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As an effective means of structural vibration suppression, piezoelectric actuator vibration suppression system(PAVSS) has been gradually applied in structural vibration control. However, the performance degradation or failure of piezoelectric actuator under long service life will lead to the degradation of service reliability of PAVSS, so the scheme obtained by deterministic optimization method is difficult to ensure the service reliability. Aiming at the reliability evaluation and optimal design of PAVSS in service, the failure mechanism considering of the performance degradation or failure of piezoelectric actuator is analyzed, and the reliability evaluation method based on nested sampling and weighted statistics is constructed, which solves the reliability evaluation problem of PAVSS with the characteristics of load-sharing and redundancy. A reliability-based optimization method based on master-slave parallel genetic algorithm is proposed to optimize the position and angle of the actuators. At last, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are proved by an example, which not only provides a theoretical basis for the high reliability design of PAVSS in service, but also provides a new solution for the engineering problem of structural vibration control.

Military regulations are of great significance to modern military operations. However, consulting the texts is inefficient and error-prone. A military legal question answering system is constructed by integrating retrieval and knowledge graph technologies. The optimized TF-IDF model is used to establish a data structure for the hierarchical retrieval of laws and regulations to improve the efficiency. Knowledge graph technologies are used to generate a large amount of knowledge for the clauses of laws and regulations, ensuring the ability of question understanding. According to the characteristics of military laws and regulations, the algorithms of question processing and clause retrieval are designed, and the complete answer is composed of a short answer, clause content and an answer source. Analysis and testing show that the underlying data constructed is highly hierarchical and semantically rich. The prototype system can accurately answer questions from multiple perspectives, and it combines the advantages of retrieval and knowledge graph technologies. The system can provide decision aid for the commander to deal with legal problems, and the technologies are also applicable to regulations in other fields.

Background and purpose: Endocrine therapy has been one of the routine means of adjuvant therapy for patients with hormone receptor positive after surgery. This study aimed to analyze the factors influencing short-term effect (estrogen suppression effect) and long-term survival (disease-free survival, DFS) in patients with operable breast cancer after ovarian function suppression (OFS) therapy. Methods: DFS data and clinicopathological parameters for 435 patients with estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer who underwent surgery and completed postoperative standard chemotherapy and endocrine therapy (OFS combined with tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors) between June 2017 to June 2019 were obtained in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. The authors performed univariate logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression to analyze the influencing factors of estrogen suppression, while log-rank test and COX proportional hazards regression model were used to analyze the influencing factors of disease-free survival. Results: The failure rate of estrogen suppression in patients aged ≤35 years was 8.7%, which was significantly higher than that in patients aged 35-40 years (1%, P0.05). Endocrine therapy regimen (HR = 0.49, P

[Purpose/Significance] As China has become a country with an increasing number of old people, public libraries, as a public cultural service organization, are under increasing pressure to provide service to the aged readers, and the problem of the service for the aged readers needs to be solved urgently. China is vigorously promoting the application of VR technology in various industries, and has put forward the requirement of promoting the use of intelligent technology by the elderly. Therefore, VR technology will be specifically applied to the service for the elderly readers, It has become a new breakthrough direction to improve the service level of public libraries, and also provides a new idea for the research of reader service of public libraries. [Method/Process] Based on the concrete practice of the service for the elderly in public libraries, this paper starts from the two aspects of the software and hardware of the service for the elderly, and takes fully into account the physiological and psychological characteristics of the elderly readers. It analyzes the specific problems of public libraries in the service for the aged readers. It is found that the lack of hardware facilities in public libraries mainly includes space design, technical equipment, venue environment, and collection resources, while the lack of software construction mainly refers to service and staff. In this paper, by combining the specific VR technologies with the service facilities, environment, resources and services for the aged readers of public libraries, the authors put forward some ideas on the hardware and software of public libraries, commented on the specific technical features of VR technology which are combined with the existing problems of the service for the aged readers, and discussed the characteristics of the aged group. [Results/Conclusions] The study found that, by applying VR technologies such as dynamic environment modeling, behavior modeling, natural interaction, stereoscopic display and sensor technology, speech recognition and speech synthesis, and creating virtual library, the old readers get familiar with the venue, and VR technology provides resources search and display services, technical equipment training services, interactive communication services, simulation of offline events services and a series of other services. In this paper, VR technology is connected with the elderly readers, which meets the requirements of promoting the elderly to use intelligent technology in China, and provides reference for the elderly reader service in public libraries. It also provides some theoretical support for the later research and practice. In addition, this paper did not study the specific practice of public library services for the elderly, and the following research from this perspective can be carried out.

Taking the DTU 10 MW wind turbine as the research object, the OO-Star semi-submersible platform floating wind turbine model is established, based on the blade element momentum theory and the radiation/diffraction theory to solve the wind load and wave load respectively, and the dynamic response of floating wind turbines under different environmental load directions is simulated, and the impact of different environmental load incident angles on its response characteristics is compared and analyzed. The results show that the incident angle of turbulent wind has a greater influence on the response of floating wind turbines to surge, pitch and yaw, while the incident angle of wave has a great influence on the sway and roll response. The heave response hardly changes with the turbulent wind and wave incident angle. As the incident angle of turbulent wind increases, the average power of floating wind turbines drops sharply, while the incident angle of waves has almost no effect on its average power. In addition, in the mooring system, the mooring tension of No.1 increases gradually with the increase of the incident angle of turbulent wind and wave, while that of No.2 mooring decreases gradually, while that of No.3 mooring increases first and then decreases with the increase of incident angle of turbulent wind, and increases gradually with the increase of incident angle of wave.

AIM: To observe the effect of icariin-astragaloside IV-puerarin mixture (Yin-Huang-Ge mixture, YHG) on cognitive function and ferroptosis amino acid metabolism pathway in hepcidin (HAMP) knockout APPswe/ PS1dE9 (APP/PS1 HAMP-/-) mice. METHODS: The mice were divided into 7 groups: negative control (C57BL/6 mice) group, APP/PS1 group, APP/PS1 HAMP-/- group, APP/PS1+YHG group, APP/PS1 HAMP-/-+YHG group, APP/PS1+de-ferasirox (DFX) group, and APP/PS1 HAMP-/- +DFX group, with 6 mice in each group. The YHG and DFX were administered intragastrically, while the mice in C57 group, APP/PS1 group and APP/PS1 HAMP-/- group were given intragastric administration of distilled water, once a day for 2 months. The iron content in mouse brain tissues was detected by tissue iron kit. The morphological changes of the mitochondria in hippocampal neurons were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Morris water maze was used to detect the learning and memory ability of the mice. The content of neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN) in mouse brain tissues was detected by immunofluorescence staining. The expression of glutathione (GSH) in mouse brain tissues was detected by biochemical kit. The expression levels of glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) and glutamatase 2 (GLS2) in mouse brain tissues were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with C57BL/6 mice, the brain iron content of APP/PS1 mice was significantly incr eased (P<0. 01), the mitochondria were seriously damaged, the learning and memory ability was significantly decreased (P<0. 05), the brain neurons were seriously damaged (P<0. 01), and the expression levels of GSH, GCLC and GLS2 were significantly decreased (P<0. 01). Compared with APP/PS1 mice, the brain iron content of APP/PS1 HAMP-/- mice was significantly increased (P<0. 01), the mitochondria were seriously damaged, the learning and memory ability was significantly decreased (P<0. 05), the brain neurons were seriously damaged (P<0. 01), and the expression levels of GSH, GCLC and GLS2 were significantly decreased (P<0. 05). After treatment with YHG and DFX, the brain iron content was significantly decreased (P<0. 01), the mitochondrial damage was alleviated, the learning and memory ability was significantly increased (P<0. 05), the brain neuron damage was alleviated (P<0. 01), and the expression levels of GSH, GCLC and GLS2 were significantly increased (P<0. 05). CONCLUSION: The YHG can improve the cognitive function of APP/PS1 HAMP-/- mice, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of ferroptosis amino acid metabolism and the enhancement of antioxidant capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Purpose / Significance] In the era of big data, this paper discusses the application direction of the new technology of block chain in university libraries, analyzes how this technology can solve the predicament of the current digital resource construction in university libraries, and promotes the construction of university library ecological system in the new era. [Method / Process] Through literature research, this paper analyzes the difficult problems in the construction of digital resources in university libraries at present, and discusses the feasibility of its application in the construction of digital resources in university libraries from the technical characteristics of block chains and application cases. [Results / Conclusions] Block chain technology has the advantages of decentralization, intelligent contract and asymmetric encryption, and can be applied to various stages in digital resource construction such as data collection, data processing, and data service, in the premise of ensuring data security and credibility to achieve user participation, improve service efficiency. Block chain technology can solve many difficult problems in the construction of digital resources and become a new driving force for university libraries.

In view of problem of low precision of using UWB positioning system to obtain position coordinates of shearer, a precision improving algorithm of shearer positioning based on UWB was put forward. The algorithm uses ability of analysis of various signal values of information filter algorithm to filter UWB positioning results, and uses ability of optimal solution of neural network algorithm to evaluate positioning information during certain period when the shearer stays at the head position of scraper conveyer, in order to realize accurate shearer positioning. The experiment results show that after using information filter algorithm to process positioning results, the 3D accuracy can reach 7 cm, and after the application of neural network algorithm, the positioning accuracy can reach 2~3 cm.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous curved vertebroplasty is a modified surgical method of percutaneous vertebroplasty; the most prominent feature of which is that it can make the bone cement distributed symmetrically and balance the strength on both sides of the vertebral body. In theory, it can ensure the distribution of bone cement in the vertebral body, and solve the problem that the uneven distribution of bone cement in the traditional percutaneous vertebroplasty and single injection leads to poor pain relief effect in the fracture area. OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of percutaneous curved vertebroplasty and percutaneous vertebroplasty bone cement injection in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, and to discuss the value of percutaneous curved vertebroplasty in clinical application. METHODS: Seventy patients with single vertebral osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures from the Third Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University between 2017 and 2018 were selected. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. Percutaneous curved vertebroplasty group (n=35) received treatment with percutaneous curved vertebroplasty. Percutaneous vertebroplasty group (n=35) received treatment with percutaneous vertebroplasty. Distribution and leakage of bone cement were observed in the two groups. Visual analogue scale score and Oswestry disability index were assessed preoperatively and 1 day postoperatively. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for 1 year to observe the recovery of the height of the anterior edge of the injured vertebra and the occurrence of adjacent vertebral fractures. The trial was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Compared with the percutaneous vertebroplasty group, the distribution of bone cement was more uniform and satisfactory (P < 0.05), and the leakage rate of bone cement was lower in the percutaneous curved vertebroplasty group (P < 0.05). (2) Both the visual analogue scale score and Oswestry disability index of the two groups at 1 day after surgery were significantly improved compared with those before surgery (P < 0.05). The improvement of Oswestry disability index of the percutaneous curved vertebroplasty group was better than that of the percutaneous vertebroplasty group (P < 0.05). (3) The height of the anterior edge of the injured vertebral body of the two groups improved significantly one year after surgery comparad with that before surgery (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). (4) There was no significant difference in the incidence of adjacent vertebral fractures between the two groups (P > 0.05). (5) The results showed that comparad with the treatment of percutaneous vertebroplasty, the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral body compression fractures by percutaneous curved vertebroplasty can reduce the rate of bone cement leakage and improve the quality of life of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To offset the effects of the transmission delay of air-fuel ratio (AFR) signal on the accuracy of AFR control, an AFR control strategy based on generalized predictive control (GPC) is devised. A model for GPC algorithm is built with Matlab/Simulink and implemented on dSPACE-MicroAutoBox plateform to concudt a test on NQ150N CNG engine. The results show that compared with PID control algorithm, the GPC-based algorithm has better steady-state performance, enabling better control effects of AFR under transient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic skin has shown great application potential in many fields such as healthcare monitoring and human-machine interaction due to their excellent sensing performance, mechanical properties and biocompatibility. This paper starts from the materials selection and structures design of electronic skin, and summarizes their different applications in the field of healthcare equipment, especially current development status of wearable sensors with different functions, as well as the application of electronic skin in virtual reality. The challenges of electronic skin in the field of wearable devices and healthcare, as well as our corresponding strategies, are discussed to provide a reference for further advancing the research of electronic skin.

Adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) and Adiponectin receptor 2 (AdipoR2) can bind to adiponectin (AdipoQ) secreted by adipose tissue to participate in various physiological functions of the body. In order to explore the role of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 in amphibians infected by Aeromonas hydrophila ( Ah ), the genes adipor1 and adipor2 of Rana dybowskii were cloned by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and analyzed by bioinformatics. The tissue expression difference of adipor1 and adipor2 was analyzed by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and an inflammatory model of R . dybowskii infected by Ah was constructed. The histopathological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE staining); the expression profiles of adipor1 and adipor2 after infection were dynamically detected by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. The results show that AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 are cell membrane proteins with seven transmembrane domains. Phylogenetic tree also shows that AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 cluster with the amphibians in the same branch. qRT-PCR and Western blotting results show that adipor1 and adipor2 were up-regulated at different levels of transcription and translation upon Ah infection, but the response time and level were different. It is speculated that AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 participate in the process of bacterial immune response, providing a basis for further exploring the biological functions of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 in amphibians.

Objectives: This study aimed to prepare functional composite electrospinning fibrous membranes with the functions of antifibrosis and bacteriostasis, as well as to explore its repair effect on rat jaw defect., Methods: Poly-(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) fibrous membrane loaded with cyclic-arginine-glycine-aspartic acid sequence, ornidazole, and nanohydroxyapatite (n-HA) was prepared by electrospinning as the functional layer (GBRL) for adhering onto defective bone. A barrier layer with the function of supporting and isolating different functional layers was prepared by tape-casting method. Poly(p-dioxanone-co-l-phenylalanine) fiber membrane with the function of inhibiting fibrosis was prepared by electrospinning technology as the antifibrosis layer (AFL). The morphology of the composite membrane was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The effects of different functional layers on the proliferation of mouse osteoblast precursor cells (MC3T3-E1) and mouse fibroblasts (L929) were studied by cell-proliferation test (CCK-8 method). The inhibitory effect of composite membrane on the proliferation of Porphyromonas gingivalis was studied by bacteriostatic circle test. A rat mandibular-bone defect model was established to study the repair effect of composite fiber membrane on bone-defect tissue. This repair effect was compared with that of collagen oral-repair membrane commonly used in clinics., Results: The GBRL layer could support the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells, and the AFL layer could inhibit the proliferation of L929 cells. Composite membranes loaded with ornidazole could inhibit the proliferation of Porphyromonas gingivalis . Various composite membranes can induce the reconstruction of rat jaw defects, among which the composite membranes loaded with ornidazole and n-HA had the best repair effect, which was better than that of collagen oral-repair membrane., Conclusions: The electrospun membrane loaded with ornidazole and n-HA as the composite fiber membrane of GBRL layer had excellent antibacterial and bone-tissue-regeneration activity. The effect was better than that of the commonly used collagen oral-repair membrane. Therefore, this material has great potential to induce bone regeneration for defects caused by periodontal diseases.

Leptin receptor overlapping transcript (LepROT) plays multiple roles in the regulation of immune systems. However, very little information is available about the anti-infectious mechanisms of amphibians LepROT. In this study, the cDNA sequence of the Rana dybowskii LepROT gene was determined by using RT-PCR and bioinformatics analysis. Then, the Aeromonas hydrophila ( Ah ) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) infected models of R. dybowskii was constructed to obtain histopathological characteristics. Constitutive expression of LepROT mRNA and NF-κB signaling pathway were detected by real-time quantitative PCR. The full-length cDNA of LepROT gene was 396 bp and encoded 131 amino acids. Amino acid sequence analysis revealed LepROT shares 93.74% and 86.39% identity with homologues from other amphibians and mammals respectively, and the LepROT gene was quite conserved among different species. After infection, the relative expression levels of LepROT , NF- κ B , IKKα and IKKβ mRNA were all significantly upregulated ( P < 0.01), but showed a diverse temporal pattern of up-regulation in different tissues. Therefore, it was proposed that the LepROT gene of R . dybowskii might activate the NF-κB signaling pathway to exert anti-infectious effects, thus providing evidence for further extending the biological function of LepROT.

A method was proposed to detect pulmonary nodules in low-dose computed tomography (CT) images by two-dimensional convolutional neural network under the condition of fine image preprocessing. Firstly, CT image preprocessing was carried out by image clipping, normalization and other algorithms. Then the positive samples were expanded to balance the number of positive and negative samples in convolutional neural network. Finally, the model with the best performance was obtained by training two-dimensional convolutional neural network and constantly optimizing network parameters. The model was evaluated in Lung Nodule Analysis 2016(LUNA16) dataset by means of five-fold cross validation, and each group's average model experiment results were obtained with the final accuracy of 92.3%, sensitivity of 92.1% and specificity of 92.6%.Compared with other existing automatic detection and classification methods for pulmonary nodules, all indexes were improved. Subsequently, the model perturbation experiment was carried out on this basis. The experimental results showed that the model is stable and has certain anti-interference ability, which could effectively identify pulmonary nodules and provide auxiliary diagnostic advice for early screening of lung cancer.

Objective: To evaluate therapeutic effects and adverse reactions of tocilizumab on patients with severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
 Methods: Twelve patients with severe refractory RA were treated with tocilizumab. The clinical and laboratory indices and the side effects were recorded after treatment.
 Results: The clinical and laboratory indices and the disease activity score 28 (DAS28) were observed in all patients, which were significantly improved after TCZ therapy (P<0.05), and no obvious adverse reactions were found.
 Conclusion: Tocilizumab can effectively relieve the symptoms and improve the conditions of severe active RA.

Objective: To provide data for the occupational health supervision by analyzing the occupational health status in manufacturing industry in Guangzhou, China., Methods: The occupational health investigation was performed in 280 enterprises randomly selected from 8 industries based on industry stratification. According to the occupational health standards, 198 out of the 280 enterprises were supervised and monitored. Sample testing was performed in 3~5 workplaces where workers were exposed to the highest concentration/intensity of occupational hazard for the longest time. Comparative analyses of the overproof rates of hazard were performed among enterprises, workplaces, and testing items from different industries., Results: The concentrations of occupational hazard in 42.93% (85/198) of enterprises and 22.96% (200/871) of workplaces were above the limit concentration. The most severe hazards were the noises in shipbuilding and wooden furniture industries and the welding fumes in shipbuilding industry. Less than 30% of enterprises were able to provide occupational health examination and periodic test reports of occupational hazard in workplaces. The rate of the workers with abnormal occupational health examination results and the need for reexamination reached 6.63% (832/12 549), and they were mostly from shipbuilding, wooden furniture, and chemical industries., Conclusion: The occupational health supervision should be strengthened in enterprises, and hazard from noises and dusts should be selectively controlled or reduced. The publication of relevant data and information of occupational health in enterprises should be promoted to enhance social supervision.

Objective: To explore the outcomes of multiple derotation plus costotransversectomy for patients with severe and rigid scoliosis., Methods: Clinical analyses were conducted for the clinical data of operative duration, blood loss volume and SRS-22 scale. Radiographic data included Cobb angle of coronal curves, apical vertebral translation, coronal balance and sagittal balance. All measurements were taken pre-operation, post-operation and during the final follow-up period., Results: The mean follow-up period was 4.1 ± 0.7 (3-5.5) years, mean operative duration 33 ± 8.4 min and mean blood loss volume 2303.5 ± 9.0 ml. Preoperative major curves ranged from 65° to 110° Cobb angle. Coronal plane correction of major curve from 10° to 41° Cobb angle (mean 30.8 ± 9.8°). And there was a mean loss of correction of 3.6% during the final follow-up. The magnitudes of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis were 31.1 ± 12.4°, 45.5 ± 10.5° pre-operation, 25.6 ± 5.5°, 33.43 ± 5.45° post-operation and 28.6 ± 6.1°, 35.26 ± 4.2° during the final follow-up. The apical vertebral translation of major curve was corrected by 73.2%. The coronal imbalance, sagittal imbalance and apical vertebral translation indifferently was 3.2 ± 1.1, 2.3 ± 1.1, 6.35 ± 1.65 cm pre-operation, 0.9 ± 1.0, 0.4 ± 0.5, 2.4 ± 1.2 cm post-operation and 1.2 ± 1.1, 0.6 ± 0.5, 2.6 ± 1.4 cm during the final follow-up. Incomplete thoracic nerve dysfuction occurred in one case and superficial dermatoedge necrosis in another recovered within 2 weeks. Neither malposition of pedicle screw nor complication of instrumentation was found. Excellent outcomes were obtained according to SRS-22 score., Conclusion: For patients with severe and rigid scoliosis, the technique of multi-rod-derotation and rib resection may achieve a good correction of scoliosis without serious complications and avoid a resection of vertebral column.

Objective: To investigate the effect of noise on the antioxidant capacity in different regions of brain tissue in guinea pigs., Methods: Thirty male white red-eye guinea pigs were equally and randomly divided into five groups: 1-, 3-, 7-, and 14-day groups after noise exposure and control group. The guinea pigs of the experimental groups were exposed to steady white noise with a sound pressure level at 100 dB for 8 h per day and for 2 consecutive days. The auditory brainstem response (ABR) of guinea pigs, as well as the glutathione (GSH) level, methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) level, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and hippocampus, was determined prior to and 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after noise exposure., Results: After noise exposure, the shifts in ABR threshold of the experimental groups were significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). Compared with those in the control group, the SOD activity and GSH level both significantly decreased in the cerebrum tissue of each experimental group after noise exposure (P<0.05) and MDA content significantly increased in the 1-day group (P<0.05). As for cerebellum tissue, the SOD activity and GSH level in the 7-day group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05), but there was no difference in MDA level between each experimental group and the control group (P>0.05). In comparison with those in the control group, the GSH and MDA levels in the 1-day group after noise exposure were significantly higher, and the GSH and MDA levels in the 3-day group and the MDA level in the 7-day group after noise exposure were significantly lower (all P<0.05)., Conclusion: Noise exposure can lead to hearing loss and affect the antioxidant capacity of brain tissue, which indicates that the improvement in antioxidant levels may alleviate noise-induced damage.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of transcutaneous electrical stimulation produced by Han's acupiont nerve stimulator (HANS) in treating obesity., Methods: Sixteen volunteers with primary obesity were recruited, without any instructions or attempts to control their dietary. The trial started in November 2001 and ended in June 2002. Each obese volunteer received transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) at 8 acupoints. The electrical parameters were: frequency at 2 Hz, with pulses width of 0.6 ms; intensity varied depending on individual's sensitivity to electrical stimulation to maintain a comfortable level. The treatment was administered 3 times per week. Body weight was recorded before each TENS treatment., Results: The main value of body weight decreased gradually during the trial, with a net decrease of (2.06 +/- 0.31) kg at the end of 12 weeks' treatment (the first phase), corresponding to a decrease of (2.78 +/- 0.40)% as compared with the initial body weight (P < 0.01). In the interim period of 4 weeks (during the Chinese Spring Festival), a partial recurrence of the body weight occurred. During the second phase of treatment lasting for 15 weeks, there was again a reduction of body weight for (2.81 +/- 0.68) kg, corresponding to a decrease of (3.90 +/- 0.40)% (P < 0.001) as compared with the pretreatment level., Conclusion: An open trial of HANS treatment revealed a moderate, but significant effectiveness on weight reduction in a group of people with primary obesity. The therapy remains effective for the second phase of treatment. It is anticipated that a better effect can be achieved if the treatment is accompanied with diet control and appropriate exercise.