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AbstractIn spatial point data, a hotspot is defined as a group of points with a significantly higher density within an arbitrarily shaped area. Among existing hotspot identification methods, spatial scan statistic, known for its simple mechanism in locating hotspots, has been extensively studied and applied in various fields. However, existing methods rely on pre-defined scanning window shapes, e.g. generic geometries like circles or pre-divided regions, like administrative divisions, and thereby may not accurately capture the irregular shapes of hotspots. This study enhances the spatial scan statistic by introducing a tightened window, which is defined as the window tightened to align with the hotspot’s shape. In our method, without the necessity of outlining the exact geometry, the area of the tightened window, estimated using the nearest distance statistics, is used for calculating the objective function. Experiments with simulated data demonstrate that our method outperforms existing methods in terms of testing hotspots’ significance, identifying arbitrarily shaped hotspots, estimating hotspots’ spatial extent, and reducing subjectivity in parameter selection. An empirical study using taxi pick-up point data shows our method can identify regions with high taxi demand and potential traffic congestion, including subway exits and commercial streets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declining political trust has long been seen as a challenge for democracies, and parliaments seek to counter this through public engagement. Many parliaments have established visitor centres and both expanded and professionalised their visiting services. Parliamentary visiting programmes are in high demand with some parliaments attaining millions of visitors every year. However, little is known about how such programmes impact on visitors. Therefore, the present study investigates whether or not political trust changes as a result of a visit to parliament, and whether it makes a difference when visitors observe a parliamentary debate. N = 746 adult parliamentary visitors to the State Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, were asked about their trust in politics in a pre–post study at both the beginning and the end of their visit. Results showed that visiting parliament had only a very small positive effect on political trust, and that there was no significant difference in impact between visit programmes with vs without observing a plenary debate. Results are also relevant for the question of the stability of political trust in adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities have profound impacts on land use and the supply–demand balance of ecosystem services (ESs). Various activities, such as urban construction, urban and rural planning, and inter-basin water transfer projects, continuously reshape land use patterns. This is a case study of the Anhui section of the Yangtze-Huaihe Water Diversion Project. Data from 2000, 2010, and 2020 is analyzed. Additionally, the patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model is utilized to quantify the specific impacts of the water diversion project construction on the supply and demand of ESs. The results indicate that the comprehensive dynamic attitude of land use during the project construction period significantly increased, rising from 0.16 to 13.79%, and mainly affected forest, water areas, construction land, and unused land. Specifically, the construction of the project led to significant changes in water purification, biodiversity, and, especially, hydrological regulation services. Additionally, the migration of residents significantly impacted the demand for ESs. The study also found a significant correlation between land use changes and the balance of ES supply and demand: the proportion of cultivated land and construction land is positively correlated with the balance, while the proportion of forest, grassland, and water areas is negatively correlated. This study provides empirical data for understanding the environmental and socio-economic impacts of large-scale water diversion projects and offers a scientific basis for local mitigation and control of adverse impacts. Through quantitative analysis and model prediction, this research effectively bridges the gap between theory and practice, providing important references for sustainable regional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean acidification poses a threat to marine ecosystems. Understanding of how responses to acidification differ among life stages and how they are moderated by co-occurring stressors remains limited. This study investigated the tolerance of ascidians to acidification, under regional cooling, as experienced along the west coast of South Africa and in other eastern boundary upwelling systems. Critical pH minima (CpHmin) were established for young and adult Ciona robusta and young and adult colonies of Diplosoma listerianum, Botryllus schlosseri, Botryllus gregalis, under restricted and unrestricted food supply, at two temperatures (13°C (current) and 9°C (future cooling)). pH was reduced at a rate of 0.1 units per day, starting from the current condition of 7.9 pH. For all species, responses to decreasing pH were affected by life stage, temperature and food supply. Young individuals and young colonies were least tolerant to acidification. Regardless of life stage, cooling reduced pH tolerance, as did restricted food supply. These results suggest that tolerance to acidification is lowest during early life stages and will be exacerbated by climate change induced cooling. However, high productivity in upwelling regions may result in high food supply that could ultimately buffer against the negative effects of cooling on pH tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Seed purchasing enables farmers to respond to adverse events that may cause chronic and temporary seed insecurity by allowing them to exploit opportunities associated with accessing new seeds. However, as with other inputs, seed purchasing is complicated by pervasive market imperfections and climate risk common in Sub-Sahara Africa. This study uses balanced household panel data for Malawi (2010–2018) and Ethiopia (2012–2016) and applies dynamic random effects Probit and Tobit models to assess how seed purchase decisions are affected by earlier participation in the market, lagged rainfall shocks, and historical climate variables. Our findings show that there are nonlinear effects of lagged seed purchase decisions on subsequent decisions with strong initial effects (weakening over time). For instance, initial maize seed purchase decisions are associated with about 11 and 22% higher probability of purchase and 1 and 2% higher shares of seed volumes purchased in later rounds in Malawi and Ethiopia, respectively. Seed purchase decisions also respond to climate variability and shocks. For instance, lagged drought shocks enhance subsequent maize purchase decisions in both countries. Historical average rainfall and temperature enhance maize seed purchase decisions in both countries. Overall, results point to state dependency on the demand side of the seed market, leading to selective access to purchased seeds. Also, seed purchase in smallholder farming is a liquidity and risk-dependent input choice. Policy efforts need to continue targeting reducing transaction costs and other barriers to entry into seed markets to enhance access to off-farm seed and support adaptation to rainfall shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are several ways of theorizing the process of segregation. From a geographical perspective the spatiality is one of the most decisive component of the term. There are two types of spatial segregation; the horizontal residential segregation, which can be considered as default understanding of segregation. This is a more frequently researched and generally known type. The less researched vertical residential segregation applies a three-dimensional approach to the process and implies, that segregation can evolve through the upward expansion of the city. It has a long history, however it has been overshadowed by the transport-development led urban sprawl, suburbanisation and deurbanisation in the 20th century. In addition, the Chicago School's study about urban models have contributed to the rapid development of the theory and research of horizontal residential segregation. According to the avai lable literature, the 2000's brought a change in the research on vertical residential segregation across Europe, however no focused research has been carried out in Hungary so far. In this study the theory of vertical residential segregation is presented through literature review. Based on the literature three types of vertical residential segregation was identified as the theoretical framework of the paper. Three sample areas in Szeged, Hungary were selected based on the three different forms and archetypes of vertical segregation. To confirm the theoretical framework of the existence of the three archetype of vertical segregation an online housing market survey was made on properties offered for sale in 2020 to examine the supply side of the real estate market. To research the demand side, data on apartments sold between 2015 and 2019 were processed and analysed. Based on these, correlation between floor and price, size was analysed to set residential segregation trends for each type on the sample areas, and regression analysis between the location of the property within the building and the average price. Results show that vertical residential segregation can be observed in Szeged. The location of the properties within a building influence where certain social groups move to. A correlation between the average unit price of the property and the floors can be detected, but the co-movement of the two variables is at most moderately related according to social science interpretations. With the data on the real estate market, we have succeeded in revealing the vertical form of residential segregation. In the future more research with social indicators will be necessary to complement the research of the authors to get a more accurate picture of the micro-scale segregation process within buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The burning in a two-section channel with an abrupt enlargement of its cross section in the process of double-belt supply of different-type gaseous fuels into it at a Mach number of the fuel flow M = 2.2 and at its stagnation temperature of 1700 K was numerically investigated. For the ignition of a hydrocarbon fuel fed into the channel along its axis (the first supply belt) and for the formation of a transonic regime of burning of the fuel, it was subjected to a gasdynamic pulse action, and, after this action was terminated, for the maintenance of the burning regime, the second belt of supply of a fuel (hydrogen or a hydrocarbon fuel) into the channel and the side supply of an air jet into it were organized. The Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations were solved with the use of the k–ε model of turbulence. The burning of a fuel in the channel was simulated by gross reactions. It was established that the use of hydrogen as a fuel in the second supply belt makes it possible to maintain the transonic burning regime in the channel. In this case, the side air jet breaks the shock-wave formation in the second section of the channel and, in so doing, provides a high-velocity homogeneous fuel flow in it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge political communication scholars can provide is in high demand, helping regulators, politicians, and citizens to make sense of a seemingly crazy, unhinged world unfolding around them. However, there is a lot we still need to learn. To many of the burning questions concerning digital societies, scholars have to respond with: We have no clue! This Welcome Note by the incoming editor of The Forum outlines some of the "known unkowns" and "unknown unkowns" of current political communication research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selecting viable fully grown germinal and matured oocytes were positively effect on further embryonic development and live birth. The use of feed and hormonal supplementation and biotechnologies to enhance oocyte competence was evaluated. In addition, the oocytes were selected based on ovarian follicular stage, follicles and oocytes morphology, follicular fluid characters and gene expression. Changes were obtained in oocyte maturation, fertilization and further embryo cleavage and development over selecting viable oocytes. The larger follicle diameter, the translucent follicle and the higher blood supply the higher developmental competence of resulting oocytes. The higher surrounding cumulus cells and homogeneity of cytoplasm the higher developmental competence of oocytes. In addition, oocytes obtained during luteal stage compared to those obtained during follicular phase were highly or comparably developed to embryos. Furthermore, follicular fluid characters and gene expression might predict the embryonic developmental competence of oocytes in addition to their viable staining with brilliant cresyl blue. In conclusion, the characters of ovarian follicles, oocytes, follicular fluid and gene expression have significant implications on further oocyte developmental competence in different mammalian species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have theoretically and experimentally demonstrated the feasibility of achieving ultra-low dark current in CpBnn type detectors based on a double-barrier InAs/GaSb/AlSb type-II superlattice. By employing a structure that separates the absorption region and depletion region, the diffusion, recombination, tunneling, and surface dark currents of the photodetector (PD) have been suppressed. Experimental validation has shown that a detector with a diameter of 500 µm at a bias voltage of −0.5 V exhibits a dark current density of 2.5 × 10−6 A/cm2 at the operating temperature of 300 K. The development of PD with low dark current has paved the way for applications with high demands for low noise in the fields of gravitational wave detection and astronomical observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blossom end rot (BER) is mainly a calcium (Ca2+) deficiency-related physiological disorder of fruits that affects various crop production worldwide including tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). The visible symptoms of BER include cell wall disintegration, cell plasmolysis, and water-soaked signs at the distal end of the fruits. During fruit development increase in cell expansion and a decrease in the transport of Ca2+ to the distal part of the fruits, can lead to the development of BER. It is hypothesized that insufficient Ca2+ is available for essential apoplastic and cytoplasmic functions during the cell expansion phase of fruits when the cellular Ca2+ demand exceeds the Ca2+ supply. Therefore, abnormal intracellular Ca2+ content or signals, cause weakening of cell walls, and a loss of cellular integrity, potentially leading to cell death and the outward manifestations of BER. The occurrence of BER in tomatoes is also influenced by environmental factors that affect the cellular growth of the fruits. These factors such as drought, high salinity, high temperature, insufficient xylem tissue development, phytohormones, and oxidative stress can influence the development of BER. The availability of a high-quality reference genome and whole genome sequencing allowed us to identify selected loci that can cause BER, facilitating genetic dissection and a deeper comprehension of the molecular mechanisms underlying this disorder. This review summarized the various factors and genes involved in BER development and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, transformer-based models have gained prominence in multivariate long-term time series forecasting (LTSF), demonstrating significant advancements despite facing challenges such as high computational demands, difficulty in capturing temporal dynamics, and managing long-term dependencies. The emergence of LTSF-Linear, with its straightforward linear architecture, has notably outperformed transformer-based counterparts, prompting a reevaluation of the transformer's utility in time series forecasting. In response, this paper presents an adaptation of a recent architecture, termed extended LSTM (xLSTM), for LTSF. xLSTM incorporates exponential gating and a revised memory structure with higher capacity that has good potential for LTSF. Our adopted architecture for LTSF, termed xLSTMTime, surpasses current approaches. We compare xLSTMTime's performance against various state-of-the-art models across multiple real-world datasets, demonstrating superior forecasting capabilities. Our findings suggest that refined recurrent architectures can offer competitive alternatives to transformer-based models in LTSF tasks, potentially redefining the landscape of time series forecasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To assess the spatial accessibility of emergency medical services and provide a scientific basis for optimizing the allocation of emergency resources. Methods Emergency medical service institutions in Chengdu were considered as suppliers, while the population of Chengdu was regarded as the demand side. The nearest neighbor method and the Gaussian two-step floating catchment area method were used to evaluate accessibility from both a temporal and supply-demand perspective. Results From the perspective of time cost, the overall accessibility was relatively good, with an average emergency response time of 3.7 minutes. Moreover, 95.96% of the population could access emergency medical services within 15 minutes, covering 77.02% of the city’s geographical area. However, from the supply-demand perspective, spatial accessibility was poor, with only 5.04% of residents located in areas classified as having good or relatively good accessibility, which covered only 4.05% of the geographical area. Conclusion Overall, Chengdu’s emergency medical services exhibit a certain level of spatial accessibility, but there are significant disparities, particularly between the central urban area and surrounding regions. These disparities are mainly reflected in emergency response time costs and imbalances in supply and demand. Therefore, further optimization is needed in these two areas to enhance emergency efficiency and improve resource allocation, thereby better safeguarding public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores Argentina's multi-level policy mix aimed at advancing productive and technological capabilities within the lithium mining and lithium-ion battery value chains, crucial for the energy transition. Through a case-study analysis of federal policies as well those implemented by the provinces of Catamarca, Jujuy, and Salta, the research underscores the challenges faced by sub-national lithium-rich regions in capitalizing on the energy transition. Emphasizing the necessity of strategic vision, the findings highlight the importance of coordinated efforts across government levels, knowledge-based collaboration, supply and demand policy alignment, and ample resource support. The study advocates for a multi-level governance structure to effectively coordinate activities between and among government levels resource-rich regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clarifying the issues related to the supply, demand, and flow of ecosystem services is crucial for regional landscape management. This study employs the equivalence factor method and demand index quantification to analyze the supply and demand of ecosystem services in the Zheng-Bian-Luo region in 2000 and 2020. We used hotspot analysis tools and the minimum cumulative resistance model to establish the ecological corridors, identifying the spatial flow paths of ecosystem services in our site. By calculating the flow volume of the key corridor value through the breakpoint formula and field strength theory and combining this with the ratio of the regulating service value, we computed the ecological compensation amount, thereby realizing the value of the ecosystem service. The results indicate that the area of balance between ecosystem service supply and demand gradually decreased and the deficit area in the Zheng-Bian-Luo region increased 43.62% from 2000 to 2020 along with rapid urbanization. The total value flow of ecosystem services by the important ecological corridors in 2000 and 2020 was USD 242.40 million and USD 365.92 million, respectively. In 2020, it was predicted that Luanchuan County would receive ecological compensation totals of USD 237.76 million from each ecological demand area, and mainly from Jinshui District. Our findings support enhancing the quality of the ecological environment and optimizing the landscape management of the Yellow River's Henan section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, natural fibers are important at reducing the using nonrecyclable synthetic fibers; therefore, cultivating fique can help supply the demand for nonplastic packaging in the Colombian and international markets. Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria has a working collection of fique located at La Selva‐Rionegro Research Center (Antioquia‐Colombia). This work evaluated the repeatability coefficient of 68 Furcraea accessions harvested from 2019 to 2022. Repeatability coefficients of 0.293 and 0.149 were found for total dry fiber yield and dry fiber percentage, respectively. The yield‐stability selection index was calculated for the evaluated traits, by which 10 promising accessions were selected, representing 14% of the evaluated population. In addition, correlation coefficients were calculated between productive variables and some meteorological variables (accumulated rainfall, average maximum, and minimum temperatures, and accumulated solar radiation. The accumulated rainfall at 101 days showed the highest correlation with values of 0.429 and 0.488 for the total dry fiber production and the percentage of dry fiber, respectively. The average minimum temperature presented positive correlations with the productive performance of fique. Core Ideas: The genetic potential of the working collection of fique is described.Furcraea has low potential heritability in fiber yield and fiber percentage.There are promising fique accessions to supply the demand for natural fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to maximize the benefit of building supply chain, the topology optimization method of building digital supply chain based on genetic neural network is studied. According to the overall structural characteristics of the building digital supply chain, customer demand data, supplier sales data, manufacturer production management data, and environmental policy exception data are collected to form a building digital supply chain data set. As input data, a building digital supply chain demand prediction model based on improved genetic LSTM neural network is constructed. Capture the needs of the building digital supply chain; according to the demand of suppliers, manufacturers and customers in building digital supply chain, a nonlinear 0–1 mixed integer programming model based on the newsboy model is established. According to the various information provided by the supplier, the ant colony algorithm is used to calculate the optimal supplier. After all suppliers are identified, the topology of the digital supply chain is constructed. So far, the optimization of the supply chain has been completed. The experimental data show that this method can accurately predict the demand of construction projects, the maximum error is less than 1.5%, and can obtain the best supplier selection results. Compared with before optimization, the profit of the structural digital supply chain after topology optimization increases the most. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective supply and demand matching for construction materials is a crucial challenge in large-scale railway projects, particularly in complex and hazardous environments. We propose a two-stage stochastic programing model that incorporates environmental uncertainties, such as natural disasters, into the supply chain optimization process. The first stage determines optimal locations and capacities for material supply points, while the second stage addresses material distribution under uncertain demand. We further enhance the model's efficiency with Benders decomposition algorithm. The performance of our model is rigorously compared with existing optimization approaches, demonstrating its superior capability in handling environmental uncertainties and complex logistical scenarios. This study provides a novel framework for optimizing supply chains in challenging environments, offering significant improvements over traditional models in both adaptability and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of the construction industry worldwide, a large amount of waste concrete is generated each year, which has caused serious environmental problems. As a green and sustainable building material, thermally activated recycled cement (RC) has received widespread attention. However, the unique properties of RC, such as the high water demand and short setting time, necessitate the use of specialized superplasticizers that are different from those used in ordinary Portland cement. As an important component for the application of RC, superplasticizer has an important impact on the performance modification of RC. This article summarizes the recent research progress of potential superplasticizers for RC, with a view to providing a reference for the research and application of superplasticizers for RC. Based on the differences between ordinary Portland cement and RC, the paper discusses potential superplasticizers that may be suitable for RC, and points out that future development of potential modified superplasticizers can include altering the molecular structure to improve adsorption onto the surfaces of RC or to enhance the durability of concrete with RC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture is calling on companies and research institutions to submit innovative project ideas for the development of sustainable breeding strategies and the improvement of herd health. Project outlines are sought for the development of breeding strategies and for the improvement of herd health, as well as the development of new prevention and treatment strategies. The breeding strategies should improve the health and robustness of agricultural animals while increasing efficiency in food production. There is a high demand for new tools and innovative solutions to reduce multifactorial diseases in agricultural animal husbandry. [Extracted from the article]

Addressing the demand for high stability of beamline instruments at the SHINE facility, a high stability mirror regulating mechanism has been developed for mirror adjustments. Active mass damping was adopted to attenuate pitch angle vibrations of mirrors caused by structural vibrations. An internal absolute velocity feedback was used to reduce the negative impact of spillover effects and to improve performance. The experiment was conducted on a prototype structure of a mirror regulating mechanism, and results showed that the vibration RMS of the pitch angle was effectively attenuated from 47 nrad to 27 nrad above 1 Hz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined hydrogen, heat, and power (CHHP) is the cogeneration unit simultaneously meeting hydrogen, heat, and power demands. Due to the low efficiency of the electrolyser, the main grid or other generation units supply its input power. Herein, the photovoltaic farm's (PV farm) output power is used as the input power of the electrolyser. Optimal economic and emission scheduling of CHHP‐based microgrid (CHHP_MG) is defined as an objective function. To improve system efficiency, the scheduling problem is done in two cases, reconfigured SP‐PV farm and conventional SP‐PV farm. To optimal management of both demand and generation sides, a time of use (TOU) based demand response program is employed in the proposed short‐term study. To have a comprehensive study, the optimum solar panel tilt angle is calculated, and its impacts on the main function are analysed. Multi‐objective genetic algorithm is used to solve optimization problems. By solving the objective function, the obtained values for profit and pollution amount are 620$ and 69,245.78 gr, respectively. By applying the load response program, the mentioned values are changed to 715.132$ and 6872.5 gr. Since the input power is supplied through solar panels, the placement angle of the panels is very important and with the optimal setting of the placement angle, the values change to 780$ and 6825.3 gr. The main contributions of this work are optimal reconfigurable PV farm, evaluating the impacts of reconfiguring the efficiency of CHHP, employing the DR program on the scheduling of RSF‐CHHP, and analysing the role of tilt angle in the scheduling of RSF‐CHHP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's world, the concept of security is incomplete without the concept of energy security. Unless a country has access to uninterrupted flow of energy resources, its massive stockpile of weapons and ammunition is unlikely to keep it safe. Therefore, contemporary security studies include concerns about energy security as one of the key components of non-traditional security issues. Ensuring free access to energy for all – is a top priority in the BIMSTEC region. Trans-border cooperation can help diversify energy sources, reduce average supply costs, and meet peak demands as the gap between supply and demand grows in BIMSTEC countries. The paper examines the current energy scenario in BIMSTEC, evaluates the scope of cross-border energy trade in the region. Energy security and maritime security are intertwined with each other in today's world. The paper also addresses the broader geopolitical, geostrategic, and geoeconomic aspects of the Bay of Bengal, illustrating how maritime security is integral to ensuring energy security in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Previous studies examining the inter-relations between serial and discrete naming with reading have found that the ability to efficiently process multiple items presented in a sequence (indexed by serial naming) is a unique predictor of word- and text-reading fluency. However, conclusions have been tempered by the concurrent nature of the available data and the uniformly low demands of the materials (words and texts). Here we go beyond previous studies by using more varied materials to examine the relations of serial and discrete naming with the discrete reading of words and the serial reading of word lists and connected text over time. Method: Two hundred and eight English-speaking Canadian children (51% female, Mage = 7.2 years) were followed from Grade 2 to Grade 5 and were assessed on serial and discrete digit naming and serial and discrete word reading at both measurement points. Results: Strong associations between discrete naming and discrete reading already from Grade 2 indicated that short and high-frequency words were processed in parallel early in development. By Grade 5, when word recognition was presumably automatized, serial naming accounted for unique variance in serial reading of word lists and connected texts after controlling for discrete word reading. More importantly, Latent Change Score modeling indicated that serial naming was the main predictor of growth in serial reading from Grade 2 to Grade 5. Conclusion: These findings suggest that, beyond individual word recognition, reading fluency development also requires efficient processing of multiple items presented in serial format (termed "cascaded processing"). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Using SEM and LM, we examined nutlet samples at various stages, revealing stylopodium's structure. • Germination tests evaluated stylopodium's impact on seed germination under differing water conditions. • Study of five cyperoideae species, including those with both persistent and deciduous stylopodium, showed a consistent ontogenetic origin. • A revealed abscission layer in species with deciduous stylopodium, shed light on this unique trait. • Germination tests showed that persistent stylopodium potentially enhances seed germination, even in water challenges. The stylopodium is a reproductive feature found in the nutlet (fruit) of non-closely related Cyperoideae genera, with little known about its origin and function. We analyzed the stylopodium of Bulbostylis hirtella, Eleocharis sellowiana, Rhynchospora albiceps and R. sparsiflora (with a persistent stylopodium), as well as Fimbristylis dichotoma (with a deciduous stylopodium) to investigate their development and anatomical structure, previous related to water supply. The role of this structure on seed germination was tested in E. sellowiana and F. dichotoma under varying water availability conditions. The results demonstrated that the origin of the stylopodium can be traced to the enlargement of the style base, composed of tracheoids with water-related characteristics. An abscission layer was identified in deciduous stylopodium. Eleocharis sellowiana exhibited significantly higher percentages and rates of seed germination in relation to F. dichotoma , even in challenging water conditions. These findings suggest a potential role of the stylopodium in promoting seed germination, particularly under low water supply. The study emphasizes the significance of considering both historical and current ecological contexts when discussing the function of the stylopodium. Moreover, it underscores the need for further research to fully understand the role of the stylopodium across diverse environments within Cyperoideae genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The timing and pattern of biotic recovery after the Late Ordovician Mass Extinction (LOME) are highly controversial. Here, we conducted a systematic investigation on ichnofossils from the lower Silurian succession of the northwestern Hunan province, middle-upper Yangtze Block, South China. Biotic recovery of marine benthic ecosystems after the LOME was analysed and discussed for the first time using multiple ichnofossil proxies. The vertical distribution and evolutional trends of trace fossil assemblages suggest that biotic recovery was significantly delayed by the widespread anoxia during the latest Hirnantian to middle Aeronian. The recovery displays a stepwise pattern and reached a relatively high stage during the late Aeronian, although a full recovery was generally not achieved during this interval as proposed elsewhere before. There is a sharp decrease in all trace fossil proxies across the Aeronian-Telychian boundary, indicating a resetting of biotic recovery back to initial stages, most likely linked to a re-onset of anoxia in shallow marine settings during the late Aeronian Event. Subsequent recovery generally followed the patterns of late Aeronian, but was hampered by a low nutrient supply during early Telychian. By the beginning of middle Telychian, a full recovery was achieved, ca. 8.8 Ma after the second pulse of the LOME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perhaps no topic could be more crucial to the concept of "post-communism" than how the Soviet past is commemorated, challenged, or forgotten. The study of historical memory is often correctly tied to identity politics and nation-building. While the usable past framework is broadly applicable to all modern states, in the Russian case a degree of alarmism and negativity surrounds interpretations of how the country has managed its communist past, particularly its violent parts. A significant element to this is a teleological view of progress and the salience of the transition paradigm. In memory studies, this is manifested in the dominance of the cosmopolitan memory mode as the correct way the violent past should be commemorated. The introduction reviews the existing literature on Russia's memory politics and highlights three limitations: (1) overemphasis on the political center and the failure to capture the diversity of regions, (2) too much focus on the supply side of memory politics, and (3) one-sided presentations of the role the Great Patriotic War plays in Russian memory politics. The introduction reviews how the special issue contributions address these limitations in the literature and shows how, taken together, they offer ideas for new research on memory studies. A case is made for how this new research agenda can better understand memory processes and how they relate to broader ideological, cultural, social, and political change in Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Considers supplier selection problem with uncertain demand. • Assumes that suppliers produce defective units and offer buyback contract. • Uses mathematical programming and develops a solution algorithm. • Reports interesting findings and insights. Demand and supply uncertainties are the two challenges of any supply chain. Supply uncertainty can happen if suppliers' production systems generate defective units. Demand uncertainty also indicates that the demand fluctuates over time. Suppliers may share the risk of uncertain demand with buyers by agreeing to buy back unsold inventory at the end of the season. Also, a multi-sourcing scenario can be an effective strategy to handle both uncertainties. We consider in this paper an inventory problem where a buyer purchases an item from multiple suppliers. The suppliers may have limited production capacity, produce defective units, and allow the buyer to return unsold units at the end of the season with a buyback price. To determine the order quantities from the suppliers, the buyer must evaluate them based on wholesale price, buyback price, and defective rate. We first develop a solution algorithm to solve the problem and then provide some managerial insights for both the buyers and the suppliers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional approaches to safety assessment and management are limited when it comes to complex socio-technical systems, such as air traffic management (ATM). A modelling approach proposed in this paper relies on Resilience Engineering perspective, which is about work-as-done, where safety is one of the targets trading off with other goals. The model provides a description of everyday practices, procedures, strategies, etc. in providing, not only safe, but also efficient ATM system operations. The aim of the model is to help air navigation service providers (ANSPs) that still do not measure and monitor resilience to distinguish between main drivers of traditional safety and drivers of resilience emerging from everyday adaptation to uncertainties. The conceptual layer of the model uses the analogy of lever mechanism to represent the balancing between the demand side (including the uncertainties) and available resources on the supply side that considers air traffic controllers (ATCos), tools and working procedures. The quantitative layer of the model allows identification of periods of resilient behavior (negative demand-capacity imbalances) and thereby steers ANSPs in discovering sources of resilience and finding appropriate resilience indicators to monitor in the future. A data-driven application of the proposed model is shown with the example of Barcelona Area Control Centre – assessment of balancing conditions, analysis of proposed resilience indicators and discussion of the trade-offs. This research focuses on the tactical imbalances that emerge from work-as-done on an everyday basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What role has labor-saving technological change played in the recent past in charting out the trajectory of employment? Have we already transitioned into a new technological regime where production technologies are more invasive upon labor's terrain? In this study, I provide empirical evidence to answer these questions. Using industry-level data from 12 advanced economies for 1970–2007, I show that capital goods did not become more effective in labor-saving after 1980 or 1990. Similarly, the strength of the relationship between employment and output did not decline after 1980 or 1990. While many recent econometric studies have estimated the number of workers displaced due to industrial robots with which the media and public are highly preoccupied, there is nothing new in the fact that production technologies are labor-saving and displace workers. The importance of demand side factors and structural change (mainly deindustrialization) in determining employment patterns is often neglected, leading to a misleading assessment of the impact of labor-saving technologies on employment. • It is not new that automation is labor-saving or displaces labor. • Deindustrialization is a secular dynamic that depresses manufacturing employment. • No acceleration in within-labor-saving effect of capital goods since around 1980 or 1990. • No weakening in the strength of the relationship between employment and output since around 1980 or 1990. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground salt caverns allow large hydrogen storage capacities at low specific costs. Such storage is required to balance fluctuating hydrogen supply and constant demand of large consumers as a methanol plant from the Carbon2Chem® project. The geological and technical feasibility for developing up to 168 Mio. m3 (n.c.) or 595 GWh of working gas capacity until 2040 at a location in the Lower Rhine Bay is described. Various options for realization as well as a novel process for cavern leaching parallel to hydrogen storage operation are evaluated. Further work is required including geological exploration and optimization of brine production. The main hurdles for investment decisions are the political uncertainties on the hydrogen storage market design and on the ramp‐up of the hydrogen market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High discharge-energy-storage-density (W dis) ceramics with high breakdown strength (BDS) are in high demand nowadays. However, enhancing BDS always comes at the cost of significantly reduction on polarization. In this work, a stepwise-optimization strategy combining two-step sintering and chemical-coating is proposed to enhance BDS of 0.6Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 -0.4SrTiO 3 (BNT-ST) ceramics. Finally, significant enhancement on BDS , delayed saturation polarization and considerable polarization are successfully achieved simultaneously. The BNT-ST ceramic prepared via chemical-coating and two-step sintering (BNT-ST@Si-TSS) maintains a high polarization (44.36 μ C/cm2 at 270 kV/cm) and achieves a high W dis of 3.14 J/cm3. BDS and W dis of BNT-ST@Si-TSS ceramics are enhanced by nearly 70 % and 60 % than that of BNT-ST ceramics prepared by traditional sintering, respectively. Besides, BNT-ST@Si-TSS ceramics exhibit excellent thermal stability (∆ W dis ≤ 4.6 % among 30–140 ℃) and outstanding fatigue stability (∆ W dis ≤ 2.7 % after 106 cycles). This work offers a feasible avenue to optimize ceramic characteristics step-by-step, showing great potential in high-energy-storage fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transit crowding results in negative experiences and mode change for transit riders and operational challenges for operators. The COVID-19 pandemic initiated an ongoing transformation of how, when, and where people travel, yet the challenge of balancing demand and supply in transportation remained topical. The pandemic has also exposed the traditional approach of infrastructure expansion for being too slow to respond to the challenges of crowding in a timely manner. As such, this paper provides a systematic literature review of the ex-post studies that evaluated the impact of transit demand management strategies. The paper synthesises the findings from 13 different programmes analysed in 20 studies. It is concluded that at least within the scope of the limited number of identified ex-post studies, the practice of alternative work schedules that allow employees greater freedom when to travel is the demand management approach that can bring the most significant crowding reduction. Once that flexibility is expanded, other strategies that appeal to riders' preferences might have a larger effect as well. The findings of this review aim to encourage transit agencies to develop collaborations with large employers that can introduce alternative work schedules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early Cambrian witnessed an increase in metazoan ecosystem complexity, likely linked to enhanced oxygen and nutrient availability. However, while improved stratigraphic and geochemical records suggest that the Cambrian explosion occurred under highly dynamic redox conditions, mechanistic links to nutrient availability and early Cambrian evolutionary innovations are poorly constrained. Here, we report paleoredox and nutrient data for two drill cores documenting late Cambrian Stage 2 to Stage 3 (ca. 522–514 Ma) strata from the Yangtze block, South China. The development of water-column euxinia during Cambrian Stage 2 led to extensive recycling of P, fueling elevated primary production and hence an increase in atmospheric and shallow-marine oxygen concentrations. The resulting expansion of oxygenated shelf area promoted sedimentary P retention and, in combination with a diminished supply of P from upwelling, drove a transition to oligotrophic shallow-marine conditions during Cambrian Stage 3. Reduced primary production and limited water-column oxygen consumption allowed for the stabilization of oxygenated continental shelf habitats that supported a burgeoning biotic complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Forestry Chronicle is the property of Canadian Institute of Forestry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Control Theory & Applications / Kongzhi Lilun Yu Yinyong is the property of Editorial Department of Control Theory & Applications and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Based on the reality that insufficient motivation for production and consumption of green products in China, the factors and solutions of this issue have become current research focus. However, related studies have hardly paid attention to the logic of interdependence and interconnection between supply and demand sides on the opts of traditional or green products. In order to explore the evolutionary mechanism of the supply and demand system of green products and further discover effective ways to promote the system converge to a good state, this paper conducts research by using evolutionary game theory and numerical simulation. It is found that: (1) There are only two stable equilibrium strategies, namely (purchasing traditional products, producing traditional products) and (purchasing green products, producing green products). (2) The costs and benefits of green products for producers are the decisive factors affecting the evolutionary results. The system is more sensitive to hidden losses incurred by failure to meet consumer needs faced by producers of green products than traditional ones. (3) Perceived losses for consumers under mismatched supply will be bad for forming a green consumption atmosphere. This study provides a clearer understanding of the supply and demand evolution system of green products and the conclusions provide a reference for the government to formulate effective policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain technology has reshaped how members of supply chains transfer information, effectively avoiding the phenomenon of information silos and helping to improve the emissions reduction performance and profit of each subject in the supply chain. It is now critical to understand how supply chain members can be encouraged to collaboratively invest in low-carbon service platforms based on blockchain technology to realise chain-wide systematic carbon reduction. In this regard, considering the time-dynamic characteristics of enterprise emissions reduction, this paper establishes a differential game model of collaborative emissions reduction in a low-carbon supply chain composed of a Stackelberg leader manufacturer and a supplier. We compare and analyse the four investment decision scenarios regarding whether the supplier and manufacturer invest in the blockchain low-carbon service platform under decentralised decision-making, as well as the equilibrium solutions of supply chain members under centralised decision-making scenarios by solving the Hamilton function. Finally, we introduce a bilateral cost-sharing contract to make the supply chain perfectly coordinated. We find that the significant unit return is an important incentive for supply chain members to take the lead in investing in a low carbon service platform (LCSP). In this regard, when only one member invests, the other one demonstrates free-riding behaviour. Under centralised decision-making, the supply chain can achieve Pareto optimality, and the bilateral cost-sharing contract can achieve perfect coordination of the supply chain, which is the best choice for the decision-makers of low-carbon supply chains. As the influence level of the LCSP gradually increases from small to large, the optimal decision-making of supply chain members gradually transitions from waiting for the right time to "hitchhike" to a strong willingness to cooperate. This study is of great reference value and practical significance for economic entities to improve profits, promote systematic carbon reduction in the whole chain and promote the sustainable development of low-carbon supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Río de la Plata Estuary (RdP) is frequently affected by large storm surges that have historically caused social and economic losses. According to recent research, the number and strength of surge events have been increasing over time as a result of climate change. Although process-based models have been widely used for the storm surge prediction, their high computational demand may be a significant disadvantage in some applications, such as rapid or neartime forecasting. Artificial neural network (ANN) becomes an alternative tool to forecast the water level, taking into account meteorological and astronomical forcing as numerical models also do. In this work, an ANN model performance was evaluated to hindcast and forecast water levels in the RdP. Several combinations of lead times and inputs were assessed in order to find the best configuration. The resulting model provides 4-day forecasts for Buenos Aires and Torre Oyarvide stations (located at the upper and intermediate estuary, respectively), using observed water levels, meteorological inputs and predicted astronomical tides. Results also support the ANN model's ability to simulate even extreme events. For instance, for a 12 h-forecast, the RMSE is about 20 cm. Finally, we conclude that the model developed here can effectively complement the empirical and numerical forecasts executed by Naval Hydrographic Service, reducing computational costs and leveraging available datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil–air lubrication technology is commonly utilized in the lubrication design of traditional components to reduce friction between contact pairs. This study focuses on testing the point-contact friction pairs of two quantitative valves using a self-made oil–air lubrication traction force machine with a G95Cr18 disk and ball as the friction pairs. The test data are analyzed using a four-parameter exponential model. Additionally, a calculation model of the oil–air lubrication flow field is established, defining boundary conditions and conducting flow field simulation analysis. The results of the ball and disk test show that the traction coefficient increases with load and decreases with entrainment speed. Furthermore, when the air-speed is 12 m/s, the traction coefficient is lower for the oil supply of 6 mL/min than for the oil supply of 1.5 mL/min. According to CFD analysis, the volume fraction of the oil phase in the contact area increases with the increase of entrainment speed when the slip–roll ratio is 0.1. The theoretical values from the four-parameter exponential model align well with the experimental results, and the fitting accuracy is higher than 0.95. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demand fulfillment and order management are important functions in semiconductor supply chains to interact with customers. In this paper, an iterative short-term demand supply matching (STDSM) algorithm based on mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) is proposed. This approach repromises orders taking into account the finite capacity of the shop floor. Decomposition is used to obtain computationally tractable subproblems. The STDSM approach is applied together with master planning and allocation planning in a rolling horizon setting. A simulation model of a simplified semiconductor supply chain is used for the rolling horizon experiments. The experiments demonstrate that the proposed STDSM scheme outperforms conventional business rule-based heuristics with respect to several delivery performance-related measures and with respect to stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem definition: We consider two business models for a two-sided economy under uncertainty: dealership and marketplace with fulfillment services. Although both business models can bridge the gap between demand and supply, it is not clear which model is better for the firm or for the consumers. Methodology/results: We show that, whereas the two models differ substantially in pricing power, inventory risk, fee structure, and fulfillment time, both models share several important features with the revenues earned by the firm from the two models converging when the markets are thick. We also show that, for thick markets, there is a one-to-one mapping between their corresponding optimal policies. Managerial implications: Our results provide guidelines for firms entering two-sided markets: when the market is thick, the two business models are similar; when the market is thin, they should carefully inspect a number of market conditions before making the choice. Funding: The research of G. Li is partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 72150002, 72394361] and the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mathematical Foundations for Artificial Intelligence [Grant 2023B1212010001]. The research of N. Chen is partially supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery [Grant RGPIN-2020-04038]. The research of G. Gallego is partially supported by Collaborative Research Funding Hong Kong [Grant C6032-21G]. The research of P. Gao is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 72201234, 72192805], Collaborative Research Funding Hong Kong [Grant C6032-21G], and the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mathematical Foundations for Artificial Intelligence [Grant 2023B1212010001]. Supplemental Material: The online supplement is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2022.0253. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a market where a set of objects is sold to a set of buyers, each equipped with a valuation function for the objects. The goal of the auctioneer is to determine reasonable prices together with a stable allocation. One definition of "reasonable" and "stable" is a Walrasian equilibrium, which is a tuple consisting of a price vector together with an allocation satisfying the following desirable properties: (i) the allocation is market‐clearing in the sense that as much as possible is sold, and (ii) the allocation is stable in the sense that every buyer ends up with an optimal set with respect to the given prices. Moreover, "buyer‐optimal" means that the prices are smallest possible among all Walrasian prices. In this paper, we present a combinatorial network flow algorithm to compute buyer‐optimal Walrasian prices in a multi‐unit matching market with truncated additive valuation functions. The algorithm can be seen as a generalization of the classical housing market auction and mimics the very natural procedure of an ascending auction. We use our structural insights to prove monotonicity of the buyer‐optimal Walrasian prices with respect to changes in supply or demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In regional operations, equipment guarantee needs exhibit distribution characteristics, and guarantee supply also dynamically changes. How to match supply and demand and then guarantee scheduling has become the key to improving regional guarantee capabilities. Based on the distribution characteristics of regional resource supply and demand, the optimal transmission theory is applied to establish a regional guarantee scheduling model from the perspective of resource distribution. Firstly, a basic model of regional guarantee scheduling is constructed from a distributed perspective, and considered expanding it into a multi resolution model at the decision-making level. And then, a guarantee scheduling probability scheme in proposed based on the sinkhorn algorithm as a transformation, and provided a solution algorithm for the multi resolution model. Case analysis shows that under non exponential distribution and free competition environments, the guarantee scheduling scheme has robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the long-run relationship between the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar by analyzing the bilateral exchange rate induced by nominal and real shocks. The methodology centers on a structural vector autoregressive (SVAR) model, including the analysis of impulse response and variance decomposition to account for the impact of nominal and real shocks on exchange rate movements. This study also decomposes real shocks into demand and supply factors from both Canada and the U.S. and compares their impacts on the nominal and real exchange rates. The results are compared to shocks driven by country-specific nominal factors. This study uses quarterly data from December 1972 to December 2023. The findings suggest that real shocks have a permanent impact on both the nominal and real exchange rates, compared to nominal shocks, which have a temporary impact. Country-specific real supply-side factors have a more significant impact than country-specific real demand-side factors. Country-specific nominal factors barely impacted the nominal and real exchange rates between the U.S. and Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the article is to continue research on the resilience of participants in the housing market to economic shocks and disruptions-in this case, the supply side of the market, i.e., the developer. The goal is also to answer research questions such as: does the developer, as a professional market entity, demonstrate resilience in this regard? Previous research results have shown that the demand side of the market is not resilient to such negative phenomena. Design/methodology/approach: The study is based on the existing literature on resilience concepts and the compilation of statistical data on developers and market conditions during the period of 2018-2023. By analyzing the sales revenues of 32 publicly traded developers during the studied period, their resilience to economic shocks and disruptions was assessed. Findings: The research found that most developers (about 70%) showed resilience to the effects of the pandemic, the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, and rising inflation. It can be inferred that this resilience is related to the long-term investment process and the specifics of the housing market. Research limitations/implications: The study’s results provide a valuable source of information about resilience of developers in real estate market and partially complements existing research in this area. Originality/value: The conducted research provides new insights into the resilience of enterprises to economic shocks – in this case, developers in the housing market. The article is primarily aimed at individuals interested in real estate market research as well as those interested in the concept of enterprise resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to address behaviors of food delivery and ride-hailing platforms, two local gig platforms. It argues that generating cross-network externality between demand and supply sides by imposing different price structures on them (two-sided market theory) may not be enough for understanding local gig platforms. Due to their local nature of service delivery operations, it is argued that to generate externality, these platforms should practically integrate the supply side and operate as if a firm, hence quasi-firm. By doing so, these platforms can utilize their service providers as if their own slack resources, hence quasi-slack. As quasi-slack, service providers exist outside these platforms. However, they can be called upon and committed to these platforms' service delivery operations. Quasi-slack is made possible because these platforms can induce information asymmetry and truncate a range of decision choices available to their service providers, which can lead to more service deliveries and streams of data for enhancing their algorithms. These platforms get the demand side actively involved in the process by letting it generate customer ratings critical for nudging the supply side to accept more service requests from the demand side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigated the phytoplankton ecological stoichiometry characteristics and the balance of the relationship between elements in a mountain river in a cold region. The samples of phytoplankton of four seasons were collected in May 2020, August 2020, November 2020, and February 2021 from the Taizicheng River in Chongli, Zhangjiakou City, China. We determined the contents of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), hydrogen (H), and iron (Fe), and analyzed their ecological stoichiometric characteristics and correlation. Our results showed that the contents of C, N, P, S, H, and Fe in phytoplankton were 82.14 ± 32.12 g/kg, 9.22 ± 3.5 g/kg, 1.46 ± 0.55 g/kg, 1.96 ± 0.86 g/kg, 2.36 ± 1.36 g/kg, and 12.64 ± 10.57 g/kg, respectively. Generally, the contents of C, N, and P were relatively stable, while the contents of S, H, and Fe fluctuated greatly, and the coefficient of variation of Fe content was as high as 83.62%. The elemental molar composition of phytoplankton in the Taizicheng River is C156.00N15.41S1.54H51.17Fe5.10P, which showed a significant difference compared with the classical Redfield ratio C106N16P. The high proportion of element C indicated that phytoplankton in the Taizicheng River have a high demand for C and a strong ability to consolidate C. The ratio of N:P was consistent with previous research results. The N:P ratio of phytoplankton in the Taizicheng River was 15.41, suggesting that the growth of phytoplankton in the Taizicheng River was restricted by both N and P. The contents of C, N, and P were positively correlated, while there was no significant correlation among S, H, and Fe. C:P was significantly positively correlated with C:N and N:P, while there were no strong correlations between C:N and C:P, as well as H:S, Fe:S, and H:Fe, indicating that the coupling correlation between phytoplankton elements was different and C, N, and P were highly correlated as important phytoplankton nutrient elements. This study contributes to our understanding of the phytoplankton ecological stoichiometry characteristics and the limiting factors of nutrients in a mountain river and provides a scientific basis for further ecological conservation and management efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parts with a large depth-to-diameter ratio play a critical role in the military, aerospace, and automotive industries. However, accurately measuring their inner surface profile remains challenging owing to the lack of adequate and accurate sensors. We developed a multi-ring structured light system to obtain three-dimensional data of inner contours, such as inner diameters, which are crucial for ensuring component performance and safety. In this study, we proposed three simple yet effective techniques to improve the multi-ring beam structured measurement system. First, we designed a distortion correction method to calibrate the imaging system. Second, a two-step calibration approach was used to calibrate the multi-ring projection. Meanwhile, we benchmarked the effects of different light sources on image speckles. The calibration results demonstrated that the coefficient of determination (R-2) used for line fitting exceeded 0.999. Moreover, the measurement experimental results show that the uncertainty of less than 10 µm and the smallest measurable pipe inner diameter can reach 15 mm, demonstrating that our methods are promising for improving the accuracy of structured light optical sensing systems. This system satisfies the measurement requirements and can be immediately utilized to meet the high demand for inner contour measurements in industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]