Development and evaluation of continuous inshelled walnut processing system

The rapidly expanding usage of composite components in automotive and other mass production industries has focused attention on continuous production techniques as they apply to these engineering materials. It is recognized that where product volume warrants, a continuous processing system from raw material to finished product approaches optimum manufacturing efficiency. In composites, where properties are dependent almost solely on fiber orientation, continuous processing has the additional advantage of providing dependable control of filament orientation and tensioning. The combination of these and other more subtle processing advantages results in product economies not achievable by other processing techniques.

This paper presents the design and experimental verification of a continuous processing system for the production of microcellular polymer sheets based on the axiomatic design approach. In this work, the axiomatic design principles are effectively utilized as a structured framework from which to formulate an innovative microcellular sheet extrusion system. The design principles serve as essential guidelines in approaching the problem, synthesizing a solution, determining critical process parameters, and evaluating system performance. Microcellular polymers are an innovative cellular polymer technology characterized by cell sizes on the order of 0.1 to 10 microns and cell densities on the order of 109 to 1015 cells per cubic centimeter. Due to their extreme cell densities and minute cell size, these materials require advanced process technologies which surpass the capabilities of conventional foam processes. The microcellular-sheet processing system design is based on three sub-processes which include the processing of the polymer matrix, the processing of the microcellular structure, and the processing of the net shape. The creation of a microcellular structure is achieved by dissolving large gas concentrations into a polymer matrix and subjecting the saturated system to a rapid thermodynamic state change. This creates an unstable supersaturated-matrix which drives the nucleation of billions of microcells. Stable cells then grow as gas diffuses into the cells, reducing the bulk density of the material. Based on these fundamental processing requirements, a hierarchical design strategy is used to synthesize the overall production system such that each of the processing functions is independently satisfied by a unique design parameter or process variable.

Wild Life Conservation and Animal Trade in India

Laundry Pelangi is an individual company engaged in laundry services. Laundry Pelangi is located in Rejosari RT 01 RW 09 Mungkid, Magelang Regency. Currently, Laundry Pelangi's transaction notes and income reports are still done manually using paper-based notes. The manual process has many shortcomings, including inaccurate recording or missing records. This research will develop a laundry information system to help make it easier for employees to manage data and function to create a service feature in the form of free laundry. The method used in the development of this system is the prototyping method, namely identifying user needs, making prototypes, testing prototypes, improving prototypes, developing production versions. Through the development of this system, the transaction ordering process and income report data can be stored properly. The results of the overall test conducted by consumers, employees, and owners obtained a value of 92.11%, which means it is very feasible. It is concluded that the system built can make it easier for employees to process input transactions, print notes and print consumer cards, while consumers make it easier to order laundry and monitor laundry status.

This paper presents a new approach, model theory approach, to small and medium scale transaction processing system (TPS) development. A TPS of this paper is an information system designed to process day-to-day business event data at operational level of an organization. The paper is not concerned with data base construction but with transaction processing. The model theory approach is not a software engineering approach but a systems theory approach. In the approach a model of the target system, which is called a user model, is constructed in set theory using a formal system structure of a TPS. The user model is, then, compiled into an extended Prolog (extProlog) model. The extProlog is an extension of Prolog to meet requirements for management information system development. On compilation a standardized user interface (UI) called internal UI is attached. The extProlog model with the internal UI is, then, executed under control of another standardized UI called an external UI. Implementation is an integral part of the approach. Because the UIs are designed for the formalized (abstract) structure of a TPS, they can be standardized and are provided as black box components to system development. Because a systems developer is required to only build a user model in set theory based on a model theoretic structure in the approach, it is called a model theory approach. Advantages of this approach are that it provides a theoretical structure to information systems development so that systems development can be made an engineering discipline, and facilitates rapid systems development.

Information system development projects engage organizational members in a process with potential for conflict. Managing such conflicts in project groups is an important but often neglected aspect of systems development. This research assesses group process during the development of an information system in an insurance company, using questionnaires, recorded transcripts of group meetings, interviews, and archival data. We describe the relationships among four variables in a model of conflict—participation, influence, conflict, and conflict resolution—at five different periods over a 22-month period. Our results show that in every time period participation positively affected influence and that influence positively affected both conflict and conflict resolution. These findings are supported by an analysis of communication patterns within four project meetings and by qualitative data collected during the project. The practical implications of conflict and group processes in system development are discussed.

In this paper, we focus our studies on a distributed keyword continuous query processing system that is built on distributed hash tables. Treating bandwidth as a first-class resource, we propose novel query indexing algorithms including MHI and SAP-MHI, multicast-based document announcement, and adaptive query resolution to reduce bandwidth cost. Our detailed simulations show that our proposed techniques, combined together, effectively and greatly cut down bandwidth consumption.

Microbiological contamination of immobilized yeast bioreactors for lagering of beer was studied. Four common brewery contaminants and two contaminants isolated from the continuous processing system were tested for their ability to survive and grow in the packed bed DEAE-cellulose bioreactors. Bacterial contaminants were washed out within less than six weeks without causing any alterations in the flavour composition of the beer. The initial contamination levels were 104–106 cells ml−1. Gram positive lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus brevis and Pediococcus damnosus, were more persistent than a Gram negative wort bacterium, Enterobacter agglomerans. The wild yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ex. diastaticus) and Candida krusei were the most persistent contaminants and the only ones able to grow in the reactors. Another wild yeast, Rhodotorula rubra, did not survive in competition with brewer's yeast and was washed out within a few weeks. C. krusei and R. rubra were previously isolated from a spontaneously contaminated system. None of the contaminants caused formation of phenolic or other off-flavour compounds in detectable levels.

Wool, a widely used animal fiber, contains impurities such as waxes, lanolin and dirt which require removal during scouring. Conventional chemical scouring methods, while effective, pose environmental concerns due to hazardous chemical release, high water consumption and chemical residues that affect subsequent dyeing. This study explores an eco-friendly alternative using fungal cutinase immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles (Fe-NPs) for wool bio-scouring. Immobilization enhances enzyme stability, reusability and efficiency, addressing challenges associated with free enzyme applications. Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), key immobilization parameters were optimized, achieving 85% enzyme activity retention and a threefold increase in thermal stability compared to the free enzyme. Immobilized cutinase-treated wool exhibited a 32% increase in wettability and a 27% reduction in residual grease content, comparable to chemical scouring. Additionally, the enzyme maintained 85% activity after five reuse cycles, demonstrating enhanced operational stability. Despite its promise, limitations such as enzyme stability, reusability and efficiency have hindered widespread adoption of bio-scouring. This study highlights the need for further research on alternative immobilization techniques (e.g., covalent bonding, cross-linking), dye compatibility and integration into continuous processing systems. Additionally, combining bio-scouring and dyeing in a single step could further reduce water and energy consumption, making wool processing more sustainable. Future work should focus on industrial-scale validation and long-term performance assessment of immobilized cutinase for commercial application.

Continuous energy efficient exfoliation of vermiculite through microwave heating

The effects of dense phase CO2 processing parameters, including temperature (25 and 35 °C), CO2 concentration (0, 85 and 170 g kg−1) and pressure (6.9, 27.6 and 48.3 MPa), on yeast survival and sensory properties of grape juice were investigated. The dense phase CO2 process resulted in more than a 6 log reduction in yeast population. As the CO2 to juice concentration, temperature and pressure increased, the inactivation rate increased. CO2 in the supercritical state was more effective in inactivating yeast than in the subcritical state. The process did not cause detectable flavor degradation. Dense phase CO2 processing can be an effective non‐thermal alternative process for pasteurization of grape juice. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry

To meet the need for more adaptable and expedient approaches in research and manufacturing, we present a continuous autonomous system that leverages real-time, in situ characterization and an active-learning-based decision-making processor. This system was applied to a plastic film forming process to demonstrate its capability in autonomously determining process conditions for specified film dimensions without human intervention. Application of the system to nine film dimensions (width and thickness) highlighted its ability to explore the search space and identify appropriate and stable process conditions, with an average of 11 characterization-adjustment iterations and a processing time of 19 minutes per width, thickness combination. The system successfully avoided common pitfalls, such as repetitive over-correction, and demonstrated high accuracy, with R2 values of 0.87 and 0.90 for film width and thickness, respectively. Moreover, the active learning algorithm enabled the system to begin exploration with zero training data, effectively addressing the complex and interdependent relationships between control factors (material supply rate, applied force, material viscosity) in the continuous plastic forming process. Given that the core concept of this autonomous process can, in principle, be transferred to other continuous material processing systems, these results have implications for accelerating progress in both research and industry.

An attempt has been made to enhance the tribological properties of Mg–11Y–2·5Zn alloy by laser surface melting with a 6 kW continuous wave CO2 laser processing system. The microstructure and microhardness of the surface layer on Mg–11Y–2·5Zn alloy were characterised using X-ray diffractometer, laser microscopy and Vickers hardness indentation. The laser surface melted zone consisted of fine dendrites and coarse dendrites growing epitaxially from the liquid/solid interface. Microhardness was improved from 69–70 HV for the substrate to 77–83 HV for the fine dendritic microstructure. The friction and wear characteristics were investigated using a pin on disc apparatus. The coefficient of friction curve of the laser surface melted specimen was similar to that of the untreated specimen. Laser surface melted Mg–11Y–2·5Zn alloy exhibited good wear resistance, which has been explained by refinement of microstructure in the melted zone. Four wear mechanisms including abrasion, delamination, thermal softening and melting, have been observed.

Development of asynchronous data processing system is usually based on dedicated asynchronous elements. Advanced generalpurpose microprocessors have a set of features facilitating development of asynchronous data processing system. Such a system is designed for non-stationary signals using non-conventional digital signal processing methods. Implementation of the principles of the data level-crossing sampling, switching system to power reduction modes and asynchronous interaction between system units is determining asynchronous nature of the system. Paper represents architecture of the system implemented on Philips P89PLC936 microcontroller using a principle of the level-crossing sampling. The system is able to process input signal with maximum frequency fmax = 2kHz using sampling level number N = 7. Ill. 3, bibl. 10 (in English, summaries in English, Russian and Lithuanian).

Software design is the devising and documenting of the overall architecture for a software system. Design consists of identifying the major components of the system, specifying what they are to accomplish, and establishing the interfaces among the components. Design is the first step of transforming the requirements (a statement of what is to be done) into the functioning software ( how the requirements are accomplished). Design also includes lower level work such as detailed specification of data structures and algorithms within the identified components, but this article primarily deals with overall architecture. The general strategy for this overview of software design is to establish the framework for design in the context of overall system development, discuss how the process of development embodies and influences the design approach, address general approaches to design with some extra detail on the lesser known topic of concurrent and real‐time systems, and finally, emphasize the importance of requirements analysis and specification, and the transition to design. The “transition to design” is logically part of the topic “approaches to design” but is best deferred until after the discussion of requirements. Along the way some design methods that have become sufficiently well known that they have a name will be discussed. The specific topics are Design and the overall system development process. Approaches to process. Approaches to design. Concurrent and real‐time systems. Requirements analysis. Requirements‐to‐design transition. Present and future. Software design is the devising and documenting of the overall architecture for a software system. Design consists of identifying the major components of the system, specifying what they are to accomplish, and establishing the interfaces among the components. Design is the first step of transforming the requirements (a statement of what is to be done) into the functioning software ( how the requirements are accomplished). Design also includes lower level work such as detailed specification of data structures and algorithms within the identified components, but this article primarily deals with overall architecture. The general strategy for this overview of software design is to establish the framework for design in the context of overall system development, discuss how the process of development embodies and influences the design approach, address general approaches to design with some extra detail on the lesser known topic of concurrent and real‐time systems, and finally, emphasize the importance of requirements analysis and specification, and the transition to design. The “transition to design” is logically part of the topic “approaches to design” but is best deferred until after the discussion of requirements. Along the way some design methods that have become sufficiently well known that they have a name will be discussed. The specific topics are Design and the overall system development process. Approaches to process. Approaches to design. Concurrent and real‐time systems. Requirements analysis. Requirements‐to‐design transition. Present and future.