Innovation in Science and Technology

Quench and Partitioning Heat Treatment to Improve the Ductility of Ultra High Strength Steel

2026-03-31T07:08:25+00:00

Quench & Partitioning (Q&P) heat treatment was carried out on an ultra high strength steel with the Q&P temperatures below the Ms-Temperature. It was found that by increasing the single stage Q&P temperature resulted in decrease in yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and hardness with marginal increase in the total elongation of the steel where no retained austenite is found. With the double stage Q&P heat treatment a very marginal decrease in the ultimate tensile strength found with a significant increase in its total elongation due to presence of 3-5% retained austenite detected by XRD. Hence, double stage Q&P heat treatment can be an effective method to improve the ductility of ultra high strength steels by stabilizing the retained austenite which give the TRIP effect while deformation.

Temporal Variability of Sunshine Duration and Cloud Cover over Nigeria from 1970 to 2022

2026-03-31T07:12:12+00:00

This study investigates the temporal variability of sunshine duration and cloud cover across Nigeria from 1970 to 2022, leveraging satellite-based and ground-observed datasets to elucidate climatic trends and their implications for renewable energy, agriculture, and climate adaptation strategies. Using data from the Meteosat-based SARAH-2 climate data record, ERA5 reanalysis, and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) ground stations, we analyze long-term trends, seasonal patterns, and spatial disparities in sunshine duration and cloud cover. Results indicate a significant increase in sunshine duration in northern Nigeria, averaging 0.5–0.7 hours per decade, driven by decreasing cloud cover, particularly during the dry season (November–March). Conversely, southern coastal regions exhibit higher cloud cover (up to 70% annually) and reduced sunshine duration due to monsoonal influences and orographic effects. Inter-annual variability is strongly correlated with the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), with positive sunshine anomalies during El Niño years. Spatial analysis reveals pronounced disparities, with the semi-arid Sahel region experiencing the longest sunshine duration (8–9 hours/day) and the Niger Delta the shortest (4–5 hours/day). These trends align with global observations of decreasing cloud cover in tropical regions, potentially amplifying surface warming. The findings underscore the need for region-specific climate adaptation policies in Nigeria, particularly for solar energy optimization and agricultural planning. This study contributes to global climate research by providing a high-resolution analysis of a critical yet understudied region, with implications for sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa.

Innovative Application and Technological Breakthrough of Multi-node Pressure Sensing Array in Precision Robot Control

2026-03-31T07:15:41+00:00

Traditional robotic tactile sensing systems suffer from low node density (≤8 nodes/cm²), limited pressure resolution (≥0.05 N), slow dynamic response (≥5 ms) and poor sensing-control coordination. This paper presents a 24-node high-density pressure sensing array based on CNT/PDMS composite sensitive layer, and builds a “perception-cognition-execution” precision control system. By optimizing sensing unit parameters (50 μm sensitive layer, 100 μm electrode spacing, 3 wt% CNT doping), establishing a CNT conductive network percolation model, and designing a signal conditioning circuit (CMRR ≥140 dB@1 kHz), the pressure distribution gradient is first introduced as the third-dimensional input of fuzzy PID, constructing a pressure-position coupled 3D fuzzy decision space. This breaks the single-dimensional limitation of traditional fuzzy PID, achieving 0.008 N pressure resolution and ≤1.5 ms dynamic response. A precision assembly platform was built, and in 0402 electronic component assembly (1.0 mm×0.5 mm×0.5 mm, 8 mg), the system achieved ±0.012 mm (3σ) repeat positioning accuracy and 99.6% assembly success rate, outperforming commercial systems (±0.025 mm, 85.3%). Verified by 10⁶ cycle durability tests, -20℃~60℃ environmental tests and 30-day industrial validation, the system shows excellent stability and practicability. This research provides a high-performance tactile control solution for semiconductor packaging and MEMS assembly, with 4 authorized patents and 3 software copyrights, boasting important academic and industrial value.

Machine Learning: A Brief Review for the Beginners

2026-03-31T07:19:56+00:00

Machine learning (ML) is a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) that focuses on developing models, studies statistical algorithm, teaches the systems to think and understand like humans by learning from the data, and performs tasks without explicit instructions. It is one of the most relevant technologies of the 21^st century that provides systems the ability to automatically learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed. It opens an entirely new realm of what humans can do with computers and other machines. It describes the capacity of systems to learn from problem-specific training data to automate the process of analytical model building and solve associated tasks. It can enable an organization to autonomously learn and improve using neural networks and deep learning (DL), without being explicitly programmed, by feeding it large amounts of data. This paper tries to discuss elementary ideas of machine learning for the benefit of the new researchers in this field.