Journal Description
Applied Sciences
Applied Sciences
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on all aspects of applied natural sciences published semimonthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), Inspec, CAPlus / SciFinder, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Engineering, Multidisciplinary) / CiteScore - Q1 (General Engineering)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 16.9 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Testimonials: See what our authors say about Applied Sciences.
- Companion journals for Applied Sciences include: Applied Nano, AppliedChem, Applied Biosciences, Virtual Worlds, Spectroscopy Journal and JETA.
Impact Factor:
2.7 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
2.9 (2022)
Latest Articles
Integrating Tensometer Measurements, Elastic Half-Space Modeling, and Long-Term Pavement Performance Data into a Mechanistic–Empirical Pavement Performance Model
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3880; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093880 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
Pavement performance models (PPMs) are utilized to predict pavement network conditions which is an essential part of any sustainable pavement management system (PMS). The reliability of a PMS and its outputs is proportional to the reliability of the PPM used. This article describes
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Pavement performance models (PPMs) are utilized to predict pavement network conditions which is an essential part of any sustainable pavement management system (PMS). The reliability of a PMS and its outputs is proportional to the reliability of the PPM used. This article describes a mechanistic–empirical pavement performance model based on pavement response parameters—strains calculated in the pavement layers measured by tensometers embedded in the pavement surface and verified by calculations in the elastic half-space model and supplemented by empirical data from long-term pavement performance monitoring and accelerated pavement testing. Hence, the herein described PPM combines pavement serviceability evaluation, pavement bearing capacity, and the physico-mechanistic properties of paving materials. The analytical methods which were used to ascertain the physico-mechanistic characteristics, the material fatigue degradation model, and the surface degradation, unevenness in particular, are described. A comparison of the empirical PPM created in the last century used by the national road administrator to this day and the newly created PPM is presented. The comparison shows the difference in the calculated socio-economic benefits and subsequent cost–benefit analysis results. The comparison shows that the use of the old PPM may have produced false economic evaluation results that have led to poor decision making, partially explaining the unsustainable trend of road network management in our country.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis and Design of Pavement Structure)
Open AccessArticle
A LeViT–EfficientNet-Based Feature Fusion Technique for Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis
by
Abdul Rahaman Wahab Sait
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3879; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093879 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition. It causes cognitive impairment and memory loss in individuals. Healthcare professionals face challenges in detecting AD in its initial stages. In this study, the author proposed a novel integrated approach, combining LeViT, EfficientNet B7, and
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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition. It causes cognitive impairment and memory loss in individuals. Healthcare professionals face challenges in detecting AD in its initial stages. In this study, the author proposed a novel integrated approach, combining LeViT, EfficientNet B7, and Dartbooster XGBoost (DXB) models to detect AD using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The proposed model leverages the strength of improved LeViT and EfficientNet B7 models in extracting high-level features capturing complex patterns associated with AD. A feature fusion technique was employed to select crucial features. The author fine-tuned the DXB using the Bayesian optimization hyperband (BOHB) algorithm to predict AD using the extracted features. Two public datasets were used in this study. The proposed model was trained using the Open Access Series of Imaging Studies (OASIS) Alzheimer’s dataset containing 86,390 MRI images. The Alzheimer’s dataset was used to evaluate the generalization capability of the proposed model. The proposed model obtained an average generalization accuracy of 99.8% with limited computational power. The findings highlighted the exceptional performance of the proposed model in predicting the multiple types of AD. The recommended integrated feature extraction approach has supported the proposed model to outperform the state-of-the-art AD detection models. The proposed model can assist healthcare professionals in offering customized treatment for individuals with AD. The effectiveness of the proposed model can be improved by generalizing it to diverse datasets.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational and Mathematical Methods for Neuroscience)
Open AccessArticle
Numerical Modeling of Venous Outflow from the Cranial Cavity in the Supine Body Position
by
Marian Simka, Joanna Czaja, Agata Kawalec, Paweł Latacz and Uliana Kovalko
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3878; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093878 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
The hemodynamic relevance of differently located stenoses of the internal jugular veins remains undetermined. It particularly concerns nozzle-like strictures in the upper parts of these veins and stenotic jugular valves located at the end of these veins. This study was aimed at understanding
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The hemodynamic relevance of differently located stenoses of the internal jugular veins remains undetermined. It particularly concerns nozzle-like strictures in the upper parts of these veins and stenotic jugular valves located at the end of these veins. This study was aimed at understanding flow disturbances caused by such stenoses. The computational fluid dynamics software Flowsquare+ was used. We constructed 3-dimensional models of the venous outflow, comprising two alternative routes: the tube representing the internal jugular vein and an irregular network representing the vertebral veins. At the beginning of the tube representing the internal jugular vein, differently shaped and sized short strictures representing nozzle-like strictures were built in. At the end of this tube, differently shaped membranes representing the jugular valve were built in. With the use of computational fluid dynamics modeling, we studied how these two obstacles influenced the outflow. We found that the most relevant outflow disturbances were evoked by the nozzle-like strictures in the upper part of the internal jugular vein that were small, long, or asymmetrically positioned. Very tight stenotic valves and septum-like malformed valve were equally hemodynamically relevant. These findings suggest that both upper and lower strictures of the internal jugular vein can be of clinical significance.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Active and Passive Techniques for Fluid Flow Manipulation)
Open AccessArticle
Adaptive Scale and Correlative Attention PointPillars: An Efficient Real-Time 3D Point Cloud Object Detection Algorithm
by
Xinchao Zhai, Yang Gao, Shiwei Chen and Jingshuai Yang
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3877; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093877 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
Recognizing 3D objects from point clouds is a crucial technology for autonomous vehicles. Nevertheless, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) point clouds are generally sparse, and they provide limited contextual information, resulting in unsatisfactory recognition performance for distant or small objects. Consequently, this article
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Recognizing 3D objects from point clouds is a crucial technology for autonomous vehicles. Nevertheless, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) point clouds are generally sparse, and they provide limited contextual information, resulting in unsatisfactory recognition performance for distant or small objects. Consequently, this article proposes an object recognition algorithm named Adaptive Scale and Correlative Attention PointPillars (ASCA-PointPillars) to address this problem. Firstly, an innovative adaptive scale pillars (ASP) encoding method is proposed, which encodes point clouds using pillars of varying sizes. Secondly, ASCA-PointPillars introduces a feature enhancement mechanism called correlative point attention (CPA) to enhance the feature associations within each pillar. Additionally, a data augmentation algorithm called random sampling data augmentation (RS-Aug) is proposed to solve the class imbalance problem. The experimental results on the KITTI 3D object dataset demonstrate that the proposed ASCA-PointPillars algorithm significantly boosts the recognition performance and RS-Aug effectively enhances the training effects on an imbalanced dataset.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deep Learning in Object Detection)
Open AccessArticle
Speaker Anonymization: Disentangling Speaker Features from Pre-Trained Speech Embeddings for Voice Conversion
by
Marco Matassoni, Seraphina Fong and Alessio Brutti
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3876; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093876 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
Speech is a crucial source of personal information, and the risk of attackers using such information increases day by day. Speaker privacy protection is crucial, and various approaches have been proposed to hide the speaker’s identity. One approach is voice anonymization, which aims
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Speech is a crucial source of personal information, and the risk of attackers using such information increases day by day. Speaker privacy protection is crucial, and various approaches have been proposed to hide the speaker’s identity. One approach is voice anonymization, which aims to safeguard speaker identity while maintaining speech content through techniques such as voice conversion or spectral feature alteration. The significance of voice anonymization has grown due to the necessity to protect personal information in applications such as voice assistants, authentication, and customer support. Building upon the S3PRL-VC toolkit and on pre-trained speech and speaker representation models, this paper introduces a feature disentanglement approach to improve the de-identification performance of the state-of-the-art anonymization approaches based on voice conversion. The proposed approach achieves state-of-the-art speaker de-identification and causes minimal impact on the intelligibility of the signal after conversion.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Image Processing and Pattern Recognition in Biometrics)
Open AccessArticle
Dynamic Multi-Target Self-Organization Hunting Control of Multi-Agent Systems
by
Shouzhong He, Liangshun Wang, Mingming Liu, Weifeng Liu and Zhihai Wu
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3875; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093875 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
In this paper, we present a novel coordinated method tailored to address the dynamic multi-target hunting control problem in multi-agent systems, offering significant practical value. Our approach encompasses several key components: initially, we introduce a task allocation model that integrates a fuzzy inference
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In this paper, we present a novel coordinated method tailored to address the dynamic multi-target hunting control problem in multi-agent systems, offering significant practical value. Our approach encompasses several key components: initially, we introduce a task allocation model that integrates a fuzzy inference system with a particle swarm optimization algorithm. This hybrid model efficiently allocates hunting tasks for scattered evading targets, effectively transforming the dynamic multi-target hunting problem into multiple dynamic single-target-hunting problems. This transformation enhances the speed and efficacy of task allocation. Subsequently, we propose an attraction/repulsive model grounded in potential field theory. This model facilitates the coordinated hunting of each target by organizing agents into subgroups. Relying solely on relative position and velocity information between agents and targets, our model simplifies computation, while maintaining effectiveness. Furthermore, the coordination of hunting activities for each target is achieved through a series of agent subgroups, guided by our proposed motion model. This systematic approach ensures a cohesive and efficient hunting strategy. Finally, we validate the effectiveness and feasibility of our proposed method through simulation results. These results provide empirical evidence of the method’s efficacy and potential applicability in real-world scenarios.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Agents and Multi-Agent Systems)
Open AccessArticle
Automatic Gait Classification Model Empowered by Machine Learning for People with and without Osteoporosis Using Smart Walker
by
Nazia Ejaz, Saad Jawaid Khan, Fahad Azim, Muhammad Asif, Emil Teuțan, Alin Pleșa, Răzvan Ioan Păcurar and Sergiu-Dan Stan
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3874; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093874 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
Osteoporosis constitutes a significant public health concern necessitating proactive prevention, treatment, and monitoring efforts. Timely identification holds paramount importance in averting fractures and alleviating the overall disease burden. The realm of osteoporosis diagnosis has witnessed a surge in interest in machine learning applications.
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Osteoporosis constitutes a significant public health concern necessitating proactive prevention, treatment, and monitoring efforts. Timely identification holds paramount importance in averting fractures and alleviating the overall disease burden. The realm of osteoporosis diagnosis has witnessed a surge in interest in machine learning applications. This burgeoning technology excels at recognizing patterns and forecasting the onset of osteoporosis, paving the way for more efficacious preventive and therapeutic interventions. Smart walkers emerge as valuable tools in this context, serving as data acquisition platforms for datasets tailored to machine learning techniques. These datasets, trained to discern patterns indicative of osteoporosis, play a pivotal role in enhancing diagnostic accuracy. In this study, encompassing 40 participants—20 exhibiting robust health and 20 diagnosed with osteoporosis—data from force sensors embedded in the handlebars of conventional walkers were gathered. A windowing action was used to increase the size of the dataset. The data were normalized, and k-fold cross-validation was applied to assess how well our model performs on untrained data. We used multiple machine learning algorithms to create an accurate model for automatic monitoring of users’ gait, with the Random Forest classifier performing the best with 95.40% accuracy. To achieve the best classification accuracy on the validation dataset, the hyperparameters of the Random Forest classifier were further adjusted on the training data. The results suggest that machine learning-based automatic monitoring of gait parameters could lead to accurate, non-laborious, cost-effective, and efficient diagnostic tools for osteoporosis and other musculoskeletal disorders. Further research is needed to validate these findings.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mechanical Engineering)
Open AccessArticle
New Methods of Series Expansions between Three Anomalies
by
Dongfang Zhao, Houpu Li, Shaofeng Bian, Yongbing Chen and Wenkui Li
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3873; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093873 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
The calculation of satellite orbit involves some very complex formula derivations and expansions, which are very difficult to manually derive and prone to errors. And the efficiency of manual derivation is not high. We can use computer algebra systems to derive complex formulas
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The calculation of satellite orbit involves some very complex formula derivations and expansions, which are very difficult to manually derive and prone to errors. And the efficiency of manual derivation is not high. We can use computer algebra systems to derive complex formulas related to satellite orbits. This can avoid some of the drawbacks of manual derivation and significantly improve computational efficiency and accuracy. In the past, the relationship among three anomalies was generally represented in the form of a trigonometric series with the first eccentricity as the parameter. In this paper, the trigonometric series with the parameter is used, as determined by the Lagrange conjugate series. We can use the formula of the Lagrange conjugate series to derive the relationship between the true anomaly and elliptic anomaly. And the relationship between the elliptic anomaly and the mean anomaly is derived by using the symbolic iteration method. In this research paper, we calculated the accuracy of the trigonometric series expansion among three types of anomalies at the first eccentricity equal to values of 0.01, 0.1, and 0.2. The calculation results indicate that the accuracy of the trigonometric series expansion with as the parameter is better than 10−5. Moreover, in some cases, the trigonometric series expansion among the three anomalies with as a parameter is simpler in form than the expansion expressed with parameter . This paper also derived and calculated the symbolic expressions and extreme values of the difference among three anomalies and expressed the extreme values of the difference in the form of a power series of . It can be seen that the extreme value increases with the increase in eccentricity . And the absolute values of the extreme value of the difference between the elliptic anomaly and the mean anomaly, the true anomaly and the elliptic anomaly, and the true anomaly and the mean anomaly increase in this order. When the eccentricity is small, the absolute value of the extreme value of the difference between the true anomaly and the mean anomaly is about twice as large as the elliptic anomaly and the mean anomaly and the true anomaly and the mean anomaly.
Full article
Open AccessSystematic Review
Does the Inclusion of Static or Dynamic Stretching in the Warm-up Routine Improve Jump Height and ROM in Physically Active Individuals? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis
by
Paula Esteban-García, Javier Abián-Vicen, Jorge Sánchez-Infante, María Ramírez-delaCruz and Jacobo Ángel Rubio-Arias
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3872; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093872 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
The effect of different stretches during warm-up on subsequent performance has been studied. However, no reviews are found in which a meta-analytical analysis is used. The aim was to synthesise the effects of different types of stretching included in the warm-up on jumping
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The effect of different stretches during warm-up on subsequent performance has been studied. However, no reviews are found in which a meta-analytical analysis is used. The aim was to synthesise the effects of different types of stretching included in the warm-up on jumping performance and ROM. The Cochrane, Sport Discus, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched. The inclusion criteria included studies analysing the effect of different stretching in the warm-up, on a vertical jump or lower-limb ROM. Sixteen studies were eligible for meta-analysis. In vertical jumping, SS led to a non-significant decrease in jump height (SMD = −0.17 95%CI [−0.39, 0.04]; I2 = 16%; Z = 1.57; p = 0.30), and DS led to a non-significant increase in jump height (SMD = 0.12, 95%CI [−0.05, 0.29]; I2 = 4%; Z = 1.34; p = 0.41). Statistically significant differences were observed between stretches (p = 0.04). Regarding ROM, both stretches showed improvements compared to the control intervention (SS:SMD = 0.40, 95%CI [0.05, 0.74]; SD:SMD = 0.48, 95%CI [0.13, 0.83]). However, no differences were observed (p = 0.73) between static and dynamic stretching. A greater presence of dynamic stretching is recommended in the warm-up of those sports that require a good jump height and range of motion.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Medicine: Latest Advances and Prospects)
Open AccessArticle
A Study on Power Transmission Control for Applying MR Fluid Multi-Plate Clutch to Automobile Power Distribution Device
by
Jin-Young Park, Jae-Hoon Jeon and Young-Choon Kim
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3871; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093871 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
The aim of this study is to design and manufacture a multi-plate clutch system that uses magnetorheological (MR) fluid control to allow for a variable power transmission ratio in power distribution systems. MR fluid is a smart material that enables presenting a solution
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The aim of this study is to design and manufacture a multi-plate clutch system that uses magnetorheological (MR) fluid control to allow for a variable power transmission ratio in power distribution systems. MR fluid is a smart material that enables presenting a solution to the shocks and power loss that occur due to mechanical problems in power distribution systems. As such, the longitudinal and lateral dynamic properties of 4WD (four-wheel drive) vehicles were examined and analyzed to develop an algorithm to control the front/rear power distribution according to the road surface state and driving conditions. To verify the algorithm, the CarSim vehicle dynamics simulation program was adopted to perform experiments to understand the vehicle’s dynamic performance improvements and turning stability via a HILS (Hardware in the Loop) system. In this study, an MR fluid, multi-plate clutch was used that combines a dry clutch and a wet clutch using the characteristics of the MR fluid. Such a clutch was designed to enable continuous and smooth torque transmission by utilizing the strengths of each of the dry and wet clutches. The CarSim vehicle dynamics program was used to conduct the experiments, which were conducted by linking to the manufactured MR fluid clutch experimental device. The experiments investigated the dynamic performance based on the power distribution ratio by performing longitudinal flat, inclined driving and lateral DLC (double lane change) driving. In summary, this study found that it is possible to perform power transmission by applying a current to an MR fluid and forming a magnetic field to change the flow properties of the fluid to control the torque transmission ratio that occurs in an MR fluid clutch.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Fluid Science and Technology)
Open AccessArticle
Analysis of the Relationships between Factors Contributing to Marine Casualties
by
Marzena Małyszko
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3870; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093870 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
This paper presents a model for assessing the impact of various factors on maritime accidents. This paper discusses the issue of maritime transport and its risks. The taxonomy of causes and consequences used in maritime transport is explained. Two mathematical principles were used,
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This paper presents a model for assessing the impact of various factors on maritime accidents. This paper discusses the issue of maritime transport and its risks. The taxonomy of causes and consequences used in maritime transport is explained. Two mathematical principles were used, i.e., multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and principal component analysis (PCA). The analyses were carried out using the Promethee/Gaia method. The connection between causes and accidents constituted the decision problem. The evaluation criteria, a set of actions and preferences, were identified based on the method principles. The results of this research include rankings of causal chains. They were analysed in multi-criteria and single-criteria dimensions. The outcomes are presented numerically and graphically. Such research contributes to improving safety at sea. It allows us to understand how a particular transport system works. Conclusions can be drawn and measures can be initiated to change the situation in the future.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Marine Science and Engineering)
Open AccessArticle
Effects of Occupational Hazards, Musculoskeletal Pain, and Work on the Overall Fatigue, Anxiety, and Depression of Female Nurses
by
Woo Jin Kim and Byung Yong Jeong
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3869; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093869 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
Nurses face not only musculoskeletal disorders but also psychological health issues. The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors influencing overall fatigue, anxiety, and depression, respectively, by comprehensively considering work characteristics, exposure to hazards, and the presence of musculoskeletal pain. This
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Nurses face not only musculoskeletal disorders but also psychological health issues. The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors influencing overall fatigue, anxiety, and depression, respectively, by comprehensively considering work characteristics, exposure to hazards, and the presence of musculoskeletal pain. This study used binary logistic regression to analyze factors influencing fatigue, anxiety, and depression, respectively. The independent variables were occupation; age; work experience; healthcare organization; working hours per week; shift type; exposure time to physical, biochemical, and ergonomic hazards; and the presence of back, upper limb, or lower limb pain. The factors influencing overall fatigue were shift type (p = 0.007), exposure to vibration (p = 0.042), awkward posture (p = 0.001), repetitive motion (p = 0.017), and presence of back (p = 0.002) or upper (p < 0.001) limb pain. The factors influencing anxiety were age (p = 0.031), hours worked per week (p = 0.006), performing patient lifting/carrying (p = 0.041), and presence of upper (p = 0.022) or lower (p = 0.039) limb pain. In addition, the factors influencing depression were found to be hours worked per week (p = 0.042), exposure to infection (p = 0.005), and the presence of lower limb pain (p = 0.011). This study found that musculoskeletal pain has a significant impact on psychological health problems, suggesting that integrated management of musculoskeletal pain and psychological health problems may be effective in addressing health problems in the nursing profession.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Analysis of Traffic Organisation in the Kiss-and-Fly Zone of Kraków Airport: Eye-Tracking Study
by
Anton Pashkevich, Adrian Piegza, Antoni Krawiec, Arkadiusz Bylica and Matus Sucha
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3868; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093868 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
When choosing the way to come to airports, quite a large number of passengers prefer when they are dropped off/picked up at airports using kiss-and-fly (K&F) zones. Such a travel option is associated with a special traffic organisation on the airport ground access.
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When choosing the way to come to airports, quite a large number of passengers prefer when they are dropped off/picked up at airports using kiss-and-fly (K&F) zones. Such a travel option is associated with a special traffic organisation on the airport ground access. As there are no common regulations or standards when creating such a complex infrastructure object, it could be a challenge for drivers when searching and moving through it. Therefore, the main aim of the presented study was to assess and verify the eye-tracking technique as an objective tool, which can allow one to identify and estimate confusion points met by road users when using such an object. The field tests with 23 drivers were conducted in the K&F zone of Kraków Airport, and the data analysis focused on the traffic organisation and road signage as its key and integral parts. The eye-tracking approach allowed us to clearly find confusing situations for drivers as well as explain their reasons confirming its suitability and usefulness for the declared aim. Also, the perception of standardised and unstandardised signage of the K&F zone as well as the influence of route familiarity for drivers were discussed.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transportation in the 21st Century: New Vision on Future Mobility)
Open AccessArticle
Computer Vision System Based on the Analysis of Gait Features for Fall Risk Assessment in Elderly People
by
Rogelio Cedeno-Moreno, Diana L. Malagon-Barillas, Luis A. Morales-Hernandez, Mayra P. Gonzalez-Hernandez and Irving A. Cruz-Albarran
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3867; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093867 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
Up to 30% of people over the age of 60 are at high risk of falling, which can cause injury, aggravation of pre-existing conditions, or even death, with up to 684,000 fatal falls reported annually. This is due to the difficult task of
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Up to 30% of people over the age of 60 are at high risk of falling, which can cause injury, aggravation of pre-existing conditions, or even death, with up to 684,000 fatal falls reported annually. This is due to the difficult task of establishing a preventive system for the care of the elderly, both in the hospital environment and at home. Therefore, this work proposes the development of an intelligent vision system that uses a novel methodology to infer fall risk from the analysis of kinetic and spatiotemporal gait parameters. In general, each patient is assessed using the Tinetti scale. Then, the computer vision system estimates the biomechanics of walking and obtains gait features, such as stride length, cadence, period, and range of motion. Subsequently, this information serves as input to an artificial neural network that diagnoses the risk of falling. Ninety-six participants took part in the study. The system’s performance was 99.1% accuracy, 94.4% precision, 96.9% recall, 99.4% specificity, and 95.5% F1-Score. Thus, the proposed system can evaluate the fall risk assessment, which could benefit clinics, hospitals, and even homes by allowing them to assess in real time whether a person is at high risk of falling to provide timely assistance.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Sensors for Postural or Gait Stability Assessment)
Open AccessArticle
Relationship between Preoperative Maxillomandibular Transverse Discrepancy and Post-Surgical Stability in Class II Malocclusion
by
Chae-kyung Lee, Kyung-Ho Kim, Kee-Joon Lee, Jung-Yul Cha, Sang-Sun Han and Hyung-Seog Yu
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3866; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093866 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the presurgical maxillomandibular transverse index and post-surgical stability one year after mandibular advancement. For the material and methods, twenty-two subjects who were treated with mandibular advancement were enrolled in this study. Postsurgical
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The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the presurgical maxillomandibular transverse index and post-surgical stability one year after mandibular advancement. For the material and methods, twenty-two subjects who were treated with mandibular advancement were enrolled in this study. Postsurgical stability was defined as the horizontal mandibular position change of <2 mm in lateral cephalogram 1 year after surgery. Subjects were divided into two groups according to the maintenance of postsurgical stability: a stable group (group S) and a less stable group (group LS). Presurgical maxillomandibular transverse index was determined as Yonsei transverse index (YTI) one month before surgery. A logistic analysis was performed on the postsurgical stability according to the YTI value. The presurgical, post-expansion target YTI value was obtained using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. There were no notable differences in the baseline characteristics of the two groups except for vertical positions of point A, B, and gender distribution. Before surgery, however, there was a significant difference in YTI at both the fossa and CR level between the groups. The amount of mandibular advancement did not show a significant difference. The odds ratio for YTI was 0.35 (p = 0.024). The prediction of stability of presurgical YTI yielded an area under the ROC curve of 0.88. The cut-off value for YTI was 1.45 mm. It can thus be concluded that presurgical transverse index showed a correlation with postsurgical stability, and correcting it in the presurgical phase to a certain level appears to aid in securing postsurgical stability.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Biotechnology Applied to Orthodontic TSADs and CBCT)
Open AccessEditorial
Wireless Communication: Applications Security and Reliability—Present and Future
by
Ireneusz Kubiak
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3865; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093865 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
Information security is of great importance nowadays. This is related to the widespread use of new technologies in the development of long-distance communications and the use of increasingly “faster” signals. Information security can be considered in many areas of information processing, including wireless
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Information security is of great importance nowadays. This is related to the widespread use of new technologies in the development of long-distance communications and the use of increasingly “faster” signals. Information security can be considered in many areas of information processing, including wireless systems and wired systems that are based on electronic devices. Each of such devices is a source of electromagnetic disturbances but may also be sensitive to such disturbances. This Special Issue titled “Wireless Communication: Applications, Security, and Reliability” covers a broad spectrum of information security related to cybersecurity, cryptography, and electromagnetic protection. In each case, the information protection solutions used must keep up with the development of technologies used in information processing. The broad thematic area of this Special Issue was intended to encourage scientists and researchers to present their research results and the goals that this research was intended to serve. At the same time, it could allow for the exchange of knowledge and experience gained during the work on information security.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Identification of High-Order Nonlinear Coupled Systems Using a Data-Driven Approach
by
Rodolfo Daniel Velázquez-Sánchez, Jonathan Omega Escobedo-Alva, Raymundo Peña-García, Ricardo Tapia-Herrera and Jesús Alberto Meda-Campaña
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3864; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093864 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
Most works related to the identification of mathematical nonlinear systems suggest that such approaches can always be directly applied to any nonlinear system. This misconception is greatly discouraging when the obtained results are not expected. Thus, the current work hypothesizes that the more
[...] Read more.
Most works related to the identification of mathematical nonlinear systems suggest that such approaches can always be directly applied to any nonlinear system. This misconception is greatly discouraging when the obtained results are not expected. Thus, the current work hypothesizes that the more information one has about the mathematical structure of the model, the most precise the identification result. Therefore, a variant of the Sparse Identification of Nonlinear Dynamics (SINDY) approach is presented to obtain the full mathematical nonlinear model of a high-order system with coupled dynamics, namely, a commercial quadcopter. Furthermore, due to its high sensitivity to inputs, a control system is devised using the identified model to stabilize the quadcopter. This illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed identification method.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Computing and Artificial Intelligence)
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Open AccessArticle
Investigation of the Effects of Vortex Isolation Plates with Different Opening Ratios and Sizes on Vortex-Induced Vibration
by
Hanxin He, Jiaying Wang and Feng Wang
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3863; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093863 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
Twin-box girders are a good option for long-span cable-bearing bridges due to their excellent stability. Nonetheless, the girder’s slots may generate vortex-induced vibrations (VIVs). Fortunately, appropriate aerodynamic measures can effectively suppress the VIVs in twin-box girders while reducing costs. To examine the effects
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Twin-box girders are a good option for long-span cable-bearing bridges due to their excellent stability. Nonetheless, the girder’s slots may generate vortex-induced vibrations (VIVs). Fortunately, appropriate aerodynamic measures can effectively suppress the VIVs in twin-box girders while reducing costs. To examine the effects of vortex isolation plates with varying aperture diameters and opening ratios on the VIVs, a segment model wind tunnel test was conducted. The results demonstrated that a reduction in the opening ratio improved the performance under heaving VIVs, but there was no discernible trend under torsional vibrations. It was also discovered that the opening size significantly influences the length of the lock-in region of torsional vibrations. Furthermore, heaving VIVs have a substantial correlation with both of the girder’s boxes, while torsional vibrations are mostly connected with the downstream section.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Civil Engineering)
Open AccessArticle
Effects of Flaxseed Mucilage Admixture on Ordinary Portland Cement Fresh and Hardened States
by
Haris Brevet, Rose-Marie Dheilly, Nicolas Montrelay, Koffi Justin Houessou, Emmanuel Petit and Adeline Goullieux
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3862; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093862 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
France is Europe’s leading producer of flaxseed. This seed is rich in omega-3, energy, and protein for animals, but it also contains anti-nutritional factors such as mucilage. Thus, mucilage must be removed and could be used as a bio-admixture in cementitious materials development,
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France is Europe’s leading producer of flaxseed. This seed is rich in omega-3, energy, and protein for animals, but it also contains anti-nutritional factors such as mucilage. Thus, mucilage must be removed and could be used as a bio-admixture in cementitious materials development, reducing the environmental impact of cementitious materials. This study aims to valorize the usage of flaxseed mucilage (FM) in ordinary Portland cement. FM caused macroscopic and microscopic changes in the materials studied. The higher the concentration, the greater the changes were. The admixed samples showed an exponentially concentration-dependent delay in setting. FM degradation products induced by the cementitious conditions accentuated the delay. However, this delay in setting did not affect the hydrates’ growth in the material. In fact, FM showed a “delay accelerator” behavior, meaning that once hydration began, it was accelerated as compared to a reference. Macroscopically, FM induced significant flocculation, increasing material porosity and carbonation. Consequently, bulk density and thermal conductivity were reduced. At the highest amount of FM admixture (0.75% w/w), FM allowed bridge formation between Ca(OH)2 crystals, which can improve the mechanical properties of mortars. Because FM is highly hygroscopic, it has the capability to absorb water and subsequently release it gradually and under controlled conditions into the cement matrix. Therefore, regulation of water diffusion from the mucilage may induce the self-healing properties responsible for mechanical properties similar to that of the reference in the medium to long term.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development, Characterization, Application and Recycling of Novel Construction Materials)
Open AccessArticle
Research on Mechanical Properties of Steel–Polypropylene Fiber-Reinforced Concrete after High-Temperature Treatments
by
Xinggang Shen, Xia Li, Lei Liu, Xinzuo Chen and Jun Du
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3861; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093861 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
A mechanical property experiment was carried out on steel-polypropylene fiber-reinforced concrete after elevated temperatures by using a 50 mm diameter SHPB apparatus. The regulations of compressive strength, elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and other mechanical properties under six heating temperature levels (normal temperature, 100
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A mechanical property experiment was carried out on steel-polypropylene fiber-reinforced concrete after elevated temperatures by using a 50 mm diameter SHPB apparatus. The regulations of compressive strength, elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and other mechanical properties under six heating temperature levels (normal temperature, 100 °C, 200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C, and 800 °C) and three impact pressures (0.3 MPa, 0.4 MPa, 0.5 MPa) were studied. Using ANSYS/LS-DYNA 19.0 numerical simulation software and LS-PrePost post-processing software, numerical simulation analysis was conducted on the dynamic Hopkinson uniaxial impact compression and uniaxial dynamic impact splitting mechanical experiments of C40 plain concrete and steel–polypropylene hybrid fiber concrete. The results show that the dynamic compressive strength of hybrid fiber concrete with the optimal dosage reaches its maximum at a temperature group of 200 °C, and the dynamic compressive strength of hybrid fiber concrete with the optimal dosage increases by 97.1% compared to C40 plain concrete at a temperature group of 800 °C. The impact waveform and stress–strain curve results of the numerical simulation are very similar to the experimental results. The errors in calculating the peak stress and peak strain are within 6%, which can truly and accurately simulate the static mechanical properties and failure process of hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Complex Rock Mechanics Problems and Solutions)
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