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This book reports the latest findings on intelligent energy management of Internet data centers in smart-grid environments. The book gathers novel research ideas in Internet data center energy management, especially scenarios with cyber-related vulnerabilities, power outages and carbon emission constraints. The book will be of interest to university researchers, R&D engineers and graduate students in communication and networking areas who wish to learn the core principles, methods, algorithms, and applications of energy management of Internet data centers in smart grids.

The heat generation of electronic devices is increasing dramatically, which causes a serious bottleneck in the thermal management of electronics, and overheating will result in performance deterioration and even device damage. With the development of micro-machining technologies, the microchannel heat sink (MCHS) has become one of the best ways to remove the considerable amount of heat generated by high-power electronics. It has the advantages of large specific surface area, small size, coolant saving and high heat transfer coefficient. This paper comprehensively takes an overview of the research progress in MCHSs and generalizes the hotspots and bottlenecks of this area. The heat transfer mechanisms and performances of different channel structures, coolants, channel materials and some other influencing factors are reviewed. Additionally, this paper classifies the heat transfer enhancement technology and reviews the related studies on both the single-phase and phase-change flow and heat transfer. The comprehensive review is expected to provide a theoretical reference and technical guidance for further research and application of MCHSs in the future. The studies on microchannel heat sinks for electronics cooling are reviewed comprehensively. The main research areas of interest for microchannel heat sinks are classified. The studies on both single-phase and phase-change flow cooling are reviewed. The characteristics, application conditions and shortcomings of microchannel heat sinks with different structures, working fluids, materials and some other influencing factors are introduced. The prospects for and development trends of microchannel heat sinks are revealed based on the overall review and analysis.

As key equipment in the manufacturing industry, computer numerical control (CNC) machines need to meet the ever-increasing demands for high automation, intelligence, and integration. Since its introduction in 2003, digital twin (DT) has seen its broad applications in various areas, such as product design, process monitoring, quality control, and fault diagnosis. A DT creates a virtual replica of the physical system by integrating real-time data with simulation technologies, providing new possibilities to make CNC machining more intelligent. In the past decade, extensive research has been conducted on the implementation of CNC machining DTs (CNCDTs). This paper focuses specifically on multisensor data fusion-driven CNCDTs by introducing key technologies including sensors, data fusion, and CNCDT architecture. A comprehensive survey is conducted on existing studies of CNCDTs according to their application areas, followed by critical analysis on existing challenges. This review summarizes the current progress of CNCDTs and provides guidance for further development.

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD) is a pathological process that commonly occurs throughout the human life span and is a major cause of lower back pain. Better elucidation of the molecular mechanisms involved in disc degeneration could provide a theoretical basis for the development of lumbar disc intervention strategies. In recent years, extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis has received much attention due to its relevance to the mechanical properties of IVDs. ECM proteolysis mediated by a variety of proteases is involved in the pathological process of disc degeneration. Here, we discuss in detail the relationship between the IVD as well as the ECM and the role of ECM proteolysis in the degenerative process of the IVD. Targeting ECM proteolysis-associated proteases may be an effective means of intervention in IDD.

Differential Evolution (DE) is widely recognized as a highly effective evolutionary algorithm for global optimization. It has proven its efficacy in tackling diverse problems across various fields and real-world applications. DE boasts several advantages, such as ease of implementation, reliability, speed, and adaptability. However, DE does have certain limitations, such as suboptimal solution exploitation and challenging parameter tuning. To address these challenges, this research paper introduces a novel algorithm called Enhanced Binary JADE (EBJADE), which combines differential evolution with multi-population and elites regeneration. The primary innovation of this paper lies in the introduction of strategy with enhanced exploitation capabilities. This strategy is based on utilizing the sorting of three vectors from the current generation to perturb the target vector. By introducing directional differences, guiding the search towards improved solutions. Additionally, this study adopts a multi-population method with a rewarding subpopulation to dynamically adjust the allocation of two different mutation strategies. Finally, the paper incorporates the sampling concept of elite individuals from the Estimation of Distribution Algorithm (EDA) to regenerate new solutions through the selection process in DE. Experimental results, using the CEC2014 benchmark tests, demonstrate the strong competitiveness and superior performance of the proposed algorithm.

In the post-COVID-19 era, the tourism industry faces urgent sustainability challenges stemming from carbon-intensive operations and inefficient resource use. While the industrial internet of things has the potential to drive green transformation, how it reconstructs green intellectual capital to foster green innovation remains underexplored. This study addresses this critical gap by adopting a three-wave longitudinal survey of 543 Chinese star-rated hotels and applying a hybrid SEM-ANN model to analyze both linear and nonlinear dynamics among industrial internet of things, green intellectual capital, and green innovation. The results reveal that industrial internet of things integration directly promotes green innovation (β = 0.214, p  < 0.001) and indirectly drives green innovation by enhancing green intellectual capital dimensions: green human capital (β = 0.324) through digital skill upgrading, green structural capital (β = 0.450) via improved digital governance, and green relational capital (β = 0.360) by enabling cross-sectoral partnerships. Mediation analysis confirms that green intellectual capital partially mediates the IIoT–GI relationship ( p  < 0.05). Notably, ANN analysis shows that green relational capital exerts the strongest nonlinear influence on green innovation. By extending dynamic capabilities theory, this research proposes a novel IIoT–GIC–GI integration model, offering a strategic roadmap for green digital transformation in hospitality. Practically, the findings inform China’s tourism policy goals for 2023–2025 and provide actionable insights for enhancing low-carbon development in star-rated hotels.

ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of demographic and socioeconomic factors on the COVID-19 case-fatality rate (CFR) globally.DesignPublicly available register-based ecological study.SettingTwo hundred and nine countries/territories in the world.ParticipantsAggregated data including 10 445 656 confirmed COVID-19 cases.Primary and secondary outcome measuresCOVID-19 CFR and crude cause-specific death rate were calculated using country-level data from the Our World in Data website.ResultsThe average of country/territory-specific COVID-19 CFR is about 2%–3% worldwide and higher than previously reported at 0.7%–1.3%. A doubling in size of a population is associated with a 0.48% (95% CI 0.25% to 0.70%) increase in COVID-19 CFR, and a doubling in the proportion of female smokers is associated with a 0.55% (95% CI 0.09% to 1.02%) increase in COVID-19 CFR. The open testing policies are associated with a 2.23% (95% CI 0.21% to 4.25%) decrease in CFR. The strictness of anti-COVID-19 measures was not statistically significantly associated with CFR overall, but the higher Stringency Index was associated with higher CFR in higher-income countries with active testing policies (regression coefficient beta=0.14, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.27). Inverse associations were found between cardiovascular disease death rate and diabetes prevalence and CFR.ConclusionThe association between population size and COVID-19 CFR may imply the healthcare strain and lower treatment efficiency in countries with large populations. The observed association between smoking in women and COVID-19 CFR might be due to the finding that the proportion of female smokers reflected broadly the income level of a country. When testing is warranted and healthcare resources are sufficient, strict quarantine and/or lockdown measures might result in excess deaths in underprivileged populations. Spatial dependence and temporal trends in the data should be taken into account in global joint strategy and/or policy making against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The implementation of tax reduction policies in China represents a significant and effective strategy. Accordingly, this strategy has been designed to facilitate the development of a green economy by establishing a market-oriented allocation system for environmental and resource elements, while simultaneously invigorating microeconomic entities. As the nation navigates towards the adoption of green, low-carbon production, and lifestyles, the role of clean and green energy emerges as a vital necessity. Therefore, to explain the impact of tax reduction policies on the green energy industry, this study collected and compiled financial indicator data from 100 listed companies in the green energy sector, utilizing the China Stock Market Accounting Research database (CSMAR) as a source for research samples. A Panel Vector Auto Regression (PVAR) model was employed to observe the effects of tax reduction policies on the energy industry, while the dosage effects Difference in Difference (DID) model was utilized to verify and supplement the findings. In summary, the findings of this study can be summarized as follows: firstly, tax reduction policies exert a positive impact on the green energy industry by effectively mitigating the financial cost burden on green energy enterprises, thereby reducing production expenses and amplifying their profitability. Secondly, such policies bolster the capital turnover rate of enterprises in the short term, thereby enabling augmented research and development investments, refining production efficiency, and enhancing competitiveness. Through rigorous analysis and demonstration, the research findings accentuate the stimulative and propulsive impacts of tax reduction policies on the flourishing development of the green energy industry. Furthermore, this study provides relevant fiscal and tax policy recommendations, thoughtfully derived from the research findings.

Low back pain (LBP) is a major musculoskeletal disorder and the socioeconomic problem with a high prevalence that mainly involves intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, characterized by progressive nucleus pulposus (NP) cell death and the development of an inflammatory microenvironment in NP tissue. Excessively accumulated cytosolic DNA acts as a damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) that is monitored by the cGAS-STING axis to trigger the immune response in many degenerative diseases. NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent pyroptosis is a type of inflammatory programmed death that promotes a chronic inflammatory response and tissue degeneration. However, the relationship between the cGAS-STING axis and NLRP3 inflammasome-induced pyroptosis in the pathogenesis of IVD degeneration remains unclear. Here, we used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histopathology to demonstrate that cGAS, STING, and NLRP3 are associated with the degree of IVD degeneration. Oxidative stress induced cGAS-STING axis activation and NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis in a STING-dependent manner in human NP cells. Interestingly, the canonical morphological and functional characteristics of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening with the cytosolic escape of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were observed in human NP cells under oxidative stress. Furthermore, the administration of a specific pharmacological inhibitor of mPTP and self-mtDNA cytosolic leakage effectively reduced NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptotic NP cell death and microenvironmental inflammation in vitro and degenerative progression in a rat disc needle puncture model. Collectively, these data highlight the critical roles of the cGAS-STING-NLRP3 axis and pyroptosis in the progression of IVD degeneration and provide promising therapeutic approaches for discogenic LBP.Low back pain: Understanding disc degeneration yields possible therapeutic targetAn investigation of the mechanisms responsible for intervertebral disc degeneration (IVD) reveals a potential treatment to limit the progression of low back pain. IVD involves widespread inflammation and cell death inside discs, but exactly how the condition progresses is unclear. Cao Yang, Kun Wang and co-workers at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China, investigated IVD in patient samples and rat models. Oxidative stress triggered leakage of mitochondrial DNA into cellular fluid in cells in the center of discs. This activated an immune response pathway and prompted the release of inflammatory cytokines. The degree of activation of this pathway is directly linked to IVD severity, providing a potential method of monitoring the condition. Administering a drug to rats to block mitochondrial DNA leakage slowed IVD progression.

Although degeneration of the nucleus pulposus (NP) is a major contributor to intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) and low back pain, the underlying molecular complexity and cellular heterogeneity remain poorly understood. Here, a comprehensive single‐cell resolution transcript landscape of human NP is reported. Six novel human NP cells (NPCs) populations are identified by their distinct molecular signatures. The potential functional differences among NPC subpopulations are analyzed. Predictive transcripts, transcriptional factors, and signal pathways with respect to degeneration grades are explored. It is reported that fibroNPCs is the subpopulation for end‐stage degeneration. CD90+NPCs are observed to be progenitor cells in degenerative NP tissues. NP‐infiltrating immune cells comprise a previously unrecognized diversity of cell types, including granulocytic myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (G‐MDSCs). Integrin αM (CD11b) and oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor 1 (OLR1) as surface markers of NP‐derived G‐MDSCs are uncovered. The G‐MDSCs are found to be enriched in mildly degenerated (grade II and III) NP tissues compared to severely degenerated (grade IV and V) NP tissues. Their immunosuppressive function and alleviation effects on NPCs’ matrix degradation are revealed in vitro. Collectively, this study reveals the NPC‐type complexity and phenotypic characteristics in NP, thereby providing new insights and clues for IVDD treatment. Low back pain is a common and debilitating condition with degeneration of the nucleus pulposus (NP) as the main cause. Here, human NP tissues with progressive degeneration grades are profiles, and a precise atlas of NP cells (NPCs) and immunocytes is constructed. The dynamics of NPC heterogeneity at the mRNA level during IVDD is characterized. These findings may aid the understanding of molecular complexity and cellular heterogeneity in intervertebral disc degeneration.