Effect Of Consolidation Research Articles

Do municipal mergers reduce the cost of waste management? Evidence from Japan

This study investigates whether municipal mergers result in lower waste management costs. We develop a novel virtual merging method based on machine learning techniques to compile the data of the control group and estimate the effect of the large-scale consolidation in Japan on the various costs of managing municipal solid waste. We find that these mergers actually led to an increase in the total cost per ton. Estimation results also reveal that the construction cost increased in the post-merger period, which can be explained by the special bonds provided by the national government for new projects in merged municipalities. By contrast, the processing and management cost is little affected by the mergers, except for the absorption-type mergers and municipalities that never joined waste management associations. These results suggest that municipal mergers might not always bring a substantial scale economy in municipal solid waste management. Policymakers should be careful when promoting municipal mergers in the belief that a scale economy will prevail after the reform.

Effect of ultrasonographic lung consolidation on health and growth in dairy calves: A longitudinal study

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a common and complex disease process in calves. Subclinical disease exists and early detection can be challenging due to inconsistent or nonexistent clinical signs. Thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) is often used and has the potential to improve the identification of respiratory diseases. Combining systematic TUS with clinical examination allows distinguishing BRD, including upper respiratory tract disease (clinical signs of respiratory disease, but no significant lung consolidation), clinical pneumonia (clinical signs of respiratory disease along with lung consolidations), and subclinical pneumonia (no clinical signs, but lung consolidations). Data on subclinical pneumonia are scarce, particularly outside of the North American or European contexts similar to Iran in west Asia with a dry and semi-arid climate and intensive breeding systems similar to North America which breeding calves begin in individual boxes, then moving to group pens, and finally to free stall or open shed housing systems. The first objective of this longitudinal study was to use weekly ultrasonography to monitor calves from birth until weaning in an Iranian dairy herd. The second objective was to look for any association between individual lung consolidation episode or cumulative consolidation episodes on preweaning growth. Thoracic ultrasonography TUS was performed on calves (n = 221) weekly from birth to weaning (8 wk), and scanning occasions for each calf were equally distributed with 1-wk intervals (using consolidation threshold ≥3 cm as a specific lung consolidation definition, and ≥1 cm as a more sensitive threshold). Calf body weights were recorded using a weight tape. Other information recorded were transfer of passive immunity (TPI) using serum Brix (%) ≥8.4% as adequate TPI within the first week after birth and the treatment history of the calves. The main strategy for modeling was to determine how long-term lung consolidation affects average daily gain (ADG) during the preweaning period. A linear model was used to determine the effect of the number of weeks with consolidation on ADG. Using consolidation threshold of ≥3 cm, the mean (±SD) of total ADG for calves with no consolidation episode, one consolidation episode, and 2 or more consolidation episodes were: 0.45 (±0.10), 0.39 (±0.10), and 0.38 (±0.11) kg/d, respectively. In the final multivariable regression analysis model and based on consolidation threshold of ≥3 cm, calves with one and 2 or more consolidation episodes had significantly lower ADG ± standard error of 0.04 ± 0.02 kg/d, and 0.06 ± 0.02 kg/d, respectively compared with animals with no consolidation episode. A total of 20% of calves (46/229 calves that entered the study) were treated for respiratory disease based on clinical signs (based on farmer examination). The final model also included specific confounders related to ADG and their interactions with lung consolidation (transfer of passive immunity [TPI] and BRD treatment). An overall of 86% of adequate TPI was obtained. BRD treatment based on farmer diagnosis had a larger negative effect on preweaning ADG than ultrasonography-diagnosed consolidation episodes (lower ADG ± SE of 0.10 ± 0.03 kg/d). When using a more sensitive consolidation threshold (≥1 cm as consolidation), the number of weeks with consolidation was also negatively associated with the ADG in the multivariable linear regression model with significant difference of 0.05 ± 0.02 kg/d for nonconsolidated calves versus calves consolidated for 2 or more weeks and insignificant difference of 0.01 ± 0.02 kg/d for nonconsolidated calves versus calves with 1 consolidation episode.

Prediction of Cement Slurry Density Based on AMIndRNN

Cement slurry density is one of the key factors affecting the consolidation effect of oil casing and wellbore, and its value has a direct impact on the quality of cementing and construction safety. In the traditional cementing operation, the professionals perform experiments based on information from adjacent Wells to obtain fuzzy cement density, and then constantly adjust the final cement density in the actual operation, which costs a lot of labor and time, and is not good for real-time operation. In response to the above problems,This paper proposes AMIndRNN(Attention Mechanism combined with Independently Recurrent Neural Network) for cement slurry density prediction, and optimizes IndRNN by introducing SMU activation function. The comparison experiment between AMIndRNN model and baseline model shows that AMIndRNN model has obvious advantages in various performance indexes, which can be used to guide the design of actual cement slurry density.

A Study on the Mechanism of Casing Deformation and Its Control Strategies in Shale Oil Hydraulic Fracturing

The problem of casing deformation caused by large-scale hydraulic fracturing in shale oil wells severely restricts the efficient development of Gulong shale oil. In order to clarify the mechanism of casing deformation in shale oil wells, comprehensive analysis was conducted on engineering factors, multi-arm caliper logging, seismic attributes, and the distribution characteristics of casing deformations. This study shows that casing strength, cementing quality, and wellbore curvature are not the main controlling factors for casing deformation. Casing deformation is caused by the communication between hydraulic fractures and natural fractures during the fracturing process, which increases the fluid pressure in the natural fracture and induces shear slip, resulting in casing deformation due to shear stress. Based on the understanding of the mechanism of casing deformation in shale oil wells, two targeted casing deformation prevention and control methods are proposed. First, temporary plugging was implemented during the hydraulic fracturing process when the fluid volume reached 1000 m3, and the pumping rate was reduced to below 16 m3/min to reduce the internal fluid pressure of the fractures and control fracture slip, thereby minimizing the risk of casing deformation. Second, hollow particles were added to the cement to enhance the consolidation effect of the cement sheath and mitigate casing deformation caused by fracture slip. Research indicates that a hollow particle content of 15% can meet the requirements for casing deformation control in Gulong shale oil. These research results can provide important references for the prediction and prevention of casing deformation risks in shale oil and similar unconventional reservoirs during hydraulic fracturing.

Quaternary ammonium silane modified Nanolime for the consolidation and antifungal of stone relics

Cultural relics such as wall paintings and stone relics face a decrease in mechanical strength and contamination from microbial growth. Nanolime (NL), as an exceptional inorganic nanomaterial used in the consolidation of cultural heritages, has been investigated for more than two decades. However, it has limited antibacterial properties. Here, we opted for dimethyloctadecyl[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ammonium chloride (DC5700) to modify the surface of NL particles, praparing an organic–inorganic hybrid nanomaterial (NL-DC5700) that provides long-lasting antifungal effects for stone samples without sacrificing its consolidation effect. Characterizations demonstrate that DC5700 grafts onto the surface of NL particles through the formation of covalent bonds via dehydration condensation between the siloxane of DC5700 and the hydroxyl of NL, forming an organic shell layer that uniformly wraps the NL particles. NL-DC5700 can endow stone samples with near superhydrophobicity (NL, 25.4° and NL-DC5700, 142.0°) and durable antifungal effects over 90 days, superior to those of pure NL. NL-DC5700 shows no unacceptable impact on the appearance, porosity, or microstructure of the stone specimens. Our work explores the antifungal effect of NL-based materials and provides fresh insights into the development of versatile conservation materials for stone relics.

The effect of consolidation and explicitness on learning and transferring higher-level structural knowledge in vision

The effect of consolidation and explicitness on learning and transferring higher-level structural knowledge in vision

Strength and Mechanism of Granite Residual Soil Strengthened by Microbial-Induced Calcite Precipitation Technology

High rainfall environmental conditions can easily cause erosion or collapse of the granite residual soil slope. However, traditional slope reinforcement methods have drawbacks such as poor landscape effect, high energy consumption of raw materials, and environmental pollution. This study studied the application of microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) in the reinforcement of granite residual soil. The consolidation effect of various methods was investigated, and the influence of cementing liquid concentration and pH value on consolidation under optimal curing conditions was explored. The results showed that the bacteria concentration reached OD600 = 3.0 and urease activity was 31.64 mM/min, which positively impact the production of calcium carbonate and the stability of crystal morphology. In addition, the soaking method was found to have the most effective consolidation effect on the surface soil samples, with the lowest disintegration rate. On the other hand, the peristaltic pump grouting method is the most effective in strengthening depth. This method resulted in a 513.65% increase in unconfined compressive strength (UCS), a 297.98% increase in cohesion, and a 101.75% increase in internal friction angle. This study also found that after seven rounds of grouting, the highest UCS was achieved in consolidated soil samples with a 0.5 mol/L cementing solution concentration, reaching 1.602 MPa. The UCS of soil samples increases as the pH value of the cementing fluid increases within the range of 6–8. As the pH value reaches 8–9, the strength increases and stabilizes gradually. These research findings can serve as an experimental basis for strengthening granite residual soil slopes and a guide for improving microbial geotechnical strengthening methods.

Sustainability and the development trends of rural retail business in the Czech Republic

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that influence the sustainability of rural grocery stores and to assess the effects of the ongoing consolidation and spatial concentration in rural grocery stores on the accessibility of rural grocery stores in the Czech Republic. In this paper, we start by presenting the continued decline of retail grocery stores in rural areas of the Czech Republic. The decline is seen to be especially severe in villages with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants. By examining official statistics from the Czech Republic and research papers from selected European countries, we see how the rural retail sector is monitored. We demonstrate the very good accessibility of grocery stores for residents of the entire Czech Republic, including residents of small villages. Differences in the external and internal environment of rural grocery stores were identified. Consequently, we also present the preliminary findings of in-depth interviews with rural grocery storekeepers in Southwestern Bohemia. The article ends with a summary of the current situation in rural retail. In policy terms, the research shows that more work needs to be done to identify, quantify, and then promote the advantages of rural retail. External factors influencing rural retail business are the high level of competition, grant programs for rural grocery stores, the relatively short distances consumers have to travel by car or public transportation to modern retail facilities with a wider assortment, better prices, and more attractive shopping space in modern retail facilities. Internal factors that negatively affect a rural retail business are staff with inadequate qualifications and an approach that is not focused on the consumer and his needs, and opening hours and a product range that does not reflect consumer requirements. The contribution of this paper is focused on the sustainability of entrepreneurialism in rural retail.

A Methodology for Consolidation Effects of Inventory Management with Serially Dependent Random Demand

Most studies of inventory consolidation effects assume time-independent random demand. In this article, we consider time-dependence by incorporating an autoregressive moving average structure to model the demand for products. With this modeling approach, we analyze the effect of consolidation on inventory costs compared to a system without consolidation. We formulate an inventory setting based on continuous-review using allocation rules for regular transshipment and centralization, which establishes temporal structures of demand. Numerical simulations demonstrate that, under time-dependence, the demand conditional variance, based on past data, is less than the marginal variance. This finding favors dedicated locations for inventory replenishment. Additionally, temporal structures reduce the costs of maintaining safety stocks through regular transshipments when such temporal patterns exist. The obtained results are illustrated with an example using real-world data. Our investigation provides information for managing supply chains in the presence of time-patterned demands that can be of interest to decision-makers in the supply chain.

Effect of Preloading with Consolidation on the Undrained Bearing Capacity of Ring Foundations

The undrained bearing capacity of ring foundations has received significant attention from researchers, but most of the reported studies do not reflect the effect of consolidation due to preloading. In this work, we investigated the postconsolidation undrained vertical capacity of ring foundations resting on nonhomogeneous clays using finite differential analyses and the modified Cam-clay constitutive model. The results are presented in nondimensional form and were compared with data available in the literature. The coupling influences of the internal opening of the foundation, the magnitude of the preloading, the duration of the consolidation, and the initial overconsolidation ratio of the clay were all considered. A methodology based on approximating expressions that captured the numerical results well is proposed as a way of predicting the undrained capacity gain of ring foundations for any degree of preloading and consolidation.

Modified Lignin Nanoparticles as Potential Conservation Materials for Waterlogged Archaeological Wood

Lignin is the most abundant component in archaeological waterlogged wood, making it a potential consolidant with high compatibility for historical wood conservation. However, its consolidation effect is limited by its low penetration into the wood. In this study, modified lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) were proposed for the first time as conservation materials for waterlogged archaeological wood. Two modified LNPs were prepared with low molecular weight, small size, and high solubility in ethylene glycol (EG) for consolidating waterlogged wood samples. These nanoparticles, hydrophilic aminated LNPs (ALNPs) and hydrophobic esterified LNPs (MALNPs), greatly improved the consolidation effect of waterlogged wood samples compared to LNPs. This was demonstrated by measuring their physical properties, dimensional stability, and mechanical properties. The surface color change was almost within the acceptable range for the human eye. We also discussed two different reinforcement mechanisms of ALNPs and MALNPs. ALNPs can form hydrogen bonds with hemicellulose/cellulose in the wood to strengthen the fragile wood cell wall, while MALNPs can fill the wood cell lumen to support the cell wall and prevent deformation during drying. Our work provides an approach of using biomaterials as consolidants for archaeological waterlogged wood and expands the use of lignin in this field.

Effect of soil consolidation on the fractality of the filtration law

In this paper, the effect of consolidation of the soil structure on the fractality of the fluid flow was evaluated. The equation of fractal law of flow in the porous medium under consolidation of two-phase, fully fluid-saturated soil was determined. Given all the simplifications, as well as the undoubted importance of the nature of the porous medium, which primarily determine the possible processes of both consolidation and fractal flow based on the results of the studies, we can conclude that a homogeneous porous reservoir at given parameters under the effect of groundwater pressure will expand its fractal structure.

Macroeconomic effects of fiscal consolidation on economic activity in SSA countries

This paper studies the effects of fiscal measures in 40 sub-Saharan countries on economic output, unemployment, consumption, private investment, REER, and current account balance. The study estimates impulse response functions with local projections, based on a yearly dataset covering 40 countries over 2000–2019. The key variable in the dataset is a measure of fiscal stance computed following Blanchard (1993), with a threshold of 1.5%. The study finds that in the short run, fiscal consolidation reduces real GDP and private demand. In addition, the current account balance responds positively to a shock in fiscal consolidation, whereas the real effective exchange rate responds negatively. Moreover, compared with revenue-based consolidations, spending-based consolidations lead to smaller losses in output. Our finding also reveals that fiscal consolidations also depend on economic cycles, with a lower output loss during an economic boom. Finally, this study suggests that fiscal consolidations should be carried out based on spending-based consolidations and have to be preceded by an economic boom.

Consolidation and Credit Access Risk in Rural Nigeria: Impact Assessment after a Decade of Implementation.

This study examines the effect of consolidation of Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) on credit access risk in rural areas of Nigeria after a decade of the consolidation exercise. Secondary data on total value of credits to rural areas was obtained from the CBN bulletin for the period 1994 to 2014. This period includes 10 years of pre consolidation and 10 years of post-consolidation. Mann Whitney U test was used in analysing the data to test for significant difference in the total credit to rural areas before and after consolidation in Nigeria. The result revealed that there was a significant increase in access to DMBs’ credit by rural customers of DMBs in the post consolidation era when compared to the pre-consolidation era. The result may be is explained by the role of technology in banking. It is recommended amongst others that government should provide infrastructures like good access roads to the rural areas, electricity and support investments in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the rural areas as this will encourage the penetration of financial services into the hinterlands.

DAMPAK KONSOLIDASI TERHADAP PROFITABILITAS PT SEMEN INDONESIA Tbk. (SMGR)

A business combination is the merger of two or more separate companies into one entity with another company, enabling control over the operational activities. Consolidation is often employed as an alternative to expand and enlarge the business market, consequently impacting the company's profitability. This study aims to analyze the effect of company consolidation on profitability levels, utilizing financial ratios such as Return On Assets (ROA), Return On Equity (ROE), and Return On Investment (ROI) as indicators. It employs a quantitative approach, utilizing secondary data derived from the consolidated financial statements of Semen Indonesia Tbk. companies. The study compares account items and incorporates literature reviews focusing on financial performance data. The analysis reveals that prior to consolidation, PT Semen Baturaja Tbk. displayed an ROA level of 0.43%, ROE of 0.45%, and ROI of 0.27, all of which were below 1 (<1). However, after consolidation at PT Semen Baturaja Tbk., there was a noticeable increase in the company's ROA, ROE, and ROI, reaching 2.21%, 2.81%, and 1.82%, respectively.

The Correlation between Vocabulary Knowledge and English Language Proficiency at Undergraduate Level

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between undergraduate English language students' vocabulary knowledge and language proficiency. The population of the study was the English department students at the University of Lahore. The sample was taken from the fifth to eighth semesters using cluster sampling. Through a vocabulary test, the size of the productive vocabulary, the size of the receptive vocabulary, and the depth of knowledge of the vocabulary were all found to significantly correlate with speaking performance. In multiple regression analyses, vocabulary knowledge was found to be the cause of 26% of the variance in speaking proficiency. The sig. (two-tailed) coefficient of the relationship between the two factors, and a correlation coefficient R value of 0.784 at the 0.05 level of significance was deemed strong. It expected that there was a strong positive connection between the vocabulary information and understudies language capability. The regression explains a consolidated effect of vocabulary knowledge on students' language proficiency. Vocabulary knowledge is positively correlated with language proficiency, according to the findings. Pedagogical implications and suggestions for future research are presented on the basis of the findings of the study.

Investigation of trench effect on fatigue response of steel catenary risers using an effective stress analysis

The design of Steel Catenary Risers (SCR) heavily relies on the interaction between the riser and seabed in the touchdown zone (TDZ). To accurately estimate the SCR-seabed stiffness, the soil behaviour must be assessed in two main phases: (1) during cyclic SCR motions, which generate excess pore pressure, leading to soil softening and remoulding in the TDZ, and (2) during inactivity periods throughout the SCR’s lifespan, causing dissipation of excess pore pressure associated with the consolidation state. The latter was neglected by the existing non-linear hysteretic soil models, which are based on the total stress approach. In the current study, a global riser analysis was conducted and the consolidation effect was incorporated using an effective stress framework. Long-term soil stiffness was determined by capturing both the remoulding and consolidation effects, which are respectively associated with the damage accumulation during the SCR cyclic motions and soil strength recovery during the intervening pause period. The constructed model was then combined with a new methodology named Hybrid Trench Model to investigate how the consolidation effect contributes to the fatigue performance in different trench depths. Stochastic fatigue analysis showed that the consolidation effect might increase the damage by around 10%-40% over the long-term assessment.

Time-Varying Elasticity of Cyclically Adjusted Primary Balance and Effect of Fiscal Consolidation on Domestic Government Debt in South Africa

This paper investigates the impact of the time-varying elasticity of the cyclically adjusted primary balance (CAPB) and fiscal consolidation on government debt. The time-varying parameter structural vector autoregression (TVP-VAR) model is used on a time series of data from 1979 to 2022. The contribution of this paper is on the understanding of the impact of fiscal consolidation on domestic government debt and the need to use time-varying elasticity when calculating the cyclical adjusted primary balance to provide a more accurate representation of discretionary actions taken by fiscal authorities. It is found that there is more variation in the CAPB with time-varying elasticity than with constant elasticity. Constant elasticity is not effective in capturing fiscal consolidation episodes, and time-varying elasticity is a better alternative. There is evidence that fiscal consolidation increases domestic government debt. The shocks of fiscal consolidation through government expenditure cuts reduce domestic government debt in the long run, while taxes increase domestic government debt. It is recommended that fiscal authorities use fiscal consolidation to reduce government expenditure that is related to inefficient expenditure. In the event of government expenditure, this expenditure needs to be in productive sectors of the economy that will bring about an increase in revenue rather than an increase in the tax rate. Given the result, a tax increase should be something that fiscal authorities are not using in the effort to stimulate economic growth or reduce domestic government debt.

One‐dimensional nonlinear creep consolidation of soft soils with time‐dependent drainage boundary under construction load

AbstractTo further investigate the nonlinear creep properties of soft soils and the effect of variable loading, a one‐dimensional (1D) nonlinear creep consolidation system of soft soils under construction load is established, including time‐dependent drainage (TDD) boundary, elastic‐viscous‐plastic deformation, non‐Darcy flow (NDF), and self‐weight stress. The consolidation problem is presented by virtue of the finite volume method, and the associated calculation program is compiled. The efficiency of the numerical solutions is validated by comparing the degenerated solution against analytical, semi‐analytical, and numerical solutions. Then the influences of construction load and nonlinear creep model parameters on consolidation are studied. The results show that TDD boundary and construction load significantly affect consolidation, and the larger the loading rate and interface parameter, the faster soil's overall dissipation process of excess pore‐water pressure (EPP). Meanwhile, at the earlier consolidation stage, considering the secondary consolidation effect will cause an increase in excess pore‐water pressure (EPP). Prolonging the construction period, decreasing the interface parameter, considering the self‐weight stress, or increasing the non‐Newtonian index will all aggravate this phenomenon. Additionally, the TDD boundary, construction load, and non‐Newtonian index flow (NNIF) are not a determinant for final soil settlement.

Consolidation Effect on the Behavior of Micropiled Rafts Under Combined Loading: Case Study

This paper used finite element modeling to evaluate the consolidation effect on the performance of existing rafts underpinned with micropiles under combined vertical and lateral loads. For this purpose, a real-life case study was discussed, in which micropile underpinning was used to stop the continuous tilt of a 13-floor residential building supported by a surface raft. It was found that the building tilted towards the northeast direction because of the consolidation of a deep soft clay layer under the northeast building corner. After discussing the as-built micropiling system, a 3D numerical model, developed using the PLAXIS software, was used to conduct the numerical research. The time-dependent behavior of the raft with and without the consideration of micropiles was assessed. Moreover, the variation of load-sharing ratios with time was investigated. The numerical results emphasize that the underpinning process was effective and reduced the final raft rotation and maximum settlement by 79.9% and 73.9%, respectively, compared to the case of the absence of micropiles. The consolidation process under a steady level of vertical loads enhanced the performance of the micropiled and unmicropiled rafts against upcoming lateral loads. The vertical load-sharing ratio increased during a life span of 20 years by 10.4% due to the consolidation process, but the increase was at a decreasing rate. Comparing all the four directions in which the lateral load was applied, the micropiles carried (57.4–76.6%) of the lateral load.