The inability to achieve the target of universal access to electricity is influenced by several factors including funding limitations, the use of obsolete equipment, power theft, and system losses confronting the elec...The inability to achieve the target of universal access to electricity is influenced by several factors including funding limitations, the use of obsolete equipment, power theft, and system losses confronting the electricity distribution services of the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG). The study assessed the components of system losses within the ECG by determining and computing the percentage of system losses within ECG, examining the causes of both commercial and technical losses in ECG, and determining ways to improve energy efficiency by reducing system losses in the most cost-efficient manner. The study adopted deductive reasoning and a quantitative approach to guide data collection and analysis of the research output. A sample of 345 technical and non-technical staff of ECG in the Greater Accra Metropolis was selected from a population of 2500. Purposive, simple random, and cluster sampling techniques were used in identifying and accessing respondents for the study. Descriptive statistics were applied to measure central tendency and degrees of dispersion and the Relative Importance Index (RII) to predict criterion and predictor variables. The impact of low voltage network losses can adversely contribute to technical losses (20%) and reduce energy efficiency in power or electricity distribution companies. Non-technical losses are mainly caused by illegal connections, meter problems, and billing problems. Each of the non-technical losses contributes a maximum of 10% to system losses. Contributors to system losses at ECG are ranked first for power theft and least for lack of incentives. System losses at ECG include metering inaccuracies, bad workmanship, unmetered supply, and lengthy distribution lines, each recording a mean value of above 3.5. Measures to improve monitoring of the networks and systems at ECG and discourage power theft should include an extensive quantification, patrolling, and inspection of the entire network to assess the extent of the network and conditions relevant for the placement of systematically planned maintenance programmes.展开更多
If we want to enhance the medical level of modern hospital,we not only need to make the career morality and professional capability of the medical staff,but also require the perfection of the governance institution of...If we want to enhance the medical level of modern hospital,we not only need to make the career morality and professional capability of the medical staff,but also require the perfection of the governance institution of hospital in accordance with the development of society.That said,the medical staff will provide the patients with the best service,which is significant to the development of hospital.In addition,every hospital should conduct deepening reform of public hospital comprehensively to respond to call of the government.And the hospital should also put forward professional and comprehensive managing system based on the concrete conditions of the hospital.That is how the hospital can serve the people better.That said,this article focuses on how to promote the system of managing the modern hospital.展开更多
Strategically coupling nanoparticle hybrids and internal thermosensitive molecular switches establishes an innovative paradigm for constructing micro/nanoscale-reconfigurable robots,facilitating energyefficient CO_(2)...Strategically coupling nanoparticle hybrids and internal thermosensitive molecular switches establishes an innovative paradigm for constructing micro/nanoscale-reconfigurable robots,facilitating energyefficient CO_(2) management in life-support systems of confined space.Here,a micro/nano-reconfigurable robot is constructed from the CO_(2) molecular hunters,temperature-sensitive molecular switch,solar photothermal conversion,and magnetically-driven function engines.The molecular hunters within the molecular extension state can capture 6.19 mmol g^(−1) of CO_(2) to form carbamic acid and ammonium bicarbonate.Interestingly,the molecular switch of the robot activates a molecular curling state that facilitates CO_(2) release through nano-reconfiguration,which is mediated by the temperature-sensitive curling of Pluronic F127 molecular chains during the photothermal desorption.Nano-reconfiguration of robot alters the amino microenvironment,including increasing surface electrostatic potential of the amino group and decreasing overall lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level.This weakened the nucleophilic attack ability of the amino group toward the adsorption product derivatives,thereby inhibiting the side reactions that generate hard-to-decompose urea structures,achieving the lowest regeneration temperature of 55℃ reported to date.The engine of the robot possesses non-contact magnetically-driven micro-reconfiguration capability to achieve efficient photothermal regeneration while avoiding local overheating.Notably,the robot successfully prolonged the survival time of mice in the sealed container by up to 54.61%,effectively addressing the issue of carbon suffocation in confined spaces.This work significantly enhances life-support systems for deep-space exploration,while stimulating innovations in sustainable carbon management technologies for terrestrial extreme environments.展开更多
Sustainable water,energy and food(WEF)supplies are the bedrock upon which human society depends.Solar-driven interfacial evaporation,combined with electricity generation and cultivation,is a promising approach to miti...Sustainable water,energy and food(WEF)supplies are the bedrock upon which human society depends.Solar-driven interfacial evaporation,combined with electricity generation and cultivation,is a promising approach to mitigate the freshwater,energy and food crises.However,the performance of solar-driven systems decreases significantly during operation due to uncontrollable weather.This study proposes an integrated water/electricity cogeneration-cultivation system with superior thermal management.The energy storage evaporator,consisting of energy storage microcapsules/hydrogel composites,is optimally designed for sustainable desalination,achieving an evaporation rate of around 1.91 kg m^(-2)h^(-1).In the dark,heat released from the phase-change layer supported an evaporation rate of around 0.54kg m^(-2)h^(-1).Reverse electrodialysis harnessed the salinity-gradient energy enhanced during desalination,enabling the long-running WEC system to achieve a power output of~0.3 W m^(-2),which was almost three times higher than that of conventional seawater/surface water mixing.Additionally,an integrated crop irrigation platform utilized system drainage for real-time,on-demand wheat cultivation without secondary contaminants,facilitating seamless WEF integration.This work presents a novel approach to all-day solar water production,electricity generation and crop irrigation,offering a solution and blueprint for the sustainable development of WEF.展开更多
This paper discusses recent research findings together with management schemes in preventing and managing of thermal stress by handling external and internal factors in livestock production systems. Preventive measure...This paper discusses recent research findings together with management schemes in preventing and managing of thermal stress by handling external and internal factors in livestock production systems. Preventive measures against thermal stress are described as basic structural adjustments and the modifications that can be implemented readily, according to animal health and welfare requirements and refer to （1） environmental modification and thermal comfort in various housing systems; （2） action on animals, such as genetic selection for breeds resistant to infectious disease, parasites and climate extremes; （3） action on feed and （4） action on staff handling the animals. Moreover, measures to be taken both in situations of chronic thermal stress and heat or cold strokes are presented as they are applied to （1） limit stress, （2） monitor the temperature felt by animals, （3） adapt diet and drinking water supplies and （4） correct physiological imbalances. Examples are given for different farm species （cattle, sheep, goat, poultry and pigs） and different production systems （intensive, extensive and alternative）. The paper concludes with a practical guide for the effective handling of thermal stress at farm level, summarizing the results from recent research studies on the specific topic.展开更多
Neuromodulation for diabetic peripheral neuropathy represents a significant area of interest in the management of chronic pain associated with this condition.Diabetic peripheral neuropathy,a common complication of dia...Neuromodulation for diabetic peripheral neuropathy represents a significant area of interest in the management of chronic pain associated with this condition.Diabetic peripheral neuropathy,a common complication of diabetes,is characterized by nerve damage due to high blood sugar levels that lead to symptoms,such as pain,tingling,and numbness,primarily in the hands and feet.The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of neuromodulatory techniques as potential therapeutic interventions for patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy,while also examining recent developments in this domain.The investigation encompassed an array of neuromodulation methods,including frequency rhythmic electrical modulated systems,dorsal root ganglion stimulation,and spinal cord stimulation.This systematic review suggests that neuromodulatory techniques may be useful in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.Understanding the advantages of these treatments will enable physicians and other healthcare providers to offer additional options for patients with symptoms refractory to standard pharmacologic treatments.Through these efforts,we may improve quality of life and increase functional capacity in patients suffering from complications related to diabetic neuropathy.展开更多
Colonoscopy represents a safe procedure that is widely used in medical practice either to diagnose or treat various gastrointestinal diseases.During the last few years,the incidence rate of perforations in colonoscopi...Colonoscopy represents a safe procedure that is widely used in medical practice either to diagnose or treat various gastrointestinal diseases.During the last few years,the incidence rate of perforations in colonoscopic procedures has increased,especially in therapeutic colonoscopies.The recent advancements in endoscopic techniques and gastrointestinal tumoral resection procedures such as endoscopic mucosal resection,endoscopic full-thickness resection,and endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)could be a risk factor for this increased risk.The incidence rate of mortality of serious colonoscopic perforations is 7.1%.The management plan for these perforations starts with conservative treatment in mild cases,endoscopic closure,and surgical management in severe cases.Recently,endoluminal vacuum therapy was found to be effective in the management of colorectal perforations and this has been reported in multiple case reports.This editorial provides an overview of the current guidelines for the management of iatrogenic colorectal perforations.These insights are from the perspectives of endoscopists and gastroenterologists.We also present a management algorithm based on the guidelines of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy,the American Gastroenterological Association,and the World Society of Emergency Surgery.We also discussed in brief the use of endoluminal vacuum therapy in colorectal perforations.展开更多
With the rapid growth in the availability of digital health-related data,there is a great demand for the utilization of intelligent information systems within the healthcare sector.These systems can manage and manipul...With the rapid growth in the availability of digital health-related data,there is a great demand for the utilization of intelligent information systems within the healthcare sector.These systems can manage and manipulate this massive amount of health-related data and encourage different decision-making tasks.They can also provide various sustainable health services such as medical error reduction,diagnosis acceleration,and clinical services quality improvement.The intensive care unit(ICU)is one of the most important hospital units.However,there are limited rooms and resources in most hospitals.During times of seasonal diseases and pandemics,ICUs face high admission demand.In line with this increasing number of admissions,determining health risk levels has become an essential and imperative task.It creates a heightened demand for the implementation of an expert decision support system,enabling doctors to accurately and swiftly determine the risk level of patients.Therefore,this study proposes a fuzzy logic inference system built on domain-specific knowledge graphs,as a proof-of-concept,for tackling this healthcare-related issue.The system employs a combination of two sets of fuzzy input parameters to classify health risk levels of new admissions to hospitals.The proposed system implemented utilizes MATLAB Fuzzy Logic Toolbox via several experiments showing the validity of the proposed system.展开更多
To meet the challenge of mismatches between power supply and demand,modern buildings must schedule flexible energy loads in order to improve the efficiency of power grids.Furthermore,it is essential to understand the ...To meet the challenge of mismatches between power supply and demand,modern buildings must schedule flexible energy loads in order to improve the efficiency of power grids.Furthermore,it is essential to understand the effectiveness of flexibility management strategies under different climate conditions and extreme weather events.Using both typical and extreme weather data from cities in five major climate zones of China,this study investigates the energy flexibility potential of an office building under three short-term HVAC management strategies in the context of different climates.The results show that the peak load flexibility and overall energy performance of the three short-term strategies were affected by the surrounding climate conditions.The peak load reduction rate of the pre-cooling and zone temperature reset strategies declined linearly as outdoor temperature increased.Under extreme climate conditions,the daily peak-load time was found to be over two hours earlier than under typical conditions,and the intensive solar radiation found in the extreme conditions can weaken the correlation between peak load reduction and outdoor temperature,risking the ability of a building’s HVAC system to maintain a comfortable indoor environment.展开更多
The development and economic growth of a nation is closely related to its available transportation system. Good and efficient road transport infrastructure facilities will promote industrial and socio-economic develop...The development and economic growth of a nation is closely related to its available transportation system. Good and efficient road transport infrastructure facilities will promote industrial and socio-economic development. To provide safety and comfort to road users, a comprehensive road maintenance schedule must be formulated and adopted to ensure those roads are in good condition at all times. Preventive maintenance works, such as road rehabilitation will help to reduce the major road repairs and expenditure. Prior to this, a good database, gathered through GIS will be necessary in order to ensure maintenance is done effectively. Geographic Information System (GIS) is said to be one of the useful tools that can be utilized to manage database in road maintenance engineering. This system is capable of storing, managing, analyzing, computing and displaying all forms of geographical data for road maintenance works. In this study, the author has adopted GIS application software – ArcView, and has reviewed and analyzed its effectiveness in managing road database. These data are then used to assist the management to ensure effective and systematic road maintenance. A typical model of roads in Penang, Malaysia is used as a case study to further clarify the application of GIS in road maintenance.展开更多
Corporate Performance Management （CPM） system is an information system used to collect, analyze, and visualize key performance indicators （KPIs） to support both business operations and especially strategic decisio...Corporate Performance Management （CPM） system is an information system used to collect, analyze, and visualize key performance indicators （KPIs） to support both business operations and especially strategic decisions. CPM systems display KPIs in forms of scorecard and dashboard so the executives can keep track and evaluate corporate performance. The quality of the information as shown in the KPIs is very crucial for the executives to make the right decisions. Therefore, it is important that the executives must be able to retrieve not only the KPIs but also the quality of those KPIs before using such KPIs in their strategic decisions. The objectives of this study were to determine the role of the CPM system in the organizations, current data and information quality state, problems and perspectives regarding data quality, as well as data quality maturity stage of the organizations. Survey research was used in this study; a questionnaire was sent to collect data from 477 corporations listed in the Stock Exchange of Thailand （SET） on January, 2011. Forty-nine questionnaires were returned. The results show that about half of the organizations have implemented CPM systems. Most organizations are confident in the information in CPM system, but information quality issues are commonly found. Frequent problems regarding information quality are information not up to date, information not ready by time of use, inaccuracy and incomplete. The most concerned and frequently assessed quality dimensions were security, accuracy, completeness, and validity. When asked to prioritize, the most important quality dimensions are accuracy, timeliness, completeness, security, and validity respectively. In addition, most organizations concern about data govemance management and have deployed such measures. This study showed that most organizations are on level 4 on Gartner＇s data governance maturity stage in which data governance is concerned and managed, but still not effective.展开更多
Facing the challenges of an increasing world population, a changing climate and ever depleting resources, agricultural intensification （Keating et al. 2010） is one of the few options for meeting the demand of food s...Facing the challenges of an increasing world population, a changing climate and ever depleting resources, agricultural intensification （Keating et al. 2010） is one of the few options for meeting the demand of food security. It is necessary to apply a dynamic and systematic approach to effectively man- age the complex agri-eco production and green processing systems. Indeed, farming systems approach for appropriate technology development and simulation modeling is a result of adopting the system thinking by the agricultural research community （Norman et al. 1995）.展开更多
Both straw incorporation and irrigation practices affect biological nitrogen(N)fixation(BNF),but it is still unclear how straw incorporation impacts BNF under continuous(CFI)or intermittent(IFI)flooding irrigation in ...Both straw incorporation and irrigation practices affect biological nitrogen(N)fixation(BNF),but it is still unclear how straw incorporation impacts BNF under continuous(CFI)or intermittent(IFI)flooding irrigation in a rice cropping system.A15N2-labeling chamber system was placed in a rice field to evaluate BNF with straw incorporation under CFI or IFI for 90 d.The nif H(gene encoding the nitrogenase reductase subunit)DNA and c DNA in soil were amplified using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction,and high-throughput sequencing was applied to the nif H gene.The total fixed N in the straw incorporation treatment was 14.3 kg ha^(-1)under CFI,being 116%higher than that under IFI(6.62 kg ha^(-1)).Straw incorporation and CFI showed significant interactive effects on the total fixed N and abundances of nif H DNA and c DNA.The increase in BNF was mainly due to the increase in the abundances of heterotrophic diazotrophs such as Desulfovibrio,Azonexus,and Azotobacter.These results indicated that straw incorporation stimulated BNF under CFI relative to IFI,which might ultimately lead to a rapid enhancement of soil fertility.展开更多
With the anticipated growth in air traffic complexity in the coming years,future civil aviation transportation system(CATS)is transforming into a complex cyber–physical–social system,surpassing all previous experien...With the anticipated growth in air traffic complexity in the coming years,future civil aviation transportation system(CATS)is transforming into a complex cyber–physical–social system,surpassing all previous experiences in the history of civil aviation safety management.Therefore,a new safety concept based on a system-of-systems(SoS)perspective is proposed for the next-generation aviation.This article begins by elucidating the complexity of existing aviation risks and emphasizing the necessity for an updated safety concept.It then presents the challenges of current safety management and potential solutions from the new SoS perspective.To address future risks,the concept of SoS safety is introduced with the inspiration of the human immune system in terms of capability,logic,and architecture,which can serve as a guiding framework and methodology for safety engineering in complex large-scale CATS.This concept indicates the transition from“process and outcome-oriented”to“capability-oriented”intelligent safety management.Our research highlights the development directions and potential technological areas that need to be addressed at different stages of SoS safety.The integration of SoS design and operation through rapid iterations enabled by artificial intelligence(AI)will ultimately achieve endogenous SoS safety.展开更多
All-season thermal management with zero energy consumption and emissions is more crucial to global decarbonization over traditional energy-intensive cooling/heating systems.However,the static single thermal management...All-season thermal management with zero energy consumption and emissions is more crucial to global decarbonization over traditional energy-intensive cooling/heating systems.However,the static single thermal management for cooling or heating fails to self-regulate the temperature in dynamic seasonal temperature condition.Herein,inspired by the dual-temperature regulation function of the fur color changes on the backs and abdomens of penguins,a smart thermal management composite hydrogel(PNA@H-PM Gel)system was subtly created though an"on-demand"dual-layer structure design strategy.The PNA@H-PM Gel system features synchronous solar and thermal radiation modulation as well as tunable phase transition temperatures to meet the variable seasonal thermal requirements and energy-saving demands via self-adaptive radiative cooling and solar heating regulation.Furthermore,this system demonstrates superb modulations of both the solar reflectance(ΔR=0.74)and thermal emissivity(ΔE=0.52)in response to ambient temperature changes,highlighting efficient temperature regulation with average radiative cooling and solar heating effects of 9.6℃in summer and 6.1℃in winter,respectively.Moreover,compared to standard building baselines,the PNA@H-PM Gel presents a more substantial energy-saving cooling/heating potentials for energy-efficient buildings across various regions and climates.This novel solution,inspired by penguins in the real world,will offer a fresh approach for producing intelligent,energy-saving thermal management materials,and serve for temperature regulation under dynamic climate conditions and even throughout all seasons.展开更多
Distributed Federated Learning(DFL)technology enables participants to cooperatively train a shared model while preserving the privacy of their local datasets,making it a desirable solution for decentralized and privac...Distributed Federated Learning(DFL)technology enables participants to cooperatively train a shared model while preserving the privacy of their local datasets,making it a desirable solution for decentralized and privacy-preserving Web3 scenarios.However,DFL faces incentive and security challenges in the decentralized framework.To address these issues,this paper presents a Hierarchical Blockchain-enabled DFL(HBDFL)system,which provides a generic solution framework for the DFL-related applications.The proposed system consists of four major components,including a model contribution-based reward mechanism,a Proof of Elapsed Time and Accuracy(PoETA)consensus algorithm,a Distributed Reputation-based Verification Mechanism(DRTM)and an Accuracy-Dependent Throughput Management(ADTM)mechanism.The model contribution-based rewarding mechanism incentivizes network nodes to train models with their local datasets,while the PoETA consensus algorithm optimizes the tradeoff between the shared model accuracy and system throughput.The DRTM improves the system efficiency in consensus,and the ADTM mechanism guarantees that the throughput performance remains within a predefined range while improving the shared model accuracy.The performance of the proposed HBDFL system is evaluated by numerical simulations,with the results showing that the system improves the accuracy of the shared model while maintaining high throughput and ensuring security.展开更多
The complexity of coupled risks,which refer to the compounded effects of interacting uncertainties across multiple interdependent objectives,is inherent to cities functioning as dynamic,interdependent systems.A disrup...The complexity of coupled risks,which refer to the compounded effects of interacting uncertainties across multiple interdependent objectives,is inherent to cities functioning as dynamic,interdependent systems.A disruption in one domain ripples across various urban systems,often with unforeseen consequences.Central to this complexity are people,whose behaviors,needs,and vulnerabilities shape risk evolution and response effectiveness.Realizing cities as complex systems centered on human needs and behaviors is essential to understanding the complexities of coupled urban risks.This paper adopts a complex systems perspective to examine the intricacies of coupled urban risks,emphasizing the critical role of human decisions and behavior in shaping these dynamics.We focus on two key dimensions:cascading hazards in urban environments and cascading failures across interdependent exposed systems in cities.Existing risk assessment models often fail to capture the complexity of these processes,particularly when factoring in human decision-making.To tackle these challenges,we advocate for a standardized taxonomy of cascading hazards,urban components,and their interactions.At its core is a people-centric perspective,emphasizing the bidirectional interactions between people and the systems that serve them.Building on this foundation,we argue the need for an integrated,people-centric risk assessment framework that evaluates event impacts in relation to the hierarchical needs of people and incorporates their preparedness and response capacities.By leveraging real-time data,advanced simulations,and innovative validation methods,this framework aims to enhance the accuracy of coupled urban risk modeling.To effectively manage coupled urban risks,cities can draw from proven strategies in real complex systems.However,given the escalating uncertainties and complexities associated with climate change,prioritizing people-centric strategies is crucial.This approach will empower cities to build resilience not only against known hazards but also against evolving and unforeseen challenges in an increasingly uncertain world.展开更多
Machine picking in cotton is an emerging practice in India,to solve the problems of labour shortages and production costs increasing.Cotton production has been declining in recent years;however,the high density planti...Machine picking in cotton is an emerging practice in India,to solve the problems of labour shortages and production costs increasing.Cotton production has been declining in recent years;however,the high density planting system(HDPS)offers a viable method to enhance productivity by increasing plant populations per unit area,optimizing resource utilization,and facilitating machine picking.Cotton is an indeterminate plant that produce excessive vegeta-tive growth in favorable soil fertility and moisture conditions,which posing challenges for efficient machine picking.To address this issue,the application of plant growth retardants(PGRs)is essential for controlling canopy architecture.PGRs reduce internode elongation,promote regulated branching,and increase plant compactness,making cotton plants better suited for machine picking.PGRs application also optimizes photosynthates distribution between veg-etative and reproductive growth,resulting in higher yields and improved fibre quality.The integration of HDPS and PGRs applications results in an optimal plant architecture for improving machine picking efficiency.However,the success of this integration is determined by some factors,including cotton variety,environmental conditions,and geographical variations.These approaches not only address yield stagnation and labour shortages but also help to establish more effective and sustainable cotton farming practices,resulting in higher cotton productivity.展开更多
This paper introduces a high-precision bandgap reference(BGR)designed for battery management systems(BMS),fea-turing an ultra-low temperature coefficient(TC)and line sensitivity(LS).The BGR employs a current-mode sche...This paper introduces a high-precision bandgap reference(BGR)designed for battery management systems(BMS),fea-turing an ultra-low temperature coefficient(TC)and line sensitivity(LS).The BGR employs a current-mode scheme with chopped op-amps and internal clock generators to eliminate op-amp offset.A low dropout regulator(LDO)and a pre-regula-tor enhance output driving and LS,respectively.Curvature compensation enhances the TC by addressing higher-order nonlinear-ity.These approaches,effective near room temperature,employs trimming at both 20 and 60°C.When combined with fixed cur-vature correction currents,it achieves an ultra-low TC for each chip.Implemented in a CMOS 180 nm process,the BGR occu-pies 0.548 mm²and operates at 2.5 V with 84μA current draw from a 5 V supply.An average TC of 2.69 ppm/℃ with two-point trimming and 0.81 ppm/℃ with multi-point trimming are achieved over the temperature range of-40 to 125℃.It accommo-dates a load current of 1 mA and an LS of 42 ppm/V,making it suitable for precise BMS applications.展开更多
There is growing interest in introducing ecological risks(ERs)and ecosystem services(ESs)into environmental policies and practices.However,the integration of ESs and ERs into actual decision-making remains insufficien...There is growing interest in introducing ecological risks(ERs)and ecosystem services(ESs)into environmental policies and practices.However,the integration of ESs and ERs into actual decision-making remains insufficient.We simulated the spatiotemporal dynamics of ESs(e.g.,carbon storage,water yield,habitat quality,and soil conservation)and ERs in the upper reach of the Yellow River(URYR)from 2000 to 2100.Additionally,we explored their relationships by combining the InVEST model and a landscape ecological risk model with CMIP6 data.Our main findings showed that regional ERs change in response to land use and environmental dynamics.Specifically,the ER area decreased by 27,673 m^(2)during 2000-2020,but it is projected to increase by 13,273,438,and 68 m^(2)under the SSP1-2.6,SSP2-4.5,and SSP5-8.5 scenarios,respectively.We also observed remarkable spatial differences in ESs and ERs between past and future scenarios.For instance,the source area of the URYR exhibited high ESs and low ERs(P<0.001),while the ESs and ERs are declining and increasing,respectively,in the northeastern URYR(P<0.05).Finally,we proposed a spatial optimization framework to improve ESs and reduce ERs,which will support regional sustainable development.展开更多
文摘The inability to achieve the target of universal access to electricity is influenced by several factors including funding limitations, the use of obsolete equipment, power theft, and system losses confronting the electricity distribution services of the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG). The study assessed the components of system losses within the ECG by determining and computing the percentage of system losses within ECG, examining the causes of both commercial and technical losses in ECG, and determining ways to improve energy efficiency by reducing system losses in the most cost-efficient manner. The study adopted deductive reasoning and a quantitative approach to guide data collection and analysis of the research output. A sample of 345 technical and non-technical staff of ECG in the Greater Accra Metropolis was selected from a population of 2500. Purposive, simple random, and cluster sampling techniques were used in identifying and accessing respondents for the study. Descriptive statistics were applied to measure central tendency and degrees of dispersion and the Relative Importance Index (RII) to predict criterion and predictor variables. The impact of low voltage network losses can adversely contribute to technical losses (20%) and reduce energy efficiency in power or electricity distribution companies. Non-technical losses are mainly caused by illegal connections, meter problems, and billing problems. Each of the non-technical losses contributes a maximum of 10% to system losses. Contributors to system losses at ECG are ranked first for power theft and least for lack of incentives. System losses at ECG include metering inaccuracies, bad workmanship, unmetered supply, and lengthy distribution lines, each recording a mean value of above 3.5. Measures to improve monitoring of the networks and systems at ECG and discourage power theft should include an extensive quantification, patrolling, and inspection of the entire network to assess the extent of the network and conditions relevant for the placement of systematically planned maintenance programmes.
文摘If we want to enhance the medical level of modern hospital,we not only need to make the career morality and professional capability of the medical staff,but also require the perfection of the governance institution of hospital in accordance with the development of society.That said,the medical staff will provide the patients with the best service,which is significant to the development of hospital.In addition,every hospital should conduct deepening reform of public hospital comprehensively to respond to call of the government.And the hospital should also put forward professional and comprehensive managing system based on the concrete conditions of the hospital.That is how the hospital can serve the people better.That said,this article focuses on how to promote the system of managing the modern hospital.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22168008,22378085)the Guangxi Natural Science Foundation(2024GXNSFDA010053)+1 种基金the Technology Development Project of Guangxi Bossco Environmental Protection Technology Co.,Ltd(202100039)Innovation Project of Guangxi Graduate Education(YCBZ2024065).
文摘Strategically coupling nanoparticle hybrids and internal thermosensitive molecular switches establishes an innovative paradigm for constructing micro/nanoscale-reconfigurable robots,facilitating energyefficient CO_(2) management in life-support systems of confined space.Here,a micro/nano-reconfigurable robot is constructed from the CO_(2) molecular hunters,temperature-sensitive molecular switch,solar photothermal conversion,and magnetically-driven function engines.The molecular hunters within the molecular extension state can capture 6.19 mmol g^(−1) of CO_(2) to form carbamic acid and ammonium bicarbonate.Interestingly,the molecular switch of the robot activates a molecular curling state that facilitates CO_(2) release through nano-reconfiguration,which is mediated by the temperature-sensitive curling of Pluronic F127 molecular chains during the photothermal desorption.Nano-reconfiguration of robot alters the amino microenvironment,including increasing surface electrostatic potential of the amino group and decreasing overall lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level.This weakened the nucleophilic attack ability of the amino group toward the adsorption product derivatives,thereby inhibiting the side reactions that generate hard-to-decompose urea structures,achieving the lowest regeneration temperature of 55℃ reported to date.The engine of the robot possesses non-contact magnetically-driven micro-reconfiguration capability to achieve efficient photothermal regeneration while avoiding local overheating.Notably,the robot successfully prolonged the survival time of mice in the sealed container by up to 54.61%,effectively addressing the issue of carbon suffocation in confined spaces.This work significantly enhances life-support systems for deep-space exploration,while stimulating innovations in sustainable carbon management technologies for terrestrial extreme environments.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52070057)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2023M730855)Heilongjiang Postdoctoral Fund(No.LBH-Z22183)for financial support。
文摘Sustainable water,energy and food(WEF)supplies are the bedrock upon which human society depends.Solar-driven interfacial evaporation,combined with electricity generation and cultivation,is a promising approach to mitigate the freshwater,energy and food crises.However,the performance of solar-driven systems decreases significantly during operation due to uncontrollable weather.This study proposes an integrated water/electricity cogeneration-cultivation system with superior thermal management.The energy storage evaporator,consisting of energy storage microcapsules/hydrogel composites,is optimally designed for sustainable desalination,achieving an evaporation rate of around 1.91 kg m^(-2)h^(-1).In the dark,heat released from the phase-change layer supported an evaporation rate of around 0.54kg m^(-2)h^(-1).Reverse electrodialysis harnessed the salinity-gradient energy enhanced during desalination,enabling the long-running WEC system to achieve a power output of~0.3 W m^(-2),which was almost three times higher than that of conventional seawater/surface water mixing.Additionally,an integrated crop irrigation platform utilized system drainage for real-time,on-demand wheat cultivation without secondary contaminants,facilitating seamless WEF integration.This work presents a novel approach to all-day solar water production,electricity generation and crop irrigation,offering a solution and blueprint for the sustainable development of WEF.
文摘This paper discusses recent research findings together with management schemes in preventing and managing of thermal stress by handling external and internal factors in livestock production systems. Preventive measures against thermal stress are described as basic structural adjustments and the modifications that can be implemented readily, according to animal health and welfare requirements and refer to （1） environmental modification and thermal comfort in various housing systems; （2） action on animals, such as genetic selection for breeds resistant to infectious disease, parasites and climate extremes; （3） action on feed and （4） action on staff handling the animals. Moreover, measures to be taken both in situations of chronic thermal stress and heat or cold strokes are presented as they are applied to （1） limit stress, （2） monitor the temperature felt by animals, （3） adapt diet and drinking water supplies and （4） correct physiological imbalances. Examples are given for different farm species （cattle, sheep, goat, poultry and pigs） and different production systems （intensive, extensive and alternative）. The paper concludes with a practical guide for the effective handling of thermal stress at farm level, summarizing the results from recent research studies on the specific topic.
文摘Neuromodulation for diabetic peripheral neuropathy represents a significant area of interest in the management of chronic pain associated with this condition.Diabetic peripheral neuropathy,a common complication of diabetes,is characterized by nerve damage due to high blood sugar levels that lead to symptoms,such as pain,tingling,and numbness,primarily in the hands and feet.The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of neuromodulatory techniques as potential therapeutic interventions for patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy,while also examining recent developments in this domain.The investigation encompassed an array of neuromodulation methods,including frequency rhythmic electrical modulated systems,dorsal root ganglion stimulation,and spinal cord stimulation.This systematic review suggests that neuromodulatory techniques may be useful in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.Understanding the advantages of these treatments will enable physicians and other healthcare providers to offer additional options for patients with symptoms refractory to standard pharmacologic treatments.Through these efforts,we may improve quality of life and increase functional capacity in patients suffering from complications related to diabetic neuropathy.
文摘Colonoscopy represents a safe procedure that is widely used in medical practice either to diagnose or treat various gastrointestinal diseases.During the last few years,the incidence rate of perforations in colonoscopic procedures has increased,especially in therapeutic colonoscopies.The recent advancements in endoscopic techniques and gastrointestinal tumoral resection procedures such as endoscopic mucosal resection,endoscopic full-thickness resection,and endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)could be a risk factor for this increased risk.The incidence rate of mortality of serious colonoscopic perforations is 7.1%.The management plan for these perforations starts with conservative treatment in mild cases,endoscopic closure,and surgical management in severe cases.Recently,endoluminal vacuum therapy was found to be effective in the management of colorectal perforations and this has been reported in multiple case reports.This editorial provides an overview of the current guidelines for the management of iatrogenic colorectal perforations.These insights are from the perspectives of endoscopists and gastroenterologists.We also present a management algorithm based on the guidelines of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy,the American Gastroenterological Association,and the World Society of Emergency Surgery.We also discussed in brief the use of endoluminal vacuum therapy in colorectal perforations.
基金funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Umm Al-Qura University,Makkah,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Under Grant Code:22UQU4281755DSR05.
文摘With the rapid growth in the availability of digital health-related data,there is a great demand for the utilization of intelligent information systems within the healthcare sector.These systems can manage and manipulate this massive amount of health-related data and encourage different decision-making tasks.They can also provide various sustainable health services such as medical error reduction,diagnosis acceleration,and clinical services quality improvement.The intensive care unit(ICU)is one of the most important hospital units.However,there are limited rooms and resources in most hospitals.During times of seasonal diseases and pandemics,ICUs face high admission demand.In line with this increasing number of admissions,determining health risk levels has become an essential and imperative task.It creates a heightened demand for the implementation of an expert decision support system,enabling doctors to accurately and swiftly determine the risk level of patients.Therefore,this study proposes a fuzzy logic inference system built on domain-specific knowledge graphs,as a proof-of-concept,for tackling this healthcare-related issue.The system employs a combination of two sets of fuzzy input parameters to classify health risk levels of new admissions to hospitals.The proposed system implemented utilizes MATLAB Fuzzy Logic Toolbox via several experiments showing the validity of the proposed system.
基金National Key R&D Program of China of the 13th Five-Year Plan(No.2018YFD1100704)。
文摘To meet the challenge of mismatches between power supply and demand,modern buildings must schedule flexible energy loads in order to improve the efficiency of power grids.Furthermore,it is essential to understand the effectiveness of flexibility management strategies under different climate conditions and extreme weather events.Using both typical and extreme weather data from cities in five major climate zones of China,this study investigates the energy flexibility potential of an office building under three short-term HVAC management strategies in the context of different climates.The results show that the peak load flexibility and overall energy performance of the three short-term strategies were affected by the surrounding climate conditions.The peak load reduction rate of the pre-cooling and zone temperature reset strategies declined linearly as outdoor temperature increased.Under extreme climate conditions,the daily peak-load time was found to be over two hours earlier than under typical conditions,and the intensive solar radiation found in the extreme conditions can weaken the correlation between peak load reduction and outdoor temperature,risking the ability of a building’s HVAC system to maintain a comfortable indoor environment.
文摘The development and economic growth of a nation is closely related to its available transportation system. Good and efficient road transport infrastructure facilities will promote industrial and socio-economic development. To provide safety and comfort to road users, a comprehensive road maintenance schedule must be formulated and adopted to ensure those roads are in good condition at all times. Preventive maintenance works, such as road rehabilitation will help to reduce the major road repairs and expenditure. Prior to this, a good database, gathered through GIS will be necessary in order to ensure maintenance is done effectively. Geographic Information System (GIS) is said to be one of the useful tools that can be utilized to manage database in road maintenance engineering. This system is capable of storing, managing, analyzing, computing and displaying all forms of geographical data for road maintenance works. In this study, the author has adopted GIS application software – ArcView, and has reviewed and analyzed its effectiveness in managing road database. These data are then used to assist the management to ensure effective and systematic road maintenance. A typical model of roads in Penang, Malaysia is used as a case study to further clarify the application of GIS in road maintenance.
文摘Corporate Performance Management （CPM） system is an information system used to collect, analyze, and visualize key performance indicators （KPIs） to support both business operations and especially strategic decisions. CPM systems display KPIs in forms of scorecard and dashboard so the executives can keep track and evaluate corporate performance. The quality of the information as shown in the KPIs is very crucial for the executives to make the right decisions. Therefore, it is important that the executives must be able to retrieve not only the KPIs but also the quality of those KPIs before using such KPIs in their strategic decisions. The objectives of this study were to determine the role of the CPM system in the organizations, current data and information quality state, problems and perspectives regarding data quality, as well as data quality maturity stage of the organizations. Survey research was used in this study; a questionnaire was sent to collect data from 477 corporations listed in the Stock Exchange of Thailand （SET） on January, 2011. Forty-nine questionnaires were returned. The results show that about half of the organizations have implemented CPM systems. Most organizations are confident in the information in CPM system, but information quality issues are commonly found. Frequent problems regarding information quality are information not up to date, information not ready by time of use, inaccuracy and incomplete. The most concerned and frequently assessed quality dimensions were security, accuracy, completeness, and validity. When asked to prioritize, the most important quality dimensions are accuracy, timeliness, completeness, security, and validity respectively. In addition, most organizations concern about data govemance management and have deployed such measures. This study showed that most organizations are on level 4 on Gartner＇s data governance maturity stage in which data governance is concerned and managed, but still not effective.
文摘Facing the challenges of an increasing world population, a changing climate and ever depleting resources, agricultural intensification （Keating et al. 2010） is one of the few options for meeting the demand of food security. It is necessary to apply a dynamic and systematic approach to effectively man- age the complex agri-eco production and green processing systems. Indeed, farming systems approach for appropriate technology development and simulation modeling is a result of adopting the system thinking by the agricultural research community （Norman et al. 1995）.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42177333 and 31870500)the National Special Program for Key Basic Research of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(No.2015FY110700)the Jiangsu Agriculture Science and Technology Innovation Fund,China(No.JASTIFCX(20)2003)。
文摘Both straw incorporation and irrigation practices affect biological nitrogen(N)fixation(BNF),but it is still unclear how straw incorporation impacts BNF under continuous(CFI)or intermittent(IFI)flooding irrigation in a rice cropping system.A15N2-labeling chamber system was placed in a rice field to evaluate BNF with straw incorporation under CFI or IFI for 90 d.The nif H(gene encoding the nitrogenase reductase subunit)DNA and c DNA in soil were amplified using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction,and high-throughput sequencing was applied to the nif H gene.The total fixed N in the straw incorporation treatment was 14.3 kg ha^(-1)under CFI,being 116%higher than that under IFI(6.62 kg ha^(-1)).Straw incorporation and CFI showed significant interactive effects on the total fixed N and abundances of nif H DNA and c DNA.The increase in BNF was mainly due to the increase in the abundances of heterotrophic diazotrophs such as Desulfovibrio,Azonexus,and Azotobacter.These results indicated that straw incorporation stimulated BNF under CFI relative to IFI,which might ultimately lead to a rapid enhancement of soil fertility.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(72225012)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFB4302901)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(72288101,71822101,and 62201577)the Safety Capability Building Fund of the Civil Aviation Administration of China(ASSA2023/19).
文摘With the anticipated growth in air traffic complexity in the coming years,future civil aviation transportation system(CATS)is transforming into a complex cyber–physical–social system,surpassing all previous experiences in the history of civil aviation safety management.Therefore,a new safety concept based on a system-of-systems(SoS)perspective is proposed for the next-generation aviation.This article begins by elucidating the complexity of existing aviation risks and emphasizing the necessity for an updated safety concept.It then presents the challenges of current safety management and potential solutions from the new SoS perspective.To address future risks,the concept of SoS safety is introduced with the inspiration of the human immune system in terms of capability,logic,and architecture,which can serve as a guiding framework and methodology for safety engineering in complex large-scale CATS.This concept indicates the transition from“process and outcome-oriented”to“capability-oriented”intelligent safety management.Our research highlights the development directions and potential technological areas that need to be addressed at different stages of SoS safety.The integration of SoS design and operation through rapid iterations enabled by artificial intelligence(AI)will ultimately achieve endogenous SoS safety.
基金the funding and generous support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52103263,52271249)the Key Project of International Science&Technology Cooperation of Shaanxi Province(2023-GHZD-09)+5 种基金the Key Project of Science Foundation of Education Department of Shaanxi Province(22JY011)the Key Project of Scientific Research and Development of Shaanxi Province(2023GXLH-070)the Qinchuangyuan"Scientist+Engineer"Team of Shaanxi Province(2023KXJ-069)the Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi(2023-YBGY-488)the Sci-tech Innovation Team of Shaanxi Province(2024RS-CXTD-46)the Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi Province(2020ZDLGY13-11).
文摘All-season thermal management with zero energy consumption and emissions is more crucial to global decarbonization over traditional energy-intensive cooling/heating systems.However,the static single thermal management for cooling or heating fails to self-regulate the temperature in dynamic seasonal temperature condition.Herein,inspired by the dual-temperature regulation function of the fur color changes on the backs and abdomens of penguins,a smart thermal management composite hydrogel(PNA@H-PM Gel)system was subtly created though an"on-demand"dual-layer structure design strategy.The PNA@H-PM Gel system features synchronous solar and thermal radiation modulation as well as tunable phase transition temperatures to meet the variable seasonal thermal requirements and energy-saving demands via self-adaptive radiative cooling and solar heating regulation.Furthermore,this system demonstrates superb modulations of both the solar reflectance(ΔR=0.74)and thermal emissivity(ΔE=0.52)in response to ambient temperature changes,highlighting efficient temperature regulation with average radiative cooling and solar heating effects of 9.6℃in summer and 6.1℃in winter,respectively.Moreover,compared to standard building baselines,the PNA@H-PM Gel presents a more substantial energy-saving cooling/heating potentials for energy-efficient buildings across various regions and climates.This novel solution,inspired by penguins in the real world,will offer a fresh approach for producing intelligent,energy-saving thermal management materials,and serve for temperature regulation under dynamic climate conditions and even throughout all seasons.
文摘Distributed Federated Learning(DFL)technology enables participants to cooperatively train a shared model while preserving the privacy of their local datasets,making it a desirable solution for decentralized and privacy-preserving Web3 scenarios.However,DFL faces incentive and security challenges in the decentralized framework.To address these issues,this paper presents a Hierarchical Blockchain-enabled DFL(HBDFL)system,which provides a generic solution framework for the DFL-related applications.The proposed system consists of four major components,including a model contribution-based reward mechanism,a Proof of Elapsed Time and Accuracy(PoETA)consensus algorithm,a Distributed Reputation-based Verification Mechanism(DRTM)and an Accuracy-Dependent Throughput Management(ADTM)mechanism.The model contribution-based rewarding mechanism incentivizes network nodes to train models with their local datasets,while the PoETA consensus algorithm optimizes the tradeoff between the shared model accuracy and system throughput.The DRTM improves the system efficiency in consensus,and the ADTM mechanism guarantees that the throughput performance remains within a predefined range while improving the shared model accuracy.The performance of the proposed HBDFL system is evaluated by numerical simulations,with the results showing that the system improves the accuracy of the shared model while maintaining high throughput and ensuring security.
基金jointly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(71821001,72371109,72071088,72074089,and 51938004)Strategic Study Project of Chinese Academy of Engineering(2022-JB-02)Project of Interdisciplinary Research Support Program in Huazhong University of Science and Technology(2023-32)。
文摘The complexity of coupled risks,which refer to the compounded effects of interacting uncertainties across multiple interdependent objectives,is inherent to cities functioning as dynamic,interdependent systems.A disruption in one domain ripples across various urban systems,often with unforeseen consequences.Central to this complexity are people,whose behaviors,needs,and vulnerabilities shape risk evolution and response effectiveness.Realizing cities as complex systems centered on human needs and behaviors is essential to understanding the complexities of coupled urban risks.This paper adopts a complex systems perspective to examine the intricacies of coupled urban risks,emphasizing the critical role of human decisions and behavior in shaping these dynamics.We focus on two key dimensions:cascading hazards in urban environments and cascading failures across interdependent exposed systems in cities.Existing risk assessment models often fail to capture the complexity of these processes,particularly when factoring in human decision-making.To tackle these challenges,we advocate for a standardized taxonomy of cascading hazards,urban components,and their interactions.At its core is a people-centric perspective,emphasizing the bidirectional interactions between people and the systems that serve them.Building on this foundation,we argue the need for an integrated,people-centric risk assessment framework that evaluates event impacts in relation to the hierarchical needs of people and incorporates their preparedness and response capacities.By leveraging real-time data,advanced simulations,and innovative validation methods,this framework aims to enhance the accuracy of coupled urban risk modeling.To effectively manage coupled urban risks,cities can draw from proven strategies in real complex systems.However,given the escalating uncertainties and complexities associated with climate change,prioritizing people-centric strategies is crucial.This approach will empower cities to build resilience not only against known hazards but also against evolving and unforeseen challenges in an increasingly uncertain world.
文摘Machine picking in cotton is an emerging practice in India,to solve the problems of labour shortages and production costs increasing.Cotton production has been declining in recent years;however,the high density planting system(HDPS)offers a viable method to enhance productivity by increasing plant populations per unit area,optimizing resource utilization,and facilitating machine picking.Cotton is an indeterminate plant that produce excessive vegeta-tive growth in favorable soil fertility and moisture conditions,which posing challenges for efficient machine picking.To address this issue,the application of plant growth retardants(PGRs)is essential for controlling canopy architecture.PGRs reduce internode elongation,promote regulated branching,and increase plant compactness,making cotton plants better suited for machine picking.PGRs application also optimizes photosynthates distribution between veg-etative and reproductive growth,resulting in higher yields and improved fibre quality.The integration of HDPS and PGRs applications results in an optimal plant architecture for improving machine picking efficiency.However,the success of this integration is determined by some factors,including cotton variety,environmental conditions,and geographical variations.These approaches not only address yield stagnation and labour shortages but also help to establish more effective and sustainable cotton farming practices,resulting in higher cotton productivity.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)under grant No.62204235。
文摘This paper introduces a high-precision bandgap reference(BGR)designed for battery management systems(BMS),fea-turing an ultra-low temperature coefficient(TC)and line sensitivity(LS).The BGR employs a current-mode scheme with chopped op-amps and internal clock generators to eliminate op-amp offset.A low dropout regulator(LDO)and a pre-regula-tor enhance output driving and LS,respectively.Curvature compensation enhances the TC by addressing higher-order nonlinear-ity.These approaches,effective near room temperature,employs trimming at both 20 and 60°C.When combined with fixed cur-vature correction currents,it achieves an ultra-low TC for each chip.Implemented in a CMOS 180 nm process,the BGR occu-pies 0.548 mm²and operates at 2.5 V with 84μA current draw from a 5 V supply.An average TC of 2.69 ppm/℃ with two-point trimming and 0.81 ppm/℃ with multi-point trimming are achieved over the temperature range of-40 to 125℃.It accommo-dates a load current of 1 mA and an LS of 42 ppm/V,making it suitable for precise BMS applications.
基金supported by the Ecological Conservation and High-Quality Development of the Yellow River Basin Program,China(2022-YRUC-010102)the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program,China(20190ZKK0405)the Basic Research Fund Project of Innovation Team of Novel Forage Germplasm and Sustainable Utilization of Grassland Resources,China(BR22-12-07)。
文摘There is growing interest in introducing ecological risks(ERs)and ecosystem services(ESs)into environmental policies and practices.However,the integration of ESs and ERs into actual decision-making remains insufficient.We simulated the spatiotemporal dynamics of ESs(e.g.,carbon storage,water yield,habitat quality,and soil conservation)and ERs in the upper reach of the Yellow River(URYR)from 2000 to 2100.Additionally,we explored their relationships by combining the InVEST model and a landscape ecological risk model with CMIP6 data.Our main findings showed that regional ERs change in response to land use and environmental dynamics.Specifically,the ER area decreased by 27,673 m^(2)during 2000-2020,but it is projected to increase by 13,273,438,and 68 m^(2)under the SSP1-2.6,SSP2-4.5,and SSP5-8.5 scenarios,respectively.We also observed remarkable spatial differences in ESs and ERs between past and future scenarios.For instance,the source area of the URYR exhibited high ESs and low ERs(P<0.001),while the ESs and ERs are declining and increasing,respectively,in the northeastern URYR(P<0.05).Finally,we proposed a spatial optimization framework to improve ESs and reduce ERs,which will support regional sustainable development.
