Multiple Decision Expert Systems for Performance Analysis of a Boiler System

Artificial neural networks (ANN)-based multiple decision expert systems (MDES) were developed for assessing the performance of a boiler system. Different configurations of ANN were used with different decision combination methods, including a neural combiner, to propose the model. The model was developed using the plant data collected over a period of five months to predict steam temperature, pressure, and mass flow rate, using feed water pressure, feed water temperature, conveyor speed, and incinerator exit temperature as the input parameters. The predictive capability of the model is evaluated in terms of both correlation coefficient (R) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). The results observed from this work demonstrate that neural combiner and ANN-based MDES can efficiently predict the data on steam properties consistently, and that the model can serve as an efficient tool for monitoring boiler behavior under real-time conditions. Superiority of the proposed model over others under various scenarios is also demonstrated.     

Photoreceptor Cells Constitutively Express IL-35 and Promote Ocular Immune Privilege

Interleukin-27 is constitutively secreted by microglia in the retina or brain, and upregulation of IL-27 during neuroinflammation suppresses encephalomyelitis and autoimmune uveitis. However, while IL-35 is structurally and functionally similar to IL-27, the intrinsic roles of IL-35 in CNS tissues are unknown. Thus, we generated IL-35/YFP-knock-in reporter mice (p35-KI) and demonstrated that photoreceptor neurons constitutively secrete IL-35, which might protect the retina from persistent low-grade inflammation that can impair photoreceptor functions. Furthermore, the p35-KI mouse, which is hemizygous at the il12a locus, develops more severe uveitis because of reduced IL-35 expression. Interestingly, onset and exacerbation of uveitis in p35-KI mice caused by extravasation of proinflammatory Th1/Th17 lymphocytes into the retina were preceded by a dramatic decrease of IL-35, attributable to massive death of photoreceptor cells. Thus, while inflammation-induced death of photoreceptors and loss of protective effects of IL-35 exacerbated uveitis, our data also suggest that constitutive production of IL-35 in the retina might have housekeeping functions that promote sterilization immunity in the neuroretina and maintain ocular immune privilege.     

Analytical study of nuclear-coupled density-wave instability in a natural circulation pressure tube type boiling water reactor

An analytical model has been developed to study the nuclear-coupled density-wave instability in the Indian advanced heavy water reactor (AHWR) which is a natural circulation pressure tube type boiling water reactor. The model considers a point kinetics model for the neutron dynamics and a lumped parameter model for the fuel thermal dynamics along with the conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy and equation of state for the coolant. In addition, to study the effect of neutron interactions between different parts of the core, the model considers a coupled multipoint kinetics equation in place of simple point kinetics equation. Linear stability theory was applied to reveal the instability of in-phase and out-of-phase modes in the boiling channels of the AHWR. The results indicate that the stability behavior of the reactor is greatly influenced by the void reactivity coefficient, fuel time constant, radial power distribution and channel inlet orificing. The delayed neutrons were found to have a strong influence on the Type I and Type II instabilities observed at low and high channel powers, respectively. Also, it was found that the coupled multipoint kinetics model and the modal point kinetics model predict the same threshold power for out-of-phase instability if the coupling coefficient in the former model is half the eigen value separation between the fundamental and the first harmonic mode in the latter model. Decay ratio maps were predicted considering various operating parameters of the reactor, which are useful for its design.     

Performance analysis of tool electrode prepared through laser sintering process during electrical discharge machining of titanium

The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology - It is of great significance for intelligent manufacturing to study condition monitoring and diagnosis methods to realize early...     

A new extrinsic dc model for high speed lattice matched InAlAs/InGaAs/InP HEMT with a predicted 135 GHz cut-off frequency

Extrinsic lattice matched InAlAs/InGaAs/InP HEMT model, incorporating the parasitic source and drain resistance, for very high frequency application is developed. The current voltage characteristics and the transconductance have been evaluated and the influence of carrier concentration dependent mobility on frequency has also been analyzed. A cut-off frequency of 135 GHz is obtained.     

Time-domain analysis of cross correlation for time delay estimationwith an autocorrelated signal

The estimation accuracy of the time difference of arrival (TDOA) of an exponentially autocorrelated signal at two sensors in white noise is analyzed. The estimate is obtained by cross correlating samples taken as short-term integrals of the noisy signals from the two sensors. This technique avoids ambiguities in the cross correlation, and it is shown that the best sampling rate is double the Nyquist rate, for which the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) is met in practice     

Design and development of a machine vision system using artificial neural network-based algorithm for automated coal characterization

Coal is heterogeneous in nature,and thus the characterization of coal is essential before its use for a specific purpose.Thus,the current study aims to develop ...     

Development of Nd (III)-Based Terahertz Absorbers Revealing Temperature Dependent Near-Infrared Luminescence

Molecular vibrations in the solid-state, detectable in the terahertz (THz) region, are the subject of research to further develop THz technologies. To observe such vibrations in terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) and low-frequency (LF) Raman spectroscopy, two supramolecular assemblies with the formula [Nd^III (phen)₃ (NCX)₃] 0.3EtOH (X = S, 1-S; Se, 1-Se) were designed and prepared. Both compounds show several THz-TDS and LF-Raman peaks in the sub-THz range, with the lowest frequencies of 0.65 and 0.59 THz for 1-S and 1-Se, and 0.75 and 0.61 THz for 1-S and 1-Se, respectively. The peak redshift was observed due to the substitution of SCN⁻ by SeCN⁻. Additionally, temperature-dependent TDS-THz studies showed a thermal blueshift phenomenon, as the peak position shifted to 0.68 THz for 1-S and 0.62 THz for 1-Se at 10 K. Based on ab initio calculations, sub-THz vibrations were ascribed to the swaying of the three thiocyanate/selenocyanate. Moreover, both samples exhibited near-infrared (NIR) emission from Nd (III), and very good thermometric properties in the 300–150 K range, comparable to neodymium (III) oxide-based thermometers and higher than previously reported complexes. Moreover, the temperature dependence of fluorescence and THz spectroscopy analysis showed that the reduction in anharmonic thermal vibrations leads to a significant increase in the intensity and a reduction in the width of the emission and LF absorption peaks. These studies provide the basis for developing new routes to adjust the LF vibrational absorption.     

Oxidation of Starch by Hydrogen Peroxide in the Presence of UV Light-Part II

Various reaction variables in the hydrogen peroxide oxidation of starch in the presence of UV light have been investigated. Higher carboxyl and carbonyl contents of oxystarches were obtained under acidic than under alkaline conditions. Extent of oxidation was found to increase with time. Increasing the concentration of hydrogen peroxide results in an increase in the carboxyl and carbonyl contents. Apparently, air has no effect on the degree of oxidation whereas, oxygen seems to accelerate it.