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Background: Many complications may occur after placement of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VP shunt) for hydrocephalus, and delayed shunt insufficiency (DSI) is among the most common. It is often caused by abdominal adhesions, which increases the difficulty of diagnosis. This study aimed to explore the clinical value of dynamic plain abdominal radiography (DPAR) as a simple diagnostic method for patients with DSI due to terminal adhesion of the peritoneal shunt after VP surgery. Methods: A total of 30 patients with high suspicion of DSI due to abdominal adhesions after VP surgery were included. DPAR was used for prospective assessment. The interval between the first and second PAR was 4–6 h before surgery. If two plain abdominal radiography at different times indicated that the end of the shunt tube in the abdominal segment was fixed, it was diagnosed as DSI due to adhesion of the shunt tube at the abdominal end. The peritoneal end of the shunt tube was surgically repositioned. Postoperative DPAR was repeated to evaluate the distance of the shunt outlet within the abdominal segment. Results: All cases showed clinical symptoms or imaging findings of shunt insufficiency. The diagnostic accuracy of DPAR was 96.67% (29/30). The end of the shunt tube in the abdominal segment of the preoperative group was fixed with abdominal plain film twice with a mean difference of 1.74 ± 1.18 cm. The mean postoperative change in the position of the end of the shunt tube in the abdominal section was 9.36 ± 2.64 cm, showing a significant difference compared with the preoperative group (P < 0.001). The mean postoperative EVANs index (0.37 ± 0.08) was significantly lower than the preoperative (0.42 ± 0.08) (P = 0.007), Glasgow coma scale score (12.8 ± 2.69) was higher than the mean preoperative score (11.36 ± 2.43) (P = 0.013). Conclusion: DPAR is a simple and effective method for the diagnosis of shunt insufficiency caused by delayed abdominal end adhesion after VP shunt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many complications may occur after placement of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VP shunt) for hydrocephalus, and delayed shunt insufficiency (DSI) is among the most common. It is often caused by abdominal adhesions, which increases the difficulty of diagnosis. This study aimed to explore the clinical value of dynamic plain abdominal radiography (DPAR) as a simple diagnostic method for patients with DSI due to terminal adhesion of the peritoneal shunt after VP surgery. Methods: A total of 30 patients with high suspicion of DSI due to abdominal adhesions after VP surgery were included. DPAR was used for prospective assessment. The interval between the first and second PAR was 4–6 h before surgery. If two plain abdominal radiography at different times indicated that the end of the shunt tube in the abdominal segment was fixed, it was diagnosed as DSI due to adhesion of the shunt tube at the abdominal end. The peritoneal end of the shunt tube was surgically repositioned. Postoperative DPAR was repeated to evaluate the distance of the shunt outlet within the abdominal segment. Results: All cases showed clinical symptoms or imaging findings of shunt insufficiency. The diagnostic accuracy of DPAR was 96.67% (29/30). The end of the shunt tube in the abdominal segment of the preoperative group was fixed with abdominal plain film twice with a mean difference of 1.74 ± 1.18 cm. The mean postoperative change in the position of the end of the shunt tube in the abdominal section was 9.36 ± 2.64 cm, showing a significant difference compared with the preoperative group (P < 0.001). The mean postoperative EVANs index (0.37 ± 0.08) was significantly lower than the preoperative (0.42 ± 0.08) (P = 0.007), Glasgow coma scale score (12.8 ± 2.69) was higher than the mean preoperative score (11.36 ± 2.43) (P = 0.013). Conclusion: DPAR is a simple and effective method for the diagnosis of shunt insufficiency caused by delayed abdominal end adhesion after VP shunt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban last-mile express delivery in China encounters several challenges. This paper presents the establishment of a sharing logistics center aimed at enhancing the overall efficiency of urban last-mile express delivery while optimizing the utilization of essential resources. The successful implementation of shared delivery within sharing logistics center necessitates the creation of a robust collaborative mechanism. Recognizing that cooperative benefit allocation is dynamically influenced by factors such as resource input, operational efficiency, risk management, and other cost-related considerations, this study introduces a multi-weight H-Shapley value method for benefit allocation. By conducting empirical analyses of urban last-mile express delivery in Beijing within a sharing logistics service framework, our findings reveal that the revised benefit allocation model better aligns with the interests of participating entities and positively correlates with their contributions. Analyzing the impact of delivery volume and express operational costs changes, it is found that when the delivery volume and express operational costs of the sharing logistics center change, the benefits of participating enterprises move in the same direction. The benefit allocation model established in this study enriches the existing body of research in the field of shared delivery and offers valuable insights for benefit allocation issues that necessitate consideration of the dynamic effects of multiple parameter variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

External ventricular drainage (EVD) is a common procedure in neurosurgical practice. Presently, the three methods used most often include direct EVD (dEVD), long-tunneled external ventricular drains (LTEVDs), and EVD via the Ommaya reservoir (EVDvOR). But they possess drawbacks such as limited duration of retention, vulnerability to iatrogenic secondary infections, and challenges in regulating drainage flow. This study aimed to explore the use of a modified ventriculoperitoneal shunt (mVPS)—the abdominal end of the VPS device was placed externally—as a means of temporary EVD to address the aforementioned limitations. This retrospective cohort study, included 120 cases requiring EVD. dEVD was performed for 31 cases, EVDvOR for 54 cases (including 8 cases with previously performed dEVD), and mVPS for 35 cases (including 6 cases with previously performed EVDvOR). The one-time success rate (no need for further other EVD intervention) for dEVD, EVDvOR, and mVPS were 70.97%, 88.89%, and 91.42%, dEVD vs EVDvOR (P < 0.05), dEVD vs mVPS (P < 0.05), EVDvOR vs mVPS (P > 0.05). Puncture needle displacement or detachment was observed in nearly all cases of EVDvOR, while no such complications have been observed with mVPS. Apart from this complication, the incidence of postoperative complications was 35.48%, 14.81%, and 8.5%, dEVD vs EVDvOR (P < 0.05), dEVD vs mVPS (P < 0.05), EVDvOR vs mVPS (P > 0.05). Mean postoperative retention for EVD was 14.68 ± 9.50 days, 25.96 ± 15.14 days, and 82.43 ± 64.45 days, respectively (P < 0.001). In conclusion, mVPS significantly extends the duration of EVD, which is particularly beneficial for patients requiring long-term EVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building operations account for a large amount of energy use and CO2 emissions, and the morphology of buildings in residential clusters strongly impacts energy efficiency performance. However, little research has focused on the morphology and energy electricity usage of high-rise residential clusters in hot summer and cold winter (HSCW) regions. We investigated 96 residential clusters in Hangzhou, China, and established a corresponding morphology database. Additionally, we obtained annual electricity consumption for 16 of these residential clusters. With this database, we performed optimization of morphological parameters upon energy use intensity (EUI) using a genetic algorithm (GA). Specifically, the cooling, heating, and lighting EUIs of high-rise residential clusters were studied. After implementing the optimized morphological parameters, there was a reduction of up to 7.73% in EUI. According to regression analysis, the average aspect ratio was the most significant factor influencing EUI (r = −0.907), followed by floor area ratio (r = −0.755), average orientation (r = 0.502), and average number of floors (r = −0.453). These results indicate that a higher intensity of land development with a greater floor area ratio, average aspect ratio, and average number of floors can reduce total energy consumption. Additionally, we found that an average building orientation of southwest 15° (with respect to south) is optimal. The findings of this study can assist urban planners and designers in developing more sustainable residential clusters, leading to decreased energy costs and CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum phosphate levels and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods and Results. The study sample consisted of 1657 T2DM patients hospitalized between 2017 and 2019. Patients were categorized into quartiles based on their serum phosphate levels (Q1–Q4). An increasing trend in the prevalence of DR was observed across these quartiles. Subsequently, logistic regression analysis was employed to adjust for potential confounders, such as gender, age, BMI, and duration of diabetes, and to evaluate the odds ratios (ORs) associated with these quartiles. The prevalence of DR showed an increasing trend with elevated serum phosphate levels. Logistic regression further confirmed that serum phosphate levels remain an independent risk factor for DR. Conclusion. Elevated serum phosphate levels are closely associated with the prevalence of DR in hospitalized T2DM patients. Further studies are needed to establish causality. This trial is registered with chiCTR2000032374. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-level ab initio calculations are conducted for studying the kinetics of three linear pentanol radicals generated through H-atom abstraction reactions. The species involved are optimized using the M06-2X/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory, while a relaxed scan at the M06-2X/6-31g level of theory with 10° increments is used for the hindrance potential for low-frequency torsional modes. Single-point energies for all stationary points are obtained through the QCISD(T) and MP2 methods in combination with cc-pVDZ, cc-pVTZ, and cc-pVQZ basis sets, which can be extrapolated to the complete basis set (CBS) limit. The rate constants and branching ratios for isomerization and decomposition reactions are computed over a temperature range of 250–2000 K and a pressure range of 0.01–100 atm. Isomerization reactions are dominant at low temperatures, while decomposition reactions are more dominant at high temperatures. The branching ratio of the isomerization reaction exhibits a slight decrease with increasing pressure, while the trend for decomposition reactions depends on the type of the breaking bond. Based on the calculations for five branched pentanol radicals in part I, kinetics of linear and branched pentanol radicals are compared in this work and the results reveal that, for the same kind of β-scission reaction at similar positions of linear and branched pentanol radicals, the rate constants of branched ones are faster than those of linear ones at low temperatures. The hydroxyl group adjacent to the breaking bond can increase the β-scission reaction rate constants, while the effect can be ignored when the hydroxyl group is not adjacent to the breaking bond. Moreover, compared to when the hydroxyl group is located in the middle of the carbon chain, its positioning at the chain's end yields a more noticeable impact on the products and rate constants of C–O bond and O–H bond β-scission reactions. Besides, when incorporating calculated rate constants into the CRECK model, the updated mechanism shows a better performance for ignition delay times of 1-pentanol in the NTC range but exhibits lower reactivity at higher temperatures. The simulation of speciation profiles also shows better agreement with the experimental data obtained using a flow reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we introduce a novel coherent perfect absorber, accentuating its novelty by emphasizing the broad bandwidth, reduced thickness, tunable property, and straightforward design achieved through the use of an asymmetric graphene metasurface. This design incorporates both square and circular graphene patches arranged on either side of a silicon substrate. With an optimized structural design, this absorber consistently captures over 90% of incoming waves across the frequency range of 1.65 to 4.49 THz, with a graphene Fermi level of 0.8 eV, and the whole device measures just 1.5 um thick. This makes our absorber significantly more effective and compact than previous designs. The absorber's effectiveness can be significantly enhanced by combining the metasurface's geometric design with the graphene Fermi level. It is anticipated that this ultrathin, wideband coherent perfect absorption device will play a crucial role in emerging on-chip THz communication technologies, including light modulators, photodetectors, and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-belite sulfoaluminate cement (HBSC), with low carbon dioxide emissions, can be used to repair old concrete. Calcium sulfate plays a significant role in hydration of ye'elimite, but a comprehensive study of the effects of the four different types and dosages of calcium sulfate on the hydration of HBSC is lacking. This study investigates the influence of different types (dihydrate, anhydrite, α-hemihydrate, and β-hemihydrate) and doses (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%) of calcium sulfate on the hydration process and mechanical properties of HBSC. The findings indicate that the addition of calcium sulfate, specifically β-hemihydrate, had a significant impact on the reduction of setting times. The compressive strength of HBSC, particularly early strength, can be significantly increased by varying calcium sulfate dose and type, enhancing the performance of repair materials. The microstructure of ettringite is altered by different types of calcium sulfate, leading to varying pore structures and volume expansions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background It is imperative for public health to identify the factors that contribute to the progression of sarcopenia among middle-aged and older adults. Our study aimed to investigate the association between pain characteristics and the progression to sarcopenia and its subcomponents among middle-aged and older adults in China. Methods We included 5 568 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. All participants completed assessments for pain characteristics and sarcopenia. Pain assessment included pain status (baseline pain, incident pain, and pain persistence) and pain distribution (single-site pain and multisite pain) using a self-report questionnaire. Diagnosis of sarcopenia followed The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 consensus. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained by logical regression analysis. Results Participants who reported baseline pain, multisite pain, pain persistence, or multisite pain persistence were more likely to progress to sarcopenia than those without pain, with ORs of 1.33 (95% CI: 1.08–1.65), 1.44 (95% CI: 1.15–1.80), 1.63 (95% CI: 1.23–2.14), and 1.59 (95% CI: 1.19–2.11), respectively. Even after adjusting for other covariates such as gender, age, residential area, education level, marital status, smoking, alcohol consumption, comorbidities, and falls, these associations remained significant. Additionally, pain persistence and multisite pain persistence were significantly associated with low grip strength and clinically meaningful Short Physical Performance Battery decline, but not with low muscle mass. Conclusions Our study showed that pain, especially pain persistence, was closely correlated to the increased risk of progression to sarcopenia in Chinese middle-aged and older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the situation that the degraded system cannot be repaired as new and the degradation is accelerated after repair in engineering practice, an imperfect condition-based maintenance model is proposed based on the Gamma process by introducing the maintenance improvement factor and the accelerated degradation factor. The maintenance improvement factor describes the recovery degree of the degradation amount after imperfect maintenance, then gives a quantitative representation method of the system maintenance improvement effect and the determination method of the maximum number of imperfect maintenance. The accelerated degradation factor is combined with the geometric process to describe the accelerated degradation process of the system after imperfect maintenance. The Monte Carlo method is used to determine the optimal number of imperfect preventive maintenance decisions. Through the demonstration of calculation examples, the influence of accelerated degradation factor and maintenance improvement factor on the long-term operation maintenance rate and the optimal number of imperfect maintenance is analyzed. The results show that the model can more comprehensively describe the degradation and maintenance process of degraded systems, and it can effectively reduce maintenance cost ratio under long-term operation. It provides a certain theoretical support for formulating an economical and reasonable maintenance strategy that is more in line with the actual degradation and maintenance process in engineering practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a human-like motion decision-making method for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) navigating in trap environments. We proposed a space partitioning method based on sampling and consistency control to conduct a preliminary analysis of the indoor environment based on architectural blueprints. This method reduces the dimensionality of the path planning problem, thereby enhancing the efficiency. Then, we designed a target-switching logic for the dynamic window approach. This improvement endows the UAV with the capability of both real-time obstacle avoidance and global navigation, enhancing the efficiency of the UAV in flying to task spots indoors. Additionally, by applying human-like methods of batch distance perception and obstacle perception to this scheme, we have further enhanced the robustness and efficiency of path decisions. Finally, considering the scenario of high-rise fire rescue, we conducted simulation verification. It demonstrates that our scheme enhances the efficiency and robustness of path planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the challenges faced in the prediction of rolling bearing life, where temporal signals are affected by noise, making fault feature extraction difficult and resulting in low prediction accuracy, a method based on optimal time–frequency spectra and the DenseNet-ALSTM network is proposed. Firstly, a signal reconstruction method is introduced to enhance vibration signals. This involves using the CEEMDAN deconvolution method combined with the Teager energy operator for signal reconstruction, aiming to denoise the signals and highlight fault impacts. Subsequently, a method based on the snake optimizer (SO) is proposed to optimize the generalized S-transform (GST) time–frequency spectra of the enhanced signals, obtaining the optimal time–frequency spectra. Finally, all sample data are transformed into the optimal time–frequency spectrum set and input into the DenseNet-ALSTM network for life prediction. The comparison experiment and ablation experiment show that the proposed method has high prediction accuracy and ideal prediction performance. The optimization terms used in different contexts in this paper are due to different optimization methods, specifically the CEEMDAN method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a pathological subtype with a high mortality, and the development of inhibitors in the ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) component could be a novel therapeutic tool. Methods: Triple‐negative breast cancer data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and subtype analysis was performed by consistent clustering analysis to identify molecular subtypes of TNBC according to UPS characteristics. Differential analysis, COX and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) COX regression analyses were performed to select genes associated with overall survival in TNBC. The final prognostic model (UPS score) was determined using the LASSO COX model. The model performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and survival curves. In addition, the results of the UPS score on analyzing the abundance of immune cell infiltration and immunotherapy were explored. Finally, we developed a nomogram for TNBC survival prediction. Results: Two UPS subtypes (UPSMS1 and UPSMS2) showing significant survival differences were classified. COX regression analysis on differentially expressed genes in UPSMS1 and UPSMS2 filtered five genes that affected overall survival. Based on the regression coefficients and expression data of the five genes, we built a prognostic assessment system (UPS score). The UPS score showed consistent prognostic and therapeutic guidance values. Finally, the ROC curve of the nomogram and UPS score showed the highest predictive efficacy compared with traditional clinical prognostic indicators. Conclusion: The UPS score represented a promising prognostic tool to predict overall survival and immune status and guide personalized treatment selection in TNBC patients, and this study may provide a more practical alternative for clinical monitoring and management of TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: As the third generation new battery, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has increased from 3.8% in 2009 to 25.8% currently certified, which fully shows that they have great research value and development prospect. As one of the main components of high‐efficiency PSCs, hole transport materials (HTMs) play an important role in extracting and transporting holes and inhibiting charge recombination. However, commonly used HTMs require doping, and the hygroscopicity and corrosiveness of the dopants will destroy the stability of PSCs and hinder their commercialization. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop dopant‐free HTMs. In this review, the dopant‐free HTMs in recent six years are reviewed and summarized systematically, including organic small molecules, polymers and cross‐linkable materials. We focus on the design of the molecular cores and discuss their structure–property correlation, conductivity, and photovoltaic performance. Finally, how to design an ideal HTM is summarized. We hope that this review can provide reference for the development of low‐cost and dopant‐free HTMs to prepare efficient and stable PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of low-cost and high-efficiency multicolour emitting graphene quantum dots (GQDs) is of utmost importance for their prospective applications. Lignin, a renewable biomass, contains aromatic compounds that are well-suited for the preparation of polycyclic aromatic GQDs. In this study, we successfully synthesized red, yellow, green, and blue light-emitting single-layered GQDs with high crystallization using hydrothermal methods, thereby covering the full spectrum of visible light. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images revealed the presence of a two-dimensional crystal lattice with the 100 (0.21 nm) and 002 (0.24 nm) facets of graphite, indicating the high crystallization of the synthesized GQDs. Additionally, the average height of all GQDs was found to be below 1 nm, confirming their single-layered structure. This observation supports the notion that mono-benzene compounds tend to form fused polycyclic arenes under high pressure and temperature conditions. Moreover, by analyzing X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectra, we investigated the formation mechanism of GQDs derived from lignin at the molecular level. The cleavage of ether bonds, aldol condensation, benzylic acid rearrangement, and dehydration were identified as vital intermediate processes. Furthermore, we successfully demonstrated the application of multicolour-emitting GQDs derived from lignin in light-emitting diodes (LEDs). This synthetic strategy for producing multicolour-emitting GQDs from lignin opens up a new path for the conversion of sustainable biomass into high-value nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) affects around 40% of people with diabetes, the final outcome of which is end‐stage renal disease. The deficiency of autophagy and excessive oxidative stress have been found to participate in the pathogenesis of DN. Sinensetin (SIN) has been proven to have strong antioxidant capability. However, the effect of SIN on DN has not been studied. We examined the effect of SIN on cell viability and autophagy in the podocyte cell line, MPC5 cells, treated with high glucose (HG). For in vivo studies, DN mice models were established by intraperitoneal injected with streptozotocin (40 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days and fed with a 60% high‐fat diet, and SIN was given (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) for 8 weeks via intraperitoneal injection. The results showed that SIN could protect MPC5 cells against HG‐induced damage and significantly improve the renal function of DN mice. Moreover, SIN remarkably restored the autophagy activity of MPC5 cells which was inhibited under HG conditions. Consistent with this, SIN efficiently improved autophagy in the kidney tissue of DN mice. In brief, our findings demonstrated the protective effect of SIN on DN via restoring the autophagic function, which might provide a basis for drug development. Highlights: Sinensetin (SIN) could protect podocytes from high glucose (HG) injury.SIN could restore the autophagic function injured by HG.SIN could protect the mitochondria of podocytes, kidney damage, and damaged autophagy in the experimental diabetic nephropathy mice model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcopenia and chronic pain are prevalent among older adults, and despite numerous studies, the potential epidemiological link between the two conditions remains a topic of controversy. Therefore, we performed a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the relationship between chronic pain and sarcopenia in the elderly.Methods: EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were searched through 22 March 2023 with additional manual searches of reference lists of included studies and relevant reviews. We used a random effects model to conduct the meta-analysis and evaluated heterogeneity across studies with Cochran's Q statistic and I2. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on income level, diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia, and pain site.Results: 17 observational studies (33,600 participants, 49% female) were included, of which 6 articles were retrieved for narrative review. The pooled prevalence of sarcopenia and the pooled odds ratios (OR) between chronic pain and sarcopenia were extracted from the remaining 11 studies. The pooled prevalence of sarcopenia among older adults suffering from chronic pain was 0.11 (95% CI, 0.08– 0.18). Our analysis revealed a statistically significant positive association between chronic pain and an increased risk of sarcopenia, yielding a pooled OR of 1.52 (95% CI, 1.31– 1.76). Furthermore, our subgroup analysis demonstrated that the low-income countries group showed a stronger association (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.54– 1.95) between chronic pain and sarcopenia than the high-income countries group (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.20– 1.60).Conclusion: Older adults with chronic pain have a significantly higher prevalence of sarcopenia and risk of developing sarcopenia compared to those without pain. These findings highlight the importance of prioritizing the assessment and early detection of chronic pain in older people, as well as implementing proactive intervention measures in clinical practice. In addition, our results suggest that older people with chronic pain should be actively screened for sarcopenia.Prospero Registration Number: CRD42021239807. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low-carbon bainitic steel serving for the high-speed train was jointed with the laser–arc hybrid welding, and the low-temperature (−40 °C) impact toughness of the joint was evaluated. The results showed that the microstructure of each micro-zone of the welded joint was mainly bainite, but the morphology and size were quite different. The average grain size of the weld material (WM) was 1.69 μm, which was 19% finer than the base material (BM). At the same time, there was a small amount of martensite-austenite (M-A) constituent at the grain boundary, which led to the microhardness of the WM being higher than that of the BM, up to 293.6 HV, about 1.13 times that of the BM. The low-temperature impact toughness of each micro-zone of the welded joint from high to low was 64 J in the inter-critical heat-affected zone, 50 J in the BM, 49 J in the WM, and 43 J in the coarse grain heat-affected zone. The difference in impact toughness was due to the difference in the content of high-angle grain boundaries and the size of the M-A constituent in each region. The larger the size of the M-A constituent, the easier it was to cause stress concentration and produced micro-cracks, which reduced the impact performance. The high-angle grain boundary holding a low surface energy resulted in the crack propagating along the grain boundary. Therefore, the higher the content of high-angle grain boundaries, the more tortuous the crack propagating path and the better the impact performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretical investigations on the kinetics of decomposition and isomerization reactions for five types of branched pentanol radicals are carried out in this work. The M06-2X/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory was used to optimize the geometries of all reactants, transition states, and products, while the hindrance potentials for the lower frequency modes in all of the species were obtained through a relaxed scan with an increment of 10° at the M06-2X/6-31G level of theory. Single-point energies of all species were determined at the QCISD(T)/cc-pVDZ, TZ level of theories with basis set corrections from MP2/cc-pVDZ, TZ, QZ methods. The RRKM/master equation was solved to calculate the pressure- and temperature-dependent rate coefficients for all channels in the pressure range of 0.01–100 atm over 250–2000 K. Pressure and temperature-dependent branching fractions of key species produced from pentanol radicals show that most of the pentanol radical isomers tend to isomerize to alkoxy radicals via a six-membered-ring or five-membered-ring transition state at low temperatures, producing ketones or aldehydes. At higher temperatures, the β-scission reactions are the main reaction channels for the consumption of pentanol radicals. A weak pressure dependence has been found for all isomerization reactions, and it becomes more and more important as pressure increases. The pressure dependence trends are different for the β-scission reactions of different branched pentanol radicals. In part I, the results for branched pentanol radical isomers are presented in detail, while in part II the results for linear pentanol radical isomers will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic pain and cognitive impairment are prevalent geriatric syndromes in the population of older adults, and they are the main cause of disability in people over sixty-five years of age. As the global population continues to age, chronic pain and cognitive impairment will affect an increasing number of older adults. While numerous studies in recent years have shown that chronic pain is associated with cognitive decline, the exact mechanisms linking the two remain unclear. In this review, we aim to present the available evidence on the connection between chronic pain and cognitive impairment and to discuss the potential mechanisms by which chronic pain affects cognitive function. In addition, we review potential therapeutic interventions targeting psychological factors, microglia activation, and altered gut flora that may improve and prevent cognitive decline in people with chronic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the domestic wholesale markets have many operating entities, and the level of organization and scale is not high; therefore, at this stage, building a shared business platform and carrying out common distribution is an important way to improve the overall efficiency of the wholesale market distribution operations and the level of the intensive utilization of key resources such as vehicles. Carrying out common distribution requires the formation of a good synergy mechanism among the participating subjects, in which the design of a scientific and reasonable benefit distribution scheme, especially in balancing the relationship between government resources and social resources, is particularly important. As the benefit distribution of cooperation is affected by the dynamic changes of the resource input ratio, the distribution operation scale, the risk taking, and other factors, this paper establishes a multi-weight interval Shapley value method benefit distribution model, which reflects the effect of the key parameter variables. Through the empirical analysis of Beijing's wholesale markets for agricultural products, the results show that the revised benefit distribution is more in line with the interest demands among multiple subjects and is positively correlated with the contribution degree among the participating subjects, which can better mobilize the cooperation enthusiasm of the participating enterprises and provide a new methodological path to solve the problem of common distribution in wholesale markets. The distribution model constructed in this paper further enriches the relevant research content in the field of common distribution and is of reference value for the benefit distribution problem that requires comprehensive consideration of the dynamic change in the multiple parameters affecting the relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wireless power transfer (WPT) system based on the parity–time (PT) symmetry can realize stable power transmission with constant efficiency and output power in the PT‐symmetric region. In some applications with long transmission distance requirements, such as medical treatment, it is meaningful to expand the PT‐symmetric region by reducing the critical coupling coefficient. Therefore, a novel WPT system based on PT symmetry with a boost converter in secondary side is proposed in this article to expand the transmission range. The circuit theory is used to analyze the presented system. Then two models with different drive signals of the boost converter are established and simulated respectively to show the effect of the proposed system compared with the original PT‐symmetry‐based WPT system. Finally, the experimental results verify that the proposed system can play a role in extending the stable transmission distance or in suppressing the output power growth of the PT‐symmetric‐based WPT system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries have drawn increasing attention due to the intrinsic safety, cost‐effectiveness and high energy density. However, parasitic reactions and non‐uniform dendrite growth on the Zn anode side impede their application. Herein, a multifunctional additive, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (NHP), is introduced to regulate uniform zinc deposition and to suppress side reactions. The results show that the NH4+ tends to be preferably absorbed on the Zn surface to form a "shielding effect" and blocks the direct contact of water with Zn. Moreover, NH4+ and (H2PO4)− jointly maintain pH values of the electrode‐electrolyte interface. Consequently, the NHP additive enables highly reversible Zn plating/stripping behaviors in Zn//Zn and Zn//Cu cells. Furthermore, the electrochemical performances of Zn//MnO2 full cells and Zn//active carbon (AC) capacitors are improved. This work provides an efficient and general strategy for modifying Zn plating/stripping behaviors and suppressing side reactions in mild aqueous electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries have drawn increasing attention due to the intrinsic safety, cost‐effectiveness and high energy density. However, parasitic reactions and non‐uniform dendrite growth on the Zn anode side impede their application. Herein, a multifunctional additive, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (NHP), is introduced to regulate uniform zinc deposition and to suppress side reactions. The results show that the NH4+ tends to be preferably absorbed on the Zn surface to form a "shielding effect" and blocks the direct contact of water with Zn. Moreover, NH4+ and (H2PO4)− jointly maintain pH values of the electrode‐electrolyte interface. Consequently, the NHP additive enables highly reversible Zn plating/stripping behaviors in Zn//Zn and Zn//Cu cells. Furthermore, the electrochemical performances of Zn//MnO2 full cells and Zn//active carbon (AC) capacitors are improved. This work provides an efficient and general strategy for modifying Zn plating/stripping behaviors and suppressing side reactions in mild aqueous electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptospirosis is an important zoonosis that is caused by pathogenic Leptospira, which is considered to be a re-emerging infectious disease in many countries. Rodents are the most important reservoirs for both human and animal infection. An epidemiological survey of pathogenic Leptospira in rodents is important for the prevention and control of leptospirosis. In this study, a total of 964 rodents were captured from six cities in Hubei Province, and two pathogenic Leptospira species (L. interrogans and L. borgpetersenii) were detected using nested PCR with an overall prevalence of 4.8%. L. interrogans was distributed in five sampling sites, which may be the dominant species of pathogenic Leptospira in Hubei Province. In addition, Rattus norvegicus showed a relatively high infection rate, which may play an important role in the transmission and infection of pathogenic Leptospira. This study reveals the prevalence of pathogenic Leptospira in wild rodents in Hubei Province, suggesting that the risk of leptospirosis infection in Hubei Province still exists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To promote the commercial application of sodium ion batteries (SIBs), new high‐stability and high‐capacity anode materials are needed. Metal oxides show great promise, but significant issues relating to their low electrical conductivity and unstable structure during charge storage must be resolved. Herein, a new composite anode consisting of pseudohexagonal Nb2O5 (TT‐Nb2O5) nanoparticles strongly anchored to carbon nanotubes (CNT) through a glucose‐derived carbon framework (Nb2O5/g‐CNT) was synthesised and assessed for use as the anode in SIBs. This represents the first application of TT‐Nb2O5 in SIBs. The composite is shown to offer high specific capacity (203 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1), good rate capability (53 mAh g−1 at high current density of 5 A g−1), and a high‐capacity retention rate (135 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 between 25 and 300 cycles). This is attributed to high electrical conductivity and flexibility offered by the designed carbon framework, the superior capacity of the TT‐Nb2O5 and the linkage between the two provided by the bonding glucose derived carbon. This work therefore demonstrates a scalable route for the application of metal oxides in future high‐performance SIB systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we present a freestanding and flexible 3D nanocomposite made of polyhedral spherical FeCoS2 and nitrogen-doped hollow carbon nanofibers (FeCoS2@N-HCNFs) that is synthesized through coaxial electrospinning, high-temperature calcination, and a facile solvothermal process. As a binder-free anode composite for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs), FeCoS2@N-HCNF presents a high specific discharge capacity on the first lap (701.2 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1) and superior cycling stability (132.6 mA h g−1 at 3200 mA g−1 after 600 cycles). The impressive electrochemical performance can be ascribed to the unique 3D structure, such as the enormous specific surface area of the mesoporous structure beneficial for K+ transfer, the three-dimensional hollow carbon nanofiber scaffold enhances the structural stability, and polyhedral spherical FeCoS2 improves the overall specific capacity. According to the above description, the FeCoS2@N-HCNF anode is a promising candidate for advanced potassium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new kind of low-carbon bainite steel with excellent strength and toughness was developed, serving as the bogie of the next-generation high-speed train. However, the softening of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) in laser-arc hybrid welding (LAHW) needs to be overcome. In this study, the effect of the cooling rate of the LAHW process on the microstructure and mechanical properties in the HAZ was explored via thermal simulation. The results showed that with increased cooling rate, the grain size increased, the content of lath martensite decreased, and the lath bainite gradually changed to a granular shape in the thermal simulation specimen. With the decrease in the cooling rate, i.e., with the increase of t8/5, the strength–toughness matching of the material showed a downward trend. The thermal simulation specimen with a t8/5 of 6~8 s had higher strength and good toughness, which can be considered a potential welding parameter reference. The content of martensitic austenite (M-A) constituents was the main factor that determined the strength and toughness of the joint. During the tensile test, the axial force caused the material to tighten, and the transverse stress as obvious in the part of the M-A constituents that are prone to microcracks and many defects, resulting in cracks, paths, and multi-component layers in the center. As a result, the thermal cycle specimens had mixed fracture characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to compare the metastatic pattern and prognosis of female colon cancer (FCC) to that of male colon cancer (MCC) to ascertain the independent factors impacting the prognosis of patients with FCC. The data of the present study population were retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Descriptive analysis, the Kaplan-Meier method, and the Cox regression were used to evaluated FCC characteristics and factors associated with prognosis. There were 56,442 patients diagnosed with FCC, of whom 8,817 had distant metastases. Compared to patients with nonmetastatic FCC, a greater proportion of metastatic FCC patients was less than 60 years of age, black race, and grade III-IV. The primary sites were mainly located on the left side and have more possibility to receive chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Compared to metastatic MCC, a higher proportion of metastatic FCC patients ranged over 60 years of age, black race, treated without chemotherapy, and insurance, while the primary site was located on the right side. Liver and lung were the two most common sites of solitary metastases in CC, and among patients with solitary metastases in CC, patients who had lung metastases had a better prognosis than those who developed other types of metastasizes. Patients with FCC with metastases of the liver had a worse prognosis than their MCC counterparts. Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that the risk ratio was higher in metastatic FCC patients compared to those without metastases. We report the survival comparison of metastatic FCC with nonmetastatic FCC through the SEER database. Our results suggest that it has unique clinicopathological features and differs from metastatic MCC. Furthermore, patients with liver metastatic FCC have a worse prognosis than those with MCC. Emphasis on screening for colon cancer in women and additional clinical care should be paid for, especially for patients with FCC with metastatic liver cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a novel asymmetric interior permanent magnet (AIPM) rotor topology that has a mixed V-shape and spoke-type PM configuration, designated as a 1.5-layer PM structure, and asymmetric arrangement of V-shape PMs and asymmetric flux barriers. The AIPM rotor topology is employed for IPM synchronous machines to utilize the magnetic-field-shifting (MFS) effect for increasing average torque by reducing the current angle difference between peak PM and reluctance torque components. Three machines, i.e., the proposed 1.5-layer AIPM, a symmetrical 1.5-layer IPM-I, and a conventional V-shape benchmark IPM-II are designed and optimized using the same stator, rotor diameter, and total PM usage by global parametric optimization considering the mechanical stress. The effect of asymmetric features of the 1.5-layer AIPM rotor design, i.e., asymmetry of V-shape cavity as well as position and dimensions of flux barrier, on maximum torque and open-circuit air-gap field are investigated. The electromagnetic performances of three machines are compared. It confirms that the proposed AIPM machine has the highest maximum torque and the smallest cogging torque simultaneously. It is also revealed that the torque enhancement is achieved by both the 1.5-layer structure and MFS effect. Finally, a prototype of an AIPM machine is manufactured and tested to validate the analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The laminar premixed n-propylamine (NPA) flame with equivalence ratio of 1.70 has been investigated at 4666.28 Pa using tunable synchrotron photoionization and molecular-beam mass spectrometry techniques. Chemical structures and mole fractions of 40 species were determined. Ethenol, allylamine, butadiyne, vinylacetylene, 1,3-butadiene, 1-butene, 2-butene, n-butyl radical, 1,3-cyclopentadiene, cyclopentene, 2-pentene, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, 2-propen-1-imine, cyclopropanimine, pyrrole, 2-butenenitrile and n-butylamine were newly identified in the amine flames. Mole fraction profiles of some species including reactants, intermediates and products in the NPA flame were given. HCN and N2 were observed as the primary N-containing products in the NPA flame, which was different from the result that NO was the major N-containing products in previous studies of nitrogen flames. The bond energies of NPA were calculated through quantum chemistry calculations on the basis of density functional theory at the CBS-QB3 level. It showed that the CH3CH2-CH2NH2 bond was the weakest and NPA mainly decomposed to CH2NH2 and C2H5 radicals. The H-abstractions at Cα by OH/O (NPA+OH=CH3CH2CHNH2+H2O and NPA+O=CH3CH2CHNH2+OH) had significant promoting effects on NPA consumption. The N conversion chain of NPA under flame conditions was proposed and detailed analysis with respect to intermediates especially the nitrogen-containing species were provided. The results will enrich the understanding of NPA flame and are essential to further establish the kinetic mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poor clinical prognosis and microvascular patterns of glioblastoma (GBM) are of serious concern to many clinicians and researchers. However, very few studies have examined the correlation between microvascular niche patterns (MVNPs) and proteomic distribution. In this study, CD34 immunofluorescence staining and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-IMS) technology were used to investigate the protein distributions in MVNPs. CD34+ microvascular phenotype could be divided into four types: microvascular sprouting (MS), vascular cluster (VC), vascular garland (VG), and glomeruloid vascular proliferation (GVP). Based on such characteristics, MVNPs were divided into two types by cluster analysis, namely, type I, comprising primarily MS and VC, and type II, comprising many VGs and GVPs. Survival analysis indicated the type of MVNPs to be an independent prognostic factor for progression-free and overall survival in GBM. MALDI-IMS results showed the peaks at m/z 1037 and 8960 to exhibit stronger ion signals in type II, while those at m/z 3240 and 3265 exhibited stronger ion signals in type I. The findings may assist future research on therapy and help predict prognosis in GBM. However, due to the limited number of studies, more well-designed studies are warranted to further verify our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article proposes a novel asymmetric interior permanent magnet (AIPM) rotor topology for torque enhancement and torque ripple reduction in IPM synchronous machines. The AIPM rotor structure is featured by a hybrid-layer permanent magnet configuration, i.e., for each pole, a part of PM configuration has one-layer while the other part has two layers. It allows the magnetic-field-shifting (MFS) effect to be utilized by reducing the current angle difference between maximum PM and reluctance torque components, thereby effectively increasing the maximum resultant torque. The proposed AIPM machine and a conventional V-shape IPM machine are designed and globally parametric optimized with the same 24-slot/4-pole stator, rotor diameter, and PM usage. The influence of key rotor geometric parameters of the AIPM machine on torque and open-circuit air-gap magnetic field characteristics are investigated. The comparison of electromagnetic performance confirms that significant torque enhancement and torque ripple reduction in the AIPM machine compared with the conventional V-shape IPM machine and reveals the MFS effect is essential for torque increase. Finally, an AIPM machine is manufactured and tested for validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the influence of stator slot number on electromagnetic performance of two-pole high speed permanent magnet (HSPM) slotted motors with toroidal (TO) windings. Four two-pole slotted motors with different slot numbers, i.e., 3, 6, 9, and 12, are globally optimised for maximum torque, and their electromagnetic performance are compared, including winding factor, air-gap flux density, back electromotive force, cogging torque, electromagnetic torque, winding inductances, unbalanced magnetic force (UMF), and various loss components. It shows that the six-slot/two-pole HSPM motor with TO windings is eminently suitable for high speed application due to no UMF and easy to realise a modular structure. In addition, TO and tooth-coil windings are compared in the three-slot/two-pole motors, and the results confirm that TO windings are not suitable for use in the three-slot/two-pole HSPM slotted motor due to large airgap field harmonics. Finally, a six-slot/two-pole prototype motor is manufactured and tested to validate the finite element predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viral pneumonia has been a serious threat to global health, especially now we have dramatic challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately six million cases of community-acquired pneumonia occur every year, and over 20% of which need hospital admission. Influenza virus, respiratory virus, and coronavirus are the noteworthy causative agents to be investigated based on recent clinical research. Currently, anaphylactic reaction and inflammation induced by antiviral immunity can be incriminated as causative factors for clinicopathological symptoms of viral pneumonia. In this article, we illustrate the structure and related infection mechanisms of these viruses and the current status of antiviral therapies. Owing to a set of antiviral regiments with unsatisfactory clinical effects resulting from side effects, genetic mutation, and growing incidence of resistance, much attention has been paid on medicinal plants as a natural source of antiviral agents. Previous research mainly referred to herbal medicines and plant extracts with curative effects on viral infection models of influenza virus, respiratory virus, and coronavirus. This review summarizes the results of antiviral activities of various medicinal plants and their isolated substances, exclusively focusing on natural products for the treatment of the three types of pathogens that elicit pneumonia. Furthermore, we have introduced several useful screening tools to develop antiviral lead compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An all-silica Fabry-Pérot interferometer (FPI) is demonstrated for high-temperature pressure monitoring. The pressure sensor is fabricated with single mode fiber and silica capillary by CO2 laser. Owing to slight mismatch of thermal expansion coefficient in all-silica structure, it can work stably under 600°C atmosphere. The influence of the temperature on the pressure sensor was investigated within a temperature range from 25°C to 700°C and a pressure range from standard atmosphere pressure to 4 MPa. The experimental results show that the wavelength shift versus the pressure at each temperature is linear, which indicates the proposed FPI pressure sensor has potential applications in industrial reactors, oil and gas wells, and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The time–frequency analysis by smooth Pseudo-Wigner-Ville distribution (SPWVD) is utilized for the double-line laser ultrasonic signal processing, and the effective detection of the metal surface defect is achieved. The double-line source laser is adopted for achieving more defects information. The simulation model by using finite element method is established in a steel plate with three typical metal surface defects (i.e. crack, air hole and surface scratch) in detail. Besides, in order to improve the time resolution and frequency resolution of the signal, the SPWVD method is mainly used. In addition, the deep learning defect classification model based on VGG convolutional neural network (CNN) is set up, also, the data enhancement method is adopted to extend training data and improve the defects detection properties. The results show that, for different types of metal surface defects with sub-millimeter size, the classification accuracy of crack, air holes and scratch surface are 94.6%, 94% and 94.6%, respectively. The SPWVD and CNN algorithm for processing the laser ultrasonic signal and defects classification supplies a useful way to get the defect information, which is helpful for the ultrasonic signal processing and material evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The robust output formation problems are considered for uncertain multi-agent systems. The dynamic of each agent is constructed by a nominal system combined with uncertainties and external disturbances. Based on the interaction topology among agents, a robust time-invariant formation controller is proposed. The designed controller consists of two parts: a nominal output feedback formation controller and a robust compensator. The nominal controller is designed to achieve the desired output formation, and the robust compensator is introduced to restrain the influence of the uncertainties and disturbances. An output formation feasible condition is proposed, and it is proven that the output formation error can be made arbitrarily small. Finally, a simulation example is provided to illustrate the obtained theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the robust formation tracking problems for uncertain multi‐agent systems(MASs). The leader is assumed to be linear case and the dynamics of the followers can be modelled as a high‐order linear system with heterogeneous uncertainties and external disturbances. Only part of the followers can get the states of the leader and the control input of the leader cannot be obtained by any followers. Based on the relative information among agents, robust formation tracking protocols are proposed to achieve the desired formation tracking. It can be proven that the formation tracking error can be made arbitrarily small if the formation tracking feasibility condition holds. Finally, a simulation example is provided to illustrate the obtained theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Proximal humeral fractures are one of the most common types of upper limb fractures in adults. With the aging of the population, the incidence of proximal humeral fractures has been increasing in recent years, and its treatment is still controversial. OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of locking plate and intramedullary nail in the treatment of proximal humeral fractures using meta-analysis. METHODS: We retrieved PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP database to collect studies on intramedullary nail and locking plate in the treatment of proximal humeral fractures. In accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, studies were included. Data were extracted from the included studies. Continuous variables (Constant score, operation time, blood loss) and binary classification variables (total complications, postoperative infection, screw cutout and internal fixation failure, humerus head necrosis, secondary surgery, and acromial impact) were analyzed, and considered as evaluation indexes for the meta-analysis. Statistical software Stata 12.0 was used to analyze the data. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) A total of 8 articles and 891 patients were included, and 9 data were analyzed. (2) The amount of blood loss (SMD=-1.82, 95%Cl: -2.77-0.87, P< 0.001) and operation time (SMD=-1.47, 95%Cl: -2.13---0.80, P < 0.001) in the intramedullary nail group were superior to those in the locking plate group. The remaining results were not statistically significant between the two groups (P > 0.05). (3) These results confirmed that intramedullary nailing is superior to locking plate in operation time and intraoperative blood loss in the treatment of proximal humeral fractures. The results were similar in total complication rate, common complication rate and postoperative recovery of shoulder joint function between the two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu-N-C electrocatalyst was successfully prepared with Cu-BTC and polyacrylonitrile as templates by electrospinning and in-situ growth method. The effect of various N -doped content on the electrochemical performance of the catalyst were investigated and the Cu-N-C-0.25 exhibited the best OER/ORR catalytic activities. When it was applied to the cathode of the zinc-air batteries, the power density of Cu-N-C-0.25 was 209.1 mW cm − 2 , which exceeded that of the commercial Pt/C + IrO2 hybrid catalyst (157 mW cm − 2 ). The excellent electrochemical performance may be attributed to large number of active sites and high specific surface area on Cu-N-C electrocatalyst. It will be a promising alternative to precious metal catalysts containing Pt, Ir or Ru and their oxides. A simple and convenient method (electrospinning technique and soaking technique) was used to prepare a novel Cu-N-CNFs as a bifunctional electrochemical catalyst. The morphology and structure of Cu-N-C-0.25 were studied by SEM. The results showed the conjunct effects of the 3D porous cross-linked microstructures of carbon nanofibers, copper particles, doping of N element and structural defects as catalytic active sites, so that the carbon nanofibers have higher catalytic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Forest fires in South Asia lead to widespread haze, where many healthy individuals develop psychosomatic symptoms. We investigated the effects of haze exposure on cerebral hemodynamics and new symptoms. We hypothesised that vasoactive substances present in the haze, would lead to vasodilation of cerebral vasculature, thereby altering cerebral hemodynamics, which in turn may account for new psychosomatic symptoms. Methods: Seventy-four healthy volunteers were recruited, and serial transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography was performed to record blood flow parameters of bilateral middle cerebral arteries (MCA). The first TCD was performed in an air-conditioned environment. It was repeated outdoors after the participants spent 30-minutes in the haze environment. The prevailing level of pollutant standards index (PSI) was recorded. Appropriate statistical analyses were performed to compare cerebral hemodynamics at baseline and after haze exposure in all participants. Subgroup analyses were then employed to compare the findings between symptomatic and asymptomatic participants. Results: Study participants’ median age was 30 years (IQR 26–34), and new psychosomatic symptoms were reported by 35 (47.3%). There was a modest but significant decrease in pulsatility index (PI) and resistivity index (RI) in the left MCA after haze exposure (PI: p = 0.026; RI: p = 0.021). When compared to baseline parameters, haze exposure resulted in significantly lower mean PI (p = 0.001) and RI (p = 0.001) in symptomatic patients, but this difference was not present in asymptomatic patients (PI: p = 0.919; RI: p = 0.970). Conclusion: Haze causes significant alterations in cerebral hemodynamics in susceptible individuals, probably responsible for various psychosomatic symptoms. The prognostic implications and health effects of haze require evaluation in a larger study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]