Low sidelobe and wideband characteristics of density tapered arrays for 5G mobile systems

Conventional mobile base station antennas are composed of equally spaced linear array antennas. In order to achieve low side lobe characteristics, excitation coefficients for array elements are determined by a feeding network. Because of complexity of the feeding network, applicable frequency range is limited. In 5G mobile system, multi frequency band operation is requested. For achieving low sidelobe and wide frequency characteristics, a density tapered array configuration is promising. Because of uniform excitation coefficients, feed network has no frequency dependence and wide frequency range application is expected. In this paper, abilities and design method of low sidelobe characteristics are investigated. By density tapering, sidelobe levels are reduced from-13dB to -16dB. As for wide band characteristics, low sidelobe characteristics are maintained during 28GHz to 56GHz operations. Usefulness of a density tapered array is numerically clarified

Yaw Rate and Sideslip Control using PID Controller for Double Lane Changing

Vehicle behavior and stability can be observed through the computer simulation using mathematical modeling approach consist the configuration of vehicle multibody system. This paper presents the estimation and control of the yaw rate and sideslip through vehicle lateral dynamic model with a PID controller. The stability analysis is conducted to a single-input-two-outputs (SITO) plant of front-steering-only vehicle model to observe the system response during double lane changing maneuver with constant speeds of 40 km/h and 90 km/h. Results show that a single-input-single-output (SISO) PID controller able to enhance the cornering limit by reducing the sideslip and optimized the yaw rate, especially for slow speed vehicle in order to maintain its stability states

Estimation of temperature and electron density in stainless steel plasma using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

LIBS plasma produced by a 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser in an atmospheric pressure was studied for the stainless steel sample. The laser output energy 150 mJ with pulse duration of 6 ns. The plasma emission spectrum was recorded by the LR1 Spectrometer connected to the fibre optic. The plasma temperature and electron density of each element were estimated by time-resolved spectroscopy of neutral atom and ion line emission. The plasma temperature was obtained from the Boltzmann plot method and their electron density was determined by using Saha-Boltzmann equation method. The preliminary qualitative LIBS analysis shows that several elements contained in the stainless steel. The element detected was Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Cr. The results shows that Mn and Fe has the highest plasma temperature of 1.2 eV, but the electron density of Mn was the highest with value 4.6x1020 cm-3, while the Cu has the lowest temperature that is 0.73 eV with the electron density 2.8x1017 cm-3. The results are discussed

Improving Students Ability in Reading Comprehension Hortatory Exposition Text Through Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition

This study was a classroom action research (CAR) at eleventh grade students of MA Negeri 02 Pontianak in academic year 2011/2012. The aim of this research is to know how well cooperative integrated reading and composition (CIRC) help the students in reading comprehension. The tools of data collecting in this research were observation checklist, field note and writing test. Data was analyzed by using scoring profile. The analysis of students test result covered students ability in finding out the main idea, details, reference, understanding the inference and vocabulary and making the summary of text. The students ability in reading comprehension hortatory exposition text improved in three cycles, from 4.87 (multiple choice) and 6.54 (essay) in cycle 1, then improved in cycle 2, 7.72(multiple choice) and 4.55 (essay), up to 8.6 (multiple choice) and 8.7 (essay) in cycle 3

Automatic materials tracking practices through RFID implementation in construction projects

Materials tracking for materials management play a vital role and contributed a major portion of the total cost in a construction project. In addition, the improper handling and storage of materials at the construction site has made it difficult to track and locate at the time are needed to carry out construction works. These problems subsequently contribute to the project delays and increase in the total project costs. Thus, this paper seeks to identify problems regarding current material tracking practices in materials management processes. In this paper, ICT and potential implementation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) for automatic materials tracking is also scrutinised. Data for this paper was obtained from the literature review and the case studies conducted in several construction projects. Semi-structured interviews with construction practitioners were carried out in order to gain insights into current problems, information and communication technologies (ICT) implementation, and RFID capability in assisting materials tracking practices. This paper reveals that construction projects in Malaysia are still using manual materials tracking practices, basic ICT implementation, and totally none RFID existence. Thus, there is a need for the application of RFID in order to facilitate materials tracking automatically for enhancing construction industry processes through IR 4.0

Mutagenic and inhibitory compounds produced by fungi affect detrimentally diagnosis and phylogenetic analyses.

Microorganisms manufacture prolifically bioactive compounds. For example, fungi produce antibiotics and mycotoxins. However, many are difficult to identify and classify. Methods which rely on nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) are increasingly being used for this purpose where strains are grown in liquid or agar culture and often subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses. It has not been considered that self-produced mutagenic and inhibitory secondary metabolites (SM) affect DNA analysis of the target fungi. The most obvious mycotoxins and fungi to consider in this regard are aflatoxins (AFB) and Aspergillus, as AFB are the most mutagenic natural compounds. Many other fungi and SM are relevant and fungi act as a model for bacteria and plants. In fact, fungi repair damaged nucleic acid (NA) and are capable of removing toxins by employing transporter proteins. Nevertheless, these could be inhibited by bioactive metabolites. Mutagenic effects may involve inhibition of DNA stabilising enzymes. In addition, PCR is subject to false negative results. Samples of fungi with the genes of interest (e.g. a mycotoxin) may be categorized as negative and safe as a consequence. Internal amplification controls (IACs) will ameliorate the situation and need to become mandatory. These are conventionally NA that posses a sequence which will provide a PCR product (a) using the same primers employed for the target gene and (b) that will not coincide on the gel with the product of the target gene. Inhibitors and mutagens in cultures need to be minimized, and SM are an obvious source. This is a crucial issue in developing diagnostic and phylogenetic methods. The conclusions are (a) previous reports are compromised because IACs have not been employed in PCR and (b) mutagens and inhibitors may affect the very stability essential for NA analyses used in diagnostics and phylogenetics

Short-Term Ability of Concrete Containing Palm Oil Fuel Ash Exposed to Sodium Sulphate

Uncontrolled palm oil waste disposal can lead to an environmental problem, and recycling the waste can assist in reducing the disposal problem. On another side, concrete exposed to sulphate normally will lose its strength after some time. Replacing cement with palm oil fuel ash (POFA) can lower the disposal issue and help reduce the concrete from strength losses. The main objective of this study is to investigate the short-term effects on the strength of concrete containing POFA exposed to sulphate solution. The POFA was prepared by drying in an oven for 24 hours at 105°C and sieved passing through a 300 μm sieve. Then, the POFA had been refined using ball mills for two hours. The percentage of POFA as cement replacement used in this study is 10%, 20% and 30% by volume of cement. Two types of specimens were prepared, i.e., cube specimen (100 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm) and prism specimen (500 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm) that fully immersed in water and 3.5% sulphate solutions. Density test, water absorption test, compression strength test and flexural strength test were conducted after 7 and 28 days of the exposure period. A total of 144 specimens was subjected to these tests. The experiments show that concrete with 10% replacement of POFA had a higher slump value, while the density test showed that the 10% POFA mixture had a lower density than the other specimens. Furthermore, the water absorption test showed that more POFA in concrete contributes to higher water absorption when exposed to sulphate solution compared to water. In conclusion, the compressive strength and flexural strength test recorded replacement of 10% POFA is the highest strength of concrete containing POFA exposed to sulphate solution and water

Short-Term Ability of Concrete Containing Palm Oil Fuel Ash Exposed to Sodium Sulphate

Uncontrolled palm oil waste disposal can lead to an environmental problem, and recycling the waste can assist in reducing the disposal problem. On another side, concrete exposed to sulphate normally will lose its strength after some time. Replacing cement with palm oil fuel ash (POFA) can lower the disposal issue and help reduce the concrete from strength losses. The main objective of this study is to investigate the short-term effects on the strength of concrete containing POFA exposed to sulphate solution. The POFA was prepared by drying in an oven for 24 hours at 105°C and sieved passing through a 300 μm sieve. Then, the POFA had been refined using ball mills for two hours. The percentage of POFA as cement replacement used in this study is 10%, 20% and 30% by volume of cement. Two types of specimens were prepared, i.e., cube specimen (100 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm) and prism specimen (500 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm) that fully immersed in water and 3.5% sulphate solutions. Density test, water absorption test, compression strength test and flexural strength test were conducted after 7 and 28 days of the exposure period. A total of 144 specimens was subjected to these tests. The experiments show that concrete with 10% replacement of POFA had a higher slump value, while the density test showed that the 10% POFA mixture had a lower density than the other specimens. Furthermore, the water absorption test showed that more POFA in concrete contributes to higher water absorption when exposed to sulphate solution compared to water. In conclusion, the compressive strength and flexural strength test recorded replacement of 10% POFA is the highest strength of concrete containing POFA exposed to sulphate solution and water

Safety compliance for hihg rise projects in Nigerian construction Industry

Health and safety issues had always been a major challenge and concern in the construction industry. Construction is found to be one of the most dangerous on health and safety practice, predominantly in developing countries. As construction accidents continue to dominate the overall construction industry. Despite the programs implemented by government and measures introduced by companies the number of high rise construction accidents still remains alarmingly. This research aim to investigate the safety compliance for high rise construction project in Nigeria. In achieving this aim three (3) objectives has been outlined; to investigate the current level of compliance to safety practice and policies in Nigerian construction site. To investigate the factors that prevent the compliance to safety and health practices in high rise projects of Nigerian construction industry. To recommend appropriate ways to improve the compliance to safety in high rise of Nigerian construction. The interview and questionnaire method was used in this research. Structured Questionnaires was distributed to 108 potential respondents from the construction industry players 90 was returned and Qualitative interview have been conducted to meet the first objective of the project, to investigate the current level of compliance to safety practice In addition, structured interviews were carried out with selected managers from construction industry. The result shows that Bribery and corruption, Lack of training, Absence of safety representatives, Lack of corporate responsibility & Accountability, Weak legal structure were the significant factors affecting safety. Compliance. The result also indicate that Site inspection, Safety seminars (enforcement officers), Building codes of practice, Enforcement of safety act, Workers/labourers training are the effective factors that could improve compliance to safety practice in high rise project of Nigerian construction industry. It is recommended that relevant authorities should checkmate the Safety practices in the Nigerian construction industry