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A review of impact drop testing of composite laminate plates
Get PDFToday, composite materials are widely used in many industrial applications due to their advanced properties such as a higher strength-to-weight ratio. However, low-velocity impact failure in composites poses maintenance issues since it may result in unseen damage. This work provides a detailed overview of impact drop testing of composite laminate plates. The principal objective of this work is to comprehend the impact damage behaviour and failure mechanism in composite laminates. The paper also provides examining new techniques for making composite laminates and how these techniques might affect the impact performance of composite materials
AI’s Influence on Non-Player Character Dialogue and Gameplay Experience
Get PDFOpenAI’s introduction of the ChatGPT tool in late 2022 prompted varied societal responses. This study focuses on integrating the generative language algorithm into player-NPC dialogues in video games to gauge its impact on immersion. It explores ChatGPT’s effects on player engagement, comparing it with traditional dialogue systems, and its role in achieving in-game goals. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, data analysis involved questionnaires, player experience evaluations, interaction comment reviews, dialogue text analysis, and player choice assessments. Results indicate potential benefits of ChatGPT in enhancing conversational scenarios, while also raising questions about dialogue purpose, player-NPC interaction motivations, and enjoyment. Factors like game genre, dialogue length, tone, and prompt configurations influence interaction satisfaction. The study concludes by addressing integration risks and suggesting avenues for future exploration in this domain
AI-Assisted Design and Experimental Testing of a Compact UWB Antenna for the Inspection of Food and Beverage Products
Get PDFDetecting physical contamination caused by low-density foreign bodies is an ongoing challenge faced by the food and beverage industries. To overcome the limitations of existing devices, a novel detection principle based on microwave imaging (MWI) has been assessed. MWI enables safe and non-invasive analysis of the sample under test through a 3-D reconstruction obtained from the alteration that the electromagnetic scattered waves undergo due to the presence of a foreign body. To make the application of this technology more appealing in real-world scenarios, we propose an antenna that can cover a broad set of food types, permitting the adaptability of the system's operating frequency depending on the products' dielectric properties and the containers' type or shape. The proposed antenna is designed with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). Thanks to its low cost and small dimensions, we can increase the quantity of acquired information by increasing the number of antennas placed around the product. A complete functioning system using the designed antenna is presented, assessing the image reconstruction in a case with realistic products and contaminants
Gain Bandwidth Enhancement and Sidelobe Level Stabilization of mm-Wave Lens Antennas Using AI-driven Optimization
No full textThis paper explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques in optimizing the phase distributions of a lens antenna to significantly enhance the gain bandwidth and stabilize the sidelobe levels at the millimeter-wave band. Through an AI-driven antenna design method (self-adaptive Bayesian neural network surrogate-model-assisted differential evolution for antenna optimization (SB-SADEA), specifically), this work obtains a phase distribution that provides a wide gain bandwidth and stable sidelobe levels from 24 to 33 GHz. A lens antenna with 20 × 20 unit cells is implemented based on the phase distribution. Results show a 1-dB bandwidth of 28.2% and the sidelobe levels have also been lowered compared to the reference design. The optimized lens antenna shows a stable gain with a range of 20.13 dB to 22.16 dB from 24 to 33 GHz, in comparison to the reference design that has a gain range of 16.70 dB to 26.43 dB over the same frequency spectrum. The measured results align well with the simulated results, verifying the effectiveness of the AI-driven antenna design optimization technique in enhancing the performance of a lens antenna
Learner experiences of low attainment groups in the context of a rights approach to education
Get PDFParticipation is seen as an important right for learners, though there is lack of evidence to understand learners’ views on classroom practice. This includes decisions about grouping learners, for example, in terms of their prior attainment or perceived ‘ability’. This research took place in Wales where children’s rights are strongly promoted as an educational approach, but where there is also evidence of widespread attainment grouping in schools. Focus groups and interviews were carried out with secondary school learners in lower attaining groups (n = 70) and teachers and teaching assistants (n = 10) to understand experiences of learning support. Findings suggest strong learner satisfaction with groups, but also lack of movement between groups that reinforced ability hierarchies in schools and supported the development of negative identities for some learners. There was a lack of consensus among educators about the purpose of attainment grouping, with some seeing it as a way of addressing systemic issues within the school
Enhancement of Calcium Chelating Activity in Peptides from Sea Cucumber Ovum through Phosphorylation Modification
Get PDFRecently, phosphorylation has been applied to peptides to enhance their physiological activity, taking advantage of its modification benefits and the extensive study of functional peptides. In this study, water-soluble peptides (WSPs) of sea cucumber ovum were phosphorylated in order to improve the latter’s calcium binding capacity and calcium absorption. Enzymatic hydrolysis methods were screened via ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV–Vis), the fluorescence spectrum, and calcium chelating ability. Phosphorylated water-soluble peptides (P-WSPs) were characterized via high-performance liquid chromatography, the circular dichroism spectrum, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–Vis spectroscopy, surface hydrophobicity, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The phosphorus content, calcium chelation rate and absorption rate were investigated. The results demonstrated that phosphorylation enhanced the calcium chelating capacity of WSPs, with the highest capacity reaching 0.96 mmol/L. Phosphate ions caused esterification events, and the carboxyl, amino, and phosphate groups of WSPs and P-WSPs interacted with calcium ions to form these bonds. Calcium-chelated phosphorylated water-soluble peptides (P-WSPs-Ca) demonstrated outstanding stability (calcium retention rates > 80%) in gastrointestinal processes. Our study indicates that these chelates have significant potential to develop into calcium supplements with superior efficacy, bioactivity, and stability
Formation, influencing factors, and applications of internal channels in starch: A review
Get PDFStarch, a natural polymer, has a complex internal structure. Some starches, such as corn and wheat starches, have well-developed surface pores and internal channels. These channel structures are considered crucial in connecting surface stomata and internal cavities and have adequate space for loading guest molecules. After processing or modification, the starch-containing channel structures can be used for food and drug encapsulation and delivery. This article reviews the formation and determination of starch internal channels, and the influence of different factors (such as starch species and processing conditions) on the channel structure. It also discusses relevant starch preparation methods (physical, chemical, enzymatic, and synergistic), and the encapsulation effect of starch containing internal channels on different substances. In addition, the role of internal channels in regulating the starch digestion rate and other aspects is also discussed here. This review highlights the significant multifunctional applications of starch with a channel structure
Entering into, departing from and working within the psychiatric domain
Get PDFThis article is a Festschrift contribution which maps out the similarities in the career trajectories of Professor Peter Huxley and myself. It begins by exploring the key considerations of our common profession; social work, and its relationship with mental health. It then explores how a social orientation has enable us to reframe understandings of dual diagnosis. The second half of the article then explores the key lesson learnt from these interactions. The findings of the contribution are centred around the need for better understanding of the social detriments of mental health and substance use. In reaching these conclusions, the article summarises the importance of seeing individuals for the problems they encounter and working with them in partnership to arrive at more empowered responses
Phase Optimization and Relay Selection for Joint Relay and IRS-Assisted Communication
No full textThe use of Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (IRSs) is considered a potential enabling technology for enhancing the spectral and energy efficiency of beyond 5G communication systems. In this paper, a joint relay and intelligent reflecting surface (IRS)-assisted communication is considered to investigate the gains of optimizing both the phase angles and selection of relays. The combination of successive refinement and reinforcement learning is proposed. Successive refinement algorithm is used for phase optimization and reinforcement learning is used for relay selection. Experimental results indicate that the proposed approach offers improved achievable rate performance and scales better with number of relays compared to considered benchmark approaches
Expected and actual responses to minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol of people drinking at harmful levels in Scotland
Get PDFBackground
This paper considers the extent to which people drinking at harmful levels responded to minimum unit pricing (MUP) in Scotland in the way they, family members and those providing services anticipated they would. It examines data taken from a larger evaluation of the impact of MUP on people who are drinking at harmful levels.
Methods
Qualitative interview data, (utilizing interviews and focus groups, with individuals, treatment services, and family members) was generated prior to the implementation of MUP in Scotland to provide insights into anticipated responses and comparable data generated across an extended 19-month period post-implementation and provided insights into actual responses.
Results
Overall, the data showed consistency between anticipated and actual responses, with fewer differences observed. In line with anticipated responses, many drinkers switched from cheap, strong ciders to other alcohol products, notably vodka. They consistently responded to the decrease in alcohol affordability by utilizing existing behavior such as managing finances and prioritizing spends on alcohol, including borrowing money, foregoing essentials, and using savings. There was less evidence of anticipated harmful consequences of MUP occurring, such as increased crime, switching to other drugs, or examples of acute withdrawal.
Conclusions
Drinkers and those living and working with them, have a good command of how alcohol affordability is maintained or impacts on expenditure and other choices, and how they respond to any decrease in affordability including the introduction of minimum price policies