Search Results (200)

The extensive use of pesticides has significant implications for public health and the environment. Breeding crop plants is the most effective and environmentally friendly approach to improve the plants’ resistance. However, it is time-consuming and costly, and it is sometimes difficult to achieve satisfactory results. Plants induce defense responses to natural elicitors by interpreting multiple genes that encode proteins, including enzymes, secondary metabolites, and pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins. These responses characterize systemic acquired resistance. Humic substances trigger positive local and systemic physiological responses through a complex network of hormone-like signaling pathways and can be used to induce biotic and abiotic stress resistance. This study aimed to assess the effect of humic substances on the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), peroxidase (POX), and β-1,3-glucanase (GLU) used as a resistance marker in various plant species, including orange, coffee, sugarcane, soybeans, maize, and tomato. Seedlings were treated with a dilute aqueous suspension of humic substances (4 mM C L⁻¹) as a foliar spray or left untreated (control). Leaf tissues were collected for enzyme assessment two days later. Humic substances significantly promoted the systemic acquired resistance marker activities compared to the control in all independent assays. Overall, all enzymes studied in this work, PAL, GLUC, and POX, showed an increase in activity by 133%, 181%, and 149%, respectively. Among the crops studied, citrus and coffee achieved the highest activity increase in all enzymes, except for POX in coffee, which showed a decrease of 29% compared to the control. GLUC exhibited the highest response to HS treatment, the enzyme most prominently involved in increasing enzymatic activity in all crops. Plants can improve their resistance to pathogens through the exogenous application of HSs as this promotes the activity of enzymes related to plant resistance. Finally, we consider the potential use of humic substances as a natural chemical priming agent to boost plant resistance in agriculture Full article

This paper proposes a novel suspended seismic structure system called Base-suspended Pendulum Isolation (BSPI) structure. The BSPI structure can isolate seismic action and reduce structural seismic response by hanging the structure with hanger rods set at the base. The viscous dampers are installed in the isolation layer to dissipate earthquake energy and control the displacement. Firstly, the configuration of suspension isolation layer and mechanical model of the BSPI structure are described. Then, an equivalent scaled BSPI structure physical model was tested on the shaking table. The test results demonstrate that the BSPI structure has a good isolation effect under earthquakes, and the viscous dampers had an obvious control effect on the structure’s displacement and acceleration response. Finally, numerical simulation of the tests was carried out. The accuracy of the numerical models are confirmed by the good agreement between the simulation and test results. The numerical models for the BSPI structure and conventional reinforced concrete (RC) frame structure are built and analyzed using the commercial software ABAQUS. Research results indicate that the lateral stiffness of the BSPI structure is reduced greatly by installing the suspension layer, and the acceleration response of BSPI structure is significantly reduced under rare earthquakes, which is only 1/2 of that of the RC frame. The inter-story displacement of the BSPI structure is less than 1/100, which meets the seismic fortification goal and is reduced to 50% of that of the BSPI structure without damper under rare earthquakes. Full article

With the development of electrification and intelligent technologies in vehicles, ride comfort issues represented by motion sickness have become a key constraint on the performance of autonomous driving. The occurrence of motion sickness is influenced by the comprehensive movement of the vehicle in the longitudinal, lateral, and vertical directions, involving ACC, LKA, active suspension, etc. Existing motion sickness control method focuses on optimizing the longitudinal, lateral, and vertical directions separately, or coordinating the optimization control of the longitudinal and lateral directions, while there is relatively little research on the coupling effect and coupled optimization of the longitudinal and vertical directions. This study proposes a coupled framework of ACC and active suspension control system based on MPC. By adding pitch angle changes caused by longitudinal acceleration to the suspension model, a coupled state equation of half-car vertical dynamics and ACC longitudinal dynamics is constructed to achieve integrated optimization of ACC and suspension for motion suppression. The suspension active forces and vehicle acceleration are regulated coordinately to optimize vehicle vertical, longitudinal, and pitch dynamics simultaneously. Simulation experiments show that compared to decoupled control of ACC and suspension, the integrated control framework can be more effective. The research results confirm that the dynamic coordination between the suspension and ACC system can effectively suppress the motion sickness, providing a new idea for solving the comfort conflict in the human vehicle environment coupling system. Full article

The stochastic fluctuation characteristics of wind speed can significantly affect the control performance of train suspension systems. To enhance the running quality of trains in non-stationary wind fields, this paper proposes a semi-active control method for trains based on fuzzy rules of non-stationary wind fields. Firstly, a dynamic model of the train and suspension system was established based on the CRH2 (China Railway High-Speed 2) high-speed train and magnetorheological dampers. Then, using frequency–time transformation technology, the non-stationary wind load excitation and train response patterns under 36 common operating conditions were calculated. Finally, by analyzing the response patterns of the train under different operating conditions, a comprehensive control rule table for the semi-active suspension system of the train under non-stationary wind fields was established, and a fuzzy controller suitable for non-stationary wind fields was designed. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, the running smoothness of the train was analyzed using a train-semi-active suspension system co-simulation model based on real wind speed data from the Lanzhou–Xinjiang railway line. The results demonstrate that the proposed method significantly improves the running quality of the train. Specifically, when the wind speed reaches 20 m/s and the train speed reaches 200 km/h, the lateral Sperling index is increased by 46.4% compared to the optimal standard index, and the vertical Sperling index is increased by 71.6% compared to the optimal standard index. Full article

Distributed-drive electric vehicles (DDEVs), through independent, rapid, and precise control of the driving/braking torque of each wheel, offer unprecedented opportunities to enhance their handling stability, ride comfort, energy economy, and safety. However, their inherent over-actuation characteristics and multi-degree-of-freedom motion coupling pose significant challenges to the vehicle chassis control system. Chassis coordinated control, by coordinating multiple subsystems such as drive, braking, steering, and suspension, has become a key technology to fully leverage the advantages of distributed drive and address its challenges. This paper reviews the core issues in chassis coordinated control for DDEVs, comparatively analyzes several distributed electric drive coordinated control architectures, and systematically outlines recent research progress in lateral–longitudinal, lateral–vertical, longitudinal–vertical, and combined three-dimensional (lateral–longitudinal–vertical) coordinated control, including control architectures, key technologies, commonly used algorithms, and control allocation strategies. By analyzing and comparing the advantages, disadvantages, and application scenarios of different coordinated control schemes, this paper summarizes the key scientific problems and technical bottlenecks in this field and looks forward to development trends in intelligence, integration, and scenario-based fusion, aiming to provide a reference for the development of high-performance chassis control technology for DDEVs. Full article

Background: Furosemide is a loop diuretic used extensively to treat adult and pediatric patients. In some hospitals, furosemide oral liquids are not available in stock, thus necessitating the extemporaneous preparation of the drug. This study evaluates the stability of on-the-spot formulations of furosemide oral suspensions from crushed tablets evaluated in various vehicles: Dextrose 50%, Dextrose 70%, Ora-Sweet, and Ora-Plus over 60 days. This examination was prompted by the frequent shortage of certain excipients in the hospital, leading to the need to switch to Dextrose 50% or Dextrose 70% when Ora-Sweet and Ora-Plus are out of stock. Methods: The extemporaneous furosemide oral suspensions were prepared following the same compounding method used in the pharmacy. The suspensions were maintained at 4 °C in the refrigerator and assessed immediately and later, on days 7, 14, 30, and 60. The assessed parameters included visual appearance, redispersion time, sedimentation volume, and pH levels for stability analysis. We also examined the drug content, dissolution of the suspension, and microbiological stability. Results: Initial examinations indicated that Dextrose 50% and Ora-Plus maintained pH levels and stable appearances, while significant changes, mainly in appearance and redispersion time, indicated the instability of Dextrose 70%. Ora-Sweet showed fluctuations but stabilized by day 30. Dissolution studies demonstrated that Ora-Plus had dissolution characteristics superior to the other formulations, while Dextrose 50% showed declining dissolution percentages over time. Overall, the Ora-Plus vehicle showed superior stability (60 days), followed by Ora-Sweet (30 days), while Dextrose 70% and Dextrose 50% showed shorter stability durations of 14 and 7 days, respectively. The microbiological test results showed no microbial growth. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the vehicle used in extemporaneous furosemide suspensions critically affects their stability and performance. Ora-Plus emerged as the most suitable vehicle, maintaining physical, chemical, and microbiological stability over 60 days, with consistent pH, redispersion, and dissolution behavior. Ora-Sweet showed intermediate stability (30 days), while Dextrose 50% and 70% exhibited early instability—7 and 14 days, respectively—marked by sedimentation, poor redispersibility, and declining drug release. These findings underscore the importance of vehicle selection and regular stability monitoring in compounded formulations to ensure therapeutic reliability and patient safety. Full article

Vehicles are now rapidly transitioning from a conventional torsion bar suspension to an in-arm suspension unit (ISU), reflecting the growing industrial demand for more compact, high-performance systems. Although the ISU system can adapt well to rough terrain, the side forces produced when the piston moves can affect its reliability. Current models built on ideal gas assumptions fail to describe the complex nonlinear behavior of nitrogen under extreme pressure and temperature variations. This study incorporates the Beattie–Bridgeman real-gas equation into a dynamic force-displacement model to overcome this limitation. Furthermore, a bi-objective optimization strategy was devised that simultaneously minimizes the side forces and enhances acceleration stability across diverse environmental conditions. The optimized design based on a metamodel and a hybrid metaheuristic algorithm resulted in an 81.4% reduction in peak lateral forces and a 53.3% improvement in acceleration robustness, which marks a significant increase in suspension system durability. These findings not only advance ISU design methodologies but also offer viable solutions to existing reliability challenges. Full article

Primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) are widely used as in vitro models for liver function and drug metabolism studies, yet their metabolic stability post-thawing remains an open question. To better characterize early metabolic changes, we conducted a time-course experiment using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to analyze metabolic shifts in PHHs cultured in suspension. Unexposed and exposed (acetaminophen-treated) samples were evaluated, and TITAN analysis was applied to determine the time point of maximal metabolic change at both individual metabolite and global metabolic profile levels. Our results indicate that the majority of metabolic shifts occur within the first five hours post-thawing. In the early culture time points, substantial metabolic overlap was observed between unexposed and exposed cells, suggesting a conserved biological response likely related to cellular recovery. However, at later time points, metabolite profiles diverged, with acetaminophen treatment-specific metabolic changes emerging, potentially reflecting differences in homeostatic restoration versus hepatotoxic responses. Our study highlights the importance of considering early post-thawing metabolic dynamics in experimental design and offers insights for optimizing hepatocyte culture protocols to better replicate in vivo physiological conditions. Full article

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation has emerged as a sustainable and highly efficient technology for seawater desalination, attracting considerable attention for its potential to address global water scarcity. However, challenges such as low evaporation rates and salt accumulation significantly hinder the performance and operational lifespan of evaporators. Here, we present an innovative Janus-structured evaporator featuring distinct operational mechanisms through the integration of a hydrophobic PVDF-HFP@PPy photothermal membrane and a hydrophilic PVA-CF@TA-Fe³⁺ hydrogel, coupled with a unidirectional flow configuration. Distinct from conventional Janus evaporators that depend on interfacial water transport through asymmetric layers, our design achieves two pivotal innovations: (1) the integration of a lateral fluid flow path with the Janus architecture to enable sustained brine replenishment and salt rejection and (2) the creation of dual vapor escape pathways (hydrophobic and hydrophilic layers) synergized with hydrogel-mediated water activation to elevate evaporation kinetics. Under 1 sun illumination, the evaporator achieves a maximum evaporation rate of 2.26 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ with a photothermal efficiency of 84.6%, in both unidirectional flow and suspension modes. Notably, the evaporation performance remains stable across a range of saline conditions, demonstrating remarkable resistance to salt accumulation. Even during continuous evaporation of highly saline water (10% brine), the evaporator maintains an evaporation rate of 2.10 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ without observable salt precipitation. The dual anti-salt strategies—enabled by the Janus structure and unidirectional flow design—underscore the evaporator’s capability for sustained high performance and long-term stability in saline environments. These findings provide valuable insights into the development of next-generation solar evaporators that deliver high performance, long-term stability, and robustness in saline and hypersaline environments. Full article

With the advancement of vehicle electrification and intelligence, changes in powertrain system architecture and the addition of battery components have significantly deteriorated vehicle dynamics characteristics. Adjustable damping dampers improve vehicle performance by modifying suspension damping characteristics. Therefore, in this paper, a high-precision multi-dimensional vehicle performance representation model is developed, which includes the dynamics models of the steering and suspension systems and utilizes test results to reflect the constitutive properties of the complex nonlinear structures. The influence regularities of the suspension damping ratio on ride comfort and handling stability are analyzed, and a hybrid control strategy is proposed, which utilizes acceleration-driven damper–Skyhook control logic for vertical control and trigger rule-based control logic for lateral and longitudinal control. Finally, the effectiveness of the control strategy is validated through ride comfort and handling stability tests. The results show that the proposed hybrid control strategy significantly reduces vehicle body vibration acceleration and improves vehicle dynamic response during steering and acceleration/braking conditions. Full article

Background: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) significantly impacts women’s quality of life, especially in postmenopausal patients. Although laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC) is the gold standard for advanced apical prolapse, its complexity and risk of complications have led to alternative approaches like laparoscopic lateral suspension (LLS), a minimally invasive technique with promising results. Methods: A comprehensive search using PubMed databases was performed. The search was conducted from June 2024 to September 2024. The search string used was as follows: (pelvic organ prolapse) AND (lateral suspension) OR (laparoscopic lateral suspension). We included randomized controlled trials, prospective cohort studies, prospective observational studies, and case studies. We excluded retrospective studies, small case series, case reports, and articles not published in English. All selected articles were screened based on the titles and abstracts. Relevant data were extracted and tabulated. Results: An overall number of 12 studies were included in our analysis. LLS demonstrated high anatomical success rates: 91.15% for the anterior, 94.95% for the central, and 86.55% for the posterior compartments. The randomized controlled studies exhibit comparable effectiveness between both methods (LLS vs. LSC) and LLS appears to be the best option for anterior repair or anterior–apical repair. Patient satisfaction rates exceeded 90%, with reduced operative times (123 ± 33 min and 193 ± 55.6 min for ALS and ASC, respectively). According to the Claiven–Dindo scale, 0.17% of postoperative complications were graded more than III. The rate of mesh erosion was 0% to 10%. The technique showed particular benefit for uterine preservation and in obese patients but was less effective for severe posterior prolapse. Conclusions: Laparoscopic lateral suspension offers a safe, effective alternative for POP management, with significant anatomical and functional benefits. Its minimally invasive nature, shorter surgery time, and high satisfaction rates make it suitable for tailored patient care. Further studies should standardize evaluation metrics and assess long-term outcomes. The review was not registered. No funding was received. The authors declare no competing interests. Full article

This paper aims to present a hybrid steering control method combining the self-guidance capability of a wheelset and fuzzy logic controller (FLC), which were applied to our new micro-autonomous railway inspection vehicle, enhancing the vehicle’s stability. The vehicle features intelligent inspection systems and a suspension system with variable damping capability that uses smart magnetorheological fluid to control vertical oscillations. A mathematical model of the steering dynamic system was developed based on the vehicle’s unique structure. Two simulation models of the vehicle were built on Simpack and Simulink to evaluate the lateral dynamic capability of the wheelset, applying Hertzian normal theory and Kalker’s linear theory. The hybrid steering control was designed to adjust the torque differential of the two front-wheel drive motors of the vehicle to keep the vehicle centered on the track during operation. The control simulation results show that this hybrid control system has better performance than an uncontrolled vehicle, effectively keeps the car on the track centerline with deviation below 10% under working conditions, and takes advantage of the natural self-guiding force of the wheelset. In conclusion, the proposed hybrid steering system controller demonstrates stable and efficient operation and meets the working requirements of intelligent track inspection systems installed on vehicles. Full article

Background: Laparoscopic sacropexy (SCL) is the gold standard technique for the correction of apical pelvic organ prolapse (POP). However, other easier laparoscopic techniques, such as laparoscopic lateral suspension (LLS), have become popular. Methods: We conducted a multicenter randomized study of patients undergoing laparoscopic repair of apical and anterior prolapse. Patients were randomized into two groups: LLS vs. SCL. A non-inferiority study was proposed, in which the null hypothesis was that the difference in the proportion of therapeutic failures among women who undergo LLS compared to SCL is ≥15%. It was necessary to include 182 participants to detect a risk difference of 15% after one year with a statistical power of 0.80. Results: We recruited 176 women, of whom 106 patients underwent surgery with a follow-up between 1 and 12 months. There were no differences in basal characteristics. Regarding physical examination, there were no differences at stages III-IV in the POP-Q or the symptom scales in both groups. Concerning the post-surgical results, there were no failures detected in the physical examination in any group. There were no differences in the points of the POP-Q, the symptom scales, or the body image scale. We only found significant differences in the operative time, which was shorter for the LLS. Conclusions: Although these are preliminary results, since the sample includes 106 patients and the follow-up time is a limited period at the moment, we did not find any post-surgical differences between the two techniques. However, it will be necessary to complete the trial to draw relevant conclusions. Full article

Effectively preventing hanger bending damage during the configuration transformation of the spatial main cables in suspension bridges is a critical challenge, particularly under the influence of construction errors. This study proposes an active fault-tolerant control method that integrates real-time data feedback, tolerance interval inversion technology, and a suspended lateral bracing (SLB) system to mitigate the risk of hanger bending damage in real time. The method establishes a dynamic inversion mechanism, utilizing data feedback, constraint function reconstruction, and secondary optimization to compensate for construction errors. This ensures that hangers remain undamaged throughout the transformation process. Construction errors are quantified as intervals, with the lower bound of the reliability interval used to account for extreme disturbances. This transforms the inversion process into a multi-objective optimization problem constrained by the worst reliability conditions. By integrating finite element analysis (FEA), reliability analysis, surrogate modeling, and interval analysis, the proposed approach establishes a direct relationship between design variables and the lower bound of the reliability interval. Case study results demonstrate that the proposed method not only ensures structural performance and hanger safety, but also significantly enhances the constructability of the configuration transformation. Additionally, it provides a larger fault tolerance margin, thereby improving the overall efficiency and safety of the construction process. Full article

Lycoriella ingenua (Dufour) is a major pest in mushroom facilities in Serbia and worldwide. The study aimed to determine the virulence (in vitro) and effectiveness (in vivo) of three Serbian native populations of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev), P9, K2, and ZŠT, compared to a commercial population of S. feltiae against L. ingenua, and their impact on mushroom yield. In vitro bioassays showed that seven days after exposure to a series of nematode suspensions (IJ cm⁻²), two of the three native (P9 and K2) populations and the commercial population of S. feltiae caused significant mortality of L₄ instar larvae of L. ingenua. The following LC_50s were estimated: 18.47, 15.77, and 11.48 IJ cm⁻² for P9, K2, and the commercial populations, respectively. These populations were further used for in vivo bioassays, where their IJs were applied as drench treatment twice (at the rate of 75 IJ cm⁻²) during casing time and seven days later. Control of L. ingenua larvae with the commercial population of S. feltiae was 85%, while the effectiveness of the native populations was 70%. The lack of adequate pest control measures emphasizes a need to promote local EPNs as biologically based and ecotoxicologically safe products. Full article