A numerical investigation into the impact of icing on the aerodynamic performance of aerofoils

Aircraft wings and wind turbine blades are often subjected to harsh and cold climatic conditions. Icing is often observed on wing and blade surfaces in these cold climatic conditions. Wind turbine blades, in particular, are severely impacted by ice accretion which greatly hampers their performance and energy generation efficiency. Ice-accretion patterns are observed to vary with changes in temperature. As the temperature changes, the thickness of the ice accretion, the shape and location of ice-accretion vary greatly. In this paper, three different ice accretion patterns and their impact on the aerofoil efficiency have been investigated using the SS

Advancing Disability Management in Information Systems: A Novel Approach through Bidirectional Federated Learning-Based Gradient Optimization

Disability management in information systems refers to the process of ensuring that digital technologies and applications are designed to be accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities. Traditional methods face several challenges such as privacy concerns, high cost, and accessibility issues. To overcome these issues, this paper proposed a novel method named bidirectional federated learning-based Gradient Optimization (BFL-GO) for disability management in information systems. In this study, bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) was utilized to capture sequential disability data, and federated learning was employed to enable training in the BFL-GO method. Also, gradient-based optimization was used to adjust the proposed BFL-GO method’s parameters during the process of hyperparameter tuning. In this work, the experiments were conducted on the Disability Statistics United States 2018 dataset. The performance evaluation of the BFL-GO method involves analyzing its effectiveness based on evaluation metrics, namely, specificity, F1-score, recall, precision, AUC-ROC, computational time, and accuracy and comparing its performance against existing methods to assess its effectiveness. The experimental results illustrate the effectiveness of the BFL-GO method for disability management in information systems

Machine Learning-Driven Ubiquitous Mobile Edge Computing as a Solution to Network Challenges in Next-Generation IoT

Ubiquitous mobile edge computing (MEC) using the internet of things (IoT) is a promising technology for providing low-latency and high-throughput services to end-users. Resource allocation and quality of service (QoS) optimization are critical challenges in MEC systems due to the large number of devices and applications involved. This results in poor latency with minimum throughput and energy consumption as well as a high delay rate. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel approach for resource allocation and QoS optimization in MEC using IoT by combining the hybrid kernel random Forest (HKRF) and ensemble support vector machine (ESVM) algorithms with crossover-based hunter–prey optimization (CHPO). The HKRF algorithm uses decision trees and kernel functions to capture the complex relationships between input features and output labels. The ESVM algorithm combines multiple SVM classifiers to improve the classification accuracy and robustness. The CHPO algorithm is a metaheuristic optimization algorithm that mimics the hunting behavior of predators and prey in nature. The proposed approach aims to optimize the parameters of the HKRF and ESVM algorithms and allocate resources to different applications running on the MEC network to improve the QoS metrics such as latency, throughput, and energy efficiency. The experimental results show that the proposed approach outperforms other algorithms in terms of QoS metrics and resource allocation efficiency. The throughput and the energy consumption attained by our proposed approach are 595 mbit/s and 9.4 mJ, respectively

Managing Uncertainties in Supply Chains for Enhanced E-Commerce Engagement: A Generation Z Perspective on Retail Shopping through Facebook

This research investigates the uncertainties in supply chains using symmetrical and asymmetrical modeling tools, focusing on the attitudes of millennials towards Facebook retail shopping. By exploring antecedents such as pleasure, credibility, and peer interaction, this study delves into the extent of E-commerce via Facebook among Generation Z in the Middle East. Built on an exhaustive literature review, a conceptual framework is designed targeting solely Generation Z members. Employing partial least squares structural equation modeling for data analysis, the findings indicate a strong correlation between attitude and the propensity of Generation Z to make Facebook retail purchases (R2 = 0.540), affecting enjoyment, credibility, and peer communication (R2 = 0.589). This study offers strategies for supply chain improvements and validates the potential of E-commerce on Facebook among Generation Z

Prospects for Improving the Intrinsic and Extrinsic Properties of Magnesium Diboride Superconducting Strands

The magnetic and transport properties of magnesium diboride films represent performance goals yet to be attained by powder-processed bulk samples and conductors. Such performance limits are still out of the reach of even the best magnesium diboride magnet wire. In discussing the present status and prospects for improving the performance of powder-based wire we focus attention on (1) the intrinsic (intragrain) superconducting properties of magnesium diboride, Hc2 and flux pinning, (2) factors that control the efficiency with which current is transported from grain-to-grain in the conductor, an extrinsic (intergrain) property. With regard to Item-(1), the role of dopants in Hc2 enhancement is discussed and examples presented. On the other hand their roles in increasing Jc, both via Hc2 enhancement as well as direct fluxoid/pining-center interaction, are discussed and a comprehensive survey of Hc2 dopants and flux-pinning additives is presented. Current transport through the powder-processed wire (an extrinsic property) is partially blocked by the inherent granularity of the material itself and the chemical or other properties of the intergrain surfaces. These and other such results indicate that in many cases less than 15% of the conductor's cross sectional area is able to carry transport current. It is pointed out that densification in association with the elimination of grain-boundary blocking phases would yield five-to ten-fold increases in Jc in relevant regimes, enabling the performance of magnesium diboride in selected applications to compete with that of Nb-Sn

A questionnaire-based study of Paediatric Dentists’ knowledge of teething signs, symptoms and management

Introduction Signs and symptoms attributed to erupting primary teeth are commonly known as “teething”. Its existence is controversial with concern that overusing this term might mask other illnesses and some treatments may be unnecessary or harmful. Parents/carers can access over-the-counter remedies and may seek professional advice. This survey-based investigation explored gaps in knowledge, training, perceptions and experiences of UK Paediatric Dentists (PDs) regarding teething in young children. Method Cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of PDs with different training levels, accessed through the British Society for Paediatric Dentistry membership lists. A 10-item questionnaire explored participants’ knowledge of teething-related issues and management. Responses are presented using descriptive statistics. Results Of 80 responding PDs (response rate 27%), 62–74% suggested drooling, irritability, oral fixation and flushed cheeks were attributed to primary tooth eruption. Fifty-eight (72%) participants were unaware of guidelines, yet 53 (66%) felt guidance was needed. Conclusion Signs and symptoms of teething might mask underlying conditions so it should be a diagnosis of exclusion. PDs attributed similar signs and symptoms to teething, as have been reported in the literature, although some commented that they did not think teething was a condition. There was a lack of awareness over guidelines

Ex vivo to in vivo model of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors for precision oncology

BACKGROUND: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are aggressive soft tissue sarcomas that often develop in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). To address the critical need for novel therapeutics in MPNST, we aimed to establish an ex vivo 3D platform that accurately captured the genomic diversity of MPNST and could be utilized in a medium-throughput manner for drug screening studies to be validated in vivo using patient-derived xenografts (PDX). METHODS: Genomic analysis was performed on all PDX-tumor pairs. Selected PDX were harvested for assembly into 3D microtissues. Based on prior work in our labs, we evaluated drugs (trabectedin, olaparib, and mirdametinib) ex vivo and in vivo. For 3D microtissue studies, cell viability was the endpoint as assessed by Zeiss Axio Observer. For PDX drug studies, tumor volume was measured twice weekly. Bulk RNA sequencing was performed to identify pathways enriched in cells. RESULTS: We developed 13 NF1-associated MPNST-PDX and identified mutations or structural abnormalities in NF1 (100%), SUZ12 (85%), EED (15%), TP53 (15%), CDKN2A (85%), and chromosome 8 gain (77%). We successfully assembled PDX into 3D microtissues, categorized as robust (\u3e90% viability at 48 h), good (\u3e50%), or unusable (\u3c50%). We evaluated drug response to robust or good microtissues, namely MN-2, JH-2-002, JH-2-079-c, and WU-225. Drug response ex vivo predicted drug response in vivo, and enhanced drug effects were observed in select models. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the successful establishment of a novel 3D platform for drug discovery and MPNST biology exploration in a system representative of the human condition

Heterogeneous dermatitis complaints after change in drinking water treatment: a case report

BACKGROUND: The disinfectant monochloramine minimizes the formation of potentially hazardous and regulated byproducts, and many drinking water utilities are shifting to its use. CASE PRESENTATION: After a drinking water utility serving 2.4 million people switched to monochloramine for residual disinfection, a small number of residents complained of dermatitis reactions. We interviewed 17 people about their symptoms. Skin appearance, symptoms, and exposures were heterogeneous. Five respondents had history of hives or rash that preceded the switch to monochloramine. CONCLUSION: The complaints described were heterogeneous, and many of the respondents had underlying or preexisting conditions that would offer plausible alternative explanations for their symptoms. We did not recommend further study of these complaints