In this work, the possibility of using planar droplet sizing (PDS) based on laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and Mie scattering was investigated within the framework of measuring the droplet Sauter mean diameter (SMD) of direct-injection spark-ignition (DISI) spray systems. For this purpose, LIF and Mie signals of monodisperse fuel droplets produced by a droplet generator were studied at engine re

Root-induced channels are the primary controlling factors for rapid movement of water and solute in forest soils. To explore the effects of root distribution on preferential flow during rainfall events, deciduous (Quercus variabilis BI.) and coniferous forest (Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco) sites were selected to conduct dual-tracer experiments (Brilliant Blue FCF and Bromide [Br-]). Each plo

Concerns have been raised about the potential adverse effects of liberalizing trade in services under the GATS framework on equity, costs, distribution, availability of services and sovereignty of governments in defining their national objectives. These concerns have been voiced in poor countries in case of such social service sectors as health and education. Critics have stressed the need for an

Based on a comparative study of the social economic development and the water resources characteristics in 13 arid inland basins of north-western China, it is pointed out that oasis will move from lower reach to upper reach in the circumstances of lower water availability per capita and poorer social economic structures. A significant ecological warning line and warning interval of oasis evolvemen

Background: Abdominal obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The aim was to explore the influence of midnight salivary cortisol (MSC), antidepressants and sex on abdominal obesity in type 1 diabetes (T1D). We controlled for physical inactivity, smoking, depression and alexithymia. Methods: Cross sectional study of 190 T1D patients (86 women/104 men, 18-59 years, diabetes duration 1-5

Experimental aerosol generation methods aim to represent natural processes; however, the complexity is not always captured and unforeseen variability may be introduced into the data. The current practices for natural and experimental aerosol generation techniques are reviewed here. Recommendations for best practice are presented, and include characterization of starting material and spray fluid, r

The problems of neutrino masses, matter-antimatter asymmetry, and dark matter could be successfully addressed by postulating right-handed neutrinos with Majorana masses below the electroweak scale. In this work, leptonic decays of W bosons extracted from 32.9 fb−1 to 36.1 fb−1 of 13 TeV proton–proton collisions at the LHC are used to search for heavy neutral leptons (HNLs) that are produced throug

At the conference of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL) in Bergen, Norway (October 2018), we were privileged to have heard a lecture by Elizabeth Minnich, “People who are not thinking are capable of anything: What are students learning, how are students learning it, and does it make them better people?”In November 2018, as a follow-up to the lecture, Ch

Direct Fick method is considered a standard reference method for estimation of cardiac output. It relies on indirect calorimetry to measure oxygen consumption. This is important as only a minor measurement error in oxygen consumption can result in false estimation of cardiac output. A number of studies have shown that indirect calorimetry overestimates oxygen consumption in adults. The aim of this

In this paper we present fully decentralized methods for calculating an approximate zero- forzing (ZF) equalizer in a large intelligent surface (LIS). A LIS is intended for wireless communication and facilitates unprecedented MU- MIMO performance, far superior to that of Massive MIMO. Antenna modules in the grid connect to their neighbors to exchange messages of information needed for interference

With increasing number of wirelessly connected devices having limited energy resources, energy efficient solutions become more and more important. Many studies have addressed schemes where low-power wake-up receivers are used to improve energy efficiency in networks with low traffic intensity (per node) and demands on availability. One such scheme is the duty-cycled wake-up receiver medium access

In this paper, full-and sub-structure characteristic modes (CMs) are explored through the effect of coupling between the target and background structures. The eigenvalues and eigen-current distributions of the first few modes are compared for different coupling levels in the numerical example. Similarities and differences between the two types of CMs in specific conditions are revealed, paving the

This paper presents a broadside antenna with three ports operating at the same frequency. The TM030 and TM003 modes of a patch are excited by two coaxial cables to generate two orthogonal linear polarizations. The patch can be transformed into a slotted SIW cavity whose TE201 and TE102 modes are jointly excited by the third cable. A matching cavity and a matching patch are introduced to broaden th

In massive MIMO systems the uplink pilot signalstransmitted by a terminal define the channel seen by the basestation. This gives the terminal some degree of freedom selectingan uplink pilot transmission strategy. In this paper, we investigatethe benefit of different pilot transmission strategies when increasingthe number of antennas in the terminal. Building on previouswork on a simulation framewo

Topology sensitivity is introduced and defined to be utilized within method of moments. It is based on a series of the smallest perturbations of the investigated structure and, thanks to the application of the Woodbury matrix identity, its evaluation is inversion-free, suitable for vectorization and parallelization, and results in a fast and versatile tool for analyzing antenna optimality.

This paper reports on research undertaken to identify generic and specific barriers to reuse of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts from across the value chain including product designers, manufacturers, users and waste managers as well policy makers and academics. The interviews sought to examine perceived and real barriers to r

Objective: Odontoblasts are thought to be involved in innate immunity but their precise role in this process is not fully understood. Here, we assess effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA), produced by Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, respectively, on matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) expres

Drøbak Montessori lower secondary school is Norway’s first plus-energy school and also the first school built after the Norwegian Powerhouse-concept, www.powerhouse.no. This concept implies that the building shall produce more renewable energy during the lifetime of the building, than used for materials, production, operation, renovation and demolition. To achieve the energy ambitions for the proj

Different reasons are given as to why children and their parents should be involved in discussions and decisions regarding the child’s care. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child formulates the needs of children and young people in terms of human rights. Ethical duties of health professionals include the obligation to enhance their patients’ competence and ability to participate. The concep