Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Semi-Active Front Axle Suspension Design on Vehicle Comfort and Road Holding for a Heavy Truck

The capabilities of a semi-active front axle suspension are investigated for a commercial vehicle. A half truck model of a 4×2 tractor and semitrailer combination is developed in Matlab/Simulink for this purpose. Also, a 2 DOF roll plane model is considered to capture the roll motion of the vehicle body mass. Employing the above-mentioned models, results from on-off and continuous variable semi-active damping systems are compared to the ones from the passive suspension system according to ride comfort and handling safety characteristics. Ride comfort is evaluated using the acceleration signals in the cab by studying acceleration peak values as well as PSD plots of the iso-filtered accelerations. Cab center of gravity pitch and body roll motions are also assessed. Furthermore, handling in terms of road holding characteristics is examined by means of analyzing dynamic tire forces while monitoring rattle space (suspension deflection) simultaneously. The control strategies of the semi-active damping are based on the skyhook theory, in which the damping coefficient is either switchable or continuously controlled. Skyhook, groundhook and hybrid control laws have been implemented and evaluated in the vehicle models. The results of the comparison analysis that are presented quantitatively and qualitatively clearly show the great influence of the semi-active dampers on the vehicle dynamic properties for the conducted simulations. With continuous semi-active dampers accelerations in the cab are drastically decreased particularly up to front axle resonance frequency. Hence, unlike passive suspension that is a compromise between ride comfort and handling, semi-active suspension facilitates enhancing both target criteria.
Rack-Aware Architecture for Reliable Cloud Systems

The ever-growing demand on information and data requires the efficient architecture for large-scale network storage systems. To serve very large scale applications, using inexpensive commodity becomes the common selection in nowadays cloud storage systems. Based on such unreliable hardware, building fault-tolerant mechanism is key issue to the system design. In this paper, we propose a rack-aware architecture for cloud storage systems.
Finite Element Analysis of Temperature Field of Traction Motor

Due to the fact of immeasurable inner temperature of inverter-fed traction motor, three-dimension finite element model of part of rotor iron core and half a rotor bearing were established. The convective heat transfer coefficient between the air gap of motor and rotor surface were calculated by the heat transfer and fluid mechanics theory. The influence of temperature rise on the stator and rotor resistance was considered for thermal loss calculation. The influence of the end of stator and rotor on axial temperature distribution was also taken into account. Then three-dimensional transient temperature field of the motor was simulated at the rated load. Temperature field with different loads was also computed. The aim has been to optimize the design with respect to the transient stresses. According to contrastive analysis compared with other method, it demonstrated the accuracy of simulation model and thermal field calculation results.
Near Space Pseudolite Navigation System Design and High-Performance Filtering Algorithm

This paper analyzes the defects of satellite navigation systems that exist in positioning and precision-guided weapons and pointes out the advantages and military needs of pseudolite. The autonomous navigation nonlinear mathematical model of Near Space Pseudolite SINS/CNS/SAR autonomous navigation system is established. Based on the merits of fading filter, robust adaptive filtering and particle filter, we propose a fading adaptive Unscented Particle Filtering algorithm. The proposed filtering algorithm is applied to SINS/CNS/SAR autonomous navigation system and conducted simulation calculation with the Unscented Kalman filter and particle filter comparison. The results show that the new algorithm that is proposed meets the needs of pseudolite autonomous navigation, and the navigation accuracy is significantly higher than the Unscented Kalman filter and particle filter algorithm.
Flooding and structural forensic analysis of the sinking of the RMS Titanic

To mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, a new detailed flooding and structural engineering study was commissioned by James Cameron and his Blue Planet Marine Research Institute. The goal of the study was to accurately model, simulate and evaluate the progressive flooding, sinking and structural failure of the Titanic following its collision with the iceberg. Detailed computer flooding analysis models were developed, and new novel techniques for dynamic flooding simulation using the commercial software GHS™ were developed and implemented. The results of these detailed flooding simulations were used in conjunction with detailed structural finite-element models developed using the commercial ship structural design and analysis software MAESTRO™ for conducting detailed stress and hull failure analyses. This paper provides technical documentation of the development of the detailed computer models, including sources of information, assumptions, conventions and methods. The paper also provides technical discussion of simulation and analysis methodologies, results of the detailed progressive flooding and sinking analyses, and results of the detailed structural stress and failure analyses, along with important ‘lessons learned’ that are applicable to future marine forensic analyses.
Efficiency, performance limits and scaling of rail launchers

The fundamental parameters that influence the performance and efficiency of rail launchers are shown to be: mechanical energy/bore volume (p/sub 0/), effective magnetic flux density (B/sub 0/) and the total mass/effective bore area (m). To achieve a high electrical efficiency these parameters should be minimized by increasing the bore diameter and reducing the bore length, subject to other design constraints such as increasing launch package mass. The efficiency of rail launchers is limited by energy losses in the rail and armature, arcing losses following transition and the barrel residual magnetic energy at exit. These are derived analytically including the effect of field diffusion, velocity skin-effect (VSE), predicted transition velocities and arcing phenomena. A range of aluminium alloy armatures with breech-fed copper rails are considered with kinetic energies up to 20 MJ and bore diameters from 40 to 180 mm. Electrical efficiencies for 10 and 20 MJ kinetic energy launchers with minimum diameters are estimated to be 52 and 62% respectively. An increase in efficiency to 67% is predicted for larger diameter launchers with transition velocities increased to >2.0 km/s due to lower energy density and electrical action.
Performance of a high-resolution contact-type linear image sensor with a-Si:H/a-SiC:H heterojunction photodiodes

A 400 DPI (dots-per-inch) contact-type linear image sensor with a scanning speed of 2 ms/line using amorphous silicon photodiodes and poly-Si thin-film transistor drivers has been developed. The characteristics of the heterojunction photodiodes are discussed, and the results of sensor performance tests are examined in terms of output signal uniformity, photoresponse lag, spectral response, gray scale, and the reliability of the 400 DPI image sensor. >
On the dispersion characteristics of metamaterial transmission lines

In this paper, a detailed analysis of the dispersion characteristics of metamaterial transmission lines, based on the lumped element T-circuit model is carried out. One of the main relevant characteristics of these artificial lines is the possibility to tailor the phase response. This leads to unique properties which are of interest for microwave circuit design, such as bandwidth enhancement or multiband (dual-band) operation, among others. However, it is shown in this paper that, in spite of the larger number of circuit parameters (as compared to conventional lines), there exist intrinsic limitations that may limit the performance of such metamaterial transmission lines under certain conditions. In this paper these limitations are pointed out from an accurate analysis of the phase response and the Foster’s reactance theorem [Bell Syst. Tech. 3, 259 (1924)]. From the results of this paper, important guidelines for the design of microwave components based on metamaterial transmission lines are inferred. Th.
Application of computer vision for the prediction of cutting conditions in milling operations

Abstract Machining conditions such as speed, feed, and depth of cut significantly affect tool wear, which in turn affects the surface quality and thus this is an area of research interest. With the growing emphasis on industrial automation in manufacturing, vision techniques play an important role in many applications. One of these applications is texture analysis. Although this technique has been extensively researched it has only infrequently been used to predict the cutting conditions of machined surfaces. This paper introduces an application of computer vision to predict the cutting conditions in milling operations (feed, speed, and depth of cut) using grey-level co-occurrence matrix texture features. A software, named the Cutting Conditions Prediction in Milling has been developed in order to predict the cutting conditions from the captured images of machined surfaces. Three modules were developed to perform the prediction process and they are presented in this paper. The system was verified by predicting cutting conditions for various specimens and the maximum error between the predicted and the actual cutting conditions did not exceed ± 10.6 per cent.
Three effective vectors-based current control scheme for four-switch three-phase trapezoidal brushless DC motor

This study presents a novel three effective vectors (TEV) current control scheme for four-switch three-phase inverter in cost-effective brushless DC motor drive with improved performance. This scheme overcomes the possible distortion of three-phase currents caused by phase C back-EMF, and quasi-square current waveforms are attained by inserting two adjusting vectors in each control period based on the conventional switching modulation scheme. The duty cycles of the two adjusting vectors are further calculated using a simple P controller. Integral variable structure control principle with advantages of high bandwidth and strong robustness against external disturbance is used to control the tracing of reference current by actual currents. The stability of the proposed TEV current control scheme is demonstrated by selecting a candidate Lyapunov function, based on which the range of duty cycles of adjusting vectors are also determined. Experimental results verify that the proposed scheme is simple and can provide small current ripple, with good performance in speed.
Polysilicon Piezoresistive Pressure Sensors based on MEMS Technology

Polysilicon piezoresistors configured in a Wheatstone bridge, have been fabricated over a silicon diaphragm of 25 to 100 microns thickness for pressure sensing in a range of mbar to tens of bar. A suitable integration of the microelectronics steps with the MEMS technology, has been developed for the fabrication of chips in batches. The developed fabrication process is competent to provide nearly 80 chips of 4 × 4 mm2 size on a two inch diameter silicon (100) wafer with polished surfaces.
Quantitative feedback theory control to improve stability in dc catenary feeding traction and auxiliary drives

The progressive electrification of railways involves an increasing number of power electronic converters connected to the railway catenary, which may compromise its stability. Both the converter for traction and the converter for auxiliary power systems (APS) behave as constant power loads (CPL) and interact negatively with the catenary impedance producing voltage instability. This article applies quantitative feedback theory (QFT) to design an ac voltage controller for the APS converter that shapes the dc input admittance of the converter by performing only ac side-control without a dc-side feedback loop. The QFT enables to design a low order controller that satisfies multiple performance specifications in systems with high uncertainty as is the case of the train system. The proposed control guarantees catenary stability while ensuring ac output voltage reference tracking and providing robustness to unmodeled uncertainties. As an additional contribution, the article presents an algorithm for including input admittance specifications in the QFT design process. The proposed control has been evaluated on an experimental platform that recreates the train system. Experimental results show that the controlled system meets railway standards and correctly shapes the specified dc input impedance.
Application of Transient Energy Function in Regional Power Grig

With expanding scale of modern power system and cross-region connection of power grid, the system often run closer to the ultimate state. So the security and stability problems become a focus of power system. This paper proposes an accurate regional-equivalent-system model, and the transient energy function is constructed based on this model, using above energy function the transient energy and critical energy can be calculated, and the units' stability can be determined. Finally this method is applied to 8-machine-36-node system. The validity is confirmed by PSASP simulation.
The Design and Experimental Evaluation of a Scaffolded Software Environment to Improve Engineering Students' Disciplinary Problem‐Solving Skills

Introductory gateway engineering courses are notorious for their high attrition rates. Deficiencies in students' problem‐solving processes may contribute to their failure in these courses. In an empirical study of student problem solving, we observed that students struggle because of misconceptions regarding the basic syntax and semantics of disciplinary diagrams and corresponding mathematical equations.
Comparison of Laser Speckle Flowmetry and Intrinsic Optical Signal Imaging in Gyrencephalic Swine Brain during Cortical Spreading Depolarisations

Introduction: Blood flow changes that occur during the propagation of cortical spreading depolarisations (CSDs) along the gray matter of the cortex may play a major role in the development of secondary brain damage in patients with brain­ injuries. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of CSDs, spatiotemporal patterns of their neurovascular response are of particular interest. In the gyrencephalic brains of swine, a much larger variety of these patterns can be observed com­ pared to the lissencephalic brains of rodents. Due to their size, however, swine brains create more movement artefacts during imaging. We compared the use of laser speckle flowmetry (LSF) and intrinsic optical signal imaging (IOSI) to track the changes in cortical blood flow (CBF) and volume (CBV). Methods: Swine were anaesthetised and the cortices were exposed by craniotomy and removal of the dura. A pool of paraffin oil improved recording quality. After middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), we simultaneously monitored CBF and CBV for up to ten hours using LSF and IOSI. Throughout the measurements 47 CSDs could be observed. Images acquired by IOSI were post­processed and elastically registered to compensate for movement artefacts. Results: In the case of gyrencephalic swine brain, LSF was prone to movement artefacts caused by heart beat and breathing. Both signals highly correlated during CSDs, showing a close re­ lationship between CBF (measured by LSF) and CBV (measured by IOSI). In portions of the MCAO territory, both sig ­ nals diverged. Conclusion: Both methods performed well in tracking the propagation of CSDs. LSF had a lower signal ­ to­noise ratio, but allowed a better quantitative measurement of CBF, whereas IOSI was able to detect phenomena not observable in LSF.
Reliability of Identification Based on Fingerprints in Dual Biometric Identification Systems

At present, the development of biometrics is a widely discussed topic. This research discusses the reliability of the most used category - identification using fingerprints. There are many of these types of systems. The most affordable, and therefore the most common alternative is one that identifies users using an optical sensor. Testing was conducted on two scanners only for fingerprints, and on two systems that recognize users via their fingerprints and also through a facial image. The conclusions from the measurements were that reliability was mainly affected by the characteristics of the scanners, in particular whether the scanner identifies only based on the fingerprint, or in combination with another biometric method. Due to the fact that with combined systems manufacturers focus only on one identification circuit – usually the most modern - and not the potentially safest, i.e. a fingerprint, the results show that it is much easier to sabotage dual biometric identification devices than those that identify solely on the basis of a fingerprint. Reliability values greatly exceed the values specified by the manufacturer. The measurements show that there is a need to continuously improve dual biometric identification systems.
The Effects of TRX Suspension Training Combined with Taurine Supplementation on Body Composition, Glycemic and Lipid Markers in Women with Type 2 Diabetes

Background: We aimed to investigate the effects of an 8-week total-body resistance exercise (TRX) suspension training intervention combined with taurine supplementation on body composition, blood glucose, and lipid markers in T2D females. Methods: Forty T2D middle-aged females (age: 53 ± 5 years, body mass = 84.3 ± 5.1 kg) were randomly assigned to four groups, TRX suspension training + placebo (TP; n = 10), TRX suspension training + taurine supplementation (TT; n = 10), taurine supplementation (T; n = 10), or control (C; n = 10). Body composition (body mass, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP)), blood glucose (fasting blood sugar (FBS)), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), Insulin, and Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and lipid markers (low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC)) were evaluated prior to and after interventions. Results: All three interventions significantly decreased body mass, BMI, and BFP with no changes between them for body mass and BMI; however, BFP changes in the TT group were significantly greater than all other groups. FBS was significantly reduced in TP and TT. Insulin concentrations’ decrement were significantly greater in all experimental groups compared to C; however, no between group differences were observed between TT, TP, and T. In regards to HOMA-IR, decreases in TT were significantly greater than all other groups TG, HbA1c, and LDL were reduced following all interventions. HDL values significantly increased only in the TT group, while TC significantly decreased in TP and TT groups. Changes in HbA1c, TG, HDL, and TC were significantly greater in the TT compared to all other groups. Conclusions: TRX training improved glycemic and lipid profiles, while taurine supplementation alone failed to show hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties. Notably, the synergic effects of TRX training and taurine supplementation were shown in HbA1c, HOMA-IR, TG, TC, HDL, and BFP changes. Our outcomes suggest that TRX training + taurine supplementation may be an effective adjuvant therapy in individuals with T2D.
Discontinuity of Diurnal Temperature Range Along Elevated Regions

Low‐clouds and fog moderate the diurnal temperature range (DTR) through radiative effects. Consequently, frequent foggy events make montane cloud forests (MCFs) stable and unique. However, high‐resolution observations in the forest understory are rare. To investigate the DTR variation in elevations, we surveyed the Central Cross‐Island Highway in central Taiwan along the altitude of 0–3,000 m across both the non‐cloud forest and MCFs. The results from paired weather stations revealed that the DTR increases significantly with altitude in open fields but not in the forest's understory. Furthermore, the continuous observations in altitude indicate that smaller DTRs were found in both open field and understory sites in the MCF compared with those in low‐ and high‐altitude sites. The DTR discontinuity highlights the indispensability of MCF for the mountain ecosystem. Further simulating the integrative effect of the climate and land‐use change on fog is crucial for the ecoclimate in mountainous regions.
An economic and environmental assessment of biomass utilization in lignite‐fired power plants of Greece

The environmental and socio‐economic impacts of biomass utilization by co‐firing with brown coal in an existing thermoelectric unit in Greece or through its pure combustion in a new plant were studied and evaluated in this work. The 125 MWe lignite‐fired power plant in Ptolemais Power Station (Western Macedonia) was used as reference system. The environmental benefits of the alternative biomass exploitation options were quantified based on the life cycle assessment methodology, as established by SETAC, while the BIOSEM technique was used to carry out socio‐economic calculations. The obtained results showed clear environmental benefits of both biomass utilization alternatives in comparison with the reference system. In addition, co‐firing biomass with lignite in an existing unit outperforms the combustion of biomass exclusively in a new plant, since it exhibits a better environmental performance and it is a low risk investment with immediate benefits. A biomass combustion unit requires a considerably higher capital investment and its benefits are more evident in the long run. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Method for noninvasive estimation of left ventricular end diastolic pressure based on analysis of heart wall vibration

The authors present a new noninvasive method for measurement of the left ventricular (LV) end diastolic pressure by combining Mirsky's (1974) method and the experimentally derived relationship among the elasticity of the LV wall, the LV sizes and the LV instantaneous mode-2 eigenfrequency. The LV instantaneous eigenfrequency is selectively determined from the time-frequency distribution obtained by applying the wavelet transform (WT) to the nonstationary vibration on the heart wall.
A 0.5 V 10 b 3 MS/s 2-Then-1b/Cycle SAR ADC With Digital-Based Time-Domain Reference and Dual-Mode Comparator

This brief presents a low-power asynchronous 10-bit 2-then-1b/cycle successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC). With partial adoption of 2b/cycle mode only for higher-order bit conversions, additional area and power consumption could be minimized while maintaining fast conversion rate. Moreover, unlike the previous 2b/cycle conversion architecture, where two capacitive digital-to-analog converters (C-DACs) and multiple analog comparators are unavoidable, the proposed 2-then-1b/cycle conversion is implemented with only one C-DAC and one analog comparator by utilizing a digital-based time-domain reference. The speed of 1b/cycle conversion for lower-order bits is improved with a dual-mode comparator. With the aforementioned techniques, the prototype 10-bit SAR ADC is fabricated in 65 nm CMOS process. The ADC core occupies an active area of 0.0142 mm2 and consumes power of 3.8 $\boldsymbol{\mu }\text{W}$ at 0.5 V supply voltage and 3 MS/s conversion rate. The SNDR measured at a Nyquist-rate input frequency is 56.41 dB, resulting in a figure of merit (FoM) is 2.33 fJ/c. -s.