Search Results (720)

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) is a non-invasive technique that delivers electrical currents through the skin to modulate peripheral neural and muscular activity. However, conventional surface stimulation often exhibits limited spatial selectivity because current spreads across superficial and deep tissues. To investigate physical principles that may inform future transcutaneous applications without assuming anatomical or physiological fidelity, this study developed a finite-element framework based on an idealized multilayer cylindrical limb model. The model represented skin, adipose tissue, muscle, cortical bone, and bone marrow using concentric tissue domains parameterized with averaged forearm dimensions and literature-derived electrical properties. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional surface-electrode montages were evaluated by varying return-electrode positions, axial electrode spacing, and inter-channel current ratios. The simulations showed that electrode configuration influenced the location, volume, and compactness of high-maximum-envelope-modulation-amplitude (MEMA) regions. Within the investigated idealized geometry, intermediate return-electrode angles (approximately θ₂ = 130–150°) produced more centrally distributed intramuscular high-MEMA regions, whereas current-ratio modulation shifted the MEMA_max-defined field maximum under fixed electrodes. These results demonstrate the computational feasibility of regulating TI electric-field distributions in a controlled virtual model rather than physiological selectivity or clinical efficacy. Translation to actual transcutaneous stimulation will require staged validation using anatomically realistic models, physical phantoms, physiological experiments, and ultimately human studies. Full article

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) enlargement is a major risk factor for aneurysm rupture and the development of abdominal aneurysm dissection (AAD). However, reliable serum biomarkers for predicting AAD occurrence remain lacking. This study was designed to identify circulating serum markers capable of predicting AAA progression and AAD formation. Patients diagnosed with AAA or AAD at our institution between 2020 and 2025 were enrolled and corresponding clinical characteristics were analyzed. Peripheral blood levels of arachidonic acid (AA) and 12–HETE were measured using ELISA, and Alox12 mRNA expression was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Candidate serum biomarkers associated with AAA enlargement and AAD development were investigated using a multi-modal approach integrating computed tomography (CT) images, serum metabolic profiles, and aneurysm wall tissue analyses. A total of 52 AAA patients and 42 AAA patients were included in the analysis. Elevated serum 12–HETE and TG levels were significantly associated with AAA enlargement and the occurrence of AAD, whereas AA levels showed no significant difference between groups. Dysregulated AA/12–HETE metabolism is an independent risk factor for aneurysmal enlargement in AAA and AAD, while 12–HETE and TG help to discriminate AAD from AAA. Full article

Carcinoma of unknown primary origin (CUP) involving the skeletal system is rare in dogs and may closely mimic primary bone neoplasia or multicentric lymphoma, creating substantial diagnostic challenges. A 15-year-old spayed female Jindo-mix dog was referred for rapidly progressive tetralimb lameness and inability to stand following a 2-week history of worsening forelimb lameness. Computed tomography revealed aggressive multifocal osteolytic and osteoproliferative lesions involving the pelvis, distal femur, and lumbar vertebra, accompanied by generalized lymphadenopathy, raising differential diagnoses including osteosarcoma, lymphoma, and metastatic neoplasia. Serial CT examinations demonstrated rapid progression of the dominant left ischial lesion, which was considered most consistent with a primary bone neoplasm and was surgically excised for definitive diagnosis. MRI failed to identify clinically significant neurologic disease. Histopathologic examination of a surgically excised ischial lesion favored poorly differentiated epithelial malignancy, although lymphoma could not initially be excluded. During hospitalization, serial thromboelastography (TEG) and coagulation testing demonstrated a predominantly hypercoagulable profile despite antithrombotic therapy. Following acute clinical deterioration, contrast-enhanced CT identified thrombosis involving the splenic vein and caudal vena cava, pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), and concurrent multi-organ infarction. Cytology of an enlarged peripheral lymph node suggested metastatic carcinoma, and postmortem immunohistochemistry supported epithelial differentiation, and in the absence of an identifiable primary tumor despite comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, the case was clinically classified as carcinoma of unknown primary origin. This case highlights an unusual diagnostic presentation of skeletal CUP mimicking osteosarcoma or lymphoma and complicated by fatal cancer-associated thrombosis. Rapidly progressive multifocal bone lesions accompanied by hypercoagulability should prompt consideration of metastatic carcinoma, including carcinoma of unknown origin, even in the absence of an identifiable primary tumor. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hemorheological abnormalities, including increased blood viscosity and impaired red blood cell (RBC) deformability, contribute to poor vascular outcomes in patients with atherosclerotic diseases. Although sarpogrelate has shown vascular benefits, its additive effect with aspirin on blood viscosity remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate whether adding sarpogrelate hydrochloride to aspirin improves blood viscosity and hemorheological parameters compared with aspirin monotherapy in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: This single-center, randomized, open-label trial evaluated sarpogrelate hydrochloride (300 mg/day) plus aspirin (100 mg/day) versus aspirin monotherapy over 12 weeks in patients with PAD and CAD. Patients were assigned using a computer-generated sequence. The primary analysis used the full analysis set. The primary outcome was change in systolic and diastolic blood viscosity. Secondary outcomes included RBC deformability, aggregation index, critical shear stress, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), metabolic parameters, and quality of life. FMD was performed using standardized protocols with blinded assessment. Results: Sixty-eight patients were randomized (34 per group), of whom 61 were included in the full analysis set (experimental group, n = 31; control group, n = 30). At week 12, systolic blood viscosity remained stable in the experimental group (4.51 → 4.49 cP) but increased in the control group (4.67 → 4.87 cP). The unadjusted mean between-group differences in change from baseline (experimental minus control) were −0.23 cP (95% CI, −0.66 to 0.20) for systolic blood viscosity and −0.55 cP (95% CI, −2.03 to 0.93) for diastolic blood viscosity; the corresponding longitudinal between-group p-values from the MMRM analyses were 0.9481 and 0.9630, respectively. FMD showed no significant between-group difference at week 12 (unadjusted mean difference, −0.60%; 95% CI, −2.05 to 0.85; MMRM p = 0.7727). Patient-reported outcomes (SF-36 and visual analog scale scores) did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusions: In patients with PAD and CAD, no statistically significant additional hemorheological benefit of sarpogrelate combined with aspirin was demonstrated compared with aspirin monotherapy. Full article

Background/Objective: Previous studies on the association between chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and allergic rhinitis (AR) have mostly focused on the general population, and much less on patients with CRS requiring surgical treatment. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of perennial and seasonal AR (PAR and SAR, respectively) among CRS patients in whom it was necessary to apply surgical treatment, including those with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and those without (CRSsNP). Methods: A three-year retrospective study from a single center included CRS patients with indications for surgical treatment. The patients were not previously treated surgically. Several clinical parameters were considered: frequency of AR, PAR, SAR, SAR+PAR, asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Total serum IgE, percentage of eosinophils in peripheral blood, and Lund–Mackay computed tomography (CT) score (LMS) were also determined. Correlation analyses were performed to assess the relationships among the clinical parameters, while multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine their independent associations with the outcome and to identify the best independent predictor. Results: A total of 155 patients with CRS were considered. Over 70% were patients with CRSwNP. AR was significantly more prevalent in patients with CRSwNP (p = 0.049), with PAR being the more common form (p = 0.035). Also, GERD and asthma were more common in CRSwNP (p = 0.01 and p = 0.001, respectively). The strongest correlation was found between total serum IgE and percentage of eosinophils (rho = 0.776; p < 0.001), then between percentage of eosinophils and LMS (rho = 0.760; p < 0.001), as well as between total IgE and LMS (rho = 0.695; p < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis identified LMS as the only independent statistically significant predictor for CRSwNP (OR = 1.381, p < 0.001) among all numerical parameters. Conclusions: The results suggest a better association between PAR and CRS, especially with CRSwNP. Asthma and GERD are also highly associated, primarily with CRSwNP. LMS is the best independent predictor for the presence of CRSwNP. Full article

Background/Objectives: Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare and diagnostically challenging disease, often presenting as fever of unknown origin (FUO). This study aimed to develop and validate diagnostic predictive models and scoring systems to distinguish IVLBCL from other causes of FUO in hospitalized patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted in patients with IVLBCL or other causes of FUO who were treated between February 2015 and October 2023. Two multivariable logistic regression models and corresponding integer-based scoring systems were developed in a training cohort comprising 42 patients with IVLBCL and 45 FUO controls. Internal validation was performed using leave-one-out cross-validation and bootstrap resampling, followed by temporal validation in an independent cohort of 18 patients with IVLBCL and 21 FUO controls. Model 1 was additionally evaluated for sensitivity in an external case-only cohort comprising 40 patients with IVLBCL from eight hospitals. Results: Model 1 incorporated peripheral edema, hypoxemia, neurological symptoms, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and interstitial lung abnormalities on computed tomography and achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.916 in the training cohort. Model 2 combined the interleukin-10/interleukin-6 (IL-10/IL-6) ratio with peripheral edema, hypoxemia, and neurological symptoms and demonstrated significantly improved discrimination (AUC = 0.982, p = 0.021 vs. Model 1). In the temporal validation cohort, the AUCs of Models 1 and 2 were 0.975 and 0.997, respectively. The corresponding integer-based scoring systems achieved AUCs of 0.903 and 0.952 in the training cohort and 0.926 and 0.992 in the temporal validation cohort. In the external case-only cohort, both Model 1 and its integer-based score identified 32 of 40 patients, yielding a sensitivity of 80.0%. Random skin biopsy provided the histological diagnosis in 58% of cases, with a positivity rate of 79.5%. Conclusions: Two diagnostic models and their simplified scoring systems were developed and internally and temporally validated to aid the diagnosis of IVLBCL in hospitalized patients with FUO. These models may assist in the diagnostic workup of hospitalized FUO patients, especially when IL-10/IL-6 testing is unavailable. Their performance in outpatient or community settings remains uncertain, and prospective multicenter validation with appropriate FUO controls is warranted. Full article

The conventional von Neumann architecture, constrained by the memory and power walls arising from the separation of storage and computation, faces significant limitations in computational efficiency and energy consumption. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a computing-in-memory (CiM) architecture based on a hybrid 2T-2C/4T-2C ferroelectric random-access memory (FRAM) array. The proposed architecture performs majority-based bitwise computation by simultaneously activating multiple word lines, enabling AND and OR operations in conventional 2T-2C FRAM cells. Selectively embedded 4T-2C FRAM cells further provide in-array inversion, extending the supported functions to NOT and functionally complete Boolean logic. The architecture also supports full-adder operations and stores input operands, intermediate data, and output results within the same FRAM subarray, thereby reducing data movement. Moreover, the architecture provides ADC-free bitwise computing with binary inputs and outputs, reducing peripheral-circuit overhead and power consumption. The internal computation, nevertheless, relies on analog charge sharing and differential sense-amplifier resolution. HSPICE simulations indicate PVT-evaluated sensing stability and computational efficiency under the evaluated conditions. The bit-line voltage difference reaches 337 mV under triple-row activation and 214 mV under quintuple-row activation, with the former being 5.2 times that of the reported DRAM implementation used for comparison. At 3.3 V, process–voltage–temperature (PVT) simulations show that the maximum deviation of ΔV from its mean value remains below 4.62% across the evaluated process corners and temperatures from −40 °C to 125 °C. Simulations of the 8 × 8 FRAM CiM compute-array circuit model yield an energy consumption of 1.94–3.46 pJ/bit and a calculation latency of 0.599–1.167 ns for the supported bitwise operations, corresponding to a 4.86×–5.90× reduction in energy consumption compared with the reported DDR3-based design. The architecture also supports parallel processing and mitigates data loss associated with destructive FRAM readout through an in-array replication mechanism. Finally, an 8 × 8 hybrid FRAM CiM prototype was fabricated in a 180 nm CMOS process as a physical implementation of the proposed hybrid architecture, and its basic array functionality was verified. Full article

Akerlof’s classical theory of the “Market for Lemons,” which conceptualizes adverse selection driven by information asymmetry, established the foundation of information economics. While the traditional model assumes static equilibria among a limited number of agents, analyzing its behavioral dynamics within large-scale, complex network environments remains a highly relevant task in computational social science. This study extends the classical lemon market model into a nonlinear dynamical system on adaptive networks. We mathematically elucidate macro-level social phase transitions—specifically structural exclusion such as scapegoating and collective ostracism—induced by computational cognitive limits, and evaluate optimal intervention strategies to mitigate these systemic failures. Multi-agent simulations utilizing large-scale tensor operations demonstrate that autonomous edge rewiring under incomplete information does not merely result in the uniform displacement of high-quality goods as predicted by static theory. Instead, the network self-organizes into an irreversible structural division: a core group of influential agents monopolizes high-quality information, while marginalized agents are isolated into a peripheral “lemon echo chamber” where only low-quality information circulates. To address this structural pathology under a resource constraint limiting intervention to 10% of the total agents, we evaluated two distinct approaches. The results indicate that providing informational support to influential hubs functions as a trap that exacerbates systemic inequality, superficially elevating the overall market evaluation but permanently fixing the exclusion gap. Conversely, the forced maintenance and protection of “weak ties” bridging disconnected clusters constitutes the mathematically optimal solution to dissolve fragmentation, effectively eliminating the price gap and facilitating social inclusion. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that the mechanism of social exclusion exhibits strong hysteresis effects. A distinct tipping point governs the progression toward a fragmented lemon echo chamber. Interventions implemented after crossing this critical threshold fail to restore the system to its baseline state despite identical resource expenditure, confirming the presence of an irreversible phase transition. These findings establish that the collapse dynamics outlined in the classical lemon market serve as a generalized model for explaining contemporary collective ostracism driven by information cascades. Consequently, the analysis highlights the necessity of early intervention prior to critical thresholds and the systemic preservation of structural bypasses rather than post-hoc remediation. Full article

Background: Amoxicillin–clavulanate (AC) is the antibiotic most frequently implicated in idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) worldwide, and it characteristically produces a cholestatic or mixed pattern in older adults. A predominantly hepatocellular presentation is distinctly less common in this age group, and reports from the Arabian Peninsula are scarce. Case presentation: A 66-year-old Saudi man developed painless, progressive jaundice after a seven-day course of oral AC (500/125 mg three times daily) prescribed for a thumb laceration. He described a similar self-limiting jaundice after the same antibiotic approximately five years earlier, an episode that was never investigated and had not been entered in his allergy record, so the drug was prescribed again unknowingly. Liver biochemistry, documented as normal four months earlier, showed alanine aminotransferase (ALT) peaking at 587 U/L (14.3 × the upper limit of normal, ULN) and aspartate aminotransferase at 335 U/L, with total bilirubin 249 µmol/L (11.9 × ULN) and a 69% conjugated fraction, whereas alkaline phosphatase (ALP) never exceeded 245 U/L (1.9 × ULN). The R-value at the ALT peak was 19.3 using the same-day ALP, and 7.6 even when the peak ALT is paired with the highest ALP recorded at any point in the illness; the pattern was therefore hepatocellular (R > 5) throughout the injury phase. Hy’s law criteria were met, although the international normalised ratio remained 1.0 and no encephalopathy developed. Peripheral eosinophilia (peak 1.05 × 10⁹/L) was documented. Hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B core antibody, hepatitis C antibody and HIV serology were non-reactive; antinuclear, anti-smooth-muscle, anti-liver-kidney microsomal type 1 and antimitochondrial antibodies were negative and serum ceruloplasmin was normal; ultrasound with contrast-enhanced triphasic computed tomography excluded biliary obstruction and malignancy. Hepatitis A and E serology and cytomegalovirus/Epstein–Barr studies were unavailable at our institution, which we report as a limitation. AC was withdrawn and management was supportive. Liver biochemistry normalised completely over the following three months (ALT 25 U/L, ALP 103 U/L, and total bilirubin 22 µmol/L). Updated Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (RUCAM) scoring on the hepatocellular scale gave 7 points (probable); no credit was taken for the historical episode, since RUCAM requires documented enzyme re-elevation for a positive re-administration response. Conclusions: AC can cause hepatocellular, Hy’s-law-positive injury in older adults, not only the cholestatic phenotype emphasised in the literature. The decisive failure here was administrative rather than diagnostic: an adverse drug reaction that is never recorded will be repeated. Full article

To address large fluctuations in fertilizer flow and the difficulty of real-time quantitative blockage monitoring during fertilization by an integrated tillage, land preparation, and seeding machine, a fertilization monitoring system combining real-time detection and intelligent alarm functions was designed and developed. The system uses an STC32G12K128 microcontroller as the core control unit and integrates fiber-optic sensors, fiber-optic amplifiers, and associated peripheral hardware. Supporting host computer software was also developed on the Python3.13 platform. Based on the light-blocking principle, the optical signal generated by fertilizer particles passing through the sensing area is converted into a digital signal by the fiber-optic amplifier. A quantitative correlation model between the amount of blocked light and the fertilizer discharge rate was then established, enabling indirect and non-contact measurement of the fertilizer discharge rate. Indoor bench tests demonstrated a highly significant positive linear correlation between the amount of blocked light and the fertilizer discharge rate. The overall mean absolute percentage error of the fitted model was below 10%. Based on this detection system, a fertilization monitoring and alarm module was further developed for indoor bench conditions, together with discrimination logic for fertilizer blockage and fertilizer shortage. At rotational speeds of 30–50 r/min, the system achieved an average blockage detection rate of 98%, an average false alarm rate of 4.4%, and an alarm response time of no more than 3 s. Full article

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) drives ozone and secondary aerosol formation and harms human health. Chongqing, a mountainous megacity of 32 million people, lacks a fine-scale satellite assessment of its NO₂ evolution. We analyzed tropospheric NO₂ vertical column density (VCD) over Chongqing for 2019–2024. The analysis used Sentinel-5P TROPOMI observations. We computed monthly, seasonal, and annual composites at 5.5 km resolution. Trends were quantified with the Theil–Sen slope and, at the pixel level, the Seasonal Mann–Kendall (SMK) test applied to the full 72-month series. A MODIS land-cover mask separated urban built-up from non-urban pixels. NO₂ concentrated in the central districts and along the Yangtze valley. The core exceeded the mountainous counties by a factor of 3 to 4. TROPOMI resolved the Wanzhou and Yongchuan–Jiangjin hotspots as separate features. The record was divided into three phases. The 2020 lockdown produced the minimum, 31% below the prior February. Rebound emissions produced the 2021 maximum of 5.6 × 10¹⁵ molecules cm⁻² under near-normal dispersion conditions, with ERA5 (the European Centre of Medium-range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis v.5) showing the January 2021 boundary layer 4.3% deeper than its climatological norm. Thereafter the regional mean stabilized: the area-weighted SMK slope was +0.042 × 10¹⁵ molecules cm⁻² yr⁻¹ and not significant (p = 0.14), because emission controls in the core and rising county emissions canceled in the average. Trends diverged sharply in space. The nine core districts declined (median urban Sen slope −0.11 × 10¹⁵ molecules cm⁻² yr⁻¹), whereas 41% of peripheral pixels rose significantly (p < 0.05). The urban-to-rural ratio narrowed from 3.0 in 2019 to 2.3 in 2024 (annual means). This convergence was robust to the built-up threshold (30–50%). Industrial relocation and county urbanization explain the peripheral rise. The results support extending vehicle and industrial emission standards from the core to the receiving counties. Full article

RNA aptamers are often used as ligand-recognition modules in engineered RNA systems, but integration into larger RNA constructs can influence stability and ligand binding. As a result, aptamer sequences may need to be adapted to new environments while preserving essential properties. Here, we examine this sequence editability problem for the theophylline RNA aptamer. Starting from the experimentally determined structure, we introduced targeted mutations in peripheral structural elements while leaving the recognition site unchanged. The native aptamer, mutated variants, a Mg²⁺-depleted system, and a caffeine-bound control were analyzed using three independent 1 $\mathsf{\mu }$s molecular dynamics simulations. Binding energetics were estimated with multiple end-point as well as alchemical free energy approaches. Results were interpreted together with base pair stability, the conformational landscape of the binding pocket, and per-nucleotide energy contributions. This allows us to predict whether an edit is tolerated or disruptive. Some mutations retained structural and energetic profiles comparable to the native aptamer, whereas others reduced ligand affinity by propagating structural distortions into the binding pocket. These results show that sequence changes outside the binding site can modulate ligand binding indirectly, and that the ligand interaction network is useful for evaluating edited aptamers. The introduced workflow provides a novel combination of established computational strategies for efficient in silico screening of aptamer variants before experimental testing and can be integrated into the design of larger RNA structures. This works particularly well when an experimental structure is available and the tested mutations are small enough not to disrupt the folding pathway. Full article

Background: Health literacy is widely recognized as a fundamental determinant of chronic disease self-management. Despite the escalating burden of diabetes mellitus in Saudi Arabia, the relationship between health literacy and diabetes self-care management within specific urban–peripheral communities remains inadequately characterized. This study aimed to examine the relationship between health literacy and diabetes self-care management among adults with diabetes residing in southern Riyadh, and to examine associations with key sociodemographic variables, including age, income, gender, and educational attainment. Methods: A non-experimental, cross-sectional, correlational design was employed. A purposive sample of 92 adults with a confirmed diagnosis of diabetes was recruited from primary healthcare centers in southern Riyadh. Data were gathered using the Arabic-validated 12-item European Health Literacy Scale (HLS-Q12) and the 8-item Arabic Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA). Descriptive statistics and Spearman rank-order correlations were computed using IBM SPSS Statistics, Version 25. Results: A significant positive correlation was identified between health literacy and diabetes self-care management (rs = 0.64, 95% CI [0.50, 0.75], p < 0.01). Income level demonstrated significant positive associations with both health literacy (rs = 0.41, p < 0.01) and self-care practices (rs = 0.40, p < 0.01). Age exhibited significant negative correlations with health literacy (rs = −0.36, p < 0.01) and self-care management (rs = −0.49, p < 0.01). Educational attainment was significantly associated with both self-care management (rs = 0.29, p < 0.01) and health literacy (rs = 0.26, p < 0.05). Gender was not significantly associated with either outcome. Conclusions: Health literacy was significantly associated with diabetes self-care management in southern Riyadh and may represent a potentially modifiable target for nursing intervention. Findings point to the urgency of designing equity-sensitive, culturally responsive interventions targeting older adults and economically marginalized populations. These preliminary findings may carry implications for nursing practice, diabetes education, and health policy in Saudi Arabia, pending confirmation in larger, prospective samples. Full article

To optimize the hydrodynamic conditions of the converter vanadium extraction process, a three-dimensional multiphase flow model of the top-blowing system in a 200 t vanadium extraction converter was established based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Conventional 3-hole and “3+1”-hole (with a central nozzle) oxygen lance schemes were designed to investigate the effects of nozzle design Mach numbers and inter-nozzle flow distributions on jet characteristics, impact cavity morphology, and internal molten bath flow fields, aiming to select the optimal oxygen lance nozzle structure. The results indicate that for oxygen lances without a central nozzle, lowering the design Mach number mitigates shock wave energy dissipation and enlarges the gas–liquid reaction surface area; however, due to the lack of longitudinal penetrating force from a central jet, a large stagnation dead zone is prone to forming at the bottom. For oxygen lances with a central nozzle, the inter-nozzle flow distribution governs the impact cavity morphology and the evolution of the flow field. Excessive central flow causes the impact cavity to exhibit a “deep and narrow” profile and exacerbates surface kinetic energy dissipation, whereas insufficient central flow results in a “shallow and wide” cavity that makes it difficult to drive deep circulation. Based on a multi-objective evaluation, the “3+1” configuration adopting a 1:1 balanced flow ratio between the central nozzle and a single peripheral nozzle (Case 2#) effectively balances the allocation of jet momentum between radial expansion and longitudinal penetration, achieving synergistic optimization of the gas–liquid reaction interface expansion and deep-bath stirring, thus serving as the optimal scheme. The findings of this study provide an important theoretical reference for the engineering design and industrial trials of oxygen lance nozzles in large-tonnage vanadium extraction converters. Full article

Motor imagery (MI) classification serves as the backbone to brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) by strengthening the communication bridge between the human brain and external peripheral devices. The past two decades have witnessed unprecedented success in MI-BCIs, with applications not only in medical fields but also in several other domains, such as gaming and robotic control. Initially, MI classification primarily relied on classical signal processing techniques that were heavily impacted by signal variations; however, recent trends in deep learning (DL), specifically in sequence-oriented, attention-based, hybrid, and generative architectures such as recurrent neural networks (RNNs), variational autoencoders (VAEs), generative adversarial networks (GANs), and transformers have significantly improved the efficiency and robustness of MI classification. This study presents a comprehensive review of these sequence-oriented, attention-based, hybrid, and generative architectures including RNNs, VAEs, GANs, and transformers, comparing their robustness across various public MI datasets, highlighting their challenges, such as inter-subject variation, low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and the obstacles in real-time signal classification. We perform an in-depth analysis on the strengths and limitations of traditional models such as RNNs and LSTMs as well as emergent models such as VAEs and transformers, which have demonstrated superior performance in extracting the intricate patterns of the EEG data with low latency. Moreover, we critically examine the future potential of such models in overcoming current bottlenecks, such as weak generalization on unseen data and high computational load. This study aims to assist researchers in attaining significant insights into the state-of-the-art sequence, attention-based, hybrid, and generative models used in MI classification, thus offering a direction for future innovation. Full article