bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on Water Wall Tubes and Welded Joints of 1000MW USC Tower Boiler
Authors: Wang B.C. , Xueyuan Xu , Feng Zhu Yu , Anfang Qi , Zhengran Lu , Bo Zhang , Yongqiang Jin , Xiaoli Lu
Published: March 2024

In this paper, the performance of T23 and 12Cr1MoVG water wall tubes as well as their welded joints in engineering applications is reported. It was found that the T23 water wall tube may have water leak problems during its operation. In order to make sure the safe operation, leakage reasons of T23 water wall tube were analyzed and improvement measures were taken. Recommendations on the choice of water wall material of 1000MW USC tower boiler are given.
Effect of Stress State on Microstructural Change during Creep in Grade 92 Steel Welded Joint
Authors: Sawada Kota , Kimura Kazuhiro , Tabuchi Masaaki
Published: March 2024

In order to clarify the effect of stress state on microstructural changes during creep, the microstructure was observed in the central part of the cross section of the fine-grained heat-affected zone (FGHAZ) and in the surface region of the FGHAZ in Gr.92 steel welded joint. Creep tests were performed under constant load in air at 650°C, using cross-weld specimens. The creep strength of welded joint was lower than that of base metal. Type IV fracture occurred in the long-term. Creep voids were detected in the FGHAZ after the fracture. Number of creep voids was higher in the central part of the cross section of the FGHAZ than in the surface region of the FGHAZ. It was checked the multiaxiality of stress during creep was higher in the central part of the cross section of the FGHAZ than in the surface region of the FGHAZ. The recovery of dislocation structure occurred after creep in the base metal and the FGHAZ. Mean subgrain size increased with increasing time to rupture. However, there was no difference of change of subgrain size during creep in the central part of the cross section of the FGHAZ and in the surface region of the FGHAZ. The growth of M23C6 carbide and MX carbonitrides was observed during creep in the base metal and the FGHAZ. Laves phase precipitation occurred during creep. There was no difference of the change of mean diameter of MX carbonitrides in the central part of the cross section of the FGHAZ and in the surface region of the FGHAZ after creep. However, the growth rate of M23C6 carbide in the FGHAZ was much higher in the central part of the cross section than in the surface region.
The Effect of Post Weld Heat Treatment on the Creep Behaviour and Microstructural Evolution in Grade 92 Steel Welds for Steam Pipe Applications
Authors: Xu X. , West G.D. , Thomson R.C. , Parker J.
Published: March 2024

Grade 92 steel has been widely applied in the power generation industry for use as steam pipes, headers, tubes, etc. owing to a good combination of creep and corrosion resistance. For the welding of thick section pipes, a multi-pass submerged arc welding process is typically used to achieve sufficient toughness in the weld. To relieve the internal stress in the welds and to stabilise their microstructures, a post weld heat treatment (PWHT) is commonly applied. The heat treatment conditions used for the PWHT have a significant effect on both the resulting microstructure and the creep behaviour of the welds. In this study, interrupted creep tests were carried out on two identical Grade 92 welds that had been given PWHTs at two different temperatures: 732°C and 760°C. It was found that the weld with the lower PWHT temperature had a significantly reduced stain rate during the creep test. In addition, microstructural examination of the welds revealed that the primary location of creep damage was in the heat affected zone in the sample with the lower PWHT temperature, whereas it was in the weld metal in the sample with the higher PWHT temperature. To understand the effect of the different PWHT temperatures on the microstructure, initially the microstructures in the head portions of the two creep test bars were compared. This comparison was performed quantitatively using a range of electron/ion microscopy based techniques. It was apparent that in the sample subjected to the higher PWHT temperature, larger Laves phase particles occurred and increased matrix recovery was observed compared with the sample subjected to the lower PWHT temperature.
Evaluation of Remaining Life of Gr.91 Welded Elbow Served at USC Plant for Long-Term
Authors: Nagai Seiji , Yaguchi Masatsugu , Lin Shan , Yamazaki Souichi
Published: March 2024

Type IV damage was found at several ultra-supercritical (USC) plants that used creep-strength-enhanced ferritic (CSEF) steels in Japan, and the assessment of the remaining life of the CSEF steels is important for electric power companies. However, there has been little research on the remaining life of material that has actually served at a plant. In this study, the damage and remaining life of a Gr.91 welded elbow pipe that served for 54,000 h at a USC plant were investigated. First, microscopic observation and hardness testing were conducted on specimen cut from the welded joint; the results indicated that the damage to the elbow was more severe in the fine-grain heat-affected zone near the inner surface. Furthermore, creep rupture tests were performed using specimens cut from the welded joint of the elbow, and from these results, the remaining life was evaluated using the time fraction rule as almost 110,000 h. Finite-element analysis was also conducted to assess the damage and remaining life, and the results were compared with the experimental results.
Effects of Alloy Composition and Surface Engineering on Steam Oxidation Resistance
Authors: Pint B. A. , Dryepondt S.
Published: March 2024

Because of the problems experienced with steam-side oxide scale exfoliation in commercial power plants, there has been increased interest in understanding the steam oxidation resistance of 300- series stainless steels such as 347H and 304H. Model alloys were used in an attempt to understand the effect of varying Ni (9-12%) and Cr (16-20%) on steam oxidation resistance at 650°C. However, the model alloys generally showed superior oxidation resistance than commercial alloys of similar composition. Several surface engineering solutions also were investigated. The commercially favored solution is shot peening. Laboratory steam testing at 650°C found that annealing temperatures of ≥850°C eliminated the benefit of shot peening and a correlation was observed with starting hardness in the peened region. This effect of annealing has implications for the fabrication of shot peened tubing. Another route to improving oxidation resistance is the use of oxidation resistant diffusion coatings, which can be deposited inexpensively by a vapor slurry process. Uniform coatings were deposited on short tube sections and annealed at 1065°C to retain good 650°C creep properties. The coating was thicker than has been investigated in laboratory processes resulting in increased brittleness when the coating was assessed using 4-point bending.
Inconel Filler Metal 72M Provides Corrosion and Wear Resistance and Low “Delta T” Through Walls of Tubing in Fossil-Fired Boilers
Authors: Kiser Samuel D. , Caruso Martin , Zhang Rengang , Gaal Brian
Published: March 2024

Inconel Filler Metal 72 (FM 72) and Incoclad 671/800H co-extruded tubing have been successfully used for over 20 years to protect boiler tubing from high-temperature degradation. A newer alloy, FM 72M, offers superior weldability and the lowest corrosion rate in simulated low NOx environments. Both FM 72 and 72M show promise in addressing challenges like circumferential cracking and corrosion fatigue in waterwall tubing overlays. Additionally, 72M’s superior wear resistance makes it ideal for replacing erosion shields in superheater and reheater tubing. Beyond improved protection, these alloys exhibit increased hardness and thermal conductivity over time, leading to reduced temperature difference across the tube wall and consequently, enhanced boiler efficiency and lower maintenance costs. This paper discusses the historical selection of optimal alloys for waterwall and upper boiler tubing overlays, analyzes past failure mechanisms, and highlights the key properties of successful choices like FM 72 and 72M.
Flux Cored Wires for Welding Advanced 9-10% Cr Steels
Authors: Baumgartner Susanne , Schnitzer Ronald , Schuler Monika , Schmidtne-Kelity Edina , Lochbichler Claus
Published: March 2024

Flux cored wires are worldwide used in power generation industry due to their technical and economic advantages. For welding P91 and P92 flux cored wires with a rutile slag system are available for several years. Results of long-term investigations up to 30.000 h show that specimens of all weld metal meet the requirements of the base material. Following the recent demand of reduced Mn+Ni content the chemical composition of all weld metal has been modified. For P91 a matching flux cored wire with Mn+Ni<1wt% and for P92 with Mn+Ni<1.2wt% is now available. In this paper the mechanical properties of all weld metal and welded joints are being presented. Latest developments in cast materials have shown that the so-called CB2 (GX13CrMoCoVNbNB 10-1-1) enables steam temperatures up to 620°C (1148°F). Therefore a matching flux cored wire with low Ni-content has been developed. Results of welding procedure qualification and first experience of manufacturing industrial components show the successful implementation of this new material grade and welding consumable.
Application of EPRI P87 in Dissimilar Austenitic-Martensitic Welded Joints of Tempaloy AA-1 and T92 Steel Grades
Authors: Urzynicok Michael , Jachym Robert , Kwieciński Krzysztof , Mariani Paola , Minami Yusuke
Published: March 2024

Dynamic development of steels used in power engineering industry for the production of boilers characterised by supercritical parameters poses new welding challenges. The introduction of new combinations of alloying agents aimed at obtaining the best possible mechanical properties, including creep resistance, affects the weldability of new steels. Each of the latter have to undergo many tests, particularly as regards bending and welding, in order to enable the development of technologies ensuring failure-free production and assembly of boiler systems. Martensitic steels containing 9% Cr, used in the manufacturing of steam superheaters, are characterised by good creep resistance and, at the same time, low oxidation resistance at a temperature in excess of 600°C. In turn, steels with a 12% Cr content are characterised by significantly higher oxidation resistance, but accompanied by lower strength at higher temperatures, which translates to their limited application in the production of boilers operating at the highest parameters. The niche between the aforesaid steels is perfectly filled by austenitic steels, the creep resistance and oxidation resistance of which are unquestionable. This article presents experience gained while welding dissimilar joints of advanced steels TEMPALOY AA-1 and T92, with the use of EPRI P87, Inconel 82 and Inconel 617 filler metals. The tests involving the said steel grades belong to the very few carried out in the world.
Practical Guide to Welding Inconel Alloy 740H
Authors: Gollihue Ronald D. , Baker Brian A. , Dierksheide Joseph E. , Tanzosh Jim M.
Published: March 2024

The use of high-nickel superalloys has greatly increased among many industries. This is especially the case for advanced coal-fired boilers, where the latest high temperature designs will require materials capable of withstanding much higher operating temperatures and pressures than current designs. Inconel alloy 740H (UNS N07740) is a new nickel- based alloy that serves as a candidate for steam header pipe and super-heater tubing in coal-fired boilers. Alloy 740H has been shown to be capable of withstanding the extreme operating conditions of an advanced ultra-super-critical (AUSC) boiler, which is the latest boiler design, currently under development. As with all high nickel alloys, welding of alloy 740H can be very challenging, even to an experienced welder. Weldability challenges are compounded when considering that the alloy may be used in steam headers, where critical, thick-section and stub-to-header weld joints are present. This paper is intended to describe the proper procedures developed over years of study that will allow for ASME code quality welds in alloy 740H with matching composition filler metals.
Effect of Copper Addition on the Toughness of New Z-Phase Strengthened 12% Chromium Steels
Authors: Liu Fang , Andrén Hans-Olof
Published: March 2024

Two Z-phase strengthened test steels with similar chemical composition were studied. The main difference in composition is the addition of 1 wt% Cu into one of the steels (referred to as “ZCu”). Mechanical testing was performed. The impact strength is very different: 3 J vs. 46.3 J, for the original and the Z-Cu steel, respectively. In the original steel that contains no Cu, much more Laves-phase (Fe2(W,Mo)) precipitates had formed along the prior austenite grain boundaries than in the steel with Cu addition. This is believed to be the reason for the difference in impact strength. Furthermore, the Cu addition also influenced the morphology of Laves-phase precipitates; fine rod-shaped instead of coarse equiaxed Laves-phase particles were observed in Z-Cu steel in comparison to the original steel. No partitioning of Cu into the Laves-phase particles was detected by using atom probe tomography (APT). The main function of Cu seems to be the formation of Cu precipitates that act as nucleation site for Laves-phase.
The Practical Application of Small Scale Sampling and Impression Creep Testing to Grade 91 Components
Authors: Brett S.J.
Published: March 2024

The Creep Strength Enhanced Ferritic steel grade 91 is widely used for both retrofit applications and primary construction on high temperature power plant. Although to date most structural integrity issues with this material have been associated with welds, as the operating hours of these plants accumulate, there will be a growing need for remanent creep life assessment of the base material. Arguably this is already the case for aberrant grade 91 material entering service in an incorrectly heat treated condition. In these circumstances the strength may fall below the normally accepted lower bound of the creep strength range and some indication of actual strength may be required. One strategy to address potential base material failure is to use small scale sampling of individual components, followed by small scale creep testing, to investigate the current creep strength present. The data can be compared with the equivalent data produced for well characterised material known to be at the lower bound of the creep strength range. This paper describes a methodology for using the impression creep data obtained to provide both creep strength ranking and an estimate of absolute creep strength for individual grade 91 components. This will enable appropriate judgements to be made by plant operators on repair/run decisions. For those components remaining in service, it allows for the weakest items to be given priority for early re-inspection at future outages. The ultimate goal is to identify base material creep damage development at as early a stage as possible and well in advance of failure in service.
Defect Tolerant Design Concepts Applied to Remaining Life Assessments of Steam Turbines and Weld Repairs of Power Generation Equipment
Authors: Dowson Phillip , Dowson David
Published: March 2024

In today’s market place power generation plants throughout the world have been trying to reduce their operating costs by extending the service life of their critical machines such as steam turbines and gas turbines beyond the design life criteria. The key ingredient in plant life extension is remaining life assessment technology. This paper will outline remaining life procedures which will incorporate the defect tolerant design concepts applied to the various damage mechanisms such as creep, fatigue, creep-fatigue and stress corrosion cracking. Also other embrittlement mechanisms will also be discussed and how they will influence the life or operation of the component. Application of weld repairs to critical components such as rotors and steam chest casings will be highlighted and how defect tolerant design concept is applied for the repair procedure and the acceptance standard of the nondestructive testing applied. Also highlighted will be various destructive tests such as stress relaxation tests (SRT) which measures creep strength and constant displacement rate test (CDRT) which evaluates fracture resistance or notch ductility. Also shown will be actual life extension examples applied to steam turbine components and weld repairs. Utilization of computer software to calculate fatigue and creep fatigue crack growth will also be presented
Non-Destructive and Optical Thickness Measurements of Steam Grown Oxide on Contacting Surfaces of Power Plant
Authors: Piedra E.M. , Lodeiro M.J. , Fry A.T.
Published: March 2024

Both non-destructive and traditional microsectioning techniques have been used to measure the oxide thickness of steam grown oxides between two close contacting surfaces. Different power plant materials, nickel based alloys and ferritic-martensitic steels, were exposed to steam oxidation at temperatures ranging from 650 °C up to 750 °C and periods from 500 h to 3000 h. Ultrasonic measurements of thickness, based on the speed of sound in the oxide, were performed and compared to optical thickness measurements based on conventional metallographic microsectioning with promising results. Improvements on the measurement resolution have been practically demonstrated with oxides down to 65 μm thickness being measured successfully.
Extending Superalloy 718 Temperature Range Limits for Ultra-Supercritical Power Plant Applications
Authors: Di Gianfrancesco A. , Lombardi P. , Venditti D. , Montani R. , Foroni L.
Published: March 2024

Alloy 718, widely used for its high-temperature performance in various applications, is being investigated for use in advanced power plants. Driven by the need for efficiency improvements, these plants demand higher temperatures and pressures, putting significant stress on critical components like boiler tubes and turbines. With existing steels and alloys struggling at such high temperatures, researchers are exploring alternatives. New generation plants target steam turbine inlet temperatures of 720°C and pressures of 350MPa, necessitating superalloys for high- and intermediate-pressure rotor sections. The Thermie Advanced project explored the potential of 718 for these applications. A trial rotor disk, forged using advanced processes, underwent a novel heat treatment to enhance microstructural stability and improve creep behavior. Ongoing creep tests exceeding 100,000 hours suggest a potential 50°C increase in the operational limit compared to standard 718. This 12-year research effort holds promise for utilizing 718 in forged components of advanced ultra-supercritical power plant steam turbines, potentially operating up to 700°C.
Trial Production and Evaluation of 10-Ton Class A-USC Turbine Rotor of Ni-Fe Base Superalloy FENIX-700
Authors: Takasawa Koichi , Takahashi Tatsuya , Tanaka Ryoji , Kure Terutaka , Imano Shin-ya , Saito Eiji
Published: March 2024

The trial production of FENIX-700 turbine rotors for advanced-ultra super critical (A-USC) power generation was conducted, and their microstructure, tensile, impact, and creep properties were evaluated. Two 10-ton class trial forgings were successfully produced through double melting of VIM and ESR and free forging with a 14,000 ton hydraulic press. For examining the effect of the forging condition on the microstructure of the rotors, we adopted lower finish temperatures and an increased forging ratio on the last forging for the second trial. The grains of the second trial forging were refined by changing the forging condition. In particular, the grain size of the center of the rotor was remarkably decreased from the grain size number 0.5 to 2.8. Grain refinement improved the permeability of the ultrasonic wave in the ultrasonic inspection test, resulting in decreasing the minimum detectable flaw size (MDFS). The ductility and toughness were also improved by grain refinement. Although the grain size was decreased, the time to rupture in the creep test at 700 °C was comparable to the previous results of FENIX-700, and the estimated 105 h rupture stress at 700 °C was sufficiently higher than 100 MPa. However, it was clarified that the particles of gamma-prime in the center of the rotor had been coarsened due to the mass effect. The slight decrease of 0.2% proof stress and shortening of creep rupture time at 700 °C were attributed to the coarse gamma-prime particles. The results of the present trial expressly demonstrated that it is possible to manufacture 10-ton class A-USC turbine rotors of FENIX-700 with excellent mechanical properties and good permeability of the ultrasonic wave.
The New Metallurgical Precipitation Strengthening Model of W Containing Advanced High Cr Ferritic Creep Resistant Steels
Authors: Hasegawa Yasushi , Nishiura Tomohiro , Sato Tetsuya
Published: March 2024

The Cr and W effect on the creep strength of ferritic steels were studied using the new strengthening hypothesis, precipitation strengthening mechanism, by examining the residual aligned precipitates consisting of W and Cr. In 2 mass% W-containing steel, the increase in Cr content up to 10 mass% resulted in the creep life extension. However, the Cr content higher than 11 mass% decreased the creep life. In 9 mass% Cr-containing steel, the increase in W content decreased the creep deformation rate with creep time. However, it also shortened the time to reach the minimum creep rate. Therefore, optimum Cr and W contents possibly resulted in the optimum alloy design. To understand the effect of W and Cr contents on creep strength, the precipitation strengthening hypothesis by the precipitates at the block boundary must be introduced. The residual aligned precipitation line is supposedly an effective obstacle for the dislocation motion at the interparticle space of the aligned precipitates. The new hypothesis will be activated after block boundary migration. It occurs during the acceleration creep period. On the basis of the hypothesis, creep strength was expressed as the summation of threshold creep stress and effective internal creep stress. According to the experimental data of microstructure recovery, the effective internal stress decreased with creep deformation and consequently vanished. In such cases, creep strength is decided only by the threshold stress of creep. Integrating all, we concluded that the creep deformation mechanism of ferritic creep-resistant steel possibly transits from the viscous dislocation gliding mode to the microstructure recovery driven type mode during the acceleration creep.
Evaluation of Reduction in Creep Strength Based on Fracture Energy in CSEF Steels
Authors: Nagae Y. , Asayama T.
Published: March 2024

In power plants operated at elevated temperatures, the operating life of structural materials increases. Therefore, it is very important to be able to predict creep strength in long term above 100,000 h. Furthermore, it has been reported that in the long term, the actual creep strength is lower than the predicted life. Although this problem has been analysed, the reasons remain unclear. In this study, a fracture energy model is used to evaluate the mechanisms of the creep strength reduction for martensitic steels. In the model, changes in fracture energy with rupture time are expressed by a power law. The energy density rate is calculated using stress, rupture elongation, and rupture time. The model indicates two mechanisms of creep strength reduction. One is the increase in rupture elongation, which leads to reduction in creep strength with ductility; the other is the decrease in reduction of area, which leads to reduction in creep strength with brittleness. Difference between the two mechanisms affects creep-fatigue strength. The study also shows that the equation based on the fracture energy model for creep-fatigue life can be obtained by a parallel translation of that for creep.
A New Developed 9%Cr Steel with High Boron Content Achieving the Long-Term Microstructural Stability and the Optimized Mechanical Properties for 625°C USC Power Plant Boiler
Authors: Yonemura Mitsuharu , Hasegawa Yasushi , Igarashi Masaaki , Tabuchi Masaaki , Abe Fujio
Published: March 2024

A new 9%Cr steel with high boron levels (boron steel) has been developed by optimization studies on steels and alloys that are applicable to advanced ultra-super critical power plants operated at steam conditions of 700°C and 30 MPa and above. The composition and heat treatment condition of boron steel was optimized by the initial hardness, tensile strength, yield strength, and Charpy impact values on the basis of the fundamental investigation with the stability of the long-term creep strength. Creep testing of boron steel was conducted at temperatures between 600 and 700°C. The creep rupture strength at 625°C and 105 h is estimated to be 122 MPa for the present 9% Cr steel with high boron by Larson-Miller parameter method. Furthermore, physical properties as a function of temperature, metallurgical properties, tensile properties, and toughness were examined to evaluate the applicability of the steel for a 625°C USC power plant boiler. It was also confirmed that the steel has good workability for such an application by the flaring and flattening tests with tube specimens having an outer diameter of approximately 55 mm.
Adaptation of the Experience of Foreign Pedagogical Community of Higher Education in the Students' Critical Thinking Development in Ukraine
Authors: Riznyk Viacheslav
Published: March 2024

The article is devoted to the adaptation of the experience of foreign pedagogical community of higher education in the students' critical thinking development in Ukraine. The purpose of the article is to highlight the practice of adapting the technologies for the critical thinking development of students from the foreign pedagogical community of higher education into the Ukrainian educational space. Research methods used in the article are theoretical analysis, systematization, generalization of data from scientific-methodical and special literature, analysis of the structure and content of higher education institutions websites. The results. Today, information has become an inexhaustible resource for humanity, and society has entered a new era of civilized development. This process requires the ability to use effective methods that allow the average citizen to adapt and survive in such situations. One of these tools is critical thinking, which is an essential tool for human mental activity. The problem of developing critical thinking has received considerable attention from the foreign pedagogical community of higher education. Critical thinking development in the theory of education was shown as the result of research in American cognitive psychology. This practice deserves to be adapted in Ukraine. The paper's author analyzes web content in terms of structure and content. Conclusions. The world's leading universities have websites that offer distance learning courses on critical thinking for students of these universities, as well as anyone who wants to improve their level of critical thinking, as the authors believe this skill to be essential for a successful professional life. The author of the article states that the creators of the courses unanimously voice the opinion that critical thinking skills are a prerequisite for a successful professional life, namely, that critical thinking correlates with innovative thinking. So, at the present stage in foreign pedagogical practice, this concept has a rich history and practice, which is actively implemented in the education system at all levels, and this experience should be implemented to develop Ukraine's education. Further scientific research is needed on the issues of involving global educational projects for the development of critical thinking in the digital environment of higher education institutions of the country, sharing resources between them, testing the pedagogical conditions for the development of students' critical thinking, taking into account the peculiarities of using digital technologies in the implementation of creative ideas for the development of critical thinking in classes with an increased emphasis on creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Professional Socialization of Future Economists by Means of Social Networks
Authors: Shcherban Tetiana , Antonyk Evhenii
Published: March 2024

The modern world is going through a digital revolution, and social networks are an important part of this process. They become an important tool for communication, information exchange and joint learning. Studying the issue of professional socialization of future economists by means of social networks is relevant and important for adapting education to the needs of the modern world and training competitive specialists. The purpose of the study is to establish the extent of social networks contributing to socialization and cooperation between students, teachers and specialists in the field of economics. Methods. The analytical method and generalization are used an article. Results. As a result of the research, it has been possible to consider and highlight the key aspects of this topic. It has been discovered how social networks influence the process of future economists’ professional socialization, as well as the opportunities which they provide for communication and information exchange in this area. As a result of the study, it has been also found that social networks facilitate cooperation between students, teachers and in-service specialists in the field of economics. The methods and tools which are used in social networks for future economists’ professional socialization are highlighted in the article. It has been also studied how the use of social networks affects the professional development of students of economic specialties. The advantages and disadvantages of using social networks in the professional socialization of future economists are analysed in the article. As part of the research, a survey of economics students has been also conducted regarding the benefits of using social networks and modern technologies in the process of professional adaptation. Conclusions. As a result of the survey, it was found that modern information technologies and social networks play an important role in the professional socialization of economics students. However, the degree of their use and benefit from them may vary depending on the individual views and needs of each individual student. The results of the research can be used to improve teaching methods and create a favourable environment for professional socialization of students. The authors make a conclusion that social networks play a significant role in the professional socialization of future economists, but their use requires careful planning and attention to possible limitations and risks. The final line of the article is that future researchers should pay attention to studying how social networks are used in different sectors of the economy, including business, finance, marketing, analytics, and their differences.
Efeitos da utilização de aditivos fitogênicos na dieta de galinhas poedeiras
Authors: Saores Márcia das Neves , Naemi Kaneko Isabelle , Pinheiro Sarah Gomes , Ferreira Thamires da Silva , Lins Ana Carolina  de Sá Silva , Silva Valquíria  Sousa , Costa Fernando Guilherme Perazzo
Published: March 2024

Our aim was to evaluate the performance, egg quality and intestinal morphology of Hy-line Brown layers fed with phytogenic egg additives. 320 layers of the Hy-line Brown strain aged between 41 and 62 weeks were used, distributed in a completely randomized design consisting of five treatments, eight replications and eight birds per experimental unit. The supplementation of three different phytogenic additives was evaluated: treatment 1 (basal diet); treatment 2 (basal diet + sodium bicarbonate); treatment 3 (basal diet + product 1); treatment 4 (basal diet + product 2) and treatment 5 (basal diet + product 3). Analyses were carried out on days 0, 14 and 21, assessing performance, egg quality and intestinal morphology. There was no significant effect on animal performance, but there was in relation to egg quality. As for intestinal morphology in the jejunum, there was an increase in the number of goblet cells, villus height, crypt depth and villus:crypt ratio. For ileum morphology, there was an increase in the number of goblet cells, villus width and villus:crypt ratio. Thus, it can be inferred that phytogenic additives can be offered in diets for layers between 41 and 62 weeks of age in order to improve egg quality.
Efficacy of ultrasound-guided galvanic electrolysis technique and physical therapy in patients with Achilles’ tendinopathy: A pilot randomised controlled trial
Authors: Di Gesù Marco , Alito Angelo , Borzelli Daniele , Romeo Domenico , Bonomolo Fabio , Calafiore Dario , de Sire Alessandro
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound-guided galvanic electrolysis technique (USGET) is an innovative mini-invasive intervention with the potential to optimise outcomes in the treatment of Achille’s tendinopathy (AT). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this pilot study is to evaluate the efficacy of adding USGET to conventional eccentric exercise treatment in patients with chronic AT. METHODS: Inclusion criteria were patients with unilateral non-insertional AT, pain lasting > 3 months, aged 25–60 years. Patients were randomised in two groups receiving the same physiotherapy treatment (2 sessions per week for 8 weeks). In addition, the experimental group received three USGET stimulations, one every 15 days. Outcome measures were assessment of Achilles tendinopathy severity using the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) and pain intensity using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Assessment points occurred at the onset of treatment (T0), its conclusion (T1), and subsequent follow-ups at one (T2) and two months (T3). RESULTS: Out of the 52 patients who met the study inclusion criteria, two participants withdrew from the study, resulting in a total of 50 subjects who completed the research. None of the parameters showed a different distribution at T1 (p> 0.337). At T2, there was a statistical difference in VISA-A (p= 0.010) and its subscales and VAS (p= 0.002) in the USGET group. At T3, both groups improved with a statistical difference observed in VISA-A (p< 0.001) and its subscales Pain (p= 0.004), Function (p= 0.003) and Sport (p= 0.002), but the EG patients showed a greater improvement. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: The effect of USGET combined with eccentric exercise appears to be a safe and effective technique for achieving pain relief and functional recovery in the medium term, supporting the integrated use of USGET as a rehabilitative treatment option for patients with chronic AT.
An advanced multimodal driver-assistance prototype for emergency-vehicle detection
Authors: Gabrielli Leonardo , Migliorelli Lucia , Cantarini Michela , Mancini Adriano , Squartini Stefano
Published: March 2024

In the automotive industry, intelligent monitoring systems for advanced human-vehicle interaction aimed at enhancing the safety of drivers and passengers represent a rapidly growing area of research. Safe driving behavior relies on the driver’s awareness of the road context, enabling them to make appropriate decisions and act consistently in anomalous circumstances. A potentially dangerous situation can arise when an emergency vehicle rapidly approaches with sirens blaring. In such cases, it is crucial for the driver to perform the correct maneuvers to prioritize the emergency vehicle. For this purpose, an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) can provide timely alerts to the driver about an approaching emergency vehicle. In this work, we present a driver-assistance prototype that leverages multimodal information from an integrated audio and video monitoring system. In the initial stage, sound analysis technologies based on computational audio processing are employed to recognize the proximity of an emergency vehicle based on the sound of its siren. When such an event occurs, an in-vehicle monitoring system is activated, analyzing the driver’s facial patterns using deep-learning-based algorithms to assess their awareness. This work illustrates the design of such a prototype, presenting the hardware technologies, the software architecture, and the deep-learning algorithms for audio and video data analysis that make the driver-assistance prototype operational in a commercial car. At this initial experimental stage, the algorithms for analyzing the audio and video data have yielded promising results. The area under the precision-recall curve for siren identification stands at 0.92, while the accuracy in evaluating driver gaze orientation reaches 0.97. In conclusion, engaging in research within this field has the potential to significantly improve road safety by increasing driver awareness and facilitating timely and well-informed reactions to crucial situations. This could substantially reduce risks and ultimately protect lives on the road.
Atmospheric SO2 pollutant prediction using mutual information based TCNN-GRU model for flue gas desulfurization process
Authors: Liu Quanbo , Li Xiaoli , Wang Kang
Published: March 2024

Over the past several years, sulfur dioxide (SO2) has raised growing concern in China owing to its adverse impact on atmosphere and human respiratory system. The major contributor to SO2 emissions is flue gas generated by fossil-fired electricity-generating plants, and as a consequence diverse flue gas desulphurization (FGD) techniques are installed to abate SO2 emissions. However, the FGD is a dynamic process with serious nonlinearity and large time delay, making the FGD process modeling problem a formidable one. In our research study, a novel hybrid deep learning model with temporal convolution neural network (TCNN), gated recurrent unit (GRU) and mutual information (MI) technique is proposed to predict SO2 emissions in an FGD process. Among those technique, MI is applied to select variables that are best suited for SO2 emission prediction, while TCNN and GRU are innovatively integrated to capture dynamics of SO2 emission in the FGD process. A real FGD system in a power plant with a coal-fired unit of 1000 MW is used as a study case for SO2 emission prediction. Experimental results show that the proposed approach offers satisfactory performance in predicting SO2 emissions for the FGD process, and outperforms other contrastive predictive methods in terms of different performance indicators.
Development of optimised software fault prediction model using machine learning
Authors: Juneja Shallu , Bhathal Gurjit Singh , Sidhu Brahmaleen K.
Published: March 2024

Software fault prediction is a crucial task, especially with the rapid improvements in software technology and increasing complexity of software. As identifying and addressing bugs early in the development process can significantly minimize the costs and enhance the software quality. Software fault prediction using machine learning algorithms has gained significant attention due to its potential to improve software quality and save time in the testing phase. This research paper investigates the impact of classification models on bug prediction performance and explores the use of bio-inspired optimization techniques to enhance model results. Through experiments, it is demonstrated that applying bio-inspired algorithms improves the accuracy of fault prediction models. The evaluation is based on multiple performance metrics and the results show that KNN with BACO (Binary Ant Colony Optimization) generally outperform the other models in terms of accuracy. The BACO-KNN fault prediction model attains the accuracy of 96.39% surpassing the previous work.
Bigdata clustering and classification with improved fuzzy based deep architecture under MapReduce framework
Authors: D Vishnu Sakthi , V Valarmathi , V Surya , A Karthikeyan , E Malathi
Published: March 2024

The current state of economic, social ideas, and the advancement of cutting-edge technology are determined by the primary subjects of the contemporary information era, big data. People are immersed in a world of information, guided by the abundance of data that penetrates every element of their surroundings. Smart gadgets, the IoT, and other technologies are responsible for the data’s explosive expansion. Organisations have struggled to store data effectively throughout the past few decades. This disadvantage is related to outdated, expensive, and inadequately large storage technology. In the meanwhile, large data demands innovative storage techniques supported by strong technology. This paper proposes the bigdata clustering and classification model with improved fuzzy-based Deep Architecture under the Map Reduce framework. At first, the pre-processing phase involves data partitioning from the big dataset utilizing an improved C-Means clustering procedure. The pre-processed big data is then handled by the Map Reduce framework, which involves the mapper and reducer phases. In the mapper phase. Data normalization takes place, followed by the feature fusion approach that combines the extracted features like entropy-based features and correlation-based features. In the reduction phase, all the mappers are combined to produce an acceptable feature. Finally, a deep hybrid model, which is the combination of a DCNN and Bi-GRU is used for the classification process. The Improved score level fusion procedure is used in this case to obtain the final classification result. Moreover, the analysis of the proposed work has proved to be efficient in terms of classification accuracy, precision, recall, FNR, FPR, and other performance metrics.
Entrepreneurship education: Analyzing the perception and motivation undergone in higher education institutions
Authors: Sharma Sandeep , Singh Manjinder , Mittal Amit , Aggarwal Arun
Published: March 2024

Young people in India are becoming more accepting of the profession of entrepreneurship. While the creation, financing, and positive and negative outcomes of a start-up have all been widely researched, more research is needed to understand the entrepreneurial environment that supports, nurtures, and educates entrepreneurs. Higher education institutions are one such element of this ecosystem that is essential in educating India’s future business people. Therefore, this study is intended to establish the practice of entrepreneurship learning in higher educational institutions in India and to analyze the perception of students on entrepreneurship education. Using proportional stratified random selection, 345 undergraduate students from India’s top-ranked universities made up the overall sample for this. SEM analysis was used to assess the study’s hypotheses, and the link between the variables was investigated using SEM analysis. The results showed thatgovernment regulation, socioeconomic circumstances, entrepreneurial orientation, monetary assistance, and entrepreneurial confidence favorably impact entrepreneurial motivation. The findings of this study will aid in the modification and customization of entrepreneurial programs to satisfy the needs of different organizations and geographical regions.
Brain image segmentation with fuzzy entropy clustering and PSO-GWO optimization techniques
Authors: Nayak Gouri Sankar , Mallick Pradeep Kumar , Padhi Neelmadhab , Mohanty Manas Ranjan , Kumar Sachin , Balaji Prasanalakshmi
Published: March 2024

In the field of brain MRI analysis, image segmentation serves various purposes such as quantifying and visualizing anatomical structures, analyzing brain changes, delineating pathological regions, and aiding in surgical planning and image-guided interventions. Over the past few decades, diverse segmentation techniques with varying degrees of accuracy and complexity have been developed. Real-world brain MRI images often encounter intensity in homogeneity, posing a significant challenge in accurate segmentation. The prevailing image segmentation algorithms, predominantly region-based, typically rely on the homogeneity of image intensities in specific regions of interest. However, these methods often fall short of providing precise segmentation results due to intensity in homogeneity. To address these challenges and enhance segmentation performance, this paper introduce a novel objective function named Fuzzy Entropy Clustering with Local Spatial Information and Bias Correction (FECSB). Additionally, we propose a novel hybrid algorithm that combines Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) to maximize the effectiveness of the FECSB function in MRI brain image segmentation. The proposed algorithm undergoes rigorous evaluation using benchmark MRI brain images, including those from the McConnell Brain Imaging Center (BrainWeb). The experimental results unequivocally demonstrate the superiority of the PSO-GWO clustering method over the traditional Fuzzy C Means (FCM) method. Across various image slices, the PSO-GWO method consistently outperforms FCM in terms of accuracy, showing improvements ranging from 1.28% to 1.46%, approximately achieving 99.37% accuracy.
‘Modern talking’: Narratives of agile by German public sector employees
Authors: Kühler Jakob , Drathschmidt Nicolas , Großmann Daniela
Published: March 2024

Despite growing interest, we lack a clear understanding of how the arguably ambiguous phenomenon of agile is perceived in government practice. This study aims to alleviate this puzzle by investigating how managers and employees in German public sector organisations make sense of agile as a spreading management fashion in the form of narratives. This is important because narratives function as innovation carriers that ultimately influence the manifestations of the concept in organisations. Based on a multi-case study of 31 interviews and 24 responses to a qualitative online survey conducted in 2021 and 2022, we provide insights into what public sector managers, employees and consultants understand (and, more importantly, do not understand) as agile and how they weave it into their existing reality of bureaucratic organisations. We uncover three meta-narratives of agile government, which we label ‘renew’, ‘complement’ and ‘integrate’. In particular, the meta-narratives differ in their positioning of how agile interacts with the characteristics of bureaucratic organisations. Importantly, we also show that agile as a management fad serves as a projection surface for what actors want from a modern and digital organisation. Thus, the vocabulary of agile government within the narratives is inherently linked to other diffusing phenomena such as new work or digitalisation.