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In the generalized continuum mechanics (GCM) theory framework, asymmetric wave equations encompass the characteristic scale parameters of the medium, accounting for microstructure interactions. This study integrates two theoretical branches of the GCM, the modified couple stress theory (M-CST) and the one-parameter second-strain-gradient theory, to form a novel asymmetric wave equation in a unified framework. Numerical modeling of the asymmetric wave equation in a unified framework accurately describes subsurface structures with vital implications for subsequent seismic wave inversion and imaging endeavors. However, employing finite-difference (FD) methods for numerical modeling may introduce numerical dispersion, adversely affecting the accuracy of numerical modeling. The design of an optimal FD operator is crucial for enhancing the accuracy of numerical modeling and emphasizing the scale effects. Therefore, this study devises a hybrid scheme called the dung beetle optimization (DBO) algorithm with a simulated annealing (SA) algorithm, denoted as the SA-based hybrid DBO (SDBO) algorithm. An FD operator optimization method under the SDBO algorithm was developed and applied to the numerical modeling of asymmetric wave equations in a unified framework. Integrating the DBO and SA algorithms mitigates the risk of convergence to a local extreme. The numerical dispersion outcomes underscore that the proposed SDBO algorithm yields FD operators with precision errors constrained to 0.5‱ while encompassing a broader spectrum coverage. This result confirms the efficacy of the SDBO algorithm. Ultimately, the numerical modeling results demonstrate that the new FD method based on the SDBO algorithm effectively suppresses numerical dispersion and enhances the accuracy of elastic wave numerical modeling, thereby accentuating scale effects. This result is significant for extracting wavefield perturbations induced by complex microstructures in the medium and the analysis of scale effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the fractal characteristics of rock crack distributions during the loading process, discrete element method was used to make rock samples with joints and record the crack propagation. The Box-counting method was used to quantitatively analyze the fractal dimension of the crack distribution at each moment, and the relationship between the crack fractal dimension and strain ratio was established based on fractal theory. The results indicated that the relationship between the fractal dimension of the crack distribution and strain ratio showed a strong linear characteristic. By transforming this linear relationship into a linear function, the slope of the function was found to be linked to the failure patterns of the sample, and a refinement coefficient (damage-fracture reduction factor) was identified from the slope as an effective basis for determining the degree of sample damage and fracture. The damage-fracture reduction factor can be categorized: 0.25–0.5 (spilt and fracture), 0.5–0.9 (synergy between fracture and damage), 0.9–1 (microcrack asymptotic damage). Owing to the linear fractal characteristics, an expression for the damage variables influenced by failure patterns can be established from the geometric aspect. In addition, the linear fractal characteristics of the cracks were verified in other acoustic emission and crack extension experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the equilibrium effects of innovation subsidies that reduce firms' innovation costs in a monopolistic competition model with firm heterogeneity in innovation capabilities and an industry-level resource constraint. Subsidies change product market competition and resource price, and further affect firms' innovation. We show a counterintuitive result: though subsidies lower innovation costs, high-capability firms may reduce their innovation. This finding implies that the demand curve for innovation investments of certain firms in equilibrium can be locally upward-sloping. We show that at the industry level, both average innovation input and output demonstrate inverted-U-shaped responses to increasing subsidies, with differing turning points. Notably, an increase in average innovation input may be accompanied by a decrease in average innovation output. These findings cast doubts on the interpretation of existing empirical evidences on firm and industry responses to innovation subsidies, most of which assume away treatment effect heterogeneity and equilibrium feedbacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT) is a kind of mechanical assistive technology that can reduce the residual stress of the as-deposited metal parts. Up to now, the mechanism of ultrasonic characteristics affecting the residual stress has not been revealed distinctly. In this work, the 1Cr12Ni3MoVN deposition layer was treated by UIT with multiple ultrasonic characteristics. The results show that UIT transforms the residual tensile stress of the LMD deposition layer into compressive stress. As the amplitude increases from 20 to 30 μm, the maximum and depth of transverse residual stress observed in the vertical direction increased from 354 to 381 MPa and from 0.364 to 0.523 mm. The maximum and depth of longitudinal residual stress increased from 258 to 318 MPa and from 0.482 to 0.785 mm. As the frequency increases from 15 to 25 kHz, the maximum and depth of transverse residual stress observed in the vertical direction increased from 207 to 406 MPa and 0.301 to 0.395 mm. The maximum and depth of longitudinal residual stress increased from 240 to 326 MPa and from 0.341 to 0.517 mm. The influence of ultrasonic frequency is not as prominent as ultrasonic amplitude. The maximum impact velocity of the pin is the major factor determining the residual compressive stress field. The acceleration of the pin is positively correlated with the downward velocity of the horn. Increasing the ultrasonic amplitude can effectively increase the velocity of the horn. Once the impact energy is large enough, the σmax is basically unchanged, but the increase of impact energy can still increase the d. This work is of guiding significance for the elimination and control of residual stress in parts manufactured by LMD and other additive manufacturing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrene boxes, self‐assembled from 1,3,5,8‐pyrene‐tetrasulfonate anions, PTS4− and Guanidinium G+, amino‐guanidinium AG+ and hydrated alkali counter cations have been used for the encapsulation of 1,ω‐amino‐acids of variable lengths. The NMR spectroscopy illustrates that these systems are stable in aqueous solution and encapsulation process involves dynamic or fixed guest molecules within Pyrene box, depending of the nature of the counter‐cations. The amide bond coupling between the amino‐guanidinium AG+ and encapsulated 1,ω‐amino‐acid guests occur in water in the absence of coupling catalysts. The variable co‐encapsulation of the guests via multivalent stabilizing interactions shed light that chemical selection can be obtained from mixtures of 1,ω‐amino‐acids. Our study involving a comprehensive screening of 18 co‐crystal structures help to understand the in‐situ fixation of 1,ω‐amino‐acid guests and their accurate determination of unconventional structures under confinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T-shaped mortise and tenon members are the main structure of traditional Chinese furniture. In this paper, the double-dovetail joint used for face-toface joint of rubber wood (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg) is transformed into a new type of double-dovetail joint and rounded double-dovetail joint for T-shaped members of point joint structure. The ultimate pull-out test and bending strength test were carried out on the two structures and three structures of oval mortise, round rod mortise and right angle mortise. The results show that the ultimate pull-out force of the round double-dovetail joint is 39% higher than that of the double-dovetail joint, and the bending resistance capacity is 8.9% higher, and the strength and stability are better than those of other split mortises and tenons, which proves that this structure can be used in actual production, and also proves that the mortise and tenon connected by the surface has the possibility of transforming into a point connection structure. The concave structure of the rounded double-dovetail joint makes the mortise and tenon fit well, the tenon squeezed tight, and a good bonding effect was achieved. This structure can also provide greater friction and resistance, delay rubber adhesive failure and improve the stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of pressure on the microstructure and properties of Ti–Al coating on titanium alloy surface is studied. Ti–Al coating is prepared on the surface of titanium alloy by pressure-assisted high-temperature thermal diffusion. The manufacturing method is simple and easy to operate. The microstructure and element distribution of the coating are analyzed under different processes, and the composition of the coating is tested. The test results show that the substrate alloy and the coating alloy are not connected when the coating is diffused at 650 °C. The coating diffused at 750 °C without pressure is mostly connected to the substrate, but there are microscopic gaps in some areas. The main components of the coating diffused at 750 °C under 80 Pa pressure are TiAl, Ti3Al, and other intermetallic compounds. The boundary between the substrate and the coating is flat, and there is no obvious micro gap, so the metallurgical connection is fundamentally realized. In addition, the maximum hardness can reach 334.9HV0.2. The thickness of the coating diffused at 750 °C under 160 Pa pressure was greatly reduced, showing a gradient form. The surface quality of the outer coating is poor, the structure density of the binding layer is also poor, and there are no obvious penetrating cracks. The bonding between the coating and the substrate is effectively enhanced by an auxiliary action under certain pressure, and then the microstructure and properties of the coating are improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrene boxes, self‐assembled from 1,3,5,8‐pyrene‐tetrasulfonate anions, PTS4− and Guanidinium G+, amino‐guanidinium AG+ and hydrated alkali counter cations have been used for the encapsulation of 1,ω‐amino‐acids of variable lengths. The NMR spectroscopy illustrates that these systems are stable in aqueous solution and encapsulation process involves dynamic or fixed guest molecules within Pyrene box, depending of the nature of the counter‐cations. The amide bond coupling between the amino‐guanidinium AG+ and encapsulated 1,ω‐amino‐acid guests occur in water in the absence of coupling catalysts. The variable co‐encapsulation of the guests via multivalent stabilizing interactions shed light that chemical selection can be obtained from mixtures of 1,ω‐amino‐acids. Our study involving a comprehensive screening of 18 co‐crystal structures help to understand the in‐situ fixation of 1,ω‐amino‐acid guests and their accurate determination of unconventional structures under confinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying and protecting hotspots of endemism and species richness is crucial for mitigating the global biodiversity crisis. However, our understanding of spatial diversity patterns is far from complete, which severely limits our ability to conserve biodiversity hotspots. Here, we report a comprehensive analysis of amphibian species diversity in China, one of the most species-rich countries on Earth. Our study combines 20 y of field surveys with new molecular analyses of 521 described species and also identifies 100 potential cryptic species. We identify 10 hotspots of amphibian diversity in China, each with exceptional species richness and endemism and with exceptional phylogenetic diversity and phylogenetic endemism (based on a new time-calibrated, species-level phylogeny for Chinese amphibians). These 10 hotspots encompass 59.6% of China's described amphibian species, 49.0% of cryptic species, and 55.6% of species endemic to China. Only four of these 10 hotspots correspond to previously recognized biodiversity hotspots. The six new hotspots include the Nanling Mountains and other mountain ranges in South China. Among the 186 species in the six new hotspots, only 9.7% are well covered by protected areas and most (88.2%) are exposed to high human impacts. Five of the six new hotspots are under very high human pressure and are in urgent need of protection. We also find that patterns of richness in cryptic species are significantly related to those in described species but are not identical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal sewage sludge has a high content of phosphorus, which has a high utilization value. However, this useful resource is always wasted during sludge landfill and incineration processes. In this study, lime was used to regulate the stability of sludge and lime-dried sludge (LDS) was used as a substitute for raw meal and sintering additive for cement clinker production. The variation of phosphorus content or concentration and its threshold level in LDS was investigated. The results showed that after lime drying, 90% of the phosphorus in the sludge existed in the form of inorganic phosphorus (IP), of which 80% was in the stable apatite state. More than 85% of the phosphorus in LDS was eutectic with clinker, avoiding secondary pollution in the synergistic process of cement kiln. The addition of LDS as a phosphorus sintering flux for clinker plays a good role in promoting the formation of bauxite in clinker and improving the burnability of raw materials. The addition of up to 15 wt.% of LDS containing 0.53% P2O5 to cement raw meal does not affect the clinker reaction. As an important flux in cement production, LDS can save phosphate rock and replace flux as a cement sintering ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How and when the ocean-continent transition started in the western Altaids remain controversial. The paleomagnetic signals recorded by late Paleozoic rocks in the Turpan-Hami block can provide critical constraints on this issue. We conducted a new combined paleomagnetic and geochronologic study on the late Paleozoic rocks from the Turpan-Hami block. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry zircon U-Pb dating of volcanic beds from the Upper Carboniferous Qijiaojing and Julideneng Formations yielded ages of 313.1 ± 4.3 Ma and 309.6 ± 1.9 Ma to 308.1 ± 3.6 Ma, respectively. Meanwhile, the U-Pb age of the granite intruding the Julideneng Formation is 300.3 ± 2.4 Ma. Passing a series of fold tests, the characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) directions of the Qijiaojing Formation are likely primary and consistent with the Kiaman reversed superchron (ca. 319-267 Ma). However, the ChRM values of the Dananhu (Middle Devonian) and Julideneng Formations all represent reverse polarity with negative fold tests, which indicate remagnetizations related to the magmatic thermal events during the late Carboniferous. Thus, two high-quality paleomagnetic poles were obtained for the periods ca. 313-308 Ma at 44.4°N, 177.3°E (K = 22.1, A95 = 8.0°) and ca. 300 Ma at 47.8°N, 173.9°E (K = 116.0, A95 = 4.8°), respectively. Comparison with published coeval paleomagnetic poles of the blocks on both sides of the Tianshan sutures western Paleo-Asian Ocean (between the Siberian and Tarim blocks) had been closed since the late Carboniferous (ca. 310 Ma), apart from remnant seas. In addition, a sizeable clockwise rotation (~58°) of the Turpan-Hami block had taken place during the early Permian, with a scissor-style shrinking of the remnant Bogda marine basin in the meantime. This study provides a new perspective for understanding the tectonic evolution of the western Altaids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of this thesis is to evaluate the effect of bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) on osteoarthritis (OA) and comprehensively evaluate the role of the Nuclear Factor erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2) signalling pathway in chondrocytes. Method: In our study, we treated chondrocytes with BDMC in an in vitro chondrocyte assay and measured its influence on extracellular matrix (ECM) expression, downstream heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) levels. Results: Our study indicates that BDMC significantly activates the Nrf2 signaling pathway in chondrocytes in vitro. Furthermore, the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 3, interleukin 1ß, recombinant a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS)4 and (ADAMTS)5 was significantly suppressed by BDMC. Conclusion: This study confirms the potential for BDMC to activate the Nrf2/HO-1/NLRP3 signalling pathway and alleviate OA symptoms. Therefore, BDMC is a promising therapeutic agent for OA that offers new insights and treatment methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) was involved in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). We tested whether plasma PKM2 concentrations were correlated with clinical severity and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in CAD patients. Materials and methods: A total of 2443 CAD patients and 238 controls were enrolled. The follow-up time was two years. Plasma PKM2 concentrations were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (Cloud-Clone, Wuhan, China) using SpectraMax i3x Multi-Mode Microplate Reader (Molecular Devices, San Jose, USA). The predictors of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were assessed by logistic regression analysis. The association between PKM2 concentration in different quartiles and MACEs was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves with log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard models. The predictive value of PKM2 and a cluster of conventional risk factors was determined by Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The net reclassification improvement (NRI) and the integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were utilized to evaluate the enhancement in risk prediction when PKM2 was added to a predictive model containing a cluster of conventional risk factors. Results: In CAD patients, PKM2 concentration was the independent predictor of ACS (P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier cumulative survival curves and Cox proportional hazards analyses revealed that patients with a higher PKM2 concentration had higher incidence of MACEs compared to those with a lower PKM2 concentration (P < 0.001). The addition of PKM2 to a cluster of conventional risk factors significantly increased its prognostic value of MACEs. Conclusion: Baseline plasma PKM2 concentrations predict the clinical severity and prognosis of CAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Endoscopic parathyroidectomy(EPTX) has been gradually introduced as a minimally invasive treatment for refractory secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). However, it is uncertain about the efficacy and safety compared between EPTX and open parathyroidectomy (OPTX) for refractory SHPT. Aim: This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EPTX and OPTX for secondary hyperp arathyroidism (SHPT). Material and methods: Databases including PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Wanfang were searched. Eligible studies comparing EPTX and OPTX for refractory SHPT were included. Results: Compared with OPTX, EPTX has the shorter hospital stay (p < 0.01) and lower incidences of hoarseness or recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (p = 0.04). There was no significant difference between EPTX and OPTX concerning operation time (p = 0.49), intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.24), postoperative parathyroid hormone levels (p = 0.22), postoperative calcium levels (p = 0.93), postoperative phosphorus levels (p = 0.37), and complications including neck ecchymosis (p = 0.87), subcutaneous haematoma (p = 0.18), and wound infection (p = 0.11). Conclusions: EPTX and OPTX are both effective methods for refractory SHPT. EPTX had the shorter hospital stay and lower incidences of hoarseness or recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has strained population breast mammography screening programs that aim to diagnose and treat breast cancers earlier. As the pandemic has affected countries differently, we aimed to quantify changes in breast screening volume and uptake during the first year of COVID-19. We systematically searched Medline, the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 database, and governmental databases. Studies covering January 2020 to March 2022 were included. We extracted and analyzed data regarding study methodology, screening volume, and uptake. To assess for risk of bias, we used the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tool. Twenty-six cross-sectional descriptive studies (focusing on 13 countries/nations) were included out of 935 independent records. Reductions in screening volume and uptake rates were observed among eight countries. Changes in screening participation volume in five nations with national population-based screening ranged from -13 to -31%. Among two countries with limited population-based programs, the decline ranged from -61 to -41%. Within the USA, population participation volumes varied ranging from +18 to -39%, with suggestion of differences by insurance status (HMO, Medicare, and low-income programs). Almost all studies had high risk of bias due to insufficient statistical analysis and confounding factors. The extent of COVID-19-induced reduction in breast screening participation volume differed by region and data suggested potential differences by healthcare setting (e.g., national health insurance vs. private healthcare). Recovery efforts should monitor access to screening and early diagnosis to determine whether prevention services need strengthening to increase the coverage of disadvantaged groups and reduce disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the production system for customized wooden doors and to gain research and development efficiency, this paper proposed the feasibility of using hierarchical clustering algorithms to cluster a company's customized wooden door products and its application to rational product family architecture. The particular use of multi-attribute feature data to locate products and the integration of image data into the database can make the original hierarchical clustering more compatible and adaptable for application to customized wooden doors. The preprocessed data was analyzed by clustering to obtain the clustering results and similarity relationships. Hierarchical clustering results were uneven and not entirely interpreted. However, the internal order structure of clusters and the clustering process could be clearly observed, and the distance hierarchical relationship between the products could be obtained, which was beneficial to the division of the product architecture. The results illustrated that processing using hierarchical clustering of multi-attribute data is feasible for optimizing customized wooden door product systems. In addition, the product architecture, product coding rules, and front-end development process were established to improve standardization and research and development efficiency. There is still great potential for developing the custom wooden door category in custom furniture companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During pesticide spraying operations, the downwash airflow generated by the rotor UAV disperses the rice canopies with different wind vortex intensities, resulting in different degrees of morphological changes of rice sheaves in the target area. However, it is inconclusive whether it will affect rice yield. In this paper, dispersed canopy parameters and rice yield data through experiments of conventional flight operation and unconventional hovering operation were collected, aiming to conduct a comparative analysis of the effects of UAV wind vortex intensity on the morphology and yield of rice sheaves in the spraying operation. The results showed that in the conventional flight operation, the wind vortex had little effect on rice morphology and yield. Due to the influence of the short downwash airflow, the rice canopies were rapidly dispersed and produced a restorable canopy-vortex patch. After the UAV withdrew, the rice canopies recovered immediately. In the unconventional hovering operation, with the increase of vortex intensity, the rice canopies forged unrestorable canopy-vortex, which caused significant changes in rice morphology and eventually led to a yield reduction, of 1.21% at preliminary heading stage, 9.05% at full heading stage and 4.87% at mature stage. The experiments indicated that wind vortex did not affect rice during conventional plant protection, while the unrestorable canopy-vortex patch caused by the prolonged operational duration in unconventional hovering operation did affect rice morphology and yield, especially after the full heading stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On September 16, 2021, a MS6.0 earthquake struck Luxian County, one of the shale gas blocks in the Southeastern Sichuan Basin, China. To understand the seismogenic environment and its mechanism, we inverted a fine three-dimensional S-wave velocity model from ambient noise tomography using data from a newly deployed dense seismic array around the epicenter, by extracting and jointly inverting the Rayleigh phase and group velocities in the period of 1.6-7.2 s. The results showed that the velocity model varied significantly beneath different geological units. The Yujiasi syncline is characterized by low velocity at depths of ~ 3.0-4.0 km, corresponding to the stable sedimentary layer in the Sichuan Basin. The eastern and western branches of the Huayingshan fault belt generally exhibit high velocities in the NE-SW direction, with a few local low-velocity zones. The Luxian MS6.0 earthquake epicenter is located at the boundary between the high- and low-velocity zones, and the earthquake sequences expand eastward from the epicenter at depths of 3.0-5.0 km. Integrated with the velocity variations around the epicenter, distribution of aftershock sequences, and focal mechanism solution, it is speculated that the seismogenic mechanism of the main shock might be interpreted as the reactivation of pre-existing faults by hydraulic fracturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ti–Al composite coating was prepared on the surface of a titanium alloy by the laser cladding technology and coaxial powder feeding under argon protection. The cladding material was AlSi10Mg aluminum alloy powder. The intermediate sample was thermally diffused at high temperature for 6 h and then placed in a certain intensity of the alternating electromagnetic field until completely cooled. The alloy substrate and coating solidified under the action of the alternating electromagnetic field, and the surface coating of a high strength titanium alloy was obtained. The morphology and microstructure of the composite coating were analyzed by SEM, XRD, and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and the hardness of the coating was measured. The results showed that the high temperature thermal diffusion promoted the interatomic diffusion; repaired some defects, such as cracks and pores; and eliminated the elemental metals that did not participate in the reaction, and the surface hardness of the coating joint reached the maximum. The electromagnetic stirring makes the titanium alloy coating and substrate bond well, the joint is relatively straight, the number of cracks and pores is obviously reduced, and the comprehensive performance of the coating is improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] The paper was to comprehensively assess the available evidence on the diagnostic value of high-field intraoperative MRI (iMRl) for residual tumor in high-grade glioma (HGG) and its prognostic impact on HGG. [ Methods] We conducted a systematic literature search of electronic databases including PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library' to identify eligible studies. Study quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2). The primary outcome was the gross total resection rate, with secondary outcomes including overall survival and 6-month progression-free survival. [Results] From a review of 132 candidate articles, we identified six articles with a total of 573 patients. The pooled risk ratio (RR) was 1.583 (95% CI-, 1.235 - 2.029), indicating that high-field intraoperative MRI guided resection was associated with a reduced risk of 6-month progression-free survival, with a HR of 0.53 (95% CI; 0.348 - 0.806). The pooled HR of overall survival was 0.796 (95% CI; 0.581 -1.089) between the two groups. [ Conclusions] High-field iMRI appears to enable achievement of an ideal resection, although no strong evidence indicates that its application is associated with patient survival. Our study innovatively considered the effect of magnetic field intensity on tumor resection, and we found that 3 Tesla did not show a more favorable impact on improving the tumor resection rate compared with 1.5 Tesla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panel furniture uses an intelligent management system, combined with the production method of splitting orders by process, to achieve large quantities and large-scale manufacturing, but because of the insufficient and incomplete use of technology, capacity bottlenecks still exist. The problem of rework and replenishment is a long-term problem in furniture production. Under the constraints of existing production rules, the time difference of plates rework forces the original batch of plates to wait, which reduces the efficiency of warehousing. From the perspective of intelligent manufacturing for the optimization of the plates rework process, this study, through on-site observation records and data analysis of the production system, aimed to find short-term solutions and long-term solutions. In the short-term response, the time node for the completion of the replenishment is mainly according to the process regulations, and the plates are packaged into the warehouse after the replenishment is completed in batches. The long-term response strategy is mainly to achieve the interconnection of different production systems to achieve mutual information, and the paperless online operation of the plates rework process increases the subjective initiative of each process to improve the overall efficiency of the plates rework process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green Velvet Material (PLON), which is prepared from polyester slices, has been called a green material based on its ester composition, its ability to be degraded, and the possibility of recovering the value of used material by reprocessing. PLON is expected to be used as a material for the padding layer of upholstered furniture. This paper presented a comparative study of traditional flexible polyurethane foam and Green Velvet Material as the upholstered furniture’s padding layer. The compression mechanical properties of Green Velvet Material and flexible polyurethane foam, such as indentation force deflection, support performance, compression set, and resilience property, were analyzed. The results showed that Green Velvet Material had lower surface hardness and higher comfort compared to flexible polyurethane foam. In terms of resilience, both high-density and low-density Green Velvet Material performed better than the foam control group, but Green Velvet Material had a poorer ability to regain its shape after prolonged pressure. The 30 kg/m³ density Green Velvet Material was the closest to the compression and resilience properties of flexible polyurethane foam. The conclusions provide theoretical data for the effective and reasonable application of Green Velvet Material in upholstered furniture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Adenomyosis prevalence among women with infertility is increasing; their management during in vitro fertilization is usually based on ultrasound diagnosis alone. Herein, we summarize the latest evidence on the impact of ultrasound-diagnosed adenomyosis on in vitro fertilization outcomes. Material and methods: The study was registered with The International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42022355584). We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to January 31, 2023, for cohort studies on the impact of adenomyosis on in vitro fertilization outcomes. Fertility outcomes were compared according to the presence of adenomyosis as diagnosed by ultrasound, concurrent endometriosis and adenomyosis, and MRI-based or MRI-and ultrasound-based adenomyosis diagnosis. Live birth rate was the primary outcome while clinical pregnancy and miscarriage rates were secondary outcomes. Results: Women diagnosed with adenomyosis by ultrasound had lower live birth (odds ratio [OR] = 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.53-0.82, grade: very low), lower clinical pregnancy (OR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.53-0.77, grade: very low), and higher miscarriage (OR = 1.81; 95% CI: 1.35-2.44, grade: very low) rates than those without adenomyosis. Notably, symptomatic and diffuse, but not asymptomatic adenomyosis as diagnosed by ultrasound, adversely affected in vitro fertilization outcomes, with lower live birth (OR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.34-0.96, grade: very low), clinical pregnancy (OR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.57-0.85, grade: low), and miscarriage (OR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.28-4.82, grade: low) rates; and lower live birth (OR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.23-0.59, grade: low) and clinical pregnancy (OR = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.34-0.75, grade: low), but not miscarriage rate (OR = 2.18; 95% CI: 0.72-6.62, grade: very low), respectively. Concurrent adenomyosis in endometriosis is associated with a significantly lower live birth rate (OR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.26-0.75, grade: low) than endometriosis alone. Finally, the use of MRI-based or MRI-and ultrasound-based adenomyosis diagnosis showed no significant association with in vitro fertilization outcomes (grade: very low for all outcomes). Conclusions: Considering ultrasound findings, symptoms, and different subtypes of adenomyosis may aid in offering personalized counseling, improving treatment decisions, and achieving better outcomes of in vitro fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of four taxane drugs, namely, paclitaxel, docetaxel, paclitaxel liposomes (Lipusu), and nab-paclitaxel (Keaili) on ovarian cancer cells both in vivo and in vitro. Methods: BALB/c-nu/nu female mice were used to develop mouse xenograft models. The mice were randomized to 5 groups (4 in each group), namely, control (PBS) group, paclitaxel group, docetaxel group, liposomal paclitaxel group and nab-paclitaxel group. The effect of four taxane drugs were determined via cell proliferation and toxicity tests. Mouse xenograft models were employed to assess the efficacy of four taxane drugs in inhibiting tumor growth. Results: Nab-paclitaxel has a significant ovarian growth-reducing effect in vitro. In vivo, no significant differences were observed in tumor volume among the four groups (p < 0.05). Nab-paclitaxel produced the lowest animal toxicity when compared with other three drugs as the mice in nab-paclitaxel treatment group showed no significant alterations in body weight (p < 0.05). Hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining revealed the lowest degree of liver tissue damage in mice treated with nab-paclitaxel compared to mice administered the other three paclitaxels. Conclusion: Nab-paclitaxel is more effective in mice with ovarian cancer than traditional paclitaxels. Thus, it promises to offer a viable alternative as first-line chemotherapy for epithelial ovarian cancer in humans, as it has low systemic toxicity and fewer hypersensitivity reactions. However, further investigations, including clinical trials in humans, are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique thermal cycle of selective laser melting (SLM) significantly affects the undesirable formability and mechanical properties of the deposited parts, especially for materials with complex compositions. Laser shock peening (LSP) is a strengthening technology that can refine grain, convert tensile stress to compressive stress, and improve fatigue strength. In situ LSP is a technology that combines LSP and SLM without ablative coating. The combination can strengthen the additive manufacturing microstructure layer by layer. Some literature has verified the feasibility of no absorption layer and pressure confining layer LSP. However, little research reported the effects of the in situ combination on the molten pool. In this work, the finite element method (FEM) has systematically investigated the impact of scanning speed and in situ LSP on fluid flow behavior, heat transfer, and the solidification process of the molten pool. The flow velocity and the size of the molten pool decrease as the scanning speed increases. The solidification rate shows an increasing-decreasing-increasing process at low scanning speed during the solidification process. Moreover, the value of R is consistently stable at high scanning speeds. The temperature gradient increases gradually and decreases sharply with the scanning speed increase. The in situ LSP reduces the temperature and the fluid flow of the molten pool, which decreases the heat convection and the value of Peclet number, but has little effect on the solidification process of the molten pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the blow‐up phenomena of classical solutions to the compressible Navier‐Stokes‐Korteweg system with degenerate viscosity in arbitrary dimensions. Motivated by the previous work, we obtain the upper and lower decay rates of the internal energy. Furthermore, the results of blow‐up phenomena do not require that the initial data have compact support or contain vacuum in any finite region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease that tends to occur in the elderly. The main symptom is hypomnesia. More and more older people are suffering from this disease worldwide. By 2050, 152 million people worldwide are expected to have AD. It is thought that the aggregation of amyloid-beta peptides and hyper-phosphorylated tau tangles contribute to AD. The microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis appears as a new concept. The MGB axis is a collection of microbial molecules produced in the gastrointestinal tract that influence the physiological function of the brain. In this review, we discuss how the gut microbiota (GM) and its metabolites affect AD in different ways. Dysregulation of the GM has been shown to be involved in various mechanisms involved in memory and learning functions. We review the current literature on the role of the entero-brain axis in the pathogenesis of AD and its potential role as a future therapeutic target in the treatment and/or prevention of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: L-Theanine (LTA) is a biologically active ingredient in tea that shows great potential for regulating lipid metabolism. Bile acids (BA), an important end-product of cholesterol catabolism, participate in the regulation of lipid metabolism and gut microbiota. Here, we investigated the effect of LTA on lipid metabolism and the mechanism by which it regulates BA metabolism and gut microbiota. Male BALB/c mice were treated with LTA for 28 days. RESULTS: Daily LTA doses of 100 and 300 mg kg-1 d-1 altered the gut microbiota in mice, predominantly by decreasing Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Bacteroides, Clostridium and Enterorhabdus microbes associated with bile-salt hydrolase (BSH) activity, thereby decreasing the activity of BSH and increasing the levels of ileum conjugated BA (such as glycocholic acid (GCA) and lithocholic acid), thereby inhibiting the intestinal farnesoid X receptor (FXR)-fibroblast growth factor 15 (FGF15) signaling pathway. Inhibition of FXR-FGF15 signaling was accompanied by upregulation of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) mRNA and protein expression and increased hepatic production of cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, GCA, glycine cholic acid and glycine ursodeoxycholic acid. Meanwhile, increasing hepatic unconjugated BA upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of liver 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1, liver low-density lipoprotein receptor and type B scavenger receptor. Therefore, the serum levels of cholesterol and triglycerides decreased. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that LTA regulates lipid metabolism by modulating the gut microbiota and BA metabolism via the FXR-FGF15-CYP7A1 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The group decision-making problem usually involves decision makers (DMs) from different professional backgrounds, which leads to a considerable point, that it is the fact that there will be a certain difference in the professional cognition, risk preference and other hidden inherent factors of these DMs to the objective things that need to be evaluated. To improve the reasonability of decision-making, these hidden inherent preference (HIP) of DMs should be determined and eliminated prior to decision making. As a special form of fuzzy set, q-rung orthopair fuzzy numbers (q-ROFNs) is a useful tool to process uncertain information in decision making problems. Hence, under the environment of q-ROFNs, the determination of HIP based on distance from average score is proposed and a risk model is established to eliminate the HIP by analyzing the possible impact. Meanwhile, a dominant function is proposed, which extends the comparison method between q-ROFNs and an integrated decision-making method is provided. Finally, considering the application background of double carbon economy, an example by selecting the best design of electric vehicles charging station (EVCS) is conducted to illustrate the proposed method, and the feasibility and efficiency are verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that inflammatory indicators are closely related to the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, and they can serve as powerful indices for predicting recurrence and survival time after treatment. However, the predictive ability of inflammatory indicators has not been systematically studied in patients receiving transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine the predictive value of preoperative inflammatory indicators for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with TACE. METHODS: Our retrospective research involved 381 treatment-naïve patients in 3 institutions, including the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Nantong First People's Hospital, and Nantong Tumor Hospital, from January 2007 to December 2020 that received TACE as initial treatment. Relevant data of patients were collected from the electronic medical record database, and the recurrence and survival time of patients after treatment were followed up. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm was used to compress and screen the variables. We utilized Cox regression to determine the independent factors associated with patient outcomes and constructed a nomogram based on multivariate results. Finally, the nomogram was verified from discriminability, calibration ability, and practical applicability. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis revealed that the levels of aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and lymphocyte count were independent influential indicators for overall survival (OS), whereas the levels of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) was an independent influential index for progression. Nomograms exhibited an excellent concordance index (C-index), in the nomogram of OS, the C-index was 0.753 and 0.755 in training and validation cohort, respectively; and in the nomogram of progression, the C-index was 0.781 and 0.700, respectively. The time-dependent C-index, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and time-dependent area under the curve (AUC) of the nomogram all exhibited ideal discrimination ability. Calibration curves significantly coincided with the standard lines, which indicated that the nomogram had high stability and low degree of over-fitting. Decision curve analysis revealed a wider range of threshold probabilities and could augment net benefits. The Kaplan-Meier curves for risk stratification indicated that the prognosis of patients varied significantly between risk categories (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: The developed prognostic nomograms based on preoperative inflammatory indicators revealed high predictive accuracy for survival and recurrence. It can be a valuable clinical instrument for guiding individualized treatment and predicting prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the importance of the cerebellum for motor learning, and the recognized role of sleep in motor memory consolidation, surprisingly little is known about neural activity in the sleeping cerebro-cerebellar system. Here, we used wireless recording from primary motor cortex (M1) and the cerebellum in three female monkeys to examine the relationship between patterns of single-unit spiking activity observed during waking behavior and in natural sleep. Across the population of recorded units, we observed similarities in the timing of firing relative to local field potential features associated with both movements during waking and up state during sleep. We also observed a consistent pattern of asymmetry in pairwise cross-correlograms, indicative of preserved sequential firing in both wake and sleep at low frequencies. Despite the overall similarity in population dynamics between wake and sleep, there was a global change in the timing of cerebellar activity relative to motor cortex, from contemporaneous in the awake state to motor cortex preceding the cerebellum in sleep. We speculate that similar population dynamics in waking and sleep may imply that cerebellar internal models are activated in both states, despite the absence of movement when asleep. Moreover, spindle frequency coherence between the cerebellum and motor cortex may provide a mechanism for cerebellar computations to influence sleep-dependent learning processes in the motor cortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteosarcoma (OS) has a high propensity for lung metastasis, which is the leading cause of OS-related death and treatment failure. Intercellular communication between OS cells and distant lung host cells is required for the successful lung metastasis of OS cells to the lung. Before OS cells infiltrate the lung, in situ OS cells secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) that act as mediators of cell-to-cell communication. In recent years, EVs have been confirmed to act as bridges and key drivers between in situ tumors and metastatic lesions by regulating the formation of a pre-metastatic niche (PMN), defined as a microenvironment suitable for disseminated tumor cell engraftment and colonization, in distant target organs. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the underlying mechanisms of PMN formation induced by OS-derived EVs and the potential roles of EVs as targets or drug carriers in regulating PMN formation in the lung. We also provide an overview of their potential EV-based therapeutic strategies for hindering PMN formation in the context of OS lung metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To investigate the safety of intensive training for stroke recovery. [Methods] A systematic electronic search was conducted up to December 1st, 2022, and the number of falls and fall-related injuries, as well as other adverse events, were extracted. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated to assess the two intervention methods, and a 95% confidence interval (95% Cl) was calculated for each of them to ensure the statistical accuracy of the results. The heterogeneity of the included studies was also tested. [ Results] Five moderate to high quality studies comprising a total of 184 participants were included in this review. All five randomized controlled trials reported adverse events, including falls that did not result in injury, pain in the joints, back, muscle, or chest, and skin injuries such as cuts, bruises, and scrapes. The pooled analysis of these trials showed no statistically significant differences between the intensive training and control groups in terms of falls (P-0.35), pain (P=0. 07), or skin injuries (P = 0. 90). [Conclusions] This review provides good evidence to suggest that intensive training is safe and feasible as a novel intervention during the stroke recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a major cause of bone fracture in post-menopausal women. We evaluated the effects of pristimerin treatment on ovariectomy- induced osteoporosis, and its possible molecular mechanism. Material and methods: Rats were ovariectomised and biochemical markers of bone formation were determined from serum samples. The microarchitectures of bone tissues were analyzed via micro-CT scans and Western blotting assays. The cytotoxic effects of pristimerin, the differentiation of osteoclasts, and bone reabsorption were evaluated in vitro using RAW 264.7 cells. Results: Treatment with pristimerin attenuated changes in markers of bone formation and reabsorption such as creatine kinase (CK), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), collagen type I fragments (CTX), bone Gla-protein (BGP), and osteocalcin (OC) in the serum of ovariectomised rats. It also appeared to restore the microarchitecture of bone tissue. The expression levels of TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF-6), nuclear factor k light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB p65), and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) protein were significantly lower, while those of Akt and PI3K were significantly higher, in the bone tissues of the pristimerin-treated group than in negative controls. Pristimerin had no cytotoxic effect on RAW 264.7 cells and reduced the differentiation of osteoclasts, bone reabsorption, and translocation of p65 in RANKL-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells in vitro. Conclusions: Pristimerin reduces the effects of osteoporosis by restoring the altered RANKL/TRAF-6/NF-κB pathway in ovariectomised rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging, sparse aperture not only affects the imaging quality of traditional range Doppler (RD) algorithm but also increases the difficulty of translational motion compensation (TMC). For the purpose of reducing the influence of motion errors on the target imaging, reweighted alternating direction method of multipliers (RADMM) is proposed to realize the joint processing of phase adjustment and ISAR imaging. Combined with pattern-coupled sparse structure (PCSS) information of the target, the reweighted l 1 norm minimization problem is established first. Then, the minimum entropy method is adopted to estimate the phase error, and the iterative process of RADMM is deduced. Finally, the experimental results based on two sets of measured data demonstrate the validity of the proposed algorithm under the conditions of noise and sparse aperture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the effects of transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches for robotic assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on RAPN at Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University. Between September 2020 and February 2024, the included patients underwent either transperitoneal approach or retroperitoneal approach. Perioperative status, stress response, quality of life, and incidence of complications were compared between the groups. Results: A total of 105 patients were included in this analysis, with 54 patients in the Retroperitoneal group, and 51 patients in the Transperitoneal group. The retroperitoneal approach was associated with significantly better perioperative indicators compared to the transperitoneal method (P<0.05). After the surgery, serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBC), and cortisol (Cor) in the Retroperitoneal group were lower than in the Transperitoneal group (P<0.05). The quality-of-life scores of patients in the Retroperitoneal group were higher (P<0.05), but no statistically significant difference in the incidence of complications between the groups (P>0.05). Conclusions: Compared with the transperitoneal approach, the retroperitoneal method of RAPN is equally safe and is associated with improved perioperative status, lower stress response, and better quality of life for RCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vacuolar type ATPases (V-type ATPases) are highly conserved hetero-multisubunit proton pumping machineries found in all eukaryotes. They utilize ATP hydrolysis to pump protons, acidifying intracellular or extracellular compartments, and are thus crucial for various biological processes. Despite their evolutionary conservation in malaria parasites, this proton pump remains understudied. To understand the localization and biological functions of Plasmodium falciparum V-type ATPase, we employed CRISPR/Cas9 to endogenously tag the subunit A of the V1 domain. V1A (PF3D7_1311900) was tagged with a triple hemagglutinin epitope and the TetR-DOZIaptamer system for conditional expression under the regulation of anhydrotetracycline. Via immunofluorescence assays, we identified that V-type ATPase is expressed throughout the intraerythrocytic developmental cycle and is mainly localized to the digestive vacuole and parasite plasma membrane. Immuno-electron microscopy further revealed that V-type ATPase is also localized on secretory organelles in merozoites. Knockdown of V1A led to cytosolic pH imbalance and blockage of hemoglobin digestion in the digestive vacuole, resulting in an arrest of parasite development in the trophozoite-stage and, ultimately, parasite demise. Using bafilomycin A1, a specific inhibitor of V-type ATPases, we found that the P. falciparum V-type ATPase is likely involved in parasite invasion but is not critical for ring-stage development. Further, we detected a large molecular weight complex in blue native-PAGE ((1.0 MDa), corresponding to the total molecular weights of V1 and Vo domains. Together, we show that V-type ATPase is localized to multiple subcellular compartments in P. falciparum, and its functionality throughout the asexual cycle varies depending on the parasite developmental stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The arthroconidial yeast-like species currently classified in the asexual genera Geotrichum and Saprochaete and the sexual genera Dipodascus, Galactomyces and Magnusiomyces are frequently associated with dairy and cosmetics production, fruit rot and human infection. However, the taxonomic system of these fungi has not been updated to accommodate the new nomenclature code adopting the "one fungus, one name" principle. Here, we performed phylogenetic analyses of these yeast-like species based on the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit of the rRNA gene. Two monophyletic groups were recognised from these species. One group contained Dipodascus, Galactomyces, and Geotrichum species and the other Magnusiomyces and Saprochaete species. We thus assigned the species in each group into one genus and selected the genus name Geotrichum for the first group and Magnusiomyces for the second one based on the principle of priority of publication. Five new Geotrichum species were identified from arthroconidial yeast strains recently isolated from various sources in China. The new species are described as Ge. dehoogii sp. nov., Ge. fujianense sp. nov., Ge. maricola sp. nov., Ge. smithiae sp. nov., and Ge. sinensis sp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qaidam Basin is the highest and one of the largest and driest deserts on Earth. It is considered a mars analog area in China. In contrast to numerous studies concerning its geology, geophysical, and chemistry, relatively few studies have reported microbial diversity and distribution in this area. Here, we investigated culturable yeast diversity in the northeast Qaidam Basin. A total of 194 yeast strains were isolated, and 12 genera and 21 species were identified, among which 19 were basidiomycetous yeasts. Naganishia albida, N. adeliensis, and Filobasidium magnum were the three most dominant species and were distributed in thirteen samples from eight locations. Five new species (Filobasidium chaidanensis, Kondoa globosum, Symmetrospora salmoneus, Teunia nitrariae, and Vishniacozyma pseudodimennae) were found and described based on ITS and D1D2 gene loci together with phenotypic characteristics and physiochemical analysis. Representative strains from each species were chosen for the salt-tolerant test, in which species showed different responses to different levels of NaCl concentrations. Further, the strain from soil can adapt well to the higher salt stress compared to those from plants or lichens. Our study represents the first report of the yeast diversity in the Qaidam Basin, including five new species, and also provides further information on the halotolerance of yeasts from the saline environment in mars analog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cavitation damage of the pollutant wall caused by shock wave and microjet in the process of bubble collapse has attracted widespread attention. However, many researches focus on bubble collapse from the macroscopic experimental point of view, the dynamics of which is still not clear. In this paper, it takes the pressure on the upper and lower wall of pollutants as the research target, and summarizes the influence of initial radius of bubbles, compressive strain rates and temperatures on the release pressure of bubble collapse on the pollutants. The results show that: as the initial radius of bubbles increase, the maximum pressure on the upper and lower wall of benzamide increases first and then decreases. The pressure release rate of bubble increases with the increase of the compressive strain rate. Based on the pressure on the upper and lower wall of the benzamide, the temperature and initial radius of the bubble have a large influence, and the influence of the compressive strain rate is small. The paper provides theoretical guidance for the application of cavitation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate Industries apply new technologies for manufacturing and production applications. This makes the process depend upon multiple computers, robotic applications, and varying specifications, which reduces efficiency and speed. These technological challenges are incredibly diverse since an extensive range of processing technologies is available. When it comes to human-centered automation, it's all about the scientific knowledge and data encapsulation for robots to interact within this field. Robots must operate in various ecosystems and interact closely with non-professional customers. Current technology is not well adapted to this scenario, requiring sustainable management separated from available technology. In this article, the human-centered Industrial Robot using Artificial Intelligence (AI-HCIR) is suggested as a tool to resolve such issues. Several manufacturing protocols are presented to efficiently produce products that simplify human work and involve different needs. The HCIR scrutinizes it for time allocation and manufacturing time allocation. For this, a suitable processing environment and a detailed simulation is conducted. The proposed AI-HCIR achieves a 33.68% error rate, 24% throughput, and 18.7% efficiency in the smart city environment. In contrast with conventional methods, the proposed method obtains a better result efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death. As the clinical treatment for this disease is not satisfactory, it is urgent to discover new medications to treat liver cancer. Elephantopus tomentosus L. is a traditional whole grass herb, which contains sesquiterpene lactones, triterpenoids, aldehyde caffeic with good anti-tumor effect. In this study, molecular docking and network analysis were carried out to identify the active compounds, and predict the potential targets of E. tomentosus for the treatment of liver cancer. These attempts may provide insights for finding novel lead compounds for the treatment of liver cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging of targets with micromotion parts, the removal of micro-Doppler (m-D) effects is the key procedure. However, under the condition of a sparse aperture, the echo pulse is limited or incomplete, giving rise to the difficulty of eliminating m-D effects. Thus, a novel m-D effects removal algorithm is proposed, which can effectively eliminate m-D effects, as well as the interference introduced by noise and sparse aperture in the ISAR image of the main body. The proposed algorithm mainly includes two processing steps. First, combined with the cut-off point determined by the normalized singular value difference spectrum, the rough estimation of the main body is achieved by singular value decomposition (SVD). Then, the variational mode extraction (VME) is extended to complex variational mode extraction (CVME). The constrained variational problem constructed by bandwidth and spectral overlap constraints is solved by the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM), and the precise estimation of the main body is obtained. Experimental results based on both simulated and measured data demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can acquire the high-resolution ISAR image of the main body under noisy and sparse conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we first give new model formulations for computing arbitrary generalized singular value of a Grassmann matrix pair or a real matrix pair. In these new formulations, we need to solve matrix optimization problems with unitary constraints or orthogonal constraints. We propose a geometric inexact Newton--conjugate gradient (Newton-CG) method for solving the resulting matrix optimization problems. Under some mild assumptions, we establish the global and quadratic convergence of the proposed method for the complex case. Some numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness and high accuracy of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop a scale that measured the perioperative anxiety symptoms of uterine fibroids (PASM-UF) treated with focused ultrasound ablation surgery (FUAS). Methods: A panel of gynecologists, nurses, and patient-reported outcome (PRO) experts created a draft of the PASM-UF scale. Women who underwent FUAS for uterine fibroids were recruited for its psychometric validation. Assessments were conducted during admission, before surgery, and at discharge. The Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) was administered to assess criterion validity. We assessed the relationship between the developed PASM-UF and the SCL-90 via a correlation analysis. Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess internal consistency for reliability. Results: We included five items, pain, lack of appetite, fatigue (tiredness), disturbed sleep, and anxiety, in the final version of the PASM-UF. Data were collected from 228 patients. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.745, whereas the correlation coefficient between SCL-90 and PASM-UF was 0.345 (p < 0.001). The total PASM-UF scores were significantly higher in patients whose SCL-90 scores were (160 compared to those with <160 (9.85 ± 9.07 vs. 4.01 ± 5.15, p ¼ .002). Those who did not complete the SCL-90 reported lower PASM-UF scores than those who did (2.33 ± 3.27 vs. 4.67 ± 5.99, p ¼ .006). Patients reported significantly lower PASM-UF scores postoperatively than preoperatively (2.95 ± 4.18 vs. 3.92 ± 4.90, p ¼ .002). Conclusions: The PASM-UF is a valid, reliable, and sensitive scale for assessing perioperative anxiety levels among women with uterine fibroids. Statistical analysis suggests that it is also an effective instrument for scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Castor oil-based quaternary ammonium surfactant (COQA) was synthesized by an ester-exchange reaction of refined castor oil (CO) (raw material) with N,N-dimethyl ethanol amine followed by quaternization with epichlorohydrin (ECH). Its surface activity and structural features were determined. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactant at 25 °Cwas 1.79 × 10-3 mol/L. The surface tension of an aqueous COQA solution at CMC was 38.19 mN/m. Subsequently, the synthesized COQA was used to modify attapulgite (ATP) by binding it to the surface of ATP. The change in the morphology of the modified-ATP (M-ATP) was attributed to the presence of theCOQAbound to the surface of the rod-shaped crystals, although the crystal structure of the silicate did not change. Compared to ATP, the microstructure of the M-ATPwas less rigid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Similar to the vital performance factors, the receiving sensitivity and the bandwidth exist interactively in the micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS)-based vector hydrophones. Some existing methods can improve the sensitivity of the hydrophone, but these improvements are usually gained at a cost of the bandwidth. However, the cup-shaped MEMS vector hydrophone that is presented in this paper can improve its sensitivity while retaining a sufficient bandwidth. The cupshaped structure acts as a new sensing unit in the MEMS vector hydrophone, replacing the bionic columnar hair that was previously used for sensing. The relationships between the parameters of the cup-shaped structure and the sensitivity of the vector hydrophone were determined by a theoretical deduction. In addition, simulation analyses were performed, and optimized structural parameters were obtained in this work. ANSYS 15.0 simulation was used to derive the optimum characteristics for the cup-shaped structure. The results of the calibration experiments showed that the sensitivity reached up to -188.5 dB (gain of 40 dB, 1 kHz, 0 dB@1 V/lPa), and the bandwidth was in the 20 Hz-1 kHz range, which is sufficient for an underwater acoustic detection at low frequencies. This work has, thus, proved that the cup-shaped vector hydrophone has superior properties for the engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface urban heat island (SUHI) phenomenon, predominantly influenced by factors associated with the built-up environment, is prominent in large metropolitan areas. To effectively mitigate the escalating thermal environment challenges arising during large cities' developmental planning, rigorously examining the spatial interdependencies between the built-up environment and the SUHI phenomenon is imperative. Employing Beijing's primary urban area as a case study, this research addresses the gap in the systematic analysis of spatial correlations between the built-up environment and SUHI within the urban heat island effect research domain. The study leverages Landsat-8 satellite data spanning 2016–2020, Sentinel-2 land-use classification data, and 2020 digital elevation model (DEM) data, integrating them with geospatial data processing techniques to probe the multifaceted associations between the built-up environment and SUHI in a 1 × 1-km grid-based local-scale model. This investigation is distinguished by developing a Comprehensive Built-up Environment System Index, synthesized through multisource data and multidimensional methodologies. The study culminates in the following key findings: (1) Between 2016 and 2020, Beijing's primary urban area manifested an ascending spiral trend in the SUHI effect, with the heat island morphology exhibiting nonuniformity across the four seasons. (2) In the historical summer heat island scenarios of Beijing's primary urban area, the architectural and roadway environments demonstrated a consistently positive correlation with the SUHI effect. (3) Excluding the average number of floors parameter, all remaining urban built-up environment parameters exhibited a significant association with SUHI fluctuations. This research provides valuable insights on the following aspects for urban planners, policymakers, and practitioners addressing the surface urban heat island effect in Beijing's main urban area. (1) Urban heat island mitigation: Influential urban parameters, like building density, road connectivity coefficient, and green space, significantly impact surface urban heat island (SUHI) intensity. Targeted strategies, such as increasing green spaces and implementing cool roofs, can mitigate the SUHI effect and improve urban thermal comfort. (2) Season-specific planning: Recognizing seasonal variations in SUHI intensity allows for season-specific urban planning. Implementing cooling strategies, like urban cooling parks and remarkable pavement technologies, during summer in heat-prone areas efficiently helps manage thermal environments. (3) Data-driven decision-making: Leveraging geospatial data and advanced analytics fosters data-driven urban planning. Policymakers can use the Comprehensive Built-up Environment System Index to assess the impact of urban parameters on SUHI intensity, facilitating evidence-based policy formulation and adaptive management. (4) Climate-resilient urban design: Integrating SUHI mitigation measures, such as green infrastructure, cool roofs, and reflective materials, helps enhance climate resilience. Urban designers can create sustainable and climate-resilient urban environments, promoting long-term urban sustainability and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On October 11 and November 3, 2018, the disaster chain of landslide-barrier lake occurred twice in Baige Village, Xizang Province. After the second sliding of the landslide, the danger of the landslide dam was eliminated by the manual excavation of the drain grooves. During this period, a ground-based interferometric synthetic aperture radar (GB-InSAR) called "S-SAR" was utilized for real-time monitoring and analyzing 48 selected target pixels on the residual deformation bodies of landslides (divided into K1, K2, and K3 deformation zones) for 8 days. Through the real-time deformation map of pixels in the monitoring area obtained by S-SAR, the ranges of five strong deformation regions were identified and delineated. Based on the apparent cumulative deformation-time curve of each target pixel, the overall deformation law of K1, K2, and K3 deformation zones could be monitored and analyzed in real time. Based on a curve graph of the deformation rate, acceleration, and time of each target pixel, the K1, K2, and K3 deformation zones were within a uniform deformation stage. Taking the target pixel point and the corresponding time in which the deformation rate and deformation acceleration had a large, abrupt jump at the same time as the position and time of the near-slip failure, the 11 positions and moments of the near-slip failure were counted. The results presented here may represent a workable reference for emergency monitoring and early warning of similar sudden geological disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]