Modified One-Sided EWMA Charts without- and with Variable Sampling Intervals for Monitoring a Normal Process

Much research has been conducted on two-sided Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) control charts, while less work has been devoted to the one-sided EWMA charts. Traditional one-sided EWMA charts involve resetting the EWMA statistic to the target whenever it falls below or above the target, or truncating the observations above or below the target and further applying the EWMA statistic to the truncated samples. In order to further improve the performance of traditional one-sided EWMA mean (X¯) charts, this paper studies the performance of the Modified One-sided EWMA (MOEWMA) X¯ charts to monitor a normally distributed process. The Monte-Carlo simulation method is used to obtain the zero- and steady-state Run Length (RL) properties of the proposed control charts. Through extensive simulations and comparisons with other charts, it is shown that the proposed MOEWMA X¯ charts compare favorably with some existing competing charts. Moreover, by attaching the variable sampling intervals (VSI) feature to the MOEWMA X¯ charts, it is shown that the VSI MOEWMA charts outperform the corresponding charts without the VSI feature. Finally, a real data example from manufacturing process shows the implementation of the proposed one-sided charts.

An affine generalized optimal scheme with improved free-surface expression using adaptive strategy for frequency-domain elastic wave equation

Effective frequency-domain numerical schemes were central for forward modeling and inversion of the elastic wave equation. The rotated optimal nine-point scheme was a highly used finite-difference numerical scheme. This scheme made a weighted average of the derivative terms of the elastic wave equations in the original and the rotated coordinate systems. In comparison with the classical nine-point scheme, it could simulate S-waves better and had higher accuracy at nearly the same computational cost. Nevertheless, this scheme limited the rotation angle to 45°; thus, the grid sampling intervals in the x- and z-directions needed to be equal. Otherwise, the grid points would not lie on the axes, which dramatically complicates the scheme. Affine coordinate systems did not constrain axes to be perpendicular to each other, providing enhanced flexibility. Based on the affine coordinate transformations, we developed a new affine generalized optimal nine-point scheme. At the free surface, we applied the improved free-surface expression with an adaptive parameter-modified strategy. The new optimal scheme had no restriction that the rotation angle must be 45°. Dispersion analysis found that our scheme could effectively reduce the required number of grid points per shear wavelength for equal and unequal sampling intervals compared to the classical nine-point scheme. Moreover, this reduction improved with the increase of Poisson’s ratio. Three numerical examples demonstrated that our scheme could provide more accurate results than the classical nine-point scheme in terms of the internal and the free-surface grid points.

Industrial Assessment of Limestone beds of the Qamchuqa Formation for Cement Industry, Kurdistan Region, North Iraq

The Qamchuqa Formation is widely exposed in Kurdistan Region (IKR); north of Iraq. The formation along with the Bekhme Formation form the bulk of the main mountains (anticlines) in the IKR. Among those anticlines is the Ranya anticline, which has a NW – SE trend, where the Qamchuqa Formations has a thickness of about 700 m. The main lithological facies of the formation are limestone, dolomitic limestone and dolomite. We have sampled the uppermost 89 meters of the northeastern limb, by collecting 10 samples of different sampling intervals that range from (3 – 12) m. The ten rock samples were tested by an XRF to measure the concentration of the oxides at each sample. The XRF results showed that the 10 rock samples are limestone with different percentages of oxides. The weighted averages of the oxides in the collected samples have been calculated, and the results showed that the limestone beds along the studied section in the upper part of the Qamchuqa Formations are suitable for the cement industry. The average concentration of CaO and MgO is 55.13 % and 0.26 %, respectively.

Early-Middle Ordovician cephalopods from Ny Friesland, Spitsbergen – a pelagic fauna with Laurentian affinities

The collection of cephalopods from eight sampling horizons within the Olenidsletta Member, Valhallfonna Formation, Floian–Dapingian, from Profilstranda and nearby Profilbekken, Ny Friesland, Spitsbergen, resulted in the detection of 31 species, 20 genera, and 12 families from the Ellesmerocerida, Endocerida, Riocerida, Dissidocerida, Orthocerida, Tarphycerida, and Oncocerida. Of these, five genera (Ethanoceras gen. nov., Hinlopoceras gen. nov., Nyfrieslandoceras gen. nov., Olenidslettoceras gen. nov., Svalbardoceras gen. nov.) and 19 species (Bactroceras fluvii sp. nov., Buttsoceras buldrebreenense sp. nov., Cycloplectoceras hinlopense sp. nov., Cyclostomiceras profilstrandense sp. nov., Deltoceras beluga sp. nov., Eosomichelinoceras borealis sp. nov., Ethanoceras solitudines gen. et sp. nov., Hemichoanella occulta sp. nov., Hinlopoceras tempestatis gen. et sp. nov., H. venti gen. et sp. nov., Lawrenceoceras ebenus sp. nov., L. larus sp. nov., Litoceras profilbekkenense sp. nov., Nyfrieslandoceras bassleroceroides gen. et sp. nov., Olenidslettoceras farmi gen. et sp. nov., Protocycloceras minor sp. nov., Proterocameroceras valhallfonnense sp. nov., Svalbardoceras sterna gen. et sp. nov., S. skua gen. et sp. nov.) are new. The diagnoses of the Cyptendoceratidae, Bactroceratidae and of Deltoceras Hyatt, 1894 are emended. Well preserved early growth stages in several species are remarkable. Turnover between the sampling horizons and between sampling intervals is high. The differences in composition, diversity and evenness of the assemblages are interpreted as reflecting changing depth and oxygenation depositional bottom conditions. The co-occurrence of endemic and cosmopolitan species is interpreted as resulting from a high vertical niche differentiation and from eustatically generated lateral shifts of facies zones. Based on calculations of phragmocone implosion depths, depositional depths of 50–130 m are plausible for the Olenidsletta Member, supporting independent evidence from biomarker signatures. Several cephalopod species of the Olenidsletta Member represent odd mosaics of morphological features of previously known cephalopods which cannot be unambiguously assigned to one of the existing cephalopod higher taxa. Results from a cladistic analysis shed new light on the early evolution of the Oncocerida and Orthocerida.

Dynamic Norming for Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts

Purpose: This exploratory study sought to establish the psychometric stability of a dynamic norming system using the Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts (SALT) databases. Dynamic norming is the process by which clinicians select a subset of the normative database sample matched to their individual client's demographic characteristics. Method: The English Conversation and Student-Selected Story (SSS) Narrative databases from SALT were used to conduct the analyses in two phases. Phase 1 was an exploratory examination of the standard error of measure (SEM) of six clinically relevant transcript metrics at predetermined sampling intervals to determine (a) whether the dynamic norming process resulted in samples with adequate stability and (b) the minimum sample size required for stable results. Phase 2 was confirmatory, as random samples were taken from the SALT databases to simulate clinical comparison samples. These samples were examined (a) for stability of SEM estimations and (b) to confirm the sample size findings from Phase 1. Results: Results of Phase 1 indicated that the SEMs for the six transcript metrics across both databases were low relative to each metric's scale. Samples as small as 40–50 children in the Conversation database and 20–30 children in the SSS Narrative database resulted in stable SEM estimations. Phase 2 confirmed these findings, indicating that age bands as small as ±4 months from a given center-point resulted in stable estimations provided there were approximately 35 children or more in the comparison sample. Conclusion: Psychometrically stable comparison samples can be achieved using SALT's dynamic norming system that are much smaller than the standard sample size recommended in most tests of children's language.

A New Methodology for Smoothing Power Peaks Produced by Electricity Demand and a Hydrokinetic Turbine for a Household Load on Grid Using Supercapacitors

The power fluctuations produced by electric vehicles represent a drawback in large-scale residential applications. In addition to that, short power peaks could pose a risk to the stability of the electrical grid. For this reason, this study presents a feasibility analysis for a residential system composed of electric vehicle chargers. The objective is focused on smoothing the power fluctuations produced by the charge by a supercapacitor through adequate energy control; in addition, self-consumption is analyzed. Data sampling intervals are also analyzed; the modeling was performed in Matlab software. The results show that there are errors of up to 9% if the data are measured at different sampling intervals. On the other hand, if the supercapacitor is considered, the system saves 59.87% of the energy purchased from the utility grid per day, and the self-consumption of electricity by prosumers can increase up to 73%. Finally, the hydrokinetic/supercapacitor/grid system would save up to 489.1 USD/year in the cost of purchasing electricity from the grid and would increase by 492.75 USD/year for the sale electricity.

Colour preferences in relation to diet in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), gorillas (Gorilla gorilla), and mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx)

Although trichromatic color vision has been extensively studied as it grants significant advantages for Old World primates, it is unknown which selective pressures were behind trait’s evolution. The leading hypothesis would be that colour vision arose as a foraging adaptation because it allowed individuals to spot food more efficiently. To test this, we exposed three chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), five gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) and three mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) to colour cardboard plates to assess if colours related to diet were the most preferred. Experimental setting was divided in two phases. During the first one, animals were provided with colour cardboard plates of only one colour per data collection session. The order of colour presentation was randomly determined: white, black, yellow, green and red. In phase two, primates were simultaneously provided with cardboard plates of all colours. Behavioural interactions with plates were measured using a one-zero group focal sampling (10 s sampling intervals and 20 m observation periods). Results showed that when animals were exposed to only one colour at a time, they exhibited different colour preferences depending on the species considered. Chimpanzees preferred red and yellow, the colours linked to fruits, while gorillas selected red and white. Mandrills exhibited fewer differences between colours preference, being red the most selected. Furthermore, when all colours were simultaneously provided, individuals chose colours related to diet over black and white. Although there were clear individual differences, our results support that trichromatic color vision is an advantage in detecting and selecting red items. In the wild, it could be important in the detection of reddish fruits and leaves.

Analysis of the Inflow Characteristics of Separate Sewer Systems for Rainfall Using an XP-SWMM Model and the SSOAP Toolbox

Even after the sewer system rehabilitation project, sewer system-related problems caused by inflow still persist. However, analysis of the characteristics of the inflow has been limited to specific rainfall events and monitoring points. This study analyzed inflow characteristics according to rainfall events using an XP-SWMM model and the Sanitary Sewer Overflow Analysis and Planning (SSOAP) Toolbox. In this study, the XP-SWMM model was built for sewers and collecting pipes in urban areas where classification projects were completed. The R, T, and K parameters were calculated using the SSOAP tool based on the sewer volume data of the study area. The calculated parameters were inputted into the XP-SWMM model and used to analyze R, T, and K of unmeasured sampling intervals. The amount of rainfall-derived inflow and infiltration (RDII) increased according to the amount of rainfall, and the correlation coefficient between the amount of rainfall and the amount of RDII was 0.9352, indicating a high correlation. The results of this study can support efficient facility planning that reflects the rainfall characteristics of specific areas, including areas where actual survey of sewage data is not possible.