• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.219-232
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• 2014

This paper reports on an ongoing study investigating the feasibility of using an evolutionary method to develop the rules governing Self-Organised (SO) systems for use in swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles. In general, it is difficult to design swarm systems that follow explicit global behaviour. Unlike optimising a predefined objective function, the solution to the problem is the emergent behaviour in the SO systems which results from simultaneous interactions among agents and between agents and their environment. In this study, evolutionary algorithms are used to investigate their control and effectiveness in synthesising the weighting of different rules on SO emergent behaviour. Both homogeneous swarms and heterogeneous swarms were considered though the results provided are for a case study investigating the simplest problem a homogeneous swarm without mutation. Though simple this study does indicate the potential of the approach.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.656-659
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• 1997

The Effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack were studied on the sexual behaviour of male rats. Sexually normal male rats were treated twice daily with 500 mg $kg^{-1}$ / of different fractions of E.longifolia Jack for 10 days prior to test and were then observed for their copulatory behaviour with a receptive female in a copulation cage. Results showed that was a significant increase (p<0.05) in EL-1, EL-2, EL-3 but significant decrease (p<0.05) in both PEI-1 and PEI-2 in treated male rats as compared to the control male rats indicating that E. longifolia Jack increased the sexual performance of the treated male rats by extending the duration of coitus and decreasing the refractory period between the different series of copulation. Hence, this preliminary work supports the folk use of this plant as having aphrodisiac property.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.235-251
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• 2019

Corrosion of reinforcement is the greatest threat to the safety of existing reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Most of the olden structures are gravity load designed (GLD) and are seismically deficient. In present study, investigations are carried out on corrosion damaged GLD beam-column sub-assemblages under reverse cyclic loading, in order to evaluate their seismic performance. Five GLD beam-column sub-assemblage specimens comprising of i) One uncorroded ii) Two corroded iii) One uncorroded strengthened with steel bracket and haunch iv) One corroded strengthened with steel bracket and haunch, are tested under reverse cyclic loading. The performances of these specimens are assessed in terms of hysteretic behaviour, energy dissipation and strength degradation. It is noted that the nature of corrosion i.e. uniform or pitting corrosion and its location have significant influence on the behaviour of corrosion damaged GLD beam-column sub-assemblages. The corroded specimens with localised corrosion pits showed in-cyclic strength degradation. The study also reveals that external strengthening which provides an alternate force path but depends on the strength of the existing reinforcement bars, is able to mitigate the seismic risk of corroded GLD beam-column sub-assemblages to the level of control uncorroded GLD specimen.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.298-310
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• 2020

Fuel management can play enormous role in fire management in tropical dry forests. However, unlike the temperate forests, knowledge on implications of different fuel management methods in tropical forests is often inadequate. In this study, the implications of prescribed burning and hand thinning treatments on implementation cost, fuel loading and post-treatment fire behaviour were tested and compared in degraded forests and teak plantations in two forest reserves of different levels of dryness in Ghana. The study found that prescribed burning was less expensive (62.02 US Dollars ha-1) than hand thinning (95.37 US Dollars ha-1). The study also indicated that the two fuel management methods were able to reduce fuel loading in degraded forests and teak plantations. However, prescribed burning was more effective in reducing fuel loading than hand thinning. While the relative change of fuel reduction was 13% higher in prescribed burning than the hand thinning in degraded forest, it was 41% higher in prescribed burning than hand thinning in teak plantations. The fire behaviour of post-treatment experimental fire was also lower in prescribed burning than the hand thinning and control plots. Fuel management, therefore, has a great potential in fire management in degraded forests and teak plantations in Ghana.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제47권6호
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• pp.819-838
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• 2013

This paper summarises the results of an experimental study to investigate the flexural behaviour of reinforced concrete beams strengthened using carbon-fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminate in four-point bending. The experimental parameters included are the reinforcing bar ratio ${\rho}_s$ and preload level. Four bar ratios were selected (${\rho}_s=0.13$ to 0.86%), representing the section of two longitudinal tensile reinforcements, with diameters of 8, 14, 16, and 20 mm in order to reveal the effect of bar ratio on failure load and failure mode. Eight beams that could be considered "full-scale" in size, measuring 200 mm in width, 400 mm in total height and 2300 mm in length, were tested. Three beams were selected with different bar ratios (${\rho}_1$, ${\rho}_2$, ${\rho}_3$), and considered as control specimens (without ), while three other beams identical to the control beams with the same CFRP laminates ratio and a seventh beam with ${\rho}_{min}$ (the lowest bar ratio) were also used. In the second part of the study, two beams with the bar ratio ${\rho}_2$ were preloaded at two levels, 50 and 100% of their ultimate loads, and then repaired. This experimental investigation was consolidated using an analytical model. The experimental and analytical results indicate that the flexional capacity and stiffness of strengthened and repaired beams using CFRP laminate were increased compared to those of control beams, and the behaviour of repaired beams was nearly similar to the undamaged and strengthened beams; unlike the ductility of strengthened beams, which was greatly reduced compared to the control.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제60권4호
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• pp.7.1-7.5
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• 2018

Background: Mice are widely accepted research models of great clinical significance. Maintenance of laboratory mice breed is an essential aspect for performing research activities in various fields of science. Infanticide is one of the prominent causes of litter loss during maintenance of laboratory mice stock. The present study is an effort to monitor the effect of change in ambient temperature of female mice below the normal range on cannibalism and infanticide during early postparturition phase. Adult female Swiss albino mice have been divided into two groups of control and treatment. On the day of litter group one was maintained under controlled temperature conditions (minimum $20^{\circ}C$ to maximum $23^{\circ}C$) throughout, while female mice belong to group two have been exposed to variation of room temperature (maximum $15^{\circ}C$ to minimum $10^{\circ}C$ for two nights and one day) until 36 h postparturition. Results: The effects of temperature changes were observed on the infanticide behaviour of dams along with the survival of pups in early postparturition phase till 36 h after delivery. The significant statistical difference (P < 0.05) was reported in infanticide behaviour of dams when control and treatment group was compared. It is observed that decrement in surrounding temperature promotes decrement in the ambient body temperature of dams during early postparturition. It is proposed that alteration of hypothalamic homeostasis due to temperature change induces cannibalism and infanticide behaviour. Lack of thermoregulation during early postparturition creates the sense of insecurity, in-satiety, anxiety and stress. Conclusions: Authors strongly recommend the maintenance of body and surrounding temperature to prevent infanticidal behaviour and cannibalism within Swiss albino mice population. Further investigations are advisable to authenticate the active behavioural and biochemical pathway behind the phenomena.

• Wind and Structures
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• 제35권6호
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• pp.405-418
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• 2022

The aerodynamic behaviour of a CRH high-speed train under three infrastructure scenarios (flat ground, embankment, and viaduct) in the presence of a crosswind was simulated using a 1/8th scaled train model with three cars and the IDDES framework. The time-averaged and instantaneous flow field around the model were examined. The employed numerical algorithm was verified through a wind tunnel test, and the grid and timestep resolution analyses were conducted to ensure the reliability of the data. It was noted that the flow around the rail line was different under different infrastructure scenarios, especially in the case of the embankment, which degraded the aerodynamic performance of the train under the crosswind. The flow around the train on the flat ground and viaduct was different, although the aerodynamic performance of the train was similar in both cases. Moreover, the viaduct accidents were noted to have the most critical consequences, thereby requiring the most attention. The aerodynamic performance of the train on the windward track of the embankment under the crosswind was worse than that of the train on the leeward track. But for the other two infrastructure scenarios, the aerodynamic performance of the train on the windward track is relatively dangerous, which is mainly caused by the head car. These observations suggest that the aerodynamic behaviour of the train on an embankment under a crosswind must be carefully considered and that certain wind protection measures must be adopted around rail lines in windy areas.

• 한국에너지공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국에너지공학회 1997년도 추계학술발표회 논문집
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• pp.47-53
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• 1997

Dynamic models have been developed for the coal gasification process by using a modular approach method. The complete unit is divided, for the convenience of the analysis, into several sections, viz. the coal feeding system, the gasifier, the gas cooler, the valves, the pumps, etc. The dynamic behaviour of each section is described in mathematical terms and each term is modulized into several submodels consisting of the complete process. To represent the behaviour of the fluid flow, the hydraulic network is proposed. Results for the more important system variables are presented and discussed. There dynamic models enable process and control engineers to quickly review a wide range of alternative operating and control strategies and help operators to easily understand the process dynamics and eventually can be applied to the design of commercial scale IGCC plants.

• Transactions on Control, Automation and Systems Engineering
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.24-30
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• 2000

The aim of this paper is to describe an advanced method of the fault diagnosis using Control Theory with reference to a crack detection, a new way to localize the crack position under influence of the plant disturbance and white measurement noise on a rotating shaft. As the first step, the shaft is physically modelled with a finite element method as usual and the dynamic mathematical model is derived from it using the Hamilton-principle and in this way the system is modelled by various subsystems. The equations of motions with a crack are established by the adaption of the local stiffness change through breathing and gaping[1] from the crack to the equation of motion with an undamaged shaft. This is supposed to be regarded as a reference system for the given system. Based on the fictitious model of the time behaviour induced from vibration phenomena measured at the bearings, a nonlinear state observer is designed in order to detect the crack on the shaft. This is the elementary NL-observer(EOB). Using the elementary observer, an Estimator(Observer Bank) is established and arranged at the certain position on the shaft. In case, a crack is found and its position is known, the procedure, fro the estimation of the depth is going to begin.

• 한국식생활문화학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.105-117
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to compare weight control behaviour, eating habits, and health-related life habits according to degree of obesity among normal, overweight, and obese groups. Self-perception of weight and desire for weight control in males (p<0.001) and females (p<0.001) varied among the three groups. Reasons (p<0.001), experience (p<0.01), and method of weight control (p<0.05) were different among the three female groups, whereas males did not show any differences. Intake of nutritional supplements in the male obese group was higher compared to other groups (p<0.01), whereas eating habits were not significantly different among the three groups for both males and females. Food habits score for intake of fruits, milk, and yogurt were higher in females than males (p<0.001). Correlation coefficients of food habits score and anthropometric measurements showed that hip circumference was negative for intake of fruits in males, whereas RBW and BMI were positive for food combination, intake of bean products, and fishes in females (p<0.05). Frequency and fitting exercise in the obese female group were lower than in the other groups (p<0.01). Therefore, proper nutritional education for obese individuals is recommended proper self-perception of weight, good food habits, and regular exercise.