Mapping and measuring urban-rural inequalities in accessibility to social infrastructures

Equal access to social infrastructures is a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable development,but has long been a great challenge worldwide.Previous studies have primarily focused on the accessibility to social infras-tructures in urban areas across various scales,with less attention to rural areas,where inequality can be more severe.Particularly,few have investigated the disparities of accessibility to social infrastructures between urban and rural areas.Here,using the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan urban agglomeration,China,as an example,we investigated the inequality of accessibility in both urban and rural areas,and further compared the urban-rural difference.Accessibility was measured by travel time of residents to infrastructures.We selected four types of social infrastructures including supermarkets,bus stops,primary schools,and health care,which were funda-mentally important to both urban and rural residents.We found large disparities in accessibility between urban and rural areas,ranging from 20 min to 2 h.Rural residents had to spend one to two more hours to bus stops than urban residents,and 20 min more to the other three types of infrastructures.Furthermore,accessibility to multiple infrastructures showed greater urban-rural differences.Rural residents in more than half of the towns had no access to any infrastructure within 15 min,while more than 60%of the urban residents could access to all infrastructures within 15 min.Our results revealed quantitative accessibility gap between urban and rural areas and underscored the necessity of social infrastructures planning to address such disparities.

Ultra Reliable Load-Aware Connection Management(LACM)Algorithm in WIA-FA Systems

The increasing demand for industrial automation and intelligence has put forward higher requirements for the reliability of industrial wireless communication technology.As an international standard based on 802.11,Wireless networks for Industrial Automation-Factory Automation(WIA-FA)greatly improves the reliability in factory automation scenarios by Time Division Multiple Access(TDMA).However,in ultra-dense WIA-FA networks with mobile users,the basic connection management mechanism is inefficient.Most of the handover and resource management algorithms are all based on frequency division multiplexing,not suitable for the TDMA in the WIA-FA network.Therefore,we propose Load-aware Connection Management(LACM)algorithm to adjust the linkage and balance the load of access devices to avoid blocking and improve the reliability of the system.And then we simulate the algorithm to find the optimal settings of the parameters.After comparing with other existing algorithms,the result of the simulation proves that LACM is more efficient in reliability and maintains high reliability of more than 99.8%even in the ultra-dense moving scenario with 1500 field devices.Besides,this algorithm ensures that only a few signaling exchanges are required to ensure load bal-ancing,which is no more than 5 times,and less than half of the best state-of-the-art algorithm.

Seismic fragility analysis of three-tower cable-stayed bridges with different connection configurations

Seismic fragility analysis of three-tower cable-stayed bridges with three different structural systems,including rigid system(RS),floating system(FS),and passive energy dissipation system(PEDS),is conducted to study the effects of connection configurations on seismic responses and fragilities.Finite element models of bridges are established using OpenSees.A new ground motion screening method based on the statistical characteristic of the predominant period is proposed to avoid irregular behavior in the selection process of ground motions,and incremental dynamic analysis(IDA)is performed to develop components and systems fragility curves.The effects of damper failure on calculated results for PEDS are examined in terms of seismic response and fragility analysis.The results show that the bridge tower is the most affected component by different structural systems.For RS,the fragility of the middle tower is significantly higher than other components,and the bridge failure starts from the middle tower,exhibiting a characteristic of local failure.For FS and PEDS,the fragility of the edge tower is higher than the middle tower.The system fragility of RS is higher than FS and PEDS.Taking the failure of dampers into account is necessary to obtain reliable seismic capacity of cable-stayed bridges.

The Gut Brain Connection

The gut-brain connection is a bidirectional communication system that links the gut microbiome to the central nervous system (CNS). The gut-brain axis communicates through a variety of mechanisms, including the release of hormones, neurotransmitters, and cytokines. These signaling molecules can travel from the gut to the brain and vice versa, influencing various physiological and cognitive functions. Emerging therapeutic strategies targeting the gut-brain connection include probiotics, prebiotics, and faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Probiotics are live microorganisms that are similar to the beneficial bacteria that are naturally found in the gut. Prebiotics are non-digestible fibers that feed the beneficial bacteria in the gut. FMT is a procedure in which faecal matter from a healthy donor is transplanted into the gut of a person with a diseased microbiome. Probiotics, prebiotics, and FMT have been shown to be effective in treating a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, and there is growing evidence that they may also be effective in treating neurological and psychiatric disorders. This review explores the emerging field of the gut-brain connection, focusing on the communication pathways between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system. We summarize the potential roles of gut dysbiosis in various neurological and psychiatric disorders. Additionally, we discuss potential therapeutic strategies, research limitations, and future directions in this exciting area of research. More research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms underlying the gut-brain connection and to develop safe and effective therapies that target this pathway. However, the findings to date are promising, and there is the potential to revolutionize the way we diagnose and treat a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Spatial Distribution Pattern and Influencing Factors of Bed-and-breakfasts(B&Bs)from the Perspective of Urban-rural Differences:A Case Study of Jiaodong Peninsula,China

There are significant differences between urban and rural bed-and-breakfasts(B&Bs)in terms of customer positioning,economic strength and spatial carrier.Accurately identifying the differences in spatial characteristics and influencing factors of each type,is essential for creating urban and rural B&B agglomeration areas.This study used density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise(DBSCAN)and the multi-scale geographically weighted regression(MGWR)model to explore similarities and differences in the spatial distribution patterns and influencing factors for urban and rural B&Bs on the Jiaodong Peninsula of China from 2010 to 2022.The results showed that:1)both urban and rural B&Bs in Jiaodong Peninsula went through three stages:a slow start from 2010 to 2015,rapid development from 2015 to 2019,and hindered development from 2019 to 2022.However,urban B&Bs demonstrated a higher development speed and agglomeration intensity,leading to an increasingly evident trend of uneven development between the two sectors.2)The clustering scale of both urban and rural B&Bs continued to expand in terms of quantity and volume.Urban B&B clusters characterized by a limited number,but a higher likelihood of transitioning from low-level to high-level clusters.While the number of rural B&B clusters steadily increased over time,their clustering scale was comparatively lower than that of urban B&Bs,and they lacked the presence of high-level clustering.3)In terms of development direction,urban B&B clusters exhibited a relatively stable pattern and evolved into high-level clustering centers within the main urban areas.Conversely,rural B&Bs exhibited a more pronounced spatial diffusion effect,with clusters showing a trend of multi-center development along the coastline.4)Transport emerged as a common influencing factor for both urban and rural B&Bs,with the density of road network having the strongest explanatory power for their spatial distribution.In terms of differences,population agglomeration had a positive impact on the distribution of urban B&Bs and a negative effect on the distribution of rural B&Bs.Rural B&Bs clustering was more influenced by tourism resources compared with urban B&Bs,but increasing tourist stay duration remains an urgent issue to be addressed.The findings of this study could provide a more precise basis for government planning and management of urban and rural B&B agglomeration areas.

Connection by Mountains and Seas,Mutual Learning among Civilizations A Curatorial Overview of‘The Forbidden City and the Palace of Versailles:Exchanges Between China and France in the 17th and 18th Centuries’

In the context of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France and the upcoming 2024 China-France Year of Culture and Tourism,the exhibition"The Forbidden City and the Palace of Versailles"jointly hosted by the Palace Museum and the Palace of Versailles presents a comprehensive view of the extensive and deep interactions between China and France in the realms of diplomacy,culture,and art during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Electromechanical Transient Modeling Analysis of Large-Scale New Energy Grid Connection

The synchronous virtual machine uses inverter power to imitate the performance of the conventional synchronous machine.It also has the same inertia,damping,frequency,voltage regulation,and other external performance as the generator.It is the key technology to realize new energy grid connections’stable and reliable operation.This project studies a dynamic simulation model of an extensive new energy power system based on the virtual synchronous motor.A new energy storage method is proposed.The mathematical energy storage model is established by combining the fixed rotor model of a synchronous virtual machine with the charge-discharge power,state of charge,operation efficiency,dead zone,and inverter constraint.The rapid conversion of energy storage devices absorbs the excess instantaneous kinetic energy caused by interference.The branch transient of the critical cut set in the system can be confined to a limited area.Thus,the virtual synchronizer’s kinetic and potential energy can be efficiently converted into an instantaneous state.The simulation of power system analysis software package(PSASP)verifies the correctness of the theory and algorithm in this paper.This paper provides a theoretical basis for improving the transient stability of new energy-connected power grids.

Multiscale Characteristics and Connection Mechanisms of Attraction Networks:A Trajectory Data Mining Approach Leveraging Geotagged Data

Urban tourism is considered a complex system,and multiscale exploration of the organizational patterns of attraction networks has become a topical issue in urban tourism,so exploring the multiscale characteristics and connection mechanisms of attraction networks is important for understanding the linkages between attractions and even the future destination planning.This paper uses geotagging data to compare the links between attractions in Beijing,China during four different periods:the pre-Olympic period(2004–2007),the Olympic Games and subsequent‘heat period’(2008–2013),the post-Olympic period(2014–2019),and the COVID-19(Corona Virus Disease 2019)pandemic period(2020–2021).The aim is to better understand the evolution and patterns of attraction networks at different scales in Beijing and to provide insights for tourism planning in the destination.The results show that the macro,meso-,and microscales network characteristics of attraction networks have inherent logical relationships that can explain the commonalities and differences in the development process of tourism networks.The macroscale attraction network degree Matthew effect is significant in the four different periods and exhibits a morphological monocentric structure,suggesting that new entrants are more likely to be associated with attractions that already have high value.The mesoscale links attractions according to the common purpose of tourists,and the results of the community segmentation of the attraction networks in the four different periods suggest that the functional polycentric structure describes their clustering effect,and the weak links between clusters result from attractions bound by incomplete information and distance,and the functional polycentric structure with a generally more efficient network of clusters.The pattern structure at the microscale reveals the topological transformation relationship of the regional collaboration pattern,and the attraction network structure in the four different periods has a very similar importance profile structure suggesting that the attraction network has the same construction rules and evolution mechanism,which aids in understanding the attraction network pattern at both macro and micro scales.Important approaches and practical implications for planners and managers are presented.

Development of Sustainable Urban-Rural Integration:Dongtan Case Study

The environmental impact issues,such as global warming and expansion of the urban zone,seem more serious and have become the biggest defining challenges of the 21st century.Climate change can lead to water shortages,desertification,land degradation,air pollution,rising sea levels,accelerated deforestation,and exacerbated economic pressures.Global urban growth greatly impacts changes in sociability,humanity,and the environment of the Earth.The human presence,especially in cities,seriously affects resource use and waste disposal,and they are consuming natural resources faster than the planet can sustain during urbanization,changing how people live.China,with a population of 1.3 billion,has seen tens of millions of people living in the countryside migrate to cities,especially megacities,since the 1980s.As a result of its decision to industrialize and urbanize to boost the economy,China has become the world’s second-largest consumer of energy.In recent years,China’s government has quickly recognized the lessons of“limits to growth”and has taken action by initiating the construction process in Dongtan,Shanghai,China.They are making efforts to build urban-rural integration communities to promote sustainable development.Based on a literature review focusing on Dongtan,research questions are raised according to the research objective:(1)What are the challenges of sustainable development in urban-rural integration?(2)What practices has Dongtan implemented for sustainable development,or how is sustainable development being applied to Dongtan?(3)What are the social,political,environmental,and economic concerns regarding the sustainable development of Dongtan?The sustainable urban-rural integration concerns the ecological,economic,environmental,and psychological aspects of urban-rural integration design and management.The overall objective is to promote sustainable development in economic,social,ecological,and spatial dimensions.It will be a liveable,complete community that makes economic,environmental,and social sense locally while also contributing to national and global sustainable development.It will serve as a compelling model for how to build sustainable urban-rural integration worldwide.

A Clean Connection

As companies look to reduce their carbon footprint,the green electricity market is growing by leaps and bounds in China By purchasing Green Electricity Certificates(GECs),the organisers of the seventh China International Import Expo(CIIE)have succeeded in making the once energy-intensive event more environmentally friendly.

Smart Connection

Digital services stand out at this year’s China International Fair for Trade in Services.Visitors gathered around a large screen displaying scenes from the video game Black Myth:Wukong,China’s first AAA title,where they learnt that the monkey king can move with lifelike fluidity,performing seamless actions,thanks to Virtual Motion’s state-of-the-art motion capture technology.

Cost Optimization of Steel Beam-to-Column Connections using AVOA

The joint-bolt-African Vulture optimization algorithm(AVOA)model is proposed for the design of building connections to improve the stability of steel beam-to-column connections.For this algorithm,the type of steel is first determined,and the number of bolts needed by the corresponding steel type is referenced in Eurocode 3.Then,the bearing capacity of the joint can be calculated.The joint-bolt-AVOA model is established by substituting the bolt number required by the steel into the algorithm to obtain the optimal bolt number required while ensuring joint stability.The results show that the number of bolts required by the joint-bolt-AVOA model based on the stability of steel is lower than that calculated by Eurocode 3.Therefore,AVOA can effectively optimize the number of bolts needed in building connections and save resources.

Image Denoising Using Dual Convolutional Neural Network with Skip Connection

In recent years, deep convolutional neural networks have shown superior performance in image denoising. However, deep network structures often come with a large number of model parameters, leading to high training costs and long inference times, limiting their practical application in denoising tasks. This paper proposes a new dual convolutional denoising network with skip connections(DECDNet), which achieves an ideal balance between denoising effect and network complexity. The proposed DECDNet consists of a noise estimation network, a multi-scale feature extraction network, a dual convolutional neural network, and dual attention mechanisms. The noise estimation network is used to estimate the noise level map, and the multi-scale feature extraction network is combined to improve the model's flexibility in obtaining image features. The dual convolutional neural network branch design includes convolution and dilated convolution interactive connections, with the lower branch consisting of dilated convolution layers, and both branches using skip connections. Experiments show that compared with other models, the proposed DECDNet achieves superior PSNR and SSIM values at all compared noise levels, especially at higher noise levels, showing robustness to images with higher noise levels. It also demonstrates better visual effects, maintaining a balance between denoising and detail preservation.

Conservation-minded Urban Green Space System Planning in the Urban-rural Integration

Environmental and ecological problems in the urban-rural integration were analyzed, characteristics of urban green space system introduced, such as excellent landscape eco-structure, distinctive historical and humanistic features, and diversified natural landscape resources, and also challenges pointed out. Evolution, overall spatial structure and conservation concept of conservation-minded urban green space system planning were elaborated, on the basis of which the evaluation system of conservation-minded urban green space system was studied, and it was proposed that mutual relationship between impact factors of compound value and qualitative evaluation factors should be taken into consideration as a whole in evaluating conservation effects of green space system. Quantitative evaluation indexes and qualitative evaluation measures were analyzed, an objective and precise evaluation system for the conservation-minded urban green space system was established by combining qualitative and quantitative analysis to improve ecological environment during the urbanization, and fully show planning concepts of conservation-minded green space system.

In- and Anti-transition of Firing Patterns Induced by Random Long-range Connections in Coupled Hindmarsh-Rose Neurons System

The effects of random long-range connections （shortcuts） on the transitions of neural firing patterns in coupled Hindmarsh-Rose neurons are investigated, where each neuron is subjected to an external current. It is found that, on one hand, the system can achieve the transition of neural firing patterns from the fewer-period state to the multi-period one, when the number of the added shortcuts in the neural network is greater than a threshold value, indicating the occurrence of in-transition of neural firing patterns. On the other hand, for a stronger coupling strength, we can also find the similar but reverse results by adding some proper random connections. In addition, the influences of system size and coupling strength on such transition behavior, as well as the internality between the transition degree of firing patterns and its critical characteristics for different external stimulation current, are also discussed.

Study on the Modes and Strategies of Integrated Urban-Rural Construction

The connotation of urban-rural integration,its construction courses,construction modes in China and abroad are introduced in this study,the problems emerging from the urban-rural integration practices are analyzed,and strategies for the urban-rural integration in China are proposed.

HYBRID EXCITATION CLAW-POLE SYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR WITH MAGNETIC CIRCUIT SERIES CONNECTION

To solve the low efficiency of electric excitation claw-pole synchronous generator（EECPSG） and regulate the magnetic field of permanent magnet （PM） claw-pole synchronous generator（PMCPSG）, a novel hybrid excitation claw-pole synchronous generator （HECPSG）with magnetic circuit series connection is proposed. Through the simulation study on the generator using the calculation method for magnetic circuit and 3-D finite element method （FEA）, the appropriate magnet thickness and the number of pole-pairs for the proposed generator are determined. Its off-loading characteristics, load characteristics, and regulation behaviors are investigated. The study shows that the appropriate number of pole-pairs in HECPSG with series magnetic circuits is two, and there exists an optimum magnet thickness. Compared to EECPSG, HECPSG realizes dual-directional control to the excitation current. Moreover, the generator can adjust the output voltage and keep the output voltage stable in a broad load range. Under the condition of same parametes, the motor has higer air-gap flux density and power density.

基于ε-Connections的旅游领域本体构建

针对传统本体构建方法的局限性,提出一种基于ε-Connections理论构建旅游领域模块化本体库的方法,基于改进的Tableau算法,利用Pellet推理机实现对多个本体的联合推理。实验结果证明,该模块化构建方法可以有效降低本体构建的复杂度,有利于本体的维护和更新,提高本体重用模块抽取效率。

Mechanical performance of the mixed post-installed connection in low-strength concrete

Due to inadequate bearing capacity of the chemically-planted steel bar in low-strength concrete, a new mixed post-installed connection is proposed using small diameter anchoring steel bars and grouting materials together to anchor the main steel bar. To investigate the feasibility of the proposed post-installed connections, a series of pull-out tests with different anchors were conducted for comparison,including fully adhesive anchors, partially adhesive anchors,grouting material anchoring connection and the new mixed post-installed connection. The experimental results of the single steel bar pull-out test show that the mixed post-installed connection can effectively enhance the bearing capacity of post-installed steel bars in low-strength concrete. The bearing capacity is increased by nearly two times with no cone-type concrete failure compared with the fully adhesive anchor. The results show that adopting the new mixed post-installed connection can ensure that joint performance meets the requirements if the space dimension is available.