Patients who suffer from a high spinal cord injury have severe motor disabilities in the lower as well as in the upper extremities. Thus they rely on the help of other people in everyday life. Restoring the function o...Patients who suffer from a high spinal cord injury have severe motor disabilities in the lower as well as in the upper extremities. Thus they rely on the help of other people in everyday life. Restoring the function of the upper limbs, especially the grasp function can help them to gain some independence. Using EEG-based neuroprosthetics is a way to help tetraplegic people restore different grasp types as well as moving the arm and the elbow. In this work an overview of non-invasive EEG-based methods for restoring the hand and arm function with the use of neuroprosthetics in individuals with high spinal cord injury is given. Since the Graz BCI group is leading in this area of non-invasive research mainly, the work of this group is represented.展开更多
Numerous sectors,such as education,the IT sector,and corporate organizations,transitioned to virtual meetings after the COVID-19 crisis.Organizations now seek to assess participants’fatigue levels in online meetings ...Numerous sectors,such as education,the IT sector,and corporate organizations,transitioned to virtual meetings after the COVID-19 crisis.Organizations now seek to assess participants’fatigue levels in online meetings to remain competitive.Instructors cannot effectively monitor every individual in a virtual environment,which raises significant concerns about participant fatigue.Our proposed system monitors fatigue,identifying attentive and drowsy individuals throughout the online session.We leverage Dlib’s pre-trained facial landmark detector and focus on the eye landmarks only,offering a more detailed analysis for predicting eye opening and closing of the eyes,rather than focusing on the entire face.We introduce an Eye Polygon Area(EPA)formula,which computes eye activity from Dlib eye landmarks by measuring the polygonal area of the eye opening.Unlike the Eye Aspect Ratio(EAR),which relies on a single distance ratio,EPA adapts to different eye shapes(round,narrow,or wide),providing a more reliable measure for fatigue detection.The VMFD system issues a warning if a participant remains in a fatigued condition for 36 consecutive frames.The proposed technology is tested under multiple scenarios,including low-to high-lighting conditions(50-1400 lux)and both with and without glasses.This study builds an OpenCV application in Python,evaluated using the iBUG 300-W dataset,achieving 97.5%accuracy in detecting active participants.We compare VMFD with conventional methods relying on the EAR and show that the EPA technique performs significantly better.展开更多
In Alzheimer’s disease,microglial phagocytosis is engaged in the pathogenesis as it clears abnormal protein accumulations,debris,and apoptotic cells in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease,but fuels neuroinflamma...In Alzheimer’s disease,microglial phagocytosis is engaged in the pathogenesis as it clears abnormal protein accumulations,debris,and apoptotic cells in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease,but fuels neuroinflammation and accelerates disease progression in later stages.In vivo parabiosis experiments in aged animals have demonstrated that blood-born factors modulate synaptic plasticity,neurogenesis,and microglial responses.We hypothesize that peripheral factors can modulate microglial function and thereby possibly influence Alzheimer’s disease pathology.The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of Alzheimer’s disease serum on microglial phagocytosis.Here,we use an immortalized human microglial cell line in an in vitro parabiosis assay to investigate the impact of the serum from individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease(n=30)and age-matched controls(n=30)(PRODEM study)on microglial phagocytosis.Exposure to Alzheimer’s disease serum increased microglial phagocytic uptake of pH-sensitive fluorescent particles and downregulated expression of the lysosomal master regulator transcription factor EB(TFEB)and of ATPase H^(+)transporting lysosomal V1 subunit B2(ATP6V1B2),a component of the vacuolar ATPase.To identify serum components that may relate to changes in phagocytosis,serum samples of the Three-City Study(3C Study)were used.In the 3C Study,blood samples were collected up to 12 years before the onset of cognitive decline or dementia and their serum metabolome is well-defined.Microglia exposed to the serum of future Alzheimer’s disease patients from the 3C Study displayed an increased phagocytic uptake compared with the serum of matched controls,depending on the presence of the apolipoprotein Eε4 allele in the Alzheimer’s disease patients.Furthermore,microglial phagocytosis correlated inversely with serum levels of the omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid.We confirmed this inverse correlation between eicosapentaenoic acid and phagocytosis in the serum samples of the PRODEM cohort.In addition,in vitro testing of eicosapentaenoic acid on microglial phagocytosis showed a concentration-dependent decrease in phagocytic uptake.In conclusion,following incubation with Alzheimer’s disease blood serum,we observed increased microglial phagocytic uptake and the downregulation of TFEB and ATP6V1B2,possibly indicating lysosomal dysfunction.Furthermore,microglial phagocytosis was inversely correlated with serum eicosapentaenoic acid levels,suggesting an important role for dietary eicosapentaenoic acid in microglial function.展开更多
Background:The mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of exercise on the human placenta are poorly understood.The objective of the current study was to ascertain the influence of a supervised concurrent exercise...Background:The mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of exercise on the human placenta are poorly understood.The objective of the current study was to ascertain the influence of a supervised concurrent exercise intervention from gestational Week 17 until birth on key cytokines involved in placental development and function.Secondary aims were to explore:(a)the moderating effects of fetal sex and maternal weight status;and(b)whether gestational weight gain,lifestyle behaviors(diet,sleep patterns,and physical activity),and physical fitness(strength and cardiorespiratory fitness)mediated the effects of exercise on placental cytokines.Methods:Seventy-six pregnant women(33±4 years,mean±SD),divided into exercise(n=40)and control(n=36)groups,participated in this study.The exercise group followed a 60-min,3 days/week(aerobic+resistance)training program of moderate-to-vigorous intensity.Placental cytokines—including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor(GM-CSF),granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF),plateletderived growth factor AA(PDGF-AA),epidermal growth factor(EGF),monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1),fractalkine,interleukin(IL)-8,IL-6,IL-1β,interleukin 1-receptor antagonist(IL-1ra),IL-10,tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-a),and interferon gamma(IFN-γ)were analyzed using Luminex multi-analyte profiling(x MAP)technology.Results:The exercise group presented higher placental levels of G-CSF and lower concentrations of EGF and IL-1ra than the control group(p<0.05).Significant effects of exercise on placental G-CSF and TNF-a(p<0.05)and a trend toward lower IL-6(p=0.08)were observed only in female placentas.Additionally,a reduction in weight gain partially mediated the effects of exercise on G-CSF(p<0.05).Conclusion:Maternal exercise during pregnancy is related to increased placental levels of G-CSF and lower EGF and IL-1ra levels.Some exercise-induced effects are observed exclusively in female placentas,including increased G-CSF and lower TNF-a and IL-6 concentrations.Notably,the increased levels of G-CSF observed with exercise might be due to a more adequate gestational weight gain.展开更多
Developing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly process for the production of valuable chemicals from abundant herbal biomass receives great attentions in recent years.Herein,taking advantage of the“lignin f...Developing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly process for the production of valuable chemicals from abundant herbal biomass receives great attentions in recent years.Herein,taking advantage of the“lignin first”strategy,corn straw is converted to valuable chemicals including lignin monomers,furfural and 5-methoxymethylfurfural via a two steps process.The key of this research lies in the development of a green and low-cost catalytic process utilizing magnetic Raney Ni catalyst and high boiling point ethylene glycol.The utilization of neat ethylene glycol as the sole slovent under atmospheric conditions obviates the need for additional additives,thereby facilitating the entire process to be conducted in glass flasks and rendering it highly convenient for scaling up.In the initial step,depolymerization of corn straw lignin resulted in a monomer yield of 18.1 wt%.Subsequently,in a dimethyl carbonate system,the carbohydrate component underwent complete conversion in a one-pot process,yielding furfural and 5-methoxymethylfurfural as the primary products with an impressive yield of 47.7%.展开更多
The administration of drugs via the buccal route has attracted much attention in recent years.However,the development of delivery systems that adhere well in moist conditions while releasing drugs successfully across ...The administration of drugs via the buccal route has attracted much attention in recent years.However,the development of delivery systems that adhere well in moist conditions while releasing drugs successfully across the buccal mucosa remains challenging[1].Currently,the gold standard for determining buccal drug permeability is the vertical Franz diffusion cell(FDC),which is using freshly excised tissue[2].展开更多
The maximal force a muscle can exert depends on its length,which has been explained by the sliding filament theory on the sarcomere level.1 A longer muscle can act over a greater range of motion and has more sarcomere...The maximal force a muscle can exert depends on its length,which has been explained by the sliding filament theory on the sarcomere level.1 A longer muscle can act over a greater range of motion and has more sarcomeres in series,which increases its capacity to produce force at a specific muscle contraction velocity because each sarcomere contracts at a lower velocity.展开更多
BACKGROUND Hyperspectral imaging(HSI)offers useful information on organ quality and has already been successfully used in kidney and liver transplantation to assess transplanted organs.Up to now,there is no case repor...BACKGROUND Hyperspectral imaging(HSI)offers useful information on organ quality and has already been successfully used in kidney and liver transplantation to assess transplanted organs.Up to now,there is no case report in the literature describing HSI for quality assessment of a machine perfused donor liver.The allocated liver from a 49-year-old female donor(161 cm,70 kg)was perfused with the OrganOx®normothermic machine perfusion system in the recommended way.Organ quality assessment was performed based on laboratory values at defined time points.In addition,the final evaluation of the liver comprised macroscopic findings and HSI of each liver segment.After discarding the organ,biopsies were taken from each segment and correlated with the results of the HSI.CASE SUMMARY The donor liver’s size(29 cm×17 cm×11 cm)and weight of 2180 g posed challenges for adequate placement within the organ container.Baseline biopsy of the liver revealed no evidence of fibrosis,steatosis or inflammation.An hour after perfusion start,measurements of the perfusate indicated a pH of 7.18,a glucose level of 404 mg/dL,and a lactate level of 1.7 mmol/L.Throughout perfusion,a significant decline in glucose levels began at the fourth hour,reaching a nadir of 20 mg/dL after eight hours.Concurrently,lactate levels steadily rose,peaking at 4.9 mmol/L after the total perfusion time of 12 hours.Macroscopic alterations(signs of congestion and reduced blood circulation)on the liver’s surface were noted,particularly pronounced in segments 2,3,and 8.HSI of these areas unveiled significant reduced oxygenation.Consequently,based on all these observations,the decision was made to discard the organ.Histological examination of the altered regions revealed congestion,necrotic changes,and dissociation of CONCLUSION This case report describes the integration of HSI in the decision making of the decline of a 49-year-old machine perfused donor liver.HSI offered useful information concerning the tissue morphology and graft viability and could therefore be a useful additional tool in assessing donor liver quality before transplantation.展开更多
Solid-state batteries are attracting considerable attention for their high-energy density and improved safety over conventional lithium-ion batteries.Among solid-state electrolytes,sulfide-based options like Li_(6)PS_...Solid-state batteries are attracting considerable attention for their high-energy density and improved safety over conventional lithium-ion batteries.Among solid-state electrolytes,sulfide-based options like Li_(6)PS_(5)Cl are especially promising due to their superior ionic conductivity.However,interfacial degradation between sulfide electrolytes and high-voltage cathodes,such as LiCoO_(2),limits long-term performance.This study demonstrates that a LiBF_(4)-derived F-rich coating on LiCoO_(2),applied by immersing LiCoO_(2) particles in a LiBF_(4) solution followed by annealing,can significantly enhance performance in Li_(6)PS_(5)Cl-based solid-state batteries.This coating enables stable high-voltage(4.5 V vs Li^(+)/Li)operation,achieving an initial specific capacity of 153.82 mAh g^(−1) and 87.1%capacity retention over 300 cycles at 0.5C.The enhanced performance stems from the F-rich coating,composed of multiple phases including LiF,CoF_(2),Li_(x)BF_(y)O_(z),and Li_(x)BO_(y),which effectively suppresses side reactions at the LiCoO_(2)|Li_(6)PS_(5)Cl interface and improves lithium-ion diffusivity,thereby enabling greater Li capacity utilization.Our findings provide a practical pathway for advancing solid-state batteries with high-voltage LiCoO_(2) cathodes,offering substantial promise for next-generation energy storage systems.展开更多
Objective: Physical assessment is an indispensable and pivotal skill that nurses must aptly monitor, evaluate, and deliver timely care, particularly in the context of critically ill patients. However, studies have rev...Objective: Physical assessment is an indispensable and pivotal skill that nurses must aptly monitor, evaluate, and deliver timely care, particularly in the context of critically ill patients. However, studies have revealed instances where nurses demonstrate inaccurate practices. This study is aimed to measure the physical assessment skills of critical care nurses and the differences between levels of nursing education. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted involving a simple random sample of 101 nurses employed in critical care units. Results: Of the 101 participants, 56.4% were identified as female and 43.6% were male. In the sample, 71.0% held a diploma in nursing, while 29.0% held a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Vital signs, orientation, and skin assessments were performed correctly in ≥90% of cases, whereas the majority (≥60%) did not correctly assess neck veins, Homan’s signs, breath sounds, heart sounds, and bowel sounds. Only ≤10% of participants accurately executed these assessments. Significant associations were found between sex and pain (P=0.034), as well as between the type of education and closure of the health assessment (P=0.041). Further, female nurses scored 10.0 ± 2.3, and male nurses 8.5 ± 2.5, diploma holders scored 9.4 ± 1.8, and BSN holders scored 9.3 ± 2.7 at the global rating. Conclusions: The presence of an existing gap in the accurate assessment of patients poses a potential risk to patient care. It is essential to investigate the factors contributing to this gap and to develop strategies to address it, thereby enhancing the quality of physical assessment and ultimately improving patient care.展开更多
Chassis-by-wire technology has gained significant attention,with the scope of chassis domain control expanding from traditional two-dimensional plane motion control to encompass three-dimensional space motion control....Chassis-by-wire technology has gained significant attention,with the scope of chassis domain control expanding from traditional two-dimensional plane motion control to encompass three-dimensional space motion control.Modern chassis-by-wire systems manage an increasing number of heterogeneous chassis execution systems,including distributed drive,all-wheel drive(AWD),brake-by-wire(BBW),steer-by-wire(SBW),rear-wheel steering(RWS),active stabilizer bar(ASB)and active suspension system(ASS),greatly enhancing the controllable degrees of freedom compared to conventional chassis configurations.To advance research in chassis domain control,it is essential to understand how these heterogeneous execution systems influence vehicle dynamics.This paper focuses on the modeling and analysis of the lateral,longitudinal,and vertical chassis control and execution systems,-as well as their impact on vehicle lateral motion.Using a vehicle simulation platform,both the vehicle dynamics model and the individual dynamics models of each execution system were developed to analyze the influence of these systems on lateral dynamics.Additionally,a hierarchical control architecture was designed to control the vehicle’s lateral stability.The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme was demonstrated and validated through hardware-in-the-loop(HIL)tests and real-world vehicle testing.展开更多
Permian intrusions are widespread in the Middle and Southern Tien-Shan,with fewer occurrences in the Northern Tien-Shan.Notably,many of these intrusions are spatially associated with a variety of ore deposits,indicati...Permian intrusions are widespread in the Middle and Southern Tien-Shan,with fewer occurrences in the Northern Tien-Shan.Notably,many of these intrusions are spatially associated with a variety of ore deposits,indicating a significant link between magmatic activity and mineralization processes in these areas.We studied granite samples recently recovered from drilling in the Kumtor gold field to evaluate their potential relationships with gold mineralization.The major and trace element geochemistry,zircon U-Pb age and Hf isotope data for this so-called Kumtor granite are reported.The Kumtor granite is metaluminous to peraluminous and belongs to the high-K and calc-alkaline series with I-type geochemical characteristics.The relatively high K_(2)O and Na_(2)O concentrations and low high field strength elements(HFSE)and heavy rare earth elements(HREE),the presence of biotite within these I-type granites,together with their low zircon saturation temperatures(731-779℃),suggest that they were likely derived from a hydrous source formed by dehydration melting of mica-bearing,medium-to high-K metabasaltic rocks.The zircon U-Pb dating results indicate that the Kumtor granite intruded at 293±1.7 Ma,which is consistent with the age range of other Middle Tien-Shan granitoids.The zircon Hf isotopic composition isε_(Hf)(t)=-7.56 to-5.05,indicating an ancient(1.39 to 1.52 Ga)crustal origin.Petrographical,geochemical and geochronological data indicate that the Kumtor granite is similar to leucogranites of the Terekty Complex.These results indicate that the Kumtor granite was emplaced in the Early Permian in a postcollision setting and may have temporal and genetic relationships with gold mineralization.展开更多
The Barud gneissic dome complex is situated along the ENE-trending dextral shear zone of the Qena-Safaga Line that serves as a significant tectonic boundary between the basement terrains of the Northern and Central Ea...The Barud gneissic dome complex is situated along the ENE-trending dextral shear zone of the Qena-Safaga Line that serves as a significant tectonic boundary between the basement terrains of the Northern and Central Eastern Desert.These terrains exhibit distinct differences in crustal composition and deformation style.The Northern Eastern Desert and its extension into Sinai are predominantly composed of gneissic granites that are intruded by large batholiths of calc-alkaline and alkaline granites.Conversely,the Central and Southern Eastern Desert are commonly blanketed by a carapace of ophiolite-bearing volcano-sedimentary rocks of the Pan-African cover nappes.These northern terrains,just north of the Barud dome complex,the crust underwent significant NW-SE regional crustal extension across the Qena-Safaga Line,which sharply delineates the northern limit of the transpressional deformations linked to the Najd fault system in the Central and Southern Eastern Desert.Through comprehensive geological mapping and the integration of various geophysical,geochemical and geochronological data,this paper offers explanations for the contrasting geological features of the basement terrains on both sides of the Qena-Safaga Line and its analogous Fatira Shear Zone that plays a significant role in tectonic modeling of the Barud dome complex region.The Barud gneissic protolith experienced crustal shortening approximately 697 million years ago in the NW-SE direction,initiating dextral motion along the Fatira Shear Zone.Large batholiths of granodiorite/tonalite complex intruded the Barud gneissic dome protolith around 630 million years ago along the Qena-Safaga Line,at relatively shallow crustal depths,following the same orientation as the earlier shortening direction.Ongoing magmatic activity along the Qena-Safaga Line indicates intense magmatic underplating,resulting in significant intrusions of granodioritic melts into the early rifted crust of the Northern Eastern Desert and Sinai terrains.The crust of these northern terrains likely underwent isostatic compensation through uplifting and subsequent erosion.The disappearance of ophiolite-bearing belts and the presence of Paleo-to Mesoproterozoic continental-derived cobbles and ignimbrites in Sinai metasedimentary belts and Northern Eastern Desert molasse basins suggest that the northern terrains,located north of the Qena-Safaga Line,originated as a cohesive,thin continental crust that rifted off the eastern passive margin of the Sahara Metacraton during the early Neoproterozoic rifting of the Rodinia supercontinent.展开更多
Background:Due to its high relevance in sports and rehabilitation,the exploration of interventions to further optimize flexibility becomes paramount.While stretching might be the most common way to enhance range of mo...Background:Due to its high relevance in sports and rehabilitation,the exploration of interventions to further optimize flexibility becomes paramount.While stretching might be the most common way to enhance range of motion,these increases could be optimized by imposing an additional activation of the muscle,such as mechanical vibratory stimulation.While several original articles provide promising findings,contradictory results on flexibility and underlying mechanisms(e.g.,stiffness),reasonable effect size(ES)pooling remains scarce.With this work we systematically reviewed the available literature to explore the possibility of potentiating flexibility,stiffness,and passive torque adaptations by superimposing mechanical vibration stimulation.Methods:A systematic search of 4 databases(Web of Science,MEDLINE,Scopus,and Cochrane Public Library)was conducted until December2023 to identify studies comparing mechanical vibratory interventions with passive controls or the same intervention without vibration(sham)on range of motion and passive muscle stiffness in acute(immediate effects after single session)and chronic conditions(multiple sessions over a period of time).ES pooling was conducted using robust variance estimation via R to account for multiple study outcomes.Potential moderators of effects were analyzed using meta regression.Results:Overall,65 studies(acute:1162 participants,chronic:788 participants)were included.There was moderate certainty of evidence for acute flexibility(ES=0.71,p<0.001)and stiffness(ES=-0.89,p=0.006)effects of mechanical vibration treatments vs.passive controls without meaningful results against the sham condition(flexibility:ES=0.20,p<0.001;stiffness:ES=-0.19,p=0.076).Similarly,moderate certainty of evidence was found for chronic vibration effects on flexibility(control:ES=0.64,p=0.043;sham:ES=0.65,p<0.001).Lack of studies and large outcome heterogeneity prevented ES pooling for underlying mechanisms.Conclusion:Vibration improved flexibility in acute and chronic interventions compared to the stand-alone intervention,which can possibly be attributed to an accumulated mechanical stimulus through vibration.However,studies on biological mechanisms are needed to explain flexibility and stiffness effects in response to specific vibration modalities and timing.展开更多
The gastrointestinal(GI)tract is essential for digestion,absorption,excretion,and protection,supported by a diverse microbial ecosystem.Traditional in-vitro models often fall short in capturing the physiological compl...The gastrointestinal(GI)tract is essential for digestion,absorption,excretion,and protection,supported by a diverse microbial ecosystem.Traditional in-vitro models often fall short in capturing the physiological complexity of the GI tract,limiting their translational applications.A comprehensive approach is needed to bridge the gap between simple cell cultures and more complex systems used in translational research.This review explores the limitations of conventional twodimensional cell cultures and emphasizes the emerging use of three-dimensional and microfluidic systems that better replicate the GI tract’s structure and functions.It highlights the importance of incorporating patient-derived cells and engineered microenvironments to enhance model relevance and support personalized medicine.The review also discusses advanced fabrication techniques such as micro-extrusion and laser-assisted bioprinting,which enable the creation of sophisticated tissue models capable of simulating critical GI processes,including molecular transport,peristalsis,and liver coupling.Advancing the complexity of in-vitro systems will help replicate the GI tract’s interactions and physiological phenomena,thus improving the translational potential of GI research.This review provides valuable insights into the advancements and challenges in GI modeling,serving as a comprehensive guide for developing models that bridge the gap between basic cell cultures and clinically relevant systems.展开更多
Introduction Gender and sex are related to important quality and safety issues in scientific,health,and clinical research.Sex refers to biological characteristics,while gender encompasses the sociocultural norms,ident...Introduction Gender and sex are related to important quality and safety issues in scientific,health,and clinical research.Sex refers to biological characteristics,while gender encompasses the sociocultural norms,identities,and relationships that shape communities and organizations,as well as influence actions,behaviors,contexts,and knowledge.Both gender and sex intersect with other social categories.In this context,in addition to sex or gender,the intersectionality refers to overlapping or interdependent systems of discrimination by more than one factor,such as age,disability,ethnicity,geographic location,socioeconomic status,and sexuality,among others.展开更多
Hot flow anomalies(HFAs)are not only a terrestrial phenomenon,but also a solar-system-wide phenomenon,one that can cause significant perturbations in planetary magnetospheres and ionospheres.In this study,based on the...Hot flow anomalies(HFAs)are not only a terrestrial phenomenon,but also a solar-system-wide phenomenon,one that can cause significant perturbations in planetary magnetospheres and ionospheres.In this study,based on the observations of Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN(MAVEN)mission in the region upstream of the Martian bow shock from the year 2014 to 2020,we have investigated the statistical properties of HFAs around Mars.Our results show that HFAs can be found in a wide region of Mars,from the dayside to the terminator region.On average,these HFAs last 63 seconds,with a thickness of 28 local proton gyroradii.They are more prevalent when the ambient solar wind is denser and faster,and usually occur when the interplanetary magnetic field magnitude is between 1-4 nT.Martian HFAs can also lead to solar wind dynamics multiplying in pressure by factors of ten within only tens of seconds,which could significantly influence the heights of the Martian ionopause and induced magnetosphere boundary.By comparing HFAs around Earth,we suggest that these phenomena are primarily governed by solar wind dynamics rather than local planetary conditions.展开更多
This paper investigates the influence of numerical methods and mesh resolution on the prediction accuracy of the aerodynamic behaviors of a 1/20 scaled generic high-speed train(HST)model.A thorough comparison is made ...This paper investigates the influence of numerical methods and mesh resolution on the prediction accuracy of the aerodynamic behaviors of a 1/20 scaled generic high-speed train(HST)model.A thorough comparison is made between partially averaged Navier-Stokes(PANS),large eddy simulation(LES),and wind tunnel experiments,covering aerodynamic forces,surface pressure,velocity distribution,and Reynolds stress and turbulent kinetic energy in the wake region.The Reynolds number for both simulations and experiments is set to 4.75×10^(5).The results show that the PANS approach accurately predicts flow characteristics observed in experiments and fine LES calculations,even with a low resolution grid.PANS exhibits a distinct advantage over LES when grid resolutions are insufficient for resolving near wall flow structures around the HST,both in open-air conditions and crosswind environments.Additionally,grid refinement improves the predictive accuracy of the HST's aerodynamic performance,particularly in the presence of small yaw angle.展开更多
A promising way to realize controlled nuclear fusion involves the use of magnetic fields to control and confine the hot plasma configuration.This approach requires superconductor magnets operating above 15 T for the n...A promising way to realize controlled nuclear fusion involves the use of magnetic fields to control and confine the hot plasma configuration.This approach requires superconductor magnets operating above 15 T for the next generation of fusion devices.Due to their high in-field transport current capacity,rare-Earth barium copper oxide(REBCO)coated conductors are promising materials for manufacturing of cable-in-conduit conductors(CICCs)for fusion.However,the high-aspect-ratio geometry makes it difficult to find a multi-tape CICC configuration that fulfills the high engineering current density requirements while retaining enough flexibility for winding large-scale magnets.Moreover,the multilayer structure and inherent brittleness make the REBCO tapes susceptible to degradation during CICC manufacturing and operation.For more than a decade,the development of a reliable REBCO-based CICC that can sustain the huge combined mechanical,thermal,and Lorentz loads without degradation has been ongoing,albeit with limited progress.In this paper,we report on a prototype REBCO CICC that can withstand an applied cyclic Lorentz load of at least 830 kN·m^(-1),corresponding to a transport current of 80 kA at 10.85 T and 4.5 K.To our knowledge,this is the highest load achieved to date.The CICC uses 288 tapes wound into six strengthened sub-cables,making it capable of having a current sharing temperature,Tcs,of around 39 and 20 K when operated under 10.85 T with a current of 40 and 80 kA,respectively.Scaled to a 20-T peak field and 46.5-kA transport current,this provides a temperature margin of over 10 K with respect to an operating temperature of 4.5 K.In addition,no perceptible transport current performance degradation was observed after cyclic Lorentz loading,cyclic warm-up/cool-down(WUCD),and quench campaigns.The proposed REBCO CICC is a milestone in the development of high-temperature superconductors for large-scale and high-field magnet applications.展开更多
Background:Stretching has wide appeal,but there seems to exist some mismatch between its purported applications and what the evidence shows.There is compelling evidence for some stretching applications,but for others,...Background:Stretching has wide appeal,but there seems to exist some mismatch between its purported applications and what the evidence shows.There is compelling evidence for some stretching applications,but for others,the evidence seems heterogeneous or unsupportive.The discrepancies even affect some systematic reviews,possibly due to heterogeneous eligibility criteria and search strategies.This consensus paper seeks to unify the divergent findings on stretching and its implications for both athletic performance and clinical practices by delivering evidence-based recommendations.Methods:A panel of 20 experts with a blend of practical experience and scholarly knowledge was assembled.The panel meticulously reviewed existing systematic reviews,defined key terminologies(e.g.,consensus definitions for different stretching modes),and crafted guidelines using a Delphi consensus approach(minimum required agreement:80%).The analysis focused on 8 topics,including stretching's acute and chronic(long-term)effects on range of motion,strength performance,muscle hypertrophy,stiffness,injury prevention,muscle recovery,posture correction,and cardiovascular health.Results:There was consensus that chronic and acute stretching(a)improves range of motion(although alternatives exist)and(b)reduces muscle stiffness(which may not always be desirable);the panel also agreed that chronic stretching(c)may promote vascular health,but more research is warranted.In contrast,consensus was found that stretch training does not(a)contribute substantively to muscle growth,(b)serve as an allencompassing injury prevention strategy,(c)improve posture,or(d)acutely enhance post-exercise recovery.Conclusion:These recommendations provide guidance for athletes and practitioners,highlighting research gaps that should be addressed to more comprehensively understand the full scope of stretching effects.展开更多
文摘Patients who suffer from a high spinal cord injury have severe motor disabilities in the lower as well as in the upper extremities. Thus they rely on the help of other people in everyday life. Restoring the function of the upper limbs, especially the grasp function can help them to gain some independence. Using EEG-based neuroprosthetics is a way to help tetraplegic people restore different grasp types as well as moving the arm and the elbow. In this work an overview of non-invasive EEG-based methods for restoring the hand and arm function with the use of neuroprosthetics in individuals with high spinal cord injury is given. Since the Graz BCI group is leading in this area of non-invasive research mainly, the work of this group is represented.
文摘Numerous sectors,such as education,the IT sector,and corporate organizations,transitioned to virtual meetings after the COVID-19 crisis.Organizations now seek to assess participants’fatigue levels in online meetings to remain competitive.Instructors cannot effectively monitor every individual in a virtual environment,which raises significant concerns about participant fatigue.Our proposed system monitors fatigue,identifying attentive and drowsy individuals throughout the online session.We leverage Dlib’s pre-trained facial landmark detector and focus on the eye landmarks only,offering a more detailed analysis for predicting eye opening and closing of the eyes,rather than focusing on the entire face.We introduce an Eye Polygon Area(EPA)formula,which computes eye activity from Dlib eye landmarks by measuring the polygonal area of the eye opening.Unlike the Eye Aspect Ratio(EAR),which relies on a single distance ratio,EPA adapts to different eye shapes(round,narrow,or wide),providing a more reliable measure for fatigue detection.The VMFD system issues a warning if a participant remains in a fatigued condition for 36 consecutive frames.The proposed technology is tested under multiple scenarios,including low-to high-lighting conditions(50-1400 lux)and both with and without glasses.This study builds an OpenCV application in Python,evaluated using the iBUG 300-W dataset,achieving 97.5%accuracy in detecting active participants.We compare VMFD with conventional methods relying on the EAR and show that the EPA technique performs significantly better.
基金part of the EU consortium DCog Plast ‘Diet Cognition and Plasticity” funded by the Joint Programming Initiative “A Health Diet for a Healthy Life”(JPI-HDHL) via the BMWFW (BMWFW-10.420/0009-WF/V/3c/2015 and the Medical Research Council UK:MR/N030087/1)(to LA and ST)supported by the PMU-FFF Research Fund (A-16/01/019-AIG)+9 种基金BA by the PMU-Research and Innovation Fund (PMU-RIF)(project 2023-PRE-008-Altendorfer)supported by the Center for Urban Mental Healthby Alzheimer Nederlandthe Zon MW Program Mechanisms Of DEMentia (MODEM)by the Gravitation program iCNS of the Dutch Research Council (NWO)supported by Grant PID2020-114921RB-C21Maria de Maeztu Unit of Excellence grant CEX2021-001234-M funded by MCIU/AEI/and CIBERFESCB16/10/00269, from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III all of them by “ERDF A way of making Europe”the Generalitat de Catalunya’s Agency AGAUR of 2021SGR00687ICREA Award
文摘In Alzheimer’s disease,microglial phagocytosis is engaged in the pathogenesis as it clears abnormal protein accumulations,debris,and apoptotic cells in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease,but fuels neuroinflammation and accelerates disease progression in later stages.In vivo parabiosis experiments in aged animals have demonstrated that blood-born factors modulate synaptic plasticity,neurogenesis,and microglial responses.We hypothesize that peripheral factors can modulate microglial function and thereby possibly influence Alzheimer’s disease pathology.The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of Alzheimer’s disease serum on microglial phagocytosis.Here,we use an immortalized human microglial cell line in an in vitro parabiosis assay to investigate the impact of the serum from individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease(n=30)and age-matched controls(n=30)(PRODEM study)on microglial phagocytosis.Exposure to Alzheimer’s disease serum increased microglial phagocytic uptake of pH-sensitive fluorescent particles and downregulated expression of the lysosomal master regulator transcription factor EB(TFEB)and of ATPase H^(+)transporting lysosomal V1 subunit B2(ATP6V1B2),a component of the vacuolar ATPase.To identify serum components that may relate to changes in phagocytosis,serum samples of the Three-City Study(3C Study)were used.In the 3C Study,blood samples were collected up to 12 years before the onset of cognitive decline or dementia and their serum metabolome is well-defined.Microglia exposed to the serum of future Alzheimer’s disease patients from the 3C Study displayed an increased phagocytic uptake compared with the serum of matched controls,depending on the presence of the apolipoprotein Eε4 allele in the Alzheimer’s disease patients.Furthermore,microglial phagocytosis correlated inversely with serum levels of the omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid.We confirmed this inverse correlation between eicosapentaenoic acid and phagocytosis in the serum samples of the PRODEM cohort.In addition,in vitro testing of eicosapentaenoic acid on microglial phagocytosis showed a concentration-dependent decrease in phagocytic uptake.In conclusion,following incubation with Alzheimer’s disease blood serum,we observed increased microglial phagocytic uptake and the downregulation of TFEB and ATP6V1B2,possibly indicating lysosomal dysfunction.Furthermore,microglial phagocytosis was inversely correlated with serum eicosapentaenoic acid levels,suggesting an important role for dietary eicosapentaenoic acid in microglial function.
基金funded by the Regional Ministry of Health of the Junta de Andalucıa(PI-0395-2016)the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement(No.101027215)+1 种基金supported by the PLACENTRAINING project,funded through the FEDER-UGR23 funding call(European Regional Development Fund University of Granada programGrant No.C-EXP-336UGR23)。
文摘Background:The mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of exercise on the human placenta are poorly understood.The objective of the current study was to ascertain the influence of a supervised concurrent exercise intervention from gestational Week 17 until birth on key cytokines involved in placental development and function.Secondary aims were to explore:(a)the moderating effects of fetal sex and maternal weight status;and(b)whether gestational weight gain,lifestyle behaviors(diet,sleep patterns,and physical activity),and physical fitness(strength and cardiorespiratory fitness)mediated the effects of exercise on placental cytokines.Methods:Seventy-six pregnant women(33±4 years,mean±SD),divided into exercise(n=40)and control(n=36)groups,participated in this study.The exercise group followed a 60-min,3 days/week(aerobic+resistance)training program of moderate-to-vigorous intensity.Placental cytokines—including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor(GM-CSF),granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF),plateletderived growth factor AA(PDGF-AA),epidermal growth factor(EGF),monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1),fractalkine,interleukin(IL)-8,IL-6,IL-1β,interleukin 1-receptor antagonist(IL-1ra),IL-10,tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-a),and interferon gamma(IFN-γ)were analyzed using Luminex multi-analyte profiling(x MAP)technology.Results:The exercise group presented higher placental levels of G-CSF and lower concentrations of EGF and IL-1ra than the control group(p<0.05).Significant effects of exercise on placental G-CSF and TNF-a(p<0.05)and a trend toward lower IL-6(p=0.08)were observed only in female placentas.Additionally,a reduction in weight gain partially mediated the effects of exercise on G-CSF(p<0.05).Conclusion:Maternal exercise during pregnancy is related to increased placental levels of G-CSF and lower EGF and IL-1ra levels.Some exercise-induced effects are observed exclusively in female placentas,including increased G-CSF and lower TNF-a and IL-6 concentrations.Notably,the increased levels of G-CSF observed with exercise might be due to a more adequate gestational weight gain.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(QNTD202302)National Natural Science Foundation of China(22378024)the Foreign expert program(G2022109001L).
文摘Developing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly process for the production of valuable chemicals from abundant herbal biomass receives great attentions in recent years.Herein,taking advantage of the“lignin first”strategy,corn straw is converted to valuable chemicals including lignin monomers,furfural and 5-methoxymethylfurfural via a two steps process.The key of this research lies in the development of a green and low-cost catalytic process utilizing magnetic Raney Ni catalyst and high boiling point ethylene glycol.The utilization of neat ethylene glycol as the sole slovent under atmospheric conditions obviates the need for additional additives,thereby facilitating the entire process to be conducted in glass flasks and rendering it highly convenient for scaling up.In the initial step,depolymerization of corn straw lignin resulted in a monomer yield of 18.1 wt%.Subsequently,in a dimethyl carbonate system,the carbohydrate component underwent complete conversion in a one-pot process,yielding furfural and 5-methoxymethylfurfural as the primary products with an impressive yield of 47.7%.
文摘The administration of drugs via the buccal route has attracted much attention in recent years.However,the development of delivery systems that adhere well in moist conditions while releasing drugs successfully across the buccal mucosa remains challenging[1].Currently,the gold standard for determining buccal drug permeability is the vertical Franz diffusion cell(FDC),which is using freshly excised tissue[2].
文摘The maximal force a muscle can exert depends on its length,which has been explained by the sliding filament theory on the sarcomere level.1 A longer muscle can act over a greater range of motion and has more sarcomeres in series,which increases its capacity to produce force at a specific muscle contraction velocity because each sarcomere contracts at a lower velocity.
文摘BACKGROUND Hyperspectral imaging(HSI)offers useful information on organ quality and has already been successfully used in kidney and liver transplantation to assess transplanted organs.Up to now,there is no case report in the literature describing HSI for quality assessment of a machine perfused donor liver.The allocated liver from a 49-year-old female donor(161 cm,70 kg)was perfused with the OrganOx®normothermic machine perfusion system in the recommended way.Organ quality assessment was performed based on laboratory values at defined time points.In addition,the final evaluation of the liver comprised macroscopic findings and HSI of each liver segment.After discarding the organ,biopsies were taken from each segment and correlated with the results of the HSI.CASE SUMMARY The donor liver’s size(29 cm×17 cm×11 cm)and weight of 2180 g posed challenges for adequate placement within the organ container.Baseline biopsy of the liver revealed no evidence of fibrosis,steatosis or inflammation.An hour after perfusion start,measurements of the perfusate indicated a pH of 7.18,a glucose level of 404 mg/dL,and a lactate level of 1.7 mmol/L.Throughout perfusion,a significant decline in glucose levels began at the fourth hour,reaching a nadir of 20 mg/dL after eight hours.Concurrently,lactate levels steadily rose,peaking at 4.9 mmol/L after the total perfusion time of 12 hours.Macroscopic alterations(signs of congestion and reduced blood circulation)on the liver’s surface were noted,particularly pronounced in segments 2,3,and 8.HSI of these areas unveiled significant reduced oxygenation.Consequently,based on all these observations,the decision was made to discard the organ.Histological examination of the altered regions revealed congestion,necrotic changes,and dissociation of CONCLUSION This case report describes the integration of HSI in the decision making of the decline of a 49-year-old machine perfused donor liver.HSI offered useful information concerning the tissue morphology and graft viability and could therefore be a useful additional tool in assessing donor liver quality before transplantation.
基金financial support under the scope of the COMET program within the K2 Center“Integrated Computational Material,Process and Product Engineering(IC-MPPE)”(Project ASSESS P1.10)financial support by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs,the National Foundation for Research,Technology and Development and the Christian Doppler Research Association(Christian Doppler Laboratory for Solid-State Batteries).
文摘Solid-state batteries are attracting considerable attention for their high-energy density and improved safety over conventional lithium-ion batteries.Among solid-state electrolytes,sulfide-based options like Li_(6)PS_(5)Cl are especially promising due to their superior ionic conductivity.However,interfacial degradation between sulfide electrolytes and high-voltage cathodes,such as LiCoO_(2),limits long-term performance.This study demonstrates that a LiBF_(4)-derived F-rich coating on LiCoO_(2),applied by immersing LiCoO_(2) particles in a LiBF_(4) solution followed by annealing,can significantly enhance performance in Li_(6)PS_(5)Cl-based solid-state batteries.This coating enables stable high-voltage(4.5 V vs Li^(+)/Li)operation,achieving an initial specific capacity of 153.82 mAh g^(−1) and 87.1%capacity retention over 300 cycles at 0.5C.The enhanced performance stems from the F-rich coating,composed of multiple phases including LiF,CoF_(2),Li_(x)BF_(y)O_(z),and Li_(x)BO_(y),which effectively suppresses side reactions at the LiCoO_(2)|Li_(6)PS_(5)Cl interface and improves lithium-ion diffusivity,thereby enabling greater Li capacity utilization.Our findings provide a practical pathway for advancing solid-state batteries with high-voltage LiCoO_(2) cathodes,offering substantial promise for next-generation energy storage systems.
文摘Objective: Physical assessment is an indispensable and pivotal skill that nurses must aptly monitor, evaluate, and deliver timely care, particularly in the context of critically ill patients. However, studies have revealed instances where nurses demonstrate inaccurate practices. This study is aimed to measure the physical assessment skills of critical care nurses and the differences between levels of nursing education. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted involving a simple random sample of 101 nurses employed in critical care units. Results: Of the 101 participants, 56.4% were identified as female and 43.6% were male. In the sample, 71.0% held a diploma in nursing, while 29.0% held a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Vital signs, orientation, and skin assessments were performed correctly in ≥90% of cases, whereas the majority (≥60%) did not correctly assess neck veins, Homan’s signs, breath sounds, heart sounds, and bowel sounds. Only ≤10% of participants accurately executed these assessments. Significant associations were found between sex and pain (P=0.034), as well as between the type of education and closure of the health assessment (P=0.041). Further, female nurses scored 10.0 ± 2.3, and male nurses 8.5 ± 2.5, diploma holders scored 9.4 ± 1.8, and BSN holders scored 9.3 ± 2.7 at the global rating. Conclusions: The presence of an existing gap in the accurate assessment of patients poses a potential risk to patient care. It is essential to investigate the factors contributing to this gap and to develop strategies to address it, thereby enhancing the quality of physical assessment and ultimately improving patient care.
基金Supported by National Nature Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52325212,52372394)National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant Nos.2022YFE0117100,2021YFB2501201)+1 种基金Industry-University-Research Innovation Fund for Chinese Universities(Grand No.2024HT010)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.
文摘Chassis-by-wire technology has gained significant attention,with the scope of chassis domain control expanding from traditional two-dimensional plane motion control to encompass three-dimensional space motion control.Modern chassis-by-wire systems manage an increasing number of heterogeneous chassis execution systems,including distributed drive,all-wheel drive(AWD),brake-by-wire(BBW),steer-by-wire(SBW),rear-wheel steering(RWS),active stabilizer bar(ASB)and active suspension system(ASS),greatly enhancing the controllable degrees of freedom compared to conventional chassis configurations.To advance research in chassis domain control,it is essential to understand how these heterogeneous execution systems influence vehicle dynamics.This paper focuses on the modeling and analysis of the lateral,longitudinal,and vertical chassis control and execution systems,-as well as their impact on vehicle lateral motion.Using a vehicle simulation platform,both the vehicle dynamics model and the individual dynamics models of each execution system were developed to analyze the influence of these systems on lateral dynamics.Additionally,a hierarchical control architecture was designed to control the vehicle’s lateral stability.The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme was demonstrated and validated through hardware-in-the-loop(HIL)tests and real-world vehicle testing.
基金partly supported by Eurasia-Pacific Uninet projects(Nos.EPU 08/2019 and EPU 18/2020)to Etienne Skrzypek,Rustam Orozbaev and Christoph Hauzenberger。
文摘Permian intrusions are widespread in the Middle and Southern Tien-Shan,with fewer occurrences in the Northern Tien-Shan.Notably,many of these intrusions are spatially associated with a variety of ore deposits,indicating a significant link between magmatic activity and mineralization processes in these areas.We studied granite samples recently recovered from drilling in the Kumtor gold field to evaluate their potential relationships with gold mineralization.The major and trace element geochemistry,zircon U-Pb age and Hf isotope data for this so-called Kumtor granite are reported.The Kumtor granite is metaluminous to peraluminous and belongs to the high-K and calc-alkaline series with I-type geochemical characteristics.The relatively high K_(2)O and Na_(2)O concentrations and low high field strength elements(HFSE)and heavy rare earth elements(HREE),the presence of biotite within these I-type granites,together with their low zircon saturation temperatures(731-779℃),suggest that they were likely derived from a hydrous source formed by dehydration melting of mica-bearing,medium-to high-K metabasaltic rocks.The zircon U-Pb dating results indicate that the Kumtor granite intruded at 293±1.7 Ma,which is consistent with the age range of other Middle Tien-Shan granitoids.The zircon Hf isotopic composition isε_(Hf)(t)=-7.56 to-5.05,indicating an ancient(1.39 to 1.52 Ga)crustal origin.Petrographical,geochemical and geochronological data indicate that the Kumtor granite is similar to leucogranites of the Terekty Complex.These results indicate that the Kumtor granite was emplaced in the Early Permian in a postcollision setting and may have temporal and genetic relationships with gold mineralization.
基金The Egyptian ministry for higher education and the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship are thanked for funding Mohamed Badawi under the joint executive program between Hungary and Egypt.
文摘The Barud gneissic dome complex is situated along the ENE-trending dextral shear zone of the Qena-Safaga Line that serves as a significant tectonic boundary between the basement terrains of the Northern and Central Eastern Desert.These terrains exhibit distinct differences in crustal composition and deformation style.The Northern Eastern Desert and its extension into Sinai are predominantly composed of gneissic granites that are intruded by large batholiths of calc-alkaline and alkaline granites.Conversely,the Central and Southern Eastern Desert are commonly blanketed by a carapace of ophiolite-bearing volcano-sedimentary rocks of the Pan-African cover nappes.These northern terrains,just north of the Barud dome complex,the crust underwent significant NW-SE regional crustal extension across the Qena-Safaga Line,which sharply delineates the northern limit of the transpressional deformations linked to the Najd fault system in the Central and Southern Eastern Desert.Through comprehensive geological mapping and the integration of various geophysical,geochemical and geochronological data,this paper offers explanations for the contrasting geological features of the basement terrains on both sides of the Qena-Safaga Line and its analogous Fatira Shear Zone that plays a significant role in tectonic modeling of the Barud dome complex region.The Barud gneissic protolith experienced crustal shortening approximately 697 million years ago in the NW-SE direction,initiating dextral motion along the Fatira Shear Zone.Large batholiths of granodiorite/tonalite complex intruded the Barud gneissic dome protolith around 630 million years ago along the Qena-Safaga Line,at relatively shallow crustal depths,following the same orientation as the earlier shortening direction.Ongoing magmatic activity along the Qena-Safaga Line indicates intense magmatic underplating,resulting in significant intrusions of granodioritic melts into the early rifted crust of the Northern Eastern Desert and Sinai terrains.The crust of these northern terrains likely underwent isostatic compensation through uplifting and subsequent erosion.The disappearance of ophiolite-bearing belts and the presence of Paleo-to Mesoproterozoic continental-derived cobbles and ignimbrites in Sinai metasedimentary belts and Northern Eastern Desert molasse basins suggest that the northern terrains,located north of the Qena-Safaga Line,originated as a cohesive,thin continental crust that rifted off the eastern passive margin of the Sahara Metacraton during the early Neoproterozoic rifting of the Rodinia supercontinent.
文摘Background:Due to its high relevance in sports and rehabilitation,the exploration of interventions to further optimize flexibility becomes paramount.While stretching might be the most common way to enhance range of motion,these increases could be optimized by imposing an additional activation of the muscle,such as mechanical vibratory stimulation.While several original articles provide promising findings,contradictory results on flexibility and underlying mechanisms(e.g.,stiffness),reasonable effect size(ES)pooling remains scarce.With this work we systematically reviewed the available literature to explore the possibility of potentiating flexibility,stiffness,and passive torque adaptations by superimposing mechanical vibration stimulation.Methods:A systematic search of 4 databases(Web of Science,MEDLINE,Scopus,and Cochrane Public Library)was conducted until December2023 to identify studies comparing mechanical vibratory interventions with passive controls or the same intervention without vibration(sham)on range of motion and passive muscle stiffness in acute(immediate effects after single session)and chronic conditions(multiple sessions over a period of time).ES pooling was conducted using robust variance estimation via R to account for multiple study outcomes.Potential moderators of effects were analyzed using meta regression.Results:Overall,65 studies(acute:1162 participants,chronic:788 participants)were included.There was moderate certainty of evidence for acute flexibility(ES=0.71,p<0.001)and stiffness(ES=-0.89,p=0.006)effects of mechanical vibration treatments vs.passive controls without meaningful results against the sham condition(flexibility:ES=0.20,p<0.001;stiffness:ES=-0.19,p=0.076).Similarly,moderate certainty of evidence was found for chronic vibration effects on flexibility(control:ES=0.64,p=0.043;sham:ES=0.65,p<0.001).Lack of studies and large outcome heterogeneity prevented ES pooling for underlying mechanisms.Conclusion:Vibration improved flexibility in acute and chronic interventions compared to the stand-alone intervention,which can possibly be attributed to an accumulated mechanical stimulus through vibration.However,studies on biological mechanisms are needed to explain flexibility and stiffness effects in response to specific vibration modalities and timing.
基金Supported by Javna Agencija za Raziskovalno in Inovacijsko Dejavnost RS,No.P3-0036,No.I0-0029,No.J3-50098,and No.N1-0305University medical center Maribor,No.IRP-2021/02-05Swiss National Science Foundation(SNF)Postdoctoral Fellowship,No.P500PM217647/1.
文摘The gastrointestinal(GI)tract is essential for digestion,absorption,excretion,and protection,supported by a diverse microbial ecosystem.Traditional in-vitro models often fall short in capturing the physiological complexity of the GI tract,limiting their translational applications.A comprehensive approach is needed to bridge the gap between simple cell cultures and more complex systems used in translational research.This review explores the limitations of conventional twodimensional cell cultures and emphasizes the emerging use of three-dimensional and microfluidic systems that better replicate the GI tract’s structure and functions.It highlights the importance of incorporating patient-derived cells and engineered microenvironments to enhance model relevance and support personalized medicine.The review also discusses advanced fabrication techniques such as micro-extrusion and laser-assisted bioprinting,which enable the creation of sophisticated tissue models capable of simulating critical GI processes,including molecular transport,peristalsis,and liver coupling.Advancing the complexity of in-vitro systems will help replicate the GI tract’s interactions and physiological phenomena,thus improving the translational potential of GI research.This review provides valuable insights into the advancements and challenges in GI modeling,serving as a comprehensive guide for developing models that bridge the gap between basic cell cultures and clinically relevant systems.
基金funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant No.896932(TTV guide TX project)and grant No.824087(EOSC-Life)。
文摘Introduction Gender and sex are related to important quality and safety issues in scientific,health,and clinical research.Sex refers to biological characteristics,while gender encompasses the sociocultural norms,identities,and relationships that shape communities and organizations,as well as influence actions,behaviors,contexts,and knowledge.Both gender and sex intersect with other social categories.In this context,in addition to sex or gender,the intersectionality refers to overlapping or interdependent systems of discrimination by more than one factor,such as age,disability,ethnicity,geographic location,socioeconomic status,and sexuality,among others.
基金supported by NSFC grants 42274219,42330207,42374213 and 42130204Shenzhen Key Laboratory Launching Project(No.ZDSYS20210702140800001)+1 种基金supported by Frontier Science Center of matter behave in space environmentthe support of the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2022YFA1604600).
文摘Hot flow anomalies(HFAs)are not only a terrestrial phenomenon,but also a solar-system-wide phenomenon,one that can cause significant perturbations in planetary magnetospheres and ionospheres.In this study,based on the observations of Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN(MAVEN)mission in the region upstream of the Martian bow shock from the year 2014 to 2020,we have investigated the statistical properties of HFAs around Mars.Our results show that HFAs can be found in a wide region of Mars,from the dayside to the terminator region.On average,these HFAs last 63 seconds,with a thickness of 28 local proton gyroradii.They are more prevalent when the ambient solar wind is denser and faster,and usually occur when the interplanetary magnetic field magnitude is between 1-4 nT.Martian HFAs can also lead to solar wind dynamics multiplying in pressure by factors of ten within only tens of seconds,which could significantly influence the heights of the Martian ionopause and induced magnetosphere boundary.By comparing HFAs around Earth,we suggest that these phenomena are primarily governed by solar wind dynamics rather than local planetary conditions.
基金Project(2024YFB4303300)supported by the National Key R&D Program of ChinaProject(52202429)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(2023JJ40747)supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province,China。
文摘This paper investigates the influence of numerical methods and mesh resolution on the prediction accuracy of the aerodynamic behaviors of a 1/20 scaled generic high-speed train(HST)model.A thorough comparison is made between partially averaged Navier-Stokes(PANS),large eddy simulation(LES),and wind tunnel experiments,covering aerodynamic forces,surface pressure,velocity distribution,and Reynolds stress and turbulent kinetic energy in the wake region.The Reynolds number for both simulations and experiments is set to 4.75×10^(5).The results show that the PANS approach accurately predicts flow characteristics observed in experiments and fine LES calculations,even with a low resolution grid.PANS exhibits a distinct advantage over LES when grid resolutions are insufficient for resolving near wall flow structures around the HST,both in open-air conditions and crosswind environments.Additionally,grid refinement improves the predictive accuracy of the HST's aerodynamic performance,particularly in the presence of small yaw angle.
基金supported by the Comprehensive Research Facility for the Fusion Technology Program of China(2018-000052-73-01-001228)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFE03150200)+3 种基金the Institute of Energy,Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center(21KZS207)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52077212)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(2021444)the European–China collaboration program on the FUSION magnet.
文摘A promising way to realize controlled nuclear fusion involves the use of magnetic fields to control and confine the hot plasma configuration.This approach requires superconductor magnets operating above 15 T for the next generation of fusion devices.Due to their high in-field transport current capacity,rare-Earth barium copper oxide(REBCO)coated conductors are promising materials for manufacturing of cable-in-conduit conductors(CICCs)for fusion.However,the high-aspect-ratio geometry makes it difficult to find a multi-tape CICC configuration that fulfills the high engineering current density requirements while retaining enough flexibility for winding large-scale magnets.Moreover,the multilayer structure and inherent brittleness make the REBCO tapes susceptible to degradation during CICC manufacturing and operation.For more than a decade,the development of a reliable REBCO-based CICC that can sustain the huge combined mechanical,thermal,and Lorentz loads without degradation has been ongoing,albeit with limited progress.In this paper,we report on a prototype REBCO CICC that can withstand an applied cyclic Lorentz load of at least 830 kN·m^(-1),corresponding to a transport current of 80 kA at 10.85 T and 4.5 K.To our knowledge,this is the highest load achieved to date.The CICC uses 288 tapes wound into six strengthened sub-cables,making it capable of having a current sharing temperature,Tcs,of around 39 and 20 K when operated under 10.85 T with a current of 40 and 80 kA,respectively.Scaled to a 20-T peak field and 46.5-kA transport current,this provides a temperature margin of over 10 K with respect to an operating temperature of 4.5 K.In addition,no perceptible transport current performance degradation was observed after cyclic Lorentz loading,cyclic warm-up/cool-down(WUCD),and quench campaigns.The proposed REBCO CICC is a milestone in the development of high-temperature superconductors for large-scale and high-field magnet applications.
文摘Background:Stretching has wide appeal,but there seems to exist some mismatch between its purported applications and what the evidence shows.There is compelling evidence for some stretching applications,but for others,the evidence seems heterogeneous or unsupportive.The discrepancies even affect some systematic reviews,possibly due to heterogeneous eligibility criteria and search strategies.This consensus paper seeks to unify the divergent findings on stretching and its implications for both athletic performance and clinical practices by delivering evidence-based recommendations.Methods:A panel of 20 experts with a blend of practical experience and scholarly knowledge was assembled.The panel meticulously reviewed existing systematic reviews,defined key terminologies(e.g.,consensus definitions for different stretching modes),and crafted guidelines using a Delphi consensus approach(minimum required agreement:80%).The analysis focused on 8 topics,including stretching's acute and chronic(long-term)effects on range of motion,strength performance,muscle hypertrophy,stiffness,injury prevention,muscle recovery,posture correction,and cardiovascular health.Results:There was consensus that chronic and acute stretching(a)improves range of motion(although alternatives exist)and(b)reduces muscle stiffness(which may not always be desirable);the panel also agreed that chronic stretching(c)may promote vascular health,but more research is warranted.In contrast,consensus was found that stretch training does not(a)contribute substantively to muscle growth,(b)serve as an allencompassing injury prevention strategy,(c)improve posture,or(d)acutely enhance post-exercise recovery.Conclusion:These recommendations provide guidance for athletes and practitioners,highlighting research gaps that should be addressed to more comprehensively understand the full scope of stretching effects.
