Using Stochastic Colored Petri nets for Designing Multi-Purpose Plants

Designing of a multi-purpose plant as one of the well-known manufacturing systems is more challenging than other manufacturing systems. This paper applies a stochastic colored Petri net (CPN) to design and analyze multi-purpose plants. A simple approach is proposed to determine the utilization of shared resources and to reduce the equipment’s idle times. Three scenarios are presented to describe the proposed model. Generally, according to desire of a decision maker, different scenarios can be considered in the model to achieve to the expected design or plant configuration. The main characteristics of the proposed model are flexibility, the easiness of practical application and the simulation of the model in an easy way.

Water Quality Assessment of the Owena Multi-Purpose Dam, Ondo State, Southwestern Nigeria

Composite water samples taken from Owena Multi-purpose Dam in six sampling campaigns covering the wet and dry seasons were analyzed for physico-chemical and microbial characteristics using standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater jointly published by the American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association and Water Pollution Control Federation. Results showed significant (p < 0.05) seasonal variations in most measured parameters with few showing significant spatial variation. The characteristics of the water from the dam lake revealed an acceptable quality for most measured parameters with low chemical pollutants burden when compared with drinking water standards and water quality for aquaculture. However, high values of turbidity, colour, iron, manganese and microbial load were recorded compared with drinking water standards, which call for proper treatment of the water before distribution for public consumption.

Bias Effects on the Reynolds Stress Using the Multi-Purpose Probe in IR-T1 Tokamak

The effect of the positive bias on Reynolds stress （RS） and its effect on the radial turbulent transport at the edge plasma （r/a =0.9） and scrape-off layer （SOL） region of plasma in tokamak are investigated. The radial and poloidal electric fields （Sr, Ep） and ion saturation current （Is） are measured by multi-purpose probe （MPP）. This probe is fabricated and constructed for the first time in the IR-T1 tokamak. The most advantage of this probe is that the variations of Er and Ep can be measured in different radii at the single shot. Thus the information of different radii can be compared with high precision. The bias voltage is fixed at Vbias = 200 V and it has been applied with the limiter bias that is fixed in r/a = 0.9. Moreover, the phase difference between radial and poloidal electric fields, and temporal evolution of the RS .spectrum detected by MPP are calculated. RS magnitude on the edge （r/a = 0.9） is more than its value in the SOL （r/a = 1.02）. With the applied bias 200 V, ItS and the magnitude of the phase difference between Er and Ep are increased, while the radial turbulent transport is decreased simultaneously. Thus it can be concluded that RS affects radial turbulence. Temporal evolution of the RS spectrum shows that the frequency of RS is increased and reaches its highest value at r/a=0.9 in the presence of bias.

Models for economic evaluation of multi-purpose apple harvest platform and software development

An increasing number of U.S.apple growers are now interested in using harvest platforms to increase harvest productivity,expand labor pool,and alleviate tough working conditions.To maximize benefits,functions of thinning,pruning&training,and infield sorting have been or are to be incorporated into harvest platforms.Though growers are most concerned with economic benefits,few cost-benefit studies had been conducted on different platforms.In the meantime,economic analysis procedure is complex and each analysis is for one specific machine(not for general purposes).No software has been developed as a general and ready-to-use tool for growers and researchers for the platform economic analysis.In this study,platforms,both available on the marketplace and developed in lab as pilot trials,were reviewed.Costs and benefits models were then established,based on which multi-purpose apple harvest platform economic evaluation software(iMPAHP)was developed(capable of evaluating a wide variety of apple harvest platforms).A case study(machine cost of$100000,accommodating 6 workers,processing apple incidence of 10%with 90%sort-out rate,and harvest,thinning,and pruning&training productivity increase by 40%,50%,and 60%,respectively)based on iMPAHP demonstrated that infield sorting,harvest,thinning,and pruning and training accounted for 48.4%,23.9%,14.3%,and 13.4%of the total benefits,respectively.In the case that the platform was in all-four-purpose-application,the net present value(NPV)analysis of a 10-year investment showed a positive return of$60547.However,without infield sorting function,the NPV resulted in a negative value,indicating a loss for the machine investment.Though incorporating the modular infield sorting system certainly increased the overall machine investment by$30000,the benefits outweighed the costs.

Role of multi-purpose cyclone shelters in India: Last mile or neighbourhood evacuation

India follows a strategy of having Multi-Purpose Cyclone Shelters along the coastline for tropical cyclone risk mitigation.These shelters are meant to provide refuge to vulnerable populations at the time of a cyclonic storm and otherwise to be used as school,community centres etc.This paper aims to examine the exact role which these Multi-Purpose Cyclone Shelters seek to perform;as a safe shelter for people living in a tropical cyclone threatened region or meant for those who fail to evacuate due to various reasons.Based on qualitative method and field work conducted after four cyclones which made landfall on India’s east coast during 2013 e19,this study argues that lack of clarity over its role has led to an emphasis on increasing number of Multi-Purpose Cyclone Shelters proportionate to the population size without due examination of its safety and sustainability aspects.

A Study of Afforestation Subsidy for Multi-purpose Forestry Development under Global Climate Change:Overseas Experiments and Implication

Global climate change poses new opportunities and challenges for forestry development, and therefore developing multiple-purpose forestry is an important measure to strengthen forestry response to climate change. At present, plantation in China ranks the world first in area, but with relatively low productivity. Constantly expanding forest area and improving forest management for enhancing multiple functions and purposes of plantations are the key measures to upgrade plantation capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change, while afforestation subsidy is the fundamental guarantee for improving and giving play to multiple functions and characters of plantations. The paper employed investigation-based research, literature analysis and in-depth interviews to analyze the policies and practices that the world major countries implement in terms of afforestation subsidy in the context of climate change and to evaluate the impact and effect of afforestation subsidy on forestry development, which provides experiences and implications for China to institute and implement afforestation subsidy policy as soon as possible. Finally, the authors came up with policy recommendations in terms of principles, approaches, standard, fund sources and system set-up of China's afforestation subsidies, which are of important significance to facilitate the development of multi-purpose forestry under global climate change.

A study of soil organic carbon distribution and storage in the Northeast Plain of China

Employing the Unit Soil Carbon Amount （USCA） approach, soil carbon storage was calcu- lated across the Northeast Plain of China based on the Multi-purpose Regional Geochemical Survey conducted in 2004-2006 （MRGS）. The results indicated that the soil organic carbon （SOC） storage in topsoil （0-0.2 m）, subsoil （0-1 m） and deep soil （0-1.8 m） was 768.1 Mt, 2978.4 Mt and 3729.2 Mt with densities of 3327.8 t/km^2, 12,904.7 t/km^2 and 16,157.5 t/km^2, respectively. These values were consistent with national averages, whereas the soil carbon densities showed a clear increasing trend from the southern area of the Northeast Plain （Liaoning）, to the middle （Jilin） and the northern Plain （Heilongjiang） -- particularly in terms of topsoil carbon density, which increased from 2284.2, to 3436.7 and 3861.5 t/kin2, respectively. In comparison to carbon data obtained from the Second National Soil Survey in 1984--1986 （SNSS）, the topsoil SOC storage values from the MRGS were found to have decreased by 320.59 Mt （29.4%）, with an average annual decline of 16.0 Mt （1.73%） over the 20 years. In the southern, middle and northern areas of the plain, soil carbon densities decreased by 1060.6 t/km^2, 1646.4 t/kin2 and 1300.2 t/km^2, respectively, with an average value of 1389.0 t/km^2 for the whole plain. These findings indicate that the decrease in soil carbon density varied according to the different ecosystems and land-use types. Therefore, ratios of soil carbon density were calculated in order to study the carbon dynamic balance between ecosystems, and to further explore distribution characteristics, as well as the sequestration potential of SOC.

Effects of different land-use systems (grazing and understory cultivation) on growth and yield of semi-arid oak coppices

The present study examines the extent of negative eff ects of traditional multiple land-use systems on oak coppices,from a forest management point of view.The study area was located in approximately 10,000 ha of hilly Brant’s oak(Quercus brantii Lindl.)woodlands in the central Zagros Mountains.In the same site-quality class,three land-use systems were compared:simple coppice(Co),coppice in conjunction with small ruminant grazing(CoG),and coppice with understory rain-fed wheat cultivation plus grazing(CoCG).Data on total wood volume of trunk and major branches,and annual ring growth,were collected and analyzed from 74 stands in 15 coppiced woodland patches.The results showed the advantage of Co over CoG and CoCG land-uses by 43 and 60 m 3 of mean accumulated wood volume per hectare,respectively.The diameter growth analysis also revealed an annual increase in wood production of trees in Co land-uses over 43 years,with an exception of the recent decade,when growth coincided with a severe drought.Using a back-extrapolation method,the minimum rotation age of woodlands in Co land-use was found to be 23.6 years,5 and 7 years shorter than those of CoG and CoCG land-uses,respectively.Unlike CoCG,woodlands located in Co and CoG land-use systems demonstrated a high level of agreement with self-thinning rule of−3/2.Values for the stand density index for coppiced oak woodlands were between more than 1000 for the least disturbed(Co)and less than 400 for the most disturbed woodlands(CoCG).The structure and growth rate of the coppiced oak woodlands were irreversibly disrupted by understory tillage plus grazing and in less extent by grazing alone.It was concluded that ending undergrowth cultivation in semi-arid oak coppices should be addressed as a priority by adopting minimum regulations.

Classification of Mineral Resources Associated and Accompanied with Coal Measures

The paper discusses the concept of mineral resources associated with coal measures. A rational and scientific classification of such mineral resources becomes more necessary with the development of science and technology. A classification scheme is proposed based on compositions and physical properties and the utilization of these associated minerals.

Development of a Simulation-Based Intelligent Decision Support System for the Adaptive Real-Time Control of Flexible Manufacturing Systems

This paper describes a simulation-based intelligent decision support system (IDSS) for real time control of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) with machine and tool flexibility. The manufacturing processes involved in FMS are complicated since each operation may be done by several machining centers. The system design approach is built around the theory of dynamic supervisory control based on a rule-based expert system. The paper considers flexibility in operation assignment and scheduling of multi-purpose machining centers which have different tools with their own efficiency. The architecture of the proposed controller consists of a simulator module coordinated with an IDSS via a real time event handler for implementing inter-process synchronization. The controller’s performance is validated by benchmark test problem.

Model and algorithm of flow interception problem with multi-type of flows

To study simultaneous location of different kinds of facilities, a new model of flow interception problem with multi-type of flows is proposed, with the consideration of multi-purpose flows and the influence of facilities on each other. To be more practical, the objective is to maximize the benefits from flow-by customers instead of maximizing flows in the past. Since this problem is NP-hard and there is no optimal solution for large network, greedy and improved greedy heuristic algorithms are proposed. A computational example is presented to show that the optimal location decisions are proved to be strongly dependent on the influence coefficients and average profits by one customer and different types of facilities are almost co-located. Finally the results of sensitivity analysis are reported.

Construction of Thin Concrete Lined Walls for Three Gorges Shiplock

With high rock slope in shiplock area, thin reinforced concrete lining walls are constructed for the shiplock system. The construction technology involves much complicated structures in formwork, frequent interference due to crossover working procedures, tight time schedule, high quality of reinforced concrete and showcase appearance requirements, hidden troubles affecting construction safety. With above-mentioned factors in consideration, a single-side-separated sliding formwork technology advanced from past sliding formwork experiences has been developed and applied successfully. This new technology is beneficial in quick and safe operation, capable to assure best quality and appearance of shiplock concrete works, and has filled up the gap in terms of construction sliding formwork in our country.

Phytochemistry,pharmacology,and clinical trials of Morus alba

The present review is aimed at providing a comprehensive summary on the botany,utility,phytochemistry,pharmacology,and clinical trials of Morus alba(mulberry or sang shu).The mulberry foliage has remained the primary food for silkworms for centuries.Its leaves have also been used as animal feed for livestock and its fruits have been made into a variety of food products.With flavonoids as major constituents,mulberry leaves possess various biological activities,including antioxidant,antimicrobial,skin-whitening,cytotoxic,anti-diabetic,glucosidase inhibition,anti-hyperlipidemic,anti-atherosclerotic,anti-obesity,cardioprotective,and cognitive enhancement activities.Rich in anthocyanins and alkaloids,mulberry fruits have pharmacological properties,such as antioxidant,anti-diabetic,anti-atherosclerotic,anti-obesity,and hepatoprotective activities.The root bark of mulberry,containing flavonoids,alkaloids and stilbenoids,has antimicrobial,skin-whitening,cytotoxic,anti-inflammatory,and anti-hyperlipidemic properties.Other pharmacological properties of M.alba include anti-platelet,anxiolytic,anti-asthmatic,anthelmintic,antidepressant,cardioprotective,and immunomodulatory activities.Clinical trials on the efficiency of M.alba extracts in reducing blood glucose and cholesterol levels and enhancing cognitive ability have been conducted.The phytochemistry and pharmacology of the different parts of the mulberry tree confer its traditional and current uses as fodder,food,cosmetics,and medicine.Overall,M.alba is a multi-functional plant with promising medicinal properties.

Upgrading to urban water system 3.0 through sponge city construction

Facing the pressure of excessive water consumption, high pollution load and rainstorm waterlogging,linear and centralized urban water system, system 2.0, as well as traditional governance measures gradually exposed characters of water-sensitivity, vulnerability and unsustainability, subsequently resulting in a full-blown crisis of water shortage, water pollution and waterlogging. To systematically relieve such crisis, we established urban water system 3.0, in which decentralized sewerage systems, sponge infrastructures and ecological rivers play critical roles. Through unconventional water resource recycling, whole process control of pollutions and ecological restoration, system 3.0 with integrated management measures, is expected to fit for multiple purposes which involve environmental,ecological, economic and social benefits. With advantages of flexibility, resilience and sustainability, water system 3.0 will show an increasingly powerful vitality in the near future.

What is a Korean officetel？ Case study on Bundang New Town

The purpose of this study is to identify a little-known element in Korea＇s housing typology： the officetel. A portmanteau of the English office and hotel, the officetel was originally a work facility with adjunct basic living amenities. It was introduced in the 1980s and became widespread in the 1990s and 2000s. Under heavy real estate pressure, its housing component was reinforced at the expense of polyvalent use. Legally ambiguous, the officetel converts urban zones that are officially dedicated to business activities into housing, and this conversion raises questions about the zoning system underlying Korea＇s land management. Bundang is a satellite new town of Seoul, and its development coincides with that of the officetel. With this town as a case study, we clarify the concept of the officetel and analyze the different architectural forms it has generated. We use 12 representative cases to analyze the internal structure of the officetel and its relation to the city. We demonstrate that the officete[ is a unique housing type, and its peculiar characteristics are related to its origin in office buildings. Such characteristics as high density, compactness, urban compatibility, and versa- tility should be valorized in the search for new urban housing forms in Korea.