An investigation of the drivers,barriers, and incentives for environmental management systems in the Malaysian food and beverage industry

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - Food production and consumption is one of the major causes of global environmental degradation. One way to address environmental impacts in the food...     

Hybrid intelligent framework for one-day ahead wind speed forecasting

Neural Computing and Applications - Nowadays wind power is considered as one of the fastest growing alternative energies, that is expected to continue to grow rapidly in the upcoming...     

A Distributed Routing Method for Dynamic Multicasting

Single point, sender based control does not scale well for multicast delivery. For applications, such as group video or teleconferencing a low total cost multicast tree is required. In this article we present a destination driven algorithm to minimize the total tree cost of multicast tree in a dynamic situation for the whole session duration. In this heuristic approach we considered the staying duration of participants are available at the time of joining. The performance of our algorithm is analyzed through extensive simulation and evaluated against several other existing dynamic multicast routing and also against one well known near optimum heuristic algorithm used for solving Steiner tree problem. We have further tested our algorithm using erroneous information given by the joining participants. Simulation results show that its performance does not degrade that much even when the range of error is considerably high, which proves the robustness of our algorithm.     

Model Validation for Bridge-Road-Vehicle Dynamic Interaction System

The dynamic response of highway bridges subjected to moving truckloads has been observed to be dependent on (1) dynamic characteristics of the bridge; (2) truck configuration, speed, and lane position on the bridge; and (3) road surface roughness profile of the bridge and its approach. Historically, truckloads were measured to determine the load spectra for girder bridges. However, truckload measurements are either made for a short period of time [for example, weigh-in-motion (WIM) data] or are statistically biased (for example, weigh stations) and cost prohibitive. The objective of this paper is to present results of a 3D computer-based model for the simulation of multiple trucks on girder bridges. The model is based on the grillage approach and is applied to four steel girder bridges tested under normal truck traffic. Actual truckload data collected using a discrete bridge WIM system are used in the model. The data include axle loads, truck gross weight, axle configuration, and statistical data on multiple presence (side by side or following). The results are presented as a function of the static and dynamic stresses in each girder and compared with code provisions for dynamic load factor. The study provides an alternate method for the development of live-load models for bridge design and evaluation.     

Evaluation of Laminated Circular Elastomeric Bearings

This paper evaluates the behavior and performance of laminated circular elastomeric bearings and compares them to those of square and rectangular bearings. The study included an experimental evaluation and a nationwide survey of state Department of Transportations on the use and performance of circular bearings and bearings in general in their states. The experimental investigation studied the bearings' behavior in compression, compression and rotation, and compression and shear. Results from this limited study showed that the three bearings have similar stress-strain behavior in compression and they are in agreement with the AASHTO LRFD guide stress–strain curves. In compression and rotation, the AASHTO LRFD substructure moments are slightly less than the measured values for circular bearings and rectangular bearings rotated about their strong axis for a compressive stress of 10.3?MPa (1.5?ksi) and slightly higher than those of rectangular bearings rotated about their weak axis. In compression and shear, the shear stiffness of circular and square bearings is in agreement with theoretical values within the range of design displacements. Results from the survey showed that many states are using circular bearings and more states would consider using them, however no maintenance or monitoring data were available on their short-term and long-term performance.     

Effect of the percentage carbon equivalent on the nodule characteristics,density and modulus of elasticity of ductile cast iron

Successful melting and Mg treatment were conducted using a vortex unit which produced spheroidal graphite (SG) Fe ingots having a percentage carbon equivalent (%CE) ranging from 3.782 to 5.240. Microstructure examination revealed graphite nodules embedded in a white matrix (unetched condition). The variation of %CE proved to have a pronounced effect on the nodule characteristics. The nodule count showed a maximum value at %CE of 4.613. For metal-mould ingots it reached a value of 1584 nodules mm^–2, while for sand-mould ingots it reached a value of 970 nodules mm^–2. Nodule size was found to be inversely proportional to the nodule count for both sand- and metal-mould ingots. The nodularity of all ingots was, in general, higher than 95%. The density of SG Fe was found to decrease gradually (at %CE=3.782) from 7242 to 6969 kg m^–3. The modulus of elasticity (E) showed a boat-like curve having minimum values of 189 and 192 GPa for the sand and metal moulds, respectively.     

Entrepreneurship in an Unstable Environment: The Experience of the Occupied Territories

The research aims at exploring the relationship between small business enterprises and their environments through an empirical investigation of the methods and strategies adopted by a number of industrial firms operating in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in response to the exigencies and challenges of the uprising in the occupied territories in order to survive. Though the problems faced by the industrial sector as a result of the unique situation in the areas are almost unparalleled in other parts of the world, it has been possible to gain fresh insight into the dynamics of the environmental factors and their impact on organizational structure and function. Despite innumerable obstacles, the industrial sector has achieved a reasonable degree of growth.     

An assessment of the θ-projection method for the representation and extrapolation of creep data for a 1%Cr, 12%Mo, 14%V steel tested at 565°C

Constant stress creep data for a wrought 1%Cr, $\text{1}\text{2}\text{\%}\text{Mo}$, $\text{1}\text{4}\text{\%}\text{V}$ steel obtained from six tests carried out at 565°C have been fitted and extrapolated using the θ-projection method. Creep curves for high stresses were fitted well, but curves extrapolated to stress levels below those used in the θ-projection did not represent well the available data for primary-secondary creep. To enable a satisfactory extrapolation of results, it was found necessary to redefine the failure condition to be less sensitive to the shape of the latter sections of the tertiary creep curve. This was achieved by defining lifetime as the point on the curve at which the strain rate reached a fixed multiple of the creep rate at half the rupture time. The extrapolated data compare well with the results of tests carried out independently on a cast 1%Cr, $\text{1}\text{2}\text{\%}\text{Mo}$, $\text{1}\text{4}\text{\%}\text{V}$ steel. The extrapolation procedure not only predicts the ‘knee’ in the log stress-log lifetime curve but allows extrapolation of lifetimes by over a factor of thirty. In addition, acceptable predictions have been made of constant load experimental data.     

Analysis and Optimization of Noise in Bipolar RF Harmonic Mixers

A noise analysis of bipolar harmonic mixers (BHM) used for direct-conversion receivers is presented in this paper. Analytical and simulated results for the transfer function of the mixer are presented. Simple analytical expressions describing noise contribution from all sources are derived. Estimation of flicker noise quite agrees with harmonic-balance simulation results. Based on the derived expressions, total time average noise power spectral density (PSD) at the output is compared with simulation results. For the recommended regions of operation, error is less than 20%. The overall BHM noise figure (NF) is calculated and optimized based on a simple extracted formula. Errors introduced by analysis remain within a 1.5-dB margin with respect to simulation results. The validity of analysis for high frequencies is justified. The effect of flicker noise coefficient on the overall mixer NF is compared for different available processes.