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Objectives: Investigate the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) at various body sites and dental caries. Materials and methods: Based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 2011 to 2016, the correlation between BMD at various body sites and the DMFS index among 7044 adults aged 20–59 years was analyzed. Multiple linear regression, restricted cubic splines (RCS), piecewise linear regression, logistic regression, weighted quantile sum regression (WQS) and mediation effects analysis were integrated to explore the relationship between BMD and dental caries. Results: Under the linear assumption, except for arm BMD, the BMDs of all other sites are negatively correlated with the DMFS index of dental caries. RCS analysis indicates a U-shaped relationship between head BMD and the DMFS index (p for nonlinear < 0.0001). WQS analysis indicates that mixed BMD is significantly negatively correlated with the DMFS index for dental caries (estimate, − 0.023; 95% CI, − 0.025 ~ − 0.020), and head BMD has the most significant impact on the DMFS index (weight = 91.4%). Simple mediation analysis of the effect of dental caries on BMD levels mediated by inflammation levels showed negative results, suggesting that dental caries may not influence BMD through inflammation levels. Conclusion: Monitoring BMD should be combined with appropriate oral healthcare and caries management strategies to effectively address these interconnected health issues, and particular attention should be paid to the monitoring of head BMD.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with relatively high energy density and power density are considered an important energy source for new energy vehicles (NEVs). However, LIBs are highly sensitive to temperature, which makes their thermal management challenging. Developing a high-performance battery thermal management system (BTMS) is crucial for the battery to retain high efficiency and security. Generally, the BTMS is divided into three categories based on the physical properties of the cooling medium, including phase change materials (PCMs), liquid, and air. This paper discusses the effect of temperature on the performance of individual batteries and battery systems, at first. Then, a systematic survey of the state-of-the-art BTMS is presented in terms of liquid-based, PCM-based, and air-based BTMS. To further utilize the heat source of the vehicle, the BTMS integrated with the vehicle thermal management system (VTMS) is discussed. Finally, the challenges and future prospects for BTMS with the ability to cut off the thermal runaway are discussed. The primary aim of this review is to offer some guidelines for the design of safe and effective BTMS for the battery pack of NEVs.

Modulation of the gut microbiome could favorably alter the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) in cirrhosis and portal hypertension (PH). This meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of microbiome-targeted therapies (MTTs) on HVPG in persons with cirrhosis and PH. PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus were searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) analyzing the effects on HVPG in people with cirrhosis who received MTTs. Clinical outcomes were pooled using RevMan5.3 software. A trial sequential analysis was applied to calculate the required information size and evaluate the credibility of the meta-analysis results. A total of six studies were included. MTTs were associated with a reduction of 1.22 mm Hg in HVPG (95% CI: -2.31, -0.14 mmHg, P = 0.03). Subgroup analysis showed a greater reduction with longer duration (-1.88 mmHg;95% CI: -3.23, -0.53; P = 0.006). In the trial sequential analysis of HVPG reduction, the cumulative Z curve crossed the traditional significance boundary without the achievement of required information size (330). MTTs may be associated with a reduction in HVPG in patients with cirrhosis and PH. Microbiome-targeted therapies merit additional large-sample studies to define the efficacy of HVPG. PROSPERO 2020: CRD4202021609.

Currently, recognition and assessment of human posture have become significant topics of interest, particularly through the use of visual sensor systems. These approaches can effectively address the drawbacks associated with traditional manual assessments, which include fatigue, variations in experience, and inconsistent judgment criteria. However, systems based on visual sensors encounter substantial implementation challenges when a large number of such sensors are used. To address these issues, we propose a human posture recognition and assessment system architecture, which comprises four distinct subsystems. Specifically, these subsystems include a Visual Sensor Subsystem (VSS), a Posture Assessment Subsystem (PAS), a Control-Display Subsystem, and a Storage Management Subsystem. Through the cooperation of subsystems, the architecture has achieved support for parallel data processing. Furthermore, the proposed architecture has been implemented by building an experimental testbed, which effectively verifies the rationality and feasibility of this architecture. In the experiments, the proposed architecture was evaluated by using pull-up and push-up exercises. The results demonstrate that the proposed architecture achieves an overall accuracy exceeding 96%, while exhibiting excellent real-time performance and scalability in different assessment scenarios.

When measuring Stokes parameters using the rotating wave plate method, the angle error of the polarizer’s light transmission axis, the azimuth error of the wave plate’s fast axis, and the phase delay error are key factors restricting accuracy. To address the existing calibration methods’ insufficient accuracy and incomplete consideration of the error parameters, this study constructed an error-transfer analytical model for an in-depth analysis of the principle of measuring Stokes parameters using the rotating wave plate method. It also clarified the quantitative parameter relationship between the measurement, wave plate, and polarizer errors. A device parameter calibration scheme using multi-angle polarized light (horizontally linearly polarized, [1,1,0,0]T, and 45° linearly polarized, [1,0,1,0]T) was further proposed, and by using the deviation between the theoretical response of the standard incident light and the actual measurement data, an error equation was established to solve the device parameter error and precisely calibrate the polarization detection device. The experimental results show that after using this method, the calibration error of the Stokes parameters decreased from 4.83% to within 0.46%, significantly overcoming the traditional methods’ limitations regarding incomplete consideration of the error parameters and accuracy improvement, providing a more concise and reliable method for high-precision polarization measurement.

To investigate the performance of horizontally reinforced composite foundations in resisting surface rupture of normal faults, this study designed and conducted a series of physical model tests. A systematic comparative analysis was performed on the fracture resistance of sites with three-layer sand, five-layer sand, and three-layer clay geogrid horizontally reinforced composite foundations under 70° normal fault dislocation. The results indicate that significant changes in earth pressure serve as a precursor indicator of fault rupture, and their evolution process reveals the internal energy accumulation and release mechanism. Increasing the number of geogrid layers significantly enhances the lateral confinement of the foundation, resulting in a narrower macro-rupture zone located farther from the structure in sand sites, and promotes the formation of a step-fault scarp deformation mode at the surface, which is more conducive to structural safety. Under identical reinforcement conditions, the clay site exhibited comprehensively superior fracture resistance compared to the sand site due to the soil cohesion and stronger interfacial interaction with the geogrids, manifested as more significant deviation of the rupture path, and lower microseismic accelerations and structural strains transmitted to the building. Comprehensive analysis confirms that employing geogrid-reinforced composite foundations can effectively guide the surface rupture path and improve the deformation pattern, representing an effective engineering measure for mitigating disaster risk for buildings spanning active faults.

Buildings crossing active faults often suffer severe damage due to fault dislocation during direct-type urban earthquakes. This study employs physical model tests to systematically investigate the dynamic response mechanisms of the integrated “surface rupture zone–overburden–foundation–superstructure” system subjected to bedrock dislocation. A testing apparatus capable of simulating reverse faults with adjustable dip angles (45° and 70°) was developed. Using both sand and clay as representative overburden materials, the experiments simulated the processes of surface rupture evolution, foundation deformation, and structural response under varying fault dislocation magnitudes. Results indicate that the fault rupture pattern is governed by the bedrock dislocation magnitude, soil type, and fault dip angle. The failure process can be categorized into three distinct stages: initial rupture, rupture propagation, and rupture penetration. The severity and progression of structural damage are primarily determined by the building’s location relative to the fault trace. Structures located entirely on the hanging wall exhibited tilting angles that remained below the specified code limit throughout the dislocation process, demonstrating behavior dominated by rigid-body translation. In contrast, buildings crossing the fault exceeded this limit even at low dislocation levels, developing significant tilt and strain concentration due to differential foundation settlement. The most severe damage occurred in high-angle dip sand sites, where the maximum structural tilt reached 5.5°. This research elucidates the phased evolution of seismic damage in straddle-fault structures, providing experimental evidence and theoretical support for the seismic design of buildings in near-fault regions. The principal theoretical and methodological contributions are (1) developing a systematic “fault–soil–structure” testing methodology that reveals the propagation of fault dislocation through the system; (2) clarifying the distinct failure mechanisms between straddle-fault and hanging-wall structures, providing a quantitative basis for targeted seismic design; and (3) quantifying the controlling influence of fault dip angle and soil type combinations on structural damage severity, identifying high-angle dip sand sites as the most critical scenario.

The effects of moisture and drying shrinkage can lead to uneven settlement, cracking, and other diseases in loess subgrade. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of amide polymer (AP) on the permeability, mechanical properties and crack resistance of loess by orthogonal experiments. The basic properties of AP and the permeability, mechanical properties, and dry–wet variation properties of polymer-modified loess were tested, and a scale model verification and simulation analysis were conducted. In this paper, water migration in subgrade is regulated by improving the water sensitivity of loess. By reducing the variation range of subgrade water content, the stress accumulation in subgrade caused by water is weakened. The results show that the curing time and mechanical properties of AP are directly affected by the oxidant and reducing agent, and the mechanical properties of AP are compatible with the characteristics of loess. AP filled the grain gap and reduced the permeability of loess by 34.05–280.83%. The ductility of polymer-modified loess is significantly increased, and the strain of peak strength is increased by 17.21–126.36%. AP can regulate moisture change, reduce the surface tension between particles, and reduce stress concentration. The strength loss rate was reduced by 19.98–51.21% by enhancing the cracking resistance and weakening the strength loss caused by dry and wet cycling. The increase of upper layer moisture content in the scale model of polymer-modified loess subgrade is reduced by 31.38–36.11%.

China is the largest carbon dioxide emitter in the world. Over the past decades, China has made great efforts to retard the carbon emission growth. This paper aims to quantify the driving forces of stagewise provincial carbon emission changes and expound the bottom-up provincial efforts aligned with China’s carbon abatement targets. During 2007–2012, economic growth as the major contributing factor posed a great increase in provincial carbon emissions, especially in underdeveloped provinces such as Inner Mongolia, Anhui, Guangxi, Shaanxi, and Ningxia. During 2012–2017, the energy intensity effect replaced economic growth as the largest contributor to provincial carbon emission changes. In both two periods, industrial structure upgrading and renewable energy expansion are conducive to mitigate provincial carbon growth, and the power sector will continue to contribute to national decarbonization. Lastly, this paper provides insight into national and provincial carbon emission abatement.

Traditional Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) control systems often encounter challenges related to nonlinearity and time-variability. Original dung beetle optimizer (DBO) offers fast convergence and strong local exploitation capabilities. However, they are limited by poor exploration capabilities, imbalance between exploration and exploitation phases, and insufficient precision in global search. This paper proposes a novel adaptive PID control algorithm based on enhanced dung beetle optimizer (EDBO) and back propagation neural network (BPNN). Firstly, the diversity of exploration is increased by incorporating a merit-oriented mechanism into the rolling behavior. Then, a sine learning factor is introduced to balance the global exploration and local exploitation capabilities. Additionally, a dynamic spiral search strategy and adaptive -distribution disturbance are presented to enhance search precision and global search capability. The BPNN is employed to fine-tune both PID and network parameters, leveraging its powerful generalization and learning ability to model nonlinear system dynamics. In the simplified motor experiments, the proposed controller achieved the lowest overshoot (0.5%) and the shortest response time (0.012 s), with a settling time of 0.02 s and a steady-state error of just 0.0010. In another set of experiments, the proposed controller recorded an overshoot and response time of 0.7% and 0.0010 s, across five DC motor tests. These results demonstrate the proposed adaptive PID control algorithm has superior performance in optimizing control system parameters, as well as improving system robustness and stability.