A new computation scheme proposed to tackle commensurate problems is devel- oped by modifying the semi-analytic approach for minimizing computational complexity. Using the proposed scheme, the limit state equations, u...A new computation scheme proposed to tackle commensurate problems is devel- oped by modifying the semi-analytic approach for minimizing computational complexity. Using the proposed scheme, the limit state equations, usually referred to as the failure surface, are obtained from transformation of an interval variable to a normalized one. In order to minimize the computational cost, two algorithms for optimizing the calculation steps have been proposed. The monotonicity of the objective function can be determined from narrowing the scope of interval variables in normalized infinite space by incorporating the algorithms into the computational scheme. Two examples are used to illustrate the operation and computational efficiency of the approach. The results of these examples show that the proposed algorithms can greatly reduce the computation complexity without sacrificing the computational accuracy. The advantage of the proposed scheme can be even more efficient for analyzing sophistic structures.展开更多
We present the thermal expansion coefficient （TEC） measurement technology of compensating for the effect of variations in the refractive index based on a Nd： YA G laser feedback system, the beam frequency is shifte...We present the thermal expansion coefficient （TEC） measurement technology of compensating for the effect of variations in the refractive index based on a Nd： YA G laser feedback system, the beam frequency is shifted by a pair of aeousto-optic modulators and then the heterodyne phase measurement technique is used. The sample measured is placed in a muffle furnace with two coaxial holes opened on the opposite furnace walls. The measurement beams hit perpendicularly and coaxially on each surface of the sample. The reference beams hit on the reference mirror and the high-refiectivity mirror, respectively. By the heterodyne configuration and computing, the influences of the vibration, distortion of the sample supporter and the effect of variations in the refractive index are measured and largely minimized. For validation, the TECs of aluminum samples are determined in the temperature range of 29-748K, confirming not only the precision within 5 × 10-7 K-1 and the accuracy within 0.4% from 298K to 448K but also the high sensitivity non-contact measurement of the lower reflectivity surface induced by the sample oxidization from 448 K to 748 K.展开更多
The low and slowly increasing soybean yield restricts the development of soybean production. Accurate measures of total factor productivity (TFP) for soybean production can be helpful in identifying conditions, instit...The low and slowly increasing soybean yield restricts the development of soybean production. Accurate measures of total factor productivity (TFP) for soybean production can be helpful in identifying conditions, institutions or policies that promote soybean production development in China. In this paper, TFP growth for soybean production was estimated for a panel data of 10 major soybean producing provinces from 2005 to 2017. Results reveal that TFP grew at an average rate of 1.3% over the whole period, with technical progress contributing 2.3% and efficiency change providing the other -1.0%. The change of TFP for soybean production over that time, whether increase or decline, was mainly derived by technical change except in three years (2005-2007). Positive TFP growth in the provinces of Liaoning and Inner Mongolia, and negative TFP growth in Hebei and Anhui were mainly driven by efficiency change, specifically scale efficiency change except pure technical efficiency in Liaoning.展开更多
In order to improve the production efficiency of maize in Henan, China, the HP (High-Pass) filter method is used to obtain the maize trend yield. Secondly, the Malmquist index method is used to analyze the changes of ...In order to improve the production efficiency of maize in Henan, China, the HP (High-Pass) filter method is used to obtain the maize trend yield. Secondly, the Malmquist index method is used to analyze the changes of TFP (Total Factor Productivity) of maize in 18 cities in Henan Province in the past 11 years. Finally, the amount of slack in maize input and output is analyzed. The results show that the research and development level of advanced technology of maize production in Henan Province has been improved to some extent in recent years;the advanced technology in various regions has not been fully promoted and utilized;there is a certain degree of relaxation in the input of various elements of maize;the resource allocation is unreasonable, and there is a certain amount of space for saving.展开更多
The effectiveness of evaluating an investment project based on predicting cash flows depends on the uncertainty of its future cash flows. The remoter the cash flows are, the higher the uncertainty is. Because of this,...The effectiveness of evaluating an investment project based on predicting cash flows depends on the uncertainty of its future cash flows. The remoter the cash flows are, the higher the uncertainty is. Because of this, this paper suggests to discount cash flows by applying risky index of time （RIT）. Thus, the discount rate used to discount the distant cash flows is higher that the discount rate used to discount the near cash flows. By this systematic method, the risk caused by the uncertainty of future cash flows can be hedged in making investment decision. To a certain degree, this approach is reasonable in evaluating investment alternatives under uncertainty. Furthermore, the paper puts forward a practical approach on determining RIT in practice.展开更多
Purpose:The aim of the study was to examine the influence of the surgical approach for robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy(RALP)on long-term urinary continence status in the era of self-reported functional statu...Purpose:The aim of the study was to examine the influence of the surgical approach for robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy(RALP)on long-term urinary continence status in the era of self-reported functional status measures using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite 26.Materials and methods:This is a prospective evaluation of 232 patients undergoing RALP between September,2019 and September,2020.Urinary continence status and postoperative incontinence(pad usage)were evaluated 12 months after RALP using Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite 26 questionnaires.Patients were categorized according to their surgical approach and outcome into the following groups:successful nerve sparing(NS),primarily without nerve sparing(prim.NNS),and no nerve sparing by secondary resection(NNS by SR).The median levels of their questionnaire outcomes were evaluated and compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test with continuity correction.Results:Urinary continence status 12 months after RALP differed significantly between the NS and prim.NNS(p=0.0071)and the NS and NNS by SR(p=0.0076)groups.There was no significant difference between the prim.NNS and NNS by SR(p=0.53)groups.Pad usage 12 months after RALP had no significant difference with regard to SR of the neurovascular bundle(p=0.14).Conclusions:Patient-reported outcomes of long-term urinary continence status seem to show no difference in postoperative continence,regardless of whether a non-nerve-sparing result was planned or reached through SR.Instead,preservation of neurovascular bundle seems to lead to better long-term continence rates.展开更多
Land surface temperature (LST) is a phenomenon that significantly affects the environment, the cities’ liveability, and the citizens’ well-being. This Study aims to perform a comparative study of the microclimate an...Land surface temperature (LST) is a phenomenon that significantly affects the environment, the cities’ liveability, and the citizens’ well-being. This Study aims to perform a comparative study of the microclimate and Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) phenomenon of two metropolitan cities of India, i.e. Jaipur and Ahmedabad, using MODIS Satellite data, whereas Landsat Data was used to analyse the Land Surface Characteristics by an index-based approach. The Study’s findings reveal that Ahmedabad has 35.53 per cent of the total area classified as having a low potential, and 13.55 per cent is designated as a high potential LST zone. Meanwhile, in Jaipur, 30.45 per cent of the city’s total area is identified as a low potential LST zone and 12.69 per cent as a high potential LST zone. This Study highlights the importance of mitigating the UHI phenomenon in urban centres for the overall well-being of city dwellers. It will help policymakers and stakeholders comprehend plans and take initiatives to minimise the effects of the UHI phenomenon on rapidly growing cities. .展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.10972084)
文摘A new computation scheme proposed to tackle commensurate problems is devel- oped by modifying the semi-analytic approach for minimizing computational complexity. Using the proposed scheme, the limit state equations, usually referred to as the failure surface, are obtained from transformation of an interval variable to a normalized one. In order to minimize the computational cost, two algorithms for optimizing the calculation steps have been proposed. The monotonicity of the objective function can be determined from narrowing the scope of interval variables in normalized infinite space by incorporating the algorithms into the computational scheme. Two examples are used to illustrate the operation and computational efficiency of the approach. The results of these examples show that the proposed algorithms can greatly reduce the computation complexity without sacrificing the computational accuracy. The advantage of the proposed scheme can be even more efficient for analyzing sophistic structures.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No F050306
文摘We present the thermal expansion coefficient （TEC） measurement technology of compensating for the effect of variations in the refractive index based on a Nd： YA G laser feedback system, the beam frequency is shifted by a pair of aeousto-optic modulators and then the heterodyne phase measurement technique is used. The sample measured is placed in a muffle furnace with two coaxial holes opened on the opposite furnace walls. The measurement beams hit perpendicularly and coaxially on each surface of the sample. The reference beams hit on the reference mirror and the high-refiectivity mirror, respectively. By the heterodyne configuration and computing, the influences of the vibration, distortion of the sample supporter and the effect of variations in the refractive index are measured and largely minimized. For validation, the TECs of aluminum samples are determined in the temperature range of 29-748K, confirming not only the precision within 5 × 10-7 K-1 and the accuracy within 0.4% from 298K to 448K but also the high sensitivity non-contact measurement of the lower reflectivity surface induced by the sample oxidization from 448 K to 748 K.
文摘The low and slowly increasing soybean yield restricts the development of soybean production. Accurate measures of total factor productivity (TFP) for soybean production can be helpful in identifying conditions, institutions or policies that promote soybean production development in China. In this paper, TFP growth for soybean production was estimated for a panel data of 10 major soybean producing provinces from 2005 to 2017. Results reveal that TFP grew at an average rate of 1.3% over the whole period, with technical progress contributing 2.3% and efficiency change providing the other -1.0%. The change of TFP for soybean production over that time, whether increase or decline, was mainly derived by technical change except in three years (2005-2007). Positive TFP growth in the provinces of Liaoning and Inner Mongolia, and negative TFP growth in Hebei and Anhui were mainly driven by efficiency change, specifically scale efficiency change except pure technical efficiency in Liaoning.
文摘In order to improve the production efficiency of maize in Henan, China, the HP (High-Pass) filter method is used to obtain the maize trend yield. Secondly, the Malmquist index method is used to analyze the changes of TFP (Total Factor Productivity) of maize in 18 cities in Henan Province in the past 11 years. Finally, the amount of slack in maize input and output is analyzed. The results show that the research and development level of advanced technology of maize production in Henan Province has been improved to some extent in recent years;the advanced technology in various regions has not been fully promoted and utilized;there is a certain degree of relaxation in the input of various elements of maize;the resource allocation is unreasonable, and there is a certain amount of space for saving.
文摘The effectiveness of evaluating an investment project based on predicting cash flows depends on the uncertainty of its future cash flows. The remoter the cash flows are, the higher the uncertainty is. Because of this, this paper suggests to discount cash flows by applying risky index of time （RIT）. Thus, the discount rate used to discount the distant cash flows is higher that the discount rate used to discount the near cash flows. By this systematic method, the risk caused by the uncertainty of future cash flows can be hedged in making investment decision. To a certain degree, this approach is reasonable in evaluating investment alternatives under uncertainty. Furthermore, the paper puts forward a practical approach on determining RIT in practice.
文摘Purpose:The aim of the study was to examine the influence of the surgical approach for robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy(RALP)on long-term urinary continence status in the era of self-reported functional status measures using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite 26.Materials and methods:This is a prospective evaluation of 232 patients undergoing RALP between September,2019 and September,2020.Urinary continence status and postoperative incontinence(pad usage)were evaluated 12 months after RALP using Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite 26 questionnaires.Patients were categorized according to their surgical approach and outcome into the following groups:successful nerve sparing(NS),primarily without nerve sparing(prim.NNS),and no nerve sparing by secondary resection(NNS by SR).The median levels of their questionnaire outcomes were evaluated and compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test with continuity correction.Results:Urinary continence status 12 months after RALP differed significantly between the NS and prim.NNS(p=0.0071)and the NS and NNS by SR(p=0.0076)groups.There was no significant difference between the prim.NNS and NNS by SR(p=0.53)groups.Pad usage 12 months after RALP had no significant difference with regard to SR of the neurovascular bundle(p=0.14).Conclusions:Patient-reported outcomes of long-term urinary continence status seem to show no difference in postoperative continence,regardless of whether a non-nerve-sparing result was planned or reached through SR.Instead,preservation of neurovascular bundle seems to lead to better long-term continence rates.
文摘Land surface temperature (LST) is a phenomenon that significantly affects the environment, the cities’ liveability, and the citizens’ well-being. This Study aims to perform a comparative study of the microclimate and Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) phenomenon of two metropolitan cities of India, i.e. Jaipur and Ahmedabad, using MODIS Satellite data, whereas Landsat Data was used to analyse the Land Surface Characteristics by an index-based approach. The Study’s findings reveal that Ahmedabad has 35.53 per cent of the total area classified as having a low potential, and 13.55 per cent is designated as a high potential LST zone. Meanwhile, in Jaipur, 30.45 per cent of the city’s total area is identified as a low potential LST zone and 12.69 per cent as a high potential LST zone. This Study highlights the importance of mitigating the UHI phenomenon in urban centres for the overall well-being of city dwellers. It will help policymakers and stakeholders comprehend plans and take initiatives to minimise the effects of the UHI phenomenon on rapidly growing cities. .
