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A compact wideband high data rate implantable antenna is designed for cortical visual prosthesis devices. In order to achieve high data rate, a metamaterial array with negative permeability is formed by loading complementary open resonant rings to reduce the resonant frequency of the antenna and produce circular polarization characteristics. By introducing a meandering structure around the radiation unit, the current path on the antenna surface can be increased, further optimizing the impedance matching. Adding four U-shaped open slots on the ground plane can increase two adjacent resonant points, reducing the antenna size while increasing the impedance bandwidth. The antenna size is reduced to 8 × 8 × 0.635 mm³. A complete antenna model is established, and the biocompatibility, radiation characteristics and safety of the antenna are evaluated. The performance of the antenna is tested in a saline solution simulating the characteristics of cerebrospinal fluid. The measured impedance bandwidth is 26.5%, the axial ratio bandwidth is 22.3%, the gain is -20.9 dBi, and the effective communication distance is 4.1 m. The designed antenna has wide working frequency band, small size, good electromagnetic compatibility and high data rate communication ability, and is the optimal design scheme for cortical visual prosthesis.

Neural activity in the motor cortex evolves dynamically to prepare and generate movement. Here, we investigate how motor cortical dynamics adapt to dynamic environments and whether these adaptations influence robustness against disruptions. We apply intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) in the motor cortex of monkeys performing delayed center-out reaches to either a static target (static) or a rotating target (moving) that required interception. While ICMS prolongs reaction times (RTs) in the static condition, it does not increase RTs in the moving condition, correlating with faster recovery of neural population activity post-perturbation. Neural dynamics suggests that the moving condition involves ongoing sensorimotor transformations during the delay period, whereas motor planning in the static condition is completed shortly. A neural network model shows that continuous feedback input rapidly corrects perturbation-induced errors in the moving condition. We conclude that continuous sensorimotor transformations enhance the motor cortex’s resilience to perturbations, facilitating timely movement execution. How the motor cortex adapts to the changing environments remains unclear. Here, the authors show that continuous sensorimotor transformations enhance the motor cortex’s resilience to intracortical microstimulation perturbations during preparation for manual interception.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a major cause of heart failure and sudden cardiac death (SCD), with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 45%-50%. Current risk stratification is predominantly dependent on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), which has limited sensitivity and specificity. Hence, more effective biomarkers should be used in late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)-negative patients. A total of 378 consecutive patients with LGE-negative DCM were enrolled from four hospitals between December 2016 and December 2022. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging-derived strain parameters (global radial strain, global circumferential strain, and global longitudinal strain [GLS]) were assessed against the primary (SCD and related events) and secondary (heart failure, appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy) endpoints. Internal validation was performed using stratified bootstrap resampling with Harrell's optimism correction to report the optimism-corrected C-index. Data were accessed for research purposes from 15/06/2023-30/12/2023, and all records were de-identified prior to analysis. Over a median follow-up of 59.78 months, 35 (9.26%) and 72 (19.0%) patients presented with the primary and secondary endpoints, respectively. Based on the multivariate Cox analysis, GLS, LVEF, and age were independent prognostic factors. However, only GLS (HR = 1.37; P = 0.041) remained significant in the LVEF <20% subgroup. A model integrating GLS and LVEF had a better discrimination ability for SCD than LVEF strata alone (apparent C-index 0.756 vs 0.714, P < 0.001). This advantage persisted after bootstrap internal validation (B = 1000; optimism-corrected C-index 0.754 vs 0.711, Holm adjusted P = 0.048). Further inclusion of age and New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification enhanced the model's performance (model 4): apparent C-index 0.801; optimism-corrected C-index 0.785). GLS is an independent predictor of SCD-related events in LGE-negative DCM. Incorporating GLS with conventional indicators such as age, NYHA classification, and LVEF significantly enhances prognostic discrimination and model robustness, indicating potential value for future clinical risk stratification.

Background The routine establishment of a diverting stoma (DS) remains controversial in every patient undergoing Dixon operation. We aimed to establish a model for the risk assessment of rectal anastomotic leak (RAREAL) after Dixon in non-emergency patients with rectal cancer, using routinely available variables, by which surgeons could individualize their approach to DS. Methods 323 patients who underwent Dixon operation for rectal cancer from January 2015 to December 2018 were taken as the model group for retrospective study. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors associated with anastomotic leakage. We constructed the RAREAL model. 150 patients who underwent Dixon operation due to rectal cancer from January 2019 to December 2020 were collected according to the uniform criteria as a validation group to validate the RAREAL model. Results In the model group, multivariable analysis identified the following variables as independent risk factors for AL: HbA1c (odds ratio (OR) = 4.107; P  = 0.044), Left colic artery (LCA) non preservation (OR = 4.360; P  = 0.026), Tumor distance from the anal margin (TD) (OR = 6.373; P  = 0.002). In the model group, the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) for evaluating AL with RAREAL was 0.733, and when RAREAL score = 2.5, its sensitivity, specificity and Youden index were 0.385, 0.973, 0.358, respectively. The AUC was 0.722 in the validation group and its sensitivity and specificity were 0.333 and 0.985, respectively, when RAREAL score = 2.5. Conclusion The RAREAL score can be used to assess the risk of AL after Dixon operation for rectal cancer, and prophylactic DS should be proactively done when the score is greater than 2.5.

Smart electric vehicles (SEVs) hold significant potential in alleviating the energy crisis and environmental pollution. The augmented reality (AR) dashboard, a key feature of SEVs, is attracting considerable attention due to its ability to enhance driving safety and user experience through real-time, intuitive driving information. This study innovatively integrates Kansei engineering, factor analysis, fuzzy systems theory, analytic hierarchy process, grey relational analysis, and factorial experimentation to evaluate AR dashboards’ visual imagery and subjective preferences. The findings reveal that designs featuring blue planar and unconventional-shaped dials exhibit the best performance in terms of visual imagery. Subsequent factorial experiments confirmed these results, showing that drivers most favor blue-dominant designs. Furthermore, in unconventional-shaped dial designs, the visual effect of vertical 3D is more popular with drivers than horizontal 3D, while the opposite is true in round dials. This study provides a scientific evaluation method for assessing the emotional experience of AR dashboard interfaces. Additionally, these findings will help reduce the subjectivity in interface design and enhance the overall competitiveness of SEV vehicles.

Traditional villages are the spatial carriers of the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation, the concentrated expression of thousands of years of farming civilization, and a nonrenewable precious cultural heritage. However, in recent decades, with the rapid development of urbanization and modernization, traditional villages have rapidly declined or even disappeared. Therefore, exploring the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of traditional villages and clarifying their formation and development laws, can provide a new perspective for the continuity protection of traditional villages on a cross-regional scale. This study takes six batches of 462 traditional villages in the Wuling Mountains, Hunan, China as the research object. On the basis of the analysis of the spatial distribution characteristics of overall and different ethnic minority traditional villages, this research proposes the idea of simulating the spatial distribution mechanism of traditional villages by using the multiscale geographical weighted regression (MGWR) model. Results indicate that (1) the spatial distribution of the traditional villages of the overall and different ethnic minorities shows significant agglomeration characteristics (among them, traditional Miao and Tujia villages have formed the main and sub cores of the space gathering of traditional villages in the Wuling Mountains in Hunan); and (2) compared with the least squares (OLS) method and the classic geographical (GWR) weighted regression model, the MGWR model can reflect the impact scales of different factors, and the simulation effect is better. From the perspective of influence factors, natural factors are the basis of affecting the distribution of traditional villages in the Wuling Mountain area and are generally positively correlated. Socioeconomic factors have a dual influence on the spatial distribution of traditional villages and generally have a negative correlation. Cultural factors are the key to the spatial distribution of traditional villages and are generally positively correlated. Spatial factors have no significant impact on the spatial distribution of traditional villages. On the basis of these conclusions, this study discusses the relevant strategies for the protection and development of traditional villages.

Map-reading and wayfinding form one continuous and indivisible process; however, numerous studies have only focused on one of the two. This study focused on the relationship between map-reading and wayfinding to understand how map users read and acquire information from maps. Thirty Participants were divided into three groups of ten on Shibuya Station in Tokyo. The first group used mounted maps, the second group used a printed handheld copy of the station map, and the third group used a digital map provided by Ekipedia. All participants were allocated the same starting point and destination, and were required to perform map-reading and wayfinding to the destination as well as fill out an evaluation questionnaire. The results showed that the absolute accuracy scores (AASs) of digital-map users were far lower than those of handheld map users. The number of landmarks mentioned in the route planning of different map types and number of stopping times during the wayfinding process were significantly correlated. Digital-map users had the highest frequency of landmark use and longest map-reading times, but the shortest stopping times when wayfinding. The task results indicated that digital users had the lowest errors among the three groups; however, the evaluation questionnaire suggested that participants considered digital maps to be the least effective. Seemingly easy-to-understand maps might not be reflected in participants’ wayfinding behavior. Overall, this study suggested that only the successful matching of maps with the actual environment can enable successful wayfinding and create useful spatial knowledge.

This study investigated how icon array layouts influence comprehension of medical risk information, particularly in relation to users’ cognitive abilities. In a within-subjects experiment (N = 121), participants reviewed clinical scenarios with treatment-related risks and side effect risks displayed in either separated or integrated icon arrays. Comprehension was significantly higher for separated treatment-related risk layouts (p < 0.001), while side effect layout showed no effect. Numeracy and graph literacy significantly predicted comprehension. Crucially, individuals with lower numeracy showed marked gains when viewing separated formats, whereas those with higher numeracy performed well regardless of layout. Despite this, participants preferred hybrid formats—separated treatment-related risk with integrated side effect risks—revealing a critical preference–performance gap. By demonstrating how visual layout interacts with user abilities, this study provides actionable guidance for patient decision aid design. The findings show that comprehension accuracy must take precedence over layout compactness and user preference, with separated layouts recommended for treatment-related risks—especially for individuals with lower numeracy—and greater flexibility allowed for side effect risks when space is limited.

Traditional space-time adaptive processing (STAP) is extensively adopted in various fields such as navigation satellite, sonar, radar, etc. It can form the sharp null in the angle domain (azimuth and elevation) to suppress interferences. However, the null cannot continuously match the interference in dynamic interference scenarios. To address the problem, a STAP strategy based on Simpson-statistical constraint for the planar array is proposed, capable of generating wide nulls with flexible width and asymmetry. Firstly, a taper matrix (TM) is calculated, which can achieve asymmetric widening of the null in the angular domain. Asymmetry is achieved by introducing an artificial interference group that satisfies the Simpson-statistical constraint. Then, the eigen-covariance matrix (ECM) is obtained by the eigen-decomposition of the sample covariance matrix (CM). The unequal null width is generated by reconstructing the array CM of the planar array based on the TM and ECM. Finally, the computation of weight is carried out using a linear phase undistorted beamformer. Extensive testing demonstrates the robustness of the proposed solution.

In recent years, numerous retail conglomerates have adopted self-checkout technologies to enhance accuracy, streamline in-store processes, and mitigate labor expenses, thereby catalyzing the expansion of the self-checkout system market. Nonetheless, due to consumer apprehensions regarding the utilization of self-checkout services, additional personnel are still required on-site, indicating that the usability and user experience of self-checkout systems necessitate further refinement. Consequently, this investigation delves into the usability and user experience of supermarket self-checkout services. Through scenario-based tasks in the preliminary research, which includes usability assessments, cognitive load evaluations, and semi-structured interviews, it was discovered that users, particularly during their initial interaction with the machine and amidst queueing crowds, displayed heightened cognitive strain and error rates. Based on these findings, we optimized the self-checkout interface and operational procedures, proposing designs for 2 × 2 interface styles and guidance cues, which underwent testing in a subsequent experiment. The experimental results indicated: (a) Photo-based guidance cues proved more efficacious compared to illustrated cues. (b) Users primarily rely on visual cues when seeking nearby equipment, with other interface cues serving a secondary function. (c) Clearly distinguishing button menus and frequently used options in the checkout information enabled users to promptly discern key points and seamlessly finalize their transactions. Drawing from the findings of this study, we propose design recommendations. Future machine designs should prioritize swift, accurate operations, and an enhanced interactive experience.