More Efficient Helicopter Blades Based on Whale Tubercles

Summary
The goal of this project was to increase the efficiency of the helicopter blades on the Double Horse 9053 RC Helicopter by adding tubercles based off those of a humpback whale. Increases in efficiency were determined by measuring the wind speed of control blades at three different speeds and then comparing these speeds to the wind speeds of tubercle-designed blades. The control blades had no tubercles while the tubercle blades had a set of 8 or 4 tubercles per blade. After analysis of increases in wind speeds based off the control, it was found that the 8-tubercle blades often had an increase in speed. The 4-tubercle blades had a decrease in output. The data supports the idea that the number and placement of tubercles matters. This small-scale experiment shows potential for improvements in the efficiency of full-scale helicopters.

Sam Weitzman and Ann Lambert

Click here for PDF file: December2013

The perception of online education: A cross-cultural analysis of Japanese and Chinese students

The perception of online education: A cross-cultural analysis of Japanese and Chinese students

 

J. Du

Mayumi Nakamura

 

Abstract

The last decade has seen online degree programs playing an increasingly important role in the field of education, and in this regard, this study examines people perceive online education. According to the results, the respondents generally were indifferent toward online education. Chinese students had more favorable attitudes toward online education than Japanese students, and there was a significant difference in their perception of online education. The respondents emphasized quality as the most important motivator of online education. Chinese students were most likely to indicate quality, followed by the learning environment, trustworthiness, and costs, in that order, whereas Japanese students indicated quality as the most important motivator, followed by trustworthiness and the learning environment. In terms of barriers, the respondents emphasized poor academic quality as the most important barrier to online education, followed by a lack of teacher/peer support, low awareness, and newness, in that order. Chinese students were most likely to indicate poor academic quality, followed by a lack of teacher/peer support, low awareness, and newness, in that order. Japanese students indicated poor academic quality, followed by a lack of teacher/peer support. Low awareness and newness were least likely to be reported. These results have important practical implications for policymakers and practitioners.

 

Keywords: Cross-Cultural Analysis, Students, Perception, Online Education, China, Japan

土地经营权流转的制度分析 —以江苏省两县区为例

土地经营权流转的制度分析 —以江苏省两县区为例

推动土地流转、发展农业规模经营已成为全国性的热潮。借由土地经营权的流转,政府、企业、村委会、村民各有获益。但在看似皆大欢喜的局面下,却存在制度上的隐忧。本文通过对江苏省两县区的实地调研表明,在经济较不发达的地区,乡镇政府通过严格的合同鉴证程序,事实上拥有了土地经营权流转合同的审批权;又由于缺乏完善的土地确权和登记体系,县级以上政府难以对乡镇政府进行有效的监督。因此乡镇政府权力的急剧膨胀,可能进一步带来流转价格不市场化、土地流转后续程序难以解决等问题。土地流转制度的改革,应从改变鉴证制度、建立市场化的土地价格体系、加强土地确权登记等方面着手。

关键词:土地流转 三权分立 制度风险 乡镇政府 鉴证

 

孙婧文

REMOVAL OF ARSENIC CONTAMINATION FROM WATER USING MAGNETITE NANOPARTICLES

Introduction:
Water contamination is a global problem that can
result in illness and death. Consumption of
contaminated drinking water is particularly
problematic in third world countries where
inadequate purification processes, coupled with
rapidly increasing population growth and
industrialization pose serious health risks. One of
the most common and deadly contaminants found in
water is arsenic (As). Arsenic, a heavy metal, is a
key toxic contaminant in the drinking water supply
of third world countries, often exceeding 10 μg/L
maximum limit set by World Health Organization
(WHO) regulations (World Health Organization,
2006). As contamination of drinking water is also
found domestically, where 13 million people in the
United States are affected by exposure; these
numbers dramatically increase where drinking
water restrictions are less rigid. For example, 45-57
million people in Bangladesh have been exposed to
10 μg/L or more of arsenic in water (Yang, 2010).
The necessity of an effective system to remove
arsenic from water is all too great. Current methods
employed in some countries lack sensitivity, and are
only effective in dealing with large concentrations
of arsenic in water, such as 100 μg/L. These
systems often leave residual As concentrations
above the 10 μg/L restriction set by WHO,
(Pittman, 2007). System enhancements are possible,
but the cost of improvements remains prohibitive
for many areas. However, recent studies have
demonstrated that iron oxides have a high affinity
for heavy metals such as arsenic and have opened
the door as a cost-effective way to remove
pollutants from water (Yavuz et al. 2009).
Ferrofluids, which are suspensions of nanoparticles
of magnetite (a ferrous-ferric oxide), are magnetic,
stable, colloidal, and homogenous. (Maity, 2006).
Such particles are typically suspended in a carrier
and can respond to a magnetic field but retain no
residual magnetism once the field is lifted.
Magnetite nanoparticles in a liquid carrier can be
manipulated by a magnetic field, retain no residual
magnetic properties, and have demonstrated the
general iron oxide affinity for heavy metals (Yavuz
et al 2009).
In the current investigation, the adsorption of
arsenic by magnetite nanoparticles was evaluated.

Additionally, methods and conditions that facilitate
the removal of As by nanoparticles was evaluated.
Results of optimized conditions were compared to
WHO standards and data from previous studies to
accurately gauge the accuracy of results and
applications thereon. Due to the small particle size,
easy manipulation, and cost effectiveness of
production, use of magnetite nanoparticles to
remove arsenic from water could prove to be very
feasible, particularly in less industrialized countries.
Altered conditions in this investigation were pH and
the surfactant type. Three types of nanoparticles
were tested- bare (uncoated), oleic acid coated, and
humic acid coated. Different methods regarding
nanoparticle generation and coating were attempted
before the final particles were generated, and were
then coated with oleic acid (Yavuz et al. 2009) and
humic acid (Liu et al. 2008) respectively.

 Kushal Kadakia

Click here for PDF file: 2012[3]

Characterization of the Purity of Curcumin Extraction: Comparative study of UV Spectrophotometry and High Performance Liquid Chromatography from a Field Application Perspective

Abstract
Turmeric is a popular spice used in South Asia for both culinary and religious purposes.
It has also been used in traditional Indian medicine called Ayurveda. More recently curcumin
has been identified to be the active ingredient in turmeric, and its pharmacological basis has been
identified. The paper examines the extraction, processing and refinement of curcumin with
special emphasis on testing and characterization. This study focuses on the comparison of UV
Spectrophotometry and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for characterizing
purity of curcumin with the view of selecting the best technique for this particular commercial
application. Field application was a key criterion in the selection. Based on the results HPLC
was selected as the technique of choice for curcumin characterization application due to various
factors such as accuracy of results, low cost, ease of use in the field, simplicity of sample
preparation, robustness, quality and reliability.

Keshav S. Thvar

Click here for PDF file: 2012[6]