107 research outputs found
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS FOR SHARED-SERVICES COOPERATIVES IN NORTH DAKOTA
No full textThe principal goal of shared-services cooperatives is to capture savings through lower administrative costs, quantity purchasing discounts, sharing fixed costs, and assured levels of business with vendors and suppliers. Although the idea of cooperation is not new in North Dakota, the question raised here is whether there is potential applications for non-agricultural shared-services cooperatives that provide services that are absent or inadequate in rural communities in the state. It is concluded that there is potential application for shared-services cooperatives in both public and private sectors in North Dakota based on opportunities to share fixed costs and to capitalize on pecuniary economies of size.shared-services cooperatives, non-agricultural cooperatives, North Dakota, Agribusiness,
Intelligent instrumentation: principles and applications
No full textWith the advent of microprocessors and digital-processing technologies as catalyst, classical sensors capable of simple signal conditioning operations have evolved rapidly to take on higher and more specialized functions including validation, compensation, and classification. This new category of sensor expands the scope of incorporating intelligence into instrumentation systems, yet with such rapid changes, there has developed no universal standard for design, definition, or requirement with which to unify intelligent instrumentation. Explaining the underlying design methodologies of intelligent instrumentation, Intelligent Instrumentation: Principles and Applications provides a comprehensive and authoritative resource on the scientific foundations from which to coordinate and advance the field. Employing a textbook-like language, this book translates methodologies to more than 80 numerical examples, and provides applications in 14 case studies for a complete and working understanding of the material. Beginning with a brief introduction to the basic concepts of process, process parameters, sensors and transducers, and classification of transducers, the book describes the performance characteristics of instrumentation and measurement systems and discusses static and dynamic characteristics, various types of sensor signals, and the concepts of signal representations, various transforms, and their operations in both static and dynamic conditions. It describes smart sensors, cogent sensors, soft sensors, self-validating sensors, VLSI sensors, temperature-compensating sensors, microcontrollers and ANN-based sensors, and indirect measurement sensors. The author examines intelligent sensor signal conditioning such as calibration, linearization, and compensation, along with a wide variety of calibration and linearization techniques using circuits, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), microcontrollers, ANNs, and software. The final chapters highlight ANN techniques for pattern classification, recognition, prognostic diagnosis, fault detection, linearization, and calibration as well as important interfacing protocols in the wireless networking platform
Highly porous alkali activated foams for water and wastewater treatment
No full textAbstract
Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) have diverse applications in water and wastewater treatment. In this thesis, porous AAM foams were prepared with the goal to explore their potential use in new applications for water and wastewater treatment, namely adsorptive filters, point-of-use water disinfection, and separation of microplastics.
The adsorptive filters were prepared from blast furnace slag and optimized by comparing five different surfactants and doses of H2O2. Porous AAM exhibiting the highest mechanical strength was investigated for methylene blue adsorption. To further enhance the adsorption performance, a lignin-containing composite foam was prepared. In the dynamic adsorption experiments, the highest adsorption amount obtained with the lignin-composite foam was ~40 mg/g. Moreover, peracetic acid was investigated as an alternative foaming agent in the preparation of porous AAMs. During the investigation, lower volume expansion and faster reaction kinetics with reduced setting time were observed for peracetic acid-based porous AAM compared to H2O2-based porous AAM.
To develop material for point-of-use water disinfection, the first goal was to achieve comparable water permeability to traditional ceramic filters by varying the amount of hydrogen peroxide. An optimized foam was then treated with colloidal Ag solution to explore its potential use in disinfecting water for 10 weeks. The modified foam demonstrated a significant reduction (2.84 log10 units) in E. coli bacteria compared to an unmodified filter (1.57 log10 units). Additionally, the environmental impact of the porous AAM was analyzed through life cycle assessment and found to be lower than that of conventional ceramic filter.
Finally, to develop material capable of separating microplastics, porous AAM surface was modified with triethoxy(octyl)silane to render it superhydrophobic. The modified porous AAM demonstrated over 99% separation efficiency when treating 30 L of model water containing 5 mg/L of polyethylene microspheres (53-63 μm). Its performance was also evaluated in treating laundry effluent, where the modified porous AAM achieved approximately 84% separation compared to around 52% for the unmodified porous AAM. Original papers Bhuyan, M. A. H., Gebre, R. K., Finnilä, M. A. J., Illikainen, M., & Luukkonen, T. (2022). Preparation of filter by alkali activation of blast furnace slag and its application for dye removal. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 10(1), 107051. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.107051 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.107051 Self-archived version Bhuyan, M. A. H., & Luukkonen, T. (2024). Adsorption of methylene blue by composite foams containing alkali-activated blast furnace slag and lignin. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 21(4), 3789–3802. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-023-05245-5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-023-05245-5 Self-archived version Bhuyan, M. A. H., Kurtulus, C., Heponiemi, A., & Luukkonen, T. (2023). Peracetic acid as a novel blowing agent in the direct foaming of alkali-activated materials. Applied Clay Science, 231, 106727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2022.106727 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2022.106727 Self-archived version Bhuyan, M. A. H., Karkman, A., Prokkola, H., Chen, B., Perumal, P., & Luukkonen, T. (2024). Alkali-activated foams coated with colloidal Ag for point-of-use water disinfection. ACS ES&T Water, 4(2), 687–697. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.3c00711 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.3c00711 Self-archived version Bhuyan, M. A. H., Busquets, R., Campos, L. C., & Luukkonen, T. (2024). Separation of microplastics from water using superhydrophobic silane-coupling-agent-modified geopolymer foam. Separation and Purification Technology, 339, 126709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2024.126709 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2024.126709 Self-archived version Abstrakti
Alkaliaktivoiduilla materiaaleilla on runsaasti erilaisia sovelluksia veden ja jäteveden käsittelyssä. Tässä väitöskirjassa valmistettiin huokoisia alkaliaktivoituja vaahtoja tavoitteena selvittää niiden uusia hyödyntämismahdollisuuksia adsorboivina suodatinmateriaaleina, veden desinfioinnissa ja mikromuovin erottamisessa.
Masuunikuonasta valmistettujen adsorboivien suodattimien koostumus optimoitiin muuttamalla valmistuksessa käytetyn pinta-aktiivisen aineen tyyppiä sekä vaahdotinaineena toimivan vetyperoksidin lisäysmäärää. Optimoidulla materiaalilla tutkittiin metyleenisinisen adsorptiota vedestä. Adsorptiokyvyn lisäämiseksi valmistettiin ligniiniä sisältävää komposiittimateriaalia. Dynaamisessa metyleenisinisen adsorptiokokeessa suurin adsorptiomäärä ligniinikomposiitille oli ~40 mg/g. Lisäksi peretikkahappoa tutkittiin vaihtoehtoisena vaahdotusaineena. Peretikkahappoa käytettäessä havaittiin pienempi turpoaminen valmistuksen aikana ja lyhyempi kovettumisaika verrattuna vetyperoksidilla valmistettuihin vaahtoihin.
Tutkimuksen seuraavassa osassa tutkittiin veden desinfiointia. Alkaliaktivoituja vaahtoja valmistettiin metakaoliinista, masuunikuonasta ja niiden seoksista tavoitteena saavuttaa samanlainen veden läpäisevyys kuin keraamisilla suodattimilla. Tämän jälkeen optimoitua vaahtoa käsiteltiin kolloidisella hopealiuoksella ja sen käyttömahdollisuuksia veden desinfioinnissa tutkittiin 10 viikon ajan. Hopeaa sisältävä vaahto osoitti merkittävää E. coli -bakteerien vähenemistä (2,84 log10) verrattuna hopeaa sisältämättömään suodattimeen (1,57 log10). Lisäksi alkaliaktivoidun vaahdon ympäristövaikutuksia analysoitiin elinkaariarvioinnin avulla ja niiden todettiin olevan pienempiä kuin perinteisen keraamin.
Mikromuovien erottamiseksi alkaliaktivoituja vaahtoja käsiteltiin trietoksi(oktyyli)silaanilla superhydrofobisen pinnan luomiseksi. Käsitelty vaahto poisti yli 99 % mikromuovista kokeessa, jossa käsiteltiin 30 litraa vettä, joka sisälsi 5 mg/l polyetyleenipartikkeleita (koko 53–63 μm). Käsitellyn vaahdon suorituskykyä arvioitiin myös pyykinpesuveden käsittelyssä, jossa sen muovin poistokyky oli noin 84 % kun taas ei-käsitelty vaahto poisti vain 52 %. Osajulkaisut Bhuyan, M. A. H., Gebre, R. K., Finnilä, M. A. J., Illikainen, M., & Luukkonen, T. (2022). Preparation of filter by alkali activation of blast furnace slag and its application for dye removal. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 10(1), 107051. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.107051 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.107051 Rinnakkaistallennettu versio Bhuyan, M. A. H., & Luukkonen, T. (2024). Adsorption of methylene blue by composite foams containing alkali-activated blast furnace slag and lignin. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 21(4), 3789–3802. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-023-05245-5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-023-05245-5 Rinnakkaistallennettu versio Bhuyan, M. A. H., Kurtulus, C., Heponiemi, A., & Luukkonen, T. (2023). Peracetic acid as a novel blowing agent in the direct foaming of alkali-activated materials. Applied Clay Science, 231, 106727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2022.106727 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2022.106727 Rinnakkaistallennettu versio Bhuyan, M. A. H., Karkman, A., Prokkola, H., Chen, B., Perumal, P., & Luukkonen, T. (2024). Alkali-activated foams coated with colloidal Ag for point-of-use water disinfection. ACS ES&T Water, 4(2), 687–697. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.3c00711 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.3c00711 Rinnakkaistallennettu versio Bhuyan, M. A. H., Busquets, R., Campos, L. C., & Luukkonen, T. (2024). Separation of microplastics from water using superhydrophobic silane-coupling-agent-modified geopolymer foam. Separation and Purification Technology, 339, 126709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2024.126709 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2024.126709 Rinnakkaistallennettu versio Academic dissertation to be presented with the assent of the Doctoral Programme Committee of Technology and Natural Sciences of the University of Oulu for public defence in the Arina auditorium (TA105), Linnanmaa, on 3 May 2024, at 12 noonAbstract
Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) have diverse applications in water and wastewater treatment. In this thesis, porous AAM foams were prepared with the goal to explore their potential use in new applications for water and wastewater treatment, namely adsorptive filters, point-of-use water disinfection, and separation of microplastics.
The adsorptive filters were prepared from blast furnace slag and optimized by comparing five different surfactants and doses of H2O2. Porous AAM exhibiting the highest mechanical strength was investigated for methylene blue adsorption. To further enhance the adsorption performance, a lignin-containing composite foam was prepared. In the dynamic adsorption experiments, the highest adsorption amount obtained with the lignin-composite foam was ~40 mg/g. Moreover, peracetic acid was investigated as an alternative foaming agent in the preparation of porous AAMs. During the investigation, lower volume expansion and faster reaction kinetics with reduced setting time were observed for peracetic acid-based porous AAM compared to H2O2-based porous AAM.
To develop material for point-of-use water disinfection, the first goal was to achieve comparable water permeability to traditional ceramic filters by varying the amount of hydrogen peroxide. An optimized foam was then treated with colloidal Ag solution to explore its potential use in disinfecting water for 10 weeks. The modified foam demonstrated a significant reduction (2.84 log10 units) in E. coli bacteria compared to an unmodified filter (1.57 log10 units). Additionally, the environmental impact of the porous AAM was analyzed through life cycle assessment and found to be lower than that of conventional ceramic filter.
Finally, to develop material capable of separating microplastics, porous AAM surface was modified with triethoxy(octyl)silane to render it superhydrophobic. The modified porous AAM demonstrated over 99% separation efficiency when treating 30 L of model water containing 5 mg/L of polyethylene microspheres (53-63 μm). Its performance was also evaluated in treating laundry effluent, where the modified porous AAM achieved approximately 84% separation compared to around 52% for the unmodified porous AAM.Abstrakti
Alkaliaktivoiduilla materiaaleilla on runsaasti erilaisia sovelluksia veden ja jäteveden käsittelyssä. Tässä väitöskirjassa valmistettiin huokoisia alkaliaktivoituja vaahtoja tavoitteena selvittää niiden uusia hyödyntämismahdollisuuksia adsorboivina suodatinmateriaaleina, veden desinfioinnissa ja mikromuovin erottamisessa.
Masuunikuonasta valmistettujen adsorboivien suodattimien koostumus optimoitiin muuttamalla valmistuksessa käytetyn pinta-aktiivisen aineen tyyppiä sekä vaahdotinaineena toimivan vetyperoksidin lisäysmäärää. Optimoidulla materiaalilla tutkittiin metyleenisinisen adsorptiota vedestä. Adsorptiokyvyn lisäämiseksi valmistettiin ligniiniä sisältävää komposiittimateriaalia. Dynaamisessa metyleenisinisen adsorptiokokeessa suurin adsorptiomäärä ligniinikomposiitille oli ~40 mg/g. Lisäksi peretikkahappoa tutkittiin vaihtoehtoisena vaahdotusaineena. Peretikkahappoa käytettäessä havaittiin pienempi turpoaminen valmistuksen aikana ja lyhyempi kovettumisaika verrattuna vetyperoksidilla valmistettuihin vaahtoihin.
Tutkimuksen seuraavassa osassa tutkittiin veden desinfiointia. Alkaliaktivoituja vaahtoja valmistettiin metakaoliinista, masuunikuonasta ja niiden seoksista tavoitteena saavuttaa samanlainen veden läpäisevyys kuin keraamisilla suodattimilla. Tämän jälkeen optimoitua vaahtoa käsiteltiin kolloidisella hopealiuoksella ja sen käyttömahdollisuuksia veden desinfioinnissa tutkittiin 10 viikon ajan. Hopeaa sisältävä vaahto osoitti merkittävää E. coli -bakteerien vähenemistä (2,84 log10) verrattuna hopeaa sisältämättömään suodattimeen (1,57 log10). Lisäksi alkaliaktivoidun vaahdon ympäristövaikutuksia analysoitiin elinkaariarvioinnin avulla ja niiden todettiin olevan pienempiä kuin perinteisen keraamin.
Mikromuovien erottamiseksi alkaliaktivoituja vaahtoja käsiteltiin trietoksi(oktyyli)silaanilla superhydrofobisen pinnan luomiseksi. Käsitelty vaahto poisti yli 99 % mikromuovista kokeessa, jossa käsiteltiin 30 litraa vettä, joka sisälsi 5 mg/l polyetyleenipartikkeleita (koko 53–63 μm). Käsitellyn vaahdon suorituskykyä arvioitiin myös pyykinpesuveden käsittelyssä, jossa sen muovin poistokyky oli noin 84 % kun taas ei-käsitelty vaahto poisti vain 52 %
Negotiating Citizenship on the Frontlines: How the Devolution of Canadian Immigration Policy Shapes Service Delivery to Women Fleeing Abuse
No full textAuthor Posting. © Bhuyan 2012. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Law & Policy, 34(2): 211-236. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1111/j.1467-9930.2011.00361.xFrom publisher: This article examines how nongovernmental service providers navigate devolutionary trends in Canada, in both immigration control and integration policy, when responding to migrants who come to them for help and support. Drawing upon conceptualizations of citizenship as a “negotiated relationship” (Stasiulis and Bakan 2003), I explore how social service providers, who work amidst a complex interplay of federal, provincial, and local policies, can influence both who is deemed worthy of social membership and what rights an individual can successfully claim from the state. Empirically, this article focuses on observation of community meetings and conversational interviews with service providers in violence against women shelters in Toronto, Ontario, Canada's most populous and diverse city. While service providers navigate different levels of government to advocate for women's rights to seek safety from abuse, I argue that both individual service providers and the organizations in which they work monitor and constrain the degree to which they openly challenge state authority to restrict immigrants' “right to have rights” (Arendt 1951 [1979], 296).This work was generously supported by CERIS—The Ontario Metropolis Centre
Multi Channel Sensor Linearization in Field Programmable Gate Array for Real Time Applications
No full textAbstract: In industrial applications multi-channel data acquisition and logging is of prime importance for process monitoring and control. In such situations linearization of the non-linear responses obtained from multichannel data acquisition systems is of prime importance for precise monitoring and control. Although various techniques have been developed for sensor linearization, real time multi channel linearization approaches are rare. This paper describes FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) implementation of different linearization techniques for multi-channel nonlinear sensor characteristics. The proposed multi-channel linearization techniques are implemented in real time using -piecewise linearization (PWL), look up table (LUT) based linearization, linearization by interpolation (LI) and artificial neural network (ANN) based linearization methods. We have discussed the different aspects of these linearization techniques and the trade-off between accuracy and implementation area in FPGA. The comparative analysis was performed by using identical thermistors connected to 8 channels for linearization and the performance of each method was analyzed. The performance of different techniques of linearization is estimated on the basis of logic utilization, linearization accuracy, execution time, noise immunity and speed of operation. Fixed point arithmetic has been used for data representation in the FPGA implementatio
Robust Detection of R-Wave Using Wavelet Technique
No full textElectrocardiogram (ECG) is considered to be the
backbone of cardiology. ECG is composed of P, QRS & T waves and
information related to cardiac diseases can be extracted from the
intervals and amplitudes of these waves. The first step in extracting
ECG features starts from the accurate detection of R peaks in the
QRS complex. We have developed a robust R wave detector using
wavelets. The wavelets used for detection are Daubechies and
Symmetric. The method does not require any preprocessing therefore,
only needs the ECG correct recordings while implementing the
detection. The database has been collected from MIT-BIH arrhythmia
database and the signals from Lead-II have been analyzed. MatLab
7.0 has been used to develop the algorithm. The ECG signal under
test has been decomposed to the required level using the selected
wavelet and the selection of detail coefficient d4 has been done based
on energy, frequency and cross-correlation analysis of decomposition
structure of ECG signal. The robustness of the method is apparent
from the obtained results
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