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In automated warehousing scenarios, mobile UHF RFID robots typically operate along preset fixed paths to collect basic information from goods tags. They lack the ability to perceive shelf layouts and goods distribution, leading to problems such as missing reads and low inventory efficiency. To address this issue, this paper proposes a cross-layer sensing method for mobile UHF RFID robot reading states based on multiple linear regression-orthogonal least squares (MLR-OLS) and random forest. For shelf state sensing, a position sensing model is constructed based on the physical layer, and MLR-OLS is used to estimate shelf positions and interaction time. For good state sensing, combining physical layer and MAC layer features, a K-means-based tag density classification method and a missing tag count estimation algorithm based on frame states and random forest are proposed to realize the estimation of goods distribution and the number of missing goods. On this basis, according to the read state sensing results, this paper further proposes an adaptive reading strategy for RFID robots to perform targeted reading on missing goods. Experimental results show that when the robot is moving at medium and low speeds, the proposed method can achieve centimeter-level shelf positioning accuracy and exhibit high reliability in goods distribution sensing and missing goods count estimation, and the adaptive reading strategy can significantly improve the goods read rate. This paper realizes cross-layer sensing and read optimization of the RFID robot system, providing a theoretical basis and technical route for the application of mobile UHF RFID robot systems.

Attitude information is as important as position information in describing and localizing objects. Based on this, this paper proposes a method for object attitude sensing utilizing ultra-high frequency passive RFID technology. This method adopts a double tag array strategy, which effectively enhances the spatial freedom and eliminates phase ambiguity by leveraging the phase difference information between the two tags. Additionally, we delve into the issue of the phase shift caused by coupling interference between the two tags. To effectively compensate for this coupling effect, a series of experiments were conducted to thoroughly examine the specific impact of coupling effects between tags, and based on these findings, a coupling model between tags was established. This model was then integrated into the original phase model to correct for the effects of phase shift, significantly improving the sensing accuracy. Furthermore, we considered the influence of the object rotation angle on phase changes to construct an accurate object attitude recognition and tracking model. To reduce random errors during phase measurement, we employed a polynomial regression method to fit the measured tag phase information, further enhancing the precision of the sensing model. Compared to traditional positioning modes, the dual-tag array strategy essentially increases the number of virtual antennas available for positioning, providing the system with more refined directional discrimination capabilities. The experimental results demonstrated that incorporating the effects of inter-tag coupling interference and rotation angle into the phase model significantly improved the recognition accuracy for both object localization and attitude angle determination. Specifically, the average error of object positioning was reduced to 12.3 cm, while the average error of attitude angle recognition was reduced to 8.28°, making the method suitable for various practical application scenarios requiring attitude recognition.

Background Intramuscular fat (IMF) content is a crucial determinant of beef quality and a key indicator in cattle breeding and production. However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms governing IMF deposition remain poorly understood. Results This study preliminarily explored the molecular mechanisms underlying IMF deposition by integrating weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network analysis. Sequencing of longissimus dorsi muscle samples from crossbred Wagyu cattle with varying IMF deposition levels revealed 172 differentially expressed circular RNAs (circRNAs), which were subsequently annotated and used to construct regulatory networks. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis predicted possible several lipid metabolism-related genes, including EZH2 , AKT3 , APP and SMARCA5 . By combining the miRNA and mRNA data from our previous studies, we constructed circRNA-mRNA coexpression networks and circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the identified circRNAs are involved primarily in lipid metabolism-related pathways, including phosphatidylinositol metabolism and the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway. Additionally, several circRNAs were predicted to function as molecular sponges based on coexpression patterns. Conclusion This study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying IMF deposition in hybrid cattle and provides candidate regulatory mechanisms for further validation in selective breeding.

Older adults oftentimes suffer from the conditions in multiple physiologic systems, interfering with their daily function and thus contributing to physical frailty. The contributions of such multisystem conditions to physical frailty have not been well characterized. In this study, 442 (mean age = 71.4 ± 8.1 years, 235 women) participants completed the assessment of frailty syndromes, including unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, slowness, low activity, and weakness, and were categorized into frail (≥3 conditions), pre-frail (1 or 2 conditions), and robust (no condition) status. Multisystem conditions including cardiovascular diseases, vascular function, hypertension, diabetes, sleep disorders, sarcopenia, cognitive impairment, and chronic pain were assessed. Structural equation modeling examined the interrelationships between these conditions and their associations with frailty syndromes. Fifty (11.3%) participants were frail, 212 (48.0%) were pre-frail, and 180 (40.7%) were robust. We observed that worse vascular function was directly associated with higher risk of slowness [standardized coefficient (SC) = -0.419, < 0.001], weakness (SC = -0.367, < 0.001), and exhaustion (SC = -0.347, < 0.001). Sarcopenia was associated with both slowness (SC = 0.132, = 0.011) and weakness (SC = 0.217, = 0.001). Chronic pain, poor sleep quality, and cognitive impairment were associated with exhaustion (SC = 0.263, < 0.001; SC = 0.143, = 0.016; SC = 0.178, = 0.004, respectively). The multinomial logistic regression showed that greater number of these conditions were associated with increased probability of being frail (odds ratio>1.23, < 0.032). These findings in this pilot study provide novel insights into how multisystem conditions are associated with each other and with frailty in older adults. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to explore how the changes in these health conditions alter frailty status.

The rapid development of AI solutions reveals opportunities to address the underdiagnosis and poor management of chronic conditions in developing settings. Using the method of simulated patients and experimental designs, we evaluate the quality, safety, and disparity of medical consultation with ERNIE Bot in China among 384 patient-AI trials. ERNIE Bot reached a diagnostic accuracy of 77.3%, correct drug prescriptions of 94.3%, but prescribed high rates of unnecessary medical tests (91.9%) and unnecessary medications (57.8%). Disparities were observed based on patient age and household economic status, with older and wealthier patients receiving more intensive care. Under standardized conditions, ERNIE Bot, ChatGPT, and DeepSeek demonstrated higher diagnostic accuracy but a greater tendency toward overprescription than human physicians. The results suggest the great potential of ERNIE Bot in empowering quality, accessibility, and affordability of healthcare provision in developing contexts, but also highlight critical risks related to safety and amplification of sociodemographic disparities.

Phosphate compounds and related materials are effective amendments for immobilization of heavy metals in contaminated soils. A greenhouse pot experiment with ryegrass ( Lolium perenne ) as the test plant was conducted to explore the impact of nanoparticle hydroxyapatite (HAP) on the immobilization and bioavailability of Cu and Zn in a heavy metal-polluted soil. The addition of nanoparticle HAP significantly decreased the uptake of Cu and Zn by ryegrass. As a result, the biomass of ryegrass increased as the rate of nanoparticle HAP increased. The toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) and physiologically based extraction test (PBET) results of the treatments showed that the leachable and bioaccessible concentrations of Cu and Zn were significantly reduced after the soil stabilized with nanoparticle HAP. The XRD pattern of nanoparticle HAP was not changed by the presence of Cu and Zn, which suggests that Cu and Zn were immobilized by the formation of solid amorphous phosphate. Nanoparticle HAP was an effective material to immobilize heavy metals in contaminated soils.

Background Interleukin detection is helpful in screening vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL). However, the levels of interleukin in aqueous humor (AqH) can be abnormally low in some cases, leading to underdiagnosis of VRL merely dependent on AqH. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of interleukins between paired AqH and vitreous humor (VH) samples in VRL cases, and to explore potential factors affecting interleukin levels and diagnostic parameters. Methods This was a case series study. Reviewed were consecutive biopsy-proven B-cell VRL cases of which adequate paired AqH and VH samples were obtained for the measurement of interleukin 10 (IL-10) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). The correlations of IL-10 and IL-6 between AqH and VH were analyzed. Influences of clinical manifestations on IL levels and positive rates of IL-related parameters in AqH and VH were evaluated, which included AqH IL-10 > 30 pg/mL, VH IL-10 > 65 pg/mL, IL-10/IL-6 ratio > 1, and Interleukin Score for Intraocular Lymphoma Diagnosis (ISOLD) > 0 in both the AqH and VH. Results Seventy-four eyes of 64 patients with VRL were included. IL-10 in VH was significantly higher than in AqH (median: 1159.77 vs. 225.74 pg/mL, P  < 0.001). For both IL-10 and IL-6, the AqH concentrations were positively correlated with VH concentrations in the form of power functions ( P  < 0.001 and P  < 0.001, respectively). The positive rate of AqH IL-10/IL-6 > 1 (77%) was lower than that of VH IL-10 > 65 pg/mL (91%), VH IL-10/IL-6 > 1 (89%) and VH ISOLD > 0 (91%). Eyes without intraretinal infiltration tended to have lower IL-10 levels in the AqH and VH (median: 141.08 pg/mL vs. 449.10 pg/mL, 825.48 pg/mL vs. 2285.77 pg/mL; P  = 0.001 and P  < 0.001, respectively), and lower positive rates of AqH IL-10 > 30 pg/mL (78% vs. 97%, P  = 0.018) and AqH ISOLD > 0 (76% vs. 97%, P  = 0.033). Conclusions IL-10/IL-6 in AqH may not be as sensitive as the parameters (including IL-10, IL-10/IL-6 and ISOLD) in VH for VRL screening. Cases without intraretinal involvement were less likely to be positive for IL-10 > 30 pg/mL and ISOLD > 0 in AqH; the possibility of VRL should be ruled out more cautiously in these cases.

Background: Older adults with hypertension often had diminished walking performance. The underlying mechanism through which hypertension affects walking performance, however, has not been fully understood. We here measured the complexity of the continuous systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure fluctuation, grade of white matter lesions (WMLs), and cognitive function and used structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the interrelationships between hypertension, BP complexity, WMLs, cognitive function, and walking speed in single- and dual-task conditions. Methods: A total of 152 older adults with age > 60 years (90 hypertensive and 62 normotensive participants) completed one MRI scan of brain structure, a finger BP assessment of at least 10 min, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to assess cognitive function, and 10-meter walking tests in single (i.e., normal walking) and dual tasks (i.e., walking while performing a serial subtraction of three from a random three-digit number). The grade of WMLs was assessed using the total score of Fazekas scale; the complexity of SBP and DBP was measured using multiscale entropy (MSE), and the walking performance was assessed by walking speed in single- and dual-task conditions. Results: As compared to normotensives, hypertensive older adults had significantly slower walking speed, lower complexity of SBP and DBP, greater grade of WMLs, and poorer cognitive function ( p < 0.03). Those with lower BP complexity (β > 0.31, p < 0.003), greater WML grade (β < −0.39, p < 0.0002), and/or poorer cognitive function (β < −0.39, p < 0.0001) had slower walking speed in single- and/or dual-task conditions. The SEM model demonstrated significant total effects of hypertension on walking speed, and such effects were mediated by BP complexity only, or BP complexity, WML grade, and cognitive function together. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the cross-sectional association between the complexity of continuous beat-to-beat BP fluctuation, WML grade, cognitive function, and walking speed in hypertensive and normotensive older adults, revealing a potential mechanism that hypertension may affect walking performance in older adults through diminished BP complexity, increased WML grade, and decreased cognitive function, and BP complexity is an important factor for such effects. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm the findings in this study.

INTRODUCTION Studies on physical activity (PA) and dementia mainly focus on activity quantity or intensity. Yet PA requires neuro‐coordination of movement, and it is unclear whether complexity of daily activity varies by cognitive status. Thus, we examined the association between PA complexity, using multiscale entropy, and cognitive function, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia in older adults in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA). METHODS A total of 637 older adults (age 73.9 ± 11.3 years) in the BLSA completed a 7‐day wrist‐worn accelerometer assessment and neuropsychological tests from 2015 to 2020. Using logistic regression and structural equation modeling, we examined cross‐sectional associations of PA complexity with MCI/dementia and cognition. Cross‐lagged panel models (CLPMs) were used to assess bidirectional associations at baseline and 2‐year follow‐up. Multivariable models were adjusted for age, sex, race, education years, body mass index, and comorbidities. RESULTS Participants in the lowest tertile of PA complexity had over double the odds of MCI/dementia (odds ratio = 2.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02 to 6.79, p = 0.045) compared to those in the highest tertile in the fully adjusted model. Structural equation modeling showed that PA complexity was associated with global cognitive function (standardized B [SB] = 0.102, 95% CI: 0.033 to 0.171, p = 0.004), executive function (SB = 0.119, 95% CI: 0.049 to 0.189, p = 0.001), and visuospatial ability (SB = 0.096, 95% CI: 0.026 to 0.167, p = 0.008). CLPMs showed bidirectional associations between lower PA complexity and poorer executive function. DISCUSSION Lower complexity of accelerometry‐detected movement is associated with poorer cognition and higher risk of MCI/dementia. Future studies should explore whether low PA complexity is an early indicator of dementia. Highlights Prior studies mainly focused on quantity or intensity of physical activity. Poorer cognitive function was associated with lower complexity of daily activity. Lower complexity of physical activity may be an early indicator of dementia.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) function as a formidable regulator of inflammation and tissue homeostasis and expanded MSCs are shown to be effective in treating various inflammatory diseases. Their therapeutic effects require the existence of certain inflammatory cytokines. However, in the absence of sufficient proinflammatory stimuli or in the presence of anti‐inflammatory medications, MSCs are animated to promote immune responses and unable to alleviate inflammatory disorders. In this study, it is demonstrated that steroid co‐administration interferes the efficacy of MSCs in treating acute graft‐versus‐host disease (aGvHD). Molecular analysis reveals that vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF‐C) is highly induced in MSCs by steroids and TNFα and VEGF‐C in turn promotes CD8+ T cell response. This immune promoting effect is abolished by blockade or specific genetic ablation of VEGFR3 in CD8+ T cells. Additionally, administration of VEGF‐C alone exacerbates aGvHD progression through eliciting more vigorous CD8+ T cell activation and proliferation. Further studies demonstrate that VEGF‐C augments the PI3K/AKT signaling process and the expression of downstream genes, such as Cyclin D1. Thus, the data demonstrate that steroids can reverse the immunosuppressive effect of MSCs via promoting VEGF‐C‐augmented CD8+ T cell response and provide novel information for designing efficacious MSC‐based therapies. Steroids are first‐line drugs for treating acute graft‐versus‐host disease (aGvHD). Recently, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have emerged as a superb choice. However, concomitant use of both worsens the disease course. This manuscript reveals that steroids, together with TNFα, synergistically induce MSCs to produce abundant vascular endothelial growth factor C, which enhances CD8+ T cell response and exacerbates aGvHD progression. ​