Fuzzy decision support system for fertilizer

Fuzzy geographic information systems is a newly emerging field of computational intelligence. It combines fuzzy logic with spatial context. Most of the natural phenomena are fuzzy in nature. They show a degree of uncertainty or vagueness in their extent and attribute, which cannot be expressed by a crisp value. Agriculture is one of the fields of the spatial domain that needs to be described in fuzzy terms. Fertilizer is a key input for the agriculture sector. In this article, the spatial surfaces of fertilizers are developed for the wheat crop using a fuzzy decision support system. The algorithm of our system takes soil nutrients and cropping time as input, applies fuzzy logic on the input values, defuzzifies the fuzzy output to crisp value, and generates a fertilizer surface. The resultant output surface of fertilizer describes the amount of fertilizer needed to cultivate a specific crop in a specified area. The complexity of our algorithm is \(O(mnr)\) , where \(m\) is the height of the raster, \(n\) is the width of the raster, and \(r\) is the number of expert rules.     

Aqueous solution of Oxone as new oxidizing agent for multi-walled carbon nanotube functionalization

In this work, multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was successfully modified using aqueous solution of Oxone as a new oxidant. The effect of oxidation temperature on various characteristics of the treated MWCNTs was also investigated. FTIR and titration analysis proved the formation of carboxyl, carbonyl and epoxide groups at the surface of MWCNTs. The concentration of the functional groups increased as the modification temperature increased. The presence of such oxygen containing groups at the surface of MWCNTs justified the long time stability of the treated MWCNTs suspensions in water and methanol. The modified MWCNTs showed higher entanglement compared to row MWCNT due to the cross-links adjacent effect of pendant functional groups. Finally, it was concluded that Oxone oxidation process destroys the structure of the MWCNTs, but not severe enough to unzip the MWCNTs.     

A novel composite model approach to improve software quality prediction

Context:How can quality of software systems be predicted before deployment? In attempting to answer this question, prediction models are advocated in several studies. The performance of such models drops dramatically, with very low accuracy, when they are used in new software development environments or in new circumstances.ObjectiveThe main objective of this work is to circumvent the model generalizability problem. We propose a new approach that substitutes traditional ways of building prediction models which use historical data and machine learning techniques.MethodIn this paper, existing models are decision trees built to predict module fault-proneness within the NASA Critical Mission Software. A genetic algorithm is developed to combine and adapt expertise extracted from existing models in order to derive a “composite” model that performs accurately in a given context of software development. Experimental evaluation of the approach is carried out in three different software development circumstances.ResultsThe results show that derived prediction models work more accurately not only for a particular state of a software organization but also for evolving and modified ones.ConclusionOur approach is considered suitable for software data nature and at the same time superior to model selection and data combination approaches. It is then concluded that learning from existing software models (i.e., software expertise) has two immediate advantages; circumventing model generalizability and alleviating the lack of data in software-engineering.     

Development and performance characterization of a new standard mercury manometer

A new standard mercury manometer has been developed to calibrate low vacuum gauges in the range from atmospheric pressure to 1 mbar. It consists of a cistern that is a small stainless steel container used as mercury reservoir and also as the first Hg column connected to a long glass tube used as the second Hg column. Manometer scale covers the difference in Hg heights in two columns up to the length equivalent to 1000 mbars. This is a novel low cost manometer with simple design, compact fabrication, better accuracy, easy operation, low vibration, and thermal stability. In order to evaluate the performance of the equipment, its generated pressures are compared with those of secondary standard, i.e., calibrated capacitance diaphragm gauge, giving the average correction factor 0.998. Different uncertainties of the generated pressures are discussed in detail along with the evaluation of correction factors. The relative uncertainty in the higher pressure side is found to be in the range of 10(-4) which is within the limit (approximately 10(-4)).     

Properties of cu-doped low resistive ZnSe films deposited by two-sourced evaporation

Two-sourced evaporation technique is used to prepare hard ZnSe films by controlling the evaporation rates of both Zn and Se at substrate temperature of 400 °C. The films are doped with Cu by immersion in the Cu(NO₃)₂-H₂O solution for different periods of time. The XRD has not shown a drastic change in the film structure while the electrical resistivity of the deposited film dropped from 10⁹ Ω-cm to about 1.6 Ω-cm for solution immersed films after heat treatment. Optical properties of deposited and doped films, such as film thickness, absorption coefficient and optical band gap have been calculated from the normal transmission spectra in the range of 300-2200 nm.The optical results show a decrease of the transmission and an increase of the refractive index and a slight shift in the optical band gap. Chemical composition of the Cu is determined by using absorption of immersed films. The composition of Cu is also compared with the composition detected by electron microprobe analyzer (EMPA).     

Fabrication of Mn–ZnO photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting applications

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - A photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting ability of pure ZnO and manganese-incorporated ZnO thin films fabricated via a simple...     

Superconductivity and Fluctuation-Induced Conductivity (FIC) Analysis of (Cu0.5Tl0.5?x M x )Ba2Ca2Cu3O10?δ

Superconductivity has been improved by partial substitution of slightly higher electronegative (M=Bi, Hg) elements at Tl sites in (Cu_0.5Tl_0.5?x M _x )Ba₂O_4??? (x=0,0.25) charge reservoir layer of (Cu_0.5Tl_0.5?x M _x )Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O_10??? superconductor. These samples were characterized by X-ray diffractometry, dc-resistivity, ac-susceptibility, FTIR absorption spectroscopy, and fluctuation-induced conductivity (FIC) analysis. The FIC analysis has been carried out in the light of Aslamasov?CLarkin (AL) theory on the resistivity versus temperature curves of (Cu_0.5Tl_0.5?x M _x )Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O_10??? superconductor. The microscopic parameters such as cross-over temperature (T _o ), zero-temperature coherence length ?? _c (0), inter-layer coupling (J), and critical exponents (?? _2D and ?? _3D) have been determined from FIC analysis of these samples and tried to correlate them to the superconductivity order parameters. A?direct correlation between the cross-over temperatures (T _o ) and zero resistivity critical temperature {T _c (R=0)} and carrier concentration in these samples has been observed. The improvement in T _c (R=0) and the shift of 3D AL region to higher temperature values with the doping of Bi and Hg have also been observed.     

Potential Chemical Markers for the Identification of Irradiated Sausages

Abstract: Hydrocarbons, gas compounds, and off‐odor volatiles were determined for irradiated (0 or 5 kGy) commercial sausages with different fat contents (16% and 29%) during a 60‐d storage period at 4 °C. Total of 4 hydrocarbons (C14:1, C15:0, C16:2, and C17:1) were detected only in irradiated sausages: the amount of C16:2 was the highest, followed by C17:1, C14:1, and C15:0. The concentrations of hydrocarbons decreased significantly (P < 0.05) with storage, but were still detectable at the end of 60‐d storage. Irradiated sausages produced significantly higher amounts of CO than the nonirradiated ones. CH₄ was detected only in irradiated sausages. Dimethyl disulfide was detected only in irradiated sausages and its concentration decreased significantly (P < 0.05) with storage. Fat content of sausages showed a significant effect on the production and retention of hydrocarbons, gas compounds, and sulfur volatiles in irradiated sausages during storage. Some hydrocarbons (C16:2, C17:1, C14:1, and C15:0), CH₄, and dimethyl disulfide were only found in irradiated sausages indicating that these compounds can be used as potential markers for irradiated sausages.