This paper investigates the aerodynamic and flow characteristics of a circular cylinder near the leading-edge separated flow of an elongated rectangular cylinder. The study varies the gap-to-diameter ratio (G/D) of 0 ≤ G/D ≤ 0.4 and distance-to-diameter ratio (L / D) of 0.6 ≤ L / D ≤ 5.8 in the subcritical Reynolds-number region. Here, D, G and L are the diameter of the circular cylinder, the gap between the two isomeric cylinders and the distance between the leading edge of the rectangular cylinder and the centre of the circular cylinder, respectively. Based on smoke-wire flow visualisations, particle image velocimetry test results, lift power spectral densities and pressure distributions, flow around the circular cylinder can be classified into three regimes, i.e. broadened body, body reattachment and co-shedding. In the broadened-body regime, gap flow is negligible, and the circular cylinder behaves as an extension of the rectangular cylinder. In the body-reattachment regime, the free shear layer separated from the rectangular cylinder’s leading edge reattaches to the circular cylinder forebody, significantly modifying its incoming flow. In the co-shedding regime, the free shear layer substantially alters the vortex shedding from the circular cylinder’s lower side, resulting in a distorted alternating vortex shedding from the circular cylinder. Both the drag and lift of the circular cylinder display distinct behaviours in the three flow regimes. Two primary flow modes are recognised through proper orthogonal decomposition analysis: an alternating vortex shedding mode and a one-sided shear flow mode, which result in two Strouhal numbers of 0.205 and 0.255, respectively.

In this paper, we numerically investigate the orbit dynamics of three-dimensional symmetric Janus drops in shear flow using an improved ternary-fluids phase field method, focusing on how drop deformation and initial orientation affect the orbit drift of two configurations of Janus drops: dumbbell-shaped and near-spherical. We find that the motion of dumbbell-shaped drops eventually evolves into tumbling, while near-spherical drops attain stable spinning. We attribute this bifurcation in orbit drift to contrasting deformation dynamics and shape-dependent hydrodynamics of the two configurations. Specifically, the drift bifurcation is closely related to the aspect ratio of Janus drops at equilibrium, giving rise to two distinct mechanisms: (1) coupling between outer interface deformation and the surrounding flow field; and (2) interplay between inner interface deformation and vortices enclosed within the drop. In addition, we observe that for the dumbbell-shaped Janus drops with different aspect ratios, their tumbling dynamics resembles ellipsoids in shear flow. Moreover, the trajectories of the dumbbell-shaped Janus drops during orbit drift collapse onto a universal curve, independent of their initial orientations, and significant deformation and inertia accelerate the orbit transition. To quantitatively evaluate the effect of drop deformation on the orbit drift of the dumbbell-shaped Janus drops, we propose an effective aspect ratio model based on the drop shapes at equilibrium and at the maximum elongation. By incorporating the effective aspect ratio into Jeffery’s theory for solid particles, we accurately predict the rotation period and angular velocity of Janus drops in the tumbling regime and during the orbit drift, especially for drops with linear deformation. Moreover, the orbit parameter $C$ is found to vary exponentially with time for drops with linear deformation, while the time variation of $C$ transits from one exponential function to another for drops with nonlinear deformation.

The structural stability of barrier layers is critical for the long-term effectiveness of landfill remediation projects, although leachate pumping and organic contamination can cause structural degradation, reduce remediation performance, and increase the risk of pollutant release. The objectives of this study were to determine the consolidation–rebound mechanisms of sand–bentonite mixtures through standardized tests and to analyze deformation under diesel contamination using multi-scale approaches, including pore-structure characterization, particle-size distribution, cation exchange capacity, and oil-blocking effects. The results revealed that uncontaminated soil (0.0 wt.% diesel) exhibited non-linear compression behavior, with an initial decrease and a subsequent increase with increasing sand content; when the consolidation pressure exceeded 400 kPa, the compression rate decreased markedly. The compression deformation of the contaminated soil increased and was positively correlated with the sand and diesel contents, with accelerated deformation at >4.0 wt.% diesel. The rebound capacity decreased under combined sand–diesel effects. Microstructural analysis indicated that initial compression was controlled by inter-aggregate pores, whereas mid- to late-stage compression was influenced by intra-aggregate pore evolution and particle breakage. Increased diesel content shifted aggregate breakage from single/secondary to tertiary patterns, altering later compression behavior. Coupled hydration reduction and enhanced oil-blocking suppressed rebound significantly, worsening with increasing diesel content. Technical–economic analysis revealed that pure bentonite (0% sand) was optimal under uncontaminated conditions and that a 10% sand mixture was best under contaminated conditions. The sand–bentonite barrier exhibited amplified consolidation–rebound deformation and reduced stability with increasing sand and diesel contents, providing a theoretical basis for long-term landfill remediation assessment.

Flapping-wing robots, inspired by natural flyers, have gained significant attention for surveillance and environmental monitoring applications. This study presents the design and analysis of a bat-inspired flapping-wing robot with foldable wings, aiming to enhance flight efficiency and maneuverability. The robot features silicone-based, stretchable membrane wings, with a wingspan of 1.4 m and a total mass of 620 g. A one-degree-of-freedom (DOF) revolute-spherical-spherical-revolute mechanism is used to reproduce the flapping motion, while a one-DOF Watt six-bar linkage mechanism enables dynamic wing folding, allowing adaptive wing shape modulation during flight. Explicit solutions for joint angle of the wing were expressed through analytical method. Flight tests were conducted to validate the effectiveness of the flapping-folding mechanism. Results show that the robot successfully replicates bat wing kinematics, with folding during the upstroke and unfolding during the downstroke. This research offers insights into bio-inspired wing designs for next-generation flapping-wing robots.

The mandible is crucial for human physiological functions, as well as facial esthetics and expressions. The mandibular reconstruction surgery has dual challenges of restoration of both facial form and physiological function, which demands high precision in positioning and orientation of the bone graft. The traditional manual surgery heavily relies on surgeon’s experience. Although the computer image-guided surgery improves the positioning accuracy, the manual manipulation is still difficult to achieve precise spatial orientation of objects, resulting in unsatisfactory intraoperative execution of preoperative surgical design. This paper integrates computer image navigation and robotic technology to assist mandible reconstruction surgery, which empowers surgeons to achieve precise spatial localization and orientation adjustment of bone grafts. The kinematic analysis is conducted, and an improved Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm is proposed for spatial registration. A novel hand-eye calibration method for multi-arm robot and spatial registration of free bone blocks are proposed. The precision experiment of the image-guided navigation and the animal experiments are carried out. The impact of registration point numbers on spatial registration accuracy is analyzed. The results show the feasibility of the robot-assisted navigation for mandibular reconstruction surgery. The robotic system can improve the orientation accuracy of bone blocks to enhance the effectiveness of surgery.

Objectives: The recent experience of the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the critical need for a surveillance system to alert healthcare facilities about the admission of patients with emerging infectious diseases (EID), thereby preventing nosocomial transmissions. Methods: Tan Tock Seng Hospital, an 1800-bed acute tertiary-care hospital in Singapore, transitioned to a new- generation electronic medical record system, Epic, in August 2022. Leveraging the system’s capabilities, we developed an algorithm to generate the line-list of suspected Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) patients, in alignment with the screening guidelines provided by Singapore’s Ministry of Health. The algorithm first identifies patients who presented within 14 days (maximum incubation period) of their travel to Arabic peninsular countries. This information is documented by the emergency department’s triage nurses. Additionally, patients with suspected MERS indicated in the problem list or diagnosis by attending clinicians, particularly emergency-medicine physicians or infectious-disease physicians, are included. Furthermore, patients who are ordered for a MERS- Coronavirus polymerase chain reaction test, are identified. The algorithm can also be further modified as and when the case definition of the EID changes. Results: The surveillance report constructed with Epic algorithm can be scheduled for daily generation or generated on demand within a few minutes. This newer approach is more time- and resource-efficient compared to the manual surveillance process, which necessitates at least three staff members to engage in a series of prolonged manual processes. The report, by extracting information directly from Epic in near real-time, also minimizes the likelihood of errors that may occur during the manual process. Subsequently, the team of epidemiologists identifies the suspected MERS patients form the generated report and efficiently follow up them until a diagnosis of MERS is excluded. Conclusions: Harnessing Epic’s capabilities, we constructed an algorithm to efficiently and swiftly identify suspected MERS patients, enabling the timely implementation of infection prevention strategies to prevent nosocomial transmission.

Objectives: The recent experience of the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the critical need for a surveillance system to alert healthcare facilities about the admission of patients with emerging infectious diseases (EID), thereby preventing nosocomial transmissions. Methods: Tan Tock Seng Hospital, an 1800-bed acute tertiary-care hospital in Singapore, transitioned to a new- generation electronic medical record system, Epic, in August 2022. Leveraging the system’s capabilities, we developed an algorithm to generate the line-list of suspected Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) patients, in alignment with the screening guidelines provided by Singapore’s Ministry of Health. The algorithm first identifies patients who presented within 14 days (maximum incubation period) of their travel to Arabic peninsular countries. This information is documented by the emergency department’s triage nurses. Additionally, patients with suspected MERS indicated in the problem list or diagnosis by attending clinicians, particularly emergency-medicine physicians or infectious-disease physicians, are included. Furthermore, patients who are ordered for a MERS- Coronavirus polymerase chain reaction test, are identified. The algorithm can also be further modified as and when the case definition of the EID changes. Results: The surveillance report constructed with Epic algorithm can be scheduled for daily generation or generated on demand within a few minutes. This newer approach is more time- and resource-efficient compared to the manual surveillance process, which necessitates at least three staff members to engage in a series of prolonged manual processes. The report, by extracting information directly from Epic in near real-time, also minimizes the likelihood of errors that may occur during the manual process. Subsequently, the team of epidemiologists identifies the suspected MERS patients form the generated report and efficiently follow up them until a diagnosis of MERS is excluded. Conclusions: Harnessing Epic’s capabilities, we constructed an algorithm to efficiently and swiftly identify suspected MERS patients, enabling the timely implementation of infection prevention strategies to prevent nosocomial transmission.

The current study aims to assess associations between trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels and mortality and to investigate modification effects of genetics. A total of 500 participants from a family-based cohort study were enrolled from 2005 to 2017 and followed up until 2020 in Fangshan District, Beijing, China. Serum TMAO levels were measured using the ELISA kit. The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and deaths from CVD and stroke. During a median follow-up time of 7·38 years, thirty-eight deaths were recorded, including twenty deaths due to CVD and nineteen deaths due to stroke. Compared with the lowest TMAO quartile group, the HR for all-cause mortality was 1·35 (95 % CI: 0·44, 4·15), 1·65 (95 % CI: 0·58, 4·64) and 2·45 (95 % CI: 0·91, 6·57), respectively, in higher groups. No association was observed between TMAO and CVD mortality. However, compared with the lowest TMAO concentration group, the HR for stroke mortality was 1·93 (95 % CI: 0·40, 9·39), 1·91 (95 % CI: 0·41, 8·96) and 4·16 (95 % CI: 0·94, 18·52), respectively, in higher groups (Pfor trend = 0·046). Furthermore, polygenic risk score (PRS) for longevity modified the association of TMAO with all-cause mortality (Pfor interaction = 0·008). The risk of mortality (HR = 2·20, 95 % CI: 1·06, 4·57) was higher among participants with lower PRS compared with higher PRS (HR = 1·00, 95 % CI: 0·71, 1·40). The study indicates that elevated serum TMAO levels are potentially associated with long-term mortality risk in rural areas of northern China, especially for stroke deaths. Additionally, it provides novel evidence that genetic variations might modify the association.

Design-by-analogy (DbA) is a powerful method for product innovation design, leveraging multidomain design knowledge to generate new ideas. Previous studies have relied heavily on designers’ experiences to retrieve analogical knowledge from other domains, lacking a structured method to organize and understand multidomain analogical knowledge. This presents a significant challenge in recommending high-quality analogical sources, which needs to be addressed. To tackle these issues, a knowledge graph-assisted DbA approach via structured analogical knowledge retrieval is proposed. First, an improved function-effect-structure ontology model is constructed to extract functions and effects as potential analogical sources, and six semantic matching rules are established to output entity triplets, and the DbA knowledge graph (DbAKG) is developed. Second, based on the knowledge of semantic relationships in DbAKG, the domain distance and similarity between the design target and the analogical sources are introduced to establish an analogical value model, ensuring the novelty and feasibility of analogical sources. After that, with function as the design target, analogical sources transfer strategy is formed to support innovative solution solving, and TRIZ theory is used to solve design conflicts. Finally, a pipeline inspection robot case study is further employed to verify the proposed approach. Additionally, a knowledge graph-assisted analogical design system has been developed to assist in managing multidomain knowledge and the analogical process, facilitate the adoption of innovative design strategies, and assist companies in providing more competitive products to seize the market.

n-3 PUFA, including ALA, EPA and DHA, are widely found in plant oils and marine organisms. These fatty acids demonstrate significant biological effects, and their adequate intake is essential for maintaining health. However, modern diets often lack sufficient n-3 PUFA, especially among populations that consume little fish or seafood, leading to a growing interest in n-3 PUFA supplementation in nutrition and health research. In recent decades, the role of n-3 PUFA in preventing and treating various diseases has gained increasing attention, particularly in cardiovascular, neurological, ophthalmic, allergic, hepatic and oncological fields. In orthopaedics, n-3 PUFA exert beneficial effects through several mechanisms, including modulation of inflammatory responses, enhancement of cartilage repair and regulation of bone metabolism. These effects demonstrate potential for the treatment of conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, osteoporosis, fractures, sarcopenia and spinal degenerative diseases. This review summarises the clinical applications of n-3 PUFA, with a focus on their research progress in the field of orthopaedics, and explores their potential in the treatment of orthopaedic diseases.

Epidemiologic evidence on the association between dietary choline, betaine and mortality risk remains limited, particularly among non-Western populations. We examined the association of dietary choline and betaine with all-cause mortality in Chinese adults using data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey 1991–2015. We included 9027 men and 8828 women without CVD and cancer at baseline. Dietary intake was assessed using 3-day 24-hour dietary recalls and household food inventories. Death was ascertained through household surveys in each wave. Time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression models estimated multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % CIs. During a median follow-up of 9·1 years, 891 men and 687 women were deceased. Higher total choline intake was associated with lower all-cause mortality in both men (HRQ5 v. Q1 = 0·58 (95 % CI: 0·45, 0·74)) and women (HRQ5 v. Q1 = 0·59 (95 % CI: 0·44, 0·78)). The dose–response curve were reverse J-shaped in men and L-shaped in women (both P-nonlinear ≤ 0·005). Similarly, fat-soluble choline intake was inversely associated with mortality in both men (HRQ5 v. Q1 = 0·59 (95 % CI: 0·46, 0·75)) and women (HRQ5 v. Q1 = 0·53 (95 % CI: 0·40, 0·70)), showing reverse J-shaped patterns (both P-nonlinear < 0·001). A J-shaped association between water-soluble choline and mortality was observed in women (P-nonlinear < 0·001), but a null association was found in men. Betaine intake was not associated with all-cause mortality in either sex. Our findings suggest that adequate choline intake is linked to reduced all-cause mortality in Chinese adults with predominantly plant-based diets.

Germplasm resources are the foundation for improving crop varieties and a strategic asset for global food security. They also advance plant breeding, agricultural biotechnology and the production of essential agricultural goods. To assess the distribution, diversity and conservation status of food crop germplasm in the Hainan Province, China, we conducted a detailed survey of the Hainan Island. Between 2017 and 2022, we collected 330 food crop germplasm resources, encompassing 16 cereal crops, including rice, maize, sweet potato. The collected germplasm resources exhibited traits of high resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses, including common diseases and drought stress, as well as superior quality and adaptability to poor soil conditions such as sandy land. However, challenges such as low productivity and hybrid degradation were identified. These resources were primarily found in Haikou City, Baisha County, Danzhou City, Wuzhishan City and Sanya City. Additionally, we collected several ancient local varieties and endangered germplasm resources such as ‘Jiezi rice’ and ‘Wuzhishan maize’. This study serves as a reference for the conservation, development and utilization of local food crop germplasm resources in Hainan Province and lays the foundation for breeding and developing new varieties.

Long-duration and time-resolved particle image velocimetry measurements were conducted in rough-wall open channel flows (OCFs), with the friction Reynolds number ranging from 642 to 2034. The primary objective is to investigate the impacts of various turbulent motions at different scales on the mean wall-shear stress ($\langle \tau _w \rangle$). To achieve this aim, a physical decomposition of $\langle \tau _w \rangle$ was initially performed utilizing the double-averaged methodology proposed by Nikora et al. (2019 J. Fluid Mech. 872, 626–664). This method enabled the breakdown of $\langle \tau _w \rangle$ into three distinct constituents: viscous, turbulent and dispersive stress segments. The findings underscore the substantial roles that turbulent and dispersive stresses play, accounting for over 75 % and 9 % of $\langle \tau _w \rangle$, respectively. Subsequently, a scale decomposition was further applied to analyse the contributions of coherent motions at different scales to $\langle \tau _w \rangle$. Adopting typical cutoff streamwise wavelengths ($\lambda _x = 3h$ and $10h$), the contribution of large-scale motions (LSMs) and very large-scale motions (VLSMs) to the overall wall-shear stress was quantified. It was revealed that turbulent motions with $\lambda _x \gt 3h$ and $\lambda _x \gt 10h$ contribute more than 40 % and 18 % of $\langle \tau _w \rangle$, respectively. The scale decomposition of the wall-shear stress and the contribution from LSMs and VLSMs exhibit evident dependencies on the Reynolds number. The contribution of LSMs and VLSMs to $\langle \tau _w \rangle$ is lower in rough OCFs compared with those of smooth counterparts. Secondary currents induced by the rough wall are hypothesised to be responsible for the reduced strength of LSMs and VLSMs and decreases in their contribution to $\langle \tau _w \rangle$.

Manganese (Mn) is a crucial trace element that actively participates in a diverse array of physiological processes. Mn is maintained at appropriate levels in the body by absorption and excretion by the body. Dysregulation of Mn homeostasis can lead to a variety of diseases, especially the accumulation of Mn in the brain, resulting in toxic side effects. We reviewed the metabolism and distribution of Mn at multiple levels, including organ, cellular and sub-cell levels. Mitochondria are the main sites of Mn metabolism and energy conversion in cells. Enhanced Mn superoxide dismutase activity reduces mitochondrial oxidative stress and inhibits cancer development. In addition, Mn enhances anti-cancer immune responses through the cGAS–STING pathway. We introduced various delivery vectors for Mn delivery to cancer sites for Mn supplementation and anti-cancer immunity. This review aims to provide new research perspectives for the application of Mn in the prevention and treatment of human diseases, especially by enhancing anti-cancer immune responses to inhibit cancer progression.