Cu-Au type orderings in the staggered quadrupolar region of the fcc Blume Emery Griffiths model

The spin-1 Ising (BEG) model has been simulated using a cellular automaton (CA) algorithm improved from the Creutz cellular automaton (CCA) for a face-centered cubic (fcc) lattice. The ground state diagram ($k$, $d$) of the fcc BEG model has ferromagnetic ($F$), quadrupolar ($Q$) and staggered quadrupolar ($SQ$) ordering regions. The simulations have been made in the staggered quadrupolar region for the parameter values in the intervals $-24\leq d=D/J<0$ and $-3\leq k=K/J\leq 0$ . The phase diagrams on the ($kT_{C}/J$, $d$) and the ($kT_{C}/J$, $k$) planes have been obtained through $k=-3$ and $d=-4$ lines, respectively. The staggered quadrupolar ordering region separates into five ordering regions ($A_{3}B(a)$, $A_{3}B(f)$, $AB$ (type-I), $AB$(type-II) and $AB_{3}(f)$) which have the different stoichiometric Cu-Au type structures.Comment: 24 pages, 11 figure

Design-driven Uniaxial and Biaxial Tensile Testing of Knitted Fabrics Applied to Construction

Knitted fabrics are rarely subjected to tensile stress tests in the field of architectural construction materials, mostly due to their common use as drapery. However, recent non-standard applications of tensioned knitted textiles to hybrid lightweight constructions call for the assessment of their mechanical behavior. In the light of the absence of specific testing methodologies regarding knitted fabrics in the field of construction, this study aims at investigating customized testing techniques that target design requisites, as well as extending previous groundwork on plain weftknitted textiles to tuck-loop knit structures. Fabrics with a piquet Lacoste loop structure are tested uniaxially and biaxially in order to estimate the feasibility of a relatively large-scale project. The challenging task consists of stretching the limited production width in weft direction to the extended dimensions of the tensile architectural project. Hence the study focuses on elongation limits and especially on the maximum elongation that allows elastic deformation. Extracted empirical data are expressed in the form of stress/strain curves that enable an appropriate understanding of the textiles’ mechanical behavior. This inquiry points out the extent to which knit pattern favors directional elongation in warp as opposed to weft or vice-versa. In addition, it addresses the mechanical performance of knitted textiles by means of a strategic customization of tensile tests that can make them better at informing the design process and feasibility assessment

Unknown Latent Structure and Inefficiency in Panel Stochastic Frontier Models

This paper extends the fixed effect panel stochastic frontier models to allow group heterogeneity in the slope coefficients. We propose the first-difference penalized maximum likelihood (FDPML) and control function penalized maximum likelihood (CFPML) methods for classification and estimation of latent group structures in the frontier as well as inefficiency. Monte Carlo simulations show that the proposed approach performs well in finite samples. An empirical application is presented to show the advantages of data-determined identification of the heterogeneous group structures in practice

A time-varying true individual effects model with endogenous regressors

We propose a fairly general individual effects stochastic frontier model, which allows both heterogeneity and inefficiency to change over time. Moreover, our model handles the endogeneity problems if either at least one of the regressors or one-sided error term is correlated with the two-sided error term. Our Monte Carlo experiments show that our estimator performs well. We employed our methodology to the US banking data and found a negative relationship between return on revenue and cost efficiency. Estimators ignoring time-varying heterogeneity or endogeneity did not perform well and gave very different estimates compared to our estimator

Combining electrical stimulation mediated by iterative learning control with movement practice using real objects and simulated tasks for post-stroke upper extremity rehabilitation.

Objective: Task specific training and Electrical Stimulation (ES) are techniques used in rehabilitation of the upper extremity post stroke. This study describes the feasibility of using a rehabilitation system that combines personalised, precisely controlled levels of ES to the anterior deltoid, triceps and finger and wrist extensors during goal-oriented activity utilising real objects from daily life. Materials and Methods:Four chronic stroke participants undertook seventeen intervention sessions, each of one hour duration. During each session, particpants performed goal -orientated tasks while Iterative learning control (ILC) updated the ESsignal applied to each muscle group. The update was based on the difference between the ideal and actual movement in the previous attempt at the task, measured using Microsoft Kinect and PrimeSense sensors. The control system applied the minimum amount of ES required with a view to facilitating success at each given task while maximising voluntary effort. Results: Preliminary results demonstrate that ES mediated by ILC resulted in a statistically significant improvement in range of movement in all four joint angles studied (shoulder flexion; elbow, wrist and index finger extension) over 17 intervention sessions. Additionally, participants required signficantly less extrinsic support for each task. The tasks and system is described and initial intervention data are reported. Discussion: The feasibility of using this system for assisting upper limb movement has been demonstrated. A large scale pilot RCT is now required

Psychometric validation of the Turkish nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short Form (IGDS9-SF)

The main aims of the current study were to test the factor structure, reliability and validity of the nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9- SF), a standardized measure to assess symptoms and prevalence of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). In the present study participants were assessed with the IGDS9-SF, nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (IGDS) and the Young's Internet Addiction Test-Short Form (YIAT-SF). Confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated that the factor structure (i.e., the dimensional structure) of the IGDS9-SF was satisfactory. The scale was also reliable (i.e., internally consistent with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.89) and showed adequate convergent and criterion-related validity, as indicated by statistically significant positive correlations between average time daily spent playing games during last year, IGDS and YIAT-SF scores. By applying the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) threshold for diagnosing IGD (e.g., endorsing at least five criteria), it was found that the prevalence of disordered gamers ranged from 0.96% (whole sample) to 2.57% (e-sports players). These findings support the Turkish version of the IGDS9-SF as a valid and reliable tool for determining the extent of IGD-related problems among young adults and for the purposes of early IGD diagnosis in clinical settings and similar research

Studies on 3D printing of Na3Zr2Si2PO12 ceramic solid electrolyte through Fused Filament Fabrication

Solid-state batteries are considered being the next step in battery technology to achieve higher energy densities and potentially safer batteries. As there is no organic liquid, the risk of flammability is drastically reduced. Nevertheless, there are numerous challenges associated with the realization of all-solid-state batteries, such as improving slow kinetics, contact interface issues between battery components and cell integration among others. 3D printing holds the potential to address these issues as it allows to improve kinetics by structuring the battery components and the possibility of a customized cell integration. A structured surface of the electrolyte can in principle also enhance interface effects with the metal electrode. To contribute in this regard, composite filaments with Na3Zr2Si2PO12 were fabricated and 3D printed. Subsequent sintering of the printed parts after removal of the polymer components led to the required densification of the fully ceramic electrolyte. The parts were microstructurally and electrochemically characterized and showed a reasonable performance with an ionic conductivity of (3.02 ± 0.14) ⋅ 10 4 S⋅cm 1 at 20 ◦C. Critical current density testing revealed stable cycling up to 200 mA⋅cm 2, with cell failure occurring at a current density of 750 mA⋅cm 2, demonstrating the application potential of 3D printed full ceramic solid electrolytes

Measuring productivity and efficiency: a Kalman filter approach

In the Kalman filter setting, one can model the inefficiency term of the standard stochastic frontier composed error as an unobserved state. In this study a panel data version of the local level model is used for estimating time-varying efficiencies of firms. We apply the Kalman filter to estimate average efficiencies of U.S. airlines and find that the technical efficiency of these carriers did not improve during the period 1999-2009. During this period the industry incurred substantial losses, and the efficiency gains from reorganized networks, code-sharing arrangements, and other best business practices apparently had already been realized

The application of precisely controlled functional electrical stimulation to the shoulder, elbow and wrist for upper limb stroke rehabilitation: a feasibility study.

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) during repetitive practice of everyday tasks can facilitate recovery of upper limb function following stroke. Reduction in impairment is strongly associated with how closely FES assists performance, with advanced iterative learning control (ILC) technology providing precise upper-limb assistance. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of extending ILC technology to control FES of three muscle groups in the upper limb to facilitate functional motor recovery post-stroke