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  • Ultrasonic metrics for large-area rapid wrinkle detection and classification in composites

    Smith, Robert A.; Tayong-Boumda, Rostand; Nelson, Luke J.; Mienczakowski, M.J.; Wilcox, Paul D. (Ultrasonics, 2024-01-29)
    Due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, composite materials are now in use in many high-stress applications, particularly where light weight is also a requirement. In these situations, the detrimental knock-down in mechanical strength due to an out-of-plane wrinkle defect can have serious consequences and is the reason for a requirement to rapidly detect any such wrinkles at manufacture. Unfortunately, current ultrasonic inspection techniques used for quality control at manufacture are not sensitive enough to detect these wrinkles above coherent structural noise variations. This paper exploits the ply resonance that is a characteristic of multi-layer structures to generate two new metrics for both detection and classification of out-of-plane wrinkles, due to their perturbations of the ply spacing. These can be measured at every location on a structure using the instantaneous frequency, which is the rate of change of phase in the pulse-echo ultrasonic response. The proposed two new metrics for detection an
  • Effects of continuous cropping of Codonopsis pilosula on rhizosphere soil microbial community structure and metabolomics

    Li, Haliang; Yang, Yang; Lei, Jiaxuan; Gou, Wenkun; Crabbe, M. James C.; Qi, Peng; Gansu Agricultural University; Oxford University; University of Bedfordshire; Engineering Research Center for the Resource Utilization of Livestock and Poultry Wastes in Gansu Province (MDPI, 2024-09-04)
    Codonopsis pilosula is an important medicinal plant in China. Continuous cropping of C. pilosula affects crop quality and yield. However, comprehensive research on the impacts of continuous cropping on soil properties, microbial community structures, and soil metabolites is lacking. This study involved collecting rhizosphere soil samples from C. pilosula monocropped for 1 to 4 years to analyze variations in soil properties, microbial community structure, and metabolites across different continuous-cropping years (CCYs) through metabolomic and microbiomic analyses. Significant variations in the soil properties were observed; total phosphorus (TP) and available potassium (AK) in the rhizosphere soil increased with the number of CCYs, and pH declined. The microbial community structure significantly changed with continuous cropping. Overall, the soil bacterial diversity decreased with increasing CCY. The abundances of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes significantly decreased with increasing CCY, whereas the abundance
  • Spatio-temporal patterns of rainfall variability in Bangladesh

    Das, Lipon Chandra; Zhang, Zhihua; Crabbe, M. James C.; Liu, Anxin (Inderscience, 2024-05-03)
    Bangladesh is experiencing a more rapid warming trend compared to the global average, facing significant climate-related risks. This study gave a comprehensive assessment of rainfall variability across the whole Bangladesh during 1989–2022. Annual rainfall in Bangladesh exhibited significant decreasing trends and high oscillation patterns. The multi-scale SPI and SPEI analysis revealed that Bangladesh experienced severe droughts in 1995, 1999, 2018, 2021 and 2022. The DFA revealed that rainfall evolution exhibited significant long-term positive correlation in almost Bangladesh. These results will support policymakers in Bangladesh to develop suitable strategies in mitigating climate change impacts.
  • High-resolution precipitation prediction in Bangladesh via ensemble learning

    Wu, Yichen; Yang, Jiaxin; Das, Lipon Chandra; Zhang, Zhihua; Crabbe, M. James C. (Inderscience, 2024-06-28)
    As a developing agricultural country, Bangladesh is vulnerable to the effects of climate change, so accurate precipitation prediction is of great value to Bangladesh in achieving sustainable development. Traditional climate simulation models and prediction tools find it challenging to meet the growing needs on high spatial resolution. In this paper, we developed a XGBoost-based spatio-temporal precipitation prediction model and then generated high-resolution precipitation distribution maps in Bangladesh from 2025 to 2035, where the spatial resolution can reach 0.1° latitude and longitude. Finally, the EOF analysis reveals three leading modes in high-resolution precipitation evolution during 2025–2035.
  • Barriers and facilitators towards deceased organ donation: a qualitative study among three major religious groups in Chandigarh, and Chennai, India

    Vincent, Britzer Paul; Sood, Vibhusha; Thanigachalam, Srinivasan; Cook, Erica Jane; Randhawa, Gurch; University of Bedfordshire; OHUM Healthcare Solutions Private Ltd; All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) (Springer, 2024-10-06)
    This study aimed to examine the barriers and facilitators of the public toward deceased organ donation in Chandigarh, and Chennai, India, from three major religious groups, Hinduism, Islamism, and Christianity. Twenty-five focus groups were conducted (n = 87) stratified by study region, religion, sex, and age. Data were analysed using framework analysis. The results revealed that individuals were primarily willing to donate their organs. However, their religious views regarding death, after-life beliefs, funeral ritual practices, and lack of knowledge regarding their religion's position toward deceased organ donation created tension and ambiguity in the decision-making. However, younger age groups (18-30 years) appeared more open and positive toward deceased organ donation. The conclusion demands a clear need for religious leaders and stakeholders to address their religion's stance, which creates tension and ambiguity in any uncertainties surrounding cultural and religious-based views among the Indian populat

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