Search Results (4,163)

Multi-agent systems (MASs), with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as a representative embodiment, have become increasingly vital in time-sensitive disaster response scenarios, where multiple agents must collaborate to execute “observe-and-intervene” emergency tasks and jointly cope with dynamic environmental uncertainties. Existing research on task allocation mostly eliminates uncertainty through deterministic models; the few studies that directly consider uncertainty focus primarily on time uncertainty, overlooking the critical importance of demand uncertainty. To this end, this study accounts for the impact of harsh environmental conditions and incident complexity factors on intervention resource demands. We establish an uncertainty set for these demands and construct a two-stage robust optimization model to solve the coupled multi-agent task allocation problem. Compared with deterministic models, this framework enhances risk resistance while simultaneously reducing the conservatism of decisions. Furthermore, to overcome the computational challenges of large-scale instances, a Learning-Enhanced Column and Constraint Generation (LE-C&CG) algorithm is proposed. Experimental results demonstrate that LE-C&CG converges over an order of magnitude faster than standard Benders and C&CG algorithms, consistently achieving a 0% optimality gap within fractions of a second, making it highly suitable for time-critical emergency applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) causes significant oral manifestations that negatively impact oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of combined dental interventions and lifestyle guidance on OHRQoL in patients with MetS. Methods: In total, 82 participants with MetS were randomized into an intervention group (IG; n = 39), receiving dental treatment plus lifestyle guidance, or a control group (CG; n = 43), receiving lifestyle guidance only. OHRQoL was assessed using GOHAI and OHIP-14 at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and multivariable ANCOVA, adjusting for age, sex, baseline OHRQoL, and waist circumference. Pearson correlations examined the relationship between metabolic changes (Δ) and OHRQoL. Results: At 3 months, the IG demonstrated significantly superior OHIP-14 scores (p = 0.020) and a large effect size in social disability (${\eta }_p^2$ = 0.148, p < 0.001) compared to the CG. Within-group analysis showed the IG achieved highly significant longitudinal improvements in pain and psychological discomfort (all p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis confirmed these gains were primarily driven by participants with missing teeth (${\eta }_p^2$ = 0.447, p < 0.001), whereas the periodontitis-only subgroup showed non-significant shifts. Multivariable analysis identified age and baseline scores as primary predictors. Notably, OHRQoL improvements significantly correlated with reductions in body weight (r = 0.355, p = 0.001) and waist circumference (r = 0.238, p = 0.031). Conclusions: Integrated dental and lifestyle interventions significantly improved OHRQoL in MetS patients by enhancing psychosocial well-being and social reintegration. Gains were functionally driven by systemic metabolic success. Addressing “nutritional barriers” through dental rehabilitation, while targeting weight loss goals, was essential for holistic MetS management. Full article

Background: Complications developing in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) lead to functional impairments and losses in postural balance; however, changes in cognitive functions are also observed and are often overlooked. Dual-task exercises allow simultaneous engagement of balance and cognitive functions. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of dual-task exercise training on cognitive functions, balance, and functional status in individuals with T2DM. Methods: In this study, 40 individuals diagnosed with T2DM were randomly assigned to three groups: the dual-task exercise group (DTEG, n = 13), the single-task exercise group (STEG, n = 13), and the control group (CG, n = 14). Over eight weeks, balance exercises were administered to the STEG, while simultaneous balance and cognitive exercises were applied to the DTEG, twice weekly under the supervision of a physiotherapist. Participants in the control group received no intervention. Dual-task performance, cognitive functions, balance, and functional status were assessed at baseline and at the end of eight weeks. Dual-task performance was defined as the primary outcome. Results: After the intervention, for the primary outcome, dual-task performance (TUG single-task condition and TUG dual-task condition), both exercise groups showed greater improvements than controls. Both exercise groups also demonstrated significant improvements in balance, functional status, and cognitive outcomes compared to the control group. In the between-group comparisons, both exercise groups showed significant improvements in several cognitive functions compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, the MoCA total score was significantly higher in the DTEG compared with the other groups. Conclusions: Both dual-task and single-task exercises improve cognitive function, balance, and functional status in individuals with T2DM. Full article

Background: Parental imprinting plays a crucial role in epigenetic regulation and is increasingly recognized for its involvement in neurodevelopmental disorders. Although ATP8A2 is considered a non-imprinted gene; However, the marked phenotypic variability observed across related disorders suggests that additional regulatory layers may influence its expression. Methods: We investigated the imprinting-like status of ATP8A2 through functional analyses of a splicing variant (c.1580-3C>G) identified in a patient diagnosed with Cerebellar Ataxia, Mental Retardation, and Disequilibrium syndrome type 4 (CAMRQ4). Sanger sequencing was used to assess allelic expression and identify aberrant transcripts. Results: Our analyses revealed an allelic expression imbalance suggestive of parental imprinting of ATP8A2. Moreover, Sanger sequencing led to the identification of a novel ATP8A2–RAB3GAP2 chimeric transcript, pointing to a previously unreported transcriptional event, the functional relevance of which remains to be determined. Conclusions: These findings indicate that ATP8A2 may be subject to imprinting-like regulation and involved in atypical splicing events with unknown significance. This highlights the need for further investigation into the epigenetic and transcriptional complexity of ATP8A2-related neurodevelopmental disorders. Full article

Two mineral-based solid residues, namely coal gangue (CG) and phosphorus tailings (PT), two of the largest solid waste streams in the mining industry, were used as the sole metal feedstocks to fabricate a novel MgCaFeAl layered double hydroxide (LDH-GT) via a 700 °C calcination, acid leaching and hydrothermal coprecipitation route, with simultaneous synthesis of white carbon black from the reaction byproducts. Under optimized conditions (total metal load is 150 mg kg⁻¹, LDH-GT dose is 0.09 g, pH from 6 to 7), the synthesized material achieved concurrent immobilization efficiencies of 76.28%, 99.96%, and 99.95% for Cr (VI), Cd (II) and Ni (II), respectively, within a 24 h reaction period. TCLP leachability decreased by 82 to 91% relative to the untreated soil. After three wetting, drying and freeze–thaw cycles, the leached concentrations of all three metals remained below 0.3 mg L⁻¹, confirming excellent long-term stability. Mechanistic analyses revealed that Cr (VI) was mainly sequestered through interlayer anion exchange and surface complexation, whereas Cd (II) and Ni (II) were immobilized via isomorphic substitution into the LDH lattice, precipitation as carbonates, and incorporation into Fe/Mn oxides. A 7-day mung bean bioassay showed that LDH-GT amendment increased seed germination from 50% to 73%, enhanced root and shoot biomass by 1.1- to 1.6-fold, and decreased plant Cr, Cd, and Ni contents by over 80%. The 16S rRNA sequencing further demonstrated that LDH-GT reversed the decline in microbial α diversity induced by heavy metal stress, restored aerobic chemoheterotrophic and sulfur cycling functional guilds, and reduced pathogenic signatures. This study provides the demonstration of a waste-to-resource LDH that achieves efficient, durable remediation of multi-metal-contaminated soils, offering a scalable route for coupling solid waste valorization with in situ site restoration. Full article

The large-scale integration of renewable energy necessitates enhanced flexibility in power grids. As aggregators, electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) can provide potential grid services via vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. Against the challenge from the intertwined uncertainties of transmission system operation and renewable energy output limit, the private ownership of EVCSs limit their practical implementation. To exploit the flexibility of EVCSs to cope with the system operational uncertainties,this paper proposes a novel multi-stage coordination framework for EVCS flexibility utilization, based on a demand response incentive mechanism. The framework explicitly incorporates the operational constraints and charging/discharging strategies of EVCSs into the demand response clearing and dispatch mechanism. Specifically, adaptive robust optimization (ARO) and distributionally robust optimization (DRO) are employed to model the heterogeneous uncertainties of transmission operational requirements and renewable energy output, respectively. The model is solved in a distributed manner using the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM), with a tailored column-and-constraint generation (C&CG) algorithm developed to solve the regional problems. Simulation results confirm that the proposed method improves both economic efficiency and renewable energy accommodation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cardiovascular regulation complexity (CRC) is an underexplored health marker in the context of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Additionally, associating CRC with physical and cardiorespiratory fitness variables could provide greater insight into how physical conditioning impacts cardiovascular health in the context of T2DM. This study aims to investigate whether the relationship between physical and cardiorespiratory fitness and CRC differs according to the presence or absence of T2DM. Methods: Sixty-eight men were equally divided into the T2DM group (T2DMG; 57 ± 6 years old and 28.4 ± 3.1 kg/m²) and the control group (CG; 52 ± 5 years old and 25.1 ± 2.8 kg/m²). Participants underwent a resting cardiovascular data collection and a cardiopulmonary exercise test on a cycle ergometer. For each group, the relative peak power (W/kg_PEAK) and peak oxygen consumption (VO_2PEAK) were correlated with the CRC indices, namely, Shannon entropy, the complexity index, the normalized complexity index, and the sample entropy from heart period (HP) and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) series. A partial correlation was performed for each group, controlling for age, physical activity level, and metabolic cart. Results: Only the CG showed positive and significant correlations between relative VO_2PEAK and W/kg_PEAK and CRC indices derived from the HP series (0.354 ≤ r ≤ 0.548 and 0.001 ≤ p ≤ 0.047). Correlations with the SAP series were not significant, regardless of the groups. Conclusions: In this sample, there was no positive relationship between physical and cardiorespiratory fitness variables and CRC indices among individuals with T2DM. Further large sample studies are needed to elucidate the factors involved in T2DM that impact CRC. Full article

Background: We assessed the effects of a 6-week, low-volume Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) intervention on hamstring flexibility, muscle mechanical properties and eccentric and isometric isokinetic knee flexion strength in recreationally active adults. Methods: Eighteen recreationally active adults were randomized into an NHE intervention group (IG; n = 9; females/males: 3/6; mean ± SD, age: 24.1 ± 1.3 years) and control group (CG; n = 9; females/males: 5/4; mean ± SD, age: 23.5 ± 1.8 years). The NHE intervention involved a progressive, supplementary training program performed initially one (weeks 1 and 2) and then two times per week over a 6-week period. The number of repetitions per session increased from 15 to 36 repetitions/week. The CG maintained their usual exercise routine over the same period. Standard goniometry, myotonometry, and isokinetic dynamometry (60°/s) were used to measure hamstring flexibility, muscle properties and isometric and eccentric isokinetic strength prior to and five days following the intervention. Results: The Linear Mixed Methods analysis identified a significant group × time interactions for isometric torque (IG: +5% vs. CG: −12%, p = 0.022) and flexibility (IG: +1% vs. CG: +7%, p = 0.023). Peak eccentric torque (IG: +7% vs. CG: −7%, p = 0.053) and muscle mechanical properties remained unchanged over the intervention period. Conclusions: Six weeks of low-volume NHE training marginally improved isometric and eccentric hamstring strength in recreationally active adults without changing hamstring flexibility or mechanical properties. The findings may have important implications for performance enhancement and hamstring injury risk reduction during high-intensity recreational sports. Full article

Non-O1/non-O139 Vibrio cholerae strains are widely distributed in aquatic environments worldwide and are increasingly recognized as potential reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance and virulence-associated determinants. In this study, we performed an integrated phenotypic and genomic analysis of 116 V. cholerae isolates collected in 2024 from environmental and clinical sources in Jiaxing, China, including 106 non-O1/non-O139 isolates, 9 O1 isolates, and 1 O139 isolate. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that most isolates remained susceptible to β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, third-generation cephalosporins, carbapenems, and tigecycline, whereas resistance was more frequently observed for ampicillin, streptomycin, nalidixic acid, and ciprofloxacin. Based on the non-susceptibility criteria of Maitrakas et al., 19 of 116 isolates (16.4%) were classified as multidrug-resistant, whereas none met the definition of extensively drug-resistant. Genomic analysis identified diverse resistance determinants, including plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes (qnrVC variants) and quinolone resistance-determining region mutations in gyrA and parC. Virulence-associated genes showed heterogeneous distributions: core regulatory and hemolysis-related genes were highly prevalent, whereas classical cholera toxin genes were largely absent. Several accessory virulence factors, including the RTX toxin operon, chxA, ninth, and makA, were detected in subsets of isolates. Core genome multilocus sequence typing revealed substantial genetic diversity, with environmental and clinical isolates distributed across multiple lineages and showing no clear clustering by isolation source. Overall, these data demonstrate the diverse antimicrobial resistance, virulence-associated gene repertoires, and population structure of the Jiaxing V. cholerae collection, with particular relevance to the predominant non-O1/non-O139 population. Full article

This exploratory study examines the perception and production of the aspiration contrast in Mandarin voiceless retroflex affricates zh [tʂ] and ch [tʂ^h] by ten adult Spanish speakers (three Peruvian, seven Chilean) at Nanjing University. Participants completed a perception identification task and a production reading task using the same set of 128 syllables. Voice Onset Time (VOT) measurements from the production task were converted to binary classifications for cross-modality comparison. Perception accuracy was moderately high (zh [tʂ]: 84.43%; ch [tʂ^h]: 82.39%), whilst production accuracy was substantially lower (zh [tʂ]: 32.61%; ch [tʂ^h]: 19.15% within native VOT ranges). Participants maintained the aspiration contrast (zh [tʂ] = 58 ms, ch [tʂ^h] = 125 ms) but consistently underproduced VOT compared to native speakers (zh [tʂ] = 67 ms, ch [tʂ^h] = 164 ms). Perception patterns align with Category Goodness (CG) assimilation within PAM-L2: both Mandarin sounds map to Spanish [tʃ] but with different goodness-of-fit, enabling moderate discrimination. Production follows SLM-r predictions, with learners developing a Composite L1–L2 Category that maintains the aspiration contrast but fails to establish new phonetic categories. The small sample size (n = 10) precluded robust statistical testing of individual differences. The perception–production asymmetry supports independent modality development in L2 phonetic acquisition. Full article

The African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) is an important aquaculture species in the Philippines, but it exhibits reproductive dysfunctions in captivity due to the absence of natural spawning cues and culture-induced stress. In hatcheries, sperm collection often requires sacrificing male breeders, limiting breeding program applications, and threatening genetic diversity. This study evaluated and optimized hormonal induction protocols to enhance spermiation and fertilization success in male C. gariepinus. Two experimental trials were conducted under controlled hatchery conditions. In Trial 1, human chorionic gonadotropin combined with a dopamine antagonist (hCG + DA; 5000 IU·kg⁻¹ BW + 5 mg·kg⁻¹ BW) and Ovaprim (1.0 mL·kg⁻¹ BW) significantly increased circulating testosterone and estradiol levels, spermiation index, and fertilization outcomes (embryo viability, hatching, and larval survival). In Trial 2, medium to low doses of hCG + DA (3000–5000 IU·kg⁻¹ BW + 5 mg·kg⁻¹ BW) and Ovaprim (0.75–1.0 mL·kg⁻¹ BW) yielded the best performance in terms of hormone levels, spermiation index, and fertilizing capabilities. The presence of a dopamine antagonist (DA) likely contributed to the efficacy of the treatments, since dopamine suppresses the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (dopaminergic inhibition), and DA counteracts this effect, increasing LH and FSH levels necessary for gametogenesis. Taken together, these results highlight the potential of optimized hormonal protocols to mitigate reproductive dysfunctions in male C. gariepinus in aquaculture settings. Further studies should refine dose combinations, assess the long-term health of broodstock, and evaluate cost-effectiveness to support sustainable broodstock management and genetic conservation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) act as reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which pose a threat to global public health. In this study, we used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to characterize antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and their association with mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in five multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli isolates from dewatered sludge cake samples collected from a municipal WWTP in Cheongju, Republic of Korea. Methods: Susceptibility to nine antibiotics was evaluated via disk diffusion assay. Among the isolates exhibiting multidrug resistance (MDR) to three or more antibiotic classes, five isolates were randomly selected for whole-genome sequencing using the Illumina NovaSeqX platform. Additionally, we compared the genomic structures of five WWTP isolates with 35 environmental E. coli isolates from South Korea deposited in the NCBI pathogen database. ARGs and MGEs, including plasmids, integrons, and insertion sequences (ISs), were detected in the genome assemblies. Results: ARGs were differentially distributed between chromosomal and plasmid-derived contigs. Efflux pump-related genes were predominantly located on the chromosome across all isolates, whereas several beta-lactamase genes (e.g., bla_TEM-30 and bla_TEM-33), fluoroquinolone, and tetracycline resistance genes were localized on putative plasmid contigs. Furthermore, we characterized specific MGEs associated with these ARGs, including a class 1 integron gene cassette (dfrA17–aadA5–qacEΔ1–sul1) and an IS-mediated module (mph(A)–mrx–IS6100). Core-genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) revealed that these MDR isolates represented diverse genetic lineages rather than a single clonal cluster. Conclusions: The results from this study highlight the necessity of enhanced post-treatment management of wastewater byproducts and WGS-based surveillance to mitigate the environmental spread of MDR bacteria. Full article

Strength training (ST) is commonly implemented to enhance soccer-related fitness qualities such as sprinting, jumping, and changes-of-direction while also contributing to injury risk reduction. It is traditionally emphasized in the pre-season period. In-season ST may confer these benefits, but it can also induce muscle damage and inflammation. To examine the effects of a 12-week in-season ST program on maximal dynamic strength, muscle damage biomarkers, and inflammatory biomarkers, 24 elite young female soccer players (Tier 4 according to the McKay et al. classification) aged 14.9 ± 0.8 years and a maturity offset of +2.6 ± 1.1 years were randomly allocated to an ST group (STG, n = 12) or an active control group (CG, n = 12). Both groups followed the same soccer training program. However, in the STG, two weekly soccer sessions were replaced with ST. Overall training volume was comparable between groups. Maximal dynamic strength (1-RM tests for bench press, lat pull-down, and leg press), blood biomarkers of muscle damage (creatine phosphokinase [CPK], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]), and inflammation (interleukin-6 [IL-6], tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]) were assessed before (T1) and after (T2) the interventions. Analyses showed significant increases for STG for the 1-RM bench press, the 1-RM lat pull-down, and the 1-RM leg press (p < 0.001). No significant interactions were detected for any blood marker of muscle damage (LDH and CPK) or inflammation (IL-6 and TNF-α) (all p > 0.05). Results support a 12-week in-season ST program improved maximal dynamic strength in elite young female soccer players without altering resting levels of muscle damage or inflammatory markers measured 48 h after training compared to regular soccer training. These findings suggest that ST can be safely implemented during the competitive season in young female soccer players without overreaching or overtraining. Full article

Background: Cancer survivors frequently experience persistent physical and psychological sequelae, including impaired physical function, fatigue, anxiety/depressive symptoms, and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Exercise is an effective non-pharmacological intervention; however, comparative evidence between multicomponent training (MCT) and aerobic training (AT) using a multidomain framework remains limited. Methods: In this randomized controlled parallel-group trial, 47 cancer survivors (mean age 63.0 ± 8.9 years) were allocated to a 24-week supervised MCT programme (n = 16), an AT programme (n = 16), or a non-exercise control group (CG; n = 15). Outcomes were assessed at baseline and post-intervention including body composition (BIA), physical performance, fatigue (FSS), anxiety (STAI-Y1/Y2), depressive symptoms (BDI), and HRQoL (EORTC QLQ-C30). Results: Fat mass decreased in both MCT (p = 0.005) and AT (p = 0.034), whereas arm circumference increased only in MCT (p < 0.001). Significant Group × Time interactions were observed for major physical performance outcomes; improvements were broader in MCT, while AT showed its largest change in aerobic endurance. Between-group contrasts indicated greater gains with MCT than AT for chair-stand (p = 0.046), sit-and-reach (p = 0.048), and handgrip strength (p = 0.049). Significant interaction effects were also observed for fatigue and psychological outcomes (FSS: p = 0.003; STAI-Y1 and STAI-Y2: p < 0.001; BDI: p < 0.001) and for HRQoL global health (p = 0.003), with larger improvements in MCT than AT for fatigue, state anxiety, and depressive symptoms (all p < 0.05), but not for trait anxiety (p > 0.05). Conclusions: A 24-week supervised MCT programme produced broader benefits than AT alone across physical function and selected psychological outcomes in cancer survivors. These findings support the incorporation of multicomponent exercise into survivorship care as a feasible and effective strategy for addressing multidimensional treatment sequelae. Full article

Mitochondrial genomes provide powerful insights into evolutionary history, population structure, and conservation genetics. Here, we analyzed complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) from 38 Chinese giant salamanders (Andrias davidianus, CGSs) sampled from both wild and conservation-bred populations. CGS mitogenomes exhibited remarkable structural conservation, yet pronounced heterogeneity in nucleotide diversity, selection regimes, and repetitive element distributions across lineages. Cytb and ND3 showed elevated intraspecific variability relative to the standard cox1 barcode, highlighting their superior resolution for fine-scale population analyses. Although most mitochondrial genes were subject to strong purifying selection, lineage-specific signals of positive selection were detected in ND2, and a rare, potentially deleterious frameshift mutation was identified in ND1 from a captive individual. Lineage-associated variation in mitogenomic SSRs and widespread mito-nuclear phylogenetic discordance revealed a highly admixed population structure shaped by historical connectivity and introgression. Together, our results underscore the value of integrative mitogenomic analyses for resolving complex evolutionary histories and informing conservation management of endangered amphibians. Full article