Human-like lane-changing trajectory planning algorithm for human-machine conflict mitigation

The purpose of this paper is to alleviate the potential safety problems associated with the human driver and the automatic system competing for the right of way due to different objectives by mitigating the human-machine conflict phenomenon in human-machine shared driving(HMSD)technology from the automation system.Firstly,a basic lane-changing trajectory algorithm based on the quintic polynomial in the Frenet coordinate system is developed.Then,in order to make the planned trajectory close to human behavior,naturalistic driving data is collected,based on which some lane-changing performance features are selected and analyzed.There are three aspects have been taken into consideration for the human-like lane-changing trajectory:vehicle dynamic stability performance,driving cost optimization,and collision avoidance.Finally,the HMSD experiments are conducted with the driving simulator to test the potential of the human-like lane-changing trajectory planning algorithm.The results demonstrate that the lane-changing trajectory planning algorithm with the highest degree of personalization is highly consistent with human driver behavior and consequently would potentially mitigate the human-machine conflict with the HMSD application.Furthermore,it could be further employed as an empirical trajectory prediction result.The algorithm employs the distribution state of the historical trajectory for human-like processing,simplifying the operational process and ensuring the credibility,integrity,and interpretability of the results.Moreover,in terms of optimization processing,the form of optimization search followed by collision avoidance detection is adopted to in principle reduce the calculation difficulty.Additionally,a new convex polygon collision detection method,namely the vertex embedding method,is proposed for collision avoidance detection.

Digital Twin Technology of Human-Machine Integration in Cross-Belt Sorting System

The Chinese express delivery industry processes nearly 110 billion items in 2022,averaging an annual growth rate of 200%.Among the various types of sorting systems used for handling express items,cross-belt sorting systems stand out as the most crucial.However,despite their high degree of automation,the workload for operators has intensified owing to the surging volume of express items.In the era of Industry 5.0,it is imperative to adopt new technologies that not only enhance worker welfare but also improve the efficiency of cross-belt systems.Striking a balance between efficiency in handling express items and operator well-being is challenging.Digital twin technology offers a promising solution in this respect.A realization method of a human-machine integrated digital twin is proposed in this study,enabling the interaction of biological human bodies,virtual human bodies,virtual equipment,and logistics equipment in a closed loop,thus setting an operating framework.Key technologies in the proposed framework include a collection of heterogeneous data from multiple sources,construction of the relationship between operator fatigue and operation efficiency based on physiological measurements,virtual model construction,and an online optimization module based on real-time simulation.The feasibility of the proposed method was verified in an express distribution center.

Harnessing artificial intelligence for identifying conflicts of interest in research

This editorial explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence(AI)in identifying conflicts of interest(COIs)within academic and scientific research.By harnessing advanced data analysis,pattern recognition,and natural language processing techniques,AI offers innovative solutions for enhancing transparency and integrity in research.This editorial discusses how AI can automatically detect COIs,integrate data from various sources,and streamline reporting processes,thereby maintaining the credibility of scientific findings.

Deep Learning for EMG-based Human-Machine Interaction:A Review

Electromyography(EMG)has already been broadly used in human-machine interaction(HMI)applications.Determining how to decode the information inside EMG signals robustly and accurately is a key problem for which we urgently need a solution.Recently,many EMG pattern recognition tasks have been addressed using deep learning methods.In this paper,we analyze recent papers and present a literature review describing the role that deep learning plays in EMG-based HMI.An overview of typical network structures and processing schemes will be provided.Recent progress in typical tasks such as movement classification,joint angle prediction,and force/torque estimation will be introduced.New issues,including multimodal sensing,inter-subject/inter-session,and robustness toward disturbances will be discussed.We attempt to provide a comprehensive analysis of current research by discussing the advantages,challenges,and opportunities brought by deep learning.We hope that deep learning can aid in eliminating factors that hinder the development of EMG-based HMI systems.Furthermore,possible future directions will be presented to pave the way for future research.

Fully Fabric-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators as Self-Powered Human-Machine Interactive Keyboards

Combination flexible and stretchable textiles with self-powered sensors bring a novel insight into wearable functional electronics and cyber security in the era of Internet of Things.This work presents a highly flexible and self-powered fully fabric-based triboelectric nanogenerator(F-TENG)with sandwiched structure for biomechanical energy harvesting and real-time biometric authentication.The prepared F-TENG can power a digital watch by low-frequency motion and respond to the pressure change by the fall of leaves.A self-powered wearable keyboard(SPWK)is also fabricated by integrating large-area F-TENG sensor arrays,which not only can trace and record electrophysiological signals,but also can identify individuals’typing characteristics by means of the Haar wavelet.Based on these merits,the SPWK has promising applications in the realm of wearable electronics,self-powered sensors,cyber security,and artificial intelligences.

Human-machine compatibility and dynamic analysis of a novel unpowered and self-adaptive shoulder rehabilitation exoskeleton

To reduce the complexity of the configuration and control strategy for shoulder rehabilitation exoskeleton,a 2R1R1P2R serial of shoulder exoskeleton based on gravity balance is proposed.Based on three basic rotatory shoulder joints,an exact kinematic constraint system can be formed between the exoskeleton and the upper arm by introducing a passive sliding pair and a center of glenohumeral(CGH)unpowered compensation mechanism,which realizes the human-machine kinematic compatibility.Gravity balance is used in the CGH compensation mechanism to provide shoulder joint support.Meanwhile,the motion of the compensation mechanism is pulled by doing reverse leading through the arm to realize the kinematic self-adaptive,which decreases control complexity.Besides,a simple and intuitive spring adjustment strategy is proposed to ensure the gravity balance of any prescribed quality.Furthermore,according to the influencing factors analysis of the scapulohumeral rhythm,the kinematic analysis of CGH mechanism is performed,which shows that the mechanism can fit the trajectory of CGH under various conditions.Finally,the dynamic simulation of the mechanism is carried out.Results indicate that the compensation torques are reduced to below 0.22 N·m,and the feasibility of the mechanism is also verified.

Web GIS Human-Machine Interactive Interface Design with VISI

The fusion of VlSI （visual identity system Internet）, digital maps and Web GIS is presented. Web GIS interface interactive design with VISI needs to consider more new factors. VISI can provide the design principle, elements and contents for the Web GIS. The design of the Wuhan Bus Search System is fulfilled to confirm the validity and practicability of the fusion.

BLIND SPEECH SEPARATION FOR ROBOTS WITH INTELLIGENT HUMAN-MACHINE INTERACTION

Speech recognition rate will deteriorate greatly in human-machine interaction when the speaker's speech mixes with a bystander's voice. This paper proposes a time-frequency approach for Blind Source Seperation (BSS) for intelligent Human-Machine Interaction(HMI). Main idea of the algorithm is to simultaneously diagonalize the correlation matrix of the pre-whitened signals at different time delays for every frequency bins in time-frequency domain. The prososed method has two merits: (1) fast convergence speed; (2) high signal to interference ratio of the separated signals. Numerical evaluations are used to compare the performance of the proposed algorithm with two other deconvolution algorithms. An efficient algorithm to resolve permutation ambiguity is also proposed in this paper. The algorithm proposed saves more than 10% of computational time with properly selected parameters and achieves good performances for both simulated convolutive mixtures and real room recorded speeches.

A Robotic Teleoperation System for Precise Robotic Manipulation by Human-Machine Interaction

Teleoperation is of great importance in the area of robotics,especially when people are unavailable in the robot workshop.It provides a way for people to control robots remotely using human intelligence.In this paper,a robotic teleoperation system for precise robotic manipulation is established.The data glove and the 7-degrees of freedom(DOFs)force feedback controller are used for the remote control interaction.The control system and the monitor system are designed for the remote precise manipulation.The monitor system contains an image acquisition system and a human-machine interaction module,and aims to simulate and detect the robot running state.Besides,a visual object tracking algorithm is developed to estimate the states of the dynamic system from noisy observations.The established robotic teleoperation systemis applied to a series of experiments,and high-precision results are obtained,showing the effectiveness of the physical system.

Designing interactive glazing through an engineering psychology approach:Six augmented reality scenarios that envision future car human-machine interface

Background With an increasing number of vehicles becoming autonomous,intelligent,and connected,paying attention to the future usage of car human-machine interface with these vehicles should become more relevant.Several studies have addressed car HMI but were less attentive to designing and implementing interactive glazing for every day(autonomous)driving contexts.Methods Reflecting on the literature,we describe an engineering psychology practice and the design of six novel future user scenarios,which envision the application of a specific set of augmented reality(AR)support user interactions.Additionally,we conduct evaluations on specific scenarios and experiential prototypes,which reveal that these AR scenarios aid the target user groups in experiencing a new type of interaction.The overall evaluation is positive with valuable assessment results and suggestions.Conclusions This study can interest applied psychology educators who aspire to teach how AR can be operationalized in a human-centered design process to students with minimal pre-existing expertise or minimal scientific knowledge in engineering psychology.

Prevalence of Malnutrition and Anaemia in Children ≤ 5 Years of Age in Some Conflict Hit Areas of Meme Division of the South West Region of Cameroon

Malnutrition refers to the deficiency, imbalances, or excesses in a person’s intake of energy or nutrients [1]. Khan defines anaemia as below level of Haemoglobin in red blood shown by a lower number of functioning red blood cells [2]. The crisis in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon has led to several negative effects on children’s living conditions. There has been an increase in malnutrition and anaemia in the South West Region and Kumba in particular. The main objective of this study was “to examine the prevalence of malnutrition and anaemia in children ≤ 5 years of age in some conflict-hit areas of Meme Division”. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 from March to June. We recruited 200 children ≤ 5 years into the study from three hospitals. The regional hospital annex in Kumba, Presbyterian General Hospital Kumba and the Ntam Hospital in Kumba. Socio-demographic factors were assessed using questionnaire, nutritional status was assessed by the use anthropometric measurements and an auto haematology analyser was used to determine anaemia. The overall prevalence of malnutrition in the study area was 40.5%. The prevalence of malnutrition varied significantly (P < 0.001) with the study sites. The overall prevalence of anaemia in the study area was 70.5%. The prevalence of anaemia was not significantly associated with the study sites. The prevalence of Malnutrition and Anaemia in children ≤ 5 years of age is very high in the Kumba municipalities. This could be attributed to the ongoing crisis which has caused a lot of social migrations from rural areas to Urban areas which are safer.

The Human-Machine Safety Design of Mechanical Toys for Children

In order to ensure the safety of children while using machineries and avoid harm caused by mechanical toys,this paper analyzes the types and detection standards of children’s toys,discusses the reasons for the harm caused by these toys,and proposes human-machine safety design strategies for children’s toys as reference.

Mental Health Consequences among Sudanese Due to the Armed Conflicts and Civil Unrest of 2023: One Year Later

Aim: To investigate depression, anxiety, PTSD, and insomnia levels among Sudanese citizens after a year has passed since the start of Armed Forces conflict in Sudan. Methods: An online survey was distributed. It is composed of five parts, covering the following areas: 1) sociodemographic data;2) depression assessment;3) generalized anxiety disorder assessment;4) post-traumatic stress disorder assessment;and 5) insomnia assessment. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27 was used for data analysis;frequency and percentage were used to describe the qualitative variables. Spearman’s correlation analysis and Chi-square test were used for correlation and association analysis;a P-value equal to or less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study included 283 participants, primarily female (76.0%), with a mean age of 35.26 ± 6.96 years. The majority of participants were married (50.5%) and had a university level of education (50.2%). At the start of the war, 70.3% of participants were inside the war zones, and at the time of data collection, 73.5% were outside Sudan. The length of stay in the war zone ranged from 1 to 300 days, with a mean of 48.59 ± 70.284 days. Additionally, 63.3% of participants stated that they did not receive any form of mental health intervention, and the remaining did not provide an answer. There was a high prevalence of moderate-severe depression (50.5%), moderate anxiety (35.3%), PTSD (56.5%), and sub-threshold insomnia (53.4%) among the participants. Correlation analyses revealed associations between demographic factors such as sex, age, marital status, and education and mental health issues. Notably, female participants showed a higher prevalence of PTSD (53.0%) compared to male participants (67.6%). Conclusions: There is a substantial impact of war-related trauma on mental health, revealing a high prevalence of moderate-severe depression, moderate anxiety, PTSD, and sub-threshold insomnia among the participants. This emphasizes the importance of tailored interventions and support systems to address the unique needs of individuals affected by war trauma.

Ethical Decision-Making Framework Based on Incremental ILP Considering Conflicts

Humans are experiencing the inclusion of artificial agents in their lives,such as unmanned vehicles,service robots,voice assistants,and intelligent medical care.If the artificial agents cannot align with social values or make ethical decisions,they may not meet the expectations of humans.Traditionally,an ethical decision-making framework is constructed by rule-based or statistical approaches.In this paper,we propose an ethical decision-making framework based on incremental ILP(Inductive Logic Programming),which can overcome the brittleness of rule-based approaches and little interpretability of statistical approaches.As the current incremental ILP makes it difficult to solve conflicts,we propose a novel ethical decision-making framework considering conflicts in this paper,which adopts our proposed incremental ILP system.The framework consists of two processes:the learning process and the deduction process.The first process records bottom clauses with their score functions and learns rules guided by the entailment and the score function.The second process obtains an ethical decision based on the rules.In an ethical scenario about chatbots for teenagers’mental health,we verify that our framework can learn ethical rules and make ethical decisions.Besides,we extract incremental ILP from the framework and compare it with the state-of-the-art ILP systems based on ASP(Answer Set Programming)focusing on conflict resolution.The results of comparisons show that our proposed system can generate better-quality rules than most other systems.

Characterisation of Human-Wildlife Conflicts around the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

The history of mankind contains so many illustrations of well-classified and violent struggles against various animals over crop production in agricultural fields, attacks on human life or competition in order to have access to certain natural resources. The aim of this study is to characterise the human-wildlife conflicts that occur around the KBNP, especially with regard to primates. Surveys were carried out in 260 households selected using the snowball method. The results showed that human-wildlife conflicts around the KBNP are characterised by the destruction of crops in riparian fields by monkeys, chimpanzees and gorillas, the destruction of houses, physical attacks and zoonoses. Despite the conservation and protection measures for wildlife and local populations put in place by the Park’s managers, conflicts between local populations and the Park’s wild animals are still visible. These conflicts lead to the detention of wild animals by local people roaming in the villages and to poaching on the Park’s boundaries. The weakness of the community management policy on the part of the park managers and the resentment of the indigenous peoples towards the restriction of their access to natural resources are the major constraints on the sustainable management of conflicts between the local populations and the wild animals in the KBNP. The strategies for the sustainable resolution of human-wildlife conflicts around the KBNP must be geared towards and integrated into a community conservation approach.

Relation between Interparental Conflict and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents:Mediating Role of Alexithymia and Moderating Role of Resilience

Background:Adolescents frequently engage in Non-Suicidal Self-Injury(NSSI),with recent trends indicating an increase in this behavior.At the same time,Chinese adolescents have a higher incidence of NSSI than Western adolescents.Therefore,it is necessary to explore the relationship between interparental conflict and NSSI among adolescents within the context of Chinese families.Methods:The research sample comprised 755 senior high school students(46.62%male;age M=16.82,SD=0.94 years)who completed the Interparental Conflict Child Perception Scale(CPIC),Adolescent Self-Injury Behavior Questionnaire(ASHS),Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20(TAS-20),and Scale of Adolescent Resilience(RSCA).Results:Findings suggest that interparental conflict is a significant positive predictor of NSSI(r=0.22,p<0.01).Alexithymia mediates the relation between interparental conflict and NSSI(effect size=0.09,95%CI[0.05,0.13]).Additionally,resilience moderates both the direct relation(β=−0.08,p<0.05)and the latter half of the mediating pathway(β=−0.08,p<0.05)in the moderated mediation model.Conclusion:This study indicates that interparental conflict have an impact on adolescents’NSSI in Chinese families,and alexithymia and resilience play important roles in the relationship.These findings offer valuable guidance for the prevention and intervention efforts targeting NSSI among adolescents in China and in similar family contexts.

An Improved Bounded Conflict-Based Search for Multi-AGV Pathfinding in Automated Container Terminals

As the number of automated guided vehicles(AGVs)within automated container terminals(ACT)continues to rise,conflicts have becomemore frequent.Addressing point and edge conflicts ofAGVs,amulti-AGVconflict-free path planning model has been formulated to minimize the total path length of AGVs between shore bridges and yards.For larger terminalmaps and complex environments,the grid method is employed to model AGVs’road networks.An improved bounded conflict-based search(IBCBS)algorithmtailored to ACT is proposed,leveraging the binary tree principle to resolve conflicts and employing focal search to expand the search range.Comparative experiments involving 60 AGVs indicate a reduction in computing time by 37.397%to 64.06%while maintaining the over cost within 1.019%.Numerical experiments validate the proposed algorithm’s efficacy in enhancing efficiency and ensuring solution quality.

What are the underlying causes and dynamics of land use conflicts in metropolitan junction areas?A case study of the central Chengdu–Chongqing region in China

Land use conflicts(LUCs),as a spatial manifestation of the conflicts in the human-land relationships,have a profound impact on regional sustainable development.For China’s metropolitan junction areas(MJAs),the existence of“administrative district economies”has made the issue of LUCs more prominent.Based on a case study of the central Chengdu–Chongqing region,we conducted an exploratory spatial data analysis of the evolutionary process of regional LUCs.Furthermore,structural equation modeling was utilized to analyze the dynamic mechanism of LUCs in MJAs,with a particular emphasis on exploring the influences of administrative boundary.The results showed that from 2010 to 2020,LUCs in the central Chengdu–Chongqing region continued to worsen,and the spatial process conflict and spatial structure conflict indices increased by more than 30.0%.The intensification of LUCs in the central Chengdu–Chongqing region from 2010 to 2020 was mainly the result of the deterioration of conflicts in evaluation units with low conflict levels.LUCs in China’s metropolitan areas generally presented a circular gradient distribution,weakening from the core to the periphery,but there were some strong isolated conflict zones in the outer regions.LUCs in China’s MJAs were the result of interactions among multiple factors,e.g.,natural environment,socio-economic development,policy and institutional processes,and administrative boundary effects.Administrative boundary affected the flow of socio-economic elements,changing the supply-and-demand competition of stakeholders for land resources,consequently exerting an indirect influence on LUCs.This study advances the theory of the dynamic mechanism of LUCs,and provides theoretical support for the governance of these conflicts in transboundary areas.

Post-COVID-19 Challenges for Full-Time Employees in China: Job Insecurity, Workplace Anxiety and Work-Life Conflict

Background:Though the COVID-19 pandemic recedes,and our society gradually returns to normal,Chinese people’s work and lifestyles are still influenced by the“pandemic aftermath”.In the post-pandemic era,employees may feel uncertainty at work due to the changed organizational operations and management and perceive the external environment to be more dynamic.Both these perceptions may increase employees’negative emotions and contribute to conflicts between work and life.Drawing from the ego depletion theory,this study aimed to examine the impact of job insecurity during the post-pandemic era on employees’work-life conflicts,and the mediating effect of workplace anxiety in this relationship.Besides,this study also considered the uncertainty of the external macro environment as a boundary condition on the direct and indirect relationship between job insecurity and work-life conflicts.Methods:A two-wave questionnaire survey was conducted from October to December 2023 to collect data.MBA students and graduates from business school with full-time jobs are invited to report their perception of job insecurity,work anxiety,perceived environment uncertainty,and work-life conflict.This resulted in 253 valid responses.Data analysis was performed using the SPSS,Amos,and PROCESS.Results:The results showed that:(1)Employees’job insecurity would directly intensify the work-life conflict(B=0.275,p<0.001,95%CI[0.182,0.367]).(2)Employees’workplace anxiety mediates the relationship between job insecurity and work-life conflict(B=0.083,p<0.001,95%CI[0.047,0.130]).(3)The mediating effect of workplace anxiety between job insecurity and work-life conflict exists when perceived environmental uncertainty is high(B=0.049,95%CI[0.011,0.114]),while vanishes when perceived environmental uncertainty is low(B=0.024,95%CI[−0.005,0.068]).Conclusion:Job insecurity combined with perceived environmental uncertainty in the postpandemic era fuels employees’workplace anxiety and work-life conflicts.Post-pandemic trauma lingers,necessitating urgent attention and response.

Optimization of High-Concurrency Conflict Issues in Execute-Order-Validate Blockchain

With the maturation and advancement of blockchain technology,a novel execute-order-validate(EOV)architecture has been proposed,allowing transactions to be executed in parallel during the execution phase.However,parallel execution may lead to multi-version concurrency control(MVCC)conflicts during the validation phase,resulting in transaction invalidation.Based on different causes,we categorize conflicts in the EOV blockchain into two types:within-block conflicts and cross-block conflicts,and propose an optimization solution called FabricMan based on Fabric v2.4.For within-block conflicts,a reordering algorithm is designed to improve the transaction success rate and parallel validation is implemented based on the transaction conflict graph.We also merge transfer transactions to prevent triggering multiple version checks.For cross-block conflicts,a cache-based version validation mechanism is implemented to detect and terminate invalid transactions in advance.Experimental comparisons are conducted between FabricMan and two other systems,Fabric and Fabric++.The results show that FabricMan outperforms the other two systems in terms of throughput,transaction abort rate,algorithm execution time,and other experimental metrics.