There are no direct methods to evaluate calculated soil heat flux (SHF) at the surface (G0). Instead, validation and cross evaluation of methods for calculating G0 usually rely on the conventional calorimetric method or the degree of the surface energy balance closure. However, there is uncertainty in the calorimetric method itself, and factors apart from G0 also contribute to nonclosure of the surface energy balance. Here we used a novel approach to evaluate nine different methods for calculating SHF, including the calorimetric method and methods based on analytical solutions of the heat diffusion equation. The SHF (Gz) measured by a self‐calibrating SHF plate at a depth of z = 5 cm below the surface (hereafter Gm_5cm) was deployed as a reference. Each SHF calculation method was assessed by comparing the calculated Gz at the same depth (hereafter Gc_5cm) with Gm_5cm. The calorimetric method and simple measurement method performed best in determining Gc_5cm but still underestimated Gm_5cm by 19% during the daytime. Possible causes for this underestimation include errors and uncertainties in SHF measurements and soil thermal properties, as well as the phase lag between Gc_5cm and Gm_5cm. Our results indicate that the calorimetric method achieves the most accurate SHF estimates if self‐calibrating SHF plates are deployed at two depths (e.g., 5 cm and 10 cm), soil temperature and water content measurements are made in a few depths between the two plates, and soil thermal properties are accurately quantified.

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Background Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) prevents ischemic events while increasing bleeding risk. Real‐world‐based metrics to accurately predict postdischarge bleeding (PDB) occurrence and its potential impact on postdischarge major cardiovascular event (MACE) remain undefined. This study sought to evaluate the impact of PDB on MACE occurrence, and to develop a score to predict PDB risk among Chinese acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients after PCI. Methods and Results From May 2014 to January 2016, 2496 ACS patients who underwent PCI were recruited consecutively from 29 nationally representative Chinese tertiary hospitals. Among 2,381 patients (95.4%, 2,381/2,496) who completed 1‐year follow‐up, the cumulative incidence of PDB (bleeding academic research consortium type [BARC] ≥2) and postdischarge MACE (a composite of all‐cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or urgent revascularization) was 4.9% (n = 117) and 3.3% (n = 79), respectively. The association between PDB and MACE during 1‐year follow‐up, as well as the impact of DAPT with ticagrelor or clopidogrel on PDB were evaluated. PDB was associated with higher risk of postdischarge MACE (7.7 vs. 3.1%; adjusted hazard ratio: 2.59 [95% confidence interval: 1.17–5.74]; p = .02). For ticagrelor versus clopidogrel, PDB risk was higher (8.0 vs. 4.4%; 2.05 [1.17–3.60]; p = .01), while MACE risk was similar (2.0 vs. 3.4%; 0.70 [0.25–1.93]; p = .49). Based on identified PDB predictors, the constructed bleeding risk in real world Chinese acute coronary syndrome patients (BRIC‐ACS) score for PDB was established. C‐statistic for the score for PDB was 0.67 (95% CI: 0.62–0.73) in the overall cohort, and >0.70 in subgroups with non‐ST‐ and ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction, diabetes and receiving more than two drug eluting stents. Conclusions In Chinese ACS patients, PDB with BARC ≥2 was associated with higher risk for MACE after PCI. The constructed BRIC‐ACS risk score provides a useful tool for PDB discrimination, particularly among high ischemic and bleeding risk patients.

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A computational model coupling electromagnetic field with a macroscopic heat and fluid flow is developed to investigate the flow pattern and solidification in a vertical continuous caster using a four-port submerged entry nozzle (SEN) with mold and strand electromagnetic stirring (M-EMS and S-EMS). The flow pattern and solidification features of the bloom strand without and with EMS in the caster using the four-port SEN is analyzed and compared with that using a straight-port nozzle. The effects of the stirring parameters and the position of the strand stirrer on the flow and solidification are discussed. The approach to identify the optimum stirring parameters by the comparison of tangential velocity is suggested. The results show that the application of M-EMS in a four-port SEN can weaken the strength of the jet impingement from every port of the four-port SEN, and rapidly dissipate the superheat of the melt and reduce the liquid fraction in the mold. In spite of inhomogeneous shell growth in the mold, the swirl velocity obtained by a four-port SEN and M-EMS and the solidus fraction by S-EMS is above those of a single-port SEN with the same stirring strength, which is favorable for the formation of more equiaxed crystals. For the S-EMS, the solidified shell thickness is the main factor to determine the stirring position and the tangential velocity at the same stirring intensity. In terms of different ported SENs, it is necessary to perform specific optimization of the stirring parameters of M-EMS and S-EMS.