Intelligent Small Sample Defect Detection of Concrete Surface Using Novel Deep Learning Integrating Improved YOLOv5

Dear Editor,This letter presents an intelligent small sample defect detection of concrete surface using novel deep learning integrating the improved YOLOv5 based on the Wasserstein GAN(WGAN)enhancement algorithm.The proposed method is capable of producing top-notch data sets to address the issues of insufficient samples and substandard quality.

Enhancing Data Analysis and Automation: Integrating Python with Microsoft Excel for Non-Programmers

Microsoft Excel is essential for the End-User Approach (EUA), offering versatility in data organization, analysis, and visualization, as well as widespread accessibility. It fosters collaboration and informed decision-making across diverse domains. Conversely, Python is indispensable for professional programming due to its versatility, readability, extensive libraries, and robust community support. It enables efficient development, advanced data analysis, data mining, and automation, catering to diverse industries and applications. However, one primary issue when using Microsoft Excel with Python libraries is compatibility and interoperability. While Excel is a widely used tool for data storage and analysis, it may not seamlessly integrate with Python libraries, leading to challenges in reading and writing data, especially in complex or large datasets. Additionally, manipulating Excel files with Python may not always preserve formatting or formulas accurately, potentially affecting data integrity. Moreover, dependency on Excel’s graphical user interface (GUI) for automation can limit scalability and reproducibility compared to Python’s scripting capabilities. This paper covers the integration solution of empowering non-programmers to leverage Python’s capabilities within the familiar Excel environment. This enables users to perform advanced data analysis and automation tasks without requiring extensive programming knowledge. Based on Soliciting feedback from non-programmers who have tested the integration solution, the case study shows how the solution evaluates the ease of implementation, performance, and compatibility of Python with Excel versions.

Advances in the management of arteriosclerosis of the lower extremity:Integrating Western and Chinese medicine approaches

This editorial provides a commentary on the recent article.The paper reviews current literature and explores innovative treatment strategies for lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans(LEASO)through an integrative approach.It highlights the effectiveness of combination therapies that merge traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)with Western medical practices,suggesting that such integrative methods may improve patient compliance and outcomes through personalized care.This paper stresses the importance of rigorous clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TCM interventions within LEASO treatment protocols,advocating for evidence-based validation of these combined therapies.Our recommendations emphasize accurate diagnosis,appropriate pharmacological in-terventions,the use of advanced surgical and endovascular techniques,and the inclusion of TCM to address underlying dysfunctions.Additionally,continuous monitoring,patient education,and lifestyle modifications are essential to slow disease progression and achieve optimal patient outcomes.The paper concludes by calling for further research to develop standardized treatment protocols that effectively integrate both Western and Chinese medical approaches in managing LEASO.

Integrating Virtual Reality and Energy Analysis with BIM to Optimize Window-to-Wall Ratio and Building’s Orientation for Age-in-Place Design at the Conceptual Stage

This study unfolds an innovative approach aiming to address the critical role of building design in global energy consumption, focusing on optimizing the Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR), since buildings account for approximately 30% of total energy consumed worldwide. The greatest contributors to energy expenditure in buildings are internal artificial lighting and heating and cooling systems. The WWR, determined by the proportion of the building’s glazed area to its wall area, is a significant factor influencing energy efficiency and minimizing energy load. This study introduces the development of a semi-automated computer model designed to offer a real-time, interactive simulation environment, fostering improving communication and engagement between designers and owners. The said model serves to optimize both the WWR and building orientation to align with occupants’ needs and expectations, subsequently reducing annual energy consumption and enhancing the overall building energy performance. The integrated model incorporates Building Information Modeling (BIM), Virtual Reality (VR), and Energy Analysis tools deployed at the conceptual design stage, allowing for the amalgamation of owners’ inputs in the design process and facilitating the creation of more realistic and effective design strategies.

Research on the Path of Integrating Party Construction Aesthetics into Ideological and Political Education in Colleges and Universities

Party construction aesthetics is a valuable aesthetic resource formed in the practical exploration of rural revitalization,and it has logical compatibility with ideological and political education in terms of concepts,goals,tasks,etc.At present,comprehensive deepening reform has entered a deep-water zone,and some erroneous value orientations such as utilitarianism,emptiness,and liberalization are common in colleges and universities,and ideological and political education is caught in a new round of difficulties.As the main position of ideological and political education,colleges and universities should further use party construction aesthetics to strengthen and improve ideological and political education,adhere to the carrier of aesthetic education,carry out diversified integrated education,broaden the ideological and political practical teaching system,build a long-term mechanism for collaborative education of ideological and political education and party construction aesthetics,and fully integrate party construction aesthetics into ideological and political education in colleges and universities.

3D‑Printed Carbon‑Based Conformal Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Module for Integrated Electronics

Electromagnetic interference shielding(EMI SE)modules are the core com-ponent of modern electronics.However,the tra-ditional metal-based SE modules always take up indispensable three-dimensional space inside electronics,posing a major obstacle to the integra-tion of electronics.The innovation of integrating 3D-printed conformal shielding(c-SE)modules with packaging materials onto core electronics offers infinite possibilities to satisfy ideal SE func-tion without occupying additional space.Herein,the 3D printable carbon-based inks with various proportions of graphene and carbon nanotube nanoparticles are well-formulated by manipulating their rheological peculiarity.Accordingly,the free-constructed architectures with arbitrarily-customized structure and multifunctionality are created via 3D printing.In particular,the SE performance of 3D-printed frame is up to 61.4 dB,simultaneously accompanied with an ultralight architecture of 0.076 g cm^(-3) and a superhigh specific shielding of 802.4 dB cm3 g^(-1).Moreover,as a proof-of-concept,the 3D-printed c-SE module is in situ integrated into core electronics,successfully replacing the traditional metal-based module to afford multiple functions for electromagnetic compatibility and thermal dissipa-tion.Thus,this scientific innovation completely makes up the blank for assembling carbon-based c-SE modules and sheds a brilliant light on developing the next generation of high-performance shielding materials with arbitrarily-customized structure for integrated electronics.

Optimal synthesis of heat-integrated distillation configurations using the two-column superstructure

In the realm of the synthesis of heat-integrated distillation configurations,the conventional approach for exploring more heat integration possibilities typically entails the splitting of a single column into a twocolumn configuration.However,this approach frequently necessitates tedious enumeration procedures,resulting in a considerable computational burden.To surmount this formidable challenge,the present study introduces an innovative remedy:The proposition of a superstructure that encompasses both single-column and multiple two-column configurations.Additionally,a simultaneous optimization algorithm is applied to optimize both the process parameters and heat integration structures of the twocolumn configurations.The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated through a case study focusing on industrial organosilicon separation.The results underscore that the superstructure methodology not only substantially mitigates computational time compared to exhaustive enumeration but also furnishes solutions that exhibit comparable performance.

Pixelated non-volatile programmable photonic integrated circuits with 20-level intermediate states

Multi-level programmable photonic integrated circuits(PICs)and optical metasurfaces have gained widespread attention in many fields,such as neuromorphic photonics,opticalcommunications,and quantum information.In this paper,we propose pixelated programmable Si_(3)N_(4)PICs with record-high 20-level intermediate states at 785 nm wavelength.Such flexibility in phase or amplitude modulation is achieved by a programmable Sb_(2)S_(3)matrix,the footprint of whose elements can be as small as 1.2μm,limited only by the optical diffraction limit of anin-house developed pulsed laser writing system.We believe our work lays the foundation for laser-writing ultra-high-level(20 levels and even more)programmable photonic systems and metasurfaces based on phase change materials,which could catalyze diverse applications such as programmable neuromorphic photonics,biosensing,optical computing,photonic quantum computing,and reconfigurable metasurfaces.

High-chromium vanadium-titanium magnetite all-pellet integrated burden optimization and softening-melting behavior based on flux pellets

High-chromium vanadium-titanium magnetite(HVTM)is a crucial polymetallic-associated resource to be developed.The allpellet operation is a blast furnace trend that aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the future.By referencing the production data of vanadium-titanium magnetite blast furnaces,this study explored the softening-melting behavior of high-chromium vanadium-titanium magnetite and obtained the optimal integrated burden based on flux pellets.The results show that the burden with a composition of 70wt%flux pellets and 30wt%acid pellets exhibits the best softening-melting properties.In comparison to that of the single burden,the softening-melting characteristic temperature of this burden composition was higher.The melting interval first increased from 307 to 362℃and then decreased to 282℃.The maximum pressure drop(ΔPmax)decreased from 26.76 to 19.01 kPa.The permeability index(S)dropped from 4643.5 to 2446.8 kPa·℃.The softening-melting properties of the integrated burden were apparently improved.The acid pellets played a role in withstanding load during the softening process.The flux pellets in the integrated burden exhibited a higher slag melting point,which increased the melting temperature during the melting process.The slag homogeneity and the TiC produced by over-reduction led to the gas permeability deterioration of the single burden.The segregation of the flux and acid pellets in the HVTM proportion and basicity mainly led to the better softening-melting properties of the integrated burden.

U-Net Models for Representing Wind Stress Anomalies over the Tropical Pacific and Their Integrations with an Intermediate Coupled Model for ENSO Studies

El Niño-Southern Oscillation(ENSO)is the strongest interannual climate mode influencing the coupled ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific,and numerous dynamical and statistical models have been developed to simulate and predict it.In some simplified coupled ocean-atmosphere models,the relationship between sea surface temperature(SST)anomalies and wind stress(τ)anomalies can be constructed by statistical methods,such as singular value decomposition(SVD).In recent years,the applications of artificial intelligence(AI)to climate modeling have shown promising prospects,and the integrations of AI-based models with dynamical models are active areas of research.This study constructs U-Net models for representing the relationship between SSTAs andτanomalies in the tropical Pacific;the UNet-derivedτmodel,denoted asτUNet,is then used to replace the original SVD-basedτmodel of an intermediate coupled model(ICM),forming a newly AI-integrated ICM,referred to as ICM-UNet.The simulation results obtained from ICM-UNet demonstrate their ability to represent the spatiotemporal variability of oceanic and atmospheric anomaly fields in the equatorial Pacific.In the ocean-only case study,theτUNet-derived wind stress anomaly fields are used to force the ocean component of the ICM,the results of which also indicate reasonable simulations of typical ENSO events.These results demonstrate the feasibility of integrating an AI-derived model with a physics-based dynamical model for ENSO modeling studies.Furthermore,the successful integration of the dynamical ocean models with the AI-based atmospheric wind model provides a novel approach to ocean-atmosphere interaction modeling studies.

Integrating Project Management, Software Development, and Knowledge Management Models: A Case Study in a Public ICT Services Organization

In project-based organizations knowledge is a critical resource used to develop and deliver products and services with a high level of quality. Therefore, a systematic and sustainable process is necessary to coordinate knowledge management, project management and product lifecycle. This scenario predominates in companies focused on the creation and maintenance of information systems. This article presents an exploratory study based on a framework that integrates cognitive, managerial, and operational processes in a public Brazilian organization that provides services in the area of information and communications technology, focusing on the construction and maintenance of information systems. Those processes are operationalized by three management models considering knowledge, project, and software development processes. Our proposal aims to understand the relationships between those three management models and their influence on the software development process in the organization under study. Our premise is based on the principle that cognitive management, project management, and software development management must be integrated to fulfill the demands of product development and service provision. The research data was composed of registers of working hours spent on software development and maintenance projects involving 244 people allocated to 5064 projects in the period from 2007 to 2013. The study resulted in the identification of the relationships among the three management models adopted by the organization, with emphasis on knowledge management activities, which were not directly identified, making it difficult to account for and measure them. We established a set of activities connected to each one of the knowledge management model phases. Since those activities were not visible before, our approach contributed to build a systematic process to register and relate activities linked to the dimensions of cognitive processes, project management, and software construction.

A stable implicit nodal integration-based particle finite element method(N-PFEM)for modelling saturated soil dynamics

In this study,we present a novel nodal integration-based particle finite element method(N-PFEM)designed for the dynamic analysis of saturated soils.Our approach incorporates the nodal integration technique into a generalised Hellinger-Reissner(HR)variational principle,creating an implicit PFEM formulation.To mitigate the volumetric locking issue in low-order elements,we employ a node-based strain smoothing technique.By discretising field variables at the centre of smoothing cells,we achieve nodal integration over cells,eliminating the need for sophisticated mapping operations after re-meshing in the PFEM.We express the discretised governing equations as a min-max optimisation problem,which is further reformulated as a standard second-order cone programming(SOCP)problem.Stresses,pore water pressure,and displacements are simultaneously determined using the advanced primal-dual interior point method.Consequently,our numerical model offers improved accuracy for stresses and pore water pressure compared to the displacement-based PFEM formulation.Numerical experiments demonstrate that the N-PFEM efficiently captures both transient and long-term hydro-mechanical behaviour of saturated soils with high accuracy,obviating the need for stabilisation or regularisation techniques commonly employed in other nodal integration-based PFEM approaches.This work holds significant implications for the development of robust and accurate numerical tools for studying saturated soil dynamics.

Use of Component Integration Services in Multidatabase Systems: A Feasible Solution for Integrating Academic Institutions or Commercial Industries

The book chapter is an extended version of the research paper entitled “Use of Component Integration Services in Multidatabase Systems”, which is presented and published by the 13th ISITA, the National Conference of Recent Trends in Mathematical and Computer Sciences, T.M.B. University, Bhagalpur, India, January 3-4, 2015. Information is widely distributed across many remote, distributed, and autonomous databases (local component databases) in heterogeneous formats. The integration of heterogeneous remote databases is a difficult task, and it has already been addressed by several projects to certain extents. In this chapter, we have discussed how to integrate heterogeneous distributed local relational databases because of their simplicity, excellent security, performance, power, flexibility, data independence, support for new hardware technologies, and spread across the globe. We have also discussed how to constitute a global conceptual schema in the multidatabase system using Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise’s Component Integration Services (CIS) and OmniConnect. This is feasible for higher education institutions and commercial industries as well. Considering the higher educational institutions, the CIS will improve IT integration for educational institutions with their subsidiaries or with other institutions within the country and abroad in terms of educational management, teaching, learning, and research, including promoting international students’ academic integration, collaboration, and governance. This will prove an innovative strategy to support the modernization and large expansion of academic institutions. This will be considered IT-institutional alignment within a higher education context. This will also support achieving one of the sustainable development goals set by the United Nations: “Goal 4: ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning”. However, the process of IT integration into higher educational institutions must be thoroughly evaluated, identifying the vital data access points. In this chapter, Section 1 provides an introduction, including the evolution of various database systems, data models, and the emergence of multidatabase systems and their importance. Section 2 discusses component integration services (CIS), OmniConnect and considering heterogeneous relational distributed local databases from the perspective of academics, Section 3 discusses the Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise (ASE), Section 4 discusses the role of component integration services and OmniConnect of Sybase ASE under the Multidatabase System, Section 5 shows the database architectural framework, Section 6 provides an implementation overview of the global conceptual schema in the multidatabase system, Section 7 discusses query processing in the CIS, and finally, Section 8 concludes the chapter. The chapter will help our students a lot, as we have discussed well the evolution of databases and data models and the emergence of multidatabases. Since some additional useful information is cited, the source of information for each citation is properly mentioned in the references column.

Integrating Leadership Diversity:A Social Worker’s Role during COVID-19

This article explores the impact of social work leadership integration and diversity and its response during the COVID-19 pandemic and its daily application.Social workers used various modalities to ensure that immediate priority was given to those individuals who were needed in various agencies and schools.Social workers provided added value and were essential to providing vital support through leadership skills in the development and operation during the COVID-19 pandemic.The social workers and leaders demonstrated the ability to intervene during the pandemic crisis through the infusion of a variety of leadership practices and integration.The profession itself makes social workers innate leaders.In the article,attention is given to the work that social workers embraced during the COVID-19 pandemic,to demonstrate that front-line workers are real experts.Social workers as leaders are guided by the code of ethics which employs a leadership style.

Trajectory tracking guidance of interceptor via prescribed performance integral sliding mode with neural network disturbance observer

This paper investigates interception missiles’trajectory tracking guidance problem under wind field and external disturbances in the boost phase.Indeed,the velocity control in such trajectory tracking guidance systems of missiles is challenging.As our contribution,the velocity control channel is designed to deal with the intractable velocity problem and improve tracking accuracy.The global prescribed performance function,which guarantees the tracking error within the set range and the global convergence of the tracking guidance system,is first proposed based on the traditional PPF.Then,a tracking guidance strategy is derived using the integral sliding mode control techniques to make the sliding manifold and tracking errors converge to zero and avoid singularities.Meanwhile,an improved switching control law is introduced into the designed tracking guidance algorithm to deal with the chattering problem.A back propagation neural network(BPNN)extended state observer(BPNNESO)is employed in the inner loop to identify disturbances.The obtained results indicate that the proposed tracking guidance approach achieves the trajectory tracking guidance objective without and with disturbances and outperforms the existing tracking guidance schemes with the lowest tracking errors,convergence times,and overshoots.

Silicon-based optoelectronic heterogeneous integration for optical interconnection

The performance of optical interconnection has improved dramatically in recent years.Silicon-based optoelectronic heterogeneous integration is the key enabler to achieve high performance optical interconnection,which not only provides the optical gain which is absent from native Si substrates and enables complete photonic functionalities on chip,but also improves the system performance through advanced heterogeneous integrated packaging.This paper reviews recent progress of silicon-based optoelectronic heterogeneous integration in high performance optical interconnection.The research status,development trend and application of ultra-low loss optical waveguides,high-speed detectors,high-speed modulators,lasers and 2D,2.5D,3D and monolithic integration are focused on.

Integrating Downstream Ecological, Social and Economic Effects of Hydropower to Hydraulic Modeling: A Review

Hydropower gains increasing importance as a steerable and controllable power source in a renewable energy mix and deregulated markets. Although hydropower produces fossil-free energy, it has a significant impact on the local environment. This review investigates the effects of flow alterations by hydropower on the downstream river system and the possibilities to integrate these effects into hydraulic modeling. The results show that various effects of flow regulation on the ecosystem, but also social and economic effects on related communities were observed in the last decades. The application of hydraulic models for investigations of ecological effects is common. Especially hydraulic effects and effects on fish were extensively modeled with the help of hydraulic 1D- and 2D-simulations. Current applications to investigate social and economic effects integrated into hydraulic modeling are meanwhile limited. Approaches to realizing this integration are presented. Further research on the economic valuation of ecosystems and integration of social and economic effects to hydraulic models is necessary to develop holistic tools to support decision-making on sustainable hydropower.

Astrocytes integrate time and space

Astrocytes read and react to synaptic transmission through tripartite synapses,where the binding of neurotransmitters onto astrocytic receptors triggers an increase in intracellular calcium.Recent investigations have revealed that astrocytes exhibit two distinct states of intracellular calcium activity:(1)graded subcellular localized clusters with independently active microdomains,likely influenced by nearby synaptic events,and(2)whole-cell astrocyte calcium surges,believed to result from the coordinated activation of multiple synapses.Notably,astrocyte calcium responses are not solely graded;instead,a spatial threshold of intracellular calcium activity can be overcome to elicit an astrocyte calcium surge.Together these calcium responses,in turn,initiate downstream signaling pathways capable of modifying synaptic communication and overall network activity.In summary,astrocytes can function as integrators of local synaptic events,actively contributing to information processing within the brain.

Theory and practice for assessing structural integrity and dynamical integrity of high-speed trains

Purpose–The safety and reliability of high-speed trains rely on the structural integrity of their components and the dynamic performance of the entire vehicle system.This paper aims to define and substantiate the assessment of the structural integrity and dynamical integrity of high-speed trains in both theory and practice.The key principles and approacheswill be proposed,and their applications to high-speed trains in Chinawill be presented.Design/methodology/approach–First,the structural integrity and dynamical integrity of high-speed trains are defined,and their relationship is introduced.Then,the principles for assessing the structural integrity of structural and dynamical components are presented and practical examples of gearboxes and dampers are provided.Finally,the principles and approaches for assessing the dynamical integrity of highspeed trains are presented and a novel operational assessment method is further presented.Findings–Vehicle system dynamics is the core of the proposed framework that provides the loads and vibrations on train components and the dynamic performance of the entire vehicle system.For assessing the structural integrity of structural components,an open-loop analysis considering both normal and abnormal vehicle conditions is needed.For assessing the structural integrity of dynamical components,a closed-loop analysis involving the influence of wear and degradation on vehicle system dynamics is needed.The analysis of vehicle system dynamics should follow the principles of complete objects,conditions and indices.Numerical,experimental and operational approaches should be combined to achieve effective assessments.Originality/value–The practical applications demonstrate that assessing the structural integrity and dynamical integrity of high-speed trains can support better control of critical defects,better lifespan management of train components and better maintenance decision-making for high-speed trains.

Aging impairs the osteocytic regulation of collagen integrity and bone quality

Poor bone quality is a major factor in skeletal fragility in elderly individuals.The molecular mechanisms that establish and maintain bone quality,independent of bone mass,are unknown but are thought to be primarily determined by osteocytes.We hypothesize that the age-related decline in bone quality results from the suppression of osteocyte perilacunar/canalicular remodeling(PLR),which maintains bone material properties.We examined bones from young and aged mice with osteocyte-intrinsic repression of TGFβsignaling(TβRII^(ocy−/−))that suppresses PLR.The control aged bone displayed decreased TGFβsignaling and PLR,but aging did not worsen the existing PLR suppression in male TβRII^(ocy−/−)bone.This relationship impacted the behavior of collagen material at the nanoscale and tissue scale in macromechanical tests.The effects of age on bone mass,density,and mineral material behavior were independent of osteocytic TGFβ.We determined that the decline in bone quality with age arises from the loss of osteocyte function and the loss of TGFβ-dependent maintenance of collagen integrity.