Home-based Detection and Prediction of Diabetic Foot Ulcers at Early Stage Using Sensor Technology and Supervised Learning

For years,foot ulcers linked with diabetes mellitus and neuropathy have significantly impacted diabetic patients’ health-related quality of life(HRQoL). Diabetes foot ulcers impact15% of all diabetic patients at some point in their lives. The facilities and resources used for DFU detection and treatment are only available at hospitals and clinics,which results in the unavailability of feasible and timely detection at an early stage. This necessitates the development of an at-home DFU detection system that enables timely predictions and seamless communication with users,thereby preventing amputations due to neglect and severity. This paper proposes a feasible system consisting of three major modules:an IoT device that works to sense foot nodes to send vibrations onto a foot sole,a machine learning model based on supervised learning which predicts the level of severity of the DFU using four different classification techniques including XGBoost,K-SVM,Random Forest,and Decision tree,and a mobile application that acts as an interface between the sensors and the patient. Based on the severity levels,necessary steps for prevention,treatment,and medications are recommended via the application.

A review on current development of thermophotovoltaic technology in heat recovery

The burning of fossil fuels in industry results in significant carbon emissions,and the heat generated is often not fully utilized.For high-temperature industries,thermophotovoltaics(TPVs)is an effective method for waste heat recovery.This review covers two aspects of high-efficiency TPV systems and industrial waste heat applications.At the system level,representative results of TPV complete the systems,while selective emitters and photovoltaic cells in the last decade are compiled.The key points of components to improve the energy conversion efficiency are further analyzed,and the related micro/nano-fabrication methods are introduced.At the application level,the feasibility of TPV applications in high-temperature industries is shown from the world waste heat utilization situation.The potential of TPV in waste heat recovery and carbon neutrality is illustrated with the steel industry as an example.

Exploring the combination of biochar‐amended soil and automated irrigation technology for water regulation and preservation in green infrastructure

Biochar is a carbon sink material with the potential to improve water retention in various soils.However,for the long‐term maintenance of green infrastructure,there is an additional need to regulate the water contents in the covers to maintain vegetation growth in semiarid conditions.In this study,biochar‐amended soil was combined with subsurface drip irrigation,and the water preservation characteristics of this treatment were investigated through a series of one‐dimensional soil column tests.To ascertain the best treatment method specific to semiarid climatic conditions,the test soil was amended with 0%,1%,3%,and 5%biochar.Automatic irrigation devices equipped with soil moisture sensors were used to control the subsurface water content with the aim of enhancing vegetation growth.Each soil column test lasted 150 h,during which the volumetric water contents and soil suction data were recorded.The experimental results reveal that the soil specimen amended with 3%biochar is the most water‐saving regardless of the time cost.Soil with a higher biochar content(e.g.,5%)consumes a more significant amount of water due to the enhancement of the water‐holding capacity.Based on the experimental results,it can be concluded that the appropriate ratio can be determined within 1%–3%,which can reduce not only the amount of irrigated/used water but also the time cost.Such technology can be explored for water content regulation in green infrastructure and the development of barriers for protecting the environment around deep underground waste containment.

Energy-Efficient Implementation of BCD to Excess-3 Code Converter for Nano-Communication Using QCA Technology

Code converters are essential in digital nano communication;therefore,a low-complexity optimal QCA layout for a BCD to Excess-3 code converter has been proposed in this paper.A QCA clockphase-based design technique was adopted to investigate integration with other complicated circuits.Using a unique XOR gate,the recommended circuit’s cell complexity has been decreased.The findings produced using the QCADesigner-2.0.3,a reliable simulation tool,prove the effectiveness of the current structure over earlier designs by considering the number of cells deployed,the area occupied,and the latency as design metrics.In addition,the popular tool QCAPro was used to estimate the energy dissipation of the proposed design.The proposed technique reduces the occupied space by∼40%,improves cell complexity by∼20%,and reduces energy dissipation by∼1.8 times(atγ=1.5EK)compared to the current scalable designs.This paper also studied the suggested structure’s energy dissipation and compared it to existing works for a better performance evaluation.

An SPH Framework for Earthquake-Induced Liquefaction Hazard Assessment of Geotechnical Structures

Earthquake-induced soil liquefaction poses significant risks to the stability of geotechnical structures worldwide.An understanding of the liquefaction triggering,and the post-failure large deformation behaviour is essential for designing resilient infrastructure.The present study develops a Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics(SPH)framework for earthquake-induced liquefaction hazard assessment of geotechnical structures.The coupled flowdeformation behaviour of soils subjected to cyclic loading is described using the PM4Sand model implemented in a three-phase,single-layer SPH framework.A staggered discretisation scheme based on the stress particle SPH approach is adopted to minimise numerical inaccuracies caused by zero-energy modes and tensile instability.Further,non-reflecting boundary conditions for seismic analysis of semi-infinite soil domains using the SPH method are proposed.The numerical framework is employed for the analysis of cyclic direct simple shear test,seismic analysis of a level ground site,and liquefaction-induced failure of the Lower San Fernando Dam.Satisfactory agreement for liquefaction triggering and post-failure behaviour demonstrates that the SPH framework can be utilised to assess the effect of seismic loading on field-scale geotechnical structures.The present study also serves as the basis for future advancements of the SPH method for applications related to earthquake geotechnical engineering.

Semantic Segmentation of Lumbar Vertebrae Using Meijering U-Net(MU-Net)on Spine Magnetic Resonance Images

Lower back pain is one of the most common medical problems in the world and it is experienced by a huge percentage of people everywhere.Due to its ability to produce a detailed view of the soft tissues,including the spinal cord,nerves,intervertebral discs,and vertebrae,Magnetic Resonance Imaging is thought to be the most effective method for imaging the spine.The semantic segmentation of vertebrae plays a major role in the diagnostic process of lumbar diseases.It is difficult to semantically partition the vertebrae in Magnetic Resonance Images from the surrounding variety of tissues,including muscles,ligaments,and intervertebral discs.U-Net is a powerful deep-learning architecture to handle the challenges of medical image analysis tasks and achieves high segmentation accuracy.This work proposes a modified U-Net architecture namely MU-Net,consisting of the Meijering convolutional layer that incorporates the Meijering filter to perform the semantic segmentation of lumbar vertebrae L1 to L5 and sacral vertebra S1.Pseudo-colour mask images were generated and used as ground truth for training the model.The work has been carried out on 1312 images expanded from T1-weighted mid-sagittal MRI images of 515 patients in the Lumbar Spine MRI Dataset publicly available from Mendeley Data.The proposed MU-Net model for the semantic segmentation of the lumbar vertebrae gives better performance with 98.79%of pixel accuracy(PA),98.66%of dice similarity coefficient(DSC),97.36%of Jaccard coefficient,and 92.55%mean Intersection over Union(mean IoU)metrics using the mentioned dataset.

Integration of Electrical Properties and Polarization Loss Modulation on Atomic Fe–N‑RGO for Boosting Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Developing effective strategies to regulate graphene’s conduction loss and polarization has become a key to expanding its application in the electromagnetic wave absorption(EMWA)field.Based on the unique energy band structure of graphene,regulating its bandgap and electrical properties by introducing heteroatoms is considered a feasible solution.Herein,metal-nitrogen doping reduced graphene oxide(M–N-RGO)was prepared by embedding a series of single metal atoms M–N_(4) sites(M=Mn,Fe,Co,Ni,Cu,Zn,Nb,Cd,and Sn)in RGO using an N-coordination atom-assisted strategy.These composites had adjustable conductivity and polarization to optimize dielectric loss and impedance matching for efficient EMWA performance.The results showed that the minimum reflection loss(RL_(min))of Fe–N-RGO reaches−74.05 dB(2.0 mm)and the maximum effective absorption bandwidth(EAB_(max))is 7.05 GHz(1.89 mm)even with a low filler loading of only 1 wt%.Combined with X-ray absorption spectra(XAFS),atomic force microscopy,and density functional theory calculation analysis,the Fe–N_(4) can be used as the polarization center to increase dipole polarization,interface polarization and defect-induced polarization due to d-p orbital hybridization and structural distortion.Moreover,electron migration within the Fe further leads to conduction loss,thereby synergistically promoting energy attenuation.This study demonstrates the effectiveness of metal-nitrogen doping in regulating the graphene′s dielectric properties,which provides an important basis for further investigation of the loss mechanism.

Research on the Design of Innovative Play Blind Box Based on AR Digital Technology Empowering Traditional Intangible Cultural Heritage

The development of science and technology,especially the rise of augmented reality(AR)technology provides a new way for the inheritance and innovation of traditional intangible cultural heritage.Based on the design and research of the tide play blind box of AR digital technology empowering traditional intangible cultural heritage,this paper discusses the application and feasibility of AR technology in the traditional intangible cultural heritage,analyzes the strategy of implementing AR technology empowering intangible cultural heritage,and puts forward corresponding countermeasures for the challenges that may be faced,aiming at providing new ideas and methods for traditional intangible cultural heritage and modern science and technology.

Unleashing the Potential of Electroactive Hybrid Biomaterials and Self‑Powered Systems for Bone Therapeutics

The incidence of large bone defects caused by traumatic injury is increasing worldwide,and the tissue regeneration process requires a long recovery time due to limited self-healing capability.Endogenous bioelectrical phenomena have been well recognized as critical biophysical factors in bone remodeling and regeneration.Inspired by bioelectricity,electrical stimulation has been widely considered an external intervention to induce the osteogenic lineage of cells and enhance the synthesis of the extracellular matrix,thereby accelerating bone regeneration.With ongoing advances in biomaterials and energy-harvesting techniques,electroactive biomaterials and self-powered systems have been considered biomimetic approaches to ensure functional recovery by recapitulating the natural electrophysiological microenvironment of healthy bone tissue.In this review,we first introduce the role of bioelectricity and the endogenous electric field in bone tissue and summarize different techniques to electrically stimulate cells and tissue.Next,we highlight the latest progress in exploring electroactive hybrid biomaterials as well as self-powered systems such as triboelectric and piezoelectric-based nanogenerators and photovoltaic cell-based devices and their implementation in bone tissue engineering.Finally,we emphasize the significance of simulating the target tissue’s electrophysiological microenvironment and propose the opportunities and challenges faced by electroactive hybrid biomaterials and self-powered bioelectronics for bone repair strategies.

Research and Analysis of Grammatical Error Correction Technology for Chinese Documents

With the widespread use of Chinese globally, the number of Chinese learners has been increasing, leading to various grammatical errors among beginners. Additionally, as domestic efforts to develop industrial information grow, electronic documents have also proliferated. When dealing with numerous electronic documents and texts written by Chinese beginners, manually written texts often contain hidden grammatical errors, posing a significant challenge to traditional manual proofreading. Correcting these grammatical errors is crucial to ensure fluency and readability. However, certain special types of text grammar or logical errors can have a huge impact, and manually proofreading a large number of texts individually is clearly impractical. Consequently, research on text error correction techniques has garnered significant attention in recent years. The advent and advancement of deep learning have paved the way for sequence-to-sequence learning methods to be extensively applied to the task of text error correction. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of Chinese text grammar error correction technology, elaborates on its current research status, discusses existing problems, proposes preliminary solutions, and conducts experiments using judicial documents as an example. The aim is to provide a feasible research approach for Chinese text error correction technology.

Data-Driven Healthcare:The Role of Computational Methods in Medical Innovation

The purpose of this review is to explore the intersection of computational engineering and biomedical science,highlighting the transformative potential this convergence holds for innovation in healthcare and medical research.The review covers key topics such as computational modelling,bioinformatics,machine learning in medical diagnostics,and the integration of wearable technology for real-time health monitoring.Major findings indicate that computational models have significantly enhanced the understanding of complex biological systems,while machine learning algorithms have improved the accuracy of disease prediction and diagnosis.The synergy between bioinformatics and computational techniques has led to breakthroughs in personalized medicine,enabling more precise treatment strategies.Additionally,the integration of wearable devices with advanced computational methods has opened new avenues for continuous health monitoring and early disease detection.The review emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to further advance this field.Future research should focus on developing more robust and scalable computational models,enhancing data integration techniques,and addressing ethical considerations related to data privacy and security.By fostering innovation at the intersection of these disciplines,the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery and outcomes becomes increasingly attainable.

Research and Application of Recycled Concrete Technology in Prefabricated Buildings

The utilization of waste concrete as a raw material for recycled concrete in the domain of prefabricated components is garnering greater interest.This paper delineates and examines the concept,categorization,methodologies of preparation,applicable sectors,and evaluative metrics of recycled concrete technology,highlighting its prospective benefits.Nonetheless,for the successful integration of recycled concrete technology into prefabricated component applications,it is imperative to systematically enhance its physical,mechanical,and attributes,as well as its environmental efficacy.Moreover,to foster the continued advancement of recycled concrete technology,innovative initiatives,standardization,educational programs,demonstration projects,and collaborative efforts are crucial to promote broader adoption and realize improved outcomes within the realm of prefabricated components.In conclusion,recycled concrete technology is poised to play a pivotal role in prefabricated construction,offering robust support for propelling the construction industry towards a sustainable future.

3D Printing of Tough Hydrogel Scaffolds with Functional Surface Structures for Tissue Regeneration

Hydrogel scaffolds have numerous potential applications in the tissue engineering field.However,tough hydrogel scaffolds implanted in vivo are seldom reported because it is difficult to balance biocompatibility and high mechanical properties.Inspired by Chinese ramen,we propose a universal fabricating method(printing-P,training-T,cross-linking-C,PTC&PCT)for tough hydrogel scaffolds to fill this gap.First,3D printing fabricates a hydrogel scaffold with desired structures(P).Then,the scaffold could have extraordinarily high mechanical properties and functional surface structure by cycle mechanical training with salting-out assistance(T).Finally,the training results are fixed by photo-cross-linking processing(C).The tough gelatin hydrogel scaffolds exhibit excellent tensile strength of 6.66 MPa(622-fold untreated)and have excellent biocompatibility.Furthermore,this scaffold possesses functional surface structures from nanometer to micron to millimeter,which can efficiently induce directional cell growth.Interestingly,this strategy can produce bionic human tissue with mechanical properties of 10 kPa-10 MPa by changing the type of salt,and many hydrogels,such as gelatin and silk,could be improved with PTC or PCT strategies.Animal experiments show that this scaffold can effectively promote the new generation of muscle fibers,blood vessels,and nerves within 4 weeks,prompting the rapid regeneration of large-volume muscle loss injuries.

Brief Outline of the Metallurgy Department of Kunming Institute of Technology

The metallurgy department of Kunm-ing Institute of Technology,with its empha-sis on nonferrous metallurgy,is one of themajor academic and technical centres underthe China National Nonferrous Metals In-dustry Corporation(CNNC).The province of Yunnan,of whichKunming is the capital city,is very rich withresources of nonferrous metals,such as

Construction and Quality Assurance of Outstanding Applied Horticultural Talent Training Curriculum System under the Background of New Agricultural Science:A Case Study of Huaiyin Institute of Technology

Huaiyin Institute of Technology is taken as the research object.The content of horticulture curriculum system under the background of new agricultural science is constructed and elaborated,including theoretical curriculum system of"three platforms and seven curriculum groups"and practice system of"two platforms,three levels and four modules".Moreover,the quality assurance strategy of the curriculum system is discussed from three angles of enhancing professional emotion,enhancing professional practice and strengthening innovation ability,to reach the training objective of outstanding applied horticultural talents under the background of new agricultural science.

Experimentation of a Forced Convection Solar Dryer for Drying Sweet Potatoes at the Higher Institute of Technology of Mamou-Guinea

This study was carried out at the Mamou Higher Institute of Technology during the period from March 10 to April 15, 2022, with the aim of designing and testing a solar dryer with forced convection by drying potatoes. The dryer was designed using local materials. Its main geometric parameters are: 1) height of the drying chamber (90 cm), 2) length of the drying chamber (50 cm), 3) width of the drying chamber (43 cm), 4) surface of the racks (0.1806 m2), 5) surface of the heat accumulator (0.2537 m2). The experiment focused on the vacuum test of the dryer for two days and that of the drying of the sweet potato for three days from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The average vacuum test temperature values of the three environments are respectively accumulator (43°C), dryer chamber (41°C) and ambient environment (34°C). Four kilograms (4 kg) of boiled sweet potato were dried. The average temperatures in the accumulator and in the drying chamber during the three days of drying are respectively 33°C and 39°C. The final mass of the dried product is 1.2 kg, with a quantity of water extracted of 2 liters or 63% of the initial mass of the product. The average drying rate is 0.074 kg/h. The drying kinetics showed a decreasing rate in the absence of the heating period and the constant rate period.

INTEGRATED ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING DESIGN STRATEGIES FOR A ZERO-ENERGY BUILDING:Illinois Institute of Technology’s Design Entry for the 2018 U.S.Department of Energy Race to Zero(Solar Decathlon Design Challenge)

This paper describes the design of InterTech,a zero-energy mixed-use student residence hall,developed in 2018 by an interdisciplinary team of Illinois Institute of Technology(Illinois Tech)students for the U.S.Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Design Challenge,formerly known as Race to Zero.The main focus is the team’s integrated and iterative approach,which blended architectural design and engineering concepts and led to achieving the high-performance goal.InterTech aims to provide an innovative housing solution to Illinois Institute of Technology’s graduate students and their families.Located along State Street in between Illinois Tech’s main campus and downtown Chicago,it offers a mix of living options providing both independence and access to the campus and to the city.In addition to the residential program,the project includes a small grocery/cafe con-nected to an outdoor public plaza,and an underground garage.Energy modeling was introduced in the early design stages.The potential of on-site renewable energy generation defined the project’s target Energy Use Intensity(EUI)of 37 kBtu/sqft.Several passive and active strategies were implemented to reduce the building’s total energy needs and meet the target EUI.The implementation of energy conservation measures led to a 25%reduction of the building’s cooling load and a 33%reduction of the heating load.A design EUI of 28 kBtu/sqft was calculated,validating that this design met and exceeded the zero-energy goal.

MASTER PLAN TO ROBUST PRACTICE: THE EVOLUTION OF SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE PRACTICES AT GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Universities across the globe are recognizing the need to implement sustainable landscaping practices in order to support wildlife, improve water quality and positively impact human health and wellbeing. Georgia Institute of Technology learned that such sustainable practices, when properly aligned with overarching campus goals, can also enable continuous, collaborative decision-making and student engagement. The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is a leading research university situated on 426 acres of land in midtown Atlanta, Georgia, with a student population of 27,000 (Fall 2017). An urban oasis in the center of town, Georgia Tech’s campus offers 312.5 landscaped acres, 3.5 naturalized acres and 110 acres of buildings. The campus is also a level II certified arboretum boasting 12,000+ trees in its urban forest. Prior to the 1990s, Georgia Tech was commonly referred to as a concrete and brick campus with very little landscape. However, in 1999 all that changed when the Georgia Tech administration decided to invest in sustainable landscaping, including the recruitment of qualified staff with specific skill sets to take on this challenge. The Institute’s initial landscape master plan objectives were to reduce impervious surfaces such as surface parking lots, increase woodland coverage and enlarge the tree canopy. A significant amount of sustainable landscape practices and collaborative methods grew from these initial objectives. Establishing a plan with clear goals, having the support of executive leadership and employing the right team members enabled the Georgia Tech campus to be transformed from a concrete jungle to a forested, urban oasis in less than 20 years.

Research on the Dilemma and Countermeasures of Graduate Student Recruitment Publicity in University Branch Area-Based on Harbin Institute of Technology(Weihai)

Graduate student recruitment publicity is a very important link in graduate student recruitment,the quality of students directly affects the quality of graduate education.Taking Harbin Institute of Technology(Weihai)as the research object,this paper analyzes the internal and external factors affecting the improvement of graduate student quality in the branch campus,and carries out the corresponding countermeasures,puts forward the propaganda strategy of all-round research and recruitment,and effectively improves the quality of graduate student in the branch campus.

Analysis and Suggestions of the Satisfaction of Postgraduate Education in Engineering Universities —Take Harbin Institute of Technology (Weihai) for Example

Accelerating the development of students is the basic goal of postgraduate talent cultivation.The final research results,employment situation and satisfaction of postgraduate students with school education are more important indicators of the quality of talent cultivation in a university.For having a deeper understanding of the satisfaction of postgraduates in Harbin Institute of Technology(Weihai)in terms of motivation,tutor situation,management service and employment situation,a questionnaire survey was conducted on postgraduates.The survey results show that the overall satisfaction of postgraduates is high.In terms of studying motivation,most postgraduates think that their majors are more related to employment;in terms of professors,most of them can get along well with their professors and learn from the advantages of their professors;in terms of school management,they respond well to the"library",but think that the"dormitory"and"canteen"need further improvement;in terms of employment,most of postgraduates choose to be employed,while a few of them choose to further their studies,most of which have applied to study in domestic or foreign universities.