Controlled,guided munitions can reduce dispersion in the shot,while providing the capability of engaging both stationary and maneuvering targets.The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research has develop...Controlled,guided munitions can reduce dispersion in the shot,while providing the capability of engaging both stationary and maneuvering targets.The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research has developed a fin-less control technology called Stagnation Pressure Reaction Control(SPRC)that takes stagnation pressure air and directs it sideways to control non-spinning projectiles.In a previous study,this technology was demonstrated at Mach 2 wind-tunnel conditions to achieve up to 1.5°controllable angle of incidence for a non-spinning,aerodynamically unstable projectile-like test object.In an operational scenario,the decelerating projectile will experience a decline in control force while the simultaneous forward shift of the center of pressure increases the need for control force.Furthermore,angles of incidence exceeding 1.5°will be experienced under realistic flight conditions,especially against maneuvering targets.This work addresses these challenges and presents an operational feasibility study for a practical application of SPRC in a non-spinning mid-caliber gun-launched projectile,using experiment data on control latency and force of the earlier study.It illustrates the combined effect of the control-and stability dynamics and underlines the potential of an SPRC projectile as a precisionoperation ammunition.This research revealed that SPRC technology can stabilize and control the hypothesized projectile in a direct fire scenario against stationary and maneuvering targets.展开更多
The energy industry faces a significant challenge in extracting natural gas from offshore natural gas hydrate(NGH)reservoirs,primarily due to the low productivity of wells and the high operational costs involved.The p...The energy industry faces a significant challenge in extracting natural gas from offshore natural gas hydrate(NGH)reservoirs,primarily due to the low productivity of wells and the high operational costs involved.The present study offers an assessment of the feasibility of utilizing geothermal energy to augment the production of natural gas from offshore gas hydrate reservoirs through the implementation of the methane-CO_(2)swapping technique.The present study expands the research scope of the authors beyond their previous publication,which exclusively examined the generation of methane from marine gas hydrates.Specifically,the current investigation explores the feasibility of utilizing the void spaces created by the extracted methane in the hydrate reservoir for carbon dioxide storage.Analytical models were employed to forecast the heat transfer from a geothermal zone to an NGH reservoir.A study was conducted utilizing data obtained from a reservoir situated in the Shenhu region of the Northern South China Sea.The findings of the model indicate that the implementation of geothermal heating can lead to a substantial enhancement in the productivity of wells located in heated reservoirs during CO_(2)swapping procedures.The non-linear relationship between the temperature of the heated reservoir and the rate of fold increase has been observed.It is anticipated that the fold of increase will surpass 5 when the gas hydrate reservoir undergoes a temperature rise from 6℃ to 16℃.The mathematical models utilized in this study did not incorporate the impact of heat convection resulting from CO_(2)flow into the gas reservoir.This factor has the potential to enhance well productivity.The mathematical models’deviation assumptions may cause over-prediction of well productivity in geothermal-stimulated reservoirs.Additional research is required to examine the impacts of temperature drawdown,heat convection resulting from depressurization,heat-induced gas pressure increment,and the presence of free gas in the formation containing hydrates.The process of CH4-CO_(2)swapping,which has been investigated,involves the utilization of geothermal stimulation.This method is highly encouraging as it enables the efficient injection of CO_(2)into gas hydrate reservoirs,resulting in the permanent sequestration of CO_(2)in a solid state.Additional research is warranted to examine the rate of mass transfer of CO_(2)within reservoirs of gas hydrates.展开更多
Jinchuan nickel mine is the largest nickel mine in China. Cut-and-fill mining method with high density cementing materials is used in the mine. The original mining design divided the mining operation into two steps. T...Jinchuan nickel mine is the largest nickel mine in China. Cut-and-fill mining method with high density cementing materials is used in the mine. The original mining design divided the mining operation into two steps. The first step stopped the mining rooms and the second step stopped the pillars. Because the two-step method made big trouble for finally mining pillars and strongly limited the mining speed and production, it was successfully changed to a continuous cut-and-fill method without pillars. Howerver, the mining operation in the mine has been down to 800 m and the mining condition is getting worse and more complicated. Through systematical field investigations and 3-D FEM analysis, it is proved that the mining method without pillars is feasible for mining deeper orebodies in Jinchuan nickel mine.展开更多
Background: The Sars-Cov-2 pandemic has accelerated the spreading of telemedicine, including TeleNeuroPsychology (TNP). Also in a non-pandemic scenario, TNP gives the advantage of reaching older subjects, which often ...Background: The Sars-Cov-2 pandemic has accelerated the spreading of telemedicine, including TeleNeuroPsychology (TNP). Also in a non-pandemic scenario, TNP gives the advantage of reaching older subjects, which often have mobility or transportation limitations. Previous studies on the feasibility, acceptability and reliability of TNP provide promising indications. However, it remains unclear how elderly populations in Italy welcome this practice, in particular when carried out “direct-to-home” (DTH neuropsychology—DTH-NP), hence without assistance in setting up, i.e., the videoconference, and which tests validated in Italian populations show good comparability between remote (either by voice phone call or videoconference) and face-to-face administration. Aims: Here we present a study protocol aimed at assessing: 1) the recruitment rate in a study on DTH neuropsychological assessment through voice calls or videoconference, 2) the feasibility and acceptability of a DTH neuropsychological assessment, 3) the comparability between DTH and face-to-face neuropsychological assessments. Methods: Fifty-eight older adults (65 - 85 years) were recruited among donors of the Abbiategrasso Brain Bank and will undergo both a face-to-face and a DTH neuropsychological assessment in a counterbalanced cross-over design (Group 1: remote session first;Group 2: face-to-face session first). Recruitment rate will be first evaluated. Then, the responses to an acceptability questionnaire will be compared between the two administration modalities. Finally, the DTH-face-to-face comparability will be evaluated as good reliability of a DTH neuropsychological assessment and agreement between scores obtained in the two modalities. Discussion and Conclusion: This study protocol aims at describing the procedures allowing a more reliable implementation of DTH-NP in the Italian clinical and research contexts. The inclusion of both phone-call and videoconference DTH neuropsychological assessment will give the opportunity to evaluate the feasibility of DTH-NP also in older adults with low digital skills. The results of the comparability analysis will offer the first evidence in the Italian context on which neuropsychological tests can be reliably delivered DTH, by phone call or videoconference.展开更多
The Toroidal Field (TF) coil case of the HT-7U superconducting tokamak device is made of austenitic stainless steel 316LN and is designed to operate at cryogenic temperature (4 K). 316LN can retain high strength and f...The Toroidal Field (TF) coil case of the HT-7U superconducting tokamak device is made of austenitic stainless steel 316LN and is designed to operate at cryogenic temperature (4 K). 316LN can retain high strength and fracture toughness at 4 K. Feasibility study on technical process of welding has been experimentally considered as a hopeful joint method for suppression of post-welding deformation and reduction of over-heating. Meanwhile the final range of stress intensity and the stress intensity factor (K) for pre-cracks of welding structure have been determined by using J-integral. These related results are optimistic and have shown that there’s no problem in strength and fracture toughness at the vicinity of the pre-crack tip. This paper introduces the welding structure of TF coil case in detail.展开更多
Renewable energy, particularly solar energy, offers a clean and alternative energy source to meet the energy demand for sustainable development in the world. Due to its profitability and viability, PV net-metering sch...Renewable energy, particularly solar energy, offers a clean and alternative energy source to meet the energy demand for sustainable development in the world. Due to its profitability and viability, PV net-metering scheme has been adopted in many countries. The feasibility of implementation PV rooftop system with net metering in residential, commercial, governmental and industrial sectors in Iraq is demonstrated in this study. A financial model has been developed to investigate the feasibility parameters <i>NPV</i>, <i>IRR</i> and annual savings of 24 kWp PV system. The results showed that increasing the capacity of the PV system in residential and commercial buildings will lead to a profitable investment return and the breakeven point that may make the PV net-metering projects feasible is very close to the tariff applied for the commercial sector (10.29 $c/kWh). In the governmental sector, the tariff needs to </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">increase by 35.1% to reach breakeven. However, for such net-metering scheme</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> to be attractive and feasible on a wide scale, it is crucial to back it with financial support through soft loans and grants.展开更多
The differential pricing for peak hours encourages industrial consumers to look for independent power supplies for the period from 19 to 22 hours. This paper presents a study to identify the optimal solution for a rec...The differential pricing for peak hours encourages industrial consumers to look for independent power supplies for the period from 19 to 22 hours. This paper presents a study to identify the optimal solution for a recycled paper mill that also intends to work in that period. The factory is located in Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil, and considers the use of a diesel gen set, a micro hydro power plant and possibly PV modules. Two micro hydro power plants were considered in the study, an old plant to be renewed and another to be fully implemented. The software Homer was used as a tool to determine the most feasible combination of components considered in the study. The sale of surplus power to the energy system appears as a key to viability of alternatives that are not based solely on diesel generators. The optimal solution consists of a combination of diesel generators and micro hydro power plant, in one case, and only on hydroelectric power plant in another, with a significant penetration of PV modules if its cost is reduced to 12% of the current price, selling an amount of energy equal to that which is bought. The annual water availability in one of the sites requires diesel supplement, while the other, more abundant, this supplement is not necessary.展开更多
In the field of large-capacity accelerator construction, there are two world-wide trends now evident in high-energy physicists: one is to build up high-energy ones such as the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) developed by ...In the field of large-capacity accelerator construction, there are two world-wide trends now evident in high-energy physicists: one is to build up high-energy ones such as the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) developed by Conseil Européen pour la Recherches Nucleaires (CERN) and the other features high precision, including β-factories in the US and Japan and the φ-factory and τ-factory展开更多
The feasibility study of the Beijing Tau-Charm Factory(BTCF), approved by the Chinese government to have been completing from February of 1995 to the end of 1996, has been carried out successfully by the Institute of ...The feasibility study of the Beijing Tau-Charm Factory(BTCF), approved by the Chinese government to have been completing from February of 1995 to the end of 1996, has been carried out successfully by the Institute of High-Energy Physics (IHEP) under the CAS.Also this is a cooperative project shared by seven Chinese institutions of Peking University,the CAS Institute of Theoretical Physics,Nanjing University,Shandong University,Shanghai Jiaotong University, Qinghua University and the CAS-affiliated University of S&T of China. The main tasks of this study are:展开更多
<strong>Background:</strong> The aims of this pilot study were to implement and evaluate a postpartum care program for mothers raising children younger than one year to provide physical relaxation, and to ...<strong>Background:</strong> The aims of this pilot study were to implement and evaluate a postpartum care program for mothers raising children younger than one year to provide physical relaxation, and to reduce mothers’ parenting problems. <strong>Methods:</strong> A day-service and group-type postpartum care program was implemented with the aim of interacting with peers, promoting local communication, and relaxing mothers. <strong>Results:</strong> Forty-five pairs of mothers and infants participated in the study. Most of the mothers experienced relaxation, communicated with each other, resolved physical problems, reduced childcare concerns, and developed parenting friends. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> In addition, feasibility was assured as they were very satisfied with the content of programs such as baby massage and aroma treatment.展开更多
Ethylene oxide(EO)is a sold-out intermediate material for producing various chemicals.Major chemical companies are interested in whether new EO plant can create profit.This research is undertaken to investigate the ec...Ethylene oxide(EO)is a sold-out intermediate material for producing various chemicals.Major chemical companies are interested in whether new EO plant can create profit.This research is undertaken to investigate the economic feasibility of EO production.Direct oxidation of ethylene using silver on alpha-Al2O3 catalyst type is adapted to produce EO of 60 000t year.We conduct the conceptual design.Firstly,we synthesize the optimal structure and then determine optimal conditions and the size of the equipments.Feasibility study shows that profit and loss turning point turns out to be 3.2 years based on the present market price.In addition,we conducts the economic analysis to prepare the risk of raw material market price variation ranging from 70% to 130%.展开更多
Background: Adequate and quality Maternal and Child Health (MNCH) care is considered essential in reduction of maternal and child mortality. More than half of the global maternal deaths (66%) are in sub-Saharan Africa...Background: Adequate and quality Maternal and Child Health (MNCH) care is considered essential in reduction of maternal and child mortality. More than half of the global maternal deaths (66%) are in sub-Saharan Africa with infant mortality of 51/1000 live births in the WHO Africa region [1]. There is potential to improve access and utilization of health services through investing in Primary Health Care (PHC) digital innovations [2] especially in underserved settings [3]. In the last quarter of the year 2021 after lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions, Tekeleza project, aims to integrate digital health innovations into MNCH care within PHC settings in Kenya. The project team undertook a baseline survey in three rural counties (Kisii, Kajiado and Migori) characterized with low social-economic status to identify opportunities to leverage on the use of evidence-based digital innovations to reverse the adverse trends in Maternal and Child Health. Methods: A cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted in 15 Community Health Units (CHUs) in Kenya that were linked to selected Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities from three rural counties. Mixed methods were used to collect data from 404 Households (HHs) selected across the sampled CHUs on Probability Proportionate to Size (PPS). The selected households were assigned unique household or respondent identifiers. The sampling frame for household surveys consisted of all women 18 - 49 years of age, who were either pregnant or in their 18 months post-delivery. From the constructed sampling frame, a simple random sampling procedure was used to select the study sample. An audit was also carried out at the selected PHC facilities and sixty-two (62) Primary Health Workers (PHCWs) including facility managers were interviewed to establish challenges affecting ICT infrastructure and sustainable financing of MNCH services. Findings: The majority of the sampled women (64.9%) were lactating at the time of the study, with 34.4% being pregnant and 0.7% both pregnant and lactating. Despite the high proportions of mothers who received Skilled Birth Attendance, discontinuity in seeking antenatal and postnatal care services was observed in all three counties. The proportion of mothers (n = 404) who reported to have attended at least one ANC was 46.8%. This was attributed to limited access to health facilities, poor staff attitude, and negative cultural practices that got exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. An average of 53.2% of the respondents started attending ANC clinics much later after 12 weeks of gestation to minimize the costs and time they will spend on attending ANC clinics. It also emerged that 68.7% of the respondents had low knowledge levels of selected perinatal and infant care practices. On the making of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) health-seeking decisions, 54.7% of the respondents said, it is their husbands who decide. The PHCWs expressed limited access to Continuing Professional Development (CPDs), a situation that worsened with the COVID-19 Pandemic. Notably, only 54.9% of the PHCWs reported having access to either a Smartphone or desktop at the point of service delivery. Nearly the same proportion (54.8%) has access to the internet at their workstations. Facilities reported delayed reimbursement of National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and only 54% of the women interviewed had registered in Linda mama NHIF package meant to enable them to access free maternity care. Only one county (Migori) had significant utilization of CHVs. Conclusion: There is increasing access to Skilled Birth Attendance (SBA) in rural Kenya but discontinuous pregnancy care is still a problem and it got worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rural PHC facilities have poor ICT infrastructure and despite the 98% rural access to a phone by women, there is limited bankable usage of handheld technology to improve health information literacy on self and infant care among women of reproductive age. Recommendations: Feasibility studies to be conducted on how to sustainably deploy Primary Health Care digital solutions to improve the quality of, access to, and Utilization of Maternal and Child Health (MNCH) services.展开更多
It is expected that a total of 5 billion US dollars will be invested in Nanhai Petrochemical Project,the largest Chinese-foreign equity joint venture(JV)in petrochemical industry of south part of China,which includes ...It is expected that a total of 5 billion US dollars will be invested in Nanhai Petrochemical Project,the largest Chinese-foreign equity joint venture(JV)in petrochemical industry of south part of China,which includes 50%from Shell a and 50%from Chinese party.The investment of the Chinese party is comprised of 20%from CNOOC,10%separately from Sinopech,Guangdong pro-vince,Bureau of Business Promotion.展开更多
Objective:The size and morphology of the right ventricular outflow tract(RVOT)in patients suffering from long-term pulmonary regurgitation(PR)after native RVOT(NRVOT)reconstruction are important factors affecting the ...Objective:The size and morphology of the right ventricular outflow tract(RVOT)in patients suffering from long-term pulmonary regurgitation(PR)after native RVOT(NRVOT)reconstruction are important factors affecting the feasibility,safety,and effectiveness of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility,safety,and effectiveness of a transthoracic Salus valve(Balance Medical Technology Co.,Ltd,Beijing,China)in patients with moderate-to-severe PR after NRVOT reconstruction.Methods:Patients with moderate-to-severe PR after NRVOT reconstruction were selected between June 2021 and November 2021 at Beijing Anzhen Hospital.Demographic data as well as preoperative,intraoperative,and follow-up data were reviewed.Results:Ten patients with moderate-to-severe PR after NRVOT reconstruction underwent physical examination,transthoracic echocardiography,and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.Seven patients were selected for transthoracic Salus valve replacement.Six patients underwent implantation of the Salus valve successfully.One valve migrated and was embolized during recovery of the delivery device;the Salus valve was surgically explanted and sutured to the inner wall of the main pulmonary artery.At a mean follow-up of(5.5±1.1)months,dysfunction or migration of the Salus valve embolism was not observed.Conclusions:This early feasibility study demonstrates the feasibility,safety,and effectiveness of transthoracic implantation of a Salus valve in patients with moderate-to-severe PR after NRVOT reconstruction.The short-term effectiveness is clear,medium and long-term effectiveness requires longer follow-up.展开更多
Background:The autoimmune disease Sjogren's syndrome(SS)is often characterized by salivary changes that may affect swallowing.No known study has investigated the association between salivary biomarkers and percept...Background:The autoimmune disease Sjogren's syndrome(SS)is often characterized by salivary changes that may affect swallowing.No known study has investigated the association between salivary biomarkers and perceptions of swallowing in individuals with SS.Our objectives were to explore:(1)the operational feasibility of investigating saliva volume and composition,along with perceptions of swallowing,in those with and without SS;and(2)the relationship between saliva composition and perceptions of oral dryness,swallowing,and quality of life.Methods:We conducted a prospective,case–control feasibility study,collecting feasibility data(recruitment rate and optimal saliva collection methods)and whole mouth saliva samples(unstimulated and stimulated).We measured total protein content and conducted sialochemical(α-amylase,cortisol,C-reactive protein[CRP],and mucins),sialometric(flow rate),and perceptual(oral dryness and swallowing-related quality of life[SWAL-QOL])assessments.Our exploratory analyses focused on the main and fixed effects.We summarized all data descriptively,comparing:(a)outcomes between groups(t tests or Mann–Whitney U)and(b)salivary and perceptual data across participants(partial least-squares correlation[PLSC]).Results:We enrolled 12(N)participants(6 per group),all providing analyzable saliva.Cases had lower flow rate(p=0.003)and higher total protein,cortisol,and CRP concentrations(p<0.02)than controls.PLSC revealed inverse covariance between sialochemical and SWAL-QOL data across participants.Conclusion:Our study was feasible as designed.We explored novel relationships between salivary outcomes and participant-reported perceptions,distinguishing individuals with and without SS.Our findings support further study of saliva's role in perceptions of swallowing,specifically analytes with lubricative properties.展开更多
Fire disasters and the deterioration of tunnel structures are major concerns for tunnel operation and maintenance.Traditional wired monitoring systems have many drawbacks in terms of installation time,overall cost,and...Fire disasters and the deterioration of tunnel structures are major concerns for tunnel operation and maintenance.Traditional wired monitoring systems have many drawbacks in terms of installation time,overall cost,and flexibility in tunnel environments.In recent years,there has been growing interest in the use of wireless sensor networks(WSNs)for the monitoring of various structural monitoring applications.This paper evaluated the feasibility of applying a WSN in the monitoring of tunnels.The monitoring requirements of tunnels under explosion and combustion fire scenarios are analyzed using numerical simulation,and the maximum possible distance for temperature sensors is derived.The displacement monitoring of tunnels using an inclinometer is investigated.It is recommended that the inclinometer should be installed in the 1/4 span of the tunnel structure.The maximum wireless transmission distances in both outdoor and tunnel environments were examined.The influences of surface materials and sensor node locations on the data transmission distance in tunnel environments were also investigated.The experimental results show that the data loss in tunnel environments is approximately three times that in outdoor environments.Surface material has a considerable influence on the transmission distance of radio signals.The distance is 25~28 m for a raw concrete surface,20 m for a brick surface,and 36 m for a terrazzo surface.The transmission distances along the middle of quarter points are approximately 0.9D(D is the transmission distance in the center of the tunnel),and the relative error is less than±3%.The transmission distances at different locations along the bottom exhibit significant differences,decreasing from the middle to the comer point,with distances of approximately 0.8D at the quarter points and minimum distances of approximately 0.55D at the comer points.展开更多
文摘Controlled,guided munitions can reduce dispersion in the shot,while providing the capability of engaging both stationary and maneuvering targets.The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research has developed a fin-less control technology called Stagnation Pressure Reaction Control(SPRC)that takes stagnation pressure air and directs it sideways to control non-spinning projectiles.In a previous study,this technology was demonstrated at Mach 2 wind-tunnel conditions to achieve up to 1.5°controllable angle of incidence for a non-spinning,aerodynamically unstable projectile-like test object.In an operational scenario,the decelerating projectile will experience a decline in control force while the simultaneous forward shift of the center of pressure increases the need for control force.Furthermore,angles of incidence exceeding 1.5°will be experienced under realistic flight conditions,especially against maneuvering targets.This work addresses these challenges and presents an operational feasibility study for a practical application of SPRC in a non-spinning mid-caliber gun-launched projectile,using experiment data on control latency and force of the earlier study.It illustrates the combined effect of the control-and stability dynamics and underlines the potential of an SPRC projectile as a precisionoperation ammunition.This research revealed that SPRC technology can stabilize and control the hypothesized projectile in a direct fire scenario against stationary and maneuvering targets.
基金funding the project“Safe,Sustainable,and Resilient Development of Offshore Reservoirs and Natural Gas Upgrading through Innovative Science and Technology:Gulf of Mexico–Mediterranean,”through Contract No.EC-19 Fossil Energy。
文摘The energy industry faces a significant challenge in extracting natural gas from offshore natural gas hydrate(NGH)reservoirs,primarily due to the low productivity of wells and the high operational costs involved.The present study offers an assessment of the feasibility of utilizing geothermal energy to augment the production of natural gas from offshore gas hydrate reservoirs through the implementation of the methane-CO_(2)swapping technique.The present study expands the research scope of the authors beyond their previous publication,which exclusively examined the generation of methane from marine gas hydrates.Specifically,the current investigation explores the feasibility of utilizing the void spaces created by the extracted methane in the hydrate reservoir for carbon dioxide storage.Analytical models were employed to forecast the heat transfer from a geothermal zone to an NGH reservoir.A study was conducted utilizing data obtained from a reservoir situated in the Shenhu region of the Northern South China Sea.The findings of the model indicate that the implementation of geothermal heating can lead to a substantial enhancement in the productivity of wells located in heated reservoirs during CO_(2)swapping procedures.The non-linear relationship between the temperature of the heated reservoir and the rate of fold increase has been observed.It is anticipated that the fold of increase will surpass 5 when the gas hydrate reservoir undergoes a temperature rise from 6℃ to 16℃.The mathematical models utilized in this study did not incorporate the impact of heat convection resulting from CO_(2)flow into the gas reservoir.This factor has the potential to enhance well productivity.The mathematical models’deviation assumptions may cause over-prediction of well productivity in geothermal-stimulated reservoirs.Additional research is required to examine the impacts of temperature drawdown,heat convection resulting from depressurization,heat-induced gas pressure increment,and the presence of free gas in the formation containing hydrates.The process of CH4-CO_(2)swapping,which has been investigated,involves the utilization of geothermal stimulation.This method is highly encouraging as it enables the efficient injection of CO_(2)into gas hydrate reservoirs,resulting in the permanent sequestration of CO_(2)in a solid state.Additional research is warranted to examine the rate of mass transfer of CO_(2)within reservoirs of gas hydrates.
文摘Jinchuan nickel mine is the largest nickel mine in China. Cut-and-fill mining method with high density cementing materials is used in the mine. The original mining design divided the mining operation into two steps. The first step stopped the mining rooms and the second step stopped the pillars. Because the two-step method made big trouble for finally mining pillars and strongly limited the mining speed and production, it was successfully changed to a continuous cut-and-fill method without pillars. Howerver, the mining operation in the mine has been down to 800 m and the mining condition is getting worse and more complicated. Through systematical field investigations and 3-D FEM analysis, it is proved that the mining method without pillars is feasible for mining deeper orebodies in Jinchuan nickel mine.
文摘Background: The Sars-Cov-2 pandemic has accelerated the spreading of telemedicine, including TeleNeuroPsychology (TNP). Also in a non-pandemic scenario, TNP gives the advantage of reaching older subjects, which often have mobility or transportation limitations. Previous studies on the feasibility, acceptability and reliability of TNP provide promising indications. However, it remains unclear how elderly populations in Italy welcome this practice, in particular when carried out “direct-to-home” (DTH neuropsychology—DTH-NP), hence without assistance in setting up, i.e., the videoconference, and which tests validated in Italian populations show good comparability between remote (either by voice phone call or videoconference) and face-to-face administration. Aims: Here we present a study protocol aimed at assessing: 1) the recruitment rate in a study on DTH neuropsychological assessment through voice calls or videoconference, 2) the feasibility and acceptability of a DTH neuropsychological assessment, 3) the comparability between DTH and face-to-face neuropsychological assessments. Methods: Fifty-eight older adults (65 - 85 years) were recruited among donors of the Abbiategrasso Brain Bank and will undergo both a face-to-face and a DTH neuropsychological assessment in a counterbalanced cross-over design (Group 1: remote session first;Group 2: face-to-face session first). Recruitment rate will be first evaluated. Then, the responses to an acceptability questionnaire will be compared between the two administration modalities. Finally, the DTH-face-to-face comparability will be evaluated as good reliability of a DTH neuropsychological assessment and agreement between scores obtained in the two modalities. Discussion and Conclusion: This study protocol aims at describing the procedures allowing a more reliable implementation of DTH-NP in the Italian clinical and research contexts. The inclusion of both phone-call and videoconference DTH neuropsychological assessment will give the opportunity to evaluate the feasibility of DTH-NP also in older adults with low digital skills. The results of the comparability analysis will offer the first evidence in the Italian context on which neuropsychological tests can be reliably delivered DTH, by phone call or videoconference.
文摘The Toroidal Field (TF) coil case of the HT-7U superconducting tokamak device is made of austenitic stainless steel 316LN and is designed to operate at cryogenic temperature (4 K). 316LN can retain high strength and fracture toughness at 4 K. Feasibility study on technical process of welding has been experimentally considered as a hopeful joint method for suppression of post-welding deformation and reduction of over-heating. Meanwhile the final range of stress intensity and the stress intensity factor (K) for pre-cracks of welding structure have been determined by using J-integral. These related results are optimistic and have shown that there’s no problem in strength and fracture toughness at the vicinity of the pre-crack tip. This paper introduces the welding structure of TF coil case in detail.
文摘Renewable energy, particularly solar energy, offers a clean and alternative energy source to meet the energy demand for sustainable development in the world. Due to its profitability and viability, PV net-metering scheme has been adopted in many countries. The feasibility of implementation PV rooftop system with net metering in residential, commercial, governmental and industrial sectors in Iraq is demonstrated in this study. A financial model has been developed to investigate the feasibility parameters <i>NPV</i>, <i>IRR</i> and annual savings of 24 kWp PV system. The results showed that increasing the capacity of the PV system in residential and commercial buildings will lead to a profitable investment return and the breakeven point that may make the PV net-metering projects feasible is very close to the tariff applied for the commercial sector (10.29 $c/kWh). In the governmental sector, the tariff needs to </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">increase by 35.1% to reach breakeven. However, for such net-metering scheme</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> to be attractive and feasible on a wide scale, it is crucial to back it with financial support through soft loans and grants.
文摘The differential pricing for peak hours encourages industrial consumers to look for independent power supplies for the period from 19 to 22 hours. This paper presents a study to identify the optimal solution for a recycled paper mill that also intends to work in that period. The factory is located in Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil, and considers the use of a diesel gen set, a micro hydro power plant and possibly PV modules. Two micro hydro power plants were considered in the study, an old plant to be renewed and another to be fully implemented. The software Homer was used as a tool to determine the most feasible combination of components considered in the study. The sale of surplus power to the energy system appears as a key to viability of alternatives that are not based solely on diesel generators. The optimal solution consists of a combination of diesel generators and micro hydro power plant, in one case, and only on hydroelectric power plant in another, with a significant penetration of PV modules if its cost is reduced to 12% of the current price, selling an amount of energy equal to that which is bought. The annual water availability in one of the sites requires diesel supplement, while the other, more abundant, this supplement is not necessary.
文摘In the field of large-capacity accelerator construction, there are two world-wide trends now evident in high-energy physicists: one is to build up high-energy ones such as the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) developed by Conseil Européen pour la Recherches Nucleaires (CERN) and the other features high precision, including β-factories in the US and Japan and the φ-factory and τ-factory
文摘The feasibility study of the Beijing Tau-Charm Factory(BTCF), approved by the Chinese government to have been completing from February of 1995 to the end of 1996, has been carried out successfully by the Institute of High-Energy Physics (IHEP) under the CAS.Also this is a cooperative project shared by seven Chinese institutions of Peking University,the CAS Institute of Theoretical Physics,Nanjing University,Shandong University,Shanghai Jiaotong University, Qinghua University and the CAS-affiliated University of S&T of China. The main tasks of this study are:
文摘<strong>Background:</strong> The aims of this pilot study were to implement and evaluate a postpartum care program for mothers raising children younger than one year to provide physical relaxation, and to reduce mothers’ parenting problems. <strong>Methods:</strong> A day-service and group-type postpartum care program was implemented with the aim of interacting with peers, promoting local communication, and relaxing mothers. <strong>Results:</strong> Forty-five pairs of mothers and infants participated in the study. Most of the mothers experienced relaxation, communicated with each other, resolved physical problems, reduced childcare concerns, and developed parenting friends. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> In addition, feasibility was assured as they were very satisfied with the content of programs such as baby massage and aroma treatment.
基金The MSIP(Ministry of Science,ICT&Future Planning),Korea,under the Convergence-ITRC(Convergence Information Technology Research Center)support program(NIPA-2013-H0401-13-1004)supervised by the NIPA(National IT Industry Promotion Agency)
文摘Ethylene oxide(EO)is a sold-out intermediate material for producing various chemicals.Major chemical companies are interested in whether new EO plant can create profit.This research is undertaken to investigate the economic feasibility of EO production.Direct oxidation of ethylene using silver on alpha-Al2O3 catalyst type is adapted to produce EO of 60 000t year.We conduct the conceptual design.Firstly,we synthesize the optimal structure and then determine optimal conditions and the size of the equipments.Feasibility study shows that profit and loss turning point turns out to be 3.2 years based on the present market price.In addition,we conducts the economic analysis to prepare the risk of raw material market price variation ranging from 70% to 130%.
文摘Background: Adequate and quality Maternal and Child Health (MNCH) care is considered essential in reduction of maternal and child mortality. More than half of the global maternal deaths (66%) are in sub-Saharan Africa with infant mortality of 51/1000 live births in the WHO Africa region [1]. There is potential to improve access and utilization of health services through investing in Primary Health Care (PHC) digital innovations [2] especially in underserved settings [3]. In the last quarter of the year 2021 after lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions, Tekeleza project, aims to integrate digital health innovations into MNCH care within PHC settings in Kenya. The project team undertook a baseline survey in three rural counties (Kisii, Kajiado and Migori) characterized with low social-economic status to identify opportunities to leverage on the use of evidence-based digital innovations to reverse the adverse trends in Maternal and Child Health. Methods: A cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted in 15 Community Health Units (CHUs) in Kenya that were linked to selected Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities from three rural counties. Mixed methods were used to collect data from 404 Households (HHs) selected across the sampled CHUs on Probability Proportionate to Size (PPS). The selected households were assigned unique household or respondent identifiers. The sampling frame for household surveys consisted of all women 18 - 49 years of age, who were either pregnant or in their 18 months post-delivery. From the constructed sampling frame, a simple random sampling procedure was used to select the study sample. An audit was also carried out at the selected PHC facilities and sixty-two (62) Primary Health Workers (PHCWs) including facility managers were interviewed to establish challenges affecting ICT infrastructure and sustainable financing of MNCH services. Findings: The majority of the sampled women (64.9%) were lactating at the time of the study, with 34.4% being pregnant and 0.7% both pregnant and lactating. Despite the high proportions of mothers who received Skilled Birth Attendance, discontinuity in seeking antenatal and postnatal care services was observed in all three counties. The proportion of mothers (n = 404) who reported to have attended at least one ANC was 46.8%. This was attributed to limited access to health facilities, poor staff attitude, and negative cultural practices that got exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. An average of 53.2% of the respondents started attending ANC clinics much later after 12 weeks of gestation to minimize the costs and time they will spend on attending ANC clinics. It also emerged that 68.7% of the respondents had low knowledge levels of selected perinatal and infant care practices. On the making of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) health-seeking decisions, 54.7% of the respondents said, it is their husbands who decide. The PHCWs expressed limited access to Continuing Professional Development (CPDs), a situation that worsened with the COVID-19 Pandemic. Notably, only 54.9% of the PHCWs reported having access to either a Smartphone or desktop at the point of service delivery. Nearly the same proportion (54.8%) has access to the internet at their workstations. Facilities reported delayed reimbursement of National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and only 54% of the women interviewed had registered in Linda mama NHIF package meant to enable them to access free maternity care. Only one county (Migori) had significant utilization of CHVs. Conclusion: There is increasing access to Skilled Birth Attendance (SBA) in rural Kenya but discontinuous pregnancy care is still a problem and it got worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rural PHC facilities have poor ICT infrastructure and despite the 98% rural access to a phone by women, there is limited bankable usage of handheld technology to improve health information literacy on self and infant care among women of reproductive age. Recommendations: Feasibility studies to be conducted on how to sustainably deploy Primary Health Care digital solutions to improve the quality of, access to, and Utilization of Maternal and Child Health (MNCH) services.
文摘It is expected that a total of 5 billion US dollars will be invested in Nanhai Petrochemical Project,the largest Chinese-foreign equity joint venture(JV)in petrochemical industry of south part of China,which includes 50%from Shell a and 50%from Chinese party.The investment of the Chinese party is comprised of 20%from CNOOC,10%separately from Sinopech,Guangdong pro-vince,Bureau of Business Promotion.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2020YFC1107903).
文摘Objective:The size and morphology of the right ventricular outflow tract(RVOT)in patients suffering from long-term pulmonary regurgitation(PR)after native RVOT(NRVOT)reconstruction are important factors affecting the feasibility,safety,and effectiveness of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility,safety,and effectiveness of a transthoracic Salus valve(Balance Medical Technology Co.,Ltd,Beijing,China)in patients with moderate-to-severe PR after NRVOT reconstruction.Methods:Patients with moderate-to-severe PR after NRVOT reconstruction were selected between June 2021 and November 2021 at Beijing Anzhen Hospital.Demographic data as well as preoperative,intraoperative,and follow-up data were reviewed.Results:Ten patients with moderate-to-severe PR after NRVOT reconstruction underwent physical examination,transthoracic echocardiography,and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.Seven patients were selected for transthoracic Salus valve replacement.Six patients underwent implantation of the Salus valve successfully.One valve migrated and was embolized during recovery of the delivery device;the Salus valve was surgically explanted and sutured to the inner wall of the main pulmonary artery.At a mean follow-up of(5.5±1.1)months,dysfunction or migration of the Salus valve embolism was not observed.Conclusions:This early feasibility study demonstrates the feasibility,safety,and effectiveness of transthoracic implantation of a Salus valve in patients with moderate-to-severe PR after NRVOT reconstruction.The short-term effectiveness is clear,medium and long-term effectiveness requires longer follow-up.
基金Faculty of Medicine,University of British Columbia,Grant/Award Number:Faculty of Medicine start up grant。
文摘Background:The autoimmune disease Sjogren's syndrome(SS)is often characterized by salivary changes that may affect swallowing.No known study has investigated the association between salivary biomarkers and perceptions of swallowing in individuals with SS.Our objectives were to explore:(1)the operational feasibility of investigating saliva volume and composition,along with perceptions of swallowing,in those with and without SS;and(2)the relationship between saliva composition and perceptions of oral dryness,swallowing,and quality of life.Methods:We conducted a prospective,case–control feasibility study,collecting feasibility data(recruitment rate and optimal saliva collection methods)and whole mouth saliva samples(unstimulated and stimulated).We measured total protein content and conducted sialochemical(α-amylase,cortisol,C-reactive protein[CRP],and mucins),sialometric(flow rate),and perceptual(oral dryness and swallowing-related quality of life[SWAL-QOL])assessments.Our exploratory analyses focused on the main and fixed effects.We summarized all data descriptively,comparing:(a)outcomes between groups(t tests or Mann–Whitney U)and(b)salivary and perceptual data across participants(partial least-squares correlation[PLSC]).Results:We enrolled 12(N)participants(6 per group),all providing analyzable saliva.Cases had lower flow rate(p=0.003)and higher total protein,cortisol,and CRP concentrations(p<0.02)than controls.PLSC revealed inverse covariance between sialochemical and SWAL-QOL data across participants.Conclusion:Our study was feasible as designed.We explored novel relationships between salivary outcomes and participant-reported perceptions,distinguishing individuals with and without SS.Our findings support further study of saliva's role in perceptions of swallowing,specifically analytes with lubricative properties.
基金This research was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program:2011CB013800)Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University(PCSIRT,IRT1029)and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.These financial supports are gratefully acknowledged.
文摘Fire disasters and the deterioration of tunnel structures are major concerns for tunnel operation and maintenance.Traditional wired monitoring systems have many drawbacks in terms of installation time,overall cost,and flexibility in tunnel environments.In recent years,there has been growing interest in the use of wireless sensor networks(WSNs)for the monitoring of various structural monitoring applications.This paper evaluated the feasibility of applying a WSN in the monitoring of tunnels.The monitoring requirements of tunnels under explosion and combustion fire scenarios are analyzed using numerical simulation,and the maximum possible distance for temperature sensors is derived.The displacement monitoring of tunnels using an inclinometer is investigated.It is recommended that the inclinometer should be installed in the 1/4 span of the tunnel structure.The maximum wireless transmission distances in both outdoor and tunnel environments were examined.The influences of surface materials and sensor node locations on the data transmission distance in tunnel environments were also investigated.The experimental results show that the data loss in tunnel environments is approximately three times that in outdoor environments.Surface material has a considerable influence on the transmission distance of radio signals.The distance is 25~28 m for a raw concrete surface,20 m for a brick surface,and 36 m for a terrazzo surface.The transmission distances along the middle of quarter points are approximately 0.9D(D is the transmission distance in the center of the tunnel),and the relative error is less than±3%.The transmission distances at different locations along the bottom exhibit significant differences,decreasing from the middle to the comer point,with distances of approximately 0.8D at the quarter points and minimum distances of approximately 0.55D at the comer points.
