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Before deploying a monocular depth estimation (MDE) model in real-world applications such as autonomous driving, it is critical to understand its generalization and robustness. Although the generalization of MDE models has been thoroughly studied, the robustness of the models has been overlooked in previous research. Existing state-of-the-art methods exhibit strong generalization to clean, unseen scenes. Such methods, however, appear to degrade when the test image is perturbed. This is likely because the prior arts typically use the primary 2D data augmentations (e.g., random horizontal flipping, random cropping, and color jittering), ignoring other common image degradation or corruptions. To mitigate this issue, we delve deeper into data augmentation and propose utilizing strong data augmentation techniques for robust depth estimation. In particular, we introduce 3D-aware defocus blur in addition to seven 2D data augmentations. We evaluate the generalization of our model on six clean RGB-D datasets that were not seen during training. To evaluate the robustness of MDE models, we create a benchmark by applying 15 common corruptions to the clean images from IBIMS, NYUDv2, KITTI, ETH3D, DIODE, and TUM. On this benchmark, we systematically study the robustness of our method and 9 representative MDE models. The experimental results demonstrate that our model exhibits better generalization and robustness than the previous methods. Specifically, we provide valuable insights about the choices of data augmentation strategies and network architectures, which would be useful for future research in robust monocular depth estimation. Our code, model, and benchmark can be available at https://github.com/KexianHust/Robust-MonoDepth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extrinsic parameter calibration is the foundation and prerequisite for LiDAR and camera data fusion of the autonomous system. This technology is widely used in fields such as autonomous driving, mobile robots, intelligent surveillance, and visual measurement. The learning-based method is one of the targetless calibrating methods in LiDAR and camera calibration. Due to its advantages of fast speed, high accuracy, and robustness under complex conditions, it has gradually been applied in practice from a simple theoretical model in just a few years, becoming an indispensable and important method. This paper systematically summarizes the research and development of this type of method in recent years. According to the principle of calibration parameter estimation, learning-based calibration algorithms are divided into two categories: accurate calibrating estimation and relative calibrating prediction. The evolution routes and algorithm frameworks of these two types of algorithms are elaborated, and the methods used in the algorithms' steps are summarized. The algorithm mechanism, advantages, limitations, and applicable scenarios are discussed. Finally, we make a summary, pointing out existing research issues and trends for future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the long-time behaviour of a West Nile virus (WNv) model consisting of a reaction–diffusion system with free boundaries. Such a model describes the spreading of WNv with the free boundary representing the expanding front of the infected region, which is a time-dependent interval $[g(t), h(t)]$ in the model (Lin and Zhu, Spatial spreading model and dynamics of West Nile virus in birds and mosquitoes with free boundary. J. Math. Biol. 75, 1381–1409, 2017). The asymptotic spreading speed of the front has been determined in Wang et al. (Spreading speed for a West Nile virus model with free boundary. J. Math. Biol. 79, 433–466, 2019) by making use of the associated semi-wave solution, namely $\lim _{t\to \infty } h(t)/t=\lim _{t\to \infty }[\!-g(t)/t]=c_\nu$ , with $c_\nu$ the speed of the semi-wave solution. In this paper, by employing new techniques, we significantly improve the estimate in Wang et al. (Spreading speed for a West Nile virus model with free boundary. J. Math. Biol. 79, 433–466, 2019): we show that $h(t)-c_\nu t$ and $g(t)+c_\nu t$ converge to some constants as $t\to \infty$ , and the solution of the model converges to the semi-wave solution. The results also apply to a wide class of analogous Ross–MacDonold epidemic models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the asymptotic stability of fractional-order (FO) systems with uncertainty and time-varying delay based on the sliding mode control (SMC) method. First, based on the SMC method, a suitable integral type fractional-order sliding mode surface (FOSMS) is designed and the dynamic equations of FO systems under SMC are obtained. Second, by inequality techniques, the condition for asymptotic stability of the FO system has been mathematically established. Then, a novel adaptive SMC law is introduced, which can make sure the accessibility of sliding mode surfaces (SMS). Finally, the feasibility of the results obtained in this paper is verified through a simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperspectral anomaly detection can separate sparse anomalies from the low-rank background component under an unsupervised behavior due to sufficient spectral information. Therefore, hyperspectral image anomaly detection technology has great application potential and value in public security and national defense. Currently, most existing models attempt to detect anomalous targets with a sparsity prior, without further considering the visual saliency of the targets themselves. To tackle this issue, this paper proposes a saliency-guided sparse low-rank tensor approximation model, called SSLR, to detect anomalous targets from hyperspectral remote sensing images in an unsupervised manner. Specifically, we first explore the saliency information of each pixel for regularizing the sparse anomaly matrix. We then suggest a three-directional tensor nuclear norm to obtain a low-rank background to characterize the background component. We solve the SSLR optimization problem by an efficient alternating direction method of multipliers framework. Experiments conducted on benchmark hyperspectral datasets demonstrate that the proposed SSLR outperforms some state-of-the-art anomaly detection methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of nozzle equipment for proton therapy is currently under development at China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE). To facilitate the off-line commissioning of the whole equipment, a set of ionization chamber signal generation system, known as the test electronics, was designed. The results showed that the system can simulate the beam position, beam fluence (which exhibits a positive correlation with the dose), and other related analog signals generated by the proton beam when it traverses the ionization chamber. Moreover, the accuracy of the simulated beam position is within ± 0.33 mm, and the accuracy of the simulated beam fluence signal is within ± 1%. The test electronics can output analog signals representing environmental parameters. The test electronics meets the design requirements, which can be used for the commissioning of the nozzle system as well as the treatment control system without the presence of the proton beam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) might be linked to suicidal ideation, but we do not yet have all the relevant details. This study aimed to dig deeper into the connection between UI and suicidal ideation using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods: We examined 31,891 participants aged ≥ 20 years from NHANES 2005–2018 who provided complete information. We used standardized surveys to check for UI and signs of suicidal ideation. To better understand this relationship, we used statistical tools such as multivariable logistic regression, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analyses. Results: Among the 31,891 participants, 28.9% reported UI and 10.7% reported suicidal ideation. Those with UI exhibited a significantly greater incidence of suicidal ideation (15.5%) than did those without UI (8.8%, P < 0.001). After adjusting for various factors, including age, sex, marital status, socioeconomic status, educational level, lifestyle factors, and chronic comorbidities, UI remained significantly associated with suicidal ideation (OR:1.54, 95% CI = 1.39–1.7, P < 0.001). Among all types of UI, MUI participants were more likely to experience suicidal ideation. Compared with no UI, higher odds of suicidal ideation suffered from MUI (OR:2.11, 95%CI:1.83–2.44, P < 0.001), SUI (OR:1.4, 95%CI:1.19–1.65, P < 0.001), UUI(OR:1.37,95%CI:1.16–1.62, P < 0.001) after full adjustment. With the exception of individuals living with a partner, the remaining subgroups exhibited a positive correlation between urinary incontinence and suicidal ideation, considering that factors such as age, sex, and prevalent comorbidities such as hypertension, depression, and diabetes did not reveal any statistically significant interactions (all P > 0.05). Sensitivity analyses, incorporating imputed missing covariates, did not substantially alter the results (OR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.4–1.68, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Urinary incontinence may correlate with increased suicidal ideation risk, priority screening for suicidal ideation and timely intervention are essential for individuals with urinary incontinence, but prospective studies are needed to verify the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this study was to utilize remote sensing data to establish regression models through machine learning to predict locust density in the upcoming year. First, a dataset for monitoring grassland locust density was constructed based on meteorological data and multi-source remote sensing data in the study area. Subsequently, an SVR (support vector regression) model, BP neural network regression model, random forest regression model, BP neural network regression model with the PCA (principal component analysis), and deep belief network regression model were built on the dataset. The experimental results show that the random forest regression model had the best prediction performance among the five models. Specifically, the model achieved a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9685 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.0144 on the test set, which were the optimal values achieved among all the models tested. Finally, the locust density in the study area for 2023 was predicted and, by comparing the predicted results with actual measured data, it was found that the prediction accuracy was high. This is of great significance for local grassland ecological management, disaster warning, scientific decision-making support, scientific research progress, and sustainable agricultural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To explore the demographic and clinical features of current depressive episode that discriminate patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) from those with bipolar I (BP-I) and bipolar II (BP-II) disorder who were misdiagnosed as having MDD. Methods: The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) assessment was performed to establish DSM-IV diagnoses of MDD, and BP-I and BP-II, previously being misdiagnosed as MDD. Demographics, depressive symptoms and psychiatric comorbidities were compared between 1463 patients with BP-I, BP-II and MDD from 8 psychiatric settings in mainland China. A multinomial logistic regression model was performed to assess clinical correlates of diagnoses. Results: A total of 14.5% of the enrolled patients initially diagnosed with MDD were eventually diagnosed with BP. Broad illness characteristics including younger age, higher prevalence of recurrence, concurrent dysthymia, suicidal attempts, agitation, psychotic features and psychiatric comorbidities, as well as lower prevalence of insomnia, weight loss and somatic symptoms were featured by patients with BP-I and/or BP-I, compared to those with MDD. Comparisons between BP-I and BP-II versus MDD indicated distinct symptom profiles and comorbidity patterns with more differences being observed between BP-II and MDD, than between BP-I and MDD. Conclusion: The results provide evidence of clinically distinguishing characteristics between misdiagnosed BP-I and BP- II versus MDD. The findings have implications for guiding more accurate diagnoses of bipolar disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work focuses on a double process involving additive manufacturing and joining of ceramic-resin green bodies, aiming to overcome the challenges of printing long-span and large-size ceramic specimens. Through partitioned 3D printing, individual green bodies were built and then joined together using either a single-phase slurry (Al 2 O 3) or a double-phase slurry (Al 2 O 3 and ZrO 2). The impact of sintered temperature, photocuring duration time, and sandwich layer thickness on the three-point bending strength of the joined specimens was investigated. The analysis of photocuring depth, thermogravimetry, and composition structure characteristics reveals two significant joining mechanisms, namely initial polymer network joining and ultimate grain bonding and growth joining, which play a crucial role in holding the connection shapes and enhancing the connection strength. Furthermore, the bending strength analysis indicates a positive correlation between sintering temperature and bending strength, while a negative correlation is observed between sandwich layer thickness and bending strength. The photocuring duration time has no significant impact on the bending strength. Finally, the double-phase slurry demonstrates superior connection performance, but the joining strength is decreased to 44.53 % of the sintered substrate specimens due to the presence of joining defects such as flow channel pores and lamellar gaps. These defects have prompted the development of lamellar structures, flow channel pores, and intercrystalline fracture regions, consequently reducing the overall strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For each q of the form 4k, we determine all a Fq for which X + Xq + X2q-1 + aXq²-q+1 permutes Fq². We also construct a class of permutation trinomials over Fq² in case q = 1 (mod 3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the thermophysical properties (e.g., thermal shrinkage and thermal conductivity) of the ceramic nanoparticle packed beds in additive manufacturing are crucial for improving the manufacturing accuracy. In this work, we firstly modeled the surface premelting process of nanoparticles, which is likely responsible for low-temperature sintering, and subsequently established thermal shrinkage model of nanoparticle packed beds. The model captures the experimental results well. The results show that with the increase of the sintering temperature, the changing tendencies of both the volume shrinkage (related with accuracy) and the thermal conductivity (related with heat diffusion) of nanoparticle beds all depend on the melting degree of nanoparticles, thus has a same trend. The smaller the nanoparticles, the lower their premelting temperature, thus the lower the sintering temperature of the nanoparticle beds and the greater shrinkage the nanoparticle beds in the additive manufacturing. The porosity of nanoparticle beds which is usually less than 85 % has a neglectable effect on the shrinkage. This work provides methods to predict both sintering temperature in thermal processing and also shrinkage of nanoparticle beds in additive manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the deformation mechanism of the 2021 Mw 7.4 Maduo Earthquake is crucial for better understanding the seismic hazard of the faults with low strain rates inside the Bayan Har block. This study leverages deformation information derived from Sentient-1 A/B images and GPS data to investigate in detail the co- and postseismic deformation mechanisms using multiple methods. The main results are as follows. First, the postseismic InSAR time series robustly identified the reactivation of the Changmahe fault, indicating the impact of the Maduo event on surrounding active faults. Second, the joint inversion of Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar and GPS revealed that (1) there was a complementary and partially overlapping relationship between the coseismic slip and postseismic afterslip of the main rupture; and (2) the Changmahe fault exhibited thrust compression dislocation in the early stage and experienced a sustained compressive effect from afterslip in the one year after the mainshock. Third, modeling the processes of viscoelastic relaxation and poroelastic rebound revealed that the postseismic deformation was probably caused by a combination of afterslip (near-field) and viscoelastic relaxation (near and far field). Fourth, the stress changes driven by the Maduo event revealed that the seismic gaps inside the Maqin-Maqu segment and the Kunlun Pass-Jiangcuo fault will be potential seismic risks in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice production is sensitive to climate change and significantly affected by warming in recent years. To what extent climate warming shifted rice phenology and varied thermal resource condition were explored across five agro-ecological zones in China, based on up-to-date observations of meteorology and rice cultivation in 1981–2020. It was clearly signaled that there was a general advance of 0.3–3.8 days in observed sowing date and a delay of 0.4–3.5 days in observed maturity date in 2001–2020 relative to 1981–2000 in major zones. A vacant time slice of 2.6–28.8 days between observed sowing date and potential sowing date, and a lag of 15.4–56.7 days in potential maturity date compared to observed maturity date were identified in 2001–2020. Within longer growing season, useful accumulated temperature increased by 76.7–117.6 °C·d in 2001–2020 relative to 1981–2000, while disactive accumulated temperature also increased. In Northeast China, actual rice cultivation was undergoing earlier sowing date than potential sowing date and longer growing duration than potential duration, yet leading to upward disactive accumulated temperature. The decrease in the thermal resource utilization in 2001–2020 relative to 1981–2000 was highlighted at 55.3–78.3% stations in major zones, with a decrement of 0.006–0.018 in average magnitude. The changes in thermal resource utilization unveiled that the shifts in actual rice cultivation still could not compensate for the suitability in thermal resource utilization benefited from climate warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incorporation of isolated Sn (IV) and Zr (IV) ions into silica frameworks is attracting widespread attention, which exhibits remarkable catalytic performance (conversion, selectivity, and stability) in a broad range of reactions, especially in the field of biomass catalytic conversion. As a representative example, the conversion route of carbohydrates into valuable platform and commodity chemicals such as lactic acid and alkyl lactates, has already been established. The zeotype materials also possess water‐tolerant ability and are capable to be served as promising heterogeneous catalysts for aqueous reactions. Therefore, dozens of Sn‐ and Zr‐containing silica materials with various channel systems have been prepared successfully in the past decades, containing 8 membered rings (MR) small pore CHA zeolite, 10‐MR medium pore zeolites (FER, MCM‐56, MEL, MFI, MWW), 12‐MR large pore zeolites (Beta, BEC, FAU, MOR, MSE, MTW), and 14‐MR extra‐large pore UTL zeolite. This review about Sn‐ and Zr‐containing metallosilicate materials focuses on their synthesis strategy, catalytic applications for diverse reactions, and the effect of zeolite characteristics on their catalytic performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Without coordinated strategies to balance the population and activity of tumor cells and polarized macrophages, antitumor immunotherapy generally offers limited clinical benefits. Inspired by the "eat me" signal, a smart tumor cell‐derived proximity anchored non‐linear hybridization chain reaction (Panel‐HCR) strategy is established for on‐demand regulation of tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs). The Panel‐HCR is composed of a recognition‐then‐assembly module and a release‐then‐regulation module. Upon recognizing tumor cells, a DNA nano‐tree is assembled on the tumor cell surface and byproduct strands loaded with CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG‐ODNs) are released depending on the tumor cell concentration. The on‐demand release of CpG‐ODNs can achieve efficient regulation of M2 TAMs into the M1 phenotype. Throughout the recognition‐then‐assembly process, tumor cell‐targeted bioimaging is implemented in single cells, fixed tissues, and living mice. Afterward, the on‐demand release of CpG‐ODNs regulate the transformation of M2 TAMs into the M1 phenotype by stimulating toll‐like receptor 9 to activate the NF‐κB pathway and increasing inflammatory cytokines. This release‐then‐regulation process is verified to induce strong antitumor immune responses both in vitro and in vivo. Altogether, this proposed strategy holds tremendous promise for on‐demand antitumor immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the search for dielectric material with high energy storage density, a ceramic system of 0.8Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 TiO 3 –0.2K 1- x Li x TaO 3 (NBT-KLT- x , x = 0.1–0.5) is proposed in this work. The addition of Li 2 CO 3 is conducive to the decrease of sintering temperature of ceramics. Moreover, the XRD diffraction data of sintered ceramics indicate that pure perovskite phase showing the pseudo-cubic structure can be achieved when x = 0.1–0.3 while the excessive addition of Li 2 CO 3 leads to the formation of pyrochlore phase. Based on the Rietveld refinement and Raman results, the Li+ doping in the NBT-KLT- x solid solutions (x = 0.1–0.3) can improve the phase content of P 4bm, induce the lattice expansion and structural change towards a higher-symmetry phase. TEM observation also demonstrates the reduction in the size of polar nanoregions. With increasing x from 0.1 to 0.5, both the oxygen vacancy concentration and grain size display a tendency to decrease first and then increase. For the x = 0.2 ceramics with the lowest oxygen vacancy concentration and grain size, the largest electrical breakdown strength and lowest polarization hysteresis are achieved, giving an excellent recoverable energy storage density of 4.86 J/cm3 under 32 kV/mm, accompanied by a high efficiency of 90.46 %. Additionally, the recoverable energy density achieves a high level of ∼3.5 J/cm3 and energy storage efficiency is larger than 80 % over 28–160 °C, suggesting the outstanding temperature stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Azvudine has clinical benefits and acceptable safety against COVID-19, including in patients with comorbidities, but there is a lack of available data for its use in older adult patients. This study explored the effectiveness and safety of azvudine in older adults with mild or moderate COVID-19. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients aged ≥80 diagnosed with COVID-19 at the Central Hospital of Shaoyang between October and November 2022. According to the therapies they received, the eligible patients were divided into the azvudine, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, and standard-of-care (SOC) groups. The outcomes were the proportion of patients progressing to severe COVID-19, time to nucleic acid negative conversion (NANC), and the 5-, 7-, 10-, and 14-day NANC rates from admission. Results: The study included 55 patients treated with azvudine (n = 14), nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (n = 18), and SOC (n = 23). The median time from symptom onset to NANC of the azvudine, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, and SOC groups was 14 (range, 6–25), 15 (range, 11–24), and 19 (range, 18–23) days, respectively. The median time from treatment initiation to NANC of the azvudine and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir groups was 8 (range, 4–20) and 9 (range, 5–16) days, respectively. The median length of hospital stay in the three groups was 10.5 (range, 5–23), 13.5 (range, 10–21), and 17 (range, 10–23) days, respectively. No treatment-related adverse events or serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Azvudine showed satisfactory effectiveness and acceptable safety in older adults with mild or moderate COVID-19. Therefore, azvudine could be a treatment option for this special patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piceatannol (PIC) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) are polyphenolic compounds with applications in the treatment of various diseases such as cancer, but their stability is poor. β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) is a natural carrier that provides a protective effect to small molecule compounds and thus improves their stability. To elucidate the mechanism of action of EGCG, PIC, and palmitate (PLM) in binding to β-LG individually and jointly, this study applied molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations combined with in-depth analyses including noncovalent interaction (NCI) and binding free energy to investigate the binding characteristics between β-LG and compounds of PIC, EGCG, and PLM. Simulations on the binary complexes of β-LG + PIC, β-LG + EGCG, and β-LG + PLM and ternary complexes of (β-LG + PLM) + PIC, (β-LG + PLM) + EGCG, β-LG + PIC) + EGCG, and (β-LG + EGCG) + PIC were performed for comparison and characterizing the interactions between binding compounds. The results demonstrated that the co-bound PIC and EGCG showed non-beneficial effects on each other. However, the centrally located PLM was revealed to be able to adjust the binding conformation of PIC, which led to the increase in binding affinity with β-LG, thus showing a synergistic effect on the co-bound PIC. The current study of β-LG co-encapsulated PLM and PIC provides a theoretical basis and research suggestions for improving the stability of polyphenols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Influence of soil rheology is considered during small curvature shield tunneling. • Boltzmann viscoelastic model is taken as the ground constitutive model. • Over-excavation and imbalanced loads are considered for small curvature. • Parametric analysis of viscoelastic ground construction is conducted. The current analytical solutions for predicting the ground settlements induced by small curvature tunneling in soft ground are generally conducted on the assumption of linear elastic foundation and provide little attention on the soil rheology. This paper introduces a mathematical model to estimate the small curvature tunneling induced adjacent ground settlement considering the soil viscoelasticity. By introducing the Boltzmann viscoelastic ground model under the Laplace transform, the time domain parameters converted from Poisson's ratio and shear modulus are derived to further obtain the viscoelastic ground loss solution and the Mindlin solution. Then, the proposed viscoelastic solutions are employed for the ground settlement caused by the over-excavation and imbalanced loads for the small curvature tunnel, which accounts for the soil rheology influence. The accuracy of the mathematical model is then verified by comparisons with in-situ observed data and 3D numerical simulation results, as well as good agreement is obtained. Finally, the parametric analyses are performed to estimate the influence for transverse and longitudinal surface settlements, including tunnel curvature radius, shield cutterhead face radius, over-excavation value, creep time and shear modulus ratio of viscoelastic ground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The juvenile-to-adult phase change with first flowering as the indicator plays a crucial role in the lifecycle of fruit trees. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying phase change in fruit trees remain largely unknown. Shikimic acid (ShA) pathway is a main metabolic pathway closely related to the synthesis of hormones and many important secondary metabolites participating in plant phase change. So, whether ShA regulates phase change in plants is worth clarifying. Here, the distinct morphological characteristics and the underlying mechanisms of phase change in jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), an important fruit tree native to China with nutritious fruit and outstanding tolerance abiotic stresses, were clarified. A combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis found that ShA is positively involved in jujube ('Yuhong' x 'Xing 16') phase change. The genes in the upstream of ShA synthesis pathway (ZjDAHPS, ZjDHQS and ZjSDH), the contents of ShA and the downstream secondary metabolites like phenols were significantly upregulated in the phase change period. Further, the treatment of spraying exogenous ShA verified that ShA at a very low concentration (60 mg $ L-1) can substantially speed up the phase change and flowering of jujube and other tested plants including Arabidopsis, tomato and wheat. The exogenous ShA (60 mg $ L-1) treatment in jujube seedlings could increase the accumulation of endogenous ShA, enhance leaf photosynthesis and the synthesis of phenols especially flavonoids and phenolic acids, and promote the expression of genes (ZjCOs, ZjNFYs and ZjPHYs) involved in flowering pathway. Basing on above results, we put forward a propose for the underlying mechanism of ShA regulating phase change, and a hypothesis that ShA could be considered a phytohormone-like substance because it is endogenous, ubiquitous, movable and highly efficient at very low concentrations. This study highlights the critical role of ShA in plant phase change and its phytohormone-like properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient and accurate identification of diaphragm pump faults is crucial for ensuring smooth system operation and reducing energy consumption. The structure of diaphragm pumps is complex and using traditional fault diagnosis strategies to extract typical fault characteristics is difficult, facing the risk of model overfitting and high diagnostic costs. In response to the shortcomings of traditional methods, this study innovatively combines signal demodulation methods with residual networks (ResNet) to propose an efficient fault diagnosis strategy for diaphragm pumps. By using a demodulation method based on principal component analysis (PCA), the vibration signal demodulation spectrum of the fault condition is obtained, the typical fault characteristics of the diaphragm pump are accurately extracted, and the sample features are enhanced, reducing the cost of fault diagnosis. Afterward, the PCA-ResNet model is applied to the fault diagnosis of diaphragm pumps. A reasonable model structure and advanced residual block design can effectively reduce the risk of model overfitting and improve the accuracy of fault diagnosis. Compared with the visual geometry group (VGG) 16, VGG19, ResNet50, and autoencoder models, the proposed model has improved accuracy by 35.89%, 80.27%, 2.72%, and 6.12%. Simultaneously, it has higher operational efficiency and lower loss rate, solving the problem of diagnostic lag in practical engineering. Finally, a model optimization strategy is proposed through model evaluation metrics and testing. The reasonable parameter range of the model is obtained, providing a reference and guarantee for further optimization of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperspectral anomaly detection is a vital aspect of remote sensing as it focuses on identifying pixels with distinct spectral–spatial properties in comparison to their background representations. However, existing methods for anomaly detection in HSIs often overlook the spatial correlation between pixels by converting the three-dimensional tensor data into its folded form of independent signatures, which may lead to insufficient detection performance. To address this limitation, we develop an anomaly detection algorithm from a tensor representation perspective, which begins by separating the observed hyperspectral image into background and anomaly cubes. We leverage the tensor nuclear norm (TNN) to capture the inherent low-rank structure of background cube globally. This allows us to effectively model and represent the background information. To further improve the detection performance, we introduce spatial–spectral total variation (SSTV) for effectively promoting piecewise smoothness of the background tensor, aiding in the identification of anomalies. Additionally, we incorporate RX-derived attention weights-guided ℓ2,1 norm. This encourages group sparsity of anomalous pixels, improving the precision of anomaly detection. To solve our proposed method, we employ the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM), ensuring guaranteed convergence and efficient computation. Through experiments on different kinds of hyperspectral real datasets, we have demonstrated that our method surpasses several state-of-the-art detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrombin is an important ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) mediator in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study examines the use of bivalirudin, a direct thrombin inhibitor, in reducing IRI in STEMI patients. STEMI patients (n = 21) were treated with bivalirudin and compared to 21 patients treated with unfractionated heparin (UFH) from the EARLY Assessment of Myocardial Tissue Characteristics by CMR in STEMI (EARLY-MYO-CMR) registry (NCT03768453). Infarct size (IS) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were comparable between the two groups at follow up. During the first cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) scan within the first week after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), all patients in both the bivalirudin and UFH groups exhibited myocardial edema. However, the myocardium edema volume was significantly less in the bivalirudin group (p < 0.05). At the one-month follow-up, a smaller proportion of patients in the bivalirudin group than in the UFH group exhibited myocardial edema (4.7% vs. 33.3%, p < 0.05). At the three-month follow-up, myocardial edema had completely resolved in the bivalirudin group, while it persisted in two patients in the UFH group. The incidence and volume of microvascular obstruction (MVO) were significantly lower in the bivalirudin group during the acute phase. Additionally, the incidence of intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH) was significantly lower in the bivalirudin group during both the acute and follow up (p < 0.05). These findings were corroborated by T2 and T1 mapping results. The study concluded that the use of bivalirudin for anticoagulation is associated with attenuated IRI in STEMI patients who receive primary PCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground reservoir technology for coal mines can realize the coordinated development of coal exploitation and water protection in water-shortage-prone areas. The seepage effect of the floor seriously affects the safety of underground reservoirs under the action of mining damage and seepage pressure. Focusing on the problem of floor seepage in underground reservoirs, a spatial mechanical model of underground reservoirs was established. The main factors affecting the seepage of the surrounding rock were studied. The seepage pressure law in different stages of spatial structure evolution of overlying strata was explored. The results showed that pressure change was the main factor affecting the stability of a reservoir's surrounding rock. The pore space between the broken and fractured rock in the water-flowing fractured zone was the main water storage space, which was directly related to the development of a breaking arch. According to the spatial structure evolution process of the overlying strata, the water storage state of an underground reservoir was divided into two stages and three situations. The seepage pressure was mainly affected by the water pressure and the overlying strata weight. The water pressure was affected by the reservoir head height, and the overlying strata weight was mainly affected by the overlying strata thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, considering the combined effects of nonlinear oil film forces and cracks on the rotor-bearing system, the differential equations of motion with 4 degrees of freedom are established by Lagrangian method. Then, the Lundgren-Kutta method is used to solve them and the results of the model are compared with the experimental data. The study demonstrate that the cracked rotor-bearing system is relatively stable at subcritical speeds, mostly in the period-1 motion. But near 1/3 of the critical speed, there is an inner loop in its whirl orbit and a significant increase in the 2x frequency component. When the system speed rises to the region near 1/2 of the critical speed, though the bifurcation motion and a relatively high 2x frequency can be observed, there are no other reliable fault characteristics. The study proves that the rotor crack fault diagnosis method based on the whirl orbits is convincing for slant cracked rotors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Azvudine has clinical benefits and acceptable safety against COVID-19, including in patients with comorbidities, but there is a lack of available data for its use in older adult patients. This study explored the effectiveness and safety of azvudine in older adults with mild or moderate COVID-19. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients aged ≥80 diagnosed with COVID-19 at the Central Hospital of Shaoyang between October and November 2022. According to the therapies they received, the eligible patients were divided into the azvudine, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, and standard-of-care (SOC) groups. The outcomes were the proportion of patients progressing to severe COVID-19, time to nucleic acid negative conversion (NANC), and the 5-, 7-, 10-, and 14-day NANC rates from admission. Results: The study included 55 patients treated with azvudine (n = 14), nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (n = 18), and SOC (n = 23). The median time from symptom onset to NANC of the azvudine, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, and SOC groups was 14 (range, 6–25), 15 (range, 11–24), and 19 (range, 18–23) days, respectively. The median time from treatment initiation to NANC of the azvudine and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir groups was 8 (range, 4–20) and 9 (range, 5–16) days, respectively. The median length of hospital stay in the three groups was 10.5 (range, 5–23), 13.5 (range, 10–21), and 17 (range, 10–23) days, respectively. No treatment-related adverse events or serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Azvudine showed satisfactory effectiveness and acceptable safety in older adults with mild or moderate COVID-19. Therefore, azvudine could be a treatment option for this special patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic components made by inorganics (e.g., mica) play key roles in the function exertion of instruments working in outer‐layer space, enduring long‐term β‐ray irradiation. Its damage is vital while explored rarely. Herein, pure muscovite crystals were chosen and irradiated by an electron beam (EB) in air with a dose up to 1000 kGy. Then, micro‐geometry morphology variation in Z‐axis and microstructural transformation mechanism were explored by X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform attenuated total reflection infrared spectrum, thermogravimetric analysis, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and CA analysis. Main results reveal that muscovite lattice is unstable to EB irradiation. With dose increases to 1000 kGy, interlayer space d of (0 0 2) lattice varied 2% near 0.2 Å. At low‐dose, irradiation lattice expansion readily occurs, whereas at higher dose, it is lattice shrinkage, showing a transformation from expansion to shrinkage. Concurrently, chemical structure varied, H2O amount increased, and metal element valance and surface wettability were reduced, so dehydroxylation occurred exceeding H2O radiolysis and evaporation, and framework cleavage could be severe. Binding energies of metals of 1000 kGy‐irradiated species decreased by 0.2 eV, and CA of 100 kGy‐irradiated species increased by 10°. Intrinsic mechanisms involve framework destruction, H‐atom migration, hydrogen bond formation/destruction, and H2O radiolysis. At low‐dose irradiation, H‐atom migration and hydrogen bond formation/destruction are predominant, inducing lattice expansion; at higher dose, framework cleavage is intensive and crucial, inducing shrinkage. During which, partial H2O occurred radiolysis, reducing valence. Generally, H‐atom migration and interface cleavage played key roles in microgeometry morphology a variation of muscovite crystal under EB irradiation at 0–1000 kGy. To enhance muscovite geometry‐morphology stability under a long‐term β‐ray irradiation condition, OH and hydrogen bond contents should be reduced and interface region should be strengthened (e.g., lessening vacancies or compacting stacking). This conclusion promotes the design of radiation‐resistant silicate material, guiding the manufacturing of electronic component used in aerospace industry significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In brain-computer interface (BCI) systems, challenges are presented by the recognition of motor imagery (MI) brain signals. Established recognition approaches have achieved favorable performance from patterns like SSVEP, AEP, and P300, whereas the classification methods for MI need to be improved. Hence, seeking a classification method that exhibits high accuracy and robustness for application in MI-BCI systems is essential. In this study, the Sparrow search algorithm (SSA)-optimized Deep Belief Network (DBN), called SSA-DBN, is designed to recognize the EEG features extracted by the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD). The performance of the DBN is enhanced by the optimized hyper-parameters obtained through the SSA. Our method's efficacy was tested on three datasets: two public and one private. Results indicate a relatively high accuracy rate, outperforming three baseline methods. Specifically, on the private dataset, our approach achieved an accuracy of 87.83%, marking a significant 10.38% improvement over the standard DBN algorithm. For the BCI IV 2a dataset, we recorded an accuracy of 86.14%, surpassing the DBN algorithm by 9.33%. In the SMR-BCI dataset, our method attained a classification accuracy of 87.21%, which is 5.57% higher than that of the conventional DBN algorithm. This study demonstrates enhanced classification capabilities in MI-BCI, potentially contributing to advancements in the field of BCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the existing recycling system for end-of-life vehicles (ELVs), online recycling based on the Internet platform is a useful supplement. In this paper, a Stackelberg game pricing model, which is dominated by ELV part remanufacturers and composed of remanufacturers, recyclers, and consumers, is constructed considering consumer preferences for recycling channels. The influence of different subsidy strategies on the optimal pricing, profit, and recycling volume of the reverse supply chain (RSC) of ELVs is discussed, and the effects of factors such as subsidy amount and consumer preferences on the RSC of ELVs are analyzed using numerical simulation. The results show that the increase in consumers' online recycling preferences has a positive effect on the recycling volume and profit of the RSC of ELVs. Considering the recycling volume of the RSC, when fewer subsidies are given, more recycling volume can be generated by subsidizing remanufacturers, and, on the contrary, recycling volume will be generated by subsidizing consumers. Considering the profit of the RSC, when subsidies are given at the lower-middle level, higher profits can be earned by subsidizing remanufacturers, and, on the contrary, higher profits can be earned by subsidizing consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital economy provides new impetus for the high-quality development of manufacturing industry. Through the DEA-Malmquist model and panel regression model, this paper confirmed that there is a positive and significant relationship between the development of digital economy and the green total factor productivity (GTFP) of manufacturing industry. The research result is as follows: (1) the development of digital economy can enhance the overall GTFP of manufacturing industry. (2) The green technology progress brought by the development of digital economy is the main path to promote the GTFP of manufacturing industry. (3) The heterogeneity analysis shows that the impact of digital economy on GTFP of high pollution manufacturing industry is significantly positive, the impact of labor-intensive manufacturing industry is significantly negative, and the impact of technology intensive manufacturing industry is not obvious. The contributions of this study are as follow. In terms of theory, this study theoretically continues Solow's classical theory, demonstrating the scientific nature of digital technology progress in promoting GTFP growth. In empirical analysis, this study build a new digital economy development level evaluation index system based on the perspective of manufacturing industry. In addition, this study also add a labor-technology-pollution perspective for the development of relevant policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nanoporous TiMnCoCN compound with intriguing self-adjusting capability for the acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) achieves superior electrocatalytic activity and long-term durability. [Display omitted] • A nanoporous TiMnCoCN compound is fabricated by applying the nanoscale Kirkendall effect. • The unique self-adjusting structure achieves excellent acidic oxygen evolution reaction performance. • Inert TiO 2 and N/C incorporation in reconstructed surface layer build the distinctive structure. Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts in acidic media, except for precious IrO 2 , have difficulty realizing good electrocatalytic activity and high electrochemical stability simultaneously. However, the scarcity of IrO 2 as an acidic OER electrocatalyst impedes its large-scale application in hydrogen generation, organic synthesis, nonferrous metal production and sewage disposal. Herein, we report the design and fabrication of a nanoporous TiMnCoCN compound based on the nanoscale Kirkendall effect, possessing an intriguing self-adjusting capability for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in a 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 solution. The nanoporous TiMnCoCN compound electrode for the acidic OER displays a low overpotential of 143 mV for 10 mA cm−2 and exhibits no increase in potential over 50,000 s, which is ascribed to the self-adjusting ability, Carbon/nitrogen (C/N) incorporation and nanoporous architecture. The concentration of inert TiO 2 on the reconstructed surface of the compound can self-adjust with the change in OER potential via a cobalt-dissolved vacancy approach according to the stabilization requirement. In this work, the self-reconstruction law of surface structure was discovered, providing a novel strategy for designing and fabricating nonnoble OER electrocatalysts with superior catalytic performance and robust stability in acidic media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the role of soluble epoxide hydrolase for hyperglycemia induced‐disruption of blood‐brain barrier (BBB) integrity after diffuse axonal injury (DAI). Methods: Rat DAI hyperglycemia model was established by a lateral head rotation device and intraperitoneal injection of 50% glucose. Glial fibrillary acidic protein, ionized calcium‐binding adapter molecule‐1, β‐amyloid precursor protein, neurofilament light chain, and neurofilament heavy chain was detected by immunohistochemistry. Cell apoptosis was examined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick‐end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The permeability of blood‐brain barrier (BBB) was assessed by expression of tight junction proteins, leakage of Evans blue and brain water content. The soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) pathway was inhibited by 1‐trifluoromethoxyphenyl‐3‐(1‐propionylpiperidin‐4‐yl) urea (TPPU) and the nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF‐κB) pathway was inhibited by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate and activated by phorbol‐12‐myristate‐13‐acetate in vivo and/or vitro, respectively. The inflammatory factors were detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Hyperglycemia could exacerbate axonal injury, aggravate cell apoptosis and glial activation, worsen the loss of BBB integrity, increase the release of inflammatory factors, and upregulate the expression of sEH and NF‐κB. Inhibition of sEH could reverse all these damages and protect BBB integrity by upregulating the expression of tight junction proteins and downregulating the levels of inflammatory factors in vivo and vitro, while the agonist of NF‐κB pathway abrogated the protective effects of TPPU on BBB integrity in vitro. Conclusions: sEH was involved in mediating axonal injury induced by hyperglycemia after DAI by disrupting BBB integrity through inducing inflammation via the NF‐κB pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laparoscopic technique is widely used in peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter placement. We developed a modified minimally invasive laparoscopic PD catheter (PDC) insertion with internal fixation and evaluated the early results by observing the intraoperative and postoperative conditions of the novel technique with those of conventional open surgery. Retrospective research was performed on 59 patients who underwent PDC insertion from June 2019 to January 2022, including 23 patients who received open surgery and 36 patients who received modified minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. Information such as preoperative conditions, operation time, incision length, incidence of intraoperative complications, time from operation to starting PD, time from operation to discharge, and incidence of catheter-related complications were collected and analyzed. The incision length, intraoperative blood loss, catheter migration rates and the total incidence of complications 6 months after operation in the laparoscopic group were lower than those in the conventional group. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in operation time, time from operation to starting PD, time from operation to discharge and the incidence of catheter blockage, leakage, exit-site infection, peritoneal dialysis associated peritonitis and hernia. Modified minimally invasive laparoscopic PDC insertion and internal fixation method achieved direct vision and reliable fixation of the catheter, significantly reduced incision length and blood loss. The incidence of catheter migration was significantly lower than that of open surgery. Our primary findings reveal that modified minimally invasive laparoscopic PDC insertion with internal fixation is safe, effective and beneficial for PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous camera self-calibration methods have exhibited certain notable shortcomings. On the one hand, they either exclusively emphasized scene cues or solely focused on vehicle-related cues, resulting in a lack of adaptability to diverse scenarios and a limited number of effective features. Furthermore, these methods either solely utilized geometric features within traffic scenes or exclusively extracted semantic information, failing to comprehensively consider both aspects. This limited the comprehensive feature extraction from scenes, ultimately leading to a decrease in calibration accuracy. Additionally, conventional vanishing point-based self-calibration methods often required the design of additional edge-background models and manual parameter tuning, thereby increasing operational complexity and the potential for errors. Given these observed limitations, and in order to address these challenges, we propose an innovative roadside camera self-calibration model based on the Transformer architecture. This model possesses a unique capability to simultaneously learn scene features and vehicle features within traffic scenarios while considering both geometric and semantic information. Through this approach, our model can overcome the constraints of prior methods, enhancing calibration accuracy and robustness while reducing operational complexity and the potential for errors. Our method outperforms existing approaches on both real-world dataset scenarios and publicly available datasets, demonstrating the effectiveness of our approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Th22 subset is a particular type of CD4+ T helper cells subset. Our study aimed to explore the expression level of circulating Th22, Th17, Th1, and Th2 cells and the possible mechanism of these cells in breast cancer (BC) with different pathological features. Methods: Our study enrolled 43 newly diagnosed BC patients and 30 healthy controls. Frequencies of peripheral Th22, Th17, Th1, and Th2 cells were tested by flow cytometry. Concentrations of IL-22 cytokine in plasma were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Real-time PCR was done to test aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and RAR-associated orphan receptor C (RORC) gene expression. Results: Frequencies of Th22, Th17, Th2 subsets, and the plasma IL-22 level was obviously higher in the BC patients. A positive correlation between Th22 frequency and IL-22 concentration in plasma was detected in BC patients. Furthermore, the percentage of Th22, Th2 subsets in peripheral blood of HER2 positive BC was higher than that in HER2 negative BC patients. A negative correlation between Th1 subset and Ki67% as well as a positive correlation between Th2 subset and Ki-67% was found in BC patients. The proportion of Th1 cells in BC patients was significantly lower than that of the control group. Expression of AHR and RORC transcription factors were also observed to be upregulated in the BC patients. Furthermore, Th22 cells were positively correlated with BC tumor stage and clinical outcomes. The BC patients with a higher percentage of Th22, Th17, Th1 cells or a lower percentage of Th1 cells showed a decreased trend of survival rate. Conclusion: Th22, Th17, Th1, and Th2 subsets may play an essential role in BC patients. Th22, Th17, Th1, and Th2 cells may have potential significance to be used as clinical markers in BC patients with different molecular classification. Th22 cells may have potential value in BC patients’ outcomes prediction, providing clinical value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic adhesives play a crucial role in holding together solid materials through interfacial interactions. Thermoplastic and thermosetting adhesives are important types of synthetic adhesives, with thermoplastic adhesives being reassemblable and thermosetting adhesives exhibiting high adhesive strength and creep resistance. However, there is a need to combine the advantages of both types and develop high bonding strength, reassemblable adhesives. Here, epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) was used to prepare adhesive networks and Diels–Alder bonds were incorporated to enhance reassembly ability. The ESO was functionalized with furyl groups and cross-linked via the reaction between furyl and imide groups to involve the Diels–Alder bonds. The resulting adhesive exhibited good solvent resistance and mechanical properties, which could be regulated by adjusting the quantity of cross-linker. The prepared adhesives also demonstrated self-healing capabilities, as the scratch on the surface gradually diminished with heating. Additionally, the adhesives showed the ability to undergo recycling without significant changes in properties. The prepared adhesives exhibited hydrophilicity and the flow characteristics during reassembly were characterized by a decrease in torque. This study provides a promising approach for the development of synthetic adhesives with reassembly ability, which has important implications for the field of bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydraulic fracturing technology significantly enhances the productivity of shale oil and gas reservoirs. Nonetheless, the infiltration of fracturing fluid into shale formations can detrimentally affect the microscopic pore structure, thereby impairing the efficacy of hydraulic stimulation. In this study, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology was utilized to conduct high-pressure soaking tests on shale specimens treated with EM30+ + guar gum mixed water and CNI nano variable-viscosity slickwater, where various concentrations of a drag reducer were utilized. Additionally, the differences in porosity, permeability, mineral composition, and iron ion concentration before and after the measurements were compared, which were used to analyze the influence on the shale's microscopic pore structure. It features a reduction in the total pore volume after the interaction with the fracturing fluid, with the pore-throat damage degree, porosity damage degree, and permeability damage degree ranging from 0.63% to 5.62%, 1.51% to 6.84%, and 4.17% to 19.61%, respectively. Notably, EM30+ + guar gum mixed water exhibits heightened adsorption retention, alkaline dissolution, and precipitation compared to CNI nano variable-viscosity slickwater, rendering it more deleterious to shale. Moreover, higher concentrations of drag reducers, such as EM30+ or CNI-B, predominantly result in damage to the shale's micropores. Shale compositions characterized by lower content of quartz and elevated proportions of clay minerals and iron-bearing minerals showcase augmented mineral dissolution and precipitation, consequently intensifying the shale damage. The hydration expansion of mixed-layer illite/smectite profoundly diminishes the core permeability. Consequently, the mechanisms underpinning the damage inflicted on shale's microscopic pore structure primarily involve fracturing fluid adsorption and retention, mineral dissolution, and precipitation, such as clay minerals and iron-containing minerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linear conveyors, traditional tools for cargo transportation, have faced criticism due to their directional constraints, inability to adjust poses, and single-item conveyance, making them unsuitable for modern flexible logistics demands. This paper introduces a platform designed to convey and adjust cargo boxes according to their spatial positions and orientations. Additionally, a cargo pose recognition algorithm that integrates image and point cloud data are presented. By aligning depth camera data, the axis-aligned bounding box (AABB) point serves as the image's region of interest (ROI). Peaks extracted from the image's Hough transform are refined using RANSAC-based point cloud linear fitting, then integrated with the point cloud's oriented bounding box (OBB). Notably, the algorithm eliminates the need for deep learning and registration, enabling its use in rectangular cargo boxes of various sizes. A comparative experiment using accelerometer sensors for pose acquisition revealed a deviation of <0.7° between the two processes. Throughout the real-time adjustments controlled by the experimental platform, cargo angles consistently remained stable. The proposed two-dimensional conveyance platform, compared to existing methods, exhibits simplicity, accurate recognition, enhanced flexibility, and wide applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatio-temporal evolution laws of storage coefficient and contact network of crushed rock are of great significance for the construction and utilization of underground reservoirs in coal mines. Based on discrete element method and irregular rigid block model, spatio-temporal evolution laws of storage coefficient and contact network of crushed rock under different overburden stresses are investigated and the following main conclusions are obtained: (1) The average storage coefficient and the storage coefficient at different vertical heights of the crushed rock packing system decrease exponentially as the overburden stress increases. When the overburden stress ranges from 0 to 20 MPa, the average storage coefficient decreases by 48.947%. (2) The average void radius and throat radius of water storage space decrease exponentially as the overburden stress increases. The increase in overburden stress leads to the transformation of large voids into smaller voids, causing a gradual decrease in void connectivity and a tendency towards irregular void shapes. (3) With the increase of overburden stress, the number of strong contacts in the packing system of crushed rock increases and gradually expands from the top to the bottom. The average contact force of crushed rock increases exponentially, while the coordination number increases linearly. (4) As the overburden stress increases, the majority of contact directions are concentrated within the ±30° range in the loading direction. This increase results in an enhancement of the anisotropy of the packing system structure of crushed rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional trust model employed in satellite network security routing algorithms exhibits limited accuracy in detecting malicious nodes and lacks adaptability when confronted with unknown attacks. To address this challenge, this paper introduces a secure satellite network routing technology founded on deep learning and trust management. The approach embraces the concept of distributed trust management, resulting in all satellite nodes in this paper being equipped with trust management and anomaly detection modules for assessing the security of neighboring nodes. In a more detailed breakdown, this technology commences by preprocessing the communication behavior of satellite network nodes using D–S evidence theory, effectively mitigating interference factors encountered during the training of VAE modules. Following this preprocessing step, the trust vector, which has undergone prior processing, is input into the VAE module. Once the VAE module's training is completed, the satellite network can assess safety factors by employing the safety module during the collection of trust evidence. Ultimately, these security factors can be integrated with the pheromone component within the ant colony algorithm to guide the ants in discovering pathways. Simulation results substantiate that the proposed satellite network secure routing algorithm effectively counters the impact of malicious nodes on data transmission within the network. When compared to the traditional trust management model of satellite network secure routing algorithms, the algorithm demonstrates enhancements in average end-to-end delay, packet loss rate, and throughput. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce a multi-modal sensor fusion system designed for biomedical engineering, specifically geared toward optimizing physical training by collecting detailed body movement data. This system employs inertial measurement units, flex sensors, electromyography sensors, and Microsoft's Kinect V2 to generate an in-depth analysis of an individual's physical performance. We incorporate a gated recurrent unit-recurrent neural network algorithm to achieve highly accurate body and hand motion estimation, thus surpassing the performance of traditional machine learning algorithms in terms of accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. The system's integration with the PICO 4 VR environment creates a rich, interactive experience for physical training. Unlike conventional motion capture systems, our sensor fusion system is not limited to a fixed workspace, allowing users to engage in exercise within a flexible, free-form environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As global warming continues, heat stress events are expected to increase and negatively affect rice production. Spatiotemporal changes in single-season rice exposure to heat stress were explored along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLRYR) in China during 1971–2020 based on created heat thresholds in different phenological stages, derived from comparison of historical heat records for single-season rice and agro-meteorological data. The feature importance (IF) provided by the Random Forest model was used to modulate the relationship between threshold accumulated temperature and yield reduction rate caused by heat stress. In addition, critical temperature thresholds at different phenological stages were determined by combining Overall Accuracy and the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. According to historical disaster records, the heat stress occurred before the reproductive phase (i.e., the tillering–jointing stage) and ended in the filling stage. Critical temperature thresholds of Tmax at tillering–jointing, booting, flowering and filling were quantified as 36, 35, 35 and 38 °C, with higher IF values of 13.14, 10.93, 17.15 and 13.15, respectively. The respective values of Overall Accuracy and the areas under the ROC curve were greater than 0.85 and 0.930, implying that each threshold performed excellently in identifying heat occurrence. Based on the determined critical thresholds, accumulated harmful temperature (Tcum), number of heat days (HD), first heat date (FHD) and last heat date (LHD) were presented to characterize heat exposure. It was clear that Tcum and HD exhibited a north-to-south increasing trend from 1971 to 2020, with the obvious increasing occurrence in most parts of the study region through the period of 2010 to 2020. FHD occurred earlier in most stations except the northeast parts, while LHD ended later in southern MLRYR. Exploring heat critical thresholds at different phenological stages highlighted in this study can help decision-makers monitor and evaluate heat exposure to single-season rice in MLRYR and further develop mitigation strategies to ensure rice production security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous thermal insulation materials (PTIMs) are a class of materials characterized by low thermal conductivity, low bulk density and high porosity. The low thermal conductivity of the gas enclosed in their pores allows them to achieve efficient thermal insulation, and are they among the most widely used and effective materials in thermal insulation material systems. Among the PTIMs, polyurethane foam (PUF) stands out as particularly promising. Its appeal comes from its multiple beneficial features, such as low density, low thermal conductivity and superior mechanical properties. Such attributes have propelled its broad application across domains encompassing construction, heterogeneous chemical equipment, water conservation and hydropower, and the aviation and aerospace fields. First, this article outlines the structure and properties of porous thermal insulation PUF materials. Next, it explores the methods of preparing porous thermal insulation PUF materials, evaluating the associated advantages and disadvantages of each technique. Following this, the mechanical properties, thermal conductivity, thermal stability, and flame-retardant characteristics of porous thermal insulation PUF materials are characterized. Lastly, the article provides insight into the prospective development trends pertaining to porous thermal insulation PUF materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a bioactive substance with anti-inflammatory activities. Clusters of CD36 have been suggested to be widely involved in inflammatory damage. However, the mechanism of CGA protecting against LPS-induced inflammation involving the CD36 regulation is unclear. Here, we demonstrated that CGA protected against LPS-induced cell death and decreased the production of ROS. Moreover, the SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities were also upregulated in CGA-treated cells during LPS stimulation. CGA reduced COX-2 and iNOS expression and IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α secretion in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. In addition, CGA treatment widely involved in immune-related signaling pathways, including NF-κB signaling, NOD-like receptor signaling, and IL-17 signaling using transcriptomic analysis and CD36 also markedly reduced during CGA pretreatment in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, the CD36 inhibitor SSO attenuated inflammation and oxidative stress by enabling activation of the AMPK/PGC-1α cascade. These results indicate that CGA might provide benefits for the regulation of inflammatory diseases by modulating CD36/AMPK/PGC-1α to alleviate oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma is a common respiratory disease with symptoms such as repeated wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing. However, currently, asthma cannot be cured but only controlled or relieved using medication. The metered-dose inhaler (MDI) is known to lead to high deposition fractions of drug particles in the mouth and throat, resulting in inadequate drug efficacy. Therefore, herein, the factors influencing the deposition fraction of asthma drugs in the mouth and throat regions were explored by computational fluid dynamics and a smart MDI for asthma was designed. The smart MDI was designed based on the obtained simulation results, which demonstrated that the deposition fraction gradually increased from 55.78% to 65.75% with an increase in the peak inspiratory flow rate at an angle of incidence of 0°. The deposition fraction first decreased and then increased as the angle of incidence increased at a constant peak inspiratory flow rate. The deposition fraction increased as the inspiration–press interval time increased at a constant angle of incidence and peak inspiratory flow rate. Meanwhile, performance analysis of the designed smart MDI indicated that the inhaler could effectively reduce the deposition fraction of drugs in the mouth and throat regions by 17% on average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the field of spinal cord injury (SCI) have garnered significant attention for their potential applications in diagnosis and therapy. However, no bibliometric assessment has been conducted to evaluate the scientific progress in this area. A search of articles in Web of Science (WoS) from January 1, 1991, to May 1, 2023, yielded 359 papers that were analyzed using various online analysis tools. These articles have been cited 10,842 times with 30.2 times per paper. The number of publications experienced explosive growth starting in 2015. China and the United States led this research initiative. Keywords were divided into 3 clusters, including "Pathophysiology of SCI", "Bioactive components of EVs", and "Therapeutic effects of EVs in SCI". By integrating the average appearing year (AAY) of keywords in VoSviewer with the time zone map of the Citation Explosion in CiteSpace, the focal point of research has undergone a transformative shift. The emphasis has moved away from pathophysiological factors such as "axon", "vesicle", and "glial cell" to more mechanistic and applied domains such as "activation", "pathways", "hydrogels" and "therapy". In conclusions, institutions are expected to allocate more resources towards EVs-loaded hydrogel therapy and the utilization of innovative materials for injury mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginseng, a valuable Chinese medicinal herb, is renowned worldwide for its effectiveness in alleviating certain conditions and promoting overall health. In this study, we performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) on the accumulation of essential saponins under the influence of 13 essential environmental factors (including air temperature, air bottom temperature, surface mean temperature, soil temperature, surface shortwave radiation, soil moisture, soil water content, rainfall, total precipitation, elevation, soil type, soil pH, and soil water potential). We identified a total of 40 transcript modules associated with typical environmental factors and the accumulation of essential saponins. Among these, 18 modules were closely related to the influence of typical environmental factors, whereas 22 modules were closely related to the accumulation of essential saponins. These results were verified by examining the transcriptome, saponin contents, environmental factor information and the published data and revealed the regulatory basis of saponin accumulation at the transcriptome level under the influence of essential environmental factors. We proposed a working model of saponin accumulation mediated by the transcriptional regulatory network that is affected by typical environmental factors. An isomorphic white-box neural network was constructed based on this model and the predicted results of the white-box neural network correlated with saponin accumulation. The effectiveness of our correlation-directed graph in predicting saponin contents was verified by bioinformatics analysis based on results obtained in this study and transcripts known to affect the biosynthesis of saponin Rb1. The directed graph represents a useful tool for manipulating saponin biosynthesis while considering the influence of essential environmental factors in ginseng and other medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermosetting adhesives are commonly utilized in various applications. However, covalent cross-linked networks prevent thermosetting adhesives from being re-assembled, which necessitates higher machining precision. Additionally, the primary raw materials used in adhesive preparation are derived from non-renewable petroleum resources, which further constrain adhesive development. In this study, a recyclable adhesive was developed by incorporating dynamic boronic esters into epoxy resin derived from soybean oil. The successful synthesis of epoxidized soybean oil and boronic esters was confirmed through the analysis of proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra and differential scanning calorimetry results. Swelling tests and tensile curves demonstrated the presence of covalently cross-linked networks. Self-healing and reprocessing experiments indicated that the cross-linked network topology could be re-assembled under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of posttraumatic antifibrinolysis with multidose tranexamic acid (TXA) in reducing perioperative hidden blood loss (HBL) in elderly intertrochanteric fracture patients. Method: Ninety-six elderly intertrochanteric fracture patients admitted to our department from June 2021 to September 2022 were randomized into two groups. The control group (Group A) received 100 mL of normal saline, while the experimental group (Group B) received 1.5 g of TXA intravenously q12 h from postadmission Day 1 (PAD1) to the day before surgery, and both groups received 1.5 g of TXA q12 h from postoperative Day 1 (POD1) to POD3. Haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Hct), coagulation parameters, fibrinogen degradation product (FDP), and D-dimer (D-D) were recorded from PAD1 to POD3. HBL was calculated using the gross formula and recorded as the primary outcome. Result: In all-over analyses, the patients in Group B had lower perioperative HBL (on PAD3, POD1, and POD3), preoperative HBL (HBLpre), decline of haemoglobin (ΔHb-on PAD3), allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) rate, FDP (on PAD3), and D-D (on PAD3) compared with Group A. No significant differences were exhibited in postoperative HBL (HBLpost) between the 2 groups. In subgroup analyses, for patients who received intervention within 24 h, the result is consistent with the whole. For patients who received intervention over 72 h of injury, there were no significant differences in perioperative HBL, ΔHb, ABT rate, FDP, and D-D between the 2 groups. There were no significant differences in APTT, PT, the rate of venous thromboembolism, wound complications, or 90-day mortality between the 2 groups. Conclusion: For elderly intertrochanteric fracture patients, early posttraumatic antifibrinolysis with multidose TXA is effective in reducing perioperative HBL, which mainly manifests as the reduction of preoperative HBL, especially for patients injured within 24 h. Application of TXA beyond 72 h of injury was ineffective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]