Search Results (28,961)

Bridge crane control systems are complex, multivariable, and nonlinear. However, traditional fuzzy PID control methods rely heavily on expert experience for initial parameter tuning and lack adaptive adjustment for the fuzzy universe. To address these issues, we propose a variable universe fuzzy PID controller based on the improved sparrow search algorithm (ISSA-VUFPID). First, tent chaotic mapping is introduced to initialize the sparrow population, enhancing the algorithm’s global search capability. Second, the positioning strategy of the northern goshawk exploration phase is integrated to improve the search thoroughness of sparrow discoverers within the solution space and to accelerate the optimization process. Last, an adaptive t-distribution perturbation strategy is employed to adjust the positions of sparrow followers, enhancing the algorithm’s optimization ability in the early search phase and focusing on local exploitation in the later phase to improve solution accuracy. The improved algorithm is applied to tune the initial parameters of the PID controller. Additionally, system error and its rate of change are introduced as dynamic parameters into the scaling factor, which is used to achieve adaptive adjustment of the fuzzy universe, thereby enhancing the safety and reliability of the control system. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed ISSA-VUFPID control method outperforms ISSA-FPID and ISSA-PID control methods. It reduces the trolley’s positioning time and minimizes the load’s maximum swing angle, demonstrating strong adaptability and robustness. This approach greatly enhances the robustness and safety of bridge crane operations. Full article

To improve the performance of the interior permanent magnet synchronous motor control system, a Markov decision model predictive current control strategy based on a lumped disturbances sliding mode disturbance observer is proposed in this paper. A fast terminal sliding mode disturbance observer based on a recursive integral sliding surface is designed to observe and compensate the unideal factors in the motor control system unified as lumped disturbances. Then, according to the characteristic of model predictive control where only the first vector in the optimal control sequence is selected and applied to the system during rolling optimization, the discounted cost criterion based on the Markov decision process is introduced to enhance the control performance of the system. The compensation of lumped disturbances can eliminate the impact of unideal factors, enhance the dynamic performance of the speed loop, and eliminate the static errors in the current loop. The introduction of the discounted cost criterion can reduce the fluctuations in system states without affecting the system’s dynamic performance. Moreover, the proposed control strategy does not require the original control structure of the system to be changed. Experiments are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Full article

Marine eutrophication, primarily driven by nutrient over input from agricultural runoff, wastewater discharge, and atmospheric deposition, leads to harmful algal blooms (HABs) that pose a severe threat to marine ecosystems. This review explores the causes, monitoring methods, and control strategies for eutrophication in marine environments. Monitoring techniques include remote sensing, automated in situ sensors, modeling, forecasting, and metagenomics. Remote sensing provides large-scale temporal and spatial data, while automated sensors offer real-time, high-resolution monitoring. Modeling and forecasting use historical data and environmental variables to predict blooms, and metagenomics provides insights into microbial community dynamics. Control treatments encompass physical, chemical, and biological treatments, as well as advanced technologies like nanotechnology, electrocoagulation, and ultrasonic treatment. Physical treatments, such as aeration and mixing, are effective but costly and energy-intensive. Chemical treatments, including phosphorus precipitation, quickly reduce nutrient levels but may have ecological side effects. Biological treatments, like biomanipulation and bioaugmentation, are sustainable but require careful management of ecological interactions. Advanced technologies offer innovative solutions with varying costs and sustainability profiles. Comparing these methods highlights the trade-offs between efficacy, cost, and environmental impact, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches tailored to specific conditions. This review underscores the importance of combining monitoring and control strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of eutrophication on marine ecosystems. Full article

Solitary deaths, where individuals die alone and are isolated from the society, have emerged as a major social issue in South Korea. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics, perceptions, and living environments of socially vulnerable groups at risk of solitary deaths, focusing on comparing two neighborhood areas with different housing types to understand regional differences. In-depth interviews were conducted with 100 single-person households in the low-rise residential area of Sadang 4-dong and the public rental apartment area of the Gayang 5 apartment complex. The survey analysis revealed significant regional differences in factors that could influence the prevention of solitary deaths, including the connectivity between units within buildings, visual isolation, the control of appropriate indoor environments, and the frequency of social interactions. Although the Gayang 5 apartment complex, a public rental housing which is over 30 years old, offers advantages in residential safety and building maintenance compared to the low-rise residential area, this positively impacts aspects like housing satisfaction and increased social interactions. Single-person households living in multi-family and multi-household housing in low-rise residential areas generally experience poorer living environments, highlighting the need for more detailed services. These services should include enhanced support for heating and cooling costs, strengthened care services, and improved social networks. For preventing solitary deaths, region-specific strategies and screening tools are required to tailor interventions more effectively. Full article

Background: Exercise and dietary interventions are essential for maintaining weight and reducing fat accumulation. With the growing popularity of various dietary strategies, evidence suggests that combining exercise with dietary interventions offers greater benefits than either approach alone. Consequently, this combined strategy has become a preferred method for many individuals aiming to maintain health. Calorie restriction, 5/2 intermittent fasting, time-restricted feeding, and the ketogenic diet are among the most popular dietary interventions today. Aerobic exercise, resistance training, and mixed exercise are the most widely practiced forms of physical activity. Exploring the best combinations of these approaches to determine which yields the most effective results is both meaningful and valuable. Despite this trend, a comparative analysis of the effects of different exercise and diet combinations is lacking. This study uses network meta-analysis to evaluate the impact of various combined interventions on body composition and to compare their efficacy. Methods: We systematically reviewed literature from database inception through May 2024, searching PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. The study was registered in PROSPERO under the title: “Effects of Exercise Combined with Different Dietary Interventions on Body Composition: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis” (identifier: CRD42024542184). Studies were meticulously selected based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria (The included studies must be randomized controlled trials involving healthy adults aged 18 to 65 years. Articles were rigorously screened according to the specified inclusion and exclusion criteria.), and their risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Data were aggregated and analyzed using network meta-analysis, with intervention efficacy ranked by Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking (SUCRA) curves. Results: The network meta-analysis included 78 randomized controlled trials with 5219 participants, comparing the effects of four combined interventions: exercise with calorie restriction (CR+EX), exercise with time-restricted eating (TRF+EX), exercise with 5/2 intermittent fasting (5/2F+EX), and exercise with a ketogenic diet (KD+EX) on body composition. Intervention efficacy ranking was as follows: (1) Weight Reduction: CR+EX > KD+EX > TRF+EX > 5/2F+EX (Relative to CR+EX, the effect sizes of 5/2F+EX, TRF+EX and KD+EX are 2.94 (−3.64, 9.52); 2.37 (−0.40, 5.15); 1.80 (−1.75, 5.34)). (2) BMI: CR+EX > KD+EX > 5/2F+EX > TRF+EX (Relative to CR+EX, the effect sizes of 5/2F+EX, TRF+EX and KD+EX are 1.95 (−0.49, 4.39); 2.20 (1.08, 3.32); 1.23 (−0.26, 2.71)). (3) Body Fat Percentage: CR+EX > 5/2F+EX > TRF+EX > KD+EX (Relative to CR+EX, the effect sizes of 5/2F+EX, TRF+EX and KD+EX are 2.66 (−1.56, 6.89); 2.84 (0.56, 5.13); 3.14 (0.52, 5.75).). (4) Lean Body Mass in Male: CR+EX > TRF+EX > KD+EX (Relative to CR+EX, the effect sizes of TRF+EX and KD+EX are −1.60 (−6.98, 3.78); −2.76 (−7.93, 2.40)). (5) Lean Body Mass in Female: TRF+EX > CR+EX > 5/2F+EX > KD+EX (Relative to TRF+EX, the effect sizes of CR+EX, 5/2F+EX and KD+EX are −0.52 (−2.58, 1.55); −1.83 (−4.71, 1.04); −2.46 (−5.69,0.76).). Conclusion: Calorie restriction combined with exercise emerged as the most effective strategy for reducing weight and fat percentage while maintaining lean body mass. For women, combining exercise with time-restricted eating proved optimal for preserving muscle mass. While combining exercise with a ketogenic diet effectively reduces weight, it is comparatively less effective at decreasing fat percentage and preserving lean body mass. Hence, the ketogenic diet combined with exercise is considered suboptimal. Full article

This paper introduces a novel fuzzy logic switched model predictive control (MPC) algorithm for articulated steering vehicles, addressing significant path tracking challenges due to varying road conditions and vehicle speeds. Traditional single-model and parameter-based controllers struggle with tracking errors and computational inefficiencies under diverse operational conditions. Therefore, a kinematics-based MPC algorithm is first developed, showing strong real-time performance but encountering accuracy issues on low-adhesion surfaces and at high speeds. Then, a 4-DOF dynamics-based MPC algorithm is designed to enhance tracking accuracy and control stability. The proposed solution is a switched MPC strategy, integrating a fuzzy control system that dynamically switches between kinematics-based and dynamics-based MPC algorithms based on error, solution time, and heading angle indicators. Subsequently, simulation tests are conducted using SIMULINK and ADAMS to verify the performance of the proposed algorithm. The results confirm that this fuzzy-based MPC algorithm can effectively mitigate the drawbacks of single-model approaches, ensuring precise, stable, and efficient path tracking across diverse adhesion road conditions. Full article

Background: Despite the effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), the actual participation rate in CR is low. While home-based CR offers a viable alternative, it faces challenges in participation due to factors such as a lack of self-motivation and fear of exercising without supervision. Utilizing a mobile healthcare application (app) during counseling may be an effective strategy for patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess whether 6 weeks of home-based CR with exercise readjustment using a mobile app is an effective therapy for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: Post-AMI patients eligible for home-based CR were randomized into the intervention group (CR-Mobile) and the control group, which followed the usual home-based CR protocol (CR-Usual). Both groups participated in a 6-week home-based CR program, with exercise readjustment and encouragement carried out every 2 weeks. The CR-Mobile group was supervised using data recorded in the mobile app, while the CR-Usual group was supervised via phone consultations. The primary outcome measured was maximal oxygen consumption (VO_2max). Results: Within-group comparisons showed significant improvements in VO_2max (P_CR-Mobile = 0.011 vs. P_CR-Usual = 0.020) and METs (P_CR-Mobile = 0.011 vs. P_CR-Usual = 0.011) for both groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that a 6-week home-based CR program with exercise readjustment using a mobile app can potentially enhance exercise capacity as effectively as verbal supervision. Full article

To evaluate reservoir porosity accurately, a method based on the bidirectional temporal convolutional network (BiTCN), bidirectional long short-term memory network (BiLSTM), and attention mechanism (AM) optimized by the improved sparrow search algorithm (ISSA) is proposed. Firstly, the sparrow search algorithm improved by a phased control step size strategy and dynamic random Cauchy mutation is introduced. Secondly, the superiority of the ISSA is confirmed by the test functions of Congress on Evolutionary Computation in 2022 (CEC-2022). Furthermore, the experimental findings are assessed using the Wilcoxon test, which provides additional evidence of the ISSA’s superiority against the competing algorithms. Finally, the BiTCN-BiLSTM-AM is optimized by the ISSA, and the ISSA-BiTCN-BiLSTM-AM was applied to reservoir porosity construction in the Midlands basin. The results showed that the RMSE and MAE of the proposed model were 0.4293 and 0.5696, respectively, which verified the effectiveness and success rate of reservoir parameter construction by addressing the shortcomings in the capabilities shown by conventional interpretation procedures. Full article

The present study investigates the public health impact of flooding on leptospirosis incidence after Storm Daniel in Thessaly, Greece, in September 2023. A notable increase in cases was observed, with seven cases of female patients and a mean age of 40.2 years, indicating a significant risk among working-age adults. From the end of September to the beginning of November 2023, a total of 35 patients from flood-prone areas presented to the Emergency Department of the Tertiary University Hospital of Larissa. Diagnosis of leptospirosis was established by meeting the criteria suggested by the national public health organisation (EODY)-compatible clinical course, epidemiological exposure, molecular and serologic confirmation by the detection of immunoglobulin M antibodies to leptospira spp. using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time quantitative PCR for the molecular detection of leptospira. The larger part (84.6%) of leptospirosis cases were associated with contact with floodwater. The majority of these patients (71.4%) were from the prefecture of Larissa, followed by 14.3% from the prefecture of Karditsa, 8.6% from the prefecture of Trikala, and 5.7% from the prefecture of Magnesia. Occupational exposure and urbanisation were key risk factors. The most prevalent clinical feature was rash (69.2%), followed by fever (61.5%) and myalgia (30.7%). The findings emphasise the need for robust public health strategies, improved sanitation, rodent control, and protective measures for sanitation workers. The data highlight the broader implications of climate change on public health and the necessity for ongoing surveillance and community education to mitigate future outbreaks. Full article

A disordered sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) environment to facilitate Na⁺ mobility was achieved by partially hydrolyzing NaBH₄ and this significantly improved Na⁺ ionic conductivity to 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 75 °C. The reaction rate of NaBH₄ self-hydrolysis, however, is determined by several parameters, including the reaction temperature, the molar ratio between NaBH₄ and H₂O, and the pH value; but these factors are hard to control. In this paper, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), capable of retaining H₂O through hydrogen bonding, was used in an attempt to better control the amount of H₂O available for NaBH₄ self-hydrolysis. This strategy led to the ionic conductivity of 1.6 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 45 °C with a Na⁺ transference number of 0.54. The amorphous nature of the PEO matrix in hydrolyzed NaBH₄ is also believed to provide a conduction path for fast Na⁺ conduction. Full article

Accessing plant resources to extract compounds of interest can sometimes be challenging. To facilitate access and limit the environmental impact, innovative cultivation strategies can be developed. Forskolin is a molecule of high interest, mainly found in the roots of Coleus forskohlii. The aim of this study was to develop aeroponic cultivation methods to provide a local source of Coleus forskohlii and to study the impact of abiotic stress on forskolin and bioactive metabolite production. Three cultivation itineraries (LED lighting, biostimulant, and hydric stress) along with a control itinerary were established. The forskolin content in the plant roots was quantified using HPLC-ELSD, and the results showed that LED treatment proved to be the most promising, increasing root biomass and the total forskolin content recovered at the end of the cultivation period threefold (710.1 ± 21.3 mg vs. 229.9 ± 17.7 mg). Statistical analysis comparing the LED itinerary to the control itinerary identified stress-affected metabolites, showing that LEDs positively influence mainly the concentration of phenolic compounds in the roots and diterpenes in the aerial parts of Coleus forskohlii. Moreover, to better define the phytochemical composition of Coleus forskohlii cultivated in France using aeroponic cultivation, an untargeted metabolomic analysis was conducted using UHPLC-HRMS/MS analysis and molecular networks on both the root and aerial parts. This study demonstrates that aeroponic cultivation, especially with the application of an LED treatment, could be a very promising alternative for a local source of Coleus forskohlii leading to easy access to the roots and aerial parts rich in forskolin and other bioactive compounds. Full article

A composite control strategy is proposed to improve the position-tracking performance and anti-interference capabilities of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs). This strategy integrates an active disturbance rejection controller (ADRC) and a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) with feedforward control. Initially, the flexibility and robustness of the ADRC are utilized in the position loop control. Subsequently, the parameters of the extended state observer (ESO) within the ADRC are optimized, benefiting from the fast convergence speed and optimal approximation provided by the RBFNN. To further enhance the dynamic tracking performance, a differential feedforward link is introduced between the desired speed and the output signal. The simulation and experimental results demonstrate that when the expected electrical angle inputs are sinusoidal and pulse signals, the incorporation of the feedforward link and the adjustment of parameters in the ADRC lead to improved position-tracking capabilities and greater adaptability to load disturbances. Full article

A confined environment is a special kind of extreme working environment, and prolonged exposure to it tends to increase psychological stress and trigger rhythmic disorders, emotional abnormalities and other phenomena, thus seriously affecting work efficiency. However, the mechanisms through which confined environments affect human health remain unclear. Therefore, this study simulates a strictly controlled confined environment and employs integrative multi-omics techniques to analyze the alterations in gut microbiota and metabolites of workers under such conditions. The aim is to identify metabolic biomarkers and elucidate the relationship between gut microbiota and metabolites. High-throughput sequencing results showed that a confined environment significantly affects gut microbial composition and clusters subjects’ gut microbiota into two enterotypes (Bla and Bi). Differences in abundance of genera Bifidobacterium, Collinsella, Ruminococcus_gnavus_group, Faecalibacterium, Bacteroides, Prevotella and Succinivibronaceae UCG-002 were significant. Untarget metabolomics analyses showed that the confined environment resulted in significant alterations in intestinal metabolites and increased the activity of the body’s amino acid metabolism and bile acid metabolism pathways. Among the metabolites that differed after confined environment living, four metabolites such as uric acid and beta-PHENYL-gamma-aminobutyric acid may be potential biomarkers. Further correlation analysis demonstrated a strong association between the composition of the subjects’ gut microbiota and these four biomarkers. This study provides valuable reference data for improving the health status of workers in confined environments and facilitates the subsequent proposal of targeted prevention and treatment strategies. Full article

This study explores the effects of Zn addition through micro-alloying on the microstructure and discharge performance of Mg-Al-Mn-Ca alloy anodes for magnesium-air batteries. The results show that the second-phase particles (d > 1 μm) in a Mg-Al-Mn-Ca alloy promote dynamic recrystallization (DRX) via particle-stimulated nucleation (PSN), resulting in a uniform equiaxed grain structure and fiber texture. In contrast, Zn and Ca co-segregation in a Mg-Al-Mn-Ca-Zn alloy facilitates continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) and, combined with the PSN mechanism, forms a unique structure where three types of grains with different grain boundary densities coexist. The addition of Zn and Ca effectively reduces the c/a axis ratio, promoting texture homogenization. The Mg-Al-Mn-Ca alloy exhibits rough discharge surfaces due to simultaneous discharge at numerous grain boundaries and severe hydrogen evolution corrosion from micro-galvanic effects, inducing the chunk effect (CE). Conversely, the structure where three types of grains with different grain boundary densities coexist in the Mg-Al-Mn-Ca-Zn alloy promotes discharge product detachment through stress cracking, achieving uniform discharge and significantly enhancing discharge performance. The uniform texture reduces hydrogen evolution corrosion, improving anode utilization. This study demonstrates that controlling the microstructure, particularly grain boundary density and grain texture, enables the development of high-performance Mg-Al-Mn-Ca-Zn alloy anodes, especially at higher current densities, offering a new strategy for designing efficient magnesium alloy anode materials. Full article

The steady increase in temperature due to global warming can significantly impact weed growth. This study investigates the response of the yellow foxtail (Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. & Schult.) grass weed and the Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) broadleaf weed to increasing temperature conditions, simulating future climate conditions. Temperature treatments included growing these weeds in three temperature-controlled growth chambers: control or ambient conditions (15.5/12.8 °C day/night), moderately elevated temperatures (17.2/14.4 °C), and elevated temperatures (18.8/16.1 °C). Monthly adjustments in the growth chambers simulated the natural temperature rise observed from April to June in the Southern USA, aligning with the respective treatments. Different plant parameters recorded included days to emergence, number of tillers/leaves, chlorophyll content, days to first inflorescence, biomass, and seed set. One-way ANOVA indicated a significant temperature impact on all the parameters assessed (p < 0.05), except for biomass (for both weeds) and days to first inflorescence and yield (for Palmer amaranth (p > 0.05)). The average days to emergence were the lowest under elevated temperatures (8 days for yellow foxtail and 11 days for Palmer amaranth) when compared to that for the control (10 days for yellow foxtail and 19 days for Palmer amaranth). By week 5, yellow foxtail exhibited notably greater tiller numbers under elevated temperatures compared to that of the control; a similar trend was noticed regarding the number of Palmer amaranth leaves. The average chlorophyll content was the highest under elevated temperature conditions up to week 6 and began decreasing after that for both weeds. The average yield of yellow foxtail under elevated, moderately elevated, and control temperatures was 7.55, 2.69, and 0.88 g, respectively. Even though not significant, the yield of Palmer amaranth was higher under elevated temperature conditions as compared to that under the ambient condition. The biomass of both yellow foxtail and Palmer amaranth were not significantly impacted by temperature (p > 0.05). Our research shows that as temperatures rise, weeds exhibit more vigorous growth and show higher photosynthetic efficiency, which has important implications for how we manage weeds in agriculture. These findings suggest that under warmer conditions, weeds could display more vigorous vegetative growth, thus significantly impacting crop yields. As we face ongoing global warming, it is crucial to consider how temperatures influences weed growth when designing strategies to manage weeds effectively. Full article