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The far-ultraviolet (FUV) flare activity of low-mass stars has become a focus in our understanding of the exoplanet atmospheres and how they evolve. However, direct detection of FUV flares and measurements of their energies and rates are limited by the need for space-based observations. The difficulty of obtaining such observations may push some works to use widely available optical data to calibrate multiwavelength spectral models that describe UV and optical flare emission. These models either use single temperature blackbody curves to describe this emission, or combine a blackbody curve with archival spectra. These calibrated models would then be used to predict the FUV flare rates of low-mass stars of interest. To aid these works, we used TESS optical photometry and archival HST FUV spectroscopy to test the FUV predictions of literature flare models. We tested models for partially (M0–M2) and fully convective (M4–M5) stars, 40 Myr and field age stars, and optically quiet stars. We calculated FUV energy correction factors that can be used to bring the FUV predictions of tested models in line with observations. A flare model combining optical and NUV blackbody emission with FUV emission based on HST observations provided the best estimate of FUV flare activity, where others underestimated the emission at all ages, masses, and activity levels, by up to a factor of 104 for combined FUV continuum and line emission and greater for individual emission lines. We also confirmed previous findings that showed optically quiet low-mass stars exhibit regular FUV flares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research applies a 2D refined plate theory and isogeometric analysis (IGA) for free vibration analysis of functionally graded (FG) sandwich plates, whose governing equations are treated based on a unified formulation (UF), and nonuniform rational Lagrange (NURL)-based IGA technique. The constitutive model of FG materials is approximated via a Voigt’s rule of mixture based on an equivalent single-layer (ESL) theory. The present framework offers several advantages, including high precision of vibration response by employing higher-order plate theory and the capability of NURL basis functions to capture the exact form of plate geometries. Moreover, higher-order theories postulated by the UF are exempt from the Poisson locking phenomenon and do not require a shear correction factor. Additionally, by employing UF, the effect of thickness stretching on vibration response is considered. Furthermore, higher-order NURL basis functions effectively mitigate shear locking. A large numerical investigation shows the accuracy of results and investigates the effects of several key parameters, such as gradient index, thickness-to-length ratios, layer-to-thickness ratios, and boundary conditions, on the vibration response of FG sandwich plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With regard to the heating technology of small test specimens (D < 1 inch, i.e., 25.4 mm), only a limited amount of data and literature are available for making adequate technological decisions. Heating time of small geometric shapes is influenced by the technological parameters of the furnace, the temperature, the disposition technique in the furnace and the geometric characteristics of the workpiece. How to shorten heating time to achieve a suitable material structure is a vital question, while considerable energy is saved at the same time. Among the geometric characteristics, shape dependence is one of the important aspects that must be taken into account in terms of heating technology. Shape dependence is usually taken into account with empirically produced correction factors, which can result in significant oversizing of heating time, energy-wasting technology and material structure of insufficient fineness. In the course of our work, we investigated and compared the shape dependence of cylindrical and prismatic specimens with the same surface-to-volume ratios, which were combined with surface heat transfer analyses and geometric effect tests to formulate new approximate equations for determining heating time. As a result, we could mathematically derive a relationship between heating time, size and shape of the active surfaces, the correlation of which can shorten heating time by 20%. In addition, a shape factor (1.125) between cylinder and prismatic-shaped specimens was determined, which can be used with the new equation to calculate heating time for similar specimens. At last, a relationship is developed between the amount of heat that can be stored in the body during heat equalization and the complexity of the shape, which can be characterized through ratios depending on heating times and active surfaces in the function of total surface/volume ratio. Based on this relationship it can be determined more precisely when heat equalization occurs; therefore, shorter heating time can be achieved. In conclusion, with the help of this new method, optimal heating time for structural steel components, in the case of small cross-section and weight, can be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steel infrastructure in tunnels significantly affects the accuracy of transient electromagnetic (TEM) data inversion. This study proposes and compares two methods to effectively mitigate this interference: the correction factor method and the prior information constraint method. The correction factor method constructs correction factors using interference data obtained in two ways. The first method, numerical simulation, is theoretically precise but relies heavily on accurate model parameters and requires significant computational resources. The second is conducted by measuring the interference data in the working space. While this approach is simple and operationally convenient, its effectiveness in correction is limited by the measured data quality. The a priori information constraint method improves the inversion by introducing a more accurate initial model. The inversion results of synthetic data indicate that the inversion based on the correction factor method and the prior information constraint method can effectively invert the anomaly. However, the delay effect remains a challenge for the correction factor method. Finally, we invert the field data measured in a mine tunnel by combining the interference processing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To determine the sodium correction factor for clinical use in hyperglycemic diabetic dogs. SAMPLE Retrospective analysis of 76 hospitalization episodes from 67 different dogs presenting to the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital between January 1, 2015, and January 1, 2023. METHODS For each hospitalization episode, paired blood sodium and glucose concentration measurements were recorded from the time of presentation until glucose concentration was ≤ 201 mg/dL. Therapies administered, primary diagnosis, and concurrent diseases were also recorded for each episode. A linear mixed model was used to determine the sodium correction factor per 100-mg/dL increase in glucose. Piecewise linear mixed models were also constructed for blood glucose measurements ≤ 400 mg/dL and > 400 mg/dL to explore potential correction factor differences between low and high glucose concentrations. RESULTS A sodium correction factor of a 1.6-mEq/L (95% CI, 1.3 to 1.9 mEq/L) decrease in sodium concentration per 100-mg/dL increase in blood glucose concentration was calculated. Differences in the correction factor between conditions of low and high glucose concentrations could not be determined due to a small sample size of blood glucose values > 400 mg/dL. Most dogs received similar treatments throughout the study period, including balanced isotonic crystalloids (97% [74/76]), electrolyte supplementation (84% [64/76]), and regular insulin (97% [74/76]). Almost all patients (93% [71/76]) had 1 or more concurrent diseases. CLINICAL RELEVANCE A sodium correction factor of 1.6 mEq/L (decrease in sodium per 100-mg/dL increase in glucose) is recommended for clinical use in hyperglycemic diabetic dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Field Ornithology is the property of Resilience Alliance and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Rubber-foamed concrete demonstrates exceptional toughness, a low elastic modulus, and significant sensitivity to density. It is necessary to parameterize the density mix of rubber-foaming concrete to meet engineering design requirements. Density-mix design methods for foaming concrete rely mainly on empirical knowledge or trial-and-error approaches. In this paper, with numerous parametric tests and regression analysis based on general principles for density-mix designs applicable to both foamed and rubber-foamed concretes, the key design parameters, such as volume correction coefficient, rubber size effect coefficient, and water-reducing agent effect coefficient, have been proposed in order to optimize their respective densities more accurately. The tests demonstrated an optimal water-to-cement ratio of 0.45, corresponding to a volume correction factor of 1.027. Incorporating rubber particles and water-reducing agents has a more significant effect on the cement-paste volume. Controlling fluidity in the 200 to 300 mm range is crucial when designing foamed concrete with varying densities. The regression equation accurately predicts the paste's measured volume and wetting density by incorporating volume corrections, size, and water reduction effect coefficients. By employing a foam excess coefficient of 1.1 and a mass coefficient of 1.25, the dry and wet density error of foam concrete is less than 5%. A comprehensive framework for optimizing mix design in terms of density is provided for applications in foamed concrete and rubber-foamed concrete, facilitating researchers in designing mix ratios for additional novel mixture-based foamed-concrete applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate assessment of heat transfer via unheated spaces is an important aspect of calculating the heating load of a building and mitigating its energy consumption and carbon emissions. Currently, the majority of international and national standards employ the correction factor method for the calculation of heat transfer via unheated spaces, categorized into three types: detailed temperature correction factors (b), simplified b-values, and a correction factor (a) of thermal resistance. In order to provide an accurate and efficient evaluation of heat transfer through unheated spaces, this paper conducts a comparative analysis of these three methods using on-site measurements, TRNSYS (version 18) simulations, and analytical calculations. The findings indicate that the use of simplified b-values results in inaccurate predictions of correction factors and heat transfer via unheated balconies, yielding relative discrepancies within the ranges of 0.065 to 0.527 and 12.2% to 111.3%, respectively. Detailed temperature correction factors offer a more precise prediction, exhibiting relative discrepancies of −0.161 to 0.11 and 0.1% to 33.5%. However, the complexity of the calculation process, influenced by dynamically changing climates and solar radiation, necessitates a steady-state assumption to streamline calculations. The use of detailed correction factors of thermal resistance yields more accurate predictions, with relative discrepancies ranging from −0.176 to 0.11 and 0.3% to 33.1%, and it is recommended as the main method for predicting heat transfer via unheated spaces. In addition, it is advised to enhance the thermal resistance correction factor method by considering the influence of radiative heat transfer via transparent envelopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long‐term, large‐scale monitoring of wildlife populations is an integral part of conservation research and management. However, some traditional monitoring protocols lack the information needed to account for sources of measurement error in data analyses. Ignoring measurement error, such as partial availability, imperfect detection, and species misidentification, can lead to mischaracterizations of population states and processes. Accounting for measurement error is key to robust monitoring of populations, which can inform a wide variety of decisions, including harvest, habitat restoration, and determination of the legal status of species. We undertook an effort to retroactively minimize bias in a large‐scale, long‐term monitoring program for marine birds in the Salish Sea, Washington, USA, by conducting an auxiliary study to jointly estimate components of measurement error. We built a novel model in a Bayesian framework that simultaneously harnessed human observer and photographic data types to produce estimates necessary to correct for the effects of partial availability, imperfect detection, and species misidentification. Across all 31 species identified in photographs, both observers had instances of undercounting and overcounting birds but tended to undercount (observers undercounted totals across all species on 69.3%–78.9% of transects). We estimated species‐specific correction factors that can be used to correct both historical and future counts from the Salish Sea survey, which has been running since 1992. Our novel modeling framework can be applied in other multispecies monitoring contexts where minimal photographic data can be collected for the purposes of correcting for measurement error in large‐scale, long‐term datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anemia prevalence is high in countries where high proportion of the population lives at high altitude (HA) due perhaps to the unsuitability hemoglobin correction factor proposed by the WHO. The present study has been designed to evaluate a new approach to establish thresholds of hemoglobin (Hb) when defining anemia at HA. Materials & methods: Cross-sectional study evaluating 217 women aged 18 to 75 years-old, residents of 2 cities at low altitude (LA) (130 and 150 meters) and 2 at HA (3800 and 4300 meters). Hb, pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2), arterial oxygen content (CaO2), and inflammatory markers were measured. Three definitions of anemia diagnoses were used: uncorrected Hb, WHO-corrected Hb, and Silubonde's criteria based on ferritin as a gold standard. STATA v18.0 was use for data analysis, p<0.05 indicated significant difference. Results: HA residents present higher Hb values than at LA. Likewise, the highest area under the curve (AUC) ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) was observed for uncorrected Hb (AUC = 0.8595; CI95% 0.858–0.86) for the diagnosis of anemia using serum ferritin as the gold standard. Anemia prevalence was higher when using WHO-corrected Hb, 27%, and Silubonde's criteria, 41% (Hb cut-off of 11.10, 12.73, 15.80 and 16.60 g/dl for altitudes of 130, 150, 3800 and 4300 meters, respectively), than using uncorrected Hb to define anemia (7.7%). Serum Ferritin and CaO2 values are lower only in the group with anemia defined with uncorrected Hb than in the groups of anemia using the WHO-corrected Hb or the Silubonde´s criteria. Conclusions: The correction factor of hemoglobin for altitude of residence overestimates the prevalence of anemia in adult women. Likewise, CaO2 could be a potential marker to determine the transport of oxygen in LA and HA populations. Further studies in adult men are required to confirm the present findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in the four-chamber plane offers comprehensive insight into the volumetrics of the heart. We aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) model of time-resolved segmentation using the four-chamber cine. Methods: A fully automated deep learning algorithm was trained using retrospective multicentre and multivendor data of 814 subjects. Validation, reproducibility, and mortality prediction were evaluated on an independent cohort of 101 subjects. Results: The mean age of the validation cohort was 54 years, and 66 (65%) were males. Left and right heart parameters demonstrated strong correlations between automated and manual analysis, with a ρ of 0.91−0.98 and 0.89−0.98, respectively, with minimal bias. All AI four-chamber volumetrics in repeatability analysis demonstrated high correlation (ρ = 0.99−1.00) and no bias. Automated four-chamber analysis underestimated both left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) volumes compared to ground-truth short-axis cine analysis. Two correction factors for LV and RV four-chamber analysis were proposed based on systematic bias. After applying the correction factors, a strong correlation and minimal bias for LV volumetrics were observed. During a mean follow-up period of 6.75 years, 16 patients died. On stepwise multivariable analysis, left atrial ejection fraction demonstrated an independent association with death in both manual (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.96, p = 0.003) and AI analyses (HR = 0.96, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Fully automated four-chamber CMR is feasible, reproducible, and has the same real-world prognostic value as manual analysis. LV volumes by four-chamber segmentation were comparable to short-axis volumetric assessment. Trials registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05114785. Relevance statement: Integrating fully automated AI in CMR promises to revolutionise clinical cardiac assessment, offering efficient, accurate, and prognostically valuable insights for improved patient care and outcomes. Key points: • Four-chamber cine sequences remain one of the most informative acquisitions in CMR examination. • This deep learning-based, time-resolved, fully automated four-chamber volumetric, functional, and deformation analysis solution. • LV and RV were underestimated by four-chamber analysis compared to ground truth short-axis segmentation. • Correction bias for both LV and RV volumes by four-chamber segmentation, minimises the systematic bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing sub-grid parameterization schemes for clear-sky direct solar radiation (SPS-CSDSR) assume that the sub-grid cells have the same atmospheric transparency. This study shows that in undulating terrain, significant errors can occur when the sub-grid is in turbid weather or partly above the cloud top. A correction factor was proposed. It can effectively eliminate errors under a cloudless sky and can reduce some errors when part of the sub-grid is above the cloud or fog top. For atmospheric models with high horizontal resolution, example test verification shows that the cast shadowless coverage method can lead to large errors. It should no longer be used based on current computing power. These improvements and the high-precision fast terrain occlusion algorithm in Part I will allow SPS-CSDSR to achieve unprecedented high accuracy. Based on the proposed daily interpolation method, the high-precision SPS-CSDSR is also feasible for regional climate simulation. The analysis pointed out that the sub-grid terrain radiative effect (STRE) is distributed over inclined surfaces with larger areas and at different heights. Existing methods of coupling STRE on one flat surface have certain physical drawbacks. This paper suggests introducing parameterization of STRE at different altitudes and improving the coupling of land–air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface tooth wear is one of the major causes of tooth failures in gear drives. Boosting tooth wear resistance is a significant research objective for designing high-quality asymmetric spur gears with longer life against wear. The main goal of the present work is to boost the wear resistance of the asymmetric spur gear by changing the tooth shape through profile modification. The proper distribution of correction factor to the pinion and gear is necessary to enhance the gear performance. The asymmetric spur gear with different values of sum of profile correction factors (−0.2, 0 and 0.2) is chosen to evaluate the wear depth. This sum of correction factors is accurately distributed between the asymmetric pinion and gear for attaining balanced sliding velocity at the tip and root, balanced slide to roll ratio at the tip and root, equal bending strength in the asymmetric drive and maximum balanced wear in the face and flank regions of the pinion. The optimum values of the correction factor of the asymmetric pinion and the maximum tooth wear are evaluated for the above four different balanced cases. The calculated tooth wear is lower in the balanced wear method than that in other balanced methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CEST-MRI is an emerging imaging technique suitable for various in vivo applications, including the quantification of tumor acidosis. Traditionally, CEST contrast is calculated by asymmetry analysis, but the presence of fat signals leads to wrong contrast quantification and hence to inaccurate pH measurements. In this study, we investigated four post-processing approaches to overcome fat signal influences and enable correct CEST contrast calculations and tumor pH measurements using iopamidol. The proposed methods involve replacing the Z-spectrum region affected by fat peaks by (i) using a linear interpolation of the fat frequencies, (ii) applying water pool Lorentzian fitting, (iii) considering only the positive part of the Z-spectrum, or (iv) calculating a correction factor for the ratiometric value. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated the possibility of using these approaches to calculate CEST contrast and then to measure tumor pH, even in the presence of moderate to high fat fraction values. However, only the method based on the water pool Lorentzian fitting produced highly accurate results in terms of pH measurement in tumor-bearing mice with low and high fat contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In freshwater systems, δ13C and δ15N stable isotopes can be used to differentiate between pelagic and littoral energy sources and to quantify trophic position. In these ecosystems, crustacean zooplankton are frequently used to characterize the pelagic baseline. Zooplankton samples are often preserved prior to processing and analysis, which can affect isotopic signatures. Variability in preservation effects across studies make it difficult to determine if and how to correct for preservation effects. Here, we develop a correction factor for ethanol preservation and present a flexible statistical method that can be updated with additional data to increase its applicability. We collected zooplankton from five lakes in Minnesota, USA encompassing wide isotopic ranges (δ13C from −37.23‰ to −23.96‰; δ15N from 3.07‰ to 14.44‰). Changes in zooplankton δ13C and δ15N signatures were quantified using a Bayesian hierarchical model predicting fresh values from ethanol‐preserved values. Ethanol preservation increased δ13C by a factor of 1.158 (95% CI 0.866–1.441) and had a negligible effect on δ15N (slope = 1.077; 95% CI 0.833–1.359). Lake‐specific values did not differ from the overall relationship. K‐fold and leave‐one‐out cross validation tests verified that both models were accurate; RMSE of predicted δ13C = 0.701 and RMSE of predicted δ15N = 0.590. Our correction factors could be applied to other systems in which baseline δ13C and δ15N values fall within the range of our study, and this approach also enables the inclusion of data from additional lakes to estimate new corrections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Opuntia Brava is the property of Universidad de Ciencias Pedagogicas de Las Tunas, Centro de Documentacion e Informacion Pedagogica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The conventional zircon (U–Th) / He (ZHe) method typically uses microscopy measurements of the dated grain together with the assumption that the zircon can be appropriately modeled as a geometrically perfect tetragonal or ellipsoidal prism in the calculation of volume (V), alpha-ejection correction (FT), equivalent spherical radius (RFT), effective uranium concentration (eU), and corrected (U–Th) / He date. Here, we develop a set of corrections for systematic error and determine uncertainties to be used in the calculation of the above parameters for zircon, using the same methodology as Zeigler et al. (2023) for apatite. Our approach involved acquiring both "2D" microscopy measurements and high-resolution "3D" nano-computed tomography (CT) data for a suite of 223 zircon grains from nine samples showcasing a wide range of morphology, size, age, and lithological source, calculating the V , FT , and RFT values for the 2D and 3D measurements and comparing the 2D vs. 3D results. We find that the values derived from the 2D microscopy data overestimate the true 3D V , FT , and RFT values for zircon, with one exception (V of ellipsoidal grains). Correction factors for this misestimation determined by regressing the 3D vs. 2D data range from 0.81–1.04 for V , 0.97–1.0 for FT , and 0.92–0.98 for RFT , depending on zircon geometry. Uncertainties (1 σ) derived from the scatter of data around the regression line are 13 %–21 % for V , 5 %–1 % for FT , and 8 % for RFT , again depending on zircon morphologies. Like for apatite, the main control on the magnitude of the corrections and uncertainties is grain geometry, with grain size being a secondary control on FT uncertainty. Propagating these uncertainties into a real dataset (N=28 ZHe analyses) generates 1 σ uncertainties of 12 %–21 % in eU and 3 %–7 % in the corrected ZHe date when both analytical and geometric uncertainties are included. Accounting for the geometric corrections and uncertainties is important for appropriately reporting, plotting, and interpreting ZHe data. For both zircon and apatite, the Geometric Correction Method is a practical and straightforward approach for calculating more accurate (U–Th) / He data and for including geometric uncertainty in eU and date uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates scaled Thermo-Compressors for Multi-Effect Distillation with Thermal Vapor Compression (MED-TVC) desalination plants using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Initial validation compared CFD predictions with a real MED-TVC plant. Scaled-down Thermo-Compressors exhibited constant entrainment and pressure ratios, validating design scalability. The study expanded to test with compressed air as a practical substitute for steam under identical conditions. Results showed minimal deviation in entrainment and pressure ratios, affirming the feasibility of air testing. To account for temperature differences, a correction factor was introduced for accurate prediction when testing with air. Crucially, we explored substituting hightemperature steam with compressed air for testing. Lowering the air temperature allowed a reduced pressure of 13.12 bar while maintaining equivalent performance ratios compared to steam at 16 bar and 474.7 K. These findings are pivotal for developing small-scale Thermo-Compressor prototypes, facilitating testing with steam or air, and reducing risks and costs associated with full-scale fabrication. The study contributes practical insights for optimizing Thermo-Compressor designs in MED-TVC desalination, presenting compressed air as a viable alternative for efficient and cost-effective testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solubility data of spectinomycin dihydrochloride pentahydrate (SDP) in three binary solvents were determined over a temperature range of 278.15–318.15 K by the gravimetric method. Among the selected binary solvents, the solubility of SDP increased with the rise in temperature and initial methanol composition of binary solvents, and the general order of solubility of SDP under the same conditions was: (methanol + ethanol) > (methanol + n-propanol) > (methanol + i-propanol). Subsequently, solubility–temperature models including van't Hoff equation, λh equation, Yaws equation, and Apelblat equation; solubility–solvent composition models including general single model; solubility–temperature and solvent composition models including NRTL equation and modified Jouyban–Acree model were used to correlate the solubility data. Regarding the application of the NRTL equation in binary solvent systems, the influence of solvent composition on model parameters was first taken into account by introducing a solvent composition correction factor, thereby exhibiting an enhancement in fitting accuracy. To gain deeper insights into the dissolving behavior of SDP, molecular electrostatic potential surface, Hirshfeld surface analysis and the KAT-LSER model were applied to analyze the molecular interactions between SDP molecules and the solvent effects. Meanwhile, entire solubility data in three binary solvent systems at 298.15 K were associated as a function of solvent properties on the basis of KAT-LSER model. The results revealed that SDP primarily acts as hydrogen bond acceptors in solution, and polar interactions between SDP and solvent molecules can play a crucial role in promoting the dissolution of SDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the IEEE 802.16e standard's (672,336) LDPC code and the normalized Min-Sum decoding algorithm, this paper designs and implements an LDPC decoder that optimizes the channel information. The correction factor for check nodes is converted into a correction factor for the initial channel information, replacing the optimization of check node information with that of initial channel information. This achieves decoding performance equivalent to the traditional normalized Min-Sum decoding algorithm. Different correction factor values vary in complexity during FPGA implementation, as they involve different amounts of shift-add operations. For NMS decoding requiring a high number of shift-add operations to achieve optimal correction values, this can be converted into an LDPC decoding algorithm optimized for channel information, reducing computational overhead without sacrificing performance. A partially parallel improved decoder was designed and implemented on an FPGA, and its feasibility was verified using the Vivado simulation platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the advantage of strength enhancement without increasing the structural weight, stiffeners are commonly used in many engineering structures. However, during their service life, these stiffened structures are usually exposed to an extreme environment, which may cause damage. Most of the researchers have carried out the work to study the unreinforced plate's stability behaviour considering interlaminar skin debonding in the hygrothermal condition. However, in the current investigation, the buckling capacity of stiffened composite plates debonded at the contact of plate and stiffener under non-uniform edge loading in hygrothermal conditions is studied. The study is performed by developing a computationally efficient finite element formulation. In the present research, the plate and the flange of T-stiffener are formulated by adopting a 9-noded heterosis element preventing the shear locking. In contrast, a 3-noded isoparametric beam element is used to formulate the stiffener web by accommodating the torsion correction factor, considerably reducing the computational cost. In the current study, the debond is modelled by creating a dummy node, and further interpenetration of the nodes is prevented by introducing a fictitious spring in the debonded region. Due to the highly uneven stress variation, a dynamic approach is employed to estimate the buckling constant by utilizing two sets of boundary conditions. Three schemes of hygrothermally stable laminates (θ/(90-θ))s, (22.5/− 67.5)s, and (77.5/− 12.5)s are considered to identify the stiffened plate configuration with enhanced buckling capacity when subjected to various non-uniform loading patterns. Further, extensive parametric investigations are conducted on the obtained stiffened plate with improved performance under a hygrothermal environment by considering debond at the skin–stiffener interface. It is found that debonded plate's stability is substantially affected by moisture. On the other hand, depending on the stiffener position and hygrothermal load intensity, the stiffener's depth-to-width ratio substantially affects the debonded plate's stability. Therefore, this investigation can be considered as a benchmark study for the stability performance of the debonded reinforced composite panel, which partially reduces the 2-D problem to 1-D element, thereby improving the computational cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bearing capacity of shallow foundations is often calculated using the classical three-term bearing capacity equation, containing bearing capacity factors and correction factors for embedment depth and footing shape. The available solutions for the determination of these factors were obtained using primarily limit analysis and the method of characteristics, with the assumption that soil is a perfectly plastic material following an associated flow rule. However, in reality, sands are neither perfectly plastic nor do they follow an associated flow rule. The unit bearing capacity of footings in sand depends on (1) the representative friction angle mobilized within the zone encompassing the footing's collapse mechanism, and (2) the size, shape, and embedment depth of the footing. This paper presents the results of load tests on model strip and square footings of different sizes installed in clean silica sand samples pluviated to produce different densities inside a calibration chamber. The test results for the footings placed on the sand surface show that the bearing capacity factors depend on the relative density of the sand sample and the geometry of the footing. For the embedded footings, the unit bearing capacity of the footing is shown to depend on its embedment depth. Insights into the footing collapse mechanism are provided by plotting the maximum shear strain contours for different stages of footing loading; the contours were obtained using the digital image correlation technique. Finally, we determined the shape and depth factors by analyzing the results of the load tests performed for surface and embedded strip and square footings in dense sand using procedures that account for stress level, loading path, and flow rule nonassociativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The most reliable indicator for anaemia diagnosis at the population level is haemoglobin (Hb) estimation. The direct cyanmethaemoglobin method is considered the gold standard method for haemoglobin estimation. However, for resource constraint areas like primary health care (PHC) level, either blood samples are transported on filter paper for Hb testing (indirect cyanmethaemoglobin method) in laboratory or point of care testing is commonly used. Therefore, a comparative analysis of haemoglobin estimation of direct with indirect cyanmethaemoglobin method and also with TrueHb (Wrig Nanosystems Pvt. Ltd.) haemometer was done to strengthen anaemia diagnosis at the PHC level. Materials and Methods: This was a cross‑sectional study. A total of 90 participants above 9 years of age, who visited the outpatient department (OPD) of health centre, Kheri and gave consent were included. Comparative analysis was done between Hb concentration assessed by indirect cyanmethaemoglobin method and TrueHb haemometer device against the gold standard method. Results: The mean Hb value estimated by direct method, TrueHb haemometer and indirect methods (filter paper A, B and C) was 11.42 ± 1.59 g/dl, 11.52 ± 1.54 g/dl, 10.66 ± 1.52 g/dl, 9.84 ± 1.50 g/ dl and 10.19 ± 1.62 g/dl, respectively. There was no significant difference found between the mean Hb concentration estimated by the direct method and the TrueHb haemometer device. However, there was a significant difference in mean Hb values between the direct method and the indirect method. Therefore, regression analysis was done to estimate the correction factor for the indirect method. Conclusion: TrueHb metre device gave promising results in comparison to the gold standard method and can be used if resource permits in PHC centres. Indirect methods of haemoglobin estimation can be an alternative in resource‑constraint settings, specifically for surveys. However, further studies are required for the validation of the indirect method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is explained, in introduction of this paper, why the description of the output signal at an A/D converter in the form that is presented in such respected textbooks as: a one written by Prandoni and Vetterli, and another one by van de Plassche is appropriate and correct. Unlike all others, especially those using in it the so-called comb of Dirac deltas. The latter ones do not lead to getting a correct formula for the spectrum of the output waveform of an A/D converter, or they yield no formula at all. Using the description of the A/D output signal in form of a step function (as in the textbooks mentioned above), a new, correct formula for calculating the spectrum of the sampled signal is derived in this paper. It is a revised version of the formula currently used in the literature, that is of the so-called Discrete-Time Fourier Transform (DTFT), and it is a product of this DTFT and a certain correction factor. Finally, some literature items are referred to in which the designers of integrated circuits (containing A/D converters) point out discrepancies that arise in designs when the multiplying factor mentioned above is not taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modeling of transient flows of liquids through tubes is required for studies in water hammer, switched inertance hydraulic converters, and noise reduction in hydraulic equipment. While 3D gridded computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods exist for the prediction of dynamic flows and pressures in these applications, they are computationally costly, and it is more common to use 1D methods such as the method of characteristics (MOC), transmission line method (TLM), or frequency domain methods. These 1D methods give good approximations of results but require many orders of magnitude less computation time. While these tubes are typically curved or coiled in practical applications, existing 1D solution methods assume straight tubes, often with unknown deviation from the curved tube solution. This paper uses CFD simulations to determine the correction factors that can be used for existing 1D methods with curved tubes. The paper also presents information that can be used to help evaluate the expected errors resulting from this approximation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wobble-plate axial piston pumps, characterized by the lack of a slipper mechanism, experience reduced leakage in comparison to their swash-plate counterparts, which contributes to their higher volumetric efficiency. Presently, the primary focus of the research conducted by scholars both domestically and internationally is concentrated on wobble-plate axial piston pumps. The performance studies within this field are predominantly focused on investigating flow pulsation. They also investigate pressure pulsation. Additionally, they investigate cavitation phenomena. Research on inclined-axis axial piston pumps has been limited. This study focused on analyzing the operational form of the piston within an inclined-axis axial piston pump. A correction factor k was introduced based on the motion characteristics of the piston. The application of this factor significantly improved the accuracy of the simulations when compared to the experimental results. Specifically, at a load pressure of 10 MPa, the discrepancy between the simulation and the experimental data was reduced from 8.95% to 0.23%. Similarly, at a load pressure of 20 MPa, the error rate was minimized. It was reduced from 9.15% to 0.35%. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed correction factor. The correction factor enhances the predictive accuracy of the pump's performance. This enhancement is observed under varying load conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper a quasi-three-dimensional (3D) refined using a novel higherorder shear deformation theory is developed to examine the static bending with two different type porosity distribution of porous for advanced composite plates such as functionally graded plates. In this present theory, the number of unknowns and governing equations is reduced, takes into account the thickness stretching effect into transverse displacement, bending and shear, using a new shape function. The used plate theory approach satisfies the zero traction boundary conditions on the surfaces of the plate without using shear correction factor and the transverse shear strain and shear stress have a parabolic distribution across the thickness of the plates. The virtual work principle is used to obtain the equilibrium equations. An analytical approach based on the Navier solution is employed to obtain the solution for static bending of simply supported FGM plates. The proposed theory shows a good agreement for static bending of FGM plates with other literature results has been instituted of advanced composite plates. Numerical results are presented to show the effect of the material distribution, the power-law FG plates, the geometrical parameters and the porosity on the deflections and stresses of FG plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ZAP‐X system is a novel gyroscopic radiosurgical system based on a 3 MV linear accelerator and collimator cones with a diameter between 4 and 25 mm. Advances in imaging modalities to detect small and early‐stage pathologies allow for an early and less invasive treatment, where a smaller collimator matching the anatomical target could provide better sparing of surrounding healthy tissue. Purpose: A novel 3 mm collimator cone for the ZAP‐X was developed. This study aims to investigate the usability of a commercial diode detector (microSilicon) for the dosimetric characterization of this small collimator cone; and to investigate the underlying small field perturbation effects. Methods: Profile measurements in five depths as well as PDD and output ratio measurements were performed with a microSilicon detector and radiochromic EBT3 films. In addition, comprehensive Monte Carlo simulations were performed to validate the measurement observations and to quantify the perturbation effects of the microSilicon detector in these extremely small field conditions. Results: It is shown that the microSilicon detector enables an accurate dosimetric characterization of the 3 mm beam. The profile parameters, such as the FWHM and 20%–80% penumbra width, agree within 0.1 to 0.2 mm between film and detector measurements. The output ratios agree within the measurement uncertainty between microSilicon detector and films, whereas the comparisons of the PDD results show good agreement with the Monte Carlo simulations. The analysis of the perturbation factors of the microSilicon detector reveals a small field correction factor of approximately 3% for the 3 mm circular beam and a correction factor smaller than 1.5% for field diameters above 3 mm. Conclusions: It could be shown that the microSilicon detector is well‐suitable for the characterization of the new 3 mm circular beam of the ZAP‐X system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decadal-scale oceanographic, environmental, and ecological changes have been reported in the Salish Sea, an ecologically productive and biodiverse inland sea in the northeast Pacific that supports the economies and cultures of millions of people; however, there are substantial observational gaps pertaining to physical water properties that make linkages between physical drivers and ecosystem effects difficult to ascertain. With the aim of addressing these gaps, we present the Hindcast of the Salish Sea (HOTSSea) v1 with temporal coverage from 1980–2018, developed using the NEMO ocean engine. An inter-model comparison and preliminary evaluation was performed to assess sensitivity to different atmospheric and ocean reanalysis products used for boundary forcings. Biases inherited from forcings were quantified and the effectiveness of a simple temperature bias correction factor applied at one ocean boundary was evaluated. Evaluation of salinity and temperature indicates performance is best in the Strait of Georgia where the model simulates temperature anomalies and a secular warming trend over the entire water column in general agreement with observations. Analyses of modelled ocean temperature trends throughout the northern and central part of the domain where model skill was high and where observations are relatively sparse yielded fresh insights, including that ocean temperature trends are spatially and temporally variable. HOTSSea v1 will support development of an end-to-end spatial-temporal ecosystem model for the Strait of Georgia and has potential for other research and management applications related to decadal-scale climate effects on marine ecosystems, fish, and fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the urgent needs of sustainable mobility and green energy generation are driving governments and researchers to explore innovative energy storage systems. Concurrently, lithium-ion batteries are one of the most extensively employed technologies. The challenges of battery modeling and parameter estimation are crucial for building reliable battery management systems that ensure optimal battery performance. State of charge (SOC) estimation is particularly critical for predicting the available capacity in the battery. Many methods for SOC estimation rely on the knowledge of the open-circuit voltage (OCV) curve. Another significant consideration is understanding how these curves evolve with battery degradation. In the literature, the effect of cycle aging on the OCV is primarily addressed through the look-up tables and correction factors applied to the OCV curve for fresh cells. However, the variation law of the OCV curve as a function of the battery cycling is not well-characterized. Building upon a simple analytical function with five parameters proposed in the prior research to model the OCV as a function of the absolute state of discharge, this study investigates the dependency of these parameters on the moved charge, serving as an indicator of the cycling level. Specifically, the analysis focuses on the impact of cycle aging in the low-, medium-, and high-SOC regions. Three different cycle aging tests were conducted in these SOC intervals, followed by the extensive experimental verification of the proposed model. The results were promising, with mean relative errors lower than 0.2% for the low- and high-SOC cycling regions and 0.34% for the medium-SOC cycling region. Finally, capacity estimation was enabled by the model, achieving relative error values lower than 1% for all the tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presently, it is unclear whether the Eddington ratio (λ) and radiative efficiency (ε) depend on a supermassive black hole's (SMBH's) redshift z and mass M BH. We attempt to resolve this issue using published data for 132   000 SMBHs with M BH ≥ 107 Msun (solar masses) at ∼0.1 <  z  < 2.4 covering ∼10 billion years of cosmic time, with M BH determined using Mg  ii lines and bolometric luminosities L bol based on a weighted mean of L bol from two or more monochromatic luminosities and a single uniformly applied correction factor. The SMBHs are sorted into seven M BH bins separated from each other by half an order of magnitude. The λ and z data in each bin are subjected to spline regression analysis. The results unambiguously show that for similar-size SMBHs, λ decreases as z decreases, and that for a given redshift, larger SMBHs have a lower λ. These findings require that either an SMBH's accretion rate and/or its radiative efficiency be a function of z and M BH and, in the context of the Bondi accretion model, imply that radiative efficiency is an inverse function of z and M BH. These findings suggest that SMBHs become less efficient (higher ε) in accreting gases as the ambient gas density decreases with z and that larger SMBHs are more efficient (lower ε) than smaller ones. The results leave little doubt that the current widespread practice of assigning ε a standard value is untenable and gives erroneous estimates of accretion rates and growth times of SMBHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work is an attempt to develop a simple and accurate finite element formulation for the transient analysis of size-dependent S functionally graded material (S-FGM) micro-folded plates based on first-order shear deformation theory and taking exact shear correction factor in conjunction with modified couple stress theory in the formulation. Two micromechanical models, viz. rule of mixture and local representative volume elements (LRVE), are used to estimate the temperature-dependent material property of the S-FGM micro-folded plate. The top layer of the S-FGM micro-folded plate is subjected to a thermal shock, whereas the bottom layer is maintained at ambient temperature. Parametric studies are performed to investigate the effect of the number of folds, crank angle, shear correction factor, temperature gradient, material length scale ratio and boundary conditions on transient analysis of S-FGM micro-folded plates subjected to thermal shock. It is observed from results that a maximum change of 6.4661% and 10.5623% in amplitude of the non-dimensional tip deflection of a double-folded Al2O3/Ti–6Al–4V S-FGM cantilever microplate is observed on employing exact value of shear correction factor of 0.8009 and on increasing the temperature gradient from 100 to 300 K, respectively, obtained using LRVE micromechanical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel programmed hybrid spreading spectrum modulation method to mitigate electromagnetic interference (EMI) emission and bearing current in the context of miniaturised and lightweight synchronous machine drives is proposed. The proposed method adopts the combination of conventional pulsewidth modulation (PWM) and low common mode voltage PWM. The offline look‐up table for switching frequency is acquired by analysing the root mean square voltage values at different modulation indices and angles. By adjusting the switching frequency according to this table, the spectrum can be spread into the sidebands of the switching frequency, and the harmonic spike can be suppressed. To address the challenge of increased current ripple and harmonic distortion in high torque density motors under overload conditions, a motor model that considers the cross‐saturation and slotting effect is presented. This motor model is used to derive the switching frequency correction factors, aiming to mitigate the influence of saturation and slotting effect on harmonic amplification. The proposed method is well‐suited for controlling synchronous motors using three‐phase two‐level voltage source inverters. The simulation and experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, showcasing its advantages in terms of computational complexity reduction and significant attenuation of peak EMI currents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyse the radio-to-submillimetre spectral energy distribution (SED) for the central pseudo-bulge of NGC 1365 using archival data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the Very Large Array. This analysis shows that free–free emission dominates the continuum emission at 50–120 GHz and produces about 75 per cent of the 103 GHz continuum emission. However, the fraction of 103 GHz continuum emission originating from free–free emission varies significantly among different subregions in the pseudo-bulge, particularly for an outflow from the active galactic nuclei (AGN) on the eastern pseudo-bulge where the synchrotron emission produces half of the 103 GHz continuum emission. Free–free emission also dominates at 103 GHz within the central 400 pc diameter region, but this emission is associated with the AGN rather than star formation. The star formation rate (SFR) within the pseudo-bulge derived from the ALMA free–free emission is 8.9 ± 1.1 M⊙ yr−1. This is comparable to the SFR from the mid-infrared emission but higher than the SFR from the extinction-corrected H α line emission, mainly because the pseudo-bulge is heavily dust obscured. The 1.5 GHz emission yields a comparable SFR for the pseudo-bulge but may have lower SFRs within subregions of the pseudo-bulge because of the diffusion outside of these regions of the electrons producing the synchrotron radiation. We propose that applying a correction factor of 75 per cent to the 80–110 GHz continuum emission could provide valuable estimates of the free–free emission without performing any SED decomposition, which could derive extinction-free SFRs within 20 per cent accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the findings of a study on the directionality effect observed in strong motion records. We set out to establish ratios between several seismic intensity measures that depend on sensor orientation (e.g., GMar, Larger) and others that are orientation-independent (e.g., RotDpp, GMRotDpp, and GMRotIpp), with the intention of proposing multiplicative correction factors. The analysis included an evaluation of the impact of site conditions, ground motion intensity, earthquake magnitude, and hypocentral distance on these ratios. Following a concise overview of the directionality effects and the associated intensity measures, the Costa Rican Strong Motion Database, comprising a total of 4199 horizontal accelerograms (two components), was employed to determine the correction factors. The analysis was carried out for 5% damped response spectra within the 0.01–5 s period range. The study focuses on orientation-independent intensity measures that are derived by combining the maximum values from the recorded motions. In the comprehensive analysis of the complete database, a trend was observed between these intensity measures and the magnitude of the earthquake along with the hypocentral distance. Specifically, records from earthquakes with greater magnitudes exhibited a lower maximum spectral response to the geometric mean of the response spectra of the as-recorded (ar) components ratio (RotD100/GMar), similar to records from earthquakes with larger hypocentral distances. Based on these findings, a proposal was put forth to estimate RotD100 values using GMar values. This ratio can prove useful in transforming data from previous seismic hazard studies, including those applied in many seismic codes, and in defining the maximum anticipated seismic intensity for design purposes in a more straightforward manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air quality directly affects the health of humans. The health implications of poor air quality are recognized by professionals and the public alike and these concerns have driven both the proliferation of formal sensor networks, but also low-cost sensors which can be used in the home. The advancement of technology in recent years has also led to the rapid development of low-cost sensors. Given that citizens are concerned about the air quality of the environment in which they live, they are turning to the supply of low-cost sensors, as they are affordable. The question of the reliability of measurements from low-cost sensors remains an area of research. In this research work, the optimization of ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) measurements of low-cost electrochemical air quality sensors is investigated by applying nonlinear regression, using a second-order polynomial equation as a correction factor. The proposed correction method is implementable in IoT devices, as it does not require high computational resources. The results show that the measurements are susceptible to correction, with the effect that the corrected values are close to the actual values obtained by the reference instruments of the Department of Environmental Pollution Control Project of Athens (PERPA), a service of the Greek Ministry of the Environment and Energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indirect Drive Inertial Confinement Fusion Experiments on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) have achieved a burning plasma state with neutron yields exceeding 170 kJ, roughly 3 times the prior record and a necessary stage for igniting plasmas. The results are achieved despite multiple sources of degradations that lead to high variability in performance. Results shown here, for the first time, include an empirical correction factor for mode-2 asymmetry in the burning plasma regime in addition to previously determined corrections for radiative mix and mode-1. Analysis shows that including these three corrections alone accounts for the measured fusion performance variability in the two highest performing experimental campaigns on the NIF to within error. Here we quantify the performance sensitivity to mode-2 symmetry in the burning plasma regime and apply the results, in the form of an empirical correction to a 1D performance model. Furthermore, we find the sensitivity to mode-2 determined through a series of integrated 2D radiation hydrodynamic simulations to be consistent with the experimentally determined sensitivity only when including alpha-heating. Recent improvements in the indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion experiments include the achievement of burning plasma state. Here the authors report the scaling of neutron yield in a burning plasma of Deuterium-Tritium fusion reaction by including the mode-2 asymmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PurpleAir PA-II sensor provides low-cost in situ measurements of meteorological variables including temperature and relative humidity (RH), as well as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in real time. The sensors have been used in several studies investigating intracity differences in temperature and PM2.5. While the adoption and use of low-cost sensors has many benefits, care must be taken to ensure proper calibration and testing. This is true not only for PM2.5 measurements but also for temperature and RH given the synergistic health impacts from extreme heat and air pollution exposure. Here, we compare continuous temperature and RH measurements from a PA-II sensor to measurements from a Campbell Scientific 107 temperature probe and Vaisala HMP45C RH probe. All three instruments were co-located from December 2021 to June 2023 in Asheville, North Carolina. We found that the PA-II has an overall high temperature bias of 2.6 °C and root mean square error (RMSE) of 2.8 °C. Applying a linear regression correction reduces RMSE to 1.0 °C, while applying the constant 4.4 °C correction suggested by PurpleAir reduces RMSE to only 2.2 °C. Our PA-II RH measurements have a low bias of −17.4% and uncorrected RMSE of 18.5%. A linear regression correction improves the RH RMSE to 4.5%. Applying the constant 4% RH correction suggested by PurpleAir reduces RMSE to only 14.8%. We present new correction factors that differ from those suggested by PurpleAir, which overcorrect the high temperature bias and undercorrect the low RH bias. We also show that our correction factors improve estimates of dewpoint temperature (RMSE of 0.6 °C and 0.9 °C) compared to the corrections suggested by PurpleAir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fundamental mode effective area of photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is calculated numerically using the cubic polynomial correction function as the correction factor of Marcuse and Petermann II equations. The numerical calculations are implemented using modified Marcuse and Petermann II methods for six different PCFs in the 1–2 μm wavelength range. The full-vectorial finite element method-based simulations are utilized to determine the effective area and coefficients of the cubic polynomial functions. After using the correction functions, by comparing the calculated effective area values with the values from the simulations, residuals of correction are obtained in the range of -1.11×10-3μm² – +2.66×10-3μm² and -1.4×10-3μm² – +5.112×10-3μm² respectively. These low residual values indicate that the offered method can be used successfully to calculate the wavelength-dependent effective mode area of PCFs in the investigated wavelength range without using simulations and complex theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The dosimetric leaf gap (DLG) is a parameter for correcting radiation transmission through the round leaf end of multileaf collimators. The purpose of this study was to determine and investigate the optimal DLG correction factor for 6 MV volumetric-modulated arc radiotherapy (VMAT) plan dose calculations in Mobius3D. Materials and Methods: Seventeen VMAT plans were selected for the DLG correction factor optimization process. The optimal DLG correction factor was defined as the minimum difference between the measured dose and the Mobius3D-calculated dose on the Mobius Verification Phantom™ with different DLG correction factors. Subsequently, the optimal DLG correction factor was applied for Mobius3D dose calculation, and accuracy was assessed by comparing the measured and calculated doses. For verification and validation, the 17 previous plans and 10 newly selected plans underwent Mobius3D calculations with the optimal DLG correction factor, and gamma analysis was performed to compare them to the treatment planning system (TPS). Gamma analysis was also performed between the electronic portal imaging device (EPID) and the TPS for cross-comparison between systems. Results: The DLG correction factor was optimized to -1.252, which reduced the average percentage differences between measured and Mobius3D-calculated doses from 2.23% ±1.21% to 0.03% ±1.82%. The cross-comparison between Mobius3D/TPS and EPID/TPS revealed a similar trend in gamma passing rate (>95%) in both the verification and validation plans. Conclusion: The DLG correction factor strongly influences the accuracy of Mobius3D-calculated doses. Applying the optimal DLG correction factor can increase dose agreement and gamma passing rate between calculation and delivered doses of VMAT plans, which emphasizes the importance of optimizing this factor during the commissioning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) involves the measurement of the changes in mass that occur when a constant heat is applied to an unknown specimen as a function of time or temperature. It is used to evaluate thermal stability, oxidative stability, composition, and estimated lifetime, among other parameters. Given that accurate TGA data is important information for lifetime and stability evaluation of parts and products, an uncertainty evaluation procedure is required to ensure the reliability of the data. In this study, the uncertainty evaluation procedure was established according to the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM). The mathematically expression of the relationship between the measurand and the input quantities, evaluation of the standard uncertainty of each input estimate, determination of the combined standard uncertainty, and calculation of the expanded uncertainty were performed. The biggest factor affecting the uncertainty of TGA data is the uncertainty of correction factor caused by system calibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The injection volume and the distribution of a proppant inside a fracture have a direct impact on the stimulation effect of fracturing. In this study, a new proppant transport model was established based on the Euler method. In this model, the proppant plugging element allows fluid to pass through. Furthermore, the proppant plugging process was successfully simulated based on this model. The proppant transport and ultimate injection concentration under different injection modes were discussed. The numerical simulation results indicate that compared with the strategy of constant concentration, the strategy of a stepwise increasing concentration can make the proppant distribution in the fracture more uniform. The strategy of injection with a stepwise increasing concentration and a periodic injection with a stepwise increasing concentration can increase the injection volume of the proppant by 25%. In the fracture network, a 67% increase in the number of branch fractures resulted in a 17% increase in the maximum proppant injection volume. If the branch fracture width is reduced by 50%, the maximum proppant injection volume is reduced by 17%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance assessment of low carbon cities (LCCs) attracts great interest and attention from academia, industry, and government as an effective measure to promote urban low-carbon development. However, the efforts of LCCs could be misinterpreted without consideration of the fact that cities with different endowments face different challenges and assume different responsibilities, thus it is important that this fact is considered in assessing LCCs' performance. This study develops the previous study by the research team, "dual perspective diagnosis method for assessing LCC performance", by introducing a correction factor to take into account the impacts of local endowments and mitigate the 'one-size-fits-all' phenomenon when comparing LCC assessments between cities. The empirical case study presented in the paper indicates that the adoption of a correction factor has improved the accuracy of the assessment results by demonstrating actual management efforts in developing LCC performance. It is proposed that applying the correction factor can help to achieve more accurate assessments of the status of low-carbon city practice, based on which more effective low-carbon policies can be designed and implemented towards achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steel–concrete composite beams, essential for large-span structures, benefit from connectors that reduce cracking at the supports. The crack resistance and alignment with sustainable building trends of high-strength bolted connectors have been extensively researched. Nevertheless, only a few studies exist on their load–slip behavior in hogging sections. In this study, the shear performance of high-strength bolted connectors subjected to tension due to hogging moments was studied based on experiments and numerical modeling according to numerous reverse push-out tests. The results revealed that tensile and splitting cracks were produced in the concrete. Their distribution was affected primarily by the concrete strength and bolt diameter; this distribution became denser at decreasing concrete strengths and increasing bolt diameters. Subsequently, an analysis of the out-of-plane displacement and load–slip response was performed to investigate the phenomenon of anchor rod sliding. A cost-effective and time-efficient finite-element (FE) model was developed to investigate the internal microstates of the specimens. It revealed a correlation between bolt cracking, specimen hardening, steel yield, and failure. A correction factor is also proposed for the shear capacity of bolts within concrete subjected to tension. The findings offer insights into the load–slip response of high-strength bolted connectors subjected to hogging moments, aiding in safer, more durable supports for steel–concrete composite beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming to address the problems of uneven brightness and small defects of low contrast on the surface of lithium-ion battery electrode (LIBE) coatings, this study proposes a defect detection method that combines background reconstruction with an enhanced Canny algorithm. Firstly, we acquire and pre-process the electrode coating image, considering the characteristics of the electrode coating process and defects. Secondly, background reconstruction and the difference method are introduced to achieve the rough localization of coating defects. Furthermore, the image with potential defects undergoes enhancement through improved Gamma correction, and the PSO-OTSU algorithm with adaptive searching is applied to determine the optimal segmentation. Finally, precise defect detection is accomplished using the improved Canny algorithm and morphological processing. The experimental results show that, compared with the maximum entropy method, the region growth method, and the traditional Canny algorithm, the algorithm in this paper has a higher segmentation accuracy for defects. It better retains defect edge features and provides a more accurate detection effect for defects like scratches, dark spots, bright spots, metal leakage, and decarburization, which are difficult to recognize on the background of coating areas of electrodes. The proposed method is suitable for the online real-time defect detection of LIBE coating defects in actual lithium-ion battery industrial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Cost and statistical efficiency of posture assessment by inclinometry and observation, exemplified by paper mill work." The correction is related to an error in Figure 2, specifically the efficiency ordinate scale in panel B. The corrected figure is provided in the document. The article discusses the sampling efficiency and costs associated with different strategies for posture assessment using inclinometry and observation in the context of paper mill work. The authors of the article are Svend Erik Mathiassen, Amanda Waleh Åström, Annika Strömberg, and Marina Heiden. [Extracted from the article]

As social media booms, abusive online practices such as hate speech have unfortunately increased as well. As letters are often repeated in words used to construct social media messages, these types of words should be eliminated or reduced in number to enhance the efficacy of hate speech detection. Although multiple models have attempted to normalize out-of-vocabulary (OOV) words with repeated letters, they often fail to determine whether the in-vocabulary (IV) replacement words are correct or incorrect. Therefore, this study developed an improved model for normalizing OOV words with repeated letters by replacing them with correct in-vocabulary (IV) replacement words. The improved normalization model is an unsupervised method that does not require the use of a special dictionary or annotated data. It combines rule-based patterns of words with repeated letters and the SymSpell spelling correction algorithm to remove repeated letters within the words by multiple rules regarding the position of repeated letters in a word, be it at the beginning, middle, or end of the word and the repetition pattern. Two hate speech datasets were then used to assess performance. The proposed normalization model was able to decrease the percentage of OOV words to 8%. Its F1 score was also 9% and 13% higher than the models proposed by two extant studies. Therefore, the proposed normalization model performed better than the benchmark studies in replacing OOV words with the correct IV replacement and improved the performance of the detection model. As such, suitable rule-based patterns can be combined with spelling correction to develop a text normalization model to correctly replace words with repeated letters, which would, in turn, improve hate speech detection in texts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Volumetric Homogenization Method (VHM) is one of the most commonly used methods for neutronics calculation in reactors or components. However, the use of VHM for the Double-Heterogeneous (DH) System may lead to a large deviation in reactivity calculation. The deviation of DH System using the VHM can be expressed by the theoretically modified optical length. When the theoretically modified optical length is less than 10-4, the deviation caused by the VHM will be less than 100 pcm. This paper points out that the existing theoretically modified optical length for some cases of DH systems is not accurate, and this method is only for pin cell. In this paper, by calculating a series of DH models and their corresponding VHM models, it is found that the water-uranium ratio and the shape of fuel region seriously affects the reactivity calculation deviation of particle-dispersed fuel, the original modified optical length does not take this into account, resulting in unacceptable errors. On this basis, the application of optical length to physical boundaries for DH system is further discussed and the shape correction factor is taken into consideration. Therefore, an improved optical length is proposed, which greatly expands the range of application of the physical boundary judgment methods for the double heterogeneity of dispersed particle fuel. The numerical results show that the accuracy of the improved optical length in defining the physical boundary of double heterogeneous system is higher than the theoretically modified optical length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]