Search Results (9,169)

The district heating system (DHS) can provide flexibility to the electrical power system (EPS) in the coordinated dispatch of an integrated power and heat system (IPHS). To exploit the energy storage capacity of the DHS and support the flexible IPHS operation, it is essential to characterize the flexible operation region (FOR) of the DHS. This paper proposes an FOR characterization method for the DHS, based on a Farkas-cut outer approximation algorithm (FCOAA). The FOR characterization is formulated as a polyhedral projection problem. Within the FCOAA-based framework, the feasible cut generation model is constructed as a bilinear programming problem, which is relaxed by using the normalized multiparametric disaggregation technique (NMDT) and converted into a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) problem. Numerical simulations on a 6-bus/6-node IPHS are carried out to validate the proposed method, and key factors influencing the flexibility of the DHS are analyzed. Full article

Background: Chronic diabetic wounds, particularly diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), are prone to recurrent infection and delayed healing, resulting in substantial morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. Multifunctional wound dressings that combine antibacterial, antioxidant, conductive, and self-healing properties may help to address the complex microenvironment of chronic diabetic wounds. Methods: In this study, ε-poly-L-lysine and amino-terminated polyethylene glycol were grafted onto carboxylated single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) via amide coupling to obtain ε-PL-CNT-PEG. Aminated chondroitin sulfate (CS-ADH) and a catechol–metal coordination complex of protocatechualdehyde and Fe³⁺ (PA@Fe) were then used to construct a dynamic covalently cross-linked hydrogel network through Schiff-base chemistry. The obtained hydrogels (Gel0–3, Gel4) were characterized for photothermal performance, rheological behavior, microstructure, swelling/degradation, adhesiveness, antioxidant capacity, electrical conductivity, cytocompatibility, hemocompatibility, and antibacterial activity in the presence and absence of near-infrared (NIR, 808 nm) irradiation. Results: ε-PL-CNT-PEG showed good aqueous dispersibility, NIR-induced photothermal conversion, and improved cytocompatibility after surface modification. Incorporation of ε-PL-CNT-PEG into the PA@Fe/CS-ADH network yielded conductive hydrogels with porous microstructures and storage modulus (G′) higher than loss modulus (G′′) over the tested frequency range, indicating stable gel-like behavior. The hydrogels exhibited self-healing under alternating strain and macroscopic rejoining after cutting. Swelling and degradation studies demonstrated pH-dependent degradation, with faster degradation in mildly acidic conditions (pH 5.0), mimicking infected chronic diabetic wounds. The hydrogels adhered to diverse substrates and tolerated joint movements. Gel4 showed notable DPPH• and H₂O₂ scavenging (≈65% and ≈60%, respectively, within several hours). The electrical conductivity was 0.19 ± 0.0X mS/cm for Gel0–3 and 0.21 ± 0.0Y mS/cm for Gel4 (mean ± SD, n = 3), falling within the range reported for human skin. In vitro, NIH3T3 cells maintained >90% viability in the presence of hydrogel extracts, and hemolysis ratios remained below 5%. Hydrogels containing ε-PL-CNT-PEG displayed enhanced antibacterial effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and NIR irradiation further reduced bacterial survival, with some formulations achieving near-complete inhibition under low-power (0.2–0.3 W/cm²) 808 nm irradiation. Conclusions: A dynamic, conductive hydrogel based on PA@Fe, CS-ADH, and ε-PL-CNT-PEG was successfully developed. The hydrogel combines photothermal antibacterial activity, antioxidant capacity, electrical conductivity, self-healing behavior, adhesiveness, cytocompatibility, and hemocompatibility. These properties suggest potential for application as a wound dressing for chronic diabetic wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers, although further in vivo studies are required to validate therapeutic efficacy. Full article

As the use of renewable energy increases, the inertia and frequency stability of the power system continuously decrease, which seriously threatens the stable operation of the power grid. To address the problem of frequency instability, grid-forming energy storage systems (ESS) and associated microgrids have arisen as promising solutions, and their scheduling and capacity planning have become critical issues directly affecting operational costs. However, existing research often ignores battery aging, which may lead to excessive degradation and higher equipment replacement costs. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a grid-forming battery energy storage system capacity planning method that explicitly considers device lifetime, incorporating battery aging into the optimization objective through the rain-flow counting algorithm. Furthermore, an optimization framework combining the genetic algorithm, rain-flow counting method, and branch-and-cut algorithm is developed. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, simulations of 12 typical days are conducted on the Gurobi platform to compare the overall cost in five different cases. The results prove that the proposed method can reduce the overall cost by 1.51–6.82% compared to cases where the device lifetime and workload flexibility are not considered, and a good frequency-support performance is achieved. Full article

Despite decades of research, autonomous forklifts remain deployed at a small scale (2–50 vehicles), while industrial warehouses require coordinating hundreds of vehicles in environments shared with human workers. This systematic review analyzes forklift-specific autonomous technologies published between 2010 and 2025 across major robotics databases (including IEEE Xplore, ACM, Elsevier, and related venues) to identify deployment barriers. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we systematically selected 122 peer-reviewed papers addressing forklift-specific challenges across eight subsystems: vehicle modeling, localization, planning, control, vision-based manipulation, multi-vehicle coordination, and safety. We synthesized 80 methods through 8 standardized comparison tables with quality assessment based on validation rigor. State-of-the-art approaches demonstrate strong laboratory performance: localization achieving ±1.4 mm accuracy, control enabling sub-centimeter manipulation, planning reducing mission times by 2–55%, vision reaching 98%+ recognition, and safety frameworks cutting rollover risk by 53–59%. However, validation predominantly occurs at laboratory scale, revealing a critical deployment gap. These achievements do not scale to industrial environments due to fleet coordination complexity, payload variability, and unpredictable human behavior. Our contributions include the following: (1) performance rankings with technology selection guidance, (2) systematic gap characterization, and (3) research priorities addressing mixed-fleet coordination, learning-enhanced control, and human-aware safety. This review was not prospectively registered. Full article

The reverse circulation pneumatic down-the-hole (DTH) drilling system employs percussive drilling to achieve high efficiency and strong adaptability across diverse rock formations. However, its cutting removal efficiency remains suboptimal. To enhance reverse circulation performance, a comprehensive understanding of airflow and solid particle dynamics at the borehole bottom is essential. This study investigates rock cutting transportation and distribution under varying drilling parameters and evaluates reverse circulation flow ratio using a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) multiphase flow model, coupled with finite volume analysis of the reverse circulation bit. Simulation results reveal that increasing the input gas flow rate (Q), reducing the equivalent particle diameter (D), and minimizing the borehole enlargement ratio (E) significantly improve cutting removal efficiency, with optimal values identified for each parameter. Additionally, solid volume fraction contours at the borehole bottom indicate that the arrangement of spherical teeth influences the flow field. Optimal values for rock cutting density (ρ), rate of penetration (ROP), and rotational speed (N) were also determined to maximize reverse circulation flow ratio. The Genetic Algorithm–Least Squares Support Vector Machine (GA-LSSVM) method was used to train the response surface data and construct a predictive model, which was then further optimized using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to determine accurate parameter settings. These findings provide operational insights into optimizing drilling parameters to advance efficient drilling performance. Full article

Background and Objectives: Endoscopic biopsy of brain lesions plays an important role in the management of intra- and periventricular lesions. While the diagnostic yield of this technique has been reported with varying success across studies, its outcome is likely influenced by specific technical nuances of the procedure. However, the relationship between these technical factors and diagnostic accuracy remains understudied in the current literature. We aim to describe the procedural rationale, key anatomical considerations, and technical nuances of the endoscopic biopsy of intra- and paraventricular brain lesions, comparing standard tissue forceps with a side-cutting biopsy needle technique. Materials and Methods: We conducted a ten-year single-center, retrospective study of patients who underwent endoscopic biopsy for intra- and paraventricular brain lesions between January 2014 and December 2024. Patients were divided based on the biopsy technique used: the first group of 11 patients was treated using a side-cutting biopsy needle from the center of the lesion, while the second group of five patients underwent tissue sampling with standard endoscopic tissue cup forceps. The study evaluates and compares both approaches in terms of safety and diagnostic accuracy. Results: Endoscopic visualization enabled direct assessment of the biopsy site in both groups. Histopathological diagnoses were successfully obtained in all cases with a side-cutting biopsy needle (11/11, 100.0%), and in almost all cases with the cup forceps technique (4/5, 80.0%). In patients with obstructive hydrocephalus, an endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) was performed as the first and therapeutic step in all procedures and two patients required a shunt procedure. Conclusions: Endoscopic biopsies utilizing a side-cutting biopsy needle strategy offer a promising adjunctive approach for selected intra- and paraventricular brain lesions. This method allows for direct visualization of the intraventricular surface, while the use of a needle biopsy can enhance the likelihood of obtaining diagnostically representative tissue with a high degree of reliability. Full article

Background/Objectives: Institutional catering serves vulnerable populations, including schoolchildren. Surfaces in food preparation environments are key control points for food safety and reservoirs and transmission routes for antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria. This study characterized the hygienic status of food-contact surfaces (FCS) and non-food-contact surfaces (NFCS) in Hungarian school kitchens, identified contamination hotspots, and examined how routine monitoring can support AMR prevention. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed routine environmental hygiene monitoring records from 96 school kitchens (2019–2024). In total, 8412 swab samples were collected, 8407 had quantifiable counts, 6233 from FCS (e.g., plates, trays, boards, utensils), and 2174 from NFCS (e.g., sinks, fridges, workers’ hands). Total aerobic mesophilic counts were measured with a redox-potential method and expressed as CFU/100 cm²; 250 CFU/100 cm² (2.4 log₁₀) was the hygienic threshold. Results: Overall, 12.4% of surfaces exceeded the threshold. Non-food-contact surfaces were more likely to be non-compliant than food-contact surfaces (OR 2.77, 95% CI 2.43–3.17; p < 0.001). Hotspots included transport-container lids (67.2% non-compliant; OR 43.82), sink basins (32.8%; OR 10.46), and cutting boards (21.6%; OR 5.89). Seasonally, non-compliance was highest in summer (16.5%) and lowest in winter (9.0%; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Multi-year monitoring revealed substantial contamination concentrated in a few hotspots that, within a One Health framework—which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health—may represent environmental reservoirs and cross-contamination nodes relevant to AMR prevention. Targeted optimization of cleaning and disinfection for these surfaces, combined with trend analysis of indicator data and periodic AMR-focused environmental sampling, could reduce foodborne and AMR-related risks in public catering. Full article

Objective: Visceral adipose tissue is a primary driver of insulin resistance and dysglycemia in type 2 diabetes (T2D), yet its clinical assessment remains challenging. This study aimed to validate neck circumference (NC) as a novel, practical anthropometric biomarker for estimating visceral fat area (VFA) and identifying metabolic risk in a T2D cohort, facilitating its integration into public health and primary care screening strategies. Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 1139 T2D patients, we collected data on NC, biochemical parameters (fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides), and precisely measured VFA and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) via bioelectrical impedance analysis (Omron HDS-2000). We employed Pearson’s correlation and multivariate logistic regression to analyze the relationship between NC and metabolic indicators. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to establish sex-specific NC cut-off values for predicting abnormal VFA. Results: The cohort comprised 687 (60.3%) males and 452 (39.7%) females. NC demonstrated strong positive correlations with VFA (p < 0.001), as did body mass index (BMI), waist–hip ratio (WHR), and SFA. In males, NC was further positively correlated with key metabolic biomarkers including fasting insulin, Insulin Resistance Index, triglycerides, and creatinine. ROC analysis identified NC > 39.5 cm for males and >35.5 cm for females as the optimal cut-off points for detecting abnormal visceral adiposity, highlighting its diagnostic utility. Conclusions: NC serves as a highly accessible and effective biomarker for visceral adiposity and associated metabolic dysfunction in patients with T2D. The established sex-specific cut-off values provide a simple, non-invasive tool for risk stratification in clinical and public health settings, enabling early intervention and improved management of metabolic disease. Full article

The tool-point frequency response function (FRF) of a spindle–tool system plays a crucial role in predicting machining stability. Among the factors influencing the FRF, the interface characteristics between the spindle and the tool holder are particularly significant, especially when different holder designs are used. This study focused on identifying these interface characteristics for two common tool holder types—BT and BBT—to improve FRF prediction accuracy. The receptance coupling substructure analysis (RCSA) method was employed in conjunction with finite element modeling (FEM) to characterize the spindle–tool holder interfaces without needing extensive experimental tapping tests. Finite element models were developed to generate receptance components for various tool holder–tool assemblies, enabling efficient and accurate coupling within the RCSA framework. The identified interface parameters were applied to predict the tool-point FRFs of the cutter clamped in a BT tool holder with different overhang lengths. The predicted and measured tool compliances differed by 3–4.6%, demonstrating high agreement and reliability. The proposed methodology provides a powerful tool for predictive modeling of dynamic behavior in spindle–tool systems under varying tooling conditions, enhancing process planning and evaluation of the cutting stability in high-precision machining. Full article

Background and Objectives: Dyspnea is a common chief complaint in the emergency department. While global longitudinal strain and biplane ejection fraction are reliable markers of left ventricular systolic function, their assessment requires advanced echocardiographic tools and expertise. Simple point-of-care ultrasound parameters, such as E-point septal separation and fractional shortening may serve as practical alternatives for rapid bedside evaluation. Materials and Methods: EPSS and FS were measured by emergency physicians using POCUS, while reference EF and GLS were obtained by cardiologists via transthoracic echocardiography. Correlation analyses, receiver operating characteristic curves, and agreement statistics were used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of EPSS and FS for predicting reduced EF (<50%) and GLS (<16%). Results: Reduced EF was present in 54.0% and reduced GLS in 55.6% of patients. EPSS showed strong negative correlations with EF (ρ = −0.834) and GLS (ρ = −0.782), while FS correlated positively with EF (ρ = 0.773) and GLS (ρ = 0.714), all p < 0.001. ROC analysis demonstrated excellent diagnostic accuracy of EPSS (AUC = 0.922 for EF; 0.949 for GLS) and good accuracy of FS (AUC = 0.874 for EF; 0.865 for GLS). Optimal cut-off values were EPSS ≥ 7.0 mm and FS ≤ 25%. Agreement with reference TTE was good for EPSS (κ = 0.676 for EF; κ = 0.738 for GLS) and moderate for FS (κ ≈ 0.56). Conclusions: Both EPSS and FS measured by POCUS provide reliable estimates of left ventricular systolic function in dyspneic ED patients, with EPSS demonstrating superior diagnostic performance. Full article

Background and Objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis (CRLM) represents a major clinical challenge, and acquired resistance to radiotherapy (RT) significantly limits therapeutic efficacy. A deep and comprehensive understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving RT resistance is urgently required to develop effective combination strategies. Here, we aimed to dissect the dynamic cellular landscape of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and identify key epigenetic regulators mediating radioresistance in CRLM by integrating cutting-edge single-cell and spatial omics technologies. Methods and Results: We performed integrated single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) on matched pre- and post-radiotherapy tumor tissues collected from three distinct CRLM patients. Employing a robust machine-learning framework on the multi-omics data, we successfully identified MORF4L1 (Mortality Factor 4 Like 1), an epigenetic reader, as a critical epigenetic mediator of acquired radioresistance. High-resolution scRNA-seq analysis of the tumor cell compartment revealed that the MORF4L1-high subpopulation exhibited significant enrichment in DNA damage repair (DDR) pathways, heightened activity of multiple pro-survival metabolic pathways, and robust signatures of immune evasion. Pseudotime trajectory analysis further confirmed that RT exposure drives tumor cells toward a highly resistant state, marked by a distinct increase in MORF4L1 expression. Furthermore, cell–cell communication inference demonstrated a pronounced, systemic upregulation of various immunosuppressive signaling axes within the TME following RT. Crucially, high-resolution ST confirmed these molecular and cellular interactions in their native context, revealing a significant spatial co-localization of MORF4L1-expressing tumor foci with multiple immunosuppressive immune cell types, including regulatory T cells (Tregs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), thereby underscoring its role in TME-mediated resistance. Conclusions: Our comprehensive spatial and single-cell profiling establishes MORF4L1 as a pivotal epigenetic regulator underlying acquired radioresistance in CRLM. These findings provide a compelling mechanistic rationale for combining radiotherapy with the targeted inhibition of MORF4L1, presenting a promising new therapeutic avenue to overcome treatment failure and improve patient outcomes in CRLM. Full article

Background/Objectives: We aimed to establish and validate population-based reference intervals (RIs) for serum ferritin (SF) using an indirect, date-driven approach based on real-world laboratory data and to optimize partitioning strategies. Methods: SF results from 29,723 apparently healthy individuals who underwent health examinations at West China Hospital between 2020 and 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. SF was measured on a Roche Cobas e801 electrochemiluminescence immunoassay platform. After Box–Cox transformation, outliers were removed using an iterative Tukey method. Potential partitioning factors were evaluated, and data-driven age cut-points were explored using decision tree regression and verified with the Harris–Boyd criteria. RIs were estimated using nonparametric percentile methods and validated in an independent cohort of 2494 individuals. Results: SF concentrations were significantly higher in males than in females (p < 0.001). In females, SF showed a significant positive association with age (r = 0.466, p < 0.001), whereas no such association was observed in males. Decision tree analysis identified 50 years as the optimal age cut-off for females (R² = 0.2467). The final study-derived RIs were 98.02–997.78 µg/L for males, 10.30–299.55 µg/L for females ≤ 50 years, and 36.61–507.00 µg/L for females > 50 years. In the validation cohort, the study-derived RIs achieved pass rates of 93.83–94.72%, which were significantly higher than the manufacturer-provided RIs (37.12–73.97%, all p < 0.001). Conclusions: Using a large health examination database and a multi-step partitioning strategy, we established robust sex- and age-specific SF RIs on the Roche Cobas e801 platform for the local population. This work provides a reproducible, generalizable framework for indirect RI determination of other biomarkers. Full article

Background/Objectives: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) affects over 280 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of disability. Emotional blunting—characterized by a numbing or flattening of emotions—is a significant yet often underrecognized symptom that impairs daily functioning and interpersonal relationships in patients with MDD. It remains unclear whether emotional blunting results primarily from the disorder itself or from antidepressant treatments, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Vortioxetine, a multimodal antidepressant approved for MDD, may help alleviate emotional blunting by modulating neurotransmitters differently than SSRIs. This study investigates the severity of emotional blunting among Hong Kong MDD patients and explores the changes in this symptom with the use of vortioxetine, while also considering anhedonia as a related dimension of reward processing. Methods: This naturalistic, longitudinal observational study in Hong Kong enrolled adults (aged 18 and above) clinically diagnosed with MDD who were initiating vortioxetine treatment for emotional blunting. Patient inclusion was based on independent prescribing decisions by psychiatrists, with informed consent obtained. Data collection comprised one intake interview and the administration of four self-report questionnaires—ODQ, PHQ-9, PDQ-D, SDS, MFI, and SHAPS—at baseline, week 1, week 4, and week 8. Demographic and clinical history data were also recorded. Questionnaires were completed online or via phone, over a study duration of approximately two months. Results: The prevalence of emotional blunting, estimated by the proportion of patients with an ODQ score at or above the clinical cut-off (≥50), was 91.9% at baseline, decreasing to 85.5% at week 1, 77.7% at week 4, and 73.3% at week 8. Significant improvements were also observed in depressive symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, functional impairment, pleasure experience, and fatigue. Conclusions: In this naturalistic observational cohort of patients with MDD who were prescribed vortioxetine, self-reported emotional blunting, depressive symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, functional impairment, and fatigue decreased over eight weeks. Anhedonia scores (SHAPS) decreased to non-significant levels, and clinician-rated Clinical Global Impression scores confirmed a significant reduction in illness severity. Full article

To address the low efficiency of corn straw collection, this study aims to optimize the design of the straw shredding mechanism of corn straw harvesters. A multi-blade arrangement shredding mechanism was designed, with ANSYS 2022 employed for gas-phase flow field simulation of the pick-up and fan conveying chambers, and a multi-field coupled simulation was conducted to evaluate performance using pick-up rate and qualified cutting length rate as metrics. Field tests were carried out to validate the simulation results. The results show that the DC-type pick-up (symmetrically arranged Y-shaped and hammer claw blades) exhibited optimal performance. At a travel speed of 1.2 m/s and rotational speed of 2100 r/min, the pick-up rate and qualified cutting length rate reached 93.62% and 93.94%, respectively, in field tests (81.34% pick-up rate in simulation); its maximum collection efficiency reached 92.98% under the conditions of fan 1 speed of 2300 r/min, fan 2 speed of 4600 r/min, and single feed rate of 9.4 kg. All pick-up types had maximum forces below the stress limit (348 MPa), meeting operational requirements. This research provides reliable references for the design and optimization of corn straw returning machines and verifies the accuracy of the simulation method. 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