Factors and Components Affecting Dairy Smallholder Farmers and the Local Value Chain—Kvemo Kartli as an Example

Smallholder farmers are the cornerstone of the livestock sector and an essential element in building and developing the local dairy value chain, critical for developing its local economy. In Georgia, and despite the efforts made since independence from the Soviet Union until now, farmers still face many problems that prevent them from participating effectively in developing the dairy value chain, especially heavy metal pollution that afflicts the study region. This research study refers to smallholder farmers' viewpoints in the Kvemo Kartli region on the dairy production sector and the problems these farmers face. This study also investigates the effect of several factors (ethical factors, traditions, animal welfare, cultural factors, etc.) on the dairy value chain. The convergence model was used in the mixed-method approach's triangular design as a methodology for this research study. As part of the social data, 140 farmers who produce and sell milk and cheese in the Kvemo Kartli region were interviewed. The results showed the influence of the ethical, cultural, and traditional factors in developing the value chain. The results also showed the problems and difficulties small farmers face in rural areas, on the one hand, and the gap between these farmers and governmental and private organisations on the other hand. These results are compared to those of a previous study, where interviews with experts in Georgia's dairy production sector were performed.

Neurite growth kinetics regulation through hydrostatic pressure in a novel triangle-shaped neurofluidic system

Microfluidic neuro-engineering design rules have been widely explored to create in vitro neural networks with the objective to replicate physiologically relevant structures of the brain. Several neurofluidic strategies have been reported to study the connectivity of neurons, either within a population or between two separated populations, through the control of the directionality of their neuronal projections. Yet, the in vitro regulation of the growth kinetics of those projections remains challenging. Here, we describe a new neurofluidic chip with a triangular design that allows the accurate monitoring of neurite growth kinetics in a neuronal culture. This device permits to measure the maximum achievable length of projecting neurites over time and to report variations in neurite length under several conditions. Our results show that, by applying positive or negative hydrostatic pressure to primary rat hippocampal neurons, neurite growth kinetics can be tuned. This work presents a pioneering approach for the precise characterization of neurite length dynamics within an in vitro minimalistic environment.

New HFC/HFO Blends as Refrigerants for the Vapor-Compression Refrigeration System (VCRS)

In this work, which is related to the current European Parliament Regulation on restrictions affecting refrigeration, four new three-component refrigerants have been proposed; all were created using low Global Warming Potential(GWP) synthetic and natural refrigerants. The considered mixtures consisted of R32, R41, R161, R152a, R1234ze (E), R1234yf, R1243zf, and RE170. These mixtures were theoretically tested with a 10% step in mass fraction using a triangular design. The analysis covered two theoretical cooling cycles at evaporating temperatures of 0 and −30 °C, and a 30 °C constant condensing temperature. The final stage of the work was the determination of the best mixture compositions by thermodynamic and operational parameters. R1234yf–R152a–RE170 with a weight share of 0.1/0.5/0.4 was determined to be the optimal mixture for potentially replacing the existing refrigerants.

THE EFFECTS OF CHURCH MINISTRIES AND THEIR INFLUENCES ON CHURCH FOLLOWERS IN KIMIMINI SUB -COUNTY TRANS- NZOIA COUNTY

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of church ministries and their influences on church followers inKiminini sub-county, Trans-Nzoia. The main problem that promoted the researcher to do the study on the topic was that church leadership seemed to be the cause of the challenges facing many church followers..The researcher wished to unearth the origin of many churches and the effects of believers and how they affect the management of many churches .The objectives of the study established the way church leadership pin church followers on sin rather than love, determine the extent to which followers depend on church leadership for growth and development and to establish the teachings that the church followers receive from church leadership. .The study applied the Charismatic Leadership Theory by Max Weber 1924-47 and LMX Theory (1975) and Servant Leadership Theory Robert Greenleaf, 1977 .The researcher exploited the study by descriptive researcher design which provided a mixed research design that led to a triangular design. The descriptive survey design was applied to gather information on the way church followers respond to church leadership..The variables under review were independent ,dependent and intervening variables .The simple random sampling techniques and purposive sampling techniques were utilized .The instruments of questionnaires ,interview schedules and focused group method were used that gave the findings for discussions and interpretations..The data was analyzed descriptively using tables and percentages and presented the summary conclusions, recommendations and gaps for further research where it will be used by other researchers, scholars, church leaders and educationists.

Rethinking Quality and Relevance of University Education in Kenya

Many stakeholders have expressed concern about the many graduates from Kenyan universities who after qualifying, not only fail to get jobs but also fail to venture into alternative forms of engagement to earn their livelihood, a scenario that raises question as to the quality and relevance of University education they got. The concerns being raised calls for rethinking of the quality and relevance of university education in Kenya. This study, therefore, sought to investigate the propensity of university education in Kenya to inculcate entrepreneurial culture in graduates. The theory of planned behaviour formed the theoretical foundation of the study. The study adopted a triangular design approach where views relating to entrepreneurial culture were sought from final year students from one public and one private university. The study targeted 3146 final year students drawn from University of Kabianga, (2272) and Kabarak University (874). From this, a sample of 614 students proportionately distributed among the two universities was drawn. Entrepreneurial environment was found to be more or less the same in both private and public universities recording moderate score. However, public university scored slightly higher. In conclusion, there is no significant difference in the levels of preference for entrepreneurship when comparison is made between public and private universities in Kenya. Arising from the current finding, the study recommends provision of better entrepreneurial support system.

Experimental Study of Flexible Skin Designs Between a Moving Wing Segment and a Fixed Wing Part on a Full Scale Demonstrator

Commercial aircraft today require efficient high-lift and control systems on the wings to reduce the drag in flight or decrease the take-off and landing speeds. Morphing mechanisms are one approach for improved high-lift systems. In most cases the objective function is an increased lift to drag ratio or the noise reduction. On closer examination control systems as well as morphing mechanisms are located in a certain wing segment. The transition between a moving wing part and the fixed wing is a step, which creates additional vortices. This segments the wing in span-wise direction and reduces the efficiency. A flexible skin between a moving and a fixed wing parts smooths the contour and minimize the efficiency reduction of the wing. A full scale demonstrator of a wing segment was manufactured with two flexible skin designs. The first subcomponent connects a morphing leading edge with a rib of the wing over a span of one meter. The skin is a material mix of ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) rubber and fiberglass-reinforced plastic. The rubber is the basis of the skin and the glass-fiber is added as local skin stiffeners in the form of strips in chord-wise direction. The second subcomponent blends the aileron with a rib of the wing in a triangular design. The connection of three different hinges realizes a morphing triangle, which is loaded in an in-plane shear only state of stress in each aileron position. The core of the triangle is a 3D printed structure, which is free in shear. The covering skin is a combination of EPDM with carbon fibers oriented in +/−30° direction to obtain shear compliance and to resist the loads on the triangle. The deformation of each concept is identified at the demonstrator. Therefore, an optical measurement system scans the surface in the initial and deflected state. The required deformation precision of the concepts differs due to their design. The contour at the leading edge requires a certain shape over the span. The analysis of the skin buckling is one requirement at the transition triangle during the aileron motion. The experimental results show a smooth transition contour at the leading edge and no buckling effects at the triangle. The results can be used for the validation of simulation models. Furthermore, both skin concepts cover the gap between a moving wing segment and a fixed wing part. The elimination of steps in span-wise direction can improve the aero-acoustic behavior along the wing for future aircraft.

Analysis of efficiency of convection in porous geometries (square vs triangular) with multiple discrete heaters on walls

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to study natural convection within porous square and triangular geometries (design 1: regular isosceles triangle, design 2: inverted isosceles triangle) subjected to discrete heating with various locations of double heaters along the vertical (square) or inclined (triangular) arms.Design/methodology/approachGalerkin finite element method is used to solve the governing equations for a wide range of modified Darcy number,Dam= 10−5–10−2with various fluid saturated porous media,Prm= 0.015 and 7.2 at a modified Rayleigh number,Ram= 106involving the strategic placement of double heaters along the vertical or inclined arms (types 1-3). Adaptive mesh refinement is implemented based on the lengths of discrete heaters. Finite element based heat flow visualization via heatlines has been adopted to study heat distribution at various portions.FindingsThe strategic positioning of the double heaters (types 1-3) and the convective heatline vortices depict significant overall temperature elevation at bothDam= 10−4and 10−2compared to type 0 (single heater at each vertical or inclined arm). Types 2 and 3 are found to promote higher temperature uniformity and greater overall temperature elevation atDam= 10−2. Overall, the triangular design 2 geometry is also found to be optimal in achieving greater temperature elevation for the porous media saturated with various fluids (Prm).Practical implicationsMultiple heaters (at each side [left or right] wall) result in enhanced temperature elevation compared to the single heater (at each side [left or right] wall). The results of the current work may be useful for the material processing, thermal storage and solar heating applications.Originality/valueThe heatline approach is used to visualize the heat flow involving double heaters along the side (left or right) arms (square and triangular geometries) during natural convection involving porous media. The heatlines depict the trajectories of heat flow that are essential for thermal management involving larger thermal elevation. The mixing cup or bulk average temperature values are obtained for all types of heating (types 0-3) involving all geometries, and overall temperature elevation is examined based on higher mixing cup temperature values.

Hubcap and ignition switch designs - case studies in Independence Axiom

Independence Axiom offers designers a guide to good design. It declares that the design parameters (DPs) conceived for a good design must maintain the independence of the design functional requirements (FRs). Specifically, by relating FRs to DPs through a design matrix [DM] with elements ∂FRi/∂DPj, Independence Axiom declares that only designs with diagonal or triangular design matrix can maintain the functional independence of FRs; and that they should be the only acceptable ones. Starting with the formal definition of functional independence, we derive the criterion for functional independence of FRs as the Jacobian determinant | J | ≠ 0; where the Jacobian matrix [ J ] is shown to be identically equal to [DM]. We further show that if and only if | J | ≠ 0 can the design FRs achieve their target values. Thus the criterion | J | ≠ 0 substantiates the declaration of Independence Axiom since determinant of a diagonal or triangular design matrix is not equal to zero. It serves as the mathematical basis for teaching and implementing Independence Axiom in design. Two case studies are presented to illustrate the implementation of Independence Axiom via the Jacobian determinant | J |.

Sinan’s Ambivalence

Sinan’s Ambivalence: The Triangular Design of the Süleymanıye Schools Complex in Istanbul interrogates the anomalous configuration of the Süleymanıye schools, including the unorthodox angular Dar-ul-Hadith, the largest and most important Ottoman educational institution, designed by the great Ottoman master-builder Sinan in 1548–59. The Süleymanıye, as Yasir Mohammad Sakr demonstrates, is not a mere adaptation of preexisting symmetrical school models to contextual contingencies, as historians have contended. Rather, the Süleymanıye and its seeming anomalies are a function of the architect’s own relentless retrospection, repeatedly reinterpreting and opposing the very types that he initially created during the same design process. Sinan synthesized the idealized Ottoman planning patterns with a vigorous fragmentation and dispersal of its functional and symbolic elements to create an innovative hybrid typology for the Süleymanıye schools, especially the Dar-ul-Hadith. The study concludes that the triangular Dar-ul-Hadith is not a residual, ad hoc space as commonly perceived. It is the key to formulating the Süleymanıye master plan, which the author defines as a powerful symbolic scheme monumentalizing the new social arrangement by Sinan’s patron, Süleyman the Magnificent. Thus, far from the negative association usually attached to the notion of “ambivalence,” Sinan’s design practice presents it as a viable alternative approach for the history of Ottoman architecture.