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This article offers a new perspective on the failed states agenda, and the reconfiguration of colonial discourse buttressing it, by theorising its afterlives. The concept of afterlives has mostly been discussed as a metaphor or in passing in the IR literature. Drawing from the post- and decolonial literature, we propose to define the concept simultaneously as echoes and aftermaths of the past. This conceptualisation of afterlives aims to contribute to the study of the persistence of colonial forms beyond notions of continuity and rupture. We develop the concept of afterlives through a discussion of the failed states agenda and its iterations. We discuss four specific iterations of the agenda: the genesis of the agenda in the decolonisation period; the consolidation of the agenda during the early 1990s; the crisis of the agenda and the rise of the resilience discussion; and finally the rise of the fragile city agenda as one of the afterlives of the failed states agenda. To illustrate our argument, we discuss two specific 'fragments' through which we can effectively grasp the echoes and aftermaths of coloniality: the pathologisation of fragile states and cities, operated through various twin figures (civilised/barbaric; strong/dysfunctional; resilient/vulnerable) and their practical repercussions; and the visualisation, mapping and colour-coding of fragile states and cities, exemplifying the durability and contradictions of the failed states agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol use is a major determinant of health at both an individual and societal level. In New Zealand alcohol is legal and highly commercialized. Its harms are pervasive and are inadequately managed by current alcohol policy. However, contemporary methods for policy reform have also proven ineffective, and so effective alcohol regulation has been repeatedly thwarted. This essay first outlines the current state of regulatory failure and establishes the need for reform, before proposing citizens' assemblies as a solution to this public health conundrum. These are novel democratic institutions designed to secure an informed and representative public voice as the central determinant of policy. This essay contends that an appropriately designed citizens' assembly is likely to lead to alcohol policy which is more informed, evidence-based, and democratically accountable than current methods. Such an assembly would also be consistent with the Treaty of Waitangi principles and may assist in reducing alcohol-related inequities for Māori. Finally, in discussing such an assembly, this essay presents an internationally applicable model which could be employed for a range of other drug policy issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Storage batteries with elevated energy density, superior safety and economic costs continues to escalate. Batteries can pose safety hazards due to internal short circuits, open circuits and other malfunctions during usage, hence real-time surveillance and error diagnosis of the battery's operational state is imperative. In this paper, a three-dimensional model of electrochemical-magnetic field-thermal coupling is formulated with lithium-ion pouch cells as the research focus, and the spatial distribution pattern of the physical field such as magnetic field and temperature when the battery is operational is acquired. Furthermore, this manuscript also investigates the diagnostic methodology for defective batteries with internal short circuits and fissures, that is, the operational state of the battery is evaluated and diagnosed by the distribution of the magnetic field surrounding the battery. To substantiate the method's practical viability, the present study extends its examination to the 18650-battery pack. We obtained the magnetic field images of the normal operation of the battery pack and the failure state of some batteries and analyzed the relationship between the magnetic field distribution characteristics and the performance of the battery pack, providing a new method for the health monitoring and fault diagnosis of the battery pack. This non-contact method incurs no damage to the battery, concurrently exhibiting elevated sensitivity and extremely rapid response time. Meanwhile, it provides an effective means for non-destructive research on the batteries and can be applied to areas such as battery safety screening and non-destructive testing. This research not only helps to facilitate our understanding of the battery's operating mechanism, but also provides robust support for safe operation and optimal battery design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) and treatment failure (TF) threshold values for Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) measure and EQ-5D-5L among people with hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA) 3 and 12 months following participation in a digital self-management intervention (Joint Academy®). Methods: Among the participants, we computed work and activity impairments scores (both 0–100, with a higher value reflecting higher impairment) and the Swedish hypothetical- (range: − 0.314 to 1) and experience-based (range: 0.243–0.976) EQ-5D-5L index scores (a higher score indicates better health status) at 3- (n = 14,607) and 12-month (n = 2707) follow-ups. Threshold values for PASS and TF were calculated using anchor-based adjusted predictive modeling. We also explored the baseline dependency of threshold values according to pain severity at baseline. Results: Around 42.0% and 48.3% of the participants rated their current state as acceptable, while 4.2% and 2.8% considered the treatment had failed at 3 and 12 months, respectively. The 3-month PASS/TF thresholds were 16/29 (work impairment), 26/50 (activity impairment), 0.92/0.77 (hypothetical EQ-5D-5L), and 0.87/0.77 (the experience-based EQ-5D-5L). The thresholds at 12 months were generally comparable to those estimated at 3 months. There were baseline dependencies in PASS/TF thresholds with participants with more severe baseline pain considering poorer (more severe) level of WPAI/EQ-5D-5L as satisfactory. Conclusion: PASS and TF threshold values for WPAI and EQ-5D-5L might be useful for meaningful interpretation of these measures among people with OA. The observed baseline dependency of estimated thresholds limits their generalizability and values should be applied with great caution in other settings/populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of corrosion in the serviceability state and capacity state on the failure contingency, life cycle cost (LCC) and optimum repair time (ORT) of reinforced concrete beams were evaluated. Gradual corrosion-induced crack widths were obtained using the cohesive crack model. Deterioration of flexural capacity was examined through a simplified three-dimensional finite-element model. Considering the crack width and capacity as random variables in the gamma process, the LCC and ORT were investigated using a renewal process. Analysis of the effective parameters indicated that the corrosion rate in the serviceability state and the tensile rebar ratio in the capacity state had the most significant effects on the probability of failure (PoF), the LCC and the ORT. With a decrease in the corrosion rate, the PoF reduced and the ORT increased. With an increase in the aspect ratio of the section, the LCC increased and the ORT declined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For complex equipment, it is easy to over-evaluate the impact of failure on production by estimating the reliability level only through failure probability. To remedy this problem, this paper proposes a statistical evaluation method based on fuzzy failure data considering the multi-state characteristics of equipment failures. In this method, the new reliability-evaluation scheme is firstly presented based on the traditional statistical analysis method using the Weibull distribution function. For this scheme, the failure-grade index is defined, and a fuzzy-evaluation method is also proposed by comprehensively considering failure severity, failure maintenance, time, and cost; this is then combined with the time between failures to characterize the failure state. Based on the fuzzy failure data, an improved adaptive-failure small-sample-expansion method is proposed based on the classical bootstrap method and the deviation judgment between distributions of the original and newborn samples. Finally, a novel reliability-evaluation model, related to the failure grade and its membership degree, is established to quantify the reliability level of equipment more realistically. Example cases for three methods of the scheme (the failure-grade fuzzy-evaluation method, the sample-expansion method, and the reliability-evaluation modeling method) are presented, respectively, to validate the effectiveness and significance of the proposed reliability-evaluation technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stratospheric airships require a lightweight envelope to contain lighter-than-air buoyancy gas, making the lightweight design and pressure-bearing performance of the envelope structure a key research issue. The stress state at different cross-sectional positions of the airship envelope structure is different, resulting in a low utilization rate of the overall material performance of the envelope structure. This paper proposes a design scheme for reinforcing envelope structures with sliding reinforcing cable to improve the bearing capacity of the composite fabric structure while reducing its weight, ultimately achieving the optimal strength-to-weight ratio. Two types of composite fabric structures (A-airship and B-airship) were subjected to inflatable burst tests, and the strain changes in the envelope gores were analyzed by digital image correlation. Through re-assembly of the broken composite fabric pieces and analysis of their tear textures, crack origination positions, failure causes, and the stress behavior and state at the failure position were identified. An envelope structural model with consideration of the cutting pattern effect was established, allowing the stress distribution of the envelope to be analyzed and the damage positions to be more accurately predicted. Based on the analysis of the ultimate pressure-bearing performance of an airship envelope structure, a novel idea of incorporating coupled tensile-shear stress into the strength criterion was proposed. Through the data in the study and existing references, it is verified that the strength criterion can accurately predict the ultimate pressure-bearing performance of the envelope structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employing two alternative measures of state failure, we investigate how state weakness influences resident terrorist groups' survival. Theoretically, state failure favors resident terrorist groups' survival, while state territorial control fosters resident groups' termination until some control threshold. Empirically, we uncover a robust negative relationship between a country's weakness and its control of terrorism through the lens of the resident terrorist groups' survival prospects. The discovered relationship withstands a host of robustness tests – e.g., alternative estimates and samples. We apply an instrument designed to address endogeneity concerns. In particular, our novel instrument for failed states consists of the interaction between natural disasters and ethnic fractionalization. As a state's percentage of territorial control increases, resident terrorist groups are more prone to ending until some threshold control percent. Our analysis can guide counterterrorism policy by exploiting the nuanced theoretical determinants identified here that foster resident groups' termination in failing states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooling equipment is widely used in industry, commerce and households. Due to their widespread use, they are responsible for the consumption of a significant amount of electricity. They are subject to degradation and various types of damage. Most often, their energy efficiency decreases and electricity consumption increases. Practice shows that even a specialist service is unable to diagnose damage at an early stage of its development. The paper presents a comparison of continuous monitoring of the temperature of the cooling chamber as a utility standard, with constant monitoring of the temperature of the cooling chamber and electricity consumption of a professional refrigeration cabinet with a built-in condensing unit. The comparative analysis was intended to confirm the thesis about unconscious waste resulting from assessing the correct operation of the device based on limited information. The experiment showed an increase in daily electricity consumption on average by over 30% during the period of unconscious exploitation of the device in a state of failure and an increase in daily electricity consumption on average above 300% during the period of conscious exploitation of the device in a state of failure, but still at an acceptable level of temperature of cooling chamber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to question whether and how instrumentalization of refugees by states impacts their media representations, based on the example of a border spectacle that took place in March 2020, when Turkey unilaterally opened its borders to the West, causing hundreds to flock to the land border with Greece and to the coasts of the Aegean Sea. In many ways, this ended up as a failed border spectacle, especially for international publics: Turkey appeared neither as a strong state nor as a benefactor of asylum-seekers. Yet, the paper claims, the spectacle nonetheless led to an ordering of the visibility of asylum-seekers that cannot be captured on the victim-threat spectrum across which they are usually represented. Examining Turkish mainstream TV evening news as well as state agencies' Twitter accounts, the paper traces how Greece was made hypervisible through the use of three frames (humanitarian, legalistic and moralistic) and asylum-seekers were reduced to extras (figurants) in the process. Such an ordering of visibility facilitated the re-moralization of instrumentalization of refugees and may have accordingly shaped the response-ability of citizens. The figure of the extra enables us to link refugee visibilities to splintering moral geographies of asylum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haloperidol, the first butyrophenone neuroleptic, was created in Europe by Janssen Pharmaceuticals in 1958 and was introduced swiftly throughout the continent with great enthusiasm. On September 15, 1959, at Janssen's headquarters in Belgium, teams from around Europe praised the effectiveness of haloperidol. In the United States, on the contrary, its introduction was a tremendous failure, plagued by accusations of inefficacy and patent disputes. A clinical trial in Manhattan has been blamed for this commercial failure. The results of the Manhattan trial were seen as radically different from the results obtained in continental Europe. This divide would have considerable impact not only with regard to haloperidol's path on both sides of the Atlantic, but also possibly on the practical experience and theoretical construction of psychiatry. This article tries to reconstruct the story of that trial based mainly on published papers and interviews. Exploring how societal changes and issues of gender and race shaped this process, this investigation attempts to understand and contextualize different possible reasons for this Atlantic rift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roller bearings are critical components in various mechanical systems, and the timely detection of potential failures is essential for preventing costly downtimes and avoiding substantial machinery breakdown. This research focuses on finding and verifying a robust method that can detect failures early, without creating false positive failure states. Therefore, this paper introduces a novel algorithm for the early detection of roller bearing failures, particularly tailored to high-precision bearings and automotive test bed systems. The featured method (AFI—Advanced Failure Indicator) utilizes the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of wideband accelerometers to calculate the spectral content of vibration signals emitted by roller bearings. By calculating the frequency bands and tracking the movement of these bands within the spectra, the method provides an indicator of the machinery's health, mainly focusing on the early stages of bearing failure. The calculated channel can be used as a trend indicator, enabling the method to identify subtle deviations associated with impending failures. The AFI algorithm incorporates a non-static limit through moving average calculations and volatility analysis methods to determine critical changes in the signal. This thresholding mechanism ensures the algorithm's responsiveness to variations in operating conditions and environmental factors, contributing to its robustness in diverse industrial settings. Further refinement was achieved through an outlier detection filter, which reduces false positives and enhances the algorithm's accuracy in identifying genuine deviations from the normal operational state. To benchmark the developed algorithm, it was compared with three industry-standard algorithms: VRMS calculations per ISO 10813-3, Mean Absolute Value of Extremums (MAVE), and Envelope Frequency Band (EFB). This comparative analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the novel algorithm against the established methods in the field, providing valuable insights into its potential advantages and limitations. In summary, this paper presents an innovative algorithm for the early detection of roller bearing failures, leveraging FFT-based spectral analysis, trend monitoring, adaptive thresholding, and outlier detection. Its ability to confirm the first failure state underscores the algorithm's effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the use of quantitative analytical electron microscopy for microstructure-based creep life assessment of service-exposed 1CrMoV steel turbine rotors. Changes in the microstructure (bainitic laths, carbide phases) were related to creep life exhaustion estimations done using conventional methods based on cavities and hardness. The volume-weighted average size and surface density of bainitic laths correlate with cavity-based estimated creep life exhaustion. However, the heterogeneity of grain structure limits the use of bainitic lath parameters for assessing creep life based on microstructure. The phase proportions of M3C, M2C, and M7C3 carbides, as determined by TKD-EDS mapping, show a strong correlation (R2: 0.64, 0.61, and 0.86) with creep life exhaustion estimations and could potentially be used as an additional indicator of the material state of the critical failure region in 1CrMoV turbine rotors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Armed groups generally emerge in failed states that do not have a monopoly on the use of force. These states with more than one power center can be characterized as anarchic systems. In such an environment, a shift in the balance of power in favor of an armed group poses an existential threat to the security of others. This study examines how armed groups respond to shifts in the balance of power to maintain their security in an anarchic system. By examining the case of Libya, the study argues that armed groups tend to employ strategies for deterring the aggressor to restore the balance of power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a reliability evaluation method based on the hidden Markov model (HMM) considers the influence of degradation trajectory fluctuation. To address the problem in which the performance degradation trajectory modelling of complex systems is limited by sampling time points, this method constructs an approximate degradation trajectory model based on effective discrete data points through a radial basis function to realize the degradation data expansion of small samples. Then, the average degradation rate is defined, and the fluctuation degree of the degradation trajectory is quantitatively evaluated to obtain the evaluation function of the fluctuation degree of the degradation trajectory. In addition, to determine the relationship between the fluctuation degree of the degradation trajectory and the operating state of the system, the method combines HMM with the evaluation function of the fluctuation degree of the degradation trajectory and obtains the transition probability matrix of different operating states of the system affected by the fluctuation degree of the degradation trajectory. On the basis of the probability matrix of the failure state, the reliability change curve of the system is derived. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified via an example of a computer numerical control machine tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ice fractures when subject to stress that exceeds the material failure strength. Previous studies have found that a von Mises failure criterion, which places a bound on the second invariant of the deviatoric stress tensor, is consistent with empirical data. Other studies have suggested that a scaling effect exists, such that larger sample specimens have a substantially lower failure strength, implying that estimating material strength from laboratory-scale experiments may be insufficient for glacier-scale modeling. In this paper, we analyze the stress conditions in crevasse onset regions to better understand the failure criterion and strength relevant for large-scale modeling. The local deviatoric stress is inferred using surface velocities and reanalysis temperatures, and crevasse onset regions are extracted from a remotely sensed crevasse density map. We project the stress state onto the failure plane spanned by Haigh–Westergaard coordinates, showing how failure depends on mode of stress. We find that existing crevasse data are consistent with a Schmidt–Ishlinsky failure criterion that places a bound on the absolute value of the maximal principal deviatoric stress, estimated to be 158±44 kPa. Although the traditional von Mises failure criterion also provides an adequate fit to the data with a von Mises strength of 265±73 kPa, it depends only on stress magnitude and is indifferent to the specific stress state, unlike Schmidt–Ishlinsky failure which has a larger shear failure strength compared to tensile strength. Implications for large-scale ice flow and fracture modeling are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper primarily presents an investigation into rectangular hollow section (RHS) cross- (or X-) connections with the branches fully laterally offset and loaded in axial tension. A set of 10 full-scale experimental specimens, carefully fabricated with noncritical welds, are tested in the laboratory, and the results are used to validate nonlinear finite-element models. To enhance the range of available data, the calibrated models are varied in an expanded parametric numerical study. A chord failure limit-state model based on a yield-line mechanism, which was identified in prior research on branch compression loading, is verified herein for branch tension loading. Furthermore, the limit state of branch failure is investigated by means of the combined experimental and numerical database produced. Design recommendations for laterally offset cross-connections loaded under branch tension, based on chord and branch failure modes, are presented. The application of current design recommendations for traditional cross-connections (with centered branches) to connections with full-width branches and laterally offset branches is also evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method directly using rainfall records to predict a slope's potential instability is devised. The method consists of three sequential steps: identifying the critical suction stress (pore water pressure when soil is saturated) profile of a given slope, developing a rainfall intensity–duration threshold curve for the slope, and using rainfall record to determine if the threshold is reached (failure occurs) or not (no failure). It innovatively uses a slope's strength parameters and slope angle to develop the critical suction stress (tensile) or compressive pore water pressure profile where, at each depth within the slope, the effective stress reaches the failure state. Hydromechanical numerical modeling is then conducted under various rainfall intensities to identify their corresponding duration for slope failure, thus, the rainfall intensity–duration threshold curve of the slope. Two previously well-documented and studied rainfall-induced slope instability cases; one near the town of Edmonds, Washington State, and the other near the village of Rüdlingen in northern Switzerland are used to validate the method. Excellent predictions of the slope failure depth and timing are demonstrated, indicating the effectiveness of the proposed method. Because the suction stress–based rainfall intensity–duration curve is characteristic of a given slope and it can be determined a priori, the method provides a practical way to conduct real-time rainfall monitoring and predict instability for a specific slope, and a pathway to forecast instability of natural slopes in a region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our present changing climate, water governance is fast becoming a matter of concern everywhere, but especially in the Global South, which has long been the object of (mis)understandings of state failure and dysfunction. A common characterisation of "bad" water governance calls attention to the waste of water. In this article I show how contemporary development discourse and practice around the waste of water articulate conceptions of bureaucratic labour, farmer capability, and the suitability of irrigation practices, recalling a prior moment in colonial water governance. Examining the development of the "duty of water" in the context of canal irrigation infrastructure in colonial Punjab, I argue that seemingly "technical" measures and metrics of water governance are rooted in a colonial grammar, and show how the duty of water articulated racialised classifications of natives as wasteful, their places as waste, and of their labour, both agricultural and bureaucratic. While the tendency has been to view colonial irrigation as a battle with nature, I emphasise it instead as a battle of British with native labour to contribute to conceptualisations of environment and bureaucracy inseparable from, and incomplete without, an understanding of racialised labour. Today, figurations of labour have changed, but the underlying view of labour impeding, not enabling, governance, continues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of ice on the surface of the metallic casing of high-end equipment poses a potential threat to its operational safety and stability. One important factor that contributes to bonding failure at the ice-metal interface is stress concentration. This paper aims to investigate the effect of stress concentration on the bonding failure behavior at the ice-metal interface through numerical analysis. First, the forms of bonding failure are categorized. Afterwards, the stress distribution state at the corners of the ice-metal interface is determined by the interfacial stress singularity. Finally, numerical analysis is carried out to investigate the thermal stress distribution law at the corners of the interface during the cooling process of the ice-metal bonding, so as to elucidate the induced mechanism of the interfacial stress state on the bonding failure. This study can provide some reference and guidelines for the study of bonding failure at the ice-metal interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Acute liver failure (ALF) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Timely liver transplantation (LT) is the only universally accepted therapy for ALF that is non-responsive to medical therapy. Data regarding the use of living donor LT (LDLT) for this indication in the US is scarce. Materials and Methods: United Network of Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (UNOS/OPTN) data from January 2002 to December 2020 were reviewed. Adult and pediatric recipients listed as status 1 were included. Demographics, clinical and laboratory data, and post-LT survival rates were compared for LDLT vs. DDLT recipients. Results: There were 180 LDLT (3.6%) and 4779 DDLT (96.4%) recipients with a diagnosis of ALF. The majority of recipients in the LDLT group were pediatric (n = 164, 91%) compared to the DDLT group (n = 1455, 30%), p < 0.001. In the pediatric-only group, post-LT survival was comparable between LDLT and DDLT recipients (p = 0.15). Five-year post-LT survival was higher for pediatric recipients compared to adults in the LDLT group (84.2% vs. 62.5%, respectively, p < 0.001) and the DDLT group (82.8% vs. 78.7%, respectively, p < 0.001). Adults had a higher hazard of death compared to pediatric recipients in the LDLT group (HR = 3.560, 95% CI 1.612–7.844, p = 0.002) and the DDLT group (HR = 1.472, 95% CI 1.290–1.679, p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis results, the type of LT and age group were not associated with higher post-LT mortality. Conclusions: In the US, LDLT constitutes 3.6% of LTs for ALF. In the pediatric-only group, post-LT survival was comparable between LDLT and DDLT recipients. Overall, there were superior post-LT outcomes for pediatric recipients compared to adults for LDLT and DDLT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The findings of numerous analytical/computational studies, tests, and in-situ observations have highlighted the importance of the deck-abutment-backfill interaction on the seismic response of bridges. These findings have allowed various researchers to develop models for the nonlinear behaviour of the abutment-backfill system. Such models have been extensively used in research, and the simpler among them have been adopted by modern seismic codes and guidelines and have also been incorporated in programs for the nonlinear analysis of structures. Although large-scale tests have captured the behaviour of the abutment-backfill system subsequent to the attainment of peak strength, this critical phase of the response has neither been studied to a sufficient extent from the analysis point of view, nor included in the constitutive models of available nonlinear analysis programs. The softening region of the response of the backfill has been addressed using a number of hardening/softening plasticity models that are rarely used in practical analysis wherein simpler models (like Winkler springs) are typically preferred. Capturing the post-peak range of the abutment-backfill response is very significant in seismic fragility analysis of bridges for the definition of limit states close to failure. In the above context, the main aim of the work presented herein is to introduce a new model capturing this range of the backfill response; it is an extended version of the 'Hyperbolic Gap' 'material' in OpenSees, named 'Hyperbolic Gap Softening' material, which allows the user to define a set of parameters that describe the softening branch of the backbone curve of an abutment-backfill system. In addition to tests of the new model using a simple structural configuration, results of response history analyses of a case-study bridge with different abutment-backfill properties are also reported, with a view to verifying the applicability of the proposed model and assessing the importance of capturing the post-peak abutment-backfill behaviour on the assessment of the seismic response of a bridge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examines the weaknesses of teaching Islamic philosophy at the undergraduate level of universities. In this article, focusing on the book Nahayeh al-Hikma, topics of ontology, anthropology, epistemology and theology have been expressed. Repetition of the contents, failure to state the materials and results of the discussions, failure to address new philosophical and scientific issues and doubts, failure to follow the logical order of the discussions, and failure to understand the educational goals are among the problems and shortcomings of this course. For field evaluation, a questionnaire was prepared and after its standardization was verified, it was completed by students, graduates and professors of the field of Islamic philosophy of universities across the country and subjected to systematic analysis (SPSS and SWOT). According to the results, Islamic philosophy education is weak in the long-standing explanation of philosophical topics, the reasons and whys of discussions, avoiding logical fallacies, especially the sharing of words, confusion of concepts and examples, and the accessories and results of philosophical principles. The results of the questionnaire data show the weakness in the course content, teaching styles and teaching methods, and in the end, suggestions are made to improve the current situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern industrial processes make extensive use of electric induction motors; timely fault diagnosis of such equipment is a critical phase that allows planning effective predictive maintenance which can significantly reduce downtime and optimize productivity. In this study, we present a novel technique for the diagnosis of both simple mechanical and electrical defects as well as their combination in an asynchronous motor based on current signal measurements using various operating states. The suggested technique implements the fault detection mechanism by mapping stator signals recorded from a three-phase induction motor in a steady state. These signals are used to indicate a healthy condition as well as failed states, which are mapped onto a 3D point cloud using a voxelization approach. The use of this data structure aids in the generation of rich features that keep intact the spatial relationship between the three stator currents, which is then utilized to train a 3D convolutional neural network with the produced voxels (3D CNN). The proposed method surpasses the classical deep learning diagnosis-based method by projecting the stator currents into 2D RGB images because our method prevents data collapsing. The suggested technique for real-time monitoring of the operational state of an induction motor is resilient and fast, according to experimental results acquired by utilizing data from a real test bed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the characteristics of complex structure, strong coupling and different multi-modal safety levels of more electric aircraft starter generator system, a safety analysis method based on the operating process and a multi-modal failure rate calculation method are proposed. This paper analyses the architecture, operating process and modals of more electric aircraft starter generator system and decomposes the system into eight operating modals. Based on the construction of SafetyLab, a domestic safety analysis platform, the structural models and failure rate calculation models of eight modals of starter generator system are established, and the top event failure rate of each modal, the highest transient failure rate and the steady state failure rate of the system are calculated for a complete safety analysis, taking a typical starter generator system as an example. The method proposed in this paper helps to solve the problem of multi-modal failure rate analysis of complex systems with different equipment involved in the operating process. The multi-modal failure rate calculation method proposed in this paper is also applicable to the safety analysis of other multimodal complex systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanisms leading to the alternation between active (UP) and silent (DOWN) states during sleep slow waves (SWs) remain poorly understood. Previous models have explained the transition to the DOWN state by a progressive failure of excitation because of the build‐up of adaptation currents or synaptic depression. However, these models are at odds with recent studies suggesting a role for presynaptic inhibition by Martinotti cells (MaCs) in generating SWs. Here, we update a classical large‐scale model of sleep SWs to include MaCs and propose a different mechanism for the generation of SWs. In the wake mode, the network exhibits irregular and selective activity with low firing rates (FRs). Following an increase in the strength of background inputs and a modulation of synaptic strength and potassium leak potential mimicking the reduced effect of acetylcholine during sleep, the network enters a sleep‐like regime in which local increases of network activity trigger bursts of MaC activity, resulting in strong disfacilitation of the local network via presynaptic GABAB1a‐type inhibition. This model replicates findings on slow wave activity (SWA) during sleep that challenge previous models, including low and skewed FRs that are comparable between the wake and sleep modes, higher synchrony of transitions to DOWN states than to UP states, the possibility of triggering SWs by optogenetic stimulation of MaCs, and the local dependence of SWA on synaptic strength. Overall, this work points to a role for presynaptic inhibition by MaCs in the generation of DOWN states during sleep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the phenomenon of state failure in general, and the Libyan state in particular, by studying the legacy left by Gaddafi regime and its impact on the institutions, which are believed to have become more fragile during his rule. The study discusses how the historical legacy of the Gaddafi regime played a role in the failure of the Libyan state after 2011, and assumes that personal authoritarian regimes such as the Gaddafi regime are the most harmful to state institutions. Given the inability of the ruling elite to restrict the behaviors and decisions of the authoritarian leader, which often aim to prevent the existence of any real institutions that might limit his ability to exercise power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise matching of energy substrate delivery to local metabolic needs is essential for the health and function of all tissues. Here, we outline a mechanistic framework for understanding this critical process, which we refer to as electro-metabolic signaling (EMS). All tissues exhibit changes in metabolism over varying spatiotemporal scales and have widely varying energetic needs and reserves. We propose that across tissues, common signatures of elevated metabolism or increases in energy substrate usage that exceed key local thresholds rapidly engage mechanisms that generate hyperpolarizing electrical signals in capillaries that then relax contractile elements throughout the vasculature to quickly adjust blood flow to meet changing needs. The attendant increase in energy substrate delivery serves to meet local metabolic requirements and thus avoids a mismatch in supply and demand and prevents metabolic stress. We discuss in detail key examples of EMS that our laboratories have discovered in the brain and the heart, and we outline potential further EMS mechanisms operating in tissues such as skeletal muscle, pancreas, and kidney. We suggest that the energy imbalance evoked by EMS uncoupling may be central to cellular dysfunction from which the hallmarks of aging and metabolic diseases emerge and may lead to generalized organ failure states--such as diverse flavors of heart failure and dementia. Understanding and manipulating EMS may be key to preventing or reversing these dysfunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repressive state violence, intended to tamp down collective mobilisation, sometimes inspires greater participation by protesters. When popular and/or elite reactions cause the repressing party to concede, civil resistance scholars define the failure of state repression as 'backfire'. Some have proposed that movements' nonviolent discipline is essential to backfire. This article demonstrates that movements that practise 'unarmed militancy' – forceful, combative tactics less damaging than armed violence – can also succeed through backfire, achieving policy concessions and even presidential resignations, and presents a qualitative comparative analysis of the outcomes of 48 protest events with multiple deaths in Bolivia between 1982 and 2019, and a case-based analysis of how either movements or repressors prevailed. Movements that confronted deadly repression succeeded in 57–8 per cent of cases. Whether or not protesters engaged in lethal defensive violence did not affect their likelihood of success. However, state repression of guerrillas and paramilitary groups, and during polarised partisan conflicts, was consistently successful. Current understandings of backfire need to be reconsidered in light of successful unarmed militant protest in Bolivia and numerous other locations worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on virtualization technologies, virtual machines (VMs) provide computing services and network resources for cloud users over the Internet. When cloud users use VMs for an extended period of time, requests generated by other cloud users are easily blocked. When cloud users no longer use VMs, requests' throughput will be decreased substantially. We propose a multi-input cloud resource allocation strategy with limited buffer and VM synchronization failure, which can improve the throughput of requests. A limited buffer is added to the system to reduce the possible blocking behaviors in the proposed strategy. Moreover, we assume that a physical machine failure will put all the VMs in failure states. The system recovery will take a period of time after the failure, which is called repair time. After the failure is repaired, the system continues to provide services for cloud users. A 2-dimensional Markov chain is established to measure the performance indexes of requests. In addition, we show the blocking rate, the loss rate, the throughput, the average quantity, and the average latency of requests by system state transition probability matrix and analyze their changing trends through numerical experiments. Finally, considering the balance between requests' blocking rate and requests' throughput, we construct a system profit function to ascertain the optimal number of request streams and obtain the maximal system profit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As Cold War tensions rose, Soviet aid was offered to the nascent Somali government in pursuit of broader geopolitical machinations that were seen to supersede Somali interests, laying the groundwork for a decades-long mismatch between local intentions and Cold War superpower objectives in the Horn of Africa. Vast quantities of materiel and training were provided to Somalia from 1960 onwards, and by 1976 Somalia boasted a 22,000-man army and was the fourth most heavily armed nation in Sub-Saharan Africa, largely due to Soviet largesse. One year later, the Soviets were expelled and the assistance ceased, having left Somalia with an unsustainable, corrupt, and repressive security structure as a direct result of high levels of foreign assistance that were not well coordinated with host nation sustainment capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the optimal mission abort decisions for safety-critical mission-based systems with multiple components. The considered system operates in a random shock environment and is required to accomplish a mission during a fixed mission period. If the failure risk of the system is very high, the main mission can be aborted to avoid higher failure cost. The main contribution of this study lies in the design and optimization of mission abort policies for multi-component systems with multiple abort criteria. Moreover, multi-level transitions are considered in this study to characterize the different shock-resistance abilities for components in different states. Mission abort decisions are determined based on the number of components in either defective or failed state. The problem is formulated in the framework of the finite Markov chain imbedding method. We use the Monte-Carlo simulation method to derive the mission reliability and system survivability. Numerical studies and sensitivity analysis are presented to validate the obtained result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Locked-in stress refers to internal stress present within rock formations that can influence the failure process of rocks under specific conditions. A simplified mechanical model is applied, drawing on elasticity and the hypothesis of locked-in stress, to explore the influence of locked-in stress on the mechanical properties of loaded rocks. An analytical solution is obtained for the stress distribution in a failure model of rocks that include locked-in stress. The findings demonstrate that the geometry and orientation of stress inclusions within the rock influence the initiation and propagation of cracks under the combined influence of locked-in stress and high-stress conditions. Moreover, the presence of locked-in stress substantially reduces the rock's capacity to withstand maximum stress, thereby increasing its susceptibility to reaching a state of failure. The increase in closure stress leads to a significant increase in the magnitude of the maximum stress drop and radial strain variation within the rock, resulting in reduced strength and a shortened life of the ageing failure of the rock. In addition, the influence of stress inclusions on energy dissipation is investigated, and a novel relationship is established between the roughness coefficient of the rock structure surface and the angle of the rock failure surface. This relationship serves to characterize the linear dynamic strength properties of rock materials containing locked-in stress. This investigation not only advances the comprehension of stress distribution patterns and the effects of locked-in stress on rock failure patterns but also facilitates a more precise portrayal of the nonlinear features of alterations in the rock stress-strain curve under the influence of confined stress. These findings provide a solid theoretical foundation for ensuring the safety of excavations in various deep engineering projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the degree of consolidation and the stress path on the behaviour of remoulded Fujinomori clay for drained triaxial compression and extension was analysed using the Frictional State Concept. It is shown that the stress–dilatancy behaviour can be approximated by a linear general dilatancy equation given by the critical frictional state angle and two soil parameters. The newly formulated dilatant failure state is represented on the stress ratio plastic dilatancy plane by points lying on the friction state line defined by the friction state angle and the Friction State Concept parameters α=0 and β=1. It has been shown that the stress ratio–plastic dilatancy relationship, which is very rarely used in the interpretation of test results, is important for a complete description of the behaviour of soils during shearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design. A retrospective case series. Objective. This study aims to assess the rates of lumbar interbody cage failures based on their material and manufacturer. Summary of Background Data. Perioperative lumbar interbody cage malfunctions are underreported events in the spine literature and may result in complications. Although the Food and Drug Administration ensures the safety of these devices under physiological conditions after implantation, these devices may experience nonphysiological conditions during implantation, which may be overlooked. Materials and Methods. The MAUDE database was examined for reports of lumbar cage device malfunctions from 2012 to 2021. Each report was categorized based on failure type and implant design. A market analysis was performed by dividing the total number of failures per year for each manufacturer by their approximate yearly revenue from spinal implants in the United States. Outlier analysis was performed to generate a threshold value above which failure rates were defined as greater than the normal index. Results. Overall, 1875 lumbar cage malfunctions were identified. Of these, 1230 (65.6%) were cage breakages, 257 (13.7%) were instrument malfunctions, 177 (9.4%) were cage migrations, 143 (7.6%) were assembly failures, 70 (4.5%) were screw-related failures, and 21 (1.1%) were cage collapses. Of the breakages, 923 (74.9%) occurred during insertion or impaction and 97 entries detailed a medical complication or a retained foreign body. Of the migrations, 155 (88.6%) were identified postoperatively, of which 73 (47.1%) detailed complications and 52 (33.5%) required a revision procedure. Market analysis demonstrated that Medtronic, Zimmer Biomet, Stryker, Seaspine, and K2M exceeded the calculated threshold. Conclusions. Lumbar cages with polyether ether ketone core material failed more frequently by breakage, whereas titanium surface cages failed more frequently by migration. Failure rates varied depending on the manufacturer. Most cage breakages identified in the present study occurred intraoperatively during implantation. These findings call for a more detailed Food and Drug Administration evaluation of these intraoperative malfunctions before commercial approval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iran's neighborhood with countries that most of them have experienced unrest, conflict or war due to internal conflicts or due to regional and international crises, has effected and consequences of such issues spread to Iran unintentionally. One of the most tangible of these often undesirable effects is the occurrence of crises and violent conflicts in the neighboring countries, which with the occasional influx of refugees fleeing from such crises (especially from the two countries of Afghanistan and Iraq) into the territory of Iran, the it has shown its adverse effects in different areas in Iran. In the meantime, due to several decades of civil war and international conflicts, the existence of numerous ethnic and religious divisions, a failed state and the lack of a real nation-state, Afghanistan remains a focal point of ongoing turmoil within both the region and the global community. Even though it was expected that this country would experience peace and stability over time following the international coalition's defeat of the Taliban in 2001, but after more than a decade, there is still no promising prospect for this. Therefore, one cannot be safe from the unwanted and inevitable side effects of being a neighbor with such countries, or simply avoid them. Since the fate of the neighbors has always been related to each other and somehow tied to each other, the future and fate of the neighboring countries and nations should be so important to Iran that the fate of Iran itself is important. Considering the history and the difficult and complicated situation of Afghanistan during the past decades and looking at the fragmented, heterogeneous and chaotic situation of this country today, we will definitely find that despite the apparent changes in the political and governance arena, there is not much change in the unstable nature and from Afghanistan has not come into existence and this means that until the unknown future, Iran will be affected by the effects and consequences of its neighborhood with this country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stress–plastic dilatancy relationship was investigated for crushed concrete during drained and undrained triaxial compression tests in the light of the frictional state concept. The slope of the dilatant failure state line is greater than that of quartz sand for drained triaxial compression due to the crushing effect. The crushing effect parameters for drained and undrained conditions are very similar. Due to the very angular shape of crushed concrete grains, the crushing effect is observed at low stress levels. Some characteristic behaviors of geomaterials during shear are visible only in the stress ratio–plastic dilatancy plane and are very rarely presented in the literature. The stress ratio–plastic dilatancy relationship, which is basic in elastic–plastic modeling of geomaterials, can be described using the frictional state concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the financialisation literature, scholars have turned their attention to the state, exploring the adoption of financial activities by state actors, paying less attention to the limits of state financialisation. This paper explores these limits using the case of social impact bonds (SIBs). Pioneered in the UK in 2010 and subsequently trialed in some 35 countries, SIBs use private capital to fund social programs, with governments providing a return based on the degree of success. Despite expectations of dramatic growth, the SIB model has never truly taken hold. Based on the rollout of SIBs in the UK, Israel, and Canada, the paper considers the challenges encountered by the SIB enterprise as a form of financialised statecraft and identifies three barriers: (1) resistance to political agendas of state financialisation; (2) clashes between finance and public sector cultures; (3) financial innovation seen as 'risk' and 'disruption' to entrenched socio-technical routines. These barriers reveal tensions both within the state itself and between finance and the public sector, and indicate the importance of thinking about the limits and failures of state financialisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a three-dimensional finite element analysis is performed to investigate the stress-strain state and failure of the anode block of a medium-temperature fluoride electrolyzer under cyclic high-intensity thermal loading, considering variations in the heating and cooling rates. It is assumed that the porosity within the coke plate is distributed in a random fashion. The modeling is conducted within the framework of a phenomenological approach in the mechanics of deformable solids. The behavior of the metallic elements of the anode block is described as an elastic-plastic medium, with the failure criterion based on the critical value of plastic strain intensity. The coke plate is modeled as an elastic-brittle medium, and its failure is described using a tensorial polynomial criterion that accounts for the differences in the coke strength values under compression and tension. The numerical simulations are performed using the EFES 2.0 proprietary software package. The influence of the heating rate of the anode block on the failure of the coke plate is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I present a case of dispute resolution from Pakistan where kinship leaders play a key role in resolving local disputes. Scholars often cite that such practices provide evidence of a failed state. However, I show how these traditional practices elucidate ongoing processes of boundary management. On the one hand, these practices reveal the efforts by non-state leaders to carve out their autonomy by taking on a role traditionally played by the state. In fact, their ability to management local/state boundaries is linked to how they manage boundaries within their communities. The state, in turn, recognizes or legitimates these boundaries when it is politically convenient or allows them to save face. I document such negotiations in my research and show how they are critical to understanding how villagers see the state and vice versa. The Pakistani case is important as the ubiquity of its alternate dispute resolution system problematizes the taken-for-granted status of the state and makes visible the mechanisms by which the boundaries between the state and society are continually negotiated and the implications for the citizen/state relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rolling element bearing is a crucial component in rotating machines. The existence of faults in the bearing causes sudden failures, resulting in catastrophic failure of machines. Incipient fault detection and health state assessment are the essential tasks in condition-based maintenance to avoid machine failures. This paper proposes a new method, the Pruned Exact Linear Time, for identifying the incipient faults and following damage states in the bearing. When a fault initiates in the bearing, there is an increment in the vibration response. This increment can be quantified by the degradation indicator computed from the vibration signal. The Variational Mode Decomposition technique is used to de-noise the vibration signals. Various statistical features are derived from the de-noised signal, and the best feature subset is chosen by the Recursive Feature Elimination method. Then, the significant bearing life degradation indicator is computed using the Reconstruction Independent Component Analysis method by fusing selected features. A novel index is formulated for computing the percentage of failure, which can identify whether the bearing is in a mild failure state or medium failure state. The efficiency of the proposed framework is demonstrated using experimental bearing datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While state failure was undoubtedly a factor in, and influence on, the uprising, it has become more clearly apparent in the ongoing civil war. The Syrian state can now be said to be 'failed' because it cannot meet its citizens' economic, political and social needs and requirements. This apparent regression is even more striking because pre-war Syria was a regional leader in a number of development fields whose progress was evidenced in associated outputs and levels of performance. This article will provide insight into a number of different dimensions of the country's statehood, in so doing, trace the process through which the state's internal and external legitimacy has been sharply diminished. In addition, the paper also highlights how the Syrian state has adjusted to the condition of state failure. The article therefore proposes to examine different aspects and dimensions of state failure, as opposed to the general condition that has been reproduced across various contexts. In concluding, the article puts forward a number of propositions for how international actors can address a number of the challenges and problems associated with state failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted in response to perceived ethnic rivalries in Nigeria. The government of President Muhammadu Buhari is bedeviled with ethnic strife and disgruntled voices against federalism due to the perceived superiority of one ethnic group over another in a plural federal state like Nigeria. Against this backdrop, the study evaluates perceptions of equity among indigenous peoples in southern Nigeria. The peoples of the south-east and south-south dominated the call for restructuring due to the skewered arrangement of the nation. This paper's theoretical framework is based on the foundation of John Lock's social contract, especially his treatise on the extent and end of civil government. The sample size was 1352 using a quantitative and qualitative survey. Data were collected quantitatively and qualitatively. The instruments of data collection consisted of a structured questionnaire and an unstructured interview. The data were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. It was found that 992 participants, which represented more than three-quarters of the sample, disagreed that ethnic groups are treated fairly; 735 also held that unfair treatment is a recipe for disunity. The Chi Square estimate, x2 81.5; p<0.005, tested for ethnic treatment and national unity, was significant, and treatment determines national unity. The study also indicates that indigenous peoples expressed concerns about a failed state that undermined the current federal state. The study therefore recommends that the National Assembly's legislative role be strengthened in making federal appointments to strategic positions. This could possibly alleviate mistrust about treatment by the federal government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helical idler gear systems are widely used in ships, aerospace, and other heavy industries due to their capacity to adapt to high-speed and heavy-load working environments. Most of the previous studies have been conducted on the bending fatigue failure of single-stage gear systems. Still, there needs to be more research on the bending fatigue failure process of helical idler gear systems under high-speed and heavy-load conditions. This paper establishes a dynamic model of the helical idler gear system, with three failure stages: undamaged, cracked, and broken gear. This dynamic model reflects different states of bending fatigue failure and studies the process of bending fatigue failure of the input gear and idler gear, respectively. The dynamic load response of the helical idler gear system in the time domain, frequency domain, and energy spectrum of the different failure states is analyzed. Experiments are designed to verify the dynamic load response characteristics of the corresponding states. The results of the study consider different fault positions, reflect the dynamic load response of different gear pairs of the helical idler gear system, and provide some reference for gear fault diagnosis and failure monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stability of twin and single elliptical tunnels in Hoek–Brown rock masses subjected to surcharge pressure is estimated by lower bound finite element limit analysis with power cone programming. The tunnels are considered to be unlined. The maximum normalized surcharge pressure (qs/σci) is evaluated and its positive value implies that the tunnel is stable, where qs is the intensity of the surcharge pressure and σci is the uniaxial compressive strength of the intact rock. The effect of different Hoek–Brown parameters, uniaxial compressive strength of rock mass, cover depth ratio, the aspect ratio of the tunnel profile, and clear spacing between twin tunnels on the magnitude of qs/σci of elliptical tunnels have been studied. For a few cases, the stress state proximity to failure has also been presented to study the failure patterns of twin elliptical tunnels. Following regression analysis design equations are provided to estimate the magnitude of qs/σci for dual as well as single elliptical tunnels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anisotropy is an inherent property of rocks. It refers to the different response of the rock properties in each direction. Understanding the anisotropy characteristics of rock failure by drilling has practical applications in improving drilling efficiency, especially for engineering applications. In this paper, a criterion is established to clarify the ductile-to-brittle transition in the drilling process of rock. Moreover, a new anisotropy index has been proposed to evaluate the effect of anisotropy on the critical state of the ductile-to-brittle transition. The digital drilling tests are conducted on six types of rock to study the drilling mechanical performance in the X, Y, and Z directions. The anisotropy characteristics of drilling parameters and mechanical specific energy (MSE) are analysed at the critical state of ductile–brittle failure. The results show that the critical state of ductile–brittle failure is manifested as an inflection point of the depth of cut. The evolution of MSE is fitted as two linear functions, which corresponds to the two stages. The order of anisotropy in MSE is obtained as: gneiss > slate > red sandstone > granite > argillaceous sandstone > sandstone. The anisotropy in the uniaxial compressive strength and MSE for different rock types has the same sequences. The advantages of the proposed method in determining rock anisotropy are illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]