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Uniform thickness belleville springs(UBS) are a suitable replacement for coil springs in many applications due to their ability to take higher loads and their relatively small and compact size. This paper presents an experimental, numerical and theoretical analysis of the taper belleville spring(TBS). Experimental results on a normal taper belleville spring (NTBS), fabricated from stainless steel alloy (SS304), are presented. Non linear elastic-plastic finite element simulations support the experimental behaviour reasonably well. A correction factor based on Timoshenko's theory of plates, to match the finite element analysis(FEA) results for NTBS, is presented. Reverse taper belleville spring (RTBS) analysis shows that it can store more elastic strain energy than UBS and NTBS. An optimisation study on TBS geometrical parameters is performed to attain maximum energy absorption for the null stiffness region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The d‐q detection method based on instantaneous reactive power theory (IRPT) is one of the commonly used time‐domain analysis methods for harmonic detection. Due to the poor dynamic performance of the algorithm caused by the low pass filter (LPF) in the d‐q detection method, an improved series repetitive control (ISRC) structure is proposed in this paper. Using attenuation factor and correction factor to improve the series repetitive controller, the ISRC contains a negative resonance peak with a peak value of 150 dB at the 6 k harmonic frequency, and the amplitude gain is 0 dB at frequencies outside the 6 k harmonic frequency. Therefore, ISRC can achieve good attenuation effect on 6 k harmonics while maintaining the same gain at other frequencies. ISRC is used instead of LPF in the traditional d‐q detection and this strategy improves the dynamic response of the system while guaranteeing its steady state performance. Finally, simulations and experiments verify the feasibility of the strategy. [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]

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]

A novel technique based on cavity perturbation for the characterization of dielectric properties of medium and low loss homogeneous cylindrically shaped materials using a single iris coupled rectangular resonator in Ka and millimeter-wave band frequencies is presented in this paper. The relative permittivity and the dielectric loss have been calculated using the conventional perturbation method. Simultaneously, simulation measurements are also done for unperturbed and loaded cavity resonator. Simulated results demonstrate the degradation in accuracy of the derived relative dielectric constant with increasing sample radius. Hence, a first-order correction factor has been added with conventional expression of dielectric permittivity proposed in cavity perturbation method to stabilize the value of dielectric permittivity at higher sample radius. This proposed method eliminates any cavity perturbation, originating from the variations in sample size. The dielectric samples are tested at Ka-band frequency of 36.624 GHz and also at mm-wave band having frequency of 52.263 GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing cultivating areas using greenhouses, estimating reference crop evapotranspiration (ETo) inside a greenhouse has recently gained greater attention for the design of new greenhouses or for improving operation of existing ones. Currently, calculating ETo inside a greenhouse using the Penman-Monteith formula recommended by FAO is difficult because the wind speed in a greenhouse is very low or approximate zero. In addition estimating the inner greenhouse is confronted by lack of all needed climate input variables in many areas especially in developing countries. To simplify calculating the inner greenhouse ETo from the routinely and historically collected data outside the greenhouse in the study area by the Penman-Monteith formula (PM-56), a correction factor is proposed in this study. The parameters for constructing the proposed adjustment factor were taken from ETo values measured using class A evaporation pan, and from ETo determined through meteorological data. The first is used for developing and validating the proposed correction factor where data was collected during three years at three study sites (Abu Halima, Date Palm Shambat Site, and Khartoum University farm) with three greenhouses per site. In the second experiment one house is chosen in Shambat area during the third year and equipped with needed equipments. The second experiment was used for verification purposes. In all cases the fitted values by the correction factor agreed well according to statistical evaluation parameters (Chi-squire test, Mean Absolute Error (MAE), correlation coefficient (r2), the slope of the regression and the absolute deviation) with a measured value. Hence, the developed correction factor can be used as easy mean of calculating the ETo inside a greenhouse because historically available meteorological factors are needed. The estimations of the greenhouse indoor ETo PM from outdoor ETo PM could enhance climate-smart agriculture applications in semiarid environments while minimizing in-greenhouse meteorological data requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In case-control studies, odds ratios (OR) are calculated from 2 × 2 tables and in some instances, we observe small cell counts or zero counts in one of the cells. The corrections to calculate the ORs in the presence of empty cells are available in literature. Some of these include Yates continuity correction and Agresti and Coull correction. However, the available methods provided different corrections and the situations where each could be applied are not very apparent. Therefore, the current research proposes an iterative algorithm of estimating an exact (optimum) correction factor for the respective sample size. This was evaluated by simulating data with varying proportions and sample sizes. The estimated correction factor was considered after obtaining the bias, standard error of odds ratio, root mean square error and the coverage probability. Also, we have presented a linear function to identify the exact correction factor using sample size and proportion. [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]

In this paper, numerical simulations of a special energy pile, which constitutes a spiral-injected pipe and one straight discharge pile for Geothermal Heat Pump Systems (SGHEs-P(parallel)), were conducted by Fluent software. The effects of the spiral pitches on the heat transfer rate based on the G-function method and peripheral soil temperature of the pile were investigated under continuous and intermittent operation strategies. The impact of spiral tube sizing on the surface heat transfer coefficients was studied. The results indicated that SGHEs-P may be preferred for office buildings under intermittent operation conditions. For a short period, the temperature profiles and heat transfer efficiency of SGHEs-P were mainly influenced by the fluid type, length of the spiral tube, and spiral pitch. The smaller the spiral pitch, the more uniform the temperature distribution, and the better the heat transfer effect, but the heat transfer per unit depth of pile decreased. The average temperature variation curve of the soil around the energy pile with different spiral pitches was simulated and obtained over time. Meanwhile, the impact of spiral radius, spiral pitch, and spiral tube radius on the convective heat transfer coefficient was also presented. Through data fitting, the formulas for the correction coefficients of spiral radius, spiral pitch, and spiral tube radius on convective heat transfer coefficient were obtained, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibrous air filters are common devices used to remove airborne particles. Their performance is typically measured through their resistance to airflow and captured particle mass. Models describing the evolution of filter performance have been heavily researched; however, the need for improvement remains. Experimental work is irreplaceable in the development of high-fidelity models, yet the estimation of necessary variables is not trivial and may be influenced by selected measurement instruments and analysis methodologies. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to propose a framework to investigate the response of common aerosol measurement instruments, their corresponding analysis methodologies, and the application of their data. A Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) and Laser Aerosol Spectrometer (LAS) were selected for consideration, and their recorded data were compared against baseline measurements. The results of the experiments indicated that the SMPS and LAS yielded a ratio of estimated mass concentrations to the baseline mass concentrations of approximately 1.175 and 0.749, respectively. Regarding the SMPS, it was suggested that the measurable size range, application of a coverage factor, dynamic shape factor, and association between the curve fits and histograms were influential in the final estimates. For the LAS, the application of a curve fit, its association to the histograms, and the selection of the sampling periods were influential. Considering the results, the impact of these factors may not be considered negligible and may skew reproducibility between studies and fossilize confounding factors. Therefore, the proposed methodologies are useful in addressing potential errors in data collection and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection and measurement of radionuclides are indispensable processes, crucially guided by particle and photon emission mechanisms. Regulatory agencies and policymakers demand precise measurements to ensure compliance with safety standards and environmental protection mandates. To convert detection rates into meaningful activity values, certain vital parameters must be derived, necessitating validation through reference measurements, technical innovations, and proficiency testing. Gross alpha activity assessment holds particular significance in both finished products and the waste generated within naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) industries. The thickness of the radiation source emerges as a pivotal factor influencing gross alpha activity determination, owing to the energy losses incurred through self-absorption processes. This study endeavors to comprehensively investigate the impact of self-absorption in relation to source thickness, alongside an exploration of the associated procedural considerations. The research encompasses theoretical examinations of the range and stopping power of alpha particles as they interact with the source material itself, complemented by empirical measurements involving sources of varying thicknesses. Specifically, this study examines the influence of source thickness on the measurement of alpha activity within radioactive waste materials, originating from front-end nuclear facilities. In the context of this study, liquid wastes arise during the ore processing into uranium concentrate (sodium diuranate), subsequently conveyed to tailing ponds in slurry form. Solid wastes, on the other hand, predominantly consist of waste rock fragments produced during mining operations. A notable observation underscores the significance of self-absorption correction factors: In their absence, the measured values of alpha-specific activity experience substantial underestimation. This investigation yields self-absorption correction factors that have been quantified for varying source thicknesses. For liquid wastes, a second-degree polynomial fit, and for solid waste, a linear fit have been applied to these correction factors, facilitating improved accuracy in alpha activity measurements within radioactive samples. This research not only enhances our understanding of the intricate interplay between source thickness and self-absorption but also provides valuable insights for refining measurement methodologies in radiological assessments, especially concerning gross alpha activities in radioactive waste materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a measuring system designed to determine the air density correction factor for ionization chambers open to the atmosphere. The system is intended for use in clinical and radiotherapy facilities, secondary standard dosimetry laboratories, and other settings where open-to-the-air ionization chambers are commonly utilized. While there are numerous universal and laboratory-grade instruments available for measuring relative humidity, air pressure, and ambient temperature, integrated systems that can measure these parameters and calculate and display the air density correction factor are rare, particularly in the domestic market in Serbia. This paper details the developed hardware, including specifications for the sensors used, as well as the software developed for microcontrollers and personal computers. Measurement results and simplified measurement uncertainty budgets are also presented and discussed.

Despite its propensity in experiencing chromatic aberration, spherical lenses have been popularly used in imaging lens systems. To ameliorate its performance, we propose a novel method to alleviate the level of chromatic aberration in spherical lenses. In our method, a predefined correction factor is generated from the design simulation, and it is then used to correct the lateral chromatic aberrations of the primary colors. By applying the proposed method to a spherical lens stack, the optical performance of the lens stack has achieved significant improvement. In our analysis, we demonstrate that the image quality achieved from a spherical lens stack can be comparable, if not better than that from an aspheric lens stack. It is worthwhile noting that this correction method can be achieved without the need to go through the tedious long process of post‐image analysis and calibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the work described here was to determine the effects of imaging protocol, technique and pleural line depth on measured pleural line thickness (PLT). Sonograms were performed on a phantom and healthy volunteers. In vitro , pleural line depth, transducer type (5–1 MHz phased array vs. 13–6 MHz linear array), angle of the pleural line relative to the transducer and distance between the pleural line and focal length were explicitly modified. PLT was measured using electronic calipers. Regression equations described the effects of independent variables on PLT. Factors influencing PLT in vitr o were tested in vivo. In vitro (n = 250 sonograms), PLT was 3.8 (standard error: ±0.24) mm greater when using the phased array compared with the linear transducer (p < 0.001). For every additional centimeter of pleural line depth, PLT increased by 0.96 (±0.081) mm for the phased array (p < 0.001) and 0.26 (±0.019) mm for the linear transducer (p < 0.001). Neither pleural angle nor focal length altered PLT. In vivo (n = 160 sonograms), PLT was 2.56 (±0.06) mm greater when using the phased array (p < 0.001) compared with the linear transducer. PLT increased by 0.67 (±0.060) mm with the phased array (p < 0.001) and 0.25 mm (±0.019) with the linear transducer (p < 0.001) for every additional centimeter between the transducer and the pleura. Together the variables explained 93% of PLT variance in vivo (p < 0.001). PLT measurements are affected by transducer type and pleural line depth. Future studies evaluating PLT as a disease marker should account for confounding by these variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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ObjectiveThis study aimed to establish an accurate and efficient scientific calculation model for the nutritional composition of catering food to estimate energy and nutrient content of catering food.MethodsWe constructed a scientific raw material classification database based on the Chinese food composition table by calculating the representative values of each food raw material type. Using China’s common cooking methods, we cooked 150 dishes including grains, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and vegetables and established a database showing the raw and cooked ratios of various food materials by calculating the ratio of raw to cooked and the China Total Diet Research database. The effects of various cooking methods on the nutritional composition of catering food were analyzed to determine correction factors for such methods on the nutritional components. Finally, we linked the raw material classification, raw and cooked ratio, and nutritional component correction factor databases to establish a model for calculating the nutritional components of catering food. The model was verified with nine representative Chinese dishes.ResultsWe have completed the construction of an accurate and efficient scientific calculation model for the nutritional composition of catering food, which improves the accuracy of nutrition composition calculation.ConclusionThe model constructed in this study was scientific, accurate, and efficient, thereby promising in facilitating the accurate calculation and correct labeling of nutritional components in catering food.

Portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF) devices are commonly utilized to analyze the chemical composition of various materials, such as archaeological pottery and siliceous substances. The discussion regarding the suitability of this method for such samples is ongoing, as the data are often said to be quantitatively unreliable. Nevertheless, the development of coefficient corrections (coefcors) offers a means to transparently demonstrate the quality and comparability of p-XRF data. These coefcors are established by comparing p-XRF measurements with laboratory methods derived from the same sample set. The Frankfurt Keramiklabor (Frankfurt Procedure) procedure serves as the basis for the Munich Procedure, which outlines criteria for assessing the quality of linear regressions applied to p-XRF data. The Munich Procedure provides clear benchmarks for the coefficient of determination (r²) and the relative standard error of the estimate (rSEE). Additionally, it includes a robustness test using a bootstrap method, as detailed in the R-scripts of this article. The Munich Procedure is applied to datasets generated using the Niton XL3t No. 97390 instrument used by the Dept. of Culture Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), between 2017 and 2023. Measurements were conducted in the TestAllGeo mode, using an 8 mm collimator and a 300-second measurement time in air at Goethe-Universität Frankfurt. Data processing took place at LMU. Four datasets were utilized to develop four coefcors for comparing p-XRF and WD-XRF values of the Frankfurt pottery standard set (coefcor I-IV). Additionally, five coefcors were created to adjust p-XRF data from the same instrument before and after an instrument reset (coefcor ItoII, ItoIII, IItoIII, IIItoII, IVtoIII). The instrument provides analytical data, which is used to generate the dataset for developing coefficients using R-scripts. Processed data, including calculated criteria and factors (slope and intercept) for each chemical element, are presented with relevant graphical output. These coefcor factors can be utilized to correct empirical data obtained with Niton No. 97390 by selecting the appropriate coefcor based on the measurement date. This process is also outlined in the R-scripts. To assist users in applying the Munich Procedure to their own data, an R-script is provided that offers a more detailed explanation of the calculations. While the coefcors given here are specific to the instrument and therefore provide a basis for understanding the data quality of (as yet unpublished) studies using the Niton No. 97390, the method itself can be universally applied to develop coefcors for other p-XRF instruments.

Relevance. The need to develop correction coefficients for selecting cable sections when laying in the polymeric cable channel in the Russian Federation. Currently, there are no recommendations fixed by the state standards for laying cable power lines in polymer pipes. Aim. To develop correction factors for laying cable power lines in the polymer cable channel. Objects. Cable transmission lines laid underground in polymer pipes. Methods. Numerical simulation of combined frequency-stationary method; determination of correction factors based on interpolation of model results; evaluation and analysis of comparison of cables in corrugated and smooth polymer pipes. Results. Calculations of the long-term current load for cables laid in the polymeric cable channel showed the effectiveness of this method of laying cable lines. The use of pipes with smooth walls makes it much more efficient to remove heat from cables into the environment (compared to a corrugated pipe), which allows you to increase the capacity of the same cable by about 25%, depending on the number of pipes laid nearby. Based on the results of the simulation of the thermal mode of corrugated and smooth polymer pipes, it can be concluded that corrugated pipe significantly complicates heat removal from the cable system to the environment (soil). This is due to the presence of air gaps in the ribbed structure of the corrugated pipe. The gaps filled with air act as a heat-insulating layer, unlike a smooth pipe in which this gap is absent. The developed coefficients will take into account the influence of the location of cables on their allowable current already at the design stage, which will reduce the cost of power transmission losses due to the wrong cable cross-section and high temperature.

During service, the water wall tube will inevitably corrode due to various corrosive gases such as SO2, HCl, H2S, etc. To prevent the occurrence of tube burst accidents caused by thinning and income-pressure resistance of the water wall tube, it is necessary to monitor the wall thickness of the water wall tube row in real-time. This paper proposes an array-based method for monitoring the thickness of the water wall tube row, and the different corrosion characteristics models of the water wall tube row are established by using the finite element analysis software Maxwell. Based on the model, the influence of tube wall thickness and material on measurement accuracy is analyzed by current density distribution and electric field intensity. The error of calculation formula is analyzed by simulating different corrosion conditions of tube wall thinning. The calculation formula of the wall thickness after the corrosion of the water wall tube row and the correction formula of the wall thickness of a single water wall tube with the correction coefficient α of 3 are determined. And put forward to define the ”generalized average thickness” of the water wall corrosion of multiple tubes, and determine the correct formula for calculating the thickness of the water wall tube row with a correction coefficient β of 0.85 to 0.95.

The backfill mining method is widely used in mines because of its advantages of environmental protection, safety, and efficiency and includes filling slurry pipeline transportation as an important part. The rheological parameters of filling slurry are important indicators for evaluating the characteristics of filling slurry pipeline transport; these parameters are mainly determined by rheometers at present, while the rheological experimental conditions are usually unavailable at the mine site. Because of its simplicity and speed, mines mainly use a slump test to evaluate the flow properties of a filling slurry. In this paper, we used a mini-slump cone to conduct a slump experiment of filling slurry with different mass fractions and cement–tailings ratios (the two most common variable parameters in filling slurry ratios), established an analytical model between the spread of a mini-slump cone and yield stress, obtained a simplified calculation model according to the shape of the filling slurry after flowing, calculated the yield stress of the slurry based on the simplified model, and compared the theoretical value with the experimental value of the yield stress of the filling slurry under the condition of the same ratio tested by a rheometer. At the same time, the influence law of different mass fractions and cement–sand ratios on the expansion degree of the filling slurry was studied using a two-factor analysis of variance. The results show that the spread is mainly influenced by the mass fraction and unsubstantially affected by the cement–sand ratio. The yield stress of the filling slurry increases with the mass fraction. When the mass fraction is low, the error in the theoretical value relative to the experimental value has a large range, and the error in the theoretical value is within 25%, averaging 16.79%; as the mass fraction increases, this error gradually decreases below 15%, averaging 8.81%. Considering its effect, a correction factor based on the mass fraction was proposed, and the error in the theoretical yield stress value after the correction was reduced below 10%, averaging 3.54%. In this study, the mini-slump cone test not only reduces the experimental material and labor intensity compared with the traditional slump test but also effectively characterizes the yield stress of the slurry, which provides practical guidance for evaluating the flowability of mine filling slurry.

This paper focuses on the experimental characterization of horizontal, spiral heat exchangers used for heat recovery from sewage pipes. Such non-intrusive heat exchanger configurations are appealing for this application, but they often exhibit reduced heat exchange performances compared to more compact designs. To compare the performance of this configuration with that of an ideal counter-flow heat exchanger, a representative test setup was constructed. As the sewer pipes are generally not completely filled, tests were conducted using three different fillings (100%, 50%, 33%) and a filling parameter z was introduced in the heat transfer equations. Correction factors to be applied in the Logarithmic Mean Temperature Difference (LMTD) design method for this specific spiral configuration were derived from the test results. It was found that the filling of the sewer pipe has minimal impact on the correction factor, which ranges between 0.78 and 0.83. The average value of 0.81 is recommended for design purposes.

Global energy demand is increasing, and non-renewable resources are increasingly scarce. The development and utilization of renewable resources are imperative. In order to enhance the environmental friendliness of ecological textile parks, the study proposes the systematic application of plant dyeing techniques based on sustainable energy systems in the design of ecological textiles. The experiment utilized resources such as solar energy and constructed a sustainable energy scheduling system for the dyeing and weaving park. The ratio of heat/cold, electricity, and hot water varies at different times throughout the day. Among them, the power supply ratio is municipal > photovoltaic > energy storage, and the photovoltaic power supply ratio accounts for about 33%. The daily planned power supply load is 50 KW, and the actual power supply load is approximately 38 KW. The energy dispatch system in the dyeing and weaving park has reduced the actual power supply load by about 24%. The corrected color matching error value of plant dye three color and four-color blends is less than 1.0, and the simulation data of the ratio has significantly improved to a certain extent. This indicates that the addition of a correction coefficient helps to correct the actual production ratio and reduce the impact of blended yarn color during the production process.

AbstractThe slope imminent failure time prediction method could be established with the slope surface deformation time curve before rupture. However, the existing time-to-failure prediction method does not unify the calculation time range, and the forecast results derived from the same model in different calculation time ranges could present significant differences. Taking Longjing rock fall in Guizhou and Dangchuan 4# loess flowslide in Gansu as examples, the calculation time ranges of imminent slope failure prediction were determined to be within the tangent angle of 80°–85° by analyzing the slope refined deformation data and using the velocity inverse method. The deformation curves have an obvious upward and sudden increase when the landslide is in the imminent stage, leading to an earlier landslide failure time. By analyzing the velocity inverse curve in the medium-term acceleration stage and the imminent sliding stage, a correction coefficient ranging from 0.30 to 0.55 was adopted to correct the landslide time prediction value. The results show that the improved prediction method for the slope imminent failure time has great accuracy and certain universality, which can mitigate the effects of slope failures in terms of both human lives and economic losses.

An algorithm for an interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) drive to improve the accuracy of maximum torque per ampere (MTPA) control reflecting variations in the permanent magnet (PM) flux linkage is proposed in this paper. In IPMSM drives, reluctance and PM torque are generated, and both the efficiency and developed torque of IPMSM drives are directly affected by parameter variations. A stator flux linkage observer estimates PM flux linkage in real time, and a correction factor for torque error compensation is computed. The MTPA trajectory is formed into a two-dimensional look-up table (LUT), which is used to allow the MTPA trajectory to correct the torque error caused by parameter changes. In this paper, the proposed torque error compensation IPMSM control method is implemented and confirmed by simulation and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Total lung capacity (TLC) is the volume of air in the lungs at the end of a maximal inhalation. TLC mainly depends on various factors/predictors such as height, age, gender, and ethnicity, and therefore, population-specific reference equations should be used. Currently, in India, we use the (European committee for coal and steel [ECCS], published in the year 1993) reference equation with no correction factor for TLC. It is recommended that the reference equation should be tested on a sample of local healthy participants, differences between the measured values and the predicted values are determined to see if the reference equation is a suitable/good fit for the population. Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the actual values of TLC from the healthy male and female volunteers from Pune city with the reference values obtained from the ECCS equations in these participants and determine the correction factor/percent differences between the mean values for different age and height groups. Design and Setting: A prospective, cross-sectional study of lung function measurements (TLC) by body plethysmography was carried out in a research center. Methodology: TLC was measured by Jaeger's Body Plethysmograph (model: Master scope) according to the recommendation of the American Thoracic Society's/European Respiratory Society's standards 2005 in a sample of 241 healthy nonsmoking volunteers (150 men and 82 women) aged 20-70 years, living in Pune city of Maharashtra, India. Statistical Analysis: The mean of actual TLC and the reference TLC were plotted against the different age groups and height groups and percentage difference was determined. Multiple linear regression was carried out to find the predictive equations for TLC parameter measured by the body plethysmography. Age, height, and weight were used as the predictors (independent variables) in the multiple regression analysis. Since sex is also a predictor of TLC, separate models were run for men and women. Results: There were statistically significant differences between the measured TLC and the reference TLC obtained from the ECCS equation in both males (5.05 L ± 0.69 vs. 6.3 L ± 0.50) and females (3.69 L ± 0.54 vs. 4.39 L ± 0.36), respectively. Males have higher TLC as compared to females of the same age and height. The mean of actual TLC and the reference TLC was plotted against different age groups and height groups, and percentage difference was determined. The percentage differences ranged from 17% to 21% in males and 13%-17% in females. Conclusion: The ECCS equation is not suitable for Pune population and may lead to misinterpretation of restrictive lung diseases and hyperinflation. A correction factor of 18.5% in males and 15% in females may be used for the ECCS equation for TLC in Pune population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal modification of wood changes its mechanical properties, generally reducing its strength, such that it is more easily chipped during processing than untreated hardwood. This study presents specific parameters used in the determination of mass concentration of thermally modified (TM) hardwood by gravimetric and photometric methods. An optical device, the Split 2, was used in the active mode, of which the holder of the inhalable dust IOM (Institute of Occupational Medicine) filter was the input part. Side-by-side determination of the respirable and inhalable mass concentration was made using the Higgins-Dewell respirable dust cyclone and an inhalable dust IOM sampler. Side-by-side determination of inhalable and total dust mass concentration was made using an IOM and open-faced (OF) filter holder to establish an IOM / OF sampling ratio. A correction factor of 1.16 was calculated for applying the photometric method as the ratio of mass concentration determined by gravimetric and photometric methods. Minimal concentrations of respirable and inhalable wood dust (geometric mean: cr = 0.058 mg/m3; cinh = 0.882 mg/m3) and a 12.76% share of respirable dust in the inhalable concentration cr / cinh, had a significant influence on the efficiency of the photometric method. The mass concentration obtained by IOM and OF samplers did not significantly differ (p = 0.36).

The frequent occurrence of core disking in boreholes under high in-situ stress in deep rock engineering leads to the difficulty in intact core sampling on sites. In this study, rock and ore blocks with irregular sizes after blasting in stopes were selected to perform a point load strength index test, and the equivalent diameter and failure load of the samples with irregular sizes were obtained through the test. Then, the point load strength index of the sample was obtained. However, the results are affected by the size effect of the samples. Two correction coefficients (\begin{document}$ {f_1} $\end{document} and \begin{document}$ {f_2} $\end{document}), including an exponential type related to the failure load as well as equivalent diameter and a linear type related to the equivalent diameter, were used to modify the point load strength index. The modified point load strength indexes are \begin{document}$I_{{\rm{s}}50\text{-}1}$\end{document} and \begin{document}$I_{{\rm{s}}50\text{-}2}$\end{document}. The distribution characteristics of the point load strength index before and after modification were obtained. The distribution frequency of the point load strength index before and after modification basically meets the normal distribution requirements. Before modification, it presented a normal skewness distribution, and after modification, it basically presented a standard normal distribution. The normal distribution of the point load strength index after the linear-type modification is obvious, and its strength value is larger than that after the exponential-type modification on the whole. The point load strength is basically equal for the two modification methods when the equivalent diameter is approximately 50 mm. The results obtained by the exponential correction method are greatly affected by the size effect, and the deviation of the strength value is large. By contrast, the results obtained by the linear correction method are more accurate than that of the exponential correction menthod. With a 95% confidence interval, the confidence interval of the standard point load strength index of the rock sample is 1.09–1.57 MPa, and the mean value is 1.33 MPa. The confidence interval of the ore sample is 0.37–0.45 MPa, and the mean value is 0.39 MPa. Due to the small size of the regular samples and the influence of the blasting damage, the calculated values of the point load strength index based on the uniaxial compressive strength of the rock and ore samples are approximately 1.62 and 3.67 times of the test results, respectively. Therefore, to reduce the influence of the sample size effect and excavation blasting disturbance on the test results of the mechanical properties of surrounding rocks, rock blocks with less blasting disturbance and size of approximately 50 mm in three directions should be selected to perform the point load test in the deep engineering site, where it is difficult to obtain intact rock cores.

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.

In this paper, numerical simulations of a special energy pile, which constitutes a spiral-injected pipe and one straight discharge pile for Geothermal Heat Pump Systems (SGHEs-P(parallel)), were conducted by Fluent software. The effects of the spiral pitches on the heat transfer rate based on the G-function method and peripheral soil temperature of the pile were investigated under continuous and intermittent operation strategies. The impact of spiral tube sizing on the surface heat transfer coefficients was studied. The results indicated that SGHEs-P may be preferred for office buildings under intermittent operation conditions. For a short period, the temperature profiles and heat transfer efficiency of SGHEs-P were mainly influenced by the fluid type, length of the spiral tube, and spiral pitch. The smaller the spiral pitch, the more uniform the temperature distribution, and the better the heat transfer effect, but the heat transfer per unit depth of pile decreased. The average temperature variation curve of the soil around the energy pile with different spiral pitches was simulated and obtained over time. Meanwhile, the impact of spiral radius, spiral pitch, and spiral tube radius on the convective heat transfer coefficient was also presented. Through data fitting, the formulas for the correction coefficients of spiral radius, spiral pitch, and spiral tube radius on convective heat transfer coefficient were obtained, respectively.

To realize the path tracking control of a tidal flat shellfish harvester, a control system was designed, which can follow the prearranged collecting route. In this paper, the crawler-type tidal flat shellfish harvester was taken as the research object. The steering kinematics model of the crawler-type shellfish harvester was established in the Gauss plane coordinate system. A fuzzy control system with a correction factor was designed, the control parameter calibration experiment was carried out in the actual tidal flat environment, the simulation control model was built by Matlab/Simulink, and the comparison between the conventional fuzzy control and the fuzzy control with correction factor were analyzed. The simulation results showed that the navigation precision of the fuzzy control system with correction factor is improved by 2/3 and 1/3, and the control time is shortened by 44. 44% and 35. 71%, respectively, compared with the conventional fuzzy control system when the working speed of the harvester is 0. 02 m/s and 0. 03 m/s. It proved that the algorithm has a good effect on path tracking control and provides a technical reference for path tracking of tidal flat shellfish harvester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the life calculation of pavement under the combined action of aircraft load and temperature coupling field, the recommended values of the maximum temperature gradient of pavement with different thicknesses are obtained through the accurate measurement of the temperature distribution based on the pavement depth. The loading parameters of the simulated temperature field are determined. Based on the analysis of a large number of simulation tests, the sensitivity of soil modulus, pavement slab thickness, and temperature difference factors to the stress on the pavement slab is analyzed. The correlation model between temperature stress and the temperature difference is established, and its effectiveness is verified through examples. The simulation load test analysis of aircraft and the temperature coupling is conducted at the critical load level of the pavement. The results show that the coupling stress generated under the combined action of temperature gradient and aircraft load is less than the sum of temperature warping stress and load stress, with a difference of 4.93%. Based on the principle of stress damage accumulation under the coupling action of load and temperature, the residual allowable number of actions of pavement is calculated, the pavement residual life evaluation model under the coupling field is constructed, and an example is applied to provide a theoretical reference for improving the relevant research in the field of pavement structure design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In confocal Raman microscopy, depth profiling is a key application that enables analysis of the structural and chemical composition and size of three-dimensional (3D) transparent objects. However, the precise interpretation of a probed sample's Raman depth profile measurement can be significantly affected by both its size and surrounding objects. This study provides a more comprehensive understanding of the observed optical effects at the interface between polymer spheres and different substrates. Ray- and wave-optical simulations support our results. We derive a correction factor that, depending on the instrumental configuration, allows us to determine the nominal dimensions of the scanned objects more accurately from Raman depth profiles. Our studies support the need for careful consideration when employing depth profiling in confocal Raman microscopy for nondestructive, quantitative tomography of 3D objects. Graphical Abstract This is a visual representation of the abstract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the impact of power harmonic on energy transmission play an important role not only in the operation process but also in the designing procedure of MV grid. In 6kV mining grids of Vietnamese coal mines, because of rapidly utilizing the power electronic machines, the power quality violation occurs very frequently. This lead to many disadvantages such as: the increase of power losses, voltage distortion, over-heating in transformers and conductors. Moreover, the presence of power harmonic bring the bad impact of skin effect and proximity on conductor including overhead-conductors and cables. The actual operation exhibits that the losses of transmission lines are approximately over 50% of total network losses. If there are power quality violation, this amount could be higher. Basing on investigating the fact of power harmonic violations in 6kV grid of both underground and surface mines, the paper will analyze this kind of impact. An algorithm relying on Matlab programming is used to calculate the energy losses. Results are compared with on-site measurement datas and lab-measurement to obtain series of correction factors corresponding to individual line’s cross section. The outcomes of research could be applicable for power utilities to have better analysis in the designing stage of mining MV grids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to analyze the Asclepias syriaca L. leaves, in order to describe the leaves geometry based on some leaf parameters, and ratios calculated. The leaf samples were taken from mature plants, from the area of Para locality, Timis County, Romania. 100 leaves from different size categories were randomly analyzed. The scanned leaf area (SLA) was considered as a reference, and the correction factor (CF) was determined for the measured leaf area (MLA). The CF = 0.74 value was confirmed by the mean error (ME) values calculated as the difference between MLA and SLA, and by the RMSEP parameter. The fit between MLA and SLA was described by a linear equation, in conditions of R2 = 0.992, p < 0.001. Different correlation levels were found between the foliar parameters and the calculated ratios, under statistical safety conditions (p < 0.001). High variability was recorded in the case of leaf area (CVMLA = 0.360, CVSLA = 0.350), and low variability was recorded in the case of leaf length (CVL = 0.150). The regression analysis conducted to obtain models which described the SLA variation in relation to foliar parameters (p < 0.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The machine‐specific reference (msr) correction factors (kQmsr,Q0fmsr,fref$k_{{Q_{{\rm{msr}}}},\;{Q_0}}^{{f_{{\rm{msr}}}},{f_{{\rm{ref}}}}}$) were introduced in International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Technical Report Series 483 (TRS‐483) for reference dosimetry of small fields. Several correction factor sets exist for a Leksell Gamma Knife (GK) Perfexion or Icon. Nevertheless, experiments have not rigorously validated the correction factors from different studies. Purpose: This study aimed to assess the role and accuracy of kQmsr,Q0fmsr,fref$k_{{Q_{{\rm{msr}}}},\;{Q_0}}^{{f_{{\rm{msr}}}},{f_{{\rm{ref}}}}}$ values in determining the absorbed dose rates to water in the reference dosimetry of Gamma Knife. Methods: The dose rates in the 16 mm collimator field of a GK were determined following the international code of practices with three ionization chambers: PTW T31010, PTW T31016 (PTW Freiberg GmbH, New York, NY), and Exradin A16 (Standard Imaging, Inc., Middleton, WI). A chamber was placed at the center of a solid water phantom (Elekta AB, Stockholm, Sweden) using a detector‐specific insert. The reference point of the ionization chamber was confirmed using cone‐beam CT images. Consistency checks were repeated five times at a GK site and performed once at seven GK sites. Correction factors from six simulations reported in previous studies were employed. Variations in the dose rates and relative dose rates before and after applying the kQmsr,Q0fmsr,fref$k_{{Q_{msr}},\;{Q_0}}^{{f_{msr}},{f_{ref}}}$ were statistically compared. Results: The standard deviation of the dose rates measured by the three chambers decreased significantly after any correction method was applied (p = 0.000). When the correction factors of all studies were averaged, the standard deviation was reduced significantly more than when any single correction method was applied (p ≤ 0.030), except for the IAEA TRS‐483 correction factors (p = 0.148). Before any correction was applied, there were statistically significant differences among the relative dose rates measured by the three chambers (p = 0.000). None of the single correction methods could remove the differences among the ionization chambers (p ≤ 0.038). After TRS‐483 correction, the dose rate of Exradin A16 differed from those of the other two chambers (p ≤ 0.025). After the averaged factors were applied, there were no statistically significant differences between any pairs of chambers according to Scheffe's post hoc analyses (p ≥ 0.051); however, PTW T31010 differed from PTW 31016 according to Tukey's HSD analyses (p = 0.040). Conclusion: The kQmsr,Q0fmsr,fref$k_{{Q_{{\rm{msr}}}},\;{Q_0}}^{{f_{{\rm{msr}}}},{f_{{\rm{ref}}}}}$ significantly reduced variations in the dose rates measured by the three ionization chambers. The mean correction factors of the six simulations produced the most consistent results, but this finding was not explicitly proven in the statistical analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concerns the human feet resistance estimates in safety studies of earthing systems, taking into account small effective thicknesses of the surface layer and mutual resistance between the feet. Based on simulations using the finite element method, performed to determine the variation of the feet resistance to earth with the following parameters: resistivity of natural soil, surface layer resistivity and thickness, and separation distance between the feet, the available literature was analyzed; then, expressions for the surface layer derating factor based on the one-foot model are suggested that best match the simulation results. Simple correction factors are also proposed for calculating the earth resistance of two feet in parallel and in series that take into account the mutual interference of the feet for different separation distances between the feet. The influence of inaccuracies in feet resistance assessment on estimates of permissible prospective touch and step voltages is discussed in various cases, taking into account that resistance of the human body depends on the applied voltage and current path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the effect of higher harmonics on magnetic properties under actual complex operating conditions, the accurate calculation of core losses of soft magnetic composites (SMC) is complicated. First, this paper improves the existing SMC model by introducing a correction factor to correct the hysteresis loss coefficient so that the model can consider the local variation characteristics of the magnetic density waveform and then calculate the core loss under different harmonic excitation. Then, the influence of skin effect and inhomogeneous flux density within the ring sample model is analyzed. Finally, to validate the improved model, it is compared with other models in the reference based on experimental measurements, respectively. The results show that the core loss calculated by the improved model is closer to the experimental results under different harmonic excitations. In addition, the applicability of the improved SMC model under triangular and square wave excitations is also verified by the derivation of the equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article focuses on the prediction of the small bubble holdups (assuming the existence of two major bubble classes) in two bubble columns (0.289 m in ID and 0.102 m in ID), operated with organic liquids under various conditions (including high temperature and pressure). A new correction factor has been established in the existing model for the prediction of the gas holdups in the homogeneous regime. The correction parameter is a single function of the Eötvös number (gravitational forces to surface tension forces), which characterizes the bubble shape. In addition, the behavior of small bubble holdups in 1-butanol (selected as a frequently researched alcohol) aerated with nitrogen, in a smaller BC (0.102 m in ID), at various operating pressures, is presented and discussed. The ratio of small bubble holdup to overall gas holdup, as a function of superficial gas velocity and operating pressure, has been investigated. All small bubble holdups in this work have been measured by means of the dynamic gas disengagement technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Total lung capacity (TLC) is the volume of air in the lungs at the end of a maximal inhalation. TLC mainly depends on various factors/predictors such as height, age, gender, and ethnicity, and therefore, population-specific reference equations should be used. Currently, in India, we use the (European committee for coal and steel [ECCS], published in the year 1993) reference equation with no correction factor for TLC. It is recommended that the reference equation should be tested on a sample of local healthy participants, differences between the measured values and the predicted values are determined to see if the reference equation is a suitable/good fit for the population. Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the actual values of TLC from the healthy male and female volunteers from Pune city with the reference values obtained from the ECCS equations in these participants and determine the correction factor/percent differences between the mean values for different age and height groups. Design and Setting: A prospective, cross-sectional study of lung function measurements (TLC) by body plethysmography was carried out in a research center. Methodology: TLC was measured by Jaeger's Body Plethysmograph (model: Master scope) according to the recommendation of the American Thoracic Society's/European Respiratory Society's standards 2005 in a sample of 241 healthy nonsmoking volunteers (150 men and 82 women) aged 20–70 years, living in Pune city of Maharashtra, India. Statistical Analysis: The mean of actual TLC and the reference TLC were plotted against the different age groups and height groups and percentage difference was determined. Multiple linear regression was carried out to find the predictive equations for TLC parameter measured by the body plethysmography. Age, height, and weight were used as the predictors (independent variables) in the multiple regression analysis. Since sex is also a predictor of TLC, separate models were run for men and women. Results: There were statistically significant differences between the measured TLC and the reference TLC obtained from the ECCS equation in both males (5.05 L ± 0.69 vs. 6.3 L ± 0.50) and females (3.69 L ± 0.54 vs. 4.39 L ± 0.36), respectively. Males have higher TLC as compared to females of the same age and height. The mean of actual TLC and the reference TLC was plotted against different age groups and height groups, and percentage difference was determined. The percentage differences ranged from 17% to 21% in males and 13%–17% in females. Conclusion: The ECCS equation is not suitable for Pune population and may lead to misinterpretation of restrictive lung diseases and hyperinflation. A correction factor of 18.5% in males and 15% in females may be used for the ECCS equation for TLC in Pune population.

Methanol was considered as a new chemical marker for estimating the aging state of transformer insulation paper, whereas oil-replacement could influent greatly the accuracy of the assessment results. In this paper, the 130 °C thermal aging experiment was carried out, and the oil-paper samples were divided into four groups for investigating the effect of the oil-replacement on assessment deviation of aging states of insulation paper. The results indicated that the present aging assessment model was not suitable for oil-replacement based on methanol in oil and the aging assessment errors of degree of polymerization (DP) had a decreasing tendency with increasing the aging time after oil-replacement. Furthermore, the oil-replacement correction factor was proposed as power-series expansion based on the experiment results, and a modified model was proposed by integrating the basic Methanol-DP model and the correction factor. Eventually, the verification experiment was prepared to test the accuracy of modified model and the results indicated that the relative assessment error of DP was within 4.8%. The accuracy of aging assessment are improved by oil-replacement correction factor.

In the literature, different calculation relationships are often presented to describe the same process taking place in the given equipment. This article presents the different forms of the correction factor (Ackermann correction factor) used in describing the processes in which heat and mass transfer occur simultaneously. The form of the equations determining the value of the Ackermann correction factor basically depends on the choice of the orientation of the coordinate system. The article presents the derivation of two forms of equations, on the basis of which the value of this factor is usually determined. Finally, the article also contains the equations that describe the simultaneous transfer of heat and mass. These are used in the design of various types of equipment that are part of the various industrial technologies (e.g., in agricultural, chemical, and food industries). From the point of view of these equations, the article mainly emphasizes that, if it is necessary to work with several equations describing the same process, care should be taken to ensure that these equations are compatible with each other. In this case, compatibility means that there is no need to use a sign correction when substituting the result from one equation into another.

Twin-cell box girder bridges are among the best choices to accommodate larger carriageway width with minimal construction difficulty when compared to other multicell box girders. Simplified frame analysis (SFA) is a method used in the design of box girder bridges, using which transverse bending moments can be found either manually or with the help of a simple computer program. As SFA is an approximate method, the usual practice is to increase the transverse bending moments obtained from SFA by 20%, which may not lead to the safe design of a structure. To eliminate these errors, correction factors are established by comparing the SFA results with three-dimensional finite element analysis conducted using CSi Bridge software. So far, these correction factors are established only in the case of single-cell concrete box girder bridges. As of now no literature can provide a detailed estimate of the correction required for the results obtained from SFA in the case of twin-cell box girder bridges. In the present work, correction factors are found for a simply supported twin-cell box girder bridge. An example illustrating the use of these correction factors for a safe design is also provided in the Appendix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scattering phase function is crucial to analyze the light transport in the micron/nano particle suspensions. A new method including a liquid–particle system and reference system is proposed to measure the scattering phase function of the liquid–particle suspensions. In this method, a reference system of a standard particle is used to obtain the correction factor to compensate for the influence of the cuvette. Experimental validation was conducted for monodisperse silicon dioxide microspheres and monodisperse polystyrene microspheres. By considering the influence of the cuvette, both theoretical and experimental analyses prove that the proposed method can achieve a good result in the measurement of the scattering phase function of liquid–particle suspensions for particles with unknown size parameters and optical constants, especially when the size parameter of the particle is larger than 10. The correction factors of scattering light distribution of silicon dioxide microsphere suspensions with various mean particle sizes were obtained and analyzed. This method provides an alternative and simple way of measuring the scattering phase function of micron/nano particle suspensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate estimation of mean flow velocity is crucial for hydraulics and soil erosion studies. A correction factor (α) is required to convert flow surface velocity to mean velocity when using the dye tracer method. However, the determination of an appropriate α value is challenging and little information is available about how α varies with progressive inundation conditions, especially for rough surfaces with protruding roughness elements (e.g., stones). Therefore, laboratory experiments were conducted in a flume with sandpaper (SD) and stones (ST) surfaces to investigate the impact of roughness elements on the correction factor with varying inundation conditions. The results showed that using a single α value is inappropriate for rough surfaces. The correction factor was positively correlated with the Reynolds number and is controlled by flow regimes as well. Moreover, the impacts of inundation conditions as well as protruding roughness elements should be taken into account for determining α. Correction factor varied non‐monotonically with inundation ratio, depending on the progressive inundation status of protruding roughness elements. The developed equations introducing the inundation ratio performed well in predicting α, with R2 = 0.86 and NSE = 0.91. The results contribute to our understanding of measuring mean flow velocity using the dye tracer method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because the construction industry is labor-intensive, predicting the number of workers is important for estimating various factors that influence construction, such as the construction worker fatality rate and construction financing plan. In South Korea, the number of full-time workers is estimated based on the total construction cost; however, this estimation method does not reflect the characteristics of specific construction types. This study presents a simple model that uses real data to predict the number of construction workers and calculates correction factors in two ways to improve reliability. This study involved three steps: (1) collecting data, (2) calculating and validating the estimated labor rate, and (3) calculating correction factors. The model predicted the number of workers with an average error rate of 7.60% without correction factors. To improve reliability, this research suggests two-way correction factors, and the results show that correction factor one reduces the average error rate to 0.06% and correction factor two reduces the average error rate to 0.00%. The proposed model can be used for estimating project costs and predicting construction worker fatalities for a project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal modification of wood changes its mechanical properties, generally reducing its strength, such that it is more easily chipped during processing than untreated hardwood. This study presents specific parameters used in the determination of mass concentration of thermally modified (TM) hardwood by gravimetric and photometric methods. An optical device, the Split 2, was used in the active mode, of which the holder of the inhalable dust IOM (Institute of Occupational Medicine) filter was the input part. Side-by-side determination of the respirable and inhalable mass concentration was made using the Higgins-Dewell respirable dust cyclone and an inhalable dust IOM sampler. Side-by-side determination of inhalable and total dust mass concentration was made using an IOM and open-faced (OF) filter holder to establish an IOM / OF sampling ratio. A correction factor of 1.16 was calculated for applying the photometric method as the ratio of mass concentration determined by gravimetric and photometric methods. Minimal concentrations of respirable and inhalable wood dust (geometric mean: cr = 0.058 mg/m3; cinh = 0.882 mg/m3) and a 12.76% share of respirable dust in the inhalable concentration cr / cinh, had a significant influence on the efficiency of the photometric method. The mass concentration obtained by IOM and OF samplers did not significantly differ (p = 0.36). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) are the world's leading cause of morbidity and mortality, being responsible for almost 17 million deaths each year. In Europe, let alone it is estimated that 20% of all citizens suffer from one form of CVD, namely cerebrovascular disease or heart failure and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). Among the latter, Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is of particular importance since it is deadly and, hence, requires a prompt diagnosis and immediate medical attention. Aiming to deal with prognostication and promote consistency in managing patients with ACS, the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk score has been proposed. This tool is based on eight independent risk factors roughly accounting for 89.9% of prognostic information. Nevertheless, as some other risk factors, not included in GRACE, are also known to be important vectors in the stratification of patients, namely haemoglobin at admission, it is expected that by embedding additional risk factors information into GRACE it will lead to a better characterisation of a patient's risk. Making use of data-fusion techniques, the present work proposes a generalisable framework to improve the classification performance of GRACE in predicting the risk of death in the course of six months after an ACS event, while preserving its interpretability and applicability. Considering haemoglobin concentration at admission, as an additional risk factor, it is shown that the discrimination performance of new GRACE Plus score outperformed that of GRACE in a database of cohorts comprising 1506 patients admitted with ACS, showing a F-1 score of 0.6033 for GRACE Plus against 0.5828 for GRACE, which is corroborated by one-tailed t-test in terms of correct stratification of death and survival endpoints, namely, t = − 9. 1876 and p < 0. 001. • GRACE neglects the information associated with other relevant risk factors. • Haemoglobin at admission has the potential to increase GRACE predictive performance. • Data fusion techniques allow combining complementary information into a single model. • Machine learning can be used to correct GRACE, while preserving its interpretability. • GRACE++ promotes parsimonious resource management and patient' tailored treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cantilever vibration in an optical lever AFM is theoretically analyzed considering the effect of surface force and ambient fluid. The surface force between the tip and the sample is modeled using a cantilever with a spring and damping added to the tip, and the effect of ambient fluid on the cantilever vibration is analyzed using the bead model. The amplitude ratios of the forced vibration were derived by solving the equation of motion. There are discrepancies between the amplitude ratio derived from bending vibration theory and that obtained through the optical lever method. The amplitude ratio from bending vibration theory reveals that the effect of surface force dominates primarily below the second resonant frequency. The tip-added spring affects the resonant frequency shift and amplitude ratio, while the tip-added damping mainly affects the amplitude ratio at the resonant frequency. In contrast, the amplitude ratio considering the optical lever method reveals that anti-resonance occurs when the tip-added spring constant is positive, which is not observed in bending vibration theory. The amplitude ratio of the cantilever is modified by introducing a correction factor. The correction factor decreases with excitation frequency except for the frequency where the anti-resonance occurs. The correction factor becomes small when the ambient fluid has high density and viscosity.