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Comparative Study of Different Underfill Material on Flip Chip Ceramic Ball Grid Array Based on Accelerated Thermal Cycling

Problem statement: This study mainly to study the effect of several commercial underfill materials to the reliability of HiCTE Flip Chip Ceramic Ball Grid Array (FC-CBGA) package due to Accelerated Thermal Cycling (ATC) effect. Approach: The warpage condition of package, die back stress, interfacial die shear stress, and solder bump fatigue for different commercial underfills were assessed and compared via a commercial Finite Element Analysis (FEA) under JEDEC Standard of ATC. The thermo-mechanical properties of underfills for simulation were obtained by using Thermal Mechanical Analyzer (TMA) and Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA). The actual package of HiCTE FC-CBGA were assembled with those underfill materials and underwent ATC to be compared with FEA result. Results: The results from FEA and experimental were discussed to characterize the performance of each underfill material. The results of this study indicate that the underfill materials investigated, those with a glass transition temperature (Tg) and a Young�s modulus of approximately above 105�C and 8-9 GPa, respectively, were appropriate for HiCTE FC-CBGA with high lead solder bumps. Conclusion: The result from FEA analysis and ATC reliability test found that the underfill materials with high and medium low Young�s modulus has high reliability in FC-CBGA package.

Facial Features for Template Matching Based Face Recognition

Problem statement: Template matching had been a conventional method for object detection especially facial features detection at the early stage of face recognition research. The appearance of moustache and beard had affected the performance of features detection and face recognition system since ages ago. Approach: The proposed algorithm aimed to reduce the effect of beard and moustache for facial features detection and introduce facial features based template matching as the classification method. An automated algorithm for face recognition system based on detected facial features, iris and mouth had been developed. First, the face region was located using skin color information. Next, the algorithm computed the costs for each pair of iris candidates from intensity valleys as references for iris selection. As for mouth detection, color space method was used to allocate lips region, image processing methods to eliminate unwanted noises and corner detection technique to refine the exact location of mouth. Finally, template matching was used to classify faces based on the extracted features. Results: The proposed method had shown a better features detection rate (iris = 93.06%, mouth = 95.83%) than conventional method. Template matching had achieved a recognition rate of 86.11% with acceptable processing time (0.36 sec). Conclusion: The results indicate that the elimination of moustache and beard has not affected the performance of facial features detection. The proposed features based template matching has significantly improved the processing time of this method in face recognition research.

An Eigenstructure Assignment for a Static Synchronous Compensator

Problem statement: Power flow through an AC transmission line is influenced by three basic electrical parameters, which are line impedance, magnitudes and phase-shift angle between the sending and receiving voltages. Therefore, the change in any of the three basic parameters means a change in the power flow through the transmission line. The aims of this research paper are: increase the power transfer capability of transmission systems, minimize the transmission losses, support a good voltage profile and retain system stability under large disturbances. Study the use of eigenstructure techniques for state feedback control of the power system static compensator. Therefore, the mathematical analysis was performed for eigenvector assignment, power flow transmission line and for the static compensator analysis based on the transformation of the three-phase into d-q frame. Approach: A novel control method for regulating the power system in case of abnormal conditions was carried out. The system considered is a static synchronous compensator. The study includes a detailed mathematical analysis of the impact of the shunt compensator on the power flow; investigation of the system constraints and their effects on the static compensator control; in addition simulation of static compensator to control a transmitted active power flow on the transmission line. The conducted method provides a way of constructing the state feedback gain matrix to satisfy a certain prescribed performance. Results: The solutions of the obtained equation were conducted using the computer simulation method for both open-loop and static compensator techniques. The result shows fast tracking of the power flow transient response when using the static compensator technique comparing with open-loop technique. However, the same trend of the behavior was observed for all cases. Conclusion: A new method for developing a parameterized feedback matrix that assigns a closed-loop prespecified set of eigenvalues was obtained. It improves the overall system performance and yields a class of controllers contributing uniformly to the assignment process. The voltage could be kept constant independent of the loads with static compensator. The results show clearly the applicability of the proposed control scheme which is acceptable for the static compensator.

Evolutionary Algorithm Definition

Problem statement: Most resent evolutionary algorithms work under weak theoretical basis and thus, they are computationally expensive. Approach: This study discussed the use of new evolutionary algorithm for automatic programming, based on theoretical definitions of program behaviors. Evolutionary process adapted fixed and self-organized input-output specification of the problem, to evolve good finite state machine that efficiently satisfies these specifications. Results: The proposed algorithm enhanced evolutionary process by simultaneously solving multi-parts from the same problem. Conclusion: The probability that the algorithm will converge to the optimal solution was highly enhanced when decomposing the main problem into multi-part.

Finite Element Analysis of Composite Hardened Walls Subjected to Blast Loads

Problem statement: There is currently no standard design guideline to determine the number of composites needed to retrofit masonry walls in order to withstand a given explosion. Past design approaches were mainly based on simplified single-degree-of-freedom analysis. A finite element analysis was conducted for concrete masonry walls hardened with composites and subjected to short duration blast loads. Approach: The analysis focused on displacement time history responses which form the basis for retrofit design guidelines against blast loadings. The blast was determined from 0.5 kg equivalent TNT explosive at 1.83 m stand-off distance to simulate small mailroom bombs. Two and four layered retrofitted walls were investigated. Uncertainties in the finite model analysis of walls such as pressure distributions, effect of mid height explosive bursts versus near the ground explosive bursts and variations in modulus of elasticity of the wall were presented. Results: Uniformly distributed blast loads over the retrofitted wall height produced a small difference in peak displacement results when compared to the non-uniform pressure distribution. Ground explosive burst was shown to produce a 62.7% increase in energy and a higher peak displacement response when compared to mid-height explosive burst. Conclusion: The parametric study on the variation of modulus of elasticity of concrete masonry showed no significant effect on peak displacement affirming the use of the resistance deflection contribution of the composite in retrofit designs.

Improved Continuing Losses Estimation Using Initial Loss-Continuing Loss Model for Medium Sized Rural Catchments

Problem statement: The rainfall based design flood estimation techniques are commonly adopted in hydrological design and require a number of inputs including information on soil loss characteristics. Approach: A conceptual loss model known as the �Initial Loss-Continuing Loss (IL-CL) model� is widely used in Australia. Results: The Initial Loss (IL) occurs at the beginning of the rainfall event, prior to the commencement of surface runoff and the Continuing Loss (CL) is the average rate of loss throughout the remainder of the storm. The currently recommended design loss values depicted in �Australian Rainfall and Runoff Vol. 1� for Queensland (Australia) has some basic limitations. This study investigated how more accurate CL values can be estimated and derived for medium sized tropical Queensland catchments using long term rainfall and streamflow data. Accuracy in CL estimation has got significant implications in the estimation of design floods. Conclusion/Recommendations: The results showed that CL value is not fixed and constant through out the duration of the storm but the CL value decays with the duration of the storm.

Robust of Doppler Centroid for Mapping Sea Surface Current by Using Radar Satellite Data

Problem statement: Sea surface current retrieving from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is required standard methods due to the complexity of sea surface ocean imaging in SAR data. In this context, various analytical models have been developed which describe overall effects of sea surface roughness on the Doppler signal mechanisms. Nevertheless, such models are limited in the complexity of the sea surface current estimation that can be used. In fact, the resolution of the sea surface Doppler velocity in azimuth direction is typically coarser as compared to the normalized radar cross section image. Approach: This study introduced a new method to retrieve sea surface current from RADARSAT-1 SAR Standard beam mode (S2) data. The method was based on the utilization of the Wavelength Diversity Ambiguity Resolving (WDAR) and Multi Look beat Frequency (MLBF) algorithms to remove Doppler centroid (f_DC) ambiguity. Results: The result showed that the proposed methods are able to correct Doppler centroid (f_DC) ambiguity and produced fine spatial sea surface current variations in S2 mode data. The current velocities were ranged between 0.18 and 0.78 m sec^-1 with standard error of 0.11 m sec^-1. Conclusion: In conclusion, RADARSAT-1 SAR standard beam mode (S2) data can be utilized to retrieve real time sea surface current. Both WDAR and MLBF algorithms are able to provide accurately information on Doppler Centroid (f_DC) in which accurately real time sea surface current can be retrieved from SAR data.

Restrained Shrinkage-Induced Cracking of Light Weight High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites

Problem statement: Shrinkage induced cracking cause damage to reinforced concrete structures. An experimental study was conducted on restrained shrinkage test of cement mortar and light weight High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites (HPFRCC). Approach: Two types of light weight HPFRCC and a premix mortar containing small amount of fiber were included in the experiment. Results: Results showed the multiple cracks, as many as 49, in light weight HPFRCC specimens compared to few cracks (about six cracks) in the premix mortar specimen. At the end of shrinkage test, the width of the cracks in the mortar specimen was more than 250 μm with the largest crack width of about 400 μm. However, the scenario was quite different in light weight HPFRCC specimens, where the width of almost all cracks was less than 100 μm. Conclusion: The higher number of multiple cracks with small cracks width in light weight HPFRCC specimens due to drying shrinkage was due to their strain hardening and ductile behavior compared to quasi brittle behavior of premix mortar where less number of wide cracks was observed.

Wireless Phones Electromagnetic Field Radiation Exposure Assessment

Problem statement: Inadequate knowledge of electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phones and increased usage at close proximity, created a lot of skepticism and speculations among end users on its safety or otherwise. Approach: In this study, near field electromagnetic field radiation measurements were conducted on different brand of mobile phones in active mode using a tri-axis isotropic probe and electric field meter. Results: The highest electromagnetic field exposure was recorded when the mobile phones are at outgoing call mode and backing the probe, which is higher in comparison to ICNIRP guidelines for exposure to general public. Conclusion: According to this finding, some mobile phones electromagnetic field radiation were found to be lower than the ICNIRP guidelines while some were far above the guidelines. Electromagnetic field intensity however, depends on the mode of operation and proximity of the mobile phones to the end user; hence it is safer to use mobile phones at SMS mode.

Statistical Models for Hardened Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete

Problem statement: For predicting workability and hardened properties of Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) no well known explicit formulation. Approach: Statistical models were carried out to model the influence of key mixture parameter (cement, water to powder ratio, fly ash and super plasticizer) on hardened properties affecting the performance of SCC. Such responses included compressive strength at 3, 7 and 28 days and modulus of elasticity. Thirty one mixtures were prepared to derive the numerical models and evaluate the accuracy. The models were valid for a wide range of mixture proportioning. Results: The research presented derived numerical models that can be useful to reduce the test procedures and trials needed for the proportioning of self-compacting concrete. The qualities of these models were evaluated based on several factors such as level prediction, residual error, residual mean square and correlation coefficients. Conclusion: Full quadratic models in all the response (compressive strength at 3,7 and 28 days and modulus of elasticity) showed high correlation coefficient (R2), adjusted correlation coefficient, less level of significant and sum of square errors from the four predictions models (linear, interaction, full quadratic and pure quadratic) were developed.

Relaxation of Residual Stress Part 2: Relaxation of Stage 2

Problem statement: Compressive residual stress induced by surface treatment such as shot peening increased component�s fatigue life. However the initial induced residual stresses relax during component operating life and it is important to consider the relaxation in the design. Approach: In this study, a 2024-T351 aluminum alloy specimens were shot peened into three shot peening intensities condition to induce compressive residual stresses. Then fatigue test for two loads was performed for the 10, 1000 and 10000 cyclic loads. The initial residual stresses at the initial condition and after 10, 1000 and 10000 cycle of fatigue loading were measured using X-ray diffraction method. Results: The results showed that the relaxation of the residual stress for the load 15.5 kN is less than the relaxation of the load 30 kN for the three shot peening intensity. The maximum relaxation for load 15.5 kN is 46% of the initial residual stress at 10000 cycles for intensity 0.009 A while the maximum relaxation for load 30 kN is 54% at 10000 cycles for the intensity of 0.0054% A. this result indicated that the residual stress relaxation depended on the load amplitude. Conclusion: The initial residual stress did not remain stable during the component�s fatigue life. Within the second phase relaxation, micro-plastic strains accumulating from cycle to cycle. The residual stress relaxation for second phase is in logarithmic relationship.

Wireless Communication with a Microprocessor Based Ultrasonic Meter for Flow Measurements

Problem statement: Although the traditional metering system and method for controlling flow is generally safe, reliable and robust, it does suffer certain drawbacks, such as limited accuracy and the ability to implement complex reactive rate designs. Hence, there is a need for a circuit and method of increasing metering accuracy, as well as the position control accuracy for variable flow rates, without further reliance on mechanical tolerances. An essential component for an electronic meter is a database and method of communication to obtain the required measurements and to program the meter for any additional needed values. Flexibility is added to such meters by using wireless communication circuits and protocols, which will enable reading of multi-devices from the same source point. Approach: To collect data, critical quality of service and carry out analysis, wireless flow meter reading system is designed, tested and implemented. The hardware and software in the designed system work together, to wirelessly receive readings from meters and then process it in order to obtain an accurate reading for the measured flow. The system makes use of modern communication algorithms and techniques. Also, the system allows for history tracing and analysis. The interfacing hardware uses two-way wireless optical interface to flow meter device. Results: The Hardware and Communication Protocol tested successfully and provided sufficient and accurate data for flow measurements analysis, presented in this research. Conclusion: Such hardware-software arrangement is considered a core for mobile meter reading and control with possibility to add intelligent security algorithms.

Steel Piling Corrosion Management of Al-Zubare Harbor

Problem statement: Damage due to corrosion is a significant problem worldwide. Countries around the world have estimated that the cost of corrosion to their national economies to be 3-4% of their gross national product. Approach: Design and implementation a new steel piling of the Corrosion Management Program (CMP) in Al-Zubare harbor. Corrosion management algorithm can be divided into three major phases. Phase 1 of the program is the programmatic assessment of the project. Phase 2 of the program involves physical assessment and actual remediation. Phase 3 of the program mainly deals with future monitoring of the repaired structure. Results: The CMP included activities performed to mitigate corrosion, to repair corrosion-induced damage and to replace the structures that are badly corroded. Installation and maintenance requirements are identified. Conclusion: The data was collected from the tide table for Al-Zubare Harbor in the year 2004. The highest tide of the year would fall on 17 October 2004 at 1.05 am with level 3.5 m, while the lowest tide of the year would fall on 3 July 2004 at 5.13 am with level 0m. The detection results show that this program is feasible and effective.

A Dual-Slope Integration Based Analog-to-Digital Convertor

Problem statement: With the advent of the advanced technology and the need for more advanced equipment, the current progress and development of electronic instruments stimulate more interest and efforts for more innovative ideas and better designs. Many real world physical values, such as sounds, temperature, pressure and humidity, can be measured as analog or continuous signals. However, to process these signals by computers or digital equipments, we need first to convert these analog signals into digital or discreet signals. Approach: There are many types of Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) which can be classified according to the concept on which they were designed. For example, there are charge-coupled A/D converter, digital-ramp A/D converter, successive approximation A/D converter, voltage-to-frequency A/D converter, Delta-Sigma A/D converter, Flash A/D converter and some of these converters require the use of Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs) and/or analog comparators and some logic modules. In some other cases, many analog comparators are needed to perform the conversion. We are trying to use a different approach that reduce the design complexity and improve the measurement quality by using the double-slope integration concept. Result: The new design does not require the use of a DAC module, nor does it need to use many analog comparators to do the conversion. Conclusion: The advantage of the new design would contribute to the simplicity of the design, enhance its reliability and guarantee the linearity of the conversion process that leads into better quality instruments.

The Impact of Companies� Age on Safety Culture in the Metal Products Industry

Problem statement: Safety culture is a complex structure in an organization that includes values and attitudes, most of which are potentially changeable and related to actual accident behavior. In this study, the components of safety culture included organizational commitment, management involvement, employee empowerment, reporting system and rewarding system. Approach: The numbers of occupational injuries in industries have steadily increased during recent years. The major objectives of this study were to evaluate the safety culture and to analyze the difference in safety culture in the metal products industry in Iran (Guilan province) with regard to companies� age. Metal products industry was chosen because of the higher occupational injuries rates amongst the industries in Iran. Results: The companies were chosen based on their age. A total of 714 respondents from 14 companies participated in the survey. The method used in this study was a questionnaires quantitative type based on a Lickert scale and the data collected were analyzed statistically. The one-way ANOVA was used to test for significant difference in safety culture in the metal products industry with regard to companies� age. The results showed that safety culture was not strong based on the mean for average score of 2.58 which was less than 3 compared to the possible maximum of 5. One-way ANOVA analysis revealed that there was a significant difference among safety culture with respect to companies� age. New companies had stronger safety culture compared to older one. Conclusion: Based on the findings the hypothesis of this study is accepted. This study also indicated that the safety culture in the metal products industry in target population group was not strong however, can be improved through improvement of its five components.

Carbon Dioxide Transfer with Chemical Equilibrium Reactions: An Alternative Mathematical Approach

Problem statement: Despite intensive research efforts on CO2 transfer, mathematical models that describe the dependence of the CO2 transfer rate on the pH and the degree of rate enhancement due to CO2 chemical reactions remain unavailable. Approach: Such models are essential for assessing and accurately describing the progress of the CO2 transfer process. Results: In this study, an alternative view of CO2 transfer with chemical reactions was used to develop simple mathematical models to describe the pH dependence and degree of enhancement of the CO2 transfer rate. In the alternative view, the driving force for CO2 transfer was described in terms of the differences in the concentrations of the various carbonic species in the bulk liquid (i.e., , and ) in time (i.e., between time, t, and the time when equilibrium is achieved, tEq) rather than in terms of the concentrations gradients across the liquid film. Using the concentration differences in time, simple mathematical models describing the pH dependence of the CO2 transfer rate and the contributions of the various carbonic species to the rate were formulated. Furthermore, the degree of CO2 transfer rate enhancement due to CO2 reactions in water was considered proportional to the sum of the rates of and transfer. Conclusion/Recommendations: The mathematical models were tested using data from batch and continuous-flow CO2 transfer experiments, and the results revealed that the mathematical models explained the experimental data in an excellent manner.

Prediction Studies for the Performance of a Single Cylinder High Speed Spark Ignition Linier Engine with Spring Mechanism as Return Cycle

Problem statement: Most concepts of linear engines were constructed as opposed pistons with complicated control devise to drive the engines. The advantage of the engines was their high overall efficiency. Approach: Although the efficiency was higher than conventional engine, however, it did not be applied yet, because the design of these engines was not only difficult to fabricate, but also it has little chance to compete the traditional engines in the market. Spring is adopted as a return force of the piston movement technique. Results: The unique of using spring as return cycle is the main characteristic of these engines. However, stroke of the engine is not constant as in the traditional engine. The problem is that, the expansion stroke is depending on thrust force of piston. On the other hand, the engine needs to operate in variable speed and load. This study is a prediction of the performance of both rotational and linear engines. Conclusion/Recommendations: The result of the examination can be used as return cycle design data of a single cylinder linear engine with spring device. As a result, the spring mechanism can be adopted to be used as return cycle in linear engine.

Mathematical Modeling of the Three Phase Induction Motor Couple to DC Motor in Hybrid Electric Vehicle

Problem statement: With emphasis on a cleaner environment and efficient operation, vehicles today rely more and more heavily on electrical power generation for success. Approach: Mathematical modeling the components of the HEV as the three phase induction motor couple to DC motor in hybrid electric vehicle was introduced. The controller of Induction Motor (IM) was designed based on input-output feedback linearization technique. It allowed greater electrical generation capacity and the fuel economy and emissions benefits of hybrid electric automotive propulsion. Results: A typical series hybrid electric vehicle was modeled and investigated. Conclusion: Various tests, such as acceleration traversing ramp and fuel consumption and emission were performed on the proposed model of 3 phase induction motor coupler DC motor in electric hybrid vehicles drive.

Solving the State Assignment Problem Using Stochastic Search Aided with Simulated Annealing

Problem statement: Solving the state assignment problem means finding the optimum assignment for each state within a sequential digital circuit. These optimum assignments will result in decreasing the hardware realization cost and increasing the reliability of the digital circuit. Unfortunately, the state assignment problem belongs to the class of nondeterministic polynomial time problems (NP complete) which requires heavy computations. Different attempts have been made towards solving the problem with reasonable recourses. Approach: This study presented a methodology for solving the state assignment problem, the methodology conducted a neighborhood search while using a heuristic to determine the fitness of solution. To avoid being trapped at a local optimum solution, a metaheuristic (simulated annealing) was utilized for deciding whether a new solution should be accepted. A case study was included to demonstrate the proposed procedure efficiency. Results: The proposed approach finds the optimum assignment for the case study. Conclusion: In this study, we explored the usage of a stochastic search technique inspired by simulated annealing to solve the problem of the state assignment problem. This proved the efficiency of the methodology.

Mathematical Model of Double Pass Photovoltaic Thermal Air Collector with Fins

Problem statement: The efficiency of photovoltaic cells is generally temperature dependent (efficiency decrease when the temperature of the photovoltaic cells increase). This problem can be solved by cooling the solar cells during operation and operated at low temperature. Approach: This study presented a numerical model of double pass Photovoltaic Thermal (PV/T) solar air collector with fins attached to the back side of the absorber plate to improve heat transfer to the flowing air for predicting the performance of the system. Results: Five coupled of unsteady nonlinear partial differential equations were formulated by using first order forward scheme in time and second order central difference scheme in space to predict the performance of PV/T solar air heater at different parameters and conditions. The temperatures of the solar cells, outlet fluid temperature and the temperature distribution of every static element in both models were predicted. The performance of the collector including photovoltaic, thermal and combined PV/T collector over range of operating conditions are discussed. Conclusion: Experimental and theoretical results were compared and showed that close agreement between these two values were obtained.

A Novel High Stop Band All Complementary MOSFET Switched-Capacitor Filter

Problem statement: Filters are widely used in various applications including communications, electronics and biomedical engineering. The performance and size of the filter is of interest especially in chip implementation. A switched-capacitor low-pass filter was designed and simulated using a 0.18 �m 1P6M CMOS technology. Approach: This circuit design offered obvious advantages in increasing the stopband attenuation, reducing passband ripple and achieving accurate frequency response. Results: This circuit achieved 53 dB stop band attenuation, less than 0.1 dB passband ripple, a 5 KHz cut-off frequency, a 100 KHz stopband frequency and consumes 6 mW from a 2 V power supply. Conclusion: The proposed design is very suitable for the realization of analog signal processing blocks in complementary MOSFET integrated circuits.

Quantum Key Distribution Using Decoy State Protocol
Problem statement: Quantum key distribution provides unconditional security guaranteed by the fundamental laws of quantum physics. Unfortunately, for real-life experimental set-ups, which mainly based on faint laser pulses, the occasional production of multi-photons and channel loss make it possible for sophisticated eavesdroppers to launch various subtle eavesdropping attacks including the Photon Number Splitting (PNS) attack. The decoy state protocols recently proposed to beat PNS attack and to improve dramatically distance and secure key generation rate of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). Approach: Objective of this study was experimental implementation of weak decoy + vacuum states QKD for increasing the performance of QKD system. To show conceptually how simple it was to apply the weak decoy + vacuum state idea to a commercial QKD system, we chosen ID-3000 commercial quantum key distribution system manufactured by id quantique. To implement the weak decoy + vacuum state protocol, we had to add some new optical and electronics components to id quantique and to attenuate each signal to the intensity of either signal state or weak decoy or vacuum state randomly. Results: In our implementation, the attenuation will be done by placing a VOA (variable optical attenuator) in Alice�s side. Specifically, our QKD system required the polarizations of 2 pulses from the same signal to be orthogonal. Therefore the VOA must be polarization independent so as to attenuate the two pulses equally. The VOA utilized in experiment to attenuate signals dynamically was Intensity Modulator (IM). We had implemented weak + vacuum protocol on a modified commercial QKD system over a 25 km of telecom fibers with an unconditionally secure key rate of 6.2931x10^-4 per pulse. Conclusion: By making simple modifications to a commercial quantum key distribution system, we could achieve much better performance with substantially higher key generation rate and longer distance than QKD system without decoy state.

A New Engineering Method for Fuzzy Reliability Analysis of Surge Control in Centrifugal Compressor
Problem statement: The surge phenomenon in the centrifugal compressor, the non-linearities and uncertainties of the compression system make it impossible to use a conventional controller over a wide range of operation. Approach: A new dual fuzzy controller for nonlinear model of compression system was proposed in this study. This fuzzy controller was designed that consisted of active surge control and phase control without any explicit system models, but driven in human thinking mechanism. Results: Simulation example of compression system was given to demonstrate the validity of proposed control scheme. It was shown that fuzzy controller can be simplified and good tracking control performance can be achieved by choosing appropriate fuzzy roles. But, the dual fuzzy controller can successfully intervene in control surge of compression system. Conclusion: This new fuzzy control methodology suggested in this study reproduced well main characteristics of turbo compressor dynamic model developed by Moore and Gretzer and give place to a more precise and easy to handle representation. It is about an inaccuracies reproducing with a certain degree of satisfaction of real process without being as much complex.

Improved Coupled Tank Liquid Levels System Based on Swarm Adaptive Tuning of Hybrid Proportional-Integral Neural Network Controller
Problem statement: Accuracy and stability of many systems in chemical and process industries which has Two-Input Two-Output (TITO) is one of the key factors of process which have cross coupling between process input and output. Approach: Unlike traditional neural network weight adaptation using gradient descent method, Particles Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique was utilized for adaptive tuning of neural network weights adjustment and fine tuning the controller�s parameters. Design approach for controlling liquid levels of Coupled Tank TITO system by using hybrid PI-Neural Network (hybrid PI-NN) controllers. Results: Tuning method for parameters of improved hybrid PI-NN controller was also discussed. Conclusion: Performances of proposed method also compared with PID-NN controllers, it was shown that hybrid PI-NN controller exhibited better performance in terms of transient response analysis.

Effect of Sr Substitution on Structure and Thermal Diffusivity of Ba1-xSrxTiO3 Ceramic
Problem statement: The aim of this research was to study the effect of Sr substitution on structure and thermal diffusivity of Ba_l-xSr_xTiO₃ ceramic at room temperature. Approach: Structural and thermal diffusivity of Ba_1-xSr_xTiO₃ were studied by performing X-ray diffraction and photoflash measurements. The effects of Sr substitution on the structure and on the thermal diffusivity of Ba_1-xSr_xTiO₃ (0≤x≤1) were investigated. All samples were prepared by standard solid state reaction technique. Results: The results showed that by substituting of Ba²⁺ ion with the Sr²⁺ the crystallite size decreased. The effect made the thermal diffusivity of Ba_1-xSr_xTiO₃ decreased from 11.30x10^-3 cm² sec^-1 (for BaTiO₃) to 6.467x10^-3 cm² sec^-1 (for SrTiO₃) as x varied from 0-1. Conclusion: This study showed a significant effect of structure on thermo-physical property of materials.

Microstructure Affecting Cutting Quality in Fine Blanking Process
Problem statement: Fine blanking process is a high precision process and worldwide in developed countries. Since specimen does not occur fracture on the cutting edge and it is not necessary to decorate again in the finishing process for the fine blanking which can be reduced some operation steps. For example, if chain wheel of motorcycle is produced by conventional blanking, it needs nine steps. But, if it is produced by fine blanking, it requires only three steps. With these reasons, fine blanking is boom for the metal forming industry in Thailand. But, due to some mechanical properties for some kinds of metal such as low elongation or imperfect microstructure, it is not cut by using fine blanking directly. Approach: Objective of this research was to investigate microstructure of specimen for fine blanking process in order to avoid fracture surface on blank. The optimum condition will result in higher elongation while having small decrease in tensile strength. The circular specimen with diameter of 16 mm and thickness of 2 mm was chosen. Material was steel which contains 0.45% carbon. Results: Microstructures contained pearlite and ferrite grains. The grains sizes were expanded with temperature of heat treatments at 700, 800 and 900�C, respectively, for 1 h. The specimen exposes to heat treatment in each temperature results in the increase of overall shear surface and the decrease of fracture surface when compared with no heat treatment. This is due to no appearance of strain hardening. For the microstructures exposed to heat treatment at 700�C for 10-20 h were almost spherroidite. It revealed that facture surface became shear surface after heat treatment over 10 h. Conclusion/Recommendations: The changes of microstructure for 0.45% carbon steel significantly affected to the overall shear and fracture surface and yield strength due to increasing of spherroidite, thus fracture was decreased with time.

Design and Simulation of Microelectromechanical System Capacitive Shunt Switches
Problem statement: RF MEMS switch is one of MEMS area that creates devices that have great potential to improve the performance of communication circuits and systems and enables the realization of micro size mechanical switches embedded in electronics devices. The low voltage switches are necessary due to their compatibility of standard IC technology in RF application and microelectronics systems. In realizing MEMS switches with low actuation voltage, spring constant of beam must be reduced. Design and simulation of capacitive RF MEMS shunt switches with regards to the pull in voltage were presented. Approach: Design and simulation had been done by using commercial simulation package, CoventorWare 2006. Several switches were designed with different meander spring beams to obtain lower voltage actuations using Architect Module in CoventorWare 2006. Results: Results verified with Finite Element Method (FEM) and simple mathematical modeling. Each design gave different voltage actuations. The lowest actuation voltage simulated was 1.9 V. Average difference of simulated and calculated values was about 16%. This is because no fringing field was included in calculation. Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis was done for switch C. Results showed that lower voltage can be obtained by using serpentine spring which lowers the spring constant and pull-in voltage as well. The lower pull-in time was primarily due to its very small dimensions and mass Conclusion: Low-voltage capacitive shunt RF MEMS switches were designed and simulated. These switches had actuation voltages of 1.9-7.0 V depending on the serpentine design. The other performance particularly switch C had a pull-in time of 15 � sec after a voltage of 0-20 V was applied and the resonant frequency is 3153.1 Hz.

Converting of Matter to Nuclear Energy by AB-Generator

A Cheap Aerial Gas Pipeline

Efficient Detection Algorithm for a Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output Multiuser Multi-Carrier Code Division Multiple Access in Time-Varying Channels

Calculation of Total Cost, Tolerance Based on Taguchis, Asymmetric Quality Loss Function Approach

Error Resistant Real-Time Transport Control Protocol

Vision-Based Obstacle Avoidance of Mobile Robot Using Quantized Spatial Model

A Novel Approach for Cooling Electronics Using a Combined Heat Pipe and Thermoelectric Module

Numerical Investigation of an Industrial Robot Arm Control Problem Using Haar Wavelet Series

Synthesis and Characterization of Hot-Roll and Cold-Roll Byproduct-Derived Strontium Hard Ferrites

Man in Outer Space Without a Special Space Suit

Analysis of the Tunnel Boring Machine Advancement on the Bologna-Florence Railway Link

Numerical Study on the Performance Characteristics of Hydrogen Fueled Port Injection Internal Combustion Engine

Backscattered Acoustic Energy by Monobubbles Experimental Approach and Statistical Study of the Attenuation

A Fast Series Active Filter using Sliding Mode Control to Correct and Regulate Unbalance Voltage in Three-Phase System

Detection of the Paradoxical Splitting for Patients with Left Bundle Branch Block Using Meyer Transform Wavelet

Geometric Optimization of Three-Phalanx Prosthesis Underactuated Fingers using Particles Swarm Algorithm

Protection for an Immediate Split Structure of Tree-Based EPON Architecture-Ideal Condition Analysis

Indoor Characterisation using High-Resolution Signal Processing Based on Five-Port Techniques for Signal Input Multiple Output Systems

Determination of Kinetic Correction Coefficient of Fluid Flow Using a Generic Multiple Orifice Physical Scale Model Structure

Optimal Location of Static Var Compensator Device for Damping Oscillations

On the Use of Rolling Element Bearings� Models in Precision Maintenance

Low Power Phase Locked Loop Frequency Synthesizer for 2.4 GHz Band Zigbee

Inverse Sine Phase Detector Phase Locked Loop Associated with Modified Multi Band LC Quadrature Voltage Controlled Oscillator for Wireless Communication Systems at 0.9, 1.8, 2.4, 3.5 GHz

Effect of Corrosion Damage on the Ductility Performance of Concrete Columns

Low-Cost Encoding Device for Optical Code Division Multiple Access System

Identification of Flutter Derivatives of Bridge Decks in Wind Tunnel Test by Stochastic Subspace Identification

Electrical and Magnetoresistive Studies Nd doped on La0.5Ba0.5MnO3 Manganites for Sensor Application

Characterization and Evaluation of Algaof Kaolin Deposits of Yemen for Industrial Application

Optical Nonlinear Proreties and Optical Limiting Effect of Metanil Yellow

Improving Reliability and Productivity of an Aluminum Extruder by Implementation of Direct Torque Control Technology

Diesel Engine Convert to Port Injection CNG Engine Using Gaseous Injector Nozzle Multi Holes Geometries Improvement: A Review

Intermittent Aeration in Biological Treatment of Wastewater

Cost-Effective Fabrication of Self-Made 112 Polymer Optical Fiber-Based Optical Splitters for Automotive Application

Treatment of Wastewater by Natural Lagoon for its Reuse in Irrigation

Hybrid Fuzzy Logic Control with Input Shaping for Input Tracking and Sway Suppression of a Gantry Crane System

Artificial Neural Networks Based Modeling and Control of Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor

Study of Porous Nanoflake ZnO for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Application

Improvement on the Design of a Cabinet Grain Dryer

Combustion Temperature Effect of Diesel Engine Convert to Compressed Natural Gas Engine

Supply Chain Performance Evaluation: Trends and Challenges

Liquefaction Susceptibility in the Northern Provinces of Thailand

The Effect of Electrical Properties by Texturing Surface on GaAs Solar Cell Efficiency

Experimental Investigation on Geomechanical Properties of Tropical Organic Soils and Peat

Optimal Bidding Strategies for a Small Generation Company in a Day-Ahead Electricity Market with Bilateral Contracts Taken into Account

Experimental Study of Flow Structures of Circular Pulsating Air Jet

Effect of Diesel Engine Converted to Sequential Port Injection Compressed Natural Gas Engine on the Cylinder Pressure vs Crank Angle in Variation Engine Speeds

The Performance of Uncoated Tungsten Carbide Insert in End Milling Titanium Alloy Ti-6Al 4V through Work Piece Preheating

Effect of Polypropylene Fibers on the California Bearing Ratio of Air Cured Stabilized Tropical Peat Soil
Problem statement: Peat soil is well known to deform and fail under a light surcharge load and is characterized with low shear strength, high compressibility and high water content. With the rising demand from the construction industry, utilization of these soils is required and suitable technique needs to be found out for stabilizing them. Approach: Model study had been carried to stabilize peat soil using cement as binding agent and polypropylene fibers as additive. Due to high natural water content of the peat soil, the stabilized peat soil samples were kept at normal room temperature and relative humidity for air curing for 90 days. The improvement in the mechanical strength of the stabilized samples was studied by California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test for both, unsoaked and soaked samples. The water-cement ratio of the samples was measured for 180 days to study the improvement in strength over time. Results: The results of CBR tests showed an increase by a factor over 22 for unsoaked condition and 15 for the soaked condition of the stabilized samples. With the addition of the polypropylene fibers to the stabilized peat soil with cement not only improved the strength of the stabilized peat soil but also contributed to considerable amount of uniformity and intactness to the stabilized peat soil samples. It was also observed that as the curing time for the stabilized peat soil continued through 180 days the moisture content continued to decrease as well. Thus the water-cement (w/c) ratio reduced and as a result of cement hydration, the strength stabilized peat soil samples increased in hardness and gained strength through the curing period. Conclusion/Recommendations: Cement and polypropylene fibers can be used to improve the mechanical strength of the soft peat soil by adopting air curing technique.

Production Scheduling for Dispatching Ready Mixed Concrete Trucks Using Bee Colony Optimization
Problem statement: This study proposed a systematic model of delivering Ready Mixed Concrete (RMC) that optimizes the schedule of dispatching RMC trucks. Approach: Firstly, the factors that impact the RMC delivery process are analyzed. Secondly, a model based on Bee Colony Optimization (BCO) was developed in order to find the best dispatching schedule which minimized the total waiting duration of RMC trucks at construction sites subject to the needs of RMC deliveries from different construction sites. Results: To demonstrate its efficiency, the BCO algorithm was applied to solve two dispatching RMC problems. The simulation results obtained from the BCO are compared to those achieved from the conventional approaches i.e., Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Tabu Search (TS) algorithm. Conclusion/Recommendations: The experimental results showed that the BCO approach is can quickly generate efficient and flexible solutions to dispatching RMC trucks. Furthermore, the obtained results had higher quality solution efficiently and faster computational time than the conventional approaches.

Application of Intelligence Based Genetic Algorithm for Job Sequencing Problem on Parallel Mixed-Model Assembly Line
Problem statement: In the area of globalization the degree of competition in the market increased and many companies attempted to manufacture the products efficiently to overcome the challenges faced. Approach: Mixed model assembly line was able to provide continuous flow of material and flexibility with regard to model change. The problem under study attempted to describe the mathematical programming limitation for minimizing the overall make-span and balancing objective for set of parallel lines. Results: A proposed mixed-integer model only able to find the best job sequence in each line to meet the problem objectives for the given number of job allotted to each line. Hence using the proposed mathematical model for large size problem was time consuming and inefficient as so many job allocation values should be checked. This study presented an intelligence based genetic algorithm approach to optimize the considered problem objectives through reducing the problem complexity. A heuristic algorithm was introduced to generate the initial population for intelligence based genetic algorithm. Then, it started to find the best sequence of jobs for each line based on the generated population by heuristic algorithm. By this means, intelligence based genetic algorithm only concentrated on those initial populations that produce better solutions instead of probing the entire search space. Conclusion/Recommendations: The results obtained from intelligence based genetic algorithm were used as an initial point for fine-tuning by simulated annealing to increase the quality of solution. In order to check the capability of proposed algorithm, several experimentations on the set of problems were done. As the total objective values in most of problems could not be improved by simulated algorithm, it proved the well performing of proposed intelligence based genetic algorithm in reaching the near optimal solutions.

On-Chip Implementation of High Resolution High Speed Floating Point Adder/Subtractor with Reducing Mean Latency for OFDM
Problem statement: Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is widely applied in OFDM trance-receiver communications system. Hence efficient FFT algorithm is always considered. Approach: This study proposed FPGA realization of high resolution high speed low latency floating point adder/subtractor for FFT in OFDM trance-receiver. The design was implemented for 32 bit pipelined adder/subtractor which satisfied IEEE-754 standard for floating-point arithmetic. The design was focused on the trade-off between the latency and speed improvement as well as resolution and silicon area for the chip implementation. In order to reduce the critical path and decrease the latency, the novel structure was designed and investigated. Results: Consequently, synthesis report indicated the latency of 4 clock cycles due to each stage operated within just one clock cycle. The unique structure of designed adder well thought out resulted 6691 equivalent gate count and lead us to obtain low area on chip. Conclusion: The synthesis Xilinx ISE software provided results representing the estimated area and delay for design when it is pipelined to various depths. The report showed the minimum delay of 3.592 ns or maximum frequency of 278.42 MHz.

Spiral Wound Reverse Osmosis Membranes for the Recovery of Phenol Compounds-Experimental and Parameter Estimation Studies
Problem statement: Reverse osmosis is increasingly used as a separation technique in chemical and environmental engineering for the removal of organics and organic pollutants present in waste water. The removal of an organic compound, namely phenol, using a polyamide membrane was investigated in this study. Waste water containing phenol present a serious environmental problem and increasing attention is being given for its removal using RO membranes. Objective of this study is to (i) generate experimental data related to the removal of phenol using a spiral wound polyamide membrane (ii) analyze the performance of the membrane using solution-diffusion model and validate the model with the experimental data. Approach: Experiments were conducted on a laboratory scale spiral wound polyamide RO module. The permeate concentrations and rejection coefficient values were measured for various feed inlet pressures and feed concentrations. The total feed flow rate, 3.33�10^-4 m³ sec^-1 (20 LPM) was not varied. The transport of solvent and solute through the membranes were analyzed using solution-diffusion model taking concentration polarization into account. Results: By varying inlet pressures from 4-14 kg_f cm^-2) and feed concentrations of phenol from 200-1100 ppm, the rejection coefficients of the membrane were measured and found to vary from 64-91%. The solvent and solute transport parameters were determined by a graphical procedure using the experimental data and its values were 5.9�10^-7 (m atm^-1) and 6.54�10^-7 (m sec^-1) respectively. Conclusion: The model and the estimated parameter values were validated with the experimental data. The model was able to predict the rejection within 10% error. In view of the fact that not much information is available on the usage of spiral wound polyamide RO membrane modules for the removal of phenolic compounds, it may be concluded that the experimental results reported in this study is very significant in the scale up and design of RO system for treatment of industrial effluents containing phenolic compounds.

Seismic Response Evaluation of Moment Resistant Frame with Built-Up Column Section
Problem statement: Moment Resisting Frame (MRF) is widely used as lateral resisting systems when sufficient ductility and deformability are to be met. Response of these structures is strictly dependent upon behavior of their joints, whereas the analysis of steel moment resisting frames generally has been performed without considering the accurate connection behavior. Approach: In this study Finite Element (FE) models had been developed to obtain the moment-rotation relations of theoretically fixed connection types which were widely utilized in Iran. Using moment-rotation relation obtained from FE analysis, 2D global structural model of MR buildings were developed afterwards to evaluate the behavior of the structures globally. Nonlinear static and dynamic analyses were carried out subsequently to investigate the structural behavior of MRFs having built-up column sections. Results: The results proved considerable effects of beam column connection behavior on nonlinear response of structures. Conclusion/Recommendations: It was recommended to consider the effects of connection properties in analysis and design of the MRF.

New Control Technique Applied in Dynamic Voltage Restorer for Voltage Sag Mitigation
The Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR) was a power electronics device that was able to compensate voltage sags on critical loads dynamically. The DVR consists of VSC, injection transformers, passive filters and energy storage (lead acid battery). By injecting an appropriate voltage, the DVR restores a voltage waveform and ensures constant load voltage. There were so many types of the control techniques being used in DVR for mitigating voltage sags. The efficiency of the DVR depends on the efficiency of the control technique involved in switching the inverter. Problem statement: Simulation and experimental investigation toward new algorithms development based on SVPWM. Understanding the nature of DVR and performance comparisons between the various controller technologies available. The proposed controller using space vector modulation techniques obtain higher amplitude modulation indexes if compared with conventional SPWM techniques. Moreover, space vector modulation techniques can be easily implemented using digital processors. Space vector PWM can produce about 15% higher output voltage than standard Sinusoidal PWM. Approach: The purpose of this research was to study the implementation of SVPWM in DVR. The proposed control algorithm was investigated through computer simulation by using PSCAD/EMTDC software. Results: From simulation and experimental results showed the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed controller based on SVPWM in mitigating voltage sags in low voltage distribution systems. It was concluded that its controller also works well both in balance and unbalance conditions of voltages. Conclusion/Recommendations: The simulation and experimental results of a DVR using PSCAD/EMTDC software based on SVPWM technique showed clearly the performance of the DVR in mitigating voltage sags. The DVR operates without any difficulties to inject the appropriate voltage component to correct rapidly any anomaly in the supply voltage to keep the load voltage balanced and constant at the nominal value.

Fixed-Star Tracking Attitude Control of Spacecraft Using Single-Gimbal Control Moment Gyros
Problem statement: A cluster of small-sized Single-Gimbal Control Moment Gyros (SGCMGs) is proposed as an attitude control actuator for high-speed maneuver of small satellites. There exists a singularity problem what is peculiar to the CMG system. Approach: This study presented a simple singularity avoidance steering law using the Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) algorithm. Results: Capability of the present steering method in singularity avoidance was demonstrated with numerical simulations for fixed-star tracking control of a small satellite using four SGCMGs. Conclusion: The proposed steering law utilizes the singular value decomposition to obtain singular vectors and generates the command gimbal rate that keeps the command torque in the direction orthogonal to the singular direction with a maximum gain.

Anisotropy Influence of Cubic Solid on Dynamic Hertzian Contact Stiffness for a Vibrating Rigid Indenter
Problem statement: Resonance-type microscopies have been widely used to evaluate the nanoscaled or microscaled surface elastic properties of materials by the resonance-frequency shifts of an oscillator, which contacts the surface of materials by a spherical tip. Approach: The tip-specimen contact is modeled to be a spring support, whose stiffness is given by the traditional Hertzian contact theory. However, because of the influence of the oscillator vibration and the anisotropy in nanoscaled or microscaled region of materials, the predicted results from the traditional Hertzian contact theory can not coincide with the experimental observations. In order to explain this discrepancy, dynamic contact stiffness at the contact interface between a rigid sphere and a semi-infinite cubic solid is investigated. Results: An oscillating force being superposed on a biasing force excites the oscillation of the sphere contacting with the solid surface, which causes the contact radius to vary with the oscillation. The assumption of sufficiently small oscillating force compared with the biasing force yields an oscillating-contact-pressure distribution of the constant contact radius and then dynamic contact stiffness. Because the oscillating-contact-pressure distribution cannot promise the uniform contact deformation, the influence of contact-displacement conditions is discussed. Conclusion: It is shown that dynamic contact stiffness depends on the oscillating frequency and contact radius of the sphere and the solid anisotropy.

Electrical and Optical Properties of N, N`-Bis (Inaphthyl)-N,N`-Diphenyl-1,1`-Biphenyl-4,4`-Diamine as Hole Transport Layer in Organic Light Emitting Devices
Problem statement: The aim of this research was to study the electrical and optical properties of N, N`-bis(Inaphthyl)-N,N`-diphenyl-1,1`-biphenyl-4,4`-diamine (NPB) organic materials often used as hole transport layer in Organic Light-Emitting Devices (OLED). Approach: The NPB layer was prepared using the thermal evaporation method. From photoluminescence spectra, two peaks at 630 and 480 nm were observed with 55 nm NPB. The electrical conductivity was strongly influenced by the layer thickness. Results: The energy band gap of each NPB layer was successfully presented in the range of 2.4-2.9 eV. Conclusion: This study successfully showed the effect of different thickness of NPB in OLED.

Analysis of Comparison between Unconfined and Confined Condition of Foamed Concrete Under Uni-Axial Compressive Load
Problem statement: Foamed concrete has become most commercial material in construction industry. People in industries were come out with the new mix design of foamed concrete to meet the specification and the requirements needed. Approach: This is because foamed concrete has the possibility as alternative of lightweight concrete for producing intermediate strength capabilities with excellent thermal insulation, freeze-thaw resistance, high-impact resistance and good shock absorption. Results: Currently Standard test to measure the compressive strength of foamed concrete is using standard unconfined compressive test. Several research has been conduct but the compressive strength using standard unconfined compressive test not capture true behavior of foamed concrete because it just achieved only low compressive strength and sample under compression failed due to brittle collapse of the sample. This paper was analyses the comparison between standard compressive test and confined compressive test. The confinement test introduced to prevent sample from brittle collapse. Foamed concrete cylindrical sample has been investigated under the standard compressive test for hard concrete (ASTM-C39). Based on the research, samples are produced under unconfined and confined condition. Analysis has been done and the result show that under standard compressive test, the sample failed due to early crack initiation and failed. Confinement condition was increase the compressive strength but this condition influence the result. Conclusion/Recommendations: Standard test is not suitable to capture the true behavior of foamed concrete, and to prevent the sample from brittle collapse during the test, new testing method was introduced to capture the true behavior of foamed concrete which is using Quasi Static Indentation Test. This test can be used to study about the behaviour of foamed concrete before it can be implemented to its final application.

Sustainability of Rainwater Harvesting Systems in Multistorey Residential Buildings
Problem statement: The urban water supply systems in Australian large cities, which generally depend on large surface water reservoirs, are highly stressed due to rapid urban growth and severe drought conditions during the current decade. To ensure the long term sustainability of urban water supply, various alternative water sources including rainwater tanks, grey water, wastewater and desalination plants are being examined in Australia. In the previous research, it has been shown that rainwater tank of appropriate size, installed in detached small dwellings, can meet a significant proportion of household water demand, but there has been limited study on water savings and financial viability of Rain Water Harvesting System (RWHS) for multistorey residential buildings. This study examines the sustainability of RWHS in multistorey residential buildings in Sydney under different scenarios such as varying roof area, number of floors in the building, water price and interest rate to identify favorable condition where RWHS proves to be sustainable. Approach: A hypothetical multistorey building was considered and various scenarios in relation to site area and floor arrangement were established. A water balance model was developed to calculate water savings for various scenarios. Finally, life cycle costing was undertaken to identify most sustainable RWHS scenario for the hypothetical multistorey building. Results: It was found that a higher roof area is more favorable in terms of water savings and financial benefits. Capital and maintenance costs account for the majority of the expenditure of a RWHS. Plumbing cost forms the largest single component of the capital cost. It is shown that lower interest and increased water price regimes enhance the financial viability of RWHS. Conclusion: It was found that it is possible to achieve �pay back� for a RWHS under some favorable scenarios and conditions thus making the RWHS for multistorey buildings in Sydney sustainable.

Repairing and Strengthening of an Existing Reinforced Concrete Building: A North Cyprus Perspective
Problem statement: Inadequate attention during design and construction of some of Reinforced Concrete (RC) buildings in North Cyprus has raised questions about the performance level of these existing buildings under future earthquakes. Approach: Column jacketing, adding steel braces and new shear walls to an existing building are common strengthening methods used by practical engineers in North Cyprus to increase the performance level of an existing building. Results: The aim of this study was to determine the most effective strengthening method among these three mentioned techniques. As a case study, a four stories RC existing building was selected and assessed using finite element method. To remodel of the existing building, the survey works done included three main steps, detecting the reinforcement bars for beams and columns, actual used concrete strength and soil type. The beams and columns reinforcement bars were determined using Ferro scan method and the soil was sampled in Girne city to determine the soil type. The actual concrete strength was determined using core test. Three common strengthening techniques mentioned above, were applied to the existing building. Then the efficiency of each strengthening method was investigated on the basis of removing of weak columns, not-safe beam-column joints in shear and performance levels based on the FEMA356 and Turkish earthquake code. Conclusion/Recommendations: Results showed that column jacketing is the most effective method to remove the weak columns and not-safe column-beam joints in shear. Nonlinear static pushover results showed that despite that adding shear walls caused an increase in the structural base shear and a reduction in the maximum roof displacement and the number of collapsed elements at FEMA356 performance point, but it caused a remarkable reduction in the building ductility ratio. Finally, results showed that the column jacketing is the most effective and the most economic strengthening technique for the low-rise residential buildings in North Cyprus.

Electronic Design Automation Using Object Oriented Electronics
Problem statement: Electronic design automation is the usage of computer technology and software tools for designing integrated electronic system and creating electrical schematics. Approach: An approach is presented for modeling of various electronic and electric devices using object oriented design, aiming on building a library of devices (classes) which can be used for electronic design automation. Results: The presented library was implemented using Java programming language to form an Electronic Application Programmer Interface (EAPI) that can be easily utilized for electronic design automation. Conclusion: The proposed EAPI that implemented these models in JAVA language can be used for simulation of real electronic circuits and for educational purposes, as the proposed API was designed using object oriented design, adding more new classes, attributes and behaviors to current classes can be done easily.

Flow Past an Ellipsoidal Particles in Newtonian Fluid at Low Reynolds Number
Problem statement: Flow of Newtonian fluids past ellipsoidal particles over wide range of parameters; Reynolds number, Re, 1≤Re≤200 and aspect ratio, e, 0.5≤e≤2.5 is investigated numerically. Approach: Computational fluid dynamics approach is used. Results: It is seen that the effect of the shape of the particles on individual and total drag coefficients is small at low Reynolds numbers but as increasing the Reynolds number the effect magnifies. As the Reynolds number increases, the pressure to friction drag ratio increases; however, the effect of aspect ratio is more significant for e>1. Conclusion: The streamlines, the surface and pressure coefficients are also seen to be strongly dependent on Reynolds number and aspect ratio.

Confined High Strength Concrete Columns: An Experimental Study
Problem statement: An experimental study on GFRP confined high strength concrete columns has been carried out with a view to evaluate its performances under uni-axial compression in terms of load and deformation capacity. Approach: High strength concrete columns strengthened with different configuration and stiffness of GFRP wraps were tested under axial compression until failure. Their response evaluated at different load levels. Results: The test results clearly indicated GFRP wrapped high strength concrete columns exhibit enhances performance. Conclusion: The study concluded that the three GFRP materials attempted UDC GFRP provided the maximum benefit with respect to load and deformation.

Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Gains Scheduled PI Controller for Enhancement of Power System Stability
Problem statement: Power system oscillations affect system stability and may lead to failure if not properly controlled. Approach: A Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Gains Scheduled Proportional and Integral (FGPI) controller was proposed for a Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor (TCSC)-based stabilizer to enhance the power system stability. Linguistic rules and fuzzy inference mechanism are utilized to tune the controller parameters on-line in different operating states. The proposed controller was applied to a single machine infinite bus system represented by the Phillips-Heffron generator model. Simulation studies have been carried out using MATLAB Fuzzy Logic toolbox. Simulated Annealing-based Power System Stabilizer (SAPSS) and Simulated Annealing-based TCSC Stabilizer (SACSC) approaches were also simulated in this study and their results were compared with proposed controller. Results: The simulation results demonstrated that the proposed control scheme performs well and strongly control the power system under different loading conditions, disturbances and system parameter variations. Conclusion: The proposed controller is robust and more suitable for damping of low frequency oscillation and more effective in improving dynamic stability and voltage profile than the two other approaches.

Fiber Optic Sensors for Transportation Infrastructural Health Monitoring
Problem statement: Monitoring the health of transportation infrastructures is currently reliant on transportation maintenance teams. Scheduled and periodic inspections on most of the infrastructures are performed by manual and visual operations, which are generally time consuming and costly procedures. The use of the fiber optic sensor technology makes it possible to realize continuous, real time and automatic health monitoring for the transportation infrastructure. Approach: This article provided a tutorial introduction to transportation infrastructural health monitoring using fiber optic sensors. Since the topic spans many disciplines, our goal was limited to providing a basic conceptual framework. We began by reviewing the prerequisite topics from structural health monitoring and fiber optic sensors, including a brief review of point and distributed fiber optic sensor technologies. We then provided a comprehensive review of key fiber optic sensors which may be used in the transportation infrastructure monitoring. Results: Point fiber optic sensors were first discussed and then distributed fiber optic sensors. Performances of each sensor are discussed based on the transportation infrastructure monitoring application. Conclusion: We concluded the tutorial with a number of observations on the current directions of the research field of the fiber optic sensor for the transportation infrastructure health monitoring.

A Novel Transporting System Model for Oil Refinery
Problem statement: Oil refineries are widely used to store various liquids and gases. Petroleum products are in high demand. Oil companies have abundant resources of petroleum products in pipelines and storage tanks. Approach: Included are storage tanks at retail gasoline station, home heating oil tanks, lubricant storage at automotive service facilities, propane tanks in all sorts of application, and oil company terminals across the world. The aim of this study is to present a model by which a decision maker should be able to choose the optimal number of tanks, tank size and truck arrival rate to maximize average total profit per week for an oil terminal operation. Results: In this study, oil terminal modeled by using a discrete event simulation program Arena for AL-Dura refinery, Baghdad, Iraq. Multifactor variance analysis is used to determine different levels of the three factors and their interactions significantly affect the terminal profit including the optimal number of tanks, size of tanks and trucks of the arrival rate to maximize total revenue on average per week. Conclusion/Recommendations: The result showed minimum cost of oil at the terminal and tanker truck fill rates and price and income structure, also predict with 90% confidence levels, a number of factors, which gives highest average total income per week

Identification of Instabilities of the Chip Formation and It�s Prediction Model During End Milling of Medium Carbon Steel (S45C)
Problem statement: Chip shape and size varied widely in machining operations. Undesirable chip formation had a detrimental effect on surface finish, work-piece accuracy, chatter and tool life. Approach: This study included the findings of an experimental study on the instabilities of the chip formation and development of a mathematical model based on statistical approach for the prediction of the instability of chip formation during the machining of medium carbon steel (S45C). Results: It has been identified that the chip formation process has a discrete nature, associated with the periodic shearing process of the chip. Typical instabilities of periodic nature, in the form of primary and secondary saw/serrated teeth, which appear at the main body and free edge of the chip respectively, have been identified. Mechanisms of formation of these teeth have been studied and the frequencies of their formation have been determined under various machining conditions. Small Central composite design was employed in developing the chip serration frequency model in relation to primary cutting parameters by Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Conclusion/Recommendations: The mathematical model for the chip serration frequency has been developed, in terms input cutting parameters (cutting speed, feed and depth of cut) in end milling of S45C steel using TiN inserts under full immersion. The adequacy of the predictive model was verified using ANOVA at 95% confidence level.

A Dynamic Voltage Restorer for Voltage Sag Mitigation in a Refinery with Induction Motors Loads
Problem statement: ANRPC is a refinery based in Alexandria, Egypt, The plant was subjected to several shutdowns due to tripping of large induction motors, either by under voltage or by over current relays, sometimes by the mechanical protection. The main cause for such unplanned shutdowns was voltage sags. The Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR) has recently been introduced to protect the industrial facilities from voltage sags and other voltage disturbances. Existing configurations and control techniques for the DVR aim at protecting industries of high-tech, loads with adjustable speed drives and other power-electronic based loads. Industries with induction motors loads require a complete different approach for the design and control of a suitable DVR. Owing to the inherit inertia of the induction motors and their capability to withstand short-duration, shallow sags, in addition to its tolerance to phase jumps, a DVR with low cost, fast response and simple controller could be configured to fulfill the voltage restoration requirements. Approach: In this study, a simple DVR was proposed, which utilized the classical Fourier Transform (FT) for sag detection and quantification, a controller based on feed-foreword technique which utilized the error signal (difference between the reference voltage and actual measured voltage) to trigger the switches of an inverter using a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) scheme. The proposed DVR utilized energy from other available feeder or from energy storage unit through a rectifier. Modeling and simulation of the proposed DVR was implemented in the Matlab/Simulink workspace. Results: Simulation results showed that the proposed DVR was efficient in mitigating balanced, unbalanced, multistage and consecutive sags, as well as swells (over-voltages). The main shortcoming of the DVR, being a series device, was its inability to mitigate complete interruptions. Conclusion: The DVR should be configured with respect to the load requirements. With respect to induction motors loads with inherit inertia and insensitivity to phase jumps, the proposed DVR would be of lower cost, simpler controller and faster response.

Energetic Performances Study of an Integrated Collector Storage Solar Water Heater
Problem statement: Although that the interest attributed to the solar energy remains relatively limited, we attend today to the conception of several installations using the sun as energy source among which we quote the solar water heater. Approach: A study of energetic performances was taken on an integrated collector/storage solar water heater made in the National School of Engineers of Gabes. This water heater is equipped with a concentration system containing a reflector composed of three parabolic branches favorating a better absorption of solar radiance. Results: The comparison between this system and two other systems of solar water heater, composed of a storage ball with asymmetrical CPC and symmetrical CPC, showed important energetic performances despite the simplicity and the little cost of the collector. Conclusion: Several improvements are necessary to increase the direct flow whilst decrease the thermal losses and therefore make the system simpler to be installed on the building roof.

Simulation of Airflow and Aerodynamic Forces Acting on a Rotating Turbine Ventilator
Problem statement: Rotating turbine ventilators were generally found in most countries. They were simple in structure, light in weight and cheap to install. It was quite surprising that, the aerodynamics of this common device had not been numerically examined and the design process of most of these ventilators had developed progressively through trial and error methods. Approach: This study was concerned with performing simulation of airflow using CFD technique code name FLUENT so as to visualize the flow behavior around and within a rotating turbine ventilator in addition to determining the aerodynamic forces acting on this device during its operation. To achieve that, the realizable k-ε and RSM turbulence models were used by taking advantage of moving mesh method to simulate the rotation of turbine ventilator and the consequent results were obtained through the sequential process which ensured accuracy of the computations. Results: The results confirmed that, the realizable k-ε model can exhibit a reasonable performance, however not as competence as the RSM model, but of much less computation time. Conclusion/Recommendations: Results from this study, besides ensuring the reliability of utilizing the CFD method in design process of future turbine ventilators, would lead us to a conspicuous progress on increasing the efficiency at reduced cost of wind driven ventilators and similar devices.

Low-Doping Effects of Nanostructure ZnO: Sn Tin Films Annealed at Different Temperature in Nitrogen Ambient, Applied as an Anti-Reflecting Coating
Problem statement: The focus of this research is to discover the significant influences of substituting low concentration Sn at Zn-site as an Anti-Reflecting Coating (ARC) for Zn_1-xSn_xO compound. The effects of tin dopants on the structural and morphology properties of ZnO thin films prepared using the sol-gel method were investigated. Approach: The effects of annealing temperature on the deposited films were also investigated at three different temperatures of 400, 500 and 600�C. The composition of the Zn_1-xSn_xO sample are x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15. As a starting material, zinc acetate dehydrate was used; 2-methoxyethanol and mono ethanolamine were used as solvent and stabilizer, respectively. The dopant source was tin chloride. Results: Microstructural and surface morphology of samples were characterized by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The crystallinity and defects are studied using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Molecular bonding is carried out using Raman spectroscopy and optical study of band gap is investigated using UV-VIS measurement. Conclusion: The value of band gap obtained increased slightly as the concentration of Sn increased. The increment of the band gap is acceptable as a requirement for good anti-reflecting coating element. Therefore these films can be applied on silicon solar cell.

Reflectivity of Reflectarrays Based on Dielectric Substrates
Problem statement: Reflectarrays provide a low cost and low profile solution for antennas required for high gain applications but their use is restricted in some applications due to the narrow bandwidth and high loss performance. These performance limitations can be attributed to different sources of reflectivity of the reflectarrays. This work provides a thorough investigation on the reflectivity performance of reflectarrays designed at 10 GHz using different dielectric substrates. Approach: The detailed analytical study of the characteristics and losses of the reflectarrays was presented and a number of dielectric substrates are used to design and analyze the reflectivity of the reflectarrays based on the analytical investigation which is validated by Finite Integral Method (FIM). Results: The results showed that the dielectric material with lowest dielectric permittivity and loss tangent values (Teflon) demonstrates an optimum reflectivity performance when employed for the reflectarray design. Conclusion: It was concluded from this research that material properties significantly affect the reflectivity of the reflectarrays and hence the bandwidth and loss performance can be pronounced improved by using a low dielectric substrate.

A Study of Sugarcane Leaf-Removal Machinery during Harvest
Problem statement: Sugarcane leaf-removing tools could help speed up sugarcane harvest and reduce contamination. Moreover, leaf-removal machinery can solve the problems of sugarcane burning and workers can increase sugarcane harvest production too. The purpose of this research was to study the use of leaf-removal machinery in the post-harvest production of sugarcane to reduce harvest production time and contaminant. Approach: This study focused on the LK92-11 variety of sugarcane having a harvesting period of 12 months, a density of 9,387 stems/rai and could produce 14.01 tons/rai including cane top and, leaves and leaf sheaths of 1675.2 and 180 kg/rai. Sugarcane leaf-removal machinery was applied to a small engine power from a grass-cutting machine. A rotate dish applied 4 different materials, tendon string, soft wire, medium wire and sling for sugarcane leaf-removing. The machine was operated at a constant speed. The efficiency of the sugarcane leaf-removal machinery indicated the capacity of sugarcane leaf-removing by area and operation time. Results: The quantity of leaves and leaf sheaths affect the speed of harvest production. Moreover, leaves and leaf sheaths increase the waste material in production and also contaminate the sugar and the sugar production system with clay, sand, and mud from the fields. Traditional methods for sugarcane harvest without removing leaf took 37 h/rai to complete, but sugarcane leaf-removing could reduce the sugarcane harvest process to 11.4 h/rai. Conclusion: The material of the blades in de-leafing machine is crucial to the efficiency of harvest production time. Blades made from poor materials can cause tangling and clogging in the rotator dish, which increases maintenance time. Further developments in sugarcane leaf removal systems will create dramatic improvement in sugarcane production.

A Novel Low-Power CMOS Operational Amplifier with High Slew Rate and High Common-Mode Rejection Ratio
Problem statement: High speed operational amplifier is always an on-going research topic since major high speed application are needed. Approach: A two-stage operational amplifier (op amp) is designed, simulated and fabricated using a UMC 0.5 �m 2P2M CMOS technology. Results: This chip includes a compensation technique to ensure stability and zero systematic input-offset-voltage. The fabricated chip achieves a 84 dB open loop gain, a 24 V �S^-1 slew rate, a 84 dB CMRR utilizing a capacitive load of 5 pF, a 30 MHz unity gain frequency and consumes 2.8 mW from a 2.5 V power supply. Conclusion: The proposed chip, which is the first available CMOS operational amplifier in Jordan as the authors are aware, is well-suited to low-voltage applications since it does not require cascade output stages.

Hardware Implementation of Truncated Multipliers Using Spartan-3AN, Virtex-4 and Virtex-5 FPGA Devices
Problem statement: The development cost for Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) are high, algorithms should be verified and optimized before implementation. The Digital Signal Processing (DSP), image processing and multimedia requires extensive use of multiplication. The truncated multipliers can easily be implemented using Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) devices. Approach: This research presented the comparative study of Spartan-3AN, Virtex-4 and Virtex-5 FPGA devices. The implementation of standard and truncated multipliers is done using Very high speed integrated circuit Hardware Description Language (VHDL). Results: Remarkable reduction in FPGA resources, delay and power was achieved using truncated multipliers instead of standard parallel multipliers when the full precision of the standard multiplier is not required. The three devices showed significant improvement for truncated multipliers as compared to standard multipliers. Results showed that the anomaly in Spartan-3AN average connection and maximum pin delay have been efficiently reduced in Virtex-4 and Virtex-5 devices. Conclusion: The Virtex-5 FPGA device showed better performance as compared to Spartan-3AN and Virtex-4 FPGA devices.

Modification Approach of Fuzzy Logic Model for Predicting of Cutting Force When Machining Nickel Based Hastelloy C-276
Problem statement: Most Nickel based Hastelloy C-276 is a difficult-to-machine material because of its low thermal diffusive property and high strength at high temperature. Machinability consideration of nickel based Hastelloy C-276 in turning operations has been carried out using ceramic inserts under dry conditions. Approach: This study described a modification approach applied to a fuzzy logic based model for predicting cutting force where the machining parameters for cutting speed ranges, feed rate, depth of cut and approach angle are not overlapping. For this study, data were selected depending on the design of experiments. Response surface methodology was applied to predict the cutting force and to examine the fuzzy logic based model. Results: The modification approach fuzzy logic based model produced the cutting force data providing good correlation with response surface data. In this situation the cutting force data were superimposed and results were adjusted according to their own ranges. Conclusion: A review of literatures on optimization techniques revealed that there were, in particular, successful industrial applications of design of experiment-based approaches for optimal settings of process variables.

Fiber Optic Sensors for Transportation Infrastructural Health Monitoring
Problem statement: Monitoring the health of transportation infrastructures is currently reliant on transportation maintenance teams. Scheduled and periodic inspections on most of the infrastructures are performed by manual and visual operations, which are generally time consuming and costly procedures. The use of the fiber optic sensor technology makes it possible to realize continuous, real time and automatic health monitoring for the transportation infrastructure. Approach: This article provided a tutorial introduction to transportation infrastructural health monitoring using fiber optic sensors. Since the topic spans many disciplines, our goal was limited to providing a basic conceptual framework. We began by reviewing the prerequisite topics from structural health monitoring and fiber optic sensors, including a brief review of point and distributed fiber optic sensor technologies. We then provided a comprehensive review of key fiber optic sensors which may be used in the transportation infrastructure monitoring. Results: Point fiber optic sensors were first discussed and then distributed fiber optic sensors. Performances of each sensor are discussed based on the transportation infrastructure monitoring application. Conclusion: We concluded the tutorial with a number of observations on the current directions of the research field of the fiber optic sensor for the transportation infrastructure health monitoring.

Rating of Spur Gear Strength Using Photoelasticity and the Finite Element Method
Problem statement: Toothed gears are some of the most used machine elements for motion and power transmission between rotating shafts. This fact induces the need for improved reliability and higher endurance, which require precise and clear knowledge of the gear tooth stress field during meshing. Approach: This study considered the calculation of maximum stress at gear tooth root when the meshing gears are loaded at their most unfavorable contact point (highest point of single-tooth contact-HPSTC), using both numerical and experimental methods. Finite Element Method (FEM) is used for the numerical stress analysis and photoelasticity is applied for the experimental investigation of the stress field. Results: The experimental results of the maximum dimensionless stress derived from the photoelasticity experiments are compared to the respective theoretical stress results of the finite element analysis. Conclusion: It was found that the deviation between the results of the applied methods falls between reasonable limits whereas it rises with increasing number of teeth of the large gear.

Wellbore Surveying While Drilling Based on Kalman Filtering
Problem statement: Oil and gas are global fuels obtained primarily from drilling wells in underground terrestrial reservoirs. Vertical drilling is preferred because of its simplicity and therefore low cost, but subsurface targets can often be procured only by directing the wellbore along predefined non-vertical trajectories. For instance, directional drilling must be employed to reach locations inaccessible to the drilling rig, to side track an existing well (multilateral drilling), or to drill multiple wells from the same offshore platform (horizontal drilling). Approach: A complete knowledge of the wellbore direction and orientation during the drilling process is essential to guarantee proper directional drilling procedure. Results: Thus, besides the conventional drilling assembly, directional drilling operations require sensors to provide azimuth, inclination and toolface angles of the drill. These sensors are part of the Measurement-While-Drilling (MWD) tool, which in current technology is installed several feet behind the drill bit. In such systems, values for inclination and toolface angles are determined from accelerometer measurements at predetermined stationary surveying stations; these values are then incorporated with magnetometer measurements to deliver the azimuth angle. Values for inclination and azimuth angles at the current surveying station are combined with those from the previous station to compute the position of the probe. However, there is no accurate information about the wellbore trajectory between survey stations. Additionally, the magnetic field of the magnetometers has deleterious effect on the overall accuracy of surveying measurements. Conclusion: A method to provide continuous information about the wellbore trajectory has been developed in this study. The module developed integrates a Rotary Steerable System (RSS) and MWD tool into one drilling probe utilizing Inertial Navigation System (INS) technology. This is achieved by designing a reliable real-time low cost MWD surveying system based on MEMS inertial sensors miniaturized inside the RSS housing installed directly behind the drill bit. A continuous borehole surveying module based on MEMS inertial sensors integrated with other drilling measurements was developed using Kalman filtering.

The Optical Nonlinearity of Au and Ag Nanoparticle Prepared by the Γ-Radiation Method
Problem statement: The third order nonlinear optical properties of metal nanoparticles have been of interest in physical chemistry, medical diagnostics and optical devices. Gold colloidal nanoparticles are responsible for the brilliant reds seen in stained glass windows and silver particles are typically yellow. The purpose of the study was to determine the nonlinear refraction and absorption coefficient of the Au and Ag nanoparticles in PVP solution. Approach: The samples were prepared by Γ-radiation method and the nonlinear optical properties of the composites were investigated using a single beam Z-scan technique with a beam power of 40 mW and operated at wavelength of 532 nm. The measurements were carried out for both Open and closed aperture Z-scan arrangements. Results: For both Au/PVP and Ag/PVP samples he results exhibited reverse saturable absorption. The closed aperture Z-scan of the nano-fluid samples revealed self-defocusing effect while the open aperture Z-scan of the samples show a reversible saturable absorption. Conclusion: The Z-scan measurement showed that silver and gold nano-fluid prepared by gamma radiation exhibited large thermal nonlinear refractive index n₂ as -8.78�10^-7 and -2.478�10^-6 cm²/W, respectively. We have also investigated nonlinear absorption of these samples and we found a large value of nonlinear absorption for Ag nanoparticle and a weak absorption for Au nanoparticle. In conclusion, the experimental result shows a good nonlinear refractive index at low laser power in which encouraging for possible applications in nonlinear optical devices.

A Review of Constitutive Models for Rubber-Like Materials
Problem statement: This study reviewed the needs of different constitutive models for rubber like material undergone large elastic deformation. The constitutive models are widely used in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) packages for rubber components. Most of the starting point for modeling of various kinds of elastomer is a strain energy function. In order to define the hyperelastic material behavior, stress-strain response is required to determine material parameters in the strain energy potential and also proper selection of rubber elastic material model is the first attention. Conclusion: This review provided a sound basis decision to engineers and manufactures to choose the right model from several constitutive models based on strain energy potential for incompressible and isotropic materials.

Multivariable Proportional Integral Controllers for Multi-Inputs-Multi-Outputs Desalination System Fed by a Photovoltaic Generator
Process control is an essential part of the desalination industry that requires for driving at the optimum operating conditions an increase in the life time of the plant and reduction of the unit product cost. The desalination is a highly complex process, so that the majority of dynamic models are of the form of Multi-Inputs-Multi-Outputs (MIMO) systems. Problem statement: Driving a MIMO system is a complex operation because of the interconnections between the inputs and the influence of each one of them on the system outputs. In this study, we present firstly the MIMO dynamic model that we have developed for a Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination system coupled to a photovoltaic generator, then we propose a PI controller based on a perfect decoupler. Approach: The purpose of this research was to apply a new control strategy based on a decoupled PI controller. The proposed control algorithm was investigated through computer simulation by using Simulink/Mathlab software. Results: The experimental results and simulations showed the efficiency of the proposed controller based on decoupling the input variables of the desalination system. The system outputs are well stabilized. Conclusion/Recommendations: The implementation of the multivariable PI control laws and the experimental results showed clearly the performances of this control strategy to drive the desalination systems and to correct rapidly the outputs behavior which can be influenced by many disturbed parameters.

Perceived Kitchen Environment among Malaysian Elderly
Problem statement: Kitchen is the most important room in a house. Its environment should be highly conducive especially for the elderly when performing daily kitchen activities. There has been little research focused on the environment quality of the elderly kitchen in Malaysia. Only a few researches have been done on general home environment although our preliminary findings shown that the elderly spend 60% of their daily time in the kitchen. Due to this concern, a study was conducted to investigate the quality of Malaysian elderly kitchen environment and how they perceive different thermal levels. Approach: The kitchen temperature, humidity and light level were measured as these three variables are important factors in the environmental quality determination. Thirty houses were visited and a set of questionnaire was used to measure elderly task performance. The measured values were then compared to previous recommended findings and comfort level of working environment. Results: The results show that 80% of the kitchen temperature is higher than 28.43�C. In terms of brightness level, 56.67% of the kitchens had lower than 323 lux. But the humidity was found remains within the range. Conclusion: The temperature of Malaysian kitchen is higher than moderate level which contributed to discomfort. The kitchen brightness level is lower than required by the elderly. Both variables could affect to the elderly task performance.

Acrylic Rubber Latex in Ferrocement for Strengthening Reinforced Concrete Beams
Problem statement: In India, the early deterioration of reinforced concrete structures has become a big social problem in recent years. An essential research is needed for the development of effective repair materials and their execution systems comes to an important issue from the viewpoint of the longevity of infrastructures at present. Ferrocement laminates are introduced to enhance the overall performance of Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures and these days the use of it is a promising technology for increasing the flexural strength of deficient reinforced concrete members. Approach: The repair system aims to provide quantitative repair enhancement as well as extending the life of deteriorated concrete members. This research in particular inspired the initiation of the present work which aimed to develop a material with unique properties and a very wide range of practical applications. The mechanical properties of mortar through difference in polymer content with Acrilic Latex by ferrocement among three different volume fractions of mesh reinforcement were studied. Following the encouraging progress made in the formulation and evaluation of the polymer modified repair mortar, tests were carried out involving the application of the reinforced repair material to the soffit of the reinforced concrete beams of 3 m length. Results: The levels of damage of the original beams prior to repair did not affect the ultimate load of the strengthened beams tested. The performance of the strengthened beams was compared to the control beams with respect to cracking, deflection and ultimate strength which confirm preeminent results. Conclusion: This accomplished the fact that acrylic rubber latex modified ferrocement is a doable alternative strengthening component for the rehabilitation of reinforced concrete structures. Further developments in these systems will create dramatic improvement into the field of rehabilitation of old privileged structures.

Fuel and Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Potentials by Appropriate Fuel Switching and Technology Improvement in the Canadian Electricity Generation Sector
Problem statement: In recent years, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and their potential effects on global climate change have been a worldwide concern. According to International Energy Agency (IEA), power generation contributes more than half of the global GHG emissions. Approach: Purpose of this study is to examine GHG emission reduction potentials in the Canadian electricity generation sector through fuel switching and adoption of advanced power generation systems. To achieve this objective, eight different scenarios were introduced. In the first scenario, existing power stations� fuel was switched to natural gas. Existing power plants were replaced by Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC), Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC), Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC), hybrid SOFC and SOFC-IGCC hybrid power stations in scenario numbers 2 to 6, respectively. In last two scenarios, CO₂ capture systems were installed in the existing power plants and in the second scenario, respectively. Results: The results showed that Canada�s GHG emissions can be reduced by 33, 59, 20, 64, 69, 29, 86 and 94% based on the first to eighth scenarios, respectively. On the other hand, the second scenario is the most practical and its technology has already matured and is available. In this scenario by replacing existing power plants by NGCC power plants, Canada can fulfill more than 25% of its 238,000 kt year^-1 commitment of GHG emission reduction to the Kyoto Protocol. In addition, the GHG emission reduction potentials for each province and Canada as a whole were presented and compared. Based on the results, Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan are the biggest producers of GHG in Canada by emitting 49, 21 and 14% of Canada�s GHG emissions, respectively. Therefore, they have higher potential to reduce GHG emissions. The comparison of the results for different provinces revealed that based on efficiency of electricity generation and consumed fuel distribution; specific scenario(s) tend to be suitable for each province. Conclusion: The results pointed out that despite of acceptable performance of some provinces, there are still great potentials to reduce GHG emission level in Canada. In addition, the economical analysis showed that some scenarios are economically competitive with current technologies and should be considered when a new power station is to be built.

Optimization of Cutting Parameters Based on Surface Roughness and Assistance of Workpiece Surface Temperature in Turning Process
Problem statement: In machining operation, the quality of surface finish is an important requirement for many turned workpieces. Thus, the choice of optimized cutting parameters is very important for controlling the required surface quality. Approach: The focus of present experimental study is to optimize the cutting parameters using two performance measures, workpiece surface temperature and surface roughness. Optimal cutting parameters for each performance measure were obtained employing Taguchi techniques. The orthogonal array, signal to noise ratio and analysis of variance were employed to study the performance characteristics in turning operation. Results: The experimental results showed that the workpiece surface temperature can be sensed and used effectively as an indicator to control the cutting performance and improves the optimization process. Conclusion: Thus, it is possible to increase machine utilization and decrease production cost in an automated manufacturing environment.

Mobile Phone Base Station Radiation Study for Addressing Public Concern
Problem statement: The proliferation of mobile phone base stations had increased concerns from the public on the radio frequency radiation hazards that might come from them. The world wide public concern involved health risk due to radio frequency radiation. In Malaysia also public interest has increased, although it is not as intense as probably in other parts of the world, but had also resulted in tearing down of a few base stations. Due to this growing concern, a study was conducted to evaluate the radio frequency radiation levels near several mobile phone base stations in two major cities in Malaysia. Approach: Measurements in terms of electric field strength, power density and specific absorption rate were made to check the exposure level at public locations. Broadband meter were first used to survey the sites near the base stations. From the survey, spots with relatively higher readings will be further investigated using narrow band measurements. The measured values were then compared with the recommended international maximum permissible exposure limit. Results: The study showed that the measured values were found to be less than 1% of the maximum permissible exposure. Conclusion: The amount of radio frequency radiation from the selected base stations in the two major cities are adhering to the international limits although the physical radio base station infrastructures spawning out everywhere in these areas may give the reverse impression.

Single Beam Z-Scan Measurements of Nonlinear Refraction and Nonlinear Absorption Coefficients in Silver Nano-Fluid
Problem statement: The nonlinear refractive index and nonlinear absorption are two important optical phenomena which are extensively used in optical switching, optical limiting and labeling. Approach: In the present research we had measured nonlinearity of Ag nano-fluid prepared using Γ-irradiation method. The measurement was carried out using a single beam z-scan technique. Under a CW laser beam excitation operated at 532 nm with the power output of 40 mW, a closed aperture setup was used for thermal-induced nonlinear refractive index and an open aperture setup was applied for measuring nonlinearity absorption. Results: We measured the nonlinear refraction coefficient and nonlinear absorption coefficients for silver nano-fluid at concentration 6.475�10_-3 M, the values obtained were -6.173�10_-8 cm₂ W_-1 and 7.994�10_-3 cm W_-1 respectively. Conclusion: The nonlinear refraction coefficient with the negative sign indicates the self-defocusing phenomenon. The experimental data from open aperture measurement showed that a two photon absorption phenomenon. These results showed that the Ag nano-fluid has significant values of nonlinear refractive index and nonlinear absorption, thus it could be good candidate for optical devices.