Search

Background: Kilohertz high-frequency alternating current (KHFAC) stimulation has demonstrated to induce rapid and reversible nerve blocks without causing nerve damage. Previous studies have explored frequency-dependent effects using a transcutaneous approach in humans from 5 to 20 kHz. Nevertheless, its application in humans is limited by the lack of stimulators approved for frequencies above 20 kHz. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects and safety of transcutaneous KHFAC stimulation using a novel prototype stimulator, comparing interventions at 30, 40, and 50 kHz to sham stimulation on experimental pain, sensory, motor, and neurophysiological outcomes. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled crossover study involving 34 healthy participants was conducted. Four interventions (30, 40, 50 kHz, and sham) were administered, and stimulation was applied for 20 min to the median nerve of the non-dominant hand. A prototype stimulator capable of delivering frequencies between 1 and 50 kHz, with a maximum peak-to-peak output current intensity of 400 mA was designed. The intensity applied during the stimulation was below motor threshold, evoking a 'strong but comfortable' tingling sensation. Primary outcomes included heat pain threshold (HPT), pressure pain threshold (PPT), and adverse effects. The secondary outcomes included static two-point discrimination sensitivity, isometric pinch strength, and median sensory nerve action potential (SNAP). Results: Compared with the sham stimulation, all the active interventions exhibited a significantly greater increase in the PPT during and immediately after the stimulation, while only a significant increase was observed at 40 kHz (4.1 N/cm2; 95%CI 0.3 to 7.9) at 15 min post-intervention. Compared to sham stimulation, the 40 kHz intervention had a significantly greater effect on the HPT at all time points, with the greatest difference (1.4 °C; 0.6 to 2.1) occurring immediately post-intervention. Adverse effects during active interventions included petechiae, erythema, and itching, which resolved at 24 h post-intervention. For secondary outcomes, only a significant reduction in the median SNAP velocity was observed in the sham stimulation group compared to the 50 kHz group. Conclusions: Active KHFAC stimulation, particularly at 40 kHz, delivered through a novel stimulator, effectively increased the PPT and HPT without affecting tactile or motor outcomes, inducing mild skin-related adverse effects. These findings have potential implications for people with pain-related pathologies. Trial registration: NCT05230836. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ocean, with its intricate processes, plays a pivotal role in shaping marine life, habitats, and the Earth's climate. This study addresses issues such as beach erosion, the survival of propagules from species like Posidonia oceanica, and nutrient distribution. To tackle these challenges, we propose an innovative sensor that quantifies hydrodynamic velocity by measuring the output voltage derived from detecting changes in light absorption and scattering using LEDs and LDRs. Our results not only demonstrate the effectiveness of the sensor but also the accuracy of the processing algorithm. Notably, the blue LED exhibited the lowest mean relative error of 7.59% in freshwater, while the yellow LED was most precise in chlorophyll-containing water, with a mean relative error of 6.80%. In a runoff simulation, we observed similar velocities with the blue, green, and white LEDs, 6.89 cm/s, 6.99 cm/s, and 7.05 cm/s, respectively, for nearly identical time intervals. It is important to highlight that our proposed sensor is not only effective but also highly cost-efficient, representing less than 0.43% of the cost of a Nortek Vector 6 MHz and 0.18% of the Teledyne Workhorse II 300 kHz Marine. This makes it a key tool for managing marine ecosystems sustainably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capturing noncooperative targets in space has garnered continuous research interest in aerospace applications. This study addresses the demands of large-scale, multifaceted activities and varied working conditions for space capture missions by designing a space capture robot composed of multiple cable-driven manipulators operating in parallel. First, single- and multi-segment cable-driven robot models were designed, and a geometric model was subsequently built. The optimal number of segments was determined by analysing the condition number of a Jacobian matrix using the Monte Carlo method. Subsequently, based on the constant-curvature assumption, a kinematic model of the cable-driven space capture robot was formulated, and capture methods for different capture targets were designed using the Monte Carlo method. Finally, an eight-segment cable-driven robot prototype was developed, and compliance and driving experiments were conducted. This robot exhibits promising application potential for space noncooperative target capture and can be feasibly manufactured using on-orbit 3D machining technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the performance of a pre-treatment facility for SuDS water quality improvement designed to handle the stormwater runoff of a 200 m2 parking lot, using synthetic runoff and a statistical model of two levels of operation and four variables. The prototype consisted of an inlet ramp, sedimentation and filtration tank, and a recirculation system. The results showed that the removal efficiency of total suspended solids (TSS) and fats and oils concentration in the effluent are not affected by influent variations in flow rate, pH, temperature, TSS, fats and oils, and lead concentration. For the 32 measurements taken, an average of 82.9% (SD 3.6%) was obtained regarding total suspended solids removal. Lead retention possibilities were also observed. The TSS removal efficiencies were above 90.6% for precipitation events, generating peak flows of up to 5 L/s and a duration of 21 minutes, controlling the diffuse pollution peak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug repositioning is a cost-effective approach to identifying new indications for existing drugs by predicting their associations with new diseases or symptoms. Recently, deep learning-based models have become the mainstream for drug repositioning. Existing methods typically regard the drug-repositioning task as a binary classification problem to find the new drug–disease associations. However, drug–disease associations may encompass some potential subcategories that can be used to enhance the classification performance. In this paper, we propose a prototype-based subcategory exploration (PSCE) model to guide the model learned with the information of a potential subcategory for drug repositioning. To achieve this, we first propose a prototype-based feature-enhancement mechanism (PFEM) that uses clustering centroids as the attention to enhance the drug–disease features by introducing subcategory information to improve the association prediction. Second, we introduce the drug–disease dual-task classification head (D3TC) of the model, which consists of a traditional binary classification head and a subcategory-classification head to learn with subcategory exploration. It leverages finer-grained pseudo-labels of subcategories to introduce additional knowledge for precise drug–disease association classification. In this study, we conducted experiments on four public datasets to compare the proposed PSCE with existing state-of-the-art approaches and our PSCE achieved a better performance than the existing ones. Finally, the effectiveness of the PFEM and D3TC was demonstrated using ablation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the crucial intersection of cultural inclusivity in designing and developing e-learning prototypes for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in developed countries, such as Saudi Arabia (SA), emphasizing language and gender dynamics. It delves into the deliberate design of prototypes that accommodate linguistic diversity and address gender biases prevalent in educational systems. Real-world examples illustrate innovative solutions institutions use to navigate the complexities of language and gender dynamics during the prototype design process. Notably, the prototypes discussed have undergone rigorous evaluation, ensuring they meet technical benchmarks while aligning with the diverse linguistic and gender aspects inherent to developed nations. By synthesizing cultural sensitivity with cutting-edge design, this article encourages educators, developers, and decision-makers to adopt holistic approaches in creating HEI prototypes. Incorporating cultural inclusivity fosters equitable learning environments and positions higher education to be both forward-thinking and deeply rooted in the cultural tapestry it serves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) is a promising solution to boost coverage sustainably by reflecting waves from a transmitter to a receiver and acting as a low-power and passive relay. In this paper, for the first time, we demonstrate experimentally that a reconfigurable intelligent surface designed for sub6GHz, and using varactor technology, can perform three-dimensional reflective beamforming and interference nulling. This result is achieved with a RIS prototype of 984 unit-cells, thanks to a compact control circuit individually addressing and configuring the voltage of each unit-cell, with a distinct voltage. To our knowledge, this prototype configures 17 to 70 times more distinct voltages than in the state-of-the-art. The experimental results in an indoor environment show a 10-dB gain. They also show, for the first time, that producing such a new prototype is feasible with minimal energy footprint and environmental impact, thanks to refurbishing. Indeed, a reflectarray antenna originally designed for three-dimensional beamforming has been turned into a RIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an approach for designing a novel tooth profile of harmonic drives, which is composed of two pieces of curves, hypocycloid and epicycloid, generated by the rolling circles with appropriate radii. Compared with the conventional double-circular-arc or cycloidal tooth profile of harmonic drives, the tooth profile is characterized by full conjugation, more number of engaged teeth, and can be expressed analytically, etc. Firstly, the generation of the cycloids are briefly described, and then their conjugate criterion is investigated systematically based on Camus's theorem. Secondly, the tooth profile equations for the circular spline and flexspline are established and the deformed neutral curve equation is derived. Next, the contact properties among the tooth profiles, including the line of action, meshing angle, etc., are studied systematically. Finally, a finite element model and a physical prototype for the harmonic drive with the tooth profile are developed, respectively. The effectiveness of the design method is verified by the contact performances simulation. The research may provide a new thought for the innovative design of harmonic drives with full conjugate tooth profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Materials and Methods Results Conclusion Homophily represents the extent to which people feel others are like them and encourages the uptake of activities they feel people like them do. Currently, there are no data on blood donor homophily with respect to (i) people's representation of the average prototypical UK blood donor and (ii) the degree of homophily with this prototype for current donors, non‐donors, groups blood services wish to encourage (ethnic minorities), those who are now eligible following policy changes (e.g., men‐who‐have‐sex‐with‐men: MSM) and recipients. We aim to fill these gaps in knowledge.We surveyed the UK general population MSM, long‐term blood recipients, current donors, non‐donors and ethnic minorities (n = 785) to assess perceptions of the prototypical donor in terms of ethnicity, age, gender, social class, educational level and political ideology. Homophily was indexed with respect to age, gender and ethnicity.The prototypical UK blood donor is perceived as White, middle‐aged, middle‐class, college‐level educated and left‐wing. Current donors and MSM are more homophilous with this prototype, whereas recipients and ethnic minorities have the lowest homophily. Higher levels of homophily are associated with an increased likelihood of committing to donate.The prototype of the UK donor defined this as a White activity. This, in part, may explain why ethnic minorities are less likely to be donors. As well as traditional recruitment strategies, blood services need to consider broader structural changes such as the ethnic diversity of staff and co‐designing donor spaces with local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Kilohertz high-frequency alternating current (KHFAC) stimulation has demonstrated to induce rapid and reversible nerve blocks without causing nerve damage. Previous studies have explored frequency-dependent effects using a transcutaneous approach in humans from 5 to 20 kHz. Nevertheless, its application in humans is limited by the lack of stimulators approved for frequencies above 20 kHz. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects and safety of transcutaneous KHFAC stimulation using a novel prototype stimulator, comparing interventions at 30, 40, and 50 kHz to sham stimulation on experimental pain, sensory, motor, and neurophysiological outcomes. Methods A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled crossover study involving 34 healthy participants was conducted. Four interventions (30, 40, 50 kHz, and sham) were administered, and stimulation was applied for 20 min to the median nerve of the non-dominant hand. A prototype stimulator capable of delivering frequencies between 1 and 50 kHz, with a maximum peak-to-peak output current intensity of 400 mA was designed. The intensity applied during the stimulation was below motor threshold, evoking a ‘strong but comfortable’ tingling sensation. Primary outcomes included heat pain threshold (HPT), pressure pain threshold (PPT), and adverse effects. The secondary outcomes included static two-point discrimination sensitivity, isometric pinch strength, and median sensory nerve action potential (SNAP). Results Compared with the sham stimulation, all the active interventions exhibited a significantly greater increase in the PPT during and immediately after the stimulation, while only a significant increase was observed at 40 kHz (4.1 N/cm2; 95%CI 0.3 to 7.9) at 15 min post-intervention. Compared to sham stimulation, the 40 kHz intervention had a significantly greater effect on the HPT at all time points, with the greatest difference (1.4 °C; 0.6 to 2.1) occurring immediately post-intervention. Adverse effects during active interventions included petechiae, erythema, and itching, which resolved at 24 h post-intervention. For secondary outcomes, only a significant reduction in the median SNAP velocity was observed in the sham stimulation group compared to the 50 kHz group. Conclusions Active KHFAC stimulation, particularly at 40 kHz, delivered through a novel stimulator, effectively increased the PPT and HPT without affecting tactile or motor outcomes, inducing mild skin-related adverse effects. These findings have potential implications for people with pain-related pathologies. Trial registration NCT05230836.

Cantonese, Teochew, and Hakka are three major ethnic groups in southern China that exhibit distinct characteristics despite their close geographical and cultural ties. This study employs an analysis of historical documents, architectural documentation, interviews, and observations to examine common settlement patterns and unique evolutionary mechanisms. The findings indicate that all three groups commonly feature a “tanghengshi” architectural prototype, rooted in Central Plains cultural heritage. Both Teochew and Hakka communities have consistently preserved this traditional structure. In contrast, Cantonese settlements have transitioned toward a “binglieshi” layout, characterized by the decline of horizontal houses and a reorientation of architectural elements. This study also investigates how large “tanghengshi” residences and smaller “binglieshi” dwellings may mutually transform. These adaptations in settlement form respond to Lingnan’s geographical and climatic conditions, influenced by social organization, Central Plains culture, and external factors. This research significantly advances our understanding of the relationships among the Cantonese, Teochew, and Hakka settlements and provides valuable insights for future restoration efforts.

In semantic segmentation, generalizing a visual system to both seen categories and novel categories at inference time has always been practically valuable yet challenging. To enable such functionality, existing methods mainly rely on either providing several support demonstrations from the visual aspect or characterizing the informative clues from the textual aspect (e.g., the class names). Nevertheless, both two lines neglect the complementary intrinsic of low-level visual and high-level language information, while the explorations that consider visual and textual modalities as a whole to promote predictions are still limited. To close this gap, we propose to encompass textual and visual clues as multi-modal prototypes to allow more comprehensive support for open-world semantic segmentation, and build a novel prototype-based segmentation framework to realize this promise. To be specific, unlike the straightforward combination of bi-modal clues, we decompose the high-level language information as multi-aspect prototypes and aggregate the low-level visual information as more semantic prototypes, on basis of which, a fine-grained complementary fusion makes the multi-modal prototypes more powerful and accurate to promote the prediction. Based on an elastic mask prediction module that permits any number and form of prototype inputs, we are able to solve the zero-shot, few-shot and generalized counterpart tasks in one architecture. Extensive experiments on both PASCAL- 5 i and COCO- 20 i datasets show the consistent superiority of the proposed method compared with the previous state-of-the-art approaches, and a range of ablation studies thoroughly dissects each component in our framework both quantitatively and qualitatively that verify their effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancements in coffee processing technologies have led to improved efficiency in field operations, but challenges still exist in their practical implementation. Various alternatives and solutions have been proposed to enhance processing efficiency and address issues related to safety, standardization, and quality improvement in coffee production. A literature review using SciMAT and ScientoPy software highlighted advancements in fermentation tanks and the emergence of novel fermentation methodologies. However, these innovations lack sufficient scientific evidence. Researchers are now focusing on systematic approaches, such as controlled fermentations and evaluating the influence of microorganisms and process conditions on sensory attributes and coffee composition. Brazil is the leader in coffee bean fermentation research, but the number of published papers in the field has recently decreased. Despite this, efforts continue to improve process control and optimize product quality. The study emphasizes the need for further innovation in coffee fermentation technologies to increase efficiency, sustainability, and profitability while minimizing environmental impact. Implementing these advancements promises a more sustainable and quality-driven future for the coffee industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Knee arthritis is a destructive disorder that affects the knee joints and causes pain and reduced mobility. Drug treatments, weight loss, and exercise control the symptoms of the disease, but these methods only delay the disease process and eventually, knee joint replacement surgery will be needed. After surgery, with the help of a proper physiotherapy program, full recovery takes an average of 6–12 months. However, currently, there is no similar tool to facilitate this process in Iran. Objective The purpose of this research is to design and develop the prototype of a rehabilitation system for patients after knee replacement surgery, which provides patients with information and appropriate physiotherapy programs. Methods This study was development-applied and was done in three stages. In the first stage, the needs and content of education and therapeutic exercises were prepared in the form of a checklist, and then the necessity of each item was checked in the evaluation sessions. In the second stage, the prototype of the system was developed using Adobe XD software and based on the requirements approved from the previous stage. In the third stage, the usability of the program was analyzed from the point of view of experts using the exploratory evaluation method with Nielsen’s 13 principles of usability. Results At first, the system requirements were extracted and prepared in two checklists of content (51 exercises) and capabilities (60 items). Then after a survey of experts based on the Delphi technique, content information (43 exercises) and functional and non-functional requirements (53 items) were obtained. A survey of experts helped to finalize the information elements, categorize them, and prepare the final version of the checklists. Based on this, the system requirements were classified into 11 categories, and the training content was classified into 3 training periods. Finally, the design and development of the system was done. This system has admin, physician, and patient user interfaces. The result of usability showed that this system is efficient and there are only a few problems in the feature of helping users to detect and recover from errors. Conclusion It seems necessary to develop a system based on the principles of usability by therapists and rehabilitation specialists to train and monitor the remote rehabilitation process of patients after knee joint replacement at home. And the importance of involving stakeholders in the design and development of remote rehabilitation systems is not hidden from anyone. Kara system has all of the above.

Students at UAD can join various projects offered by their lecturers, including research, internships, assignments, and competitions. These opportunities are typically communicated through research workshops or WhatsApp groups. Currently, more lecturers are getting research projects that require students as technical members, but they need to be sure about the students' sufficient abilities. On the other hand, not all students receive this information, and project monitoring is often done informally via WhatsApp. All students should get projects so they can graduate from project management courses or internships. To address this, lecturers can help speed up the process of students getting projects by inviting students to join their projects. An application was proposed to streamline information dissemination, student selection, and project monitoring. The study employed the double diamond method—Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver —to design the app's UI/UX prototype. Usability and user experience testing showed high success rates for both lecturer and student applications, with 91.81% and 84.54% respectively. The student app scored well on attraction (1.63), clarity (1.45), efficiency (1.70), accuracy (1.70), stimulation (1.95), and novelty (1.40). The lecturer app scored even higher on attraction (2.47), clarity (1.45), efficiency (2.25), accuracy (1.95), stimulation (2.65), and novelty (2.45).

Among the works of Russian writers, a considerable share, when creating a character, to one degree or another, described a specific person (his appearance and/or habits, views, behavior, incidents from his life, etc.). However, the phenomenon of prototyping is rarely studied, and numerous works on specific prototypes are not generalized. One of the conditions of this work is the cataloging of prototypes. Similar work was started in the 1960s by M.S. Altman but did not find successors. The proposed index of prototypes of characters in literary works, which were Russian writers of the 19th – early 20th centuries, includes prototypes that Altman did not take into account in his publications. The index can serve for biographical research on the mentioned prototype writers, studying the poetics of specific authors who used prototypes and investigating general mechanisms of prototyping.

The development of science and technology has experienced such rapid growth, thus encouraging humans to try to overcome all problems that arise around them and ease the work around the environment through automatic control systems. One of the technologies currently being developed is the Arduino microcontroller. Based on the problems often experienced by students when leaving clothes to dry in the dormitory. If it rains or bad weather, it can be a problem if you do not have time to lift the clothesline so that dry clothes become wet with rainwater when there are no dorm residents because they are on campus. Given these problems, the author designed an automatic drying room prototype using a rain sensor and light sensor based on an Arduino microcontroller. The components used are a drying room and roof, a light sensor and water sensor as input, an Arduino microcontroller, breadboard and jumper cables, a power bank as a processor, and a servo motor and LED lights as output. A servo motor automatically moves the roof of the clothes' drying room, and the LED lights turn on, according to input from the light sensor and rain sensor, according to the conditions received by the sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time heart rate monitoring and early detection of heart abnormalities are vital to determine heart health before it worsens. To achieve this goal, this project uses the backpropagation neural network (BPNN) method including its capability to classify heartbeats into normal or abnormal by inputting heartbeat values in BPM units derived from prototypes utilizing sensors like Sensor Easy Pulse and NodeMCU, along with considerations of age and sports activity. All data from sensors will be stored in Firebase. Then Firebase will connect to Android, and the normal and abnormal heart classification results will be displayed on the Android system. Simulation results successfully examined 40 people as a sample and provided information from real-time heart rate monitoring, age, and sports activity as input. This research seeks to contribute to improving health services at various public health service centers and independently in detecting heart health early. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseño y Comunicación is the property of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseno y Comunicacion 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.)

Featured Application: This work could be applied for producing self-cleaning solar mirrors. In this study, a low-cost, scalable and robust process is proposed as an innovative method for coating solar mirrors with a self-cleaning, transparent in the full solar range and versatile material based on auxetic aluminum nitrides, previously obtained at the laboratory scale. This work presents the scaling-up of the fabrication process from the laboratory to prototypal scale and the preliminary results of outdoor self-cleaning solar mirror field tests in the demonstrative concentrating solar power (CSP) plant ENEASHIP located in Casaccia (Rome) ENEA Research Center. Prototypes with a size of 50 × 40 cm have shown stability in external conditions: no coating degradation occurred during the test campaign. Their washing restores the initial reflectance affected by soiling and the self-cleaning performance allows for the utilization of a reduced quantity of water for cleaning operations with respect to the uncoated glass of back surface mirrors. A similar self-cleaning AlN coating could be utilized on other solar components affected by soiling, such as the glass envelopes in heat-collecting elements, PV panels and other parts where a self-cleaning performance combined with an optical one is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the potential of converting domestic graywater into electrochemical energy as a sustainable energy solution amidst growing environmental concerns. Employing a custom-designed galvanic cell prototype, the research aims to transform the chemical energy in graywater into electrical energy through redox reactions, quantifying the electrical potential generated. Results demonstrate the prototype's success in generating an average no-load voltage of 5.1907 volts, effectively powering low-power devices like LEDs and validating the viability of greywater as an alternative energy source. However, the study acknowledges limitations such as the prototype's small scale and the potential impact of varied graywater compositions on energy efficiency, suggesting cautious application at larger scales. Future research directions include enhancing prototype efficiency and scalability, understanding the effects of different graywater compositions, and conducting long-term performance assessments. The study contributes to sustainable energy research by offering a novel approach to wastewater energy recovery, promoting environmental sustainability and efficient energy utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, plastic waste is one of the most pressing issues, especially in developing countries. Plastic waste comes from everyday products such as plastic food boxes, plastic bottles, disposable products, or plastc straws causing negative effects on the environment. On the other hand, grass straws are eco-friendly and safe and can be easily found in Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. However, the process of grass straw production is implemented manually, resulting in low productivity and unsafe labor conditions. Among the stages of producing grass straws, cleaning the core of the straw is the most important because it determines its quality. Aiming to automate the grass straw production process, this paper introduces the first grass straw core cleaning machine in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Techno.com is the property of Universitas Dian Nuswantoro, Fakultas Ilmu Komputer 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.)

Waste banks are a solution proposed by the government to manage waste collectively and help reduce waste problems. However, over time, several issues have arisen, such as the process of depositing waste by customers who have to bring waste to the waste bank location, manual recording of waste deposit data, and withdrawal of savings balances that still require personal communication with the management. Therefore, an application is needed to address these problems of waste banks. This study aims to design a real-time Android application to overcome these challenges, with a case study on the Anggrek Sectoral Waste Bank in Wiyung District, Surabaya. The development of this application uses the prototype development method. The results show that the application performed successfully in all situations, with a satisfactory level of user satisfaction. This is evidenced by the results of testing using 46 test cases with Black Box Testing and evaluations of 35 respondents using the System Usability Scale questionnaire, which yielded a score of 75. The combination of good functional performance and high satisfaction indicates that this application is ready to be used optimally according to the needs of the waste bank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Knee arthritis is a destructive disorder that affects the knee joints and causes pain and reduced mobility. Drug treatments, weight loss, and exercise control the symptoms of the disease, but these methods only delay the disease process and eventually, knee joint replacement surgery will be needed. After surgery, with the help of a proper physiotherapy program, full recovery takes an average of 6–12 months. However, currently, there is no similar tool to facilitate this process in Iran. Objective: The purpose of this research is to design and develop the prototype of a rehabilitation system for patients after knee replacement surgery, which provides patients with information and appropriate physiotherapy programs. Methods: This study was development-applied and was done in three stages. In the first stage, the needs and content of education and therapeutic exercises were prepared in the form of a checklist, and then the necessity of each item was checked in the evaluation sessions. In the second stage, the prototype of the system was developed using Adobe XD software and based on the requirements approved from the previous stage. In the third stage, the usability of the program was analyzed from the point of view of experts using the exploratory evaluation method with Nielsen's 13 principles of usability. Results: At first, the system requirements were extracted and prepared in two checklists of content (51 exercises) and capabilities (60 items). Then after a survey of experts based on the Delphi technique, content information (43 exercises) and functional and non-functional requirements (53 items) were obtained. A survey of experts helped to finalize the information elements, categorize them, and prepare the final version of the checklists. Based on this, the system requirements were classified into 11 categories, and the training content was classified into 3 training periods. Finally, the design and development of the system was done. This system has admin, physician, and patient user interfaces. The result of usability showed that this system is efficient and there are only a few problems in the feature of helping users to detect and recover from errors. Conclusion: It seems necessary to develop a system based on the principles of usability by therapists and rehabilitation specialists to train and monitor the remote rehabilitation process of patients after knee joint replacement at home. And the importance of involving stakeholders in the design and development of remote rehabilitation systems is not hidden from anyone. Kara system has all of the above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marketplace development is increasing, as is the number of people with active internet access. Unive is a startup that runs an e-commerce platform connecting Student Activity Units with consumers. Focuses on fostering student entrepreneurship through practical business experience. For its development, this startup needs an interior for business escalation. Designers need software integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) in interior design. This study explores the integration of AI-powered rendering tools in the design of e-commerce platforms, focusing on how these tools enhance the user experience and satisfaction. The research employs a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative analyses. The author collected data through user surveys, expert interviews, and performance metrics of AI rendering tools. The author based the evaluation criteria on adherence to interior design principles and the quality of rendering results. Findings indicate that selecting furniture and supporting components that adhere to interior design principles results in optimal rendering outcomes. These outcomes are close to user expectations, significantly improving user engagement and satisfaction. Detailed analysis shows the effectiveness of AI rendering in various design scenarios. The discussion highlights the implications of integrating AI rendering tools in e-commerce platforms. It addresses the potential of these tools to revolutionize user interaction and provides insights into future developments and applications in the field. This study demonstrates the value of AI-powered rendering tools in enhancing e-commerce platform design. By adhering to interior design principles, these tools can achieve rendering results that meet user expectations, ultimately leading to improved user experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tenants or customers play a very important role in the property management industry. Their role is not only limited to tenants who live or use the property, but also includes various aspects that influence the operations, strategy and sustainability of the property management business. Digital transformation in the property management industry is increasingly becoming a necessity to increase operational efficiency and increase tenant or customer satisfaction. This research aims to develop a prototype Integrated Property Management System (IPMS) application designed to meet tenant/customer needs, as well as support digital transformation in this industry. The Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM) method is used to guide the development process from problem identification to evaluation of the resulting artifact. The research results show that the IPMS application prototype developed can increase tenant interaction and involvement, facilitate property management, and provide added value through automation and data integration. It is hoped that these findings can become the basis for further development and implementation of similar applications on a wider scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper explores the development of a multipurpose robot prototype designed for domestic use. The paper investigates the current state of robotics technology, identifies the needs and challenges in domestic settings, and proposes a conceptual design for an efficient and versatile robot that can perform various tasks within a household. The research draws upon credible sources to provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic and presents potential applications and benefits of such a robot in everyday life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco 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.)

In the context of the Vilnius Baroque School, the Augustinian Church of Our Lady of Consolation stands out as a distinctive architectural gem. The façade of this single-tower church is unparalleled among sacral architecture not only in Vilnius but throughout the entire Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 18th century. Despite its uniqueness, the church has long been overlooked by art and architecture historians due to the loss of the Augustinian monastery's archive, which contained crucial construction documents. The absence of archival records has hampered research into the church and monastery's history, and the identity of the architect remains a mystery obscured by various assumptions. The construction of the church, initiated by Kazimierz Dominyk Królikowski, the prosecutor and envoy of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, supervisor of Tendžiogala, began in 1738, funded by his will. The construction and interior decoration unfolded between approximately 1738/46 and 1757. Around 1790-1810, the façade underwent reconstruction with the addition of square-plan annexes, the treasury-library and the chapel of the Lord Jesus. This alteration, while expanding the church, deviated from the original design, disrupting the intended emphasis on the vertical line, dynamism, and the impression of spatial dissection. The article focuses on two main issues: the potential prototype of the church and its authorship. It briefly traces the evolution of single-tower Catholic churches in Central Europe and posits the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Dresden, commissioned by Augustus III, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, as a key prototype for the church façade. Gaetano Chiaveri, an architect from the royal court milieu, supervised the design of the Dresden Cathedral and its construction, which began in 1738. The article explores segments of Chiaveri's creative path to uncover how certain cultural experiences and architectural ideas circulated in various socio-cultural environments, among different creators and states, shedding light on the channels through which the Dresden Cathedral's concept could have developed and reached Vilnius. The architect responsible for the design of the Church of Our Lady of Consolation remains unknown, with historiography suggesting several potential architects. This article critically assesses the validity of these assumptions. It concludes that attributing the authorship to the Augustinian monk Erazm Bartold-Grymała lacks source-based and theoretical justification rooted in stylistic features. An additional review of historiography, along with an analysis of both previously discovered and new sources, rejects the claim of Antonio Ludovico Paracco's authorship. While the version proposing Joannes Valentinus Tobias de Dyderzteyn (Didreysteen, Didrichstein, Dietrichstein) as the architect, which had been previously raised by the author of this article, it is now subject to questioning. Although, in the totality of the analyzed data, Dyderzteyn's authorship seems the most convincing, deeper stylistic and comparative studies are deemed necessary for robust argumentation. Doubts about his possible authorship stem from the newly discovered fact that the construction of the church might have started before Dyderzteyn arrived in Vilnius. The article explores the potential authorship of Giuseppe (Józef) Fontana, an architect active in Vilnius. This analysis is based on the interpretation of historical facts and a stylistic examination. Among the architects of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Fontana is considered as an architect who could have been exposed to the construction of the Wettin Cathedral or its drawings, possibly even having a personal acquaintance with the architect Gaetano Chiaveri. However, a critical analysis of the architectural stylistics reveals no common features between Giuseppe Fontana's work and the Church of Our Lady of Consolation in Vilnius, making it difficult to hypothesize about his authorship. The article briefly discusses several other architects working in Vilnius during the church's construction. It is concluded that the architect behind the design of the Church of Our Lady of Consolation was knowledgeable about the practice of designing single-tower churches. Their professional expertise encompassed not only the traditions of Italian High Baroque architecture but also familiarity with the contemporaneous stylistic innovations in Italian Late Baroque and the architectural context of Saxony and Bavaria. These influences are reflected in the shape, proportions, and expression of the architectural elements of the Church of Our Lady of Consolation's façade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bumper beam prototype was fabricated in the present work by deforming laser welded tailored blank (LWTB) of extra deep drawing (EDD) steels of thicknesses 1.6 mm and 1 mm through a single point incremental forming (SPIF) process. Initially, a finite element (FE) model of SPIF was developed incorporating weld zone properties, material anisotropy and experimental fracture forming limit diagram as a damage model to understand the geometrical profile and strain evolution in the prototype. Subsequently, crushing performance was evaluated numerically at three different locations along the length of the LWTB prototype using a hemispherical indenter and compared with that of the prototype of EDD 1.6 mm (BM). Results showed that the presence of thinner sections in the LWTB prototype altered the deformation mode, and the load was distributed more uniformly compared to the BM prototype during crushing. The numerically predicted deformation modes and crushing load–displacement response were validated at mid-section with experimental findings. It was concluded that the application of non-associated flow rule-based Stoughton model improved the FE-predicted results in comparison to Hill48 and YLD89 models. Approximately 9.33% and 11.28% increase in the crushing force efficiency and specific energy absorption was achieved in the LWTB prototype compared to the BM prototype. These findings revealed that the SPIF process could be applied in developing lightweight bumper beams with improved crushing performance using LWTB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hiking and cycling have gained popularity as ways of promoting well-being and physical activity. This has not gone unnoticed by Portuguese authorities, who have invested in infrastructure to support these activities and to boost sustainable and nature-based tourism. However, the lack of reliable data on the use of these infrastructures prevents us from recording attendance rates and the most frequent types of users. This information is important for the authorities responsible for managing, maintaining, promoting and using these infrastructures. In this sense, this study builds on a previous study by the same authors which identified computer vision as a suitable technology to identify and count different types of users of cycling and hiking routes. The performance tests carried out led to the conclusion that the YOLOv3-Tiny convolutional neural network has great potential for solving this problem. Based on this result, this paper describes the proposal and implementation of a prototype demonstrator. It is based on a Raspberry Pi 4 platform with YOLOv3-Tiny, which is responsible for detecting and classifying user types. An application available on users' smartphones implements the concept of opportunistic networks, allowing information to be collected over time, in scenarios where there is no end-to-end connectivity. This aggregated information can then be consulted on an online platform. The prototype was subjected to validation and functional tests and proved to be a viable low-cost solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speaking surnames, considered under the umbrella of anthroponyms, provides detailed data on the literary characters, their personality, physiological, psychological and sociological situations, and the historical period in which they lived. Failure to fully decipher the surnames of the characters may cause the elements in question to be overlooked. This situation brings with it the risk of not being able to analyze literary works in a healthy and holistic way. The aim of the study is to analyze the surnames of the characters in Russian writer Aleksandr S. Griboedov’s play “Woe from Wit” in this context. Characters with speaking surnames in the work and their possible prototypes were selected as research material. First, these surnames were analyzed, then compared with their possible prototypes, and finally, speaking surnames were systematized as an artistic method according to the speaking surnames modeling of Russian linguist Nataliya M. Azarova. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that the surnames of almost all the characters examined had a ‘speaking’ quality and were created consciously by the author. It was noteworthy that the meanings of the surnames coincide with the characters' personalities and possible prototypes. It was concluded that speaking surnames is an artistic method that examines the verbalization of the character’s internal or external characteristics and the socio-political and historical developments of the period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Technical science & Technology series is the property of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University 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.)

Animal husbandry plays a crucial role in the Indonesian economy. One example is layer farming. The cage's environmental conditions can have an impact on the health of laying hens, including factors like temperature, humidity, and the presence of ammonia gas. This research aims to support chicken farmers in identifying and monitoring the environmental conditions surrounding their chicken coops, with the goal of enhancing the productivity of laying hens. This study is organized using a prototype development approach. The proposed system utilizes Arduino UNO as a microcontroller, ESP32 as a connecting node from hardware to software, MQ-135 sensor as an ammonia gas sensor, DHT-22 sensor as a temperature and humidity sensor, and 16×2 I2C LCD to display the collected data. WIFI connected web monitoring system built with Laravel, MySQL, and Bootstrap. An improvement to the existing system is the integration of an ammonia gas odor sensor calibrated against clean air as a reference. Testing was conducted for a continuous period of 7 days. Comparison of test results is performed with existing devices to observe the difference in measured values. The measurement result demonstrates a remarkable ability to accurately measure temperature, humidity, and ammonia levels in the air. The difference with the comparable device was about 2%. Meanwhile, the monitoring dashboard for IoT functional monitoring operates effectively, allowing chicken farmers to efficiently analyze the cleanliness of their chicken coops. All measurement parameters are conveniently recorded in the form of tables and graphs, providing valuable information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid crystalline suspensions (SCSs) containing submicron particles were introduced as a competitive solution to increase dissolution rates and the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. In an SCS, poorly water-soluble drug crystals are finely dispersed in a hydrophilic matrix. Lately, melt milling as an adapted wet milling process at elevated temperatures has been introduced as a suitable batch manufacturing process for such a formulation. In this work, the transfer from batch operation to a two-step continuous process is demonstrated to highlight the potential of this technology as an alternative to other dissolution-enhancing methods. In the first step, a powder mixture of a model drug (griseofulvin) and a carrier (xylitol) is fed to an extruder, where a uniform suspension is obtained. In the second step, the suspension is transferred to a custom-built annular gap mill, where comminution down to the submicron region takes place. The prototype's design was based on batch grinding results and a narrow residence time distribution, intended to deliver large quantities of submicron particles in the SCS. The throughput of the mill was found to be limited by grinding media compression. By inclining the mill at an angle, the grinding media position was manipulated, such that compression was avoided. Different states of the grinding media in the grinding chamber were identified under surrogate conditions. This strategy allows the maintenance of an energy-optimized comminution without adaption of the associated process parameters, even at high throughputs. Using this new process, the production of an SCS with 80–90 % submicron particles in a single passthrough was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food waste has gained increasing attention and debate, given its economic, environmental, social, and nutritional implications. One-third of food intended for human consumption is wasted. Although it is present at all stages of the food supply chain, it is in the final stages of consumption, such as households and food services, that the problem becomes most evident. This work builds on a previous study by the same authors, which identified computer vision as a suitable technology for identifying and quantifying food waste in institutional canteens. Based on this result, this paper describes the proposal and implementation process of a prototype demonstration. It is based on a Raspberry Pi 4 platform, a ResNet-50 model adapted with the Faster Region-Convolutional Neural Network (Faster R-CNN) model, and an algorithm for feature extracting. A specially built dataset was used to meet the challenge of detecting soup bowls and classifying waste in their consumption. A web application was developed to visualize the data collected, supporting decision making for more efficient food waste management. The prototype was subjected to validation and functional tests, and proved to be a viable, low-cost solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prototyping is an important part of any development activity since it supports communication and knowledge creation among the members of the developing organization. Although prototyping is well established in the development of physical products, less is known about its use and effect on digital service innovation and development. Since digital technologies today are embedded in almost every level of an organization, from its processes to its offerings, it can be argued that it is crucial for an organization to be able to handle not only digital aspects of prototyping, but also physical and digital aspects simultaneously. This study addresses this need by exploring the impact of digital technology on prototyping, answering the research question "How does digital technology affect the different elements of prototyping?" By taking a comprehensive view on prototypes, implications for development are analyzed and developed based on the complex nature and ontology of digital technology. The result encompasses a set of nine different propositions for digital prototyping which contributes to both academia and the work of practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a data-driven approach for generating personalized smile style images for neutral expressions, which aims to produce diverse smile styles while preserving individual features. Unlike other generator models that require expensive manual facial attribute labeling, we designed an auxiliary expression attention Siamese network (EASN) to extract identity-irrelevant facial expression attention regions and guide the proposed two-stage style-expression generative adversarial network (style-exprGAN). The first generator stage generates the overall facial geometry and virtual smile features, while the second stage refines the image quality. Additionally, we introduced traditional geometry warping methods to include registered neutral expression images for consistent transformation and realistic texture fusion. Results show that the proposed method effectively synthesizes realistic and diverse smile styles while preserving individual features. Furthermore, we demonstrate the potential of our data-driven approach by applying the generated personalized smile style images to image augmentation tasks, improving the stability and robustness of facial recognition models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the possibility of using poultry litter as an effective soil fertilizer, fattening ruminants, and energy production. But fresh poultry litter typically has high moisture content and high volume per unit weight. Therefore, the transportation of large volumes at low bulk densities over long distances is difficult and expensive. Furthermore, its nutrient composition is not constant, and it cannot be safely used as a feed ingredient because it contains pathogens. The main aim of this research is to solve all these problems by developing a prototype that moulds poultry litter to the desired shape and weight by compression and formation to enhance storage, transportation, and off-site utilization. Also, this research aims to determine the effects of moisture content on some physical-mechanical properties of moulded poultry litter. The moulding prototype consists of a power transmission unit, a mixing unit, and a formatting unit. The working principle of the moulding prototype is that the mixture of poultry litter will be formatted under mechanical pressure by rammers fitted into compaction moulds to increase the density of the mixture while converting it into blocks. The results show that the bulk density of poultry litter blocks decreased with increasing moisture content. Durability, rupture force, and decomposition are also affected by moisture content. Moulding increases the bulk density of poultry litter. Therefore, this process is more economical for transporting poultry litter to distant areas. The processed blocks retain their shape during storage and distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the challenges of low automation and a lack of a continuous processing system for Taiping Houkui tea, this study proposed a design scheme for a continuous processing line and built a continuous processing prototype for testing by combining the production requirements of Taiping Houkui tea, the characteristics of withered leaves, and the existing relevant production equipment. First, the physical properties of Taiping Houkui tea were determined. A simulation was performed using the Hertz–Mindlin model, and the motion states of the tea leaves were obtained under different conditions to define the parameter design range of the experimental platform and verify its structural rationality. Then, the response surface methodology was used to optimize the working parameter ranges and obtain the best working parameters for the feeding and kneading mechanisms. Finally, a continuous production prototype was constructed for further production verification. The experimental results show that the success rate of continuous production on this platform was 70.68%, with an average output of approximately 0.4 kg/h for Taiping Houkui dry tea on a single slide track, and the produced tea was similar to manually made tea. This demonstrates that the continuous production technique has high feasibility and provides a reference for continuous production of Taiping Houkui tea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underlying thematic analysis are a few fundamental human cognitive processes, such as categorizing, prototyping and metaphorical mapping. By unpacking these basic processes of human cognition, this paper hopes to provide a cognitive basis for thematic analysis as a foundational method in data analysis for qualitative research. In particular, it hopes to address the gap between qualitative methodologists' assumption of thematic analysis as a subjective, creative and flexible process and editors/reviewers' expectation that thematic analysis shall be objective, reliable and rigorous. By consciously and purposefully applying these cognitive processes, thematic analysis can be subjective and yet disciplined, creative and yet rigorous, flexible and yet reliable. The ultimate goal of this paper is to demystify, delineate and further demarcate the thematic analysis process for young and novice qualitative researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new design for humanoid arms is presented based on a tripod mechanism that is actuated by linear servomotors. A specific prototype is built and tested, with the results of performance characterization verifying a possible implementation on the LARMbot humanoid. The design solves the main requirements in terms of a high payload ratio with respect to arm weight by using a tripod architecture with parallel manipulator behavior. The built prototype is assembled with commercial components to match the expectations for low-cost user-oriented features. The test results show satisfactory operation characteristics both in motion and force performance, which will ensure a future successful implementation in the LARMbot humanoid structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we argue in favor of the radial semantic structure of polysemous entries from the New Oxford Dictionary of English (NODE) and the Merriam-Webster dictionary. We formalized four polysemy theories as algorithms linking word senses into polysemy networks, considering the semantic similarity of dictionary definitions calculated using large language models. Chaining algorithms maximized similarity within polysemy nets and adequately distinguished senses that in the two dictionaries are directly related from those more distant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the design of a smart three-wheeled unit for the manufacturing industry with the aim of optimizing and automating internal logistical processes. It presents an innovative solution that combines the advantages of mobility, intelligent transportation technology, and smart devices to ensure the efficient movement of materials and raw materials in manufacturing facilities. The article describes the design, production, and testing of the tricycle in a real manufacturing environment of the production system and the testing of the proposed smart devices. It evaluates the advantages of the electric smart tricycle, including increased efficiency, reduced costs, and more flexible production processes. The results of this study suggest that the intelligent three-wheeled unit represents a promising technological innovation with the potential to increase competitiveness and productivity in manufacturing enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volkswagen Technical Development (TE) is responsible for all prototype development and prototype production for the Volkswagen brand and has its own logistics department (TE-Logistics). In the logistics of prototype parts in the automotive industry, new versions of prototype parts (henceforth referred to as updating parts) are repeatedly assembled in finished prototype vehicles. These updating parts are stored in warehouses and provided to an assembly site to ensure a timely assembly of the associated prototype vehicles. As the internal warehouse on the company site is not large enough for the high variety of parts, an additional external warehouse in the logistics network is needed. However, since prototype parts are unique, the allocation of the parts in suitable warehouses is particularly important. Currently, the various warehouses and the short-term demands repeatedly lead to reactive transshipments between the warehouses. To this end, we developed an approach for proactive transshipments based on a machine learning forecast and a mixed-integer linear programming model for planning proactive transshipments of parts between the warehouses to minimize transport costs. The model is based on a probability estimation of future demands to anticipate the expected optimal warehouse. After the model had revealed high improvement potential through a case study with real-world data in terms of costs and availability time compared to the current reactive process, we derived decision rules and developed a rule-based heuristic algorithm that leads to the optimal solution for the industrial use case. We implemented the heuristic with a spreadsheet-based decision support system (DSS) for daily transshipment planning. After successful test implementation, TE-Logistics estimated the annual cost savings for transport to be approximately 10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]