s-Domain analysis of lightning surges in three-phase systems using nonuniform single-phase line model

Surge response of the transmission tower in a three-phase transmission system is computed using s-domain nonuniform single-phase transmission line modelling. First, tower top voltage is obtained considering the tower and the ground wire by excluding the effect of the phase conductors, and then the induced voltages on the phase conductors as a result of the current flowing through the ground wire are computed using the magnetic coupling between the ground wire and the phase conductors. The first step of the analysis is the formulation of the system response in the s-domain, and the second step is the frequency to time domain conversion, which is carried out using fast inverse Laplace transform (FILT). The voltages on the phase conductors and the voltages across the tower insulators are computed, and some of the results obtained using s-domain analysis are compared with those obtaining using electromagnetic transients program (EMTP). The effect of frequency dependence of the line parameters is investigated.     

The effect of fly ash and limestone fillers on the viscosity and compressive strength of self-compacting repair mortars

Today, self-compacting mortars are preferred for repair purposes due to the application easiness and mechanical advantages. However, for self-compactability, the paste phase must meet some certain criteria at fresh state. The cement as well as the ingredients of the paste, powders with cementitious, pozzolanic or inert nature and plasticizing chemical admixtures should be carefully chosen in order to obtain a suitable paste composition to enrich the granular skeleton of the mix. The physical properties of powders (shape, surface morphology, fineness, particle size distribution, particle packing) and physico-chemical (time-dependent hydration reactions, zeta potentials) interactions between cement powder and plasticizer should be taken into consideration. All these parameters affect the performance of fresh paste in different manners. There is no universally accepted agreement on the effect of these factors due to the complexity of combined action; thus, it is hard to make a generalization.This study deals with the selection of amount and type of powders from the viewpoint of fresh state rheology and mechanical performance. The influence of powder materials on self-compactability, viscosity and strength were compared with a properly designed set of test methods (the mini-slump, V-funnel tests, viscosity measurements and compressive strength tests). It may be advised that, for each cement-powder-plasticizer mixture, a series of test methods can be used to determine the optimum content and type of materials for a specified workability.     

Modelling and evaluation of nitrogen removal performance in subsurface flow and free water surface constructed wetlands.

With the aim of protecting drinking water sources in rural regions, pilot-scale subsurface water flow (SSF) and free water surface flow (FWS) constructed wetland systems were evaluated for removal efficiencies of nitrogenous pollutants in tertiary stage treated wastewaters (effluent from the Pasak?y biological nutrient removal plant). Five different hydraulic application rates and emergent (Canna, Cyperus, Typhia sp., Phragmites sp., Juncus, Poaceae, Paspalum and Iris) and floating (Pistia, Salvina and Lemna) plant species were assayed. The average annual NH4-N, NO3-N and organic-N treatment efficiencies were 81, 40 and 74% in SSFs and 76, 59 and 75% in FWSs, respectively. Two types of the models (first-order plug flow and multiple regression) were tried to estimate the system performances. Nitrification, denitrification and ammonification rate constants (k20) values in SSF and FWS systems were 0.898 d-1 and 0.541 d(-1), 0.486 d(-1) and 0.502 d(-1), 0.986 d(-1) and 0.908, respectively. Results show that the first-order plug flow model clearly estimates slightly higher or lower values than observed when compared with the other model.     

Convergence analysis of central and minimax algorithms in scalar regressor models

In this paper, the estimation of a scalar parameter is considered with given lower and upper bounds of the scalar regressor. We derive non-asymptotic, lower and upper bounds on the convergence rates of the parameter estimate variances of the central and the minimax algorithms for noise probability density functions characterized by a thin tail distribution. This presents an extension of the previous work for constant scalar regressors to arbitrary scalar regressors with magnitude constraints. We expect our results to stimulate further research interests in the statistical analysis of these set-based estimators when the unknown parameter is multi-dimensional and the probability distribution function of the noise is more general than the present setup.     

On operations of soft sets

Soft set theory, proposed by Molodtsov, has been regarded as an effective mathematical tool to deal with uncertainties. In this paper, first we prove that certain De Morgan’s law hold in soft set theory with respect to different operations on soft sets. Then, we discuss the basic properties of operations on soft sets such as intersection, extended intersection, restricted union and restricted difference. Moreover, we illustrate their interconnections between each other. Also we define the notion of restricted symmetric difference of soft sets and investigate its properties. The main purpose of this paper is to extend the theoretical aspect of operations on soft sets.     

Revealed comparative advantages in academic publishing of “old” and “new” European Union Member States 1998–2018

Scientometrics - The paper uses a variant of the Revealed Comparative Advantage index to examine comparative advantages of the European Union (EU) countries in 254 research areas and their...     

Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)s: Diversification and biomedical applications: A state of the art review

Biomaterials have played an important role in the treatment of disease and the improvement of health care. Synthetic and naturally occurring biodegradable and biocompatible polymers have been used as biomaterials. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are promising materials for biomedical applications because they are biodegradable, non-toxic and biocompatible. We will shortly summarize the modification reactions, which include functionalization and grafting reactions, to improve the mechanical, thermal and hydrophilic properties of PHAs. The use of the modified PHAs in numerous biomedical applications, such as sutures, cardiovascular patches, wound dressings, scaffolds in tissue engineering, tissue repair/regeneration devices, drug carriers will be discussed in this review.     

Characterization and thermoluminescence behavior of beta irradiated NaBaBO3 phosphor synthesized by combustion method

NaBaBO₃ host material was synthesized using the combustion method. In order to optimize the performance of the material, effects of sintering temperatures varying from 600° to 1000?°C were investigated. The sintering temperature and dwell time were found to have pronounced effects on the pure NaBaBO₃ material. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were used to confirm the phase formation and examine the surface morphology of the prepared powder material, respectively. TL behavior of NaBaBO₃ was studied at various beta doses. It is seen that the sample exhibits well resolved TL glow peak at a peak temperature about 175?°C and corresponding TL intensity increases with the increasing beta dose. However, TL glow peak slightly shifts to lower temperature with the increasing beta dose level. This is the first TL report of a phosphor with a NaBaBO₃ host. The TL kinetic parameters were estimated by the peak shape (PS) method and CGCD software. TL glow curves of NaBaBO₃ consist of several traps and exhibited second order kinetics. A possible TL mechanism was also discussed using the energy level model. The obtained results can provide valuable knowledge related to the investigation of the intrinsic nature characteristics of NaBaBO₃ in research fields pertaining to dosimetry.