Efficient slope reliability and sensitivity analysis using quantile-based first-order second-moment method

This paper introduces a novel approach for parameter sensitivity evaluation and efficient slope reliability analysis based on quantile-based first-order second-moment method(QFOSM).The core principles of the QFOSM are elucidated geometrically from the perspective of expanding ellipsoids.Based on this geometric interpretation,the QFOSM is further extended to estimate sensitivity indices and assess the significance of various uncertain parameters involved in the slope system.The proposed method has the advantage of computational simplicity,akin to the conventional first-order second-moment method(FOSM),while providing estimation accuracy close to that of the first-order reliability method(FORM).Its performance is demonstrated with a numerical example and three slope examples.The results show that the proposed method can efficiently estimate the slope reliability and simultaneously evaluate the sensitivity of the uncertain parameters.The proposed method does not involve complex optimization or iteration required by the FORM.It can provide a valuable complement to the existing approximate reliability analysis methods,offering rapid sensitivity evaluation and slope reliability analysis.

Transient response of doubly-curved bio-inspired composite shells resting on viscoelastic foundation subject to blast load using improved first-order shear theory and isogeometric approach

Investigating natural-inspired applications is a perennially appealing subject for scientists. The current increase in the speed of natural-origin structure growth may be linked to their superior mechanical properties and environmental resilience. Biological composite structures with helicoidal schemes and designs have remarkable capacities to absorb impact energy and withstand damage. However, there is a dearth of extensive study on the influence of fiber redirection and reorientation inside the matrix of a helicoid structure on its mechanical performance and reactivity. The present study aimed to explore the static and transient responses of a bio-inspired helicoid laminated composite(B-iHLC) shell under the influence of an explosive load using an isomorphic method. The structural integrity of the shell is maintained by a viscoelastic basis known as the Pasternak foundation, which encompasses two coefficients of stiffness and one coefficient of damping. The equilibrium equations governing shell dynamics are obtained by using Hamilton's principle and including the modified first-order shear theory,therefore obviating the need to employ a shear correction factor. The paper's model and approach are validated by doing numerical comparisons with respected publications. The findings of this study may be used in the construction of military and civilian infrastructure in situations when the structure is subjected to severe stresses that might potentially result in catastrophic collapse. The findings of this paper serve as the foundation for several other issues, including geometric optimization and the dynamic response of similar mechanical structures.

Regulatable Orthotropic 3D Hybrid Continuous Carbon Networks for Efficient Bi-Directional Thermal Conduction

Vertically oriented carbon structures constructed from low-dimen-sional carbon materials are ideal frameworks for high-performance thermal inter-face materials(TIMs).However,improving the interfacial heat-transfer efficiency of vertically oriented carbon structures is a challenging task.Herein,an orthotropic three-dimensional(3D)hybrid carbon network(VSCG)is fabricated by depositing vertically aligned carbon nanotubes(VACNTs)on the surface of a horizontally oriented graphene film(HOGF).The interfacial interaction between the VACNTs and HOGF is then optimized through an annealing strategy.After regulating the orientation structure of the VACNTs and filling the VSCG with polydimethylsi-loxane(PDMS),VSCG/PDMS composites with excellent 3D thermal conductive properties are obtained.The highest in-plane and through-plane thermal conduc-tivities of the composites are 113.61 and 24.37 W m^(-1)K^(-1),respectively.The high contact area of HOGF and good compressibility of VACNTs imbue the VSCG/PDMS composite with low thermal resistance.In addition,the interfacial heat-transfer efficiency of VSCG/PDMS composite in the TIM performance was improved by 71.3%compared to that of a state-of-the-art thermal pad.This new structural design can potentially realize high-performance TIMs that meet the need for high thermal conductivity and low contact thermal resistance in interfacial heat-transfer processes.

Application and management of continuous glucose monitoring in diabetic kidney disease

Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is a common complication of diabetes mellitus that contributes to the risk of end-stage kidney disease(ESKD).Wide glycemic var-iations,such as hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia,are broadly found in diabetic patients with DKD and especially ESKD,as a result of impaired renal metabolism.It is essential to monitor glycemia for effective management of DKD.Hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c)has long been considered as the gold standard for monitoring glycemia for>3 months.However,assessment of HbA1c has some bias as it is susceptible to factors such as anemia and liver or kidney dysfunction.Continuous glucose monitoring(CGM)has provided new insights on glycemic assessment and management.CGM directly measures glucose level in interstitial fluid,reports real-time or retrospective glucose concentration,and provides multiple glycemic metrics.It avoids the pitfalls of HbA1c in some contexts,and may serve as a precise alternative to estimation of mean glucose and glycemic variability.Emerging studies have demonstrated the merits of CGM for precise monitoring,which allows fine-tuning of glycemic management in diabetic patients.Therefore,CGM technology has the potential for better glycemic monitoring in DKD patients.More research is needed to explore its application and management in different stages of DKD,including hemodialysis,peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation.

Effect of continuous nursing on treatment compliance and side effect management of coronary heart disease

BACKGROUND There are relatively few studies on continuing care of coronary heart disease(CHD),and its research value needs to be further clarified.AIM To investigate the effect of continuous nursing on treatment compliance and side effect management in patients with CHD.METHODS This is a retrospective study with patients from January 2021 to 2023.The study was divided into two groups with 30 participants in each group.Self-rating anxiety scale(SAS)and Self-rating depression scale(SDS)were used to assess patients'anxiety and depression,and medical coping questionnaire was used to assess patients'coping styles.The pelvic floor dysfunction questionnaire(PFDI-20)was used to assess the status of pelvic floor function,including bladder symptoms,intestinal symptoms,and pelvic symptoms.RESULTS SAS score decreased from 57.33±3.01before treatment to 41.33±3.42 after treatment,SDS score decreased from 50.40±1.45 to 39.47±1.57.The decrease of these two indexes was statistically significant(P<0.05).PFDI-20 scores decreased from the mean 16.83±1.72 before treatment to 10.47±1.3the mean after treatment,which was statistically significant(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The results of this study indicate that pioneering research in continuous care of CHD has a positive impact on improving patients'treatment compliance,reducing anxiety and depression levels,and improving coping styles and pelvic floor functional status.

Comparative Analysis of Continuous versus Intermittent Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy in Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding Due to Ulcers

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) presents as a prevalent clinical challenge, with annual incidence rates ranging from 80 to 150 cases per 100,000 individuals. Guidelines for managing patients with UGIB due to bleeding ulcers recommend a continuous infusion of proton pump inhibitors (PPI). However, studies comparing intermittent dosing of PPI therapy show that this regimen achieves similar clinical benefits. If the clinical efficacy remains equivalent, intermittent dosing will be more cost-effective for patients and the health care system. Our research study aims to analyze the comparative effectiveness of intermittent versus continuous PPI therapy after endoscopic treatment in patients with UGIB, focusing on such endpoints as rebleeding risk at 3-and 7-day mortality rates. Methods: Resources searched included MEDLINE, EMBASE, PUBMED, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases from January 2010 through December 2023 with the inclusion of meta-analysis, systematic review, review, or ACG guideline recommendations. Results of the analysis show how recommendations regarding high vs. low PPI regimen changed over time: from no difference in regimen in 2010 to recommending continuous regimen in 2012 to declaring insufficient evidence between choosing one regimen over another in 2013 to determine that both regimens were comparable to each other in 2014-2018 and finally to recommending both regimens in 2021. To conclude, our review shows that in patients with bleeding ulcers and high-risk endoscopic findings, intermittent PPI therapy is non-inferior to continuous PPI infusion for three days, seven days bleeding risk or mortality rates;however, it remains challenging to determine the most optimal intermittent regimen due to heterogeneity of RCTs included in meta-analyses, and further trials will need to be performed.

Euler’s First-Order Explicit Method–Peridynamic Differential Operator for Solving Population Balance Equations of the Crystallization Process

Using Euler’s first-order explicit(EE)method and the peridynamic differential operator(PDDO)to discretize the time and internal crystal-size derivatives,respectively,the Euler’s first-order explicit method–peridynamic differential operator(EE–PDDO)was obtained for solving the one-dimensional population balance equation in crystallization.Four different conditions during crystallization were studied:size-independent growth,sizedependent growth in a batch process,nucleation and size-independent growth,and nucleation and size-dependent growth in a continuous process.The high accuracy of the EE–PDDO method was confirmed by comparing it with the numerical results obtained using the second-order upwind and HR-van methods.The method is characterized by non-oscillation and high accuracy,especially in the discontinuous and sharp crystal size distribution.The stability of the EE–PDDO method,choice of weight function in the PDDO method,and optimal time step are also discussed.

NCCMF:Non-Collaborative Continuous Monitoring Framework for Container-Based Cloud Runtime Status

The security performance of cloud services is a key factor influencing users’selection of Cloud Service Providers(CSPs).Continuous monitoring of the security status of cloud services is critical.However,existing research lacks a practical framework for such ongoing monitoring.To address this gap,this paper proposes the first NonCollaborative Container-Based Cloud Service Operation State Continuous Monitoring Framework(NCCMF),based on relevant standards.NCCMF operates without the CSP’s collaboration by:1)establishing a scalable supervisory index system through the identification of security responsibilities for each role,and 2)designing a Continuous Metrics Supervision Protocol(CMA)to automate the negotiation of supervisory metrics.The framework also outlines the supervision process for cloud services across different deployment models.Experimental results demonstrate that NCCMF effectively monitors the operational state of two real-world IoT(Internet of Things)cloud services,with an average supervision error of less than 15%.

Strengthening effect of prefabrication(10-12)tensile twinning on AZ80+0.4%Ce magnesium alloy and inhibition mechanism of discontinuous precipitation

This paper provided an effective method to further improve the mechanical properties of the AZ80+0.4%Ce magnesium alloy wheel spoke.The effect of high strength and ductility was obtained with a yield strength of 295.36 MPa,an elongation of 10%,by the combination of pre-deformation(7%deformation)and two-stage aging treatment(120℃/9 h+175℃/24 h).The evolution of the microstructure and properties of the alloy was explored under the coupling conditions of different pre-deformation degrees and multi-stage aging.The results show that,pre-deformation introduced a large number of(1012)tensile twinning and dislocations,which greatly promoted the probability of continuous precipitates(CPs)appearing.On the contrary,the discontinuous precipitates(DPs)were limited by the vertical and horizontal twin structure.As a result,the pre-nucleation method of two-stage aging increased the proportion of CPs by 34%-38%.Owing to the DPs was effectively suppressed,the alloy's yield strength has been greatly improved.Besides,under multi-stage aging,the twin boundaries induce protruding nucleation to form static recrystallization by hindering the migration of dislocations,and the matrix swallows the twins,then the texture gradually tilts from the two poles to the basal plane.As an important supplement,the grain refinement and oblique texture promoted the improvement of the yield strength of the component.

Enhanced measurement precision with continuous interrogation during dynamical decoupling

Dynamical decoupling(DD)is normally ineffective when applied to DC measurement.In its straightforward implementation,DD nulls out DC signal as well while suppressing noise.This work proposes a phase relay method that is capable of continuously interrogating the DC signal over many DD cycles.We illustrate its efficacy when applied to the measurement of a weak DC magnetic field with an atomic spinor Bose-Einstein condensate.Sensitivities approaching standard quantum limit or Heisenberg limit are potentially realizable for a coherent spin state or a squeezed spin state of 10000 atoms,respectively,while ambient laboratory level noise is suppressed by DD.Our work offers a practical approach to mitigate the limitations of DD to DC measurement and would find other applications for resorting coherence in quantum sensing and quantum information processing research.

Improvement and security analysis of multi-ring discrete modulation continuous variable quantum secret sharing scheme

In order to avoid the complexity of Gaussian modulation and the problem that the traditional point-to-point communication DM-CVQKD protocol cannot meet the demand for multi-user key sharing at the same time, we propose a multi-ring discrete modulation continuous variable quantum key sharing scheme(MR-DM-CVQSS). In this paper, we primarily compare single-ring and multi-ring M-symbol amplitude and phase-shift keying modulations. We analyze their asymptotic key rates against collective attacks and consider the security key rates under finite-size effects. Leveraging the characteristics of discrete modulation, we improve the quantum secret sharing scheme. Non-dealer participants only require simple phase shifters to complete quantum secret sharing. We also provide the general design of the MR-DM-CVQSS protocol.We conduct a comprehensive analysis of the improved protocol's performance, confirming that the enhancement through multi-ring M-PSK allows for longer-distance quantum key distribution. Additionally, it reduces the deployment complexity of the system, thereby increasing the practical value.

Irregular initial solidification by mold thermal monitoring in the continuous casting of steels:A review

Occasional irregular initial solidification phenomena,including stickers,deep oscillation marks,depressions,and surface cracks of strand shells in continuous casting molds,are important limitations for developing the high-efficiency continuous casting of steels.The application of mold thermal monitoring(MTM) systems,which use thermocouples to detect and respond to temperature variations in molds,has become an effective method to address irregular initial solidification phenomena.Such systems are widely applied in numerous steel companies for sticker breakout prediction.However,monitoring the surface defects of strands remains immature.Hence,indepth research is necessary to utilize the potential advantages and comprehensive monitoring of MTM systems.This paper summarizes what is included in the irregular initial solidification phenomena and systematically reviews the current state of research on these phenomena by the MTM systems.Furthermore,the influences of mold slag behavior on monitoring these phenomena are analyzed.Finally,the remaining problems of the formation mechanisms and investigations of irregular initial solidification phenomena are discussed,and future research directions are proposed.

Effect of continuous nursing on rehabilitation of older patients with joint replacement after discharge

BACKGROUND Joint replacement is a common treatment for older patients with high incidences of hip joint diseases.However,postoperative recovery is slow and complications are common,which reduces surgical effectiveness.Therefore,patients require long-term,high-quality,and effective nursing interventions to promote rehabilitation.Continuity of care has been used successfully in other diseases;however,little research has been conducted on older patients who have undergone hip replacement.AIM To explore the clinical effect of continuous nursing on rehabilitation after discharge of older individuals who have undergone joint replacement.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 113 elderly patients.Patients receiving routine nursing were included in the convention group(n=60),and those receiving continuous nursing,according to various methods,were included in the continuation group(n=53).Harris score,short form 36(SF-36)score,complication rate,and readmission rate were compared between the convention and continuation groups.RESULTS After discharge,Harris and SF-36 scores of the continuation group were higher than those of the convention group.The Harris and SF-36 scores of the two groups showed an increasing trend with time,and there was an interaction effect between group and time(Harris score:F_(intergroup effect)=376.500,F_(time effect)=20.090,Finteraction effect=4.824;SF-36 score:F_(intergroup effect)=236.200,Ftime effect=16.710,Finteraction effect=5.584;all P<0.05).Furthermore,the total complication and readmission rates in the continuation group were lower(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Continuous nursing could significantly improve hip function and quality of life in older patients after joint replacement and reduce the incidence of complications and readmission rates.

THE ABSENCE OF SINGULAR CONTINUOUS SPECTRUM FOR PERTURBED JACOBI OPERATORS

This paper is mainly about the spectral properties of a class of Jacobi operators(H_(c,b)u)(n)=c_(n)u(n+1)+c_(n-1)u(n-1)+b_(n)u(n),.where∣c_(n)−1∣=O(n^(−α))and b_(n)=O(n^(−1)).We will show that,forα≥1,the singular continuous spectrum of the operator is empty.

Development of high-power microwave mechanical integrated continuous mining device

This article introduces a high-power microwave mechanical integrated continuous mining device,which can achieve synchronous cutting of hard rocks by microwave and machinery.The device includes a cutting system,a rotary translation system,a loading system,a high-power microwave system,and a control and monitoring system.The technology of“master-slave follow-up”disc cutter alternating side cutting of rock was proposed,which could improve the effectiveness of rock breaking.The integrated structure of a microwave-cut system was then proposed,and synchronous motion of the microwave-cut system and adjustment of the loading system could be realized.The automatic adjustment technology of the microwave working distance was developed to dynamically control the optimal microwave working distance.The basic functions of the equipment were verified by tests.By comparing the two types of disk cutters,it is found that the master-slave follow-up disk cutter can improve significantly the dust removal effect and rock breaking efficiency in rock breaking process versus the conventional large disc cutter.Cutting tests of slate with or without microwave were conducted using a master-slave follow-up disk cutter.The results show that the cutting patterns of slates change from intermittent chunks(without microwave irradiation)to persistent debris(with microwave irradiation),and the cutting speed is significantly improved(170%).The development of the device provides a scientific basis for changing the conventional mining technology of metal mines and realizing the mechanical continuous mining in hard metal mines.

Deformation mechanisms and microstructural characteristics of AZ61 magnesium alloys processed by a continuous expansion extrusion approach

The unique continuous extrusion-based severe plastic deformation approaches were proposed recently to process high-performance magnesium(Mg)alloys,while the in-depth deformation mechanisms under such complicated thermomechanical conditions were not well understood.In the present work,the fundamental deformation behaviors of AZ61 Mg alloy from 25 to 400°C were firstly examined under uniaxial compression deformation.Then the deformation mechanisms and microstructural characteristics of AZ61 Mg alloy during continuous expansion extrusion forming(CEEF)were systematically investigated by microstructural observations,finite element and cellular automata simulations.The results showed that the continuous evolutions of temperature,larger strain level and complex stress state with strain rate range of 0∼5.98 s−1 during CEEF brought the distinctive dynamic recrystallization behaviors and texture development in AZ61 Mg alloy,which were different to that of uniaxial compression deformation.In details,a remarkable grain refinement was achieved via CEEF processing due to the simultaneous actions of continuous dynamic recrystallization(CDRX)and discontinuous dynamic recrystallization(DDRX).Gradually enhanced CDRX were observed from center to edge region,which had significant effects on the texture distribution and texture strength.The c-axis of most grains rotated under distinctive shear strain following parabolic metal flow,resulting in stable fiber texture.In addition,the evolution of the internal texture of the alloy led to an obvious increase in the Schmid factor for the activation of basalc+aslip system.©2022 Chongqing University.Publishing services provided by Elsevier B.V.on behalf of KeAi Communications Co.Ltd.

Estimation of Landfill Gas and Its Renewable Energy Potential from the Polesgo Controlled Landfill Using First-Order Decay (FOD) Models

Methane generation in landfills and its inadequate management represent the major avoidable source of anthropogenic methane today. This paper models methane production and the potential resources expected (electrical energy production and potential carbon credits from avoided CH4 emissions) from its proper management in a municipal solid waste landfill located in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The modeling was carried out using two first-order decay (FOD) models (LandGEM V3.02 and SWANA) using parameters evaluated on the basis of the characteristics of the waste admitted to the landfill and weather data for the site. At the same time, production data have been collected since 2016 in order to compare them with the model results. The results obtained from these models were compared to experimental one. For the simulation of methane production, the SWANA model showed better consistency with experimental data, with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.59 compared with the LandGEM model, which obtained a coefficient of 0.006. Thus, despite the low correlation values linked to the poor consistency of experimental data, the SWANA model models methane production much better than the LandGEM model. Thus, despite the low correlation values linked to the poor consistency of the experimental data, the SWANA model models methane production much better than the LandGEM V3.02 model. It was noted that the poor consistency of the experimental data justifies these low coefficients, and that they can be improved in the future thanks to ongoing in situ measurements. According to the SWANA model prediction, in 27 years of operation a biogas plant with 33% electrical efficiency using biogas from the Polesgo landfill would avoid 1,340 GgCO2e. Also, the evaluation of revenues due to electricity and carbon credit gave a total revenue derived from methane production of US$27.38 million at a cost of US$10.5/tonne CO2e.

Path-Dependent Progressive Failure Analysis for 3D-Printed Continuous Carbon Fibre Reinforced Composites

In order to predict the damage behaviours of 3D-printed continuous carbon fibre(CCF)reinforced composites,when additional short carbon fibre(SCF)composite components are employed for continuous printing or special functionality,a novel path-dependent progressive failure(PDPF)numerical approach is developed.First,a progressive failure model using Hashin failure criteria with continuum damage mechanics to account for the damage initiation and evaluation of 3D-printed CCF reinforced polyamide(PA)composites is developed,based on actual fibre placement trajectories with physical measurements of 3D-printed CCF/PA constituents.Meanwhile,an elastic-plastic model is employed to predict the plastic damage behaviours of SCF/PA parts.Then,the accuracy of the PDPF model was validated so as to study 3D-printed CCF/PA composites with either negative Poisson's ratio or high stiffness.The results demonstrate that the proposed PDPF model can achieve higher prediction accuracies in mechanical properties of these 3D-printed CCF/PA composites.Mechanism analyses show that the stress distribution is generally aggregated in the CCF areas along the fibre placement paths,and the shear damage and matrix tensile/compressive damage are the key damage modes.This study provides a new approach with valuable information for characterising complex 3D-printed continuous fibre-matrix composites with variable mechanical properties and multiple constituents.

Existence of a Hölder Continuous Extension on Embedded Balls of the 3-Torus for the Periodic Navier Stokes Equations

This article gives a general model using specific periodic special functions, which is degenerate elliptic Weierstrass P functions whose presence in the governing equations through the forcing terms simplify the periodic Navier Stokes equations (PNS) at the centers of cells of the 3-Torus. Satisfying a divergence-free vector field and periodic boundary conditions respectively with a general spatio-temporal forcing term which is smooth and spatially periodic, the existence of solutions which have finite time singularities can occur starting with the first derivative and higher with respect to time. The existence of a subspace of the solution space where v3 is continuous and {C, y1, y12}, is linearly independent in the additive argument of the solution in terms of the Lambert W function, (y12=y2, C∈R) together with the condition v2=-2y1v1. On this subspace, the Biot Savart Law holds exactly [see Section 2 (Equation (13))]. Also on this subspace, an expression X (part of PNS equations) vanishes which contains all the expressions in derivatives of v1 and v2 and the forcing terms in the plane which are related as with the cancellation of all such terms in governing PDE. The y3 component forcing term is arbitrarily small in ε ball where Weierstrass P functions touch the center of the ball both for inviscid and viscous cases. As a result, a significant simplification occurs with a v3 only governing PDE resulting. With viscosity present as v changes from zero to the fully viscous case at v =1 the solution for v3 reaches a peak in the third component y3. Consequently, there exists a dipole which is not centered at the center of the cell of the Lattice. Hence since the dipole by definition has an equal in magnitude positive and negative peak in y3, then the dipole Riemann cut-off surface is covered by a closed surface which is the sphere and where a given cell of dimensions [-1, 1]3 is circumscribed on a sphere of radius 1. For such a closed surface containing a dipole it necessarily follows that the flux at the surface of the sphere of v3 wrt to surface normal n is zero including at the points where the surface of sphere touches the cube walls. At the finite time singularity on the sphere a rotation boundary condition is deduced. It is shown that v3 is spatially finite on the Riemann Sphere and the forcing is oscillatory in y3 component if the velocity v3 is. It is true that . A boundary condition on the sphere shows the rotation of a sphere of viscous fluid. Finally on the sphere a solution for v3 is obtained which is proven to be Hölder continuous and it is shown that it is possible to extend Hölder continuity on the sphere uniquely to all of the interior of the ball.

Large-scale particle trapping by acoustic vortices with a continuously variable topological charge

Strengthened directivity with higher-order side lobes can be generated by the transducer with a larger radius at a higher frequency. The multi-annular pressure distributions are displayed in the cross-section of the acoustic vortices(AVs)which are formed by side lobes. In the near field, particles can be trapped in the valley region between the two annuli of the pressure peak, and cannot be moved to the vortex center. In this paper, a trapping method based on a sector transducer array is proposed, which is characterized by the continuously variable topological charge(CVTC). This acoustic field can not only enlarge the range of particle trapping but also improve the aggregation degree of the trapped particles. In the experiments, polyethylene particles with a diameter of 0.2 mm are trapped into the multi-annular valleys by the AV with a fixed topological charge. Nevertheless, by applying the CVTC, particles outside the radius of the AV can cross the pressure peak successfully and move to the vortex center. Theoretical studies are also verified by the experimental particles trapping using the AV with the continuous variation of three topological charges, and suggest the potential application of large-scale particle trapping in biomedical engineering.