Search Results (574)

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in long-term locomotor impairments, and strategies to enhance functional recovery remain limited. While epidural electrical stimulation (EES) has shown clinical promise, our understanding of the mechanisms by which it improves function remains incomplete. Here, we use genetic tools in an animal model to perform neuromodulation and treadmill rehabilitation in a manner similar to EES, but with the benefit of the genetic tools and animal model allowing for targeted manipulation, precise quantification of the cells and circuits that were manipulated, and the gathering of extensive kinematic data. We used a viral construct that selectively transduces large diameter afferent fibers (LDAFs) with a designer receptor exclusively activated by a designer drug (hM3Dq DREADD; a chemogenetic construct) to increase the excitability of large fibers specifically, in the rat contusion SCI model. As changes in locomotion with afferent stimulation can be subtle, we carried out a detailed characterization of the kinematics of locomotor recovery over time. Adult Long-Evans rats received contusion injuries and direct intraganglionic injections containing AAV2-hSyn-hM3Dq-mCherry, a viral vector that has been shown to preferentially transduce LDAFs, or a control with tracer only (AAV2-hSyn-mCherry). These neurons then had their activity increased by application of the designer drug Clozapine-N-oxide (CNO), inducing tonic excitation during treadmill training in the recovery phase. Kinematic data were collected during treadmill locomotion across a range of speeds over nine weeks post-injury. Data were analyzed using a mixed effects model chosen from amongst several models using information criteria. That model included fixed effects for treatment (DREADDs vs. control injection), time (weeks post injury), and speed, with random intercepts for rat and time point nested within rat. Significant effects of treatment and treatment interactions were found in many parameters, with a sometimes complicated dependence on speed. Generally, DREADDs activation resulted in shorter stance duration, but less reduction in swing duration with speed, yielding lower duty factors. Interestingly, our finding of shorter stance durations with DREADDs activation mimics a past study in the hemi-section injury model, but other changes, including the variability of anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) height, showed an opposite trend. These may reflect differences in injury severity and laterality (i.e., in the hemi-section injury the contralateral limb is expected to be largely functional). Furthermore, as with that study, withdrawal of DREADDs activation in week seven did not cause significant changes in kinematics, suggesting that activation may have dwindling effects at this later stage. This study highlights the utility of high-resolution kinematics for detecting subtle changes during recovery, and will enable the refinement of neuromechanical models that predict how locomotion changes with afferent neuromodulation, injury, and recovery, suggesting new directions for treatment of SCI. Full article

Background/Objectives: Suicide is the leading cause of death among South Korean military soldiers, accounting for more than 70% of all deaths. This issue is particularly relevant in the military context due to the nature of living in groups in a controlled environment. This study was conducted active-duty south Korean male soldiers aged 18 to 28 who were performing mandatory military service for one year and six months. Additionally, it compares and analyzes the differences in suicidal ideation and risk factors between military soldiers and a comparison group consisting of males in their 20s without military experience. Methods: This study included 248 Korean soldiers and 292 general controls, totaling 540 participants. The research instruments used for evaluation included the Beck Scale of Suicide Ideation (BSI), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-SF), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Version 11 (BIS-11), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), the UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLAS), and the State-Beck Hopelessness Scale (S-BHS). Results: The results of this study showed that suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and self-esteem were significantly higher in the military group compared to the comparison group. Conversely, emotional dysregulation was considerably lower in the soldiers than in the comparison group. No significant differences were found in childhood trauma, stress, loneliness, and hopelessness between the two groups. Multiple regression analysis within the military group revealed that childhood trauma, hopelessness, and depression were major factors influencing suicidal ideation. Conclusions: These findings will help identify risk factors for suicide among soldiers and develop effective intervention strategies to prevent it. Full article

Heavy-load collaborative robots are increasingly used in fields such as industrial handling and precision assembly. With the increase in the end load of the robotic arm and the acceleration of its movement speed, after the robotic arm completes a preset trajectory, due to factors such as inertia, the flexibility of the robotic arm’s rods and the harmonic reducer materials at the joints, there will still be residual vibration for a period of time after the robotic arm reaches the end point. On the one hand, residual vibration will have an adverse impact on the high-precision and high-performance operations of the robotic arm, affecting the operation accuracy and thus the production quality. On the other hand, many operations need to wait until the robotic arm completely stops before proceeding. In practical applications, the time spent waiting for the robotic arm to stop significantly affects efficiency. Therefore, effectively suppressing residual vibration is crucial to improving the performance of the robotic arm. To solve the problem of end residual vibration in heavy-load six-axis collaborative robots, this paper conducts research on input shaping and the estimation of robot end vibration parameters in arbitrary poses. The innovation is that vibration parameters in arbitrary poses are estimated based on the established vibration parameter model. An input shaper is designed according to the derived design method of the input shaper, achieving a certain suppression effect on the residual vibration of the robot end. When the parameter identification error is small, the optimized vibration suppression effect reaches more than 70%, realizing rapid and robust vibration suppression. This research is of great significance for enhancing the application value of collaborative robots in precision manufacturing and heavy-duty handling. Full article

The global electric vehicle (EV) market has experienced sustained growth over the last decade; however, adoption within the commercial EV segment remains comparatively sluggish. This disparity is driven by three primary factors: the intrinsic limitations of lithium-ion battery chemistry, which imposes constraints on charge–discharge cycling, excessive charging durations for large battery packs used in long-haul semi-trucks, and diminished charging effectiveness under cold weather conditions, which further extends downtime and increases grid demand. To address these operational and infrastructural challenges, this article proposes a novel battery swapping station layout with ‘design-integrated safety’ features, enabling rapid battery replacement while ensuring compliance with safety codes and standards. Two complementary pricing strategies are developed for deployment under differing market structures. The first is a Cournot competition, applicable to deregulated environments, where firms strategically allocate battery inventory between EV swapping services and participation in a secondary energy market. As an extension of the Cournot competition model, the profit functions are analytically derived for a duopoly in which one firm engages in dual markets, enabling assessment of equilibrium outcomes under competitive conditions. The second strategy is a degradation-sensitive pricing framework, intended for regulated markets, which dynamically adjusts swap prices based on state-of-charge depletion, duty cycle intensity, environmental exposure, and nonlinear battery degradation effects. This formulation is evaluated for six representative operational cases, demonstrating its ability to incentivize shallow cycling, penalize deep discharges, and incorporate fair usage-based pricing. The proposed architectures and pricing models offer a viable pathway to accelerate commercial EV adoption while optimizing asset utilization and profitability for station operators. Full article

In this investigation, pinocembrin and galangin were efficiently extracted from the male inflorescence of Populus alba L. × berolinensis K. Koch through an enzymatic pretreatment–ultrasonic-assisted strategy (EP-UAS), and the feasibility of their pilot-scale application was validated. The optimal parameters (ethanol volume fraction, cellulase dosage, incubation temperature, incubation time, pH, liquid‒solid ratio, ultrasonic irradiation power during incubation, duty cycle, ultrasonic irradiation power and time during extraction) affecting pinocembrin and galangin yields were systematically explored. The Box–Behnken design (BBD) results provided optimal parameters for the EP-UAS process. Under the optimal conditions, the actual yields of pinocembrin and galangin were 2158.33 ± 0.13 μg/g and 1257.96 ± 0.06 μg/g, respectively. Stability, recovery and reproducibility were determined under the above optimized conditions to evaluate the proposed EP-UAS method. Moreover, laboratory-scale experimental results revealed that the conditions selected via single-factor and response surface experiments were also applicable to pilot-scale production, facilitating industrialization. Full article

The dynamic load caused by vehicle vibration due to an uneven pavement surface is a primary factor affecting the structural performance and service life of asphalt pavement. As the principles of vibration mechanics, in conjunction with the coherence function of the vehicle’s left and right wheels, along with the lag between front and rear wheels, the entire vehicle vibration model for three-axle and four-axle heavy-load vehicles was developed using Simulink software. Through simulation, the root-mean-square value of the dynamic load and the dynamic load coefficient of the vehicle with different pavement roughness grades, speeds, loads, and cornering radii were analyzed. The outcomes demonstrate that a nonlinear rise in the wheel dynamic load occurs when pavement roughness increases. The greater the speed, the greater the impact of pavement roughness on the dynamic load. An increase in vehicle load tends to reduce vehicle vibrations. The interaction between vehicle vibration frequency and road excitation frequency is essential in figuring out the loads, and a negative influence on the pavement structure should be given more attention when the vehicle is driving at low speed. The dynamic load coefficient of the left and right wheels is greatly affected when the vehicle is in a lateral tilt. The findings offer valuable insights for selecting appropriate loads in pavement structure design. By constructing 11 degrees of freedom for a three-axle vehicle and 16 degrees of freedom for a four-axle heavy-duty vehicle model, the dynamic load variation law under different roughness excitation conditions is systematically analyzed. The results can be applied to the selection of vehicle load in asphalt pavement design to make it closer to the actual driving state, which will be helpful for improving accuracy in the design of pavement structure and avoiding early damage to the pavement. Full article

Background/Objectives. This study applied the Demands-Resources-and-Individual-Effects(DRIVE)-Nurses-Model to explore and compare the experiences of nurses working in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), by investigating the effects of the interplay (main/mediating/moderating effects) of perceived stress related to dealing with death/critically ill patients (Death-and-Dying-Stressor)—which unavoidably features in the daily life of nurses working in ICU/NICU—with further potential Stressors in Nursing (Conflicts-with-Physicians, Peers, Supervisors, Patients/their families, Uncertainty-Concerning-Treatment, Inadequate-Emotional-Preparation, Discrimination, Workload), Work-Resources (Job-Control, Social-Support, Rewards), and Coping-Strategies (Problem-focused, Seek-Advice, Self-Blame, Wishful Thinking, Escape/Avoidance) on nurses’ psychological health conditions according to the working unit (ICU/NICU). Methods. Overall, 62 critical care nurses (ICU = 35; NICU = 27) completed self-report questionnaires. Main/mediating/moderating effects were tested by using Correlational-Analyses and Hayes-PROCESS-tool by working unit. Results. Nurses working in NICU reported higher Psychological Disease than nurses working in ICU. The detrimental psychological impact of Death-and-Dying-Stressor was mediated by Conflicts-with-Supervisors-Stressor among ICU nurses and by Uncertainty-Concerning-Treatment and Conflicts-with-Physicians stressors among NICU nurses. The recourse to Self-Blame and Escape/Avoidance coping strategies exacerbated the psychological risk among ICU nurses, while perceived Work-Resources (Job-Control/Social-Support) played a protective moderating role among NICU nurses. Conclusions. The application of the DRIVE-Nurses-Model to deepen the experience of nurses working in ICU/NICU could advance the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the relationship between Death-and-Dying-Stressor and nurses’ psychological health, suggesting tailored risk profiles and accounting for key protective factors, to provide nurses with the necessary resources for adjusting to their challenging and emotionally demanding work-related duties and experiences. Full article

Background: Protective gear is a critical part of the police officer uniform. The required protective gear weighs over 9 kg and is rigid and bulky, creating deficits in physical performance essential for completing officer’s daily tasks and increasing risk of injury. Understanding the impedance the protective gear causes and how physical factors such as body composition increase this effect is critical to the safety and survival of the police officer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of protective gear on officer capabilities. Methods: Officers completed an 11-point assessment in two conditions: athletic attire (No Gear) and uniform + protective equipment (Gear). Results: Differences in power output (p < 0.001; p = 0.118), balance (p < 0.001; p = 0.771), functional movement (p = 0.002; p = 0.018), and flexibility (p < 0.001) were found between the two conditions. Conclusions: Decreased on-duty performance can affect officer safety and success. These results indicate the need for continued improvement of police officer safety equipment to ensure mobility and safety. Full article

Background/Objectives: Following the recent publication of reassuring outcomes from the ARA MED 330 protocol regarding long-term insulin use in pilots, combined with continuous advancements in diabetes technology, European aeromedical examiners are increasingly optimistic about establishing more flexible medical requirements for insulin-treated aviation professionals. These professionals have historically been considered unfit for duty due to hypoglycemic risks. According to current research, hypoglycemia, the primary incapacitation risk for flight crew, is considered virtually non-existent among air traffic controllers (ATCOs). Additionally, stress-induced hyperglycemia also represents a low-frequency risk in these professionals, who are experienced in managing highly stressful operational environments. This study presents a narrative review examining stress and its metabolic effects in healthy individuals, ATCOs, and people with diabetes (PwD). Methods: This narrative review was conducted based on a comprehensive PubMed search performed by two independent reviewers (GAR and AM) spanning January 2023 to January 2025. The search strategy focused on English-language, peer-reviewed studies involving human participants and addressed stress, glucose regulation, and occupational factors in ATCOs and people with diabetes. Additional relevant articles were identified through reference screening. A total of 33 studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies focusing solely on oxidative or molecular mechanisms were excluded from the analysis. Results: Stressful events consistently triggered the expected hyperglycemic reaction in both healthy individuals and PwD. However, the literature indicates ATCOs demonstrate remarkable stress resilience and adaptation to the demanding conditions of their work environment, suggesting a unique occupational profile regarding metabolic stress responses. Conclusions: These findings contribute valuable insights to ongoing discussions regarding aeromedical fitness standards. The evidence suggests that ATCOs may not face the same metabolic risks as flight crews, indicating that current medical certification processes for insulin-treated aviation professionals warrant reconsideration in light of this emerging evidence. This research supports the potential for more individualized, occupation-specific aeromedical standards that better reflect the actual risk profiles of different aviation roles. Full article

Sustainable product development demands components that last longer, consume less energy, and can be refurbished within circular supply chains. This study introduces a digital replica-based predictive prototyping workflow for industrial crusher blades that meets these goals. Six commercially used blade geometries (A–F) were recreated as high-fidelity finite-element models and subjected to an identical 5 kN cutting load. Comparative simulations revealed that a triple-edged hooked profile (Blade A) reduced peak von Mises stress by 53% and total deformation by 71% compared with a conventional flat blade, indicating lower drive-motor power and slower wear. To enable fast virtual prototyping and condition-based maintenance, deformation was subsequently predicted using a data-efficient machine-learning model. Multi-view image augmentation enlarged the experimental dataset from 6 to 60 samples, and an XGBoost regressor, trained on computer-vision geometry features and engineering parameters, achieved R² = 0.996 and MAE = 0.005 mm in five-fold cross-validation. Feature-importance analysis highlighted applied stress, safety factor, and edge design as the dominant predictors. The integrated method reduces development cycles, reduces material loss via iteration, extends the life of blades, and facilitates refurbishment decisions, providing a foundation for future integration into digital twin systems to support sustainable product development and predictive maintenance in heavy-duty manufacturing. Full article

The adoption of exotic animals as pets is increasing across Europe. This study explores the human–chelonian relationship in the Italian population, specifically the motivations for acquiring reptiles as pets and the nature of the emotional bonds between guardians and chelonians. A total of 91 chelonian guardians replied to an online survey. Data was analyzed through a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative analyses. Most participants (85.7%) owned Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni), having received them as gifts (50.5%) or purchased them (31.9%). Pet chelonians living outdoors had an almost five times higher odds of being reported as non-family members compared to those with indoor access (OR = 4.90, 95% CI = 1.34–23.41, p = 0.02). No significant relationship was detected between other demographic factors and bond type. When asked whether they consider their pet a family member, 70 out of 91 participants reported information for both their reptile and dog/cat. Among these, pets were seen as family members for 44.3% of chelonians and 92.4% of dogs/cats. In turn, qualitative responses from 85 participants showed that 45% expressed a strong emotional connection to their pet chelonians, using language denoting affection, love, and fascination. These findings suggest that, while emotional bonds between guardians and chelonians may be less interactive and intimate than those with conventional pets, they nonetheless reflect a meaningful bond rooted in personal values of entertainment, convenience, and duty of care. Full article

The rapid development of the global transportation industry has led to increased carbon dioxide emissions, intensifying the pressure to reduce these emissions. On the basis of constructing a global carbon emission analysis framework for the transportation industry, this study used panel data on carbon emissions from the transportation industry in 140 countries or regions for a long-term time series from 1971 to 2018. The standard deviation ellipse, Gini coefficient, and Moran’s I index were used to characterize the spatial patterns of carbon emissions in the global transportation industry. The factors influencing carbon emissions from the global transportation industry were analyzed using quantile regression. The main findings are as follows: (1) From the distribution pattern, the total carbon emissions from the global transportation industry showed a significant upward trend, and the spatial polarization characteristics were particularly significant. (2) The Gini coefficient of global carbon emissions from the transportation industry showed a significant downward trend, characterizing a more balanced spatial distribution. (3) From the perspective of correlation patterns, the spatial distribution of carbon emissions from the global transportation industry was positively correlated. (4) Regarding influencing factors, population size had a significant role in promoting carbon emissions from the transportation industry, and the difference was not apparent. The influence of affluence on carbon emissions was basically in line with the characteristics of the Kuznets curve, technological advances had a significant negative influence on carbon emissions, and participation in the global value chain had a significant influence on carbon emissions from countries or regions with high carbon emissions. In conclusion, it is necessary to enhance international cooperation on carbon emission management in the global transportation industry and adopt differentiated policy measures. For instance, we should accelerate the construction of a multimodal transport system, increase the promotion and support for new energy heavy-duty trucks, implement policies such as priority road rights for new energy heavy-duty trucks and reduce tolls on expressways, and deepen the integration of transportation and energy. Full article

Dual-active bridge (DAB) converters have emerged as a preferred topology in electric vehicle charging and energy storage applications, owing to their structurally symmetric configuration and intrinsic galvanic isolation capabilities. However, conventional triple-phase shift (TPS) control strategies face significant challenges in maintaining high efficiency across ultra-wide output voltage and load ranges. To exploit the inherent structural symmetry of the DAB topology, a symmetric optimization strategy based on triple-phase shift (SOS-TPS) is proposed. The method specifically targets the forward buck operating mode, where an optimization framework is established to minimize the root mean square (RMS) current of the inductor, thereby addressing both switching and conduction losses. The formulation explicitly incorporates zero-voltage switching (ZVS) constraints and operating mode conditions. By employing the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) conditions in conjunction with the Lagrange multiplier method (LMM), the refined control trajectories corresponding to various power levels are analytically derived, enabling efficient modulation across the entire operating range. In the medium-power region, full-switch ZVS is inherently satisfied. In the low-power operation, full-switch ZVS is achieved by introducing a modulation factor λ, and a selection principle for λ is established. For high-power operation, the strategy transitions to a conventional single-phase shift (SPS) modulation. Furthermore, by exploiting the inherent symmetry of the DAB topology, the proposed method reveals the symmetric property of modulation control. The modulation strategy for the forward boost mode can be efficiently derived through a duty cycle and voltage gain mapping, eliminating the need for re-derivation. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed SOS-TPS strategy, a 2.3 kW experimental prototype was developed. The measured results demonstrate that the method ensures ZVS for all switches under the full load range, supports ultra-wide voltage conversion capability, substantially suppresses RMS current, and achieves a maximum efficiency of 97.3%. Full article

Battery-swapping stations (BSSs) are pivotal for supplying energy to electric heavy-duty trucks. However, their operations face challenges in accurate demand forecasting for battery-swapping and fair revenue allocation. This study proposes an optimization strategy for the economic operation of BSSs that optimizes revenue allocation and load balancing to enhance financial viability and grid stability. First, factors including geographical environment, traffic conditions, and truck characteristics are incorporated to simulate swapping behaviors, supporting the construction of an accurate demand-forecasting model. Second, an optimization problem is formulated to maximize the weighted difference between BSS revenue and squared load deviations. An economic operations strategy is proposed based on an adaptive Shapley value. It enables precise evaluation of differentiated member contributions through dynamic adjustment of bias weights in revenue allocation for a strategy that aligns with the interests of multiple stakeholders and market dynamics. Simulation results validate the superior performance of the proposed algorithm in revenue maximization, peak shaving, and valley filling. Full article

As public concern over environmental pollution and the urgent need for sustainable development grow, the popularity of new-energy vehicles has increased. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) represent a significant segment of this movement, undergoing robust development and playing an important role in the global transition towards sustainable mobility. Among the various factors affecting the fuel economy of HEVs, energy management strategies (EMSs) are particularly critical. With continuous advancements in vehicle communication technology, vehicles are now equipped to gather real-time traffic information. In response to this evolution, this paper proposes an optimization method for the adaptive equivalent consumption minimization strategy (A-ECMS) equivalent factor that incorporates traffic information and efficient optimization algorithms. Building on this foundation, the proposed method integrates the charge depleting–charge sustaining (CD-CS) strategy to create a combined EMS that leverages traffic information. This approach employs the CD-CS strategy to facilitate vehicle operation in the absence of comprehensive global traffic information. However, when adequate global information is available, it utilizes both the CD-CS strategy and the A-ECMS for vehicle control. Simulation results indicate that this combined strategy demonstrates effective performance, achieving fuel consumption reductions of 5.85% compared with the CD-CS strategy under the China heavy-duty truck cycle, 4.69% under the real vehicle data cycle, and 3.99% under the custom driving cycle. Full article