Field Test Research Articles

Identification of Distorted Gamma-Ray Signature Patterns Using Digital Filtering and Auto-Associative Memory Implemented with a Hopfield Neural Network

The detection and identification of radioactive sources in search applications involve analyzing passive gamma-ray emissions from high-level radioactive materials. This process uses a mobile detector-spectrometer in a complex field test environment. Recently, the use of artificial intelligence for gamma-ray spectrum analysis has shown promising results. However, challenges persist in identifying isotopic signatures from spectral measurements that may be distorted due to source shielding, random variations in natural radioactive background, or insufficient measurement time to obtain clear spectral lines. This paper presents a novel intelligent signature recognition method that combines digital filtering techniques with an artificial Hopfield Neural Network (HNN). The HNN leverages auto-associative memory to store training sample patterns and match them with incoming gamma spectra from distorted sources. It restores the testing sources’ measurements by finding the closest matching signature patterns in the spectral library. Before HNN recognition, the measured spectrum undergoes preprocessing with a digital image filter to reduce fluctuations. Performance of the proposed method is evaluated using a set of gamma-ray spectra measured with a sodium iodide detector. The data collected include measurements from six pure samples: 241Am, 60Co, 137Cs, 192Ir, 239Pu, and 235U, which are used for training and validation (i.e. six cases). Additionally, the data set contains 24 distorted synthesized sources with various fluctuating backgrounds. Test results demonstrate the potential of the proposed method to accurately recognize the correct isotope with high precision, achieving an accuracy rate exceeding 85%. Furthermore, the proposed method exhibits superior performance compared to the conventional multiple regression fitting and simple feedforward neural network methods.

Design and field evaluation of hydraulic fracturing boreholes for terminal mining faces

The terminal mining is an essential part of fully mechanized mining, and the reasonable length of the flap roof during the terminal mining is an important basis for the smooth operation of the terminal mining. With the research background of the 213 working face of the Longde Coal Mine, the contribution of this study is the influence law of hydraulic fracturing on the terminal mining mechanical behavior of the working face. Four different numerical calculation models of terminal mining hydraulic fracturing are established, and the optimal hydraulic fracturing site plan is determined according to the length of the terminal mining flap top and the working resistance of hydraulic support. The effect of hydraulic fracturing construction and the law of mechanical behavior in the terminal mining stage in the field test are analyzed. The results show that through hydraulic fracturing technology, the control of the length of the flap roof of the working face during the terminal mining period has been realized.

Field investigation of the feasibility of MICP for Mitigating Natural Rainfall-Induced erosion in gravelly clay slope

Rainfall-induced erosion on slopes is a prevalent natural process leading to soil loss. One promising application of microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is to mitigate rainfall-induced erosion. Conducting field tests is an essential step to verify and improve its performance. In the current work, field tests were conducted to assess the feasibility of using MICP to mitigate rainfall-induced erosion on a gravelly clay slope in Longyan, Fujian, China. A temporary laboratory was set up to cultivate bacteria, and a non-sterilizing method was employed to prepare large volumes of bacterial suspensions in a single batch. Slopes were treated by spraying solutions onto their surfaces. The amount of discharged soils and 3D surface scanning results were used for evaluating the erosion intensity of the slopes. The results demonstrated that the method could effectively mitigate the surface erosion caused by natural rainfall and prevent erosion-induced collapse. Notably, approximately one year after the treatment, the grass had started to grow on the heavily cemented slope, indicating that the MICP method is both effective and eco-friendly for soil stabilization method. However, further improvements are needed to enhance the uniformity and long-term durability of the MICP treatment.

Cranio-Orbital Approach and Decompression of the Optic Nerves: A 2-Stage, 4-by-4-Step Approach to Improve Vision in Sellar and Parasellar Lesions.

Despite advances in cranial base techniques, surgery of the sellar and parasellar regions remains challenging because of complex neurovascular relationships. Lesions within this region frequently present with progressive visual deterioration caused by distortion and compression of the optic chiasm and nerves. In addition to the direct mass effect from mechanical forces acting on the optic apparatus, these lesions alter blood supply and reduce vascular perfusion, prompting surgical treatment to remove the lesion, alleviate compression, and improve blood flow to the optic nerve. We sought to describe a 2-stage, 4-by-4-step approach, broken down and described as a "four-by-four" technique for optic apparatus decompression and a wide approach to different sellar and parasellar lesions. We describe the operative nuances and key anatomic points in the microsurgical removal of sellar and parasellar lesions. The technique is illustrated with examples of different cases with pre- and follow-up MRI imaging and a brief overview of visual outcomes. The described technique has been demonstrated in various lesions in 5 patients. Patients presented with bilateral visual loss in 4 (80.0%) cases and with unilateral visual loss in 1 (20.0%) case. Improvement in visual function was noted in all cases, confirmed with visual acuity and visual field testing. The transcranial approach ("from above") remains an important surgical option for patients with excellent exposure and visualization of the sellar and parasellar regions. It permits early access to the optic canal for careful microsurgical decompression and relaxation of the optic nerve to preserve and improve its microvascularization and ultimately vision. The authors augmented the 2-stage, 4-by-4-step technique of decompression with elaborate illustrations of diverse sellar and parasellar lesions to demonstrate the versatility of this approach.

Evaluation of the effect of binder type and layer thickness on the performnce of open graded friction courses

To improve the long-term durability and functionality of open graded friction courses (OGFC), the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) investigated the use of a highly modified asphalt binder and increased thickness using Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT). A total of six test sections with combinations of two modified binder types (PG 76–22 and PG 82–22) and three lift thicknesses of 0.75 (19.05 mm), 1.25 (31.75 mm) and 2 (50.8) inches were constructed at FDOT’s APT facility. Accelerated loading was performed using a Heavy Vehicle Simulator (HVS) to evaluate the relative rutting performance of the test sections. Supplementary field and laboratory tests to evaluate tensile strength, Cantabro loss, field permeability, surface characteristics, and asphalt binder properties were also conducted. Test results indicated that the use of PG 82–22 polymer modified asphalt (PMA) binder may be beneficial to improve long-term durability of the OGFC. Thicker layers of OGFC were found to have considerably lower durability. It is recommended that the use of a highly modified PMA asphalt binder in OGFC layers be considered when raveling and other durability issues are of concern.

Development of Algebra Test Using the Item Response Theory Approach for Junior High School Students

This research aims to develop valid and reliable measuring tool for students' algebraic abilities that can be used in schools and the general public. The research follows a structured test development design, including stages such as preparing test specifications and items, field testing, revising items, and test development. The questions are aligned with the 2013 curriculum syllabus, ensuring relevance to educational standards. The test was given to 662 junior high school students in Kendari City, Indonesia, and their responses were analyzed using the item response theory (IRT) model with two logistic parameters: item difficulty level and item discriminatory power. The BILOG MG program was employed to estimate item and ability parameters. Before conducting item analysis with IRT, essential assumption tests were conducted, including unidimensional and model fit tests. The results of the development process, based on item analysis using BILOG MG, yielded 15 items covering various aspects of algebraic abilities. These items were derived from indicators such as recognizing algebraic forms, identifying elements within these forms, performing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division operations on algebraic forms, presenting and solving real-world problems in algebraic contexts, and addressing contextual problems involving algebraic operations. The items demonstrated good fit with the model and exhibited an appropriate level of item difficulty and discriminatory power, making them suitable for use as a reliable assessment tool. Consequently, these developed tests are deemed effective for measuring students' foundational algebraic abilities.

Advancements in UAV Path Planning: A Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach with Soft Actor-Critic for Enhanced Navigation

This paper tackles the intricate challenge of autonomous navigation for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) through dynamically changing environments. We focus on a sophisticated Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) approach using the Soft Actor-Critic (SAC) algorithm, optimized for UAV path planning within a continuous action space. This methodology leverages environmental image data to enhance the precision of flight maneuvers and effective obstacle avoidance. Our approach, validated through extensive simulations in Gazebo and field tests, demonstrates the algorithm’s efficacy in enabling UAVs to adeptly navigate obstacles using depth maps. The study further explores the robustness of the SAC algorithm by comparing it with traditional DRL methods, emphasizing its superior performance in real-world applications. This research contributes significantly to advancing UAV technology, particularly in autonomous motion planning, by integrating cutting-edge machine learning techniques. The video link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd_aMzejNXY .

Imitating pangolin scale structure for reducing adhesion and resistance of rotary tillage in wet-adhesive soil

The bionic design of soil-engaging components has recently received much attention in conservation tillage and is extremely important for reducing tillage resistance and increasing implement passability in wet-adhesive rice paddy soil. In this paper, to reduce adhesion and resistance of rotary tillage in wet-adhesive soil, a novel imitating pangolin scale structure is first proposed, and the bionic non-smooth surface parameters affecting the soil adhesion effect is clarified. Afterwards, based on the JKR attached Bonding contact model, an accurate discrete element interaction model of the designed rotary tillage blade -wet adhesive soil is established, and the effect of spindle speed, bump size and bump distance on the tillage resistance and soil disturbance is analyzed using the proposed model. Finally, the proposed imitating pangolin scale structure is optimized to improve the anti-adhesive and drag reduction properties using response surface method, furthermore, the corresponding model validation experiments and field tests are also conducted. Results reveal that the relative errors between the simulated and experimental values of the bionic blade rotary torque and soil adhesion mass are only respectively 4.4 % and 8.3 %. In addition, the optimal parameter combinations of anti-adhesion and drag reduction are also determined: the spindle speed is 180 rpm, the bump width is 10.6 mm and the bump distance is 17.9 mm, respectively, at the time, the effect of soil breaking of the designed blade is reduced by 9.95 % compared to that of the traditional blades but the effect of anti-adhesion and drag reduction is improved by 18.81 %.

Synthesis and application of a perfluorinated coumarin surfactant as an antifouling coating

Perfluorinated constitute a class of non-polluting antifouling materials. The perfluorinated surfactants have been studied and used in our laboratory for biological tests. The results have shown that they have an effect that is all the faster the higher their concentration. When they are combined with coumarins, their duration of action increases, become specific and exhibit extraordinary physicochemical properties namely, flexibility, elasticity, chemical inertia ....Field tests in the port of the city of Oran (Algeria) have confirmed that soluble matrix paints formulated with this hybrid (perfluorinated coumarins) as antifouling agents have succeeded in preventing the attachment of soiling organisms. With this in mind, our objective is to study in a comparative way the properties of this new material with those of the commercial Micron Extra EU. The composition of this surfactant used is determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), the aggregation characteristics and the glass transition temperature of the surfactant are evaluated by Differential Enthalpy Analysis (DSC).

An integrated experiment-modeling approach to identify key processes for carbon mineralization in fractured mafic and ultramafic rocks.

Abstract Controlling atmospheric warming requires immediate reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, as well as the active removal and sequestration of CO2 from current point sources. One promising proposed strategy to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels is geologic carbon sequestration (GCS), where CO2 is injected into the subsurface and reacts with the formation to precipitate carbonate minerals. Rapid mineralization has recently been reported for field tests in mafic and ultramafic rocks. However, unlike saline aquifers and depleted oil and gas reservoirs historically considered for GCS, these formations can have extremely low porosities and permeabilities, limiting storage volumes and reactive mineral surfaces to the pre-existing fracture network. As a result, coupling between geochemical interactions and the fracture network evolution is a critical component of long-term, sustainable carbon storage. In this paper, we summarize recent advances in integrating experimental and modeling approaches to determine the first order processes for carbon mineralization in a fractured mafic/ultramafic rock system. We observe the critical role of fracture aperture, flow, and surface characteristics in controlling the quantity, identity, and morphology of secondary precipitates and present where the influence of these factors can be reflected in newly developed thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical models. Our findings provide a roadmap for future work on carbon mineralization, as we present the most important system components and key challenges that we are overcoming to enable GCS in mafic and ultramafic rocks.

The eyes have it: How do gender cues in wine labels influence U.S. women wine consumers?

Little is known about women wine consumers’ reactions to gender cues in marketing communication despite their increasing purchasing power. This research examines the effects of gender cues (feminine vs. masculine) in wine labels on women wine consumers' attitudes, sensory expectations, sensory evaluations, and purchase intentions. Two online experiments and one field test involving 462 valid responses from U.S. women consumers reveal that they hold more favorable attitudes and intentions towards feminine (vs. masculine) wine labels. The moderating effects of in-group gender identification and wine knowledge were discussed. This study responds to calls for more research about women consumers in the hospitality field and extends the application of gender schema theory to hospitality literature. The findings offer updated knowledge on how to approach gender in hospitality marketing, particularly wine marketing. This research enriches hospitality literature in terms of gender marketing and provides substantial practical implications for the wine industry.

Peanut Pickup Combine Harvester Seedling Vines Crushing Mechanism Performance Enhancement and Pilot Studies

Aiming at the current peanut pickup combine harvester seedling vines crushing mechanism operation qualified seedling length rate is low, the impurity rate is high, and the seedling vines crushing mechanism is optimized design. On the basis of the material characteristics of peanut seedling vines, taking the crushing mechanism as the research carrier, the interaction mechanism of the seedling vine mechanism was analyzed. Establish the mechanical model and motion trajectory model in the crushing process, simulate the peanut seedling vines crushing process based on the discrete element method, analyze the influence of the cutter shaft rotational speed, movement speed, and bending angle on the crushing of peanut seedling vines, and establish the regression model, and the results of the research show that the influence factors in the main order of priority are: knife shaft speed > movement speed > bending angle The optimal parameter combination is knife shaft speed 2171.94 r/min, movement speed 0.79 m/s, and bending angle 45°. According to the field test conditions, it is determined that the knife shaft rotational speed of 2170 r/min, movement speed of 0.8 m/s, and bending angle of 45° can make the peanut seedling vines crushing mechanism of the work performance to achieve a qualified seedling length rate of 97.292%, the rate of impurity content of 2.746%, and the error with the predicted value is less than 2%, which indicates that this study can provide a reference for the optimal design of the seedling vines crushing mechanism of the peanut pickup combine harvester.

Full-scale field test of early-age behaviour of partially continuous reinforced concrete pavement

To address the damage characteristics and deficiencies of the existing continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP), which are the high construction cost and irregular crack distribution patterns, a concrete pavement structure called partially continuous reinforced concrete pavement (PCRCP) is proposed. In this paper, the early-age (28 days, without traffic) behaviour of PCRCP subjected to environmental loading is investigated. To this end, full-scale field tests were carried out in Xiangjiagou Tunnel, Shanxi Province, China. Testing results showed that the PCRCP test section with the partial continuous reinforcement length of 100 cm and active crack spacing of 5 m can provide better early-age performance and lower initial construction cost in this study. The PCRCP test section with the active crack control method has a uniform crack distribution pattern with narrow width compared to the CRCP test section. The results of this study would provide data support and reference for the rational design of PCRCP.

An Experimental Investigation on Durability Properties of Fiber Reinforced Concrete for M25 Grade

In modern years Fibre reinforced concrete is cement based composite material has been developed. It has been successfully used in construction with its outstanding flexural tensile strength, resistance to splitting, impact resistance and outstanding permeability and frost resistance. It is a successful way to raise toughness, shock resistance and resistance to plastic shrinkage cracking of the mortar. Fibre is added as a reinforcing material possessing certain characteristic properties. Concrete is the most extensively used structural material in the world with an yearly production of over seven billion tons. For a multiplicity of reasons, much of this concrete is cracked. The reason for concrete to undergo cracking may be endorsed to structural, ecological or economic factors, but most of the cracks are formed due to the natural weakness of the material to resist tensile forces. Concrete normally shrinks and force crack when it is controlled. It is now well-known that steel fibre reinforcement offers a solution to the problem of cracking by making concrete tougher and more yielding. It has also been proved by wide investigation and field tests carried out over the past three decades. The present investigation focuses on introduction of steel, glass, carbon fibres, Polyvinyalcohol (PVA) fibres, of polypropylene fibres at the time of mixing and production improves a number of properties of concrete, particularly those related to strength, performance and durability. This review paper is an evaluative report of studies established in the recent years. It describes and gives an Experimental basis for the research.

Fingerprint localisation for fine‐scale wildlife tracking using automated radio telemetry

Abstract Automated radio telemetry systems are one of the most widely applicable methods for tracking wildlife at fine spatiotemporal scales. A growing trend is for these systems to apply large networks of receivers to detect radio signal strength (RSS) from radio‐tagged individuals. Analytical methods to derive position estimates using RSS localisation, however, are relatively underdeveloped in the field of wildlife tracking. Here, we apply approaches from indoor positioning systems to develop a new method, radio fingerprinting, for localising radio‐tagged animals in structurally complex, outdoor environments. This method characterises the RSS patterns at known locations to generate a radio map of the study area, which is then used to predict the location of new RSS patterns. We conducted field tests to evaluate the localisation accuracy of radio fingerprinting relative to multilateration, a commonly used method for RSS localisation. To do so, we established an experimental receiver network covering multiple habitat types and compared the localisation accuracy of radio fingerprinting to multilateration. Additionally, we evaluated how a variety of features characteristic of typical tracking data sets affected the accuracy of both methods. While both methods had a similar median error under ideal conditions (~30 m), radio fingerprint localisation method offered several advantages over multilateration. Multilateration localisation estimates were highly affected by missed detections from the nearest receiver to the test point, which occurred in 30% of cases. In these cases, the median error was 103 m, over a 3.5‐fold increase. Distance to the nearest receiver also biased multilateration estimates with error increasing as the distance increased. Additionally, errors from multilateration estimates were higher in more densely vegetated areas. In contrast, fingerprinting position estimates were largely robust to each of these scenarios. Automated radio telemetry enables the fine‐scale, continuous tracking of range‐resident animals. We present radio fingerprinting as a localisation method in outdoor environments where standard localisation methods are error‐prone due to habitat heterogeneity and missed detections. This approach can be applied to any automated radio telemetry hardware and to any study system where a radio map can be generated.

Cathodic Protection Potential Distribution and Anode Ground Bed Optimization Scheme for Low-pressure City Gas Pipe

ABSTRACT The low-pressure gas pipes in some old residence communities of China are often electrically connected to each other and groundings, which brings about great challenges to the design of cathodic protection (CP) system due to large CP current consumption and attenuation effects. The field tests on potential distribution of three types of anode ground beds were conducted, including deep well auxiliary anode ground bed, shallow auxiliary anode ground bed far from gas pipes, and shallow auxiliary anode ground bed close to gas pipes. The results showed that, the shallow auxiliary anode ground bed close to gas pipe provided more protection with less current than other two types of ground bed. Numerical simulations on CP potential distribution of different anode ground beds were conducted and the boundary conditions were determined by inversion calculation based on field tests. Based on the field test and numerical simulation results, the anode ground bed suitable for CP of low-pressure gas pipes electrically connected to groundings is the shallow auxiliary anode ground bed close to gas pipes and the optimized distribution scheme for shallow anode ground beds were proposed.

Investigation of the Traveling Performance of the Tracked Chassis of a Potato Combine Harvester in Hilly and Mountainous Areas

Aiming at the problems of poor passability of a tracked chassis due to small plots, complicated road conditions and steep slopes during mechanized potato harvesting in hilly and mountainous areas. To design a potato combine harvester and take the tracked chassis of the harvester as the research object to study its driving performance under typical road conditions in mountainous areas. Firstly, mechanical analysis and theoretical calculation are carried out on the tracked chassis to obtain the relevant parameters of key components, and secondly, its driving performance is analyzed to obtain the driving limit values of passing performance under different working conditions; RecurDyn software was used to establish the dynamics simulation and analysis model of the whole machine, and the driving limit values of the harvester were determined under five different road conditions through simulation. The results show the following: the driving limit gradient angle is 20° in cross-gradient conditions, 25° in longitudinal up-gradient conditions, 25° in longitudinal down-gradient conditions, the limiting height of the chassis that can be overpassed in obstacle-crossing conditions is 450 mm, and the limiting width of the chassis that can be spanned in trench-crossing conditions is 1200 mm. The simulation results were verified through field tests, and the results of the field tests showed that the harvester met the requirements of stable travelling on longitudinal slopes of 24°, climbed over a 450 mm straight wall and crossed over a 1200 mm trench, which were similar to the simulation results, indicating that the simulation results were accurate and feasible, and met the design requirements for the travelling passage of the crawler potato harvester. This study provides an in-depth understanding of the tracked chassis of the potato combine harvester in hilly mountainous areas, with a view to providing reference for the design of tracked harvesters for other crops in hilly mountainous areas.

Tailored for vehicle horn: A novel sound source capture method

The development of a horn sound capture system, capable of replacing manual control, offers a promising solution for alleviating horn noise. Existing horn sound systems lack localization algorithms that are capable of robustly resisting interference. To address this issue, this paper introduces an innovative horn sound capture system, including hardware and algorithms for sound recognition and localization. The pivotal innovation of the system is the introduction of the Sub-SRP algorithm, an advancement of the steered-response power phase transform (SRP-PHAT). Leveraging the frequency characteristics of horn sounds, it employs a series of filtering and spectral subtraction techniques to effectively filter out non-horn noise sources. In the interference experiment and field test, the Sub-SRP algorithm achieved DOA scores of 0.96 and 0.95, respectively, showing an approximately 10% improvement compared to the existing weighted SRP-PHAT, this improvement is even more pronounced under strong interference, increasing to 17%. This improvement significantly enhances the system’s ability to accurately capture honking vehicles and resist interference. Additionally, the horn sound recognition algorithm achieved accuracy rates of 95.75% and 97.65% in the two experiments, demonstrating the system’s effectiveness. In summary, this study contributes to the advancement of urban noise management and intelligent noise control systems.

Improving UASS pesticide application: optimizing and validating drift and deposition simulations.

As unmanned aerial spraying systems (UASS) usage grows rapidly worldwide, a critical research study was conducted to optimize the simulation of UASS applications, aiming to enhance pesticide delivery efficiency and reduce environmental impact. The study examined several key aspects for accurate simulation of UASS application with lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). Based on these discussions, the most suitable grid size and simulation parameters were selected to create a robust model for optimizing UASS performance in various pest management scenarios, potentially leading to more targeted and sustainable pest control practices. The effect of stability parameter, grid size around the rotor and near ground, and parameters at wake flow were carefully analyzed to improve the precision of pesticide drift predictions and deposition patterns. Optimal grid sizes were identified as 0.2 m generally, 0.025 m near rotors, and a 0.1 + 0.2 m scheme for ground proximity, with finer grids improving accuracy but increasing computation time. Wake resolution and threshold significantly influenced simulation results, while wake distance had minimal impact beyond a certain point. The LBM's accuracy was validated by comparing simulated downwash flow and droplet deposition with field test data. This study optimized UASS simulation parameters, balancing computational efficiency with accuracy. The validated model enhances our ability to design more effective UASS for pest management, potentially leading to more precise and targeted pesticide applications. These advancements contribute to the development of sustainable pest control strategies, aiming to reduce pesticide usage and environmental impact while maintaining crop protection efficacy. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

A hybrid tracking method for maritime obstacles using sensor data

Safe navigation of ships depends on the accurate recognition and tracking of nearby maritime obstacles as detected by various sensors. Challenges arise in tracking maritime obstacles from sensor data because of sensor noise and incomplete sensor data. Traditionally, tracking algorithms such as the EKF (Extended Kalman Filter) have been applied to track the state of maritime obstacles, including the position, COG (Course Over Ground), and SOG (Speed Over Ground). This study implemented a combined EKF- and learning-based (hybrid) tracking method. In the EKF-based method, the parameters are related to the uncertainty of the system and the sensor data. These parameters are generally set manually by analyzing the noise of the sensor data and may not be optimal; we optimized the parameters to compensate for this. In the learning-based method, we trained a deep learning model using a DNN (Deep Neural Network) to predict obstacle states from sensor measurement data. We then propose a hybrid tracking method that combines the two tracking methods to compensate for the shortcomings of each method. We verified these three tracking methods using navigation data obtained through field tests. The verification results showed that the learning-based tracking method improved the SOG tracking accuracy by 11.47% compared with the traditional EKF-based tracking method. The tracking accuracy of the hybrid tracking method was reduced by 22.42% for the COG and 42.05% for the SOG. These results indicate that the hybrid tracking method effectively compensates for the limitations of the other methods, resulting in an enhanced tracking performance.