397 research outputs found
Internet of things (IoT) as sustainable development goals (SDG) enabling technology towards smart readiness indicators (SRI) for university buildings
Non-residential buildings contribute to around 20% of the total energy consumed in Europe. This consumption continues to increase globally. Smart building proposals (focused on Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB), air quality monitoring, energy saving with thermal comfort, etc.) were already necessary before 2020, and the pandemic has made this research and development area more essential. Furthermore, the need to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and obtain technological solutions based on the Internet of Things (IoT) requires holistic contributions through real installations that serve as spaces for measuring, testing, study and research. This article proposes a “measure–analyse–decide and act” methodology to quantify the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) for university buildings as a reference environment for energy efficiency and COVID-19 prevention models. Two conceptual spaces (physical and digital) within two dimensions (users and infrastructures) are designated over an IoT three-level model (information acquisition, interoperable communication, and data-driven decision). An IoT ecosystem (sensoriZAR) was implemented as a proof-of-concept of a smart campus at the University of Zaragoza, Spain. Focused on CO2 and energy consumption monitoring, the results showed effectiveness through real installations, demonstrating the IoT potential as SDG-enabling technologies. These contributions allow not only experimental lab tests (from the authors’ expertise in several specialties of Industrial, Mechanical, Design, Thermal, Electrical, Electronic, Computer and Telecommunication Engineering) but also a reference model for direct application in academic works, research projects and institutional initiatives, extendable to professional environments, buildings and cities. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Three-Wave Modulational Stability and Dark Solitons in a Quadratic Nonlinear Waveguide with Grating
We consider continuous-wave (CW) states and dark solitons (DSs) in a system
of two fundamental-frequency (FF) and one second-harmonic (SH) waves in a
planar waveguide with the quadratic nonlinearity, the FF components being
linearly coupled by resonant reflections on the Bragg grating. We demonstrate
that, in contrast with the usual situation in quadratic spatial-domain models,
CW states with the phase shift between the FF and SH components are
modulationally stable in a broad parameter region in this system, provided that
the CW wavenumber does not belong to the system's spectral gap. Stationary
fundamental DSs are found numerically, and are also constructed by means of a
specially devised analytical approximation. Bound states of two and three DSs
are found too. The fundamental DSs and two-solitons bound states are stable in
all the cases when the CW background is stable, which is shown by dint of
calculation of the corresponding eigenvalues, and verified in direct
simulations. Tilted DSs are found too. They attain a maximum contrast at a
finite value of the tilt, that does not depend on the phase mismatch. At a
maximum value of the tilt, which grows with the mismatch, the DS merges into
the CW background. Interactions between the tilted solitons are shown to be
completely elastic.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figures; Journal of Optics A, in pres
Variational Approach to the Modulational Instability
We study the modulational stability of the nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation
(NLS) using a time-dependent variational approach. Within this framework, we
derive ordinary differential equations (ODEs) for the time evolution of the
amplitude and phase of modulational perturbations. Analyzing the ensuing ODEs,
we re-derive the classical modulational instability criterion. The case
(relevant to applications in optics and Bose-Einstein condensation) where the
coefficients of the equation are time-dependent, is also examined
Theory of radiation trapping by the accelerating solitons in optical fibers
We present a theory describing trapping of the normally dispersive radiation
by the Raman solitons in optical fibers. Frequency of the radiation component
is continuously blue shifting, while the soliton is red shifting. Underlying
physics of the trapping effect is in the existence of the inertial gravity-like
force acting on light in the accelerating frame of reference. We present
analytical calculations of the rate of the opposing frequency shifts of the
soliton and trapped radiation and find it to be greater than the rate of the
red shift of the bare Raman soliton. Our findings are essential for
understanding of the continuous shift of the high frequency edge of the
supercontinuum spectra generated in photonic crystal fibers towards higher
frequencies.Comment: Several misprints in text and formulas corrected. 10 pages, 9
figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Gender gap in STEM: a cross-sectional study of primary school students’ self-perception and test anxiety in mathematics
Contribution: Significant gender differences are observed on primary school students’ perception of self-efficacy and test anxiety in mathematics. Girls perceive themselves to be significantly worse than boys in mathematics and report higher test anxiety toward mathematics exams. Gender differences in self-efficacy become more pronounced as students grow up, and test anxiety increases for all students. However, the present study shows that teachers’ do not perceive differences in self-efficacy in mathematics between boys and girls. Background: The low presence of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) might be explained by the attitude of young students toward mathematics. Different studies show that girls are less interested in STEM areas than boys during secondary school. A study on the reasons for this fact pointed out that the early years of education can provide a relevant insight to reverse the situation. Research Questions: Is there any age-dependent gender difference in primary school students in aspects related to mathematics? Are teachers aware of students’ perceptions? Methodology: This work presents a study of over 2000 primary school students (6–12 years old) and 200 teachers in AragĂłn (Spain). The study consists of a survey on aspects that influence the experience of female and male students with mathematics and Spanish language for comparison purposes and teacher’s awareness of students’ perception. Findings: The present study shows that during primary school, girls are more likely to experiment a negative attitude toward mathematics than boys as they grow up, and teachers may not perceive girls’ situation. La baja presencia de mujeres en ciencia, tecnologĂa, la ingenierĂa y las matemáticas (STEM) podrĂan explicarse por la actitud de las niños y niñas hacia las matemáticas. Diferentes estudios muestran que las niñas están menos interesadas en las áreas STEM que niños cuando cursan educaciĂłn secundaria. Además, un estudio sobre los motivos para este hecho señalĂł que los primeros años de educaciĂłn podrĂan proporcionar una visiĂłn relevante para revertir la situaciĂłn. Por ello, este trabajo parte de las siguientes preguntas de investigaciĂłn, ÂżExiste alguna diferencia de gĂ©nero que sea dependiente de la edad en estudiantes de educaciĂłn primaria en aspectos relacionados con las matemáticas? ÂżConoce el profesorado la autopercepciĂłn de sus estudiantes? Las principales contribuciones de este trabajo son que las diferencias significativas de gĂ©nero se observan en la percepciĂłn de autoeficacia de los estudiantes de primaria y ansiedad ante los exámenes en matemáticas. Las niñas se perciben a sĂ mismas significativamente peor que los niños en matemáticas e indican mayor ansiedad ante los exámenes de matemáticas. Las diferencias de gĂ©nero en la autoeficacia se vuelven más pronunciada a medida que los estudiantes crecen, mientras que la ansiedad ante los exámenes aumenta para todos los estudiantes. Pese a estos resultados, el presente estudio muestra que los profesores no perciben diferencias en la autoeficacia en matemáticas entre niños y niñas. Este estudio se basa en las encuestas realizadas a más de 2000 escolares (6-12 años) y 200 profesores en AragĂłn (España). El estudio consiste en una encuesta a los estudiantes sobre aspectos que pueden influir en la experiencia de los niños y niñas con las matemáticas, asĂ como con la lengua española para disponer de una materia que permita establecer comparaciones y una encuesta al profesor que incluye cuestiones sobre su percepciĂłn de los estudiantes. El principal hallazgo del estudio es que, durante la escuela primaria, es más probable que las niñas experimenten una actitud negativa hacia matemáticas que los niños a medida que crecen, y que los maestros pueden no ser conscientes de la situaciĂłn de las niñas
Suppression and Enhancement of Soliton Switching During Interaction in Periodically Twisted Birefringent Fiber
Soliton interaction in periodically twisted birefringent optical fibers has
been analysed analytically with refernce to soliton switching. For this purpose
we construct the exact general two-soliton solution of the associated coupled
system and investigate its asymptotic behaviour. Using the results of our
analytical approach we point out that the interaction can be used as a switch
to suppress or to enhance soliton switching dynamics, if one injects
multi-soliton as an input pulse in the periodically twisted birefringent fiber.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, Latex, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Nonlinear management of the angular momentum of soliton clusters
We demonstrate an original approach to acquire nonlinear control over the
angular momentum of a cluster of solitary waves. Our model, derived from a
general description of nonlinear energy propagation in dispersive media, shows
that the cluster angular momentum can be adjusted by acting on the global
energy input into the system. The phenomenon is experimentally verified in
liquid crystals by observing power-dependent rotation of a two-soliton cluster.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Frequency selection by soliton excitation in nondegenerate intracavity downconversion
We show that soliton excitation in intracavity downconversion naturally
selects a strictly defined frequency difference between the signal and idler
fields. In particular, this phenomenon implies that if the signal has smaller
losses than the idler then its frequency is pulled away from the cavity
resonance and the idler frequency is pulled towards the resonance and {\em vice
versa}. The frequency selection is shown to be closely linked with the relative
energy balance between the idler and signal fields.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. To appear in Phys Rev Let
"Assessment of effectiveness and security in high pressure postdilatation of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds during percutaneous coronary intervention. Study in a contemporary, non-selected cohort of Spanish patients"
OBJECTIVES:
To determine security and benefits of high pressure postdilatation (HPP) of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of complex lesions whatever its indication is.
BACKGROUND:
Acute scaffold disruption has been proposed as the main limitation of BVS when they are overexpanded. However, clinical implications of this disarray are not yet clear and more evidence is needed.
METHODS:
A total of 25 BVS were deployed during PCI of 14 complex lesions after mandatory predilatation. In all cases HPP was performed with NC balloon in a 1:1 relation to the artery. After that, optical coherence tomography (OCT) analyses were performed.
RESULTS:
Mean and maximal postdilatation pressure were 17±3.80 and 20 atmospheres (atm) respectively. Postdilatation balloon/scaffold diameter ratio was 1.01. A total of 39,590 struts were analyzed. Mean, minimal and maximal scaffold diameter were respectively: 3.09±0.34mm, 2.88±0.31mm and 3.31±0.40mm. Mean eccentricity index was 0.13±0.05. ISA percentage was 1.42% with a total of 564 malapposed struts. 89 struts were identified as disrupted, which represents a percentage of disrupted struts of 0.22%. At 30days, none of our patients died, suffered from stroke, stent thrombosis or needed target lesion revascularization (TLR).
CONCLUSIONS:
NC balloon HPP of BVS at more than 17atm (up to 20atm) is safe during PCI and allows to achieve better angiographic and clinical results
The effects of cold working on sensitization and intergranular corrosion behavior of AISI 304 stainless steel
The effects of prior cold rolling of up to an 80 pct reduction in thickness on the sensitization-desensitization behavior of Type AISI 304 stainless steel and its susceptibility to intergranular corrosion have been studied by electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (EPR) and Strauss-test methods. The results indicate that the prior deformation accelerated the sensitization as compared to the undeformed stainless steel. The deformed Type 304 stainless steel experienced desensitization at higher temperatures and times, and it was found to be enhanced by increased cold deformation. This could be attributed to the increased long-range chromium diffusion, possibly brought on by increasing pipe diffusion and vacancies. The role of the deformation-induced martensite (DIM) and texture, introduced by uniaxial cold rolling, on the sensitization-desensitization kinetics has also been discussed. This study could not reveal any systematic relationship between texture and the degree of sensitization (DOS) obtained. The effect of DIM on DOS seems to be pronounced at 500 °C when the steel retained significant amounts of DIM; however, the retained DIM is insignificant at higher sensitization times and temperatures
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