bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-Wilson mechanism for adjusting bandgap and electronic transport property of a half-Heusler material LiCdP
Authors: Zhao Shuo , Zhu Mingfeng , Jiang Liwei , Zheng Yisong
Published: August 2024

Using first-principles calculations, we have found that LiCdP, an existing half-Heusler material, exhibits an anti-Wilson mechanism for adjusting the bandgap. Specifically, instead of widening according to the conventional Wilson mechanism, the bandgap shows a significant decrease in response to lattice strain, eventually closing at 5.02% tensile strain. This anti-Wilson mechanism is attributed to the weakened repulsion between the 3s and 5s orbitals of the P and Cd atoms, respectively, as observed by the analysis of the neighbouring atomic orbital coupling. In addition, we have found that the ZT value, which measures the thermoelectric efficiency of this material, can reach 1.33 at a temperature of T = 1200 K when lattice strain is induced by thermal expansion. This result suggests that LiCdP is an excellent thermoelectric material in a high operating temperature range. From the point of view of actual applications, such an interesting tunability of the bandgap of LiCdP provides a novel alternative for designing electronic or optoelectronic devices in a controllable way.
Warm white light emitting thermally stable Dy3+ activated antimony fluoroborate glasses for n-UV based white LEDs
Authors: Siwach Vertika , Jayasimhadri M
Published: August 2024

A transparent series of trivalent dysprosium (Dy3+) ions activated calcium antimony fluoroborate glass samples (CAFB) were synthesized by the aid of the melt quenching process. The thermogravimetric, structural, and spectroscopic characterizations were evaluated and investigated in detail. Thermogravimetric analysis was performed to determine the glass transition temperature

T

g

and crystallization temperature (Tc) of the prepared host CAFB glass. Raman Spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analyzed the structural orientation as well as bonding formation in the prepared CAFB host and CAFBDy1.0 glass matrix. Furthermore, the optical absorption spectra exhibit various absorption peaks between the n-UV to NIR region (350 to 2000 nm). Under the different n-UV excitation wavelengths, photoluminescence (PL) spectra reflect three foremost emission centres located around 482, 575, and 663 nm in the Dy3+: CAFB glasses. The observed colour coordinates of the prepared CAFBDy glasses were marked in the standard white area of the CIE chart under different n-UV excitation wavelengths. Moreover, temperature-dependent PL (TDPL) studies demonstrate that these glass samples have significant thermal stability and also a large activation energy. Hence, the above-mentioned results prove the versatility of the CAFBDy glasses to make them potential candidates for usage in luminescent device applications.
M-shaped, W-shaped and dark soliton propagation in optical fiber for nonlocal fourth order dispersive nonlinear Schrödinger equation under distinct conditions
Authors: Prinsa N Neja , Parasuraman E , Antosh B Rishab , Mehmet Baskonus Haci , Muniyappan A
Published: August 2024

The formation of soliton in optical fiber governed by nonlocal nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation with fourth order dispersion is studied. The model of nonlocal NLS equation with fourth order dispersion is solved using the new extended auxiliary method and the solutions are obtained. The solutions are in the form of hyperbolic and trigonometric functions which are based on Jacobi elliptic function m. Shape changing soliton in optical fiber for nonlocal fourth order dispersive NLS equation is discussed by suitably choosing the values of kerr and quintic nonlinearities and by varying fourth order dispersion term. The effect of fourth order dispersion on soliton in fiber for different conditions of kerr and quintic nonlinearity is also discussed. In addition, the phase portraits of the system have been investigated and the stability of wave in optical fiber for nonlocal NLS equation is discussed using fourth order Runge-Kutta algorithm. This paper addresses a significant gap in the current literature by examining the impact of fourth order dispersion on the nonlocal NLS equation in optical fiber.
Love wave propagation in a smart composite structure of linear and exponential functionally graded porous piezoelectric material
Authors: Vashishth Anil K. , Bareja Umang
Published: August 2024

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) have emerged as a promising avenue for enhancing the performance and longevity of surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices. This importance is gained due to gradual variation in functional properties of FGMs. In this paper, a mathematical model of a piezoelectric layer overlying a functionally graded porous piezoelectric (FGPP) layer resting on the elastic substrate is presented for the study of Love waves. The material parameters of the FGPP layer are considered to vary linearly and exponentially with the thickness of the layer. The solutions of governing equations corresponding to the FGPP layer are obtained by the Wentzel Kramers Brillouin (WKB) method. Dispersion equations are derived for both electrically open and shorted boundaries, linear and exponential gradation in both mechanical and electrical parameters, and for gradation in mechanical parameters alone as well. After numerical computation, dispersion curves are plotted to investigate the influence of wavenumber, type of gradation, extent of gradation, and type of boundaries on the phase and group velocity. The phase velocity decreases with wavenumber and is found more for linear gradation in comparison to exponential gradation. The electromechanical coupling factor is analyzed for different propagating modes of Love waves, in the case when gradation in mechanical properties is considered, the electromechanical coupling factor is greater than that when variation in both mechanical and electrical properties is considered. It is also observed that the tailoring of gradation can help to get the suitable value of the electromechanical coupling factor. The insights obtained from these findings can offer valuable contributions toward advancing the functionality and efficiency of SAW devices, there by bolstering their applicability in various technological domains.
Remanufacturing of low-carbon steel components using WAAM: microstructural, mechanical, and parametric analysis
Authors: Kanishka Kumar , Acherjee Bappa , Chokka Rahul , Anand Pratik
Published: August 2024

This research paper investigates the remanufacturing of low-carbon steel components using wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), aiming to enhance resource efficiency and sustainability in various industries. The study focuses on repairing flat plate test coupons with a pre-fabricated trapezoidal groove using GMAW-WAAM. The microstructural characteristics and mechanical performance of the repaired samples are compared to the base material, and the influence of heat treatment on the repaired parts is also examined. Planned experiments and empirical modeling are performed to analyze the impact of WAAM process parameters on mechanical properties, establishing correlations between parameters and desired performance characteristics. The WAAM-repaired plate demonstrates higher tensile strength and hardness due to strong bonding, and finer grain structure, while annealing reduces tensile strength and hardness. Additionally, the WAAM-repaired annealed plate exhibits improved elongation compared to the WAAM-repaired plate but remains lower than the base plate. Observations revealed that the strength, elongation, and hardness of repaired samples are influenced by WAAM parameters in complex ways, with favorable combinations yielding improved properties.
Enhanced morphological and thermal properties of epoxy composites reinforced with Palm and Prosopis Juliflora fibers
Authors: K Anandavelu , C Ezhilarasan
Published: August 2024

This study investigates the fabrication and characterization of a hybrid epoxy matrix composite reinforced with Palm and Prosopis Juliflora fibers fabricated using the hand layup technique. Three composite samples were prepared with varying weight percentages of palm and Prosopis Juliflora fiber reinforcements: 5% (Sample A), 10% (Sample B), and 15% (Sample C). Sample B having 10 weight percentage each of Palm fiber and Prosopis Juliflora fiber and 80 weight percentage of Epoxy matrix, exhibited superior performance with a tensile strength of 45.5 MPa and a hardness of 86.5 Shore D. Thermal analysis revealed Sample B’s exceptional thermal stability, with distinct decomposition stages observed through Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA). Void content analysis indicated Sample C had the lowest void content at 4.5%. Energy Dispersive x-ray (EDX) Analysis confirmed homogeneous fiber distribution and strong fiber-matrix adhesion, supported by carbon and oxygen peaks. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra showed interactions between functional groups, including alcohols, carboxylic acids, and carbonyl compounds. These findings underscore the composite’s potential for high strength, toughness, and thermal stability applications.
Multi-field coupling in the scrape-off layer of tokamak plasma
Authors: Ji Xiaohui , Guo Zhibin , Zhang Yi
Published: August 2024

We study a reduced electrostatic fluid model for the tokamak scrape-off layer, which incorporates temperature gradient and vorticity gradient as two free energy fields. Two scenarios of field coupling are addressed: (1) sheath condition; (2) vortex wave coupling. For the sheath condition induced field coupling, the poloidal

E

×

B

flow shear is coupled with the temperature gradient. Combining an eigenmode analysis and the nonlinear phase dynamics approach, our findings indicate that in the absence of a vorticity gradient, the overall effect of the sheath condition induced flow shear can either stabilize or destabilize the interchange mode, depending on the competition between the flow shear suppression and the temperature gradient driving. This is different from the case where the gradient drive and shear damping are decoupled. When the field coupling is mediated by wave interactions, by setting an idealized step-like temperature and vorticity profiles, a joint mode forms through resonant interaction between the interfacial waves driven by the temperature and vorticity gradients, respectively. Near the phase locking condition, the joint mode can be more unstable than pure temperature gradient driven mode.
Research on the energy performance of gun propellant formulations containing 3,5-bis(azidomethyl) isoxazole (BAMIO)
Authors: Ren Jiatong , Cui Pengteng , Zhang Heng , Yang Weitao
Published: August 2024

In order to evaluate the application value of 3,5-bis(azidomethyl) isoxazole (BAMIO) as a heterocyclic azido plasticizer in low-ablation gun propellant formulations, the energy performance of gun propellants containing BAMIO was studied by calculating the properties of the formulations. The results show that BAMIO content, the solvent-nitrocellulose ratio, as well as the content and ratio of high-energy solid additives all have significant effects on the energetic performance of BAMIO-containing propellant formulations, including force capacity, detonation temperature, detonation heat, and specific volume. From equal-force-capacity and equal-detonation-temperature ternary diagrams ulteriorly, the preferable performance of BAMIO-containing propellant formulations using hexogen (RDX) and nitroguanidine (NGu) as high-energy solid additives was calculated to be about 1090 J•g−1 for force capacity and 2750 K for detonation temperature when the content of RDX is not greater than that of NGu. In other words, BAMIO-containing propellant formulations can reduce the detonation temperature by more than 300 K with an even higher force capacity compared with the traditional low-ablation nitroguanidine propellant. It is concluded that BAMIO has certain application prospects in low-ablation propellant formulations, which can be used as an energetic plasticizer in the formulations for further application research.
The research on the geometrical characteristics and microstructure of the cladding track of DZ125L Nickel-based alloy deposited by laser metal direct deposition
Authors: Su Pengsheng , Yang Hao , Zhang Linping , Zhai Yuewen , Ge Yuhan , Yang Xiaozhi
Published: August 2024

This study investigates how variations in laser power, scanning speed, defocusing amount, and powder feeding impact the geometrical characteristics and microstructure of DZ125L nickel-based superalloy. The results show that the weld pool size increases with the rise of laser power, but higher laser power will increase the tendency of hot crack defects. With the increase of positive defocusing, the melting height and depth decrease, but the melting width rises first, then decreases and increases finally. The increase in scanning speed leads to the reduction in melting width and height, while the effect on melting depth is small. With the increase of powder feeding amount, the melting height and depth increase, while the melting width decreases, but too much powder feeding amount leads to some powder being difficult to melt. Increasing laser power or decreasing positive defocusing will lead to a rise in the size and proportion of cylindrical crystals in the molten pool. Increasing scanning speed and powder feeding amount will let the crystal direction of columnar crystal change from <001> to <101>.
Servo control technology for automatic screw-tightening process of robotic arm based on multi-vision sensor
Authors: Liu Zongxin , Xie Wenzhou , Xiao Muzheng , Zhang Zhijing , Jin Xin , Qin Yan
Published: August 2024

This article discusses the servo control technology for the automatic screw-tightening process of a robotic arm based on multiple visual sensors, aiming at the assembly requirements of complex spatial structural components. The study emphasizes the importance of automated screw-tightening processes in industrial automation to improve efficiency and product quality. Image processing and servo technology have been introduced to achieve precise control of the screw-tightening process. The research focuses on developing a distributed architecture to control robot arms and camera modules, process image information, and make servo adjustments based on perception data. Detailed introductions are given to the assembly control system model, visual observation scheme, image processing algorithms for hole recognition and screwdriver posture detection, as well as servo control mechanism. The research aims to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the screw-tightening process through advanced technology integration.
Research on the application of airbag loading technology in the strength test of amphibious aircraft
Authors: Zhuo Yi , Chen Limin , Su Shaopu , Li Shanshan , Chen Xianmin
Published: August 2024

This paper verifies the feasibility of the airbag loading technique to apply hydrodynamic loads on the bottom of large amphibious aircraft. Firstly, CCAR-23 §23.533 is used to calculate the bottom pressure of the ship’s bottom test piece when it is in the water, and then finite element analysis and test verification are used to calculate and measure the stress distribution of the test piece respectively. The analysis results show that the airbag loading technique can meet the requirement of applying hydrodynamic loads for large amphibious aircraft.
Effect of vacuum isothermal high-pressure gas quenching on heat treatment deformation control and hardness of Cr12MoV dies
Authors: Fan Zhenyu , Wang Huizhen , Zhai Yuewen , Jiang Chao , Zhou Leyu , Guo Shuo , Zhang Zibo , Zhan Yuheng
Published: August 2024

Heat treatment produces cumulative deformation of the dies, and it is particularly important to control deformation through appropriate heat treatment processes. The influence of vacuum gas quenching on the heat treatment deformation control of Cr12MoV cold working dies is explored. The heat treatment deformation and hardness of Cr12MoV dies by different heat treatment processes were tested. The dimensional deformation of dies was measured by the three-dimensional detection method. A characterization method for the deformation rate was designed based on the shape characteristics of Cr12MoV dies. The results indicate that the vacuum isothermal gas quenching process contributes to controlling deformation while maintaining the high hardness of the die. The dimensional deformation rate is controlled below 0.05% and the hardness of the sample reached 59.0 HRC after quenching and tempering.
Digital twin method for predicting the critical load of debonding damage in honeycomb sandwich structures based on distributed optical fiber sensor and Dynamic Bayesian Network
Authors: Chen Shuai , Xu Hao , Wu Zhanjun
Published: August 2024

During the service life of aerospace vehicles, harsh environmental conditions such as vibrations and impacts can easily lead to the partial debonding of honeycomb sandwich structures. Distributed optical fiber sensors (DOFS) based on backscattered Rayleigh scattering are widely used in the field of structural health monitoring due to their advantages of easy embedding and high anti-interference capabilities. How to timely detect debonding damage and predict the structure’s critical safety load to ensure the safety of the vehicle’s structure has always been a concern for researchers. This paper proposes a method combining Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry (OFDR) DOFS, finite element simulation, and Bayesian probability to predict the critical load of debonding (both current and future). Herein, the optical fiber is used for online length identification of debonding damage, while finite element simulation employs a cohesive zone model (CZM) to provide reliable prediction results. The Bayesian approach utilizes a combination of Dynamic Bayesian networks (DBNs) and improved particle filtering to calibrate parameters of the simulation model based on debonding observation data. To verify the feasibility of the method, model analysis was conducted on data from asymmetric cantilever beam tensile tests on honeycomb sandwich structures. The results demonstrate that the architecture proposed in this paper can accurately predict the critical load of debonding in honeycomb sandwich Structures, providing strong support for predicting the evolution of debonding damage in aerospace structural monitoring.
Preparation and characterization of silica sol-impregnated glass fibers
Authors: Liao Tian , Yu Haibo , Huang Yuehan , Zhang Jinming , Li Yan , Xu Anhou
Published: August 2024

Silica sol-impregnated glass fiber products were prepared via the sol-gel method, with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a precursor and hydrochloric acid (HCl) as a catalyst, and characterized by 1H NMR, FT-IR, and solid 29Si NMR analyses. The results indicated that the structure of the impregnating agents was significantly affected by the amount of water added. With a decrease in the molar ratio of added water, the degree of TEOS hydrolysis was reduced, and more ethoxy groups -OCH2CH3 were formed, resulting in the formation of sol products with a linear structure. Furthermore, contact angle and water absorption tests showed that as the molar ratio of water increased, the water contact angle decreased, whereas the water absorption of impregnated glass fiber increased. These results indicate that a higher hydrolysis degree of TEOS with more added water generates more Si-OH groups, facilitating the cross-linking of sol products to form a network structure.
An improved approach to decouple the indentation size effect from nanoindentation hardness of ion-irradiated samples
Authors: Qian Qiuyu , Ma Hailiang , Fan Ping , Zhang Qiaoli , Li Ke , Du Aibing , Li Junhong , Feng Wei , Su Xiping , Yuan Daqing
Published: August 2024

Ion irradiation combined with nanoindentation has been widely used to evaluate the irradiation-hardening effect of materials. Depth-dependent hardening resulting from the non-flat damage profile in heavy-ion irradiation, coupled with the indentation size effect (ISE) in nanoindentations, would further increase the complexity of the extraction of irradiation hardening. In this paper, a simple and reliable approach to decouple the indentation size effect from nanoindentation hardness was proposed based on the modified Nix-Gao model with an extended plastic zone. A hardness dependency was introduced in the indentation characteristic length as well as in the plastic zone size, so that their values will smoothly alter with increasing indentation depths and naturally reduce to the values of the unirradiated material when the indentation depth is well beyond the irradiation zone. The indentation size effect in the measured nano-hardness of ion-irradiated samples can be effectively separated out using the proposed method.
An ethanol gas sensor based on floating gate carbon-based FETs with humidity resistance
Authors: Tao Lu , Liu Bohao , Zhang Yong
Published: August 2024

With the continuous development of transportation, the problem of drunk driving has attracted people’s attention. As a key part of the intelligent drunk driving breath detection system, the ethanol gas sensor has many problems, such as poor repeatability and moisture resistance, which limit its practical application. In this paper, a carbon-based field-effect transistor (FET)-type gas sensor with a sensing gate (Au/ZnO) was proposed. The good reproducibility of the sensors fabricated in one batch was beneficial to mass production. Moreover, the gas sensor possessed good stability towards 50 ppm and 190 ppm ethanol, acceptable selectivity, and humidity resistance (response deviation is 3.97% under a humidity environment ranging from 10% RH to 90% RH), indicating the potential in the drunk driving test.
Analysis of the effect of circular spline tooth profile parameters on flexspline gear stress based on response surface methodology
Authors: Ma Honglie , Zhang Tao , Yang Congbin
Published: August 2024

This study presents a simulation model for the wave generator and flexspline assembly, examining the relationship between radial and main section deformations. Adjusting the wall thickness enables interference-free meshing of various sections. A response surface model for the effect of circular spline profile parameters on flexspline stress has been established. To assess how various parameters of the involute gear profile affect the meshing stress of flexspline. Thus providing a theoretical basis for optimizing gear profile modifications.
Stress and fatigue analysis of bellows with volume defects
Authors: Wan Tian , Bai Jinchuan , Chen Deqi , Feng Bo , Feng Tiezhu , Wang Li
Published: August 2024

To evaluate the safe operation of metal bellows expansion joints with volume defects, the stress and fatigue life were studied. In this study, the stress and fatigue characteristics of bellows with volume defects were studied by using the finite element method combining static analysis and nCode fatigue analysis module. The research shows that under the working conditions of internal pressure of 0.9 bar, temperature of 154.5°C, axial displacement of ±20 mm, and transverse displacement of ±18 mm, the stress at the joint of metal bellows expansion joint and straight pipe segment is the largest, and its size is 441.8 MPa. Fatigue analysis under cyclic events shows that the minimum life of the metal bellows expansion joint is 725 cycles. The results of stress and fatigue life obtained by finite element calculation meet the expected requirements. Therefore, the evaluation method established in this paper is suitable for analyzing the stress and fatigue life of bellows expansion joints with volume defects.
Simulation of electrostatic atomization formation process under different water-based nanofluid conditions
Authors: Liu Pan , Su Yu , You Jiaxi
Published: August 2024

The electrostatic atomization effects and performance of different aqueous nanofluids exhibit noticeable differences. In this study, COMSOL software was utilized to simulate the electrostatic atomization process of water-based nanofluids containing 0.1 vol.% of graphite, graphene oxide, and Al2O3 under a cone jet voltage of −9 kV and a flow rate of 12 ml/h. The formation process of the cone jet was observed based on volume fraction, and the formation process of nanofluid cone jets and the subsequent breakup of droplets at the tip were analyzed through charge concentration, electric field force, and volume force. The results indicate that the graphite-based nanofluid exhibits a faster formation rate of the cone jet, thorough breakup of droplets at the jet’s tip, and superior electrostatic atomization effects.
Nonlinear finite element analysis for axial load distribution of thread considering plastic deformation
Authors: Chen Wentao , Liu Zhifeng , Chu Hongyan , Yan Xing , Li Ying
Published: August 2024

Due to the localized high stress transmission and plastic deformation uncertainties, certain threads at the root of fasteners may experience extremely high stress in threaded connections, potentially leading to structural strength failure and premature fatigue. This study proposes an analysis method for stress distribution considering plastic deformation based on an analytical model of thread axial force distribution within the elastic range. A refined finite element model considering the helix angle of threads was established, and a stress distribution analysis of thread teeth was completed. The accuracy of the finite element model was verified through comparison with theoretical calculations. Additionally, to study the influence of different factors on the axial stress distribution of threads, a finite element model of standard threaded connections was established, in which parameters such as preload level, number of engaged threads, and root radius were taken into account.
Material testing and low cycle fatigue life analysis of supercharger gasket
Authors: Lu Ming , Li Yuntao , Yan Pingtao , Li Qiang , Shao Jian , Zheng Ling
Published: August 2024

Aiming at the cracking problem of the supercharger metal gasket in the development stage of an engine, an analysis method is established. Firstly, the gasket is assumed to be a spring unit, and transient three-dimensional analysis is carried out to obtain the gap movement of the gasket during the whole cycle process. Then, a detailed two-dimensional model of the gasket is established to calculate the low-cycle fatigue life of the gasket structure through loading temperature and gap movement. The data of tensile strength and elastic modulus at different temperatures were obtained by testing the base material of the gasket. The results indicate that the material performance of the gasket drops sharply when it is higher than 400°C to 500°C, and the temperature of the gasket near the supercharger is in this interval. From the life results, it can be seen that the two layers of the gasket have cracks in half of the test, and the cracking problem can be solved by adjusting the material of the two layers.
Thermoelastic damping in parallel piezoelectric bimorph
Authors: Liu Ningning , Zuo Wanli , Liu Xuan
Published: August 2024

Thermoelastic damping (TED) determines the upper limit of the quality factor. The accurate analysis of TED is critical for the design and research of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Therefore, the accurate analysis of electromechanical coupling, which is one of the main coupling forms in MEMS systems, on TED is also of great significance. Piezoelectric materials facilitate the interplay between mechanical stress and electrical energy by the piezoelectric effect, thus enabling the synergistic integration of electromechanical systems. In this paper, an analytical model of TED for a parallel piezoelectric bimorph is proposed, and the convergence of the model is analyzed. The difference of TED on the thickness of the beam at fixed aspect ratios and fixed lengths, as well as the influence of piezoelectric effect and boundary conditions on TED, are discussed.
Cause analysis of the compression spring stress relaxation of circuit breaker operating mechanism in a 220 kV Substation
Authors: Xie Yi , Shen Dingjie , Hu Jun , Ding Xiaoxiong , Chen Hanyang , Liang Qin , He Pengfei , Yao Qiang
Published: August 2024

The energy storage compression spring of the LW35-126 circuit breaker operating mechanism has become stress-relaxed in a 220 kV substation after only one year. It was found that the height of the failed spring was 23 mm shorter than that of the new spring of this model during the first annual maintenance. In order to analyze the reason for 60Si2CrVA spring stress relaxation, the stress state of the spring service was analyzed according to the service status. By analyzing the tensile strength, composition, hardness, and microstructure of failed springs, it was found that the main cause of stress relaxation is the incorrect tempering temperature of the 60Si2CrVA spring. Excessive tempering temperature led to coarse massive ferrite and coarsened carbides, reducing the activation energy of the material’s stress process and causing premature stress relaxation failure of the spring material.
Multilayer multiband hybrid fractal antenna for public safety and 5G Sub-6 GHz bands
Authors: Anand Saurabh , Kumar Ashwini
Published: August 2024

In this work, a multiband hybrid fractal antenna is developed for public safety and 5G Sub-6 GHz bands. Proposed antenna design is designed, analyzed, and optimized using HFSS simulator. Radiating element of the proposed antenna consists of Hybrid Fractal shape which is designed using Koch and Hilbert curve fractal geometry. Hybrid Fractal Antenna (HFA) is designed on a Multilayer FR4 substrate which has an overall size of 0.22 × 0.47 × 0.044 ƛ3. Parametric analysis of the proposed design is done to get the optimum results. Proposed HFA resonates at 2.64 GHz (2.34–2.80 GHz), 3.87, 4.54, 5.02, 5.35 GHz (3.73–5.55 GHz), and 6.42 GHz (5.70–6.72 GHz) with a gain of 4.2, 0.9, 2.9, 3.3, 4.6, and 3.7 dBi respectively. The proposed HFA is useful for 5G bands such as: N7 band, N38 band, N40 band, N41 band, N47 band, N53 band, N79 band, N90 band and N93 band, and also useful for public safety band (4.9 GHz). Prototype of the proposed HFA is fabricated and tested in lab for the verification of simulated results. The results show good performance in terms of reflection coefficient, gain, and bandwidth. Measured results are in good agreement with the simulated results.
The Institutionalization of Electoral Commissions in Africa and Nigeria Post-1990
Authors: Kerr Nicholas
Published: August 2024

Chapter 3 provides a history of electoral commissions (ECs) in sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria, paying attention to institutional development since the wave of multipartyism in the 1990s. The chapter begins by outlining the book’s approach for conceptualizing and measuring EC autonomy and capacity. The chapter highlights four ideal commissions (based on high/low levels of autonomy and capacity) and describes the main trends in continuity and change across Africa’s ECs. Average autonomy and capacity of ECs has not increased substantially since the end of the 1990s. There is, however, considerable within- and cross-country variation in the institutionalization of ECs, which underscores the importance of studying the impact of ECs on election quality and legitimacy. Then, the chapter describes the development of Nigeria’s EC and highlights three periods of institutionalization (1999–2009; 2010–15; 2016–19), during which the quality and legitimacy of elections in Nigeria fluctuated.
Electoral Commissions and Nigerian Voters
Authors: Kerr Nicholas
Published: August 2024

Chapter 7 continues the book’s focus on citizens and takes advantage of original post-election survey data collected in Nigeria (in 2015 and 2019) to understand the consequences of citizens’ experiences with electoral commissions (ECs) on election day. The results suggest that negative interactions—mainly administrative problems such as long lines and malfunctioning voting equipment—have adverse implications for perceptions of election fairness, and future electoral participation. What is even more surprising is that these findings are almost identical across two elections, where INEC’s national-level performance was rated as qualitatively different by observers and election experts. These findings underscore the relevance of balancing the national and the local when studying the impact of ECs, and how malfunctioning election technology can become a focal point for mass distrust of elections.
The Reformation of the Battlefield in Early Modern Britain
Authors: Atherton Ian
Published: August 2024

The Reformation meant not just ecclesiastical change but a transformation of the ways by which Protestants remembered the past. A hitherto overlooked aspect of that reformation of memory is the reformation of the battlefield. The abolition of prayers for the dead and Protestant allergies to notions of sacred spaces meant that battle sites were no longer considered consecrated ground, and commemorative crosses or chapels were not erected on the battlefields of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Instead, the site of memory shifted from the battlefield to the bodies of wounded veterans, and print became key to the memory of conflict, with the first printed battlefield maps. The early modern period is a crucial break in pre-Reformation conflict memories, and overturns current narratives which often see the commemoration of the First World War as a continuation of medieval traditions of battlefields as sacred ground marked by the graves of the fallen.
The Relation Between Lovingness and the Virtues
Authors: Swanton Christine
Published: August 2024

This chapter elaborates and defends the claim that lovingness is at the heart of all virtues whether or not a virtue is properly described as a virtue of love. It may be thought that this view is incompatible with what Daniel Russell has called Hard Virtue Ethics, the orthodox Aristotelian position that practical wisdom is ‘a crucial part of all the virtues’. Opponents of Hard Virtue Ethics claim that what is necessary for virtue is not practical wisdom but rather having a good heart, the right emotional orientation, or the right intrinsic desires. I deny the alleged incompatibility and ally myself with the Hard Virtue Ethics camp. Practical wisdom on my view is necessary for virtue but right emotional orientation is necessary for practical wisdom. More specifically I argue that lovingness is part of all virtue and thus that lovingness is an essential aspect of practical wisdom.
Creativity and Self-Love
Authors: Swanton Christine
Published: August 2024

For many, self-love is the foundation of all loves. This point of view raises the issue of the relation between self-love and altruistic love of other, considered by authors such as Bernard Williams and Nietzsche in his attack on “altruism”. This chapter focuses on what counts as a non-virtuous denial of one’s subjectivity by showing that self-love, properly understood, is a component (but not necessarily a target or aim) of all virtue including the altruistic ones (where clearly self-love is not a target). We need to distinguish an altruism driven by the logic of what has been called an ethics of ‘the extreme demand’ and a proper pursuit of the personal that does not lapse into unethical individualism. Virtuous self-love needs to be distinguished from non-virtuous forms of “self-esteem”.
Forgiveness
Authors: Swanton Christine
Published: August 2024

This chapter explores what is distinctive of forgiveness as a virtue of universal love particularly by comparison with benevolence. It is argued that virtuous forgiveness has different properties from forgiveness as a communicative act. Forgiveness does not simply involve having a loving orientation; rather it is characteristically constituted by a retrieval of such an orientation after it has been disrupted by anger subsequent to certain sorts of wrong doing. However, forgiveness is not just a commitment to see the other in benevolent terms; it involves too an openness to the restoration or strengthening of a bond that has been compromised or destroyed, or the formation of a new bond. Several puzzles associated with understanding forgiveness as a virtue are discussed, for example the compatibility of the claims that forgiveness is a virtue of unconditional universal love and yet it may not be wrong to have failed to forgive.
More Frequent Solitary Alcohol Consumption Is Associated With Poorer Diet Quality, Worse Sleep, Higher Body Mass Index, and More Problematic Alcohol Use
Authors: Skrzynski Carillon J , Chen Margy Y , Bryan Angela D
Published: August 2024

Background

Solitary drinking is a risky drinking pattern associated with increased substance use and psychosocial problems. However, very little is known regarding the associations between drinking alone and broader health status and behaviors.

Purpose

Accordingly, this study examined the relationship between health metrics and solitary drinking among individuals who currently drink (N = 99, 46.46% female, 88.89% White).

Methods

U.S. participants between 21 and 40 years old were recruited. Measures included self-reported diet, physical activity, sleep, cannabis use, general and solitary alcohol use, and objective anthropomorphic measures (e.g., body mass index [BMI]) using data from both a baseline appointment and 30 days of daily diary responses. Adjusting for general alcohol use, age, and gender, associations at baseline were assessed through regression analyses, while daily data were analyzed via mixed effects models.

Results

Several health measures were associated with solitary drinking. Specifically, solitary drinking was related to consuming fewer servings of fruits and vegetables and greater quantities of alcohol based on daily data. Baseline data showed an association between solitary drinking and higher BMIs, poorer sleep quality, greater sugar consumption, and hazardous drinking.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that beyond substance and psychosocial problems associated with solitary drinking, this drinking behavior may be a warning sign for health risks and, subsequently, broader health problems.
The Association Between Social Isolation and Medication Adherence Among Chinese Older Adults With Chronic Diseases: Serial Mediation of Social Support and Loneliness
Authors: Yu Yong , Huang Qianyue , Ren Zheng , Ou Zhiwen
Published: August 2024

Background

Medication adherence is essential for chronic disease management among older adults. Previous studies have shown significant links among social isolation, social support, loneliness, and medication adherence, yet most were based on cross-sectional designs.

Purpose

We conducted a longitudinal cohort study among Chinese older adults with chronic diseases to explore the mediating effects of social support and loneliness in the association between social isolation and medication adherence.

Methods

This study followed a cohort of 797 older adults with chronic diseases in China from 2022 to 2023. The serial mediation model was examined via bootstrapping techniques to evaluate the mediating effect of social support and loneliness in the association between social isolation and medication adherence.

Results

From baseline to follow-up, there were significant decreases in social support (from 26.6 ± 6.2 to 23.5 ± 6.7) and medication adherence (from 6.7 ± 1.2 to 6.0 ± 1.5) and significant increases in social isolation (from 1.8 ± 1.3 to 2.5 ± 1.4) and loneliness (13.2 ± 4.1 to 23.5 ± 6.7), all with p < .001. A serial mediation model was confirmed, where social support and loneliness serially and partially mediated the association between social isolation and medication adherence (total effect c = −0.216, 95% CI = −0.296 to −0.136; direct effect cʹ = −0.094, 95% CI = −0.171 to −0.017; total indirect effect ab = −0.122, 95% CI = −0.179 to −0.070).

Conclusions

Our findings yield critical insights into the relationship between social isolation and medication adherence through various mediating mechanisms. These findings hold significant implications for devising psychosocial interventions to enhance medication adherence among older adults with chronic diseases, underscoring the pivotal role of bolstering social support and alleviating loneliness.
Imperialism and Treaty Port Industrialization
Authors: Chi-Kong Lai
Published: August 2024

Imperialism refers to a political practice in which a nation, through violent or nonviolent measures, seizes the resources of other countries. The imperialist nation exploited the subjugated countries so that the latter would advance the economic, political, and social interests of its imperial masters. Although the relationship between the imperial masters and their subjects was almost always exploitative, imperialism could not be considered a wholly negative concept. Some scholars even argue that imperialism had a positive effect on China’s industrialization. According to this school of thought, the advance of the West made the Qing court and Chinese reformers realize the importance of industrialization, and the Self-Strengthening Movement, a reform campaign made possible by European assistance, established a foundation for China’s early industrialization. The Self-Strengthening Movement brought advanced technology as well as Western industrial methods to China.

China’s industrialization was also a reflection on imperialism: the imperial powers extracted every concession they could due to their involvement in the Qing court’s modernization efforts, a course of action that destroyed China’s previously self-sufficient natural economy and, at the same time, provided an opportunity for the emergence of Chinese treaty port industrialization. The rise of treaty ports was a development that had unexpected and unintended consequences for China’s industrial growth, as from 1860 to 1911, a period during which Qing officials sought to curb the growth of foreign shipping, foreign merchants operating from the treaty ports forced the Qing dynasty to open more and more shipping and export trade privileges. There is a need to examine the impact imperialism and treaty port industrialization had on China, particularly on the development of the Chinese shipping industry during the semi-colonial period. Nantong even achieved an industrial capacity rivaling that of Shanghai, meaning that Western and Japanese imperialism played a pivotal role in the early industrialization of China.

Although China specialists and historians of imperialism have generally underplayed the transformative effects Japanese imperialism had on China’s industrialization since the signing of the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki, the establishment of Japanese treaty ports in northeast China after the First Sino-Japanese War very quicky became important industrial bases. Manchuria became one of China’s most advanced industrialization areas under Japanese imperialism.
The Central American Guerrilla Movements
Authors: Kruijt Dirk
Published: August 2024

With the exception of Costa Rica, Central America was governed by long-term dictatorships or repressive military governments for many decades in the 20th century. Between the late 1950s and the mid-1990s, in El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras, a confrontation between the dictatorships and guerrilla movements became theaters of profound political violence with distinctive military and political environments and different outcomes in El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Resistance movements and armed guerrilla organizations, initiated and led by urban young professionals and students, attempted to overthrow dictatorships to be replaced by socialist societies.

The guerrilla movements included dissidents of communist and other leftist parties, urban workers, and (generally) forbidden peasants organizations. Other contributors to the guerrilla movements included Latin American intellectuals and students at universities who used dependency theory as a conceptual framework to explain poverty and underdevelopment. Most Central American insurgency movements paid homage to Marxism (the Cuban Revolution of 1959 was a source of inspiration). The student movements at universities and secondary educational institutions became a source of recruitment. However, the most important influence on the radicalization of the general population—working-class neighborhoods and the peasant associations—was the liberation theology of Catholic-based communities and small groups of lay preachers who interpreted the Bible on matters of justice and injustice. The guerrilla movements in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua were clearly influenced by these leftist-Catholic organizations. In Guatemala, indigenous movements sympathized with the guerrillas and sometimes joined their ranks.

The bitter conflicts between the insurgents and the counterinsurgents (they army, paramilitary forces, and death squads) became proxy wars between the then military superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, in the context of the Cold War. Finally, peace negotiations ended the armed conflicts, restored parliamentary democracy, and transformed the guerrilla movements into political parties. Organizations of the United Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS) facilitated the transition.
Morphology of Determiners in the Romance Languages
Authors: Floricic Franck
Published: August 2024

The question of articles and definiteness has given rise to a great deal of work, whether from a theoretical, typological, historical, or other perspective. Given the breadth of the field, it would be unrealistic in a synthesis of this kind to go through all the work that has been done on this subject, some of which may be relatively old. We have therefore focused on a certain number of aspects which seemed relevant to us, taking into consideration dialectal data which are not often taken into account. Another difficulty of the undertaking is that the question of articles concerns various fields of investigation: syntax, semantics, phonology, and morphology. The focus of this contribution is therefore on the morphology of articles in Romance languages. After having sought to circumscribe the concept of determination, the origin and distribution of articles in a number of Romance varieties are described. Particular attention is paid to the phenomena of variation that manifest themselves at the phonomorphological level. The morpho-syntax of other kinds of determiners is discussed as well—demonstratives, quantifiers, and possessives. The question of the maintenance of case distinctions in the Romance determiners will also be addressed, as well as the discussed and intriguing question of lack of agreement within the noun phrase. Given their special status, it will be shown that personal and place names show particular constraints with respect to definite articles, due among other things to their historical genesis.
Non-Finite Verb-Forms in the Romance Languages
Authors: Vincent Nigel
Published: August 2024

The distinction between finite and non-finite forms, although a standard part of traditional grammatical descriptions, is not easy to establish and is not necessarily the same from language to language, not least because of the different ways the forms in question have developed over time and the different constructions that they are part of. Nor is terminology in this domain used consistently in the literature. The present article therefore begins with a brief overview of these issues before moving on the consider the Latin patterns which lie behind modern Romance developments. These in turn will be examined form by form and construction by construction with exemplification drawn, as appropriate, from different Romance varieties. The approach blends synchrony with diachrony. Space does not permit exhaustive coverage of all forms in all languages, but nonetheless examples are drawn from across the family with a view to demonstrating significant regional and historical differences. Where relevant, cross-reference will also be made to other articles in the present collection which address in greater detail some of structures considered here.