The studypresents theHalfMax InsertionHeuristic (HMIH) as a novel approach to solving theTravelling SalesmanProblem (TSP). The goal is to outperform existing techniques such as the Farthest Insertion Heuristic (FIH) a...The studypresents theHalfMax InsertionHeuristic (HMIH) as a novel approach to solving theTravelling SalesmanProblem (TSP). The goal is to outperform existing techniques such as the Farthest Insertion Heuristic (FIH) andNearest Neighbour Heuristic (NNH). The paper discusses the limitations of current construction tour heuristics,focusing particularly on the significant margin of error in FIH. It then proposes HMIH as an alternative thatminimizes the increase in tour distance and includes more nodes. HMIH improves tour quality by starting withan initial tour consisting of a ‘minimum’ polygon and iteratively adding nodes using our novel Half Max routine.The paper thoroughly examines and compares HMIH with FIH and NNH via rigorous testing on standard TSPbenchmarks. The results indicate that HMIH consistently delivers superior performance, particularly with respectto tour cost and computational efficiency. HMIH’s tours were sometimes 16% shorter than those generated by FIHand NNH, showcasing its potential and value as a novel benchmark for TSP solutions. The study used statisticalmethods, including Friedman’s Non-parametric Test, to validate the performance of HMIH over FIH and NNH.This guarantees that the identified advantages are statistically significant and consistent in various situations. Thiscomprehensive analysis emphasizes the reliability and efficiency of the heuristic, making a compelling case for itsuse in solving TSP issues. The research shows that, in general, HMIH fared better than FIH in all cases studied,except for a few instances (pr439, eil51, and eil101) where FIH either performed equally or slightly better thanHMIH. HMIH’s efficiency is shown by its improvements in error percentage (δ) and goodness values (g) comparedto FIH and NNH. In the att48 instance, HMIH had an error rate of 6.3%, whereas FIH had 14.6% and NNH had20.9%, indicating that HMIH was closer to the optimal solution. HMIH consistently showed superior performanceacross many benchmarks, with lower percentage error and higher goodness values, suggesting a closer match tothe optimal tour costs. This study substantially contributes to combinatorial optimization by enhancing currentinsertion algorithms and presenting a more efficient solution for the Travelling Salesman Problem. It also createsnew possibilities for progress in heuristic design and optimization methodologies.展开更多
Nickel-based materials,including metallic Ni and Ni oxide,have been widely studied in the exploration of non-precious-metal hydrogen electrocatalysts,but neither pure Ni nor NiO is ideal for the hydrogen evolution rea...Nickel-based materials,including metallic Ni and Ni oxide,have been widely studied in the exploration of non-precious-metal hydrogen electrocatalysts,but neither pure Ni nor NiO is ideal for the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and hydrogen oxidation reaction(HOR).In this paper,an oxygen insertion strategy was applied on nickel to regulate its hydrogen electrocatalytic performance,and the oxygen-inserted nickel catalyst was successfully obtained with the assistance of tungsten dioxide support(denoted as O-Ni/WO_(2)).The partial insertion of oxygen in Ni maintains the face-centered cubic arrangement of Ni atoms,simultaneously expanding the lattice and increasing the lattice spacing.Consequently,the adsorption strength of^(*)H and^(*)OH on Ni is optimized,thus resulting in superior electrocatalytic performance of0-Ni/WO_(2)in alkaline HER/HOR.The Tafel slope of O-Ni/WO_(2)@NF for HER is 56 mV dec^(-1),and the kinetic current density of O-Ni/WO_(2)for HOR reaches 4.85 mA cm^(-2),which is ahead of most currently reported catalysts.Our proposed strategy of inserting an appropriate amount of anions into the metal lattice could provide more possibilities for the design of high-performance catalysts.展开更多
Insertional mutation,phenotypic evaluation,and mutated gene cloning are widely used to clone genes from scratch.Exogenous genes can be integrated into the genome during non-homologous end joining(NHEJ)of the double-st...Insertional mutation,phenotypic evaluation,and mutated gene cloning are widely used to clone genes from scratch.Exogenous genes can be integrated into the genome during non-homologous end joining(NHEJ)of the double-strand breaks of DNA,causing insertional mutation.The random insertional mutant library constructed using this method has become a method of forward genetics for gene cloning.However,the establishment of a random insertional mutant library requires a high transformation efficiency of exogenous genes.Many microalgal species show a low transformation efficiency,making constructing random insertional mutant libraries difficult.In this study,we established a highly efficient transformation method for constructing a random insertional mutant library of Nannochloropsis oceanica,and tentatively tried to isolate its genes to prove the feasibility of the method.A gene that may control the growth rate and cell size was identified.This method will facilitate the genetic studies of N.oceanica,which should also be a reference for other microalgal species.展开更多
Velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord corresponds to the insertion of the cord directly on amniotic membranes. It is a rare situation whose frequency varies from 0.5% to 1.69% of single pregnancies. It must be d...Velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord corresponds to the insertion of the cord directly on amniotic membranes. It is a rare situation whose frequency varies from 0.5% to 1.69% of single pregnancies. It must be diagnosed during the morphological ultrasound of the 2nd trimester, actively looking for the association with a vasa previa, due to the risk of fetal haemorrhagic threat. We report an antenatal diagnosis of velamentous cord insertion and its management with literature review.展开更多
BACKGROUND Benign rectal strictures can be categorized as primary(disease-related)and secondary(surgical anastomosis-related).Secondary strictures arise from surgical complications,whereas primary strictures have dive...BACKGROUND Benign rectal strictures can be categorized as primary(disease-related)and secondary(surgical anastomosis-related).Secondary strictures arise from surgical complications,whereas primary strictures have diverse etiologies,including various inflammatory conditions.Benign strictures are usually managed by surgery and endoscopy.We present an unusual etiology of benign rectal stricture caused by the repeated insertion of foreign objects into the rectum for sexual purposes,resulting in rectal injury and subsequent chronic inflammation.CASE SUMMARY A 53-year-old man presented to the outpatient clinic of the Colorectal Surgery Department with symptoms of chronic constipation and bloody stools.The patient previously experienced rectal injury due to foreign object insertion for sexual purposes.Colonoscopy revealed benign circumferential narrowing of the rectum.He underwent treatment by endoscopic argon plasma coagulation and balloon dilation and follow-up as an outpatient for 4 months.A colonoscopy at the end of the follow-up period revealed no evidence of rectal stricture relapse.CONCLUSION A history of rectal injury,followed by chronic inflammation,should be considered in patients with benign rectal strictures.Management with endoscopic argon plasma coagulation and balloon dilation can prevent the need for surgical resection of benign rectal strictures.展开更多
The In segregation and its suppression in InGaAs/AlGaAs quantum well are investigated by using high-resolution x-ray diffraction(XRD)and photoluminescence(PL),combined with the state-of-the-art aberration corrected sc...The In segregation and its suppression in InGaAs/AlGaAs quantum well are investigated by using high-resolution x-ray diffraction(XRD)and photoluminescence(PL),combined with the state-of-the-art aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy(Cs-STEM)techniques.To facility our study,we grow two multiple quantum wells(MQWs)samples,which are almost identical except that in sample B a thin GaAs layer is inserted in each of the InGaAs well and AlGaAs barrier layer comparing to pristine InGaAs/AlGaAs MQWs(sample A).Our study indeed shows the direct evidences that In segregation occurs in the InGaAs/AlGaAs interface,and the effect of the Ga As insertion layer on suppressing the segregation of In atoms is also demonstrated on the atomic-scale.Therefore,the atomic-scale insights are provided to understand the segregation behavior of In atoms and to unravel the underlying mechanism of the effect of GaAs insertion layer on the improvement of crystallinity,interface roughness,and further an enhanced optical performance of InGaAs/AlGaAs QWs.展开更多
DEAR EDITOR,Insertion sequences(ISs) are the simplest structural transposable elements(TEs) in prokaryotes, consisting only of a transposase coding sequence and its bilateral short terminal inverted repeats. Due to th...DEAR EDITOR,Insertion sequences(ISs) are the simplest structural transposable elements(TEs) in prokaryotes, consisting only of a transposase coding sequence and its bilateral short terminal inverted repeats. Due to their gradually streamlined genomic construction, TEs rarely exist in the genomes of obligate endosymbionts. However, TE content, especially ISs.展开更多
Sexual reproduction in plants is the main pathway for creating new genetic combinations in modern agriculture.In heterozygous plants,after the identification of a plant with desired traits,vegetative propagation(cloni...Sexual reproduction in plants is the main pathway for creating new genetic combinations in modern agriculture.In heterozygous plants,after the identification of a plant with desired traits,vegetative propagation(cloning)is the primary path to create genetically uniform plants.Another natural plant mechanism that creates genetically uniform plants(clones)is apomixis.In fruit crops like citrus and mango,sporophytic apomixis results in polyembryony,where seeds contain multiple embryos,one of which is sexually originated and the others are vegetative clones of the parent mother tree.Utilizing the mango genome and genetic analysis of a diverse germplasm collection,we identified MiRWP as the gene that causes polyembryony in mango.There is a strong correlation between a specific insertion in the gene’s promoter region and altered expression in flowers and developing fruitlets,inducing multiple embryos.The MiRWP gene is an ortholog of CitRWP that causes polyembryony in citrus.Based on the data,we speculate that promoter insertion events,which occurred independently in citrus and mango,induced nucellar embryogenesis.The results suggest convergent evolution of polyembryony in the two species.Further work is required to demonstrate the utility of these genes(mango and citrus)in other biological systems as a tool for the clonal production of other crops.展开更多
Introduction: Contraceptive implants are one of the most effective methods of birth spacing. Jadelle<sup>®</sup> implants consist of two strands that are easy to insert and remove. Although their e...Introduction: Contraceptive implants are one of the most effective methods of birth spacing. Jadelle<sup>®</sup> implants consist of two strands that are easy to insert and remove. Although their effectiveness is no longer in question, their use (insertion) requires a surgical procedure with the corollary possibility of complications. These are mainly insertions that are too deep (in the arm muscle), vascular and nerve damage. Material and Methods: Our study focused on complications related to implant insertion. It was a descriptive and retrospective study over thirty-four months, from October 2016 to July 2019, and concerned all patients seen in consultation and who presented a complication related to the insertion of contraceptive implants in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the National Hospital of Pikine. Results: We collected nine complications managed at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of the Centre Hospitalier National de Pikine from 2016 to 2019. These were insertions that were too deep with sometimes nerve damage, infection or incident during anesthesia. The operative procedures were based on the type of complication. Conclusion: Although Jadelle<sup>®</sup> has the advantage of having only 2 rods compared to its predecessor Norplant<sup>®</sup>, its use is also conditioned by insertion and removal procedures which may experience complications.展开更多
GaN-based p-channel heterostructure field-effect transistors(p-HFETs)face significant constraints on on-state currents compared with n-channel high electron mobility transistors.In this work,we propose a novel double ...GaN-based p-channel heterostructure field-effect transistors(p-HFETs)face significant constraints on on-state currents compared with n-channel high electron mobility transistors.In this work,we propose a novel double heterostructure which introduces an additional p-GaN insertion layer into traditional p-HFETs.The impact of the device structure on the hole densities and valence band energies of both the upper and lower channels is analyzed by using Silvaco TACD simulations,including the thickness of the upper AlGaN layer and the doping impurities and concentration in the GaN buffer layer,as well as the thickness and Mg-doping concentration in the p-GaN insertion layer.With the help of the p-GaN insertion layer,the C-doping concentration in the GaN buffer layer can be reduced,while the density of the two-dimensional hole gas in the lower channel is enhanced at the same time.This work suggests that a double heterostructure with a p-GaN insertion layer is a better approach to improve p-HFETs compared with those devices with C-doped buffer layer alone.展开更多
GAO Caixia’s group from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB)of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)has developed a new genome editing technology that achieves efficient and precise targeted inser...GAO Caixia’s group from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB)of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)has developed a new genome editing technology that achieves efficient and precise targeted insertion of large DNA segments in plants.The new technology,called prime editing-mediated recombination of opportune targets(PrimeRoot),combines an optimized dual-ePPE editor protein previously published by the group with a highly efficient tyrosine site-specific recombinase,Cre.It can achieve one-step,precise targeted insertion of large DNA segments in rice and maize with an efficiency up to 6%and has been used to successfully insert DNA segments up to 11.1 kb.展开更多
Central venous catheterization(CVC) is an invasive procedure for administering fluids,nutrients,and drugs;monitoring central venous pressure;performing pulmonary artery catheterization;and placing transvenous pacemake...Central venous catheterization(CVC) is an invasive procedure for administering fluids,nutrients,and drugs;monitoring central venous pressure;performing pulmonary artery catheterization;and placing transvenous pacemakers in intensive care units and all specialties,from anesthesia to emergency medicine,for the treatment of trauma and hemodynamically unstable pediatric and adult patients.[1,2]Complications have been observed in more than 15% of patients who underwent CVC.Mechanical,infectious,and thrombotic complications have been reported in 5%–19%,5%–26%,and 2%–26% of patients,respectively.[3] Malposition,on the other hand,is common in subclavian catheter insertion and is usually associated with an initially misplaced guidewire.[4]展开更多
Heat augmentation techniques play a vital role in the heating and cooling processes in industries,including solar collectors and many applications that utilize heat exchangers.Several studies are based on inserting fi...Heat augmentation techniques play a vital role in the heating and cooling processes in industries,including solar collectors and many applications that utilize heat exchangers.Several studies are based on inserting fillers inside the tubes to enhance heat transfer.This investigation considered the effects of twisted tapes with large holes on a tubular heat exchanger’s(HX)heat transmission,pressure drop,and thermal boosting factor.In the experimental section,counter-swirl flow generators used twisted tapes with pairs of 1.0 cm-diameter holes and changes in porosity(Rp)at 1.30%and 2.70%.In the experiments,air was utilized as a working fluid in a tube with a circular cross-section.The turbulent flow was considered,with Reynolds numbers(Re)domain from 4800 to 9500,and a boundary condition with a uniform wall heat flux was constructed.The findings expound that when the number of holes rose,the Nusselt number(Nu),the factor of friction(f),and the thermal enhancement factor(η)all increased as well.Additionally,as the friction factor increased,the Nusselt number of the tape-equipped tube was noticeably higher.Additionally,it was discovered that the friction factor was between 70%and 94%lower than the values of the tube without tape,while the(Nu)was between 87%and 97%higher than the conventional tube values.The maximum value ofηis 89%.According to the experimental results,empirical correlations for Nu,f,andηwere also generated.展开更多
BACKGROUND Peripherally inserted central catheters(PICCs)are an essential infusion route for oncology patients receiving intravenous treatments,but lower extremity veni-puncture is the preferred technique for patients...BACKGROUND Peripherally inserted central catheters(PICCs)are an essential infusion route for oncology patients receiving intravenous treatments,but lower extremity veni-puncture is the preferred technique for patients with superior vena cava syndrome(SVCS).We report the case of a patient with a lower extremity PICC ectopic to the ascending lumbar vein,to indicate and verify PICC catheterisation in the lower extremity is safe and feasible.And hope to provide different per-spectives for clinical PICC venipuncture to get the attention of peers.CASE SUMMARY On 24 August 2022,a 58-year-old male was admitted to our department due to an intermittent cough persisting for over a month,which worsened 10 d prior.Imaging and laboratory investigations suggested the patient with pulmonary malignancy and SVCS.Chemotherapy was not an absolute contraindication in this patient.Lower extremity venipuncture is the preferred technique because administering upper extremity venous transfusion to patients with SVCS can exacerbate oedema in the head,neck,and upper extremities.The patient and his family were informed about the procedure,and informed consent was obtained.After successful puncture and prompt treatment,the patient was discharged,experiencing some relief from symptoms.CONCLUSION Inferior vena cava catheterisation is rare and important for cancer patients with SVCS,particularly in complex situations involving ectopic placement.展开更多
Computer-navigated pedicle screw insertion is applied to the thoracic and lumbar spine to attain high insertion accuracy and a low rate of screw-related complications.However,some in vivo and in vitro studies have sho...Computer-navigated pedicle screw insertion is applied to the thoracic and lumbar spine to attain high insertion accuracy and a low rate of screw-related complications.However,some in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that no advantages are gained with the use of navigation techniques compared to conventional techniques.Additionally,inconsistent conclusions have been drawn in various studies due to different population characteristics and methods used to assess the accuracy of screw placement.Moreover,it is not clear whether pedicle screw insertion with navigation techniques decreases the incidence of screw-related complications.Therefore,this study was sought to perform a meta-analysis of all available prospective evidence regarding pedicle screw insertion with or without navigation techniques in human thoracic and lumbar spine.We considered in vivo comparative studies that assessed the results of pedicle screw placement with or without navigation techniques.PubMed,Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched.Three published randomized controlled trials(RCTs) and nine retrospective comparative studies met the inclusion criteria.These studies included a total of 732 patients in whom 4,953 screws were inserted.In conclusion,accuracy of the position of grade I,II,III and IV screws and complication rate related to pedicle screw placement were significantly increased when navigation techniques were used in comparison to conventional techniques.Future research in this area should include RCTs with well-planned methodology to limit bias and report on validated,patient-based outcome measures.展开更多
Needle insertion is a common surgical procedure used in diagnosis and treatment.The needle steering technologies make continuous developments in theoretical and practical aspects along with the in-depth research on ne...Needle insertion is a common surgical procedure used in diagnosis and treatment.The needle steering technologies make continuous developments in theoretical and practical aspects along with the in-depth research on needle insertion.It is necessary to summarize and analyze the existing results to promote the future development of theories and applications of needle insertion.Thus,a survey of the state of the art of research is presented on algorithms of needle steering techniques,the surgical robots and devices.Based on the analysis of the needle insertion procedure,the concept of needle steering is defined as a kinematics problem,which is to place the needle at the target and avoid the obstacles.The needle steering techniques,including the artificial potential field method and the nonholonomic model,are introduced to control the needles for improving the accuracy.Based on the quasi-static thinking,the virtual spring model and the cantilever-beam model are developed to calculate the amount of needle deflection and generate the needle path.The phantoms instead of the real tissue are used to verify the models mentioned in most of the experimentations.For the desired needle trajectories,the image-guided robotic devices and some novel needles are presented to achieve the needle steering.Finally,the challenges are provided involving the controllability of the long flexible needle and the properties of soft tissue.The results and investigations can be used for further study on the precision and accuracy of needle insertion.展开更多
AIM It is well known that colonoscopy can bedifficult due to abdominal pain induced duringcolonoscope insertion,if sedative agents are notgiven.Recently,an extra-flexible,small-diameter colonoscope(CF-SV,Olympus Inc.,...AIM It is well known that colonoscopy can bedifficult due to abdominal pain induced duringcolonoscope insertion,if sedative agents are notgiven.Recently,an extra-flexible,small-diameter colonoscope(CF-SV,Olympus Inc.,Japan)was developed in order to improve safetyand comfort.The aim of this study was toaccess the usefulness of the CF-SV.METHODS One hundred patients undergoingsigmoidoscopy were recruited and colonoscopywas performed by one experiencedcolonoscopist.First,a routine-type colonoscope(CF-2301)was inserted into the colon withoutsedation.When the patient complained ofabdominal pain(even if mild),the scope wasnot advanced further and was withdrawn afterthe anatomic location of its tip was determinedfluoroscopically.Then,the CF-SV was inserteduntil it reached the cecun or the site whereabdominal pain occurred.Previous abdominalsurgery and abdominal disease were consideredas unfavorable factors(UF)and the relationshipbetween abdominal pain and UF,age and genderwere investigated.Furthermore,the colonicinsertion pressures in 36 patients with abdominalpain were measured with a force gauge.RESULTS Thirty-four cases(34%)felt no painwith the CF-2301 and successful pancolon-0scopies to the cecum were performed.Sixty-six cases(66%)complained of abdominal pain.The procedure was painless for 47% of men and24% of women,respectively.The CF-2301 scopefailed to reach the sigmoid-descending colon junctions in 59(89.4%)of the 66 patientscomplaining of abdominal pain.However,CF-SVreached proximal area in 94.9% of those whofailed with CF-2301.The median pressure forpain-inducing was 700 g/cm^2.CONCLUSION Unsedated patients with UFwere prone to complain of pain when thestandard-type CF-2301 scope was used.Thenewly developed extra-flexible CF-SV is usefulfor the aged and for those with UF or being proneto suffer from abdominal pain.Sedative agentsmay be unnecessary if this new type ofcolonoscope is used.展开更多
On the basis of the analysis of typical orthogonal crankrocking lever spatial mechanism for the weft insertion in rapier looms, the rules of the outputting lever motion and the mechanism pressure-angle variety are stu...On the basis of the analysis of typical orthogonal crankrocking lever spatial mechanism for the weft insertion in rapier looms, the rules of the outputting lever motion and the mechanism pressure-angle variety are studied when the maximum swing angle of rocking lever and the length of outputting lever have different values, and the optimum parameters suitable for motion transmission can be chosen. At the same time some existing shortpoints of the mechanism are also pointed out.展开更多
This study investigated the relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion polymorphism and the occurrence, severity, prognosis of HSPN. The polymorphism of ACE gene in 103 HSPN case...This study investigated the relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion polymorphism and the occurrence, severity, prognosis of HSPN. The polymorphism of ACE gene in 103 HSPN cases and 100 healthy children was studied by using the polymerase chain reactions (PCR). Its relation to the clinical manifestation, pathological classification and prognosis of HSPN was analyzed accordingly. The results showed that: (1) there was a significantly higher frequency for DD genotype in HSPN children (P<0.01); (2) DD genotype was more frequently seen in HSPN children with gross hematuria and massive proteinuria (P<0.05), while DI genotype was more common in HSPN children group with renal insufficiency (P<0.05); (3) although mesangial proliferative lesion was most frequently observed in 21 biopsied HSPN children, and DD genotype frequency was still higher in children with severe pathology (Class Ⅲ Ⅳ); (4)II genotype was significantly frequent in HSPN children with complete remission in the follow-up of 32 HSPN children. It was concluded that the deletion allele of ACE gene might play a role, at least to some extent, in the occurrence, deterioration and progression in juvenile HSPN.展开更多
To improve several agronomic traits in crisphead lettuce(Lactuca sativa L.)under high-temperature growth conditions,we investigated the correlation among those traits in multiple cultivars and performed genetic mappin...To improve several agronomic traits in crisphead lettuce(Lactuca sativa L.)under high-temperature growth conditions,we investigated the correlation among those traits in multiple cultivars and performed genetic mapping of their causal genes.In a field cultivation test of Empire type(serrated leaf)and Salinas type(wavy leaf)cultivars,Empire type cultivars showed increased tipburn susceptibility and late bolting compared with Salinas type cultivars.We attempted genetic mapping of leaf shape and bolting time by ddRAD-seq using the F2 population derived from a cross between‘VI185’(Empire type)and‘ShinanoGreen’(Salinas type).These analyses suggested that both traits are controlled by a single locus in LG5.Genotyping of 51 commercial lettuce cultivars with a tightly linked marker(LG5_v8_252.743Mbp)at this locus showed an association between its genotype and the serrated leaf phenotype.By further fine mapping and transcriptome analysis,a gene encoding putative CIN-like TCP transcription factor was determined to be a candidate gene at this locus and was designated as LsTCP4.An insertion of retrotransposable element was found in the allele of‘VI185’,and its transcript level in the leaves was lower than that in‘ShinanoGreen’.Because shapes of leaf epidermal cells in‘VI185’were similar to those in the TCP family mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana,the leaf shape phenotype was likely caused by reduced expression of LsTCP4.Furthermore,because it is known that the TCP family protein also controls flowering time via interaction with FT in A.thaliana,it was highly possible that LsTCP4 gave pleiotropic effects on both leaf shape and bolting time in lettuce.展开更多
基金the Centre of Excellence in Mobile and e-Services,the University of Zululand,Kwadlangezwa,South Africa.
文摘The studypresents theHalfMax InsertionHeuristic (HMIH) as a novel approach to solving theTravelling SalesmanProblem (TSP). The goal is to outperform existing techniques such as the Farthest Insertion Heuristic (FIH) andNearest Neighbour Heuristic (NNH). The paper discusses the limitations of current construction tour heuristics,focusing particularly on the significant margin of error in FIH. It then proposes HMIH as an alternative thatminimizes the increase in tour distance and includes more nodes. HMIH improves tour quality by starting withan initial tour consisting of a ‘minimum’ polygon and iteratively adding nodes using our novel Half Max routine.The paper thoroughly examines and compares HMIH with FIH and NNH via rigorous testing on standard TSPbenchmarks. The results indicate that HMIH consistently delivers superior performance, particularly with respectto tour cost and computational efficiency. HMIH’s tours were sometimes 16% shorter than those generated by FIHand NNH, showcasing its potential and value as a novel benchmark for TSP solutions. The study used statisticalmethods, including Friedman’s Non-parametric Test, to validate the performance of HMIH over FIH and NNH.This guarantees that the identified advantages are statistically significant and consistent in various situations. Thiscomprehensive analysis emphasizes the reliability and efficiency of the heuristic, making a compelling case for itsuse in solving TSP issues. The research shows that, in general, HMIH fared better than FIH in all cases studied,except for a few instances (pr439, eil51, and eil101) where FIH either performed equally or slightly better thanHMIH. HMIH’s efficiency is shown by its improvements in error percentage (δ) and goodness values (g) comparedto FIH and NNH. In the att48 instance, HMIH had an error rate of 6.3%, whereas FIH had 14.6% and NNH had20.9%, indicating that HMIH was closer to the optimal solution. HMIH consistently showed superior performanceacross many benchmarks, with lower percentage error and higher goodness values, suggesting a closer match tothe optimal tour costs. This study substantially contributes to combinatorial optimization by enhancing currentinsertion algorithms and presenting a more efficient solution for the Travelling Salesman Problem. It also createsnew possibilities for progress in heuristic design and optimization methodologies.
基金financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22209049,22075102,22005120)Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(No.2023A1515012804)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2022ZYGXZR048)。
文摘Nickel-based materials,including metallic Ni and Ni oxide,have been widely studied in the exploration of non-precious-metal hydrogen electrocatalysts,but neither pure Ni nor NiO is ideal for the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and hydrogen oxidation reaction(HOR).In this paper,an oxygen insertion strategy was applied on nickel to regulate its hydrogen electrocatalytic performance,and the oxygen-inserted nickel catalyst was successfully obtained with the assistance of tungsten dioxide support(denoted as O-Ni/WO_(2)).The partial insertion of oxygen in Ni maintains the face-centered cubic arrangement of Ni atoms,simultaneously expanding the lattice and increasing the lattice spacing.Consequently,the adsorption strength of^(*)H and^(*)OH on Ni is optimized,thus resulting in superior electrocatalytic performance of0-Ni/WO_(2)in alkaline HER/HOR.The Tafel slope of O-Ni/WO_(2)@NF for HER is 56 mV dec^(-1),and the kinetic current density of O-Ni/WO_(2)for HOR reaches 4.85 mA cm^(-2),which is ahead of most currently reported catalysts.Our proposed strategy of inserting an appropriate amount of anions into the metal lattice could provide more possibilities for the design of high-performance catalysts.
基金the National Key R&D Program of China(Nos.2018YFD0901506,2018YFD0900305)the Marine S&T Fund of Shandong Province for Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology(Qingdao)(No.2018 SDKJ0406-3)。
文摘Insertional mutation,phenotypic evaluation,and mutated gene cloning are widely used to clone genes from scratch.Exogenous genes can be integrated into the genome during non-homologous end joining(NHEJ)of the double-strand breaks of DNA,causing insertional mutation.The random insertional mutant library constructed using this method has become a method of forward genetics for gene cloning.However,the establishment of a random insertional mutant library requires a high transformation efficiency of exogenous genes.Many microalgal species show a low transformation efficiency,making constructing random insertional mutant libraries difficult.In this study,we established a highly efficient transformation method for constructing a random insertional mutant library of Nannochloropsis oceanica,and tentatively tried to isolate its genes to prove the feasibility of the method.A gene that may control the growth rate and cell size was identified.This method will facilitate the genetic studies of N.oceanica,which should also be a reference for other microalgal species.
文摘Velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord corresponds to the insertion of the cord directly on amniotic membranes. It is a rare situation whose frequency varies from 0.5% to 1.69% of single pregnancies. It must be diagnosed during the morphological ultrasound of the 2nd trimester, actively looking for the association with a vasa previa, due to the risk of fetal haemorrhagic threat. We report an antenatal diagnosis of velamentous cord insertion and its management with literature review.
文摘BACKGROUND Benign rectal strictures can be categorized as primary(disease-related)and secondary(surgical anastomosis-related).Secondary strictures arise from surgical complications,whereas primary strictures have diverse etiologies,including various inflammatory conditions.Benign strictures are usually managed by surgery and endoscopy.We present an unusual etiology of benign rectal stricture caused by the repeated insertion of foreign objects into the rectum for sexual purposes,resulting in rectal injury and subsequent chronic inflammation.CASE SUMMARY A 53-year-old man presented to the outpatient clinic of the Colorectal Surgery Department with symptoms of chronic constipation and bloody stools.The patient previously experienced rectal injury due to foreign object insertion for sexual purposes.Colonoscopy revealed benign circumferential narrowing of the rectum.He underwent treatment by endoscopic argon plasma coagulation and balloon dilation and follow-up as an outpatient for 4 months.A colonoscopy at the end of the follow-up period revealed no evidence of rectal stricture relapse.CONCLUSION A history of rectal injury,followed by chronic inflammation,should be considered in patients with benign rectal strictures.Management with endoscopic argon plasma coagulation and balloon dilation can prevent the need for surgical resection of benign rectal strictures.
基金X.H.gratefully acknowledges the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.21902096)the Scientific Research Foundation of Shaanxi University of Science and Technology(Grant No.126061803)+1 种基金S.M.and B.X.thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.21972103)the Shanxi Provincial Key Innovative Research Team in Science and Technology(Grant No.201703D111026).
文摘The In segregation and its suppression in InGaAs/AlGaAs quantum well are investigated by using high-resolution x-ray diffraction(XRD)and photoluminescence(PL),combined with the state-of-the-art aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy(Cs-STEM)techniques.To facility our study,we grow two multiple quantum wells(MQWs)samples,which are almost identical except that in sample B a thin GaAs layer is inserted in each of the InGaAs well and AlGaAs barrier layer comparing to pristine InGaAs/AlGaAs MQWs(sample A).Our study indeed shows the direct evidences that In segregation occurs in the InGaAs/AlGaAs interface,and the effect of the Ga As insertion layer on suppressing the segregation of In atoms is also demonstrated on the atomic-scale.Therefore,the atomic-scale insights are provided to understand the segregation behavior of In atoms and to unravel the underlying mechanism of the effect of GaAs insertion layer on the improvement of crystallinity,interface roughness,and further an enhanced optical performance of InGaAs/AlGaAs QWs.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31830084, 32070466)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Nankai University (96172158,96173250, 91822294)。
文摘DEAR EDITOR,Insertion sequences(ISs) are the simplest structural transposable elements(TEs) in prokaryotes, consisting only of a transposase coding sequence and its bilateral short terminal inverted repeats. Due to their gradually streamlined genomic construction, TEs rarely exist in the genomes of obligate endosymbionts. However, TE content, especially ISs.
基金The research was supported by Research Grant No.IS-5106-18R from BARD,The United States-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund(granted to A.S.,D.N.K.,Y.C.,and R.O.)by grants No.203-0859(granted to A.S.and R.O.)No.203-0110(granted to Y.C.)from the Chief Scientist of the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture.D.N.K.was supported by a grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture(USDA-NIFA 2018-51181-28375).
文摘Sexual reproduction in plants is the main pathway for creating new genetic combinations in modern agriculture.In heterozygous plants,after the identification of a plant with desired traits,vegetative propagation(cloning)is the primary path to create genetically uniform plants.Another natural plant mechanism that creates genetically uniform plants(clones)is apomixis.In fruit crops like citrus and mango,sporophytic apomixis results in polyembryony,where seeds contain multiple embryos,one of which is sexually originated and the others are vegetative clones of the parent mother tree.Utilizing the mango genome and genetic analysis of a diverse germplasm collection,we identified MiRWP as the gene that causes polyembryony in mango.There is a strong correlation between a specific insertion in the gene’s promoter region and altered expression in flowers and developing fruitlets,inducing multiple embryos.The MiRWP gene is an ortholog of CitRWP that causes polyembryony in citrus.Based on the data,we speculate that promoter insertion events,which occurred independently in citrus and mango,induced nucellar embryogenesis.The results suggest convergent evolution of polyembryony in the two species.Further work is required to demonstrate the utility of these genes(mango and citrus)in other biological systems as a tool for the clonal production of other crops.
文摘Introduction: Contraceptive implants are one of the most effective methods of birth spacing. Jadelle<sup>®</sup> implants consist of two strands that are easy to insert and remove. Although their effectiveness is no longer in question, their use (insertion) requires a surgical procedure with the corollary possibility of complications. These are mainly insertions that are too deep (in the arm muscle), vascular and nerve damage. Material and Methods: Our study focused on complications related to implant insertion. It was a descriptive and retrospective study over thirty-four months, from October 2016 to July 2019, and concerned all patients seen in consultation and who presented a complication related to the insertion of contraceptive implants in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the National Hospital of Pikine. Results: We collected nine complications managed at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of the Centre Hospitalier National de Pikine from 2016 to 2019. These were insertions that were too deep with sometimes nerve damage, infection or incident during anesthesia. The operative procedures were based on the type of complication. Conclusion: Although Jadelle<sup>®</sup> has the advantage of having only 2 rods compared to its predecessor Norplant<sup>®</sup>, its use is also conditioned by insertion and removal procedures which may experience complications.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.62104184,62234009,62090014,62188102,62104178,and 62104179)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(Grant Nos.YJSJ23019,XJSJ23047,and ZDRC2002)+1 种基金the China National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents(Grant No.BX20200262)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2021M692499)。
文摘GaN-based p-channel heterostructure field-effect transistors(p-HFETs)face significant constraints on on-state currents compared with n-channel high electron mobility transistors.In this work,we propose a novel double heterostructure which introduces an additional p-GaN insertion layer into traditional p-HFETs.The impact of the device structure on the hole densities and valence band energies of both the upper and lower channels is analyzed by using Silvaco TACD simulations,including the thickness of the upper AlGaN layer and the doping impurities and concentration in the GaN buffer layer,as well as the thickness and Mg-doping concentration in the p-GaN insertion layer.With the help of the p-GaN insertion layer,the C-doping concentration in the GaN buffer layer can be reduced,while the density of the two-dimensional hole gas in the lower channel is enhanced at the same time.This work suggests that a double heterostructure with a p-GaN insertion layer is a better approach to improve p-HFETs compared with those devices with C-doped buffer layer alone.
文摘GAO Caixia’s group from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB)of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)has developed a new genome editing technology that achieves efficient and precise targeted insertion of large DNA segments in plants.The new technology,called prime editing-mediated recombination of opportune targets(PrimeRoot),combines an optimized dual-ePPE editor protein previously published by the group with a highly efficient tyrosine site-specific recombinase,Cre.It can achieve one-step,precise targeted insertion of large DNA segments in rice and maize with an efficiency up to 6%and has been used to successfully insert DNA segments up to 11.1 kb.
文摘Central venous catheterization(CVC) is an invasive procedure for administering fluids,nutrients,and drugs;monitoring central venous pressure;performing pulmonary artery catheterization;and placing transvenous pacemakers in intensive care units and all specialties,from anesthesia to emergency medicine,for the treatment of trauma and hemodynamically unstable pediatric and adult patients.[1,2]Complications have been observed in more than 15% of patients who underwent CVC.Mechanical,infectious,and thrombotic complications have been reported in 5%–19%,5%–26%,and 2%–26% of patients,respectively.[3] Malposition,on the other hand,is common in subclavian catheter insertion and is usually associated with an initially misplaced guidewire.[4]
文摘Heat augmentation techniques play a vital role in the heating and cooling processes in industries,including solar collectors and many applications that utilize heat exchangers.Several studies are based on inserting fillers inside the tubes to enhance heat transfer.This investigation considered the effects of twisted tapes with large holes on a tubular heat exchanger’s(HX)heat transmission,pressure drop,and thermal boosting factor.In the experimental section,counter-swirl flow generators used twisted tapes with pairs of 1.0 cm-diameter holes and changes in porosity(Rp)at 1.30%and 2.70%.In the experiments,air was utilized as a working fluid in a tube with a circular cross-section.The turbulent flow was considered,with Reynolds numbers(Re)domain from 4800 to 9500,and a boundary condition with a uniform wall heat flux was constructed.The findings expound that when the number of holes rose,the Nusselt number(Nu),the factor of friction(f),and the thermal enhancement factor(η)all increased as well.Additionally,as the friction factor increased,the Nusselt number of the tape-equipped tube was noticeably higher.Additionally,it was discovered that the friction factor was between 70%and 94%lower than the values of the tube without tape,while the(Nu)was between 87%and 97%higher than the conventional tube values.The maximum value ofηis 89%.According to the experimental results,empirical correlations for Nu,f,andηwere also generated.
基金the Chongqing Medical Scientific Research Project(a joint project of the Chongqing Health Commission and Science and Technology Bureau),No.2020FYYX046。
文摘BACKGROUND Peripherally inserted central catheters(PICCs)are an essential infusion route for oncology patients receiving intravenous treatments,but lower extremity veni-puncture is the preferred technique for patients with superior vena cava syndrome(SVCS).We report the case of a patient with a lower extremity PICC ectopic to the ascending lumbar vein,to indicate and verify PICC catheterisation in the lower extremity is safe and feasible.And hope to provide different per-spectives for clinical PICC venipuncture to get the attention of peers.CASE SUMMARY On 24 August 2022,a 58-year-old male was admitted to our department due to an intermittent cough persisting for over a month,which worsened 10 d prior.Imaging and laboratory investigations suggested the patient with pulmonary malignancy and SVCS.Chemotherapy was not an absolute contraindication in this patient.Lower extremity venipuncture is the preferred technique because administering upper extremity venous transfusion to patients with SVCS can exacerbate oedema in the head,neck,and upper extremities.The patient and his family were informed about the procedure,and informed consent was obtained.After successful puncture and prompt treatment,the patient was discharged,experiencing some relief from symptoms.CONCLUSION Inferior vena cava catheterisation is rare and important for cancer patients with SVCS,particularly in complex situations involving ectopic placement.
文摘Computer-navigated pedicle screw insertion is applied to the thoracic and lumbar spine to attain high insertion accuracy and a low rate of screw-related complications.However,some in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that no advantages are gained with the use of navigation techniques compared to conventional techniques.Additionally,inconsistent conclusions have been drawn in various studies due to different population characteristics and methods used to assess the accuracy of screw placement.Moreover,it is not clear whether pedicle screw insertion with navigation techniques decreases the incidence of screw-related complications.Therefore,this study was sought to perform a meta-analysis of all available prospective evidence regarding pedicle screw insertion with or without navigation techniques in human thoracic and lumbar spine.We considered in vivo comparative studies that assessed the results of pedicle screw placement with or without navigation techniques.PubMed,Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched.Three published randomized controlled trials(RCTs) and nine retrospective comparative studies met the inclusion criteria.These studies included a total of 732 patients in whom 4,953 screws were inserted.In conclusion,accuracy of the position of grade I,II,III and IV screws and complication rate related to pedicle screw placement were significantly increased when navigation techniques were used in comparison to conventional techniques.Future research in this area should include RCTs with well-planned methodology to limit bias and report on validated,patient-based outcome measures.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51165040,50775119)Visiting Scholar Foundation of Key Lab in University of China (Grant No. GZKF-201020)
文摘Needle insertion is a common surgical procedure used in diagnosis and treatment.The needle steering technologies make continuous developments in theoretical and practical aspects along with the in-depth research on needle insertion.It is necessary to summarize and analyze the existing results to promote the future development of theories and applications of needle insertion.Thus,a survey of the state of the art of research is presented on algorithms of needle steering techniques,the surgical robots and devices.Based on the analysis of the needle insertion procedure,the concept of needle steering is defined as a kinematics problem,which is to place the needle at the target and avoid the obstacles.The needle steering techniques,including the artificial potential field method and the nonholonomic model,are introduced to control the needles for improving the accuracy.Based on the quasi-static thinking,the virtual spring model and the cantilever-beam model are developed to calculate the amount of needle deflection and generate the needle path.The phantoms instead of the real tissue are used to verify the models mentioned in most of the experimentations.For the desired needle trajectories,the image-guided robotic devices and some novel needles are presented to achieve the needle steering.Finally,the challenges are provided involving the controllability of the long flexible needle and the properties of soft tissue.The results and investigations can be used for further study on the precision and accuracy of needle insertion.
基金Sasagawa Medical Scholarship Foundation(from 1999-2000)
文摘AIM It is well known that colonoscopy can bedifficult due to abdominal pain induced duringcolonoscope insertion,if sedative agents are notgiven.Recently,an extra-flexible,small-diameter colonoscope(CF-SV,Olympus Inc.,Japan)was developed in order to improve safetyand comfort.The aim of this study was toaccess the usefulness of the CF-SV.METHODS One hundred patients undergoingsigmoidoscopy were recruited and colonoscopywas performed by one experiencedcolonoscopist.First,a routine-type colonoscope(CF-2301)was inserted into the colon withoutsedation.When the patient complained ofabdominal pain(even if mild),the scope wasnot advanced further and was withdrawn afterthe anatomic location of its tip was determinedfluoroscopically.Then,the CF-SV was inserteduntil it reached the cecun or the site whereabdominal pain occurred.Previous abdominalsurgery and abdominal disease were consideredas unfavorable factors(UF)and the relationshipbetween abdominal pain and UF,age and genderwere investigated.Furthermore,the colonicinsertion pressures in 36 patients with abdominalpain were measured with a force gauge.RESULTS Thirty-four cases(34%)felt no painwith the CF-2301 and successful pancolon-0scopies to the cecum were performed.Sixty-six cases(66%)complained of abdominal pain.The procedure was painless for 47% of men and24% of women,respectively.The CF-2301 scopefailed to reach the sigmoid-descending colon junctions in 59(89.4%)of the 66 patientscomplaining of abdominal pain.However,CF-SVreached proximal area in 94.9% of those whofailed with CF-2301.The median pressure forpain-inducing was 700 g/cm^2.CONCLUSION Unsedated patients with UFwere prone to complain of pain when thestandard-type CF-2301 scope was used.Thenewly developed extra-flexible CF-SV is usefulfor the aged and for those with UF or being proneto suffer from abdominal pain.Sedative agentsmay be unnecessary if this new type ofcolonoscope is used.
文摘On the basis of the analysis of typical orthogonal crankrocking lever spatial mechanism for the weft insertion in rapier looms, the rules of the outputting lever motion and the mechanism pressure-angle variety are studied when the maximum swing angle of rocking lever and the length of outputting lever have different values, and the optimum parameters suitable for motion transmission can be chosen. At the same time some existing shortpoints of the mechanism are also pointed out.
文摘This study investigated the relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion polymorphism and the occurrence, severity, prognosis of HSPN. The polymorphism of ACE gene in 103 HSPN cases and 100 healthy children was studied by using the polymerase chain reactions (PCR). Its relation to the clinical manifestation, pathological classification and prognosis of HSPN was analyzed accordingly. The results showed that: (1) there was a significantly higher frequency for DD genotype in HSPN children (P<0.01); (2) DD genotype was more frequently seen in HSPN children with gross hematuria and massive proteinuria (P<0.05), while DI genotype was more common in HSPN children group with renal insufficiency (P<0.05); (3) although mesangial proliferative lesion was most frequently observed in 21 biopsied HSPN children, and DD genotype frequency was still higher in children with severe pathology (Class Ⅲ Ⅳ); (4)II genotype was significantly frequent in HSPN children with complete remission in the follow-up of 32 HSPN children. It was concluded that the deletion allele of ACE gene might play a role, at least to some extent, in the occurrence, deterioration and progression in juvenile HSPN.
基金supported by grants from the Ministry of Agriculture,Forestry and Fisheries of Japan(Project for Climate Change,Vegetable-4103)for K.S.,Cooperative Research Grant of the Genome Research for BioResource,NODAI Genome Research Center,Tokyo University of Agriculture for K.S.and K.K.,Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research for K.K.,MEXT-Supported Program for the Strategic Research Foundation at Private Universities,2013-2017(S1311017)for K.K.We thank Rumi Ohtake of NODAI Genome Research Center,Tokyo University of Agriculture,and Masaki Kawakami of the Nagano Vegetable Ornamental Crops Experiment Station for helpful discussion and advice.We also thank Chizuru Kagami,Yoko Takahashi,Yoshie Nakayama,and especially Atsushi Tsukada and Hideaki Okazawa for technical assistance in the field experiment.We also thank Akane Igarashi,Reina Ohwaki,and Hiroto Kayama for technical assistance in the RNA-seq analysis and genome sequencing,Naho Takahashi for technical assistance in the extraction of genomic DNA.Moreover,we also thank‘Bas Breau’at hakuba for helpful assistance.
文摘To improve several agronomic traits in crisphead lettuce(Lactuca sativa L.)under high-temperature growth conditions,we investigated the correlation among those traits in multiple cultivars and performed genetic mapping of their causal genes.In a field cultivation test of Empire type(serrated leaf)and Salinas type(wavy leaf)cultivars,Empire type cultivars showed increased tipburn susceptibility and late bolting compared with Salinas type cultivars.We attempted genetic mapping of leaf shape and bolting time by ddRAD-seq using the F2 population derived from a cross between‘VI185’(Empire type)and‘ShinanoGreen’(Salinas type).These analyses suggested that both traits are controlled by a single locus in LG5.Genotyping of 51 commercial lettuce cultivars with a tightly linked marker(LG5_v8_252.743Mbp)at this locus showed an association between its genotype and the serrated leaf phenotype.By further fine mapping and transcriptome analysis,a gene encoding putative CIN-like TCP transcription factor was determined to be a candidate gene at this locus and was designated as LsTCP4.An insertion of retrotransposable element was found in the allele of‘VI185’,and its transcript level in the leaves was lower than that in‘ShinanoGreen’.Because shapes of leaf epidermal cells in‘VI185’were similar to those in the TCP family mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana,the leaf shape phenotype was likely caused by reduced expression of LsTCP4.Furthermore,because it is known that the TCP family protein also controls flowering time via interaction with FT in A.thaliana,it was highly possible that LsTCP4 gave pleiotropic effects on both leaf shape and bolting time in lettuce.