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Board furniture's performance and scientific design are making it popular. Research on simplifying furniture joints reduces design cycles and costs and improves structural safety. In this article, using a cantilever beam to calculate deflection theoretically simplifies the L-shaped component model and yields a joint elastic modulus formula. Finite element analysis (FEA) confirms the effectiveness of this simplified model by comparing its results with experimental data. In simplified components, the joint elastic modulus increases with length (l2) and stabilizes at l2/b ≥ 6 (b is the board's thickness). The variation pattern of the joint elastic modulus equals that of the stiffness, proving its usefulness in assessing component deformation resistance. Furthermore, the component strength and stiffness are also affected by the screw spacing and connector type. In particular, the connectors type affects bamboo-oriented strand board (BOSB) component performance more than wood-oriented strand board (WOSB). Compared to WOSB, BOSB components have superior strength and stiffness and are more stable. The recommended screw spacing for L-shaped components is 48 mm. BOSB components fixed with two-in-one and metal nuts utilizing threads embedded in the board have better strength and stiffness, while for WOSB components, nylon nuts, and wooden dowel pins are more appropriate for securing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolonged disorder of consciousness (DoC) is a rising challenge. Pediatric data on diagnosis and prognosis of prolonged DoC were too limited and heterogeneous, making it difficult to define the natural course and evaluate the prognosis. The present study explored the emergence from the Minimally Conscious State (eMCS) incidence at different months postinjury drawing the natural course, and detected the predictors of the incidence in children with prolonged DoC. A hospital-based prospective cohort study was conducted. Kaplan–Meier curves, as well as univariate and multivariate COX regression analysis, were performed. The study enrolled 383 pediatric DoC individuals, including 220 males (57.4%), with an average age of 3.9 (1.9–7.3) years. The median duration between onset and rehabilitation is 30.0 (21.0–46.0) days. At enrollment, the ratio of vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (VS/WUS) to MCS is 78.9%–21.1%. Traumatic brain injury and infection are the major etiologies (36.8% and 37.1%, respectively), followed by hypoxia cerebral injury (12.3%). For children with prolonged DoC, the cumulative incidence of eMCS at months 3, 6, 12, and 24 was 0.510, 0.652, 0.731, 0.784 VS 0.290, 0.418, 0.539, 0.603 in the traumatic VS non-traumatic subgroup, respectively. For children in a persistent vegetative state (PVS), the cumulative incidence of emergence at months in 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 was testified as 0.439, 0.591, 0.683, 0.724, 0.743 and 0.743 in the traumatic subgroup, and 0.204, 0.349, 0.469, 0.534, 0.589 and 0.620 in the non-traumatic subgroup. Participants who exhibit any of the following four demographical and/or clinical characteristics—namely, older than 4 years at onset, accepted rehabilitation within 28 days of onset, remained MCS at enrollment, or with etiology of traumatic brain injuries—had a significantly positive outcome of consciousness recovery (eMCS). Moreover, both prolongation of the central somatosensory conductive time (CCT) (level 2) and absence of N20 (level 3) independently predict a negative outcome. In children with prolonged DoC, we found that 12 months postinjury was critical to eMCS, and a preferred timepoint to define chronic vegetative state (VS). The characteristics including age, etiology, time before rehabilitation, consciousness state, and SEP results were useful predictors of conscious recovery. Trial registration Registered 06/11/2018, the registration number is chiCTR1800019330 (chictr.org.cn). Registered prospectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to construct a non-invasive diagnostic nomogram based on high-frequency ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging results for early liver cirrhosis patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) which cannot be detected by conventional non-invasive examination methods but can only be diagnosed through invasive liver puncture for pathological examination. 72 patients with CHB were enrolled in this prospective study, and divided into S4 stage of liver cirrhosis and S0-S3 stage of non-liver cirrhosis according to pathological findings. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors, and a diagnostic nomogram was constructed for CHB-related early cirrhosis. It was validated and calibrated by bootstrap self-extraction. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR 1.14, 95% CI (1.04–1.27)), right hepatic vein diameter (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.23–0.82), presence or absence of nodules (OR 31.98, 95% CI 3.84–266.08), and hepatic parenchymal echogenicity grading (OR 12.82, 95% CI 2.12–77.51) were identified as independent predictive indicators. The nomogram based on the 4 factors above showed good performance, with a sensitivity and specificity of 90.70% and 89.66%, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of the prediction model was 0.96, and the predictive model showed better predictive performance than APRI score (AUC 0.57), FIB-4 score (AUC 0.64), INPR score (AUC 0.63), and LSM score (AUC 0.67). The calibration curve of the prediction model fit well with the ideal curve, and the decision curve analysis showed that the net benefit of the model was significant. The nomogram in this study can detect liver cirrhosis in most CHB patients without liver biopsy, providing a direct, fast, and accurate practical diagnostic tool for clinical doctors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generative AI, represented by GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer), is now leading the technological revolution and is reconstructing the journalism and communication industries’ ecosystems because of its powerful generative capacity and diverse range of outputs. While GPT is busy revolutionizing and innovating the production of news content, working patterns, and operation modes, it has also given rise to ethical concerns in regard to news authenticity, data security, humanistic values, and other related aspects. Therefore, it is imperative to initiate strategies and approaches, such as establishing a mechanism for verifying information authenticity, enhancing data security and privacy regulations, and instituting an ethical supervision and governance framework for AI, in order to facilitate the systematic advancement of AI-based news production while reinstating public trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic emission (AE) technology provides a novel approach for studying the damage and fracture behavior of wood‐plastic composites (WPCs) during their application process. This method allows rapid and precise analysis of the mechanical properties of materials, which is a significant advancement for the emerging WPC industry. Hence, a blend of waste floor sanding powder (FSP) and rice husk (RH) reinforced recycled high‐density polyethylene (Re‐HDPE) was prepared by the extrusion method. The AE technique, scanning electron microscopy, and finite element method (FEM) were used to analyze the damage and fracture behavior of the composite materials under a three‐point bending test. The results indicated that the bearing capacity of RH/Re‐HDPE composites was slightly higher than that of FSP/Re‐HDPE composites. The AE technique can better illustrate the damage evolution and fracture process of composites and determine the damage degree and mode. Matrix cracking and deformation were more pronounced in the FSP/Re‐HDPE composites. Fiber breakage and delamination were more prominent in the RH/Re‐HDPE composites. In addition, repeated loading caused irreversible damage to the composite. The increase in temperature led to the attenuation of the AE signal and a decrease in matrix strength. However, when the temperature reached a certain point, the cumulative AE ringing count increased again because the higher temperature improved the fiber–matrix interface strength, which partially canceled out the negative effect. In addition, Abaqus was used for simulation analysis, and the running results coincided with the experimental value. Highlights: RH/Re‐HDPE and FSP/Re‐HDPE are sustainability and low‐cost composites.AE can determine the degree and mode of damage of WPC at different temperatures.The AE curves of RH/Re‐HDPE and FSP/Re‐HDPE all pass through four stages.Heating reduced the matrix strength and improved the interface strength of WPC.The results of FEM were consistent with the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo has shown enormous potential across construction, furniture, and other fields as an efficient replacement for wood. However, during its application, bamboo is susceptible to microbial infection and mildew, resulting in damage to the internal structure that adversely affects its mechanical properties. In the present study, lignin-based polyurea resin/luffa seed oil (LSO) microcapsules (LSO@LPMC) were prepared by interfacial polymerization method. These microcapsules were then applied on bamboo for mold-prevention modification through vacuum impregnation and epoxy resin-microcapsule coating, which significantly improved the mold resistance of bamboo. Microcapsules could alleviate the excessive release of carbon and nitrogen sources within the LSO. The prepared LSO@LPMC exhibited a high encapsulation efficiency (90.76 %) and excellent sustained release performance. LSO benefited from active functional groups including aldehyde and carboxyl groups, thus the enzymes and proteins on the cell surface could be easily deactivated, ultimately leading to microbial lysis and death. The bamboo samples modified with microcapsule coating exhibited excellent antifungal activity and mechanical properties. The processing technology of these microcapsules provides a theoretical reference and practical foundation for the promotion and application of LSO in the field of anti-mold modification of bamboo., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing financial interest. The ethics responsibility is informed and acknowledged to all the authors as a part of content of right of informed consent., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) is a prevalent brain injury with high mortality and morbidity. It results from hypoxia and ischemia of the brain due to various perinatal factors. A previous study showed that knockdown of programmed cell death factor 4 (PDCD4) could reduce infarction injury resulting from ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, exact mechanism by which PDCD4 acts in HIBD is not yet understood. Our aim in present investigation was to investigate the function and mechanism of PDCD4 in alleviating HIBD., Methods: An HIBD model was developed using neonatal rats. After 48 h of modeling, short-term neurological function was evaluated and the brain tissue removed for assessment of cerebral infarct volume and brain water content (BWC). A cell model of oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) was also constructed. Overexpression or knockdown of insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) or PDCD4 was performed in pretreated cells., Results: The geotaxis reflex time, cerebral infarct volume, and BWC all increased after HIBD in this neonatal rat model. Additionally, the levels of PDCD4 and of the N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) reader protein IGF2BP3 were increased in HIBD rats and OGD/R-stimulated pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells relative to controls. Moreover, OGD/R-stimulated pheochromocytoma PC12 cells showed decreased cell viability, increased apoptosis, and elevated Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Interleukin 1 β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) contents. These features were reversed after knocking down IGF2BP3. The interaction between IGF2BP3 protein and PDCD4 mRNA was confirmed by RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down assays. Furthermore, knockdown of IGF2BP3 in OGD/R-stimulated PC12 cells reduced cell damage via down-regulation of PDCD4. Finally, the IGF2BP3/PDCD4 axis alleviated OGD/R-induced cell injury in primary cortical neurons (PCNs)., Conclusions: PDCD4 and m6A reader protein IGF2BP3 were up-regulated in an HIBD neonatal rat model. Knockdown of IGF2BP3 in OGD/R-stimulated PC12 cells or PCNs alleviated cell damage through reducing PDCD4., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.)

Background: The correlation of clinical characteristics of cerebral palsy (CP) and the magnetic resonance imaging classification system (MRICS) for (CP) is inconsistent. Specifically, the variance in rehabilitation potential across MRICS remains underexplored., Aims: To investigate the clinical characteristics and potential for rehabilitation in children with CP based on MRICS., Materials and Methods: Children with CP admitted to the Department of Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between 2017 and 2021 were included in the study. Qualified cases underwent a follow-up period of at least one year. The clinical characteristics of CP among different MRICS were analyzed, then the rehabilitation potential was explored by a retrospective cohort study., Results: Among the 384 initially enrolled children, the male-to-female ratio was 2.3:1, and the median age of diagnosis was 6.5 months (interquartile range: 4-12). The most prevalent MRICS categorization was predominant white matter injury (40.6%), followed by miscellaneous (29.2%) and predominant gray matter injury (15.6%). For the predominant white matter injury and miscellaneous categories, spastic diplegia emerged as the leading subtype of CP, with incidences of 59.6% and 36.6%, respectively, while mixed CP (36.7%) was the most common type in children with predominant gray matter. Notably, 76.4% of children with predominant white matter injury were classified as levels I-III on the gross motor function classification system (GMFCS), indicating significantly less severity than other groups ( χ 2   = 12.438, p  = 0.013). No significant difference across MRICS categories was observed for the manual ability classification system (MACS) ( H  = 8.176, p =  0.085). Rehabilitation potential regarding fine motor function and adaptability based on Gesell assessment was dependent on MRICS over the follow-up period. Children with normal MRI scans exhibited superior rehabilitation outcomes. Commencing rehabilitation at an earlier stage produced consistent and beneficial results in terms of fine motor function and adaptability across all MRICS categories. Moreover, participants below 2 years of age demonstrated enhanced rehabilitation potential regarding fine motor outcomes and adaptability within the MRICS framework., Conclusion: MRICS displayed a significant association with clinical characteristics and rehabilitation efficacy in children with CP., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 Yang, Chen, Chen, Zheng, Chen, Li, Jia and Li.)

Background: Changes in cognitive control are considered potential factors affecting voluntary motor movements during gait initiation (GI). Simulating environments with higher cognitive resource demands have an effect on the stability of GI task performance, which is of significant importance for assessing fall risk in the older adults and devising fall risk management measures in multiple environments. This study aims to reveal the influence of complex cognitive competitive environment with increased cognitive demands on the dynamic stability during GI in the older women., Methods: Twenty-three older females and twenty-three younger females performed walking tests under three conditions: voluntary initiation (SI), visual light reaction time task (LRT), and cognitive interference + visual light reaction time task (C + LRT). Eight cameras (Qualisys, Sweden, model: Oqus 600) and three force plates (Kistler, Switzerland, model: 9287C) are used to obtain kinematic and kinetic data. To recorde the trajectory of center of pressure (CoP) and the position of the foot placement, and compute the anterior-posterior (A-P) and medio-lateral (M-L) dynamic stability at the onset and end moments of the single-leg support by means of center of mass (CoM) and gait spatiotemporal parameters., Results: Older women responded to the effect of complex environments involving cognitive competition on body stability by prolonging the lateral displacement time of the CoP during the anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) phase, reducing step length and velocity, and increasing step width and foot inclination angle., Conclusion: Complex initiation environments lead to competition for cognitive resources in the brain, resulting in decreased stability of GI motor control in older adults. The higher the complexity of the cognitive resource demands environment, the lower the stability of GI in older adults, and the greater the effect on their M-L stability at the onset of stepping., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Chen, Tang, Wang, Jin, Wang, Miao and Wang.)