R2MLwiN:A program to run the MLwiN multilevel modelling software from within R

R2MLwiN is a new package designed to run the multilevel modeling software program MLwiN from within the R environment. It allows for a large range of models to be specified which take account of a multilevel structure, including continuous, binary, proportion, count, ordinal and nominal responses for data structures which are nested, cross-classified and/or exhibit multiple membership. Estimation is available via iterative generalized least squares (IGLS), which yields maximum likelihood estimates, and also via Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) estimation for Bayesian inference. As well as employing MLwiN's own MCMC engine, users can request that MLwiN write BUGS model, data and initial values statements for use with WinBUGS or OpenBUGS (which R2MLwiN automatically calls via rbugs), employing IGLS starting values from MLwiN. Users can also take advantage of MLwiN's graphical user interface: for example to specify models and inspect plots via its interactive equations and graphics windows. R2MLwiN is supported by a large number of examples, reproducing all the analyses conducted in MLwiN's IGLS and MCMC manuals

Study on Safety Control of Composite Roof in Deep Roadway based on Energy Balance Theory

Improving the safety and stability of composite roof in deep roadway is the strong guarantee for safe mining and sustainable development of coal mines. With three roadways of different composite roofs in Hulusu Coal Mine and Menkeqing Coal Mine as the research background, this paper explores the mechanical properties and energy dissipation law of coal-rock structures with different height ratios from the perspective of energy release and dissipation through lab experiments. The results indicate that the key to the stability of coal-rock structures lies in maintaining relatively low dissipation energy. Based on experimental results and the energy balance theory, two support principles were put forward and applied to experimental roadways. The field monitoring results show that the anchoring force on different composite roof displays different characteristics, proving that the work done by the support can adjust timely to the energy release and conversion so as to improve the safety and stability of roadways with different composite roofs. This study provides a reference for the deformation control in deep roadways with composite roofs under similar conditions

TOP-ReID: Multi-spectral Object Re-Identification with Token Permutation

Multi-spectral object Re-identification (ReID) aims to retrieve specific objects by leveraging complementary information from different image spectra. It delivers great advantages over traditional single-spectral ReID in complex visual environment. However, the significant distribution gap among different image spectra poses great challenges for effective multi-spectral feature representations. In addition, most of current Transformer-based ReID methods only utilize the global feature of class tokens to achieve the holistic retrieval, ignoring the local discriminative ones. To address the above issues, we step further to utilize all the tokens of Transformers and propose a cyclic token permutation framework for multi-spectral object ReID, dubbled TOP-ReID. More specifically, we first deploy a multi-stream deep network based on vision Transformers to preserve distinct information from different image spectra. Then, we propose a Token Permutation Module (TPM) for cyclic multi-spectral feature aggregation. It not only facilitates the spatial feature alignment across different image spectra, but also allows the class token of each spectrum to perceive the local details of other spectra. Meanwhile, we propose a Complementary Reconstruction Module (CRM), which introduces dense token-level reconstruction constraints to reduce the distribution gap across different image spectra. With the above modules, our proposed framework can generate more discriminative multi-spectral features for robust object ReID. Extensive experiments on three ReID benchmarks (i.e., RGBNT201, RGBNT100 and MSVR310) verify the effectiveness of our methods. The code is available at https://github.com/924973292/TOP-ReID.Comment: This work is accepted by AAAI202

Determinants of Air Quality in Building Environments: A Multi-Regression Analysis and Implications for Open Teaching Practices

In the ever-evolving educational milieu, the integration of innovative teaching methodologies is increasingly crucial to meet the changing needs of modern learners. This research meticulously explores the application of open teaching practices in the fields of building environment and energy application engineering. Through an in-depth examination of multi-regression data pertaining to various environmental factors, this study reveals significant correlations and patterns that are relevant to both educators and environmental specialists. Emphasis is placed on the student-centric ethos of this approach, combining the dual concepts of environmental science and pedagogical progression. The relationship between environmental variables, such as PM2.5, PM10, temperature, and humidity, and the air quality index (AQI) is rigorously analyzed. Such analysis underscores the educational improvements brought about by open teaching strategies. The presented findings not only offer nuanced insights into how the aforementioned variables influence air quality but also highlight the benefits and potential of open teaching methodologies in creating a more interactive and enlightening academic environment

Reduced regional cerebral oxygen saturation increases risk for emergence delirium in pediatric patients

ObjectivesTo assess whether decreased regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO2) is associated with the emergence delirium (ED) following general anesthesia in the pediatric population.MethodsA retrospective observational cohort study was conducted on 113 children (ASA I–III) aged 2–14 years who underwent selective surgery under general anesthesia between 2022-01 and 2022-04. Intraoperatively, the rScO2 was monitored using a cerebral oximeter. The Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) score was used to evaluate the patients for ED.ResultsThe incidence of ED was 31%. Low rScO2 was reported in 41.6% of patients, who had a higher incidence of ED (P < 0.001) than those who did not experience desaturation. Logistic regression analysis revealed that decreased rScO2 was significantly associated with incident ED events [odds ratio (OR), 10.77; 95% confidence interval, 3.31–35.05]. Children under 3 years of age had a higher incidence of ED after rScO2 desaturation during anesthesia compared to older children (OR, 14.17 vs. 4.64).ConclusionIntraoperative rScO2 desaturation significantly increased the incidence of ED following general anesthesia. Monitoring should be enhanced to improve the oxygen balance in vital organs to improve the quality and safety of anesthesia

Experimental study on progressive failure of anchoring structure under high-frequency and low-energy impact disturbance

High-frequency, low-energy impacts consistently inflict damage on the surrounding rock and anchoring structure in deep roadways, leading to ongoing instability. The construction of anchoring support system that can withstand these dynamic impact loads is identified as crucial in deep coal mining. Through theoretical analysis, laboratory experiments, and numerical simulations, the stress transfer and transformation mechanisms within the anchoring structure under such loads are explored. The cumulative damage and progressive failure of the structure are studied, with criteria being proposed for controlling the roadways under dynamic impact conditions. The findings reveal that three primary elements, i.e., compressive stress, tensile stress, and oscillatory effects caused by quick transitions between compression and tension, are responsible for damaging the anchoring structure. Crucially, the failure of anchoring interface under such conditions is primarily due to the medium's compressive strength and uncoordinated deformation. Damage in the anchoring structure accumulates under internal normal forces, leading to failure when the tangential modulus turns negative or the deformation from a single dynamic impact continuously increases contrary to expectations. A significant cumulative-mutation effect is observed under the combined influence of compression, tension, and oscillation, particularly in terms of the loss of pre-tightening force and internal damage in anchoring structure. Internal fissures predominantly exhibit tensile fractures, with an overall deterioration transitioning gradually from oscillatory effects to tensile stress effects, and subsequently to compressive failure effects. To effectively reduce this cumulative damage, it is crucial to improve the coordinated deformation capacity of both the surrounding rock and the anchoring agent. Additionally, increasing the anchoring length not only enhances structural stiffness but also mobilizes a broader range of rock mass for load-bearing, thereby protecting the anchoring interface, ensuring that the shear resistance in the anchoring structure’s bearing area surpasses the internal normal driving force during dynamic impacts, and mitigating the effects of oscillation can effectively reduce the cumulative damage degree of the anchoring structure. Finally, a new guideline for controlling the roadways under dynamic impact loading is proposed. The guideline, characterized by low energy, high resistance, and an allowance for compression, includes strategies such as far-field unloading, strong support in the near field, modification of fractured surrounding rock, maintaining pre-tightening force, and incorporating compression structures. It aims to provide an effective guidance for the maintenance and control of roadways in similar conditions

More Severe Manifestations and Poorer Short-Term Prognosis of Ganglioside-Associated Guillain-Barré Syndrome in Northeast China

Ganglioside as a neurotrophic drug has been hitherto widely used in China, although Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) following intravenous ganglioside treatment was reported in Europe several decades ago. We identified 7 patients who developed GBS after intravenous use of gangliosides (ganglioside+ group) and compared their clinical data with those of 77 non-ganglioside-associated GBS patients (ganglioside− group) in 2013, aiming at gaining the distinct features of ganglioside-associated GBS. Although the mean age, protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and frequency of cranial nerve involvement were similar between the two groups, the Hughes Functional Grading Scale (HFGS) score and the Medical Research Council (MRC) sum score at nadir significantly differed (4.9±0.4 vs 3.6±1.0; 7.7±5.5 vs 36.9±14.5, both p<0.001), indicating a higher disease severity of ganglioside-associated GBS. A higher ratio of patients with ganglioside-associated GBS required mechanical ventilation (85.7% vs 15.6%, p<0.01). The short-term prognosis of ganglioside-associated GBS, as measured by the HFGS score and the MRC sum score at discharge, was poorer (4.3±0.5 vs 2.8±1.1; 17.3±12.9 vs 46.0±13.9, both p<0.001). All the patients in the ganglioside+ group presented an axonal form of GBS, namely acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN). When compared with the AMAN patients in the ganglioside− group, more severe functional deficits at nadir and poorer recovery after standard treatment were still prominent in ganglioside-associated GBS. Anti-GM1 and anti-GT1a antibodies were detectable in patients with AMAN while not in patients with the demyelinating subtype of GBS. The concentrations of these antibodies in patients with AMAN were insignificantly different between the ganglioside+ and ganglioside− groups. In sum, ganglioside-associated GBS may be a devastating side effect of intravenous use of gangliosides, which usually manifests a more severe clinical course and poorer outcome

Mechanical model of deformation-seepage-erosion for Karst collapse column water inrush and its application

With the extension of coal mining in China, fault water inrush has become one of major disasters threatening the safety of coal mine production. Based on the research results related to the mining-induced fault water inrush, this paper proposes a conceptual model of water inrush caused by the erosion synergy of mining-induced rock mass damage rupture and fractured rock mass (fault), derives the permeability evolution equation of the two media, and systematically constructs the cooperative disaster causing mechanism model between mining failure and particle erosion inside faults. The numerical simulation is conducted to study the deformation and failure of rock mass, the particle transport in faults and the evolution characteristics of seepage channel, and systematically explain the temporal and spatial evolution mechanism of seepage catastrophe caused by mining-induced fault inrush. The results show that: ① With the continuous advancement of working face, the damage field of mine floor rock mass is connected with the fault erosion fracture, forming a seepage path of aquifer-fault-mining fracture-working face, and with the increase of erosion time, it finally develops into several dominant water diversion channels, resulting in a sharp increase in water inflow at the working face and a lagging water inrush. ② With the increase of seepage time, the water inflow and fracture opening degree inside faults all show three stages: slow change, sudden increase and stable, and the erosion particle concentration shows a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. ③ Under the geological conditions of the mining area studied in this paper, in order to prevent the occurrence of fault water inrush, the methods such as advanced grouting or leaving water prevention coal pillars can be adopted, and the advance grouting time should be before the bottom plate fracture zone connects faults, if grouting is not applied, the width of the reasonable water prevention coal pillar should not be less than 20 m

Non-invasive assessment of intracranial wall shear stress using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging in combination with computational fluid dynamics technique

In vivo studies on association between wall shear stress (WSS) and intracranial plaque are deficient. Based on the three-dimensional T1-weighted high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (3DT1 HR-MRI) data of patients with low-grade stenotic (<50%) atherosclerotic middle cerebral artery (MCA) and subjects with normal MCA, we built a three-dimensional reconstructed WSS model by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique. Three-dimensional registration of the CFD model to the HR-MRI was performed with projections based on the resolution and thickness of the images. The relationships between the WSS at each side of the vessel wall and plaque location were analyzed. A total of 94 MCA plaques from 43 patients and 50 normal MCAs were analyzed. In the normal MCAs, WSS was lower at the ventral-inferior wall than at the dorsal-superior wall (proximal segment, p < 0.001; middle segment, p < 0.001) and lower at the inner wall than at the outer wall of the MCA curve (p < 0.001). In atherosclerotic MCAs, similar low WSS regions were observed where plaques developed. The WSS ratio of the ventral-inferior wall to the dorsal-superior wall in atherosclerotic MCAs was lower than that in normal MCAs (p = 0.002). The WSSinner-outer ratio in atherosclerotic MCAs was lower than that in normal MCAs (p = 0.002). Low WSS was associated with MCA atherosclerosis formation and occurred mainly at the ventral-inferior wall, which was anatomically opposite the orifices of penetrating arteries, and at the inner wall of the MCA curve. Overall, the results were well consistent with the low WSS theory in atherosclerosis formation. The reconstructed WSS model is a promising novel method for assessing an individualized vascular profile once validated by further studies