Variable Rate Research Articles

Optimal configuration selection in reconfigurable manufacturing system considering variable production rate

Various manufacturing companies produce different components, parts, or entire products based on market demands. These needs are met by a variety of manufacturing systems. However, in today's dynamic environment where production capacities and company capabilities are subject to change, reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMS) have emerged as crucial resources. At the heart of RMS lies the reconfigurable machine tool (RMT), which is designed with modular components to adapt to varying requirements. Evaluating the performance of RMS requires an index. This paper employs weighted sum theory to map various characteristics of RMS and develop a cumulative reconfigurability index. To illustrate the applicability of this methodology, a case study is presented, examining both machine and system levels. There are four configurations having eight RMTs arranged in different manner. The cumulative reconfigurability index is calculated for each configuration and the optimal configuration is selected. From this research, it has been observed that the reconfigurability index of system (d) is the highest, with system (a) having a value close to that of system (d).

Impact of Agricultural Activities on Climate Change: A Review of Greenhouse Gas Emission Patterns in Field Crop Systems.

This review paper synthesizes the current understanding of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from field cropping systems. It examines the key factors influencing GHG emissions, including crop type, management practices, and soil conditions. The review highlights the variability in GHG emissions across different cropping systems. Conventional tillage systems generally emit higher levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) than no-till or reduced tillage systems. Crop rotation, cover cropping, and residue management can significantly reduce GHG emissions by improving soil carbon sequestration and reducing nitrogen fertilizer requirements. The paper also discusses the challenges and opportunities for mitigating GHG emissions in field cropping systems. Precision agriculture techniques, such as variable rate application of fertilizers and water, can optimize crop production while minimizing environmental impacts. Agroforestry systems, which integrate trees and crops, offer the potential for carbon sequestration and reducing N2O emissions. This review provides insights into the latest research on GHG emissions from field cropping systems and identifies areas for further study. It emphasizes the importance of adopting sustainable management practices to reduce GHG emissions and enhance the environmental sustainability of agricultural systems.

Deep learning guided variable rate robotic sprayer prototype

This paper presents the development of a robotic sprayer that combines artificial intelligence with robotics for optimal spray application on citrus nursery plants grown in an indoor environment. The robotic platform is integrated with an embedded firmware of MobileNetV2 model to identify and classify the plant samples with a classification accuracy of 100 % which is used to dispense variable rate spraying of pesticide based on the health status of the plant foliage. The disease detection model was developed through the edge impulse platform and deployed on Raspberry Pi 4. The robot navigates through an array of plants, stops beside each plant, and captures an image of the citrus plants. It feeds the image into the deployed embedded model to generate a disease inference that informs the variable rate application of spray during real-time actuation. To test the spraying performance of the prototype within the growing environment, water sensitive cards were placed in each plant's canopy. After spraying, the samples of water sensitive cards were collected and quantified using a smart spray app to determine the classification accuracy as well as the extent of spray coverage on the citrus samples. The robot spray coverage results show an average spray coverage of 87 % on lemon foliage when compared with 67 % for navel orange, during the spray performance test of the robot.

Efficiency Level of Health Spending Governments: Evidence from North Maluku Indonesia

This study aims to determine and analyze the level of technical efficiency, cost, technical systems and corrective steps that need to be taken by inefficient regions in 10 regencies/cities in North Maluku Province in 2016-2020. This research uses secondary data from 10 districts/cities in North Maluku Province. The variables used include the APBD expenditure variable according to the health function as input, the variable number of puskesmas, posyandu, medical personnel and midwives at puskesmas and government hospitals as intermediate output variables and the variable Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Maternal Mortality Rate (AKI), Number Life Expectancy (AHH) and Human Development Index (IPM) as outcome output variables. This research method uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with the assumption of Variable Return to Scale (VRS) and is input oriented. The results obtained are an average cost technical efficiency of 0%, while the technical efficiency of the system reaches 70%, so that there are indications of inefficiency in the allocation of health sector spending and corrective measures are needed based on the potential for regional improvement which are still not efficient so that the proportion of input and output can be efficient according to the needs of each region.

Serum IgE levels and absolute eosinophil counts with treatment response in patients with allergic rhinitis: A prospective study

: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a highly prevalent, chronic disease, with variable incidence rates. Clinically manifests as nasal discharge, congestion, nasal itching, sneezing and watery eyes. Treatment approach is based on duration and severity of symptoms. Second generation antihistamines are the drug of choice. Serum Ig E and Absolute Eosinophil Counts (AEC) have the potential to be the viable prognostic markers. The present study aims to assess the relationship of Serum IgE and AEC with treatment response in patients with allergic rhinitis.40 patients of allergic rhinitis were included in the study and were categorized into mild, moderate and severe allergic rhinitis according to ARIA guidelines. Pre-treatment sample for serum IgE and AEC was taken followed by 4 weeks of medical management according to categories. Post- treatment sample was taken and improvement assessed on the basis of fall in serum IgE and AEC levels.A total 40 patients were enrolled ranging from 14-60 years of age (mean age 28.75±11.23years) with female preponderance (52.5%). Most common presenting symptom being sneezing. Significant decline in pre-treatment AEC and serum IgE levels was observed.The findings of the study indicates that treatment response had an association with AEC and Serum IgE levels.

Mapping winter wheat crop traits dynamic change and growth performance for variable rate application using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2

Site specific crop management for variable rate application is extensively recognized as a method for distributing agricultural input unevenly across a field, tailored to the diverse requirement of different areas. From the previous study, this approach proven to reduce agricultural input expenses by 10 % without impacting yield and ensure environmental sustainability. This study presents a new approach to delineate management zones for precision agriculture using crop biophysical property variability assessment within winter wheat fields. A multivariate random forest framework was developed to estimate winter wheat’s biophysical properties within fields from surface reflectance and backscatters of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2. Combining Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data resulted in more precise estimation of the green area index (R²=0.98), aboveground dry biomass (R²=0.90), plant height (R²=0.94), and leaf nitrogen content (R²=0.78). Sentinel-2 alone was particularly effective in estimating shoot density (R²=0.94). These estimates were then used to create management zones for precision agriculture, classified based on agronomic performance benchmarks. The fuzzy c-mean clustering algorithm helped generate homogeneous management zones, considering the biophysical variations within fields.The ultimate goal is to integrate these biophysical property maps and management zones into crop management workflows. This integration will assist farmers in recognizing field variability and understanding its causes. Moreover, the spatial distribution of these zones supports variable rate application, guiding farmers towards more efficient, profitable, and sustainable crop management practices.

Numerical Simulation of Internal Flow Field in Optimization Model of Gas–Liquid Mixing Device

This article studies the influence of structural parameters of the optimization model for the gas–liquid mixing device of a fire truck (compressed air foam lift fire truck, model JP21/G2, made in China) on the liquid phase volume fraction, static pressure, velocity streamline, and the influence of smaller flow rates on the mixing effect. By using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software FLUENT 2021 R2, numerical simulations were conducted on the fluid domain model of the gas–liquid mixing device of the JP21/G2 fire truck. The changes in the mixing effect time dimension, liquid phase volume fraction, static pressure, and velocity streamline inside the gas–liquid mixing device were obtained. The optimal mixer structure combination in practical applications was inferred through orthogonal experiments, and the influence of flow rate on the optimal pipe diameter and shortest mixing distance was obtained through variable flow rate simulation experiments. The numerical simulation results show that the presence of bent pipes in the JP21/G2 real vehicle model hinders the gas–liquid mixing process. A straight pipe section of at least 8 m was added after the bent pipe to ensure the mixing effect. The optimal parameter combination for orthogonal experiments had an accurate value of 50°-50°-220 mm. Under the same pipe diameter, using a larger flow rate can achieve better mixing effects.

Post-COVID-19 recovery and geriatric rehabilitation care: a European inter-country comparative study.

There is variation in organization of geriatric rehabilitation across Europe. The purpose of this study was to describe the selection criteria for referral to geriatric rehabilitation, care provided, and recovery trajectories of post-COVID-19 patients referred to geriatric rehabilitation in Europe. This observational cohort study included 723 patients in 59 care facilities for geriatric rehabilitation across 10 countries. Patient data were collected from medical records on admission to geriatric rehabilitation (between September 2020 and October 2021), discharge, 6weeks and 6months follow-up. The primary and secondary outcomes were recovery in daily functioning (Barthel Index) and Quality of Life (EQ-5D-5L) from admission to discharge. These were examined using linear mixed models with two levels (measurements nested in patients) and country as an independent variable. Random intercept and random linear slope parameters were added when they improved model fit. A survey about organization of geriatric rehabilitation for post-COVID-19 patients was filled out by country coordinators and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inductive coding of answers to open questions. Patients had a mean age of 75.7years old and 52.4% were male. Many countries used various combinations of the selection criteria, such as functional status, age, frailty, Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, comorbidities, and cognitive impairments. Most patients received physiotherapy (88.8%) and occupational therapy (69.7%), but there was substantial variance between countries in the percentages of patients that received protein or calorie enriched diets, oxygen therapy, and other treatment components. In all countries, patients showed recovery in daily functioning and quality of life, although there was variation in between countries in rate of recovery. Daily functioning seemed to increase most rapidly in the Czech Republic, Germany, and Russia. The steepest increases in quality of life were seen in the Czech Republic, Germany, and Spain. Post-COVID-19 patients showed recovery during geriatric rehabilitation, albeit at variable rates. The observed variation may be explained by the heterogeneity in selection criteria and care provided. This study highlights the need for harmonization of measurements in geriatric rehabilitation order to perform explanatory research and optimize geriatric rehabilitation throughout Europe to ensure optimal patient recovery.

Impact of Partial Body Shielding from Very High Dose Rates on Untargeted Metabolomics in Biodosimetry.

A realistic exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) from an improvised nuclear device will likely include individuals who are partially shielded from the initial blast delivered at a very high dose rate (VHDR). As different tissues have varying levels of radiosensitivity, e.g., hematopoietic vs gastrointestinal tissues, the effects of shielding on radiation biomarkers need to be addressed. Here, we explore how biofluid (urine and serum) metabolite signatures from male and female C57BL/6 mice exposed to VHDR (5-10 Gy/s) total body irradiation (TBI, 0, 4, and 8 Gy) compare to individuals exposed to partial body irradiation (PBI) (lower body irradiated [LBI] or upper body irradiated [UBI] at an 8 Gy dose) using a data-independent acquisition untargeted metabolomics approach. Although sex differences were observed in the spatial groupings of urine signatures from TBI and PBI mice, a metabolite signature (N6,N6,N6-trimethyllysine, carnitine, propionylcarnitine, hexosamine-valine-isoleucine, taurine, and creatine) previously developed from variable dose rate experiments was able to identify individuals with high sensitivity and specificity, irrespective of radiation shielding. A panel of serum metabolites composed from previous untargeted studies on nonhuman primates had excellent performance for separating irradiated cohorts; however, a multiomic approach to complement the metabolome could increase dose estimation confidence intervals. Overall, these results support the inclusion of small-molecule markers in biodosimetry assays without substantial interference from the upper or lower body shielding.

Influence of Model Evolution and System Roles on ChatGPT's Performance in Chinese Medical Licensing Exams: Comparative Study.

With the increasing application of large language models like ChatGPT in various industries, its potential in the medical domain, especially in standardized examinations, has become a focal point of research. The aim of this study is to assess the clinical performance of ChatGPT, focusing on its accuracy and reliability in the Chinese National Medical Licensing Examination (CNMLE). The CNMLE 2022 question set, consisting of 500 single-answer multiple choices questions, were reclassified into 15 medical subspecialties. Each question was tested 8 to 12 times in Chinese on the OpenAI platform from April 24 to May 15, 2023. Three key factors were considered: the version of GPT-3.5 and 4.0, the prompt's designation of system roles tailored to medical subspecialties, and repetition for coherence. A passing accuracy threshold was established as 60%. The χ2 tests and κ values were employed to evaluate the model's accuracy and consistency. GPT-4.0 achieved a passing accuracy of 72.7%, which was significantly higher than that of GPT-3.5 (54%; P<.001). The variability rate of repeated responses from GPT-4.0 was lower than that of GPT-3.5 (9% vs 19.5%; P<.001). However, both models showed relatively good response coherence, with κ values of 0.778 and 0.610, respectively. System roles numerically increased accuracy for both GPT-4.0 (0.3%-3.7%) and GPT-3.5 (1.3%-4.5%), and reduced variability by 1.7% and 1.8%, respectively (P>.05). In subgroup analysis, ChatGPT achieved comparable accuracy among different question types (P>.05). GPT-4.0 surpassed the accuracy threshold in 14 of 15 subspecialties, while GPT-3.5 did so in 7 of 15 on the first response. GPT-4.0 passed the CNMLE and outperformed GPT-3.5 in key areas such as accuracy, consistency, and medical subspecialty expertise. Adding a system role insignificantly enhanced the model's reliability and answer coherence. GPT-4.0 showed promising potential in medical education and clinical practice, meriting further study.

Is there an association between pelvic pain and gender-affirming testosterone therapy in trans masculine adolescents? An exploratory cross-sectional study

Background High rates of pelvic pain have been reported in trans individuals on testosterone, but the pathophysiology of pain and the potential role of testosterone are unclear. Aims The aim of this exploratory study was to determine whether the proportion of pelvic pain in trans adolescents is different among those on testosterone therapy compared to those who are not. Secondary objectives were to determine the characteristics, potential contributing factors, impact, and treatment of pelvic pain in trans adolescents. Methods An online cross-sectional study about pelvic pain was conducted among trans individuals assigned female at birth, aged 12 and over, and who had sought care at our institution since 2017. Results Among 102 participants, 79 (77.5%) reported having experienced pelvic pain over the last 6 months. The proportion of individuals who reported pelvic pain was lower in individuals on testosterone (n = 43/62, 69.4%) compared to those not on testosterone (n = 36/40, 90%), with a difference in proportion of −20.6% (95% CI −35.4 to −5.9%, p = 0.006). Half of participants reported school or work absenteeism and two thirds missed extracurricular activities because of pelvic pain. A wide range of treatment options were used, with variable rates of reported effectiveness. Conclusion Pelvic pain is frequently reported by trans adolescents. This exploratory study found a lower proportion of pelvic pain in trans adolescents using testosterone therapy compared to those who were not. Nevertheless, this study was limited by a small number of participants, its cross-sectional nature, and the risk of recruitment bias, thus limiting its generalizability. Longitudinal studies are required to better understand the development and evolution of pelvic pain in trans adolescents.

Tumor Grade and Mitotic Count Are Prognostic for Dogs with Cutaneous Mast Cell Tumors Treated with Surgery and Adjuvant or Neoadjuvant Vinblastine Chemotherapy.

Canine cutaneous mast cell tumors (cMCTs) have variable rates of recurrence and metastasis. We evaluated how various prognostic factors affect survival, recurrence, and metastasis in dogs with cMCT who underwent surgery and vinblastine chemotherapy. 90 dogs with cMCT treated with surgery and vinblastine at a veterinary referral institution were included. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Prognostic factors were evaluated. Most dogs (94%) had grade 2 or 3 cMCTs. Neoadjuvant vinblastine was used in 18 dogs, and none progressed locally before surgery. The use of neoadjuvant vinblastine was associated with a higher chance of local recurrence (p = 0.03) but not survival. Shorter survival times were found for tumors that were high-grade (p < 0.001), grade 3 (p < 0.001), or a MC of >5 (p < 0.001). Dogs with grade 2 tumors that were low-grade lived longer than those with high-grade tumors (p < 0.001). Histologic tumor-free margins and the ability to achieve local tumor control were not associated with outcome. Both grading systems and MC were prognostic for survival in this population of dogs, supporting the need for the standard reporting of histopathologic findings. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy can be effective in downsizing cMCTs but does not influence survival. These findings are consistent with previous publications, showing the benefits of a more modern population of patients, surgical treatments, and histopathologic assessments.

Weight-bearing pain and implant migration, progressive radiolucencies, radiolucency more than 2 mmand subsidence on radiographs and CT are generally accepted criteria for knee arthroplasty loosening: An international Delphi consensus study.

Establishing the diagnosis of loosening in total or unicondylar knee arthroplasty remains a challenge with different clinical and radiological signs evaluated in study designs with high risk of bias, where few or incomplete criteria are formulated for establishing the diagnosis of implant loosening. This study aimed at evaluating the variability between different clinical and radiological criteria and establish a consensus regarding clinical and radiological criteria for the diagnosis of knee arthroplasty loosening. Highly specialized knee surgeons focusing on revision arthroplasty were invited to take part in an international panel for a Delphi consensus study. In the first round, the participants were asked to state their most important clinical and radiological criteria for implant loosening. In a second round, the panel's agreement with the collected criteria was rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1-5). High variability was defined by receiving at least one score each indicating complete disagreement and complete agreement. Consensus was established when over 70% of participants rated a criterion as 'fully agree' (5) or 'mostly agree' (4). High variability was observed in 56% of clinical criteria and 38% of radiological criteria. A consensus was reached on one clinical (weight-bearing pain [82%]) and four radiological criteria, that is, implant migration, progressive radiolucencies, subsidence and radiolucencies >2 mm on X-ray or computed tomography (CT) (84%-100%). Amongst specialized knee revision surgeons, there is high variability in clinical and radiological criteria that are seen as important contributing factors to diagnosis of knee implant loosening. A consensus was reached on weight-bearing pain as clinical criterion and on implant migration, progressive radiolucencies, subsidence and radiolucencies of more than 2 mm on X-ray or CT as radiological criteria. The variability rates observed, along with the criteria that reached consensus, offer important insights for the standardization of diagnostic protocols. Level V.

Wheat Cybrid Plants, OryzaWheat, Regenerated from Wheat-Rice Hybrid Zygotes via in Vitro Fertilization System Possess Wheat-Rice Hybrid Mitochondria.

Hybridization generates biodiversity, and wide hybridization plays a pivotal role in enhancing and broadening the useful attributes of crops. The hybridization barrier between wheat and rice, the two most important cereals, was recently overcome by in vitro production of allopolyploid wheat-rice hybrid zygotes, which can develop and grow into mature plants. In the study, genomic sequences and compositions of the possible hybrid plants were investigated through short- and long-read sequencing analyses and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-based visualization. The possible hybrid possessed whole wheat nuclear and cytoplasmic DNAs and rice mitochondrial (mt) DNA, along with variable retention rates of rice mtDNA ranging from 11% to 47%. The rice mtDNA retained in the wheat cybrid, termed Oryzawheat, can be transmitted across generations. In addition to mitochondrial hybridization, translocation of rice chromosome 1 into wheat chromosome 6A was detected in a F1 hybrid individual. OryzaWheat can provide a new horizon for utilizing inter-subfamily genetic resources among wheat and rice belonging to different subfamilies, Pooideae and Ehrhartoideae, respectively.

Stimulating awareness of Precision Farming through gamification: The Farming Simulator case

Precision Farming (PF) provides different solutions to assist the decision-making process on farms. Current PF technologies such as variable rate site-specific applications can bring financial benefits to farmers as well as environmental advantages. Increasing scientific research and an expanding number of PF products are supporting a growing interest in PF applications. However, the actual implementation of these technologies on farms in many cases remains low. Therefore, there is a need to disseminate and transfer knowledge about the positive aspects of PF. One of the ways to facilitate the adoption process of PF technologies is education and training among farmers and other interested stakeholders. This paper presents a case study using the computer game Farming Simulator as an educational tool for raising awareness about the topic in an engaging and enjoyable way. Two distinct downloadable content (DLC) versions were developed and implemented in the versions 2019 and 2022 of the game, respectively, each with a range of PF functionalities (automatic steering, variable rate applications, yield mapping among others). The PF DLCs have received positive feedback from students and scientists but also the general public. The growing number of downloads (3,661,069 in total for both DLC versions as of 15th November 2023) demonstrates the effectiveness of computer games as an educational tool to educate and inform stakeholders (farmers, scientists, students, and the general public) about agricultural challenges and the potential of PF as a solution.

Assessing grapevine water status in a variably irrigated vineyard with NIR/SWIR hyperspectral imaging from UAV

Remote sensing is now a valued solution for more accurately budgeting water supply by identifying spectral and spatial information. A study was put in place in a Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet-Sauvignon vineyard in the San Joaquin Valley, CA, USA, where a variable rate automated irrigation system was installed to irrigate vines with twelve different water regimes in four randomized replicates, totaling 48 experimental zones. The purpose of this experimental design was to create variability in grapevine water status, in order to produce a robust dataset for modeling purposes. Throughout the growing season, spectral data within these zones was gathered using a Near InfraRed (NIR) - Short Wavelength Infrared (SWIR) hyperspectral camera (900 to 1700 nm) mounted on an Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle (UAV). Given the high water-absorption in this spectral domain, this sensor was deployed to assess grapevine stem water potential, Ψstem, a standard reference for water status assessment in plants, from pure grapevine pixels in hyperspectral images. The Ψstem was acquired simultaneously in the field from bunch closure to harvest and modeled via machine-learning methods using the remotely sensed NIR-SWIR data as predictors in regression and classification modes (classes consisted of physiologically different water stress levels). Hyperspectral images were converted to bottom of atmosphere reflectance using standard panels on the ground and through the Quick Atmospheric Correction Method (QUAC) and the results were compared. The best models used data obtained with standard panels on the ground and allowed predicting Ψstem values with an R2 of 0.54 and an RMSE of 0.11 MPa as estimated in cross-validation, and the best classification reached an accuracy of 74%. This project aims to develop new methods for precisely monitoring and managing irrigation in vineyards while providing useful information about plant physiology response to deficit irrigation.

Intelligent Rice Field Weed Control in Precision Agriculture: From Weed Recognition to Variable Rate Spraying

Intelligent Rice Field Weed Control in Precision Agriculture: From Weed Recognition to Variable Rate Spraying

Presence and implications of petrogenic organic carbon in High Himalayan Crystalline lake sediment

AbstractTwelve lacustrine sediment samples from a relict lake in the Kalla Glacier valley were co-dated using AMS radiocarbon (14C) and infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) dating methods. In general, the radiocarbon ages of bulk organic matter were older by a minimum of 1500 years compared to (age depth) modeled luminescence ages after fading corrections. This is observed for the first time in the lake sediments of High Himalayan Crystalline zone. A combination of lipid n-alkane data, Raman spectra and geochemical proxies suggested that this was due to ancient organic carbon (OCancient) that is a mixture of pre-aged (OCpre-aged) and petrogenic (OCpetro) organic carbon within older glacial moraine debris that served as sediment source to the lake. Raman spectra suggest the presence of moderate to highly graphitized OCpetro in all the profile samples. The OCpetro contributed 0.064 ± 0.032% to the sediment and the lake stored 2.5 ± 0.7 Gg OCpetro at variable rates during the last 16 kyr, with the mean burial flux 160 kg OCpetro yr−1. This study implies (1) employing another independent dating method in addition to radiocarbon method using bulk sediment organic matter, if the carbon content is low, to observe any discrepancy, and (2) a need to investigate on the fate of OCpetro as many such small lakes become relict in this region.

Effect of remimazolam and propofol anesthesia on autonomic nerve activities during Le Fort I osteotomy under general anesthesia: blinded randomized clinical trial.

This study evaluated the effect of remimazolam and propofol on changes in autonomic nerve activity caused by surgical stimulation during orthognathic surgery, using power spectrum analysis of blood pressure variability (BPV) and heart rate variability (HRV), and their respective associations with cardiovascular fluctuations. A total of 34 patients undergoing Le Fort I osteotomy were randomized to the remimazolam (Group R, 17 cases) or propofol (Group P, 17 cases) groups. Observables included the low-frequency component of BPV (BPV LF; index of vasomotor sympathetic nerve activity), high-frequency component of HRV (HRV HF; index of parasympathetic nerve activity), balance index of the low- and high-frequency components of HRV (HRV LF/HF; index of sympathetic nerve activity), heart rate (HR), and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Four observations were made: (1) baseline, (2) immediately before down-fracture, (3) down-fracture, and (4) 5 min after down-fracture. Data from each observation period were compared using a two-way analysis of variance with a mixed model. A Bonferroni multiple comparison test was performed in the absence of any interaction. One-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's multiple comparisons test was performed when a significant interaction was observed between time and group, with P < 0.05 indicating statistical significance. Evaluation of autonomic nerve activity in comparison with baseline during down-fracture showed a significant increase in BPV LF (P < 0.001), an increasing trend in HRV LF/HF in Group P, and an increasing trend in HRV HF in Group R. There were no significant differences in HR or SBP between the two groups. During down-fracture of Le Fort I osteotomy, sympathetic nerve activity was predominant with propofol anesthesia, and parasympathetic nerve activity was predominant with remimazolam anesthesia.

Structural insights into strigolactone catabolism by carboxylesterases reveal a conserved conformational regulation

Phytohormone levels are regulated through specialized enzymes, participating not only in their biosynthesis but also in post-signaling processes for signal inactivation and cue depletion. Arabidopsis thaliana (At) carboxylesterase 15 (CXE15) and carboxylesterase 20 (CXE20) have been shown to deplete strigolactones (SLs) that coordinate various growth and developmental processes and function as signaling molecules in the rhizosphere. Here, we elucidate the X-ray crystal structures of AtCXE15 (both apo and SL intermediate bound) and AtCXE20, revealing insights into the mechanisms of SL binding and catabolism. The N-terminal regions of CXE15 and CXE20 exhibit distinct secondary structures, with CXE15 characterized by an alpha helix and CXE20 by an alpha/beta fold. These structural differences play pivotal roles in regulating variable SL hydrolysis rates. Our findings, both in vitro and in planta, indicate that a transition of the N-terminal helix domain of CXE15 between open and closed forms facilitates robust SL hydrolysis. The results not only illuminate the distinctive process of phytohormone breakdown but also uncover a molecular architecture and mode of plasticity within a specific class of carboxylesterases.