The Internet of things(IoT)is a wireless network designed to perform specific tasks and plays a crucial role in various fields such as environmental monitoring,surveillance,and healthcare.To address the limitations im...The Internet of things(IoT)is a wireless network designed to perform specific tasks and plays a crucial role in various fields such as environmental monitoring,surveillance,and healthcare.To address the limitations imposed by inadequate resources,energy,and network scalability,this type of network relies heavily on data aggregation and clustering algorithms.Although various conventional studies have aimed to enhance the lifespan of a network through robust systems,they do not always provide optimal efficiency for real-time applications.This paper presents an approach based on state-of-the-art machine-learning methods.In this study,we employed a novel approach that combines an extended version of principal component analysis(PCA)and a reinforcement learning algorithm to achieve efficient clustering and data reduction.The primary objectives of this study are to enhance the service life of a network,reduce energy usage,and improve data aggregation efficiency.We evaluated the proposed methodology using data collected from sensors deployed in agricultural fields for crop monitoring.Our proposed approach(PQL)was compared to previous studies that utilized adaptive Q-learning(AQL)and regional energy-aware clustering(REAC).Our study outperformed in terms of both network longevity and energy consumption and established a fault-tolerant network.展开更多
Neurons are highly polarized cells with axons reaching over a meter long in adult humans.To survive and maintain their proper function,neurons depend on specific mechanisms that regulate spatiotemporal signaling and m...Neurons are highly polarized cells with axons reaching over a meter long in adult humans.To survive and maintain their proper function,neurons depend on specific mechanisms that regulate spatiotemporal signaling and metabolic events,which need to be carried out at the right place,time,and intensity.Such mechanisms include axonal transport,local synthesis,and liquid-liquid phase separations.Alterations and malfunctions in these processes are correlated to neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).展开更多
As a mathematical analysis method,fractal analysis can be used to quantitatively describe irregular shapes with self-similar or self-affine properties.Fractal analysis has been used to characterize the shapes of metal...As a mathematical analysis method,fractal analysis can be used to quantitatively describe irregular shapes with self-similar or self-affine properties.Fractal analysis has been used to characterize the shapes of metal materials at various scales and dimensions.Conventional methods make it difficult to quantitatively describe the relationship between the regular characteristics and properties of metal material surfaces and interfaces.However,fractal analysis can be used to quantitatively describe the shape characteristics of metal materials and to establish the quantitative relationships between the shape characteristics and various properties of metal materials.From the perspective of two-dimensional planes and three-dimensional curved surfaces,this paper reviews the current research status of the fractal analysis of metal precipitate interfaces,metal grain boundary interfaces,metal-deposited film surfaces,metal fracture surfaces,metal machined surfaces,and metal wear surfaces.The relationship between the fractal dimensions and properties of metal material surfaces and interfaces is summarized.Starting from three perspectives of fractal analysis,namely,research scope,image acquisition methods,and calculation methods,this paper identifies the direction of research on fractal analysis of metal material surfaces and interfaces that need to be developed.It is believed that revealing the deep influence mechanism between the fractal dimensions and properties of metal material surfaces and interfaces will be the key research direction of the fractal analysis of metal materials in the future.展开更多
Peripheral nerve injury is a common neurological condition that often leads to severe functional limitations and disabilities.Research on the pathogenesis of peripheral nerve injury has focused on pathological changes...Peripheral nerve injury is a common neurological condition that often leads to severe functional limitations and disabilities.Research on the pathogenesis of peripheral nerve injury has focused on pathological changes at individual injury sites,neglecting multilevel pathological analysis of the overall nervous system and target organs.This has led to restrictions on current therapeutic approaches.In this paper,we first summarize the potential mechanisms of peripheral nerve injury from a holistic perspective,covering the central nervous system,peripheral nervous system,and target organs.After peripheral nerve injury,the cortical plasticity of the brain is altered due to damage to and regeneration of peripheral nerves;changes such as neuronal apoptosis and axonal demyelination occur in the spinal cord.The nerve will undergo axonal regeneration,activation of Schwann cells,inflammatory response,and vascular system regeneration at the injury site.Corresponding damage to target organs can occur,including skeletal muscle atrophy and sensory receptor disruption.We then provide a brief review of the research advances in therapeutic approaches to peripheral nerve injury.The main current treatments are conducted passively and include physical factor rehabilitation,pharmacological treatments,cell-based therapies,and physical exercise.However,most treatments only partially address the problem and cannot complete the systematic recovery of the entire central nervous system-peripheral nervous system-target organ pathway.Therefore,we should further explore multilevel treatment options that produce effective,long-lasting results,perhaps requiring a combination of passive(traditional)and active(novel)treatment methods to stimulate rehabilitation at the central-peripheral-target organ levels to achieve better functional recovery.展开更多
Black water aggregation (BWA) in Taihu Lake is a disaster for the lake environment. It is a phenomenon resulting from water environmental deterioration and eutrophication caused by accumulation of pollutants in the ...Black water aggregation (BWA) in Taihu Lake is a disaster for the lake environment. It is a phenomenon resulting from water environmental deterioration and eutrophication caused by accumulation of pollutants in the lake, according to research on the water quality, pollutants of BWA, and occurrence mechanisms of BWA. Dead algae are the material base of BWA, the polluted sediment is an important factor for the formation of BWA, and hydrological and meteorological conditions such as sun light, air temperature, wind speed, and water flow are the other factors that may lead to the formation of BWA. Thioether substances such as dimethyl trisulfide are the representative pollutants of BWA. Parameters such as chlorophyll-a, DO, pH, and water temperature are sensitive indicators of BWA. Measures such as algae collection, ecological dredging, pollution control, and water diversion from the Yangtze River to the lake, are effective, and strengthening aeration is an emergency measure to control BWA.展开更多
Asphaltenes generally exist in the form of molecular aggregates in crude oil or in petroleum residues,and asphaltene aggregates can usually cause serious problems to oil exploitation,transportation,and processing.Achi...Asphaltenes generally exist in the form of molecular aggregates in crude oil or in petroleum residues,and asphaltene aggregates can usually cause serious problems to oil exploitation,transportation,and processing.Achieving deaggregation and separation of asphaltene aggregates is a premise and basis for molecular characterization and processing of heavy oils.Aiming at the intermolecular interactions in asphaltene molecular aggregates,it has proposed and summarized that aspahltene aggregates can be subject to deaggregation by means of five approaches,including solvent diluting,removing active sites,moderate heating,ultrasonication and on-line molecular collision.Moreover,asphaltenes can be further separated to narrow fractions for molecular-level research based on polarity difference,molecular size difference,acid-base properties,and reactivity difference.展开更多
This paper describes an empirical study aiming at identifying the main differences between different logistic regression models and collision data aggregation methods that are commonly applied in road safety literatur...This paper describes an empirical study aiming at identifying the main differences between different logistic regression models and collision data aggregation methods that are commonly applied in road safety literature for modeling collision severity. In particular, the research compares three popular multilevel logistic models (i.e., sequential binary logit models, ordered logit models, and multinomial logit models) as well as three data aggregation methods (i.e., occupant based, vehicle based, and collision based). Six years of collision data (2001-2006) from 31 highway routes from across the province of Ontario, Canada were used for this analysis. It was found that a multilevel multinomial logit model has the best fit to the data than the other two models while the results obtained from occupant-based data are more reliable than those from vehicle- and collision-based data. More importantly, while generally consistent in terms of factors that were found to be significant between different models and data aggregation methods, the effect size of each factor differ sub- stantially, which could have significant implications forevaluating the effects of different safety-related policies and countermeasures.展开更多
This paper proposes an analysis model of frame aggregation in error-free channel with unsaturated traffic and fixed aggregation size. Integrated with model of channel access, calculation of MAC (Media Access Control) ...This paper proposes an analysis model of frame aggregation in error-free channel with unsaturated traffic and fixed aggregation size. Integrated with model of channel access, calculation of MAC (Media Access Control) average service time and queue model of frame aggregation, our model can get the stable result with a recursive algorithm, and it further derive the throughput and latency of frame aggregation in steady state. As the impact of traffic, frame length, collision probability, buffer size, aggregation size and interactive effects are taken into consideration, the effect of every parameter could be evaluated and the major factor which degrades the performance of frame aggregation can be determined in different situation with this model. By the simulation and numerical analysis, this model confirmed its accuracy. The proposed model can be used in the design, optimization and deployment of WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) and WMN (Wireless Mesh Network) widely.展开更多
A sensitivity analysis is performed to analyze the effects of the nanoparticle(NP)aggregation and thermal radiation on heat transport of the nanoliquids(titania based on ethylene glycol)over a vertical cylinder.The op...A sensitivity analysis is performed to analyze the effects of the nanoparticle(NP)aggregation and thermal radiation on heat transport of the nanoliquids(titania based on ethylene glycol)over a vertical cylinder.The optimization of heat transfer rate and friction factor is performed for NP volume fraction(1%≤φ≤3%),radiation parameter(1≤R_(t)≤3),and mixed convection parameter(1.5≤λ≤2.5)via the facecentered central composite design(CCD)and the response surface methodology(RSM).The modified Krieger and Dougherty model(MKDM)for dynamic viscosity and the Bruggeman model(BM)for thermal conductivity are utilized to simulate nanoliquids with the NP aggregation aspect.The complicated nonlinear problem is treated numerically.It is found that the temperature of nanoliquid is enhanced due to the aggregation of NPs.The friction factor is more sensitive to the volume fraction of NPs than the thermal radiation and the mixed convection parameter.Furthermore,the heat transport rate is more sensitive to the effect of radiative heat compared with the NP volume fraction and mixed convection parameter.展开更多
Straw return is a promising strategy for managing soil organic carbon(SOC)and improving yield stability.However,the optimal straw return strategy for sustainable crop production in the wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)-cott...Straw return is a promising strategy for managing soil organic carbon(SOC)and improving yield stability.However,the optimal straw return strategy for sustainable crop production in the wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)-cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)cropping system remains uncertain.The objective of this study was to quantify the long-term(10 years)impact of carbon(C)input on SOC sequestration,soil aggregation and crop yields in a wheat-cotton cropping system in the Yangtze River Valley,China.Five treatments were arranged with a single-factor randomized design as follows:no straw return(Control),return of wheat straw only(Wt),return of cotton straw only(Ct),return of 50%wheat and 50%cotton straw(Wh-Ch)and return of 100%wheat and 100%cotton straw(Wt-Ct).In comparison to the Control,the SOC content increased by 8.4 to 20.2%under straw return.A significant linear positive correlation between SOC sequestration and C input(1.42-7.19 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1))(P<0.05)was detected.The percentages of aggregates of sizes>2 and 1-2 mm at the 0-20 cm soil depth were also significantly elevated under straw return,with the greatest increase of the aggregate stability in the Wt-Ct treatment(28.1%).The average wheat yields increased by 12.4-36.0%and cotton yields increased by 29.4-73.7%,and significantly linear positive correlations were also detected between C input and the yields of wheat and cotton.The average sustainable yield index(SYI)reached a maximum value of 0.69 when the C input was 7.08 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1),which was close to the maximum value(SYI of 0.69,C input of 7.19 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(-1))in the Wt-Ct treatment.Overall,the return of both wheat and cotton straw was the best strategy for improving SOC sequestration,soil aggregation,yields and their sustainability in the wheat-cotton rotation system.展开更多
Immune changes and inflammatory responses have been identified as central events in the pathological process of spinal co rd injury.They can greatly affect nerve regeneration and functional recovery.However,there is s...Immune changes and inflammatory responses have been identified as central events in the pathological process of spinal co rd injury.They can greatly affect nerve regeneration and functional recovery.However,there is still limited understanding of the peripheral immune inflammato ry response in spinal cord inju ry.In this study.we obtained microRNA expression profiles from the peripheral blood of patients with spinal co rd injury using high-throughput sequencing.We also obtained the mRNA expression profile of spinal cord injury patients from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database(GSE151371).We identified 54 differentially expressed microRNAs and 1656 diffe rentially expressed genes using bioinformatics approaches.Functional enrichment analysis revealed that various common immune and inflammation-related signaling pathways,such as neutrophil extracellular trap formation pathway,T cell receptor signaling pathway,and nuclear factor-κB signal pathway,we re abnormally activated or inhibited in spinal cord inju ry patient samples.We applied an integrated strategy that combines weighted gene co-expression network analysis,LASSO logistic regression,and SVM-RFE algorithm and identified three biomarke rs associated with spinal cord injury:ANO10,BST1,and ZFP36L2.We verified the expression levels and diagnostic perfo rmance of these three genes in the original training dataset and clinical samples through the receiver operating characteristic curve.Quantitative polymerase chain reaction results showed that ANO20 and BST1 mRNA levels were increased and ZFP36L2 mRNA was decreased in the peripheral blood of spinal cord injury patients.We also constructed a small RNA-mRNA interaction network using Cytoscape.Additionally,we evaluated the proportion of 22 types of immune cells in the peripheral blood of spinal co rd injury patients using the CIBERSORT tool.The proportions of naive B cells,plasma cells,monocytes,and neutrophils were increased while the proportions of memory B cells,CD8^(+)T cells,resting natural killer cells,resting dendritic cells,and eosinophils were markedly decreased in spinal cord injury patients increased compared with healthy subjects,and ANO10,BST1 and ZFP26L2we re closely related to the proportion of certain immune cell types.The findings from this study provide new directions for the development of treatment strategies related to immune inflammation in spinal co rd inju ry and suggest that ANO10,BST2,and ZFP36L2 are potential biomarkers for spinal cord injury.The study was registe red in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(registration No.ChiCTR2200066985,December 12,2022).展开更多
Background In early adolescence,youth are highly prone to suicidal behaviours.Identifying modifiable risk factors during this critical phase is a priority to inform effective suicide prevention strategies.Aims To expl...Background In early adolescence,youth are highly prone to suicidal behaviours.Identifying modifiable risk factors during this critical phase is a priority to inform effective suicide prevention strategies.Aims To explore the risk and protective factors of suicidal behaviours(ie,suicidal ideation,plans and attempts)in early adolescence in China using a social-ecological perspective.Methods Using data from the cross-sectional project‘Healthy and Risky Behaviours Among Middle School Students in Anhui Province,China',stratified random cluster sampling was used to select 5724 middle school students who had completed self-report questionnaires in November 2020.Network analysis was employed to examine the correlates of suicidal ideation,plans and attempts at four levels,namely individual(sex,academic performance,serious physical llness/disability,history of self-harm,depression,impulsivity,sleep problems,resilience),family(family economic status,relationship with mother,relationship with father,family violence,childhood abuse,parental mental illness),school(relationship with teachers,relationship with classmates,school-bullying victimisation and perpetration)and social(social support,satisfaction with society).Results In total,37.9%,19.0%and 5.5%of the students reported suicidal ideation,plans and attempts in the past 6 months,respectively.The estimated network revealed that suicidal ideation,plans and attempts were collectively associated with a history of self-harm,sleep problems,childhood abuse,school bullying and victimisation.Centrality analysis indicated that the most influential nodes in the network were history of self-harm and childhood abuse.Notably,the network also showed unique correlates of suicidal ideation(sex,weight=0.60;impulsivity,weight=0.24;family violence,weight=0.17;relationship with teachers,weight=-0.03;school-bullying perpetration,weight=0.22),suicidal plans(social support,weight=-0.15)and suicidal attempts(relationship with mother,weight=-0.10;parental mental llness,weight=0.61).Conclusions This study identified the correlates of suicidal ideation,plans and attempts,and provided practical implications for suicide prevention for young adolescents in China.Firstly,this study highlighted the importance of joint interventions across multiple departments.Secondly,the common risk factors of suicidal ideation,plans and attempts were elucidated.Thirdly,this study proposed target interventions to address the unique influencing factors of suicidal ideation,plans and attempts.展开更多
Parkinson's disease(PD),a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder,is chara cterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons and the aggregation ofα-synuclein protein into Lewy bodies.While the current standards of thera...Parkinson's disease(PD),a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder,is chara cterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons and the aggregation ofα-synuclein protein into Lewy bodies.While the current standards of therapy have been successful in providing some symptom relief,they fail to address the underlying pathophysiology of PD and as a result,they have no effect on disease progression.展开更多
Individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis was developed to overcome several meta-analytical pitfalls of classical meta-analysis. One advantage of classical psychometric meta-analysis over IPD meta-analysis is th...Individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis was developed to overcome several meta-analytical pitfalls of classical meta-analysis. One advantage of classical psychometric meta-analysis over IPD meta-analysis is the corrections of the aggregated unit of studies, namely study differences, i.e., artifacts, such as measurement error. Without these corrections on a study level, meta-analysts may assume moderator variables instead of artifacts between studies. The psychometric correction of the aggregation unit of individuals in IPD meta-analysis has been neglected by IPD meta-analysts thus far. In this paper, we present the adaptation of a psychometric approach for IPD meta-analysis to account for the differences in the aggregation unit of individuals to overcome differences between individuals. We introduce the reader to this approach using the aggregation of lens model studies on individual data as an example, and lay out different application possibilities for the future (e.g., big data analysis). Our suggested psychometric IPD meta-analysis supplements the meta-analysis approaches within the field and is a suitable alternative for future analysis.展开更多
Red blood cells(RBCs)are the most abundant human blood cells.RBC aggregation and deformation strongly determine blood viscosity which impacts hemorheology and microcirculation.In turn,RBC properties depend on di®...Red blood cells(RBCs)are the most abundant human blood cells.RBC aggregation and deformation strongly determine blood viscosity which impacts hemorheology and microcirculation.In turn,RBC properties depend on di®erent endogenous and exogenous factors.One such factor is nitric oxide(NO),which is mainly produced by endothelial cells(EC)from L-arginine amino acid in the circulatory system.Since the mechanisms of the RBC-endothelium interplay are not clear up to date and considering its possible clinical importance,the aims of this study are to investigate in vitro:(1)The effect of L-arginine induced NO on RBC aggregation and adhesion to endothelium;(2)the NO e®ect on RBC aggregation and deformation induced by L-arginine and sodium nitroprusside without the presence of endothelium in the samples.The RBC aggregation and adhesion to a monolayer of EC were studied using optical tweezers(OT).The RBC deformability and aggregation without endothelium in the samples were studied using the flow chamber method and Myrenne aggregometer.We confirmed that NO increases deformability and decreases aggregation of RBCs.We showed that the soluble guanylate cyclase pathway appears to be the only NO signaling pathway involved.In the samples with the endothelium,the "bell-shaped"dependence of RBC aggregation force on L-arginine concentration was observed,which improves our knowledge about the process of NO production by endothelium.Additionally,data related to L-arginine accumulation by endothelium were obtained:Necessity of the presence of extracellular L-arginine stated by other authors was put under question.In our study,NO decreased the RBC-endothelium adhesion,however,the tendency appeared to be weak and was not confirmed in another set of experiments.To our knowledge,this is the first attempt to measure the forces of RBC adhesion to endothelium monolayer with OT.展开更多
Clustering is the most significant task characterized in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) by data aggregation through each Cluster Head (CH). This leads to the reduction in the traffic cost. Due to the deployment of the...Clustering is the most significant task characterized in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) by data aggregation through each Cluster Head (CH). This leads to the reduction in the traffic cost. Due to the deployment of the WSN in the remote and hostile environments for the transmission of the sensitive information, the sensor nodes are more prone to the false data injection attacks. To overcome these existing issues and enhance the network security, this paper proposes a Secure Area based Clustering approach for data aggregation using Traffic Analysis (SAC-TA) in WSN. Here, the sensor network is clustered into small clusters, such that each cluster has a CH to manage and gather the information from the normal sensor nodes. The CH is selected based on the predefined time slot, cluster center, and highest residual energy. The gathered data are validated based on the traffic analysis and One-time Key Generation procedures to identify the malicious nodes on the route. It helps to provide a secure data gathering process with improved energy efficiency. The performance of the proposed approach is compared with the existing Secure Data Aggregation Technique (SDAT). The proposed SAC-TA yields lower average energy consumption rate, lower end-to-end delay, higher average residual energy, higher data aggregation accuracy and false data detection rate than the existing technique.展开更多
The current exploration focuses on the ethylene glycol(EG)based nanoliquid flow in a microchannel.The effectiveness of the internal heat source and linear radiation is reflected in the present investigation.The estima...The current exploration focuses on the ethylene glycol(EG)based nanoliquid flow in a microchannel.The effectiveness of the internal heat source and linear radiation is reflected in the present investigation.The estimation of suitable thermal conductivity model has affirmative impact on the convective heat transfer phenomenon.The examination is conceded with the nanoparticle aggregation demonstrated by the Maxwell-Bruggeman and Krieger-Dougherty models which tackle the formation of nanolayer.These models effectively describe the thermal conductivity and viscosity correspondingly.The dimensionless mathematical expressions are solved numerically by the Runge Kutta Fehlberg approach.A higher thermal field is attained for the Bruggeman model due to the formation of thermal bridge.A second law analysis is carried out to predict the sources of irreversibility associated with the thermal system.It is remarked that lesser entropy generation is obtained for the aggregation model.The entropy generation rate declines with the slip flow and the thermal heat flux.A notable enhancement in the Bejan number is attained by increasing the Biot number.It is established that the nanoparticle aggragation model exhibits a higher Bejan number in comparision with the usual flow model.展开更多
DNA methylation has been extensively investigated in recent years,not least because of its known relationship with various diseases.Progress in analytical methods can greatly increase the relevance of DNA methylation ...DNA methylation has been extensively investigated in recent years,not least because of its known relationship with various diseases.Progress in analytical methods can greatly increase the relevance of DNA methylation studies to both clinical medicine and scientific research.Microflu-idic chips are excellent carriers for molecular analysis,and their use can provide improvements from multiple aspects.On-chip molecular analysis has received extensive attention owing to its advantages of portability,high throughput,low cost,and high efficiency.In recent years,the use of novel microfluidic chips for DNA methylation analysis has been widely reported and has shown obvious superiority to conventional methods.In this review,wefirst focus on DNA methylation and its applications.Then,we discuss advanced microfluidic-based methods for DNA methylation analysis and describe the great progress that has been made in recent years.Finally,we summarize the advantages that microfluidic technology brings to DNA methylation analysis and describe several challenges and perspectives for on-chip DNA methylation analysis.This review should help researchers improve their understanding and make progress in developing microfluidic-based methods for DNA methylation analysis.展开更多
Condensed and hydrolysable tannins are non-toxic natural polyphenols that are a commercial commodity industrialized for tanning hides to obtain leather and for a growing number of other industrial applications mainly ...Condensed and hydrolysable tannins are non-toxic natural polyphenols that are a commercial commodity industrialized for tanning hides to obtain leather and for a growing number of other industrial applications mainly to substitute petroleum-based products.They are a definite class of sustainable materials of the forestry industry.They have been in operation for hundreds of years to manufacture leather and now for a growing number of applications in a variety of other industries,such as wood adhesives,metal coating,pharmaceutical/medical applications and several others.This review presents the main sources,either already or potentially commercial of this forestry by-materials,their industrial and laboratory extraction systems,their systems of analysis with their advantages and drawbacks,be these methods so simple to even appear primitive but nonetheless of proven effectiveness,or very modern and instrumental.It constitutes a basic but essential summary of what is necessary to know of these sustainable materials.In doing so,the review highlights some of the main challenges that remain to be addressed to deliver the quality and economics of tannin supply necessary to fulfill the industrial production requirements for some materials-based uses.展开更多
The IEEE 802.11n standard has provided prominent features that greatly contribute to ubiquitous wireless networks.Over the last ten years,voice over IP(VoIP)has become widespread around the globe owing to its low-cost...The IEEE 802.11n standard has provided prominent features that greatly contribute to ubiquitous wireless networks.Over the last ten years,voice over IP(VoIP)has become widespread around the globe owing to its low-cost or even free call rate.The combination of these technologies(VoIP and wireless)has become desirable and inevitable for organizations.However,VoIP faces a bandwidth utilization issue when working with 802.11 wireless networks.The bandwidth utilization is inefficient on the grounds that(i)80 bytes of 802.11/RTP/UDP/IP header is appended to 10–730 bytes of VoIP payload and(ii)765μs waiting intervals follow each 802.11 VoIP frame.Without considering the quality requirements of a VoIP call,be including frame aggregation in the IEEE 802.11n standard has been suggested as a solution for the bandwidth utilization issue.Consequently,several aggregation methods have been proposed to handle the quality requirements of VoIP calls when carried over an IEEE 802.11n wireless network.In this survey,we analyze the existing aggregation methods of VoIP over the A-MSDU IEEE 802.11n wireless standard.The survey provides researchers with a detailed analysis of the bandwidth utilization issue concerning the A-MSDU 802.11n standard,discussion of the main approaches of frame aggregation methods and existing aggregation methods,elaboration of the impact of frame aggregation methods on network performance and VoIP call quality,and suggestion of new areas to be investigated in conjunction with frame aggregation.The survey contributes by offering guidelines to design an appropriate,reliable,and robust aggregation method of VoIP over 802.11n standard.展开更多
文摘The Internet of things(IoT)is a wireless network designed to perform specific tasks and plays a crucial role in various fields such as environmental monitoring,surveillance,and healthcare.To address the limitations imposed by inadequate resources,energy,and network scalability,this type of network relies heavily on data aggregation and clustering algorithms.Although various conventional studies have aimed to enhance the lifespan of a network through robust systems,they do not always provide optimal efficiency for real-time applications.This paper presents an approach based on state-of-the-art machine-learning methods.In this study,we employed a novel approach that combines an extended version of principal component analysis(PCA)and a reinforcement learning algorithm to achieve efficient clustering and data reduction.The primary objectives of this study are to enhance the service life of a network,reduce energy usage,and improve data aggregation efficiency.We evaluated the proposed methodology using data collected from sensors deployed in agricultural fields for crop monitoring.Our proposed approach(PQL)was compared to previous studies that utilized adaptive Q-learning(AQL)and regional energy-aware clustering(REAC).Our study outperformed in terms of both network longevity and energy consumption and established a fault-tolerant network.
文摘Neurons are highly polarized cells with axons reaching over a meter long in adult humans.To survive and maintain their proper function,neurons depend on specific mechanisms that regulate spatiotemporal signaling and metabolic events,which need to be carried out at the right place,time,and intensity.Such mechanisms include axonal transport,local synthesis,and liquid-liquid phase separations.Alterations and malfunctions in these processes are correlated to neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).
基金financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2022YFE0121300)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52374376)the Introduction Plan for High-end Foreign Experts(No.G2023105001L)。
文摘As a mathematical analysis method,fractal analysis can be used to quantitatively describe irregular shapes with self-similar or self-affine properties.Fractal analysis has been used to characterize the shapes of metal materials at various scales and dimensions.Conventional methods make it difficult to quantitatively describe the relationship between the regular characteristics and properties of metal material surfaces and interfaces.However,fractal analysis can be used to quantitatively describe the shape characteristics of metal materials and to establish the quantitative relationships between the shape characteristics and various properties of metal materials.From the perspective of two-dimensional planes and three-dimensional curved surfaces,this paper reviews the current research status of the fractal analysis of metal precipitate interfaces,metal grain boundary interfaces,metal-deposited film surfaces,metal fracture surfaces,metal machined surfaces,and metal wear surfaces.The relationship between the fractal dimensions and properties of metal material surfaces and interfaces is summarized.Starting from three perspectives of fractal analysis,namely,research scope,image acquisition methods,and calculation methods,this paper identifies the direction of research on fractal analysis of metal material surfaces and interfaces that need to be developed.It is believed that revealing the deep influence mechanism between the fractal dimensions and properties of metal material surfaces and interfaces will be the key research direction of the fractal analysis of metal materials in the future.
基金supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin(General Program),Nos.23JCYBJC01390(to RL),22JCYBJC00220(to XC),and 22JCYBJC00210(to QL).
文摘Peripheral nerve injury is a common neurological condition that often leads to severe functional limitations and disabilities.Research on the pathogenesis of peripheral nerve injury has focused on pathological changes at individual injury sites,neglecting multilevel pathological analysis of the overall nervous system and target organs.This has led to restrictions on current therapeutic approaches.In this paper,we first summarize the potential mechanisms of peripheral nerve injury from a holistic perspective,covering the central nervous system,peripheral nervous system,and target organs.After peripheral nerve injury,the cortical plasticity of the brain is altered due to damage to and regeneration of peripheral nerves;changes such as neuronal apoptosis and axonal demyelination occur in the spinal cord.The nerve will undergo axonal regeneration,activation of Schwann cells,inflammatory response,and vascular system regeneration at the injury site.Corresponding damage to target organs can occur,including skeletal muscle atrophy and sensory receptor disruption.We then provide a brief review of the research advances in therapeutic approaches to peripheral nerve injury.The main current treatments are conducted passively and include physical factor rehabilitation,pharmacological treatments,cell-based therapies,and physical exercise.However,most treatments only partially address the problem and cannot complete the systematic recovery of the entire central nervous system-peripheral nervous system-target organ pathway.Therefore,we should further explore multilevel treatment options that produce effective,long-lasting results,perhaps requiring a combination of passive(traditional)and active(novel)treatment methods to stimulate rehabilitation at the central-peripheral-target organ levels to achieve better functional recovery.
基金supported by the National Water Project of China (Grant No. 2008ZX07101-011)
文摘Black water aggregation (BWA) in Taihu Lake is a disaster for the lake environment. It is a phenomenon resulting from water environmental deterioration and eutrophication caused by accumulation of pollutants in the lake, according to research on the water quality, pollutants of BWA, and occurrence mechanisms of BWA. Dead algae are the material base of BWA, the polluted sediment is an important factor for the formation of BWA, and hydrological and meteorological conditions such as sun light, air temperature, wind speed, and water flow are the other factors that may lead to the formation of BWA. Thioether substances such as dimethyl trisulfide are the representative pollutants of BWA. Parameters such as chlorophyll-a, DO, pH, and water temperature are sensitive indicators of BWA. Measures such as algae collection, ecological dredging, pollution control, and water diversion from the Yangtze River to the lake, are effective, and strengthening aeration is an emergency measure to control BWA.
文摘Asphaltenes generally exist in the form of molecular aggregates in crude oil or in petroleum residues,and asphaltene aggregates can usually cause serious problems to oil exploitation,transportation,and processing.Achieving deaggregation and separation of asphaltene aggregates is a premise and basis for molecular characterization and processing of heavy oils.Aiming at the intermolecular interactions in asphaltene molecular aggregates,it has proposed and summarized that aspahltene aggregates can be subject to deaggregation by means of five approaches,including solvent diluting,removing active sites,moderate heating,ultrasonication and on-line molecular collision.Moreover,asphaltenes can be further separated to narrow fractions for molecular-level research based on polarity difference,molecular size difference,acid-base properties,and reactivity difference.
基金supported by MTO in part through the Highway Infrastructure and Innovations Funding Program(HIIFP)
文摘This paper describes an empirical study aiming at identifying the main differences between different logistic regression models and collision data aggregation methods that are commonly applied in road safety literature for modeling collision severity. In particular, the research compares three popular multilevel logistic models (i.e., sequential binary logit models, ordered logit models, and multinomial logit models) as well as three data aggregation methods (i.e., occupant based, vehicle based, and collision based). Six years of collision data (2001-2006) from 31 highway routes from across the province of Ontario, Canada were used for this analysis. It was found that a multilevel multinomial logit model has the best fit to the data than the other two models while the results obtained from occupant-based data are more reliable than those from vehicle- and collision-based data. More importantly, while generally consistent in terms of factors that were found to be significant between different models and data aggregation methods, the effect size of each factor differ sub- stantially, which could have significant implications forevaluating the effects of different safety-related policies and countermeasures.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.60772085, 61071108Sino-Finland Joint Project under Grant No.2010DFB10570China Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under Grant No.SWJTU 09ZT14
文摘This paper proposes an analysis model of frame aggregation in error-free channel with unsaturated traffic and fixed aggregation size. Integrated with model of channel access, calculation of MAC (Media Access Control) average service time and queue model of frame aggregation, our model can get the stable result with a recursive algorithm, and it further derive the throughput and latency of frame aggregation in steady state. As the impact of traffic, frame length, collision probability, buffer size, aggregation size and interactive effects are taken into consideration, the effect of every parameter could be evaluated and the major factor which degrades the performance of frame aggregation can be determined in different situation with this model. By the simulation and numerical analysis, this model confirmed its accuracy. The proposed model can be used in the design, optimization and deployment of WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) and WMN (Wireless Mesh Network) widely.
文摘A sensitivity analysis is performed to analyze the effects of the nanoparticle(NP)aggregation and thermal radiation on heat transport of the nanoliquids(titania based on ethylene glycol)over a vertical cylinder.The optimization of heat transfer rate and friction factor is performed for NP volume fraction(1%≤φ≤3%),radiation parameter(1≤R_(t)≤3),and mixed convection parameter(1.5≤λ≤2.5)via the facecentered central composite design(CCD)and the response surface methodology(RSM).The modified Krieger and Dougherty model(MKDM)for dynamic viscosity and the Bruggeman model(BM)for thermal conductivity are utilized to simulate nanoliquids with the NP aggregation aspect.The complicated nonlinear problem is treated numerically.It is found that the temperature of nanoliquid is enhanced due to the aggregation of NPs.The friction factor is more sensitive to the volume fraction of NPs than the thermal radiation and the mixed convection parameter.Furthermore,the heat transport rate is more sensitive to the effect of radiative heat compared with the NP volume fraction and mixed convection parameter.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32071968)the Jiangsu Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Fund,China(CX(22)2015))the Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production,China。
文摘Straw return is a promising strategy for managing soil organic carbon(SOC)and improving yield stability.However,the optimal straw return strategy for sustainable crop production in the wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)-cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)cropping system remains uncertain.The objective of this study was to quantify the long-term(10 years)impact of carbon(C)input on SOC sequestration,soil aggregation and crop yields in a wheat-cotton cropping system in the Yangtze River Valley,China.Five treatments were arranged with a single-factor randomized design as follows:no straw return(Control),return of wheat straw only(Wt),return of cotton straw only(Ct),return of 50%wheat and 50%cotton straw(Wh-Ch)and return of 100%wheat and 100%cotton straw(Wt-Ct).In comparison to the Control,the SOC content increased by 8.4 to 20.2%under straw return.A significant linear positive correlation between SOC sequestration and C input(1.42-7.19 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1))(P<0.05)was detected.The percentages of aggregates of sizes>2 and 1-2 mm at the 0-20 cm soil depth were also significantly elevated under straw return,with the greatest increase of the aggregate stability in the Wt-Ct treatment(28.1%).The average wheat yields increased by 12.4-36.0%and cotton yields increased by 29.4-73.7%,and significantly linear positive correlations were also detected between C input and the yields of wheat and cotton.The average sustainable yield index(SYI)reached a maximum value of 0.69 when the C input was 7.08 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1),which was close to the maximum value(SYI of 0.69,C input of 7.19 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(-1))in the Wt-Ct treatment.Overall,the return of both wheat and cotton straw was the best strategy for improving SOC sequestration,soil aggregation,yields and their sustainability in the wheat-cotton rotation system.
基金supported by the Notional Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81960417 (to JX)Guangxi Key Research and Development Program,No.GuiKeA B20159027 (to JX)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,No.2022GXNSFBA035545 (to YG)。
文摘Immune changes and inflammatory responses have been identified as central events in the pathological process of spinal co rd injury.They can greatly affect nerve regeneration and functional recovery.However,there is still limited understanding of the peripheral immune inflammato ry response in spinal cord inju ry.In this study.we obtained microRNA expression profiles from the peripheral blood of patients with spinal co rd injury using high-throughput sequencing.We also obtained the mRNA expression profile of spinal cord injury patients from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database(GSE151371).We identified 54 differentially expressed microRNAs and 1656 diffe rentially expressed genes using bioinformatics approaches.Functional enrichment analysis revealed that various common immune and inflammation-related signaling pathways,such as neutrophil extracellular trap formation pathway,T cell receptor signaling pathway,and nuclear factor-κB signal pathway,we re abnormally activated or inhibited in spinal cord inju ry patient samples.We applied an integrated strategy that combines weighted gene co-expression network analysis,LASSO logistic regression,and SVM-RFE algorithm and identified three biomarke rs associated with spinal cord injury:ANO10,BST1,and ZFP36L2.We verified the expression levels and diagnostic perfo rmance of these three genes in the original training dataset and clinical samples through the receiver operating characteristic curve.Quantitative polymerase chain reaction results showed that ANO20 and BST1 mRNA levels were increased and ZFP36L2 mRNA was decreased in the peripheral blood of spinal cord injury patients.We also constructed a small RNA-mRNA interaction network using Cytoscape.Additionally,we evaluated the proportion of 22 types of immune cells in the peripheral blood of spinal co rd injury patients using the CIBERSORT tool.The proportions of naive B cells,plasma cells,monocytes,and neutrophils were increased while the proportions of memory B cells,CD8^(+)T cells,resting natural killer cells,resting dendritic cells,and eosinophils were markedly decreased in spinal cord injury patients increased compared with healthy subjects,and ANO10,BST1 and ZFP26L2we re closely related to the proportion of certain immune cell types.The findings from this study provide new directions for the development of treatment strategies related to immune inflammation in spinal co rd inju ry and suggest that ANO10,BST2,and ZFP36L2 are potential biomarkers for spinal cord injury.The study was registe red in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(registration No.ChiCTR2200066985,December 12,2022).
文摘Background In early adolescence,youth are highly prone to suicidal behaviours.Identifying modifiable risk factors during this critical phase is a priority to inform effective suicide prevention strategies.Aims To explore the risk and protective factors of suicidal behaviours(ie,suicidal ideation,plans and attempts)in early adolescence in China using a social-ecological perspective.Methods Using data from the cross-sectional project‘Healthy and Risky Behaviours Among Middle School Students in Anhui Province,China',stratified random cluster sampling was used to select 5724 middle school students who had completed self-report questionnaires in November 2020.Network analysis was employed to examine the correlates of suicidal ideation,plans and attempts at four levels,namely individual(sex,academic performance,serious physical llness/disability,history of self-harm,depression,impulsivity,sleep problems,resilience),family(family economic status,relationship with mother,relationship with father,family violence,childhood abuse,parental mental illness),school(relationship with teachers,relationship with classmates,school-bullying victimisation and perpetration)and social(social support,satisfaction with society).Results In total,37.9%,19.0%and 5.5%of the students reported suicidal ideation,plans and attempts in the past 6 months,respectively.The estimated network revealed that suicidal ideation,plans and attempts were collectively associated with a history of self-harm,sleep problems,childhood abuse,school bullying and victimisation.Centrality analysis indicated that the most influential nodes in the network were history of self-harm and childhood abuse.Notably,the network also showed unique correlates of suicidal ideation(sex,weight=0.60;impulsivity,weight=0.24;family violence,weight=0.17;relationship with teachers,weight=-0.03;school-bullying perpetration,weight=0.22),suicidal plans(social support,weight=-0.15)and suicidal attempts(relationship with mother,weight=-0.10;parental mental llness,weight=0.61).Conclusions This study identified the correlates of suicidal ideation,plans and attempts,and provided practical implications for suicide prevention for young adolescents in China.Firstly,this study highlighted the importance of joint interventions across multiple departments.Secondly,the common risk factors of suicidal ideation,plans and attempts were elucidated.Thirdly,this study proposed target interventions to address the unique influencing factors of suicidal ideation,plans and attempts.
基金the financial support received from the Michael J.Fox Foundation through the Target Advancement Program Grant Award (Grant No.MJFF-000649) (to HK)。
文摘Parkinson's disease(PD),a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder,is chara cterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons and the aggregation ofα-synuclein protein into Lewy bodies.While the current standards of therapy have been successful in providing some symptom relief,they fail to address the underlying pathophysiology of PD and as a result,they have no effect on disease progression.
文摘Individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis was developed to overcome several meta-analytical pitfalls of classical meta-analysis. One advantage of classical psychometric meta-analysis over IPD meta-analysis is the corrections of the aggregated unit of studies, namely study differences, i.e., artifacts, such as measurement error. Without these corrections on a study level, meta-analysts may assume moderator variables instead of artifacts between studies. The psychometric correction of the aggregation unit of individuals in IPD meta-analysis has been neglected by IPD meta-analysts thus far. In this paper, we present the adaptation of a psychometric approach for IPD meta-analysis to account for the differences in the aggregation unit of individuals to overcome differences between individuals. We introduce the reader to this approach using the aggregation of lens model studies on individual data as an example, and lay out different application possibilities for the future (e.g., big data analysis). Our suggested psychometric IPD meta-analysis supplements the meta-analysis approaches within the field and is a suitable alternative for future analysis.
基金supported by the Russian Science Foundation Grant No.22-15-00120.
文摘Red blood cells(RBCs)are the most abundant human blood cells.RBC aggregation and deformation strongly determine blood viscosity which impacts hemorheology and microcirculation.In turn,RBC properties depend on di®erent endogenous and exogenous factors.One such factor is nitric oxide(NO),which is mainly produced by endothelial cells(EC)from L-arginine amino acid in the circulatory system.Since the mechanisms of the RBC-endothelium interplay are not clear up to date and considering its possible clinical importance,the aims of this study are to investigate in vitro:(1)The effect of L-arginine induced NO on RBC aggregation and adhesion to endothelium;(2)the NO e®ect on RBC aggregation and deformation induced by L-arginine and sodium nitroprusside without the presence of endothelium in the samples.The RBC aggregation and adhesion to a monolayer of EC were studied using optical tweezers(OT).The RBC deformability and aggregation without endothelium in the samples were studied using the flow chamber method and Myrenne aggregometer.We confirmed that NO increases deformability and decreases aggregation of RBCs.We showed that the soluble guanylate cyclase pathway appears to be the only NO signaling pathway involved.In the samples with the endothelium,the "bell-shaped"dependence of RBC aggregation force on L-arginine concentration was observed,which improves our knowledge about the process of NO production by endothelium.Additionally,data related to L-arginine accumulation by endothelium were obtained:Necessity of the presence of extracellular L-arginine stated by other authors was put under question.In our study,NO decreased the RBC-endothelium adhesion,however,the tendency appeared to be weak and was not confirmed in another set of experiments.To our knowledge,this is the first attempt to measure the forces of RBC adhesion to endothelium monolayer with OT.
文摘Clustering is the most significant task characterized in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) by data aggregation through each Cluster Head (CH). This leads to the reduction in the traffic cost. Due to the deployment of the WSN in the remote and hostile environments for the transmission of the sensitive information, the sensor nodes are more prone to the false data injection attacks. To overcome these existing issues and enhance the network security, this paper proposes a Secure Area based Clustering approach for data aggregation using Traffic Analysis (SAC-TA) in WSN. Here, the sensor network is clustered into small clusters, such that each cluster has a CH to manage and gather the information from the normal sensor nodes. The CH is selected based on the predefined time slot, cluster center, and highest residual energy. The gathered data are validated based on the traffic analysis and One-time Key Generation procedures to identify the malicious nodes on the route. It helps to provide a secure data gathering process with improved energy efficiency. The performance of the proposed approach is compared with the existing Secure Data Aggregation Technique (SDAT). The proposed SAC-TA yields lower average energy consumption rate, lower end-to-end delay, higher average residual energy, higher data aggregation accuracy and false data detection rate than the existing technique.
文摘The current exploration focuses on the ethylene glycol(EG)based nanoliquid flow in a microchannel.The effectiveness of the internal heat source and linear radiation is reflected in the present investigation.The estimation of suitable thermal conductivity model has affirmative impact on the convective heat transfer phenomenon.The examination is conceded with the nanoparticle aggregation demonstrated by the Maxwell-Bruggeman and Krieger-Dougherty models which tackle the formation of nanolayer.These models effectively describe the thermal conductivity and viscosity correspondingly.The dimensionless mathematical expressions are solved numerically by the Runge Kutta Fehlberg approach.A higher thermal field is attained for the Bruggeman model due to the formation of thermal bridge.A second law analysis is carried out to predict the sources of irreversibility associated with the thermal system.It is remarked that lesser entropy generation is obtained for the aggregation model.The entropy generation rate declines with the slip flow and the thermal heat flux.A notable enhancement in the Bejan number is attained by increasing the Biot number.It is established that the nanoparticle aggragation model exhibits a higher Bejan number in comparision with the usual flow model.
基金support from the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2018YFE0118700)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC Grant No.62174119)+1 种基金the 111 Project(Grant No.B07014)the Foundation for Talent Scientists of Nanchang Institute for Microtechnology of Tianjin University.
文摘DNA methylation has been extensively investigated in recent years,not least because of its known relationship with various diseases.Progress in analytical methods can greatly increase the relevance of DNA methylation studies to both clinical medicine and scientific research.Microflu-idic chips are excellent carriers for molecular analysis,and their use can provide improvements from multiple aspects.On-chip molecular analysis has received extensive attention owing to its advantages of portability,high throughput,low cost,and high efficiency.In recent years,the use of novel microfluidic chips for DNA methylation analysis has been widely reported and has shown obvious superiority to conventional methods.In this review,wefirst focus on DNA methylation and its applications.Then,we discuss advanced microfluidic-based methods for DNA methylation analysis and describe the great progress that has been made in recent years.Finally,we summarize the advantages that microfluidic technology brings to DNA methylation analysis and describe several challenges and perspectives for on-chip DNA methylation analysis.This review should help researchers improve their understanding and make progress in developing microfluidic-based methods for DNA methylation analysis.
文摘Condensed and hydrolysable tannins are non-toxic natural polyphenols that are a commercial commodity industrialized for tanning hides to obtain leather and for a growing number of other industrial applications mainly to substitute petroleum-based products.They are a definite class of sustainable materials of the forestry industry.They have been in operation for hundreds of years to manufacture leather and now for a growing number of applications in a variety of other industries,such as wood adhesives,metal coating,pharmaceutical/medical applications and several others.This review presents the main sources,either already or potentially commercial of this forestry by-materials,their industrial and laboratory extraction systems,their systems of analysis with their advantages and drawbacks,be these methods so simple to even appear primitive but nonetheless of proven effectiveness,or very modern and instrumental.It constitutes a basic but essential summary of what is necessary to know of these sustainable materials.In doing so,the review highlights some of the main challenges that remain to be addressed to deliver the quality and economics of tannin supply necessary to fulfill the industrial production requirements for some materials-based uses.
文摘The IEEE 802.11n standard has provided prominent features that greatly contribute to ubiquitous wireless networks.Over the last ten years,voice over IP(VoIP)has become widespread around the globe owing to its low-cost or even free call rate.The combination of these technologies(VoIP and wireless)has become desirable and inevitable for organizations.However,VoIP faces a bandwidth utilization issue when working with 802.11 wireless networks.The bandwidth utilization is inefficient on the grounds that(i)80 bytes of 802.11/RTP/UDP/IP header is appended to 10–730 bytes of VoIP payload and(ii)765μs waiting intervals follow each 802.11 VoIP frame.Without considering the quality requirements of a VoIP call,be including frame aggregation in the IEEE 802.11n standard has been suggested as a solution for the bandwidth utilization issue.Consequently,several aggregation methods have been proposed to handle the quality requirements of VoIP calls when carried over an IEEE 802.11n wireless network.In this survey,we analyze the existing aggregation methods of VoIP over the A-MSDU IEEE 802.11n wireless standard.The survey provides researchers with a detailed analysis of the bandwidth utilization issue concerning the A-MSDU 802.11n standard,discussion of the main approaches of frame aggregation methods and existing aggregation methods,elaboration of the impact of frame aggregation methods on network performance and VoIP call quality,and suggestion of new areas to be investigated in conjunction with frame aggregation.The survey contributes by offering guidelines to design an appropriate,reliable,and robust aggregation method of VoIP over 802.11n standard.