Using directed hypergraphs to verify rule-based expert systems

Rule-based representation techniques have become popular for storage and manipulation of domain knowledge in expert systems. It is important that systems using such a representation are verified for accuracy before implementation. In recent years, graphical techniques have been found to provide a good framework for the detection of errors that may appear in a rule base. The authors present a graphical representation scheme that: 1) captures complex dependencies across clauses in a rule base in a compact yet intuitively clear manner and 2) is easily automated to detect structural errors in a rigorous fashion. Their technique uses a directed hypergraph to accurately detect the different types of structural errors that appear in a rule base. The technique allows rules to be represented in a manner that clearly identifies complex dependencies across compound clauses. Subsequently, the verification procedure can detect errors in an accurate fashion by using simple operations on the adjacency matrix of the directed hypergraph. The technique is shown to have a computational complexity that is comparable to that of other graphical techniques. The graphical representation coupled with the associated matrix operations illustrate how directed hypergraphs are a very appropriate representation technique for the verification task     

Iron minerals and their influence on the optical properties of two Indian kaolins

Kaolin is mostly associated with minor quantities of ancillary minerals containing transition elements such as iron and titanium. These ions impart color to the white kaolin which adversely affects its application in paper and paint industries. Hence their removal is of prime importance in the optimum utilization of kaolin. The coloring effect as well as the mode of removal of these impurities depends on the “species” of the ion and/or the type of mineral. The present paper deals with the investigation on two Indian kaolins of different geological origin, one from Gujarat state at the western part of India and the other from Kerala State at the southern most part. Detailed physical, chemical and mineralogical characterization of the samples was carried out. The product clays after beneficiation by size classification, high gradient magnetic separation and chemical leaching were found to be of acceptable grade for paper industry with respect to optical properties and particle size. The impurity minerals were concentrated by different methods so that their identification was easier. Attempts were made to study the Fe species by correlating the XRD, chemical assay, DCB treatment and EPR spectral information of the clay samples before and after beneficiation. Iron stained anatase was found to be the major impurity in the Gujarat clay whereas iron was present as oxide/hydroxide in the Kerala sample. The beneficiated products from the Kerala clay were found to have better optical properties.     

Adhesive and thermal characteristics of maleimide-functional novolac resins

A novel, addition-curable maleimide-functional novolac phenolic resin was evaluated for adhesive properties such as lap shear strength and T-peel strength using aluminium adherends, when thermally self-cured and cocured with epoxy resins. The adhesive properties of the self-cured resin, although inferior at ambient temperature, improved at high temperature and were found to depend on the cure conditions. When cocured with epoxy resin, the adhesive properties improved significantly and showed a strong dependence on the nature of the epoxy resin used, on the stoichiometry of the reactants, on the concentration of imide groups in the phenolic resin, and on the extent of polymerization of the maleimide groups. Optimum adhesive properties were obtained for novolac resins with a moderate concentration of maleimide groups, taken on a 1 : 1 hydroxyl–epoxy stoichiometry with a novolac epoxy resin. In comparison to the conventional novolac, the imide–novolac contributed to improved adhesion and better adhesive property retention at higher temperature when cured with the novolac–epoxy resin. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 73: 695–705, 1999     

ANALYSIS OF HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER DURING DRYING OF PAPER/BOARD

A mathematical model has been successfully developed to study the heat and mass transfer process during paper drying. This model takes into account the consective transfer of vapor and liquid apart from the known transport mechanisms of capillary flow of liquid, diffusion, vaporization-condensation, and heat conduction. The partial differential equations describing temperature, saturation and pressure change within the web during drying with associated boimdary conditions and initial conditions were solved using finite difference method. The model predictions show that during the drying process the web can be conveniently divided into three different zones, namely dry zone, wet zone and an intermediate zone. The movement of liquid and vapor in opposite directions in the intermediate zone is similar to the action of a heat pipe. Also, as drying proceeds the location of the intermediate zone and hence the heat pipe advances progressively through the thickness of the web.     

OSMOTIC DEHYDRATION KINETICS OF BLUEBERRIES

Abstract

The kinetics of moisture loss and solids gain during osmotic dehydration of blueberries under different conditions of temperature (37°C - 60°C), concentration of the sucrose solution (47°Brix - 70°Brix) and contact time between fruit and sucrose solution (0.5 h - 5.5 h) were studied, and modeled based on Fick's law of unsteady state diffusion. The study showed that all factors influenced moisture loss and solids gain (p<0.001), both generally increasing with temperature (T) and sucrose concentration (C). Based on the diffusion model, the calculated effective moisture diffusivity (D_m) ranged from 1.98 × 10^?10 to 5.10 × 10^?10 m²/s and the effective solids diffusivity (D_s) ranged from 2.54 × 10^?11 to 2.22 × 10^?10 m²/s. Both D_m and D_s showed increasing trends with temperature and sucrose concentration, and could be modeled as quadratic functions of T and C.     

PREDICTION OF QUALITY CHANGES DURING OSMO-CONVECTIVE DRYING OF BLUEBERRIES USING NEURAL NETWORK MODELS FOR PROCESS OPTIMIZATION

Artificial neural network (ANN) models were used for predicting quality changes during osmo-convective drying of blueberries for process optimization. Osmotic drying usually involves treatment of fruits in an osmotic solution of predetermined concentration, temperature and time, and generally affects several associated quality factors such as color, texture, rehydration ratio as well as the finish drying time in a subsequent drier (usually air drying). Multi-layer neural network models with 3 inputs (concentration, osmotic temperature and contact time) were developed to predict 5 outputs: air drying time, color, texture, and rehydration ratio as well as a defined comprehensive index. The optimal configuration of neural network model was obtained by varying the main parameters of ANN: transfer function, learning rule, number of neurons and layers, and learning runs. The predictability of ANN models was compared with that of multiple regression models, confirming that ANN models had much better performance than conventional mathematical models. The prediction matrices and corresponding response curves for main processing properties under various osmotic dehydration conditions were used for searching the optimal processing conditions. The results indicated that it is feasible to use ANN for prediction and optimization of osmo-convective drying for blueberries.     

Bioinspired flame retardant polymers of tyrosol

The enzyme catalyzed polymerization of flame retardant (FR) polymers from the renewable resource 2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl) ethanol (HPE), commonly known as tyrosol, is presented. The synthesis is environmentally friendly and requires only monomer, peroxidase catalyst, dilute hydrogen peroxide, and deionized water. Phenolic polymers are produced in short, one pot, high yield reactions that require minimal purification. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ¹H‐NMR analysis suggest the polymers are coupled through the 1, 2, 4, and 5 positions of the phenol ring and through the phenoxy substituent. Thermogravimetric analysis and pyrolysis combustion flow calorimeter show HPE homopolymers exhibit very low heat release rate and total heat release, while copolymerization with phenol increases already high char yields. Gel permeation chromatography reveals the molecular weight of the polymer increases with ethanol cosolvent concentration. The alcohol cosolvent also increases the proportion of oxyphenylene linkages to the detriment of FR properties. Preliminary quantitative structure–activity relationship toxicity modeling predicts the polymers are negative for developmental toxicity and Ames mutagenicity. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 45394.     

Performance,emission and combustion studies of a DI diesel engine using Distilled Tyre pyrolysis oil-diesel blends

Increase in energy demand, stringent emission norms and depletion of oil resources led the researchers to find alternative fuels for internal combustion engines. Many alternate fuels like Alcohols, Biodiesel, LPG, CNG etc have been already commercialized in the transport sector. In this context, pyrolysis of solid waste is currently receiving renewed interest. The disposal of waste tyres can be simplified to some extent by pyrolysis. The properties of the Tyre pyrolysis oil (TPO) derived from waste automobile tyres were analyzed and compared with the petroleum products and found that it can also be used as a fuel for compression ignition engine. However, the crude TPO has a higher viscosity and sulphur content. The crude TPO was desulphurised and then distilled through vacuum distillation. In the present work, DTPO-diesel blends were used as an alternate fuel in a diesel engine without any engine modification. This paper presents the studies on the performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a single cylinder four stroke air cooled DI diesel engine running with the Distilled Tyre pyrolysis oil (DTPO).