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Abstract Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of transumbilical single-incision laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of complicated appendicitis in overweight/obese adolescents. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 226 adolescent patients with complicated appendicitis who were admitted to our hospital from January 2014 to June 2022. Among them, 102 cases underwent transumbilical single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy as the observation group, and another 124 cases underwent conventional three-port laparoscopic appendectomy as the control group. The surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, duration of incisional pain, postoperative flatus time, length of hospital stay, surgical site infection (SSI), satisfaction with cosmetic result, and occurrence of postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Results Both groups completed the surgery smoothly, and there were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, BMI, duration of illness, white blood cell count, and preoperative CRP value between the two groups (P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in surgical time and intraoperative blood loss between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, the observation group had shorter hospital stays, shorter duration of incisional pain, shorter postoperative time to flatus, and lower overall postoperative complication rates compared to the control group, with statistically significant differences (P

Abstract Objective Exploration of the efficacy of treating large indirect inguinal hernias in infants and young children using umbilical double-port laparoscopy combined with extraperitoneal water injection. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 165 cases of primary unilateral large indirect inguinal hernias in infants and young children treated at our hospital from May 2018 to May 2023. Among them, 90 cases underwent umbilical double-port laparoscopic surgery combined with extraperitoneal water injection and high ligation of the hernia sac (Double-Port Group), and another 75 cases underwent conventional three-port laparoscopic high ligation of the hernia sac (Three-Port Group). The two groups were compared in terms of operation time, postoperative pain scores at 24 hours, hospital stay, incision complications, and recurrence within one year after surgery. Results Both groups successfully completed the surgery without any intraoperative complications. The pain score at 24 hours postoperatively was lower in the Double-Port Group compared to the Three-Port Group, and there was no statistically significant difference in operation time, hospital stay, and incision complications between the two groups (P > 0.05). Both groups were followed up for one year postoperatively; the Three-Port Group had one recurrence that was cured after further treatment, while there were no recurrences in the Double-Port Group. Conclusion Umbilical double-port laparoscopy combined with extraperitoneal water injection for the treatment of large indirect inguinal hernias in infants and young children has the advantages of being safe and reliable, with concealed and aesthetic incisions, and rapid recovery.

Abstract Objective To observe the safety and short-term outcomes of a new way of laparoscopic trocar placement in pediatric robotic-assisted Lich-Gregoir ureteral reimplantation for vesicoureteral reflux. Methods The retrospective study included 32 patients under 14 years diagnosed with primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). All these patients underwent robotic-assisted Lich-Gregoir ureteral reimplantation in our department from December 2020 to August 2022. These patients were divided into the following groups according to the different ways of trocar placement: 13 patients in group single-port plus one (SR) and 19 patients in group multiple-port (MR). Patients’ characteristics as well as their perioperative and follow-up data were collected and evaluated. Results There was no significant difference in the data regarding patients’ characteristics and preoperative data. These data included the grade of vesicoureteral reflux according to the voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), and the differential degree of renal function (DRF) at the following time points: preoperative, postoperative, and comparison of preoperative and postoperative. There was no difference between the two groups. During surgery, the time of artificial pneumoperitoneum establishment, ureteral reimplantation time, and total operative time in the SR group were longer than those in the MR group. Yet only the time of artificial pneumoperitoneum establishment shows a statistical difference (P

The concrete deck at the negative bending moment region of a continuous steel-concrete composite girder bridge is the weakest part of the structure. Introducing ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) to the hogging region may overcome the shortage and break through the bottleneck. This paper explores the cracking performance of steel-concrete composite girders with concrete slabs topped by a thin layer of UHPC subjected to a negative bending moment.Areal continuous composite girder bridge is briefly introduced as the engineering background, and the cracking characteristic of the concrete deck over the middle piers of the bridge is numerically modeled. Approaches to strengthen the cracking performance of the concrete deck at the hogging region through topping UHPC overlays are proposed. The effectiveness of the approaches is examined by conducting a series of numerical and experimental tests. Numerical results indicate that the normal concrete (NC) deck near the middle forums of the bridge would crack due to the large tensile stress from negative bending moments. Replacing the top concrete with an identical-thick UHPC overlay can increase the cracking resistance of the deck under the moment. As the thickness of the UHPC overlay increased from 6.0 cm to 12.0 cm, the maximum shear stress at the UHPC overlay-to-NC substrate interface under different load combinations was decreased by 56.3%~65.3%. Experimental results show that the first-cracking load of the composite beam usingan NC-UHPC overlaid slab was 2.1 times that using an NC slab. The application of a UHPC overlaid deck can significantly improve the crack performance of the steel-concrete composite girder bridge.

This paper explores the effect of bonding size on the shear performance of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) and normal concrete (NC). The study includes two sets of direct shear tests on a total of 16 Z-shaped UHPC-NC bonded specimens. The first set consists of eight direct shear tests on the chiseled UHPC-NC interface with an average roughness of 4 mm (referred to as series C), from the authors’ previous study. The second set involves eight direct shear tests on the chiseled UHPC-NC interface with additional short shear steel rebars (referred to as series CS) that possess identical roughness to the first set of tests. The study discusses the failure modes, shear stress–slip behavior, and strain histories of the UHPC-NC interfaces with varying bonding sizes and shear mechanisms. A finite element model incorporating the cohesive zone model for the UHPC-NC interface was developed to gain insights into the shear bond evolutions. Our experimental results show that the two sets of direct shear specimens exhibit similar size effects in the shear stiffness, bonding strength, and interfacial slippage of the UHPC-NC interface. The use of shear steel rebars mitigated the impact of interfacial size on the bond shear behavior, thereby enhancing shear stiffness and reducing susceptibility to brittle damage. Numerical simulations indicate that the shear stress inhomogeneity coefficients for the CS specimens with bonding heights of 100 mm, 200 mm, 330 mm, and 440 mm were 1.2%, 1.8%, 11.9%, and 17.4%, respectively. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for optimizing UHPC applications in the repair and strengthening of concrete structures.

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of robot-assisted single-port-plus-one pyeloplasty (RSPY) and laparoscopic single-port pyeloplasty (LSPY) in the treatment of children with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO).MethodsThe clinical data of 47 children who underwent surgery for UPJO at the Department of the Pediatric Surgery of the Fujian Provincial Hospital from October 2020 to September 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. Of these 47 children, 27 received RSPY while 20 underwent LSPY. The baseline data, operation time, intraoperative anastomosis time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, complications, total cost, preoperative and postoperative renal parenchymal thickness (PT), anteroposterior renal pelvis diameter (APD), and differential renal function (DRF) of the two groups were compared to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the two surgical methods.ResultsThe results showed that both surgical techniques were successful and no patient transitioned to open surgery. There was no significant difference between the two groups in baseline data, intraoperative blood loss, complications, APD, and PT 6 months after surgery. There was also no significant difference in APD, PT, and DRF 12 months after surgery (all P > 0.05). Compared with the LSPY group, the RSPY group had shorter operation time [(153.04 ± 14.44) vs. (189.90 ± 32.59) min, t = −5.24, P

In investigating the mechanical properties and chloride corrosion resistance of all-light shale ceramsite concrete (ALSCC), samples of ALSCC20–ALSCC45 with a compressive strength of C20–C45 were individually prepared. The compressive strength, split tensile strength, and elastic modulus of ALSCC were analyzed. Additionally, the chloride salt corrosion resistance of ALSCC was assessed by examining chloride ion penetration depth, steel corrosion rate, and compressive strength after ALSCC30 corrosion. Furthermore, the microstructure of ALSCC hydration products was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results indicate that as the strength grade increases, the water–cement ratio decreases, and the internal structure becomes denser, thereby improving the mechanical and corrosion resistance properties of ALSCC. Notably, the chloride corrosion resistance of ALSCC surpasses that of ordinary concrete. SEM images reveal that the hydration of ceramsite with Ca(OH)2 in concrete generates Ca[Al(OH)4]2 precipitation and C–S–H gel, which enhances internal filling and improves chloride corrosion resistance. Furthermore, based on the results of the ALSCC30 corrosion test, a calculation model for predicting compressive strength in a chloride environment was proposed. This model effectively predicts the compressive strength of ALSCC under chloride exposure conditions.

PurposeTo introduce a new technique of single-port-plus-one robotic laparoscopic-modified Lich-Gregoir direct nipple ureteral extravesical reimplantation and ascertain its validity in the treatment of pediatric primary obstructive megaureter.MethodsBetween January 2021 and November 2021, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 12 children with primary obstructive megaureter who were admitted to the Department of Pediatric Surgery of Fujian Provincial Hospital. All 12 children were treated with single-port-plus-one robotic laparoscopic Lich-Gregoir direct nipple ureteral extravesical reimplantation. Five of them were female and seven were male, including nine cases were simple obstructive type, while the remaining three cases were obstructive with reflux type. The mean age of the children was 17.33 ± 6.99 (10–36) months and the mean follow-up time was 14.16 ± 1.75 (12–17) months. Changes in preoperative and first-year postoperative parameters were compared.ResultsThe mean operative time for all 12 children was 123.58 ± 10.85 (110–145) min, with a mean internal operative time of 101.42 ± 0.85 (90–120) min, a mean operative bleeding time of 2.42 ± 0.67 (2–4) ml, and a mean hematuria duration of 16.08 ± 1.44 (14–19) h. The mean indwelling catheterization time was 2.25 ± 0.45 (2–3) days and the mean hospitalization time was 3.83 ± 0.39 (3–4) days. At the postoperative first year, the ureteral diameter, calyceal diameter, and anterior–posterior renal pelvic diameter were found to be significantly smaller than at the preoperative period (18.83 ± 3.21 mm vs. 6.83 ± 1.27 mm, 13.99 ± 3.58 mm vs. 3.5 ± 2.90 mm, and 34.92 ± 4.25 mm vs. 10.08 ± 1.88 mm, P

BackgroundClassical biomarkers have been used to classify clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients in a variety of ways, and emerging evidences have indicated that cuproptosis is closely related to mitochondrial metabolism, thereby accelerating the development and progression of ccRCC. Nevertheless, the specific relationship between cuproptosis and the prognosis and treatment of ccRCC remains unclear.MethodsWe comprehensively integrated several ccRCC patient datasets into a large cohort. Following that, we systematically analyzed multi-omics data to demonstrate the differences between two cuproptosis clusters.ResultsWe identified two cuproptosis clusters in ccRCC patients. Among the two clusters, cluster 1 patients showed favorable prognosis. We then confirmed the significant differences between the two clusters, including more typical cancer hallmarks were enriched in cluster 2 patients; cluster 2 patients were more susceptible to develop mutations and had a lower level of gistic score and mRNAsi. Importantly, both Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion analysis and subclass mapping algorithm showed that cuproptosis 1 patients were more susceptible to be responded to immunotherapy. In addition, a prognostic signature was successfully developed and also showed prominent predictive power in response to immunotherapy.ConclusionAs a result of our findings, we were able to classify ccRCC patients according to cuproptosis in a novel way. By constructing the cuproptosis clusters and developing the signature, patients with ccRCC could have a more accurate prognosis prediction and better immunotherapy options.

The effects of expansive agents (EAs) and glass fibres (GFs) on the splitting strength and fracture performance of seawater and sea-sand concrete (SSC) were investigated. It was found that adding sole EAs or GFs improved the splitting strength, flexural strength, fracture energy, and initial and unstable fracture toughness of SSC. The combination usage of EAs and GFs maximumly increased the aforementioned indexes by 65%, 75%, 155%, 101%, and 82%, respectively. The optimal EA content was 3%–6% and increased with the increase of GF contents. The constitutive model of SSC reinforced with EAs and GFs under tension proposed in this study agreed well with the experimental results.

The application range of rubber-recycled aggregate concrete (RRAC), a new type of green building material, is currently limited due to performance defects, including low hardness, high water absorption, and poor adhesion. To expand its application in reinforced concrete structures, it is crucial to enhance the bonding performance between RRAC and steel bars. In this study, the effects of adding straight steel fibres (SSFs) and ring-type steel fibres (RSFs) to RRAC were investigated, in order to enhance the bonding performance. To investigate the impact of steel fibres (SFs) on the bonding properties of RRAC and steel bars, a total of 51 specimens were subjected to pull-out tests to systematically examine the impact of SSF and RSF dosages on the bonding performance. The results demonstrated that incorporating the optimal amount of SSFs and RSFs can significantly improve the bond strength and bond stiffness. Moreover, the combined use of SSFs and RSFs yielded even better enhancement effects. The RRAC exhibited remarkable performance, when the total content of SFs was 1.2% and the proportion of RSFs 75%. In this case, the bond strength and bond stiffness were enhanced by 3.7% and 53.88%, respectively. Finally, a bond–slip constitutive model for RRAC and steel bar was established. The combined use of SSFs and RSFs minimizes the limitations of poor mechanical properties in traditional RRAC and holds significant value for the widespread adoption and application of RRAC.

The high corrosion resistance of fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) and related concrete structures means that they are suitable for application in the marine environment. Therefore, the replacement of steel bars with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars enhances corrosion resistance in seawater sea-sand concrete (SSC) structures. Geometric parameters significantly influence the performance of the bond between ribbed FRP bars and SSC, thereby affecting the mechanical properties of the concrete structures. In this study, the performance of the bond between ribbed (i.e., with fiber wrapping) basalt-fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) bars and SSC was investigated through pull-out tests that considered rib geometry and SSC strength. The results demonstrated that an increase in rib and dent widths reduced the bond stiffness, while an increase in rib height and SSC strength gradually increased the bond stiffness and strength. Additionally, the bond stiffness and bond strength were relatively low because the surface fiber bundles buffered the mechanical interlocking force between the BFRP ribs and the concrete, resulting in plastic bond failure during the loading process. Furthermore, the adhesion of the fiber bundles to the surface of the BFRP bars also influenced bond performance, with higher adhesion leading to greater bond stiffness and strength.

Under the influence of material defects, structural grooving, environmental corrosion, and other factors in engineering, concrete-filled steel tubes incur local defects on their external surfaces that affect their structural integrity and service life. This work conducts axial compression tests on 10 grooving-damaged square hollow concrete-filled steel tube (SHCFST) columns to investigate the effect of grooving damage on their axial compressive ultimate bearing capacity and the effect of steel tubes on concrete confinement. It explores the effects of three parameters, namely, the length of grooves, presence of slots in internal and external steel tubes, and orientation of grooves, on structural static performance. This study analyzes the loading, failure mechanisms, and axial compressive ultimate bearing capacity of grooving-damaged SHCFST columns. Results indicate that grooving weakens the steel tube’s confinement effect on the concrete core, reducing the axial compressive ultimate bearing capacity of specimens. On the basis of this experimental research, a method for calculating the axial compressive ultimate bearing capacity and axial compressive stiffness of grooving-damaged SHCFST columns is proposed. The calculation results closely align with experimental outcomes, providing valuable insights for related scientific research and engineering applications.

IntroductionTo maintain sustainable poverty alleviation in the post-pandemic world, China encourages firms to participate in the “Social Commerce Helping Farmers Project.” This study aims to explore the phenomenon of indirect reciprocity between firms, consumers, and farmers in the supply chain. This study explores how supply chain transparency stimulates indirect reciprocity among consumers through competence trust, goodwill trust, and integrity trust. Furthermore, we explore the impact of compassion and the need for social status on the model.MethodsWe fit a partial least square analysis structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using data from an online random vignette-based experiment questionnaire survey.ResultsSupply chain transparency of social responsibility practices asymmetrically affects three dimensions of consumer trust by improving perceived information quality. And the three dimensions of trust asymmetrically contribute to indirect reciprocity. Furthermore, compassion has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between perceived information quality and trust. However, the moderating effect of the need for social status on the relationship between the three dimensions of trust and indirect reciprocity differed significantly.DiscussionOur findings indicate that supply chain transparency improves consumer trust, making consumers more responsive and rewarding companies that assist vulnerable groups in their supply chains. Faced with a trust crisis, companies can take different measures to achieve their goals based on each dimension of trust. At the same time, companies need to consider differences in the responses of consumers with different personality traits (e.g., compassion and the need for social status) when revealing their corporate social responsibility practices to consumers.

In recent years, the developed hemostatic technologies are still difficult to be applied to the hemostasis of massive arterial and visceral hemorrhage, owing to their weak hemostatic function, inferior wet tissue adhesion, and low mechanical properties. Herein, a mussel-inspired supramolecular interaction-cross-linked hydrogel with robust mechanical property (308.47 ± 29.20 kPa) and excellent hemostatic efficiency (96.5% ± 2.1%) was constructed as a hemostatic sealant. Typically, we combined chitosan (CS) with silk fibroin (SF) by cross-linking them through tannic acid (TA) to maintain the structural stability of the hydrogel, especially for wet tissue adhesion ability (shear adhesive strength = 29.66 ± 0.36 kPa). Compared with other materials reported previously, the obtained CS/TA/SF hydrogel yielded a lower amount of blood loss and shorter time to hemostasis in various arterial and visceral bleeding models, which could be ascribed to the synergistic effect of wound closure under wet state as well as intrinsic hemostatic activity of CS. As a superior hemostatic sealant, the unique hydrogel proposed in this work can be exploited to offer significant advantages in the acute wound and massive hemorrhage with the restrictive access of therapeutic moieties.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the effects of various trocar placements in robot-assisted and laparoscopic pyeloplasty involving children diagnosed with obstruction of the ureteropelvic junction (OUPJ).MethodsWe retrospectively collected the data on 74 patients under 14 years of age who had been diagnosed with OUPJ; these patients underwent either robot-assisted or laparoscopic pyeloplasty in our hospital between January 2015 and November 2021. There were four groups, as follows: •Laparoscopic multiport pyeloplasty (LMPY),•Laparoscopic single-port pyeloplasty (LSPY),•Robotic-assisted multiport pyeloplasty (RMPY),•Robotic-assisted single-port-plus-one pyeloplasty (RSPY).Patients' characteristics as well as their perioperative and follow-up data were collected and evaluated.ResultsThere was no significant difference in the data regarding patients' characteristics. These data included the grade of hydronephrosis according to the Society of Fetal Urology (SFU grade), anterior and posterior diameter of the renal pelvis and ureter (APDRPU), and the differential degree of renal function (DRF) at following time points: preoperative, postoperative, and comparison of preoperative and postoperative. There was no difference among these groups. During surgery, the time of trocar placement, urethroplasty time, and total operative time in the robotic groups (RMPY and RSPY) were longer than those in the laparoscopic groups (LMPY and LSPY). However, the ratio of the urethroplasty time and full operative time (UT/WT) in the robotic groups (RMPY and RSPY) was lower than that in the laparoscopic groups (LMPY and LSPY) (P = 0.0075). Also, the volume of blood loss was lower in the robotic groups (RMPY and RSPY) than that in the laparoscopic groups (LMPY and LSPY), although there was no statistical difference (P = 0.11). There were, however, significant differences in hospitalization days (P

Gastric cancer (GC) is the third-leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to develop a nomogram that estimates 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival probability of GC patients after D2 gastrectomy combined with adjuvant chemotherapy. The results showed that median age is 58 (range: 18-85) years in the training cohort and 59 (range: 32-85) years in the validation cohort. On multivariate analysis, four factors were found to be significantly associated with worse overall survival (OS): late TNM stage, positive resection margin, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, and single chemotherapy regimens compared with multiple chemotherapy regimens. All of these findings were validated in the validation cohort. Furthermore, the four factors were included in the final nomogram for the prediction of 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival probability, with accurate calibration and reasonable discrimination (C-index = 0.676 for training cohort, and C-index = 0.664 for validation cohort). The AUC values analyzed by the ROC analysis demonstrated a good predictive accuracy of the nomogram for OS (1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS were 94.43%, 77.42%, and 73.03% in the training cohort, respectively; 96.95%, 81.54%, and 73.41% in the validation cohort, respectively). In conclusion, the proposed nomogram may be used to objectively and accurately predict survival probability of GC patients in a multi-institutional clinical setting.

Abstract Background To present a modified laparoscopic surgical technique that works to optimize the surgical view in laparoscopic total excision of choledochal cyst in pediatric patients. Methods From June 2015 to June 2017, a total of 48 pediatric cases of choledochal cyst were admitted. Their age ranged from 15 month to 8 years (average 3.5 years). The Todani types were: type I (n = 32) and type IVa (n = 16), according to the diagnostic criteria of ultrasound, abdominal computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). Results Total cystic excision with hepaticoenterostomy was accomplished laparoscopically in 48 cases with our transumbilical single -incision method without conversion to open surgery. Average duration of operation was 200 min (range 170–240 min), average intraoperative blood loss was 9 ml (range 6–14 ml) without the need for blood transfusion. The 72-h postoperative ultrasound reported no abdominal effusion, when the intraperitoneal drainage tube was removed. There was no postoperative complication during the 6 months of follow-up. Conclusions We accomplished the same postoperative outcome in laparoscopic total cyst excision with our modified method as that with conventional laparoscopic surgery. This technique allows the operator to have a stabilized surgical view without needing to rely on an assistant to hold up the liver lobe for larger operative space.

This paper investigates the measurement accuracy of unmanned aerial vehicle-based oblique photography (UAVOP) in bridge deformation identifications. A simply supported concrete beam model was selected and measured using the UAVOP technique. The influences of several parameters, such as overall flight altitude (h), local shooting distance (d), partial image overlap (λ), and arrangement of control points, on the quality of the reconstructed three-dimensional (3D) beam model, were presented and discussed. Experimental results indicated that the quality of the reconstructed 3D model was significantly improved by the fusion overall-partial flight routes (FR), of which the reconstructed model quality was 46.7% higher than those with the single flight route (SR). Despite the minimal impact of overall flight altitude, the reconstructed model quality prominently varied with the local shooting distance, partial image overlap, and control points arrangement. As the d decreased from 12 m to 8 m, the model quality was improved by 48.2%, and an improvement of 42.5% was also achieved by increasing the λ from 70% to 80%. The reconstructed model quality of UAVOP with the global-plane control points was 78.4% and 38.4%, respectively, higher than those with the linear and regional control points. Furthermore, an optimized scheme of UAVOP with control points in global-plane arrangement and FR (h = 50 m, d = 8 m, and λ = 80%) was recommended. A comparison between the results measured by the UAVOP and the total station showed maximum identification errors of 1.3 mm. The study’s outcomes are expected to serve as potential references for future applications of UAVOP in bridge measurements.

The durability of a concrete structure is affected by temperature cycles that occur during the structure’s service life. This paper presents an experimental and theoretical study of the mechanical properties of seawater sea-sand concrete when exposed to temperature variations. By using compressive tests on cylindrical concrete specimens, the effects of thermal cycling (e.g., the amplitude of temperature variations and cycling times) on the mechanical properties of seawater sea-sand concrete, such as failure modes, compressive strength, stress–strain relationship, Young’s modulus, ultimate strain, Poisson’s ratio and toughness are investigated. Microstructures of both unconditioned and conditioned concrete samples are examined by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to understand the mechanisms behind the strength changes. Finally, the stress–strain model is proposed for seawater sea-sand concrete subjected to daily temperature variations, and the proposed model is verified by the experimental data.

The rostrum of Cyrtotrachelus buqueti Guer has excellent mechanical properties, such as high-specific strength and high-specific stiffness, and it is an example of successful evolution in nature. In this paper, based on the biological structural characteristics of the rostrum, bionic variable-density lightweight structures of varying layer number are designed, and their mechanical properties are analyzed under different helix angles. The results show that when the helix angle is greater than or equal to 40°, the maximum compressive load borne by the three-layer tube is 30.75 N, which is 1.89 times that of the single-layer tube. Through calculation, at a helix angle of 15°, the torsion lightweight coefficient of the single-layer, double-layer, and three-layer structures is 0.99 ± 0.03 N·M g ^−1 , 1.75 ± 0.05 N·M g ^−1 , and 2.32 ± 0.06 N·M g ^−1 , respectively, where that of the three-layer structure was approximately 2.34 times that of the single-layer structure. Further calculations show that the bending lightweight factor of the single-layer, double-layer, and three-layer tubes is 17.89 ± 0.20 N g ^−1 , 33.16 ± 0.45 N g ^−1 , 41.33 ± 0.55 N g ^−1 , respectively, where that of the three-layer tube is 2.31 times that of the single-layer tube. In addition, this paper also investigates the cushioning energy absorption characteristics of the bionic lightweight tubes by using an impact testing machine. The results show that under the same conditions, as the number of layers of the lightweight tube increases, the buffering energy absorption also increases. The total energy absorption and specific energy absorption of the three-layer lightweight tube are approximately 10 times those of the single-layer tube. Finally, a response surface-based optimization method is proposed to optimize the bionic structures under a combined compression-torsion load. The results lay the foundation for the lightweight design of thin-walled tube structures.

In this paper, the use of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) for the upper slabs in steel-concrete composite beams is proposed. Perfobond rib connector (PBL), a relatively new type of shear connectors, has been widely used to ensure composite action between the steel and concrete elements in composite beams. For the past decades, several studies on assessing the performance of PBLs have been conducted, but very few focused on the PBLs that are embedded in RAC slabs. This paper presents results of an experimental and numerical simulation study that focused on characterizing the behavior of PBL fabricated using RAC. In the experimental program, a total of six standard push-out specimens, divided into three groups, were fabricated and loaded to failure. Test results indicated that the ductility of the PBLs using RAC materials decreased as the perforated steel plate thickness decreased, while the PBL ultimate strength increased by 4.3% and 12.8% for steel plate thicknesses of 10.0 mm and 12.0 mm, respectively, as compared to specimens with 8.0 mm steel plate thickness. Finite element (FE) models for PBLs embedded in RAC were developed, and numerical results were validated by corresponding experimental results. An extensive parametric numerical analysis was conducted to assess the effects of different parameters such as transverse steel rebar diameter and perforated steel plate strength and thickness on the performance of such connectors. Numerical simulation results showed that the PBL ultimate strength obtained based on the perforated plate fracture failure mode increases linearly as the steel rebar diameter increases. Also, numerical results indicated that as steel plate strength and thickness increase, failure mode changes from steel plate fracture to rupture of reinforced concrete dowels. Furthermore, existing published analytical formulas for predicting behavior of PBLs were assessed via a comparison with experimental and numerical results developed in this study. The outcomes of this study contribute in providing fundamental knowledge in a new sustainable application of PBL in steel-concrete composite beams with RAC slabs.

The data presented in this article is related to the research article entitled “High-accuracy haplotype imputation using unphased genotype data as the references” which reports the unphased genotype data can be used as reference for haplotyping imputation [1]. This article reports different implementation generation pipeline, the results of performance comparison between different implementations (A, B, and C) and between HiFi and three major imputation software tools. Our data showed that the performances of these three implementations are similar on accuracy, in which the accuracy of implementation-B is slightly but consistently higher than A and C. HiFi performed better on haplotype imputation accuracy and three other software performed slightly better on genotype imputation accuracy. These data may provide a strategy for choosing optimal phasing pipeline and software for different studies.

IBM所得出之SSME（Services Sciences, Management, and Engineering）實為圖書情報機構的創新服務。服務是一種創造與獲取價值的人與人之間的互動。服務科學與服務創新是兩個不同的概念，卻具有緊密的聯繫。服務科學包含了服務創新，而服務創新是「服務科學」的一個重要內容，也是實現「服務科學」的一個重要途徑。因此，在「服務科學」的背景下，傳統的服務創新方式已難以滿足用戶的需求。圖書情報機構要實現「以人為中心」，就要實現體驗型服務和專業化服務；而要實現「創造價值」，則需要實現創新型服務。最後，文章以上海圖書館為實例，對圖書情報機構實現服務創新進行了解釋說明。SSME (Service Sciences, Management, and Engineering), a concept created by IBM, is essentially the same as service innovation for library and information institutions. When service is provided, it brings interaction between people, in which value is created and acquired. “Service science” and “service innovation” are two different concepts, but are closely related to each other. Service science includes service innovation; on the other hand, service innovation is one of the important concepts of service science and it also is an important way of realizing service science. Under the notion of service science, the old methods of traditional service can no longer meet the needs of the user. Therefore, library and information institutions should provide experience service and professional service to realize the people-centered service and implement innovation service to create value. In the end of this paper, the example of Shanghai Library is given to illustrate the viewpoints of the authors.

This paper elaborates on a new composite bucket foundation (CBF) structural system for offshore wind turbines. The proposed CBF consists of a special force transition section, a beam system structure upper steel bucket cover and a large-scale steel bucket with honeycomb structure rooms. It can be prefabricated onshore, self-floated on the sea and then towed to the appointed sea area before sinking to the sea soil under negative pressure. This is called the “one-step” installation technology. Arc- and line-type bucket foundations are calculated by both theory and the finite element method to discuss their force transfer paths and bearing modes. Owning to the special structural form, the transition section can effectively convert the huge load and bending moment into controllable tension and compressive stress, as well as adjust the structure balance. The bearing model and percentage of each part of the composite foundation under monotonous and ultimate load conditions are also calculated. Results indicate that the bearing mode of CBF is a typical top cover mode. In addition, the curvature impact of arc-type is studied and the results reveal that the structure type of the transition section is more important than the diameter ratio between the bottom transition section and the bucket.