Seismic Retrofitting Using Micropile Systems Centrifugal Model Studies

A series of centrifuge tests were conducted on micropile group and network systems in order to investigate the response to earthquake loading and soil-micropile interaction behavior. Model tests on group and network systems embedded in loose to medium dry sand are described. Micropile bending moment, deflection, and acceleration were measured during testing. Dynamic p-y curves were derived from the measurements for low and high levels of shaking and were compared with the backbone p-y curves for sand recommended by API and other published data. Group and network effects were investigated for different configurations and at different levels of loading. For the selected frequency of excitation, the results indicate a positive group effect increasing with the number of piles and the batter angle. This paper describes the experimental procedures used to carry out the centrifugal model tests and summarizes the main preliminary results

What to learn from dilepton transverse momentum spectra in heavy-ion collisions?

Recently the NA60 collaboration has presented high precision measurements of dimuon spectra double differential in invariant mass $M$ and transverse pair momentum $p_T$ in In-In collisions at $158 {\rm AGeV}$. While the $M$-dependence is important for an understanding of in-medium changes of light vector mesons and is $p_T$ integrated insensitive to collective expansion, the $p_T$-dependence arises from an interplay between emission temperature and collective transverse flow. This fact can be exploited to derive constraints on the evolution model and in particular on the contributions of different phases of the evolution to dimuon radiation into a given $M$ window. We present arguments that a thermalized evolution phase with $T > 170 {\rm MeV}$ leaves its imprint on the spectra.Comment: Contributed to 19th International Conference on Ultrarelativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions: Quark Matter 2006 (QM 2006), Shanghai, China, 14- 20 Nov 200

Interpretation and reporting of process capability results: focus on improvement

A global financial services company followed a software-mediated process assessment (SMPA) approach based on ISO/IEC 15504, ISO/IEC 20000 and the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL®). Using an action research approach, the Incident Management, Problem Management, and Change Management processes were assessed at two points in time during an ITSM process improvement project. This paper analyzes the results of the process assessments, highlights issues with the interpretation of the results, and offers an alternative method to report process capability results to motivate process improvement. The study found that by using the proportion of SMPA recommendations as a proxy measure for process improvement, the processes did improve yielding fewer recommendations in cycle 2 when compared to cycle 1 of the action research

Point defects, compositional fluctuations, and secondary phases in non-stoichiometric kesterites

The efficiency of kesterite-based solar cells is limited by various non-ideal recombination paths, amongst others by a high density of defect states and by the presence of binary or ternary secondary phases within the absorber layer. Pronounced compositional variations and secondary phase segregation are indeed typical features of non-stoichiometric kesterite materials. Certainly kesterite-based thin film solar cells with an off-stoichiometric absorber layer composition, especially Cu-poor/Zn-rich, achieved the highest efficiencies, but deviations from the stoichiometric composition lead to the formation of intrinsic point defects (vacancies, anti-sites, and interstitials) in the kesterite-type material. In addition, a non-stoichiometric composition is usually associated with the formation of an undesirable side phase (secondary phases). Thus the correlation between off-stoichiometry and intrinsic point defects as well as the identification and quantification of secondary phases and compositional fluctuations in non-stoichiometric kesterite materials is of great importance for the understanding and rational design of solar cell devices. This paper summarizes the latest achievements in the investigation of identification and quantification of intrinsic point defects, compositional fluctuations, and secondary phases in non-stoichiometric kesterite-type materials

Comparative results of transluminal extraction coronary atherectomy in saphenous vein graft lesions with and without thrombus

AbstractObjectives. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the results of transluminal extraction coronary atherectomy in saphenous vein graft lesions with and without angiographic thrombus.Background. Percutaneous interventions in lesions with thrombus are associated with reduced procedural success and increased risk of complications. Use of the transluminal extraction catheter, which cuts and aspirates atheroma and thrombus, has been advocated as a potential revascularization strategy for lesions with thrombus.Methods. Baseline patient characteristics, lesion morphology, immediate angiographic results, in-hospital complications and follow-up were prospectively entered into an interventional cardiology data base. The results of transluminal extraction coronary atherectomy in saphenous vein bypass grafts with angiographic thrombus were compared with results in similar grafts without angiographic thrombus.Results. Transluminal extraction coronary atherectomy was performed in 175 patients with 183 vein graft lesions, including 59 lesions (32%) with thrombus (Group 1) and 124 (68%) without thrombus (Group 2). Compared with lesions in Group 2, lesions in Group 1 were associated with a higher incidence of baseline total occlusion, diffuse disease and abnormal Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade flow (p < 0.05); more severe diameter stenosis at baseline, after atherectomy and after final angiography (p < 0.05); a lower rate of clinical success (69% vs, 88%, p < 0.01); and more angiographic and clinical complications, including no reflow (p < 0.05), vascular repair (p < 0.05) and Q wave myocardial infarction (p = 0.09).Conclusions. In transluminal extraction coronary atherectomy of saphenous vein bypass grafts, the presence of thrombus is associated with more baseline lesion complexity, reduced clinical success and increased risk of no reflow, Q wave myocardial infarction and vascular repair

ISO 9001 European Scoreboard: an instrument to measure macroquality

Purpose: ISO 9001 certification is nowadays considered to be one of the most effective tools that can be adopted for guiding the management of Quality Systems. The stunning growth observed by these standards all over the world confirms a strong polarisation of enterprises’ interest in this practice. Owing to the wide incidence of this phenomenon, a deep investigation of ISO 9001 diffusion over time is mandatory and of importance. In line with our previous publications, this paper derives from a research project that we are conducting in Portugal in order to develop the ‘ISO 9001 European Scoreboard’, aimed at studying and ranking European Union (EU) countries based on the diffusion of quality management systems. Methodology/approach: In order to achieve such a goal, the authors have performed a set of statistical analyses over public data sets. Findings: Based on the model developed and the analyses performed, we were able to identify clusters of countries with different ISO 9001 evolution stages, derived from the ISO 9001 per 1000 inhabitants’ scores and countries’ growth indexes. Originality: With this scoreboard, we are able to categorise and rank countries based on the quality management systems evolution (growth rates) over the past few years. Ultimately, such an ‘ISO 9001 European Scoreboard’ will be an instrument to provide a comparative assessment of quality management practices over the EU states, leading to the dynamic evaluation of their ‘macroquality’ levels achieved, according to such a standard. We believe that such results provide an additional important contribution to the study of management systems diffusion/evolution, aimed at providing more fact-based insights and understandings

Voltaiq data format—A standard data format for collection of battery data to enable big data comparisons and analyses across the battery lifecycle

Batteries have enabled modernization of society through portability of electricity. Batteries are also a crucial component to enabling clean technologies of the future such as grid storage and electrified transportation. Because of their ubiquity in modern society, global organizations develop and commercialize batteries for their electrified products. Across the field of battery development, in both commercial and academic settings, there is broad utility in standardization of data formats amongst disparate data sources, labs, equipment, organizations, industries, and lifecycle phases. Due to the way the nascent industry developed, there is a lack of standardization for how performance data is recorded, which is now hindering the industry’s ability to learn from data and accelerate growth. Herein, we describe the different types of data, formats, conventions, and standardization for each phase in the battery lifecycle. Next, we provide a standard data format and conventions for the community to either utilize in their data collection practices or map their existing data into: the Voltaiq Data Format (VDF). This standard data format provides the flexibility needed to capture the variability in data formats and conventions along the battery lifecycle. The utility of this standard format aids in collaboration within and across organizations, accelerating innovation across the industry, and paves the way for the battery community to start utilizing the power of machine learning and data science

International genome-wide meta-analysis identifies new primary biliary cirrhosis risk loci and targetable pathogenic pathways

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a classical autoimmune liver disease for which effective immunomodulatory therapy is lacking. Here we perform meta-analyses of discovery data sets from genome-wide association studies of European subjects (n=2,764 cases and 10,475 controls) followed by validation genotyping in an independent cohort (n=3,716 cases and 4,261 controls). We discover and validate six previously unknown risk loci for PBC (Pcombined10(-8)) and used pathway analysis to identify JAK-STAT/IL12/IL27 signalling and cytokine-cytokine pathways, for which relevant therapies exist

ВЗАИМНОЕ РАСПОЛОЖЕНИЕ ИСТОЧНИКА И ПРИЕМНИКА ИЗЛУЧЕНИЯ ДАТЧИКА ДЛЯ ФОТОПЛЕТИЗМОГРАФИИ

The model of interacting of optical radiance with a biological fabric is calculated at the is diffusivedirected and mirror reflectances. Outcomes of calculations are resulted and guidelines for development of constructions of sensors for a photoplethysmography on the basis of the observed model are given.Рассчитана модель взаимодействия оптического излучения с биотканью при диффузно направленном и зеркальном отражениях. Приведены результаты расчетов и даны рекомендации для разработки конструкций датчиков для фотоплетизмографии на основе рассмотренной модели

Total quality management practices, competitive strategies and financial performance: the case of the Palestinian industrial SMEs

"This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Total Quality Management and Business Excellence on 19 Aug 2013, available online: http://wwww.tandfonline.com/10.1080/14783363.2013.824714."The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between Total Quality Management (TQM) practices, competitive strategies - cost leadership and differentiation- and firm performance in the Palestinian economy. Within this study total quality management has been conceptualized as soft and hard practices, in congruence with the literature. An empirical analysis based upon an extensive validation process was applied to refine TQM, competitive strategies and financial performance scales. Data were collected through surveying 202 in Palestinian industrial small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Structural Equation Modeling was carried out to test the anticipated relationships. Results derived from this study show that TQM practices have indirect, positive and significant relationship with financial performance through competitive strategies. In addition, a direct, positive and significant relationship between competitive strategies and financial performance was observed. Results derived from this study might help managers to implement TQM practices in order to effectively allocate resources and improve financial performance