Modeling and validation of nonlinear voltage-current characteristics of ITER PF joint sample tested in SULTAN facility

The ITER Poloidal Field (PF) coils are wound into double pancakes with NbTi cable-in-conduit conductors, which are connected by joints in shaking hands lap-type configuration. The coils are operating in pulsed mode with a maximum operating current of 55 kA and peak magnetic field of 6.4 T, utilizing electromagnetic load on the conductors and joints. A series of PF qualification joint samples modified in praying hands configuration is measured in the SULTAN facility. For some samples, a nonlinear voltage-current (VI) characteristic is observed during the assessment of joint resistance. The growth of joint resistance versus the B×I product is larger than what is expected from the magneto-resistant copper contribution. Two non-homogeneous contact resistance models are developed and combined to quantitatively evaluate the reason for the nonlinear VI behavior in combination with the relevant power dissipation and current redistribution in the joint. The simulations reveal that, for the particular pre-qualification PFJEU2 sample with resistance variation up to 3.5 nΩ, the most probable reason for the nonlinear VI characteristic is a widely spread defective connection between copper sole and shim. The electromagnetic force involves a separation effect on the mechanically and electrically weakly connected parts, resulting into a varying resistance depending on transport current and background field. The hypothesis and models are validated by an experiment on a similar sample PFJEU3 and a post-mortem examination of the PFJEU2 sample.

HLA-A*03:01 is associated with increased risk of fever, chills, and more severe reaction to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and highly effective, but some individuals experience unpleasant reactions to vaccination. As the majority of adults in the US have received a COVID-19 vaccine this year, there is an unprecedented opportunity to study the genetics of reactions to vaccination via surveys of individuals who are already part of genetic research studies. Here, we have queried 17,440 participants in the Helix DNA Discovery Project and Healthy Nevada Project about their reactions to COVID-19 vaccination. Our GWAS identifies an association between severe vaccine side effects and HLA-A*03:01. This association was statistically significant only for those who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (BNT162b2; p=4.70E-11), but showed a trending association in those who received the Moderna vaccine (mRNA-1273; p=0.005) despite similar sample sizes for study. In Pfizer-BioNTech recipients, HLA-A*03:01 was associated with a two-fold increase in risk of severe vaccine side effects. The effect was consistent across ages, sexes, and whether the person had previously had a COVID-19 infection. The reactions experienced by HLA-A*03:01 carriers were driven by associations with chills, fever, fatigue, and in general feeling unwell.

Emotional Appeals, Climate Change, and Young Adults: A Direct Replication of

There is much need to verify the robustness of published findings in the field of communication—particularly regarding the effects of persuasive emotional appeals about social issues. To this end, we present the results from a preregistered, direct replication of C. Skurka, J. Niederdeppe, R. Romero-Canyas, and D. Acup (2018). The original study found that a threat appeal about climate change can increase risk perception and activism intentions and that a humor appeal can also increase activism intentions with a large sample of young adults. Using the same stimuli, measures, and experimental design with a similar sample, we fail to replicate these main effects. We do, however, replicate age as a moderator of humor’s effect on perceived risk, such that the humor appeal only persuaded emerging adults (ages 18–21.9). We consider several explanations for our discrepant findings, including the challenges (and opportunities) that persuasion researchers must navigate when communicating about rapidly evolving social issues.

Machine learning applied to pore-space geometry in sandstones: a tool for evaluating grain-scale similarity?

The ability to identify similar sandstones to a given sample is important where the provenance of the sample is unknown or the quarry of origin is no longer in operation. In the case of building stones from heritage buildings in protected areas, it may be mandatory. Here, a proof of concept for an automated similarity measure is presented by means of a convolutional autoencoder that is able to extract features from a sample thin section and use these features to identify the most similar sample in an existing image library. The approach considers only the shape of the pore space between grains, as, if the pore space alone contains enough information to distinguish between samples, the required image pre-processing and training of a model is greatly simplified. The trained model is able to predict correctly the progenitor quarry of a thin section, from an eight-class dataset of Scottish sandstones, with an accuracy of 47.9%. This prototype, although insufficient for commercial purposes, forms a benchmark for future models against which improvements can be assessed and some of which are suggested.Thematic collection: This article is part of the Digitization and Digitalization in engineering geology and hydrogeology collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/digitization-and-digitalization-in-engineering-geology-and-hydrogeology

EXTRACTION OF ESSENTIAL OIL FROM THE STEM VANILLOSMOPSIS ARBOREA BAKER AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC REVIEW OF ITS BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES

Essential oils are defined as volatile compounds that have strong aromatic components and that give a plant's characteristic odor, flavor or aroma. They are specially used as fragrances in the food and pharmaceutical industries, being extracted from various botanical sources. Vanillosmopsis arborea Baker, popularly known as the lamp, found in the Chapada do Araripe, has great economic value for this region due to its bioactive properties. It has been extensively investigated for its biological activities as well as its chemical aspect. It is a rich source of (-)-α-bisabolol, a sesquiterpene widely used in pharmaceutical industry in the preparation of cosmetics. The present work aimed to report the collection and extraction of essential oil from Vanillosmopsis arborea, as well as to make a systematic review of the literature of biological activities between the years 1989 and 2017. Oil was extraction by distillation system with Clevenger type apparatus and the yield calculated by gravimetry was performed. In parallel, a similar sample chromatogram obtained by the same extraction method, performed by chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy, the content of (-)-α-bisabolol was analyzed and calculated. As a result, the oil presented a content of 94.17% of (-)-α-bisabolol higher than in chamomile oil.

A Comparative Study of Filial Piety in Beijing and the UK

Cultures may display paradoxical natures when studied closely. For example, Americans are individualistic, yet are most generous with charity giving or volunteering for community events. This illustrates the challenges associated with stereotyping groups and cultures. Cultures are sometimes treated as homogenous with attendant generalisation. In the educational context, generalisations consequently influence attitudes held towards groups of learners. People from particular cultural backgrounds are often treated as a homogenous group with its attendant stereotypes irrespective of their individual contexts; an example is individuals from a Chinese cultural background who live in the West relative to those living in China.The present study used a questionnaire to measure an important value in Confucian culture (Chinese background) - Filial Piety - and how it relates to affective variables suggested to be important to academic achievement: self-efficacy and motivation. A sample of 9-11 year old children from the UK were compared with a similar sample from an authentic Confucian context - Beijing.The results suggest a review of expectations of what is meant by “authentic confucian” and gives some insight into the potential problems that could arise with stereotyping cultures and groups. As schools reach out to parents and communities, there are implications for the stereotypic approaches adopted.

DEPRESSOR ADDITIVE FOR OIL PUMPING

The purpose of the research was to study rheological properties of Azerbaijani oils from the Sangachali and Muradkhanli fields. In order to improve rheological properties of the oil produced from the Muradkhanli and Sangachali fields, a Russian-made depressant СНПХ -2005 additive was used. To determine the optimal concentration of the СНПХ-2005 and confirm its positive effect on oil and oil products, control samples were prepared with this additive in oil M-8 and the oil from the above fields with the calculation of 0.5 kg/t, 0.8 kg/t and 1.0 kg/t. In parallel, similar samples were prepared with the depressant АзНИИ. The pour points of the samples were investigated at -5 0С, -100С and -200С on the rotational viscometer REOTECT-2. It found that the sample with the СНПХ -2005 additive (at the concentration of 0.8%) in the M-8 oil has a lower pour point (minus 40°C) as compared to a similar sample with the depressant АзНИИ (-32°C). The sample with the depressant СНПХ-2005 (at the concentration of 0.8%) and oil reveals the best rheological properties (minus 38°C versus -30°C). As a result of the studies carried out, it was determined that the introduction of the depressant СНПХ-2005 improves rheological parameters of the oil from the above fields, and thereby makes it possible to refuse additional heating in low temperature areas when pumping oil through the oil pipeline.

Risk, safety and security among visitors to Istanbul

Discourses concerning risk have become increasingly popular among tourism academics. While these cover a wide range of safety and security concerns, there is rather less of a focus on risk from conventional crime than on terrorist threats. In contrast, criminologists have written extensively about the actual and perceived risk of crime. Both tourism academics and criminologists have addressed the question of who is most concerned about crime, but in each case this analysis has focused on questioning people at one point in time. This paper differs in that it compares the perceptions of risk of those arriving on a visit to Istanbul with perceptions of safety among a similar sample of those returning from their trip. In the former case, we consider tourists’ perceptions of risk prior to their arrival. In the latter case, their perceptions of safety after their trip, and the consequences of this for future visits, a key concern within the tourism industry.

OBTAINING OF EXPERIMENTAL CONSTRUCTIONALLY SIMILAR SAMPLE OF THE NOZZLE ASSEMBLY SECTOR AND CARRYING OUT ITS TESTS AT TEMPERATURE OF 1500 °С

The interaction of the SiC–SiCw–B4C–AlN system ceramic composite material (CCM) with the EP648 alloy in the process of high-temperature brazing was studied. The smallest erosion activity both in relation to CCM, and to the EP648 alloy, has HMP solder VPr50. An experimental constructionally similar sample of the nozzle assembly sector was made using uncooled nozzle blade prototypes from CCM. Tests of an experimental constructionally similar sample of the nozzle assembly sector at a temperature of 1500 °C were carried out. No traces of material ablation from the surface of the CMC were found.