This paper presents a simple approach for accurate determination of the resonant frequency of an elliptical microstrip patch printed on isotropic or anisotropic substrate materials. In this approach, some modifications are made to account for fringe fields, dispersion effects, and losses by calculating effective dimensions, effective permittivity of anisotropy in the layer, and effective loss tangent, respectively. The theoretical resonant frequency results are in very good agreement with the experimental results reported elsewhere. Numerical results show that the change in the resonant frequency of the antenna is due primarily to a small disturbance of the substrate’s nature. Then the effect of the uniaxial anisotropic materials is a significant parameter and most essential on the microstrip antenna characterization.

Background The influence of sociocultural factors on human reliability within an open sociotechnical systems is highlighted. The design of such systems is enhanced by experience feedback. Methods The study was focused on a survey related to the observation of working cases, and by processing of incident/accident statistics and semistructured interviews in the qualitative part. In order to consolidate the study approach, we considered a schedule for the purpose of standard statistical measurements. We tried to be unbiased by supporting an exhaustive list of all worker categories including age, sex, educational level, prescribed task, accountability level, etc. The survey was reinforced by a schedule distributed to 300 workers belonging to two oil companies. This schedule comprises 30 items related to six main factors that influence human reliability. Results Qualitative observations and schedule data processing had shown that the sociocultural factors can negatively and positively influence operator behaviors. Conclusion The explored sociocultural factors influence the human reliability both in qualitative and quantitative manners. The proposed model shows how reliability can be enhanced by some measures such as experience feedback based on, for example, safety improvements, training, and information. With that is added the continuous systems improvements to improve sociocultural reality and to reduce negative behaviors.

In this paper, we show that the asymptotic expansion of a double Laplace-type integral with a non-stationary minimum point, located on the boundary of the domain of integration, is governed by the order of contact between the boundary curve and the level curve of the phase through the minimum point. This achievement will enable us to construct complete asymptotic expansions in more general settings. Especially, the problem will be completely solved if the phase and the boundary curve of the domain of integration are analytic near the minimum point.

A detailed biostratigraphic study of four sections (El Kantara, Menaa, Tighanimine and El Gaâga) in the Campanian–Maastrichtian of the Aures Basin in Algeria allows the identification of 109 ostracod species belonging to 50 genera. From a biochronostratigraphic point of view, none of the identified ostracod assemblages are typically restricted to the Campanian or to the Maastrichtian, but rather characterize a range covering the Campanian–Maastrichtian. As regards the paleobiogeography, the presence of species in common between Algeria and other countries or regions enables us to compile four maps showing the distribution of two provinces that developed during the Santonian-Paleocene, i) the South-West and South Tethyan Margins Province, including North Africa, the Middle East and Arabian Peninsula, and ii) the East Atlantic Margin Province, bordering West and Central-West Africa. We can also recognize relationships between the different regions making up these provinces, which remained under more or less arid, subtropical to tropical climates, with ostracods migrating according to the directions of ocean currents during the Late Cretaceous. The dispersal of the ostracods reflects marine communication between these provinces and India, the southern USA and Jamaica, Brazil and Europe.