DNBP-CCA:A Novel Approach to Enhancing Heterogeneous Data Traffic and Reliable Data Transmission for Body Area Network

The increased adoption of Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) technologies has resulted in the widespread use ofBody Area Networks (BANs) in medical and non-medical domains. However, the performance of IEEE 802.15.4-based BANs is impacted by challenges related to heterogeneous data traffic requirements among nodes, includingcontention during finite backoff periods, association delays, and traffic channel access through clear channelassessment (CCA) algorithms. These challenges lead to increased packet collisions, queuing delays, retransmissions,and the neglect of critical traffic, thereby hindering performance indicators such as throughput, packet deliveryratio, packet drop rate, and packet delay. Therefore, we propose Dynamic Next Backoff Period and Clear ChannelAssessment (DNBP-CCA) schemes to address these issues. The DNBP-CCA schemes leverage a combination ofthe Dynamic Next Backoff Period (DNBP) scheme and the Dynamic Next Clear Channel Assessment (DNCCA)scheme. The DNBP scheme employs a fuzzy Takagi, Sugeno, and Kang (TSK) model’s inference system toquantitatively analyze backoff exponent, channel clearance, collision ratio, and data rate as input parameters. Onthe other hand, the DNCCA scheme dynamically adapts the CCA process based on requested data transmission tothe coordinator, considering input parameters such as buffer status ratio and acknowledgement ratio. As a result,simulations demonstrate that our proposed schemes are better than some existing representative approaches andenhance data transmission, reduce node collisions, improve average throughput, and packet delivery ratio, anddecrease average packet drop rate and packet delay.

Achieve Intended Learning Outcomes and Improving Digital Literacy Skills for Practical-Based Subjects Using Online Teaching via Propagation of OER Materials

As professors are subjected to teaching their classes online due to the recent COVID-19, our local Hong Kong students find it difficult to consult their teachers, and ultimately would fail to achieve the intended learning outcomes, especially for practical-based subjects. In this research, students having online classes of a practical-based fabric design subject were encouraged to self-study from Open Educational Resource (OER) materials for a further and better understanding of their subject. Additionally, online materials were developed to improve students’ understanding via skill of digital literacy. Their learning progress was evaluated and compared to the face-to-face version. The majority of students found online classes combined with self-studying OER materials, potentially be a substitute for face-to-face classes. Most of the students further opined different OER videos assisted them without any face-to-face instructions in practical works, to develop new fabric samples from the inspiration. Analysis of test results, and comparison of students’ final grades with different learning modes, supported these phenomena.

The Influence of Extreme Climate Events on Models of Coral Colony Recruitment and Survival in the Caribbean

Knowledge of coral recruitment patterns helps us understand how reefs react following major disturbances and provides us with an early warning system for predicting future reef health problems. We have reconstructed and interpreted historical and modern-day recruitment patterns, using growth modeling, in order to understand how hurricanes, storms and bleaching events have influenced coral recruitment in the Caribbean. The results indicate that regional hurricane events negatively impact coral recruitment patterns in the Caribbean, from the south in Tobago to more northerly areas in Belize and Jamaica. However, despite multiple large-scale disturbances, corals are still recruiting to marginal reef systems, and to the Mesoamerican Barrier reef off the coast of Belize. While recruitment and initial growth since the Caribbean-wide bleaching event of 2005 has been successful for Colpophylia natans at the sites studied in North Jamaica, medium and large sized colonies of this species have decreased in numbers since the bleaching event at most sites, except where the rugosity is highest, at Dairy Bull reef.

Contact High-Temperature Strain Automatic Calibration and Precision Compensation Research

Automated control and calibration are important components in industrial process and in artificial intelligence system and robotics.In order to solve the problem of contact high-temperature strain precision measurement,this paper established an automatic calibration device for high-temperature strain gauges.The temperature of the high-temperature furnace is automatically controlled by the temperature control device.The electric cylinder is driven by the servo motor to apply the load to the calibration beam.The output signal of the high-temperature strain gauge,the thermocouple signal,and the displacement signal of the grating ruler are collected at the same time.The deformation measurement results obtained after temperature correction are used to calculate the theoretical mechanical strain,which are fed back to control the loading action to complete the automatic calibration process.Based on the above calibration device,the hightemperature strain measurement accuracy correction software is developed to calibrate the high-temperature strain gauge with multiparameters,and the curves of sensitivity coefficient,thermal output,zero drift,and creep characteristics with temperature are obtained,and a strain measurement accuracy compensation model is established.The high-temperature strain measurement experiment is carried out to verify that the modified model can meet the requirements in each temperature range.

Coral Reef Populations in the Caribbean: Is There a Case for Better Protection against Climate Change?

Knowledge of factors that are important in coral reef growth help us to understand how reef ecosystems react following major environmental disturbances due to climate change and other anthropogenic effects. This study shows that despite a range of anthropogenic stressors, corals on the fringing reefs south of Kingston harbour, as well as corals on fringing reefs on the north coast of Jamaica near Discovery Bay can survive and grow. Skewness values for Sidastrea siderea and Porites astreoides were positive (0.85 -?1.64) for all sites, implying more small colonies than large colonies. Coral growth rates are part of a demographic approach to monitoring coral reef health in times of climate change, and linear extension rates (mm.yr-1) of Acropora palmata branching corals at Dairy Bull, Rio Bueno, and Pear Tree Bottom on the north coast of Jamaica were c. 50 -?90 mm.year-1 from 2005-2012. The range of small-scale rugosities at the Port Royal cay sites studied was lower than that at the Discovery Bay sites;for example Rio Bueno was 1.05 ± 0.15 and Dairy Bull the most rugose at 2.3 ± 0.16. Diary Bull reef has for several years been the fringing reef with the most coral cover, with a benthic community similar to that of the 1970s. We discuss whether Jamaica can learn from methods used in other Caribbean countries to better protect its coral reefs against climate change. Establishing and maintaining fully-protected marine parks in Jamaica and elsewhere in the Caribbean is one tool to help the future of the fishing industry in developing countries. Developing MPAs as part of an overall climate change policy for a country may be the best way of integrating climate change into MPA planning, management, and evaluation.

Association between Self-Rated Health and Depressive Symptoms in Rural Chinese Adults:A Cohort Study Based on Propensity Score Matching

Health status is widely regarded as a correlate of depressive symptoms.However,health assessments based on clinical diagnosis in rural areas with poor medical conditions are very limited.Self-rated health(SRH)serves as a simple and convenient evaluation indicator,which may be used as an independent predictor of depressive symptoms.To confirm the relationship between SRH and depressive symptoms in rural adults,a longitudinal survey of rural households in China was conducted using the China Family Panel Studies(CFPS)from 2012 to 2016.Propensity score matching and logistic regression analysis were used to explore the association.After data cleansing,3,127 pairs(6,254 participants)aged 16 and older followed for 4 years were enrolled,of which the average age was(50.02±14.19)years old,and the proportions of male and female were 48.64%and 51.36%,respectively.The incidence rate of depressive symptoms within 4 years was 30.86%(95%CI:29.24–32.48)in the group with fair or poor SRH,and 21.59%(95%CI:20.14–23.03)in the group with good SRH.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(χ^(2)=69.51,P<0.001).The results of univariate unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that there was a correlation between SRH and depressive symptoms in rural adults aged 30 and above(OR=1.65,95%CI:1.46–1.85,P<0.001).Thus,a simple and practical assessment tool based on SRH and other indicators should be established for early prevention and intervention in rural primary mental health care.

Corrigendum to“Bi-continuous Mg-Ti interpenetrating-phase composite as a partially degradable and bioactive implant material”[Journal of Materials Science&Technology 146(2023)211-220]

The authors are very sorry for their carelessness that there are some problems with Fig.3 in the original manuscript.

Robustness optimization for rapid prototyping of functional artifacts based on visualized computing digital twins

This study presents a robustness optimization method for rapid prototyping(RP)of functional artifacts based on visualized computing digital twins(VCDT).A generalized multiobjective robustness optimization model for RP of scheme design prototype was first built,where thermal,structural,and multidisciplinary knowledge could be integrated for visualization.To implement visualized computing,the membership function of fuzzy decision-making was optimized using a genetic algorithm.Transient thermodynamic,structural statics,and flow field analyses were conducted,especially for glass fiber composite materials,which have the characteristics of high strength,corrosion resistance,temperature resistance,dimensional stability,and electrical insulation.An electrothermal experiment was performed by measuring the temperature and changes in temperature during RP.Infrared thermographs were obtained using thermal field measurements to determine the temperature distribution.A numerical analysis of a lightweight ribbed ergonomic artifact is presented to illustrate the VCDT.Moreover,manufacturability was verified based on a thermal-solid coupled finite element analysis.The physical experiment and practice proved that the proposed VCDT provided a robust design paradigm for a layered RP between the steady balance of electrothermal regulation and manufacturing efficacy under hybrid uncertainties.

Establishment of green graphite industry:Graphite from biomass and its various applications

Resource-and energy-efficient biomass exploitation for green graphite production is one of the most effective strategies for satisfying graphite demand while minimizing energy consumption and carbon emissions.This study investigated green graphite production from biomass waste and its applications to establish a green graphite industry.Biomass pyrolysis and catalytic graphitization of biochar were studied first to produce green graphite.The optimized green graphite exhibited a reversible capacity of 264 mA h/g and 97%capacity retention over 100 cycles in a half-cell.Green graphite electrodes with a resistivity lower than 5μΩm were fabricated by using organic fraction bio-oil as a green binder.Other green graphite applications,including printing,conductive printing,pencils,and refractories,were also achieved.The overall process of graphite anode and electrode synthesis from biomass waste and short-rotation energy crops was modeled.Approx.95 kg of battery graphite or 109 kg of metallurgical graphite electrodes can be produced per ton of biomass with low primary energy consumption and carbon footprint.Prominently,the modeling result and life cycle assessment demonstrated that,for the production of battery graphite from biomass waste,net-negative-CO_(2)emissions(−0.57 kg CO_(2)-eq/kg graphite powders)with net-negative-primary energy consumption(−28.31 MJ/kg graphite powders)was achieved.

Bi-continuous Mg-Ti interpenetrating-phase composite as a partially degradable and bioactive implant material

Mg(and Mg alloys)and Ti(and Ti alloys)are two important classes of metallic implant materials which are respectively completely degradable and non-degradable after implantation.Making composites composed of them offers the promise for combining their property advantages for bone repair.Here,we present a Mg-Ti composite fabricated by pressureless infiltration of pure Mg melt into 3D printed Ti scaffold,and demonstrate a potential of the composite for use as new partially degradable and bioactive implant materials.The composite has such architecture that the Mg and Ti phases are topologically bicontinuous and mutually interspersed in 3D space,and exhibits several advantages over its constituents,such as higher strengths than as-cast pure Mg and Ti scaffold along with lower Young’s modulus than dense Ti.Additionally,the degradation of Mg phase may induce the formation and ingrowth of new bone tissues into the Ti scaffold to form mechanical interlocking between them;in this process,the Ti scaffold provides constant support and Young’s modulus adaptively decreases toward that of bone.Despite the accelerated corrosion than pure Mg,the composite remains non-cytotoxic and does not cause obvious adverse reactions after implantation as revealed by in vitro and in vivo experiments.This study may offer a new possibility for combining mechanical durability and bioactivity in implant materials,and allow for customized and targeted design of the implant.

Experimental study on NO_x emission correlation of fuel staged combustion in a LPP combustor at high pressure based on NO-chemiluminescence

Experimental investigations on NOx emissions of a single-cup,Lean Premixed Prevaporized(LPP),module combustor were carried out at elevated inlet temperature and pressure up to810 K and 2.0 MPa,close to the real operating conditions of aero-engine combustors.This LPP combustor adopts centrally staged fuel injections which could produce separated stratified swirling spray flame.In the NOx emissions measurements,the ranges of dome equivalence ratio and fuel stage ratio were from 0.55 to 0.58 and 8%to 24%,respectively.The optical diagnosis on separated stratified swirling spray flame were carried out with fuel stage ratio changing from 15%to 30%.Therefore,NO*and OH*chemiluminescence images were obtained.The results show that NOx emissions increase with the increase of the fuel stage ratio.And from the chemiluminescence images,the main flame and pilot flame are found weakly coupled.The pilot flame plays a significant role in NOx emission production because of its higher adiabatic flame temperature.Based on the results of chemiluminescence optical tests,a new NOx emission prediction model is proposed based on the Lefebvre’s single flame model The estimate of local equivalence ratio of the pilot stage’s nonpremixed flame is modified considering the characteristics of spray combustion,and a"PLUS"emission prediction model suitable for separated stratified swirling spray flame is obtained.Compared to the experimental data,the"PLUS"model exhibits a good prediction in a range of±13%of deviation.

Computational Biology Approaches to Plant Metabolism and Photosynthesis:Applications for Corals in Times of Climate Change and Environmental Stress

Knowledge of factors that are important in reef resilience helps us to understand how reef ecosystems react following major anthropogenic and environmental disturbances. The symbiotic relationship between the photosynthetic zooxanthellae algal cells and corals is that the zooxanthellae provide the coral with carbon, while the coral provides protection and access to enough light for the zooxanthellae to photosynthesise. This article reviews some recent advances in computational biology relevant to photosynthetic organisms, including Beyesian approaches to kinetics, computational methods for flux balances in metabolic processes, and determination of clades of zooxanthallae. Application of these systems will be important in the conservation of coral reefs in times of climate change and environmental stress.

Amur tiger conservation education program:A pilot study on program effectiveness

Anthropogenic impacts are the primary threats to Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica)and their habitat.Villagers living in proximity to tigers tend to view them negatively and,often,as a source of revenue on black markets.We aim to reduce human–tiger conflict by working with young students of Ternei County in the heart of tiger habitat in Primorskii Krai(Province).To inform and influence Ternei County’s future decision-makers,we developed“Safe Conduct”,a year-long education program held in 6 villages,culminating in a multi-school conference.We tested the efficacy of Safe Conduct as a potential model for tiger conservation educational programs.We measured levels of student knowledge about tiger ecology,their attitude towards tigers,and their willingness to engage in tiger conservation activites prior to,immediately after and 6 months following the completion of our program.Results supported the fundamental premise of Safe Conduct that knowledge and attitude towards tigers are correlated.Knowledge of tiger ecology and attitude towards tigers increased by the project’s completion;both remained high after 6 months.However,commitment to participation in conservation efforts rose temporarily post-program and then dropped.Results varied by village.We recommend that the reasons for the high performance measures of students in 2 villages be investigated,and that lessons learned be applied to villages that underperformed.Safe Conduct represents a potential model for environmental education programs in Ternei County and elsewhere to educate future generations,to eventually develop a strong commitment to Amur tiger conservation at the community level.

社会交互设计和分享体验

文章讨论了在社交情况下,人们如何通过交互行为和产品获得体验的例子。文章尝试通过引用和举例来解释潜在的设计价值,通过带有连接性的产品系统,在社会交互的情况下存在通讯过程。这样的设计方式对后人分享经验也是很重要的。黎晓现在正在英国创意艺术大学攻读硕士课程,并专注于为社会交互做设计研究。Richard Appleby是一个经验丰富的工业设计师,他在荷兰埃因霍温理工大学和英国创意艺术大学有数年开发交互设计研究工作经验。

Cultural interactions among diverse ethnic groups in a frontier region of a mainstream culture:A case study of Thai Korat,Laotian,and Tai Yuan vernacular houses in the central Lamtakong watershed,Nakhon Ratchasima

This study aims to study the conditions for the architectural form of vernacular houses of Thai Korat,Laotian,and Tai Yuan ethnic groups living in the central Lamtakong watershed.Nineteen stilt houses with the age of fifty-three to one hundred years were incorporated in the case study.Data were meticulously gathered through methods such as observation,photography,surveying,architectural drawing,three-dimensional modeling,and interviews.The analysis,conducted within the frameworks of ethnic identity and cultural diffusion,involved morphological and comparative assessments.The findings showed that the houses in the present case study could maintain their ethnic identities as can be clearly seen in the space planning and the shapes of the houses passed down from generation to generation.In addition,there was cultural acceptance among these ethnic groups through exchanging,adopting,and borrowing house construction techniques,in order to express the common traits in the larger social context in a friendly and smoother way.This phenomenon indicates that the co-existence in a multicultural society is the key that makes different ethnic groups be able to maintain their ethnic identity and live with the larger society in a friendly way.Hence,the cultural significance of stilt vernacular houses in the study area is embedded in the dynamic process of exchanging house construction techniques,fostering harmony within the broader social context.This preservation simultaneously safeguards the essential elements and key attributes of ethnic identity in architecture.

On Realization of Intelligent Decision Making in the Real World:A Foundation Decision Model Perspective

The pervasive uncertainty and dynamic nature of real-world environments present significant challenges for the widespread implementation of machine-driven Intelligent Decision-Making(IDM)systems.Consequently,IDM should possess the ability to continuously acquire new skills and effectively generalize across a broad range of applications.The advancement of Artificial General Intelligence(AGI)that transcends task and application boundaries is critical for enhancing IDM.Recent studies have extensively investigated the Transformer neural architecture as a foundational model for various tasks,including computer vision,natural language processing,and reinforcement learning.We propose that a Foundation Decision Model(FDM)can be developed by formulating diverse decision-making tasks as sequence decoding tasks using the Transformer architecture,offering a promising solution for expanding IDM applications in complex real-world situations.In this paper,we discuss the efficiency and generalization improvements offered by a foundation decision model for IDM and explore its potential applications in multi-agent game AI,production scheduling,and robotics tasks.Lastly,we present a case study demonstrating our FDM implementation,DigitalBrain(DB1)with 1.3 billion parameters,achieving human-level performance in 870 tasks,such as text generation,image captioning,video game playing,robotic control,and traveling salesman problems.As a foundation decision model,DB1 represents an initial step toward more autonomous and efficient real-world IDM applications.