Future Operations Research Articles

Strategy for Ensuring the Metrological Traceability of Nanoparticle Size Measurements by SEM.

The concept of measurement traceability is crucial for ensuring the data reliability and the comparability of measurement results provided by different instruments and operators. In the field of nanoparticle metrology, determining the size of nanoparticles using electron microscopy-based techniques remains a real challenge. In laboratory settings, the establishment of traceability regarding the instrument calibration procedures, the assessment of uncertainties associated with instruments/operators/samples/environments, as well as the complexities related to electron-sample interactions, are often neglected. In this article, we describe the calibration procedure set up at the LNE (Laboratoire National de métrologie et d'Essais) and propose an evaluation method for determining the uncertainties in measuring nanoparticle size by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy). This study investigates the impact of the energy of the primary electrons (PEs) generated by the electron beam and accelerating voltage on the reliability of size measurements. The convolution between the signals coming from a nanoparticle and the substrate on which the particle is deposited induces edge effects that can have a negative impact on the measurement results. Finally, a diagram describing the various stages involved in establishing traceability for SEM measurements of nanoparticle size is proposed to facilitate the work of future operators.

Towards believable and educational conversations with virtual patients

Virtual Reality (VR) technology allows the design and application of realistic but adaptive learning environments in medical education. In particular, virtual patient systems have logistical and methodological advantages compared to non-computerized interventions. However, evidence for their effectiveness is fragmented as any educational domain introduces its requirements regarding learning goals, measurements of learning outcomes, and application design. In this context, we present preliminary results of evaluating a VR training application for conducting a clinical interview to diagnose mental disorders in children and adolescents using virtual patients. The evaluation focuses on design elements related to the virtual patient’s appearance and natural language capabilities. Our results indicate that our virtual patient design is highly believable and that our dialog system is satisfying. However, conversational flow requires optimization. We discuss design directions and potential enhancements for learner-virtual patient interactions in VR and address future operations to evaluate the effectiveness of our approach.

Establishing marine protected areas in the southern ocean, lessons for the BBNJ agreement

This paper first gives a brief overview of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)’s struggle to establish Antarctic Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The paper then addresses the question: what lessons can countries learn from CCAMLR’s experience in establishing high seas MPAs under the Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement? The paper finds that the final text of the BBNJ Agreement did largely reflect CCAMLR’s experience when it comes to MPAs. This is particularly so with respect to 1) clarification of the relationship between conservation and use; 2) the interpretation and application of a science-based precautionary approach; and 3) consensus-based decision-making process. The paper concludes that the insights CCAMLR provides for navigating geopolitical tensions between major powers is an important reference for the future operation of the BBNJ Agreement.

First SOLPS‐ITER simulations of ASDEX Upgrade partially detached H‐mode with boron impurity: The missing radiation at the outer strike‐point region

AbstractPartially detached H‐modes are the baseline regime for the future ITER operation. The ASDEX Upgrade partially detached H‐mode is modeled using the SOLPS‐ITER code with drifts enabled and compared with experimental data. For the first time, boron (B) impurity is simulated in the Scrape‐off layer (SOL) and divertor. A comparison between divertor diagnostics and discrepancies between Langmuir probe and Divertor Thomson scattering/Stark broadening diagnostic are discussed. In the modeling, experimental target profiles are reproduced if the experimental level of radiation in the SOL and divertor is achieved using nitrogen (N) impurity seeding. Bolometry measurements detect substantial radiation from the partially detached outer strike point. With B radiation, this maximum in bolometry data is reproduced in the modeling, which is not possible with N alone.

Balance Sheet Debt Covenants and Seasoned Equity Offerings

Synopsis The research problem This study examined the effect of having debt contracts that contain balance sheet covenants on the decision to make seasoned equity offerings (SEOs). Motivation Prior studies examined the determinants of equity issuance without considering private debt contracts that contain balance sheet covenants. Generally, firms are not restricted from stock issuance when they have financial debt covenants. This might motivate firms to make SEOs when they are more susceptible to balance sheet debt covenant violations. Making SEOs increases firms’ equity capitals in the short term and, therefore, has the direct effect of improving balance sheet covenants in the current period. This effect motivated this study to examine whether firms are more likely to conduct SEOs when their debt contracts include more-restrictive balance sheet covenants. The test hypothesis The hypothesis of the study is in the null form, which states that balance sheet covenant restrictiveness is unrelated to the probability of conducting SEOs. Target population The target population includes shareholders, debtholders, and firm managers. Adopted methodology Panel data estimation was used, specifically, the fixed effects model. Analyses The empirical analysis was conducted on a unique sample of UK listed firms with private debt covenants that is hand-collected from annual reports. Equity issuance in the sample is based on private placements, which are a common type of SEO in the UK. The restrictiveness of balance sheet-based covenants is defined as the number of balance sheet covenants in a loan contract or the tightness of net worth covenant slack. Findings The results show that balance sheet covenant restrictiveness is positively associated with the probability of conducting SEOs through private placements. The baseline result is robust to the application of a number of the controls often used in the literature, including cash shortage, the use of balance sheet covenants in the previous loan contract, earnings management, and the quality of external governance. It is also robust to excluding the financial crisis period and addressing potential endogeneity concerns using a propensity score-matching procedure. Additionally, further analysis provides some evidence that equity issuance by firms with more-restrictive balance sheet covenants is negatively associated with future operating performance, suggesting that these firms may not efficiently use the raised capital.

Future in-orbit servicing operations in the space traffic management context

This paper provides a concise yet informative overview on future operations in near-Earth space including in-orbit servicing, assembly, manufacturing, and the use of space tugs, in the frame of the space traffic management context. After providing a general definition of these activities, the significant impact that they will have in the space domain from an economic perspective is highlighted. Past achievements in terms of orbital demonstrations are then recalled, leading to the identification of the most critical technological challenges which need to be addressed to improve reliability, frequency, and robustness of servicing operations. A summary of the most critical next steps and recommendations is finally provided.

Population health implications of exposure to pervasive military aircraft noise pollution.

While the adverse health effects of civil aircraft noise are relatively well studied, impacts associated with more intense and intermittent noise from military aviation have been rarely assessed. In recent years, increased training at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, USA has raised concerns regarding the public health and well-being implications of noise from military aviation. This study assessed the public health risks of military aircraft noise by developing a systematic workflow that uses acoustic and aircraft operations data to map noise exposure and predict health outcomes at the population scale. Acoustic data encompassing seven years of monitoring efforts were integrated with flight operations data for 2020-2021 and a Department of Defense noise simulation model to characterize the noise regime. The model produced contours for day-night, nighttime, and 24-h average levels, which were validated by field monitoring and mapped to yield the estimated noise burden. Established thresholds and exposure-response relationships were used to predict the population subject to potential noise-related health effects, including annoyance, sleep disturbance, hearing impairment, and delays in childhood learning. Over 74,000 people within the area of aircraft noise exposure were at risk of adverse health effects. Of those exposed, substantial numbers were estimated to be highly annoyed and highly sleep disturbed, and several schools were exposed to levels that place them at risk of delay in childhood learning. Noise in some areas exceeded thresholds established by federal regulations for public health, residential land use and noise mitigation action, as well as the ranges of established exposure-response relationships. This study quantified the extensive spatial scale and population health burden of noise from military aviation.We employed a novel GIS-based workflow for relating mapped distributions of aircraft noise exposure to a suite of public health outcomes by integrating acoustic monitoring and simulation data with a dasymetric population density map. This approach enables the evaluation of population health impacts due to past, current, and future proposed military operations. Moreover, itcanbemodified for application to other environmental noise sources and offers an improved open-sourcetool to assess the population health implications of environmental noise exposure, inform at-risk communities, and guide efforts in noise mitigation and policy governing noise legislation, urban planning, and land use.

Refocusing the Military Health System to support Role 4 definitive care in future large-scale combat operations.

The last 20 years of sustained combat operations during the Global War on Terror generated significant advancements in combat casualty care. Improvements in point-of-injury care, en route care, and forward surgical care appropriately aligned with the survival, evacuation, and return to duty needs of the small-scale unconventional conflict. However, casualty numbers in large-scale combat operations have brought into focus the critical need for modernized casualty receiving and convalescence: Role 4 definitive care. Historically, World War II was the most recent conflict in which the United States fought in multiple operational theaters, with hundreds of thousands of combat casualties returned to the continental United States. These numbers necessitated the establishment of a "Zone of the Interior," which integrated military and civilian health care networks for definitive treatment and rehabilitation of casualties. Current security threats demand refocusing and bolstering the Military Health System's definitive care capabilities to maximize its force regeneration capacity in a similar fashion. Medical force generation, medical force sustainment and readiness, and integrated casualty care capabilities are three pillars that must be developed for Military Health System readiness of Role 4 definitive care in future large-scale contingencies against near-peer/peer adversaries.

Open, endovascular or hybrid repair of aortic arch disease: narrative review of diverse strategies with diverse options.

The management of aortic arch disease is complex. Open surgical management continues to evolve, and the introduction of endovascular repair is revolutionizing aortic arch surgery. Although these innovative techniques have generated the opportunity for better outcomes in select patients, they have also introduced confusion and uncertainty regarding best practices. In New York, we developed a collaborative group, the New York Aortic Consortium, as a means of cross-linking knowledge and working together to better understand and treat aortic disease. In our meeting in May 2023, regional aortic experts and invited international experts discussed the contemporary management of aortic arch disease, differences in interpretation of the available literature and the integration of endovascular technology into disease management. We summarized the current state of aortic arch surgery in this review article. Approaches to aortic arch repair have evolved substantially, whether it be methods to reduce cerebral ischaemia, improve haemostasis, simplify future operations or expand options for high-risk patients with endovascular approaches. However, the transverse aortic arch remains challenging to repair. Among our collaborative group of cardiac/aortic surgeons, we discovered a wide disparity in our practice patterns and our management strategies of patients with aortic arch disease. It is important to build unique institutional expertise in the context of complex and evolving management of aortic arch disease with open surgery, endovascular repair and hybrid approaches, tailored to the risk profiles and anatomical specifics of individual patients.

An Extensive Assessment of the Energy Management and Design of Battery Energy Storage in Renewable Energy Systems

Many benefits are derivable when renewable energy systems (RES) are integrated with battery energy storage systems (BESS). However, appropriate energy management techniques should be adopted to realize optimal benefits. Many BESS operations’ optimization approaches are available in RES with various techno-economic, environmental, and dispatch-related outputs. BESS operations are optimized using different methods. Past studies have mainly concentrated on certain renewable energy systems designed for specific purposes, such as distributed generation or large-scale. This paper thoroughly examines and analyzes various battery management systems by considering the relationship between the optimization methodology and the intended application. This strategy enables the identification of connections between favored optimization approaches and specific optimization goals. Some approaches are more effective in solving economic goal optimizations, whereas others are commonly used for technical goal optimizations. The selection of the solution methodology is also demonstrated to be highly contingent upon the degree of mathematical formulation of the problem. An analysis is conducted to assess the strengths and limitations of the described optimization techniques. The conclusion is that hybrid approaches, which combine the benefits of multiple techniques, will significantly impact the creation of future operating strategies. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of optimization approaches and battery applications, aiming to assist researchers in efficiently identifying appropriate optimization strategies for emerging applications in the new generation.

APPROVAL OF FORMATION OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE OF FUTURE OPERATORS IN INFORMATION PROCESSING AND SOFTWARE

The article is devoted to the problem of researching the effectiveness of the process of forming the professional competence of future information processing and software operators in the process of professional training. It was found that the system of training future specialists in the process of professional training is aimed at ensuring their readiness for professional activity, taking into account all components of the educational process of the educational institution. It was clarified that the important factors of the problem of the formation of professional competence of future specialists in the process of professional training are inadequate readiness for professional activity and the appropriate level of their professional competence for such activity. It was revealed that the process of formation of professional competence of individuals for professional activity is influenced by the following factors: transformation of the content of training of future operators in information processing and software in professional (vocational and technical) education institutions; the prestige of the profession and its social significance; professional development and development of the personality of future specialists; acquisition of practical experience by students of education regarding the implementation of innovative technologies and project activities; purposeful mastery of professional skill and specialty; the formation of a culture of mastery and the readiness of qualified specialists for professional activity. It is specified that the formation of professional competence of future specialists in the process of professional training is oriented towards: purposeful formation of a complete system of professional competences in the process of professional training; development of motivational potential; enrichment of the development of individual and professional qualities, formation of self-assertion, improvement of personal and professional assets, acquisition of one's own style of work; accumulation of experience in professional skills for effective performance of professional activities, improvement of professional abilities and skills for further self-actualization, self-improvement of professional activities, development of quick adaptation to full-fledged future activities; improvement of assets of creative and scientific research, enabling professional self-development in professional activity. The study of the continuity of the development of future specialists to professional activity requires further development.

Influence of plant growth regulators on qualitative attributes of acid lime Kuliana local in Odisha

Kuliana lime is an outstanding Odisha cultivar with significant potential to be included in future crop improvement operations due to its flavor and juice content. This research was conducted at the Horticultural Research Station, Department of Fruit Science and Horticultural Technology, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar during 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 to determine the optimal growth regulator in terms of quality metrics. certain growth regulators 2,4-D (2,4-D @ 10 ppm and 20 ppm) and GA3 (GA3 @ 50 ppm and 100 ppm) and NAA (NAA @ 100 ppm and 200 ppm) and SA (SA @ 100 ppm and 200 ppm) and SPMD (SPMD @ 0.01 ppm and 0.5 ppm) and PUT (PUT @ 0.01 ppm and 0.5 ppm) and BR (BR @ 0.1 ppm and 0.5 ppm) quality of Acid Lime kuliana local. The biometrical observations on various quality features were recorded in the same seasons over 2 years. The best was for fruit quality, which has been determined on the basis of growth regulators performances, as growth regulator variation has a significant effect on the quality of fruit. Brassinosteroids showed the best effects for TSS (7.17 oBrix), acidity (6.05 %), total sugar content (0.61 %), reducing sugar content (0.41 %), ascorbic acid (36.35 mg per 100 mL of juice), chlorophyll content (33.03 mg/100 g), flavonoid content (119.91 mg/100 g), protein (0.82 mg/100 g) and carbohydrate content (10.29 mg/100g) with the other treatments, including the untreated fruits in both years of the study. Our results revealed that the BR gave superior results in quality attributes for Kuliana lime in the East and Southeast Coastal Plain Zones of Odisha.

Dynamic simulation of DALS test facility cryoplant

Dalian Advanced Light Source (DALS) test facility program requires a 370 W cryoplant to meet the cooling requirements of four testbenches. The utilization of dynamic simulation holds significant potential for diverse applications such as process design, control logic optimization, and virtual commissioning. These applications are helpful in facilitating the subsequent stages of commissioning and operation. This paper describes the establishment of a model for the DALS test facility cryoplant based on the Ecosimpro software. The model includes the main components of the cryoplant, incorporating most control loops and sequential control strategies. The simulation encompasses three operation modes, namely liquefaction mode, refrigeration mode and fast cooldown mode. The simulation results match the Temperature-Entropy (T-S) diagram from the manufacturer well. This model will be used in the upcoming commissioning of the cryoplant for resolving challenges that may arise in future operation.

End station refrigerator 2 cryoplant at Jefferson Lab

The End Station Refrigerator 2 (ESR2) cryoplant will provide cryogens to three of the four experimental halls in support of 12 GeV Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) experimental demands. In particular, the near-future Measurement of a Lepton-Lepton Electroweak Reaction (MOLLER) experiment requires the additional capacity provided by ESR2. This new cryoplant consists of a 4.0 kW at 4.5-Kelvin cold box and a two-stage compressor system. The cold box and compressor equipment were received from the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) project and are being refurbished to meet Jefferson Lab’s future operating needs. The ESR2 cryoplant includes a new, 50+ m long cold transfer line, bayonet-can, utility system, and control system. The paper describes the fabrication and installation challenges faced, mitigations adopted, and future work plans for the cryoplant.

Initial findings of autonomous radiation mapping robot field test

Radiation mapping using mobile robotic can minimize the risk of operator exposure to radiation while providing detailed radiation maps of targeted areas. Despite its potential advantages, the use of this technology is still limited and requires further investigation. In a previous study, an autonomous radiation mapping robot was designed and developed. This paper presents the initial findings on autonomous radiation mapping field test that focuses on the operation procedures and the challenges faced during the robot deployment. Temporary solutions implemented to overcome the challenges are also discussed. The results will provide insights for future researchers and operators working on mobile robotic technology for radiation mapping.

Design and architecture of a slender and flexible underwater robot

This paper presents the design and analysis of a biomimetic underwater snake-like robot, addressing the main limitations of current underwater robotic systems in terms of maneuverability and adaptability in complex environments. The innovative design incorporates flexible joint modules that significantly enhance the robot’s ability to navigate through narrow and irregular terrains, which is a notable limitation in traditional rigidly connected underwater robots. These flexible joints provide increased degrees of freedom and enable the robot to absorb and release energy, ensuring stability even under external impacts, thus extending the operational lifespan of the robot. Finite element analysis demonstrates the flexible joints’ superior performance in various underwater conditions, offering a greater range of motion and workspace compared to rigid connections. The results indicate that the robot’s modular design, combined with the flexible joint module, leads to improved agility and maneuverability, allowing for precise and intentional operation. The control module, equipped with advanced sensors and a CPU, manages the complex dynamics introduced by the flexible joints, ensuring effective navigation and operation. The specific advantages of this design include the robot’s enhanced structural integrity, its ability to conform to irregular surfaces, and its adaptability to environmental variations. The paper concludes with a discussion on the implications of these findings for the future design and operation of underwater serpentine robots, emphasizing the need for a balance between the effects of elastic modulus and workspace to maximize the benefits of flexible joints.

The Design and Refurbishment of End Station Refrigerator 2 at JLab

The future operation of the 4 kW 15 Kelvin MOLLER experiment at Jefferson lab necessitates an increase of cryogenic capacity at the End Station Refrigerator. The current plant is the former 1.5 kW (4.5 K) ESCAR plant that has been operating at Jefferson Lab since 1995. The existing 1.5 kW plant is not able to support the load for MOLLER and will be replaced with a refurbished plant comprised of the cold box and compressors of the 4 kW ASST-A plant from the Superconducting Super Collider in Texas. This paper outlines the assembly, repair and modifications made to the cold box, along with the design of the plant as a whole and its integration into the existing distribution system.

Safe Operation and Intelligent Management of Tunnels in Coastal Cities

This paper focuses on the safety operation and intelligent management of tunnel in coastal cities, and deeply discusses the challenges and opportunities faced by tunnel as an important part of urban traffic under the background of accelerating urbanization process. This paper first analyzes the particularity of the coastal city tunnel in geological environment, climatic conditions and traffic flow, and points out the complexity and importance of its safe operation. Then, the paper elaborates the application of intelligent management in tunnel safety operation, including intelligent monitoring system, automatic early warning system, emergency management system and other aspects, and emphasizes the key role of intelligent technology in improving the efficiency and safety of tunnel operation. In addition, the paper also discusses the development trend of tunnel safety operation and intelligent management in coastal cities, and puts forward suggestions on strengthening technological innovation, improving laws and regulations, and improving management level, in order to provide useful reference for the future safety operation and intelligent management of tunnel in coastal cities.

Preparing Future Military Medical Officers to Conduct Emergency Fresh Whole Blood Transfusions in Austere Environments: A Novel Training Curriculum.

Providing resilient Damage Control Resuscitation capabilities as close to the point of injury as possible is paramount to reducing mortality and improving patient outcomes for our nation's warfighters. Emergency Fresh Whole Blood Transfusions (EFWBT) play a critical role in supporting this capability, especially in future large-scale combat operations against peer adversaries with expected large patient volumes, restrictive operating environments, and unreliable logistical supply lines. Although there are service-specific training programs for whole blood transfusion, there is currently no dedicated EFWBT training for future military medical officers. To address this gap, we developed, implemented, and evaluated a training program to enhance EFWBT proficiency in third-year military medical students at the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine at the USU. After reviewing both the 75th Ranger Regiment Ranger O-Low Titer program and the Marine Corps' Valkyrie program, along with the relevant Joint Trauma System Clinical Practice Guidelines, we created a streamlined and abbreviated training curriculum. The training consisted of both online preparatory materials as well as a 2-hour in-person training that included didactic and experiential learning components. Participants were 165 active duty third-year medical students at USU. Participants were assessed using a pre- and post-assessment self-reported questionnaire on their confidence in the practical application and administrative oversight requirements of an EFWBT program. Participants' performance was also assessed using a pre/post knowledge assessment consisting of 10 multiple choice questions identified as critical to understanding of the academic principles of EFWBT along with the baseline questionnaire. Differences in the mean scores of the pre- and post-assessment self-reported questionnaire (increased from 2.32 to 3.95) were statistically significant (P < .001). Similarly, there was a statistically significant improvement in student test scores, with the mean score increasing by approximately 3 points or 30%. There was no significant difference in student confidence assessment or test scores based on branch of service. Students who had previously deployed did not show a statistically significant difference in scores compared to students who had not previously deployed. Our results suggest that the implementation of streamlined EFWBT training into the undergraduate medical education of future military medical officers offers an efficient way to improve their baseline proficiency in EFWBTs. Future research is needed to assess the impact of this training on real-world applications in forward-deployed environments.

Investigation of temperature effects on wide steel box girder of suspension bridge based on long-term monitoring data

The time-varying temperature distributions on bridge structures may remarkably change structural performance, which may result in differential strain/stress responses on structural members compared with the design conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of temperature distributions and its effects on bridges. In this study, taking advantage of structural health monitoring technology, 1-year field monitoring data collected from a long-span suspension bridge were used to investigate the temperature distributions and their effects on the steel box girder. Specifically, the distributions and probability statistics of temperatures on the top and bottom plates were firstly analyzed. Based on which, the transverse and vertical temperature differences on the box girder were further examined, moreover, the representative values of temperature differences for various return periods were calculated by exceedance probability method. At end, a temperature prediction method was proposed to simulated the temperature field distributions during bridge life cycle, to provide substantial temperature data for estimating future operation condition. The results of this study were beneficial to structural evaluation of in-service bridges to ensure their serviceability and integrity in the life cycle.