Understanding DCPD signal changes when monitoring creep damage in metals

The electrical potential drop (EPD) technique has previously shown promising results using a combination of AC and DC EPD (or DCPD) on large pressure vessel creep tests, detecting final cracking as well as incipient creep cavitation damage in welded P91 steel, with DCPD showing subtle but steady rises of around 5% over ca 10,000 h of testing before rising exponentially at failure. The work presented here has attempted to shed light upon this using a simple numerical model. The model uses an array of spherical cavities to constrain the current path and hence raise the DCPD, however it was only able to show a modest rise in DCPD, and not match experimentally determined rises. Modelled DCPD values were a fifth of those experimentally observed, but both the nature of the model (simplified to aid timely computation) and the assumption that only cavitation is responsible for the changes seen, could be the reason for the discrepancies reported here. The possibility remains that other mechanisms are at play, which could magnify the measured DCPD – particularly those mechanisms that could be associated with embryonic or micro-crack formation, and these are discussed herein

Electrical potential drop for monitoring creep damage in high temperature plant

Electrical potential drop (EPD) is a powerful technique to gauge crack depth in many contexts, including fracture, creep and fatigue testing, and in-field NDE, however it has only seen limited use for monitoring pre-crack creep cavitation damage. The authors have previously reported promising results using a combination of AC and DC EPD on large pressure vessel creep tests, even detecting incipient damage. However, that study lacked linkage to the underlying microstructural mechanisms.  Here we present the results of a more fundamental creep study using EPD on P91 pressure vessel steel specimens taken from weldments, suffering HAZ-related Type IV cracking. This work confirmed that EPD could detect incipient damage, with ACPD being particularly sensitive to life fraction, but allowed linkage to changes in material properties, such as permeability and resistivity.  Discussion of the implications for future off-line (in-field) NDE methods and on-line continuous monitoring of high-temperature plant components is also made

"Обратная" переходность среди частей речи как актуализация внутренней формы слова

В статье рассматривается специфика внутренней формы синтаксических дериватов, которую предлагается обозначить термином "грамматикализованная". На примере существительных адъективного склонения, наречий/наречных выражений и отглагольных прилагательных анализируется механизм речевой "обратной" морфолого-синтаксической транспозиции, в основе которого лежит инициируемая внутренней формой транспозитов и квазитранспозитов грамматическая рефлексия говорящих.У статті розглядається специфіка внутрішньої форми синтаксичних деріватов, яку пропонується позначити терміном "граматикалізована". На прикладі іменників ад'єктивного відміни, наречий/наречных виразів і віддієслівних прикметників аналізується механізм мовної "зворотної" морфолого-синтаксичної транспозиції, в основі якого лежить ініційована внутрішньою формою транспозітів і квазітранспозітов граматична рефлексія говорючих.The article examines the specificity of internal form of syntactic derivatives, which is to be named as "grammaticalized" one. By the example of substantives of adjective declension model, adverbs/adverb expressions and verbal adjectives, the author analyzes the mechanism of speech "reverse" morphological-syntactic transposition, and it is speaker grammatical reflexion initiated by internal form of transposites and "quasi-transposites" what underlies this mechanism

PERCEPTION OF ACADEMIC STAFF OVER THEIR CAREER DUE TO TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION AT SOHAR UNIVERSITY

Purpose: The objectives of the study are to analyze ways through which technology introduced in Sohar University is helping the lectures teaching in the University and improves their research activities and to analyze the methods of administrative works of lectures in the University. Design/methodology/approach: To carry out this research study, 133 samples were collected from academic staff working in all the faculties of Sohar University using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was containing the personal details, teaching, research and administration related factors. The data obtained was analyzed, and interpreted to obtain the result. Main Findings: The study reveals that the academic staff feels the technology implementation has improved the teaching pattern and standards of the university and hence their teaching style also has changed. It is also proven that the academic staff feels the technology implementation has helped to improve their research career. It is shown that the academic staff feels the technology implementation has helped to reduce their administrative work. Research limitations/Implications: It was reported that the technology implementation would be successful only when adequate training is given beforehand and most time is wasted for rectifying the technical bugs arising due to technological implementation. Social implications: The study suggests that technology implementation is successful only if technical staff regularly maintains computers. They also suggested that there is a need for software skills training though it is time-consuming. Originality/Value: Only a very few have examined the perception of the academic staff of all the faculties at University level in Oman, and it is a first-hand study of its kind, and the results will be useful to IT departments

Is prioritisation of funding in elite sport effective? An analysis of the investment strategies in 16 countries

Abstract Research question: This paper explores the extent to which nations prioritise elite sport funding; whether such nations are more successful than those whose funding is more diversified; and, if the sports that receive the most funding are also the most successful. Research methods: Data on public expenditure for elite sport programmes (2011/2012) were collected on a sport-specific basis in 16 nations (n=445 funded sports). The Herfindahl index and concentration ratios of the four/eight most funded sports (CR4/CR8) are used as proxies for prioritization. Success was measured using top 3 and top 8 places during the Olympic Games and World Championships. Descriptive analysis and linear regression are applied to identify the relationship between the distribution of funding and success. Results and findings: Generally, all sample nations are prioritisers. Nations with smaller total elite sport budgets tended to prioritise more. There is a slight negative association between the distribution of funding within a country and subsequent success, indicating that the sample countries that prioritise more tended to be less successful. Sample nations that diversify their funding more, are found to be successful in a wider range of sports. In addition, the data illustrated only low allocative efficiency for some nations. Implications: The study produced ambiguous conclusions that prioritisation as a deliberate strategic choice is an efficient way to invest funding. The findings have important implications for high performance managers and suggests that a more diverse resource allocation policy may help to avoid unintended negative consequences. Keywords: Targeted funding; elite sport policy; allocative efficiency; prioritisation; SPLIS

Evaluation of meat and meat product oxidation and off-flavor formation: Managing oxidative changes

One of the primary issues with processed foods during heat treatment and freezing storage is fat oxidation, which causes significant changes in fats due to their interaction with reactive oxygen species (ROS). This interaction leads to the creation of various aldehydes that have a high affinity for large molecules, such as proteins, leading to the formation of final products of advanced oxidation processes that contribute to food spoilage. Co-oxidation can also result in extensive damage. Another problem affecting the quality and nutritional value of meat products is protein oxidation, which can occur during storage via freezing and thawing or as a result of heat treatment. Heat treatment can cause physical and chemical changes, such as the loss of some essential amino acids and the transformation of certain amino acids into carbonyl compounds via various mechanisms. Protein oxidation is indicated by the accumulation of these carbonyl compounds, and the heat treatment can lead to the denaturation of myoglobin, which is responsible for the brown color of cooked meat and is influenced by several factors. Active protein aggregates can interact with the oxidation products of polyunsaturated fatty acids and with carbohydrate glycation or glycoxidation to produce Maillard products. It is critical to understand the oxidative changes that occur in fats and proteins in food, particularly in meat products, since these components are among the primary constituents of food.One of the primary issues with processed foods during heat treatment and freezing storage is fat oxidation, which causes significant changes in fats due to their interaction with reactive oxygen species (ROS). This interaction leads to the creation of various aldehydes that have a high affinity for large molecules, such as proteins, leading to the formation of final products of advanced oxidation processes that contribute to food spoilage. Co-oxidation can also result in extensive damage. Another problem affecting the quality and nutritional value of meat products is protein oxidation, which can occur during storage via freezing and thawing or as a result of heat treatment. Heat treatment can cause physical and chemical changes, such as the loss of some essential amino acids and the transformation of certain amino acids into carbonyl compounds via various mechanisms. Protein oxidation is indicated by the accumulation of these carbonyl compounds, and the heat treatment can lead to the denaturation of myoglobin, which is responsible for the brown color of cooked meat and is influenced by several factors. Active protein aggregates can interact with the oxidation products of polyunsaturated fatty acids and with carbohydrate glycation or glycoxidation to produce Maillard products. It is critical to understand the oxidative changes that occur in fats and proteins in food, particularly in meat products, since these components are among the primary constituents of food

Severe Tracheobronchomalacia after Prolonged Intubation of Multitrauma Patient

Tracheobronchomalacia is a condition with significant morbidity with many etiologies including iatrogenic ones and should be considered in critically ill ventilated trauma patients. We present a case of a multitrauma patient who had difficulty weaning from the ventilator after prolonged intubation followed by tracheostomy tube placement. We describe her presentation, diagnosis, and management provide and as well a discussion of the condition

Domestic grape germination behaviour: the ‘Chardonnay’ and ‘Syrah’international cultivars’s study case

The domestic grape germination eco-physiology is a little studied aspect since reproduction occurs predominantly agamically, despite the sexual reproduction remains the main form for the selection of new cultivars. In this study, two international cultivars grown all over the world-Chardonnay and Syrah-were chosen as models of the domestic grape for the experiments in the eco-physiology of germination. The experimental design consisted of chemical, mechanical pre-treatments and combination of them as the bird ingestion pre-treatment that simulates the transit through the digestive tract of birds. Furthermore, seeds were submitted to different periods of cold stratification -0, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days -to simulate the winter effect. Seeds were placed to germinate at different incubation temperatures, to find the optimal germination protocol. The results showed that domestic grapes retain the need for cold stratification, and the best germination temperature is represented by the fluctuating temperature that simulates spring conditions. Our results help to understand what the best germination conditions of domestic grapes are and offer a contribution to extend the knowledge on how the process of domestication may have affected the biology of Vitis vinifera L. subsp. vinifera