Search Results (16,581)

While methods like cyclic triaxial testing and p-y model updating theory exist in geotechnical and offshore wind engineering, they have not been systematically applied to solve the specific deformation problems of offshore PV piles. This study investigates a specific offshore photovoltaic (PV) project in Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province. Initially, field tests of horizontal static load on steel pipe pile foundations were conducted. A finite element model (FEM) of single piles was subsequently developed and validated. Further analysis examined the failure modes, initial stiffness, and ultimate resistance of offshore PV single piles in sandy soil foundations under varying pile diameters and embedment depths. The hyperbolic p-y curve model was modified by incorporating pile diameter size effects and embedment depth considerations. Key findings reveal the following: (1) The predominant failure mechanism of fixed offshore PV monopiles manifests as wedge-shaped failure in shallow soil layers. (2) Conventional API specifications and standard hyperbolic models demonstrate significant deviations in predicting p-y (horizontal soil resistance-pile displacement) curves, whereas the modified hyperbolic model shows good agreement with field measurements and numerical simulations. This research provides critical data support and methodological references for calculating the horizontal bearing capacity of offshore PV steel pipe pile foundations. Full article

This paper innovatively achieves finite-time modified function projection synchronization (MFPS) for different fractional-order chaotic systems. By leveraging the advantages of radial basis function (RBF) neural networks in nonlinear approximation, this paper proposes a novel fractional-order sliding-mode controller. It is designed to address the issues of system model uncertainty and external disturbances. Based on Lyapunov stability theory, it has been demonstrated that the error trajectory can converge to the equilibrium point along the sliding surface within a finite time. Subsequently, the finite-time MFPS of the fractional-order hyperchaotic Chen system and fractional-order chaotic entanglement system are realized under conditions of periodic and noise disturbances, respectively. The effects of the neural network parameters on the performance of the MFPS are then analyzed in depth. Finally, a color image encryption scheme is presented integrating the above MFPS method and exclusive-or operation, and its effectiveness and security are illustrated through numerical simulation and statistical analysis. In the future, we will further explore the application of fractional-order chaotic system MFPS in other fields, providing new theoretical support for interdisciplinary research. Full article

Human–Robot Collaboration (HRC) in construction projects promises enhanced productivity, safety, and quality, yet realizing these benefits requires understanding the multifaceted human and robotic factors that influence team performance. This study develops and validates a multidimensional framework that links key human abilities (operational skill, decision-making ability, and learning ability) and robot capacities (functionality and operability) to HRC team performance, with task complexity considered as contextual influence. A field survey of construction practitioners (n = 548) was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test direct effects and human–robot synergies. Results reveal that all five main effects are positive and significant, indicating that both human abilities and robot capacities have significant contribution. Moreover, every hypothesized two-way interaction is supported, evidencing strong interaction effects. Three-way moderation analyses further reveal that task complexity significantly strengthened the interactions of human abilities with robot functionality, whereas its interactions with robot operability were not significant. The study contributes an integrated and theory-driven model of HRC team performance that accounts for human abilities and robot capacities under varying task complexity, and validated constructs that can be used to diagnose and predict performance. The findings offer actionable guidance for project managers by recommending that they prioritize user-friendly robot operability to translate worker expertise into performance across a wide range of tasks, invest in training to strengthen operators’ skills and decision-making, and, for complex tasks, pair highly skilled workers with high-functionality robots to maximize performance gains. Full article

Amid the rise of the knowledge economy, accelerated informatization, and the emergence of artificial intelligence, Philosophy for Children (P4C) has been promoted as an effective educational project to enhance children’s cognitive development, especially higher-order thinking skills. However, empirical evidence regarding its efficacy remains inconclusive. This three-level meta-analysis synthesizes 53 effect sizes derived from 33 experimental and quasi-experimental studies involving 4568 participants to assess P4C’s cognitive effects and potential moderators. The results reveal a statistically significant and moderate-to-strong overall effect (g = 0.59). Significant and robust effects were specifically observed for reasoning, critical thinking, and creativity. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses identified sample size as a significant moderator: smaller samples tended to report larger effect sizes. Additionally, cultural context and session length showed marginally significant moderating effects. Crucially, P4C’s cognitive impact remained consistent across grade levels, research designs, and publication years, demonstrating robustness and stability across diverse implementation conditions. These findings provide updated and nuanced evidence for the effectiveness of P4C, underscoring its cross-contextual robustness and specific value in fostering cognitive abilities. Implications for policymakers, educators, and future researchers aiming to implement or investigate P4C in varied educational settings are discussed. Full article

The rapid growth of electric vehicle (EV) adoption in Malaysia is projected to generate substantial volumes of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, creating both environmental challenges and opportunities for repurposing into second-life batteries (SLBs). This study investigates the technical, economic, and regulatory feasibility of deploying SLBs for photovoltaic (PV) energy storage in petrol stations, an application aligned with the nation’s energy transition goals. Laboratory testing of Nissan Leaf ZE0 battery modules over a 120-day operation period demonstrated stable cycling performance with approximately 7% capacity fade, maintaining state-of-health (SOH) above 47%. A case study of a 12 kWp PV–SLB hybrid system for a typical Malaysian petrol station shows 45 kWh of usable storage, capable of offsetting a daily electricity demand of 45 kWh, reducing capital cost by 30–50% compared to new lithium-ion systems, and achieving 70–80% lifecycle CO₂ emission reductions. The proposed architecture leverages SLBs’ suitability for slower, steady discharge to provide reliable nighttime operation and grid load relief, particularly in semi-urban and rural stations. Beyond technical validation, the paper evaluates economic benefits, environmental impacts, and Malaysia’s regulatory readiness, identifying gaps in certification standards, reverse logistics, and workforce skills. Strategic recommendations are proposed to enable large-scale SLB deployment and integration into hybrid PV–petrol station systems. Findings indicate that SLBs can serve as a cost-effective, sustainable energy storage solution, supporting Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), advancing circular economy practices, and positioning the country as a potential ASEAN leader in battery repurposing. Full article

This study developed a safety control structure model to analyze stakeholder interactions to improve safety in Korean building demolition projects. Legal stakeholders and safety measures were systematically incorporated into the System Theoretic Accident Model and Processes (STAMP). The novelty of this safety model is that it provides the first systematic application of STAMP to Korean building demolition, with a specific focus on legal stakeholders and their safety interactions. The results revealed that unsystematic reviews by licensing agencies, the absence of expert reviewers, and the inadequate role of supervisors were key factors contributing to accidents. In particular, the inspection and corrective action of safety measures performed by demolition supervisors directly impacted on-site safety. Furthermore, licensing agencies were identified as key players in determining the overall safety level of demolition projects. The proposed model provides a framework for effectively understanding the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders and supports the identification of non-compliance with safety measures. The use of the proposed model is expected to strengthen the interaction between stakeholders, enhance on-site safety, and contribute to the development of accident prevention strategies for future demolition projects. Full article

Platinum’s unique properties, such as its high resistance to corrosion and high temperatures, are driving an increased use in modern technologies and advanced chemistry. However, the World Platinum Investment Council has projected, for the third consecutive year, a global deficit of platinum for 2025 and a negative forecast until 2029, highlighting the need for the development of new metallurgical methodologies to recover platinum but also to recycle product containing it. The use of alkaline amino acid (glycine) promises a highly selective and more environmentally friendly recovery methodology. Over the Platinum Group Metals, recovery studies have been performed only on palladium, but no published literature over platinum was found. This study investigated the feasibility of platinum adsorption from alkaline glycine solutions under various operational conditions using activated carbon. Results are demonstrating that platinum can be successfully recovered under the effects tested: 92.37–97.93% (carbon dosage), 70.00–95.72% (temperature), 94.08–97.39% (pH), 95.16–96.23% (platinum concentration), 95.72–96.53% (glycine concentration), and 95.72–97.12% (cyanide concentration). The scientific significance of this study lies in the confirmation for the potential use of a more environmentally friendly approach to recover platinum as opposed to the current cyanide and acidic chloride system. Full article

This study proposes a method for designing spatial light modulator (SLM) projection phases in digital lasers using a simulated annealing (SA) approach combined with an initialized pre-designed phase to generate structured laser beams. SLM projection phases are optimized within the SA framework using a cost function based on the correlation between the corresponding laser field patterns and the target field. Numerical simulations demonstrate both the effectiveness of the proposed phase design method and its improvement in generating three geometric beams—quadrangular pyramid, triangular pyramid, and multi-ring fields—particularly with regard to enhanced edge sharpness. The resulting structured beams, especially those with simple geometric shapes, are suitable for microfabrication applications such as photolithography and photopolymerization. The proposed SA iteration framework is not limited to the L-shaped resonator used in this study and can be extended to digital laser cavities with higher numerical apertures, enabling the generation of more complex structured light fields. Full article

Globally escalating electricity demand necessitates substantial power grid capacity expansion. Current transmission line capacity enhancement technologies are seriously constrained by factors including limited accuracy of computational models, elevated line losses, requirements for new line construction, and substantial capital investment. Capacity-uprating conductors, recognized for their superior current-carrying performance and cost-effective retrofitting, represent one of the most viable solutions for transmission augmentation. However, their large-scale deployment remains impeded by increased line losses and high costs. This review systematically analyses critical constraints on transmission line ampacity through computational modeling and elucidates conductor heat dissipation pathways. Based on this foundation, we synthesize recent advancements in capacity-uprating conductors across three key dimensions: structural optimization, material engineering, and passive radiative cooling technologies. We concurrently evaluate their applications in power transmission projects and explore promising future development directions. This review aims to provide a theoretical foundation, guiding next-generation capacity enhancement solutions for grid modernization. Full article

In today’s complex economy, firms face various risks. The increasing risks and exposures hinder top performance and impede investments in new project circles. This study examines how Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) practices affect the non-financial performance of Omani insurance companies and investigates the partial mediating role of Competitive Advantage (CA). Using 439 survey responses analysed with PLS-SEM, the results reveal that ERM practices have a positive and significant effect on non-financial performance, and that CA mediates the effects of Internal Environment, Event Identification, and Risk Assessment. This reinforces the strategic dimension of embedding competitive advantage into risk management frameworks. This study offers evidence of how integrating ERM practices can impact organisational performance. It provides a foundation for ongoing research in sectors and areas not previously examined, particularly in developing countries where organisational resilience is imperative. Our study demonstrates how ERM enhances non-financial performance within insurance companies while supporting the view that ERM is a long-term strategic element, not merely limited to risk management. The research contributes evidence for broader application by demonstrating competitive advantage as a mediator. The model facilitates the investigation of ERM impacts across various sectors and regions, especially in developing countries where organisational resilience is crucial. Full article

Net Primary Productivity (NPP) serves as a key indicator of ecosystem health and productivity. However, most existing research focuses on primary land cover types, overlooking the dynamic response processes of NPP in refined vegetation types to multiple climate drivers. Furthermore, it lacks systematic analysis of the feedback mechanisms through which China’s Five-Year Plan (FYP) ecological projects regulate climate stress. This study, based on refined vegetation classification, systematically analyzes the dynamic changes in NPP in Heilongjiang Province from the 10th to the 13th FYP periods (2001–2020), with a focus on refined vegetation types. Results show that between 2001 and 2020, mixed-leaved forest emerged as the core driver of regional NPP change during the 12th FYP (NPP increase of +58.4 gC·m⁻²·a⁻¹). Although deciduous needle-leaved forest (DNF) showed the highest cumulative increase (+64 gC·m⁻²·a⁻¹), it experienced significant degradation (p < 0.01) in 57%–62% of its area during the 12th and 13th FYP periods. The dominant climate driver shifted from precipitation (positively correlated in 74% of the area during the 10th–11th FYPs) to drought stress dominated by vapor pressure deficit (VPD) (positive correlation increasing to 54%). Ecological projects mitigated the negative impact of temperature, reducing the area with negative correlations by 13%. Overall, the ecological policies of the FYP exerted a weak negative influence. However, forest vegetation was strongly regulated by VPD (SV = −0.61~0.59), while grasslands and croplands exhibited high sensitivity to temperature. These findings underscore the contrasting climate policy responses among plant functional groups, highlighting the urgent need for differentiated ecological management strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is a valuable source of hematopoietic stem cells used in treating blood and immune disorders. Despite its potential and the availability of public banking systems in Italy, donation rates remain low due to patient misinformation, emotional barriers, and organizational inefficiencies. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of integrating Narrative Medicine (NM) and Lean Management (LM) on UCB donation rates and operational effectiveness at the University Hospital of Alessandria. Methods: This prospective, single-center pre-post study ran from July 2022 to December 2024. Two interventions were introduced: NM training for healthcare staff to enhance empathetic communication, and LM-based reorganization of workflows to improve process efficiency. Outcomes included changes in UCB donation and adherence rates, transplant-eligible unit percentages, and patient satisfaction, assessed through institutional and project-specific surveys (PERLA–SIMeN). Results: Post-intervention, donation rates increased from 0% in early 2022 to 30.8% (2022), 25.8% (2023), and 30.6% (2024), with adherence rates near 40%, far exceeding the national average of ~3%. Patient satisfaction improved, resulting in PERLA certification in February 2025. Conclusions: The integration of NM and LM significantly improved both patient engagement and organizational efficiency. Empathetic communication fostered trust and reduced emotional barriers, while LM optimized workflows and resource use. These results suggest the model is applicable in other hospitals to enhance UCB donation outcomes and overall quality of maternal care. Full article

While Horizon Europe is expected to turn the European Union’s Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy (MOIP) into concrete actions, little is known about how coherently its funding calls translate high-level ambitions into effective guidance. To address this, we move beyond the traditional focus on funded projects and offer the first systematic analysis of Horizon Europe call texts as cognitive artefacts of policy design. Using Textual Network Analysis (TNA) on 188 calls of Cluster 5 (“Climate, Energy and Mobility”) in the 2021–2022 Work Programme, we compare Scope and Expected Outcomes texts. We constructed weighted co-occurrence networks and calculated centrality, community structure, and assortativity metrics. Results reveal clear differences between layers: Scope texts show stronger clustering of technical domains (modularity 0.54, assortativity +0.206), while Outcomes present weaker clustering (modularity 0.50, assortativity −0.035), reflecting convergence around high-level impacts. Across both layers, a small set of hubs (“renewable energy”, “climate change”, “emissions”) dominates, with high-betweenness terms bridging siloed domains; peripheral concepts remain weakly linked. The study contributes a novel framework for analysing the architecture of funding calls and demonstrates the utility of centrality metrics for policymakers to identify conceptual gaps and guide future Work Programme design, as well as for applicants optimising their proposal writing. Full article

Quercetin, a key flavonoid in Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl., plays an important role in determining the pharmacological value of this medicinal herb. However, traditional methods for quercetin quantification are destructive and time-consuming, limiting their application in real-time quality monitoring. This study investigates the hyperspectral response characteristics of quercetin using near-infrared hyperspectral imaging and establishes a feature-based model to explore its detectability in A. roxburghii leaves. We scanned standard quercetin solutions of known concentration under the same imaging conditions as the leaves to produce a dilution series. Feature-selection methods used included the successive projections algorithm (SPA), Pearson correlation, and competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS). A 1D convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) trained on SPA-selected wavelengths yielded the best prediction performance. These key wavelengths—particularly the 923 nm band—showed strong theoretical and statistical relevance to quercetin’s molecular absorption. When applied to plant leaf spectra, the standard-trained model produced continuous predicted quercetin values that effectively distinguished cultivars with varying flavonoid contents. PCA visualization and ROC-based classification confirmed spectral transferability and potential for functional evaluation. This study demonstrates a non-destructive, spatially resolved, and biochemically interpretable strategy for identifying bioactive markers in plant tissues, offering a methodological basis for future hyperspectral inversion studies and intelligent quality assessment in herbal medicine. Full article

Purpose: Decentralized hearing care models facilitated by community health workers (CHWs) can improve access to care in low-income settings. Preset hearing aids, which offer user-selectable pre-developed amplification programs, may support such models, but little is known about their real-world use and alignment with clinical recommendations. Method: This longitudinal study formed part of a feasibility project implementing the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) hearing aid service delivery approach in three low-income South African communities. Adults (≥18 years) with confirmed moderate-to-severe bilateral hearing loss were fitted with preset hearing aids by trained CHWs. Devices offered four preset amplification programs. Participant-driven selections were recorded at four distinct time points: fitting and follow-ups at 2 weeks, 2 months, and 6 months post-fitting. Results: In total, 36 participants (mean age = 76 years, SD = 8.9, range 50–96) were fitted with devices. Although over half (right: 52.8%, left: 58.3%) presented with high-frequency loss, only 34% initially selected the corresponding program. Most participants (80.6%, n = 29) changed their selections at least once over the six months. Significant associations between hearing loss configuration and selection occurred at some time points only in the left ear, but agreement with clinically recommended programs declined from 42% at baseline to 28% at six months. Conclusions: CHW-facilitated hearing aid delivery supports user autonomy in low-resource settings. However, frequent changes and divergence from clinically recommended programs suggest reliance on user-driven trial-and-error adjustments rather than audiometric fit, which may limit long-term benefit. Ongoing, person-centred guidance is needed for the effective use of preset hearing aids. Full article