bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heralded high-efficiency entanglement concentration of cluster states for photon systems with linear optics via time-delay effect
Authors: Du Fang-Fang , Li Ling-Hui , Ren Xue-Mei , Ma Ming , Wang Yang-Yang , Liu Wen-Yao
Published: August 2024

Entanglement concentration stands as a pivotal technique to safeguard against degraded fidelity in long-distance quantum communication. In this manuscript, propose ultra-efficient entanglement concentration protocols (ECPs) tailored for less-entangled two-photon cluster states and four-photon cluster states with two unknown parameters, leveraging simple linear optical elements and acute single-photon detectors. Additionally, ancillary photons, post-selection techniques, or photon-number-resolving detectors are unnecessary for complete identification of the parity-check measurement. By coordinating auxiliary time degrees of freedom and implementing multiple recycling conditions, the success of two ECPs can be heralded by detection signatures without compromising the incident qubits, thereby allowing their efficiencies to be close to 0.75, in principle. The combination of heralded detection and basic linear optical elements renders our practical ECPs accessible for experimental exploration with current technology.
Thermal breakdown characteristics and damage mechanisms of novel GaN HEMT aviation nanodevices in high-intensity radiation fields
Authors: Ma Zhenyang , Liu Dexu , Xu Ke , Duan Zhaobin
Published: August 2024

This paper designs a novel GaN HEMT aviation nanodevice through the Sentaurus-TCAD simulation software. The thermal breakdown characteristics of the device in a high-intensity radiation field environment are investigated. The impact of parameters in the channel and barrier layer on the breakdown of the device is analyzed. The electromagnetic environmental effects of the device are verified, and the damage law of the device is obtained. By injecting high-power microwave signals into the gate, the strength of the internal electric field, concentration of the current, and peak temperature of the device are analyzed to assess their impact on device damage. Research has shown that the doping concentration, structural size, and aluminum doping ratio of the barrier layer significantly affect the distribution of internal field strength and carrier concentration within the device, thereby influencing its breakdown characteristics. The concentrations of Al and impurity doping in the barrier layer affect the device’s breakdown characteristics. Consequently, this novel GaN HEMT aviation nanodevice exhibits a higher breakdown voltage and stability, making it more suitable for application in high-frequency harsh environments.
Numerical simulations of water spraying on the deflector during rocket offshore launching
Authors: Su Yifei , Cui Yangwen , Le Guigao
Published: August 2024

Cooling effect of the water jet on the face of the deflector during offshore launching process of the vehicle is studied in this paper. Based on the Reynolds averaging method and three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations, a realizable k-ε turbulence model simulates the high-speed gas flow in a rocket engine, and the Euler discrete method simulates the gas-liquid coupling between water and engine gas. The accuracy of the above numerical method is verified by comparing the flow field simulation results with the water spray experiment results. Research has shown that during the launch process of the launch vehicle, the surface thermal environment of the 0-meter-high deflector is the most severe. After cooling by spraying water, the cooling of the jet core area on the surface of the deflector is not obvious, but the temperature of other areas decreases significantly. The pressure on the surface of the deflector will not change significantly. Results provide effective solutions for improving thermal environment of the deflector surface during rocket offshore launching and reducing the deflector surface erosion.
Research on throat type variable thrust solid rocket motor
Authors: Yin Yongqi , Hu Zongchun , Zhu Xiaoguang , Wu Yake , Chang Zhiqiang , Xu Xuezheng , Shu Hongbin , Zhu Chengyong
Published: August 2024

Solid Rocket Motors (SRM) is a power propulsion device using solid propellant, which has obvious advantages in structure, reliability, and ease of use compared with other types of power propulsion devices. With the continuous development of science and technology, the real environment puts forward higher requirements for the maneuverability of rocket engines, and engines with fast start ability and power adjustment functions are becoming more and more important. Therefore, variable thrust solid rocket engines occupy a very important place in the development of future rocket engines. In this paper, the working principle of the throat plug engine is analyzed, and the functional relationship between the thrust and the displacement of the throat plug is derived. The throat bolt solid rocket motor changes the minimum cross-sectional area of the nozzle through the reciprocating motion of the throat bolt on the central axis and then changes the thrust. By establishing a Cartesian coordinate system to describe the shape of the throat plug and the nozzle in the shape of a functional curve, the problem of the minimum cross-sectional area of the nozzle of any throat plug configuration is transformed into the problem of the shortest distance between the two curves, and the established functional relationship between the thrust force and the displacement of the throat plug provides a basis for the design of the throat plug configuration.
Analysis and study on the minimum allowable clearance between civil aircraft fan cowling and flaps
Authors: Feng Kai , Pan Lijun , Jin Ding , Li Chen
Published: August 2024

In the development of civil aircraft, the evaluation of the minimum allowable clearance between the fan cowl opening and flaps is a crucial factor in determining the maintainability of civil aircraft and an essential aspect of the development process for civil aircraft models. To ensure that the aircraft does not experience poor maintainability or interference issues during ground maintenance due to insufficient clearance, this paper proposes a clearance analysis method to study the minimum allowable clearance between the fan cowl opening and flaps during maintenance. The paper outlines the approach to clearance analysis, explains the principles of clearance control, and discusses factors influencing clearance. Finally, using a specific aircraft as a case study, the paper provides a detailed description of the factors to be considered in calculating and analyzing the minimum allowable clearance between the fan cowl opening and flaps. The research results also demonstrate the practical engineering value of this clearance analysis method.
Civil aircraft negative acceleration airworthiness regulation differences analysis and certification
Authors: Zhang Ruihua , Zhou Liang
Published: August 2024

This article starts by analyzing the negative acceleration clause in the civil airworthiness regulations of the United States, Europe, and China, and it also conducts comparative analysis and research on airworthiness verification methods and flight test indicators for civil aircraft with negative acceleration scenarios. Moreover, suggestions are given for airworthiness verification objects and methods. This article has a reference value for the analysis of negative acceleration scenarios in civil aircraft design and guides the design of negative acceleration airworthiness verification flight subjects.
Numerical simulation of reverse jet flow of transonic slender body
Authors: Li Kangkang , Liu Yuwei , Liu Yaofeng
Published: August 2024

The modern vehicle usually uses a gas rudder in the active phase or a pulse engine in the passive phase to realize rapid maneuvering. Under the circumstances of a large angle of attack (short by AOA), nozzle jet flows of the main engine are contrary to the free stream, which leads to complex jet interference on the surface of the body. This paper carries out a numerical simulation of jet interference in the reverse direction of the main engine jet under the condition of transonic velocity for typical shapes and obtains the flow field characteristics of the reverse flow under both the long penetration model and short penetration model. The jet interference characteristics are also studied. Finally, the interference of the reverse jet on the tail rudder is studied, and the rule of rudder effect under different penetration modes is obtained. In short penetration mode, the rudder effect is the opposite and much bigger than that without the main engine jet flow.
The extraction method of the time difference in the output angle of MLS
Authors: Sun Shixiang , Jin Shan , Wang Xiaoxu
Published: August 2024

The extraction and calculation method of the output angle signal of the Microwave Landing Simulator (MLS) is crucial for simulating the landing process of the aircraft. This study aims to explore the extraction and solution methods for the angle signals output of microwave landing simulators. Firstly, the microwave signal is collected and processed by the simulator to obtain raw data related to the relative position and angle between the aircraft and landing equipment output. Next, signal processing techniques, waveform analysis, and mathematical calculations are used to process and resolve the original data. For the output angle signal, emphasis is placed on the extraction of the forward scanning beam, backward scanning beam, and pulse 3dB points. Finally, the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed method in microwave landing simulators are evaluated through practical application verification. The results of this study provide new methods and technical support for the extraction and calculation of angle signals in microwave landing simulators, which is of great significance for the simulation and optimization of aircraft landing processes.
Research on the influence of ducted fan position on the performance of powered high-lift system
Authors: Li Gang , Song Hui , Mao Sen
Published: August 2024

The ducted fan-powered high-lift system realizes the lift increase effect in the form of blowing flaps. The position of a ducted fan is the most critical parameter in the design of a ducted fan-powered high-lift system. An analysis model of ducted fan blowout flap of a vertical/short take-off and landing (V/STOL) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with three ducts is established in this paper. T-Rex unstructured grid technique and Reynolds mean method (RANS) were used for simulation calculation. The influence of the position of the ducted fan on the performance of the ducted fan high-lift system is studied on this basis. The results show that the horizontal forward movement of the ducted fan can increase the lift coefficient and lift drag ratio. When the ducted fan moves up, the lift-drag ratio increases, but the lift coefficient decreases. In the vertical direction, the proper position is chosen by the wing as far as possible. The negative installation angle of the ducted fan will obtain a larger lift coefficient. Changing the position of the ducted fan for greater lift usually also results in greater bow torque, which puts a greater burden on the tail trim.
Numerical simulation of unsteady characteristics of large flow rate jet interference
Authors: Liu Yuwei , Li Kangkang , Wang Xincheng , Liu Yaofeng
Published: August 2024

In this paper, for a cone-column-skirt spiral shape, the unsteady characteristics of complex flow caused by strong interference of large flow jets and high-speed incoming flow are studied. The unsteady numerical simulation method based on partition docking structure grid and double time step iteration is used to implement the integrated unsteady calculation of external flow around the aircraft/nozzle flow. The unsteady characteristics of large flow jet interference under the influence of jet startup and shutdown, different jet pressure building forms, and incoming flow conditions (flight altitude, flight Mach number, and angle of attack) are studied. The characteristics of the jet interference flow field structure, jet thrust coefficient, and aerodynamic interference coefficients of the projectile body over time under various conditions are discussed. The research results can provide necessary references for relevant aircraft design.
Fault diagnosis of flight control system based on BWO-VMD-DNCNN
Authors: Gui Huazhan , Zhao Yifei , Zhang Ying , Yuan Quan , Li Kai , Li Zhaorui , Yuan Feng
Published: August 2024

The flight control system of commercial aircraft is the core system of the aircraft and is directly related to whether the aircraft can fly safely. There are difficulties in fault diagnosis of flight control systems, such as noise and complex signals in the collected signals. This paper proposes a fault diagnosis method to solve this problem, using the Beluga Whale Optimization (BWO) and the denoise convolutional neural network (DNCNN) improved variational mode decomposition combined with the support vector machine optimized convolutional neural network. Firstly, the signal undergoes decomposition using variational mode decomposition, followed by the introduction of Beluga Whale Optimization. The minimum envelope entropy serves as the fitness function, and the determination of the number of decomposition layers and quadratic level of variational mode decomposition relies on the fitness value, incorporating a penalty factor. Secondly, enhancements are made to the denoising convolutional neural network to adapt it for one-dimensional signal denoising. The denoising convolutional neural network is used to denoise each mode after variational mode decomposition, and the denoised modes are reconstructed to obtain the denoised signal. Finally, the convolutional neural network (CNN) is used to extract data features, and the support vector machine (SVM) is used to replace the Softmax classifier in the convolutional neural network to realize fault diagnosis of the flight control system. According to the results of the experiment, the method is universally applicable, demonstrating strong diagnostic ability and high diagnostic accuracy.
Numerical research on rain field intensity and uniformity of a high-velocity rain wind tunnel
Authors: Liu Qianqian , Liu Huayuan , Zhou Qiongyao , Dong Mingsai
Published: August 2024

Rain field intensity and uniformity are essential to high-velocity rain wind tunnels. This paper investigated the rain field of a high-velocity rain wind tunnel via a two-way coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian approach. The simulation results show that the spray diffusion degree is mainly affected by air velocity, followed by the initial particle velocity. The intensity of the rain field increases with the growth of the nozzle flow rate and the increase of the air velocity, while the uniformity of the rain field is mainly affected by the air velocity. Under the same air velocity and nozzle flow rate, the farther away from the outlet, the lower the rain field intensity, while the uniformity of the rain field displays the tendency to rise initially and then decline.
Follower’s guide rail slope angle parameterization research for special high-speed cylinder cam mechanism
Authors: Liu Chang , Yang Zhen , Xu Jian , Ai Zhiyuan , Wang Guoqiang
Published: August 2024

In order to research the relationship between the follower’s guide rail’s slope angle and the drive pressure force on the main roller and improve the driving condition, the main roller, and the follower system’s dynamics analysis is done. It expresses the rotating motion of the main roller and the longitudinal movement of the follower, respectively, using the momentum moment theory and Newton’s Second Law. The cycle program is created by using the method of parameterizing the slope angle between the guide rail and the horizon direction while maintaining the follower’s transverse direction width. The results of the calculation show that: the drive pressure force grows monotonically and has an approximate linear connection with the guide rail’s slope angle; the guide rail’s slope angle has no effect on the time at which the main roller’s pressure force peaks. The curve between driving pressure force and slope angle has a larger slope rate when the rotating body has a higher rotary velocity. The horizon guide rail will be therefore given precedence in the follower design process for the high rotational velocity cam mechanism, starting from the point of drive pressure force. However, the best combination for self-aligning after wear is a guide rail with a short slope angle and a cam curve with a small acceleration.
Civil aircraft air conditioning and refrigeration control system hil simulation design based on NI VeriStand
Authors: Zhang XueLing , Duan Chun , Wang Yuzhi , Lu Ding
Published: August 2024

This article introduces the hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation design of a civilian aircraft air conditioning refrigeration control system based on NI VeriStand. It elaborates on key technologies such as model-based control algorithm development and embedded code generation in the design process. Additionally, it conducts temperature control experiments at system outlets under different operating conditions on the hardware-in-the-loop platform and compares the results with Simulink simulation, verifying the correctness of the generated code and the feasibility of the platform system solution. This work also lays the foundation for rapid design and optimization of control systems in the future.
Control technology of airborne photoelectric tracking system
Authors: Zhou Fangyan , Wang Hu , Niu Shuaixu , Liu Xiaoqiang , Ren Zelin
Published: August 2024

In order to achieve effective control of the airborne photoelectric tracking system and optimize the system control performance, accelerometers are introduced on the basis of the traditional gyroscope-based dual-loop control to optimize the performance of the control system. However, accelerometer signals are subject to errors due to both drift and noise in the lower frequency bands, which affects the effectiveness of the control system. In order to address this issue, an acceleration signal fusion method is proposed to obtain more accurate acceleration signals using velocity difference to fuse with accelerometer signals. The fused acceleration signals are used to implement acceleration feed-forward control to optimize control performance.
Developing active-spoiler on a new BEV using combined methods
Authors: He Yue , Yi Heng
Published: August 2024

This paper presents a new type of active aerodynamic device that can decrease overall aero drag by improving base pressure recovery. The ideology of using an active spoiler is, in fact, a compromise between aerodynamic performance, styling, and technical propaganda requirements. The proposal of implanting an active spoiler first came to us by observation from some luxurious cars on the road: Panamera, 911, Audi A7, etc. However, it is very difficult for us to find certain SAE papers that can exclusively depict the mechanism behind those active spoilers that are equipped on family vehicles. Therefore, it is our mission to explore it with our own CFD simulations and wind tunnel tests. In this paper, a full model of a new rear-design electronic vehicle was built along with several spoiler designs. Multiple rounds of CFD simulations were run to verify the effect of active spoilers from different positions. By carefully investigating the flow field around the active spoiler and vehicle rear, the Cd fluctuation amongst varieties of spoiler angle and elevation was obtained to facilitate final decision-making in terms of the active spoiler. Finally, a discussion and analysis of the disparity between test results and the numerical ones has been conducted, followed by the final conclusion.
The influence of harness parasitic parameters of arc power supply controllers
Authors: Peng Zheng , Li Zongliang , Li Ze , Li Zhong , Song Fei , Liu Yizhuo , Zhang Lin
Published: August 2024

In the arc propulsion system, the arc thruster (AT) generates a large, fast transient current at the moment of arc initiation. The parasitic parameters of the harness connecting the AT and the arc thruster power control unit (ATPU) induce a high-voltage electromotive force under the fast transient current condition. If the high-voltage electromotive force exceeds the rated voltage of the ATPU device, it will affect the reliability of the ATPU. This article proposes measures to reduce the impact of harness parameters on ATPU based on AT arc characteristics and harness parasitic parameters in order to improve ATPU reliability.
Experimental and numerical investigation on wheel regional aerodynamics in an electric vehicle
Authors: Yi Heng , Zeng Yi , Wan Liming , Huang Shunqiao , Sun Richard , Huang Tao , Hu Yuanzhi , Ma Fayue
Published: August 2024

The aerodynamic development of electric vehicles (EVs) has drawn more and more attention recently due to its direct relationship with EVs’ power consumption and driving range. The wheel regional aerodynamics are complex and important, rendering them a hot research topic. In this work, wind tunnel tests and CFD simulations are performed to investigate the regional aerodynamics of wheels in an electric SUV, taking into account the interference effects between the tires, automatic grille shutter (AGS), and front wheel deflectors. Since the vehicle’s aerodynamic drag coefficient is the focus of this research, three parameters with major effects on the drag coefficient, including tire width, AGS status (open/closed) and height of front wheel deflectors, are chosen for a parametric study in a wind tunnel. The wind tunnel results show that the experimental drag coefficient increases linearly with the increase in tire width. Linear regressions show that the sensitivity coefficients, affected by the status of the AGS and height of the front wheel deflectors, range from 5.0 to 7.6 counts for a 10 mm increase in tire width. The drag coefficient is reduced by reducing the height of the front wheel deflectors from 50 to 30 mm in all cases investigated, and the reductions range from 0.8 to 7.6 counts. Reductions of the drag coefficient by closing the AGS range from 13.2 to 19.1 counts and a cooperative drag reduction effect is observed between closing the AGS and reducing the height of the front wheel deflectors. CFD simulations are performed to visualize the flow patterns, and the flow field information extracted is used to explain some of the experimental phenomena. This work proves that both wind tunnel tests and CFD simulations are useful tools for investigating wheel regional aerodynamics in electric vehicles.
Effect of the repetition frequency and polarity of square wave voltage on the partial discharge of electric machine insulation for more electrical aircraft
Authors: Wang Jianwen , Kong Yongjin , Cai Yi , Wang Yalin
Published: August 2024

More electric aircraft (MEA) are featured with the electric propulsion system, which is more efficient and environmentally friendly than traditional aircraft. Partial discharge (PD) caused by high-frequency square wave electrical stress and environmental stress is the main reason for the failure of electric machine insulation for MEA. To study the effect of the repetition frequency and polarity of square wave voltage on partial discharge characteristics, a partial discharge detection platform is set up, using an ultra-high-frequency (UHF) down-mixing method and optical method to detect PD. These two methods are proven to be effective in measuring the PD impulse signal under square wave voltages. Meanwhile, considering the actual operating condition of MEA, the high voltage square wave is applied on samples of twisted pairs under different air pressures (down to 20 kPa) and different repetition frequencies (up to 5 kHz). The results show that the increase in the frequency of the square wave and the decrease in air pressure lead to a lower PDIV. In addition, electric field distribution under square wave voltage of different polarities and frequencies and the dielectric relaxation process of gas-solid composite insulation for electric machine insulation are analyzed to explain the results physically.
Effects of driving capability on single-event transient of inverter in bulk FinFET Technology
Authors: Bai Yang , Yue Suge , Sun Yu , Zhu Yongqin , Yuan Jingshuang , Li Tongde , Wang Liang
Published: August 2024

With the continuous scaling down of the Integrated Circuits process, the issue of single-event transient in FinFET technology has become increasingly crucial. In this study, 3D models of inverters based on FinFET technology are established through TCAD simulation. By simulating the single-event transient of inverter units under various driving capabilities, the study quantitatively determines the impact of driving capability on SET pulse width. Additionally, the study delves into the underlying mechanism behind this relationship, focusing on the charge collection mechanism. The simulation findings indicate that increasing the driving capability leads to a higher recovery current and reduced SET pulse width. These results provide valuable insights for cost-effective mitigation strategies against single-event transient in advanced FinFET technology.
The response surface method is used to investigate the optimal corrosion inhibition condition of reclaimed water pipeline
Authors: Zhou Shangming , Zhu Zhiping , Li Tao , Yang Huo
Published: August 2024

In order to solve the problem of corrosion and scaling in the recycled water pipeline of thermal power plan, sodium polarized sodium phosphate and sodium molybdenum acid were selected as comparison experiments, and dynamic experiments were used to simulate recycled water through dynamic experiments. The actual usage situation, through the weight of the test, inspected the corrosion effect of different concentration corrosion doses, and the three-dimensional dynamic model of the regenerative water pipeline corrosion of the regenerative water pipeline at the response surface analysis, and the optimal reaction conditions were obtained. Essence The condition of the best sodium polarized sodium phosphate corrosion reaction conditions: the concentration of the corrosion agent was 10 mg/L, the temperature was 21°C, the pH was 8, the corrosion rate was 93.4%; Conditions: The concentration of the corrosion doses was 600 mg/L, the temperature was 21°C, and the pH was 8.47. Under this condition, the optimal corrosion rate of sodium molybdenum was 94.1%. Adding a corrosion agent could reduce the corrosion of the pipeline and reduce the cost of artificial maintenance.
Formation of an anti-corrosive chemical conversion coating on aluminium substrate under low temperature
Authors: Yao Lina , Zhang Maocai , Xin Bo
Published: August 2024

Improving the anti-corrosive performance of aluminium (Al) and its alloys is essential in its industrial applications. In this work, a green trivalent chromium conversion (TCC) coating was prepared on the surface of commercial high-purity Al without phosphate in the conversion solution under low temperature. The surface morphology of the TCC coating prepared with various immersion time was characterized. A compact TCC coating without pinholes and cracks was obtained with the immersion time of 1.5 min. The potentiodynamic polarization curves of the specimens with TCC coating were also recorded and analysed to evaluate the influence of immersion time and conversion process temperature on the protection performance of the TCC coatings. The results showed both the immersion time and temperature have obvious effects in the corrosion current (J
corr) and corrosion potential (E
corr). According to the measured J
corr, E
corr, and pitting potential (E
p), an optimized immersion time of 1.5 min and temperature of 40 °C was obtained to form a compact and effective TCC coating on Al substrate.
High-yield extracellular vesicle production from HEK293T cells encapsulated in 3D auxetic scaffolds with cyclic mechanical stimulation for effective drug carrier systems
Authors: Chen Yi-Wen , Lin Yen-Hong , Ho Chia-Che , Chen Cheng-Yu , Yu Min-Hua , Lee Alvin Kai-Xing , Chiu Shao-Chih , Cho Der-Yang , Shie Ming-You
Published: August 2024

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) show promise in drug loading and delivery for medical applications. However, the lack of scalable manufacturing processes hinders the generation of clinically suitable quantities, thereby impeding the translation of EV-based therapies. Current EV production relies heavily on non-physiological two-dimensional (2D) cell culture or bioreactors, requiring significant resources. Additionally, EV-derived ribonucleic acid cargo in three-dimensional (3D) and 2D culture environments remains largely unknown. In this study, we optimized the biofabrication of 3D auxetic scaffolds encapsulated with human embryonic kidney 293 T (HEK293 T) cells, focusing on enhancing the mechanical properties of the scaffolds to significantly boost EV production through tensile stimulation in bioreactors. The proposed platform increased EV yields approximately 115-fold compared to conventional 2D culture, possessing properties that inhibit tumor progression. Further mechanistic examinations revealed that this effect was mediated by the mechanosensitivity of YAP/TAZ. EVs derived from tensile-stimulated HEK293 T cells on 3D auxetic scaffolds demonstrated superior capability for loading doxorubicin compared to their 2D counterparts for cancer therapy. Our results underscore the potential of this strategy for scaling up EV production and optimizing functional performance for clinical translation.
Machine learning and design of experiments for optimizing laser-engraved micro fresnel lens mould
Authors: Datta Subir , Goswami Arjyajyoti
Published: August 2024

This research examines the application of Laser Engraving to produce micro Fresnel Lenses on aluminum plates, a novel application of this non-conventional machining method. The research explores the effects of the scan speed, laser power with number of cycles on the roundness deviation using a L9 orthogonal array. Multiple analytical methods, including the Taguchi method, Random Forest Algorithm with sensitivity analysis, are employed to optimize process and predict the outcomes. In this study, a thorough analysis of the fabrication of a micro Fresnel lens on Aluminum plate (10 mm × 10 mm × 2 mm) using fiber laser of wavelength 1064 nm is presented. The study finds that laser power has most significant effect on the roundness deviation, followed by the number of the cycles and scan speed. Scan Speed ranges from 500 to 700 mm s−1, the Power ranges from 25 to 35 Watts, and the Number of Cycles ranges from 100 to 200. Optimal conditions are identified as 700 mm/s scan speed, 25 W power, and 100 cycles. Microscopic analysis confirms roundness deviation under these conditions. Comparisons between analytical approaches and experimental results reveal that both the Taguchi method and Random Forest Algorithm align closely with experimental outcomes, with the Random Forest Algorithm showing slightly higher accuracy (6.18 percentage points closer to experimental results). This research addresses a gap in comparative studies evaluating traditional statistical methods against modern machine learning algorithms for process optimization in laser machining. It combines knowledge from optics, materials science, and laser machining, utilizing advanced methods and technologies that have only recently become accessible. The findings provide valuable insights for future applications of micro Fresnel lenses on aluminum plates and contribute to the understanding of laser engraving processes for precision optical components. Between the Random Forest Algorithm and the Taguchi method, Random Forest Algorithm fits more closely to the experimental result. Random Forest Algorithm prediction is closer to experimental result by about 6.18 percentage points compared to the Taguchi method prediction.
Uncertainty, Risk, and the Need for Trust in Our Hope for Health
Authors: Cutillo Bob
Published: August 2024

Science and medicine have had great success in reducing the uncertainties surrounding sickness over the last 100 years. But current efforts to reduce the risk of future disease in healthy people depend on abstract and disembodied statistical models that are increasingly distant from individual lives with little or no likelihood of personal benefit. When couched in numerical terms and combined with the fear of an unknown future, we are easily manipulated by the authority of fact. A new form of authority is needed, rooted in relationship, informed by sound science, and embracing risk. Enabled through the support of caring relationships to make commitments in the face of uncertain outcomes, we will be better able to choose wisely in our hope for health.
Ecological opportunity leads to higher diversity and probability of trophic specialization in Arctic charr
Authors: Fenton Sam , Bean Colin W , Martin Samuel A M , Poultney Samuel J , Adams Colin E , Elmer Kathryn R
Published: August 2024

Understanding the extrinsic factors that drive the emergence of biological diversity is critical to its protection and management. However, even superficially similar local environments can vary considerably, and so large-scale datasets are needed to understand the key drivers across a representative portion of a species distribution. Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) is a widespread salmonid fish that represents an excellent study system for these processes because the species shows substantial diversification to a range of freshwater environments and multiple instances of trophic specialization in the form of sympatric ecotype populations. However, the processes behind this variation remain largely unknown due to a lack of broad-scale studies. To address this, we investigated the drivers of diversity via a national-scale study of 64 Arctic charr populations in lakes across Scotland using a genome-wide dataset of single nucleotide polymorphisms (N = 24 878) and phenotypic data of head depth relative to body size. We found that the extent of genetic and phenotypic diversity was predicted by ecosystem size (a proxy of lake size, depth, and complexity). We suggest this is because larger, deeper lakes generally provided more ecological opportunity and diversification potential. Additionally, using environmental data from all 187 lakes containing Arctic charr in Scotland, we found that ecosystem size strongly predicted the potential for trophic specialization and the presence of sympatric divergent ecotypes. Our results show the importance of ecological opportunity in underlying adaptive radiations.
Supplement to Chapter 2
Authors: Lianos Ioannis , Korah Valentine , Siciliani Paolo
Published: August 2024

This supplement to Chapter 2 focuses on the relationship between the aims of competition law and institutional design, using the example of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act (RTPA) of 1956 in the UK to show that the institutional setting exerts a considerable influence on the issue of the goals of competition law, rather than the opposite. The opinion of Advocate General Roemer for the European Court of Justice in Consten & Grundig v Commission (1966) on the issue of whether sole distributorship agreements adversely affect competition is also discussed. The case addressed whether the sole distributorship agreement made between Grundig and Consten fall under Article 101(1) TFEU, considering that this provision also applies to the so-called vertical agreements.
Freedom of Contract
Authors: Wood Philip R
Published: August 2024

This chapter reviews freedom of contract as an important value in the law. It discusses the range of free choice of governing law and courts and any limitations on this free choice on a comparative basis. The main indicators used for measuring freedom of contract are prohibitions on clauses restricting the assignment of receivables and bondholder democracies and other collective action by bondholders, with a particular emphasis on a comparison between English and US law. This chapter explains that legal prohibitions on clauses restricting assignments of contract rights involve a direct clash between two potent principles, and also that of the need for marketability of assets as against the fundamental concept of freedom of contract in wholesale markets. The comparison of bondholder voting, which is a financial democracy like shareholder voting and voting on insolvency plans, has to be seen in the light of the role of political democracies.
The London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) Rules
Authors: Collett Michael J , Davies Josephine CP , McRae Belinda
Published: August 2024

This chapter discusses the rules of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), an institution that administers arbitrations in accordance with its own rules (the Rules), ad hoc arbitrations, and mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. It provides an overview of the LCIA and its organization, which consists of three pillars—the Company, the Court and the Secretariat—and its Users’ Councils, arbitration fees, mediation procedure, and statistics on LCIA arbitrations. It also traces the history of the LCIA and its Rules and concludes with a detailed commentary on Articles 1–32 of the LCIA Rules, which cover topics ranging from Request for Arbitration to written communications and periods of time, formation of arbitral tribunal, communications between parties and arbitral tribunal, conduct of arbitral proceedings, language(s) of arbitration, witness testimony, appointment of expert(s) to arbitral tribunal, jurisdiction and authority of the arbitral tribunal, and arbitral awards.
The Venetian Banks’ Collapse
Authors: Giudici Paolo
Published: August 2024

This chapter looks at the collapse of two Venetian banks: Banca Popolare di Vicenza (BPVI) and Veneto Banca (VB). Both BPVI and VB were declared insolvent by the European Central Bank (ECB) on June 23, 2017. They became insolvent after a prolonged period in which they sought to raise, by any means, fresh capital in order to sustain their lack of profitability and the capital thresholds provided by the ECB. The Venetian banks' case is extremely interesting at a European level for many reasons. It is a great corporate governance and public enforcement fiasco. Moreover, it is probably the most significant misselling case of Italian financial history, at least of the last decades. The chapter then describes the story of BPVI, the largest of the two banks and the one whose failure created the larger wave of surprise.
Role of National Courts
Authors: Kapenne Jean Paul , Caviedes Carlos Urraca
Published: August 2024

abstracts and keywords to be supplied.
Consumer Contracts
Authors: McParland Michael
Published: August 2024

This chapter explains Article 6 of the Rome I Regulation, which protects consumers engaged in certain cross-border transactions. These protections share a common objective with those found in the partial harmonisation of Member States' domestic laws. They are based on the idea that the consumer is in a weak position vis-à-vis the seller or supplier of goods or services, as regards both his bargaining power and his level of knowledge.
New perspective on the clinical and laboratory characteristics of rheumatoid pleural effusion: A 29-case series
Authors: Minoda Saki Sada , Sada Ryuichi Minoda , Akebo Hiroyuki , Tsugihashi Yukio , Hatta Kazuhiro
Published: August 2024

Objective

Rheumatoid pleural effusion (RPE) usually occurs in middle-aged men. Pleural fluid analyses have revealed high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and low pH and glucose levels in RPE. We aimed to investigate the clinical and laboratory features of patients with RPE since the beginning of the 21st century.

Methods

Medical records of patients with RPE were reviewed between May 2006 and October 2021. The patients were divided into <60 year (younger) and ≥60 year (older) groups.

Results

The younger group comprised 6 patients (median age 53.5 years, female 33%) and older group comprised 23 patients (median age 76 years, female 52.2%). Compared to the younger group, the older group had fewer cases of fever (83.3 versus 18.2%, P = .007) and chest pain (66.7 versus 8.7%, P = .008). In pleural fluid analysis, the older group presented higher pH (P = .004) and lower LDH levels (P = .044). Seven patients died during the follow-up period.

Conclusion

Most patients with RPE were over 60 years of age, and approximately half of them were female. The pleural fluid analysis showed milder inflammation in older patients than in middle-aged patients. The mortality rate of patients with RPE was distinctly higher than that previously reported.
The Biometrics of Post-Conflict Reconstruction
Authors: Banégas Richard , Cutolo Armando
Published: August 2024

Chapter 4 looks in detail at a fifth configuration of the politics of ‘papers’, which saw the Ouattara government use new biometric technologies to ‘kill the seeds of crisis’, depoliticize the question of identity, and support its liberal developmentalist project. The post-war period comes across as a broad process to straighten out legal identities, driven by the project of a new biometric governance, which would supposedly reduce forgery and bring about a modern Côte d’Ivoire. This chapter focuses on four issues symbolic of this ‘identity adjustment programme’: the 2013 law on nationality, the 2014 census, the creation of a new individual data biometric register, and the modernization of the civil register. A closer analysis of these last two issues reveals that the Ivorian civil registry has taken its revenge on global biometric reforms. And that Ouattara’s deliberately depoliticizing policies have not put an end to the debate over Ivorian nationality.
Europe as Place
Authors: Irving D. R. M.
Published: August 2024

Ambiguities regarding Europe’s geographical frontiers with Asia are diverse and long-standing and affected how European writers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries described Europe as a musical place and space. These authors’ inclusion or exclusion of various communities depended on religious and political factors that aligned with emerging cultural notions of Europe. The new concept of the “Republic of Music” denoted a network of performance and transmission but transcended geography to imply a virtual community of performers and listeners. Writers of the long eighteenth century also began to refer to musical activities and the fame of musicians in superlative terms (for example, “the best in Europe” or “the most famous in Europe”), using an intra-continental framework. Tropes such as “the greatest masters in Europe” appeared in advertisements for works of published music.
Co-operative Enterprise in Comparative Perspective
Authors: Spicer Jason S.
Published: August 2024

Co-operative businesses, which are democratically owned by their workers, customers, or suppliers, are rarer at scale in the United States than in most other rich democracies. Why? Despite the fact that co-operatives have long captured the interest of both American and international activists and social scientists alike, there has been scant effort to conduct systematic comparative analyses to answer this question. Offering the only rigorously designed comparative-historical analysis of how co-operative enterprise is institutionalized in different national contexts, this book draws on data from interviews and from more than two centuries of historical sources to compare the United States to three other rich democracies where co-operatives at scale are more common: Finland, France, and New Zealand. The book shows how the joint force of economic liberalism and racism acted historically to undermine the development of American co-operatives, leaving a legacy which can be traced forward to the present day. In the comparative success cases, co-operatives were better able to leverage resources and structural traits to animate the solidarity mechanism at the heart of the co-operative business model. In so doing, co-operatives in these countries were also better able to organize to achieve accommodative law and policy treatment over time. In addition, in examining the factors which variably undermined or advanced cooperation at scale in different contexts, the book tests two competing social science frameworks on institutions and organizations—field theory (strategic action fields) and historical institutionalism—and shows how the former enables a more comprehensive analysis and explanation.
Resisting Roman Imperialism in Gaul
Authors: Grint Keith
Published: August 2024

This chapter provides the background to Roman imperialism in North-West Europe and then considers Caesar’s campaigns in Gaul. Despite the overwhelming numbers of Gaulish fighters, the Roman army vanquished all before them and slaughtered hundreds of thousands to ensure quiescence. The greatest resistance was provided by a united tribal army under Vercingetorix, but his leadership skills and scorched earth strategy proved inadequate to the task of defeating the greatest professional army of the day. It was the ability of the Romans to sustain themselves in the field—their management of logistics—and to undermine the ability of the Gauls to compete in that, which doomed the Gauls’ resistance. This was a pattern that the Romans constantly repeated, and, with few exceptions, it was this that ensured the longevity of the Roman Empire.
Resisting Roman Imperialism in Germania
Authors: Grint Keith
Published: August 2024

This chapter concerns one of the few examples of successful resistance against the Romans. The German tribes involved were united under Arminius, the leader of the Cherusci tribe, who had himself been a hostage in Rome and later became a commander in the Roman auxiliaries. That knowledge, and his association with the Roman commander, Varus, enabled Arminius to inveigle the Romans into a series of cumulative errors that negated all their conventional military and logistical advantages and led to the second greatest military defeat of the Romans in the Teutoburg Forest. Within five years the Romans had recovered the three lost legionary Eagles and defeated the German tribes, but the initial defeat effectively stopped the expansion of the Roman Empire east of the Rhine.
Military Racism
Authors: Grint Keith
Published: August 2024

The history of race discrimination in the US generally, and the US military in particular, meant that the struggle to secure a foothold in the American air force was long and difficult. With President Roosevelt seeking Black electoral support, the decision to facilitate a Black air squadron led, eventually, to the 99th Fighter Squadron and ultimately to the 332nd Fighter Group. The Red Tails, as they became known, saw action across the Mediterranean theatre, protecting conveys, and escorting bombers, as well as on ground attack sorties, and were notable for their disciplined approach that kept them close to the bombers. In turn that meant they were less likely to shoot down enemy fighters—and were disciplined for this—but they more likely to do what they were supposed to do: protect the bombers. Throughout the whole period the pilots and ground crew had to cope with constant racism from other aviators and from the military establishment but their professionalism and persistence eventually saw their integration into the air force, the first branch of the US military to do so.
The British in Malaya
Authors: Grint Keith
Published: August 2024

The resistance of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) to their British post-war colonial overlords has often been taken to represent a classic case in counter-insurgency warfare—the original ‘hearts and minds campaign’. In fact, it was a combination of colonial repression and de facto recognition of political realities that eventually forced the British out of Malaya, but the weaknesses of the insurgents undermined any chance of them replicating the success of the Vietnamese or Chinese communists. The inability to secure command over the guerrillas from the centre, the confused strategy, the overfocus on Chinese support, and the material weaknesses of the MCP all worked to defeat them. Whether the actions of the MCP Resistance accelerated the ending of British dominance is a moot point, but it marked the longest and bloodiest post-war campaign for the British and a significant marker in the decline of the British Empire.