Technical losses in electrical grids are inherent inefficiencies induced by the transmission and distribution of electricity, resulting in energy losses that can reach up to 40% of the generated energy. These losses pose significant challenges to grid operators regarding energy sustainability, reliability, and economic viability. Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) offer promising solutions to lower technical losses by decentralizing energy generation and consumption, reducing the need for long-distance transmission and optimizing grid operation. Hence, estimating the impact of DERs on grid technical losses becomes paramount for grid operators and planners. In response, this article proposes the application of regression modeling and nonlinear curve fitting algorithms to provide a more nuanced understanding and better characterize the intricate interplay between DER deployment and technical losses. Through a comprehensive case study based on more than 1080 computer simulations, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed dynamic polynomial varying coefficient regression model in estimating the impact of DERs on technical losses within electrical grids. The proposed model offers a simple and effective methodology that allows grid operators to gain insights into the nonlinear dynamics of DER integration and make quicker and more informed decisions regarding grid management strategies, infrastructure investments, and policy interventions. Also, this research contributes to advancing the field of grid optimization by offering a simple equation that enhances our ability and haste to assess and mitigate technical losses in the context of an evolving energy landscape characterized by increasing DER adoption. Full article

Promoting the development of eco-industries plays a significant role in achieving the harmonious symbiosis between economic growth and environmental protection as well as enhancing the comprehensive effectiveness of ecological and economic benefits. Due to their unique nature, cooperatives may play a crucial role in facilitating the integration between farmers and the development of eco-industries. To investigate whether cooperatives possess the capacity to enhance the income-generating effects for farmers involved in eco-industries, this study selected the Crested Ibis National Nature Reserve (CINNR), a representative area for eco-industry development, as the research site. Data were gathered through face-to-face interviews, and this research empirically analyzed the impact of cooperatives on the income-generating effect of farmers using endogenous switching regression (ESR). The findings are threefold. First, cooperatives indeed enhance the income-generating effects for farmers engaged in eco-industries. Second, variables such as the distribution of agroforestry materials, premium capacity, soil quality, and status of village cadres have a positive impact on farmers joining cooperatives, whereas punishment initiatives discourage their participation. Third, for farmers who have joined cooperatives, factors such as the distribution of agroforestry materials, premium capacity, low-cost conservation initiatives, land area, status of village cadres, the proportion of labor force, technical training, soil quality, and land area positively affect their income from eco-industries. Conversely, punishment initiatives, age, and land location negatively impact their income. The results of this study provide new ideas for farmers to participate in the development of eco-industries, new evidence showing co-operatives can improve farmers’ income, and new directions for coordinating conflicts between conservation and development in protected areas. Full article

This paper introduces a refractive index sensor based on Fano resonance, utilizing a metal–insulator–metal (MIM) waveguide structure with an Anchor-like cavity. This study utilizes the finite element method (FEM) for analyzing the propagation characteristics of the structure. The evaluation concentrated on assessing how the refractive index and the structure’s geometric parameters affect its sensing characteristics. The designed structure demonstrates optimum performance, achieving a maximum sensitivity of 2440 nm/RIU and an FOM of 63. Given its high sensitivity, this nanoscale refractive index sensor is ideal for detecting hemoglobin concentrations in blood, and the sensor’s sensitivity is 0.6 nm·g/L, aiding in clinical prevention and treatment. Full article

With the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the real-time measurement and control technology of power systems has also progressed. This paper proposes a correction control model for L-indexes based on voltage stability constrained optimal power flow (VSC-OPF) and a broad learning system (BLS) (BLS-VSC-OPF). This model aims to quickly assess the system’s voltage stability and accurately correct the operation mode when the voltage stability indexes are out of the security range. Firstly, the BLS is used to predict the L-index and to analyze the voltage stability of the power system. Secondly, the approximate first-order sensitivity of the L-index is calculated by the combination of the BLS and the perturbation method. This method solves the problem of the complex sensitivity derivation process in the modeling process of the VSC-OPF model. Meanwhile, when the L-index exceeds the threshold, the BLS and VSC-OPF models are combined to correct this operation mode. The feasibility of the proposed method is verified by the simulation of IEEE-30, IEEE-118, and 1047 bus systems. Finally, the BLS-VSC-OPF model is compared with the linear programming correction model based on BLS (BLS-LPC). The results show that the BLS-VSC-OPF model provides a better correction and control performance. Full article

Background: The human phospholipase B-II precursor (HPLBII-P) was originally purified from white blood cells but is also found in other cellular structures, such as kidney glomeruli and tubuli. The objective of this report was to investigate the relationship of HPLBII-P in urine to acute kidney injury in patients with COVID-19. Methods: Urine was collected at admission from 132 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) because of respiratory failure. HPLBII-P was measured using a sensitive ELISA. For comparison, human neutrophil lipocalin (HNL) was measured in urine, using the ELISA configured with the monoclonal antibody 763/8F, as a sign of tubular affection in addition to routine biomarkers of kidney disease. Results: Overall, the concentrations of urinary HPLBII-P were almost 3-fold higher in patients with COVID-19 compared to healthy controls (p < 0.0001) and with significantly higher concentrations even in patients with COVID-19 without signs of acute kidney injury (AKI) (p < 0.001). HPLBII-P was further increased in patients with AKI (p < 0.02). HPLBII-P was significantly increased in patients with diabetes mellitus (p = 0.0008) and correlated to plasma glucose (r = 0.29, p = 0.001) and urine albumin concentrations (r = 0.55, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Urine concentrations of HPLBII-P are highly raised in the urine of patients with COVID-19 and relate to AKI and diabetes mellitus. HPLBII-P may reflect glomerular injury and/or increased glomerular cell activity in SARS-CoV-2 infections. Full article

As the burden of mild asthma is not well understood, the significance of expanding research in the group of patients with mild asthma is emphasized. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and interleukin 33 (IL-33) are involved in the pathogenesis of atopy and the immune response to inhaled environmental insults, such as allergens, in asthmatic patients. Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore the correlation between specific polymorphisms within the genes encoding TSLP and IL-33, as well as the concentrations of TSLP and IL-33 in the serum, and the occurrence of pediatric mild asthma. Methods: The analysis encompassed 52 pediatric patients diagnosed with mild bronchial asthma, including both atopic and non-atopic cases, and a control group of 26 non-asthmatic children. Recruitment was conducted through a comprehensive questionnaire. Parameters such as allergic sensitization, serum levels of circulating TSLP and IL-33, and the identification of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in TSLP (rs11466750 and rs2289277) and IL-33 (rs992969 and rs1888909) were assessed for all participants. Results: Significantly lower mean serum TSLP concentrations were observed in asthmatic subjects compared to the control group, with atopic asthma patients showing even lower TSLP levels than non-atopic counterparts. No significant differences were found in mean serum IL-33 concentrations between the two groups. Considering the allele model, for both tested SNPs of IL-33, we observed that patients with asthma, atopic asthma, and atopy statistically less frequently possess the risk allele. Conclusions: Our study findings suggest that IL-33 and TSLP do not serve as ideal biomarkers for mild asthma in children. Their effectiveness as biomarkers might be more relevant for assessing disease severity rather than identifying asthma in pediatric patients. Further research focusing on the association between TSLP and IL-33 gene polymorphisms and asthma is expected to significantly advance disease management. Full article

Varietal volatile compounds are characteristic of each variety of grapes and come from the skins of the grapes. This work focuses on the development of a methodology for the analysis of free compounds in grapes from Trincadeira, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Castelão and Tinta Barroca from the 2021 and 2022 harvests, using HS-SPME-GC × GC-TOFMS. To achieve this purpose, a previous optimization step of sample preparation was implemented, with the optimized conditions being 4 g of grapes, 2 g of NaCl, and 2 mL of H₂O. The extraction conditions were also optimized, and it was observed that performing the extraction for 40 min at 60 °C was the best for identifying more varietal compounds. The fiber used was a triple fiber of carboxen/divinylbenzene/polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/DVB/PDMS). In addition to the sample preparation, the analytical conditions were also optimized, enabling the adequate separation of analytes. Using the optimized methodology, it was possible to identify fifty-two free volatile compounds, including seventeen monoterpenes, twenty-eight sesquiterpenes, and seven C₁₃-norisoprenoids. It was observed that in 2021, more free varietal volatile compounds were identifiable compared to 2022. According to the results obtained through a linear discriminant analysis (LDA), the differences in volatile varietal signature are observed both among different grape varieties and across different years. Full article

The shear performance of the binary interface formed by mortar and rock cementation is a key factor influencing the stability and safety of basic engineering projects related to livelihood and economy since concrete has become one of the most widely used materials in engineering. Therefore, it is an urgent practical problem to further explore and clarify the shear failure mechanism of the mortar–rock binary interface. In response to the current research objective focused on fully bonded interfaces, this paper constructed binary interface models with different bonded conditions to perform direct shear experiments using numerical simulation methods, and the effect of bonded conditions on the shear behavior of the mortar–rock binary interface was analyzed. The results indicate that the bonded conditions have a significant influence on the shear mechanical behavior of the mortar–rock binary interface, which is mainly reflected in the stress-displacement curve characteristics, the shear strength, the fracture development and the stress distribution state. The research findings are of great theoretical significance for the further study of shear mechanics at the mortar–rock binary interface and of great practical significance for safe construction, resource conservation and disaster warning. Full article

Small bowel tumors are relatively rare, representing only around 5% of all gastrointestinal neoplasms, with a progressively increasing incidence. Currently, there are no established guidelines for diagnostic approaches, screening procedures, or management strategies for small bowel tumors. We present here the case of a patient with a rare type of metastatic tumor of the small bowel originating from primary lung adenocarcinoma who presented with abdominal pain, severe iron-deficiency anemia, and melena. The initial investigations, gastroscopy and colonoscopy, failed to identify the bleeding source. The obscure bleeding source and diagnosis were achieved through power motorized spiral enteroscopy (MSE), which allowed the visualization and biopsy of the tumor. Histopathological examination established the presence of a poorly differentiated non-mucinous adenocarcinoma originating from the lung. This case is reported to provide evidence of the efficiency of MSE in the diagnosis of small bowel tumors, with the method providing higher insertion depth in a reduced amount of time. Full article

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become increasingly popular in the civil field, and building inspection is one of the most promising applications. In a rural area, the UAVs are assigned to inspect the surface of buildings, and an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) is introduced to carry the UAVs to reach the rural area and also serve as a charging station. In this paper, the mission planning problem for UAVs and UGV systems is focused on, and the goal is to realize an efficient inspection of buildings in a specific rural area. Firstly, the mission planning problem (MPP) involving UGVs and UAVs is described, and an optimization model is established with the objective of minimizing the total UAV operation time, fully considering the impact of UAV operation time and its cruising capability. Subsequently, the locations of parking points are determined based on the information about task points. Finally, a hybrid ant colony optimization-genetic algorithm (ACO-GA) is designed to solve the problem. The update mechanism of ACO is incorporated into the selection operation of GA. At the same time, the GA is improved and the defects that make GA easy to fall into local optimal and ACO have insufficient searching ability are solved. Simulation results demonstrate that the ACO-GA algorithm can obtain reasonable solutions for MPP, and the search capability of the algorithm is enhanced, presenting significant advantages over the original GA and ACO. Full article

Speech mixed with noise and speech that is of an unfamiliar variety both make the task of understanding more difficult. Children are often more negatively affected by these situations than adults. Numerous studies have examined the cognitive and linguistic skills that support spoken language processing. In the current study, we examine the contribution of linguistic exposure and various cognitive and linguistic skills for spoken word recognition of an unfamiliar variety of speech (German-accented English). The Ease of Language Understanding model predicts that working memory skills are needed in the most difficult listening situations. Two groups of school-age children were drawn from a larger sample: those with exposure to multiple languages in the home and those exposed to only English in the home. As predicted, working memory skills predicted performance for children with less varied linguistic experience (those only exposed to English in the home), but not for children with varied linguistic exposure. In contrast, linguistic skills predicted performance for children with more varied linguistic experience, even though the two groups did not differ overall in any of the assessed skills. These findings support the Ease of Language Understanding model of language processing. Full article

(1) Introduction and Aim: Surgical navigation has evolved as a vital tool in maxillofacial surgery, offering precise and patient-specific data. This study explores the clinical applications and accuracy of intraoperative tool tracking in maxillofacial surgery. (2) Materials and Methods: The research includes 42 patients with various pathologies who underwent surgeries assisted by a surgical navigation system using tracked instruments. Four representative cases are exhibited in the study: the first case involving coronoid hyperplasia with mouth opening deficit, the second case addressing naso-orbital-ethmoidal-frontal ossifying fibroma resection, the third case showcasing a subapical osteotomy (Köle) for a class III dentoskeletal malocclusion, and the fourth one exposing the treatment of a recurrent ameloblastoma. (3) Results: The results indicate that surgical navigation with tracked instruments provides high precision (<1.5 mm error), reduced surgical time, and a less invasive approach. (4) Conclusions: This study highlights the potential for reproducible outcomes and increased safety, especially in complex cases. Despite some limitations, the synergy between surgical navigation and tracked instruments offers a promising approach in maxillofacial surgery, expanding its applications beyond current practices. Full article

Phthalates and bisphenol A are recognized as the predominant endocrine-disrupting substances (EDCs) in the environment, but their impact on sleep health remains unclear. Vitamin D has often been reported to play a role in sleep health and may be affected by endocrine-disrupting compounds. The study utilized data from 5476 individuals in the NHANES project to investigate the correlation between combined exposure to environmental EDCs and sleep duration through modeling various exposures. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of vitamin D in the present scenario. Preliminary analyses suggested that vitamin D-deficient individuals generally slept shorter than individuals with normal vitamin D (p < 0.05). Exposure to Mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP), triclosan (TRS), and Mono-benzyl phthalate (MZP), either alone or in combination, was associated with reduced sleep duration and a greater risk of vitamin D deficiency. Individuals with low vitamin D levels exposed to TRS experienced shorter sleep duration than those with normal vitamin D levels (p < 0.05). TRS and MZP were identified as crucial factors in patient outcomes when evaluating mixed exposures (p < 0.05). The results provide new data supporting a link between exposure to EDCs and insufficient sleep length. Additionally, they imply that a vitamin D shortage may worsen the sleep problems induced by EDCs. Full article

Manganese molybdate has garnered considerable interest in supercapacitor research owing to its outstanding electrochemical properties and nanostructural stability but still suffers from the common problems of transition metal oxides not being able to reach the theoretical specific capacitance and lower electrical conductivity. Doping phosphorus elements is an effective approach to further enhance the electrochemical characteristics of transition metal oxides. In this study, MnMoO₄·H₂O nanosheets were synthesized on nickel foam via a hydrothermal route, and the MnMoO₄·H₂O nanosheet structure was successfully doped with a phosphorus element using a gas–solid reaction method. Phosphorus element doping forms phosphorus–metal bonds and oxygen vacancies, thereby increasing the charge storage and conductivity of the electrode material. The specific capacitance value is as high as 2.112 F cm⁻² (1760 F g⁻¹) at 1 mA cm⁻², which is 3.2 times higher than that of the MnMoO₄·H₂O electrode (0.657 F cm⁻²). The P–MnMoO₄//AC ASC device provides a high energy density of 41.9 Wh kg⁻¹ at 666.8 W kg⁻¹, with an 84.5% capacity retention after 10,000 charge/discharge cycles. The outstanding performance suggests that P–MnMoO₄ holds promise as an electrode material for supercapacitors. Full article

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest malignancies, characterized by late-stage diagnosis and limited treatment options. Comprehensive genomic profiling plays an important role in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the disease and identifying potential therapeutic targets. Cell blocks (CBs), derived from EUS-FNA, have become valuable resources for diagnosis and genomic analysis. We examine the molecular profile of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) using specimens obtained from CB EUS-FNA, across a large gene panel, within the framework of next-generation sequencing (NGS). Our findings revealed that over half (55%) of PDAC CB cases provided adequate nucleic acid for next-generation sequencing, with tumor cell percentages averaging above 30%. Despite challenges such as low DNA quantification and degraded DNA, sequencing reads showed satisfactory quality control statistics, demonstrating the detection of genomic alterations. Most cases (84.6%) harbored at least one gene variant, including clinically significant gene mutation variants such as KRAS, TP53, and CDKN2A. Even at minimal concentrations, as long as the extracted DNA is of high quality, performing comprehensive molecular profiling on PDAC samples from cell blocks has remained feasible. This strategy has yielded valuable information about the diagnosis, genetic landscape, and potential therapeutic targets, aligning closely with a precision cytopathology approach. Full article

The spectrum of disorders/phenomena encompassed in the practice of rheumatology is quite broad. In addition, our expertise is typically sought whenever other physicians encounter phenomena outside their knowledge base. While skin alterations typically prompt referrals to dermatology practices, alterations underlying the skin (e.g., subcutaneous) may well represent localization in “no man’s land” or an orphaned localization, with rheumatology thus referred as to the specialty of last resort—one of the roles that rheumatology has fulfilled for more than half a century. The current review addresses the cacophony of disorders producing or associated with variouslysized subcutaneous nodules. Their classifications, while necessarily artificial, encompass the full spectrum of pathologic processes. They are delineated in the current style to facilitate the consideration required to distinguish among them and to facilitate recognize the underlying processes for which we as rheumatologists are renowned. Full article

Online monitoring and real-time feedback on inclusions in molten metal are essential for metal quality control. However, existing methods for detecting aluminum melt inclusions face challenges, including interference, prolonged processing times, and latency. This paper presents the design and development of an online monitoring system for molten metal inclusions. Initially, the system facilitates real-time adjustment of signal acquisition parameters through a multiplexer. Subsequently, it employs a detection algorithm capable of swiftly extracting pulse peaks, with this task integrated into our proprietary host computer software to ensure timely detection and data visualization. Ultimately, we developed a monitoring device integrated with this online monitoring system, enabling the online monitoring of the aluminum alloy filtration process. Our findings indicate that the system can accurately measure the size and concentration of inclusions during the filtration process in real time, offering enhanced detection speed and stability compared to the industrial LiMCA CM (liquid metal cleanliness analyzer continuous monitoring) standard. Furthermore, our evaluation of the filtration process demonstrates that the effectiveness of filtration significantly improves with the increase in inclusion sizes, and the synergistic effect of combining CFF (ceramic foam filter) and MCF (metallics cartridge filter) filtration methods exceeds the performance of the CFF method alone. This system thus provides valuable technical support for optimizing filtration processes and controlling inclusion quality. Full article

In this research, the adaptive event-triggered neural network controller design problem is investigated for a class of state-constrained pure-feedback fractional-order nonlinear systems (FONSs) with external disturbances, unknown actuator saturation, and input delay. An auxiliary compensation function based on the integral function of the input signal is presented to handle input delay. The barrier Lyapunov function (BLF) is utilized to deal with state constraints, and the event-triggered strategy is applied to overcome the communication burden from the limited communication resources. By the utilization of a backstepping scheme and radial basis function neural network, an adaptive event-triggered neural state-feedback stabilization controller is constructed, in which the fractional-order dynamic surface filters are employed to reduce the computational burden from the recursive procedure. It is proven that with the fractional-order Lyapunov analysis, all the solutions of the closed-loop system are bounded, and the tracking error can converge to a small interval around the zero, while the state constraint is satisfied and the Zeno behavior can be strictly ruled out. Two examples are finally given to show the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy. Full article

Bioaerosols and pathogens in indoor workplaces and residential environments are the primary culprits of several infections. Techniques for sanitizing air and surfaces typically involve the use of UV rays or chemical sanitizers, which may release chemical residues harmful to human health. Essential oils, natural substances derived from plants, which exhibit broad antimicrobial properties, could be a viable alternative for air and surface sanitation. The objective of this study has been to investigate the efficacy of thyme essential oil (TEO) in environmental sanitation processes. In Vitro assays through agar well diffusion, disk volatilization and tube dilution methods revealed significant antimicrobial activity of TEO 100% against foodborne and environmental isolates, with both bacteriostatic/fungistatic and bactericidal/fungicidal effects. Therefore, aqueous solutions of TEO 2.5% and 5% were formulated for air sanitation through nebulization and surface disinfection via direct contact. Bioaerosol samples and surface swabs were analyzed before and after sanitation, demonstrating the efficacy of aqueous solutions of TEO in reducing mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria and environmental fungi levels in both air and on surfaces. The obtained results prove the antimicrobial potential of aqueous solutions of TEO in improving indoor air quality and surface cleanliness, suggesting thyme essential oil as an effective and safe natural sanitizer with minimal environmental impact compared to dangerous chemical disinfectants. Full article

Entanglement in commercial fishing gear is one of the main factors inhibiting the recovery of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. Installing low-breaking-strength (LBS) components in the buoy lines and main lines of stationary fishing gear may be a viable solution for some fisheries. But is it an effective solution for deep-water trap fisheries? This study quantified in-line rope tensions observed during fishing operations for snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. We conducted a controlled fishing experiment in which we documented the loads experienced while hauling fleets of traps. The results showed that several factors contributed to the loads observed, including the components of the traps, the presence of crabs, and environmental conditions such as wind direction and wave height. According to the statistical models, the maximum tension from the estimated marginal means was 477.53 kgf in the buoy line and 987.99 kgf in the main line for the baited hauls, which exceeds the safe working load (154 kgf) of the proposed low-breaking-strength components. Our results suggest that LBS components are not a viable solution for this deep-water fishery. Full article

The greater yam (Dioscorea alata), a widely cultivated and nutritious food crop, suffers from widespread yield reduction due to anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Latent infection often occurs before anthracnose phenotypes can be detected, making early prevention difficult and causing significant harm to agricultural production. Through comparative genomic analysis of 60 genomes of 38 species from the Colletotrichum genus, this study identified 17 orthologous gene groups (orthogroups) that were shared by all investigated C. gloeosporioides strains but absent from all other Colletotrichum species. Four of the 17 C. gloeosporioides-specific orthogroups were used as molecular markers for PCR primer designation and C. gloeosporioides detection. All of them can specifically detect C. gloeosporioides out of microbes within and beyond the Colletotrichum genus with different sensitivities. To establish a rapid, portable, and operable anthracnose diagnostic method suitable for field use, specific recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) primer probe combinations were designed, and a lateral flow (LF)-RPA detection kit for C. gloeosporioides was developed, with the sensitivity reaching the picogram (pg) level. In conclusion, this study identified C. gloeosporioides-specific molecular markers and developed an efficient method for C. gloeosporioides detection, which can be applied to the prevention and control of yam anthracnose as well as anthracnose caused by C. gloeosporioides in other crops. The strategy adopted by this study also serves as a reference for the identification of molecular markers and diagnosis of other plant pathogens. Full article