Background:Inflatable Penile Prosthesis(IPP)is the treatment for erectile dysfunction(ED)refractory to pharmacological therapies.Long-term data on factors associated with prosthesis survival remain unclear.This study ...Background:Inflatable Penile Prosthesis(IPP)is the treatment for erectile dysfunction(ED)refractory to pharmacological therapies.Long-term data on factors associated with prosthesis survival remain unclear.This study aimed to analyze the long-term survival of penile prostheses and identify risk factors associated with survival without reintervention.Methods:This is a retrospective,single-center study of patients who underwent IPP implantation between January 2014 and December 2022.Preoperative data related to the patient and the etiology of ED,as well as perioperative data,were collected.The primary outcome was survival without reintervention,defined as prosthesis revision or explantation due to mechanical dysfunction or infection.We conducted survival analyses without reintervention and searched for risk factors using a multivariate Cox model.Results:In total,33 out of 137 patients underwent reintervention(24.1%),including 24(17.5%)prosthesis revisions and 9(6.6%)had explantations.Median follow-up was 39 months with an interquartile range(IQR)of 9.00 to 62.00.Median survival without reintervention was 7 years.In univariate analysis,downsizing(p=0.046)was associated with reintervention.Smoking(p=0.003)and age(p=0.034)were associated with prosthesis explantation.The number of implantations(p=0.009)was associated with prosthesis revision.Multivariate analysis by the Cox model did not identify any independent predictive factors for reintervention.Conclusion:Smoking may play a role in infection post-IPP implantation.Primary implantations seem to be associated with better survival.Adjusting cylinder size,known as downsizing,is likely to be a proxy for the complexity of the procedure and thus linked to earlier reintervention.展开更多
BACKGROUND Parental presence in neonatal units(NUs)is essential for infant development and family well-being.A deeper understanding of the factors influencing parental presence is vital and will contribute to the deve...BACKGROUND Parental presence in neonatal units(NUs)is essential for infant development and family well-being.A deeper understanding of the factors influencing parental presence is vital and will contribute to the development of targeted interventions and policies that enhance parental engagement in neonatal care,thereby improving outcomes for infants and their families.AIM To identify and analyze primary factors influencing parental involvement in their child’s care in a neonatal intensive care unit(NICU).METHODS A literature search was conducted using the PubMed,MEDLINE,and Cochrane Library for systematic reviews databases,with the following search terms:“parental presence neonatology”,“couplet care”,“zero separation neonatal care”,“family integrated care”,“couplet care intervention”,“mother-child separation”,“parents newborn togetherness”,“mother-baby care”,“closeness and separation NICU”,“mother-infant interaction NICU”,“kangaroo care”,“dyad mother-infant”,and“newborn integrated care”.The database search for this literature review began on December 10,2024,with the final search conducted on April 10,2025.RESULTS The literature search yielded 281 articles,out of which 23 were selected for a detailed review.The factors associated with parental presence in NUs were grouped into five main categories:Parents’socio-demographic and cultural traits;the physical layout and care model of the NUs;the quality of parents’relationships with the healthcare staff;their active involvement in neonatal care;and the newborn’s health status.CONCLUSION The identification of factors that affect parental presence in NUs is critical for developing effective strategies aimed at encouraging increased parental involvement and ultimately improving neonatal and family outcomes.展开更多
In this paper,we present a novel first-order digitalΣΔconverter tailored for digital-to-analog applications,focusing on achieving both high yield and reduced silicon estate.Our approach incorporates a substantial le...In this paper,we present a novel first-order digitalΣΔconverter tailored for digital-to-analog applications,focusing on achieving both high yield and reduced silicon estate.Our approach incorporates a substantial level of dithering noise into the input signal,strategically aimed at mitigating the spurious frequencies commonly encountered in such converters.Validation of our design is performed through simulations using a high-level simulator specialized in mixed-signal circuit analysis.The results underscore the enhanced performance of our circuit,especially in reducing spurious frequencies,highlighting its efficiency and effectiveness.The final circuit exhibits an effective number of bits of 13.展开更多
GaN diodes for high energy(64.8 MeV)proton detection were fabricated and investigated.A comparison of the performance of GaN diodes with different structures is presented,with a focus on sapphire and on GaN substrates...GaN diodes for high energy(64.8 MeV)proton detection were fabricated and investigated.A comparison of the performance of GaN diodes with different structures is presented,with a focus on sapphire and on GaN substrates,Schottky and pin diodes,and different active layer thicknesses.Pin diodes fabricated on a sapphire substrate are the best choice for a GaN proton detector working at 0 V bias.They are sensitive(minimum detectable proton beam<1 pA/cm^(2)),linear as a function of proton current and fast(<1 s).High proton current sensitivity and high spatial resolution of GaN diodes can be exploited in the future for proton imaging of patients in proton therapy.展开更多
Low-electrode capacitive deionization(FCDI)is an emerging desalination technology with great potential for removal and/or recycling ions from a range of waters.However,it still suffers from inefficient charge transfer...Low-electrode capacitive deionization(FCDI)is an emerging desalination technology with great potential for removal and/or recycling ions from a range of waters.However,it still suffers from inefficient charge transfer and ion transport kinetics due to weak turbulence and low electric intensity in flow electrodes,both restricted by the current collectors.Herein,a new tip-array current collector(designated as T-CC)was developed to replace the conventional planar current collectors,which intensifies both the charge transfer and ion transport significantly.The effects of tip arrays on flow and electric fields were studied by both computational simulations and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy,which revealed the reduction of ion transport barrier,charge transport barrier and internal resistance.With the voltage increased from 1.0 to 1.5 and 2.0 V,the T-CC-based FCDI system(T-FCDI)exhibited average salt removal rates(ASRR)of 0.18,0.50,and 0.89μmol cm^(-2) min^(-1),respectively,which are 1.82,2.65,and 2.48 folds higher than that of the conventional serpentine current collectors,and 1.48,1.67,and 1.49 folds higher than that of the planar current collectors.Meanwhile,with the solid content in flow electrodes increased from 1 to 5 wt%,the ASRR for T-FCDI increased from 0.29 to 0.50μmol cm^(-2) min^(-1),which are 1.70 and 1.67 folds higher than that of the planar current collectors.Additionally,a salt removal efficiency of 99.89%was achieved with T-FCDI and the charge efficiency remained above 95%after 24 h of operation,thus showing its superior long-term stability.展开更多
This paper discusses an experimental investigation into the fluidity of AZ91D-1 wt.%Ca O magnesium melt via induction for thin-section investment casting.Plaster molds with thin spiral cavities(0.5 to 1.5 mm square se...This paper discusses an experimental investigation into the fluidity of AZ91D-1 wt.%Ca O magnesium melt via induction for thin-section investment casting.Plaster molds with thin spiral cavities(0.5 to 1.5 mm square sections)were designed and manufactured to assess the impact of casting conditions on filling length,as magnesium alloys cause severe melting and melt-mold exothermic reactions,making investment casting challenging.Combinations of traditional Mg-mold reaction mitigation techniques,such as applying a protective mold coating(Yttria)and vacuum,were examined to determine their role in the filling process.The results suggest that when induction is employed to melt reactive alloys,these methods are not always beneficial,as initially thought.Particularly at higher melt temperatures,the combination of Yttria-coated molds with low-pressure vacuum induction significantly reduce fluidity:vacuum induced melt levitation which promotes oxidation with the residual atmosphere;and Yttria-coating cracking due to thermal stress during the mold fabrication slows filling and promotes significant melt-mold reaction.This study shows that best results to investment cast thin-sections are obtained by avoiding both vacuum and protective coatings,providing a viable route for the precision manufacturing of stent biomedical devices.展开更多
Three magnitude 〉6 earthquakes struck Qaidam, Qinghai province, China, in November 10th 2008, August 28th and 31st 2009 respectively. The Zongwulongshan fault has often been designated as the active seismogenic struc...Three magnitude 〉6 earthquakes struck Qaidam, Qinghai province, China, in November 10th 2008, August 28th and 31st 2009 respectively. The Zongwulongshan fault has often been designated as the active seismogenic structure, although it is at odd with the data. Our continuous GPS station （CGPS）, the Xiao Qaidam station, located in the north of the Qaidam basin, is less than 30 km to the southwest of the 2008 earthquake. This CGPS station recorded the near field co-seismic deformation. Here we analyzed the co-seismic dislocation based on the GPS time series and the rupture processes from focal mechanism for the three earthquakes. The afiershocks were relocated to constrain the spatial characteristics of the 2008 and 2009 Qaidam earthquakes. Field geological and geomorphological investigation and interpretation of satellite images show that the Xitieshan fault and Zongwulongshan fault were activated as left lateral thrust during the late Quaternary. Evidence of folding can also be identified. Integrated analyses based on our data and the regional tectonic environment show that the Xitieshan fault is the fault responsible for the 2008 Qaidam earthquake, which is a low dip angle thrust with left lateral strike slip. The Zongwulongshan fault is the seismogenic fault of the 2009 earthquakes, which is a south dipping back thrust of the northern marginal thrust system of the Qaidam basin. Folding takes a significant part of the deformation in the northern marginal thrust system of the Qaidam basin, dominating the contemporary structure style of the northern margin of the Qaidam basin and Qilianshan tectonic system. In this region, this fault and fold system dominates the earthquake activities with frequent small magnitude earthquakes.展开更多
In the light of current concerns related to induced seismicity associated with geological carbon sequestration(GCS),this paper summarizes lessons learned from recent modeling studies on fault activation,induced seismi...In the light of current concerns related to induced seismicity associated with geological carbon sequestration(GCS),this paper summarizes lessons learned from recent modeling studies on fault activation,induced seismicity,and potential for leakage associated with deep underground carbon dioxide(CO2) injection.Model simulations demonstrate that seismic events large enough to be felt by humans require brittle fault properties and continuous fault permeability allowing pressure to be distributed over a large fault patch to be ruptured at once.Heterogeneous fault properties,which are commonly encountered in faults intersecting multilayered shale/sandstone sequences,effectively reduce the likelihood of inducing felt seismicity and also effectively impede upward CO2leakage.A number of simulations show that even a sizable seismic event that could be felt may not be capable of opening a new flow path across the entire thickness of an overlying caprock and it is very unlikely to cross a system of multiple overlying caprock units.Site-specific model simulations of the In Salah CO2storage demonstration site showed that deep fractured zone responses and associated microseismicity occurred in the brittle fractured sandstone reservoir,but at a very substantial reservoir overpressure close to the magnitude of the least principal stress.We conclude by emphasizing the importance of site investigation to characterize rock properties and if at all possible to avoid brittle rock such as proximity of crystalline basement or sites in hard and brittle sedimentary sequences that are more prone to injection-induced seismicity and permanent damage.展开更多
Twenty-seven specimens were tested to investigate the uniaxial compression behaviour of an innovative standing support for underground space applications.The innovative standing support consisted of an external fibre ...Twenty-seven specimens were tested to investigate the uniaxial compression behaviour of an innovative standing support for underground space applications.The innovative standing support consisted of an external fibre reinforced polymer(FRP)jacket and the infill column made of cementitious grout,tailings and coal wash rejects.Effects of the FRP layers number and water to the cementitious grout(w/g)ratio were evaluated.Test results indicated that lower w/g ratios produced stronger infill columns.With FRP confinement,the standing support demonstrated strain-hardening loading characteristics with a significant improvement in both strength and ductility.The highest strength and strain of the specimens achieved was 58.4 MPa and 11.8%respectively.Compared with the unconfined specimens,the confinement with four FRP layers increased the specimen strength and associated strain up to 3.6 and 27.0 times respectively.A correlation between the compressive strength of the infill material and the ultrasonic pulse velocity was also investigated.Furthermore,a simple design-oriented model was proposed to predict the peak strength and the corresponding strain of the innovative standing support.展开更多
Owing to the far-reaching environmental consequences of agriculture and food systems,such as their contribution to climate change,there is an urgent need to reduce their impact.International and national governments s...Owing to the far-reaching environmental consequences of agriculture and food systems,such as their contribution to climate change,there is an urgent need to reduce their impact.International and national governments set sustainability targets and implement corresponding measures.Nevertheless,critics of the globalized system claim that a territorial administrative scale is better suited to address sustainability issues.Yet,at the subnational level,local authorities rarely apply a systemic environmental assessment to enhance their action plans.This paper employs a territorial life cycle assessment methodology to improve local environmental agri-food planning.The objective is to identify significant direct and indirect environmental hotspots,their origins,and formulate effective mitigation strategies.The methodology is applied to the administrative department of Finistere,a strategic agricultural region in North-Western France.Multiple environmental criteria including climate change,fossil resource scarcity,toxicity,and land use are modeled.The findings reveal that the primary environmental hotspots of the studied local food system arise from indirect sources,such as livestock feed or diesel consumption.Livestock reduction and organic farming conversion emerge as the most environmentally efficient strategies,resulting in a 25%decrease in the climate change indicator.However,the overall modeled impact reduction is insufficient following national objectives and remains limited for the land use indicator.These results highlight the innovative application of life cycle assessment led at a local level,offering insights for the further advancement of systematic and prospective local agri-food assessment.Additionally,they provide guidance for local authorities to enhance the sustainability of planning strategies.展开更多
The buildings＇ capacity to maintain minimum structural safety levels during natural disasters, such as earthquakes, is recognisably one of the aspects that most influence urban resilience. Moreover, the public invest...The buildings＇ capacity to maintain minimum structural safety levels during natural disasters, such as earthquakes, is recognisably one of the aspects that most influence urban resilience. Moreover, the public investment in risk mitigation strategies is fimdamental, not only to promote social and urban and resilience, but also to limit consequent material, human and environmental losses. Despite the growing awareness of this issue, there is still a vast number of traditional masonry buildings spread throughout many European old city centres that lacks of adequate seismic resistance, requiring therefore urgent retrofitting interventions in order to both reduce their seismic vulnerability and to cope with the increased seismic requirements of recent code standards. Thus, this paper aims at contributing to mitigate the social and economic impacts of earthquake damage scenarios through the development of vulnerability-based comparative analysis of some of the most popularretrofitting techniques applied after the 1998 Azores earthquake. The influence of each technique individually and globally studied resorting to a seismic vulnerability index methodology integrated into a GIS tool and damage and loss scenarios are constructed and critically discussed. Finally, the economic balance resulting from the implementation of that techniques are also examined.展开更多
The battery management system(BMS)is the main safeguard of a battery system for electric propulsion and machine electrifcation.It is tasked to ensure reliable and safe operation of battery cells connected to provide h...The battery management system(BMS)is the main safeguard of a battery system for electric propulsion and machine electrifcation.It is tasked to ensure reliable and safe operation of battery cells connected to provide high currents at high voltage levels.In addition to efectively monitoring all the electrical parameters of a battery pack system,such as the voltage,current,and temperature,the BMS is also used to improve the battery performance with proper safety measures within the system.With growing acceptance of lithium-ion batteries,major industry sectors such as the automotive,renewable energy,manufacturing,construction,and even some in the mining industry have brought forward the mass transition from fossil fuel dependency to electric powered machinery and redefned the world of energy storage.Hence,the functional safety considerations,which are those relating to automatic protection,in battery management for battery pack technologies are particularly important to ensure that the overall electrical system,regardless of whether it is for electric transportation or stationary energy storage,is in accordance with high standards of safety,reliability,and quality.If the system or product fails to meet functional and other safety requirements on account of faulty design or a sequence of failure events,then the environment,people,and property could be endangered.This paper analyzed the details of BMS for electric transportation and large-scale energy storage systems,particularly in areas concerned with hazardous environment.The analysis covers the aspect of functional safety that applies to BMS and is in accordance with the relevant industrial standards.A comprehensive evaluation of the components,architecture,risk reduction techniques,and failure mode analysis applicable to BMS operation was also presented.The article further provided recommendations on safety design and performance optimization in relation to the overall BMS integration.展开更多
Significant advancements in various research and technological fields have contributed to remarkable findings on the physiological dynamics of the human body.Tomore closely mimic the complex physiological environment,...Significant advancements in various research and technological fields have contributed to remarkable findings on the physiological dynamics of the human body.Tomore closely mimic the complex physiological environment,research has moved from two-dimensional(2D)culture systems to more sophisticated three-dimensional(3D)dynamic cultures.Unlike bioreactors or microfluidic-based culture models,cells are typically seeded on polymeric substrates or incorporated into 3D constructs which are mechanically stimulated to investigate cell response to mechanical stresses,such as tensile or compressive.This review focuses on the working principles of mechanical stimulation devices currently available on the market or custom-built by research groups or protected by patents and highlights the main features still open to improvement.These are the features which could be focused on to perform,in the future,more reliable and accurate mechanobiology studies.展开更多
We present new,geological,metamorphic,geochemical and geochronological data on the East Anatolian-Lesser Caucasus ophiolites.These data are used in combination with a synthesis of previous data and numerical modelling...We present new,geological,metamorphic,geochemical and geochronological data on the East Anatolian-Lesser Caucasus ophiolites.These data are used in combination with a synthesis of previous data and numerical modelling to unravel the tectonic emplacement of ophiolites in this region.All these data allow the reconstruction of a large obducted ophiolite nappe,thrusted for>100 km and up to 250 km on the Anatolian-Armenian block.The ophiolite petrology shows three distinct magmatic series,highlighted by new isotopic and trace element data:(1)The main Early Jurassic Tholeiites(ophiolite s.s.)bear LILEenriched,subduction-modified,MORB chemical composition.Geology and petrology of the Tholeiite series substantiates a slow-spreading oceanic environment in a time spanning from the Late Triassic to the Middle-Late Jurassic.Serpentinites,gabbros and plagiogranites were exhumed by normal faults,and covered by radiolarites,while minor volumes of pillow-lava flows infilled the rift grabens.Tendency towards a subduction-modified geochemical signature suggests emplacement in a marginal basin above a subduction zone.(2)Late Early Cretaceous alkaline lavas conformably emplaced on top of the ophiolite.They have an OIB affinity.These lavas are featured by large pillow lavas interbedded a carbonate matrix.They show evidence for a large-scale OIB plume activity,which occurred prior to ophiolite obduction.(3)Early-Late Cretaceous calc-alkaline lavas and dykes.These magmatic rocks are found on top of the obducted nappe,above the post-obduction erosion level.This series shows similar Sr-Nd isotopic features as the Alkaline series,though having a clear supra-subduction affinity.They are thus interpreted to be the remelting product of a mantle previously contaminated by the OIB plume.Correlation of data from the Lesser Caucasus to western Anatolia shows a progression from back-arc to arc and fore-arc,which highlight a dissymmetry in the obducted oceanic lithosphere from East to West.The metamorphic P-T-t paths of the obduction sole lithologies define a southward propagation of the ophiolite:(1)P-T-t data from the northern Sevan-Akera suture zone(Armenia)highlight the presence and exhumation of eclogites(1.85±0.02 GPa and 590±5℃)and blueschists below the ophiolite,which are dated at ca.94 Ma by Ar-Ar on phengite.(2)Neighbouring Amasia(Armenia)garnet amphibolites indicate metamorphic peak conditions of 0.65±0.05 GPa and 600±20 C with a U-Pb on rutile age of 90.2±5.2 Ma and Ar-Ar on amphibole and phengite ages of 90.8±3.0 Ma and 90.8±1.2 Ma,respectively.These data are consistent with palaeontological dating of sediment deposits directly under(Cenomanian,i.e.>93.9 Ma)or sealing(Coniacian-Santonian,i.e.,≤89.8 Ma),the obduction.(3)At Hinis(NE Turkey)PT-t conditions on amphibolites(0.66±0.06 GPa and 660±20℃,with a U-Pb titanite age of80.0±3.2 Ma)agree with previous P-T-t data on granulites,and highlight a rapid exhumation below a top-to-the-North detachment sealed by the Early Maastrichtian unconformity(ca.70.6 Ma).Amphibolites are cross-cut by monzonites dated by U-Pb on titanite at 78.3±3.7 Ma.We propose that the HT-MP metamorphism was coeval with the monzonites,about 10 Ma after the obduction,and was triggered by the onset of subduction South of the Anatolides and by reactivation or acceleration of the subduction below the Pontides-Eurasian margin.Numerical modelling accounts for the obduction of an"old"~80 Myr oceanic lithosphere due to a significant heating of oceanic lithosphere through mantle upwelling,which increased the oceanic lithosphere buoyancy.The long-distance transport of a currently thin section of ophiolites(<1 km)onto the Anatolian continental margin is ascribed to a combination of northward mantle extensional thinning of the obducted oceanic lithosphere by the Hinis detachment at ca.80 Ma,and southward gravitational propagation of the ophiolite nappe onto its foreland basin.展开更多
Background: Anatomical variations in the liver arterial supply are quite common and can affect the surgical strategy when performing a minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy(MIPD). Their presence must be preemptiv...Background: Anatomical variations in the liver arterial supply are quite common and can affect the surgical strategy when performing a minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy(MIPD). Their presence must be preemptively detected to avoid postoperative liver and biliary complications. Data sources: Following the PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane protocol we conducted a systematic review on the management of an accessory or replaced right hepatic artery(RHA) arising from the superior mesenteric artery when performing an MIPD. Results: Five studies involving 118 patients were included. The most common reported management of the aberrant RHA was conservative(97.0%);however, patients undergoing aberrant RHA division without reconstruction did not develop liver or biliary complications. No differences in postoperative morbidity or long-term oncological related overall survival were reported in all the included studies when comparing MIPD in patients with standard anatomy to those with aberrant RHA. Conclusions: MIPD in patients with aberrant RHA is feasible without increase in morbidity and mortality. As preoperative strategy is crucial, we suggested planning an MIPD with an anomalous RHA focusing on preoperative vascular aberrancy assessment and different strategies to reduce the risk of liver ischemia.展开更多
Here,using a bioinspired approach,the soft-template electropolymerization of naphtho[2,3-b]thieno[3,4-e][1,4]dioxine(NaphDOT)was conducted in dichloromethane with different water content,and using different supporting...Here,using a bioinspired approach,the soft-template electropolymerization of naphtho[2,3-b]thieno[3,4-e][1,4]dioxine(NaphDOT)was conducted in dichloromethane with different water content,and using different supporting electrolytes.The role of the electrolytes in the formation of reverse micelles that constitutes the soft template is investigated.The reverse micelles stabilized by the electrolyte and the monomer were observed by TEM and related to the various porous nanostructures of the obtained polymer films.We show that the nature of the electrolyte is not only fundamental for the formation of reverse micelles and thus porous nanostructures,but also plays a huge role in the good deposition of the oligomers upon the soft template.Surfaces with nanostructures such as nanotubes,nanorings or nanomembranes were realized.展开更多
In this paper,we propose an approach to determine seven parameters of the Helmert transfor-mation by transforming the coordinates of a continuous GNSS network from the World Geodetic System 1984(WGS84)to the Internati...In this paper,we propose an approach to determine seven parameters of the Helmert transfor-mation by transforming the coordinates of a continuous GNSS network from the World Geodetic System 1984(WGS84)to the International Terrestrial Reference Frame.This includes(1)convert-ing the coordinates of common points from the global coordinate system to the local coordinate system,(2)identifying and eliminating outliers by the Dikin estimator,and(3)estimating seven parameters of the Helmert transformation by least squares(LS)estimation with the“clean”data(i.e.outliers removed).Herein,the local coordinate system provides a platform to separate points’horizontal and vertical components.Then,the Dikin estimator identifies and eliminates outliers in the horizontal or vertical component separately.It is significant because common points in a continuous GNSS network may contain outliers.The proposed approach is tested with the Géoazur GNSS network with the results showing that the Dikin estimator detects outliers at 6 out of 18 common points,among which three points are found with outliers in the vertical compo-nent only.Thus,instead of eliminating all coordinate components of these six common points,we only eliminate all coordinate components of three common points and only the vertical component of another three common points.Finally,the classical LS estimation is applied to“clean”data to estimate seven parameters of the Helmert transformation with a significant accuracy improvement.The Dikin estimator’s results are compared to those of other robust estimators of Huber and Theil-Sen,which shows that the Dikin estimator performs better.Furthermore,the weighted total least-squares estimation is implemented to assess the accuracy of the LS estimation with the same data.The inter-comparison of the seven estimated parameters and their standard deviations shows a small difference at a few per million levels(E-6).展开更多
Robot World Cup Initiative (RoboCup) is a worldwide competition proposed to advance research in robotics and artificial intelligence. It has a league called RoboCup soccer devoted for soccer robots, which is a challen...Robot World Cup Initiative (RoboCup) is a worldwide competition proposed to advance research in robotics and artificial intelligence. It has a league called RoboCup soccer devoted for soccer robots, which is a challenge because robots are mobile, fully autonomous, multi-agents, and they play on a dynamic environment. Moreover, robots must recognize the game entities, which is a crucial task during a game. A camera is usually used as an input system to recognize ball, opponents, soccer field, and so on. These elements may be recognized applying some tools of computational intelligence, for example an artificial neural network. This paper describes the application of an artificial neural network on middle size robotic football league, where a multilayer perceptron neural network is trained with the backpropagation algorithm, to classify elements on the image. Each output neuron represents an entity and its output value depends on the current entity that is present on the image. The results show that an artificial neural network successfully classified the entities. They were recognized even when similar color entities were present on the image.展开更多
For a satellite in an orbit of more than 1600 km in altitude, the effects of Sun and Moon on the orbit can’t be negligible. Working with mean orbital elements, the secular drift of the longitude of the ascending node...For a satellite in an orbit of more than 1600 km in altitude, the effects of Sun and Moon on the orbit can’t be negligible. Working with mean orbital elements, the secular drift of the longitude of the ascending node and the sum of the argu-ment of perigee and mean anomaly are set equal between two neighboring orbits to negate the separation over time due to the potential of the Earth and the third body effect. The expressions for the second order conditions that guaran-tee that the drift rates of two neighboring orbits are equal on the average are derived. To this end, the Hamiltonian was developed. The expressions for the non-vanishing time rate of change of canonical elements are obtained.展开更多
Biopolymers exhibit unique properties and can be produced from plants’ and crops’ wastes. Cellulose has beenused for the production of sustainable materials, nevertheless due to the difficulty inherent to its extrac...Biopolymers exhibit unique properties and can be produced from plants’ and crops’ wastes. Cellulose has beenused for the production of sustainable materials, nevertheless due to the difficulty inherent to its extraction,several methods have been studied in order to optimize the process. Therefore, this paper reports the extractionof natural polymers from food sector agro-food wastes, including cellulose, following a green chemistry aproach.The cellulose extracted from pumpkin peel was acetylated and dispersed in a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix. Thedeveloped materials were characterized in terms of their structure, morphology and thermal stability. Theresults demonstrated the efficient chemical modification of cellulose and confirmed its good dispersion withinthe PLA matrix.展开更多
文摘Background:Inflatable Penile Prosthesis(IPP)is the treatment for erectile dysfunction(ED)refractory to pharmacological therapies.Long-term data on factors associated with prosthesis survival remain unclear.This study aimed to analyze the long-term survival of penile prostheses and identify risk factors associated with survival without reintervention.Methods:This is a retrospective,single-center study of patients who underwent IPP implantation between January 2014 and December 2022.Preoperative data related to the patient and the etiology of ED,as well as perioperative data,were collected.The primary outcome was survival without reintervention,defined as prosthesis revision or explantation due to mechanical dysfunction or infection.We conducted survival analyses without reintervention and searched for risk factors using a multivariate Cox model.Results:In total,33 out of 137 patients underwent reintervention(24.1%),including 24(17.5%)prosthesis revisions and 9(6.6%)had explantations.Median follow-up was 39 months with an interquartile range(IQR)of 9.00 to 62.00.Median survival without reintervention was 7 years.In univariate analysis,downsizing(p=0.046)was associated with reintervention.Smoking(p=0.003)and age(p=0.034)were associated with prosthesis explantation.The number of implantations(p=0.009)was associated with prosthesis revision.Multivariate analysis by the Cox model did not identify any independent predictive factors for reintervention.Conclusion:Smoking may play a role in infection post-IPP implantation.Primary implantations seem to be associated with better survival.Adjusting cylinder size,known as downsizing,is likely to be a proxy for the complexity of the procedure and thus linked to earlier reintervention.
文摘BACKGROUND Parental presence in neonatal units(NUs)is essential for infant development and family well-being.A deeper understanding of the factors influencing parental presence is vital and will contribute to the development of targeted interventions and policies that enhance parental engagement in neonatal care,thereby improving outcomes for infants and their families.AIM To identify and analyze primary factors influencing parental involvement in their child’s care in a neonatal intensive care unit(NICU).METHODS A literature search was conducted using the PubMed,MEDLINE,and Cochrane Library for systematic reviews databases,with the following search terms:“parental presence neonatology”,“couplet care”,“zero separation neonatal care”,“family integrated care”,“couplet care intervention”,“mother-child separation”,“parents newborn togetherness”,“mother-baby care”,“closeness and separation NICU”,“mother-infant interaction NICU”,“kangaroo care”,“dyad mother-infant”,and“newborn integrated care”.The database search for this literature review began on December 10,2024,with the final search conducted on April 10,2025.RESULTS The literature search yielded 281 articles,out of which 23 were selected for a detailed review.The factors associated with parental presence in NUs were grouped into five main categories:Parents’socio-demographic and cultural traits;the physical layout and care model of the NUs;the quality of parents’relationships with the healthcare staff;their active involvement in neonatal care;and the newborn’s health status.CONCLUSION The identification of factors that affect parental presence in NUs is critical for developing effective strategies aimed at encouraging increased parental involvement and ultimately improving neonatal and family outcomes.
文摘In this paper,we present a novel first-order digitalΣΔconverter tailored for digital-to-analog applications,focusing on achieving both high yield and reduced silicon estate.Our approach incorporates a substantial level of dithering noise into the input signal,strategically aimed at mitigating the spurious frequencies commonly encountered in such converters.Validation of our design is performed through simulations using a high-level simulator specialized in mixed-signal circuit analysis.The results underscore the enhanced performance of our circuit,especially in reducing spurious frequencies,highlighting its efficiency and effectiveness.The final circuit exhibits an effective number of bits of 13.
基金support from MATRIX(ANR-22-CE92-0047)with financial support from ITMI Cancer of Aviesan within the framework of the 2021−2030 Cancer Control Strategy,on funds administrated by INSERM through the project NECTAR.Matilde Siviero acknowledges funding from the French−German University/Saarbrücken(contract CDOC-06-2022).
文摘GaN diodes for high energy(64.8 MeV)proton detection were fabricated and investigated.A comparison of the performance of GaN diodes with different structures is presented,with a focus on sapphire and on GaN substrates,Schottky and pin diodes,and different active layer thicknesses.Pin diodes fabricated on a sapphire substrate are the best choice for a GaN proton detector working at 0 V bias.They are sensitive(minimum detectable proton beam<1 pA/cm^(2)),linear as a function of proton current and fast(<1 s).High proton current sensitivity and high spatial resolution of GaN diodes can be exploited in the future for proton imaging of patients in proton therapy.
基金supported by the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(JCYJ20230808105111022,JCYJ20220818095806013)Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong(2023A1515012267)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22178223)the Royal Society/NSFC cost share program(IEC\NSFC\223372).
文摘Low-electrode capacitive deionization(FCDI)is an emerging desalination technology with great potential for removal and/or recycling ions from a range of waters.However,it still suffers from inefficient charge transfer and ion transport kinetics due to weak turbulence and low electric intensity in flow electrodes,both restricted by the current collectors.Herein,a new tip-array current collector(designated as T-CC)was developed to replace the conventional planar current collectors,which intensifies both the charge transfer and ion transport significantly.The effects of tip arrays on flow and electric fields were studied by both computational simulations and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy,which revealed the reduction of ion transport barrier,charge transport barrier and internal resistance.With the voltage increased from 1.0 to 1.5 and 2.0 V,the T-CC-based FCDI system(T-FCDI)exhibited average salt removal rates(ASRR)of 0.18,0.50,and 0.89μmol cm^(-2) min^(-1),respectively,which are 1.82,2.65,and 2.48 folds higher than that of the conventional serpentine current collectors,and 1.48,1.67,and 1.49 folds higher than that of the planar current collectors.Meanwhile,with the solid content in flow electrodes increased from 1 to 5 wt%,the ASRR for T-FCDI increased from 0.29 to 0.50μmol cm^(-2) min^(-1),which are 1.70 and 1.67 folds higher than that of the planar current collectors.Additionally,a salt removal efficiency of 99.89%was achieved with T-FCDI and the charge efficiency remained above 95%after 24 h of operation,thus showing its superior long-term stability.
基金financed by National Funds through the Portuguese funding agency,FCT–Funda??o para a Ciência e a Tecnologia,within the strategic projects UIDB/04436/2020,UIDB/00481/2020 and LA/P/0063/2020(DOI 10.54499/LA/P/0063/2020)。
文摘This paper discusses an experimental investigation into the fluidity of AZ91D-1 wt.%Ca O magnesium melt via induction for thin-section investment casting.Plaster molds with thin spiral cavities(0.5 to 1.5 mm square sections)were designed and manufactured to assess the impact of casting conditions on filling length,as magnesium alloys cause severe melting and melt-mold exothermic reactions,making investment casting challenging.Combinations of traditional Mg-mold reaction mitigation techniques,such as applying a protective mold coating(Yttria)and vacuum,were examined to determine their role in the filling process.The results suggest that when induction is employed to melt reactive alloys,these methods are not always beneficial,as initially thought.Particularly at higher melt temperatures,the combination of Yttria-coated molds with low-pressure vacuum induction significantly reduce fluidity:vacuum induced melt levitation which promotes oxidation with the residual atmosphere;and Yttria-coating cracking due to thermal stress during the mold fabrication slows filling and promotes significant melt-mold reaction.This study shows that best results to investment cast thin-sections are obtained by avoiding both vacuum and protective coatings,providing a viable route for the precision manufacturing of stent biomedical devices.
基金financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40802052)Part of the installation of the CGPS network was funded through a cooperation between the CEA and the French ANR funding agency (N° ANR-05-CATT-006)
文摘Three magnitude 〉6 earthquakes struck Qaidam, Qinghai province, China, in November 10th 2008, August 28th and 31st 2009 respectively. The Zongwulongshan fault has often been designated as the active seismogenic structure, although it is at odd with the data. Our continuous GPS station （CGPS）, the Xiao Qaidam station, located in the north of the Qaidam basin, is less than 30 km to the southwest of the 2008 earthquake. This CGPS station recorded the near field co-seismic deformation. Here we analyzed the co-seismic dislocation based on the GPS time series and the rupture processes from focal mechanism for the three earthquakes. The afiershocks were relocated to constrain the spatial characteristics of the 2008 and 2009 Qaidam earthquakes. Field geological and geomorphological investigation and interpretation of satellite images show that the Xitieshan fault and Zongwulongshan fault were activated as left lateral thrust during the late Quaternary. Evidence of folding can also be identified. Integrated analyses based on our data and the regional tectonic environment show that the Xitieshan fault is the fault responsible for the 2008 Qaidam earthquake, which is a low dip angle thrust with left lateral strike slip. The Zongwulongshan fault is the seismogenic fault of the 2009 earthquakes, which is a south dipping back thrust of the northern marginal thrust system of the Qaidam basin. Folding takes a significant part of the deformation in the northern marginal thrust system of the Qaidam basin, dominating the contemporary structure style of the northern margin of the Qaidam basin and Qilianshan tectonic system. In this region, this fault and fold system dominates the earthquake activities with frequent small magnitude earthquakes.
基金funded by the Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy,National Energy Technology Laboratory,National Risk Assessment Partnership of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No.DEAC02-05CH11231a Swiss National Science Foundation(SNSF) Ambizione Energy grant(PZENP2_160555)
文摘In the light of current concerns related to induced seismicity associated with geological carbon sequestration(GCS),this paper summarizes lessons learned from recent modeling studies on fault activation,induced seismicity,and potential for leakage associated with deep underground carbon dioxide(CO2) injection.Model simulations demonstrate that seismic events large enough to be felt by humans require brittle fault properties and continuous fault permeability allowing pressure to be distributed over a large fault patch to be ruptured at once.Heterogeneous fault properties,which are commonly encountered in faults intersecting multilayered shale/sandstone sequences,effectively reduce the likelihood of inducing felt seismicity and also effectively impede upward CO2leakage.A number of simulations show that even a sizable seismic event that could be felt may not be capable of opening a new flow path across the entire thickness of an overlying caprock and it is very unlikely to cross a system of multiple overlying caprock units.Site-specific model simulations of the In Salah CO2storage demonstration site showed that deep fractured zone responses and associated microseismicity occurred in the brittle fractured sandstone reservoir,but at a very substantial reservoir overpressure close to the magnitude of the least principal stress.We conclude by emphasizing the importance of site investigation to characterize rock properties and if at all possible to avoid brittle rock such as proximity of crystalline basement or sites in hard and brittle sedimentary sequences that are more prone to injection-induced seismicity and permanent damage.
文摘Twenty-seven specimens were tested to investigate the uniaxial compression behaviour of an innovative standing support for underground space applications.The innovative standing support consisted of an external fibre reinforced polymer(FRP)jacket and the infill column made of cementitious grout,tailings and coal wash rejects.Effects of the FRP layers number and water to the cementitious grout(w/g)ratio were evaluated.Test results indicated that lower w/g ratios produced stronger infill columns.With FRP confinement,the standing support demonstrated strain-hardening loading characteristics with a significant improvement in both strength and ductility.The highest strength and strain of the specimens achieved was 58.4 MPa and 11.8%respectively.Compared with the unconfined specimens,the confinement with four FRP layers increased the specimen strength and associated strain up to 3.6 and 27.0 times respectively.A correlation between the compressive strength of the infill material and the ultrasonic pulse velocity was also investigated.Furthermore,a simple design-oriented model was proposed to predict the peak strength and the corresponding strain of the innovative standing support.
文摘Owing to the far-reaching environmental consequences of agriculture and food systems,such as their contribution to climate change,there is an urgent need to reduce their impact.International and national governments set sustainability targets and implement corresponding measures.Nevertheless,critics of the globalized system claim that a territorial administrative scale is better suited to address sustainability issues.Yet,at the subnational level,local authorities rarely apply a systemic environmental assessment to enhance their action plans.This paper employs a territorial life cycle assessment methodology to improve local environmental agri-food planning.The objective is to identify significant direct and indirect environmental hotspots,their origins,and formulate effective mitigation strategies.The methodology is applied to the administrative department of Finistere,a strategic agricultural region in North-Western France.Multiple environmental criteria including climate change,fossil resource scarcity,toxicity,and land use are modeled.The findings reveal that the primary environmental hotspots of the studied local food system arise from indirect sources,such as livestock feed or diesel consumption.Livestock reduction and organic farming conversion emerge as the most environmentally efficient strategies,resulting in a 25%decrease in the climate change indicator.However,the overall modeled impact reduction is insufficient following national objectives and remains limited for the land use indicator.These results highlight the innovative application of life cycle assessment led at a local level,offering insights for the further advancement of systematic and prospective local agri-food assessment.Additionally,they provide guidance for local authorities to enhance the sustainability of planning strategies.
基金URBSIS:Assessing Vulnerability and Managing Earthquake Risk at Urban Scale(PTDC/ECM-URB/2564/2012)
文摘The buildings＇ capacity to maintain minimum structural safety levels during natural disasters, such as earthquakes, is recognisably one of the aspects that most influence urban resilience. Moreover, the public investment in risk mitigation strategies is fimdamental, not only to promote social and urban and resilience, but also to limit consequent material, human and environmental losses. Despite the growing awareness of this issue, there is still a vast number of traditional masonry buildings spread throughout many European old city centres that lacks of adequate seismic resistance, requiring therefore urgent retrofitting interventions in order to both reduce their seismic vulnerability and to cope with the increased seismic requirements of recent code standards. Thus, this paper aims at contributing to mitigate the social and economic impacts of earthquake damage scenarios through the development of vulnerability-based comparative analysis of some of the most popularretrofitting techniques applied after the 1998 Azores earthquake. The influence of each technique individually and globally studied resorting to a seismic vulnerability index methodology integrated into a GIS tool and damage and loss scenarios are constructed and critically discussed. Finally, the economic balance resulting from the implementation of that techniques are also examined.
基金supported by Azure Mining Technology,CCTEG,and the University of Wollongong.
文摘The battery management system(BMS)is the main safeguard of a battery system for electric propulsion and machine electrifcation.It is tasked to ensure reliable and safe operation of battery cells connected to provide high currents at high voltage levels.In addition to efectively monitoring all the electrical parameters of a battery pack system,such as the voltage,current,and temperature,the BMS is also used to improve the battery performance with proper safety measures within the system.With growing acceptance of lithium-ion batteries,major industry sectors such as the automotive,renewable energy,manufacturing,construction,and even some in the mining industry have brought forward the mass transition from fossil fuel dependency to electric powered machinery and redefned the world of energy storage.Hence,the functional safety considerations,which are those relating to automatic protection,in battery management for battery pack technologies are particularly important to ensure that the overall electrical system,regardless of whether it is for electric transportation or stationary energy storage,is in accordance with high standards of safety,reliability,and quality.If the system or product fails to meet functional and other safety requirements on account of faulty design or a sequence of failure events,then the environment,people,and property could be endangered.This paper analyzed the details of BMS for electric transportation and large-scale energy storage systems,particularly in areas concerned with hazardous environment.The analysis covers the aspect of functional safety that applies to BMS and is in accordance with the relevant industrial standards.A comprehensive evaluation of the components,architecture,risk reduction techniques,and failure mode analysis applicable to BMS operation was also presented.The article further provided recommendations on safety design and performance optimization in relation to the overall BMS integration.
基金FCT(Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia)through the grant SFRH/BD/141056/2018the project PTDC/EME-EME/1442/2020 and under the national support to R&D units grant,through the reference projects UIDB/04436/2020 and UIDP/04436/2020the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials,UIDB/50011/2020,UIDP/50011/2020&LA/P/0006/2020,financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC(PIDDAC).
文摘Significant advancements in various research and technological fields have contributed to remarkable findings on the physiological dynamics of the human body.Tomore closely mimic the complex physiological environment,research has moved from two-dimensional(2D)culture systems to more sophisticated three-dimensional(3D)dynamic cultures.Unlike bioreactors or microfluidic-based culture models,cells are typically seeded on polymeric substrates or incorporated into 3D constructs which are mechanically stimulated to investigate cell response to mechanical stresses,such as tensile or compressive.This review focuses on the working principles of mechanical stimulation devices currently available on the market or custom-built by research groups or protected by patents and highlights the main features still open to improvement.These are the features which could be focused on to perform,in the future,more reliable and accurate mechanobiology studies.
基金supported by the MEBE (Middle East Basin Evolution) and DARIUS programs jointly supported by a consortium including oil companies,UMPC and the INSU,CNRS.G.Topuz acknowledges TüBITAK grant (#114Y226) for support in field works
文摘We present new,geological,metamorphic,geochemical and geochronological data on the East Anatolian-Lesser Caucasus ophiolites.These data are used in combination with a synthesis of previous data and numerical modelling to unravel the tectonic emplacement of ophiolites in this region.All these data allow the reconstruction of a large obducted ophiolite nappe,thrusted for>100 km and up to 250 km on the Anatolian-Armenian block.The ophiolite petrology shows three distinct magmatic series,highlighted by new isotopic and trace element data:(1)The main Early Jurassic Tholeiites(ophiolite s.s.)bear LILEenriched,subduction-modified,MORB chemical composition.Geology and petrology of the Tholeiite series substantiates a slow-spreading oceanic environment in a time spanning from the Late Triassic to the Middle-Late Jurassic.Serpentinites,gabbros and plagiogranites were exhumed by normal faults,and covered by radiolarites,while minor volumes of pillow-lava flows infilled the rift grabens.Tendency towards a subduction-modified geochemical signature suggests emplacement in a marginal basin above a subduction zone.(2)Late Early Cretaceous alkaline lavas conformably emplaced on top of the ophiolite.They have an OIB affinity.These lavas are featured by large pillow lavas interbedded a carbonate matrix.They show evidence for a large-scale OIB plume activity,which occurred prior to ophiolite obduction.(3)Early-Late Cretaceous calc-alkaline lavas and dykes.These magmatic rocks are found on top of the obducted nappe,above the post-obduction erosion level.This series shows similar Sr-Nd isotopic features as the Alkaline series,though having a clear supra-subduction affinity.They are thus interpreted to be the remelting product of a mantle previously contaminated by the OIB plume.Correlation of data from the Lesser Caucasus to western Anatolia shows a progression from back-arc to arc and fore-arc,which highlight a dissymmetry in the obducted oceanic lithosphere from East to West.The metamorphic P-T-t paths of the obduction sole lithologies define a southward propagation of the ophiolite:(1)P-T-t data from the northern Sevan-Akera suture zone(Armenia)highlight the presence and exhumation of eclogites(1.85±0.02 GPa and 590±5℃)and blueschists below the ophiolite,which are dated at ca.94 Ma by Ar-Ar on phengite.(2)Neighbouring Amasia(Armenia)garnet amphibolites indicate metamorphic peak conditions of 0.65±0.05 GPa and 600±20 C with a U-Pb on rutile age of 90.2±5.2 Ma and Ar-Ar on amphibole and phengite ages of 90.8±3.0 Ma and 90.8±1.2 Ma,respectively.These data are consistent with palaeontological dating of sediment deposits directly under(Cenomanian,i.e.>93.9 Ma)or sealing(Coniacian-Santonian,i.e.,≤89.8 Ma),the obduction.(3)At Hinis(NE Turkey)PT-t conditions on amphibolites(0.66±0.06 GPa and 660±20℃,with a U-Pb titanite age of80.0±3.2 Ma)agree with previous P-T-t data on granulites,and highlight a rapid exhumation below a top-to-the-North detachment sealed by the Early Maastrichtian unconformity(ca.70.6 Ma).Amphibolites are cross-cut by monzonites dated by U-Pb on titanite at 78.3±3.7 Ma.We propose that the HT-MP metamorphism was coeval with the monzonites,about 10 Ma after the obduction,and was triggered by the onset of subduction South of the Anatolides and by reactivation or acceleration of the subduction below the Pontides-Eurasian margin.Numerical modelling accounts for the obduction of an"old"~80 Myr oceanic lithosphere due to a significant heating of oceanic lithosphere through mantle upwelling,which increased the oceanic lithosphere buoyancy.The long-distance transport of a currently thin section of ophiolites(<1 km)onto the Anatolian continental margin is ascribed to a combination of northward mantle extensional thinning of the obducted oceanic lithosphere by the Hinis detachment at ca.80 Ma,and southward gravitational propagation of the ophiolite nappe onto its foreland basin.
文摘Background: Anatomical variations in the liver arterial supply are quite common and can affect the surgical strategy when performing a minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy(MIPD). Their presence must be preemptively detected to avoid postoperative liver and biliary complications. Data sources: Following the PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane protocol we conducted a systematic review on the management of an accessory or replaced right hepatic artery(RHA) arising from the superior mesenteric artery when performing an MIPD. Results: Five studies involving 118 patients were included. The most common reported management of the aberrant RHA was conservative(97.0%);however, patients undergoing aberrant RHA division without reconstruction did not develop liver or biliary complications. No differences in postoperative morbidity or long-term oncological related overall survival were reported in all the included studies when comparing MIPD in patients with standard anatomy to those with aberrant RHA. Conclusions: MIPD in patients with aberrant RHA is feasible without increase in morbidity and mortality. As preoperative strategy is crucial, we suggested planning an MIPD with an anomalous RHA focusing on preoperative vascular aberrancy assessment and different strategies to reduce the risk of liver ischemia.
文摘Here,using a bioinspired approach,the soft-template electropolymerization of naphtho[2,3-b]thieno[3,4-e][1,4]dioxine(NaphDOT)was conducted in dichloromethane with different water content,and using different supporting electrolytes.The role of the electrolytes in the formation of reverse micelles that constitutes the soft template is investigated.The reverse micelles stabilized by the electrolyte and the monomer were observed by TEM and related to the various porous nanostructures of the obtained polymer films.We show that the nature of the electrolyte is not only fundamental for the formation of reverse micelles and thus porous nanostructures,but also plays a huge role in the good deposition of the oligomers upon the soft template.Surfaces with nanostructures such as nanotubes,nanorings or nanomembranes were realized.
基金supported by the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam[B2020-XDA-05].
文摘In this paper,we propose an approach to determine seven parameters of the Helmert transfor-mation by transforming the coordinates of a continuous GNSS network from the World Geodetic System 1984(WGS84)to the International Terrestrial Reference Frame.This includes(1)convert-ing the coordinates of common points from the global coordinate system to the local coordinate system,(2)identifying and eliminating outliers by the Dikin estimator,and(3)estimating seven parameters of the Helmert transformation by least squares(LS)estimation with the“clean”data(i.e.outliers removed).Herein,the local coordinate system provides a platform to separate points’horizontal and vertical components.Then,the Dikin estimator identifies and eliminates outliers in the horizontal or vertical component separately.It is significant because common points in a continuous GNSS network may contain outliers.The proposed approach is tested with the Géoazur GNSS network with the results showing that the Dikin estimator detects outliers at 6 out of 18 common points,among which three points are found with outliers in the vertical compo-nent only.Thus,instead of eliminating all coordinate components of these six common points,we only eliminate all coordinate components of three common points and only the vertical component of another three common points.Finally,the classical LS estimation is applied to“clean”data to estimate seven parameters of the Helmert transformation with a significant accuracy improvement.The Dikin estimator’s results are compared to those of other robust estimators of Huber and Theil-Sen,which shows that the Dikin estimator performs better.Furthermore,the weighted total least-squares estimation is implemented to assess the accuracy of the LS estimation with the same data.The inter-comparison of the seven estimated parameters and their standard deviations shows a small difference at a few per million levels(E-6).
文摘Robot World Cup Initiative (RoboCup) is a worldwide competition proposed to advance research in robotics and artificial intelligence. It has a league called RoboCup soccer devoted for soccer robots, which is a challenge because robots are mobile, fully autonomous, multi-agents, and they play on a dynamic environment. Moreover, robots must recognize the game entities, which is a crucial task during a game. A camera is usually used as an input system to recognize ball, opponents, soccer field, and so on. These elements may be recognized applying some tools of computational intelligence, for example an artificial neural network. This paper describes the application of an artificial neural network on middle size robotic football league, where a multilayer perceptron neural network is trained with the backpropagation algorithm, to classify elements on the image. Each output neuron represents an entity and its output value depends on the current entity that is present on the image. The results show that an artificial neural network successfully classified the entities. They were recognized even when similar color entities were present on the image.
基金the French government under the No de dossier: 688028B
文摘For a satellite in an orbit of more than 1600 km in altitude, the effects of Sun and Moon on the orbit can’t be negligible. Working with mean orbital elements, the secular drift of the longitude of the ascending node and the sum of the argu-ment of perigee and mean anomaly are set equal between two neighboring orbits to negate the separation over time due to the potential of the Earth and the third body effect. The expressions for the second order conditions that guaran-tee that the drift rates of two neighboring orbits are equal on the average are derived. To this end, the Hamiltonian was developed. The expressions for the non-vanishing time rate of change of canonical elements are obtained.
文摘Biopolymers exhibit unique properties and can be produced from plants’ and crops’ wastes. Cellulose has beenused for the production of sustainable materials, nevertheless due to the difficulty inherent to its extraction,several methods have been studied in order to optimize the process. Therefore, this paper reports the extractionof natural polymers from food sector agro-food wastes, including cellulose, following a green chemistry aproach.The cellulose extracted from pumpkin peel was acetylated and dispersed in a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix. Thedeveloped materials were characterized in terms of their structure, morphology and thermal stability. Theresults demonstrated the efficient chemical modification of cellulose and confirmed its good dispersion withinthe PLA matrix.
