Outlier analysis of sloshing impact loads on liquid ship cargo

This paper introduces an outlier analysis which can improve the convergence of the statistical analysis results of sloshing model test data. The paper classify possible outliers in the sloshing model test into three categories and present a treatment method for each outlier. The developed outlier analysis is adapted to the model test results for the cargo of the liquefied-natural-gas (LNG) carrier in operation. The results of the present new method are compared with those of the conventional procedure, particularly focusing on long-term sloshing prediction. Through this study, the effectiveness of the present method is observed, and it is found that the present method provides is robust and reliable results in the application of experimental data for load prediction.

When “Don’t Know” Indicates Nonignorable Missingness: Using the Estimation of Political Knowledge as an Example

The conventional procedure for measuring political knowledge is treating nonresponses such as “don’t know” as incorrect responses and counting the number of “correct” responses. In recent times, increasing attention has been paid to partial knowledge hidden within incorrect and nonresponses. This article explores partial knowledge indicated by incorrect and nonresponses and considers nonresponses as nonignorable missingness. We propose a model that combines the shared-parameter approach presented in the literature on missing data mechanisms and the methods of item response theory. We show that the proposed model can determine whether the people with nonresponses should be treated as more or less knowledgeable and detect whether it is appropriate to pool nonresponses and incorrect responses into the same category. Furthermore, we find partial knowledge hidden within women’s nonresponses, which confirms the possibility of the exaggeration of the gender gap in political knowledge.

Analyzing Distributed Vibrating Sensing Technologies in Optical Meshes

Hundreds of kilometers of optical fibers are installed for optical meshes (OMs) to transmit data over long distances. The visualization of these deployed optical fibers is a highlighted issue because the conventional procedure can only measure the optical losses. Thus, this paper presents distributed vibration sensing (DVS) estimation mechanisms to visualize the optical fiber behavior installed for OMs which is not possible by conventional measurements. The proposed technique will detect the power of light inside the optical fiber, as well as different physical parameters such as the phase of transmitted light inside the thread, the frequency of vibration, and optical losses. The applicability of optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) and optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) DVS techniques are validated theoretically for various state detection procedures in optical fibers. The simulation model is investigated in terms of elapsed time, the spectrum of a light signal, frequency, and the impact of many external physical accidents with optical fibers.

Improvement of beef cattle cow’s pregnancy rate using an effective dose of Galectin-1

Galectins are cited in the literature as multifunctional molecules that participate in several biological processes such as adhesion, proliferation and cell cycle, apoptosis, RNA processing, control of the inflammatory processes, and physiological mechanisms of reproduction. Galectin-1 has been cited as a mediator involved in preventing early embryonic death in mammals. Exogenous GAL-1 (eGAL-1) can be found, present in Tolerana®. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether eGAL-1 can improve the pregnancy rate after a complementary AI procedure. The pregnancy rate was analyzed by determining the pregnancy status by ultrasound, 25 to 35 days after Timed Artificial Insemination (TAI) of dams (n=3,469 beef cows). The effectiveness of GAL-1 was evaluated by comparing the pregnancy rate of two groups (Treatment and Control Groups) in 107 contemporaries’ groups (YG) established by the statistical model formed. Based on this, the single dose of eGAL-1 and correct administration can increase the probability of obtaining the pregnancy rate in beef cattle up to 8.68% (p < 0.0001). The recommendation to use a dose of eGAL1 during a TAI procedure was reasonable in beef cattle routine. In average, the whole procedure, using eGAL-1, spent 10 ± 5 seconds more time than the conventional procedure.

Standardized single-incision plus one-port laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy: a safe alternative to the conventional procedure

Purpose Laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy (LLLS) is a feasible and safe procedure with a relatively smooth learning curve. However, single-incision LLLS requires extensive surgical experience and advanced techniques. The aim of this study is to report the standardized single-incision plus one-port LLLS (reduced port LLLS, RPLLLS) technique and evaluate its safety, feasibility, and effectiveness for junior surgeons. Methods Between January 2008 and November 2020, the clinical records of 49 patients who underwent LLLS, divided into the conventional LLLS (n = 37) and the RPLLLS group (n = 12), were retrospectively reviewed. The patient characteristics, pathologic results, and operative outcomes were evaluated. Results A history of previous abdominal surgery in the RPLLLS group was significantly high (56.8% vs. 91.7%, p = 0.552). Notably, junior surgeons performed 62.2% of the conventional LLLSs and 58.4% of the standardized RPLLLSs. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of median operative time (121.0 vs. 113.5, p = 0.387), median blood loss (13.0 vs. 8.5, p = 0.518), median length of hospital stays (7.0 vs. 7.0, p = 0.408), and morbidity rate (2.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.565), respectively. Conclusion This standardized RPLLLS is a feasible and safe alternative to conventional LLLS and may become the ideal training procedure for both junior surgeons and surgeons aiming to learn more complex procedures.

Comparison of Outcomes between Minimally Invasive Lateral Approach Vertebral Reconstruction Using a Rectangular Footplate Cage and Conventional Procedure Using a Cylindrical Footplate Cage for Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture

The aim of the current study was to compare outcomes between lateral access vertebral reconstruction (LAVR) using a rectangular footplate cage and the conventional procedure using a cylindrical footplate cage in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF). We included 46 patients who underwent anterior–posterior combined surgery for OVF: 24 patients underwent LAVR (Group L) and 22 underwent the conventional procedure (Group C). Preoperative, postoperative, and 1- and 2-year follow-up X-ray images were used to measure local lordotic angle, correction loss, and cage subsidence (>2 mm in vertebral endplate depression). In anterior surgery, the operation time was significantly shorter (183 vs. 248 min, p < 0.001) and the blood loss was significantly less (148 vs. 406 mL, p = 0.01) in Group L than in Group C. In Group C, two patients had anterior instrumentation failure. Correction loss was significantly smaller in Group L than in Group C (1.9° vs. 4.9° at 1 year, p = 0.02; 2.5° vs. 6.5° at 2 years, p = 0.04, respectively). Cage subsidence was significantly less in Group L than in Group C (29% vs. 80%, p < 0.001). LAVR using a rectangular footplate cage is an effective treatment for OVF to minimize surgical invasiveness and postoperative correction loss.

FPAA-Based Realization of Filters with Fractional Laplace Operators of Different Orders

A simple and direct procedure for implementing fractional-order filters with transfer functions that contain Laplace operators of different fractional orders is presented in this work. Based on a general fractional-order transfer function that describes fractional-order low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, band-stop and all-pass filters, the introduced concept deals with the consideration of this function as a whole, with its approximation being performed using a curve-fitting-based technique. Compared to the conventional procedure, where each fractional-order Laplace operator of the transfer function is individually approximated, the main offered benefit is the significant reduction in the order of the resulting rational function. Experimental results, obtained using a field-programmable analog array device, verify the validity of this concept.

In-Place Characterization of On-State Voltage for SiC MOSFETs: Controlled Shoot-Through vs. Film Heater

The on-state voltage of MOSFETs is a convenient and powerful temperature-sensitive electric parameter (TSEP) to determine the junction temperature, thus enabling device monitoring, protection, diagnostics and prognostics. The main hurdle in the use of the on-state voltage as a TSEP is the per-device characterization procedure, to be carried out in a controlled environment, with high costs. In this paper, we compare two novel techniques for MOSFET junction temperature estimation: controlled shoot-through and direct heating by resistive heaters embedded in two Kapton (polyimide) films. Both allow in-place characterization of the TSEP curve with the device mounted in its final circuit and assembly, including the working heat sink. The two methods are also validated against the conventional procedure in a thermal chamber.

Comparison of durability of treated wood using stake tests and survival analysis

The stake test is widely used to evaluate the efficacy of wood preservatives. This test monitors the deterioration level observed in treated stakes partially inserted into the ground. The results are conventionally expressed as the relationship between deterioration levels and exposure periods. The preservative efficacy is compared among the stake groups treated with different retention levels based on the test results; however, there is no scientific basis for the comparison. We applied survival analysis to the conventional stake test to include a scientific basis to the test. Stakes impregnated with different types and retention levels of preservatives were subjected to deterioration at two test sites for approximately 30 years. The deterioration levels were monitored according to the conventional procedure and survival analysis was applied to the monitored data. Kaplan–Meier plots of the survival probabilities against the exposure periods indicated that there is a significant difference between the durability of the stakes treated with alkylammonium chloride (AAC-1) at K2 and K3 retention levels, whereas no significant difference was observed between those at K3 and K4 retention levels. Contrastingly, emulsified copper naphthenate (NCU-E) was found to be a reliable preservative, and the stakes impregnated with NCU-E showed a significant increase in durability in accordance with preservative retention. Alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ-1) also appeared to be a reliable preservative; however, the increase in stake durability after ACQ-1 treatment differed between the test sites. These results were verified using the modified Gehan–Breslow–Wilcoxon test with Holm’s p adjusting method.