Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Compact differential power divider with enhanced bandwidth and in-phase or out-of-phase output ports

A differential power divider using coupled microstrip line is proposed. The differential-mode response can be controlled by the odd-mode of the coupled microstrip line and resistors. Compared with the reported differential power dividers, the proposed one shows the advantages of compact size, wide bandwidth and easy connection with radio frequency (RF) chips. Furthermore, both in-phase and out-of-phase output ports can be realised using different connection ways. Two prototypes have been fabricated with the same size of 0. 185λ g × 0.245λ g, one with in-phase output ports and the other with out-of-phase output ports, showing the same minimum insertion loss of 0.2 dB and relative frequency bandwidths for |S dd11| <−15 dB of 75 and 78%, respectively.
Holistic approaches to understanding mechanisms of fatigue in high-intensity sport

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to provide a holistic understanding of likely mechanisms of fatigue during high-intensity sports lasting 1–10 min. Methods: The contributions from skeletal muscle, central nervous system (motor drive), and fatigue sensations to lower performance during intense cycling, running, rowing, repeated sprints, or knee extensions were evaluated. Results: At the end of exercise, reductions of external power, force, or velocity and peak isometric forces are moderate (10–30%), motor drive falls by <8%, and fatigue sensations are extreme, e.g., Borg's rating of perceived exertion >18. Multiple putative fatigue factors can change simultaneously to interactively lower performance and/or provide protection. Major detrimental factors include raised intramuscular inorganic phosphate, severe extra- and intracellular acidosis, cerebral hypoxemia, large reduction of trans-sarcolemmal K+-gradient (also Na+- and Cl−-gradients), and reduced muscle glycogen levels. Factors resisting fatigue include elevated adrenaline, extracellular lactate, interstitial [H+] and [K+], and a normal trans-sarcolemmal Cl−-gradient. Conclusions: Raised inorganic phosphate interacting with intracellular H+, and a large rundown of trans-sarcolemmal ion gradients are likely to cause peripheral fatigue. Severe arterial hypoxemia (due to plasma acidosis, raised core temperature, lowered PaO2), and factors released from glycogen lowered muscles, e.g., interleukin-6, may cause central fatigue and strong fatigue sensations.
Dual‐band branch‐line coupler using double‐sided parallel‐strip line

In this article, a three branch‐line coupler is proposed for the dual‐band application. The coupler can operate at two arbitrary frequencies and be realized on double‐sided parallel‐strip line (DSPSL). One of the advantages of the DSPSL is easy realization of high impedance transmission line. The circuit design parameters are derived using the even and odd mode analysis. The measured results show a good performance at 3 and 5.77 GHz. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1898–1900, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26952
An Automated Biomechanical Simulation Approach to Ergonomic Job Analysis for Workplace Design

AbstractWork-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are reported to be the most common category of nonfatal occupational injuries that result in days away from work and are also a leading cause of temporary and permanent disability. One of the most effective approaches to preventing WMSDs is to evaluate ergonomics considerations early in the design and construction planning stage before the worker encounters the unsafe conditions. However, a lack of tools for identifying potential ergonomic risks in a proposed workplace design has led to difficulties in integrating safety and health into workplace design practice. In an effort to address this issue, this study explores a motion data-driven framework for ergonomic analysis that automates and visualizes the evaluation process in a virtual workplace. This is accomplished by coupling the ergonomic analysis with three-dimensional (3D) virtual visualization of the work environment. The proposed approach uses motion data from the 3D model of the jobsite to ev.
Influence of Splitter Blades on the Cavitation Performance of a Double Suction Centrifugal Pump

In order to study the influence of splitter blades on double suction centrifugal pumps two impellers with and without splitter blades were investigated numerically and experimentally. Three-dimensional turbulence simulations with and without full cavitation model were applied to simulate the flow in the two pumps with different impellers. The simulation results agreed with the experiment results and the internal flows were analyzed. Both the numerical and experimental results show that by adding splitter blades the hydraulic performance and the cavitation performance of the pump are improved. The pump efficiency is increased especially at high flow rate condition. The pump high efficiency area is extended dramatically. At the same time since the splitter blades share some part of the blade loading, the pump critical NPSH value is decreased. Obvious pressure increase and velocity decrease at blade suction surface near leading edge were observed in the pump impeller with splitter blades. And the pump cavitation performance was improved consequently.
Changes in Soil Prokaryotic Diversity in Response to Land-Use Changes in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most severely affected regions regarding soil degradation, a global issue with the loss of nutrients caused by inappropriate management, leading to low agricultural productivity. Here we asked the question of how soil prokaryotic communities are affected by shifts in land use management and subsequent losses in soil organic carbon. We sampled soils from three sites in Zambia which have neighboring natural and managed sites. After the measurement of soil properties, soil DNA was sequenced, targeting the 16S rRNA gene. As expected, total carbon in soil was decreased in the managed sites, with significant reductions of bacterial biomass. However, the diversity indices in the managed soils were higher than in natural soils. Particularly, the relative abundance of nitrifiers was increased in the managed soils, most likely as a result of fertilization. However also other bacteria, e.g., those which formed tight interactions with the cultivated crops including the genera Balneimonas, and Bacillus, were increased in the managed soils. In contrast bacteria belonging to the family Chloroflexi, which were high in abundance in the natural soil were outcompeted by other prokaryotes in the managed soils most likely as a result of changes in the amount of soil organic carbon. Overall, our results suggest that we need to discuss the trends of prokaryotic diversity separately from those for prokaryotic abundance. Even when bacterial abundances were decreased in the managed soils, nitrifiers’ relative abundance and diversity increased in our experiment, suggesting the possible alteration of the nitrogen cycle in managed soils in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Effect of Personal Interaction on the International Technology Development of SMEs

Abstract This study investigates the potential effect of personal interaction on international technology development in relationships between Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and their foreign customers. The mediating effect of knowledge transfer between these firms and their customers is also examined. The results of a LISREL analysis of 188 relationships between SMEs and their foreign customers demonstrate that the effect of personal interaction on international technology development is not direct but rather is mediated by knowledge transfer. Hence, the study suggests that before international technology development can be enhanced, knowledge transfer needs to be established.
Low-Dosage Ozonation in Gaseous VOCs Biofilter Promotes Community Diversity and Robustness

BackgroundOzonation of biofilter is known for alleviating clogging and pressure drop issues while maintaining removal performances in biofiltration systems treating gaseous VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). The implications of ozone on the biofilter microbiome, in terms of biodiversity, community structure, metabolic abilities and dominant taxa correlated with performance remain largely unknown.MethodsThis study investigated two biofilter treating high concentration toluene operating in parallel, with one acting as control and the other exposed to low-dosage (200 mg/m3) ozonation. Microbial community diversity, metabolic rates of different carbon sources, functional predictions and microbial co-occurrence networks of both communities were examined. ResultsConsistently higher biodiversity of over 30% was observed with microbiome after ozonation, with increased overall metabolic abilities for amino acids and carboxylic acids. Relative abundance of species with reported stress tolerant and biofilm forming abilities significantly increased, with a consortium of changes in predicted biological pathways, including shifts in degradation pathways of intermediate compounds, while correlation of top OTUs and genus with performance indicators show diversifications in microbiota responsible for VOCs degradation. Co-occurrence network of the community shows a decrease in average path distance and average betweenness with ozonation. ConclusionShifts in major degrading species and increase in biodiversity could explain the consistent performance commonly seen in ozonation of biofilters despite the decrease in biomass. Increased presence of stress tolerant microbes in the microbiome coupled with decentralization of the co-occurrence network suggest that ozonation could not only provide amelioration for clogging issues but also provides a microbiome more robust to loading shocks seen in full-scale biofilters.
A comparative analysis of Greek universities' presence on the World Wide Web using an analytical MCDM methodology

Greek universities are currently in a transition state, as a new bill has been voted by the parliament trying to focus on lasting problems tormenting Greek higher level education; the implementation of the new law creating a strong reaction from part of the academic community. What is more, globalisation has increased competition and academia is now called upon to operate in an international environment facing other well established and prestigious institutions. It is in this context that Web 2 technologies widely available today offer a framework that allow academic institutions to increase their extraversion and reach a wider public; wikis, forums and e-learning platforms to name a few of these technologies. This paper attempts to offer a convincing answer to the ability of the Greek universities, operating in an unfavourable environment with many obstacles, to exploit what Web 2 has to offer; to also assess their readiness to integrate the new technologies and face the competition directly. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used for a comparative analysis of the online presence of Greek universities, and the results can prove to be a helpful tool for website creators and academia administration in order to improve their services.
Wide-stopband single-band balanced bandpass filter with T-shaped resonators

A wide-stopband four-order balanced bandpass filter using T-shaped resonators is proposed in this paper. The differential-mode and common-mode equivalent half circuits are given. By properly adjusting each T-shaped resonator, a wide stopband extending up to 4.43 can be obtained with a 35-dB suppression, where is the centre frequency of differential-mode passband. To improve the common-mode suppression performance, two open stubs are connected with the outer T-shaped resonators. The common-mode stopband is thus pushed up to 4.35 with rejection of 35-dB.
Subsurface imaging, FDTD‐based simulations and alternative scan/processing approaches

Nondestructive and noncontacting subsurface imaging is discussed. A finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) based virtual tool is developed to create various imaging scenarios and to generate synthetic scattering data. Matlab‐based imaging algorithms are developed to process recorded FDTD data and to reconstruct objects. Different contour synthetic aperture type scanning configurations and reconstruction techniques are applied and their effects on imaging are reviewed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 1070–1075, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24253
Technical Conditions of Microgenerator Connection to a Low Voltage Network Taking Into Account Valid Rules and Practices Applied in Europe and Poland

Connection of microgenerators to a low voltage network affects the electrical energy quality. In the paper, the basic relationships have been set out to compute voltage deviations and fluctuations. The basic criteria of microgeneration connection to a low voltage network have been given. The valid rules and practices applied in Europe and Poland have been described.
Morphology-Governed Performance of Plasmonic Photocatalysts

Plasmonic photocatalysts have been extensively studied for the past decade as a possible solution to energy crisis and environmental problems. Although various reports on plasmonic photocatalysts have been published, including synthesis methods, applications, and mechanism clarifications, the quantum yields of photochemical reactions are usually too low for commercialization. Accordingly, it has been proposed that preparation of plasmonic photocatalysts with efficient light harvesting and inhibition of charge carriers’ recombination might result in improvement of photocatalytic activity. Among various strategies, nano-architecture of plasmonic photocatalysts seems to be one of the best strategies, including the design of properties for both semiconductor and noble-metal-deposits, as well as the interactions between them. For example, faceted nanoparticles, nanotubes, aerogels, and super-nano structures of semiconductors have shown the improvement of photocatalytic activity and stability. Moreover, the selective deposition of noble metals on some parts of semiconductor nanostructures (e.g., specific facets, basal or lateral surfaces) results in an activity increase. Additionally, mono-, bi-, and ternary-metal-modifications have been proposed as the other ways of performance improvement. However, in some cases, the interactions between different noble metals might cause unwanted charge carriers’ recombination. Accordingly, this review discusses the recent strategies on the improvements of the photocatalytic performance of plasmonic photocatalysts.
Signal processing in ultrasonic NDE using time-frequency representations

Signal processing has been used in the ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of materials for a number of years. The time domain analysis of NDE signals includes signal enhancement, deconvolution, matched filtering, etc. and the results can often be linked to physical parameters. Frequency (Fourier) analysis of NDE signals provides information about the major frequency components which may be closely related to the geometry of hidden defects, material properties, etc. It is clear that the use of frequency domain or time domain information alone is not adequate for effective NDE. Recent advances in digital signal processing have resulted in new and effective approaches to joint time-frequency representations that provide more information from the data which may be useful for defect characterization and classification. Among all time-frequency analysis methods, both Wigner distributions and wavelet transforms have been considered for use in ultrasonic NDE. However the full potential of time-frequency representation in ultrasonic NDE is yet to be explored. In this paper, a fundamental analysis of time frequency representations is briefly presented. Several application areas of the time-frequency representation in ultrasonic NDE including geometrical defect discrimination, NDE of bonded materials, sizing problem with geometrical defects, and waveform decomposition are examined in detail.
Navigation Display Design: Displaying Nearest Airport Information

Thirty-six participants were tested on their ability to orient toward the nearest airport based on the manner in which information was presented on a global positioning system (GPS) area navigation display. Results indicated that use of the tabular, text-only format normally found on such displays was significantly slower and less accurate than either a map display of nearest airport information or a text display that included an orientation symbol. Additionally, pilots ignored information from the heading indicator, focusing on the GPS to perform the task. Discussion focuses on the need to support pilot decision making.
A Potential Field Model Avoiding Local Minimum in Pedestrian Simulation

For reflecting those behaviors in the simulation that pedestrians choose to wait, scrape or round after being trapped in local minimum, based on the static spatial potential field with big grid, dynamic potential field is obtained after adding in time-consumption potential field and waiting potential field. Time-consumption potential field replaces traditional pedestrian repulsive field and changes with grid space occupancy while waiting potential field has the attribution of attenuation and enhancement together. Simulation experiments are used to verify various selections that pedestrian make when they face different space occupancy. The result shows that this model is not only able to guarantee efficiency and accuracy, but also closer to real walking characteristics.
The Development of Nanocrystalline CBN for Enhanced Superalloy Grinding Performance

CBN grinding wheels are increasingly used on a wide range of engineering materials. This paper compares the grinding performance of monocrystalline (M-CBN) and polycrystalline (P-CBN) abrasives with a newly developed nanocrystalline (N-CBN) abrasive, when grinding nickel-based superalloys. The N-CBN grits possess average crystal grain diameters less than 1 μm compared to average primary grain diameters of 2.3 Aim for P-CBN. It was found that the nanocrystalline CBN grits possess higher fracture strength which give reduced wear rates and yield an order of magnitude increase in grinding wheel life. Analysis of the cutting edge distribution shows that the reduced wear rate of N-CBN is due to the predominance of a micro-fracturing mode of abrasive wear. The size of this micro-fracturing is considerably smaller in N-CBN than in P-CBN.
Fuzzy adaptive speed control of a permanent magnet synchronous motor

A fuzzy adaptive speed controller is proposed for a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). The proposed fuzzy adaptive speed regulator is insensitive to model parameter and load torque variations because it does not need any accurate knowledge about the motor parameter and load torque values. The stability of the proposed control system is also proven. The proposed adaptive speed regulator system is implemented by using a TMS320F28335 floating point DSP. Simulation and experimental results are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed fuzzy adaptive speed controller under uncertainties such as motor parameter and load torque variations using a prototype PMSM drive system.
FEM Calibrated ARMAX Model Updating Method for Time Domain Damage Identification

Due to environmental loads, mechanical damages, structural aging and human factors, civil infrastructure inevitably deteriorate during their service lives. Since their damage may claim human lives and cause significant economic losses, how to identify damages and assess structural conditions timely and accurately has drawn increasingly more attentions from structural engineering community worldwide. In this study, a fast and sensitive time domain damage identification method will be developed. To do this, a finite element model of a steel pipe laid on the soil is built and the structural responses are simulated under different damage scenarios. Based on the simulated data, an Auto Regressive Moving Average Exogenous (ARMAX) model is then built and calibrated. The calibrated ARMAX model is used to identify different damage scenarios through model updating process using clonal selection algorithm (CSA). The results demonstrate the application potential of the proposed method in identifying the pipeline conditions. To further verify its performance, laboratory tests of a steel pipe laid on the soil with and without soil support (free span damage) are carried out. The identification results of pipe-soil system show that the proposed method is capable of identifying damagein a complex structural system. Therefore, it can be applied to identifying pipeline conditions.
Nanomaterials Developed by Processing Iron Coordination Compounds for Biomedical Application

The iron oxides, widespread in nature, are used in numerous applications in practice due to their well-known properties. These properties can be modified by size lowering at nanoscale. Some applications, such as biomedical, require a rigorous selection of nanoparticles by size, shape, and surface functionality. In other applications, such as catalysis or magnetism, the composition (generally mixed oxides) and morphology of the nanoparticles are of high importance. The preparation of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) is a complex process whose control raises a number of issues. The first challenge is finding the optimal experimental conditions, which would lead to the preparation of monodisperse nanoparticles. Another issue is the selection or setting a reproducible and clean manufacturing process without a need of complex purification. Even though at the moment several methods for preparing IONPs are known, there are still concerns in the scientific world to further improve existing methods or create new protocols. Therefore, the establishment of optimal methods for preparing IONPs with predetermined structural, dimensional, and morphological characteristics is an important task of scientists. Most of the methods reported in literature for the preparation of IONPs use proper metal salts as precursors. Recently, the use of the organometallic and coordination compounds of iron as precursors for IONPs has emerged as an alternative for a better control of these. Here, achievements reported in the literature in this direction are reviewed and critically analysed in relation to the conventional method based on iron salts.
An optimum design procedure for both serial and parallel manipulators

Abstract Serial and parallel manipulators can be used in different manipulative tasks when their peculiarities in kinematic and dynamic behaviours are properly considered from the design stage. The basic performance in workspace, mobility constraints, and stiffness makes them alternative solutions and not competitive manipulator chains. Thus, it is convenient to deduce a common design procedure that considers common design criteria, but specific numerical evaluations. In this paper, a multi-objective optimization problem has been proposed to formulate a unique design procedure that takes into account the contradicting design optimality criteria in terms of suitable general algorithms for workspace volumes, Jacobian matrices, and compliant displacements. Numerical examples are reported to show not just the feasibility but also the numerical efficiency of the proposed formulations.