Adaptive Structure Research Articles

Morphophysiological Assessment of the Cervix during the Reproductive Cycle and Early Pregnancy in Does Using Computed Tomography and Oxytocin Receptor Immunohistochemistry.

This study aimed to elucidate the morphophysiology and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) expression in the cervix of doe goats during various reproductive stages to enhance reproductive management strategies. A total of 40 cervical samples were categorized into follicular (n = 15), luteal (n = 10), and early pregnancy (n = 15) stages. Utilizing advanced imaging based on functional and morphological markers, the study employed computed tomography (CT) scans, histochemical staining (Masson trichrome and alcian blue), immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) to assess structural changes in the cervix and in OXTR expression during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy. CT scans revealed consistent cervical folds and a significant reduction in cervical width during pregnancy, suggesting structural adaptations for gestational integrity. Histochemical analyses indicated a well-organized collagen network and presence of mucins, essential for cervical function and integrity. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting demonstrated elevated OXTR protein levels during the follicular stage, which were markedly reduced during pregnancy, indicating a role in facilitating cervical relaxation and sperm transport during estrus and maintaining cervical closure during gestation. qPCR analysis showed stable OXTR mRNA levels during follicular and luteal stages with a slight, non-significant increase during pregnancy, pointing towards posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that cervical morphology and OXTR expression in doe goats undergo significant changes across reproductive stages, with elevated OXTR protein levels during the follicular phase and notable reductions in cervical width and OXTR protein levels during pregnancy, indicating structural and functional adaptations for both reproductive processes and gestational integrity.

Self-locking and stiffening deployable tubular structures

Deployable tubular structures, designed for functional expansion, serve a wide range of applications, from flexible pipes to stiff structural elements. These structures, which transform from compact states, are crucial for creating adaptive solutions across engineering and scientific fields. A significant barrier to advancing their performance is balancing expandability with stiffness. Using compliant materials, these structures achieve more flexible transformations than those possible with rigid mechanisms. However, they typically exhibit reduced stiffness when subjected to external pressures (e.g., tube wall loading). Here, we utilize origami-inspired techniques and internal stiffeners to meet conflicting performance requirements. A self-locking mechanism is proposed, which combines the folding behavior observed in curved-crease origami and elastic shell buckling. This mechanism employs simple shell components, including internal diaphragms that undergo pseudofolding in a confined boundary condition to enable a snap-through transition. We reveal that the deployed tube is self-locked through geometrical interference, creating a braced tubular arrangement. This arrangement gives a direction-dependent structural performance, ranging from elastic response to crushing, thereby offering the potential for programmable structures. We demonstrate that our approach can advance existing deployment mechanisms (e.g., coiled and inflatable systems) and create diverse structural designs (e.g., metamaterials, adaptive structures, cantilevers, and lightweight panels).Weanticipate our design to be a starting point to drive technological advancement in real-world deployable tubular structures.

Performance analysis of a pilot gasification system of biomass with stepwise intake of air-steam considering waste heat utilization

Although the fixed-bed gasifier is widely used because of their simple structure, easy operation, and strong adaptability to biomass type, its economy is weakened by their low bioenergy conversion ability and heat utilization efficiency. Therefore, a novel biomass gasifier with stepwise intake of air–steam is proposed, which also innovatively integrates the concept of multi-stage utilization of waste heat generated during the gasification process into its design. And a pilot system comprising the novel biomass gasifier with a biomass consumption of 30 kg/h has been built. A series of continuous air-steam gasification experiments on pine wood particles shown that, the high-temperature steam in the reduction zone enhanced the ring opening of aromatic hydrocarbons, decarboxylation, dehydroxylation, and the conversion of long-chain to short-chain hydrocarbons, thus increasing the yield of small-molecule gases. The steam reforming reaction played an active role in increasing the hydrogen content, the gasification gas's production and low calorific value. And the relationship among the reaction rates on the surface of char should be VC + H2O＞VC+2H2O＞VC + CO2＞VC+2H2. The minimum input temperature of steam was 350 °C, otherwise more char would be consumed in the oxidation zone to provide heat. The proposed steam-air gasification system achieved optimal performance with an air-to-steam mass ratio (A/S) of approximately 8, a steam temperature of 400 °C, and an air-to-biomass mass ratio (A/B) of 1.2. The average gas production could reach 2.67 m3/kg, with the average low calorific value of 5.1 MJ/m3. The average hydrogen content could reach 20 %, with the average H2/CO ratio of 2. The average effective gasification efficiency could reach 69.72 %. Compared with air gasification, the proposed air-steam gasification was equivalent to the use of 1 kWh of electricity to produce 2.4 kWh of electricity. Combining market research, the price of steam produced by the proposed system was approximately 70 CNY/t less than when using natural gas. This study aims to provide a technical reference for improving the performance of biomass gasification in practical applications.

BPD's Role in Village Development Planning

General Background in this context, the Village Consultative Body (BPD) serves as a key institution supporting the development planning process. Specific Background however, understanding the specific role of the BPD in development remains limited. Knowledge Gap this research aims to analyze and describe the role of the BPD in village development planning. Aims data collection methods used include observation, interviews, and documentation, with data analysis through collection, reduction, presentation, and verification. Results findings show that the BPD plays a crucial role in formulating and agreeing on village regulations and as a channel for community aspirations. An adaptive organizational structure of the BPD and the involvement of community elements make this process more efficient. Success the assessment of the BPD’s role in village development received positive responses from the community. Implications however, challenges remain regarding the passivity of BPD members, which can affect the optimization of village regulation formulation. This study highlights the importance of strengthening the BPD's capacity to be more responsive to community needs. Highlights: The BPD is essential for channeling community aspirations into development plans. Positive community feedback indicates effective BPD involvement in village governance. Challenges include passive member engagement, hindering optimal regulation processing. Keywords: Village Consultative Body, Development Planning, Community Aspirations, Village Regulations, Organizational Structure

Non-Contact Human Body Dimension Estimation Methods Based on Deep Learning: A Critical Analysis

With the advancement of information technology, Human Body Dimension Estimation (HBDE) is moving towards digitalization and non-contact methods. This paper critically reviews non-contact HBDE methods based on deep learning, primarily covering image-based methods, the Adaptive Body Structure Segmentation (ABSS) algorithm with height and weight measurements, and 3D meshes or point cloud data methods. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) excel in image measurement, while the ABSS algorithm with adaptive segmentation achieves high accuracy. Recent studies, such as the Grey Wolf Optimizer-Elman Neural Network (GBWO-ENN) model, have significantly improved prediction accuracy by optimizing neural network structures. Additionally, 3D point cloud data combined with the Skinned Multi-Person Linear (SMPL) model has proven effective in complex scenarios. This paper summarizes the performance of various methods, analyzes common datasets, and explores future development directions for non-contact HBDE. Despite significant progress, this field still faces challenges such as data quality, scarcity of extreme samples, and privacy issues. Future research should focus on building high-quality datasets and developing lightweight measurement networks to meet practical application needs.

Potent and selective ‘genetic zipper’ method for DNA-programmable plant protection: innovative oligonucleotide insecticides against Trioza alacris Flor

Chemical insecticides increased the chemical burden on natural ecosystems posing environmental health risk factor. The urgent need for a more sustainable and ecological approach has produced many innovative ideas, including eco-friendly ‘genetic zipper’ method (or CUAD platform) based on contact oligonucleotide insecticides. Oligonucleotide insecticides have enjoyed success recently on many sternorrhynchans showing highly adaptable structure for distinct insect pest species and selective mode of action. In this article, we describe the efficiency of the oligonucleotide insecticides (briefly, olinscides or DNA insecticides) Alacris-11 and Laura-11, as well as their combined use in mixture (1:1), designed for control of bay sucker (Trioza alacris Flor), an important psyllid pest of noble laurel (Laurus nobilis L.). These olinscides are based on short unmodified antisense DNA oligonucleotides that target ITS2 between 5.8S rRNA and 28S rRNA in pre-rRNA (Laura-11) and 28S rRNA region in mature 28S rRNA and pre-rRNA (Alacris-11). The maximum pest mortality, observed on the 14th day of the experiment, comprised 95.01 ± 4.42% for Alacris-11, 97.16 ± 2.48% for Laura-11, and 98.72 ± 1.14% for their mixture (1:1). The control oligonucleotide CTGA-11 did not cause any significant mortality (9.38 ± 0.57%), emphasizing selectivity in the action of oligonucleotide insecticides. The results show potent and specific nature of oligonucleotide insecticides for pest control and open up new frontiers in control of economically important psyllids in agriculture and forestry, including Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama) and many others. Scientists can easily adopt ‘genetic zipper’ method for plethora of insect pests because DNA is a programmable molecule and provides game-changing characteristics for plant protection.Graphical

A starfish-inspired 4D self-healing morphing structure

Inspired by the starfish's unique ability to achieve flexibility and posture-holding with minimal energy expenditure, we present a novel bioinspired morphing structure. Our two-component design, consisting of a thermoplastic mesh and elastomeric jacket, effectively mimics the functions of the starfish's ossicles, mutable collagenous tissues, and derma. This structure exhibits a remarkable combination of self-healing, time-dependent shape memory, and self-posture-holding properties. Systematic variations in mesh geometry demonstrate precise control over structural stiffness and thermal response, enabling customization for specific applications. The structure's scalability and ease of fabrication further enhance its adaptability. We experimentally demonstrate the potential of our biomimetic morphing structure using several prototypes. This work lays the foundation for developing a new type of versatile morphing structures with applications in diverse fields, including robotics, biomedical devices, and adaptive structures.

Investigating Discrepancies in Adsorption Enthalpy Predictions: An Analysis of CO2 Adsorption on HKUSTs

The pressing need to mitigate the presence of harmful gases in the atmosphere motivates scientific and engineering endeavors to devise effective adsorption solutions. Achieving practical and specific adsorption is essential for improving capture processes, with CO2 being a prominent target due to its significant environmental repercussions. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), distinguished by their high porosity and adaptable structure, have emerged as promising candidates for CO2 adsorption. Especially noteworthy are functionalized MOFs, which augment adsorption capacity, selectivity, and heat of adsorption. This research investigates CO2 adsorption on HKUST-1 modified with three amines of varying strengths, evaluating adsorption capacity and thermal impacts using direct adsorption calorimetry and Van't Hoff thermodynamic models.

Experimental study and seismic assessment on base isolated precast concrete frame structure with box connectors

The precast construction method offers fast and environmentally friendly solutions for sustainable development in construction. Various connection methods, including wet and dry, have been proposed to enhance assembly convenience. However, challenges remain in achieving complete assembly and considering disassembly processes, hindering post-earthquake restoration. This study introduces a precast RC structure system with easily assembled joints that facilitate disassembly. To enhance the structural system's adaptability to regions with high seismic intensity, rubber-bearing base isolation technology is employed to optimize its seismic performance. Shaking table tests were conducted to evaluate the structure system's dynamic response and seismic performance. Test results indicate that the isolation layer significantly decreases the acceleration response, inter-story drift ratios, floor shear forces, and strain of reinforcements. The isolation structure has a high probability of entering operational and immediate occupancy states during rare earthquakes. The deformation of the isolation bearings has a decisive impact on the overall seismic fragility of the isolation structure system.

Self-organization of the tribosystem under non-stationary conditions of friction from the standpoint of deformation-wave representations

Mechanisms of structural adaptation of contact surfaces and lubricating materials during friction with the dominance of deformation processes in tribocontact have been analyzed. The purpose of the work was to model the elastic-plastic properties of dissipative structures taking into account the anisotropic properties of the surface layers of the friction pairs and the boundary layers of the lubricating material. The modeling took into account the structural state of the latter formed due to heating and saturation with wear products, along with the physical and mechanical interaction of this layer with the outer surface of the part. An algorithm for determining the distributed tangent force along the length of the boundary layer of the lubricating material adjacent to the part has been developed based on the hypothesis of the wave-like state of the surface layer of the lubricating material on an absolutely flat (non-deformed) rough surface. Herein, under the action of tangent forces, the strip of lubricant is subject to horizontal compression and transverse movement. The distributed tangent stress along the length of the adjacency of the layer of densified lubricant to the part causes micro-slipping of the layer. Amplitude horizontal displacements of the boundary of the lubricant layer are determined when the beam-film is loaded with longitudinal stresses, which leads to partial disorientation of the film and loss of its originally rectilinear structured form, the transition of the lubricant layer to the state of the wave surface of a sinusoid shape. Also, a procedure for calculation of tangent forces causing the loss of elastic stability of the lubricant boundary layers resulting in the direct mechanical destruction of the lubricant boundary layer in the slipping zone of the contact surface is proposed based on the elastic-frictional interaction of this layer with the near-surface layer of the metal

Active flux based adaptive and non-adaptive observer for sensorless interior permanent magnet synchronous machine drive

The use of the interior permanent magnet synchronous machine (IPMSM) drive has profoundly increased in a large number of applications due to numerous advantages. Owing to the disadvantages of mechanical sensors, sensorless control techniques are employed to enhance the performance of the IPMSM drive by removing the effect of noise and gain drift due to the sensor, increasing reliability, cost saving, and reducing overall size. This article presents the comparative analysis between the adaptive observer and non-adaptive extended electromotive force (EEMF) observer based on the active flux concept in a stationary reference frame (α–β). Moreover, the effect of slot harmonics and non-sinusoidal distribution of rotor flux is present in the three-phase IPMSM, this problem is considered as the control system disturbances in this article. Due to the non-sinusoidal distribution of flux and slot harmonics, the observer structure in the rotating reference frame (d–q) fails to estimate at the low-speed operation range. Comparative analysis between adaptive and non-adaptive observer structures is provided for a wide speed range. The effectiveness of the observer structures is examined using the classical field-oriented control scheme. In the end, simulation and experimental results are demonstrated to validate the performance of the sensorless control scheme using the adaptive and non-adaptive observer structures for the three-phase IPMSM drive setup.

Occurrence of Transposition and Substantivization Phenomena Between Adjectival and Noun Word Categories in Uzbek

This study investigates the phenomena of transposition and substantivization between adjectival and noun word categories in the Uzbek language, an area that remains underexplored in linguistic research. By analyzing selected texts, the study identifies shifts where adjectives become nouns (substantivization) and nouns assume adjectival roles (transposition), focusing on their contextual usage in proverbs, literary works, and everyday speech. The research identifies 150 instances of these shifts, demonstrating the flexibility and dynamic nature of word categories in Uzbek. The findings provide new insights into language evolution and structural adaptability, with broader implications for understanding the linguistic characteristics of Turkic languages.

Engineering lipase TLL to improve its acid tolerance and its biosynthesis in Trichoderma reesei for biodiesel production from acidified oil

Lipases catalyze the synthesis of biodiesel, which is an important renewable alternative energy source. Cost-efficient conversion of waste acidified oil to biodiesel entails acid-tolerant lipases which have not been extensively studied. This study showed that the commonly used Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase TLL displayed a weak acid tolerance and an unsatisfactory performance in biodiesel production from acidified oil. Directed evolution of TLL identified one TLL-T3 variant with three residue substitutions (A69S/V150P/N222G). TLL-T3 displayed significantly enhanced acid tolerance, and its application in acidified oil treatment led to a biodiesel yield up to 90 % (w/w). A scaled-up production of TLL-T3 in Trichoderma reesei was further achieved and the highest extracellular lipase activity reached 16,123 U/mL after fermentation optimization. These results provide new insights into structural adaptation to acid tolerance by lipases and show that TLL-T3 holds great potential in commercial biodiesel production from waste acidified oil.

Efficient Generation of Protein Pockets with PocketGen.

Designing small-molecule-binding proteins, such as enzymes and biosensors, is crucial in protein biology and bioengineering. Generating high-fidelity protein pockets areas where proteins interact with ligand molecules, is challenging due to complex interactions between ligand molecules and proteins, flexibility of ligand molecules and amino acid side chains, and complex sequence-structure dependencies. Here, we introduce PocketGen, a deep generative method for generating the residue sequence and the full-atom structure within the protein pocket region that leverages sequence structure consistency. PocketGen consists of a bilevel graph transformer for structural encoding and a sequence refinement module that uses a protein language model (pLM) for sequence prediction. The bilevel graph transformer captures interactions at multiple granularities (atom-level and residue/ligand-level) and aspects (intra-protein and protein-ligand) with bilevel attention mechanisms. For sequence refinement, a structural adapter using cross-attention is integrated into a pLM to ensure structure-sequence consistency. During training, only the adapter is fine-tuned, while the other layers of the pLM remain unchanged. Experiments show that PocketGen can efficiently generate protein pockets with higher binding affinity and validity than state-of-the-art methods. PocketGen is ten times faster than physics-based methods and achieves a 95% success rate (percentage of generated pockets with higher binding affinity than reference pockets) with over 64% amino acid recovery rate.

“When hearing hoof beats from behind, expect horses, not zebras” – What flexibility research should adopt from scientific philosophy. A critical perspective on available evidence

The American College of Sports Medicine classifies flexibility as one out of 5 important health-related parameters that should be addressed in preventive and therapeutic training programs (Garber et al., 2011). Due to its importance in health and athletic performance development, there is an increasing number of studies to figure out flexibility training interventions as well as underlying mechanisms. While several exercise modalities are available, stretching and foam rolling (FR) are the most common training routines to improve range of motion (ROM). Interestingly, acute and chronic effects are mainly attributed to very similar mechanisms, more specifically, improved stretch tolerance and/or structural adaptations such as stiffness reductions in the muscle, the tendon, or the muscle-tendon complex (Takeuchi et al., 2023). Since stretching and FR seem to induce similar effect sizes in acute flexibility, authors suggested the replacement of static stretching to FR in movement preparation routines to avoid the stretch-induced force deficit, thus, impairments of subsequent strength related performance. Similarly, when discussing chronic flexibility routine effects, literature suggests task specificity. Therefore, increased ROM was attributed to specific stretch/foam rolling induced stiffness and passive peak torque changes. Unfortunately, statements developed from used research designs are incomprehensive. When referring to acute stretching of foam rolling effects that can be extracted from numerous systematic reviews, conclusions were drawn from comparisons to passive controls. This, however, does exclusively allow statements that stretching/FR was effective compared to doing nothing, however, does not exclude general warm-up effects, induced by muscle activity. Referring to William of Ockham (1287 – 1347), one popular philosopher from the United Kingdom, the most obvious explanatory approach would be the most likely one. In medicine diagnostics, this statement is metaphorically described as “when hearing hoof beats from behind, expect horses, not zebras”. Therefore, since both routines enhance temperature, the most likely explanation suggest acute ROM increases could rely on general warm-up effects instead of task-specific adaptations. Similarly, for chronic effects, literature suggests that ROM can be increased by several alternative interventions, e.g. full ROM resistance training, indicating shared mechanisms. Both interventions share underlying physiological mechanisms, such as inducing mechanical tension in high muscle lengths. Consequently, we extensively discussed available evidence in our published research. Key findings will be presented to challenge current paradigms (Warneke et al., 2024). References Garber, C. E., Blissmer, B., Deschenes, M. R., Franklin, B. A., Lamonte, M. J., Lee, I.-M., Nieman, D. C., & Swain, D. P. (2011). Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 43(7), 1334–1359. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e318213fefb Takeuchi, K., Nakamura, M., Fukaya, T., Konrad, A., & Mizuno, T. (2023). Acute and long-term effects of static stretching on muscle-tendon unit stiffness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 22, 465–475. https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2023.465 Warneke, K., Behm, D. G., Alizadeh, S., Hillebrecht, M., Konrad, A., & Wirth, K. (2024). Discussing conflicting explanatory approaches in flexibility training under consideration of physiology - A narrative review. Sports Medicine, 54, 1785-1799. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02043-y

Synergize Strong and Reactive Metal-Support Interactions to Construct Sub-2 nm Metal Phosphide Cluster for Enhanced Selective Hydrogenation Activities.

Strong metal-support interactions (SMSI) are crucial for stabilizing sub-2 nm metal sites, e.g. single atom (M1) or cluster (Mn). However, further optimizing sub-2 nm sites to break the activity-stability trade-off due to excessive interactions remains significant challenges. Accordingly, for the first time, we propose synergizing SMSI with reactive metal-support interactions (RMSI). Comprehensive characterization confirms that the SMSI stabilizes the metal and regulates the aggregation of Ni1 into Nin site within sub-2 nm. Meanwhile, RMSI modulates Nin through sufficiently activating P in the support and eventually generates sub-2 nm metal phosphide Ni2P cluster (Ni2Pn). The synergetic metal-support interactions triggered the adaptive coordination and electronic structure optimization of Ni2Pn, leading to the desired substrate adsorption-desorption kinetics. Consequently, the activity of Ni2Pn site greatly enhanced towards the selective hydrogenations of p-chloronitrobenzene and alkynyl alcohol. The formation rates of target products are up to 20.2 and 3.0 times greater than that of Ni1 and Nin site, respectively. This work may open a new direction for metal-support interactions and promote innovation and application of active sites below 2 nm.

Adaptive Neural Network Control of Four-Switch Buck–Boost Converters

Based on the adaptive control structure of neural networks, this paper proposes a novel output voltage control strategy for DC converters. The strategy regulates the inductor current to maintain a constant voltage by adjusting the duty cycle of four-switch buck—boost (FSBB) converters. A nonlinear average model for the FSBB converter, derived from its energy consumption, is introduced, and its effectiveness is demonstrated through simulations. The simulations confirm that the FSBB converter enables zero-voltage switching (ZVS) of the four switches across the entire operating voltage range. The comparative simulation results show that the proposed control strategy achieves faster voltage regulation while ensuring ZVS, leading to improved converter performance across the full power range.

Dynamic modeling, clutch parameter adaptation, and control of automatic transmission for tracked vehicles

In this study, a novel TCU control structure and algorithms including also dynamic model of the transmission will perform the gear shifting of automatic transmissions used in tracked military vehicles are designed. In case of inherent wear of the clutches, the clutch parameters are estimated by means of an adaptation algorithm that uses only the information from the transmission input and output speed sensors. These estimated clutch parameters are used in clutch torque calculation is utilized by control algorithms. For the clutch speed control in the inertia phase, a PID control structure with a negative feedforward term that cancels the nonlinearities of the system is proposed. The feedforward term utilizes the estimated wear clutch coefficients in the calculation of friction coefficients. The parameters of the PID controller are optimized by a genetic algorithm. The designed all structure are firstly tested on a MATLAB/Simulink power train simulation model, and then tested using a unique transmission on a transmission dynamometer test bench to examine its suitability for real transmission scenarios. The performances of proposed PID control and a backstepping nonlinear controller that we constructed for the tracked vehicles are compared with and without clutch wear. Maximum tracking error is decreased by 98% with proposed adaptive PID control structure with nonlinear feedforward term compare to backstepping controller. In the case of clutch wear, the back-stepping control exists in the literature has been found to result in oscillation. By updating the estimated friction coefficient from adaptation algorithm, in the backstepping controller, it is concluded that these oscillations can be eliminated. Additionally, on-off solenoid valves, are widely used, are known to cause torque interruptions and jerks during gear shifting. It has been observed the control structure presented in this study reduced the jerks by one quarter.

Virtual Simulation-Based Optimization for Assembly Flow Shop Scheduling Using Migratory Bird Algorithm.

As industrial informatization progresses, virtual simulation technologies are increasingly demonstrating their potential in industrial applications. These systems utilize various sensors to capture real-time factory data, which are then transmitted to servers via communication interfaces to construct corresponding digital models. This integration facilitates tasks such as monitoring and prediction, enabling more accurate and convenient production scheduling and forecasting. This is particularly significant for flexible or mixed-flow production modes. Bionic optimization algorithms have demonstrated strong performance in factory scheduling and operations. Centered around these algorithms, researchers have explored various strategies to enhance efficiency and optimize processes within manufacturing environments.This study introduces an efficient migratory bird optimization algorithm designed to address production scheduling challenges in an assembly shop with mold quantity constraints. The research aims to minimize the maximum completion time in a batch flow mixed assembly flow shop scheduling problem, incorporating variable batch partitioning strategies. A tailored virtual simulation framework supports this objective. The algorithm employs a two-stage encoding mechanism for batch partitioning and sequencing, adapted to the unique constraints of each production stage. To enhance the search performance of the neighborhood structure, the study identifies and analyzes optimization strategies for batch partitioning and sequencing, and incorporates an adaptive neighborhood structure adjustment strategy. A competition mechanism is also designed to enhance the algorithm's optimization efficiency. Simulation experiments of varying scales demonstrate the effectiveness of the variable batch partitioning strategy, showing a 5-6% improvement over equal batch strategies. Results across different scales and parameters confirm the robustness of the algorithm.

Involvement of Intestinal Epithelium Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Expression and 3, 3'-Diindolylmethane in Colonic Tertiary Lymphoid Tissue Formation.

Tertiary lymphoid tissues (TLTs) are adaptive immune structures that develop during chronic inflammation and may worsen or lessen disease outcomes in a context-specific manner. Immune cell activity governing TLT formation in the intestines is dependent on immune cell aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation. Homeostatic immune cell activity in the intestines is further dependent on ligand activation of AhR in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), yet whether AhR activation and signaling in IECs influences the formation of TLTs in the presence of dietary AhR ligands is not known. To this end, we used IEC-specific AhR deletion coupled with a mouse model of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis to understand how dietary AhR ligand 3, 3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) influenced TLT formation. DIM consumption increased the size of TLTs and decreased T-cell aggregation to TLT sites in an IEC-specific manner. In DSS-exposed female mice, DIM consumption increased the expression of genes implicated in TLT formation (Interleukin-22, Il-22; CXC motif chemokine ligand 13, CXCL13) in an IEC AhR-specific manner. Conversely, in female mice without DSS exposure, DIM significantly reduced the expression of Il-22 or CXCL13 in iAhRKO mice, but this effect was not observed in WT animals. Our findings suggest that DIM affects the immunological landscape of TLT formation during DSS-induced colitis in a manner contingent on AhR expression in IECs and biological sex. Further investigations into specific immune cell activity, IEC-specific AhR signaling pathways, and dietary AhR ligand-mediated effects on TLT formation are warranted.