Search Results (57)

Background: The piezoelectric saw is a technology used in osteotomies, providing precise and minimally invasive cuts, especially in areas close to vital structures. Despite its advantages, limitations such as prolonged surgical time and restrictions in use for larger bones have motivated the development of ultrasonic tips with more efficient geometries. Methods: A laboratory trial was conducted with 40 ultrasonic tips (n = 40), divided into 2 groups: the test group (n = 20), with an ultrasonic tip featuring a multidirectional angular cutting-tooth geometry, and the control (n = 20), with a straight-tooth ultrasonic tip. Two operators performed standardized osteotomies on synthetic bone blocks, with monitoring of variables including cutting time (in seconds), maximum block and blade temperature (in °C), and bone mass loss (in grams). Sample randomization was block-based, and blade coding ensured operator and evaluator blinding. Results: The results showed a statistically significant reduction of approximately 26% in cutting time with the multidirectional ultrasonic tips (Test = 52.85 s; Control = 71.55 s; p < 0.001), regardless of the operator. No significant differences were observed between groups regarding maximum bone temperature (Test = 30.45 °C; Control = 29.40 °C; p = 0.337), blade temperature variation (Test = 5.30 °C; Control = 4.10 °C; p = 0.337), overall temperature variation (Test = −0.19 °C; Control = 0.06 °C; p = 0.285), or bone mass loss (Test = 0.1355 g; Control = 0.0350 g; p = 0.387). A significant interaction between operator and blade type in some variables, such as bone temperature variation (p = 0.001), reinforces the influence of technical experience on the results. Conclusions: The multidirectional angular geometry of the ultrasonic tip significantly improves cutting efficiency without compromising thermal safety, representing a promising advancement for optimizing osteotomies in surgical settings. The use of this new geometry may enhance productivity, particularly in complex procedures, and deserves future clinical investigation to expand its applicability across different surgical specialties, including orthopedics. Full article

In the operation mode arrangement of bulk power systems, unreasonable reactive power injection data at nodes tend to result in power flow calculation non-convergence. Owing to the extremely high dimension of the variable space and the heterogeneous impacts of different variables on power flow convergence, it is imperative to accurately identify the key variables inducing non-convergence and provide physical justifications. For this purpose, this paper proposes a data-driven key variable identification and adjustment method: firstly, based on the blocking cut-set theory and the characteristic that the active unbalanced power ΔP of intermediate power flow exhibits opposite signs at the sending and receiving ends of the cut-set, a blocking cut-set identification method leveraging the characteristics of the active unbalanced power of intermediate power flow is developed; secondly, relying on the feature that the reactive unbalanced power ΔQ of intermediate power flow is less than zero, a key variable identification method based on the characteristics of the reactive unbalanced power of intermediate power flow is presented; finally, a key variable adjustment method grounded in the numerical value of ΔQ is proposed. The validity of the proposed approach was validated via simulated computations using both the IEEE 39 bus system and a practical bulk power system. Full article

Reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) is an immunosuppressive virus in poultry that can cause acute reticular neoplasms, chronic lymphoid tumors, stunting syndrome, and secondary infections. In many countries, the lack of effective vaccines has resulted in a high prevalence of REV infections and substantial economic losses. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based antibody detection is an important tool for monitoring the REV prevalence in poultry farms. ELISA coating antigens generally consist of either whole virus or viral protein; however, most commercially available REV antibody ELISA detection kits use whole virus as the coating antigen, which limits their applicability in certain diagnostic and research settings. In this study, the gp90 protein from a dominant REV strain was expressed and purified using 293F suspension cell eukaryotic expression system. Using recombinant gp90 protein as the coating antigen, an indirect ELISA for detecting gp90 antibodies (gp90-ELISA) was developed. After optimization, the optimal conditions were as follows: coating antigen concentration of 4 µg/mL with overnight incubation at 4 °C; blocking with 5% skim milk at 37 °C for 1.5 h; serum dilution of 1:200 with incubation at 37 °C for 45 min; secondary antibody dilution of 1:1000 with incubation at 37 °C for 30 min; and color development using TMB substrate at room temperature in the dark for 10 min. The cut-off value was defined as an OD₄₅₀ ≥ 0.22 for positive samples and <0.22 for negative samples. The developed gp90-ELISA specifically detected REV-positive sera at a maximum serum dilution ratio of 1:3200. Intra- and inter-assay variation coefficients were ≤10%, indicating that the gp90-ELISA had good specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility. Laboratory serum testing showed that the gp90-ELISA successfully detected sera from chickens immunized with the gp90 protein or infected with REV. Furthermore, analysis of clinical serum samples demonstrated 100% concordance between the gp90-ELISA results and a commercial whole-virus-coated ELISA kit. These results indicate that the gp90-ELISA is a reliable supplementary method to whole-virus-coated ELISA and has potential utility in disease surveillance and evaluation of immune responses. Full article

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set the criteria for sustainable economic development. These goals encompass four dimensions, including social, human, economic, and environment, of which the last two goals (i.e., economic and environment) were contemplated in this study. A case study for Corner Brook, a middle-sized city, located in the western region of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, revealed that the current urban water use pricing mechanism is not matched with the SDGs, which reflects impediments to the city’s achievements to become a sustainable economic development community. Residents are billed a fixed rate for water use rather than a tiered or usage-based rate. This is not a resilient policy, as it fails to conserve water resources, ultimately leading to wasting freshwater produce, inhibiting economic growth, creating social exclusion, and degrading natural resources. We recommend changing the current flat-rate based water billing mechanism to either increasing block tariffs or two-part tariffs, adjusted by seasonal rates; issuing governmental policies, such as rebates, subsidies, and lower property taxes to entice residents’ willingness-to-install water meters on their premises; encouraging provisions such as using rain barrels to help cut down water consumption; and raising public knowledge through social media on how high per capita water use is in the region, including how much it costs to install water meters. These recommendations will also help provincial and municipal policymakers pursue the SDGs. Full article

The deep formations of the Yingqiong Basin are situated in a high-temperature and high-pressure (HTHP) environment, characterized by a narrow formation pressure window and consequently high operational risks. Accurate prediction of Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD) is crucial for wellbore stability control and well control safety during the drilling of extended-reach wells (ERWs) in this block. Existing calculation methods fail to account for the errors in well depth and true vertical depth (TVD) measurements caused by drill string buckling, which affect the ECD calculation. Therefore, to achieve precise ECD control, this study addresses the HTHP characteristics of ERWs in the Yingqiong Basin. It takes into consideration the variations in drilling fluid performance parameters, the influence of cuttings, and the well depth/TVD measurement errors induced by drill string buckling. On this basis, the traditional ECD calculation model is modified, and a set of ECD calculation models tailored to ERWs in the Yingqiong Basin is established. This model aims to meet the requirements for fine ECD control in drilling operations within the block and reduce operational risks. By comparing the error rates between the prediction results of the traditional ECD calculation model and those of the proposed model in this study, using the on-site measured ECD data from Well LD10-X-X in the Yingqiong Basin, the results demonstrate that for HTHP ERWs in the Yingqiong Basin, incorporating the well depth and TVD measurement errors caused by drill string buckling can enhance the accuracy of ECD prediction. Full article

In 2014, Duck Adenovirus type 3 (DAdV-3) emerged in Muscovy ducks and has since spread rapidly across China, causing significant economic losses to the duck industry. Given this situation, the development of reliable diagnostic tools is crucial for effective disease control. In this study, a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) 2F12 specific to DAdV-3 was generated, which showed a blocking rate of over 70% and a neutralization titer of up to 1:794. A blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (b-ELISA) was further developed based on mAb 2F12 to efficiently detect neutralizing antibodies against DAdV-3. The cut-off values of percent inhibition (PI) were set based on testing 84 negative duck serum samples, with a value below 16.79% (mean ($\overline{X}$) + 2 standard deviations (SD)) for negative sera and over 21.62% ($\overline{X}$ + 3SD) for positive sera. The b-ELISA exhibited a high specificity, reacting exclusively with DAdV-3 positive serum and showing no cross-reactivity with other representative positive sera tested. Additionally, the b-ELISA showed significantly higher sensitivity than the serum neutralization test (SNT), detecting antibodies 16-fold greater than the endpoint dilution of the SNT. The established b-ELISA, validated with 90 field serum samples from six duck farms, was well-suited for clinical detection of DAdV-3 antibodies and for monitoring post-vaccination antibody levels, representing a significant advancement in DAdV-3 detection and prevention. Full article

Background and objective: Heterotopic ossification (HO) of the plantar fascia is an exceptionally rare condition, with only a few cases mentioned in the literature. In comparison, calcification of the fascia occurs more frequently, especially in cases of chronic plantar fasciitis. Tenex™, a percutaneous ultrasonic tenotomy system initially designed for tendinopathy treatment, may offer a minimally invasive alternative to conventional surgery in selected cases of HO. So, the aim of this case report was to assess the improvement in the pain and in the foot function after a percutaneous ultrasonic debridement. Case presentation: We present the case of an 82-year-old male with a history of hypertension and hyperuricemia, who reported a two-year history of mechanical-type plantar pain described as “walking on a stone.” Radiographs and MRI confirmed heterotopic ossification at the central component of the plantar fascia. Pain and function were assessed with the Foot Function Index (FFI). Under ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance, percutaneous ultrasonic debridement with Tenex™ was performed following tibial and sural nerve block and conscious sedation. The procedure was completed in 6 min and 29 s of cutting time. After surgery, the patient wore a protective shoe for 3 weeks, followed a relative rest protocol, and received NSAIDs for 5 days. At 48–72 h, the patient reported noticeable pain relief, with significant functional improvement after 1 month. Conclusions: This case shows how Tenex™ effectively treats plantar fascia HO. It led to quick symptom relief and functional recovery. The ultrasonic percutaneous debridement with Tenex™ was a safe and effective option compared to open surgery for this patient. However, more research is needed to set standardized treatment protocols and assess long-term results. Full article

Time-sensitive networking (TSN), a cutting-edge technology enabling efficient real-time communication and control, provides strong support for traditional Ethernet in terms of real-time performance, reliability, and deterministic transmission. In TSN systems, although time-triggered (TT) flows enjoy deterministic delay guarantees, audio video bridging (AVB) and best effort (BE) traffic still share link bandwidth through statistical multiplexing, a process that remains nondeterministic. This competition in shared memory switches adversely affects data transmission performance. In this paper, a priority queue threshold control policy is proposed and analyzed for mixed-critical traffic in time-sensitive networks. The core of this policy is to set independent queues for different types of traffic in the shared memory queuing system. To prevent low-priority traffic from monopolizing the shared buffer, its entry into the queue is blocked when buffer usage exceeds a preset threshold. A two-dimensional Markov chain is introduced to accurately construct the system’s queuing model. Through detailed analysis of the queuing model, the truncated chain method is used to decompose the two-dimensional state space into solvable one-dimensional sub-problems, and the approximate solution of the system’s steady-state distribution is derived. Based on this, the blocking probability, average queue length, and average queuing delay of different priority queues are accurately calculated. Finally, according to the optimization goal of the overall blocking probability of the system, the optimal threshold value is determined to achieve better system performance. Numerical results show that this strategy can effectively allocate the shared buffer space in multi-priority traffic scenarios. Compared with the conventional schemes, the queue blocking probability is reduced by approximately 40% to 60%. Full article

To address the limitation that single-index evaluation fails to fully reflect the development performance of reservoirs of different types and at various development stages, a multi-index comprehensive evaluation system featuring the workflow of “index screening–weight determination–model evaluation–strategy guidance” was established. Firstly, the grey correlation analysis method (with a correlation degree threshold set at 0.65) was employed to screen 12 key evaluation indicators, including reservoir physical properties (porosity, permeability) and development dynamics (recovery factor, water cut, well activation rate). Subsequently, the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP, for subjective weighting, with the consistency ratio (CR) of expert judgments < 0.1) was coupled with the attribute measurement method (for objective weighting, with information entropy redundancy < 5%) to determine the indicator weights, thereby balancing the influences of subjective experience and objective data. Finally, two evaluation models, namely the fuzzy comprehensive decision-making method and the unascertained measurement method, were constructed to conduct evaluations on 308 reservoirs in the Liaohe Oilfield (covering five major categories: integral medium–high-permeability reservoirs, complex fault-block reservoirs, low-permeability reservoirs, special lithology reservoirs, and thermal recovery heavy oil reservoirs). The results indicate that there are 147 high-efficiency reservoirs categorized as Class I and Class II in total. Although these reservoirs account for 47.7% of the total number, they control 71% of the geological reserves (154,548 × 10⁴ t) and 78% of the annual oil production (738.2 × 10⁴ t) in the oilfield, with an average well activation rate of 65.4% and an average recovery factor of 28.9. Significant quantitative differences are observed in the development characteristics of different reservoir types: Integral medium–high-permeability reservoirs achieve an average recovery factor of 37.6% and an average well activation rate of 74.1% by virtue of their excellent physical properties (permeability mostly > 100 mD), with Block Jin 16 (recovery factor: 56.9%, well activation rate: 86.1%) serving as a typical example. Complex fault-block reservoirs exhibit optimal performance at the stage of “recovery degree > 70%, water cut ≥ 90%”, where 65.6% of the blocks are classified as Class I, and the recovery factor of blocks with a “good” rating (42.3%) is 1.8 times that of blocks with a “poor” rating (23.5%). For low-permeability reservoirs, blocks with a rating below medium grade account for 68% of the geological reserves (8403.2 × 10⁴ t), with an average well activation rate of 64.9%. Specifically, Block Le 208 (permeability < 10 mD) has an annual oil production of only 0.83 × 10⁴ t. Special lithology reservoirs show polarized development performance, as Block Shugu 1 (recovery factor: 32.0%) and Biantai Buried Hill (recovery factor: 20.4%) exhibit significantly different development effects due to variations in fracture–vug development. Among thermal recovery heavy oil reservoirs, ultra-heavy oil reservoirs (e.g., Block Du 84 Guantao, with a recovery factor of 63.1% and a well activation rate of 92%) are developed efficiently via steam flooding, while extra-heavy oil reservoirs (e.g., Block Leng 42, with a recovery factor of 19.6% and a well activation rate of 30%) are constrained by reservoir heterogeneity. This system refines the quantitative classification boundaries for four development levels of water-flooded reservoirs (e.g., for Class I reservoirs in the high water cut stage, the recovery factor is ≥35% and the water cut is ≥90%), as well as the evaluation criteria for different stages (steam huff and puff, steam flooding) of thermal recovery heavy oil reservoirs. It realizes the transition from traditional single-index qualitative evaluation to multi-index quantitative evaluation, and the consistency between the evaluation results and the on-site development adjustment plans reaches 88%, which provides a scientific basis for formulating development strategies for the Liaohe Oilfield and other similar oilfields. Full article

High-quality playing surfaces enhance player experience and safety while serving as an appealing setting for spectators. Natural turfgrass provides optimal conditions at the beginning of the playing season but faces challenges under increasing field usage. Turfgrasses with high wear tolerance and quick recovery capacity are crucial for maintaining surface quality under intensive wear. Bermudagrass is the most used species in warm climates but needs winter overseeding in the transition zone. In Mediterranean climates, tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort, formerly Festuca arundinacea) has emerged as a promising species due to its tolerance to heat, drought, and salinity, alongside traits like deep rooting, shade adaptation, and wear resistance. The trial was conducted at the CeRTES experimental station in Rottaia, Pisa, Italy. Twenty-seven tall fescue cultivars and three cultivars of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) were hand-seeded on 3 November 2022, at a rate of 43 g m⁻². The experimental design consisted of plots measuring 4.5 m² arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The objective of the study is to evaluate the performance of twenty-seven cultivars of tall fescue with the aim of using the species in soccer fields with a permanent stand approach, with no need to manage spring and fall transitions. The field study encompasses determinations referring to the establishment stage, the maintenance at low cutting height stage (20 mm) and the subsequent stage of soccer use under different seasonal conditions (autumn, winter, and spring). Results showed that certain fescue cultivars, notably ‘Essential’, ‘Eyecandy’, and ‘FAG3/19-20208B’, exhibited quick establishment and adaptation to low cutting height (20 mm), and performed similarly to the reference ryegrasses ‘Gianna’ and ‘Mercitwo’ in terms of wear tolerance and recovery capacity across the three seasons. Moreover, most of the tested tall fescue cultivars performed well at a 20 mm mowing height, maintaining satisfactory quality and density. Among these, ‘Eyecandy’ and ‘Foxhound’ displayed finer leaf textures, comparable to those of the reference ryegrass. Full article

Typically, dimension stones, commonly called stone blocks, are cut into multiple small cuboid stones so that multiple sculptures can be produced. To use the stone block as efficiently as possible, it is essential to pack these small cuboids in each stone block as efficiently as possible while satisfying the limitations of the machining. This paper describes methods for packing and cutting stone blocks using nonlinear programming that generate sets of trees, which are also called forests, that decide the packing layout of the small cuboids inside the block. The containers and elements have their own prices and values, respectively. The elements can be translated to the corners of the containers or to the corners of the elements that are already in the containers, if the elements are not outside the containers after the translation. Then, the problem can be interpreted as finding the best forest that packs the elements as efficiently as possible at the lowest total price of containers, which is a subset of all containers. The formula for the score that defines the compactness of the packing is in this paper. The user can define the number of forests so that parallel computing methods can be applied. Each forest is generated randomly. Two different packing methods are introduced: simple packing and slab packing. Simple packing is based on a non-guillotine cutting method and slab packing is a guillotine cutting method for realistic scenarios, such as scenarios with machining limitations. By using this method, it is possible to plan the cutting in a digital environment, which is not possible when using the traditional method with physical templates. Furthermore, by restricting the rotation of the elements, it is possible to make the elements follow the horizontal vein direction of the stone blocks, which is a common vein direction in travertine. Full article

Crop disease identification is a pivotal research area in smart agriculture, forming the foundation for disease mapping and targeted prevention strategies. Among the most prevalent global wheat diseases, powdery mildew—caused by fungal infection—poses a significant threat to crop yield and quality, making early and accurate detection crucial for effective management. In this study, we present QY-SE-MResNet34, a deep learning-based classification model that builds upon ResNet34 to perform multi-class classification of wheat leaf images and assess powdery mildew severity at the single-leaf level. The proposed methodology begins with dataset construction following the GBT 17980.22-2000 national standard for powdery mildew severity grading, resulting in a curated collection of 4248 wheat leaf images at the grain-filling stage across six severity levels. To enhance model performance, we integrated transfer learning with ResNet34, leveraging pretrained weights to improve feature extraction and accelerate convergence. Further refinements included embedding a Squeeze-and-Excitation (SE) block to strengthen feature representation while maintaining computational efficiency. The model architecture was also optimized by modifying the first convolutional layer (conv1)—replacing the original 7 × 7 kernel with a 3 × 3 kernel, adjusting the stride to 1, and setting padding to 1—to better capture fine-grained leaf textures and edge features. Subsequently, the optimal training strategy was determined through hyperparameter tuning experiments, and GrabCut-based background processing along with data augmentation were introduced to enhance model robustness. In addition, interpretability techniques such as channel masking and Grad-CAM were employed to visualize the model’s decision-making process. Experimental validation demonstrated that QY-SE-MResNet34 achieved an 89% classification accuracy, outperforming established models such as ResNet50, VGG16, and MobileNetV2 and surpassing the original ResNet34 by 11%. This study delivers a high-performance solution for single-leaf wheat powdery mildew severity assessment, offering practical value for intelligent disease monitoring and early warning systems in precision agriculture. Full article

Agricultural research and propagation systems often suffer due to a lack of access to affordable, adaptable, and well-structured technological solutions. Traditional plant growth devices typically rely on ad hoc construction, which limits their scalability, reuse, and adaptability. This study employs a user-centered conceptual design methodology based on product platform development and modular architecture to design a growth chamber for plant cuttings. The approach followed three main phases: (i) identification and classification of user needs, (ii) functional modeling of the base system and its variants, and (iii) architectural modularization through heuristic principles. Interviews with researchers yielded 55 functional requirements, of which 26 were defined as essential. Functional models were developed for both a base system and two variant systems incorporating alternative irrigation and sensing technologies. Heuristic analysis identified independent modules, such as irrigation, lighting, environmental monitoring, and control. Subsequently, block diagrams were used to translate functional logic into spatially coherent conceptual designs. The resulting architecture supports modular integration, reconfiguration, and scalability for diverse experimental needs. This work demonstrates that structured design methodologies, which are commonly used in industrial contexts, can be effectively applied in agricultural research settings to produce solutions that are versatile, low-cost, and have enduring value, offering a pathway for innovation, reproducibility, and technology transfer in resource-limited environments. Full article

In water-rich strata, a traditional vertical barrier exhibits certain limitations when applied to deep foundation pit construction under complex geological conditions, such as it is difficult to completely cut off deep and thick aquifer, which may pose potential risks during pit dewatering. To address the above challenge, this study introduced a mixed barrier system in which the horizontal barrier (HB) was set at the bottom of the foundation pit and was combined with the enclosure wall to collectively retard groundwater seepage into the pit. Based on an actual project in Tianjin, this study established HB models with varying numbers of its layers using ABAQUS 6.14 software. It systematically investigated the effect of HB on groundwater drawdown, ground surface settlement, and enclosure deflection during foundation pit dewatering. The research shows that HB can significantly reduce the magnitude of external water level drawdown by altering groundwater seepage paths while effectively controlling soil settlement. Furthermore, it exhibits favorable overall restraining effects on wall deformation. Varying the number of horizontal barrier layers (L) exhibits an insignificant effect on water-blocking and subsidence-control performance. However, the constraint effect on the enclosure shows a correlation with L. Full article

Agroforestry systems can improve land use efficiency and increase the output of agricultural and forestry products. In this study, a camphor forest–winter rapeseed composite system was used as the research object from 2023 to 2024. A randomized block experiment was used to set different slopes, S1, S2, and S3 (5°, 10°, and 15°), and camphor forest densities D1, D2, and D3 (row spacing of 1.5 m × 1.5 m, 1.0 m × 1.5 m, 1.0 m × 1.0 m) to compare a single crop (CK) of winter rapeseed and analyze its growth status. This study showed that slope and camphor forest density significantly affected the growth indicators of winter rapeseed. Among the intercropping treatments, S1D2 (5°, 1.0 m × 1.5 m) performed best. In the late growth period of winter rapeseed (flowering to maturity), the treatment increased leaf area index, relative chlorophyll content, root system indicators (length, surface area, volume), theoretical yield, and actual yield, and it increased the aboveground biomass per unit area. Although the actual yield of intercropping on slopes S1, S2, and S3 was 2.52%, 2.82%, and 1.72% lower than that of monocropping, respectively, the ground surface was exposed and idle in winter after the camphor trees were cut down in September. Intercropping winter rapeseed with camphor trees can improve land utilization and increase surface coverage. The results showed that the S1D2 (5°, 1.0 m × 1.5 m), S2D1 (10°, 1.5 m × 1.5 m), and S3D1 (15°, 1.5 m × 1.5 m) treatments performed well in terms of biomass accumulation and yield, and they can be used as recommended intercropping patterns for different slopes. Full article