An integrated algorithm for text recognition: comparison with a cascaded algorithm

The use of diverse knowledge sources in text recognition and in correction of letter substitution errors in words of text is considered. Three knowledge sources are defined: channel characteristics as probabilities that observed letters are corruptions of other letters, bottom-up context as letter conditional probabilities (when the previous letters of the word are known), and top-down context as a lexicon. Two algorithms, one based on integrating the knowledge sources in a single step and the other based on sequentially cascading bottom-up and top-down processes, are compared in terms of computational/storage requirements and results of experimentation.     

Preparation and pervaporation performance of chitosan‐poly(methacrylic acid) polyelectrolyte complex membranes for dehydration of 1,4‐dioxane

Polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) membranes composed of chitosan (CS) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) were prepared by mixing the polymer solutions in different ratios. The chemical interaction and crystallinity of the resulting PEC membranes were respectively analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to characterize the thermal properties of the membranes. The membranes thus obtained were subjected to pervaporation (PV) separation of water‐dioxane mixtures. Among the PEC membranes, membrane containing 30 wt% ratio of PMAA (M‐3) exhibited the highest separation selectivity of 840 with a flux of 12.07 × 10^?2 kg/m²h at 30°C at 15 wt% of water in the feed. By the incorporation of NaY zeolite into PEC up to 5 wt%, we have been able to overcome the trade‐off phenomenon existing between flux and selectivity in PV process. From the temperature dependent diffusion and permeation values, the Arrhenius activation parameters were estimated. The resulting activation energy values obtained for water permeation (E_pw) are much lower than those of dioxane permeation (E_po), suggesting that the developed membranes have higher separation efficiency for water‐dioxane system. Based on the heat of sorption (ΔH_s) values, the mode of sorption was discussed. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 56:715–724, 2016. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Preparation of schoenite and sulphate of potash from mixed salts obtained in solar evaporation

Potassium is deposited as kainite and/or carnallite by solar evaporation of sea and inland bitterns, respectively. The solubility of this natural kainite in water was found to be at 20 g magnesium chloride per 100 g water as against at 27.5 g obtained with synthetic kainite. As a result, the equilibrium data available from conventional phase diagrams were found to be not applicable for the conversion of kainite to potassium schoenite, an intermediate product to obtain potassium sulphate. Therefore applicability of the system K₂Cl₂-MgSO₄-H₂O to natural kainite was investigated and equilibria in reactions in slurries and optimum yields were worked out.     

Deposition of primary kainite from marine bitterns in solar evaporation

Mother liquor compositions during the solar evaporation of marine bitterns have been compared with corresponding isothermal equilibria in the NaCl-KCl-MgCl₂-MgSO₄-H₂O system. The compositions indicate that on solar evaporation of bitterns, potassium is deposited solely in the form of kainite, and that co-deposition of free sylvite and epsomite does not take place. It is also shown that during solar evaporation, the concentration of potassium is relatively low and that of magnesium relatively high, resulting in a more efficient precipitation of potassium in solar evaporation than in the forced or isothermal evaporation of sea water or of pure salts.     

Strain mediated enhancement in magnetoelectric properties of sonochemically synthesized piezoelectric and piezomagnetic composites

Materials with magneto-electric (ME) properties are of great importance because of their demand in electronic industries. Three dimensional nano-particles of the ME-composites having the general formula (1-x)CoCr_0.3Fe_1.7O₄(CCFO)+(x)BaTiO₃(BTO) (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0) were obtained by comprising the piezoelectric-BTO and piezomagnetic-CCFO phases. The individual phases of CCFO and BTO were synthesized separately by ultrasonic irradiation assisted sonochemical and sol-gel routs. X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) confirmed the well-crystalline nature of both the phases. BTO and CCFO phases were under tensile strain as confirmed by the variation in lattice constants with varying proportion of BTO and CCFO. An energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy spectrum confirmed the phase purity of the samples and stoichiometric concentration of elements. Magnetic properties were investigated by M ? H loop measurements and dielectric properties by using RF impedance analyzer. Dielectric constant increased with the increasing percentage of BTO. The maximum value of ME coefficient (24.7 mV/cm?Oe) is observed for the 60%CCFO+40%BTO sample. The obtained results were discussed in the light of grain size, strain and the basic properties of the individual phases. The prepared materials can be applicable in electronic devices where high magneto-electric coefficient is desirable.     

Congruence of manufacturing decision areas in a production system: a research framework

A well designed production system secures environmental and internal fit. Environmental fit in a production system refers to alignment of manufacturing decisions to the external settings such as product and market. Internal fit implies that manufacturing decisions are mutually supportive. This paper develops a framework to analyse congruence of manufacturing decision areas in a production system. The framework considers six broad manufacturing decision areas. Based on the literature review, 54 decision types and alternative decision choices for each decision type are identified. The subjective and/or objective constructs to measure decision type are presented which should be useful in designing construct and in data gathering to conduct empirical research. Using the proposed framework, many research questions concerning the settings of several decision types for a specific type of production system can be generated and empirically tested.     

Choices in manufacturing strategy decision areas in batch production system – six case studies

The configuration of a production system can be described by the choices a firm makes in its manufacturing decision areas. Manufacturing strategy literature lacks empirical research in manufacturing decision areas. The current paper is an exploratory study using six case companies on alternative configurations that can exist in a batch production system. Choices made in decisions such as layout, shop floor control, etc., were found to be similar for all six companies that use batch process. However, there were a number of decisions that were found to be non-process specific and are influenced by product complexity, important competitive priorities, strategic orientation of manufacturing, top management decisions and the size of the company. The paper concludes with managerial implications and future research directions.     

Fabrication and high-temperature structural characterization study of porous anodic alumina membranes

Porous anodic alumina (PAA) membranes with highly ordered array of nanopores were prepared by two-step anodization process. Studies on structural and thermal properties and the thermal stability of the prepared PAA membranes were carried out. Investigation using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and infrared spectroscopy was performed on the prepared PAA membranes at room temperature and in the temperature range 600?C1,400?°C. The as-prepared PAA membranes revealed the amorphous nature. Polycrystalline PAA membranes were obtained by annealing carried out at different temperatures. Annealing study confirmed that the heat treatment transformed the amorphous PAA membranes to their crystalline phases, namely, ??-alumina at about 870?°C and then to ??-alumina around 1,250?°C.     

Observations of solid–liquid systems in anchor agitated vessels

Although process development is often done in well agitated vessels (e.g. with a retreat curve, pitched blade turbine etc.), there are a sizeable number of contract manufacturers’ still deploying a significant number of anchor agitated process units. For the purpose of observing the Zwietering constant value ‘S’ and few industrially important solid–liquid systems, we conducted extensive suspension experiments with anchor agitated vessels for varying D/T ratios (0.74 and 0.73). In this study, Zwietering's N_js (just suspension speed) and the corresponding ‘S’ factor were obtained for each system over a range of solid loadings. We found that the Zwietering constant was strongly dependent on the nature of the solid–liquid system; i.e. different systems had different ‘S’ values for the same geometrical configuration.     

Mechanical and anticorrosive properties of non toxic coal-tar epoxy alternative coating

Coal tar epoxy (CTE) coating system has been widely used for protection of steel structures under atmospheric, buried and immersion conditions because of their low water vapour permeability, high electrolyte resistance and good antibacterial properties. However, coal tar has been classified as carcinogen, mutagen and toxic for reproduction (CMR) as per International guideline (REACH, IARC and GS 11). It is now banned in the developed nations like US, Europe, Japan, etc. As the use of coal tar is being restricted, there is an urgent need to formulate a coal tar free epoxy product for corrosion protection of structures. In the present study, alternative approaches have been proposed to replace coal tar such as bitumen (BIT), hydrocarbon resin (HR), flexibilizer (FL) and curing agents like polyamide (PAD) or polyamine (PAM). Four different coal tar free formulations were formulated separately by using these approaches. The standard CTE and coal tar free epoxy compositions were evaluated for mechanical properties such as elongation at break, tensile strength, adhesion strength and resistance to abrasion, impact and flexibility. The resistance to corrosion of optimized composition (epoxy-HR-FL-PAD-PAM) and coal tar epoxy coating was evaluated by exposing to different environments. The corrosion resistance property was also evaluated by cathodic disbondment and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique. Results indicate that epoxy-hydrocarbon resin-flexibilizer composition cured with blend of polyamide and polyamine has comparable mechanical and corrosion protection properties to that of standard CTE.