Journal Description
Applied Sciences
Applied Sciences
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on all aspects of applied natural sciences published semimonthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), Inspec, CAPlus / SciFinder, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Engineering, Multidisciplinary) / CiteScore - Q1 (General Engineering)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 16.9 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Testimonials: See what our authors say about Applied Sciences.
- Companion journals for Applied Sciences include: Applied Nano, AppliedChem, Applied Biosciences, Virtual Worlds, Spectroscopy Journal and JETA.
Impact Factor:
2.7 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
2.9 (2022)
Latest Articles
Using Dynamo for Automatic Reconstruction of BIM Elements from Point Clouds
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4078; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104078 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
The integration of 3D laser scanning and digital photogrammetry in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry has facilitated high-quality architectural surveys. However, the processes remains constrained by significant costs, extensive manual labor, and accuracy issues associated with manual data processing. This article
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The integration of 3D laser scanning and digital photogrammetry in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry has facilitated high-quality architectural surveys. However, the processes remains constrained by significant costs, extensive manual labor, and accuracy issues associated with manual data processing. This article addresses these operational challenges by introducing automated Building Information Modeling (BIM) techniques that minimize manual input through the use of Dynamo for Autodesk Revit. We developed algorithms that efficiently convert point cloud data into accurate BIM models, enhancing productivity and reducing the potential for errors. The application of these algorithms is analyzed in a case study of the Old Lifeguard Station of Fuseta, showcasing notable reductions in modeling time and improvements in accuracy. The findings suggest that automated scan-to-BIM methods could provide a viable solution for enhancing BIM workflows across the industry, with the potential for wider adoption given their impact on efficiency and model quality.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Information Modeling (BIM): Advance and Future Trends)
Open AccessArticle
Research on Seismic Performance of a Two-Story, Two-Span Underground Subway Station with Split Columns Based on the Quasi-Static Method
by
Zigang Xu, Zongyao Xia, Xiangbo Bu and Runbo Han
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4077; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104077 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
The behavior of center columns in shallow-buried underground subway station structures resembles that of high-rise buildings. In both cases, these columns experience significant vertical loads during earthquake events and are susceptible to brittle failure due to inadequate deformation capacity. In this study, the
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The behavior of center columns in shallow-buried underground subway station structures resembles that of high-rise buildings. In both cases, these columns experience significant vertical loads during earthquake events and are susceptible to brittle failure due to inadequate deformation capacity. In this study, the design concept of split columns, commonly employed in high-rise structures, is adapted for application in a two-story, two-span subway station. Initially, a comparative analysis was conducted using quasi-static pushover analysis to assess the horizontal deformation characteristics of traditional and split columns under high axial loads. Subsequently, a comprehensive quasi-static pushover analysis model encompassing the soil–structure interaction was formulated. This model was employed to investigate differences in seismic performance between traditional and innovative underground structures, considering internal forces, deformation capacity, and plastic damage of crucial elements. The analysis results demonstrate that the incorporation of split columns in a two-story, two-span subway station enhances the overall seismic performance of the structure. This enhancement arises from the fact that split columns mitigate excessive shear forces while effectively utilizing their vertical support and horizontal deformation capacities.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seismic Analysis and Design of Ocean and Underground Structures)
Open AccessArticle
Research on a Real-Time Control System for Discrete Factories Based on Digital Twin Technology
by
Shousong Jin, Fengyi Yu, Boyu Wang, Min Zhang and Yaliang Wang
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4076; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104076 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Gear factories are most typical discrete manufacturing factories. Many gear factories are striving to explore how to achieve intelligent manufacturing in order to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Digital twin technology is currently one of the most reliable ways to achieve intelligent manufacturing.
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Gear factories are most typical discrete manufacturing factories. Many gear factories are striving to explore how to achieve intelligent manufacturing in order to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Digital twin technology is currently one of the most reliable ways to achieve intelligent manufacturing. This article aims to establish a real-time control system in order to promote intelligent manufacturing for discrete manufacturing factories. Firstly, a model for a digital twin gear factory is put forward based on the characteristics of gear factories, and the composition of a real-time control system for gear factories is clarified. Then, a human–computer interaction architecture for the real-time control system is proposed. The real-time control system consists of three parts as follows: a monitoring module, a virtualizing module, and a controlling module. At work, it appears as a kind of human–machine interaction form with the three following interfaces: a monitoring window, a virtualizing window, and a controlling window. Finally, a gear factory, which is specialized in manufacturing the intermediate shaft dual gear of a new energy vehicle gearbox, develops a set of software for the real-time control system. The prototype software is obtained through some development activities such as 3D MAX and WebGL virtualization modeling and OPC UA and REST communication design.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Real-Time Systems and Industrial Internet of Things)
Open AccessArticle
An Efficient Semantic Segmentation Method for Remote-Sensing Imagery Using Improved Coordinate Attention
by
Yan Huo, Shuang Gang, Liang Dong and Chao Guan
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4075; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104075 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Semantic segmentation stands as a prominent domain within remote sensing that is currently garnering significant attention. This paper introduces a pioneering semantic segmentation model based on TransUNet architecture with improved coordinate attention for remote-sensing imagery. It is composed of an encoding stage and
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Semantic segmentation stands as a prominent domain within remote sensing that is currently garnering significant attention. This paper introduces a pioneering semantic segmentation model based on TransUNet architecture with improved coordinate attention for remote-sensing imagery. It is composed of an encoding stage and a decoding stage. Notably, an enhanced and improved coordinate attention module is employed by integrating two pooling methods to generate weights. Subsequently, the feature map undergoes reweighting to accentuate foreground information and suppress background information. To address the issue of time complexity, this paper introduces an improvement to the transformer model by sparsifying the attention matrix. This reduces the computing expense of calculating attention, making the model more efficient. Additionally, the paper uses a combined loss function that is designed to enhance the training performance of the model. The experimental results conducted on three public datasets manifest the efficiency of the proposed method. The results indicate that it excels in delivering outstanding performance for semantic segmentation tasks pertaining to remote-sensing images.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Computer Vision and Semantic Segmentation, 2nd Edition)
Open AccessArticle
Antifungal Effects of Fermented Sophora flavescens and Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus Extract
by
Ju Yeon Kim, Min Joo Chae, Yun Gon Son, Su Min Jo, Na Rae Kang, Seong Doo Kang, Kwang Dong Kim, Sang Won Lee and Jeong Yoon Kim
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4074; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104074 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
In this study, a microbial strain was isolated from humus soil to ferment Sophora flavescens and Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus extracts. The isolated microbial was identified as the Bacillus genus by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The fermented plant extracts exhibited antifungal effects against four types
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In this study, a microbial strain was isolated from humus soil to ferment Sophora flavescens and Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus extracts. The isolated microbial was identified as the Bacillus genus by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The fermented plant extracts exhibited antifungal effects against four types plant pathogen, P. carotorum, B. cinerea, C. fructicola Sau-3, and C. gloeosporioides, according to incubation time. In particular, the fermented plant extracts showed the most activity for Colletotrichum genus in inhibiting mycelium growth. Metabolite changes in fermented S. flavescens and E. sessiliflorus extracts were confirmed through LC-Q-TOF/MS. Flavonoid and peptide derivatives were improved in fermented S. flavescens and E. sessiliflorus extracts compared to their unfermented counterparts. This study suggested that isolated Bacillus microbial fermentation could be a valuable tool in improving the bioactivity of S. flavescens and E. sessiliflorus extracts, with the potential to form more environmentally friendly antifungal agents.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biological Activities and Application of Plant Extracts)
Open AccessArticle
Attention-Based Two-Branch Hybrid Fusion Network for Medical Image Segmentation
by
Jie Liu, Songren Mao and Liangrui Pan
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4073; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104073 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Accurate segmentation of medical images is vital for disease detection and treatment. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Transformer models are widely used in medical image segmentation due to their exceptional capabilities in image recognition and segmentation. However, CNNs often lack an understanding of
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Accurate segmentation of medical images is vital for disease detection and treatment. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Transformer models are widely used in medical image segmentation due to their exceptional capabilities in image recognition and segmentation. However, CNNs often lack an understanding of the global context and may lose spatial details of the target, while Transformers struggle with local information processing, leading to reduced geometric detail of the target. To address these issues, this research presents a Global-Local Fusion network model (GLFUnet) based on the U-Net framework and attention mechanisms. The model employs a dual-branch network that utilizes ConvNeXt and Swin Transformer to simultaneously extract multi-level features from pathological images. It enhances ConvNeXt’s local feature extraction with spatial and global attention up-sampling modules, while improving Swin Transformer’s global context dependency with channel attention. The Attention Feature Fusion module and skip connections efficiently merge local detailed and global coarse features from CNN and Transformer branches at various scales. The fused features are then progressively restored to the original image resolution for pixel-level prediction. Comprehensive experiments on datasets of stomach and liver cancer demonstrate GLFUnet’s superior performance and adaptability in medical image segmentation, holding promise for clinical analysis and disease diagnosis.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biomedical Engineering)
Open AccessArticle
The Nonlinear and Threshold Effect of Built Environment on Ride-Hailing Travel Demand
by
Jiexiang Yin, Feiyan Zhao, Wenyun Tang and Jianxiao Ma
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4072; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104072 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
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While numerous studies have explored the correlation between the built environment and ride-hailing demand, few have assessed their nonlinear interplay. Utilizing ride-hailing order data and multi-source built environment data from Nanjing, China, this paper uses the machine learning method, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost),
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While numerous studies have explored the correlation between the built environment and ride-hailing demand, few have assessed their nonlinear interplay. Utilizing ride-hailing order data and multi-source built environment data from Nanjing, China, this paper uses the machine learning method, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), combined with Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) and Partial Dependence Plots (PDPs) to investigate the impact of built environment factors on ride-hailing travel demand, including their nonlinear and threshold effects. The findings reveal that dining facilities have the most significant impact, with a contribution rate of 30.75%, on predicting ride-hailing travel demand. Additionally, financial, corporate, and medical facilities also exert considerable influence. The built environment factors need to reach a certain threshold or within a certain range to maximize the impact of ride-hailing travel demand. Population density, land use mix, and distance to the subway station collectively influence ride-hailing demand. The results are helpful for TNCs to allocate network ride-hailing resources reasonably and effectively.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
A Novel Nonlinear Magnetic Equivalent Circuit Model for Magnetic Flux Leakage System
by
Okan Kara and Hasan Hüseyin Çelik
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4071; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104071 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
To ensure efficient inspection using the magnetic flux leakage (MFL) method, generating a flux density near the saturation level within the tested material is essential. This requirement brings high flux density conditions in the system’s pole regions. Hence, leakage flux within the slot
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To ensure efficient inspection using the magnetic flux leakage (MFL) method, generating a flux density near the saturation level within the tested material is essential. This requirement brings high flux density conditions in the system’s pole regions. Hence, leakage flux within the slot is excessively triggered, leading to distortion of the defect signal. In this context, the system dimensions stand out as one of the most significant factors affecting the mentioned flux distributions. Therefore, various alternative solutions with different system dimensions arise in the design process of the MFL system. This study proposes a magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) model to achieve optimal system design. The proposed MEC model is designed considering the nonlinear behavior of the material, leakage flux, and fringing effects. Verification results demonstrate that the MEC model consistently tracks the finite element analysis (FEA) results in calculating the flux densities. Furthermore, the relative errors in the flux density calculations of the tested material are at a maximum level of 10.2% and an average of 5.2% compared to the FEA. These findings indicate that the proposed MEC model can be effectively utilized in rapid prototyping and optimization procedures of MFL system design by providing fast solutions with reasonable accuracy.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Applications of Non-destructive Testing Technologies in Materials or Engineering)
Open AccessArticle
Design and Implementation of DSLMS Algorithm Based Photoelectric Detection of Weak Signals
by
Yang Wang, Min Wang, Zishuo Song and Weihao Bian
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4070; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104070 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Accurately extracting weak signals is extremely important for overall performance and application in optoelectronic imaging and optical communication systems. While weak signals are susceptible to noise, adaptive filtering is a commonly used noise removal method. Still, its convergence speed is slow, the steady-state
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Accurately extracting weak signals is extremely important for overall performance and application in optoelectronic imaging and optical communication systems. While weak signals are susceptible to noise, adaptive filtering is a commonly used noise removal method. Still, its convergence speed is slow, the steady-state error is large, and the anti-interference ability is weak. To solve the above problems, this paper proposes a new type of variable-step-length adaptive filtering algorithm (DSLMS) based on the minutiae function, which effectively reduces the noise component in error through its combination with the pair cancelation system, utilizing the low correlation property of the noise signal, to improve the anti-noise interference ability of the adaptive filter. Using FPGA and Matlab (2018b) for experimental verification, the results show that this algorithm shows significant advantages in noise suppression, accelerated algorithm convergence, and low steady-state error, and it has effectiveness and application potential for the optoelectronic detection of weak signal processing.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Optoelectronic Detection Technologies and Systems)
Open AccessArticle
Unveiling Valuable Geomechanical Monitoring Insights: Exploring Ground Deformation in Geological Carbon Storage
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Gabriel Serrão Seabra, Marcos Vitor Barbosa Machado, Mojdeh Delshad, Kamy Sepehrnoori, Denis Voskov and Femke C. Vossepoel
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4069; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104069 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Geological Carbon Storage (GCS) involves storing CO2 emissions in geological formations, where safe containment is challenged by structural and stratigraphic trapping and caprock integrity. This study investigates flow and geomechanical responses to CO2 injection based on a Brazilian offshore reservoir model,
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Geological Carbon Storage (GCS) involves storing CO2 emissions in geological formations, where safe containment is challenged by structural and stratigraphic trapping and caprock integrity. This study investigates flow and geomechanical responses to CO2 injection based on a Brazilian offshore reservoir model, highlighting the critical interplay between rock properties, injection rates, pressure changes, and ground displacements. The findings indicate centimeter-scale ground uplift and question the conventional selection of the wellhead as a monitoring site, as it might not be optimal due to the reservoir’s complexity and the nature of the injection process. This study addresses the importance of comprehensive sensitivity analyses on geomechanical properties and injection rates for advancing GCS by improving monitoring strategies and risk management. Furthermore, this study explores the geomechanical effects of modeling flow in the caprock, highlighting the role of pressure dissipation within the caprock. These insights are vital for advancing the design of monitoring strategies, enhancing the predictive accuracy of models, and effectively managing geomechanical risks, thus ensuring the success of GCS initiatives.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Earth Sciences)
Open AccessArticle
Innovative Design of Solid-State Hydrogen Storage and Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Coupling System with Enhanced Cold Start Control Strategy
by
Jianhua Gao, Su Zhou, Lei Fan, Gang Zhang, Yongyuan Jiang, Wei Shen and Shuang Zhai
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4068; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104068 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
This paper presents an innovative thermally coupled system architecture with a parallel coolant-heated metal hydride tank (MHT) designed to satisfy the hydrogen supply requirements of proton exchange membrane fuel cell s(PEMFCs). This design solves a problem by revolutionising the cold start capability of
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This paper presents an innovative thermally coupled system architecture with a parallel coolant-heated metal hydride tank (MHT) designed to satisfy the hydrogen supply requirements of proton exchange membrane fuel cell s(PEMFCs). This design solves a problem by revolutionising the cold start capability of PEMFCs at low temperatures. During the design process, LaNi5 was selected as the hydrogen storage material, with thermodynamic and kinetic properties matching the PEMFC operating conditions. Afterwards, the MHT and thermal management subsystem were customised to integrate with the 70 kW PEMFC system to ensure optimal performance. Given the limitations of conventional high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage for cold starting, this paper provides insights into the challenges faced by the PEMFC-MH system and proposes an innovative cold start methodology that combines internal self-heating and externally assisted preheating techniques, aiming to optimise cold start time, energy consumption, and hydrogen utilisation. The results show that the PEMFC-MH system utilises the heat generated during hydrogen absorption by the MHT to preheat the PEMFC stack, and the cold start time is only 101 s, which is 59.3% shorter compared to that of the conventional method. Meanwhile, the cold start energy consumption is reduced by 62.4%, achieving a significant improvement in energy efficiency. In conclusion, this paper presents a PEMFC-MH system design that achieves significant progress in terms of time saving, energy consumption, and hydrogen utilisation.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Energy Storage and Conversion Systems, 2nd Volume)
Open AccessArticle
The Montreal Experience: Impact of Different Orthokeratology Lens Designs on Corneal Treatment Zone Characteristics
by
Remy Marcotte-Collard, Mhamed Ouzzani, Patrick Simard, Langis Michaud and Jean-Marie Hanssens
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4067; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104067 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the orthokeratology (OK) lens design, used in the Montreal Experience cohort, on corneal treatment zone characteristics and their relationship to the pupil. METHODS: This retrospective study follows previously published work and refers to the analysis of 4
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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the orthokeratology (OK) lens design, used in the Montreal Experience cohort, on corneal treatment zone characteristics and their relationship to the pupil. METHODS: This retrospective study follows previously published work and refers to the analysis of 4 different OK lenses. Tangential topography maps were obtained at baseline and after 1 month of OK lens wear. The extracted parameters are: distance treatment zone diameter (DTZD (mm)); relative peripheral power (RPP (D)); mid-peripheral width (MPW (mm)); a new concept, the plus power ratio (PPR (%)), corresponding to the coverage of the pupil area by the positive power zones. RESULTS: DTZD and MPW were significantly different between the lens designs (Welch’s ANOVA). (DTZD (OK 1: 3.68 ± 0.46 mm; OK 2: 3.06 ± 0.67; OK 3: 2.83 ± 0.54; OK 4: 3.20 ± 0.53) MPW (OK 1: 1.65 ± 0.21 mm; OK 2: 1.31 ± 0.40 mm; OK 3: 1.46 ± 0.17 mm; OK 4: 1.57 ± 0.17 mm)). PPR was significantly lower in OK 1 (40.1 ± 22.1%) than the other designs (OK 2: 53.8 ± 18.4%; OK 3: 60.3 ± 13.6; OK 4: 54.7 ± 15.3). CONCLUSION: This study shows that the corneal response to OK lens wear varies with lens design. When analyzed, topographic analysis shows that OK 1 is associated with a larger DTZD, which produces a lower PPR. This may explain why previously published results showed significantly faster axial length (AL) progression with this lens.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Feature Maps Need More Attention: A Spatial-Channel Mutual Attention-Guided Transformer Network for Face Super-Resolution
by
Zhe Zhang and Chun Qi
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4066; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104066 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Recently, transformer-based face super-resolution (FSR) approaches have achieved promising success in restoring degraded facial details due to their high capability for capturing both local and global dependencies. However, while existing methods focus on introducing sophisticated structures, they neglect the potential feature map information,
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Recently, transformer-based face super-resolution (FSR) approaches have achieved promising success in restoring degraded facial details due to their high capability for capturing both local and global dependencies. However, while existing methods focus on introducing sophisticated structures, they neglect the potential feature map information, limiting FSR performance. To circumvent this problem, we carefully design a pair of guiding blocks to dig for possible feature map information to enhance features before feeding them to transformer blocks. Relying on the guiding blocks, we propose a spatial-channel mutual attention-guided transformer network for FSR, for which the backbone architecture is a multi-scale connected encoder–decoder. Specifically, we devise a novel Spatial-Channel Mutual Attention-guided Transformer Module (SCATM), which is composed of a Spatial-Channel Mutual Attention Guiding Block (SCAGB) and a Channel-wise Multi-head Transformer Block (CMTB). SCATM on the top layer (SCATM-T) aims to promote both local facial details and global facial structures, while SCATM on the bottom layer (SCATM-B) seeks to optimize the encoded features. Considering that different scale features are complementary, we further develop a Multi-scale Feature Fusion Module (MFFM), which fuses features from different scales for better restoration performance. Quantitative and qualitative experimental results on various datasets indicate that the proposed method outperforms other state-of-the-art FSR methods.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Computer Vision and Image Processing, 2nd Edition)
Open AccessArticle
Load-Bearing Performance of a Reinforced Fill Structure with Pile Penetration
by
Qiang Ma, Hanlong Yu, Yicong Yang and Lei Xi
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4065; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104065 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Reinforcement soil slope with pile penetration is a new load bearing structure, which has a complex working mechanism, but few studies have been carried out. This paper aims to investigate the stability characteristics of this structure using model tests. The study investigates the
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Reinforcement soil slope with pile penetration is a new load bearing structure, which has a complex working mechanism, but few studies have been carried out. This paper aims to investigate the stability characteristics of this structure using model tests. The study investigates the lateral displacement and-pile bending moment caused by vertical loads and evaluates the influence of different factors, including the structure type (such as pile, cap of pile, and reinforcement material), number of reinforcing layers, spacing of reinforcement material, pile length, and slope rate on the load-carrying capacity of the pile penetration fill-reinforced load-bearing structure. The findings suggest that within a certain range, increasing the pile length and number of reinforcing layers, the limiting effect of the pile on the lateral displacement in the middle and at the bottom of the slope of the pile-penetrating reinforced structure is enhanced, which can reduce the extreme value of the bending moment and make the distribution of the bending moment of the pile more reasonable. The lateral limiting effect on the soil body can be maximized by appropriate reinforcement spacing. Within a certain range, the slope rate is reduced, which can reduce the extreme value of the bending moment, make the bending moment distribution of the pile more reasonable, and avoid the phenomenon of the localized force concentration of the pile.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Analyzing the Impact of Geometrophysical Modeling on Highway Design Speeds: A Comparative Study for Mexico’s Case
by
Ely Anaya Rivera, Cesar Isaza, Cristian Felipe Ramirez-Gutierrez, J. P. Zavala-De Paz, Pamela Rocío Ibarra Tapia and Jose Amilcar Rizzo-Sierra
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4064; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104064 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
This manuscript presents an examination of the impact of geometrical and physical parameters on highway design speeds, critical for traffic safety and efficiency. Originating from a classical dynamics discussion in an undergraduate automotive technology engineering class, an exploration of the consequences of different
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This manuscript presents an examination of the impact of geometrical and physical parameters on highway design speeds, critical for traffic safety and efficiency. Originating from a classical dynamics discussion in an undergraduate automotive technology engineering class, an exploration of the consequences of different geometrophysical considerations on a vehicle’s dynamics over pavement surfaces is developed. Considering various analytical models, an assessment of their principles and the significance of geometric and physical concepts involved in the problem is made, such as plane of motion and trajectory curvature radius, on safe (non slippage) operational speeds. The subsequent comparative study shows that one of the most accepted models in highway design regulations in México, when used as reference, yields percentage error differences respect to others of , as well as a consistent trend for relatively underestimating safe highway operational speeds. A discussion of the immediate implications of these findings, emphasizing the necessity of experimental studies to validate theoretical predictions, is presented. This work contributes to the field by providing a detailed comparison of analytical models under a general applied science perspective, suggesting modifications to current highway design practices in México based on geometrophysical insights. In summary, this work’s main aim is to shed light on the intricacies of determining safe design speeds from an applied sciences point of view, while also calling for a reevaluation of the existing guidelines to enhance highway design and safety.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation Systems: Efficiency and Reliability)
Open AccessArticle
BMFA-Net: Boundary Constraint Multi-Level Feature Aggregation Framework for Precise Polyp Segmentation
by
Qin Li, Tianchi Zhang, Parvej Md Mosharaf and Jing Zhang
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4063; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104063 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
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Colorectal cancer is one of the three most common cancers worldwide. Polyps are complex and have unclear boundaries, often leading to inaccurate boundary segmentation and missed detections. To address these challenges, we propose a boundary constraint multi-level feature aggregation framework called BMFA-Net to
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Colorectal cancer is one of the three most common cancers worldwide. Polyps are complex and have unclear boundaries, often leading to inaccurate boundary segmentation and missed detections. To address these challenges, we propose a boundary constraint multi-level feature aggregation framework called BMFA-Net to precisely segment polyps. The framework comprises four key modules. First, the parallel partial decoder is introduced to aggregate high-level features within the network to generate a globally informative semantic map serving as the initial guidance region for reverse erasing the foreground. Second, we propose an efficient atrous convolution attention module to effectively aggregate local and global contextual information over multiple levels. Additionally, a multi-level feature aggregation mechanism is designed and placed among the efficient atrous convolution attention modules to enable the network to capture a large amount of semantic structure while preserving intricate details. Finally, a boundary constraint reverse attention module is proposed to perform the boundary constraint while removing the foreground to improve the quality of boundary segmentation. Extensive experiments demonstrated the superiority and versatility of our framework compared with state-of-the-art methods; specifically, it achieved a mean Dice score of 0.922 on the CVC-300 dataset.
Full article
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Open AccessArticle
A Two-Port Dual-Band Dual-Circularly-Polarized Dielectric Resonator Antenna
by
Thai Van Trinh, Son Trinh-Van, Kang-Yoon Lee, Younggoo Yang and Keum Cheol Hwang
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4062; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104062 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
This paper presents the design of a two-port dual-band dual-circularly-polarized dielectric resonator antenna (DRA). The proposed DRA is formed by stacking two dielectric resonators (DRs) of different shapes, including a hexagonal DR on top and a cross-shaped DR on the bottom. It is
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This paper presents the design of a two-port dual-band dual-circularly-polarized dielectric resonator antenna (DRA). The proposed DRA is formed by stacking two dielectric resonators (DRs) of different shapes, including a hexagonal DR on top and a cross-shaped DR on the bottom. It is designed to resonate at two near-degenerate orthogonal modes of TE111 and TE113, and an aperture-coupled feeding through a cross-like slot is used to achieve dual-band impedance matching simultaneously for right- and left-handed circular polarizations. Tests were conducted on a prototype working in C-band to verify the design concept. The experiment results demonstrate that the proposed DRA has exceptional performance with measured −10 dB reflection bandwidths of 24.4% and 17.4%, 3 dB axial ratio bandwidths of 21.2% and 16.3%, and maximum gains of 5.64 and 8.13 dBic for the lower and upper bands, respectively. Moreover, the measured channel isolation is more than 15.8 dB. The results obtained from the experiments show good agreement with the simulation, and hence, it can be concluded that the proposed DRA is a promising solution that can be used for various wireless communication applications.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering)
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Open AccessArticle
Assessing the Opportunity Offered by Electric Vehicles in Performing Service Trips to End Consumers
by
Antonio Comi, Antonio Polimeni, Orlando M. Belcore, Antonio G. Cartisano, Salvatore Micari and Giuseppe Napoli
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4061; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104061 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
This paper proposes the assessment of the impacts of using electric vehicles for urban service trips. In particular, the focus is on trips performed for delivering and installing products, as well as for reverse logistics. Such components of commercial traffic in urban areas
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This paper proposes the assessment of the impacts of using electric vehicles for urban service trips. In particular, the focus is on trips performed for delivering and installing products, as well as for reverse logistics. Such components of commercial traffic in urban areas have not received the level of attention it deserves. In fact, recent research on commercial traffic mainly deals with shop restocking, service visits to establishments and e-commerce deliveries, and limited attention has been paid to the service sector (e.g., installation, maintenance, repairs) which can have a high impact on city sustainability in terms of pollution emissions, congestion as well as land use for parking. Furthermore, pushed by the current trend towards the promotion of electric vehicles, an assessment is developed comparing potential service patterns using real data from the inner area of Rome (Italy) when the electric fleet replaces the traditional one. Results show the opportunity to decouple the delivery operation from the installation one, and to integrate service with reverse logistics. These significant results could address the adoption of suitable integrated urban policies to make the most of the opportunities arising from the use of electric vehicles.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards a Sustainable Future: The Role of Electric Vehicles and Smart Grids in the Energy Transition)
Open AccessTechnical Note
Preparing Shotcrete Materials Applied to Roadways Using Gangue Solid Wastes: Influences of Mix Proportions of Materials on the Mechanical Properties
by
Meng Li, Shihao Xing, Yang Zhao, Xiaobao Luo, Linlin Xie and Chunhui Xie
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4060; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104060 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Coal gangue is a waste product commonly produced during coal mining. Using gangue as a replacement for conventional aggregates in shotcrete applied to underground roadways is a feasible approach to promote the resource utilization of gangue solid waste. The mix proportions of shotcrete
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Coal gangue is a waste product commonly produced during coal mining. Using gangue as a replacement for conventional aggregates in shotcrete applied to underground roadways is a feasible approach to promote the resource utilization of gangue solid waste. The mix proportions of shotcrete materials are crucial to the effectiveness of field applications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mix proportions on the mechanical properties of the gangue-based shotcrete material applied to roadways. To achieve this, we conducted experiments to measure changes in the slump under different gangue sizes, mass concentrations, sand contents, and cement contents. The study analyzed the influences of various mix proportions on the conveying and mechanical properties of the gangue-based shotcrete material applied to roadways. The slump and the compressive strength were analysed. The following was concluded: (1) The gangue size and sand content have a similar effect on the slump. As the gangue size and sand content increase, the slurry slump initially decreases and then increases, which is attributed to the plasticity of the aggregates themselves. The mass concentration has a negative correlation with the slump, which is the least sensitive to changes in cement content. (2) The compressive strength of all specimens increases with prolonged curing, reaching its maximum after 28 d under the compressive experimental conditions. (3) This paper analyzed the reasons for better mechanical properties under the conditions of smaller size gangue, higher mass concentration, and higher cement content. It has also examined the reasons for greater compressive strength at 35% sand content. The experimental results of this paper also offer relevant guidance regarding the specific mix proportions of the material of the field gangue-based shotcrete material applied to roadways.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering)
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Open AccessArticle
Balance Control of Brushless Direct Current Motor Driven Two-Rotor UAV
by
Ibrahim Cukdar, Tevfik Yigit and Hakan Celik
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4059; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104059 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
In this study, the balance control of a Brushless Direct Current Motor (BLDCM) driven Two-Rotor UAV (2R-UAV) was carried out. First, a MATLAB/Simulink model of the balance system of the 2R-UAV was built. Afterwards, classical and 2-DOF PID, and proposed Adaptive Fuzzy (AF)
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In this study, the balance control of a Brushless Direct Current Motor (BLDCM) driven Two-Rotor UAV (2R-UAV) was carried out. First, a MATLAB/Simulink model of the balance system of the 2R-UAV was built. Afterwards, classical and 2-DOF PID, and proposed Adaptive Fuzzy (AF) 2-DOF PID control structures were created on the STM32F4 microprocessor for both balance angle of the system and speed control of the BLDCMs. Classical and 2-DOF PID controller parameters were determined via Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), a technique that is commonly used in control applications. For the balance control of the 2R-UAV, a Co-Simulation structure was created using the STM32F4 microprocessor and MATLAB/Simulink, and the performances of classical and 2-DOF PID, and AF 2-DOF PID controllers were examined comparatively. Upon examining the comparison results, it was found that the classical and 2-DOF PID, and AF 2-DOF PID stably controlled the balance of the 2R-UAV. The AF 2-DOF PID controller, proposed in this research, performed better than the classical and 2-DOF PID, especially under variable operating conditions.
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(This article belongs to the Section Robotics and Automation)
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