Search Results (1,041)

This paper reviews social science studies of emergency evacuations to point to the difficulties in associating them with panic formulations stressing irrationality and to show how the misunderstandings that how the conceptualization of one of these approaches on panic flight, which assumes the prevalence of nonsocial and self-centered behaviors and movements, has been transformed by recent studies of emergency evacuations from buildings, which show that the evacuation is best understood as social behavior in which people exhibit means-end rationality and social solidarity and act as socialized individuals moving towards sources of actual or perceived safety. The conclusion suggests first that the continued usage of the irrationality formulation by a minority of engineers and computer scientists writing on the topic of emergency evacuation and their use of “herding,” or the notion that during dangerous conditions, people follow the actions of others, leading to conformity, is not supported by a majority of findings in the social sciences, and second, that a likely solution to the disconnect between the two science communities is the adoption of transdisciplinary collaborative efforts. Full article

Deep soft rock roadways at about 1 km depth experience significant deformation due to concentrated stress ahead of the working face and dynamic loads from the hard roof layer. We propose an integrated control method that couples directional roof cutting, which interrupts stress transfer with constant resistance, and large deformation cable reinforcement to accommodate residual movement. The calibrated FLAC3D model indicates a lower front of face stress and a diminished cyclic build up of elastic strain energy in the roof, which reduces roadway convergence. Field data from Face 13403 corroborate the method’s effectiveness: the average hydraulic support load on the roof cutting side was 20.3 MPa, which is 30.1% lower than on the non-cutting side; deformation stabilized about 320 m behind the face; the final roof to floor and rib to rib closures were 1.10 m and 1.47 m; and the entry remained fit for the next panel. These results indicate that coupling roof cutting with constant resistance cable reinforcement reduces mining-induced loads while increasing deformation tolerance, providing a practical solution for stabilizing kilometer-deep soft rock roadways. Full article

Raghu Vira’s 1955 visit to China stands as a significant chapter in the history of contemporary Sino-Indian Buddhist cultural exchange. The diary he kept in Hindi offers a detailed record of this journey. However, this episode remains scarcely mentioned in official narratives of China today, largely because Vira gradually evolved into an emblematic hardline figure toward China within Indian political and cultural circles following his visit. What brought about this shift in Vira’s stance? Moreover, why did Vira, also an advocate of Buddhism, make no mention of the contemporary Navayāna Buddhism movement led by B. R. Ambedkar? This paper seeks to situate these questions within the broader context of Raghu Vira’s life trajectory and the more complex historical and cultural context of India, analyzing the intricate role Buddhism played in the process of Indian nation-building. Full article

This study investigates the influence of shallow water-bearing sand layers on surface subsidence characteristics in coal mining areas with thick loose strata, with the ultimate goal of contributing to sustainable environmental protection. Firstly, a numerical simulation test was designed to analyze and study the influence of the loose layer thickness, mining height, bedrock slope, and sand inclusion on the surface movement and deformation characteristics. Secondly, the mechanical model of seepage flow in the sand layer was established to study the influence mechanism of the internal stress distribution of the sand layer and the seepage of the water body after mining on the surface subsidence. Finally, by studying the law of surface subsidence corresponding to the mining of 3205 working face in a mine, it was found that mining caused the partial overlying soil layer to move integrally and generate a large displacement difference with the adjacent layer, which verifies the conclusions of numerical simulation and mechanical analysis. The results of the study show that the thickness of the loose layer is the main control factor that causes the surface subsidence range and the building damage to increase; the shallow water-bearing sand-bearing layer has two types of movements: displacement and flow. The critical hydraulic slope has not reached the sand. The layer has a linearly increasing horizontal displacement value in the thickness direction; when the critical hydraulic slope is reached, the sand layer cannot transmit the frictional force, causing the overlying soil layer to slide as a whole. Both forms are prone to tensile damage on the surface. The research results provide a theoretical basis and practical case for surface subsidence reduction and green mining under similar geological conditions. Full article

An innovative, STEAM-based educational approach uses LEGO^® robots to improve the visualisation and understanding of trochoid curves in tertiary mathematics education. The method involves a two-step process: first, the curves are drawn based on the classical definition of trochoids using a custom-designed LEGO^® robot that employs LED light to trace the shapes. Then, the same process is replicated with a marker, with the robot controlling the movement of the drawing head to reproduce the curves accurately. To deepen students’ comprehension and visualisation, Desmos dynamic geometry software was used in parallel to draw all three types of trochoids (prolate, curtate, and cusped). This hands-on technique aims to make these motion curves more tangible and engaging within a classroom setting. A quantitative experiment involving 94 first-year IT BSc students was conducted during the spring semester of the 2024/2025 academic year using a quasi-experimental design. We had one control group and two experimental groups. One of the experimental groups did not use educational robotics; participants could only see how the robots worked via video. The other experimental group gained first-hand experience by building and testing LEGO^® drawing robots. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of an innovative teaching method that used educational robotics to improve understanding of the mathematical properties of trochoids, compared to traditional teaching methods and presentations containing short videos. The Mann–Whitney U test was used in all cases during hypothesis testing. Only watching videos of drawing robots does not have a statistically significant effect on learning outcomes. In this case, the effect size was only 0.12. However, the results of the group performing educational robotics activities showed a statistically significant difference compared to the other two groups, with large effect sizes (0.68 and 0.7). Our results suggest that visualisation using LEGO^® robots significantly improves students’ knowledge of parametric curves. Educational robotics offers promising opportunities because it is an attractive and interactive teaching tool. Its great advantage is that it combines abstract mathematical concepts with modern technology, thus creating an effective learning environment. Full article

Deploying autonomous vehicles in urban mobility systems promises significant improvements in safety, efficiency, and sustainability. On the other hand, running these vehicles in the continuously changing and often uncertain conditions of modern cities turns out to be a major challenge. These cars need advanced systems that can continuously change in order to observe conditions. This paper puts forward a new way that brings together multiple LIDAR sensors for the real-time spotting and following of objects, along with adaptive motion planning methods made to handle the difficulties of city traffic. Using LIDAR-based mapping for environmental modeling and predictive tracking techniques helps the system build a richly detailed, consistently updating depiction of surroundings that supports accurate and quick decisions. Another feature of the system is dynamic path planning that ensures safe navigation by considering traffic, pedestrian movement, and road conditions. Simulations carried out in highly dense urban scenarios show improvement in collision avoidance, path-planning optimization, and response to environmental dynamics. Such outcomes prove that combining multi-LIDAR tracking and adaptive motion planning contributes significantly to the performance and safety of an autonomous vehicle when operating in very complex urban conditions. Full article

Vibrations of the print head and structural components during 3D printing with FFF technology can significantly impact the quality of printed parts, resulting in defects such as ghosting, ringing, and geometric inaccuracies. These undesired effects are primarily caused by mechanical oscillations of the print head, build platform, and frame, induced by dynamic changes in movement speed and inertial forces within the printing mechanism. This study investigates the effectiveness of vibration compensation using an ADXL345 accelerometer to regulate the motion of the print head and build platform on the Ender 3 V2 Neo printer. The experiment consisted of three test series performed under two distinct conditions, without vibration compensation and with active compensation enabled. All tests were carried out using identical baseline printing parameters. The differences in output were evaluated through visual inspection and dimensional analysis of the printed samples. Efficient vibration monitoring and its active control, aimed at suppressing oscillatory phenomena, can enhance both geometric accuracy and surface uniformity. In FFF 3D printing, especially when utilizing increased layer heights such as 0.3 mm, surface roughness (Ra) values in the range of 18 to 25 µm are typically expected, even when optimal process parameters are applied. This study emphasizes the role of active vibration control strategies in additive manufacturing, particularly in enhancing surface quality and dimensional accuracy. The objective is not only to mitigate the adverse effects of dynamic mechanical vibrations but also to determine the extent to which surface roughness can be systematically reduced under defined conditions, such as layer height, print speed, and movement trajectory. The aim is to improve the final product quality without introducing significant compromises in process efficiency. Full article

The construction industry is a major contributor to global resource consumption and waste. This sector extracts over two billion tons of raw materials each year and contributes over 30% of all solid waste generated annually through construction and demolition debris. The movement toward circularity in the built environment aims to replace linear processes of extraction and disposal by promoting policies favoring building preservation and adaptive reuse, as well as the salvage and reuse of building materials. Few North American cities have implemented explicit policies that incentivize circularity to decouple urban growth from resource consumption, and there remain substantial hurdles to adoption. Nonetheless, existing regulatory and planning tools, such as zoning codes and historic preservation policies, may already influence redevelopment in ways that could align with circularity. This article examines spatial patterns in these indirect pathways through a case study of a college town in New York State, assessing how commonly used local planning tools shape urban redevelopment trajectories. Using a three-stage spatial analysis protocol, including exploratory analysis, Geographically Weighted Regressions (GWRs), and Geographic Random Forest (GRF) modeling, the study evaluates the impact of zoning regulations and historic preservation designations on patterns of demolition, reinvestment, and incremental change in the building stock. National historic districts were strongly associated with more building adaptation permits indicating reinvestment in existing buildings. Mixed-use zoning was positively correlated with new construction, while special overlay districts and low-density zoning were mostly negatively correlated with concentrations of building adaptation permits. A key contribution of this paper is a replicable protocol for urban building stock analysis and insights into how land use policies can support or hinder incremental urban change in moves toward the circular city. Further, we provide recommendations for data management strategies in small cities that could help strengthen analysis-driven policies. Full article

A biomimetic adaptive façade applies natural principles to building design using shading devices that dynamically respond to environmental changes, enhancing daylight, thermal comfort, and energy efficiency. While motorised systems offer precision through sensors and mechanical actuation, they consume energy and are complex. In contrast, passively actuated systems use smart materials that respond to environmental stimuli, offering simpler and more sustainable operation, but often lack responsiveness to dynamic conditions. This study explores a sequential approach by initially developing motorised shading concepts before transitioning to a passive actuation strategy. In the first phase, nine mechanically actuated shading device concepts were designed, inspired by the opening and closing behaviour of plant stomata, and evaluated on structural robustness, actuation efficiency, ease of installation, and visual integration. One concept was selected for further development. In the second phase, a biocomposite made of polylactic acid (PLA) and regenerated cellulose fibres was used for Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) to fabricate 3D-printed modules with passive, moisture-responsive actuation. The modules underwent environmental testing, demonstrating repeatable shape changes in response to heat and moisture. Moisture application increased the range of motion, and heating led to flap closure as water evaporated. Reinforcement and layering strategies were also explored to optimise movement and minimise unwanted deformation, highlighting the material’s potential for sustainable, responsive façade systems. Full article

The ventilation system is one of the most important elements of a building for the appropriate insurance of indoor climate parameters. Nowadays, textile ventilation systems are increasingly being used as a solution for low-energy buildings. Greater air movement and distribution in ventilation systems often leads to one of the most noticeable issues for people—increased noise in the indoor environment. One of the solutions is to use noise reducing diffusers. The aim of this research was to design and test a diffuser that fulfills noise regulations, would be light (weight less than 3 kg), be able to flexibly change geometry and have a design that harmonizes with the interior design, could be easily installed into a suspended ceiling, have a simple connection to the ventilation duct and be able to be effortlessly removed for maintenance, and be sustainable (usage of recycled materials). Three types of diffusers were created according to set characteristics and tested. The test results showed that the aim of the research was achieved—the emitted noise levels are below the regulation’s required level of less than 45 dBA. Also, it is light—the weight is 1.7 kg and 2.8 kg, respectively, for square and rectangular diffusers; has a flexible construction and design; is made from recycled materials. Full article

Recent protest movement studies have focused almost exclusively on the impact of social media platforms in the organization of protests movements. These inquiries contend that mainstream media platforms are stale and ineffective. They claim that the diffusion of social media technologies has rendered mainstream media platforms insignificant in influencing protest movements. However, these inquiries fail to unbundle these media platforms for a more succinct evaluation. These anecdotal illustrations are lacking in evidence which tests the validity of these claims. This study is commissioned to bridge that gap. This study examines the influence of different media platforms in contentious politics and solidarity building by evaluating how protesters learned about and planned the 2019 #Ikokwu4 protests in Port Harcourt, Rivers State of Nigeria. The study utilizes explanatory mixed methods research, comprising a survey of protesters (N = 384) in Port Harcourt and semi-structured interviews with participants who participated in the protests. Analyses of survey data indicate that protesters who used radio, Facebook, and WhatsApp to learn about and plan the 2019 #Ikokwu4 protests in Nigeria and who reported to have had previous protest experience were more likely to report joining on the first day of the protest. The study demonstrates the emancipatory aspects of radio as an instrument of protests. The study highlights the need to unbundle media platforms when studying how such media platforms influence protest movements. Full article

In urban emergency communication scenarios, building obstructions can reduce the performance of base station (BS) communication networks. To address such issues, this paper proposes an air-ground wireless network enabled by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and assisted by reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS). This system enhances the efficacy of UAV-enabled MISO networks. Treating the UAV as an intelligent agent moving in 3D space, sensing changes in the channel environment, and adopting zero-forcing (ZF) precoding to eliminate interference from ground users. Meanwhile, joint design is performed for UAV movement, RIS phase shifts, and power allocation for users. We propose two deep reinforcement learning (DRL) algorithms, which are termed D3QN-WF and DDQN-WF, respectively. Simulation results indicate that D3QN-WF achieves a 15.9% higher sum rate and 50.1% greater throughput than the DDQN-WF baseline, while also demonstrating significantly faster convergence. Full article

To foster engaged, resilient, healthy, and active citizens, there is a critical need to elevate the status of quality physical education (QPE) in Canadian schools. Within the K–12 educational context, systemic changes for physical education (PE) daily instructional time, curriculum development, and teacher education are necessary to prepare educators for implementing comprehensive QPE programs that prioritize students’ holistic development and foundational movement competence. This manuscript examines the intricate role of the “Canadian Physical and Health Education Competencies” and its Essential and Foundational Elements, PE Competencies Wheel, and Wholistic Verb Wheel serve as a competency-informed approach for supporting PE curriculum updates and policy reform nationwide. Furthermore, the results section explores how the Canadian PHE Competencies serves as a foundation for advancing QPE and introduces two interconnected frameworks: the QPE Foundations Framework and the QPE Outcomes Framework—Skills for Life. Building on the overarching goals of the Canadian Physical and Health Education Competencies, the QPE Foundations Framework outlines essential components for program implementation, while the QPE Outcomes Framework—Skills for Life identifies eight core skills students develop through quality movement experiences. Together, these frameworks offer a transformative and progressive approach for understanding and assessing QPE, with the intention to serve as practical tools for pre-service and in-service educators, Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) teacher educators, administrators, and policymakers. This manuscript concludes by advocating for enhanced pre-service educator training and ongoing professional development for in-service educators, ensuring all students have access to QPE experiences and equitable opportunities for developing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to live active and well—for life. Full article

Indoor navigation (IN) systems are increasingly essential in environments where GPS signals are unreliable, such as hospitals, airports, and large public buildings. This study explores a smartphone-based approach to indoor positioning that leverages inertial sensor data for accurate step detection and counting, which are fundamental components of pedestrian dead reckoning. A long short-term memory (LSTM) network was trained to recognize step patterns across a variety of indoor movement scenarios. The generalized model achieved an average step detection accuracy of 93%, while scenario-specific models tailored to particular movement types such as turning, stair use, or interrupted walking achieved up to 96% accuracy. The results demonstrate that incorporating activity-specific training improves performance, particularly under complex motion conditions. Challenges such as false positives from abrupt stops and non-walking activities were reduced through model specialization. Although the system performed well offline, real-time deployment on mobile devices requires further optimization to address latency constraints. The proposed approach contributes to the development of accessible and cost-effective indoor navigation systems using widely available smartphone hardware and offers a foundation for future improvements in real-time pedestrian tracking and localization. Full article

Looking into early Christian–Muslim relations seems to be the outcome of greater interest in Islam transcultural encounters due to current issues of mass migration. Sicily presents an informative example of the interaction between different ethnic and religious groups over centuries. Several scholars, including Jeremy Johns, Alex Metcalfe and Julie Taylor, have explored the social and administrative position of Christians and Muslims within the complex society of Sicily, although their contributions were largely from the umbrella of Norman Sicily from the eleventh to the thirteenth centuries. Thus, there is a need to shift away from the Normans’ experience to exploring Christian–Muslim relations in Sicily during the ninth through eleventh centuries, especially the expansion, society and activities during the rule of the Fāṭimids of Ifrīqiya (909–965) and their Kalbid allies (948–1053). These forms of relationships are not only important for Sicily but for the whole region of the central Mediterranean. This paper will build on the works of Umberto Rizzitano and other scholars to explore the relations between the Arabs and Muslims and the Christians in Sicily during the Muslim rule of the Island. Using Arabic and Islamic sources, including travel accounts by the Muslim geographer Ibn Ḥawqal (d. 988), this paper aims to discuss the lives of Christians and their dynamic exchanges with Muslims within the social and political complexities of Aghlabid and Fāṭimid Sicily as well as Sicily’s link to North Africa (Ifrīqiya). Sicily’s proximity to North Africa and to Europe has been an essential aspect of its history, which facilitated movement of communities between these regions. The paper will also compare the policies of the Fāṭimids towards Christians in Sicily with their relations towards their Christian subjects in Cairo, Egypt. It will show the pragmatic aspects of this relationship concerning marriage, legal status, the movement of people, and cultural and intellectual exchange. Christians and Muslims practised cultural hybridisation that brought changes in Sicily with respect to language, religion, and social habits, resulting in a distinctive Sicilian multicultural identity. Full article