An improved Coati Optimization Algorithm with multiple strategies for engineering design optimization problems.

Aiming at the problems of insufficient ability of artificial COA in the late optimization search period, loss of population diversity, easy to fall into local extreme value, resulting in slow convergence and lack of exploration ability; In this paper, an improved COA algorithm based on chaotic sequence, nonlinear inertia weight, adaptive T-distribution variation strategy and alert updating strategy is proposed to enhance the performance of COA (shorted as TNTWCOA). The algorithm introduces chaotic sequence mechanism to initialize the position. The position distribution of the initial solution is more uniform, the high quality initial solution is generated, the population richness is increased, and the problem of poor quality and uneven initial solution of the Coati Optimization Algorithm is solved.

The roles of symmetry and elongation in developing reference frames.

Previous studies showed that elongation and symmetry (two ubiquitous aspects of natural stimuli) are important attributes in object perception and recognition, which in turn suggests that these geometrical factors may contribute to the selection of perceptual reference-frames. However, whether and how these attributes guide the selection of reference-frames is still poorly understood. The goal of this study was to examine systematically the roles of elongation and symmetry, as well as their combination, in the selection of reference axis and how these axes are developed for unfamiliar objects.

Using natural language processing to link patients' narratives to visual capabilities and sentiments.

Significance: Analyzing narratives in patients' medical records using a framework that combines natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning may help uncover the underlying patterns of patients' visual capabilities and challenges that they are facing and could be useful in analyzing big data in optometric research.

Purpose: The primary goal of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of applying a framework that combines NLP and machine learning to analyze narratives in patients' medical records. To test and validate our framework, we applied it to analyze records of low vision patients and to address two questions: Was there association between patients' narratives related to activities of daily living and the quality of their vision? Was there association between patients' narratives related to activities of daily living and their sentiments toward certain "assistive items"?

Methods: Our dataset consisted of 616 records of low vision patients.

Water Activation Triggered by Cu-Co Double-Atom Catalyst for Silane Oxidation.

High-performance catalysts sufficient to significantly reduce the energy barrier of water activation are crucial in facilitating reactions that are restricted by water dissociation. Herein we present a Cu-Co double-atom catalyst (CuCo-DAC), which possesses a uniform and well-defined CuCoN (OH) structure, and works together to promote water activation in silane oxidation. The catalyst achieves superior catalytic performance far exceeding that of single-atom catalysts (SACs).

Construction of Highly Active and Selective Molecular Imprinting Catalyst for Hydrogenation.

Surface molecular imprinting (MI) is one of the most efficient techniques to improve selectivity in a catalytic reaction. Heretofore, a prerequisite to fabricating selective catalysts by MI strategies is to sacrifice the number of surface-active sites, leading to a remarkable decrease of activity. Thus, it is highly desirable to design molecular imprinting catalysts (MICs) in which both the catalytic activity and selectivity are significantly enhanced.

Perception of rigidity in three- and four-dimensional spaces.

Our brain employs mechanisms to adapt to changing visual conditions. In addition to natural changes in our physiology and those in the environment, our brain is also capable of adapting to "unnatural" changes, such as inverted visual-inputs generated by inverting prisms. In this study, we examined the brain's capability to adapt to hyperspaces.

Tailoring Active Cu O/Copper Interface Sites for N-Formylation of Aliphatic Primary Amines with CO /H.

Heterogeneously catalyzed N-formylation of amines to formamide with CO /H is highly attractive for the valorization of CO . However, the relationship of the catalytic performance with the catalyst structure is still elusive. Herein, mixed valence catalysts containing Cu O/Cu interface sites were constructed for this transformation.

Plasma Scalpels: Devices, Diagnostics, and Applications.

The plasma scalpel is an application of gas discharges in electrosurgery. This paper introduces the device structure and physicochemical parameters of the two types of plasma scalpels, namely, a single-electrode Ar discharge device (argon plasma coagulation) and a two-electrode discharge device in normal saline. The diagnostic methods, including the voltage and current characteristics, optical emission spectroscopy, electron spin resonance, and high-speed imaging, are introduced to determine the critical process parameters, such as the plasma power, the gas temperature, the electron density, and the density of active species, and study the ignition dynamics of the plasma discharges in water.

A neural model for vector decomposition and relative-motion perception.

The perception of motion not only depends on the detection of motion signals but also on choosing and applying reference-frames according to which motion is interpreted. Here we propose a neural model that implements the common-fate principle for reference-frame selection. The model starts with a retinotopic layer of directionally-tuned motion detectors.

Evaluating the influence of 6MV and 10MV photon beams on cervical cancer volumetric-modulated arc therapy plans.

Background: Cervical cancer is a common gynecological cancer among women worldwide.

Objective: To determine the effects of 6 MV and 10 MV volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) photon beams on the target volume (TV) planning and critical organs in cases of cervical cancer.

Methods: Fifty patients with carcinoma of the cervix who underwent radiotherapy were selected.

Catalytic Activity Enhancement on Alcohol Dehydrogenation via Directing Reaction Pathways from Single- to Double-Atom Catalysis.

To further improve the intrinsic reactivity of single-atom catalysts (SACs), the controllable modification of a single site by coordinating with a second neighboring metal atom, developing double-atom catalysts (DACs), affords new opportunities. Here we report a catalyst that features two bonded Fe-Co double atoms, which is well represented by an FeCoN(OH) ensemble with 100% metal dispersion, that work together to switch the reaction mechanism in alcohol dehydrogenation under oxidant-free conditions. Compared with Fe-SAC and Co-SAC, FeCo-DAC displays higher activity performance, yielding the desired products in up to 98% yields.

Sensorimotor Self-organization via Circular-Reactions.

Newborns demonstrate innate abilities in coordinating their sensory and motor systems through reflexes. One notable characteristic is circular reactions consisting of self-generated motor actions that lead to correlated sensory and motor activities. This paper describes a model for goal-directed reaching based on circular reactions and exocentric reference-frames.

Dosimetric analysis of postoperative radiotherapy for thymoma.

Purpose: To compare the dosimetric differences between intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in the treatment of male and female thymoma.

Material And Methods: This single-institutional analysis included 20 patients with thymoma treated with RT between January 2017 and December 2020. Twenty patients were retrospectively planned for IMRT (IMRT1 with an average field angle of 216°, 288°, 0°, 72°,and 144°; IMRT2 with fan-shaped field angles of 280°, 320°, 0°, 40°, and 80°) and VMAT (VMAT1 with two arcs ranging form 280° to 80°,clockwise and then counterclockwise; VMAT2 with two 360° arcs).

Association of Sarcopenia With Toxicity and Survival in Postoperative Recurrent Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Receiving Chemoradiotherapy.

Background: Sarcopenia has been associated with treatment-related toxicities and poor survival in cancer patients. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of sarcopenia in postoperative recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients receiving chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and evaluate associations with treatment-related toxicity and prognosis.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-four patients with postoperative locoregional recurrent ESCC receiving CRT between January 2014 and December 2016 were included.

Tumor-Secreted Exosomal lncRNA POU3F3 Promotes Cisplatin Resistance in ESCC by Inducing Fibroblast Differentiation into CAFs.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), an activated subpopulation of fibroblasts, occupy a central position in the tumor microenvironment and have been shown to promote chemoresistance in multiple cancer types by secreting inflammatory cytokines. Herein, we report that tumor-secreted exosomal long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can regulate cisplatin resistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) through transformation of normal fibroblasts (NFs) to CAFs. Primary CAFs and matched NFs were isolated from tumor tissues and matched normal esophageal epithelial tissues of ESCC patients.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic biomarker for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy.

The present study evaluated the clinical and prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT). A total of 517 patients with ESCC were enrolled and analysed retrospectively. The NLR was calculated at three time points: baseline, post-treatment, and at the time of tumor progression.