Showing papers in "Journal of Applied Sciences in 2008"
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TL;DR: In this article, an automated grading system for oil palm bunches using the RGB color model was developed to distinguish between the three different categories of oil palm fruit bunches, i.e., red, green and blue.
Abstract: This research deals with the ripeness grading of oil palm fruit bunches. The current practice in the oil palm mills is to grade the oil palm bunches manually using human graders. This method is subjective and subject to disputes. In this research, we developed an automated grading system for oil palm bunches using the RGB color model. This grading system was developed to distinguish between the three different categories of oil palm fruit bunches. The maturity or color ripening index was based on different color intensity. Our grading system employs a computer and camera to analyze and interpret images equivalent to the human eye and brain. The colors namely Red, Green and Blue (RGB) of the palm oil fruit bunch were investigated using this grading system. The computer program developed and used the mean color intensity to differentiate between the different color and ripeness of the fruits such as oil palm FFB. The program results showed that the ripeness of fruit bunch could be differentiated between different categories of fruit bunches based on RGB intensity.
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TL;DR: A study to determine the genetic variability among 360 chickpea land races and lines in Sararoud of Iran found that chickpeas genotypes could be classified into four clusters and 63% of the variance were explained by five PCAs.
Abstract: Identifying suitable parental materials is an important phase in the development of hybrid seeds. Thus, a study was conducted to determine the genetic variability among 360 chickpea land races and lines. Appropriate parents selected from a pool of genes of 360 chickpeas which was carried out during the year 2000-2001 in DARI, Sararoud of Iran. The experiment included 12 blocks, each contains 20 plots of 2 m rows. The traits studied were growth type, number of leaflet per leaf, leaflet size, plant height, days taken for 50% flowering, flower color, flowering period, days to maturity, pod size, pod per plant, seed numbers per pod, seed color, seed shape and 100 seed weight. Data based on morphological and phonological traits were analyzed using SPSS software and the statistical procedures: correlation coefficient, cluster analysis, principal component analysis and path analysis. Among the morphological characters, numbers of branches, pod numbers with CV: 41.77 and 37.25% had higher variation, respectively while leaflet with CV: 10.49% had minimum variation. Among the phonological traits the flowering period with CV: 22.02% had highest and flowering time had the least variability. The seed yield per plant ranged from 4.27 to 0.41 g and CV: 51.43% reflected highest variation. The highest correlation coefficient (r = 0.78) was between seed yield per plant and pod numbers. Chickpeas genotypes could be classified into four clusters and 63% of the variance were explained by five PCAs. Path analysis revealed that the pod numbers with 0.745, seed numbers with 0.386, 100 seed weight with 0.268 and single seed with 0.267 had highest direct effect on seed yield.
TL;DR: In this article, the unconfined compressive strength and initial permeability of peat soil stabilized by a mixture of Ordinary Portland cement, ground granulated blast furnace slag and siliceous sand were analyzed.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the unconfined compressive strength and initial permeability of peat soil stabilized by a mixture of Ordinary Portland cement, ground granulated blast furnace slag and siliceous sand. An understanding of the stabilized soil properties is of great importance for the design of deep stabilization in peat land for highway construction. Significant evidence on the positive effects of the admixture at stabilizing peat soil was discovered from laboratory testing investigation of the study. Results from the investigation indicated that addition of the admixture was able to increase unconfined compressive strength and reduce initial permeability of the stabilized soil as compared to those of untreated peat.
TL;DR: The proposed method, overshoot/undershoot and settling time are used as objective functions for multi-objective optimization in the proposed method for designing of PID parameters for two area interconnected power system.
Abstract: In this paper designing of multi-objective PID controller for load frequency control (LFC) based on adaptive weighted particle swarm optimization (AWPSO) has been proposed. Conventional methods such as Ziegler-Nichols and Cohen-Coon are based on trial-and-error and their best performances are achieved for first-order process. Single-objective population based methods such as genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) have only one solution in a single run. Unlike single objective methods, multi-objective optimization can find different solutions in a single run. In the proposed method, overshoot/undershoot and settling time are used as objective functions for multi-objective optimization. The proposed method is used for designing of PID parameters for two area interconnected power system.
TL;DR: It was observed that micro shoots obtained from optimization of encapsulation matrix showed the highest percentage of germination and suggested that the encapsulation method for micro shoots could be used as an alternative to artificial seed derived from somatic embryos of Saintpaulia ionantha.
Abstract: Artificial seeds were produced from encapsulated micro shoots of Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl. (African violet). The production of artificial seeds of this species gave ideal beads based on firmness, texture, size and shape of beads. The percentage of germination from encapsulated micro shoots influenced by the concentrations of sodium alginate and calcium chloride (CaCl2.2H2O) used. It was found that among the concentrations tested, 3 sodium alginate and the exposure to 1.00 mM CaCl2.2H2O solution for 30 min had produced optimal beads with firm, clear, round and uniform size and suitable for handling. It was also observed that micro shoots obtained from optimization of encapsulation matrix showed the highest percentage of germination (84). Encapsulated micro shoots exposed for 30 min in 100 mM CaCl2.2H2O solution gave the optimal time of hardening process. The findings suggested that the encapsulation method for micro shoots could be used as an alternative to artificial seed derived from somatic embryos of Saintpaulia ionantha. © 2008 Asian Network for Scientific Information.
TL;DR: In this paper, the effect of varying fine aggregate and palm kernel shell contents on workability and compressive strength of concrete has been studied for a period of 90 days, and the results showed that an increase in fine aggregate content and subsequent decrease in PKS content had a positive effect on both the compressive and workability of concrete.
Abstract: This study reports the effect of cementitious materials, fine and coarse aggregates content on workability and compressive strength of palm kernel shell concrete. Palm kernel shells a by product of the production of palm oil, were used as lightweight aggregates. The following cementitious materials were added: 10 silica fume as additional cementitious material and 5 fly ash as cement replacement on weight of cement. The influence of varying fine aggregate and palm kernel shell contents on workability and compressive strength has been studied. The specimens have been cured under three different curing environments to study the effect on compressive strength. The effect of cementitious materials and curing conditions on compressive strength for a period of 90 days was analyzed. The fresh density of concrete was found to be in the range of 1810 to 1940 kg m-3. The strength of Palm Kernel Shells (PKS) was found to be the primary factor controlling the strength. However, the addition of silica fume was found to have influence on compressive strength. An increase in fine aggregate content and subsequent decrease in PKS content had positive effect on both workability and compressive strength. The 28 day compressive strengths of the mixes containing cementitious materials were found in the range of 26 to 36 MPa. The difference in strength between water cured and specimens cured under controlled environment was found to vary between 3 and 5.
TL;DR: In this paper, a series of binary tellurite glass samples containing zinc oxide, ranging from 10 to 40 mol%, were successfully prepared and measured at room temperature and were taken at 5 MHz.
Abstract: A series of binary tellurite glass samples containing zinc oxide, ranging from 10 to 40 mol%, were successfully prepared. Longitudinal and shear ultrasonic wave velocities were measured at room temperature and were taken at 5 MHz. Elastic properties, Poison`s ratio, microhardness, Debye temperature and fractal bond connectivity have been calculated from the measured density and ultrasonic wave velocities. Results from the studies show that the densities of all glasses increase from 5098 to 5283 kg m-3, molar volumes decrease from 29.773 to 24.287 m3 mol-1 and the transition temperature, Tg decreases from 381.17 to 360.52°C with the substitution of TeO2 by ZnO content. Both the longitudinal and shear wave velocities decrease with increase of ZnO composition. The experimental results indicated that the elastic constants depend upon the composition of the glasses. The role of the ZnO inside the glass network is also discussed. Quantitative analysis based on bond compression model has been carried out, in order to obtain more information about the structure of these glasses.