Optimization of biodiesel production process in a continuous microchannel using response surface methodology

We assessed the biodiesel production process in a continuous microchannel through preparation of a heterogeneous catalyst (CaO/MgO) from demineralized water plant sediment. This mixed oxide catalyst was used for transesterification of rapeseed oil as feedstock by methanol to produce biodiesel fuel at various conditions. A microchannel, utilized as a novel reactor, was applied to convert rapeseed oil into biodiesel in multiple steps. The effects of the process variables, such as catalyst concentration, methanol to oil volume ratio, n-hexane to oil volume ratio, and reaction temperature on the purity of biodiesel, were carefully investigated. Box-Behnken experimental design was employed to obtain the maximum purity of biodiesel response surface methodology. The optimum condition for the production of biodiesel was the following: catalyst concentration of 7.875 wt%, methanol to oil volume ratio of 1.75: 3, n-hexane to oil volume ratio of 0.575: 1, and reaction temperature of 70 °C.     

Effect of whey protein supplementation on levels of endocannabinoids and some of metabolic risk factors in obese women on a weight-loss diet: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

Besides the effects of dietary long chain PUFA on circulating endocannabinoids concentrations, the impact of other nutrients on these system is not known and, whether changes in plasma endocannabinoids levels correlated with changes in body composition and biochemical metabolic risk factors in obese individuals, however, still remains to be characterized.

Methods

We will conduct a 2 months’ open label, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of whey protein supplementation on levels of endocannabinoids, glycemic and lipid profile, inflammatory factors, adipocytokines and body composition in 60 premenopausal obese women on a weight-loss diet.

Conclusion

Due to strong relationship between endocannabinoids level and insulin resistance and obesity, in this trial, we will illustrate the other benefits of weight loss diet on health and metabolic risk factors. Also for the first, the effects of simultaneous weight loss diet and whey protein supplementation on these variables will be determined.

Trial registration

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT2017021410181N8.

     

Image retrieval based on fuzzy ontology

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Rapid increase in digital images demands effective and efficient image retrieval systems. In text based image retrieval, images are annotated with keywords based...     

Temporal video segmentation and classification of edit effects

The process of shot break detection is a fundamental component in automatic video indexing, editing and archiving. This paper introduces a novel approach to the detection and classification of shot transitions in video sequences including cuts, fades and dissolves. It uses the average inter-frame correlation coefficient and block-based motion estimation to track image blocks through the video sequence and to distinguish changes caused by shot transitions from those caused by camera and object motion. We present a number of experiments in which we achieve better results compared with two established techniques.     

Virtual factory approach for implementation of holonic control in industrial applications: A case study in die-casting industry

Design and implementation of holonic manufacturing control systems for the real industrial applications require risky, careful decisions to ensure that the manufacturing system will successfully satisfy the demands of an ever-changing market. This paper suggests a virtual reality (VR)-based methodology for enhancing the design and implementation process of holonic control systems in manufacturing practice. The major focus has been given to the implementation of holonic control into the small to medium size manufacturing enterprises (SMEs).     

Applying two optimization techniques in evaluating tensile strength of granitic samples

Engineering with Computers - The Brazilian tensile strength (BTS) test is the most common method to evaluate the tensile strength in mining and civil engineering projects. This paper aims to employ...     

MAC: magnetostatic active contour model

We propose an active contour model using an external force field that is based on magnetostatics and hypothesized magnetic interactions between the active contour and object boundaries. The major contribution of the method is that the interaction of its forces can greatly improve the active contour in capturing complex geometries and dealing with difficult initializations, weak edges and broken boundaries. The proposed method is shown to achieve significant improvements when compared against six well-known and state-of-the-art shape recovery methods, including the geodesic snake, the generalized version of GVF snake, the combined geodesic and GVF snake, and the charged particle model.     

Stair Climber Smart Mobile Robot (MSRox)

Most current mobile robots are designed to determine their actions according to their positions. Before making a decision, they need to localize themselves. Thus, their observation strategies are mainly for self-localization. However, observation strategies should not only be for self-localization but also for decision making. We propose an observation strategy that enables a mobile robot to make a decision. It enables a robot equipped with a limited viewing angle camera to make decisions without self-localization. A robot can make a decision based on a decision tree and on prediction trees of observations constructed from its experiences. The trees are constructed based on an information criterion for the action decision, not for self-localization or state estimation. The experimental results with a four legged robot are shown and discussed.