This paper introduces the experience and practice in constructing the practical teaching system for the course“Electric Machine and Drive.”In response to the current status of cultivating innovative practical abilit...This paper introduces the experience and practice in constructing the practical teaching system for the course“Electric Machine and Drive.”In response to the current status of cultivating innovative practical abilities among electrical engineering majors,based on the independently developed virtual simulation experimental teaching platform for Electric Machine and Drive,a stepped practical teaching process consisting of“classroom teaching-experimental teaching-comprehensive training-scientific inquiry”has been elaborately designed.A hierarchical practical teaching model for the second classroom has also been established.With teaching objectives as the optimization index,the teaching content,methods and means have been optimized;the teaching process has been organized and implemented in the form of team collaboration,thus constructing a comprehensive,stepped,hierarchical,and closed-loop innovative practical teaching system.This achievement provides references and assistance for the practical teaching of the same or similar majors in other colleges and universities.展开更多
<strong>Background:</strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> The current competitive banking environment in Ghana demands that banks identify the factors key to their survival and work o...<strong>Background:</strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> The current competitive banking environment in Ghana demands that banks identify the factors key to their survival and work on these factors to ensure they remain in business. This in</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">volves</span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> the banks knowing what influences customers to choose to do business with one bank over the other. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Objective:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> The study aimed at determining the factors the influence Technical University student’s selection of banks. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Methods:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Data from a cross-sectional survey of 545 student respondents of Takoradi Technical University was analysed using the statistical technique of factor analysis. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Results:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Four factors were adduced to be influencing bank selection amongst Takoradi Technical University students: namely, Robust E-banking, Custom</span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">er Experience, Access to ATMs and Third Party Influence. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Conclusion</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> While some of the factors are universal in nature others present with subtle nuances dependent on the milieu in which a bank finds itself, making it imperative that banks study the market in which they are operating and implement strategies deemed most suitable for attracting and retaining customers.</span></span>展开更多
Background: This paper is a follow up to an earlier one on a study that sought to determine the factors that, in general, influence Takoradi Technical University students’ selection of banks, given the keen competiti...Background: This paper is a follow up to an earlier one on a study that sought to determine the factors that, in general, influence Takoradi Technical University students’ selection of banks, given the keen competition in the banking sector in Ghana. Having found the said factors in the first study, and in the face of evidence of a difference in the factors that influence bank choice elsewhere with respect to sex, the study whose findings is the subject of this paper sought to establish whether there is any such dichotomy amongst Takoradi Technical University students. Objectives: The study sought to 1) determine the factors that influence the selection of banks by males, 2) determine the factors that influence the selection of banks by females, and 3) determine whether there are any differences and similarities between male and female students with respect to the factors that influence bank selection. Methods: Data was obtained from 545 students, comprising 364 male students and 181 female students through a cross-sectional survey and was analysed using the statistical method of factor analysis, having initially established through the chi-square test of independence that bank choice and sex are not independent. Results: Four (4) factors were identified as influencing bank selection amongst the female students as against six (6) in the case of the male students. The factors identified for the female students are Customer Experience, Third Party Influence, E-banking, and Access to ATMs and that for the male students are Secure E-banking, Customer Experience, Promotion Strategy, Intelligent Responsiveness, Access to ATMs and Third Party Influence. Conclusion: Male and female students of Takoradi Technical University differ with respect to some of factors that influence bank choice. Even for the factors that are common, the importance female students attach to them is not the same as that of male students. The factors male students consider when making bank choices appear to be more strategic and wide-ranging than the females, with the latter tending to place premium on customer experience more than the former.展开更多
Appetizing peculiarities are formed from childhood and can vary throughout life. Although they are conditioned by genetic factors, over time, the internal regulation of eating behaviors is reduced, being influenced by...Appetizing peculiarities are formed from childhood and can vary throughout life. Although they are conditioned by genetic factors, over time, the internal regulation of eating behaviors is reduced, being influenced by a complex interaction of various external factors. According to the Behavioral Susceptibility (BST) Theory of Obesity, Food Sensitivity in Response to Food Stimuli (such as Food Sight and Smell) and Satiety Responsiveness (i.e. the ability to adjust diet in response to internal feelings of satiety) contribute to individual differences in terms of energy intake and weight status. The present research intended to assess the eating patterns and behavior of Moldovan students, especially those from Technical University of Moldova during the social isolation imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted, based on the questionnaires (AEBQ—Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire), on a group of 602 students from Technical University of Moldova. Participation in the survey was entirely voluntary, did not involve any invasive procedure, nor did it induce changes in participants’ food patterns. The obtained results could contribute to the formation of the database for the study of the behavioral phenotype associated with the risk of obesity, but also for the study of eating behavior in crises. The questionnaire was distributed, in the form of a link, on the corporate emails of all TUM students. Respondents completed the questionnaire on the Google platform between 13.10.2021 - 25.11.2021, and the final database has been downloaded as a Microsoft Excel file. It was established a positive correlation between, Emotional Over-Eating and Emotional Under-Eating. Nervousness and anger were the most incriminating emotions of students that would cause both overeating and under eating. The results of the AEBQ questionnaire appear to be largely in line with previous studies, and the collected data present interest, in particular to prevent the risk of obesity.展开更多
This paper deals with the post-occupancy performance evaluation of the SFL （School of Foreign Languages） that was designed by the authors and is located within the YTU （Yildiz Technical University） Davutpaa campus...This paper deals with the post-occupancy performance evaluation of the SFL （School of Foreign Languages） that was designed by the authors and is located within the YTU （Yildiz Technical University） Davutpaa campus in Istanbul. After the completion and occupation of the building, project review came into question and a POE was performed. Post-occupancy performance evaluation tries to answer the questions of space provision for social interaction： ＂How is this building working？＂ ＂Is it intended？＂ ＂How can it be improved？＂ and ＂How can future buildings be improved？＂ Answers to these vital questions are searched under four main sections. In the first section, the study discusses the physical location and functional properties of the building, in the second, the design decisions of the building are discussed in the context of and design principles, in the third, the method of performance evaluation is explained, and in the final section, the results are analyzed and discussed. These results will lead to a path to improve the quality of the building.展开更多
Based on the demand for complex English talents for the high-quality construction of“Belt and Road,”the study proposes a curriculum restructuring program oriented on“serving professional teaching,career development...Based on the demand for complex English talents for the high-quality construction of“Belt and Road,”the study proposes a curriculum restructuring program oriented on“serving professional teaching,career development,and quality development”in response to the real problems of the current university English curriculum,such as focusing on language but not on application,insufficient vocational relevance,and low degree of integration with the professional field.We propose a curriculum reconstruction plan oriented to“serve professional teaching,career development,and quality development.”We have constructed a three-in-one curriculum goal of“laying a foundation for professionalism,infiltrating humanity,and empowering development,”systematically designed a curriculum content system of“language foundation,industry knowledge,and quality development,”and established an AI-enabled multi-intelligence evaluation system.This will promote the transformation of university English from single-language teaching to a service-oriented curriculum that supports professional development,and cultivate internationalized talents with both workplace language application skills and cross-cultural communication literacy.The study highlights the“vocational”characteristics and“service”functions of college English,and provides an actionable,practical path for the reform of college English curriculum in vocational undergraduate colleges.展开更多
In this study,ten wind turbines and fourteen solar photovoltaic(SPV)modules were employed to compare the potential of hydrogen production from wind and solar energy resources in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.T...In this study,ten wind turbines and fourteen solar photovoltaic(SPV)modules were employed to compare the potential of hydrogen production from wind and solar energy resources in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.The amount of hydrogen produced was considered as a technical parameter,cost of hydrogen production was considered as an economic index,and the amount of carbon(IV)oxide saved from the use of diesel fuel was considered as an environmental index.The results reveal that ENERCON E-40 turbine yields the highest capacity factor in Lagos,Jos,Sokoto,Bauchi and Enugu sites while FUHRLAENDER,GMBH yields the highest capacity factor in Delta.The mean annual hydrogen production from wind ranged from 2.05 tons/annum at site S6(Delta)to 17.33 tons/annum at site S3(Sokoto),and the mean annual hydrogen production from SPV ranged from 64.33 tons/annum at sites S1(Lagos)to 140.28 tons/annum at site S6(Delta).The cost of hydrogen production from wind was 6.3679 and 25.9007$/kg for sites S3 and S6,respectively,and the cost of hydrogen production from SPV was 5.6659 and 6.1206$/kg for sites S3 and S1,respectively.The amount of CO_(2) saved annually from wind-based hydrogen generation was 137,267 kg/year in site S6 and 504,180 kg/year in site S3,and was used to produce electricity via fuel cells.The amount of CO_(2) saved using hydrogen produced from SPV was 615,400 kg/year and 1,341,899 kg/year in sites S1 and S6,respectively.The results also revealed that 75.55%,88.93%,80.28%,80.54%,85.65%,98.53%more hydrogen could be produced from SPV for sites S1–S6,respectively,compared to the wind resources.This study serves as a source of reliable technical information to relevant government agencies,policy makers and investors in making informed decisions on optimal investment in the hydrogen economy of Nigeria.展开更多
Missing data presents a crucial challenge in data analysis,especially in high-dimensional datasets,where missing data often leads to biased conclusions and degraded model performance.In this study,we present a novel a...Missing data presents a crucial challenge in data analysis,especially in high-dimensional datasets,where missing data often leads to biased conclusions and degraded model performance.In this study,we present a novel autoencoder-based imputation framework that integrates a composite loss function to enhance robustness and precision.The proposed loss combines(i)a guided,masked mean squared error focusing on missing entries;(ii)a noise-aware regularization term to improve resilience against data corruption;and(iii)a variance penalty to encourage expressive yet stable reconstructions.We evaluate the proposed model across four missingness mechanisms,such as Missing Completely at Random,Missing at Random,Missing Not at Random,and Missing Not at Random with quantile censorship,under systematically varied feature counts,sample sizes,and missingness ratios ranging from 5%to 60%.Four publicly available real-world datasets(Stroke Prediction,Pima Indians Diabetes,Cardiovascular Disease,and Framingham Heart Study)were used,and the obtained results show that our proposed model consistently outperforms baseline methods,including traditional and deep learning-based techniques.An ablation study reveals the additive value of each component in the loss function.Additionally,we assessed the downstream utility of imputed data through classification tasks,where datasets imputed by the proposed method yielded the highest receiver operating characteristic area under the curve scores across all scenarios.The model demonstrates strong scalability and robustness,improving performance with larger datasets and higher feature counts.These results underscore the capacity of the proposed method to produce not only numerically accurate but also semantically useful imputations,making it a promising solution for robust data recovery in clinical applications.展开更多
Vehicle Edge Computing(VEC)and Cloud Computing(CC)significantly enhance the processing efficiency of delay-sensitive and computation-intensive applications by offloading compute-intensive tasks from resource-constrain...Vehicle Edge Computing(VEC)and Cloud Computing(CC)significantly enhance the processing efficiency of delay-sensitive and computation-intensive applications by offloading compute-intensive tasks from resource-constrained onboard devices to nearby Roadside Unit(RSU),thereby achieving lower delay and energy consumption.However,due to the limited storage capacity and energy budget of RSUs,it is challenging to meet the demands of the highly dynamic Internet of Vehicles(IoV)environment.Therefore,determining reasonable service caching and computation offloading strategies is crucial.To address this,this paper proposes a joint service caching scheme for cloud-edge collaborative IoV computation offloading.By modeling the dynamic optimization problem using Markov Decision Processes(MDP),the scheme jointly optimizes task delay,energy consumption,load balancing,and privacy entropy to achieve better quality of service.Additionally,a dynamic adaptive multi-objective deep reinforcement learning algorithm is proposed.Each Double Deep Q-Network(DDQN)agent obtains rewards for different objectives based on distinct reward functions and dynamically updates the objective weights by learning the value changes between objectives using Radial Basis Function Networks(RBFN),thereby efficiently approximating the Pareto-optimal decisions for multiple objectives.Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can better coordinate the three-tier computing resources of cloud,edge,and vehicles.Compared to existing algorithms,the proposed method reduces task delay and energy consumption by 10.64%and 5.1%,respectively.展开更多
Covert timing channels(CTC)exploit network resources to establish hidden communication pathways,posing signi cant risks to data security and policy compliance.erefore,detecting such hidden and dangerous threats remain...Covert timing channels(CTC)exploit network resources to establish hidden communication pathways,posing signi cant risks to data security and policy compliance.erefore,detecting such hidden and dangerous threats remains one of the security challenges. is paper proposes LinguTimeX,a new framework that combines natural language processing with arti cial intelligence,along with explainable Arti cial Intelligence(AI)not only to detect CTC but also to provide insights into the decision process.LinguTimeX performs multidimensional feature extraction by fusing linguistic attributes with temporal network patterns to identify covert channels precisely.LinguTimeX demonstrates strong e ectiveness in detecting CTC across multiple languages;namely English,Arabic,and Chinese.Speci cally,the LSTM and RNN models achieved F1 scores of 90%on the English dataset,89%on the Arabic dataset,and 88%on the Chinese dataset,showcasing their superior performance and ability to generalize across multiple languages. is highlights their robustness in detecting CTCs within security systems,regardless of the language or cultural context of the data.In contrast,the DeepForest model produced F1-scores ranging from 86%to 87%across the same datasets,further con rming its e ectiveness in CTC detection.Although other algorithms also showed reasonable accuracy,the LSTM and RNN models consistently outperformed them in multilingual settings,suggesting that deep learning models might be better suited for this particular problem.展开更多
Background:Epidemiological studies have confirmed that longer exposure to insecticides like cypermethrin(CYP)significantly increases the risk of male reproductive toxicity.Crocus sativus L.has been recognized due to i...Background:Epidemiological studies have confirmed that longer exposure to insecticides like cypermethrin(CYP)significantly increases the risk of male reproductive toxicity.Crocus sativus L.has been recognized due to its therapeutic properties,but its exact role and molecular mechanisms in treatment of reproductive dysfunction remain unclear.Methods:During this study,36 rats were randomly divided into six groups(n=6):control,CYP-induced(60 mg/kg),standard(leuprolide 3 mg/kg)and three treatment groups receiving aqueous,ethanolic,and oil extracts(50 mg/kg or 20 mL/kg)for post-toxicity induction.Results:The finding represented that exposure of CYP significantly increased oxidative stress,disrupted testicular architecture,and markedly reduced testosterone levels(P<0.05).Importantly,Crocus sativus L.treatment alleviated these changes by increasing the expression of Nrf2(nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2),restoring the activity of antioxidant enzymes,and enhancing testicular histomorphology.Surprisingly,molecular docking established a high binding affinity of Crocus sativus L.phytoconstituents such as gallic acid,cinnamic acid and quercetin to the Nrf2-Keap1 complex.It is worth noting that,Crocus sativus L.exhibited a high level of protection against reproductive toxicity caused by CYP in male rats,which was mediated by the activation of Nrf2 pathway,reduction of oxidative damage,and favorable ADMET characteristics.Conclusion:Notably,this research provides a more valid,safe,and effective method of developing new drugs for reproductive disorders,however,further investigation is needed to support the research findings and implement it in clinical practice.展开更多
Coal and gas are two important resources in China,and it is an effective way to recycle them with the method of co-extraction of coal and gas.In view of actual situation of China's co-extraction of coal and gas,th...Coal and gas are two important resources in China,and it is an effective way to recycle them with the method of co-extraction of coal and gas.In view of actual situation of China's co-extraction of coal and gas,this research adopts the science evaluation of gas extraction of coal by the method of quantitative evaluation,and preliminarily establishes the technical evaluation system of co-extraction of coal and gas.Technical evaluation system of co-extraction of coal and gas includes safety evaluation,economic evaluation and resource recovery evaluation in the process of mining coal and gas.In addition,this paper results in the selected evaluation parameters and target functions that are used in the three evaluation methods.The establishment of evaluation system for co-extraction of coal and gas plays an important theoretical significance and guiding role in co-extraction of coal and gas for China's coal enterprises.展开更多
Economic development, industrialization and dense population in Trabzon City have caused residential construction to increase by 300% in the last decade. The settlement area is moun- tainous and covered with heavy veg...Economic development, industrialization and dense population in Trabzon City have caused residential construction to increase by 300% in the last decade. The settlement area is moun- tainous and covered with heavy vegetation. Thus, the steep-sided topography and heavy precipita- tion means floods and landslides are common and in areas with little flat land. Since the mass movements in some parts of city create an enormous danger for buildings, site selection for residen- tial areas becomes increasingly important. This paper describes geotechnical and seismic properties of Tertiary volcanic rock and establishes the link between these units and construction. In this study, refraction tomography and multichannel analysis surface wave methods were applied in order to seek the best construction site in the residential area. The results of the geophysical study were com- pared with the borehole applications. A series of geomechnical tests were carried out on the core samples. Following that, statistical correlations were conducted by regression analysis to evaluate re- lationships between measured parameters. Rock Quality Designation and weathering degree were also determined. The methodology defined in this investigation proves to be an appropriate ap- proach to determine geotechnical properties of the foundation rocks and soils and a proper guide on future geotechnical studies for other cities.展开更多
A pressure relief gas extraction technical model of a typical mining area is proposed based on coal and gas simultaneous extraction theory. Flac3 Dwas employed to model vertical stress and displacement contour plot ch...A pressure relief gas extraction technical model of a typical mining area is proposed based on coal and gas simultaneous extraction theory. Flac3 Dwas employed to model vertical stress and displacement contour plot characteristics of non-outburst coal seam(No. 4) on top of outburst coal seam(No. 2) along strike and incline directions. Field investigations were also conducted to verify the scientific nature of the simulation. The results demonstrate that gas pressure in No. 2 coal seam dropped to approximately 0.55 MPa in the pressure relief multi-coal seam. The highest expansion rate of the coal mine reached up to 2.58%.The pressure-relief angle was 76° along the incline direction and 60° along the strike direction. As the expansion rate and pressure-relief angle increased and the gas pressure decreased, a large amount of gas flowed into the gob of No. 4 from No. 2 coal seam and was later discharged through specific gas pipes,which eliminated No. 2 outburst risks. This study resulted in positive outcomes in that gas extraction time was reduced by 13.5 days, due to pressure relief, and drilling work load was reduced by 0.1161 m/t coal. This method ensures that gas is discharged from the outburst coal seam quickly and safely,demonstrating that the proposed technical model of pressure-relief gas extraction is effective in a multi-coal seam region.展开更多
Land subsidence phenomena caused by the overexploitation of the aquifers require the holistic knowledge of the geological, tectonic, hydrogeological and especially the geotechnical conditions of the affected sites in ...Land subsidence phenomena caused by the overexploitation of the aquifers require the holistic knowledge of the geological, tectonic, hydrogeological and especially the geotechnical conditions of the affected sites in order to be mitigated. The current paper focuses on the study of the phenomena taking place at the Amyntaio sub-basin, northern Greece, hosting the homonymous open pit coal mine,operating there the last two decades. The mining as well as the rising agriculture activities have led to a significant drawdown of the ground water level triggering extensive ground subsidence phenomena,causing damages at the nearby villages, infrastructure and farmlands. The production and evaluation of engineering geological–geotechnical maps as well as of thematic tectonic and hydrogeological maps proved that the knowledge of this data is crucial for the interpretation of the land subsidence mechanism and the spatial distribution of its effects.展开更多
Mass movements are very common problems in the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey due to its climate conditions, geological, and geomorphological characteristics. High slope angle, weathering, dense rainfalls, and ant...Mass movements are very common problems in the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey due to its climate conditions, geological, and geomorphological characteristics. High slope angle, weathering, dense rainfalls, and anthropogenic impacts are generally reported as the most important triggering factors in the region. Following the portal slope excavations in the entrance section of Cankurtaran tunnel, located in the region, where the highly weathered andesitic tuff crops out, a circular toe failure occurred. The main target of the present study is to investigate the causes and occurrence mechanism of this failure and to determine the feasible remedial measures against it using finite element method(FEM) in four stages. These stages are slope stability analyses for pre-and postexcavation cases, and remediation design assessments for slope and tunnel. The results of the FEM-SSR analyses indicated that the insufficient initial support design and weathering of the andesitic tuffs are the main factors that caused the portal failure. After installing a rock retaining wall with jet grout columns and reinforced slope benching applications, the factor of safety increased from 0.83 to 2.80. In addition toslope stability evaluation, the Rock Mass Rating(RMR), Rock Mass Quality(Q) and New Austrian Tunneling Method(NATM) systems were also utilized as empirical methods to characterize the tunnel ground and to determine the tunnel support design. The performance of the suggested empirical support design, induced stress distributions and deformations were analyzed by means of numerical modelling. Finally, it was concluded that the recommended stabilization technique was essential for the dynamic long-term stability and prevents the effects of failure. Additionally, the FEM method gives useful and reasonably reliable results in evaluating the stability of cut slopes and tunnels excavated both in continuous and discontinuous rock masses.展开更多
In this paper,the Chapman-Richards model is adapted to best fit three types of nonlinear curves that are generally encountered in geotechnical engineering practices,i.e.the degree of consolidation versus time factor c...In this paper,the Chapman-Richards model is adapted to best fit three types of nonlinear curves that are generally encountered in geotechnical engineering practices,i.e.the degree of consolidation versus time factor curves in one-dimensional consolidation and plane strain consolidation under strip loading,the compressibility and permeability curves of soft clay,and the geometry parameters of geosynthetic tube versus pumping pressure curves.The methods of determining unknown parameters using the Chapman-Richards model are fully demonstrated.It is found that the Chapman-Richards model has its range of applications in geotechnical engineering and may provide unique insights into the complexity of geotechnical problems.展开更多
Forex(foreign exchange)is a special financial market that entails both high risks and high profit opportunities for traders.It is also a very simple market since traders can profit by just predicting the direction of ...Forex(foreign exchange)is a special financial market that entails both high risks and high profit opportunities for traders.It is also a very simple market since traders can profit by just predicting the direction of the exchange rate between two currencies.However,incorrect predictions in Forex may cause much higher losses than in other typical financial markets.The direction prediction requirement makes the problem quite different from other typical time-series forecasting problems.In this work,we used a popular deep learning tool called“long short-term memory”(LSTM),which has been shown to be very effective in many time-series forecasting problems,to make direction predictions in Forex.We utilized two different data sets—namely,macroeconomic data and technical indicator data—since in the financial world,fundamental and technical analysis are two main techniques,and they use those two data sets,respectively.Our proposed hybrid model,which combines two separate LSTMs corresponding to these two data sets,was found to be quite successful in experiments using real data.展开更多
基金Project of the 14th Five-Year Plan for Educational Science in Liaoning Province(JG24DB234)Project of Graduate Education and Teaching Reform Research in Liaoning Province(LNYJG2023115)。
文摘This paper introduces the experience and practice in constructing the practical teaching system for the course“Electric Machine and Drive.”In response to the current status of cultivating innovative practical abilities among electrical engineering majors,based on the independently developed virtual simulation experimental teaching platform for Electric Machine and Drive,a stepped practical teaching process consisting of“classroom teaching-experimental teaching-comprehensive training-scientific inquiry”has been elaborately designed.A hierarchical practical teaching model for the second classroom has also been established.With teaching objectives as the optimization index,the teaching content,methods and means have been optimized;the teaching process has been organized and implemented in the form of team collaboration,thus constructing a comprehensive,stepped,hierarchical,and closed-loop innovative practical teaching system.This achievement provides references and assistance for the practical teaching of the same or similar majors in other colleges and universities.
文摘<strong>Background:</strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> The current competitive banking environment in Ghana demands that banks identify the factors key to their survival and work on these factors to ensure they remain in business. This in</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">volves</span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> the banks knowing what influences customers to choose to do business with one bank over the other. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Objective:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> The study aimed at determining the factors the influence Technical University student’s selection of banks. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Methods:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Data from a cross-sectional survey of 545 student respondents of Takoradi Technical University was analysed using the statistical technique of factor analysis. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Results:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Four factors were adduced to be influencing bank selection amongst Takoradi Technical University students: namely, Robust E-banking, Custom</span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">er Experience, Access to ATMs and Third Party Influence. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Conclusion</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> While some of the factors are universal in nature others present with subtle nuances dependent on the milieu in which a bank finds itself, making it imperative that banks study the market in which they are operating and implement strategies deemed most suitable for attracting and retaining customers.</span></span>
文摘Background: This paper is a follow up to an earlier one on a study that sought to determine the factors that, in general, influence Takoradi Technical University students’ selection of banks, given the keen competition in the banking sector in Ghana. Having found the said factors in the first study, and in the face of evidence of a difference in the factors that influence bank choice elsewhere with respect to sex, the study whose findings is the subject of this paper sought to establish whether there is any such dichotomy amongst Takoradi Technical University students. Objectives: The study sought to 1) determine the factors that influence the selection of banks by males, 2) determine the factors that influence the selection of banks by females, and 3) determine whether there are any differences and similarities between male and female students with respect to the factors that influence bank selection. Methods: Data was obtained from 545 students, comprising 364 male students and 181 female students through a cross-sectional survey and was analysed using the statistical method of factor analysis, having initially established through the chi-square test of independence that bank choice and sex are not independent. Results: Four (4) factors were identified as influencing bank selection amongst the female students as against six (6) in the case of the male students. The factors identified for the female students are Customer Experience, Third Party Influence, E-banking, and Access to ATMs and that for the male students are Secure E-banking, Customer Experience, Promotion Strategy, Intelligent Responsiveness, Access to ATMs and Third Party Influence. Conclusion: Male and female students of Takoradi Technical University differ with respect to some of factors that influence bank choice. Even for the factors that are common, the importance female students attach to them is not the same as that of male students. The factors male students consider when making bank choices appear to be more strategic and wide-ranging than the females, with the latter tending to place premium on customer experience more than the former.
文摘Appetizing peculiarities are formed from childhood and can vary throughout life. Although they are conditioned by genetic factors, over time, the internal regulation of eating behaviors is reduced, being influenced by a complex interaction of various external factors. According to the Behavioral Susceptibility (BST) Theory of Obesity, Food Sensitivity in Response to Food Stimuli (such as Food Sight and Smell) and Satiety Responsiveness (i.e. the ability to adjust diet in response to internal feelings of satiety) contribute to individual differences in terms of energy intake and weight status. The present research intended to assess the eating patterns and behavior of Moldovan students, especially those from Technical University of Moldova during the social isolation imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted, based on the questionnaires (AEBQ—Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire), on a group of 602 students from Technical University of Moldova. Participation in the survey was entirely voluntary, did not involve any invasive procedure, nor did it induce changes in participants’ food patterns. The obtained results could contribute to the formation of the database for the study of the behavioral phenotype associated with the risk of obesity, but also for the study of eating behavior in crises. The questionnaire was distributed, in the form of a link, on the corporate emails of all TUM students. Respondents completed the questionnaire on the Google platform between 13.10.2021 - 25.11.2021, and the final database has been downloaded as a Microsoft Excel file. It was established a positive correlation between, Emotional Over-Eating and Emotional Under-Eating. Nervousness and anger were the most incriminating emotions of students that would cause both overeating and under eating. The results of the AEBQ questionnaire appear to be largely in line with previous studies, and the collected data present interest, in particular to prevent the risk of obesity.
文摘This paper deals with the post-occupancy performance evaluation of the SFL （School of Foreign Languages） that was designed by the authors and is located within the YTU （Yildiz Technical University） Davutpaa campus in Istanbul. After the completion and occupation of the building, project review came into question and a POE was performed. Post-occupancy performance evaluation tries to answer the questions of space provision for social interaction： ＂How is this building working？＂ ＂Is it intended？＂ ＂How can it be improved？＂ and ＂How can future buildings be improved？＂ Answers to these vital questions are searched under four main sections. In the first section, the study discusses the physical location and functional properties of the building, in the second, the design decisions of the building are discussed in the context of and design principles, in the third, the method of performance evaluation is explained, and in the final section, the results are analyzed and discussed. These results will lead to a path to improve the quality of the building.
基金Special Project of Foreign Language Education Reform in Vocational Colleges and Universities in 2023 by the Foreign Language Education Working Committee of China Society for Vocational and Technical Education(WYW2023A05)Teaching Reform Project of Shandong Vocational and Technical University of International Studies(JG202314).
文摘Based on the demand for complex English talents for the high-quality construction of“Belt and Road,”the study proposes a curriculum restructuring program oriented on“serving professional teaching,career development,and quality development”in response to the real problems of the current university English curriculum,such as focusing on language but not on application,insufficient vocational relevance,and low degree of integration with the professional field.We propose a curriculum reconstruction plan oriented to“serve professional teaching,career development,and quality development.”We have constructed a three-in-one curriculum goal of“laying a foundation for professionalism,infiltrating humanity,and empowering development,”systematically designed a curriculum content system of“language foundation,industry knowledge,and quality development,”and established an AI-enabled multi-intelligence evaluation system.This will promote the transformation of university English from single-language teaching to a service-oriented curriculum that supports professional development,and cultivate internationalized talents with both workplace language application skills and cross-cultural communication literacy.The study highlights the“vocational”characteristics and“service”functions of college English,and provides an actionable,practical path for the reform of college English curriculum in vocational undergraduate colleges.
基金supported by Abiola Ajimobi Technical UniversityUniversity of Ibadan
文摘In this study,ten wind turbines and fourteen solar photovoltaic(SPV)modules were employed to compare the potential of hydrogen production from wind and solar energy resources in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.The amount of hydrogen produced was considered as a technical parameter,cost of hydrogen production was considered as an economic index,and the amount of carbon(IV)oxide saved from the use of diesel fuel was considered as an environmental index.The results reveal that ENERCON E-40 turbine yields the highest capacity factor in Lagos,Jos,Sokoto,Bauchi and Enugu sites while FUHRLAENDER,GMBH yields the highest capacity factor in Delta.The mean annual hydrogen production from wind ranged from 2.05 tons/annum at site S6(Delta)to 17.33 tons/annum at site S3(Sokoto),and the mean annual hydrogen production from SPV ranged from 64.33 tons/annum at sites S1(Lagos)to 140.28 tons/annum at site S6(Delta).The cost of hydrogen production from wind was 6.3679 and 25.9007$/kg for sites S3 and S6,respectively,and the cost of hydrogen production from SPV was 5.6659 and 6.1206$/kg for sites S3 and S1,respectively.The amount of CO_(2) saved annually from wind-based hydrogen generation was 137,267 kg/year in site S6 and 504,180 kg/year in site S3,and was used to produce electricity via fuel cells.The amount of CO_(2) saved using hydrogen produced from SPV was 615,400 kg/year and 1,341,899 kg/year in sites S1 and S6,respectively.The results also revealed that 75.55%,88.93%,80.28%,80.54%,85.65%,98.53%more hydrogen could be produced from SPV for sites S1–S6,respectively,compared to the wind resources.This study serves as a source of reliable technical information to relevant government agencies,policy makers and investors in making informed decisions on optimal investment in the hydrogen economy of Nigeria.
文摘Missing data presents a crucial challenge in data analysis,especially in high-dimensional datasets,where missing data often leads to biased conclusions and degraded model performance.In this study,we present a novel autoencoder-based imputation framework that integrates a composite loss function to enhance robustness and precision.The proposed loss combines(i)a guided,masked mean squared error focusing on missing entries;(ii)a noise-aware regularization term to improve resilience against data corruption;and(iii)a variance penalty to encourage expressive yet stable reconstructions.We evaluate the proposed model across four missingness mechanisms,such as Missing Completely at Random,Missing at Random,Missing Not at Random,and Missing Not at Random with quantile censorship,under systematically varied feature counts,sample sizes,and missingness ratios ranging from 5%to 60%.Four publicly available real-world datasets(Stroke Prediction,Pima Indians Diabetes,Cardiovascular Disease,and Framingham Heart Study)were used,and the obtained results show that our proposed model consistently outperforms baseline methods,including traditional and deep learning-based techniques.An ablation study reveals the additive value of each component in the loss function.Additionally,we assessed the downstream utility of imputed data through classification tasks,where datasets imputed by the proposed method yielded the highest receiver operating characteristic area under the curve scores across all scenarios.The model demonstrates strong scalability and robustness,improving performance with larger datasets and higher feature counts.These results underscore the capacity of the proposed method to produce not only numerically accurate but also semantically useful imputations,making it a promising solution for robust data recovery in clinical applications.
基金supported by Key Science and Technology Program of Henan Province,China(Grant Nos.242102210147,242102210027)Fujian Province Young and Middle aged Teacher Education Research Project(Science and Technology Category)(No.JZ240101)(Corresponding author:Dong Yuan).
文摘Vehicle Edge Computing(VEC)and Cloud Computing(CC)significantly enhance the processing efficiency of delay-sensitive and computation-intensive applications by offloading compute-intensive tasks from resource-constrained onboard devices to nearby Roadside Unit(RSU),thereby achieving lower delay and energy consumption.However,due to the limited storage capacity and energy budget of RSUs,it is challenging to meet the demands of the highly dynamic Internet of Vehicles(IoV)environment.Therefore,determining reasonable service caching and computation offloading strategies is crucial.To address this,this paper proposes a joint service caching scheme for cloud-edge collaborative IoV computation offloading.By modeling the dynamic optimization problem using Markov Decision Processes(MDP),the scheme jointly optimizes task delay,energy consumption,load balancing,and privacy entropy to achieve better quality of service.Additionally,a dynamic adaptive multi-objective deep reinforcement learning algorithm is proposed.Each Double Deep Q-Network(DDQN)agent obtains rewards for different objectives based on distinct reward functions and dynamically updates the objective weights by learning the value changes between objectives using Radial Basis Function Networks(RBFN),thereby efficiently approximating the Pareto-optimal decisions for multiple objectives.Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can better coordinate the three-tier computing resources of cloud,edge,and vehicles.Compared to existing algorithms,the proposed method reduces task delay and energy consumption by 10.64%and 5.1%,respectively.
基金This study is financed by the European Union-NextGenerationEU,through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria,Project No.BG-RRP-2.013-0001.
文摘Covert timing channels(CTC)exploit network resources to establish hidden communication pathways,posing signi cant risks to data security and policy compliance.erefore,detecting such hidden and dangerous threats remains one of the security challenges. is paper proposes LinguTimeX,a new framework that combines natural language processing with arti cial intelligence,along with explainable Arti cial Intelligence(AI)not only to detect CTC but also to provide insights into the decision process.LinguTimeX performs multidimensional feature extraction by fusing linguistic attributes with temporal network patterns to identify covert channels precisely.LinguTimeX demonstrates strong e ectiveness in detecting CTC across multiple languages;namely English,Arabic,and Chinese.Speci cally,the LSTM and RNN models achieved F1 scores of 90%on the English dataset,89%on the Arabic dataset,and 88%on the Chinese dataset,showcasing their superior performance and ability to generalize across multiple languages. is highlights their robustness in detecting CTCs within security systems,regardless of the language or cultural context of the data.In contrast,the DeepForest model produced F1-scores ranging from 86%to 87%across the same datasets,further con rming its e ectiveness in CTC detection.Although other algorithms also showed reasonable accuracy,the LSTM and RNN models consistently outperformed them in multilingual settings,suggesting that deep learning models might be better suited for this particular problem.
文摘Background:Epidemiological studies have confirmed that longer exposure to insecticides like cypermethrin(CYP)significantly increases the risk of male reproductive toxicity.Crocus sativus L.has been recognized due to its therapeutic properties,but its exact role and molecular mechanisms in treatment of reproductive dysfunction remain unclear.Methods:During this study,36 rats were randomly divided into six groups(n=6):control,CYP-induced(60 mg/kg),standard(leuprolide 3 mg/kg)and three treatment groups receiving aqueous,ethanolic,and oil extracts(50 mg/kg or 20 mL/kg)for post-toxicity induction.Results:The finding represented that exposure of CYP significantly increased oxidative stress,disrupted testicular architecture,and markedly reduced testosterone levels(P<0.05).Importantly,Crocus sativus L.treatment alleviated these changes by increasing the expression of Nrf2(nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2),restoring the activity of antioxidant enzymes,and enhancing testicular histomorphology.Surprisingly,molecular docking established a high binding affinity of Crocus sativus L.phytoconstituents such as gallic acid,cinnamic acid and quercetin to the Nrf2-Keap1 complex.It is worth noting that,Crocus sativus L.exhibited a high level of protection against reproductive toxicity caused by CYP in male rats,which was mediated by the activation of Nrf2 pathway,reduction of oxidative damage,and favorable ADMET characteristics.Conclusion:Notably,this research provides a more valid,safe,and effective method of developing new drugs for reproductive disorders,however,further investigation is needed to support the research findings and implement it in clinical practice.
基金supported by the State Key Basic Research Program of China(No.2011CB201206)the Major Projectof the National Science and Technology of China(No.2011ZX05040-005)the National Natural Science Foundation of Youth Science Foundation(No.50904033)
文摘Coal and gas are two important resources in China,and it is an effective way to recycle them with the method of co-extraction of coal and gas.In view of actual situation of China's co-extraction of coal and gas,this research adopts the science evaluation of gas extraction of coal by the method of quantitative evaluation,and preliminarily establishes the technical evaluation system of co-extraction of coal and gas.Technical evaluation system of co-extraction of coal and gas includes safety evaluation,economic evaluation and resource recovery evaluation in the process of mining coal and gas.In addition,this paper results in the selected evaluation parameters and target functions that are used in the three evaluation methods.The establishment of evaluation system for co-extraction of coal and gas plays an important theoretical significance and guiding role in co-extraction of coal and gas for China's coal enterprises.
基金supported by Karadeniz Technical University, Scientific Research Funding (No. BTAP-695)
文摘Economic development, industrialization and dense population in Trabzon City have caused residential construction to increase by 300% in the last decade. The settlement area is moun- tainous and covered with heavy vegetation. Thus, the steep-sided topography and heavy precipita- tion means floods and landslides are common and in areas with little flat land. Since the mass movements in some parts of city create an enormous danger for buildings, site selection for residen- tial areas becomes increasingly important. This paper describes geotechnical and seismic properties of Tertiary volcanic rock and establishes the link between these units and construction. In this study, refraction tomography and multichannel analysis surface wave methods were applied in order to seek the best construction site in the residential area. The results of the geophysical study were com- pared with the borehole applications. A series of geomechnical tests were carried out on the core samples. Following that, statistical correlations were conducted by regression analysis to evaluate re- lationships between measured parameters. Rock Quality Designation and weathering degree were also determined. The methodology defined in this investigation proves to be an appropriate ap- proach to determine geotechnical properties of the foundation rocks and soils and a proper guide on future geotechnical studies for other cities.
基金support from the National Key Basic Research and Development Program (No. 2011CB201206)the Junior Fellowships for Advanced Innovation Think-Tank Program from China Association for Science and Technology (No. DXB-ZKQN-2016-048)
文摘A pressure relief gas extraction technical model of a typical mining area is proposed based on coal and gas simultaneous extraction theory. Flac3 Dwas employed to model vertical stress and displacement contour plot characteristics of non-outburst coal seam(No. 4) on top of outburst coal seam(No. 2) along strike and incline directions. Field investigations were also conducted to verify the scientific nature of the simulation. The results demonstrate that gas pressure in No. 2 coal seam dropped to approximately 0.55 MPa in the pressure relief multi-coal seam. The highest expansion rate of the coal mine reached up to 2.58%.The pressure-relief angle was 76° along the incline direction and 60° along the strike direction. As the expansion rate and pressure-relief angle increased and the gas pressure decreased, a large amount of gas flowed into the gob of No. 4 from No. 2 coal seam and was later discharged through specific gas pipes,which eliminated No. 2 outburst risks. This study resulted in positive outcomes in that gas extraction time was reduced by 13.5 days, due to pressure relief, and drilling work load was reduced by 0.1161 m/t coal. This method ensures that gas is discharged from the outburst coal seam quickly and safely,demonstrating that the proposed technical model of pressure-relief gas extraction is effective in a multi-coal seam region.
文摘Land subsidence phenomena caused by the overexploitation of the aquifers require the holistic knowledge of the geological, tectonic, hydrogeological and especially the geotechnical conditions of the affected sites in order to be mitigated. The current paper focuses on the study of the phenomena taking place at the Amyntaio sub-basin, northern Greece, hosting the homonymous open pit coal mine,operating there the last two decades. The mining as well as the rising agriculture activities have led to a significant drawdown of the ground water level triggering extensive ground subsidence phenomena,causing damages at the nearby villages, infrastructure and farmlands. The production and evaluation of engineering geological–geotechnical maps as well as of thematic tectonic and hydrogeological maps proved that the knowledge of this data is crucial for the interpretation of the land subsidence mechanism and the spatial distribution of its effects.
文摘Mass movements are very common problems in the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey due to its climate conditions, geological, and geomorphological characteristics. High slope angle, weathering, dense rainfalls, and anthropogenic impacts are generally reported as the most important triggering factors in the region. Following the portal slope excavations in the entrance section of Cankurtaran tunnel, located in the region, where the highly weathered andesitic tuff crops out, a circular toe failure occurred. The main target of the present study is to investigate the causes and occurrence mechanism of this failure and to determine the feasible remedial measures against it using finite element method(FEM) in four stages. These stages are slope stability analyses for pre-and postexcavation cases, and remediation design assessments for slope and tunnel. The results of the FEM-SSR analyses indicated that the insufficient initial support design and weathering of the andesitic tuffs are the main factors that caused the portal failure. After installing a rock retaining wall with jet grout columns and reinforced slope benching applications, the factor of safety increased from 0.83 to 2.80. In addition toslope stability evaluation, the Rock Mass Rating(RMR), Rock Mass Quality(Q) and New Austrian Tunneling Method(NATM) systems were also utilized as empirical methods to characterize the tunnel ground and to determine the tunnel support design. The performance of the suggested empirical support design, induced stress distributions and deformations were analyzed by means of numerical modelling. Finally, it was concluded that the recommended stabilization technique was essential for the dynamic long-term stability and prevents the effects of failure. Additionally, the FEM method gives useful and reasonably reliable results in evaluating the stability of cut slopes and tunnels excavated both in continuous and discontinuous rock masses.
文摘In this paper,the Chapman-Richards model is adapted to best fit three types of nonlinear curves that are generally encountered in geotechnical engineering practices,i.e.the degree of consolidation versus time factor curves in one-dimensional consolidation and plane strain consolidation under strip loading,the compressibility and permeability curves of soft clay,and the geometry parameters of geosynthetic tube versus pumping pressure curves.The methods of determining unknown parameters using the Chapman-Richards model are fully demonstrated.It is found that the Chapman-Richards model has its range of applications in geotechnical engineering and may provide unique insights into the complexity of geotechnical problems.
文摘Forex(foreign exchange)is a special financial market that entails both high risks and high profit opportunities for traders.It is also a very simple market since traders can profit by just predicting the direction of the exchange rate between two currencies.However,incorrect predictions in Forex may cause much higher losses than in other typical financial markets.The direction prediction requirement makes the problem quite different from other typical time-series forecasting problems.In this work,we used a popular deep learning tool called“long short-term memory”(LSTM),which has been shown to be very effective in many time-series forecasting problems,to make direction predictions in Forex.We utilized two different data sets—namely,macroeconomic data and technical indicator data—since in the financial world,fundamental and technical analysis are two main techniques,and they use those two data sets,respectively.Our proposed hybrid model,which combines two separate LSTMs corresponding to these two data sets,was found to be quite successful in experiments using real data.
