Some estimators of finite population variance using information on two auxiliary variables

Some estimators using information on two auxiliary variables for finite population variance are proposed, their bias and mean square error (MSE) are found, and their properties are analysed. As an illustration, an empirical study is also included.     

On estimation of population mean using known coefficient of variation

For the estimation of population mean, a generalized class of estimators using known coefficient of variation C_y of the study variable y is proposed, its bias and mean square error (MSE) are found and its comparative study with the usual mean per unit estimator has been done. As an illustration, an empirical study is also included.     

Geometrically non-linear formulation for two dimensional curved beam elements

This paper presents a geometrically non-linear formulation using a total lagrangian approach for the two dimensional curved beam elements. The beam element is derived using linear, paralinear and cubic-linear plane stress elements. The basic element geometry is constructed using the coordinates of the nodes on the element center line (η = 0) and the nodal point normals. The element displacement field is described using two translations of the node on the center line and a rotation about the axes normal to the plane containing the center line of the element. The existing beam element formulations are restricted to small nodal rotations between two successive load increments. The element formulation presented here removes such a restriction. This is accomplished by retaining non-linear nodal rotation terms in the definition of the displacement field and the consistent derivation of the element properties. The formulation presented here is very general and yet can be made specific by selecting appropriate non-linear functions representing the effects of nodal rotations. The element properties are derived and presented in detail. Numerical examples are also presented to demonstrate the behavior and the accuracy of the two dimensional beam elements for geometrically non-linear applications. In all cases comparisons made with theory and/or other published data show that the beam elements product accurate results and permit large load increments with good convergence characteristics.     

p-version least-squares finite element formulation for convection-diffusion problems

This paper presents a p-version least-squares finite element formulation of the convection-diffusion equation. The second-order differential equation describing convection-diffusion is reduced to a series of equivalent first-order differential equations for which the least-squares formulation is constructed using the same order of approximation for each of the dependent variables. The hierarchical approximation functions and the nodal variable operators are established by first constructing the one-dimensional hierarchical approximation functions of orders pξ and pη and the corresponding nodal variable operators in ξ and η-direction and then taking their products. Numerical results are presented and compared with analytical and numerical solutions for a two-dimensional test problem to demonstrate the accuracy and the convergence characteristics of the present formulation. The Gaussian quadrature rule used to calculate the numerical values of the element matrices, vectors as well as the error functional I(E), is established based on the highest degree of the polynomial in the integrands. It is demonstrated that this quadrature rule with the present p-version formulation produces excellent results for very low as well as extremely high Peclet numbers (10-10⁶) and, furthermore, the error functional I (sum of the integrals of E²) is a monotonically decreasing function of the number of degrees of freedom as the p-levels are increased for a fixed mesh. It is shown that exact integration with the h-version (linear and parabolic elements) produces inaccurate solutions at high Peclet numbers. Results are also presented using reduced integration. It is shown that the reduced integration with p-version produces accurate values of the primary variable even for relatively low p-levels but the error functional I (when calculated using the proper integration rule) has a much higher value (due to errors in the derivatives of the primary variable) and is a non-monotonic function of the degrees of freedom as p-levels are increased for a fixed mesh. Similar behaviour of the error functional I is also observed for the h-models using linear elements when reduced integration is used. Although the h-models using parabolic elements produce monotonic error functional behaviour as the number of degrees of freedom are increased, the error values are inferior to the p-version results using exact integration.     

Transition finite elements for three-dimensional stress analysis

This paper presents isoparametric formulation for the three-dimensional transition finite elements. The transition finite elements are necessary for applications requiring the use of three-dimensional isoparametric solid elements and the curved shell elements. These elements provide proper connections between the two portions of the structure modelled with three-dimensional solids and the curved shell elements. The element properties are derived and presented in detail. Numerical examples are also presented to demonstrate the accuracy and the applications of such elements in three-dimensional stress analysis.     

Lumped mass matrices with non−zero inertia for general shell and axisymmetric shell elements

A diagonal lumped mas formulation with non?zero inertia terms is presented for Ahmad's general shell element. The effect of co?ordinate transformation of the mas matrix is demonstrated. Due to arbitray co?ordinate transformation on nodal variables, the diagonal lumped mas matrix becomes a banded matrix of half bandwidth three. It is shown that with some approximations this matrix can be made diagnoal without effecting the results appreciably. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the accuracy of the formulation. Similar lumped mass matrix formulation is also given for axisymmetric shell elements.     

The oviposition and development of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) in different high-yielding varieties of wheat

Studies on the oviposition and development of Sitophilus oryzae in high-yielding varieties of wheat (PV-18, Sonora-64, Kalyan Sona, S-308 and S-307) were conducted at all combinations of the three temperatures, 19°C, 25°C and 30°C and four relative humidities, 45, 60, 75 and 90 per cent. Oviposition and development of the weevil were better on larger kernels. The rates of oviposition and development were affected by certain other factors besides the physical nature of the kernel and its bran and endosperm. According to the development index ($\text{log}\text{n}\text{Av}$) and number of eggs deposited, varieties in increasing order of suitability were Sonora-64 > PV-18 > Kalyan Sona > S-308 > S-307. Oviposition and development were best in varieties with the highest moisture content at any level of relative humidity. Oviposition and development were best at 75% r.h. or 15·0–15·5 per cent moisture content in all varieties. Oviposition and development rates were greater at 30°C and slower at 18°C than at 25°C. Of the conditions examined 30°C and 75% r.h. was the best for oviposition and development of S. oryzae.     

Step multiple quantum well enabled performance enhancement in InGaN/GaN based light-emitting diodes

In this work, we propose and investigate numerically InGaN/GaN based multiple quantum well (QW) blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with step quantum well (InGaN)/barrier (GaN) structures. We design four LED structures—(LED-A) InGaN/GaN rectangular quantum well, (LED-B) one down step in the middle of the QW created using sharp increase in In contents, (LED-C) one down step in the middle of the QW and the other down step in the right barrier away from QW and (LED-D) similar to LED-C barring one down step in the left barrier facing the QW. Using well-calibrated APSYS simulation program we compare the variation of output power and internal quantum efficiency of LEDs with input injection current and analyze them in the light of energy band diagram, electric field distribution, carrier concentration and radiative recombination rate. The proposed LED-D exhibits significant improvement in optical output power ~ 180.7% compared to conventional LED-A. Furthermore unlike other three LED structures, LED-D shows a very low internal quantum efficiency droop of 5.1% only at injection current of 120 mA.

     

Ingestible capsule for impedance and pH monitoring in the esophagus

Twenty-four-hour ambulatory pH monitoring is an essential tool for diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Simultaneous impedance and pH monitoring of the esophagus improves the detection and characterization of GERD. Conventional catheter-based monitoring systems are uncomfortable and interfere with the normal activity of the patient. To overcome these disadvantages, different wireless esophageal monitoring systems have been proposed. A capsule containing sensors for impedance and pH monitoring with wireless communication capabilities is presented. A low cost miniature microcontroller was utilized for interfacing between the sensors and a wireless transmitter. The microcontroller program allowed efficient management of the electric power provided by a 3-V battery. Magnetic holding is proposed as an alternative to surgical affixation of the monitoring capsule. Permanent neodymium magnets separated by 27 cm successfully held the capsule in a test tube. Experimental results demonstrated that friction force can aid magnetic holding to overcome peristalsis. The proposed design efficiently detected acid and nonacid reflux. More research regarding the holding method and capsule packaging are necessary to optimize the mechanical performance of the proposed design in order to facilitate clinical testing on human subjects.     

Preprogramming Floating Time of Liquid Marble

Non-sticking droplets wrapped with fine hydrophobic particles, namely liquid marbles, can be transported both on solid and water pool without an undesired spill of the inner encapsulated liquid. While the stimuli-responsive release of the inner liquid in the target area is proposed, the time-programmed release is not yet achieved. Herein, the hydrophobicity of nanoclay is modulated via a catalyst-free 1,4-conjugate addition reaction to form liquid marbles. This nanoclay liquid marble is robust and stable in air but collapses on the liquid pool with a specific lifetime. The lifetime of the liquid marble can be modulated over seconds to hours scale depending on the selection of chemically modulated wettability of the nanoclay. The critical mechanism of lifetime modulation is responsible for controlling the coalescence kinetics between the water pool and inner liquid by nanoclays’ high diffusion length and chemically varied water spreading potential. The NC liquid marble's programmable lifetime to ‘time-bomb’ type drug release and cascade chemical reaction is applied—without requiring any external intervention.