Search Results (7,202)

Point cloud-based BIM reconstruction is an effective approach to enabling the digital documentation of existing buildings. However, current methods often demand substantial time and expertise for the manual measurement of building dimensions and the drafting of BIMs. This paper proposes an automated approach to BIM modeling of the external surfaces of existing buildings, aiming to streamline the labor-intensive and time-consuming processes of manual measurement and drafting. Initially, multi-angle images of the building are captured using drones, and the building’s point cloud is reconstructed using 3D reconstruction software. Next, a multi-plane segmentation technique based on the RANSAC algorithm is applied, facilitating the efficient extraction of key features of exterior walls and planar roofs. The orthophotos of the building façades are generated by projecting wall point clouds onto a 2D plane. A lightweight convolutional encoder–decoder model is utilized for the semantic segmentation of windows and doors on the façade, enabling the precise extraction of window and door features and the automated generation of AutoCAD elevation drawings. Finally, the extracted features and segmented data are integrated to generate the BIM. The case study results demonstrate that the proposed method exhibits a stable error distribution, with model accuracy exceeding architectural industry requirements, successfully achieving reliable BIM reconstruction. However, this method currently faces limitations in dealing with buildings with complex curved walls and irregular roof structures or dense vegetation obstacles. Full article

There is growing interest among consumers in the nutritional value of the food they consume. The objectives of this study were (1) to document the nutritional value, with a focus on the fatty acid profile, of beef from cattle from one commercial production system that only ever received grass-based feed ingredients compared with similar animals finished in more conventional, i.e., with high-concentrate or concentrate-supplemented grass silage, production systems; (2) to determine the effect of the dietary treatments on muscles representing a range in intramuscular fat concentrations and commercial value, viz supraspinatus, semitendinosus, longissimus lumborum and psoas major; and (3) to determine if the fatty acid profile can be used to distinguish between different beef muscles. Dietary treatment and muscle type influenced the concentration of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid, with the highest concentrations observed in psoas major from cattle fed grass only. These data should be of use to the meat industry and to those updating nutritional databases. The possibility of discriminating beef according to its dietary background based on the fatty acid profile was confirmed. While this approach was moderately successful with respect to the separation of supraspinatus, longissimus lumborum and psoas major, discrimination between the more valuable longissimus lumborum and the lower-value semitendinosus is more challenging. Full article

The paper provides an in-depth investigation of techniques for improving small parcel delivery services in a private logistics company, addressing significant difficulties in customer logistics service, particularly in the growing e-commerce industry. The study addresses a gap in the existing literature by assessing 170 documented customer complaints, with an emphasis on recurring issues such as improper delivery, delays, and damaged parcels. The methodological approach uses statistical tools to determine the magnitude of delivery challenges, integrating a review of the scientific literature with real data analysis. There are 28% complaints about faulty delivery and 26% about delays, according to the statistics. It is clear that systemic improvements are urgently needed. One strategy to improve service reliability and efficiency is to use automation technologies, such as drones, smart route optimization systems, and constant human training programs. While ensuring operational sustainability, these strategies aim to address the underlying causes of consumer dissatisfaction. Full article

Land use and land cover are the main anthropogenic factors that lead to the rapid and aggressive degradation of land and interfere with the functioning of ecosystems, especially through the expansion of urbanization and the reduction in forested areas. The purpose of this article is to identify sources of official data and to build an updated dataset upon which analysis algorithms can be applied. Basic analyses were performed on the dataset to study the evolution of land use and land cover in Romania during the period 1990–2022 and to analyze whether they align with and support national and European strategies for economic development. The study is based on the historical evolution of land use and land cover over the past 30 years, which has allowed us to identify current trends and to analyze potential future positive and negative effects, and facilitates the adoption of documented corrective measures. The methodology applied is based on the collection and analysis of historical data obtained mainly from the TEMPO database managed by the National Institute of Statistics and from the annual reports of the National Environmental Protection Agency, analyzing these data, identifying current trends, and issuing specific recommendations. Monitoring the dynamics of land use during the mentioned period allowed us to identify the most important developments with positive effects (a slight increase in forested areas and minimal variations in arable land) but mostly negative effects (a drastic reduction in areas occupied by vineyards and orchards, a decrease in areas occupied by water, and a concerning increase in unproductive land). The results highlight the importance of the immediate implementation of the national general cadastre system, as well as the importance of implementing appropriate policies, legislative provisions, and land management practices aimed at environmental protection and supporting sustainable development and biodiversity in general. Full article

This paper presents a pedagogical intervention targeted at secondary school students developed by two researchers in physics. The project seeks to narrow the gender gap in STEM fields by fostering students’ critical awareness of gender stereotypes and roles, helping them to recognize the influence that gender has on their educational choices and professional aspirations. Unlike other orientation programs, here STEM subjects are not the explicit content, rather the working methodology. Our intervention adopts a project-based learning approach introduced by a board game designed to engage students in the topic. Students are guided in carrying out an autonomous investigation of gender discrepancies within their family, school, and peer contexts through a scientific approach, by administering surveys, gathering and analyzing data, and using gender indicators. The final objective is developing a Gender Report of the school. After presenting the project, we document the project experience in nine schools of the Naples (Italy) area through a qualitative analysis of students’ Reports, focusing on the gender dynamics they have identified, as well as the facilitators’ observations. Our analysis shows that traditional gender roles and stereotypes persist, yet first-hand observation may stimulate students’ critical thinking skills from a gender perspective. Full article

Background/Objectives: Macronutrients (protein, fat, and carbohydrate) provide sources of energy and play crucial roles in various physiological functions. However, sex differences in the relationships between protein, fat, and carbohydrate intakes and all-cause mortality remain unclear. The present study investigated sex differences in the relationships between protein, fat, and carbohydrate intakes and all-cause mortality using longitudinal epidemiological data. Methods: A total of 3743 healthy residents (1666 men and 2077 women) aged 40 years or older were followed up (men: 6.64 ± 1.51 years, women: 6.76 ± 1.28 years from 2013) in Shika Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. Nutrient intake was assessed at the baseline survey using the Brief Self-Administered Dietary History Questionnaire. The prospective relationship between baseline nutrient intake and all-cause mortality during the follow-up period, stratified by sex, was evaluated using two-way analysis of covariance and multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age and BMI. Results: We documented 330 deaths (179 men and 151 women) during the 10-year follow-up period. Significant interactions between death and sex were observed for the intake of total protein (p < 0.001), animal protein (p < 0.001), vegetable protein (p = 0.033), total fat (p = 0.012), and animal fat (p = 0.024). Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that total protein (p = 0.004), and animal protein (p = 0.010) decreased the all-cause mortality and increased carbohydrates (p = 0.046) in women. In men, total fat (p = 0.017) decreased the all-cause mortality. Conclusions: The present study revealed distinct sex differences in the effects of total protein, animal protein, and carbohydrate intakes on all-cause mortality. This sex difference may be due to the sex differences in nutrients intake themselves. Full article

A high-quality early childhood workforce is essential for positive child outcomes and boosting economic and social productivity. However, the Australian Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector faces significant workforce challenges and complexities. Effective governance practices are key to ensuring ECEC quality and workforce retention. This study examined the governance practices of high-quality ECEC services, using complexity theory to understand how governance impacts workforce and service quality. Subset data were derived from a larger qualitative, multiple case study that investigated long day care centres rated as Exceeding the National Quality Standard, and specifically Exceeding in Quality Area 7: Governance and Leadership. Data were collected through observations, educator interviews, and document analysis and analysed using thematic analysis. Complexity was manifested in the various models of governance structures and, consequently, in some of the governance practices across the participating long day care centres. Key practices supporting job satisfaction, retention, and workforce quality included flexible working conditions; whole-staff leadership; staff capacity building through professional development opportunities; financial capacity building to enable staff to deliver high-quality ECEC; and higher-level working conditions, such as higher qualifications and better educator–child ratios. The findings align with literature highlighting governance as critical to workforce quality and provide insights into governance practices that support workforce and service quality. Recommendations are made for policy levers at both sector and service levels to increase workforce quality and sustainability. Full article

This interpretive phenomenological study explores the perspectives of in-service, K-12 teachers in a graduate teacher education program on using goal setting to promote culturally responsive practices. The participants set two goals, documented their growth, and rated course instructional strategies that contributed to their learning. Data were collected through written reflections and responses to an anonymous midterm questionnaire in an online forum. Additional data came from the participants’ final reflections, the principal researcher’s reflective teaching notes, and end-of-semester reflections gathered by an unaffiliated critical friend after grades were posted. Coded data revealed that: 1. In-service teachers created goals that were relevant to specific areas of growth in professional learning and development in culturally responsive teaching practices and understanding diverse learners, 2. Goal setting, as a self-regulated learning strategy, serves to empower teachers toward teaching for promoting culturally responsive teaching practices, 3. Instructional supports and activities enhance personal development in becoming culturally responsive teachers, 4. Teacher educators’ reflection-on-action supports professional development. Full article

We sought to incorporate a community-based solution with a family health history (FHH) clinical support program (MeTree) integrated into well-patient appointments with the novel partnership of a public health state-level health information exchange (HIE). The Arkansas—Making History pilot project tested informatics compatibility among these systems and the patients’ electronic medical record (EPIC) in a rural clinic in the north central region of the state, having the state HIE as a means for patients to store and share their FHHs across multiple healthcare providers with updates in real time. We monitored for unexpected issues during the pilot and asked for the perspectives of patients and healthcare providers throughout the project to have a clear understanding of how to implement this project on a larger scale. The greatest barrier to project implementation was the inability of the state HIE to host or share the FHH data. We compensated for the lack of systems compatibility and documented valuable information about patient acceptability and usability of the MeTree platform, as well as gleaning important clinical outcome data from those who completed MeTree FHH accounts in an underserved area. Rural patients need additional technological support in the larger scaling of this project, both in available linkages to community clinics with patient-controlled options for how their data is stored and shared and in Internet connectivity and software options available for ease of use. Full article

Patent keyword analysis involves extracting and examining keywords from patent documents. Since patents contain detailed information about technologies, analyzing them can provide valuable insights for efficient technology management. This paper proposes a novel method for patent keyword analysis that integrates Bayesian factor analysis and social network visualization. Using Bayesian factor analysis, we extract factors representing key technologies within a domain. These factors are used as nodes in a social network analysis to explore their interrelationships. The resulting visualization aids in constructing a technology diagram, enhancing understanding of the technological structure. To evaluate the method, we analyze patents related to digital therapeutic technologies. Experimental results demonstrate the approach’s effectiveness and its applicability to practical technology analysis tasks. Our results indicate that data analysis serves as a core technology in the field of digital therapy, while technologies such as remote patient monitoring, device systems, and signal processing function as supporting technologies for data analysis. The findings contribute to technology management practices, including strategy development, by analyzing target technologies and deriving actionable insights across various domains, including digital therapeutics. Full article

In its long-term vision for tourism development (2017–2036), Thailand has chosen to focus on the development of quality tourism, which is supposed to enable sustainable tourism development and a more inclusive sharing of tourism-generated revenues. However, the use of the term “quality tourism” remains conceptually unclear, and the means by which quality tourism will enable a more inclusive sharing of wealth remain ambiguous. Taking the tourist island of Phuket as a case study, we question how quality tourism has materialized on the island and how it has affected the configuration of power between large international hotel chains and local hotel operators regarding tourism development. Guided by a critical political economy framework and based on a qualitative methodology involving triangulation of data collection among official documents, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation, we argue that quality tourism in Phuket, although justified as a form of sustainable tourism, is more akin to luxury tourism. This has led to greater concentration of wealth among large hotel chains and real estate groups who have taken advantage of quality tourism-related policies to boost their portfolios at the expense of local stakeholders. Full article

Flash droughts are rapidly evolving drought events, primarily affecting agriculture, with an onset ranging from 5 days to 8 weeks. Previous research has highlighted the significant impact of flash droughts on agriculture and ecosystems, posing unique challenges for drought monitoring and mitigation. Various indicators have been used to identify the regions and occurrences of flash droughts. However, studies indicate that a single unique indicator does not serve the purpose of identifying/monitoring flash droughts in the United States. This study aims to identify flash droughts using indicators, including the Evaporative Stress Index (ESI), Soil Moisture (SM), and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), complemented by data from the United States Drought Monitor (USDM), which is used as a reference. The research examines flash droughts across Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana from 2000 to 2023, incorporating case studies of recent events. The findings indicate that the SM indicator demonstrates the highest consistency (91%) with the USDM, followed by SESI (64%) and NDVI (52%). Seasonally, flash droughts were most frequent in Florida and Georgia during May and October, whereas Louisiana experienced the highest occurrences between June and October. These indicators effectively reflect flash drought impacts, as documented by crop progress and condition reports from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Finally, to enhance understanding and management of flash droughts, the study proposes a Driver-Impact-Response (DRI) conceptual framework is proposed to connect the drivers, impacts, and responses. The DRI framework identifies the drivers initiating flash droughts, evaluates their impacts, and develops mitigation strategies. The DRI framework is specifically of support and management use for planners to summarize the information for decision-making. Full article

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) is a minimally invasive surgical technique for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. Despite its growing popularity, limited research has explored the influence of patient characteristics and the choice of technique on post-operative outcomes and patient satisfaction. Objective: To investigate the impact of patient characteristics and surgical technique (interlaminar vs. transforaminal) on the surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction following PELD. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 177 patients who underwent PELD (53.1% males, age = 46.11 ± 14.2 years), including 147 patients with the interlaminar approach and 30 with the transforaminal approach. Demographic data, pre-operative clinical features, surgical technique, intra-operative and post-operative complications and complaints, patient-reported outcomes (disability, quality of life, satisfaction), and revision surgery rates were documented and analyzed. The mean follow-up duration was 5.55 years ± 2.73 years. Results: No significant differences were observed in demographics, pre-operative status, or post-operative complaints and complication rates between two surgical techniques, except that transforaminal technique showed a higher incidence for dural tear and persistent muscle weakness (p = 0.028 and p = 0.046, respectively). Both techniques led to excellent patient-reported outcomes with no significant differences. Total patient satisfaction with PELD was 93.8%, which correlated positively with the absence of complications and complaints and negatively with persistent back pain, recurrent herniation and revision surgery. Conclusions: Interlaminar and transforaminal PELD are both effective and safe minimally invasive surgical techniques for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation with a high patient satisfaction rate. Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings. Full article

Energy harvesting wireless sensor networks (EH-WSNs) appear as the fundamental backbone of research that attempts to expand the lifespan and efficiency of sensor networks positioned in resource-constrained environments. This review paper provides an in-depth examination of latest developments in this area, highlighting the important components comprising routing protocols, energy management plans, cognitive radio applications, physical layer security (PLS), and EH approaches. Across a well-ordered investigation of these features, this article clarifies the notable developments in technology, highlights recent barriers, and inquires avenues for future revolution. This article starts by furnishing a detailed analysis of different energy harvesting methodologies, incorporating solar, thermal, kinetic, and radio frequency (RF) energy, and their respective efficacy in non-identical operational circumstances. It also inspects state-of-the-art energy management techniques aimed at optimizing energy consumption and storage to guarantee network operability. Moreover, the integration of cognitive radio into EH-WSNs is acutely assessed, highlighting its capacity to improve spectrum efficiency and tackle associated technological problems. The present work investigates ground-breaking methodologies in PLS that uses energy-harvesting measures to improve the data security. In this review article, these techniques are explored with respect to classical encryption and discussed from network security points of view as well.The assessment furthers criticizes traditional routing protocols and their significance in EH-WSNs as well as the balance that has long been sought between energy efficiency and security in this space. This paper closes with the importance of continuous research to tackle existing challenges and to leverage newly available means as highlighted in this document. In order to adequately serve the increasingly changing requirements of EH-WSNs, future research will and should be geared towards incorporating AI techniques with some advanced energy storage solutions. This paper discusses the integration of novel methodologies and interdisciplinary advancements for better performance, security, and sustainability for WSNs. Full article

Background: This study explored the prescribing patterns of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine H2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs) across the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the dynamic relationship between emerging evidence, regulatory actions, and clinical practices. Methods: Using a repeated cross-sectional design, prescription data from July 2019 to May 2024 were analyzed across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Segmented regression analysis was employed to assess trends before and after January 2022, reflecting the impact of emerging evidence on prescribing behaviors. Results: The results revealed a significant increase in famotidine prescriptions, from 57.56 to 303.31 per 100,000 population in England post-January 2022, reflecting early adoption of preliminary findings despite the lack of randomized controlled trial confirmation. Ranitidine prescriptions fell to near zero due to contamination concerns, while PPIs like omeprazole remained the most prescribed, with Wales reporting the highest post-2022 usage at 7445.71 per 100,000 population. Conclusions: Adherence to deprescribing guidelines was inconsistent, with a possibility that many PPI users lacked documented indications. Regional variations in prescribing trends highlighted differences in guideline implementation. These findings underscore the need for improved evidence dissemination and adherence to prescribing guidelines. Future research should include patient-level data and long-term evaluations to optimize healthcare practices. Full article