Entire Process Research Articles

The application of OREDA (offshore reliability data) in developing valve criticality analysis criteria

In oil and gas processing plants, extensive networks of hundreds to thousands of valves are vital in controlling the entire process. However, not all valves have the same importance in process control. Therefore, identifying and prioritizing critical valves is essential for efficient and safe operation. Assessing the importance of valves requires a risk-based approach. However, quantifying the associated risks becomes challenging, especially when limited field data makes it difficult to model the probability of valve failure. One possible solution is to use Offshore Reliability Data (OREDA) as a valuable failure probability data source. OREDA provides valuable insight into historical failure and performance data related to oil and gas equipment such as valves. To go one step further, the new proposal presented in this paper includes implementing a modified OREDA approach that considers the cumulative operating time of the valve. By considering cumulative operating hours, a more comprehensive and accurate assessment of failure probability can be achieved, enabling more informed decision-making regarding valve criticality and prioritization of maintenance.

Two-dimensional segmentation fusion tool: an extensible, free-to-use, user-friendly tool for combining different bidimensional segmentations.

Introduction: In several fields, the process of fusing multiple two-dimensional (2D) closed lines is an important step. For instance, this is fundamental in histology and oncology in general. The treatment of a tumor consists of numerous steps and activities. Among them, segmenting the cancer area, that is, the correct identification of its spatial location by the segmentation technique, is one of the most important and at the same time complex and delicate steps. The difficulty in deriving reliable segmentations stems from the lack of a standard for identifying the edges and surrounding tissues of the tumor area. For this reason, the entire process is affected by considerable subjectivity. Given a tumor image, different practitioners can associate different segmentations with it, and the diagnoses produced may differ. Moreover, experimental data show that the analysis of the same area by the same physician at two separate timepoints may result in different lines being produced. Accordingly, it is challenging to establish which contour line is the ground truth. Methods: Starting from multiple segmentations related to the same tumor, statistical metrics and computational procedures could be exploited to combine them for determining the most reliable contour line. In particular, numerous algorithms have been developed over time for this procedure, but none of them is validated yet. Accordingly, in this field, there is no ground truth, and research is still active. Results: In this work, we developed the Two-Dimensional Segmentation Fusion Tool (TDSFT), a user-friendly tool distributed as a free-to-use standalone application for MAC, Linux, and Windows, which offers a simple and extensible interface where numerous algorithms are proposed to "compute the mean" (i.e., the process to fuse, combine, and "average") multiple 2D lines. Conclusions: The TDSFT can support medical specialists, but it can also be used in other fields where it is required to combine 2D close lines. In addition, the TDSFT is designed to be easily extended with new algorithms thanks to a dedicated graphical interface for configuring new parameters. The TDSFT can be downloaded from the following link: https://sourceforge.net/p/tdsft.

Business management technologies in the management system

The study considered approaches to defining "management system" and "management technology," characterized their classification, and established the relationship between them. It was determined that the main elements of management are systems, processes, management decisions, and labor resources, and the organizational management system is one of the main concepts of organizational theory and is closely related to goals, functions, management processes, and the work of managers. It is proven that the entire management process takes place within the framework of this system, in which managers of all levels, categories, and fields of knowledge participate. It was determined that the basis of the management system is technology, which is precisely the tool by which the transformation process of systems takes place. Technologies, through the subject of management, influence the object. It is proven that management technologies have a clearly defined goal of ensuring the transformation of the management object from the initial state to a new target competitive state or quality or to ensure its guaranteed effective functioning. The improvement of the social development system of the team, which leads to an increase in the social activity of the staff, an increase in the efficiency of the enterprise, and an increase in the material well-being of the staff, is considered. It has been studied that the most common method in our country is the thematic and sectoral grouping of technologies according to the relevant sections of management, management functions, and the main perspectives of management. Given the global tendency of the role of human resources to prevail over factors of a material and technical nature and the problems of the social sphere of management, the use of grading and sociometric technologies is proposed as the most effective among those considered to solve the problems existing at domestic enterprises. Keywords: management technology, management system, sociometry, grading, enterprise management.

Probing and deploying key wireless sensing technologies in the realm of 6G

In an effort to implement seamless, precise, and real-time wireless sensing within indoor environments, this paper delves into the principles and applications of sensing technology grounded in indoor wireless signals. The cornerstone of this study is the comprehensive understanding of wireless signal sensing which is intrinsically composed of four major stages. Initially, signal acquisition occurs, serving as the foundation for the entire process. Subsequently, data pre-processing refines these signals, ensuring the relevance and accuracy of the information for the upcoming stages. Thereafter, the methodical process of feature extraction takes place, which provides a nuanced understanding of the signal's key characteristics. This is vital in offering clear insights into the signal's inherent traits and potential implications. Finally, classification and identification occur. This stage sorts and labels the signals based on their unique attributes, allowing for an organized and efficient analysis. Furthermore, this paper extends to analyzing three distinct application scenarios that utilize this intelligent sensing technology. The first one entails behavior recognition, which could be instrumental in understanding and predicting human activity patterns within a specific space. Another application is in passive location identification, offering a non-intrusive means to track movements and locations within an indoor setting. By investigating these applications, we aim to provide a broad understanding of the potential of indoor wireless signal-based sensing technology, and to further its development and refinement for more diverse and efficient uses.

Blockchain in supply chain management: A review of efficiency, transparency, and innovation

As global supply chains become increasingly complex, traditional systems face challenges in ensuring efficiency, transparency, and innovation. Block chain technology has emerged as a transformative force in addressing these issues, offering a decentralized and secure framework for supply chain management. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the impact of block chain on supply chains, focusing on its potential to enhance efficiency, transparency, and foster innovation. The efficiency gains facilitated by block chain in supply chain management are examined through the elimination of intermediaries, reduction of paperwork, and real-time visibility into the entire process. These improvements result in streamlined operations, reduced costs, and enhanced responsiveness to market dynamics. Moreover, block chain’s decentralized nature ensures data integrity, mitigating the risk of fraud and errors in the supply chain. Transparency is a critical aspect of modern supply chains, and block chain provides an immutable and transparent ledger that enables end-to-end visibility. The technology ensures traceability and accountability, allowing stakeholders to access real-time information about the origin, movement, and status of products. This transparency not only enhances trust among supply chain participants but also facilitates compliance with regulatory requirements. The role of block chain in fostering innovation within supply chains is explored, emphasizing its potential to enable new business models, collaborative ecosystems, and the integration of emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The paper highlights case studies and pilot projects where block chain has been successfully applied to drive innovation in supply chain processes. Challenges and considerations related to the implementation of block chain in supply chain management are also discussed, including interoperability, scalability, and regulatory issues. The paper concludes by outlining future research directions and emphasizing the need for industry-wide collaboration to unlock the full potential of block chain in revolutionizing supply chain management. Overall, this review contributes to the understanding of how block chain can serve as a catalyst for efficiency, transparency, and innovation in contemporary supply chains

Decolonising the African doctorate: transforming the foundations of knowledge

AbstractDespite revolutions, ongoing student protests, and long-standing transformational efforts, African higher education remains steeped in a colonial model, with current structures, approaches, and purposes paralleling Western universities. The doctorate, the highest level of formal education one can attain, reflects this commitment to Western domination, relying upon European conceptions of knowledge to shape the entire research process. Thus, knowledge construction in higher education, and particularly in the African doctorate, has remained fixed to Eurocentrism. This conceptual article presents a critical race theory model to transform the African doctorate towards a social justice orientation, arguing for investments in race-conscious, Black affirming approaches that recognise doctoral researcher positionalities and African languages as ways to disrupt socio-political and racialised contexts. This transformation requires re-alignment of the entire research endeavour through an Ubuntu lens, with doctoral recipients engaging in training and support that embody antiracist, decolonial, and African Indigenous-affirming approaches.

Refining a Framework to Enhance Communication in the Emergency Department During the Diagnostic Process: An eDelphi Approach

Emergency departments (EDs) are susceptible to diagnostic error. Suboptimal communication between the patient and the interdisciplinary care team increases risk to diagnostic safety. The role of communication remains underrepresented in existing diagnostic decision-making conceptual models. The authors used eDelphi methodology, whereby data are collected electronically, to achieve consensus among an expert panel of 18 clinicians, patients, family members, and other participants on a refined ED-based diagnostic decision-making framework that integrates several potential opportunities for communication to enhance diagnostic quality. This study examined the entire diagnostic process in the ED, from prehospital to discharge or transfer to inpatient care, and identified where communication breakdowns could occur. After four iterative rounds of the eDelphi process, including a final validation round by all participants, the project's a priori consensus threshold of 80% agreement was reached. The authors developed a final framework that positions communication more prominently in the diagnostic process in the ED and enhances the original National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) and ED-adapted NASEM frameworks. Specific points in the ED journey were identified where more attention to communication might be helpful. Two specific types of communication-information exchange and shared understanding-were identified as high priority for optimal outcomes. Ideas for communication-focused interventions to prevent diagnostic error in the ED fell into three categories: patient-facing, clinician-facing, and system-facing interventions. This project's refinement of the NASEM framework adapted to the ED can be used to develop communications-focused interventions to reduce diagnostic error in this highly complex and error-prone setting.

Construction Monitoring and Results Analysis of a Certain Major Bridge

The construction method of continuous beam bridges is mostly cantilever casting in place, which has a long construction period and complex process, and is influenced by various factors. Therefore, it can have many adverse effects on the internal forces and deformation of the main beam. To ensure that the line shape of the main beam meets the design and regulatory requirements and that the internal forces of the completed bridge are close to the theoretical design values, ensuring the safe construction of the bridge, it is necessary to monitor the entire construction process of the bridge. This paper takes a certain major bridge as the background, monitors the entire construction process of the main bridge, collects the deflection values at control points and stress values at control interfaces at each construction stage, and compares the measured values with theoretical results. This allows for a comprehensive understanding of the line shape changes and safety conditions of the bridge, assures the reliability and safety of the structure during construction, ensures that the relative elevation deviation of the closure section is less than the permitted values by standards, and makes sure that the line shape of the main beam after completion meets the design specifications.

A high-performance computational workflow to accelerate GATK SNP detection across a 25-genome dataset

BackgroundSingle-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most widely used form of molecular genetic variation studies. As reference genomes and resequencing data sets expand exponentially, tools must be in place to call SNPs at a similar pace. The genome analysis toolkit (GATK) is one of the most widely used SNP calling software tools publicly available, but unfortunately, high-performance computing versions of this tool have yet to become widely available and affordable.ResultsHere we report an open-source high-performance computing genome variant calling workflow (HPC-GVCW) for GATK that can run on multiple computing platforms from supercomputers to desktop machines. We benchmarked HPC-GVCW on multiple crop species for performance and accuracy with comparable results with previously published reports (using GATK alone). Finally, we used HPC-GVCW in production mode to call SNPs on a “subpopulation aware” 16-genome rice reference panel with ~ 3000 resequenced rice accessions. The entire process took ~ 16 weeks and resulted in the identification of an average of 27.3 M SNPs/genome and the discovery of ~ 2.3 million novel SNPs that were not present in the flagship reference genome for rice (i.e., IRGSP RefSeq).ConclusionsThis study developed an open-source pipeline (HPC-GVCW) to run GATK on HPC platforms, which significantly improved the speed at which SNPs can be called. The workflow is widely applicable as demonstrated successfully for four major crop species with genomes ranging in size from 400 Mb to 2.4 Gb. Using HPC-GVCW in production mode to call SNPs on a 25 multi-crop-reference genome data set produced over 1.1 billion SNPs that were publicly released for functional and breeding studies. For rice, many novel SNPs were identified and were found to reside within genes and open chromatin regions that are predicted to have functional consequences. Combined, our results demonstrate the usefulness of combining a high-performance SNP calling architecture solution with a subpopulation-aware reference genome panel for rapid SNP discovery and public deployment.

Aplikasi Business Intelligence Pada Sistem Penjualan CV. Muda Jeans

This research explains the application of business intelligence in Point of Sales sales applications in CV. Young Jeans. Muda Jeans is a private company that buys, sells, and manufactures women's jeans. The authors used a descriptive method in this study and conducted observations and interviews with store owners and employees. The sales system currently used by CV. Muda Jeans uses a traditional sales system where the entire sales transaction process is carried out directly through store visits and every transaction is recorded in the general ledger, this results in data recording errors, data duplication and data presentation which can cause problems in data utilization. Data utilization is used in decision making in creating and developing new products. This problem can be overcome with Point of Sales applications that apply business intelligence, allowing applications to analyze current and historical data displayed through data visualization. Data visualization in the form of sales graphs per product to make it easier for owners to see, understand and analyze product movements through sales transactions that occur, which products will later be increased production, which products are decided to be reduced or not produced at all.

Tensions between real-world practices and the digitalization paradigm for data-driven services in eldercare: observations from an ethnographic study in Sweden

BackgroundThe implementation of a data-driven approach within the health care system happens in a rapid pace; including in the eldercare sector. Within Swedish eldercare, data-driven health approach is not yet widely implemented. In the specific context of long-term care for older adults, quality of care is as much determined by how social care is being performed as it is by what kind medical care that is provided. In particular, relational aspects have been proven to have a crucial influence on the experience of quality of care for the actors involved. Drawing on ethnographic material collected at a Swedish nursing home, this paper explores in what way the relational aspects of care could potentially become affected by the increased use of a data-driven health approach.MethodsAn ethnographic approach was adopted in order to investigate the daily care work at a long-term care facility as it unfolded. Fieldwork was conducted at a somatic ward in a Swedish long-term care facility over 4 months (86 h in total), utilizing the methods of participant observation, informal interviews and document analysis. The material was analyzed iteratively throughout the entire research process adopting thematic analysis.ResultsViewing our ethnographic material through an observational lense problematising the policy discourse around data-driven health approach, two propositions were developed. First, we propose that relational knowledge risk becoming less influential in shaping everyday care, when moving to a data-driven health approach. Second, we propose that quality of care risk becoming more directed on quality of medical care at the expense of quality of life.ConclusionWhile the implementation of data-driven health approach within long-term care for older adults is not yet widespread, the general development within health care points towards a situation in which this will become reality. Our study highlights the importance of taking the relational aspects of care into consideration, both during the planning and implementation phase of this process. By doing this, the introduction of a data-driven health approach could serve to heighten the quality of care in a way which supports both quality of medical care and quality of life.

Design considerations of series type hybrid circuit breaker (S‐HCB)

AbstractThe series‐type direct current (DC) hybrid circuit breaker (S‐HCB) concept was previously reported to offer better performance than solid‐state circuit breakers (SSCB) and hybrid circuit breakers (HCB). S‐HCB offers low conduction power loss like an HCB and ‐scale interruption time, which is even faster than an SSCB. It uses a pulse transformer to isolate the lower‐voltage high‐inductance power electronic circuit from the high‐voltage, low‐inductance main power loop. This paper provides analysis of the impact of the S‐HCB circuit components on the overall system performance and a scalable S‐HCB design guide for different DC system voltage and current ratings. In addition, system energy flow analysis is performed in the time domain to provide an understanding of how energy is delivered, dissipated, and released throughout the entire fault interruption process. The S‐HCB prototype was experimentally tested at 3 kV/30 A and 6 kV/150A with the results showing the interruption of the low fault current of 30 A and the high fault current of 150 A within 8 and maintaining the fault current at a near zero value for 300 to enable an arcless opening of a series mechanical switch. The key design challenges of S‐HCB at high voltage and high current ratings were discussed and possible solutions to mitigate those challenges were introduced.

Gear Integrated Error Determination Using the Gaussian Template Convolution-Facet Method

A gear integrated error, a combination of individual and composite errors, carries richer information and has long been a key target of classic gear error measurement techniques. However, in the age of intelligent manufacturing, the classic methods for gear integrated error measurement are no longer able to meet the emerging requirements of large-scale gears and real-time online measurement. To address this gap, a novel approach to obtaining the gear integrated error based on GTC−Facet (Gaussian template convolution-Facet) is proposed. This method accurately pinpoints the sub-pixel contour of gears in images, enabling a quick derivation of the gear integrated error curve. From this curve, other individual and composite errors can be analyzed. The gear error information obtained through our method has higher measurement accuracy, achieving a positioning accuracy of 3.6 μm for the gear profile. Moreover, during the measurement process, the measured gear remains unclamped, and the entire measurement process can be completed within 0.35 s, which is much faster than classic methods. Our method meets the demands of online measurements and provides a new avenue for gear error measurement.

Evaluation of the impact of olive milling on the mineral oil contamination of extra‐virgin olive oils

AbstractMineral oil saturated (MOSH) and aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) are environmental and processing contaminants also found in extra‐virgin olive oil. Knowledge on contamination sources can help minimize them. The main objective of this work was to investigate the impact of milling operations. To this purpose, samples from 25 processing lines (at 5 different processing stages) were analyzed by online high‐performance liquid chromatography—gas chromatography—flame ionization detection. A protocol for eliminating endogenous n‐alkanes was tested and applied when necessary. Generally, transport to the mill had a negligible impact. The washing step had a mitigation impact, more evident on samples with higher contamination. On average, total MOSH decreased of 2.1 mg kg–1. Despite the reduction determined by washing, the entire milling process resulted in an increase in contamination (> 30%) for 20% of the processing lines. Total average MOSH and MOAH contamination increased by 2.3 and 0.6 mg kg–1, respectively.Practical Applications: This work aims to improve the knowledge on the presence and sources of mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH), contaminants of petrogenic origin, in extra‐virgin olive oil. In particular, this work investigates the impact of processing at the mill, including the transport stage, as well as the potential of the washing step in reducing the contamination. For the first time, a systematic study on this topic has been carried out. The knowledge of the contribution of individual steps in the production process to final product contamination is of paramount importance in identifying critical points on which to take action to mitigate contamination, and this is of great interest for all operators of the sector and for protecting consumer health, especially when considering possible presence of MOAH, which may include genotoxic and carcinogenic compounds.

A user-centred collective system design approach for Smart Product-Service Systems: A case study on fitness product design

Emerging technologies have significantly contributed to the evolution of traditional product-service systems (PSS) into smart PSS. This transformation demands a fresh perspective and a more inventive design approach. In response, this study proposes a new User-Centred Collective System Design (CSD) framework and process for Smart PSS design, aiming to enhance stakeholder engagement during the entire design process, thus promoting highly effective and creative design solutions. A case study, titled ‘Next-G Smart Fitness PSS Design’, was carried out to test and implement this approach, contrasting the results of the CSD method with a designer-centred method. The outcomes showed a marked improvement in product novelty and user desirability of the design outcomes when using the proposed design framework. The proposed CSD framework could offer beneficial insights and user-centric viewpoints for practitioners dealing with complex challenges linked to smart PSS design.

Quantitative Characterization and Disturbance Law of Key Parameters Influencing Deformation of Overlying Strata during Strip Filling in a Goaf

Strip filling mining in a goaf is of great significance for solving the ‘three under’ coal-pressure and mining-area ecological environment problems in Central and Eastern China, but the disturbance characteristics of filling parameters on overlying rock are not clear at present. Taking the geological conditions of the CT30101 working face in Mahuangliang coal mine and the short-wall interval strip filling as a background, the strength parameters (cohesion and friction angle), deformation parameters (elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio), and structural parameters (strip width and spacing) of the filling body were selected as experimental factors, and the maximum settlement of the direct roof and the ground surface was taken as the evaluation index. The influence degree of each factor was quantitatively characterized via a variance analysis and an F test, and the main control factors of the strip filling overburden settlement were proposed. The roof and surface displacement, the stress evolution law of the filling body, and the shape change of the surrounding rock plastic zone under different levels of main control factors in the entire process of mining filling coupling were analyzed in detail. The results showed that the cohesion of the backfill had a highly significant impact on the direct roof settlement, the strip spacing and the friction angle of backfill had a significant impact on it, the cohesion of the backfill and the strip spacing had a certain impact on the surface settlement, and the two had a cross-coupling effect. In the process of mining and filling, the stress evolution of the filling body was extremely complex, and it finally presented a saddle shape that was high on both sides and low in the middle; the majority of the strata and the filling body primarily exhibited shear damage, with a small amount of tensile failure zones appearing only in the direct roof and mid-section of the filling body. The above conclusions have a certain guiding significance for the optimal design of strip filling in a goaf.

Evaluation of the nutrition care process documentation in the patients' records using the Diet-NCP-Audit: experience in a medium-sized multi-site Swiss hospital.

The nutrition care process (NCP) is a four-step systematic approach to guide dietitians in providing high-quality nutrition care. It fosters critical thinking and enhances the consistency of dietitians' documentation. Following international recommendations, University Training Hospital of Fribourg (HFR) implemented it in 2013. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of NCP documentation in electronic patient records (EPRs) and to determine the nutrition problems dietitians most often identified while documenting their actions. The audit was performed on 92 EPRs using the Diet-NCP-Audit, which was translated into French for this study. The documentation quality was assessed as high in 62% of the EPRs, and nutrition diagnoses were mostly documented. In half of the EPRs, nutrition assessment (step 1 of the NCP) was inconsistent with nutrition diagnosis (step 2). Dietitians often used the same nutrition problems: out of the 73 nutrition problems defined in NCP terminology, only 4 (5%) represented 58% of the 189 problems identified in the EPR audit. EPRs were mostly assessed as high quality. However, the entire process requires improved consistency. The poorly documented link between the NCP steps and the restricted choices of nutrition problems dietitians identified should be addressed because they could reveal that dietitians have not fully adopted critical thinking, which the NCP stresses.

Quantifying the 2022 extreme drought in the Yangtze River Basin using GRACE-FO

In 2022, the Yangtze River Basin (YRB) experienced its most extreme drought event since 1961. Conducting a comprehensive assessment of this severe drought is crucial for understanding the entire drought process. GRACE and GRACE-FO gravity satellites have the capability to monitor global mass transport, making them suitable for large-scale drought monitoring. In this study, we investigated the changes in water storage caused by the drought using GRACE/GRACE-FO data and multi-source observations. Our evaluation incorporated meteorological drought indices, including the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), to explore the drought propagation process. Additionally, we examined the effects of trends in terrestrial water storage in the YRB, resulting from reservoir impoundment and climatic factors, on the drought index calculation. The results indicate that the extreme drought in the YRB began in August 2022, resulting in a water storage loss of approximately −158 ± 22 km3 compared to July 2022. There was almost no delay in the response of soil moisture drought and hydrological drought to the meteorological drought at a monthly scale. This extreme drought had its most severe impact on the middle and lower reaches of the YRB, especially in the Dongting Lake Basin, where the GRACE drought index value remained below −2.5 until December 2022. This study demonstrates the significant water storage deficit during the extreme drought in the YRB in 2022, providing a comprehensive understanding of this historic drought.

On the Key Points of Technical Management in High rise Building Engineering

For the technical management of high-rise building construction projects, it involves a systematic approach throughout the entire construction process. The pre construction stage requires careful planning, from site selection to market analysis, while engineering design ensures structural integrity and functional efficiency. Efficient project organization, procurement, and on-site management, as well as strict quality control, are crucial during the construction phase. The focus of the post construction phase is debugging, seamless handover, and continuous facility operation and maintenance. Overall, by adopting comprehensive technical management, the safe and efficient construction of high-rise buildings has been ensured, meeting functional and aesthetic requirements while considering environmental protection.

Design of an Optical Physics Virtual Simulation System Based on Unreal Engine 5

In response to challenges in traditional offline experiments in optical physics, such as high trial-and-error costs, expensive equipment, limited design parameters, and restricted explanations of instrument structures and principles, this paper proposes a design method for an optical physics virtual simulation system based on Unreal Engine 5. The method employs a generic design architecture to partition system units and utilizes technologies like pixel streaming, rendering engines, and physics engines to implement the design of the virtual simulation system. This system covers the entire experimental process, including video learning, instrument adjustment, phenomenon observation, data measurement and recording, and grade inquiry. The proposed design method enhances the immersive experience of experiments, reduces the hardware performance requirements for users, and allows access and utilization across multiple platforms. It efficiently facilitates physics teaching through simulated experiments, thereby effectively improving the quality of experimental teaching. Finally, through a comparison with existing virtual simulation systems, it is demonstrated that the system can save approximately 94.76% of the average CPU usage and provide better immersion and user experience advantages.