Physical Plant Research Articles

A cloud-edge framework for energy-efficient event-driven control: an integration of online supervised learning, spiking neural networks and local plasticity rules

Abstract This paper presents a novel cloud-edge framework for addressing energy constraints in complex control systems. Our approach centers around a learning-based controller using Spiking Neural Networks (SNN) on physical plants. By integrating a biologically plausible learning method with local plasticity rules, we harness the energy efficiency, scalability of the newtwork, and low latency of SNNs. This design replicates control signals from a cloud-based controller directly on the plant, reducing the need for constant plant-cloud communication. The plant updates weights only when errors surpass predefined thresholds, ensuring efficiency and robustness in various conditions. Applied to linear workbench systems and satellite rendezvous scenarios, including obstacle avoidance, our architecture dramatically lowers normalized tracking error by 96% with increased network size. The event-driven nature of SNNs minimizes energy consumption, utilizing only about 11.1 × 104 pJ (0.3% of conventional computing requirements). The results demonstrate the system’s adjustment to changing work environments and its efficient use of energy resources, with a moderate increase in energy consumption of 37% for dynamic obstacles, compared to non-obstacle scenarios.

Model-free distributed state estimation with local measurements.

In this paper, the state estimation problem of physical plants with unknown system dynamic is revisited from the perspective of limited output information measurement, which corresponds to those with characteristics of high-dimensional, wide-area coverage and scatter. Given this fact, a network of sensors are used to carry out the measurement with each one accessing only partial outputs of the targeted systems and a novel model-free state estimation approach, named distributed stochastic variational inference state estimation, is proposed. The key idea of this method is to compensate for the impacts of local output measurements by adding nearest-neighbor rule-based information interaction among estimators to complete the state estimation. It finds from the numerical experiments that the proposed method has clear advantages in both estimation accuracy and speed, and it also provides guidance on how to improve the efficiency of state estimation under local measurements.

Tracer Study on the Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement Administration (LEA) Graduates of Isabela State University Cabagan

Tracer study is a retrospective evaluation of graduates conducted via a standardized survey sometime after graduation. The study aimed to trace the employability status of BS LEA graduates from 2017- 2019. It utilized the descriptive research design and a survey questionnaire in gathering data. The result revealed that majority of the graduates are twenty-five years old, male, single, Ibanag, bachelor’s degree graduate, and AFPSAT passers. Moreover, majority of the graduates are temporary/casual, connected to security agencies, able to hunt for a job within one to two years, delayed in their employment for reason of absence of immediate vacancy, earning a monthly salary within the range of thirty thousand to thirty-four thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, and employed due to their educational qualifications. They realized that their employment is directly related to their degree and claimed that communication skills developed at the college aided in their employment. It was also discovered that the quality of Education at ISU is excellent in terms of curriculum/course content, methods of instruction, faculty, physical plant, career guidance, job placement, and academic counseling.

Trade-Offs in Plant Functional Traits Driven by Soil Changes under Urban Hardened Surfaces

The large-scale surface hardening has changed the urban environment and affected the normal growth of urban plants. However, it is still unclear how the urban hardened surface affects the functional urban plant traits. To explore whether the urban hardened surface affects the ecological strategies of plants by changing the urban soil properties and reflecting them on the plant traits, we studied the physical and chemical properties and plant functional traits of three different types of hardened surface in Shandong Province, China. Our results showed that the physical and chemical properties (soil bulk density, soil total porosity, capillary porosity, non-capillary porosity, soil moisture content, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, available phosphorus, and available potassium) of urban soils showed obvious differences with the increase of hardening strength. In this case, the plant functional traits (branch diameter, branch length, leaf thickness, branch weight, internode length, leaf dry weight, leafing intensity, leaf area, specific leaf area, and leaf dry matter content) were also differentiated to varying degrees. Meanwhile, there was a strong correlation among plant functional traits. Nevertheless, hardened surfaces break the quantitative relationship among functional traits of urban trees. They do not affect their stable correlation: as the hardening intensity gradually increases, its correlation weakens. In addition, plant functional traits have a significant response mechanism to soil physicochemical properties. There was a transformation of plant resource utilization strategy by changing plant functional traits to adapt to the hardened environment. Urban trees exhibit strong and rapid resource-allocation strategies. They are mainly reflected in the reduction of branch diameter, branch weight, leaf dry matter content, leaf area, mass ratio of branches and leaves, and the improvement of leafing intensity and leaf thickness. Overall, there were tight connections among urban soil properties, plant branches, and leaves functional properties. This finding reveals that urban trees can change their functional traits and the plasticity of their trait combinations under the background of hardened urban surface expansion, which is conducive to survival and growth.

A Comprehensive Review on Ecological Buffer Zone for Pollutants Removal

The issue of agricultural non-point source pollution has attracted global attention. A buffer zone is an effective, eco-friendly, and economically feasible remediation ecosystem to reduce the impact of agricultural non-point source pollution on water bodies. They can effectively remove pollutants in agricultural drainage through physical processes (infiltration, filtration, deposition, etc.), plant absorption and assimilation, and microbial processes, improving the water quality of water bodies. This article provides a comprehensive review of the current studies on using buffer zones to remediate agricultural non-point source pollution, with a focus on the key affecting factors for pollutant removal efficiencies. The main factors included buffer zone width, vegetation type, slope, seasonal variation, soil variation, and vegetation density. The influencing mechanisms of these factors on the pollutant removal efficiencies of buffer zones were also discussed. This review can serve as a reference for a deep understanding of buffer zones and help optimize their design and management in real ecological remediation projects.

Correlation between physical characteristics and plant composition of home gardens in Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract. Laraswari S, Wulandari I, Husodo T, Abdoellah OS, Amalia CA, Fawwaz MR, Azadi SM, Farhaniah SS. 2024. Correlation between physical characteristics and plant composition of home gardens in Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 3051-3060. Green open space in urban settings provides various benefits to city residents, yet the increase in urban population indirectly results in a decrease in urban green space. Home gardens can expand urban green space to complement public areas but are often overlooked. This research examines the physical characteristics (area size, shape, and zoning) and plant composition of home gardens in Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia, as well as the correlation between both aspects. This research examined extensive data collection from a densely populated urban area, a context rarely explored but highly relevant in recent urban development. Data was collected in five housing complexes in the Rancasari Sub-district, with 514 home gardens, and correlation analysis was performed using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). The result showed that 92.2% of the home gardens had very narrow areas with 2-53m2. The shape of the home garden was dominated by strips, with 66% and 94% of home gardens having front zoning. Across the sampled home gardens, there were 1054 species from 141 families, with a total of 32,967 individuals. Araceae was the most commonly found family with 100 species and Sri Rejeki (Aglaonema commutatum Schott) had the largest number of individuals. Most of the home garden plants were ornamental plants due to their attractive morphology, making them relatively homogeneous within 95% of the home gardens. The presence of ornamental plants was the least influenced by physical characteristics, while medicinal and spice plants can be grouped together as they were more affected by the area size and less by the zone and shape. Edible plants were the most influenced by all physical characteristics, particularly the zone. This study provides new insights into urban ecology, offering valuable information for homeowners, developers, and policymakers to enhance the role of home gardens as private green spaces.

Family Names in Jordan and the USA: A Comparative Socio-Linguistic Study

This study aims to analyze family names in Jordan and the USA from a sociolinguistic perspective. The examination is based on a sample of 1000 family names: 500 Jordanian family names (JFN) and 500 American family names (AFN). As for Jordan, the sample was randomly selected from Al-Rawabdeh's (2010) Lexicon of Jordanian Clans, while in the case of the USA, the sample was randomly drawn from the list published at https://gist.github.com of the 1000 most common family names in the USA. The study's findings show that (41.6 %) of family names in Jordan and (54.4 %) in the USA do not reflect any aspect of human life. However, (58.4%) of family names in Jordan and (45.6%) of family names in the USA are found to reflect various aspects of human life. These aspects are reflected in nine categories: social traits, animals, occupations and professions, physical features, plants, geographical areas, natural and timing phenomena, tools and instruments, and financial conditions. The overall findings of this study reveal that although family names in Jordan and the USA are different, they generally tend to reflect the social-cultural and natural contexts in which these names have emerged and maintained.

السموم البيئية وتأثيراتها على الأعضاء: مراجعة شاملة لتعرض الإنسان وتراكمها

Environmental pollutants lead to problems in ecosystems differently depending on the extent of their toxicity, and thus their arrival to humans leads to health problems at different levels. The danger of any substance introduced into the environment can be determined depending on its quantity (dose). In addition, based on the overdose, it can be considered (whether it is alien or original) is toxic. Poisoning is the harmful effect that occurs as a result of ingestion, inhalation, or contact with a toxic substance. Potential toxic substances include chemical, biological, and physical toxins, fungi, plants, and animal toxins. Environmental pollutants are heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, etc.), pesticides, organic materials, food additives, etc. The severity of the toxic effect depends primarily on the concentration and persistence of the final toxic substance. The final toxic substance is often the original chemical to which the organism is exposed. In other cases, the final toxic substance is a metabolite of the original compound, reactive oxygen species, or nitrogen (ROS, RNS) generated during Transformation into a toxic substance. Exposure to lead can affect proteins that interfere with their enzymatic functions or ability to bind other cellular components, leading to DNA damage and induction of oxidative stress. Asbestos can also damage DNA and affect gene expression. Exposure to acrolein irritates the bronchi, while mercury causes neurological symptoms. This review deals with understanding toxic environmental pollutants that affect humans, the extent of accumulation of toxic substances in organs, and methods of exposure to them.

Comparative Analysis of a State University's Physical Plant and Facilities: Internal vs External Evaluations

In the landscape of higher education in the Philippines, institutions are subject to rigorous evaluations by accrediting bodies to ensure quality and adherence to standards. This study delves into the assessment of the physical plant and facilities of a state university, utilizing evaluations from both the university’s Internal Assessment Board (IAB) and the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) considered in this study as External Accrediting Body (EAB). Through a quantitative, comparative, and descriptive research design, document analysis was conducted on the ratings provided by the IAB and EAB across various parameters. The research instrument utilized was the AACCUP Accrediting Instrument, focusing on areas such as campus infrastructure, buildings, classrooms, and other essential facilities. Data were collected from the Institutional Development Office, encompassing two visits or evaluations across six academic programs. Statistical analysis such as mean, Mann-Whitney U Test, and one- way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed to identify differences between the ratings of the IAB and EAB. Remarkably, no significant differences were found in the evaluation of campus infrastructure, offices, staff, and function rooms, assembly and athletic facilities, medical and dental clinic, and food services unit/canteen. To wit, there is no significant difference between the two separate visits of the IAB [F(8,9) = .963, p = .516, not significant], no significant difference between the two separate visits of the EAB [F(8,9) = .238, p = .972, not significant], and no significant difference between the evaluation of the IAB and the EAB [Z= -1.549, p= .121, not significant]. The research findings highlight the importance of continuous improvement and transparency in assessing and enhancing education quality and facilities.

Penggunaan Bagian Stek Umbi Tanaman Gembili (Dioscorea esculenta) dan Model Lanjaran Terhadap Produksinya

Lesser yam (Dioscorea esculenta) is a root crop which grows and spreads in various parts of Indonesia, from Papua to Sumatra. Plant support technique using stakes is a way to support physical plant growth to control shape, size, and direction of plants. This study aimed to obtain the tuber parts as propagules of lesser yam plant (Dioscorea esculenta) and the of stakes as plant support on lesser yam yield. The research experiment was carried out using a randomized block design (RBD) which consisted of 2 treatment factors; the first factor being the plant support techniques consisted of no support, single support, and pyramidal support model, and the second factor tuber parts as propagules consisted of root, middle, and tip root cuttings. The results showed that the interaction between the tuber cuttings and the plant support model was not significant or there was no synergistic in supporting the growth and yield in the form tubers, whereas the effect of tuber cutting treatments was significant on number of tubers (12 planted tubers) and highly significant on tuber weight (1864.9 g), tuber diameter (5.84 cm) and tuber length (6.11 cm). The effect of plant support models was not significant on number and weight of tubers, however was significant on the tuber diameter (5,54cm), and highly significant on the tuber length (6.05 cm).

Ethnoscience Study in Lambaleko Weaving in Tana Righu

Sumba Island has cultural characteristics that can be integrated into science learning, including Sumba woven cloth. The process of making Sumba weaving has cultural and scientific value. This research aims to determine the meaning and ethnoscientific value of making Lambaleko woven cloth. This study used qualitative research methods. This data was obtained through observation, interviews and documentation. The instruments used in this research were observation sheets, interview sheets, and documentation. The data analysis involves data reduction, data presentation, and concluding. The research results show that the tools and materials used in the weaving process are traditional tools and materials with varying classifications, showing the biodiversity level on the island of Sumba. Making Lambaleko weaving consists of eleven stages: a) preparing tools and materials such as Mbola, Bei tonnu, Koba, Malirra, Ghunna, Ghobola, Laketta, Bedo, Kalerre, Tent, Laka, Kalamaka, Ghobola ghunna, Ghobola zodo, Rande, Tukka, Kanagho, scissors and thread, b) tools starting to be assembled on the Mbola, c) unfurling the warp threads on the Bei tonnu, e) removing the weave from the Mbola, d) winding the threads on the Kanagho, f) straightening the threads on the woven fabric, g) installing the Rande, h) installing Tukka, i) installing Ghobola ghunna, Ghobola zodo, j) making motifs, and k) the process of making weaving until it becomes cloth. The weaving process is also related to physical material, frictional forces, pressure, gravitational forces, biological material, plant biodiversity, and chemical material, additives. In conclusion, Lambaleko woven cloth has ethnoscientific and cultural values that the community believes to be used in science learning related to biodiversity, friction, pressure, gravitational forces, and additives.

Short-Term Strategies for Augmenting the National Radiologist Workforce.

The current radiology landscape has an imbalance between the rising demand for radiology services and the national radiologist workforce available. More vacant radiology positions exist than graduating radiology trainees. The origins of this problem are complex and require long-term solutions. Rather than working longer and/or faster, radiologists can work smarter. In this article, we present multiple short-term strategies to increase the effective radiologist workforce and/or increase workforce efficiency, to alleviate the current workload challenges. These strategies are derived from an analysis of possible practice-level changes in personnel, process, and physical plant. The impacts of the potential changes are estimated. No single change addresses the mismatch between supply and demand for radiology services. By creating an inventory of potential solutions, practices can choose the potential mechanism(s) to address the workforce shortage that best fit their needs and local environment.

Use of biochar and NPK fertilizer in soybean cultivation in Alfisol to improve soil physical properties and plant growth

Abstract The decrease in soil properties due to using artificial fertilizers requires finding a solution, one of which is using biochar. This research aims to assess the effect of the application of rice husk biochar and NPK compound fertilizer on the physical properties of Alfisols and soybean growth. The study was conducted from March to June 2023 on Alfisol of Kwangsan Village, Jumapolo, using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 10 treatments and 3 replications. The study showed that combining rice husk biochar and NPK compound fertilizer improved soil physical properties: soil C-Organic levels, field capacity, soil porosity, and soil water retention levels, and reduced soil bulk weight. The treatments also increased soybean growth: plant height, number of leaves and branches. Application of 25% NPK compound fertilizer (75kg ha-1) and 100% rice husk biochar (10 tons ha-1) is suggested to progress soil physical properties and soybean plant development in Alfisols.

Anthropological Study of Indigenous Weapon Production Among the Anufor of Northern Ghana

Weapon production and warfare are unavoidably linked, as the former is needed to prosecute the latter. It was essential for the protection of the ego and image of a group, and this urge was strong enough to plunge states into endless warfare. During pre-colonial times, West African states like the Dagomba, Gonja, Mamprusi, and allies, including the Anufor, were preoccupied with wars of expansion and consolidation of acquired territories. In most cases, these wars involved the seizure of territories, as the ownership of territories showed the extent of one’s power and influence. Several traditional armies were thus engaged in warfare to control territories and the resources therein, including trade routes and markets. The strength of an army partly depended largely on the efficacy and level of sophistication of their weapons. The Anufor, who were very efficient in the war enterprise as mercenaries, were equally efficient in producing various weapons, including physical handheld weapons, plant venom, and spirituality. This paper uses oral histories and traditions among the Anufor and their allies in Ghana and Togo, as well as archival sources. Critical analysis of relics of war accouterments and Arabic manuscripts at the Institute of African Studies, Legon, was enriching.

Risk-Informed Performance-Based methods for cyber-attack on nuclear power facilities

A new approach is described that offers a Risk-Informed Performance-Based (RIPB) framework for quantifying the risk associated with a cyber-attack on a nuclear power-generating facility. The first part of the method involves 1) the creation of a simplified 10 CFR 73.54 compliant cyber infrastructure, 2) modeling of design basis threats against the network and passive defense of the network and 3) applying the model metrics as inputs into a Bayesian analysis to calculate the exploit probability of a plant controller. The RAVEN code package was used to perform a stochastic calculation to quantify the aleatory uncertainty associated with exploiting a plant controller and produce basic statistics associated with those outputs, such as the standard deviation and standard error. Other tools, such as ADAPT, were also explored, which could be leveraged for direct DPRA analysis of network topology, such that new failure modes or initiating events could be discovered. The second aspect of the RIPB method considers the impact of the controller on the physical plant. This evaluation was conducted by postulating an accident scenario possibly caused by the dynamics of an exploited process controller, initiating that event in a RELAP5 model controlled by the RAVEN risk analysis package, and demonstrating the types of algorithms that can be used to quantify the consequences of the accident scenario. The new two-part method explored in this work provides the uncertainty associated with a cyber-initiating event and the associated consequences of a postulated accident resulting from that exploit, as well as example tools and algorithms for performing the analysis.

Evidence for Reductions in Physical and Chemical Plant Defense Traits in Island Flora.

Reduced defense against large herbivores has been suggested to be part of the "island syndrome" in plants. However, empirical evidence for this pattern is mixed. In this paper, we present two studies that compare putative physical and chemical defense traits from plants on the California Channel Islands and nearby mainland based on sampling of both field and common garden plants. In the first study, we focus on five pairs of woody shrubs from three island and three mainland locations and find evidence for increased leaf area, decreased marginal leaf spines, and decreased concentrations of cyanogenic glycosides in island plants. We observed similar increases in leaf area and decreases in defense traits when comparing island and mainland genotypes grown together in botanic gardens, suggesting that trait differences are not solely driven by abiotic differences between island and mainland sites. In the second study, we conducted a common garden experiment with a perennial herb-Stachys bullata (Lamiaceae)-collected from two island and four mainland locations. Compared to their mainland relatives, island genotypes show highly reduced glandular trichomes and a nearly 100-fold reduction in mono- and sesquiterpene compounds from leaf surfaces. Island genotypes also had significantly higher specific leaf area, somewhat lower rates of gas exchange, and greater aboveground biomass than mainland genotypes across two years of study, potentially reflecting a broader shift in growth habit. Together, our results provide evidence for reduced expression of putative defense traits in island plants, though these results may reflect adaptation to both biotic (i.e., the historical absence of large herbivores) and climatic conditions on islands.

Gastropod grazing on fresh and senescent leaves of non-native invasive plants Reynoutria japonica and Impatiensglandulifera

In invaded regions, the introduced non-native plants Reynoutria japonica and Impatiens glandulifera show little grazing damage, most likely due to the absence of specialized herbivores and the deterrent effect of secondary metabolites on generalist herbivores. The low degree of grazing damage has been explained by the non-mutually exclusive enemy-release and novel weapon hypotheses. We tested assumptions of these hypotheses by conducting a series of preference tests in which leaf samples from R. japonica, I. glandulifera, and the native Urtica dioica were offered to five species of generalist gastropods (the native Arianta arbustorum, Cepaea nemoralis and Fruticicola fruticum, and the non-native invasive Hygromia cinctella and Arion vulgaris). In addition, we determined the C/N-ratio and total phenolic compounds (as a surrogate of secondary metabolites) of the plant species. In the choice experiment with fresh leaf samples, all snail species showed a preference for U. dioica, with the exception of the non-native invasive slug A. vulgaris, which ate leaf tissue from I. gladulifera almost as much as from U. dioica. The snails’ preference of U. dioica was even more pronounced when the fresh weight of leaf material eaten was considered. No-choice tests with either fresh or dead R. japonica leaves showed that most individuals of all species ate small amounts of fresh leaves, but less of dead leaves. In contrast, no-choice tests with either fresh or senescent I. glandulifera leaf tissue showed that individuals of all five gastropod species consumed larger amounts of senescent leaves than fresh leaves, probably because secondary compounds have been broken down or leached or the leaf texture has changed. The low susceptibility of these non-native invasive plants to the gastropods can most likely be explained by a combination of chemical and physical plant characteristics.

Agricultural limitations to soil carbon sequestration: Plant growth, microbial activity, and carbon stabilization

Soil carbon (C) sequestration is an important process for mitigating climate change while improving soil productivity. At the same time, it presents challenges for nutrient availability and changing agricultural practices. The aim of this study was to survey the challenges and limitations found on pioneering farms testing C sequestration using a Finnish network of farmers testing carbon farming practices. A combination of satellite monitoring, on-site measurements and soil analysis was used to quantify and evaluate soil physical, chemical, and biological quality indicators and plant productivity on 20 farms (40 fields). The indicators were assessed through a conceptual C sequestration model, classifying them into limitations for three stages of plant growth, microbial activity or C stabilization. Based on the results, there are limitations in all three stages: plant growth is constrained by crop choices which limit leaf area and sunlight capture, microbial processing of C is limited by poor soil structure and moisture stress, and C stabilization is limited by waterlogging and sulfur deficiency. These problems were found to be widespread, but not present on all the farms. Bringing all the farms to the levels of the best performing farms could reduce the considerable gap between potential productivity and C sequestration and that achieved in practice.

Nitrogen deposition suppresses soil respiration by reducing global belowground activity

Soil respiration (Rs) indicates below-ground biological activities. Previous studies have suggested that higher nitrogen (N) deposition due to human activities exerts an increasingly negative effect on Rs. However, the mechanisms underlying this negative effect remain highly uncertain on a global scale. Using a global dataset of 262 N addition experiments, here we show the overall N addition effects on Rs changed from positive to negative with increasing N addition rate and duration. By constructing a structural equation model (SEM) that explained 41 % variation in the responses of Rs to N addition, we revealed that Rs under increasing N addition was simultaneously associated with decreases in soil pH, root biomass and microbial biomass, with the strongest influence by root biomass. Decreasing soil pH had cascading effects on root and microbial biomass, while N-addition-induced root biomass reduction further manifested a decrease in microbial biomass. Across global variations in the environment, lower background soil pH amplified the negative impacts of N addition on root and microbial biomass, which consequently exhilarated the negative impact of high N on Rs. Our results highlight that predicting the response of belowground biological activities to global changes is complex with the essence of integrative understanding for the multivariate pathways through soil physical properties, plants and microorganisms.

Deep Learning for Neuromuscular Control of Vocal Source for Voice Production.

A computational neuromuscular control system that generates lung pressure and three intrinsic laryngeal muscle activations (cricothyroid, thyroarytenoid, and lateral cricoarytenoid) to control the vocal source was developed. In the current study, LeTalker, a biophysical computational model of the vocal system was used as the physical plant. In the LeTalker, a three-mass vocal fold model was used to simulate self-sustained vocal fold oscillation. A constant/ǝ/vowel was used for the vocal tract shape. The trachea was modeled after MRI measurements. The neuromuscular control system generates control parameters to achieve four acoustic targets (fundamental frequency, sound pressure level, normalized spectral centroid, and signal-to-noise ratio) and four somatosensory targets (vocal fold length, and longitudinal fiber stress in the three vocal fold layers). The deep-learning-based control system comprises one acoustic feedforward controller and two feedback (acoustic and somatosensory) controllers. Fifty thousand steady speech signals were generated using the LeTalker for training the control system. The results demonstrated that the control system was able to generate the lung pressure and the three muscle activations such that the four acoustic and four somatosensory targets were reached with high accuracy. After training, the motor command corrections from the feedback controllers were minimal compared to the feedforward controller except for thyroarytenoid muscle activation.