The powertrain configuration can significantly impact on the efficiency of the Fuel Cell Hybrid Electrical Vehicle (FCHEV), but most of the previous research pay more attention to the control strategy than the powertrain structure. In this study, a novel configuration of FCHEV which integrating dual Fuel Cell Stack (FCS) system and a Super Capacitor (SC) is proposed, then an optimal control strategy based on the fuzzy control is introduced to distribute the power requirement among the energy sources. Further the power distribution to the FCS is redistributed between the two FCSs through an minimum efficiency-based control strategy, which can extend the high efficiency region compared with only one FCS which leads to save hydrogen consumption. The proposed control strategy can distribute the lower frequency part of the power requirement to the fuel stack system and reduce the fluctuation of power supply, which leads to extend the life span of the fuel stack system. Through Advisor-Simulink and test bench experiment results, the proposed control strategy can effectively reduce the output power fluctuation of the FCSs within the range of 200 w/s, and save at least 6% the hydrogen consumption compared with the system with only one FCS.

Species interactions are fundamental to ecological and evolutionary processes, shaping ecosystem dynamics and driving biodiversity. Among those, interactions between Diptera flies and amphibians are common in tropical areas, yet most aspects of their ecology and evolution are understudied. We systematically review the literature to examine the costs imposed by Diptera on amphibians and how these interactions have shaped the diverse strategies flies employ when interacting with these hosts. As flies can impose high costs on amphibians, we examine the array of defensive mechanisms they deploy against dipteran attacks, shedding light on the evolutionary arms race between them. We delve, for instance, into the eavesdropping behavior of some Diptera species, which use anuran calls as cues for host-seeking, and its potential impacts on frog communication systems. As flies can be disease vectors, we investigate pathogen transmission to amphibians as an indirect cost imposed by flies attacking them and examine the role of these interactions in disease dynamics. Finally, we address how human activities are currently impacting the long-established Diptera-amphibian interactions. We focus on potential disruptions caused by habitat alteration, the presence of invasive species, and climate change. By synthesizing existing knowledge of the costs imposed by flies on amphibians, we shed light on these groups of growing conservation concern given their current escalating extinction rates. Ultimately, our findings provide valuable insights into the intricacies of species interactions and underscore the urgent need for comprehensive studies mitigating the adverse effects of anthropogenic disturbances on these clades.

This study utilizes integrated innovative approaches in machine learning modeling to analyze the Earth’s surface and examine urban expansion resulting from human activity, focusing on land use/land cover (LULC) changes in the Mashhad Metropolitan Area (MMA) from 1990 to 2020, with predictions for 2030. Advanced algorithms, including support vector machines (SVMs), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) neural network, and Markov chains, were employed in the analysis. The results indicate that from 1990 to 2010, built-up areas increased by 51.70%, green spaces by 26.40%, while sand-covered areas decreased by 36.49%. From 2010 to 2020, the growth rate for built-up areas and green spaces slowed, with built-up areas growing by 13.27% and green spaces by 12.29%. The findings project a 15.59% increase in built-up areas and a 6.44% decrease in green spaces by 2030. Model validation was conducted using the Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.767 and Kappa coefficient of 0.7589, indicating strong model validity. Furthermore, this research identifies critical factors influencing LULC changes, revealing that the distance from green spaces and proximity to built-up areas are the most significant determinants. By addressing a significant gap in understanding the impact of human activities on urban dynamics and their ecological implications in developing regions such as the MMA, this study contributes meaningfully to urban planning.

This article develops a duality principle applicable to originally non-convex primal variational formulations. More specifically, as a first application through a D.C. approach, we establish a convex dual variational formulation for a non-linear Kirchhoff-Love plate model. The results are obtained through basic tools of functional analysis, calculus of variations, duality and optimization theory in infinite dimensional spaces. We emphasize such a convex dual formulation obtained may be applied to a large class of similar models in the calculus of variations.

THE MISSING BELL: ABSENT UVULA, AN INCIDENTAL AND ISOLATED FINDINGPRITI DHIR1*, PUSHKAR DHIR21Department of Anaesthesia, Dhir Hospital and Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, India2Department of Ophthalmology, Dhir Hospital and Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, India*Corresponding Author : Priti Dhir, Consultant Anaesthesia, Department Of Anaesthesia, Dhir Hospital And Post Graduate Institute Of Ophthalmology, Bhiwani, Haryana, India 127021 Tel : 8168133996 ; Email : doc4priti@gmail.comKey Clinical message : The absence of the uvula is very rare in the general population. The cause must be figured out as it may be associated with other genetic abnormalities pre-disposing the patient to potential difficult airway. It also leads to significant ambiguity in airway assessment using modified Mallampati (MMP) classification, so thorough airway and systemic examination is must beforehand.

A document by Vivek Karn. Click on the document to view its contents.

In comparison to traditional underwater robots, underwater snake-shaped imitation robots capitalize on the advantages afforded by their deformable bodies. By accurately adapting the hull morphology to the designated operational trajectories, these robots are better equipped for tasks in confined underwater environments. This paper explores the methodologies for shape body and path fitting planning for underwater snake-shaped imitation robots through the lens of spatial geometric analysis. By conducting a geometric analysis of the center of mass and joint positions of each segment, the hull configuration is aligned with the preset path. The inverse solution of Rodrigues' formula is employed to compute the real-time joint angles. Furthermore, a relationship between the eight thrusters and the robot's six-dimensional force wrench is established utilizing the adjoint transformation based on homogeneous transformations. An optimization algorithm is investigated to facilitate real-time thrust distribution. Ultimately, simulation tests validate the efficacy of the proposed methodology.

Nuclease 1 (NUC1) is a highly conserved non-specific endonuclease present in vertebrates, fungi, and a few plant species. While the involvement of yeast NUC1p in apoptotic cell death independent of metacaspase or apoptosis-inducing factors is documented, its function in other fungi, particularly pathogenic ones, remains elusive. In this study, we identified and characterized the homolog of yeast NUC1p, termed PstNUC1, in Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici ( Pst), the causal agent of wheat stripe rust. PstNUC1 was induced during infection and was secreted to the extracellular space of the host. Silencing of PstNUC1 significantly attenuated the virulence of Pst, suggesting its critical role in pathogenicity. Exogenous treatment of PstNUC1 diminished the extracellular DNA (exDNA)-triggered plant immune response, including cell death, oxygen peroxide production, and upregulation of Pathogenesis-related genes. Notebaly, overexpression of wild-type PstNUC1, but not a signal peptide-deficient mutant (PstNUC1 ΔSP), in wheat compromised exDNA-triggered immunity, resulting in enhanced susceptibility to Pst infection. These finding collectively highlight the contribution of PstNUC1 to virulence through degradation of exDNA, thereby dampening the exDNA-induced plant immune response.

A document by Azin alizadehasl. Click on the document to view its contents.

Motor adaptation is crucial for animals navigating diverse environments, and we don’t understand how this process works in fish especially when compared to mammals. This prevents a comprehensive view of adaptive motor control across vertebrates. Here we show that goldfish operating a Fish Operated Vehicle (FOV) adapt swimming behavior to achieve targets when vehicle movement is perturbed by a rotational transformation. Goldfish gradually adjusted their swimming patterns to compensate for the perturbation and had aftereffects when the perturbation was removed. Fish showed improved performance when the perturbation was re-introduced, although their initial learning rate in the second exposure was slower compared to the first exposure. These findings reveal that while goldfish can adapt to novel dynamics, their adaptation mechanisms may differ from those of mammals. This study broadens our understanding of motor adaptation across species, contributing to a more comprehensive view of motor learning in vertebrates.

Water is essential for human development and is an indispensable resource for any economic activity and country’s development. However, current water practices, increasing land-use change, climate change, and agriculture practices have significantly altered the hydrological cycle and water availability. This study defines the concept of a resilient flow regime—a flow regime that absorbs some perturbation by human alterations but still preserves ecologically beneficial characteristics associated with the natural flow regime—and its implications for sustainable water management. Using the Rio Grande/Bravo (RGB) basin as a case study, the research evaluates the similarities and differences between natural, resilient, and regulated flow regimes. The RGB, a transboundary basin shared by the U.S. and Mexico, faces significant water resource challenges due to extensive infrastructure development, water overuse, and climate variability. The study identifies three natural streamflow classes in the RGB—snowmelt-driven, Monsoon-driven, and Bimodal—and evaluates functional flow metrics across 16 gage stations. Results indicate strong correlations between natural and resilient flow metrics, particularly for magnitude components, whereas regulated flows show greater differences from natural conditions. Statistical analyses show that resilient flow regimes maintain ecological functionality and hydrological integrity, balancing human water needs and ecosystem health. By maintaining or restoring resilient flow conditions, water management strategies can mitigate adverse impacts of human activities, preserve biodiversity, and enhance the long-term sustainability of riparian ecosystems. This research provides a framework for integrating ecological considerations into water management practices, addressing the challenges of climate change, population growth, and increasing water demands.

Localizing touch on the skin requires integration of multiple spatial signals, including reference landmarks and motion cues. It is well known that motion patterns can bias the perceived endpoint of motion. However, it is unknown whether static touch presented post-motion is also distorted. To investigate this, we presented space-changing motion patterns and tested position perception 1 s and 10 s post motion. We used a brush moving along the forearm at 15 cm s-1, brushing 4.5 cm skin patches near the elbow and near the wrist, skipping a 10-cm long metal-shielded patch in the middle (‘numb spot’). It accelerated to 100 cm s-1 across the shielded gap in an attempt to create an illusion of continuous motion between the separate brushed areas. After several such deceptive motions, 12 participants indicated the locations touched by a von Frey filament near the elbow and wrist, all within the previously brushed areas. Localization responses shifted 4 – 10 mm toward the numb spot in the skipped-patch condition compared to controls with either continuous brushing across the full forearm, or brushing the same patches without acceleration. This spatial distortion was equally strong 1 s and 10 s after motion offset with only isolated location-specific differences between delays. In addition, participants’ sketches indicated a reduction in perceived gap size. We propose that participants used the brushed fields as reference frame for localisation, with the high-velocity motion compressing the perceived space between them. This means that motion-defined boundaries can serve as spatial landmarks for static touch.

Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency divi sion multiplexing (OFDM) integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) system typically utilizes equidistant subcarrier interleaving (ESI) scheme, to achieve orthogonality over frequency domain. How ever, it suffers from a reduced unambiguous distance and distance dependent angle error. To address these issues, we propose a hybrid range- and Doppler-division multiplexing (RDM-DDM) scheme for MIMO-OFDM ISAC system to achieve orthogonality over distance and velocity domains. The range-Doppler-angle processing is performed using discrete Fourier transforms (DFTs). Our proposed scheme offers a trade-off between unambiguous distance and velocity by adjusting the hybrid ratio. Additionally, it can expand the scale of the virtual array and eliminate the distance-dependent angle error, thereby improving angle resolution. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is inspected through simulations.

Purpose Anastomotic leakage was not rarely seen after low anterior resection, some cases went through a repeat operation while some not, the risk factors associated with second operation caused by anastomotic leakage remains elusive. The aim of this study is to identify the risk factors associated with repeat operation in patients with anastomotic leakage after low anterior resection. Methods Patients diagnosed with rectal cancer (less than 10cm apart from anus) and received low anterior resection in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center between January 2018 and July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed to investigate the relationship between anastomotic leakage and repeat operation. Results 1661 patients enrolled in this study. Patients with protective ileum stoma showed less probability to present with grade C anastomotic leakage ( P＜0.001), while patients received neoadjuvant therapy were more likely to occur anastomotic leakage( P=0.012). 52 patients occurred anastomotic leakage in total, 16 of them experienced a repeat operation, pelvic peritoneal reconstruction and protective ileum stoma were two protective factors in regard to repeat operation( P＜0.001 and P=0.012 respectively). Conclusion Pelvic peritoneal reconstruction is a feasible way to avoid protective stoma and repeat operation caused by anastomotic leakage, but it may not suitable for all potential grade C anastomotic leakage patients to avoid protective ileum stoma and repeat operation. Further studies were needed to define eligible patients for applying pelvic peritoneal reconstruction to avoid protective ileum stoma and repeat operation caused by potential grade C anastomotic leakage.

Cervical cancer remains a significant public health challenge in South Africa, driven by high rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Since 2014, the country has implemented a school-based HPV vaccination programme, initially using a two-dose schedule targeting girls aged 9 to 14 years. However, this approach has faced challenges, including vaccine hesitancy, logistical hurdles, and coverage disparities. In 2024, South Africa adopted the World Health Organization’s recommendation to transition to a single-dose HPV vaccine schedule, a significant shift aimed at increasing vaccine uptake and reducing cervical cancer incidence. This review explores the challenges and opportunities presented by this transition, focusing on its implications for vaccine coverage, logistical efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. It also examines barriers such as vaccine hesitancy, infrastructure limitations, and the high prevalence of HIV, which necessitates tailored approaches for specific populations. The paper highlights the potential benefits of the single-dose strategy, including streamlined implementation, reduced dropout rates, and broader vaccine accessibility, particularly in underserved areas.

Background: Aseptic loosening from endoprosthetic reconstructions following bone tumour resection is a major issue, especially in the revision/multiple revisions settings. The objective is to present long-term outcomes of revision limb-salvage surgery using a custom hydroxyapatite-coated stem collar with an extracortical plate at the bone-implant junction specifically designed to prevent aseptic loosening. Methods: Fifteen patients with an initial extremity bone tumour resection and reconstruction who underwent revision surgery utilizing this implant specification between 2004 and 2016 were included. Multiple prior surgeries and short-segment stem fixation (<100mm) were observed in six and nine patients, respectively. Outcomes of interest were rates of aseptic loosening and radiographic evidence of osseointegration along with clinical and functional outcomes. Results: At mean 12 years follow-up (range 6.5 to 18), no patient had evidence of radiographic or clinical aseptic loosening. The distal femur location (p=0.044), endoprosthetic reconstruction as index procedure (p=0.026), mechanical failure as reason for revision (p=0.0047), and additional fixation to the extracortical plate (p=0.041) were associated with higher bone ingrowth scores. All but two patients, who had mild pain only, were pain-free. Joint range of motion (p<0.0001) and limb-length discrepancy (p=0.021) significantly improved. The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score was 26.1 (excellent). Conclusions: This custom implant specification provides an excellent option against aseptic loosening, particularly for revisions/multiple revisions and short-segment fixation while providing excellent clinical and functional outcomes.

Objective: To determine the risk of recurrent small for gestational age (SGA) at term and its associated risk factors using a large national database. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Nationwide (Republic of Korea). Population: Women with two consecutive singleton live births delivered at term (≥37 weeks of gestation) between 2017 and 2021. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from the Korea National Health Insurance claims database. Clinical risk factors were compared between women with recurrent SGA birth and non-recurrent SGA birth. Main outcome and measures: Clinical risk factors for recurrent SGA at term. Results: (1) Of a total of 40,317 women, 15.3% had SGA neonates in the first pregnancy, and 22.6% had another SGA in the subsequent pregnancy; (2) women with recurrent SGA had a higher prevalence of underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m 2), short stature (<160 cm), and anemia (Hb <12 g/dL); (3) logistic regression analysis showed that SGA in the first pregnancy was the strongest predictor of recurrence (adjusted OR [aOR] 1.9, 95% CI 1.7–2.1), followed by pre-pregnancy underweight (aOR 1.5, 95% CI 1.4–1.7), short stature (aOR 1.4, 95% CI 1.3–1.5), and anemia (aOR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0–1.3). Conclusion: SGA often recurs in subsequent pregnancies. Maternal factors such as underweight status, short stature, and anemia, are associated with recurrence at term. This suggests that recurrence at term is often due to constitutional smallness or suboptimal pre-pregnancy nutrition. Since nutrition is modifiable, preconception care plays a critical role in prevention. Key words Anemia, big data, body mass index, fetal growth restriction, preconception, risk factors, short stature, undernutrition.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a prevalent condition linked to IgE-mediated immune responses. T follicular helper (TFH) cells, particularly the TFH2 subset, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of AR due to their role in promoting IgE production. However, the number, functional gene expression, and differences among the three TFH subsets in AR patients remain unclear. Methods: This study recruited six AR patients and three healthy controls. Flow cytometry and single-cell sequencing were used to identify and analyze subsets of TFH cells. TFH1, TFH2, and TFH17 subsets were identified based on CXCR3 and CXCR6 expression. Functional gene expression in TFH subsets of AR patients and healthy controls was analyzed to explore differences in immune responses. Results: AR patients exhibited a significant increase in circulating TFH2 cells compared to healthy controls, correlating with disease severity. Additionally, precursor memory TFH cells were higher in AR patients. However, no significant differences were found in the expression of functional membrane molecules on TFH cells between the two groups.. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed nine TFH clusters with differential expression of functional genes, including a GZMK + TFH subset. The increased proportion of TFH1 and TFH2 subsets in AR compared to controls suggests their significant involvement in the pathogenesis of AR. Conclusions: Our study reveals increased TFH2 cells and differential TFH subset distributions in AR patients, especially the discovery of the GZMK + TFH subset, providing insights into TFH-mediated mechanisms in AR. These findings suggest potential therapeutic targets for AR treatment.

An understanding of how terrestrial mammalian predators use their environment is critical for the development of effective management and monitoring. Mammalian predators often use anthropogenic linear features—such as roads, fencelines, and infrastructure corridors—to increase movement efficiency and prey encounter rates. However, there has been little investigation into how predators use more subtle linear features such as game trails (i.e., well-trodden paths created by megaherbivores). This is despite native and/or exotic megaherbivores being abundant across many of Earth’s most intact landscapes and conservation areas. We investigated how the two largest terrestrial mammalian predators in northern Australian savannas—the dingo (Canis familiaris, introduced ca. 4000 years ago) and cat (Felis catus, introduced ca. 200 years ago)—use game trails created by exotic megaherbivores (Asian water buffalo Bubalus bubalis and horse Equus caballus). We deployed two camera traps at 52 sites, with one camera positioned on a game trail and another in undisturbed vegetation <60 m away. We compared the activity of predators on game trails to adjacent undisturbed vegetation and explored how trail-use varied with vegetation structure and prey activity. Dingoes and cats were 34 times, and 6 times more likely to be detected on game trails than in adjacent vegetation, respectively, suggesting these predators preferentially use game trails. We propose that the extensive network of game trails created by exotic megaherbivores across northern Australia’s vast savannas has facilitated terrestrial mammalian predator movement at very large scales. Controlling exotic megaherbivores may, therefore, provide a means of disrupting the activity of dingoes and cats, thereby benefiting predation-susceptible native species. However, further research is needed to understand the ecological implications of game trails in Australian savannas and other habitat types.

The improvement in the rotation rate of thermally-induced isomerization is an essential feature for improve the operational efficiency of light-driven molecular motor. In this paper, we investigate the Z-to-E photoinduced nonadiabatic molecular motor possessing lower thermal isomerization barrier by up to 25 kJ mol -1 developed by Wang et al. It further improved the thermal isomerization performance of overcrowded alkenes by reducing the sizes of the rotator and stator hales of some specific larger system and fastest available molecular motor. In this paper, we systematically investigate the photo-induced isomerization mechanism of a synthetic molecular motor based on overcrowded alkene molecular compound using trajectory surface hopping dynamics method at a semiempirical OM2/MRCI. Research indicates that the calculated quantum yield of the E-to-Z photoisomerization of this molecular rotary motor is about 13.09%, and the average lifetime of the excited state is 1230 fs. Additionally, the time-dependent fluorescence radiation spectrum is calculated and the fluorescence emission quenching accom­panied by red shift of wavelength is observed, and the presence of a “dark state” during the decay process is thus proposed.

Current Situation of Older Adults in Rural Bangladesh: Evidence from YPSA ageing survey 2023-2024 hafiz.khan@uwl.ac.uk, and hafiz.khan@ageing.ox.ac.uk

IntroductionPrimary aldosteronism (PA) is the leading cause of endocrine hypertension, with an estimated prevalence of at least 5 to 10% among patients with hypertension and more than 20% among patients with resistant hypertension [1–3]. PA enhances the risk of renal and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality via direct insults to target organs, independently of hypertension [4]. Broadly, PA can be dichotomized to unilateral aldosterone production from the right or left adrenal gland (aldosterone-producing adenoma) or bilateral hyperaldosteronism [5].In contrast to primary aldosteronism, pheochromocytomas are rare, mostly benign catecholamine-producing tumors of chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla or of a paraganglion with typical clinical manifestations of sustained or paroxysmal hypertension, severe headaches, palpitations, and sweating resulting from hormone excess [6,7]. Pheochromocytomas are found in 0.2-0.6% of subjects with hypertension, while most patients (80 – 90%) with pheochromocytoma have hypertension [8–10].The simultaneous occurrence of pheochromocytoma and aldosterone-producing adrenal cortical adenoma is rare and presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The clinical manifestations can be complex, as patients may experience symptoms from both tumors, including hypertension and endocrine abnormalities. The diagnostic process typically involves hormonal assays and imaging studies such as computed tomography to characterize the tumors. The most definitive treatment for both conditions is surgical removal of the affected adrenal gland. This can lead to the cure of hypertension due to aldosteronism and/or pheochromocytoma.In this case report, we describe the rare coexistence of pheochromocytoma and aldosterone-producing adrenal cortical adenoma in a young Ethiopian male presenting with hypertension, which was ultimately cured by unilateral total adrenalectomy.

Title: Toxicity Following Star Fruit Ingestion in a Patient Undergoing Haemodialysis: A Case Report

This is the first reported case of atrioventricular node ablation (AVNA) in a patient with an EVOQUE transcatheter tricuspid valve, performed for refractory atrial fibrillation with uncontrolled ventricular rates. This case highlights the feasibility and importance of advanced imaging techniques in managing arrhythmias in patients with bioprosthetic valves, offering insights into expanding therapeutic options for complex cardiovascular conditions.