Search Results (39)

Engineering schematics, such as electrical, mechanical, piping and instrumentation diagrams, record how industrial plants are built and operated, but most of them survive only as images or scanned sheets that software cannot read. Digitizing them by hand is slow and error-prone: an expert must find and classify hundreds of symbols, read dense technical text, and work out which label belongs to which component. Progress with learning-based methods has been held back on two fronts at once. There are almost no annotations that connect a text label to its symbol, and the drawings themselves are usually confidential, so even unlabeled sheets rarely reach the public domain. We address this with a system that turns a drawing into a structured, queryable graph: it detects and classifies the graphical components with an object detector, recovers the technical text, and then resolves which label belongs to which component. Our contributions are threefold: (i) the first at-scale dataset of manually annotated text-to-symbol links for industrial schematics; (ii) a complete, deployable digitization system combining tiled detection with sliced inference, off-the-shelf OCR, and a text-to-symbol association stage; and (iii) a rigorous, leakage-free benchmark of association methods. Under an observable-only candidate protocol, we find that on logic circuits association is dominated by geometry: a simple pairwise model reaches about 99% top-1 and a graph neural network matches but does not exceed it, whereas the denser P&IDs still benefit from a geometric rule-based chain. Detection reaches an mAP@50 of 0.995 on logic circuits and about 0.91 across the 107-class P&ID taxonomy. The system produces a partial semantic graph; connecting lines and flow direction are not extracted. Full article

Background: Chemsex, or sexualized drug use, exists along a continuum ranging from non-problematic, consensual recreational practice across diverse populations to problematic behaviors linked with clinical vulnerabilities, substance dependence, or compulsive disorders. Within nursing practice, understanding this spectrum is essential to mitigate healthcare-related stigma. Objective: To map and synthesize evidence on stigma and attitudes among nurses regarding chemsex, identifying implications for practice and research. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were performed across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, EMBASE, and LILACS. Studies involving nurses or healthcare teams focused on stigma, attitudes, or related constructs in chemsex care were included. Data underwent descriptive and thematic synthesis. Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria, showing substantial heterogeneity. Only one focused exclusively on nurses. Stigma and attitudes were rarely assessed explicitly, emerging instead as underlying factors influencing clinical practice, communication, and patient engagement. Key themes included the necessity for non-judgmental care, significant gaps in knowledge and training, variability in clinical practice, and the impact of organizational barriers. A schematic representation was developed to illustrate the interrelationships between stigma, knowledge, professional attitudes, and structural factors influencing healthcare practice. Conclusions: This review positions stigma as a central mechanism influencing nursing care in chemsex contexts. The findings underscore critical gaps in nursing-specific evidence and emphasize the need for targeted training, validated measurement tools, and integrated care models. Strengthening stigma-informed, patient-centered approaches is essential to improve care delivery and health outcomes for this population. Full article

This article addresses a pressing issue—the study of ecological and geodynamic conditions in the southern part of the Uzbekistan Republic of Karakalpakstan Ustyurt plateau. The article synthesizes and systematizes the findings from both archival and personal research on the current state of ecological and geodynamic conditions. A schematic map of ecological–geodynamic conditions has been developed to assess the manifestation of various processes and their impact on the region’s flora and fauna, as well as on engineering and geological conditions relevant to mineral development and human economic activities. The overarching methodology involves system analysis and mapping of the natural-geological environment and geodynamically active zones. The primary criteria for evaluation include the state of the landscape, soil-grounds, and soil-forming rocks. The ecosystem serves as a nutrient base for plants and a fodder base for livestock development. In the Karakalpak Ustyurt, precipitation distribution is uneven, with annual precipitation ranging from 200–220 mm in the central and northern parts to 120–140 mm in the southern part. The Karakalpak Ustyurt presents morphological challenges related to the study of the nature of the relief, surface runoff, and the composition, state, and properties of the soil massif, including its ecological and geodynamic indicators. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the region’s ecological dynamics, contributing to sustainable development and conservation efforts. Thus, the conducted studies have revealed geodynamic processes associated with both natural geological phenomena and human engineering or economic activities. In principle, ecological geodynamics and engineering geodynamics rely on the same geological information to assess the manifestation of these processes Full article

Modelling connectivity in utility networks is essential for operational management, maintenance planning, and resilience analysis. The CityGML Utility Network Application Domain Extension (UNADE) provides a detailed conceptual framework for representing utility networks; however, most existing implementations rely on relational databases, where connectivity must be reconstructed through joins rather than represented as explicit relationships. This creates challenges when managing densely connected network structures. This study introduces the UNADE–Labelled Property Graph (UNADE-LPG) model, a graph-based representation that maps the classes, relationships, and constraints defined in the UNADE Unified Modelling Language (UML) schema into nodes, edges, and properties. A conversion pipeline is developed to generate UNADE-LPG instances directly from CityGML UNADE datasets encoded in GML, enabling the population of graph databases while maintaining semantic alignment with the original schema. The approach is demonstrated through two case studies: a schematic network and a real-world water system from Frankston, Melbourne. Validation procedures, covering structural checks, topological continuity, classification behaviour, and descriptive graph statistics, confirm that the resulting graph preserves the semantic structure of the UNADE schema and accurately represents the physical connectivity of the network. An analytical path-finding query is also implemented to illustrate how the UNADE-LPG structure supports practical network-analysis tasks, such as identifying connected pipeline sequences. Overall, the findings show that the UNADE-LPG model provides a clear, standards-aligned, and operationally practical foundation for representing utility networks within graph environments, supporting future integration into digital-twin and network-analytics applications. Full article

Wayfinding with minimal effort is essential for reducing cognitive load and emotional stress in unfamiliar environments. This exploratory quasi-experimental study investigated wayfinding challenges in a university building housing three spatially dispersed counseling centers and three academic departments that share the building entrances, lobby, and hallways. Using mobile eye tracking with concurrent think-aloud protocols and schematic mapping, we examined visual attention patterns during predefined navigation tasks performed by 24 first-time visitors. Findings revealed frequent fixations on non-informative structural features, while existing wayfinding cues were often overlooked. High rates of null gazes indicated unsuccessful visual searching. Thematic analysis of verbal data identified eight key issues, including spatial confusion, aesthetic monotony, and inadequate signage. Participants frequently described the environment as disorienting and emotionally taxing, comparing it to institutional settings such as hospitals. In response, we developed wayfinding design proposals informed by our research findings, stakeholder needs, and contextual priorities. We used an experiential digital twin that prioritized perceptual fidelity to analyze the current wayfinding challenges, develop experimental protocols, and discuss design options and costs. This study offers a transferable methodological framework for identifying wayfinding challenges through convergent analysis of gaze patterns and verbal protocols, demonstrating how empirical findings can inform targeted wayfinding design interventions. Full article

The southern region of Kazakhstan represents the northernmost boundary of the natural habitat of five wild almond species, among which Amygdalus communis L. is of particular interest due to a range of favorable traits for use in breeding programs and cultivation in the region. The current distribution range of common almond growth was clarified using GPS to determine precise coordinates, and a schematic map was developed. Monitoring revealed a significant reduction in population size. In the surveyed areas, 54 trees were selected and described. Seed material was collected from 34 genotypes and characterized according to a descriptor. Genotypes A3, A8, and A15 were identified as having favorable trait combinations. To restore populations and preserve the gene pool of Amygdalus communis L., a method of clonal micropropagation was employed. The composition of the nutrient medium was optimized for establishment, multiplication, and rhizogenesis. It was determined that Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium without phytohormones is effective for in vitro establishment (70% regeneration rate). For multiplication, MS medium with 0.5 mg/L BAP (6-benzylaminopurine) was used (with a multiplication rate of 3.5 per explant). For rhizogenesis, MS medium with 0.5 mg/L BAP, 0.02 mg/L gibberellic acid (GA), and 0.1 mg/L IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) was used. A total of 340 clonal Amygdalus communis L. plants with closed root systems were grown for field collection. The research results can be applied for the restoration, propagation, and conservation of populations both in vitro and in situ, as well as for the inclusion of selected high-performing genotypes in breeding programs. Full article

The article discusses issues related to improving the energy efficiency of translucent structures (hereinafter referred to as windows) in the construction of buildings in the Republic of Kazakhstan. An analysis of the current regulatory requirements for the thermal insulation of windows and other translucent structures, depending on the climatic conditions of the construction region, was carried out. The authors propose a schematic map of the climatic regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan and stricter values for the thermal resistance of windows depending on the degree-days of the heating period, which will significantly reduce heat loss in buildings and cut heating costs. Calculations of potential energy savings and economic benefits from the introduction of energy-efficient windows are presented, and schemes for the certification and labeling of windows by energy efficiency class are proposed. The work is based on an analysis of national standards and international experience and is aimed at supporting sustainable construction and the implementation of Kazakhstan’s climate commitments. Full article

This study investigated how cognitive maps of the environment are formed. During learning trials, participants encoded the spatial locations of objects in a virtual maze either through simulated movement within the maze (first-person perspective) or by inspecting a schematic map (survey perspective). During interleaved test trials, they indicated where the object were on a schematic map (survey perspective). Response accuracy, averaged across objects and participants, increased gradually across test trials. At the level of individual participants and objects, however, accuracy improved abruptly. Furthermore, response accuracy was unaffected by the number of encoded objects used. Notably, the speed of map formation and the absence of a set-size effect were comparable across the two encoding perspectives, despite the fact that first-person encoding required transformation into a survey perspective for testing. Unlike the speed, the accuracy was lower in the first-person perspective compared to the survey encoding perspective. These findings suggest that cognitive maps can be holistic rather than item-dependent representations that emerge in a locally abrupt fashion, regardless of the encoding perspective. In contrast to the emergence speed, map accuracy can be lower when the encoding perspective differs from the test perspective. Full article

In a number of previous publications, scattering theory for N-pole semiconductor quantum devices was developed. In the framework of the Landauer–Büttiker formalism, an S-matrix was constructed with the aid of an R-matrix providing a mapping of the in-going waves onto the out-going waves. These waves include propagating waves and evanescent waves, the latter of which decay exponentially in the leads which are connected to the active region of the N-pole device. In order to formulate the current conservation in the N-pole device, it is necessary to define the current S-matrix schematically as $\tilde{S}=k^{1/2}S{k}^{-1/2}$, where k contains the information about the k-vectors of the mentioned in- and out-going waves. In this paper, we show how the complete current S-matrix is calculated including the coupling between the propagating and evanescent components and coupling to the bound states in the active device region. One then finds a sub-matrix of $\tilde{S}$ which is unitary and which is restricted to the space of the propagating components. We demonstrate that current conservation is associated with the unitarity just of this sub-matrix. Full article

Background/Objectives: The ~1.6 kb NBPF repeat units in neuroblastoma breakpoint family (NBPF) genes are specific to humans and are associated with cognitive capacity in higher primates. While the number of NBPF monomers/Olduvai sequences in humans is approximately 2–3 times greater than in great apes, the difference in copy number values of canonical NBPF 3mer Higher-order repeats (HORs)/Olduvai triplets between humans and great apes is substantially larger. This study aims to analyze the organization and evolutionary significance of NBPF 3mer HORs/Olduvai triplets in fully sequenced primate genomes. Methods: We applied the global repeat map (GRM) algorithm to identify canonical and variant NBPF 3mer HORs/Olduvai triplets in the complete genomes of humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. The resulting monomer arrays were analyzed using the GRMhor algorithm to generate detailed schematic representations of NBPF HOR organization. Results: The analysis reveals a distinct difference in NBPF-related patterns among these primates, particularly in the number of tandemly organized canonical 3mer HORs/Olduvai triplets: 61 tandemly organized canonical NBPF 3mer HORs/Olduvai triplets in humans, compared to 0 in chimpanzees and orangutans, and 9 in gorillas. When considering only tandemly organized 3mer HORs/Olduvai triplets with more than three copies, the numbers adjust to 36 in humans and 0 in great apes. Furthermore, the divergence between individual NBPF monomers in humans and great apes is twice as high as that observed within great apes. Conclusions: These findings support the hypothesis that the tandem organization of NBPF 3mer HORs/Olduvai triplets plays a crucial role in enhancing cognitive capacity in humans compared to great apes, potentially providing a significant evolutionary advantage. This effect complements the impact of the increased number of individual NBPF monomers/Olduvai sequences, together contributing to a synergistic amplification effect. Full article

On schematic metro maps, high-quality label placement is helpful to passengers performing route planning and orientation tasks. It has been reported that the artificial neural network (ANN) has the potential to place labels with learned labeling knowledge. However, the previous ANN-based method only considered the effects of station points and their connected edges. Indeed, unconnected but surrounding features (points, edges, and labels) also significantly affect the quality of label placement. To address this, we have proposed an improved method. The relations between label positions and both connected and surrounding features are first modeled based on labeling natural intelligence (i.e., the experience, knowledge, and rules of labeling established by cartographers). Then, ANN is employed to learn such relations. Quantitative evaluations show that our method reaches lower percentages of label–point overlap (0.00%), label–edge overlap (4.12%), and label–label overlap (20.58%) compared to the benchmark (4.17%, 14.29%, and 35.11%, respectively). On the other hand, our method effectively avoids ambiguous labels and ensures labels from the same line are placed on the same side. Qualitative evaluations show that approximately 75% of users prefer our results. This novel method has the potential to advance the automated generation of schematic metro maps. Full article

The mesial piriform region plays a central role in olfaction. Its small size and complex geometry, however, make it a difficult target in functional neuroimaging studies, while histological maps often represent schematic drawings, which are not compatible with requirements for modern imaging. To bridge this gap, cytoarchitectonic analysis and mapping of the region was performed in serial histological sections over their full extent in 10 postmortem brains. The temporobasal areas PirTBd and PirTBv and temporal areas PirTu and PirTit were identified and analyzed. Probabilistic cytoarchitectonic maps of the piriform areas in MNI reference space and high-resolution maps of the amygdala-piriform region on the BigBrain model were calculated as part of the Julich-Brain. Differences in the cytoarchitectonic “texture” of the region were quantified based on the Gray Level Co-Occurrence Matrix. Results showed that allocortical areas were not consistently associated with the rostral Limen insulae, although it was often suggested as a landmark in neuroimaging protocols. PirTu was associated with the uncal tip. PirTit was the largest area, reaching to the temporal pole, with a “temporal” (caudal) and a “temporopolar” (rostral) part having complex neighborhood relationships. The probabilistic maps reflect interindividual variability; they are openly available via the digital EBRAINS platform to serve as an anatomical reference for studies related to olfaction. Full article

Schematization is a process of generating schematic network maps (e.g., metro network maps), where the graphic complexity of networks is usually reduced. In the past two decades, various automated schematization methods have been developed. A quantitative and accurate description of the complexity variation in the schematization is critical to evaluate the usability of schematization methods. It is noticed that fractal dimension ($F$) has been widely used to analyze the complexity of geographic objects, and this indicator may be appropriate for this purpose. In some existing studies, although $F$ has been employed to describe the complexity variation, the theoretical and experimental basis for adopting this approach is inadequate. In this study, experiments based on 26 Chinese cities’ metro networks showed that the $F$ of all these metro networks have decreased in schematization, and a significant positive correlation exists between the $F$ of original networks and the reduction of $F$ after schematization. The above results were verified to have similar trends with the subjective opinions of participants in a psychological questionnaire. Therefore, it can be concluded that $F$ can quantitatively measure the complexity change of networks in schematization. These discoveries provide the basis for using $F$ to evaluate the usability of schematization methods. Full article

Schematic maps have widely been used for representing transport networks. In the schematization process, preserving the relative position of nodes and the relative length of segments are considered highly important for constructing spatial cognition. Some researchers have regarded these as general principles of automated schematization. However, in-depth investigations into the conversion of these general principles into specific schematic network map designs are still lacking. This study aimed to empirically investigate how the two relative relations are preserved in existing manually produced schematic maps to better understand and interpret designer thinking. Official underground network maps of 32 cities were used in this study. The results revealed that (1) relative relations were largely preserved with a preservation ratio of approximately 80%, and the global preservation ratios of two relative relations were significantly higher than those of local preservation; (2) the preservation of relative position took priority over the preservation of relative length for the schematic maps with significant enlargement of dense regions; and (3) a reference object may be used for preserving relative relations, for example, the center region or major axis. The findings of this study will assist in developing and/or optimizing design rules for automated schematization while preserving relative relations. Full article

Larimichthys polyactis, a typically oceanodromous species found across the East China, Yellow, and Bohai Seas, is one of the most ecologically and commercially important species in East Asian countries. Moreover, over the past decades, L. polyactis has experienced significant changes in its biological characteristics under long-term intensive fishing pressure, suggesting a need for urgent protection. A robust understanding of connectivity at the spatiotemporal scale is critical for the effective and thorough management of L. polyactis. In the present study, the otolith stable carbon (δ¹³C) and oxygen (δ¹⁸O) isotope ratios of four adult L. polyactis groups (Y-1–4) sampled in the southern Yellow and East China Seas (SYS and ECS) were determined at multiple life stages, including the larval dispersal period (core), overwintering period (A1), and one whole life cycle except the post-spawning period (A2). Dunn’s multiple comparison test showed that there was no difference among the Y-1, Y-2, and Y-3 groups in the otolith core and A1 zones (p > 0.05); the otolith δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O of the Y-4 group were significantly higher than those of the Y-3 group (p < 0.05) in the three analysed zones. In the otolith A2 zone, δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O of the Y-1 group were significantly higher than those of the Y-3 group (p < 0.05). Combined with the biplot of otolith δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O, the quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) of the otolith core, A1 and A2 zones showed that: (1) in the otolith core zone, two dominant larval aggregations occurred, likely distributed in the coastal waters of northern Lvsi and Haizhou Bay fishing grounds (Y-4 and part Y-1/2 groups) and Zhoushan and southern Yangtze Estuary fishing grounds (Y-3 and part Y-1/2); (2) in the otolith A1 zone, two clear aggregations were separated by Y-4 and Y-1/2/3, suggesting two dominant groups overwintering in the SYS and ECS, respectively; and (3) in the otolith A2 zone, two dominant aggregations were separated by Y-4/1 and Y-2/3. In addition to the long-term larval dispersal process, the migratory route between spawning and overwintering grounds may be diverse, explaining the non-significant genetic differentiation of L. polyactis from different groups. Combining these results with those of previous studies on the life history of L. polyactis, a schematic map of the migratory routes is depicted providing important references for effective resource management. Full article