Traditional large-scale multi-objective optimization algorithms(LSMOEAs)encounter difficulties when dealing with sparse large-scale multi-objective optimization problems(SLM-OPs)where most decision variables are zero....Traditional large-scale multi-objective optimization algorithms(LSMOEAs)encounter difficulties when dealing with sparse large-scale multi-objective optimization problems(SLM-OPs)where most decision variables are zero.As a result,many algorithms use a two-layer encoding approach to optimize binary variable Mask and real variable Dec separately.Nevertheless,existing optimizers often focus on locating non-zero variable posi-tions to optimize the binary variables Mask.However,approxi-mating the sparse distribution of real Pareto optimal solutions does not necessarily mean that the objective function is optimized.In data mining,it is common to mine frequent itemsets appear-ing together in a dataset to reveal the correlation between data.Inspired by this,we propose a novel two-layer encoding learning swarm optimizer based on frequent itemsets(TELSO)to address these SLMOPs.TELSO mined the frequent terms of multiple particles with better target values to find mask combinations that can obtain better objective values for fast convergence.Experi-mental results on five real-world problems and eight benchmark sets demonstrate that TELSO outperforms existing state-of-the-art sparse large-scale multi-objective evolutionary algorithms(SLMOEAs)in terms of performance and convergence speed.展开更多
Assessment of past-climate simulations of regional climate models(RCMs)is important for understanding the reliability of RCMs when used to project future regional climate.Here,we assess the performance and discuss pos...Assessment of past-climate simulations of regional climate models(RCMs)is important for understanding the reliability of RCMs when used to project future regional climate.Here,we assess the performance and discuss possible causes of biases in a WRF-based RCM with a grid spacing of 50 km,named WRFG,from the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program(NARCCAP)in simulating wet season precipitation over the Central United States for a period when observational data are available.The RCM reproduces key features of the precipitation distribution characteristics during late spring to early summer,although it tends to underestimate the magnitude of precipitation.This dry bias is partially due to the model’s lack of skill in simulating nocturnal precipitation related to the lack of eastward propagating convective systems in the simulation.Inaccuracy in reproducing large-scale circulation and environmental conditions is another contributing factor.The too weak simulated pressure gradient between the Rocky Mountains and the Gulf of Mexico results in weaker southerly winds in between,leading to a reduction of warm moist air transport from the Gulf to the Central Great Plains.The simulated low-level horizontal convergence fields are less favorable for upward motion than in the NARR and hence,for the development of moist convection as well.Therefore,a careful examination of an RCM’s deficiencies and the identification of the source of errors are important when using the RCM to project precipitation changes in future climate scenarios.展开更多
Sparse large-scale multi-objective optimization problems(SLMOPs)are common in science and engineering.However,the large-scale problem represents the high dimensionality of the decision space,requiring algorithms to tr...Sparse large-scale multi-objective optimization problems(SLMOPs)are common in science and engineering.However,the large-scale problem represents the high dimensionality of the decision space,requiring algorithms to traverse vast expanse with limited computational resources.Furthermore,in the context of sparse,most variables in Pareto optimal solutions are zero,making it difficult for algorithms to identify non-zero variables efficiently.This paper is dedicated to addressing the challenges posed by SLMOPs.To start,we introduce innovative objective functions customized to mine maximum and minimum candidate sets.This substantial enhancement dramatically improves the efficacy of frequent pattern mining.In this way,selecting candidate sets is no longer based on the quantity of nonzero variables they contain but on a higher proportion of nonzero variables within specific dimensions.Additionally,we unveil a novel approach to association rule mining,which delves into the intricate relationships between non-zero variables.This novel methodology aids in identifying sparse distributions that can potentially expedite reductions in the objective function value.We extensively tested our algorithm across eight benchmark problems and four real-world SLMOPs.The results demonstrate that our approach achieves competitive solutions across various challenges.展开更多
Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of histopathological examination of ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy samples in extrapulmonary tuberculosis(EPTB).Methods This study was conducted at the Shanghai Public Hea...Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of histopathological examination of ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy samples in extrapulmonary tuberculosis(EPTB).Methods This study was conducted at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center.A total of 115patients underwent ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy,followed by MGIT 960 culture(culture),smear,Gene Xpert MTB/RIF(Xpert),and histopathological examination.These assays were performed to evaluate their effectiveness in diagnosing EPTB in comparison to two different diagnostic criteria:liquid culture and composite reference standard(CRS).Results When CRS was used as the reference standard,the sensitivity and specificity of culture,smear,Xpert,and histopathological examination were(44.83%,89.29%),(51.72%,89.29%),(70.11%,96.43%),and(85.06%,82.14%),respectively.Based on liquid culture tests,the sensitivity and specificity of smear,Xpert,and pathological examination were(66.67%,72.60%),(83.33%,63.01%),and(92.86%,45.21%),respectively.Histopathological examination showed the highest sensitivity but lowest specificity.Further,we found that the combination of Xpert and histopathological examination showed a sensitivity of 90.80%and a specificity of 89.29%.Conclusion Ultrasound-guided puncture sampling is safe and effective for the diagnosis of EPTB.Compared with culture,smear,and Xpert,histopathological examination showed higher sensitivity but lower specificity.The combination of histopathology with Xpert showed the best performance characteristics.展开更多
Objective Because of the limited number of studies and small sample sizes,whether metabolic syndrome(MS)leads to the occurrence and progression of osteoporosis and the possible underlying mechanisms require further in...Objective Because of the limited number of studies and small sample sizes,whether metabolic syndrome(MS)leads to the occurrence and progression of osteoporosis and the possible underlying mechanisms require further investigation.This study aimed to investigate the association between MS and osteoporosis,along with its influencing factors.Methods This observational cross-sectional study included 139,470 individuals aged≥18 years who underwent health examinations from September 2014 to March 2022.Based on bone mineral density(BMD)screening results,the participants were categorized into a suspected osteoporosis or non-osteoporosis group(control).Participants were further divided into those who met 0 MS criteria,1 MS criterion,2 MS criteria,and≥3 MS criteria(MS group).Participants who had undergone health examinations at least twice formed the follow-up cohort;a self-matched analysis was performed on those with follow-up periods≥5 years and unchanged MS grouping.Results Several examination indicators in the suspected osteoporosis group showed statistically significant differences compared with the control group.The proportion of suspected osteoporosis in the MS group was significantly increased compared with that in the 0 MS criteria group(odds ratio[OR]:1.215,Z=29.11,P<0.001,95%confidence interval:1.199-1.231).After adjusting for age,sex,smoking,and alcohol consumption,the 2 MS criteria group and MS group still had OR values>1(P<0.001).In the follow-up cohort,the proportion of suspected osteoporosis increased gradually with an increase in the number of MS criteria met at baseline and during each follow-up visit(P<0.05),with the highest proportion observed in the MS group.However,the proportion of suspected osteoporosis did not increase significantly over time in the different MS groups(P>0.05).In the follow-up cohort,the proportion of individuals transitioning from normal BMD to suspected osteoporosis was higher in the MS group after≥5 years of follow-up compared with the group meeting 0 MS criteria(0.08%versus 1.15%,χ^(2)=10.76,P=0.001).There was no significant difference in BMD values for the 0 MS criteria group after 5 years(P>0.05),whereas the other three groups experienced a significant decrease in BMD values after 5 years(P<0.05).Conclusion MS is an independent risk factor for osteoporosis,and the effect of risk factors related to MS on osteoporosis may exceed that of aging alone.The specific mechanisms warrant further investigation.展开更多
Bedding slope is a typical heterogeneous slope consisting of different soil/rock layers and is likely to slide along the weakest interface.Conventional slope protection methods for bedding slopes,such as retaining wal...Bedding slope is a typical heterogeneous slope consisting of different soil/rock layers and is likely to slide along the weakest interface.Conventional slope protection methods for bedding slopes,such as retaining walls,stabilizing piles,and anchors,are time-consuming and labor-and energy-intensive.This study proposes an innovative polymer grout method to improve the bearing capacity and reduce the displacement of bedding slopes.A series of large-scale model tests were carried out to verify the effectiveness of polymer grout in protecting bedding slopes.Specifically,load-displacement relationships and failure patterns were analyzed for different testing slopes with various dosages of polymer.Results show the great potential of polymer grout in improving bearing capacity,reducing settlement,and protecting slopes from being crushed under shearing.The polymer-treated slopes remained structurally intact,while the untreated slope exhibited considerable damage when subjected to loads surpassing the bearing capacity.It is also found that polymer-cemented soils concentrate around the injection pipe,forming a fan-shaped sheet-like structure.This study proves the improvement of polymer grouting for bedding slope treatment and will contribute to the development of a fast method to protect bedding slopes from landslides.展开更多
This article introduces the concept of load aggregation,which involves a comprehensive analysis of loads to acquire their external characteristics for the purpose of modeling and analyzing power systems.The online ide...This article introduces the concept of load aggregation,which involves a comprehensive analysis of loads to acquire their external characteristics for the purpose of modeling and analyzing power systems.The online identification method is a computer-involved approach for data collection,processing,and system identification,commonly used for adaptive control and prediction.This paper proposes a method for dynamically aggregating large-scale adjustable loads to support high proportions of new energy integration,aiming to study the aggregation characteristics of regional large-scale adjustable loads using online identification techniques and feature extraction methods.The experiment selected 300 central air conditioners as the research subject and analyzed their regulation characteristics,economic efficiency,and comfort.The experimental results show that as the adjustment time of the air conditioner increases from 5 minutes to 35 minutes,the stable adjustment quantity during the adjustment period decreases from 28.46 to 3.57,indicating that air conditioning loads can be controlled over a long period and have better adjustment effects in the short term.Overall,the experimental results of this paper demonstrate that analyzing the aggregation characteristics of regional large-scale adjustable loads using online identification techniques and feature extraction algorithms is effective.展开更多
Accurate positioning is one of the essential requirements for numerous applications of remote sensing data,especially in the event of a noisy or unreliable satellite signal.Toward this end,we present a novel framework...Accurate positioning is one of the essential requirements for numerous applications of remote sensing data,especially in the event of a noisy or unreliable satellite signal.Toward this end,we present a novel framework for aircraft geo-localization in a large range that only requires a downward-facing monocular camera,an altimeter,a compass,and an open-source Vector Map(VMAP).The algorithm combines the matching and particle filter methods.Shape vector and correlation between two building contour vectors are defined,and a coarse-to-fine building vector matching(CFBVM)method is proposed in the matching stage,for which the original matching results are described by the Gaussian mixture model(GMM).Subsequently,an improved resampling strategy is designed to reduce computing expenses with a huge number of initial particles,and a credibility indicator is designed to avoid location mistakes in the particle filter stage.An experimental evaluation of the approach based on flight data is provided.On a flight at a height of 0.2 km over a flight distance of 2 km,the aircraft is geo-localized in a reference map of 11,025 km~2using 0.09 km~2aerial images without any prior information.The absolute localization error is less than 10 m.展开更多
This editorial elaborates on the current and future applications of linear endoscopic ultrasound(EUS),a substantial diagnostic and therapeutic modality for various anatomical regions.The scope of endosonographic asses...This editorial elaborates on the current and future applications of linear endoscopic ultrasound(EUS),a substantial diagnostic and therapeutic modality for various anatomical regions.The scope of endosonographic assessment is broad and,among other factors,allows for the evaluation of the mediastinal anatomy and related pathologies,such as mediastinal lymphadenopathy and the staging of central malignant lung lesions.Moreover,EUS assessment has proven more accurate in detecting small lesions missed by standard imaging examinations,such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.We focus on its current uses in the mediastinum,including lung and esophageal cancer staging,as well as evaluating mediastinal lymphadenopathy and submucosal lesions.The editorial also explores future perspectives of EUS in mediastinal examination,including ultrasound-guided therapies,artificial intelligence integration,advancements in mediastinal modalities,and improved diagnostic approaches for various mediastinal lesions.展开更多
The large-scale multi-objective optimization algorithm(LSMOA),based on the grouping of decision variables,is an advanced method for handling high-dimensional decision variables.However,in practical problems,the intera...The large-scale multi-objective optimization algorithm(LSMOA),based on the grouping of decision variables,is an advanced method for handling high-dimensional decision variables.However,in practical problems,the interaction among decision variables is intricate,leading to large group sizes and suboptimal optimization effects;hence a large-scale multi-objective optimization algorithm based on weighted overlapping grouping of decision variables(MOEAWOD)is proposed in this paper.Initially,the decision variables are perturbed and categorized into convergence and diversity variables;subsequently,the convergence variables are subdivided into groups based on the interactions among different decision variables.If the size of a group surpasses the set threshold,that group undergoes a process of weighting and overlapping grouping.Specifically,the interaction strength is evaluated based on the interaction frequency and number of objectives among various decision variables.The decision variable with the highest interaction in the group is identified and disregarded,and the remaining variables are then reclassified into subgroups.Finally,the decision variable with the strongest interaction is added to each subgroup.MOEAWOD minimizes the interactivity between different groups and maximizes the interactivity of decision variables within groups,which contributed to the optimized direction of convergence and diversity exploration with different groups.MOEAWOD was subjected to testing on 18 benchmark large-scale optimization problems,and the experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our methods.Compared with the other algorithms,our method is still at an advantage.展开更多
With the development of big data and social computing,large-scale group decisionmaking(LGDM)is nowmerging with social networks.Using social network analysis(SNA),this study proposes an LGDM consensus model that consid...With the development of big data and social computing,large-scale group decisionmaking(LGDM)is nowmerging with social networks.Using social network analysis(SNA),this study proposes an LGDM consensus model that considers the trust relationship among decisionmakers(DMs).In the process of consensusmeasurement:the social network is constructed according to the social relationship among DMs,and the Louvain method is introduced to classify social networks to form subgroups.In this study,the weights of each decision maker and each subgroup are computed by comprehensive network weights and trust weights.In the process of consensus improvement:A feedback mechanism with four identification and two direction rules is designed to guide the consensus of the improvement process.Based on the trust relationship among DMs,the preferences are modified,and the corresponding social network is updated to accelerate the consensus.Compared with the previous research,the proposedmodel not only allows the subgroups to be reconstructed and updated during the adjustment process,but also improves the accuracy of the adjustment by the feedbackmechanism.Finally,an example analysis is conducted to verify the effectiveness and flexibility of the proposed method.Moreover,compared with previous studies,the superiority of the proposed method in solving the LGDM problem is highlighted.展开更多
Underground salt cavern CO_(2) storage(SCCS)offers the dual benefits of enabling extensive CO_(2) storage and facilitating the utilization of CO_(2) resources while contributing the regulation of the carbon market.Its...Underground salt cavern CO_(2) storage(SCCS)offers the dual benefits of enabling extensive CO_(2) storage and facilitating the utilization of CO_(2) resources while contributing the regulation of the carbon market.Its economic and operational advantages over traditional carbon capture,utilization,and storage(CCUS)projects make SCCS a more cost-effective and flexible option.Despite the widespread use of salt caverns for storing various substances,differences exist between SCCS and traditional salt cavern energy storage in terms of gas-tightness,carbon injection,brine extraction control,long-term carbon storage stability,and site selection criteria.These distinctions stem from the unique phase change characteristics of CO_(2) and the application scenarios of SCCS.Therefore,targeted and forward-looking scientific research on SCCS is imperative.This paper introduces the implementation principles and application scenarios of SCCS,emphasizing its connections with carbon emissions,carbon utilization,and renewable energy peak shaving.It delves into the operational characteristics and economic advantages of SCCS compared with other CCUS methods,and addresses associated scientific challenges.In this paper,we establish a pressure equation for carbon injection and brine extraction,that considers the phase change characteristics of CO_(2),and we analyze the pressure during carbon injection.By comparing the viscosities of CO_(2) and other gases,SCCS’s excellent sealing performance is demonstrated.Building on this,we develop a long-term stability evaluation model and associated indices,which analyze the impact of the injection speed and minimum operating pressure on stability.Field countermeasures to ensure stability are proposed.Site selection criteria for SCCS are established,preliminary salt mine sites suitable for SCCS are identified in China,and an initial estimate of achievable carbon storage scale in China is made at over 51.8-77.7 million tons,utilizing only 20%-30%volume of abandoned salt caverns.This paper addresses key scientific and engineering challenges facing SCCS and determines crucial technical parameters,such as the operating pressure,burial depth,and storage scale,and it offers essential guidance for implementing SCCS projects in China.展开更多
With the reform of the New National College Entrance Examination(Gaokao),the nongraded education will become an inevitable trend.In senior high school,the traditional test-oriented education is popular.The knowledge i...With the reform of the New National College Entrance Examination(Gaokao),the nongraded education will become an inevitable trend.In senior high school,the traditional test-oriented education is popular.The knowledge is mainly taught by the teachers,and the students passively absorb it.This study examines a problem-oriented Socratic experiment in nongraded English teaching in senior high school.The teachers seek output from students,who respond by interpreting questions,fostering critical thinking,and enhancing problem-solving skills.This teaching experiment indicates that the Socratic method has a significant positive effect on cultivating nongraded senior high English students’critical thinking under the New National College Entrance Examination.展开更多
We introduce a factorized Smith method(FSM)for solving large-scale highranked T-Stein equations within the banded-plus-low-rank structure framework.To effectively reduce both computational complexity and storage requi...We introduce a factorized Smith method(FSM)for solving large-scale highranked T-Stein equations within the banded-plus-low-rank structure framework.To effectively reduce both computational complexity and storage requirements,we develop techniques including deflation and shift,partial truncation and compression,as well as redesign the residual computation and termination condition.Numerical examples demonstrate that the FSM outperforms the Smith method implemented with a hierarchical HODLR structured toolkit in terms of CPU time.展开更多
Background A task assigned to space exploration satellites involves detecting the physical environment within a certain space.However,space detection data are complex and abstract.These data are not conducive for rese...Background A task assigned to space exploration satellites involves detecting the physical environment within a certain space.However,space detection data are complex and abstract.These data are not conducive for researchers'visual perceptions of the evolution and interaction of events in the space environment.Methods A time-series dynamic data sampling method for large-scale space was proposed for sample detection data in space and time,and the corresponding relationships between data location features and other attribute features were established.A tone-mapping method based on statistical histogram equalization was proposed and applied to the final attribute feature data.The visualization process is optimized for rendering by merging materials,reducing the number of patches,and performing other operations.Results The results of sampling,feature extraction,and uniform visualization of the detection data of complex types,long duration spans,and uneven spatial distributions were obtained.The real-time visualization of large-scale spatial structures using augmented reality devices,particularly low-performance devices,was also investigated.Conclusions The proposed visualization system can reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of a large-scale space,express the structure and changes in the spatial environment using augmented reality,and assist in intuitively discovering spatial environmental events and evolutionary rules.展开更多
Eye diagnosis is a method for inspecting systemic diseases and syndromes by observing the eyes.With the development of intelligent diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM);artificial intelligence(AI)can improve ...Eye diagnosis is a method for inspecting systemic diseases and syndromes by observing the eyes.With the development of intelligent diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM);artificial intelligence(AI)can improve the accuracy and efficiency of eye diagnosis.However;the research on intelligent eye diagnosis still faces many challenges;including the lack of standardized and precisely labeled data;multi-modal information analysis;and artificial in-telligence models for syndrome differentiation.The widespread application of AI models in medicine provides new insights and opportunities for the research of eye diagnosis intelli-gence.This study elaborates on the three key technologies of AI models in the intelligent ap-plication of TCM eye diagnosis;and explores the implications for the research of eye diagno-sis intelligence.First;a database concerning eye diagnosis was established based on self-su-pervised learning so as to solve the issues related to the lack of standardized and precisely la-beled data.Next;the cross-modal understanding and generation of deep neural network models to address the problem of lacking multi-modal information analysis.Last;the build-ing of data-driven models for eye diagnosis to tackle the issue of the absence of syndrome dif-ferentiation models.In summary;research on intelligent eye diagnosis has great potential to be applied the surge of AI model applications.展开更多
The deformation and fracture evolution mechanisms of the strata overlying mines mined using sublevel caving were studied via numerical simulations.Moreover,an expression for the normal force acting on the side face of...The deformation and fracture evolution mechanisms of the strata overlying mines mined using sublevel caving were studied via numerical simulations.Moreover,an expression for the normal force acting on the side face of a steeply dipping superimposed cantilever beam in the surrounding rock was deduced based on limit equilibrium theory.The results show the following:(1)surface displacement above metal mines with steeply dipping discontinuities shows significant step characteristics,and(2)the behavior of the strata as they fail exhibits superimposition characteristics.Generally,failure first occurs in certain superimposed strata slightly far from the goaf.Subsequently,with the constant downward excavation of the orebody,the superimposed strata become damaged both upwards away from and downwards toward the goaf.This process continues until the deep part of the steeply dipping superimposed strata forms a large-scale deep fracture plane that connects with the goaf.The deep fracture plane generally makes an angle of 12°-20°with the normal to the steeply dipping discontinuities.The effect of the constant outward transfer of strata movement due to the constant outward failure of the superimposed strata in the metal mines with steeply dipping discontinuities causes the scope of the strata movement in these mines to be larger than expected.The strata in the metal mines with steeply dipping discontinuities mainly show flexural toppling failure.However,the steeply dipping structural strata near the goaf mainly exhibit shear slipping failure,in which case the mechanical model used to describe them can be simplified by treating them as steeply dipping superimposed cantilever beams.By taking the steeply dipping superimposed cantilever beam that first experiences failure as the key stratum,the failure scope of the strata(and criteria for the stability of metal mines with steeply dipping discontinuities mined using sublevel caving)can be obtained via iterative computations from the key stratum,moving downward toward and upwards away from the goaf.展开更多
Introduction: Radiology and medical imaging examinations bring together the means of acquiring and restoring images of the human body from different physical phenomena such as the absorption of X-rays, nuclear magneti...Introduction: Radiology and medical imaging examinations bring together the means of acquiring and restoring images of the human body from different physical phenomena such as the absorption of X-rays, nuclear magnetic resonance, reflection of ultrasound waves or radioactivity, with which we sometimes associate optical imaging techniques such as endoscopy. The objective of our study was to study the profile of radiological examinations in the radiology and medical imaging department of the “KALALE” medical clinic. Methodology: This was a descriptive, prospective study that took place over a period of six (6) months in the radiology and medical imaging department of the “KALALE” medical clinic and the centers of health of communes III and IV of Bamako in Mali. Data collection was carried out on a survey form. The parameters studied were sociodemographic data, clinical data, radiological data. Results: We recorded 6030 radiology examinations of which 19% of the examination frequency cases came from the “KALALE” medical clinic and 81% of the cases were referrals from the reference health centers of communes III and IV. There were 1500 X-rays or 24.9% of cases including 54% cases of bone X-rays;5% of cases of skull and face X-rays;5% of cases of Intravenous Urography (IVU);4% of cases of Hysterosalpingography (HSG);3% of cases of Retrograde Ureterocystography (UCR) and 1% of cases of X-ray of the Abdomen without preparation (ASP). We found 4530 ultrasounds or 75.1% of cases. Conclusion: Medical imaging has become essential in the study of the human body and now constitutes an essential tool for the detection and treatment of most pathologies, from simple fractures to the most serious tumors.展开更多
The widespread utilisation of tunnel boring machines(TBMs)in underground construction engineering requires a detailed investigation of the cutter-rock interaction.In this paper,we conduct a series of largescale standi...The widespread utilisation of tunnel boring machines(TBMs)in underground construction engineering requires a detailed investigation of the cutter-rock interaction.In this paper,we conduct a series of largescale standing rotary cutting tests on granite in conjunction with high-fidelity numerical simulations based on a particle-type discrete element method(DEM)to explore the effects of key cutting parameters on the TBM cutter performance and the distribution of cutter-rock contact stresses.The assessment results of cutter performance obtained from the cutting tests and numerical simulations reveal similar dependencies on the key cutting parameters.More specifically,the normal and rolling forces exhibit a positive correlation with penetration but are slightly influenced by the cutting radius.In contrast,the side force decreases as the cutting radius increases.Additionally,the side force shows a positive relationship with the penetration for smaller cutting radii but tends to become negative as the cutting radius increases.The cutter's relative effectiveness in rock breaking is significantly impacted by the penetration but shows little dependency on the cutting radius.Consequently,an optimal penetration is identified,leading to a low boreability index and specific energy.A combined Hertz-Weibull function is developed to fit the cutter-rock contact stress distribution obtained in DEM simulations,whereby an improved CSM(Colorado School of Mines)model is proposed by replacing the original monotonic cutting force distribution with this combined Hertz-Weibull model.The proposed model outperforms the original CSM model as demonstrated by a comparison of the estimated cutting forces with those from the tests/simulations.The findings from this work that advance our understanding of TBM cutter performance have important implications for improving the efficiency and reliability of TBM tunnelling in granite.展开更多
Currently, most public higher learning institutions in Tanzania rely on traditional in-class examinations, requiring students to register and present identification documents for examinations eligibility verification....Currently, most public higher learning institutions in Tanzania rely on traditional in-class examinations, requiring students to register and present identification documents for examinations eligibility verification. This system, however, is prone to impersonations due to security vulnerabilities in current students’ verification system. These vulnerabilities include weak authentication, lack of encryption, and inadequate anti-counterfeiting measures. Additionally, advanced printing technologies and online marketplaces which claim to produce convincing fake identification documents make it easy to create convincing fake identity documents. The Improved Mechanism for Detecting Impersonations (IMDIs) system detects impersonations in in-class exams by integrating QR codes and dynamic question generation based on student profiles. It consists of a mobile verification app, built with Flutter and communicating via RESTful APIs, and a web system, developed with Laravel using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The two components communicate through APIs, with MySQL managing the database. The mobile app and web server interact to ensure efficient verification and security during examinations. The implemented IMDIs system was validated by a mobile application which is integrated with a QR codes scanner for capturing codes embedded in student Identity Cards and linking them to a dynamic question generation model. The QG model uses natural language processing (NLP) algorithm and Question Generation (QG) techniques to create dynamic profile questions. Results show that the IMDIs system could generate four challenging profile-based questions within two seconds, allowing the verification of 200 students in 33 minutes by one operator. The IMDIs system also tracks exam-eligible students, aiding in exam attendance and integrates with a Short Message Service (SMS) to report impersonation incidents to a dedicated security officer in real-time. The IMDIs system was tested and found to be 98% secure, 100% convenient, with a 0% false rejection rate and a 2% false acceptance rate, demonstrating its security, reliability, and high performance.展开更多
基金supported by the Scientific Research Project of Xiang Jiang Lab(22XJ02003)the University Fundamental Research Fund(23-ZZCX-JDZ-28)+5 种基金the National Science Fund for Outstanding Young Scholars(62122093)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(72071205)the Hunan Graduate Research Innovation Project(ZC23112101-10)the Hunan Natural Science Foundation Regional Joint Project(2023JJ50490)the Science and Technology Project for Young and Middle-aged Talents of Hunan(2023TJ-Z03)the Science and Technology Innovation Program of Humnan Province(2023RC1002)。
文摘Traditional large-scale multi-objective optimization algorithms(LSMOEAs)encounter difficulties when dealing with sparse large-scale multi-objective optimization problems(SLM-OPs)where most decision variables are zero.As a result,many algorithms use a two-layer encoding approach to optimize binary variable Mask and real variable Dec separately.Nevertheless,existing optimizers often focus on locating non-zero variable posi-tions to optimize the binary variables Mask.However,approxi-mating the sparse distribution of real Pareto optimal solutions does not necessarily mean that the objective function is optimized.In data mining,it is common to mine frequent itemsets appear-ing together in a dataset to reveal the correlation between data.Inspired by this,we propose a novel two-layer encoding learning swarm optimizer based on frequent itemsets(TELSO)to address these SLMOPs.TELSO mined the frequent terms of multiple particles with better target values to find mask combinations that can obtain better objective values for fast convergence.Experi-mental results on five real-world problems and eight benchmark sets demonstrate that TELSO outperforms existing state-of-the-art sparse large-scale multi-objective evolutionary algorithms(SLMOEAs)in terms of performance and convergence speed.
文摘Assessment of past-climate simulations of regional climate models(RCMs)is important for understanding the reliability of RCMs when used to project future regional climate.Here,we assess the performance and discuss possible causes of biases in a WRF-based RCM with a grid spacing of 50 km,named WRFG,from the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program(NARCCAP)in simulating wet season precipitation over the Central United States for a period when observational data are available.The RCM reproduces key features of the precipitation distribution characteristics during late spring to early summer,although it tends to underestimate the magnitude of precipitation.This dry bias is partially due to the model’s lack of skill in simulating nocturnal precipitation related to the lack of eastward propagating convective systems in the simulation.Inaccuracy in reproducing large-scale circulation and environmental conditions is another contributing factor.The too weak simulated pressure gradient between the Rocky Mountains and the Gulf of Mexico results in weaker southerly winds in between,leading to a reduction of warm moist air transport from the Gulf to the Central Great Plains.The simulated low-level horizontal convergence fields are less favorable for upward motion than in the NARR and hence,for the development of moist convection as well.Therefore,a careful examination of an RCM’s deficiencies and the identification of the source of errors are important when using the RCM to project precipitation changes in future climate scenarios.
基金support by the Open Project of Xiangjiang Laboratory(22XJ02003)the University Fundamental Research Fund(23-ZZCX-JDZ-28,ZK21-07)+5 种基金the National Science Fund for Outstanding Young Scholars(62122093)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(72071205)the Hunan Graduate Research Innovation Project(CX20230074)the Hunan Natural Science Foundation Regional Joint Project(2023JJ50490)the Science and Technology Project for Young and Middle-aged Talents of Hunan(2023TJZ03)the Science and Technology Innovation Program of Humnan Province(2023RC1002).
文摘Sparse large-scale multi-objective optimization problems(SLMOPs)are common in science and engineering.However,the large-scale problem represents the high dimensionality of the decision space,requiring algorithms to traverse vast expanse with limited computational resources.Furthermore,in the context of sparse,most variables in Pareto optimal solutions are zero,making it difficult for algorithms to identify non-zero variables efficiently.This paper is dedicated to addressing the challenges posed by SLMOPs.To start,we introduce innovative objective functions customized to mine maximum and minimum candidate sets.This substantial enhancement dramatically improves the efficacy of frequent pattern mining.In this way,selecting candidate sets is no longer based on the quantity of nonzero variables they contain but on a higher proportion of nonzero variables within specific dimensions.Additionally,we unveil a novel approach to association rule mining,which delves into the intricate relationships between non-zero variables.This novel methodology aids in identifying sparse distributions that can potentially expedite reductions in the objective function value.We extensively tested our algorithm across eight benchmark problems and four real-world SLMOPs.The results demonstrate that our approach achieves competitive solutions across various challenges.
基金funded by the grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China[2021YFC2301503,2022YFC2302900]the National Natural and Science Foundation of China[82171739,82171815,81873884]。
文摘Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of histopathological examination of ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy samples in extrapulmonary tuberculosis(EPTB).Methods This study was conducted at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center.A total of 115patients underwent ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy,followed by MGIT 960 culture(culture),smear,Gene Xpert MTB/RIF(Xpert),and histopathological examination.These assays were performed to evaluate their effectiveness in diagnosing EPTB in comparison to two different diagnostic criteria:liquid culture and composite reference standard(CRS).Results When CRS was used as the reference standard,the sensitivity and specificity of culture,smear,Xpert,and histopathological examination were(44.83%,89.29%),(51.72%,89.29%),(70.11%,96.43%),and(85.06%,82.14%),respectively.Based on liquid culture tests,the sensitivity and specificity of smear,Xpert,and pathological examination were(66.67%,72.60%),(83.33%,63.01%),and(92.86%,45.21%),respectively.Histopathological examination showed the highest sensitivity but lowest specificity.Further,we found that the combination of Xpert and histopathological examination showed a sensitivity of 90.80%and a specificity of 89.29%.Conclusion Ultrasound-guided puncture sampling is safe and effective for the diagnosis of EPTB.Compared with culture,smear,and Xpert,histopathological examination showed higher sensitivity but lower specificity.The combination of histopathology with Xpert showed the best performance characteristics.
文摘Objective Because of the limited number of studies and small sample sizes,whether metabolic syndrome(MS)leads to the occurrence and progression of osteoporosis and the possible underlying mechanisms require further investigation.This study aimed to investigate the association between MS and osteoporosis,along with its influencing factors.Methods This observational cross-sectional study included 139,470 individuals aged≥18 years who underwent health examinations from September 2014 to March 2022.Based on bone mineral density(BMD)screening results,the participants were categorized into a suspected osteoporosis or non-osteoporosis group(control).Participants were further divided into those who met 0 MS criteria,1 MS criterion,2 MS criteria,and≥3 MS criteria(MS group).Participants who had undergone health examinations at least twice formed the follow-up cohort;a self-matched analysis was performed on those with follow-up periods≥5 years and unchanged MS grouping.Results Several examination indicators in the suspected osteoporosis group showed statistically significant differences compared with the control group.The proportion of suspected osteoporosis in the MS group was significantly increased compared with that in the 0 MS criteria group(odds ratio[OR]:1.215,Z=29.11,P<0.001,95%confidence interval:1.199-1.231).After adjusting for age,sex,smoking,and alcohol consumption,the 2 MS criteria group and MS group still had OR values>1(P<0.001).In the follow-up cohort,the proportion of suspected osteoporosis increased gradually with an increase in the number of MS criteria met at baseline and during each follow-up visit(P<0.05),with the highest proportion observed in the MS group.However,the proportion of suspected osteoporosis did not increase significantly over time in the different MS groups(P>0.05).In the follow-up cohort,the proportion of individuals transitioning from normal BMD to suspected osteoporosis was higher in the MS group after≥5 years of follow-up compared with the group meeting 0 MS criteria(0.08%versus 1.15%,χ^(2)=10.76,P=0.001).There was no significant difference in BMD values for the 0 MS criteria group after 5 years(P>0.05),whereas the other three groups experienced a significant decrease in BMD values after 5 years(P<0.05).Conclusion MS is an independent risk factor for osteoporosis,and the effect of risk factors related to MS on osteoporosis may exceed that of aging alone.The specific mechanisms warrant further investigation.
基金supported by the Fujian Science Foundation for Outstanding Youth(Grant No.2023J06039)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.41977259 and No.U2005205)Fujian Province natural resources science and technology innovation project(Grant No.KY-090000-04-2022-019)。
文摘Bedding slope is a typical heterogeneous slope consisting of different soil/rock layers and is likely to slide along the weakest interface.Conventional slope protection methods for bedding slopes,such as retaining walls,stabilizing piles,and anchors,are time-consuming and labor-and energy-intensive.This study proposes an innovative polymer grout method to improve the bearing capacity and reduce the displacement of bedding slopes.A series of large-scale model tests were carried out to verify the effectiveness of polymer grout in protecting bedding slopes.Specifically,load-displacement relationships and failure patterns were analyzed for different testing slopes with various dosages of polymer.Results show the great potential of polymer grout in improving bearing capacity,reducing settlement,and protecting slopes from being crushed under shearing.The polymer-treated slopes remained structurally intact,while the untreated slope exhibited considerable damage when subjected to loads surpassing the bearing capacity.It is also found that polymer-cemented soils concentrate around the injection pipe,forming a fan-shaped sheet-like structure.This study proves the improvement of polymer grouting for bedding slope treatment and will contribute to the development of a fast method to protect bedding slopes from landslides.
基金supported by the State Grid Science&Technology Project(5100-202114296A-0-0-00).
文摘This article introduces the concept of load aggregation,which involves a comprehensive analysis of loads to acquire their external characteristics for the purpose of modeling and analyzing power systems.The online identification method is a computer-involved approach for data collection,processing,and system identification,commonly used for adaptive control and prediction.This paper proposes a method for dynamically aggregating large-scale adjustable loads to support high proportions of new energy integration,aiming to study the aggregation characteristics of regional large-scale adjustable loads using online identification techniques and feature extraction methods.The experiment selected 300 central air conditioners as the research subject and analyzed their regulation characteristics,economic efficiency,and comfort.The experimental results show that as the adjustment time of the air conditioner increases from 5 minutes to 35 minutes,the stable adjustment quantity during the adjustment period decreases from 28.46 to 3.57,indicating that air conditioning loads can be controlled over a long period and have better adjustment effects in the short term.Overall,the experimental results of this paper demonstrate that analyzing the aggregation characteristics of regional large-scale adjustable loads using online identification techniques and feature extraction algorithms is effective.
文摘Accurate positioning is one of the essential requirements for numerous applications of remote sensing data,especially in the event of a noisy or unreliable satellite signal.Toward this end,we present a novel framework for aircraft geo-localization in a large range that only requires a downward-facing monocular camera,an altimeter,a compass,and an open-source Vector Map(VMAP).The algorithm combines the matching and particle filter methods.Shape vector and correlation between two building contour vectors are defined,and a coarse-to-fine building vector matching(CFBVM)method is proposed in the matching stage,for which the original matching results are described by the Gaussian mixture model(GMM).Subsequently,an improved resampling strategy is designed to reduce computing expenses with a huge number of initial particles,and a credibility indicator is designed to avoid location mistakes in the particle filter stage.An experimental evaluation of the approach based on flight data is provided.On a flight at a height of 0.2 km over a flight distance of 2 km,the aircraft is geo-localized in a reference map of 11,025 km~2using 0.09 km~2aerial images without any prior information.The absolute localization error is less than 10 m.
文摘This editorial elaborates on the current and future applications of linear endoscopic ultrasound(EUS),a substantial diagnostic and therapeutic modality for various anatomical regions.The scope of endosonographic assessment is broad and,among other factors,allows for the evaluation of the mediastinal anatomy and related pathologies,such as mediastinal lymphadenopathy and the staging of central malignant lung lesions.Moreover,EUS assessment has proven more accurate in detecting small lesions missed by standard imaging examinations,such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.We focus on its current uses in the mediastinum,including lung and esophageal cancer staging,as well as evaluating mediastinal lymphadenopathy and submucosal lesions.The editorial also explores future perspectives of EUS in mediastinal examination,including ultrasound-guided therapies,artificial intelligence integration,advancements in mediastinal modalities,and improved diagnostic approaches for various mediastinal lesions.
基金supported in part by the Central Government Guides Local Science and TechnologyDevelopment Funds(Grant No.YDZJSX2021A038)in part by theNational Natural Science Foundation of China under(Grant No.61806138)in part by the China University Industry-University-Research Collaborative Innovation Fund(Future Network Innovation Research and Application Project)(Grant 2021FNA04014).
文摘The large-scale multi-objective optimization algorithm(LSMOA),based on the grouping of decision variables,is an advanced method for handling high-dimensional decision variables.However,in practical problems,the interaction among decision variables is intricate,leading to large group sizes and suboptimal optimization effects;hence a large-scale multi-objective optimization algorithm based on weighted overlapping grouping of decision variables(MOEAWOD)is proposed in this paper.Initially,the decision variables are perturbed and categorized into convergence and diversity variables;subsequently,the convergence variables are subdivided into groups based on the interactions among different decision variables.If the size of a group surpasses the set threshold,that group undergoes a process of weighting and overlapping grouping.Specifically,the interaction strength is evaluated based on the interaction frequency and number of objectives among various decision variables.The decision variable with the highest interaction in the group is identified and disregarded,and the remaining variables are then reclassified into subgroups.Finally,the decision variable with the strongest interaction is added to each subgroup.MOEAWOD minimizes the interactivity between different groups and maximizes the interactivity of decision variables within groups,which contributed to the optimized direction of convergence and diversity exploration with different groups.MOEAWOD was subjected to testing on 18 benchmark large-scale optimization problems,and the experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our methods.Compared with the other algorithms,our method is still at an advantage.
基金The work was supported by Humanities and Social Sciences Fund of the Ministry of Education(No.22YJA630119)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.71971051)Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province(No.G2021501004).
文摘With the development of big data and social computing,large-scale group decisionmaking(LGDM)is nowmerging with social networks.Using social network analysis(SNA),this study proposes an LGDM consensus model that considers the trust relationship among decisionmakers(DMs).In the process of consensusmeasurement:the social network is constructed according to the social relationship among DMs,and the Louvain method is introduced to classify social networks to form subgroups.In this study,the weights of each decision maker and each subgroup are computed by comprehensive network weights and trust weights.In the process of consensus improvement:A feedback mechanism with four identification and two direction rules is designed to guide the consensus of the improvement process.Based on the trust relationship among DMs,the preferences are modified,and the corresponding social network is updated to accelerate the consensus.Compared with the previous research,the proposedmodel not only allows the subgroups to be reconstructed and updated during the adjustment process,but also improves the accuracy of the adjustment by the feedbackmechanism.Finally,an example analysis is conducted to verify the effectiveness and flexibility of the proposed method.Moreover,compared with previous studies,the superiority of the proposed method in solving the LGDM problem is highlighted.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52074046,52122403,51834003,and 52274073)the Graduate Research and Innovation Foundation of Chongqing(CYB22023)+2 种基金the Chongqing Talents Plan for Young Talents(cstc2022ycjh-bgzxm0035)Hunan Institute of Engineering(21RC025 and XJ2005)Hunan Province Education Department(21B0664).
文摘Underground salt cavern CO_(2) storage(SCCS)offers the dual benefits of enabling extensive CO_(2) storage and facilitating the utilization of CO_(2) resources while contributing the regulation of the carbon market.Its economic and operational advantages over traditional carbon capture,utilization,and storage(CCUS)projects make SCCS a more cost-effective and flexible option.Despite the widespread use of salt caverns for storing various substances,differences exist between SCCS and traditional salt cavern energy storage in terms of gas-tightness,carbon injection,brine extraction control,long-term carbon storage stability,and site selection criteria.These distinctions stem from the unique phase change characteristics of CO_(2) and the application scenarios of SCCS.Therefore,targeted and forward-looking scientific research on SCCS is imperative.This paper introduces the implementation principles and application scenarios of SCCS,emphasizing its connections with carbon emissions,carbon utilization,and renewable energy peak shaving.It delves into the operational characteristics and economic advantages of SCCS compared with other CCUS methods,and addresses associated scientific challenges.In this paper,we establish a pressure equation for carbon injection and brine extraction,that considers the phase change characteristics of CO_(2),and we analyze the pressure during carbon injection.By comparing the viscosities of CO_(2) and other gases,SCCS’s excellent sealing performance is demonstrated.Building on this,we develop a long-term stability evaluation model and associated indices,which analyze the impact of the injection speed and minimum operating pressure on stability.Field countermeasures to ensure stability are proposed.Site selection criteria for SCCS are established,preliminary salt mine sites suitable for SCCS are identified in China,and an initial estimate of achievable carbon storage scale in China is made at over 51.8-77.7 million tons,utilizing only 20%-30%volume of abandoned salt caverns.This paper addresses key scientific and engineering challenges facing SCCS and determines crucial technical parameters,such as the operating pressure,burial depth,and storage scale,and it offers essential guidance for implementing SCCS projects in China.
基金This research is funded by 2021 Postgraduate Scientific Research Innovation Project of Hunan Province Key Project—Diagnosis and Evaluation of High School Students’Critical Thinking Quality in English(Project approval No.QL20210120)the 2022 Hunan Province General Higher Education Teaching Reform Research Project—Research on the Cultivation Path of English Learners’Critical Thinking Ability From the Perspective of Curriculum Ideology and Politics(Project Approval No.HNJG-2022-1299).
文摘With the reform of the New National College Entrance Examination(Gaokao),the nongraded education will become an inevitable trend.In senior high school,the traditional test-oriented education is popular.The knowledge is mainly taught by the teachers,and the students passively absorb it.This study examines a problem-oriented Socratic experiment in nongraded English teaching in senior high school.The teachers seek output from students,who respond by interpreting questions,fostering critical thinking,and enhancing problem-solving skills.This teaching experiment indicates that the Socratic method has a significant positive effect on cultivating nongraded senior high English students’critical thinking under the New National College Entrance Examination.
基金Supported partly by NSF of China(Grant No.11801163)NSF of Hunan Province(Grant Nos.2021JJ50032,2023JJ50164 and 2023JJ50165)Degree&Postgraduate Reform Project of Hunan University of Technology and Hunan Province(Grant Nos.JGYB23009 and 2024JGYB210).
文摘We introduce a factorized Smith method(FSM)for solving large-scale highranked T-Stein equations within the banded-plus-low-rank structure framework.To effectively reduce both computational complexity and storage requirements,we develop techniques including deflation and shift,partial truncation and compression,as well as redesign the residual computation and termination condition.Numerical examples demonstrate that the FSM outperforms the Smith method implemented with a hierarchical HODLR structured toolkit in terms of CPU time.
文摘Background A task assigned to space exploration satellites involves detecting the physical environment within a certain space.However,space detection data are complex and abstract.These data are not conducive for researchers'visual perceptions of the evolution and interaction of events in the space environment.Methods A time-series dynamic data sampling method for large-scale space was proposed for sample detection data in space and time,and the corresponding relationships between data location features and other attribute features were established.A tone-mapping method based on statistical histogram equalization was proposed and applied to the final attribute feature data.The visualization process is optimized for rendering by merging materials,reducing the number of patches,and performing other operations.Results The results of sampling,feature extraction,and uniform visualization of the detection data of complex types,long duration spans,and uneven spatial distributions were obtained.The real-time visualization of large-scale spatial structures using augmented reality devices,particularly low-performance devices,was also investigated.Conclusions The proposed visualization system can reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of a large-scale space,express the structure and changes in the spatial environment using augmented reality,and assist in intuitively discovering spatial environmental events and evolutionary rules.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(82274265 and 82274588)Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Unveiled Marshal Programs(2022XJJB003).
文摘Eye diagnosis is a method for inspecting systemic diseases and syndromes by observing the eyes.With the development of intelligent diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM);artificial intelligence(AI)can improve the accuracy and efficiency of eye diagnosis.However;the research on intelligent eye diagnosis still faces many challenges;including the lack of standardized and precisely labeled data;multi-modal information analysis;and artificial in-telligence models for syndrome differentiation.The widespread application of AI models in medicine provides new insights and opportunities for the research of eye diagnosis intelli-gence.This study elaborates on the three key technologies of AI models in the intelligent ap-plication of TCM eye diagnosis;and explores the implications for the research of eye diagno-sis intelligence.First;a database concerning eye diagnosis was established based on self-su-pervised learning so as to solve the issues related to the lack of standardized and precisely la-beled data.Next;the cross-modal understanding and generation of deep neural network models to address the problem of lacking multi-modal information analysis.Last;the build-ing of data-driven models for eye diagnosis to tackle the issue of the absence of syndrome dif-ferentiation models.In summary;research on intelligent eye diagnosis has great potential to be applied the surge of AI model applications.
基金Financial support for this work was provided by the Youth Fund Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 42002292)the General Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 42377175)the General Program of the Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation, China (No. 2023AFB631)
文摘The deformation and fracture evolution mechanisms of the strata overlying mines mined using sublevel caving were studied via numerical simulations.Moreover,an expression for the normal force acting on the side face of a steeply dipping superimposed cantilever beam in the surrounding rock was deduced based on limit equilibrium theory.The results show the following:(1)surface displacement above metal mines with steeply dipping discontinuities shows significant step characteristics,and(2)the behavior of the strata as they fail exhibits superimposition characteristics.Generally,failure first occurs in certain superimposed strata slightly far from the goaf.Subsequently,with the constant downward excavation of the orebody,the superimposed strata become damaged both upwards away from and downwards toward the goaf.This process continues until the deep part of the steeply dipping superimposed strata forms a large-scale deep fracture plane that connects with the goaf.The deep fracture plane generally makes an angle of 12°-20°with the normal to the steeply dipping discontinuities.The effect of the constant outward transfer of strata movement due to the constant outward failure of the superimposed strata in the metal mines with steeply dipping discontinuities causes the scope of the strata movement in these mines to be larger than expected.The strata in the metal mines with steeply dipping discontinuities mainly show flexural toppling failure.However,the steeply dipping structural strata near the goaf mainly exhibit shear slipping failure,in which case the mechanical model used to describe them can be simplified by treating them as steeply dipping superimposed cantilever beams.By taking the steeply dipping superimposed cantilever beam that first experiences failure as the key stratum,the failure scope of the strata(and criteria for the stability of metal mines with steeply dipping discontinuities mined using sublevel caving)can be obtained via iterative computations from the key stratum,moving downward toward and upwards away from the goaf.
文摘Introduction: Radiology and medical imaging examinations bring together the means of acquiring and restoring images of the human body from different physical phenomena such as the absorption of X-rays, nuclear magnetic resonance, reflection of ultrasound waves or radioactivity, with which we sometimes associate optical imaging techniques such as endoscopy. The objective of our study was to study the profile of radiological examinations in the radiology and medical imaging department of the “KALALE” medical clinic. Methodology: This was a descriptive, prospective study that took place over a period of six (6) months in the radiology and medical imaging department of the “KALALE” medical clinic and the centers of health of communes III and IV of Bamako in Mali. Data collection was carried out on a survey form. The parameters studied were sociodemographic data, clinical data, radiological data. Results: We recorded 6030 radiology examinations of which 19% of the examination frequency cases came from the “KALALE” medical clinic and 81% of the cases were referrals from the reference health centers of communes III and IV. There were 1500 X-rays or 24.9% of cases including 54% cases of bone X-rays;5% of cases of skull and face X-rays;5% of cases of Intravenous Urography (IVU);4% of cases of Hysterosalpingography (HSG);3% of cases of Retrograde Ureterocystography (UCR) and 1% of cases of X-ray of the Abdomen without preparation (ASP). We found 4530 ultrasounds or 75.1% of cases. Conclusion: Medical imaging has become essential in the study of the human body and now constitutes an essential tool for the detection and treatment of most pathologies, from simple fractures to the most serious tumors.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52278407 and 52378407)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2023M732670)the support by the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation.
文摘The widespread utilisation of tunnel boring machines(TBMs)in underground construction engineering requires a detailed investigation of the cutter-rock interaction.In this paper,we conduct a series of largescale standing rotary cutting tests on granite in conjunction with high-fidelity numerical simulations based on a particle-type discrete element method(DEM)to explore the effects of key cutting parameters on the TBM cutter performance and the distribution of cutter-rock contact stresses.The assessment results of cutter performance obtained from the cutting tests and numerical simulations reveal similar dependencies on the key cutting parameters.More specifically,the normal and rolling forces exhibit a positive correlation with penetration but are slightly influenced by the cutting radius.In contrast,the side force decreases as the cutting radius increases.Additionally,the side force shows a positive relationship with the penetration for smaller cutting radii but tends to become negative as the cutting radius increases.The cutter's relative effectiveness in rock breaking is significantly impacted by the penetration but shows little dependency on the cutting radius.Consequently,an optimal penetration is identified,leading to a low boreability index and specific energy.A combined Hertz-Weibull function is developed to fit the cutter-rock contact stress distribution obtained in DEM simulations,whereby an improved CSM(Colorado School of Mines)model is proposed by replacing the original monotonic cutting force distribution with this combined Hertz-Weibull model.The proposed model outperforms the original CSM model as demonstrated by a comparison of the estimated cutting forces with those from the tests/simulations.The findings from this work that advance our understanding of TBM cutter performance have important implications for improving the efficiency and reliability of TBM tunnelling in granite.
文摘Currently, most public higher learning institutions in Tanzania rely on traditional in-class examinations, requiring students to register and present identification documents for examinations eligibility verification. This system, however, is prone to impersonations due to security vulnerabilities in current students’ verification system. These vulnerabilities include weak authentication, lack of encryption, and inadequate anti-counterfeiting measures. Additionally, advanced printing technologies and online marketplaces which claim to produce convincing fake identification documents make it easy to create convincing fake identity documents. The Improved Mechanism for Detecting Impersonations (IMDIs) system detects impersonations in in-class exams by integrating QR codes and dynamic question generation based on student profiles. It consists of a mobile verification app, built with Flutter and communicating via RESTful APIs, and a web system, developed with Laravel using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The two components communicate through APIs, with MySQL managing the database. The mobile app and web server interact to ensure efficient verification and security during examinations. The implemented IMDIs system was validated by a mobile application which is integrated with a QR codes scanner for capturing codes embedded in student Identity Cards and linking them to a dynamic question generation model. The QG model uses natural language processing (NLP) algorithm and Question Generation (QG) techniques to create dynamic profile questions. Results show that the IMDIs system could generate four challenging profile-based questions within two seconds, allowing the verification of 200 students in 33 minutes by one operator. The IMDIs system also tracks exam-eligible students, aiding in exam attendance and integrates with a Short Message Service (SMS) to report impersonation incidents to a dedicated security officer in real-time. The IMDIs system was tested and found to be 98% secure, 100% convenient, with a 0% false rejection rate and a 2% false acceptance rate, demonstrating its security, reliability, and high performance.