The tension-actuated steering system is a vehicular steering design that comprises a motorized gear system, pulleys, inelastic string, main steering bar, and a strain gauge. This development is aimed to produce a steering design that could enhance the efficiency of steering systems in quad-wheeled (i.e. four-wheeled) robots. In this work, the steering system of conventional passenger vehicles and existing quad-wheeled robots are reviewed and their technical deficiencies are improved based on cost, power and production factors. Thus, the tension-actuated steering system is proposed as a solution for mechanizing steering functions in quad-wheeled robots. It is expected that this work will stimulate interest and enthusiasm.

Wheeled robots are often utilized for various remote sensing and telerobotic applications because of their ability to navigate through dynamic environments, mostly under the partial control of a human operator. To make these robots capable to traverse through terrains of rough and uneven topography, their driving mechanisms and controllers must be very efficient at producing and controlling large mechanical power with great precision in real-time, however small the robot may be. This paper discusses an approach for designing a quad-wheeled robot, which is wirelessly controlled with a personal computer (PC) by medium-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver, to navigate through unpaved paths with little or no difficulty. An efficient servo-controlled Ackerman steering mechanism and a high-torque driving power-train were developed. The robot’s controller is programmed to receive and respond to RF control signals from the PC to perform the desired motions. The dynamics of the robot’s drivetrain is modeled and analyzed on MATLAB to predict its performances. The robot was tested on various topographies to determine its physical capabilities. Results show that the robot is capable of non-holonomically constrained motions on rough and uneven terrains.

The oxidative stress indices lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in juvenile Clarias gariepinus (average weight 200.15 g) exposed to sub - lethal dose 2.40mg/L and 4.98mg/L of glyphosate was investigated over a period of days 1,5,10 and 15 in three replicates. The colorimetric analysis showed increase in lipid peroxidation from 4.55 ±2.14a1 to 12.12± 10.00a1at 2.40mg/L but remain the same at 4.98mg/L (4.55±2.14a1) compared with control (3.03±0.01a1 to 1.51±2.14b1) from day 1 to 15. The SOD activity decreased significantly with time and concentration compared with control. The Catalase activity at day 15 decreased to 0.17±0.05a1 in 2.40mg/L but further increased to 0.28±0.05b1 in 4.98mg/L compared to 0.28±0.02a1 catalase activity as control. The result suggests that glyphosate induce oxidative stress that may overwhelm the antioxidant system in juvenile catfish especially at higher concentrations with long exposure.

The influences of two phenolic resins, that is, cashew nut oil modified phenol-formaldehyde resin (CN-m-PF) and Bakelite moulding powder (BMP), on properties of carbon black filled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) were investigated and compared. Processability, cure characteristics, mechanical properties, thermal ageing resistance, and oil resistance of the NBR filled with various contents of phenolic resins (0-60 phr) were determined. The addition of both resins leads to a prolonged cure time with a greater value of torque difference. Regardless of the resin type, the improvement of compound processability and the enhancement of modulus and hardness of the NBR vulcanisates are observed with increasing resin content. However, many mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation at break and abrasion resistance are deteriorated. Thermal ageing resistance of the NBR vulcanisate is slightly improved in the presence of both resins, probably due to the dilution of NBR with the high heat-resistant phenol-formaldehyde resins. Results also disclose that all NBR vulcanisates demonstrate excellent oil resistance, regardless of the resin type and content. At any given resin content, CN-m-PF gives a better processability, higher stiffness and greater mechanical properties than BMP. However, due to its lower cost, BMP can be used to enhance stiffness of NBR vulcanisates without the risk of processing problem.

Nepal is a country blessed with natural beauty, diverse culture, majestic Himalayas, religious destination which attracts thousands of tourists every year making the tourism industry progressive to flourish. Information Communication Technology (ICT) proves to be an effective tool for strengthening the tourism industry. Thus, the purpose of this research study is to analyze about the past scenario of tourism industry, advent of ICT in tourism industry, positive impacts of ICT in tourism industry through in-depth interview with tourism experts and people who have worked for tourism since decades. This study is a form of qualitative research where narrative inquiry has been selected and the scenario has been analyzed through themes developed from the narratives. The result reveals that the emerging technology brings positive impacts to tourism industry assisting branding, promotion of the country, enhancing networks through communication and easily booking tours. The proper utilization of ICT helps to welcome tourists and to give identity of our country Nepal to the world.

Relentless progress has been made on composite materials, their manufacturing processes and their structural design in past few decades. Nevertheless, the approval of composite materials in all engineering disciplines is constrained due to its susceptibility to various kinds of defects during manufacturing stage viz porosity, foreign body inclusion, incorrect fiber volume, bonding defect, fiber misalignment, ply misalignment, incorrect curing cycle, wavy fiber, ply cracking, delamination, fiber microstructural defects etc. Hence there was a requirement of techniques to somehow overcome these defects during the service life of composites being used in various structures and equipment. This promising field of research has made great progress over the past several years, but many procedural encounters are still to be overcome, and there exists a great need for focused research to address several areas of concern. On the other hand, nature has materials that have curing potential and repair strategies ensuring their survival. Sustained development in the field will produce new curing chemistries that possess greater stability, faster kinetics. Tailor-made placement of curing agents is dynamic research subject at the cutting edge of self-curing. New bio-imitative curing agents are closely connected to vascular networks. The purpose of this technical paper is to sort the methodology in line with ongoing research efforts in composites. A perspective on current and future self-curing approaches using this biomimetic technique is offered.

Drinking water samples from 5 sachet water companies, 3 boreholes and 2 taps, collected from different locations of Dutse Metropolis of Jigawa State, Nigeria were analysed for coliform bacterial counts using the Membrane Filtration Technique. All the samples contained some amounts of total coliforms, but mostly within permissible levels. Thirty three percent (33%) of the samples from borehole, 60% from sachet water and 100% from the taps contained faecal coliforms, which indicates contamination. Cultures of the faecal coliforms obtained were morphologically identified using the gram-staining procedure and some series of biochemical tests were carried out in order to identify the organisms. The identified organisms were Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella sp. and Citrobacter sp. Presence of coliforms above the regulatory set standards indicates contamination and un-safeness of the water for drinking. Presence of organisms such as E. coli, Klebsiella sp. and Citrobacter sp. necessitates improvement in monitoring and water hygiene practices to improve the quality of drinking water in the study area.

Some superalloys for service at high temperature under stresses are strengthened by tantalum carbides. Their creep resistance depends on the quantity of TaC and this is the reason why it is often important to control the volume fraction of these carbides in the microstructure. Metallographic preparation followed by electron imaging and surface fraction measurements by image analysis is a frequent way for that. Another possibility is to deduce the mass fraction of TaC, and after their volume fraction, from the chemical composition of the matrix when the alloys are only double–phased, on the {matrix + TaC} type. In this work three alloys – chemically designed to be made exclusively of matrix and TaC – were elaborated and isothermally exposed to an elevated temperature for a duration long enough to allow the alloys being at their thermodynamic equilibria. The chemical compositions of the alloy and of its matrix were measured and the results allowed evaluating their TaC mass fractions which were converted in volume fractions. The obtained TaC fractions were compared to results issued from thermodynamic calculations. Good agreement was found for the three alloys, and this allowed to exploit the used software and thermodynamic database to explore further the microstructures at the same high temperature, notably to know the conditions on the Co, Ni, Cr, Ta and C contents to keep the {matrix + TaC} structure and to avoid any possible partial melting.

The ecological risk assessment of 16 USEPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) in water and sediments of Kolo creek, Niger Delta Nigeria was assessed the samples were collected from November, 2018 to June, 2019 from seven locations (A-G) along the creek. The samples were extracted using standard methods and analyzed using gas chromatography (model: HP5890 S). The concentrations of the PAHs in the water and sediment samples ranged between 0.000 - 9.239 µ/L and .002 – 374.35µg/Kg respectively. All the compounds analyzed were detected in all the sampling places, even area far from the flow stations. Hence, the urban runoffs, sewage discharges, and agricultural activities are implicated. Four rings hydrocarbon were present in higher concentration when compared to other PAHs in all sampling sites, with benz (a)anthracene having the highest values in both matrixes. Similarly, lower molecular weight (LMW) PAHs were present in lower concentrations in all sampling sites and they are known to exhibit higher lethal toxicity than the larger PAHs. HMW were present in high concentrations than LMW and are persistent in the environment as a result of their increase resistance to oxidation, reduction and vaporization as molecular weight increases. Similarly, The PAFs of the investigated creek is less than 5%, suggesting existences of minor ecological risks that are insignificance. However, the TEQs detected in high molecular weight showed that there is possibility of cancer to those who may be exposed to the bottom sediment. The indices measured in this habitat may put more pressures to the aquatic organisms and cause drastic changes to their ecosystem which may lead to species extinction.

Human Computer Interaction is actually responsible for the designing of the computing technologies keeping in mind the aspects of Interaction. Some of the fields viz. Man-Machine Interaction (MMI), User Experience Designing, User Experience Design, Human Centered Designing etc and importantly all these systems and technologies are dedicated to the designing of interface of various tools and systems such as computers, laptops, electronic systems, smart phones etc. Information Technology field is growing rapidly and there are various technologies are increasing viz. Big Data Management, Cloud Computing, Green Computing, Data Science, Internet of Things (IoT), HCI, Usability Engineering etc. Usability Engineering is gaining as a field of study as well and dedicated in creation of the higher usability and user friendliness of the electronic tools and products. In this field few aspects and technologies are most important and emerging viz. Human cognition, behavioral Research Methods, Quantitative techniques etc for the development of usability systems. Designing, implementation, usability even in multimedia material viz. audio-video may also practice in the Usability Engineering and allied fields. Wireframes including few other prototypes are required in maintaining of the better and healthy man and machine interaction. As the field is growing therefore, it is applicable in other sectors and allied areas and among these agriculture is important one. In agricultural sector different applications of information technologies are increasing and among this Usability Engineering and HCI are important one. In pre production and also in post production; directly and indirectly this technology is emerging and growing. This paper talks about the basics of this technologies and also its current and future technologies with reference to academic potentialities of this branch in Agricultural Informatics programs.

This work is based on a previously published hypothesis which proposed that the solid matter of the universe can be represented as a vibrational wave of energy propagating over an ether or matrix through a mechanism that scrambles the degree of duality in matter: x% localized (solid), y% delocalized (wave). The main purpose of this paper is to present a two-dimensional approximation of the three-dimensional structure of the shape of the energy distribution of an atomic orbital to propose a mechanism through which the orbital can be transported as a vibration from a point A to point B in the matrix. This process requires cycles or oscillations of mounting-dismounting-remounting in which what travels from point A to point B is the energy forming the orbital and not the solid matter that it can form. The atomic seven-dimensional f orbital of hydrogen-like atoms is used as a model to show an analogy to the transformations that it can be submitted to when transported over the matrix.