Optimal guidance strategy for flexible load based on hybrid direct load control and time of use

The time-of-use(TOU)strategy can effectively improve the energy consumption mode of customers,reduce the peak-valley difference of load curve,and optimize the allocation of energy resources.This study presents an Optimal guidance mechanism of the flexible load based on strategies of direct load control and time-of-use.First,this study proposes a period partitioning model,which is based on a moving boundary technique with constraint factors,and the Dunn Validity Index(DVI)is used as the objective to solve the period partitioning.Second,a control strategy for the curtailable flexible load is investigated,and a TOU strategy is utilized for further modifying load curve.Third,a price demand response strategy for adjusting transferable load is proposed in this paper.Finally,through the case study analysis of typical daily flexible load curve,the efficiency and correctness of the proposed method and model are validated and proved.

Remaining useful life prediction based on nonlinear random coefficient regression model with fusing failure time data

Remaining useful life(RUL) prediction is one of the most crucial elements in prognostics and health management(PHM). Aiming at the imperfect prior information, this paper proposes an RUL prediction method based on a nonlinear random coefficient regression(RCR) model with fusing failure time data.Firstly, some interesting natures of parameters estimation based on the nonlinear RCR model are given. Based on these natures,the failure time data can be fused as the prior information reasonably. Specifically, the fixed parameters are calculated by the field degradation data of the evaluated equipment and the prior information of random coefficient is estimated with fusing the failure time data of congeneric equipment. Then, the prior information of the random coefficient is updated online under the Bayesian framework, the probability density function(PDF) of the RUL with considering the limitation of the failure threshold is performed. Finally, two case studies are used for experimental verification. Compared with the traditional Bayesian method, the proposed method can effectively reduce the influence of imperfect prior information and improve the accuracy of RUL prediction.

Effect of Reclamation Time and Land Use on Soil Properties in Changjiang River Estuary,China

The objective of this study is to analyze soil physical and chemical properties,soil comprehensive functions and impact factors after different years of reclamation.Based on the survey data taken from 216 soil sampling points in the Fengxian Reclamation Area of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River Estuary,China in April 2009 and remotely sensed TM data in 2006,while by virtue of multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA),geo-statistical analysis (GA),prin-cipal component analysis (PCA) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA),it was concluded that:1) With the in-crease in reclamation time,soil moisture,soil salinity,soil electric conductivity and soil particle size tended to decline,yet soil organic matter tended to increase.Soil available phosphorous tended to increase in the early reclamation period,yet it tended to decline after about 49 years of reclamation.Soil nitrate nitrogen,soil ammonia nitrogen and pH changed slightly in different reclamation years.Soil physical and chemical properties reached a steady state after about 30 years of reclamation.2) According to the results of PCA analysis,the weighted value (0.97 in total) that represents soil nutrient factors (soil nitrate nitrogen,soil organic matter,soil available phosphorous,soil ammonia nitrogen,pH and soil particle size) were higher than the weighted value (0.48 in total) of soil limiting factors (soil salinity,soil elec-tric conductivity and soil moisture).The higher the F value is,the better the soil quality is.3) Different land use types play different roles in the soil function maturity process,with farmlands providing the best contribution.4) Soil physi-cal and chemical properties in the reclamation area were mainly influenced by reclamation time,and then by land use types.The correlation (0.1905) of the composite index of soil function (F) with reclamation time was greater than that with land use types (-0.1161).

Association between tear film break up time and blink interval in visual display terminal users

AIM：To investigate the association between tear film break up time（TBUT）and blinking interval in visual display terminal（VDT）users.METHODS：Nine hundred and thirty VDT users underwent dry eye testing,and functional visual acuity（FVA）test.The blinking interval during FVA was compared with TBUT.Subjects with longer blinking interval than TBUT were considered as unstable tear film.Logistic regression analysis revealed the risk factors for unstable tear group.RESULTS：Among 930 workers,858 subjects（92.3%）participated in this study.Almost 80% of the subjects were categorized into the unstable tear group.Unstable tear group has significantly lower Schirmer values and TBUT（17.5±11.6 vs 21.1±11.5 mm,3.7±2.6 vs 5.7±2.7s,both P〈0.001）.There were no significant differences in epithelial staining or severity of symptoms.Logistic regression showed that over 40y was a risk for being unstable tear group[odds ratio（OR）=1.53;95%confidence interval（CI）=1.06-2.20].Contact lens use was protective factor for being in the unstable tear group（OR=0.37;95%CI=0.26-0.53）.CONCLUSION：Subjects with shorter TBUT than blinking interval are prevalent among VDT users.Subjects over the age of 40 shows an increased risk for unstable tear film.

Examining Screen Time, Screen Use Experiences, and Well-Being in Adults

Screen technologies have been found to have adverse outcomes on people’s well-being and mental health if used excessively however findings have varied depending on the screen type being assessed. The impact of prolonged TV-watching on mental health has been well established, whereas the influence of computers, the internet, and mobile phones is still being debated. Research exploring total screen use in adults is surprisingly lacking. The current study examined the relationship between Screen Time and well-being in adults, including positive relationships, meaning, and loneliness. The study is possibly the first to investigate how much pleasure and meaning people feel during screen use and their mediating effects. Using a correlational study design, participants (N = 139) reported their hours spent on all screen devices per day, how much pleasure and meaning they experience during screen use on average, and their general well-being levels. Screen Time was not found to be significantly correlated with well-being;and screen use experiences did not mediate any of the screen time and well-being relationships. However, screen use meaning was positively associated with overall well-being and positive relationships. This finding prompts a review of the importance of screen time for well-being, suggesting that this may be a limited approach. Other factors related to screen quality may be equal if not more important for well-being. Limitations and implications for maintaining or enhancing well-being while using screen devices are discussed.

Real- Time Color Enhancement Method Used for Intelligent Mobile Terminals

In certain environments and under some conditions, the video images taken by the intelligent mobile video phones seem dark, and the colors are not bright or saturated enough.This paper presents an adaptive method to enhance the video image brightness visualization and the color performance depending on the certain hardware property and function parameters. The experimental results prove that this method can enhance the colors and the contrast of the video images, based on the estimated quality feature values of each frame, without using the extra Digital Signal Processor (DSP).

Lifestyle and Time Use: The Impact of Retirement on Health

Based on the data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study(CHARLS)in 2011 and 2013,this paper studied the impact of retirement on male and female workers’health and its impact mechanism under the mandatory retirement age system in China by using Fuzzy Regression Discontinuity Design(FRDD).The results indicated that retirement increased the probability of men assessing themselves as"healthy"by 25 percentage points and lowered the probability of suffering from chronic diseases for women by 26 percentage points.In terms of mechanism analysis,it was found that the remarkable increase in social interactions after retirement was the main reason for the improvement of health for male retirees,but not the reason for the lower probability of having chronic diseases for female retirees.The findings serve as important references for formulating policies regarding postponing retirement age and flexible retirement.

Time usage analysis and satisfaction comparison by occupational area according to the sex of single-parent families

BACKGROUND Single-parent families are burdened with dual roles as parents amidst economic poverty due to the lack of a spouse.Single parents also face the complications of time poverty.AIM To examine the time use of single-parent families by dividing their time into occupational area and explore the differences in time deficiency and life satisfaction.METHODS In this study,the time usage in the‘2019 time of life survey’data of the National Statistical Office is classified based on the fourth edition of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework,and the time use and satisfaction of single-parent families classified according to sex.In the‘2019 time of life survey’of the National Statistical Office,the subjects who selected single-parent families in the‘single parent-parent-grandchild households’item were first selected.The data of 404 parents from single-parent families were selected next.The time usage,time deficiency,and life satisfaction were analyzed by occupational area.RESULTS The subjects spent the most time resting and sleeping,followed by engaging in instrumental activities of daily living(IADLs),work,and health management.As a result of comparing the subjects by sex,it was found that the male subjects spent more time on work than the female subjects,and the female subjects spent more time on IADLs,education and social participation.As a result of comparing time deficiency and life satisfaction,the male subjects felt that they lacked time compared to the female subjects.There was no significant difference in life satisfaction.By examining whether single-parent families'time use by occupa tional area affected the time deficiency,it was found that male's working time make them feel they have less time,while female's leisure time makes them feel they have more time.CONCLUSION This study made it possible to determine the characteristics of single-parent households’time use and sex differences.Furthermore,it is expected to be used as basic data for measures to solve not only time poverty,but also economic poverty in single-parent families.

Temporal and spatial differences in human activities performed in Urban Green Spaces of Vilnius(Lithuania)

Urban green spaces(UGS)are relevant to city well-being,as recognized by the United Nations’Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).However,few studies have studied the temporal use of UGS.This work assessed the seasonal,weekly,and daily use of three urban green spaces(Vingis Park,Bernardino Garden,and Jomantas Park)in Vilnius(Lithuania).The study is based on an on-site observation-based survey,which recorded users’characteristics,activities,and weather conditions during summer and winter.The results showed that UGS’s seasonal,weekly,and daily use differed according to park and users’characteristics.Parks with a higher diversity of facilities had a high seasonal difference in the number of observed activities.User numbers were higher in the summer for activities with children,social activities,sports,and water activities than in the winter.Jomantas Park had the lowest variability in user characteristics.Weather variables were linked to changes in users’activities.Higher precipitation and lower temperature were associated with reducing the number of users and the diversity of registered activities.Most of the stationary activities were observed during summer.The diversity of the observed activities was associated with the available facilities rather than the park size.The distribution of stationary activities was spatially correlated with facility/equipment(benches,playgrounds,sports,and fitness equipment)and proximity to water features.The results of this study are relevant for UGS design,planning,and management.

HQNN-SFOP:Hybrid Quantum Neural Networks with Signal Feature Overlay Projection for Drone Detection Using Radar Return Signals-A Simulation

With the wide application of drone technology,there is an increasing demand for the detection of radar return signals from drones.Existing detection methods mainly rely on time-frequency domain feature extraction and classical machine learning algorithms for image recognition.This method suffers from the problem of large dimensionality of image features,which leads to large input data size and noise affecting learning.Therefore,this paper proposes to extract signal time-domain statistical features for radar return signals from drones and reduce the feature dimension from 512×4 to 16 dimensions.However,the downscaled feature data makes the accuracy of traditional machine learning algorithms decrease,so we propose a new hybrid quantum neural network with signal feature overlay projection(HQNN-SFOP),which reduces the dimensionality of the signal by extracting the statistical features in the time domain of the signal,introduces the signal feature overlay projection to enhance the expression ability of quantum computation on the signal features,and introduces the quantum circuits to improve the neural network’s ability to obtain the inline relationship of features,thus improving the accuracy and migration generalization ability of drone detection.In order to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method,we experimented with the method using the MM model that combines the real parameters of five commercial drones and random drones parameters to generate data to simulate a realistic environment.The results show that the method based on statistical features in the time domain of the signal is able to extract features at smaller scales and obtain higher accuracy on a dataset with an SNR of 10 dB.On the time-domain feature data set,HQNNSFOP obtains the highest accuracy compared to other conventional methods.In addition,HQNN-SFOP has good migration generalization ability on five commercial drones and random drones data at different SNR conditions.Our method verifies the feasibility and effectiveness of signal detection methods based on quantum computation and experimentally demonstrates that the advantages of quantum computation for information processing are still valid in the field of signal processing,it provides a highly efficient method for the drone detection using radar return signals.

Geoacoustic Inversion Using Time Reversal of Ocean Noise

We present a passive geoacoustic inversion method using two hydrophones, which combines noise interferometry and time reversal mirror （TRM） techniques. Numerical simulations are firstly performed, in which strong fo- cusing occurs in the vicinity of one hydrophone when Green＇s function （GF） is back-propagated from the other hydrophone, with the position and strength of the focus being sensitive to sound speed and density in the bottom. We next extract the GF from the noise cross-correlation function measured by two hydrophones with 8025-m distance in the Shallow Water ＇06 experiment. After realizing the TRM process, sound speed and density in the bottom are inverted by optimizing focusing of the back-propagated GF. The passive inversion method is inherently environmentally friendly and low-cost.

Denoising Nonlinear Time Series Using Singular Spectrum Analysis and Fuzzy Entropy

We present a hybrid singular spectrum analysis （SSA） and fuzzy entropy method to filter noisy nonlinear time series. With this approach, SSA decomposes the noisy time series into its constituent components including both the deterministic behavior and noise, while fuzzy entropy automatically differentiates the optimal dominant components from the noise based on the complexity of each component. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the hybrid approach in reconstructing the Lorenz and Mackey--Class attractors, as well as improving the multi-step prediction quality of these two series in noisy environments.

Remaining Useful Life Prediction of Aeroengine Based on Principal Component Analysis and One-Dimensional Convolutional Neural Network

In order to directly construct the mapping between multiple state parameters and remaining useful life(RUL),and reduce the interference of random error on prediction accuracy,a RUL prediction model of aeroengine based on principal component analysis(PCA)and one-dimensional convolution neural network(1D-CNN)is proposed in this paper.Firstly,multiple state parameters corresponding to massive cycles of aeroengine are collected and brought into PCA for dimensionality reduction,and principal components are extracted for further time series prediction.Secondly,the 1D-CNN model is constructed to directly study the mapping between principal components and RUL.Multiple convolution and pooling operations are applied for deep feature extraction,and the end-to-end RUL prediction of aeroengine can be realized.Experimental results show that the most effective principal component from the multiple state parameters can be obtained by PCA,and the long time series of multiple state parameters can be directly mapped to RUL by 1D-CNN,so as to improve the efficiency and accuracy of RUL prediction.Compared with other traditional models,the proposed method also has lower prediction error and better robustness.

Time lag characteristics of sap flow in seed-maize and their implications for modeling transpiration in an arid region of Northwest China

Plant capacity for water storage leads to time lags between basal stem sap flow and transpiration in various woody plants. Internal water storage depends on the sizes of woody plants. However, the changes and its influencing factors in time lags of basal stem flow during the development of herbaceous plants including crops remain unclear. A field experiment was conducted in an arid region of Northwest China to examine the time lag characteristics of sap flow in seed-maize and to calibrate the transpiration modeling. Cross-correlation analysis was used to estimate the time lags between stem sap flow and meteorological driving factors including solar radiation（R_s） and vapor pressure deficit of the air（VPD_（air））. Results indicate that the changes in seed-maize stem sap flow consistently lagged behind the changes in R_s and preceded the changes in VPD_（air） both on hourly and daily scales, suggesting that light-mediated stomatal closures drove sap flow responses. The time lag in the maize＇s sap flow differed significantly during different growth stages and the difference was potentially due to developmental changes in capacitance tissue and/or xylem during ontogenesis. The time lags between stem sap flow and R_s in both female plants and male plants corresponded to plant use of stored water and were independent of total plant water use. Time lags of sap flow were always longer in male plants than in female plants. Theoretically, dry soil may decrease the speed by which sap flow adjusts ahead of shifts in VPD_（air） in comparison with wet soil and also increase the speed by which sap flow adjusts to R_s. However, sap flow lags that were associated with R_s before irrigation and after irrigation in female plants did not shift. Time series analysis method provided better results for simulating seed-maize sap flow with advantages of allowing for fewer variables to be included. This approach would be helpful in improving the accuracy of estimation for canopy transpiration and conductance using meteorological measurements.

A Novel Model of Intelligent Electrical Load Management by Goal Programming for Smart Houses, Respecting Consumer Preferences

Energy management is being highly regarded throughout the world. High-energy consumption in residential buildings is one of the dominant reasons of excessive energy consumption. There are many recent works on the demand-side management (DSM) and smart homes to keep control on electricity consumption. The paper is an intelligence to modify patterns, by proposing a time scheduling consumers, such that they can maintain their welfare while saving benefits from time varying tariffs;a model of household loads is proposed;constraints, including daily energy requirements and consumer preferences are considered in the framework, and the model is solved using mixed integer linear programming. The model is developed for three scenarios, and the results are compared: the 1st scenario aims Peak Shaving;the 2nd minimizes Electricity Cost, and the 3rd one, which distinguishes this study from the other related works, is a combination of the 1st and 2nd Scenarios. Goal programming is applied to solve the 3rd scenario. Finally, the best schedules for household loads are presented by analyzing power distribution curves and comparing results obtained by these scenarios. It is shown that for the case study of this paper with the implementation of 3rd scenario, it is possible to gain 7% saving in the electricity cost without any increasing in the lowest peak power consumption.

Land Use Characteristics of Areas Around the Metro Station in the Old City of Chengdu: A Case Study of Sichuan Gymnasium Station

Taking Sichuan Gymnasium Station as the research object, we explore land use characteristics over time of areas around Sichuan Gymnasium Station in terms of time. We extract the basic information of land use in areas around Sichuan Gymnasium Station in 2005, 2011, and 2016 through Google Earth in order to draw the map of land use status in three time nodes. We then analyze the degree of mixing and equilibrium, intensity of development of land, and land use patterns of areas around Sichuan Gymnasium Station with indexes including the area proportion of land use patterns, information entropy, and degree of equilibrium within a 1,000-m radius centered on the station, so as to reveal the spatial distribution characteristics of land around the station in different time nodes. Through comparative analysis, it is found that the development of rail transit has not significantly contributed to the boom of commerce and the development of the old city of Chengdu. We also analyze land use changes in areas around Sichuan Gymnasium Station in terms of space, and find that land use patterns in areas around commuter stations seem to be more complicated than that of the average station, and land use patterns in areas around Huaxiba Station and Nijiaqiao Station on Line 1, which opened first, are more complicated than that of Moziqiao Station and Yiguanmiao Station on Line 3. The original land use patterns formed in the old city often determine the selection of rail transit routes and rail transit stations. Adaptive stations do not play a decisive role in land use patterns in their surrounding areas, but have some impact on the plot ratio and building height of land for commercial use within the core area of the stations.

A numerical study for some efficient time-integration schemes using barotropic equations

Three kinds of methods, i. e., explicit, semi-implicit, and semi-implicit and semi-Lagrangian method, are tested in the time-integration of shallow-water equations on rotating sphere. Helpful results are available from experiments, especially about the accuracy and efficiency of different semi-implicit and semi-Lagrangian schemes.

Calculation of left ventricular diastolic time constant(Tau) in dogs with aortic regurgitation using continuous-wave Doppler spectra

OBJECTIVE To investigate a new noninvasive method for calculating left ventricular diastolic time constant(Tau) through a continuous-wave aortic regurgitation Doppler spectrum.METHODS According to ultrasound guidance, twenty-four animal models(beagles) of aortic regurgitation and acute ischemic left ventricular diastolic dysfunction were created. The left ventricular diastolic function was manipulated with dobutamine or esmolol and fifty-nine hemodynamic stages were achieved. Raw audio signals of the continuous-wave Doppler spectra were collected, and new aortic regurgitation Doppler spectra were built after reprocessing by a personal computer. The updating time of the spectral line was 0.3 ms. The new Doppler spectra contour line was automated using MATLAB(MATrix LABoratory, MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA), and two time intervals,(t2–t1) and(t3–t1) were measured on the ascending branch of the aortic regurgitation Doppler spectrum. Then, the two time intervals were substituted into Bai's equations, and Doppler-derived Tau(Tau-D)was resolved and compared with catheter-derived Tau(Tau-c).RESULTS There is no significant difference between Tau-D and Tau-c(45.95 ± 16.90 ms and 46.81 ± 17.31 ms, respectively;P >0.05). Correlation analysis between Tau-c and Tau-D suggested a strong positive relationship(r = 0.97, P = 0.000). A Bland-Altman plot of Tau-c and Tau-D revealed fair agreement.CONCLUSIONS This new calculation method is simple, convenient, and shows a strong positive relationship and fair agreement with the catheter method.

Quinoa Expansion in Peruvian Departments and Land Use Change before the Health Crisis

National and international policies have promoted quinoa consumption, influencing the expansion of the crop, and generating changes in land use. In this article, we analyzed the evolution of quinoa cultivation in Peru both at the national and departmental levels. Time series analysis vas used to. Between 1951 and 2019, the evolution of the quinoa-harvested areas in Peru has gone through various stages, first in regression until 1990, and then it has experienced a growth rate of 10%. Puno is still by far the department where the crop is most widespread. Taking into account the geographical and technological conditions, this highland area is less likely to maintain the rate of expansion than the Peruvian coast, which will imply great challenges for Andean farmers who have maintained the traditional crop throughout the period.

Studies of Earthquake Hazard Using Microseismicity Data in Modern Times

This paper selects some representative regions to obtain their G-R relation curves according to their seismicity characteristics,by using ML≥2.0 microseismicity data(1970~1993)in North China.The annual occurrence rate of events of each magnitude can be inferred from the G-R relation.At the same tune,the actual annual occurrence rate of earthquakes of higher magnitudes can be calculated from historical earthquakes(1300-1993)recorded in the same region.It seems that both results are almost the same.Therefore,the rate of events of higher magnitudes can be obtained by using microseismicity data when the proper region is selected.However,two points should be noticed:(1)The method can only give the annual occurrence rate in a seismicity system and estimate the whole situation of the system.(2)When there is a very large earthquake in and near the period in which the microseismicity data are applied,the actual occurrence rate of the system,including this larger earthquake,cannot be obtained by this method.