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Transitioning to a fully Level-5 autonomous vehicle (AV) environment presents numerous challenges, notably influenced by public adoption intention. Previous studies have shown limitations in scope, population, and methodology. This study expands the Technology Acceptance Model to investigate AVs adoption intention across various city sizes in China. Through surveys in China, 2,662 responses were gathered in 2021 from mega, large, and small-to-medium cities. Using Multiple Indicators and Multiple Causes models, the study examines influencing factors on AVs adoption intention and population heterogeneities. Key findings emphasize the importance of adoption attitude, information provision, and perceived AV usefulness. Additionally, the impact of financial incentives, convenience, and several other factors varies across city sizes. The insights gained from the study can be utilized to develop more cost-effective policies and strategies tailored to different subgroups of the population to fully utilize the potential benefits of AVs while minimizing unintended consequences across diverse urban settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Sysmex XN‐V is derived from the new Sysmex XN series of human hematology analyzers. The main changes from the previously validated XT‐2000iV analyzer include an optic‐fluorescent analysis for platelets and a nucleated red blood cell (NRBC) count. Objective: We aimed to validate the Sysmex XN‐V for feline blood following the American College for Veterinary Clinical Pathology and International Council for Standardization in Hematology recommendations. Methods: Feline EDTA blood specimens were analyzed on the Sysmex XN‐V to evaluate repeatability, linearity, comparison with the XT‐2000iV analyzer and manual methods, stability, and to verify the previously established Sysmex XT‐2000iV RIs. Results: Repeatability was excellent for most variables. Visually determined linearity was excellent or good for most variables except eosinophils and platelet variables. The correlation between the XN‐V and XT‐2000iV analyzers was good (≥0.82) for all variables except reticulocyte indices. Correlations between the Sysmex XN‐V and manual differential counts were good to excellent for most variables, acceptable for neutrophils, and fair for monocytes and NRBC. The previously established Sysmex XT‐2000iV RIs can be used to interpret results from the Sysmex XN‐V analyzer for most variables except red cell distribution width and reticulocyte variables. The RI for platelet variables could not be evaluated because of platelet clumps. Changes in the Sysmex XN‐V measurements after storage at 4 and 24°C were similar to those described for the Sysmex XT‐2000iV analyzer. Conclusions: The performance of the Sysmex XN‐V analyzer was good and compared favorably with the Sysmex XT‐2000iV analyzer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary requirement for vibration-based structural damage identification is to develop the damage index with higher damage sensitivity. Although it is believed that higher order mode means more sensitivity to damage, what is the quantitative relationship between damage sensitivity of different orders and how to carry out multi-mode fusion lack theoretical guidance. This paper implements the comparison study of the location-related damage sensitivity for different mode shape curvatures and then proposes a structural damage index with sensitivity enhancement for beam structure. First, the damage sensitivity of the mode shape curvature of beam structures at different orders is compared in theory. It reveals that the damage sensitivity is location-dependent, and the second-order mode in the even 16.6% region is more sensitive than the third-order mode in the simply supported beam. Second, a structural damage index with sensitivity enhancement for beam structure is proposed according to the relationship between the damage sensitivity of mode shape curvature at different orders and locations. Third, a simply supported beam model and a steel stringer bridge model with multiple main girders are both investigated to illustrate the comparison results of the damage sensitivity at different orders and the advantages of the proposed structural damage index. It shows that the confused damage sensitivities are very common between different mode orders, the sensitivity-enhanced damage index that considers the damage location always shows certain degree of improvement of damage indication ability in different damage areas. Finally, the effectiveness and accessibility of the proposed method are verified by a simply supported beam experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sentiment analysis has become an important task in natural language processing because it is used in many different areas. This paper gives a detailed review of sentiment analysis, including its definition, challenges, and uses. Different approaches to sentiment analysis are discussed, focusing on how they have changed and their limitations. Special attention is given to recent improvements with transformer models and transfer learning. Detailed reviews of well-known transformer models like BERT, RoBERTa, XLNet, ELECTRA, DistilBERT, ALBERT, T5, and GPT are provided, looking at their structures and roles in sentiment analysis. In the experimental section, the performance of these eight transformer models is compared across 22 different datasets. The results show that the T5 model consistently performs the best on multiple datasets, demonstrating its flexibility and ability to generalize. XLNet performs very well in understanding irony and sentiments related to products, while ELECTRA and RoBERTa perform best on certain datasets, showing their strengths in specific areas. BERT and DistilBERT often perform the lowest, indicating that they may struggle with complex sentiment tasks despite being computationally efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofuel is an alternative fuel for diesel engines which is necessary to reduce exhaust emissions and helps to balance the depletion of fossil fuels. This study details the synthesis of bio-diesel and bio-oil from stone apple seeds (Aegle marmelos) through transesterification, direct oxygenate additive, and pyrolysis processes. The diesel engine is powered by the resulting stone apple methyl ester bio-diesel/diesel and bio-oil/diesel mixtures. In a test engine rig, the effectiveness and emission uniqueness of test fuel mixes were examined at various engine loads (EL = 3 kg–12 kg) and compression ratios (CR = 16–17.5) while maintaining a steady speed of 1500 r/min. Furthermore, engine performance and emissions for bio-diesel and bio-oil are measured and compared. The oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emission by bio-diesel and bio-oil opus were higher than neat diesel (FD). Also, carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions were measured to be lower. The improvements of BTE by 4.87% and decrement of CO by 18.8%, HC by 13.26% were observed with the trans-esterified bio-diesel/diesel opus compared to diesel at a higher CR and rated load conditions. The engine analysis responses revealed that the FBD blend showed enhanced performance and lower emissions except NOx compared to diesel fuel. Hence, trans-esterified bio-diesel is a greater diesel alternative than FBDE and FBO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Web series have emerged as a popular alternative to traditional television, becoming a key part of India's rapidly expanding entertainment industry. Subscription-based e-commerce platforms like Disney+ Hotstar, Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Sun NXT have played a pivotal role in boosting web series production across the country. However, the creative freedom afforded by these OTT platforms has sparked debates over their impact on traditional Indian cultural values. Notably, young adults are the primary audience for this content, and the variety of genres offered on over-the-top platforms both educates and potentially negatively influences this demographic. Online material consumption was already high before the COVID-19 epidemic, but it was much higher during the lockdowns. When it comes to watching films and web series on over-the-top platforms, there has been a significant uptick. This study aims to explore the rising curiosity and subscription rates for OTT platforms, comparing data from 2020 and 2023. Using a mixed-method approach, including quantitative and qualitative analyses, and incorporating secondary data from the three years (2020-2023), the research provides a comprehensive view of this trend. The findings highlight a significant growth in OTT subscriptions and the positive impact of literacyrelated content on young adults in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to understand the cognitive profiles of cerebellar infarction patients and compare them to those with supratentorial infarctions, particularly frontal infarctions. This current study also aims to find reliable assessment tools for detecting cognitive impairment in cerebellar infarction patients. A total of fifty cerebellar infarction patients, sixty supratentorial infarction patients, and thirty-nine healthy controls were recruited. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III (ACE-III), and Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome scale (CCAS-s) were used to assess global cognitive function. An extensive neuropsychological assessment battery was also tested to evaluate the characteristics of each cognitive domain. To assess the features of cognitive function, a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation tool was also utilized. The cerebral infarction patients demonstrated cognitive impairment comparable to those with frontal infarcts, notably characterized by disturbance in attention and executive function. However, the degree of cognitive impairment was comparatively milder in cerebellar infarction patients. Furthermore, the patients in the cerebellar group had worse scores in the ACE-III and CCAS-s compared to healthy controls. The two assessments also demonstrated a significant area under the curve values, indicating their effectiveness in distinguishing cognitive impairment in cerebellar infarctions. In conclusion, cognitive impairment in a cerebellar infarction resembles frontal lobe dysfunction but is generally mild. It can be accurately assessed using the ACE-III and CCAS-s scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cemento-ossifying fibroma (COF) and focal cemento-osseous dysplasia (FCOD) are benign neoplasms occurring in the mandible and maxilla; histologically, they both show normal bone replacement by a fibrous stroma containing variable amounts of calcified fragments resembling bone and cementum. FCOD is relatively common and requires observation; COF is rare and its growth over time can lead to deformity in the head and neck region. Surgical removal of COF at an early stage is critical to prevent recurrence and deformity. Therefore, distinguishing COF from FCOD is important for proper further management. Methods and Materials: To determine the parameters differentiating COF from FCOD, we retrospectively analyzed 15 COF cases and 27 FCOD cases reviewed between 2005 and 2020 at Temple University Hospital. Demographic, radiographic and histopathologic characteristics were compared by using Student’s t test for continuous variables and Chi-square test for categorical variables. Results: In the non-histopathologic spectrum, COF occurred at a younger age (average age-31yo versus FCOD 43 yo). FCOD showed female predilection compared with COF. No significant difference was observed regarding location and radiographic density. However, COF was significantly associated with radiographic cortical expansion. In the histopathologic spectrum, FCOD was more frequently associated with significant intralesional hemorrhage, increased vascularity, osteoblastic rimming of trabeculae, and ginger roots –like bone trabeculae. Discussion: We demonstrated 7 clinical, radiographic, and pathologic parameters that can help differentiate COF from FCOD. Comprehensive assessment of the distinguishing characteristics is valuable for accurate diagnosis and treatment of these two entities, aiding in minimizing unnecessary procedures for FCOD and averting facial deformities caused by COF.

Identifying patients who benefit from a treatment is a key aspect of personalized medicine, which allows the development of individualized treatment rules (ITRs). Many machine learning methods have been proposed to create such rules. However, to what extent the methods lead to similar ITRs, that is, recommending the same treatment for the same individuals is unclear. In this work, we compared 22 of the most common approaches in two randomized control trials. Two classes of methods can be distinguished. The first class of methods relies on predicting individualized treatment effects from which an ITR is derived by recommending the treatment evaluated to the individuals with a predicted benefit. In the second class, methods directly estimate the ITR without estimating individualized treatment effects. For each trial, the performance of ITRs was assessed by various metrics, and the pairwise agreement between all ITRs was also calculated. Results showed that the ITRs obtained via the different methods generally had considerable disagreements regarding the patients to be treated. A better concordance was found among akin methods. Overall, when evaluating the performance of ITRs in a validation sample, all methods produced ITRs with limited performance, suggesting a high potential for optimism. For non‐parametric methods, this optimism was likely due to overfitting. The different methods do not lead to similar ITRs and are therefore not interchangeable. The choice of the method strongly influences for which patients a certain treatment is recommended, drawing some concerns about their practical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundOsteoporosis vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) are common with the aging process. This study aimed to compare the effects of unilateral transverse process extrapedicular (UEPKP) and bilateral transpedicular percutaneous kyphoplasty (BTPKP) for patients with thoracolumbar OVCF.MethodsData from 136 patients with OVCF treated with single-level PKP in our hospital between May 2019 and April 2021 were studied. Patients were grouped based on surgical procedure: there were 62 patients in the UEPKP group and 74 in the BTPKP group. All clinical and radiological data were collected from medical records. Clinical outcomes, including visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores of the lumbar spine, were evaluated preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the follow-up visit. The radiological evaluations (anterior vertebral height rate and local kyphosis angle) and complications were also collected.ResultsAll patients had successfully improved after surgery. In the UEPKP group, patients showed a significantly shorter operating time and lower fluoroscopy frequency than patients in the BTPKP group (p

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This paper presents two gesture-based user interfaces which were designed for a 3D design review in virtual reality (VR) with inspiration drawn from the shipbuilding industry's need to streamline and make their processes more sustainable. The user interfaces, one focusing on single-hand (unimanual) gestures and the other focusing on dual-handed (bimanual) usage, are tested as a case study using 13 tasks. The unimanual approach attempts to provide a higher degree of flexibility, while the bimanual approach seeks to provide more control over the interaction. The interfaces were developed for the Meta Quest 2 VR headset using the Unity game engine. Hand-tracking (HT) is utilized due to potential usability benefits in comparison to standard controller-based user interfaces, which lack intuitiveness regarding the controls and can cause more strain. The user interfaces were tested with 25 test users, and the results indicate a preference toward the one-handed user interface with little variation in test user categories. Additionally, the testing order, which was counterbalanced, had a statistically significant impact on the preference and performance, indicating that learning novel interaction mechanisms requires an adjustment period for reliable results. VR sickness was also strongly experienced by a few users, and there were no signs that gesture controls would significantly alleviate it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For this paper, full-scale/model test comparisons to validate the traditional atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) wind-tunnel simulation technique performed until now by the wind engineering community are systematically reviewed. The engineering background includes some benchmark low-rise buildings specifically established for use in wind engineering research (the Aylesbury experimental buildings, the Texas Tech University experimental building, the Silsoe buildings, etc.), several high-rise buildings in North America and East Asia, long-span bridges, large-span structures, and cooling towers. These structures are of different geometries, are located in different wind environments, and are equipped with various transducers and anemometers. By summarizing the different articles in the literature, it is evident that notable discrepancies between the full-scale measurement and the model test results were observed in most full-scale/model test comparisons, which usually took certain forms: the mean and/or the peak negative pressures at the flow separation regions on buildings were underestimated in the wind tunnel; differences in the root-mean-square (rms) values of the acceleration samples between the full-scale measurements and the force balance model tests were non-negligible; the vertical vortex-induced vibration amplitudes of bridges measured using section models and aero-elastic models were much lower than those observed on the prototypes, etc. Most scholars subjectively inferred that inherent technical issues with the ABL wind tunnel simulation technique could be responsible for the observed full-scale/model test discrepancies, including the Reynolds number effects, the turbulent flow characteristics effects, and the non-stationarity effects. However, based on the authors' years of experience and after discussion with experienced researchers, it was found that some of the full-scale measurements performed in earlier research were inherently less accurate and deterministic than the wind tunnel experiments they were supposed to validate, which could also be a significant cause of the full-scale/model test discrepancies observed. It is suggested herein that future studies in this field should regard full-scale measurements only as benchmarks, and that future works should focus on synthesizing the results from different schools of physical experiments and formulating universal empirical models of high theoretical significance to properly validate future wind tunnel tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the beginning of a project or research that involves the issue of autonomous navigation of mobile robots, a decision must be made about working with traditional control algorithms or algorithms based on artificial intelligence. This decision is not usually easy, as the computational capacity of the robot, the availability of information through its sensory systems and the characteristics of the environment must be taken into consideration. For this reason, this work focuses on a review of different autonomous-navigation algorithms applied to mobile robots, from which the most suitable ones have been identified for the cases in which the robot must navigate in dynamic environments. Based on the identified algorithms, a comparison of these traditional and DRL-based algorithms was made, using a robotic platform to evaluate their performance, identify their advantages and disadvantages and provide a recommendation for their use, according to the development requirements of the robot. The algorithms selected were DWA, TEB, CADRL and SAC, and the results show that—according to the application and the robot's characteristics—it is recommended to use each of them, based on different conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to understand the cognitive profiles of cerebellar infarction patients and compare them to those with supratentorial infarctions, particularly frontal infarctions. This current study also aims to find reliable assessment tools for detecting cognitive impairment in cerebellar infarction patients. A total of fifty cerebellar infarction patients, sixty supratentorial infarction patients, and thirty-nine healthy controls were recruited. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination III (ACE-III), and Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome scale (CCAS-s) were used to assess global cognitive function. An extensive neuropsychological assessment battery was also tested to evaluate the characteristics of each cognitive domain. To assess the features of cognitive function, a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation tool was also utilized. The cerebral infarction patients demonstrated cognitive impairment comparable to those with frontal infarcts, notably characterized by disturbance in attention and executive function. However, the degree of cognitive impairment was comparatively milder in cerebellar infarction patients. Furthermore, the patients in the cerebellar group had worse scores in the ACE-III and CCAS-s compared to healthy controls. The two assessments also demonstrated a significant area under the curve values, indicating their effectiveness in distinguishing cognitive impairment in cerebellar infarctions. In conclusion, cognitive impairment in a cerebellar infarction resembles frontal lobe dysfunction but is generally mild. It can be accurately assessed using the ACE-III and CCAS-s scales.

The Pingtan river basin in Hunan and the Jiudong area in Guizhou are two typical Dong minority settlements in the southern Dong area. However, an evident difference reveals during the field survey from a global (village level) and local (architecture level)view. This paper conducts a comparison study between these two regions, ranging from the architectural composition of the villages, and the construction techniques of Drum Towers to the façade configuration of Drum Towers. Finally, this paper aims to unveil the main cause behind the differentiation, exploring the proximity to Han concentration and interlinks between these two regions.

In Article 1 number 1 of Law Number 19 of 2003 concerning State-Owned Enterprises, State-Owned Enterprises, it states that State-Owned Enterprises, hereinafter referred to as SOE, are business entities whose capital is wholly or largely owned by the state through equity participation, directly originating from separated state assets. SOEs have a vital and very important role in national development, as a source of state revenue in the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget. Given its very important position as a source of funds, SOE should be managed properly based on the principles of good corporate government. As actors of development in the economic sector, SOE carry out economic functions in all aspects of people's lives, especially those related to the field of services and the procurement of goods needed by the community.

Most breast reconstructions are implant-based and can be performed either in a one-stage, direct-to-implant or in a two-stage, expander-implant-based reconstruction. The objective of this systematic review is to compare the safety and patient satisfaction of the two reconstruction approaches. A literature search was conducted on 27 September 2022 using various databases. Studies comparing one-stage and two-stage implant reconstructions and reporting the following outcomes were included: patient satisfaction, aesthetics, complications, and/or costs. Reviews, case reports, or series with less than 20 patients and letters or comments were excluded. Comparisons were made between the one-stage reconstruction with and without acellular dermal matrix (ADM) and two-stage implant-based breast reconstruction groups. The data extracted from all articles were analysed using random-effects meta-analyses. Of the 1381 records identified, a total of 33 articles were included, representing 21529 patients. There were no significant differences between the one-stage and two-stage groups, except for the costs. The one-stage operation without ADM had lower costs than the two-stage operation without ADM, although the use of an ADM substantially increased the price of the operation to more than a two-stage reconstruction. Equal patient satisfaction, aesthetic outcomes, and complication rates with lower costs justify one-stage breast reconstruction in carefully selected patients. This review shows that there is no evidence-based superior surgical approach. Future research should focus on the costs of the ADM versus an additional stage and patient-reported outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional structural health monitoring (SHM) systems provide accurate and objective information to assess the condition state of bridges; however, they are expensive and typically installed only on strategic bridges. Innovative technologies offer a potential solution. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) takes multiple satellite radar images of a given area over time and extracts displacement time series of reflective point targets on the ground. The literature on InSAR‐based SHM of bridges lacks systematic studies aiming at quantifying the metrological uncertainty of the displacements measured. Furthermore, the topographic context and the magnitude of displacements of these structures between successive satellite passes significantly impact the uncertainty of results. This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of InSAR‐based SHM of bridges by comparing displacement time series obtained from InSAR with those from an on‐site topographic system. Displacements are measured from a prestressed concrete bridge in the Alpine region. Moreover, this study models the deformed shape of the bridge based on satellite and on‐site measurements and compares the results to determine whether bridge distortions can be reconstructed using satellite data alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of internet technologies in recent years, the shift from the desktop to the web platform can be seen within geospatial analysis. While analytical tools, such as buffer or clip, are routinely used in desktop environments, WebGIS deals with geographic information, including geospatial analysis, within the online environment. The main aim of this paper is to perform a comparison and evaluation of vector-oriented online geoprocessing tools in a WebGIS environment, supported by the development of a custom solution for geospatial analysis. The application called GeOnline is developed and tested as a case study to demonstrate the availability of spatial analysis tools within the web browser. It implements the specialized geospatial library Turf.js, which allows using non-trivial geospatial analysis, such as intersect, clip or calculate centroids. It handles client-side processes. Both a functionality comparison and performance testing are carried out, while the paper primarily focuses on data-driven (data-based) analysis and not only on visual-driven (visual-based) analysis. The comparative study evaluates five geospatial tools (ArcGIS Online, GISCloud, CARTO, FOURSQUARE, GeOnline) and summarizes the solutions from different aspects, including the number of supported operations. Finally, performance tests on GeOnline separately and among alternative solutions are performed. While ArcGIS Online is considered the most comprehensive solution on the market, GeOnline performs well compared to alternative solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the analytical performance of a new transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) device - BiliCareTM (Gerium Medical, Yavne, Israel). Methods: The neonatal TcB measurements were compared between BiliCareTM and the existing BiliChekTM systems (n = 40). TcB measured by BiliCareTM were also compared with total serum bilirubin (TSB) using a Roche Cobas702 chemistry analyzer (n = 31) and whole blood bilirubin using a Radiometer ABL 835 (n = 11). Reproducibility was assessed by repeating TcB measurements with 2 BiliCareTM devices on a normal neonate, two with borderline jaundice, and one with overt jaundice 10 to 20 times respectively within 30 minutes. Results: Compared with BiliChekTM, BiliCareTM demonstrated an average bias of -35.9 µmol/L (-20.6%) (BiliCareTM = 0.6724 BiliChekTM +20.984, r = 0.8414). BiliCareTM had a better agreement with Cobas702 (BiliCareTM = 0.8356 Cobas702 +31.884, r = 0.8576, average bias 8.0 µmol/L (5.3%)). Similarly, BiliCareTM had a -12.7 µmol/L (- 7.2%) average bias compared with ABL835 (BiliCareTM = 0.6166 ABL835 +54.464, r = 0.8287). At TcB 94.5, 155.2, 182.7, and 269.3 µmol/l levels, BiliCareTM had demonstrated imprecision as 8.9%, 9.8%, 5.4%, and 6.9% respectively. Conclusions: The new BiliCareTM correlates with total serum bilirubin as measured on laboratory chemistry analyzer Cobas702 and is acceptable for neonatal transcutaneous bilirubin testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syndromic surveillance is a critical component of intelligent warning and multi-point event-triggered mechanism for surveillance on public health emergency. In this paper using literature analysis, we discussed the characteristics of syndromic surveillance implemented during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and summarized performance experiences of those syndromic surveillance programs in typical countries or regions for providing a reference to construct effective syndromic surveillance framework in China.

Understanding the relationship between fire behavior and the driving weather conditions is critical for fire management and long-term fire risk assessment. In this study, we focus on two wildfire events: the Split wildfire in Croatia and the Forcett–Dunalley wildfire in Tasmania, Australia. The antecedent weather in both events included extremely dry conditions and higher-than-average air temperatures in the months prior to the events. The synoptic patterns in both events consisted of a large surface pressure gradient, which generated strong wind, driving the fire's spread. The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model was utilized to simulate fire weather conditions during the development of the two events. In the innermost domain of WRF, resolution is 500 m with explicit moisture calculation only, and there are 66 vertical levels, with about 20 of them to resolve the boundary layer. The WRF simulations are well verified by station observations, including upper-level wind speeds. The convergence line pattern in the Tasmanian event, which was conducive to intense plume development, has been well simulated. Only a slight discrepancy was identified in the simulation of the coastal change in wind direction in the Croatian event. It is identified that in the Split case, bura wind was highly coupled with an upper-level trough, which induced subsidence of the upper-level dry and cold air to the surface, causing rapid drying of the fuel. During the Forcett–Dunalley fire, the atmosphere was unstable, which enabled deep pyrocumulonimbus development. In general, the development from ignition to the timing of the most extreme fire intensity in both events was largely determined by the evolution of the surface to upper-level meteorological drivers. While these extreme meteorological conditions would impact fire-fighting strategies such as aircraft operations, a model-based estimate of the high-risk areas is critical. Our findings would also benefit an estimate of the climatology of fire events with similar behavior and thus a long-term fire risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we compare the performance of different MCUSUM methods presented in the literature. First, we briefly introduce MCUSUM methods in multivariate normal distribution. In order to evaluate their performance, we present a comparative study with simulation. Furthermore, we compare the average out-of-control run length of MCUSUM methods under different scenarios of mean shifts, standard deviation shifts, and correlation shifts. The results of the simulation study show that MCUSUM methods have different efficiency in detecting process shifts and based on the required application, the appropriate MCUSUM chart should be selected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism knowledge domain has always been one of the appealing topics in tourism academic circle. This paper extracted author-selected keywords from 4788 articles published from 2012 to 2021 in four authoritative journals: Annals of Tourism Research, Tourism Management, Journal of Sustainable Tourism and Tourism Tribune. These keywords were coded according to "research areas", "research objects", "research methods", and "research disciplines", and a statistical analysis was carried out regarding the frequency, quantity, average frequency, and frequency variance of each category of the keywords. A total of 3459 Chinese keywords and 9128 English keywords formed the basis of this analysis. According to the findings, China is the most frequently studied geographical region in the international tourism research. The application of qualitative methods in the Chinese tourism research is less frequent than that in the international research, and the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods has become an important trend in tourism research. The international tourism research on certain topics is more in-depth and cutting-edge than the Chinese tourism research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, 10 representative structural chemistry textbooks at home and abroad are selected for comparative study of teaching contents. The development history and characteristics of domestic structural chemistry textbooks are introduced. The differences between domestic and foreign textbooks are compared in terms of content, exercises and characteristics. The corresponding suggestions for the construction of structural chemistry textbooks in the future are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High quality textbooks are the important foundation for high level teaching. This paper made a comparative study of 15 typical physical chemistry textbooks at home and abroad. The comparison is made on 16 aspects including compilation idea, teaching content, acknowledge framework, teaching objectives and the composition and publication of textbooks. The advantages and disadvantages of Chinese physical chemistry textbooks are summarized. Seven suggestions of the important directions and key points for the future construction of physical chemistry textbooks during the 14th Five-Year Plan period was proposed. It has certain reference value for the compilation and publication of physical chemistry textbooks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, there are still debates on the choice of "quantum first" and "thermodynamics first" strategies in physical chemistry teaching. Thermodynamics is an important part of physical chemistry. This paper analyzes and compares the current situation of the arrangement of thermodynamics teaching content in 10 typical textbooks at home and abroad, and puts forward the development direction and suggestions, hoping to provide a basis for physical chemistry teaching and textbook construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemistry is an important tertiary subject in physical chemistry, and the classical content of electrochemistry has become an indispensable part of physical chemistry textbooks. This paper presents a comparative study of the contents of electrochemistry sections in 13 representative physical chemistry textbooks at home and abroad, and analyzes them from several perspectives, including their teaching concepts, organization of teaching contents, selection of teaching contents, and introduction of new knowledge, which are of certain reference value for the preparation and teaching of electrochemistry sections in physical chemistry textbooks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a comparative study of 14 representative organic chemistry textbooks at home and abroad, primarily focusing on the main teaching content, the content layout, information curation, teaching objectives, and the publication scenario. The advantages and disadvantages of developing organic chemistry textbooks in China were analyzed. A few suggestions for the future construction of such textbooks are presented herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider predictions in longitudinal studies, and investigate the well known statistical mixed-effects model, piecewise linear mixed-effects model and six different popular machine learning approaches: decision trees, bagging, random forest, boosting, support-vector machine and neural network. In order to consider the correlated data in machine learning, the random effects is combined into the traditional tree methods and random forest. Our focus is the performance of statistical modelling and machine learning especially in the cases of the misspecification of the fixed effects and the random effects. Extensive simulation studies have been carried out to evaluate the performance using a number of criteria. Two real datasets from longitudinal studies are analysed to demonstrate our findings. The R code and dataset are freely available at https://github.com/shuwen92/MEML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both Indonesia and Vietnam provide English as foreign language instruction. In contrast to Indonesia, where English proficiency is low, Vietnam has a moderate level of English proficiency. Although Vietnam has a moderate level of English proficiency, its curriculum is nearly identical to that of Indonesia, making it suitable for comparative research. This research aimed to identify the significant differences between Indonesian and Vietnamese universities' English language teacher education curricula. This study employed a qualitative methodology to compare the English as a foreign language teacher education curriculum in Vietnam and Indonesia. In this study, descriptive analysis was utilized. The English education curricula documents obtained from the university's website were used for data analysis. The research settings were Universitas Pasifik Morotai in Indonesia and the Giao Su-IESUS Evangelical School of Universal Studies in Vietnam. The finding showed that Vietnamese Universities stressed the dimension of content knowledge, communication competence, contextual knowledge, and professionalism practice theory. However, teaching competence, research knowledge, Community Practice Membership, and general knowledge are often overlooked. Compared to the EFL curriculum in Vietnam, the Indonesian curriculum, particularly at Universitas Paisfik Morotai, emphasized communication skills, content knowledge, research knowledge, and teaching competence/pedagogical aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fouling factor (Rf) is an operating index for measuring an undesirable effect of solids’ deposition on the heat transfer ability of heat exchangers. Accurate prediction of the fouling factor helps appropriate scheduling of the cleaning cycles. Since diverse factors affect this operating feature, it is sometimes hard to estimate the fouling factor accurately using simple empirical or traditional intelligent methods. Therefore, this study employs four up-to-date machine-learning algorithms (Gaussian Process Regression, Decision Trees, Bagged Trees, Support Vector Regression) and a traditional model (Linear Regression) to estimate the fouling factor as a function of operating and constructing variables. The 5-fold cross-validation using 9268 data samples determines the structure of the considered estimators, and 2358 external datasets have been utilized for models’ testing. The relevancy analysis confirms that the most accurate predictions are achieved when the square root of the fouling factor (√Rf) is simulated. The Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) shows the highest level of agreement with the experimental samples in both the model construction and testing stages. The trained GPR model scored an R2 value of 0.98770 and 0.99857 on the internal and external datasets, respectively. The model predicts the overall 11626 experimental samples (Davoudi and Vaferi, 2018) with the MAPE = 13.89%, MSE = 7.02 × 10−4, and R2=0.98999. The proposed GPR model outperforms the previously suggested artificial neural network for estimating the fouling factor in heat exchangers.

This paper presents two gesture-based user interfaces which were designed for a 3D design review in virtual reality (VR) with inspiration drawn from the shipbuilding industry’s need to streamline and make their processes more sustainable. The user interfaces, one focusing on single-hand (unimanual) gestures and the other focusing on dual-handed (bimanual) usage, are tested as a case study using 13 tasks. The unimanual approach attempts to provide a higher degree of flexibility, while the bimanual approach seeks to provide more control over the interaction. The interfaces were developed for the Meta Quest 2 VR headset using the Unity game engine. Hand-tracking (HT) is utilized due to potential usability benefits in comparison to standard controller-based user interfaces, which lack intuitiveness regarding the controls and can cause more strain. The user interfaces were tested with 25 test users, and the results indicate a preference toward the one-handed user interface with little variation in test user categories. Additionally, the testing order, which was counterbalanced, had a statistically significant impact on the preference and performance, indicating that learning novel interaction mechanisms requires an adjustment period for reliable results. VR sickness was also strongly experienced by a few users, and there were no signs that gesture controls would significantly alleviate it.

For this paper, full-scale/model test comparisons to validate the traditional atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) wind-tunnel simulation technique performed until now by the wind engineering community are systematically reviewed. The engineering background includes some benchmark low-rise buildings specifically established for use in wind engineering research (the Aylesbury experimental buildings, the Texas Tech University experimental building, the Silsoe buildings, etc.), several high-rise buildings in North America and East Asia, long-span bridges, large-span structures, and cooling towers. These structures are of different geometries, are located in different wind environments, and are equipped with various transducers and anemometers. By summarizing the different articles in the literature, it is evident that notable discrepancies between the full-scale measurement and the model test results were observed in most full-scale/model test comparisons, which usually took certain forms: the mean and/or the peak negative pressures at the flow separation regions on buildings were underestimated in the wind tunnel; differences in the root-mean-square (rms) values of the acceleration samples between the full-scale measurements and the force balance model tests were non-negligible; the vertical vortex-induced vibration amplitudes of bridges measured using section models and aero-elastic models were much lower than those observed on the prototypes, etc. Most scholars subjectively inferred that inherent technical issues with the ABL wind tunnel simulation technique could be responsible for the observed full-scale/model test discrepancies, including the Reynolds number effects, the turbulent flow characteristics effects, and the non-stationarity effects. However, based on the authors’ years of experience and after discussion with experienced researchers, it was found that some of the full-scale measurements performed in earlier research were inherently less accurate and deterministic than the wind tunnel experiments they were supposed to validate, which could also be a significant cause of the full-scale/model test discrepancies observed. It is suggested herein that future studies in this field should regard full-scale measurements only as benchmarks, and that future works should focus on synthesizing the results from different schools of physical experiments and formulating universal empirical models of high theoretical significance to properly validate future wind tunnel tests.

At the beginning of a project or research that involves the issue of autonomous navigation of mobile robots, a decision must be made about working with traditional control algorithms or algorithms based on artificial intelligence. This decision is not usually easy, as the computational capacity of the robot, the availability of information through its sensory systems and the characteristics of the environment must be taken into consideration. For this reason, this work focuses on a review of different autonomous-navigation algorithms applied to mobile robots, from which the most suitable ones have been identified for the cases in which the robot must navigate in dynamic environments. Based on the identified algorithms, a comparison of these traditional and DRL-based algorithms was made, using a robotic platform to evaluate their performance, identify their advantages and disadvantages and provide a recommendation for their use, according to the development requirements of the robot. The algorithms selected were DWA, TEB, CADRL and SAC, and the results show that—according to the application and the robot’s characteristics—it is recommended to use each of them, based on different conditions.

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) affects more than one billion individuals globally. We aimed to review all the published papers on vitamin D deficiency in in the country. Method: PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, Science direct and scientific information databases were searched for papers related to the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency for all age groups in Iran from 2000 to 2018. The Joanna Briggs Institute prevalence critical appraisal tool was applied for the assessment of the methodological quality of these studies. The Meta-analysis is based on the random effect model using Comprehensive Meta-analysis data analysis.Results: Eighty-seven original articles reported on participants with vitamin D insufficiency in Iran. According to the meta-analysis of the prevalence of moderately deficient of vitamin D in men and women as well as younger and older individuals (>18 years) using a cut-off point of 25(OH) D3

Evaluation of hydrodynamic wave pressure on large-scale structure is an important task in the wave load design of thin-walled components used in sea-crossing bridge. This study focuses on the probability distribution of hydrodynamic wave pressure on a large-scale thin-walled structure using on-site measurement data. An in-situ observation project is conducted to collect the wave elevation and the wave pressure on a rectangle cofferdam during a tropical cyclone event. With the measured data, the wave conditions and the fluctuating wave pressure are extracted, and the corresponding statistical characteristics such as the cumulative density function (CDF) are derived. In addition, a time domain boundary element model (TDBEM) is introduced to provide the statistical comparison. Several wave conditions derived by the statistical wave indicators during the cyclone event are fed to the numerical model for pressure investigation. Based on the statistical indicators and the modeling results, the comparison of wave pressure spatial distribution between TDBEM and the on-site measurement is presented. The pressure probability distribution is presented to further reveal the differences on the statistical characteristics. The resultant bias mainly occurs in the low-exceeding-probability range on the up-wave side and the high-exceeding-probability range on the down-wave side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a comparative approach is a widespread method in educational research. Previous cross-cultural comparison studies on teachers' attitudes towards inclusive education show a strong lack of focus on preschool teachers' attitudes towards inclusion. Thus, this study examined 65 Chinese and 59 German preschool teachers' attitudes towards inclusion by applying the Multidimensional Attitudes towards Preschool Inclusive Education Scale (MATPIES). A comparative analysis showed Chinese and German teachers' overall attitudes towards inclusive education as positive, with German teachers' attitudes being more positive. While teachers in both countries showed the highest behavioural attitude dimension scores, Chinese teachers' affective attitude dimension scored the lowest. Guided by the 'cultural–historical framework', we discussed how individualistic and collectivistic values influence teachers' overall attitudes in the two countries, especially their different scores in affective dimension of attitude. Implications for future research examining preschool teachers' attitudes in China and Germany as well as in the international context are discussed, with an emphasis on exploring how various factors both within and beyond teacher attributes to generate a more comprehensive understanding of the critical issue of teachers' attitude. Meanwhile, further indications for conducting international comparison studies on teachers' attitudes are also presented, including some methodological considerations for such studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Refrigeration Technology is the property of Shanghai Society of Refrigeration and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Architectural Journal / Jian Zhu Xue Bao is the property of Architectural Journal Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aims to analyze the comparison of the primary school level school system in Singapore and Hong Kong, to analyze the comparison of the social studies curriculum at the elementary school level in Singapore and Hong Kong. The research method used is the library method with literature reviews from journals, books and other library sources. The results showed that; 1) The education systems in Singapore and Hong Kong have much in common. The school system starts at Kindergarten for 3 years, continues at the Primary or elementary school level. Then Secondary and College Level. The differences in the education systems of the two countries can be seen from the secondary or secondary school level; 2) The social studies education curriculum in Singapore and Hong Kong also has similarities as well as differences. The Social Studies curriculum at Elementary Schools in Singapore integrates the study areas of Geography, History, Economics and Sociology called Social Studies. Meanwhile, Hong Kong is included in the Personal, Social and Humanities Education group material as General Studies.

This article investigates the presentation strategies of cultural elements in the construction of cultural knowledge systems, comparing Yutang Lin’s Kaiming English Books (KEB) and Senior High English (SHE). The study addresses the integration of Chinese culture within the framework of cultural and educational orientation, using an adapted textbook evaluation theory. This framework encompasses both internal and external evaluation methods. Internal evaluation involves a statistical analysis of Chinese cultural elements within the textbooks, while external evaluation compares the inclusion and role of these elements in the two-textbook series. The research employs content analysis and comparative analysis, alongside a survey of attitudes among 303 English teachers from 10 senior high schools in Luoyang City, China. Key findings indicate that a thoughtfully designed presentation of Chinese cultural elements enhances cultural education in English teaching. Teachers favor integrating Chinese cultural themes and digital technology within the curriculum, supporting a more cohesive approach to incorporating Chinese culture in English learning. The study highlights the need for improved textbook design and thematic content to bolster students’ cognitive competence and cultural awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of internet technologies in recent years, the shift from the desktop to the web platform can be seen within geospatial analysis. While analytical tools, such as buffer or clip, are routinely used in desktop environments, WebGIS deals with geographic information, including geospatial analysis, within the online environment. The main aim of this paper is to perform a comparison and evaluation of vector-oriented online geoprocessing tools in a WebGIS environment, supported by the development of a custom solution for geospatial analysis. The application called GeOnline is developed and tested as a case study to demonstrate the availability of spatial analysis tools within the web browser. It implements the specialized geospatial library Turf.js, which allows using non-trivial geospatial analysis, such as intersect, clip or calculate centroids. It handles client-side processes. Both a functionality comparison and performance testing are carried out, while the paper primarily focuses on data-driven (data-based) analysis and not only on visual-driven (visual-based) analysis. The comparative study evaluates five geospatial tools (ArcGIS Online, GISCloud, CARTO, FOURSQUARE, GeOnline) and summarizes the solutions from different aspects, including the number of supported operations. Finally, performance tests on GeOnline separately and among alternative solutions are performed. While ArcGIS Online is considered the most comprehensive solution on the market, GeOnline performs well compared to alternative solutions.

The use of piezoelectric nano-fillers in a non-piezoelectric matrix is a very attractive proposition for developing smart nanocomposite materials with desired electro-mechanical properties. The eco-friendly nanowires (NWs) of zinc oxide (ZnO) and gallium nitride (GaN) are the two candidates used to introduce smart piezoelectric nanocomposite materials. Specifically, in this first effort, we examined the electro-mechanical performance of newly developed composite plates reinforced by piezoelectric ZnO NW and GaN NW of varied volume fractions. The static deflections and natural frequencies of the newly developed bimorph piezoelectric nanocomposite plates subject to electro-mechanical loads are analyzed using a mesh-free method in conjunction with the shape functions of MLS. Using third order shear deformation theory (TDST), the coupled electro-mechanical governing equations for the considered smart plates are obtained and numerically integrated. The effects of the electro-mechanical loading and plate thickness on static deflection and natural frequencies of piezoelectric plates are investigated and discussed. Our predictions reveal that the application of electrical input to the plates can induce greater deflection than the ones introduced by mechanical loads and that ZnO NWs offer greater deflection than GaN NW. However, dynamic analysis indicates that GaN NW-reinforced plates have higher natural frequencies than those reinforced by ZnO NW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Continuous wireless monitoring outside the post-anesthesia or intensive care units may enable early detection of patient deterioration, but good accuracy of measurements is required. We aimed to assess the agreement between vital signs recorded by standard and novel wireless devices in postoperative patients. Approach. In 20 patients admitted to the post-anesthesia care unit, we compared heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) as paired data. The primary outcome measure was the agreement between standard wired and wireless monitoring, assessed by mean bias and 95% limits of agreement (LoA). LoA was considered acceptable for HR and PR, if within ±5 beats min−1 (bpm), while RR, SpO2, and BP were deemed acceptable if within ±3 breaths min−1 (brpm), ±3%-points, and ±10 mmHg, respectively. Main results. The mean bias between standard versus wireless monitoring was −0.85 bpm (LoA −6.2 to 4.5 bpm) for HR, −1.3 mmHg (LoA −19 to 17 mmHg) for standard versus wireless SBP, 2.9 mmHg (LoA −17 to 22) for standard versus wireless DBP, and 1.7% (LoA −1.4 mmHg to 4.8 mmHg) for SpO2, comparing standard versus wireless monitoring. The mean bias of arterial blood gas analysis versus wireless SpO2 measurements was 0.02% (LoA −0.02% to 0.06%), while the mean bias of direct observation of RR compared to wireless measurements was 0.0 brpm (LoA −2.6 brpm to 2.6 brpm). 80% of all values compared were within predefined clinical limits. Significance. The agreement between wired and wireless HR, RR, and PR recordings in postoperative patients was acceptable, whereas the agreement for SpO2 recordings (standard versus wireless) was borderline. Standard wired and wireless BP measurements may be used interchangeably in the clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opuntia species are well-known for their use in folk medicine and richness in many bioactive compounds. This study aims to realize a taxonomic study and to evaluate the polyphenols content and antioxidant potential of edible parts of cultivated and wild Opuntia sp. fruits, using different in-vitro bioassays. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed the assignment of the samples to Opuntia genera. The Opuntia fruit fractions (seeds, pulp, and entire fruit) exhibited different amounts of polyphenols, with the highest values recorded for the wild species, and particularly their pulp (1140.86 mg GAE/100 g DM, and 155.62 QE/100 g DM for total phenolic and flavonoid compounds, respectively). Among the antioxidant activities, wild pulp exhibited the greatest antioxidant potential with a high radical scavenging activity (72.34% and 92.12% for hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals, respectively). The best nitric oxide scavenging activity was found for cultivated fruit fraction, with 55.22%. The statistical analysis also confirmed a significant correlation between the antioxidant activities and the phenolic compounds and flavonoids (>0.90, p ≤ 0.001) in all Opuntia extracts. Finally, both Opuntia fruits demonstrated a good antioxidant potential, enhancing the interest of this species as a non-pharmacological approach in a wide variety of disorders and diseases associated with oxidative stress, and paving the way to Opuntia sp. economic valorization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Looking back at the cases of brain cutting conducted in Sumitomo Hospital over the past 32 years, cases where clinical brain imaging could be compared with pathological findings other than degenerative diseases are examined and carefully selected, and instructive examples of them are presented. Although there are some limitations, the comparison between clinical brain imaging and pathological finding is significant to the final diagnosis and understanding of the pathogenesis of brain lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]