Comparative Appraisal of Response Surface Methodology and Artificial Neural Network Method for Stabilized Turbulent Confined Jet Diffusion Flames Using Bluff-Body Burners

The present study was conducted to present the comparative modeling, predictive and generalization abilities of response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) for the thermal structure of stabilized confined jet diffusion flames in the presence of different geometries of bluff-body burners. Two stabilizer disc burners tapered at 30° and 60° and another frustum cone of 60°/30° inclination angle were employed all having the same diameter of 80 (mm) acting as flame holders. The measured radial mean temperature profiles of the developed stabilized flames at different normalized axial distances (x/dj) were considered as the model example of the physical process. The RSM and ANN methods analyze the effect of the two operating parameters namely (r), the radial distance from the center line of the flame, and (x/dj) on the measured temperature of the flames, to find the predicted maximum temperature and the corresponding process variables. A three-layered Feed Forward Neural Network in conjugation with the hyperbolic tangent sigmoid (tansig) as transfer function and the optimized topology of 2:10:1 (input neurons: hidden neurons: output neurons) was developed. Also the ANN method has been employed to illustrate such effects in the three and two dimensions and shows the location of the predicted maximum temperature. The results indicated the superiority of ANN in the prediction capability as the ranges of R2 and F Ratio are 0.868 - 0.947 and 231.7 - 864.1 for RSM method compared to 0.964 - 0.987 and 2878.8 7580.7 for ANN method beside lower values for error analysis terms.

Simulated patient methodology as a“gold standard”in community pharmacy practice:Response to criticism

The simulated patient methodology(SPM)is considered the“gold standard”as covert participatory observation.SPM is attracting increasing interest for the investigation of community pharmacy practice;however,there is criticism that SPM can only show a small picture of everyday pharmacy practice and therefore has limited external validity.On the one hand,a certain design and application of the SPM goes hand in hand with an increase in external validity.Even if,on the other hand,this occurs at the expense of internal validity due to the trade-off situation,the justified criticism of the SPM for investigating community pharmacy practice can be countered.

Optimization of Cellulose Nanocrystal Isolation from Ayous Sawdust Using Response Surface Methodology

This study focuses on the extraction of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), derived from Ayous sawdust. The process involves multiple steps and a large amount of chemical products. The objective of this research was to determine the effects of factors that impact the isolation process and to identify the optimal conditions for CNC isolation by using the response surface methodology. The factors that varied during the process were the quantity of MCC, the concentration of sulfuric acid, the hydrolysis time and temperature, and the ultrasonic treatment time. The response measured was the yield. The study found that with 5.80 g of microcrystalline cellulose, a sulfuric acid concentration of 63.50% (w/w), a hydrolysis time of 53 minutes, a hydrolysis temperature of 69˚C, and a sonication time of 19 minutes are the ideal conditions for isolation. The experimental yield achieved was (37.84 ± 0.99) %. The main factors influencing the process were the sulfuric acid concentration, hydrolysis time and temperature, with a significant influence (p < 0.05). Infrared characterization results showed that nanocrystals were indeed isolated. With a crystallinity of 35.23 and 79.74, respectively, for Ayous wood fiber and nanocrystalline cellulose were observed by X-ray diffraction, with the formation of type II cellulose, thermodynamically more stable than native cellulose type I.

Response surface methodology-based hybrid robust design optimization for complex product under mixed uncertainties

Minimizing the impact of the mixed uncertainties(i.e.,the aleatory uncertainty and the epistemic uncertainty) for a complex product of compliant mechanism(CPCM) quality improvement signifies a fascinating research topic to enhance the robustness.However, most of the existing works in the CPCM robust design optimization neglect the mixed uncertainties, which might result in an unstable design or even an infeasible design. To solve this issue, a response surface methodology-based hybrid robust design optimization(RSM-based HRDO) approach is proposed to improve the robustness of the quality characteristic for the CPCM via considering the mixed uncertainties in the robust design optimization. A bridge-type amplification mechanism is used to manifest the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The comparison results prove that the proposed approach can not only keep its superiority in the robustness, but also provide a robust scheme for optimizing the design parameters.

A systematic scoping review of study methodology for randomized controlled trials investigating probiotics in athletic and physically active populations

Background:The purported ergogenic and health effects of probiotics have been a topic of great intrigue among researchers,practitioners,and the lay public alike.There has also been an increased research focus within the realm of sports science and exercise medicine on the athletic gut microbiota.However,compared to other ergogenic aids and dietary supplements,probiotics present unique study challenges.The objectives of this systematic scoping review were to identify and characterize study methodologies of randomized controlled trials investigating supplementation with probiotics in athletes and physically active individuals.Methods:Four databases(MEDLINE,CINAHL,Cochrane CENTRAL,and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews)were searched for randomized controlled studies involving healthy athletes or physically active individuals.An intervention with probiotics and inclusion of a control and/or placebo group were essential.Only peer-reviewed articles in English were considered,and there were no date restrictions.Results were extracted and presented in tabular form to detail study protocols,characteristics,and outcomes.Bias in randomized controlled trials was determined with the RoB 2.0 tool.Results:A total of 45 studies were included in the review,with 35 using a parallel group design and 10 using a cross-over design.Approximately half the studies used a single probiotic and the other half a multi-strain preparation.The probiotic dose ranged from 2×10^(8)to 1×10^(11)colony forming units daily,and the length of intervention was between 7 and 150 days.Fewer than half the studies directly assessed gastrointestinal symptoms,gut permeability,or the gut microbiota.The sex ratio of participants was heavily weighted toward males,and only 3 studies exclusively investigated females.Low-level adverse events were reported in only 2 studies,although the methodology of reporting varied widely.The risk of bias was generally low,although details on randomization were lacking in some studies.Conclusion:There is a substantial body of research on the effects of prob iotic supplementation in healthy athletes and physically active individuals.Considerable heterogeneity in probiotic selection and dosage as well as outcome measures has made clinical and mechanistic interpretation challenging for both health care practitioners and researchers.Attention to issues of randomization of participants,treatments and interventions,selection of outcomes,demographics,and reporting of adverse events will facilitate more trustworthy interpretation of probiotic study results and inform evidence-based guidelines.

Enhancing wood efficiency through comprehensive wood flow analysis:Methodology and strategic insights

Wood,an essential natural resource in human civilization,remains widely used despite advances in technology and material substitution.The surge in greenhouse gas emissions and environmental concerns accentuates the need for optimizing wood utilization.Material flow analysis is a powerful tool for tracking material flows and stocks,aiding resource management and environmental decision-making.However,the full extent of its methodological dimensions,particularly within the context of the wood supply chain,remains relatively unexplored.In this study,we delve into the existing literature on wood flow analysis,discussing its primary objectives,materials involved,temporal and spatial scales,data sources,units,and conversion factors.Additionally,data uncertainty,data reconciliation and crucial assumptions in material flow analysis are highlighted in this paper.Key findings reveal the significance of wood cascading and substitution effects by replacing non-wood materials,where they can reduce greenhouse gas emissions more than the natural carbon sink of forests and wood products.The immediate impact of short-term wood cascading might not be as robust as the substitution effect,with energy substitution showcasing better results than material substitution.However,it's crucial to note that these conclusions could experience significant reversal from a long-term and global perspective.Strategies for improving wood efficiency involve maximizing material use,advancing construction technologies,extending product lifespans,promoting cascade use,and optimizing energy recovery processes.The study underscores the need for standardized approaches in wood flow analysis and emphasizes the potential of wood efficiency strategies in addressing environmental challenges.

Optimization of Methylene Blue Dye Adsorption onto Coconut Husk Cellulose Using Response Surface Methodology: Adsorption Kinetics, Isotherms and Reusability Studies

In this study, coconut husk cellulose was employed as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly adsorbent to eliminate methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solutions. The successful development of response surface methodology paired with a central composite design (RSM-CCD) enabled the optimization and modelling of the adsorption process. The study investigated the individual and combined effects of three variables (pH, contact time, and initial MB dye concentration) on the adsorption of MB dye onto coconut husk cellulose. The developed RSM-CCD model exhibited a remarkable degree of precision in predicting the removal efficiency of MB dye within the specified experimental parameters. This was demonstrated by the strong regression parameters, with an R2 value of 99.79% and an adjusted R2 value of 99.6%. The study depicted that the optimal parameters for attaining a 98.8827% removal of MB dye using coconut husk cellulose were as follows: an initial MB dye concentration of 30 mg∙L−1, contact time of 120 minutes, and pH 7 at a fixed adsorbent dose of 0.5 g. The Freundlich isotherm model provided the most satisfactory description of the equilibrium adsorption isotherms, suggesting that MB dye adsorption onto coconut husk cellulose occurs on a heterogeneous surface. The experimental results demonstrated a strong agreement with the pseudo-second-order kinetics model, indicating that the number of active sites present on the cellulose adsorbent predominantly influences the adsorption process of MB dye. Additionally, the adsorbent made from coconut husk cellulose exhibited the potential to be reused, as it retained its efficiency for a maximum of three cycles of adsorption of MB dye. The results of this study show that coconut husk cellulose has the potential to be an effective and sustainable adsorbent for removing MB dye from aqueous solutions.

Application of Response Surface Methodology for Optimization of Fluoride Removal Mechanism by Newely Developed Biomaterial

The adsorption capacities of new biomaterials derived from lemon leaf (Citrus sp.) toward fluoride ions have been explored by varying different physicochemical parameters such as pH, initial concentration, adsorbent dose, contact time, stirring rate and temperature. The entire study was done through batch process. Maximum fluoride adsorption of 96.9% - 98.8% was achieved with an initial concentration of 10 mg/L. Langmuir isotherm model well expressed fluoride ad- sorption onto LLD-1, LLD-2 and LLD-3. According to correlation coefficient, the fluoride adsorption onto these 3 ad- sorbents was correlated well with pseudo-second-order kinetic model. From thermodynamic study, the spontaneous nature and feasibility of the adsorption process with negative enthalpy (&#916H0) value also supported the exothermic nature were shown. The rate of fluoride adsorption was mathematically described as a function of experimental parameters and was modeled through Box-Behnken (Response surface methodology). The results showed that the responses of fluoride adsorption were significantly affected by the quadratic term of pH, initial concentration, contact time and temperature and the statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA which indicated good correlation of experimental parameters.

The Influence of Tartaric Acid in the Silver Nanoparticle Synthesis Using Response Surface Methodology

Silver nanoparticles(AgNPs)synthesized using tartaric acid as a capping agent have a great impact on the reaction kinetics and contribute significantly to the stability of AgNPs.The protective layer formed by tartaric acid is an important factor that protects the silver surface and reduces potential cytotoxicity problems.These attributes are critical for assessing the compatibility of AgNPs with biological systems and making them suitable for drug delivery applications.The aim of this research is to conduct a comprehensive study of the effect of tartaric acid concentration,sonication time and temperature on the formation of silver nanoparticles.Using Response Surface Methodology(RSM)with Face-Centered Central Composite Design(FCCD),the optimization process identifies the most favorable synthesis conditions.UV-Vis spectrum regression analysis shows that AgNPs stabilized with tartaric acid are more stable than AgNPs without tartaric acid.This highlights the increased stability that tartaric acid provides in AgNP ssssynthesis.Particle size distribution analysis showed a multimodal distribution for AgNPs with tartaric acid and showed the smallest size peak with an average size of 20.53 nm.The second peak with increasing intensity shows a dominant average size of 108.8 nm accompanied by one standard deviation of 4.225 nm and a zeta potential of−11.08 mV.In contrast,AgNPs synthesized with polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP)showed a unimodal particle distribution with an average particle size of 81.62 nm and a zeta potential of−2.96 mV.The more negative zeta potential of AgNP-tartaric acid indicates its increased stability.Evaluation of antibacterial activity showed that AgNPs stabilized with tartaric acid showed better performance against E.coli and B.subtilis bacteria compared with AgNPs-PVP.In summary,this study highlights the potential of tartaric acid in AgNP synthesis and suggests an avenue for the development of stable AgNPs with versatile applications.

Utilization of Virgin Coconut Meal (VCM) in the Production of Ready-to-Eat Indian Traditional Sweet Meat Using Response Surface Methodology

Virgin coconut meal (VCM) was used for the development of ready-to-eat Indian traditional sweet meat commonly known as “ladoo” both with and without sorbic acid (0.3%). The different ingredients were optimized following re-sponse surface methodology with three independent variables i.e. sugar, water and VCM and sensory attributes as responses. The changes in the quality of VCM ladoo packed in polypropylene (PP, 75 μ) and laminates of metalized polyester (MP, 75 μ) were monitored during storage to establish the shelf life under ambient temperature conditions (15?C - 34?C). Samples without added potassium sorbate spoiled within three weeks of storage due to mold growth and fermented odour. VCM ladoo containing sorbic acid did not support any microbial growth during storage up to 4 months, however, during storage samples packed in PP lost moisture and became hard and brittle, while those packed in MP remained soft. Peroxide and thiobarbituric acid values were higher in PP packed samples as compared to those packed in MP. Sorbic acid degraded during storage of ladoo and the rate of degradation was higher in PP packed ladoos than that in MP packed ones.

Optimization of medium components using response surface methodology (RSM) for mycelium biomass and exopolysaccharide production by <i>Lentinus squarrosulus</i>

The interaction between sucrose, yeast extract and initial pH was investigated to optimize critical medium components for mycelium biomass and production of exopolysaccharide (EPS) of Lentinus squarrosulus using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). A central composite design (CCD) was applied and a polynomial regression model with quadratic term was used to analyse the experimental data using analysis of variance (ANOVA). ANOVA analysis showed that the model was very significant (p Lentinus squarrosulus are as follows: sucrose concentration 114.61 g/L, yeast extract 1.62 g/L and initial pH of 5.81;sucrose concentration 115.8 g/L, yeast extract of 3.39 g/L and initial pH of 6.44 respectively.

Removal of CO2 in a multistage fluidized bed reactor by amine impregnated activated carbon: optimization using response surface methodology

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the major component of greenhouse gas. Increase in concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere leads to global warming. To remove the CO2 from waste flue gas a four-stage counter-current multistage fluidized bed adsorber was developed and operated in continuous bubbling fluidization regime for the two丒phase system. This paper describes the optimum condition for CO2 removal efficiency in a multistage fluidized bed reactor using amine impregnated activated carbon. Response surface methodology with central composite design was used to determine the effect of three variables on the response. The variables are inlet concentration of CO2 in ppm (ranging from 3000 to 20,000), impregnation ratio of monoethanol amine (ranging from 0.2 to 0.6) and weir height in mm (20-60). The response was CO2 removal efficiency. The factor which was most influential has been identified from the analysis of variance. The optimum CO2 removal efficiency for the amine impregnated activated carbon (MEA-AC) was found to be 95.17%, at initial concentration of CO2 7312.85 ppm, chemical impregnation ratio of 0.31, and weir height 48.65 mm. From the experiment, the CO2 removal efficiency was found to be 95.97% at the same operating conditions. The predicted response was found to relevance with experimental data.

A Review of＂Some Basic Principles of Teacher Training＂and＂British and American Methodology＂in NEW ORIENTTIONS IN THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH By Peter Strevens

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Reflections on the Three Controversies in Economic Methodology by Virtue of the Philosophy of Science

The philosophical foundation of the mainstream neoclassical economics is empirical philosophy.The controversies of economic methodology over inductive and deductive methods,over verificationistic and falsificationistic approaches,and over positive and normative analyses in the evolution of economics are associated with those in the philosophy of science.The evolution of philosophy of science suggests that the above-mentioned pairs of economic methodologies should be appropriately combined when used in economics.It is not sensible to overemphasize either one inside each pair of economic methodologies.

试论ELT Methodology课程的教学改革与创新

目前 ,如何教好英语已成为英语作为外语教学的探讨的热点。作为一名教师 ,纯粹地依靠掌握一些语言知识去教学是远远不够的 ,因此对于师资的专门培训显得尤为重要。然而师范院校中的“英语教学法课程”却是师资培训的最初步 ,最基本 ,也是最重要的课程。本文着眼于改变传统的“英语教学法课程”的教学模式 ,倡导此课程的教学改革 ,将理论与实践相结合 ,鼓励学生在模拟教学中进行反思 ,以确保学生在未来的教师生涯中 ,能坚持不懈地提高自身的职业素质。

Groundwater impact of open cut coal mine and an assessment methodology:A case study in NSW

Large scale open cut coal mining operations have significant impacts to groundwater in surrounding areas in both active and post-mining phases. The prediction of water inflows into a surface mine excavation is one of the many components involved in mine design phase. Groundwater performance also reacts to mining activities from the operational, economic and safety implications perspective. Under NSW planning legislation, as part of the comprehensive risk assessment, a groundwater impact assessment has to be conducted for a coal project to predict and mitigate the impacts in consideration of the government requirements. In this paper, the groundwater assessment modelling of mine pits was discussed in predicting of groundwater inflows and reviewing analytical and numerical approaches. A methodology of groundwater impact assessment for an open cut mine in NSW with a three-dimensional groundwater flow model Modflow Surfact demonstrated its functions in simulating the project's impacts on the groundwater regime. The key findings with mitigations are discussed and recommended in the paper to reduce impacts on groundwater and fulfil regulation requirements in NSW.

Optimization of Multigrain Premix for High Protein and Dietary Fibre Biscuits Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

In order to improve the nutritional quality of biscuits, a multigrain premix (MGP) was developed by using whole barley, sorghum, chickpea, pea and defatted soya flour, each at 20% level. The developed MGP had 26.28% protein, 10.13% insoluble dietary fiber and 7.38% soluble dietary fiber. The experiment was designed to optimise the MGP and wheat flour concentration for the development of multigrain biscuits with high protein, dietary fibre and to maximize the acceptability by the application of central composite rotatable design (CCRD) of Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The levels of incorporation of MGP and wheat flour were taken as variables whereas protein, soluble, insoluble fibers, biscuit dough hardness, breaking strength and overall acceptability (OAA) as responses. The optimum level of MGP and wheat flour obtained using numerical optimization was found to be 40 g and 60 g respectively. The biscuits prepared using these had 16.61% protein, 2.57% soluble fibre, and 6.67% insoluble fibre which is significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher than control biscuit.

Comparison of Response Surface Methodology and Artificial Neural Network in Predicting the Microwave-Assisted Extraction Procedure to Determine Zinc in Fish Muscles

In this paper, the estimation capacities of the response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN), in a microwave-assisted extraction method to determine the amount of zinc in fish samples were investigated. The experiments were carried out based on a 3-level, 4-variable Box–Behnken design. The amount of zinc was considered as a function of four independent variables, namely irradiation power, irradiation time, nitric acid concentration, and temperature. The RSM results showed the quadratic polynomial model can be used to describe the relationship between the various factors and the response. Using the ANN analysis, the optimal configuration of the ANN model was found to be 4-10-1. After predicting the model using RSM and ANN, two methodologies were then compared for their predictive capabilities. The results showed that the ANN model is much more accurate in prediction as compared to the RSM.

Testing Geographical Methodology and Tools for the Study of Territories Damaged by Earthquakes. The Case of L’Aquila and Other Localities Three Years after the April 6th 2009 Event

In this paper, we discuss a geographical methodology supported by specific geo-technologies which we are testing for the study of territories damaged by the L’Aquila earthquake of 6 April 2009 and which can be used in similar situations. Subsequently, we provide an overview of the current situation and make a comparison between some aerial photographs obtained from an overflight in March 2012 and some photos made during our first field study in February 2010, in order to show the work undertaken or not during this period and to substantiate any considerations regarding the choices adopted and the necessary future planning. Moreover, we provide an example of the added value provided by the analysis of aerial photographs in both visible and thermal light for recognizing the provisional non-painted metal roofing of buildings in a post-earthquake urban area. In fact this technique can be useful for the rapid identification of damaged buildings and zones with provisional covering. In the present paper, we focus attention on L’Aquila town centre which provides a significant example of a “City of Stone” almost “minus” the presence of people.

Optimization on Ultrasonic Extraction Method of Total Flavonoids for Liriodendron chinense Sarg.×L.tulipifera L. by Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

With the leaves,bark and roots of Liriodendron chinense Sarg.× L.tulipifera L.as experiment materials,the ultrasonic-assisted extraction conditions of total flavonoids were optimized by response surface Box-Behnken test design.Ultrasonic time and liquid-to-solid ratio had significant effects on the extraction amount of flavonoids from the leaves of L.chinense Sarg.× L.tulipifera L.;ultrasonic temperature and liquid-to-solid ratio had an interaction on the extraction amount of flavonoids;and the optimum ultrasonic time,temperature and liquid-to-solid ratio for the extraction of flavonoids from leaves of L.chinense Sarg.× L.tulipifera L.were 19.82 min,28.60 ℃ and 9.48 ml/g,respectively.Ultrasonic time,temperature and liquid-to-solid ratio had significant effects on the extraction amount of flavonoids from L.chinense Sarg.× L.tulipifera L.;there was a significant interaction between any two of the factors,which had a significant effect on the extraction of flavonoids;and the optimum extraction parameters for flavonoids in the bark were the ultrasonic time of 33.66 min,the ultrasonic temperature at 32.85 ℃ and the liquid-to-solid ratio of 11.39 ml/g.Ultrasonic time and liquid-to-solid ratio had significant effects on the extraction of flavonoids from roots;there was a significant interaction between ultrasonic time and liquid-to-solid ratio and between ultrasonic temperature and liquid-to-solid ratio;and the optimum extraction parameters for flavonoids from the roots of L.chinense Sarg.× L.tulipifera L.were the ultrasonic time of 32.38 min,the ultrasonic temperature at 25.0 ℃ and the liquid-to-solid ratio of 8.00 ml/g.The results of the three models were stable.The models are feasible and have good application value.