Giant magnetoimpedance in nanocrystalline Fe90.3−xZr7B2.7Cux (0.5 ≤ x ≤ 1.5) as-spun ribbons

The nanocrystalline ribbons Fe_90.3−xZr₇B_2.7Cu_x with low Cu contents can be directly obtained through melt-spinning technique with an appropriate low quenching speed such as 22 m/s. Sizes of bcc-Fe grains precipitated in Fe_90.3−xZr₇B_2.7Cu_x as-spun ribbons were 17 nm for x = 0.75, 15 nm for x = 1 and 12 nm for x = 1.25. The addition of Cu reduces grain size of bcc-Fe in as-spun nanocrystalline Fe_90.3−xZr₇B_2.7Cu_x ribbons. Among the investigated samples (0.5 ≤ x ≤ 1.5), the largest magnetoimpedance can be obtained in the nanocrystalline Fe_80.3Zr₇B_2.7Cu₁ as-spun ribbon with x = 1. The value of magnetoimpedance (Z(H) − Z(0)) / Z(0) under H = 90 Oe for Fe_80.3Zr₇B_2.7Cu₁ as-spun ribbon reaches − 28.2% at a frequency of 1 MHz.     

Optimization of digital holographic setup by a fuzzy logic prediction system

In this study, the optimization of the digital holography setup is achieved by a using fuzzy logic prediction system. In fact, when this optimization process is experimentally performed, some parameters are changed in the setup. These parameters affect directly the obtained image quality after a reconstruction process, which is determined by normalized root mean square. The aim of this study is to achieve the optimization of digital holographic setup by using both experimental and fuzzy logic prediction systems. Furthermore, the required time during the experimental optimization can be lowered by using a numerical method like the fuzzy logic prediction system. Here, the experimental optimization results and the optimization results obtained by the fuzzy logic prediction system are compared. It is offered that the designed experimental system can be optimized by using an artificial intelligent tool. The applied fuzzy logic prediction model is used the first time for optimization of hologram recording setup. As a result, it is reached a conclusion that the optimization of digital holographic setup can be numerically performed by the fuzzy logic prediction system. Moreover, while digital holographic setup is experimentally designed, the required time for optimization is reduced, as well.     

GPR target detection using a neural network classifier designed by a multi-objective genetic algorithm

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is an electromagnetic sensing technology employed for localization of underground utilities, pipes, and other types of objects. The radargrams typically obtained have a high dimensionality, containing a number of signatures with hyperbolic pattern shapes, and can be processed to retrieve information about the target’s locations, depths and material type of underground soil. The classical Hough Transform approach used to reconstruct these hyperbola shapes is computationally expensive, given the large dimensionality of the radargrams. In literature, several approaches propose to first approximate the location of hyperbolas to small segments through a classification stage, before applying the Hough transform over these segments. However, the published classifiers designed for this task present a relatively complex architecture.Aiming at an improved target localization, we propose an alternative classification methodology. The goal is to classify windows of GPR radargrams into two classes (with or without target) using a neural network radial basis function (RBF), designed via a multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA). To capture samples’ fine details, high order statistic cumulant features (HOS) were used. Feature selection was performed by MOGA, with an optional prior reduction using a mutual information (MIFS) approach. The obtained results demonstrate improvement of the classification performance when compared with other models designed with the same data and are among the best results available in the literature, albeit the large reduction in classifier complexity.     

Effect of sol–gel MgO spin-coating on the performance of TiO2-based dye-sensitized solar cells

This paper is concerned with the improvement of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) efficiency upon MgO post-treatment of the TiO₂ electrode. A simple sol–gel technique, involving magnesium acetate as precursor, ethanol as solvent and nitric acid as stabilizer, is applied to prepare a solution of suspended MgO nanoparticles. A single drop of MgO sol at 0.1 M precursor concentration was spin-coated at 3000 rpm for 30 s onto the TiO₂ electrode and sintered at 500 K for 1 h. Dye-loading using N3-dye was applied for 6 h. An increase in the average efficiency of the DSSC from 2.5% to 3.9% (over 50% enhancement) was recorded. Measurements of the dark I–V characteristics, the open circuit voltage decays, the SEM images and the dye absorbance spectra, for both uncoated and MgO-coated electrodes were examined. The improvement of the DSSC efficiency was attributed to an upward shift of the TiO₂ flat band energy and a reduction of the rate of back-transport and recombination.     

Student cluster competition: ParConnect reproducibility task report

Reproducibility is a desirable characteristic of any experimental work in computer science. In this paper, we reproduce the results in the paper, “A parallel connectivity algorithm for de Bruijn graphs in metagenomic applications”, for verifying their claims on the speed and scalability of their algorithm. We first state the claims made in the original paper. Then, we describe our hardware and software setup used for the reproducibility task, followed by the steps taken to setup the proposed algorithm and profiling software. Lastly, we present the results obtained from our experiments and show that we are able to reproduce most of the claims made in the original paper.     

Modeling and control of an airbrake electro‐hydraulic smart actuator

In this paper, an accurate model of an airbrake electro‐hydraulic smart actuator is obtained by physical considerations, and then different control strategies (variable‐gain proportional control, PT₁ control with switching integrator, and second order sub‐optimal sliding mode control) are proposed and analyzed. This application is innovative in the avionic field, and is one of the first attempts to realize a fly‐by‐wire system for airbrakes, oriented to its immediate employment and installation on current aircraft. The project was carried on with the participation of the Italian Ministry of Defense, and was commissioned to MAG, a leading provider of integrated systems and aviation services for aerospace. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society     

Tunable dual-wavelength ring fiber laser with stable output based on saturable absorber and thin core passive fiber

A dual-wavelength erbium-doped ring fiber laser is proposed and experimentally demonstrated though a detailed theoretical analysis and experimental verification. The proposed dual-wavelength erbium-doped fiber (EDF) laser, which is based on a ring fiber laser structure, is fabricated using two fiber Bragg gratings. By adjusting the gains and losses of the fiber laser structure, the laser can be switched between single- and double-wavelength modes. A saturable absorber (SA) is used to improve the output laser stability, which is further enhanced by splicing a thin core passive fiber (TCPF) into the laser cavity to produce a Mach–Zehnder filter effect. Optimizing the lengths of the SA and TCPF results in the adoption of a 1-m EDF and a 4-m passive fiber. On the basis of these enhancements and optimizations, a fiber laser with stable output is constructed that incurs single- or dual-wavelength laser shifts of less than 3 pm at room temperature over a period of 250 s.     

Evaluation of a new On-Stream Supercritical Fluid Deposition process for sol–gel preparation of silica-based membranes on tubular supports

A novel “On-Stream Supercritical Fluid Deposition” (OS-SFD) process has been investigated in this work coupling the sol–gel chemistry and a filtration/compression operation in supercritical CO₂ (sc-CO₂), for the production of uniform membranes on/in porous ceramic tubular supports. The versatility of this process allows both the direct formation of thin coatings on porous tubular membrane supports but also their internal modification. An attractive on-line control of the deposition process was operated by recording the transmembrane pressure evolution during membrane formation. Silica membranes were directly deposited on macroporous supports (155 mm long α-Al₂O₃, with 200 nm pore sizes) from TEOS derived sols dissolved in sc-CO₂ and transported to the tubular support where the condensation/gelation and deposition occurred. The deposition mechanism has been correlated with the sol–gel transition in sc-CO₂ conditions and the impact of the deposition temperature, sol formulation and sc-CO₂ flow rate on the membrane characteristics (morphology, weight increase and single gas permeance) have been discussed. Supersaturation and precipitation of transported clusters followed by their condensation and gelation were found as key parameters controlling the silica-based membrane design and microstructure/compacity of the silica network.