Viscoelastic materials are applied in several fields, and their relaxation characteristics are intricately related to the failure mechanism of sealing components and the generation of indentation rolling resistance in belt conveyors. Therefore, it is imperative to explore the relaxation characteristics of viscoelastic materials using characterization models. This article focuses on exploring these characterization models and the indentation rolling resistance of viscoelastic materials. The research comprises the following aspects: (1) A 2N + 2 element generalized Maxwell constitutive model is proposed for the relaxation behavior of viscoelastic materials to address the limitations of conventional relaxation models. (2) We conducted numerical calculations based on the relaxation modulus to solve the relaxation spectrum using several relaxation spectrum models. The findings showed that the model parameters were dependent on the testing time range. (3) The relationship between the indentation rolling resistance and relaxation model parameters was evaluated based on the theoretical foundation of the indentation rolling resistance calculation. Full article

Previous studies suggested that the location of the primary tumor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is associated with clinical features and prognosis, but results are conflicting. The purpose of this study was to explore tumor location as an independent risk factor of survival for patients with completely resected pathological stage I NSCLC. This was a multicenter retrospective study conducted in Taiwan. Included patients were diagnosed with stage I NSCLC and had undergone primary tumor resection. Variables including tumor location, pathological stage, histological differentiation, and International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) grade were evaluated for predictive ability for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). A total of 208 patients were included, with 123 (59.1%) patients having a primary tumor in the upper and middle lobes. The median duration of follow-up for survivors was 60.5 months. Compared to patients with IASLC Grade 3 disease, patients with Grade 1 disease had significantly longer DFS. Tumor location and IASLC grade were independent predictors for OS in multivariate analysis. Specifically, patients with NSCLC in the lower lobe and patients who are histologically classified as IASLC Grade 3 may have poorer prognosis and require greater attention to improve outcomes. Full article

Developed to achieve the balancing of three-phase loads and improve their power factor, the BCC (Balancing Capacitive Compensator) is presented in this paper as having a broader capability, namely that of balancing the two-way power flow. BCCs are becoming useful in today’s distribution networks with a high content of DERs (Distributed Energy Resources), where unbalanced power transfers to the higher voltage network occur more and more frequently as a result of the excess power generated. The article contains a case study in which, by means of Matlab-Simulink 2021 modelling, such a network is studied by considering two regimes corresponding to the two-way power flow. The numerical analysis of phase components and sequence components confirms the validity of the mathematical model concerning the BCC and also for the case of changing the way of power flow in the section controlled by the compensator. This demonstrates the possibility of extending the load balancing function of the BCC to that of balancing the two-way power flow and is an additional argument in support of replacing, in the more or less near future, conventional shunt capacitive compensators with capacitive balancing compensators. Full article

Hyperspectral image classification (HSIC) has garnered increasing attention among researchers. While classical networks like convolution neural networks (CNNs) have achieved satisfactory results with the advent of deep learning, they are confined to processing local information. Vision transformers, despite being effective at establishing long-distance dependencies, face challenges in extracting high-representation features for high-dimensional images. In this paper, we present the multiscale efficient attention with enhanced feature transformer (MEA-EFFormer), which is designed for the efficient extraction of spectral–spatial features, leading to effective classification. MEA-EFFormer employs a multiscale efficient attention feature extraction module to initially extract 3D convolution features and applies effective channel attention to refine spectral information. Following this, 2D convolution features are extracted and integrated with local binary pattern (LBP) spatial information to augment their representation. Then, the processed features are fed into a spectral–spatial enhancement attention (SSEA) module that facilitates interactive enhancement of spectral–spatial information across the three dimensions. Finally, these features undergo classification through a transformer encoder. We evaluate MEA-EFFormer against several state-of-the-art methods on three datasets and demonstrate its outstanding HSIC performance. Full article

A novel regression method is introduced and studied. The procedure weights squared residuals based on their magnitude. Unlike the classic least squares which treats every squared residual as equally important, the new procedure exponentially down-weights squared residuals that lie far away from the cloud of all residuals and assigns a constant weight (one) to squared residuals that lie close to the center of the squared-residual cloud. The new procedure can keep a good balance between robustness and efficiency; it possesses the highest breakdown point robustness for any regression equivariant procedure, being much more robust than the classic least squares, yet much more efficient than the benchmark robust method, the least trimmed squares (LTS) of Rousseeuw. With a smooth weight function, the new procedure could be computed very fast by the first-order (first-derivative) method and the second-order (second-derivative) method. Assertions and other theoretical findings are verified in simulated and real data examples. Full article

Cancer-associated cachexia (CAC) is a debilitating condition marked by muscle and fat loss, that is unresponsive to nutritional support and contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer. Immune dysfunction, driven by cytokine imbalance, contributes to CAC progression. This review explores the potential relationship between CAC and anti-cancer immune response in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Pre-clinical studies showcase the involvement of cytokines like IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and TGF-β, in CAC. IL-6 and TNF-α, interacting with muscle and adipose tissues, induce wasting through JAK/STAT and NF-κB pathways. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) exacerbate CAC by promoting inflammation. Clinical studies confirm elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNFα) and immune markers like the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with CAC. Thus, immunomodulatory mechanisms involved in CAC may impact the anti-neoplastic immune response. Inhibiting CAC mechanisms could enhance anti-cancer therapies, notably immunotherapy. R-ketorolac, a new immunomodulator, reversed the weight loss and increased survival in mice. Combining these agents with immunotherapy may benefit patients with cancer experiencing CAC. Further research is vital to understand the complex interplay between tumor-induced immune dysregulation and CAC during immunotherapy. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions have significantly impacted the quality of life of society in many countries in various aspects. The purpose of this study was to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the consumption of meat and fish in society in Poland as well as the factors that determined these changes. The cross-sectional study was conducted using an original online questionnaire between 8th and 18th of April 2020. The subjects were selected randomly. The target population were adults living in Poland. The inclusion criterion for the study was the age of at least 18 years and consent to selfless participation in the study. Communication via social media such as Facebook or Instagram was used to enroll more participants from different socio-demographic subgroups. The questionnaire was divided into two parts—the first part contained questions about sex, age, body mass, body height, residence, level of education, and occupation, and the second part consisted of specific questions about the consumption frequency of different kinds of meat during the COVID-19 lockdown period (in comparison to the time before the pandemic). A total of 3888 people took part in the study including 84.54% women, with an average age of 30.17 ± 9.22 years. The frequency of poultry consumption increased, while for pork, beef, ham and other meat products as well as fish and seafood it declined. The factors that influenced the change in dietary patterns during the lockdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic included age, body mass index, gender, place of residence, and type of work performed. However, no relationship was found between the change in meat and fish consumption during the pandemic and the level of education and form of employment during the pandemic. Full article

A good cognitive status predicts academic, professional, and health outcomes. However, longitudinal data regarding the associations of body fatness, physical fitness, and cognition are relatively scarce and mixed. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to investigate whether body fatness, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and muscular fitness (MF) in preschool are associated with cognitive skills in the first grade of school. A total of 133 South Estonian children whose age was 6–7 years were recruited from 13 kindergartens and again at 7–8 years after they had entered school. Body fat percentage (BF%), CRF, MF as the mean of z-scores of relative upper-limb strength, standing long jump results, and cognitive skills (verbal, conceptual, and perceptual) were studied. There were no associations between BF% and CRF in preschool with perceptual, conceptual, or verbal skills in school in boys and girls. In boys, a higher MF in preschool was associated with higher verbal skills (β = 0.293, p = 0.021) in school after adjustment for confounders. Cognitive skills at baseline seemed to be frequently associated with cognitive performance in school. In conclusion, higher MF in preschool was associated with better verbal skills in the first grade of school in boys but not in girls. Body fatness and cardiorespiratory fitness in preschool were not associated with cognitive skills in school. Full article

To monitor the Ecological Environment Quality (EEQ) of the Jiaodong Peninsula and provide a scientific basis for ecological environment governance and sustainable development in the region, this study evaluates the EEQ of Jiaodong using the Remote Sensing-based Ecological Index (RSEI) model and analyzes its spatiotemporal evolution patterns, building upon single-factor correlation analysis using the Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) algorithm, using GeoDetector to analyze the driving mechanisms of human activities and natural factors in EEQ. The results indicate the following: (1) The average RSEI values for 2000, 2010, and 2020 are 0.60, 0.57, and 0.66, with Good or Excellent areas accounting for 56.48%, 51.02%, and 67.17%. From 2000 to 2020, RSEI strong improvement areas were predominantly distributed in the eastern hilly areas of the Jiaodong Peninsula. The RSEI of the Jiaodong Peninsula showed significant spatial autocorrelation. (2) The RANSAC algorithm effectively reduces noise interference in remote sensing data, thereby improving the accuracy of single-factor correlation analysis. (3) In 2000, the importance of natural factors exceeds that of human activity factors. The Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) is the most important driving factor; while in 2010 and 2020, human activity factors surpass natural factors in importance, with the Land Use Composite Index (LUCI) being the most significant driving factor. The driving factors exhibited double-factor and nonlinear enhancement. The most significant interaction factors affecting the EEQ of the Jiaodong Peninsula in 2000, 2010, and 2020 are SPEI∩GDP, LUCI∩SPEI, and LUCI∩GDP. Full article

Osteolytic lesions in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) during rehabilitation are attributed to multiple causes, including gas embolism, hypothermia, and osteomyelitis due to bacterial or fungal infection. This study reports the appearance of osteolytic lesions in a sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle with involvement of the right fore and hind flippers, visible swelling of the elbow and knee joints, and accompanied by lameness after 45 days of rehabilitation. Radiographs and computed tomography revealed multiple lytic bone lesions. This was the fourth rehabilitation admission of the turtle after being accidentally captured by trawler ships (bycatch) in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023. Potential causes were dysbaric osteonecrosis due to a past decompression sickness event and hypothermia with osteomyelitis from bacterial infection. Blood cultures and antibiotic susceptibility testing led to the isolation of Ewingella americana responsive to enrofloxacin. This study investigates extensive fore and hind flipper involvement in a sub-adult loggerhead turtle, aiming to determine causes and risk factors. The pathogenesis and significance of these lesions is discussed. Full article

Hydroxytyrosol (HT) is a bioactive olive oil phenol with beneficial effects in a number of pathological situations. We have previously demonstrated that an HT-enriched diet could serve as a beneficial therapeutic approach to attenuate ischemic-stroke-associated damage in mice. Our exploratory pilot study examined this effect in humans. Particularly, a nutritional supplement containing 15 mg of HT/day was administered to patients 24 h after the onset of stroke, for 45 days. Biochemical and oxidative-stress-related parameters, blood pressure levels, serum proteome, and neurological and functional outcomes were evaluated at 45 and 90 days and compared to a control group. The main findings were that the daily administration of HT after stroke could: (i) favor the decrease in the percentage of glycated hemoglobin and diastolic blood pressure, (ii) control the increase in nitric oxide and exert a plausible protective effect in oxidative stress, (iii) modulate the evolution of the serum proteome and, particularly, the expression of apolipoproteins, and (iv) be beneficial for certain neurological and functional outcomes. Although a larger trial is necessary, this study suggests that HT could be a beneficial nutritional complement in the management of human stroke. Full article

This paper addresses the issue of LED short-circuit fault detection in signaling and lighting systems in the automotive industry. The conventional diagnostic method commonly implemented in newer vehicles relies on measuring the voltage drop across different LED branches and comparing it with threshold values indicating faults caused by open circuits or LED short circuits. With this algorithm, detecting cases of a few LEDs short-circuited within a branch, particularly a single malfunctioning LED, is particularly challenging. In this work, two easily implementable algorithms are proposed to address this issue within the vehicle’s control unit. One is based on a mathematical prediction model, while the other utilizes a neural network. The results obtained offer a 100% LED short-circuit fault detection rate in the majority of analyzed cases, representing a significant improvement over the conventional method, even in scenarios involving a single malfunctioning LED within a branch. Additionally, the neural network-based model can accurately predict the number of failed LEDs. Full article

Intake is not only the main air supply component of an aircraft, but also one of the forward radar scattering sources. The aerodynamic and stealth performance of intake is critical to the serviceability of advanced fighter aircrafts. The effects of baffle boards with different configurations on the performance of the caret intake with a double S-duct diffuser are presented in this article. The multi-level fast multipole method (MLFMM) and the SST k-ω turbulence model were respectively used to calculate the surface current and the flow field. It was found that the average RCS value of intake can be effectively reduced by installing the baffle board with vertical orientation in the front diffuser, with the DC60 value and the loss of outlet total pressure both increased slightly. The boundary layer separation and the RCS characteristics of intake were closely related to the configuration of the corrugated baffle board. Compared with the traditional curved board, by installing the corrugated board with optimized corrugation number and shape, the stealth performance of intake can be further improved, and the loss of aerodynamic performance can be also reduced. Full article

This study investigates the impact of nanomaterials on different surfactant solutions. By measuring the parameters (including emulsification property, zeta potential, DLS, CA, IFT, etc.) of imbibition liquid system with nanoparticles and without nanoparticles, combining with imbibition experiments, the law and mechanism of improving the imbibition recovery of nanomaterials were obtained. The findings demonstrate that the nano-silica sol enhances the emulsification and dispersion of crude oil in the surfactant system, resulting in smaller and more uniform particle sizes for emulsified oil droplets. Non-ionic surfactant AEO-7 has the best effect under the synergistic action of nanomaterials. Zeta potential and DLS tests also showed that AEO-7 exhibits smaller particle sizes due to their insignificant electrostatic interaction with nanoparticles. Furthermore, the addition of nanomaterials enhances the hydrophilicity of core and reduces the interfacial tension. Under the synergistic action of nanoparticles, AEO-7 still showed the best enhanced core hydrophilicity (CA 0.61° after imbibition) and the lowest interfacial tension (0.1750 mN·m⁻¹). In the imbibition experiment, the imbibition recovery of the system with nanomaterials is higher than that of the non-nanomaterials. The mixed system of AEO-7 and nano-silica sol ZZ-1 has the highest imbibition recovery (49.27%). Combined with the experiments above, it shows that nanomaterials have a good effect on enhancing the recovery rate of tight core, and the synergistic effect of non-ionic surfactant AEO-7 with nanomaterials is the best. Moreover, nanomaterials reduce adhesion work within the system while improving spontaneous imbibition recovery. These findings provide theoretical guidance for better understanding the mechanism behind nanomaterial-induced imbibition enhancement as well as improving tight oil’s imbibition recovery. Full article

Malnutrition is one of the major factors of bone and cartilage disorders. Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) processing waste is a cheap and highly promising source of bioactive substances, including collagen-derived peptides and amino acids, for bone and cartilage structure stabilization. The addition of these substances to a functional drink is one of the ways to achieve their fast intestinal absorption. Collagen hydrolysate was obtained via enzymatic hydrolysis, ultrafiltration, freeze-drying, and grinding to powder. The lyophilized hydrolysate was a light gray powder with high protein content (>90%), including collagen (about 85% of total protein) and a complete set of essential and non-essential amino acids. The hydrolysate had no observed adverse effect on human mesenchymal stem cell morphology, viability, or proliferation. The hydrolysate was applicable as a protein food supply or a structure-forming food component due to the presence of collagen fiber fragments. An isotonic fitness drink (osmolality 298.1 ± 2.1 mOsm/L) containing hydrolysate and vitamin C as a cofactor in collagen biosynthesis was prepared. The addition of the hydrolysate did not adversely affect its organoleptic parameters. The production of such functional foods and drinks is one of the beneficial ways of fish processing waste utilization. Full article

The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in cancer is increasing. Their side effects are mainly due to the triggering of autoimmunity, which are mild or moderate and include skin rash, colitis, hepatitis, endocrine disorders, myositis, interstitial lung disorder, etc., in most cases during the course of therapy. Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is rare in cancer patients treated with ICIs. Fifty patients with ICI-related encephalitis were identified in a recent review. Herein, we report a case of pembrolizumab associated with AE with a favorable short-term prognosis. A 68-year-old man with malignant metastatic melanoma achieved complete remission after pembrolizumab treatment. However, 10 months after pembrolizumab cessation due to grade 3 diarrhea, he developed confusion, an altered mental status, progressive memory loss, and gait disturbance. He was admitted to the neurologic department, and a comprehensive neurological workup, brain magnetic resonance imaging, cerebral fluid analysis, EEG, and blood test allowed the diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis. The patient was treated with plasmapheresis, a high dose of intravenous steroids, and intravenous immunoglobulins. The patient improved, and he is now well with a performance status of 1. This case is interesting since the AE developed approximately 10 months after the cessation of immunotherapy, the underlying cancer was in complete remission, and the AE showed a good response after the treatment was performed. Full article

The accurate evaluation of the thermal performance of building envelope components (e.g., facade walls) is crucial for the reliable evaluation of their energy efficiency. There are several methods available to quantify their thermal resistance, such as analytical formulations (e.g., ISO 6946 simplified calculation method), numerical simulations (e.g., using finite element method), experimental measurements under lab-controlled conditions or in situ. Regarding measurements, when using the heat flow meter (HFM) method, very often, the measured value is based on surface conditions (e.g., temperature and heat flux), achieving in this way the so-called surface-to-surface or conductive thermal resistance (). When the building components are made of homogeneous layers, their values are constant, regardless of their internal and external surface boundary conditions. However, whenever this element is composed of inhomogeneous layers, such as in lightweight steel-framed (LSF) walls, their values are no longer constant, depending on their thermal surface resistance. In the literature, such systematic research into how these values vary is not available. In this study, the values of four LSF walls were computed, with different levels of thermal conductivity inhomogeneity, making use of four finite elements’ numerical simulation tools. Six external thermal surface resistances () were modelled, ranging from 0.00 up to 0.20 m²·K/W. The average temperature of the partition LSF walls is 15 °C, while for the facade LSF walls it is 10 °C. It was found that the accuracy values of all evaluated numerical software are very high and similar, the values being nearly constant for walls with homogeneous layers, as expected. However, the variation in the value depends on the level of inhomogeneity in the LSF wall layers, increasing up to 8%, i.e., +0.123 m²·K/W, for the evaluated values. Full article

A growing body of the literature on the study of online reviews presents interesting research opportunities, especially in services highly frequented by young consumer segments, such as restaurants. In this context, the present study examines the restaurant electronic word-of-mouth (EWOM) behavior of Millennial consumers by addressing both review queries before the purchase decision and writing and sending after the purchase. Based on the theory of reasoned action, a double objective is pursued. On the one hand, the influence of motivations related to extroversion, social benefits, and altruism on EWOM sending behavior is analyzed. On the other hand, the moderating role of EWOM consultation in these relationships is studied. Using a sample of 341 Millennials from Ecuador, a structural model is constructed that confirms the contribution of two types of motivations in sending EWOM: those of extroversion and those of social benefits. The results also reveal the moderating role of EWOM consultation alone in the effects of extraversion and altruism motivations. Managerial implications for restaurants derived from this study include improvements in the design of digital communication strategies tailored to Millennial customers based on their motivations. Full article

Due to the high death rate associated with gastric cancer, a great deal of research has been conducted on this disease. The goal of this paper was to start a trimestral review of 2024 for the year that had just started. The scientific literature from 1 January 2024 was chosen with consideration of the the guidelines of the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), which are updated with new findings but not systematically reviewed annually. We used the search term “gastric cancer” to find the most current publications in the PubMed database related to the prognosis and treatment of gastric cancer. As previously said, the only articles that satisfied the inclusion criteria were those from 2024. Articles with case reports were eliminated since they had nothing to do with our research. The treatment of gastric cancer is the focus of the majority of articles from 2024. The primary research axes include surgery and immunonutrition, immunotherapy and Helicobacter pylori, and therapeutic targets. Patients with GC may experience less psychological, social, and financial hardship if the recently identified markers discovered in circulation are better assessed and validated. This could be achieved by either including the markers in an artificial intelligence-based diagnostic score or by using them in conjunction with traditional diagnostic methods. Due to the rising death rate associated with GC, funding for research into diagnosis, prognosis, therapy, and therapeutic targets is essential. Full article

Quantum computing advancements pose security challenges for cryptography. Specifically, Grover’s search algorithm affects the reduction in the search complexity of symmetric-key encryption and hash functions. Recent efforts have been made to estimate the complexity of Grover’s search and evaluate post-quantum security. In this paper, we propose a depth-optimized quantum circuit implementation for ASCON, including both symmetric-key encryption and hashing algorithms, as a part of the lightweight cryptography standardization by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology). As far as we know, this is the first implementation of a quantum circuit for the ASCON AEAD (Authenticated Encryption with Associated Data) scheme, which is a symmetric-key algorithm. Also, our quantum circuit implementation of the ASCON-HASH achieves a reduction of more than 88.9% in the Toffoli depth and more than 80.5% in the full depth compared to the previous work. As per our understanding, the most effective strategy against Grover’s search involves minimizing the depth of the quantum circuit for the target cipher. We showcase the optimal Grover’s search cost for ASCON and introduce a proposed quantum circuit optimized for depth. Furthermore, we utilize the estimated cost to evaluate post-quantum security strength of ASCON, employing the relevant evaluation criteria and the latest advancements in research. Full article

With the wide application potential of wrought aluminium alloy in aerospace, automobile and electronic products, high-quality aluminium bars prepared by the radial forging (RF) process have received extensive attention. Penetration performance refers to the depth of radial plastic deformation of forgings, which is the key factor in determining the quality of forging. In this work, the penetration performance of the radial forging process for 6063 wrought aluminium bars is investigated by simulation using FORGE software. The minimum reduction amount of the hammer is calculated based on the forging penetration theory of forging. The influence of process parameters including forging ratio (FR) and billet temperature on the effective stress and hammer load in the RF process are investigated. The RF-deformed billet is then produced with the optimal process parameters obtained from the simulation results. The average grain size of aluminium alloy semi-solid spherical material is used to evaluate the forging penetration. Simulation results showed that the effective strain at the edge and the centre of the RF-deformed billet gradually increases, but the increasing speed of the effective strain at the edge becomes low. The hammer load first decreases quickly and then gradually maintains stability by increasing the FR. It is found that low billet temperature and high FR should be selected as appropriate process parameters under the allowable tonnage range of RF equipment. Under an isothermal temperature of 630 °C and a sustaining time of 10 min, the difference in the average grain dimension between the edge and the centre positions of the starting extruded blank is 186.43 μm, while the difference in the average grain dimension between the edge and the centre positions of the RF-deformed blank is 15.09 μm. The improvement ratio of penetration performance for the RF-deformed blank is obtained as 91.19%. Full article