Hydroxyapatite is a versatile material with strong potential for environmental remediation, yet its large-scale use is limited by the cost and purity requirements of conventional precursors. This study introduces a low-cost and sustainable synthesis route for hydroxyapatite using technical-grade phosphoric acid, highlighting the beneficial role of industrial impurities in tuning its structural, optical, and adsorption properties, thus promoting its broader use in environmental applications. Hydroxyapatite powders were synthesized from calcium hydroxide and technical-grade phosphoric acid (Ca/P = 1.67) at 25 °C in aqueous medium, then dried and calcined (500–1100 °C). Structural, chemical, and optical analyses revealed single-phase nano-hydroxyapatite (12.6–57.3 nm) with high surface area (176.95 m²·g-1) and strong wettability. The optical band gap decreased from 4.5 ± 0.4 eV to 3.2 ± 0.4 eV after calcination, indicating defect-induced electronic modification. The poorly crystallized hydroxyapatite exhibited excellent Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ adsorption (99 % and 97 % removal in 100 min) but limited bisphenol A elimination (2.73 % in 180 min).
This paper presents an analysis of various split-ring resonator (SRR) configurations coupled with coplanar waveguides (CPW). Three distinct resonant structures are presented, namely, the S-shaped split-ring resonator (S-SRR), the conventional split-ring resonator (SRR), and a pair of SRR. Among the examined resonant structures, it is observed that the S-SRR exhibits the smallest electrical size with the corresponding resonant frequency of 1.37 GHz, while the conventional SRR has the largest electrical size with the corresponding resonant frequency of 3.34 GHz. On the other hand, the resonant frequency of a dual SRR is 2.37 GHz. However, the transmission coefficient of a dual SRR is -11.43 dB, which is higher than S-SRR (-10.02 dB) and SRR (-8.18 dB). Furthermore, this study extends the analysis between a square dual SRR and a circular dual SRR with retained area. The square SRR demonstrates a lower resonance frequency (2.23 GHz) relative to its circular counterpart (2.37 GHz). The comparison also shows that the transmission coefficient of the square configuration is -13.88 dB, which is higher than its circular counterpart (-11.43 dB). The realization of a barcode application is achieved by loading multiple S-shaped split ring resonators (S-SRRs) with varying geometric parameters adjacently onto the transmission line. By individually rotating each of these S-SRRs, it becomes possible to alter the notch magnitude, thereby positioning it within a specific designated range corresponding to a particular code. In the case of a configuration involving rotations of (0°, 45°, 90°, 0°, 45°, 90°), this approach results in the creation of a barcode denoted as "100 010 000 100 011 000". This methodology enables the encoding of information in the form of distinctive resonant responses, providing a versatile and compact means of realizing barcode applications.
Mechanics of engineering. Applied mechanics, Technology
Abstract Segregated incompressible large eddy simulation and acoustic perturbation equations were used to obtain the flow field and sound field of 1:25 scale trains with three, six and eight coaches in a long tunnel, and the aerodynamic results were verified by wind tunnel test with the same scale two-coach train model. Time-averaged drag coefficients of the head coach of three trains are similar, but at the tail coach of the multi-group trains it is much larger than that of the three-coach train. The eight-coach train presents the largest increment from the head coach to the tail coach in the standard deviation (STD) of aerodynamic force coefficients: 0.0110 for drag coefficient (C d), 0.0198 for lift coefficient (C l) and 0.0371 for side coefficient (C s). Total sound pressure level at the bottom of multi-group trains presents a significant streamwise increase, which is different from the three-coach train. Tunnel walls affect the acoustic distribution at the bottom, only after the coach number reaches a certain value, and the streamwise increase in the sound pressure fluctuation of multi-group trains is strengthened by coach number. Fourier transform of the turbulent and sound pressures presents that coach number has little influence on the peak frequencies, but increases the sound pressure level values at the tail bogie cavities. Furthermore, different from the turbulent pressure, the first two sound pressure proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) modes in the bogie cavities contain 90% of the total energy, and the spatial distributions indicate that the acoustic distributions in the head and tail bogies are not related to coach number.
Riccardo Antonello, Roberto Oboe, Daniele D’Elia
et al.
The angular motion of quasi-static micromirrors used for raster scanning projection applications is typically affected by undesired oscillations related to high-frequency resonant modes triggered by the sawtooth-like driving signal. This paper proposes a novel closed-loop tracking controller for improving the linearity of the trace motion, and hence the image brightness. It includes a feedforward action to achieve the required tracking performance under nominal conditions, and a feedback control for robustness against disturbances and other nonidealities. Notch filtering prevents resonance-induced ringing. The simplicity of the architecture enables an easy implementation on FPGA or ASIC. Experimental tests carried out on two different micromirrors with Lead-Zirconate-Titanate (PZT) piezoelectric actuation and piezoresistive sensing demonstrate an average linearity of [Formula: see text] and reproducibility of [Formula: see text] for sawtooth reference trajectories with up to [Formula: see text] amplitude and 120 Hz frequency, thus meeting the performance requirements mandated by the standards for high-resolutions projection applications.
Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials, Applied optics. Photonics
In June 1925 Heisenberg arrived at Helgoland/Heligoland island to escape a fit of hay fever. He returned with a sketch of a strange theory of the micro-world, which we now call quantum mechanics. This essay attempts to present a look at this theory, which tries to return to the original insight of Heisenberg on what should be the essence of a theory of atomic realm: it must be a theory of the observable events, in which fundamentally unobservable quantities have no place. No ontological status is given to elements of the mathematical formulation of the theory. The theory is about our description of events in laboratories, probabilities of which are given by the Born rule. Following Bohr, these events involve macroscopic measuring apparatuses, and the accessible final events are classically describable. Information about the events is cloneable, as it is of a classical nature. The modern quantum theory of classicality is the decoherence theory. It treats "the pointer variable" of measuring apparatus as an open system interacting with an environment consisting of all other "zillions" of degrees of freedom of the device, and anything coupled to it. Because such environment is uncontrollable we have no possibility to reverse measurements. The quantum mechanical measurement theory based on decoherence theory is reproducing the predictions of Born rule. Notwithstanding, possibility of reversing measurements and of application of Born rule in situations other than these which lead to macroscopically observable events are features of a modification of quantum mechanics which is called by its adherents "unitary quantum mechanics". As its predictions, which go beyond quantum mechanics, are not testable - we claim that unitary quantum mechanics in an interpretation of quantum mechanics. As such it is metaphysics.
The proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) -- a popular projection-based model order reduction (MOR) method -- may require significant model dimensionalities to successfully capture a nonlinear solution manifold resulting from a parameterised quasi-static solid-mechanical problem. The local basis method by Amsallem et al. [1] addresses this deficiency by introducing a locally, rather than globally, linear approximation of the solution manifold. However, this generally successful approach comes with some limitations, especially in the data-poor setting. In this proof-of-concept investigation, we instead propose a graph-based manifold learning approach to nonlinear projection-based MOR which uses a global, continuously nonlinear approximation of the solution manifold. Approximations of local tangents to the solution manifold, which are necessary for a Galerkin scheme, are computed in the online phase. As an example application for the resulting nonlinear MOR algorithms, we consider simple representative volume element computations. On this example, the manifold learning approach Pareto-dominates the POD and local basis method in terms of the error and runtime achieved using a range of model dimensionalities.
A paradigm shift is underway in Software Engineering, with AI systems such as LLMs playing an increasingly important role in boosting software development productivity. This trend is anticipated to persist. In the next years, we expect a growing symbiotic partnership between human software developers and AI. The Software Engineering research community cannot afford to overlook this trend; we must address the key research challenges posed by the integration of AI into the software development process. In this paper, we present our vision of the future of software development in an AI-driven world and explore the key challenges that our research community should address to realize this vision.
Israel Casado-Hernández, Ricardo Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo, Marta Losa-Iglesias
et al.
Background: Adult acquired flatfoot is characterized by a medial arch collapse during monopodal support in the stance phase, developing eversion of the calcaneus and abduction of the forefoot linked to the hindfoot. The purpose of our research was to analyze the dynamic symmetry index in the lower limbs comparing patients with flatfoot and normal foot.Methods: A case-control study was carried out with a sample of 62 participants divided into two groups consisting of 31 participants were overweight with bilateral flatfoot and 31 participants with healthy feet. A portable plantar pressure platform with piezoresistive sensors was used to measure the load symmetry index in the lower limbs in the foot areas and gait phases.Results: Gait pattern analysis showed statistically significant differences in the symmetry index for lateral load (p = 0.004), the initial contact phase (p = 0.025) and the forefoot phase (p < 0.001).Conclusion: The adults were overweight with bilateral flatfoot evidenced alterations in the symmetry index in the lateral load and in the initial contact and flatfoot contact phases, showing greater instability in overweight adult flatfoot compared to the people with normal feet.
Bhupendra K. Sharma, Parikshit Sharma, Nidhish K. Mishra
et al.
This study aims to analyze a Bayesian regularization backpropagation algorithm for micropolar ternary hybrid nanofluid flow over curved surfaces with homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions, Joule heating and viscous dissipation. The ternary hybrid nanofluid consists of nanoparticles of titanium oxide (TiO2), copper oxide (CuO), and silicon oxide (SiO2), with blood as the base fluid. The governing partial differential equations for the fluid flow are converted into ordinary differential equations using a group of self-similar transformations. The ordinary differential equations are solved using an appropriate shooting algorithm in MATLAB. The effects of physical parameters including curvature, micro-polar, radiation, magnetic, Prandtl, Eckert, Schmidt, and homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reaction parameters are analyzed for velocity, micro rotational, temperature, and concentration profile. Physical quantities of engineering interest like heat transfer rate, mass transfer rate, skin friction coefficient, couple stress coefficient, and entropy generation are also discussed in this study. A Bayesian regularization backpropagation algorithm is also designed for the solution of the ordinary differential equations. The obtained network is analyzed using training state, performance, error histograms, model response, Error autocorrelation, and input-error correlation plots. It is observed that the entropy generation and the Bejan number increase for enhancing Brinkman and radiation parameter. Clinical researchers and biologists may use the results of this computational study to forecast endothelial cell damage and plaque deposition in curved arteries, by which the severity of these conditions can be reduced.
In this study, an inhomogeneous Cosserat rod theory is introduced and compared to the conventional homogeneous rod for modeling soft manipulators. The inhomogeneity is addressed by considering the pressure actuation as part of the rod's constitutive laws, resulting in shifting the neutral axis. This shift is investigated for a soft manipulator with three parallel fiber-reinforced actuators. Furthermore, a fiber-reinforced actuator is modeled using nonlinear continuum mechanics to extract the effect of radial pressure on axial deformation and is combined with Cosserat model. Finally, several numerical methods are employed to solve the proposed model and validated by a series of experiments.
Jakub A. Kochanowski, Bobby Carroll, Merrill E. Asp
et al.
Bacteria build multicellular communities termed biofilms, which are often encased in a self-secreted extracellular matrix that gives the community mechanical strength and protection against harsh chemicals. How bacteria assemble distinct multicellular structures in response to different environmental conditions remains incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the connection between bacteria colony mechanics and the colony growth substrate by measuring the oscillatory shear and compressive rheology of bacteria colonies grown on agar substrates. We found that bacteria colonies modify their own mechanical properties in response to shear and uniaxial compression with the increasing agar concentration of their growth substrate. These findings highlight that mechanical interactions between bacteria and their microenvironment are an important element in bacteria colony development, which can aid in developing strategies to disrupt or reduce biofilm growth.
The focus of this paper is on the problems of system identification, process modeling and time series forecasting which can be met during the use of locally recurrent neural networks in heuristic modelling technique. However, the main interest of this paper is to survey the properties of the dynamic neural processor which is developed by the author. Moreover, a comparative study of selected recurrent neural architectures in modeling tasks is given. The results of experiments showed that some processes tend to be chaotic and in some cases it is reasonable to use soft computing models for fault diagnosis and control.
Computer engineering. Computer hardware, Mechanics of engineering. Applied mechanics
Leonardo Colombo, Manuel de León, María Emma Eyrea Irazú
et al.
A hybrid system is a system whose dynamics is given by a mixture of both continuous and discrete transitions. In particular, these systems can be utilised to describe the dynamics of a mechanical system with impacts. Based on the approach by Clark, we develop a geometric Hamilton-Jacobi theory for forced and nonholonomic hybrid dynamical systems. We state the corresponding Hamilton-Jacobi equations for these classes of systems and apply our results to analyze some examples.
Context: The use of standards is considered a vital part of any engineering discipline. So one could expect that standards play an important role in Requirements Engineering (RE) as well. However, little is known about the actual knowledge and use of RE-related standards in industry. Objective: In this article, we investigate to which extent standards and related artifacts such as templates or guidelines are known and used by RE practitioners. Method: To this end, we have conducted a questionnaire-based online survey. We could analyze the replies from 90 RE practitioners using a combination of closed and open-text questions. Results: Our results indicate that the knowledge and use of standards and related artifacts in RE is less widespread than one might expect from an engineering perspective. For example, about 47% of the respondents working as requirements engineers or business analysts do not know the core standard in RE, ISO/IEC/IEEE 29148. Participants in our study mostly use standards by personal decision rather than being imposed by their respective company, customer, or regulator. Beyond insufficient knowledge, we also found cultural and organizational factors impeding the widespread adoption of standards in RE. Conclusions: Overall, our results provide empirically informed insights into the actual use of standards and related artifacts in RE practice and - indirectly - about the value that the current standards create for RE practitioners.
Arnaud Mazier, Alexandre Bilger, Antonio E. Forte
et al.
In this paper, we develop a framework for solving inverse deformation problems using the FEniCS Project finite element software. We validate our approach with experimental imaging data acquired from a soft silicone beam under gravity. In contrast with inverse iterative algorithms that require multiple solutions of a standard elasticity problem, the proposed method can compute the undeformed configuration by solving only one modified elasticity problem. This modified problem has a complexity comparable to the standard one. The framework is implemented within an open-source pipeline enabling the direct and inverse deformation simulation directly from imaging data. We use the high-level Unified Form Language (UFL) of the FEniCS Project to express the finite element model in variational form and to automatically derive the consistent Jacobian. Consequently, the design of the pipeline is flexible: for example, it allows the modification of the constitutive models by changing a single line of code. We include a complete working example showing the inverse deformation of a beam deformed by gravity as supplementary material.
Obradović Aleksandar, Šalinić Slaviša, Tomović Aleksandar
This paper considers the problem of modal analysis and finding the closed-form solution to free vibrations of planar serial frame structures composed of Euler–Bernoulli beams of variable cross-sectional geometric characteristics in the case of axially functionally graded materials. Each of these beams is performing coupled axial and bending vibrations, where coupling occurs due to the boundary conditions at their joints. The numerical procedure for solving the system of partial differential equations, after the separation of variables, is reduced to solving the two-point boundary value problem of ordinary linear differential equations with nonlinear coefficients and linear boundary conditions. In this case, it is possible to transfer the boundary conditions and reduce the problem to the Cauchy initial value problem. Also, it is possible to analyze the influence of different parameters on the structure dynamic behavior. The method is applicable in the case of different boundary conditions at the right and left ends of such structures, as illustrated by an appropriate numerical example.
Xavier Franch, Daniel Mendez, Andreas Vogelsang
et al.
The relevance of Requirements Engineering (RE) research to practitioners is vital for a long-term dissemination of research results to everyday practice. Some authors have speculated about a mismatch between research and practice in the RE discipline. However, there is not much evidence to support or refute this perception. This paper presents the results of a study aimed at gathering evidence from practitioners about their perception of the relevance of RE research and at understanding the factors that influence that perception. We conducted a questionnaire-based survey of industry practitioners with expertise in RE. The participants rated the perceived relevance of 435 scientific papers presented at five top RE-related conferences. The 153 participants provided a total of 2,164 ratings. The practitioners rated RE research as essential or worthwhile in a majority of cases. However, the percentage of non-positive ratings is still higher than we would like. Among the factors that affect the perception of relevance are the research's links to industry, the research method used, and respondents' roles. The reasons for positive perceptions were primarily related to the relevance of the problem and the soundness of the solution, while the causes for negative perceptions were more varied. The respondents also provided suggestions for future research, including topics researchers have studied for decades, like elicitation or requirement quality criteria.
Nurul Fatehah Zulkpli, Nor Azlina Ab. Aziz, Noor Ziela Abd Rahman
et al.
Indoor Positioning System (IPS) is used to locate a person, an object or a location inside a building. IPS is important in providing location-based services, which has recently gain much popularity. The services ease visitors’ navigation at unfamiliar premises. Location-based services depend on the capability of IPS to accurately determine the location of the user, which is a challenging issue in indoor environments. Several wireless technologies are available. In this paper, two of the most widely used IPS technologies are reviewed which are, WiFi and Bluetooth low energy (BLE). Their advantages and disadvantages are reviewed and reported here. Comparison of the systems based on their performance, accuracy and limitations are presented as well
Mechanics of engineering. Applied mechanics, Technology