The accuracy of leak detection and calibration of pipe networks by means of the inverse transient analysis (ITA) is highly affected by the number and location of the measurement sites. This study introduces a conceptual decision-making model, the Decision Table Method (DTM), for the measurement site design of pipe networks with the aim of inverse transient analysis. Through the Decision Table M...

UNLABELLED BACKGROUND Portable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (pEDXRF) spectrometry analysis was applied for the characterisation of archaeological ceramic findings from three Neolithic sites in Serbia. Two dimension reduction techniques, principal component analysis (PCA) and scattering matrices-based dimension reduction were used to examine the possible classification of those findin...

Many construction inefficiencies are due to supply-chain (SC) problems that occur at the interface between processes or disciplines. This paper illustrates such problems by describing a case study on the supply of pipe supports used in power plants. Pipe supports often arrive late at the construction site because their design tends to be pushed towards the end of the power plant design process ...

BACKGROUND The rapid decline in use of conventional total hip replacement with a large femoral head size and a metal-on-metal bearing surface might lead to increased popularity of ceramic-on-ceramic bearings as another hard-on-hard alternative that allows implantation of a larger head. We sought to address comparative effectiveness of ceramic-on-ceramic and metal-on-HXLPE (highly cross-linked p...

When using light-alloy drill pipes (LAIDP) with steel tool joints, the development of contact corrosion is observed under certain operating conditions. The value mainly depends on difference in electrochemical potential (ECP) contacting metals. One effective methods for increasing resistance aluminum alloys micro-arc oxidation (MAO) method. This an process combination micro-arc-discharges pheno...

Context. Magnetic fields are proposed to play an important role in the formation and support of self-gravitating clouds and the formation and evolution of protostars in such clouds. Aims. We attempt to understand more precisely how the Pipe nebula is affected by the magnetic field. Methods. We use R-band linear polarimetry collected for about 12 000 stars in 46 fields with lines of sight toward...

A new dimensionless relationship for analysis of ballistic penetration data is derived and applied to polycrystalline ceramic materials. Targets consist of ceramic tiles backed by thick metallic plates within which residual penetration depths have been reported in experimental studies. Particular ceramics analyzed here are lowand high-purity alumina, aluminum nitride, boron carbide, silicon car...

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel metal-free ceramic total knee replacement system. METHODS Thirty-eight primary total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) were performed on 34 patients using the metal-free BPK-S ceramic total knee replacement system with both the femoral and tibial components of an alumina/zirconia ceramic composite. The clinical outcom...