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The use of infrared thermography (IRT) for non-destructive testing (NDT) of large aerospace composites, such as carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP), is often limited by the narrow field of view infrared cameras. This paper experimentally investigates the big-sized CFRP specimens with simulated debonding defects using a robot-based dynamic optics scanning infrared thermography (RDOS-IRT) method to meet these issues. Then, static pulse IRT and RDOS-IRT were performed, and the processing performance of different algorithms (pulsed phase thermography, PPT; total harmonic distortion, THD; matched filtering, MF; and supervised dimensionality reduction, SDR) on pulsed IRT was discussed. A combination of pseudo-static matrix reconstruction (FSMR) algorithm and static image sequence processing algorithm is innovatively adopted to improve the defect detection performance of RDOS-IRT results. The experiments show that the RDOS-IRT method with FSMR and static image sequence processing algorithm is effective; moreover, it has almost a similar detection ability compared to the traditional static pulse IRT method in practical applications and saves more time. Results show that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the repeated defects is not differentiated, and the detection effect is similar. Therefore, the RDOS-IRT method is a reliable tool for NDT tasks on big-sized CFRP specimens and can be practically applied in an industrial setting for high detection efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visible and near-infrared (VIS-NIR) spectral technology is fast, accurate, and non-destructive, which meets the requirements of the separation of coal and gangue. However, the performance of the classification models established by the spectra collected according to the usual single-location collection methods was unsatisfactory. Simulating the production conditions of coal gangue sorting, this paper proposed a multilocation spectral feature fusion identification method for coal and gangue to improve the identification accuracy and developed an identification system. In the multilocation spectral collection method, the spectra of the sample were collected at three locations under the probe, which obtained richer information. In the classification models built based on different feature fusion methods, the one-dimensional convolutional neural network model with feature layer fusion had the strongest classification ability, with an accuracy of 97.61%, an improvement of 8.84% over the best single-location model. The regions of interest for model decision-making were visualized using the Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) method to explore the reasons why the multilocation feature fusion method was more advanced. Furthermore, a coal gangue identification system was developed using LabVIEW, which can achieve fast and accurate recognition with an accuracy of 93.15% and an expenditure time of 1.241 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractDrawing on the control-value theory, this study attempts to examine the effects of cognitive appraisals (perceived control, intrinsic and extrinsic value) and achievement emotions (pride, anxiety, and boredom) on Chinese English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) learners’ engagement in LMOOCs. In doing so, several hypotheses were proposed and validated from a survey of 520 Chinese EFL undergraduates who used LMOOCs. Based on the structural equation modelling analysis, results revealed that (1) perceived control and intrinsic value had a positive and direct impact on engagement in LMOOCs; (2) perceived control and intrinsic value had a positive effect on pride and a negative effect on anxiety and boredom, while extrinsic value only had a positive impact on pride and anxiety; (3) while pride had a positive effect on engagement, boredom negatively affected engagement in LMOOCs; (4) perceived control and intrinsic value had a positive and indirect effect on engagement mediated by pride and boredom, while extrinsic value positively affected engagement in LMOOCs through pride. Implications regarding the causal relations of cognitive appraisals, achievement emotions, and engagement in LMOOCs have been discussed for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact of pre-freezing techniques on the quality and storage stability of probiotics. Pediococcus acidilactici CCFM6432, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CN2018, and Bifidobacterium breve CCFM1025 were subjected to freezing at −80 °C and −196 °C using liquid nitrogen, respectively. The results indicated that liquid nitrogen pre-freezing did not cause cell death during the freezing phase. Following lyophilization, liquid nitrogen pre-freezing did not affect the survival rates of P. acidilactici CCFM6432 and L. plantarum CN2018; however, it significantly decreased the survival rate of B. breve CCFM1025 (p < 0.05). Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed that liquid nitrogen pre-freezing increased the melting enthalpy of the cell suspension. A linear correlation between the bacterial cell survival rate and moisture content was observed, with survival rates at the pre-freezing temperature of −196 °C slightly lower than those at −80 °C. Liquid nitrogen granulation pre-freezing enhanced the storage stability of B. breve CCFM1025. This research offers valuable insights into the potential development of pre-freezing techniques for application in the food industry to enhance the quality and storage stability of probiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minimum circle circumnavigation is proposed in this paper, which is of special value in target monitoring, capturing and/or attacking. With this new pattern, our goal is to steer one agent to enclose multiple targets along a safe and minimum circular orbit with the desired tangential speed. This is achieved by a control protocol with dynamic compensators, which is also capable of avoiding collision between the agent and the multiple targets during the whole operational process. The control protocol is further extended to the scenarios of multiple agents circulating a group of targets by adding a coordination mechanism into the tangential velocity term, which allows the agents to distribute evenly on each expected circular orbit with the same or different radius. Simulations results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of depression among sexual minority women is a significant concern, yet no prior research has conducted a network analysis of depressive symptoms in this population. This is the first study to address this gap by examining the network structure of depressive symptoms in Chinese sexual minority women during the COVID-19 pandemic, considering both sexual orientation and gender expression as part of an intra-group perspective. 1420 Chinese sexual minority women completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depressive Symptoms (CES-D). Network analysis was employed to calculate edge and centrality measures, and the network structures of lesbians and bisexual women were compared based on sexual orientation and of femme, androgyny, and butch based on gender expression. Network analysis revealed that the core depressive symptoms of Chinese sexual minority women are “Felt depressed,” “Fatigue,” “Sad,” and “Failure.” Although no significant differences were found in the network structure and global strength of depressive symptoms between different sexual orientations and gender expressions, there were significant differences in the core symptoms. This study suggests the unique associations between depressive symptoms and social and historical contexts among sexual minority women and emphasizes the importance of considering these differences when providing targeted mental health interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of the collision accidents between Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and people on the ground increase in recent years. It is necessary to clarify human injury characteristics brought by the impact of UAV and promote its management. This study focuses on head and neck injury risk resulted from the impact of the UAV with a relatively large mass, and the difference brought by the UAV with a small mass. First, the model of the Y3-dummy (Hybrid III 50th) is developed. Second, simulations are conducted to analyse head and neck injury characteristics from Y3's impact under different velocities, angles, and locations. With increasing the impact velocity, HIC and Nij increase with an exponential function and a power function, respectively. When the vertical impact velocity exceeds 5 m/s, both head and neck have a high probability of injury, while for the horizontal impact, the corresponding velocity is 9 m/s. As the impact angle increases, the changes of HIC satisfy the form of the sum of two exponential functions, and Nij changes in the form of the sum of a power function and a quadratic polynomial function. When the impact angle is close to 0°, the head injury risk is relatively high, while for 58°, the neck is more likely to be injury. The injuries induced by the top of mainframe and the front of the long arm are more serious. Finally, the differences in head and neck injury characteristics under different velocities and locations for UAVs with different masses are compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honeycomb Sandwich Composites (HSCs) have been widely used in aerospace and aircraft industries because of their high temperature and corrosion resistance, etc. As defects and damage to HSCs are unavoidable, non-destructive testing (NDT) is essential to ensure the reliability of HSCs. A series of artificial flat-bottomed holes (FBHs) defects of HSCs were prepared for pulse thermography (PT) and LFM-Chirp-Square pulse-compression thermography (PuCT). LFM-Chirp-Square PuCT has the advantage of frequency modulation over PT to detect different depth ranges of FBHs defects. In order to improve the efficiency of defect detection, pulse phase thermography (PPT) and total harmonic distortion (THD) techniques were applied to process the infrared image sequences. The results show that THD processing technique outperforms the PPT processing technique in improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) from feature images. The combination of LFM-Chirp-Square PuCT and THD techniques can be applied to improve the defect detection identification results in HSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study draws on the behavioural theory of the firm to examine the impact of performance feedback on enterprise digital transformation. We develop a set of hypotheses and empirically test them using panel data of Chinese A-share listed firms from 21 to 2019. The fixed-effects panel data models serve as an estimation technique. Empirical results show that as performance falls below aspiration, the degree of enterprise digital transformation first increases and then decreases, as performance rises above aspiration, the degree of enterprise digital transformation first decreases and then increases. That is, there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between negative performance feedback and enterprise digital transformation and a U-shaped relationship between positive performance feedback and enterprise digital transformation. Moreover, CEO openness significantly intensifies digital transformation in response to negative performance feedback, and industrial digitalization positively moderates the effects of positive performance feedback on digital transformation. Our findings highlight the importance of performance feedback on enterprise digital transformation, not only theoretically contributes to the research on digital transformation and behavioural theory, but also have notable implications for practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of neural networks in wheat ear detection and counting in smart agriculture holds significant value, showcasing how artificial intelligence technology brings innovation and improvement to the agricultural sector. However, due to the high density, variety, and complex growth cycles of wheat ears, as well as the influence of complex backgrounds during detection, issues such as false positives, false negatives, and low detection rates may arise. Addressing these challenges, this paper proposes a wheat ear detection solution based on the FasterCANet-YOLOv8s algorithm. Firstly, the FasterCANet Block is introduced to enhance the speed of wheat detection. Secondly, an efficient network structure, the QAFPN model, is proposed to strengthen the Neck network, achieving a balance between speed and accuracy in wheat detection. Finally, to better capture the features of small targets, the RFB Block is introduced to improve the SPPF layer. The improved algorithm achieves an mAP@0.5 of 94.4%, surpassing existing technologies. Our model can accurately and quickly locate targets, holding tremendous potential in the wheat cultivation domain and providing efficient and precise support for agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bitumen emulsion faces the major concern of low mechanical strength, especially at high service temperatures. To improve the mechanical performance of bitumen emulsion, waterborne epoxy resin was used as a modifier in this study. The effects of waterborne epoxy resin on the fatigue performance of bitumen emulsion were evaluated in this study using both the stress-controlled time sweep test and linear amplitude (LAS) test. The dissipated energy concept and viscoelastic continuum damage (VECD) theory were adopted to analyze the fatigue testing data obtained from the time sweep test and LAS test, respectively. It is found that the fatigue life of the emulsion residues increased with the incorporation of waterborne epoxy resin from the time sweep test conducted at the stress levels from 300 kPa to 500 kPa. On the other hand, the LAS test indicated that the trend of the predicted fatigue life of the emulsion residues was strain dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reflux hypersensitivity (RH) is a subtype of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The Rome IV criteria separated RH from the original nonerosive reflux disease subgroup and classified it as a new functional oesophageal disease. Recently, the pathogenesis of RH has become the focus of research. According to the latest research reports, upregulation of acid-sensitive receptors, distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide-positive nerve fibres, and psychiatric comorbidity have key roles in the pathogenesis of RH. This work reviews the latest findings regarding RH mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TDI CMOS image sensors are the most widely used photodetectors in space earth observation and multispectral imaging. The displacement damage caused by high-energy proton irradiation in the space environment leads to the continuous degradation of TDI CMOS image sensor parameters, seriously affecting its performance, reliability, and service life. This paper focuses on a space-based TDI CMOS image sensor chip and carries out 3 MeV proton irradiation tests and post-irradiation annealing tests to obtain the change rules of optical and electrical parameters. The degradation mechanism of sensitive parameters of TDI CMOS image sensors caused by proton irradiation is analyzed, and the sensitive region of proton displacement damage are discussed. The study demonstrates that after proton irradiation, the parameters especially full well capacity and temporal dark noise of the device degrade less, with small sensitivity to proton irradiation. However, the dark current, CTE, and pixel column FPN significantly degrade, and the degree of degradation is linearly related to the proton irradiation dose. In addition, the test also obtained the short-term and long-term annealing changes of sensitive parameters after proton irradiation of TDI CMOS image sensors, providing scientific advice for TDI CMOS image sensors space proton radiation effect tests and evaluations. The research results of this paper provide important references for the evaluation of radiation effects, on-orbit performance estimation, and radiation resistance reinforcement of space-based TDI CMOS image sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of age, sex, and eastern cooperative oncology group performance status (ECOG PS) on the efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy among hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients remains elusive. Thus, a meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate whether such effects exist. Eligible studies in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were retrieved. One-hundred-and-eleven studies involving 14,768 HCC patients were included. The findings indicated that the ECOG PS didn't have a significant effect on the ORR and PFS in ICI-treated HCC patients (higher ECOG PS vs. lower ECOG PS: ORR: OR = 0.78, 95%CI = 0.55–1.10; PFS: HR = 1.15, 95%CI = 0.97–1.35), while those patients with a higher ECOG PS may have a worse OS (HR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.26–1.84). There is no significant evidence of the effect of age (older vs. younger) or sex (males vs. females) on the efficacy of ICI therapy in HCC. ICI therapy in HCC should not be restricted strictly to certain patients in age or sex categories, while HCC patients with higher ECOG PS may require closer medication or follow-up strategy during ICI therapy. CRD42024518407 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late Palaeozoic evolution of the Chinese Altai-East Junggar orogenic collage is vital for a better understanding of the accretionary evolution in the southern Altaids. This paper reports new geochronological, geochemical, and isotopic data for the magmatic rocks collected from the northern part of the Dulate arc. The ~304.6 Ma tonalite samples present typical adakitic features of high Sr (396–714 ppm), low Y (1.42–2.60 ppm), Yb (0.11–0.24 ppm), and high Sr/Y (177.25–440.23) ratios. Combining high Mg# (55.35–57.21) and depleted isotopic composition (εHf(t): +9.89 to +13.37 and εNd(t): +5.36 to +6.06), we suggest that they were derived from the partial melting of a subducted oceanic slab. The ~299.4 Ma monzogranite samples have high A/CNK values (1.08 to 1.25), CIPW normative corundum contents (1.28–3.25 wt.%), and positive εHf(t) (+5.14 to +8.63) and εNd(t) (+1.08) values, which are similar to S-type granite that may be generated by the melting of greywackes. The monzogranite (~286.9 Ma) and rhyolitic porphyry (~283.9 Ma) are high-K calc-alkaline and similar to the highly fractionated I-type granites with depleted isotopic features (εHf(t): +11.68 to +14.99 and +0.75 to +7.18, εNd(t): +5.91 and +6.18). The monzogranite and rhyolitic porphyry could have been derived from a depleted mantle source, but the rhyolitic porphyry probably suffered partial assimilation of the overlying crust materials. Combining regional rock associations of mafic-ultramafic complexes, adakitic rocks, high-Mg diorites, and A-type granites with close spatial-temporal relationship, we conclude that a mid-oceanic ridge of the Ob-Zaisan Ocean subducted southward beneath the Dulate arc during the latest Carboniferous to Permian. With the opening of the slab window, the upwelling asthenosphere provided high heat flux and triggered various magmatism in the upper plate. We propose that ridge subduction is one of the most effective mechanisms of continental growth in the southern Altaids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of hot air drying on drying kinetics, quality and flavor changes of Fructus aurantii. The results showed that Midilli model (R2 = 0.9995, RMSE = 6.16 × 10−9, χ2 = 7.62 × 10−5) was the best model for hot air drying of Fructus aurantii, and the effective moisture diffusion coefficient (Deff) and activation energy (Ea) of hot air drying process was 2.63 × 10−5 - 6.61 × 10−4 m2/s and 42.36 KJ/moL, respectively. The HS-GC-MS and E-nose techniques were used to evaluate the changes in volatile components and aromatic characteristics. The results of HS-GC-MS showed that linalool content was 6.69%, 5.32% and 5.10% at 50°C, 60°C and 70°C respectively, showing a decreasing trend. Flavor radar fingerprint map showed that sensors S13, S12 and S2 have obviously higher response values, S11 , S5, S4 and S9 have higher response values, but other sensors have no obvious response values. PCA analysis showed that the first principal component (PC1) and the second principal component (PC2) accounted for 57.38% and 22.59% respectively, and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 87.1% (> 85%). The results of flavor radar fingerprint and PCA showed that the drying process obviously changed the aroma characteristics. The overall results showed that hot air drying at 50-60°C could effectively improve the final quality of dried Fructus Aurantii by maintaining flavor characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroautophagy/autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved degradation process in eukaryotic cells that destroys obsolete proteins and damaged organelles via lysosome action. Autophagy is regulated by multiple ATG (autophagy related) proteins, which are activated in distinct steps. Although the mechanisms by which ATGs regulate autophagy have been comprehensively studied, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated that, in addition to their canonical roles in regulating autophagy, ATGs still show several nonautophagic functions that are required for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis in eukaryotes. Therefore, intensive exploration into the nonautophagic roles of ATGs is essential for a complete understanding of the biological functions of ATGs. In addition, the results of these explorations may contribute to the development of therapeutic strategies for disorders related to the dysfunctions of ATGs. Here, in this review, we specifically focus on nonautophagic functions of ATGs and comprehensively summarize the research progresses related to ATGs, especially their regulatory effects on cell proliferation, differentiation, senescence and death; cargo transport and phagocytosis; immune responses; metabolic homeostasis; gene transcription; genome stability; and signal transduction. We believe that this review meaningfully contributes to understanding the roles and mechanisms by which ATGs regulate physiological and pathological processes. ATG: autophagy related; BECN1: beclin 1; cAMP: cyclic adenosine monophosphate; dsDNA: double-stranded DNA; EMT: epithelial-mesenchymal transition; IFN: interferon; ISCs: intestinal stem cells; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; MAPK/JNK: mitogen-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinases; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase; STING1: stimulator of interferon response cGAMP interactor 1; UVRAG: UV radiation resistance associated; VPS: vacuolar protein sorting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public Map Service Platforms (PMSPs) provide embedded map services in domains such as forests and rivers. Users from different domains (Domain Users) prefer specific spatial features, and extracting the Browsing Interests of Domain Users (BIDUs) can help elucidate users' access intentions and provide suitable recommendations. Previous research has found that access frequency of spatial features is an indicator of users' browsing interests; however, high-frequency spatial features are sparsely distributed, resulting in inaccurate extraction of browsing interests. Our objective is to model the spatial co-occurrence of spatial features and employ BIDUs extraction to address this limitation. First, to extract spatial features in tiles, we proposed a k-nearest neighbor method for Point-of-Interest (POI) extraction and a template-based method for Land Uses/Land Covers extraction. Then, we developed the word2vec model to construct a POI semantic space to quantify spatial co-occurrence and employed multi-domain user classification to verify its effectiveness. Finally, a combined word2vec and singular value decomposition model is proposed to perform topic extraction as a representation of BIDUs. Compared with the baseline models, the proposed model integrates spatial co-occurrence from massive POIs to achieve high-accuracy BIDU extraction. Our findings can help construct domain user profiles and support the development of intelligent PMSPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In nuclear engineering, solid particles are associated with numerous processes, such as solid – fluid flows in pebble bed reactors, coating during fuel fabrication, and debris bed formation during severe accidents. Thus, understanding granular systems is key to performing the design, optimization, and safety analyses of these processes. The discrete element method (DEM) represents a standard numerical method for simulating granular systems. Despite the several reviews on DEM, none summarizes its recent development and applications in nuclear engineering. Thus, a systematic review of its applications and achievements in various nuclear engineering fields is reported herein. First, the methodologies of DEM for single-phase granular flows, and multiphase flows including resolved and unresolved (locally averaged) DEM – computational fluid dynamics method are summarized here. Thereafter, the corresponding applications of these methods in granular flow, multiphase flow, and heat transfer in nuclear engineering are reviewed. This review may further accelerate the methodology development for DEM as well as may extend its applications in nuclear engineering fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3-D scattering centre model-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) automatic target recognition (ATR) method is proposed. Multi-level dominant scattering areas (DSAs) are generated from the test sample and model predicted target images, which can describe the target region and scattering centres distribution from coarse to fine. The DSA matching is conducted at each level using the morphological erosion operation and Euclidean distance transform. Finally, the energy of the region residuals is taken as the distance measure between the test sample and different target models so as to confirm the target label. The 3-D scattering centre model can provide very complete descriptions of the target. In addition, the designed distance measure comprehensively considers the possible nonlinear transformations between the model and test image using the morphological erosion operation and Euclidean distance transform. Experiments are performed on the electromagnetic (EM) simulated data of three military targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bauhinia glauca subsp. hupehana (Craib) T. C. Chen 1988, a member of the Leguminosae family, Cercidoideae subfamily, and Bauhinia genus, has a rich history of traditional usage in Chinese medicine. Renowned for its analgesic properties, it is commonly employed for managing inflammation and pain. This study aimed to sequence the complete chloroplast genome of B. glauca subsp. hupehana using Illumina paired-end sequencing data. The chloroplast genome spans 156,967 bp and consists of four main regions: the large single-copy (LSC) region (89,185 bp), the small single-copy (SSC) region (19,146 bp), and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) (24,318 bp). The overall GC content of the chloroplast genome is 36.19%, with specific values of 33.99%, 29.79%, and 42.76% for the LSC, SSC, and IR regions, respectively. A total of 128 genes were annotated in the chloroplast genome, including 83 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that B. glauca subsp. hupehana is closely related to Bauhinia racemose, indicating a sister taxon relationship between the two species. This study significantly contributes to the chloroplast genomic resource for Bauhinia, laying the groundwork for future phylogenetic investigations within the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we concern the strong convergence and stability of the balanced Euler method for stochastic pantograph differential equations with Markovian switching (SPDEs-MS). We present the balanced Euler method of SPDEs-MS and consider its moment boundedness under polynomial growth condition plus Khasminskii-type condition. We also study its strong convergence order and its mean-square stability. Two numerical examples are given to illustrate the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe train operates in special environments such as large bridges and elevated viaducts. The fluctuations of the aerodynamic loads of the high-speed train (HST) are more intense and the possibility of the train derailment and overturning will increase when the train is running on the bridge under the crosswind. Thus, it is of utmost importance to study both the aerodynamic characteristics and the running safety of the train in this situation. This study uses the IDDES method to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of the train running on the double track bridge in both up and down train directions at different speeds. The differences in the impact of aerodynamic loads on the train’s dynamic response indicators are discussed using the wind-vehicle coupling dynamic response calculation method. Based on these researches, the operational safety of the train under different operating conditions is evaluated from both flow field and dynamic perspectives. The results show that large-scale vortices fall off from the nose of the train and form a larger vortex structure on the leeward side and when the train is running under the crosswind. Its aerodynamic loads fluctuate intensely with time due to the complex wake flow of the train. The dominant frequencies of the unsteady aerodynamic loads are mostly concentrated in the range of 0–5Hz, which is close to the natural modal frequencies of the train. This will lead to the overturning of the train due to vehicle resonance. The derailment coefficient and wheel load reduction rate of the train increase with the speed. Their peak values exceed the limit of 0.8 while the peak duration of the derailment coefficient is less than 0.05s, which means the state of the leeward wheel will recover from a short derailment. However, the duration of derailment increases with speed. Therefore, appropriate measures should be taken to prevent accidents when the train is running at higher speed on the bridge to guarantee the operational safety of the HST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the important technology-assisted language learning (TALL)-empowered affordances, a comprehensive understanding of how these TALL tools facilitate learning across different language components, e.g., phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, could not only present the panoramic scenery of the subject matter but also inform pedagogy for applied linguistics researchers and practitioners. Despite the increasing attention being paid to the affordances of a particular TALL platform, there is still a lack of more holistic research practice to the affordances for the five language components. To bridge the gap, this study aims to systematically and quantitively revisit the TALL-empowered affordances with respect to these language components. To this end, a total of valid 201 articles published from 2010 to 2023 were selected and coded based on the proposed inclusion/exclusion criteria. Results revealed that different TALL platforms (viz. computer, mobile, tablet, virtual reality, and robot) help improve students’ language learning performance and efficacy among the five language components. The implications of the study, in perfect tune with the distance language learning experiences in the post COVID-19 pandemic era, justify the need to take full advantage of the TALL affordances and accelerate the move toward a more technology-friendly field of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of behavior impairment (27.38%) in the Chinese amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cohort is lower. We hypothesize that the screening scales used among studies might not be appropriate to diagnose behavioral disorders in ALS patients. So, we urgently need to find a behavior scale with a high detection rate designed specifically for ALS. This study aims to verify the Chinese translation of the Beaumont Behavioral Inventory (BBI) as an effective assessment in a Chinese ALS cohort. Ninety-eighty ALS patients and ninety-three healthy controls were included in this cross-sectional study. All participants took emotional state, overall cognitive, sleep quality and gastroenteric function, and behavioral evaluation. The BBI scores showed a strong association with the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-Frontotemporal Dementia-Questionnaire (ALS-FTD-Q) (rs = 0.71, p < 0.001) as well as a moderate correlation with the Frontal Behavioral Inventory (FBI) (rs = 0.55, p < 0.001). High internal consistency was demonstrated in patients using BBI-after items (Cronbach's a = 0.89). When tested against clinical diagnoses, the optimal cutoff of total BBI score was identified at 5.5 (AUC = 0.95; SE = 0.02; 95% CI [0.91, 0.99]), the BBI reached optimal sensitivity and specificity values (91.5% and 87.2%). The BBI turned out to be more precise than the FBI (AUC = 0.76; SE = 0.05; 95% CI [0.66, 0.86]) and the ALS-FTD-Q (AUC = 0.84; SE = 0.04; 95% CI [0.77, 0.92]). The Chinese version of BBI is a quicker and more efficient instrument for assessing behavioral impairment in the ALS population in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of lipid-lowering drugs is still highly controversial in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We performed a drug-target Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the effect of targeted lipid-lowering drugs on the risk of ALS. First, we evaluated the causal relationship between HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A) reductase (HMGCR) inhibitors-taking trait and ALS using a bidirectional two-sample MR study. Second, we investigated the causal relationship between lipid-lowering drugs and ALS through a drug-target MR approach. The summary data for HMGCR inhibitors-taking traits were extracted from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of medication use and associated disease in the UK Biobank. The summary data for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B (apoB) were extracted from a meta-analysis of GWAS in individuals of European ancestry in the UKB. The GWAS summary data of ALS were obtained from the Project MinE. Our bidirectional two-sample MR showed that genetically determined increased HMGCR inhibitors-taking trait was an independent risk factor for ALS (odds ratio [OR] = 1.090, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.035–1.150, p = 0.001). The results of drug-target MR showed that the increased expression of the HMGCR gene in blood with the higher risk of ALS (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.01–1.46; p = 0.042) through SMR method and the apoB level mediated by the APOB gene increased the risk of ALS (OR = 1.15; 95% CI =1.05–1.25; p = 0.001) through inverse-variance weighted MR method. This present study provides genetic support for a positive causal effect of HMGCR inhibitors-taking trait and ALS. The reason for this may be due to the underlying disease condition behind the medication, rather than the medication itself. Our findings also suggested that HMGCR and apoB inhibitors may have potential protective effects on ALS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For small gastric subepithelial tumours originating from the muscularis propria, there is no uniform standard for selecting the best endoscopic resection method. To compare the efficacy and safety of endoscopic snare resection with a transparent cap (ESR-C) and endoscopic snare resection with an elastic band (ESR-EB) for small gastric subepithelial tumours originating from the muscularis propria to determine which method is more suitable for these tumours. The data from small gastric subepithelial tumours originating from the muscularis propria treated from Jan 2020 to Dec 2022 were collected. A total of 34 eligible patients were enrolled. Sixteen of these patients were treated with ESR-C, and eighteen were treated with ESR-EB. The general clinical characteristics, tumour location, tumour size,growth pattern,operation time, complete resection rate, and complication rate were compared between the two groups. There was no difference in age, sex, tumour location, tumour size, growth pattern, or histological diagnosis after resection (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in operation time, complete resection rate, or follow-up time (p > 0.05). Eight patients (50.5%) in the ESR-C group had complications (6 perforations and 2 bleeding), and 2 (11.11%) in the ESR-EB group had complications (2 perforations). There were significant differences between the two groups (p = 0.037). All perforations were successfully treated. No recurrence or metastasis was observed in either group during the follow-up period. Both ESR-C and ESR-EB are effective and safe in treating small gastric subepithelial tumours originating from the muscularis propria. However, ESR-EB can significantly reduce the incidence of complications. ESR-EB is likely a better option for small gastric subepithelial tumours originating from the muscularis propria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online consumer reviews have been shown to have a significant impact on the market performance of products. Yet little is known about the role of competing products' online reviews in a dynamic competitive environment. Using field data, we investigate the impacts of online reviews of contemporaneous competing movies on the box office and attendance of a focal movie. The empirical results suggest that the competitor's review rating, which displayed on the same ticketing page with a focal movie, has a negative impact on the economic performance of the focal movie. Interestingly, the competitor's review volume has a negative impact only if its review rating is high. We further examine the heterogeneous effect in focal movies (sequels vs. non-sequels), and find the impacts of competitors' reviews are stronger for non-sequels. Our research can help movie stakeholders optimize their market entry strategies, and provides theoretical implications for the research on online reviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field observations were performed in Lake Nanhai, a shallow Chinese lake, to investigate the impact of variations in snow thickness (0–7.0 cm) on solar radiation transfer. As the snow thickness increases from 0 to 7.0 cm, the albedo increases from 0.27 to 0.96. The bulk extinction coefficients of snow, snow-ice, and congelation ice are 9.47, 9.69, and 2.18 m−1, respectively. The peak of the transmission spectrum shifts from the blue to green light waveband compared to the solar radiation spectrum. The proportion of incident radiation at surface penetrating to the under-ice water ranges from 0.5% to 19.7% associated with snow depth from 7 cm to 0 cm. Fresh snow influences the under-ice light condition crucially, and therefore the seasonal evolution of the lake phytoplankton community is affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the problem that low-rank coal is unsuitable for making CWS (coal-water slurry) and lacks an accurate particle size gradation prediction model. This paper expounds on the effects of ball milling time and speed on the concentration and rheology of CWS under different grinding conditions. After size grading, the slurry’s bimodal parameters and particle size distribution are studied. Based on the BP neural network, a particle size distribution model more suitable for low-rank coal is established in this paper. The results show that the slurry concentration in the graded coal sample increases by 4% higher than that of the ungraded coal sample. The BP neural network model accurately predicts the relationship between bimodal parameters and slurry concentration based on bimodal parameters. In the context of grain size gradation, the optimized particle size cumulative distribution model, denoted as${\rm{y}} = {{{{\rm{x}}^{\rm{n}}} - {\rm{x}}_{\rm{K}}^{\rm{n}}} \over {{\rm{x}}_{{\rm{100}}}^{\rm{n}} - {\rm{x}}_{\rm{K}}^{\rm{n}}}} + {\rm{K\ \ }}\{ {\rm{(K}} + {\rm{10\%\ }} \gt {\rm{x}} \gt {\rm{K\%\ }}\} $y=xn−xKnx100n−xKn+K  {(K+10% >x>K% }, demonstrates enhanced alignment with the attributes of low-rank coal. This underscores the paper’s contribution in providing a more fitting particle size distribution model for low-rank coal in the context of CWS production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longitudinal data arise frequently in many economic studies and epidemiological research. In this paper, we investigate the partially linear additive model for longitudinal data in the framework of quantile regression. To incorporate the within-subject correlation, we develop an estimation procedure using quadratic inference function (QIF) and polynomial spline approximation for unknown nonparametric functions. The theoretical properties of the resulting estimators are established, where the nonparametric functions achieve the optimal convergence rate and the parametric components are asymptotically normal even when the number of parameters in the linear part is diverging. We also propose a variable selection procedure based on penalization. Since the objective function is discontinuous, a practical estimation procedure is proposed using induced smoothing and we prove that the smoothed estimator is asymptotically equivalent to the original estimator. The proposed methods are evaluated via simulation studies and a real data application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a distinct subset of neoplastic cells characterised by their heightened capacity for tumorigenesis. These cells are implicated in the facilitation of cancer metastasis, recurrence, and resistance to conventional therapeutic interventions. Extensive scientific research has been devoted to the identification of biomarkers and the elucidation of molecular mechanisms in order to improve targeted therapeutic approaches. Accurate identification of cancer stem cells based on biomarkers can provide a theoretical basis for drug combinations of malignant tumours. Targeted biomarker-based therapies also offer a silver lining for patients with advanced malignancies. This review aims comprehensively to consolidate the latest findings on CSCs biomarkers, targeted agents as well as biomarkers associated signalling pathways in well-established cancer types, thereby contributing to improved prognostic outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bitumen emulsion, which is widely used for surface treatment and cold recycling in pavement engineering, has the advantage of not requiring heating during construction. But it has the disadvantage of low mechanical strength, especially at higher temperatures. Various studies have proved that waterborne epoxy can effectively improve the mechanical properties of bitumen emulsion. However, how aging affects the performance of waterborne epoxy resin-modified bitumen emulsion is still unclear. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap through combined rheological and microscopic characterisation. Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) was first applied to characterise the oxidative reaction during the pressure aging vessel (PAV) test. The rheological behaviours before and after PAV aging were evaluated through dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) tests. The peak force tapping quantitative nanomechanical (PFT QNM) test was further conducted to measure the micromechanical performance of the waterborne epoxy bitumen emulsion residues. The results indicated that waterborne epoxy resin could improve the resistance to oxidative aging of the emulsion residues. In addition, it was found that the complex moduli generally increased while the phase angle decreased after PAV aging, and the aging process would lead to higher micromechanical modulus and lower adhesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the problem of disturbance-based nonlinear sliding mode observer design is investigated for uncertain time-delay repeated scalar nonlinear systems subject to quantisation output measurement. State and disturbance observers are constructed by using the quantised measured output. Then, an improved nonlinear sliding surface is developed, and sufficient conditions are obtained for the sliding mode dynamics to be asymptotically stable with the desired performance level. In addition, a composite nonlinear feedback control law is synthesised to guarantee the reachability of the nonlinear surface. Finally, examples and simulations are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed new design techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pouchitis is the most common complication following restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch–anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis (UC). Fecal calprotectin (FC) is a noninvasive indicator of the intestinal inflammatory status. This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical value of the FC concentration for the diagnosis and risk assessment of pouchitis. This retrospective study involved patients who underwent IPAA for UC at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from January 2015 to January 2019. The patients were categorized into pouchitis and non-pouchitis groups based on their Pouchitis Disease Activity Index (PDAI) score. Laboratory indicators, including the FC concentration, were collected from both groups. Sixty-six patients with UC after IPAA were included in the study and divided into the non-pouchitis group (n = 40) and pouchitis group (n = 26). The correlation coefficient between the FC concentration and the PDAI score was 0.651 (p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the FC cut-off value for predicting pouchitis was 579.60 μg/g (area under the curve, 0.938). The patients were then divided into three subgroups according to their PDAI score (0–2, 3–6, and ≥7), and significant differences in the FC concentration were found among the three subgroups. The best FC cut-off value for predicting a high risk of pouchitis (PDAI score of 3–6) was 143.25 μg/g (area under the curve, 0.876). FC is a useful biomarker in patients with pouchitis. Patients are advised to regularly undergo FC measurement to monitor for pouchitis. An FC concentration in the range of 143.25–579.60 μg/g is predictive of a high risk for pouchitis, and further examination and preventive treatment are necessary in such patients. Fecal calprotectin can be used to quantify pouch inflammation. Fecal calprotectin can be used to predict a high risk of pouchitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bergenia purpurascens (Hook. f. et Thoms.) Engl. is one species of traditional Chinese medicinal plant. This is the first publication of its complete chloroplast (cp) genome. The whole cp genome has 157,246 base pairs in length with 132 annotated genes, of which were 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs, and 8 rRNAs. According to the phylogenetic study, B. purpurascens and Bergenia scopulosa T. P. Wang. 1974 had a sister relationship. This genomic data and conclusions from B. purpurascens phylogenetic research will provide useful information and throw light on more in-depth investigations of the systematics and evolutionary patterns of Saxifragaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ziziphus mairei Dode 1908 (Rhamnaceae) is a rare and endangered perennial plant in Yunnan, China. In this study, we sequenced, assembled, and annotated the complete chloroplast genome of Z. mairei. The complete chloroplast genome was a closed circular molecule of 161,546 bp with a typical tetrad structure, containing a large single-copy (LSC) region of 89,252 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 19,364 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 26,465 bp. A total of 128 genes have been annotated, including 83 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The GC content is 36.7%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Z. mairei is closely related to Z. hajarensis, Z. jujuba, and Z. jujuba var. spinosa. Our results provide useful genetic resources for further studies on the conservation and evolution of Z. mairei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution and closure timing of the Paleo-Asian Ocean are controversial in the Eastern Tianshan orogen, southern Altaids. The Dananhu arc of the Eastern Tianshan was involved in the long-lived evolution and terminal tectonic events during the formation of the Altaids, and its magmatic rocks are the faithful recorder. To constrain the subduction history of the Paleo-Asian Ocean, we review the tectonic of the Dananhu arc, by summarizing the geochemical and geochronological data of granites and volcanic rocks and mineral deposits, which will shed light on the accretionary history, closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean, and the continental growth in Altaids. Zircon U-Pb ages of the granitic rocks across the middle of the Dannanhu arc range from 453 Ma to 227 Ma and demonstrate overall southward younging through four main areas: the Kalatage belt (ca. 453–299 Ma), the Keizer belt (ca. 401–268 Ma), the Tuwu belt (360–302 Ma), and the Kanguer subduction complex (ca. 288–227 Ma). These granitic rocks are calc-alkaline arc-related and adakitic granites that are enriched in Si and K. They increase in Th/Yb and decrease in Cr and Ce/Pb southwards over time. The consistent geochemical variations indicate progressive maturity of the arc crust. Their whole-rock εNd(t) and zircon εHf(t) values coordinated with the progressive change in the crustal thickness estimated by the granites indicate a multi-phase switching of subduction. The Ordovician to Permian granitic rocks in the arc have stable high whole-rock εNd(t) values (ca. +5 – +10), and zircon εHf(t) values (ca. +7-+16), which significantly shifted to +2 – +4 and +4 – +12 during ca. 243–227 Ma. These changing relations accompanied a sudden crustal thickening, suggesting that continental crustal material was involved in the petrogenesis of these rocks during the convergence among the Dananhu arc, the Harlik and the Yamansu-central Tianshan continental arc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fireworks are an integral part of celebrations in many cultures. However, their environmental consequences have raised concerns. Despite many studies addressing the issue, there is still a lack of strong causal inference. This study investigates the impact of firework displays during the Spring Festival holiday on air pollution levels, using data from 335 Chinese cities from 2015 to 2017. A regression discontinuity design is employed to isolate this causal effect. Results indicate that fireworks substantially deteriorate air quality. Specifically, fireworks increase the Air Quality Index by 57%, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by 89%, inhalable particulate matter (PM10) by 44%, and sulfur dioxide (SO2) by 69%. These impacts remain robust across varying model specifications. Policy interventions such as firework bans have been demonstrated to successfully reduce pollution from this source. However, when formulating environmental policies, policymakers ought to consider cultural factors and strive for balance between environmental protection and preserving cultural traditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new compounds, including a norsesquiterpenoid, annuionone H (1), and a quassinoid, picraqualide G (2), along with eleven known compounds (3–13), were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Picrasma quassioides. Comprehensive spectroscopic analyses and NMR calculation with DP4+ analysis were used to identify their structures. Moreover, of all these compounds, compound 4 showed a week inhibition rate in the anti-inflammatory screening results against mouse macrophage J774A.1 cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional detection algorithms of pipeline non-destructive testing extract information from a large number of defect samples to ensure the detection performance, but even if an adequate of defect samples are collected, it is difficult to enumerate the possible defect morphology in nature. In this paper, we proposed a new semi-supervised anomaly detection algorithm to solve the existing problems. We consider using the most representative feature vectors generated by feature extractor as memory items to represent background information. In addition, this paper also imports a few defect samples to form a semi-supervised structure in the training stage and introduces a metric learning module to make the memory items have the ability to fully represent the background and enhance robustness. To prove the effectiveness of our algorithm, this paper has verified its performance in micro-size pipeline defects. In the experiment, the high-definition industrial camera was used to scan and record the image sequence from the inner surface of the pipeline sample. The latest anomaly detection algorithms have been used as a platform for objective performance evaluation. The result shows our algorithm is more effective in pipeline defect detection and has strong robustness for anti-interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Deliverymen have widely adopted smart phone apps for better delivery performance. With the development of the delivery industry and the increase of its employees, the personal safety of deliverymen in completing orders has attracted the same attention as task performance. In addition to the smartphone apps, we designed an intelligent delivery assistant (IDA) system with “multi-modal navigation” to improve the safety and efficiency of bicycle deliveries. The IDA system was equipped with a pair of driving controllers that allowed deliverymen to interact with the IDA system and get navigation information during riding. This 60-human-participant study was conducted to investigate the performance of the IDA system, including usability and safety. The participants were divided into two groups for a comparative experiment, one with the IDA system and the other with only a smartphone. Navigation was conducted in a real-world environment, in which eye movements and device interaction were recorded using an eye tracker. Results indicate that the IDA system better supports delivery usability and safety. Higher perceived usability and better situational awareness with a more significant number of hazards acknowledged were detected with the IDA system. The NASA-TLX and UEQ results demonstrated the participants reported having a better user experience with the IDA system. We further discussed the benefits and drawbacks of each condition of the IDA system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dealing with range ambiguity is a hot issue in SAR signal processing. One limitation of current algorithms is their poor robustness to noise and the energy of ambiguous targets, which can lead to performance degradation in complex environments. This letter proposes a new algorithm for range ambiguity suppression in SAR. The algorithm utilizes the orthogonality of the transmitted signal to separate the echo signals of the main region and the ambiguous area, and subsequently applies the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm to perform joint sparse recovery on both areas. Experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively suppress range ambiguity, and it has a good ability to maintain the weak targets and the details of the main region's image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new compounds verboncin A (1) and verboncin B (4) and 14 known compounds (2–3 and 5–16) were isolated from Verbena bonariensis, and these 14 compounds were first obtained from this plant. Their chemical structures were established by one and two-dimensional NMR and HRESIMS analysis and the results were compared with literature values. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by calculating electronic circular dichroism (ECD). The cytotoxicity of some of the compounds against MCF-7, HCT-116, MDA-MB-231, and SW620 human cancer cell lines were evaluated, in which compound 4 showed negligible cytotoxic activity with an IC50 value of 68.08 ± 0.35 µM against the MCF-7 cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's health system is facing severe challenges from social transition and the double burden of population aging and non-communicable diseases. Addressing the tension between the public's increasing demand for health services and the limited availability of medical resources has become a critical issue for health care policymakers and medical insurance fund administrators. In promoting its medical insurance system reform, China is actively developing health technology assessment (HTA) with principles and applications adapted to the Chinese context. This study aims to analyze the evolution of HTA in China with a focus on context, actors, process, content, and challenges encountered through applying a modified verson of Walt and Gilson's policy triangle framework. Currently, HTA plays an indispensable part in the reform of China's health care and medical insurance system, especially in the formulation and adjustment of the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). While HTA is increasingly used in China, there remain challenges, such as the slow development of HTA related disciplines, lack of an independent national HTA authority, and limited scope in the use of HTA. Despite the identified challenges, HTA has the potential to support a wide range of applications in China's health care sector, building on the progress achieved over the last three decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rational design and systematic synthesis of a "pillar-layered" coordination polymer was carried out using a rigid carboxylic acid, 2-hydroxy-trimesic acid (H4L), resulting in two coordination polymers, {[Zn4(L)2(DMA)3(H2O)5]·H2O}n (1) and [Zn4(L)2(pdp)(H2O)4]n (2). Compound 1 is a two-dimensional (2-D) network containing tetranuclear zinc clusters, deprotonated H4L ligands and DMA solvent molecules. The introduction of trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene) (pdp) replaced solvent molecules in 1, forming pillars between the 2-D sheets to furnish 2. The water stability of 2 is higher than that of 1. The powder X-ray diffraction, thermal stabilities, and solid-state luminescence properties also have been investigated for 1 and 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primula amethystina subsp. argutidens (Franchet) W. W. Smith & H. R. Fletcher (1942) is a blooming plant of the family Primulaceae. Here, we sequenced, assembled, and annotated the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of P. amethystina subsp. argutidens. The cp genome of P. amethystina subsp. argutidens is 151,560 bp in length with a GC content of 37%. The assembled genome has a typical quadripartite structure, containing a large single-copy (LSC) region of 83,516 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 17,692 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,176 bp. The cp genome contains 115 unique genes, including 81 protein-coding genes, four rRNA genes, and 30 tRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that P. amethystina subsp. argutidens was closely related to P. amethystina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prefabrication in construction has broad development prospects owing to its sustainability and strong support from the government. Prefabricated components, as the primary part of prefabrication megaprojects, affect the project completion and performance directly. Therefore, selecting appropriate prefabricated component sustainable suppliers (PCSSs) is a paramount task for the success of prefabricated megaprojects. This study expounds on the characteristics of PCSS selection from three aspects, namely the difference between prefabricated and traditional ones, sustainability requirements, and the impact of COVID-19, and indicates the issues that should be considered when choosing PCSS. An evaluation criterion is extracted and applied to the primary data from 4 PCSSs and 45 decision makers (DMs) of a prefabricated megaproject. Finally, a novel intuitionistic fuzzy large-group decision-making model is proposed. This model considers criterion weights and DM weights, as well as hesitation, ambiguity and consistency. The results indicate that the proposed model has strong robustness and can meet the decision-making needs of different DMs. The model extends the body of knowledge in the context of supply chain disruptions and digital bidding during the COVID-19 pandemic based on its more comprehensive criteria for the PCSS selection and new approaches for the weighting and uncertain evaluation throughout the decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]