Explore the vast range of titles available.

Epilepsy is a group of chronic brain diseases characterized by transient central nervous system dysfunction caused by repeated abnormal synchronization of neuronal discharges in the brain, with sudden onset and repeated seizures. Epilepsy has been listed as one of the five major neuropsychiatric diseases of the World Health Organization (WHO). Hereditary epilepsy refers to epilepsy syndromes previously classified as idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGEs), which encompasses several different epilepsy syndromes ranging in clinical severity from relatively benign febrile convulsions (FS) and childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) to the more severe juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) and generalized epileptic seizures with febrile convulsions (GEFS+). This article analyzes the direction of ion channel related to epileptic seizures. It will look forward to the future research direction of some of the ion channels related to epileptogenesis.

To understand how light intensity influences plant morphology and photosynthesis in the forage crop alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. Zhongmu 1), we investigated changes in leaf angle orientation, chlorophyll fluorescence, parameters of photosynthesis and expression of genes related to enzymes involved in photosynthesis, the Calvin cycle and carbon metabolism in alfalfa seedlings exposed to five light intensities (100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 μmol m−2 s−1) under hydroponic conditions. Seedlings grown under low light intensities had significantly increased plant height, leaf hyponasty, specific leaf area, photosynthetic pigments, leaf nitrogen content and maximal PSII quantum yield, but the increased light-capturing capacity generated a carbon resource cost (e.g., decreased carbohydrates and biomass accumulation). Increased light intensity significantly improved leaf orientation toward the sun and upregulated the genes for Calvin cycle enzymes, thereby increasing photosynthetic capacity. Furthermore, high light (400 and 500 μmol m−2 s−1) significantly enhanced carbohydrate accumulation, accompanied by gene upregulation and increased activity of sucrose and starch-synthesis-related enzymes and those involved in carbon metabolism. Together, these results advance our understanding of morphological and physiological regulation in shade avoidance in alfalfa, which would guide the identification of suitable spatial planting patterns in the agricultural system.

Chenopodium album L. is a troublesome annual species in various cropping systems, and a sound knowledge of the ecological response of C . album germination to environmental factors would suggest suitable management strategies for inhibiting its spread. Preliminary laboratory-based research was conducted to investigate germination and emergence requirements of C . album under various environmental conditions (e.g., photoperiods, constant temperature, salinity, moisture, soil pH, burial depth, and oat crop residue). Results showed C . album seeds were found to be photoblastic, with only 13% germination in darkness. The maximum germination (94%) of C . album occurred at an optimal temperature of 25°C, and the depressive effect of other temperatures on germination was more severe at lower rather than higher temperatures. Seed germination was suitably tolerant of salinity and osmotic potential, with germination observed at 200 mM NaCl (37.0%) and -0.8 MPa (20%), respectively. Germination was relatively uniform (88–92%) at pH levels ranging from 4 to 10. The maximum germination of C . album was observed on the soil surface, with no or rare emergence of seeds at a burial depth of 2 cm or under 7000 kg ha -1 oat straw cover, respectively. Information provided by this study will help to develop more sustainable and effective integrated weed management strategies for the control of C . album , including (i) a shallow-tillage procedures to bury weed seeds in conventional-tillage systems and (ii) oat residue retention or coverage on the soil surface in no-tillage systems.

Coastal areas are essential for global ‘blue carbon’ burial, significantly impacting the global carbon cycle. To better understand the carbon burial capacity, impact factors, and response mechanisms of surface sediments in different coastline regions, this study investigated the surface sediments of the Spartina alterniflora vegetation, transition, and bare flat areas along Jiangsu coast in China. The results indicated significant changes in organic carbon (OC), inorganic carbon (IC), and various physicochemical property indicators between the three coastal environments. There were also significant differences in the important impact factors of OC and IC in each region. In areas of vegetation, OC and IC influenced each other, while nitrogen (N), clay, and sand were common impact factors. The pH only had a significant impact on OC. In the bare flat area, the important impact factors of OC and IC were identical: OC/IC, clay, salinity (SAL), and sand. However, the important impact factors of OC and IC in the transition area have undergone significant changes. The important impact factors of OC were N, total phosphorus (TP), total sulfur (TS), SAL, and sand. The partial least squares regression analysis results of IC were poor, and there were no important impact factors. This study refined the spatial distribution patterns and response mechanisms to the important impact factors of carbon in different coastal subregions, providing a basis for accurately evaluating the role of coastal wetlands in mitigating global climate change.

Aim This study aimed to explore the perceptions of medical personnel and patients regarding respiratory muscle training (RMT) for patients after mechanical ventilation withdrawal. Design A qualitative study. Methods Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 12 medical staff and 9 eligible patients between August and December 2023. Guided by the integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i‐PARIHS) framework, the interviews focused on facilitators and barriers to RMT. Data were coded according to the i‐PARIHS domains (context, innovation and recipients) and analysed thematically. Results Three main themes emerged: (1) recipients—encompassing medical staff attitudes, knowledge training, patient physical factors, and willingness to engage in RMT, (2) context—including interdisciplinary collaboration, quality control, human resources, incentives, training facilities, leadership focus and the role of respiratory therapists and (3) innovation—highlighting the advantages of RMT and challenges in the continuity of evidence‐based application. Conclusion This study identified key barriers and facilitators to respiratory muscle training in post‐mechanical ventilation care, providing an evidence base for developing intervention strategies in the future.

The leakage characteristics and static stiffness of scallop damper seals have a significant impact on rotor vibration and stability. A parameter sensitivity analysis model for geometrical parameters in scallop damper seals was developed using a design of experiments (DOE) approach. The method employed a central composite design, integrating factorial, axial, and center points to assess non-linear effects efficiently. And the effects of radial clearance, cavity depth, and length–diameter ratios on leakage performance and rotor stability were investigated. The leakage rate, flow-induced force, and static stiffness coefficient for 15 different combinations of geometric parameters at eccentricities of 0.2 and 0.4 were numerically calculated. The results show that eccentricity has little effect on leakage and its parameter sensitivity. Larger cavity depths and length–diameter ratios are beneficial for seal leakage performance. The tangential force increases with increasing eccentricity but decreases with increasing radial clearance, while it first decreases and then increases with the increase in the cavity depth and length–diameter ratios. Additionally, the radial force decreases with the increase in the length-to-diameter ratio and increases first and then decreases with the increase in radial clearance. The parameter level in this study is defined as the ratio of the actual parameter value to the maximum parameter value. Static direct stiffness reaches its maximum value at a radial clearance level of 30.2%. It remains positive within a cavity depth range of 92.3~100%, as well as a length–diameter ratio range of 0~20.3%. The static cross-coupled stiffness gradually decreases with the increase in radial clearance but first decreases and then increases with the increase in the cavity depth or length–diameter ratio levels. The research results presented in this paper can serve as a reference for the analysis of the performance and design of scallop damper seals.

We present PuzzleSorter, a certainty-aware visual analytics system for cultural relic fragment restoration. Restoring cultural objects from broken fragments is a fundamental task in geometry and archaeology. Prior research proposes automatic models to classify fragments by types and assemble matched pairs successively. However, eroded fragments lead to erroneous results, posing two challenges for restorers to correct: (1) numerous fragments conceal errors within an overwhelming number of object appearances, and (2) the unknown difficulty of restoration hinders correction strategy development. To address these challenges, PuzzleSorter provides multi-criteria analysis that helps users identify certainties of current solutions and alternatives at the type, object, and fragment levels. Moreover, our system visualizes these certainties through a relation graph, which implies alternative assembly solutions with geometric context and indicates correction difficulties through neighbor proximity, number of neighbors, and path length. We demonstrate the feasibility and utility of our system through two case studies and expert interviews.

The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) is the world’s largest and most sensitive single-dish spherical radio telescope, and with the rapidly increasing observational demand, the urgent plan to raise the observational zenith angle is proposed for FAST to expand the observational sky area. In this regard, based on the previously studied feed cabin configuration, this paper creatively proposes an improved configuration with fixed-length cables connected to sliders and in parallel with a telescopic rod. Given the essential difference between the improved configuration and the traditional cable-length-control configuration, this paper derives the geometric and mechanical models. And based on the actual observational need of FAST, an analytical mechanical optimization method is also proposed, which aims to minimize the variance between cable forces within bounded domains. Finally, there are some simulations to verify that the improved configuration can both meet the cable force safety requirement and the space limitation in the cabin, which means it can achieve at least 50° zenith angle observation for FAST. This research provides the theoretical method for this kind of special configuration and is also an important basis on the FAST upgrade.

The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) is the largest and most sensitive single-dish radio telescope in the world and has made many important scientific achievements in a few years. Given the enormous scientific research potential of the Milky Way center, it is necessary to enhance the observation zenith angle as close to the Milky Way center as possible. In this regard, a new mechanism for the feed cabin is proposed with cables and sliders, which is lighter in weight and larger in the workspace. This paper will introduce this new feed cabin and the whole feed support system and establish their mechanical models to optimize the relevant control parameters, making FAST achieve an observation zenith angle of at least 50° with satisfying the required constraints. It indicates that the new mechanism designed by the FAST team can be used for the FAST upgrade and the future FAST array project.

Collaborative engagement with older adults in design research activities is an effective and beneficial method for researchers to understand the needs of this demographic. Participatory design, originally proposed within Western value systems, faces challenges in application across different regions and cultural contexts, particularly in participatory design activities targeting older adults within the Chinese societal context. However, limited literature focuses on the methodologies of participatory design practices with older adults in non-Western countries. This study views the organizational process of participatory design activities as a form of service design research involving older adults, where design researchers serve as providers and older adults as the recipients of the service. Drawing upon service design thinking, this paper introduces the concept of ‘participation touchpoints’—moments within activities that encourage active involvement of older adults—to explore the interactions between participants and the organizers, procedures, and environments of activities. This approach aims to optimize the experience of older participants and enhance their engagement. Furthermore, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, we proposed a framework of participation touchpoints including attitude guidance, incentive motivation, and capability compensation. We evaluated this framework through a participatory design workshop with older adults and multiple stakeholders, focusing on the dynamic interactions among organizers, participants, and the activities themselves. This research endeavors to foster more effective collaboration with older adults in design research, aiming to develop a participatory design framework that ensures mutual empowerment for older adults and the research team.