bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
3. Caracterización energética del lechuguín y pasto alemán con 100%, 50% y 25% de humedad utilizando la bomba calorimétrica adiabática
Authors: Gallo Conrado Nelson , Gutiérrez Gualotuña Eduardo , Torres Rodríguez Gabriela , Villavicencio Poveda Ángelo
Published: November 2018

El objetivo de la investigación es el estudio de la pistia stratiotes (lechuguín de agua) con diferentes tipos de humedad como potencial fuente energética renovable de biomasa, en donde se determina su poder calorífico mediante el proceso de secado y fabricación de probetas estandarizadas que serán ensayadas en una bomba calorimétrica adiabática, equipo que pertenece al Laboratorio de Conversión de Energía de la Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas – ESPE. Con este estudio se pretende aprovechar a esta planta acuática que está considerada dentro de las 100 malezas más invasoras a nivel mundial como un vector energético ya que la misma se ha constituido en un grave problema para los biomas hídricos invadidos y represas pertenecientes a centrales hidroeléctricas como Paute, así como también represas para riego agrícola.
5. Osmo deshidratación del aguaymanto (Physalis peruviana)
Authors: Quispe Talla Ángel , Castro Vicente Nelly
Published: November 2018

La investigación evalúa la prolongación de la vida útil del aguaymanto con las medidas biométricas y sus caracterizaciones, así como su higienización con agua ozonificada mediante la osmo deshidratación, en el comportamiento del jarabe y la evaluación de la característica de calidad del aguaymanto osmo deshidratado, estandarizándose el pelado químico con 2% de soda y temperaturas de 80ºC y 85ºC con tiempos de inmersión de 2 minutos. Las pulpas de aguaymanto se sometieron a los jarabes y soluciones de azúcar y de miel de abeja de 35, 45, 50 grados Brix, a temperaturas de 25°C, 30°C y 35°C con tiempos de inmersión de 150 min, 180 min y 210 min, respectivamente; alcanzando así una humedad del 22%. Los parámetros para la osmo deshidratación de soluciones de miel de abeja utiliza un 50% de sólidos solubles a 35°C que en el lapso de 150 minutos alcanza su equilibrio, y es posible prolongar la vida útil del aguaymanto por más de 30 días mediante el empleo de la osmo deshidratación directa sin alterar ni su forma ni su textura. La calidad sensorial indica su aceptabilidad y preferencia sobre los productos ofertados en el mercado.
6. Sustitución de la harina de trigo por harina de quinua y puré de espinaca en la elaboración de una pasta enriquecida y fortificada
Authors: Espinoza Bardales Ydania , Gamarra Ramírez Norma Elizabeth , Tarazona Minaya Rosario Esther
Published: November 2018

El objetivo fue elaborar una pasta enriquecida y fortificada mediante la sustitución de la harina de trigo por harina de quinua y puré de espinaca. La finalidad fue obtener un alimento en forma de pasta con un contenido en proteína y calcio que permita ser absorbido por el organismo humano de las poblaciones más vulnerables lo que debe permitir reducir el índice de desnutrición crónica infantil en el país. Se caracterizaron las harinas de trigo y quinua. Se sustituyó la harina de trigo por harina de quinua en porcentajes de 10%, 20% y 30 % para obtener la pasta enriquecida. Posteriormente, se fortificó con puré de espinaca y se caracterizó el mejor tratamiento. Los resultados mostraron que la harina de trigo es extra y la harina de quinua es integral, de los tres tratamientos M3 (10% de sustitución de harina de trigo por harina de quinua) resultó ser el mejor tratamiento y, es estadísticamente similar a M0 (control), presentando un contenido promedio de proteína (13,98%), menor tiempo de cocción (14 minutos) y menor porcentaje de pérdida de sólidos solubles (11,48%). El mejor tratamiento se fortificó con puré de espinaca (15%) se evaluó con la prueba de aceptabilidad frente a una muestra comercial, resultando los valores de color, olor, sabor, textura y aceptabilidad medianamente cercanos. Se caracterizó el mejor tratamiento M3 mediante el contenido de humedad, proteína, acidez, mohos y levaduras, estando dentro de las normas vigentes y siendo rica en calcio (450 mg).
8. Estrategias de fortalecimiento de capacidades para adaptación al cambio climático en comunidades de alta montaña de la subcuenca del río Quillcay en Áncash, Perú
Authors: Menacho Agama Jenny
Published: November 2018

El estudio tiene por objetivo conocer el rol que desempeña el fortalecimiento de capacidades para adaptación al cambio climático en ecosistemas de alta montaña como la subcuenca del río Quillcay. Propone estrategias viables que busquen resultados más eficaces. Para indagar sobre los temas priorizados y las mejores estrategias para fortalecer capacidades en adaptación de interés para los actores sociales de la subcuenca, se realizó un estudio exploratorio descriptivo por ser este tema poco estudiado en el contexto de ecosistemas de alta montaña y ámbitos de glaciares como las de la subcuenca Quillcay. La metodología adaptativa y flexible ha permitido constatar que el tema de cambio climático relativamente nuevo se reconoce el rol de fortalecimiento de capacidades prioritario en la percepción de los actores y útil especialmente para los campesinos, quienes sienten de manera directa los efectos del cambio climático. No existe una estrategia única, mas sí sugerencias de algunas pautas metodológicas para llevar adelante procesos de fortalecimiento de capacidades más efectivas.
Recent Developments in Gateway Phase Research
Authors: Greubel Rand
Published: November 2018

The Gateway tradition was defined by Alan D. Reed in 1997 to describe a class of prehistoric sites in west-central Colorado that had previously only been described in generic terms or as a local variant of well-known cultural traditions such as Ancestral Puebloan or Fremont. Reed and Michael D. Metcalf elaborated upon the new archaeological taxon in the prehistoric context for the Northern Colorado River basin, which was published in 1999. Several studies and research projects conducted since that time have resulted in new datasets that are relevant to many of the research questions and data gaps identified by Reed and Metcalf for the Gateway tradition. A consideration of these data has resulted in new insights into the lifeways of these people and a taxonomic reformulation of the Gateway tradition into the Gateway phase.
How Agriculture Took Hold in the Mesa Verde Region: A Review of Recent Research on the Late Basketmaker-Early Pueblo Periods (A.D. 500-920)
Authors: Wilshusen Richard
Published: November 2018

Major research projects and significant publications over the last two decades have fundamentally reframed our understanding of the Basketmaker III and Pueblo I periods in the Mesa Verde region. Whereas the last state historic context summaries for these periods, which were published in 1999, focused on the specifics of chronology building, site type definitions, settlement patterning, and other nuts and bolts issues, recent advances in database software and an increasing emphasis on regional research have turned our attention to the larger issues of how agriculture took hold and thereafter transformed the landscape north of the San Juan River. The relatively low populations and small-scale horticultural economies of the Basketmaker II period virtually disappeared between A.D. 500 and 600, to be replaced by a more intensive maize-dependent agricultural economy centered on large communities. The rapid expansion of early Pueblo agricultural settlements across the Mesa Verde region and the subsequent formation of large villages were in part fueled by the accelerating population growth that came with agricultural dependence. In turn, the late ninth-century breakup of these large villages contributed to population migration to the south of the San Juan River and the tenth-century emergence of what ultimately became the Chaco great house system. This review updates the 1999 Basketmaker III and Pueblo I overviews.
Enforcing uniformity: kirk sessions and Catholics in early modern Scotland, 1560–1650
Authors: Burns Ryan
Published: November 2018

In the decades following the Scottish Reformation, Scottish parliaments passed a series of penal laws against Catholics and expressions of Catholic religious practice. In an act of 1594 the death penalty was prescribed on the first offence for wilfully hearing Mass; but no Scot was ever executed for hearing Mass. The same law of 1594 encouraged local presbyteries to convert any suspected Catholic under their jurisdiction. As historians of the Scottish Reformation begin to appreciate the crucial role that kirk sessions played in suppressing Scottish Catholicism, this article adds to recent studies which seek to offer a corrective to much previous scholarship on the persecution of Scottish Catholics – which tended to focus almost exclusively on civil enforcement – and explores the impact of parish church courts on Scottish Catholicism, highlighting the effectiveness of public penance, shaming, and psychological pressure as the most useful tools for enforcing uniformity.
An Algorithmic Look at Financial Volatility
Authors: Ma Lin , Delahaye Jean-Paul
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we attempt to give an algorithmic explanation to volatility clustering, one of the most exploited stylized facts in finance. Our analysis with daily data from five exchanges shows that financial volatilities follow Levin’s universal distribution Kirchherr et al. (1997) once transformed into equally proportional binary strings. Frequency ranking of binary trading weeks coincides with that of their Kolmogorov complexity estimated by Delahaye et al. (2012). According to Levin’s universal distribution, large (resp. small) volatilities are more likely to be followed by large (resp. small) ones since simple trading weeks such as “00000” or “11111” are much more frequently observed than complex ones such as “10100” or “01011”. Thus, volatility clusters may not be attributed to behavioral or micro-structural assumptions but to the complexity discrepancy between finite strings. This property of financial data could be at the origin of volatility autocorrelation, though autocorrelated volatilities simulated from Generalized Auto-Regressive Conditional Heteroskedacity (hereafter GARCH) cannot be transformed into universally distributed binary weeks.
A Hybrid MADM Approach for the Evaluation of Different Material Handling Issues in Flexible Manufacturing Systems
Authors: Dixit Sandhya , Raj Tilak
Published: November 2018

In today’s versatile and dynamic industrial scenario more and more industries are adopting advanced manufacturing technologies and systems like flexible manufacturing system (FMS) which combines the efficiency of a mass production line and the flexibility of a job shop. Material handling equipment form an important component of FMS and using proper material handling equipment can enhance the production process, provide effective utilization of manpower, increase production and improve system flexibility. In this research the main material handling issues in a FMS are identified and further evaluated using ISM and TOPSIS approaches. The purpose of identification of these issues and their analysis is to allow researchers and practicing managers to pay proper attention to these issues which may help them in designing the material handling systems in their organisations in a better way.
Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Watermelon Grafted onto 10 Wild Watermelon Rootstocks under Low Nitrogen Conditions
Authors: Nawaz Muhammad Azher , Han Xiaojie , Chen Chen , Zheng Zuhua , Shireen Fareeha , Bie Zhilong , Huang Yuan
Published: November 2018

Nitrogen availability is the key determinant of plant growth and development. The improvement of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in crops is an important consideration. In fruit and vegetables, such as watermelon, rootstocks are often utilized to control soil borne diseases and improve plant performance to a range of abiotic stresses. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of 10 wild watermelon rootstocks (ZXG-516, ZXG-941, ZXG-945, ZXG-1250, ZXG-1251, ZXG-1558, ZXG-944, ZXG-1469, ZXG-1463, and ZXG-952) to improve the plant growth and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of the watermelon cultivar: Zaojia 8424. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is a comprehensive parameter that represents the ability of a plant to absorb nitrogen (N) and convert the supplied resources to the dry biomass. Wild watermelon rootstocks substantially improved plant growth, rate of photosynthesis, stomatal conductivity, intercellular carbon dioxide concentration, rate of transpiration, nitrogen uptake efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, and nitrogen utilization efficiency of watermelon. NUE of watermelon grafted onto ZXG-945, ZXG-1250, and ZXG-941 was improved by up to 67%, 77%, and 168%, respectively, at optimum N supply. Similarly, at low N supply (0.2 mM), NUE of watermelon grafted onto ZXG-1558 and ZXG-516 was improved by up to 104% and 175%, respectively. In conclusion, grafting onto some wild rootstocks can improve nitrogen use efficiency of watermelon, and this improved nitrogen use efficiency could be attributed to better N uptake efficiency of wild watermelon rootstocks.
Effect of Diet Supplementation with Quinoa Seed and/or Linseed on Immune Response, Productivity and Meat Quality in Merinos Derived Lambs
Authors: Marino Rosaria , Caroprese Mariangela , Annicchiarico Giovanni , Ciampi Francesco , Ciliberti Maria Giovanna , Della Malva Antonella , Santillo Antonella , Sevi Agostino , Albenzio Marzia
Published: November 2018

In the last years several studies have investigated the strong relation between nutrition and immune response in the livestock production, particularly in dairy cattle and sheep. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation based on linseed, quinoa seeds and their combination on welfare, productivity and quality of meat from merinos derived lambs. 32 weaned lambs were divided into 4 experimental groups: quinoa (Q), linseed (LS) and combination of quinoa and linseed (LS + Q) that received the respective supplementation and control group (C) without supplementation. Lambs from all supplemented groups showed lower plasma urea, creatinine and cholesterol than control. Both linseed and quinoa supplementation enhanced the cell-mediated immune responses of lambs, furthermore, linseed supplementation resulted in the lowest level of cortisol secretion after handling, loading and transport. Meat from lambs supplemented with linseed and LS + Q showed the highest pH, at 1 and 3 h post-mortem, while, meat from all supplemented groups was more tender than meat from control. Results indicated that linseed and quinoa seeds supplementation can help the animal to cope with stressful events due to the close link between stress responses and the immune system and for improving meat quality in terms of better tenderness.
Development of Immunochromatographic Assay for Determination of Tetracycline in Human Serum
Authors: Berlina Anna N. , Bartosh Anastasia V. , Zherdev Anatoly V. , Xu Chuanlai , Dzantiev Boris B.
Published: November 2018

Determining antibiotic concentration in human blood provides useful pharmacokinetic information. Commonly used methods such as ELISA require a long time to obtain results and thus cannot be applied when information is needed immediately. In this study, a novel antibody-based lateral flow technique was developed for tetracycline detection in human serum. Contrary to tests developed to analyze food samples, the features of work with serum as analyzed probe were studied for the first time here. The application of labeled and unlabeled specific antibodies was compared. For this purpose, specific and anti-species antibodies were labeled with gold nanoparticles and used for antigen–antibody interaction on the membrane surface with observed staining in the test zone. For both schemes, optimal conditions were established to provide the best sensitivity. The developed assay has a limit of visual detection as low as 35 and 11 ng/mL for the direct and indirect labeled antibodies, respectively. The limit of instrumental detection is from 0.4 to 3.5 ng/mL for diluted and undiluted sera. The use of indirect antibody labeling showed a small increase in sensitivity compared to traditional direct antibody labeling. The developed method showed no cross-reactivity with antibiotics of other classes. The method was used to test samples of serum. The results showed high correlation with the data obtained by ELISA (R2 = 0.98968). The assay provides a quick assessment of the amount of antibiotics in the blood and keeps them under control throughout the duration of therapy.
Development of a Compact Three-Degree-of-Freedom Laser Measurement System with Self-Wavelength Correction for Displacement Feedback of a Nanopositioning Stage
Authors: Cai Yindi , Lou Zhifeng , Ling Siying , Liao Bo-syun , Fan Kuang-chao
Published: November 2018

This paper presents a miniature three-degree-of-freedom laser measurement (3DOFLM) system for displacement feedback and error compensation of a nanopositioning stage. The 3DOFLM system is composed of a miniature Michelson interferometer (MMI) kit, a wavelength corrector kit, and a miniature autocollimator kit. A low-cost laser diode is employed as the laser source. The motion of the stage can cause an optical path difference in the MMI kit so as to produce interference fringes. The interference signals with a phase interval of 90° due to the phase control are detected by four photodetectors. The wavelength corrector kit, based on the grating diffraction principle and the autocollimation principle, provides real-time correction of the laser diode wavelength, which is the length unit of the MMI kit. The miniature autocollimator kit based on the autocollimation principle is employed to measure angular errors and compensate induced Abbe error of the moving table. The developed 3DOFLM system was constructed with dimensions of 80 mm (x) × 90 mm (y) × 20 mm (z) so that it could be embedded into the nanopositioning stage. A series of calibration and comparison experiments were carried out to test the performance of this system.
Field Experiments to Evaluate Thermal Performance of Energy Slabs with Different Installation Conditions
Authors: Lee Seokjae , Park Sangwoo , Kang Minkyu , Choi Hangseok
Published: November 2018

The energy slab is a novel type of horizontal Ground Heat Exchanger (GHEX), where heat exchange pipes are encased in building slab structures. The thermal performance of energy slabs is usually inferior to the conventional closed-loop vertical GHEX because its installation depth is relatively shallow and therefore affected by ambient air temperature. In this paper, heat exchange pipes were made of not only conventional high-density polyethylene (HDPE), but also stainless steel (STS), which is expected to enhance the thermal performance of the energy slabs. In addition to a floor slab, a side wall slab was also used as a component of energy slabs to maximize the use of geothermal energy that can be generated from the underground space. Moreover, a thermal insulation layer in the energy slabs was considered in order to reduce thermal interference induced by ambient air temperature. Consequently, two different field-scale energy slabs (i.e., floor-type and wall-type energy slabs) were constructed in a test bed, and two types of heat exchange pipes (i.e., STS pipe and HDPE pipes) were installed in each energy slab. A series of thermal response tests (TRTs) and thermal performance tests (TPTs) were conducted to evaluate the heat exchange performance of the constructed energy slabs. Use of the STS heat exchange pipe enhanced the thermal performance of energy slabs. Additionally, the wall-type energy slab had a similar thermal performance to the floor-type energy slab, which infers the applicability of the additional use of the wall-type energy slab. Note that if an energy slab is not thermally cut off from the building’s interior space with the aid of thermal insulation layers, heat exchange within the energy slabs should be significantly influenced by fluctuations in ambient temperature.
DynDL: Scheduling Data-Locality-Aware Tasks with Dynamic Data Transfer Cost for Multicore-Server-Based Big Data Clusters
Authors: Jin Jiahui , An Qi , Zhou Wei , Tang Jiakai , Xiong Runqun
Published: November 2018

Network bandwidth is a scarce resource in big data environments, so data locality is a fundamental problem for data-parallel frameworks such as Hadoop and Spark. This problem is exacerbated in multicore server-based clusters, where multiple tasks running on the same server compete for the server’s network bandwidth. Existing approaches solve this problem by scheduling computational tasks near the input data and considering the server’s free time, data placements, and data transfer costs. However, such approaches usually set identical values for data transfer costs, even though a multicore server’s data transfer cost increases with the number of data-remote tasks. Eventually, this hampers data-processing time, by minimizing it ineffectively. As a solution, we propose DynDL (Dynamic Data Locality), a novel data-locality-aware task-scheduling model that handles dynamic data transfer costs for multicore servers. DynDL offers greater flexibility than existing approaches by using a set of non-decreasing functions to evaluate dynamic data transfer costs. We also propose online and offline algorithms (based on DynDL) that minimize data-processing time and adaptively adjust data locality. Although DynDL is NP-complete (nondeterministic polynomial-complete), we prove that the offline algorithm runs in quadratic time and generates optimal results for DynDL’s specific uses. Using a series of simulations and real-world executions, we show that our algorithms are 30% better than algorithms that do not consider dynamic data transfer costs in terms of data-processing time. Moreover, they can adaptively adjust data localities based on the server’s free time, data placement, and network bandwidth, and schedule tens of thousands of tasks within subseconds or seconds.
Scandium Doping Effect on a Layered Perovskite Cathode for Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (LT-SOFCs)
Authors: Jeong Donghwi , Kim Junyoung , Kwon Ohhun , Lim Chaehyun , Sengodan Sivaprakash , Shin Jeeyoung , Kim Guntae
Published: November 2018

Layered perovskite oxides are considered as promising cathode materials for the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) due to their high electronic/ionic conductivity and fast oxygen kinetics at low temperature. Many researchers have focused on further improving the electrochemical performance of the layered perovskite material by doping various metal ions into the B-site. Herein, we report that Sc3+ doping into the layered perovskite material, PrBaCo2O5+δ (PBCO), shows a positive effect of increasing electrochemical performances. We confirmed that Sc3+ doping could provide a favorable crystalline structure of layered perovskite for oxygen ion transfer in the lattice with improved Goldschmidt tolerance factor and specific free volume. Consequently, the Sc3+ doped PBCO exhibits a maximum power density of 0.73 W cm−2 at 500 °C, 1.3 times higher than that of PBCO. These results indicate that Sc3+ doping could effectively improve the electrochemical properties of the layered perovskite material, PBCO.
Real-Time HIFU Treatment Monitoring Using Pulse Inversion Ultrasonic Imaging
Authors: Shin Eui-Ji , Kang Byungwoo , Chang Jin Ho
Published: November 2018

Real-time monitoring of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) surgery is essential for safe and accurate treatment. However, ultrasound imaging is difficult to use for treatment monitoring during HIFU surgery because of the high intensity of the HIFU echoes that are received by an imaging transducer. Here, we propose a real-time HIFU treatment monitoring method based on pulse inversion of imaging ultrasound; an imaging transducer fires ultrasound twice in 0° and 180° phases for one scanline while HIFUs of the same phase are transmitted in synchronization with the ultrasound transmission for imaging. By doing so, HIFU interferences can be eliminated after subtracting the two sets of the signals received by the imaging transducer. This function was implemented in a commercial research ultrasound scanner, and its performance was evaluated using the excised bovine liver. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed method allowed ultrasound images to clearly show the echogenicity change induced by HIFU in the excised bovine liver. Additionally, it was confirmed that the moving velocity of the organs in the abdomen due to respiration does not affect the performance of the proposed method. Based on the experimental results, we believe that the proposed method can be used for real-time HIFU surgery monitoring that is a pivotal function for maximized treatment efficacy.
Adaptive Solar Power Forecasting based on Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Wang Yu , Zou Hualei , Chen Xin , Zhang Fanghua , Chen Jie
Published: November 2018

Due to the existence of predicting errors in the power systems, such as solar power, wind power and load demand, the economic performance of power systems can be weakened accordingly. In this paper, we propose an adaptive solar power forecasting (ASPF) method for precise solar power forecasting, which captures the characteristics of forecasting errors and revises the predictions accordingly by combining data clustering, variable selection, and neural network. The proposed ASPF is thus quite general, and does not require any specific original forecasting method. We first propose the framework of ASPF, featuring the data identification and data updating. We then present the applied improved k-means clustering, the least angular regression algorithm, and BPNN, followed by the realization of ASPF, which is shown to improve as more data collected. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed ASPF based on the trace-driven data.
Band-Pass Sampling in High-Order BOC Signal Acquisition
Authors: Liu Zhijun , Li Baiyu , Zhu Xiangwei , Li Lixun , Sun Guangfu
Published: November 2018

The binary offset carrier (BOC) modulation, which has been adopted in modern global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), provides a higher spectral compatibility with BPSK signals, and better tracking performance. However, the autocorrelation function (ACF) of BOC signals has multiple peaks. This feature complicates the acquisition process, since a smaller time searching step is required, which results in longer searching time or greater amounts of hardware resources. Another problem is the high Nyquist frequency, which leads to high computational complexity and power consumption. In this paper, to overcome these drawbacks, the band-pass sampling technique for multiple signals is introduced to BOC signals. The sampling frequency can be reduced significantly. Furthermore, the ACF of the sampled signal has only two secondary peaks, so that the code phase can be searched with a larger searching step. An acquisition structure base on dual-loop is proposed, to completely eliminate the ambiguity and compensate the subcarrier Doppler. The acquisition performance and the computational complexity are also analysed.
A Practical Approach for Data Gathering for Polymer Cure Simulations
Authors: Heinze Søren , Echtermeyer Andreas T.
Published: November 2018

Producing precision parts requires good control of the production parameters. When casting thermoset polymers an understanding of the curing process, with its heat release and associated temperature changes, is important. This paper describes how the cure of a polymer of unknown detailed chemical composition in a large part can be predicted and how the necessary material properties required for the predictions can be obtained. The approach given is a relatively simple method that a part manufacturer can perform. It will not characterize chemical reactions in detail, but it gives sufficient accuracy to describe the process. The procedures will be explained for an example of casting a large block of a filled two-component thermoset polyurethane. The prediction of the degree of cure, the associated heat and temperature increase during the curing of a polymer was successfully done using a standard finite element program with the input parameters reaction energy, the Arrhenius pre-factor and the kinetic function, which describes the chemical reaction. The three parameters could be obtained with standard Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) equipment. The data were analyzed with the model-free isoconversional method combined with the compensation effect. The same set of parameters allowed the prediction of experimental cure behavior over two orders of magnitude of time and at a curing temperature range from room temperature up to 420 K.
LDS Realization of High-Q SIW Millimeter Wave Filters with Cyclo-Olefin Polymers
Authors: Glise Adrien , Quéré Yves , Maalouf Azar , Rius Eric , Castel Vincent , Laur Vincent , Sauvage Rose Marie
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we present narrow-band substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) millimeter wave band-pass filters, designed using cyclo-olefin polymers (COP). The structures were molded, drilled, and metalized with a laser direct structuring (LDS) process. COP are a type of thermoplastic with low dielectric losses in the millimeter waveband, typically 7.5 × 10−4 at 40 GHz for the COP RS420-LDS from Zeon®. The body of the filter was realized using a molding process that facilitates the combination of thin 50 Ω microstrip access lines with high thickness microwave cavities through 3D transitions, thus making high quality factors attainable. The simulations and experimental results are presented and discussed.
Simultaneous Measurement Method and Error Analysis of the Six Degrees-of-Freedom Motion Errors of a Rotary Axis
Authors: Bao Chuanchen , Feng Qibo , Li Jiakun
Published: November 2018

Error measurement of a rotary axis is the key to error compensation and to improving motion accuracy. However, only a few instruments can measure all the motion errors of a rotary axis. In this paper, a device based on laser collimation and laser interferometry was introduced for simultaneous measurement of all six degrees-of-freedom motion errors of a rotary axis. Synchronous rotation of the target and reference rotary axes was achieved by developing a proportional–integral–derivative algorithm. An error model for the measuring device was established using a homogeneous transformation matrix. The influences of installation errors, manufacturing errors, and error crosstalk were studied in detail, and compensation methods for them were proposed. After compensation, the repeatability of axial and radial motion errors was significantly improved. The repeatability values of angular positioning error and of tilt motion error around the y axis and x axis were 28.0″, 2.8″, and 3.9″. The repeatability values of translational motion errors were less than 2.8 μm. The comparison experiments show that the comparison errors of angular positioning error and tilt motion error around the y axis were 2.3″ and 2.9″, respectively. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method and the error compensation model.
Minimum Barrier Distance-Based Object Descriptor for Visual Tracking
Authors: Tu Zhengzheng , Guo Linlin , Li Chenglong , Xiong Ziwei , Wang Xiao
Published: November 2018

In most visual tracking tasks, the target is tracked by a bounding box given in the first frame. The complexity and redundancy of background information in the bounding box inevitably exist and affect tracking performance. To alleviate the influence of background, we propose a robust object descriptor for visual tracking in this paper. First, we decompose the bounding box into non-overlapping patches and extract the color and gradient histograms features for each patch. Second, we adopt the minimum barrier distance (MBD) to calculate patch weights. Specifically, we consider the boundary patches as the background seeds and calculate the MBD from each patch to the seed set as the weight of each patch since the weight calculated by MBD can represent the difference between each patch and the background more effectively. Finally, we impose the weight on the extracted feature to get the descriptor of each patch and then incorporate our MBD-based descriptor into the structured support vector machine algorithm for tracking. Experiments on two benchmark datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
A Graph Representation Composed of Geometrical Components for Household Furniture Detection by Autonomous Mobile Robots
Authors: Alonso-Ramirez Oscar , Marin-Hernandez Antonio , Rios-Figueroa Homero V. , Devy Michel , Pomares-Hernandez Saul E. , Rechy-Ramirez Ericka J.
Published: November 2018

This study proposes a framework to detect and recognize household furniture using autonomous mobile robots. The proposed methodology is based on the analysis and integration of geometric features extracted over 3D point clouds. A relational graph is constructed using those features to model and recognize each piece of furniture. A set of sub-graphs corresponding to different partial views allows matching the robot’s perception with partial furniture models. A reduced set of geometric features is employed: horizontal and vertical planes and the legs of the furniture. These features are characterized through their properties, such as: height, planarity and area. A fast and linear method for the detection of some geometric features is proposed, which is based on histograms of 3D points acquired from an RGB-D camera onboard the robot. Similarity measures for geometric features and graphs are proposed, as well. Our proposal has been validated in home-like environments with two different mobile robotic platforms; and partially on some 3D samples of a database.
Adaptive Threshold Generation for Fault Detection with High Dependability for Cyber-Physical Systems
Authors: Baek Youngmi , Jo Minsu
Published: November 2018

Cyber-physical systems (CPS) applied to safety-critical or mission-critical domains require high dependability including safety, security, and reliability. However, the safety of CPS can be significantly threatened by increased security vulnerabilities and the lack of flexibility in accepting various normal environments or conditions. To enhance safety and security in CPS, a common and cost-effective strategy is to employ the model-based detection technique; however, detecting faults in practice is challenging due to model and environment uncertainties. In this paper, we present a novel generation method of the adaptive threshold required for providing dependability for the model-based fault detection system. In particular, we focus on statistical and information theoretic analysis to consider the model and environment uncertainties, and non-linear programming to determine an adaptive threshold as an equilibrium point in terms of adaptability and sensitivity. To do this, we assess the normality of the data obtained from real sensors, define performance measures representing the system requirements, and formulate the optimal threshold problem. In addition, in order to efficiently exploit the adaptive thresholds, we design the storage so that it is added to the basic structure of the model-based detection system. By executing the performance evaluation with various fault scenarios by varying intensities, duration and types of faults injected, we prove that the proposed method is well designed to cope with uncertainties. In particular, against noise faults, the proposed method shows nearly 100% accuracy, recall, and precision at each of the operation, regardless of the intensity and duration of faults. Under the constant faults, it achieves the accuracy from 85.4% to 100%, the recall of 100% from the lowest 54.2%, and the precision of 100%. It also gives the accuracy of 100% from the lowest 83.2%, the recall of 100% from the lowest 43.8%, and the precision of 100% against random faults. These results indicate that the proposed method achieves a significantly better performance than existing dynamic threshold methods. Consequently, an extensive performance evaluation demonstrates that the proposed method is able to accurately and reliably detect the faults and achieve high levels of adaptability and sensitivity, compared with other dynamic thresholds.
A Unified Approach to Design Robust Controllers for Nonlinear Uncertain Engineering Systems
Authors: Celentano Laura
Published: November 2018

This paper presents new theorems, which allow to design in a unified way robust proportional-derivative (PD)-type control laws without chattering for a broad class of uncertain nonlinear multi-input multi-output (MIMO) systems, subject to bounded disturbances and noises, of great theoretical and engineering relevance. These controllers are used to track a reference signal with bounded second derivative with the tracking error norm smaller than a prescribed value. The proposed control laws are simple to design and implement, above all for robotic systems, both in the case of a trajectory assigned in the joint space and in the workspace. The obtained theoretical results can have numerous applications. In this paper four significant applications are provided. The first one concerns the solution of a nonlinear equations system or the determination of an equilibrium point of a nonlinear system. The second case study deals with the inversion of a nonlinear vectorial function or the kinematic inversion of a robot. The third application concerns: (A) the tracking control of a robot with parametric uncertainties, with and without measurement noise on velocity, both in the joint space and the workspace; (B) the impedance control of a robot interacting with a human operator. The fourth case study addresses the tracking control of an uncertain nonlinear system that does not belong to the class of mechanical systems. Finally, an appendix is included, providing six easy examples, which show how the results proposed in the paper can eliminate and/or reduce serious disadvantages existing in the robust control literature for significant classes of linear and nonlinear uncertain systems.
Experimental Study on the Static Behavior of Reinforced Warren Circular Hollow Section (CHS) Tubular Trusses
Authors: Yang Wenwei , Lin Jiankang , Gao Ni-na , Yan Ruhao
Published: November 2018

For truss structures, the question of whether to weld hidden welds or not has been controversial. In the actual construction process of truss structures, the members are usually spot welded in place on the assembly platform, and then welded as a whole, while the hidden welds of the truss are not welded, especially for small pipe diameter trusses. Furthermore, in this study, under hidden weld unwelded conditions, two kinds of reinforcing method (adding a half outer sleeve on each joint and filling concrete into the chord members) are adopted to achieve the purpose of strengthening the truss. Therefore, this paper presents an experimental study on the static behavior of four types of Warren tubular trusses made of CHS members. These four types are (1) T-HW: The truss with hidden welds welded; (2) T-HN: The truss with hidden welds unwelded; (3) TS-AS: The truss strengthened on the basis of T-HN by adding a half outer sleeve on each joint; (4) TS-FC: The truss strengthened on the basis of T-HN by filling concrete into the top and bottom chord members. The mechanical behavior, failure mode, bearing capacity, and load-displacement of all specimens were investigated. The surface plasticity of the bottom chord member, the weld fracture around tubular joints at the bottom chord member, and the bending deformation of the bottom chord member were observed in the tests. Compared with the T-HW specimen, the load carrying capacity of the T-HN specimen decreased by 18%. On the other hand, the T-HN specimen has better deformability than the T-HW specimen. The reinforcing method of adding a half outer sleeve on each joint and filling concrete into the chord members can effectively improve the load carrying capacity and stiffness of the truss, thus reducing the overall deformation of the truss, but the reinforcing method of filling concrete into the chord members is more efficient.
Effect of a Healing Agent on the Curing Reaction Kinetics and Its Mechanism in a Self-Healing System
Authors: Wang Xianfeng , Zhang Ming , Xing Feng , Han Ningxu
Published: November 2018

Self-healing cementitious composites have been developed by using microcapsules. In this study, the effect of the healing agent on the crosslinking and curing reaction kinetics was analyzed. The effect of the diluent n-butyl glycidyl ether (BGE) on the reaction was investigated for five fractions, namely 10.0%, 12.5%, 15.0%, 17.5%, and 20.0% mass fractions to epoxy resin. The Kissinger and Crane equations were used to obtain the activation energy and reaction order with different mass fractions of diluent, as well as the kinetic parameters of the curing reaction. The optimal fraction of BGE was determined as 17.5%. Likewise, the effect of the curing agent MC120D on the reaction kinetics was investigated for 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% mass fractions to the diluted epoxy resin. The optimal fraction was determined as 20%. The mechanism of the curing reaction with the healing agent was investigated. The infrared spectra of the cured products of 20% MC120D with BGE/E51 (0.0%, 12.5%, 15.0%, 20.0%, 100%) were analyzed. It is shown that not only the epoxy resin E-51 was cured, but also that the BGE was involved in the cross-linking reaction of the epoxy resin E-51 with MC120D.
Three-Dimensional Nanofluid Flow with Heat and Mass Transfer Analysis over a Linear Stretching Surface with Convective Boundary Conditions
Authors: Khan Abdul Samad , Nie Yufeng , Shah Zahir , Dawar Abdullah , Khan Waris , Islam Saeed
Published: November 2018

In this study, we analyzed the three-dimensional flow of Williamson (pseudoplastic) fluids upon a linear porous stretching sheet. The thermal radiation impact was taken into account. The transformed non-linear equations were solved by the homotopy analysis method (HAM). The influence of the embedded parameters tretching parameter, Williamson parameter, porosity parameter, thermal radiation parameter, thermophoresis parameter, Brownian motion parameter, Prandtl number and Biot number are presented on velocity, temperature and concentration functions in the graphs and explained in detail. The velocity function along the x-direction reduces with the impact of the stretching, porosity and Williamson parameters. Velocity along the y-direction increases with the stretching parameter, while it reduces with the porosity and Williamson parameters. The effect of Skin friction, heat transfer and mass transfer are shown numerically. The numerical values of surface drag force and the impact of different parameters are calculated and it is observed that increasing the stretching parameter and the porosity parameter reduces the surface drag force, while increasing the Williamson parameter augments the surface drag force. Higher values of the stretching parameter, the Prandtl number and the radiation parameter enhance the heat transfer rate, while the augmented value of the thermophoresis and Brownian motion parameters reduces the heat transfer rate, where higher values of the stretching parameter, thermophoresis and Brownian motion parameters enhance the mass transfer rate.
Quadrotor Formation Strategies Based on Distributed Consensus and Model Predictive Controls
Authors: Chang Chia-Wei , Shiau Jaw-Kuen
Published: November 2018

In this study, the distributed consensus control and model predictive control (MPC)-based formation strategies for quadrotors are proposed. First, the formation-control problem is decoupled into horizontal and vertical motions. The distributed consensus control and MPC-based formation strategy are implemented in the follower’s horizontal formation control. In the horizontal motion, the leader tracks the given waypoints by simply using the MPC, and generates the desired formation trajectory for each follower based on its flight information, predicted trajectory, and the given formation pattern. On the other hand, the followers carry out the formation flight based on the proposed horizontal formation strategy and the desired formation trajectories generated by the leader. In the vertical motion, formation control is carried out using only the MPC for both the leader and the follower. Likewise, the leader tracks the desired altitude/climb rate and generates the desired formation trajectories for the followers, and the followers track the desired formation trajectories generated by the leader using the MPC. The optimization problem considered in the MPC differs for the horizontal and vertical motions. The problem is formulated as a quadratic programming (QP) problem for the horizontal motion, and as a linear quadratic tracker (LQT) for the vertical motion. Simulation of a comprehensive maneuver was carried out under a Matlab/Simulink environment to examine the performance of the proposed formation strategies.
A Multiparameter Approach to Evaluate Post-Stroke Patients: An Application on Robotic Rehabilitation
Authors: Belfatto Antonella , Scano Alessandro , Chiavenna Andrea , Mastropietro Alfonso , Mrakic-Sposta Simona , Pittaccio Simone , Molinari Tosatti Lorenzo , Molteni Franco , Rizzo Giovanna
Published: November 2018

Multidomain instrumental evaluation of post-stroke chronic patients, coupled with standard clinical assessments, has rarely been exploited in the literature. Such an approach may be valuable to provide comprehensive insight regarding patients’ status, as well as orienting the rehabilitation therapies. Therefore, we propose a multidomain analysis including clinically compliant methods as electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), kinematics, and clinical scales. The framework of upper-limb robot-assisted rehabilitation is selected as a challenging and promising scenario to test the multi-parameter evaluation, with the aim to assess whether and in which domains modifications may take place. Instrumental recordings and clinical scales were administered before and after a month of intensive robotic therapy of the impaired upper limb, on five post-stroke chronic hemiparetic patients. After therapy, all patients showed clinical improvement and presented pre/post modifications in one or several of the other domains as well. All patients performed the motor task in a smoother way; two of them appeared to change their muscle synergies activation strategies, and most subjects showed variations in their brain activity, both in the ipsi- and contralateral hemispheres. Changes highlighted by the new multiparametric instrumental approach suggest a recovery trend in agreement with clinical scales. In addition, by jointly demonstrating lateralization of brain activations, changes in muscle recruitment and the execution of smoother trajectories, the new approach may help distinguish between true functional recovery and the adoption of suboptimal compensatory strategies. In the light of these premises, the multi-domain approach may allow a finer patient characterization, providing a deeper insight into the mechanisms underlying the relearning procedure and the level (neuro/muscular) at which it occurred, at a relatively low expenditure. The role of this quantitative description in defining a personalized treatment strategy is of great interest and should be addressed in future studies.