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In this paper, we focus on the exploration of solution uniqueness, sharpness, and robust recovery in sparse regularization with a gauge J . Based on the criteria for the uniqueness of Lagrange multipliers in the dual problem, we give a characterization of the unique solution via the so-called radial cone. We establish characterizations of the isolated calmness (i.e., uniqueness of solutions combined with the calmness properties) of two types of the solution mappings and prove that they are equivalent under the assumption of metric subregularity of the subdifferentials for regularizers. Furthermore, we present sufficient and necessary conditions for a sharp solution, and show that these conditions guarantee robust recovery with a linear rate and imply local upper Lipschitzian properties of the solution mapping. Some applications of the polyhedral regularizer case such as sparse analysis regularization, weighted sorted ℓ 1 -norm sparse regularization, and non-polyhedral regularizer cases such as nuclear norm optimization, conic gauge optimization, and semidefinite conic gauge optimization are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the design of a universal tester of length and position sensors. It is composed of a rotary table and a sliding mechanism for generating displacement. Length parallel gauges are used as standards. The result of the testing is the static and calibration characteristics of the sensor and the verification of the maximum permissible errors of the sensor and measuring chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rack railway system, driven by the meshing of vehicle gears and ground racks, overcomes the limitations of wheel-rail adhesion and offers advantages such as strong climbing ability, environmental sustainability, and low operational costs. These factors made it a key focus for rail transit construction in mountainous areas. The mountain rack railway system in China is still in its infancy, and technical standards for rack railway vehicles have yet to be fully established. Compared to traditional wheel-rail vehicles, rack railway vehicles exhibit significant differences. In order to clarify the particularity and top-level indicators of mountain rack railway tourism vehicles, this study analyzed the features of mountain tourist rail transportation. Based on the progress of domestic mountain rack railway tourism projects, the study identified specific vehicle requirements in terms of steep-slope operation, transitions between steep and gentle slopes, axle load, and sightseeing performance. The adaptability of meter gauge and standard gauge tracks in mountain tourism railways was studied, particularly how track gauge influences vehicle structure, clearance, and track structure. It was clarified that meter gauge tracks should be prioritized for routes with lower traffic volumes. A technical specification system was proposed, with three standard vehicle widths: 2. 65 m, 2. 5 m, and 2. 3 m. The corresponding vehicle dimensions and passenger capacities were specified. Train formations were proposed with capacities ranging from 486 to 7 320 passengers per hour. Additionally, an analysis of rack railway line characteristics indicated that the traction and braking performance of rack railway tourism vehicles should be between the levels of high-speed railway vehicles and urban rail transit vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Postoperative sore throat (POST) is an unpleasant outcome that can occur as a result of tracheal intubation in adults. Increased pressure from the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff often leads to local mucosal injury, resulting in sore throat. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of two different ETT cuff pressure monitoring systems vs. no cuff pressure monitoring on the incidence and severity of POST in adults. Methods One hundred and fourteen ASA I-III patients of either gender, aged 18–65 years, and undergoing surgery requiring endotracheal intubation were included in this study. Patients were randomized into three groups: control (C), cuff pressure gauge (G), and automated cuff controller (A). The ETT cuff pressure was not monitored intraoperatively in group C but was monitored using a cuff pressure gauge and an automated cuff controller in groups G and A, respectively. Postoperatively, patients were assessed at 2, 24, and 48 h for the presence and severity of POST, hoarseness and cough. Results One hundred and eleven patients completed the study. POST occurred in 40.5% of the patients in group G (n = 37) (p = 0.013) and 23.7% of the patients in group A (n = 38) (p

Background: Postoperative sore throat (POST) is an unpleasant outcome that can occur as a result of tracheal intubation in adults. Increased pressure from the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff often leads to local mucosal injury, resulting in sore throat. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of two different ETT cuff pressure monitoring systems vs. no cuff pressure monitoring on the incidence and severity of POST in adults. Methods: One hundred and fourteen ASA I-III patients of either gender, aged 18–65 years, and undergoing surgery requiring endotracheal intubation were included in this study. Patients were randomized into three groups: control (C), cuff pressure gauge (G), and automated cuff controller (A). The ETT cuff pressure was not monitored intraoperatively in group C but was monitored using a cuff pressure gauge and an automated cuff controller in groups G and A, respectively. Postoperatively, patients were assessed at 2, 24, and 48 h for the presence and severity of POST, hoarseness and cough. Results: One hundred and eleven patients completed the study. POST occurred in 40.5% of the patients in group G (n = 37) (p = 0.013) and 23.7% of the patients in group A (n = 38) (p < 0.001) within 48 h after surgery, compared to 69.4% in group C (n = 36). There were no significant differences in hoarseness, coughing, and dysphagia across the groups at any time. When comparing groups A and C, individuals in group A exhibited a lower occurrence of significant (grade ≥ 2) POST and hoarseness (10.5% vs. 41.7%, p = 0.002; 26.3% vs. 58.3%, p = 0.005). The incidence of significant cough and dysphagia did not differ substantially across the patient groups within 48 h after surgery. POST scores in group A at 2, 24 h postoperatively were both 0 (0–0), which was significantly lower than those in group C (1 (0–2) at 2 h, p < 0.001 ; 1 (0–1) at 24 h, p = 0.001). POST in group G at 2 h postoperatively was graded as 0 (0–1.5) which was milder than group C (P = 0.024). The severity of hoarseness in group A with scores of 0 (0–2) was superior to that in group C (2 (0–2), p = 0.006) at 2 h postoperatively. Conclusions: In conclusion, the findings of this study indicated that the occurrence of POST can be reduced by using either the cuff pressure gauge approach or the automated cuff controller method. The automated cuff controller monitoring can potentially decrease the severity of POST and hoarseness. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, identifier: ChiCTR2100054089, Date: 08/12/2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the viewpoint of "extra dimension detecting," the phenomenon of the transition of the free point particle into 3d space is investigated. In this way, we formulate the problem using the second-class constrained system. To investigate it using a gauge theoretical approach, we use two methods to convert its two second-class constraints to first-class ones. In symplectic embedding, we construct a pair of scaler and vector gauge potentials, which can be interpreted as interactions for detecting extra dimensions. A Wess-Zumino variable appears as a new coordinate in potentials, and the particle's mass plays the role of a globally conserved charge related to the constructed gauge theory for extra dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cotton Textile Technology is the property of Cotton Textile Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The tensor network variety is a variety of tensors associated to a graph and a set of positive integer weights on its edges, called bond dimensions. We determine an upper bound on the dimension of the tensor network variety. A refined upper bound is given in cases relevant for applications such as varieties of matrix product states and projected entangled pairs states. We provide a range (the "supercritical range") of the parameters where the upper bound is sharp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Process capabilities are usually distorted by the gage errors which yield two different values, i.e., the observed ( O C p ) and the actual process capability index ( A C p ). This study highlights the relationships between the A C p and O C p through the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to jointly assess the two capability indices and the gauge. Specifically, it will be possible to inform about the likelihoods that a process capability is measured by an imperfect gauge. In our analysis, both probability distributions of the estimated A C ^ p and O C ^ p will be presented in closed forms as a function of the SNR. Besides, benchmark values of the SNR are established, therefore, instead of relying on different SNR margins to judge the measurement system, we describe the system by a characteristic curve (called α-β curve). The curve is a visual representation that demonstrates the precision of the measurement gauge. Here, the selection of α or β specifies the critical capability value. Moreover, the two types of errors (I&II) are also established to find the chances that the measurements have been made under the assumption of actual or observed distributions. To test and validate our analysis, two literature case studies have been selected for further investigation. It was found that the variance of the observed capability is always lower than the actual capability owed to left skewness in the distribution of the observed index. The analysis also shows that depending solely on SNR values may not verify if the data was collected using a faulty gauge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An accurate and traceable performance testing of the X-ray computed tomography (XCT) is crucial for the application of the XCT in various industrial fields. For the performance testing of the XCT, we proposed a novel gauge with spheres embedded in a cylindrical resin. The proposed gauge is free from the artifacts caused by the gauge structure, and the spheres can be arranged at any position of the gauge. Additionally, the gauge can be placed with different orientations and it can be produced at an economical price. We verified the feasibility of using the proposed gauge as a reference standard, in terms of the coefficient of thermal expansion and secular change of the resin. Furthermore, we developed the associated calibration method for the gauge through multiple orientation measurements using the XCT. From the results, the proposed gauge can be calibrated with an uncertainty of 1.9 μm when the gauge size is 30 mm. • A novel gauge was proposed for the performance testing of X-ray computed tomography. • We verified the feasibility of the developed gauge with the coefficient of thermal expansion and secular change of the resin. • The proposed gauge can be calibrated with an uncertainty of 2.9 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we study the production and decay of the Z ′ boson predicted by the U (1) B - L model, which is phenomenologically appealing. To carry out this purpose, we consider the process μ + μ - → Z h → l + l - b b ¯ with the subsequent decay of Z to pairs of leptons and of h to pairs of bottom quarks with l = e , μ . The study is realized in the resonance of the Z ′ boson and for the energies and luminosities of a future muon collider of s = 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 TeV and L = 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 a b - 1 . Our results show that the cross-section depends significantly on the center-of-mass energy of the collider and the parameters of the U (1) B - L model. The possibility of performing precision measurements for the Z ′ boson is very promising at the future muon collider, and our results may be helpful to the High Energy Physics community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep vein thrombosis is a common and serious complication associated with midline catheters (MC). The aim of this investigation was to determine if catheter diameter is related to development of thrombosis. This was an observational cohort study conducted at a tertiary care academic center in Southeastern Michigan. Hospitalized adults that required a MC were eligible participants. Primary outcome was symptomatic MC associated upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) comparing three catheter diameters. Secondary outcomes included complications based on size and DVT comparing catheter to vein ratio. Between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021, 3088 MCs met inclusion criteria; the distribution of 3 French (Fr), 4 Fr, and 5 Fr MCs was 35.1 %, 57.0 %, and 7.9 %, respectively. The majority of the population was female (61.2 %) and the average age was 64.2 years old. DVT occurred in 4.4 %, 3.9 %, and 11.9 % of 3 Fr, 4 Fr, and 5 Fr MCs, respectively (p < 0.001). In multivariable regression analysis, there was no difference in the odds of developing DVT for the 4 Fr MC compared to the 3 Fr (aOR 0.88; 95 % CI 0.59–1.31; p = 0.5243), however, there was significantly higher odds for the 5 Fr (aOR 2.72; 95 % CI 1.62–4.51; p = 0.001). Additionally, for every additional day the MC was in place, the odds of DVT increased by 3 % (aOR 1.03; 95 % CI 1.01–1.05; p = 0.0039). When comparing accuracy of the size model versus catheter to vein ratio model for predicting DVT, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated the area under the curve for size was 73.70 % (95 % CI 68.04 %–79.36 %) compared to 73.01 % (95 % CI: 66.88 %–79.10 %) for catheter-to-vein ratio. Smaller diameter catheters should be preferentially chosen to mitigate the risk of thrombosis when therapy via midline catheters is required. Choosing a catheter based on reduced size or 1:3 catheter to vein ratio threshold has similar accuracy in predicting DVT. • Catheter associated DVT is a major and not infrequent complication of midlines • Smaller diameter midline catheters decrease the risk of developing catheter associated DVT • Choosing a small catheter or choosing catheter size based on the catheter to vein ratio have comparable thrombosis outcomes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we prove that, if inf x ∈ A | f (x) | = m > 0 , then the partial differential operator D defined by D (u) = ∑ k = 1 n f k ∂ u ∂ x k − f u , where f , f i ∈ C (A , R) , u ∈ C 1 (A , X) , i = 1 , ... , n , I ⊂ R is an interval, A = I × R n − 1 and X is a Banach space, is Ulam stable with the Ulam constant K = 1 m . Moreover, if inf x ∈ A | f (x) | = 0 , we prove that D is not generally Ulam stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-source Weber problem (MWP) is an important model in facility location, which has wide applications in various areas such as health service management, transportation system management, urban planning, etc. The location-allocation algorithm is a well-known method for solving MWP, which consists of a location phase and an allocation phase at each iteration. In this paper, we consider more general and practical case of MWP–the constrained multi-source location problem (CMSLP), i.e., the location of multiple facilities with considering interactive transportation between facilities, locational constraints on facilities and the gauge for measuring distances. A variational inequality approach is contributed to solving the location subproblem called the constrained multi-facility location problem (CMFLP) in location phase, which leads to an efficient projection-type method. Then a new location-allocation algorithm is developed for CMSLP. Global convergence of the projection-type method as well as local convergence of new location-allocation algorithm are proved. The efficiency of proposed methods is verified by some preliminary numerical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Venipuncture is a starting point of most diagnostic processes and a common source of pain and anxiety in many patients. The study aimed to evaluate and report the pain perception upon needle insertion during phlebotomy using the novel UltraTouch™ Push Button Blood Collection Set (UTPBBCS) with a five-bevel tip and assess the recommendation from the patients to use UTPBBCS for future blood collections. Materials and Methods: The blood samples were collected with UTPBBCS (23 g) from 100 adult patients who reported at the outpatient department phlebotomy room for routine blood tests. The pain level was distributed into five scores. Consent and feedback were collected from all the patients. Results: In the current study, 89% of individuals reported “No Pain” (score 1), and 11% reported a score of 2. 100% of the study population reported less pain during the blood collection process with UTPBBCS. All the individuals who had undergone blood collection with an UltraTouch needle recommended this device for future blood collections. Conclusion: The results of this observational study provided insights on the use of technology such as the penta bevel needle and ultra-thin wall cannula, which reduced the pain during phlebotomy and improved patient experience. This can lead to a practice change in phlebotomy, especially for trypanophobia patients and patients with difficult venous access (thin and fragile veins) such as pediatric, geriatric, dialysis, and oncology patients. By reducing the number of phlebotomy attempts, pain, and hematoma, the patient's satisfaction score is improved, and they feel safe to come back to the hospital when seeking a health-care facility.

The article discusses the possibilities of East Slovakian transhipment facilities, which, despite their relatively strategic location and the possibilities they provide, are far from being used as much as their capacities allow. Growing requirements for green transport and reducing the carbon footprint create space for increasing rail transport as the most ecological option; on the other hand, the long-standing problems experienced by East Slovakian transhipment points put them in a competitive disadvantageous position compared to other countries. The opening of the Silk Road provides opportunities that East Slovakian transhipment points do not use or use very little. Therefore, the article points out the weaknesses of East Slovak transhipment centres and looks for ways to improve the current situation, it also draws attention to the possibilities of East Slovakian transhipment centres, especially Čierna nad Tisou, and makes suggestions for rationalization. The findings of the article point to the fact that Eastern Slovakian transhipment facilities have a potential that needs to be further developed, which, however, will probably not be possible without state aid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensification of extreme precipitation has aggravated urban flood disasters, which makes timely and reliable precipitation information urgently needed. As the high-quality and widely used satellite precipitation products, Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG), have not been well investigated in coastal urban agglomerations where damages from precipitation-related disasters are more severe. With precipitation measurements from local high-density gauge stations, this study evaluates three IMERG runs (IMERG ER, IMERG LR, and IMERG FR) in the southeast coastal urban region of China. The evaluation shows that the three IMERG products severely overestimate weak precipitation and underestimate heavy precipitation. Among the three runs, the post-corrected IMERG FR does not show a substantial improvement compared to the near-real-time IMERG ER and IMERG LR. The performance of IMERG varies depending on the precipitation pattern and intensity, with the best estimation ability occurring in the coastal urban region in summer and in the northern forests in winter. Due to the year-round urban effect on precipitation variability, IMERG cannot detect precipitation events well in the central high-density urban areas, and has its best detection ability on cultivated lands in summer and forests in winter. Within the urban agglomeration, IMERG shows a poorer performance in areas with higher urbanization levels. Thus, the IMERG products for coastal urban areas need considerable improvements, such as regionalized segmental corrections based on precipitation intensity and the adjustment of short-duration estimates by daily or sub-daily precipitation measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive review of applying Taguchi's optimization methodology to medical facilities was evaluated in this study. Taguchi's optimization methodology is one kind of robust designation and is reputed for integrating multiple factors to pursue one goal. According to Taguchi's suggestion, the efficient and reliable arrangement of experimental groups with numerous factors shortened the observed timing and provided bountiful statistical data. Although this method is widely used in mechanical, civil, and chemical engineering fields, it became adopted in medical facilities only in the last decade. Most of Taguchi's analyses focused on optimizing the imaging quality for diagnosis. The medical facilities include regular X-ray, cardiac X-ray, CT (computed tomography), CTA (computed tomography angiography), LINAC (medical linear accelerator), or gamma camera scans. The images were all manipulated according to various radiation-induced interactions; thus, the optimization process of imaging resolution can offer an essential contribution to this kind of facility. In this study, we summarized the Taguchi-related papers in medical facilities and evaluated common principles in organizing the unique orthogonal array, assigning various signal-to-noise ratios, using quantified gauges, and ranking or grading the obtained imaging quality in the datum analysis process. The further elaboration on how to preset the user demanded goal in the optimization process, the necessity of focusing on cross interaction among factors, dynamic analysis superiority over static one preset in Taguchi's analysis, and how to preset an ideal signal-to-noise ratio to satisfy the researcher demand, the importance of verification or testification in clinical cases or the assistance of ANOVA to depict a complete concept of applying Taguchi's optimization methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Venipuncture is a starting point of most diagnostic processes and a common source of pain and anxiety in many patients. The study aimed to evaluate and report the pain perception upon needle insertion during phlebotomy using the novel UltraTouch™ Push Button Blood Collection Set (UTPBBCS) with a five-bevel tip and assess the recommendation from the patients to use UTPBBCS for future blood collections. Materials and Methods: The blood samples were collected with UTPBBCS (23 g) from 100 adult patients who reported at the outpatient department phlebotomy room for routine blood tests. The pain level was distributed into five scores. Consent and feedback were collected from all the patients. Results: In the current study, 89% of individuals reported "No Pain" (score 1), and 11% reported a score of 2. 100% of the study population reported less pain during the blood collection process with UTPBBCS. All the individuals who had undergone blood collection with an UltraTouch needle recommended this device for future blood collections. Conclusion: The results of this observational study provided insights on the use of technology such as the penta bevel needle and ultra-thin wall cannula, which reduced the pain during phlebotomy and improved patient experience. This can lead to a practice change in phlebotomy, especially for trypanophobia patients and patients with difficult venous access (thin and fragile veins) such as pediatric, geriatric, dialysis, and oncology patients. By reducing the number of phlebotomy attempts, pain, and hematoma, the patient's satisfaction score is improved, and they feel safe to come back to the hospital when seeking a health-care facility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to optimize the redrafting process of cashmere yarn and solve the problem that the change of separation parameters before and after the false twister had different effects on the yarn quality, 14 groups of separation parameters were designed by using the control variable method to spin the corresponding cashmere yarn. Furthermore, the changes of CV value, 3 mm hairiness and breaking strength of cashmere yarn under different separation conditions were studied. The results show that after the redrawing process, 3 mm hairiness of cashmere yarn reduced by 30% to 50%, and breaking strength of it improved by about 15%. At the same time, larger front gauge is beneficial to the improvement of yarn evenness CV value, 3 mm hairiness and breaking strength, and smaller back gauge can improve the evenness of yarn. But excessive or too small back gauge has a negative impact on yarn 3 mm hairiness and breaking strength. Appropriate back gauge is conducive to the smooth completion of untwisting and drafting, and enhances the control of fiber in yarn, thereby improve yarn performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Smart Rail Transit is the property of Smart Rail Transit Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the paper a set of idempotent probability measures and its maxplus-polar are described with a polar of the set of probability measures. An equality connecting a gauge of the set of probability measures and a max-plus-gauge of the set of idempotent probability measures is established. It is well known that every map between sets induces a map as between the corresponding sets of probability measures, as between the corresponding sets of idempotent probability measures. It is shown a relation between these induced maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The well-known multi-facility Weber problem (MFWP) is one of fundamental models in facility location. With the aim of enhancing the practical applicability of MFWP, this paper considers a generalized multi-facility Weber problem (GMFWP), where the gauge is used to measure distances and the locational constraints are imposed to new facilities. This paper focuses on developing efficient numerical methods based on alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) to solve GMFWP. Specifically, GMFWP is equivalently reformulated into a minmax problem with special structure and then some ADMM-type methods are proposed for its primal problem. Global convergence of proposed methods for GMFWP is established under mild assumptions. Preliminary numerical results are reported to verify the effectiveness of proposed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most problems concerning calculation of an electromagnetic field, it is reasonable to use vector magnetic potential which is an auxiliary function that meets the condition = rot In vector algebra, div rot = 0; therefore, in the calculation of a field, one of the main conditions, div = 0, is always met. Since the rotor of the gradient of any scalar quantity is zero, the gradient of an arbitrary scalar is introduced into the left-hand part of the second Maxwell equation. The time derivative of this scalar is not a factor that can change magnetic and electric fields. Thus, using the basic equations of an electromagnetic field, its potentials can be determined with an accuracy equivalent to the scalar gradient. Such invariance is called the "gauge" or "gradient" invariance. To eliminate this uncertainty when finding the field potentials, they are subjected to an additional condition set by a special gauge. For an electromagnetic field propagating in vacuum, the Lorentz gauge is known; for a conducting medium, this gauge loses its meaning. When choosing a gauge for conducting media, the condition div = 0 should be met; therefore, it is reasonable to use it as a gauge one. It is shown that, in solving a one-dimensional problem, div = 0 can be taken to be zero, while a special gauge of the potential field is required in solving two- or three-dimensional problems. It is proposed to use the condition div = 0 as a gauge, since it is satisfied in all conducting media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let Ω ⊆ R n be an open set, where n ≥ 2 . Suppose ω is a locally finite Borel measure on Ω . For α ∈ (0 , 2) , define the fractional Laplacian (- ▵) α / 2 via the Fourier transform on R n , and let G be the corresponding Green's operator of order α on Ω . Define T (u) = G (u ω). If ‖ T ‖ L 2 (ω) → L 2 (ω) < 1 , we obtain a representation for the unique weak solution u in the homogeneous Sobolev space L 0 α / 2 , 2 (Ω) of (- ▵) α / 2 u = u ω + ν on Ω , u = 0 on Ω c , for ν in the dual Sobolev space L - α / 2 , 2 (Ω) . If Ω is a bounded C 1 , 1 domain, this representation yields matching exponential upper and lower pointwise estimates for the solution when ν = χ Ω . These estimates are used to study the existence of a solution u 1 (called the "gauge") of the integral equation u 1 = 1 + G (u 1 ω) corresponding to the problem (- ▵) α / 2 u = u ω on Ω , u ≥ 0 on Ω , u = 1 on Ω c. We show that if ‖ T ‖ < 1 , then u 1 always exists if 0 < α < 1 . For 1 ≤ α < 2 , a solution exists if the norm of T is sufficiently small. We also show that the condition ‖ T ‖ < 1 does not imply the existence of a solution if 1 < α < 2 . The condition ‖ T ‖ ≤ 1 is necessary for the existence of u 1 for all 0 < α ≤ 2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cotton Textile Technology is the property of Cotton Textile Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article deals with three optical distance sensors, which are mounted on an apparatus so that they could be tested, compared & analysed. This study can be a helping hand in future for the people who want to acquire any particular detail or information on any one of these sensors. This research work adds another information about tested sensor for anyone trying to get hands on information for the three sensors or their applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently increased concerns and potential consequences of the limitation in gauge measurements in Africa have heightened the availability of high Spatio-temporal satellite-based rainfall data for various applications. In contemporary times, there are efforts to develop modeling tools that would aid water resource management to minimize socio-economic losses. However, these models depend on the reliability of inputs, such as high-quality rainfall data at a highly resolved spatio-temporal scale, hence the importance of this study. The present study assessed the abilities of gauge only and satellite-gauge blended rainfall products to replicate the rainfall patterns concerning observations at thirty (30) rain gauge stations in Ghana. Besides, the study focuses on rainfall characteristics that are vital to the agricultural and hydrological sectors in the region. These include an assessment of the skill of satellite rainfall products to represent observed extreme rainfall indices. The analysis shows that all the rainfall products were able to replicate the seasonal rainfall patterns in both the northern and southern parts of the country. The GPCC V7 and CHIRPS V2 have exhibited the best skills at representing these rainfall patterns compared to TRMM 3B42 and CMORPH. Satellite products that blend thermal infrared and passive microwave tend to perform better than IR-only or PM-only products. We observed that both gauge and satellite-based rainfall products generally overestimate low-intensity rainfall and underestimate high rainfall intensity in the region. Also, satellite-based rainfall products are weak in the coasts of the country though CHIRPS represents rainfall patterns on the eastern coast considerably well (correlation of 0.77). The analysis showed that TRMM 3B42 has a dry bias, while CMORPH has a wet bias compared to CHIRPs. Therefore, one can use TRMM 3B42 and CMORPH for drought and flood analysis respectively in a conservative approach. However, CHIRPS is useful for analysis of all extremes events.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to compare cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection time and patient's discomfort between 20G (a)traumatic and 22G atraumatic needles. Background: Risk of post‐dural puncture headache (PDPH) is decreased using atraumatic needles. Smaller needles may give lower risk but possibly at the cost of increased CSF collection time (due to lower flow), leading to additional patient's discomfort. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of lumbar puncture data from a research program on CSF metabolomics and compared traumatic 20G (n = 210) with atraumatic 20G (n = 39) and 22G (n = 105) needles. In this cohort, incidence of PDPH was prospectively registered with other procedure details. Primary outcome was CSF collection time (time to fill the tube). Secondary outcomes were pain and stress scores during procedure, and incidence of PDPH. Results: The time to collect 10 mL of CSF was longer for 22G needles (6.1 minutes; 95% CI 5.8–6.5) than for 20G traumatic (2.2 minutes; 95% CI 2.1–2.2) and 20G atraumatic needles (2.9 minutes; 95% CI 2.8–3.1). There were no differences in pain and stress scores. PDPH was lower for 22G atraumatic needles: odds ratio 0.41 (95% CI 0.25–0.66) versus 20G traumatic needles and 0.53 (95% CI 0.40–0.69) versus 20G atraumatic needles. Absolute PDPH rates were 69/210 (32.9%) for 20G traumatic, 13/39 (33.3%) for 20G atraumatic, and 19/105 (18.1%) for 22G atraumatic needles. Conclusions: CSF collection time is slightly longer for smaller 22G needles, but this does not lead to more discomfort for the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two similarly designed studies compared user experiences with a second-generation extra-thin-wall, 5-bevel 32 G × 4 mm pen needle (PN) with redesigned hub versus four thinner commercially available PNs. Adults (18–75 years old) with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and ≥3 months of experience with pen injectors qualified for single-visit, single-blinded randomized studies. The investigational 32 G PN was compared with three 33–34 G × 3.5–4 mm PNs in Study 1 and one 34 G × 4 mm PN in Study 2. Participants completed 12 abdominal injections of 0.3 mL sterile saline using insulin pens in 6 pairs, each comprising one investigational 32 G PN and one comparator PN in random order. After each injection pair, participants compared injection pain via relative 150 mm visual analog scale (VAS) and perceived dose delivery force via relative 5 point Likert scale. Adjusted models tested injection pain scores (primary endpoint) for noninferiority and, if met, then for superiority. ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT03878758 and NCT03878745. The investigational 32 G PN met noninferiority as well as superiority criteria for less injection pain vs. each comparator (p <.01), with adjusted mean relative VAS scores 9.1–17.6 in Study 1 (n = 154) and 7.3 in Study 2 (n = 55). The investigational 32 G PN was also superior vs. each comparator PN in requiring less relative perceived force to deliver the dose (p <.01). The investigational 32 G PN was associated with less participant-reported injection pain and less perceived dose delivery force compared with four thinner PNs, suggesting no additional pain reduction or force reduction benefit conferred by the thinner PNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In his work on projective connections, Cartan discusses his theory of second order differential equations. It is the aim here to look at how a normal projective connection can be constructed and how it relates to the geometry of a single second order differential equation. The calculations are presented in some detail in order to highlight the use of gauge conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control charts based on inspection with gauges are an interesting alternative to monitor quantitative variables when measurement is complex or expensive. The main advantage over variable control charts lies in greater operational simplicity and economy. However, gauge-based control charts are usually less powerful in order to detect shifts in the process than variables control charts, when the same sample size is used. To improve its performance, the use of double sampling on gauge-based monitoring is proposed. The new chart shows better performance than X ¯ , S and X ¯ − S charts, for the same average sample size, keeping low sampling cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]