text:
Sheldon Green
Faculty of Applied Science
Research Classification
Biological and Biochemical Mechanisms
building ventilation
Relevant Degree Programs
Mechanical Engineering, Master of Applied Science
Mechanical Engineering, Doctor of Philosophy
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Graduate Student Supervision
Doctoral Student Supervision (Jan 2008 - Nov 2019)
Modeling the creping process in tissue making (2019)
Creping is a key operation in the manufacturing of low-density tissue paper. In this process, a wetweb is pressed and adhered onto a drying cylinder (Yankee) rotating at a high speed, dried onYankee, and then scraped off by a doctor blade. This controlled and violent interaction betweenthe web moving at a high speed with the stationary blade creates a series of invisible micro-folds,and explodes the thickness of the web through inter-fiber debonding. Various parameters governcreping and finding their optimal combination is currently limited to experience or costly trials. Aone-dimensional particle dynamics model is developed to study nonlinear deformations in thecreping process, and to understand the underlying mechanisms. Specifically, the web is modeledas a single layer of discrete particles connected by visco-elasto-plastic elements. A mixed-modediscrete cohesive zone model is embedded to represent the adhesive layer. Self-contact of the webis incorporated by a penalty method. First, a systematic parametric study is reported to assess therelative impact of various process parameters on the crepe structure and hence the tissue quality.Then, the model is extended to a multi-layered web to investigate the "sheet explosion". A phasediagram for the creping regimes is constructed. Next, the effects of inhomogeneities on the crepingprocess are investigated. Three common inhomogeneities are considered separately: the formingfabric pattern; the non-uniform basis weight; and the non-uniform adhesion. Finally, a series ofexperiments have been conducted on an existing lab-scale creping apparatus to validate theproposed model, and qualitative agreement is observed. The model can serve as a tool toinvestigate the process-structure-property correlation in tissue making, and the findings in thisthesis offer practical guidance to the industry in the choice of forming and creping processparameters.
Impact of humidity, temperature, and particulate fouling on membrane-based energy exchangers (2018)
Membrane-based energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) improve building energy efficiency by transporting heat and moisture between incoming and outgoing air streams. Although long-term studies are not available due to the recent implementation of this technology, there are preliminary indications that moisture transport might degrade with the extended operation, possibly as the result of exposure to air pollution or other environmental stresses. The scope of this dissertation is to quantify the influence of environmental factors on the permeation properties of current-generation composite membranes and the overall performance of ERV exchanger cores.First, the impact of particulate fouling was investigated via accelerated membrane- and core-level fouling experiments. The core-level experiments showed minimal impact on the effectiveness of ERV cores from coarse dust loadings. However, membrane-level examination with aerosol nanoparticles indicated that moisture transport through membranes was especially impaired when particles were hygroscopic or contained liquids. These results suggest that the optimal protection by filters and the orientation of the membrane would depend on the nature of the indoor and outdoor aerosols.Second, the effects of relative humidity and temperature on the transport of water vapor and CO₂ (as a surrogate for indoor air pollutants) was evaluated through a systematic study of some standard polymers suitable for ERV use. It was shown that the permeability and selectivity of membranes could vary up to an order of magnitude depending on the membrane material, the temperature and relative humidity on both feed and permeate sides of the membrane, as well as orientation in asymmetric composite membranes. A theoretical model for predicting permeability of composite membranes, based on a limited number of kinetic water vapor sorption tests of the selective coating polymer, was successfully developed and validated for a commercial membrane. This model was then coupled with a heat and mass transfer model of cross-flow ERV exchanger cores to interpret the membrane-level variations regarding ERV exchanger core performance. A study of the effects of outdoor air parameters showed that the effectiveness of ERV exchangers could increase or decrease significantly with outdoor air relative humidity, while outdoor air temperature had only a minimal influence on effectiveness parameters.
Paper drying : experimental studies on the influence of dryer fabric (2018)
This research is an experimental investigation on paper drying that primarily focuses on the effects of the dryer fabric on the drying process of paper. A novel method for moisture content measurement is presented. The working principle of this method is the strong correlation between the optical transparency of paper and its moisture content due to the refractive index matching role of water in wet paper. Spectrographic and microscopic measurement techniques were employed to characterize the relation of moisture content and relative transparency of paper. As optical access to the paper is restricted by the dryer fabric, the optical transparency of paper should be measured only with one-sided optical access. To achieve this goal, a novel technique of transmittance measurement is developed that is able to determine the transparency of thin film objects (i.e. paper) with only one-sided optical access. Employing a fluorescence imaging method, this optical configuration eliminates the spurious effect of reflection of the incident light by filtering the excitation wavelength before reaching the optical detector.To study the paper drying process in a multi-cylinder dryer, an experimental setup is designed to simulate realistic conditions of a typical paper dryer while providing optical access for the measurement system. Ten commercially available fabric types manufactured by weaving synthetic filaments are used in the investigations. It is shown that the fabric structure affects the drying progression and the drying time significantly. The contact area and three-dimensional arrangement of the filaments have the greatest impact on the drying process. To study through air drying (TAD), another experimental apparatus is designed to perform drying under controlled conditions of air temperature and mass-flowrate. Four commercially available TAD fabrics with different structural designs and characteristics are used in the investigations. It is shown that the geometry of the contact spots of the fabrics has a significant impact on the drying time at high drying intensities. Comparing the spatial maps of moisture content with the paper grammage distribution reveals that there is a correlation between the local grammage and the local moisture in a paper sheet during the drying process.
A novel SPH method for investigating the role of saliva in swallowing using 4D CT images (2017)
The thesis presents novel computer methods towards simulation of oropha-ryngeal swallowing. The anatomy and motion of the human upper airwaywas extracted from dynamic Computed Tomography (CT) data using a noveltool and workflow. A state-of-the-art SPH method is extended to accommo-date non-Newtonian materials in the extracted geometries. A preliminarynumerical experiment of six human oropharyngeal swallows using SmoothedParticle Hydrodynamics (SPH) demonstrates that the methods are robustand useful for simulation of oropharyngeal swallowing.The presence of saliva is well known to be important for mastication,swallowing, and overall oral health. However, clinical studies of patientswith hyposalivation are unable to isolate the effect of saliva from other con-founding factors. The simulation presented in this thesis examines fluidboluses under lubricated and non-lubricated boundary conditions. Upon comparison with medical image data, the experiments suggest that salivadoes not provide a significant lubricative effect on the bolus transit times,but it may serve to reduce residue and therefore improve overall swallowingefficacy. Our findings, while preliminary, corroborate with existing clinicalresearch that finds that groups with hyposalivation do not have significantlydifferent transit times with control groups, but that residue may be increased in the hyposalivation group.Previous studies using computer simulation of fluid flow in the orophar-ynx typically make use of simplified geometries. Our work uses dynamic320-row Area Detector Computed Tomography (ADCT) images as the ba-sis for the simulations, and therefore does not require simplifying geometricassumptions. Since the data are dynamic, motion trajectories are all sup-plied by the ADCT data, and extrapolation from 2D sources such as bi-planevideofluoroscopy is not required. Processing the image data required the de-velopment of a novel workflow based on a new tool, which we call BlendSeg.We utilize and extend Unified Semi-Analytic Wall (USAW) SPH methodsso that orophrayngeal swallowing simulations may be performed. Theseextensions include the simulation of non-Newtonian boluses, and moving3D boundaries. Partial validation of the extended USAW SPH method isperformed using canonical flows.
Air filtration : predicting and improving indoor air quality and energy performance (2015)
Air filtration is used to reduce particle concentrations in the indoor environment to provide improved occupant health due to reduced exposure. Increased focus on occupant health in emerging design standards is leading to the installation of higher efficiency filtration systems. These systems generally have higher resistance to flow and therefore impose a greater energy penalty. Previous air filter models have used simplified assumptions with regards to the dynamics of filter operation, which have limited the potential to determine energy efficiency or optimization approaches to system design and operation. This dissertation focuses on developing an improved air filter model to investigate the potential for system modifications to reduce energy consumption and improve indoor air quality (IAQ) within commercial buildings.A new air filter performance model was developed using generalizable results from ASHRAE Standard 52.2-2012 and validated against laboratory and real-world experiments. The results showed better agreement with laboratory tests than with real operation. The filter model was combined with existing indoor particle dynamics and epidemiological models to determine the impacts of changes to system operation through monetization of operation costs and health benefits. Laboratory experiments were performed to evaluate the role that particle properties and relative humidity play in determining the filter performance changes with the aim of better understanding the reasons for discrepancies in operation between laboratory and field filter tests.Operation can now be optimized by accounting for dynamic characteristics of filter performance. Benefits of improved filtration efficiency were found to outweigh added costs. Adopting specific indoor particle concentration limits is recommended to replace existing specifications relying on filter efficiency. System designs can then be optimized to account for local particle concentration and energy costs. A number of system design changes have been highlighted that allow for simultaneous reduction in operation cost and indoor particle concentrations. Relative humidity has been identified as a critical parameter in filter performance and standardized tests should be modified to account for variability in relative humidity and particle characteristics typical of real operation to allow for improvements to future model predictions. Supplementary materials: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/54056
Modeling the fluid-structure interaction of the upper airway : towards simulation of obstructive sleep apnea (2014)
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a syndrome in which the human Upper Airway (UA) collapses during sleep leading to frequent sleep disruption and inadequate air supply to the lungs. OSA involves Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) between a complex airflow regime and intricate mechanics of soft and hard tissue, causing large deformation of the complicated UA geometry. Numerical simulations provide a means for understanding this complex system, therefore, we develop a validated FSI simulation, composed of a 1D fluid model coupled with a 3D FEM solid solver (Artisynth), that is applied to a parameterized airway model providing a fast and versatile system for researching FSI in the UA.The 1D fluid model implements the limited pressure recovery model of Cancelli and Pedley [28] using a dynamic pressure recovery term, area function corrections allowing complete closure and reopening of fluid geometries, and discretization schemes providing robust behavior in highly-uneven geometries. The fluid model is validated against 3D fluid simulations in static geometries and simple dynamic geometries, and proves reliable for predicting bulk flow pressure. Validation of simulation methods in Artisynth is demonstrated by simulating the buckling, complete collapse, and reopening of elastic tubes under static pressure which compare well with experimental results.The FSI simulation is validated against experiments performed for a collapsible channel (a "2D" Starling resistor) designed to have geometry and characteristics similar to the UA. The observed FSI behaviors are described and compared for both experiment and simulation, providing a quantitative validation of the FSI simulation. The simulations and experiments agree quite well, exhibiting the same major FSI behaviors, similar progression from one behavior to another, and similar dynamic range.A parameterized UA model is designed for fast and consistent creation of geometries. Uniform pressure and dynamic flow FSI simulations are performed with this model for numerous parameters associated with OSA. Uniform pressure simulations compare well to clinical data. Dynamic flow results demonstrate airflow limitation and snoring oscillations. The simulations are fast, simulating 1 s of FSI in 30 minutes. This model is a powerful tool for understanding the complex mechanics of OSA.
Dispersion of expiratory droplets in a model single patient hospital recovery room with stratified ventilation (2013)
Investigation of fibre interaction with a forming fabric (2013)
The forming stage of the papermaking process plays an important role in shaping the quality of final paper sheets. This thesis focuses on studies of fibre motion in the forming section. Wire mark was investigated both numerically and experimentally. Initial sheet forming was simulated with hundreds of fibres of random initial distribution placed into the flow above the fabric and advected onto the fabric. The surface roughness of the resulting fibre mat was calculated. The results show that during initial formation, topographic wire mark is caused in part by fibre bending and in part by the geometry of the fabric. For the specific fibres and sinusoidal forming fabric examined, more than 50% of topographic wire mark was caused by fabric geometry, with the remainder caused by fibre bending. In the experiments, the surface roughness of paper sheets made from different fibre properties was studied using an X-ray tomography device. Light-weight fibre mats were made in a handsheet former machine. A surface map of the wire side of the paper was produced via image analysis. The results reveal that increasing fibre coarseness decreases the surface smoothness of paper. As fibre length increases, surface roughness decreases slightly. Both fine and coarse forming fabrics were used in the sheet forming section. The surfaces of fibre mats made from finer forming fabrics were found to be smoother.The fibre orientation distribution of final paper sheets is closely dependent on the physical properties of the sheets. Fibre orientation in the forming section was studied numerically. In the simulations, one end of each fibre was held by the wire/fibre mat, with the other end carried in the flow. In the uniform flow, analyzed solution from the analysis was obtained. The fibre angle after deposition was only found to be a function of flow direction and initial fibre position. In the shear flow, a dimensionless group of γL/u_z was defined. As the value of γL/u_z increases, fibre mats increase in anisotropy. Fibre properties such as flexural rigidity and aspect ratio were found to have a insignificant effect on fibre orientation.
Three-dimensional flow through forming fabrics and the motion of flexible fibres in flow (2010)
This dissertation addresses the 3D flow through forming fabrics. In the first part of this thesis, the single phase 3D flow through certain specific fabrics was modeled. In practice, the Reynolds number of the fabric flow, based on paper-side filament diameter, is around 100. Consequently, it is not too surprising that the permeability of the fabrics was found to vary approximately as Re ⁻⁰˙⁴, which is intermediate between the expected low Re (Re⁻¹) and high Re (Re⁰) limits. The resistance of a multilayer fabric was found to be nearly equal to the sum of the resistance of each layer considered in isolation. The effect of filament-scale and weave-scale flow non-uniformity on the fiber distribution in the finished paper was considered. For one specific fabric, there was 3 times more chance for short fibers to accumulate initially over openings than blockages of the fabric. Jet-to-wire speed ratio was found to have an insignificant effect on permeability results, but a marked effect on the Machine Direction shear stress in the vicinity of the paper-side filaments.	In an attempt to model sheet formation, numerical simulations of the motion of a single fiber in the flow field of a cylinder was carried out as a canonical test case of the fiber/filament interaction system. Seven dimensionless groups govern the problem. A range of dimensionless groups were found for which the fiber hung up on the cylinder, whereas for other values of the dimensionless groups the fiber slid over the cylinder. In general, longer and more flexible fibers had a greater likelihood to be caught by the filament.	Yawed finite aspect ratio cylinders at moderate Reynolds numbers are approximate representations of fibers in the flow field of forming fabrics. No analytical solution or any experimental data are reported in the literature to predict the drag and lift force on such particles in such flows. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted to find the drag and lift coefficients of inclined finite circular cylinders at Reynolds numbers in the range 1-40. The simulations showed that the Independence Principle was highly inaccurate for low inclination angles.
Master's Student Supervision (2010 - 2018)
CFD-DEM simulation of locomotive sanders (2018)
This study presents the development and results of a numerical model of a locomotive sander system. Locomotive sanders are used to optimize traction between the train wheels and railhead by spraying sand into the interface. It has been previously shown that a large fraction of sand sprayed by the sanders does not make it through the wheel-rail nip, leading to sand wastage and thereby increasing the cost and refilling effort.In this project, pneumatic conveying of sand through the wheel-rail nip is numerically modelled through coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics and Discrete Element Method simulations. The gas phase, discrete phase and coupled two-phase flows are separately validated against literature, and the parameters effecting the deposition of sand through the nip- relating to both aerodynamics of the particle laden jet and interaction with geometry are independently analyzed pertaining to their effects on sander efficiency. The aerodynamics associated with the particle laden jet play a critical role in optimizing the amount of sand going through the wheel-rail interface, with the particle velocities being directly correlated with the sander efficiency. Particle-geometry interactions are found to have a negligible effect on the deposition. In the absence of crosswinds, it is recommended to either employ smaller particles, or particles with a higher surface area to volume ratio to enhance the sander efficiency. Furthermore, a larger airflow rate through the nozzle is suggested. It is also found that the presence of crosswinds strongly negatively affects sander efficiency, which can be mitigated, to some extent, by reducing the nip-nozzle distance as much as safety regulations will allow, and using coarser grain particles.
Cold flow simulation of gas flare auxiliary air (2018)
Flaring in oil and gas production is the controlled burning of unwanted exhaust gases to enhance safety. During flaring, there are two important concerns. The first is to prevent the flame from accumulating on the flare tip, which occurs during periods of high crosswinds. Such flame accumulation, which is known as flame capping, can cause premature failures and structural damage of the flare tip if sustained for long period of time. Excluding the combustion physics, a gas flare can be simplified as a jet in a crossflow (JICF). To avoid the considerable complexity associated with simulating a combusting flow, cold flow modeling can be used to investigate the critical flow conditions that would result in flame capping. The second concern is to avoid excessive smoke during combustion, which is important to meet the environmental regulations. Saudi Aramco has therefore developed a flare system that ameliorates both concerns. The system uses supersonic air nozzles that are distributed evenly around the flare exit. Besides preventing flame capping, the high-speed jets of these nozzles introduce extra oxygen and improve mixing in the combustion zone, which reduces flare smoking. The focus of this thesis is the cold (non-combusting) flow in one of these flare systems. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used to study the flow within a gas flare. The capabilities of different turbulence models to simulate the flare flow field, particularly Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and Shear Stress Transport (SST) k-ω model, were tested by reproducing previous JIFC experimental data. The flow within the auxiliary air nozzles was studied by computing several parameters such as the mass entrainment, axial velocity, turbulent kinetic energy and Mach number in different flow regimes. Additionally, the differences between the results from different Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) models (including the SST k-ω and the Realizable k-ε) are investigated. For fixed mass flow rate, the detailed geometry of these nozzles is shown to have little impact on the mass entrainment rate, and therefore is expected to have little impact on the flare combustion characteristics. Finally, this work presents a preliminary study of a simplified full flare system.
Particle impingement onto a moving substrate (2018)
Particle sprays are salient in processes such as erosion in turbomachinery and traction enhancement in the railroad industry. In this study, particles with a Stokes number at the nozzle much larger than unity were sprayed at an acute angle between a horizontal, flat, moving substrate, representing the rail, and a wheel. A device was created that contained a sprayer aimed between the wheel and moving substrate, with the rim of the wheel hovering above the flat substrate. The particles form a spray into the nip that can ricochet between both the wheel and substrate. The standard deviation of the angle that the particle trajectories make as they exit the nozzle can be used to describe the geometry of the spray. Similarly, the normal and tangential coefficients of restitution describe ricochet effects by quantifying the amount of energy dissipated through the particle-substrate interaction. Initial work in this study focuses on the spray and bounce properties to determine their correlation to the particle's efficiency, which was defined as the percentage of particles leaving the nozzle that make it into the nip. Next, the effects of shape and size were determined using particles with similar compositions. Then, the effect of coating the particles and substrate speed was determined. For silica sand with diameters from 0.2-0.6 mm, the typical efficiency was 68% with a flat wheel and rail profile. The larger and rounder particles were found to deposit the best, with coated sand having an efficiency of 91%. It was discovered that the improvement in the efficiencies may be from reducing the spread of the particle spray from the nozzle from 8° to 3°, which increased the likelihood that the particles make it between the wheel and belt. Lastly, decreasing the substrate speed below 18 km/h produced lower efficiencies due to the particle-particle interactions as they approach the wheel-substrate interface unless the mass flowrate of the particles was reduced.
Understanding the wheel/rail transfer mechanism in liquid friction modifier carry-down (2017)
In the rail road industry liquid friction modifiers (LFM's) are used on thetop of rail (TOR) between the wheel/rail interface to reduce curve noise,lateral forces, rail wear and fuel consumption. The friction modifier may beapplied to the rail via a track side applicator and is carried down by thetrain into curved sections of the track where the greatest benefit is seen.A custom laboratory scale machine was designed and built for the purpose of conducting experiments to study the behaviour of LFM carry-downover a large number of wheel/rail interactions. The machine was also designed so that the film transfer at the wheel/rail interaction location couldbe studied.The use of a fluorescent agent to enhance the ability to visualize LFMcarry-down showed promising results, enabling small amounts of carry-downthat couldn't otherwise be seen under ambient light conditions to now beseen under fluorescence.Qualitative experiments using the machine were performed showing thatan increase in the wheel speed results in an increase in the amount of frictionmodifier transferred from the rail to the wheel at the initial pickup location,thus increasing the carry-down. Increasing the applied load had the oppositeeffect and reduced the amount of friction modifier initially transferred fromthe rail to the wheel, and thus reducing the carry-down. The profile of thewheel was observed to effect the initial transfer amount and the ensuingcarry-down due to high/low pressure zones along the wheel/rail interface.
Full scale train underbody aerodynamic evaluation for top of rail friction modifier application (2015)
Liquid jet impingement is employed in the rail industry to apply friction modifier to the rail surface. Use of the friction modifier is known to reduce wear and improve fuel efficiency. L.B. Foster ® deploys friction modifier using a nozzle located downwind of the wheels on freight trains. Understanding the aerodynamic environment of the nozzle is important for researching how to maximize the deposition of the liquid friction modifier from the nozzle to the tracks. The air pressure and velocity at the location of the nozzle was evaluated experimentally at full scale in field trials. The pressure at a fixed ground location was measured by transducers as the train passed. The air velocity in the reference frame of the moving vehicle was measured using a fiber-film anemometer at the location of the liquid-friction-modifier spray nozzle, 0.4 wheel diameters downwind of the wheel center.The measured air speeds scales linearly with the train speed, and the measured pressure scales linearly with the dynamic pressure, implying that Reynolds number effects are negligible. The pressure distribution showed an initial pressure increase just downwind of the leading edge of the vehicle followed by a spike in suction. The pressure distribution was found to depend on the orientation of the vehicle. With a rail car leading the vehicle, the spike in suction produced was about 50% larger than the suction spike produced when a locomotive, lower to the ground, was leading the vehicle. The mean air speed was measured to be approximately 29% of the train speed. The mean air speed the same distance upwind of the wheel was measured to be approximately 38% of the train speed. Turbulence intensity levels were measured to be about 0.15. Cross wind effects became much less significant when the train speed was equal to or greater than the cross wind speed.The train undercarriage airflow was modeled numerically using Autodesk Simulation CFD™ software. The CFD simulations were in approximate agreement (typically, within 2%) with experimental measurements and confirmed that the presence of the support bracket for the anemometer had limited impact on the measured wind speed.
Newtonian and viscoelastic liquid jet impingement on a moving surface (2015)
Motivated by the need to improve transfer efficiencies of liquid coatings from jet impingement in railroad friction control applications, an experimental investigation into Newtonian and viscoelastic liquid jet impingement on moving surfaces is presented.Seven PEO-glycerine-water solutions and three commercial liquid friction modifiers were tested with a variety of jet speeds, jet diameters, surface speeds and surface roughnesses. The effects of these test conditions on jet impingement splash behaviours as well as jet and lamella geometries were studied. High-speed imaging was employed to visualize the interaction between the impinging jet and the moving surface.Experiments on the effect of modest surface roughness revealed that, while jet and surface speed were both important factors, splash was more likely to occur on surfaces with lower roughness levels. By analyzing experimental results for Newtonian liquids, a relation between lamella geometry and test conditions were found, which can be used to predict lamella dimensions. Three types of non-Newtonian behaviours were observed at high surface speed and low jet speed: jet necking, jet bending and jet stretching.
Transient jet impaction on a high speed moving surface (2015)
In the railroad industry liquid friction modifiers are applied on the rail track in the form of a liquid jet in order to reduce the friction and fuel consumption. In this application, the transfer efficiency of the liquid on the rail track is very important. To maximize the transfer efficiency, Newtonian and non-Newtonian transient liquid jet impingement on a dry moving surface was studied. Five different water glycerin solutions with widely varying shear viscosities were used as Newtonian test liquids to isolate the effect of shear viscosity from other fluid properties. Furthermore, the effect of surface roughness on the impaction was investigated using four different roughness heights. The effects of jet velocity and surface speed were also studied. High speed imaging was performed to visualize the interaction between the jet and the moving surface. For surface roughness heights between 0.02 μm and 0.64 μm, it was found that as the roughness increases, the jet becomes more prone to splash. It was also shown that increased jet and surface speeds trigger the splash. The transient jet characteristics were also investigated for Newtonian liquids at different nozzle back pressures. It was found that at higher Reynolds and Weber numbers the transient jet breaks up downstream of the nozzle; However, it was shown that the Weber number has the dominant role in jet break-up compared to the Reynolds number. A numerical study was also undertaken to determine the drag force exerted on the plunger of the solenoid valve in the nozzle. The simulation results were in reasonable (16% on average) agreement with experiment.
Micro-PIV measurement of flow through forming fabrics (2014)
This thesis describes an experimental investigation of the flow field upstream of forming fabrics that are typically used in the paper making process. Micro Particle Image Velocimetry was used to measure the velocity distribution upstream of a forming fabric. The velocity upstream of two different types of forming fabrics, namely Monoflex D60TM and IntegraTM, was studied. As expected, the experiments show the existence of a highly variable drainage velocity field upstream of both fabrics. The drainage velocity over the holes can be several times greater than the drainage velocity above the fabric filaments. Since fines and filler tend to follow fluid streamlines, one would therefore expect substantially higher fines and filler concentrations in the holes between the filaments as compared over fabric knuckles. The decay in drainage velocity variations can be represented by the equation Aexp(-Bz/D)+C, where A and B are constant and C is the uncertainty in the experimental setup. D and z represent the fabric's filament diameter and distance above the fabric surface.It is expected that the response of pulp fibers to the velocity variations caused by the fabric's weave structure is strongly correlated to their length. The fibers with a length greater than 1.5 mm experience a weighted-average velocity field along their length that is approximately uniform. The deposition of short fibers with length
Design of an optical uroflowmeter and assessing bladder pressure through video analysis of the male urine stream (2013)
Voiding dysfunction, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia and impaired detrusor contractility, affects more than half of men over the age of 50. Uroflowmetry provides quantitative information of flow dysfunction by measuring the flow rate and total volume of urine expelled by the body. The majority of existing clinical uroflowmeters determine flow rate using a scale to measure increasing mass of urine expelled with time; however, they are expensive and typically found only in specialists' offices, making it difficult for patients to receive testing. An opportunity therefore exists to develop a much more affordable device which would allow flow rate testing to become a part of routine care and to be conducted in a wider variety of environments such as General Practitioners' offices and home monitoring. The high demand for digital cameras, particularly due to their extensive use in mobile devices, has resulted in their accelerated advancement and cost reduction. Therefore, a device based on this technology is investigated. In addition to the development of this device, a study was conducted to investigate if information regarding bladder pressure may be obtained by analyzing digital images of the urine stream. Voiding dysfunction may result in abnormally high bladder pressure, caused by urinary obstruction, or low bladder pressure which may be caused by reduced detrusor contractility. The clinical implications and treatment for these two cases are very different; however, they present with similar low flow rate voiding patterns and cannot currently be distinguished non-invasively. It was postulated that increased inertia and turbulence may exist in high pressure flows, and may be identifiable in the digital images of the urine stream.
Hydrodynamic interaction between cylinders at moderate Reynolds numbers (2013)
The hydrodynamic interaction between two cylinders perpendicular to the freestream, in a tandem arrangement was studied for moderate Reynolds numbers (1≤Re≤40). The influence of multiple geometric variables was considered: separation distances between the cylinders, ellipticity of the cylinders, the cylinder aspect ratio, and the angular inclination between the cylinders. In the first part of this study, a numerical investigation of the two-dimensional steady flow past cylinders was carried out. The characteristic length, D, in all simulations was taken to be twice the major axis of the cylinder cross-section, (i.e. equal to the diameter for cylinders of circular cross-section). The two-dimensional flow was studied for separations up to 50D. Four different ellipticities were studied. The drags experienced by front and rear cylinders were compared with that experienced by a single cylinder of the same cross-section. The second part of the study consisted of the steady three-dimensional flow analysis for parallel cylinders in tandem for separations ranging from 2D to 20D and cylinder lengths up to 20D. In the third part of this thesis, a steady flow analysis was done for two circular cylinders in tandem with lengths equal to 5D but with the cylinder axes in different orientations relative to the plane normal to the flow. This angular separation between the cylinders produces a hydrodynamic moment, which is dependent on the geometry and the flow Reynolds number.The fourth and final part of this work is the study of the unsteady three-dimensional flow that would result from the hydrodynamic moment discussed in relation to the third part of the thesis. The thesis closes with some remarks on the implications of these findings to papermaking and recommendations for future work.
An experimental study of liquid jet impingement on a moving surface : the effects of surrounding air pressure and fluid properties (2012)
The impingement of a high-speed liquid jet on a moving surface and the resulting deposition or splash is important in a variety of technical and industrial processes. Of particular interest is the coating of the top-of-rail surface, in the rail road industry, with a thin film of viscoelastic liquid friction modifier, by liquid jet impingement, to control friction and reduce wear at the wheel-rail interface, thereby reducing fuel consumption and maintenance costs. For effective operation it is required that the fluid deposited by the jet adhere to the surface after impingement. An experimental investigation into the effect of surrounding air pressure and fluid properties on liquid jet impingement on a moving surface was performed. The study was carried out with Newtonian liquids impacting smooth, dry surfaces. A variety of ambient air pressures, jet speeds, surface speeds, surface tensions, and liquid viscosities were studied. The interaction between the impinging jet and the moving surface was analysed through high-speed imaging. It was observed that, as is the case for Newtonian droplet impact, the surrounding air pressure plays a crucial role in the splashing behaviour of jet impingement. There exists a threshold pressure below which splash does not occur. It is proposed that for certain impingement conditions lamella detachment from the surface occurs due to aerodynamic forces acting on the leading edge of the lamella, which destabilizes the balance between surface tension and fluid pressure forces. It was observed that both the Reynolds number and Weber number were salient to the occurrence of lamella detachment, with lamella detachment having a non-linear dependence on the Reynolds number. Lamella detachment was prone to occur for intermediate Reynolds numbers as the Weber number was increased, bounded by regions of deposition at higher and lower Reynolds numbers.
An experimental study of the surface distribution of filler material in paper (2012)
A series of experiments were conducted to observe the effect of different pulp suspension and formation characteristics on the variation in filler concentration on the surface of paper. Hand sheet samples were formed in a laboratory apparatus. The surface distribution of two types of filler material was investigated: Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (CaCO₃) and Kaolin Clay (Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄). The effect of retention aids, dewatering rate, and forming fabric geometry on filler distribution was tested.The analysis was focused on the variation in surface filler concentrations on the scale of individual strands of the forming fabric. The procedure involved locating areas of interest in the samples, particularly the area of paper formed over knuckles, threads, and openings in the fabric, at which point the sample was analysed with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy and image analysis techniques to determine relative filler concentrations.In samples formed by gravity and vacuum drainage, Kaolin displayed a significantly greater variation in local surface filler concentration than PCC, though the difference was reduced under vacuum drainage conditions. This effect is attributed to the electrostatic attraction between PCC and pulp fibres in contrast with the repulsion felt by Kaolin filler. The attraction resists the distributing forces of the flow at low drainage velocities but the bonds are broken by large shear forces. The distribution on the top side of the paper was comparable between the filler types, due to the more uniform flow field at a distance from the forming fabric. Vacuum drainage increased the spatial variation of both fillers by a similar amount. It was found that under vacuum drainage, retention aids did not improve filler uniformity on the wire side. However, on the top side of the paper, a moderate reduction in spatial variation was observed. Additionally, on the wire side of samples made with gravity drainage, it was found that the addition of retention aids produced a significant improvement in the uniformity of the filler material. Finally, it was found that a finer forming fabric improved the uniformity of filler distribution.
An experimental study on jet impingement on a very high speed moving surface (2012)
Motivated by the need to improve transfer efficiencies of liquid coatings from jet impingement, an experimental investigation into jet impingement on very high speed moving surfaces is presented. Seven different Newtonian liquids with widely varying shear viscosities were made to impinge on a surface which could be made to move at speeds up to 350km/hr. Tests for the Newtonian liquids were done with several modified surfaces to study the effects of roughness and surface inconsistencies. Nozzle sizes and impingement angles were varied to interrogate their effects on the interaction of the impacting jet and moving surface while high speed photography was employed to capture these interactions. Spread radii and spread widths were measured for viscous fluids which deposited.While it was observed that stable jets of fluids with sufficiently high viscosities almost always deposited, tests with water indicate that the effects of the impingement angle as well as jet diameter significantly alter the locations of boundaries between deposition, spatter and lamella lift-off. Impingement angles that result in jet velocities with large components of velocity parallel to the surface velocity are prone to deposit. Jets of smaller diameters are also prone to deposit. It was observed that both the jet velocity and surface velocity are important determining factors in the likelihood of deposition.The deposition of viscous fluids demonstrated that it is possible to observe transitions from deposition to lift-off and vice versa through mechanisms that trigger random fluctuations in the lamella. The track distance covered before a transition from lift-off to deposition occurs is shown to be a Poisson Process.
Newtonian and elastic liquid jet interaction with a moving surface (2011)
In the railroad industry a friction modifying agent may be applied to the rail or to the wheel in the form of a liquid jet. In this mode of application the interaction between the high speed liquid jet and a fast moving surface is important. Seven different Newtonian liquids with widely varying shear viscosities along with twelve different solutions of polyethylenoxide (PEO) and water with varying relaxation times were tested to isolate the effect of viscosity and elasticity from other fluid properties. Tests for the Newtonian liquids were done with five surfaces having different roughness heights to investigate the effects of surface roughness. High speed video imaging was employed to scrutinize the interaction between the impacting jet and the moving surface. For both Newtonian and Elastic liquids and all surfaces, decreasing the Reynolds number reduced the incidence of splash and consequently enhanced the transfer efficiency. At the elevated Weber numbers of the testing, the Weber number had a much smaller impact on splash than did the Reynolds number. The ratio of the surface velocity to the jet velocity has only a small effect on the splash, whereas increasing the roughness-height-to-jet-diameter ratio substantially decreased the splash threshold. Moreover, the Deborah number was also salient to the splash of elastic liquids.
PIV measurements of flow through forming fabrics (2011)
Three-dimensional velocity fields in the single phase approach flow to a multiple layer woven forming fabric were measured using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). The measurements were conducted on a scale model of a forming fabric in a water/glycerin flow loop. Each strand on the paper side of the model forming fabric had a filament diameter around 15.4mm, and the loop test section was 310mm squared, permitting the measurement of detailed velocity distributions over multiple strands of the fabric. The flow speed in the loop test section were varied to achieve screen Reynolds numbers (Res), calculated based on paper side filament diameter (d), between 15 and 65. PIV measurements showed that the normalized ZD velocity deviation decreases from 19.7% at a plane 0.25d upstream from the forming fabric to 4.2% at a plane 1.5d upstream. The normalized CMD velocity deviation decreases from 15.3% at a plane 0.25d upstream from the forming fabric to 1.9% at a plane 1.5d upstream. The normalized MD velocity deviation decreases from 14.5% at a plane 0.25d upstream from the forming fabric to 2.3% at a plane 1.5d upstream. The highest ZD velocity is about 3.3 times higher than the lowest ZD velocity at a plane 0.25d above the fabric. This ratio decreases to 1.2 at a plane 1.5d above the fabric. These findings show that the flow non-uniformity caused by the fabric weave is restrained to a short distance above the fabric. However, even this non-uniformity is not particularly felt by fibers, whose length scale results in an averaging of the local velocity field. CFD simulations of the same flow were consistent with the PIV measurements.
The role of suction boxes on forming section retention and filler migration (2010)
An apparatus was constructed to observe fibre mat formation under applied vacuum pressure comparable to that experienced in a suction box. The main focus of study was to determine the effects of system parameters on overall retention, filler distribution, and filler migration by analysing samples through weighing, ashing and EDX analysis. It was found that increasing suction pressure slightly decreased the overall retention, although the effect was greater at higher filler loadings. The forming fabric selection was statistically significant in determining the overall retention, and the significance of forming fabric selection grows with increasing filler loading. The most important factor in determining overall retention was the presence of retention aids. Measurement of the instantaneous permeability of the forming fabric and fibre mat during the forming process showed differences in the permeability curves between forming fabrics, particularly during the initial forming process. The permeability variations are correlated with differences in retention. Tests performed under gravity drainage, to provide a correlation between fabric properties and overall retention results, showed that air permeability had the highest correlation.Sheet splitting and ashing hand sheets formed using cationic PCC filler showed that applying a vacuum during the drainage process decreased the average filler content. The filler was preferentially removed from the wire side of the sheet. Similar tests performed with anionic filler showed that filler charge affects the distribution in a hand sheet. Anionic filler also showed little change in distribution when vacuum was applied during forming. Cationic and anionic filler have different retention mechanisms; attachment and filtration, respectively. Applied vacuum was found to affect the filler distribution of particles retained by attachment with the highest changes at the wire side. Applied vacuum was found to have only a small affect on particles retained by filtration. The reason for both is the compaction of the fibre mat, which occurs to the greatest extent at the wire side. The compaction reduces the size of openings in the mat which will further trap large particles retained by filtration but increase the drag on small particles, possibly exceeding the attractive forces responsible for attachment to the pulp fibres.
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https://sputniknews.com/20140922/British-Retailer-Tesco-Launches-Probe-Following-Massive-Profit-193171570.html
British Retailer Tesco Launches Probe Following Massive Profit Forecast Error: Reports
Britain's biggest retailer, Tesco, has launched a probe into its accounting practices after the company overstated its half-year profit forecast by some 250... 22.09.2014, Sputnik International
Britain's biggest retailer, Tesco, has launched a probe into its accounting practices after the company overstated its half-year profit forecast by some 250 million pounds ($408 million), Bloomberg reported Monday.
MOSCOW, September 22 (RIA Novosti) - Britain's biggest retailer, Tesco, has launched a probe into its accounting practices after the company overstated its half-year profit forecast by some 250 million pounds ($408 million), Bloomberg reported Monday.
"We have uncovered a serious issue and have responded accordingly," the company's new CEO Dave Lewis was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.
"We will take decisive action as the results of the investigation become clear," Lewis said, adding that the company would report interim results on October 23, Bloomberg reported.
The company's massive projection error resulted from calculating incomes that had not yet been earned and recognizing costs after they were incurred, Bloomberg reported.
Tesco's stock slumped by 11 percent to 204.9 pence as of 8:06 a.m. local time (07:06 GMT) and has lost 39 percent of its value this year, bringing the company to its fifth straight annual decline.
"It was evident to many that there was a lot of kitchen sinking coming and we had seen that the accounts were overstretched," Sanford C. Bernstein analyst and former Tesco executive Bruno Monteyne said, Bloomberg reported.
"To David Lewis" credit, he is again on the front foot, tackling the issues head on. It raises serious questions though for the board and Phil Clarke," Monteyne added.
The company's chief executive officer succeeded Phil Clarke, who was forced to leave the position in July after leading the company through three years of losses. Under Clarke, Tesco spent more than 1 billion pounds to upgrade stores with playgrounds, bakeries and even Zumba dance lessons to win back customers. The former chief executive also boosted Tesco's presence online.
Tesco suffered its worst sales decline in over two decades when revenue dropped 4 percent during the 12 weeks leading to August 17 as its market share decreased by 1.4 percent to 28.8 percent, according to Kantar Worldpanel data.
Tesco, founded in London in 1919, is a multinational grocery and retailer based in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. The company currently operates some 6,500 stores worldwide.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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War on Covid-19: A time for action and leadership
Nungsari Ahmad Radhi, Hamdan Abdul Majeed & Muhammed Abdul Khalid
Published 23 Mar 2020, 11:26 am
Modified 23 Mar 2020, 1:57 pm
COMMENT | The Covid-19 pandemic is arguably the most disruptive global event in recent times. It is unprecedented in its scale and potential impact on the economy and the quality of life.
We do not know the extent of this pandemic and how badly Malaysia will be affected, but the likelihood that this is turning into the defining crisis of our time is increasing with every passing day. By all accounts, it looks highly probable that the pandemic and its direct consequences will be with us for a while, possibly another 12-18 months.
The pandemic has to be addressed decisively, the plans to do so should be communicated clearly, and implemented in a way that improves the integrity of institutions in this country, and the people's confidence in them. Maintaining the fabric of our society and the unity of the country are as important as managing the pandemic and its consequences.
The leadership of the country must be seen to be decisive and cohesive while having the interests of the people as its only objective. The wisdom and speed of decisions are of the utmost importance. This is not the time to be petty and partisan.
We will present our views in three parts, organised around three broad issues:
Managing the pandemic: immediate actions are needed to test, identify and treat the infected early, requiring trained and well-protected frontline personnel, resources and facilities.
Managing the affected: immediate actions to address those displaced and negatively impacted by actions to manage the pandemic while ensuring continued provisioning of basic needs, public utilities, and social services.
Managing the economy and preparing for the post-crisis environment: the decisions to manage the pandemic and those affected have consequences that need to be anticipated and managed.
In making these views and recommendations, we recognise that these are abnormal times, somewhat comparable to wartime. Normal considerations – of managing fiscal constraints, budgetary deficits, debt ceilings, growth targets or ratings agencies – do not apply. Malaysians come first. We should mobilise all the country's resources to do whatever it takes.
Second, the governing principle to determine priorities should be:
Frontline healthcare personnel get first priority.
Beyond that, the principle of equity applies – that which benefits the most number of people must get priority.
We need to recognise that there will be some slippage and compromises, but this is no time to insist on the perfect at the expense of the good and necessary.
We propose a "fiscal stimulus" for consumption smoothening to aid individuals and businesses during this difficult period – to prevent cash flow problems from becoming a solvency crisis that could cause massive unemployment and other related problems.
Managing the pandemic
While Covid-19 fatality rates are much lower than for other virus epidemics such as Nipah, SARS1 and MERS, it is highly contagious. Managing contagion requires early testing, isolation and treatment of the infected, especially the most vulnerable, who seem to be the elderly. Therefore, the strategy is about containing infections so that the healthcare system is not overwhelmed – the so-called "flattening the curve" approach.
Health Ministry (HOD) has put in place plans to build capacity, protect frontline staff, and flatten the curve with its movement control order (MCO) and to significantly widen testing, mobilising both private and public healthcare providers. Korea is an exception in not imposing movement restrictions, but it uses technology to track movements.
The government may want to consider measures adopted by the French government to help and protect frontline staff:
All masks and protective gears are prioritised for hospitals, general practitioners, nurses and all support staff.
Provision of transportation, lodging and accommodation for all frontline staff.
Strong enforcement against profiteering on any protective and medical equipment and services, including testing.
While we are managing the current emergency, plans need to be in place for the next 12 to 18 months after we have successfully slowed down the infection rate and the MCO suppression strategy ends. This includes the need to build healthcare capacity for potentially lengthy treatment at home.
Communications by MOH, while generally professional, have had limited impact so far. Our recommendation is for communications to be prepared by medical professionals based solely on facts and science. However, much more needs to be done with both the traditional print and broadcast media as well as the new social media, especially to correct the considerable misinformation and superstitions which continue to be very influential and sometimes dangerously misleading. A dedicated taskforce needs to support MOH in this effort.
Managing the affected
An inevitable consequence of containing Covid-19 is that it will have significant adverse effects on the economy. Large-scale measures need to be in place to stop and reverse the economic decline.
(1) Individuals and households
The MCO has negatively impacted the lives of millions of households whose incomes and savings levels were low even before the Covid-19 epidemic. The MCO has cut incomes for many small traders who provide affordable sources of food and other supplies. For example, the pasar tani/malam is both a source of income for them as well as a source of affordable food and provisions for a great many households.
There are also those who have lost their jobs or incomes due to the MCO, including those who have been put on half-time work or no pay leave. For these individuals and households, the extension of the MCO will further undermine their livelihoods.
There must be immediate measures to put cash in the hands of those affected to sustain them through this period. The examples implemented by other governments in this regard should be considered. The MyKad, BSH database, as well as the e-wallet programme, are ready-made to implement such cash transfers. The recently announced Socso Employee Retention Programme can also be expanded significantly to compensate for job and income losses, which need to include the self-employed.
Beyond cash, those adversely affected by the MCO may require temporary housing and board; such facilities should be made available. There are cases of students and others displaced who have been stranded by the MCO.
(2) Businesses
Businesses have been significantly affected, including those fundamentally viable. Support needs to be directed to ensure that businesses can weather the situation we are in. This is especially true for SMEs – collectively the biggest employers in our nation. They employ close to ten million and have collectively borrowed over RM300 billion from banks. Alleviating their concerns allows more breathing room for our SMEs as well as the people they employ. The UK, for example, has guaranteed 80 percent of all employee wages up to £2,500. Although measures to protect SMEs were announced as part of the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP), more can be done to ensure continued access to financing.
For example, funds channelled to development finance institutions (DFIs) should be made available to all businesses. At the moment, we should be supporting the whole economy rather than just parts of it. After all, it is not only tourism-related sectors that have been adversely impacted. This is to ensure that the risk of business failure is significantly lessened. Every business is someone's employer, supplier, and purchaser. In this testing time, we need to minimise business failures, especially of otherwise viable SMEs.
A quick way of providing relief to SMEs is via the use of government guarantees of loans extended by banks. This was successfully and efficiently used during the 2009 crisis via a MOF Inc company, Syarikat Jaminan Pinjaman Perniagaan Berhad, which manages the guarantees and work with banks.
Two types of services – government services related to registration, licences, permits, etc and utilities such as water, electricity and telecommunications – are still necessary for the economy, but charges for these services should be specially and temporarily discounted to ease cashflow concerns, both for households as well as for SMEs.
The government should form a collaborative platform with all companies providing these services to ensure continuous supply while also addressing the financial requirements of having to do so.
(3) Supply chains
Global supply chains had already been disrupted by trade conflicts before the Covid-19 outbreak. The Covid-19 pandemic and measures taken in response, especially restrictions on movement, have further disrupted such supply chains, so crucial to an open economy like ours.
We are concerned about food and other essential supply chains. Malaysia imports more than RM50 billion worth of food – from fresh vegetables to meat, grains including rice, and processed food. Mindful that many businesses operate with minimal inventory levels, disruptions in supply chains will definitely impact supplies at the retail end. Already, all three modes of transportation - air, sea and land - have been badly disrupted.
A list of essential food items and other essentials must be developed, and their supplies secured, anticipating that the present situation prevails for another 12-18 months. A strategic view of stockpiling may even be necessary to ensure food sufficiency.
At the very least, the country must secure the supply of domestically produced food sources, including poultry, eggs and others exported, as well as key imported food items partly produced nationally, such as rice, fish, vegetables and fruits.
Managing the economy and post-crisis reset
The economy may even contract this year regardless of efforts. There are bound to be dislocations. Jobs will be lost, and businesses will fail. It is also likely that the economic landscape when the global economy recovers from this pandemic will be different from last year's.
The government must also consider addressing the dislocations caused by the outbreak. The dislocation of labour due to technological changes, which was already happening, may be accelerated by this pandemic, making future unemployment a major issue.
The state of government finances are expected to be bad. It was already bad and will be worse after this. The priority should be to generate growth.
It is also clear that we need better regional cooperation, economically and more broadly, both for future growth as well as to address similar crises in the future. The crisis also amplifies the importance of maintaining relationships with our major trading partners.
Communication and transparency
There is a great need to be transparent and to communicate more effectively – regularly and truthfully. Government communications must occupy the high ground and people must trust it. This is the time when trust is most needed; should the government decide to withhold information on crucial aspects of the health crisis for whatever reason, the breach of trust and credibility will have untold consequences.
This is a time for national unity and non-partisan politics. Our ability to address this pandemic and its immediate and ensuing consequences depends on the country's resources. It needs much more than what the political leadership can offer. It needs every Malaysian.
The federal government has the most resources to plan and implement, but both planning and implementation must be done collaboratively with the states and non-governmental organisations. Speed of implementation is key, and should be decentralised as much as possible. Bureaucratic impediments should be minimised during this period.
We are deeply concerned by the seeming lack of clear and coherent initiatives by the government in light of the growing crisis. We were taken aback by the Treasury's traditional balanced budget perspective as the rest of the world, especially East Asia, responds with a strong sense of urgency, recognising that this time it is different.
In 2009, following the Global Financial Crisis, the government introduced a stimulus package amounting to nearly RM60 billion. That package was to stimulate the economy following a financial crisis. Any package that we do now is not simply to stimulate the economy, it is to save lives and to protect Malaysians from a life and death health crisis. If we could spend RM60 billion to stimulate the economy from a financial crisis, surely we can spend more to protect all Malaysians from an unprecedented health crisis.
We hope our views presented above are useful and we are ready to further elaborate on them if required. We will be glad to be proven wrong, but we shudder at the prospects of being just half right. At any rate, we urge the government to show leadership and act quickly.
NUNGSARI AHMAD RADHI is the executive chairperson of the Malaysian Aviation Commission and chairperson of the Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) board of trustees.
HAMDAN ABDUL MAJEED is the managing director of Think City and former director at Khazanah Nasional Bhd.
MUHAMMED ABDUL KHALID is a former KRI director and was the prime minister's economic advisor during Pakatan Harapan's administration.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
MTUC slams Muhyiddin's EPF announcement
Don't overlook those who do not contribute to EPF, gov't told
Harapan disses latest 'help' measures announced by gov't
'Foreigners must pay for Covid-19 screening' - PSM seeks clarification


Monday morning. Time to look back at the game that was with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Jets in New York. This game was decided by the big plays.
The missed tackle letting the Jets scoot for a long touchdown and a run play up the middle going for 69 yards for a touchdown by New York. Those big plays for the Jets were followed by the fumble recovery taken 81 yards to the end zone by young defensive standout, Myles Jack.
A couple of field goals tied it all up and sent it into overtime where QB Blake Bortles went 0-5 passing and gave the Jets a chance at the game-winning field goal to put down the Jags 23-20.
I had said that the Jags were going to win this game 24-17. I also knew that it would rely heavily on Jacksonville's ability to run the football.
RB Leonard Fournette had 24 carries for 86 yards. Not a bad outing for the rookie running back. Two big plays from the Jet's offense really made the game against the Jags. Two running plays that should have been stopped at the line of scrimmage ended up going for long touchdowns.
The interior defense really has to improve if Jacksonville wants to stay in the hunt for the division title and a playoff berth. In overtime Jacksonville once again showed that Bortles is not a game winner, he is a game manager. If you put the game on his shoulders, it's not going to go well.
The overtime period should have been handled the same way the opening drive was, run the ball and then use play action pass to take chunks of yards and get into the end zone. The Jaguars quarterback is not the same type of player that Tom Coughlin is used to from his time with the New York Giants. Tom Coughlin and Doug Marrone have to have a better game plan for close games.
Going forward, the Jacksonville Jaguars need to get more playmakers involved. Your leading rusher and receiver were the same player, Leonard Fournette. WR Marqise Lee needs to be targeted more to open up the field for the Jags. The Jaguars success still remains in establishing the running game and then using that to get the play action passing to stretch the field.


Founded in 1884, Beneteau yachts was created by Benjami Beneteau who was a shipwright. The first workshop was located in Croix de vie in France. Beneteau's first boats were fishing trawlers. Today, they are still building some of the industry's best boats. The company is now owned by Beneteau's great granddaughter, Madame Beneteau Roux and the company has now extended its sales to the U.S.A. and does business as Beneteau, USA. In 1976, Beneteau designed and built the Beneteau First 30, which was created by Andre Mauric and was chosen Boat of the Year at the Paris Boat Show. Located in Marion, S.C., Beneteau USA continues to produce world-class sail boats and yachts. It recently celebrated its completion of its 7000th boat and in 2009 they won an industry award for outstanding customer satisfaction. Its best known line is the Beneteau Series, which is comprised of a line of yachts created to suit the needs of every sophisticated sailor. Each yacht is designed according to the highest specifications. Whether you are planning a weekend getaway to the Florida Keys or a day trip across one of the Great Lakes, the Beneteau series will have a yacht that's perfect for your needs.


Do you have a 'Bob Ross' in your workspace?
Do you have sentimental items that remind you of important life lessons? Mementos that make you smile and trigger memories of an impactful moment in your life? Surrounding yourself with them not only makes you happier—it improves your focus, too!
One of my most treasured artifacts is my Bob Ross Bobblehead. During one of my darkest periods, Bob Ross taught me that as long as you are investing time to practice, you're never losing. You're always a winner. It's exactly what I needed to hear.
If I am having a rough day, all I have to do is look at my Bob Ross figurine, and that impactful quote reverberates within my mind and reignites my focus!
If you need help improving your focus and want to learn more about how personal artifacts can affect it, please visit DaveCrenshaw.com/focus.


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The 10 Star Wars Books You Need to Read Before Watching The Force Awakens
If there's one thing any fan of pop culture knows, it's that the Star Wars movie is coming out in a month and a half. Every tiny little detail in posters, teasers, trailers, games, what have you, is being dissected and analyzed for plot points and theories. The biggest reason this is happening is because nobody knows what's going on with the new post-Return of the Jedi plot.
I say new because, as some or many of you may know, the old Expanded Universe was defenestrated by the new story group after Star Wars was acquired by Disney. This decision was either the best thing to happen to Star Wars or the worst, depending on whom you ask.
(I happen to be one of those people who spent a ridiculous amount of time and money on the EU as a child—and older than a child—so I'm not too thrilled about it.)
Anyway, the result is that the EU is now "Legends" and there are tons of theories and rumors out there about what might happen in the new movie. Personally, I'd be stunned if they didn't pull at least some things from the EU for ideas.
On that note, Star Wars fans should know what the history is. They should know what came before. They should understand the heritage that was built over decades before being unceremoniously tossed out the window like a literary Bran Stark.
(Spoilers?)
What follows are the 10 books that every Star Wars fan should read before seeing The Force Awakens.
10) Betrayal by Aaron Allston
The first book in the Legacy of the Force nine-book series, Betrayal is not only an important book for the EU, but also one of the better-written installments to come from the much-maligned post-New Jedi Order era. Featured are some of Allston's trademarks: pilots, good dogfight sequences, a hefty dose of humor, and most importantly, dynamic characters with real stakes. Jacen Solo, the oldest son of Han and Leia and twin to Jaina, takes the first steps toward his destiny.
9) Outbound Flight by Timothy Zahn
First referenced in Zahn's iconic Thrawn Trilogy (more on this in a bit), Outbound Flight is the story of an ill-fated attempt to explore beyond the boundaries of the galaxy, led by the Jedi Jorus C'baoth. This book ties in neatly to both the prequel movies and the post-RotJ Expanded Universe, with Zahn's typical flair for the dramatic and the always-satisfying inclusion of extensive Thrawn POVs.
8) Rogue Squadron by Michael A. Stackpole
Michael Stackpole's X-wing efforts were some of the formative blocks of the EU. Focusing on fan-favorite character Wedge Antilles and the new Corran Horn, the Rogue Squadron books helped launch video games and were inspired by the popular comics. While Stackpole isn't the most talented writer in the EU, he is in the bunch I would call "good", despite his flaws, and Ysanne Isard is one of the great villains you'll ever read. Come for the starfighter battles, stay for the Imperial politics.
Oh, and the 181st Imperial Fighter Group. We can't forget the 181st.
7) Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn
There is no book more important to the legacy of the Expanded Universe than Heir to the Empire. Star Wars was a dying brand in the early 90s, after the debacles of the Ewoks comics and made-for-TV movies. Zahn's work brought back the magic of the original trilogy and introduced some of the very best characters in the whole EU: Mara Jade, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Talon Karrde, Gilad Pallaeon. This book (and trilogy) informed pretty much the entire post-RotJ EU, and is required reading for Star Wars fans.
6) Wraith Squadron by Aaron Allston
If by this point you're noticing some familiar names, that's not an accident. There are a few authors who are a clear step above the rest, and Allston's Wraith Squadron installments in the X-wing series land him firmly in that group. The first book tells the story of Wedge Antilles' efforts to create a new X-wing squadron, made up of screw-ups and washouts, to form a new kind of commando/pilot threat and hunt down the Warlord Zsinj. Allston's trademark humor is all over this, but the characters are what really make it stand out. Protagonist Kell Tainer is a great character with real problems and a dynamic arc. Garik "Face" Loran is fantastic, as is the irascible Wes Janson (of Empire Strikes Back fame). The plot is full of adventurous twists and memorable settings.
5) Revenge of the Sith by Matthew Stover
I know what you're thinking now. Episode III? Really? The prequels were terrible! The plots were garbage and the characters wooden!
You're right, for the most part. The prequel movies were pretty bad. And that's what makes this book so good. Stover turns the terribly written characters into real, round, understandable people. Anakin's turn to the Dark Side makes way more sense. The plots behind plots behind plots that are only hinted at in the movies come to full life on these pages. There's one particularly fantastic scene with Yoda that might fly under the radar but is actually monumental to the plot of Star Wars overall. Stover is one of the premiere writers in science fiction—not only in Star Wars—and he shines with a challenging story.
4) Survivor's Quest by Timothy Zahn
What's this? More Zahn? You don't say.
Survivor's Quest is, chronologically, the last Zahn addition to the EU, as he refused to work on the New Jedi Order series. Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade, newly married, end up in the Unknown Regions, working with the Chiss Ascendancy and Empire of the Hand, along with other factions, to uncover the remains of the infamous Outbound Flight Project. Unlike the ham-fisted attempts at zombie horror like Death Troopers, this book is actually scary and has many moments of heart-pounded tension. Zahn nailed it, and the way it ties in with his other works is very neat. Read Outbound Flight first, then this, and enjoy the result.
3) Allegiance by Timothy Zahn
Tired of Timothy Zahn yet? I hope not, because this is the best of the bunch. Allegiance falls into the story soon after A New Hope, and follows the stories of Han/Luke/Leia, Mara Jade, and the renegade Stormtrooper squad known as the Hand of Judgment. In one of the rare instances that non-Jedi are the focus of a book, Zahn humanizes the Empire and provides a profound look at what it's like to be one of those guys in the faceless legions. With absolutely great characters and a very satisfying conclusion, Allegiance is simply one of the best books in the entire Expanded Universe.
2) I, Jedi by Michael A. Stackpole
I've covered this one before, as one of my Books of the Week. A unique, first-person story, I, Jedi is the perfect Star Wars adventure book. It contains everything you could want: Jedi, bounty hunters, pirates, huge space battles and back alley gunfights, mysterious Force users and ruthless Imperials. Read this book.
1) Traitor by Matthew Stover
This is the only book on this list that's neither a standalone story nor the first book in a series. I normally don't recommend books in the middle of a series, but Traitor is an exception. Landing smack dab in the middle of the sprawling New Jedi Order series, Stover delivered what is, without a doubt, the single best-written Star Wars novel out there. The characterization is deep, driving the story through the dual POVs of Jacen Solo and Ganner Rhysode. While Jacen is a captive of the Yuuzhan Vong and being tortured for unknown reasons by the enigmatic fallen Jedi Vergere, Ganner is attempting to reconcile his ego and image issues with what really matters as a person. This book plants the seeds for Jacen's eventual transformation into Darth Caedus—something that, if many theories are correct, will inform the character of Kylo Ren in The Force Awakens.
On top of that, Traitor contains a truly epic climax, featuring Ganner Rhysode and this outstanding sequence:
They come at him one at a time, an endless stream, each warrior in turn charging toward honorable single combat.
They come two at a time.
By the time they begin to come in groups, they have to scramble over bodies of their dead comrades to reach him. A pile of bodies.
A pile that becomes a wall, a rampart.
Ganner Rhysode builds a fortress of the dead.
If that doesn't get you going, I don't know what can. Traitor is the result of a master getting the chance to write the focal point of a character arc that spans dozens of novels. It's the lynchpin of the NJO, as well as the foundation for the Swarm War and Legacy of the Force series.
This is the heritage that is being left behind in favor of the new Star Wars movie. We can only hope that the writers pay attention to their roots, and maybe, just maybe, we'll see some familiar themes and stories in the years ahead.
Tags books, episode vii, eu, expanded universe, force awakens, review, star wars
NaNoWriMo 2015 – The NaNo That Was Not To Be
Cup of Dcaf: Why I Write


^ 1.0 1.1 McPherson, Edwin M. Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Encyclopedia. 3rd. Burlington: Elsevier. 2007: 915. ISBN 9780815518563.
^ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Cephalexin. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. [2014-04-21].
^ Brunton, Laurence L. 53, Penicillins, Cephalosporins, and Other β-Lactam Antibiotics. Goodman & Gilman's pharmacological basis of therapeutics. 12th. New York: McGraw-Hill. 2011. ISBN 978-0071624428.
^ 詹雅惠. 台灣門診泌尿道感染抗生素處方型態分析及其影響因素. 陽明大學醫務管理研究所. 2006 [2015-01-11].
^ 台灣中耳炎治療現以高劑量阿莫西林為一線用藥,見表5 Diagnosis and Treatment of Otitis Media. American Academy of Family Physicians. [2015-01-10].
^ 台灣咽炎治療現以高劑量阿墨西林為一線用藥, Diagnosis and Treatment of Streptococcal Pharyngitis. American Academy of Family Physicians. [2015-01-10].
^ 骨與關節感染(septic arthritis與osteomyelitis)也不會用此藥治療,血清濃度可能不夠,組織穿透性也不夠好,詳見下列文獻表四 Mathews, C. J., Kingsley, G., Field, M., Jones, A., Weston, V. C., Phillips, M., … Coakley, G. Management of septic arthritis: a systematic review. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2007. doi:10.1136/ard.2006.058909. 以及下列文獻的表三 JOHN HATZENBUEHLER, MD, and THOMAS J. PULLING, MD, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine. Diagnosis and Management of Osteomyelitis. American Academy of Family Physicians.
^ Prevention of Infective Endocarditis. 2007 [2015-01-11]. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.183095.
^ Wendy Jones. Breastfeeding and Medication. Routledge. 2013: 227. ISBN 9781136178153.
^ Bartholow, Michael. Top 200 Drugs of 2012. Pharmacy Times. [2014-04-22].
^ Australia's Health 2012: The Thirteenth Biennial Health Report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2012: 408. ISBN 9781742493053.
^ Ravina, Enrique. The evolution of drug discovery : from traditional medicines to modern drugs 1. Aufl. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. 2011: 267. ISBN 9783527326693.
^ Hanlon, Geoffrey; Hodges, Norman. Essential Microbiology for Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science. Hoboken: Wiley. 2012: 140. ISBN 9781118432433.
^ WHO Model List of EssentialMedicines (PDF). World Health Organization: 6. October 2013 [2014-04-22].


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Home Celebrity News 49ers' Talanoa Hufanga's first major purchase ahead of his first big paycheck...
You won't believe how much he spent.
49ers' Talanoa Hufanga's first major purchase ahead of his first big paycheck was a broken jet ski from a South Central LA tire shop
Hufanga appeared on the Richard Sherman Podcast and shared what his first big purchase as a pro was.
You'd assume a newly minted pro athlete would blow their signing bonus on a big purchase like a mortgage, new car, or maybe some fancy jewelry, but, like 49ers Rookie Talanoa Hufanga shared, that's often not the case.
Hufanga took some time out of his busy week and chatted with former 49er and current free agent Richard Sherman on his podcast and shared the first thing he bought before turning pro.
Check out that clip below.
"First off I'm a very frugal guy, Hufanga explains. "I'm not lying about this, I'm from a farm and I grew up on the lake, up on the water, and in the mountains snowboarding."
Hufanga grew up and played high school football in the small farming town of Corvallis, Oregon.
"This is right before I get drafted…this is pre-spending draft money…so I'm driving in South Central (Los Angeles) in the hood and I see this tire shop and I'm like, "Man, is that a broken jet ski?" and I've always wanted to jet ski my whole life"
"I went into this tire shop and asked, "I want this jet ski" and he's like, "Why would you want to buy something that's broken?" and I was like, "My best friend's a mechanic, and he's gonna fix it for free.
"So I ended up buying a broken jet ski for $400."
Hufanga goes on to explain that it wasn't broken… at all, and just needed a hundred dollar battery.
Hufanga would later go through the draft and eventually sign with the 49ers for a 4-year rookie contract worth $3.7 million with a $240,000 signing bonus (pro-rated annually at $60,000.)
As hinted at, rookie pros are notorious for buying and doing absolutely norm core things when they make it big.
According to Go Banking Rates, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was spotted at a McDonald's drive-thru after signing a record-breaking contract worth $120M.
Venus Williams literally bought nothing when she won his first Grand Slam Title at Wimbledon in 2000, she took her first paycheck and stick it in the bank.
As far as frugal, first purchases go, Hufanga is in good company.
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