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A sustainability-oriented supply chain supplier selection framework using resilience and HSE performance metrics in the automotive industry
Dynamic coupling effects of geometric eccentricity on multi-stage gear transmission via stiffness modulation and error excitation
Abstract This research investigates the dynamic mechanism arising from the coupling between multi-path stiffness modulation and geometric eccentricity in multi-stage gear transmission systems (MGTS) for high-end equipment. The study aims to address the critical challenges in vibration suppression and precision control for such systems. A lumped parameter model integrating translational and rotational degrees of freedom was established, and an analytical method for three-path stiffness modulation based on center distance fluctuation, pressure angle reconstruction, and contact ratio transition was proposed. The influence of geometric eccentricity on the dynamic characteristics via the combined action of stiffness excitation and displacement error was then systematically analyzed. It was found that a strong nonlinear coupling exists between the eccentricity ratio and the initial phase difference: the combination of extreme asymmetry and an anti-phase condition markedly amplifies the stiffness modulation amplitude, inducing severe vibration, while symmetric eccentricity coupled with phase optimization effectively mitigates these oscillations. The feasibility of the established model was verified experimentally. The simulated and measured frequency spectra showed good agreement at the meshing frequency and its major sidebands, thereby demonstrating the accuracy of the stiffness-error coupling mechanism. Ultimately, a dynamic performance-based “parameter design safety domain” was constructed, which explicitly defines a low-vibration design interval centered on the eccentricity ratio and phase difference. This work thereby not only deepens the theoretical understanding of the error-stiffness-vibration coupling mechanism in the MGTS but also provides theoretical support and a practical guide for the dynamic design, vibration suppression, and operational optimization of high-precision gear transmission systems.
The immune checkpoint inhibitor avelumab increases aortic inflammation on [18F]FDG PET/CT: A retrospective cohort study
Background Patients with cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are at increased risk of cardiovascular events. Preclinical studies suggest that this may result from inflammation-induced destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. Objective To evaluate changes in vessel wall inflammation assessed using [ 18 F]FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) after ICI initiation. Methods This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of patients with Merkel cell carcinoma who received at least one cycle of the programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor avelumab and underwent [ 18 F]FDG PET/CT before initiation of treatment and after 3 months. The primary outcome was the change in the target-to-background ratio (TBR max ) in the descending aorta between baseline and first follow-up scan. Secondary outcomes included the change in TBR max in the carotid arteries, spleen, and bone marrow, and incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events. Results Fifty-three patients were included (66% male; median age 75 years). Most patients had established risk factors for cardiovascular disease (62%). The [ 18 F]FDG TBR max in the descending aorta increased from 1.52 (IQR, 1.39–1.70) at baseline to 1.64 (IQR, 1.41–1.97) after 3 months of treatment (change 7.8%. p = 0.022). No significant changes were observed in the carotid arteries, bone marrow, and spleen. Statin use was not associated with an attenuated change in TBR max. During a median follow-up of 2.3 (IQR, 1.5–4.2) years, one nonfatal ischemic stroke occurred. Conclusion Avelumab treatment was associated with an increase in [ 18 F]FDG uptake in the descending aorta after 3 months of treatment, which may be a potential marker of inflammation-driven accelerated atherosclerosis in patients receiving ICIs.
Entity relationship extraction method based on dependency parsing and graph neural networks
Chemometric-assisted UV-Vis spectrophotometric method for the simultaneous quantification of triple anthelmintics in veterinary pharmaceuticals
Enhanced sentiment analysis in tourism reviews via multimodal graph convolutional networks
In recent years, multimodal sentiment analysis has gained prominence due to its ability to leverage diverse data types for improved accuracy. However, combining text and image modalities presents challenges in effectively integrating and processing these diverse data sources for more effectively sentiment analysis. This study introduces a novel multimodal graph convolutional network GraphSAGE sentiment analysis model that integrates text and image features using advanced techniques include BERT for text graph construction and ResNet for image feature extraction and image graph construction, combined with a multi-head attention mechanism for effective edges fusion and nodes fusion. Experimental results on several datasets demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods in terms of accuracy and efficiency. The findings highlight that the proposed model using multimodal data significantly enhance sentiment analysis performance. The source code for this study can be viewed at this url: https://github.com/CunyuanYang/Muilti-model_ESA .
Multi objective optimization of AWJM parameters for ZrO2 coated MWCNTs reinforced HDPE nanocomposites using Taguchi Grey relational analysis
Abstract The machinability of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) reinforced with zirconia (ZrO 2 )-coated MWCNTs via Abresive Waterjet Machining (AWJM) was investigated in this study. The composite was fabricated with 3 wt% ZrO 2 -MWCNTs to enhance mechanical and thermal properties. A Taguchi L 9 orthogonal array was employed to evaluate the effects of waterjet pressure, traverse speed, and stand-off distance on surface roughness (Ra), kerf taper (KT), and material removal rate (MRR). Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) was applied for multi-objective optimization, integrating the individual responses into a single Grey Relational Grade (GRG). Results indicated that lower traverse speed (100 mm/min) minimized R a (4.286 μm), while higher pressure (200 MPa) and intermediate speed (150 mm/min) reduced kerf taper (0.04727 radians). The optimal parameter combination yielded the highest GRG (0.7361), balancing superior surface finish, dimensional accuracy, and machining efficiency. This study provides critical insights into precision AWJM of polymer nanocomposites for high-performance engineering applications.
Biomimetic liposomal co-delivery of quercetin and carnosine for enhanced transdermal penetration and NRF2/HES1-mediated antioxidant photoprotection
Prevalence and incidence of Coats disease in a large claims database
Purpose To determine the prevalence and incidence of Coats disease in the Japan Medical Data Center (JMDC) claims database. Methods Data on patients with Coats disease were collected from the JMDC claims database that were collected over a five-year period between 2019–2023. The patients with were grouped by their sex and age. The prevalence and incidence were then calculated relative to all of the members in the JMDC database. The treatment rate was calculated as the ratio of patients receiving retinal photocoagulation or vitrectomy to the total number of patients over the five-year period. Results The age-adjusted prevalence of Coats disease in the JMDC database was 1.7/100,000 with 2.4 males to 0.9 females for the five-year period. The age-adjusted prevalence in children <20-years-of-age with Coats disease was 3.6/100,000 with 5.7 boys to 1.5 girls, while that of adults age ≥ 20 years was 1.3/100,000 with 1.7 males to 0.7 females. The age-adjusted incidence of Coats disease was 0.7/100,000 individuals with 1.0 males to 0.4 females, and for different ages, the age-adjusted incidence was 1.4/100,000 children (2.1 boys to 0.6 girls), and 0.6/100,000 adults (0.8 men to 0.3 women). The treatment rate was 21.9% for all Coats individuals with children having a significantly higher treatment rate of 28.0% than adults of 18.2%. Conclusion This is the first study that determined the prevalence and incidence of Coats disease in the JMDC database. The prevalence and incidence in children were approximately double that of adults. The proportion of females was higher among adults than among children.
No naturally occurring blood group antibodies were detected in the crossmatching of 25 giant pandas
Acute Finnish sauna heating and cold water immersion effects on cardiovascular dynamic response in normotensive women
Sex-based differences in front crawl and butterfly sprint performance in age-group swimmers
Objectives To identify the key variables influencing 50 m sprint performance in front crawl and butterfly strokes and determine the predominant predictors of sex-related performance differences in each technique in age-group swimmers. Methods Thirty national-level age-group swimmers (15 boys and 15 girls; age 13.5 ± 1.0 years) underwent assessments of anthropometry, biological maturation, neuromuscular performance (dynamic strength index of upper and lower limbs), anaerobic critical velocity, tethered swimming force, and stroke mechanics. Results Multivariate analyses revealed substantial sex differences (p < 0.05), with boys outperforming girls in upper-body force output and anaerobic critical velocity (AnCV). Boys showed a greater AnCV (1.54 vs. 1.45 m·s ⁻ ¹) and lower fatigue index (−8.52% in front crawl). Boys and girls had a 27.60 N front crawl force differential and 13.59 N butterfly force difference in the first 10 s of tethered swimming. Controlling for sex and biological maturity, the maximum explained variation (ƞ 2 ) was found in front crawl tethered swimming force (47%), and butterfly lower limb neuromuscular performance (29%). In front crawl, total push-up peak force (diff: 215.44 N; 95% CI: 1.25 to 3.08; p < 0.001) and body height (diff: 0.08 cm; 95% CI: −1.82 to −0.28; p < 0.001) were key discriminators, while in butterfly, push-up force (diff: 215.44 N; 95% CI: 1.25 to 3.08; p < 0.001) and stroke index (diff: 0.54 m² ⋅ s ⁻ ¹; 95% CI: 1.04 to 2.79; p < 0.001) were the most effective predictors. Conclusion Our findings confirm the predictive ability of upper-limb neuromuscular performance and stroke efficiency in identifying sex-based differences in sprint swimming. The practical implications of these findings are substantial, offering a framework for coaches and sports scientists to improve procedures for training by focusing on technique- and sex-specific performance characteristics at critical stages of athletic development.
Oropharyngeal Helicobacter pylori colonization increases risk and worsens prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
One year outcomes of intravitreal faricimab for treatment Naïve neovascular AMD and associations with baseline aqueous humor cytokines
Abstract This study investigated the one-year real-world clinical outcomes of intravitreal faricimab (IVF) in treatment-naïve neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and its association with aqueous humor cytokine profiles. Thirty-four eyes of 32 nAMD patients, who received initial IVF at Jichi Medical University were included. These eyes showed significant improvements in central retinal subfield thickness (CST), central choroidal thickness (CCT), and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) one year post-IVF (all P < 0.01). Among 24 measurable cytokines, only VEGF-A was significantly higher in eyes with a dry macula at week 16 ( P = 0.0030). Three cytokines were significantly higher in eyes with longer injection interval. Higher levels of galectin-1 and VCAM-1, and lower levels of P-selectin, were correlated with greater CST reduction ( P = 0.020, 0.0061, and 0.012, respectively). Conversely, five cytokines including Ang-1 were correlated with greater BCVA improvement (all P < 0.05). In conclusion, an anatomical perspective faricimab demonstrated anatomical efficacy for VEGF-driven nAMD in the loading phase, while multiple cytokines associated with vascular instability or fibrosis appear to contribute to its durability. Notably, Ang-1 may be linked to visual improvement, suggesting that the neurotrophic effects of Ang-1 could be enhanced by Ang-2 inhibition.
Identification of new triazoloquinoxaline amine derivatives with potent modulatory effects against Toll-like receptor 7 through pharmacophore-based virtual screening and molecular docking approaches
Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) plays a key role in the signaling pathways involved in immunity by recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Due to its broad effectiveness in various diseases and the limited number of drugs on the market that act on this receptor, it remains an ideal target for pharmaceutical scientists. To find novel TLR7 ligands, chemical feature-based pharmacophore models were prepared for TLR7 using Pharmit. This model was used for virtual screening in related databases, and the identified compounds were ranked using the Autodock docking method and minimum binding affinity. Among the identified compounds, the triazoloquinoxaline amine scaffold was selected as the lead structure, and its different derivatives were designed and docked again. Finally, two new series of [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-4-amine and 1-methyl-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-4-amine derivatives were selected and synthesized using green chemistry routes. The cytotoxicity of the synthetic compounds was assessed using a macrophage cell line, and non-toxic compounds were then selected for evaluating cytokine stimulation. Ultimately, compound 7f emerged as the most promising candidate for boosting the immune system based on fold change assessment compared to the control group. It exhibited the highest production of interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and interferon beta (IFN-β) cytokines. Interestingly, the results of molecular docking aligned with the biological findings.
Nonlinear effects of ambient temperature and treatment days on nocturnal enuresis using generalized additive models
Abstract To examine the effects of the average daily ambient temperature and treatment days on the outcomes of patients with nocturnal enuresis (NE), a common urinary symptom in children. The panel data of 19 children with NE (12 boys and 7 girls; median age: 9 years; age range: 6–15) were prospectively collected (up to 1,469 days; total number of records: 3194). NE status (presence of incontinence), treatment type, and weather-related variables (ambient temperature, precipitation, sunshine hours, and barometric pressure) were recorded. Factor analyses were subsequently performed using a generalized additive model (GAM). Among the patient features, treatment type, and weather-related variables, the average daily ambient temperature and treatment days were identified as risk factors for NE. Specifically, NE risk increased with an average daily ambient temperature of < 16.7 °C and decreased with a daily average ambient temperature of > 20.1 °C. An inverse correlation between NE risk and treatment days was observed in all cases. Notably, long-term treatment of approximately ≥ 1465 days significantly reduced the NE risk, despite repeated exacerbations. The average daily ambient temperature and treatment days affect the risk of NE.
Limited therapeutic efficacy of N-acetyl-L-leucine in a mouse model of CLN1 disease
Abstract CLN1 disease, one of the most severe forms of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCLs or Batten disease), is a rapidly progressing pediatric neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the PPT1 gene. The disease is characterized by lysosomal storage accumulation, an early onset neuroimmune response, motor impairment, and premature death. N-acetyl-L-leucine (NALL), an orally bioavailable modified amino acid, has demonstrated clinical efficacy in Niemann–Pick type C and other lysosomal storage disorders. Here, we assessed the efficacy of chronic NALL treatment in the Ppt1 −/− mouse model of CLN1 disease. Mice received NALL (0.1 g/kg/day) in chow either from weaning (1 month, presymptomatic) or from 4 months (symptomatic) until 7 months (normal disease endstage), with additional survival cohorts. NALL treatment did not extend survival in Ppt1 −/− mice and produced no significant improvement in gait coordination or rotarod performance, with only minimal improvements in select gait variability parameters in presymptomatically treated mice. Histological analyses revealed no reduction in microglial or astrocyte activation, nor in storage material accumulation, key CLN1 disease-associated phenotypes. These findings indicate that NALL monotherapy has limited therapeutic efficacy in CLN1 disease mice and suggest that its mechanisms of action may not address the underlying pathophysiology of this disorder.
The role of internet integration in relation to farmers’ income and perceived social fairness
This study investigates how Internet embeddedness moderates the relationship between farmers’ income and perceived social fairness in rural China through the integrated lens of social comparison and relative deprivation theories. Analyzing 1,036 rural households in Sichuan Province via Oprobit regression with instrumental variables, we find that while absolute income growth positively affects PSF, Internet usage significantly weakens this relationship through three mechanisms: (1) expanded reference groups that facilitate upward social comparisons, (2) algorithmic distortion of economic reality through selective content exposure, and (3) cognitive overload from excessive income-related information. These findings reconcile conflicting evidence in the income-fairness literature by demonstrating how digital connectivity transforms traditional comparison processes. This study contributes to development economics by highlighting the dual role of technology in rural welfare, while enabling information access, it may inadvertently undermine fairness perceptions through psychological and algorithmic channels. The policy implications suggest the need to complement income growth strategies with digital literacy programs and platform governance to mitigate comparison biases.