Phenotype transformation in pituitary neuroendocrine tumors is a little-known and unpredictable clinical phenomenon. Previous studies have not clearly defined and systematically concluded on the causes of this rare phenomenon. Additionally, the mechanisms of phenotype transformation are not well known. We reviewed cases reported in the literature with the aim of defining phenotype transformation in pituitary neuroendocrine tumors. We present an overview of the wide spectrum of phenotype transformation and its clinical features. We also discuss findings on the potential mechanism of this rare transformation, which may be related to PC1/3, the bioactivity of secretory hormones, gene mutations and the plasticity of pituitary neuroendocrine tumors. Clinicians should be aware of this rare phenomenon and more studies on the underlying mechanisms are required. Full article

In hypoxic regions of malignant solid tumors, cancer cells acquire resistance to conventional therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, causing poor prognosis in patients with cancer. It is widely recognized that some of the key genes behind this are hypoxia-inducible transcription factors, e.g., hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1). Since HIF-1 activity is suppressed by two representative 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases (2-OGDDs), PHDs (prolyl-4-hydroxylases), and FIH-1 (factor inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor 1), the inactivation of 2-OGDD has been associated with cancer therapy resistance by the activation of HIF-1. Recent studies have also revealed the importance of hypoxia-responsive mechanisms independent of HIF-1 and its isoforms (collectively, HIFs). In this article, we collate the accumulated knowledge of HIF-1-dependent and independent mechanisms responsible for resistance of hypoxic cancer cells to anticancer drugs and briefly discuss the interplay between hypoxia responses, like EMT and UPR, and chemoresistance. In addition, we introduce a novel HIF-independent mechanism, which is epigenetically mediated by an acetylated histone reader protein, ATAD2, which we recently clarified. Full article

With the increasing demand for decentralized systems and the widespread usage of blockchain, low throughput and high latency have become the biggest stumbling blocks in the development of blockchain systems. This problem seriously hinders the expansion of blockchain and its application in production. Most existing smart contract scheduling solutions use static feature analysis to prevent contract conflicts during parallel execution. However, the conflicts between transactions are complex; static feature analysis is not accurate enough. In this paper, we first build the dependency between smart contracts by analyzing the features. After numerous experiments, we propose a conflict model to adjust the relationship between threads and conflict to achieve high throughput and low latency. Based on these works, we propose adaptive parallel scheduling for smart contracts on the blockchain. Our adaptive parallel scheduling can distinguish conflicts between smart contracts and dynamically adjust the execution strategy of smart contracts based on the conflict factors we define. We implement our scheme on ChainMaker, one of the most popular open-source permissioned blockchains, and build experiments to verify our solution. Regarding latency, our solution demonstrates remarkable efficiency compared with the fully parallel scheme, particularly in high-conflict transaction scenarios, where our solution achieves latency levels just one-twentieth of the fully parallel scheme. Regarding throughput, our solution significantly outperforms the fully parallel scheme, achieving 30 times higher throughput in high-conflict transaction scenarios. These results highlight the superior performance and effectiveness of our solution in addressing latency and throughput challenges, particularly in environments with high transaction conflicts. Full article

The ionosphere equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) is usually characterized by two plasma density maxima in the Earth’s equatorial region. Merged EIA (MEIA) is a unique phenomenon in the evolution of the EIA. Currently, the occurrence characteristics of MEIA are still not well understood. In this study, we investigate the occurrence characteristics of nighttime MEIA using NASA Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) observations between October 2018 and the end of 2023. We found that the occurrence of nighttime MEIA exhibits solar cycle, seasonal, and local time variations. The occurrence rate of the MEIA is inversely dependent on solar activity. Occurrence of the MEIA maximizes near the equinoxes, with a primary (secondary) low occurrence rate near the June (December) solstice. In addition, occurrences of the MEIA are suppressed during the pre-reversal enhancement (PRE), resulting in relatively fewer events. Furthermore, it was found that the occurrence of the MEIA is not significantly dependent on the strength of geomagnetic activity. As far as we know, this study represents the first instance of utilizing observations from GOLD observations to investigate the characteristics of MEIA occurrences and their correlations with solar activity, season, and local time. Full article

The stack effect in high-rise buildings, stemming from an inside/outside temperature difference, may produce a significant pressure difference on the elevator doors, potentially causing elevator malfunctions. This effect can also be influenced by wind action and human behaviors, e.g., opening/closing of building entrances. In this study, a wind tunnel test was conducted to determine the real wind pressure distribution on a high-rise building in northern China. A numerical simulation utilizing the Conjunction of Multizone Infiltration Specialists software (COMIS) was carried out to investigate the pressure difference of elevator doors under the effects of thermal buoyancy, wind action, and opening/closing of the first-floor lobby entrance. An alternative solution of a locally strengthened envelope is proposed and validated for the studied building zone. The study reveals that the opening of the first-floor lobby entrance increases the pressure difference regardless of the environmental conditions, and the increase of wind speed tends to increase the pressure difference in winter but decrease it in summer. The proposed countermeasure combination, involving using revolving doors instead of swing doors, increasing additional partitions, and strengthening the local building envelope, was found to be synergistic and effective in reducing the pressure difference inside the building. The research findings offer practical engineering solutions for mitigating elevator door pressure challenges in high-rise buildings. Full article

Sustainability credentialling is the communication of environmental, social, economic, or animal-welfare-related information about a producer or product. Demand for sustainability credentials has been increasing and the aim of this study was to describe the main drivers for this kind of information in Australian red meat value chains that reach consumers across Australia and internationally, mainly in Asia, the USA, and the Middle East. The mixed methods approach included consultation with red meat processors. Desk-based research explored drivers from outside the value chain identified in the consultation. Little evidence was found that consumers are a driver of sustainability credentialling. The main drivers were in the global financial system, expressed in coordinated climate action policies by financial service providers and emerging government climate-related financial legislation. The inclusion of Scope 3 emissions extends coverage to most value chain participants. Net zero transitioning presents many risks to red meat value chains, potentially involving costly interventions and greater difficulty accessing financial services, with direct implications for production costs and asset values. Urgent action is recommended to achieve the formal recognition and use of climate metrics that differentiate the management strategies that are applicable to short-lived biogenic methane compared to CO₂ to achieve the Paris Agreement goals. Full article

Due to the impact of global warming and climate change, more and more people are starting to have a clearer understanding and vigilance about greenhouse gases. To prevent further deterioration of the global environment, this study examines the coefficients of performance of 21 currently available refrigerants with very low global-warming potential and zero ozone-depleting potential under evaporation temperatures of 10, −20, −40, and −60 °C and condensation temperatures of 30, 40, and 50 °C, respectively. It is found that the use of pure refrigerant in a two-stage refrigeration system to replace the single-stage refrigeration system, in addition to mixing it into an appropriate mixture, can effectively improve the performance coefficient of the refrigeration system. For single-stage vapor compression refrigeration systems, R1234ze(Z), R601, and R1233zd(E) have the best refrigeration performances among the environmentally friendly refrigerants studied, while R441A performs the worst for T_eva = 10 °C and −20 °C. Moreover, RE170 has the highest COP of the refrigeration system for T_eva = −40 °C and −60 °C. However, R1234yf performs worse in COP when the evaporation temperature is lower, and it ranks last for T_eva = −60 °C. When a double-stage vapor compression refrigeration system is employed instead, the percentage increase in the COP of the system using R1234yf becomes the largest for T_eva = −40 °C and −60 °C. However, the growth rate of R717 ranks last for T_eva = −60 °C. For an R717/R1234yf mixture at an optimum mass fraction of 0.25, the COP of the refrigeration system can be increased up to 25.8% despite an increase of 15.2% in operating pressure compared to R1234yf. The discharge temperature may rise; however, there will be no overheating problem for the compressor. Full article

Poultry farmers need to consider making adaptations now to help reduce cost, risk, and concern in the future; the industry’s high and unstable input costs, which result in losses, need to incentivize manufacturers to concentrate on efficient management, welfare, and health improvements, thereby creating premium and value-added products. Heat stress, a significant concern, particularly affects broiler chicken, which is vital for global meat supply in the dynamic field of poultry farming. Despite advances in breeding and management, these pressures have a negative influence on avian development, well-being, and overall health, threatening the poultry industry’s long-term viability. This study investigates the physiological reactions and production consequences of various heat conditions in the chicken business. It thoroughly investigates the complicated implications of heat stress, which has a negative impact on broiler performance and causes economic losses. This article investigates various dietary techniques, such as antioxidants, probiotics, amino acid balance, and vitamin supplementation, with the goal of improving chicken thermotolerance as part of a comprehensive stress reduction strategy. This assessment emphasizes the industry’s continuous commitment to sustainable practices by highlighting the need for more research to enhance methodology, investigate creative tactics, and address regional variances in heat stress. Full article

Addressing peripheral nerve disorders with electronic medicine poses significant challenges, especially in replicating the dynamic mechanical properties of nerves and understanding their functionality. In the field of electronic medicine, it is crucial to design a system that thoroughly understands the functions of the nervous system and ensures a stable interface with nervous tissue, facilitating autonomous neural adaptation. Herein, we present a novel neural interface platform that modulates the peripheral nervous system using flexible nerve electrodes and advanced neuromodulation techniques. Specifically, we have developed a surface-based inverse recruitment model for effective joint position control via direct electrical nerve stimulation. Utilizing barycentric coordinates, this model constructs a three-dimensional framework that accurately interpolates inverse isometric recruitment values across various joint positions, thereby enhancing control stability during stimulation. Experimental results from rabbit ankle joint control trials demonstrate our model’s effectiveness. In combination with a proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller, it shows superior performance by achieving reduced settling time (less than 1.63 s), faster rising time (less than 0.39 s), and smaller steady-state error (less than 3 degrees) compared to the legacy model. Moreover, the model’s compatibility with recent advances in flexible interfacing technologies and its integration into a closed-loop controlled functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) system highlight its potential for precise neuroprosthetic applications in joint position control. This approach marks a significant advancement in the management of neurological disorders with advanced neuroprosthetic solutions. Full article

Ignorance, or the lack of knowledge, appears to be steadily spreading, despite the increasing availability of information. The notion of informed ignorance herein proposed to describe the widespread position of being exposed to an abundance of information yet lacking relevant knowledge, which is tied to the exponential growth in misinformation driven by technological developments and social media. Linked to many of societies’ most looming catastrophes, from political polarization to the climate crisis, practices related to knowledge and information are deemed some of the most imminent and daunting modern threats, evidenced by the latest report of the World Economic Forum, which has named misinformation the most severe short-term global risk. This paper’s epistemic perspective links the properties of today’s information culture and the ways in which it interacts with individual capacities and limitations in current technological and socio-political contexts. Such a position is analyzed through the lens of epistemic principles as a contemporary epistemic phenotype that emerges from an environment of ill-adapted and excessive information inputs and leads to a distinctive type of social injustice that is primarily epistemic in nature. While equity and accessibility are widely discussed as important contributing factors to epistemic discrepancies, other overlooked but fundamental issues underlying epistemic injustices are considered, such as information manipulation, cognitive limitations, and epistemic degradation. To effectively face this elusive threat, we propose an inclusive viewpoint that harnesses knowledge from cognitive science, science and technology studies, and social epistemology to inform a unifying theory of its main impacts and driving forces. By adjusting a modern epistemic framework to the described phenomena, we intend to contextually outline its trajectory and possible means of containment based on a shared responsibility to maintain ethical epistemic standards. In a time of international unrest and mounting civil acts of violence, it is pertinent to emphasize the ethical principles of knowledge systems and authorities and suggest policy adaptations to maintain a social contract based on the shared values of truth and freedom. Full article

Set-back modification represents a dependable method to reducing the wind effects on high-rise buildings, but the flow mechanism and aerodynamic responses of set-back tall buildings have not been explored systematically. Using the square building as the benchmark model, six set-back building models with varying steps and sizes were chosen for numerical simulation in this study. The results of mean wind pressure and local wind force distribution, power spectral densities of base moment, flow field, and structural response of the proposed building models are compared and analysed using the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) technique. The results demonstrate that the aerodynamic performance of set-back tall buildings dramatically improved, with the actual optimization in the cross-wind direction being more significant. Generally, a single set-back measure can enhance the aerodynamic performance of high-rise buildings more effectively than a double set-back measure. The outcome of this study provides an aerodynamic design guide for set-back tall buildings. Full article

The establishment of a new type of natural protected area system with national parks as the main body is an inevitable trend of current development, and it is also an important ways to build a more beautiful China. During tourist visits, the national park will promote a variety of ways to enhance the ecological values of tourists. Ecological values can strengthen tourists’ sense of identity, but their impact on tourists’ pro-environmental behavior is not discussed. Based on this, Wuyishan National Park, a world natural and cultural heritage, is selected as the case site, and the PLS-SEM analysis method is used. An empirical test was conducted on 358 valid samples collected in the field. The results show the following: (1) tourists’ ecological values and place identity can positively affect their pro-environmental behaviors; (2) place identity plays a mediating role between ecological values and tourists’ pro-environmental behavior; (3) place dependence and place identity play a chain mediating role between ecological values and tourists’ pro-environmental behavior; (4) according to the PLS-MGA test, gender and age can play a moderating role on the influence of ecological values on pro-environmental behavior. Therefore, the managers of national parks should pay attention to the cultivation of ecological values and consider tourist attraction, as well as formulating marketing strategies and other policy suggestions according to the different characteristics of tourists. The findings of this study offer both practical guidance and a theoretical underpinning for advancing ecological tourism within the framework of natural protected areas, with national parks playing a central role. Full article

Background and Objectives: The number of hip arthroscopy procedures is on the rise worldwide, and awareness regarding proper management of the hip capsule has increased. No capsulotomy shape is agreed upon as a standard approach, with literature supporting both isolated interportal and T-shaped capsulotomies. The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to report the clinical results of a standardized extended interportal capsulotomy (EIPC) during hip arthroscopy. Materials and Methods: Patients operated on between 2017 and 2020 with a hip arthroscopy were eligible. The inclusion criteria were ages 18–60 years, failed non-operative treatment, and at least a 2-year follow-up. Exclusion criteria were bilateral femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAS) cases or labral lesions, ipsilateral knee injury, history of ipsilateral hip surgery, and significant spine lesions. Data regarding demographic characteristics such as age, gender, operation date, BMI, but also Beighton score, presence of postoperative pudendal nerve damage, and revision for any reason were gathered from patients’ records. All patients were evaluated preoperatively with a visual analog scale (VAS), the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), and the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS). Results: Of the 97 patients operated on with a hip arthroscopy between the defined dates, only 90 patients were included. The mean age was 37.9 ± 9.8, and 58.9% of patients were male. The most frequent surgical indication was an isolated FAS lesion (73.3%), followed by FAS associated with a labral tear (12.2%), an isolated labrum tear (10.0%), synovitis (3.3%), and a loose body (1.1%). The mean follow-up for the study cohort was 39.3 months. The majority of the patients had uneventful surgeries (76.7%), while there were three cases of sciatic nerve neuropraxia and 12 cases of pudendal nerve neuropraxia. Two patients underwent revision surgery during the study period. Comparison between preoperative and postoperative clinical scores showed a significant improvement with a final mHHS mean value of 67.7 ± 18.2, an HOOS value of 74.1 ± 13.2, and a low VAS score of 1.3 ± 1.2. Conclusions: A hip arthroscopy procedure with a standardized and unrepaired, extended interportal capsulotomy is a safe procedure with satisfactory mid-term results and high overall patient satisfaction. At a minimum of 2 years and a mean of 39.2 months, patients showed improved clinical scores and a low revision rate. Full article

This paper considers a resource allocation problem involving servers and mobile users (MUs) operating in a serverless edge computing (SEC)-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) network. Each MU has a fixed budget, and each server is powered by the grid and has energy harvesting (EH) capability. Our objective is to maximize the revenue of the operator that operates the said servers and the number of resources purchased by the MUs. We propose a Stackelberg game approach, where servers and MUs act as leaders and followers, respectively. We prove the existence of a Stackelberg game equilibrium and develop an iterative algorithm to determine the final game equilibrium price. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme is efficient in terms of the SEC’s profit and MU’s demand. Moreover, both MUs and SECs gain benefits from renewable energy. Full article

Terraced historical landscapes have multiple functions in mountain land, limiting erosion, enabling agricultural production and constituting cultural heritage. Currently, they are largely abandoned in Mediterranean regions and facing the ongoing impacts of climate change. Our aim is to reconstruct the evolution of land use on the terraces in order to test the hypothesis of the resilience of these landscapes and their age in recent history (17th–21st century). To achieve this, we used various current and archive spatial datasets and GIS knowledge to detect and map terraces and the changes in land use. We tested this hypothesis in a territory impacted by a recent extreme event, facing the challenge of its reconstruction. Our main outcome showed that the optimal use of the terraces corresponded to the demographic optimum of the mid-19th century, and they were gradually abandoned after the Second World War, with significant differences between Mediterranean and mountain lands. Despite this evolution, the terraces persisted and withstood an extreme event, validating our resilience hypothesis and opening avenues for the revitalization of this territory based on this heritage. These findings are drawing perspectives for the future of terraced landscapes in Mediterranean mountains in the context of climate change. Full article

Climate change and human activities exert significant impact on the mechanism of runoff generation and confluence. Comprehending the reasons of runoff change is crucial for the sustainable development of water resources. Taking the Upper Shule River as the research area, the M-K test and the moving t test were used to diagnose the runoff mutation time. Furthermore, the slope changing ratio of cumulative quantity method (SCRCQ), climate elasticity method, and Budyko equation were utilized to quantitatively evaluate the impacts and contribution rates of climate change and human activities. The following results were obtained: (1) The Upper Shule River experienced a significant increase in runoff from 1972 to 2021, with 1998 marking the year of abrupt change. (2) The runoff sensitivity showed a downward trend from 1972 to 2021. The main factor affecting the decrease in runoff sensitivity was the characteristic parameters of underlying surface (n), followed by precipitation (P), while the influence of potential evapotranspiration (ET₀) was the weakest. (3) The response of runoff changes to runoff sensitivity and influencing factors were 90.32% and 9.68%, respectively. (4) The results of three attribution methods indicated that climate change was the primary factor causing the alteration of runoff in the Upper Shule River. The research results supplement the hydrological change mechanisms of the Upper Shule River and provide a scientific basis for future water resources management and flood control measures. Full article

This review offers a comprehensive exploration of the intricate immunological landscape of breast cancer (BC), focusing on recent advances in diagnosis and prognosis through the analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Positioned within the broader context of BC research, it underscores the pivotal role of the immune system in shaping the disease’s progression. The primary objective of this investigation is to synthesize current knowledge on the immunological aspects of BC, with a particular emphasis on the diagnostic and prognostic potential offered by CTCs. This review adopts a thorough examination of the relevant literature, incorporating recent breakthroughs in the field. The methodology section succinctly outlines the approach, with a specific focus on CTC analysis and its implications for BC diagnosis and prognosis. Through this review, insights into the dynamic interplay between the immune system and BC are highlighted, with a specific emphasis on the role of CTCs in advancing diagnostic methodologies and refining prognostic assessments. Furthermore, this review presents objective and substantiated results, contributing to a deeper understanding of the immunological complexity in BC. In conclusion, this investigation underscores the significance of exploring the immunological profile of BC patients, providing valuable insights into novel advances in diagnosis and prognosis through the utilization of CTCs. The objective presentation of findings emphasizes the crucial role of the immune system in BC dynamics, thereby opening avenues for enhanced clinical management strategies. Full article

Background: The levator ani muscle (LAM) is crucial for pelvic floor stability, yet its quantitative MRI assessment is only a recent focus. Our study aims to standardize the quantitative analysis of the LAM morphology within the 3D Pelvic Inclination Correction System (3D-PICS). Methods: We analyzed 35 static MR datasets from nulliparous women examining the pubovisceral (PVM), iliococcygeal (ICM), coccygeal (COC), and puborectal muscle (PRM). The PVM consists of three origin-insertion pairs, namely the puboanal (PAM), puboperineal (PPM) and pubovaginal muscle (PVaM). The analysis included a quantitative examination of the morphology of LAM, focusing on the median location (x/y/z) (x: anterior–posterior, y: superior–inferior, z: left–right) of the origin and insertion points (a), angles (b) and lengths (c) of LAM. Inter-rater reliability was calculated. Results: Interindividual variations in 3D coordinates among muscle subdivisions were shown. In all, 93% of all origin and insertion points were found within an SD of <8 mm. Angles to the xz-plane range between −15.4° (right PRM) and 40.7° (left PAM). The PRM is the largest pelvic muscle in static MRI. The ICC indicated moderate-to-good agreement between raters. Conclusions: The accurate morphometry of the LAM and its subdivisions, along with reliable inter-rater agreement, was demonstrated, enhancing the understanding of normal pelvic anatomy in young nulliparous women. Full article

Composting is a waste management practice that converts organic waste into a product that can be used safely and beneficially as a bio-fertiliser and soil amendment. Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) from composting are known to cause damage to human health and the environment. The impact of waste management on the environment and workers is recognised as a growing environmental and public health concern. Measurements of NMVOCs emitted during composting have been carried out only in a few studies. NMVOC emissions are typically reported as a group rather than as species or speciation profiles. Recognising the need to investigate the issues associated with NMVOCs, the objective of this study is to estimate variation in life cycle assessment (LCA) results when NMVOCs are considered individual emissions compared to grouped emissions and to compare midpoint and endpoint life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methods. In general, the ReCiPe 2016 LCIA method estimated the highest impact from the composting process in comparison to IMPACT World+ and EF 3.0 for the impact categories of ozone formation, stratospheric ozone depletion, and particulate matter formation. For ReCiPe 2016 and IMPACT World+, the NMVOC emissions were not linked to human toxicity characterisation factors, meaning that the contribution from NMVOC towards human health risks in and around composting facilities could be underestimated. Using individual NMVOCs helps to additionally estimate the impacts of composting on freshwater ecotoxicity and human carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic toxicity potential. If ecotoxicity or toxicity issues are indicated, then LCA should be accompanied by suitable risk assessment measures for the respective life cycle stage. Full article

Hydrogen is used as a fuel in various fields, such as aviation, space, and automobiles, due to its high specific energy. Hydrogen can be stored as a compressed gas at high pressure and as a liquid at cryogenic temperatures. In order to keep liquid hydrogen at a cryogenic temperature, the tanks for storing liquid hydrogen are required to have insulation to prevent heat leakage. When liquid hydrogen is vaporized by heat inflow, a large pressure is generated inside the tank. Therefore, a technology capable of predicting the tank pressure is required for cryogenic liquid hydrogen tanks. In this study, a thermodynamic model was developed to predict the maximum internal pressure and pressure behavior of cryogenic liquid hydrogen fuel tanks. The developed model considers the heat inflow of the tank due to heat transfer, the phase change from liquid to gas hydrogen, and the fuel consumption rate. To verify the accuracy of the proposed model, it was compared with the analyses and experimental results in the referenced literature, and the model presented good results. A cryogenic liquid hydrogen fuel tank was simulated using the proposed model, and it was confirmed that the storage time, along with conditions such as the fuel filling ratio of liquid hydrogen and the fuel consumption rate, should be considered when designing the fuel tanks. Finally, it was confirmed that the proposed thermodynamic model can be used to sufficiently predict the internal pressure and the pressure behavior of cryogenic liquid hydrogen fuel tanks. Full article

Spalling is a widespread dynamic disaster during blasting excavation in underground engineering. To clarify the coupled dynamic response and spalling behavior of an underground tunnel with a spray anchor, an investigation based on the rock–shotcrete combination was conducted using theoretical and numerical methods. The mathematical representation of stress wave propagation between rock and shotcrete was deduced based on the elastic stress wave theory. A novel method for predicting the location and time of initial spalling in a rock–shotcrete combination was proposed. A numerical simulation was conducted to verify the validity of the proposed theoretical method. In addition, the effect of the material’s tensile strength, the loading amplitude, and the thickness of shotcrete on the stress evolution and spalling characteristics was studied. The results demonstrate that the initial spalling locations are sensitive to the relationship between the normalized tensile strength of the rock, shotcrete, and interface. A high incident amplitude can cause the initial spalling in rock, and the shotcrete or rock–shotcrete interface can cause initial spalling due to a low incident amplitude. The stress evolution and spalling characteristics are sensitive to the thickness of shotcrete. The location of the initial spalling failure changes with the thickness of the shotcrete. An appropriate increment in thickness and normalized strength of the shotcrete is beneficial to the dynamic stability of underground engineering. Full article

Background: Supervised exercise interventions tend to be more effective than unsupervised exercises or physical activity advice alone. However, people with type 2 diabetes may find it difficult to attend supervised exercise interventions due to several obstacles. Tele-exercise, or utilizing technology to deliver home-based exercise, might be a solution. Objective: This scoping review aimed to explore clinical trials investigating the impact of tele-exercise interventions in individuals with type 2 diabetes Methods: Four electronic databases were searched for the period up to January 2024 for clinical trials investigating the impact of tele-exercise on health-related outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes. Results: Seven trials involving 460 individuals with type 2 diabetes met the inclusion criteria. In these trials, combined aerobic and resistance exercise programs were the main types delivered remotely. To deliver such programs, both synchronous (n = 4) and asynchronous (n = 3) delivery modes were adopted. Regardless of the delivery mode, all tele-exercise interventions led to improvements in various factors related to type 2 diabetes and its complications, including glycemic control, blood lipids, body composition, functional capacity, muscle strength, and quality of life. The improvements were also found to be as effective as those of supervised exercise. Conclusions: Tele-exercise interventions seem to be feasible and as effective as supervised exercise interventions in terms of improving glycemic control, blood lipids, functional capacity, muscle strength, body composition, and quality of life for people with type 2 diabetes. Full article