Values Of Quality Parameters Research Articles

Growth and characterisation of l-cystine doped TGS crystals

Single crystals of l-cystine doped triglycine sulfate (LCTGS) were grown from aqueous solution by low temperature solution growth technique. Morphological changes were observed on the grown crystals. Crystalline quality and cell parameter values were found using rocking curve and powder X-ray diffraction analysis, respectively. The presence of l-cystine in LCTGS was estimated qualitatively by FTIR analysis. Microhardness studies were carried out using Leitz Weitzler hardness tester at room temperature. The dielectric studies were carried out to identify the phase transition temperature and to find the dielectric constant. P-E hysteresis studies were done to find the values of spontaneous polarisation and coercive field for both pure and doped TGS crystals. Scanning electron microscopic investigations on uncoated b-cut plates were carried out to visualise the lenticular domains. AFM studies on the cleaved b-cut plate were carried out to understand the ferroelectric surface and the domain structure.

A New Model for the Evolution of the Molecular Weight Distribution of Polymers During Ultrasonic Chain Scission

A new model for ultrasonic scission of polymer chains has been developed. The model takes the coiled nature of the polymer chains into consideration. The time evolution of the molecular weight distribution for several values of the solvent quality parameter is obtained using the new model. It is seen that the model leads to higher scission rates and lower final molecular weights for better solvents in accord with the experiments. Simulated gel permeation chromatography results are also in line with the experiments.

A comparison of soil quality in adjacent cultivated, forest and native grassland soils

Changes in soil quality after 45 years of continuous production of corn (Zea mays L.) by the conventional tillage method (C) compared with adjacent poplar forest (F) and native grassland (G) sites were examined. The investigated parameters were: total and humified organic C, total N, light fraction content and composition, water-soluble organic C (WSOC), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), phenolic substances, biomass C, cumulative CO2-C (soil respiration) (Cm), enzyme activities (alkaline phosphatase, protease, β-glucosidase, urease, catalase and dehydrogenase). Empirical indexes of soil quality were also calculated: biomass C/organic C, specific respiration of biomass C (qCO2), death rate quotient (qD), metabolic potential (MP), biological index of fertility (BIF), enzyme activity number (EAN) and hydrolysing coefficient (HC). Results indicate that long-term corn production at an intensive level caused a marked decline in all examined parameters. Between the undisturbed systems, native grassland showed higher values of soil quality parameters than forest site. The indexes most responsive to management practices that may provide indications of the effects of soil cultivation, as well as of the differently undisturbed ecosystems were: organic C, WSC, Cm, protease, β-glucosidase, urease and HC. Soil enzyme activities were well related with, and not more sensitive than organic carbon.

Impact of development and urbanization on variation of water quality parameters of the Nima creek in Accra

The spatial and temporal variations of the physico-chemical water quality parameters, microfauna and micro-flora composition of the Nima Creek in Accra vividly illustrate the environmental problems associated with water bodies in a community where development and urbanization are in progress. Monthly water and benthic bedload sampling were undertaken to determine the water quality and biological constituents of the creek from a point near the source to the confluence with the River Odaw. The study reveals two distinct zones of variable water quality parameters. The upstream section covering a low population density area which is not very much affected by anthropogenic activities, was marked by comparatively high Dissolved Oxygen (DO) level, low Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) level, and high incidence of micro-organisms associated with oligosaprobic waters, such as Ulothrix, Phiodina rotifer, Gyrosigma and Navicula species. The upstream section of the creek could be described as comparatively unpolluted sections with good quality water. The middle and downstream sections covering the densely populated and low income areas of the catchment area had comparatively high BOD ranging from 120.0 to 609.0 mg/L, depleted DO ranging from 0.0 to 9.1 mg/L and pollution-tolerant orga-nisms like Vorticella, Synedra, Synura, Paramecium and Oscillatoria species. The values of physico-chemical and biological water quality parameters indicate unusual stress on the water quality in the middle and down-stream sections of the creek, which confirms the negative impact of high population density, slum and poor env-ironmental sanitation on water bodies. (Journal of Applied Science and Technology: 2001 6(1-2): 85-93)

Lazio region (central Italy) honeys: a survey of mineral content and typical quality parameters

A survey of 84 samples of commercial honeys of different botanical origin, collected all over the Lazio region (central Italy) was carried out in order to assess their quality. Typical quality parameters of honey (pH, sugar content, moisture, water activity – a w), and mineral content (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) were measured. Mean values for quality parameters were: pH, 4.32; sugars, 82.03 °brix; moisture, 16.57%; a w, 0.57. Mineral elements were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Potassium was the most abundant of the elements determined. The mean values were (μg/g wet wt): Na, 96; K, 472; Ca, 47.7; Mg, 37.0; Cu, 0.31; Fe, 4.51; Mn, 3.00; Zn, 3.14. The analytical results obtained on the Lazio honeys indicate a good level of quality and confirm the general image of healthy food associated with this product.

Growth and characterisation of l-tyrosine-doped TGS crystals

Single crystals of l-tyrosine-doped triglycine sulphate (LTTGS) were grown by low-temperature solution method. Morphological changes were observed on the grown crystals. Crystalline quality and cell parameter values were determined using rocking curve and powder X-ray diffraction analysis. The presence of l-tyrosine in LTTGS was estimated qualitatively by FTIR analysis. Microhardness studies carried out using Leitz Weitzler hardness tester at room temperature showed a decrease due to doping. Domain studies on b-cut plates were observed using scanning electron microscopy.

Resource quality and the colonisation and succession of coprophagous dung beetles

In order to examine the degree of resource selectivity in a north temperate dung beetle assemblage und to identify major parameters that influence such selectivity, the occurrence of adult dung beetles (Aphodius. GeotrupesandSphaeridium) in up to five different types of dung over a period of up to 25 d was examined in a series of field experiments using standardised dung pats. There were significant physical and chemical differences in dung quality between dung types and over time during succession. Dung beetle species showed distinct preferences for particular types of dung which were generally similar in data sets from both pitfall traps and dung pat samples. Species also showed distinct patterns of successional occurrence. Ordinations produced by Canonical Correspondence Analysis, based on species occurrences in dung types and over time, usually selected dung pat age as the most important environmental variable influencing dung beetle assemblages. Dung quality parameters contributed a significant element of structure to the species ordinations but ordinations using dung types or dung quality parameter values as the environmental variables were very similar in terms of sample and species placement within the ordination for each data set. Most importantly the CCA ordinations clearly grouped species according to their breeding behaviour. Early‐successional species laid eggs in the soil, or in silken egg cocoons, which allowed them to exploit wet dung. Mid and late‐successional species laid eggs in the dung pat: late‐successional species could exploit normally wetter dung types than mid‐successional species, probably due to increased crust formation and drying as the dung pat ages. Thus, species appear to be differentially adapted to exploit varying types of dung microhabitats. Therefore, where two or more species of large herbivores are present, dung quality preferences probably constitute an important niche dimension.

Strawberry quality as a function of the ‘high pressure fast cooling’ design

Oso Grande strawberries were picked, wrapped with polyvinyl chloride film, and finally cooled by ‘high pressure fast cooling’ units with slight differences in design in terms of number of fans functioning and ventilation spacer widths. The effect on strawberry quality of these cooling cells was evaluated compared to room-cooled fruits, and when compared to quality parameter values at fruit gathering. Quality evaluations by means of determination of main sugars and organic acids, colour, firmness, total soluble solids, titrable acidity and pH assessments were carried out at different commercial stages, immediately after cooling, after 3 days at 2 °C simulating refrigerated transport, and after 4 days at 17 °C storage (shelf-life). Reducing (by half) the ventilation spacer (V cell), resulted in a 20% higher air speed and a 20% faster cooling than control units (N cell), while units using half of the fans (F cell) showed a lower air speed (45%) and a 30% more time to cool down the product. These modifications also affected strawberry quality. Fruits from the fastest cooler cell, V cell, showed a different quality pattern compared to fruits from N and F cells, with a higher sucrose inversion and less glucose and fructose contents. V cell-cooled strawberries presented a lower content of citric, malic and ascorbic acids during shelf-life. However, fruits cooled by the V cell showed the highest marketable fruit percentage, although with a decrease in red colour compared to fruit at gathering, and fruit cooled by the N or F cells. In these cells, fruit colour remained practically unchanged along the different commercial stages including the long shelf-life period.

A Nonpreemptive Goal Programming Approach to Truck Dispatching in Open Pit Mines

Mineral Resources EngineeringVol. 07, No. 02, pp. 59-67 (1998) No AccessA Nonpreemptive Goal Programming Approach to Truck Dispatching in Open Pit MinesVictor A. Temeng, Francis O. Otuonye, and James O. FrendeweyVictor A. TemengCurrently at University of Science and Technology, School of Mines, P.O. Box 237, Tarkwa, Ghana Search for more papers by this author , Francis O. OtuonyeMichigan Technological University, Houghton, Michingan 49931-1295, USA Search for more papers by this author , and James O. FrendeweyMichigan Technological University, Houghton, Michingan 49931-1295, USA Search for more papers by this author https://doi.org/10.1142/S0950609898000092Cited by:17 PreviousNext AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsRecommend to Library ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail AbstractA nonpreemptive goal programming dispatching model that provides an efficient basis for maximizing production and maintaining ore quality characteristics within prescribed limits is formulated, developed and validated with data from an operating mine. The ore quality characteristics are modeled using target (goal) constraints. The target, ore quality parameter value is set midway between the prescribed upper and lower limit values. The results show that the goal programming model ensures the maintenance of ore quality characteristics within prescribed lower and upper limits and the maximization of production. A linear programming model, on the other hand, results in production maximization only, which is not significantly different from the goal programming model, and requires re-handling or stockpiling. FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited By 17Reinforcement Learning-Based Fleet Dispatching for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction in Open-Pit Mining OperationsDa Huo, Yuksel Asli Sari, Ryan Kealey and Qian Zhang1 Jan 2023 | Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 188Optimum Fleet Selection Using Machine Learning Algorithms—Case Study: Zenouz Kaolin MinePouya Nobahar, Yashar Pourrahimian and Fereidoun Mollaei Koshki24 August 2022 | Mining, Vol. 2, No. 3Multi-stage optimization framework for the real-time truck decision problem in open-pit mines: a case study on Sungun copper mineMehrnaz Mohtasham, Hossein Mirzaei-Nasirabad, Hooman Askari-Nasab and Behrooz Alizadeh5 May 2022 | International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, Vol. 36, No. 7A multi-objective model for fleet allocation schedule in open-pit mines considering the impact of prioritising objectives on transportation system performanceMehrnaz Mohtasham, Hossein Mirzaei-Nasirabad, Hooman Askari-Nasab and Behrooz Alizadeh2 August 2021 | International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, Vol. 35, No. 10Optimization-based dispatching policies for open-pit miningAmanda Smith, Jeff Linderoth and James Luedtke26 April 2021 | Optimization and Engineering, Vol. 22, No. 3Optimization of truck-shovel allocation in open-pit mines under uncertainty: a chance-constrained goal programming approachMehrnaz Mohtasham, Hossein Mirzaei-Nasirabad and Behrooz Alizadeh26 April 2021 | Mining Technology, Vol. 130, No. 2Deep Neural Network for Predicting Ore Production by Truck-Haulage Systems in Open-Pit MinesJieun Baek and Yosoon Choi1 March 2020 | Applied Sciences, Vol. 10, No. 5Deep Neural Network for Ore Production and Crusher Utilization Prediction of Truck Haulage System in Underground MineJieun Baek and Yosoon Choi7 October 2019 | Applied Sciences, Vol. 9, No. 19Simulation-based optimization of truck-shovel material handling systems in multi-pit surface minesBurak Ozdemir and Mustafa Kumral1 Sep 2019 | Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, Vol. 95Dynamic shovel allocation approach to short-term production planning in open-pit minesShiv Prakash Upadhyay and Hooman Askari-Nasab18 April 2017 | International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, Vol. 33, No. 1A Transportation Problem-Based Stochastic Integer Programming Model to Dispatch Surface Mining Trucks Under UncertaintyA. M. Afrapoli, M. Tabesh and H. Askari-Nasab22 February 2019Increase in the Technical Level of Mine Haul TrucksVoronov Yuri, Khoreshok Aleksey, Voronov Artyom, Grishin Sergey and Bujankin Aleksey23 October 2017 | IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, Vol. 253Increasing the technical level of mining haul trucksYuri Voronov, Artyom Voronov, Sergey Grishin, Alexey Bujankin and M. Tyulenev et al.10 November 2017 | E3S Web of Conferences, Vol. 21Truck-shovel allocation optimisation: a goal programming approachS. P. Upadhyay and H. Askari-Nasab5 February 2016 | Mining Technology, Vol. 82A linear model for surface mining haul truck allocation incorporating shovel idle probabilitiesChung H. Ta, Armann Ingolfsson and John Doucette1 Dec 2013 | European Journal of Operational Research, Vol. 231, No. 3Importance of verifying queue model assumptions before planning with simulation softwareKenneth David Strang1 Apr 2012 | European Journal of Operational Research, Vol. 218, No. 2Applying multidisciplinary logistic techniques to improve operations productivity at a mineKenneth David Strang19 August 2011 | Logistics Research, Vol. 3, No. 4 Recommended Vol. 07, No. 02 Metrics History PDF download

瀬戸内海および児島湖における赤潮の発生と水質特性

In the Inland Sea of Japan, with increasing the inflow of nitrogen and phosphorus phytoplankton proliferated, resulting in deterioration of water quality. The water area what is called eutrophication is progressing was investigated.In 1995, red tide appearance was observed in Okayama prefecture. Damage was not done to fishery but it is necessary to pay attention. Skeletonema costatum, it's phytoplankton was observed in sea water of a bathing resort in Okayama Prefecture. COD was increased to 3.1 (mg·l-1).Kojima lake is a man-made fresh-water lake and values of water quality parameters for instance COD, T-N, T-P, are two times as much as environmental standards. During summer in 1995, fresh waterred tide was observed and characterized by the appearance of Aphanocapsa rivularis and Anabaena spiroides at the point of Himon in Kojima Lake. And it needs to survey the mechanism of burst appearance.

Penaeus monodon (Fabricius) production related to water quality in East Java, Indonesia

On two shrimp farms in East Java, Indonesia, a total of 16 tambaks stocked with Penaeus monodon (Fabricius) were monitored for water quality during one growing season. The water quality parameter values were compared with production characteristics. Ranges of parameter values remained between acceptable reference values. Influences of farm, tambak and time on water quality were significant. Tambak production was explained for 25% by water transparency. Observed water quality parameter values could not be a reason for recently described decreased production. Therefore, other factors should be investigated.

COMBINING A RADIAL BASIS NEURAL NETWORK WITH TIME SERIES ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES TO PREDICT MANUFACTURING PROCESS PARAMETERS

The accurate prediction of the values of critical quality parameters of a product during the production stage is a key factor in the success of a manufacturing operation. Neural network algorithms have been used to successfully predict process parameter values. However, techniques to further improve the predictive capability of neural network models are sought. Thus, an analysis was conducted to determine if the predictive capability of the network would he improved if the prediction from a time series model of a manufacturing process parameter were included in the training data set of a radial basis function neural network model. A manufacturing process data set was evaluated, and the use of the time series model prediction significantly improved the neural network's prediction of critical process parameters. Often in a manufacturing environment, the collection of adequate amounts of data for network training is difficult. This integrated technique offers potential for improving network performance witho...

Entropy principles in the prediction of water quality values at discontinued monitoring stations

A new methodology for predicting water quality values at discontinued water quality monitoring stations is proposed. The method is based upon the Principle of Maximum Entropy (POME) and provides unbiased predictions of water quality levels at upstream tributaries and on the mainstem of a river given observed changes in the distribution of the same water quality parameter at a downstream location. Changes in the values of water quality parameters which are known a priori to have occurred upstream, but which are not sufficiently large to account for all the observed change in the same water quality parameter at the downstream location are able to be incorporated in the method through the introduction of a new term in the basic entropy expression. Application of the procedure to water quality monitoring on the Mackenzie River in Queensland, Australia indicates the method has considerable potential for prediction of water quality at discontinued stations. The method also has potential for identifying the location of causes of observed changes in water quality at a downstream station.

Trends in tillage practices in relation to sustainable crop production with special reference to temperate climates

The concept and some definitions of sustainable agriculture are reviewed. Most of these definitions include economic, environmental and sociological aspects. The finite area of land emphasizes the need for consideration of soil conservation and of soil quality in relation to sustainability. An important element of soil quality is rooting depth. Therefore loss of soil by erosion is a dominant factor in long-term sustainability. The effects of tillage on soil parameters in minimum data sets that have been proposed to describe soil quality are reviewed. Soil organic matter may be one of the most important soil quality characteristics in relation to tillage because of its influence on other soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Conservation tillage practices can increase the organic matter content, aggregate stability and cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the topsoil. However, bulk density and penetrometer resistance are also increased, especially with zero tillage. Although such soil quality parameters may form a basis for describing some of the consequences of particular tillage practices, they do not provide a basis for predicting the outcome in terms of crop growth and yield. This is both because critical values of soil quality parameters have not been defined and because in some soils biopore formation in zero or minimally tilled land can modify the soil for water movement and for root growth and function. The effects of tillage on crop growth and yield in long-term experiments are reviewed. The review only includes experiments in North America, Europe and New Zealand that have lasted 10 years or more to allow for seasonal variation in weather, possible progressive changes in soil conditions and the learning phase often experienced when new tillage methods are used. While there is a good deal of variation in the results of these tillage experiments some patterns have emerged. In long-term experiments, yields of maize in Europe and the US and soybeans in the US have been similar after ploughing and no-tillage, especially on well-drained soils. In Europe, yields of winter cereals have also been similar after traditional and simplified tillage but yields of spring cereals have sometimes been less after direct drilling than ploughing. Trends in tillage practices are reviewed. Conservation tillage in the US is increasing and is used on about 30% of cropland, including no-till on about 10% of cropland. This increase in use of conservation tillage is mainly attributed to the legal requirement for farmers who are in government price support programs to adopt conservation plans which may involve conservation tillage. However, the allowable rates of erosion in these plans are likely to be in excess of rates of erosion for long-term sustainability. Survey information on tillage practices needs to be considered in relation to predictions on suitability of conservation tillage based on experimental results. In the semi-arid prairies of Canada there is a trend toward fewer cultivation operations, but in eastern Canada the mouldboard plough is still the dominant tillage method. In Europe although erosion is less obvious it is believed to be increasing, but minimum tillage is not widely used. This is because of the need to remove at least some straw for successful minimum tillage in sequential winter wheat and barley crops, but there are few economic uses for straw, and burning is illegal in many countries. In the more moist cooler conditions of Europe grass weed proliferation is another constraint, at least with present technology. So far, the overall success of conservation tillage has not been limited by the growing problem of genetic resistance of weeds to herbicides. Societal attitudes to the continued use of herbicides may pose longer-term problems for some conservation tillage practices.

Design and maintenance of a closed artificial seawater system for long-term holding of bivalve shellfish

To study the potential for transmission of Perkinsus karlssoni, an apicomplexan parasite, among bivalve hosts, a long-term laboratory-scale, closed, artificial seawater system for shellfish was designed. Species of shellfish utilised were as follows: bay scallops, Argopecten irradians; blue mussels, Mytilus edulis; eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica; European oysters, Ostrea edulis; sea scallops, Placopecten megallanicus; softshell clams, Mya arenaria; and quahaugs, Mercenaria mercenaria. All shellfish used were juveniles with shell heights of 10–25 mm. The design was duplicated for control and experimental systems with a combined population of 1600 individual shellfish. The maximum biomass in each system was estimated at < 1 kg/m 3. Each system included six, 400 litre rectangular fibreglass tanks, a modular pump and filter unit (particle and activated carbon filters and ultra-violet sterilisers), a biological filter and a refrigeration unit. The total volume of water for each system was 2300 litres of artificial seawater (Instant Ocean ®). The mean water temperature of 22°C was achieved by thermostat-controlled room temperature. Salinity was maintained between 27 and 31‰ by addition of either freshwater or artificial seawater. Shellfish were fed daily a mixed diet of carboy-cultured algae and spray-dried algae. Mean values for water quality parameters in both systems were as follows: NH 3 < 0·004 mg/litre; NO 2 − < 0·01 mg/litre; NO 3 − < 19·16 mg/litre; and pH 8·0–8·4. The system design was adequate in maintaining healthy bivalves for a period of 22 months, with the exception of the sea scallops which succumbed to warm water. Mean monthly shellfish survival rates were 79·9–100% in the control and 74·8–98·9% in the experimental system. A method of controlling water temperature other than via room temperature should reduce slight seasonal temperature fluctuations.

Estimation of analytical values from sub-detection limit measurements for water quality parameters

A method is described for estimating analytical values for water quality parameters from sub-detection limit measurements. The method, which is referred to as the error approximation (EA) procedure, relies on quality control analytical procedures and on the assumption that the bulk of the analytical error associated with measurements at or near the detection limit exists within k = -3 to +3 standard deviations for normally (or approximately normally) distributed errors. The EA procedure also assumes that the analytical errors are equally distributed on each side of half the detection limit and that the sub-detection limit value lies between zero and the detection limit.

Spatial characterization of acidification related parameters in sensitive regions of Atlantic Canada

Many lakes in eastern Canada are sensitive to long range transport of atmospheric pollutants because of their low buffering capacity. Thus, it is important to assess long term changes in water quality. Due to the large number of lakes, a method was needed for choosing a subset of lakes to monitor regularly. Preliminary surveys were conducted in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in which water quality parameters connected with acidification were measured in a set of lakes in each region. This paper describes the division of each set of lakes into several groups, with lakes in a group having similar water quality parameter values, by means of cluster analysis and principal component ordination. The characteristics of the groups are shown by graphical procedures and summary statistics, and this characterization is used to both determine the number of groups and describe the final choice. The membership of the groups was subsequently assessed in terms of the influences of terrestrial weathering, marine aerosols, anthropogenically derived mineral acids and natural organic acids.

Formulation and Testing of a New Water Quality Index

Abstract The necessity of protecting our environment has promoted the development of new ways to communicate environmental information to both policy makers and the general public. In response to an increased interest in environmental indices, this paper forwards a new formulation which translates water quality parameter values into simple numerical results which can then be summed to give water quality index scores. The mechanism uses the matrix format to organize and display results with water quality parameters on one axis and common water activities on the other. The mechanism's task is then to assess the suitability of each parameter to each activity, and subsequently, to render the results into simple scores. The index can be applied to any situation in which water quality is a consideration. Its applicability lies in its offering to the perspective user the opportunity to calibrate the index to the needs of a specific situation. The procedure offers a systematic approach that is highly flexible and that generates results which are easily understood. The principal reasons for developing this index mechanism are to enable presentation of a simplified measure of water quality and to augment expert assessment of raw water quality data, not to supplant this important aspect of water quality management.