Control chart pattern recognition using feature-based learning vector quantization

The reported learning vector quantization (LVQ) network-based control chart pattern (CCP) recognizers in literature use raw process data as the input vector and can recognize six basic CCPs only. In this paper, an LVQ network-based CCP recognizer is presented that can recognize eight basic CCPs, using seven extracted shape features from the pattern data as the input vector. The recognition performance of this recognizer is compared with the LVQ network-based recognizer that uses raw process data as the input vector. The results show that the feature-based recognizer results in substantially better recognition performance than the raw data-based recognizer. The confusion matrix reveals that the recognition performance of the feature-based recognizer can be improved further if any feature that is more powerful in discriminating shift and trend pattern can be identified. Comparison of performances of LVQ network-based and multilayer perceptrons (MLP) network-based recognizers (both using extracted features as input vector) reveals that the LVQ network-based recognizer requires much lesser learning time than the MLP network-based recognizer, but results in little inferior recognition performance.     

An in-Depth Analysis of the Swelling,Mechanical, Electrical,and Drug Release Properties of Agar–Gelatin Co-Hydrogels

Agar–gelatin-based co-hydrogels were prepared with different compositions of the agar and the gelatin fractions. The intermolecular hydrogen bonding was higher in the co-hydrogels as compared to the gelatin hydrogel. Swelling studies indicated diffusion-mediated swelling. The electrical stability of the co-hydrogels was higher as compared to the gelatin hydrogel. Though the firmness of the co-hydrogels was higher, Weichert model of viscoelasticity indicated that the inherent mechanical stability of the gelatin hydrogel was superior. The release of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride was predominately Fickian diffusion-mediated. In gist, the co-hydrogels can be tried as polymeric constructs for controlled drug delivery applications.     

Solid phase extraction of lead on octadecyl bonded silica membrane disk modified with Cyanex302 and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple, reliable and rapid method for preconcentration and determination of lead using octadecyl bonded silica membrane disk impregnated with Cyanex302 and flame atomic absorption spectrometry is presented. The influence of aqueous phase pH, type of eluent, flow rates of sample solution and eluent, volume of eluent and amount of extractant has been investigated. The break through volume is greater than 4.0 dm(3) with an enrichment factor of more than 400 and a detection limit of 1.0microg dm(-3). The method developed for determination of lead is good as six replicate determinations using 100cm(3) solution containing lead in the range 1-4900microg provides a relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of 0.4%. The selectivity of the proposed method was confirmed from the interference studies. The developed procedure was successfully applied for the determination of lead in spiked sea water, USGS standard soil sample, sludge and industrial effluents, medicinal formulation, plant, some food products and wine.     

Molecular Basis of Endometriosis and Endometrial Cancer: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives

The human endometrium is a unique tissue undergoing important changes through the menstrual cycle. Under the exposure of different risk factors in a woman’s lifetime, normal endometrial tissue can give rise to multiple pathologic conditions, including endometriosis and endometrial cancer. Etiology and pathophysiologic changes behind such conditions remain largely unclear. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the pathophysiology of endometriosis and its potential role in the development of endometrial cancer from a molecular perspective. A better understanding of the molecular basis of endometriosis and its role in the development of endometrial pathology will improve the approach to clinical management.     

Evaluation of Enhanced Heat Transfer Within a Four Row Finned Tube Array of an Air Cooled Steam Condenser

Air cooled steam condensers (ACSC) consist of finned-tube arrays bundled in an A-frame structure. Inefficient performance under extreme temperature operating conditions is a common problem in ACSCs. The purpose of this study was to improve the heat transfer characteristics of an annular finned-tube system for better performance in extreme climatic conditions. Perforations were created on the surface of the annular fins to increase heat transfer coefficient (h). Mesh generation and finite volume analyses were performed using Gambit 2.4.6 and Fluent 6.3 with an RNG k–? turbulent model to calculate pressure drop (ΔP), heat flux (q), and heat transfer coefficient (h). Solid (no perforations) finned-tubes were simulated with free stream velocity ranging between 1 m/s–5 m/s and validated with the published data. Computations were performed for perforations at 30° interval starting at ±60°, ±90°, ±120°, ±150°, and ±180° from the stagnation point. Five cases with single perforation and three cases with multiple perforations were evaluated for determining the maximum q and h, as well as minimum ΔP. For the perforated case (perforations starting from 60° at interval of 30°), the fin q and h performance ratios increased by 5.96% and 7.07%, respectively. Consequently, the fin ΔP performance ratio increased by 11.87%. Thus, increased q and h is accompanied with a penalty of higher ΔP. In contrast, a single perforation location at 120° provided favorable results with a 1.70% and 2.23% increase in q and h performance ratios, respectively, while there was a relatively smaller increase (only 1.39%) of ΔP performance ratio. Perforations in the downstream region at ±120°, ±150°, and ±180° also resulted in a similar favorable outcome. Furthermore, the spacing of the fins along the arms of an A-frame ACSC was altered to decrease ΔP across the finned-tube array. Fin spacing in the A-frame structure with sparsely spaced fins in the center resulted in a 1.80% reduction in ΔP. Thus, penalty in ΔP for a perforated fin can possibly be offset by changing the fin spacing along the arms of an A-frame structure.     

Characterization of the Effluent Wastewater from Abattoirs for Land Application

Meat plant wastewater quality depends on water usage, the type of animal slaughtered, and the amount of rendering or processing that is done on site. In Ontario and Quebec, abattoir wastewater total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) ranged from 2333 to 8627 mg/L, and suspended solids (SS) from 736 to 2099 mg/L, volatile suspended solids (VSS) represented 80% of SS, and protein content varied from 444 to 2775 mg/L. Nitrogen (N) and potassium (P) averaged 6.0 and 2.3 g/100 g of TCOD, respectively. Ammonia and sulfide levels were well below the 3000 and 100 mg/L toxicity level, respectively. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) of fresh blood is high at 375,000 mg/L compared to the COD of liquid manure at 15,000-30,000 mg/L. The concentration of the wastewater can be greatly affected by the efficiency of blood recovery in the blood pit. Abattoir wastewater contains several million colony forming units (cfu) /100 mL of total coliform, fecal coliform, and Streptococcus groups of bacteria. The presence of these nonpathogenic microbes indicates the possible presence of pathogens of enteric origin such as Salmonella ssp. and Campylobacter jejuni and of gastrointestinal parasites such as Ascaris sp., Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium parvum, and enteric viruses. Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum are not a concern in poultry wastewater. Pathogens might threaten public health by migrating into groundwater or through traveling off-site by surface water, wind, or vectors (i.e., animals, birds) etc. Once the treated abattoir wastewater is applied to land, the potential for spread of any pathogens that might remain in the water or sludge varies with the type of crop and soil to which it is applied.     

A study on effect of mineral additions on the mechanical,thermal, and structural properties of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) composites

Fillers play a major role in determining the properties and behavior of polymer composites. In this study a series of polybutylene terephthalate composites are fabricated using mica and talc particles as filler materials. The effects of these two different minerals on the mechanical, thermal and structural properties of composites are investigated. Comparative analysis shows that both the fillers have different effect on tensile strength and elongation at break. The experimental results when compared with theoretical predictions reveal high level of interfacial interaction in both the composite systems. The interaction parameter B derived using Pukanszky equation is found to be higher in mica filled composites which is in agreement with its better mechanical response. Microscopic observation by SEM reveals that both fillers exhibit different fracture micromechanics leading to different reinforcing effects in PBT.     

The effect of cation associated with Chloride and sulphate ions on the corrosion of metallic glass Fe67Co18Bl14Si1

The electrochemical corrosion behaviour of the metallic glass Fe₆₇Co₁₈B₁₄Si₁ is studied in 0.05 N solutions of alkali metal chlorides and sulphates using a potentiodynamic anodic polarization technique and weight loss measurements. An attempt is made to explain the cation effect as reflected through the changes in pH of the solution, solubilities of the salts and the rest potentials of the sample in these solutions.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Coordinatively Unsaturated Copper (II) Complexes of 1,3-Bis(2'-Pyridyl)-1,2-Diaza-2-Butene and Their Antityrosinase Activity

The coordinatively unsaturated copper (II) complexes of 1,3-bis(2'-pyridyl)-1,2-diaza-2- butene with different ancillary anions were synthesized which can bind to copper centers of tyrosinase enzyme. The compounds were found to exhibit inhibitory activities against mushroom tyrosinase and the nature and extent of inhibition is modulated according to the type of ancillary anions.     

Improved feature-based test statistic for assessing suitability of the preliminary samples for constructing control limits of \bar{X} chart

In spite of using a large number of subgroups (m) of small samples (n), the estimated control limits of $ \bar{X} $ chart in phase I can be erroneous unless the preliminary samples are drawn from a stable process. As a result, the performance of the chart in phase II can be significantly affected. The pattern in the $ \bar{X} $ chart, exhibited by the plots of the subgroup averages of the preliminary samples, will be different depending on stability and instability of the process while the preliminary samples were collected. Based on this concept, a new feature-based test statistic (FTS) is proposed for evaluating suitability of the preliminary samples for the designing of the $ \bar{X} $ chart. The FTS, for given m, approximately follows $ N[1,{\text{ SD(}}m{)]} $ , where SD(m) is a function of m. The goodness of the approximation and effectiveness of the test are evaluated using simulated data. The results show that both are satisfactory for m?>?=48. The proposed statistic is also quite effective in detecting unstable process condition resulting in a cyclic pattern. The computation of FTS involves some complexities. However, now-a-days computers are widely available and so computation difficulty may not be a problem.