Excessive Margin Research Articles

Thoughts on the excessive margins of criminal policy in the state of Chiapas: Case of incest

The evolution of current societies has brought with it the disuse of certain crimes that in the past were conceived with paramount importance in the framework of the healthy order of community life and social coexistence. The object of our deliberation, on this occasion, is the configuration of the criminal type of Incest in the criminal catalog in force in the State of Chiapas. This crime has been chosen as a model for analysis to ponder the trend towards punitive populism that, from our perspective, embraces the state Penal Code, by proscribing a behavior that expresses, with the greatest possible emphasis, the human right to sexual freedom of its practitioners and that is seen as prohibitive even though in special assumptions and hypotheses, it does not transgress any protected legal interest, except that of public morality and good manners. We intend to wield conclusive arguments, in use of sexual self-determination and the free development of personality, that give light to our local legislators so that, in the near future, the penalization conducive to these behaviors in certain specific contexts is suppressed and the normative object of other criminal types that are closely related to it is updated.

Perspectives on and the road towards 100 Gb/s TDM PON with intensity-modulation and direct-detection

We assess the status of current generation 25G and 50G time division multiplexed passive optical network (TDM PON) technologies based on leveraging the cost efficiencies of the Ethernet intra-datacenter ecosystem. As a first step towards 100G TDM PON, we predict the real-world impact of a flexible modulation enhancement to 50G PON, whereby four-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM4) symbols can be transmitted at the same symbol rate as 50 Gb/s PAM2, but only where excess margins permit. We find that sufficient margins are likely to exist to allow for a majority of future 50G PON optical network units to operate at 100 Gb/s PAM4. Next, we look at the options for a 100G PON capable of supporting the full loss budget and reach requirements. There is no technical risk if coherent technology is adopted, but intensity-modulation and direct-detection (IM-DD) will provide lower complexity, lower cost, and lower power dissipation. We evaluate this option and conclude that by following IM-DD Ethernet optics to 100 GBd, single wavelength IM-DD will continue to be feasible for 100G PON and will be a strong contender for the next generation of PON after 50 Gb/s.

Оценка влияния маржинальных требований на ликвидность российского рынка фьючерсов

The implementation of a margin system in derivatives markets has a positive effect on market liquidity and market pricing efficiency. At the same time, portfolio diversification and hedging are not fully taken into account when assessing margin requirements. Therefore, in order to comply with regulatory requirements, the exchange sets excessive margins. IAs Charoula Daskalaki and George Skiadopoulos have shown, overestimation of margin requirements reduces the positive effect of the existence of a margin system. However, quantification of this observation has not been presented in studies before. This paper quantifies the dependence of market liquidity on the level of margin. The study is conducted on data from futures contracts for 19 underlying assets traded on the Moscow Exchange between 2014 and 2021, using an autoregressive moving average model with exogenous factors (ARMAX). The stability of the obtained results is determined by comparing different model specifications with different sliding window sizes. The analysis not only confirmed the fact that margin requirements, which protect the exchange's capital, reduce the positive effect of implementing a margin system but also allowed to evaluate it quantitatively: a 1% increase in margin requirements in relative terms reduces trading volume from 2.5 to 7% and the volume of open positions from 0.2 to 0.9%, depending on the type of position and trader. The impact on trading volume is on average stable over time, and there are local trends and tipping points for the volume of open positions.

Semi-supervised machine learning analysis of crop color for autonomous irrigation

Agricultural irrigation wastage, especially from inefficient infrastructure in developing nations, is among the leading causes of the global water shortage epidemic, which affects an estimated 2.8 billion people worldwide. In this project, a three-component cloudless internet-of-things (IoT)-based irrigation network is designed and constructed to affordably integrate into existing irrigation infrastructure and approach zero water wastage while maintaining crops at a perceived healthy threshold. A Raspberry Pi-based electrical circuit of sensors and drone are constructed to collect environmental data and extract brightness-adjusted HSV crop color using k-means clustering-based computer vision algorithms. A semi-supervised approach is used to train a bidirectional Recurrent Neural Network, which enables long-term and working memory analysis within hidden layers for time-sensitive outputs. The resulting predicted irrigation volume is executed by an Arduino Nano-based irrigation micropiece to dynamically adjust the water flow to each crop for individualized irrigation. Induction from water flow through irrigation pipes generates current, yielding complete and scalable power self-sufficiency at an excess margin of 25.8%. Empirical data collection reflects a 68.8% increase in irrigation effectiveness for crop growth. Model testing on various African nation crop yields and corresponding satellite images (n = 10,301) reflects an accuracy rate of 89.1% and a binary classification success of 96.0% after a single growth cycle. The ability to cost-effectively integrate into existing irrigation infrastructure and minimize irrigation resource wastage enables the constructed network to be a viable solution to mitigate the negative impacts of water scarcity on agriculture yields.

Computational method for the added mass of fluid imposed on spent fuel storage racks considering three-dimensional flow

Spent fuel in nuclear power plants is usually stored temporarily in spent fuel pools in the form of racks. Seismic analysis of the racks is required for the structural safety of the spent fuel. Since the racks are arranged in water, the seismic analysis of the racks should consider the fluid–structure interaction effect (i.e. the added mass of fluid imposed on spent fuel storage racks). The traditional computational method for the added mass is to simplify the racks to a concentric square column with a two-dimensional flow. This simplification improves computational efficiency but results in excessive margins. In addition, since the rack of CAP1400 (a Chinese AP-type PWR) uses a porous structure, which is different from the conventional rack, the traditional simplified method cannot be used to calculate the added mass of the rack of CAP1400. Therefore, this paper proposes a computational method for the added mass, in which the three-dimensional flow, as well as the internal pores of the rack, are considered so that the excessive margin can be reduced. Using this new method, a formula with four factors was given to calculate the added mass coefficient. Among four factors, the dimensionless gaps in X and Y directions represent two-dimensional flow effect, while the dimensionless height of the rack represent three-dimensional flow effect. The new method is verified by a scaled down experiment for rack of CAP1400.

UNDERSTANDING THE EMBEDDED CARBON CHALLENGES OF BUILDING SERVICE SYSTEMS

AbstractEnergy consumed in buildings is a main contributor to CO2 emissions, there is therefore a need to improve the energy performance of buildings, particularly commercial buildings whereby building service systems are often substantially over-designed due to the application of excess margins during the design process.The cooling system of an NHS Hospital was studied and modelled in order to identify if the system was overdesigned, and to quantify the oversizing impact on the system operational and embodied carbon footprints. Looking at the operational energy use and environmental performance of the current system as well as an alternative optimised system through appropriate modelling and calculation, the case study results indicate significant environmental impacts are caused by the oversizing of cooling system.The study also established that it is currently more difficult to obtain an estimate of the embodied carbon footprint of building service systems. It is therefore the responsibility of the machine builders to provide information and data relating to the embodied carbon of their products, which in the longer term, this is likely to become a standard industry requirement.

Comparison of safety margin in LBB design of nuclear pipes based on various types of fracture resistance test specimens

The geometry of cracked pipe, loading condition and crack size all can have a strong effect on its resistance against crack-tip plastic deformation and crack growth. Usually, specimens listed in test standards (e.g. CT specimen) are applied to evaluate the fracture resistance (J-R) curves, which may cause excessive safety margin in leak-before-break (LBB) design of nuclear pipes. In this study, standard (CT) specimen and constraint designed specimens, including curved CT and compact pipe (CP) specimens were applied to measure the J-R curves of nuclear pipes. Finite element analysis (FEA) was applied to derive J-equations to calculate J-R curves for newly designed specimens. Constraint effects in these specimens and full-scale pipes under various loading conditions were compared according to crack-tip plastic deformation level. Then, safety margins in LBB design using these specimens were quantitatively analyzed by constructing the critical crack length lines. Both the tests and FEA results verified the validity of these constraint designed specimens for reducing conservatism.

The effects of lean implementation on hospital financial performance

AbstractThis study examines lean implementation's effects on hospital financial performance using survey and secondary data for a large sample of US hospitals. Using sociotechnical systems theory, a social context is identified that should motivate the use of lean process improvement tools (LPT) in a hospital setting and accentuate its performance benefits. Shah and Ward's employee involvement (EI) construct is adapted to a hospital setting to define a supportive social context for LPT, which is further shaped by organizational psychological safety (PS). The research model depicts PS as amplifying the effect of EI on LPT, which, in turn, influences a hospital's return on assets (ROA) via three potential pathways: (a) through enhanced revenues; and/or (b) through reduced hospital discharge costs; and/or (c) directly. The results show that EI engenders LPT and that this effect is heightened as PS improves. LPT is shown to positively impact ROA indirectly through higher revenues, but not through lower discharge costs. The findings reveal positive, indirect effects of EI on revenue and profitability at moderate/high levels of PS. Robustness is investigated using an alternate performance metric—hospital excess margin—with consistent results. Post hoc analyses explore potential mechanisms through which lean implementation may increase hospital revenues, including hospital throughput (discharges), readmission rate, experiential quality, length of stay, and overall patient recommendation. The analyses reveal that the impact of LPT on hospital revenue is potentially realized through higher hospital discharges. Overall, the study demonstrates that lean implementation as a sociotechnical system contributes to superior performance.

Toward Quantifiable Evidence of Excess’ Value Using Personal Gaming Desktops

Abstract Complex systems may operate in scenarios where the current requirements were “unknown” at the time of their original design. Such “unknown” requirements might be outside the probability distribution expected during the design phase or, more drastically, might not have been predicted. Yet, not meeting these “unknown” requirements can significantly reduce system value. Engineering design researchers have begun addressing this challenge by exploring how incorporating margins when the system is being designed—a form of strategic inefficiency—might increase a system’s total lifetime value by reducing sensitivity to requirement changes and truncating change propagation. Quantitatively studying excess margin beyond what is required for known uncertainties has been particularly challenging as information is needed about how requirements change, how system performance is impacted by requirement changes, and how components are priced. A quantitative study around excess using 20 years of data for desktop computers, video game consoles, and video games is developed. Evidence is provided that excess can improve end-user system value when future requirements are unknown. This paper also advances the notion of strategic excess (excess incorporated in a single component), showing as one example that excess RAM would have improved system performance by 14% (on average) for 7% of total system cost. In demonstrating the value of excess, we strengthen the argument that engineers (and end-users) should embrace strategic inefficiencies—even though they might never be used—and further study the implications of system architecture and module interfaces decisions.

АНАЛІЗ УШКОДЖЕНОСТІ МАТЕРІАЛУ КОНСТРУКЦІЙ

The ability of materials to retain the required set of properties under the action of operational loads on the structure is determined by the structural changes that occur under such loads. From the first days of operation, under the influence of force factors, the environment and time, the strength and deformation properties of structures of buildings and structures change. The solution to the main task of construction science - reducing material consumption in construction, is inextricably linked with the need for constant study and refinement of the strength and deformation characteristics of building materials and structures, as well as a change in their bearing capacity over time and an assessment of the working capacity (resource) reserve when setting an external power load. Based on the fundamental position that under the action of a load, a deformation process occurs in the construction material, which is accompanied by irreversible processes of their appearance, development and accumulation of damage to the structure of the material, and, as a result, leads to destruction, we come to the conclusion that it is necessary to carefully study the strength of wooden designs taking into account this phenomenon. There is a need to comprehensively study the issues of damage accumulation in wooden structures under the action of loads and the related processes of changing the cross-sectional area and bearing capacity, to use the research results when calculating structures. This makes it possible to reduce material consumption and make the sections of wooden structures more economical and avoid excessive safety margins. Therefore, an important manifestation is the fixation of cracks and internal interfaces, which allows one to quantify the integral damage of the structure material to predict their safe functioning. The authors considered analytical dependences for the description of disseminated injuries that follow from physical considerations or are constructed from some mechanical models of the process of long-term damage. Three main types of models have been identified: force, deformation and energy. Experimental studies of normal stress diagrams make it possible to visually record the formation of folds in the compressed zone, as well as calculate the value of the instantaneous elastic and viscoelastic components of total deformation. A measure of the accumulation of damage in a material is damage. In this work, the damage was calculated based on the known specific parameters of the material: deflections, relative deformations and changes in the number of acoustic emission signals. The graphs of the dependence of damage on the load were built: - on the development of deflections; - on the development of fibrous deformations; - on the development of deflections and acoustic emission (relative load); - on the development of fibrous deformations (relative load); This scientific work is a logical continuation of previous studies of damage to wooden structures. The article presents the results of experimental studies of the strength, deformability of wooden beams under the influence of a static load. The direction of improving the methodology for designing wooden structures and determining the residual resource has not been reflected in the technical literature. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive study of them.

Safety Provision for Composite Structures in Aviation: Today and Tomorrow

The present study analyzes the current and prospective approaches to structural-safety provision of composite aircraft. The modern approach to material design values selection is based on the “worst-case scenarios,” wherein all safety-reducing factors occur simultaneously. The prospective method involves a probabilistic model based on operating experience enabling the reduction of excessive safety margins. The fundamental principle of damage tolerance provision accepted nowadays in industry is search for internal defects and inspecting 100% of structures in production and operation. The prospective approach should be focused on real-time composite-material-state monitoring incorporating next-generation smart technologies like embedded nanosensors and multiscale mathematical model. Full-scale fatigue testing is the most expensive and time-consuming stage of certification, therefore, most efforts in this field are being focused on limiting experimentation and replacing it with virtual testing. The corresponding prospects are analyzed, major risks are examined and measures to implement digital twin of a full-scale article are proposed.

Understanding and Effectively Managing Conservatisms in Safety Analysis of Nonreactor Nuclear Facilities

This paper outlines research on understanding, characterizing, and managing conservatisms in safety analyses. This research includes a review of national and international approaches for developing and using conservative and best-estimate analyses. A probabilistic approach is discussed to support reducing conservatism while maintaining safety margins. An example of the proposed approach is applied to two case studies for nonreactor nuclear facilities. The objective of this work is to provide a means for better understanding and managing risks associated with nuclear facilities. The results from these examples show that conservative estimates could lead to excessive safety margins when compared to the best-estimate values; the amount of excess margin may be as high as one or more orders of magnitude.

Shaking table experiments on 3/10 reduced-scale CAP1400 spent fuel storage rack considering the effect of fluid-structure interaction

The seismic study of the spent fuel storage rack (SFSR) is of great significance for ensuring the safety of spent fuel. But it is a challenging topic for the complex nonlinear behaviors such as fluid–structure interaction (FSI), friction and impact. At present, owing to the lack of the understanding of these nonlinear behaviors, in engineering design process, the seismic analysis of SFSRs is usually conducted with a conservative method. To reduce the excessive margin in the seismic design of CAP1400 (a new reactor type developed by China) rack, we have performed a 1/10 scale shaking table experimental study in the previous work. As an extension of the previous study, a series of 3/10 reduced-scale seismic experiments considering the effect of FSI were carried out to study the scale effects in this paper. The experiments obtained friction coefficient between the rack and the tank (spent fuel pool model), the maximum sliding displacement of the rack and the fluid pressure distribution of the tank wall. Furthermore, the seismic responses of the rack under different experimental variables such as the number of racks, experimental scales and vertical excitation were derived. The results showed that the relative uncertainty of the sliding displacement response is very large. Moreover, the large sliding displacement differences between single-rack case and double-rack case indicated that fluid–structure interaction has a strong influence on sliding of rack. We adopted a generally used similarity criterion for seismic experiment of rack, and the experimental results showed the scaling analysis of fluid pressure satisfies the similarity relationship, however, the displacement results were influenced greatly by scale effect. These results can be the benchmarks for the seismic analysis of CAP1400 spent fuel storage rack under dynamic seismic loading.

A Transient 3-D Thermal Modeling Method for IGBT Modules Considering Uneven Power Losses and Cooling Conditions

Junction temperature is a key parameter for the safe operation of power semiconductor devices in power electronic systems. However, it is difficult to forecast the accurate thermal stress of the device in field use. Consequently, engineers tend to use higher rated devices to maintain excessive margin, resulting in a higher cost. In this article, a transient 3-D thermal modeling method for insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) modules is proposed to obtain accurate temperature distribution considering uneven power losses and cooling conditions. The analytical model of uneven switching energy losses among the parallel IGBT chips in modules is built according to the analysis of device simulation results. The effect of uneven cooling conditions on temperature distribution in IGBT modules is considered by thermal-fluid cosimulation. Furthermore, a hybrid simulation strategy is proposed to obtain the transient thermal behavior in three dimensions. Through appropriate interface design, the power loss model is connected with the finite element model to achieve field-circuit cosimulation with multiple time steps, which takes full consideration of the multiphysical coupling effects among power loss, temperature, and flow fields. Finally, the thermal stresses of IGBT modules under different operating conditions are forecast by the proposed method.

Semi-Isotropically Optimized Stewart Platform Manipulator Design with Actuator Stroke Constraint

The isotropic property has been a general use in the context of kinematic design optimization of robotic manipulators. In this paper, the semi-isotropic home or neutral configuration of a semi-regular Stewart platform manipulator has been designed by introducing the stroke constraint of all the legs through the assessment of new actuator variable termed as ‘fractional excess margin’ of actuation. The constrained optimization problem structured with the quadratic functions relating all the rotational and translational motion of the tool center point and the actuator stroke. The numerical solution obtained from the system of nonlinear equations has been interpreted graphically through the analysis of the ‘fractional excess margin’ for prescribed single degree of motions of Stewart platform manipulator. Finally, a trade-off has been made between the goals of optimum semi-isotropic design configuration and that of the configuration with the actuators in the legs of the least stroke requirement.

CALCULATING TARGET THRESHOLDS FOR THE MARGIN VALUE METHOD USING COMPUTATIONAL TOOLS

AbstractOverspecification or excess margin in a design can enhance its ability to absorb changes and uncertainty, but also deteriorates performance criteria such as weight and cost. This paper shows how the Margin Value Method (article in review) can be applied in conjunction with CAE tools such as FEA to quantify excess margin where a design is too complex for algebraic analysis. This new application context for the MVM is illustrated using a case study of a flange coupling design, in which topology optimisation is used within the MVM to identify opportunities for design improvement.

Margin value method for engineering design improvement

Margin occurs where a design is overspecified with respect to the minimum required. Margin may be desirable to mitigate risk and absorb future changes, but at the same time, may be undesirable if the overspecification deteriorates the design’s performance. In this article, the margin value method (MVM) is introduced to analyse an engineering design, localise the excess margin, and quantify it considering change absorption potential in relation to design performance deterioration. The method provides guidance for improving a design by prioritising excess margin that provides relatively little advantage at high cost, and that could, therefore, be eliminated to improve design performance. It shows how the value of excess margin depends on its localisation in the design parameter network, the importance of design performance parameters, and the importance of absorbing potential future changes. The method is applied to a belt conveyor design. This case indicates that the method is practicable, reveals implications, and suggests opportunities for further work.

Assessment of abdominal organ motion using cine magnetic resonance imaging in different gastric motilities: a comparison between fasting and postprandial states

This study assessed abdominal organ motion induced by gastroduodenal motilities in volunteers during fasting and postprandial states, using cine magnetic resonance imaging (cine-MRI). Thirty-five volunteers underwent cine-MRI while holding their breath in the fasting and postprandial states. Gastric motility was quantified by the amplitude and velocity of antral peristaltic waves. Duodenal motility was evaluated as the change of duodenal diameter. Abdominal organ motion was measured in the liver, pancreas and kidneys. Motion was quantified by calculating maximal organ displacement in the left–right, antero–posterior and caudal–cranial directions. Median antral amplitude and velocity in the fasting and postprandial states were 7.7 and 15.1 mm (P < 0.01), and 1.3 and 2.5 mm/s (P < 0.01), respectively. Duodenal motility did not change. Median displacement for all organs ranged from 0.9 to 2.9 mm in the fasting state and from 1.0 to 2.9 mm in the postprandial state. Significant increases in abdominal organ displacement in the postprandial state were observed in the right lobe of the liver, pancreatic head and both kidneys. Differences in the median displacement of these organs between the two states were all <1 mm. Although the motion of several abdominal organs increased in the postprandial state, the difference between the two states was quite small. Thus, our study suggests that treatment planning and irradiation need not include strict management of gastric conditions, nor the addition of excess margins to compensate for differences in the intra-fractional abdominal organ motion under different gastric motilities in the fasting and postprandial states.

НАКОПИЧЕННЯ УШКОДЖЕНЬ В ОСНОВНИХ НЕСУЧИХ КОНСТРУКЦІЯХ СПОРУД, РЕЗЕРВ ПРАЦЕЗДАТНОСТІ

The article presents the results of experimental studies of the strength and deformability of load bearing structures made of wood under the action of static loads. In most major cities of Ukraine there are a huge number of buildings that have historical and architectural value. To preserve these structures for centuries, it is necessary to constantly receive such information about the state of their supporting structures for making timely decisions about reinforcement, replacement, overhaul, etc. In the materials of building structures, changes occur during the period of operation associated with the appearance, development and accumulation of structural damage. These damages cause submicron and microcracks, which are the result of external mechanical effects on the structure and therefore the transition to the boundary state is the result of a slow accumulation of damage. Having developed a technique for registering damage, you can get a tool that allows you not only to monitor the current state of the structure, but also to predict the change in its bearing capacity over time. In the period of operation there is a change in the structure of materials bearing structures The development of this process consists of several stages, the main of which are: deformation of interatomic bonds, nucleation of a sub-microcrack as a result of breaking macromolecules that form the walls of tracheids. This turns out to be suddenly and is accompanied by weak sound signals, resembling a micro explosion. The interaction of submicrocracks leads to their merging and the occurrence of microcracks, and the merging and increase of microcracks - to the occurrence of macrocracks (trunk crack), which leads to the destruction of the material. This dynamic process, depending on the size, nature and time of action of the load, may stabilize over time or, continuing, lead to the destruction of the structure. Mechanical and electrical devices currently used (indicators, strain gauges and other devices) are not suitable for detecting and recording material damage. For this purpose, it is necessary to use non- destructive research methods that allow continuous observation of submicro- and micro-processes that take place in the structure of the material of the structure. Such methods for estimating the residual life are currently being successfully applied only in aviation and on important equipment (thermal, hydraulic, nuclear power plants, etc.) The processes are obvious. There is a need to comprehensively investigate the issue of damage accumulation in wooden structures under load, and the associated processes of changing the cross-sectional area and carrying capacity and use the results of the study in the calculation of structures. This makes it possible to reduce the consumption of materials and make the sections of wooden structures more economical, and also allows you to avoid excessive margins. The direction of improving the methods of designing and calculating wooden structures and determining the residual life of the main wooden structures of structures are not yet reflected in the technical literature. In this regard, it requires a comprehensive study. To study the processes of damage accumulation in the material of construction, a method was used that does not destroy the structure. This is an acoustic emission method, which is associated with the propagation in the material of elastic waves caused by the dynamic local restructuring of its structure. Acoustic emission signals appear at the onset of micro and macro defects and accompany the entire process of material deformation. This allows you to diagnose the state of the structure, since the emission of sound vibrations can be detected at the stage when the structure as a whole is still operational.

Fast Precision Margin with the First-Order Reliability Method

Competitive aerospace design requires means to eliminate excessive margin; this can be accomplished by reformulating one’s notion of margin. This paper reviews a novel framing of the problem—precision margin—and introduces a new implementation using the first-order reliability method (FORM) for fast probability integration with principled design margin. This paper demonstrates that our margin in beta (MIB) approach preserves the incentive structure of traditional approaches, can enable lower weight penalties, is computationally tractable for practical engineering problems, and is provably conservative at a user-defined confidence level. This paper demonstrates in the sizing of a cantilever beam, and in the design of a complex, multidisciplinary supersonic nozzle.