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Objective: To optimize the operating parameters of wheat milling in roller mill I skin mill to reduce the energy consumption of milling. Methods: Using EDEM discrete element simulation software, Box-Behnken test was designed for key milling factors such as roll pitch, feeding amount, rotational speed and rotational speed ratio to investigate the relationship between operating parameters and milling power. Results: The significance rankings of the effects on the toothed roll crushing power were, in order, speed ratio, roll pitch, feed volume, speed ratio quadratic term, roll pitch quadratic term, interaction of roll pitch and speed ratio, interaction of feed volume and speed ratio, and interaction of roll pitch and feed volume. According to the different requirements of the I-skin mill, the optimal parameter combinations were obtained: the finer powder output with a rolling pitch of 0.67 mm, a feeding amount of 803.60 kg/（cm·d）, a fast roller speed of 537.68 r/min, and a rotational speed ratio of 2.64, and the coarser powder output with the optimal low-power consumption of 0.79 mm, a feeding amount of 803.83 kg/（cm·d）, a fast roller speed of 576.08 r/min, and a rotational speed ratio of 2.23. Conclusion: The error between the simulation results and the measured results is within a reasonable range, and the established discrete element milling model can be used for power prediction in wheat milling.

Objective: To achieve surface wear life prediction of abrasive blast rollers of grinding machines. Methods: The wear images of the grinding roller surface were acquired by the built image acquisition system, and the texture parameters such as second order moments, entropy value, contrast and correlation in the wear cycle of the grinding roller were obtained based on the grey scale co-generation matrix algorithm, and the obtained texture feature parameters were input into the constructed PSO-based LS-SVM algorithm model to finally predict the wear life of the blast roller. Results: The particle swarm algorithm could optimize the penalty factor and kernel parameters of LS-SVM well, and the PSO-LS-SVM algorithm was far superior to the LS-SVM algorithm model. The wear state of the blast roller surface of the mill could be accurately identified using the PSO-LS-SVM algorithm. Conclusion: The system can accurately predict the service life of the blast rollers.

As cropland and water resources are most valuable, the rational development and utilization of agricultural water and land resources are crucial for national food, ecological, and resource security. Therefore, obtaining timely and accurate information about the quantity and utilization of these resources is vital for national stability and socio-economic development. Here, we summarize the status quo and problems of the monitoring and information services of agricultural water and land resources in China, and expound on the framework of a monitoring and information service system. Additionally, we propose the strategic goals, namely, realizing automatic, intelligent, and unmanned monitoring of agricultural resources and environment and marketing the monitoring information services. These goals can be achieved by increasing the efficiency and outcomes of water and land use and optimizing the spatial allocation of agricultural land and water resources. Moreover, we analyze the technological routes for agricultural water and land resource monitoring in the context of the deep integration of information technology and agriculture, and propose specific projects from the aspects of infrastructure construction, core technology development and integration, and information services. Furthermore, we propose the following policy suggestions: (1) strengthening the top-level design, (2) enhancing scientific and technological innovation, (2) building a sharing platform for agricultural resource monitoring, (4) deepening the interaction of government, industry, universities, research institutes, and users of agricultural resources, and (5) promoting high-level talent training. Our study is expected to provide theoretical references for the development of the agricultural water and land resource monitoring in China.

Abstract Background As a minimally invasive tool for caries prevention tool, the pulsed erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser is being used in a large number of studies. Microorganisms are extremely vital in the occurrence and development of dental caries. However, the impact of Er:YAG laser irradiation combined with fluoride on the dynamic microbial changes that occur in dental plaques is still uncertain. In this study, we examined the effect of an Er:YAG laser combined with fluorine on supragingival microbial composition and diversity in children with multiple caries. Methods In this study, dental plaque samples (n = 48) were collected from 12 children with over 8 filled teeth. Supragingival plaques from left mandibular molars before (CB) and after fluoride treatment (CA) and right mandibular molars before (EB) and after fluoride+Er:YAG laser treatment (EA) were collected from each patient. In CB and EB groups, the samples were collected just before the treatments. In CA and EA groups, the samples were collected 1 month after treatments. Then, all specimens were subjected to 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing to investigate the changes in microbial composition and diversity in mandibular molar supragingival plaques before and after fluoride or fluoride+Er:YAG laser treatment. Results The dental plaque microbial diversity was higher in the EA group than in the EB group (baseline levels), and the microbial composition changed in EA group compared with EB group (P

The smooth operation of the power system is of significant importance for ensuring societal stability. Therefore, regular inspections of the power system are necessary. The most efficient method for power inspection is to utilize Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to assist inspection. However, the UAV inspection still needs human resources to operate and manage the UAVs effectively. This paper proposes a UAV-airport power inspection system, where the airport can operate and manage UAVs instead of humans. The key contribution of the system is the computation offloading technology and the Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) capability. In other words, the airport can help UAVs execute electrical image fault detection and the UAVs can be charged by the airport. We propose a joint optimization strategy for UAV flight speed, local execution frequency for fault detection, and WPT time to maximize the number of images in the electrical dataset captured by the UAV that have undergone power fault detection within the inspection time. Comprehensive experiments are conducted to verify the performance of the UAV-airport power inspection system and our optimization strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the non-inferiority of a quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) developed by Sinovac Biotech Co., Ltd. (Sinovac, Beijing, China) by comparing its immunogenicity and safety with a comparator QIV (Vaxigrip Tetra®) in a population aged 3 years and older in Chile and the Philippines. Methods: A phase 3, non-inferiority, double-blind, randomized controlled, multicenter clinical trial was conducted in the southern hemisphere (SH) 2023 influenza season. Participants aged ≥ 3 years old with stable health were randomized 1:1 to receive either Sinovac QIV or comparator QIV. The co-primary outcomes were immunological non-inferiority for Sinovac QIV versus the comparator against each strain contained in the vaccines in terms of seroconversion rates (SCRs) and geometric mean titers (GMTs) of hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibodies 28 days after final vaccination. Results: A total of 2039 participants were vaccinated (1019 Sinovac QIV; 1020 comparator QIV). Sinovac QIV induced non-inferior immune responses to all four strains as compared to comparator QIV, with slightly higher GMTs than those of comparator QIV: GMT ratios (lower limit 95% confidence interval (CI)) were 1.8 (1.6) for A(H1N1), 1.4 (1.3) for A (H3N2), 1.3 (1.1) for B Victoria and 1.2 (1.1) for B Yamagata; observed seroconversion rate differences (lower limit 95% CI) were 9.6% (6.7) for A(H1N1), 7.0% (3.5) for A(H3N2), 2.4% (−0.03) for B Victoria and 6.8% (3.0) for B Yamagata. Adverse reactions were similar across the two groups and no vaccine-related serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions: The immunogenicity of Sinovac QIV was non-inferior to that of the comparator QIV in these populations aged 3 years and older, and safety was comparable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Hydraulic fracturing experiments were conducted to study the change of initial fracture pressure and roof stress under repeated hydraulic fracturing in coal mines and to investigate the actual penetration enhancement effect on coal seams. The results show that as the fracturing is repeated, a lower initiation pressure is required. The roof stress changes consistently with water injection pressure. First, the stress in the area around the water injection hole gradually increases, and then stress transfers to the surroundings. With the re‐implementation of fracturing, the area of increased stress expands, and the scope of influence of hydraulic fracturing also becomes larger. When fracturing in a coal mine, for the same total fracturing time, the total water injection volume of repeated fracturing is 35% higher than that of single fracturing, and the affected area is increased by 31%. The concentration of repeated hydraulic fracturing is about 36% higher than that of a single hydraulic fracturing, and the pure flow of gas drainage is increased by about 1.3 times. The results of this study can guide the efficient implementation of hydraulic fracturing underground in coal mines, so as to achieve a larger impact range of coal seam hydraulic fracturing and better gas drainage effects.

Agricultural big data and information infrastructure are important foundations for modern agriculture, prerequisites for smart agriculture, and new elements of agricultural growth in the new era. In this article, we analyze the development status and existing problems of China’s agricultural big data and information infrastructure considering the strategic needs and challenges of smart agriculture development; summarize the relevant policies, action plans, and experiences in China and abroad; propose the strategic objectives of developing agricultural big data and information infrastructure in 2025, 2035, and 2050; and devise the future development technology roadmap. In the future, big data development should be promoted in the entire agricultural industry chain and the construction of the agricultural big data system needs to be standardized by building an integrated data sharing mechanism. Breakthroughs achieved in key common technologies can expand the application of agricultural big data. Agricultural big data industry bases are required for creating application clusters of agricultural big data. An urban–rural integrated information infrastructure needs to be built by coordinating urban and rural resources, and an agricultural cyberspace that features interconnection of everything, human–computer interaction, and sky–space–earth–sea integration is expected to be created. From the policy aspect, China should strengthen the overall planning to improve its rural network infrastructure and the digital transformation of traditional infrastructure, along with promoting the basic research and development of chips, model components, and basic information systems. Moreover, it should focus on core technologies such as agricultural big data acquisition, analysis, and service; strengthen the collaborative innovation of systems and mechanisms to achieve standardization and integrated sharing of agricultural data; and build a high-level talent team to provide basic support for developing smart agriculture in China.

In low permeability and outburst coal seam, the gas in the working face extracted by bedding drilling borehole has the characteristics of large amount of workload and low extraction efficiency. No.15 coal seam of Sijiazhuang Coal Mine belongs to the low permeability outburst coal seam. Staged hydraulic fracturing of bedding drilling borehole was carried out to enhance the extraction in 15301 working face. By using the self-developed drag type double packer section sealing equipment and technology, the fracturing hole can be stably and rapidly sealed, and the whole hole section can be divided into three or more sections for fracturing. Compare the gas drainage effect of drilling in fracture zone and non-fracture zone, the average concentration of fractured area is 35.1%, and that of non-fractured area is 6.0%. The concentration of fractured area is 5.9 times of that of non-fractured area. The pure flow rate of 100 holes in fractured area is 3.6 m3/min, and that in the non-fractured area is 0.3 m3/min. The pure flow rate of 100 holes in the fractured are is 11.2 times of that in the non-fractured area.

The efficacy of functional lipids with antioxidant properties in reducing cardiovascular risk has not been consistent. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting estimates for the effects of antioxidant functional lipid supplementations on cardiometabolic risk factors were searched up to 1 May 2024. Overall, antioxidant lipid supplementations, compared with placebo, had favorable effects on systolic blood pressure (lycopene: −1.95 [−3.54, −0.36] mmHg), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (n6 fatty acid: −0.39 [−0.71, −0.06] mmol/L; astaxanthin: −0.11 [−0.21, −0.01] mmol/L), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (n3 fatty acid: 0.20 [0.13, 0.27] mmol/L; n6 fatty acid: 0.08 [0.01, 0.14] mmol/L; astaxanthin: 0.13 [0.05, 0.21] mmol/L), total cholesterol (n6 fatty acid: −0.24 [−0.37, −0.11] mmol/L; astaxanthin: −0.22 [−0.32, −0.12] mmol/L; beta-carotene: −0.13 [−0.23, −0.04] mmol/L), triglyceride (n3 fatty acid: −0.37 [−0.47, −0.28] mmol/L; astaxanthin: −0.46 [−0.83, −0.10] mmol/L), and fasting blood insulin (astaxanthin: −2.66 [−3.98, −1.34] pmol/L). The benefits of antioxidant lipid supplementations appeared to be most evident in blood pressure and blood lipids in participants with different cardiometabolic health statuses. Notably, n9 fatty acid increased triglyceride and hemoglobin A1C in the total population, which increases CVD risk. Antioxidant lipid supplementations ameliorate cardiometabolic risk factors, while their effect may depend on type and cardiometabolic health status. Long-term RCTs are needed to corroborate risk–benefit ratios across different antioxidant functional lipid supplementation settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sarcopenia is an age-related condition characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass, strength, and function. The occurrence of sarcopenia has a huge impact on physical, psychological, and social health. Therefore, the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia is becoming an important public health issue. Method: 35 six-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups, one of which served as a control group, while the rest of the groups were constructed as a model of sarcopenia by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose. The intervention with lactoferrin, creatine, and their mixtures, respectively, was carried out through gavage for 8 weeks. Muscle function was assessed based on their endurance, hanging time, and grip strength. The muscle tissues were weighed to assess the changes in mass, and the muscle RNA was extracted for myogenic factor expression and transcriptome sequencing to speculate on the potential mechanism of action by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. Result: The muscle mass (lean mass, GAS index), and muscle function (endurance, hanging time, and grip strength) decreased, and the size and structure of myofiber was smaller in the model group compared to the control group. The intervention with lactoferrin and creatine, either alone or combination, improved muscle mass and function, restored muscle tissue, and increased the expression of myogenic regulators. The combined group demonstrated the most significant improvement in these indexes. The RNA-seq results revealed enrichment in the longevity-regulated pathway, MAPK pathway, focal adhesion, and ECM–receptor interaction pathway in the intervention group. The intervention group may influence muscle function by affecting the proliferation, differentiation, senescence of skeletal muscle cell, and contraction of muscle fiber. The combined group also enriched the mTOR-S6K/4E-BPs signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and energy metabolism-related pathways, including Apelin signaling, insulin resistance pathway, and adipocytokine signaling pathway, which affect energy metabolism in muscle. Conclusions: Lactoferrin and creatine, either alone or in combination, were found to inhibit the progression of sarcopenia by influencing the number and cross-sectional area of muscle fibers and muscle protein synthesis. The combined intervention appears to exert a more significant effect on energy metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are garnering considerable scientific interest, prompting discussion regarding their prospective applications in the fields of nanoelectronics and spintronics while also fueling groundbreaking discoveries in phenomena such as the fractional quantum anomalous Hall effect (FQAHE) and exciton dynamics. The abundance of binary compound TMDs, such as MX2 (M = Mo, W; X = S, Se, Te), has unlocked myriad avenues of exploration. However, the exploration of ternary compound TMDs remains relatively limited, with notable examples being Ta2NiS5 and Ta2NiSe5. In this study, we report the synthesis of a new 2D ternary compound TMD materials, Ta3VSe8, employing the chemical vapor transport (CVT) method. The as-grown bulk crystal is shiny and can be easily exfoliated. The crystal quality and structure are verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD), while the surface morphology, stoichiometric ratio, and uniformity are determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Although the phonon property is found stable at different temperatures, magneto-resistivity evolves. These findings provide a possible approach for the realization and exploration of ternary compound TMDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing occurrence of severe weather phenomena presents substantial difficulties for electricity distribution systems. This study investigates the integration of hydrogen production plants (HPPs) into power distribution networks to bolster resilience against the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. It highlights the innovative use of hydrogen, generated from renewable sources, as an energy storage medium to ensure a stable power supply during disruptions. By employing stochastic optimization, the study aims to effectively manage hydrogen production and utilization, considering uncertainties in disaster scenarios and energy demands. It addresses critical research gaps, such as the lack of focus on pre-disaster preventive scheduling using hydrogen, the under-explored application of stochastic optimization in such contexts, and the predominance of real-time response strategies over pre-emptive measures. This approach significantly advances current understanding by proposing novel strategies that leverage hydrogen production and sophisticated optimization to enhance the resilience of power networks against extreme weather events. In some scenarios, using our method can reduce the cost of pre-disaster prevention by approximately 15.68% while ensuring that the disaster recovery effect remains unchanged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the problem of pressure air exhaust slag by borehole along the soft coal seam, the minimum air pressure and its calculation method are determined by analyzing the variation law of the air pressure and air volume in the two kinds of drilling construction through the field test. The results show that: due to the different structure of drill pipe, under the same wind pressure, the mitsubishi drill pipe is easier to discharge slag than the round drill pipe, and the minimum air supply pressure of the round drill pipe is greater than that of the triangular drill pipe at the same depth; the air volume of the two types of drill pipe decreases with the increase of the depth during the construction, while the absolute amount of the downward trend of the round drill pipe is greater than that of the mitsubishi drill pipe; with the increase of the construction depth, the cuttings of the two drill pipes show a trend of increasing, at the same depth, the cuttings of mitsubishi drill pipes are obviously larger than that of circular drill pipes; the slag discharge space between the round drill pipe and the hole wall should be less than that of the triangular drill pipe. Under the same drilling speed, the blocking probability of coal cuttings in the drilling of the triangular drill pipe is less than that of the circular drill pipe. The triangular drill pipe is easier to discharge the cuttings smoothly, and it is also conducive to the gas discharge.

Under the pressure of economy development and climate change, rice production and distribution in the Yangtze River basin have undergone great changes, which may pose a great threat to the ecological environment and food security. Based on land use remote sensing-monitoring data from1990 to 2015, the GIS spatial analysis method was used to explore the spatial pattern variation characteristics of paddy fields in the Yangtze River economic belt. Meanwhile, Ecosystem services value (ESV) was calculated by using the equivalent factor method corrected by region and time factor to measure the comprehensive impact of paddy field change. The results showed that, to begin with, paddy fields number of the Yangtze River economic belt continued to decrease, with a total decrease of 17 390km2, and the decrease rate presented a trend of growth with significant regional differences. The difference between the reduction rate of paddy fields in the middle upper and the lower reaches of the Yangtze River was about 9.56%. Among them, in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the proportion of paddy fields decreased, while in the middle and upper reaches which was just the opposite. Then, paddy fields mainly flowed to construction land and water, resulting from economic construction and aquaculture development. Paddy fields chiefly came from water, dry land and wetland, etc. Furthermore, paddy fields in the Yangtze River Delta, the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and the Chengdu-Chongqing urban agglomerations changed the most dramatically. The expansion of construction land to paddy fields was widespread, and paddy fields flooded by water primarily distributed in the two lake plains. In addition, the conversion of paddy fields and other ecosystems had a positive impact on ESV, in which the paddy-water diversion type contributed the most. Its scale determined the net increase of ESV in different periods. Value loss lead by conversion from water to paddy fields was the largest, and construction land invading paddy fields was the second. The conversions in different cities were different, so the difference in ESV increases and decreases. In addition, the tradeoffs within ecosystem services were mainly between hydrological regulation, water supply and food production, gas regulation, which were directly related to the increase of water resources and the loss of paddy fields. The research results are helpful to reveal the spatio-temporal changes process of paddy fields in the Yangtze River basin and its impact on ecological functions, and provide theoretical support for regional land use planning, agricultural policy and ecological sustainable development.