SYNTHESIS OF EDDY CURRENT PROBES WITH VOLUMETRIC STRUCTURE OF THE EXCITATION SYSTEM, IMPLEMENTING HOMOGENEOUS SENSITIVITY IN THE TESTING ZONE

A method for nonlinear surrogate synthesis of surface eddy current probes with a volumetric structure of the excitation system was proposed. This method a priori provides a given uniform distribution of eddy current density in the testing object area where the measuring coil is located. The implementation of the task using modern metaeuristic stochastic algorithms for finding the global extremum was achieved. For the effective usage of such algorithms, taking into account the effect of velocity, metamodels of eddy current probe were preliminarily created. They were built using a productive approximation technique based on artificial radial-basis neural networks with a Gaussian activation function. Acceptable accuracy of metamodels was achieved due to the simultaneous application of the search area decomposition technologies and plural neural networks based on the techniques of associative machines with group methods for obtaining a solution. For metamodels creation a multidimensional computer experiment design with high homogeneity was used on the basis of the parameterless additive Rd-Kronecker sequence. Numerical experiments to determine the eddy current density distributions which formed by synthesized excitation structures were carried out. The advantages of using a three-dimensional structure excitation system in comparison with classical and planar ones in terms of increasing the width of the testing zone, which is characterized by uniform sensitivity, were shown. Examples of practical implementation of an excitation system with a volumetric structure for an surface eddy current probe are given. References 13, figures 8, table 1.

Telling refugees’ stories: Testimony and hospitality in graphic novel L’Odyssée d’Hakim by Fabien Toulmé

Following the increase in migratory flows since 2015, in the Euro-Mediterranean region, bandes dessinées are mobilized to stir up compassion and prompt engagement with marginalized biographies. It begins with the premise that aesthetic approaches of bandes dessinées reveal a testing zone to juxtapose modalities of representation and expression of refugees and ways to interact with otherness. To interrogate the relationship between aesthetic devices and the formation of solidarity, this article considers the first volume of Fabien Toulmé’s trilogy, L’Odyssée d’Hakim: De la Syrie à la Turquie (2018). How does Toulmé’s use of aesthetic devices make space for the other, in acts of dialogue and exchange? What are the ethical implications for the exercise of bearing witness to migrant and refugee narratives, especially in the transcription and translation in words and drawing of their biographies? This article argues that visual narratives can provide for the creation of a hospitable testimonial space for migrants and refugees’ voices. The article outlines the aesthetic methodology deployed in graphic storytelling, reflects on what it means for the perception of refugees, and questions the use and ethical appeal of visual narratives as a form to curate hospitality.

Failure Mechanism of Hybrid Steel Beams with Trapezoidal Corrugated-Web Non-Welded Inclined Folds

Literature of Steel Beams with a thin-walled trapezoidal Corrugated Web (SBCWs) shows that the capacity of SBCWs is affected by both the fatigue cracks initiated along the inclined folds (IFs) and the maximal additional stress located in the middle of the IFs. An experimental investigation on the behaviour of hybrid SBCWs under flexure is presented in this paper. This study focuses on the effect of the welding IF between the web and flanges (IFs welded or non-welded), the horizontal-fold length (200, 260, and 350 mm), and transversal flange stiffeners on the failure mechanism of the SBCW under three line load. Accordingly, six hybrid specimens were fabricated, instrumented, and tested (five SBCW specimens and one specimen with a flat web). The test setup was designed to generate shear and a moment in the testing zone via three-point bending. The results indicated that non-welded IFs specimens with or without flange stiffeners failed owing to web tearing after web and flange local buckling. The failure mode of the specimen with continuous welding between the web and flanges was local flange buckling. Finally, the paper presents a comparison between the experimental results and the European Code to predict the capacity of the flange towards local buckling. It was concluded that the non-welding the IFs affected the inelastic behaviour and the capacity of the SBCWs. In addition, the bending resistance equations presented by EN 1993-1-5 can safely predict the test results of the non-welded inclined fold and yield a high safe variation.

Artificial Neural Network for Cursive Handwriting Recognition System

Cursive Handwriting acknowledgment is an extremely testing zone because of the one of a kind styles of composing starting with one individual then onto the next. Right now, disconnected cursive composing character acknowledgment framework is portrayed utilizing an Artificial Neural Network. The highlights of every character written in the information are extricated and afterward sent to the neural system. Informational collections, having writings of various individuals are utilized in making framework. The suggested acknowledgment framework yields elevated steps of exactness when contrasted with the ordinary methodologies right now. This framework can effectively perceive cursive messages and convert them into auxiliary structure.

Surface Eddy Current Probes: Excitation Systems of the Optimal Electromagnetic Field (Review)

Development of technical tools with improved metrological and operational characteristics is the actual problem of the eddy current testing. Ensuring the optimal distribution of the electromagnetic excitation field in the testing zone carries out confident detection of the defects and determination of their geometrical parameters by means of eddy current testing. The purpose of the work was to conduct an analysis of scientific and technical information in the field of eddy current testing to study of the use of electromagnetic excitation fields with a priori specified properties, as well as to generalize and systematize the accumulated experience and approaches to conduct theoretical research in this direction.A review of publications in the field of non-destructive electromagnetic testing devoted to the improvement of the excitation systems of eddy current flaw probes was carried out. The authors considered approaches in which a uniform distribution of the electromagnetic field on the control object surface was achieved by linear and non-linear optimal synthesis of excitation systems, provided the immobility of the probe relative to the testing object. Analysis of eddy current probe designs with a homogeneous excitation field created by circular, rectangular tangential and normal coils, as well as by creating a rotational excitation field was carried out. The authors studied designs of the excitation coils of probes with fields of complex configuration characterized by the original fractal geometry which can increase the probability of identifying defects that were not amenable to detection by classical probes.Studies that suggested the formation of optimal configuration fields in a given area using magnetic cores, field concentrators made of conductive materials and specially shaped screens were analyzed. The authors studied approaches to the implementation of the optimal synthesis of excitation systems of probes with uniform sensitivity in the testing zone using surrogate optimization for cases of moving testing objects taking into account the speed effect.The experience, as well as the results of theoretical studies devoted to the problem of designing eddy current probes with uniform sensitivity in the testing zone due to the uniform density distribution of the induced currents flowing in the object were generalized and systematized. As a result, the classification of probes on a number of features that characterize the excitation systems was proposed.

Imaging and Testing of Ultrasonic Sh Guided Waves in Plate with Lap Welding Structure

The imaging and testing of ultrasonic SH (Shear Horizontal) guided waves may be used into testing and SHM (Structure Health Monitoring) of industrial plate with welding structure in service, which have much more important applied potential. During imaging and testing for steel plate with lap welding structure, photoelastic experiment on propagation of guided waves in Plexiglas plate was studied to clearly see the excellent advantages of SH guided waves. The mode of SH guided waves was analyzed to select the zero order mode SH0 and the SH guided waves transducer with SH0 mode was developed. Based on the synthetic aperture focusing method，a multichannel ultrasonic imaging and testing experimental system of ultrasonic SH guided waves was constructed，the imaging of plate with lap welding structure was mainly studied. The research results shows the ultrasonic SH guided waves and the transducers are fit for long distance testing for the plate with lap welding structure. The ultrasound scattering nearby the weld may cause a blind testing zone, about 150 mm wide, in which the less size corrosion defects at the blind zone could not be revealed in image, so as to lead to defects “no testing”. The imaging and testing of ultrasonic SH guided waves would be used for non-destructive testing of plate with lap welding structure, which image both can characterize the corrosion defects and lap welding structure, and realize the precise location of the weld. The proposed research provides important foundation for improving ultrasonic guided waves imaging and testing quality and SHM of industrial in-site plate with lap welding and larger size.

Macrolide and Clindamycin Resistance in Streptococcus milleri Group Isolates from the Airways of Cystic Fibrosis Patients

ABSTRACT Organisms belonging to the Streptococcus milleri group (SMG) are known for their role in pyogenic infections but have recently been implicated as etiological agents of pulmonary exacerbation in adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The prolonged exposure of CF patients to antibiotics prompted us to investigate the susceptibility profiles of 118 SMG isolates from the airways of CF patients to 12 antibiotics compared to 43 SMG isolates from patients with invasive infections. We found that ∼60% of all isolates failed to grow using the standard medium for disc diffusion, Mueller-Hinton blood agar (MHBA), so we explored the usefulness of brain heart infusion (BHI) agar for susceptibility testing. Zone-of-inhibition comparisons between BHI and MHBA showed strong correlations for six antibiotics, and interpretations were similar for both medium types. For ceftriaxone and cefepime, both groups of isolates were highly susceptible. Tetracycline resistance levels were comparable between the two groups (22% in CF isolates and 17.4% in invasive isolates). However, more than half of the CF isolates were not susceptible to azithromycin, erythromycin, and clindamycin, compared to 11%, 13%, and 6.5% of invasive isolates, respectively. There were 5-fold and 8-fold increased risks of azithromycin and clindamycin resistance, respectively, for the isolates from the airways of CF patients relative to the invasive isolates. Macrolide resistance was strongly linked to chronic azithromycin therapy in CF patients. This study shows that BHI agar is a suitable alternative for antimicrobial susceptibility testing for the SMG and that SMG isolates from the airways of CF patients are more resistant to macrolides and clindamycin than strains isolated from patients with invasive infections.