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Blockchain-based shop floor control system for small and medium-sized enterprise evolution to industry 4.0
Abstract Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) require agile and robust strategies to navigate the difficulties of their evolution toward Industry 4.0. This study proposes a Blockchain-based Shop Floor Control System (BSFCS) that incorporates a Consensus-based Workflow Change Integration (CWCI) mechanism and Smart Contract Service (SCS) design methodology to provide these strategies. The CWCI represents an incremental agile approach, enabling real-time workflow adjustments and smooth, rapid integration of evolving enterprise requirements. The modular architecture and optimized key-state data structures that are features of the SCS design methodology support efficient transaction management, ensuring system feasibility. A prototype implementing the BSFCS was tested on a realistic industrial platform replicating real-world manufacturing conditions. Results from two validation experiments demonstrate significant performance improvements over a standard model. These enhancements include dynamic workflow adaptability, enhanced operational transparency, and efficient handling of real-time changes. These BSFCS characteristics represent requirements SMEs need for a reliable and sequential pathway they can follow implementing Industry 4.0. They show that compared to existing frameworks, the BSFCS framework we propose offers superior adaptability and scalability. It particularly excels in handling dynamic workflow changes and sequential upgrades with minimal disruption to ongoing operations.
Remimazolam for anesthesia and sedation in pediatric ambulatory surgery: A scoping review protocol
Background Remimazolam, an innovative benzodiazepine, exhibits potential for use in anesthesia and sedation for pediatric outpatient procedures, due to its rapid onset, predictable metabolism, and favorable safety profile. While adult studies are increasing, comprehensive evidence for pediatric use remains limited. This scoping review aims to systematically summarize and delineate the existing evidence concerning the application and features of remimazolam in anesthesia and sedation for outpatient pediatric surgical procedures. Objective To systematically map existing evidence on remimazolam use in pediatric ambulatory surgery anesthesia and sedation, identifying key concepts, evidence sources, and knowledge gaps. Methods Following JBI methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we will search multiple databases, as well as the recommendations provided in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension tailored for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) statement. A comprehensive search will be performed using multiple databases, which include PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, CINAHL, Scopus, Google Scholar, along with Chinese databases like the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang Data, and VIP Information.. All published studies on remimazolam use in patients ≤18 years for ambulatory surgery will be included. Two reviewers will independently screen and extract data using a standardized form.
Profile of Sharon Y. Strauss
Evolutionary ecologist Sharon Y. Strauss, an early proponent of unifying the fields of ecology and evolution, helped advance both disciplines. Now a distinguished emeritus professor at the University of California, Davis, Strauss remains active in research. One major focus of her work is using phylogenetic evolutionary history to understand current ecology, an approach applied to research reported in her Inaugural Article. Strauss et al. determined that certain plant species may be less adaptable than expected to climate change. The finding holds widespread implications for conservation and management.
Encrypted traffic classification encoder based on lightweight graph representation
Infective pneumonia following the use of tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors in inflammatory bowel disease patients: A real-world disproportionality analysis of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database
Background Patients with inflammatory bowel disease may develop infective pneumonia after using tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors(TNFis). Due to the limitations of clinical trials, the occurrence of infective pneumonia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease using tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) inhibitors remains uncertain. This article primarily explores the relationship between TNF-α inhibitors and adverse events(AEs) related to infective pneumonia in the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database. Methods We collected data from the FAERS database, extracting reports for each TNF-α inhibitor from their market launch until the first quarter of 2024 (infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, and golimumab) and assessing infective pneumonia associated with TNF-α inhibitors using disproportionality analysis. Results After removing duplicate reports, a total of 7176 reports were included. Infliximab and adalimumab exhibited the highest incidence of infective pneumonia-related adverse events, occurring in 3,858 and 2,819 cases, respectively, whereas certolizumab pegol and golimumab showed lower incidences with only 297 and 202 cases. Infliximab had the most positive signals, totaling 10, including tuberculosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, histoplasmosis, pneumonia bacterial, pneumonia legionella, bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, tuberculous pleurisy, pneumonia cryptococcal, blastomycosis. Golimumab had seven positive signals, including pneumonia, tuberculosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, pneumonia legionella, pneumonia bacterial, and COVID-19 pneumonia. Certolizumab pegol had only two positive signals: pneumonia and pneumonia klebsiella. However, adalimumab did not show signals of infective pneumonia. Conclusion Except for adalimumab, the other three TNF-α inhibitors showed positive signals related to infective pneumonia, with tuberculosis-related diseases being the most common. Our study provides important insights for healthcare professionals, which can help reduce the occurrence of infective pneumonia associated with TNF-α inhibitors.
Factors related to adverse pregnancy outcomes of maternal syphilis in Nanning, Guangxi, China 2016–2020
Can packaging transparency influence consumer food waste behavior?
Consumer food waste remains a significant concern in the United States, where approximately 40% of food goes uneaten, leading to major economic and environmental consequences. Packaging plays a key role in food preservation and consumer decision-making, yet little research has examined how specific packaging features, such as transparency, influence consumer waste behaviors. To explore this, we conducted a three-week framed field experiment involving approximately 200 university students, focusing on deli meat—a perishable item commonly wasted in U.S. households. In this study, students were recruited to purchase pre-packaged deli meat from the research team. To simulate opaque packaging conditions, we applied white duct tape externally to otherwise transparent packages. Participants picked up their food on a self-selected date and consumed it over time. They were instructed to return any food scraps between one and three weeks later, based on when they personally deemed the food unappealing. Food scraps were measured to examine the link between packaging transparency and food waste. Observed patterns suggest that transparency may exert two contrasting influences on consumer behavior. On one hand, transparency may foster a greater sense of perceived control by providing visual cues that enhance consumers’ confidence in monitoring food quality and planning consumption, potentially leading to reduced waste. On the other hand, transparency may lead to overconfidence, reducing consumers’ vigilance in checking food quality. This illusion of ongoing freshness could decrease the frequency of quality checks and delay initial inspections, ultimately increasing the risk of spoilage and waste. While the results did not reach statistical significance, they consistently revealed directional trends, supporting an exploratory interpretation of the behavioral mechanisms involved. Although these findings are exploratory, they offer valuable insights into how packaging transparency may paradoxically shape consumer behaviors, emphasizing the importance of tailoring packaging strategies to mitigate food waste.
Molecular self-assembly mediates the flocculation activity of benzimidazole derivatives against E. coli
Abstract Bacterial flocculation is a process in which bacteria aggregate to form cloudy, flake-like clusters known as flocs. While this phenomenon is commonly associated with water treatment, it also has interesting industrial applications, particularly as a method for cell immobilisation. Escherichia coli, extensively employed in industrial processes, typically does not possess inherent flocculation ability. In this study, we found that certain bisbenzimidazole derivatives can rapidly induce flocculation in E. coli (K-12 MG1655) in a structure-dependent manner. Among others, high-resolution microscopy (SEM, fluid AFM) revealed a dense fibrillar network within the flocs, initially suggestive of an extracellular matrix. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that this phenomenon cannot be linked to the secretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Our findings suggest that flocculation arises from the self-assembly of bisbenzimidazole derivatives into supramolecular fibres that anchor to bacterial membranes. These results uncover an atypical flocculation process distinct from charge neutralisation or EPS-mediated pathways, broadening the potential applications of bisbenzimidazole derivatives in bacterial immobilisation.
Impact of calcined bauxite aggregates on the polishing resistance and skid resistance performance of SMA-7 asphalt mixtures
High-performance anti-skid asphalt mixtures are essential for improving skid resistance and pavement durability. This study investigates the skid resistance performance of small-aggregate-size SMA-7 asphalt mixtures using calcined bauxite (CB) aggregates. Four types of aggregates—75#, 85#, and 88# CB and limestone—were used in the mixture preparation. Various laboratory tests, including pavement performance, Polished Stone Value (PSV) of aggregates, three-wheel polishing, and dynamic friction tests, were conducted to evaluate the performance and friction characteristics of the mixtures at various polishing stages. The results indicate that the optimal coarse-to-fine aggregate ratio for SMA-7 is 75:25, with a maximum particle size of 6.35 mm. The PSV of 88# CB aggregate stabilizes after 120,000 polishing cycles, exhibiting a decay rate 30% slower than that of limestone aggregates. Among the mixtures, 88#CB-SMA demonstrates superior high-temperature stability (1.5 times higher than limestone), slightly better low-temperature crack resistance, and significantly enhanced polishing resistance. Additionally, the dynamic friction coefficients of CB mixtures show slower attenuation, retaining 29.4–36.3% higher residual friction compared to limestone even after prolonged polishing. Strong correlations (R2 > 0.85) between the attenuation rates of PSV and dynamic friction coefficients confirm that the enhanced wear resistance of CB aggregates is key to long-term skid resistance, particularly at lower speeds. These findings suggest that high-grade CB aggregates greatly improve both the skid resistance and overall performance of asphalt mixtures, providing valuable insights for designing durable small-size asphalt wear layers.
Complete mitogenomes of venomous fish Paracentropogon rubripinnis and Inimicus japonicus elucidate phylogenetic relationships in Scorpaeniformes
Zebra optimization algorithm incorporating opposition-based learning and dynamic elite-pooling strategies and its applications
To address the limitations of the Zebra Optimization Algorithm (ZOA), including insufficient late-stage optimization search capability, susceptibility to local optima, slow convergence, and inadequate exploration, this paper proposes an enhanced Zebra Optimization Algorithm integrating opposition-based learning and a dynamic elite-pooling strategy (OP-ZOA: Opposition-Based Learning Dynamic Elite-Pooling Zebra Optimization Algorithm). he proposed search algorithm employs a good point set-elite opposition-based learning mechanism to initialize the population, enhancing diversity and facilitating escape from local optima. Additionally, a real-time information synchronization mechanism is incorporated into the position update process, enabling the exchange of position and state information between the optimal individual (Xbest) and the vigilante agent (Xworse). This eliminates information silos, thereby improving global search capability and convergence speed. Furthermore, a dynamic elite-pooling strategy is introduced, incorporating three distinct fitness factors. The optimal individual’s position is updated by randomly selecting from these factors, enhancing the algorithm’s ability to attain the global optimum and increasing its overall robustness. During experimental evaluation, the efficiency of OP-ZOA was verified using the CEC2017 test functions, demonstrating superior performance compared to seven recently proposed meta-heuristic algorithms (Bloodsucking Leech Algorithm (BSLO), Parrot Optimization Algorithm (PO), Polar Lights Algorithm (PLO), Red-tailed Hawk Optimization Algorithm (RTH), Bitterling Fish Optimization Algorithm (BFO), Spider Wasp Optimization Algorithm (SWO) and Zebra Optimization Algorithm (ZOA)). Finally, OP-ZOA exhibits distinct advantages in optimizing the APF (artificial potential field) method to address local optimum convergence issues. Specifically, it achieves faster iteration speeds across four different environments, with the planned path length after escaping local optima being shortened by an average of 7.55175 m (16.291%) compared to other optimization algorithms. These results confirm OP-ZOA’s enhanced optimization capability, significantly improving both escape efficiency from local optima and solution reliability.
The role of SMARCA4 in lung cancer
A new giraffe ossicone from Wolf Camp, Tunggur Formation, Inner Mongolia suggests a new genus in Bohlinini (Artiodactyla, Giraffidae)
The classic Middle Miocene Wolf Camp locality discovered in 1930 by the Third Asiatic Expeditions of the American Museum of Natural History has been long known to produce an extinct giraffe, Palaeotragus tungurensis Colbert, 1936. Its dental and limb morphology offers tantalizing clues to a close relationship to the living giraffe, Giraffa. Its ossicone, a key part of the giraffe anatomy, is unknown since its initial description. Our discovery, in 2011, of an almost perfectly preserved ossicone from Wolf Camp thus fills this void and is described herein. Novel morphology of the ossicone, unlike any known so far, warrants a new generic name, Qilin, and Q. tungurensis adds important evidence that this Middle Miocene record from Inner Mongolia represents a key taxon in the evolution of the subfamily Giraffinae. Ossicone morphology is fundamentally similar to that of living Giraffa as well as members of Bohlinini. Dentally, Q. tungurensis also strongly supports its membership within Bohlinini with a unique shared derived character of P2-3 para- and metastyles bending inward to mesostyle. Q. tungurensis possesses a slender limb and a modestly deep trough on the posterior surface of the metacarpals that also suggest membership in Bohlinini. Combined with knowledge about its dental and limb morphology, the new Wolf Camp ossicone indicates an important stage of giraffine evolution, and contributes to a better understanding of its chronology and zoogeography.
Hybrid path planning algorithm for underactuated AUV based on RRT star and APF
A comparison of DNA methylation detection between HiFi sequencing and whole genome bisulfite sequencing in monozygotic twins with Down syndrome
DNA methylation, a key epigenetic modification, regulates gene expression and diverse cellular functions. Bisulfite sequencing (BS) remains the gold standard for methylation detection, while PacBio HiFi sequencing enables direct detection without chemical conversion. Although both technologies are increasingly used, few studies have directly compared their concordance, particularly in clinically relevant settings such as Down syndrome (DS). We performed a comparative analysis of DNA methylation profiles using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and PacBio high-fidelity (HiFi) whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in a pair of monozygotic twins with DS. WGBS data were processed with two pipelines, wg-blimp and Bismark, while HiFi WGS data were analyzed using pb-CpG-tools. Our analysis focused on four key aspects: CpG site detection, genomic distribution of methylated CpGs (mCs), average methylation levels, and inter-platform concordance. HiFi WGS detected a greater number of mCs—particularly in repetitive elements and regions with low WGBS coverage—while WGBS reported higher average methylation levels than HiFi WGS. Both platforms exhibited methylation patterns consistent with known biological principles, such as low methylation in CpG islands, and the relative methylation patterns across genomic features were largely concordant. Pearson correlation coefficients indicated strong agreement between platforms (r ≈ 0.8), with higher concordance in GC-rich regions and at increased sequencing depths. Depth-matched comparisons and site-level down-sampling revealed that methylation concordance improves with increasing coverage, with stronger agreement observed beyond 20 × . Our findings support the reliability of HiFi WGS for methylation detection and highlight its advantages in regions that are challenging for bisulfite-based methods. This study demonstrates that HiFi WGS can serve as a robust alternative for genome-wide methylation profiling.
Effect of tannins and drying methods on in vitro dry matter and crude protein degradability and digestibility of soybean meal for ruminants
Establishing a learning agenda for learning health system implementation and research in Canada
Health systems in Canada struggle to generate and use knowledge to improve equity-centred quadruple aim measures, resulting in care that is misaligned with local contexts. Learning Health Systems (LHS) offer a solution by aligning real-time evidence, informatics, patient-provider partnerships, and institutional strategies to support continuous improvements in care. Despite their potential, LHS initiatives in Canada remain siloed and lack harmonized leadership, knowledge exchange, and capacity building. To address these gaps, the Learning Health Hub was established to foster collaboration, disseminate best practices, and enhance collective capacity for LHS in Canada. In June 2024, the Learning Health Hub hosted its inaugural virtual symposium. This event brought together partners, researchers, health professionals, system operators, and policymakers from across Canada interested in LHS work. The symposium aimed to map assets and build momentum for larger-scale impact in LHS. Participants engaged in generative activities to define challenges and co-create solutions, resulting in the identification of key learning priorities. Three learning themes were identified: Patient, Caregiver, and Community Partnership; Enabling Environments; and Benchmarking and Evaluation. By advancing these themes, the Learning Health Hub aims to drive meaningful, sustainable change and improve healthcare quality and outcomes.
Genome-wide association mapping and transcriptional analysis uncover genetic determinants of minor tocopherols in rice seeds
Abstract Despite the nutritional importance of tocopherols, current knowledge of the genetic architecture underlying the accumulation of minor tocopherols—gamma (γ) and delta (δ)—in rice (Oryza sativa L.) grains remains limited. In this study, we investigated the genetic basis of γ- and δ-tocopherol contents in rice using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and post-GWAS analysis. Accordingly, 34,323 SNP markers were obtained from 179 genotypically diverse accessions of O. sativa. Minor tocopherol contents had a strong positive correlation (r = 0.76) with each other and varied greatly across the accessions: 0.015–1.74 and 0.005–0.81 (µg/g) for γ and δ, respectively. A total of 18 QTL on nine rice chromosomes were mapped. Eight transcription factor (TF) genes, five lncRNAs, and two transposons were found to be associated with the QTL. Moreover, three intracellular transport proteins were identified as associated genes with γ-tocopherol on chromosomes 1, 2, and 6. Protein kinases seem to have a substantiative function in defining the minor tocopherol contents, as they were associated with all 18 identified QTL. Haplotype analysis revealed that the QTL, namely qDelt2.1, qGam2.1, and qGam6.1, can maintain significant haplogroups. Comparative transcript analysis between high and low-content minor tocopherols demonstrated the possible involvement of ERF71 (Os06g0194000), TOR (Os05g0235300) and NAC70 (Os02g0822400) in defining the minor tocopherol contents in rice. Identified candidate genes in this study could be used in breeding programs to develop rice cultivars with high and beneficial levels of seed tocopherol contents.
Role of G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 4 on the dysfunction of renal Mas receptor in hypertension
The angiotensin converting enzyme 2/angiotensin-(1–7)/Mas receptor axis plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure. G protein-coupled receptor kinase 4 (GRK4) has attracted more attentions by modulating G protein-coupled receptors and blood pressure. However, it remains unknown whether renal Mas receptor is regulated by GRK4 and its role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Compared with Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) exhibited impaired Mas receptor-mediated diuresis and natriuresis, which was accompanied with increased phosphorylation levels of Mas receptors. Similarly, the phosphorylation of renal Mas receptor was increased and its-induced renal effects were decreased in human (h) GRK4γ 142V transgenic mice relative to wild-type littermates. There was a colocalization and a direct interaction of renal Mas receptor and GRK4, which were increased in SHRs and confirmed by rigid protein–protein docking. In vitro studies found that treatment with the Mas receptor agonist AVE0991 inhibited Na+-K+-ATPase activity in WKY renal proximal tubule (RPT) cells, which was failed in SHR cells. GRK4 silencing decreased the phosphorylation of Mas receptor and improved the impaired Mas receptor-mediated inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase activity in SHR RPT cells. Further study showed that ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction-targeted renal GRK4 depletion decreased Mas receptor phosphorylation and improved its-induced diuresis and natriuresis in SHRs. These suggest that GRK4 contributes to increased renal Mas receptor phosphorylation and dysfunction in hypertension, indicating that targeting GRK4 may be a viable therapeutic approach for hypertension.