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We give exact formulas for the subdifferentials of perturbed distance functions in a normed space. Our method, seemingly novel and different from existing ones, is to turn the involved problem equivalently to a parametric optimization problem and then apply variational analysis technique to the optimal value function. In the convex setting, we obtain new representations for the subdifferential of perturbed distance functions, which do not depend on the relative position of the reference point with respect to the input set, and which are described directly via the input data. Our results complement those of Wang et al. [J. Global Optim. 2010;46:489–501] and of Li and Bounkhel [Nonlinear Anal. 2014;108:173–188], which were established by different methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In deep underground engineering, the deformation, failure characteristics, and mechanism of surrounding rock under the influence of grain sizes and mineral compositions are not clear. Based on CJPL-II variously colored marbles, the differences in grain size and mineral composition of the marble were analyzed by thin-section analysis and XRD tests, and the effect of intermediate principal stress on the mechanical properties of marble was investigated. Both SEM and microfracture analysis were coupled to reveal the failure mechanisms. The results highlight that the crack initiation strength, damage strength, peak strength, and elasticity modulus of Jinping marble exhibit an increasing trend with an increase in intermediate principal stress, while the peak strain initially increases and subsequently decreases. Moreover, this study established negative correlations between marble strength, brittleness characteristics, and fracture angle with grain size, whereas positive correlations were identified with the content of quartz, sodium feldspar, and the magnitude of the intermediate principal stress. The microcrack density in marble was found to increase with larger grain sizes and decrease with elevated quartz and sodium feldspar content, as well as with increasing intermediate principal stress. Notably, as the intermediate principal stress intensifies and grain size diminishes, the transgranular tensile failure of marble becomes more conspicuous. These research findings contribute to the effective implementation of disaster prevention and control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionTo analyze the effectiveness of acupoint stimulation combined with neurogenic bowel training on constipation in stroke patients.A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 89 stroke patients with constipation admitted to our hospital from July 2022 to January 2024. All patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The control group (n = 42) received neurogenic bowel training intervention, while the experimental group (n = 47) received finger acupoint stimulation combined with neurogenic bowel training intervention. Four outcome measures including intervention effects, bowel movements, Constipation Scoring System (CSS), and Scores on the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) were compared between the two groups.The total intervention effective rate in the experimental group (91.49%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (73.81%) (p < 0.05). Two weeks after intervention, the experimental group had significantly better first bowel movement time, average bowel movement time, and bowel movement interval time compared to the control group (p < 0.05). One and 2 weeks after intervention, the CSS and PAC-QOL scores in the experimental group were significantly better than those in the control group (p < 0.05).Acupoint stimulation combined with neurogenic bowel training significantly improves constipation in stroke patients. Compared to neurogenic bowel training alone, the combined application of acupoint stimulation further improves bowel movements, reduces constipation severity, and enhances the quality of life in patients. Therefore, it is worthy of clinical promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of the tourism industry has generated a plethora of informal job opportunities. However, existing literature has not thoroughly explored the extensive involvement of local residents in rural areas in informal tourism employment. This study focuses on the Fujian Tulou villages in China and employs the fieldwork method to investigate the phenomenon of informal tourism employment among local residents in scenic-oriented rural communities. The findings indicate that the dearth of employment prospects in rural areas, coupled with China’s distinctive rural land ownership system and the support from the rural social network, are the primary drivers motivating locals to participate in informal tourism employment. Locals employ tactics such as camouflage, tacit collusion, lurking, and covert actions to engage in informal tourism employment while navigating the regulations imposed by scenic area management. In efforts to standardize management within scenic areas, both local governments and tourism management companies are implementing measures such as offering formal employment opportunities and profit-sharing arrangements to incentivize the regularization of local employment in the tourism sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) faces complex challenges in identifying underground rock formations and lithological structures. The diversity, intricate shapes, and electromagnetic properties of subsurface rock formations make their accurate detection difficult. Additionally, the heterogeneity of subsurface media, signal scattering, and non-linear propagation effects contribute to the complexity of signal interpretation. To address these challenges, this study fully considers the unique advantages of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in accurately identifying underground rock formations and lithological structures, particularly their powerful feature extraction capabilities. Deep learning models possess the ability to automatically extract complex signal features from radar data, while also demonstrating excellent generalization performance, enabling them to handle data from various geological conditions. Moreover, deep learning can efficiently process large-scale data, thereby improving the accuracy and efficiency of identification. In our research, we utilized deep neural networks to process GPR signals, using radar images as inputs and generating structure-related information associated with rock formations and lithological structures as outputs. Through training and learning, we successfully established an effective mapping relationship between radar images and lithological label signals. The results from synthetic data indicate a rock block identification success rate exceeding 88%, with a satisfactory continuity identification of lithological structures. Transferring the network to measured data, the trained model exhibits excellent performance in predicting data collected from the field, further enhancing the geological interpretation and analysis. Therefore, through the results obtained from synthetic and measured data, we can demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of this research method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the effect of the hospital–community–home (HCH) linkage management mode in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy (DN). Method: A total of 80 patients with type 2 DN hospitalised in the Department of Nephrology of our hospital between July 2021 and June 2022 were recruited and subsequently divided into the observation group and the control group using the random number table method, with 40 patients in each group. The control group received routine health education and discharge guidance. The HCH linkage management model was implemented for the observation group based on routine care. The improvements in compliance behaviour, biochemical parameters of renal function, blood glucose level and self-management ability were compared before the intervention and at 3 and 6 months after the intervention. Results: After the intervention, the scores for compliance behaviour of the observation group were better than those of the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The biochemical indicators of renal function and blood glucose level were significantly lower in the observation group compared with in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). After the intervention, the observation group showed a great improvement in self-management ability and cognition of the disease, with significant differences (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The HCH linkage management mode can improve the compliance behaviour of patients with type 2 DN, effectively improve the renal function and blood sugar level of patients, enhance the self-management ability and cognition of the disease and delay the development of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transitioning from fossil fuels to electricity as an energy source for industrial production is a crucial step toward future decarbonization. This study proposes a novel integrated electric heating hydrogen production foam catalyst and systematically investigates the influence of slurry composition and sintering temperature on the carrier strength. The research successfully obtains a catalyst with the required strength and significantly enhances the catalyst loading capacity. The findings indicate that: 1) Increasing the calcination temperature above 1200 °C can enhance foam strength and reduce cracks and voids in foam structure and joints. 2) Ceramics are more advantageous for the coating of the catalyst, enabling a catalyst loading of up to 152.11 g/L, which is 2.98 times higher than the maximum reported loading for electrically heated catalysts, the shedding rate is only 1.86 %. 3) The integrated foam catalyst is heated by an internal heating wire through in-situ Joule heating, reaching 650 °C in just 83 s. This approach, when compared to an external heating furnace, results in a 96.8 % reduction in start-up time, a 91 % reduction in total energy consumption. The integrated electrically heated foam enables a straightforward high-temperature insulation seal, making it suitable for various reactor materials and providing valuable insights for the broader application of electric heating. • A novel integrated electric heating hydrogen production foam catalyst is proposed. • The loading capacity of this catalyst is 2.98 times higher than previously reported for electrothermal catalysts. • The integrated electric heating catalyst achieves a temperature of 650 °C within 83 s. • In comparison with the external heating electric furnace, the total energy consumption is reduced by 91 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have been conducted to explore medication non-adherence in persons with schizophrenia (PWS) and its influencing factors in rural China. This study aimed to investigate the medication non-adherence and its influencing factors among PWS in rural China. A total of 269 PWS and their family caregivers in Xinjin district, Chengdu, China were investigated on medication adherence and related factors. Logistic regression was employed to identify the influencing factors. The results showed that 37.6% of PWS had medication non-adherence. PWS living with family caregivers had significantly lower rate of medication non-adherence (34.7%) than those not living with family caregivers (60.0%) (p < 0.01). Family caregivers' affiliate stigma of mental illness, knowledge of mental illness and self-esteem were significantly related to patients' medication non-adherence (p < 0.05). PWS' employment status, living with family caregiver, present mental status and social support were significantly related to medication adherence. This study shows medication non-adherence is severe among PWS in rural China. Both patient- and family-related factors affect patients' medication adherence seriously. Except improving patients' treatment and mental status, development of family caregiving, social support network and intervention on reducing stigma of mental illness should be crucial for enhancing PWS' medication adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose an adaptive way to choose the anchoring parameters for the Halpern iteration to find a fixed point of a nonexpansive mapping in a real Hilbert space. We prove strong convergence of this adaptive Halpern iteration and obtain the rate of asymptotic regularity at least O(1/k), where k is the number of iterations. Numerical experiments are also provided to show advantages and outperformance of our adaptive Halpern algorithm over the standard Halpern algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The ability of D‐dimer to diagnose periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) before revision hip or knee arthroplasty is still controversial, and the differences in diagnostic ability between serum‐ or plasma‐based assays of D‐dimer and fibrin (fibrinogen) degradation product (FDP) are uncertain. The prospective parallel study was performed to determine the ability of D‐dimer to diagnose PJI before revision hip or knee arthroplasty, and the differences in diagnostic ability between serum‐ or plasma‐based assays of D‐dimer and FDP. Methods: Patients undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty at our institution were prospectively enrolled into the following groups: those without inflammatory diseases who were undergoing primary arthroplasty ("Prim" group), those with inflammatory arthritis who were undergoing primary arthroplasty ("Prim/Inflam"), those undergoing revision arthroplasty because of aseptic failure ("Rev/Asept"), or those undergoing revision arthroplasty because of PJI ("Rev/PJI"). The ability of preoperative levels of D‐dimer or FDP in serum or plasma to diagnose PJI in each group was assessed using areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) and other diagnostic performance indicators. The diagnostic performance of these assays was compared with that of C‐reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Results: In the final analysis, Prim included 42 patients; Prim/Inflam, 40; Rev./Asept, 62; and Rev./PJI, 47. D‐dimer assays led to AUCs of 0.635 in serum and 0.573 in plasma, compared to 0.593 and 0.607 for FDP. Even in combination with CRP or ESR, these assays failed to perform as well as the combination of CRP and ESR for diagnosing PJI. Conclusion: Levels of D‐dimer or FDP in serum or plasma, whether used alone or together with CRP or ESR, are unreliable for diagnosing PJI before revision arthroplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusions comprised of microtubule-associated protein tau (tau) are implicated in a group of neurodegenerative diseases, collectively known as tauopathies, that include Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The spreading of misfolded tau “seeds” along neuronal networks is thought to play a crucial role in the progression of tau pathology. Consequently, restricting the release or uptake of tau seeds may inhibit the spread of tau pathology and potentially halt the advancement of the disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that the Mammalian Suppressor of Tauopathy 2 (MSUT2), an RNA binding protein, modulates tau pathogenesis in a transgenic mouse model. In this study, we investigated the impact of MSUT2 on tau pathogenesis using tau seeding models. Our findings indicate that the loss of MSUT2 mitigates human tau seed-induced pathology in neuron cultures and mouse models. In addition, MSUT2 regulates many gene transcripts, including the Adenosine Receptor 1 (A1AR), and we show that down regulation or inhibition of A1AR modulates the activity of the “ArfGAP with SH3 Domain, Ankyrin Repeat, and PH Domain 1 protein” (ASAP1), thereby influencing the internalization of pathogenic tau seeds into neurons resulting in reduction of tau pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), an enduring and harmful organic pollutant, is widely employed in diverse food-related sectors. Our previous studies have provided evidence that PFDA has the potential to facilitate obesity and hepatic fat accumulation induced by high-fat diet (HFD) intake. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol found in green tea, has been suggested to possess potential preventive effects against metabolic abnormalities and fatty liver. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of EGCG on PFDA-exacerbated adiposity and hepatic lipid accumulation in HFD-fed mice. The results showed that EGCG reduced body weight gain; tissue and organ weights; blood glucose, serum insulin, HOMA-IR, leptin, and lipid parameters; serum inflammatory cytokines (IL−1β, IL−18, IL−6, and TNF−α); and hepatic lipid accumulation in PFDA-exposed mice fed an HFD. Further work showed that EGCG improved liver function and glucose homeostasis in mice fed an HFD and co-exposed to PFDA. The elevated hepatic mRNA levels of SREBP-1 and associated lipogenic genes, NLRP3, and caspase−1 in PFDA-exposed mice fed an HFD were significantly decreased by EGCG. Our work provides evidence for the potential anti-obesity effect of EGCG on co-exposure to HFD and PFDA and may call for further research on the bioactivity of EGCG to attenuate the endocrine disruption effects of long-term exposure to pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the energy-dependent characteristics of thermodynamic and hydrodynamic parameters, based on the framework of a multi-source thermal model, we analyze the soft transverse momentum ( p T ) spectra of the charged particles ( π − , π + , K − , K + , p ̄ , and p) produced in gold–gold (Au–Au) collisions at the center-of-mass energies s N N = 7. 7 , 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 62.4, and 200 GeV from the STAR Collaboration and in lead–lead (Pb–Pb) collisions at s N N = 2. 7 6 and 5.02 TeV from the ALICE Collaboration. In the rest framework of emission source, the probability density function obeyed by meson momenta satisfies the Bose–Einstein distribution, and that obeyed by baryon momenta satisfies the Fermi–Dirac distribution. To simulate the p T of the charged particles, the kinetic freeze-out temperature T and transverse expansion velocity β T of emission source are introduced into the relativistic ideal gas model. Our results, based on the Monte Carlo method for numerical calculation, show a good agreement with the experimental data. The excitation functions of thermodynamic parameter T and hydrodynamic parameter β T are then obtained from the analyses, which shows an increasing tendency from 7.7 GeV to 5.02 TeV in collisions with different centralities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To discuss the presentation, evaluation, and management of congenital laryngeal webs with subglottic stenosis. Methods: The clinical data of six children were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The median age of these children who came to our hospital was 14 months (range 1–26 months). A tracheotomy was performed in all these six children. The median age of the patients who underwent tracheotomy was 4 months (range 1–11 months). The surgical method was T-tube implantation combined with cricoid cartilage reconstruction. The median age of these patients at the time of operation was 22 months (range 13–35 months). The T-tube remained in place for 3–8 months, with a median time of 6 months. The tracheal tubes in all these children were successfully removed. All patients were followed up for more than 2 years without recurrence. Conclusions: Children who have congenital laryngeal webs with subglottic stenosis required early tracheotomy. Open laryngoplasty combined with T-tube implantation and cricoid cartilage reconstruction may play a crucial role in the treatment of these children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery and utilization of natural products derived from endophytic microorganisms have garnered significant attention in pharmaceutical research. While remarkable progress has been made in this field each year, the absence of dedicated open-access databases for endophytic microorganism natural products research is evident. To address the increasing demand for mining and sharing of data resources related to endophytic microorganism natural products, this study introduces EMNPD, a comprehensive endophytic microorganism natural products database comprising manually curated data. Currently, EMNPD offers 6632 natural products from 1017 endophytic microorganisms, targeting 1286 entities (including 94 proteins, 282 cell lines, and 910 species) with 91 diverse bioactivities. It encompasses the physico-chemical properties of natural products, ADMET information, quantitative activity data with their potency, natural products contents with diverse fermentation conditions, systematic taxonomy, and links to various well-established databases. EMNPD aims to function as an open-access knowledge repository for the study of endophytic microorganisms and their natural products, thereby facilitating drug discovery research and exploration of bioactive substances. The database can be accessed at http://emnpd.idrblab.cn/ without the need for registration, enabling researchers to freely download the data. EMNPD is expected to become a valuable resource in the field of endophytic microorganism natural products and contribute to future drug development endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Most evidence suggests that the pharmacokinetics of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are not meaningfully altered by patient characteristics, including racial/ethnic differences. Nevertheless, the pharmacokinetic profile of eptinezumab has not been evaluated in a Chinese population. This study was designed to confirm the hypothesis that the pharmacokinetic profile of the anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide mAb, eptinezumab, is similar in healthy Chinese individuals to that of healthy non-Asian individuals and non-Asian patients with migraine. Methods: Over a study period of 12 weeks, healthy adult Chinese participants (N = 20) were randomized (1:1) to receive a single intravenous dose of eptinezumab 100 mg (n = 10) or 300 mg (n = 10) in a prospective, single-site, open-label parallel-group trial. Blood samples for the evaluation of plasma eptinezumab concentrations were obtained over 84 days, and standard pharmacokinetic parameters were derived. Results: Mean maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax) of eptinezumab occurred 1.0−1.5 h post start of infusion, were similar between the 100 mg and 300 mg dose groups, and slowly declined in a biphasic manner. Cmax and area under the drug concentration–time curve (AUC) increased in a dose-proportional manner. Volume of distribution and clearance were similar between the 100 mg and 300 mg dose groups, and half-life was 22.5−28.1 days. Eptinezumab was generally well tolerated with no new safety signals identified. Only one participant, randomized to the 100 mg dose group, was positive for eptinezumab anti-drug antibodies, but negative for neutralizing antibodies, with no impact on pharmacokinetics. Conclusion: The pharmacokinetic profile of eptinezumab in healthy Chinese individuals was generally similar to that reported for non-Asian populations with migraine, and eptinezumab was generally well tolerated. Evaluation of immunogenicity showed no evidence of an impact of anti-drug antibodies or neutralizing antibodies on safety profiles. This supports the globally approved doses of 100 mg and 300 mg as being appropriate for Chinese patients with episodic migraine or chronic migraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated Cu4On− (n = 1–4) clusters through a synergetic combination of mass-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. It is found that the most stable structure of Cu4O− is an irregular planar pentagon with a Cs symmetry. Those of Cu4O2− and Cu4O3− are non-planar structures with a Cs symmetry. The global minimum geometry of Cu4O4− is a D4h symmetric quasi-square eight-membered ring with Cu–O bond lengths of ∼1.78 Å. The molecular orbital analyses suggest that Cu4O4− has a large highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gap. The chemical bonding analyses and the calculations of the magnetically induced current density, and NICS(0) and NICS(1) values indicate that the D4h structure of Cu4O4− is very stable and it has some aromaticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the use of the toxic Pb element in the Cu-Sn alloy with high friction performance, Cu-xBi-10Sn alloys with different Bi contents were prepared by gravity casting, and the effect of Bi content on the microstructure, mechanical properties and wear property of Cu-Sn alloys were studied. The results showed that the Bi element was distributed in bands or long strips on the dendritic arms and did not form compounds with other elements. With the increase in Bi content, the hardness and tensile strength of Cu-xBi-10Sn alloys present a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. When the Bi content was 7 wt.%, the maximum hardness value was obtained, and the ultimate tensile strength was close to that of Cu-10Pb-10Sn alloy. Compared with Cu-10Pb-10Sn alloy, Cu-7Bi-10Sn alloy also possessed better friction reduction and wear resistance under the oil lubrication condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the association and dose-response relationship between triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio and hyperuricemia, in order to provide reference for the prevention of hyperuricemia in the population. Methods A total of 3 918 subjects without hyperuricemia at baseline and with complete 4-year physical examination follow-up records from the Health Management Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2020 were retrospectively selected. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the risk of hyperuricemia in subjects with different TyG index and TG/ HDL-C ratio levels in different genders. Restricted cubic spline regression model was used to analyze the dose-response relationship of TyG index and TG/HDL-C ratio with hyperuricemia, and receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of these two indexes for hyperuricemia. Results Cox regression analysis showed that after adjusting for all confounding factors, the risk of hyperuricemia in men in Q4 group of TyG index and TG/HDL-C ratio was increased by 73% (HR = 1.730, 95% CI: 1.294 -2.312) and 90. 8% (HR = 1.908, 95% CI: 1.908) compared with Q1 group, respectively. 1. 477 -2. 463). In females, the risk of hyperuricemia in Q4 group increased by 98. 7% (HR = 1. 987, 95% CI: 1.706 -3.936) and 162% (HR =2.620,95% CI: 1.721 -3.989), respectively. The restricted cubic spline plots showed that TyG index and TG/HDL-C ratio had nonlinear dose-response relationships with the risk of hyperuricemia in different genders. The ROC curve showed that the area under the curve of TyG index and TG/HDL-C ratio in females were 0. 626 (95% CI: 0. 586-0. 666, P < 0. 05 ) and 0. 640 (95% CI: 0. 601-0. 679, P <0.05), respectively, which were higher than those in males. Conclusions High TyG index and TG/HDL-C ratio are closely related to the occurrence of hyperuricemia, and this correlation is more significant in women. TyG index and TG/HDL-C ratio have good predictive value for the incidence of hyperuricemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Two isomers of a sandwich‐type anion [Ge9‐In‐Ge9]5– were synthesized by controlling the chelating agents (2,2,2‐crypt/18‐C‐6). Further reactions with early/late transition metal complexes, Mo(CO)6 and Ni(COD)2, respectively, yielded two new types of inorganic sandwich derivatives: a half‐sandwich cluster [Ge9‐In‐Mo(CO)5]3– with a low‐valence In(I) center and an unsymmetrical sandwich‐type cluster {[(Ni@Ge9)In(Ni0.648@Ge9)]}5– due to the insertion of Ni atoms, respectively. The isolation of these new derivatives demonstrates the reactivity of sandwich‐type [Ge9‐In‐Ge9]5– acting as the precursor, which provides some enlightenment for constructing new inorganic sandwich compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conversion of ortho-hydrogen (o-H 2) to para-hydrogen (p-H 2) is a necessary process in hydrogen liquefaction, and investigating the catalysts that accelerate conversion is significant. Herein we report the effect of Co/Fe ratio in cobalt iron oxide catalysts on conversion of o-H 2 to p-H 2 at 77 K, and use XRD, BET, and VSM to explore the influence of different Co/Fe ratios on internal crystal structure, pore size, and magnetization strength. It is concluded that the synergistic effect of crystal structure disorder (increase in active sites), small pores (decrease in distance between o-H 2 and active sites), and high magnetization strength (larger torque upon) resulted in the optimal catalytic performance for CFO-3 [n(Co):n(Fe) = 3:10]. When the hydrogen flow is 100 mL min−1, the content of p-H 2 in the converted hydrogen is 47.61%. [Display omitted] • Synthesis of cobalt iron oxides (CFO) with different cobalt/iron ratios. • Doping leads to changes in structure and morphology of CFO. • The reduced pore size, increased magnetic disorder and magnetic moment of CFO facilitate the ortho-to para H 2 conversion. • When hydrogen flow is 100 mL min−1, the content of para-hydrogen is 47.61% in CFO-3 at 77 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of inadequate information provided by the on-going population level risk analyses for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), this study aimed to evaluate the risk factors and develop an individual-level precision diagnostic method for COVID-19 related severe outcome in New York State (NYS) to facilitate early intervention and predict resource needs for patients with COVID-19. We analyzed COVID-19 related hospital encounter and hospitalization in NYS using Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System hospital discharge dataset. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the risk factors for COVID-19 related mortality. We proposed an individual-level precision diagnostic method by taking into consideration of the different weights and interactions of multiple risk factors. Age was the greatest risk factor for COVID-19 related fatal outcome. By adding other demographic variables, dyspnea or hypoxemia and multiple chronic co-morbid conditions, the model predictive accuracy was improved to 0.85 (95% CI 0.84–0.85). We selected cut-off points for predictors and provided a general recommendation to categorize the levels of risk for COVID-19 related fatal outcome, which can facilitate the individual-level diagnosis and treatment, as well as medical resource prediction. We further provided a use case of our method to evaluate the feasibility of public health policy for monoclonal antibody therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A reduction in mortality risk of COVID-19 throughout the first wave of the pandemic has been reported, but less is known about later waves. This study aimed to describe changes in hospitalizations and mortality of patients receiving inpatient geriatric care for COVID-19 or other causes during the pandemic. Methods: Patients 70 years and older hospitalized in geriatric hospitals in Stockholm for COVID-19 or other causes between March 2020-July 2021 were included. Data on the incidence of COVID-positive cases and 30-day mortality of the total ≥ 70-year-old population, in relation to weekly hospitalizations and mortality after hospital admissions were analyzed. Findings The total number of hospitalizations was 5,320 for COVID-19 and 32,243 for non-COVID-cases. In COVID-patients, the 30-day mortality rate was highest at the beginning of the first wave (29% in March-April 2020), reached 17% at the second wave peak (November-December) followed by 11–13% in the third wave (March-July 2021). The mortality in non-COVID geriatric patients showed a similar trend, but of lower magnitude (5–10%). During the incidence peaks, COVID-19 hospitalizations displaced non-COVID geriatric patients. Interpretation: Hospital admissions and 30-day mortality after hospitalizations for COVID-19 increased in periods of high community transmission, albeit with decreasing mortality rates from wave 1 to 3, with a probable vaccination effect in wave 3. Thus, the healthcare system could not compensate for the high community spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic peaks, which also led to displacing care for non-COVID geriatric patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aim to analyze the risk of death from specific external causes, including falls, complications of medical and surgical care, unintentional injuries, and suicide, in dementia patients. Swedish nationwide cohort study integrating 6 registers from May 1, 2007, through December 31, 2018, including the Swedish Registry for Cognitive/Dementia Disorders (SveDem). Population-based study. Patients diagnosed with dementia from 2007 to 2018 and up to 4 controls matched on year of birth (±3 years), sex, and region of residence. The exposures of this study were diagnosis of dementia and dementia subtypes. Number of deaths and causes of mortality were obtained from death certificates compiled into the Cause of Death Register. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were estimated using Cox and flexible models, adjusted for sociodemographics, medical and psychiatric disorders. The study population included 235,085 patients with dementia [96,760 men (41.2%); mean age 81.5 (SD 8.5) years] and 771,019 control participants [341,994 men (44.4%); mean age 79.9 (SD 8.6) years], over 3,721,687 person-years. Compared with control participants, patients with dementia presented increased risk for unintentional injuries (HR 3.30, 95% CI 3.19-3.40) and falls (HR 2.67, 95% CI 2.54-2.80) during old age (≥75 y), and suicide (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.02-2.39) in middle age (<65 y). Suicide risk was 5.04 times higher (HR 6.04, 95% CI 4.22-8.66) in patients with both dementia and 2 or more psychiatric disorders relative to controls (incidence rate per person-years, 1.6 vs 0.3). For dementia subtypes, frontotemporal dementia had the highest risks of unintentional injuries (HR 4.28, 95% CI 2.80-6.52) and falls (HR 3.83, 95% CI 1.98-7.41), whereas subjects with mixed dementia were less likely to die from suicide (HR 0.11, 95% CI 0.03-0.46) and complications of medical and surgical care (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.40-0.70) compared to controls. Suicide risk screening and psychiatric disorders management in early-onset dementia and early interventions for unintentional injuries and falls prevention in older dementia patients should be provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schisandrin A (SchA) has multiple pharmacological features, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a common digestive system disease mainly characterized by inflammation. Objectives: To assess the anti-inflammatory effects and the mechanism of SchA in mice with enteritis and in MODE-K cells representing in vivo and in vitro models of inflammation. Materials and Methods: DSS-induced IBD mouse models and MODE-K cells (an in vitro model of the intestine) were used to assess the effects of SchA on IBD inflammation and to determine the related signaling pathways. Results: Our data showed that SchA exerted anti-inflammatory effects by reducing the general clinical symptoms and the pathological damage to the colonic mucosa in mice with IBD and by promoting the migration of H2O2-induced MODE-K cells, inhibiting apoptotic death, and reducing the release of inflammatory factors. Moreover, SchA downregulated Wnt/β-catenin in both enteritis mice and H2O2-induced cells. Conclusion: SchA inhibits inflammation in DSS-induced IBD mice and H2O2-induced MODE-K cells by repressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine translation (MT) has already been widely applied in various fields, such as businesses, health, communication, and international relations. However, its performance is not satisfactory in specific domains. Researchers have devised different solutions, such as controlled languages (CLs). Nonetheless, as the previous CLs have placed too much emphasis on words or sentences, the author believes it is important to consider contextual factors. Therefore, the author created a controlled document authoring system that integrates document formalization, CLs, MT, and terminology management. Evaluation work was then conducted to assess whether the system was effective and satisfactory. This research provides fascinating insights into CLs, MT, technical writing, terminology management, translation technology, and natural language processing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al/Fe bimetals prepared by a compound casting method, combining the excellent properties of both the Al alloy and the ductile cast iron, exhibit great potential for application in achieving engine weight reduction. However, the problem of insufficient interfacial bonding ability because of the difference in thermophysical properties of Al and Fe is particularly prominent. Therefore, in this work, the electrodeposited Cu coating on the surface of the Fe matrix was used as the interlayer of Al/Fe bimetal fabricated by coupling hot-dipping with compound casting to solve the above problem. The effect of Cu interlayer thickness on the interfacial microstructure and shear strength of bimetal was investigated. The experimental results showed that the shear strength up to 77.65 MPa in regard to Al/Fe bimetal with a 5 μm Cu interlayer was obtained. No Cu element was detected at the interface of bimetal regardless of the thickness of the Cu interlayer. The diffusion behavior of the Cu atom at the interface and the influence of the Cu layer at the atomic scale on diffusion reaction and the Al/Fe interface were further revealed by combining first-principle and molecular dynamics calculations. The simulation results revealed that the Cu layer gradually dissolved into an Al alloy at 750 °C, thereby promoting the diffusion reaction of the Al/Fe interface. Meanwhile, the protective role of the Cu layer against oxidation on the surface of the Fe matrix was confirmed. As a result, the interfacial bonding performance was enhanced when the Cu interlayer was introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of inadequate information provided by the on-going population level risk analyses for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), this study aimed to evaluate the risk factors and develop an individual-level precision diagnostic method for COVID-19 related severe outcome in New York State (NYS) to facilitate early intervention and predict resource needs for patients with COVID-19. We analyzed COVID-19 related hospital encounter and hospitalization in NYS using Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System hospital discharge dataset. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the risk factors for COVID-19 related mortality. We proposed an individual-level precision diagnostic method by taking into consideration of the different weights and interactions of multiple risk factors. Age was the greatest risk factor for COVID-19 related fatal outcome. By adding other demographic variables, dyspnea or hypoxemia and multiple chronic co-morbid conditions, the model predictive accuracy was improved to 0.85 (95% CI 0.84–0.85). We selected cut-off points for predictors and provided a general recommendation to categorize the levels of risk for COVID-19 related fatal outcome, which can facilitate the individual-level diagnosis and treatment, as well as medical resource prediction. We further provided a use case of our method to evaluate the feasibility of public health policy for monoclonal antibody therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The visual quality and spatial distribution of architectural styles represent a city's image, influence inhabitants' living conditions, and may have positive or negative social consequences which are critical to urban sensing and designing. Conventional methods of identifying architectural styles rely on human labor and are frequently time-consuming, inefficient, and subjective in judgment. These issues significantly affect the large-scale management of urban architectural styles. Fortunately, deep learning models have robust feature expression abilities for images and have achieved highly competitive results in object detection in recent years. They provide a new approach to supporting traditional architectural style recognition. Therefore, this paper summarizes 22 architectural styles in a study area which could be used to define and describe urban architectural styles in most Chinese urban areas. Then, this paper introduced a Faster-RCNN general framework of architectural style classification with a VGG-16 backbone network, which is the first machine learning approach to identifying architectural styles in Chinese cities. Finally, this paper introduces an approach to constructing an urban architectural style dataset by mapping the identified architectural style through continuous street view imagery and vector map data from a top-down building contour map. The experimental results show that the architectural style dataset created had a precision of 57.8%, a recall rate of 80.91%, and an F1 score of 0.634. This dataset can, to a certain extent, reflect the geographical distribution characteristics of a wide variety of urban architectural styles. The proposed approach could support urban design to improve a city's image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two isomeric Co(II) complexes with the same general molecular formula of [Co(napy)2(NO3)2] (napy = 1,8-naphthyridine) have been synthesized. X-ray single crystal structural determination demonstrates that the two compounds exhibit highly irregular six- (1) and seven-coordinate (2) geometries, respectively. The magnetic measurements, X-band EPR data and theoretical calculations were thoroughly investigated. Both complexes show field-induced slow magnetic relaxation, of which the slow magnetic relaxation in 2 is attributed to an easy-plane anisotropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel variational Bayesian (VB) adaptive Kalman filter with mismatched process noise covariance matrix (PNCM). Firstly, this paper explains the reason why the predicted error covariance matrix (PECM) is chosen for variational inference. Secondly, compared with the earlier VB adaptive Kalman filter (VB‐AKF‐Q), the proposed filter calculate the dynamic model of the PECM with its historical estimation information. Therefore, the proposed filter can overcome the influence of mismatched PNCM on the initial value setting of PECM in the VB‐AKF‐Q. Finally, we use the evidence lower bound for the proposed filter and give the convergence criterion on this basis. Some examples with a target tracking simulation are carried out to demonstrate the superiority of the proposed filter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorbitol is an important signaling molecule in fruit trees. Here, we observed that sorbitol increased during flower bud differentiation (FBD) in loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.). Transcriptomic analysis suggested that bud formation was associated with the expression of the MADS‐box transcription factor (TF) family gene, EjCAL. RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that EjCAL was enriched in flower primordia but hardly detected in the shoot apical meristem. Heterologous expression of EjCAL in Nicotiana benthamiana plants resulted in early FBD. Yeast‐one‐hybrid analysis identified the ERF12 TF as a binding partner of the EjCAL promoter. Chromatin immunoprecipitation‐PCR confirmed that EjERF12 binds to the EjCAL promoter, and β‐glucuronidase activity assays indicated that EjERF12 regulates EjCAL expression. Spraying loquat trees with sorbitol promoted flower bud formation and was associated with increased expression of EjERF12 and EjCAL. Furthermore, we identified EjUF3GaT1 as a target gene of EjCAL and its expression was activated by EjCAL. Function characterization via overexpression and RNAi reveals that EjUF3GaT1 is a biosynthetic gene of flavonoid hyperoside. The concentration of the flavonoid hyperoside mirrored that of sorbitol during FBD and exogenous hyperoside treatment also promoted loquat bud formation. We identified a mechanism whereby EjCAL might regulate hyperoside biosynthesis and confirmed the involvement of EjCAL in flower bud formation in planta. Together, these results provide insight into bud formation in loquat and may be used in efforts to increase yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-elemental and multi-dimensional data are more and more important in the development of data-driven research, as is the case in modern paleontology, in which, in an examination by experts, or some day artificial intelligence, every fossil specimen plays a fundamental role. We here release a dataset of 1550 graptolite specimens representing 113 Ordovician to Silurian graptolite species or subspecies that are significant in global stratigraphic correlation and shale gas exploration. The dataset contains 2951 high-resolution images and a data table of each specimen's scientific information, including the taxonomic, geologic, and geographic information, comments, and references. Our dataset provides images for specialists or laypeople worldwide, is supported by the tool FSIDvis (Fossil Specimen Image Dataset Visualizer), which we developed to facilitate the interactive exploration of the rich-attribution image dataset, and includes a nonlinear-dimension reduction technique, t-SNE (t -distributed stochastic neighbor embedding), to project image data into a two-dimensional space to visualize and explore the similarities. Our dataset potentially contributes to virtual examinations of specimens, global bio-stratigraphic correlation, and improvement of the shale gas exploration efficiency. All data, images and the spreadsheet are available at 10.5281/zenodo.6688670 (Xu, 2022). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with an increased risk of periprosthetic joint infection, periprosthetic fractures, dislocations, and post-operative blood transfusion. However, higher post-operative blood transfusion is unclear whether it reflects peri-operative blood loss or is characteristic of RA. This study aimed to compare the complications, allogenic blood transfusion, albumin use, and peri-operative blood loss between patients who underwent THA because of RA or osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Patients undergoing cementless THA for hip RA (n = 220) or hip OA (n = 261) at our hospital between 2011 and 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. Deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, calf muscular venous thrombosis, wound complications, deep prosthetic infection, hip prosthesis dislocation, periprosthetic fractures, 30-day mortality, 90-day readmission, allogeneic blood transfusion, and albumin infusions were considered as primary outcomes, while secondary outcomes included the number of perioperative anaemia patients as well as total, intra-operative, and hidden blood loss. Results: Compared to the OA group, patients with hip RA showed significantly higher rates of wound aseptic complications, hip prosthesis dislocation, homologous transfusion, and albumin use. RA patients also showed a significantly higher prevalence of pre-operative anemia. However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in total, intra-operative, or hidden blood loss. Conclusions: Our study suggests that RA patients undergoing THA are at a higher risk of wound aseptic complications and hip prosthesis dislocation than patients with hip OA. Pre-operative anaemia and hypoalbuminaemia in patients with hip RA place them at a significantly higher risk of post-operative blood transfusion and use of albumin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is to explore the improvement of clinical symptoms in patients with cardiovascular neurosis (CN) by physical exercise based on the deep learning architecture of edge computing, and to deeply explore the effect of physical exercise on autonomic function. Fifty-two patients with CN in this cardiovascular rehabilitation center were randomly divided into drug group and exercise group, with 26 cases in each group, and their electrocardiogram (ECG) was examined. Based on the deep learning architecture of edge computing, a four-layer stacked sparse auto encoder (SSAE) deep neural network was constructed, and the accuracy rates of least squares support vector machine (LSSVM), message passing neural network (MPNN), convolutional neural network (CNN), and SSAEs were measured to be 95.4%, 93.6%, 96.3%, and 99.5%, respectively. After physical exercise intervention, the total score of Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) as well as each single item score were lower in the exercise group than in the drug group (P < 0. 0 5). Heart rate recovery (HRR1) improved more significantly after 1 min of exercise in patients in the exercise group (P < 0. 0 5). The low-frequency (LF) power and normalized low-frequency (LFn) power of blood pressure variability (BPV) parameters in the exercise group were lower than those in the drug group (P < 0. 0 5); the total power (TP), high-frequency (HF) power, and normalized high-frequency (HFn) power of heart rate variability (HRV) parameters in the exercise group were higher than those in the drug group (P < 0. 0 5), LF/HF in the exercise group was lower than that in the drug group (P < 0. 0 5); and the baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in the exercise group was higher than that in the drug group (P < 0. 0 5). A four-layer SSAEs was successfully constructed; the mechanism of exercise may be related to the regulation of cardiovascular autonomic nervous function, and it can effectively prevent and treat the clinical symptoms of patients with CN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate clinical manifestations and factors of perioperative brain injury (PBI) after surgical repair of coarctation of the aorta (CoA) combined with other heart malformations under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in children under two years. The clinical data of 100 children undergoing CoA repair were retrospectively reviewed between January 2010 and September 2021. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors of PBI development. Hierarchical and K-means cluster analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between hemodynamic instability and PBI. Eight children developed postoperative complications, and all of them had a favorable neurological outcome one year after surgery. Univariate analysis revealed eight risk factors associated with PBI. Multivariate analysis indicated operation duration (P = 0.04, odds ratio [OR], 2.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 8.28) and pulse pressure (PP) minimum (P = 0.01; OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.06 to 0.76) were independently associated with PBI. The following three parameters emerged for cluster analysis: PP minimum, mean arterial pressure (MAP) dispersion, and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) average. Using cluster analysis, PBI mainly occurred in subgroups 1 (12%, three of 26) and 2 (10%, five of 48). The mean value of PP and MAP in subgroup 1 was significantly higher than in subgroup 2. The mean SVR in subgroup 1 was the highest. The lowest PP minimum, MAP, and SVR were observed in subgroup 2. Lower PP minimum and longer operation duration were independent risk factors for developing PBI in children under two years during CoA repair. Unstable hemodynamics should be avoided during CPB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of wind power energy, the steel-concrete hybrid tower has been gradually popularized as the onshore tall wind turbine tower. To avoid the resonant response that brings violent damage to the wind turbine tower, the fundamental frequency of the hybrid tower must be carefully analyzed. This study develops a closed-form solution of the fundamental frequency of the hybrid tower, where the abrupt changes of cross-section and material properties, the effect of prestressing, and the mass and rotary inertia of the wind turbine are taken into account. It provides an effective way to obtain the fundamental frequency in the preliminary design of the hybrid tower. The effectiveness of the proposed solution is validated by comparing it with the results of finite element analysis, showing good agreement. By using the proposed solution, a parametric analysis is conducted to investigate the variation rules of the fundamental frequency to the design parameters. It indicates that with the variation of the proportion of the concrete/steel segments, the correlations between the fundamental frequency and the design parameters also change significantly. The parametric analysis conducted herein may provide instructive guidelines to adjust the parameters in the preliminary design of the hybrid tower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Affiliate stigma of family caregivers may severely influence family caregiving, early treatment, and recovery of people with mental illness (PMI), and it may be impacted by the knowledge of mental illness and contact with PMI. However, little is known about the correlation between affiliate stigma of family caregivers of PMI and contact in Hong Kong. Aims: This study aimed to investigate affiliate stigma and its influencing factors among family caregivers of PMI in Hong Kong. Methods: A total of 106 family caregivers in Hong Kong participated in the study. The measurements included affiliate stigma, contacts (quantity, quality, and level), knowledge, prejudice, and discriminatory behaviors. Multiple regression analyses were employed. Results: The mean score of affiliate stigma scale (ASS) in family caregivers was 2.17 (SD = 0.65). In regression analyses, the results showed that contact quantity and contact level were significantly associated with higher affiliate stigma and its cognitive domain, while contact quality (e.g. positive contact) were significantly associated with lower affiliate stigma and its all domains among family caregivers. The positive relationship between prejudicial attitudes and affiliate stigma was also found. Conclusions: Affiliate stigma is severe among family caregivers of PMI in Hong Kong. The results of this study indicate that contact, especially positive contact, contributes to reducing affiliate stigma among family caregivers of PMI. The results of this study are important for development of health policy on reducing stigma in family caregivers of PMI. The effectiveness of Enhancing Contact Model (ECM) should be examined in future anti-stigma interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group 14 endohedral clusters containing a metal center inside usually possess a single cage topological structure, but here an unexpected single‐metal‐filled double‐cage cluster, [Pt@Sn17]4− (1 a) is reported. It can be seen as a combination of the more extended Pt‐filled [Pt@Sn9] cage and hollow [Sn9] cage sharing a central Sn atom, which is offset from the central position. This double‐cage species represents the largest group 14 intermetalloid cluster encapsulating a single transition metal atom. DFT calculations show that the capsule‐like architecture of [Sn17]4−, similar to that found in [Pt2@Sn17]4−, is unstable if filled with a single Pt atom and collapses to the title cluster 1 a upon geometry optimization. Deviation of the central Sn atom occurs due to the vibronic coupling as a consequence of pseudo‐Jahn‐Teller distortion leading to the bent Cs‐symmetrical structure, in contrast to the more symmetrical D2d cage previously reported in [Ni2@Sn17]4−. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the imaging quality of magneto-acoustic concentration tomography for magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with magnetic induction (MACT-MI) and overcome the boundary singularity, this paper built a matrix model which shows the relationship between the partial derivative distribution of MNP concentration and the ultrasound signals, and focused on proposing a concentration reconstruction method based on the least squares QR factorization (LSQR) method–trapezoidal method. Firstly, simulation models with different shapes were established. Secondly, the magnetic and acoustic field simulation data was substituted into the inverse problem method based on LSQR–trapezoidal method for concentration reconstruction. Finally, the reconstructed images were analyzed and the effect of MNP cluster radius on the reconstruction was investigated. Considering the diffusely asymptotic concentration distribution of MNPs in actual biological tissue environment, an asymptotic concentration model was established and the reconstructed images were analyzed. The simulation results show that under the same conditions, compared with the reconstruction method based on the method of moments (MoM), LSQR–trapezoidal method has clearer image boundaries, more stable imaging results, and faster imaging speed. Compared with the uniform concentration model, LSQR–trapezoidal method is more applicable to the asymptotic concentration model. This study provides a basis for further reconstruction of the accuracy of experimental research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the world's deadliest infectious disease killers today, and despite China's increasing efforts to prevent and control TB, the TB epidemic is still very serious. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, if reliable forecasts of TB epidemic trends can be made, they can help policymakers with early warning and contribute to the prevention and control of TB. In this study, we collected monthly reports of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in Guiyang, China, from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2020, and monthly meteorological data for the same period, and used LASSO regression to screen four meteorological factors that had an influence on the monthly reports of PTB in Guiyang, including sunshine hours, relative humidity, average atmospheric pressure, and annual highest temperature, of which relative humidity (6-month lag) and average atmospheric pressure (7-month lag) have a lagging effect with the number of TB reports in Guiyang. Based on these data, we constructed ARIMA, Holt-Winters (additive and multiplicative), ARIMAX (with meteorological factors), LSTM, and multivariable LSTM (with meteorological factors). We found that the addition of meteorological factors significantly improved the performance of the time series prediction model, which, after comprehensive consideration, included the ARIMAX (1,1,1) (0,1,2)12 model with a lag of 7 months at the average atmospheric pressure, outperforms the other models in terms of both fit (RMSE = 37.570 , MAPE = 10.164 % , MAE = 28.511) and forecast sensitivity (RMSE = 20.724 , MAPE = 6.901 % , MAE = 17.306), so the ARIMAX (1,1,1) (0,1,2)12 model with a lag of 7 months can be used as a predictor tool for predicting the number of monthly reports of PTB in Guiyang, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer visual systems can rapidly obtain a large amount of data and automatically process them with ease. These characteristics constitute advantages for the application of such systems in the automatic analysis of medical images, as well as in processing technology. The precision of image segmentation, which plays a critical role in computer visual systems, directly affects the quality of processing results. Coronary angiographs feature various background colors, complex patterns, and blurry edges. The image areas containing blood vessels cannot be precisely segmented through regular methods. Therefore, this study proposed an unsupervised learning algorithm that uses regional parameter expansion (RPE). This method was derived from the flood fill algorithm, which can effectively segment image areas containing blood vessels despite a complex background or uneven light and shadow. An optimal cover tree (OCT) algorithm was proposed for the establishment of coronary arteries and the estimation of vessel diameter. Through the region growing method, spanning trees were used to record the cover length of adjacent connections, thereby establishing vessel paths, and the length can be used to track changes in vessel diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to identify the complications of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) associated with poor control of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and postload plasma glucose (PPG) on the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). This retrospective study included 997 singleton pregnancy GDM patients who were assigned to poor or good glycaemic control groups. Multivariate analysis indicated that poor FPG control and poor PPG control were both independent predictors of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDCP) (odd ratio (OR) of 2.551 (95% CI [1.146–5.682], p =.022) and OR of 2.084 (95% [1.115–3.894], p =.021) compared with good glycaemic control groups, respectively). Poor PPG control promoted the rate of caesarean delivery (1.534 (95% CI [1.063–2.214]), p =.022), whereas good PPG control increased the risk of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) (0.373 (95% CI [0.228–0.611]), p <.001). Conclusively, poor control FPG and PPG dissimilarly affect pregnancy complications in GDM; these findings may help clinicians in the effective implementation of measures to prevent pregnancy complications in GDM. What is already known on this subject? Previous studies displayed that GDM patients with 2-h PPG elevated at 24–28 week of gestation had a 2.254-fold increased risk of postpartum dysglycaemia. Abnormal plasma glucose in GDM mother increased the probability of childhood obesity in the offspring. With the implementation of China's second-child policy, the incidence of GDM is rising. What do the results of this study add? Our results indicated that the older patients with GDM, the greater the risk of abnormal plasma glucose control. In addition, maternal age and prenatal BMI were notably correlated with poor plasma glucose control of FPG and PPG, respectively. We also found that both poor FPG and PPG control notably increased the incidence of HDCP in pregnant women. The incidence of PROM was higher in the good PPG control group compared with the poor PPG control group. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This study displayed that the effects of poor FPG and PPG control on pregnancy complications and newborn outcomes were heterogeneous, which might be related to the specificity of plasma glucose metabolism at different time points. Good glycaemic control, especially PPG control, was of great significance for improving pregnancy complications and perinatal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ga 12 N 12 is a fullerene cage and particularly stable. The surface adsorption and encapsulated storage of H 2 on the Ga 12 N 12 are thoroughly explored by applying a genetic algorithm combined with DFT calculations. The results reveal that one H 2 can form physical adsorption on the surface sites of Ga 12 N 12 with ideal adsorption intensities (−0.227∼-0.303 eV) and the mode of H 2 adsorption on a Ga atom is the most energy favored. Interestingly, the Ga 12 N 12 can adsorb a maximum of 38H 2 molecules with mass density of 7.01 wt%. The electronic structure analysis indicates that the charge transferring between H 2 and Ga 12 N 12 is observed. Meanwhile, H 2 is also effectively polarized, and thus the electrostatic interaction is improved. When H 2 is adsorbed on the Ga atom, weak covalent interactions are also induced. The encapsulation of H 2 in the Ga 12 N 12 is an endothermic process and six H 2 molecules can be encapsulated in the Ga 12 N 12 with the moderate encapsulation and releasing energy barrier of 3.286∼4.508 eV and 0.390∼3.008 eV, respectively. Our results suggest that Ga 12 N 12 is regarded as a potential hydrogen storage material. [Display omitted] • The stable isomers of Ga 12 N 12 and H 2 adsorption structures were obtained by our genetic algorithm program. • H 2 can form surface adsorption on Ga 12 N 12 with mass density of 7.01 wt%. • The hydrogen storage mechanism was discussed. • The encapsulation of H 2 in Ga 12 N 12 was also explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Accurate state of charge (SOC) for the lithium‐ion battery is not only related to user experience but also the top target to avoid overcharge and overdischarge and to use it safely. The back propagation (BP) neural network is widely used in SOC estimation, but there exist some issues, such as easily falling local extreme value, converging slowly, or even unable to converge and even overfitting. The Drosophila algorithm has a simple algorithm and strong global optimization ability, but there is also a problem of direct inheritance to reduce the optimization ability. To solve these problems, an individual migration dynamic step Drosophila (Improved Drosophila) algorithm combined with the BP neural network is proposed to estimate the SOC of lithium‐ion batteries and improve estimation accuracy. In addition, the performance of the proposed method is compared with that of its traditional algorithms and other commonly used functions. The experiments are carried out to verify the ternary lithium‐ion battery under DST and BBDST conditions., the mean absolute error is less than 0.8%, and the root mean square error is less than 1.4%. The SOC estimation is carried out when the current data under the DST condition are missing, which also has good estimation performance, which shows the robustness of the algorithm. Compared to other algorithms, there is good estimation accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is considered the best treatment for sequelae of suppurative hip arthritis, but such patients are more likely to have occult infection and therefore to suffer post-operative periprosthetic joint infection. Our study examined (1) the occult infection rate among patients with sequelae of suppurative hip arthritis, and whether (2) neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), or fibrinogen levels can be used to screen such patients for occult infection before THA. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 428 patients who underwent primary THA at our hospital between 2010 and 2021, of whom 31 had occult infection and 397 did not. The maximum sensitivity and specificity were determined for the three indicators using receiver operating characteristic curves, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Results: Patients with occult infection showed significantly higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen than those without occult infection. The various potential indicators gave the following areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves: ESR, 0.586; CRP, 0.599; interleukin-6, 0.651; NLR, 0.506; MLR, 0.600; and fibrinogen, 0.589. Sensitivity and specificity were as follows: ESR, 30.8% and 92.5%; CRP, 50.0% and 70.2%; interleukin-6, 57.7% and 67.5%; NLR, 46.7% and 62.9%; MLR, 60.0% and 61.7%; and fibrinogen, 43.3% and 81.7%. Conclusion: The rate of occult infection was 7.24% among our patients. ESR, NLR, MLR, and levels of CRP, interleukin-6, and fibrinogen may be unreliable for screening such patients for occult infection before THA according to sensitivity and specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept and methodology of traditional Defense in Depth (DID) was challenged in the Fukushima nuclear accident. In order to fix the weakness of the traditional emergency strategies of nuclear power plants (NPPs) and to enhance the DID for nuclear safety, the U.S. Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) put forward the concept of Diverse and Flexible Coping Strategies (FLEX) for the special purpose of beyond-design-basis external event (BDBEE) hazard mitigation and the corresponding FLEX support guidelines (FSG). The theory has been wildly spread and accepted by many countries that generate nuclear power. The research on the FLEX strategy is a new trend in nuclear engineering in the recent decade. It provides not only fixed on-site equipment/devices but also on- and off-site portable resources to strengthen the reliability of the nuclear safety system, especially for the disaster/hazards (similar to the Fukushima nuclear accident) triggered by BDBEEs. After a brief introduction of the FLEX strategy, four opportunities and ten challenges are summarized. Subsequently, in view of these challenges and technical difficulties, five suggestions for future work are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Primary Coolant Loop Test Facility [Primӓrkreislӓufe Versuchsanlage (PKL)] PKL I2.2 Benchmark experiment for an intermediate-break loss-of-coolant accident (IB-LOCA) with a 13% or 17% break at the cold leg was performed in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development/PKL-4 project at PKL in Erlangen, Germany. Analysis of Thermal-Hydraulics of LEaks and Transients (ATHLET) 3.1A was used at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology for its posttest calculations. Crucial predicted parameters were compared with measured data. The calculated trend of the selected parameters fits well with that of the experimental data except for the phenomenon of core heatup and the value of the peak cladding temperature. A fast Fourier transform–based method was chosen to quantify the matching of the parameter trends. According to the quantitative assessment, the IB-LOCA scenario and its detailed phenomena can be predicted well by ATHLET. Additionally, some discrepancies, i.e., insufficient reliable predictions for break mass flow and for reactor pressure vessel collapsed water level, were also observed, possibly deserving another study to undergo deeper scrutiny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scheme 1. Schematic diagram of novel boron carriers. [Display omitted] • Advancements in BNCT and limitations of existing boron-containing drugs. • Challenges and prospects for novel boron-containing delivery agents. • Enhanced tumor targeting ability and boron uptake as future directions for BNCT. Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is an emerging binary radiation therapy that exhibits high precision and lethlity for tumor. Its clinical efficacy has been demonstrated in locally aggressive tumors (glioma, melanoma, osteosarcoma, etc.). One paramount aspect of BNCT is the utilization of boron drugs, which has garnered significant attention from researchers. Currently, the primary boron agents employed in BNCT are L-p-boronophenylalanine (L-10BPA) and Na 2 10B 12 H 11 SH (BSH). The former has a low boron content and necessitates repeated administration, while the latter lacks tumor selectivity and induces undifferentiated damage. The advent of novel and promising boron agents provides an opportunity for BNCT to achieve the desired clinical outcomes. In this review, we primarily focus on the research status of various boron carriers over the past decade. These carriers can be categorized based on different design strategies, including cell membrane targeting (LATs, GLUTs, peptides, etc.), nuclear targeting (nucleic acid derivatives, DNA embedders), enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect (liposome, polymer, inorganic nanoparticles) and tumor affinity (porphyrins). We delve into the challenges and breakthroughs associated with the clinical translation of boron-containing compounds and offer suggestions for the research and development of novel boron carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Government governance reform is not only a vital motivation for high economic quality but also an important factor in stimulating the government's environmental governance responsibility. The article empirically examines the fiscal Province-Managing-County (PMC) pilot reform on the synergic governance of haze and carbon reduction and its mechanism. The results show that the policy helps to realize the synergic governance of haze and carbon reduction, and the reform of fiscal Province-Managing-County promotes regional haze and carbon reduction mainly through structural effect, innovation effect, and fiscal expenditure responsibility effect. The heterogeneity analysis shows that the policy has an asymmetric effect on haze and carbon reduction under different administrative structures, economic structures and levels of government intervention. Further analysis shows a policy linkage effect between this policy and the Green Fiscal Policy. The policy has the situation of blood-sucking in the provincial capital city and leads to an increase in financial funds. The above results prove that the policy can help to realize haze and carbon reduction and provide practical ideas for the further expansion of the policy. At the same time, it provides the direction for the local government to realize the double-carbon goal. • The fiscal Province-Managing-County (PMC) pilot reform realizes the synergic governance of haze and carbon reduction. • There is a heterogeneous effect on haze and carbon reduction. • There is a policy linkage effect between this policy and the green fiscal policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]