Unexpected Event Prediction in Wire Electrical Discharge Machining Using Deep Learning Techniques

Theoretical models of manufacturing processes provide a valuable insight into physical phenomena but their application to practical industrial situations is sometimes difficult. In the context of Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence techniques can provide efficient solutions to actual manufacturing problems when big data are available. Within the field of artificial intelligence, the use of deep learning is growing exponentially in solving many problems related to information and communication technologies (ICTs) but it still remains scarce or even rare in the field of manufacturing. In this work, deep learning is used to efficiently predict unexpected events in wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM), an advanced machining process largely used for aerospace components. The occurrence of an unexpected event, namely the change of thickness of the machined part, can be effectively predicted by recognizing hidden patterns from process signals. Based on WEDM experiments, different deep learning architectures were tested. By using a combination of a convolutional layer with gated recurrent units, thickness variation in the machined component could be predicted in 97.4% of cases, at least 2 mm in advance, which is extremely fast, acting before the process has degraded. New possibilities of deep learning for high-performance machine tools must be examined in the near future.The authors gratefully acknowledge the funding support received from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and the FEDER operation program for funding the project "Scientific models and machine-tool advanced sensing techniques for efficient machining of precision components of Low Pressure Turbines" (DPI2017-82239-P) and UPV/EHU (UFI 11/29). The authors would also like to thank Euskampus and ONA-EDM for their support in this project

Hydration of clinker phases in alkaline conditions

This research is focused on the individual behaviour of calcium silicates (C3S and C2S) and tricalcium aluminate (C3A) when hydrated with water, but in the presence of 4 wt% Na2SO4. Two- and 28‑day mechanical strength of pastes were determined and the reaction products were identified by means of XRD, SEM/EDX and 29Si and 27 Al MAS NMR. Analysis of C3A revealed that hydration was favoured in the presence of Na2SO4. This salt governed hydration kinetics while providing the alkalinity required to induce the joint precipitation of carbonated and calcium sulfoaluminate hydrate reaction product, both observed to contribute to the mechanical strength of the resulting material. In both silicates (C3S and C2S), the findings showed that the presence of Na2SO4 stimulated mechanical strength development. The synergy among all chemical reactions taking place during the hydration of these calcium silicates favoured a substantial rise in the alkalinity of the pastes formed. In addition, the anion SO42- induced the precipitation of cementitious gels with a high percentage of Q2 units, which leads to a significant increase in the mechanical strength of the materials at 28 day

Evaluation of Citriculture Mechanisation Level in Valencia Region (Spain): Poll Results

[EN] The increase of the technology level of citrus production operations is required to improve production profitability and reduce production costs. In the framework of the project CITRUSTECH ("Technological advances for modernisation and sustainability in citrus production"), three different poll questionnaires were developed and conducted in the Valencia region to assess the citriculture mechanisation level. In total, 142 questionaries for small and medium-size plantations, 32 for cooperative technicians and 16 for large-size plantations were conducted. From a socioeconomic point of view, clear age and sex inequalities were found. From the technological point of view, relevant differences were found between plantation sizes. The role of the cooperative mechanisation services (custom cost) and other customer services was revealed, with a higher percentage of the area under cultivation at the expense of the small-size plantations. The use of some manual tools was confirmed in pruning, even in large-size orchards. In small-size orchards, the use of backpack sprayers was verified. Regarding farm machinery, besides tractors, hydro-pneumatic sprayers and agricultural shredders were employed. No farm machinery was used during harvesting operations, apart from transport equipment, due to the reduced plantation frames.This research has been funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and cofounded by the Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentacion (project GO "Avances tecnologicos para la modernizacion y la sostenibilidad en la produccion de citricos CITRUSTECH").Ortiz Sánchez, MC.; Torregrosa, A.; Martínez, JM. (2022). Evaluation of Citriculture Mechanisation Level in Valencia Region (Spain): Poll Results. Agronomy. 12(6):1-6. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy120613661612

Late vacuum choice and slow roll approximation in gravitational particle production during reheating

In the transition between inflation and reheating, the curvature scalar typically undergoes oscillations which have significant impact on the density of gravitationally produced particles. The commonly used adiabatic vacuum prescription for the extraction of produced particle spectra becomes a non-reliable definition of vacuum in the regimes for which this oscillatory behavior is important. In this work, we study particle production for a scalar field non-minimally coupled to gravity, taking into account the complete dynamics of spacetime during inflation and reheating. We derive an approximation for the solution to the mode equation during the slow-roll of the inflaton and analyze the importance of Ricci scalar oscillations in the resulting spectra. Additionally, we propose a prescription for the vacuum that allows to safely extrapolate the result to the present, given that the test field interacts only gravitationally. Lastly, we calculate the abundance of dark matter this mechanism yields and compare it to observations.Comment: 24 pages, 11 figure

Derivative couplings in gravitational production in the early universe

Gravitational particle production in the early universe is due to the coupling of matter fields to curvature. This coupling may include derivative terms that modify the kinetic term. The most general first order action contains derivative couplings to the curvature scalar and to the traceless Ricci tensor, which can be dominant in the case of (pseudo-)Nambu-Goldstone bosons or disformal scalars, such as branons. In the presence of these derivative couplings, the density of produced particles for the adiabatic regime in the de Sitter phase (which mimics inflation) is constant in time and decays with the inverse effective mass (which in turn depends on the coupling to the curvature scalar). In the reheating phase following inflation, the presence of derivative couplings to the background curvature modifies in a nontrivial way the gravitational production even in the perturbative regime. We also show that the two couplings -- to the curvature scalar and to the traceless Ricci tensor -- are drastically different, specially for large masses. In this regime, the production becomes highly sensitive to the former coupling while it becomes independent of the latter.Comment: 24 pages, 6 figure

Jujuy Province (NW Argentina): STR Markers Unveil Microgeographic Differentiation Over a Steep Mountainous Landscape

This study explores potential signals of microdifferentiation on the gene pool of three high-altitude populations from Jujuy province (NW Argentina) using highly polymorphic markers. These human communities are characterized by extreme living conditions and very low population densities owing to considerable height above sea level and steep orography. A set of autosomal STRs located at chromosome 6 (6p21.3) was typed in samples from Quebrada Baja (~2,500 m), Quebrada Alta (~ 3,300 m), and Puna (\u3e 3,500 m). Genetic diversity was estimated through the observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosities, and the haplotype diversity. Analyses of the molecular variance (AMOVA) and population differentiation tests based on allele and haplotype frequencies were performed to assess genetic heterogeneity among subgroups. No deviation from HWE expectations was detected for each separate subpopulation; yet, significant departures were detected in the analysis considering the whole area (D6S2792 and D6S105 loci). Overall, genetic diversity showed a decreasing trend as the altitude increases. Thus, allele and haplotype frequencies showed the most significant differences between Puna and Quebrada Baja, which are the populations sited at the edges of the altitude range. The trend to the reduction of the heterozygosity with altitude proves to be compatible with historical patterns of colonization, interregional migration trends, population density, and genetic admixture. The main consequence of the complex mountainous landscape of Jujuy would be an imbalance in the interplay gene flow-genetic drift favoring the latter. The combined effect of restricted gene flow with intense genetic drift would have promoted local genetic differentiation between Jujuy highlands\u27 subpopulations, leading to spatial patterning of the allele frequencies not entirely attributable to geographic distance. Our findings corroborate the effectiveness of STRs to identify microevolutionary changes

Global Positioning System Analysis of Physical Demands in Elite Women’s Beach Handball Players in an Official Spanish Championship

This cross-sectional study aims to analyze the physical demands of elite beach handball players during an official competition. Nine elite female (mean age: 24.6 ± 4.0 years; body weight: 62.4 ± 4.6 kg; body height: 1.68 ± 0.059 m; training experience: 5 years; training: 6 h/week) beach handball players of the Spanish National Team were recruited for this study. A Global Positioning System was incorporated on each player’s back to analyze their movement patterns. Speed and distance were recorded at a sampling frequency of 15 Hz, whereas acceleration was recorded at 100 Hz by means of a built-in triaxial accelerometer. The main finding of the study is that 53% of the distance travelled is done at speeds between 1.5 and 5 km/h and 30% of the distance is between 9 and 13 km/h (83% of the total distance covered), which shows the intermittent efforts that beach handball involves at high intensity, as reflected in the analysis of the internal load with 62.82 ± 14.73% of the game time above 80% of the maximum heart rate. These data help to orientate training objectives to the physical demands required by the competition in order to optimize the players’ performance

Effect of Temperature on Galvanic Corrosion of Non-Welded/Welded AISI 316L Stainless Steel in H3PO4

[EN] Galvanic corrosion of non-welded/welded AISI 316L SS at different temperatures (25 degrees C to 60 degrees C) at a Reynolds number of 1456 in phosphoric acid has been studied using polarization curves (by the mixed potential theory) and zero resistance ammeter (ZRA) measurements. Imposed potential measurements provide more active predicted coupled potentials and higher Galvanic current densities than those obtained using ZRA measurements. Polarization curves show that the anode of the pair is the non-welded AISI 316L. Galvanic current density values obtained from polarization curves increase with temperature. ZRA tests present the highest i(G) values at 60 degrees C; however, the values are very close to zero for all the temperatures studied. This is in agreement with the low value of the compatibility limit and of the parameter which evaluate the Galvanic phenomenon importance. Both techniques present the most positive potentials at the highest temperature.The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Spanish MAEC (PCI Mediterráneo C/018046/08).Sánchez Tovar, R.; Montañés, M.; Garcia-Anton, J.; Guenbour, A. (2010). Effect of Temperature on Galvanic Corrosion of Non-Welded/Welded AISI 316L Stainless Steel in H3PO4. ECS Transactions. 25(37):63-81. https://doi.org/10.1149/1.3407548S6381253

A review of economic consequences and costs of male violence against women

This article focuses on male violence against women. As it takes place in what is often considered to be ‘the private sphere’ of the home, violence is difficult to prove, to measure, to prevent and easy to ignore. A multi-country study (WHO, 2005, WHO multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence against women: Summary report of initial results on prevalence, health outcomes and women’s responses, Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization) shows that there are wide variations between countries resulting in 15 per cent to 71 per cent of women aged between 15 and 49 years saying that they have been victims of physical or sexual violence in intimate relationships. This article reviews and summarises literature that analyse types of economic costs that result from domestic violence and abuse perpetrated against women