Time-domain dynamic constitutive model suitable for mucky soil site seismic response

Soil nonlinear behavior displays noticeable effects on the site seismic response.This study proposes a new functional expression of the skeleton curve to replace the hyperbolic skeleton curve.By integrating shear modulus and combining the dynamic skeleton curve and the damping degradation coefficient,the constitutive equation of the logarithmic dynamic skeleton can be obtained,which considers the damping effect in a soil dynamics problem.Based on the finite difference method and the multi-transmitting boundary condition,a 1D site seismic response analysis program called Soilresp1D has been developed herein and used to analyze the time-domain seismic response in three types of sites.At the same time,this study also provides numerical simulation results based on the hyperbolic constitutive model and the equivalent linear method.The results verify the rationality of the new soil dynamic constitutive model.It can analyze the mucky soil site nonlinear seismic response,reflecting the deformation characteristics and damping effect of the silty soil.The hysteresis loop area is more extensive,and the residual strain is evident.

Bamboo Fiber Modified Asphalt Mixture Proportion Design and Road Performances Based on Response Surface Method

In order to comprehensively utilize the remaining bamboo residue of bamboo products,this paper presents a research on recycling the bamboo fibers from bamboo residue for improving the performance of the asphalt mixtures.First of all,the basic performance parameters of sinocalamus affinis fiber,phyllostachys pubescens fiber,green bamboo fiber were tested and analyzed,and the optimal content and length were put forward.Then,the mix ratio design of the bamboo fiber modified asphalt mixture was further designed through the response surface method,and was verified the rationality of the mix ratio.Finally,the mixture specimens were made according to the experimental design mix ratio,and the high temperature,low temperature performance and moisture susceptibility of the bamboo fiber modified mixtures asphalt were tested.The results showed that the high temperature performance,low temperature performance and moisture susceptibility of bamboo fiber modified asphalt mixtures were improved compared with the performance of SBS modified asphalt mixture.When the length of bamboo fiber is 7.25 mm and the content of 0.22%,the road performance of the asphalt mixture was optimal.Consequentially,the decomposition of bamboo residue into bamboo fiber and its application in asphalt pavement can improve the reuse of bamboo waste,with remarkable environmental benefits and great promotion value.

Optimal Design of the Modular Joint Drive Train for Enhancing Cobot Load Capacity and Dynamic Performance

Automation advancements prompts the extensive integration of collaborative robot(cobot)across a range of industries.Compared to the commonly used design approach of increasing the payload-to-weight ratio of cobot to enhance load capacity,equal attention should be paid to the dynamic response characteristics of cobot during the design process to make the cobot more flexible.In this paper,a new method for designing the drive train parameters of cobot is proposed.Firstly,based on the analysis of factors influencing the load capacity and dynamic response characteristics,design criteria for both aspects are established for cobot with all optimization design criteria normalized within the design domain.Secondly,with the cobot in the horizontal pose,the motor design scheme is discretized and it takes the joint motor diameter and gearbox speed ratio as optimization design variables.Finally,all the discrete values of the optimization objectives are obtained through the enumeration method and the Pareto front is used to select the optimal solution through multi-objective optimization.Base on the cobot design method proposed in this paper,a six-axis cobot is designed and compared with the commercial cobot.The result shows that the load capacity of the designed cobot in this paper reaches 8.4 kg,surpassing the 5 kg load capacity commercial cobot which is used as a benchmark.The minimum resonance frequency of the joints is 42.70 Hz.

Preparedness training programs improved the emergency response and crucial outcomes among nursing students:a scoping review

Objective:The study aims to review and discuss the outcomes of emergency preparedness training programs among nursing students.Methods:A scoping review was conducted based on the guidelines of Arskey and O’Malley.Databases through PubMed,Science Direct,and Google Scholar were used to obtain the relevant articles within the scoping review.Results:The researchers found 1175 articles.After manual review,28 articles were identified and assessed.The review reported that the emergency preparedness training program significantly affects preparedness,knowledge,performance,self-efficacy,learning motivation,self-confidence,satisfaction,critical decision-making,and problem-solving.Conclusions:Emergency training effectively increases knowledge,skills,confidence,satisfaction,and team performance.

Effects of dietary supplementation of probiotic,Clostridium butyricum,on growth performance,immune response,intestinal barrier function,and digestive enzyme activity in broiler chickens challenged with Escherichia coli K88

Background： Colibacillosis caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coil （E. coil} results in economic losses in the poultry industry. Antibiotics are usually used to control colibacillosis, however, E. coli has varying degrees of resistance to different antibiotics. Therefore the use of probiotics is becoming accepted as an alternative to antibiotics. In this study, we evaluated the effects of Clostfidium butyricum （C. butyficum） on growth performance, immune response, intestinal barrier function, and digestive enzyme activity in broiler chickens challenged with Eschefichia coli （E. coil） K88. Methods： The chickens were randomly divided into four treatment groups for 28 days. Negative control treatment （NC） consisted of birds fed a basal diet without E. coil K88 challenge and positive control treatment （PC） consisted of birds fed a basal diet and challenged with E. coil K88. C. buO/ricum probiotic treatment （CB） consisted of birds fed a diet containing 2 x 107 cfu C. buO/ricum/kg of diet and challenged with E. coil K88. Colistin sulfate antibiotic treatment （CS） consisted of birds fed a diet containing 20 mg colistin sulfate/kg of diet and challenged with E. coil K88. Results： The body weight （BW） and average day gain （ADG） in the broilers of CB group were higher （P 〈 0.05） than the broilers in the PC group overall except the ADG in the 14-21 d post-challenge. The birds in CB treatment had higher （P 〈 0.05） concentration of tumor necrosis factor-a （TNF-a） at 3 and 7 d post-challenge, and higher （P 〈 0.05） concentration of interleukin-4 （IL-4） at 14 d post-challenge than those in the PC treatment group. The concentration of serum endotoxin in CB birds was lower （P 〈 0.05） at 21 d post-challenge, and the concentrations of serum diamine oxidase in CB birds were lower （P 〈 0.05） at 14 and 21 d post-challenge than in PC birds. Birds in CB treatment group had higher （P 〈 0.05） jejunum villi height than those in PC, NC, or CS treatment at 7, 14, and 21 d post-challenge. In comparison to PC birds, the CB birds had lower （P 〈 0.05） jejunum crypt depth during the whole experiment. The birds in CB or CS treatment group had higher （P 〈 0.05） activities of amylase and protease at 3, 7, and 14 d post-challenge, and higher （P 〈 0.05） activity of lipase at 3, 7 d post-challenge than PC birds.

Effects of dietary supplementation with Clostridium butyricum on the growth performance and humoral immune response in Miichthys miiuy

The effects of dietary supplementation with Clostridium butyricum on growth performance and humoral immune response in Miichthys miiuy were evaluated. One hundred and fifty Miichthys miiuy weighing approximately 200-260 g were divided into five groups and reared in 15 tanks with closed circuiting culture system. The animals were fed 5 diets： basal diet only （control） or supplemented of the basal diet with C. butyricum at doses of 10^3 （CB1）, 10^5 （CB2）, 10^7 （CB3） or 10^9 （CB4） CFU/g. Compared with the control, the serum phenoloxidase activity was significantly increased by the supplementation （P〈0.05）, acid phosphatases activity was increased significantly （P〈0.05） at the doses of 10^9 CFU/g. Serum lysozyme activity peaked at dose of 10^7 CFU/g and in the skin mucus at dose of 10^9 CFU/g. Immunoglobulin M level in the serum and skin mucus was increased except at dose of 10^3 CFU/g （P〈0.05）. The growth at the dose of 10^9 CFU/g was higher than that of the control （P〈0.05）. It is concluded that supplementation of C. butyricum can mediate the humoral immune responses and improve the growth performance in Miichthys miiuy.

Deadbands and the Dynamic Response and Performance of Large Water Transfer Canal System

An operating simulation mode for multireach canal system in series under gate regulating is established. The discharge feedforward plus water lever feedback PID controller was adopted. And the performance indicators are introduced to evaluate the control effects of canal operation. Influence on dynamic response process and dynamic performance as well as the control actions of canal system are studied according to the variation of the gate deadband and water level deadband. The results showed that the larger the gate deadband, the worse, the control effect of canal system over water level, and so done the stable process of gate discharge, yet the stable process of gate opening was getting better, while the upstream gate regulation of each canal pool was less at the time when canal stabilizes; the closer to downstream end of canal, the lager steady-state error of this canal pool was, and the lager influence of gate deadband on the steady-state error as well as response time of this canal pool was; the canal system can not acquire superiority in both the control performance and control actions when only the water level deadband was established.

Effect of Bacillus baekryungensis YD13 Supplemented in Diets on Growth Performance and Immune Response of Sea Cucumber(Apostichopus japonicus)

The effect of a potential probiotic on the growth performance and immune response of sea cucumber(Apostichopus japonicus) was investigated. Bacillus baekryungensis YD13 isolated from sea cucumber culturing ponds was added to sea cucumber basal feed as a probiotic in different doses(0, the control; 1×104(YD134), 1×106(YD136) and 1×108(YD138) CFU g-1 of diet), and administered orally to A. japonicus(initial mean wet weight 5.44 g ± 0.17 g). The sea cucumbers were fed in 20 aquaria, 5 each treatment, for 60 d. At the end of growth trial, 20 sea cucumbers from each treatment were challenged with Vibrio splendidus. A. japonicus in YD134 and YD136 exhibited significantly better growth performance than control(P < 0.05). Five non-specific immune parameters including lysozyme, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, superoxide dismutase and catalase in coelomic fluid were measured to evaluate the immune response of A. japonicus to the probiotics. Results showed that all parameters were significantly improved when YD11 was supplemented in the dose of 1×106 CFU g-1(P < 0.05). The cumulative incidence and mortality after the Vibrio splendidus challenge decreased significantly in sea cucumbers of YD136. Accordingly, 1×106 CFU g-1 of YD13 in diet was recommended for the growth promotion and immune enhancement of A. japonicus.

Experimental Study on Response Performance of VIV of A Flexible Riser with Helical Strakes

Laboratory tests were conducted on a flexible riser with and without helical strakes. The aim of the present work is to further understand the response performance of the vortex induced vibration（VIV） for a riser with helical strakes. The experiment was accomplished in the towing tank and the relative current was simulated by towing a flexible riser in one direction. Based on the modal analysis method, the displacement responses can be obtained by the measured strain. The strakes with different heights are analyzed here, and the response parameters like strain response and displacement response are studied. The experimental results show that the in-line（IL） response is as important as the cross-flow（CF） response, however, many industrial analysis methods usually ignore the IL response due to VIV. The results also indicate that the response characteristics of a bare riser can be quite distinct from that of a riser with helical strakes, and the response performance depends on the geometry on the helical strakes closely. The fatigue damage is further discussed and the results show that the fatigue damage in the CF direction is of the same order as that in the IL direction for the bare riser. However, for the riser with helical strakes, the fatigue damage in the CF direction is much smaller than that in the IL direction.

WRIST FORCE SENSOR'S DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE CALIBRATION BASED ON NEGATIVE STEP RESPONSE

Negative step response experimental method is used in wrist force sensor＇s dynamic performance calibration. The exciting manner of negative step response method is the same as wrist force sensor＇s load in working. This experimental method needn＇t special experiment equipments. Experiment＇s dynamic repeatability is good. So wrist force sensor＇s dynamic performance is suitable to be calibrated by negative step response method. A new correlation wavelet transfer method is studied. By wavelet transfer method, the signal is decomposed into two dimensional spaces of time-frequency. So the problem of negative step exciting energy concentrating in the low frequency band is solved. Correlation wavelet transfer doesn＇t require that wavelet primary function be orthogonal and needn＇t wavelet reconstruction. So analyzing efficiency is high. An experimental bench is designed and manufactured to load the wrist force sensor orthogonal excitation force/moment. A piezoelectric force sensor is used to setup soft trigger and calculate the value of negative step excitation. A wrist force sensor is calibrated. The pulse response function is calculated after negative step excitation and step response have been transformed to positive step excitation and step response. The pulse response function is transferred to frequency response function. The wrist force sensor＇s dynamic characteristics are identified by the frequency response function.

INVESTIGATION ON THE DYNAMIC RESPONSE PERFORMANCE OF A NOVEL THREE-WAY SOLENOID VALVE

Objective A novel high-speed three-way solenoid valve is developed, which is used for the common-rail injection system equipped on DME powered engine. In order to improve the dynamic response performance of the three-way solenoid. Methods Experimental studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of spool stroke, drive voltage, negative demagnetizing pulse and two drive schemes on the dynamic response performance of the three-way solenoid valve. Results The results show that the dynamic response performance of the three-way solenoid valve can be remarkably improved by shortening the spool stroke and increasing the drive voltage. Simultaneously, the difference between the response time of closing valve and that of opening valve decreases. At each different drive voltage, there exists an optimal negative demagnetizing pulse corresponding to the same positive exciting pulse. At this optimal pulse, the dynamic response performance of the three-way solenoid valve is the best. In addition, the high drive voltage can lead to the smaller optimal negative demagnetizing pulse. It is also indicated from the experiments that the dynamic response performance of the three-way solenoid valve is better when the NO.1 drive scheme is adopted. The lower drive voltage results in the larger difference between the dynamic response performances for the two drive schemes. Conclusion The dynamic response performance of a novel three-way solenoid valve is good.

Effects of fish protein hydrolysate on growth performance and humoral immune response in large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea R.)

We investigated the effects of fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) on growth performance and humoral immune response of the large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea R.). One thousand and two hundred large yellow croakers [initial average weight: (162.75±23.85) g] were divided into four groups and reared in floating sea cages (3 m×3 m×3 m). The animals were fed with 4 diets: basal diet only (control) or diets supplemented with 5%, 10% and 15% (w/w) FPH. The results show that dietary FPH levels significantly influenced the growth and immunity of the large yellow croaker. Compared with the control group, total weight gain (TWG) in all treatment groups, relative weight gain (RWG) and specific growth rate (SGR) in fish fed with diets supplemented with 10% and 15% FPH were significantly increased (P<0.05). Similar results were observed in immune parameters [lysozyme activity, serum complements, immunoglobulin M (IgM)]. Lysozyme activity, complement C4 and IgM were also significantly increased (P<0.05) in fish fed with diets supplemented with 10% and 15% FPH, while complement C3 level was significantly increased (P<0.05) in all treatment groups. In general, with the supplementation of FPH, particularly at dose of 10%, the growth performance and immunity of the large yellow croaker can be improved effectively.

Time-domain CFD computation and analysis of acoustic attenuation performance of water-filled silencers

The multi-dimensional time-domain computational fluid dynamics(CFD) approach is extended to calculate the acoustic attenuation performance of water-filled piping silencers. Transmission loss predictions from the time-domain CFD approach and the frequency-domain finite element method(FEM) agree well with each other for the dual expansion chamber silencer, straight-through and cross-flow perforated tube silencers without flow. Then, the time-domain CFD approach is used to investigate the effect of flow on the acoustic attenuation characteristics of perforated tube silencers. The numerical predictions demonstrate that the mean flow increases the transmission loss, especially at higher frequencies, and shifts the transmission loss curve to lower frequencies.

Biochemical and Physiological Responses of Arabidopsis thaliana Leaves to Moderate Mechanical Stimulation

Mechanical stimulation of plants can be caused by various abiotic and biotic environmental factors.Apart from the negative consequences,it can also cause positive changes,such as acclimatization of plants to stress conditions.Therefore,it is necessary to study the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying the response of plants to mechanical stimulation.Our aim was to evaluate the response of model plant Arabidopsis thaliana to a moderate force of 5 N(newton)for 20 s,which could be compared with the pressure caused by animal movement and weather conditions such as heavy rain.Mechanically stimulated leaves were sampled 1 h after exposure and after a recovery period of 20 h.To study a possible systemic response,unstimulated leaves of treated plants were collected 20 h after exposure alongside the stimulated leaves from the same plants.The effect of stimulation was assessed by measuring oxidative stress parameters,antioxidant enzymes activity,total phenolics,and photosynthetic performance.Stimulated leaves showed increased lipid peroxidation 1 h after treatment and increased superoxide dismutase activity and phenolic oxidation rate after a 20-h recovery period.Considering photosynthetic performance after the 20-h recovery period,the effective quantum yield of the photosystem II was lower in the stimulated leaves,whereas photochemical quenching was lower in the unstimulated leaves of the treated plants.Nonphotochemical quenching was lower in the stimulated leaves 1 h after treatment.Our study suggested that plants sensed moderate force,but it did not induce pronounced change in metabolism or photosynthetic performance.Principal component analysis distinguished three groups–leaves of untreated plants,leaves analysed 1 h after stimulation,while stimulated and unstimulated leaves of treated plants analysed 20 h after treatment formed together the third group.Observed grouping of stimulated and unstimulated leaves of treated plants could indicate signal transduction from the stimulated to distant leaves,that is,a systemic response to a local application of mechanical stimuli.

Research on the Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Performance Based on Grey Correlation Analysis: Taking the Smartphone Company as an Example

In order to explore the relationship between the corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance in different CSR cultures, this paper respectively takes four representative smartphone companies in China, the United States, Japan and Korea as research objects, that is Huawei, Apple, Sony and Samsung smartphone companies. Then, dividing the CSR into five dimensions i.e. shareholder, customer, supplier, technology innovation and government and establishing the grey correlation model to empirically analyze the relationship between CSR and financial performance. The results indicate that for HUAWEI, the CSR performance in shareholder, customer and technology innovation have greater impact on its financial performance;for Apple, the CSR performance in shareholder, technology innovation and customer has greater impact on its financial performance;for SONY, the CSR performance in technology innovation, customer and shareholder has greater impact on its financial performance;for Samsung, the CSR performance in technology innovation, government and shareholder has greater impact on its financial performance.

Dynamic-Distributed Load Balancing for Highly-Performance and Responsiveness Distributed-GIS (D-GIS)

In recent years, several results have been introduced to enhance distributed GIS performance. While much more efforts have focused on tile map and simple symbologies on dynamic map, load balancing GIS servers have not been addressed by the GIS community so far. This paper, therefore, proposed dynamic distributed load balancing for D-GIS in order to quickly render information to client interface by involving a set of GIS servers which process clients’ requests depending of an algorithm. In the model, several concepts were introduced and defined: Virtual Server within physical machine which constitutes a setup environment for a single GIS server, Load Hash Table which contains information about virtual server’s capacity, real-time load and other mandatory elements, Request Split Table which splits requests depending of the input area’s Quantity of Information and stores request tasks composition for later reconstitution. At last we have Distributed Failover Callback Function Table level one (respectively level two) which determines whether or not the request had been successfully processed by the chosen virtual server (respectively physical machine). This table allows sending back the same request to another virtual server (respectively physical node). Two load handlers (primary and secondary) are defined in case of failure. Our Model achieves efficient load balancing by: providing efficient node selection;optimizing request routing;managing node failover;involving client’s request partitioning and introducing method type decomposition. A simulation of the algorithm shows a low response time when performing GIS operations.

A Multidimensional Analysis of the Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Firm’s Financial Performance—Based on the Data of 78 Listed Companies in 10 years in Henan Province, China

At present, the research on the relationship of corporate social responsibility and economic performance mostly adopts the method of large-scale sampling, but does not distinguish the sample industries and regions, so the relevant research needs to be further analyzed. Based on the 2008-2017 data of 78 listed enterprises in Henan province, the relationship between corporate social responsibility and economic performance in 7 industries is measured by 8 indexes through Arellano-Bond dynamic panel data model. The research shows that the social responsibility of listed enterprises in Henan Province has a lagging impact on the economic performance of enterprises, which has a negative impact on the short-term and a positive impact on the long-term. The common point is that the responsibility of the investor has a positive impact on the economic performance of the enterprise, and other aspects vary greatly due to industry categories. In general, the degree of corporate social responsibility of listed enterprises in Henan Province is relatively low.

The Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Performance of Iraqi Corporations: A Literature Review

This paper aims to explore past researches that examine the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance. The researcher intends to conduct researches that examine the relationship between CSR and financial performance in Iraq corporations. This paper highlights review of literatures from various countries that examine relationships between CSR with financial performance. This paper is based on secondary sources which are accumulated from many researches in Malaysia, Australia, UK, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Nigerian, and Jordan. The study uses information generated from literature reviewed from different researchers relating to the topic. This method was applied by collecting information from journals and online sources relating to the issue under consideration. Regression analysis documents significant evidence to support a positive relationship between CSR and financial performance. Evidence suggests that CSR leads to good financial performance in Iraq corporations. Findings based on the review revealed that researchers also showed that there was a significant positive relationship between CSR practice and financial performance in Iraq corporations. This study focuses on disclosures made in the corporate annual reports. This is because the annual report is the common document produced by companies on a regular basis and is widely used in prior studies related to CSR. The study provides some important insights for our understanding of CSR in developing economies and its effects on financial performance in the context of Iraq companies.

The Enigmatic Impact of Corporate Social Responsibilities on the Economic Performance of Brazilian Companies

The financial implication of the adoption of corporate social responsibility （CSR） practices is still an obscure field of study, because studies suggest controversial results. Thus, this research aimed to examine the relationship CSR and economic performance of the companies of corporate sustainability index （ISE） of mercantile and futures exchange of Silo Paulo stock exchange （BM＆FBOVESPA）. The amount of companies allowing online access to their responses of the ISE questionnaire determined the sample of this research. Thus, for the study period from 2011 to 2012, it has been possible to access the responses of 12 companies, composing the overall sample of this research. The results of the regression analysis allow to statistically assert that for the sample used, environmental performance （EP） contributes to improving economic performance, measured by all financial metrics used： return on equity （ROE）, return on assets （ROA）, and net profit （NP）. Statistically, it is only possible to say that social performance （SP） contributes to improving NP. In terms of market metrics, none of the null hypothesis was rejected, i.e., in any cases, it has been possible to affirm, on a statistical base, that SP and EP contribute to improving the market value （MV） and systematic risk. Thus, it is understood that the stakeholder theory has potential to explain the Brazilian situation regarding the aspects of CSR and financial ones under the accounting and the shareholder theory explains this relation, when viewed with the aid of market measurements.

Corporate Social Responsibility （CSR） and Firm Performance

The discourse of corporate social views of the role of the firm in a responsibility （CSR） has grown rapidly over the last decade. There are different society and disagreements as to whether wealth maximization should be the sole goal of a corporation. There is also a debate on whether CSR practices are beneficial for firms. Studies examining the performance of firms that have adopted a CSR policy within a range of sectors in various countries provide inconsistent results. Some studies show excess returns among companies adopting a CSR policy relative to the companies that do not adopt such a policy, while others do not find differences in returns. To further dispel the ambiguity on this issue, the authors explore the relationship between CSR adoption and financial performance of firms＇ shares in Israeli market, with a US market benchmark as a test of specificity. The findings reveal that no significant difference exists between the performance of firms adopting a CSR policy and firms that do not. Thus, the inclusion of investments in socially-responsible firms in an investor＇s portfolio does not appear to significantly impact the portfolio＇s performance. Managers and investors interested in investing in CSR may do so without any concern of the lower returns or performance. This study provides an additional support for the CSR School in that its findings indicate that, on the one hand, investments in firms that integrate social and environmental responsibility are just ＂as good as＂ investments in firms that do not. On the other hand, such investments can be seen as superior, since in addition to the financial returns, investors contribute to changing the face of the global environment and are creating a system for support and enforcement that ensures the existence of a better world for the children in the present and future.