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This article considers the development of a mathematical model of electrochemical grinding for processing precision components operating at varying loads. The combination of processes (for example, the mechanical and electrochemical material removal processes) significantly improves operation control capabilities by increasing the number of control inputs and selected input variables. The results of the research are presented as evaluated based on the capacity of products manufactured using this grinding method. The conducted qualitative and quantitative assessments demonstrate the adequacy of mathematical models. The difference between experimental and calculated values made up 5-10%. The electrochemical grinding helps improve the operability of components operating at varying loads compared to mechanical grinding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on application of fuzzy logic to enhance induction motor drive performance in case where the measured stator currents are distorted by Gaussian noise. For different load torques, the fixed proportional-integral (PI) speed controller provides an undesired drive performance for both transient and steady-state responses. At first, load torque is computed thanks to extended-Kalman-filtered stator currents. Next, load magnitude is employed to adjust the proportional gain and integral constant time of the fuzzy logic (FL) proportional-integral (PI) speed controller. Simulations of drive using two controllers: FL-PI and fixed PI ones, are carried out in different cases of stator current noise and load variation. Performance evaluations indicate that the FL-PI speed controller reduces the assessed indices and increases robustness to noise and load variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chagas disease (CD), a neglected tropical disease, is caused by infection by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. One-third of CD patients develop cardiac disease (CARD), an inflammatory and fibrotic process that may progress to heart failure associated with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The determinants of CD progression are still uncertain. In non-infectious conditions, the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) functional insertion (I)/deletion (D) and type 1 angiotensin II receptor (AT1R) +1166A>C gene polymorphisms have been linked to clinical outcomes. In a Brazilian cohort of 402 patients with positive serology for CD, in a case-control study we used PCR for genotyping the ACE rs4646994 I/D and AGTR1 rs5182C>T, rs275653 -119C>T, rs2131127A>G and rs5186 +1166A>C polymorphisms to evaluate association with CARD and progression to heart failure. Patients were classified as non-CARD (stage A; 109), and mild (stage B1; 161) or severe (stage C; 132) CARD. The groups were compared using unconditional logistic regression analysis and adjusted for non-genetic covariates (age, gender, and trypanocidal treatment). ACE II genotype appeared less frequent in C patients (15% in C vs 20% in B1 and 27% in A). After covariate adjustments, the ACE D allele showed a borderline association with susceptibility to severe CARD (C vs A: OR = 1.9; P = 0.08). AGTR1 +1166AC genotype showed a borderline association with protection against the progression and severity of CARD (C vs A: OR = 0.6; P = 0.09; C vs B1: OR = 0.6; P = 0.07; C vs A + B1: OR = 0.6; P = 0.05). However, adjustments for multiple comparisons showed no association of ACE I/D and AGTR1 polymorphisms with susceptibility and severity of CARD. The rs275653/rs2131127/rs5186/rs5182 T/A/C/T haplotype was protective against progression to the severe form of CARD (C vs B1: OR = 0.3; P = 0.03). Moreover, patients with ACE II and AGTR1 rs5186 +1166AC genotypes presented higher LVEF%. In C patients, TNF serum levels were higher in ACE D carriers than in II genotype. Although limited in number, a cross-sectional observation suggests that C-stage patients treated with benznidazole years prior to administration of ACE inhibitors/AT1R antagonists show reduced TNF serum levels and improved LVEF%. Therefore, variants of ACE and AGTR1 genes may influence the outcome of Chagas' heart disease and should be explored in precision medicine. Further, pharmacotherapies may improve immunological abnormality and clinical outcome in CD patients. Altogether, these data support prospective studies of this cohort and replication in other cohorts. Author summary: It is estimated that 6–7 million individuals worldwide are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease (CD), a neglected illness that impacts public health. Chronic cardiopathy is the most severe manifestation of CD, an inflammatory and fibrotic process that can progress to heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Host genetics may be a determining factor in the progression of CD. In a group of chronic CD patients, we evaluated genetic polymorphisms of members of the renin-angiotensin system (ACE I/D; AGTR1 variants), essential in regulating blood pressure and cardiovascular events. ACE D allele carriers and AGTR1 rs5186 +1166AA genotype present worse LVEF. Thus, variants of ACE and AT1R genes may be involved in the outcome of Chagas' heart disease. Although studying a low number of patients with severe cardiopathy, our data suggest that etiological treatment years before therapy with cardioprotectors (ACE inhibitors/AT1R blockers) reduced serum levels of TNF, an inflammatory cytokine important in cardiac pathology, and improved LVEF. This paves the way for ACE and AGTR1 genotyping, and adoption of therapeutic regimens may be explored as strategies for precision medicine in CD patients. Replicating of these findings in other cohorts is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study considered the issue of increasing the synchronizing capacity of a system for the coordinated rotation of asynchronous motors. Electromechanical relationships were obtained for changes in the value of the supply voltage of individual motors, the total rotor resistance (Ra), and the angular positions of the rotors (φ1, φ2, and φ3), with possible changes in angular misalignment. Additionally, we created an algorithm for calculating the currents and torques of the system's motors within 0 and 90° and constructed the relevant mechanical characteristics. Ultimately, we developed various versions of multi-motor asynchronous electric drives with regulation and supply voltages (Un = 0.7 ÷ 1.0), featuring increasing and equalizing torques (Mn = 1.0 ÷ 1.4) in the system as a whole, along with the preliminary synchronization and synchronous braking of all motors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a proposal in which the maximum energy density criterion is used to evaluate the dynamic accuracy of LVDT (Linear variable differential transformer) sensors for applications in the energy industry. The solutions proposed in the paper are based on a mathematical model of the LVDT sensor, represented by its frequency response. The mathematical foundations required for the synthesis of such a model and the formulae and algorithm necessary to determine the maximum energy density for the integral-square error criterion are presented. Numerical and simulation calculations are performed using MathCad 15 and MATLAB R2014a programs. The solutions presented in this paper can constitute a basis for the selection of LVDT sensors for applications in the energy industry, with a view to achieving accurate diagnostic measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Calculated globulin (CG, total protein minus albumin levels) correlate well with IgG levels and has been proposed as a suitable screening method for individuals with primary antibody deficiencies (PADs). We aimed to show the correlation of CG with IgG levels in children and adolescents, utilizing a common method for albumin measurement, bromocresol green. Methods: Individuals from two Allergy and Immunology clinics were invited to participate. Inclusion criteria were age < 18, stable conditions, and signed informed consent. We included 1084 individuals. Immunoglobulin G values were determined by immunoturbidimetry; the colorimetric bromocresol green method and the Architect Biuret method were utilized for the albumin and total protein (TP) measurements, respectively. Results: A total of 1084 individuals were included in the analysis and divided into 4 age groups (0 to <1 year, 1 to <4 years, 4 to <10 years, and 10 to <18 years). For all patients, the mean age was 6.1 (± 5) years old, the mean IgG was 9.4 (± 4.7) g/L, and CG was 23.7 (± 5.9) g/L. The most frequent diagnosis were respiratory allergies, followed by inborn errors of immunity. IgG and CG varied according to age group. Cutoff values for hypogammaglobulinemia varied from 13.8 g/L in children < 1 year to 23.1 g/L in children and adolescents aged 10 to <18 years. CG sensitivity varied from 70.9% in children aged 1 to <4 years old to 95.8% in children 4 to <10. Specificity ranged from 87.5% in children 4 to <10 years old to 100% in children and adolescents aged 10 to <18 years. Conclusion: CG is a suitable screening test for hypogammaglobulinemia in children less than 18 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the great success in the global exploration and development of reef reservoirs, research on bioclastic shoals under reefs is still in its infancy. Bioclastic shoal reservoirs are very thin, with multiple vertical levels and fast lateral changes, which makes accurate prediction of the reservoir's location much tougher. To further implement the reservoir distribution, under the guidance of sequence stratigraphy, the prediction of thin shoals under the control of an isochronous stratigraphic framework was established. Using the combination of spectrum shaping and F-X domain noise suppression techniques and utilizing the signal-to-noise ratio spectrum set as the reference, logging curve as supervision, and well seismic calibration and isochronal amplitude slicing as quality control, the seismic frequency band was extended, and the seismic data resolution and signal-to-noise ratio were improved. After frequency extension, the global optimal seismic automatic interpretation technique was used to construct an isochronal stratigraphic framework model. Through waveform facies-controlled inversion and waveform facies-controlled simulation techniques, the elastic properties of the shoal reservoir were obtained, from which the planar distribution of the reservoir was accurately predicted. The above methods were applied to the prediction of the bioclastic shoal reservoir in the lower submember of the Changxing formation in the Yuanba gas field (China). The plane distribution of bioclastic shoal in the first and second levels was identified, which provides a guideline for the prediction of thin shoal reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complicated and dynamic conditions of the contemporary era, which partially is due to the advances in the communication age technology, have been influenced by digital transformation. Therefore, such issues necessitate reviewing fundamental changes in the requirements for improving enterprises, especially supply chain components. In recent years, reverse logistics of the supply chain, as a complement of forward logistics, have had a significant share of research literature regarding its major benefits in proper management and dramatic effects. In this regard, entering the modern advanced world requires new outlooks in terms of traditional paradigms through the lens of digitalization and their synchronization with continuous changes. Accordingly, this transformation has significantly affected the concept of reverse logistics. To identify the solutions ahead, through a systematic review of valid scientific databases, we reviewed almost 100 papers published in the last decade focusing on three basic topics: digital transformation, decision support systems, and logistics/reverse logistics. After extracting all major subcategories of the literature based on the research methodology, a comprehensive view allowed mapping of the literature based on main concepts to synthesize the developments of different research streams, and research gaps were introduced to clarify future research suggestions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the design of the educational model of the robot, where, in addition to kinematics, the control system of the robot and the simulation of the robot's activity in the GAZEBO environment are also addressed. Students can train different control algorithms on this model. At the same time, a graphical interface for simulating the robot's activity is also created. The control system is composed of a low-cost embedded Arduino system, which is very easy to program and create control systems. Simulations and experiments showed the correctness of the design methodology of such a robot model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gasoline combustion engine is generally the most important part of a car. With this driving unit the car achieves the best ratio between its fuel utilization and weight. In order to comply with required parameters, such as performance, ecology and economy of combustion engines, their regular service inspections and associated maintenance operations must be followed. For testing the operability of these engines, especially for testing the wear of functional pairs of the combustion chamber, we use various methods. The paper deals with detection of wear of combustion engine functional pairs and with subsequent comparison of obtained values with the values declared by the manufacturer. The measurements were carried out on a Suzuki gasoline engine G13BA with a cubature of 1298 cm3 and a total mileage of 160,000 km. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key element of any quality management system is continuous improvement and a systematic approach to managing non-conformances. The aim of this paper is to use selected statistical methods and quality control techniques to present a way in which an organisation can achieve quality improvement. The 8D methodology was used to solve the observed front grid problem on the bumper of a Porsche Cayenne using a structured eightstep Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) approach to problem solving. As this was an important customer originating from Dubai, it was imperative to immediately start solving the issue that arose with the ACC grid on the front bumper, the problem identified was an existing cut-out in the radar grid. Using the 8D methodology and supporting tools such as the Ishikawa diagram or 5Why, the root cause of the problem was identified and permanent corrective actions were planned and implemented as recommended in the 8D report to reduce the likelihood of the problem recurring and increase customer satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, passenger vehicle emissions alone represent 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The automobile industry is aware of this and has taken steps towards decarbonization over the past decade. Emissions related to the six phases of the life cycle were determined from the LCA database compiled on the basis of data collected on emissions during the life cycle of different types of vehicles, units, sizes and geographical areas. Typically, Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (ICE) constantly emit CO2 while driving, whereas Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) do not. The transition to an electric vehicle is only as clean as the energy source used to charge the vehicle. Each BEV car represents approximately 2.2 MWh/year of load on the country's electric power system, while due to the way energy is converted, the ICE car represents approximately 11.9 MWh/year of fuel-equivalent load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Slaughterhouse wastewater recycling using a combined process consisting of flotation, membrane bioreactor, and reverse osmosis. The implementation of research results in industrial applications is a crucial step in the development of innovative technologies. In this work, slaughterhouse wastewater recycling was successfully realized. The system, comprising a process combination of flotation, membrane bioreactor, and reverse osmosis, was able to treat the wastewater from a medium-sized poultry slaughterhouse in northwestern Tunisia. The process managed to treat approximately one-third of the wastewater to the required standard for agricultural irrigation. An additional 35% was purified to drinking-water quality. The remaining water was discharged as concentrate, meeting the necessary limits for indirect discharge. As a result, the slaughterhouse's fresh water consumption was reduced by 35% and the amount of wastewater by around 70%. With the combined system, average reductions of 99%, 98%, and 96% were achieved for the parameters COD, TN, and electrical conductivity, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood pressure (BP) displays a circadian rhythm and disruptions in this pattern elevate cardiovascular risk. Although both central and peripheral clock genes are implicated in these processes, the importance of vascular clock genes is not fully understood. BP, vascular reactivity, and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system display overt sex differences, but whether changes in circadian patterns underlie these differences is unknown. Therefore, we hypothesized that circadian rhythms and vascular clock genes would differ across sex and would be blunted by angiotensin II (ANG II)-induced hypertension. ANG II infusion elevated BP and disrupted circadian patterns similarly in both males and females. In females, an impact on heart rate (HR) and locomotor activity was revealed, whereas in males hypertension suppressed baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). A marked disruption in the vascular expression patterns of period circadian regulator 1 (Per1) and brain and muscle aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator like protein 1 (Bmal1) was noted in both sexes. Vascular expression of the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (Gper1) also showed diurnal synchronization in both sexes that was similar to that of Per1 and Per2 and disrupted by hypertension. In contrast, vascular expression of estrogen receptor 1 (Esr1) showed a diurnal rhythm and hypertension-induced disruption only in females. This study shows a strikingly similar impact of hypertension on BP rhythmicity, vascular clock genes, and vascular estrogen receptor expression in both sexes. We identified a greater impact of hypertension on locomotor activity and heart rate in females and on baroreflex sensitivity in males and also revealed a diurnal regulation of vascular estrogen receptors. These insights highlight the intricate ties between circadian biology, sex differences, and cardiovascular regulation. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: This study reveals that ANG II-induced hypertension disrupts the circadian rhythm of blood pressure in both male and female mice, with parallel effects on vascular clock gene and estrogen receptor diurnal patterns. Notably, sex-specific responses to hypertension in terms of locomotor activity, heart rate, and baroreflex sensitivity are revealed. These findings pave the way for chronotherapeutic strategies tailored to mitigate cardiovascular risks associated with disrupted circadian rhythms in hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, has been found to be associated with incident stroke. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen have been demonstrated to be associated with atherosclerosis. Previous studies on heritability estimates of IMT, CRP, and fibrinogen among Chinese populations are limited. This study aims to estimate the heritability of these risk factors in residents who participated in the Taichung Community Health Study (TCHS) and their family members. A total of 2671 study subjects from 805 families were enrolled in the study, selected from a random sample of TCHS participants and their family members. CRP, and fibrinogen were obtained from each participant, and a questionnaire interview was conducted. cIMT was measured by high-resolution B-mode ultrasound and expressed as the mean of the maximum. Heritability estimates and the familial correlation of cIMT, CRP, and fibrinogen among family pairs were determined with SAGE software. With multivariate adjustments, significant heritability was found for cIMT (h2 = 0.26, P < 0.001), CRP (h2 = 0.34, P < 0.001), and fibrinogen (h2 = 0.48, P < 0.001). The intrafamilial correlation coefficients for the three indexes in the parent–offspring pairs were significant (P < 0.001) and ranged from 0.17 to 0.41. The full sibship correlations were also significant (P < 0.001) for the three indexes and ranged from 0.19 to 0.47. This study indicates that a moderate proportion of the variability in CRP, fibrinogen, and cIMT can be attributed to genetic factors in Chinese populations. The findings suggest that CRP is associated with cIMT, whereas no significant association exists between fibrinogen and cIMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular illnesses remain the primary cause of death, accounting for at least 17.9 million fatalities per year and posing a significant public health problem because of its extensive predominance and effect on healthcare systems. The etiology of cardiovascular disease is complex and involves several environmental and lifestyle factors. Alcohol use is a highly important determinant because of its dual-edged effect on cardiovascular health. Multiple studies indicate that moderate alcohol consumption may have certain advantages, such as slight enhancements in lipid profiles. Conversely, excessive alcohol intake is associated with serious negative consequences, including cardiomyopathy, hypertension, arrhythmias, and even mortality. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the several effects of alcohol on cardiovascular health and their understanding within the medical field over time. It uses an interpretative narrative review methodology and analyzes studies that focus on genetic risk factors, gender differences, and shifts in paradigms in recent years. This article highlights the need for obtaining a thorough understanding of the effects of alcohol on cardiovascular health to support public health guidelines and clinical practice, and it underscores the significance of including alcohol consumption into the broader context of cardiovascular risk management and identifies important subjects for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the analysis and modeling of the optimal connection between an asynchronous three-phase electrical induction motor and a horizontal centrifuge used in olive oil extraction. The simulation, carried out using the well-established Simscape Electrical by Matlab R2024a, offers the advantage of reducing the purchasing cost of the electronic drivers and electric motors to be tested. Different connection cases among the electronic motor driver, the electric motor, and the horizontal centrifuge were examined. The findings indicate that the oversizing of the electric motor is required to increase the machine efficiency and to reduce the overall specific energy consumption; however, the asymptotic behavior of the specific energy consumption, being related to the motor power, places a limit on the motor oversizing. Indeed, raising the motor power reduces the specific energy consumption; however, this effect can be unimportant if considering the higher cost involved in purchasing both the electrical motor and the electronic motor driver. The results show that an overall percentage saving of specific energy consumption of 3.1% and 4.0% can be achieved with a slight (7.5 kW) and a medium (11 kW) oversizing of the electric motor, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to identify the minimum number of ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) measures to accurately determine daytime and nighttime systolic blood pressure (BP) averages and nocturnal dipping status (i.e., relative daytime:nighttime change). A total of 43 midlife participants wore an ABP monitor for 24 h with measurements every 20/30 min during the daytime/nighttime, as identified by a sleep diary. We calculated daytime/nighttime systolic BP average and dipping status from all available measurements per participant (i.e., normative data). We then calculated daytime and nighttime BP per participant based on a random selection of 8–20 and 4–10 measurements and replicated random selections 1,000 times. We calculated accuracy by checking the proportion from 1,000 different randomly selected samples for a particular number of measurements that systolic BP was ±5 mmHg of normative data, and dipping status remained unchanged for each participant compared with the normative value. The best fit for the regression model estimated the minimal number of measurements for an accuracy of 95% in BP averages. For a 95% accuracy in estimating daytime and nighttime systolic BP, 11 daytime and 8 nighttime measurements were required. The highest accuracy for dipping status was 91.6 ± 13.4% using 20 daytime and 10 nighttime measures, while the lowest was (83.4 ± 15.1%) using 8 daytime and 4 nighttime measures. In midlife adults, 11 daytime and 8 nighttime measurements are likely enough to calculate average systolic BPs accurately. However, no minimum number is suggested to accurately calculate dipping status. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: We found that a minimum of 11 blood pressure (BP) measures are necessary to calculate an accurate average daytime BP, and 8 nighttime measures are necessary to calculate an accurate nighttime average if 95% accuracy is acceptable. Regarding BP dipping status, the current recommendations (20 daytime/7 nighttime) inaccurately classified the dipping status 10.5% of the time, suggesting that guidelines may need to be updated to classify patients as nocturnal dippers or nondippers correctly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an extension of networked control systems, cloud control systems (CCSs) have emerged as a new control paradigm to improve the service quality of emerging control missions, such as data-driven modeling and automated vehicles. Existing studies have used the workflow-based restructured method to optimize the computation-intensive algorithms in the CCSs. However, the challenges here are how to define and submit these algorithms' workflows as cloud services and execute these algorithms' workflows in a containerized manner. Based on these challenges, we propose a containerized solution for the control-algorithm-as-a-service (C3aS) in the CCSs, namely ControlService. It offers the control algorithm as a cloud workflow service and uses a customized workflow engine to realize the containerized execution. First, we employ a cloud workflow representation method to define a control algorithm into an abstract cloud workflow form. Afterward, we provide a cloud service representation of the abstract cloud workflow. Next, we design a workflow engine and submit the cloud service to this workflow engine to implement containerized execution of this cloud service in the CCSs. In the experiment, we discuss the cloud service form and containerized implementation of the subspace identification method. Experimental results show that the proposed ControlService has significant performance advantages in computational time, reduction percentage, and speedup ratio compared with the baseline method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recent paper, the unit-Gompertz (UG) distribution has been introduced and some of its properties have been studied. In a follow up paper, some of the subtle errors in the original paper have been corrected and some other interesting properties of this new distribution have been studied. In the present work, some more important properties are investigated. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, no characterization results on this distribution have appeared in the literature. These are addressed in the present paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension is one of the most common chronic diseases in older people, and the prevalence is on the rise as the global population ages. Hypertension is closely associated with many adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and mortality, which poses a substantial threat to global public health. Reasonable blood pressure (BP) management is very important for reducing the occurrence of adverse events. Frailty is an age-related geriatric syndrome, characterized by decreased physiological reserves of multiple organs and systems and increased sensitivity to stressors, which increases the risk of falls, hospitalization, fractures, and mortality in older people. With the aging of the global population and the important impact of frailty on clinical practice, frailty has attracted increasing attention in recent years. In older people, frailty and hypertension often coexist. Frailty has a negative impact on BP management and the prognosis of older hypertensive patients, while hypertension may increase the risk of frailty in older people. However, the causal relationship between frailty and hypertension remains unclear, and there is a paucity of research regarding the efficacious management of hypertension in frail elderly patients. The management of hypertension in frail elderly patients still faces significant challenges. The benefits of treatment, the optimal BP target, and the choice of antihypertensive drugs for older hypertensive patients with frailty remain subjects of ongoing debate. This review provides a brief overview of hypertension in frail older adults, especially for the management of BP in this population, which may help in offering valuable ideas for future research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recognition of data matrix (DM) codes plays a crucial role in industrial production. Significant progress has been made with existing methods. However, for low-quality images with protrusions and interruptions on the L-shaped solid edge (finder pattern) and the dashed edge (timing pattern) of DM codes in industrial production environments, the recognition accuracy rate of existing methods sharply declines due to a lack of consideration for these interference issues. Therefore, ensuring recognition accuracy in the presence of these interference issues is a highly challenging task. To address such interference issues, unlike most existing methods focused on locating the L-shaped solid edge for DM code recognition, we in this paper propose a novel DM code recognition method based on locating the L-shaped dashed edge by incorporating the prior information of the center of the DM code. Specifically, we first use a deep learning-based object detection method to obtain the center of the DM code. Next, to enhance the accuracy of L-shaped dashed edge localization, we design a two-level screening strategy that combines the general constraints and central constraints. The central constraints fully exploit the prior information of the center of the DM code. Finally, we employ libdmtx to decode the content from the precise position image of the DM code. The image is generated by using the L-shaped dashed edge. Experimental results on various types of DM code datasets demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms the compared methods in terms of recognition accuracy rate and time consumption, thus holding significant practical value in an industrial production environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We give the Karhunen–Loève expansion of the covariance function of a family of discrete weighted Brownian bridges, appearing as discrete analogues of continuous Gaussian processes related to Cramér –von Mises and Anderson–Darling statistics. This analogy enables us to introduce a discrete Cramér–von Mises statistic and show that this statistic satisfies a property of local asymptotic Bahadur optimality for a statistical test involving the classical hypergeometric distributions. Our statistic and the goodness-of-fit problem we deal with are based on basic properties of Hahn polynomials and are, therefore, subject to some extension to all families of classical orthogonal polynomials, as well as their q-analogues. Due probably to computational difficulties, the family of discrete Cramér–von Mises statistics has received less attention than its continuous counterpart—the aim of this article is to bridge part of this gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the primary cause of death and disability worldwide. Although age-standardized CVD mortality rates decreased globally by 14.5% between 2006 and 2016, the burden of CVD remains disproportionately higher in low- and middle-income countries compared to high-income countries. Even though proven, effective approaches based on multiple-drug intake aimed at the prevention and treatment of CVD are currently available, poor adherence, early discontinuation of treatment, and suboptimal daily execution of the prescribed therapeutic regimes give rise to shortfalls in drug exposure, leading to high variability in the responses to the prescribed medications. Wald and Law, in their landmark paper published in BMJ 2003, hypothesized that the use of a fixed-dose combination of statins, β-blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and aspirin (classic Polypill composition) may increase adherence and decrease CVD by up to 80% when prescribed as primary prevention or in substitution of traditional protocols. Since then, many clinical trials have tested this hypothesis, with comparable results. This review aims to describe the available clinical trials performed to assess the impact of fixed-dose combinations on adherence, cost-effectiveness, and the risk factors critical to the onset of CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensor diagnostics is an increasingly hot topic nowadays. It helps to improve their operational accuracy, analyze and evaluate their lifetime and monitor wear rates. A diagnostic laboratory has been constructed for force-measuring sensors with the ambition of future experiments. A current topic is the monitoring of the influence of deformation of progressive materials in the measurement and diagnostic process. The deformation and elasticity of these materials is evaluated by measuring the forces in the diagnostics laboratory. To perform the experiment, a specialized jig was made in which measurement segments of different materials were implemented. The main objective of the experiment is the expertise of the influence of elastic material in diagnostics. The expected logical negative factor of using flexible segments is the reduction of the measurable range due to the deformation of the flexible element. An expected important conclusion of the experiment is the increase of the sensitivity and especially the stability of the measurement. The aim of the expertise is to quantify the percentage values of the measurement deviations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of the body shape of spur gears has an effect on the deformation and thus also the stiffness of the gearing. The stiffness of the gearing is a parameter that significantly affects the noise level of transmission mechanisms. Determining the gear stiffness is difficult due to the shape of the gear teeth. The paper examines the influence of the shape and size of individual gear body parameters on gear deformation. Deformation is solved by finite element method. On the basis of the deformation of the gearing, the stiffness of the gearing is determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dynamic fluctuations of arterial blood pressure known as blood pressure variability (BPV) may have short and long-term undesirable consequences. During surgical procedures blood pressure is usually measured in equal intervals allowing to assess its intraoperative variability, which significance for peri and post-operative period is still under debate. Lidocaine has positive cardiovascular effects, which may go beyond its antiarrhythmic activity. The aim of the study was to verify whether the use of intravenous lidocaine may affect intraoperative BPV in patients undergoing major vascular procedures. Methods: We performed a post-hoc analysis of the data collected during the previous randomized clinical trial by Gajniak et al. In the original study patients undergoing elective abdominal aorta and/or iliac arteries open surgery were randomized into two groups to receive intravenous infusion of 1% lidocaine or placebo at the same infusion rate based on ideal body weight, in concomitance with general anesthesia. We analyzed systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and mean arterial blood (MAP) pressure recorded in 5-minute intervals (from the first measurement before induction of general anaesthesia until the last after emergence from anaesthesia). Blood pressure variability was then calculated for SBP and MAP, and expressed as: standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), average real variability (ARV) and coefficient of hemodynamic stability (C10%), and compared between both groups. Results: All calculated indexes were comparable between groups. In the lidocaine and placebo groups systolic blood pressure SD, CV, AVR and C10% were 20.17 vs. 19.28, 16.40 vs. 15.64, 14.74 vs. 14.08 and 0.45 vs. 0.45 respectively. No differences were observed regarding type of surgery, operating and anaesthetic time, administration of vasoactive agents and intravenous fluids, including blood products. Conclusion: In high-risk vascular surgery performed under general anesthesia, lidocaine infusion had no effect on arterial blood pressure variability. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT04691726 post-hoc analysis; date of registration 31/12/2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) results from a complex interplay of age, genetic, cardiac remodeling, and concomitant comorbidities including hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Renal failure is an important comorbidity of HFpEF, as well as a major pathophysiological mechanism for those patients at risk of developing HFpEF. Heart failure (HF) and CKD are intertwined conditions sharing common disease pathways; the so-called "kidney tamponade", explained by an increase in intracapsular pressure caused by fluid retention, is only the latest model to explain renal injury in HF. Recognizing the different phenotypes of HFpEF remains a real challenge; the pathophysiological mechanisms of renal dysfunction may differ across the HF spectrum, as well as the prognostic role. A better understanding of the role of cardiorenal interactions in patients with HF in terms of symptom status, disease progression, and prognosis remains essential in HF management. Historically, patients with HF and CKD have been scarcely represented in clinical trial populations. Current concerns affect the practical approach to HF treatment, and, in this context, physicians are frequently hesitant to prescribe and titrate both new and old treatments. Therefore, the extensive application of HF drugs in diverse HF subtypes with numerous comorbidities and different renal dysfunction etiologies remains a controversial matter of discussion. Numerous recently introduced drugs, such as sodium–glucose-linked transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), constitute a new therapeutic option for patients with HF and CKD. Because of their protective vascular and hormonal actions, the use of these agents may be safely extended to patients with renal dysfunction in the long term. The present review delves into the phenotype of patients with HFpEF and CKD from a pathophysiological perspective, proposing a treatment approach that suggests a practical stepwise algorithm for the proper application of life-saving therapies in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the association between epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) derived from DNA methylation and the risk of incident colorectal cancer (CRC). We utilized data from a random population sample of 9,360 individuals (men and women, aged 45–69) from the HAPIEE Study who had been followed up for 16 years. A nested case–control design yielded 35 incident CRC cases and 354 matched controls. Six baseline epigenetic age (EA) measures (Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, Skin and Blood (SB), BLUP, and Elastic Net (EN)) were calculated along with their respective EAAs. After adjustment, the odds ratios (ORs) for CRC risk per decile increase in EAA ranged from 1.20 (95% CI: 1.04–1.39) to 1.44 (95% CI: 1.21–1.76) for the Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, and BLUP measures. Conversely, the SB and EN EAA measures showed borderline inverse associations with ORs of 0.86–0.87 (95% CI: 0.76–0.99). Tertile analysis reinforced a positive association between CRC risk and four EAA measures (Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, and BLUP) and a modest inverse relationship with EN EAA. Our findings from a prospective population-based-case-control study indicate a direct association between incident CRC and four markers of accelerated baseline epigenetic age. In contrast, two markers showed a negative association or no association. These results warrant further exploration in larger cohorts and may have implications for CRC risk assessment and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetrafluoromethane CF4 is the most abundant perfluorocarbon in the atmosphere, where it is designated as PFC-14. This greenhouse gas is very stable, has an atmospheric lifetime of 50 000 years, and a high greenhouse warming potential 6500 times that of CO2. Over the last 15 years, its atmospheric concentration has increased at a rate of 0.8 ppt per year. The accurate quantification of CF4 is key to understanding the contribution of its emissions to the radiative forcing budget, and the most precise spectroscopic parameters possible are hence required. In this study, a novel high finesse THz cavity, providing an interaction length in excess of 1 km, has enabled highly resolved spectra, and quantification of the weak transitions of CF4 by cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS). More than 50 pure rotational P6 − P6 : ν3 − ν3 lines of CF4 have been measured, yielding both position and intensity with unequalled precision. Several tetrahedral splittings are fully resolved and measured with sub-MHz accuracy. Moreover, CRDS-THz allows determining absolute intensities and, using a global fit of the ν2 polyad series, a CF4 dipole parameter, namely 3,3, has been fitted to 106.38(53) mD. This value is in very good agreement with that of the ab initio-based parameter deduced from a dipole moment surface. For the first time, a set of ab initio effective dipole moment parameters is derived for the computation of the transitions of the type Pn − Pn (n = 0,..., 8) and the resulting line list composed of 25 863 transitions can be used to model the whole CF4 rotational spectrum. Finally, the TFMeCaSDa database is updated and is available for future spectroscopic and monitoring activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmanned aerial vehicles have a wide range of uses in the military field, non-combat situations, and civil works. Due to their ease of operation, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are highly sought after by farmers and are considered the best agricultural technologies, since different types of controller algorithms are being integrated into drone systems, making drones the most affordable option for smart agriculture sectors. PID controllers are among the controllers frequently incorporated into drone systems. Although PID controllers are frequently used in drones, they have some limitations, such as sensitivity to noise and measurement errors, which can lead to instability or oscillations in the system. On the other hand, PID controllers provide improved accuracy in drone system responses. When using PID controllers to achieve the best performance in a drone system, it is better to share the advantages of PID controllers with other intelligence controllers. One promising option is the fuzzy PID controller. The aim of this study was to control quadcopter states (rolling, altitude, and airspeed) by leveraging quadcopter technology and adding hybrid fuzzy PID controls into the system. The quadcopter system and its controllers were mathematically modeled using the Simulink/MATLAB platform, and the system was controlled by fuzzy PID controllers. For validation purposes, the fuzzy PID controller was compared with a classically tuned PID controller. For roll, height, and airspeed, the fuzzy PID controller provided an improvement of 41.5%, 11%, and 44%, respectively, over the classically tuned PID controller. Therefore, the fuzzy PID controller best suits the needs of farmers and is compatible with smart agriculture systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]