QoE Assessment of Group Synchronization Control Scheme with Prediction in Work Using Haptic Media

This paper proposes a group synchronization control scheme with prediction in work using haptic media. The scheme adjusts the output timing among multiple terminals and keeps the interactivity high. It outputs position information by predicting the future position later than the position included in the last-received information by a fixed amount of time. It also advances the output time of position information at each local terminal by the same amount of time. We deal with two different types of work using haptic media so as to demonstrate the effectiveness of the scheme. We assess the output quality of haptic media for the two types of work subjectively and objectively by Quality of Experience (QoE) assessment. We further clarify the relationship between subjective and objective assessment results.

Assessing Work Zone Traffic Control Options for 3-to-1 Lane Closures

The presence of highway construction zones hinders mobility and affects traffic operations. A 2002 study by Wunderlich & Hardesty reported that nearly 20% of the National Highway System roads have scheduled construction work during the peak construction season. Additionally, approximately 24% of non-recurring delays on freeways are caused by work zones. To minimize time lost by travelers due to work zone induced traffic congestion, it is important to efficiently plan temporary traffic control (TTC) at work zones. Earlier research conducted by Sisiopiku & Ramadan, 2017 confirms that the majority of State Departments of Transportation currently rely on their earlier experience when planning for work zones, rather than consider operational and safety impacts. Using a study corridor in Birmingham, Alabama as a test bed, this study investigated the operational impacts of TTC options for work zones with 3-to-1 lane drop configuration using traffic data collected from the Alabama Department of Transportation. The VISSIM simulation platform was used to conduct the experiments. The experimental design considered two TTC strategies (i.e., static late and early merge) under 3-to-1 lane drop configuration for work-space length of 500 ft for long- and short-term lane closures. The study concluded that the 3-to-1 lane-drop configuration should not be scheduled for long-term duration. Maintenance work can be scheduled from midnight to early morning and under the 3-to-1 lane closure scenario the performance of early and late merge traffic control is similar. Overall, this study used simulation modeling to compare the effectiveness of two traffic control strategies at work zones on the basis of different performance measures. The results provide information about the impact of each control strategy on density, speed, travel time etc. They also help determine what time of the day is best for lane closings in order to reduce adverse impacts from capacity reduction. Thus, the findings are expected to provide valuable guidance for agencies responsible for planning, design, and operations of work zones in the future.

Evaluation of Merge Control Strategies at Interstate Work Zones under Peak and Off-Peak Traffic Conditions

Maintenance and rehabilitation projects of interstate facilities typically mandate lane closures. Lane closures require merging maneuvers that often result in reduced speeds and traffic bottlenecks. Work zone impacts on traffic operations are magnified when project durations are extended. Conventionally, work zone traffic control plans are developed to address work zone impacts. This study evaluated various merge control strategies at interstate work zones peak and off-peak traffic conditions and summarized related impacts. A comprehensive microscopic simulation model was developed in full consideration of driver/vehicle behavior at work zones. The analysis of simulation results revealed that merge control strategies, when implemented during peak and off-peak conditions, can preserve the level of service and provide favorable mobility, safety, and environmental impacts. In addition, results indicate that transportation agencies’ practice of scheduling work zone activities during the off-peak may not be the most optimum approach. Overall, the findings of this study highlight the need for evaluation of work zone scheduling practices in full consideration of agency, user, and project costs.

Mechanical behaviors of coal measures and ground control technologies for China's deep coal mines-A review

This paper reviews the major achievements in terms of mechanical behaviors of coal measures,mining stress distribution characteristics and ground control in China’s deep underground coal mining.The three main aspects of this review are coal measure mechanics,mining disturbance mechanics,and rock support mechanics.Previous studies related to these three topics are reviewed,including the geo-mechanical properties of coal measures,distribution and evolution characteristics of mining-induced stresses,evolution characteristics of mining-induced structures,and principles and technologies of ground control in both deep roadways and longwall faces.A discussion is made to explain the structural and mechanical properties of coal measures in China’s deep coal mining practices,the types and dis-tribution characteristics of in situ stresses in underground coal mines,and the distribution of mining-induced stress that forms under different geological and engineering conditions.The theory of pre-tensioned rock bolting has been proved to be suitable for ground control of deep underground coal roadways.The use of combined ground control technology(e.g.ground support,rock mass modification,and destressing)has been demonstrated to be an effective measure for rock control of deep roadways.The developed hydraulic shields for 1000 m deep ultra-long working face can effectively improve the stability of surrounding rocks and mining efficiency in the longwall face.The ground control challenges in deep underground coal mines in China are discussed,and further research is recommended in terms of theory and technology for ground control in deep roadways and longwall faces.

A Combining Call Admission Control and Power Control Scheme for D2D Communications Underlaying Cellular Networks

As device-to-device(D2D) communications usually reuses the resource of cellular networks, call admission control(CAC) and power control are crucial problems. However in most power control schemes, total data rates or throughput are regarded as optimization criterion. In this paper, a combining call admission control(CAC) and power control scheme under guaranteeing QoS of every user equipment(UE) is proposed. First, a simple CAC scheme is introduced. Then based on the CAC scheme, a combining call admission control and power control scheme is proposed. Next, the performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated. Finally, maximum DUE pair number and average transmitting power is calculated. Simulation results show that D2 D communications with the proposed combining call admission control and power control scheme can effectively improve the maximum DUE pair number under the premise of meeting necessary QoS.

CONTROL WORK IN CLOSE RANGE PHOTOGRAMMETRY

The purpose,classification,required accuracy and surveying methods of control work for close range photogrammetry have been briefly stated.The different methods for definition of space object coordinate system are also reviewed.It is suggested that the habitually-practised rotation angle system for aerophotogrammetry in China should be used for the future teaching and researching work in the close range photogrammetry,and that the rotation angle system for terrestrial deformation photogrammetry should be left out in order to avoid the confuse and reduce the amount of expanse for making softwares.It has been emphasized that there are three improtant aspects in the close range control work with high accuracy using the conventional method of engineering surveying:the use of standard scale for measurement of distance between two general stations,the accurate determination of start direction line between two general stations and the handling method of influence of 2 C change.A method for setting up industrial surveying control net with extra-high accuracy ±(0.05-0.20) mm is presented by the author.This kind of industrial control net is necessary for batch process of large industrial components with purposes of measurement,inspect and lofting.There are some special methods of control work in the close range photogrammetry,including two methods presented by the author.

CONSTANT WORK-POINT CONTROL FOR PARALLEL HYBRID SYSTEM WITH CAPACITOR ACCUMULATOR IN HYDRAULIC EXCAVATOR

Limitations of various accumulators in hybrid hydraulic excavator are analyzed. A program using capacitor as the accumulator based on constant work-point control is put forward. A simulating experimental system of hybrid construction machinery is established, and experimental study on constant work-point control for parallel hybrid system with capacitor accumulator is carried out using the pressure and flow rate derived from boom cylinder of hydraulic excavator in actual work as the simulating loads. A program of double work-point control is proposed and proved by further experiments.

A Study on Control System of Robot Working Unit for Automatically Welding Nipples onto Header of Boiler

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WORKING LIQUID PRESSURE AND ITS CONTROL IN HYDRAULIC DRAWING PROCESSES OF CUPS

A method of setting up a pressure-stroke characteristic of the working liquid in hydraulic drawing is studied. A pressure-stroke characteristic and software for controlling its forming process are also developed. And a set of pressure controlling devices with PLC as a central processor are designed. It can be got from the relevant experiments that the pressure-stroke characteristic is correct and its control for forming process is available.

How Work Organization Affects the Prevalence of WMSDs: A Case-control Study

Objective In this study, we aimed at exploring the association between work-related musculoskeletal disorders（WMSDs） and work organization based on a case-control study. Methods A total of 1938 workers who claimed to suffer from WMSDs were selected from Beijing, Henan, Hubei, and the Guangdong province. The control group consisted of 2009 workers employed in similar industries without severe disease or musculoskeletal discomforts. We used a modified version of the questionnaire developed by the NMQ and the DMQ to investigate individual and work-related factors. Results A total of 13 variables（P〈0.1） were selected by the chi-square test and finally, 7 variables entered into the equation, with 6 variables reaching statistical significance（P〈0.05）. The odds ratios（OR） of ＇work changing with season＇ and ＇sufficient rest time＇ did not reach 1（0.749 and 0.441, respectively）. In addition, ＇sufficient rest time＇ seemed to be the stronger protective factor according to its higher standardized coefficient. And ＇repetitive work every minute＇, ＇constantly repetitive work＇（every day）, ＇shortage of site personnel＇, and ＇often switching shifts with others＇ seemed to be the risk factors. Conclusion Work organization may have comprehensive effects on the occurrence of WMSDs. This pattern of associations suggests that further investigation into the mechanism of how work organization affects the prevalence of WMSDs is required.

A Blockchain-Based Life-Cycle Environmental Management Framework for Hospitals in the COVID-19 Context

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency, many hospitals were built or renovated around the world to meet the challenges posed by the rising number of infected cases. Environmental management in the hospital life cycle is vital in preventing nosocomial infection and includes many infection control procedures. In certain urgent situations, a hospital must be completed quickly, and work process approval and supervision must therefore be accelerated. Thus, many works cannot be checked in detail. This results in a lack of work liability control and increases the difficulty of ensuring the fulfillment of key infection prevention measures. This study investigates how blockchain technology can transform the work quality inspection workflow to assist in nosocomial infection control under a fast delivery requirement. A blockchain-based life-cycle environmental management framework is proposed to track the fulfillment of crucial infection control measures in the design, construction, and operation stages of hospitals. The proposed framework allows for work quality checking after the work is completed, when some work cannot be checked on time. Illustrative use cases are selected to demonstrate the capabilities of the developed solution. This study provides new insights into applying blockchain technology to address the challenge of environmental management brought by rapid delivery requirements.

Relationship among Eating Behavior, Effortful Control, and Working Memory in Female Young Adults

The management of eating behavior plays an important role in health maintenance. In this study, we investigated the relationship between eating behavior and effortful control in female young adults. Participants completed the questionnaire measures of effortful control and eating behaviors and Stroop cognitive interference task. The results showed that restrained eating was positively correlated with activation control;emotional eating was negatively correlated with inhibitory control and attentional control;external eating was negatively correlated with inhibitory, activation, and attentional control. The scores for activation control and restrained eating were higher for participants with a low Stroop error rate than for those with a high Stroop error rate. These results indicate that restrained eating has a different association with effortful control than doing emotional and external eating.

Effect of Working Experience on Air Traffic Controller Eye Movement

Eye movement is an important indicator of information-seeking behavior and provides insight into cognitive strategies which are vital for decision-making.Various measures based on eye movements have been proposed to capture humans’ability to process information in a complex environment.The effectiveness of these measures has not yet been fully explored in the field of air traffic management.This paper presents a comparative study on eye-movement measures in air traffic controllers with different levels of working experience.Two commonly investigated oculomotor behaviors,fixation and saccades,together with gaze entropy,are examined.By comparing the statistical properties of the relevant metrics,it is shown that working experience has a notable effect on eye-movement patterns.Both fixation and saccades differ between qualified and novice controllers,with the former type of controller employing more efficient searching strategies.These findings are useful in enhancing the quality of controller training and contributing to an understanding of the information-seeking mechanisms humans use when executing complex tasks.

Robot Position Control Using Force Information for Cooperative Work in Remote Robot Systems with Force Feedback

This paper proposes robot position control using force information for cooperative work between two remote robot systems with force feedback in each of which a user operates a remote robot by using a haptic interface device while observing work of the robot with a video camera. We also investigate the effect of the proposed control by experiment. As cooperative work, we deal with work in which two robots carry an object together. The robot position control using force information finely adjusts the position of the robot arm to reduce the force applied to the object. Thus, the purpose of the control is to avoid large force so that the object is not broken. In our experiment, we make a comparison among the following three cases in order to clarify how to carry out the control effectively. In the first case, the two robots are operated manually by a user with his/her both hands. In the second case, one robot is operated manually by a user, and the other robot is moved automatically under the proposed control. In the last case, the object is carried directly by a human instead of the robot which is operated by the user in the second case. As a result, experimental results demonstrate that the control can help each system operated manually by the user to carry the object smoothly.

Synchronization in a fractional-order dynamic network with uncertain parameters using an adaptive control strategy

This paper studies synchronization of all nodes in a fractional-order complex dynamic network. An adaptive control strategy for synchronizing a dynamic network is proposed. Based on the Lyapunov stability theory, this paper shows that tracking errors of all nodes in a fractional-order complex network converge to zero. This simple yet prac- tical scheme can be used in many networks such as small-world networks and scale-free networks. Unlike the existing methods which assume the coupling configuration among the nodes of the network with diffusivity, symmetry, balance, or irreducibility, in this case, these assumptions are unnecessary, and the proposed adaptive strategy is more feasible. Two examples are presented to illustrate effectiveness of the proposed method.

Study of energy-efficient heat resistance and cooling technology for high temperature working face with multiple heat sources in deep mine

In the present research,we proposed a scheme to address the issues of severe heat damage,high energy consumption,low cooling system efficiency,and wastage of cold capacity in mines.To elucidate the seasonal variations of environmental temperature through field measurements,we selected a high-temperature working face in a deep mine as our engineering background.To enhance the heat damage control cability of the working face and minimize unnecessary cooling capac-ity loss,we introduced the multi-dimensional heat hazard prevention and control method called"Heat source barrier and cooling equipment".First,we utilize shotcrete and liquid nitrogen injection to eliminate the heat source and implemented pressure equalization ventilation to disrupt the heat transfer path,thereby creating a heat barrier.Second,we establish divi-sional prediction models for airflow temperature based on the variation patterns obtained through numerical simulation.Third,we devise the location and dynamic control strategy for the cooling equipment based on the prediction models.The results of field application show that the heat resistance and cooling linkage method comply with the safety requirement throughout the entire mining cycle while effectively reducing energy consumption.The ambient temperature is maintained below 30℃,resulting in the energy saving of 10%during the high-temperature period and over 50%during the low-temperature period.These findings serve as a valuable reference for managing heat damage in high-temperature working faces.

Quantifying Operational Impacts of Variations in Work Zone Setups, Traffic Demand, and Traffic Composition: A Case Study

The presence of work zones due to pavement repair and rehabilitation is very common in highway facilities. Lane closures associated with work zones result in capacity reduction, which, in turn, often leads to increased congestion at such locations. This paper documents findings from a study that investigated the performance of freeway facilities in the presence of work zones under various Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) and lane closure scenarios while taking under consideration traffic composition and driving behaviors. The study site was an approximately 10-mile freeway segment of Interstate 65 (I-65) located in Birmingham, AL. The testbed was coded in PTV VISSIM, a microscopic simulation analysis platform, for: 1) baseline conditions (i.e., no work zone presence) and 2) work zone conditions with single lane closure (i.e., 3-to-2 lane closure). Work zone scenarios were coded for two TTC strategies, namely, early merge and late merge control and for three different positions of the lane closure (i.e., left, right, and center lane closures). The length of the work zones varied from 1000 to 2000, and 3000 ft. Sensitivity analysis was performed to document the operational impacts of varying heavy vehicle percentages, changes in drivers’ aggressiveness, and projected traffic demand changes. The impacts were quantified using linked-based measures of effectiveness (MOEs) such as travel time, and travel time index. The study results show that there is no significant change in travel time index due to the variation of work zone length across the study corridor. Under similar traffic control and demand conditions, a center lane closure consistently results in significantly higher travel time index than a left or right lane closure and should be avoided. Consideration of operational impacts of changes in truck percentage indicates that the corridor can absorb an increase in truck percentage from 10% to 15%, while performance rapidly deteriorates when a higher percentage of trucks is present in the traffic stream. The study findings can be used to guide transportation agencies in their future efforts to develop strategic lane closure plans that minimize congestion.