36633 research outputs found
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The potential of machine learning to predict melting response time of phase change materials in triplex-tube latent thermal energy storage systems
No full textAccurate prediction of the melting response time is vital for optimizing thermal energy storage systems, which play a key role in addressing the temporal mismatch between thermal energy demand and supply in the built environment. This study aims to quantitatively predict the melting response time of a novel triplex-tube thermal energy storage system incorporating phase change materials and Y-shaped fins to enhance heat transfer. A numerical model based on the enthalpy-porosity method was developed to simulate the melting process, resulting in a dataset comprising 60 cases with melting response times ranging from 15 to 45 min under varying design and operational conditions. The key parameters investigated include fin angle (10°–30°), fin width (5–15 mm), and heat transfer fluid temperature (60 °C–80 °C). Prior to model development, variable independence was validated to ensure robust predictions. Four machine learning algorithms—polynomial regression, support vector regression, random forest regression, and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost)—were employed, with hyperparameter optimization performed using a Bayesian approach. The XGBoost model demonstrated superior predictive capability, achieving an accuracy of 92 %. Feature importance analysis revealed that fin width and heat transfer fluid temperature were the dominant factors, contributing 51 % and 47 % to the prediction variance, respectively, whereas fin angle had a marginal influence of 2 %. This work provides a novel application of machine learning techniques to the design and optimization of thermal energy storage systems, offering valuable insights into improving their melting performance and operational efficiency.</p
The Art of Activism
No full textThe Art of Activism exhibition and publication explore a specific segment of protest and engaged art in the Czech Lands, especially after 2009 (the global economic crisis) in the context of international movements such as Occupy Wall Street, Black Lives Matter, Me Too, Women Life Freedom, Fridays for Future, Extinction Rebellion, etc. In addition to reflecting on Czech individual and collective artistic activities, significant space is devoted to foreign initiatives, especially those that form the immediate political and inspirational context of the local art scene.Through a range of documentary and other artistic media, the project maps examples of “performative democracy” in the form of activist, political and environmentally oriented projects, as well as contemporary artistic practice in the field of social intervention and participatory strategies that contribute to deepening social resilience by supporting civic initiatives
Unveiling Pressure Spikes and Shock Structures in a Concentric Vertical Launch Rocket System
No full textThis study presents a detailed computational investigation into the early-stage transient flow behavior of hot-launch missile systems in a concentric vertical tube. Emphasizing the critical milliseconds before thrust build up and missile liftoff, the work captures the formation and evolution of pressure spikes and shock structures through high-resolution, twodimensional axisymmetric simulations using a pressure-based solver with the k-ω SST turbulence model. The simulations focus on the effects of nozzle inlet pressure and shock interactions on the launch tube wall during the initial seconds of the exhaust gas evolution. Three distinct pressure and temperature peaks are identified, with characteristics resembling Friedlander-type waveforms, driven primarily by bow shock impingement and subsequent wave reflections within the annular gap of the launch tube. Furthermore, the study investigates the influence of nozzle inlet pressure on the pressure and temperature distribution along the launch tube wall. It was observed that while the timing of pressure spike occurrences varied with inlet pressure, the magnitude of the maximum peak pressure remained nearly constant. In contrast, higher inlet pressures resulted in more pronounced temperature spikes, which increased in intensity and propagated further downstream along the launch tube wall. This study offers valuable insights into the design and safety assessment of hot-launch vertical missile systems, aiding the optimization of lightweight launch tubes for high-speed deployment
Comparing indoor tracking of golf ball and club metrics:Consistency and absolute agreement of the Flightscope Mevo+ and Trackman 4 launch monitors
No full textBackground: This study aimed to compare the Flightscope Mevo+ launch monitor against a previously validated system (Trackman 4) during full golf swings in an indoor setting. Methods: Mevo+ and Trackman 4 were compared concurrently for driver (n= 118, 118, 174 shots, respectively). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) reported consistency and absolute agreement. Bland-Altman plots reported limits of agreement. Results: Moderate to excellent consistency was reported for all values for driver (ICC= 0.66-0.996), 7-iron (ICC= 0.50-0.996) and pitching wedge (ICC= 0.55-1.00) except angle of attack which was poor for both 7-iron and pitching wedge (ICC= 0.06 & 0.03, respectively). For absolute agreement, Mevo+ demonstrated moderate to excellent levels for most driver (ICC range= 0.58-0.98), 7-iron (ICC range= 0.83-0.94) and pitching wedge (ICC range= 0.77-0.999) variables. Driver swing plane (ICC absolute= 0.24), 7-iron angle of attack, clubhead speed, dynamic loft and spin rate (ICC absolute= 0.02, 0.44, 0.23, 0.49, 0.42, respectively) and pitching wedge angle of attack, dynamic loft, and swing plane (ICC absolute= 0.01, 0.25, 0.43, respectively) had poor agreement. Conclusion: Mevo+ is consistent with Trackman 4 for all variables except angle of attack. It does however provide different absolute values, but usually in a consistent, systematic manner, across a number of variables. Coaches, club fitters, golfers, and scientists should be aware of these systematic differences when attempting to compare performance across launch monitors or when solely using the Mevo+ system to aid performance, club building and fitting, or for research purposes
Guidelines for evaluating the success of large carnivore reintroductions
No full textAnthropogenic impacts have led to widespread species decline and extirpation, compelling a global movement to regenerate biodiversity through holistic ecosystem restoration including reintroductions. Despite increasing conservation-driven reintroduction efforts over the past century, peer-reviewed literature and policy providing criteria to evaluate reintroduction efficacy remain limited. Without comprehensive and quantifiable metrics of reintroduction success, such drastic conservation intervention strategies cannot be objectively evaluated nor compared, hindering the advancement of the restoration discipline. Herein, we reviewed 227 large carnivore reintroductions of 14 terrestrial mammal species across 23 countries since 1930 to contextualize global efforts to date, and from these, developed a standardized framework to evaluate reintroduction success. We retrospectively determined the extent to which existing studies met these criteria towards identifying current knowledge gaps and guide future reintroduction efforts. Most large carnivore records were of Felidae (70 %) reintroduced into ‘closed’ systems (69 %) across southern Africa (70 %). Our proposed framework provides a full suite of stages, indicators, and targets for reintroduction evaluation, which, when retrospectively applied to reviewed studies, indicated that at least one-third lacked sufficient information to effectively evaluate reintroduction outcomes. This comprehensive and prioritized framework provides novel transparency and scalability to large carnivore reintroduction programs, which is increasingly required to secure sustained support of impacted communities and stakeholder networks. Moreover, incorporating this framework into future practice and policy as an applied tool may directly benefit the recovery of at least 30 large carnivore species, while its principles may be applied more broadly across taxonomic groups for faunal rewilding and global ecosystem restoration.</p
Extension of Fisher’s least significant difference method to multi-armed group-sequential response-adaptive designs
No full textMulti-armed multi-stage designs evaluate experimental treatments using a control arm at interim analyses. Incorporating response-adaptive randomisation in these designs allows early stopping, faster treatment selection and more patients to be assigned to the more promising treatments. Existing frequentist multi-armed multi-stage designs demonstrate that the family-wise error rate is strongly controlled, but they may be too conservative and lack power when the experimental treatments are very different therapies rather than doses of the same drug. Moreover, the designs use a fixed allocation ratio. In this article, Fisher’s least significant difference method extended to group-sequential response-adaptive designs is investigated. It is shown mathematically that the information time continues after dropping inferior arms, and hence the error-spending approach can be used to control the family-wise error rate. Two optimal allocations were considered. One ensures efficient estimation of the treatment effects and the other maximises the power subject to a fixed total sample size. Operating characteristics of the group-sequential response-adaptive design for normal and censored survival outcomes based on simulation and redesigning the NeoSphere trial were compared with those of a fixed-sample design. Results show that the adaptive design attains efficient and ethical advantages, and that the family-wise error rate is well controlled
Design of an Intelligent Wireless Channel State Information Sensing System to Prevent Bedsores
No full textPressure ulcers or bedsores are a common health challenge among immobile patients, often leading to severe complications if not addressed promptly. The existing solutions mostly rely on direct contact and inconvenient methods that lack effective and privacy-preserving systems suitable for continuous monitoring. Furthermore, these methods frequently fail to provide accurate posture detection necessary for early intervention. This study addresses these limitations by introducing a non-contact and privacy-respecting solution that harnesses the capabilities of Wireless Channel State Information (WCSI) sensing by exploiting the Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The proposed system aims to detect patient postures intelligently, contributing to bedsores while ensuring privacy and comfort with improved accuracy. The WCSI represents various human postures by conducting multiple experiments in a controlled lab environment. Advanced signal processing techniques are applied to clean the collected dataset and extract the prominent posture patterns. An intelligent sensing system is developed using Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) algorithms for classifying different postures to prevent bedsores. The developed ML and DL models were evaluated on a dataset prepared from the sensing system. The results indicate a trade-off between various performance metrics and computational efficiency. Among ML algorithms, the Fine Gaussian Support Vector Machine (FGSVM) outperforms others with the highest accuracy of 99.84%, indicating its reliability. While using DL algorithms, Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi-LSTM) achieves the highest accuracy of 99.98%. The finding suggests ML models are ideal for computationally constrained scenarios, while DL models have high accuracy, and thus highlights the intelligent sensing system’s potential to mitigate pressure ulcers effectively
Inclusive Environmental Stewardship:Adaptation, Recovery and Access
No full textThis written evidence submission explores how UK climate adaptation and environmental renewal policies could better embed inclusion, accessibility, and equality under the Equality Act 2010. It highlights systemic barriers faced by disabled people, older adults, and marginalised communities in accessing blue and green spaces, and offers recommendations to ensure environmental resilience strategies also deliver social justice. The evidence draws on research from Accessible Waters and calls for joined-up action across DEFRA, DLUHC, and DHSC
Telepresence Stage Showreel
No full textA showreel of twelve residency outcomes from the Telepresence Stage project. This research has developed effective techniques and solutions to connect theatre and dance performers from their separate homes and place them within virtual sets online to create, rehearse and perform together as if on a real stage. In a dramatic shift from the paradigm of the web-conference grid, the Telepresence Stage seeks to identify conceptual and technical solutions to break free of these isolating constraints and provide an altogether new platform, where our experience of online connection is heightened and re-envisioned through the superimposition of our bodies in virtual spaces. Providing helpful DIY case study guides and resources, including audio-visual materials and analysis of residency projects with ten performing arts companies
Museum Exhibitions and the Interior:Labour, Emotion and Hierarchy ‘Behind the Scenes’
No full textThis chapter draws on a range of museum exhibition histories to reflect on some of the potential synergies between studies of the interior and exhibitions. It sketches out current agendas in exhibition studies, and shows how they intersect and can potentially be enriched with reference to studies of the interior. In essence, this chapter is a manifesto, calling for those studying museum exhibitions to take seriously three areas of concern that have long occupied design historians of the interior: labour and process, embodiment and emotions, and social and professional hierarchies of gender, class, race, sexuality and ableism