Optimization of reinforced concrete building frames with automated grouping of columns

[EN] In structural design, it is common practice to adopt the same cross-section dimensions for a group of elements. This procedure is mainly for practical and aesthetic reasons, as well as to reduce labour costs, but it also has a positive effect of reducing the number of variables, which simplifies the usual trial and error design process. On the other hand, the total materials cost obtained is closely related to this grouping. Based on this, the present work aims to minimize the cost of reinforced concrete plane frames considering the automated grouping of columns. To achieve this objective, an optimization software was developed by the association of matrix structural analysis, dimensioning and optimization. The sections dimensions, the area of steel and the concrete strength of beams and columns were taken as design variables. For a given maximum number of groups, the optimum grouping and the corresponding values to design variables are obtained. The strategy proposed in this paper to obtain the grouping reduces significantly the number of infeasible candidate solutions during the search process and avoid the proposition of unrealistic designs. For the optimization, a variant of the Harmony Search method was adopted. Some structures were analyzed in order to validate the application of the proposed formulation, as well as to verify the influence of the grouping of elements on the final results. In these structures, it was possible to observe a significant additional reduction in the total cost when automated grouping is performed regarding a uniform grouping, even when a small number of groups is considered. For the 20-floor building frame analyzed, the cost reduction from uniform to automated grouping varied from 5.53 to 7.35%. The influence of the concrete strength on optimal results was also investigated, indicating a cost reduction of 9.74% from best (40 MPa) to worst case (20 MPa). In general, it can be concluded that, when applied in conjunction with the usual design variables, the proposed procedure can enable a significant additional economy, without affecting the structural safety.The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Brazilian Council for Scientific and Technological Development CNPq (Grant: 302736/2017-4) and of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, along with FEDER funding (Project: BIA2017-85098-R).Boscardin, J.; Yepes, V.; Kripka, M. (2019). Optimization of reinforced concrete building frames with automated grouping of columns. Automation in Construction. 104:331-340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2019.04.024S33134010

Development of Edgeless n-on-p Planar Pixel Sensors for future ATLAS Upgrades

The development of n-on-p "edgeless" planar pixel sensors being fabricated at FBK (Trento, Italy), aimed at the upgrade of the ATLAS Inner Detector for the High Luminosity phase of the Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC), is reported. A characterizing feature of the devices is the reduced dead area at the edge, achieved by adopting the "active edge" technology, based on a deep etched trench, suitably doped to make an ohmic contact to the substrate. The project is presented, along with the active edge process, the sensor design for this first n-on-p production and a selection of simulation results, including the expected charge collection efficiency after radiation fluence of $1 \times 10^{15} {\rm n_{eq}}/{\rm cm}^2$ comparable to those expected at HL-LHC (about ten years of running, with an integrated luminosity of 3000 fb$^{-1}$) for the outer pixel layers. We show that, after irradiation and at a bias voltage of 500 V, more than 50% of the signal should be collected in the edge region; this confirms the validity of the active edge approach.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures, submitted to Nucl. Instr. and Meth.

Performance of Irradiated Thin Edgeless N-on-P Planar Pixel Sensors for ATLAS Upgrades

In view of the LHC upgrade phases towards the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC), the ATLAS experiment plans to upgrade the Inner Detector with an all-silicon system. Because of its radiation hardness and cost effectiveness, the n-on-p silicon technology is a promising candidate for a large area pixel detector. The paper reports on the joint development, by LPNHE and FBK of novel n-on-p edgeless planar pixel sensors, making use of the active trench concept for the reduction of the dead area at the periphery of the device. After discussing the sensor technology, a complete overview of the electrical characterization of several irradiated samples will be discussed. Some comments about detector modules being assembled will be made and eventually some plans will be outlined.Comment: 6 pages, 13 figures, to appear in the proceedings of the 2013 Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1311.162

Electrical Characterization of a Thin Edgeless N-on-p Planar Pixel Sensors For ATLAS Upgrades

In view of the LHC upgrade phases towards the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC), the ATLAS experiment plans to upgrade the Inner Detector with an all-silicon system. Because of its radiation hardness and cost effectiveness, the n-on-p silicon technology is a promising candidate for a large area pixel detector. The paper reports on the joint development, by LPNHE and FBK of novel n-on-p edgeless planar pixel sensors, making use of the active trench concept for the reduction of the dead area at the periphery of the device. After discussing the sensor technology, and presenting some sensors' simulation results, a complete overview of the electrical characterization of the produced devices will be given.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, to appear in the proceedings of the 15th International Workshops on Radiation Imaging Detector

Novel Silicon n-on-p Edgeless Planar Pixel Sensors for the ATLAS upgrade

In view of the LHC upgrade phases towards HL-LHC, the ATLAS experiment plans to upgrade the Inner Detector with an all-silicon system. The n-on-p silicon technology is a promising candidate for the pixel upgrade thanks to its radiation hardness and cost effectiveness, that allow for enlarging the area instrumented with pixel detectors. We report on the development of novel n-in-p edgeless planar pixel sensors fabricated at FBK (Trento, Italy), making use of the "active edge" concept for the reduction of the dead area at the periphery of the device. After discussing the sensor technology and fabrication process, we present device simulations (pre- and post-irradiation) performed for different sensor configurations. First preliminary results obtained with the test-structures of the production are shown.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, to appear in the proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Radiation Effects on Semiconductor Materials Detectors and Device

Performance of a cognitive load inventory during simulated handoffs: Evidence for validity.

BackgroundAdvancing patient safety during handoffs remains a public health priority. The application of cognitive load theory offers promise, but is currently limited by the inability to measure cognitive load types.ObjectiveTo develop and collect validity evidence for a revised self-report inventory that measures cognitive load types during a handoff.MethodsBased on prior published work, input from experts in cognitive load theory and handoffs, and a think-aloud exercise with residents, a revised Cognitive Load Inventory for Handoffs was developed. The Cognitive Load Inventory for Handoffs has items for intrinsic, extraneous, and germane load. Students who were second- and sixth-year students recruited from a Dutch medical school participated in four simulated handoffs (two simple and two complex cases). At the end of each handoff, study participants completed the Cognitive Load Inventory for Handoffs, Paas' Cognitive Load Scale, and one global rating item for intrinsic load, extraneous load, and germane load, respectively. Factor and correlational analyses were performed to collect evidence for validity.ResultsConfirmatory factor analysis yielded a single factor that combined intrinsic and germane loads. The extraneous load items performed poorly and were removed from the model. The score from the combined intrinsic and germane load items associated, as predicted by cognitive load theory, with a commonly used measure of overall cognitive load (Pearson's r = 0.83, p < 0.001), case complexity (beta = 0.74, p < 0.001), level of experience (beta = -0.96, p < 0.001), and handoff accuracy (r = -0.34, p < 0.001).ConclusionThese results offer encouragement that intrinsic load during handoffs may be measured via a self-report measure. Additional work is required to develop an adequate measure of extraneous load

Efeito da quantidade de água do substrato na germinação de sementes de Escallonia montevidensis (cham. & schl.) DC. (Saxifragaceae) em laboratório.

bitstream/CNPF-2009-09/30410/1/com_tec68.pd

Gochnatia polymorpha: macro- and microscopic identification of leaf and stem for pharmacognostic quality control

AbstractGochnatia polymorpha (Less.) Cabrera, Asteraceae, is popularly known as cambará and cambara-de-folha-grande in Brazil. It is used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. Pharmacological studies revealed antiinflammatory, antispasmodic, antibacterial and antiviral activities. The goal of this paper was to carry out morphological and anatomical studies in order to describe the aerial parts of G. polymorpha. The botanical material was collected, fixed, and prepared according to usual light and scanning electron microtechniques. The leaves are simple, oblong-lanceolate to elliptical-lanceolate in form with mucronate acute apex, rounded base, entire or slightly toothed margin, and short petiole. In transection, the epidermis is uniseriate along the leaf blade. A subepidermal layer next to the adaxial side is present. Anomocytic stomata are seen only on the abaxial surface. Capitate glandular trichomes and T-shaped non-glandular trichomes occur on the leaves. The mesophyll is dorsiventral and minor collateral vascular bundles are enclosed by a sheath of thickwalled parenchymatic cells. The midrib is biconvex and the petiole has a circular shape. The epidermis of the stem consists of a single layer of cells with glandular and nonglandular trichomes. The vascular cylinder shows typical structure and perivascular fiber caps are next to the phloem

Coronary Risk Assessment by Point-Based vs. Equation-Based Framingham Models: Significant Implications for Clinical Care

US cholesterol guidelines use original and simplified versions of the Framingham model to estimate future coronary risk and thereby classify patients into risk groups with different treatment strategies. We sought to compare risk estimates and risk group classification generated by the original, complex Framingham model and the simplified, point-based version. We assessed 2,543 subjects age 20–79 from the 2001–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) for whom Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP-III) guidelines recommend formal risk stratification. For each subject, we calculated the 10-year risk of major coronary events using the original and point-based Framingham models, and then compared differences in these risk estimates and whether these differences would place subjects into different ATP-III risk groups (<10% risk, 10–20% risk, or >20% risk). Using standard procedures, all analyses were adjusted for survey weights, clustering, and stratification to make our results nationally representative. Among 39 million eligible adults, the original Framingham model categorized 71% of subjects as having “moderate” risk (<10% risk of a major coronary event in the next 10 years), 22% as having “moderately high” (10–20%) risk, and 7% as having “high” (>20%) risk. Estimates of coronary risk by the original and point-based models often differed substantially. The point-based system classified 15% of adults (5.7 million) into different risk groups than the original model, with 10% (3.9 million) misclassified into higher risk groups and 5% (1.8 million) into lower risk groups, for a net impact of classifying 2.1 million adults into higher risk groups. These risk group misclassifications would impact guideline-recommended drug treatment strategies for 25–46% of affected subjects. Patterns of misclassifications varied significantly by gender, age, and underlying CHD risk. Compared to the original Framingham model, the point-based version misclassifies millions of Americans into risk groups for which guidelines recommend different treatment strategies