Sediment flushing upstream of large orifices: An experimental study

Due to the constricting and localization of flow by orifices, these hydraulic structures are commonly used in dams and water impoundment reservoirs to flush deposited sediments. They are also one of the most important flow measurement structures. In this study, the flow characteristics at upstream of a large circular orifice located at the wall of a water reservoir, in the case that the sediments were accumulated behind it, was investigated. The experiments were performed at the hydraulic laboratory of Shahid Bahonar university of Kerman, in a model of rectangular reservoir. The experiments were performed in two parts. First, the flow behavior during the scour development at upstream of the orifice and the extent of sediment erosion due to the orifice flow was investigated. Next, a semi-confined structure was located at the upstream of orifice to increase the sediment removal efficiency. The effect of the geometrical characteristics of structure on the dimensions of scour hole was determined. It was observed that the interactions of water, sediment and structure generated strong vortices upstream of the orifice, which caused the lifting and sweeping away of a large amount of sediment from the reservoir and let to formation of a semi-cone hole upstream of the orifice.     

Dried jujube classification using support vector machine based on fractal parameters and red,green and blue intensity

A new method that combines fractal theory and red, green and blue (RGB) colour intensity was developed to sort dried jujube fruits by using support vector machine (SVM). Our result shows that the new method is fast and accurate in dried jujube fruits classification. The SVM models based on fractal parameters only achieved 85.18–92.73% total accuracy rate. The total classification accuracy of SVM based on RGB intensity values was 94.44%. However, the SVM models based on combining fractal parameters with RGB intensity values achieved 94.44–98.15% total accuracy rate. The best classification accuracy (98.15%) was found when using SVM model based on combining fractal measures (FM) with RGB intensity values (C = 512, γ = 0.0078125). Therefore, the SVM model based on combining FMs with RGB intensity is recommended in dried jujube fruits classification.     

浙江农宅平面信息域统计分析——以绍兴市为例

为探究长三角地区农宅平面尺寸在宏观区域上的统计规律,基于Google Earth探向功能,以长、宽作为农宅平面尺寸的标示参量,应用频数统计法分析农宅长、宽在环向及径向分析路径上的频数分布特征。统计结果表明:不管是在环向,还是在径向上,农宅长度都是以3到4个自然开间尺寸的占比最大,农宅宽度都是以2到3个自然开间尺寸的占比最大;在环向上,各区域农宅长度、宽度的频数分布较为相似,且其主要占比区间相对稳定,农宅长度在3到4个自然开间尺寸所占比例约为51%,宽度以2到3个自然开间尺寸为主,其比例为70%左右;在径向上,各区域农宅平面尺寸在各开间的比例差异较大。上述方法与结论对区域视角下的农宅节能潜力分析及既有建筑节能改造策略等问题的研究具有方法借鉴与理论指导意义。     

An empirical study of cultural dimensions and e-government development: implications of the findings and strategies

We aim to examine whether national culture has an impact on e-government development. We used methods of correlation and multiple regression to analyse two sets of index: (1) Hofstede's cultural dimension index and (2) the e-government development index of the 2010 United Nations e-government survey. We found that there is a correlation to a various degree between e-governmental development and the cultural dimensions defined by Hofstede. Of the five cultural dimensions, we found that, individualism (i.e. the extent to which an individual is integrated into a group), power distance (i.e. the extent to which a society accepts the differences and inequalities in power distribution) and long-term orientation (i.e. the extent to which a culture programs its members to accept delayed satisfaction of their material, social and emotional needs) are significantly correlated with e-government development. The implications of the findings and the strategies proposed by this study could help governments and decision makers design and implement policies that take into account cultural factors to improve e-government services and their overall development. This study confirms and supports previous research and extends the scope of, and updates the results of, similar studies in the field.     

MCMC algorithms for Subset Simulation

Subset Simulation is an adaptive simulation method that efficiently solves structural reliability problems with many random variables. The method requires sampling from conditional distributions, which is achieved through Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms. This paper discusses different MCMC algorithms proposed for Subset Simulation and introduces a novel approach for MCMC sampling in the standard normal space. Two variants of the algorithm are proposed: a basic variant, which is simpler than existing algorithms with equal accuracy and efficiency, and a more efficient variant with adaptive scaling. It is demonstrated that the proposed algorithm improves the accuracy of Subset Simulation, without the need for additional model evaluations.     

Studies of the combined effects of some important factors on the likelihood of flashover

Among those factors that affect the likelihood of flashover in enclosure fires, the thermal inertia of lining materials, ventilation factor of door openings, heat release rate of fuel, and internal dimensions of the enclosure are the most important. The effects of the four factors are related, so it is very necessary to study their combined effects. In the present study, based on analyzing the approximate heat balance on the control volume similar to that in the MQH method, a dimensional relationship was derived that facilitates the estimation of pre‐flashover temperatures, which is used in the popular guidance literature as the key parameters for practical methods of predicting flashover. By correlating a vast amount of data gained in both small‐scale and large‐scale enclosure fire experiments, an important equation was obtained, which can embody explicitly and quantitatively the combined effects of the four important factors on the likelihood of flashover. According to the temperature criteria of 600°C identifying flashover, a new ‘combined method of predicting flashover’ was put forward. The validity of the method was verified in small‐scale experiments, and the results showed that it could be applied to predict well whether flashover occurs in enclosure fires or not. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Improving design and technological properties of the means of mechanization of assembling joints in plating of metal structures

The design and operation principle of existing portable mechanization means and technological features of their application in assembling joints in plating are investigated; structural and technological features of tooling and assembly equipment are described, the physiology of labour in assembling plating joints is analysed, including static and dynamic loading of the hands when carrying over, holding and application of assembling means on different levels in relation to the height of the worker body, the maximum allowable weight and size parameters of portable mechanization means for assembling plating joints are determined and the results of development of new specialized equipment for mechanization of assembling of joints’ pneumohydraulic operating mode are described.     

Comparative analysis of existing food safety culture evaluation systems

The purpose of the research was firstly, to analyze existing culture evaluation systems for commonalities and differences in research quality, applied validation strategies, and content. Secondly, to suggest a simple structure of food safety cultural dimensions to help unify the culture evaluation field. To achieve these goals, a comparison of eight culture evaluation models applied to varing degrees in the food industry was conducted. The systems were found to vary significantly in applied validation strategies but through deductive, textual data analysis, five dimensions were identified that cover elements present in all the models. Transparency is needed when using applied research methodologies to continually increase quality and trustworthiness of culture research in the food safety domain and this field would benefit from both further commonality of approach to validation strategy and structure and adoption of an overarching structural framework.     

Places that Support Human Flourishing: Lessons from Later Life

This review paper contends that by paying attention to the quality of life issues raised by older people, planners may promote better places for all. Recent research in the UK that asked older people to identify quality of life criteria revealed that health, income, social networks, community participation, information, activities, home, neighbourhood and mobility are key areas where old age can be enriched. The paper argues that of these, home, neighbourhood and mobility are paramount for four reasons. Firstly, older people are seen as situated, even fixed, in domestic environments; secondly, society has responded to later life by creating age-segregated spaces; thirdly, lessening mobility may increase the importance of the local arena and fourthly the interplay between the self and the environment underpins or undermines independence. The significance of place means that planners, even more than other professionals, need to be age aware. Drawing on recent national and international research this paper contemplates what a more age-friendly place might be like and considers how issues of age can interact with the broader planning agendas of sustainability, cohesion and liveability to create places that promote well-being for every member of the community.     

A strategy for the development of optimised lubricants

The design of lubricants has traditionally relied on the use of single dimension constitution / performance or structure / property relationships. In this paper a strategy is described whereby consideration is given to the inherent property / property (physical and chemical) correlations that exist for fluid lubricants. Progress towards the development of optimised lubricants is then achieved by identifying the molecular structural or compositional traits associated with ‘extensions’ to or ‘deviations’ from the mainstream correlations. Some examples of the success of this novel strategy will be provided, and the directions of its further refinement briefly outlined.