the Hapke slab approximation model over the internal scattering model. In Chapter 4, this thesis utilizes near-infrared (NIR) spectral observations of the LEISA/Ralph instrument onboard NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft. Hyperspectral LEISA data were used to map the geographic distribution of ices on Pluto’s surface by implementing the principal component reduced Gaussian mixture model (PC-GMM), an unsupervised machine learning technique. The distribution of ices reveals a latitudinal pattern with distinct surface compositions of volatiles. The PC-GMM method was able to recognize local-scale variations in surface compositions of geological features. The mapped distribution of surface units and their compositions are consistent with existing literature and help in an improved understanding of the volatile transport mechanism on the dwarf planet. In Chapter 5, we propose a method to estimate thermal conductivity, volumetric heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, and thermal inertia of N2, CH4, and CO ices, and mixtures thereof in a simulated laboratory setting at temperatures of 20 to 60 K – relevant to TNOs and KBOs. A new laboratory experimental facility – named the Outer Solar System Astrophysics Lab (OSSAL) – was built to implement the proposed method. This thesis provides detailed technical specifications of that laboratory with an emphasis on facilitating the design of similar cryogenic facilities in the future. Thus, this research was able to incorporate a set of methods, tools, and techniques for an improved understanding of ices found in the Kuiper Belt and to decipher surface-atmospheric interactions and volatile transport mechanisms on planetary bodies in the outer solar system

Deciphering Surfaces of Trans-Neptunian and Kuiper Belt Objects using Radiative Scattering Models, Machine Learning, and Laboratory Experiments

Decoding surface-atmospheric interactions and volatile transport mechanisms on trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) and Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) involves an in-depth understanding of physical and thermal properties and spatial distribution of surface constituents – nitrogen (N2), methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), and water (H2O) ices. This thesis implements a combination of radiative scattering models, machine learning techniques, and laboratory experiments to investigate the uncertainties in grain size estimation of ices, the spatial distribution of surface compositions on Pluto, and the thermal properties of volatiles found on TNOs and KBOs. Radiative scattering models (Mie theory and Hapke approximations) were used to compare single scattering albedos of N2, CH4, and H2O ices from their optical constants at near-infrared wavelengths (1 – 5 µm). Based on the results of Chapters 2 and 3, this thesis recommends using the Mie model for unknown spectra of outer solar system bodies in estimating grain sizes of surface ices. When using an approximation for radiative transfer models (RTMs), we recommend using the Hapke slab approximation model over the internal scattering model. In Chapter 4, this thesis utilizes near-infrared (NIR) spectral observations of the LEISA/Ralph instrument onboard NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft. Hyperspectral LEISA data were used to map the geographic distribution of ices on Pluto’s surface by implementing the principal component reduced Gaussian mixture model (PC-GMM), an unsupervised machine learning technique. The distribution of ices reveals a latitudinal pattern with distinct surface compositions of volatiles. The PC-GMM method was able to recognize local-scale variations in surface compositions of geological features. The mapped distribution of surface units and their compositions are consistent with existing literature and help in an improved understanding of the volatile transport mechanism on the dwarf planet. In Chapter 5, we propose a method to estimate thermal conductivity, volumetric heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, and thermal inertia of N2, CH4, and CO ices, and mixtures thereof in a simulated laboratory setting at temperatures of 20 to 60 K – relevant to TNOs and KBOs. A new laboratory experimental facility – named the Outer Solar System Astrophysics Lab (OSSAL) – was built to implement the proposed method. This thesis provides detailed technical specifications of that laboratory with an emphasis on facilitating the design of similar cryogenic facilities in the future. Thus, this research was able to incorporate a set of methods, tools, and techniques for an improved understanding of ices found in the Kuiper Belt and to decipher surface-atmospheric interactions and volatile transport mechanisms on planetary bodies in the outer solar system

Crack behavior of heat treated sintered steel under cyclic loading / Al Emran Ismail

Fatigue crack nucleation and initiation at particles or defects in materials have been the interest of many researchers over the past years . This is because the understanding of theses phenomena would provide a better understanding of production of new fatigue resistanc e materials. In this study a test was developed to evaluate the fatigue properties and to observe fatigue crack nucleation and initiation in sintered steel. The fatigue test was carried out on polished specimens which was based on plate bending gives balanced biaxial tension. The experimental results shows that there were mixed mode of crack nucleation and initiation such that most cracks initiated at the interface of particles and matrix especially at high stress values . Cracks were also observed to initiate at voids and beneath the surface. Quenched specimens which were tempered between temperature range of 300°C and 600°C shows similar crack initiation mechanisms. The significant differenc e between as-rece ived and tempered specimens was that the number of cycles to fail due to di fferences in material hardne ss and internal defect s. The result s of the experimentation are discussed in the light of possible micro crack toughening at the crack tip and the presence of residual stresses due, to temperature changes. It is believed that some effects of residual stresses at the surface and beneath playa role in the nucleation of crack in sinter ed steel

Mode I Stress Intensity Factors of Sickle-Shaped Surface Cracks in Round Bars

Nowadays, the sickle-shaped surface crack generally occurred around the bolt under tension due to the stress concentrations occurred at the design discontinuitiesThe behaviors of these cracks are not really understood and additionally it is hard to find the solutions of stress intensity factors of this kind of cracks. Therefore, the intention of this paper is to present the behavior of these cracks under tension loading. In order to understand the role of these cracks, there are seven crack aspect ratios, a/b are considered ranging from 0.0 to 1.2. For each crack aspect ratio, there are six relative crack depth, a/D are used ranging from 0.1 to 0.6. There are two types of loading are used so called free- and fix-stresses. ANSYS finite element program is used to model the crack. Stress intensity factor (SIF) which is based on the J-integral is used to characterize the cracks. For relatively shallow cracks (a/D ≤ 0.3), the role of SIFs along the crack front is insignificant where the values of SIFs remain flattened along the crack front as a/D increased. However, for the deeper cracks (a/D > 0.3), the effect of a/b is pronounced on the SIFs. If a/b is increased from 0.0 to 1.2, higher SIFs are obtained within the central compared with the outer regions. This is due to the fact that the circumferential crack at the both sides of the bar experienced lack of mode I opening mechanism compared with the crack faces of the upper side cracks. It is also found that the SIFs obtained under free tension stress is higher that the SIFs under fix stress due to the fact that free stress condition capable to induce the bending moment effect and therefore widening the crack faces

Ecological and Health Risk Assessments of Trace Elements in Al-Shaibah Dust, Basrah city, Iraq

الهدف من هذه الدراسة هو تقييم الأحمال الملوثة من الغبار الملوث الساقط في المناطق القريبة من مصفاة النفط في منطقة الشعيبة والمناطق المحيطة بها في البصرة بالعراق بين يونيو 2011 ونوفمبر 2012 في تسع محطات. العناصر النزرة في الغبار تحت الدراسة هي: الكرومCr، الكادميوم Cd، النيكل Ni والرصاص Pb. وتم حسب الاخذ اليومي المزمن CDI لهذه العناصر النزرة من خلال الابتلاع، والاستنشاق وتلامس الجلد وتم احتساب الاثر غير المسرطن HI والاثر الكلي المسرطن. TCR ترتيب العناصر النزرة في الغبار حسب الاثر غير المسرطن Cr > Pb > Cd > Ni. ترتيب العناصر النزرة في الغبار حمب الاثر المسرطن Cr > Cd > Pb > Ni. منطقة الدراسة آمنة من الخطرغير مسرطن والمسرطن على صحة الانسان. وأخيرا يتم تقييم المخاطر البيئية في اثنين من المؤشرات: مستوى التلوث المتكامل في البيئة Cdeg والمخاطر البيئية المحتملة RI. ترتيب RI للعناصر النزرة هو: Pb > Cd > Ni > Cr، تشير هذه الدراسة إلى أن جميع المحطات تنطوي على مخاطر بيئية محتملة منخفضة.This study goals to evaluate the pollution loads of contaminated dust fallen in areas near the oil refinery in Al-Shaibah area and areas around it in Basrah, Iraq between June 2011 and November 2012 in nine stations. Trace elements in dust under study are: (1.chromium Cr, 2.cadmium Cd, 3.nickel Ni and 4.lead Pb). Chronic daily intake CDI for these trace elements through (a.ingestion, b.inhalation and c.dermal contact) is calculated, (the total non-carcinogenic hazard quotient HI) and (the total carcinogenic risk TCR) are calculated. The order of non-carcinogenic hazard quotient for trace elements in dust is: (Cr > Pb > Cd > Ni). Carcinogenic risk order for trace elements in dust is: (Cr > Cd > Pb > Ni), study area is in safe of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic impact on human health. Finally the ecological risk is evaluated in two indices: integrated pollution level in the environment Cdeg and potential ecological risk RI. The order of RI for trace elements is: (Pb > Cd > Ni > Cr), this study indicates that all stations have low "potential ecological risk"

Conventional Water Treatment of Domestic Groundwater Supplies

تزداد اهمية المياه الجوفية كمصدر للمياه العذبة في العديد من الدول. بالاضافة الى ذلك تحتوي العديد من المدن على محطات لتصفية المياه السطحية.  وفي حالة معالجة المياه الجوفية بالاعتماد على تلك المحطات فان كلفة المعالجة سوف تقل وسوف يساعد ذلك على الاعتماد على المياه السطحية والجوفية كمصدر لتجهيز مياه الشرب.  في هذه الدراسة تم دراسة امكانية استخدام طرق المعالجة التقليدية في معالجة المياه الجوفية وتم فحص نوعية المياه الجوفية خلال فترة الدراسة. وقد وجد انها ضمن المواصفات المعتمدة باستثناء عنصر الحديد.  وجد كذلك ان هناك تاثير لوحدات المعالجة في تحسين نوعية مياه الشرب بزيادة نسبة الاكسجين المذاب باتجاه القيم المثلى. كما وجد ان المحطة كانت فاعلة في ازالة بعض العناصر المهمة الموجودة في المياه الجوفية وشملت الحديد بنسبة ازالة تقارب 50 % واملاح الكبريتات (التي ممكن ان تتجاوز الحدود المسموحة في بعض انواع المياه). تم عمل تحليل احصائي للبيانات المقاسة وجد ان هناك ترابط عالي بين تراكيز العناصر في المياه الخام والمياه المعالجة. كما تبين ان هناك معامل ارتباط مرتفع بين عنصر الحديد وايون الكبريتات في مصفوفة الارتباط. بالاضافة الى ذلك تم تطبيق اختبار مجال الثقة على معاملات الارتباط باستخدام تحويل فيشر. بين الاختبار ان هناك فترة بنهايات موجبة (0.244, 0.941) بمجال ثقة 95 % لمعامل الارتباط بين عنصري الحديد والكبريتات.The important of ground water is increasing in the future as a source of fresh waters; in addition, many countries contain a number of water treatment plants to treat surface water. Using conventional treatment plant in the cities to treat ground water will decrease the cost of ground water treatment and may be help to depend on both surface and ground water supplies. This paper studied the ability of treating ground water by conventional water treatment. The quality of the ground water source is studied in the mention area during study period. The chemical quality of ground water is tested and there is within the standards of drinking water except iron.  The conventional treatment was enhancing quality of treated water by increment of dissolved oxygen concentrations toward optimum value. Water treatment plant was effective for removal of iron from ground water of about 50%, in addition there is an effect of conventional treatment on sulfate removal (sulfate may be increase above standards in some ground water sources). The statistical analysis of data shows there is a correlation between quality parameters of raw and treated water and between iron and sulfate of treated water in the correlation matrix. In addition, confidence test was applied on the correlation coefficients using fisher's transformation .The analysis shows, that there is a positive period (0.244, 0.941) of confidence of 95% of correlation factors of iron and sulfate

Examining the Relationship between Ozone and other Air Pollutants in Al-Hilla City

يجب ان ياخذ تلوث الهواء قدر أكبر من الاهتمام بسبب آثاره على صحة الإنسان. احد اهم ملوثات الهواء هو الاوزون على مستوى سطح الأرض O3، والذي يلعب دورا مهما في تحديد نوعية الهواء والتغيرات المناخية على سطح الارض. ويتاثر الاوزون بملوثات الهواء الاخرى، لذا يحاول هذا البحث دراسة العلاقة بين تركيز الأوزون على مستوى سطح الأرض كل ساعة ،يوم ،شهر وتركيز ملوثات الهواء الاخرى كل ساعة، يوم ،شهر وتأثيرها على تركيز الاوزون. ان ملوثات الهواء الاخرى هي ثاني أوكسيد الكبريت SO2، اكاسيد النيتروجين NO x ، اول أوكسيد النيتروجين NO1 ، ثاني أكسيد النيتروجين NO2 وثاني أوكسيد الكربون CO2. محطة القياس تقع في جامعة بابل في جنوب مدينة الحلة، العراق للفترة 2015-2016. وباستخدام التحليل الإحصائي، يتم حساب معامل الارتباط وبعض الاحصاءات لجميع ملوثات الهواء. النتائج هي: الحد الأقصى لمعدل تركيز الأوزون في أشهر الصيف حزيران, تموز واب ,39.30 ppb 36.63 ppbو 45.05 ppbوعلى التوالي, وعلى طول اليوم معدل تركيز الأوزون يبلغ الذروة في فترة ما بعد الظهر بسبب ارتفاع درجة الحرارة وارتفاع كثافة الإشعاع الشمسي الذي يزيد من النشاط الكيميائي الضوئي للأوزون. ولا يوجد ارتباط معنوي بين الأوزون وثاني أوكسيد الكبريت SO2 ، أوكسيد الكربون CO2 . (ρ > 0.05) يوجد ارتباط معنوي عالي الدلالة بين الاوزون واشكال اكاسيد النتروجين (ρ < 0.01). للتعبير عن العلاقة المعقدة بين الأوزون وأشكال اكاسيد النتروجين حسبت النسب مثل NO/NO2 و(NOx-NO)/NO والتي تفسر النشاط الكيميائي الضوئي للأوزون. تركيز الاوزون يقل بزيادة NO/NO2 ويزداد بزيادة (NOx-NO)/NO.Air pollution must take more attention because its effects on human health. One of the most important air pollutants is ground-level ozone O3, which plays an important role in air quality and climate change on the earth. Ozone affected by the other air pollutants, so this paper attempt to study the relationship between hourly, daily and monthly ground-level ozone concentration and hourly, daily and monthly air pollutant concentrations and its effect on ground-level ozone concentration. The other air pollutants are: sulfur dioxide SO2, nitrogen oxides NOx, nitrogen monoxide NO, nitrogen dioxide NO2 and carbon dioxide CO2. The monitoring station is in Babylon University in the south of Al-Hilla city, Iraq for the period 2015-2016. By using statistical analysis, correlation coefficient and some statistics for all air pollutants are computed. Results are: the maximum average ozone concentration is in the summer months June, July and August 39.30 ppb, 45.05 ppb and 36.63 ppb respectively and along the day the peak average ozone concentration is in the afternoon because of high temperature and high solar radiation intensity which is increasing the photochemical activity of ozone. There is no significant correlation between ozone and sulfur dioxide SO2, carbon dioxide CO2 (ρ > 0.05). High significant correlation is appeared between ozone and nitrogen oxides forms (ρ < 0.01). To express the complex relation between ozone and nitrogen oxide forms, proportions such as NO/NO2 and (NOx-NO)/NO is determined which explain the ozone photochemical activity. Ozone concentration decreases with increasing of NO/NO2 and increases with (NOx-NO)/NOx increasing

Numerical analysis on the effect of normotensive and hypertensive physiological conditions onto hemodynamic characteristics in stented carotid artery

An arterial re-blockage or restenosis by abnormal atherosclerosis and thrombosis progression in carotid artery is associated with the geometry of the implanted medical device, called as stent. However, the physiological conditions consisting of normotensive and hypertensive blood flow in the stented carotid artery are rarely studied in term of hemodynamic characteristic especially near the geometry of the stent strut. Thus, the objective of this study is to determine the hemodynamic effect based on its characteristics at different stent strut configurations in carotid artery as well as analyzing the critical parameters at varying blood physiological conditions. Six different geometries of stent that resembles the existing medical device have been studied at three varying physiological conditions of blood. The study was conducted through computational fluid dynamic (CFD) method to analyze the hemodynamic characteristics of the blood flow parameters. In overall physiological condition, the stent geometry of Type VI which are resembling to Acculink (Abbott Vascular), had been shown to have the best hemodynamic characteristic by the parameters of time averaged wall shear stress low (TAWSSlow), oscillatory shear index (OSI) and relative residence time (RRT), which contributed with average luminal surface area percentage about 10.443%, 99.849% and 98.736%, respectively. As the physiological condition of blood flow increased from normotensive to hypertensive, there were two parameters shown to have critical hemodynamic characteristics at different stent geometries which are TAWSSlow and time averaged wall shear stress gradient (TAWSSG) that achieved about 32.388% and 36.629%, respectively. The study had shown that the different stent strut geometries had presented different hemodynamic characteristics due to the effect by the blood flow physiological condition

Editorial Preface

It is with great pleasure that we present the 3rd issue of Volume 9 of the International Journal of Integrated Engineering (IJIE). This edition features the latest findings and research in the area of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering.This issue contains eleven articles. The first article proposed a new solution, named RRFAST, to overcome rerouting problem of FAST TCP. The second article aimed to study and assess the diameter and displacement of the carotid arterial wall movement from B-mode ultrasound image for the early detection of atherosclerosis. The third article presented a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) tool for prioritising alternative solutions to power generation problems. The fourth article focused on determining the characteristics of the spray produced in the simulation of spray biodiesel using constant volume chamber by using computational fluid dynamic (CFD). The fifth article presents a development of a temperature control system by means of the proportional controller to control the temperature inside the mini container during the NIRS data acquisition process. In the sixth article, the authors developed a single phase inverter that is used to understand the concept of inverting voltage output control using Raspberry Pi as the microcontroller. In the seventh article, the authors present their finding on the capability of peat soil (PS) and activated carbon (AC) as a potential composite adsorbent for the removal of colour and Fe from a stabilized landfill leachate. The eighth article presents the design and development of a simple and low cost interactive rehabilitation module for stroke patients. In the ninth article, the authors share their findings on the combination of Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) and laser diode with LabVIEW software on Optical Tomography System (OTS) for monitoring multiphase flow. In the tenth article, the authors examined the effect of different spatial filters performance towards mammogram de-noising. In the last article, the authors report on the efficiency of coagulation and flocculation process in the removal of suspended solids, colour, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Oil and Grease using ferric chloride and ferric sulfate for the treatment of biodiesel wastewater.We would like to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation for the enthusiastic and vigorous support and contributions from the Editorial Board and Reviewers of IJIE for taking time and effort to review manuscripts. As no manuscript is accepted or rejected without careful reading by experts in a particular area to which the paper is related. The experts have maintained a high standard of scholarship and we believe the readers of this Journal deserves.It is our hope that this fine collection of articles will be a valuable resource for International Journal of Integrated Engineering (IJIE) readers and will stimulate further research in the area of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering. We strongly encourage authors to submit their articles and readers to provide feedback. In order to access the online version of this issue along with archived editions please visit our website http://penerbit.uthm.edu.my/ojs/index.php/ijie/. We would like to thank all the authors who have contributed manuscripts in IJIE and those who are awaiting their manuscripts for publication in subsequent issues

Editorial Preface

The 11th regular issue, number 8 is presenting the latest findings and research in the three major engineering field, namely, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering. The chief editors really appreciate support and contributions from the Editorial Board and Reviewers for making the process of selection of articles rigorous and meeting the high standard of scholarship that had been set. There are 31 articles were selected to be published in this issue, which reflects the niche of IJIE. Hopefully, the articles will provide additional information and contribute to the development of the engineering field. The chief editors strongly encourage authors to submit their articles and readers to provide feedback. Any comment for improvement is really appreciated.  Please visit IJIE website http://penerbit.uthm.edu.my/ojs/index.php/ijie/ to access the online version of this issue along with archived editions. The chief editors also would like to thank all the authors who have contributed manuscripts in IJIE and those who are awaiting their manuscripts for publication in subsequent issues