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Purpose: To evaluate and compare bacterial growth on zirconia vs titanium healing caps. Materials and Methods: Streptococcus sanguinis (Ss) and Ftreptococcus nucleatum (Fn) were grown on titanium and zirconia healing caps that were fixed to the cover of a 96-well microtiter plate. A drop (10 µL) of bacterial suspension was placed on each healing cap and allowed to dry for 1 hour at 37°C. After this time, the cover was replaced on the plate such that the caps were completely immersed in fresh liquid medium. Each plate contained only one bacterial strain, with two control groups. Bacterial growth was monitored over 18 hours by following the optical density (OD) at 650 nm. One-way ANOVA comparison test was used for statistical analysis. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of healing caps of each material were taken after 48 hours of incubation with Ss or Fn to assess bacterial attachment and with no bacteria as a negative control. Results: Ss growth was similar in both types of healing cap, with no significant differences between these groups and the control (P = .990). However, there was significantly less growth of Fn on the zirconia caps than on the titanium samples (P < .0001) or the control (P < .0001). SEM imaging revealed obvious differences in the surface characteristics of the titanium and zirconia caps. The number of bacteria attached to the rough apical area was particularly high. Conclusions: The use of zirconia healing caps may reduce the growth of some bacterial species compared to that seen on titanium healing caps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design of squat pile caps without shear reinforcement is typically governed by failures in shear, with development of inclined failure surfaces and crack sliding. Although the basic load‐carrying action can be efficiently described by means of equilibrium‐based models (such as strut‐and‐tie models or stress fields), determining the actual resistance is still subjected to scientific discussion concerning a number of topics. One of the open questions relates to the influence of size on the unitary shear resistance, which is typically extrapolated for design purposes from the size effect observed in one‐way members failing in shear or from failures in punching. Such extrapolation is, however, debatable as pile caps of practical interest may have significantly larger sizes than those that can be tested in laboratories and this advises to ground design on the basis of a consistent mechanical model. In this paper, the results of an experimental program on 15 pile caps are presented in an effort to better understand the mechanics of failure and to specifically address the influence of size on the resistance. The tests were performed following perfect geometric scaling with effective depths ranging from 200 to 500 mm while keeping the material properties constant. The results of the tests show that failures are originated by shear cracks developing in the clear shear span between the edges of piles and the loading area and that they are associated with strain localisation. A notable size effect is observed, whose asymptotic slope expressed in a double‐logarithmic scale results close to −1/3 (milder than the one corresponding to Linear‐Elastic Fracture Mechanics). On the basis of the test results, a design approach based on the concepts of the Critical Shear Crack Theory and the upper‐bound theorem of limit analysis is presented. The model allows for accurate predictions of the resistance and suitably captures the influence of size on the response of the specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past investigations showed that the one-way shear strength of reinforced concrete members exhibits "size effect," a phenomenon whereby shear strength does not increase in direct proportion to member size. However, it is unclear if the reduction in the two-way shear strength of reinforced concrete members due to size effect applies in the same magnitude as one-way shear strength. To investigate size effect in two-way shear, 12 three-pile caps were tested in three size groups: small, medium, and large. Specimens were doubly scaled from small to medium and medium to large groups, with all other key nondimensional structural parameters such as span-depth ratio, reinforcement ratio, and so on kept constant. The test results supported the existence of size effect in deep pile cap members, although the observed rate of unit shear strength reduction with depth was less severe than that predicted by size effect provisions in American and Japanese design codes. Capacity estimations made using sectional and strut-and-tie approaches prescribed by design codes, as well as the proposed analytical procedure using the softened strut-and-tie model, are presented. The proposed method produced reasonably accurate estimations at all size ranges, capturing the effect of reinforcement more efficiently resulting in an overall mean test-to-calculated capacity ratio of 1.15 with a low coefficient of variation of 11%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The newly operational 11.7T Iseult scanner provides an improved global SNR in the human brain. This gain in SNR can be pushed even further locally by designing region‐focused dense receive arrays. The temporal lobes are particularly interesting to neuroscientists as they are associated with language and concept recognition. Our main goal was to maximize the SNR in the temporal lobes and provide high‐acceleration capabilities for fMRI studies. Methods: We designed and developed a 32‐channel receive array made of non‐overlapped hexagonal loops. The loops were arranged in a honeycomb pattern and targeted the temporal lobes. They were placed on a flexible neoprene cap closely fitting the head. A new stripline design with a high impedance was proposed and applied for the first time at 11.7T. Specific homebuilt miniaturized low‐impedance preamplifiers were directly mounted on the loops, providing preamplifier decoupling in a compact and modular design. Using an anatomical phantom, we experimentally compared the SNR and parallel imaging performance of the region‐focused cap to a 32‐channel whole‐brain receive array at 11.7T. Results: The experimental results showed a 1.7‐time higher SNR on average in the temporal lobes compared to the whole brain receive array. The g‐factor is also improved when undersampling in the antero‐posterior and head‐foot directions. Conclusion: A significant SNR boost in the temporal lobes was demonstrated at 11.7T compared to the whole‐brain receive array. The parallel imaging capabilities were also improved in the temporal lobes in some acceleration directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Genetic markers are crucial for breeding crops with desired agronomic traits, and their development can be expedited using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics tools. Numerous tools have been developed to design molecular markers, enhancing the convenience, accuracy, and efficiency of molecular breeding. However, these tools primarily focus on genetic variants within short user-input sequences, despite the availability of extensive omics data for genomic variants. To design molecular markers encompassing a vast number of genetic variants at the genome-wide scale in soybean, an automatic system capable of handling NGS-based big data is necessary. Results: In this study, we developed a robust digital platform, the CAPS Maker, for designing cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS)/derived CAPS (dCAPS) markers in soybeans. This platform simplifies the systematic design of genomic markers with a user-friendly graphical interface, featuring a 'SNP Browser' and 'Primer Table', along with internal programs (e.g., the eHT-PCR module) to design unique primer pairs for highly duplicated genomes like soybean. Conclusions: The CAPS Maker's efficiency and reliability were experimentally verified by comparing its marker predictions with actual experimental results. Consequently, breeders can easily design CAPS/dCAPS markers using the CAPS Maker platform to develop new soybean cultivars with beneficial agronomic traits. This platform is freely accessible at https://tgil.donga.ac.kr/CAPSMaker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's competitive and rapidly developing market, the importance of innovative products is increasing. Innovative products are needed to maintain growth and competitiveness. For this purpose, companies study on innovative applications and try new methods in product development processes. In this context, this study focuses on integrating the TRIZ tool into the product development process and producing creative solutions to the problems encountered during the design and development phase. And the benefit of TRIZ is discussed by conducting a case study involving the development of an innovative product. In the case study, the development process of the oil cap, which is located on the propeller shaft used to transmit torque and rotation in motor vehicles and whose main function is to provide sealing between the external environment and the internal volume of the propeller shaft, is discussed. The reason why the oil cap was chosen as a case study was the difficulty encountered in the design process, as the oil cap was expected to both provide sealing and allow air flow in the area where it was positioned. TRIZ methodology was successfully implemented to development of the oil cap. As a result of the study, an innovative product was developed, and validated by implementing tests. Thus, TRIZ's contribution to innovative product development was objectively demonstrated with a case study in which a commercialized product was developed. Besides, a practical guide based on real study, which designers could apply in innovative product development, was presented by this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclic alternating patterns (CAP) occur in electroencephalogram (EEG) signals during non-rapid eye movement sleep. The analysis of CAP can offer insights into various sleep disorders. The first step is the identification of phases A and B for the CAP cycles. In this work, we develop an easy-to-implement accurate system to differentiate between CAP A and CAP B. Small segments of the EEG signal are processed using Gaussian filters to obtain sub-band components. Features are extracted using some statistical characteristics of these signal components. Minimum redundancy maximum relevance test is employed to identify the more significant features. Three different machine learning classifiers are considered and their performance is compared. The results are analyzed for both the balanced and unbalanced datasets. The k-nearest neighbour (kNN) classifier achieves 79.14 % accuracy and F-1 score of 79.24 % for the balanced dataset. The proposed method outperforms the existing methods for CAP classification. It is easy-to-implement and can be considered as a candidate for real-time deployment. • Gaussian filtering scheme is employed to obtain sub-band components. • Statistical features are extracted from each of the signal components. • Significance of features is validated using minimum redundancy maximum relevance test. • Classification results are evaluated for three different machine learning classifiers. • The proposed method performs superior to the existing schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the use of initial coin offerings (ICOs) as a means of fundraising for companies through the issuance of blockchain‐based tokens. Specifically, we investigate how a company can implement ICOs and issue tokens supported by its products while taking into account the presence of network effects. We examine several aspects of ICOs, including the impacts of network effect on the company's optimal token sales design, such as the optimal token issuance price, the ICO cap (which refers to the number of tokens to be issued), and the amount of funds raised. We also consider the cases of deterministic and uncertain network effects, the impacts of limited speculators purchasing tokens during the ICO period, the comparison between ICOs and traditional bank financing, and the impact of ICO cost. The research unfolds in five key parts. Firstly, leveraging a baseline model, we derive equilibrium outcomes and the optimal token sales design, discerning the impact of deterministic and uncertain network effects. Notably, network effect uncertainty consistently benefits companies, ensuring profit resilience despite potential challenges, although in the face of such uncertainty, the ICO company may decrease the raised fund. Secondly, we investigate the consequences of a limited number of speculators in the ICO landscape, finding that adjustments on the token sales design are not required under low expected network effect. Thirdly, a comparative study between ICOs and bank financing reveals distinctive advantages of ICOs. ICOs prove capable of decreasing profit volatility while maintaining an equivalent profit compared to traditional bank financing. This insight offers valuable guidance for companies seeking optimal financing methods aligned with their risk preferences. Lastly, the impact of ICO cost on outcomes and token sales design is scrutinized. Contrary to expectations, ICO cost does not uniformly lead to an increase in the ICO cap, underscoring the nuanced relationship between costs and fundraising strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving soft subgrades in road construction is essential for efficient machinery use, reducing gravel layer thickness, and enhancing pavement performance. Traditional methods like gravel replacement and chemical stabilisation are costly and harmful to the environment. Geosynthetics offer a cost-effective, eco-friendly alternative, but their full potential in Australian pavement design remains untapped due to limited research on estimating their modulus. This study addresses this gap by modeling geosynthetic-stabilised subgrades in a controlled environment and conducting plate load tests. Results show that incorporating geocomposites reduces capping layer thickness by 25% and overall granular cover by 20%. By developing a method to estimate geosynthetic-stabilised subgrade modulus and integrating it into design charts, this research aims to promote more efficient and sustainable road construction practices in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study covered the evaluation of performance characteristics and validation of five commercial ELISA kits for the detection of a banned antimicrobial, chloramphenicol (CAP), in muscle and aquaculture products. CAP has been banned in the European Union since 1994, but is still authorised in some countries in the world. In 2019, the European Union set a new Reference Point for Action (RPA), decreasing the acceptable limit of CAP in animal tissues for human consumption from 0.30 µg/kg to 0.15 µg/kg. Validations were performed according to the European Regulation EC/2021/808 and to the European Guideline on Screening Method Validation (2023). The detection capabilities CCβ were all determined under the RPA, but were 3 to 15 times higher than the announced limit of detection (LOD). False negative rates were satisfactory for all the kits (≤ 5%) and false positive rates were acceptable. All of them were found out to be applicable to aquaculture products and meat at a common CCβ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AI is anticipated to improve human decision-making across various domains, often in high-stakes, difficult tasks. However, human reliance on AI recommendations is often inappropriate. A common approach to address this is to provide explanations about the AI output to decision makers, but results have been mixed so far. It often remains unclear when people can rely appropriately on AI and when explanations can help. In this work, we conducted a lab experiment (N = 34) to investigate how the appropriateness of human reliance on (explainable) AI depends on the mental workload induced by different decision difficulties. Instead of self-assessments, we used EEG (Emotiv Epoc Flex head cap, 32 wet electrodes) to more directly measure participants' mental workload. We found that the difficulty of a decision, indicated by the induced mental workload, strongly influences participants' ability to rely appropriately on AI, as assessed through relative self-reliance, relative AI reliance, and decision accuracy with and without AI. While reliance was appropriate for low mental workload decisions, participants were prone to overreliance in high mental workload decisions. Explanations had no significant effect in either case. Our results imply that alternatives to the common ‘recommend-and-explain’ approach should be explored to assist human decision-making in challenging tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A spherical t-design is a set of points on the unit sphere, which provides an equal weight quadrature rule integrating exactly all spherical polynomials of degree at most t and has a sharp error bound for approximations on the sphere. This paper introduces a set of points called a spherical cap t-subdesign on a spherical cap\scrC (e3, r) with center e3 = (0, 0, 1)\top and radius r\in (0,\pi) induced by the spherical t-design. We show that the spherical cap t-subdesign provides an equal weight quadrature rule integrating exactly all zonal polynomials of degree at most t and all functions expanded by orthonormal functions on the spherical cap which are defined by shifted Legendre polynomials of degree at most t. We apply the spherical cap t-subdesign and the orthonormal basis functions on the spherical cap to non-polynomial approximation of continuous functions on the spherical cap and present theoretical approximation error bounds. We also apply spherical cap t-subdesigns to sparse signal recovery on the upper hemisphere, which is a spherical cap with r = 0.5\pi. Our theoretical and numerical results show that spherical cap t-subdesigns can provide a good approximation on spherical caps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA markers have broad applications, including marker-assisted selection (MAS) for breeding new cultivars. Currently, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have become a preferred choice of markers for molecular geneticists and breeders. They offer many advantages, such as high abundance and coverage in the genome, codominant inheritance, locus specificity, and flexibility for high-throughput genotyping/detection formats, and they are relatively inexpensive. The availability of reference genome sequences enables precise identification of candidate genes and SNPs associated with a trait of interest through quantitative trait loci mapping and genome-wide association studies. Such SNPs can be converted into markers for their application in MAS in crop breeding programs. Cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers amplify short genomic sequences around the polymorphic endonuclease restriction site. This review provides insight into the recent advancements made in the development and application of CAPS markers in several horticultural plants. We discussed many new tools that aid faster and more accurate design of CAPS markers from the whole genome resequencing data. The developed CAPS markers offer immense application in germplasm screening and field trials, genomic loci mapping, identifying candidate genes, and MAS of important horticultural traits such as disease resistance, fruit quality and morphology, and genetic purity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A philosophy for the design of novel, lightweight, multi-layered armor, referred to as Composite Armor Philosophy (CAP), which can adapt to the passive protection of light-, medium-, and heavy-armored vehicles, is presented in this study. CAP can serve as a guiding principle to assist designers in comprehending the distinct roles fulfilled by each component. The CAP proposal comprises four functional layers, organized in a suggested hierarchy of materials. Particularly notable is the inclusion of a ceramiccomposite principle, representing an advanced and innovative solution in the field of armor design. This paper showcases real-world defense industry applications, offering case studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of this advanced approach. CAP represents a significant milestone in the history of passive protection, marking an evolutionary leap in the field. This philosophical approach provides designers with a powerful toolset with which to enhance the protection capabilities of military vehicles, making them more resilient and better equipped to meet the challenges of modern warfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of aquaculture products and, in turn, the importance of the aquaculture industry are increasing with the depletion of global fishery resources. In the flow-through aquaculture systems used in Korea, olive flounders are overcrowded near the central outlet, causing stress, and the sharp central outlet hole injures the olive flounders. Therefore, in this study, we propose a central outlet cap that can prevent overcrowding and injuries in olive flounders near the central outlet in a flow-through aquaculture system. An L27(35) orthogonal array was constructed using five central outlet cap design variables, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was performed for each experimental point. The pressure drop between the tank inlet and the central outlet was evaluated, and the experimental point with the highest pressure drop was identified. In addition, the internal fluid velocity of the experimental point with the highest pressure drop value was confirmed to be improved compared to the initial flow-through aquaculture system. The central outlet cap designed in this study is expected to be economically beneficial to aquaculture by reducing the overcrowding of olive flounder and preventing injury to olive flounder while improving the internal fluid velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of a wood wall connected by wood nails and twist nails was tested. It was found that during the monotonic load testing, the wood nails connected to the shear panel and stud at the column bottom broke when the deformation reached 12.1 mm. However, the primary failure mode was that the twist nails bent and the head cap became dented in the shear panel. For reciprocating loads, it was found that the wood nails experienced local fracture on the tensile side. The skeleton curve of the wood wall connected by twist nails showed a good trend of bearing capacity changes in both tension and compression sides. Based on the properties of the standard wood wall, a new T-shaped fastener was designed for the midply wood wall. The lateral performance of the reinforced standard wood shear wall and midply wood shear wall were tested. By adding T-shaped pull-up fasteners, sandwich wall structure and double row nails, the strength, stiffness, and ductility of the midply wood wall were substantially better than those of standard walls connected with twist nails using conventional pull-up fasteners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the progress in the development of innovative EEG acquisition systems, their use in dynamic applications is still limited by motion artifacts compromising the interpretation of the collected signals. Therefore, extensive research on the genesis of motion artifacts in EEG recordings is still needed to optimize existing technologies, shedding light on possible solutions to overcome the current limitations. We identified three potential sources of motion artifacts occurring at three different levels of a traditional biopotential acquisition chain: the skin-electrode interface, the connecting cables between the detection and the acquisition systems, and the electrode-amplifier system. The identified sources of motion artifacts were modelled starting from experimental observations carried out on EEG signals. Consequently, we designed customized EEG electrode systems aiming at experimentally disentangling the possible causes of motion artifacts. Both analytical and experimental observations indicated two main residual sites responsible for motion artifacts: the connecting cables between the electrodes and the amplifier and the sudden changes in electrode-skin impedance due to electrode movements. We concluded that further advancements in EEG technology should focus on the transduction stage of the biopotentials amplification chain, such as the electrode technology and its interfacing with the acquisition system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Western Climate Initiative cap-and-trade program is presented as a substantial contributor to reach the climate targets set by the governments in California and Québec, by constraining emissions through declining caps. Some doubts have however been cast on the effectiveness of this program. Using a supply–demand model and published data for the third compliance period (2018–2020), we estimate five scenarios for future emissions and changes in the program's features, and we analyse the resulting price path for compliance instruments. Our key contribution rests in the identification of the key drivers of the existing overallocation. Caps were set too high, and less emissions are actually covered compared to what is officially announced (76% in California, against a claimed 80%). Offset credits also contribute to the availability of compliance instruments. These drivers result in an excess of available instruments until 2030, preventing the cap-and-trade program to play its constraining role: caps will be exceeded and emission targets missed, while fully complying with the cap-and-trade requirements. However, putting an end to overallocation would not be sufficient to reach climate targets. Governments should either reduce the level of existing allowance caps by 19–24%, or about 385 Mt, or increase the amount of covered emissions without changing the level of current caps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study examined the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among ethnically diverse Black men (BM) with prostate cancer (CaP) in the United States. Methods: A convergent parallel mixed-methods design, employing both qualitative and quantitative research, involved recruiting Black CaP survivors through multiple channels. The target population was native-born BM (NBBM), African-born BM (ABBM), and Caribbean-born BM (CBBM). QoL for all men was assessed using The Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P) measure, which includes five domains: physical- (PWB), emotional- (EWB), social-(SWB), and functional-wellbeing (FWB), and a CaP subscale (PCS). A subset of men completed qualitative interviews. Demographic and clinical characteristics were also collected. Results: Black CaP survivors aged 49–85 participated in the study (n = 108), with a subset (n = 31) completing a qualitative interview. Participants were mainly NBBM (72.2%) and treated with radiotherapy (51.9%). The FACT-P scale total mean score (± SD) was 114 ± 24.1 (theoretical range 0–156), with lower scores reported on the SWB, FWB, and EWB domains. The mixed-methods findings approach included meta-inferences derived from integrating the corresponding quantitative and qualitative data, covering all the domains within the FACT-P. Conclusion: Black CaP survivors experienced significant burdens that impacted their overall HRQoL. The analysis revealed impacts on physical, social, and emotional well-being, with variations among ethnic groups suggesting the need for culturally tailored interventions. EWB was also profoundly impacted by CaP treatment, with universal emotional burdens emphasized across all groups. Healthcare providers must recognize and address these multifaceted needs to promote better outcomes and HRQoL for Black CaP survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the ease of propagating fruit tree species through cloning, the economic viability of their breeding programs hinges on protecting breeders' rights. This necessitates the development of highly accurate DNA markers for cultivar identification. Here, we present a methodology for the rapid design of cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers to discriminate newly bred Japanese citrus cultivars from genetically related cultivars. We first compared the performance of ddRAD-seq and MIG-seq in citrus germplasm. The ddRAD-seq libraries generated using EcoRI and HindIII restriction enzymes yielded the highest number of polymorphisms. Subsequently, ddRAD-seq with EcoRI and HindIII was employed to analyze 29 citrus cultivars and thus identify 331,801 genome-wide polymorphisms. A semi-automated bioinformatics pipeline was then utilized to identify candidate CAPS markers, resulting in the discovery of 14,072 potential markers. Of these candidates, 52 were chosen for validation based on their recognition by the PstI restriction enzyme. This evaluation resulted in the development of 11 highly discriminative CAPS markers. Remarkably, a combination of only six such markers was sufficient to differentiate newly bred cultivars from their genetically related parents. The single restriction enzyme employed for these markers facilitates straightforward multiplexing. Finally, a combination of one multiplex marker testing two loci and four singleplex markers was successfully selected that completely discriminated the cultivars other than the bud sports used in this study. The pipeline established here extends beyond citrus and has the potential to simplify marker development and cultivar protection in various plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the construction process of mass concrete structures, the large temperature gradient due to exothermic hydration makes the mass concrete highly susceptible to cracking. This paper carried out research on temperature control methods of mass concrete for the purpose of ensuring construction quality based on the construction of Fengyi cable-stayed bridge caps. Firstly, the temperature and stress change rule in the concrete pouring process of the caps was analyzed though the finite element method (FEM). Then, targeted-oriented comprehensive temperature control schemes were formulated according to the structural characteristics and construction environment of the cap, including the optimization of the material ratio, the arrangement of crack-resistant reinforcing steel, the design of a water pipe cooling scheme and reasonable maintenance. Finally, the whole bridge cap construction process using the optimized water pipe cooling solution was monitored, and the temperature gap between inside and outside the concrete satisfied the specification requirements rigorously. In the concrete demolding session, the concrete surface was smooth and no cracks were found, which indicates the temperature control scheme is reasonable and effective. The research results have reference significance for the pouring and temperature control of mass concrete for bridge caps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multimodal automatic modulation recognition (MAMR) has emerged as a prominent research area. The effective fusion of features from different modalities is crucial for MAMR tasks. An effective multimodal fusion mechanism should maximize the extraction and integration of complementary information. Recently, fusion methods based on cross-modal attention have shown high performance. However, they overlook the differences in information intensity between different modalities, suffering from quadratic complexity. To this end, we propose an efficient Alignment before Fusion Transformer Network (AbFTNet) based on an in-phase quadrature (I/Q) and Fractional Fourier Transform (FRFT). Specifically, we first align and correlate the feature representations of different single modalities to achieve mutual information maximization. The single modality feature representations are obtained using the self-attention mechanism of the Transformer. Then, we design an efficient cross-modal aggregation promoting (CAP) module. By designing the aggregation center, we integrate two modalities to achieve the adaptive complementary learning of modal features. This operation bridges the gap in information intensity between different modalities, enabling fair interaction. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed methods, we conduct experiments on the RML2016.10a dataset. The experimental results show that multimodal fusion features significantly outperform single-modal features in classification accuracy across different signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Compared to other methods, AbFTNet achieves an average accuracy of 64.59%, with a 1.36% improvement over the TLDNN method, reaching the state of the art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strut‐and‐tie modeling (STM) is commonly employed in the design of multiple pile caps in bridge structures. However, the construction of the model can be complicated by manual and experience‐related challenges. Based on load‐path modeling (LPM), this study presents analytical solutions for solving the elastic stress distribution in multiple‐pile caps with various structural configurations. This is accomplished by employing the transparent LPM approach that combines graphical and analytical features. It is found that the LPM is able to capture the distribution of transverse tensile stresses in the bottom region of multiple‐pile caps. At the same time, direct equations are developed to calculate the resultant transverse tension forces in multiple‐pile caps. The LPM results can be used as a quantitative basis for constructing strut‐and‐tie models. Finally, a worked example is provided to show the efficiency of the proposed LPM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Connectivity Augmentation Problem (CAP) together with a well-known special case thereof known as the Tree Augmentation Problem (TAP) are among the most basic Network Design problems. There has been a surge of interest recently to find approximation algorithms with guarantees below 2 for both TAP and CAP, culminating in the currently best approximation factor for both problems of 1.393 through quite sophisticated techniques. We present a new and arguably simple matching-based method for the well-known special case of leaf-to-leaf instances. Combining our work with prior techniques, we readily obtain a (4 / 3 + ε) -approximation for Leaf-to-Leaf CAP by returning the better of our solution and one of an existing method. Prior to our work, a 4 / 3 -guarantee was only known for Leaf-to-Leaf TAP instances on trees of height 2. Moreover, when combining our technique with a recently introduced stack analysis approach, which is part of the above-mentioned 1.393-approximation, we can further improve the approximation factor to 1.29, obtaining for the first time a factor below 4 3 for a nontrivial class of TAP/CAP instances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny 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.)

Among the different hydrogen premixed combustion concepts, direct injection (DI) is one of the most promising for internal combustion engine (ICE) applications. However, to fully exploit the benefits of this solution, the optimization of the mixture preparation process is a crucial factor. In the present work, a study of the hydrogen-air mixture formation process in a DI H 2 -ICE for off-road applications was performed through 3D-CFD simulations. First, a sensitivity analysis on the injection timing was carried out to select the optimal injection operating window, capable of maximizing mixture homogeneity, without a significant volumetric efficiency reduction. Then, different spray injector guiding caps were tested to assess their effect on in-cylinder dynamics and mixture characteristics consequently. Finally, the impact of swirl intensity on hydrogen distribution has been assessed. The optimization of the combustion chamber geometry has allowed the achievement of significant improvements in terms of mixture homogeneity. • Diesel engines have high retrofit potential in H2 conversion. • Early injection timings increase uniformity, H2 backflow has to be avoided. • Injector cap properly guide hydrogen jet; not sufficient as a stand-alone solution. • Intense swirl severely reduces mixture homogeneity into the cylinder. • Combination of spray cap and swirl chamfers design improves homogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate sensor placement is vital for non-invasive brain imaging, particularly for functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and diffuse optical tomography (DOT), which lack standardized layouts such as those in electroencephalography (EEG). Custom, manually prepared probe layouts on textile caps are often imprecise and labor intensive. We introduce a method for creating personalized, 3D-printed headgear, enabling the accurate translation of 3D brain coordinates to 2D printable panels for custom fNIRS and EEG sensor layouts while reducing costs and manual labor. Our approach uses atlas-based or subject-specific head models and a springrelaxation algorithm for flattening 3D coordinates onto 2D panels, using 10-5 EEG coordinates for reference. This process ensures geometrical fidelity, crucial for accurate probe placement. Probe geometries and holder types are customizable and printed directly on the cap, making the approach agnostic to instrument manufacturers and probe types. Our ninjaCap method offers 2.7 x 1.8 mm probe placement accuracy. Over the last five years, we have developed and validated this approach with over 50 cap models and 500 participants. A cloud-based ninjaCap generation pipeline along with detailed instructions is now available at openfnirs.org. The ninjaCap marks a significant advancement in creating individualized neuroimaging caps, reducing costs and labor while improving probe placement accuracy, thereby reducing variability in research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Egyptian Journal of Archaeological & Restoration Studies is the property of Sohag University, Archaeological & Restoration Center 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.)

Precise positioning of solder joints in body-in-white is an important step in realizing intelligent quality inspection of solder joints. In conventional factory environments, affected by factors such as light, surface oil, and electrode cap wear, the burnt black outline layer at the solder joints is discontinuous. This makes the gray scale distribution of the internal area of the solder joint more uncertain, and the accuracy of conventional visual circular positioning detection methods is not high. This paper uses a combination of texture feature analysis and regional statistics to locate the solder joints of the body-in-white. Experiments have proved that this method This method can show high resistance to light interference and achieve precise positioning of solder joints in complex factory environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coffee berry borers are the major pest on coffee plants that can reduce the rate of production quality and quantity. An attractant is used to control and suppress the growth of the insects. This research aims to study and identify the combination of methanol and ethanol "cap tikus" as an attractant to protect the plants. This research used a randomized block design using the combinations of methanol-ethanol "cap tikus" with the ratios of 3:1, 2:1, and 1:1. The traps were placed on the coffee trees five times every five days. The combination of methanol-ethanol could be synergistic in attracting female beetles. The highest number of trapped coffee berry borers were on the ratios of 3:1 (28.19%) and 2:1 (27.98%), while the lowest one was found on ethanol "cap tikus" (3.74%). There was an unstable number of trapped borers. The highest trapped insects were on the 15th day, but then it declined on the 20th and 25th days. The trap could also be applied to other types of insects. The combination of methanol-ethanol could be used for monitoring and controlling the beetles, the causal of plant borer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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DNA markers serve as essential tools in breeding selection and genetic analysis. However, developing DNA markers can be time-consuming and labor-intensive due to the need to identify polymorphisms between cultivars/lines and to design suitable primers. To address these challenges. we have developed DNAMarkMaker. a tool designed to automate the process of primer design for Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ANNIS) and Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequences (CAPS) markers, utilizing resequencing data. One key feature of DNAMarkMaker is its user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI), ensuring its accessibility and ease of use, even for researchers not well-versed in bioinforniatics. We confirmed DNAMarkMaker's applicability by developing DNA markers for rice, potato, and tumip--each representing distinct genome structures: homozygous diploid. heterozygous autotetraploid, and heterozygous diploid, respectively. DNAMarkMaker will contribute to the rapid and efficient development of DNA markers. accelerating breeding and genetic analysis in various crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseño y Comunicación is the property of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseno y Comunicacion 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.)

The foundation of the offshore substation mainly adopts the structure of a conductor support frame, and the installation of the upper blocks of the offshore substation mainly employs a lifting vessel for hoisting. The "Zhegen Sha 300 MW Offshore Wind Power Project" adopts a high-pile cap foundation for the offshore substation, making use of a translational installation method for the upper blocks. The innovative foundation design and installation scheme together form the basis of this project, which is explored in detail in this paper. Numerical simulations examining the bearing performance of the high-pile cap foundation during the translational process of the upper blocks are also performed, allowing finer insights into the design and construction of offshore wind power projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]