Heterogeneous group decision making with thermodynamical parameters

There often exist different types of information due to the subjective and objective criteria in practical decision-making problems, thus it is necessary to develop some efficient frameworks to deal with the decision-making problems with heterogeneous information. The paper proposes a framework for group decisionmaking problems with heterogeneous information with thermodynamical parameters consisting of three parts to achieving this goal. The first part builds the rectifications of criteria weights according to decision makers’ confidence in evaluations. The second part adopts thermodynamical parameters to measure the numerical values and the data distribution of heterogeneous information to characterize the heterogeneous information fully. The last part applies the TODIM (an acronym in Portuguese for Interactive and Multicriteria Decision Making) to aggregate the decision-making results based on the characterized heterogeneous information without transforming it into a unified form. By depicting decision makers’ different sensitive attitudes towards uncertainty by several mathematical expressions, experiments are performed to assess the sensitive attitudes’ impacts on decisionmaking results with the proposed framework. Finally, a case study on the selection of a green supplier under the low-carbon economy is provided to illustrate the flexibility and feasibility of the proposed framework

Indoor Exploration and Simultaneous Trolley Collection Through Task-Oriented Environment Partitioning

In this paper, we present a simultaneous exploration and object search framework for the application of autonomous trolley collection. For environment representation, a task-oriented environment partitioning algorithm is presented to extract diverse information for each sub-task. First, LiDAR data is classified as potential objects, walls, and obstacles after outlier removal. Segmented point clouds are then transformed into a hybrid map with the following functional components: object proposals to avoid missing trolleys during exploration; room layouts for semantic space segmentation; and polygonal obstacles containing geometry information for efficient motion planning. For exploration and simultaneous trolley collection, we propose an efficient exploration-based object search method. First, a traveling salesman problem with precedence constraints (TSP-PC) is formulated by grouping frontiers and object proposals. The next target is selected by prioritizing object search while avoiding excessive robot backtracking. Then, feasible trajectories with adequate obstacle clearance are generated by topological graph search. We validate the proposed framework through simulations and demonstrate the system with real-world autonomous trolley collection tasks

Multi-Risk-RRT: An Efficient Motion Planning Algorithm for Robotic Autonomous Luggage Trolley Collection at Airports

Robots have become increasingly prevalent in dynamic and crowded environments such as airports and shopping malls. In these scenarios, the critical challenges for robot navigation are reliability and timely arrival at predetermined destinations. While existing risk-based motion planning algorithms effectively reduce collision risks with static and dynamic obstacles, there is still a need for significant performance improvements. Specifically, the dynamic environments demand more rapid responses and robust planning. To address this gap, we introduce a novel risk-based multi-directional sampling algorithm, Multi-directional Risk-based Rapidly-exploring Random Tree (Multi-Risk-RRT). Unlike traditional algorithms that solely rely on a rooted tree or double trees for state space exploration, our approach incorporates multiple sub-trees. Each sub-tree independently explores its surrounding environment. At the same time, the primary rooted tree collects the heuristic information from these sub-trees, facilitating rapid progress toward the goal state. Our evaluations, including simulation and real-world environmental studies, demonstrate that Multi-Risk-RRT outperforms existing unidirectional and bi-directional risk-based algorithms in planning efficiency and robustness

Collaborative Trolley Transportation System with Autonomous Nonholonomic Robots

Cooperative object transportation using multiple robots has been intensively studied in the control and robotics literature, but most approaches are either only applicable to omnidirectional robots or lack a complete navigation and decision-making framework that operates in real time. This paper presents an autonomous nonholonomic multi-robot system and an end-to-end hierarchical autonomy framework for collaborative luggage trolley transportation. This framework finds kinematic-feasible paths, computes online motion plans, and provides feedback that enables the multi-robot system to handle long lines of luggage trolleys and navigate obstacles and pedestrians while dealing with multiple inherently complex and coupled constraints. We demonstrate the designed collaborative trolley transportation system through practical transportation tasks, and the experiment results reveal their effectiveness and reliability in complex and dynamic environments

Effect of acupuncture on post-stroke dysphagia: a randomized controlled trial

IntroductionPost-stroke dysphagia (PSD) is associated with various complications that increase morbidity and mortality rates. Acupuncture has been used extensively in China to treat these complications; however, its therapeutic efficacy remains uncertain. We therefore aimed to study the clinical effects of acupuncture on PSD.MethodsPatients (n = 101) were randomly divided into acupuncture (n = 50) and rehabilitation training control (n = 51) groups based on the treatment used. Both groups were treated once daily, 6 days a week, for a total of 4 weeks. Pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) and standardized swallowing assessment (SSA) were performed before the intervention, 2 weeks into treatment, after the intervention (4 weeks post-intervention), and at a 6-month follow-up (28 weeks). The levels of hemoglobin (Hb) and albumin (ALB), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) were measured before the intervention, 2 weeks into treatment, and after the intervention (4 weeks), as nutrition and swallowing function indices, respectively.ResultsFollowing the intervention, significant differences were observed between the acupuncture and control groups. The acupuncture group exhibited considerably superior enhancements in SpO2 and SSA scores at 4 weeks (p < 0.001). Moreover, this group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in Hb, ALB, 5-HT, and DA values 4 weeks post-treatment (p < 0.001). However, sex-based differences were not observed (P > 0.005).ConclusionAcupuncture treatment can improve the swallowing function and nutritional status of patients with PSD, and increase the levels of 5-HT and DA. These findings strongly support the efficacy of acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention in patients with PSD.Clinicaltrial registration: identifier, ChiCTR2100052201. (https://www.chictr.org.cn/)

The gut metabolite indole-3-propionic acid activates ERK1 to restore social function and hippocampal inhibitory synaptic transmission in a 16p11.2 microdeletion mouse model

Background: Microdeletion of the human chromosomal region 16p11.2 (16p11.2+/−) is a prevalent genetic factor associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. However its pathogenic mechanism remains unclear, and efective treatments for 16p11.2+/− syndrome are lacking. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiota and its metabolites are inextricably linked to host behavior through the gut-brain axis and are therefore implicated in ASD development. Despite this, the functional roles of microbial metabo‑ lites in the context of 16p11.2+/− are yet to be elucidated. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), a gut microbiota metabolite, in addressing behavioral and neural defcits associated with 16p11.2+/−, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms. // Results: Mice with the 16p11.2+/− showed dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and a signifcant decrease in IPA levels in feces and blood circulation. Further, these mice exhibited signifcant social and cognitive memory impairments, along with hyperactivation of hippocampal dentate gyrus neurons and reduced inhibitory synaptic transmission in this region. However, oral administration of IPA efectively mitigated the histological and electrophysiological alterations, thereby ameliorating the social and cognitive defcits of the mice. Remarkably, IPA treatment signifcantly increased the phosphorylation level of ERK1, a protein encoded by the Mapk3 gene in the 16p11.2 region, with‑ out afecting the transcription and translation of the Mapk3 gene. // Conclusions: Our study reveals that 16p11.2+/− leads to a decline in gut metabolite IPA levels; however, IPA supple‑ mentation notably reverses the behavioral and neural phenotypes of 16p11.2+/− mice. These fndings provide new insights into the critical role of gut microbial metabolites in ASD pathogenesis and present a promising treatment strategy for social and cognitive memory defcit disorders, such as 16p11.2 microdeletion syndrome

A study of effects of different impact loads on the dynamic and elastoplastic behavior in reservoir rocks at the beginning of hydraulic fracturing

Successful hydraulic fracturing is very important in the development of hydrocarbon-bearing formations. The loading introduced by hydraulic fracturing causes deformation and failure, which are related to the damage accumulation and hydraulic fracture initiation process. This study employs a numerical model that considers the dynamic and elastoplastic behaviors in rocks under the influence of impact loads. The acceleration and wave propagation behaviors are quantified using the model. A time integration algorithm is used to ensure numerical accuracy and stability. The effects of loading rate, loading location, and heterogeneity are quantified. Results show that the elastoplastic and dynamic can effectively capture the wavy mechanical responses in the domain. Strain rate, acceleration, and plasticity can all exhibit oscillatory distribution patterns. Increasing the loading rate can magnify acceleration, strain rate, and the maximum plastic strain, while it reduces the range experiencing these induced changes. Changing the loading types and introducing the heterogeneity consideration both largely alter the mechanical response in the domain, and the waveforms of the mechanical parameters are significantly changed. Failure can occur earlier in layers with more elastic mechanical properties. Exerting 50 MPa loading in 0.01 ms can effectively introduce deformation and failures in the reservoir rock. Doubling the loading rate can effectively improve the ability of creating rock failures, which facilitates the following fracture initiation and propagation processes. This study can be a reference for the understanding of near-well and instantaneous rock mechanical behaviors at the beginning of fracturing

Inhibition of MicroRNA-96 Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment and Inactivation Autophagy Following Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion in the Rat

Background/Aims: Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is a high-risk factor for vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Autophagy plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of CCH. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we identified the effect of a microRNA (miR) on autophagy under CCH. Methods: A CCH rat model was established by two-vessel occlusion (2VO). Learning and memory abilities were assessed by the Morris water maze. The protein levels of LC3, beclin-1, and mTOR were detected by western blotting and immunofluorescence assays, miR-96 expression was assessed by real-time PCR, luciferase assays were used to determine the effect of miR-96 on the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of mTOR, and the number of autophagosomes was examined by electron microscopy. Results: The level of miR-96 was significantly increased in 2VO rats, and inhibition of miR-96 ameliorated the cognitive impairment induced by 2VO. Furthermore, the number of LC3- and beclin-1-positive autophagosomes was increased in 2VO rats, and was decreased after miR-96 antagomir injection. However, the protein level of mTOR was reduced in 2VO rats, and it was down-regulated by miR-96 overexpression and up-regulated by miR-96 inhibition in 2VO rats and primary culture cells. Moreover, the luciferase activity of the 3′-UTR of mTOR was suppressed by miR-96, which was relieved by mutation of the miR-96 binding sites. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that miR-96 may play a key role in autophagy under CCH by regulating mTOR; therefore, miR-96 may represent a potential therapeutic target for CCH

Chronic salmon calcitonin exerts an antidepressant effect via modulating the p38 MAPK signaling pathway

Depression is a common recurrent psychiatric disorder with a high lifetime prevalence and suicide rate. At present, although several traditional clinical drugs such as fluoxetine and ketamine, are widely used, medications with a high efficiency and reduced side effects are of urgent need. Our group has recently reported that a single administration of salmon calcitonin (sCT) could ameliorate a depressive-like phenotype via the amylin signaling pathway in a mouse model established by chronic restraint stress (CRS). However, the molecular mechanism underlying the antidepressant effect needs to be addressed. In this study, we investigated the antidepressant potential of sCT applied chronically and its underlying mechanism. In addition, using transcriptomics, we found the MAPK signaling pathway was upregulated in the hippocampus of CRS-treated mice. Further phosphorylation levels of ERK/p38/JNK kinases were also enhanced, and sCT treatment was able only to downregulate the phosphorylation level of p38/JNK, with phosphorylated ERK level unaffected. Finally, we found that the antidepressant effect of sCT was blocked by p38 agonists rather than JNK agonists. These results provide a mechanistic explanation of the antidepressant effect of sCT, suggesting its potential for treating the depressive disorder in the clinic

Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Land Use Transition in the Background of Carbon Emission Trading Scheme Implementation: An Economic–Environmental Perspective

In the political context of “carbon peaking” and “carbon neutrality” proposed by the Chinese government, this paper investigates the spatio-temporal evolution of land use transition in China after the implementation of the carbon emission trading scheme (CETS). Based on the analysis of the spatio-temporal evolution, we discuss the spatial spillover of the policy effects. With the help of China’s CETS policy, this study explores the above issues with the main observation samples of the six provincial pilots included in CETS. Using the entropy weighting method, the indicator construction method, and local Moran’s I test, this paper takes 30 provincial areas in China from 2010 to 2017 as the full sample, and draws the following conclusions: (1) both the economic and environmental effects generated by CETS can optimize land use transition in the pilot areas, but the effective time points of the two are different; (2) the time for land use transition to be optimized by the two effects of CETS is different, among which the economic effect takes effect faster than the environmental effect; and (3) there is spatial spillover of the optimization effect of CETS on land use transition, but the specific effect depends on the industrial structure and development plan of the pilot areas