Systematic Selection Procedure Research Articles

Steep-slope viticulture: The effectiveness of micro-water storage in improving the resilience to weather extremes

Steep-slope vineyards are widely distributed in the Mediterranean region and have a pivotal role in wine production, economic development, and cultural heritage. Nevertheless, they are threatened by climate change in terms of opposite weather extremes, such as heavy rainfalls and long-lasting droughts. In response, rainwater harvesting systems have emerged as valuable solutions for managing water resources and controlling related problems. Of primary importance is the identification of suitable sites for installation. However, a systematic selection procedure still needs to be explored; it is necessary for morphologically complex vineyards that include historical features of significant cultural value (such as terraced systems). To fill this gap, this study employed a high-resolution overflow simulation model that combines a set of criteria to identify the optimal network of water harvesting structures (also drawing on traditional knowledge) and quantify the potential for water storage during rainfall of varying intensities. The study area considered is located within the “Soave Traditional Vineyards” (north of Italy) site, a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) recognized by FAO. The surface overflow was simulated considering two key rainstorms that occurred in the last few years at different time intervals. 53 potential sites for water harvesting were selected according to field survey, runoff simulation, and topographic analysis. The results indicate that the water potentially collected from designed sites could have a double function: (1) mitigate the surface overflow that can potentially cause downslope terrace collapse or even flooding villages; (2) provide irrigation water for vineyards during water scarcity scenarios. The spatial distribution of the water collected could undoubtedly guide sustainable decisions in steep-slope viticultural systems under climate change forcing.

Research themes in machine learning applications in supply chain management using bibliometric analysis tools

PurposeThis paper conducts a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of Machine Learning (ML) in Supply Chain Management through bibliometric and network analysis, the authors are able to grasp key features of the contemporary literature. The study makes use of state-of-the-art analytical framework based on a unified approach to reveal insights from the present body of knowledge and the potentials for future research developments.Design/methodology/approachUnlike standard literature reviews, in SLR, a structured approach is followed. The approach enables utilizing contemporary tools and software packages such as R-package “bibliometrix” and Gephi for exploratory and visual analytics. A number of clustering methods are employed to form clusters. Later, multivariate analysis methodologies are adopted to determine the dominant clusters for the influential co-cited references.FindingsUsing contemporary tools from Bibliometric Analysis (BA), the authors identify in an exploratory analysis, the influential authors, sources, regions, affiliations and papers. In addition, the use of network analysis tools reveals research clusters, topological analysis, key research topics, interrelation and authors’ collaboration along with their patterns. Finally, the optimum number of clusters computed for cluster analysis is decided using a systematic procedure based on multivariate analysis such as k-means and factor analysis.Originality/valueModern-day supply chains increasingly depend on developing superior insights from large amounts of data available from diverse sources in unstructured and semi-structured formats. In order to maintain a competitive edge, the supply chains need to perform speedy analysis of big data using efficient tools that provide real-time decision-making insights. Such an analysis necessitates automated processing using intelligent ML algorithms. Through a BA followed by a detailed data visualization in a network analysis enabled grasping key features of the contemporary literature. The analysis is based on 155 documents from the period 2008 to 2018 selected using a systematic selection procedure.

Selection Methodology for Si Power MOSFETs Used to Enhance SiC Power MOSFET Short-Circuit Capability With the BaSIC(EMM) Topology

The BaSIC(EMM) topology has been previously demonstrated to improve the short-circuit (SC) capability of 1.2-kV SiC power MOSFETs from 3.5 to 7.4 μs while producing a 17% increase in the net on-state resistance. However, a SC time of 10 μs could not be achieved. In this article, a systematic procedure for selection of the Si power MOSFET used in the BaSIC(EMM) topology is described based on information published by manufacturers of Si power MOSFETs in their datasheets. A tradeoff curve between the Si EMM drain saturation current at 150 °C versus its on-resistance at 25 °C is proposed in this article for determination of the best Si EMM product. The proposed methodology allowed identification of a superior Si EMM device. It was experimentally validated that a SC with-stand time of 11 μs, under a gate bias of 20 V applied to the 1.2-kV SiC power MOSFET at a drain bias of 800 V, was achievable with an increase in on-resistance of only 3.6%. These experimental results demonstrate a greatly improved tradeoff curve between SC time and increase in on-resistance.

Selection of Phase Change Material for Thermal Energy Storage in Solar Air Conditioning Systems

The selection of Phase change materials (PCMs) is crucial in the design of Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage (LHTES) system in solar air conditioning applications. This study performs a systematic selection procedure of PCMs for LHTES in a typical solar air conditioning system. Comprising prescreening, ranking and objective function examination based on multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) tools, this procedure is able to reflect the system goals of LHTES, as well as to take into account designer's subjectivity. Results indicate the proposed approach to be a highly applicable and efficient tool in the LHTES design process.

Abstract P006: A Comparative Case Study of the American Heart Association ANCHOR Partnerships Program

Purpose: In 2014, the American Heart Association (AHA) started a new initiative called the Accelerating National Community Health Outcomes through Reinforcing (ANCHOR) Partnerships Program. The ANCHOR Program works to improve cardiovascular health using population-based strategies targeting policy, systems and environmental (PSE) level changes. From March 2015-April 2016, the ANCHOR program supported 15 markets within AHA Affiliates as they implemented community-based interventions using PSE strategies to increase access to healthy food and beverages, physical activity, and smoke-free environments. This community-based approach is relatively new for the organization therefore, a comparative case study was conducted to understanding how the ANCHOR Program worked within the AHA and its Affiliates, as well as what community-based strategies were most successful. Methods: Using a systematic selection procedure that assessed level of readiness, the 15 sites were categorized as either “implementation ready (IR)” or “capacity building (CB)”. After stratifying the sites by intervention focus three markets from each category (n=6) were selected as the units of analysis. Evaluators conducted site visits in each market from February-April 2016. During site visits, a total of 24 interviews were conducted with Affiliate staff, program managers, implementation partners, and community partners. Each interview assessed expected outcomes, planning processes, community support, and success. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and synthesized using a thematic analysis. Results: Significant differences were found in expected outcomes. IR sites wanted to increase community engagement, while CB focused on policy change. Both sites were supported by their Affiliates and partners. Action plans were developed by program managers with Affiliate input, and were used to plan in both sites. IR sites identified barriers at the beginning of planning, while CB sites made revisions frequently as barriers were encountered. Both sites engaged partners in planning. Program managers at IR sites worked closely with partners on implementation, whereas those at CB sites led implementation and partners provided support and connections. Differences were also found in how sites engaged partners. CB sites built broad community engagement and IR sites focused on implementation partner buy-in. Overall, the IR sites felt most successful, while CB sites laid groundwork but were not able to create tangible outcomes. Discussion: This comparative case study provides important information about how the AHA can embed community-based work within their ongoing efforts using existing Affiliate structures. The multiple viewpoints captured provides insight into implementation processes and how this type of work is best accomplished, as well as how level of readiness can impact progress.

Selecting Healthcare Providers for Bundled Payments in Healthcare Services

Identification of competitive healthcare providers is an important issue for successful operation of a bundled payment reimbursement program. We develop a healthcare provider selection framework via data envelopment analysis (DEA) and combinatorial auction (CA). Our goal is to cover target regions with adequate numbers of healthcare providers so as to optimally deploy a bundled payment program across these regions. Our methodology balances bid prices and performance of applicants to cover the entire regions in an equitable manner, allows for provider preferences in selecting the bundle of services, and determines winners taking into account service quality, efficiency and the price of the bundles. Our work provides a practical and systematic selection procedure for payers compared to the extant subjective selection methods.

A QFD-based expert system for industrial truck selection in manufacturing organizations

Purpose Availability of accurate quantity of materials, at correct place and at right time is extremely critical for increasing production effectiveness of any manufacturing organization. This can be achieved through employing an appropriate material handling equipment (MHE) capable of performing the desired operation. Therefore, choosing a right MHE from the available options is a key concern for the success, growth and competitiveness of a manufacturing organization. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design and development of an expert system based on quality function deployment (QFD) methodology in Visual Basic 6.0 for selecting the most appropriate industrial truck which is a commonly practiced MHE in any manufacturing organization. Design/methodology/approach A QFD-based approach is adopted to incorporate customers’ needs into the evaluation criteria on the basis of which industrial truck selection is carried out. The applicability of the developed expert system in solving industrial truck selection problems is demonstrated using two illustrative examples. Findings While applying this QFD-based model, CPCD 80x manufactured by Heli is recognized as the most suitable forklift truck for transporting unitized loads within a manufacturing unit with some spatial constraints, and for loading/unloading packages/boxes/cartons and place them at the desired locations in a manufacturing unit, ETV 216 manufactured by Jungheinrich evolves out as the most suitable reach truck. Originality/value Till date, numerous research articles have been published suggesting the applications of various mathematical models, multi-criteria decision-making methods and knowledge-based systems for solving MHE selection problems, and it is intriguing to note that none of the previously adopted methods has proposed a systematic procedure for selection of the evaluation criteria and interrelated the needs of customers with the technical specifications of MHEs while identifying the best alternative for performing a specified operation. These issues can be addressed through application of this developed QFD-based expert system, which can translate customers’ needs into organizational functions that are implementable in the decision-making/selection procedure.

Experimental characterisation and performance evaluation of a coaxial current transformer for measurement of insulated gate bipolar transistor switching current

Measurement of device current during switching characterisation of an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) requires a current sensor with low insertion impedance and high bandwidth. This study presents an experimental procedure for evaluating the performance of a coaxial current transformer (CCT), designed for the above purpose. A prototype CCT, which can be mounted directly on a power terminal of a 1200 V/50 A half-bridge IGBT module, is characterised experimentally. The measured characteristics include insertion impedance, gain and phase of the CCT at different frequencies. The bounds of linearity within which the CCT can operate without saturation are determined theoretically, and are also verified experimentally. The experimental study on linearity of the CCT requires a high-amplitude current source. A proportional-resonant (PR) controller-based current-controlled half-bridge inverter is developed for this purpose. A systematic procedure for selection of PR controller parameters is also reported in this study. This set-up is helpful to determine the limit of linearity and also to measure the frequency response of the CCT at realistic amplitudes of current in the low-frequency range.

Size measurement uncertainties of near-monodisperse, near-spherical nanoparticles using transmission electron microscopy and particle-tracking analysis

Particle-tracking analysis (PTA) in combination with systematic imaging, automatic image analysis, and automatic data processing is validated for size measurements. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in combination with a systematic selection procedure for unbiased random image collection, semiautomatic image analysis, and data processing is validated for size, shape, and surface topology measurements. PTA is investigated as an alternative for TEM for the determination of the particle size in the framework of the EC definition of nanomaterial. The intra-laboratory validation study assessing the precision and accuracy of the TEM and PTA methods consists of series of measurements on three gold reference materials with mean area-equivalent circular diameters of 8.9 nm (RM-8011), 27.6 nm (RM-8012), and 56.0 nm (RM-8013), and two polystyrene materials with modal hydrodynamic diameters of 102 nm (P1) and 202 nm (H1). By obtaining a high level of automation, PTA proves to give precise and non-biased results for the modal hydrodynamic diameter in size range between 30 and 200 nm, and TEM proves to give precise and non-biased results for the mean area-equivalent circular diameter in the size range between 8 and 200 nm of the investigated near-monomodal near-spherical materials. The expanded uncertainties of PTA are about 9 % and are determined mainly by the repeatability uncertainty. This uncertainty is two times higher than the expanded uncertainty of 4 % obtained by TEM for analyses on identical materials. For the investigated near-monomodal and near-spherical materials, PTA can be used as an alternative to TEM for measuring the particle size, with exception of 8.9 nm gold, because this material has a size below the detection limit of PTA.

Measurement uncertainties of size, shape, and surface measurements using transmission electron microscopy of near-monodisperse, near-spherical nanoparticles

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in combination with a systematic selection procedure for unbiased random image collection, semi-automatic image analysis, and data processing has been validated for size, shape, and surface topology measurements of silica nanoparticles. The validation study, assessing the precision and accuracy of the TEM method, consists of series of measurements on two colloidal silica-certified reference materials, with number-based modal area-equivalent circular diameters (ECD) of 19.4 nm (ERM-FD100) and 27.8 nm (ERM-FD304). The measurement uncertainties are estimated for the modal and median particle size, shape, and surface topology parameters of single primary particles. The single primary particles are distinguished from agglomerates using a linear discriminant analysis approach. After optimization of the binning process, the mode associated with the number-based particle size distribution is obtained by lognormal fitting. The methodology described in this paper relies on a high level of automation of calibration, image acquisition, image analysis, and data analysis and gives robust results for the modal ECD. The expanded uncertainty of the modal ECD is estimated to be about 3 %. The largest contribution to the expanded uncertainty stems from the uncertainty associated with the trueness of the TEM method.

English

The commercialisation process of university patents and how the decisions were made to patent new scientific discoveries and to commercialise them have not been studied extensively. This paper attempts to understand in detail, the process of commercialisation of university patents from the initial scientific disclosures through patent filings to the choice of commercialisation routes. A series of interviews were conducted with seven directors of technology transfer offices (TTO) of UK universities. The interviews were structured in a way so as to discover how new disclosures in their universities were chosen to be patented and how the patents were commercialised. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed with the help of Nvivo software. Then, case and cross case analysis were done. The result of the study showed that there are variations in practices between universities in how they decide to patent and in the routes of exploitation. Universities do differ on which inventions need to be patented and which route to go for their commercialisation. Universities that practice very highly selective procedures would only patent an invention after a very thorough market analysis. But there are universities that practiced low selective procedures; as such, they file for patent as long as the invention fulfils an expectation of potential value. Decisions on which route to commercialise are sought after the patent filings. Overall, only one university practice a very systematic selection procedure, from which, inventions were patented and specific route of commercialisation was chosen. Most of the universities based their selection criteria on motivations of the inventors, either to patent and which commercialisation route to utilise for their inventions.

Major gaps in the distribution of protected areas for threatened and narrow range Afrotropical plants

We investigated the major patterns of plant rarity in sub-Saharan Africa, and looked for the most significant gaps in the reserve network of the region in terms of representing the distribution of threatened and geographically rare plants. Comparisons of the species ranges captured by the network of reserves were made against the proportion of species captured by randomly generated sets of areas and against a theoretical near minimum set of areas that represent all species once. At this scale of analysis, the network of large IUCN-coded reserves (the official ‘protected areas’) performs poorly against random and systematic selection procedures. Significant gaps in the IUCN-coded protected areas are in coastal Gabon/Cameroon, in the various tropical montane forest areas (Cameroon Highlands, Eastern Arc Mountains, Ethiopian Mountains), in lowland coastal eastern Africa, and in the South African Cape. Some of these gaps, for example in the Eastern Arc and eastern African coastal regions, are covered on the ground by a network of Forest Reserves under the management of national Forestry Authorities. The networks of Forest Reserves in Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Sierra Leone also fill reservation gaps for rare African plants in these countries. Upgrading the conservation status of some key Forest Reserves, which has been gradually happening for some decades, is proposed as an efficient way to enhance the protected area network of the Afrotropical region for the conservation of rare African plant species.

Establishing a core collection of Capsicum using a cluster analysis with enlightened selection of accessions

A core collection represents the genetic diversity of a crop with minimal redundancy. A technique is proposed for establishing a representative core collection of Capsicum annuum L., C. chinense Jacq., and C. baccatum L. from the collection maintained at the Southern Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit, Griffin, GA, U.S.A. The accessions were stratified by species, and then cluster analyses were performed on the GRIN data for morphological descriptors of a given species. Three selection methods to form a core collection of approximately 10% of the collections were compared. Selecting one accession (equal number) from each cluster using either a random or a systematic selection procedure did not include all the existing morphological diversity. However, a third method, where selecting systematically a number of accessions per cluster based on the presence of unique traits allowed 100% of the known morphological diversity to be retained in the core collections of the three species.

Usefulness of the Umbrella Species Concept as a Conservation Tool

Abstract: In the face of limited funding, knowledge, and time for action, conservation efforts often rely on shortcuts for the maintenance of biodiversity. The umbrella species concept—proposed as a way to use species requirements as a basis for conservation planning—has recently received growing attention. We reviewed the literature to evaluate the concept's general usefulness. An umbrella species is defined as a species whose conservation is expected to confer protection to a large number of naturally co‐occurring species. This concept has been proposed as a tool for determining the minimum size for conservation areas, selecting sites to be included in reserve networks, and setting minimum standards for the composition, structure, and processes of ecosystems. Among the species suggested as potential umbrellas, most are large mammals and birds, but invertebrates are increasingly being considered. Eighteen research papers, most of which were based on hypothetical reserves or conservation networks, have provided evaluations of umbrella species schemes. These show that single‐species umbrellas cannot ensure the conservation of all co‐occurring species because some species are inevitably limited by ecological factors that are not relevant to the umbrella species. Moreover, they provide evidence that umbrella species from a given higher taxon may not necessarily confer protection to assemblages from other taxa. On the other hand, multi‐species strategies based on systematic selection procedures (e.g., the focal species approach) offer more compelling evidence of the usefulness of the concept. Evaluations of umbrella species schemes could be improved by including measures of population viability and data from many years, as well as by comparing the efficiency of the proposed scheme with alternative management strategies.

Prevalence of vertebral fractures in French women older than 75 years from the EPIDOS study

The aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence and severity of vertebral fractures in French elderly women. We used spinal radiographs collected during the baseline examination of the Epidémiologie de l'Ostéoporose (EPIDOS) study, a multicentric prospective study of risk factors for hip fracture. A total of 7598 ambulatory women volunteers were recruited in the EPIDOS cohort using large population-based listings such as voter-registration lists. A subsample of 770 participants were selected for spinal radiographs using a systematic selection procedure. Anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the thoracic and lumbar spine were reviewed by two trained rheumatologists using the semiquantitative (SQ) method described by Genant et al. [J. Bone Miner Res. 8 (1993) 1137]. Vertebral deformities that could be related to causes other than osteoporosis (i.e., Scheuermann's disease or osteoarthritis) were disregarded. The final analysis was made over 745 women after excluding 25 women whose spine radiographs were incomplete or of poor quality. The sample average age was 80.1 ± 3.4 years. Vertebral fractures were found in 170 women: 22.8% (95% CI, 19.8–25.8%). A single, two, three, or more vertebral fractures were seen in 99 (58.2%), 43 (25.3%), and 28 (16.5%) of the 170 affected women, respectively. The prevalence of vertebral fractures increased with age from 19.0% (95% CI, 14.9–23.1%) among women 75–79 years old to 21.9% (95% CI, 17.3–26.5%) among those 80–84 years old and to 41.4%(95% CI, 31.0–51.7%) among those 85 years of age and over (Chi-square test for trend P < 0.00016). A significant correlation was found also between the number of vertebral fractures per woman and age ( r = 0.108, P = 0.003) and between the spinal fracture index and age ( r = 0.105, P = 0.004). We conclude that the prevalence of vertebral fractures is high in French ambulatory elderly women, which confirms the results of previous studies conducted in various Caucasian and Asian populations.

Peut-on prédire la réussite d'une première année universitaire?

The idea of setting systematic selection procedures for university entrance, though it is not a new one, is presently being reintroduced. One reason for this is that in most countries education budget is submitted to financial restrictions. Among other current arguments we may quote the assertion that lack of selection results in a high proportion of failure at the end of the first year in university, which means social and individual waste. We do not intend to argue about possible deviant effects of such a reform (especially in terms of social disparity) : our aim is merely to show that a relevant system of selection for university entrance is difficult to organize because predictive studies on academic success, based on data on students characteristics when they enter or on academic adjustment indicators, are usually too vague to be used as selection tools before or during the first year or college.

Sliding mode control of a static VAR controller for synchronous generator stabilization

The paper deals with the design and evaluation of a variable-structure stabilizer for static VAR compensators using a sliding mode control technique. The static VAR system plays an important role as a stability aid for small and large signal transient disturbances in an interconnected power system. A systematic procedure for selection of switching hyperplanes in the design of variable-structure controllers is developed by using a geometric approach known as projector theory. The sliding mode control of static VAR controllers improves the transient response of the power system and provides significant damping to the electromechanical oscillations of the synchronous generator. Computer simulation results for a typical power system shows the effectiveness of a VSS static VAR stabilizer.

Bent and flat highly oriented pyrolytic graphite crystals as small bragg angle monochromators in thin‐specimen energy‐dispersive XRF analysis

AbstractA monochromatic high‐intensity x‐ray beam, obtained by Bragg reflection of the strongest characteristic tube line under small angles on single crystals, can be used as an EDXRF excitation source. A systematic selection procedure and search of 55 single crystals suitable as EDXRF Bragg reflectors was made and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) was found to be a superior candidate for the characteristic Kα line of an Mo tube within the range of low‐order reflections, yielding the highest intensities. Meridionally and sagitally curved HOPGs were studied in a flexible experimental set‐up and the reflected beam intensity and profile were compared with the corresponding data obtained from flat HOPGs with different mosaic spreads. The relationships between collimation, crystal curvature and mosaic spread were evaluated. The experimental angular beam acceptance and the secondary extinction effects dependent on the mosaic spread of the HOPG were found to be in line with theoretical expectations. Measured in similar configurations as required for realistic EDXRF applications, the sagitally bent HOPG increases the reflected beam intensity up to 77% whereas the meridionally bent HOPG yields an intensity gain of only up to 28% compared with the flat crystal with the same mosaic spread. The detection limits for the corresponding thin‐filter EDXRF analysis are presented.

The Use of Bragg Reflection on Single Crystals for the Production of Polarized Excitation Radiation in the EDXRF

AbstractA monochromatic and linear polarized X-ray beam obtained by a Bragg reflection of a characteristic tube line under 90° on single crystals can be used as a EDXRF excitation source in a triaxial beam geometry in order to profit by the polarization effects reducing the scattering background in the fluorescence spectrum, A systematic selection procedure for 55 single crystals suitable for Bragg reflection was established. The selection procedure takes the following conditions and criteria into account. First of all the existence of appropriate lattice planes hkl fulfilling the Bragg reflection condition and having low Miller indices as well as a Bragg angle close to 45° ensures a high degree of polarization. Furthermore the integrated reflectivity Rifor these lattice planes should be as high as possible. For the validity of the formula for Riof an ideal mosaic crystal, the effects of primary and secondary extinction as well as of true absorption have to be considered. The critical limits of these parameters are calculated. The results of this systematic crystal selection procedure for the characteristic Kα lines of Cr, Cu, Mo and Ag tubes are presented.

Optimal variable-structure controller for DC motor speed control

A new technique, based on the theory of variable-structure systems, is proposed for the speed control of a separately excited DC motor. A systematic procedure for selection of the switching hyperplane in the design of variable-structure controllers is developed, by minimising a quadratic performance index in the sliding-mode operation. The proposed control scheme is illustrated by digital simulation of a separately excited DC motor. It is shown that use of optimal variable-structure controllers can greatly improve the transient performance of the system, while still keeping the steady-state error at zero.