The emergence of ChatGPT as a leading artificial intelligence language model developed by OpenAI has sparked substantial interest in the field of applied linguistics, due to its extraordinary capabilities in natural language processing. Research on its use in service of language learning and teaching is on the horizon and is anticipated to grow rapidly. In this review article, we purport to capture its nascency, drawing on a literature corpus of 71 papers of a variety of genres – empirical studies, reviews, position papers, and commentaries. Our narrative review takes stock of current research on ChatGPT’s application in foreign language learning and teaching, uncovers both conceptual and methodological gaps, and identifies directions for future research.

Robot hands are essential components of robots; however, the hand of more complex spatial mechanisms with coupling chains is rarely proposed. This paper proposes a hybrid hand with three underactuated finger plane limbs connected by a flexible closed-loop chain. The degree of freedom (DOF) of the hybrid hand is equal to the number of motors before grasping the object. When the contact force appears between the fingertips and the object, the flexible linkages deform, allowing the hybrid hand to maintain adaptability during contact. As the three fingers make contact with the object, the hybrid hand forms a closed-loop chain with the object, ensuring that the overall DOF remains consistent with the number of motors. Firstly, the hybrid hand’s structural characteristics and DOF are analyzed. Secondly, the kinematics of the hybrid hand are derived, and the relationships among the spring deformation, the kinematics of the fingertip and the input of the hybrid hand are obtained according to the geometric constraints. Thirdly, based on the kinematic results and the principle of virtual work method, the coupling dynamics formula of the hybrid hand is established, and the relationship between the dynamic driving force, dynamic constrained force, spring force and the force acting on the object is solved. Finally, the simulation model of the hybrid hand is constructed in MATLAB to validate the theoretical solution, and the merits of the hybrid hand were confirmed by prototype experiments. This paper aims to support a theoretical foundation for the intelligent control of novel hybrid hands.

We investigated the dynamics of thin-layer formation by non-spherical motile phytoplankton in time-dependent shear flow, building on the seminal work of Durham et al. (2009 Science vol. 323, pp. 1067–1070), on spherical microswimmers in time-independent flows. By solving the torque balance equation for a microswimmer, we found that the system is highly damped for body sizes smaller than $10^{-3}$ m, with initial rotational motion dissipating quickly. From this torque balance, we also derived the critical shear for ellipsoidal microswimmers, which we validated numerically. Simulations revealed that the peak density of microswimmers is slightly higher than the theoretical prediction due to the speed asymmetry of sinking and gyrotaxis above and below the predicted height. In addition, we observed that microswimmers with higher aspect ratios tend to form thicker layers due to slower angular velocity. Using linear stability analysis, we identified a thin-layer accumulation time scale, which contains two regimes. This theoretically predicted accumulation time scale was validated through simulations. In time-dependent flow with oscillating critical shear depth, we identified three accumulation regimes and a transitional regime based on the ratio of swimmer and flow time scales. Our results indicate that thin layers can form across time scale ratios spanning five orders of magnitude, which helps explain the widespread occurrence of thin phytoplankton layers in natural water bodies.

Family dynamics can significantly influence entrepreneurship, yet the temporal complexities of this relationship remain inadequately explored. This special issue addresses this gap by emphasizing the intricate interplay between internal family evolvability such as generational transitions and identity shifts, cultural continuity, and external adaptability to rapidly changing economic, institutional, and technological contexts in China. We introduce a dual tuning model that highlights how entrepreneurial and family firms (FFs) strategically synchronize their internal and external temporal rhythms to manage conflicts and optimize performance. This lead article reviews existing literature, articulates the dual tuning model, and synthesizes insights from the articles in this special issue to illuminate how Chinese FFs navigate tensions between evolving internal dynamics and external market demands. We conclude by identifying promising future research avenues that leverage this temporal perspective to deepen our understanding of family dynamics and entrepreneurship in China.

This meta-analysis assesses the relationship between vitamin D supplementation and incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Pubmed, Web of science, Ovid, Cochrane Library and Clinical Trials were used to systematically search from their inception until July 2024. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were employed to assess the association between vitamin D supplementation and MACEs. This analysis included 5 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Pooled results showed no significant difference in the incidence of MACEs (HR: 0.96; p=0.77), expanded MACEs (HR: 0.96; p=0.77) between the vitamin D intervention group and the control group. Further, the vitamin D intervention group had a lower incidence of myocardial infarction (MI), but the difference was not statistically significant (HR: 0.88, 95%CI: 0.77-1.01; p=0.061); nevertheless, vitamin D supplementation had no effect on the reduced incidence of stroke (p=0.675) or cardiovascular death (p=0.422). Among males (p=0.109) and females (p=0.468), vitamin D supplementation had no effect on the reduced incidence of MACEs. For participants with a body mass index (BMI)<25 kg/m2, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.782); notably, the vitamin D intervention group had a lower incidence of MACEs for those with BMI≥25 kg/m2 (HR: 0.91, 95%CI: 0.83-1.00; p=0.055). Vitamin D supplementation did not significantly contribute to the risk reduction of MACEs, stroke and cardiovascular death in the general population, but may be helpful for MI. Notably, effect of vitamin D supplementation for MACEs was influenced by BMI. Overweight/obese people should be advised to take vitamin D to reduce the incidence of MACEs.

Vessel collision risk estimation is crucial in navigation manoeuvres, route planning, risk control, safety management and forewarning issues. The interaction possibility is a good method to quantify the near-miss collision risks of multi-ships. Current models, however, are mostly concerned about the movements in an unrestricted isotropic travel environment or network environment. This article simultaneously addresses these issues by developing a novel environment–kinetic compound space–time prism to capture potential spatial–temporal interactions of multi-ships in constrained dynamic environments. The approach could significantly reduce the overestimation of the individual vessel’s potential travel area and the interaction possibility of encountering vessels in restricted water. The proposed environmental–kinetical compound space–time prism (EKC-STP)-based method enables identifying where and when multi-ships possibly interacted in the constraint water area, as well as how the interaction possibility pattern changed from day to day. The collision risk evaluation results were validated through comparison with other methods. The full picture of hierarchical collision risk distribution in port areas is determined and could be employed to provide quantifiable references for efficient and practical anti-collision measures establishment.

Background: Association between age, frailty, and the receipt of thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke is not well understood. Methods: We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of adults hospitalized with an ischemic stroke between 2018 and 2022 in Ontario, Canada. In sex-stratified models, we studied whether frailty (based on hospital-based frailty index: mild, moderate and severe) modified the association between age and thrombectomy by using interaction terms in multivariable modified Poisson regression models. Results: Among 59,346 patients (median age 75 years, 47.0% female) with ischemic stroke 4,454 (7.5%) received thrombectomy, with no sex differences in this treatment. In both sexes, increasing age was associated with decreased use of thrombectomy (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] for every 5-year increase, female = 0.91; 0.89-0.92; male = 0.92; 0.90-0.94). Frailty was not associated with thrombectomy in females (aRR high vs. low frailty = 0.86; 0.68-1.10) or males (aRR high vs. low frailty = 1.10; 0.87-1.39). Furthermore, the interaction between age and frailty was not significant for either sex. Conclusions: Frailty was not associated with thrombectomy in either sex, and it did not modify the association between age and thrombectomy, suggesting a greater role of chronological age compared to frailty in thrombectomy decisions in ischemic stroke patients.

Background: Stroke survivors have a higher risk of depression and suicide, but how hospitalization for major depression modifies the risk of suicide after stroke is not well-known. Methods: We conducted a population-based matched cohort study of adults hospitalized with first-ever stroke between 2008 to 2017 matched 1:1 to the general Ontario population on age, sex, neighbourhood-level income, rurality, and comorbidities. Patients with major depression or deliberate self-harm prior to index event were excluded from both groups. We used cause-specific proportional hazards models to evaluate the association between stroke and suicide (defined as self-harm or death by suicide) and used an interaction term to assess effect modification of depression on stroke-suicide association. Results: We included 64,719 matched pairs of patients with stroke and without (45.5% female, mean age 71.4 years). Compared to matched controls, stroke survivors had a higher rate of suicide (11.1 vs. 3.2, HR 2.87 [2.35-3.51]). Depression was associated with a higher rate of suicide in both groups (HR 13.8 [8.82-21.61]). The interaction between stroke and depression was not significant (Pstroke*depression = 0.51). Conclusions: Hospitalization for depression does not modify the rate of suicide after stroke, suggesting the need to better understand the pathways leading to suicide after stroke.

We extend the definition of the X-Rokhlin property to countable discrete groups and prove some permanence properties. If the action of a countable discrete group on X is free and minimal and the action of this group on the separable simple $C^*$-algebra has the X-Rokhlin property, then the reduced crossed product is simple.

Epidemiologic evidence on the association between dietary choline, betaine and mortality risk remains limited, particularly among non-Western populations. We examined the association of dietary choline and betaine with all-cause mortality in Chinese adults using data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey 1991–2015. We included 9027 men and 8828 women without CVD and cancer at baseline. Dietary intake was assessed using 3-day 24-hour dietary recalls and household food inventories. Death was ascertained through household surveys in each wave. Time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression models estimated multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % CIs. During a median follow-up of 9·1 years, 891 men and 687 women were deceased. Higher total choline intake was associated with lower all-cause mortality in both men (HRQ5 v. Q1 = 0·58 (95 % CI: 0·45, 0·74)) and women (HRQ5 v. Q1 = 0·59 (95 % CI: 0·44, 0·78)). The dose–response curve were reverse J-shaped in men and L-shaped in women (both P-nonlinear ≤ 0·005). Similarly, fat-soluble choline intake was inversely associated with mortality in both men (HRQ5 v. Q1 = 0·59 (95 % CI: 0·46, 0·75)) and women (HRQ5 v. Q1 = 0·53 (95 % CI: 0·40, 0·70)), showing reverse J-shaped patterns (both P-nonlinear < 0·001). A J-shaped association between water-soluble choline and mortality was observed in women (P-nonlinear < 0·001), but a null association was found in men. Betaine intake was not associated with all-cause mortality in either sex. Our findings suggest that adequate choline intake is linked to reduced all-cause mortality in Chinese adults with predominantly plant-based diets.

Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) frequently encounter inadequate energy levels while navigating to their destinations, which complicates their successful berthing in intricate harbor environments. A bacterial foraging optimization algorithm (BFO) is proposed that takes energy consumption into account and incorporates multiple constraints (MC-BFO). The energy consumption model is redefined for wind environments, enhancing the sensitivity of USVs to wind conditions. Additionally, a reward function is integrated into the algorithm, and the fitness function is reconstructed to improve the goal orientation of the USV. This approach enables the USV to maintain a reasonable path length while pursuing low energy consumption, resulting in more practical navigation. Constraining the USV’s sailing posture for smoother paths and restricting the USV’s heading and speed near the berthage facilitate safe berthing. Finally, three distinct experimental environments are established to compare the paths generated by MC-BFO, BFO, and genetic algorithm under both downwind and upwind conditions, ensuring consistency in relevant parameters. Data on sailing posture, energy consumption, and path length are collected, generalized, and analyzed. The results indicate that MC-BFO effectively reduces energy consumption while maintaining an acceptable path length, resulting in smoother and more coherent paths compared to traditional segmented planning. In conclusion, this method significantly enhances the quality of the berthing path.

Due to the complexity of urban and rural drainage systems, although many types of robots have been designed for this purpose, the mainstream pipeline inspection robots are currently dominated by four-wheeled designs. In this study, the shortcomings of four-wheeled pipeline robots were analyzed, including poor passability, difficulties in spatial positioning and orientation, and the limited effectiveness of conventional two-degree-of-freedom observation systems. Based on these issues, the spatial pose mathematical model of the four-wheeled robot inside the pipeline was investigated, along with the spatial geometric constraints and speed characteristics during cornering. This study was intended to reveal the spatial geometric parameter limitations and the kinematic characteristics of the four-wheeled pipeline robot under these constraints, providing corresponding recommendations. To address the issue of the outdated two-degree-of-freedom vision component, a three-degree-of-freedom visual component was designed, and forward kinematics analysis was conducted using Standard-Denavit-Hartenberg parametric modeling, revealing its motion speed and characteristics. Based on this visual component, a new concept of in-pipeline robot vision was proposed, providing new references for the design of four-wheeled pipeline robots.

This paper presents a general approach to synthesizing closed-loop robots for machining and manufacturing of complex quadric surfaces, such as toruses, helicoids, and helical tubes. The proposed approach begins by employing finite screw theory to describe the motion sets generated by prismatic, rotational, and helical joints. Subsequently, generatrices and generating lines are put forward and combined for type synthesis of serial kinematic limbs capable of generating single-DoF translations along spatial curves and two-DoF translations on complex quadric surfaces. Following this manner, the two-DoF translational motion patterns on these complex quadric surfaces are algebraically defined and expressed as finite screw sets. Type synthesis of close-loop robots having the newly defined motion patterns can thus be carried out based upon analytical computations of finite screws. As application of the presented approach, closed-loop robots for machining toruses are synthesized, resulting in four-DoF and five-DoF standard and derived limbs together with their corresponding assembly conditions. Additionally, brief descriptions of robots for machining helicoids and helical tubes are provided, along with a comprehensive list of all the feasible limbs for these kinds of robots. The robots synthesized in this paper have promised applications in machining and manufacturing of spatial curves and surfaces, enabling precise control of machining trajectories ensured by mechanism structures and achieving high precision with low cost.