• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.533-540
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• 2017

Schistosoma mansoni is highly endemic in Tanzania and affects all age groups at different degrees. However, its control approach does not include adult individuals who are equally at risk and infected. To justify the inclusion of adult individuals in MDA programs in Tanzania, the present study focused on determining the prevalence of S. mansoni infection and its related morbidities among adult individuals. This was a cross sectional study conducted among 412 adult individuals aged 18-89 years living in selected villages of Rorya and Butiama districts located along the shoreline of the Lake Victoria. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and socio-economic information of participants. Ultrasonographic examinations were conducted for all study participants using the Niamey protocol. A single stool sample was obtained from all study participants and examined for S. mansoni using the Kato-Katz technique. The study revealed a high prevalence of S. mansoni (56.3%), and the majority of infected individuals had a light intensity of infection. Ultrasonographic findings revealed that 22.4% of adult individuals had periportal fibrosis (PPF) (grade C-F), with 18.4% having grade C and D and 4% having grade E and F. Males had the highest prevalence of PPF (31.7% vs 10.8%, P<0.001). Organomegaly was common with 28.5% and 29.6% having splenomegaly and hepatomegaly, respectively. S. mansoni infection and its related morbidities included PPF, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly were common among adult individuals. To reduce the level of transmission of S. mansoni infection, planned mass drug administration campaigns should include adult individuals living in these villages.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.14-23
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• 2013

This study evaluated the influence of light quality and intensity during healing and acclimatization on the $CO_2$ exchange rate, growth, and morphogenesis of grafted pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) transplants, using a system for the continuous measurement of the $CO_2$ exchange rate. C. annuum L. 'Nokkwang' and 'Tantan' were used as scions and rootstocks, respectively. Before grafting, the transplants were grown for four weeks in a growth chamber with artificial light, where the temperature was set at $25/18^{\circ}C$ (light/dark period) and the light period was 14 hours $d^{-1}$. The grafted pepper transplants were then healed and acclimatized under different light quality conditions using fluorescent lamps (control) and red, blue, and red + blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs). All the transplants were irradiated for 12 hours per day, for six days, at a photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) of 50, 100, or 180 ${\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. The higher PPF levels increased the $CO_2$ exchange rate during the healing and acclimatization. A smaller increase in the $CO_2$ exchange rates was observed in the transplants under red LEDs. At a PPF of 180 ${\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, the $CO_2$ exchange rate of the transplants irradiated with red LEDs was lowest and it was 37% lower than those irradiated with fluorescent lamps. The $CO_2$ exchange rates of transplants irradiated with blue LEDs was the highest and 20% higher than those irradiated under fluorescent lamps. The graft take was not affected by the light quality. The grafted pepper transplants irradiated with red LEDs had a lower SPAD value, leaf dry weight, and dry matter content. The transplants irradiated with blue LEDs had longer shoot length and heavier stem fresh weight than those irradiated with the other treatments. Leaves irradiated with the red LED had the smallest leaf area and showed leaf epinasty. In addition, the palisade and spongy cells of the pepper leaves were dysplastic and exhibited hyperplasia. Grafted pepper transplants treated with red + blue LEDs showed similar growth and morphology to those transplants irradiated with fluorescent lamps. These results suggest that high-quality grafted pepper transplants can be obtained by healing and acclimatization under a combination of blue and red lights at a high PPF level.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.513-520
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• 2014

In this paper, three types of operational and industrial absorbers used at research reactors, including Ag-In-Cd alloy, $B_4C$, and Hf are selected for sensitivity analyses. Their integral effects on the main neutronic core parameters important to safety issues are investigated. These parameters are core excess reactivity, shutdown margin, total reactivity worth of control rods, thermal neutron flux, power density distribution, and Power Peaking Factor (PPF). The IAEA 10 MW benchmark core is selected as the case study to verify calculations. A two-dimensional, three-group diffusion model is selected for core calculations. The well-known WIMS-D4 and CITATION reactor codes are used to carry out these calculations. It is found that the largest shutdown margin is gained using the $B_4C$; also the lowest PPF is gained using the Ag-In-Cd alloy. The maximum point power densities belong to the inside fuel regions surrounding the central flux trap (irradiation position), surrounded by control fuel elements, and the peripheral fuel elements beside the graphite reflectors. The greatest and least fluctuation of the point power densities are gained by using $B_4C$ and Ag-In-Cd alloy, respectively.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.56-66
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• 1999

Growth of Dendranthema grandiflorum R. ‘Bongwhang’plantlets, as affected by three levels of photosynthetic photon flux (PPF), 70, 150 and 220 $\mu$mol. $m^{-2}$ . $s^{-1}$ , three levels of C $O_{2}$ concentration, 400-500 (ambient), 1000 and 2000 $\mu$mol.mo $l^{-1}$ , and two levels of number of air exchanges per hour (NAEH), 0.1 $h^{-1}$ and 2.8 $h^{-l}$, was studied. Explants were obtained from photomixotrophically-micropropagated plantlets. Four explants were planted in each 3.7$\times$10$^{-4}$ $m^{3}$ polycarbonate box containing MS medium supplemented with 1.25 meq. $L^{-1}$ $H_{2}$P $O_{4}$$^{[-10]}$ and no added sugar. Explants were cultured under cool-white fluorescent lamps (16 h. $d^{-1}$ ), at 25$\pm$1$^{\circ}C$ temperature, and 70-80% relative humidity. In treatments of 2.8 $h^{-1}$ NAEH, a 10 mm round hole made on the vessel cap was sealed with a microporous filter For higher C $O_{2}$ concentrations in the culture room, C $O_{2}$ gas was provided from a tank of liquefied C $O_{2}$. Fresh and dry weights, height, length of the longest roots, number of leaves, and leaf area significantly increased with increasing PPF and especially, with increasing C $O_{2}$ concentration. Growth was enhanced with increased number of air exchanges per hour (2.8 $h^{-1}$ ). Overall, treatment of 220$\mu$mol. $m^{-2}$ . $s^{-1}$ PPF combined with 2000$\mu$mol.mo $l^{-1}$ C $O_{2}$ and 2.8 $h^{-1}$ NAEH gave the most vigorous growth of Dendranthema grandiflorum R. ‘Bongwhang’ plantlets in vitro.o.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.253-257
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• 2011

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of different light emitting diode (LED) irradiation on the growth of paprika (Capsicum annuum 'Cupra'). The plants were irradiated by red (660 nm), blue (460 nm) and red + blue (4 : 1) light emitting diodes above 50 cm for 5 hours after sunset. Photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) irradiated by red, blue and red + blue LED were $79{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, $75{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ and $102{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ respectively. Leaf temperature of paprika grown under blue LED irradiation was the highest of $18.6^{\circ}C$. Fruit temperature was the highest under in the control (no irradiation) but it was lower than leaf temperature. There was influence of LED irradiation on the paprika plants height; under blue irradiation the plant height was the shortest, while under in the control plant height was the highest. The leaf size of under different LED irradiation was bigger than that of in the control. Mean fruit weight under different LED irradiation was significantly increased; however number of fruits and marketable yield per plant were significantly decreased as compared to the control.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.218-224
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• 2007

Although piezoelectric materials such as PZT have been widely used as actuators in the field of active vibration suppression, the use of bare PZT as an actuator may cause some drawbacks such as critical breaks in the installation process, short circuits in the host material and low fatigue performance. The LIPCA-C2 (lightweight piezocomposite actuator) was developed to alleviate these problems. We implemented the LIPCA as an actuator to suppress the vibration of an aluminum cantilever beam with a tip mass. In our test, we used positive position feedback control algorithm. The filter frequency for this type of feedback should be tuned to the natural frequency of the target mode. The first three experimental natural frequencies of the aluminum cantilever beam agree well with the results of finite element analysis. The effectiveness of using the LIPCA as an actuator in active vibration suppression was investigated with respect to the time and frequency domains, and the experimental results show that LIPCAs with PPF control can significantly reduce the amplitude of forced vibrations and the settling time of free vibrations. For a case study, the forced vibration control of several beams with different thicknesses were performed.

• Magazine of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.123-130
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• 1994

The advantages of polypropylene fibers in concrete have been widely advertised abroad. However, the behavior of concrete containing plastic fibers has not been fully understood. In order to study the effect of fibers on possible crack control, the effects of fikrs on workability and drying shrinkage have been studied. 'The workability change due to the addition of fibers has been studied. and full size concrete slabs have been cast at field to investigate the effect of fibers on the shrinkage properties. Moisture absorption characteristics of fibers has also been studied. The addition of fibers was found to reduce workability significantly and required additional water to maintain the workability, which caused increased drying shrinkage depending on the amount of addition, but strength has not been changed significantly.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.907-914
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• 2021

In this study, strawberry cultivation environment in a greenhouse located in Jeonju was monitored and internal environmental parameters were analyzed. Temperature, humidity, RAD, and PPF sensors were installed to monitor environmental conditions in the test greenhouse. Data were collected every 10 minutes during four winter months from sensors placed across the greenhouse to assess its permeability and environmental uniformity. Temperature and humidity inside the greenhouse were relatively uniform with negligible deviations among the center, south, and north; however, it was judged that further analysis of gradients of these parameters from the east to the west of the greenhouse would be needed. Both RAD (Total solar radiation) and PPF (Photosynthetic photon flux) had high values on the south and were low on the north and the reduction rate of these parameters was 54% and 61%, respectively, indicating that a significant amount of light could not be transmitted. This implied a significant decrease in the amount of light entering the greenhouse during winter. Therefore, it is concluded that environmental control devices and auxiliary lighting are needed to achieve uniform greenhouse environment for efficient strawberry cultivation.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.437-445
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• 2008

This paper deals with the experimental assessment of the vibration suppression of the smart structures. First. we have presented a new high-speed active control system using the DSP320C6713 microprocessor. A peripheral system developed is composed of a data acquisition system, N/D and D/A converters, piezoelectric (PZT) actuator/sensors, and drivers for fast data processing. Next, we have tested the processing time of the peripheral devices, and provided the corresponding test results. Since fast data processing is very important in the active vibration control of the structures, we have focused on achieving the fast loop times of the control system. Finally, numerous experiments were carried out on the aluminum plate to validate the superior performance of the vibration control system at different control loop times.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.444-457
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• 2014

This paper presents the design and realization of a digital PV simulator with a Push-Pull Forward (PPF) circuit based on the principle of modular hardware and configurable software. A PPF circuit is chosen as the main circuit to restrain the magnetic biasing of the core for a DC-DC converter and to reduce the spike of the turn-off voltage across every switch. Control and I/O interface based on a personal computer (PC) and multifunction data acquisition card, can conveniently achieve the data acquisition and configuration of the control algorithm and interface due to the abundant software resources of computers. In addition, the control program developed in Matlab/Simulink can conveniently construct and adjust both the models and parameters. It can also run in real-time under the external mode of Simulink by loading the modules of the Real-Time Windows Target. The mathematic models of the Push-Pull Forward circuit and the digital PV simulator are established in this paper by the state-space averaging method. The pole-zero cancellation technique is employed and then its controller parameters are systematically designed based on the performance analysis of the root loci of the closed current loop with $k_i$ and $R_L$ as variables. A fuzzy PI controller based on the Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy model is applied to regulate the controller parameters self-adaptively according to the change of $R_L$ and the operating point of the PV simulator to match the controller parameters with $R_L$. The stationary and dynamic performances of the PV simulator are tested by experiments, and the experimental results show that the PV simulator has the merits of a wide effective working range, high steady-state accuracy and good dynamic performances.