Search Results (381)

Lifecycle management of the conversational AI agent, in the case of Copilot Studio and Dataverse as enabling technologies, is discussed in this paper. After an in-depth examination of the academic literature, policy reports, and lifecycle models, the research also concludes that there are AI applications to be utilized in the government sector, and there are policies to be revised, alongside some ethical considerations that can and must be implemented. It has also revealed that conversational AI is so on trend that governments are employing this technology to do even more, to socialize with and serve the needs of more people in multiple languages. They can also decrease response times by 40%. But its initial condition will not endure for long. Lifecycle continuous monitoring as well as lifecycle ethics and participative design should be practiced in lifecycle governance so that nobody feels sidelined, left without influence, or interrogated. Copilot Studio is a low-code or no-code orchestration environment that runs on your code, and Dataverse ensures your data will be compatible with other systems. In the study, the theory attempts to touch on the harmonization of entities, citizen security and technical functions in the lifecycle. In this model, we will differentiate why a field-conversational AI model would lead to the creation of a vibrant, responsible, and effective service model. The technical and ethical lifecycle management of the AI integration offers a structure of accountability in which governments should extend the conversational agent according to the values held by the government. Full article

Optimizing nitrogen management is essential for maintaining high spring maize yield while mitigating nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions in irrigated areas. However, the interactive effects of total nitrogen application rate and starter nitrogen proportion on yield and N₂O emissions remain insufficiently quantified. Reliable assessment of these interactions requires well-calibrated DeNitrification–DeComposition (DNDC) simulations, yet existing calibration studies often emphasize crop parameters while neglecting soil parameters critical for soil hydrothermal dynamics and N₂O production. In this study, field data from shallow-buried drip-irrigated spring maize in Tongliao during 2024–2025 were used to conduct Extended Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test (EFAST) sensitivity analysis on 12 crop and 13 soil parameters of the DNDC model. Sensitive parameters were calibrated using the differential evolution algorithm, and 64 nitrogen management scenarios were simulated by combining eight total nitrogen application rates (100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, and 450 kg N ha⁻¹) with eight starter nitrogen proportions (0%, 15%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, and 50% of the total nitrogen rate). The results showed that DNDC outputs were jointly controlled by crop and soil parameters, among which maximum yield, leaf carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, stem fraction, grain carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, thermal degree days for maturity, grain fraction, soil organic carbon (SOC) decrease rate below topsoil, soil clay content, soil porosity, wilting point and depth of top soil with uniform SOC content were dominant. Compared with the conventional crop-parameter calibration, the sensitivity-screened parameter set improved the simulation of both cumulative N₂O emissions and yield. Across the 64 scenarios, cumulative N₂O emissions ranged from 0.42 to 4.87 kg [N]/ha, while simulated maize yield ranged from 1597 to 6347 kg [C]/ha. N₂O emissions increased with total nitrogen rate, whereas yield increased initially and then reached a plateau. Increasing the starter nitrogen proportion did not substantially enhance yield but increased N₂O emission risk under high nitrogen rates. Overall, the scenario with 300 kg/ha and no nitrogen applied at sowing achieved a relatively high yield of 5519 kg [C]/ha while maintaining a low cumulative N₂O emission of 0.98 kg [N]/ha and was therefore identified as the preferred trade-off strategy under shallow-buried drip irrigation. This study provides an EFAST–DNDC framework for optimizing nitrogen management to sustain spring maize yield while reducing N₂O emissions in the West Liaohe Plain. Full article

In the seasonally frozen area, slopes are exposed to freeze–thaw cycles; thus, water and heat are moved, and the foundation for the transportation infrastructure in cold regions may be weakened. Based on the relatively strong water-recharge effect and considerable fluctuations in shallow soil moisture during the spring thaw along the Naba section of the G218 Highway in Xinjiang, China, a coupled hydro-thermal model for frozen soil that considers snowmelt infiltration and rainfall recharge was developed, and it was numerically implemented in COMSOL. A one-dimensional unidirectional freezing test of a soil column was used to validate the model, and the relative errors of the simulated temperature and moisture fields were 3.8% and 4.3%, respectively; both are within the accuracy requirements for engineering-scale analysis. Then, a model was used to determine how the temperature, volumetric ice content and volumetric water content of a representative slope in the Naba section changed during a freeze–thaw cycle. Based on the above results, the annual temperature range at the surface of the topsoil on the slope is 37.61 °C, and this thermal effect extends to a depth of 0–3 m. In the spring thaw, the volumetric water content of the surface layer increased from 8.45% in February to 19.34% in May, and further to 20.65% in July; therefore, it can be inferred that the shallow soil is still being replenished by snowmelt and rain. Freezing-thaw phase change, freezing-front migration and external water infiltration work together to control hydro-thermal transport in the slope; thus, a redistribution and local accumulation of liquid water occur below the residual frozen layer and under the shallow surface. The above results can serve as a reference for drainage design and as a means to prevent or control freeze–thaw damage to the slope of a highway in Xinjiang’s seasonally frozen area during the spring thaw. Full article

Background/Objectives: Choosing the most appropriate intraocular lens (IOL) for presbyopia management may be challenging given the expanding selection of available designs. This review provides an updated overview of current monofocal plus, extended depth of focus (EDoF), and trifocal IOLs, summarizing their optical properties and laboratory and clinical findings, including visual acuity outcomes and side effects. Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed to identify studies on monofocal plus, EDoF, and trifocal IOLs, with emphasis on optical characteristics, visual acuity outcomes, and reported photic phenomena. Results: Monofocal plus IOLs demonstrate an improvement in depth of field compared to monofocal lenses, as evidenced by significant broadening of the defocus curve. Both refractive and diffractive EDoF IOLs show improved intermediate visual acuity, with diffractive models offering greater depth of field but a higher risk of dysphotopsia. Trifocal IOLs offer the best visual acuity at all three foci: near, intermediate, and distance. Patients’ needs may be customized using sulcus- or capsulotomy-fixated IOLs, mix-and-match strategies, and binocular IOL systems. Conclusions: Based on this literature review, clinical and optical bench studies to date support optimized IOL selection based on individual patient needs for presbyopia management. However, consideration of understudied or newly released IOL models is limited as future research is needed. Additionally, further prospective, randomized, controlled, and masked studies with large sample sizes on all IOL models may further support patient decision-making by contributing to a more comprehensive literature. Full article

Accurate and reliable groundwater-level monitoring in deep observation wells remains difficult for conventional non-contact ultrasonic systems because narrow tubular geometries intensify multipath reflections, signal attenuation, and echo ambiguity. This study proposes a dual-signal direct time-of-flight (ToF) method that combines radiofrequency (RF) synchronization with one-way airborne ultrasonic propagation to a floating receiver located at the groundwater surface. In the proposed architecture, the RF signal provides a near-instantaneous time reference, whereas the ultrasonic signal defines the propagation delay, thereby eliminating dependence on echo-based ranging. The system integrates a wellhead surface unit for synchronized transmission and control, a floating unit for ToF acquisition and embedded processing, and an optional reference channel for in situ estimation of the effective sound speed. A duty-cycled power architecture is used to support low-power long-term deployment, while a multi-shot acquisition strategy with a median-like estimator improves robustness against startup transients, timing jitters, and false detections. Field validation was conducted over a 12-month period under actual groundwater-monitoring conditions, during which the groundwater depth varied between 14 m and 30 m below the wellhead datum. Within this field-validation interval, the proposed system achieved a mean absolute error of 0.048 m, a maximum absolute error of 0.050 m, and an overall valid detection rate of 99.4% over 358 valid cycles out of 360 scheduled cycles. In addition, a separate range-dependent confined-tubular propagation test was conducted to evaluate the extended detection capability of the RF-synchronized one-way ultrasonic ToF architecture. This test demonstrated stable acoustic-link ToF detection up to 300 m inside the tested 170 mm confined plastic pipeline. Therefore, the 300 m result should be interpreted as a range-dependent valid-detection result rather than as a 12-month groundwater-depth validation over the full 300 m interval. These results demonstrate that the proposed direct-ToF method provides an RF-synchronized one-way ultrasonic ToF framework with a floating receiver for groundwater-level monitoring in deep observation wells, while remaining compatible with low-power and IoT-based environmental monitoring systems. Full article

With the transition to deep coal mining, the transparent detection of hidden geological hazards in the floor strata is fundamental for production safety. In mine seismic exploration, gliding waves—inhomogeneous plane waves propagating along the coal–rock interface—offer a unique advantage for penetrating high-velocity floors via the skin effect, overcoming the total reflection limitations of conventional in-seam waves. This study investigates the propagation laws and anomaly response characteristics of floor gliding waves using super-critical incidence theory and high-order staggered-grid finite difference simulations. The results demonstrate that the apparent velocities of gliding P and S-waves are bounded by those of the coal and host rock, exhibiting minimal dispersion. Quantitative analysis using a penetration depth model reveals that while penetration depth is frequency-dependent—with lower frequencies providing deeper reach—high-frequency components remain essential for high-resolution imaging. Crucially, the proposed method was validated through a field Case Study at the 11123 working face. By utilizing a specialized deep-hole excitation strategy to ensure super-critical incidence, the inversion successfully identified a hidden fault extending up to 60 m below the floor, which was subsequently confirmed by rock roadway excavation. These findings establish a robust physical basis for designing underground floor-detection systems and provide a significant theoretical reference for addressing detection blind spots in deep mining environments. Full article

The study analyzes a major deep-seated landslide affecting National Road 16 at KP 178+000 in the Rif region of northern Morocco, a corridor repeatedly impacted by geotechnical instability. Using historical information, detailed geological mapping, multiple field campaigns, and extensive subsurface investigations (core drilling, inclinometers), the authors characterize the site as a complex setting of metamorphosed, fractured, and altered peridotites overlain by Quaternary sediments dipping negatively toward the Mediterranean. The landslide is interpreted as deep-seated planar translational landslide and has been exacerbated by human activity, specifically the placement of excavated material on the downslope side during road upgrade works in late 2019. Inclinometer data show active movement extending to at least 20 m depth, confirming the deep-seated nature of the instability. Three remediation strategies were implemented: shifting the road alignment with terracing, combining road realignment with soil nailing and slope reprofiling, and installing large bored piles tied back with anchors, following recommendations from an external expert. The authors emphasize that robust geological investigations and properly regulated construction practices are essential to reduce landslide risk for infrastructure built in mountainous coastal regions. Full article

Aquavoltaics, which integrates solar photovoltaic infrastructure with aquaculture production, has increasingly been promoted as a possible pathway for supporting low-carbon energy transition and multifunctional land use in coastal regions. In Taiwan, aquavoltaics has been framed as a policy approach that may contribute to renewable energy development, aquaculture continuity, and rural revitalisation. However, its implementation has also raised governance concerns related to land use, environmental uncertainty, and local participation in coastal aquaculture communities. This study examines the governance trade-offs and institutional development of aquavoltaics policy in southern Taiwan through an analytical framework that combines political ecology and the extended explanatory chain model (EECM). Drawing on policy document analysis, field observations, administrative records, and in-depth interviews with 24 stakeholders, the study traces aquavoltaics governance across five interrelated stages: policy discourse, institutional design, local implementation and community response, policy feedback, and institutional diffusion. The findings indicate that Taiwan’s aquavoltaics governance has been shaped by tensions between centralised energy-policy objectives and diverse local aquaculture conditions. Technical requirements, including the 40% shading threshold and the 70% production maintenance requirement, provide administrative clarity but may not fully reflect species-specific practices, pond-management needs, or existing land-tenure arrangements. In the cases examined, aquavoltaics development was associated with changes in land-use relations, spatial competition, and concerns over environmental uncertainty and governance legitimacy. The study also suggests that local stakeholders were not only recipients of top–down policy implementation but also participated in governance adjustment through review procedures, administrative negotiation, adaptive practices, and the mobilisation of local ecological knowledge. By integrating political ecology with the EECM, this study offers a process-oriented perspective for examining aquavoltaics as a socioecological governance issue rather than only a technical energy arrangement. The findings suggest that future aquavoltaics governance may benefit from more context-sensitive assessment, clearer institutional coordination, and greater attention to local knowledge and long-term monitoring. Full article

In China, tillage depth is a core performance indicator for certificating tillage machinery. The current manual measurement in field suffers from high subjectivity and poor traceability. This study proposed a tillage depth detection method called MSKe_PC_Transformer (Multi-Scale Kalman-enhanced Physical constraint Transformer). Multi-scale Kalman filtering extracts macroscopic trends, mesoscale fluctuations, and microscale details from soil penetration resistance sequences to construct a multi-scale feature representation. An attention-gating mechanism dynamically and adaptively fuses these features across scales. A physical constraint loss function based on prior knowledge of soil mechanics ensures that the model’s output conforms to the laws of soil mechanical behavior. Using custom-developed equipment, 99 sets of laboratory data and 300 sets of field data were collected for training and testing the MSKe_PC_Transformer model, which achieved an accuracy of 92.59% and a recall of 90.35%. Ablation experiments confirmed the contributions and necessity of each module. In field tests conducted in two regions, the accuracy rate for detection errors less than 1.5 cm was 93%, with the MAE and RMSE 1.03 cm and 1.19 cm, respectively. The results confirm the feasibility of deploying the proposed method as an objective and traceable alternative to manual inspection in tillage machinery certification. The established framework is extendable to other implements, such as subsoilers and moldboard plows, supporting the broader standardization of agricultural machinery certification in China. Full article

Quantifying the detection efficiency of buoy-based sonar and optimizing deployment strategies in complex marine environments remain significant challenges. This study proposes a transceiver depth optimization method based on the Bellhop ray model to enhance underwater remote sensing data quality. For the first time, we validated the applicability of acoustic reciprocity in deep-sea environments exceeding 5000 m, characterized by non-uniform sound speed profiles, horizontal inhomogeneity, and steep seamount terrain, with a maximum relative error of <1.2%. This extends the applicable boundaries of the acoustic reciprocity theorem from idealized simple waveguides to complex, realistic deep-sea environments. Building on this validation, we developed a novel, equivalent, superposition modeling framework for bidirectional transmission loss (TL), which converts the computationally intractable TL from target to receiver into the calculable TL from receiver to target, thus significantly reducing computational complexity. Systematic simulations uncovered a depth-layered dependency mechanism: shallow sources (23.14~69.42 m) and deep sources (≥347.10 m) show robustness to large depth differences exceeding 500 m, whereas mid-layer sources (161.98~231.40 m) exhibit a distinct critical threshold effect. Static simulations identify a performance degradation cliff with an onset at an approximate depth difference of 185 m, leading to a 50% reduction in detection range and fragmented near-field detection coverage. To accommodate environmental temporal variability (e.g., internal waves), a conservative safety margin was incorporated, establishing a robust engineering threshold of 150 m. Accordingly, we define 160~350 m as the optimal detection depth window and propose a layered deployment protocol that fills a critical industry gap in quantitative deployment design for deep-sea acoustic detection. Specifically, transceiver depth differences should be strictly constrained to <150 m for mid-layer operations, while more-flexible depth configurations are permissible for shallow and deep sources. These findings furnish quantitative engineering criteria for the design of reliable underwater remote sensing networks, while balancing long-range detection stability and near-field coverage integrity. Full article

Extremity vascular malformations in children and adolescents are congenital vascular developmental abnormalities that often present to pediatric orthopedic surgeons with pain, swelling, restricted motion, contracture, gait disturbance, limb asymmetry, and growth-related deformity rather than with an obvious vascular phenotype. The orthopedic importance of these lesions lies less in surface appearance than in their potential to affect muscle balance, joint integrity, osseous development, and peri-procedural safety. This review translates contemporary vascular anomaly classification and multidisciplinary management pathways into a practical orthopedic framework for diagnosis, referral, and longitudinal limb management. The most useful first step is to distinguish low-flow from high-flow lesions and then define lesion depth, periarticular or osseous involvement, coagulopathy risk, and syndromic overgrowth phenotype. Ultrasound is usually the first-line imaging modality for flow characterization, whereas magnetic resonance imaging is the cornerstone for defining extent and planning treatment. Plain radiographs remain highly relevant for identifying phleboliths, osseous remodeling, arthropathy, contracture-related deformity, and limb-length discrepancy. Venous malformations generally warrant pathway-based coagulation assessment, especially D-dimer and fibrinogen, because localized intravascular coagulopathy has direct implications for intervention and surgery. Arteriovenous malformations are best managed within specialist multidisciplinary teams. Fibro-adipose vascular anomaly and syndromic overgrowth phenotypes warrant particular attention because they frequently drive pain, contracture, and progressive limb imbalance. Outcome assessment in this field should extend beyond lesion size and incorporate pain, function, quality of life, and growth-related consequences. For pediatric orthopedic surgeons, management should move from late deformity correction toward early classification, early referral, longitudinal surveillance of joint and growth-related complications, and careful integration of local, surgical, and systemic therapies. Full article

Given the challenges posed by high groundwater levels, thick sand layers, and strong permeability in water-rich sandy strata, cut-off walls often fail to fully isolate the hydraulic connection between the inside and outside of a foundation pit. As a result, dewatering inside the pit—especially from confined aquifers—can cause significant external groundwater drawdown and subsequent ground settlement. Using a deep excavation conducted in Xiamen as a case study, this study developed a two-dimensional hydro-mechanical coupled finite element model to systematically investigate the effects of various dewatering scenarios and soil permeability coefficients on surface settlement around the pit, and to reveal settlement patterns induced by dewatering and excavation in such strata. Field monitoring data were incorporated to validate the numerical model, ensuring accuracy and reliability. Key findings include the following: (1) Dewatering contributes to over 76% of the total settlement at each stage, with confined drawdown being the dominant factor, implying that dewatering optimization should take priority over controlling excavation rate. (2) Under confined dewatering, the settlement influence zone extends beyond 80 m, far exceeding the extension caused by excavation alone; thus, monitoring and protection ranges must be adjusted dynamically. (3) The horizontal permeability of sand shows a nonlinear positive correlation with settlement, and this sensitivity grows with depth, highlighting the need for accurate permeability determination and stricter controls in deep excavations within water-rich sand layers. From an engineering perspective, these findings underscore the importance of prioritizing confined aquifer dewatering management, dynamically expanding settlement monitoring zones, and rigorously characterizing permeability profiles to mitigate excessive ground settlement and protect adjacent infrastructure. Full article

Coffee tourism has emerged as a significant niche within community-based tourism development across the Global South, promising economic diversification and cultural preservation. Yet the human resource foundations of this sector remain under-theorized relative to those of marketing and the supply chain. This study examines the human resource challenges confronting coffee tourism development in Bajawa, Flores, Indonesia—an emerging destination strategically positioned within national tourism priorities. Drawing on qualitative research including in-depth interviews with 42 informants (coffee farmers, tourism workers, village officials, private sector facilitators, and NGO representatives), document analysis, and field observations, the study suggests that workforce sustainability in coffee tourism is undermined by three intersecting dynamics: precarious labor regimes characterized by casualization and income instability; significant skill gaps across the coffee–tourism nexus; and institutional fragmentation wherein state programs, private sector initiatives, and customary labor systems operate without coherent coordination. The findings highlight that human resource challenges are not merely technical capacity deficits but are produced through informal labor arrangements, unequal power relations, and governance fragmentation. The study contributes theoretically by extending precarity scholarship to emerging destination contexts and proposing an integrative framework linking labor regimes, competency development, and workforce sustainability. Full article

The armless snake eel, Dalophis imberbis, is a fossorial rare species. It is considered to be a non-target fishery resource with elusive behavior, and there is a paucity of knowledge regarding its distribution and biology. This study reports three new documented occurrence records of D. imberbis along the northern and southeastern coastal areas of Sicily (central Mediterranean Sea) during 2025. Specimens were collected at depths ranging from 43 m to an unusually shallow depth of 5.4 m, extending the known upper vertical limit of the species, which was previously considered a 20 m depth. Environmental parameters were collected through a multiparametric probe and integrated with products from the Copernicus Marine Service (CMS), providing new insights which highlight the presence of the species in relatively warm (17.6–20.8 °C) and moderately oxygen-undersaturated (6.9–8.5 mg/L) waters. A global distributional analysis was performed by aggregating the field data with literature records and datasets published in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), refining the distribution of the species in the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean. Thus, the three new records expand the known distribution of the species in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, providing an updated bathymetric range and the first preliminary insights into the environmental preferences of this data-deficient ophichthid. This work underscores the importance of combining traditional surveys with big-data repositories and remote sensing to monitor rare marine biodiversity. Full article

To address the issues of heat accumulation and potential thermal damage during radio-frequency (RF) ion beam machining of KDP crystals, an energy deposition model and a temperature field model were developed based on Sigmund’s sputtering theory, a Gaussian beam distribution model, and heat conduction theory. Combined with the Monte Carlo method, the effects of incident energy, incident angle, and ion species on the disturbed layer depth and sputtering yield were systematically investigated. Furthermore, the influences of beam divergence angle and deflection angle on the surface energy deposition density distribution were analyzed. On this basis, the evolution of the temperature field and thermal stress field in KDP crystals under both stationary and linearly moving Gaussian surface heat sources was numerically simulated. The results indicate that the proposed model can effectively characterize the thermal response during ion beam machining of KDP crystals. The disturbed layer depth, sputtering yield, and energy deposition density distribution exhibit pronounced sensitivity to processing parameters. Under a stationary heat source, significant local heat accumulation and stress concentration tend to occur on the material surface. In contrast, a moving heat source can mitigate excessive temperature rise at a single location to some extent, although it also produces a heat-affected zone extending along the scanning path. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the optimization of low-damage RF ion beam machining parameters for KDP crystals. Full article