Search Results (6,070)

Understanding the interaction forces between climbers and climbing holds is important for motion analysis and performance evaluation in sport climbing. In particular, force measurement during speed climbing can provide valuable insights into explosive movements and athlete performance. However, many existing measurement systems require modifications to the climbing wall structure or sensors installed behind the wall, which limits their applicability to existing speed climbing facilities. This study proposes a wireless instrumented climbing hold for speed climbing that enables force-related measurement without modifying the wall structure. The proposed system integrates a six-axis force sensor, a microcomputer, a wireless communication module, and a battery inside the climbing hold. This self-contained configuration allows the hold to wirelessly transmit force and moment data during climbing while maintaining compatibility with standard speed climbing walls and competition environments. In addition, the system enables an estimation of the point of force application on the hold surface by combining measured force and moment data with the three-dimensional hold geometry. Experimental evaluations were conducted to verify the feasibility and performance of the system. External load tests using a digital force gauge confirmed that the embedded sensor can measure static loads and respond to rapidly changing loads with sufficient temporal responsiveness, and the estimated point of force application corresponded closely to the actual loading point. Furthermore, measurements on an actual speed climbing wall demonstrated that the proposed system can successfully capture interaction forces during climbing movements. These results indicate that the proposed system is a practical tool for force-based motion analysis in speed climbing. Full article

Purpose: The aim of this study is to describe a slit-modified 23-gauge infusion trocar designed to enable early postoperative hypotony-free sclerotomy closure by allowing scleral suturing prior to complete trocar removal, and to report initial clinical outcomes in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy with or without vitreous hemorrhage (PDR + H and PDR). Methods: A standard 23-gauge metallic (titanium) trocar was modified by creating a longitudinal slit that permitted passage of a suture needle while the trocar remained partially engaged within the scleral tunnel. At the end of pars plana vitrectomy, a transscleral suture was placed through the slit with the knot prepared prior to trocar removal, followed by simultaneous trocar extraction and suture tightening. Eighteen consecutive patients undergoing vitrectomy for PDR (fourteen with vitreous hemorrhage [PDR + H]; four without) were included. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was recorded preoperatively, immediately after sclerotomy closure (postoperative baseline), and at 8 and 24 h postoperatively. The study was designed as an exploratory pilot feasibility and safety evaluation of a slit-modified infusion trocar in 23-gauge vitrectomy. The primary outcomes were postoperative IOP stability and wound leakage. Secondary outcomes included early hypotony, postoperative hemorrhage, choroidal effusion, and the need for additional suturing. Results: All procedures were completed without intraoperative complications. The mean IOP was 14.83 ± 2.50 mmHg preoperatively, 13.33 ± 1.53 mmHg immediately after closure, 14.17 ± 3.01 mmHg at 8 h, and 15.17 ± 1.79 mmHg at 24 h. No cases of wound leakage or early postoperative hypotony were observed in either subgroup. One eye exhibited a transient IOP increase at 8 h; no choroidal effusion, postoperative hemorrhage, or need for secondary suturing occurred. Endotamponade consisted of balanced salt solution (BSS) in eight eyes, SF6 in seven eyes, silicone oil in two eyes, and air in one eye. Conclusions: The slit-modified infusion trocar enables secure, hypotony-free closure of the infusion sclerotomy by eliminating the open-wound interval during trocar removal. This simple biomedical device modification provides stable early postoperative IOP across different tamponade agents and appears safe and feasible in high-risk eyes with PDR. Full article

The problem of constructing consistent interactions between a Weyl graviton—with its free limit expressed by the linearized Weyl action—and a photon—with its free dynamics generated from the standard Maxwell action—is analyzed as a deformation problem for the antifield-BRST generator associated with the non-interacting free model. By relaxing the standard working hypotheses to allow at most four spacetime derivatives in the interaction vertices, while not restricting the number of derivatives on the photon potentials, the most general cross-couplings are derived. This proves the uniqueness of the previously geometrically prescribed, overall fourth-order Lagrangian dynamics of the electromagnetic field in the presence of dynamical-type full Weyl gravity. Full article

We present a pedagogical and self-contained account of the functional formulation of non-Abelian gauge theories, aimed at the construction of a process-independent effective charge for Yang–Mills theory. Starting from the path integral quantization of gauge fields, we review gauge fixing and the emergence of Faddeev–Popov ghosts, illustrating how gauge invariance is preserved at the quantum level through Becchi–Rouet–Stora–Tyutin (BRST) symmetry. We then develop the BRST and anti-BRST formalisms and show how their simultaneous implementation leads to powerful functional identities that severely constrain the ghost and gluon sectors. Background field gauges are introduced as a natural framework in which these symmetries manifest themselves through Abelian-like Ward identities, allowing for a transparent separation between quantum and background degrees of freedom. This structure makes it possible to define renormalization group-invariant combinations of Green functions that generalize the QED effective charge to the non-Abelian case. The resulting effective charge is shown to be unique, gauge-invariant, and process-independent, providing a unified description of the theory from the ultraviolet down to the infrared. The interplay between functional identities, Dyson–Schwinger equations, and lattice results is discussed in detail, highlighting how dynamical mass generation and infrared saturation naturally emerge within this framework. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), emerging pollutants in surface waters, are viewed as a serious risk to freshwater ecosystems and public health. This review synthesizes current scientific knowledge, regulatory approaches, and monitoring methodologies on the presence and impact of these contaminants following a drivers-pressures-state-impact-response (DPSIR) framework. Major anthropogenic factors, such as pharmaceutical consumption and agricultural intensification, are putting pressure on water bodies through industrial discharges, agricultural runoff, and untreated or inadequately treated wastewaters. In order to gauge the current environmental state and discuss the impact on human and ecosystem health within a One Health framework, it is necessary to generate monitoring data and identify methodological gaps in the interaction between MPs and ARGs. Despite recent European Union (EU) regulatory progress, such as the Drinking Water Directive and the Water Framework Directive, substantial gaps remain in methodology standardization as well as practical implementation. This review underscores the need to establish enforceable thresholds and standardize monitoring protocols to effectively mitigate the growing prevalence and consequences of these contaminants. Full article

3D concrete printing (3DP) enables automated construction with reduced material waste and enhanced geometric flexibility. However, its structural performance remains sensitive to anisotropy, mix design, and printing parameters, thereby complicating quality control. Self-sensing cementitious materials provide a promising approach by enabling intrinsic strain monitoring during fabrication and service. In this study, a hybrid multi-material printing strategy was developed using a conductive cement-based mix incorporating graphite (G), milled carbon microfibers (MCMF), and chopped carbon microfibers (CCMF), alongside a plain cement-based matrix. Based on percolation analysis, an optimal composition of 2 wt.% G, 0.25 wt.% MCMF, and 0.0625 wt.% CCMF was selected. Reinforced beam specimens were fabricated with the conductive material embedded in either the tensile (bottom) or compressive (top) region, combined with two internal architectures: diagonal infill and solid-base configuration. Four configurations were defined: Pattern 1 (bottom/diagonal), Pattern 2 (bottom/solid-base), Pattern 3 (top/diagonal), and Pattern 4 (top/solid-base). Cyclic three-point bending tests with spatially distributed electrical measurements were conducted to evaluate the electromechanical response in the elastic range. Specimens with the conductive layer located in the tensile region (Patterns 1 and 2) consistently exhibited higher gauge factors than those in the compressive region (Patterns 3 and 4). Pattern 2 exhibited the best sensing performance, with an average gauge factor of 556 and SNR of 31. Across all configurations, SNR decreased with increasing electrode spacing, with reductions of up to 31.0%, demonstrating the effect of current path length on sensing performance. Full article

Despite advances in using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods and their fuzzy set extensions for human evaluations of large language models (LLMs), several gaps remain in the literature, particularly in task-specific evaluations that offer a more tractable and interpretable approach. Thus, this work develops a generalized intuitionistic fuzzy MCDM approach that bridges methodological gaps by outlining two contributions. First, the integration of SWARA (Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis) and WINGS (Weighted Influence Non-linear Gauge System) is demonstrated to compute the priority weights of the evaluation criteria, thereby augmenting the independence limitation in prior relevant studies. Second, we introduce a newly improved IF-EDAS (intuitionistic fuzzy Evaluation based on Distance from Average Solution) that preserves more uncertain information and provides a more natural extension of the canonical EDAS framework, starting with the adoption of the IFWAM (intuitionistic fuzzy weighted arithmetic mean) operator for a more intuitive approach in generating the intuitionistic fuzzy average solution vector. Also, the proposed IF-EDAS variant employs three decision rules and the Hamming distance metric in its novel computational approach. The proposed hybrid approach was deployed in two case studies evaluating five popular LLMs for text summarization across seven interdependent criteria. Results show that SWARA initially prioritizes accuracy, coherence, and consistency, but these were revised when accounting for criteria interdependence, with coherence and language quality emerging as the most preferred criteria. Both case studies suggest that Gemini may perform favorably, while Copilot may consistently rank last. The findings of the case studies share similar insights with those of three other similar IF-EDAS variants, although our claims may have limited external validity, which requires more case studies and experts in future task-specific human evaluations. The proposed approach, along with its deployment in two case studies, demonstrates human evaluations of LLMs with greater computational interpretability, which contribute to the general MCDM literature. Full article

The quantum motion of a photon in an arbitrary medium was considered within the framework of the gauge symmetry group $SU\left(2\right)\otimes U\left(1\right)$ using the Yang–Mills (Y-M) equations for Abelian fields. A system of second-order partial differential equations (PDEs) for the vector wave function of a photon is derived using the first-order Y-M equations as identities. The full wave function of a photon was defined as the arithmetic mean of the components of the wave function. In a particular case, an equation is obtained for its full wave function, taking into account the structure of space-time in a plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the photon. The quantum state of a photon in a nanowaveguide was investigated, and it is shown that under certain conditions, it is reduced to the problem of two coupled 1Dquantum harmonic oscillators (QHO) with variable frequencies. An explicit expression is obtained for the wave function of a photon, which is characterized by two vibrational quantum numbers. A quantum theory of a photon for a dissipative medium has been developed taking into account the processes of absorption and emission of photons. The mathematical expectation (ME) of the photon wave function is constructed as the product of two 2D integral representations in which the integrand is the solution of a system of two coupled second-order PDEs. The ME of the probability amplitude of the transition of a single-photon state into one of the two-photon entangled Bell states is constructed. Finally, it was proven that, in addition to frequency, spin, momentum and polarization, the photon also has a spatial structure responsible for the cross sections of processes in which this massless fundamental particle participates. Full article

Compression testing of high-performance carbon fiber composites remains challenging due to premature failure modes in unidirectional laminates, which can underestimate true material strength. This study investigates the compressive behavior of T800-grade carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) cross-ply ([90/0]_2s) and unidirectional ([0]₈) laminates using finite element simulation and experimental testing following the SACMA SRM-1R-94 standard, combined with macroscopic and microscopic failure analysis. The results show that cross-ply laminates consistently exhibit valid mid-gauge failure with lower data dispersion (coefficient of variation: 3.44%), whereas unidirectional laminates are prone to invalid root failures (crushing or shear). The compressive strength derived from cross-ply laminates using the back-out factor (2040 MPa) is 13% higher than that from direct unidirectional testing (1802 MPa), attributed to the in situ effect where adjacent 90-degree plies suppress fiber microbuckling. The cross-ply approach provides a more reliable and practical method for characterizing the true in situ compressive strength of high-performance CFRP composites. Full article

Single-cell genomics offers novel insights into genomic heterogeneity within cell populations, reframing our understanding of human development, tumorigenesis, and aging. However, constrained by the picogram-scale DNA templates of individual cells, Whole-Genome Amplification (WGA) remains a necessary precondition. Current quality control frameworks primarily focus on amplification uniformity but fail to capture the molecular independence of DNA amplicons, leading to an overestimation of information content in redundant WGA libraries. Here, we propose the Depth of Independent Amplicons Gauge (DIAG) to accurately quantify the effective number of amplicons derived from the primary template. The robustness of the DIAG was first validated using in silico datasets, revealing that the Depth of Independent Amplicons (DIA) is directly coupled with the precision and specificity of mutation calling. Furthermore, we established an organoid-derived ground-truth to evaluate mutation fidelity in real biological contexts, confirming the practical utility of the DIAG. Our results demonstrate that the DIAG provides a high-fidelity assessment of an individual WGA library without the need for costly external experiments, especially in Single-Nucleotide Variant (SNV) calling. Furthermore, we revealed that traditional uniformity indices, like the Gini index or Kullback–Leibler (KL) divergence, exhibit incongruous fluctuations under down-sampling perturbations. In contrast, the DIA remains a robust and high-fidelity predictor of mutational accuracy, maintaining stability across varying sequencing strategies. Finally, we conducted a systematic comparison of current single-cell Whole-Genome Amplification (scWGA) strategies, providing a standardized benchmarking of diverse technologies for high-resolution single-cell mutation analysis. Full article

This study estimates rainfall disaggregation coefficients for the State of Rio de Janeiro and for the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region (RMRJ) based on automatic rain gauges from the CEMADEN network. A Python-based workflow collected time series, selected stations according to record length, extracted annual extreme events (10 min to 48 h), and calculated sub-daily to daily rainfall ratios for return periods of 2–100 years. The formulations proposed by Pfafstetter and Chen were evaluated through a case study to guide the model selection. In the RMRJ, 109 stations were analyzed and aggregated by municipality, resulting in the metropolitan mean disaggregation coefficient (COERM). The COERM values are close to those proposed by CETESB up to the 30 min–1 h duration range. However, the coefficients were up to 18.8% higher in the duration range between 1 h and 3 h relative to the 24 h rainfall, indicating a stronger temporal concentration of precipitation precisely in durations critical for urban drainage design. Full article

We study the incompressible fractional viscous–resistive magnetohydrodynamic system on ${\mathbb{R}}^n$ with fractional diffusion ${(-\Delta )}^{\alpha }$, where $\alpha \in (1/2,1]$, and with positive viscosity and resistivity coefficients $\mu ,\nu >0$. The problem is treated at the scale-invariant regularity $s_c={\displaystyle \frac{n}{p}}+1-2\alpha .$ For small divergence-free initial data in the critical Triebel–Lizorkin–Lorentz space ${\dot{F}}_{p,r}^{s_c,q}$, we construct a unique global mild solution. The main contribution is the use of the single-norm time–frequency space $m_m^{\prime }{\dot{F}}_{p,r}^{s_c,q}$, built on Meyer wavelets and the parabolic gauge $t{2}^{2\alpha j}$. This space keeps the critical spatial size, the short-time behavior, and the high-frequency decay in one norm. By using a Gevrey-weighted Duhamel formulation, we prove boundedness of the corresponding fractional heat propagators and establish the bilinear paraproduct estimate required for the fixed-point argument. Consequently, $e^{{\left(t{(-\Delta )}^{\alpha }\right)}^{\gamma }}(u,b)\in {\left(m_m^{\prime }{\dot{F}}_{p,r}^{s_c,q}\right)}^{2n}$ for some $\gamma >0$ depending on the parameters. This gives a Gevrey-type spatial smoothing effect, which is stronger than ordinary analyticity in the adopted scale. The restriction $\alpha >{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}$ enters through the factor $2^{j(1-2\alpha )}$, which supplies the high-frequency gain needed to close the critical bilinear estimates; in this sense it is sharp for the present method. The classical viscous–resistive case is recovered when $\alpha =1$. Full article

Emerging Large Language Model capabilities create opportunities for applying AI reasoning across various domains with minimal technical complexity. Motivated by the development of citizen scientists submitting photos of water levels on staff gauges and the increasing need for hydrologic data in ungauged watersheds, this research develops an artificial intelligence approach to measuring stream stage across an existing citizen science monitoring network. To lower the barrier to entry for professional scientists, this research develops a methodology leveraging a Large Language Model (LLM) to extract water levels from images submitted by citizen scientists, and then follows a human-in-the-loop workflow for validating the final results, leaving space for correcting reasoning errors and hallucinations. Various techniques, such as labeling the input image, are also explored in this research to extract maximum accuracy from the LLM. Full article

Accurate interpretation of pointer-type gauges in submarine cabins is critical for operational safety but remains a laborious task due to confined spaces, disorganized visual backgrounds, and poor lighting conditions that contribute to crew eye fatigue. To address these challenges, this study presents an automated gauge reading approach that integrates a YOLOv11-based detection model with a dedicated value reading algorithm, deployed on an optical-see-through head-mounted display (HMD). The system first detects gauge regions of interest (ROIs) using a fine-tuned YOLOv11 model, followed by dial and pointer recognition via image processing techniques to compute measurement values, which are then overlaid on the HMD for operator confirmation and recording. Experimental evaluations conducted in a real submarine cabin environment demonstrate that the proposed YORO method significantly outperforms manual recording. Specifically, it reduces average task completion time by 92.5% (from 48.13 s to 3.58 s), decreases reading angular error by 77% (from 1.01° to 0.23°), and substantially lowers user workload, with a NASA-TLX score of 11.27 compared to 72.44 for the manual method (p < 0.001). These results validate the system’s effectiveness in enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and user experience. The proposed approach offers a practical framework for developing autonomous inspection systems in constrained industrial environments. Full article

Transboundary basins in arid and semi-arid regions are increasingly stressed by groundwater depletion, drought, and competing upstream water-management policies. Quantifying surface–groundwater interactions in such systems remains challenging due to sparse hydroclimatic observations. This study develops and applies a fully coupled SWAT–MODFLOW model to the Tigris–Euphrates River Basin (TERB; ~900,000 km²), the largest transboundary basin in the Middle East, to evaluate spatiotemporal stream–aquifer interactions and basin-scale water balance. The model integrates SWAT 2012 with MODFLOW-NWT at daily and monthly time steps and was calibrated and validated against monthly streamflow records from 23 gauges and groundwater levels from four wells over 1981–2002, with a 1976–1980 warm-up period. A multi-stage calibration strategy was adopted, including standalone SWAT calibration using SUFI-2, standalone MODFLOW calibration using PEST, and subsequent coupled refinement. Model performance was satisfactory, with Nash–Sutcliffe efficiencies exceeding 0.5 for streamflow and strong agreement between simulated and observed groundwater levels (R² = 0.92). Basin-integrated total water storage anomalies showed reasonable agreement with GRACE-derived estimates for 2002–2013 (R² ≈ 0.72). The basin-averaged net stream–aquifer exchange was estimated at −7.08 × 10⁶ m³ yr⁻¹, indicating net river leakage to aquifers, with a marked intensification after 1987 consistent with major upstream reservoir developments. Recharge patterns were highest over permeable foothill formations and lowest over consolidated northern highlands. The integrated use of streamflow, groundwater, and GRACE observations within a fully coupled framework provides a transferable approach for water-resources assessment in data-scarce transboundary basins. Full article