Search Results (500)

Background: Nutritional literacy is a core competency for promoting healthy dietary behaviors and preventing nutrition-related chronic diseases. Standardized scales are essential for rigorous measurement and evaluation, yet the field exhibits substantial heterogeneity in concepts and measurement approaches. Methods: We systematically searched five major databases, namely Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and CINAHL, from their inception to October 2025. Evidence was compiled on the conceptual evolution, domain structure, scoring logic, population-specific applicability, and application scenarios of nutritional literacy scales. Results: A total of 14 nutritional literacy scales developed between 2005 and 2025 were included in the review. The structure and measurement content of these scales have progressively expanded, evolving from an early focus on basic reading and numeracy skills to become multidimensional assessment tools encompassing knowledge, skills, and behavioral practices. The target population has broadened from the general adult population to include multiple special groups, while application regions have extended from high-income Western countries to developing regions, including China and Turkey, and assessment methodologies have progressively shifted from single tests to blended objective–subjective approaches, with most scales demonstrating sound reliability and validity. These instruments are now employed for screening, intervention evaluation, dietary behavior mechanism research, and analysis of chronic disease risk. The reviewed studies indicate that nutritional literacy is generally positively correlated with healthy dietary behaviors, nutrition labeling utilization, and related health outcomes. Conclusions: Although nutritional literacy scale research has advanced with regard to conceptualization, measurement design, and applications, major gaps remain, including fragmented dimensional structures, insufficient standardization, inadequate cultural adaptation, and limited longitudinal evidence. Future work should prioritize a unified assessment framework, stronger tools for special and vulnerable populations, digital innovations for scalable measurement, and interdisciplinary and cross-national collaboration to enhance quality, practicality, and comparability and to support global nutrition promotion and public health policy. Full article

This paper presents an effective approach to reducing noise and vibration levels in ultra-high-voltage (UHV) shunt reactors based on structural optimization and damping techniques. The main sources of vibration are associated with magnetostriction of electrical steel and electromagnetic forces in the magnetic system, which induce structural excitation of the reactor tank. A combined numerical and experimental methodology is employed, including finite element modeling (FEM) of the reactor tank and field measurements of vibration displacement and acoustic noise. In contrast to previous studies focused primarily on material properties, this work emphasizes the role of structural modifications in controlling vibration transmission. The proposed solutions include the use of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) damping elements, optimization of the magnetic system geometry, and reinforcement of the tank structure using vertical and horizontal stiffeners. The FEM analysis in the frequency range of 50–150 Hz shows that the maximum displacement amplitude reaches 16.2 μm at the tank bottom and 10.5 μm at the tank walls. Experimental results confirm a reduction in vibration levels to 13 μm and a sound power level of 88 dBA, which meets regulatory requirements. The proposed approach improves the vibroacoustic performance and operational reliability of UHV reactors and can be effectively applied in the design of modern high-voltage power equipment. Full article

The Real Maestranza de Caballería in Seville features one of the most prominent Spanish bullrings, characterized by a notable architectural design. Its distinctive ovoid geometry resulted from a protracted construction history (1761–1881), during which the floor plan adapted to pre-existing urban structures. Beyond its architectural significance, the sounds perceived within such venues constitute traces of collective memory and form part of an intangible cultural heritage relevant for understanding the sociocultural context of such spaces. This work provides an acoustic characterisation of the bullring through field measurements. Reverberation time and other monaural and binaural descriptors were determined using 3D impulse responses obtained from strategically placed sources and receivers. This analysis is complemented by examining the sound energy distribution of early reflections in the time–frequency domain to define the acoustic signature of the venue, namely the characteristic pattern of early reflections that unequivocally determines its sound response, and identify the provenance of reflections. In the Maestranza, music and silence are hallmarks of its identity, contributing to a complex auditory environment. The results highlight how its geometry and tiered seating create a differentiated sound field, potentially contributing to the preservation of the site as a cultural landmark. Full article

Diocletian’s palace with its cellars represents one of the most important cultural heritage sites of the ancient Roman civilisation on the present-day Croatian territory. The cellar complex has been rediscovered only recently and has been preserved remarkably well due to its centuries-long concealment beneath mediaeval urban matrices. An archaeoacoustic analysis was performed on a selected single-nave hall as a small part of this complex. A model of the hall was developed in room acoustics simulation software and calibrated based on the results of field measurements. Acoustic suitability of the hall for speech-based events and music performances was then evaluated according to contemporary objective criteria, and the findings were compared with the results of similar studies performed on other heritage sites. The hall was found to be very well suited for speech in terms of intelligibility and mid-frequency reverberation, thus showing potential for revitalisation, with excessive low-frequency reverberation in the hall and reduced audibility in the farthest part of the audience as potential issues. With a feasible audience size, the hall is not reverberant enough for music performances but provides high clarity. In terms of sound strength, the hall is suitable for solo performers or small ensembles. Excessive perceptive broadening of the sound source is expected due to strong early lateral energy. In terms of traditional Dalmatian a cappella singing, the acoustics of the hall are likely to support and enhance such performances. Full article

Designing high-speed wide-angle optics for large-format mirrorless cameras presents a fundamental engineering conflict between the short flange back distance and the requirement for high-resolution aberration correction. To address this challenge, this study proposes a compact 18.5 mm F/2.0 lens system utilizing a modified retrofocus architecture equipped with an internal floating-focus mechanism. The design methodology integrates glass-molded aspherical surfaces to suppress high-order aberrations and employs passive athermalization strategies to maintain stability across a temperature range of −30 °C to +70 °C. Performance was rigorously evaluated using numerical simulations in Zemax OpticStudio, alongside comprehensive Monte Carlo tolerance analysis. Simulation results demonstrate exceptional optical performance, with the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) exceeding 0.5 at a spatial frequency of 100 lp/mm across the field. Furthermore, focus breathing is restricted to less than 1%, and optical distortion is strictly controlled within 2%. The Monte Carlo tolerance analysis predicts a manufacturing yield exceeding 80% under standard industrial precision levels. Ultimately, this work provides a theoretically sound, athermally stable, and highly manufacturable solution suitable for next-generation high-resolution mirrorless sensors. Full article

Understanding the spatial organization of environmental sounds is essential for linking acoustic patterns with landscape structure and ecological processes. While ecoacoustics has made substantial progress in the temporal and spectral analysis of soundscapes, their directional and spatial components remain comparatively underexplored, particularly through low-cost and scalable approaches. Here we introduce the Sonic Explorer, a lightweight rotational sonic device designed to explore the angular structure and the spatial dynamics of sonotopes, defined as homogeneous spatial sonic units within a soundscape. The system is based on two opposed supercardioid microphones mounted on a rotating platform, coupled with a custom signal-processing framework that analyzes directional variations in sound intensity across frequency classes. Rather than aiming at sound pressure level measurements or full-sphere sound field reconstruction, the Sonic Explorer focuses on detecting spatial contrasts, dominant sound directions, and angular sound patterns relevant to ecological interpretation. Field tests conducted in a human-modified environment demonstrate the ability of the device to identify coherent directional acoustic structures associated with landscape configuration and dominant sound sources. The proposed approach provides a new practical and exploratory tool for landscape and soundscape research, enabling spatially explicit interpretations of sonic environments while maintaining low cost, portability, and adaptability. Full article

In this paper, we provide a thorough review of novel machine learning (ML) models for anomalous sound detection (ASD). We focus on deploying models to highly constrained, embedded systems and tiny ML, and using single-channel sound as the data input. The survey includes only the works published in 2020 and later. Researchers address the anomaly detection task in various ways, borrowing models and techniques from such fields as speech processing, audio generation, and even computer vision. However, it is not clear which of these are suitable for embedded systems, meeting their constraints such as memory or compute. To address that, we provide a deep analysis of these models and optimization techniques applied to meet the design criteria for embedded platforms. We consider both deep learning and classical ML methods. We define categories for the anomaly detection methods depending on the approach taken to provide a structure and simplify the comparison of methods. We aim to provide a guideline on how to develop ASD systems and how to efficiently deploy the models on the embedded platforms. Full article

Based on summer ground-based microwave radiometer (MWR) observations over North China, this study systematically evaluates the accuracy of temperature and humidity profile products derived from the Vertical Atmospheric Sounding System (VASS) onboard the FY-3E satellite. The VASS products are compared with the numerical weather prediction (NWP) background fields as well as the ERA5 and CMA-RA 1.5 (CRA) reanalysis datasets. The results show that both ERA5 and CRA exhibit stable and reliable performance in representing temperature and humidity fields under both clear and cloudy conditions over North China. The temperature root mean square error (RMSE) generally ranges from 1.6 K to 2.6 K at different height levels (from 0 km to 10 km), while the RMSE of absolute humidity is approximately 0.4–2.7 g/m³. These results further confirm the reliability of CRA under both clear and cloudy conditions in this region. In contrast, the errors of the VASS products show pronounced variations with height, station, and weather conditions. A clear systematic underestimation of temperature is found at 1–3 km, with a mean bias of about −3.44 K. Humidity is also significantly underestimated in the boundary layer, with a mean bias of approximately −5.91 g/m³. Both temperature and humidity errors decrease rapidly with increasing height. Clear inter-station differences are also identified. Temperature errors show boundary-layer overestimation in Beijing, while Xingtai and Dingzhou exhibit systematic underestimation throughout most of the profile, with mean biases reaching −4.1 K and −3.3 K, respectively. Boundary-layer humidity underestimation is more pronounced in Xingtai and Dingzhou (approximately −6.6 g/m³) than in Beijing (−4.0 g/m³). Weather-based analysis indicates that clouds have a significant impact on the accuracy of the VASS products. Under cloudy conditions, the near-surface temperature mean bias shifts from overestimation under clear skies to underestimation. The magnitude of humidity underestimation under cloudy conditions is approximately twice that under clear conditions. Further comparison shows that the error characteristics of the NWP background fields in the lower and middle troposphere are partly similar to those of the VASS products. This suggests that the current retrieval algorithm still has limited capability to correct background field biases under complex weather conditions. These results provide scientific support for the selection of application scenarios and the optimization of retrieval algorithms for FY-3E/VASS temperature and humidity profile products, and they also support the reliable use of domestic reanalysis datasets in regional studies. Full article

The rapid electrification of road vehicles has fundamentally reshaped the priorities of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) engineering. In the absence of combustion-related broadband masking, tonal and order-related phenomena originating from the electric machine, inverter switching, and high-speed reduction gearing have become clearly perceptible and, in many cases, acoustically dominant. Consequently, drivetrain noise in electric vehicles can no longer be assessed at component level alone; it must be understood as a coupled system response shaped by excitation mechanisms, structural dynamics, transfer paths, radiation efficiency, and ultimately human perception. This review adopts a source-to-perception perspective and consolidates the principal physical mechanisms governing vibro-acoustic behavior in integrated electric drive units. Electromagnetic force harmonics and torque ripple are discussed alongside transmission-error-driven gear mesh excitation, while bearing and shaft nonlinearities are examined in the context of high-speed operation. In addition, ancillary thermoacoustic and aerodynamic contributions are considered, reflecting the increasingly integrated packaging of modern e-axle architectures. On this mechanism-oriented basis, dominant excitation types are linked to frequency-appropriate modeling strategies, spanning electromagnetic force extraction, multibody drivetrain simulation, structural finite element analysis, transfer path analysis, and acoustic radiation prediction. Particular attention is given to workflow integration across domains. Finally, the paper identifies research challenges that predominantly arise at system level, including multi-source interaction effects, installation-dependent transfer-path variability, emergent resonances in assembled structures, manufacturing-induced tonal artifacts, and the still limited correlation between predicted vibration fields and perceived sound quality. Full article

The leg structure of swine is closely related to their robustness and longevity. Animals with sound legs generally have longer productive lifespans and higher reproductive efficiency, whereas leg defects can markedly impair performance and shorten service life. To address the high subjectivity, low efficiency, and poor consistency of traditional leg-structure evaluation by humans, this study developed an automatic scoring system for swine leg structure based on 3D point clouds. The hardware components of the system include the acquisition channel, a multi-view time-of-flight (ToF) depth camera array, an industrial computer, and a star-type synchronization hub. The core algorithm modules include point cloud preprocessing, leg segmentation, geometric feature extraction, and structure-based scoring. Body orientation was corrected using principal component analysis (PCA). An adaptive limb region segmentation method was proposed that combines iterative cropping with geometric verification. Two point cloud tasks were performed: key structural points were extracted via multi-scale curvature analysis, and angular and symmetry parameters of the fore- and hindlimbs were computed in the sagittal and coronal planes. Following a “classify first, then score” strategy, a nine-level linear scoring model was constructed. Field validation showed that the classification accuracy exceeded 90%, the scores were significantly negatively correlated with the degree of structural deviation, and multi-frame resampling yielded good repeatability. The processing time per animal ranged from 1.6 s to 3.0 s, which met the requirements for real-time applications. These results demonstrated that the proposed method could automatically identify and quantitatively evaluate swine leg structure, providing efficient and reliable technical support for objective selection and smart pig farming. Full article

To systematically investigate the influence of metro train types on the operational noise of elevated rail transit, this study conducted field measurements on elevated sections of the Wuhan Metro Yangluo Line, Wuhan Metro Line 2, and Guangzhou Metro Line 4, comparing the noise characteristics of 4-car A-type, 6-car B-type, and 4-car L-type trains operating at 70 ± 2 km/h. Analysis of sound pressure levels and frequency spectra at multiple points revealed that wheel-rail noise peaks occurred at 630 Hz and 2500 Hz for A-type trains, around 800 Hz for B-type trains, and within 800–1250 Hz for L-type trains, while bridge structure-borne noise was consistently concentrated in the 63–100 Hz low-frequency range. Distinct emission patterns were observed: at on-girder points, noise levels were highest for A-type trains, followed by B-type and then L-type trains, a trend potentially linked to axle loads; conversely, at under-girder points, the order reversed with L-type trains producing the highest noise. At points 7.5 m and 25 m from the track centerline, A-type and B-type trains exhibited similar noise levels, whereas L-type trains were slightly quieter. Furthermore, all three train types showed a consistent noise attenuation rate of approximately 6 dB(A) per doubling of distance from the track centerline. The findings will serve as a reference and basis for rail transit noise prediction and control. Full article

Over the years, the impact of music on the prenatal and neonatal stages of human life has gained significant scientific attention. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric review of research investigating how music influences fetal and newborn development. Using the Scopus and Web of Science databases, a search of relevant studies published in English between January 2006 and July 2025 was conducted, whose basic criterion was the use of the following keywords: “music” and “fetus” or “fetal”. Additional terms such as “fetus development”, “fetus heart rate”, “fetus movement”, “mother–fetus relationship”, “newborn”, etc., were also utilized. In result, 75 publications were selected, and their bibliographic data and full sources were retrieved. The included studies were grouped according to two perspectives that consider the impact of music (1) on the development of the fetus and the newborn, and (2) on maternal health and mother–fetus bonding. Using VOSviewer, bibliometric mapping was performed, which allowed to obtain keyword co-occurrence network and co-authorship network. The chosen literature was then quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed. The analysis revealed a sharp upward trend in publications starting in 2015, with a temporary decline in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The highest number of publications were from Iran. The most investigated topics were related to the fetus heart and maternal health. The most common publication type and research methodology were, respectively, article and experiment. While the key authors Lordier, L., Filippa, M., Grandjean, D., and Monaci, M.G. lead the field, the co-authorship network remains fragmented into isolated and relatively small research groups. The Journal of Maternal–Fetal and Neonatal Medicine emerged as the leading publication outlet, while the study by Graven et al. entitled “Auditory Development in the Fetus and Infant” remains the most cited work. The keyword co-occurrence network allowed the identification of three main thematic clusters indicating the physiological, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of the impact of music on fetal and neonatal development. A qualitative analysis revealed that music plays a vital role in early human development and maternal well-being, demonstrating positive effects of auditory stimuli on fetal and newborn physiology, as well as on the mother–fetus relationship, while being a non-invasive and non-pharmacological method of intervention. However, the lack of a fully connected global research community and standardized protocols for, e.g., choosing the musical repertoire, sound administration, and the duration of exposure suggests the need for increased international collaboration to further integrate music therapy into standard clinical practices for prenatal and neonatal care. Full article

The upper atmospheric microwave sounding channels data are important for atmospheric data assimilation and retrieval. However, radiative transfer simulation accuracy is constrained by the precise characterization of the Zeeman splitting effect. This study investigates key influencing factors in upper-atmospheric microwave radiance simulations, focusing on the geomagnetic field parameters and the Zeeman splitting absorption coefficients. A three-dimensional (3D) atmosphere-magnetic coupling dataset is constructed using the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) version 2.0 Level 2A atmospheric profiles and the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF-13) as input for the microwave Line-by-Line (LBL) model. Observations from Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS) channels 19 and 20 are used to quantitatively compare the effects of 2D and 3D geomagnetic fields on simulations and evaluate the impact of updated Zeeman splitting coefficients. Quantitative analysis reveals that the average vertical attenuation rate of geomagnetic field strength between 50 and 0.001 hPa is 2.98%, and using 3D magnetic field parameters improves the observation and simulation bias (O-B) for SSMIS channels 19 and 20 by approximately 3.67% and 3.52%, respectively. The updated microwave LBL model, incorporating molecular self-spin interactions and higher-order Zeeman effects, reduces the mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) of the SSMIS channel 20 by approximately 2.7% and 2.25%, respectively. Experimental results indicate that the 7⁺ line within a 2 MHz frequency shift is sensitive to moderate magnetic field strength (0.35–0.55 Gauss), while the 1⁻ line is sensitive to strong magnetic fields (0.5–0.7 Gauss). This study demonstrates that optimizing geomagnetic field representation and Zeeman splitting coefficients can improve upper atmospheric microwave radiance simulation accuracy by detailed comparison with observations. Full article

This research work addresses the mechanical and metallurgical characterisation, as well as the failure features, of two types of lap-fillet autogenous laser-welded joints made of ultra-thin sheets by applying an appropriate welding technology for producing sound welds and flawless joints. Both welded samples, one made only of stainless steel (SS-SS) sheets, and the other made of stainless steel and carbon steel (SS-CS) plates, were subjected to tensile–shear loads that are representative of the in-service conditions. The experimental research was focused on determining, by the digital image correlation (VIC-2D) method, the strain field and the rotation angle of the welded joints that were developed during loading tests of the welded specimens. Comparing to the classical testing method applied to study the joint overall mechanical properties, the novelty of this research consists of local mechanical behaviour assessment of relevant zones from similar and dissimilar welded joints, by using the innovative technique VIC-2D. Based on the analysis of the experimental results, it was found that the maximum rotation angle is 2.5 times higher in the SS-SS similar welded joint, in comparison with the SS-CS dissimilar welded joint. Despite this finding, the SS-CS specimen failed in the CS base material, far from the weld, with the failure phenomenon being preceded by the material yielding and necking. This failure mode is consistent with the detected strength mismatch of the SS-CS joint, with respect to the CS base material. In contrast, the quasi-ductile fracture of the SS-SS welded joint occurred by plastic exhaustion at the boundary between the narrow Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ) of SS and the Fuzion Zone (FZ). These outcomes are consistent with the hardness profile, microstructural heterogeneities found in the lap-fillet welded joints, and the load versus elongation curves that are determined and discussed in this paper. This research provides new insight and original information on the materials’ response to the autogenous laser welding, which will contribute to improving the knowledge on the ultra-thin lap-fillet welded similar and dissimilar steels. Full article

The dominant sound sources in different urban spaces influence residents’ multidimensional emotional responses, and the interaction of various sound sources across temporal and spatial dimensions forms a complex sound environment. This study aims to develop a comprehensive index to quantify the emotional impacts of dominant sound sources. Through field measurements, this study classified the collected audios into four major categories (natural, social, construction, traffic) and 15 subcategories, with each sound source characterized by SPL and primary frequency. A total of 1266 questionnaires were collected from 209 participants through a web-based survey for the subjective experiment, while EEG data were obtained from 35 participants in the objective experiment. Next, by integrating acoustic indicators, subjective questionnaire responses, and objective EEG data, this study constructs the $C_K$ index using principal component analysis. $C_K$ provides a single, interpretable score of emotional impact, where lower values indicate greater calm. Results show that natural sounds consistently outperformed the other three sound types, showing the highest comfort (3.54) and pleasure (3.40) ratings on a five-point Likert scale, as well as the strongest physiological response with a parietal alpha power of 18.44 μV²/Hz. The calculated $C_K$ values for natural, social, construction, and traffic sounds were 8.73, 9.91, 10.20, and 10.29, respectively. This study contributes to quantifying the emotional impacts of urban sounds and refining noise mitigation priorities using the $C_K$ index. Full article