Sales Management Portal

This is a conceptual design for a company’s sales pipeline database portal, at which sales staff enters clients’ information into pipeline by keeping logs of contacts and activities, opportunities and proposals, and eventually projects. The portal enables management to oversee works and track progresses, and in the meantime to interact with and provide guidance to sales staff timely. This portal should have a responsive design so it will adjust to diverse resolutions, making it easy for users to navigate the portal on their own devices. Sales management portal can perform a number of important functions, including: Sales management portal is designed to offer time-saving services: • Search: Allows users to staff find clients by names, either on complete or partial match. • A filter for browsing: can shorten list and separate prospects from current clients. • A sign-in form • Manager console: Managers can create user accounts, view and update entries, leave comments on entries, and send messages to staff, etc. • Pipeline reports: Managers should also be able to run various reports such as lists of prospects, reports of opportunities or proposals by dates, sales projections by month or by salesperson, project tracking, etc. To design and implement the Sales Management project is to build a software application in addition to its wide product offering, GSU Sales Management portal is designed to offer time-saving services

A Hybrid Classification Approach for Iris Recognition System for Security of Industrial Applications

The biometric authentication system is demanded to identify a particular person from the set of persons. Even though many biometric authentication methods are available such as fingerprint, palm, face, and iris, the iris-based recognition system is effective due to its simplified process. This article proposes an iris recognition system using a hybrid classification approach for security applications. The proposed method includes three modules: preprocessing, augmentation, and classifier. The preprocessing module converts the color iris images into grey scale images and also resizes the image into 256 × 256. The preprocessed iris images are now data augmented to construct the larger dataset. The data augmented images are classified into either genuine or imposter images using a hybrid classification approach. The hybrid classification approach functions in two modes as training and testing. In this article, the Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) is integrated with the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) classifier to enhance the recognition rate of the iris recognition system. The performance analysis of the proposed approach is shown in terms of sensitivity, accuracy, recognition rate, specificity, false-positive rate, and false-negative rate. The experimental results of the proposed iris recognition system stated in this article significantly outweigh other design methods

Circuit Design of Programmable Logic and Interconnect Blocks using Spin Transfer Torque RAM for Non-Volatile FPGAs

Most of the Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are currently SRAM based. The conventional SRAM has been the primary choice for memory storage in the Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs) as well as for the configuration bits of the reconfigurable interconnects. However SRAM based FPGAs are volatile and needs an external non-volatile memory to store the configuration data. Also SRAM leakage currents increases as technology scales towards lower nodes. The use of non-volatile memories such as Spin-Transfer Torque (STT)-RAM helps to overcome the drawbacks of SRAM-based FPGAs without significant speed penalty. In this paper we present the design of simple non-volatile CLBs using STT-RAM technology. For verifying the design these CLBs have been programmed to implement various functions. The design has been simulated and verified using cadence tools in CMOS 40nm technology

Efficiency Improvement of Rotary Compressor by Improving the Discharge path through Simulation

To help raise consumer awareness on saving energy and create more energy efficient appliances, the government is upgrading the requirements of star rating of air conditioners. The enhanced star rating in air conditioners will significantly support the energy conservation and protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the fight against climate change. The increasing demand for star rated air-conditioners is compelling the compressor designers to develop & optimize more energy-efficient components. This paper deals with discharge port optimization in a rotary compressor, which is heart of an air-conditioner. The existing discharge port is studied & analyzed for the performance in the aspect of its capacity, EER, mass flow rate, over pressure power, area of PV diagram, motor power, valve functioning & stability. The port is redesigned to obtain improved performance, by analyzing the compressor performance parameters. Analysis is performed to study the stresses on the discharge valve and valve lift. Computational fluid dynamics is used to observe the flow behavior & pressure phenomenon in the rotary compressor, since the compressor shell accumulates the discharge gas pressure. The results are validated with the test and improved EER is observed

Investigation of Impact Energy Absorption of AA6061 and Composites: Role of Post-Aging Cooling Methods

Al6061 and its composites are widely employed in applications requiring high strength and impact resistance. Heat treatment, particularly ageing, is a well-established method for enhancing the mechanical properties of these composites. However, the influence of post-ageing cooling methods on the impact energy absorption capacity of Al6061 and its composites remains inadequately understood. This investigation aims to examine the impact energy absorption of Al6061 and its composites after ageing at 460°C for 2 hours, employing different cooling methods, including furnace cooling, air cooling, and water cooling. The composites were produced using the stir casting technique with varying weight fractions of graphite and SiC particles based on Taguchi's design of experiments. Charpy impact tests were conducted using a specialised testing machine. The results reveal that the impact energy absorption capacity of the composites is influenced by the cooling method employed after the ageing treatment. Furnace cooling demonstrated the highest impact energy absorption capacity compared to the other cooling methods, exhibiting a 28% increase compared to the monolithic aluminium alloy. Furthermore, it was observed that the impact energy absorption capacity of the composites did not improve with an increase in the weight fraction of SiC particles, while the addition of graphite negatively impacted the absorption capacity

Schedule of Factors Influencing Adherence (SOFIA) to Psychiatric Treatment in Persons with Schizophrenia: Validity and Pilot Testing

Qualitative research has highlighted the complex interplay of multiple factors that preclude persons with schizophrenia in rural Indian settings for discontinued psychiatric treatment. In this context, this paper aims to establish the face and content validities of an interview schedule titled „Schedule of Factors Influencing Adherence (SOFIA) to Psychiatric Treatment in Persons with Schizophrenia‟ which comprehensively assesses factors for discontinued psychiatric treatment and the feasibility of its administration of the schedule. SOFIA contains 16 factors. This schedule involves three phases of interviewing patients and family members. This was given to twelve experts who used likert scales to rate each items wells as the dimensions of the schedule. Later on, fifteen persons with schizophrenia were interviewed with SOFIA to test the feasibility of administration. The results showed that Fourteen items were rated as either satisfactory (score=4) or very much satisfactory (score=5) by all twelve experts; remaining two were rated as 4 or 5 by 11 experts. Regarding comprehensiveness of the factors, scoring methods and general instructions given to the interviewers, all provided scores > 4; regarding method of interviewing, 11 provided score of > 4; with regard to overall interview schedule, all experts provided scores > 4. Pilot testing revealed that it took 60 minutes to administer SOFIA

Investigation of Impact Energy Absorption of AA6061 and Composites: Role of Post-Aging Cooling Methods

Al6061 and its composites are widely employed in applications requiring high strength and impact resistance. Heat treatment, particularly ageing, is a well-established method for enhancing the mechanical properties of these composites. However, the influence of post-ageing cooling methods on the impact energy absorption capacity of Al6061 and its composites remains inadequately understood. This investigation aims to examine the impact energy absorption of Al6061 and its composites after ageing at 460°C for 2 hours, employing different cooling methods, including furnace cooling, air cooling, and water cooling. The composites were produced using the stir casting technique with varying weight fractions of graphite and SiC particles based on Taguchi's design of experiments. Charpy impact tests were conducted using a specialised testing machine. The results reveal that the impact energy absorption capacity of the composites is influenced by the cooling method employed after the ageing treatment. Furnace cooling demonstrated the highest impact energy absorption capacity compared to the other cooling methods, exhibiting a 28% increase compared to the monolithic aluminium alloy. Furthermore, it was observed that the impact energy absorption capacity of the composites did not improve with an increase in the weight fraction of SiC particles, while the addition of graphite negatively impacted the absorption capacity

Schedule of Factors Influencing Adherence (SOFIA) to Psychiatric Treatment in Persons with Schizophrenia: Validity and Pilot Testing

Qualitative research has highlighted the complexinterplay of multiple factors that preclude persons withschizophrenia in rural Indian settings for discontinuedpsychiatric treatment. In this context, this paper aims toestablish the face and content validities of an interviewschedule titled „Schedule of Factors InfluencingAdherence (SOFIA) to Psychiatric Treatment in Personswith Schizophrenia‟ which comprehensively assessesfactors for discontinued  psychiatric treatment and   thefeasibility of its administration of the schedule. SOFIAcontains 16 factors. This schedule involves three phases of interviewing patients and family members.  This wasgiven to twelve experts who used likert scales to rate eachitems wells as the dimensions of the schedule. Later on,fifteen persons with schizophrenia were interviewed withSOFIA to test the feasibility of administration. The resultsshowed that Fourteen items were rated as eithersatisfactory (score=4) or very much satisfactory (score=5)by all twelve experts; remaining two were rated as 4 or 5by 11 experts. Regarding comprehensiveness of thefactors, scoring methods and general instructions given tothe interviewers, all provided scores > 4; regardingmethod of interviewing, 11 provided score of > 4; withregard to overall interview schedule, all experts providedscores > 4. Pilot testing revealed that it took 60 minutes to administer SOFIA

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Suspensions and Gels Composed of Non-Spherical Nanoparticles: Rheology and Scattering (Suspensies en gels opgebouwd uit niet-sferische nanodeeltjes: Reologie en lichtverstrooiing)

@font-face { font-family: "ＭＳ 明朝";}@font-face { font-family: "ＭＳ 明朝";}@font-face { font-family: "Cambria";}@font-face { font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria; }.MsoChpDefault { font-family: Cambria; }div.WordSection1 { page: WordSection1; }Colloidalmaterials play an important role in science and technology. A study by DuPontshowed that about 65% of their products are produced or sold as colloidal dispersions. Hence, colloidal suspensions are animportant part of chemical engineering research. Avast body of work has dealt with the relations between the properties of colloids and the structure and properties oftheir suspensions. A factor which so far has not received much attention isparticle shape, even though non-spherical colloidalparticles are ubiquitous in nature with 90% disklike and 9% rodlike particles.The reason why non-spherical particles are such efficient basic building blocks is, they can form networks with a smalleramount of particles compared to spheres, they impart high strength to thenetwork, have rich optical properties and can formcomplex 3D structures. In spite of this abundant use of non-spherical particlesby nature, research has concentrated mostly on spherical particles and only recently we have been looking at non-sphericalparticles. This is due to the complex characteristics of non-sphericalparticles and the lack of suitable model systems. The mathematical framework isalso more complex when it comes to describing properties of non-spherical particles,compared to spherical particles. Dealing with non-spherical particles is acircular problem because, to describe or model the behavior/properties ofnon-spherical particles in suspensions or gels, a good mathematical model isrequired, but to obtain a good mathematical model, a good set of data on the properties/behaviors is required. Thisthesis focuses on the latter part of the problemmentioned above, i.e., characterizing non-spherical particles in suspensionsand gels, to obtain good data sets that can be used further to model thebehavior of non-spherical particles. The firstpart of this thesis is dedicated to the characterization of non-sphericalnanoparticles in suspensions. The rheological properties of a suspension are dependent on many factors such as the effective shape, size,concentration, effective interaction between the nanoparticles. For sphericalparticles the effective volume fraction, as determinedby the effective hydrodynamic diameter is the dominant factor controlling the rheological properties. For simplenon-spherical particles like rods, the effectivehydrodynamic aspect ratio can be determined roughly by theknowledge of the charge or polymer layer on the surface combinedwith microscopy images. But for objects with complex shapes such as disks orpentagons, defining the aspect ratio itself is notclear. Scattering has been a great tool for getting information on thehydrodynamic sizes of nanoparticles. In the first part of the thesisnon-spherical particles are characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS),depolarized dynamic light scattering (DDLS), static light scattering and rheo-optical methods. Historically, DLS has been used to obtainthe hydrodynamic size of spherical particles fromthe translational diffusion coefficient and the results are in good agreementwith theory. For non-spherical nanoparticles both translational and rotationaldiffusion coefficients have to be known to calculate the effective hydrodynamic aspect ratio. In this work DLS has beenused to study the translational diffusion of thinfd-virus rodlike particles (length/diameter ≫ 1), which are used as basic building block to make gels. For smallaspect ratio rodlike nanoparticles made of gold, the localized plasmon resonancesenabled the determination of translational and rotational diffusions usingDDLS. The hydrodynamic aspect ratio of these gold nanorods calculated usingtranslational and rotational diffusion showslarge deviations from the actual values. This is due to the exponential type equations relating the measured diffusionvalues to the calculated hydrodynamic aspectratio. For complex shaped objects both DLS and DDLSare not suitable since the theory of scattering is not fully developed for arbitrarily shaped objects. To determine the effectivehydrodynamic aspect ratios of arbitrarily shaped objects, a rheo-optical method(dichroism) is used, from which the effectivehydrodynamic aspect ratio and the polydispersity of any complex nanoparticlecan be obtained. The relationship between the transient dichroism signal andthe effective hydrodynamic aspect ratio and polydispersity is linear and therefore does not lead to complications in determining thesevalues. Finally, using dichroism the shape, size and flexibility of goldnanorods, gold nanodisks and graphene sheets are obtained. In the secondpart of the thesis, gels made of long monodisperse rodlike particles with tunable interactions are characterized using rheology andscattering. The rodlike particles are virus nanoparticles which are negativelycharged at a pH of 8.2 and have surface groups such as -COOH, -NH2 and -OH, on which a thermoreversible polymer Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) isgrafted. The repulsive interaction is controlled by varying the ionic strengthof the buffer solution and the attractive interaction iscontrolled by changing the temperature. The rheologicalproperties of these gels are characterized in both linear and nonlinearviscoelastic regime. The rheological data are analyzed using the critical geltheory from which the gel strength and gel structure aredetermined as a function of concentration,temperature and ionic strength. Finally, theknowledge obtained from the characterization of non-spherical nanoparticles in suspensions and in gels is used for practicalapplications. Oriented 3D self-assembled gold nanorods areobtained by controlling the evaporation rate through the knowledge of diffusioncoefficients calculated from the DDLS experiments.The knowledge of flexibility of graphene sheets was used in preparingwater-in-oil emulsions stabilized by an extremely small amount of flexiblegraphene sheets that are stable for over 2 years. Rodlike virusparticles in suspension are used to produce 3D honeycomb structures that can beused as a high-strength low-weight material. Aligned gelswith varying strength and optical properties are produced by changing thethermo-mechanical history of the gel.nrpages: 177status: publishe