AIM To investigate the inter-and intra-rater reliability of the vertebral fracture classifications used in the Swedish fracture register.METHODS Radiological images of consecutive patients with cervical spine fracture...AIM To investigate the inter-and intra-rater reliability of the vertebral fracture classifications used in the Swedish fracture register.METHODS Radiological images of consecutive patients with cervical spine fractures(n = 50)were classified by 5 raters with different experience levels at two occasions. An identical process was performed with thoracolumbar fractures(n = 50). Cohen's kappa was used to calculate the inter-and intra-rater reliability.RESULTS The mean kappa coefficient for inter-rater reliability ranged between 0.54 and0.79 for the cervical fracture classifications, between 0.51 and 0.72 for the thoracolumbar classifications(overall and for different sub classifications), and between 0.65 and 0.77 for the presence or absence of signs of ankylosing disorder in the fracture area. The mean kappa coefficient for intra-rater reliability ranged between 0.58 and 0.80 for the cervical fracture classifications, between 0.46 and0.68 for the thoracolumbar fracture classifications(overall and for different sub classifications) and between 0.79 and 0.81 for the presence or absence of signs of ankylosing disorder in the fracture area.CONCLUSION The classifications used in the Swedish fracture register for vertebral fractures have an acceptable inter-and intra-rater reliability with a moderate strength of agreement.展开更多
Objective: This study investigated the inter- and intra-rater reliability of the Australian Spasticity Assessment Scale (ASAS) in adults with unilateral hypertonia following acquired brain injury. The ASAS has been sh...Objective: This study investigated the inter- and intra-rater reliability of the Australian Spasticity Assessment Scale (ASAS) in adults with unilateral hypertonia following acquired brain injury. The ASAS has been shown to be superior to other clinical tools for the assessment of spasticity in children with cerebral palsy but reliability has not been previously examined in adults. Method: Four muscle groups were rated on one occasion by four assessors using the ASAS in sixteen adults with unilateral hypertonia following acquired brain injury. Twelve participants returned one week later for reassessment by the same assessors. Results: Overall inter-rater reliability of the ASAS using a quadratic weighted Kappa was moderate (Kqw 0.58) with ranges from moderate to good (Kqw 0.42 - 0.70). Agreement between raters was greatest for soleus muscle and least for wrist flexors. Overall intra-rater reliability of each of the four raters was moderate to good (Kqw 0.48 - 0.79). Agreement within raters was greatest for soleus muscle and least for biceps muscle. Conclusions: The ASAS may represent an appropriate alternative to the clinical scales currently used to assess spasticity;however inter and intra-rater reliability data from this investigation are lower than those which have previously been reported by experienced users of the ASAS in children with cerebral palsy. Further investigation with a larger sample size is warranted before any firm conclusions may be drawn about the reliability and validity of this tool to assess spasticity in adults with acquired brain injury.展开更多
In this work,we demonstrated the InSnO(ITO)TFTs passivated with SiO_(2)via the PECVD process compatible with large-area production for the first time.The passivated ITO TFTs with various channel thicknesses(t_(ch)=4,5...In this work,we demonstrated the InSnO(ITO)TFTs passivated with SiO_(2)via the PECVD process compatible with large-area production for the first time.The passivated ITO TFTs with various channel thicknesses(t_(ch)=4,5,6 nm)exhibit excellent electrical performance and superior uniformity.The reliability properties of ITO TFTs were evaluated in detail under positive bias stress(PBS)conditions before and after passivation.Compared to the devices without passivation,the passivated devices have only 50%threshold voltage degradation(ΔV_(th))and 50%newly generated traps due to excellent isolation of the ambient atmosphere.The negligible performance degradation of ITO TFTs with passivation during negative bias stress(NBS)and negative bias temperature stress(NBTS)verifies the outstanding immunity to the water vapor of the SiO_(2)passivation layer.Overall,the ITO TFT with the t_(ch)of 6 nm and with SiO_(2)passivation exhibits the best performance in terms of electrical properties,uniformity,and reliability,which is promising in large-area production.展开更多
This paper investigates the reliability of internal marine combustion engines using an integrated approach that combines Fault Tree Analysis(FTA)and Bayesian Networks(BN).FTA provides a structured,top-down method for ...This paper investigates the reliability of internal marine combustion engines using an integrated approach that combines Fault Tree Analysis(FTA)and Bayesian Networks(BN).FTA provides a structured,top-down method for identifying critical failure modes and their root causes,while BN introduces flexibility in probabilistic reasoning,enabling dynamic updates based on new evidence.This dual methodology overcomes the limitations of static FTA models,offering a comprehensive framework for system reliability analysis.Critical failures,including External Leakage(ELU),Failure to Start(FTS),and Overheating(OHE),were identified as key risks.By incorporating redundancy into high-risk components such as pumps and batteries,the likelihood of these failures was significantly reduced.For instance,redundant pumps reduced the probability of ELU by 31.88%,while additional batteries decreased the occurrence of FTS by 36.45%.The results underscore the practical benefits of combining FTA and BN for enhancing system reliability,particularly in maritime applications where operational safety and efficiency are critical.This research provides valuable insights for maintenance planning and highlights the importance of redundancy in critical systems,especially as the industry transitions toward more autonomous vessels.展开更多
To study the durability of concrete in harsh environments in Northwest China,concrete was prepared with various durability-improving materials such as concrete anti-erosion inhibitor(SBT-TIA),acrylate polymer(AP),supe...To study the durability of concrete in harsh environments in Northwest China,concrete was prepared with various durability-improving materials such as concrete anti-erosion inhibitor(SBT-TIA),acrylate polymer(AP),super absorbent resin(SAP).The erosion mode and internal deterioration mechanism under salt freeze-thaw cycle and dry-wet cycle were explored.The results show that the addition of enhancing materials can effectively improve the resistance of concrete to salt freezing and sulfate erosion:the relevant indexes of concrete added with X-AP and T-AP are improved after salt freeze-thaw cycles;concrete added with SBTTIA shows optimal sulfate corrosion resistance;and concrete added with AP displays the best resistance to salt freezing.Microanalysis shows that the increase in the number of cycles decreases the generation of internal hydration products and defects in concrete mixed with enhancing materials and improves the related indexes.Based on the Wiener model analysis,the reliability of concrete with different lithologies and enhancing materials is improved,which may provide a reference for the application of manufactured sand concrete and enhancing materials in Northwest China,especially for the study of the improvement effects and mechanism of enhancing materials on the performance of concrete.展开更多
Reservoir-induced landslides in China's Three Gorges Reservoir area are prone to tensile cracks due to the influenceof their own weight and fluctuationsin water levels.The presence of cracks indicates that the ten...Reservoir-induced landslides in China's Three Gorges Reservoir area are prone to tensile cracks due to the influenceof their own weight and fluctuationsin water levels.The presence of cracks indicates that the tensile stress in the area has exceeded the tensile strength of the soil,leading to local instability.To explore the impact of tensile failure behavior on the stability and failure modes of reservoir landslides,the Huangtupo Riverside Slump#1 is taken as a case study.By considering local tensile failure,potential tensile cracks are incorporated into the analysis via the limit equilibrium method and reliability theory.The reliability of landslides under different tensile failure scenarios is quantified.Strain-softening characteristics of the soil are combined to further analyze the failure transmission path of the landslide.Finally,these potential failure modes were validated through physical model tests.The results show that cracks developing at rear positions reduce the stability of the slope and increase the probability of instability.During the destruction process,retrogressive failures with multiple sliding surfaces are likely to occur.However,tensile failure at the forefront reduces the likelihood of an individual slide mass descending.Progressive failure results in both regular and skip transmission patterns.Additionally,cracks and water level changes can also lead to shifts in the positions of the most dangerous blocks.Therefore,in practical landslide analysis and prevention,it is necessary to consider local tensile damage and identify potential tensile crack locations in advance to optimize prevention measures and accurately evaluate landslide risk.展开更多
In reliability analyses,the absence of a priori information on the most probable point of failure(MPP)may result in overlooking critical points,thereby leading to biased assessment outcomes.Moreover,second-order relia...In reliability analyses,the absence of a priori information on the most probable point of failure(MPP)may result in overlooking critical points,thereby leading to biased assessment outcomes.Moreover,second-order reliability methods exhibit limited accuracy in highly nonlinear scenarios.To overcome these challenges,a novel reliability analysis strategy based on a multimodal differential evolution algorithm and a hypersphere integration method is proposed.Initially,the penalty function method is employed to reformulate the MPP search problem as a conditionally constrained optimization task.Subsequently,a differential evolution algorithm incorporating a population delineation strategy is utilized to identify all MPPs.Finally,a paraboloid equation is constructed based on the curvature of the limit-state function at the MPPs,and the failure probability of the structure is calculated by using the hypersphere integration method.The localization effectiveness of the MPPs is compared through multiple numerical cases and two engineering examples,with accuracy comparisons of failure probabilities against the first-order reliability method(FORM)and the secondorder reliability method(SORM).The results indicate that the method effectively identifies existing MPPs and achieves higher solution precision.展开更多
It is well recognized that Structural Health Monitoring(SHM)reliability evaluation is a key aspect that needs to be urgently addressed to promote the wide application of SHM methods.However,the existing studies typica...It is well recognized that Structural Health Monitoring(SHM)reliability evaluation is a key aspect that needs to be urgently addressed to promote the wide application of SHM methods.However,the existing studies typically transfer the Non-Destructive Testing/Evaluation(NDT/E)reliability metrics to SHM without a systematic analysis of where these metrics originated.Seldom attentions are paid to the evaluation conditions which are very important to apply these metrics.Aimed at this issue,a new condition control-based Dual-Reliability Evaluation(Dual-RE)method for SHM is proposed.This new method is proposed based on a systematic analysis of the whole framework of reliability evaluation from instrument to NDT,and emphasis is paid to the evaluation condition control.Based on these analyses,considering the special online application scenario of SHM,the proposed Dual-RE method contains two key components:Integrated Sensor-based SHM-RE(IS-SHM-RE)and Critical Service Condition-based SHM-RE(CSC-SHM-RE).ISSHM-RE evaluates the reliability of integrated SHM sensor and system themselves under approximate repeatability conditions,while CSC-SHM-RE assesses SHM reliability under the dominant uncertainties during service,namely intermediate conditions.To demonstrate the Dual-RE,crack monitoring by using the Guided Wave-based-SHM(GW-SHM)on aircraft lug structures is taken as a case study.Both the crack detection and sizing performance are evaluated from accuracy and uncertainty.展开更多
Reliability-based design optimization （RBDO） is intrinsically a double-loop procedure since it involves an overall optimization and an iterative reliability assessment at each search point. Due to the double-loop pr...Reliability-based design optimization （RBDO） is intrinsically a double-loop procedure since it involves an overall optimization and an iterative reliability assessment at each search point. Due to the double-loop procedure, the computational expense of RBDO is normally very high. Current RBDO research focuses on problems with explicitly expressed performance functions and readily available gradients. This paper addresses a more challenging type of RBDO problem in which the performance functions are computation intensive. These computation intensive functions are often considered as a ＂black-box＂ and their gradients are not available or not reliable. On the basis of the reliable design space （RDS） concept proposed earlier by the authors, this paper proposes a Reliable Space Pursuing （RSP） approach, in which RDS is first identified and then gradually refined while optimization is performed. It fundamentally avoids the nested optimization and probabilistic assessment loop. Three well known RBDO problems from the literature are used for testing and demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed RSP method.展开更多
AIM: To assess the inter-observer agreement and reliability as well as intra-observer repeatability for lacrimal scintigraphy(LS) reports with and without considering the irrigation test results.METHODS: A prospective...AIM: To assess the inter-observer agreement and reliability as well as intra-observer repeatability for lacrimal scintigraphy(LS) reports with and without considering the irrigation test results.METHODS: A prospective, observational, cross sectional study. Two masked clinicians(lacrimal surgeon and nuclear medicine specialist) independently reported 100 LS images(50 patients of >6 years of age with unilateral anophthalmic socket) in a university hospital. The lacrimal surgeon performed a diagnostic irrigation test and repeated the report of the same LS images 2 y after the first report(intra-observer agreement). A weighted Kappa analysis was performed to determine inter-observer agreement and reliability as well as intra-observer repeatability for the type(normal, partial and complete obstruction) and location(presac, preduct, and intraduct) of the obstruction. Subgroup analysis was also performed with consideration of irrigation test results. RESULTS: A significantly moderate agreement was found between lacrimal surgeon and nuclear medicine specialist for both the type(Kappa=0.55) and location(Kappa=0.48) of obstruction. Agreement values were higher for the type(Kappa=0.61 vs 0.41) and location(Kappa=0.56 vs 0.31) of obstruction in cases with normal than abnormal irrigation test. Strong and significant intraobserver(lacrimal surgeon) repeatability was found for both the type(Kappa=0.66) and location(Kappa=0.69) of obstruction. LS showed no to slight reliability based on irrigation test.CONCLUSION: A moderate agreement is found between lacrimal surgeon and nuclear medicine specialist regarding the interpretation of LS suggesting the importance ofconsensus groups among nuclear medicine specialists and lacrimal surgeons to create a common language for interpretation of LS. Intra-observer repeatability is strong for the lacrimal surgeon.展开更多
Purpose–This paper focuses on studying the reliability allocation for the railway system,aiming to improve the overall reliability of the railway system and ensure safety operation.Design/methodology/approach–In vie...Purpose–This paper focuses on studying the reliability allocation for the railway system,aiming to improve the overall reliability of the railway system and ensure safety operation.Design/methodology/approach–In view of the complex structure of the railway system,involving many subsystems,this paper analyzes the close dynamic coupling effect between railway subsystems.Based on this,taking the railway system failure as the top event,a fault tree is constructed in this paper.Then,a reliability allocation method based on the fault tree is employed to allocate the reliability index.Finally,a numerical experiment is implemented to show the performance of the reliability allocation method.Findings–The results showed that each subsystem needs to improve its reliability to meet the specified railway system reliability requirements,and the traction power supply system is the most important subsystem,which is the most efficient in improving the reliability of the railway system.Originality/value–For the first time,starting from a holistic perspective of the system,reliability allocation is carried out based on the importance of each railway subsystem.展开更多
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles(AUVs)are pivotal for deep-sea exploration and resource exploitation,yet their reliability in extreme underwater environments remains a critical barrier to widespread deployment.Through s...Autonomous Underwater Vehicles(AUVs)are pivotal for deep-sea exploration and resource exploitation,yet their reliability in extreme underwater environments remains a critical barrier to widespread deployment.Through systematic analysis of 150 peer-reviewed studies employing mixed-methods research,this review yields three principal advancements to the reliability analysis of AUVs.First,based on the hierarchical functional division of AUVs into six subsystems(propulsion system,navigation system,communication system,power system,environmental detection system,and emergency system),this study systematically identifies the primary failure modes and potential failure causes of each subsystem,providing theoretical support for fault diagnosis and reliability optimization.Subsequently,a comprehensive review of AUV reliability analysis methods is conducted from three perspectives:analytical methods,simulated methods,and surrogate model methods.The applicability and limitations of each method are critically analyzed to offer insights into their suitability for engineering applications.Finally,the study highlights key challenges and research hotpots in AUV reliability analysis,including reliability analysis under limited data,AI-driven reliability analysis,and human reliability analysis.Furthermore,the potential of multi-sensor data fusion,edge computing,and advanced materials in enhancing AUV environmental adaptability and reliability is explored.展开更多
BACKGROUND During the gradual decline of physical and social functioning associated with end-stage renal disease,patients might experience a premonition of impending death,resulting in a series of pre-mourning grief r...BACKGROUND During the gradual decline of physical and social functioning associated with end-stage renal disease,patients might experience a premonition of impending death,resulting in a series of pre-mourning grief responses called preparatory grief.The preparatory grief in advanced cancer patients(PGAC)scale is the most widely used preparatory grief scale for patients on hemodialysis in China.AIM To verify the reliability and validity of the PGAC scale in patients on hemodialysis.METHODS In total,327 patients undergoing regular hemodialysis in the blood purification center of three grade-A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong and Guizhou provinces were selected by convenience sampling.The assessment was administered using the general information questionnaire and the Chinese version of PGAC.SPSS 25.0 and Amos 24.0 were used for item analysis,confirmatory factor analysis(CFA),convergent validity,and internal consistency reliability estimation.RESULTS In the modified Chinese version of PGAC,7 dimensions covering 27 total items were retained.CFA revealed a good fit of the factor model(chi-square degree of freedom=2.056,standardized root mean square residual=0.0479,root mean square error of approximation=0.0570,GFI=0.872,AGFI=0.841,IFI=0.931,CFI=0.930,TLI=0.919).The factor loadings of the items ranged 0.503-0.884.The composite reliability ranged 0.664-0.914,and the average variance extracted ranged 0.366-0.747.Cronbach’sαof the scale was 0.945,and Cronbach’sαfor various dimensions ranged 0.662-0.914.CONCLUSION The modified PGAC has good reliability and validity,and it can effectively measure preparatory grief in patients on hemodialysis.展开更多
Antarctic telescopes,especially those located at Dome A,face significant reliability challenges owing to the extremely harsh working environment,among which the reliability of the control system is critical in ensurin...Antarctic telescopes,especially those located at Dome A,face significant reliability challenges owing to the extremely harsh working environment,among which the reliability of the control system is critical in ensuring stable operation.This paper describes various factors affecting the reliability of Antarctic telescopes,as well as the challenges of reliability improvement.Combined with the development of Antarctic telescopes and the experience of Antarctic scientific expeditions,we introduce,in detail,the optimization strategy for reliability enhancement,including the hardware layer,software layer,modular design to facilitate maintenance,and reliability management.The current status of the Antarctic Survey Telescope(AST3)is also briefly introduced,along with future development plans.We aim to provide ideas for the reliability design of Antarctic telescopes and provide technical support for the development of future Antarctic telescopes.展开更多
Reliability analysis of soil slopes under rainfall is an important task for landslide risk assessment.Previous studies rarely contribute to the probabilistic analysis of slope stability under rainfall with reinforceme...Reliability analysis of soil slopes under rainfall is an important task for landslide risk assessment.Previous studies rarely contribute to the probabilistic analysis of slope stability under rainfall with reinforcement.A new method is suggested for reliability analysis of soil slopes stabilized with piles under rainfall.First,an efficient numerical model is exploited for slope stability analysis,where two types of slope failure modes,i.e.,plastic flow and local failure are considered.To address the blocking effect of piles during seepage analysis,the equivalent hydraulic conductivity of the pile area is estimated according to the effective medium theory.The stabilizing force of piles is investigated by an analytical approach.For saving computational effort,the response surface is established based on a multi-class classification model to predict two types of slope failure modes.Finally,uncertainties in soil parameters and rainfall events are both modelled,and the failure probability of soil slopes within a given time period is assessed through Monte Carlo simulation.An illustrative example is used to demonstrate the performance of the suggested method.It is found that the slope is mainly controlled by local failure.As the pile spacing increases,the likelihood of plastic flow significantly increases.As the piles are located near the slope crest,plastic flow is effectively prevented and the slope is better stabilized against rainfall.If rainfall uncertainties are not considered,the slope failure probability is significantly overestimated.Overall,this study can provide a useful guidance for the design of pile-stabilized slopes against rainfall infiltration.展开更多
The published article titled“Comparison of Structural Probabilistic and Non-Probabilistic Reliability Computational Methods under Big Data Condition”[1]has been retracted from Structural Durability&Health Monito...The published article titled“Comparison of Structural Probabilistic and Non-Probabilistic Reliability Computational Methods under Big Data Condition”[1]has been retracted from Structural Durability&Health Monitoring(SDHM),Vol.16,No.2,2022,pp.129–143.展开更多
Continuously increasing inflation is a major challenge in presenting reliable and relevant financial reports,especially in developing countries like Indonesia.This study aims to analyze the role of inflation accountin...Continuously increasing inflation is a major challenge in presenting reliable and relevant financial reports,especially in developing countries like Indonesia.This study aims to analyze the role of inflation accounting in increasing the reliability of financial reports during times of high inflation.With a qualitative-descriptive approach,this research examines two main methods in inflation accounting,namely General Price Level Accounting(GPLA)and Current Cost Accounting(CCA),and their impact on the value of assets,liabilities,income,and costs.The analysis results show that historical cost-based financial reports do not reflect actual economic conditions during inflation,so they can be misleading in decision making.The application of inflation accounting,through adjustments to purchasing power and current prices,has been proven to be able to increase the relevance and reliability of financial information.However,limitations in implementation in Indonesia are due to the lack of regulations and practical understanding regarding this method.Therefore,the application of inflation accounting is important in supporting the quality of financial reports and more accurate decision making amidst economic instability.展开更多
The dynamic avalanche effect is a critical factor influencing the performance and reliability of the field-stop insulated gate bipolar transistors(FS-IGBT).Unclamped inductive switching(UIS)is the primary method for t...The dynamic avalanche effect is a critical factor influencing the performance and reliability of the field-stop insulated gate bipolar transistors(FS-IGBT).Unclamped inductive switching(UIS)is the primary method for testing the dynamic avalanche capability of FS-IGBTs.Numerous studies have demonstrated that factors such as device structure,avalanche-generating current filaments,and electrical parameters influence the dynamic avalanche effect of the FS-IGBT.However,few studies have focused on enhancing the avalanche reliability of the FS-IGBT by adjusting circuit parameters during operation.In this paper,the dynamic avalanche effect of the FS-IGBT under UIS conditions is comprehensively investigated through a series of comparative experiments with varying circuit parameters,including bus voltage V_(DC),gate voltage V_(G),gate resistance R_(g),load inductance L,and temperature TC.Furthermore,a method to enhance the dynamic avalanche reliability of the FS-IGBT under UIS by optimizing circuit parameters is proposed.In practical applications,reducing gate voltage,increasing load inductance,and lowering temperature can effectively improve the dynamic avalanche capability of the FS-IGBT.展开更多
In this paper,an improved error-rate sliding window decoder is proposed for spatially coupled low-density parity-check(SC-LDPC)codes.For the conventional sliding window decoder,the message retention mechanism causes u...In this paper,an improved error-rate sliding window decoder is proposed for spatially coupled low-density parity-check(SC-LDPC)codes.For the conventional sliding window decoder,the message retention mechanism causes unreliable messages along the edges of belief propagation(BP)decoding in the current window to be kept for subsequent window decoding.To improve the reliability of the retained messages during the window transition,a reliable termination method is embedded,where the retained messages undergo more reliable parity checks.Additionally,decoding failure is unavoidable and even causes error propagation when the number of errors exceeds the error-correcting capability of the window.To mitigate this problem,a channel value reuse mechanism is designed,where the received channel values are utilized to reinitialize the window.Furthermore,considering the complexity and performance of decoding,a feasible sliding optimized window decoding(SOWD)scheme is introduced.Finally,simulation results confirm the superior performance of the proposed SOWD scheme in both the waterfall and error floor regions.This work has great potential in the applications of wireless optical communication and fiber optic communication.展开更多
BACKGROUND The Victorian institute of sports assessment for patellar tendons questionnaire(VISA-P),a valid tool for patellar tendinopathy,has been used for patellofemoral pain(PFP).AIM To validate VISA-P in PFP.METHOD...BACKGROUND The Victorian institute of sports assessment for patellar tendons questionnaire(VISA-P),a valid tool for patellar tendinopathy,has been used for patellofemoral pain(PFP).AIM To validate VISA-P in PFP.METHODS Study of validity,responsiveness and feasibility following COSMIN.Inclusion criteria:Subjects with PFP,aged 18 to 55.Agreement among 10 experts on the relevance and clarity of each item using Aiken's V coefficient determined content validity.An exploratory factorial analysis established structural validity.The correlation of VISA-P with knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score for PFP and Osteoarthritis(KOOS-PF)and Kujala patellofemoral score(KPS;specific for PFP)analyzed the construct validity.Internal consistency was calculated with Cronbach'sαand test-retest reliability with the intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC).Feasibility considered the subjects'self-completion time.RESULTS The sample consisted of 103 knees from 73 subjects(47 female/26 male;aged 34.9±13 SD).The items were relevant and clear,with the exception of item-8,which didn't reach an acceptable level of agreement on clarity.Exploratory factorial analysis found a 2-factor solution,which explained 63.48%of the variance.VISAP achieved a strong and significant correlation with KOOS-PF(Spearman rho=0.826;P<0.001)and KPS(Spearman rho=0.771;P<0.001).The questionnaire showed adequate reliability(Cronbach'sα:0.752;ICC:0.934;P<0.0001;95%CI:0.902-0.955).The mean self-completion time was 232±0.52 SD seconds.CONCLUSION VISA-P proved to be valid and reliable to functionally assess PFP and/or chondromalacia patella.VISA-P is a feasible tool in the clinical and research environment,quick and easy to complete.展开更多
文摘AIM To investigate the inter-and intra-rater reliability of the vertebral fracture classifications used in the Swedish fracture register.METHODS Radiological images of consecutive patients with cervical spine fractures(n = 50)were classified by 5 raters with different experience levels at two occasions. An identical process was performed with thoracolumbar fractures(n = 50). Cohen's kappa was used to calculate the inter-and intra-rater reliability.RESULTS The mean kappa coefficient for inter-rater reliability ranged between 0.54 and0.79 for the cervical fracture classifications, between 0.51 and 0.72 for the thoracolumbar classifications(overall and for different sub classifications), and between 0.65 and 0.77 for the presence or absence of signs of ankylosing disorder in the fracture area. The mean kappa coefficient for intra-rater reliability ranged between 0.58 and 0.80 for the cervical fracture classifications, between 0.46 and0.68 for the thoracolumbar fracture classifications(overall and for different sub classifications) and between 0.79 and 0.81 for the presence or absence of signs of ankylosing disorder in the fracture area.CONCLUSION The classifications used in the Swedish fracture register for vertebral fractures have an acceptable inter-and intra-rater reliability with a moderate strength of agreement.
文摘Objective: This study investigated the inter- and intra-rater reliability of the Australian Spasticity Assessment Scale (ASAS) in adults with unilateral hypertonia following acquired brain injury. The ASAS has been shown to be superior to other clinical tools for the assessment of spasticity in children with cerebral palsy but reliability has not been previously examined in adults. Method: Four muscle groups were rated on one occasion by four assessors using the ASAS in sixteen adults with unilateral hypertonia following acquired brain injury. Twelve participants returned one week later for reassessment by the same assessors. Results: Overall inter-rater reliability of the ASAS using a quadratic weighted Kappa was moderate (Kqw 0.58) with ranges from moderate to good (Kqw 0.42 - 0.70). Agreement between raters was greatest for soleus muscle and least for wrist flexors. Overall intra-rater reliability of each of the four raters was moderate to good (Kqw 0.48 - 0.79). Agreement within raters was greatest for soleus muscle and least for biceps muscle. Conclusions: The ASAS may represent an appropriate alternative to the clinical scales currently used to assess spasticity;however inter and intra-rater reliability data from this investigation are lower than those which have previously been reported by experienced users of the ASAS in children with cerebral palsy. Further investigation with a larger sample size is warranted before any firm conclusions may be drawn about the reliability and validity of this tool to assess spasticity in adults with acquired brain injury.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(62404110,62274033)Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(BK20221453)+1 种基金Fundamental Research Funds for the Central UniversitiesNatural Science Research Start-up Foundation of Recruiting Talents of Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications(NY223159)。
文摘In this work,we demonstrated the InSnO(ITO)TFTs passivated with SiO_(2)via the PECVD process compatible with large-area production for the first time.The passivated ITO TFTs with various channel thicknesses(t_(ch)=4,5,6 nm)exhibit excellent electrical performance and superior uniformity.The reliability properties of ITO TFTs were evaluated in detail under positive bias stress(PBS)conditions before and after passivation.Compared to the devices without passivation,the passivated devices have only 50%threshold voltage degradation(ΔV_(th))and 50%newly generated traps due to excellent isolation of the ambient atmosphere.The negligible performance degradation of ITO TFTs with passivation during negative bias stress(NBS)and negative bias temperature stress(NBTS)verifies the outstanding immunity to the water vapor of the SiO_(2)passivation layer.Overall,the ITO TFT with the t_(ch)of 6 nm and with SiO_(2)passivation exhibits the best performance in terms of electrical properties,uniformity,and reliability,which is promising in large-area production.
基金supported by Istanbul Technical University(Project No.45698)supported through the“Young Researchers’Career Development Project-training of doctoral students”of the Croatian Science Foundation.
文摘This paper investigates the reliability of internal marine combustion engines using an integrated approach that combines Fault Tree Analysis(FTA)and Bayesian Networks(BN).FTA provides a structured,top-down method for identifying critical failure modes and their root causes,while BN introduces flexibility in probabilistic reasoning,enabling dynamic updates based on new evidence.This dual methodology overcomes the limitations of static FTA models,offering a comprehensive framework for system reliability analysis.Critical failures,including External Leakage(ELU),Failure to Start(FTS),and Overheating(OHE),were identified as key risks.By incorporating redundancy into high-risk components such as pumps and batteries,the likelihood of these failures was significantly reduced.For instance,redundant pumps reduced the probability of ELU by 31.88%,while additional batteries decreased the occurrence of FTS by 36.45%.The results underscore the practical benefits of combining FTA and BN for enhancing system reliability,particularly in maritime applications where operational safety and efficiency are critical.This research provides valuable insights for maintenance planning and highlights the importance of redundancy in critical systems,especially as the industry transitions toward more autonomous vessels.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52178216)the Research on the Durability and Application of High-performance Concrete for Highway Engineering in the Cold and Arid Salt Areas of Northwest China(No.2022-24)the Construction Project of the Scientific Research Platform of Provincial Enterprises Supported by the Capital Operating Budget of Gansu Province(No.2023GZ018)。
文摘To study the durability of concrete in harsh environments in Northwest China,concrete was prepared with various durability-improving materials such as concrete anti-erosion inhibitor(SBT-TIA),acrylate polymer(AP),super absorbent resin(SAP).The erosion mode and internal deterioration mechanism under salt freeze-thaw cycle and dry-wet cycle were explored.The results show that the addition of enhancing materials can effectively improve the resistance of concrete to salt freezing and sulfate erosion:the relevant indexes of concrete added with X-AP and T-AP are improved after salt freeze-thaw cycles;concrete added with SBTTIA shows optimal sulfate corrosion resistance;and concrete added with AP displays the best resistance to salt freezing.Microanalysis shows that the increase in the number of cycles decreases the generation of internal hydration products and defects in concrete mixed with enhancing materials and improves the related indexes.Based on the Wiener model analysis,the reliability of concrete with different lithologies and enhancing materials is improved,which may provide a reference for the application of manufactured sand concrete and enhancing materials in Northwest China,especially for the study of the improvement effects and mechanism of enhancing materials on the performance of concrete.
基金supported by the Major Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42090055)the National Key ScientificInstruments and Equipment Development Projects of China(Grant No.41827808)the National Nature Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42207216).
文摘Reservoir-induced landslides in China's Three Gorges Reservoir area are prone to tensile cracks due to the influenceof their own weight and fluctuationsin water levels.The presence of cracks indicates that the tensile stress in the area has exceeded the tensile strength of the soil,leading to local instability.To explore the impact of tensile failure behavior on the stability and failure modes of reservoir landslides,the Huangtupo Riverside Slump#1 is taken as a case study.By considering local tensile failure,potential tensile cracks are incorporated into the analysis via the limit equilibrium method and reliability theory.The reliability of landslides under different tensile failure scenarios is quantified.Strain-softening characteristics of the soil are combined to further analyze the failure transmission path of the landslide.Finally,these potential failure modes were validated through physical model tests.The results show that cracks developing at rear positions reduce the stability of the slope and increase the probability of instability.During the destruction process,retrogressive failures with multiple sliding surfaces are likely to occur.However,tensile failure at the forefront reduces the likelihood of an individual slide mass descending.Progressive failure results in both regular and skip transmission patterns.Additionally,cracks and water level changes can also lead to shifts in the positions of the most dangerous blocks.Therefore,in practical landslide analysis and prevention,it is necessary to consider local tensile damage and identify potential tensile crack locations in advance to optimize prevention measures and accurately evaluate landslide risk.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52375236)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(No.23D110316)。
文摘In reliability analyses,the absence of a priori information on the most probable point of failure(MPP)may result in overlooking critical points,thereby leading to biased assessment outcomes.Moreover,second-order reliability methods exhibit limited accuracy in highly nonlinear scenarios.To overcome these challenges,a novel reliability analysis strategy based on a multimodal differential evolution algorithm and a hypersphere integration method is proposed.Initially,the penalty function method is employed to reformulate the MPP search problem as a conditionally constrained optimization task.Subsequently,a differential evolution algorithm incorporating a population delineation strategy is utilized to identify all MPPs.Finally,a paraboloid equation is constructed based on the curvature of the limit-state function at the MPPs,and the failure probability of the structure is calculated by using the hypersphere integration method.The localization effectiveness of the MPPs is compared through multiple numerical cases and two engineering examples,with accuracy comparisons of failure probabilities against the first-order reliability method(FORM)and the secondorder reliability method(SORM).The results indicate that the method effectively identifies existing MPPs and achieves higher solution precision.
基金the support from National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52275153)the Frontier Technologies R&D Program of Jiangsu,China(No.BF2024068)+1 种基金The Fund of Prospective Layout of Scientific Research for Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics,ChinaResearch Fund of State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control for Aerospace Structures(Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics),China(Nos.MCAS-I-0425K01,MCAS-I-0423G01)。
文摘It is well recognized that Structural Health Monitoring(SHM)reliability evaluation is a key aspect that needs to be urgently addressed to promote the wide application of SHM methods.However,the existing studies typically transfer the Non-Destructive Testing/Evaluation(NDT/E)reliability metrics to SHM without a systematic analysis of where these metrics originated.Seldom attentions are paid to the evaluation conditions which are very important to apply these metrics.Aimed at this issue,a new condition control-based Dual-Reliability Evaluation(Dual-RE)method for SHM is proposed.This new method is proposed based on a systematic analysis of the whole framework of reliability evaluation from instrument to NDT,and emphasis is paid to the evaluation condition control.Based on these analyses,considering the special online application scenario of SHM,the proposed Dual-RE method contains two key components:Integrated Sensor-based SHM-RE(IS-SHM-RE)and Critical Service Condition-based SHM-RE(CSC-SHM-RE).ISSHM-RE evaluates the reliability of integrated SHM sensor and system themselves under approximate repeatability conditions,while CSC-SHM-RE assesses SHM reliability under the dominant uncertainties during service,namely intermediate conditions.To demonstrate the Dual-RE,crack monitoring by using the Guided Wave-based-SHM(GW-SHM)on aircraft lug structures is taken as a case study.Both the crack detection and sizing performance are evaluated from accuracy and uncertainty.
基金supported by Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada
文摘Reliability-based design optimization （RBDO） is intrinsically a double-loop procedure since it involves an overall optimization and an iterative reliability assessment at each search point. Due to the double-loop procedure, the computational expense of RBDO is normally very high. Current RBDO research focuses on problems with explicitly expressed performance functions and readily available gradients. This paper addresses a more challenging type of RBDO problem in which the performance functions are computation intensive. These computation intensive functions are often considered as a ＂black-box＂ and their gradients are not available or not reliable. On the basis of the reliable design space （RDS） concept proposed earlier by the authors, this paper proposes a Reliable Space Pursuing （RSP） approach, in which RDS is first identified and then gradually refined while optimization is performed. It fundamentally avoids the nested optimization and probabilistic assessment loop. Three well known RBDO problems from the literature are used for testing and demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed RSP method.
文摘AIM: To assess the inter-observer agreement and reliability as well as intra-observer repeatability for lacrimal scintigraphy(LS) reports with and without considering the irrigation test results.METHODS: A prospective, observational, cross sectional study. Two masked clinicians(lacrimal surgeon and nuclear medicine specialist) independently reported 100 LS images(50 patients of >6 years of age with unilateral anophthalmic socket) in a university hospital. The lacrimal surgeon performed a diagnostic irrigation test and repeated the report of the same LS images 2 y after the first report(intra-observer agreement). A weighted Kappa analysis was performed to determine inter-observer agreement and reliability as well as intra-observer repeatability for the type(normal, partial and complete obstruction) and location(presac, preduct, and intraduct) of the obstruction. Subgroup analysis was also performed with consideration of irrigation test results. RESULTS: A significantly moderate agreement was found between lacrimal surgeon and nuclear medicine specialist for both the type(Kappa=0.55) and location(Kappa=0.48) of obstruction. Agreement values were higher for the type(Kappa=0.61 vs 0.41) and location(Kappa=0.56 vs 0.31) of obstruction in cases with normal than abnormal irrigation test. Strong and significant intraobserver(lacrimal surgeon) repeatability was found for both the type(Kappa=0.66) and location(Kappa=0.69) of obstruction. LS showed no to slight reliability based on irrigation test.CONCLUSION: A moderate agreement is found between lacrimal surgeon and nuclear medicine specialist regarding the interpretation of LS suggesting the importance ofconsensus groups among nuclear medicine specialists and lacrimal surgeons to create a common language for interpretation of LS. Intra-observer repeatability is strong for the lacrimal surgeon.
基金supported by the Research Project of China Academy of Railway Sciences Corporation Limited under Grant 2023YJ252.
文摘Purpose–This paper focuses on studying the reliability allocation for the railway system,aiming to improve the overall reliability of the railway system and ensure safety operation.Design/methodology/approach–In view of the complex structure of the railway system,involving many subsystems,this paper analyzes the close dynamic coupling effect between railway subsystems.Based on this,taking the railway system failure as the top event,a fault tree is constructed in this paper.Then,a reliability allocation method based on the fault tree is employed to allocate the reliability index.Finally,a numerical experiment is implemented to show the performance of the reliability allocation method.Findings–The results showed that each subsystem needs to improve its reliability to meet the specified railway system reliability requirements,and the traction power supply system is the most important subsystem,which is the most efficient in improving the reliability of the railway system.Originality/value–For the first time,starting from a holistic perspective of the system,reliability allocation is carried out based on the importance of each railway subsystem.
基金The National Key R&D Program Projects(Grant No.2022YFC2803601)the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(Grant No.ZR2021YQ29)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province(Grant No.YQ2024E036)the Taishan Scholars Project(Grant No.tsqn202312317).
文摘Autonomous Underwater Vehicles(AUVs)are pivotal for deep-sea exploration and resource exploitation,yet their reliability in extreme underwater environments remains a critical barrier to widespread deployment.Through systematic analysis of 150 peer-reviewed studies employing mixed-methods research,this review yields three principal advancements to the reliability analysis of AUVs.First,based on the hierarchical functional division of AUVs into six subsystems(propulsion system,navigation system,communication system,power system,environmental detection system,and emergency system),this study systematically identifies the primary failure modes and potential failure causes of each subsystem,providing theoretical support for fault diagnosis and reliability optimization.Subsequently,a comprehensive review of AUV reliability analysis methods is conducted from three perspectives:analytical methods,simulated methods,and surrogate model methods.The applicability and limitations of each method are critically analyzed to offer insights into their suitability for engineering applications.Finally,the study highlights key challenges and research hotpots in AUV reliability analysis,including reliability analysis under limited data,AI-driven reliability analysis,and human reliability analysis.Furthermore,the potential of multi-sensor data fusion,edge computing,and advanced materials in enhancing AUV environmental adaptability and reliability is explored.
文摘BACKGROUND During the gradual decline of physical and social functioning associated with end-stage renal disease,patients might experience a premonition of impending death,resulting in a series of pre-mourning grief responses called preparatory grief.The preparatory grief in advanced cancer patients(PGAC)scale is the most widely used preparatory grief scale for patients on hemodialysis in China.AIM To verify the reliability and validity of the PGAC scale in patients on hemodialysis.METHODS In total,327 patients undergoing regular hemodialysis in the blood purification center of three grade-A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong and Guizhou provinces were selected by convenience sampling.The assessment was administered using the general information questionnaire and the Chinese version of PGAC.SPSS 25.0 and Amos 24.0 were used for item analysis,confirmatory factor analysis(CFA),convergent validity,and internal consistency reliability estimation.RESULTS In the modified Chinese version of PGAC,7 dimensions covering 27 total items were retained.CFA revealed a good fit of the factor model(chi-square degree of freedom=2.056,standardized root mean square residual=0.0479,root mean square error of approximation=0.0570,GFI=0.872,AGFI=0.841,IFI=0.931,CFI=0.930,TLI=0.919).The factor loadings of the items ranged 0.503-0.884.The composite reliability ranged 0.664-0.914,and the average variance extracted ranged 0.366-0.747.Cronbach’sαof the scale was 0.945,and Cronbach’sαfor various dimensions ranged 0.662-0.914.CONCLUSION The modified PGAC has good reliability and validity,and it can effectively measure preparatory grief in patients on hemodialysis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (12303089, 11973065)the Jiangsu Funding Program for Excellent Postdoctoral Talent (2022ZB449)the Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC) for their support and help with the Antarctic telescope project
文摘Antarctic telescopes,especially those located at Dome A,face significant reliability challenges owing to the extremely harsh working environment,among which the reliability of the control system is critical in ensuring stable operation.This paper describes various factors affecting the reliability of Antarctic telescopes,as well as the challenges of reliability improvement.Combined with the development of Antarctic telescopes and the experience of Antarctic scientific expeditions,we introduce,in detail,the optimization strategy for reliability enhancement,including the hardware layer,software layer,modular design to facilitate maintenance,and reliability management.The current status of the Antarctic Survey Telescope(AST3)is also briefly introduced,along with future development plans.We aim to provide ideas for the reliability design of Antarctic telescopes and provide technical support for the development of future Antarctic telescopes.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2021YFB2600504)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42072302)the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF(Grant No.GZB20240533).
文摘Reliability analysis of soil slopes under rainfall is an important task for landslide risk assessment.Previous studies rarely contribute to the probabilistic analysis of slope stability under rainfall with reinforcement.A new method is suggested for reliability analysis of soil slopes stabilized with piles under rainfall.First,an efficient numerical model is exploited for slope stability analysis,where two types of slope failure modes,i.e.,plastic flow and local failure are considered.To address the blocking effect of piles during seepage analysis,the equivalent hydraulic conductivity of the pile area is estimated according to the effective medium theory.The stabilizing force of piles is investigated by an analytical approach.For saving computational effort,the response surface is established based on a multi-class classification model to predict two types of slope failure modes.Finally,uncertainties in soil parameters and rainfall events are both modelled,and the failure probability of soil slopes within a given time period is assessed through Monte Carlo simulation.An illustrative example is used to demonstrate the performance of the suggested method.It is found that the slope is mainly controlled by local failure.As the pile spacing increases,the likelihood of plastic flow significantly increases.As the piles are located near the slope crest,plastic flow is effectively prevented and the slope is better stabilized against rainfall.If rainfall uncertainties are not considered,the slope failure probability is significantly overestimated.Overall,this study can provide a useful guidance for the design of pile-stabilized slopes against rainfall infiltration.
文摘The published article titled“Comparison of Structural Probabilistic and Non-Probabilistic Reliability Computational Methods under Big Data Condition”[1]has been retracted from Structural Durability&Health Monitoring(SDHM),Vol.16,No.2,2022,pp.129–143.
文摘Continuously increasing inflation is a major challenge in presenting reliable and relevant financial reports,especially in developing countries like Indonesia.This study aims to analyze the role of inflation accounting in increasing the reliability of financial reports during times of high inflation.With a qualitative-descriptive approach,this research examines two main methods in inflation accounting,namely General Price Level Accounting(GPLA)and Current Cost Accounting(CCA),and their impact on the value of assets,liabilities,income,and costs.The analysis results show that historical cost-based financial reports do not reflect actual economic conditions during inflation,so they can be misleading in decision making.The application of inflation accounting,through adjustments to purchasing power and current prices,has been proven to be able to increase the relevance and reliability of financial information.However,limitations in implementation in Indonesia are due to the lack of regulations and practical understanding regarding this method.Therefore,the application of inflation accounting is important in supporting the quality of financial reports and more accurate decision making amidst economic instability.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 62071073in part by the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities under Grant 2023CDJXY-041in part by the Foundation from Guangxi Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information Processing under Grant GD20201.
文摘The dynamic avalanche effect is a critical factor influencing the performance and reliability of the field-stop insulated gate bipolar transistors(FS-IGBT).Unclamped inductive switching(UIS)is the primary method for testing the dynamic avalanche capability of FS-IGBTs.Numerous studies have demonstrated that factors such as device structure,avalanche-generating current filaments,and electrical parameters influence the dynamic avalanche effect of the FS-IGBT.However,few studies have focused on enhancing the avalanche reliability of the FS-IGBT by adjusting circuit parameters during operation.In this paper,the dynamic avalanche effect of the FS-IGBT under UIS conditions is comprehensively investigated through a series of comparative experiments with varying circuit parameters,including bus voltage V_(DC),gate voltage V_(G),gate resistance R_(g),load inductance L,and temperature TC.Furthermore,a method to enhance the dynamic avalanche reliability of the FS-IGBT under UIS by optimizing circuit parameters is proposed.In practical applications,reducing gate voltage,increasing load inductance,and lowering temperature can effectively improve the dynamic avalanche capability of the FS-IGBT.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.62275193)。
文摘In this paper,an improved error-rate sliding window decoder is proposed for spatially coupled low-density parity-check(SC-LDPC)codes.For the conventional sliding window decoder,the message retention mechanism causes unreliable messages along the edges of belief propagation(BP)decoding in the current window to be kept for subsequent window decoding.To improve the reliability of the retained messages during the window transition,a reliable termination method is embedded,where the retained messages undergo more reliable parity checks.Additionally,decoding failure is unavoidable and even causes error propagation when the number of errors exceeds the error-correcting capability of the window.To mitigate this problem,a channel value reuse mechanism is designed,where the received channel values are utilized to reinitialize the window.Furthermore,considering the complexity and performance of decoding,a feasible sliding optimized window decoding(SOWD)scheme is introduced.Finally,simulation results confirm the superior performance of the proposed SOWD scheme in both the waterfall and error floor regions.This work has great potential in the applications of wireless optical communication and fiber optic communication.
文摘BACKGROUND The Victorian institute of sports assessment for patellar tendons questionnaire(VISA-P),a valid tool for patellar tendinopathy,has been used for patellofemoral pain(PFP).AIM To validate VISA-P in PFP.METHODS Study of validity,responsiveness and feasibility following COSMIN.Inclusion criteria:Subjects with PFP,aged 18 to 55.Agreement among 10 experts on the relevance and clarity of each item using Aiken's V coefficient determined content validity.An exploratory factorial analysis established structural validity.The correlation of VISA-P with knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score for PFP and Osteoarthritis(KOOS-PF)and Kujala patellofemoral score(KPS;specific for PFP)analyzed the construct validity.Internal consistency was calculated with Cronbach'sαand test-retest reliability with the intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC).Feasibility considered the subjects'self-completion time.RESULTS The sample consisted of 103 knees from 73 subjects(47 female/26 male;aged 34.9±13 SD).The items were relevant and clear,with the exception of item-8,which didn't reach an acceptable level of agreement on clarity.Exploratory factorial analysis found a 2-factor solution,which explained 63.48%of the variance.VISAP achieved a strong and significant correlation with KOOS-PF(Spearman rho=0.826;P<0.001)and KPS(Spearman rho=0.771;P<0.001).The questionnaire showed adequate reliability(Cronbach'sα:0.752;ICC:0.934;P<0.0001;95%CI:0.902-0.955).The mean self-completion time was 232±0.52 SD seconds.CONCLUSION VISA-P proved to be valid and reliable to functionally assess PFP and/or chondromalacia patella.VISA-P is a feasible tool in the clinical and research environment,quick and easy to complete.
