Most urological conditions are represented by male disorders. Analyzing certain epidemiological aspects of female urological disorders at the National University Teaching Hospital of Cotnou, will allow us objectively ...Most urological conditions are represented by male disorders. Analyzing certain epidemiological aspects of female urological disorders at the National University Teaching Hospital of Cotnou, will allow us objectively to have reliable data to optimize the urological management of women. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective, analytical and descriptive study that was conducted at the CNHU-HKM over a 10-year period from January 2008 to December 2017 on the epidemiological aspects of female urological diseases from the study of patient records. The variable studied was: the age, the profession, the year of admission, the organ affected, and the type of pathology. The confidentiality of the data has been ensured. Results: Female urological disorders over 10 years accounted for 9.62% of all patients received in Urology Department. The age group greater than 50 years was the most common at 31.34%. Traders and housewives were the most numerous (39.93% and 14.55%). Bladder diseases were the most frequent (51.50), dominated by vesico-vaginal fistulas (29.85%). In addition to fistulas, tumoral affections were most prevalent at 27.99% followed by infectious diseases at 8.21%. The lithiasic affections were infrequent at 6.72%. Conclusion: Female urological conditions are infrequent but not negligible, dominated by vesico-vaginal fistulas and tumors in the context of developing countries. The specific evaluation of each pathology group can help optimize management.展开更多
A novel siphon-based divide-and-conquer(SbDaC)policy is presented in this paper for the synthesis of Petri net(PN)based liveness-enforcing supervisors(LES)for flexible manufacturing systems(FMS)prone to deadlocks or l...A novel siphon-based divide-and-conquer(SbDaC)policy is presented in this paper for the synthesis of Petri net(PN)based liveness-enforcing supervisors(LES)for flexible manufacturing systems(FMS)prone to deadlocks or livelocks.The proposed method takes an uncontrolled and bounded PN model(UPNM)of the FMS.Firstly,the reduced PNM(RPNM)is obtained from the UPNM by using PN reduction rules to reduce the computation burden.Then,the set of strict minimal siphons(SMSs)of the RPNM is computed.Next,the complementary set of SMSs is computed from the set of SMSs.By the union of these two sets,the superset of SMSs is computed.Finally,the set of subnets of the RPNM is obtained by applying the PN reduction rules to the superset of SMSs.All these subnets suffer from deadlocks.These subnets are then ordered from the smallest one to the largest one based on a criterion.To enforce liveness on these subnets,a set of control places(CPs)is computed starting from the smallest subnet to the largest one.Once all subnets are live,this process provides the LES,consisting of a set of CPs to be used for the UPNM.The live controlled PN model(CPNM)is constructed by merging the LES with the UPNM.The SbDaC policy is applicable to all classes of PNs related to FMS prone to deadlocks or livelocks.Several FMS examples are considered from the literature to highlight the applicability of the SbDaC policy.In particular,three examples are utilized to emphasize the importance,applicability and effectiveness of the SbDaC policy to realistic FMS with very large state spaces.展开更多
Understanding the neural underpinning of human gait and balance is one of the most pertinent challenges for 21st-century translational neuroscience due to the profound impact that falls and mobility disturbances have ...Understanding the neural underpinning of human gait and balance is one of the most pertinent challenges for 21st-century translational neuroscience due to the profound impact that falls and mobility disturbances have on our aging population.Posture and gait control does not happen automatically,as previously believed,but rather requires continuous involvement of central nervous mechanisms.To effectively exert control over the body,the brain must integrate multiple streams of sensory information,including visual,vestibular,and somatosensory signals.The mechanisms which underpin the integration of these multisensory signals are the principal topic of the present work.Existing multisensory integration theories focus on how failure of cognitive processes thought to be involved in multisensory integration leads to falls in older adults.Insufficient emphasis,however,has been placed on specific contributions of individual sensory modalities to multisensory integration processes and cross-modal interactions that occur between the sensory modalities in relation to gait and balance.In the present work,we review the contributions of somatosensory,visual,and vestibular modalities,along with their multisensory intersections to gait and balance in older adults and patients with Parkinson’s disease.We also review evidence of vestibular contributions to multisensory temporal binding windows,previously shown to be highly pertinent to fall risk in older adults.Lastly,we relate multisensory vestibular mechanisms to potential neural substrates,both at the level of neurobiology(concerning positron emission tomography imaging)and at the level of electrophysiology(concerning electroencephalography).We hope that this integrative review,drawing influence across multiple subdisciplines of neuroscience,paves the way for novel research directions and therapeutic neuromodulatory approaches,to improve the lives of older adults and patients with neurodegenerative diseases.展开更多
Dear Editor,On March 8–15,2022,a board of international scientists assembled in Lyon to evaluate the carcinogenicity of cobalt metal,cobalt(Ⅱ)salts,antimony trioxide,and weaponsgrade tungsten alloy harboring nickel ...Dear Editor,On March 8–15,2022,a board of international scientists assembled in Lyon to evaluate the carcinogenicity of cobalt metal,cobalt(Ⅱ)salts,antimony trioxide,and weaponsgrade tungsten alloy harboring nickel and cobalt[1].The 131st International Agency for Research on Cancer(IARC)Monograph is the result of a 6–9-month work of perusing the literature,slide evaluation,data interpretation,and interim meetings.The assessment of cobalt,antimony,and nickelcontaining alloys will have tremendous consequences for the industry,health,and defense departments[1].展开更多
Humans and other vertebrates are safeguarded from invading pathogenic microbes by the immune system.Black seed,scientifically known as Nigella sativa,has garnered attention for its potential immunomodulatory effects i...Humans and other vertebrates are safeguarded from invading pathogenic microbes by the immune system.Black seed,scientifically known as Nigella sativa,has garnered attention for its potential immunomodulatory effects in both clinical and preclinical studies.This comprehensive review aims to consolidate and analyze the existing body of evidence surrounding the immunological impact of black seeds.In this review,we analyze the immunomodulatory potentials of black seeds(N.sativa).For the purpose of finding pertinent publications,the literatures was searched in web-based databases,including Web of Science,Medline/PMC/PubMed,Embase,EBSCO,Google Scholar,Science Direct,and reference lists.Several clinical,in vivo,and in vitro studies have demonstrated that supplementation with black seeds(N.sativa)has potential immunomodulatory activity.Black seeds(N.sativa)may influence immune responses through a variety of mechanisms.By synthesizing and critically assessing the current state of knowledge on the immunomodulatory effects of black seeds,this review aims to provide valuable insights into the potential therapeutic uses and future research directions for harnessing the immunological benefits of this natural remedy.展开更多
With a commitment to reduce emissions,and its investment in green technology bringing down global costs,China is emerging as the leader in fighting climate change.EVERYBODY knows that our world is getting hotter.They ...With a commitment to reduce emissions,and its investment in green technology bringing down global costs,China is emerging as the leader in fighting climate change.EVERYBODY knows that our world is getting hotter.They also know why.Pumping out pollutants has transformed our world into a greenhouse;heat from the sun is now trapped by a“dirty”atmosphere.展开更多
Cyber-physical systems(CPSs)are regarded as the backbone of the fourth industrial revolution,in which communication,physical processes,and computer technology are integrated.In modern industrial systems,CPSs are widel...Cyber-physical systems(CPSs)are regarded as the backbone of the fourth industrial revolution,in which communication,physical processes,and computer technology are integrated.In modern industrial systems,CPSs are widely utilized across various domains,such as smart grids,smart healthcare systems,smart vehicles,and smart manufacturing,among others.Due to their unique spatial distribution,CPSs are highly vulnerable to cyber-attacks,which may result in severe performance degradation and even system instability.Consequently,the security concerns of CPSs have attracted significant attention in recent years.In this paper,a comprehensive survey on the security issues of CPSs under cyber-attacks is provided.Firstly,mathematical descriptions of various types of cyberattacks are introduced in detail.Secondly,two types of secure estimation and control processing schemes,including robust methods and active methods,are reviewed.Thirdly,research findings related to secure control and estimation problems for different types of CPSs are summarized.Finally,the survey is concluded by outlining the challenges and suggesting potential research directions for the future.展开更多
A series of laboratory pull-out tests was conducted to study the effects of temperature on the performance and behaviours of fully grouted rock bolt specimens cured within a specific temperature range,as well as for d...A series of laboratory pull-out tests was conducted to study the effects of temperature on the performance and behaviours of fully grouted rock bolt specimens cured within a specific temperature range,as well as for different durations.Each specimen consisted of a 20M rebar bolt at 1300 mm embedment length grouted inside a Schedule 80 steel pipe using Portland cement grout at a 0.4 water-to-cement ratio.Two temperatures(20℃and 45℃)were explored to investigate the effects of geothermally active temperature conditions on fully grouted rock bolts.Distributed fiber optic sensors were employed to provide continuous strain profiles along the entire embedment length to observe micro-mechanisms and monitor internal specimen temperature change during testing.The specimens cured at 45℃generally resulted in higher grout UCS(in certain cases 25%e50%higher)compared to those at 20℃;the ultimate capacity was not significantly impacted as the specimens'embedment length allowed full development of the rock bolt's capacity.The resulting strain profile trends showed generally higher strains experienced by the shorter(i.e.3-d)curing duration specimens under both curing temperatures compared to long-term curing.The 45℃specimens generally experienced lower strains and faster strain profile attenuation compared to specimens cured at 20℃.Understanding these effects and further analysis of FGRB specimen behaviours over time provide insights for mobilized and critical embedment lengths,capacity development,and support system stabilization.This paper highlights the results of this study and aims to bridge selected gaps in existing literature with a view to aid practitioners.展开更多
This study investigates the dark side of the non-fungible token(NFT)marketplace,with a focus on understanding the risks,and underlying factors driving fraud in the NFT ecosystem.Using the fraud triangle framework,this...This study investigates the dark side of the non-fungible token(NFT)marketplace,with a focus on understanding the risks,and underlying factors driving fraud in the NFT ecosystem.Using the fraud triangle framework,this study examines pressure,opportunity,and rationalization from individual and organizational perspectives.The research provides a comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors to NFT marketplace fraud by analyzing the reasons behind fraudulent actions.A conceptual framework is developed that includes ten propositions to aid in understanding the complexity of this issue.This study’s outcomes will assist policymakers in crafting efficient approaches to mitigate fraud within the NFT marketplace.展开更多
This study investigates the critical issue of radiation contamination in Mailuu-Suu,Kyrgyzstan,a legacy of extensive uranium mining and milling operations during the Soviet era.The research centers on the environmenta...This study investigates the critical issue of radiation contamination in Mailuu-Suu,Kyrgyzstan,a legacy of extensive uranium mining and milling operations during the Soviet era.The research centers on the environmental behavior and health impacts of radon-222 and associated radionuclides emanating from uranium mill tailings.A comprehensive year-long indoor radon monitoring program(July 2001-July 2002)revealed radon concentrations that substantially exceeded the national Radiation Safety Standards(RSS-96),posing serious health risks to local populations.Approximately 1.9 million cubic meters of uranium mill tailings,distributed across multiple unsecured waste dumps,were assessed for their radiological burden.While precise activity levels remain undocumented,it is estimated that these tailings represent tens of thousands of tonnes of radioactive material.Based on typical uranium ore residue densities and grades,this volume could contain over 3-5 million tonnes of material,with estimated activities ranging from 10^(13) to 10^(15) becquerels,depending on radionuclide composition.Epidemiological data indicate elevated rates of cancer,respiratory illnesses,and congenital anomalies,particularly among vulnerable groups such as children,pregnant women,and the elderly.The findings highlight an urgent need for targeted environmental remediation,continuous radiological surveillance,and public health strategies to mitigate long-term risks and enhance ecological and human safety in the region.展开更多
Exoplanet imaging using the solar gravitational lens is an enticing prospect.The fundamental physical properties of the lens,including its angular resolution and light amplification,promise exceptional capabilities.Th...Exoplanet imaging using the solar gravitational lens is an enticing prospect.The fundamental physical properties of the lens,including its angular resolution and light amplification,promise exceptional capabilities.These expectations,however,are tempered by the realization of numerous challenges,including imperfections of the lens itself,noise sources,the properties of the imaging target and difficult technical issues.We discuss,in particular,a subject not previously addressed,the impact of temporally varying surface features,notably a variable cloud cover,obscuring the target exoplanet.This has a substantial detrimental effect on image recovery,leading to our cautious assessment of the practical feasibility of using the Sun’s gravitational field as an effective telescope.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the effect of cerebrolysin(CBL)on motor impairment,neuroinflammation,oxidative stress,and neurotransmitter profile in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP)-induced Parkinson’s di...Objective:To investigate the effect of cerebrolysin(CBL)on motor impairment,neuroinflammation,oxidative stress,and neurotransmitter profile in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP)-induced Parkinson’s disease(PD)in zebrafish.Methods:In the current study,zebrafish were treated with CBL at doses of 1.25,2.5,and 5 mL/kg body weight for 7 consecutive days.MPTP(20 mg/kg body weight)was administered on alternative days-1st,3rd,5th,and 7th.On day 7,zebrafish were sacrificed,and their brains were isolated for biochemical,neurochemical,histopathological,IHC,and neurotransmitter analysis.Results:The treatment with CBL significantly increased total distance traveled and the number of entries in the top zone,which was impaired by MPTP.CBL treatment significantly restored the level of glutathione,superoxide dismutase,and catalase while reducing malondialdehyde level.It also reduced the level of pro-inflammatory mediators interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-αin the MPTP-induced PD in the zebrafish model.In histopathological evaluation,pyknotic cells and signs of inflammation were significantly reduced in CBL-treated groups.A significant dose-dependent reduction in glutamate,along with elevations in dopamine,gamma-aminobutyric acid,serotonin,and noradrenaline,was observed in zebrafish treated with CBL.An immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated that Akt was phosphorylated promptly by CBL,which was downregulated in MPTP-induced PD in zebrafish.Conclusions:These findings suggest that CBL exerts a neuroprotective effect through activation of Akt and may hold therapeutic potential for the treatment of this devastating neurological condition.展开更多
In the Internet of Things(IoT)based scenarios,the network may encounter significant issues related to energy and communication as a result of a progressively growing number of terminals.We introduce simultaneous wirel...In the Internet of Things(IoT)based scenarios,the network may encounter significant issues related to energy and communication as a result of a progressively growing number of terminals.We introduce simultaneous wireless power transfer(SWIPT)technology assisted by a reconfigurable intelligent surface(RIS)to counteract this challenge.Thus,the network’s flexibility and reliability will be further enhanced.According to this system architecture,the scattering-parameter-based communication model is introduced to disclose hardware features for an energy efficiency(EE)maximization problem.Specifically,the potential unauthorized demodulation is also considered in the problem formulation.To resolve the issue,an alternative strategy is utilized to optimize iteratively the coupled variables.In particular,the block coordinate descent(BCD)approach based on the Sherman-Morrison formula is proposed to solve the RIS subproblem.The numerical results prove the hardware effects cannot be dismissed lightly.Besides,the configuration of the RIS may impact the network performance directly.展开更多
Objectives This study aimed to validate the Russian version of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory(R-CBI)among nurses in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and explored factors contributing to burnout.Methods The original Copenha...Objectives This study aimed to validate the Russian version of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory(R-CBI)among nurses in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and explored factors contributing to burnout.Methods The original Copenhagen Burnout Inventory(CBI)was translated into the R-CBI using a rigorous forward-backward method and reviewed by experts.Between July and November 2022,1,530 nurses were recruited through convenience sampling method from various nursing settings in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to test the scale’s reliability and validity,including confirmatory factor analysis(CFA),internal consistency reliability,and concurrent validity.A linear regression analysis was conducted to identify influencing factors of burnout.Results The content of the R-CBI is consistent with the original CBI,consisting of 19 items with three dimensions.The Cronbach’sαcoefficient is 0.926 in Kazakhstan and 0.922 in Kyrgyzstan,ranging from 0.830 to 0.898 for three dimensions.The CFA results among nurses in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan supported the three-factor structure of R-CBI with good fit indices.Concurrent validity was established through significant correlations(P<0.001)with job satisfaction questionnaire(r=−0.457),Depression Anxiety Stress Scales(r=0.506 in depression,r=0.485 in anxiety,r=0.564 in stress),and WHO-5 Well-Being Index(r=−0.528).The overall burnout level was 36.1±17.6 and 37.5±17.4 in Kazakhstani and Kyrgyzstani nurses,respectively.Significant influencing factors of burnout included gender,age,educational level,and COVID-19 infection history.Conclusions The R-CBI was proved to be a reliable and valid tool for assessing nurses’burnout in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.展开更多
This research examines the impact of sulphate on pore water pressure(PWP)development in cement paste backfill(CPB)containing polycarboxylate ether(PES)superplasticizers under thermal-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical(THMC...This research examines the impact of sulphate on pore water pressure(PWP)development in cement paste backfill(CPB)containing polycarboxylate ether(PES)superplasticizers under thermal-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical(THMC)conditions that imitate actual field curing scenarios.PWP in CPB-PES,with and without sulphate,was assessed under non-isothermal field curing temperatures,varied drainage conditions,and curing stresses using a specially experimental setup.Key findings indicate that PWP behavior in CPB with PES under field conditions diverges markedly from standard laboratory conditions due to the significant effects of field curing temperatures,drainage conditions,and backfill self-weight.The study establishes that high sulphate ion concentrations notably increase initial PWP and slow its dissipation by interfering with the cement hydration process.This interference delays hydration,reduces pore water consumption,and lowers capillary pressure.Moreover,the results show that THMC conditions,especially non-isothermal field temperatures and varied drainage scenarios,considerably accelerate cement hydration compared to standard laboratory conditions,resulting in a more rapid decrease in PWP.Furthermore,improved drainage under THMC conditions mitigates the adverse effects of sulphates by facilitating sulphate ion removal,thus supporting more efficient cement hydration and CPB self-desiccation.The insights gained from this research are essential for understanding PWP behavior in sulphate-bearing CPB-PES in the field,developing predictive THMC models for backfill performance assessment,and enhancing the safety and effectiveness of mining backfills.展开更多
In this paper,we investigate the problem of fast spectrum sharing in vehicle-to-everything com-munication.In order to improve the spectrum effi-ciency of the whole system,the spectrum of vehicle-to-infrastructure link...In this paper,we investigate the problem of fast spectrum sharing in vehicle-to-everything com-munication.In order to improve the spectrum effi-ciency of the whole system,the spectrum of vehicle-to-infrastructure links is reused by vehicle-to-vehicle links.To this end,we model it as a problem of deep reinforcement learning and tackle it with prox-imal policy optimization.A considerable number of interactions are often required for training an agent with good performance,so simulation-based training is commonly used in communication networks.Nev-ertheless,severe performance degradation may occur when the agent is directly deployed in the real world,even though it can perform well on the simulator,due to the reality gap between the simulation and the real environments.To address this issue,we make prelim-inary efforts by proposing an algorithm based on meta reinforcement learning.This algorithm enables the agent to rapidly adapt to a new task with the knowl-edge extracted from similar tasks,leading to fewer in-teractions and less training time.Numerical results show that our method achieves near-optimal perfor-mance and exhibits rapid convergence.展开更多
Efficient planning of activities is essential for modern industrial assembly lines to uphold manufacturing standards,prevent project constraint violations,and achieve cost-effective operations.While exact solutions to...Efficient planning of activities is essential for modern industrial assembly lines to uphold manufacturing standards,prevent project constraint violations,and achieve cost-effective operations.While exact solutions to such challenges can be obtained through Integer Programming(IP),the dependence of the search space on input parameters often makes IP computationally infeasible for large-scale scenarios.Heuristic methods,such as Genetic Algorithms,can also be applied,but they frequently produce suboptimal solutions in extensive cases.This paper introduces a novel mathematical model of a generic industrial assembly line formulated as a Markov Decision Process(MDP),without imposing assumptions on the type of assembly line a notable distinction from most existing models.The proposed model is employed to create a virtual environment for training Deep Reinforcement Learning(DRL)agents to optimize task and resource scheduling.To enhance the efficiency of agent training,the paper proposes two innovative tools.The first is an action-masking technique,which ensures the agent selects only feasible actions,thereby reducing training time.The second is a multi-agent approach,where each workstation is managed by an individual agent,as a result,the state and action spaces were reduced.A centralized training framework with decentralized execution is adopted,offering a scalable learning architecture for optimizing industrial assembly lines.This framework allows the agents to learn offline and subsequently provide real-time solutions during operations by leveraging a neural network that maps the current factory state to the optimal action.The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is validated through numerical simulations,demonstrating significantly faster convergence to the optimal solution compared to a comparable model-based approach.展开更多
This editorial comments on Yang et al’s article that reported a correlation between dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)quantitative parameters and Ki67/tumor differentiation.The validation of CEUS as a diagnos...This editorial comments on Yang et al’s article that reported a correlation between dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)quantitative parameters and Ki67/tumor differentiation.The validation of CEUS as a diagnostic modality in this study deserves merit.However,it raises interesting points of discussion:(1)Since pancreatic cancer is an overarching term that includes conventional pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC),other subtypes,and neuroendocrine neoplasms(NENs),the inclusion/exclusion criteria require better clarification;(2)Most PDACs are grade 1-2 which contrasts with Yang et al’s study where 46%were grade 3;(3)Ki67 is officially recognized for grading NENs,but not for PDAC;(4)Hotspots are selected for the Ki67 grading of NENs.However,for other tumors(e.g.,breast carcinoma),the average count or hotspots are used;(5)There is no agreement for defining high-grade Ki67 cut-off for non-NENs;reports range from 10%to 50%;and(6)Ki67 reflects cellular proliferation but is not always the most important indicator for biologic aggressiveness.That notwithstanding,since the ratification of Ki67 for prognosis in NENs was based on survival outcomes,the real gold standard should be survival,instead of using Ki67 as a surrogate gold standard.In conclusion,the validation of CEUS parameters for PDAC is a work in progress.CEUS is valuable in assessing PDAC but should be viewed as augmenting other modalities such as computed tomography,magnetic resonance imaging,positron emission tomography and endoscopic ultrasound.展开更多
文摘Most urological conditions are represented by male disorders. Analyzing certain epidemiological aspects of female urological disorders at the National University Teaching Hospital of Cotnou, will allow us objectively to have reliable data to optimize the urological management of women. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective, analytical and descriptive study that was conducted at the CNHU-HKM over a 10-year period from January 2008 to December 2017 on the epidemiological aspects of female urological diseases from the study of patient records. The variable studied was: the age, the profession, the year of admission, the organ affected, and the type of pathology. The confidentiality of the data has been ensured. Results: Female urological disorders over 10 years accounted for 9.62% of all patients received in Urology Department. The age group greater than 50 years was the most common at 31.34%. Traders and housewives were the most numerous (39.93% and 14.55%). Bladder diseases were the most frequent (51.50), dominated by vesico-vaginal fistulas (29.85%). In addition to fistulas, tumoral affections were most prevalent at 27.99% followed by infectious diseases at 8.21%. The lithiasic affections were infrequent at 6.72%. Conclusion: Female urological conditions are infrequent but not negligible, dominated by vesico-vaginal fistulas and tumors in the context of developing countries. The specific evaluation of each pathology group can help optimize management.
基金The authors extend their appreciation to King Saud University,Saudi Arabia for funding this work through the Ongoing Research Funding Program(ORF-2025-704),King Saud University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
文摘A novel siphon-based divide-and-conquer(SbDaC)policy is presented in this paper for the synthesis of Petri net(PN)based liveness-enforcing supervisors(LES)for flexible manufacturing systems(FMS)prone to deadlocks or livelocks.The proposed method takes an uncontrolled and bounded PN model(UPNM)of the FMS.Firstly,the reduced PNM(RPNM)is obtained from the UPNM by using PN reduction rules to reduce the computation burden.Then,the set of strict minimal siphons(SMSs)of the RPNM is computed.Next,the complementary set of SMSs is computed from the set of SMSs.By the union of these two sets,the superset of SMSs is computed.Finally,the set of subnets of the RPNM is obtained by applying the PN reduction rules to the superset of SMSs.All these subnets suffer from deadlocks.These subnets are then ordered from the smallest one to the largest one based on a criterion.To enforce liveness on these subnets,a set of control places(CPs)is computed starting from the smallest subnet to the largest one.Once all subnets are live,this process provides the LES,consisting of a set of CPs to be used for the UPNM.The live controlled PN model(CPNM)is constructed by merging the LES with the UPNM.The SbDaC policy is applicable to all classes of PNs related to FMS prone to deadlocks or livelocks.Several FMS examples are considered from the literature to highlight the applicability of the SbDaC policy.In particular,three examples are utilized to emphasize the importance,applicability and effectiveness of the SbDaC policy to realistic FMS with very large state spaces.
文摘Understanding the neural underpinning of human gait and balance is one of the most pertinent challenges for 21st-century translational neuroscience due to the profound impact that falls and mobility disturbances have on our aging population.Posture and gait control does not happen automatically,as previously believed,but rather requires continuous involvement of central nervous mechanisms.To effectively exert control over the body,the brain must integrate multiple streams of sensory information,including visual,vestibular,and somatosensory signals.The mechanisms which underpin the integration of these multisensory signals are the principal topic of the present work.Existing multisensory integration theories focus on how failure of cognitive processes thought to be involved in multisensory integration leads to falls in older adults.Insufficient emphasis,however,has been placed on specific contributions of individual sensory modalities to multisensory integration processes and cross-modal interactions that occur between the sensory modalities in relation to gait and balance.In the present work,we review the contributions of somatosensory,visual,and vestibular modalities,along with their multisensory intersections to gait and balance in older adults and patients with Parkinson’s disease.We also review evidence of vestibular contributions to multisensory temporal binding windows,previously shown to be highly pertinent to fall risk in older adults.Lastly,we relate multisensory vestibular mechanisms to potential neural substrates,both at the level of neurobiology(concerning positron emission tomography imaging)and at the level of electrophysiology(concerning electroencephalography).We hope that this integrative review,drawing influence across multiple subdisciplines of neuroscience,paves the way for novel research directions and therapeutic neuromodulatory approaches,to improve the lives of older adults and patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
文摘Dear Editor,On March 8–15,2022,a board of international scientists assembled in Lyon to evaluate the carcinogenicity of cobalt metal,cobalt(Ⅱ)salts,antimony trioxide,and weaponsgrade tungsten alloy harboring nickel and cobalt[1].The 131st International Agency for Research on Cancer(IARC)Monograph is the result of a 6–9-month work of perusing the literature,slide evaluation,data interpretation,and interim meetings.The assessment of cobalt,antimony,and nickelcontaining alloys will have tremendous consequences for the industry,health,and defense departments[1].
文摘Humans and other vertebrates are safeguarded from invading pathogenic microbes by the immune system.Black seed,scientifically known as Nigella sativa,has garnered attention for its potential immunomodulatory effects in both clinical and preclinical studies.This comprehensive review aims to consolidate and analyze the existing body of evidence surrounding the immunological impact of black seeds.In this review,we analyze the immunomodulatory potentials of black seeds(N.sativa).For the purpose of finding pertinent publications,the literatures was searched in web-based databases,including Web of Science,Medline/PMC/PubMed,Embase,EBSCO,Google Scholar,Science Direct,and reference lists.Several clinical,in vivo,and in vitro studies have demonstrated that supplementation with black seeds(N.sativa)has potential immunomodulatory activity.Black seeds(N.sativa)may influence immune responses through a variety of mechanisms.By synthesizing and critically assessing the current state of knowledge on the immunomodulatory effects of black seeds,this review aims to provide valuable insights into the potential therapeutic uses and future research directions for harnessing the immunological benefits of this natural remedy.
文摘With a commitment to reduce emissions,and its investment in green technology bringing down global costs,China is emerging as the leader in fighting climate change.EVERYBODY knows that our world is getting hotter.They also know why.Pumping out pollutants has transformed our world into a greenhouse;heat from the sun is now trapped by a“dirty”atmosphere.
文摘Cyber-physical systems(CPSs)are regarded as the backbone of the fourth industrial revolution,in which communication,physical processes,and computer technology are integrated.In modern industrial systems,CPSs are widely utilized across various domains,such as smart grids,smart healthcare systems,smart vehicles,and smart manufacturing,among others.Due to their unique spatial distribution,CPSs are highly vulnerable to cyber-attacks,which may result in severe performance degradation and even system instability.Consequently,the security concerns of CPSs have attracted significant attention in recent years.In this paper,a comprehensive survey on the security issues of CPSs under cyber-attacks is provided.Firstly,mathematical descriptions of various types of cyberattacks are introduced in detail.Secondly,two types of secure estimation and control processing schemes,including robust methods and active methods,are reviewed.Thirdly,research findings related to secure control and estimation problems for different types of CPSs are summarized.Finally,the survey is concluded by outlining the challenges and suggesting potential research directions for the future.
基金funded by the Canadian Department of National Defence(DND),the RMC Green Team Military GeoWorks Lab,and the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council(NSERC)of Canada.
文摘A series of laboratory pull-out tests was conducted to study the effects of temperature on the performance and behaviours of fully grouted rock bolt specimens cured within a specific temperature range,as well as for different durations.Each specimen consisted of a 20M rebar bolt at 1300 mm embedment length grouted inside a Schedule 80 steel pipe using Portland cement grout at a 0.4 water-to-cement ratio.Two temperatures(20℃and 45℃)were explored to investigate the effects of geothermally active temperature conditions on fully grouted rock bolts.Distributed fiber optic sensors were employed to provide continuous strain profiles along the entire embedment length to observe micro-mechanisms and monitor internal specimen temperature change during testing.The specimens cured at 45℃generally resulted in higher grout UCS(in certain cases 25%e50%higher)compared to those at 20℃;the ultimate capacity was not significantly impacted as the specimens'embedment length allowed full development of the rock bolt's capacity.The resulting strain profile trends showed generally higher strains experienced by the shorter(i.e.3-d)curing duration specimens under both curing temperatures compared to long-term curing.The 45℃specimens generally experienced lower strains and faster strain profile attenuation compared to specimens cured at 20℃.Understanding these effects and further analysis of FGRB specimen behaviours over time provide insights for mobilized and critical embedment lengths,capacity development,and support system stabilization.This paper highlights the results of this study and aims to bridge selected gaps in existing literature with a view to aid practitioners.
文摘This study investigates the dark side of the non-fungible token(NFT)marketplace,with a focus on understanding the risks,and underlying factors driving fraud in the NFT ecosystem.Using the fraud triangle framework,this study examines pressure,opportunity,and rationalization from individual and organizational perspectives.The research provides a comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors to NFT marketplace fraud by analyzing the reasons behind fraudulent actions.A conceptual framework is developed that includes ten propositions to aid in understanding the complexity of this issue.This study’s outcomes will assist policymakers in crafting efficient approaches to mitigate fraud within the NFT marketplace.
文摘This study investigates the critical issue of radiation contamination in Mailuu-Suu,Kyrgyzstan,a legacy of extensive uranium mining and milling operations during the Soviet era.The research centers on the environmental behavior and health impacts of radon-222 and associated radionuclides emanating from uranium mill tailings.A comprehensive year-long indoor radon monitoring program(July 2001-July 2002)revealed radon concentrations that substantially exceeded the national Radiation Safety Standards(RSS-96),posing serious health risks to local populations.Approximately 1.9 million cubic meters of uranium mill tailings,distributed across multiple unsecured waste dumps,were assessed for their radiological burden.While precise activity levels remain undocumented,it is estimated that these tailings represent tens of thousands of tonnes of radioactive material.Based on typical uranium ore residue densities and grades,this volume could contain over 3-5 million tonnes of material,with estimated activities ranging from 10^(13) to 10^(15) becquerels,depending on radionuclide composition.Epidemiological data indicate elevated rates of cancer,respiratory illnesses,and congenital anomalies,particularly among vulnerable groups such as children,pregnant women,and the elderly.The findings highlight an urgent need for targeted environmental remediation,continuous radiological surveillance,and public health strategies to mitigate long-term risks and enhance ecological and human safety in the region.
文摘Exoplanet imaging using the solar gravitational lens is an enticing prospect.The fundamental physical properties of the lens,including its angular resolution and light amplification,promise exceptional capabilities.These expectations,however,are tempered by the realization of numerous challenges,including imperfections of the lens itself,noise sources,the properties of the imaging target and difficult technical issues.We discuss,in particular,a subject not previously addressed,the impact of temporally varying surface features,notably a variable cloud cover,obscuring the target exoplanet.This has a substantial detrimental effect on image recovery,leading to our cautious assessment of the practical feasibility of using the Sun’s gravitational field as an effective telescope.
基金funded by ICMR,New Delhi(Grant No.45/29/2022-PHA/BMS).
文摘Objective:To investigate the effect of cerebrolysin(CBL)on motor impairment,neuroinflammation,oxidative stress,and neurotransmitter profile in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP)-induced Parkinson’s disease(PD)in zebrafish.Methods:In the current study,zebrafish were treated with CBL at doses of 1.25,2.5,and 5 mL/kg body weight for 7 consecutive days.MPTP(20 mg/kg body weight)was administered on alternative days-1st,3rd,5th,and 7th.On day 7,zebrafish were sacrificed,and their brains were isolated for biochemical,neurochemical,histopathological,IHC,and neurotransmitter analysis.Results:The treatment with CBL significantly increased total distance traveled and the number of entries in the top zone,which was impaired by MPTP.CBL treatment significantly restored the level of glutathione,superoxide dismutase,and catalase while reducing malondialdehyde level.It also reduced the level of pro-inflammatory mediators interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-αin the MPTP-induced PD in the zebrafish model.In histopathological evaluation,pyknotic cells and signs of inflammation were significantly reduced in CBL-treated groups.A significant dose-dependent reduction in glutamate,along with elevations in dopamine,gamma-aminobutyric acid,serotonin,and noradrenaline,was observed in zebrafish treated with CBL.An immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated that Akt was phosphorylated promptly by CBL,which was downregulated in MPTP-induced PD in zebrafish.Conclusions:These findings suggest that CBL exerts a neuroprotective effect through activation of Akt and may hold therapeutic potential for the treatment of this devastating neurological condition.
文摘In the Internet of Things(IoT)based scenarios,the network may encounter significant issues related to energy and communication as a result of a progressively growing number of terminals.We introduce simultaneous wireless power transfer(SWIPT)technology assisted by a reconfigurable intelligent surface(RIS)to counteract this challenge.Thus,the network’s flexibility and reliability will be further enhanced.According to this system architecture,the scattering-parameter-based communication model is introduced to disclose hardware features for an energy efficiency(EE)maximization problem.Specifically,the potential unauthorized demodulation is also considered in the problem formulation.To resolve the issue,an alternative strategy is utilized to optimize iteratively the coupled variables.In particular,the block coordinate descent(BCD)approach based on the Sherman-Morrison formula is proposed to solve the RIS subproblem.The numerical results prove the hardware effects cannot be dismissed lightly.Besides,the configuration of the RIS may impact the network performance directly.
文摘Objectives This study aimed to validate the Russian version of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory(R-CBI)among nurses in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and explored factors contributing to burnout.Methods The original Copenhagen Burnout Inventory(CBI)was translated into the R-CBI using a rigorous forward-backward method and reviewed by experts.Between July and November 2022,1,530 nurses were recruited through convenience sampling method from various nursing settings in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to test the scale’s reliability and validity,including confirmatory factor analysis(CFA),internal consistency reliability,and concurrent validity.A linear regression analysis was conducted to identify influencing factors of burnout.Results The content of the R-CBI is consistent with the original CBI,consisting of 19 items with three dimensions.The Cronbach’sαcoefficient is 0.926 in Kazakhstan and 0.922 in Kyrgyzstan,ranging from 0.830 to 0.898 for three dimensions.The CFA results among nurses in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan supported the three-factor structure of R-CBI with good fit indices.Concurrent validity was established through significant correlations(P<0.001)with job satisfaction questionnaire(r=−0.457),Depression Anxiety Stress Scales(r=0.506 in depression,r=0.485 in anxiety,r=0.564 in stress),and WHO-5 Well-Being Index(r=−0.528).The overall burnout level was 36.1±17.6 and 37.5±17.4 in Kazakhstani and Kyrgyzstani nurses,respectively.Significant influencing factors of burnout included gender,age,educational level,and COVID-19 infection history.Conclusions The R-CBI was proved to be a reliable and valid tool for assessing nurses’burnout in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
文摘This research examines the impact of sulphate on pore water pressure(PWP)development in cement paste backfill(CPB)containing polycarboxylate ether(PES)superplasticizers under thermal-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical(THMC)conditions that imitate actual field curing scenarios.PWP in CPB-PES,with and without sulphate,was assessed under non-isothermal field curing temperatures,varied drainage conditions,and curing stresses using a specially experimental setup.Key findings indicate that PWP behavior in CPB with PES under field conditions diverges markedly from standard laboratory conditions due to the significant effects of field curing temperatures,drainage conditions,and backfill self-weight.The study establishes that high sulphate ion concentrations notably increase initial PWP and slow its dissipation by interfering with the cement hydration process.This interference delays hydration,reduces pore water consumption,and lowers capillary pressure.Moreover,the results show that THMC conditions,especially non-isothermal field temperatures and varied drainage scenarios,considerably accelerate cement hydration compared to standard laboratory conditions,resulting in a more rapid decrease in PWP.Furthermore,improved drainage under THMC conditions mitigates the adverse effects of sulphates by facilitating sulphate ion removal,thus supporting more efficient cement hydration and CPB self-desiccation.The insights gained from this research are essential for understanding PWP behavior in sulphate-bearing CPB-PES in the field,developing predictive THMC models for backfill performance assessment,and enhancing the safety and effectiveness of mining backfills.
基金L.Liang was supported in part by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province under Grant BK20220810in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 62201145 and Grant 62231019S.Jin was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)under Grants 62261160576,62341107,61921004。
文摘In this paper,we investigate the problem of fast spectrum sharing in vehicle-to-everything com-munication.In order to improve the spectrum effi-ciency of the whole system,the spectrum of vehicle-to-infrastructure links is reused by vehicle-to-vehicle links.To this end,we model it as a problem of deep reinforcement learning and tackle it with prox-imal policy optimization.A considerable number of interactions are often required for training an agent with good performance,so simulation-based training is commonly used in communication networks.Nev-ertheless,severe performance degradation may occur when the agent is directly deployed in the real world,even though it can perform well on the simulator,due to the reality gap between the simulation and the real environments.To address this issue,we make prelim-inary efforts by proposing an algorithm based on meta reinforcement learning.This algorithm enables the agent to rapidly adapt to a new task with the knowl-edge extracted from similar tasks,leading to fewer in-teractions and less training time.Numerical results show that our method achieves near-optimal perfor-mance and exhibits rapid convergence.
基金supported in part by the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC)under the grants RGPIN-2022-04937。
文摘Efficient planning of activities is essential for modern industrial assembly lines to uphold manufacturing standards,prevent project constraint violations,and achieve cost-effective operations.While exact solutions to such challenges can be obtained through Integer Programming(IP),the dependence of the search space on input parameters often makes IP computationally infeasible for large-scale scenarios.Heuristic methods,such as Genetic Algorithms,can also be applied,but they frequently produce suboptimal solutions in extensive cases.This paper introduces a novel mathematical model of a generic industrial assembly line formulated as a Markov Decision Process(MDP),without imposing assumptions on the type of assembly line a notable distinction from most existing models.The proposed model is employed to create a virtual environment for training Deep Reinforcement Learning(DRL)agents to optimize task and resource scheduling.To enhance the efficiency of agent training,the paper proposes two innovative tools.The first is an action-masking technique,which ensures the agent selects only feasible actions,thereby reducing training time.The second is a multi-agent approach,where each workstation is managed by an individual agent,as a result,the state and action spaces were reduced.A centralized training framework with decentralized execution is adopted,offering a scalable learning architecture for optimizing industrial assembly lines.This framework allows the agents to learn offline and subsequently provide real-time solutions during operations by leveraging a neural network that maps the current factory state to the optimal action.The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is validated through numerical simulations,demonstrating significantly faster convergence to the optimal solution compared to a comparable model-based approach.
文摘This editorial comments on Yang et al’s article that reported a correlation between dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)quantitative parameters and Ki67/tumor differentiation.The validation of CEUS as a diagnostic modality in this study deserves merit.However,it raises interesting points of discussion:(1)Since pancreatic cancer is an overarching term that includes conventional pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC),other subtypes,and neuroendocrine neoplasms(NENs),the inclusion/exclusion criteria require better clarification;(2)Most PDACs are grade 1-2 which contrasts with Yang et al’s study where 46%were grade 3;(3)Ki67 is officially recognized for grading NENs,but not for PDAC;(4)Hotspots are selected for the Ki67 grading of NENs.However,for other tumors(e.g.,breast carcinoma),the average count or hotspots are used;(5)There is no agreement for defining high-grade Ki67 cut-off for non-NENs;reports range from 10%to 50%;and(6)Ki67 reflects cellular proliferation but is not always the most important indicator for biologic aggressiveness.That notwithstanding,since the ratification of Ki67 for prognosis in NENs was based on survival outcomes,the real gold standard should be survival,instead of using Ki67 as a surrogate gold standard.In conclusion,the validation of CEUS parameters for PDAC is a work in progress.CEUS is valuable in assessing PDAC but should be viewed as augmenting other modalities such as computed tomography,magnetic resonance imaging,positron emission tomography and endoscopic ultrasound.
