Effect of waste matrix for the optimization of moisture content and calorific value of biodried material using Taguchi DOE

In this study, Taguchi approach was used to determine the influence of waste composition for the optimization of moisture content (MC) and calorific value (CV) of food waste via bio-drying process. The objective was to reduce MC and increase CV of the bio-dried material. The effect of three different levels of four factors including food (FW), paper (Pa), plastic (Pl) waste, and bulking agent (BA) were studied and optimized. The moisture content of the bio-dried material varied between 8.59 and 50.93%, whereas that of the calorific value was 11–25?MJ/kg. The results revealed optimum configurations for MC and CV as FW₁Pa₃Pl₃BA₃ and FW₁Pa₁Pl₃BA₁, respectively. Regression analysis revealed MC as a positive function of FW and BA with plastic positively correlated with calorific value. ANOVA analysis indicated that FW had more prominent effect on both MC and CV. The predicted and measured values were very close to each other. Additionally, the results realized in the confirmatory experiments at optimized conditions of CV was found to be higher than the test runs of Taguchi design, suggesting that Taguchi method was very successful in the optimization of bio-drying factors for MC and CV.     

Room temperature multiferroic properties of BiFeO3–MnFe2O4 nanocomposites

The novel functionalities of multiferroic magneto-electric nanocomposites have spawned substantial scope for fast-paced memory devices and sensor applications. Following this, herein we report the development of nanocomposites with soft ferromagnetic MnFe₂O₄ and ferroelectric BiFeO₃ to fabricate a system with engineered multiferroic properties. A modified sol-gel route called Pechini method is demonstrated for the preparation of the (1-x) BiFeO₃-x MnFe₂O₄ (x = 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%) nanocomposites. The crystallographic phase, structure, and morphology are characterized by XRD, FESEM, and HRTEM. The accurate crystallite size and lattice strain are determined by Williamson-Hall plot method and a comparative study with Scherer's equation is carried out. TEM image evidences the interface between BiFeO₃ and MnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles in the composite. The room temperature magnetic response reveals the strong dependence of magnetic saturation, remanent magnetization, and coercivity of the nanocomposites on MnFe₂O₄ addition. The dielectric response and impedance analysis of the prepared nanocomposites are observed. The electrical performance of the composite is affected by grain, grain boundaries, and oxygen vacancies. The unsaturated P-E loops exhibit the leaky ferroelectric behavior for the nanocomposite. The intrinsic magnetoelectric coupling between ferroelectric BiFeO₃ and ferromagnetic MnFe₂O₄ has been determined by varying H_dc/H_ac and its maximum coupling coefficient (α) is found to be 25.39 mV/cmOe for 70% BiFeO₃ -30% MnFe₂O₄ nanocomposite. These distinctive and achievable characteristics of the nanocomposite would enable the designing of magnetic field sensors, spintronic devices, and multiferroic memory devices.     

Psychometric evaluation of the Reasons for Living Inventory.

Examined the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL; M. M. Linehan et al; see record 1983-20123-001) in a sample of college students with a range of suicidal ideation and behaviors. An exploratory factor analysis of the 48-item RFL extracted 6 factors, similar to those described by Linehan et al. All coefficients alpha and item–subscale correlations were adequate. Additional nonclinical normative data are presented. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) identified 3 significant discriminant functions for group separation. Correlational analyses provided information about the relationships between the RFL and other self-report measures of suicide risk and general psychopathology. Three RFL subscales were useful in predicting suicide risk and general psychopathology. Limitations and future research issues are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Blocking Gibbs sampling in very large probabilistic expert systems

We introduce a methodology for performing approximate computations in very complex probabilistic systems (e.g. huge pedigrees). Our approach, called blocking Gibbs, combines exact local computations with Gibbs sampling in a way that complements the strengths of both. The methodology is illustrated on a real-world problem involving a heavily inbred pedigreee containing 20 000 individuals. We present results showing that blocking-Gibbs sampling converges much faster than plain Gibbs sampling for very complex problems.     

Spectroscopic Analysis of a Corona Space Charge in a Cylindrical System with Air-Carbon Dioxide Medium

Positive corona glow discharge was studied in a system with cylindrical geometry in air and air-carbon dioxide mixtures at normal temperature and pressure (NTP). A spatially resolved spectroscopy technique was used in an attempt to explain the previously observed anomalous charging of particles traveling through the glow region. The results corroborate the existence of the previously reported anomaly. The apparatus developed for taking the spatially resolved spectra and the methods employed may be of interest in fundamental studies of corona discharge behavior in a practical electrostatic precipitator system.     

Issues in Foreign Outsourcing

The decision to outsource applications development and support to a foreign vendor involves not only the myriad issues pertinent to outsourcing in general, but a host of additional risks and challenges unique to firms operating in different legal and cultural environments. Careful assessment of these issues helps determine whether offshore outsourcing will realize its potential to reduce costs, improve software quality, and achieve economies of scale in skills acquisition.     

Anonymising group data sharing in opportunistic mobile social networks

Wireless Networks - The security and privacy risks of group users are major concerns in opportunistic mobile social network (OMSN) platforms, especially when the users share data publicly in a...     

A taxonomy of weight learning methods for statistical relational learning

Machine Learning - Statistical relational learning (SRL) frameworks are effective at defining probabilistic models over complex relational data. They often use weighted first-order logical rules...     

Contextualizing transport infrastructure and services in Ghanaian peri-urbanism

This study interrogates the demand and supply of transport infrastructure and services in peri-urban areas of Sunyani Municipality in Ghana. Structured one-on-one interviews were conducted with 100 households across three peri-urban communities in Sunyani (Abesim-Kyidom, Asuakwaa and Adomako). Findings revealed that a majority of peri-urban households (84%) in the study communities who commute daily to and from the city centre are faced with poor transport infrastructure (e.g. poor conditions of road) and unreliable services (e.g. unregulated public transport). Inadequate investment in transport infrastructure and services by the Ghanaian government, the limited activity locations in peri-urban areas, and the concentration of activity locations at the city centre were identified to be contributing to the poor state of transport infrastructure and services in the case study communities. Policy recommendations to improve the situation are further proffered.