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Introduction During the process of caring for patients, nursing attendants frequently require to help patients with lifting/transferring, patting/turning and rehabilitation. Nursing attendants are required to exert forceful and awkward postures for extended periods of time that caused musculoskeletal disorders. This study is to survey the work situation, physiological workloads, and musculoskeletal disorders associated with prolonged nursing attendance tasks in nursing attendants. Method The self-administered questionnaires are assessed via a cross-sectional study of 190 female workers in Taiwan. Information is obtained on demographics, job characteristics, health status, and physiological workload. Results and Discussion The observational result shows that the most common prevalence of physical discomfort was lower back (69.5%), followed by right shoulder (47.9%), left shoulder (44.2%), and neck (37.9%). Meanwhile, the most pronounced tired is to help patients with lifting/transferring (79.2%), followed by patting/turning (55.1%). The anticipated results of this study could be a workplace task design reference for improvement of musculoskeletal fatigue and disorders among nursing attendants.

Figure S1. Targeting GPRC6A gene in PC-3 cells using CRIPR/Cas9 system. (DOCX 89Â kb)

In the present research, the high pressure homogenization (HPH) technology was applied to prepare ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) nanosuspension. The aim of developing this new UDCA formulation was to enhance its bioavailability. The physicochemical characterization of UDCA nanosuspension was performed through particle size and Zeta potential measurements, differential scaning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, x-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, and drug solubility and dissolution determinations. The mean particle size of UDCA nanosuspension was 297.5 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.162. Its particle size and Zeta potential did not show essential changes before and after water removal. The DSC curve of bulk UDCA showed a sharp endothermic peak at 207.82°C indicating the melting point. The XRD profile of dried powder of UDCA nanosuspension showed 2 intense peaks at 11.92° and 21.56°, respectively, indicating difference from the crystal characteristics of bulk UDCA. Its highest solubility and dissolution rate w...

In this work, a line-up competition algorithm (LCA) is applied to solve the dynamic optimization problems derived from unsteady chemical systems. The problems are first converted ito nonlinear programming problems using the concept of control vector parametrization. The parameters embedded in the converted problems then are selected by LCA. To improve numerical accuracy, the normal (Gaussian) sampling policy is introduced to replace the uniform sampling policy used in basic LCA. Variable step input (VSI) and variable ramp input (VRI) are respectively considered to rebuild the control policy in solutions. Some typical examples are provided to demonstrate the robustness and efficiency of this modification.

How to apply the global optimization technique, simulated annealing, and to explore the operation of batch reactors is addressed in this study. Based on the operating purposes and the imposed constraints, the batch reactor operations are first formulated as two optimal control problems: the maximal yield (or conversion) problem and the minimal operating time problem. The problems are then converted into non-linear programming problems by the concept of control vector parameterization. The converted problems are solved by the algorithm derived from simulated annealing to determine the optimal operating policy and the performance index. These results are useful in assessing design and operation of batch reactors. In this article, the CSTR model is used to demonstrate the convenience and robustness of the proposed algorithm. Two typical reaction models are used to discuss the operations based on the optimal solutions. On s'interesse dans cette etude a la facon d'appliquer la technique d'optimisation globale, dite de recuit simule, pour explorer le fonctionnement de reacteurs discontinus. A partir des objectifs de fonctionnement et des contraintes imposees, le fonctionnement des reacteurs discontinus est d'abord formule sous forme de deux problemes de controle optimums: le probleme du rendement (ou la conversion) maximal et le probleme du temps de fonctionnement minimal. Ces problemes sont ensuite convertis en problemes de programmation non lineaires par le concept de parametrisation des vecteurs de controle. Les problemes convertis sont resolus par l'algorithme etabli a partir du recuit circule afin de determiner la politique de fonctionnement optimale des reacteurs et l'indice de performance. Ces resultats sont utiles dans l'evaluation de la conception et du fonctionnement des reacteurs discontinus. Dans cet article, le modele CSTR permet de demontrer le cote pratique et la robustesse de l'algorithme propose. Deux modeles de reaction typique sont utilises pour analyser le fonctionnement des reacteurs d'apres des solutions optimales.

In this paper an algorithm based on simulated annealing is developed to solve time optimal control problems (t-OCPs). In the beginning, a procedure that a t-OCP is converted into a nonlinear programming problem by parametrizing the control input and the time horizon is demonstrated. Then, all the unspecified parameters embedded in the converted problem, including the discretized control inputs and the associated time grids, are optimized by the proposed algorithm. For demonstrating the efficiency of our algorithm in the optimization, four typical examples are provided.

To explore the therapeutic effect and safety of fire needling on rat with rheumatoid arthritis.Forty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a methotrexate (MTX) group and a fire needling group, 10 rats in each group. The 0.1 mL of normal saline was subcutaneously injected in rat's right back paw in the normal group, while the other groups received subcutaneous injection of 0.1 mL of complete Freund's adjuvant to establish the model. The pricking method was applied in the fire needling group at "Jiaji" (EX-B 2), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and Ashi points with a depth of 5 mm, once every three days, and totally eight times were required. In the MTX group, with intragastric administration of 2.0 mg/kg per rat, the treatment was given once every seven days, and totally four times were required. The weight, swelling rate of foot, joint pain score and polyarthritis index of rats in each group as well as the pathological change of liver tissue under light microscope were observed.The weight, swelling rate of foot, joint pain score and polyarthritis index in the model group were significantly higher than those in the normal group (P0.05, P0.01), after the treatment, the above-mentioned indexes in the two treatment groups were obviouly dereased as componed with those in the model group (all P0.01), and there were statistical differences between the fire needling group and MTX group (P0.05, P0.01). Compared with the normal group, inflammatory cells were appeared with a cluster distribution in the liver cells of rats in the model group. The inflammatory cells were reduced in the MTX group and fire needling group, and liver cells had degenerative edema and cell nucleus were largen and deformed in the MTX group.The fire needling has significant efficacy for rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA) without any damage to the liver, which coud have a better control of disease progression of rheumatoid arthritis .

This paper presents theoretically the spatial-temporal instability behavior of an electrified viscoelastic liquid jet. Dimensionless parameters have been tested for their influence on the transition of absolute and convective instability for the electrified viscoelastic liquid jet. The results show that larger electrical Euler and Weber numbers can change the flow to convectively unstable. The increase of Reynolds number can decrease the absolute growth rate. Variations of time constant and density ratio rarely change the spatial-temporal instability behavior of the jet. The disturbance wavelength changes very little with these parameters when the flow is absolutely unstable.

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at the Conception Vessel on proliferation and differentiation of the nerve stem cells in the inferior zone of the lateral ventricle in cerebral ischemia rats.MethodsThe model rats were prepared by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 2 hours and then by reperfusion. They were randomly divided into two groups: a control group and an EA group. Changes in differentiation and proliferation of the nerve stem cells were observed 7, 14 and 28 days after successful modeling.ResultsAs compared with the 7-day control group (C-7d group), there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the numbers of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (Brdu) positive cells, Brdu/GFAP, Brdu/Nestin and Brdu/Nse double-labeled cells in the inferior zone of the lateral ventricle in the EA group 7 days after modeling. However, in the 14-day EA group (R-14d group) and the 28-day EA group (R-28d group), the numbers of Brdu positive cells and Brdu/GFAP, Brdu/Nestin, Brdu/Nse double-labeled cells significantly increased as compared respectively with the 14-day control (C-14d group) and the 28-day control (C-28d) group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).ConclusionsEA at the Conception Vessel promotes differentiation and proliferation of the nerve stem cells in the inferior zone of the lateral ventricle in the cerebral ischemia rats, and may stimulate differentiation of the proliferous nerve stem cells towards the astrocytes.

This paper describe an integration solution to achieve automatic manufacturing in the photolithography area of ProMOS's 300 mm fabrication facilities. An automation integration system framework that unifies automation system, photolithography systems and production control mechanisms, is developed to fulfill the factory level of mechanical automation dispatching in the 300 mm Fab, leading to continuous and uninterrupted processing. The pervasive use of automatic manufacturing direct operating costs, factory efficiency, simplifies production control, and caters internal/external customer demands.

A second-order weakly nonlinear analysis has been made of the temporal instability for the linear sinuous mode of two-dimensional planar viscoelastic liquid sheets moving in an inviscid gas. The convected Jeffreys models including the corotational Jeffreys model, Oldroyd A model, and the Oldroyd B model are considered as the rheology model of the viscoelastic fluid of the sheet. The solution for the second-order gas-to-liquid interface displacement has been derived, and the temporal evolution leading to the breakup has been shown. The second-order interface displacement of the linear sinuous mode is varicose, which causes the sheet to fragment into ligaments. First-order constitutive relations of the three rheology models become identical after linearization, so the linear instability results are also the same. For the second-order weakly nonlinear instability, the second-order constitutive relation varies among the corotational Jeffreys model, Oldroyd A model, and the Oldroyd B model, but although they have different disturbance pressures, their disturbance velocities and interface displacements are the same, and therefore, the sheets of the corotational Jeffreys fluid, Oldroyd A fluid, and the Oldroyd B fluid have the same instability behavior characterized by the wave profile and breakup time. The reason for the identical instability behavior is that the effect of different codeformations of the corotational frame, covariant frame, and the contravariant frame is counteracted by the corresponding change in the second-order disturbance pressure, leaving no influence on the second-order velocity. At wavenumbers with maximum instabilities, an increase in the elasticity, or a reduction of the deformation retardation time, leads to a larger linear temporal growth rate, greater second-order disturbance amplitude, and shorter breakup time, thereby enhancing instability. The mechanism of linear instability has been examined using an energy approach, which shows that the main cause of instability is the aerodynamic force.

To probe into the correlativity of the therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with traction on prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc with the three-dimensional location.According to the three-dimensional location developed by HU You-gu, the position of the prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc in the spinal canal was located from the sagittal plain, frontal plain and horizontal plain. One hundred and thirty patients with prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc and completion of clinical data were treated with acupuncture, and the therapeutic effects were analyzed with three-dimensional location.Among 98 cases in the effective group, 73 cases had the prolapse at the I plane in sagittal location, accounting for 74.49%, 82 cases had the prolapse at the 1, 2 zone in horizontal location, accounting for 83.68%, 52 cases had the prolapse at the a area in frontal location, accounting for 53.06%; among the 32 cases in the ineffective group, 10 cases had the prolapse at the I plane, accounting for 31.25%, 12 cases in the 1, 2 zone, accounting for 37.50%, 3 cases in the a area, accounting for 9.38%. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in the location.The three-dimensional location can objectively show the size, direction, position, and the characteristics of the protruded discs, and correctly infer the pathological changes of the affected nerve root. Acupuncture combined with tract has a better effect on I plane, 1-2 zone, and a area.

A weakly nonlinear spatial instability of a two-dimensional planar viscous sheet for sinuous disturbances in a co-flowing inviscid gas stream is investigated theoretically, with an emphasis on the effect of the surrounding gas velocity. The solutions of the second-order interface disturbances are derived and the wave deformation has been computed. The results indicate that the second-order surface disturbance of the fundamental sinuous mode is varicose, which causes the thinning and the subsequent breakup of the liquid sheet. The nonlinear behaviors of the planar sheet are quite sensitive to variations in gas-to-liquid velocity ratio. The deviation of the velocity ratio from the value of unity leads to a larger growth rate, a larger second-order initial amplitude, and a shorter breakup length, and therefore enhances the instability. The growth rates predicted by the present nonlinear analysis according to the shortest breakup length are generally smaller than the linear predictions and can better conform to the experimental measures of Barreras et al. [“Linear instability analysis of the viscous longitudinal perturbation on an air-blasted liquid sheets,” Atomization Sprays 11, 139 (2001)]. Furthermore, the wave deformations of the most unstable disturbances are presented. The nonlinear instability of the planar sheet for a fixed velocity difference is performed. An equal increase of the gas and liquid velocity reduces the spatial growth rate and increases the breakup length, but generally has no influences on the second-order initial amplitude and the wavelength of the disturbance.