Slip-Resistant Connections with Hot-Dip Galvanized Faying Surface Under Freeze-Thaw Cycles and/or Low Temperature.

In some occasions, outdoor steel structures like wind towers, bridges, winter sports facilities, and so on are subjected to extreme environmental conditions with the presence of ice and/or with below-zero temperatures. Sometimes in these situations, surface protection of the steel structure is usually designed using hot-dip galvanizing to improve its durability. In these special circumstances, the structure's connections are also exposed to adverse climatic agents.

Selection of Network Parameters in Direct ANN Modeling of Roughness Obtained in FFF Processes.

Artificial neural network (ANN) models have been used in the past to model surface roughness in manufacturing processes. Specifically, different parameters influence surface roughness in fused filament fabrication (FFF) processes. In addition, the characteristics of the networks have a direct impact on the performance of the models.

Soil Water Status Monitoring System with Proximal Low-Cost Sensors and LoRa Technology for Smart Water Irrigation in Woody Crops.

Weather and soil water dictate farm operations such as irrigation scheduling. Low-cost and open-source agricultural monitoring stations are an emerging alternative to commercially available monitoring stations because they are often built from components using open-source, do-it-yourself (DIY) platforms and technologies. For irrigation management in an experimental vineyard located in Quiroga (Lugo, Spain), we faced the challenge of installing a low-cost environmental and soil parameter monitoring station composed of several nodes measuring air temperature and relative humidity, soil temperature, soil matric potential, and soil water content.

Feasibility of Big Data Analytics to Assess Personality Based on Voice Analysis.

(1) Background: As far back as the 1930s, it was already thought that gestures, clothing, speech, posture, and gait could express an individual's personality. Different research programs, some focused on linguistic cues, were launched, though results were inconsistent. The development of new speech analysis technology and the generalization of big data analysis have created an opportunity to test the predictive power of voice features on personality dimensions.

Effects of a dual intervention (motor and virtual reality-based cognitive) on cognition in patients with mild cognitive impairment: a single-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Background: The increase in cases of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) underlines the urgency of finding effective methods to slow its progression. Given the limited effectiveness of current pharmacological options to prevent or treat the early stages of this deterioration, non-pharmacological alternatives are especially relevant.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a cognitive-motor intervention based on immersive virtual reality (VR) that simulates an activity of daily living (ADL) on cognitive functions and its impact on depression and the ability to perform such activities in patients with MCI.

Laser Welding of ARMOX 500T Steel.

The article describes the results of the study on laser welding of armor plates with a nominal thickness of 3.0 mm. The plates were made of Armox 500T steel characterized by a hardness of up to 540 HB, a minimum yield strength of 1250 MPa, an ultimate strength of up to 1750 MPa, and an elongation A5 minimum of 8%.

Virtual Sensor for On-Line Hardness Assessment in TIG Welding of Inconel 600 Alloy Thin Plates.

Maintaining high-quality welded connections is crucial in many industries. One of the challenges is assessing the mechanical properties of a joint during its production phase. Currently, in industrial practice, this occurs through NDT (non-destructive testing) conducted after the production process.

A method for studying the influence of Mn oxyhydroxides on the trace element content of aquatic bryophytes.

The main objective of this study was to develop and test a method of separating externally deposited Mn oxyhydroxides and co-precipitated elements from samples of aquatic moss (the moss Fontinalis antipyretica). The method, which uses 0.1 M hydroxylamine to dissolve the oxyhydroxides, was tested with samples collected in rivers with slightly acidic, well‑oxygenated waters, where high rates of Mn precipitation occur.

Comparative Analysis of Meteorological versus In Situ Variables in Ship Thermal Simulations.

Thermal simulations have become increasingly popular in assessing energy efficiency and predicting thermal behaviors in various structures. Calibration of these simulations is essential for accurate predictions. A crucial aspect of this calibration involves investigating the influence of meteorological variables.

Removal of PAHs, TSS, oils and fats from ammonium-rich coke wastewater by granular filtration.

Coke wastewater is a complex industrial wastewater due to its high content of toxic compounds such as cyanides, thiocyanates, phenols, tar, oils, and fats. After a series of treatments, wastewater with a high ammonium content is obtained (around 4,150 mg·L-1). A stripping process is used to reduce it.

The relevant effect of marine salt and epiphytes on Posidonia oceanica waste pyrolysis: Removal of SO/HCl emissions and promotion of O/HCOOH formation.

Significant quantities of Posidonia oceanica deposit on some beaches and coastlines every year, which generates high costs associated with the disposal of this waste. Pyrolysis may be an adequate way for its valorization. However, it would imply to know how the process takes place and if the removal of its natural detrital inorganic matter (epiphytes, marine salt and sand) is necessary, which are the objectives of this research.

Dosimetry in cranial photobiomodulation therapy: effect of cranial thickness and bone density.

This research aims to examine the influence of human skull bone thickness and density on light penetration in PBM therapy across different wavelengths, focusing on how these bone characteristics affect the absorption of therapeutic light. Analyses explored the effect of skull bone density and thickness on light penetration in PBM, specifically using Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) for efficacy prediction. Measurements of bone thickness and density were taken using precise tools.

Experimental Comparison of Laser Cladding and Powder Plasma Transferred Arc Welding Methods for Depositing Wear-Resistant NiSiB + 60% WC Composite on a Structural-Steel Substrate.

A Ni-based powder composed of NiSiB + 60% WC was deposited onto a structural-steel substrate using two methods: laser cladding (LC) and plasma powder transferred arc welding (PPTAW). The resulting surface layers were analyzed and compared. Both methods resulted in the precipitation of secondary WC phases in the solidified matrix, but the PPTAW clad exhibited a dendritic microstructure.

Data-driven direct diagnosis of Li-ion batteries connected to photovoltaics.

Photovoltaics supply a growing share of power to the electric grid worldwide. To mitigate resource intermittency issues, these systems are increasingly being paired with electrochemical energy storage devices, e.g.

Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on hourly levels of PM10, PM2.5 and black carbon at an industrial suburban site in northern Spain.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown restrictions were established around the world. Many studies have assessed whether these restrictions affected atmospheric pollution. Comparison between them is difficult as the periods of time considered are generally not the same and thus, different conclusions may be reached.

Dynamic Range Compression of Thermograms for Assessment of Welded Joint Face Quality.

Temperature is one of the essential parameters in fusion welding. Typically, an uncooled infrared detector acquires 14-bit data, while a human observer can only distinguish about 128 levels of grey. For IR HDR (high dynamic range) images, one of the main goals of dynamic range compression is to enhance the visibility of low-contrast details.

Thermodynamic characterization of LF, H, and mineral soil layers from oak forest ecosystems: Exploring the role of proximate analysis.

Studying the thermodynamic properties of soil organic matter is a developing field that involves the measurement of the energy stored by the soil. Quantifying soil energy content is still challenging despite different methodological approaches are available to calculate that value. One of the options is the proximate analysis following the guidelines for the energetic characterization of biomass.

Water table prediction through causal reasoning modelling.

This research is mainly aimed to analyze and model the relationship of the binomial Rainfall-Piezometry. In this sense, the inherent causality contained in temporal hourly Rainfall and Groundwater levels (piezometry) data records has been taken. This has been done through Bayesian Causal Reasoning (BCR) which is technique belonging to Artificial Intelligence (AI) based on Bayesian Theorem.

Numerical simulation of a solar water disinfection system based on a small-scale linear Fresnel reflector.

This paper describes the details of the design of a solar water disinfection system based on a small-scale linear Fresnel reflector. The proposed system consists of a small-scale linear Fresnel reflector, a filtering system, two disinfection units, a heat exchanger, a compressed air system and the control system. A detailed mathematical model has been developed and solved through an iterative procedure.

Multi-fractal detrended cross-correlation heatmaps for time series analysis.

Complex systems in biology, climatology, medicine, and economy hold emergent properties such as non-linearity, adaptation, and self-organization. These emergent attributes can derive from large-scale relationships, connections, and interactive behavior despite not being apparent from their isolated components. It is possible to better comprehend complex systems by analyzing cross-correlations between time series.

Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the dry deposition fraction of settleable particulate matter at three industrial urban/suburban locations in northern Spain.

Ninety 24-h samples of the dry deposition fraction of settleable particulate matter (DSPM) were collected at one suburban industrial site ('EMA') and two urban industrial sites ('Lauredal' and 'Laboratory') in the western area of Gijón (North of Spain) from December 2019 to June 2020. The levels registered point to an environmental issue that should receive close attention from environmental authorities. Before lockdown restrictions due to COVID-19 were established, all samples collected at the EMA site exceeded 300 mg·m·d (the Spanish limit value until 2002).

Effect of Phase-Change Materials on Laboratory-Made Insoles: Analysis of Environmental Conditions.

Thermal comfort is essential when wearing a postural-corrective garment. Discomfort of any kind may deter regular use and prolong user recovery time. The objective of this work is therefore to optimize a new compound that can alter the temperature of orthopedic insoles, thereby improving the thermal comfort for the user.

Orthopedic Surgeons' Accuracy When Orienting an Acetabular Cup. A Comparison with Untrained Individuals.

Previous studies demonstrated a huge variability among surgeons when it comes to reproducing the position of an acetabular cup in total hip arthroplasty. Our main objective is to determine if orthopedic surgeons can replicate a given orientation on a pelvic model better than untrained individuals. Our secondary objective is to determine if experience has any influence on their ability for this task.