Method For Preliminary Assessment Research Articles

Preliminary Assessment Method for Structural Performance (PAMSP) of RC Rahmen Structure Building during Scan-to-BIM Procedure

Preliminary Assessment Method for Structural Performance (PAMSP) of RC Rahmen Structure Building during Scan-to-BIM Procedure

Deuterium Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using Deuterated Water-Induced 2H-Tissue Labeling Allows Monitoring Cancer Treatment at Clinical Field Strength.

An accurate and noninvasive assessment of tumor response following treatment other than traditional anatomical imaging techniques is essential. Deuterium magnetic resonance spectroscopic (MRS) imaging has been demonstrated as an alternative for cancer metabolic imaging by high-field MRI using deuterium-labeled molecules. The study aim was to use 2H tissue labeling and deuterium MRI at clinical field strength for tumor visualization and assessment of three anticancer therapies in pancreatic cancer model mice. MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic carcinoma and C26 colorectal carcinoma models of BALB/c-nu mice was prepared, and repeated deuterium MRI was performed during the first 10 days of free drinking of 30% D2O to track 2H distribution in tissues. 2H accumulation in the tumor after irradiation, bevacizumab administration, or gemcitabine administration was also measured in MIA PaCa-2-bearing mice. Confirmatory proton MRI, ex vivo metabolic hyperpolarization 13C-MRS, and histopathology were performed. The mouse's whole-body distribution of 2H was visible 1 day after drinking, and the signal intensity increased daily. Although the tumor size did not change 1 and 3 days after irradiation, the amount of 2H decreased significantly. The 2H image intensity of the tumor also significantly decreased after the administration of bevacizumab or gemcitabine. Metabolic hyperpolarization 13C-MRS, proton MRI, and 2H-NMR spectroscopy confirmed the efficacy of the anticancer treatments. Deuterium MRI at 1.5T proved feasible to track 2H distribution throughout mouse tissues during D2O administration and revealed a higher 2H accumulation in the tumor xenografts. This research demonstrated a promising successful method for preliminary assessment of radiotherapy and chemotherapy of cancer.

Mechanical safety of reinforced concrete structures at all stages of the life cycle

Ensuring the mechanical safety of operated buildings at all stages of the life cycle is an urgent task. This is especially important when planning major repairs and reconstruction in buildings, as well as determining the period of safe operation from the moment of the survey, i.e. clarification of the remaining service life. The total service life at the design stage is set by the customer and the general designer in accordance with the recommendations of GOST 27751-2014 «Reliability for constructions and foundations. General principles». Mechanical safety and durability are ensured when calculating structures using the limit state method, assigning protection measures depending on the operating conditions, as well as complying with the requirements of SP 255.1325800.2016 «Buildings and structures. Operating rules. General Provisions». A method for preliminary assessment of the mechanical safety of buildings and their structures is proposed for consideration, which eliminates some of the shortcomings of existing methods for calculating the residual life by physical wear (damage) of building structures based on the results of a visual inspection, the basis of which is the dependence of the allowable safe operation period on the percentage of reduced bearing capacity. It is proposed to use the results of a visual inspection performed in accordance with GOST 31937-2011 «Buildings and constructions. Rules of inspection and monitoring of the technical condition».

ПОИСК УНИВЕРСАЛЬНЫХ РЕШЕНИЙ В ОРГАНИЗАЦИИ ЭФФЕКТИВНОЙ СИСТЕМЫ УПРАВЛЕНИЯ

On the basis of generalization and analysis of existing approaches in the organization of management systems, the author proposes a method of preliminary assessment of the development potential of the enterprise, derived on the basis of the general properties of functioning inherent in all organizations, and also provides a typical scheme of an effective management system. Attention is paid to problematic issues related to the performance by employees of uncharacteristic labor functions. A simple method is proposed by which it is possible to identify an unreasonably expended labor resource and optimize the management system. Universal criteria are considered, using which it is possible to organize the distribution of responsibilities between employees and departments, so that their activities are as efficient and effective as possible. The leading role of employees who are the creators of the main product of the organization is indicated in relation to those who perform the functions of ensuring the production process, including administrative and managerial personnel. In this article, much attention is paid to the issue of the formation of effective labor behavior, the physiological mechanisms of the formation of a behavioral act are revealed. Based on the analysis of the need-information theory of emotions by academician P.V.Simonov, the systematization and description of physiologically conditioned human needs, which are the sources of appropriate behavioral reactions, is carried out. The article describes studies of the formation of a conditioned reflex and the basic principle of the nervous system – the dominant principle, which clearly demonstrate how foci of excitation can be created in the central nervous system, which can subsequently directly affect human behavior, as well as underlie many pathological processes occurring in the body. The author suggests the principles of human impact, the use of which will cause an unconditional reaction from the object of influence. The relationship between the emotional state of an employee and the effectiveness of his labor actions is investigated. The direct dependence of the effectiveness of labor actions carried out by employees on the presence of their positive emotional reinforcement is proved. The mechanism of professional skill formation as the basis of effective labor behavior is revealed. The article identifies cognitive distortions, as well as errors in decision-making that arise in managers in the process of managing subordinate employees, and also reveals the causes of their occurrence. Conclusions are drawn about the necessary qualities of highly qualified managers.

Neural network system for analyzing statistical factors of patients for predicting the survival of dental implants.

Implants are now the standard method of replacing missing or damaged teeth. Despite the improving technologies for the manufacture of implants and the introduction of new protocols for diagnosing, planning, and performing implant placement operations, the percentage of complications in the early postoperative period remains quite high. In this regard, there is a need to develop new methods for preliminary assessment of the patient's condition to predict the success of single implant survival. The intensive development of artificial intelligence technologies and the increase in the amount of digital information that is available for analysis make it relevant to develop systems based on neural networks for auxiliary diagnostics and forecasting. Systems based on artificial intelligence in the field of dental implantology can become one of the methods for forming a second opinion based on mathematical decision making and forecasting. The actual clinical evaluation of a particular case and further treatment are carried out by the dentist, and AI-based systems can become an integral part of additional diagnostics. The article proposes an artificial intelligence system for analyzing various patient statistics to predict the success of single implant survival. As the topology of the neural network, the most optimal linear neural network architectures were developed. The one-hot encoding method was used as a preprocessing method for statistical data. The novelty of the proposed system lies in the developed optimal neural network architecture designed to recognize the collected and digitized database of various patient factors based on the description of the case histories. The accuracy of recognition of statistical factors of patients for predicting the success of single implants in the proposed system was 94.48%. The proposed neural network system makes it possible to achieve higher recognition accuracy than similar neural network prediction systems due to the analysis of a large number of statistical factors of patients. The use of the proposed system based on artificial intelligence will allow the implantologist to pay attention to the insignificant factors affecting the quality of the installation and the further survival of the implant, and reduce the percentage of complications at all stages of treatment. However, the developed system is not a medical device and cannot independently diagnose patients. At this point, the neural network system for analyzing the statistical factors of patients can predict a positive or negative outcome of a single dental implant operation and cannot be used as a full-fledged tool for supporting medical decision-making.

The hallmarks of dietary intervention-resilient gut microbiome

Maintaining equilibrium of the gut microbiome is crucial for human health. Diet represents an important and generally accessible natural channel of controlling the nutrients supply to the intestinal microorganisms. Although many studies showed that dietary interventions can specifically modulate gut microbiome composition, further progress of the approach is complicated by interindividual variability of the microbial community response. The reported causes of this variability include the baseline microbiome composition features, but it is unclear whether any of them are intervention-specific. Here, we applied a unified computational framework to investigate the variability of microbiome response measured as beta diversity in eight various dietary interventions using previously published 16S rRNA sequencing datasets. We revealed a number of baseline microbiome features which determine the microbiome response in an intervention-independent manner. One of the most stable associations, reproducible for different interventions and enterotypes, was a negative dependence of the response on the average number of genes per microorganism in the community—an indicator of the community functional redundancy. Meanwhile, many revealed microbiome response determinants were enterotype-specific. In Bact1 and Rum enterotypes, the response was negatively correlated with the baseline abundance of their main drivers. Additionally, we proposed a method for preliminary assessment of the microbiome response. Our study delineats the universal features determining microbiome response to diverse interventions. The proposed approach is promising for understanding the mechanisms of gut microbiome stability and improving the efficacy of personalised microbiome-tailored interventions.

Electromechanical Properties of Thin-Layer HTSC-2G Tape Wires at Helium Temperature and Tensile Stresses Above 1000 MPa

At present, HTSC-2G tape wires (hereinafter wires) are an uncontested basis for creating conductors for the magnetic system of a compact thermonuclear reactor. Since, according to calculations, the tangential mechanical stresses in the windings of its magnetic system can exceed 1000 MPa, the requirement for high electromechanical stability of the HTSC wire used comes first, which makes it possible to raise the constructive current density. In this work, comparative electromechanical test of HTSC-2G wires with different thicknesses of the superconducting layer, on a substrate made of AISI 310S stainless steel, at the temperature of liquid nitrogen and liquid helium were carried out. The factors leading to a decrease in the degradation of the critical current at high tensile stresses have been established. A new method for testing HTSC-2G wires at helium temperature and a simple method for preliminary assessment of their electromechanical properties at nitrogen temperature are proposed.

Estimating processing cost for the recovery of valuable elements from mine tailings using dimensional analysis

The mining industry generates thousands of tons of waste every day. Some types of waste pose environmental risks, while others can be considered important sources of valuable materials. Nowadays, the re-processing of mine tailings starts to be seen as an increasingly more critical operation because of the need to shift from the current linear economy model to the circular one. However, full-scale mine tailings processing is still in the early stages. One of the important factors that could contribute to its spreading would be developing a simple method of preliminary assessment of the profitability of mine tailings processing. Therefore, the aim of this study is to propose a method that could be used to estimate the cost of mine tailings processing for the recovery of valuable elements. The proposed approach deploys dimensional analysis, as well as sensitivity analysis. In order to illustrate the applicability of the proposed method, data from 48 Chilean mining operations were analyzed. Since copper is the element whose concentration in Chilean mine tailings is the highest, and vanadium is the main critical raw material that can be obtained from the same source, both were selected to be recovered. The results show that a plant that processes mine tailings to recover vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) via hydrometallurgical processes would incur a processing cost of 6,218 US$/t of V2O5. On the other hand, a processing cost for a plant engaged in copper recovery would be 2,953 US$/t of Cu. This represents a reduction by 40.87% and 44.20%, respectively, compared to the operating costs of similar mining operations. In addition, the sensitivity analysis determined that the unit price of electricity and electricity consumption are the two variables having the highest impact on the total processing cost. The obtained results are valid for Chilean mines, however, the proposed approach could be widely used to estimate mine tailing processing cost for the recovery of other elements in other countries.

Preliminary Assessment of the Energy Efficiency of theTrombe Walls in Buildings with Passive Use of Solar Energy

Passive use of solar energy for heating buildings in winter and cooling buildings in summer is an environmentally friendly and effective way to save energy in the operation of buildings. In different countries, especially in the middle latitudes, (30–40)% of thermal and electrical energy is consumed for heating and cooling buildings. Therefore, the use of such an inexhaustible source of energy as the sun is relevant. The method of preliminary assessment of the energy efficiency of Trombe walls for buildings in different climatic conditions, based on the energy analysis of the work of these structures in the transition periods of the year (spring – autumn), when the work of the Trombe walls is most effective, is presented. In summer, these structures can be used to activate air exchange with the drawing of cool air from shady and cool areas due to the “chimney” effect. On cold winter days and at night, when there is no sun, the walls of the Trombus act as buffer zones that reduce the temperature load on the enclosing structures. These positive qualities are additional, increasing the energy efficiency of these structures. They are not taken into account in this method. The maximum effect is achieved during the transition period. The results of computational modelling of energy savings due to the use of Trombe walls in areas with a monsoon climate in north-eastern China (Harbin and Shenyang), as well as similar climate areas of the Russian Far East (Khabarovsk and Vladivostok), located at the latitude of the cities under consideration in China, are analysed. It is shown that the efficiency of the use of Trombe walls in the transition period for heating can be up to (10–15)% in these areas. The method of determining the energy efficiency of the use of Trombe walls can be used to determine the feasibility of their use in various climatic regions at the stage of preliminary design and decision-making.

Structural score to quantify the vulnerability for quick seismic assessment of RC framed buildings in India

Seismic vulnerability assessment of existing RC frame buildings is important for evaluating their performance to future earthquakes and accordingly plan risk mitigation strategies. Preliminary assessment technique is commonly used to quickly assess the vulnerability based on a sidewalk survey of a building. Majority of existing techniques only provide qualitative results which generally lead to difficulty in classifying building as vulnerable or not. A preliminary assessment method based on HAZUS has been developed for RC frame buildings designed as per Indian standards considering seismicity, soil conditions, frame-type and irregularities as main variables. The proposed technique provides both qualitative and quantitative assessment in a more engineered way by assigning a structural score to a building, which essentially defines its probability of collapse. Nonlinear-static pushover analysis has been performed on certain archetype buildings using open source software (OpenSEES) to develop the structural score of a building. Most commonly observed irregularities such as open ground storey, severe vertical irregularity, short-column and plan irregularity are considered for evaluating the structural score. The proposed structural score helps in taking a step forward to quickly quantify the vulnerability of RC framed buildings in India.

Determination of the Spatial Resolution of Radar Images in Remote Sensing of the Earth

Introduction. The analysis of the current state and prospects of space-based radar surveillance tools is important for determining their functions in global aerospace information systems, which aim to monitor air and space, as well as the Earth's surface. Radar surveillance information is used for the purposes of economic analysis, environmental monitoring, mineral search, emergency monitoring, detection and recognition of specified object s at sea and on land, as well as for ensuring national security. In this regard, it is of relevance to develop methods for preliminary assessment of the resolution capacity of novel high-precision onboard radar systems installed on a spacecraft, considering their main technical characteristics, the parameters of the spacecraft movement and the influence of the atmosphere. A priori estimation of spatial resolution values requires a method for calculating the corresponding indicators meeting the required quality of the synthesized radio holograms.Aim. To derive mathematical dependencies and logical rules allowing a priori estimation of the spatial resolution of radar images obtained by the onboard equipment of a radar complex.Materials and methods. Analytical methods were used to determine the resolution error of onboard radar systems with a synthesized aperture in the lateral (azimuthal) direction and range, as well as the theory of radar signal processing.Results. A comparison of the experimental and analytical data on the resolution capacity of an actual radar system confirmed the validity on the proposed method. The developed methodology was used to determine the procedure of calculating the error when estimating the resolution capacity in terms of azimuth and range. Conclusion. The proposed method can be used for both designing novel radar systems and comparing existing radar complexes, depending on the resolution requirements.

Non-destructive method for preliminary assessment of deformation modulus of dispersive soils

Modern non-destructive techniques of wave analysis can be applied for the express preliminary geotechnical soil assessment. One of them is Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) which allows obtaining velocities profile of shear waves and the initial shear modulus for the upper section promptly and at minimal labour costs. However, the soil deformation properties assessment requires the deformation modulus that is obtained by the direct technique of plate load test (PLT). The purpose of the study is to assess the correlation between the PLT deformation modulus and the initial shear modulus determined with MASW.

A Method for Preliminary Assessment of the Masking Potential of Anthropogenic Noise to Baleen Whale Calls

A Method for Preliminary Assessment of the Masking Potential of Anthropogenic Noise to Baleen Whale Calls

Application of the Frameworks of Intrinsic Capacity and the Hallmarks of Aging to Validate Nicotinamide Riboside as a Healthy Aging Supplement – A Meta-Analysis

Abstract Objectives Introduction: Demonstrating the benefits of nutritional supplements on healthy aging has been challenging, as research has tended to focus on affecting disease rather than health optimization. We propose that by applying the frameworks of intrinsic capacity and the hallmarks of aging, one can more definitively demonstrate measurable benefits of a nutritional supplement. To test the validity of this approach, research previously and actively being conducted on nicotinamide riboside (NR), a precursor to the essential coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) was evaluated. NAD levels have been shown to decrease with age, thus NR is widely promoted as a nutritional solution for healthy aging. Objective: The goal of this analysis was to determine if the combined frameworks of intrinsic capacity and the hallmarks of aging can be used to demonstrate the benefits of NR supplementation. Methods For preliminary assessment, a database of current and past NR research was developed. Each study was categorized as applicable to one or more of the proposed framework categories. The data were graphed by category to demonstrate historical growth in the research categories. Results Preliminary results indicated that 30.6% of studies in the database could be categorized as including research on one or more of the hallmarks of aging; the most dominant category was that of mitochondrial dysfunction, encompassing 27 preclinical and 7 clinical studies, followed by genomic instability (17,1), altered intercellular communication (9,2), deregulated nutrient sensing (8,3), stem cell exhaustion (11,0), epigenetic alterations (2,0), and telomere attrition (2,0), respectively. More than half of the studies could also be categorized as relating to one or more domains of intrinsic capacity specifically Vitality (50,2) and Locomotion (19,4), followed by Cognition (5,1), Sensory (4,0), and Psychological (1,0), (preclinical, clinical) respectively. Conclusions NR research can be applied to multiple categories of the hallmarks of aging as well as intrinsic capacity domains, demonstrating the benefits of NR supplementation Positive results from previous and current research will further validate NR as a multidimensional healthy aging supplement. Funding Sources None.

Assessing the Security of TEMPEST Fonts against Electromagnetic Eavesdropping by Using Different Specialized Receivers

The main topic of the present paper is the printed text protection against electromagnetic infiltration. There are many solutions to protect such data. One of these methods is the one that uses computer fonts that are characterized by special shapes. The suitability of the solution has to be confirmed by many tests and analyses. An important element of such researches is the class of receiving devices used. In the case of measurements of the valuable emissions arising from electronic data processing of the printed text, typical receivers that are used for measurements of electromagnetic compatibility cannot be used. They have to be dedicated devices for measuring the very low level of signal that arises unintentionally. The sensitivity of the receiver must be very high in wide measuring bands. In addition, in order to assess the method of preventing electromagnetic infiltration, it is important to verify it by independent institutions. An additional advantage is the use of different receivers in the assessment process. This paper presents the results of studies made regarding the suitability of two sets of fonts with special shapes (secure symmetrical and secure asymmetrical) in secure information processing. The analysis of the fonts was based on visual examination, a basic method of preliminary assessment of electromagnetic emissions correlated with processed text information, of the images reproduced from unwanted emissions. The tests were carried out at two independent institutions, Military Communication Institute—Poland, Special Telecommunications Services—Romania, using three different types of receivers: Tempest Test System DSI-1550A, Rohde & Schwarz FSET22 and Rohde & Schwarz FSWT. The images obtained in the two independent laboratories with different setup and test equipment confirmed thus without doubt the possibility of using special fonts as the solution against an effectiveness of electromagnetic infiltration. The above assessment is correct, regardless of the used receiver and the environment of implementation of the secure fonts.

Assessment and Mapping Green Areas Ecosystem Services and Socio-Demographic Characteristics in Turin Neighborhoods (Italy)

The ecosystem services (ES) and human well-being are keywords that guide the Italian strategy on urban greening. The development of ES priorities linked to specific land uses help to guide the drafting of management plans. The aim of the research was to assess and map green areas ecosystem services and socio-demographic characteristics in Turin neighborhoods in order to identify where to improve the provision of ecosystem services and the socio-demographic conditions. The Preliminary Assessment Method (PAM) was used for the assessment of provision and regulating services based on land use. The Species-specific Air Quality index (S-AQI) was used to assess the regulating services provided by trees. Three socio-demographic characteristics were analyzed at the neighborhood level—age index, housing density, and % of economically assisted citizens. PAM results show that Turin provides more ecosystem services in peripheral areas of the city. Trees with high S-AQI values represent 21% of the censed trees. Not recommended trees are 18%. The neighborhoods with higher S-AQI values are not always characterized by a higher number of trees/km2 or species richness. Results show that the northern part of the city is characterized by higher values of ES and socio-demographic conditions than the central-southern part. This aspect is related to the conspicuous presence of agricultural land uses and water bodies, together with the presence of tree species with a high S-AQI values and high or medium socio-demographic conditions. 57% of the neighborhoods present low results for both aspects. Actions to improve the quality of green spaces in those neighborhoods could have great effects on liveability. Future management and planning strategies for increasing citizens’ well-being through urban greening should consider the proposed approach.

Computer Aided Quick Determination of Earthquake Performance of Buildings by Using Street Survey and Preliminary Assessment Methods

In this study, 7 different rapid evaluation methods which are used to determine the performance of buildings under the influence of earthquakes in a fast and practical way are examined. These methods were used to determine the earthquake performance behaviors (risky or safe) of buildings according to each method by using the parameters of 50 buildings that were collapsed or severely damaged in Van earthquake that occurred in 2011. Accurate estimation percentages of the methods on the buildings were calculated by comparing the obtained earthquake performance behaviors with the current situation of the buildings. The most suitable method has been tried to determine for 50 buildings related to these calculations. At the same time, a computer program called EPA (Earthquake Performance Analysis) was developed in order to evaluate the parameters of the related data set faster, easier and without error. Three of the 7 rapid assessment methods used to determine the earthquake performance behavior of buildings are first-stage methods called street screening (6306 RYY, FEMA P-154 and Sucuoğlu and Yazgan level-1), and the remaining four methods are second-stage methods called pre-assessment (Sucuoğlu and Yazgan level-2, Özcebe, Yakut and MVP). According to the results, the pre-assessment methods predicted the earthquake performance status of the buildings examined by 24% higher than the street screening methods. At the same time, the most successful method of street survey methods was 6306 RYY with 74% accurate estimation, and the most successful method of preliminary assessment with 86% accurate prediction was Yakut method.

EXPERIENCE OF REMEDIATION OF SITES CONTAMINATED WITH RADIONUCLIDES ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE TERRITORY OF THE MOSRENTGEN PLANT

This study is focused on the issues of remediation of sites and territories contaminated with radionuclides as a result of the past activities of the facilities. Actions performed at the territory of the «Mosrentgen» plant, contaminated by 137Cs after the radiation accident in 1962, are evaluated as an example. This paper provides a detailed description of the actions performed in 2012–2017 and the analysis of the mistakes made during the radiation survey, leading to the detection of the large volume of the radioactive wastes during the excavation at the construction of the industrial building at the decontaminated site. The authors propose a method of preliminary assessment of the 137Cs activity concentration in soil based on the gamma-radiation exposure rate on the surface of the soil batch. The results of the study indicate a necessity of development and implementation of the legislative base regulating the structure and types of surveys for remediation of facilities and territories.

К вопросу определения коэффициента восстановления проницаемости на кернах как метода предварительной оценки качества первичного вскрытия продуктивного пласта

К вопросу определения коэффициента восстановления проницаемости на кернах как метода предварительной оценки качества первичного вскрытия продуктивного пласта

Application of microtremor HVSR method for preliminary assessment of seismic site effect in Ngipik landfill, Gresik

This paper presents an investigation based on affected areas of earthquakes based on the micro-tremor horizontal-to-vertical ratio (HVSR) method around the Ngipik Landfill, Gresik. Ngipik landfill applies an Open dumping system with no protective layer to prevent groundwater pollution. Hence, the effect of the earthquake was investigated for preliminary assessment of leachate’s leakage. The micro-tremor measurements were performed by dividing the area into a grid with a 25m distance. The predominant frequency (f0) ranges between 1.1 and 3.65 Hz and the peak of HVSR (Am) varies from 2.04 to 7.16. The vulnerability index (kg) displayed the level of soil damage due to ground motions; the highest kg values signified the weaker zones during earthquakes and also indicated the leachate spread. The result of this paper might consider to seismic stability analysis of leachate recirculation landfill.