Real Loss Research Articles

Effect of grain boundary engineering on corrosion behavior and mechanical properties of GH3535 alloy in LiCl-KCl molten salt

This study investigated the effect of grain boundary engineering (GBE) on the corrosion behavior and high-temperature mechanical properties of GH3535 alloy in 45LiCl-55KCl wt.% molten salt at 550°C. After corrosion for 300 h, a triple-layered product was formed on the solid solution specimen (Non-GBE), consisting of discontinuous NiCr2O4 outer-layer, Ni3Fe middle-layer, and NiCr2O4 inner-layer. For the GBE specimen, quite milder corrosion occurred on it that its surface still kept original polishing scratches. The real mass loss of the Non-GBE alloy (6.85 mg/cm2) is one order of magnitude higher than that of GBE (0.65 mg/cm2). The beneficial effect of GBE on improving alloy's corrosion resistance is owing to: surface carbide dissolution, discontinuous random high angle grain boundary and low dislocation density. High proportion of Σ3n grain boundaries and less carbide precipitation ensure stable high-temperature deformation performance of GBE sample in molten salt.

The effect of water loss on demand–supply departure of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Water scarcity is a critical issue affecting numerous regions, including Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The city’s growing population and rising water consumption place significant pressure on its existing water infrastructure. This study evaluates the impact of water loss due to leakages in the distribution system on the demand–supply gap in Addis Ababa, utilizing the WB EasyCalc software for analysis. Data analysis from 2023 indicate that monthly water loss contributes to an additional unmet demand of 5 million cubic meters (MCM), emphasizing the urgent need for effective water loss reduction strategies to enhance supply reliability. Currently, the city achieves only 42% water supply coverage, with an average loss of 300 L per connection per day and approximately 25,000 L lost per kilometer of pipeline daily. Furthermore, non-revenue water (NRW) accounts for 41.8% of total production, with real losses constituting 64%. The Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI) score of 27 underscores the critical need for targeted leakage management interventions. The significance of this research lies in its quantification of water loss and its direct correlation with unmet demand in Addis Ababa. The findings provide essential insights for policymakers and stakeholders, highlighting the necessity for improved infrastructure management and strategic interventions to bolster water supply reliability. Implementing effective leakage reduction measures could substantially mitigate water scarcity challenges, thereby supporting sustainable urban development and enhancing public health outcomes in a city where access to clean water is vital for economic and social stability.

Investigation of annealing temperature effect on structural, morphological, optical, magnetic, and dielectric properties of cobalt-doped manganese ferrites

Spinel ferrite Mn0.95Co0.05Fe2O4 was prepared via chemical co-precipitation routes and annealed at four distinct temperatures of 600 °C, 650 °C, 700 °C, and 750 °C. The XRD peak confirmed a single-phase cubic spinel structure, with an increasing crystallite size of 21.64–23.98 nm by the annealing effect. The TEM images show an increase in particle size with rising annealing temperature and indicate well-defined nanocrystalline Mn-Co ferrite. FT-IR spectra detected two vibrational modes at interstitial sub-lattice sites, identifying Co-O, Mn-O, and Fe-O bonds with the spinel structure of Mn-Co ferrite. UV–vis–NIR reflectance revealed an optimal direct band gap of 3.76–4.70 eV, indicating a scope of semiconducting behaviors in the nanocatalysts. In the magnetic hysteresis curve, saturation magnetization decreased while coercivity increased with rising annealing and crystallite size. The M-T loop reveals the Curie temperature of Mn-Co ferrite decreases from 533.84 °C to 382.74 °C. Frequency-dependent complex permeability at different annealing temperatures shows stable initial permeability over a wide frequency range (1 kHz to 100 MHz) and a quality factor several times higher due to reduced magnetic tangent loss. The real dielectric constant and losses decline in rising alternating fields (100 Hz to 1 MHz) and stabilize at higher frequencies following Maxwell-Wagner-type polarization. Eventually, structural, morphological, and magnetic properties are performed relatively well at higher annealing temperatures, and optical and dielectric properties are performed at lower annealing temperatures.

Features of theoretical approaches to the category "abuse of law" in the countries of the Anglo-American legal family

The article examines the peculiarities of theoretical approaches to understanding the category of «abuse of law» in the countries of the Anglo-American legal family, primarily in Great Britain and the United States. In particular, by using a set of philosophical and worldview, general scientific, special scientific methods (primarily, comparative legal, historical legal, normative, functional) and principles of scientific knowledge: the evolution of theoretical ideas about the abuse of law, their consolidation in legislation and practical implementation in individual states of the Anglo-American legal family; the peculiarities of the legal terminology used in the legislation and judicial practice of Great Britain and the USA to determine the abuse of the right are revealed; the characteristic features and general trends of the theoretical understanding and legislative consolidation of the category of «abuse of law» in the specified states have been established. It is argued that the principle of good faith is inherent in the entire legal system of Great Britain as a whole and is reflected in its individual provisions, and the duty to establish the facts about the presence or absence of abuse of the law corresponds to judicial or other competent authorities. It has been established that the doctrine of good faith is important in US judicial practice, but there is no description of the criteria of good faith in US law, their definition is left to the discretion of the court. It is proved that both English and American legislators do not provide a clear definition of the term ‘abuse of law’ in the provisions of legislation. The content of this concept is defined and disclosed in judicial practice and legal doctrine, which are closely interrelated and are based on the assessment of such actions from the standpoint of reasonableness, good faith and fairness. Depending on the branch of law and the legal system of the state, abuse of law is most often understood as damage or loss. Damage is the destruction or diminution of material goods. Losses are understood as real losses and lost profits. It is concluded that despite the fact that the problem of abuse has not been comprehensively resolved, in practice the judicial system of the United Kingdom and the United States is quite effective in combating manifestations of abuse of law.

Surveillance hématologique de la clozapine : les temps sont-ils venus d’assouplir les règles ?

BackgroundA significant proportion of people with resistant schizophrenia do not receive treatment with clozapine, despite its clearly established efficacy in this indication. The constraints associated with haematological monitoring are a major obstacle to clozapine use, resulting in a real loss of opportunity for the people concerned. ObjectiveThe aim of this opinion article is to question the relevance of maintaining the existing haematological monitoring rules for clozapine treatment. DiscussionRecent studies on the temporal evolution of agranulocytosis risk attributable to clozapine confirm that this risk becomes negligible after one to two years of treatment. Stringent haematological monitoring leads to unjustified discontinuation of clozapine, as transient neutropenic episodes, which may be linked to other causes are common in the general population. Haematological monitoring requires nursing time and sometimes complex organisational adaptations in outpatient facilities to ensure continuity of care, particularly at a time when medical and paramedical staffing levels are low. Haematological monitoring has already been reduced or suspended in several countries after the period of risk of agranulocytosis. ConclusionThe benefit/risk ratio of maintaining strict haematological monitoring rules for clozapine appears unfavourable, suggesting that the time may have come to reduce the risk of agranulocytosis.

An energy analysis methodology for residential heat pump retrofits

The government has targets to upscale domestic heat pump retrofit as part of the strategy to decarbonise heat. There are significant barriers to uptake including installation cost together with a lack of expertise in predicting and reporting energy and carbon performance. As a result, end user confidence in heat pumps can be low. This paper presents analysis of two monitored domestic properties using high resolution data. The aim is to develop reliable prediction and in-use diagnostic tools to improve transparency and reliability of heat pump performance. This paper focuses on a method drawn from theory as set out in CIBSE TM41, and shows how real building heat loss coefficients can be determined from regression analysis over different time frame resolutions. Practical application This research aims to provide residential heat pump retrofit providers with cost effective methods for assessing the suitability of dwellings to accept heat pump retrofit solutions, and to extend these techniques for the effective monitoring and performance evaluation of heat pumps post installation.

Seismicity of Morocco and simulation of 08.09.2023 earthuake consequnces with “Extremum” system application

This paper reports the use of regional intensity attenuation equations for the territory of Morocco by modeling the impact of the destructive earthquake of September 8, 2023 in the country. The relevance of the study follows from the needed reliable estimates of possible loss due to earthquakes in order to aid the decision-making process for the response and the proper choice of a search and rescue strategy for the heavily affected settlements. The paper has for its goal the calibration of the “Extremum” system seismic intensity attenuation models for the territory of Morocco. Our study is the first to analyze the seismic intensity attenuation equations obtained by researchers at different times with a view to their applicability to near real time loss assessment for strong events occurring in the area of study. We investigate as well how the results of earthquake loss simulation are affected by regional damage matrixes. Computer simulation was applied to the assessment of the possible impact due to the September 8, 2023 earthquake using the “Extremum” system developed with authors’ participation.This paper provides preliminary results of modeling the impact of the Morocco earthquake, as well as an assessment of the convergence achieved by calculated and observed intensities for various intensity prediction equations obtained before for the Morocco and adjacent areas within the Alpine-Himalayan seismically active belt.

Further Thoughts on the Capital Gains Tax

The paper illustrates why Canada’s Budget 2024 tax rules do not treat the earners of capital gains uniformly or fairly, because of inflation. The effective tax rates on real capital gains vary substantially among taxpayers depending upon the holding period and the rate of return. Furthermore, capital gain taxes may even create real losses. Uniform inclusion rates applied to nominal capital gains poorly measure real capital gains and typically result in considerable underassessment or overassessment of actual capital gains income (i.e., improvement in purchasing power). An appropriate measure of capital gains should use a cost base adjusted for inflation.

Pedigree-Based Description of Danubia Alba Rabbit Breed Lines.

The diversity of livestock animal breeds is an integral part of global biodiversity and requires careful management for sustainability and future availability. Avoiding inbreeding is a crucial aspect of mating of breeding animals. Our aims were to describe the quality of the pedigree, generation interval, gene origin, inbreeding, and effective population size of Danubia Alba rabbit lines. Line "D" is the maternal, whereas lines "C" and "X" are used as the paternal lines. The pedigree information was followed back from the actual breeding rabbits up to the founder animals. The rabbits having offspring in 2023 were chosen as reference populations for each line. The complete generation equivalent (GenCom) was 17.68 for line "C", 18.32 for line "D", and 17.49 for line "X", respectively. The maximum number of generations (GenMax) was above 30 for each line. The estimated bottleneck effect is mostly the result of selection and not a real genetic loss. The Wright inbreeding coefficient (F_Wright) was the highest for the "X" line rabbits, whereas it was the lowest for the line "D". Kalinowski's decomposition of inbreeding showed that it originated mostly from the past; the current fixation of alleles was quite similar for the line "C" and "D". Based on the predicted effective population sizes, it seems that there is no problem in maintaining of Danubia Alba lines.

Simulation of January 22, 2024 Mw=7.0 Uqturpan earthquake consequences with the "Extremum" system application

This paper reports the use of intensity attenuation equations for the territory of the Northern Tien Shan by modeling the impact of a powerful destructive earthquake of January 22, 2024 in China. The relevance of the study follows from the needed reliable estimates of possible losses due to earthquakes in order to aid the decision making process for the response and the proper choice of a search and rescue strategy for the heavily affected settlements. The paper has as its goal the calibration of the Extremum system models for the territory of the Northern Tien Shan. Our study is the first to analyze the seismic intensity attenuation equations obtained by researchers at different times with a view to their applicability to near real time loss assessment for strong events occurring in the area of study. We investigate how the results of seismic attenuation modeling are affected by the ellipse compression factor k. and the source parameters of a strong event as determined by different seismological agencies in the alert mode. Computer simulation was applied to assess the possible impact of the January 22, 2024 earthquake using the "Extremum" system developed with our participation. This paper provides results of modeling the impact of the 2024 Uqturpan earthquake, as well as an assessment of the convergence achieved by calculated and observed intensities for various intensity prediction equations obtained before for China, Kyrgyzstan and adjacent areas within the Gissar-Kokshaalsky seismically active belt.

Civil Liability of Airport Managers for Consumer Losses from The Perspective of The Compilation of Sharia Economic Law

Consumers often require effective and convenient air transportation to carry out their daily activities, both for work and personal purposes. Air transportation offers a fast and efficient solution to reach their destination. This research aims to evaluate the consequences of the negligence of Kualanamu Airport officers and managers and to examine how their responsibilities towards consumers based on the perspective of the Compilation of Sharia Economic Law. The method used is normative juridical legal research, which refers to international law and relevant legislation, and uses the Statute Approach (reviewing all regulations relevant to the legal issues discussed) and Conceptual Approach (based on views and doctrines developed in legal science). The results show that many airport facilities have not met functional standards, which causes negligence of officers to still threaten the safety and comfort of consumers. This negligence includes the operationalization of facilities that are not fit for use. In the context of KHES, responsibility includes providing compensation in accordance with the principles of Islamic law governing loss and compensation. Compensation or 'dhaman' aims to overcome the losses suffered by the injured party, both material and immaterial. This is regulated in Book II of the Compilation of Sharia Economic Law article 20 paragraph 37, which states that 'ta'widh' or compensation is reimbursement for real losses paid by the party who committed an unlawful act.

Estimating and Reducing Leakages in the Water Distribution Networks of Small Settlements: The Case of Agios Germanos in the Prespes Municipality

Pressure management is a fundamental and highly effective method for the management of real losses in water distribution networks and therefore reducing non-revenue water. In this work, a methodology is developed to assess leakages in the water distribution networks of small settlements. The settlement of Agios Germanos in the Municipality of Prespes is selected as a representative case study. The hydraulic modeling of the water distribution network in the study area is used to assess the hydraulic behavior of the existing infrastructure in its current state of operation and to find critical locations to install the necessary measuring equipment (pressure sensors, flow meters, water level sensors, and pressure reducing valves). This equipment is used to calibrate the hydraulic model, estimate leakages, and manage them effectively. Minimum night flow analysis is utilized to assess leakages in the studied network based on measurements of the hydraulic parameters from the equipment installed. The effects of pressure management on leakages are then examined by assessing the relationship between the pressure and leak flow rate in the selected settlement.

Old ‘Women’ on the Stage Actorship and the Aging Body in the Works of Enchi Fumiko

Enchi Fumiko’s literature has frequently faced the topic of ageing, especially focused on the bodily decay from the point of view of disease or loss of beauty and femininity and often in reference to the double standard adopted for female and male bodies. In this paper, focusing mainly on the novel Komachi hensō (1965) and the short story “Futaomote” (1959), I analyse how in Enchi’s works the figure of the actress and the one of the onnagata actor perceive the process of ageing vis-à-vis their gender and sexuality. The onnagata and the actress experience a real loss of identity when facing age, since the success they have lived has almost been based on the charm of their figure on the stage. In this paper I analyse how the protagonists cope with the reality of ageing, comparing their reaction with regard to their gender and sexuality. By looking from a peculiar perspective the idea of the ‘female’ decaying body, I aim at giving a further contribution to the already rich scholarship on the vision of ageing in Enchi’s literature. Moreover, I aim to demonstrate that the foundational elements of Enchi’s series of works, known as rōjomono or ‘works on old women’, typically believed to have originated in the 1970s, were in fact established as early as the late 1950s.

3D criteria to improve real-time pressure control in water distribution network system architecture

ABSTRACT Real-time control (RTC) methods have been developed for over one decade to regulate service pressure and reduce leakage using pressure control valves in water distribution networks (WDN). The present study investigates control node selection frameworks and RTC system architecture for the field-oriented control of a rural WDN. The unique topology of the case-study area, the small size of the area, and high-pressure variety increased the considerations of the RTC system. A computer code was developed based on the method of characteristics for the hydraulic simulation of the network. The code could analyze unsteady flows through sloped pipes, implement pressure-based analysis, and regulate control valves based on the target node. Leakage reduction, pressure fluctuation reduction, and cavitation prevention were used as three criteria and constraints in the selection of control nodes. It was found that the optimal strategy would reduce the real water loss from 25 to 10%. Furthermore, key parameters in remote sensing were evaluated to minimize the number of sensors in order to further simplify the control algorithm and RTC system architecture through an artificial neural network (ANN) approach. The control function with a convergence rate of 99% was introduced.

Introducing a ‘Postharvest Loss Index (PHLI)’ for Some Selected High Producing Vegetables in Sri Lanka to Enhance Food Security

Developing a Postharvest Loss Index (PHLI) is important for filling the data gap to obtain an idea that real economic loss (quantity x price) occurs due to postharvest losses in the country and to take measures for enhancing food security. Estimating PHLI for agricultural commodities is a novel concept. Thus, in this study, PHLI for bean, carrot, leeks and beetroot was developed on monthly basis at the Dambulla Economic Center (DEC), the focal point in the fruits and vegetable value chain in Sri Lanka. Data were collected on the daily postharvest losses and the prices at the DEC during the period of October 2015 to March 2017. Moreover, SARIMA under time series analysis was employed to forecast future PHLI values for each vegetable. According to the results during the months where there was a decreasing trend in the supply of vegetables to the market, the PHLI was relatively low, and when the supply was high, it showed an increasing trend in the PHLI. The forecasted PHLI values for the beans for the next three months are 74.73, 61.31, and 61.71, while for the carrots forecasted values are 112.03, 81.28, and 47.67. Further, the forecasted values for the leeks are 271.33, 194.19 and 174.97, whereas for the beet PHLI values for the next three months are 177.78, 208.15, and 231.90. As the PHLI of the selected crops has shown a seasonal fluctuation with a pattern, it can be used as the base value to forecast the postharvest loss of a particular crop to enhance food security.

Evaluasi Metode Audit Penghitungan Kerugian Keuangan Negara pada Badan Pengawasan Keuangan dan Pembangunan

This research aims to evaluate the audit method for Calculating State Financial Losses (PKKN) by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP). This research method is qualitative, with an evaluation approach using case studies at BPKP. The primary data used in this research are the results of interviews with BPKP auditors who have carried out PKKN audits and are experts in court. The trial decision document will be mapped based on case description themes, PKKN methods, and PKKN values. The secondary data used is a copy of the court decision on a criminal corruption case that was finalized and downloaded from the official website of the Supreme Court (MA). The implementation of the PKKN audit by BPKP is evaluated using a fraud theory approach, the REAL Tree concept, and applicable laws and regulations. The provision of expert testimony in court will be considered using the Daubert test. The results of this research are that the PKKN audit by BPKP does not follow the fraud theory approach because it does not create and test hypotheses. There is a PKKN method that differs from the REAL Tree concept because BPKP auditors apply the criteria for real and definite state financial losses (actual loss) without considering compelling interest as a time value of money concept. Providing expert information by BPKP auditors is different from the Daubert test because BPKP does not require monitoring and evaluating court decisions and does not carry out peer reviews of PKKN methods.

Assessing soil erosion and its drivers in agricultural landscapes: a case study in southern Bahia, Brazil

ABSTRACT Erosion is a worldwide threat to biodiversity conservation and agricultural yield, and it is linked to deforestation. In this study, we aim to assess soil loss in landscapes of Cachoeira River watershed, in southern Bahia, northeastern Brazil. We estimate the role of forests in diminishing soil erosion using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). We compare real and simulated scenarios in which the forest was replaced by agricultural use, also comparing estimates of erosivity factor (R factor) derived from remote sensing and climatological station data. Real and simulated annual soil losses varied from 0 to 15.95 t/year and from 0 to 33.53 t/year along the watershed, respectively. However, only 0.04 and 1.67% of this area is highly and severely exposed to erosion, using data from climatological stations and remote sensing, respectively. Soil loss in the simulated deforested scenario was approximately two times higher than the real annual soil loss, indicating the importance of forest cover to mitigate soil erosion. Moreover, soil loss was 10.5 times greater when using precipitation data from remote sensing compared to climatological stations. Conclusively, the practice of agroforestry can be used as an alternative to avoid erosion.

Optimal integration and planning of PV and wind renewable energy sources into distribution networks using the hybrid model of analytical techniques and metaheuristic algorithms: A deep learning-based approach

The optimal integration of Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) into distribution networks is crucial for sustainable energy generation. However, existing approaches utilized for optimal RES integration, including metaheuristic and analytical methods, exhibit limitations. Analytical methods are simple to implement, computationally efficient, and able to model power system mechanisms, yet they face scalability issues, making them inefficient for large-scale distribution systems. On the other hand, metaheuristic approaches, while flexible for complex problems, suffer from premature convergence problems, limiting their application in real distribution networks. To address these issues, this paper introduces a novel hybrid model that combines the strengths of analytical and metaheuristic techniques. The proposed model employs a deep learning-based method called bi-directional long short-term memory (B-LSTM) network is utilized to handle the uncertainties associated with the Photovoltaic (PV) and Wind Turbine (WT) generation and load demand. Subsequently, a distinctive analytical multi-objective index-based procedure is developed to minimize the real and reactive energy loss and voltage deviation by analyzing the branch current change caused by the RES penetration in distribution networks. The optimization problem is then solved using the binary particle swarm optimization (BPSO) technique. Importantly, the presented method considers the long-term nature of optimal RES integration and reflects the seasonal impacts of the load and RES output powers. The proposed approach is applied to the IEEE 33-bus test system. The simulation results show that the introduced hybrid model, by addressing the limitations of existing approaches, offers a promising solution for efficient and effective RES integration in distribution systems while requiring low computational effort, thereby advancing the transition towards sustainable energy infrastructure.

Fractal Characteristics of Water Outflows on the Soil Surface after a Pipe Failure

Water pipe failures result in real water losses in the form of water outflowing into the porous medium, such as the surrounding soil. Such an outflow may result in the creation of suffosion holes. The appropriate management of the water supply network may contribute to reducing the number of failures, but due to their random nature, it is not possible to completely eliminate them. Therefore, alternative solutions are being sought to reduce the effects of the failures. This article presents a fragment of the results from a broader scope of the research, which attempted to determine the outflow zone in relation to the fractal characteristics of water outflows. The research included the analysis of the actual geometric structures created by the water outflows, which were simplified into linear structures using isometric transformations. The structures were analyzed in terms of the parameters characterizing them, including their fractal dimensions. As a result, it was found that there was no relationship between the analyzed fractal parameters and the leakage area or hydraulic pressure in the water pipe. However, the influence of the number of points forming each linear structure on the analyzed parameters was shown. This allowed for the determination of further research aimed at estimating the size of the water outflow zone after the unsealing of an underground water supply pipe.

Emergence of the neutrosophic ratio-type estimators for estimating the population mean evidence: From energy dissipated Okara district Pakistan

When data are hazy or uncertain, estimators given under classical statistics are ineffective. Given that it deals with uncertainty, neutrosophic statistics is the sole alternative. Due to the vast range of applications, extensive research has been done in this area. The objective of this study is to determine the most accurate predictions for the population mean with the least amount of mean square error. We have created neutrosophic ratio type estimators, when working with ambiguous, hazy, and neutrosophic-type data, the proposed estimation methods are very useful for computing results. These estimators produce findings that are not single-valued but rather have an interval form, where our population parameter may lie more frequently. Since we have an estimated interval with the unknown population mean value given a minimal mean square error, it improves the estimators’ efficiency. Real life neutrosophic line losses data and simulation are both used to analyze the effectiveness of the proposed neutrosophic ratio-type estimators. Additionally, a comparison is made to show how helpful Neutrosophic ratio type estimator is in comparison to existing estimators.