Search Results (30)

Conventional corrosion monitoring techniques often require costly instrumentation and direct access to structures, limiting their suitability for long-term monitoring. This study presents a machine learning feasibility study for early-stage corrosion detection using Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) measurements. Machine learning algorithms were applied to a previously published RFID corrosion dataset obtained from steel specimens exposed to marine atmospheric corrosion for 0, 1, 3, and 6 months. RFID-derived features, including Analogue Identifier (AID), forward power, frequency, phase, and backscattered power, were analysed using unsupervised and supervised learning methods. For corrosion-stage discrimination, Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) achieved an Adjusted Rand Index (ARI) of 1.00, a Normalised Mutual Information (NMI) score of 1.00, and a Silhouette score of 0.790. For nominal corrosion-thickness state estimation, a Random Forest regressor achieved an $R^2$ of 1.00, RMSE of 1.34 µm, and MAE of 0.21 µm under 15-fold cross-validation. Additional Leave-One-Sample-Out (LOSO) validation using readcount-based measurement-event groupings yielded an RMSE of 0.12 µm and an $R^2$ of 1.00. These results reflect nominal corrosion-thickness state estimation from repeated measurements on a single physical specimen per corrosion stage. SHAP analysis identified forward power and AID as the dominant predictive features. The results demonstrate the potential of RFID-enabled machine learning for early-stage corrosion assessment and provide a foundation for future experimental validation. Full article

When history of religion intersects with that of Europeans in Early Modern Age, it is inevitable to analyse the reality of consecrated Catholic women in convents. This is the subject of the present text, which is structured around four key questions: What does ‘female religious enclosure’ mean? What are its consequences? What does the society in which it exists think of it? How do the two interact? Drawing on normative texts and practices documented in the abundant archival sources and bibliography, this paper constructs an original synthesis that aims to highlight all the characteristics of the female monastic condition during this period across all Orders. The presentation begins by analysing the values and behaviours advocated by ecclesiastical authorities for the construction of the identities of the ideal nun and her community. It then examines situations of adoption or rejection of aspects of this model and of the orders received, concluding that while individual rebellion constitutes a transgression, collective rebellion may constitute a struggle for justice and for the fulfilment of sworn vows. There are multiple points of convergence between nuns and laypeople (spirituality, the exercise of freedom and powers, family policies, mutual aid), demonstrating they belong to the same society. Full article

Traditional power and energy balance methods suffer from several limitations, such as inadequate coordination across long-term and short-term temporal scales, confinement to single-region spatial boundaries, and insufficient exploitation of multi-energy complementarity. This paper proposes a multi-temporal, multi-spatial power, and energy balance framework that integrates cross-regional energy sharing and leverages the complementarity among diverse power sources. A two-level feedback optimization model is formulated, coupling the medium- to- long-term energy balance with short-term power balance. The model comprehensively incorporates constraints, including the characteristics of various power sources, unit operating status, dynamic power flow on cross-regional tie-lines, as well as renewable energy curtailment minimization and power supply reliability requirements. This hierarchical structure enables coordination optimization across both the long-term and short-term temporal dimension and cross-regional mutual aid in the spatial dimension. A hierarchical solution strategy is employed, which integrates an improved particle swarm optimization algorithm with the Gurobi solver. Case studies on realistic power systems demonstrate that the proposed method effectively exploits the potential of multi-energy coordination and cross-regional mutual aid, achieving improved renewable energy accommodation, enhanced cross-regional resource utilization efficiency, and robust power and energy balance across multi-temporal and spatial scales. Full article

With the increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EV), congestion at charging stations during peak hours has become a prominent issue, imposing significant pressure on station scheduling. Furthermore, the large-scale integration of photovoltaics (PV) introduces dual uncertainties in both generation and load, negatively impacting grid voltage. To tackle the above problems, a strategy for demand response balancing and congestion alleviation of charging stations under grid–road network partition mapping is proposed in this paper. Firstly, a user demand response capability assessment method based on the Fogg Behavior Model is proposed to evaluate the demand response potential of individual users in each zone. The results are aggregated to obtain the demand response participation capability of each zone, thereby realizing capability-based allocation and achieving demand response balancing. Secondly, the road network is divided into several zones and mapped to the power grid, and a two-layer cross-zone collaborative autonomy model is established. The upper layer aims to alleviate inter-zone congestion and balance inter-station power, taking into account the grid voltage level. A tripartite benefit model involving the power grid, charging stations and users is constructed, and an inter-zone mutual-aid model for the upper layer is established and solved optimally. The lower layer establishes an intra-zone self-consistency model, which subdivides different functional zone types within the road network zone, allocates and accommodates the cross-zone power from the upper-layer output inside the zone, and synchronously performs intra-zone cross-zone judgment to avoid congestion at charging stations. Simulation verification is carried out on the IEEE 33-bus system. The results show that the proposed method can effectively alleviate the congestion of charging stations, the balance degree among all zones is increased by 43.58%, and the power grid voltage quality is improved by about 38%. This study offers feasible guidance for exploring large-scale planned participation of electric vehicles in power system demand response. Full article

The rapid expansion of smart city infrastructures and Internet of Things (IoT) networks has led to extremely dense wireless deployments, driving unsustainable energy consumption and exacerbating environmental concerns. To improve sustainability in the long term, future wireless systems must fundamentally prioritize energy-efficient and autonomous operation. Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) is emerging as a key enabler for next-generation systems by jointly supporting sensing and communication through shared spectrum, hardware, and signal processing resources. In IoT systems, sensing of target parameters, e.g., range, angle, velocity and identity, etc., form the basis of autonomous and environment-aware applications. However, this integration increases overall power consumption due to the added coordination overhead and the workload placed on shared hardware components. To this end, backscatter communication provides a low-power alternative that enables passive data transmission through energy harvesting and sharply reduces the need for active radio circuits. However, the coexistence of sensing and backscatter functions introduces mutual interference, which often requires large multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) arrays for effective mitigation. Furthermore, sensing performance depends heavily on line-of-sight conditions, while backscatter links operate only over short ranges. Although increasing array size or transmit power can extend coverage, it imposes substantial energy and hardware costs and undermines sustainability goals. To address these limitations, cell-free MIMO is emerging as a promising candidate technology for next-generation systems. Cell-free MIMO relies on a dense deployment of distributed access points that cooperate to serve devices across a wide area. This cooperation enables effective beamforming and interference management, providing spatial diversity comparable to large, centralized antenna arrays without incurring their associated hardware or power costs. They also enable aggregation of weak double-hop reflections, reduced effective-illumination distances, multi-view sensing, and robustness to blockage, which is invaluable to backscatter communication. This perspective article introduces the foundations, challenges, and architectural considerations of cell-free backscatter-aided integrated sensing and communication (CF-BISAC) systems. By leveraging the advantages of battery-less backscatter IoT devices and the distributed nature of cell-free MIMO, CF-ISABC aims to maximize sensing and communication performance under strict energy constraints, contributing toward energy-aware ISAC systems capable of supporting high-density, low-power wireless applications. Full article

To address the issues of uneven transformer loading and underutilized capacity in conventional distribution areas interconnected by bus-tie switches, this paper proposes a flexible mutual-aid control strategy based on the distributed power flow controller (DPFC). An equivalent model of the interconnected transformer area system is established, and the phasor relationships between the DPFC’s injected voltage amplitude, phase angle and transmitted power are analytically derived. On this basis, a capacity-ratio-oriented mutual-aid control strategy is developed, enabling the DPFC to dynamically distribute active power according to the rated capacities of interconnected transformers. A simulation model is built in PSCAD/EMTDC to validate the proposed method. The results demonstrate that the strategy achieves full power mutual aid among transformer areas, reducing the heavy-load transformer utilization from 76.67% to 30.56%, thereby realizing rational capacity allocation and improving the operational reliability and efficiency of the distribution network. Full article

To address the challenge of frequent extreme events causing power grid failures and traditional post-fault recovery modes struggling to meet the rigid demand for continuous power supply to critical loads, this paper proposes a partition-based two-layer optimization strategy. First, a partitioning index coupling active power flow with reactive voltage sensitivity is constructed, and the Fast Newman algorithm is applied to obtain partitions tailored to extreme events. Second, a two-layer optimization model is established: the upper layer performs network reconfiguration to minimize the total load curtailment, while the lower layer coordinates adjustable resources and power mutual aid between partitions. A simulation verification using the IEEE 39-bus system shows that the proposed method efficiently makes decisions during extreme events, achieving zero interruption for critical loads and reducing the curtailment of non-critical loads to 374.9 MW—a reduction of 54 percent compared to the traditional centralized dispatch model. The partitioning results also exhibit a high modularity of 0.6554 and a low boundary power flow factor of 0.1321, confirming the structural and functional advantages of the proposed approach. The method demonstrates good practical application value in enhancing grid resilience. Full article

Social work has long operated at the intersection of care and control—nowhere is this more apparent than in its treatment of sex-working parents. This article draws on participatory research with thirteen sex-working parents in California to examine how the child welfare system, family court, and public benefit infrastructures extend punitive surveillance under the guise of support. Utilizing the framework of prison industrial complex abolition, the analysis identifies three key findings: first, family policing systems often mirror the coercive dynamics of abusive relationships that sex work helped participants to escape; second, access to social services is contingent on the performance of respectability, with compliance met not with care but with suspicion and deprivation; and third, sex-working parents enact abolitionist praxis by creating new systems of safety and stability through mutual aid when state systems fail. As social work reckons with its complicity in the carceral state, the everyday practices of sex-working parents offer a powerful blueprint for care rooted in trust, unconditional positive regard, and self-determination. Full article

In the midst of the push for dual-carbon goals, urban centers are faced with the imperative of reducing emissions and conserving energy, while rural regions are harnessing their abundant new energy resources to promote balanced urban–rural development. Photovoltaic (PV) power generation, known for its cleanliness, safety, and emission-free nature, is playing a crucial role in the evolution of Henan Province’s power supply industry. This paper delves into the current state of Henan’s power supply infrastructure, the trajectory of its low-carbon development, and the policies that shape the PV sector. It also examines the establishment of an urban–rural mutual aid model through the lens of alternative energy technologies. By utilizing a combination of case studies and systematic theoretical research, this paper uncovers the economic potential that remains untapped of new energy sources in rural areas and presents strategies for synergistic development in alignment with dual-carbon goals within the power supply industry. The research underscores the significance of an urban–rural mutual assistance model in achieving carbon neutrality, addressing urban–rural development gaps, fostering shared prosperity, and contributing Chinese insights to global climate governance frameworks. Full article

Electric vehicles are becoming a mainstay of road transport. However, the uneven distribution of the electric vehicle charging piles in cities has led to the problem of “mileage anxiety”. This has become a significant concern of consumers in purchasing electric vehicles. At the same time, it also hinders the development of the electric vehicle industry. For this reason, this paper designs an electric vehicle energy mutual aid device. In the event that the power battery of an electric vehicle is low on energy and there are no suitable charging piles around, the device can also seek energy supplementation from surrounding electric vehicles with sufficient energy. This device should satisfy the characteristics of wide gain, high power, small size, and light weight. Firstly, the quadratic boost converter and its state space model are constructed. It uses only one electrical switching element to realize the light weight of the device, and it also provides wide voltage gain to fulfill the needs of electric vehicle charging. Secondly, an improved voltage mode controller is proposed to address the shortcomings of the conventional voltage mode controller of the quadratic boost converter. It avoids the tradeoff between the transient and steady-state performance due to the integration action of the conventional voltage mode controller. Also, this controller uses less feedback to make the controlled system output the required DC power, reducing the weight of the device. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed energy mutual aid device is verified by simulations and experiments. Full article

By transcribing, punctuating, and analyzing the Statue Construction Account undertaken in 798, this article attempts a refreshed study of the construction background of the Buddhist statues and niches at Huazhi Temple 花置寺 in Qionglai. The aim of this article is twofold. Firstly, it brings to light an eminent monk named Sengcai, who has been forgotten in both secular and monastic histories. Secondly, it tries to clarify the social network formed by various figures recorded in the Statue Construction Account by tracing their roles and relationships in the course of constructing the Buddhist niches. The analysis of this article expounds that in the process of the statue construction project, Sengcai made full use of his social network to support this project and to seek protection for Huazhi Temple. The construction activities of the Buddhist niches at Huazhi Temple not only brought people of different identities together through politics, Buddhism, economics or kinship, but also connected Qiongzhou (in Sichuan) and the capital of Chang’an to the formation of a multi-identity and cross-regional network of power in which emperor, officials, monks, military generals, craftsmen, literati, and so on, participated and interacted with each other. The whole social network can be divided into two sub-networks in Chang’an and Qiongzhou, with Sengcai as the central figure connecting these two sub-networks. Although the Buddhist niches of Huazhi Temple were carved in Qiongzhou, both the decisive preparatory work and the composition of the Statue Construction Account took place in Chang’an. Hence, the power of the Chang’an sub-network was greater than that of the one based in Qiongzhou. This means that the Buddhist niches at Huazhi Temple from Sengcai’s project were not merely a local project, but one that was strongly connected with the capital Chang’an in 798. Lastly, the Statue Construction Account in 798 at Huazhi Temple indicated mutual aid and support between Sichuan Buddhism and Chang’an Buddhism. Full article

Since the power generation structures and load characteristics in each province in China are quite different, the distribution of peak regulating resources and demands are extremely imbalance. Restricted by a low power marketization degree, peak regulating resource shortages, and transmission channel blocks, the efficient utilization of new energy is facing greater pressures. In order to improve the mutual aid in regional power grids and to obtain more precise simulation results, this paper proposes a two-layer optimization dispatching model, considering the mutual aid of peak regulation resources between each province. It determines the optimal startup mode and the units’ power output in each province and obtains the power output arrangements for all the units and the technical and economic indicators. The model and the solution method are original and innovative. And it effectively solved the unequal distribution problem between the peak regulating demands and resources of each provincial power grid. Finally, taking an actual regional power grid in China as an example, the simulation results show that the proposed model can significantly improve the utilization rate of new energy, which verifies the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed model and methods presented in this paper. Full article

In this paper, we propose an innovative channel-sensitive autoencoder (CSAE)-aided end-to-end deep learning (E2EDL) technique for joint geometric probabilistic shaping. The pretrained conditional generative adversarial network (CGAN) is introduced in the CSAE which performs differentiable substitution of the optical fiber channel model under variable input optical power (IOP) levels. This enables the CSAE-aided E2EDL to design optimal joint geometric probabilistic shaping schemes for optical fiber communication systems at varying IOPs. The results of the proposed CSAE-aided E2EDL technique show that for a dual-polarization 64-Gbaud signal with a transmission distance of 5 × 80 km, when the modulation format is a 64-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) or a 128-QAM, the maximum generalized mutual information (GMI) level learned via CSAE-aided E2EDL is 5.9826 or 6.8384 bits/symbol under varying IOPs, respectively. In addition, the pretrained CGAN, as a substitution for optical fiber transmission model, accurately characterizes the distortion of signals with different IOPs, with an average bit error ratio (BER) difference of only 1.83%, an average mean square error (MSE) of 0.0041 and an average K-L divergence of 0.0046. In summary, this paper delivers new insights into the application of E2EDL and demonstrates the feasibility of joint geometric probabilistic shaping-based E2EDL for fiber optic communication systems with varying IOPs. Full article

In order to realize an online power supply, this article develops an explicit design of induction power extraction technology combined with wireless power transmission (WPT) technology. Unlike the power supply mode of traditional batteries of online monitoring devices of high-voltage transmission lines, this technology solves the short battery life cycle problems. First, the principle of induction power extraction is analyzed. Based on the equivalent circuit of the mutual inductance model, expressions of induction power extraction without and with core saturation are derived, respectively. According to the current transformer (CT) magnetic coupling diagram, the open-circuit voltage of the secondary side of the CT is deduced. Therefore, the CT material and size could be selected. The CT coupling model is used to equivalent the current transformer to the ideal voltage source. Then, the four basic topological spaces of the magnetic coupling resonant WPT system are analyzed and calculated, and the efficiency of the SS topology WPT system is analyzed. Furthermore, aiming at long-distance power transmission, this article described the building of a three-coil WPT system and the analysis of the corresponding transmission efficiency and output power expression. With the aid of Maxwell, the technology proposed is simulated based on a 110 kV high-voltage transmission line with 1.2 m as the transmission distance of the system. Finally, the influence of a coupling coefficient and load resistance on the transmission characteristics of the multicoil system is obtained. Consequently, the simulation results with a system output power of 14.4 W verify the effectiveness of the technology. Full article

The sixth generation (6G) mobile communication system is expected to meet the different service needs of modern communication scenarios. Heterogeneous networks (HetNets) have received a lot of attention in recent years due to their potential as a novel structure for evolutionary networks. When compared to homogeneous networks, HetNets provide more potential for spatial spectrum reuse and higher quality of service (QoS). However, effective resource management (RM) solutions are essential to prevent interference and accomplish spectrum sharing due to mutual interference. This paper presents a comprehensive review of resource management in 6G HetNets. The study aims to give crucial background on HetNets to aid in the creation of more effective methods in this field of study. First, a detailed examination of recent work is presented in resource management aspects such as power allocation, user association, mode selection, and spectrum allocation. Second, we identify the most severe challenges associated with the current resource management methods and propose suitable solutions. Finally, several open issues and emerging areas of research are highlighted. Full article