bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality Aspects of Fruit and Vegetables Dried Convectively with Osmotic Pretreatment
Authors: Kowalski Stefan J. , Łechtańska Joanna M. , Szadzińska Justyna
Published: April 2013

This article presents a quality analysis of convectively dried fruits and vegetables with preliminary osmotic dehydration. Tests were carried out on banana fruit and red beetroot samples. Hypertonic solutions of fructose for the banana and those of sucrose for the red beetroot were used, each one at three different concentrations. After osmotic dewatering treatment conducted at different time intervals and after osmotic dehydration the samples were dried convectively until an equilibrium with the surroundings was attained. Osmotic dehydration and convective drying curves were determined. The values of Solids Gain (SG), Water Loss (WL) and Weight Reduction (WR) were measured and changes in the samples’ colour and shape after convective drying with and without osmotic pretreatment were assessed.
Modelling the Dynamics of Flexible and Rigid Fibres
Authors: Kondora Grzegorz , Asendrych Dariusz
Published: April 2013

A particle-level simulation technique has been developed for modelling fibre suspension flow in a converging channel of a papermachine headbox. The fibre model is represented by a chain of elements connected together. The model was verified by the simulation of rigid fibre dynamics in a simple shear flow. The period of rotation was found to be in a very good agreement with theory and reference data. The model was then employed to simulate fibre motion in a converging channel of a papermachine headbox. Fibre suspension motion was resolved using two-step procedure. Velocity field was calculated by means of a commercial CFD code ANSYS Fluent with RSM turbulence model applied and used as an input to the in-house code allowing to simulate fibre dynamics. Results of the calculations were used to construct the fibre orientation probability distribution (FOPD) which was found to be consistent with available experimental data.
Dew Point of the Flue Gas of Boilers Co-Firing Biomass with Coal
Authors: Ciukaj Szymon , Pronobis Marek
Published: April 2013

The paper deals with the impact of co-firing biomass with coal in boilers on the dew point of the flue gas. Co-firing of biomass may have twofold implications on corrosion and fouling, which are the processes that determine the lowest acceptable flue gas outlet temperature and as a result, boiler efficiency. Both phenomena may be reduced by co-firing of usually low sulphur biomasses or enhanced due to increased moisture content of biomass leading to increased water dew point. The present study concerns the problem of low-temperature corrosion in utility boilers. The paper gives (in the form of diagrams and equations) a relationship between water dew point and moisture content of fuel mixture when co-firing coal and various biomasses. The regression analysis shows that despite significant differences in the characteristics of coals and these of additional fuels, which are planned for co-firing in large-scale power boilers, the water dew point can be described by a function given with the accuracy, which shall be satisfactory for engineering purposes. The discussion of the properties of biofuels indicates that the acid dew point surplus over the water dew point (Δtr = tr - twr) is not likely to exceed 10 K when co-firing biomass. The concluding remarks give recommendations for the appropriate operation of boilers in order to reduce risks associated with biomass co-combustion.
Research on Thermal Decomposition of Waste PE/PP
Authors: Kuźnia Monika , Magdziarz Aneta
Published: April 2013

The most important and the most frequently used plastics are polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). They are characterised with high heating values (approximately 40 MJ/kg). Moreover, their chemical composition, based mainly on carbon and hydrogen, allows to use them in industrial processes. One of the methods of utilisation of plastic waste can be its use in the metallurgical industry. This paper presents results of thermal decomposition of waste PE/PP. Chemical and thermal analysis (TG) of studied wastes was carried out. Evolved gaseous products from the decomposition of wastes were indentified using mass spectrometry (TG-MS). This paper also presents an application of plastic wastes as supplemental fuel in blast furnace processes (as a substitute for coke) and as an addition in processes of coking coal.
FIR Filter Design Using Distributed Maximal Flatness Method
Authors: Blok Marek
Published: April 2013

In the paper a novel method for filter design based on the distributed maximal flatness method is presented. The proposed approach is based on the method used to design the most common FIR fractional delay filter - the maximally flat filter. The MF filter demonstrates excellent performance but only in a relatively narrow frequency range around zero frequency but its magnitude response is no greater than one. This ,,passiveness” is the reason why despite of its narrow band of accurate approximation, the maximally flat filter is widely used in applications in which the adjustable delay is required in feedback loop. In the proposed method the maximal flatness conditions forced in standard approach at zero frequency are spread over the desired band of interest. In the result FIR filters are designed with width of the approximation band adjusted according to needs of the designer. Moreover a weighting function can be applied to the error function allowing for designs differing in error characteristics. Apart from the design of fractional delay filters the method is presented on the example of differentiator, raised cosine and square root raised cosine FIR filters. Additionally, the proposed method can be readily adapted for variable fractional delay filter design regardless of the filter type.
On Some DOA Algorithms for Tri-axial Geophone
Authors: Mazur Jan , Świętach Zbigniew
Published: April 2013

In this paper a short study of some basic methods of DOA of a seismic wave using so called tri-axial geophone has been presented. The proposed methods exploit the properties of Rayleigh surface plane wave to find DOA of an incoming seismic wave using inner products of appropriately filtered signals recorded by geophones. The advantage of the proposed method is its simplicity and ease of implementation in small DSP or application processors still retaining pretty good accuracy. A number of example results for real data have been given.
Obstacle Avoidance Procedure and Lee Algorithm Based Path Replanner for Autonomous Mobile Platforms
Authors: Polańczyk Maciej , Strzelecki Michał , Ślot Krzysztof
Published: April 2013

The paper proposes solution for two important issues connected to navigation of independent mobile platforms in an unknown environment. First issue relates to obstacle map, estimated based on stereovision images. It provides a basis for further platform path-planning. The main problem that has to be solved in obstacle map derivation is elimination of artifacts resulting from depth estimation. Thus a two-step artifact filtering procedure is proposed, which exploits both within-frame spatial correlations as well as temporal, between-frame correlations to do this task. Second procedure, based on well-known Lees algorithm is designed for obtaining vehicle collisionless path. Such routes need to be updated on-the-fly to take into account moving obstacles or newly detected objects. The main idea of the proposed approach is to identify regions where environment has changed and to execute a procedure of selective path updates. As a result, an optimal path can be derived at a computational expense comparable to the heuristic Lifelong A* search. Experiment results demonstrate efficiency of the two discussed approaches for platform operation control in real environments, where both static and moving obstacles are present.
Characteristic and diagnostic features of the most frequently occurring species of the Thripidae family (Insecta, Thysanoptera) in crown canopies of Central European forests
Authors: Kucharczyk Halina , Kucharczyk Marek
Published: April 2013

The paper presents characteristic and morphological diagnostic features of females and second larval instar of six terebrantian species: Oxythrips ajugae Uzel 1895, O. bicolor (O. M. Reuter 1879), Taeniothrips inconsequens (Uzel 1895), Thrips calcaratus Uzel 1895, T. minutissimus Linnaeus 1758 and T. pini (Uzel 1895). The species are the most numerously and frequently caught in traps in the canopy layer of various Central European forests. Both adults and larvae of Oxythrips spp. may be easily recognized by features present at the end of their abdomen: the former by length of the abdominal segment X; the latter by differences in the length and position of spines. Adults of other the species mentioned above differ in the following features: number of antennal segments, number of setae in the distal part of their first pair of wings, presence or absence of additional setae on abdominal sternites and pleurites, presence or absence of a tooth on the tarsus of the first pair of legs. The main features differentiating larvae of these species (besides T. pini larva which have been hitherto undescribed) are body sclerotisation and length, and shape of the comb surrounding the IXth abdominal segment.
Stand damage when harvesting timber using a tractor for extraction
Authors: Karaszewski Zbigniew , Giefing Dieter F. , Mederski Piotr S. , Bembenek Mariusz , Dobek Anita , Stergiadou Anastasia
Published: April 2013

Damage to the remaining stand is an unavoidable consequence of thinning operations. The different machines used for timber extraction differ in the level of damage of trees they cause, mainly through wounds to the bark and cambium which can make a substantial impact on the remaining trees. Three different methods of timber harvesting with a chainsaw were analyzed: the short wood system (SWS), the long wood system (LWS) and the full tree system (FTS) in which an agricultural tractor is used for timber extracting. All systems were analyzed in stands containing three different age classes: 2nd (21-40 years), 3rd (41-60 years) and 4th (61-80 years). The level of damage to the remaining stand was assessed considering the percentage of trees exhibiting wounds (scratched bark and/or damage to the cambium) to calculate an index of stand damage (WDI) which incorporated the volume of harvested timber per hectare. The SWS produced the lowest damage to trees in stands of all age classes: average 5%, with the less damage in the oldest stand. After using the LWS, 9% of trees were wounded; in this method there was no statistical difference in frequency of wounding across all the analyzed stands. The highest level of damage was incurred after the FTS, causing 11% of trees to be injured. In stands of the 2nd age class, the method of timber harvesting had no statistically significant effect on the amount of wounding endured. The WDI was lowest in SWS: 0.08, higher in LWS: 0.15 and the highest, 0.23, when FTS was applied.
Correlation between geology and concentration-volume fractal models: significance for Cu and Mo mineralized zones separation in the Kahang porphyry deposit (Central Iran)
Authors: Yasrebi Amir Bijan , Afzal Peyman , Wetherelt Andy , Foster Patrick , Esfahanipour Reza
Published: April 2013

This study identifies the major mineralized zones including supergene enrichment and hypogene enrichment in the Kahang Cu-Mo porphyry deposit which is located in Central Iran based on subsurface data and utilization of the concentration-volume (C-V) fractal model. Additionally, a correlation between results achieved from a C-V fractal model and geological models consisting of zonation, mineralography and alteration have been conducted in order to have an accurate recognition and modification of the main mineralized zones. Log-log plots indicate five geochemical populations for Cu and Mo in the deposit which means that mineralization commences with 0.075 % and 13 ppm for Cu and Mo (as the first thresholds) respectively. The main mineralization began for Cu ≥ 0.42 % and Mo ≥ 100 ppm and also enriched mineralization containing Cu ≥1.8 % and Mo ≥ 645 ppm which is located in the central part of the deposit. According to the C-V model, the main Cu-Mo mineralized zones occur in the hypogene zone, especially in the central, NW and NE parts of the Kahang deposit. The supergene enrichment zone derived via the C-V model is smaller than that in the geological model and is located in the central and eastern parts of the deposit. Results analysed by the C-V fractal model certify that the interpreted zones based on the fractal model are accurate. To certify this, a logratio matrix has been employed to validate the C-V fractal model for the Cu and Mo main mineralized zones
Fault contact of the Pieniny Klippen Belt with the Central Carpathian Paleogene Basin (Western Carpathians): new data from a unique temporary exposure in L̓utina village (Eastern Slovakia)
Authors: Plašienka Dušan , Józsa Štefan , Gedl Przemysław , Madzin Jozef
Published: April 2013

An exceptional, briefly exposed section across the boundary between the Pieniny Klippen Belt (PKB) and the Central Carpathian Paleogene Basin (CCPB) in Eastern Slovakia showed that the contact is formed by a single, subvertical fault plane. Whereas the Oligocene CCPB deposits exhibit only weak deformation with S-verging fold-and-thrust structures, the Cretaceous PKB sediments are internally strongly sheared with scaly fabric and numerous calcite veins. It is inferred that the PKB suffered strong thrusting- and wrenching-related deformation in pre-Oligocene times, while the Early Miocene oblique backthrusting resulted in exhumation of the PKB and formation of its steep fault boundaries
A Reliability of Electromyographic Normalization Methods for the Infraspinatus Muscle in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Ha Sung-min , Cynn Heon-seock , Kwon Oh-yun , Park Kyue-nam , Kim Gyoung-mo
Published: April 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest reliability of normalization methods for the infraspinatus muscle in a group of healthy subjects. Twelve healthy subjects (male=8, female=4) performed the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) with examiner`s resistance, MVIC with a digital tension-meter (MVIC-DT), and sub-MVIC methods. Surface electromyography (EMG) signals were recorded from the infraspinatus muscles according to normalization methods. Reliability was analyzed using the intra-class coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable difference (MDD). The results of the present study demonstrated that the sub-MVIC method has excellent test-retest reliability (ICC=0.92) with a relatively small SEM (5.9 mV) and MDD95 (16.4 mV), compared to MVIC-DT (ICC=0.73; SEM=11.2 mV; MDD95: 31 mV) and MVIC-E (ICC=0.5; SEM=15.7 mV; MDD95: 43.6 mV). These findings provide evidence that sub-MVIC is more appropriate for comparing the EMG activity for the infraspinatus muscle as a normalization method. If MVIC for normalization is needed, MVIC-DT is more appropriate than MVIC-E.
The Effects of a Maximal Power Training Cycle on the Strength, Maximum Power, Vertical Jump Height and Acceleration of High-Level 400-Meter Hurdlers
Authors: Balsalobre-Fernández Carlos , Tejero-González Carlos Mª , Campo-Vecino Juan del , Alonso-Curiel Dionisio
Published: April 2013

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a power training cycle on maximum strength, maximum power, vertical jump height and acceleration in seven high-level 400-meter hurdlers subjected to a specific training program twice a week for 10 weeks. Each training session consisted of five sets of eight jump-squats with the load at which each athlete produced his maximum power. The repetition maximum in the half squat position (RM), maximum power in the jump-squat (W), a squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CSJ), and a 30-meter sprint from a standing position were measured before and after the training program using an accelerometer, an infra-red platform and photocells. The results indicated the following statistically significant improvements: a 7.9% increase in RM (Z=-2.03, p=0.021, δc=0.39), a 2.3% improvement in SJ (Z=-1.69, p=0.045, δc=0.29), a 1.43% decrease in the 30-meter sprint (Z=-1.70, p=0.044, δc=0.12), and, where maximum power was produced, a change in the RM percentage from 56 to 62% (Z=-1.75, p=0.039, δc=0.54). As such, it can be concluded that strength training with a maximum power load is an effective means of increasing strength and acceleration in high-level hurdlers.
Lipoproteins and other Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in a Student Population
Authors: Pap Dragana , Čolak Emina , Majkić-Singh Nada , Grubor-Lajšić Gordana , Vicković Sanja
Published: April 2013

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in many populations, especially in developed countries. The aim of the study was to analyze the lipid status in a student population at increased risk for CVD in comparison with students who are not at increased risk for CVD.

Methods: This study included 238 students from the University of Novi Sad of both sexes (126 men and 112 women), with a mean age of 22.32±1.85 years. According to the body mass index (BMI) lower and higher than 25 kg/m2 and waist circumference (WC) of less and more than 94 cm (80 cm for females) the whole group of 238 students was divided into 2 subgroups: the group at increased risk for CVD (Group 1) and the group at lower risk for CVD (Group 2). Total cholesterol - TCH, triglycerides - TG, high density lipoprotein cholesterol - HDL-c, low density lipoprotein cholesterol - LDL-c, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol - VLDL-c concentrations were determined and the index of atherosclerosis (IA), established risk factors RF-TCH/HDL-c ratio and non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratio were mathematically calculated.

Results: The values of TCH, LDL-c, non-HDL-c, VLDL-c and TG were significantly higher in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (P<0.001). IA, non-HDL-c/HDL-c and RF-TCH/HDL-c ratio were also significantly higher (P<0.001), while HDL-c was significantly lower (p<0.01) in Group 1 compared to controls. These results were not influenced by gender in both groups of subjects.

Conclusions: The data suggest that increased anthropometric parameters are followed by increased lipoprotein status in the group of students at increased risk for CVD and screening of the lipid status is necessary in students, especially in those who are at increased risk for CVD.
TNF-α Mediated Secretory Component is Positively Regulated by PI3K/AKT/MTOR in CACO-2 Cells
Authors: Liu Dongyan , Wang Si , Jiang Teng , Ding Peng
Published: April 2013

Background: Secretory component (SC) is the extracellular component of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) that functions as a receptor for externally secreted polymeric immunoglobulins such as secretory IgA. SC expression is regulated by a signaling pathway involving TNF-a.

Methods: Caco-2 cells were cotreated with TNF-a plus either Wortmannin, which inhibits PI3K, or Rapamycin, which inhibits mTOR. The expression of SC and pIgR mRNA were assessed by immunocytochemistry, Western blotting, and Quantitative real-time PCR.

Results: Wortmannin and Rapamycin decreased the fraction of cells expressing SC, as well as the total expression of SC protein and pIgR mRNA.

Conclusions: TNF-a regulation of SC expression is mediated through a PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in Caco-2 cells.
Antiepileptic Drugs Affect Protein, Lipid and DNA Oxidative Damage and Antioxidant Defense in Patients with Epilepsy
Authors: Ercegovac Marko , Jović Nebojša , Simić Tatjana , Beslać-Bumbaširević Ljiljana , Sokić Dragoslav , Savić-Radojević Ana , Matić Marija , Jovanović Dejana , Ristić Aleksandar , Đukić Tatjana , Šuvakov Sonja , Ćorić Vesna , MimiĆ-Oka Jasmina , Plješa-Ercegovac Marija
Published: April 2013

Background: To get more insight into the effects of the most widely used antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on the prooxidant/ antioxidant balance in epilepsy, a comparative analysis of the byproducts of oxidative damage and antioxidant de fense mechanisms was performed in patients with epilepsy treated with lamotrigine, carbamazepine and valproic acid.

Methods: Byproducts of oxidative damage to proteins (reactive carbonyl derivatives, RCD and protein thiol groups, PSH), lipids (urinary isoprostanes, 8-epi-PGF2a) and DNA (urinary 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine, 8-OHdG), as well as the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were measured in 60 patients with newly diagnosed seizure (at illness onset and after 6 months of treatment with lamotrigine, carbamazepine or valproic acid) and in 20 healthy controls.

Results: In patients with epilepsy, RCD, urinary 8-epi-PGF2a and 8-OHdG, together with SOD and GPX activities were significantly increased, while P-SH were only slightly decreased. After 6 months of treatment with AEDs, a decrease was observed in RCD, urinary 8-epi-PGF2a and 8-OHdG to values slightly higher or similar to the control, while P-SH remained unchanged. A decrease was also observed in SOD and GPX activities, although they remained significantly in creased compared to controls.

Conclusions: The results of this study have shown that treatments with lamotrigine, carbamazepine and valproic acid affect the prooxidant/antioxidant balance in patients with epilepsy.
Pedagogy against the state: The ban on ethnic studies in Arizona
Authors: Wanberg Kyle
Published: April 2013

Drawing on the traditions of critical pedagogy from Paulo Freire and Henry Giroux to recent critical research developed in the Journal of Pedagogy, this study explores how a particular case of curriculum reform in the US is entangled with racial neoliberalism and paranoia.
Slow Rusting Resistance in Iranian Barley Cultivars to Puccinia Striiformis F. Sp. Hordei
Authors: Safavi Safar Ali , Ahari Assadollah Babai , Afshari Farzad , Arzanlou Mahdi
Published: April 2013

Race-specific resistance of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to the yellow rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei, has been reported to be short-lived. Slow rusting resistance has been reported to last for a long time. Twenty Iranian barley cultivars along with resistant and susceptible controls were tested during the 2009-2010 and the 2010-2011 cropping seasons, in field plots at the Ardabil Agricultural Research Station (Iran). The cultivars were tested to identify slow rusting genotypes through epidemiological variables which included: final rust severity (FRS), apparent infection rate (r), relative area under the disease progress curve (rAUDPC), and coefficient of infection (CI). Moreover, differential sets were evaluated in order to determine effective and ineffective resistance genes to barley yellow rust. Results of the mean comparison of resistance parameters showed that cultivars Makouee, Dasht, Fasih, and Arass had low values of FRS, CI, r and rAUDPC compared with susceptible cultivars. The cultivars Walfajre, Abidar and Sahand which had moderate values of the different parameters, were marked as possessing a moderate level of slow rusting. The rest of the cultivars which had high values of different quantitative parameters, were grouped as having a low level of slow rusting or as susceptible. The correlation coefficient between different parameters of slow rusting was significantly high (r = 0.83-0.98). The virulence profile of the prevalent races revealed that rpsEm1, rpsEm2, rpsHF, Rps4, rpsVa1, rpsVa2, rpsAst were effective, and rps2, Rps1.b were ineffective resistance genes during the two year testing period.
A New Bacterial Disease on Bluberry (Vaccinium Corymbosum) Caused by Pseudomonas Spp.
Authors: Kałużna Monika , Puławska Joanna , Meszka Beata
Published: April 2013

In 2011, leaf spot disease was observed on the blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) cv. Nelson growing on a commercial field located in Central Poland. The disease symptoms could be seen as russet brown, irregular spots. The diameter of the spots was 0.3-0.5 cm, and the spots often coalesced. From these leaf spots, a fluorescent bacterium was repeatedly isolated in almost pure culture. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers Ps-for and Ps-rev, specific for Pseudomonas spp. confirmed that they belong to this genus. Based on LOPAT tests [levan production from sucrose (L), presence of oxidase (O), pectolytic activity on potato (P), the presence of arginine dihydrolase (A), hypersensitivity reaction on tobacco (T)], 6 isolates were classified to the LOPAT group Ib - group of Pseudomonas syringae subsp. savastanoi and Pseudomonas delphini, and one isolate to group Ia - P. syringae. All isolates caused a hypersensitivity reaction on tobacco plants, and symptoms similar to those under natural conditions, when young leaves of blueberry cv. Nelson were inoculated. Sequence analysis of 16S rRNA and rpoB genes showed the highest similarity of 6 studied strains to the species P. avellanae. Further taxonomic study is necessary to enable definitive classification of these isolates. It is the first time that a bacterial disease caused by the Pseudomonas spp. was observed in Poland.
The Biology And Ecology Of Brachycaudus Divaricatae Shaposhnikov (Hemiptera, Aphidoidea) On Prunus Cerasifera Ehrhart In Western Poland
Authors: Wilkaniec Barbara , Wilkaniec Agnieszka
Published: April 2013

Brachycaudus divaricatae - was described by Shaposhnikov in the Middle East as a heteroecious aphid species migrating between Prunus divaricata and Melandrium album. The research conducted in Poland proved that this species can be described as holocyclic and monoecious. A significantly shortened development cycle with a summer-winter diapause characterizes this species in Poland. The aim of our studies was a detailed research of the species biology conducted to explain this phenomenon. Elements of the biology and ecology of the new fauna species Brachycaudus divaricatae Shap., were studied in Poland during the 2008-2010 time period. The term of spring hatching, number of generations per season, development length of particular generations, lifespan of specimen, and fecundity of particular generations were all defined. The three-year study proved that 6 to 8 aphid generations can develop on P. cerasifera in Poland. The emergence of sexuales (amphigonic females and males) of B. divaricatae occurred very early in the season: in mid-May, and the first eggs were laid in June.
Real-Time Parameter Estimation Study for Inertia Properties of Ground Vehicles
Authors: Kolansky Jeremy , Sandu Corina
Published: April 2013

Vehicle parameters have a significant impact on handling, stability, and rollover propensity. This study demonstrates two methods that estimate the inertia values of a ground vehicle in real-time.

Through the use of the Generalized Polynomial Chaos (gPC) technique for propagating the uncertainties, the uncertain vehicle model outputs a probability density function for each of the variables. These probability density functions (PDFs) can be used to estimate the values of the parameters through several statistical methods. The method used here is the Maximum A-Posteriori (MAP) estimate. The MAP estimate maximizes the distribution of P(β | z) where β is the vector of the PDFs of the parameters and z is the measurable sensor comparison.

An alternative method is the application of an adaptive filtering method. The Kalman Filter is an example of an adaptive filter. This method, when blended with the gPC theory is capable at each time step of updating the PDFs of the parameter distributions. These PDF’s have their median values shifted by the filter to approximate the actual values.
Reduction of a Vehicle Multibody Dynamic Model Using Homotopy Optimization
Authors: Hall Andrew , Uchida Thomas , Loh Francis , Schmitke Chad , Mcphee John
Published: April 2013

Despite the ever-increasing computational power of modern processors, the reduction of complex multibody dynamic models remains an important topic of investigation, particularly for design optimization, sensitivity analysis, parameter identification, and controller tuning tasks, which can require hundreds or thousands of simulations. In this work, we first develop a high-fidelity model of a production sports utility vehicle in Adams/Car. Single-link equivalent kinematic quarter-car (SLEKQ, pronounced “sleek”) models for the front and rear suspensions are then developed in MapleSim. To avoid the computational complexity associated with introducing bushings or kinematic loops, all suspension linkages are lumped into a single unsprung mass at each corner of the vehicle. The SLEKQ models are designed to replicate the kinematic behaviour of a full suspension model using lookup tables or polynomial functions, which are obtained from the high-fidelity Adams model in this work. The predictive capability of each SLEKQ model relies on the use of appropriate parameters for the nonlinear spring and damper, which include the stiffness and damping contributions of the bushings, and the unsprung mass. Homotopy optimization is used to identify the parameters that minimize the difference between the responses of the Adams and MapleSim models. Finally, the SLEKQ models are assembled to construct a reduced 10-degree-of-freedom model of the full vehicle, the dynamic performance of which is validated against that of the high-fidelity Adams model using four-post heave and pitch tests.
Modelling and Control of an Electro-Hydraulic Active Suspension System
Authors: Ajala Oussama , Bestle Dieter , Rauh Jochen
Published: April 2013

Active suspension systems ease the conflict between comfort and handling. This requires the use of suitable actuators that in turn need to be efficiently controlled. This paper proposes a model-based control approach for a nonlinear suspension actuator. Firstly the concept is derived in the linear framework in order to simplify the synthesis and analysis phase. There a linear model of the actuator is proposed and discussed. Further, this design phase includes a comparison between model-free PID controllers and a newly proposed two-degree-of-freedom controller which allows one to shape reference and disturbance responses separately. Subsequently, the two-degree-of-freedom controller, which proves to be superior, is adapted to the nonlinear framework by considering a linear parameter varying representation of the nonlinear plant. Finally, the nonlinear controller is implemented in a test car confirming the concept applicability to real hardware.
Continuum Mechanical Considerations for Rigid Bodies and Fluid-Structure Interaction Problems
Authors: Hesch Christian , Betsch Peter
Published: April 2013

The present work deals with continuum mechanical considerations for deformable and rigid solids as well as for fluids. A common finite element framework is used to approximate all systems under considerations. In particular, we present a standard displacement based formulation for the deformable solids and make use of this framework for the transition of the solid to a rigid body in the limit of infinite stiffness. At last, we demonstrate how to immerse a discretized solid into a fluid for fluid-structure interaction problems.
A Stochastic Solver of the Generalized Born Model
Authors: Harris Robert C. , Mackoy Travis , Fenley Marcia O.
Published: April 2013

A stochastic generalized Born (GB) solver is presented which
can give predictions of energies arbitrarily close to those that
would be given by exact effective GB radii, and, unlike analytical
GB solvers, these errors are Gaussian with estimates
that can be easily obtained from the algorithm. This method
was tested by computing the electrostatic solvation energies
(ΔGsolv
) and the electrostatic binding energies (ΔGbind
) of a
set of DNA-drug complexes, a set of protein-drug complexes,
a set of protein-protein complexes, and a set of RNA-peptide
complexes. Its predictions of ΔGsolv
agree with those of the
linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation, but it does not predict
ΔGbind
well, although these predictions of ΔGbind
may
be marginally better than those of traditional analytical GB
solvers. Apparently, the GB model itself must be improved
before accurate estimates of ΔGbind
can be obtained.
Numerical Study on Temporal Domain Discretizing for Hydrogeological Modeling Practices
Authors: Amine Boukhemacha Mohamed , Gogu Constantin Radu , Bica Ioan
Published: April 2013

One of the key operations in the construction of hydrogeological models is the transformation of continuous physical systems into discrete models while conserving the aimed model performance level and optimizing the available resources. Such operation is called discretization, and it has to be applied to both spatial and temporal domains in hydrogeology. The present paper deals with the temporal domain discretization. A literature review is given first, and then a parametric study (using 1D flow modeling) is conducted to assess the effects induced by boundary conditions (specified head or specified recharge rate), data temporal resolution and model simulation time step on hydrogeological flow model performances. It was found that the effect induced by the dynamic comportment of a recharge rate boundary condition type is more important than that due to a specified head. For the recharge rate, the time step must be smaller or equal to the data resolution when using Modflow. As for a specified head boundary condition type, it was recommended to take a time step satisfying Δt∞1/(K × Δh).
Fast Estimatio of the Non-Stationary Amplitude of a Harmonically Distorted Signal Using a Kalman Filter
Authors: Kovač Uroš , Košir Andrej
Published: April 2013

In this paper we introduce a self-tuning Kalman filter for fast time-domain amplitude estimation of noisy harmonic signals with non-stationary amplitude and harmonic distortion, which is the problem of a contactvoltage measurement to which we apply the proposed method. The research method is based on the self-tuning of the Kalman filter's dropping-off behavior. The optimal performance (in terms of accuracy and fast response) is achieved by detecting the jump of the amplitude based on statistical tests of the innovation vector of the Kalman filter and reacting to this jump by adjusting the values of the covariance matrix of the state vector. The method's optimal configuration of the parameters was chosen using a statistical power analysis. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms competing methods in terms of speed and accuracy of the jump detection and amplitude estimation.
Separation of Isochromatics and Isoclinics Phasemaps for the Photoelastic Technique with use Phase Shifting and a Large Number of High Precision Images
Authors: Almeida Magalhães Cristina , Smith Neto Perrin , Almeida Magalhães Júnior Pedro Américo , Sperb de Barcellos Clovis
Published: April 2013

Digital photoelasticity is an important optical metrology follow-up for stress and strain analysis using full-field digital photographic images. Advances in digital image processing, data acquisition, procedures for pattern recognition and storage capacity enable the use of the computer-aided technique in automation and facilitate improvement of the digital photoelastic technique. The objective of this research is to find new equations for a novel phase-shifting method in digital photoelasticity. Some innovations are proposed. In terms of phaseshifting, only the analyzer is rotated, and the other equations are deduced by applying a new numerical technique instead of the usual algebraic techniques. This approach can be used to calculate a larger sequence of images. Each image represents a pattern and a measurement of the stresses present in the object. A decrease in the mean errors was obtained by increasing the number of observations. A reduction in the difference between the theoretical and experimental values of stresses was obtained by increasing the number of images in the equations for calculating phase. Every photographic image has errors and random noise, but the uncertainties due to these effects can be reduced with a larger number of observations. The proposed method with many images and high accuracy is a good alternative to the photoelastic techniques.
The Role of Manufacturing Techniques in Enterprises Producing Heating Devices in the Context of Sustainable Development
Authors: Kluczek Aldona , Włosiński Władysław
Published: April 2013

Manufacturing techniques are concerned with quality, cost, productivity and sustainability. With today‘s environmental awareness and the pressure of the sustainability requirements, existing manufacturing techniques of heating devices are evolving into the redesign manufacturing unit processes to increase overall sustainability. Also, these techniques need a measurement method to assess processes-related sustainability performance indicators. The purpose of this paper is to stress the role of manufacturing techniques: welding, cleaning and painting in the manufacture of heating appliances (solid fuel fired boilers used renewable energy sources) in terms of incorporating into the field the concept of sustainable development. It then focuses on the environmental, technical, economical and social impact of sustainable technologies and argues for the need to ensure that the concept is being applied to the manufacture of heating devices. In this paper, author tries to propose a unified, standard scientific factory-level methodology to evaluate the influence of manufacturing techniques on the sustainability of enterprises producing heating devices. The proposed methodology in the terms of the case study is a comprehensive answer to the question of to what extent the improvements in those techniques influence the sustainable development of the enterprises. An industrial case study demonstrates that the proposed improvements can effectively influence the sustainability of enterprise. The results of this assessment can be applied to broad industry sectors, and can lead to the accepted measures and practices.
The Implementation of The Balanced Critical Factor Index Methodology in the Strategy Redevelopment Process
Authors: Rymaszewska Anna , Koskinen Jari , Takala Josu , Zhao Shi , Chen Yang
Published: April 2013

Strategic planning and development is a critical yet often overlooked issue in company’s operations. The planning of development as well as addressing the distribution of available resources should be done systematically rather than instinctively however, many companies still do not have any reliable method that would facilitate the decision making processes at their disposal. This article aims at presenting the innovative analytical method- Balanced Critical Factor Index (BCFI) for addressing the need for change in company’s operational strategy according to changes in available technology and knowledge. By examining a wide array of indexes, the presented method is expected to suggest the directions of development. The presented method also addresses the challenges of the complex process of decision-making. Moreover, the empirical evidence gathered in the studied case company serves as a source of important feedback regarding the further improvement of the BCFI method.
Sensitivity Analysis of Key Customers and Revenue-Oriented Admission Control and Scheduling Algorithm
Authors: Suchacka Grażyna , Borzemski Leszek
Published: April 2013

The paper deals with the problem of Quality of Web Service (QoWS) in e-commerce Web servers, i.e. in retail Web stores. It concerns the admission control and scheduling algorithm for a Web server system, which aims at preventing the system from overload to provide high QoWS level and ultimately, to increase Web site’s conversion rate, i.e. to turn more visitors into customers. The sensitivity of the algorithm to changes in its basic parameter values was analyzed by using a simulation-based approach. Special attention was paid to evaluation of the parameter impact on conventional and business-related system performance metrics.
A New Design of Metamaterials for SAR Reduction
Authors: Faruque M. R. I. , Islam M. T. , Ali M. A. M.
Published: April 2013

The purpose of this paper is to calculate the reduction of specific absorption rate (SAR) with a new design of square metamaterials (SMMs). The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method with lossy-Drude model is adopted in this analysis. The method of SAR reduction is discussed and the effects of location, distance, and size of metamaterials are analyzed. SMMs have achieved a 53.06% reduction of the initial SAR value for the case of 10 gm SAR. These results put forward a guideline to select various types of metamaterials with the maximum SAR reducing effect for a cellular phone.
A Formalism for Expressing the Probability Density Functions of Interrelated Quantities
Authors: Lira I. , Grientschnig D.
Published: April 2013

In this paper we address measurement problems involving several quantities that are interrelated by model equations. Available knowledge about some of these quantities is represented by probability density functions (PDFs), which are then propagated through the model in order to obtain the PDFs attributed to the quantities for which nothing is initially known. A formalism for analyzing such models is presented. It comprises the concept of a „base parameterization“, which is used in conjunction with the change-of-variables theorem. The calculation procedure that results from this formalism is described in very general terms. Guidance is given on how to employ it in practice by presenting both an elementary example and a much more involved one.
Human Resources Annual Interview as a Part of Authentic Leadership
Authors: Marič Miha , Gerdej Tamara , Penger Sandra , Jereb Eva , Žnidaršič Jasmina , Đurica Nina
Published: April 2013

In the paper one of the techniques used in human resource management annual interview as an important part of authentic leadership is discussed. Authentic leadership is the most important matter at the present moment in leadership development and emphasizes the leader’s authenticity. For a leader to be authentic we believe he should have an in depth knowledge of people he is working with and that can be achieved through communication. One of the standardized forms of communication between a leader and his coworkers are annual interviews. In the research where 565 people participated we found out that annual interview is an important part of human resource management and is closely related to authentic leadership. The relation is especially relevant in the part of managing and collaborating with colleagues and subordinates.
Evaluation of Performance of Hybrid Photolysis-DCMD and Photocatalysis-DCMD Systems Utilizing UV-C Radiation for Removal of Diclofenac Sodium Salt From Water
Authors: Mozia Sylwia , Darowna Dominika , Przepiórski Jacek , Morawski Antoni W.
Published: April 2013

The removal of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac sodium salt (DCF, C14H10Cl2NNaO2) from water in two hybrid systems coupling photolysis or photocatalysis with direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) is presented. A UV-C germicidal lamp was used as a source of irradiation. The initial concentration of DCF was in the range of 0.005-0.15 mmol/dm3 and the TiO2 Aeroxide® P25 loading (hybrid photocatalysis-DCMD) ranged from 0.05 to 0.4 g/dm3. Regardless of the applied hybrid system and the initial concentration of DCF, the model drug was completely decomposed within 4h of irradiation or less. Mineralization was less efficient than photodecomposition. In case of the hybrid photolysis-DCMD process the efficiency of TOC degradation after 5h of irradiation ranged from 27.3-48.7% depending on the DCF initial concentration. The addition of TiO2 allowed to improve the efficiency of TOC removal. The highest degradation rate was obtained at 0.3 gTiO2/dm3. During the process conducted with the lowest DCF initial concentrations (0.005-0.025 mmol/dm3) a complete mineralization was obtained. However, when higher initial amounts of DCF were used (0.05-0.15 mmol/dm3), the efficiency of TOC degradation was in the range of 82.5-85%. The quality of distillate was high regardless of the system: DCF was not detected, TOC concentration did not exceeded 0.7 mg/dm3 (1.9 mg/dm3 in permeate) and conductivity was lower than 1.6 μS/cm.
Microemulsions Based on Propylene Glycol Diesters of Caprylic and Capric Acids
Authors: Jaworska Małgorzata A. , Sikora Elżbieta S. , Ogonowski Jan
Published: April 2013

The aim of this work was preparation and characterization of o/w nano and microemulsions containing Crodamol PC® as the oil phase. An influence of surfactants system applied in formulations on the properties of the obtained emulsions has been studied. The emulsions were prepared by phase inversion composition method. The measurement of the internal phase droplet size and the study of rheological properties were done. The obtained results showed that the prepared transparent emulsion systems are nano and microemulsion formulation. Moreover, it was concluded that the microemulsions stability and the size of the internal phase droplets depended on the type and the concentration of emulsifier and on the ratio of water phase to oil. Rheological studies have confirmed that the obtained microemulsions showed pseudoplastic behaviour.
Determination of the main characteristics of the small waterplane area twin hull ships at the initial stage of design
Authors: Bondarenko Oleksandr V. , Boiko Anzhela P. , Seropyan Iryna R.
Published: April 2013

The basic selecting peculiarities of the optimal project characteristics of the small waterplane area twin hull ships compared to conventional ships are considered. The description of the mathematical model and the ship operating model is given. The choice of the optimization method is justified.
A novel method for archiving multibeam sonar data with emphasis on efficient record size reduction and storage
Authors: Moszynski Marek , Chybicki Andrzej , Kulawiak Marcin , Lubniewski Zbigniew
Published: April 2013

Over the past few years considerable advances in sonar technology, spatial positioning capabilities and computer processing power have lead to significant improvements in mapping, imaging and technologies of seafloor exploration. Recently, modern multibeam echosounder systems (MBES) capable of recording backscatter data for the whole water column, not just for the seabed, have become available thus providing data allowing for visualization and analysis of objects other than the seabed such as single fish, fish schools or pollution. Unlike bathymetric sonars, which only capture the seafloor, multibeam systems produce very large amounts of data during surveys. Because of this, storing the data collected during hydrographic or scientific cruises becomes a crucial problem. In this context, the paper proposes a new approach for efficient reduction and storage of MBES records. The results of a sample implementation of the algorithm being tested on several different sets of MBES data are also discussed.
Accounting for Contiguous Multiword Expressions in Shallow Parsing
Authors: Constant Matthieu , Blanc Olivier , Watrin Patrick
Published: April 2013

In this paper, we focus on chunking including contiguous multiword expression recognition, namely super-chunking. In particular, we present different strategies to improve a superchunker based on Conditional Random Fields by combining it with a finite-state symbolic super-chunker driven by lexical and grammatical resources. We display a substantial gain of 7.6 points in terms of overall accuracy.
Significance of the Correlation in Turn-taking Dialogues
Authors: Singh Lourembam Surjit , Singh R.K. Brojen
Published: April 2013

This piece of work investigates the relation between characters in a play based on turntaking dialogues. As the dialogues are related to each other in the play, numbers of turn-taking are significant of the characters’ relationship and the utterances give indication about the information content of the interaction. In this Manipuri radio play, the sequence of turns taken by the characters convey different amount of information with different functions. Numbers of dialogues oscillate significantly with a period of 2 scenes during the play. The degree of oscillation present in turn-taking dialogues carries significant information functions. The nature of the relationship between the characters involved and the theme of the play may be characterised by calculations on turn-taking dialogues.