Search Results (26,448)

As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies become increasingly embedded in higher education, concerns have emerged regarding their psychological impact on university faculty. While existing research has largely focused on technological readiness and digital competencies, the social–psychological foundations of faculty well-being in AI-integrated teaching environments remain insufficiently explored. Drawing on social support theory and self-determination theory, this study proposes and tests a structural model of AI-related well-being among university faculty. A total of 523 faculty members in China participated in a cross-sectional survey measuring perceived social support, organizational support, AI literacy, technological self-efficacy, and AI well-being. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the hypothesized pathways and mediating mechanisms. The results indicate that both social support and organizational support significantly and positively influence AI literacy and technological self-efficacy. In turn, AI literacy and technological self-efficacy significantly predict AI well-being and serve as key mediators. Among all factors, AI literacy exhibits the strongest total effect on AI well-being, followed by social support, organizational support, and technological self-efficacy. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of faculty psychological adjustment during technological transitions and offers practical recommendations for institutions seeking to cultivate AI-ready and psychologically supportive academic environments. Full article

To investigate the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of magnetic suspended dual-rotor systems, this study examines periodic and quasi-periodic responses induced by bearing nonlinearities, including flux leakage and magnetic saturation effects. A nonlinear dynamic model is established using the finite element method, incorporating unbalance excitation and nonlinear bearing forces. A comprehensive parametric analysis is conducted to evaluate the effects of rotational speed, initial stiffness, and initial damping on the system’s dynamic responses and bifurcation behavior. The results reveal the occurrence of period-5 and quasi-periodic vibrations under nonlinear bearing conditions. In the quasi-periodic regime, low-frequency components dominate, and the force–current characteristics of the magnetic bearings spread over a wider band, reflecting a multi-valued force–current relationship. Furthermore, decreasing initial stiffness and increasing damping advance the onset of quasi-periodic responses and reduce the corresponding critical rotational speed. Notably, through real-time control adjustment, quasi-periodic motion can be converted into periodic motion, thereby distinguishing the system from conventional mechanically supported rotor systems. Experimental results obtained from a magnetic suspended dual-rotor test rig validate both the bearing-force model and the dynamic model, and further reveal periodic variations in system response under different speed ratios. Full article

This paper presents the sizing and performance evaluation of a natural draft air-cooled condenser, with a nominal heat rejection rate of 75 MW_th, for implementation at a concentrated solar power plant in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. Initial sizing and optimization of the tower geometry is done with the aid of a one-dimensional thermofluid model at design point conditions. A high-density Latin hypercube sampling-based parametric sweep was conducted that covers the geometric design envelope, which is defined via the tower and heat exchanger heights, and the tower base and outlet diameters. Following this, the performance of the best-performing tower geometry is verified via detailed three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and the geometry adjusted slightly to achieve the desired heat rejection rate. This process includes refinement and validation of the CFD model compared to previous work, with the heat rejection rate matching the previous results within 0.1%, as well as performing grid convergence studies to ensure mesh independence. The refinements include a more direct coupling with the solver continuity equation, improving the accuracy of the heat exchanger integration via porous media, and a decrease in computational overhead to reduce the time required for parametric studies. The best-performing geometry implemented in the CFD model features a tower height of 80 m, base diameter of 58 m, outlet diameter of 40.15 m, heat exchanger height of 11.25 m and heat exchanger width of 3.551 m, with the model predicting a conservative heat rejection rate of 76 MW_th at the design point. Finally, a methodology is presented to evaluate the performance of the system over the full range of ambient conditions encountered during an annual operating cycle. The methodology will be applied in further work to develop a reduced-order surrogate model for application in annual performance studies. Full article

The fundamental dilemma of energy transition lies in whether an economy can guide its energy system to break free from deep dependence on fossil fuels in a sustained and orderly manner. This requires not only institutional incentives for innovation but also, more critically, a social-level shift in focus from “physical expansion” to “human development.” This paper incorporates these two conditions into a unified causal framework. Taking the pilot program for the construction of IP-strong provinces in China launched in 2016 as a quasi-natural experiment, and using panel data from 30 provincial-level administrative regions in China over the period 2010–2022, this study employs the Spatial Durbin Difference-in-Differences (SDM-DID) model and the Double Machine Learning (DML) method to examine the joint impacts and transmission mechanisms of the regional IP strong chain and the deep synergy between investment in physical capital and investment in human capital on energy green controllability. The findings are as follows. First, both the IP strong chain and deep synergy significantly improve energy green controllability. The local effect of deep synergy is far greater than the direct effect of the IP system itself, making it the core structural force driving the green transition. Second, the institutional dividend of the IP strong chain generates positive spatial spillovers to neighboring regions through the patent information disclosure channel. In contrast, the spatial spillovers of deep synergy are obstructed by administrative barriers and fiscal boundaries. Third, deep synergy plays a significant partial mediating role in the process through which the IP strong chain affects energy green controllability, with more than one-third of the total policy effect being released through this channel. Fourth, a path-wise test reveals a notable structural difference: the human capital investment path significantly outperforms the physical capital investment path in terms of transmission efficiency and robustness. This indicates that, at the current stage, the institutional effectiveness of the IP system in driving the green transition is largely achieved by improving the quality, capacity, and security level of human capital, rather than by restructuring the physical capital stock. The above conclusions remain robust after replacing the machine learning algorithm, adjusting the sample split ratio, and excluding the interference of concurrent competitive policies. This paper reveals the complete causal chain through which institutional public goods are transmitted to system governance capacity via the factor allocation structure, providing new empirical evidence for understanding the deep-seated relationship between intellectual property governance and the energy transition. Full article

Background/Objectives: To determine whether preoperative CT-measured lesion volume independently predicts surgical recurrence of MRONJ, and whether surgical approach influences recurrence after adjusting for lesion volume and clinical confounders. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multi-center cohort study of 1007 patients with single-lesion MRONJ who underwent surgery at five tertiary institutions in the Republic of Korea (2015–2023), with a minimum two-year follow-up. Preoperative lesion volume was measured by CT segmentation (Osteomyelitis Analyzer SW, version 2.0.6; Aemasue, Seoul, Republic of Korea) with cross-institutional consensus validation. Surgical recurrence was defined as re-fulfillment of 2022 AAOMS criteria after confirmed mucosal healing (Hayashida H1). Three logistic regression models of increasing adjustment were constructed a priori; reporting adhered to STROBE. Results: Recurrence occurred in 108 patients (10.7%) and increased in a dose–response pattern across volume quartiles (Q1 5.6%, Q2 9.2%, Q3 12.0%, Q4 16.0%; Cochran–Armitage trend Z = 3.89, p < 0.001), with a 2.9-fold relative gradient (absolute difference 10.4 percentage points). Surgeons preferentially selected aggressive approaches for larger lesions (OR = 1.651; 95% CI 1.338–2.037; p < 0.001). After adjustment, surgical approach was not an independent predictor in any model (fully adjusted OR = 0.735; 95% CI 0.381–1.419; p = 0.360), whereas lesion volume remained independent throughout (OR = 1.543–1.625 per log-unit; all p < 0.001; c-statistic 0.625–0.699). Conclusions: CT-measured preoperative lesion volume is an independent predictor of MRONJ surgical recurrence; we did not detect an independent surgical-approach effect, although the sample could not exclude a clinically meaningful one. Among measured factors, lesion volume—rather than surgical approach—was the principal predictor of recurrence risk, supporting consideration of routine CT volumetry in preoperative assessment, pending prospective validation. Full article

Background: This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the complex association between the use of fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotics and cancer risk, with a specific focus on patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD)—a unique clinical population characterized by a high inflammatory burden and a high susceptibility to infections. Methods: We conducted a large-scale retrospective cohort study using a high-quality clinical database. A total of 7906 matched patients (3953 pairs) were included after propensity score matching (PSM). Three complementary statistical models were applied: the standard Cox proportional hazards model, the time-dependent Cox regression model, and the Fine–Gray competing-risks model, to provide a multidimensional assessment of cancer risk. Results: A total of 7906 matched patients (3953 pairs) were followed. After strictly defining the index date to eliminate immortal time bias, FQ exposure was associated with an increased risk of all-cause cancer in the standard Cox model (adjusted HR 1.45; 95% CI, 1.20–1.76) and the competing risk model (adjusted SHR 1.28; 95% CI, 1.06–1.55). Site-specific analyses revealed elevated risks for certain malignancies, notably prostate cancer. Importantly, when modeled as a continuous variable, the cumulative dose of fluoroquinolones showed no significant dose–response relationship with overall cancer risk (adjusted HR 0.99; 95% CI, 0.99–1.00). Conclusions: After correcting for immortal time bias, the previously hypothesized protective effect of fluoroquinolones on cancer risk was not observed. The increased risk observed in categorical models, coupled with a lack of a continuous dose–response, strongly suggests that these findings are driven by confounding by indication and reverse causation (i.e., frequent infections masking undiagnosed malignancies or reflecting severe underlying ILD), rather than a direct pharmacological effect. Full article

To address the limitations of conventional magnetorheological (MR) fluid hydrostatic bearings, a variable-stiffness bearing is proposed. These limitations include insufficient load capacity, low torque margin, and poor adaptability under complex operating conditions. Taking MR fluid as the lubricating medium, the device adopts permanent magnets to provide a basic stable magnetic field. A dual-excitation configuration, consisting of stiffness-adjustment coils integrated into the bearing and shaft-mounted coils attached to the rotor, enables dynamic magnetic field regulation. This mechanism modulates the rheological behavior of the MR fluid, realizing flexible stiffness tuning and dynamic torque enhancement of the bearing. The overall structure and working principle of the device are elaborated in detail. The mathematical models of bearing stiffness-current and output torque-current are derived, and the regulation law of current on the dynamic characteristics of the bearing is clarified. ANSYS Maxwell simulation results verify the feasibility of the dual excitation decoupling control scheme. The research results can provide theoretical support and technical reference for the intelligent regulation and engineering application of MR fluid hydrostatic bearings. Full article

Autonomous mobile robots are playing an increasingly significant role in modern smart orchards by supporting precision agricultural operations such as target-oriented spraying and autonomous harvesting. Nevertheless, achieving high-precision trajectory tracking and stable motion in complex, unstructured orchard environments remains challenging, because tracking deviations induced by uneven terrain and low-traction soil can directly affect operational safety and efficiency. To address this challenge, the present study proposes an adaptive tracking controller which integrates model-driven and data-driven approaches. Firstly, a six-state planar dynamic model based on Newton–Euler equations is established to describe motion characteristics. Secondly, an improved Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is employed for offline parameter optimization under representative operating conditions. The process thus engenders a mapping dataset that relates the real-time motion states of the orchard mobile robot to the optimized horizon parameters and weights. Finally, an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) is trained using this dataset, enabling adaptive adjustment of MPC parameters according to the robot motion state. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that, in Double-Lane-Change (DLC) and serpentine simulations, the proposed controller reduced lateral and heading Root-Mean-Square (RMS) errors to 0.0109 m/0.0081 rad and 0.0102 m/0.0117 rad, achieving reductions of 49.30–85.58% and 68.60–88.02% compared with Pure Pursuit, Stanley, Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR), and traditional MPC, respectively. In orchard field tests with circular and Figure-8 trajectories at 0.3–0.6 m/s, the lateral RMS errors were recorded as 0.0112–0.0182 m and 0.0156–0.0262 m, respectively, corresponding to reductions of 46.94–61.52% relative to traditional MPC, while the heading RMS error remained below 0.0510 rad. These findings substantiate the efficacy of the proposed controller in enhancing the accuracy and adaptability of the system, thereby providing a resilient and precise control framework for operation within orchard environments. Full article

Commercial age-friendly modes are increasingly embedded in smartphone applications, yet their task-performance implications for older adults remain uncertain. This two-stage study used a cognitively informed ecological-to-controlled strategy linking evaluation of commercial age-friendly versions with controlled testing of specified interface components while modeling older adults’ task-relevant cognitive ability. In Experiment 1 (n = 22), older adults completed ten tasks in standard and age-friendly versions of WeChat and Pinduoduo. The age-friendly versions showed no overall advantage in clicks, completion time, or erroneous clicks (all ps ≥ 0.548). Activity Theory-informed video coding identified recurrent task-to-interface mismatches, including insufficiently salient feedback. The exploratory Task 8 product-search observations, together with these coded interaction problems, indicated that product search was a relevant context in which menu configuration, action confirmation, and cognitive demands could be examined together. Because the commercial app versions differed across content and interface features, Experiment 2 (n = 30) used a custom Android product-search task to manipulate menu configuration and vibration feedback while modeling delayed recall continuously as an indicator of task-relevant cognitive ability. Relative to the flat configuration, the two-level menu was associated with 56.7% fewer clicks and 30.7% shorter completion time, whereas vibration feedback was associated with 20.2% fewer ineffective clicks. Delayed recall was associated with completion time in the primary model, but this association was attenuated after adjustment for age and sex. Together, the findings show that a commercial age-friendly label should not be treated as evidence of performance benefit. By separating ecological diagnosis from controlled component testing, the study provides an evidence pathway for translating real-world human–computer interaction problems into testable, task-specific interface components and supports a cognitively informed, information-structure-prioritized, and multisensory approach to smartphone-based product-search design for older adults. Full article

Historic residential buildings in Lingnan are affected by hot–humid and disaster-prone weather conditions, including high temperature, high humidity, intense solar radiation, monsoon winds, and typhoon-related climate stress, which challenge indoor thermal comfort, daylighting, natural ventilation, and adaptive reuse. Taking Jingzu Jiashu, a historic Chaoshan residence associated with overseas remittance culture, as a case study, this study develops a simulation workflow for climate-adaptive green retrofit. Digital documentation, architectural survey, material investigation, and climate data were integrated to establish a baseline model. PMV, DA300, and ACH/ACR were used to evaluate thermal comfort, daylighting, and natural ventilation. The baseline results show summer overheating, insufficient daylighting in deep rooms, and inadequate ventilation in representative rooms. Comfortable hours accounted for only 7.29–7.78%, thermally uncomfortable hours reached 42.84–51.53%, and the maximum PMV reached 4.65 in the rear hall and 3.54–3.65 in representative rooms. The effective daylight areas of the front and rear rooms were approximately 40% and 31%, while baseline ACH values ranged from 1.06 to 1.89 h⁻¹. An integrated retrofit strategy was proposed, including functional reorganization, envelope optimization, opening adjustment, ventilation-path organization, and courtyard/transitional-space improvement. After retrofit, comfortable hours increased to 32.00–42.45%, thermally uncomfortable hours decreased to 17.25–21.28%, maximum PMV values decreased to 1.82–1.86, daylight areas increased to 81% and 74%, and ACH values rose to 2.97–4.49 h⁻¹. The results indicate that building performance simulation can provide quantitative support for climate-adaptive green retrofit of historic Chaoshan residences in Lingnan, offering a methodological reference for healthier, lower-carbon, and more resilient reuse of similar historic dwellings. Full article

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the association between baseline psychological distress, joint hypermobility, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity with Quality of Life (QoL) in adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) 12 months on. Design: This is a prospective longitudinal study. Adolescents (10–18 years) with AIS were recruited. At baseline (n = 69), participants completed questionnaires covering demographics, psychological distress (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, DASS-21), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ), and QoL (SRS-22r). Clinical assessments included joint hypermobility and BMI measurement. After 12 months, participants (n = 49) completed the SRS-22r to re-evaluate QoL. Factors associated with QoL were explored using bivariate and multiple linear regression analyses. Results: Multiple linear regression models assessing factors associated with QoL 12 months after baseline measurements explained 53.3% of variance in SRS-22 scores (p < 0.001), with an adjusted R² of 44.6%. Among baseline explanatory variables, thoracolumbar/lumbar Cobb angle contributed most significantly (β = 0.476, p < 0.05), followed by BMI (β = 0.342, p < 0.05) and DASS-Stress scores (β = −0.309, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Cobb angle, BMI, and stress emerged as important factors associated with QoL, highlighting the importance of addressing both clinical and psychosocial factors in AIS care. Full article

Background: Intraoperative hypotension (IOH) is the leading modifiable contributor to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI), yet most evidence is associational and the heterogeneity of its effect is unknown. We estimated the causal effect of IOH burden on AKI and tested whether the most susceptible patients can be identified preoperatively. Methods: In a retrospective cohort of 2726 general-anesthesia cases from VitalDB, the exposure was the time-integrated mean arterial pressure (MAP) <65 mmHg burden (≥30, ≥60 and ≥120 mmHg·min) and the outcome was KDIGO-defined AKI within 7 days. The primary estimator was pre-treatment-adjusted augmented inverse-probability weighting (AIPW; doubly robust) with bootstrap 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Sensitivity analyses comprised a controlled-direct-effect model, negative control outcomes, E-values and vasopressor-stratified estimates. Effect heterogeneity was estimated with a causal forest; preoperative gradient-boosted models and decision-curve analysis assessed personalization and clinical utility. Results: AKI occurred in 205 (7.52%) cases. At 60 mmHg·min the AIPW risk difference was +3.00 percentage points (pp; 95% CI +0.84 to +5.26), with a monotonic dose–response (+2.78 to +7.62 pp across thresholds) and E-values rising from 2.08 to 3.44. The effect was concentrated in patients with elevated preoperative creatinine (conditional effect +9.86 pp, more than twice the cohort average). This susceptibility was recoverable from routine preoperative variables alone, with intraoperative waveform features conferring no measurable improvement (ΔAUROC −0.001). For predicting AKI itself, a parsimonious 4-feature preoperative score matched a 27-feature model (AUROC 0.775 vs. 0.768) and provided positive net benefit. Conclusions: Intraoperative hypotension burden shows a dose-dependent association with postoperative AKI that is consistent with a causal effect, concentrated in patients with reduced baseline renal reserve who are identifiable from routine preoperative data without intraoperative waveform infrastructure. Full article

Periodic abnormal vibration in large pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear steam turbine generator units is difficult to diagnose because the parameter-level link among three-pad tilting-pad journal bearings, oil-film thermal asymmetry, and possible Morton-effect susceptibility remains insufficiently quantified. This study investigates an ARABELLE-type unit and establishes a finite-difference bearing rotor model by solving the oil-film thickness equation, Reynolds pressure equation, two-dimensional energy equation, pad moment balance, and linearized stiffness and damping coefficients. The bearing load, radial clearance, rotational speed, and inlet oil temperature are examined as controllable variables, while only the calculated pad temperature rises are directly validated against field measurements from eight support bearings. The calculated temperature rise deviations range from −7% to 8%, with a root-mean-square deviation of approximately 0.32 °C and a mean absolute percentage error of approximately 4.2%. The model results suggest that the load and speed mainly intensify the total oil-film heating, whereas the radial clearance and inlet oil temperature more directly govern the circumferential temperature difference, used here as an indirect indicator of the Morton effect risk. For the investigated Bearing 3, a radial clearance near 0.52 mm and an inlet oil temperature of 48–52 °C are suggested as bearing-specific operating windows for reducing thermal imbalance while maintaining engineering stability. The main contribution is a traceable engineering chain from field abnormal vibration to three-pad bearing thermal asymmetry, cautious Morton-effect risk interpretation, and operational adjustment for large nuclear rotating machinery. Full article

Background: Maternal nutrition during pregnancy is increasingly recognized as an important determinant of offspring neurodevelopment. The Mediterranean diet has been associated with favorable cognitive and behavioral outcomes in children; however, evidence regarding autism-related traits remains limited, particularly during late childhood and adolescence. Objective: To investigate the association between maternal adherence to the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy and autism-related traits in preadolescent offspring in the KLOTHO birth cohort. Methods: This exploratory analysis included 96 adolescents (49 boys and 47 girls) from the KLOTHO birth cohort. Maternal adherence to the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy was assessed using a Mediterranean Diet Score derived from a food frequency questionnaire administered during gestation. Autism-related traits were evaluated during preadolescence using a parent-completed questionnaire that assessed social and emotional abilities, communication skills, cognitive characteristics, special interests, and motor skills. Associations were examined using Spearman’s correlation analyses and sex-stratified linear regression models adjusted for offspring body mass index, sleep duration, and physical activity, all assessed during the preadolescent follow-up examination. Results: Boys exhibited higher communication (3.92 ± 3.90 vs. 1.70 ± 2.89, p = 0.026), cognitive (5.76 ± 3.80 vs. 3.33 ± 2.99, p = 0.014), special-interest (2.64 ± 3.29 vs. 1.04 ± 2.16, p = 0.046), and overall autism-related trait scores (19.08 ± 13.92 vs. 10.15 ± 8.57, p = 0.009) compared with girls. In the overall cohort, maternal Mediterranean Diet Score was not associated with autism-related traits. Among boys, higher maternal Mediterranean Diet Scores were associated with lower communication-related trait scores (ρ = −0.442, p = 0.027). In multivariable analyses, the inverse association remained consistent in direction but did not retain statistical significance after adjustment for body mass index, sleep duration, and physical activity. Sensitivity analyses incorporating offspring KIDMED scores yielded similar findings. Conclusions: Higher maternal adherence to the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy was associated with lower communication-related trait scores in male offspring. These findings should be considered exploratory and require confirmation in larger prospective cohorts. Full article

Regional sea-level trends derived from satellite altimetry deviate substantially from the global mean, but the relative roles of externally forced change and internally generated climate variability remain difficult to separate from the short satellite record. Here, we examine the 32-year Data Unification and Altimeter Combination System (DUACS) gridded multi-mission satellite altimetry product (January 1993–December 2024) together with 100 100-year samples from an unforced Community Earth System Model (CESM) pre-industrial control simulation. Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of satellite sea-level anomalies reveals a leading mode explaining 10.9% of total variance, with an Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO)-like dipolar pattern and high correlation with the IPO index (r = 0.92). A similar IPO-like mode appears consistently in the unforced CESM samples. Because previous large-ensemble studies indicate that the externally forced sea-level response is generally broader and structurally distinct from this dipolar internal mode, this agreement supports the interpretation that the satellite-observed leading pattern is strongly consistent with internally generated variability, although a partial forced contribution, particularly in the tropical Pacific, cannot be excluded. Based on CESM simulations, the empirical contribution of internal variability to regional trend uncertainty decreases approximately inversely with record length. The resulting location-specific estimate can be scaled by the local EOF amplitude and is largest in regions where the dominant internal-variability mode has large amplitudes, including the western tropical Pacific and Indian Ocean. However, this estimate represents only the internally generated component inferred from a single unforced CESM simulation. It does not include DUACS mapping errors, inter-mission calibration uncertainty, geophysical correction uncertainty, glacial-isostatic-adjustment-related bias, or uncertainty in the forced sea-level response. Thus, this study provides a model-based framework for estimating the internal-variability contribution to regional sea-level trend uncertainty, rather than a formal detection-and-attribution separation or a complete uncertainty bound for satellite-altimeter-derived regional sea-level trends. Full article