An Efficient Universal Bee Colony Optimization Algorithm

The artificial bee colony algorithm is a global optimization algorithm. The artificial bee colony optimization algorithm is easy to fall into local optimal. We proposed an efficient universal bee colony optimization algorithm (EUBCOA). The algorithm adds the search factor u and the selection strategy of the onlooker bees based on local optimal solution. In order to realize the controllability of algorithm search ability, the search factor u is introduced to improve the global search range and local search range. In the early stage of the iteration, the search scope is expanded and the convergence rate is increased. In the latter part of the iteration, the algorithm uses the selection strategy to improve the algorithm accuracy and convergence rate. We select ten benchmark functions to testify the performance of the algorithm. Experimental results show that the EUBCOA algorithm effectively improves the convergence speed and convergence accuracy of the ABC algorithm

Effect of Printing Orientation on Strength of 3D Printed ABS Plastics

The mechanical strengths of ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) components fabricated by fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique have been studied, with the focus on the effect of printing orientations on the strength. Using the properties derived from stress-strain curves of the samples, the 0-degree printed sample has the strongest mechanical properties, which is likely due to preferred orientations in individual slice

Tensile, Creep, and Fatigue Behaviors of 3D-Printed Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a widely used thermoplastics in 3D printing. However, there is a lack of thorough investigation of the mechanical properties of 3D-printed ABS components, including orientation-dependent tensile strength and creep fatigue properties. In this work, a systematic characterization is conducted on the mechanical properties of 3D-printed ABS components. Specifically, the effect of printing orientation on the tensile and creep properties is investigated. The results show that, in tensile tests, the 0° printing orientation has the highest Young’s modulus of 1.81 GPa, and ultimate strength of 224 MPa. In the creep test, the 90° printing orientation has the lowest k value of 0.2 in the plastics creep model, suggesting 90° is the most creep resistant direction. In the fatigue test, the average cycle number under load of 30 N is 3796 cycles. The average cycle number decreases to 128 cycles when the load is 60 N. Using the Paris law, with an estimated crack size of 0.75 mm, and stress intensity factor is varied from 352 to 70

MedBench: A Large-Scale Chinese Benchmark for Evaluating Medical Large Language Models

The emergence of various medical large language models (LLMs) in the medical domain has highlighted the need for unified evaluation standards, as manual evaluation of LLMs proves to be time-consuming and labor-intensive. To address this issue, we introduce MedBench, a comprehensive benchmark for the Chinese medical domain, comprising 40,041 questions sourced from authentic examination exercises and medical reports of diverse branches of medicine. In particular, this benchmark is composed of four key components: the Chinese Medical Licensing Examination, the Resident Standardization Training Examination, the Doctor In-Charge Qualification Examination, and real-world clinic cases encompassing examinations, diagnoses, and treatments. MedBench replicates the educational progression and clinical practice experiences of doctors in Mainland China, thereby establishing itself as a credible benchmark for assessing the mastery of knowledge and reasoning abilities in medical language learning models. We perform extensive experiments and conduct an in-depth analysis from diverse perspectives, which culminate in the following findings: (1) Chinese medical LLMs underperform on this benchmark, highlighting the need for significant advances in clinical knowledge and diagnostic precision. (2) Several general-domain LLMs surprisingly possess considerable medical knowledge. These findings elucidate both the capabilities and limitations of LLMs within the context of MedBench, with the ultimate goal of aiding the medical research community.Comment: accepted by AAAI-2

Biophysical Interactions Control the Progression of Harmful Algal Blooms in Chesapeake Bay: A Novel Lagrangian Particle Tracking Model with Mixotrophic Growth and Vertical Migration

Climate change and nutrient pollution contribute to the expanding global footprint of harmful algal blooms. To better predict their spatial distributions and disentangle biophysical controls, a novel Lagrangian particle tracking and biological (LPT-Bio) model was developed with a high-resolution numerical model and remote sensing. The LPT-Bio model integrates the advantages of Lagrangian and Eulerian approaches by explicitly simulating algal bloom dynamics, algal biomass change, and diel vertical migrations along predicted trajectories. The model successfully captured the intensity and extent of the 2020 Margalefidinium polykrikoides bloom in the lower Chesapeake Bay and resolved fine-scale structures of bloom patchiness, demonstrating a reliable prediction skill for 7-10 d. The fully coupled LPT-Bio model initialized/calibrated by remote sensing and controlled by ambient environmental conditions appeared to be a powerful approach to predicting transport pathways, identifying bloom hotspots, resolving concentration variations at subgrid scales, and investigating responses of HABs to changing environmental conditions and human interference

Ex vivo mono-ring technique simplifies culotte stenting for treatment of true bifurcation lesions: Insights from bench testing and clinical application

Background: Despite various culotte-based stenting techniques available clinically, the optimal one remains undetermined. The study aimed to test whether ex vivo mono-ring culotte stenting (MRC) was technically feasible and superior to mini culotte stenting (MCS) in treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions.Methods: Mono-ring culotte stenting was characterized by ex vivo wiring of the most proximal cell of the side branch (SB) stent to ensure a mono-ring result of the culotte stenting. Comparison of MRC vs. MCS in treatment of true bifurcation lesions was performed in vitro (n = 15 for each group) and in clinical case-controlled study with propensity matching at a ratio of 1:2 (n = 21 for MRC group; n = 42 for MCS group).Results: Compared to MCS, MRC had lower incidence of stent under-expansion band (0% vs. 53.3%, p = 0.002) and less residual ostial area stenosis of SB (9.2 ± 9.0% vs. 20.0 ± 14.8%, p = 0.023), as assessed in vitro by micro-computed tomography. In a case-controlled study, no adverse cardiac events were observed in the MRC group. The procedural success was similar between MRC and MCS (100% vs. 95.2%, p = 0.548), but MRC had less residual ostial stenosis of the SB (8.7% ± 11.0% vs. 16.8% ± 11.2%, p = 0.008), lower procedural(33.3 ± 9.5 min vs. 46.7 ± 15.6 min, p = 0.001) and fluoroscopic (19.7 ± 4.9 min vs. 26.2 ± 7.1 min, p < 0.001) time, and less contrast use (114.3 ± 28.9 mL vs. 156.5 ± 56.4 mL, p = 0.002).Conclusions: Mono-ring culotte stenting as compared to MCS is associated with better bifurcation stent morphology,less procedural complexity and residual ostial SB stenosis

Genome-wide and single-base resolution DNA methylomes of the Pacific oyster <i>Crassostrea gigas</i> provide insight into the evolution of invertebrate CpG methylation

BACKGROUND: Studies of DNA methylomes in a wide range of eukaryotes have revealed both conserved and divergent characteristics of DNA methylation among phylogenetic groups. However, data on invertebrates particularly molluscs are limited, which hinders our understanding of the evolution of DNA methylation in metazoa. The sequencing of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas genome provides an opportunity for genome-wide profiling of DNA methylation in this model mollusc. RESULTS: Homologous searches against the C. gigas genome identified functional orthologs for key genes involved in DNA methylation: DNMT1, DNMT2, DNMT3, MBD2/3 and UHRF1. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (BS-seq) of the oyster’s mantle tissues revealed that more than 99% methylation modification was restricted to cytosines in CpG context and methylated CpGs accumulated in the bodies of genes that were moderately expressed. Young repeat elements were another major targets of CpG methylation in oysters. Comparison with other invertebrate methylomes suggested that the 5’-end bias of gene body methylation and the negative correlation between gene body methylation and gene length were the derived features probably limited to the insect lineage. Interestingly, phylostratigraphic analysis showed that CpG methylation preferentially targeted genes originating in the common ancestor of eukaryotes rather than the oldest genes originating in the common ancestor of cellular organisms. CONCLUSIONS: Comparative analysis of the oyster DNA methylomes and that of other animal species revealed that the characteristics of DNA methylation were generally conserved during invertebrate evolution, while some unique features were derived in the insect lineage. The preference of methylation modification on genes originating in the eukaryotic ancestor rather than the oldest genes is unexpected, probably implying that the emergence of methylation regulation in these 'relatively young’ genes was critical for the origin and radiation of eukaryotes. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-1119) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Extracellular vesicle-mediated communication between CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and tumor cells

Tumors pose a significant global public health challenge, resulting in numerous fatalities annually. CD8+ T cells play a crucial role in combating tumors; however, their effectiveness is compromised by the tumor itself and the tumor microenvironment (TME), resulting in reduced efficacy of immunotherapy. In this dynamic interplay, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as pivotal mediators, facilitating direct and indirect communication between tumors and CD8+ T cells. In this article, we provide an overview of how tumor-derived EVs directly regulate CD8+ T cell function by carrying bioactive molecules they carry internally and on their surface. Simultaneously, these EVs modulate the TME, indirectly influencing the efficiency of CD8+ T cell responses. Furthermore, EVs derived from CD8+ T cells exhibit a dual role: they promote tumor immune evasion while also enhancing antitumor activity. Finally, we briefly discuss current prevailing approaches that utilize functionalized EVs based on tumor-targeted therapy and tumor immunotherapy. These approaches aim to present novel perspectives for EV-based tumor treatment strategies, demonstrating potential for advancements in the field