Loose Objects Research Articles

Prediction of human error probability in helicopter to ship transfer operation under an evidential reasoning extended CREAM approach.

Although the helicopter to ship transfer operation is rarely applied in ports around the world, some of the hub ports have encouraged it. The operational process poses challenges to safety due to the nature of the work to be completed by the ship crew. This article performs a systematic human error prediction to ensure safe helicopter to ship transfer operations under different circumstances since the human factor is becoming a significant contributor to maritime accidents. To accomplish this, the article addresses a cognitive reliability and error analysis method (CREAM) under the evidential reasoning (ER) approach. In the proposed approach, the CREAM provides a comprehensive human error prediction tool and ER is capable of supporting experts' judgment in decision-making. The findings of the research show that 'Secure the loose objects within or adjacent to the operating area' poses a high human error probability (4.50E-02) during helicopter to ship transfer operations.

GMS-YOLO: An Algorithm for Multi-Scale Object Detection in Complex Environments in Confined Compartments.

Many compartments are prone to pose safety hazards such as loose fasteners or object intrusion due to their confined space, making manual inspection challenging. To address the challenges of complex inspection environments, diverse target categories, and variable scales in confined compartments, this paper proposes a novel GMS-YOLO network, based on the improved YOLOv8 framework. In addition to the lightweight design, this network accurately detects targets by leveraging more precise high-level and low-level feature representations obtained from GhostHGNetv2, which enhances feature-extraction capabilities. To handle the issue of complex environments, the backbone employs GhostHGNetv2 to capture more accurate high-level and low-level feature representations, facilitating better distinction between background and targets. In addition, this network significantly reduces both network parameter size and computational complexity. To address the issue of varying target scales, the first layer of the feature fusion module introduces Multi-Scale Convolutional Attention (MSCA) to capture multi-scale contextual information and guide the feature fusion process. A new lightweight detection head, Shared Convolutional Detection Head (SCDH), is designed to enable the model to achieve higher accuracy while being lighter. To evaluate the performance of this algorithm, a dataset for object detection in this scenario was constructed. The experiment results indicate that compared to the original model, the parameter number of the improved model decreased by 37.8%, the GFLOPs decreased by 27.7%, and the average accuracy increased from 82.7% to 85.0%. This validates the accuracy and applicability of the proposed GMS-YOLO network.

Dispersed, optical and concentration characteristics of submicron heterogeneities in aqueous solutions of sugars

In this work, a multilateral analysis of submicron heterogeneities (SMH) spontaneously formed in aqueous solutions of sugars - glucose, fructose and sucrose - was carried out at 25 °C using laser scattering methods. The hydrodynamic diameters of SMH in 0.5 mol% solutions are 100–150 nm and vary slightly over a wide range of concentrations. However, the geometric diameters of SMH turn out to be much larger – 150–250 nm. This observation assumes that SMH are rather loose objects. The absence of depolarization of scattered radiation shows that the shape of MH is close to spherical.A new approach based on the methods of dynamic and multi-angle static light scattering using the Mie theory has been developed, which allows determining the refractive index of SMH. In 0.5 mol% solutions of sugars, the refractive index of SMH differs from the surrounding solution by no more than 0.005 for glucose and fructose and no more than 0.01 for sucrose. This corresponds to a 1.8-fold higher concentration of sugars in SMH compared to the average concentration in solution. Although SMH in sugar solutions are practically invisible due to the very small contrast, their numerical concentration is quite large, ∼1011–1012 ml−1, and they occupy a ∼0.1–1 % volume fraction of the solution. Dispersed and optical characteristics of SMH depend on the type and concentration of sugar.

Explosions of Ball Lightning inside Enclosed Spaces

According to observations, the energy density contained inside ball lightning can reach 1010 J/m3, and its charge can range from 10−3 to 10−1 C. Witnesses often report seeing moving sparks about one millimeter in size inside the ball lightning shell. When the ball lightning shell ruptures, charge carriers fly out of it in the form of a sheaf of sparks. For many years, the press has published reports of the destruction of houses inside of which a ball lightning explosion had occurred. These events remained unexplained for a long time. This article, for the first time in the world, provides a physical explanation of these events. This article is based on the ball lightning model developed by the authors. According to this model, ball lightning consists of an ensemble of positively charged elements (dynamic electric capacitors) located inside a spherical shell of polarized water molecules. The dynamic capacitor is a system of cyclically moving electrons and ions. The expansion of this capacitor is restrained by the compression force of the ball lightning shell in the non-uniform electric field of the ball lightning core. The model allows us to find a physical explanation for most of the observed properties of ball lightning. Using the example of a simplified model of ball lightning (when the contribution of the kinetic energy of the dynamic capacitors was not taken into account), an analysis of the forces acting inside ball lightning was carried out. It was shown that when the shell of ball lightning is destroyed, the charges emitted from the core remain on the walls of the room or on loose objects for some time. The Coulomb force of the repulsion of charges turns out to be large enough to squeeze out the walls of a building or throw a heavy object or person out of the house.

Grasping Pose Detection for Loose Stacked Object Based on Convolutional Neural Network With Multiple Self-Powered Sensors Information

There are a variety of objects, random postures and multiple objects stacked in a disorganized manner in unstructured home applications, which leads to the object grasping posture estimation and grasping planning based on machine vision become very complicated. This paper proposes a method of cluttering pose detection based on convolutional neural network with multiple self-powered sensors information. Firstly, a search strategy for candidate grasping poses based on the 3D point cloud is proposed, and the single-channel grasping image dataset representing grasping posture in this paper is established by using Bigbird dataset. Secondly, the ResNet is constructed to rank and filter the single channel captured images representing the captured bit pose. It is also compared with three mainstream classification networks, Inception V2, VGG-A and LetNet, and the perception analysis function and the execution planning function are developed under ROS. The effective grasping of the manipulator in the scene of scattered piles is realized based on the detection results of grasping position and combined with the information of multiple self-powered sensors, and the ResNet network is compared with other three classification networks. In a scattered and stacked environment of objects, the results of experiment show that the method based on ResNet network is superior to the other three networks, and the average success rate of grasping pose detection based on ResNet, InceptionV2, VGGA and LetNet networks is 90.67%, 82.67%, 86.67% and 87.33% respectively, which verifies the effectiveness and superiority of the deep learn-based grasping pose detection model proposed in this paper.

Efektivitas Penggunaan Media Loose Parts dalam Meningkatkan Kemampuan Literasi Numerasi Anak Usia Dini Se - Kecamatan Cipedes Kota Tasikmalaya

Loose parts media, which are simple and flexible materials such as wood, stone, rope, and other natural objects, can contribute to the development of early childhood numeracy literacy. Loose parts media can help children develop math skills through various manipulative activities that involve critical thinking and problem solving. Children can build, count, compare, order, and classify loose parts objects in a variety of contexts, such as in construction, nature exploration, and art. The use of loose parts media can also help children develop language and literacy skills. When children use loose parts to build a story, they will learn about narrative structure, speaking and listening skills, and writing skills. The research method used is descriptive qualitative method. In developing early childhood numeracy literacy, the use of loose parts media can be a very effective and fun tool to help children build skills and understanding of mathematics and language actively and creatively. The conclusion in this study is that loose parts media has a very large effect on the development of early childhood numeracy literacy in Cipedes District, Tasikmalaya City

Analyzing Safety Risk Imposed by Jobsite Debris to Nearby Built Environments Using Geometric Digital Twins and Vision-Based Deep Learning

Extreme wind events can pick up loose and small objects on the ground, and once the objects become airborne, they negatively impact surrounding communities due to the collision impact. In this regard, jobsites and laydown yards that involve construction materials such as gravel piles and crushed rocks could be the main sources of potential windborne debris during extreme wind events. To analyze safety risk and predict the damage imposed by jobsite debris to nearby built environments, a new computer vision-based risk assessment based on geometric digital twins of jobsite debris is proposed for the reliability analysis on glazing systems of dwellings located on nearby jobsites. The impact of a gravel pile in a railroad jobsite on nearby buildings and residential environments was studied based on extreme wind event scenarios, and the failure risk of the building glazing system was computed. The risk associated with jobsite debris during extreme wind events and their impact on neighboring communities are analyzed through three computing modules: (1) satellite imagery-based terrain modeling to study 3D characteristics of the at-risk built environment; (2) analyzing visual data from Google Street View to assess the risk associated with glazing panels of dwellings in the communities; and (3) analyzing visual data from a jobsite to quantify the impact of jobsite debris, to associate its safety risk to neighboring communities. The proposed method can provide an immediate heads up for those who reside nearby jobsites, allowing to take required preemptive actions to protect their habitation against potential windborne debris. Practitioners will also be informed of such jobsite debris-related risk before extreme wind events to better secure their jobsites for the risk mitigation.

Maternal knowledge of recommendations for safe infant sleep and intentions for implementation- a cross sectional analysis of data from the KUNO-Kids birth cohort study.

Despite major advances in prevention, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) remains an important cause of infant mortality. The aim of our study was to determine actual knowledge and intentions to implement SIDS prevention measures among new mothers and to identify potential knowledge gaps for improved postpartum counselling strategies. Data was collected in a standardized interview from participants of the KUNO-Kids birth cohort study before discharge from maternity ward. The mothers did not receive any specific teaching prior to the interview. The majority of 2,526 interviewed mothers wereable to actively report important recommendations for safe infant sleep, including the exclusive face-up position. However, 154 mothers (9%) intended to position thenewborn face-down sometimes or often. The most frequently envisaged sleeping furniture was a bedside sleeper (n=1,144, 47%), but 2.2% of mothers indicated that the intended default sleeping place for the newborn would be the parents' bed (which is discouraged by the recommendations). For 43% of the infants (n=1,079), mothers planned to have loose objects in the bed and 189 mothers (7%) intended to use a loose blanket. 22% of infants (n=554) will live in a household with a smoker. Multivariate regression showed a significant association of "good knowledge" with maternal age and with not being a single parent, whereas the household size was negatively associated. Although the majority of mothers in our birth cohort were aware of many recommendations for safe infant sleep, our data also uncovered weaknesses in SIDS prevention knowledge and point to specific areas with potential for improved counselling.

Experience of using loose parts monitoring systems at Novovoronezh NPP

In VVER reactor plants, it is impossible to completely exclude the appearance of loose, loosely fixed and foreign objects in the main circulation circuit. Operational experience shows that early detection and estimation of the parameters of such incidents can provide the time required to eliminate or minimize damage to the main equipment of the reactor plant. For this reason, most modern power units with pressurized water reactors (PWR, VVER) are equipped with a loose parts monitoring system (LPMS). At the units under construction, these systems are laid down as standard ones; the power units put into commercial operation in the Soviet period were also equipped with them. The requirements for them are established by international standards. Ongoing research work in this area is aimed at determining the root cause of the acoustic anomaly and the localization of its epicenter. Also, no less significant are the works aimed at determining the mass of a loose object (LO). The most precise definition of this parameter will make it possible to have an idea of the nature of the LO before its withdrawal from the primary circuit and to conclude about whether this object is accidentally found or it is a detached part of the steam generators, main circulation pumps, internal devices or shut-off and control valves.

Outdoor spaces design in early childhood settings – analysing opportunities for children’s play in Portugal

ABSTRACT In this paper, we characterise outdoor spaces and play opportunities in 12 Portuguese early childhood settings (ECS), extending scientific knowledge about how outdoor environments are commonly organised and used in Portugal. To achieve this goal, we developed an observation tool (GO-Exterior) based on scientific literature concerning design and planning of outdoor play environments. The study reveals that most outdoor environments lacked important features to provide interesting opportunities for children’s play, with significant deficits in terms of natural areas and materials, loose objects and diversity in surfaces or topographies. Data gathered support the need for specific policies and strategies to improve outdoor play opportunities in ECS. GO-Exterior can potentially support further studies in this area, providing important data for interventions in early childhood centres following a play value perspective on the design of outdoor spaces.

Manufactured vs nature: affecting children’s playtime engagement in a preschool playground

ABSTRACT This study explores the differences in children’s playtime engagement facilitating gross motor skill development between nature-based versus traditional manufactured equipment. These skills are foundational to affording children’s ability to engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity. This is vital to establishing positive future health behaviors, and combatting chronic disease in youth and later life. A longitudinal comparison study was undertaken on children’s playtime engagement at a preschool with an annual enrollment of 36 children between the ages of 3 and 4 in the setting for the study. An existing playground layout with traditional equipment was renovated following a nature-based play philosophy to promote ‘green’ exercise. The new design included an earthen mound with boulders and a slide embedded in the hillside and tree stumps for loose object play. Children were observed and videotaped on the same days of the week, and at the same time of day. A grounded theory approach was employed to quantify and assess playtime engagement. Results indicate that an earthen mound can engage children equally in comparison to a manufactured climbing structure. The mound was also found to be more supportive of short and frequent bursts of play that are characteristic of this age group.

Everyday Objects in Trauma Therapy: Examining the Material Culture of Young Refugees with the Aim of Trauma Processing

Objects help us to integrate, socialise, learn, and mirror our past and self. They also represent our home, as we can take them with us when moving. What happens to our objects when this move is accompanied by the trauma of forced migration? The aim of this paper is to understand the significance of the object, the smallest physical unit of the home, in the recovery processes of trauma caused by forced migration. In parallel with a literature review, this research relies on in-depth interviews and the author’s ten years of field experience in refugee communities in Hungary, Switzerland, Belgium and Palestine. The literature review explores the importance of objects in the context of migration, highlighting the roles of them in the process of socialising with others, learning new skills, developing our own self, transforming our home and surviving a challenge. According to the literature, objects can create a safe and well known environment, they can materialise the past and culture, therefore they can help to recall memories and they can also have a significant role in reconnecting us to life, since they integrate us into new communities. According to the interviews, the coping strategies have more to do with activity and social connections and less with everyday objects due to the trauma of forced migration. Taking advantage of the general nature of objects, the coping mechanism of forced migrants and loose object attachment, objects can become a neutral tool of trauma therapy. From the results, a design therapy toolkit will be created for professionals, educators and therapists, which can support processing trauma by developing place and object attachment.

THE UTILIZATION OF LOOSE PARTS MEDIA IN STEAM LEARNING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD

STEAM-based learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) has begun to be developed a lot recently. This learning is considered able to answer the challenges of the times to be able to develop learning in the 21st century. STEAM is not only developed for secondary to tertiary education but is also developed for learning in early childhood. The challenges for developing STEAM-based learning are not small. The teacher considers that to provide learning about technology, for example, one must use sophisticated computer-based learning media, so it requires expensive costs. Also, science and engineering learning has not been developed much in kindergarten (TK) learning because it is considered a difficult concept to understand and requires high costs for the learning media. Learning media for early childhood is diverse and does not have to all buy new materials at a high cost. Likewise with learning media that can be used to develop STEAM-based learning. Teachers can make use of items or materials that are easily available, such as rocks, tree branches, seeds, used bottle caps, dry leaves, clothespins, etc. These removable materials are called loose parts. Loose parts are loose objects that can be moved, manipulated, and how to use them is determined by the child. These removable materials as learning media can make children think creatively and imaginatively. Loose parts can also be used as media in STEAM learning.

Force field properties and regions of particle accumulation on asteroid surface

A mapping technique for the Newtonian attraction potential and the augmented potential, based on polyhedral approximation for the surface of a small celestial body, is proposed and applied to find the local minima of the augmented potential, where one can expect to find the accumulation of loose objects such as stones, sand, or debris.

The Use of the Child Fatality Review Committee to Contribute to a Longitudinal Quality Improvement Project on Safe Sleep.

As sudden unexpected infant death rates have plateaued in the United States over the last decade, the rate of sleep-related deaths due to accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed has revealed an upward trend.1 There has been much focus on infant safe sleep over the last few years to reduce these preventable deaths. The American Academy of Pediatrics revised its sudden infant death syndrome reduction recommendations to include safe sleep environments. These recommendations advise that infants sleep on separate sleep surfaces designed for infants to prevent accidental suffocation, strangulation, layover, or entrapment that could occur in the adult bed, chair, or couch. In addition, the sleeping surface should be free of any loose objects, such as blankets, pillows, or toys, that could obstruct an infant’s airway.2 Some of the efforts to reduce deaths have included public service campaigns,3 community programs and initiatives, safe sleep education and modeling in the hospital setting, and identifying and addressing barriers to safe sleep.4,5 The direct impact of individual …

Evaluation of the Influence of Principal’s Training on Security Management in Public Secondary Schools in Nzaui Sub-County, Makueni County, Kenya

Many of the secondary schools have had threats to safety from within originating from fires, insect bites, loose and sharp objects, poorly constructed buildings inadequate and poorly ventilated rooms all these among others makes the learner, the teacher and the workers insecure while in school. The study aimed at assessing the influence of the principal’s training on safety management in all the public schools in Nzaui sub-County, Makueni County Kenya. A mixed method was used consequently applying the concurrent triangulation strategy. Qualitative data was thematically examined beside the research objects then presented in description forms. It was evident from the findings that insecurity was on the rise in many secondary schools in Nzaui Sub-county. It further revealed that principals’ training has not been operative in security management in public secondary schools. Thus, the study commends that the principals should develop training mechanism to promote security management in their school. The principals should allocate sufficient resources for employment and training of security staff and purchases of advanced security installations.

Prevalence of household falls in long-lived adults and association with extrinsic factors.

ResumeObjective:to identify the prevalence of falls among older adults and the extrinsic factors associated with them. Method:population-based cross-sectional study with 350 older adults. A household survey was conducted using a questionnaire addressing socio-demographic, clinical, and environmental characteristics. Data were analyzed using Stata Software V.10. Pearson’s chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used with stepwise criteria for selection of variables in the model, with measures of effect expressed in Prevalence Ratio. For input into the multiple model, the variables with p ≤ 0.20 were considered. All ethical care regarding research on human beings has been observed and respected. Results:the prevalence of falls was 46.9%. The extrinsic factors associated with falls were: stairs, uneven floor and pets in the main entrance, lack of anti-slip loose throw rugs and slippery floor in the kitchen, lack of anti-slip loose throw rugs and objects on the floor in the room, lack of grab bars in the shower, lack of grab bars in the toilet and switch away from the bathroom door (p <0.05). Conclusion:falls are frequent in long-lived adults. The identification of the extrinsic factors associated with the occurrence of this event can help in its prevention.

AN INVESTIGATION OF INFLUENCE OF PRINCIPAL’S ATTITUDE ON SECURITY MANAGEMENT IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NZAUI SUB-COUNTY, MAKUENI COUNTY, KENYA

Despite the inclusion of security management in the safety and standards manual in Kenyan schools, insecurity is still being experienced in schools. Many of the secondary schools have had threats to safety from within originating from fires, insect bites, loose and sharp objects, poorly constructed buildings inadequate and poorly ventilated rooms all these among others makes the learner, the teacher and the workers insecure while in school. The study investigated influence of the principal’s attitude on safety management in the public schools in Nzaui sub-County, Makueni County Kenya. Mixed methods were used consequently applying the concurrent triangulation strategy. Purposive sampling was used to pick principals from the selected schools considering schools which had reported cases of insecurity. Descriptive statistics were used to nalyse quantitative data and inferentially using ANOVA Test Analysis. (SPSS 23) and expressed in tabulation form. It was evident from the findings that insecurity was on the rise in many secondary schools in Nzaui Sub-county. It further revealed that principals’ attitude has not been positive in security management in public secondary schools. The study recommends that the principals ought to develop positive attitude towards security management since it is first step towards mitigating the security challenges.

Affordances of outdoor settings for children in preschool: revisiting heft’s functional taxonomy

Heft’s functional taxonomy for children’s outdoor environment based on the concept of affordances was applied and investigated in a Danish preschool context. Affordances here refer to the meaningful action possibilities of the environment. Two groups of children (3–6 years) enrolled in preschool were observed during times for ‘free play’ in their usual outdoor settings: traditional playground and forest (12 visits, respectively). Modified classes of outdoor features are suggested along with new practical class names: open ground, sloping terrain, shielded places, rigid fixtures, moving fixtures, loose objects, loose material, water, creatures and fire. Each class is specified by distinctive and attractive key activities found by observation. Examining each class indicated that important characteristics apart from availability were variation, sizes and change. The concept of affordances emphasises the ongoing user–environment–activity relationship important for planning with children in mind, but clarification is needed when using the term.

Characteristics of forest sites used by a Danish forest preschool

Outdoor stays in green settings are regarded as beneficial for preschoolers, but not much is known about the characteristics of the sites that are chosen and used by outdoor preschools, the so-called ‘forest sites’. Therefore, this paper investigates the characteristics and use of forest sites in a Danish forest preschool and the activities and features in use during time for child-initiated activities.Staff and children (approx. 3–6.5 years) walked to a forest site and stayed for 2–5h on a daily basis. Fifteen forest sites were observed in school hours at 24 stays during one year. This was supplemented by short interviews and informal talks with children and staff to learn more about the forest sites. The findings were organised according to the following ten classes of outdoor features: Open Ground, Sloping Terrain, Shielded Places, Rigid Fixtures, Moving Fixtures, Loose Objects, Loose Material, Water, Creatures and Fire.Most forest sites were glades or pillar halls, often situated at the intersection between different plantings. Staff avoided locations near deep water bodies with steep sides, but at most sites open water was either available at the site or nearby. The daily choice of forest site was connected to the location and features of the site, as well as the weather and season, the actual group of children, and the level of staffing. Children and staff opinion on sites often coincided. Children used features from all classes, but ‘loose objects’ were most often referred to in the interviews. Children as well as staff valued ‘shielded places’, but for staff this was only to a certain degree, since surveillance was important.It is suggested that the results, although derived from a single case, may inspire design and management of green spaces and forest in relation to preschools.