We report an anomalous capillary phenomenon that reverses typical capillary trapping via nanoparticle suspension and leads to a counterintuitive self-removal of non-aqueous fluid from dead-end structures under weakly hydrophilic conditions. Fluid interfacial energy drives the trapped liquid out by multiscale surfaces: the nanoscopic structure formed by nanoparticle adsorption transfers the molecular-level adsorption film to hydrodynamic film by capillary condensation, and maintains its robust connectivity, then the capillary pressure gradient in the dead-end structures drives trapped fluid motion out of the pore continuously. The developed mathematical models agree well with the measured evolution dynamics of the released fluid. This reversing capillary trapping phenomenon via nanoparticle suspension can be a general event in a random porous medium and could dramatically increase displacement efficiency. Our findings have implications for manipulating capillary pressure gradient direction via nanoparticle suspensions to trap or release the trapped fluid from complex geometries, especially for site-specific delivery, self-cleaning, or self-recover systems.

Upper extremity rehabilitation robots have become crucial in stroke rehabilitation due to their high durability, repeatability, and task-specific capabilities. A significant challenge in assessing the comfort performance of these robots is accurately calculating the human-robot interaction forces. In this study, a four-degree-of-freedom (4-DOF) upper extremity rehabilitation robot mechanism, kinematically compatible with the human upper limb, is proposed. Based on this mechanism, an algorithm for estimating human-robot interaction forces is developed using Newton-Euler dynamics. A prototype of the proposed robot is constructed, and a series of comparative experiments are carried out to validate the feasibility of the proposed force estimation approach. The results indicate that the proposed method reliably predicts interaction forces with minimal deviation from experimental data, demonstrating its potential for application in upper limb rehabilitation robots. This work provides a foundation for future studies focused on comfort evaluation and optimization of rehabilitation robots, with significant practical implications for improving patient rehabilitation outcomes.

This study investigates the effects of fat emulsion-based early parenteral nutrition in patients following hemihepatectomy, addressing a critical gap in clinical knowledge regarding parenteral nutrition after hemihepatectomy. We retrospectively analysed clinical data from 274 patients who received non-fat emulsion-based parenteral nutrition (non-fatty nutrition group) and 297 patients who received fat emulsion-based parenteral nutrition (fatty nutrition group) after hemihepatectomy. Fat emulsion-based early parenteral nutrition significantly reduced levels of post-operative aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin, while minor decreases in red blood cell and platelet counts were observed in the fatty nutrition group. Importantly, fat emulsion-based early parenteral nutrition shortened lengths of post-operative hospital stay and fasting duration, but did not affect the incidence of short-term post-operative complications. Subgroup analyses revealed that the supplement of n-3 fish oil emulsions was significantly associated with a reduced inflammatory response and risk of post-operative infections. These findings indicate that fat emulsion-based early parenteral nutrition enhances short-term post-operative recovery in patients undergoing hemihepatectomy.

Random effects meta-analysis model is an important tool for integrating results from multiple independent studies. However, the standard model is based on the assumption of normal distributions for both random effects and within-study errors, making it susceptible to outlying studies. Although robust modeling using the t distribution is an appealing idea, the existing work, that explores the use of the t distribution only for random effects, involves complicated numerical integration and numerical optimization. In this article, a novel robust meta-analysis model using the t distribution is proposed (tMeta). The novelty is that the marginal distribution of the effect size in tMeta follows the t distribution, enabling that tMeta can simultaneously accommodate and detect outlying studies in a simple and adaptive manner. A simple and fast EM-type algorithm is developed for maximum likelihood estimation. Due to the mathematical tractability of the t distribution, tMeta frees from numerical integration and allows for efficient optimization. Experiments on real data demonstrate that tMeta is compared favorably with related competitors in situations involving mild outliers. Moreover, in the presence of gross outliers, while related competitors may fail, tMeta continues to perform consistently and robustly.

The safety of human-collaborative operations with robots depends on monitoring the external torque of the robot, in which there are toque sensor-based and torque sensor-free methods. Economically, the classic method for estimating joint external torque is the first-order momentum observer (MOB) based on a physic model without torque sensors. However, uncertainties in the dynamic model, which encompasses parameters identification error and joint friction, affect the torque estimation accuracy. To address this issue, this paper proposes using the backpropagation neural network (BPNN) method to estimate joint external torque without the delicate physical model by utilizing the powerful machine learning ability to handle the uncertainties of the MOB method and improve the accuracy of torque estimation. Using data obtained from the torque sensor to train the BPNN to build up a digital torque model, the trained BPNN can perceive force in practical applications without relying on the torque sensor. In the end, by contrast to the classic first-order MOB, the result demonstrates that BPNN achieves higher estimation accuracy compared to the MOB.

Substantial changes resulting from the interaction of environmental and dietary factors contribute to an increased risk of obesity, while their specific associations with obesity remain unclear. We identified inflammation-related dietary patterns (DP) and explored their associations with obesity among urbanised Tibetan adults under significant environmental and dietary changes. Totally, 1826 subjects from the suburbs of Golmud City were enrolled in an open cohort study, of which 514 were followed up. Height, weight and waist circumference were used to define overweight and obesity. DP were derived using reduced rank regression with forty-one food groups as predictors and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and prognostic nutritional index as inflammatory response variables. Altitude was classified as high or ultra-high. Two DP were extracted. DP-1 was characterised by having high consumptions of sugar-sweetened beverages, savoury snacks, and poultry and a low intake of tsamba. DP-2 had high intakes of poultry, pork, animal offal, and fruits and a low intake of butter tea. Participants in the highest tertiles (T3) of DP had increased risks of overweight and obesity (DP-1: OR = 1·37, 95 % CI 1·07, 1·77; DP-2: OR = 1·48, 95 % CI 1·18, 1·85) than those in the lowest tertiles (T1). Participants in T3 of DP-2 had an increased risk of central obesity (OR = 2·25, 95 % CI 1·49, 3·39) than those in T1. The positive association of DP-1 with overweight and obesity was only significant at high altitudes, while no similar effect was observed for DP-2. Inflammation-related DP were associated with increased risks of overweight and/or obesity.

In laser systems requiring a flat-top distribution of beam intensity, beam smoothing is a critical technology for enhancing laser energy deposition onto the focal spot. The continuous phase modulator (CPM) is a key component in beam smoothing, as it introduces high-frequency continuous phase modulation across the laser beam profile. However, the presence of the CPM makes it challenging to measure and correct the wavefront aberration of the input laser beam effectively, leading to unwanted beam intensity distribution and bringing difficulty to the design of the CPM. To address this issue, we propose a deep learning enabled robust wavefront sensing (DLWS) method to achieve effective wavefront measurement and active aberration correction, thereby facilitating active beam smoothing using the CPM. The experimental results show that the average wavefront reconstruction error of the DLWS method is 0.04 μm in the root mean square, while the Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor reconstruction error is 0.17 μm.

Loess, a geologic record of dust, is an optimal archive for exploring paleoclimate and the paleo-dust path from source to sink. The dust path for the Songnen Plain, NE China, during the last glacial period has not been established. To address this, 63 surface sediment samples from the Northeast China Sandy Lands, i.e., Onqin Daga Sandy Land (OD), Horqin Sandy Land (HQ), Hulun Buir Sandy Land (HL), and Songnen Sandy Land (SN), and six samples from the last glacial loess in the Harbin area were collected for elemental geochemical analysis of the <10 μm fraction to quantitatively reconstruct the dust pathway using a frequentist model. The results show that these sandy lands have a distinct geochemical composition due to a control from markedly different provenances. The quantitative results indicate that the dust contribution of the southwestern SN to the Harbin loess is as high as 50.4–77.2%, followed by the OD and HQ (3.3–34.8%), the northwestern SN (0–36.8%), and the HL (0–8%). Notably, the dust contribution to the Harbin loess began to change considerably after ~46–41 ka BP, with a significant increase from 1.1% to 41.2% from the northwestern direction. Some ecological safety strategies are proposed to address dust pollution in the Harbin area.

There is a lack of longitudinal data on the relationship between upward social comparison on social network sites (SNSs) and depression and its underlying mechanisms. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between upward social comparison on social network sites and depression and analyze the mediating effects of self-concept clarity and self-esteem in this relationship. We employed a two-wave longitudinal design among 1179 Chinese middle school students. The results indicated that : upward social comparison on SNSs predicted middle school students’ depression; Self-concept clarity and self-esteem sequentially mediated the relationship between upward social comparison on SNSs and middle school students’ subsequent depression. These results suggested that three types of interventions could be effectively used to decrease the risk of depression among middle school students.

The presence of dispersed-phase droplets can result in a notable increase in a system's drag. However, our understanding of the mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains limited. In this study, we use three-dimensional direct numerical simulations with a modified multi-marker volume-of-fluid method to investigate liquid–liquid two-phase turbulence in a Taylor–Couette geometry. The dispersed phase has the same density and viscosity as the continuous phase. The Reynolds number $Re\equiv r_i\omega _i d/\nu$ is fixed at 5200, the volume fraction of the dispersed phase is up to $40\,\%$, and the Weber number $We\equiv \rho u^2_\tau d/\sigma$ is approximately 8. It is found that the increase in the system's drag originates from the contribution of interfacial tension. Specifically, droplets experience significant deformation and stretching in the streamwise direction due to shear near the inner cylinder. Consequently, the rear end of the droplets lags behind the fore head. This causes opposing interfacial tension effects on the fore head and rear end of the droplets. For the fore head of the droplets, the effect of interfacial tension appears to act against the flow direction. For the rear end, the effect appears to act in the flow direction. The increase in the system's drag is attributed primarily to the effect of interfacial tension on the fore head of the droplets which leads to the hindering effect of the droplets on the surrounding continuous phase. This hindering effect disrupts the formation of high-speed streaks, favouring the formation of low-speed ones, which are generally associated with higher viscous stress and drag of the system. This study provides new insights into the mechanism of drag enhancement reported in our previous experiments.

Modern fluvial sediments provide important information about source-to-sink process and regional tectono-magmatic events in the source area, but many factors, e.g., chemical weathering, sedimentary cycles and source-rock types, can interfere with the establishment of the source-sink system. The Lalin River (LR) and the Jilin Songhua River (JSR) are two important tributaries of the Songhua River in the Songnen Plain in NE China. They have similar flow direction, topography and identical climate backgrounds, but have notably different parent-rock types in the headwater, which provides an opportunity to explore the influencing factors of river sediment composition. To this end, the point bar sediments in the two rivers were sampled for an analysis of geochemistry (including element and Sr-Nd isotopic ratios), heavy mineral and detrital zircon U-Pb dating. The results are indicative of the fact that the two rivers have the similar geochemical composition (e.g., elements and Sr isotopes) as well as chemical weathering (CIA = 51.41–57.60, CIW = 59.68–66.11, PIA = 51.95–60.23, WIP = 56.00–65.47, Rb/Sr = 0.38–0.42) and recycling (SiO2/Al2O3 = 5.79 and 5.03, ICV = 1.0 and 1.2, CIA/WIP = 0.81–1.03) characteristics, showing a major control of climate on the low-level weathering and recycling of the river sediments. However, there are significant differences in the detrital zircon U-Pb age (a significant Mesozoic age peak for the LR but an additional Precambrian peak for the JSR), Nd isotope ratio (−6.2812–8.5830 and −8.1149–10.2411 for the LR and the JSR, respectively) and to a certain extent heavy mineral composition (e.g., for the < 63 μm fraction, a dominance of hornblende and magnetite in the LR, but haematite-limonite in the JSR) in the two river sediments, indicating that source rocks largely control the composition of the river sediments. Some of the major tectono-magmatic events (e.g., crustal growth and cratonisation of the North China Craton, closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean, subduction and rollback of the Paleo-Pacific plate) occurring in the eastern Songnen Plain are well documented in the JSR sediments but not in the LR, the difference of which is largely regulated by the source rocks in the source area.

Foodborne diseases are ongoing and significant public health concerns. This study analysed data obtained from the Foodborne Outbreaks Surveillance System of Wenzhou to comprehensively summarise the characteristics of foodborne outbreaks from 2012 to 2022. A total of 198 outbreaks were reported, resulting in 2,216 cases, 208 hospitalisations, and eight deaths over 11 years. The findings suggested that foodborne outbreaks were more prevalent in the third quarter, with most cases occurring in households (30.8%). Outbreaks were primarily associated with aquatic products (17.7%) as sources of contamination. The primary transmission pathways were accidental ingestion (20.2%) and multi-pathway transmission (12.1%). Microbiological aetiologies (46.0%), including Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Salmonella ssp., and Staphylococcus aureus, were identified as the main causes of foodborne outbreaks. Furthermore, mushroom toxins (75.0%), poisonous animals (12.5%), and poisonous plants (12.5%) were responsible for deaths from accidental ingestion. This study identified crucial settings and aetiologies that require the attention of both individuals and governments, thereby enabling the development of effective preventive measures to mitigate foodborne outbreaks, particularly in coastal cities.

This study aims to evaluate the impact of low-carbohydrate diet, balanced dietary guidance and pharmacotherapy on weight loss among individuals with overweight or obesity over a period of 3 months. The study involves 339 individuals with overweight or obesity and received weight loss treatment at the Department of Clinical Nutrition at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2023. The primary outcome is the percentage weight loss. Among the studied patients, the majority chose low-carbohydrate diet as their primary treatment (168 (49·56 %)), followed by balanced dietary guidance (139 (41·00 %)) and pharmacotherapy (32 (9·44 %)). The total percentage weight loss for patients who were followed up for 1 month, 2 months and 3 months was 4·98 (3·04, 6·29) %, 7·93 (5·42, 7·93) % and 10·71 (7·74, 13·83) %, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified low-carbohydrate diet as an independent factor associated with percentage weight loss of ≥ 3 % and ≥ 5 % at 1 month (OR = 0·461, P < 0·05; OR = 0·349, P < 0·001). The results showed that a low-carbohydrate diet was an effective weight loss strategy in the short term. However, its long-term effects were comparable to those observed with balanced dietary guidance and pharmacotherapy.