Multisensory mechanisms of gait and balance in Parkinson’s disease:an integrative review

Understanding the neural underpinning of human gait and balance is one of the most pertinent challenges for 21st-century translational neuroscience due to the profound impact that falls and mobility disturbances have on our aging population.Posture and gait control does not happen automatically,as previously believed,but rather requires continuous involvement of central nervous mechanisms.To effectively exert control over the body,the brain must integrate multiple streams of sensory information,including visual,vestibular,and somatosensory signals.The mechanisms which underpin the integration of these multisensory signals are the principal topic of the present work.Existing multisensory integration theories focus on how failure of cognitive processes thought to be involved in multisensory integration leads to falls in older adults.Insufficient emphasis,however,has been placed on specific contributions of individual sensory modalities to multisensory integration processes and cross-modal interactions that occur between the sensory modalities in relation to gait and balance.In the present work,we review the contributions of somatosensory,visual,and vestibular modalities,along with their multisensory intersections to gait and balance in older adults and patients with Parkinson’s disease.We also review evidence of vestibular contributions to multisensory temporal binding windows,previously shown to be highly pertinent to fall risk in older adults.Lastly,we relate multisensory vestibular mechanisms to potential neural substrates,both at the level of neurobiology(concerning positron emission tomography imaging)and at the level of electrophysiology(concerning electroencephalography).We hope that this integrative review,drawing influence across multiple subdisciplines of neuroscience,paves the way for novel research directions and therapeutic neuromodulatory approaches,to improve the lives of older adults and patients with neurodegenerative diseases.

Robotic reconstructive surgery: The time has arrived

Thank you to the Asian Journal of Urology(AJU)for the honor of allowing me to be the guest editor for this special focus section on robotic urinary tract reconstruction.This topic has been a large focus for me in my career;in my pursuit of knowledge in this new sub-field of urology,I have been so fortunate to have met so many talented surgeons who share a similar passion.The urinary tract spans a large anatomical region,and due to the large variety of conditions that affect it,an endless variety of functional and structural urologic problems can arise.Urologists have always been adept surgeons capable of operating in various anatomical spaces and have embraced technological innovation.Historically,the trend has moved from open surgery to endoscopic treatment;however,many patients with reconstructive needs remain untreated or sub-optimally managed.

A Study on Integrated Construction of Luzhou Comprehensive Transportation Hub

The target of integrated construction of comprehensive transportation hub is to integrate the traffic resources,achieve butt joint of pan-regional transportation mode,and finally realize the"seamless connection"of the goods and"zero transfer"of the passenger traffic.Relying on the particularity of the geographical location and the convenience of the Yangtze River channel,Luzhou puts forth effort to build a comprehensive transport hub in Southern Sichuan and has made great efforts in traffic infrastructure construction.However,there are still some problems.Combining practice of Luzhou,using the advanced experience of foreign and domestic cities for reference,the paper pointed out that for the sake of constructing a comprehensive transportation hub,we need to build the traffic integration on the basis of the efficiency.Besides,the paper proposed the strategies for construction.

Solvability and Construction of a Solution to the Fredholm Integral Equation of the First Kind

The issues of solvability and construction of a solution of the Fredholm integral equation of the first kind are considered. It is done by immersing the original problem into solving an extremal problem in Hilbert space. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a solution are obtained. A method of constructing a solution of the Fredholm integral equation of the first kind is developed. A constructive theory of solvability and construction of a solution to a boundary value problem of a linear integrodifferential equation with a distributed delay in control, generated by the Fredholm integral equation of the first kind, has been created.

Exploration of the Construction and Path Selection of the Deep Integration Model of Industry-Education in Universities

Against the backdrop of continuous development in the field of education,universities are encouraged to innovate their talent cultivation systems and objectives.The deep integration of industry and education has emerged as an effective strategy,aligning with the basic requirements of the new engineering education initiative and exerting a positive impact on socioeconomic development.However,an analysis of the current state of industry-education integration in universities reveals several issues that require optimization,affecting the ultimate effectiveness of integration.To optimize this phenomenon and achieve high-quality development,universities need to further explore the construction of a deep integration model of industry and education,adhering to corresponding principles to form a comprehensive system.On this basis,pathways for deep industry-education integration can be summarized.

Integrative Analysis of Transcriptome and Phenolic Compounds Profile Provides Insights into the Quality of Soursop (Annona muricata L.) Fruit

Soursop(Annona muricata L.)is a tropical fruit highly valued for its uniqueflavor,nutritional value,and health-promoting properties.The ripening process of soursop involves complex changes in gene expression and metabo-lite accumulation,which have been studied using various omics technologies.Transcriptome analysis has provided insights into the regulation of key genes involved in ripening,while metabolic compound analysis has revealed the presence of numerous bioactive compounds with potential health benefits.However,the integration of transcrip-tome and metabolite compound data has not been extensively explored in soursop.Therefore,in this paper,we present a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptome and phenolic compound profiles of soursop during ripen-ing.The integration analysis showed that the genes and phenolic compounds were mainly involved in the starch and sucrose metabolism pathways during soursop ripening.Further,the phenolic compounds Kaempferol 3-Q-galactoside,Procyanidin C1,Procyanidin trimmer C1,and m-Coumaric,as well as the genes Ubiquitin-like protein 5(UBL5_ARATH),ATP-dependent zinc metalloprotease FTSH8(FTSH8_ORYSJ),Zinc transporter 4(ZIP4_AR-ATH),Thioredoxin-like 3-1(TRL31_ORYSJ),Mitogen-activated protein kinase YODA(YODA_ARATH),R-man-delonitrile lyase-like(MGL_ARATH),26s protease regulatory subunit 6A homolog(PRS6_SOLLC),Cytochrome P45072A13(C7A13ARATH),Cytochrome P45084A1(C84A1_ARATH)and Homoserine O-trans-acetylase(MET2-ORYSJ)were correlated and differentially accumulated and expressed,respectively.Our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying soursop ripening and may contribute to the development of strategies for improving the nutritional quality and shelf life of this important fruit.

Integrative nursing as a rudder for salutogenic system change

Welcome to year 6 and volume six of the Journal of Integrative Nursing.It is an honor to join Professor Tang as Editor-in-Chief in cultivating an international community of scholars whose foci includes the topics listed in our instructions for authors.

Solving the Generalized Traveling Salesman Problem Using Sequential Constructive Crossover Operator in Genetic Algorithm

The generalized travelling salesman problem(GTSP),a generalization of the well-known travelling salesman problem(TSP),is considered for our study.Since the GTSP is NP-hard and very complex,finding exact solutions is highly expensive,we will develop genetic algorithms(GAs)to obtain heuristic solutions to the problem.In GAs,as the crossover is a very important process,the crossovermethods proposed for the traditional TSP could be adapted for the GTSP.The sequential constructive crossover(SCX)and three other operators are adapted to use in GAs to solve the GTSP.The effectiveness of GA using SCX is verified on some GTSP Library(GTSPLIB)instances first and then compared against GAs using the other crossover methods.The computational results show the success of the GA using SCX for this problem.Our proposed GA using SCX,and swap mutation could find average solutions whose average percentage of excesses fromthe best-known solutions is between 0.00 and 14.07 for our investigated instances.

Holistic Integrative Medicine Declaration-Secondary publication

Holistic integrative medicine,abbreviated as HIM,has been officially proposed since 2012.Its theoretical system has been continuously improved,and its practical methods have become increasingly diverse,becoming an inevitable choice and path for the medical development in the new era.This article demonstrates ten major propositions for HIM,elaborating on the connotation and extension of HIM fromthe perspectives of epistemology and methodology,in order to achieve the transformation and adaptive evolution of modern medicine.

The Construction of Integrated Nursing Model Prevention of Oxaliplatin Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Nerve Injury

Objective: To investigate the effect of the integrated nursing model in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral injury. Methods: A total of 60 tumor patients receiving oxaliplatin for 1 - 6 cycles of chemotherapy from January to September 2023 were selected. 30 patients were selected from January to March and divided into the control group, and 30 patients were selected from July to 9 as the experimental group. The control group received conventional chemotherapy nursing, while the experimental group received integrated nursing. Anxiety, peripheral nerve toxicity stage and quality of life score were compared between the two groups before and after intervention. Results: After intervention, the scores of the self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and the total scores of the oxaliplatin Levi specific sensory neurotoxicity scale in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P< 0.05);The Quality of Life Scale (FACT-G) score of cancer patients was higher than that of control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: The integrated nursing model can effectively reduce the anxiety of patients, reduce the incidence of peripheral nerve injury and improve the quality of life of patients.

Research on the Path of Integrating Party Construction Aesthetics into Ideological and Political Education in Colleges and Universities

Party construction aesthetics is a valuable aesthetic resource formed in the practical exploration of rural revitalization,and it has logical compatibility with ideological and political education in terms of concepts,goals,tasks,etc.At present,comprehensive deepening reform has entered a deep-water zone,and some erroneous value orientations such as utilitarianism,emptiness,and liberalization are common in colleges and universities,and ideological and political education is caught in a new round of difficulties.As the main position of ideological and political education,colleges and universities should further use party construction aesthetics to strengthen and improve ideological and political education,adhere to the carrier of aesthetic education,carry out diversified integrated education,broaden the ideological and political practical teaching system,build a long-term mechanism for collaborative education of ideological and political education and party construction aesthetics,and fully integrate party construction aesthetics into ideological and political education in colleges and universities.

The response of roots and the rhizosphere environment to integrative cultivation practices in paddy rice

Integrative cultivation practices(ICPs)are essential for enhancing cereal yield and resource use efficiency.However,the effects of ICP on the rhizosphere environment and roots of paddy rice are still poorly understood.In this study,four rice varieties were produced in the field.Each variety was treated with six different cultivation techniques,including zero nitrogen application(0 N),local farmers’practice(LFP),nitrogen reduction(NR),and three progressive ICP techniques comprised of enhanced fertilizer N practice and increased plant density(ICP1),a treatment similar to ICP1 but with alternate wetting and moderate drying instead of continuous flooding(ICP2),and the same practices as ICP2 with the application of organic fertilizer(ICP3).The ICPs had greater grain production and nitrogen use efficiency than the other three methods.Root length,dry weight,root diameter,activity of root oxidation,root bleeding rate,zeatin and zeatin riboside compositions,and total organic acids in root exudates were elevated with the introduction of the successive cultivation practices.ICPs enhanced nitrate nitrogen,the activities of urease and invertase,and the diversity of microbes(bacteria)in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil,while reducing the ammonium nitrogen content.The nutrient contents(ammonium nitrogen,total nitrogen,total potassium,total phosphorus,nitrate,and available phosphorus)and urease activity in rhizosphere soil were reduced in all treatments in comparison with the non-rhizosphere soil,but the invertase activity and bacterial diversity were greater.The main root morphology and physiology,and the ammonium nitrogen contents in rhizosphere soil at the primary stages were closely correlated with grain yield and internal nitrogen use efficiency.These findings suggest that the coordinated enhancement of the root system and the environment of the rhizosphere under integrative cultivation approaches may lead to higher rice production.

Enhancing Hygrothermal Performance in Multi-Zone Constructions through Phase Change Material Integration

As buildings evolve to meet the challenges of energy efficiency and indoor comfort,phase change materials(PCM)emerge as a promising solution due to their ability to store and release latent heat.This paper explores the transformative impact of incorporating PCMon the hygrothermal dynamics of multi-zone constructions.The study focuses on analyzing heat transfer,particularly through thermal conduction,in a wall containing PCM.A novel approach was proposed,wherein the studied system(sensitive balance)interacts directly with a latent balance to realistically define the behavior of specific humidity and mass flow rates.In addition,a numerical model implemented in MATLAB software has been developed to investigate the effect of integrating PCM on the hygrothermal balances inside the building.The obtained results indicate a consistent response in internal temperatures,specific humidity,and mass flow rates,with temperature differences ranging from 5℃to 13℃and a maximum phase shift of 13 h.In addition,the findings provided valuable insights into optimizing the design and performance of multi-zone constructions,offering a sustainable pathway for enhancing building resilience and occupant well-being.

An Integrated Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Circular Economy (CE) Model for the Management of Construction and Deconstruction Waste Based on Construction Methods

As the climate change signs become more noticeable, the concern to prioritize sustainability within the AEC industry intensifies. This particularly pertained to issues related to the demand of resources, the excessive consumption of raw materials, and the associated generated waste. Presently, the construction industry is ranked among the industries that are accountable for the global generation of solid waste and energy consumption, leading to detrimental environmental effects. Nonetheless, over the years, construction methods, technological innovations, and building practices have made considerable progress, influenced by a growing emphasis on sustainability, especially in energy conservation and in adopting the Industrialized Production layer of Construction 4.0 (i.e., modular prefabrication, 3D concrete printing, and BIM). The concept of Circular Economy (CE) has been identified as a potential solution to achieve sustainability in building construction through the design, construction, and end-of-life deconstruction processes that enhance the management of waste based on the framework that is related to reducing, reusing, and recycling. Moreover, information and data related to geolocation complement advanced digital technologies by providing a collaborative platform that supports the application of CE as a practical approach to sustainability. Thus, this study will provide a straightforward methodology for developing a model that integrates BIM and sustainable design with Circular Economy’s concept to enhance the sustainability of construction projects to minimize their waste based on various construction methods (i.e., conventional, modular, and 3D concrete printing). The proposed model interrelates tools and data for the evaluation and planning strategies for the construction and deconstruction waste (CDW) management at the design stage, including estimating the quantities of the wasted materials, quantifying the production rates of selected equipment for the waste handling (loading and hauling) at the various stages of a project as well their associated cost. The proposed model will help users to calculate the quantity of construction and deconstruction waste (CDW) during the design of buildings based on their different construction methods at the early stage by using the concept of Design for Deconstruction (DfD);sustainable construction methods;and deconstruction process for waste management, which will lead to the suitable construction method.

Astrocytes integrate time and space

Astrocytes read and react to synaptic transmission through tripartite synapses,where the binding of neurotransmitters onto astrocytic receptors triggers an increase in intracellular calcium.Recent investigations have revealed that astrocytes exhibit two distinct states of intracellular calcium activity:(1)graded subcellular localized clusters with independently active microdomains,likely influenced by nearby synaptic events,and(2)whole-cell astrocyte calcium surges,believed to result from the coordinated activation of multiple synapses.Notably,astrocyte calcium responses are not solely graded;instead,a spatial threshold of intracellular calcium activity can be overcome to elicit an astrocyte calcium surge.Together these calcium responses,in turn,initiate downstream signaling pathways capable of modifying synaptic communication and overall network activity.In summary,astrocytes can function as integrators of local synaptic events,actively contributing to information processing within the brain.

A Building Information Modeling-Life Cycle Cost Analysis Integrated Model to Enhance Decisions Related to the Selection of Construction Methods at the Conceptual Design Stage of Buildings

Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) provides a systematic approach to assess the total cost associated with owning, operating, and maintaining assets throughout their entire life. BIM empowers architects and designers to perform real-time evaluations to explore various design options. However, when integrated with LCCA, BIM provides a comprehensive economic perspective that helps stakeholders understand the long-term financial implications of design decisions. This study presents a methodology for developing a model that seamlessly integrates BIM and LCCA during the conceptual design stage of buildings. This integration allows for a comprehensive evaluation and analysis of the design process, ensuring that the development aligns with the principles of low carbon emissions by employing modular construction, 3D concrete printing methods, and different building design alternatives. The model considers the initial construction costs in addition to all the long-term operational, maintenance, and salvage values. It combines various tools and data through different modules, including energy analysis, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) to execute a comprehensive assessment of the financial implications of a specific design option throughout the lifecycle of building projects. The development of the said model and its implementation involves the creation of a new plug-in for the BIM tool (i.e., Autodesk Revit) to enhance its functionalities and capabilities in forecasting the life-cycle costs of buildings in addition to generating associated cash flows, creating scenarios, and sensitivity analyses in an automatic manner. This model empowers designers to evaluate and justify their initial investments while designing and selecting potential construction methods for buildings, and enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions by assessing different design alternatives based on long-term financial considerations during the early stages of design.

Constructive General Bounded Integral Control

This note proposes a systematic and more generic method to construct general bounded integral control. It is established by defining three new function sets and citing two function sets to construct three kinds of general bounded integral control actions and integrators, resorting to a universal strategy to transform ordinary control into general integral control and adopting Lyapunov method to analyze the stability of the closed-loop system. A universal theorem to ensure regionally as well as semi-globally asymptotic stability is provided in terms of some bounded information, and even does not need exact knowledge of Lyapunov function. Its one feature is that the indispensable element used to construct the general integrator can be taken as any integrable function, which satisfies Lipschitz condition and the self excited integral dynamic is asymptotically stable. Another feature is that the method to construct general bounded integral control action is extended to a wider function set. Based on this method, the control engineers not only can choose the most appropriate control law in hand but also have more freedom to construct the bounded integral control actions and integrators, and then a high performance integral controller is more easily found. As a result, the generalization of the bounded integral control is achieved.

Construction of a Virtual Simulation Practice Teaching System of the Chemical Industry Under the Background of Integration of Production and Education

With the development of the integration of production and education,chemical engineering and technology education is facing many new challenges and opportunities.The construction of a chemical virtual simulation practice teaching system under the background of integration of production and education aims to improve students’learning efficiency and innovation ability with the help of virtual simulation technology,so as to meet the needs of future industrial development.This paper discusses the significance of the construction of the system,analyzes the difficulties and challenges that may be encountered in the construction process,and evaluates the effective strategies to strengthen the construction of the system.Through the introduction of virtual simulation technology,students can improve their practical skills and innovation ability,and better adapt to the development needs of industrialization and informatization.

A constructive method for approximating trigonometric functions and their integrals

This paper presents an interpolation-based method(IBM)for approximating some trigonometric functions or their integrals as well.It provides two-sided bounds for each function,which also achieves much better approximation effects than those of prevailing methods.In principle,the IBM can be applied for bounding more bounded smooth functions and their integrals as well,and its applications include approximating the integral of sin(x)/x function and improving the famous square root inequalities.

Construction of two selectable markers for integrative/conjugative plasmids in Flavobacterium columnare

Flavobacterium columnare, the etiological agent of colunmaris disease, is one of the most important and widespread bacterial pathogens of freshwater fish. In this study, we constructed two artificial selectable markers （chloramphenicol and spectinomycin resistance） for gene transfer in F. columnare. These two new artificial selectable markers, which were created by placing the chloramphenicol or spectinomycin resistance gene under the control of the native acs regulatory region of F. columnare, were functional in both F. columnare and Escherichia coli. The integrative/conjugative plasmids constructed by using these markers were introduced into F. columnare G4 via electroporation or conjugation. The integrated plasmid DNA was confirmed by Southern blotting and PCR analysis. These two markers can be employed in future investigations into gene deletion and the pathogenicity of virulence factors in F. columnare.