Desired Scenario Research Articles

AirECG: Contactless Electrocardiogram for Cardiac Disease Monitoring via mmWave Sensing and Cross-domain Diffusion Model

The electrocardiogram (ECG) has always served as a crucial biomedical examination for cardiac diseases monitoring and diagnosing. Typical ECG measurement requires attaching electrodes to the body, which is inconvenient for long-term monitoring. Recent wireless sensing maps wireless signals reflected from human chest into electrical activities of heart so as to reconstruct ECG contactlessly. While making great progress, we find existing works are effective only for healthy populations with normal ECG, but fall short when confronted with the most desired usage scenario: reconstructing ECG accurately for people with cardiac diseases such as atrial fibrillation, premature ventricular beat. To bridge the gap, we propose AirECG, which moves forward to reconstruct ECG for both healthy people and even cardiac patients with morbid ECG, i.e., irregular rhythm and anomalous ECG waveform, via contactless millimeter-wave sensing. To realize AirECG, we first custom-design a cross-domain diffusion model that can perform multiple iteration denoising inference, in contrast with the single-step generative models widely used in previous works. In this way, AirECG is able to identify and eliminate the distortion due to the unstable and irregular cardiac activities, so as to synthesize ECG even during abnormal beats. Furthermore, we enhance the determinacy of AirECG, i.e., to generate high-fidelity ECG, by designing a calibration guidance mechanism to combat the inherent randomness issue of the probabilistic diffusion model. Empirical evaluation demonstrates AirECG's ability of ECG synthesis with Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) of 0.955 for normal beats. Especially for abnormal beats, the PCC still exhibits a strong correlation of 0.860, with 15.0%~21.1% improvement compared with state-of-the-art approaches.

Application of Participatory Methods to Explore Changes in Land Use of a Tropical Dry Forest Basin

Tropical hydrographic basins have undergone significant land use change processes in recent decades and correspond to areas of high population growth and development of economic activities. This article explores the causes of land use change in a tropical dry forest watershed, taking the Canalete river basin as a case study. For this purpose, stakeholder analysis techniques and participatory methods were applied. The results showed that the main causes of land use change in pastures were associated with biophysical factors, while forestsshrubs and crops were associated with direct and subyacents socioeconomics factors respectively. The participatory mapping allowed obtaining a desired land use scenario for the year 2030, observing a decrease of more than 16.2 ha of pasture, compensated by an increase of almost 2.4 thousand ha of crops and 13.8 thousand ha of forests and shrubs. Similarly, the hydrological impact of changes in land use was observed, especially in terms of flooding.

Response of vegetation pattern to climate change based on dynamical model: Case of Qinghai Lake, China

<abstract><p>The global climate has undergone great changes in recent decades, which has a significant impact on the vegetation system, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. Based on a dynamic model, this paper studied the response of vegetation pattern to climate change in Qinghai Lake, a typical semi-arid region. The conditions for Turing instability of the equilibrium were obtained by mathematical analysis. The numerical experiments showed the influence of different climitic factors (carbon dioxide concentrations [$ CO_2 $], temperature and precipitation) on vegetation pattern. The results showed that the robustness of the vegetation system was enhanced as precipitation or [$ CO_2 $] increased. Furthermore, we presented evolution of vegetation system under different climate scenarios to forecast the future growth of vegetation. We compared the various climate scenarios with representative concentration pathways (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP8.5). The results revealed that RCP2.6 scenario was a desired climate scenario for Qinghai Lake. Our study also highlighted the measures to avoid desertification by the method of optimal control. We expect that this study will provide theoretical basis for vegetation protection.</p></abstract>

Designing of P controller to obtain desired time domain scenario of the output

Designing of P controller to obtain desired time domain scenario of the output

Life cycle assessment of rice husk torrefaction and prospects for decentralized facilities at rice mills

Utilization of rice husk, an abundant global residual biomass, represent a large opportunity for increasing the share of bioenergy in the power sector. The present work assesses the life cycle emissions of rice husk torrefaction in different reaction conditions and the techno-economic prospects for decentralized torrefaction facilities at rice mills. First, a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) is performed for processing rice husk into torrefied pellets for energy generation. Four system configurations of different temperature and torrefaction medium are considered for torrefied rice husk (TRH) pellet production. Medium torrefaction in inert medium shows the highest GHG emissions of about 0.043 kg CO2 eq/MJ of TRH pellet whereas severe torrefaction in oxidative medium shows the lowest GHG emissions of 0.021 kg CO2 eq/MJ of TRH pellet. The environmental impacts of torrefaction in partially oxidative medium and at higher temperatures are lower, only if a significant portion of the torgas and condensate is efficiently utilized. Second, a techno-enviro-economic evaluation is performed for multiple scenarios of utilizing raw or torrefied rice husk (partially oxidative conditions) for power generation. A case study of the rice mills in the Sacramento valley of California is considered, with an annual supply of about 0.2 million tons of rice husk, to operate a 26.5 MW biopower plant. A centralized facility at the power plant resulted in highest GHG emissions, and a rented mobile facility resulted in highest annual costs. The most desired scenario of having localized facilities at the rice mills proved most cost-effective, with excess TRH breakeven price of 61 USD/ton for medium torrefaction and 471 USD/ton for severe torrefaction. Instead of excess TRH, if the entire TRH is available for sale, the same scenario estimated the average breakeven price of 14.9 USD/ton and 21.1 USD/ton respectively. Sensitivity analysis for a single mill explains the role of factors such as availability of rice husk (milling capacity), transportation distance, and solid mass yield on the breakeven price, costs, and the GHG emissions.

Conflicts and resolutions in managing water allocation at the watershed scale

Summary Multiple runs of a river basin model produced information about water allocation under different users’ priorities, creating a set of allocation scenarios as possible decision alternatives. To identify the most desired scenario that will, expectedly, be more readily accepted and implemented, involvement of stakeholders and reaching the consensus among them in evaluating scenarios are essential. This article describes methodology for integrating multi-criteria optimization as an efficient tool for the evaluation of scenarios in a group context, with river basin simulation-optimization models. Methodology was developed within the scope of the bilateral project Serbia–Portugal, and it consisted of five phases: defining the preference schemes of allocation, running the ACQUANET model, evaluating the criteria and strategies with analytic hierarchy process, aggregation and initial search for consensus in subgroups, and obtaining the final consensus converged result (best management strategy). The approach was tested on the water allocation problem in the Nadela watershed in Vojvodina Province in Serbia, with participation of 23 stakeholders. Promising results recommended the approach for the testing in different conditions in the area near Bragança in northeast Portugal (Sabor watershed).

Non-linear skid steering system for 4×4 UGV using fuzzy logic direct yaw moment control

This paper presents a non-linear control system for skid-steered 4×4. Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) with an accurate representation of non-linear tire forces. The vehicle body dynamics is represented by three degrees of freedom (DOF) model namely; forward, lateral and yaw movements. Additionally two DOFs are included to represent the angular rotations of both left and right wheels which are rigidly driven by a separate electric motor for each side. The proposed skid steering system is aimed to control both the driving speed and directional movement of the UGV body in order to follow a desired cornering scenario. Based on direct yaw moment control (DYC) method, a non- linear fuzzy logic controller is designed to regulate both the magnitude and direction of the output torque form each motor in-order to minimize the error between the desired and actual values of both yaw rate and side slip angle of the vehicle body. Several numerical simulations are carried out in MATLAB / Simulink environment to examine the fidelity of the proposed control system. The simulation results show the appropriateness of the proposed skid steering control system for the implementation in UGVs to perform prescribed cornering scenarios.

How to improve strategic decision-making in complex systems when only qualitative information is available

This paper continues a line of research on improving strategic decisions (SD). The nature of governance issues (complex and uncertain world, lack of information, consideration of qualitative and quantitative information, participation of different actors in the decision making processes, etc.) implies that there is no unique solution or strategy in a complex system. On the contrary, there are a range of alternative strategies, which could lead to different futures (scenarios). Working with the qualitative methodology proposed allows decision makers and social actors to be more aware of the directions their decisions could lead the system; and what the key variables are for the implementation of public policies to achieve the desired (or agreed) scenario. An integrated methodology is discussed, and the process of desertification in the Canary Islands is used to illustrate it.

Combined Assessment of Climate Change and Socio-Economic Development as Drivers of Freshwater Availability in the South of Portugal

A combined assessment of the potential impacts from climate change (CC) and socio-economic development (SED) on water resources is presented for the most important aquifer in the south of Portugal. The goal is to understand how CC and SED affect the currently large pressures from water consuming and contaminating activities, predominantly agriculture. Short-term (2020–2050) and long-term (2070–2100) CC scenarios were developed and used to build aquifer recharge and crop water demand scenarios, using different methods to account for uncertainty. SED scenarios were developed using bottom-up and top-down methods, and discussed at workshops with farmers and institutional stakeholders in the water sector. Groundwater use was quantified for each scenario. Together with the recharge scenarios, these were run through a calibrated groundwater flow model, to study their individual and joint impacts on groundwater levels and discharge rates into a coastal estuary. Recharge scenarios show clear negative long-term trends and short-term increase in temporal variability of recharge, though short-term model uncertainties are higher. SED scenario 1 (SED1), predicting intensification and decline of small farms, considered the most likely by all workshop participants, shows a large drop in agricultural area and water demand. SED2, a most desired scenario by farmers, foresees growth and modernization of agriculture, but proves unsustainable in combination with predicted CC without efficient adaptation measures. The results thus reveal that CC in the region will dynamically interact with economic factors, and going one step beyond, CC could be directly integrated as a constraint in the development of SED scenarios. Exercises involving the integration of CC and SED regionally based scenarios, constructed in both bottom-up and top- down fashion and discussed in participatory contexts are still rarely used for adaptation, and specifically adaptation of agriculture to water scarcity. The joint analysis of CC and SED revealed challenging, as it involved the use of different methods across the border between natural and social sciences. In our view this method contributes in an encouraging manner to a more holistic and transdisciplinary water management, by allowing a more plausible identification of what (and if) adaptation measures are needed.

Behavior and Personal Adaptation of Robotic Lamp

Based on the concept of “behavior adaptation,” this paper presents an intelligent desk lamp called “Robotic Lamp” that supports users by illuminating desired areas in desired way according to user’s behavior. The user defines desired scenario using a GUI. A high resolution pressure sensor distributed floor is used to recognize user behavior. The system utilizes a five degree-of-freedom robotic lamp not only as an illumination tool but also as an input device in case the user moves it by physical contact. Experiments showed that the system can adapt to user behavior and can receive commands in case it has been moved by user. The adaptation process for the robotic lamp is proved to realize an automatic system that illuminates user-defined areas based on user behavior.

Sustainable Urban Transport Systems: An Expert-based Strategic Scenario Approach

Current trends in transport indicate that the system is moving away from sustainability and that major changes are necessary to make the transport system more compatible with environmental sustainability. Main problems may occur in urban transport, where not many promising solutions are expected, while the problems are severe. In view of the great number of uncertainties, we will in our paper resort to the use of scenarios. We will address in particular expert scenarios, concerned with a sustainable transport system, by applying the recently developed spider model. Based on a set of distinct characteristics, represented in eight axes in the spatial, institutional, economic and social-psychological field, an evaluation framework is constructed which visualises the driving forces that largely influence the future of the urban transport system. Next, expected and desired scenarios are constructed on the basis of information obtained from a survey among Dutch transport experts (both average scenarios and scenarios reflecting segments of respondents). The expected scenarios show that many current trends will continue, while the transport system is largely the same as the current one. The desired scenarios on the other hand, suggest the emergence and the need for a more collective system, in which also many new modes are operating. In the paper the resulting urban transport systems are also discussed. By calculating the CO2 emissions in the average expected and desired scenario, we can test the fulfilment of environmental quality norms. It appears that the expected scenario does not lead to a significant reduction of those emissions; the desired scenario however, may lead to a large scale reduction of the emissions. The conclusion is that the differences in expert opinion are small and that a sustainable (urban) transport system is still far away in the future, although the compact city concept may perhaps offer a promising perspective.