Due to the similarity in wavelength between millimeter-wave (MMW) signals and raindrop diameters, rainfall induces significant attenuation and scattering effects that challenge the detection performance of MMW fuzes in rainy environments. To enhance the adaptability of frequency-modulated MMW fuzes in such conditions, the effects of rain on MMW signal attenuation and scattering are investigated. A mathematical model for the multipath echo signals of the fuze was developed. The Monte Carlo method was employed to simulate echo signals considering multiple scattering, and experimental validations were conducted. The results from simulations and experiments revealed that rainfall increases the bottom noise of the echo signal, with rain backscatter noise predominantly affecting the lower end of the echo signal spectrum. However, rain conditions below torrential levels did not significantly impact the detection of strong reflection targets at the high end of the spectrum. The modeling approach and findings presented offer theoretical support for designing MMW fuzes with improved environmental adaptability.
{"title":"Study of Millimeter-Wave Fuze Echo Characteristics under Rainfall Conditions Using the Monte Carlo Method","authors":"Bing Yang, Zhe Guo, Kaiwei Wu, Zhonghua Huang","doi":"10.3390/app14188352","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188352","url":null,"abstract":"Due to the similarity in wavelength between millimeter-wave (MMW) signals and raindrop diameters, rainfall induces significant attenuation and scattering effects that challenge the detection performance of MMW fuzes in rainy environments. To enhance the adaptability of frequency-modulated MMW fuzes in such conditions, the effects of rain on MMW signal attenuation and scattering are investigated. A mathematical model for the multipath echo signals of the fuze was developed. The Monte Carlo method was employed to simulate echo signals considering multiple scattering, and experimental validations were conducted. The results from simulations and experiments revealed that rainfall increases the bottom noise of the echo signal, with rain backscatter noise predominantly affecting the lower end of the echo signal spectrum. However, rain conditions below torrential levels did not significantly impact the detection of strong reflection targets at the high end of the spectrum. The modeling approach and findings presented offer theoretical support for designing MMW fuzes with improved environmental adaptability.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nazim Hasan, Embar Prasanna Kannan, Othman Hakami, Abdullah Ali Alamri, Judy Gopal, Manikandan Muthu
Antibiotic resistance is a major crisis that the modern world is confronting. This review highlights the abundance of different types of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in two major reservoirs in the environment, namely hospital and municipal wastewater, which is an unforeseen threat to human lives across the globe. The review helps understand the current state of affairs and the whereabouts on the dissemination of ARGs in both these environments. The various traditional wastewater treatment methods, such as chlorination and UV treatment, and modern methods, such as electrochemical oxidation, are discussed, and the gaps in these technologies are highlighted. The need for the development of newer techniques for wastewater treatment with enhanced efficiency is urgently underscored. Nanomaterial applications for ARG removal were observed to be less explored. This has been discussed, and prospective nanomaterials and nanocomposites for these applications are proposed.
{"title":"Reviewing the Phenomenon of Antimicrobial Resistance in Hospital and Municipal Wastewaters: The Crisis, the Challenges and Mitigation Methods","authors":"Nazim Hasan, Embar Prasanna Kannan, Othman Hakami, Abdullah Ali Alamri, Judy Gopal, Manikandan Muthu","doi":"10.3390/app14188358","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188358","url":null,"abstract":"Antibiotic resistance is a major crisis that the modern world is confronting. This review highlights the abundance of different types of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in two major reservoirs in the environment, namely hospital and municipal wastewater, which is an unforeseen threat to human lives across the globe. The review helps understand the current state of affairs and the whereabouts on the dissemination of ARGs in both these environments. The various traditional wastewater treatment methods, such as chlorination and UV treatment, and modern methods, such as electrochemical oxidation, are discussed, and the gaps in these technologies are highlighted. The need for the development of newer techniques for wastewater treatment with enhanced efficiency is urgently underscored. Nanomaterial applications for ARG removal were observed to be less explored. This has been discussed, and prospective nanomaterials and nanocomposites for these applications are proposed.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Duygu Akcan, Murat Yilmaz, Ulaş Güleç, Hüseyin Emre Ilgın
Advergames represent a novel product placement strategy that surpasses traditional advertising methods by fostering interaction between brands and their target audiences. This study investigates the unique engagement opportunities provided by video games, focusing mainly on the ‘flow experience’, an intensified state of immersion frequently encountered by players of computer games. Such immersive experiences have the potential to significantly influence a player’s perception, offering a new avenue for advertisements to impact and engage audiences effectively. The primary objective of this research was to examine the influence of advergames on players who are deeply immersed in the gaming experience, with a specific focus on the subsequent effects on brand recognition over time. The study involved 44 software developers, who were evenly divided into two groups for the experiment. Both groups were exposed to an identical gaming environment with the task of locating a designated product within the game. However, one group interacted with an enhanced version of the game, which included additional stimuli—such as dynamic music, an engaging narrative, time constraints, a competitive leaderboard, and immersive voice acting—to intensify the gaming experience. The experiment strategically placed various products within the game, and their detectability was assessed using eye-tracking technology. Following gameplay, participants completed questionnaires that measured their experience with flow state and brand recall. The data were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test and correlation analysis to facilitate comparisons. The findings indicated that the product associated with the primary task achieved the highest recall rate between both groups. Furthermore, eye-tracking technology identified the areas in the game that attracted the most attention, revealing a preference for mid- and high-level placements over lower-level ones.
广告游戏是一种新颖的产品植入策略，它通过促进品牌与其目标受众之间的互动，超越了传统的广告方法。本研究调查了电子游戏提供的独特参与机会，主要侧重于 "流动体验"，即电脑游戏玩家经常遇到的一种强化的沉浸状态。这种身临其境的体验有可能极大地影响玩家的感知，为广告有效地影响和吸引受众提供了新的途径。本研究的主要目的是考察广告游戏对深度沉浸于游戏体验的玩家的影响，特别关注随着时间的推移对品牌认知度的后续影响。这项研究涉及 44 名软件开发人员，他们被平均分成两组进行实验。两组人都置身于相同的游戏环境中，任务是在游戏中找到指定的产品。不过，其中一组与增强版游戏进行了互动，增强版游戏包括额外的刺激，如动态音乐、引人入胜的叙事、时间限制、竞争性排行榜和身临其境的语音表演，以强化游戏体验。实验在游戏中战略性地放置了各种产品，并使用眼动跟踪技术评估了这些产品的可探测性。游戏结束后，参与者填写了调查问卷，以测量他们对流动状态和品牌回忆的体验。数据分析采用了曼-惠特尼 U 检验和相关分析，以便于比较。结果表明，与主要任务相关的产品在两组中的回忆率最高。此外，眼动跟踪技术还确定了游戏中最吸引注意力的区域，显示出对中高级位置的偏好超过了对低级位置的偏好。
{"title":"Engagement and Brand Recall in Software Developers: An Eye-Tracking Study on Advergames","authors":"Duygu Akcan, Murat Yilmaz, Ulaş Güleç, Hüseyin Emre Ilgın","doi":"10.3390/app14188360","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188360","url":null,"abstract":"Advergames represent a novel product placement strategy that surpasses traditional advertising methods by fostering interaction between brands and their target audiences. This study investigates the unique engagement opportunities provided by video games, focusing mainly on the ‘flow experience’, an intensified state of immersion frequently encountered by players of computer games. Such immersive experiences have the potential to significantly influence a player’s perception, offering a new avenue for advertisements to impact and engage audiences effectively. The primary objective of this research was to examine the influence of advergames on players who are deeply immersed in the gaming experience, with a specific focus on the subsequent effects on brand recognition over time. The study involved 44 software developers, who were evenly divided into two groups for the experiment. Both groups were exposed to an identical gaming environment with the task of locating a designated product within the game. However, one group interacted with an enhanced version of the game, which included additional stimuli—such as dynamic music, an engaging narrative, time constraints, a competitive leaderboard, and immersive voice acting—to intensify the gaming experience. The experiment strategically placed various products within the game, and their detectability was assessed using eye-tracking technology. Following gameplay, participants completed questionnaires that measured their experience with flow state and brand recall. The data were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test and correlation analysis to facilitate comparisons. The findings indicated that the product associated with the primary task achieved the highest recall rate between both groups. Furthermore, eye-tracking technology identified the areas in the game that attracted the most attention, revealing a preference for mid- and high-level placements over lower-level ones.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This paper considers the threshold value of the activating function needed for stimulation in traditional magnetic stimulation and microcoil stimulation. Two analyses of excitation have been studied: spatial frequency analysis and active membrane analysis using the Hodgkin−Huxley model. The activating function depends on the spatial distribution of the electric field gradient in the active membrane analysis and the spatial frequency in the spatial frequency analysis. Both analyses show that a microcoil (tens of microns in size) has a higher threshold than a traditional coil (tens of millimeters in size) when the spatial frequency is large or the spatial extent of the activating function is small. Consequently, the stimulation threshold for a microcoil is much higher than that for a conventional coil.
{"title":"The Difference between Traditional Magnetic Stimulation and Microcoil Stimulation: Threshold and the Electric Field Gradient","authors":"Mohammed Alzahrani, Bradley J. Roth","doi":"10.3390/app14188349","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188349","url":null,"abstract":"This paper considers the threshold value of the activating function needed for stimulation in traditional magnetic stimulation and microcoil stimulation. Two analyses of excitation have been studied: spatial frequency analysis and active membrane analysis using the Hodgkin−Huxley model. The activating function depends on the spatial distribution of the electric field gradient in the active membrane analysis and the spatial frequency in the spatial frequency analysis. Both analyses show that a microcoil (tens of microns in size) has a higher threshold than a traditional coil (tens of millimeters in size) when the spatial frequency is large or the spatial extent of the activating function is small. Consequently, the stimulation threshold for a microcoil is much higher than that for a conventional coil.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"30 24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249313","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Understanding the influence of gap distribution characteristics on the mechanical properties of circular concrete-filled steel tubes (CCFSTs) under bending load is important for stability and support design in engineering projects. In this study, the improved cohesive zone model considering friction was used to describe the mechanical behavior of mortar interfaces. Meanwhile, the concrete damage plastic model and isotropic elastoplastic model were applied for core concrete and steel tubes. The improved cohesive zone model has a unified potential function that governs the Mode I and Mode II failure processes of mortar interfaces to realize the mechanical interaction between concrete and steel. A smooth frictional function was utilized in the elastic stage to calculate the accurate frictional effect. Furthermore, the capability of the model in addressing unloading and reloading was verified, and the fracture energy varied accordingly during the cyclic loading. Then, the mechanical response of CCFSTs was investigated under bending loads by setting different gap sizes and angles between the gap and loading direction. The results show that under three-point bending, the equivalent plastic strains at the middle part of CCFSTs are much larger and the peak bearing forces are much lower than the other degrees when the angles between the coronal gap axis and loading direction equal 0° and 180°. In addition, the order of the peak bearing forces, from highest to lowest, is when the height of the coronal-cap gap increases from 0.0 mm to 2.5 mm, 5.0 mm, and 7.5 mm. The significant effect makes it inappropriate to ignore the weakening of the structural performance caused by coronal gaps in structural design.
了解间隙分布特征对弯曲荷载下圆形混凝土填充钢管（CCFST）力学性能的影响，对于工程项目中的稳定性和支撑设计非常重要。本研究采用考虑摩擦力的改进内聚区模型来描述砂浆界面的力学行为。同时，对核心混凝土和钢管采用了混凝土损伤塑性模型和各向同性弹塑性模型。改进后的内聚区模型具有统一的势函数，可控制砂浆界面的模式 I 和模式 II 破坏过程，从而实现混凝土与钢之间的力学相互作用。在弹性阶段利用平滑的摩擦函数来计算精确的摩擦效应。此外，还验证了模型处理卸载和重载的能力，以及在循环加载过程中断裂能量的相应变化。然后，通过设置不同的间隙大小以及间隙与加载方向之间的角度，研究了 CCFST 在弯曲荷载下的机械响应。结果表明，在三点弯曲条件下，当冠状间隙轴线与加载方向的夹角分别为 0°和 180°时，CCFST 中间部分的等效塑性应变要大得多，峰值承载力也要小得多。此外，当冠状帽间隙高度从 0.0 mm 增加到 2.5 mm、5.0 mm 和 7.5 mm 时，峰值承载力从大到小的顺序也是如此。这种明显的影响使得在结构设计中不能忽视冠状缝隙对结构性能的削弱。
{"title":"Research on the Gap Effect of Circular Concrete-Filled Steel Tubes Using the Improved Cohesive Zone Model","authors":"Jiang Yu, Bin Gong, Chenrui Cao","doi":"10.3390/app14188361","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188361","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding the influence of gap distribution characteristics on the mechanical properties of circular concrete-filled steel tubes (CCFSTs) under bending load is important for stability and support design in engineering projects. In this study, the improved cohesive zone model considering friction was used to describe the mechanical behavior of mortar interfaces. Meanwhile, the concrete damage plastic model and isotropic elastoplastic model were applied for core concrete and steel tubes. The improved cohesive zone model has a unified potential function that governs the Mode I and Mode II failure processes of mortar interfaces to realize the mechanical interaction between concrete and steel. A smooth frictional function was utilized in the elastic stage to calculate the accurate frictional effect. Furthermore, the capability of the model in addressing unloading and reloading was verified, and the fracture energy varied accordingly during the cyclic loading. Then, the mechanical response of CCFSTs was investigated under bending loads by setting different gap sizes and angles between the gap and loading direction. The results show that under three-point bending, the equivalent plastic strains at the middle part of CCFSTs are much larger and the peak bearing forces are much lower than the other degrees when the angles between the coronal gap axis and loading direction equal 0° and 180°. In addition, the order of the peak bearing forces, from highest to lowest, is when the height of the coronal-cap gap increases from 0.0 mm to 2.5 mm, 5.0 mm, and 7.5 mm. The significant effect makes it inappropriate to ignore the weakening of the structural performance caused by coronal gaps in structural design.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249322","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Human health is significantly impacted by the quality of the air in living areas. Numerous factors, such as the kind of particle, clean air delivery rate, room geometry, surface features, and thermal plume produced by people or other equipment, all have an impact on indoor particle movement. This work uses computational fluid dynamics to quantitatively examine the performance of a portable air purifier that is routinely used to improve the indoor air quality of a room. The volumetric flow rate, particle diameter, and placement of the air cleaner device were considered in the assessment of the particle transport characteristics. The temperature, velocity, and age of the air distribution in the room were computed in three-dimensional simulations, and the effectiveness of the air cleaning device (ACD) in eliminating contaminants was then investigated. Clean air delivery rate (CADR), collection efficiency, and particle concentration rate values were also computed for every case that was taken into consideration. It is found that CADR and collection efficiency values for larger particles are about 2–7% better than those for smaller particles. The collection efficiency of ACD with different operating conditions is in the range of 71% to 87%. Better collection performance parameters are observed with higher flow rates.
{"title":"Assessment of a Portable Air Cleaning Device Performance in Eliminating Indoor Air Contaminants by Considering Particle Transport Characteristics","authors":"Miray Gür, Muhsin Kılıç","doi":"10.3390/app14188362","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188362","url":null,"abstract":"Human health is significantly impacted by the quality of the air in living areas. Numerous factors, such as the kind of particle, clean air delivery rate, room geometry, surface features, and thermal plume produced by people or other equipment, all have an impact on indoor particle movement. This work uses computational fluid dynamics to quantitatively examine the performance of a portable air purifier that is routinely used to improve the indoor air quality of a room. The volumetric flow rate, particle diameter, and placement of the air cleaner device were considered in the assessment of the particle transport characteristics. The temperature, velocity, and age of the air distribution in the room were computed in three-dimensional simulations, and the effectiveness of the air cleaning device (ACD) in eliminating contaminants was then investigated. Clean air delivery rate (CADR), collection efficiency, and particle concentration rate values were also computed for every case that was taken into consideration. It is found that CADR and collection efficiency values for larger particles are about 2–7% better than those for smaller particles. The collection efficiency of ACD with different operating conditions is in the range of 71% to 87%. Better collection performance parameters are observed with higher flow rates.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gabriela Săvan, Ioan Păcurar, Sanda Roșca, Hilda Megyesi, Ioan Fodorean, Ștefan Bilașco, Cornel Negrușier, Lucian Vasile Bara, Fiodor Filipov
With an emphasis on the effects of climate change, this study offers a thorough GIS-based assessment of land use favorability in the Apuseni Mountains. The Apuseni Mountains, a region characterized by its biodiversity and complex terrain, are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which threaten both natural ecosystems and human activities. The territory of 11 territorial administrative units was selected for the investigation because it shows more of an anthropogenic influence due to the migration of people to mountainous areas following the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased the amount of anthropogenic pressure in this area. Factors that describe the climate of the study area, the soil characteristics, and the morphometric characteristics of the relief were used to create a classification for the present on classes of favorability and restrictiveness for the plots of land, using a quantitative GIS model to determine the favorability of the land for the main crops and agricultural uses. The current land favorability was thus initially obtained, taking into account current temperature and precipitation values and using the SSP1-1.9, SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios for the 2020–2099 time frame. The results indicate a variation in the statistical classification of the land for different favorability classes, a decrease of 4.7% for the high favorability class for pastures, an estimated decrease of 4.4% for grassland, and in the case of orchards, the situation reflects a fluctuating variation. There is a decrease of 6.4% in the case of the very low favorability class according to SSP2-4.5 (in the case of reaching an average temperature of 12.7 °C and an annual precipitation of 895 mm), and in case of high and very high favorability, there is an increase in plots falling into better high favorability classes of up to 0.7%.
{"title":"GIS-Based Agricultural Land Use Favorability Assessment in the Context of Climate Change: A Case Study of the Apuseni Mountains","authors":"Gabriela Săvan, Ioan Păcurar, Sanda Roșca, Hilda Megyesi, Ioan Fodorean, Ștefan Bilașco, Cornel Negrușier, Lucian Vasile Bara, Fiodor Filipov","doi":"10.3390/app14188348","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188348","url":null,"abstract":"With an emphasis on the effects of climate change, this study offers a thorough GIS-based assessment of land use favorability in the Apuseni Mountains. The Apuseni Mountains, a region characterized by its biodiversity and complex terrain, are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which threaten both natural ecosystems and human activities. The territory of 11 territorial administrative units was selected for the investigation because it shows more of an anthropogenic influence due to the migration of people to mountainous areas following the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased the amount of anthropogenic pressure in this area. Factors that describe the climate of the study area, the soil characteristics, and the morphometric characteristics of the relief were used to create a classification for the present on classes of favorability and restrictiveness for the plots of land, using a quantitative GIS model to determine the favorability of the land for the main crops and agricultural uses. The current land favorability was thus initially obtained, taking into account current temperature and precipitation values and using the SSP1-1.9, SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios for the 2020–2099 time frame. The results indicate a variation in the statistical classification of the land for different favorability classes, a decrease of 4.7% for the high favorability class for pastures, an estimated decrease of 4.4% for grassland, and in the case of orchards, the situation reflects a fluctuating variation. There is a decrease of 6.4% in the case of the very low favorability class according to SSP2-4.5 (in the case of reaching an average temperature of 12.7 °C and an annual precipitation of 895 mm), and in case of high and very high favorability, there is an increase in plots falling into better high favorability classes of up to 0.7%.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alexandr A. Ilin, Almas S. Yerzhanov, Nikolay N. Zobnin, Nina V. Nemchinova, Victor I. Romanov
This article describes elements of the know-how of using carbon electrodes produced using the technology of molding around a rod when smelting silicon metal. Application of our know-how will dramatically increase the competitiveness of silicon metal production. Experts’ concerns regarding the use of such electrodes were that such electrodes have a through axial hole. This significantly reduces the mechanical strength of such electrodes, which can presumably lead to problems associated with the breakage of the working side of the electrode, which is immersed in the smelting space of the furnace under the charge layer. Industrial testing of such electrodes was carried out in a 30 MVA furnace of “Tau-Ken Temir” LLP. During testing, we used an approach previously developed by our team for working with a furnace in the process of smelting silicon metal. In particular, we used an interval between top treatments of about 30 min and adhered to the principles of balanced smelting, i.e., provided a balance between the intensity of the uniform supply of the charge into the furnace and the current active electrical power. Industrial testing carried out over four weeks confirmed the stability of the operation of cheaper carbon electrodes with a through axial hole. The recovery of silicon into finished products was also improved to 88–89% and the specific energy consumption was reduced to 11.2–12.1 MWh/t of silicon metal from the initial value 14,752 MWh/t. Thus, we received additional evidence for the effectiveness of our approach in furnace operating compared to an approach based on the ultimate provision of gas and permeability of the furnace top due to excessively intense processing of the top and an uncontrolled, uneven supply of charge to the furnace.
{"title":"Know-How of the Effective Use of Carbon Electrodes with a through Axial Hole in the Smelting of Silicon Metal","authors":"Alexandr A. Ilin, Almas S. Yerzhanov, Nikolay N. Zobnin, Nina V. Nemchinova, Victor I. Romanov","doi":"10.3390/app14188346","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188346","url":null,"abstract":"This article describes elements of the know-how of using carbon electrodes produced using the technology of molding around a rod when smelting silicon metal. Application of our know-how will dramatically increase the competitiveness of silicon metal production. Experts’ concerns regarding the use of such electrodes were that such electrodes have a through axial hole. This significantly reduces the mechanical strength of such electrodes, which can presumably lead to problems associated with the breakage of the working side of the electrode, which is immersed in the smelting space of the furnace under the charge layer. Industrial testing of such electrodes was carried out in a 30 MVA furnace of “Tau-Ken Temir” LLP. During testing, we used an approach previously developed by our team for working with a furnace in the process of smelting silicon metal. In particular, we used an interval between top treatments of about 30 min and adhered to the principles of balanced smelting, i.e., provided a balance between the intensity of the uniform supply of the charge into the furnace and the current active electrical power. Industrial testing carried out over four weeks confirmed the stability of the operation of cheaper carbon electrodes with a through axial hole. The recovery of silicon into finished products was also improved to 88–89% and the specific energy consumption was reduced to 11.2–12.1 MWh/t of silicon metal from the initial value 14,752 MWh/t. Thus, we received additional evidence for the effectiveness of our approach in furnace operating compared to an approach based on the ultimate provision of gas and permeability of the furnace top due to excessively intense processing of the top and an uncontrolled, uneven supply of charge to the furnace.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249310","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jonathan Alunge Metuge, Erneste Havugimana, Jean Rugandirababisha, Zachary Ngewoh Senwo
Biopolymers are organic polymers synthesized by biological organisms. Cellulose, lignin, and proteins are important soil biopolymers known to bind soil particles to improve or strengthen soil structures and support agricultural productivity. In this study, we spectrophotometrically determined the amount of soil cellulose, acetyl bromide lignin, and autoclaved citrate extractable protein in soils in relation to other soil properties. Results showed acetyl bromide lignin > cellulose > autoclaved citrate extractable protein. High clay soils have relatively higher amounts of cellulose and lignin but have lower protein content. The coefficient of variation (CV) of the three biopolymers in the soils studied was autoclaved citrate extractable protein (56.8%), >cellulose (55.2%), >acetyl bromide lignin (44.7%). Pearson correlation analysis showed that soil cellulose was significantly related to cation exchange capacity (CEC), total nitrogen, soil organic matter, and available phosphorus. An increase in soil acetyl bromide lignin suggested an increase in soil organic matter and lower soil available phosphorus. Soil autoclaved citrate extractable protein was significantly correlated with extractable acidity. However, cellulose, acetyl bromide lignin, and autoclaved citrate extractable protein were not significantly correlated with permanganate oxidizable carbon (POxC), electrical conductivity (EC), and C:N ratio. We assume that the concentrations of biopolymers in soils are an intrinsic soil characteristic and contribute to general soil health and productivity.
{"title":"Spectrophotometric Determination of Biopolymers in Alabama Benchmark Soils","authors":"Jonathan Alunge Metuge, Erneste Havugimana, Jean Rugandirababisha, Zachary Ngewoh Senwo","doi":"10.3390/app14188351","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188351","url":null,"abstract":"Biopolymers are organic polymers synthesized by biological organisms. Cellulose, lignin, and proteins are important soil biopolymers known to bind soil particles to improve or strengthen soil structures and support agricultural productivity. In this study, we spectrophotometrically determined the amount of soil cellulose, acetyl bromide lignin, and autoclaved citrate extractable protein in soils in relation to other soil properties. Results showed acetyl bromide lignin > cellulose > autoclaved citrate extractable protein. High clay soils have relatively higher amounts of cellulose and lignin but have lower protein content. The coefficient of variation (CV) of the three biopolymers in the soils studied was autoclaved citrate extractable protein (56.8%), >cellulose (55.2%), >acetyl bromide lignin (44.7%). Pearson correlation analysis showed that soil cellulose was significantly related to cation exchange capacity (CEC), total nitrogen, soil organic matter, and available phosphorus. An increase in soil acetyl bromide lignin suggested an increase in soil organic matter and lower soil available phosphorus. Soil autoclaved citrate extractable protein was significantly correlated with extractable acidity. However, cellulose, acetyl bromide lignin, and autoclaved citrate extractable protein were not significantly correlated with permanganate oxidizable carbon (POxC), electrical conductivity (EC), and C:N ratio. We assume that the concentrations of biopolymers in soils are an intrinsic soil characteristic and contribute to general soil health and productivity.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhifeng Wang, Minghui Wang, Chunyan Zeng, Longlong Li
Detecting student behavior in smart classrooms is a critical area of research in educational technology that significantly enhances teaching quality and student engagement. This paper introduces an innovative approach using advanced computer vision and artificial intelligence technologies to monitor and analyze student behavior in real time. Such monitoring assists educators in adjusting their teaching strategies effectively, thereby optimizing classroom instruction. However, the application of this technology faces substantial challenges, including the variability in student sizes, the diversity of behaviors, and occlusions among students in complex classroom settings. Additionally, the uneven distribution of student behaviors presents a significant hurdle. To overcome these challenges, we propose Student Behavior Detection Network (SBD-Net), a lightweight target detection model enhanced by the Focal Modulation module for robust multi-level feature fusion, which augments feature extraction capabilities. Furthermore, the model incorporates the ESLoss function to address the imbalance in behavior sample detection effectively. The innovation continues with the Dyhead detection head, which integrates three-dimensional attention mechanisms, enhancing behavioral representation without escalating computational demands. This balance achieves both a high detection accuracy and manageable computational complexity. Empirical results from our bespoke student behavior dataset, Student Classroom Behavior (SCBehavior), demonstrate that SBD-Net achieves a mean Average Precision (mAP) of 0.824 with a low computational complexity of just 9.8 G. These figures represent a 4.3% improvement in accuracy and a 3.8% increase in recall compared to the baseline model. These advancements underscore the capability of SBD-Net to handle the skewed distribution of student behaviors and to perform high-precision detection in dynamically challenging classroom environments.
{"title":"SBD-Net: Incorporating Multi-Level Features for an Efficient Detection Network of Student Behavior in Smart Classrooms","authors":"Zhifeng Wang, Minghui Wang, Chunyan Zeng, Longlong Li","doi":"10.3390/app14188357","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188357","url":null,"abstract":"Detecting student behavior in smart classrooms is a critical area of research in educational technology that significantly enhances teaching quality and student engagement. This paper introduces an innovative approach using advanced computer vision and artificial intelligence technologies to monitor and analyze student behavior in real time. Such monitoring assists educators in adjusting their teaching strategies effectively, thereby optimizing classroom instruction. However, the application of this technology faces substantial challenges, including the variability in student sizes, the diversity of behaviors, and occlusions among students in complex classroom settings. Additionally, the uneven distribution of student behaviors presents a significant hurdle. To overcome these challenges, we propose Student Behavior Detection Network (SBD-Net), a lightweight target detection model enhanced by the Focal Modulation module for robust multi-level feature fusion, which augments feature extraction capabilities. Furthermore, the model incorporates the ESLoss function to address the imbalance in behavior sample detection effectively. The innovation continues with the Dyhead detection head, which integrates three-dimensional attention mechanisms, enhancing behavioral representation without escalating computational demands. This balance achieves both a high detection accuracy and manageable computational complexity. Empirical results from our bespoke student behavior dataset, Student Classroom Behavior (SCBehavior), demonstrate that SBD-Net achieves a mean Average Precision (mAP) of 0.824 with a low computational complexity of just 9.8 G. These figures represent a 4.3% improvement in accuracy and a 3.8% increase in recall compared to the baseline model. These advancements underscore the capability of SBD-Net to handle the skewed distribution of student behaviors and to perform high-precision detection in dynamically challenging classroom environments.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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