Space Consumption Research Articles

ACDRL: A constraint-guided dynamic reinforcement learning for index selection

Index selection aims to find the optimal index configuration for a certain workload. In recent years, the database committee has attempted to develop an intelligent index advisor for replacing database administrators (DBAs). Although some researches show that applying reinforcement learning (RL) to index selection is a significant and promising direction, many problems still exist in applying the RL agent to the index selection i.e. long training time, unstable performance, and limited state representation. To address these issues, we propose a constraint-guided dynamic RL for index selection. Specifically, our method has three major contributions: (i) To balance the space consumption and index configuration quality, we design a dynamic index state structure to avoid missing effective indexes in limited space consumption. (ii) To accelerate agent training, we design a constraint-guided method to largely reduce useless explorations. (iii) To keep the stability of the RL, we propose the trade-off strategy for value function design instead of using Q_network mindlessly. We test our ACDRL with two open-source benchmarks, TPC-H and TPC-DS. The experimental results show that our method outperforms state-of-the-art methods and could find the optimal index configurations with limited time consumption.

An efficient nano-design of image processor circuits for morphology operations based on quantum dots

Quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) are one of the most promising alternatives to traditional VLSI technology despite significant current obstacles. The QCA has the advantages of very low power dissipation, faster switching speed, and extremely low circuit area, which can be used in designing nano-scale image processing circuits. Morphological operations and processing of digital image processing is a significant topic for researchers because it is widely used for analyzing, enhancing, and modifying images to extract meaningful information or improve their visual quality. Image processing is also used for image retrieval and enhancement, image compression, object recognition, machine vision, and medical applications. QCA technology, as a new and leading technology with great potential, can play a fundamental role in morphological operations, processing digital images, image editing, medical imaging, facial recognition, and autonomous vehicles. In recent years, researchers in this field have presented many circuits, but they have many flaws in terms of speed, accuracy, and area consumption, and the need to create more efficient circuits is felt more than ever. Therefore, in this article, a new design for morphological operations and processing digital images is presented using QCA technology. This paper presents a new efficient QCA-based implementation of image processing based on the direct interactions between the QCA cells. This circuit uses two majority gates of five new inputs to produce the output and produces the desired output. In addition, a comparison and analysis of the area and clocking complexity, design cost, and energy dissipation through simulation using QCADesigner and QCADesigner-E are done. The results show that the presented circuit produces the expected and correct output results in 0.75 clock phases, and the obtained results show the high speed and low consumption space of the presented circuit. In addition, the presented circuit performs better than the previous best circuits in terms of quantum cost and delay, and according to the mentioned advantages, it can be used to improve and expand other circuits in image processing.

A review of physical heat dissipation methods for 3D integrated technology

Three-dimensional integrated circuits have higher integration than two-dimensional integrated circuits, and can obtain higher performance and lower power consumption in a certain space. In order to fulfill higher efficiency, thermal management becomes particularly important in 3D integration technology. However, the traditional heat dissipation method cannot satisfy the heat dissipation needs of three-dimensional integrated circuits, which require better heat dissipation methods to be developed. This paper introduces the realization of three-dimensional integrated circuit using silicon via (TSV) technology, which allows the chip to be vertically stacked to transmit information. This paper summarizes the research methods and findings of three-dimensional integrated circuit heat dissipation in recent years, including thermal through silicon via (TTSV) and microchannel cooling. It also emphasizes the advantages and disadvantages of both mehods, and the challenges faced in current research via an overview. The future research trend for both heat dissipation methods mainly consists of combining special algorithms to achieve thermal-electrical codesign and thermal management of three-dimensional integrated circuits.

Exploring the composition features of commercial gentrification - a case study of Taipei City

The phenomenon of commercial gentrification, marked by transformations in commercial spaces and retail patterns, is increasingly evident globally, significantly altering consumption spaces to cater to new residents and impacting main shopping areas. This study examines commercial gentrification in Taipei City, focusing on identifying affected areas and analyzing their environmental characteristics. Using secondary dissemination areas as spatial units, the research constructs quantifiable indicators to map the occurrence of commercial gentrification. Principal component analysis (PCA) is employed to explore the environmental factors correlated with this process. Taipei City's historical and economic evolution, characterized by significant infrastructure developments and commercial transformations, provides the context for this study. The threshold strategy revealed patterns of commercial gentrification within the Da'an, Zhongzheng, and Songshan districts, with Da'an displaying the most significant changes. The weighted results suggest that areas experiencing commercial gentrification showcase a high degree of diversity, a lower presence of vulnerable populations, and superior public transportation and amenities. This study aims to provide insights into the spatial dynamics and environmental impacts of commercial gentrification, offering a comprehensive understanding of its progression in Taipei City.

Spatial norms as traversable and gendered: A study of parental experiences of no-kids zones in South Korea

This study examines the emergent yet understudied cultural phenomenon of ‘no-kids zones’ in South Korea, a business policy in commercial establishments prohibiting children and their caregivers from entering its premises. Drawing on 32 in-depth interviews of mothers and fathers with active caregiving responsibilities for young children, we examine the impact of the no-kids zone policies on parents’ everyday childcare experiences in urban consumption spaces. We argue that the rise of no-kids zones, indicative of a lack of social ethos of care, has further intensified unwelcoming sentiments towards children and parents, with mothers particularly subject to gendered stigma and blame around caregiving. We first find that spatial norms traverse; the acceptance and popularization of no-kids zones have in turn led to an expansion of hostile sentiments in urban consumption spaces beyond no-kids zones. We also find that such exclusionary norms manifest in gendered ways, with mothers reporting notably heightened levels of wariness and consciousness about how they are perceived by other consumers. We offer novel perspectives and insights on the intersection of societal norms and spatial configurations which, together shape caregiving experiences within urban consumption spaces. Our work highlights a gendered understanding of the challenges and dynamics parents face as they navigate child-unfriendly spaces.

Relationship between milk intrinsic quality scores and the environmental impact scores of dairy farms

This study aimed to study the relationship between milk quality for cheese manufacturing and farm’s environmental impacts in grass-based mountain systems. Beforehand, the multi-criteria evaluation methodology proposed by Botreau et al. and Rey-Cadilhac et al. was adapted to a routine use. Milk quality scores were constructed by weighing traits possibly predicted by spectroscopic analyses currently available in milk labs into 4 dimensions: health, nutritional, technological and sensory. Environmental impact scores were constructed by combining 6 indicators of the CAP'2ER® software in 5 dimensions: greenhouse gas emissions, eutrophication, air acidification, consumption of space and non-renewable energies and ecosystem biodiversity. The study sample included 15 dairy farms located in the French Massif Central mountains. An analysis of variance was carried out to study the effect of system’s types on milk quality and environmental impact scores. A principal component analysis was used to study the relationship between milk quality and environmental impact dimensions scores. No correlation has been established between overall milk quality and overall environmental impact scores. High scores for the nutritional and biodiversity dimensions and low scores for the resource consumption dimension, were associated with farming practices such as a high proportion of grasslands in the usable agricultural area, low stocking rate and low productivity per cow. This demonstrates the importance of defining specific priority objectives, on a farm-by-farm basis, in order to drive changes in agricultural practices. The multi-criteria evaluation model tested here appeared sensitive, but it needs to be tested on a larger scale and in different contexts.

‘The gear could be cut with fentanyl which is starting to happen more in Australia’: exploring overdose survivors’ perspectives on toxic supply and safe consumption

Background The widespread proliferation of high-potency synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, has precipitated a severe public health crisis in North America, with escalating overdose fatalities. Emerging concerns are observed in Australia, where recent incidents underscore the global impact of these substances. This study aimed to explore the role of synthetic opioids in overdoses among people in Queensland, Australia, and identify appropriate harm reduction responses from their perspective. Methods Semi-structured interviews with 27 people who used opioids and who had experienced overdose in their lifetime were conducted. An iterative coding process, incorporating deductive and inductive codes, was employed. Results Participants emphasised the unpredictability and toxicity of the drug supply, especially with the presence of fentanyl. They highlighted the heightened risks due to decreased tolerance if there were periods of abstinence, and the challenges of using drugs in unsafe environments. There was strong support for safe consumption rooms to mitigate overdose risks. Conclusion There are risks faced by people who use opioids due to an unpredictable and toxic drug supply, particularly with the presence of fentanyl. These findings underscore the importance of implementing proactive harm reduction strategies, including safe consumption spaces, to address the harms of synthetic opioids.

Post-productivism and rural revitalization in China: Drivers and outcomes

We propose that post-productivism offers a useful analytical framework for understanding the multi-scalar and diverse changes that are taking place in China's rural revitalization. As a theoretical framework that emerged from the study of rural changes in the Global North, the applicability of post-productivism in the Global South has been contested. This paper offers the first comprehensive analysis of the emergence of post-productivism in rural China and uses post-productivism as a framework to conceptualize a wide range of changes in China's rural revitalization. We conceptually clarify the driving forces that give rise to post-productivism and the outcomes these drivers produce. The two key drivers of post-productivism in China have been: 1) discontents with productivist agriculture from the state, urban consumers, and rural communities, which manifested in a shift in government's policy priority from agricultural production to ecological restoration, urban consumers' demands for “quality food”, and rural producers' demands for a “quality life”, and 2) urbanites' desire to experience the rural idyll, which translated into demands on rural space for urban consumption. We use seven representative cases to illustrate the various types of post-productivism that the two drivers have generated in rural China. These cases underscore that the transition to post-productivism is a key characteristic of China's rural revitalization.

Performance analysis and optimization of multi-energy complementary combined heat and power system considering the influence of time-of-use price

Abstract The multi-energy complementary system can meet the increasingly abundant and diversified energy consumption needs of users and, at the same time, help to improve energy utilization efficiency, reduce environmental pollution, and optimize the balance of energy supply and demand. In this paper, a multi-energy complementary cogeneration system with a gas turbine distributed photovoltaic, gas boiler, and heat storage tank is proposed, and the operation scheduling optimization model of the system is constructed. Aiming to minimize the comprehensive cost of economy and carbon emission, the model adopts a linear programming method to optimize the operation scheduling of multi-energy complementary systems. Taking a multi-energy complementary cogeneration system as an example, the key equipment of the system is optimized under three different scenarios with different time-of-use prices, and the influence of time division of time-of-use electricity price on the comprehensive cost of the system is analyzed. The results show that the time division method, which is more in line with the system net load curve, can effectively reduce the comprehensive cost of the complementary system and increase the consumption space of new energy.

Stylization of history and heritage commodification: The linguistic landscape of refabricated historical streets in Chinese cities

This paper examines the linguistic landscape of refurbished historical streets to reveal the semiotic construction of antiquity and commodification of heritage. Based on signage data collected from four historical blocs in Shanghai, Hangzhou and Ningbo in East China, this study reveals how Chinese semiotic artifacts contribute to stylizing antiquity and reinvigorating the space of consumption. Results suggest that the fabricated historical streets sustain the tourism rhetoric of cultural pride and commercial profit by appealing to history, tradition, exoticism, and nostalgia. The study problematizes orchestrated heritage tourism and points to the use of English as potentially subversive in the Chinese linguistic landscape.

Weighted Attribute-Based Proxy Re-Encryption Scheme with Distributed Multi-Authority Attributes.

Existing attribute-based proxy re-encryption schemes suffer from issues like complex access policies, large ciphertext storage space consumption, and an excessive authority of the authorization center, leading to weak security and controllability of data sharing in cloud storage. This study proposes a Weighted Attribute Authority Multi-Authority Proxy Re-Encryption (WAMA-PRE) scheme that introduces attribute weights to elevate the expression of access policies from binary to multi-valued, simplifying policies and reducing ciphertext storage space. Simultaneously, the multiple attribute authorities and the authorization center construct a joint key, reducing reliance on a single authorization center. The proposed distributed attribute authority network enhances the anti-attack capability of cloud storage. Experimental results show that introducing attribute weights can reduce ciphertext storage space by 50%, proxy re-encryption saves 63% time compared to repeated encryption, and the joint key construction time is only 1% of the benchmark scheme. Security analysis proves that WAMA-PRE achieves CPA security under the decisional q-parallel BDHE assumption in the random oracle model. This study provides an effective solution for secure data sharing in cloud storage.

The Urban Soundscapes of a Studentified Neighbourhood in the City of Tshwane, South Africa

AbstractUrban environments produce distinctive and diverse soundscapes. The challenge of noise in particular impacts city dwellers and urban livability. There is an abundance of research focused on noise pollution with a limited but growing research interest in urban soundscapes. Few studies, however, explore the unique soundscapes and challenges of noise in neighbourhoods that have undergone studentification. Indeed, the development of student housing, the concentration of a student population, and the clustering of activities related to spaces of student consumption produce unique and often polluted soundscapes. Using three ethnographic soundwalks and a survey with students from the University of Pretoria, this paper explores the soundscapes of Hatfield, a neighbourhood that has undergone studentification. This paper seeks to understand the challenges related to urban noise and how this impacts students. It was found that noise has unique spatio-temporal characteristics impacting student’s ability to manage noise. Indeed, noise emanating from traffic and entertainment establishments is perceived to be the most disruptive. It is recommended that urban planners, property developers, architects, and urban managers need to be aware of the unique and often polluted soundscapes that are associated with a studentified neighbourhood. This awareness could inform better urban planning, architectural and urban design, and policies on the management of noise levels within these types of neighbourhoods.

Castro, Soho, Chueca, Le Marais. An international approach to queer urban spaces of symbolic capital accumulation

LGBTQ+ neighbourhoods and venues in our cities have fulfilled many vital functions for LGBTQ+ people and for society as a whole. Generally identified through the concentration of consumption spaces that host meetings between LGBTQ+ people, they have a great symbolic value in the fight for their rights and against intolerance. At a time when doubts arise about their future, there are far fewer spatial, quantitative and systematic analyses of these concentration patterns, especially from an international and comparative approach to the phenomenon. The digitisation of our daily lives generates big data that make possible avenues of research that were hitherto impossible, not only in detail and extent, but also in the nature of the questions to answer. In this article, we analyse Foursquare location-based social big data to quantify and spatialise clustering patterns of queer places and symbolic capital in four LGBTQ+ neighbourhoods (Castro in San Francisco, Soho in London, Chueca in Madrid and Le Marais in Paris) and take similar spaces with no LGBTQ+ identity as a reference. In doing so, the greater accumulation of symbolic capital in LGBTQ+ spaces is revealed and measured in these four cities. In future, similar studies could capture trends like the gentrification of these environments, to help policymakers make data-driven decisions to promote more inclusive and diverse cities.

Eating out: changing Bengali middle-class practices in Calcutta in the twentieth century

ABSTRACT Drawing on theories of consumption (Barthes 1972; Veblen 1898; Warde 2016) and taste (Bourdieu 2004), this paper analyzes the changing patterns of public consumption of food and beverages in the city of Calcutta (Kolkata) in the twentieth century. Food practices are guided by cultural traditions, geography, and social position, but are also acquired in the cosmopolitan milieu of a metropolitan city. Spaces of public consumption in the city often signify some other social practices and depending on the type of food and association concerned, specific spaces of consumption reflect the scalar taste of consumers across the social strata. While switching between different similar options, the middle class’s association with spaces of consumption shifts with the improvement of the economic condition of the consumer.

Optimization Strategies for the Envelope of Student Dormitories in Hot Summer and Cold Winter Regions: Multi-Criteria Assessment Method

Energy consumption in student dormitories, key living and study spaces, is a major concern for institutions and communities. This paper proposes a multi-objective optimization model to address the issue of incomplete single-dimensional analysis in existing research. Firstly, optimization was conducted separately for the external walls, windows, and roof to study different parts of the building envelope. Secondly, a student dormitory in a hot summer and cold winter region was used for a comprehensive optimization analysis. The study compared energy consumption, carbon emissions, and costs with the original building, showing a 31.79% reduction in energy savings (ESR), while carbon emission savings (CESR) and cost savings (CSR) increased by 57.18% and 15.58%. This study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate window configurations for sustainability. Optimized thermally broken Low-E glass windows save 5.6% in annual energy consumption compared to aluminum alloy double-glazed windows, with only a 0.03% increase in energy consumption and a 4.49% rise in costs. Long-term, optimized windows provide greater positive feedback for energy efficiency. This case study offers insights for retrofitting buildings with good wall performance but poor window performance and emphasizes the comprehensive decision-making authority of designers and policymakers in sustainable renovations.

Energy storage mechanism and modeling method of underground aquifer to meet the demand of large-capacity new energy consumption

With the increasing scale of new energy, the ability to rationally utilize new energy power abandonment has become key to improving the operational efficiency of new power systems in the future. Existing new energy power abandonment consumption methods have problems such as limited consumption capacity and large-scale applications. Therefore, to consume the large-scale power abandonment of new energy and enable it to be stored for a long time, this study proposed a method in which electro-thermal conversion devices are used to convert electric energy into thermal energy, and the energy is stored in an underground aquifer. A finite element numerical analysis model was constructed to analyze and calculate this process. A multi-physical field coupling numerical analysis model, considering the seepage of groundwater and the heat transfer of the heat exchangers and porous media, was constructed by combining the distribution characteristics of power abandonment and a theoretical analysis of the heat transfer principle of an aquifer. A scaled test platform was constructed based on the similarity principle to verify the accuracy of the numerical analysis model. The results of the numerical analysis and simulated test showed that the energy storage system could store power abandonment in the form of thermal energy in the aquifer. At the same time, the annual energy loss of the system is only 14.89%, indicating that the system has long-term storage capabilities. In addition, a comparative analysis of the consumption effects of energy storage systems of different sizes showed that an aquifer energy storage system can be configured according to the capacity of power abandonment. Thus, a large-capacity new energy consumption space can be constructed to realize the complete consumption of power abandonment.

Exploring factors influencing the agglomeration of implicit consumption space: A comparison with explicit consumption space

The implicit development of consumption space in buildings relying on the O2O business mode is a new form of urban renewal under experience economy and e-commerce. The concept of implicit consumption space emerged as a result. There is a lack of research on implicit consumption space and this study aims to fill this gap. Using POI data and spatial analysis methods, the paper studies the clustering characteristics and influencing factors of the explicit and implicit consumption space in the Old City of Nanjing to provide practical implications for urban renewal, and finds that the implicit consumption space grows fast and has strong clustering, and its layout basically follows the traditional commercial location theory. Commercial districts, office buildings and traffic accessibility are the common influencing factors for the distribution of explicit and implicit consumption spaces. Explicit and implicit consumption space influence each other in layout, while implicit consumption space has a stronger dependence on explicit consumption space. The influencing factors for the agglomeration of explicit and implicit consumption space have spatial variations. The implicit consumption space is an important path for the bottom-up renewal of the old city, and also provides an opportunity for urban function optimization, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

TPRT: a trajectory publishing scheme for the Internet of Vehicles based on radix tree

Abstract The location and trajectory information generated in the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) provides sufficient data support for road network planning. However, there is much sensitive information in these data, and publishing them directly will lead to serious privacy leakage risks. Therefore, this paper proposes a trajectory publishing scheme for the Internet of Vehicles based on radix tree (TPRT). Firstly, the trajectory data are divided into multiple location planes based on timestamps and processed using clustering and generalization. This approach addresses the issue of real-life trajectory data having almost no identical prefixes, making it more suitable for storage in radix tree. Then, the directed graph and the shortest path algorithm are utilized to synthesize a new trajectory dataset for publication. Subsequently, a radix tree structure that satisfies differential privacy is defined. In comparison to the research method employing a prefix tree, the radix tree not only captures the spatiotemporal characteristics of the trajectories but also reduces space consumption. Finally, a novel method of noise addition is proposed. In contrast to the traditional layer-by-layer noise addition approach, our method reduces the cost of noise addition and enhances data availability. Experimental results demonstrate that TPRT exhibits superior data availability compared to the baseline methods.

Fast and high-fidelity EUV curvilinear mask optimization by distance-versus-angle signature.

Curvilinear mask has received much attention in recent years due to its ability to obtain better image quality in advanced nodes. A common method for optimizing curvilinear mask in optical proximity correction (OPC) flow is moving control points on the edge directly (MCED-based OPC), but it requires storing mass data. This paper uses distance-versus-angle signature (DVAS), a one-dimensional function, to represent a two-dimensional boundary of mask. To the best of our knowledge, DVAS and its second derivative are applied for the first time to reduce the design data storage space and guide the direction of optimization in EUV lithography systems. Compared with storing the change distances of the control point in both horizontal and vertical directions, directly storing the amplitude change of the DVAS can effectively reduce the storage space consumption. Simulation results demonstrate that unlike the MCED-based OPC method, the DVAS-based OPC method using second derivative achieves a lower pattern error and requires less time while reducing the storage space.

Linguistic landscaping in Kathmandu’s Thamel ‘Chinatown’: language as commodity in the construction of a cosmopolitan transnational space

ABSTRACT This study explores the linguistic landscape of a new unofficial 'Chinatown' in Kathmandu, Nepal. Located in the tourist hub Thamel, this Chinatown came into being recently because of globalisation and China's outbound tourism boom. Using authentic photographic data, this study examines how the use of Chinese and various semiotic elements (e.g. colour) contributes to the making of a commodified ethnic enclave and space of consumption, where a foreign culture is inscribed and embedded in the existing built environment. Unlike the traditional old-world Chinatowns, simplified Chinese characters are omnipresent in this Chinatown and many Chinese-run business names are highly up-to-date and reflect the latest trends in their home country. The exclusive use of monolingual Chinese is also commonplace. Interestingly, awkwardly hand-copied Chinese and Google translated Chinese are used as part of local businesses' marketing repertoire in what can be called 'linguistic jugaad'. Additionally, some local businesses resort to creative, affective and playful language to attract and engage with Chinese tourists. Contributing to research on ethnic enclaves and urban sociolinguistics, this study highlights language as commodity in transforming/constructing a cosmopolitan transnational space in our globalised and mobile world, illustrating how South-South population flows can leave material traces in a place's linguistic ecology.