Information Input Research Articles

Design of Multimodal Obstacle Avoidance Algorithm Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning

The navigation obstacle avoidance method based on deep reinforcement learning has stronger adaptability and better performance compared to traditional algorithms in complex unknown dynamic environments, and has been widely developed and applied. However, when using multimodal information input, deep reinforcement learning strategy networks extract features that differ significantly between simulated and real world environments, resulting in poor algorithm output strategies and difficulty in transferring models obtained from simulation training to actual environments. To address the aforementioned issues, this article utilizes image segmentation to narrow the gap in environmental features, integrates multimodal information, and designs a deep reinforcement learning multimodal local obstacle avoidance algorithm, MMSEG-PPO, based on proximal strategy optimization algorithms. The algorithm is then ported to practical environments for deployment and testing. The experiment shows that the algorithm proposed in this article reduces the gap between the simulation environment and the actual environment, and has better performance and generalization when transplanted to the real world environment.

MODEL OF MULTIMODAL LANGUAGE PERSONALITY OF THE INTERPRETER: NON-VERBAL ASPECT

The present article is devoted to the problem of multimodality research in the complex study of interpreter’s linguistic personality. Topicality of the article is conditioned by modern requirements to the level of interpreter competences, including multimodal interaction (remote interpreting, online interpreting of interviews, presentations, conferences, relay interpreting, etc.). The purpose of this paper is to create a model of multimodal linguistic personality and to describe the modality channels from the perspective of the interpreter’s nonverbal behaviour. The novelty of the research is considering the interpreter as a multimodal linguistic personality and identifying non-obvious channels of modality. The author considers the views of Russian and foreign researchers on understanding the nature of multimodality and the problem of its study. During the evaluative-critical analysis the author studies and describes the functional side of perceptual channels (modalities). The first stage of the study includes linguo-cognitive analysis and observation of non-verbal behaviour (kinesics, oculesics, prosodics) of the interpreters. Based on the results of the evaluation of the non-verbal behaviorur of the interpreter’s linguistic personality, the author analyses the following perceptual channels: extra-linguistic components of communication, the environment, the non-verbal behaviour, the means of input and output of information. As a result of the second stage, the classification of perceptual channels in the situation of simultaneous interpreting is presented. Taking into account the integration of the data, the researcher proposes a model of multimodal linguistic personality of the interpreter. The results of the study enrich the understanding of the problem of multimodality and contribute to the in-depth study of professional linguistic personality. The author outlines the prospects for further research on multimodality from the perspective of cognitive linguistics and non-verbal semiotics.

Evaluating emergency nurses' use of and satisfaction with a web-based patient triage app.

Evidence suggests that using a standardised triage system that categorises patients into levels of severity or acuity to prioritise their care can provide the greatest levels of patient safety. The use of a web-based app to record patient triage data can support operational decision-making, reduce the risk of errors and standardise the time it takes to record the data required for accurate triage. This article details one aspect of a three-stage research project undertaken in Thailand which aimed to improve the quality of nurse triage, reduce errors in triage decisions and decrease the time spent on triage through implementation of a patient triage app. The patient information input into the app at initial triage is automatically uploaded into the electronic patient record. The authors report the results of the third stage of the project, which aimed to analyse the feasibility of using the app by evaluating completion of patient records and user satisfaction levels.

Study of the dimensions of and countermeasures for improving the administrative efficiency of primary and secondary schools in western China: Taking MX Middle School as an example

With the deepening of education reform, improving the administrative efficiency of primary and secondary schools in Western China has become the key to promoting the balanced development of education. Taking MX Middle School as the research object, this paper analyzes the difficulties of administrative men in primary and secondary schools in western China in depth, including rigid management systems, uneven resource distributions, low information levels, insufficient incentive mechanisms and low participation of teachers and students. In view of these problems, this paper proposes a series of targeted counts and suggestions, such as optimizing the organizational structure, establishing a fair and transparent resource allocation mechanism, increasing the information input, improving the performance appraisal system and establishing a participation mechanism for teachers and students. th Improving the administrative efficiency of primary and secondary schools in Western China to promote educational equity, improve educational quality and promote the balanced development of regional education.

DEVELOPMENT OF A PROGRAM FOR CALCULATING THE PREDICTED OPERATION TIME OF GAS FILTERS

Objective: Development of software to calculate the predicted duration of protective action of gas filters for gas masks and respirators under specific operating conditions. Methods: The program for determining the predicted breakthrough time of gas filters was created using the integrated development environment Visual Studio Code. The algorithm embedded in the program is based on the mathematical equations of Wheeler-Jonas and the conversion of concentrations of chemical compounds into different dimensions. The real breakthrough time of gas filters was established on a laboratory stand for determining the absorption capacity, which meets the requirements of DSTU EN 14387:2021, and also provides the opportunity to use four test substances during testing, such as cyclohexane, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide or ammonia. Results: A software package was developed to calculate the predicted breakthrough time of gas filters for gas masks and respirators under specific operating conditions. It consists of four modules: initial data input, memory, output and visualization of information, and calculation of breakthrough time of gas filters. An algorithm for calculating the predicted level of filters breakthrough time was developed, which includes five steps: determining the hazard, concentration of harmful substances, required respirator protection class, humidity and air temperature, mode of operation; entering initial data for calculation; preliminary selection of a filter from the specified catalog located in the memory module; calculation of filter capacity and analysis with permissible values of the chemical substance with the calculation of breakthrough time; visualization of results and their storage in the memory module. Novelty: Establishing the dependency of the predicted breakthrough time of FRPA-G A1, B1, K1 filters on varying concentrations of chemicals in the air and the type of work performed, which allowed identifying a five-fold reduction in filter operation time during heavy work compared to light work. Practical Value: Results obtained by comparing the predicted breakthrough time using the developed software product with the programs of personal protective equipment manufacturers showed an error not exceeding 10%, due to the lack of accounting for uneven wear of the filter filler across its surface. Keywords: adsorption, gas filter, software, breakthrough time, substance concentration.

Dinámicas socioproductivas en sistemas agrícolas. Bases teóricos conceptuales para su estudio

Agricultural production systems are very dynamic, the use and combination of production factors by the farmer is reflected in different levels of production and family well-being. The objective of this article was to build a theoretical - conceptual reflection, for a multiple, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach in the interpretation of phenomena that are not caused exclusively by one factor. For this, a systematic bibliographic review of documents hosted on Google Scholar/Google was carried out, which allowed analyzing and comparing concepts and theories associated with the topic, highlighting Bertalanffy's systems theory, Morín's complexity and Lonergan's economic dynamics. In addition, concepts associated with the research such as productivity, agricultural systems, territory and family well-being were considered. The search yielded fifty-eight documents, which were subjected to filters for pre-established exclusions. As a result of these filters, eighteen were selected for analysis, which allowed the construction of a theoretical-conceptual body for the study and analysis of socio-productive dynamics in agricultural systems, which focuses on how the inputs represented by the producer, capital, Information and agricultural inputs are related to each other and interact with other factors such as local technology, workforce, territory, environment and marketing and how these generate different levels of performance, productivity and well-being in the system for the farmer and his family. Keywords: family well-being, territory, farmer

Алгоритмизация курса начертательной геометрии как дидактическая основа обучению информационной технологий

This article discusses the principles of creation and development of new content for the courses "Descriptive geometry" and "Engineering computer graphics" of algorithmic and software solutions for graphic problems used in computer modeling applied to the training of students of pedagogical specialties on the basis of new information technologies. The article also tells about the successful solution of the most common geometric problems by students and their solution in an interactive mode. The reason is that the input of graphic information into the computer is carried out only using algorithms. Also, the algorithmization of graphic constructions should become an integral part of the new technology of teaching at the university in the course of graphic disciplines, which should be didactics-the practical basis for using a computer in the educational process as a means of teaching graphic disciplines.

Multi-Channel Lightweight Contrast Prediction Coding for Features Extraction of Radar Emitter Signals

This letter presents a novel multi-channel improved contrastive predictive coding (CPC) method to extract signals features. Specifically, to extract low pulse width radar signals features and meet the real-time requirements of signals identification, we design a lightweight encoder to realize the CPC features encoding function. Then, we construct a multi-channel CPC features decoder to mine and extract subtle individual signals features from the perspective of multi-domain and multi-channel information input. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of our proposed method, which can achieve state-of-the-art results in both accuracy and running time compared to the existing optimal methods. All our models and code are available at https://github.com/jn-z/MC-CPC.

Near-Time Digital Mapping for Geoforensic Searches

Inadequate base maps with poor scale or low resolution demonstrate the need for contemporary topographic maps when conducting geological mapping. In neotectonic regimes and areas of dynamic geomorphology, archival or large-scale maps require time-consuming, on-site manual updating while mapping bedrock and superficial geology. In contrast, stable ground conditions may have suitable legacy maps in some locations but not in others, such as where surveying is absent, incomplete or subject to legal restrictions. The geologist tasked with mapping may have to do this on short notice at their first site visit with no time to search for or create digital or physical copies of background maps on a suitable scale. The field mapper may encounter any of the above scenarios, especially the Geoforensic specialist tasked with Search and Rescue, hazard assessment or preparation and desktop study for subsequent search teams or law enforcement. Drone-derived orthoimagery and digital surface modelling can be conducted on-site in near real time to provide high resolution georeferenced maps for direct input of geological information, thus bypassing either non-existent or unsuitable base maps.

SCORE: Skill-Conditioned Online Reinforcement Learning

Solving complex long-horizon tasks through Reinforcement Learning (RL) from scratch presents challenges related to efficient exploration. Two common approaches to reduce complexity and enhance exploration efficiency are (i) integrating learning-from-demonstration techniques with online RL, where the prior knowledge acquired from demonstrations is used to guide exploration, refine representations, or tailor reward functions, and (ii) using representation learning to facilitate state abstraction. In this study, we present Skill-Conditioned Online REinforcement Learning (SCORE), a novel approach that leverages these two strategies and utilizes skills acquired from an unstructured demonstrations dataset in a policy gradient RL algorithm. This integration enriches the algorithm with informative input representations, improving downstream task learning and exploration efficiency. We evaluate our method on long-horizon robotic and navigation tasks and game environments, demonstrating enhancements in online RL performance compared to the baselines. Furthermore, we show our approach’s generalization capabilities and analyze its effectiveness through an ablation study.

Chemical Profiles of Particulate Matter Emitted from Anthropogenic Sources in Selected Regions of China

Particulate matter (PM) emissions from anthropogenic sources contribute substantially to air pollution. The unequal adverse health effects caused by source-emitted PM emphasize the need to consider the discrepancy of PM-bound chemicals rather than solely focusing on the mass concentration of PM when making air pollution control strategies. Here, we present a dataset about chemical compositions of real-world PM emissions from typical anthropogenic sources in China, including industrial (power, industrial boiler, iron & steel, cement, and other industrial process), residential (coal/biomass burning, and cooking), and transportation sectors (on-road vehicle, ship, and non-exhaust emission). The data was obtained under the same strict quality control condition on field measurements and chemical analysis, minimizing the uncertainty caused by different study approaches. The concentrations of PM-bound chemical components, including toxic elements and PAHs, exhibit substantial discrepancies among different emission sectors. This dataset provides experimental data with informative inputs to emission inventories, air quality simulation models, and health risk estimation. The obtained results can gain insight into understanding on source-specific PMs and tailoring effective control strategies.

The Effect Of Virginia Coconut Oil (VCO) On The Prevention Of Decubitus In Prolonged Bed Rest Patients

Decubitus is a condition where external pressure causes damage or injury to local tissue. Trauma and surgical wounds can cause damage to skin integrity, long-term pressure on the skin can also cause irritation and the formation of decubitus, People who experience nerve damage due to stroke, traumatic injury, diabetes mellitus, or coma are also more likely to experience decubitus. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of administering virgin coconut oil (VCO) on the risk of decubitus. The research method used the Pre Experiment design method with a one group pre post test design. The population in this study were all patients in the Akasia Inpatient Room, Siti Fatimah Az-Zahra Hospital, South Sumatra Province. The total number of patients treated was 30 respondents. Sampling was carried out using the total sampling technique. The results of the study showed that there was an effect of administering virginia coconut oil on the risk of decubitus in patients with long-term bed rest, the significant value of the non-parametric statistical test (Wilcoxon) was 0.000 (p value 0.000 <0.05). Suggestions are expected as input and sources of information in providing counseling to patients who are bedridden for a long time to use pharmacological therapy in preventing decubitus, and routinely use Virginia Coconut Oil which has many benefits.

Integrative framework for analyzing ecosystem services multifunctionality in watershed planning: case study of the Coello River Basin, Colombia

ABSTRACT The multifunctionality of ecosystem services (ES) represents multiple benefits that support ES supply and demand. Watershed planning entails the adequate distribution of land use provided by subsystems such as the drainage network (water and biota), riparian forests, and productive systems. However, the multiple ES provided for watersheds is still a critical issue in water system management instruments, such as territorial planning. This study proposes a method for applying the concept of ES multifunctionality in environmental zoning at the watershed scale, integrating information on the supply and demand of ES and its relationship with biodiversity and ecosystem processes. The suitability model included areas of multiple ES supply identified from an ES multifunctionality index (MESLI), the evaluation of trade-offs and synergies between ES through spatial analysis, ecosystem processes associated with distribution patterns of fauna species with some degree of threat and roles in ecosystem processes related to pollination, seed dispersal, and litter fragmentation in streams, using MaxEnt to recognize zones related to habitat conservation and priority areas for conservation. The proposed method integrates different spatial information inputs and supports territorial zoning based on ecological and biological components. Zones with potential ES multifunctionality highlight synergies between services, thereby improving the categorization of land use in the watershed. Models of species distribution and land use help in the spatial analysis of ES by highlighting the ecological functions of key species. The suitability model obtained presents a base scenario for the environmental management of watersheds and is an input for the formulation and negotiation of land use and conservation areas among the stakeholders in the watershed.

The Assessment of Land Suitability for Urban Expansion and Renewal for Coastal Urban Agglomerations: A Pilot Study of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

Effectively and rationally allocating land resources, while coordinating urban expansion with internal renewal strategies, is crucial for achieving high-quality regional development in coastal urban agglomerations. Land-use suitability assessment (LSA) is a key method for coastal land-use planning, but it is primarily used to delineate ecological redlines or areas for urban expansion, often overlooking the spatial analysis needed for urban renewal. This is particularly critical in coastal urban agglomerations facing land scarcity and ecological fragility. Here, we combined land use and the Analytical Hierarchical Process (to consider stakeholder priorities) in a Minimum cumulative resistance model (MCRM) to determine suitable coastal urban growth and renewal based on a suite of 12 indicators relevant to development intensity and stock space. Application to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) indicates a dominance of the Ecological Buffer Zone (70.5%), and the available stock space in the GBA comprises only 9.2% of the total area. Our modeling framework tailored different development strategies for different cities: Huizhou and Zhaoqing had space for urban expansion to varying degrees, while other cities were found to be suitable for urban renewal due to low stock space and high development intensity. Our modeling approach, incorporating stakeholder input and objective evaluation of geographic land-use information, can assist planners in improving ecological security while promoting high-quality developments in coastal areas.

Test-Retest Reliability of Dynamic Subjective Visual Vertical and Visual Dependency in Older Adults Using Virtual Reality Methods.

The perception of verticality is formed through the integration of multisensory gravitational information, including somatosensory, visual, and vestibular inputs. Older adults exhibit visual dependency (VD) as they rely more on visual information to compensate for reduced somatosensory and vertical perception. Increased VD is associated with falls, and the dynamic subjective visual vertical (SVV) is used to assess VD. However, the measurement reliability of dynamic SVV and VD using virtual reality (VR), which has garnered considerable attention in recent years, remains unclear. Therefore, our purpose in this study was to assess the test-retest reliability of dynamic SVVs and VDs using a VR method. We evaluated static and dynamic SVV of 40 older adults using a smartphone-based VR system (SVR-SVV). Dynamic SVV consisted of numerous spheres on the background rotating clockwise (CW-SVV) or counterclockwise (CCW-SVV). Each SVV measurement consisted of one set of 10 trials. VD was calculated as the mean value of dynamic SVV minus the mean values of static SVV. A re-test was conducted after one week. Reliability was analyzed using Bland-Altman plots and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC 2, k) for each SVV measure. We observed no systematic bias in any of the SVV values, which were 0.1° (SD = 2.8°), 13.3° (SD = 8.3°), -12.8° (SD = 6.9°), and 15.7° (SD = 8.1°) for static SVV, CW-SVV, CCW-SVV, and VD, respectively. Test-retest reliability was good for static SVV (ICC = .817, p < .001), CW-SVV (ICC = .896, p < .001) and excellent for CCW-SVV (ICC = .914, p < .001), VD (ICC = .937, p < .001). The dynamic SVV and VD measurements using SVR-SVV demonstrated good test-retest reliability. Moreover, the SVR-SVV is more portable than conventional methods, making it highly useful in clinical practice.

Self-Powered Handwritten Letter Recognition Based on a Masked Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Intelligent Personal Protective Equipment.

As one of the most important ways of human-machine interfaces, the touchpad has excellent input convenience. Input devices for extreme environments require simpler structures and diverse inputs to ensure information inputs. This paper proposed a self-powered flexible input panel with single-channel output for the input recognition of all 26 letters, and a paper mask was implemented to cover the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) board and obtain more complicated electrical signal features. Based on the change of the triboelectric output of the mask, neural network models with different combinations of layers were designed and optimized, and the highest recognition rate of 88.7% for all letters and 100% recognition accuracy for some letters were achieved among the five testers. For letters with low recognition rates, a specific writing specification was further proposed to improve the accuracy of model recognition. These results facilitate the application of the proposed input panel as a flexible wearable device and personal protective equipment for extreme environments including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) scenarios or aerospace.

Environmental uncertainty and entrepreneurial orientation in collectivist and individualist cultures: evidence from Brazil and Belgium

ABSTRACT A fundamental premise of the information processing approach in entrepreneurship theory is that the distribution and processing of information is key to opportunity identification. We propose that collectivist-individualist cultural values influence the efficacy of information processing leading to different levels of entrepreneurial orientation (EO). Specifically, we submit that collectivism enhances shared information processing and goal setting in a dynamic environment, while individualism facilitates creativity and divergent thinking that can help EO if sufficient informational input is available. To empirically verify our theory, we study the relationships using survey and archival data from a sample of 487 firms in six industries in Brazil and Belgium, two countries that contrast in collectivism-individualism. Consistent with our predictions, we find higher EO in the collectivist culture of Brazil under high environmental dynamism and low information availability, and this difference is increased by strategic planning.

Nurses’ Experiences with the Use of Electronic Nursing Record: A Qualitative Study

Background: The electronic nursing record has contributed to improving nursing practice and ensuring nursing quality, but it is still incomplete in supporting nursing workflow. The purpose of this study is to explore the experience of using the electronic nursing record by nurses working in frontline care for trauma, emergency, and infectious disease-exposed patients.Methods: The study employed a qualitative descriptive design and qualitative content analysis. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 nurses working in emergency, trauma, and critical care units in the tertiary hospital.Results: The nurses’ experiences with the use of the electronic nursing record emerged into three subjects (improvements to electronic nursing record implementation, benefits of electronic nursing record implementation, electronic nursing record user factors), five categories (information finding and sharing function, information input function, facilitating efficient communication, ensuring record quality, need for education), and eight subcategories.Conclusions: Electronic nursing record supports the visualization of special information such as emergency and infection, and has the advantage of facilitating communication between medical staff. Both support better clinical decision-making. However, system instability and low nursing friendliness delay nursing work in the process of inputting, confirming, and sharing information. Copy-andpaste practices, poor quality of records, and insufficient electronic nursing record education were identified as factors to be changed on the user side. Improvement of nursing-friendly interfaces, optimization of nursing workflows, and participation of nurses in the improvement process are necessary. We should also focus on developing electronic nursing record education programs.

Quantitative method for the probability of structural damage based on moment theory

In the context of uncertainty in the inverse problem of damage identification, this study proposes a moment theory based probabilistic damage identification (MbPDI) method. Noise errors in the identification process are treated as uncertain parameters, while structural stiffness parameters are treated as functions of noise errors. A limit state function for damage identification is defined, and its probability is computed. Utilizing the concept of moment theory, the expansion series is performed for the limit state function around the most probable point of failure, with gradient information derived using sensitivity matrices. Based on the gradient information and uncertainty inputs, damage probabilities for various elements can be obtained. Additionally, this paper addresses the calculation of structural damage probabilities under the non-normal distribution of random variables by transforming non-normal variables into equivalent normal variables. The proposed probability index and expected index of structural damage in the probabilistic damage identification method has a clear physical meaning, and the calculation has high accuracy. The proposed method is validated through a mathematical example and a numerical simulation. Meanwhile, the influence of damage extent, noise level, and modal order on identification results are analyzed. Experimental validation of the method is also presented.

Maternal education and child mortality: Evidence from developing countries

This paper evaluates how maternal education affects child mortality in the context of 52 low- and middle-income countries. The sister fixed-effects model is employed, where we compare the child mortality outcome between biological sisters who attain different numbers of educational years. We find that an additional year of maternal education is linked with a 0.4 percentage point decrease in the likelihood of child mortality (a 4.3 % reduction relative to the sample mean). Additionally, the mechanism analysis reveals that improved women’s labor market outcome, increased access to information, assortative matching, and health input allocation are possible pathways to the link between maternal education and child mortality.