Upgraded Method Research Articles

A Simple Solution for Online Upgrade of User Programs Based on SPI Bus Protocol

Traditional FPGA program upgrades typically require JTAG in conjunction with specialized EDA tools for downloading and updating programs. However, in practical applications, FPGAs are usually packaged in devices and cannot be disassembled, which brings many inconveniences to online program upgrades. To this end, this article introduces a simple solution for online upgrade of user programs based on SPI bus protocol. The upper layer user transfers the BIN file of the project to FPGA via UART protocol to start configuring SPI Flash, and completes the firmware upgrade method through MultiBoot dual mirroring technology. This method has low maintenance costs, stable updates, and can also remotely update system programs.

Evaluation of the Implementation Status of the Nepal Rural Road Standards (NRRS) Concerning Geometrical Parameters: A Case Study of Morang District of Nepal

Maintaining the effectiveness of the transportation system is essential to economic growth. Poor road upgrading methods in many developing nations, however, are making it impossible for traffic to flow freely. Nepal developed the Nepal Rural Road Standards (NRRS) of 2055, District Transportation Master Plan (DTMP), and Municipality Transportation Master Plan (MTMP) to regulate the construction of rural road infrastructure. These guidelines provide guidelines for rural road planning, design, building, and maintenance, among other aspects. However, each geometric design has certain features, and parameter requirements depending on the region and location to be applied. This study aims to compare the geometrical features of the rural roads that have been built with the Nepal Rural Road Standards (NRRS) 2055, second revision (2071). Using a random sampling approach, six rural roads in the Morang district were selected for the data collection. To gather geometrical data, field observations and measurements were made at random chainages. This study evaluates various geometric parameters using linear and angular field measurements. Mapping conducted via smart road software ensures road geometry compliance, including aspects such as curve radius, shoulder width, gradient, sight distance, carriageway, and additional widening. The findings demonstrate that strict adherence to established standards substantially enhances road safety. Based on the results of the field observation, the geometric elements have been built according to design specifications, except for the additional widening at shoulder width and horizontal.

Innovative Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Rope-Based Closed-Form Retrofitting Methods Applied in Reinforced Concrete T-Shaped Beams under Torsion.

The fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) elements with torsional deficiencies has not yet been extensively studied. Existing studies have primarily focused on rectangular RC beams. The few studies on L or T-shaped beams have used open-form retrofitting methods. However, premature debonding of the retrofitting from concrete surfaces often leads to detachment before achieving enhanced torsional capacity. This study introduces an innovative application of closed-form FRP retrofitting for RC T-beams against torsion. Two novel closed-form torsional upgrading methods were proposed and investigated through a comprehensive experimental program involving eight large-scale T-beams. One method employs FRP ropes embedded in transverse grooves near the surface, while the other combines U-shaped EB-FRP strips with FRP ropes. Additionally, two configurations were examined replicating scenarios where the upper part of the slab is accessible or inaccessible. The results demonstrate that the closed-form methods improve torsional strength by 9% to 25% and twist at failure by 92% to 536% compared to unstrengthened beams, with beams retrofitting through the slab exhibiting superior performance. Step-by-step technical guidelines of the proposed methods are presented to minimize construction defects and ensure effective implementation in real RC structures.

An Optimal Radiation Shield Design of a Small Modular Nuclear Power Reactor by Genetic Algorithm

One of the critical concerns in developing small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) is employing efficient radiation shielding consistent with the design and implementation requirements. Besides observing the radiation shielding requirements, the design process entails developing compact, lightweight shielding as well as ensuring the safety of the staff and radiation-sensitive equipment around the reactor under different operating conditions. Conventional methods of radiation shielding design are based on experiments conducted. Therefore, the resultant design involves trial and error, rarely achieving an optimal, effective, and efficient design. In this study, a multi-objective method based on the genetic algorithm coupled with the MNCP calculation code has been used to enhance the radiation shielding system of a SMR. Using this method, the thickness of different shielding layers has been optimized to minimize the total dose (neutrons and gamma) at the output, the weight, and the overall volume of the shielding. To assess and compare the method used to an implemented conventional method, a sample design of the MRX nuclear power reactor is considered. Using the optimization technique, the radiation shielding of the reactor has been redesigned and compared with the original design. This paper discusses the existing deficiencies in the initial design of the primary shield of the reactor as a design implemented based on conventional methods. Similar to the original design, the main materials considered for radiation shielding in consecutive layers were water and steel, and the final layer contained lead. The thickness of the different layers and their arrangements have been optimized to assess the upgraded method. The calculations indicate that the overall thickness of the proposed shielding is suggested as 93.8 cm compared to 140 cm to obtain the total dose of neutrons and gammas, which is suggested as less than 10 µSv/h. The results imply a 38.56% reduction in volume and a 17.24% reduction in weight of the radiation shielding compared to the reference reactor design.

Recent Advances in Biofiltration for PPCP Removal from Water

As emerging pollutants, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in water have attracted more and more attention because of their harmfulness to the ecosystem and human health. Due to the perpetual input from sewage/wastewater effluents, landfill leachates, urban/agricultural runoff, etc., PPCPs in the aquatic environment are generally “pseudo-persistent”. Conventional filtration in the water treatment process cannot effectively remove PPCPs, while biofiltration, a synergistic combination of adsorption and biodegradation, is an effective upgrade method that has received great attention and application in recent years. This paper systematically reviewed the principle of biofiltration and its efficiency in the removal of PPCPs. The important operational parameters influencing biofiltration performance such as filter media, temperature, backwash conditions, empty bed contact time, etc. were summarized. In addition, the limitations and prospects of the current research on biofiltration were also pointed out.

Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis of Tar-Rich Coal with a Bauxite Residue for Upgrading High-Value Products: Product Distribution and Kinetic Analysis.

Fast pyrolysis technology can reduce the secondary reactions, improve the volatile product yield, and reduce the semicoke yield. Still, the high proportion of heavy tar components affects the development of fast pyrolysis industrialization. Therefore, this paper put forward a catalytic upgrading method of coal based on the solid waste bauxite residue (BR) as a catalyst. This study investigated the impact of varying particle sizes of pulverized coal and the addition of the BR catalyst on the product distribution and kinetics of coal fast pyrolysis. The results found that the tar yield was the highest at 600 °C when the particle size of pulverized coal was 75-150 μm, which was 19.44%. In the range of 550-650 °C, the relative content of benzene and toluene xylene (BTX) in liquid products increased with the temperature. With the increase of the proportion of the BR catalyst, the yield of semicoke in coal pyrolysis products increased, the yield of the gas phase also increased, and the yield of the liquid phase decreased.

Carbon performance analysis of upgraded wastewater treatment plants in key control areas of the Ziya River Basin in China

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and they are also one of the largest energy consumption industries in urban systems. With the progression of upgrading and standard-rising, WWTPs both directly and indirectly increase carbon emissions from the increased investments in facilities and usages in electricity as well as chemical agents. Here, we collected operational data from 15 WWTPs in the key control areas of the Ziya River Basin in North China and accounted for the changes in carbon performance at different technical upgrade methods. Results showed that the average carbon emission performance increased by 0.487 kg CO2/m3 after the upgrade. Carbon emissions from electricity consumption, chemical usage, biochemical process and sludge treatment accounted for 42%, 17%, 24%, and 17% of the total improvement in carbon emission performance, respectively. Reducing energy consumption, regulating chemical use and sludge comprehensive utilization are the key to carbon emission reduction. It further proposes that the development of wastewater treatment discharge standards should fully consider the comprehensive utilization of water quality classification. Regions with favorable natural conditions should make full use of their advantages by adopting economically feasible, low-energy-consuming technologies such as constructed wetlands, which offer carbon sequestration and landscaping benefits. This study provides guidance on the selection of technological pathways for pollution reduction and carbon mitigation in the wastewater treatment industry and on achieving sustainable water resource utilization.

Enhancement of selective monoaromatic hydrocarbon and syngas products from fast pyrolysis of cassava stalks over Co, Mo promoted Ni catalysts

Catalytic fast pyrolysis of cassava stalks has been intriguing as a promising, feasible chemical refinery method in terms of waste-to-energy conversion from cassava cultivation. This study aims to determine the synergetic influence of Mo and Co on Ni catalysts (Ni, Ni–Mo, and Ni–Co) prepared via ultrasonic-assisted incipient wetness impregnation method for catalytic pyrolysis vapor upgrading. The results indicated that Co and Mo enhance the reducibility of NiO and promote weak-to-medium acidity, thereby enhancing Ni's performance. Mono-Ni favors cracking deoxygenation, whereas oxophilicity promoters particularly enhance the oxygen absorbability efficiency to selective deoxygenated production. A fine Ni dispersion on CoNi/SiO2 catalyst was observed to positively affect the production of monoaromatic hydrocarbons (46.10 %), in contrast to those without promoters (21.63 %). This is attributed to an optimal Ni-metallic distribution with a small crystal size of 7.01 nm and a high surface area of 342.6 m2 g−1, highlighting the effectiveness of the promoter-assisted Ni catalyst. Additionally, a high yield of H2 (66.9 %) in non-condensable gas was recorded at 550 °C. The study suggests that a simplified approach to developing Ni-based catalysts could enhance the eco-friendliness of commercial catalysts, thereby facilitating the scale-up of biomass pyrolysis applications.

Using Monte Carlo method to Upgrade Zhentong Gao method

In recent decades, it has been found that the three-parament Weibull distribution plays an increasingly important role in the fields such as structural fatigue and reliability. However, the complexity of estimating these three parameters greatly affects the application of the Weibull distribution. In the past three years, the author has successively proposed the Zhentong Gao Method and the Generalized Zhentong Gao Method, which have effectively solved this problem. However, it has also been found that there is room for improvement in these two methods. That's what this paper is about, how to use the characteristics of the Monte Carlo and Metropolis-Hastings methods to upgrade the Zhentong Gao method and the Generalized Zhentong Gao method, so that these two upgraded methods can not only efficiently estimate the three parameters of the Weibull distribution, but also provide their confidence intervals, and can be used in more fields.

Phosphotungstic Acid Clusters Decorated Znln2S4 Nanoflowers as Molecular-Scale S-Scheme Heterojunctions for Simultaneous H2 Evolution and Benzyl Alcohol Upgrading.

Simultaneous utilization of photogenerated electrons and holes to achieve overall redox reactions is attractive but still far from practical application. The emerging step (S)-scheme mechanism has proven to be an ideal approach to inhibit charge recombination and supply photoinduced charges with highest redox potentials. Herein, a hierarchical phosphotungstic acid (H3PW12O40, HPW)@Znln2S4 (ZISW) heterojunction was prepared through one-pot hydrothermal method for simultaneous hydrogen (H2) evolution and benzyl alcohol upgrading. The fabricated HPW-based heterojunctions indicated much enhanced visible-light absorption, promoted photogenerated charge transfer and inhibited charge recombination, owing to hierarchical architecture based on visible-light responsive Znln2S4 microspheres, and S-scheme charge transfer pathway. The S-scheme mechanism was further verified by free-radical trapping electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra. Moreover, the wettability of composite heterojunction was improved by the modification of hydrophilic HPW, contributing to gaining active hydrogen (H+) from water sustainably. The optimal ZISW-30 heterojunction photocatalyst indicated an enhanced hydrogen evolution rate of 27.59 mmol g-1 h-1 in benzyl alcohol (10 vol. %) solution under full-spectrum irradiation, along with highest benzaldehyde production rate is 8.32 mmol g-1 h-1. This work provides a promising guideline for incorporating HPW into S-scheme heterojunctions to achieve efficient overall redox reactions.

The Effects of the Development Zone Upgrading on the Diversification of Firm’s Product Exports: Evidence from Chinese Exporters

Against the backdrop of frequent international trade frictions, reducing external risks in export trade through industrial policies has become crucial for China’s high-quality and steady foreign trade development. This paper examines the impact of development zone upgrading policies on the diversification of firm product exports by using a time-varying difference-in-differences model. We find that after the upgrading of development zones, the diversification of firm product exports increases by 2.13%, and concentration decreases by 1.33%. Moreover, this policy has a stronger impact on the diversification level of product exports for firms upgraded to customs special supervision areas, located inland, and engaged in general trade. These conclusions remain robust even after conducting additional robustness tests using alternative measures of the dependent variable, different identification methods for development zone upgrading, and controlling for other industrial policy effects. Furthermore, the upgrading of development zones improves export diversification through three main channels: enhancing firm innovation capabilities, optimizing management efficiency, and providing financial support to firms.

Upgrading of Precast Roof Beam–Column Connections with Seismic Safety Key Devices

To meet the increasing demands for innovations in precast systems with high seismic resistance, in this study, we introduced a novel seismic upgrading technique for roof beam-column (RBC) connections, termed the targeted seismic upgrading (TSU) method, incorporating the innovative seismic safety key (SSK) devices we developed. These devices significantly enhance seismic resilience, offering a substantial improvement over traditional pin-based RBC connections in precast structures, which are known to have limited effectiveness. Our experimental tests on half-scale models of conventional RBC connections, coupled with comprehensive refined finite element method-based nonlinear analytical studies, conclusively demonstrated the enhanced seismic retrofitting capabilities of RBC connections augmented with SSK devices. The paper delineates a technical procedure for applying the SSK, our proprietary innovation, for the targeted seismic upgrading of RBC connections within modern precast systems. Notably, the SSK-upgraded RBC connections exhibited a marked increase in safety, as evidenced by results from experimentally validated nonlinear three-dimensional micro-analytical models. The incorporated flexible design elements in the TSU method ensure its high effectiveness and general applicability for seismic upgrading of both existing and new precast industrial hall structures, offering a significant advancement in this specific seismic engineering topic. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-05-06 Full Text: PDF

UP-Home: A Self-Adaptive Solution for Smart Home Security

Smart home devices are vulnerable to attacks that put their users’ security at risk. Vulnerabilities are discovered very frequently and can expose these devices through unsecured services. Meanwhile, the lack of standardisation in upgrade methods makes smart homes a potentially vulnerable environment. Furthermore, many manufacturers release their products and then abandon them, refusing to support security updates. As a result, security updates are needed to deal with the emergence of new attacks. There are several proposals to promote security in smart homes. However, there are rare solutions where changes for security purposes occur with little or no human intervention. This paper presents UP-Home, a self-adaptive solution that manages the security of smart homes. UP-Home aims to ensure that smart home devices meet the security requirements set by industry standards. The solution can continually identify and mitigate smart home security vulnerabilities. With autonomous computing techniques, UP-Home seeks to ensure the self-protection of devices and, consequently, the entire smart home. With the UP-Home evalu-ation, it was possible to notice significant improvements in the security of the smart home without any human intervention.

A novel algorithm for optimizing hydrocyclone operations in the decontamination of potentially toxic elements in soils

We present the Three-Parameter Penalized Attributive Analysis for Upgrading (3PPAA-U) method as a tool for selecting the Best Upgrading Condition (BUC) in process engineering. Conventional approaches tend to consider only maximizing recovery (ε) and minimizing yield (γc); in contrast, the proposed 3PPAA-U introduces and seeks to maximize a third parameter, the grade (λ). This multi-parameter approach has not yet been explored in existing literature. In addition to controlling multiple parameters, the method is also superior to others as it includes inverse standard deviation weighting to avoid the distortion of results due to data dispersion. This reduces the possibility of drawing conclusions based on extreme values. Furthermore, the method can be used with a target-to-distance correction to optimize separation for multi-component feeds. To illustrate our method, we present a practical application of 3PPAA-U. Soil contaminated with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) was subject to hydrocycloning under 12 different experimental conditions. Results of these 12 experiments were compared using 3PPAA-U and conventional methods to identify the best upgrading conditions (BUC). Analysis reveals that the 3PPAA-U approach offers a simple and effective criterion for selecting BUC. Furthermore, 3PPAA-U has uses beyond soil remediation. It offers a versatile tool for optimizing operations across various processing and manufacturing environments offering a way to manage factors such as concentration, temperature, pressure, pH, Eh, grain size, and even broader environmental and economic considerations.

High-recall calibration monitoring for stereo cameras

Cameras are the prevalent sensors used for perception in autonomous robotic systems, but their initial calibration may degrade over time due to dynamic factors. This may lead to a failure of downstream tasks, such as simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) or object recognition. Hence, a computationally lightweight process that detects the decalibration is of interest. We describe a modification of StOCaMo, an online calibration monitoring procedure for a stereoscopic system. The method uses robust kernel correlation based on epipolar constraints; it validates extrinsic calibration parameters on a single frame with no temporal tracking. In this paper, we present a modified StOCaMo with an improved recall rate on small decalibrations through a confirmation technique based on resampled variance. With fixed parameters learned on a realistic synthetic dataset from CARLA, StOCaMo and its proposed modification were tested on multiple sequences from two real-world datasets: KITTI and EuRoC MAV. The modification improved the recall of StOCaMo by 25 % (to 91 % and 82 %, respectively), and the accuracy by 12 % (to 94.7 % and 87.5 %, respectively), while labeling at most one-third of the input data as uninformative. The upgraded method achieved the rank correlation between StOCaMo V-index and downstream SLAM error of 0.78 (Spearman).

Adhesive interaction in hybrid polymer composites. Energy characteristics of phases at the air interface

Introduction: The study of the adhesive strength formation mechanisms in polymer composites involves the deliberate selection of components to facilitate their joint action in transferring stresses from the fibers to the binder through the phase interface. The strength of the adhesive interaction between components can be expressed through their energy characteristics, provided technological and other factors are ensured. Purpose of the study: The study aims to investigate the energy characteristics of hybrid polymer composite phases at the air interface. Methods: The optical method was used to capture micrographs of wetting fibers of different nature by liquids, based on which contact angles were determined. Tensile tests of fibers were conducted, and thermal analysis of fibers was performed using a synchronous thermal analyzer. The surface tension of epoxy resin and the epoxy resin / hardener system was determined using a tensiometer. Results: The method for determining surface energies of solids was upgraded. The upgraded method makes it possible to determine the free surface energy of fibers of different nature and the surface tension of the binder. The effect of oiling compositions (finishing agents) was quantitatively evaluated.

Microwave catalytic pyrolysis of heavy oil: A lump kinetic study approach

Managing heavy oil (HO) has become a vital issue in terms of environmental considerations. Microwave pyrolysis of HO is one of the efficient methods of upgrading and recycling this complex material. In this work, microwave catalytic pyrolysis (MCP) of HO was explored by investigating the effect of heating time (2–10 minutes) and temperature (460–730ºC) on the product yield and quality. The most critical point of this study was utilizing a unique design of SiC foam@HZSM-5 as a microwave absorber and catalyst simultaneously. This special design could eliminate the main problem of previous studies: the unwanted temperature gradient inside the reactor, which was misleading the prediction of kinetic parameters by recording the wrong temperature. The yield of each product’s category from the MCP process was reconstructed through a biharmonic spline interpolation (BSI) algorithm to visualize the simultaneous effect of the heating time and temperature on the yield. The optimum temperature for the MCP process was about 600ºC and a heating time of 6 minutes, which yielded the most valuable hydrocarbons in liquid and gas products. The produced liquid oil and non-condensable gases were analyzed through GC-MS and the collected results were categorized based on the properties of the detected compounds. An eight-lump kinetic model was then proposed based on that categorization. The calculated pre-exponential factors (k0) were higher than the expected values, while the apparent activation energies (Ea) were considerably lower than the reported data in the literature, which was due to the non-thermal and thermal effects of microwave irradiation on the reaction mechanism. The validation of the proposed model indicated the capability of this model to predict reliable data under these conditions.

Research on the upgrade and maintenance method of apple soluble solids content models

AbstractIn this paper, 3 years (2020, 2021, and 2022) of Bingtangxin apples were used to study the upgrade and maintenance method of apple soluble solids content (SSC) model using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Modeling by partial least squares (PLS) and one‐dimensional convolutional neural network (1D‐CNN) algorithm. The “base model” is built with apples in 2020 and then upgrade and maintain it. The upgraded model is used to predict the sample in 2021 and 2022. Three methods were used to upgrade and maintenance the model, which are based on updated data, direct correction‐based method, and similar band‐based method. Among the three upgrade methods, the model maintenance method using updated data had the greatest improvement in prediction correlation coefficients (Rp) in both years, and both obtained good predictions. The use of direct correction resulted in the greatest reduction in the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) in both years. However, the Rp of the model is not improved much by using the direct correction method. The model maintenance method using similar bands combined with different modeling methods also gives good prediction results. Finally, after comparison, the model maintenance method of selecting similar bands is preferred. In the case of limited improvement in the effect of using the similar band method, the model is maintained using the method of adding updated data. The investigation of model upgrade and maintenance methods can reduce human and material consumption and make apple SSC models more versatile.Practical applicationsNIR technology is the first choice for online fruit quality inspection, but its inspection process requires constant upgrading and maintenance with models. The quality of apples varies from year to year, and the model built with samples from a single year does not work well in predicting samples from other years, resulting in the need to upgrade and maintain the fruit quality detection model. However, sometimes, although a large amount of experimental material is lost, it still results in a generic calibration model that is too cumbersome and leads to poor prediction results. At this time, finding an effective model upgrade and maintenance method can both reduce the sample consumption and make the model prediction accuracy improve, and also reduce the model complexity and make the maintained model more robust.

Comprehensive analysis of DFT-3C methods with B3LYP and experimental data to model optoelectronic properties of tetracene

Modern computational chemistry methods aid experimentalists in scrutinizing molecular systems for organic optoelectronic device fabrication. They are also helpful for device engineering, such as choosing metals for contact fabrication without sophisticated instrumentation. The B3LYP functional with 6-31G(d,p) or 6-311G(d,p) basis set is a widely used method in this regard. Recently, many upgraded methods, such as the three-fold corrected composite scheme (3C), have been reported to offer cost-effectiveness and better accuracy than the B3LYP. This is particularly interesting from a materials engineering point of view as these methods offer the possibility of rapidly screening the materials prior to the experimental analysis. In order to evaluate their suitability towards organic optoelectronic systems, in this work, we have used three composite schemes, namely B97-3C, PBEh-3C and HF-3C, along with B3LYP and the experimental data. The well-studied tetracene system is considered for the analysis, and different optoelectronic properties such as bandgap, reorganization energy, and absorption maximum are calculated theoretically and compared with the experimental data. The results indicate that though slightly expensive, B3LYP performs better than the 3C methods. Of the three, only PBEh-3C performs on par with B3LYP in accuracy and time. A note of caution is that these results should be inferred as this level of theory is adequate for the screening and modeling optoelectronic systems rather than a potential computational chemistry method.

Teaching Reform Program of Integrated Practice Course for Automotive Majors Based on ADDIE Model

Abstract The ADDIE model is highly compatible with teaching in terms of educational purposes, concepts, and processes and has a positive contribution to teaching. In this study, the ADDIE model is used to teach a comprehensive practice course for automobile majors in order to promote the systematic design and implementation of teaching. In this paper, the main problems to be solved are firstly extracted through the elemental analysis of the comprehensive practice course system of automobile majors, and the expected level of learning objectives to be achieved is pre-set. Then, a complete integration of educational media resources is carried out to test the effectiveness of the developed course instructional design. The fuzzy evaluation model is utilized to assess the quality of the course constructed by the ADDIE model. Specifically, the hierarchical analysis method is applied to calculate the index weights, and then the entropy weight method is used to correct the obtained index weights to obtain the final weights, determine the fuzzy operator, and make a comprehensive assessment of the teaching quality. It can be seen through the analysis that the method proposed in this paper makes the average final grade of the experimental class higher than that of the control class by 3.4524 points, and the final rating of teaching quality obtained by the method of this paper using the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model is 3.7968 points, which is a good level. This indicates that the upgraded method of teaching practical courses is more effective than the original method, enhances the overall performance of students, and fulfills the requirements for teaching practice in automotive specialties.