Application of a simplified probe feed impedance formula to the design of a dual frequency patch antenna

A simplified probe feed input impedance for a rectangular patch antenna based on the Green's function is used to design a dual frequency matched antenna. The predicted results at design frequencies of 1.9 and 2.4 GHz are in close agreement with experimental measurements

An investigation into the effects of computer integrated manufacturing systems in the productivity of SMEs in Pakistan

The current dynamic and turbulent manufacturing environment has forced companies that compete globally to change their traditional methods of conducting business [Producer to consumer]. Recent developments in manufacturing and business operations have lead to the adoption of Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) technologies that are based on systems and processes that support global competitiveness, especially for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Organizations and SMEs in particular need to re-evaluate every aspect of their manufacturing strategy and quickly move towards a CIM based environment where manufacturing technologies, business strategies and processes are integrated together. This paper highlights the development of a CIM adoption model that has resulted from empirical work generated from SMEs in Pakistan. The model consists of the parameters such as Top Management Support, System Integration, Marketing, and over all performance

"Measures of the Real GDP of US Trading Partners: Methodology and Results"

This paper provides the details of the construction of new quarterly measures of the real GDPs of the 36 US trading partners that are taken into consideration by the Federal Reserve in its "broad exchange rate" indexes. These new measures have some important advantages. First, they allow the construction of various income aggregates and sub-aggregates, which makes it possible, for example, to match the Federal Reserve's "broad," "major-currency," and "other important" trading partner effective exchange rates and, more broadly, to discuss the geographical and geopolitical determinants of US trade. Second, they allow the construction of variants of the two different types of measures that are utilized in the literature, namely direct and export-share-weighted sums of trading-partner real GDPs. Finally, given that our new measures of GDP for these countries can be directly compared to each other, they can be of interest for other researchers who need a consistent dataset on a quarterly basis.

Preoperative Planning of Total Hip Arthroplasty

Preoperative planning is a crucial step towards a successful hip replacement. It is approached in five easy steps that includes a comprehensive history and examination, ordering weight bearing standardized radiographs, assessment of patients for fitness in the pre-assessment clinic, choosing the best implants as per individual case basis along with choosing method of implantation and templating the radiographs before starting the procedure to replicate the patient joint anatomy for the best patient outcome and to restore hip joint biomechanics. This further allows anticipating difficulties and pitfalls prior to surgery and thereby reducing the risk of complications associated with the hip replacement surgery

Measures of the Real GDP of U.S. Trading Partners: Methodology and Results

This paper provides the details of the construction of new quarterly measures of the real GDPs of the 36 U.S. trading partners that are taken into consideration by the Federal Reserve in its "broad exchange rate" indexes. These new measures have some important advantages. First, they allow the construction of various income aggregates and sub-aggregates, which makes it possible, for example, to match the Federal Reserve's "broad," "major-currency," and "other important" trading partner effective exchange rates and, more broadly, to discuss the geographical and geopolitical determinants of U.S. trade. Second, they allow the construction of variants of the two different types of measures that are utilized in the literature, namely direct and export-share-weighted sums of trading-partner real GDPs. Finally, given that our new measures of GDP for these countries can be directly compared to each other, they can be of interest for other researchers who need a consistent dataset on a quarterly basis.international growth, economic measurement, GDP quarterly estimates

A BAYESIAN APPROACH TO OPTIMAL CROSS-HEDGING OF COTTONSEED PRODUCTS USING SOYBEAN COMPLEX FUTURES

Cottonseed crushers face substantial risk in terms of input and output price variability and they are limited in their planning by the lack of viable futures markets for cottonseed or cottonseed products. This study examines the feasibility of cross-hedging cottonseed products using soybean complex futures. Bayesian tests for market efficiency are performed on the cash and futures prices. The test results reject the presence of nonstationary roots, leading to the conclusion that the markets are not efficient. Different cross-hedging strategies are designed and analyzed for eight different hedging horizons in order to maximize the expected profit and utility of the crusher. A Bayesian approach is employed to estimate the parameters, which is consistent with expected utility maximization in the presence of estimation risk. The investigation reveals that both whole cottonseed and cottonseed products can be successfully cross-hedged using soybean complex futures. The profitability of cross-hedging cottonseed products depends not only on the appropriate size of the contract but also on the optimal choice of strategy consistent with the time of placing and lifting hedge and the appropriate hedging horizon.Marketing,

Restrained Shrinkage-Induced Cracking of Light Weight High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites

Problem statement: Shrinkage induced cracking cause damage to reinforced concrete structures. An experimental study was conducted on restrained shrinkage test of cement mortar and light weight High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites (HPFRCC). Approach: Two types of light weight HPFRCC and a premix mortar containing small amount of fiber were included in the experiment. Results: Results showed the multiple cracks, as many as 49, in light weight HPFRCC specimens compared to few cracks (about six cracks) in the premix mortar specimen. At the end of shrinkage test, the width of the cracks in the mortar specimen was more than 250 μm with the largest crack width of about 400 μm. However, the scenario was quite different in light weight HPFRCC specimens, where the width of almost all cracks was less than 100 μm. Conclusion: The higher number of multiple cracks with small cracks width in light weight HPFRCC specimens due to drying shrinkage was due to their strain hardening and ductile behavior compared to quasi brittle behavior of premix mortar where less number of wide cracks was observed

A review on durability properties of strain hardening fibre reinforced cementitious composites (SHFRCC)

This paper reviews and presents various durability properties of strain hardening fibre reinforced cementitious composites (SHFRCC). Published research results show that, due to its tight crack width properties compared to ordinary concrete and ordinary fibre reinforced concrete, SHFRCC significantly resists the migration of aggressive substances in to the concrete and improves the durabilityof reinforced concrete (RC). It is also reported that, due to the strain hardening and multiple cracking behaviours, SHFRCC meets the tight crack width limits for durability of RC structures proposed by different design codes. Based on the reviewed durability properties it is argued that SHFRCC materials can be used in selected locations of RC structural members to improve their overall durability performances