In this study, we conduct a reliability characterisation study of cold standby systems. Utilising synthetic rectangular formulas and cold preparedness equivalent models for cold standby systems, we analyse the lifetimes of several typical configurations, including series, parallel, and k/n:m voting systems. This study proposes system equivalent models for various types of cold standby systems, all composed of components that follow the same exponential distribution. We use the equivalent model to determine the optimal timing for the use of cold spares and derive the reliability function and residual lifetime function for each type of system. To demonstrate the validity of our model, the Monte Carlo simulation is strategically designed based on the system failure rate function. The experimental results are then compared with those obtained from the numerical model, highlighting that the numerical method incurs a lower time cost. Full article

In this paper, a detailed mechanism is discussed for two processes: deNOx and deN₂O. An FAU catalyst was used for the reaction with Cu-Fe bimetallic adsorbates represented by a dimer with bridged oxygen. Partial hydration of the metal centres in the dimer was considered. Ab initio calculations based on the density functional theory were used. The electron parameters of the structures obtained were also analysed. Visualisation of the orbitals of selected structures and their interpretations are presented. The presented research allowed a closer look at the mechanisms of processes that are very common in the automotive and chemical industries. Based on theoretical modelling, it was possible to propose the most efficient catalyst that could find potential application in industry–this is the FAU catalyst with a Cu-O-Fe bimetallic dimer with a hydrated copper centre. The essential result of our research is the improvement in the energetics of the reaction mechanism by the presence of an OH group, which will influence the way NO and NH₃ molecules react with each other in the deNOx process depending on the industrial conditions of the process. Our theoretical results suggest also how to proceed with the dosage of NO and N₂O during the industrial process to increase the desired reaction effect. Full article

This paper explores the properties of multipliers associated with discrete analogues of fractional integrals, revealing intriguing connections with Dirichlet characters, Euler’s identity, and Dedekind zeta functions of quadratic imaginary fields. Employing Fourier transform techniques, the Hardy–Littlewood circle method, and a discrete analogue of the Stein–Weiss inequality on product space through implication methods, we establish ${\ell }^p\to {\ell }^q$ bounds for these operators. Our results contribute to a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between number theory and harmonic analysis in discrete domains, offering insights into the convergence behavior of these operators. Full article

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria of the utmost importance are extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CRE), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. (VRE). In this study, an evaluation of MDR bacteria in surgical intensive care units in a tertiary referral hospital was conducted. The study aimed to characterize β-lactamases and other resistance traits of Gram-negative bacteria isolated in surgical intensive care units (ICUs). Disk diffusion and the broth dilution method were used for antibiotic susceptibility testing, whereas ESBL screening was performed through a double disk synergy test and an inhibitor-based test with clavulanic acid. A total of 119 MDR bacterial isolates were analysed. ESBL production was observed in half of the Proteus mirabilis, 90% of the Klebsiella pneumoniae and all of the Enterobacter cloacae, P. mirabilis and Escherichia coli isolates. OXA-48 carbapenemase, carried by the L plasmid, was detected in 34 K. pneumoniae and one E. coli and Enterobacter cloacae complex isolates, whereas NDM occurred sporadically and was identified in three K. pneumoniae isolates. OXA-48 positive isolates coharboured ESBLs belonging to the CTX-M family in all but one isolate. OXA-23 carbapenemase was confirmed in all A. baumannii isolates. The findings of this study provide valuable insight of resistance determinants of Enterobacterales and A. baumannii which will enhance surveillance and intervention strategies that are necessary to curb the ever-growing carbapenem resistance rates. Full article

To investigate the feasibility and formation laws of fabricating micro-dimples induced by near-wall laser-induced cavitation bubble (LICB) on 7050 aluminum alloy. A high-speed camera and a fiber-optic hydrophone system were used to capture pulsation evolution images and acoustic signals of LICB. Meanwhile, a three-dimensional profilometer was employed to examine the contour morphology of the surface micro-dimple on the specimen. The results show that at an energy level of 500 mJ, the total pulsation period for the empty bubble is 795 μs, with individual pulsation periods of 412.5 μs, 217 μs, and 165 μs for the first, second, and third cycles, respectively, with most energy of the laser and bubble being consumed during the first evolution period. Under the synergy of the plasma shock wave and collapse shock wave, a spherical dimple with a diameter of 450 μm is formed on the sample surface with copper foil as the absorption layer. A model of micro-dimple formed by LICB impact is established. As the energy increases, the depth of the surface micro-dimple peaks at an energy of 400 mJ and then decreases. The depth of the surface micro-dimple increases with the increase in the number of impacts; the optimal technology parameters for the micro-dimple formation by LICB impact are as follows: the absorption layer is copper foil, the energy is 400 mJ, and the number of impacts is three. Full article

Fermented Rosa rugosa ‘Dianhong’ petals with brown sugar, a biologically active food popularized in Dali Prefecture, Northwest Yunnan, China, are rich in bioactive compounds, especially polyphenols, exhibiting strong antioxidant activity. This study evaluated their antioxidant activities, total phenolic contents, and concentrations of polyphenols at different fermentation conditions using different assays: DPPH free-radical scavenging activity, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), Folin–Ciocalteu assays, and HPLC–MS/MS and HPLC–DAD methods. The results indicated that fermentation significantly increased (p < 0.05) the antioxidant activity and polyphenol concentration of R. rugosa ’Dianhong.’ Furthermore, Saccharomyces rouxii TFR-1 fermentation achieved optimal bioactivity earlier than natural fermentation. Overall, we found that the use of Saccharomyces rouxii (TFR-1) is a more effective strategy for the production of polyphenol-rich fermented R. rugosa ‘Dianhong’ petals with brown sugar compared to natural fermentation. Full article

Re-evaluating how urban and rural development can be integrated is a necessary step towards achieving the “dual-carbon” objective and facilitating a thorough transition towards a green and low-carbon economy and society. This study empirically investigates the geographical disparities, evolving patterns, and determinants of the effectiveness of urban–rural integration development in Sichuan and Chongqing. Results of the study indicate that (1) the effectiveness of urban–rural integration development in Sichuan and Chongqing is generally poor, and external environmental factors adversely affect the urban–rural integration of economically developed cities; (2) the urban–rural integration development efficiency in Sichuan and Chongqing does not show a more obvious polarization phenomenon, but the gap between the cities gradually widens; and (3) regarding influencing factors, market dynamics are favorable to overall urban–rural integration development in the Sichuan and Chongqing regions, while the development of the digital economy and the level of financial development can exacerbate the imbalance of regional urban–rural integration development. Based on this premise, pertinent policy suggestions are offered to facilitate the merger of urban and rural areas and foster efficient development in the regions of Sichuan and Chongqing. Full article

In the context of the ongoing evolution of the global economy and increasing environmental awareness, green sustainable development has emerged as a crucial pathway for future advancements in the lubrication industry. In this study, we prepared bio-based greases by employing a thickener system consisting of polyhydroxyalkanoate (P34HB) and ethyl cellulose, with castor oil serving as a base oil. The results indicate that ethyl cellulose significantly and effectively enhances the grease system’s mechanical and colloidal stability. Notably, the addition of 5 wt% ethyl cellulose leads to superior mechanical and colloidal stability, while increasing concentrations gradually result in rheological properties similar to those of oleogels. Furthermore, the wear volume of grease containing 5 wt% ethyl cellulose was reduced by 39.20% compared to that of a reference P34HB grease, demonstrating its exceptional wear resistance. The present study provides a theoretical foundation and empirical evidence for the future development of biodegradable greases as substitutes for non-degradable materials, thereby expanding the range of environmentally friendly greases formulated with biomass-based thickeners. Full article

This paper proposes incorporating linguistic semantic information into discourse relation recognition and constructing a Semantic Augmented Chinese Discourse Corpus (SACA) comprising 9546 adversative complex sentences. In adversative complex sentences, we suggest a quadruple (P, Q, R, $Q_{\beta }$) representing internal semantic elements, where the semantic opposition between Q and $Q_{\beta }$ forms the basis of the adversative relationship. P denotes the premise, and R represents the adversative reason. The overall annotation approach of this corpus follows the Penn Discourse Treebank (PDTB), except for the classification of senses. We combined insights from the Chinese Discourse Treebank (CDTB) and obtained eight sense categories for Chinese adversative complex sentences. Based on this corpus, we explore the relationship between sense classification and internal semantic elements within our newly proposed Chinese Adversative Discourse Relation Recognition (CADRR) task. Leveraging deep learning techniques, we constructed various classification models and the model that utilizes internal semantic element features, demonstrating their effectiveness and the applicability of our SACA corpus. Compared with pre-trained models, our model incorporates internal semantic element information to achieve state-of-the-art performance. Full article

Finite mixture of linear regression (FMLR) models are among the most exemplary statistical tools to deal with various heterogeneous data. In this paper, we introduce a new procedure to simultaneously determine the number of components and perform variable selection for the different regressions for FMLR models via an exponential power error distribution, which includes normal distributions and Laplace distributions as special cases. Under some regularity conditions, the consistency of order selection and the consistency of variable selection are established, and the asymptotic normality for the estimators of non-zero parameters is investigated. In addition, an efficient modified expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm and a majorization-maximization (MM) algorithm are proposed to implement the proposed optimization problem. Furthermore, we use the numerical simulations to demonstrate the finite sample performance of the proposed methodology. Finally, we apply the proposed approach to analyze a baseball salary data set. Results indicate that our proposed method obtains a smaller BIC value than the existing method. Full article

As a conformationally restricted amino acid, hydroxy-l-proline is a versatile scaffold for the synthesis of diverse multi-functionalized pyrrolidines for probing the ligand binding sites of biological targets. With the goal to develop new inhibitors of the widely expressed amino acid transporters SLC1A4 and SLC1A5 (also known as ASCT1 and ASCT2), we synthesized and functionally screened synthetic hydroxy-l-proline derivatives using electrophysiological and radiolabeled uptake methods against amino acid transporters from the SLC1, SLC7, and SLC38 solute carrier families. We have discovered a novel class of alkoxy hydroxy-pyrrolidine carboxylic acids (AHPCs) that act as selective high-affinity inhibitors of the SLC1 family neutral amino acid transporters SLC1A4 and SLC1A5. AHPCs were computationally docked into a homology model and assessed with respect to predicted molecular orientation and functional activity. The series of hydroxyproline analogs identified here represent promising new agents to pharmacologically modulate SLC1A4 and SLC1A5 amino acid exchangers which are implicated in numerous pathophysiological processes such as cancer and neurological diseases. Full article

Over the last decades, the analysis of complex microbial communities by high-throughput sequencing of marker gene amplicons has become routine work for many research groups. However, the main challenges faced by scientists who want to make use of the generated sequencing datasets are the lack of expertise to select a suitable pipeline and the need for bioinformatics or programming skills to apply it. Here, we present MetaXplore, an interactive, user-friendly platform that enables the discovery and visualization of amplicon sequencing data. Currently, it provides a set of well-documented choices for downstream analysis, including alpha and beta diversity analysis, taxonomic composition, differential abundance analysis, identification of the core microbiome within a population, and biomarker analysis. These features are presented in a user-friendly format that facilitates easy customization and the generation of publication-quality graphics. MetaXplore is implemented entirely in the R language using the Shiny framework. It can be easily used locally on any system with R installed, including Windows, Mac OS, and most Linux distributions, or remotely via a web server without bioinformatic expertise. It can also be used as a framework for advanced users who can modify and expand the tool. Full article

Friction stir processing (FSP) is a solid-state treating method to enhance the mechanical properties of materials by altering their microstructure. In this study, FSP was applied to the AZ91 magnesium alloy cladding layer prepared using cold metal transition (CMT) technology, and the purpose was to investigate the effect of the traverse speed of the H13 steel stirring head under a constant rotation speed on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the cladding layer. The results demonstrated that FSP could effectively decrease the grain size of the cladding layer and lead to the dispersion and dissolution of the coarse β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂ second phase into the α-Mg matrix. The mechanical characteristics of the processed cladding layer were significantly enhanced compared to the unprocessed cladding layer due to the grain refinement and second-phase strengthening induced by FSP. When the stirring head rotation speed was set at 300 r/min, the average microhardness and tensile properties of the specimens showed a tendency of initially increasing and then dropping as the traverse speed increased. The cladding layer, obtained at a traverse speed of 60 mm/min, displayed optimal mechanical properties with an average microhardness, tensile strength, and elongation of 85.6 HV_0.1, 278.5 MPa, and 13.4%, respectively. Full article

Open-top chambers (OTCs) consist of semi-open enclosures used to investigate the impact of elevated carbon dioxide [CO₂] on crops and larger plant communities. OTCs have lower operational costs than alternatives such as controlled environment cabinets and Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE). A low-cost design is presented for an OTC with a surface area of 1.2 m² and a target elevated CO₂ concentration [CO₂] of 650 µmol mol⁻¹ adequate for trials involving cereals or grain legumes. The elevated CO₂ chambers maintained an average concentration ± standard deviation of 652 ± 37 µmol mol⁻¹ despite wind and air turbulences, in comparison to 407 ± 10 µmol mol⁻¹ for non-enriched chambers. Relative to ambient (non-chamber) conditions, plants in the chambers were exposed to slightly warmer conditions (2.3 °C in daylight hours; 0.6 °C during night environment). The materials’ cost for constructing the chambers was USD 560 per chamber, while the CO₂ control system for four chambers dedicated to CO₂-enriched conditions cost USD 5388. To maintain the concentration of 650 µmol mol⁻¹ during daylight hours, each chamber consumed 1.38 L min⁻¹ of CO₂. This means that a size G CO₂ cylinder was consumed in 8–9 days in the operation of two chambers (at USD 40). Full article

In electronic packaging products in the service process, the solder joints experience thermal fatigue due to temperature cycles, which have a significant influence on the performance of electronic products and the reliability of solder joints. In this paper, the thermal fatigue failure mechanism of solder joints in microelectronic packages, the microstructure changes of the thermal fatigue process, the influence factors on the joint fatigue life, and the simulation analysis and forecasting of thermal fatigue life are reviewed. The results show that the solder joints are heterogeneously coarsened, and this leads to fatigue cracks occurring under the elevated high-temperature phase of alternating temperature cycles. However, the thickness of the solder and the hold time in the high-temperature phase do not significantly influence the thermal fatigue. The coarsened region and the IMC layer thicken with the number of cycles, and the cracks initiate and propagate along the interface between the intermetallic compound (IMC) layer and coarsened region, eventually leading to solder joint failure. For lead-containing and lead-free solders, the lead-containing solder shows a faster fatigue crack growth rate and propagates by transgranular mode. Temperature and frequency affect the thermal fatigue life of solder joints to different degrees, and the fatigue lifetime of solder joints can be predicted through a variety of methods and simulated crack trajectories, but also through the use of a unified constitutive model and finite element analysis for prediction. Full article

Currently, coastal sandy soils face issues such as insufficient foundation strength, which has become one of the crucial factors constraining urban development. Geotechnical engineering, as a traditional discipline, breaks down disciplinary barriers, promotes interdisciplinary integration, and realizes the green ecological and low-carbon development of geotechnical engineering, which is highly important. Based on the “dual carbon” concept advocating a green and environmentally friendly lifestyle, Bacillus spores were utilized to induce calcium carbonate precipitation technology (MICP) to solidify coastal sandy soils, leveraging the rough-surface and low-permeability characteristics of silty soil. The mechanical-strength variations in the samples were explored through experiments, such as calcium carbonate generation rate tests, non-consolidated undrained triaxial shear tests, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) experiments, to investigate the MICP solidification mechanism. The results indicate that by incorporating silty soil into sandy soil for MICP solidification, the calcium carbonate generation rates of the samples were significantly increased. With the increase in the silty-soil content, the enhancement range was 0.58–3.62%, with the maximum calcium carbonate generation rate occurring at a 5% content level. As the silty-soil content gradually increased from 1% to 5%, the peak deviator stress increased by 4.2–43.2%, enhancing the sample shear strength. Furthermore, the relationship between the internal-friction angle, cohesion, and shear strength further validates the enhancement of the shear strength. Silty soil plays roles in adsorption and physical filling during the MICP solidification process, reducing the inter-particle pores in sandy soil, increasing the compactness, providing adsorption sites, and enhancing the calcium carbonate generation rate, thereby improving the shear strength. The research findings can provide guidance for reinforcing poor coastal sandy-soil foundations in various regions. Full article

The purpose of this study was to investigate nutrition perspectives, basic nutrition knowledge, and preferred sources of nutrition information among students at a southwestern university in the US. An original online survey was used to evaluate common sources of nutrition information, factors viewed as comprising a healthy dietary pattern, and attitudes toward nutrition information and recommendations. A total of 316 participants completed the survey. Prioritizing fruits and vegetables was the most common response (97%) for characterizing healthy eating. When asked which factors characterize a non-healthy pattern of eating, eating sweets was the top response (83%). The most common sources of nutrition information reported were word of mouth/friends and family (56%), followed by social media (45%). The majority felt that nutrition recommendations are constantly changing (78%) and that nutrition information is confusing (55%). Our data indicate that most students rely primarily on informal sources of nutrition information. However, our preliminary data also suggest that many students have a fair understanding of basic principles of healthy eating. More research in a broader and more diverse sample is needed to validate these findings. Full article

This paper presents the process of digital data flow in RE/CAD/RP/CAI systems to develop models for planning surgical procedures in the craniofacial area. At the first RE modeling stage, digital data processing, segmentation, and the reconstruction of the geometry of the anatomical structures were performed. During the CAD modeling stage, three different concepts were utilized. The first concept was used to create a tool that could mold the geometry of the cranial vault. The second concept was created to prepare a prototype implant that would complement the anterior part of the mandibular geometry. And finally, the third concept was used to design a customized prototype surgical plate that would match the mandibular geometry accurately. Physical models were made using a rapid prototyping technique. A Bambu Lab X1 3D printer was used for this purpose. The process of geometric accuracy evaluation was carried out on manufactured prototypes of surgical plates made of ABS+, CPE, PLA+, and PETG material. In the geometric accuracy evaluation process, the smallest deviation values were obtained for the ABS plus material, within a tolerance of ±0.1 mm, and the largest were obtained for CPE (±0.2 mm) and PLA plus (±0.18 mm). In terms of the surface roughness evaluation, the highest value of the Sa parameter was obtained for the PLA plus material, which was 4.15 µm, and the lowest was obtained for the CPE material, equal to 3.62 µm. The knowledge of the flow of digital data and the identification of factors determining the accuracy of mapping the geometry of anatomical structures allowed for the development of a procedure that improves the modeling and manufacturing of anatomical structures within the craniofacial region. Full article

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has disproportionately affected certain demographics in England, exacerbating existing health disparities. Effective therapeutics are a critical line of defence against COVID-19, particularly for patients at elevated risk for severe disease. Surveillance systems were established to monitor the usage of COVID-19 therapeutics in hospital and community settings and to inform stewardship. Three antiviral therapies—nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Paxlovid^®), remdesivir (Veklury^®), and molnupiravir (Lagevrio^®)—and two neutralising monoclonal antibody therapies (nMAbs)—sotrovimab (Xevudy^®) and casirivimab with imdevimab (Ronapreve^®)—were in use in England between July 2020 and April 2023. This paper aims to illuminate trends in the utilisation of COVID-19 therapeutics treatment in both hospital and community settings, stratified by the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) in England. Chapter 3 of the English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance (ESPAUR) Report 2022 to 2023 also discusses the epidemiological surveillance of these five directly acting antiviral COVID-19 therapeutics’ use in England between 2022 and 2023. Full article

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a human pathogenic virus that encodes for a helicase (SC2Hel) that is essential for viral replication. SC2Hel has the ability to unravel dsRNA or dsDNA in an NTP-dependent manner from the 5′ to 3′ directionality. The standard helicase assay from studies involving SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 have relied on the concept of fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Adding to the collection of helicase assays, herein, we have developed a novel tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay system for the detection of ADP that is produced via SC2Hel activity. This SC2Hel assay combines three enzyme-coupled steps involving the ADP-dependent Thermococcus litoralis glucokinase (TlGlcK), Leuconostoc mesenteroides glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (LmG6PDH), and Clostridium kluyveri diaphorase (CkDIA). Iodonitrotetrazolium chloride (INT), a colorimetric tetrazolium reagent, was used in the final step of the assay that converted into INT-formazan during reduction. INT-formazan in the assay’s buffered solution at pH 7.6 exhibited an intense colorimetric response at a wavelength maximum of 505 nm. The assay exhibited excellent performance characteristics as it revealed a Z’ factor of 0.87 and it has the potential to be further adopted into high-throughput screening studies for therapeutic drug discovery research. Full article

The German health authorities’ guidelines for medical devices in 2012 highlighted the importance of cleaning ultrasound probes, emphasizing their validation and reliability. In addition to automated and validated options, alternative manual methods such as wipe disinfection have gained traction due to their independence from additional hardware. The study examines the effectiveness of a manual cleaning process using wipes, addressing concerns raised by the Robert Koch Institute regarding the lack of validation for wipe disinfection of semi-critical devices. The EQUINOS colored wipe disinfection kit identified wetting gaps in all cleanings across four probes tested. The results indicate significant challenges in ensuring complete surface wetting, particularly in complex device parts such as clip-on areas and fixtures for additional biopsy attachments, suggesting that manual methods alone may not adequately mitigate the risk of infection transmission (p value < 0.0001). The study concludes that while manual disinfection methods are a commonly used alternative to automated reprocessing, there is a critical need for enhanced training and potentially the development of more effective manual disinfection techniques or colored wipes to ensure patient safety and compliance with healthcare hygiene standards. Full article

Swallowing disorders, or dysphagia, can lead to bolus aspiration in the airway, causing serious adverse health effects. Current clinical interventions for dysphagia are mainly empirical and often based on symptoms rather than etiology, of which a thorough understanding is still lacking. However, it is challenging to study the swallowing process that involves sequential structural motions and is inaccessible to standard visualization instruments. This study proposed an in vitro method to visualize swallowing hydrodynamics and identify the fundamental mechanisms underlying overflow aspirations. An anatomically accurate pharynx–epiglottis model was developed from patient-specific CT images of 623 µm isotropic resolution. A compliant half-pharynx cast was prepared to incorporate dynamic structures and visualize the flow dynamics in the mid-sagittal plane. Three locations of frequent overflow aspiration were identified: the epiglottis base, cuneiform tubular recesses, and the interarytenoid notch. Water had a consistently higher aspiration risk than a 1% w/v methylcellulose (MC) solution. The contracting–relaxing pharynx and flapping epiglottis spread the liquid film, causing a delayed esophageal entry and increased vallecular residual, which was more pronounced with the MC solution. Dispensing the liquid too slowly resulted in water aspiration, whereas this was not observed with the MC solution. An incomplete epiglottis inversion, such as horizontal or down-tilt 45°, aggravated the aspiration risks of water. This study suggests that it is practical to use anatomically accurate respiratory–digestive models to study the swallowing process by incorporating varying physiological details. Full article