Search Results (27,422)

Abnormal locomotor patterns may occur in case of either motor damages or neurological conditions, thus potentially jeopardizing an individual’s safety. Pathological gait recognition (PGR) is a research field that aims to discriminate among different walking patterns. A PGR-oriented system may benefit from the simulation of gait disorders by healthy subjects, since the acquisition of actual pathological gaits would require either a higher experimental time or a larger sample size. Only a few works have exploited abnormal walking patterns, emulated by unimpaired individuals, to perform PGR with Deep Learning-based models. In this article, the authors present a workflow based on convolutional neural networks to recognize normal and pathological locomotor behaviors by means of inertial data related to nineteen healthy subjects. Although this is a preliminary feasibility study, its promising performance in terms of accuracy and computational time pave the way for a more realistic validation on actual pathological data. In light of this, classification outcomes could support clinicians in the early detection of gait disorders and the tracking of rehabilitation advances in real time. Full article

Information-Centric Networking (ICN) typically utilizes DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) to build in-network cache components due to its high data transfer rate and low latency. However, DRAM faces significant limitations in terms of cost and capacity, making it challenging to meet the growing demands for cache scalability required by increasing Internet traffic. Combining high-speed but expensive memory (e.g., DRAM) with large-capacity, low-cost storage (e.g., SSD) to construct a hierarchical cache architecture has emerged as an effective solution to this problem. However, how to perform efficient cache management in such architectures to realize the expected cache performance remains challenging. This paper proposes a cache management scheme for hierarchical cache architectures in ICN, which introduces a differentiated replica replacement policy to accommodate the varying request access patterns at different cache layers, thereby enhancing overall cache performance. Additionally, a probabilistic insertion-based SSD cache admission filtering mechanism is designed to control the SSD write load, addressing the issue of balancing SSD lifespan and space utilization. Extensive simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme exhibits superior cache performance and lower SSD write load under various workloads and replica placement strategies, highlighting its broad applicability to different application scenarios. Additionally, it maintains stable performance improvements across different cache capacity settings, further reflecting its good scalability. Full article

Climate change will have a significant impact on agricultural productivity. Rice is one of the main grains in the world, the stability of its production and supply is directly related to global food security. Based on field observation data from 2000 to 2012 and a biophysical process-oriented CERES-Rice crop model at three typical sites, we investigated the effects of cultivar improvement, different transplanting dates and their interactions on rice yield potential in the major paddy rice production areas of China. Rice planting systems were optimized with an optimal combination of varieties and transplanting dates, and their adaptability under future climate conditions (climate projections from five global climate models under four typical concentration path scenarios) was assessed. The results showed that cultivar improvement could increase the rice yield potential by 18.0–41.4%. The appropriate transplanting date might increase the yield potential of the existing rice by 1.9–6.7%. The advance in the transplanting date combined with the application of high-yielding cultivars would prolong the growth period of rice and increase the rice yield potential by 26.3–51.8%. An effective combination of the transplanting date and cultivar is an efficient approach to increase the yield potential of rice. The results provided an important reference and choice for the scientific management of and yield increase in rice in China. Full article

The phase structure, grain refinement, and microalloying effect of the Al-5Er-Ti master alloy were analyzed by a refining experiment, microhardness test, OM, SEM, and XRD. The results show that when the Er/Ti atomic ratio is 2.7, the refining effect of the Al-5Er-0.5Ti master alloy is significantly better than Al-5Er, which is due to the Ti₂Al₂₀Er phase. There are three crystal orientations of Ti₂Al₂₀Er and α-Al that satisfy the E2E model, among which (620)_Ti2Al20Er<260>_Ti2Al20Er//(111)_Al<110>_Al is the least mismatched one. When the Er/Ti atomic ratio is reduced to below 1.3, the Ti-containing phase of the Al-5Er-Ti master alloy is composed of Ti₂Al₂₀Er and Al₃Ti. The primary phase size of the Al-5Er-1.5Ti master alloy decreases with the increase in cooling rate, and the grain refining effect improved more significantly. The optimum size of the Ti₂Al₂₀Er phase and Al₃Ti phase is 6.0 μm and 9.5 μm, respectively. The grain size of pure aluminum is reduced from 14,000 μm to 300 μm by Al-5Er-1.5Ti master alloy refinement, and the refinement rate is 97.9%. Direct aging of the refined sample did not have a precipitation strengthening effect. After the solution and aging treatment, the peak aging of the refined sample was reached in 15 min, and the microhardness increased by 41%. Full article

The main aim of our qualitative research is to find out how foreign students from different Collectivistic countries perceive interpersonal emotion regulation (IER). Using semi-structured interviews as a method of data collection and thematic analysis as a method of data analysis, we found that the majority of participants used IER to provide psychological support to their colleagues and friends in a variety of contexts—64% of participants highlighted cognitive strategies as key in emotional regulation, especially the use of temporal perspective shifting—and that, finally, the majority of the participants highlighted the evident results of the interventions, the most common of which was the increased adaptive behavior of the targets of IER. These findings highlight the persistence of cultural orientation in heterogeneous settings and suggest situational flexibility in IER strategies. They also highlight the importance of designing culturally sensitive interventions in international educational contexts. Full article

Current remote sensing (RS) detectors often rely on predefined anchor boxes with fixed angles to handle the multi-directional variations of targets. This approach makes it challenging to accurately select regions of interest and extract features that align with the direction of the targets. Most existing regression methods also adopt angle regression to match the attributes of remote sensing detectors. Due to the inconsistent regression direction and massive anchor boxes with a high aspect ratio, the extracted target features change greatly, the loss function changes drastically, and the training is unstable. However, existing RS detectors and regression techniques have not been able to effectively balance the precision of directional feature extraction with the complexity of the models. To address these challenges, this paper introduces a novel approach known as Dynamic Direction Learning R-CNN (DDL R-CNN), which comprises a dynamic direction learning (DDL) module and a boundary center region offset generation network (BC-ROPN). The DDL module pre-extracts the directional features of targets to provide a coarse estimation of their angles and the corresponding weights. This information is used to generate rotationally aligned anchor boxes that better model the directional features of the targets. BC-ROPN represents an innovative method for anchor box regression. It utilizes the central features of the maximum bounding rectangle’s width and height, along with the coarse angle estimation and weights derived from DDL module, to refine the orientation of the anchor box. Our method has been proven to surpass existing rotating detection networks in extensive testing across two widely used remote sensing detection datasets, namely UCAS-AOD and HRSC2016. Full article

Multimorbidity and polypharmacy are prevalent among Long-Term Care (LTC) users. Older people, who most use LTC services, are more prone to drug-related problems, which polypharmacy aggravates. Deprescribing is a key intervention to address polypharmacy and inappropriate medication. Evidence shows that pharmacists’ expertise in medicines and their growing involvement in clinical-oriented activities have proven to play an essential role across many healthcare settings, including LTC. Thus, this study aimed to identify and assess LTC pharmacist-mediated deprescribing. A systematic review was undertaken following the PRISMA checklist, using three literature databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge). A set of 18 keywords, divided into three domains (professional, type of care, and type of setting), were combined into search equations. The studies selected were assessed through the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria out of 288 initial hits. Pharmacist-mediated deprescribing was divided into specific (targeted to a medicine group) and non-specific. Half of the studies were graded as low quality (53%). In total, the studies enrolled 6928 patients and 45 pharmacists. The ATC groups A, C, M, and N, as well as medicines with anticholinergic properties, were the most addressed medicines groups. Acceptance rates of pharmacists’ recommendations ranged between 30% and 100%. Generically, the number of medicines was reduced after the intervention. Mixed results were found for falls and quality of life outcomes. Cost savings associated with the interventions ranged from neutral to as high as 3800 €/patient/year. Barriers to deprescribing were mainly linked to patients’ or family members’ refusal to change. In conclusion, pharmacist-mediated deprescribing seems feasible in LTC. The studies’ methodological heterogeneity hampers robust comparisons and conclusions. The medicine groups targeted by deprescribing can help tailor interventions to optimize the use of medicines in LTC. A detailed understanding of barriers and enablers to deprescribing would support developing and implementing these interventions. Full article

Stop planning is aimed to provide proper services for passenger demand, but diverse stop patterns lead to differences in stop density and travel speeds, impacting the utilization of line capacity. This paper incorporates capacity utilization into stop planning in the strategic line planning stage to trade off the matching between supply and demand and the stop distribution balance among trains. A bi-level programming model is established to formulate the Stackelberg game relation between supply and demand, where the stop distribution imbalance and the passenger travel inefficiency are measured. An adaptive hybrid solving algorithm combined with Genetic Algorithm and Simulated Annealing Algorithm is proposed, with several adaptive operations according to the problem characteristics and optimization degree to improve searching efficiency. A case study on the local network of Beijing–Shanghai High-speed Railway Line demonstrates that the proposed approach can not only mitigate the stop distribution imbalance, but also improve the travel efficiency of passengers, indicating that it can benefit the simultaneous improvement of capacity utilization and service level. Full article

Based on the principle of distributed layout, the community is chosen as the basic unit of the city, and an appropriate community scale is redefined based on the attributes and characteristics of green production. This article first summarizes the existing research models at the community level using bibliometric methods, and on this basis the process of researching the green productive community unit scale is constructed. Subsequently, the data on the scales of agriculture, energy, transport, and commercial facilities from the relevant Chinese national city standards are summarized, classified, and generalized. This is followed by the derivation of appropriate grid scales for green productive community units. Ultimately, a quadratic optimization scale was devised for community units at varying levels based on fractal and management unit theory. This paper presents a new community unit scale constructed for use in large- and medium-sized areas in China, which serves as an illustrative example. The newly developed community scale has the potential to improve the efficiency of resource allocation and support the transition from functional adjustment to structural adjustment in urban areas. Furthermore, the scale definition method and principle can be extended and applied to other large- and medium-sized urban areas globally. Full article

This study has investigated the effects of different annealing temperatures on the microstructure, chemical composition, phase structure, and piezoelectric properties of ZnO films. The analysis focuses on how annealing temperature influences the oxygen content and the preferred c-axis (002) orientation of the films. It was found that annealing significantly increases the grain size and optimizes the columnar crystal structure, though excessive high-temperature annealing leads to structural degradation. This behavior is likely related to changes in oxygen content at different annealing temperatures. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) reveals that the films exhibit high-resolution lattice stripes, confirming their high crystallinity. Although the films exhibit growth in multiple orientations, the c-axis (002) orientation remains the predominant crystallographic growth. Further piezoelectric property analysis demonstrates that the ZnO films annealed at 400 °C exhibit enhanced piezoelectric performance and stable linear piezoelectric behavior. These findings offer valuable support for optimizing the piezoelectric properties of ZnO films and their applications in piezoelectric sensors. Full article

Flexible perovskite solar cells (F-PSCs) have the advantages of high power-per-weight, solution processability, and bending durability and have emerged as a competitive photovoltaic technology for various applications. As the core electron transport layer (ETL) in n-i-p-type device configurations, the solution-processed SnO₂ generally suffers from serious defect stacking on films, compromising the charge transport properties and the performance of resulting devices. Herein, we proposed a media-filling strategy to optimize the contact quality at the buried interface by introducing Al₂O₃ nanoparticles on the SnO₂ surface. Rather than forming a compact insulating layer, the Al₂O₃ can fill the grain boundaries of SnO₂ and smooth the substrate surface. Optimized interfacial contact under careful concentration control can rationally minimize the contact area of the perovskite with the surface imperfections of SnO₂ to mitigate trap-assisted charge recombination. Furthermore, the reduced surface roughness of SnO₂ facilitates the uniform deposition and oriented growth of upper perovskite film. As a result, the target F-PSCs achieved an impressive efficiency of 23.83% and retained 80% of the initial performance after 5000 bending cycles at a radius of four mm. Full article

Mechanically flexible substrates are increasingly utilized in electronics and advanced energy technologies like solar cells and high-temperature superconducting coated conductors (HTS-CCs). These substrates offer advantages, such as large surface areas and reduced manufacturing costs through reel-to-reel processing, but often lack the surface smoothness needed for optimal performance. For HTS-CCs, specific orientation and high crystalline quality are essential, requiring buffer layers to prepare the amorphous substrate for superconductor deposition. Techniques, such as mechanical polishing, electropolishing, and chemical-mechanical polishing, can help achieve an optimally levelled surface suitable for the subsequent steps of sputtering and ion-beam-assisted deposition (IBAD) necessary for texturing. This review examines Solution Deposition Planarization (SDP) as a cost-effective alternative to traditional electro-mechanical polishing for HTS coated conductors. SDP achieves surface roughness levels below 1 nm through multiple oxide layer coatings, offering reduced production costs. Comparative studies demonstrate planarization efficiencies of up to 20%. Ongoing research aims to enhance SDP’s efficiency for industrial applications in CC production. Full article

Background and Objectives: Effective communication in oncology is crucial, but challenging due to the complex information and emotional burden associated with a cancer diagnosis. This cross-sectional study investigated the communication preferences of 155 Romanian adults diagnosed with ENT cancers and explored the relationship between these preferences, their levels of psychological distress, and sociodemographic factors. Materials and Methods: Participants completed the KOPRA questionnaire, assessing communication preferences, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to measure psychological distress. Results: The results revealed that patients strongly prioritized active involvement in their care (Patient Participation and Patient Orientation—PPO) and open communication with healthcare providers (Effective and Open Communication—EOC). While emotional support was valued, it was considered less critical than PPO and EOC. Notably, communication about personal matters was deemed the least important aspect of communication. A high prevalence of psychological distress was observed, particularly among widowed individuals and females. No direct correlation was found between communication preferences and distress. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of shared decision-making, clear information exchange, and a patient-centered approach in the context of ENT cancer care, while also highlighting the need for routine screening and appropriate support for psychological well-being in this patient population. Full article

Fracture toughness is an important index related to the service safety of marine risers, and weld is an essential component of the steel catenary risers. In this paper, microscopic structure characterization methods such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD), as well as mechanical experiments like crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) and nanoindentation, were employed to conduct a detailed study on the influence of the microstructure characteristics of multi-wire submerged arc welded seams of steel catenary riser pipes on CTOD fracture toughness. The influence mechanisms of each microstructure characteristic on fracture toughness were clarified. The results show that the main structure in the weld of the steel catenary riser is acicular ferrite (AF), but there is also often side lath plate ferrite (FSP) and grain boundary ferrite (GBF). With the increase in the proportion of FSP and GBF in the weld microstructure, the CTOD fracture toughness of the weld decreases gradually. The weld AF is a braided cross arrangement structure, and most of the grain boundary orientation difference is higher than 45°. The effective grain size refinement of AF can effectively prevent crack propagation and significantly improve fracture toughness. GBF is distributed along proto-austenitic grain boundaries PAGB, and the large hardness difference between the GBF and the AF matrix weakens the grain boundary. Cracks can easy be initiated at the interface position of the two phases and can propagate along the GBF grain boundary, resulting in the deterioration of toughness. Although the hardness of FSP is between that of GBF and AF, it destroys the continuity of the overall weld microstructure and is also unfavorable to toughness. Full article

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the groundwater potential of hard rock aquifers in five diverse African case study areas: Lake Tana Basin and Beles Basin in northwestern Ethiopia and Mount Meru in northern Tanzania (comprising volcanic aquifers); the Mekelle area in northern Ethiopia and Jifarah Plain in Libya (consisting of sedimentary aquifers). The evaluation of recharge, transmissivity, and water quality formed the basis of qualitative and quantitative assessment. Multiple methods, including water table fluctuation (WTF), chloride mass balance (CMB), physical hydrological modeling (WetSpass), baseflow separation (BFS), and remote sensing techniques like GRACE satellite data, were employed to estimate groundwater recharge across diverse hydrogeological settings. Topographic contrast, fractured orientation, lineament density, hydro-stratigraphic connections, hydraulic gradient, and distribution of high-flux springs were used to assess IGF from Lake Tana to Beles Basin. The monitoring, sampling, and pumping test sites took into account the high hydromorphological and geological variabilities. Recharge rates varied significantly, with mean values of 315 mm/year in Lake Tana Basin, 193 mm/year in Mount Meru, and as low as 4.3 mm/year in Jifarah Plain. Transmissivity ranged from 0.4 to 6904 m²/day in Lake Tana Basin, up to 790 m²/day in Mount Meru’s fractured lava aquifers, and reached 859 m²/day in the sedimentary aquifers of the Mekelle area. Water quality issues included high TDS levels (up to 3287 mg/L in Mekelle and 11,141 mg/L in Jifarah), elevated fluoride concentrations (>1.5 mg/L) in 90% of Mount Meru samples, and nitrate pollution in shallow aquifers linked to agricultural practice. This study also highlights the phenomenon of inter-basin deep groundwater flow, emphasizing its role in groundwater potential assessment and challenging conventional water balance assumptions. The findings reveal that hard rock aquifers, particularly weathered/fractured basalt aquifers in volcanic regions, exhibit high potential, while pyroclastic aquifers generally demonstrate lower potential. Concerns regarding high fluoride levels are identified in Mount Meru aquifers. Among sedimentary aquifers in the Mekelle area and Jifarah Plain, limestone intercalated with marl or dolomite rock emerges as having high potential. However, high TDS and high sulfate concentrations are quality issues in some of the areas, quite above the WHO’s and each country’s drinking water standards. The inter-basin groundwater flow, investigated in this study of Beles Basin, challenges the conventional water balance assumption that the inflow into a hydrological basin is equivalent to the outflow out of the basin, by emphasizing the importance of considering groundwater influx from neighboring basins. These insights contribute novel perspectives to groundwater balance and potential assessment studies, challenging assumptions about groundwater divides. Full article