Search Results (650)

Despite advancements in navigation apps for wheelchair users, there is no consensus on which environmental factors to prioritize for personalized accessible routes. This scoping review synthesizes factors influencing wheelchair mobility in urban settings, evaluates measurement methods, and assesses their integration into routing algorithms. Following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we analyzed six databases for English-language articles from 2005 to 2023, supplemented by an updated search covering 2023 to 2026. Two reviewers screened 6966 records and examined 79 full-text articles, with 24 meeting the inclusion criteria for data extraction. Environmental factors were categorized into static and dynamic factors affecting mobility. Key components included sidewalks (96%), ramps (63%), curb cuts (54%), stairs (50%), crosswalks (50%), and streets (38%). Common factors examined were length, slope, width, and surface properties. Data collection methods varied: 42% relied on measurements, 8% used user assessments and sensors, while 50% combined both approaches. Recent studies (2023–2026) demonstrate increasing adoption of AI and machine learning techniques, including crowdsourced smartphone data and generative AI for feature detection. This review identifies essential factors for wheelchair navigation and highlights significant gaps in dynamic factor assessment and real-time data integration. Full article

This study proposes a methodology for selecting robust stable cutting conditions from a Receptance Coupling Substructure Analysis (RCSA)-based Stability Lobe Diagram (SLD) by considering tool clamping errors that may occur during operator tool setup. However, most existing RCSA studies have been conducted under the assumption of a constant tool clamping length and thus do not sufficiently reflect the clamping length variation observed in practical machining environments. Since the tool tip dynamic characteristics can be sensitive even to small variations in clamping length, operator-induced tool clamping errors in actual processes can introduce such variations and consequently degrade the prediction accuracy of the SLD. Moreover, uncertainty studies in milling stability have largely focused on variations in model parameters, such as cutting coefficients, damping, and modal parameters, whereas experimental quantification of operator-induced clamping length variability and its direct integration into RCSA-based tool tip Frequency Response Function (FRF) and SLD prediction has been relatively limited. Therefore, this study quantifies the distribution of tool clamping errors through clamping experiments and incorporates it into RCSA to derive an SLD band that accounts for tool clamping errors. The width of the SLD band is defined as a physical variation induced by clamping uncertainty, and the corresponding uncertainty range is set as an avoidance region. Robust cutting conditions are then selected from the remaining stable region while considering the physical variation width. The physical variation width was quantified as 60 rpm (minor axis) and 1.62 mm (major axis), representing the dispersion of the stability limit in the spindle speed and axial depth directions caused by clamping errors. As a result, stable cutting conditions that do not cross the stability limit can be determined even in the presence of process variations and disturbances. Full article

In this study, a novel picosecond laser ring-cut drilling method was employed to drill holes in alumina ceramics. The morphology, dimensions, taper angle, and heat-affected zone (HAZ) of the resultant micro-holes were systematically characterized under various laser processing parameters. The crystal structure, microstructure, and elemental composition of micro-holes processed under specific parameters were characterized. The results showed that the micro-hole entrance and exit dimensions and HAZ area increased with increasing spot-scanning number. However, the micro-hole taper angle initially decreased before stabilizing with an increasing spot-scanning number. Furthermore, the micro-hole entrance and exit dimensions and HAZ area gradually decreased with increasing spot-scanning speed. Conversely, the micro-hole taper angle increased with increasing spot-scanning speed. Additionally, the micro-hole entrance and exit dimensions and HAZ area gradually increased with increasing average power. However, the micro-hole taper angle gradually decreased with increasing average power. Under processing parameters of spot-scanning number N = 90, scanning speed v = 600 mm/s, and average power P = 24 W, the micro-holes exhibited a taper angle α of 4.32° and a HAZ width of approximately 0.207 mm². In contrast to the large bright grains on the original substrate, fine grains were observed around the machining area. Compared to the original substrate surface, the percentage of oxygen atoms decreased, whereas the percentage of aluminum atoms increased at the micro-hole edge and HAZ surface. The results of this study have potential applications in the field of ceramic manufacturing. Full article

Severe floor heave in gate roadways under high-intensity longwall mining is primarily controlled by mining-induced stress redistribution. Abutment pressure is preferentially transferred through the coal pillar into the floor, accelerating floor instability. From the perspective of symmetry, mining disturbance breaks the original mechanical symmetry of the coal pillar–roadway system, resulting in asymmetric stress concentration and uneven floor heave. In this study, field monitoring and FLAC3D simulations were conducted for the 12 Upper 301 panel in the Buertai Coal Mine. The objectives were to quantify the sensitivity of coal-pillar loading and floor-heave response under stress redistribution, and to derive implications for pressure-relief design. Field monitoring indicates strong disturbance and large deformation: the maximum roof–floor and rib-to-rib convergences reached 1095 mm and 452 mm, respectively, accompanied by continuous growth of coal-pillar stress during mining. Numerical results show that increasing coal-pillar width enhances stress-bearing capacity and promotes a more symmetric stress distribution, thereby suppressing floor heave. In contrast, increasing the mining advance rate aggravates stress-field asymmetry and intensifies floor uplift. Greater burial depth further strengthens stress concentration and amplifies asymmetric deformation. Based on these findings, a roof-cutting pressure-relief scheme was optimized. This scheme aims to relieve and re-route the asymmetrically transmitted pillar loading. The optimal design adopts a roof-cutting length of 75 m and an angle of 30°, which reconstructs a more symmetric stress-transfer path; reduces the peak side abutment pressure to 8.72 MPa; and limits floor heave to 134.4 mm (control rate: 88.4%). Field application confirms the effectiveness of the proposed symmetry-based pressure-relief design. Full article

This article first investigates the single-factor effects in water-jet guided laser (WJGL) machining of diamond via experiments, analyzing how processing performance responds to laser energy and machining control parameters to define their optimization ranges. Subsequently, an Optimal Latin Hypercube Sampling (OLHD) is adopted to collect experimental data points, enabling exploration of the interaction mechanisms between process parameters and their compatibility with machining performance indicators. A surrogate model based on Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) with combined kernel functions is constructed to capture the complex nonlinear mapping between process parameters and response metrics. To address inherent uncertainties in the optimization model, an improved NSGA-III algorithm integrating the Expected Improvement dominance partition strategy (EIS) is proposed, using Expected Improvement (EI) to determine dominance relationships under WJGL processing uncertainties and derive matched process parameters. Validation via test functions and machining experiments demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms traditional NSGA-III (T-NSGA-III) with significantly lower prediction deviations. The optimized parameters achieved remarkable performance improvements: cutting depth (Nd) increased by 48.21%, kerf width (Kw) reduced by 1.44%, line roughness average (Ra) decreased by 43.09%, and cutting speed (Cs) improved by 78.40%. This research provides a viable process optimization approach for WJGL technology, enabling high-quality, efficient, and robust diamond machining. Full article

In this study, a model was developed to calculate the power required for the circumferential cutting of solid wood in the longitudinal direction, considering the relevant technological parameters and mechanical properties of the wood. Based on measurements of different combinations and using the Response surface method (RSM) and Central composite design (CCD), a model was created that, in its derived version, considers the cutting width and depth, the diameter and speed of the tool, the number of cutting edges and sharpness of the cutting edge, the feed rate of the workpiece, and the density and moisture content of the wood. The model can be used to calculate the cutting power of various tree species with densities ranging from 400 to 700 kg/m³, moisture contents from 8 to 16%, and a wide range of cutting-edge sharpness, from a sharp cutting edge with a tip radius of 5 µm to a blunt cutting edge with a tip radius of 35 µm. The model is designed for a rake angle of 20°, the value most frequently used in practise. ANOVA analysis was used to determine the suitability of the model, which is highly significant with an R² value of 0.93 and an average deviation of the calculated values from the measured values of 8.8%. The model is robust and therefore useful in the wood industry for predicting energy consumption in the processing of solid wood. Full article

Background: Intraoral radiography remains highly operator-dependent, with small deviations in beam angulation or receptor placement leading to geometric distortions, diagnostic inaccuracies, and repeated exposures. This pilot study introduces and evaluates a gyroscopic-guided, laser-assisted radiographic device designed to standardize cone positioning and improve the geometric reliability of bisecting-angle intraoral radiographs. Methods: Eighteen dental graduates and practitioners performed periapical radiographs on phantom models using a charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor over six months. Each participant obtained six standardized projections with and without the device, yielding 200 analysable radiographs. Radiographic linear measurements included tooth height (occluso–apical dimension) and tooth width (mesio-distal diameter), which were compared with reference values obtained using the paralleling technique. Radiographic errors—including cone cut, elongation, proximal overlap, sliding occlusal plane deviation, and apical cut—were recorded and compared between groups. Results: Use of the gyroscopic-guided device significantly enhanced geometric accuracy. Height measurements showed a strong correlation with reference values in the device group (r = 0.942; R² = 0.887) compared with the non-device technique (r = 0.767; R² = 0.589; p < 0.0001). Width measurements demonstrated similar improvement (device: r = 0.878; R² = 0.770; non-device: r = 0.748; R² = 0.560; p < 0.0001). Overall, the device reduced technical radiographic errors by approximately 62.5%, with significant reductions in cone cut, elongation, proximal overlap, sliding occlusal plane errors, and tooth-centering deviations. Conclusions: Integrating gyroscopic stabilization with laser trajectory guidance substantially improves the geometric fidelity, reproducibility, and diagnostic quality of intraoral radiographs. By minimizing operator-dependent variability, this innovation has the potential to reduce repeat exposures and enhance clinical diagnostics. Further clinical trials are recommended to validate performance in patient-based settings. Full article

Background and Objectives: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute inflammatory disease ranging from mild, self-limiting forms to severe presentations associated with high morbidity and mortality. Early prognostic assessment is crucial for guiding clinical management. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the red cell distribution width-to-albumin ratio (RDW/Alb, RAR) in relation to clinically relevant outcomes, including intensive care unit (ICU) admission and in-hospital mortality, in patients with AP. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 282 patients diagnosed with AP who were hospitalized at Mersin University Hospital between January 2019 and February 2024. Clinical, laboratory, and radiological data were retrospectively analyzed. The predictive performance of RAR was evaluated and compared with established clinical scoring systems, including bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis (BISAP), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), harmless acute pancreatitis score (HAPS), and pancreatitis activity scoring system (PASS). Results: The median RDW-to-albumin ratio (RAR) was 3.9 (range: 2.6–36.7). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated that RAR showed good predictive performance for ICU admission (Area Under the Curve (AUC): 0.781; p < 0.001; optimal cut-off: 4.15) and high predictive performance for in-hospital mortality (AUC: 0.927; p < 0.001; optimal cut-off: 5.26). RAR exhibited limited but statistically significant discriminatory performance when compared with the BISAP score (AUC: 0.591; p = 0.017), whereas no significant predictive performance was observed in relation to PASS, HAPS, or SIRS scores. Conclusions: Within the context of this retrospective cohort, RAR is a simple, inexpensive, and readily available biomarker that may be associated with ICU admission and in-hospital mortality in patients with AP. Given the absence of standard severity endpoints such as persistent organ failure or pancreatic necrosis, these findings should not be interpreted as evidence of conventional disease severity prediction but rather as hypothesis-generating observations that warrant validation in larger prospective studies. Full article

Blood culture is the diagnostic gold standard for bacteremia in the emergency department (ED), but its turnaround time can delay appropriate antimicrobial therapy, highlighting the need for rapid, accessible biomarkers. We retrospectively analyzed adult ED patients from July 2023 to June 2024 who underwent blood culture testing and had complete data for monocyte distribution width (MDW), white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Discrimination was assessed using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and diagnostic accuracy using sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR); combined models were compared with net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). Among 19,325 patients, 2011 (10.4%) had positive blood cultures. MDW had the highest AUROC (0.760) versus CRP (0.730), NLR (0.695), and WBC (0.642); at a cut-off of 22, MDW showed 0.72 sensitivity, 0.68 specificity, and DOR 5.46. The best combined model was MDW+NLR (AUROC 0.785; DOR 6.39; NRI 0.428; IDI 0.770). MDW is a rapid and effective marker for identifying bacteremia in the ED, and performance improves when combined with NLR. Full article

Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) harvesting is labor-intensive and inefficient, while strip-cutting enables mechanized, cost-effective management and supports long-term production. Intensive strip-cutting disturbs bamboo ecosystems, altering soil, litter and understory vegetation. This may reduce long-term productivity despite moso bamboo’s rapid growth, especially in the mountainous areas like Anji, Zhejiang. To balance ecological and production goals, we evaluated strip-cutting widths of 3, 5, and 8 m under three slope classes, 5–14° (gentle, SL1), 15–24° (moderate, SL2), and 25–34° (steep, SL3), focusing on bamboo growth recovery and understory vegetation diversity. Compared with uncut control plots, the number of herbaceous and shrub species increased in all treatment plots. In 5 m moderate slope plots, shoot and culm numbers were 27% and 13% higher than those in the 3 m and 8 m plots, and 37% higher than uncut control plots. Herb species diversity, as reflected by the Shannon–Wiener (H′), Simpson (D), and Margalef richness (R) indices, was high in the narrowest clearcut strips under SL1 and SL3. Pielou’s evenness index (J) was high in the 3 and 5 m plots under SL2 and SL3. Shrub species diversity, as indicated by D and R, was high in 5 and 8 m plots under SL2 and SL3. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that under SL2, 5 m strip-cutting width with a score of 0.649 outperformed others. These results suggest that 5 m strip-cutting width under SL2 slope optimizes understory vegetation diversity and supports a synergistic outcome of “high shoot emergence–high culm formation” thereby achieving both ecological and production benefits. Full article

Z-cut lithium niobate single crystal demonstrates considerable promise for contact-based ultrasonic nondestructive testing and structural health monitoring (SHM) transducers due to its high piezoelectric coefficients, strong electromechanical coupling capability, and environmentally friendly lead-free composition. As a simulation-based theoretical exploration, this study systematically investigates the impact of gap spacing and electrode width in concentric ring configurations on the resonant characteristics and pulse-echo response of ultrasonic transducers by establishing a parametrized finite element model. Numerical simulations reveal that electrode geometry plays a critical role in determining both the effective electromechanical coupling coefficient and echo signal strength. Optimizing the electrode ring width achieved an effective electromechanical coupling coefficient ($k_{\mathit{eff}}$) of 35.2%, while systematic enlargement of the electrode gap further enhanced this value to 50.8%. The study also demonstrates that optimized ring width and adjusted electrode spacing increased the echo signal’s peak-to-peak amplitude ($V_{pp}$) by factors of 4.94 and 2.03, respectively, compared to the poorest-performing configuration within each parameter group. This study establishes that precise design of concentric electrode configurations serves as an effective strategy for tuning lithium niobate ultrasonic transducer characteristics, providing critical design guidelines for developing high-performance ultrasonic transducers for solid medium coupling. Full article

On-orbit cutting is a critical process for the on-orbit manufacturing of carbon fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone composites (CF/PEEK) truss structures, with pulsed laser cutting serving as one of the feasible methods. Achieving high-quality cutting of CF/PEEK remains a major challenge for on-orbit manufacturing. Therefore, the cutting process of CF/PEEK prepreg tape was studied by an ultraviolet (UV) nanosecond laser. A three-factor, five-level orthogonal experiment was carried out to analyze the influence of laser repetition rate (LRR), laser cutting speed (LCS), and laser scanning times (LCTs) on cutting quality. The ablation mechanism dominated by the photothermal effect between the UV nanosecond laser and CF/PEEK was analyzed, and the by-products in the cutting process were explored. Finally, the optimal cutting quality (the width of slit (W_s) = 41.69 ± 3.54 μm, the heat-affected zone (HAZ) = 87.27 ± 7.30 μm) was obtained under the process conditions of LRR 50 kHz-LCS 50 mm/s-LCT 16 times. The findings show that the W_S and HAZ increase with the increase in LRR and LCT and the decrease in LCS, and the carbon fiber decomposes and escapes due to the photothermal effect. Full article

Soybean is the world’s foremost oilseed crop, and leaf morphology significantly influences yield potential by affecting light interception, canopy structure, and photosynthetic efficiency. In this study, leaf length, leaf width, maximum leaf width, leaf apex opening angle, and leaf area were measured in 216 soybean accessions, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were conducted using genomic resequencing data to identify genetic variants associated with leaf morphological traits. A total of 824 SNP loci were found to be significantly associated with leaf shape, and 130 candidate genes were identified in the genomic regions flanking these significant loci. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the above candidate genes were significantly enriched in arginine biosynthesis (ko00220), nitrogen metabolism (ko00910), carbon metabolism (ko01200), pyruvate metabolism (ko00620), glycolysis/glycogenolysis (ko00010), starch and sucrose metabolism (ko00500), plant–pathogen interaction (ko04626), and amino acid biosynthesis (ko01230). By combining KEGG and GO enrichment analysis as well as expression level analysis, four candidate genes related to leaf shape (Glyma.10G141600, Glyma.13G062700, Glyma.16G041200 and Glyma.20G115500) were identified. Further, through candidate gene association analysis, it was found that the Glyma.10G141600 gene was divided into two major haplotypes. The leaf area of haplotype 1 was significantly smaller than that of haplotype 2. Subsequently, the cutting amplification polymorphism sequence (CAPS) molecular marker was developed. The marker Chr.10:37502955 can effectively distinguish the differences in leaf size through enzymatic digestion technology, and has excellent typing ability and application potential. The above results can provide a theoretical basis for molecular-assisted selection (MAS) of soybean leaf morphology. Full article

The use of metalworking fluid (MWF) in surface grinding is essential, but its supply contributes notably to the process energy demand. This study investigates the effect of the fluid jet to wheel speed ratio q_s on specific grinding energy and associated CO₂ emissions. Experiments with grinding wheels of different grit sizes (F60–F120) were conducted at cutting speeds of 35 and 60 m/s. Critical specific material removal rates Q’_{w, crit} were determined by taper grinding, with the onset of grinding burn identified by Barkhausen noise analysis. Based on these values and the grinding wheel width, specific process energies e_total were derived from grinding, pump, and machine base load. F120 wheels showed no systematic dependence of Q’_{w, crit} on q_s, whereas for coarser F80 and F60 wheels, decreasing q_s from 1.0 to 0.6 increased Q’_{w, crit} by 13–27% at 35 m/s and decreased it by 33–35% at 60 m/s. The most efficient process (F60, 35 m/s, q_s = 0.6) required 152.8 J/mm³, the least efficient (F120, 60 m/s, q_s = 0.8) 333.1 J/mm³. Because CO₂ emissions scale with e_total, the relative differences in energy directly indicate relative differences in CO₂ output. An illustrative case study shows that adjusting q_s alone (F80, 35 m/s) lowers annual emissions from 0.284 t to 0.206 t, a reduction of approximately 27%. These findings highlight the influence of q_s on grinding efficiency and process energy demand. Full article

High-quality drilled holes are critical in thin fabric-reinforced composites used in many industrial applications; however, the influence of woven architecture on drilling performance without a backup plate remains insufficiently defined. This paper introduces the first comprehensive experimental and statistical framework for evaluating unsupported drilling of thin woven glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) laminates. The framework integrates the effect of support opening width, fiber weight fraction (wf), feed per tooth, and fabric architecture to quantify their combined effects on delamination, cutting forces, and surface roughness. The samples consisted of vacuum mold-pressed GFRP laminates. Drilling tests were conducted on plain and twill-woven plates, and hole quality was evaluated using thrust force, delamination factor, and surface roughness (Sa). A statistical DOE and multifactorial ANOVA were applied to quantify the effects of the main parameters. For plain-woven GFRP, the best results were obtained with a 65 mm support opening width, 45% fiber wf, and 0.04 mm/tooth feed. Plain-woven laminates exhibited lower average surface roughness (Sa ≈ 5.0–6.5 µm) than twill-woven laminates (Sa ≈ 6.0–7.0 µm). The study demonstrates how fabric architecture and drilling parameters jointly influence hole quality in thin GFRP composites, providing practical guidance for manufacturing applications. Full article