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A blind binaural real-time model for listening effort evaluated using continuous subjective listening effort rating
No full textThis study investigated real-time assessment and modeling of perceived listening effort (LE). The model consists of a binaural front-end, followed by a monaural back-end. As front-end, a novel blind real-time implementation of the binaural speech intelligibility model (BSIM) was developed, which models spatial release from masking by considering binaural unmasking and better-ear listening simultaneously. A neural network was used as back-end, which was trained on inputs and outputs of a LE prediction model based on phoneme classification called Listening Effort prediction from Acoustic Parameters (LEAP). A novel method for evaluating binaural real-time models of LE was developed, where simulated scenes with a target speaker and a noise interferer were used, which were either co-located or spatially separated. Dynamic changes were introduced to the scene by abruptly altering the signal-to-noise ratio and/or reverberation time. Participants continuously rated subjectively perceived LE using a slider interface with LE categories, while listening to the scenes via headphones. The model accurately predicted subjective LE, especially changes in signal-to-noise ratio and binaural benefits. It also predicted detrimental effects of reverberation as observed in the experiment, although the impact of reverberation was slightly overestimated. Human response times were estimated for further tweaking the model’s integration time
A systematic review of radiological outcomes and implant positioning in robotic-assisted functionally aligned robotic total knee arthroplasty
No full textIntroduction: Functional alignment (FA) or functional knee positioning is a patient-specific strategy for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) that utilizes robotics to balance coronal, sagittal, and axial planes while preserving joint-line orientation and soft-tissue tension within predefined guardrails. Although early clinical outcomes are encouraging, the radiographic profile and workflow consistency of robotic FA have not been clearly synthesized. Methods: In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, English-language studies of primary robotic FA-TKA with ≥2-year follow-up were searched. Eligible designs included RCTs, prospective/retrospective cohorts, and large case series (≥50 patients). Information on pre- and postoperative coronal alignment [hip–knee–ankle angle (HKA), lateral distal femoral angle (LDFA), medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA)], component positioning (femoral valgus/rotation/flexion; tibial varus/rotation/slope), and explicit FA workflow boundaries (guardrails) was extracted. Results: Twenty-one cohorts (5,360 knees) reported at least one radiographic or workflow endpoint. Preoperatively, the predominant deformity was varus. Postoperatively, limb alignment converged near neutral: HKA clustered around 178–179.5°, with LDFA ~89–91° and MPTA ~87–89°. Component positions were tightly distributed within FA targets: femoral valgus ≈ 0.5–1.5°, tibial varus ≈ ~3°, femoral flexion ~6–9°, and tibial slope ~0–3°; tibial rotation was overwhelmingly referenced to Akagi’s line, and femoral rotation to the TEA in most series. Reported guardrails showed strong convergence: typical workflows included femoral valgus −3° to +6°, tibial varus 0–6°, tibial slope 0–3°, and femoral ER ~3–6° to TEA. Across cohorts, achieved radiographs closely tracked these limits, indicating high adherence and reproducibility. Most observational studies had a moderate risk of bias; the lone RCT was low risk. Discussion: Robotic FA-TKA delivers a radiographic profile with slight femoral valgus and modest tibial varus, while keeping components within narrow, pre-specified guardrails. Level of evidence: Level III, systematic review and meta-analysis
Cost-Effective Design of Home Energy Management System with PV-Wind and Battery Storage in a Grid-Tied Microgrid
No full textThe rising energy demand and the limited availability of traditional energy sources have driven the search for renewable energy alternatives. Over the past few years, more renewable energy sources and significant efforts have been carried out around the World to decrease carbon emissions in the utility sector. To support this development, microgrids have emerged as a smart component of the future power grid. Microgrids, powered by local energy resources are the most effective for building the new power grid. In microgrids, an Energy Management System (EMS) is an essential element in scheduling the local energy flows. This paper focuses on the cost-effective design of home energy management in a grid-tied microgrid framework to reduce electricity consumption and the dependency on the utility grid for residential consumers. This scheme is synthesized through a simulator developed by a C++ platform to obtain the best energy management solutions. Three case studies with 10 residential users are considered in this research. Simulation results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model. The proposed methods curtail the grid energy and cost up to 51% and 58% respectively in comparison to the current techniques
Exceptional low-temperature thermoelectric performance and spintronic properties of quaternary Heusler alloys LiXFeSb (X = Ba, Sr)
No full textThe exploration of novel materials with half-metallic characteristics is essential for the advancement of both spintronic and thermoelectric technologies. In this study, we employ first-principles density functional theory to investigate the structural, electronic, magnetic, and thermoelectric properties of quaternary Heusler alloys LiXFeSb (X = Ba, Sr). Our calculations reveal that both the compounds crystallize in a stable type-I phase with F-43 m symmetry and exhibit ferromagnetic ground states, with total magnetic moments of 2.00 μB for LiBaFeSb and 1.99 μB for LiSrFeSb. The spin-resolved band structures confirm their half-metallic nature, with bandgaps of 0.47 eV (LiBaFeSb) and 0.2 eV (LiSrFeSb) in the up-spin channel and metallic character in the down-spin channel, resulting in 100% spin polarization. Importantly, thermoelectric analysis using the semi-classical Boltzmann transport theory and the Slack model shows that LiBaFeSb achieves a remarkable ZT ≈ 1.0 at 100 K in the up-spin channel, a rare feature for Heusler systems in the cryogenic regime. LiSrFeSb, on the other hand, exhibits ZT ≈ 0.63 at 800 K, demonstrating its potential at elevated temperatures. These results highlight the exceptional low-temperature thermoelectric efficiency and full spin polarization of LiBaFeSb, positioning the LiXFeSb family as a promising platform for multifunctional spin-caloritronic applications
GC–MS profiling of fatty acid composition and antioxidant evaluation of
No full textThis study investigates the geographical variation in oil quality and bioactivity of Asphodelus microcarpus seed oils collected from five Moroccan regions. Oils were extracted using Soxhlet with petroleum ether, analyzed by GC-MS after FAME preparation, and evaluated for physicochemical properties (ISO/NF standards) and antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS). Yields ranged from 18.93% to 21.03%, with stable physicochemical parameters. GC-MS revealed 18 fatty acids (94.82–98.59% of total lipids), showing regional variation. Casablanca and Mohammedia oils had exceptional linoleic acid content (>74%), a first report for Asphodelus species. Meknes and Rabat oils were richer in nervonic and tricosanoic acids. Antioxidant assays showed the strongest activity in Casablanca oil (DPPH IC₅₀ = 291.5 μg/mL; ABTS IC₅₀ = 308.93 μg/mL). PCA revealed clear coastal vs. inland chemotypes. This study represents the first Moroccan report on the fatty acid composition and antioxidant potential of A. microcarpus seed oil. It reveals a distinctive linoleic acid-rich chemotype and highlights the species’ potential as a novel bioactive source for food, health, and industrial applications
Enriching continuous Lagrange finite element approximation spaces using neural networks
No full textIn this work, we present a study combining two approaches in the context of solving PDEs: the continuous finite element method (FEM) and more recent techniques based on neural networks. In recent years, physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) have become particularly interesting for rapidly solving PDEs, especially in high dimensions.However, their lack of accuracy can be a significant drawback in this context, hence the interest in combining them with FEM, for which error estimates are already known. The complete pipeline proposed here consists in modifying the classical FEM approximation spaces by taking information from a prior, chosen as the prediction of a neural network. On the one hand, this combination improves and certifies the prediction of neural networks, to obtain a fast and accurate solution. On the other hand, error estimates are proven, showing that such strategies outperform classical ones by a factor that depends only on the quality of the prior. We validate our approach with numerical results performed on parametric problems with 1D, 2D and 3D geometries. These experiments demonstrate that to achieve a given accuracy, a coarser mesh can be used with our enriched FEM compared to the standard FEM, leading to reduced computational time, particularly for parametric problems
A generalized framework for higher-order Localized Orthogonal Decomposition methods
No full textWe revisit the higher-order Localized Orthogonal Decomposition variant by Maier [SIAM J. Num. Anal., 2021] based on nonconforming constraints (discontinuous finite element spaces) and introduce a new variant based on conforming constraints (continuous finite elements), putting both approaches in a general unified framework. We propose a new localization strategy that is suitable for both approaches and offers a new perspective on the localization of LOD in general. We fully analyze the strategy for linear scalar elliptic problems and discuss extensions to the Helmholtz equation and the Gross–Pitaevskii eigenvalue problem. Numerical examples are presented that provide valuable comparisons between conforming and nonconforming constraints
RF power experiments in WEST to prepare for next-step fusion device operation
No full textThe WEST superconducting tokamak, featuring a full tungsten environment and equipped with an actively cooled ITER-grade divertor, provides valuable inputs for future ITER operation. One of its distinctive features is that auxiliary plasma heating and current drive is exclusively supplied by radiofrequency (RF) systems. Scenario development supported by integrated modelling has allowed pulses exceeding 1300 s and 2.6 GJ of energy to be performed, based on feedback-controlled plasma current sustained by LHCD power in order to achieve a zero-loop voltage target. In this contribution, we review recent progress and near-term plans related to plasma scenario performance improvement using RF waves in WEST, directly relevant to the operation of future fusion devices in full metal environments
Evaluation of DIII-D plasmas for Future Measurements of the Driven Current Density in the DIII-D High Field Side Lower Hybrid Experiment
No full textHigh field side (HFS) lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) is a promising method for efficiently driving off-axis current in steady state tokamak power plants. The first test of this technology is underway at the DIII-D tokamak. The initial physics goal is to measure the LH-driven current density profile in order to validate the ray-tracing/Fokker-Plank codes GENRAY/CQL3D and gain confidence in their ability to predict LH deposition in future DIII-D experiments and fusion power plants. DIII-D’s motional Stark effect (MSE) diagnostic will be used to constrain the magnetic equilibrium reconstructions. From these reconstructions, the ohmic, bootstrap, and driven non-inductive components of the current density profile can be extracted. Several recent DIII-D plasmas have been identified in which GENRAY/CQL3D predict measurable amounts of current with only 100 kW of coupled power
Black-hole X-ray binary Swift J1727.8–1613 shows simultaneous Type-B and Type-C quasiperiodic oscillations across the hard-intermediate and soft-intermediate states
No full textWe present a timing analysis of Insight-HXMT observations of the black-hole X-ray binary Swift J1727.8−1613 across a bright soft X-ray flare on September 19, 2023 (MJD 60206). At the peak of the flare, the source undergoes a brief transition from the hard-intermediate state (HIMS) into the soft-intermediate state (SIMS), marked by the simultaneous appearance of three discrete radio jet ejections, a drop in broadband noise in the 2−10 keV band, and the presence of a narrow quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) with a characteristic “U”-shaped phase-lag spectrum and a quality factor of Q ≥ 6, features that robustly identify it as a Type-B QPO. The Type-C QPO, which was clearly detected in the HIMS prior to the flare, is not observed at the flare’s peak and only reappears afterward. Most notably, we find that the Type-B QPO is not restricted to the SIMS: it is present throughout all our observations, including those taken in the HIMS, where it appears as a broad shoulder of the Type-C QPO. During the flare, the Type-B and Type-C QPOs exhibit distinct evolutionary trends in frequency, fractional rms amplitude, and phase lag. These results challenge the traditional view that Type-B QPOs are exclusive to the SIMS, a state that is, in fact, defined by their appearance in the power spectrum, and directly linked to discrete jet ejections. Instead, our findings suggest that the physical conditions giving rise to Type-B QPOs occur more broadly within the inner accretion flow