In recent years the Commission of the European Union has endeavored to create a regional European system of transport law, one that would not affect unimodal transport contracts and their respective conventions. The key issue therefore is relationship between such system and those conventions and, ultimately, the Rotterdam Rules. In its Resolution of 5 May 2010 on strategic goals and recommendations for the EU’s maritime transport policy until 2018 (2009/2095 (INI)), The European Parliament calls for speedy signing, ratification an implementation of the Rotterdam Rules by the EU member states.
The opponents of the Rotterdam Rules point to their conflict with unimodal transport conventions. However, the new system devised in that Convention allows for co-existence of unimodal systems while providing a sound replace-ment of outdated maritime regulations.
This paper presents the results of a numerical analysis of nitride-based edge-emitting lasers with an InGaN/GaN active region designed for continuous wave room temperature emission of green and blue light. The main goal was to investigate whether the indium thin oxide (ITO) layer can serve as an effective optical confinement improving operation of these devices. Simulations were performed with the aid of a self-consistent thermal-electrical-optical model. Results obtained for green- and blue-emitting lasers were compared. The ITO layer in the p-type cladding was found to effectively help confine the laser mode in the active regions of the devices and to decrease the threshold current density.
Background: a humidity sensor is used to sense and measure the relative humidity of air. A new composite system has been fabricated using environmental pollutants such as carbon black and low-cost zinc oxide, and it acts as a humidity sensor. Residual life of the sensor is calculated and an expert system is modelled. For properties and nature confirmation, characterization is performed, and a sensing material is fabricated. Methodology: characterization is performed on the fabricated material. Complex impedance spectroscopy (CIS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are all used to confirm the surface roughness, its composite nature as well as the morphology of the composite. The residual lifetime of the fabricated humidity sensor is calculated by means of accelerated life testing. An intelligent model is designed using artificial intelligence techniques, including the artificial neural network (ANN), fuzzy inference system (FIS) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). Results: maximum conductivity obtained is 6.4×10⁻³ S/cm when zinc oxide is doped with 80% of carbon black. Conclusion: the solid composite obtained possesses good humidity-sensing capability in the range of 30–95%. ANFIS exhibits the maximum prediction accuracy, with an error rate of just 1.1%.
The paper presents selected results of studies connected with modeling of a biological object which could be used for simulation and measurements of the selected human tissues optical transmittance. The studies were performed for transilluminated homogeneous tissue layers as well as for objects consisted of different tissues. During simulations the software built with LabVIEW environment was used. Experimental verification of the model structure was made with spectrophotometry. The presented examples of modeling concern the transmittance spectra for two selected specific objects: the venous blood and muscle tissue analyzed in the wavelength range extending from 360 nm to 900 nm. The implemented model could be used in estimating the content and thickness of particular layers distinguished in a complex object and prediction of their transillumination efficiency.
In this paper, the authors present surface roughness profile assessment using continuous wavelet transform (CWT). Roughness profiles after turning and rough and finish belt grinding of hardened (62HRC) AISI 52100 steel are analyzed. Both Morlet and “Mexican hat” analyzing wavelets are used for the assessment of extrema and frequency distribution. The results of the CWT as a function of profile and momentary wavelet length are presented. It is concluded that CWT can be useful for the analysis of the roughness profiles generated by cutting and abrasive machining processes.