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An application of geometric reliability techniques on various pile types based on 67 load–displacement curves obtained from pertinent literature is presented in this paper. These static loading tests were performed at local scale (even building-specific sites) under essentially identical geotechnical conditions. A power-law function with two parameters was used to fit the measured load–settlement curves. For each site, the means and coefficients of variation for the power-law parameters were obtained. Since the number of tests conducted at each site is usually small, it is extremely difficult to identify a certain distribution type for these regression parameters. Thus, for simplicity, a bivariate normal distribution was assumed to represent the set of regression pairs. This joint distribution was incorporated into a geometric reliability method, which offers an estimation of the bearing capacity of piles at the serviceability limit state. Examples are provided to illustrate the application of the proposed reliability method to interpret the visually determined reliability index of the bearing capacity of piles. These case studies showed that the proposed method is a useful and comprehensive tool for capturing the load–displacement response and for evaluating the bearing capacity of piles by considering uncertainties in their load–displacement behaviour.

Regenerative endodontic procedures have been rapidly evolving over the past two decades and are employed extensively in clinical endodontics. These procedures have been perceived as valuable adjuvants to conventional strategies in the treatment of necrotic immature permanent teeth that were deemed to have poor prognosis. As a component biological triad of tissue engineering (i.e., stem cells, growth factors and scaffolds), biomaterial scaffolds have demonstrated clinical potential as an armamentarium in regenerative endodontic procedures and achieved remarkable advancements. The aim of the present review is to provide a broad overview of biomaterials employed for scaffolding in regenerative endodontics. The favorable properties and limitations of biomaterials organized in naturally derived, host-derived and synthetic material categories were discussed. Preclinical and clinical studies published over the past five years on the performance of biomaterial scaffolds, as well as current challenges and future perspectives for the application of biomaterials for scaffolding and clinical evaluation of biomaterial scaffolds in regenerative endodontic procedures were addressed in depth.

Background The present study aimed to evaluate the elimination of three common pollutants (dimethoate, benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and bisphenol A (BPA) by different physical exercises and to assess the possible factors which could affect the pollutants elimination. Methods A total of 200 individuals who chose different kinds of exercises in accordance to their own wish were recruited. The levels of urinary pollutants were measured using β-glucuronidase hydrolysis followed by a high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry-based method. Results Totally, the levels of dimethoate, BaP and BPA were reduced after physical exercises. However, the elimination of BaP in male was higher than that in female but the elimination of BPA in female was higher than that in male. Multivariate logistic regression showed that the degree of heart rate (HR) change was a protective factor affecting the improvement effect of dimethoate, BaP and BPA while BMI (body mass index) was a risk factor. Nevertheless, sex was a risk factor affecting the improvement of dimethoate and BaP but had a lower efficacy on BPA improvement. Conclusion The present findings indicate that physical exercises can be considered as a novel approach to eliminate pollutants level in human body and can also give suggestions for choosing specific physical exercises to male and female individuals. Moreover, those who are with higher BMI need to lose weight before eliminating pollutant level through physical exercises.

As a raw material, applications of waste activated carbon (WAC) in synergy with coal powder to prepare coal water slurry (CWS) and perform high-temperature gasification is a novel strategy for disposing WAC. Combining BET surface analysis, contact angle measurement, and thermogravimetric-Fourier transform infrared (TG-FTIR) methods, the physico-chemical properties and CO2 gasification behaviors of coal-waste activated carbon-slurry (CWACS) were evaluated. Compared to coal, WAC exhibited an excellent adsorption capacity and a stronger surface wettability. When the WAC mixing ratio was increased from 0 to 15%, the CWS solid concentration decreased from 62.28% to 59.44%. CWACS exhibited a shear-thinning flow behavior, and the higher the WAC mixing ratio, the more obvious the pseudoplastic characteristics. Moreover, WAC enhanced the storage stability of the CWS. Under the catalysis of Na, Ca, and Fe among others, the CO2 gasification reaction of CWACS coke moved forward to the low-temperature stage. The high fixed carbon content of WAC, as well as its unique tar adsorption and catalytic cracking effects, increased the CO gas component in the synthesis gas.

Objective Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common postoperative complication that is relevant to poor outcomes. Therefore, it is critical to find effective methods to identify patients with high risk of POD rapidly. Creating a fully automated score based on an automated machine-learning algorithm may be a method to predict the incidence of POD quickly. Materials and methods This is the secondary analysis of an observational study, including 531 surgical patients who underwent general anesthesia. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was used to screen essential features associated with POD. Finally, eight features (age, intraoperative blood loss, anesthesia duration, extubation time, intensive care unit [ICU] admission, mini-mental state examination score [MMSE], Charlson comorbidity index [CCI], postoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR]) were used to established models. Four models, logistic regression, random forest, extreme gradient boosted trees, and support vector machines, were built in a training set (70% of participants) and evaluated in the remaining testing sample (30% of participants). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore independent risk factors for POD further. Results Model 1 (logistic regression model) was found to outperform other classifier models in testing data (area under the curve [AUC] of 80.44%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 72.24%-88.64%) and achieve the lowest Brier Score as well. These variables including age (OR = 1.054, 95%CI: 1.017~1.093), extubation time (OR = 1.027, 95%CI: 1.012~1.044), ICU admission (OR = 2.238, 95%CI: 1.313~3.793), MMSE (OR = 0.929, 95%CI: 0.876~0.984), CCI (OR = 1.197, 95%CI: 1.038~1.384), and postoperative NLR (OR = 1.029, 95%CI: 1.002~1.057) were independent risk factors for POD in this study. Conclusions We have built and validated a high-performing algorithm to demonstrate the extent to which patient risk changes of POD during the perioperative period, thus leading to a rational therapeutic choice.

The optimal treatment for blood blister-like aneurysm (BBA) has not yet been determined, and BBA has a high recurrence rate after stent-assisted embolization. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of patients with BBA rupture in the acute phase or patients with BBA who have recurrence after stent-assisted coil embolization. Eight patients (8 women, mean age 50.3 ± 3.7 years) who presented with ruptured BBA or recurrence BBA that had been treated by stent-assisted embolization (5 patients after primary treatment of stent-assisted embolization) were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical follow-up was performed at 1 year after endovascular treatment. All patients were successfully treated with the WCS, and immediate postoperative angiography showed that the aneurysms were completely isolated. The ophthalmic artery was covered by WCS in one patient; however, this patient did not show any clinical visual field or vision symptoms. Procedure-related complications such as aneurysm rupture, vasospasm, acute thrombosis, or thromboembolism did not occur in any case. All patients were followed up for 1 year after endovascular treatment, and they were in good condition without recurrence. One patient developed delayed bleeding at the right temporal lobe. All patients had good clinical prognosis (modified Rankin Scale score ≤ 2). WCS implantation may be a safe and feasible strategy for patients with BBA rupture in the acute phase and patients with BBA who have recurrence after stent-assisted coil embolization and is a promising option worth exploring.

INTRODUCTION The blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption contributes to postoperative delirium, but cost-effective and non-invasive assessment of its permeability is not practicable in the clinical settings. Urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR), reflecting systemic vascular endothelial dysfunction, may be a prognostic and predictive factor associated with postoperative delirium. The aim was to analyze the relationship between UACR and postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS Through stratified random sampling, a cohort of 408 individuals aged 60 years and older scheduled for elective non-cardiac surgery were included between February and August 2019 in the single-center, prospective, observational study. The presence of delirium was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) or Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU) on the day of surgery, at 2 h after the surgery ending time and on the first 3 consecutive days with repeated twice-daily, with at least 6-h intervals between assessments. Urine samples were collected on one day before surgery, and 1st day and 3rd day after surgery. The primary outcome was the presence of postoperative delirium, and association of the level of UACR with postoperative delirium was evaluated with unadjusted/adjusted analyses and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS Postoperative delirium was observed in 26.75% (107 of 400) of patients within 3 days post-surgery. UACR-Pre (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.14-1.49, p

To evaluate the percentage volume of voids and gaps in oval-shaped canals obturated using two different methods with a tricalcium silicate–based sealer after short- or long-term storage. The long-term effect of storage on the efficiency of removing filling material was also investigated. Forty premolar teeth with oval-shaped canals were instrumented to Reciproc R25 and obturated using single cone obturation (SCO) or warm vertical compaction (WVC) techniques with gutta-percha and HiFlow sealer. The specimens were stored at 100% humidity and 37°C for 2 weeks or 6 months and scanned using micro-computed tomography. Initial retreatment was performed up to a Reciproc R40, and the operating time was recorded. The residual material in the canal received a supplementary procedure using XP-endo Finisher R (XPFR) files. After each retreatment procedure, the specimens were rescanned. The percentage volume of voids and gaps in the SCO group was higher than that of the WVC group at both 2 weeks and 6 months (P < 0.05). The percentage volume of the filling material removed after initial retreatment and XPFR cleaning was significantly higher in the 6-month group than in the 2-week groups (P < 0.05). The proportion of the residual material decreased significantly when XPFR files were used, compared to the initial retreatment group (P < 0.05) in both storage times. The efficiency of retreatment in the oval-shaped canal was closely related to the storage time rather than the filling technique using a tricalcium silicate sealer. The XPFR instrument proved effective in the removal of the remaining materials from the oval-shaped canal. Obturation of the oval-shaped canal with TSBS using the SCO technique in the coronal area needs to be optimized. The retreatment was less efficacious in freshly filled canals than aged filled canals.

Objectives Silicosis is a chronic occupational lung disease. As was previously found by the authors, some proteins increased in the lung tissue of activated rats, and protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 2 (PTPN2), factor B, and vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) showed highly differential expressions. Material and Methods In this study, serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples were collected from patients with silicosis and healthy people to verify the expression of PTPN2, factor B, and VRK1. The diagnostic value of differentially expressed proteins for silicosis was judged. Results The expression levels of serum PTPN2, VRK1, and factor B in patients with silicosis were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.01). Higher serum PTPN2 and factor B concentrations significantly and negatively correlated with the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity (FEV 1 /FVC), maximum vital capacity (VC max ), FEV 1 , and FVC, suggesting that the high expression of PTPN2 and factor B is associated with decreased pulmonary ventilation function and restrictive ventilatory impairment in patients with silicosis. All area under curve (AUC) measurements generated from single detection events were >0.744, with PTPN2 reaching the highest value (0.858). The AUC, sensitivity, and specificity for the combined diagnosis using factor B and PTPN2 were 0.907, 86.91% and 85.07%, respectively, for factor B and PTPN2. The 3 differentially expressed proteins are potential classes of predictive biomarkers for silicosis. Conclusions Regarding the economy and test practicality, the best diagnostic combination is factor B and PTPN2 for the analysis of AUC, sensitivity and specificity. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2021;34(4):527–40

Shuting Yang,1 Qian Zhang,1 Yifan Xu,1 Futeng Chen,1 Fangming Shen,1 Qin Zhang,1 He Liu,2 Yueying Zhang3 1Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Huzhou Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine; Huzhou Central Hospital, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yueying ZhangDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 138 1531 0789Email zyy0218@126.comPurpose: To develop a risk prediction nomogram of postoperative sleep disturbance (PSD) in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.Patients and methods: Data on 881 consecutive patients who underwent non-cardiac surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University between June 2020 and April 2021 were prospectively collected. Of these, we randomly divided 881 non-cardiac patients into two groups, training cohort (n = 617) and validation cohort (n = 264) at the ratio of 7:3. Characteristic variables were selected based on the data of training cohort through least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the independent risk factors associated with PSD that then were incorporated into the nomogram. The predictive performance of the nomogram was measured by concordance index (C index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and calibration with 1000 bootstrap samples to decrease the over-fit bias.Results: PSD was found in 443 of 617 patients (71.8%) and 190 of 264 patients (72.0%) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. The perioperative risk factors associated with PSD were female sex, anxiety, dissatisfaction of ward environment, absence of combined regional nerve block, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), the longer duration stayed in post anesthesia care unit (PACU), the higher dose of midazolam and sufentanil, the higher postoperative numeric rating score for pain (NRS) score. Incorporating these 9 factors, the nomogram achieved good concordance indexes of 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78– 0.85) and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.74– 0.85) in predicting PSD in the training and validation cohorts, respectively, and obtained well-fitted calibration curves. The sensitivity and specificity (95% CIs) of the nomogram were calculated, resulting in sensitivity of 74.0% (70.0– 78.2%) and 75.3% (68.4– 81.7%) and specificity of 79.3% (72.5– 85.2%) and 70.3% (58.4– 80.7%) for the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Patients who had a nomogram score of less than 262 or 262 or greater were considered to have low or high risks of PSD presence, respectively.Conclusion: The proposed nomogram achieved an optimal prediction of PSD in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. The risks for an individual patient to harbor PSD can be determined by this model, which can lead to a reasonable preventive and treatment measures.Keywords: postoperative sleep disturbance, surgery, LASSO regression analysis, nomogram

Background and Purpose: It remains unclear whether the additive effect of coexisting intracranial aneurysms increases the risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in patients with multiple intracranial aneurysms. We have performed a tentative analysis for the additive effect of coexisting aneurysms. Methods: This multi-institutional cross-sectional study included 1781 aneurysms from 746 patients with multiple intracranial aneurysms. Using the generalized linear mixed model, we analyzed risk factors associated with individual aneurysm rupture and assessed the additive risk of SAH for each patient. Results: The coexisting aneurysms number was not significantly associated with individual intracranial aneurysm rupture, both in unadjusted and adjusted analyses. Patient-level analysis found that an increased number of coexisting aneurysms was significantly associated with a greater estimated additive risk ( P P Conclusions: We found that a greater number of coexisting aneurysms did not increase rupture risk of individual aneurysms, but the potential additive effect might increase SAH risk in patients with multiple intracranial aneurysms.

After the preliminary basic research on the problems encountered during the production period of Gulong shale oil in the Songliao Basin, NE China, and the scientific exploration, the special characteristics of Gulong shale oil in terms of reservoir space, phase distribution, flow pattern, and mineral evolution are proposed. The main results are as follows : (1) The source of organic matter, mechanism of hydrocarbon generation and expulsion, and key factors affecting shale oil abundance; (2) The types and structural characteristics of the reservoir and their contribution to porosity and permeability; (3) The mineral origin and evolution of minerals and their influence on reservoir availability, sensitivity, and compressibility; (4) The rock mechanical characteristics and fracture propagation law of Gulong shale; (5) The shale oil products, phase change law and main control factors of adsorption and desorption conversion of Gulong shale oil; (6) The mechanism of shale oil-liquid, solid-liquid gas interaction and enhanced oil recovery. Three key research suggestions are proposed to realize the large-scale economic utilization of the Gulong shale oil as follows: (1) Deepen research on the mechanism of oil and gas generation and discharge, storage and transportation, to guide the selection of geological sweet spots of shale oil; (2) Deepen research on the compressibility and fracture initiation mechanism to support the selection of engineering sweet spots and optimization of engineering design; (3) Deepen research on the fluid interaction mechanism under reservoir conditions, os us to guide the optimization of development schemes and the selection of EOR technologies. A successful development of Gulong shale oil requires global experts and scholars to contribute multidisciplinary innovative ideas and technical ideas to solve production problems.

Objective Serum lipids have been shown to regulate inflammatory and immune processes, but little is known about their association with thyroid autoimmunity. This study aimed to investigate the association of serum lipids with thyroid autoantibody positivity in the general population with normal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. Methods Data regarding the 7,688 subjects’ baseline characteristics were retrospectively collected. All subjects were categorized into four groups according to thyroid autoantibodies against thyroglobulin (TgAb) and thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb) positivity and serum lipid levels were compared. Binary logistic regression models were used to evaluate the risk of TgAb or TPOAb positivity with increasing serum lipid levels. Results In 6,456 included subjects, after adjusting for confounders, the risk of TgAb positivity was positively associated with increasing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (OR 1.10, 95%CI 1.02–1.19, P = 0.014) and negatively correlated with the increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (OR 0.80, 95%CI 0.67–0.96, P = 0.014). In female subjects, the association between increasing LDL-C (OR 1.15, 95%CI 1.05–1.26, P = 0.004) or HDL-C levels (OR 0.74, 95%CI 0.60–0.91, P = 0.005) and TgAb positivity become more pronounced. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between LDL-C levels and TPOAb positivity (OR 1.14, 95%CI 1.02–1.26, P = 0.016). Conclusion We have shown the associations of HDL-C and LDL-C with thyroid autoantibody positivity in the general population with normal TSH levels in a gender-dependent manner. This study highlights that serum lipids may be new predictors of thyroid autoimmunity even when TSH is within the reference range.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous sacroiliac screw fixation is the standard treatment for sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dislocation. In most hospitals, the procedure is guided by a C-arm X-ray fluoroscopy system, which must be repeatedly repositioned during surgery. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of using 2 fluoroscopes simultaneously. METHODS: A total of 28 consecutive patients with SIJ dislocation were included in this study. The patients were randomly allocated to groups and underwent percutaneous sacroiliac screw fixation using either 1 or 2 fluoroscopes. Total radiation exposure frequency, radiation dose, and operation time were recorded and compared. Dislocation reduction quality was assessed using the Tornetta and Matta standard, and the Majeed functional score was used to evaluate clinical, imaging, and social function following pelvic injury. Complications were also recorded. RESULTS: The results showed that the radiation exposure frequency was significantly less with 2 fluoroscopes than with a single fluoroscope (21.5±8.6 and 42.6±18.3 times, respectively; P0.05) between the 2 groups was not significantly different. The total operation time was also significantly shorter with 2 fluoroscopic devices than with a single device (35.8±12.9 and 65.5±19.7 minutes, respectively; P0.05) did not differ significantly between the 2 groups at the final follow-up. Complications, such as pain, superficial infection, restricted squatting, limp, and screw failure, were rarely recorded in either group. CONCLUSIONS: The simultaneous application of 2 fluoroscopes is highly appropriate during percutaneous sacroiliac screw fixation to treat SIJ dislocation, and can significantly reduce radiation exposure frequency and operation time.

Patient self-reports and clinician ratings of depression severity can differ substantially. The aim of the current study was to explore factors associated with discrepancies between depressed patients' Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) self-reports and clinicians' Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) ratings.We first computed discrepancy scores defined as the standardized weighted HAMD-17 total score minus the standardized PHQ-9 total score. To assess correlates of inconsistent scores, results of patients with similar standardized scores were removed (i.e., within ½ standard deviation, n = 270). Positive values indicate underreporting (HAMD-17 PHQ-9), i.e., the underreporting group (n = 200); and negative discrepancy scores indicate overreporting (PHQ-9 HAMD-17), i.e., the overreporting group (n = 221). We examined the relationship of demographic, dysfunctional attitudes and personality variables to the discrepancies between self and observer rated depression.There were significant differences in extraversion, psychoticism, neuroticism, dysfunctional attitudes and occupation between the underreporting group and the overreporting group (all p .05). When controlling for potential confounding variables, being a working professional and having high neuroticism and dysfunctional attitudes were significantly associated with overestimating symptoms of depression (e.g., professional: OR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.67-5.00; p .001; high neuroticism: OR, 7.08; 95% CI, 1.47-34.08; p .001;dysfunctional attitudes: OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.02; p = .030). People with average, or high extraversion tended to underestimate scores (average extraversion: OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37-0.95; high extraversion: OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.24-0.98).This study is the first to use PHQ-9 and HAMD-17 to explore the discrepancies between self and observer rated depression. Discrepancies occurred between the PHQ-9 score and HAMD-17 score, which were related to neuroticism, extraversion, dysfunctional attitudes and being a working professional. Future research should clarify the relationship between these factors and therapeutic effects of treatments, including adverse outcomes.

Aiming at the actual demands of petroleum exploration and development, this paper describes the research progress and application of artificial intelligence (AI) in petroleum exploration and development, and discusses the applications and development directions of AI in the future. Machine learning has been preliminarily applied in lithology identification, logging curve reconstruction, reservoir parameter estimation, and other logging processing and interpretation, exhibiting great potential. Computer vision is effective in picking of seismic first breaks, fault identification, and other seismic processing and interpretation. Deep learning and optimization technology have been applied to reservoir engineering, and realized the real-time optimization of waterflooding development and prediction of oil and gas production. The application of data mining in drilling, completion, and surface facility engineering etc. has resulted in intelligent equipment and integrated software. The potential development directions of artificial intelligence in petroleum exploration and development are intelligent production equipment, automatic processing and interpretation, and professional software platform. The highlights of development will be digital basins, fast intelligent imaging logging tools, intelligent seismic nodal acquisition systems, intelligent rotary-steering drilling, intelligent fracturing technology and equipment, real-time monitoring and control of zonal injection and production.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a severe inflammatory autoimmune disease, but its treatment has been very difficult. Recently, stem cell-based therapies have opened up possibilities for the treatment of RA. However, the hostile RA pathological conditions impede the survival and differentiation of transplanted cells, and it remains challenging to fabricate a suitable biomaterial for the improvement of stem cells survival, engraftment, and function. Here we construct an optimal scaffold for RA management through the integration of 3D printed porous metal scaffolds (3DPMS) and infliximab-based hydrogels. The presence of rigid 3DPMS is appropriate for repairing large-scale bone defects caused by RA, while the designed infliximab-based hydrogels are introduced because of their self-healable, anti-inflammatory, biocompatible, and biodegradable properties. We demonstrate that the bioengineered composite scaffolds support adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) proliferation, differentiation, and extracellular matrix production in vitro. The composite scaffolds, along with ADSCs, are then implanted into the critical-sized bone defect in the RA rabbit model. In vivo results prove that the bioengineered composite scaffolds are able to down-regulate inflammatory cytokines, rebuild damaged cartilage, as well as improve subchondral bone repair. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that using the antirheumatic drug to construct hydrogels for stem cell-based therapies, and this inorganic-organic hybrid system has the potential to alter the landscape of RA study.

Background Plasma fibrinogen (FIB), also known as factor I, plays a key role in the coagulation process. FIB testing in a clinical laboratory is crucial for coagulation screening and thrombolytic therapy. Here, we assessed the performance of a new, Chinese-made coagulation analyzer in the detection of FIB by comparing its precision and clinical feasibility with that of an imported system. Methods Blood samples were collected and plasmas were separated. The precision, linearity, reference interval, carryover rate, clinically reportable range, and clinical applicability of the domestic coagulation analyzer for FIB assay were assessed and validated based on the documents or industry standards issued by the United States Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Results The within-batch precision CVs (coefficient of variation) for the low- and high-level specimens were 2.92% and 0.24%, respectively, while the total precision CVs were 3.05% and 1.81%, respectively; all of them met the experimental requirements. The linear range was validated to cover 1.0-6.5 g/L, and a good linear relationship was obtained within the measurement range (R2=0.9998). The reference interval was verified for adults and the carryover rate was also evaluated to be 0.68%. The clinically reportable range was 0.33-13.0 g/L. With a sample size of 180 cases, the methodological comparison showed a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.9886 between Mindray ExC810 and Sysmex CS5100. Furthermore, when the level of FIB was higher than 4.0 g/L or lower than 1.0 g/L, the 2 systems had an agreement rate of 100%. Conclusions Mindray ExC810 has a good performance for FIB assay in terms of precision, linearity, reference interval, carryover rate, and clinically reportable range. Methodological study showed that Mindray ExC810 has good agreement with Sysmex CS5100 and meets the requirements of laboratory testing. Therefore, Mindray ExC810 is suitable for FIB assay in clinical laboratory.

Confronting with the increased severe electromagnetic waves pollution, synthesis of perovskite-type oxides, like PrMnO3, microwave-absorbing materials with strong reflection loss (RL) and broad effective absorption bandwidth have attracted extensive attention because of their potential application in all kinds of areas. Herein, Pr1−xSrxMnO3 perovskites with different doping Sr-content were synthesized through the sol–gel strategy. The effects of Sr doping on microstructure and magnetic properties was studied by the corresponding equipment, respectively. Microwave absorption properties were investigated according to the transmission line theory. Simulation studies show that Pr0.9Sr0.1MnO3 sample in a wax matrix exhibits the strongest reflection loss of −50.21 dB at 12.08 GHz at a thickness of 2.5 mm. Its effective absorption bandwidth (RL

In this article, a classified system with a relay is investigated in wireless body area networks (WBANs), where some on-body sensors are divided into several sensor groups on the basis of different body parts. Not only can the network detect basic vital signs but also the physiological signals of special diseases. All groups of sensors and the relay harvest energy by the radio-frequency (RF) source broadcasting, then the same group of sensors simultaneously sends common information through cooperation to the source. Since the classified system is a confined system, we maximize the system throughput with a joint power allocation on maximum ratio combining (JPA-MRC) protocol, where the transmission power allocation at the relay is unequal for each relaying subslot. The optimal problem is solved by the Lagrange multiplier method and the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) optimal conditions. To further the obtain optimal solution, we simplify co-optimization of relay power and sensor power to the optimization of single power by the equivalent channel gains. Analytical and simulation results show that our proposed optimal method can greatly improve the information throughput compared to the conventional mean power allocation method. In addition, the protocol based on the classified scheme outperforms than that of the conventional unclassified scheme. The impacts of various important system parameters are analyzed, which provide useful design insights under different cases.

Current computer-assisted surgical navigation systems mainly rely on optical markers screwed into the bone for anatomy tracking. The insertion of these percutaneous markers increases operating complexity and causes additional harm to the patient. A markerless tracking and registration algorithm has recently been proposed to avoid anatomical markers for knee surgery. The femur points were directly segmented from the recorded RGBD scene by a neural network and then registered to a pre-scanned femur model for the real-time pose. However, in a practical setup such a method can produce unreliable registration results, especially in rotation. Furthermore, its potential application in surgical navigation has not been demonstrated. In this paper, we first improved markerless registration accuracy by adopting a bounded-ICP (BICP) technique, where an estimate of the remote hip centre, acquired also in a markerless way, was employed to constrain distal femur alignment. Then, a proof-of-concept markerless navigation system was proposed to assist in typical knee drilling tasks. Two example setups for global anchoring were proposed and tested on a phantom leg. Our BICP-based markerless tracking and registration method has better angular accuracy and stability than the original method, bringing our straightforward, less invasive markerless navigation approach one step closer to clinical application. According to user tests, our proposed optically anchored navigation system achieves comparable accuracy with the state-of-the-art (3.64± 1.49 mm in position and 2.13±0.81° in orientation). Conversely, our visually anchored, optical tracker-free setup has a lower accuracy (5.86± 1.63 mm in position and 4.18±1.44° in orientation), but is more cost-effective and flexible in the operating room.

Background Glioma is the most common primary intracranial tumor with the worst prognosis whose 5-year mortality rate is second only to pancreatic cancer and lung cancer among systemic tumors. WHO divides gliomas into grades I to IV, with grades I and II as low grades. Low-grade gliomas tend to occur in people between the ages of 30 and 40, who usually have the characteristics of well-differentiated, slow growth, and low invasiveness. Timely diagnosis and surgery are the main treatment strategies for low-grade gliomas. The current ideal treatment represents the MST reaching average seven years. However, many patients relapse with adverse outcomes. It’s important to identify high-risk patients by predicting factors in adult patients with low-grade glioma. Methods A total of 287 patients who were treated in our hospital from February 2011 to May 2015 were included in the final analysis according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients were divided into progression-free groups and progression groups according to the results of 5-year follow-up after surgery by information like patients’ baseline data, surgical data, postoperative follow-up data. The ROC was used to analyze the greatest quantitative treatment boundary value and distinguish high and low risk. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to analyze risk factors’ predictive value for patients’ postoperative results. Results The results of 5-year follow-up showed 122 cases (42.5%) had no progression (progression-free group), 165 cases (57.5%) had progression (progression group). Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that age older than 50 (OR =1.42, P=0.013), partial resection of tumor (OR =1.86, P=0.027), tumor diameter larger than 5 cm (OR =1.85, P=0.022) and long-term statins treatment before surgery (OR =0.36, P=0.036) were closely associated with tumor progression. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed patients aged older than 50, partial resection of the tumor, a tumor diameter larger than 5 cm whose results were poor, while long-term statins treatment before surgery had a better prognosis within the 5-year follow-up. Conclusions Patients aged older than 50, partial resection of the tumor, tumor diameter larger than 5 cm and long-term statins treatment before surgery were closely related to the prognosis after surgery.

Non-isocyanate polyurethanes prepared using cyclic carbonates derived from epoxy soybean oil and CO2 can exhibit the reprocessing ability and facilitate the realization of carbon neutrality, but the relatively high temperature required for the reprocessing is not conducive to application. In this work, a NIPU with a dual dynamic network was designed to achieve reprocessing and self-healing under mild conditions.

High performance solution processable thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters are of huge importance in the development of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). In this article, two solution processable D3–A star-shaped TADF emitters, namely TATC-TRZ and TATP-TRZ, with different flexible alkyl and rigid phenyl side chains are developed. Both emitters show similar photophysical properties and obvious TADF characteristics with a sub-micro second delayed lifetime of 0.6 μs for TATC-TRZ and 0.4 μs for TATP-TRZ while the flexible alkyl chain ensures TATC-TRZ with superior film forming ability and morphological stability compared to TATP-TRZ. Owing to such advantages, solution processed non-doped OLEDs based on TATC-TRZ secure a high maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 7.5% and current efficiency (CEmax) of 19.9 cd A−1, respectively, which is much higher than that of TATP-TRZ with EQEmax of 2.8% and CEmax of 7.4 cd A−1. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of a flexible alkyl tail on the performance of solution-processed devices.

Solution-processible and flexible transparent electrodes are highly required for polymer solar cells (PSCs) to accommodate their roll-to-roll manufacturing. Herein, we present a kind of solution-processed silver nanowire (AgNW)-based composite transparent electrode fabricated using blade-coating a SnO2 hydrocolloid and a AgNW aqueous dispersion. The resultant AgNWs:SnO2 composite film demonstrates a smooth surface morphology as the AgNW networks are well covered by colloidal SnO2. The AgNWs:SnO2 transparent film attains a sheet resistance of ca. 17 ohm per square and a high transmittance of ca. 92% at 550 nm. Inverted PSCs without additional cathode buffer layers are fabricated based on the AgNWs:SnO2 composite transparent electrode and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 12% is attained. Furthermore, an organic solvent monoethanolamine (MEA) is used to passivate the surface defects of the AgNWs:SnO2 electrode via blade coating. The number of hydroxyl groups on the surface of the AgNWs:SnO2 composite electrode is effectively reduced and the PCE of the inverted PSCs is enhanced to 13.5%, benefitting from an increased short-circuit current density (JSC) and fill factor (FF). The synergistic enhancement of JSC and FF is attributed to the improved charge extraction and decreased defect-induced recombination at the cathode–active layer interfaces by MEA modification. Flexible PSCs based on the MEA-modified AgNWs:SnO2 composite transparent electrode are fabricated via blade-coating and a PCE of 13.0% is attained. The device shows good flexibility with the PCE retaining 80% of its initial value after 500 bending cycles with a bending radius of 5 mm.

He Liu,1,2,* Mingsheng Dai,1,3,* Huilian Guan,1 Xing Gao,1 Yang Zhou,1 Xun Sun,1 Jian Zhou,1 Xiaoyi Hu,1 Xiang Li,1 Yu Song,1 Yuan Han,4 Junli Cao1,2 1Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou City 221002, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou City 221004, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Anesthesiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Anesthesiology, Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 20031, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Junli CaoJiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, NO. 209 Tongshan Road, Yunlong District, Xuzhou City 221004, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/Fax +86-0516-83262686Email caojl0310@aliyun.comYuan HanDepartment of Anesthesiology, Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University, 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai 200031, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail hanyuan2002@163.comPurpose: Malnutrition has been considered as a risk factor for postoperative delirium (POD). The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) is a validated tool for assessing nutritional status. This study aimed to investigate the association between preoperative PNI values and the occurrence of POD in elderly surgical patients.Methods: The retrospective cohort study included 361 elderly individuals who underwent noncardiac surgery between 2018 and 2019. Perioperative data were collected from the patients’ medical records. PNI was used to evaluate preoperative nutritional status. The primary outcome was the occurrence of POD. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify key factors associated with POD and assess the relationship between PNI values and the occurrence of POD. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the predictive value of PNI for POD.Results: Seventy-two (19.9%) individuals developed postoperative delirium after surgery. Compared with patients of normal nutrition status (PNI ≥ 50), mild malnutrition (PNI 45– 50) did not increase the risk of POD, while patients with moderate to severe malnutrition (PNI 40– 45) (odds ratio [OR], 2.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31– 6.50) and serious malnutrition (PNI < 40) (OR, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.12– 8.83) were more likely to develop POD. The cut-off value of PNI was 46.05 by ROC curve analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.69 (95% CI 0.62– 0.77).Conclusion: Preoperative PNI value is related to postoperative delirium in elderly patients after noncardiac surgery.Keywords: noncardiac surgery, elderly patients, nutritional status, prognostic nutritional index, postoperative delirium

Context Extreme insulin resistance is caused by genetic defects intersecting with the insulin action pathway or by the insulin receptor antibodies. Insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS) is not considered one of the causes of extreme insulin resistance. Objective This work aimed to expand the current knowledge of extreme insulin resistance and to propose the diagnostic criteria and management strategy of a novel type of extreme insulin resistance. Methods A patient with IAS never experienced hypoglycemia but had persistent hyperglycemia and extreme insulin resistance with treatment with 200 U of intravenous insulin per day. Immunoreactive insulin (IRI), free insulin, and total insulin were measured. The ratio of free insulin to total insulin (insulin-free ratio, IFR) was calculated. Results Extreme insulin resistance has not been reported to be caused by IAS. At admission, IRI and free insulin were undetectable in our patient; total insulin was more than 20 160 pmol/L; and the IFR was lower than 0.03% (control, 90.9%). After adding 500 U porcine insulin to the precipitate containing insulin antibodies, the IRI was still undetectable. Since the patient started glucocorticoid therapy, the free insulin has gradually increased to 11.16 pmol/L, his total insulin has decreased to 5040 pmol/L, and the IFR has increased to 18.26%. Intravenous insulin was stopped, with good glycemic control. Conclusion High-affinity insulin autoantibodies with a large capacity can induce a novel type of extreme insulin resistance characterized by extremely high total insulin and very low free insulin levels. The IFR can be used to evaluate therapeutic effects.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) can maintain self-renewal and enhanced multidifferentiation potential through the release of a variety of paracrine factors and extracellular vesicles, allowing them to repair damaged organs and tissues. Consequently, considerable attention has increasingly been paid to their application in tissue engineering and organ regeneration. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current status of ADSC preparation, including harvesting, isolation, and identification. The advances in preclinical and clinical evidence-based ADSC therapy for bone, cartilage, myocardium, liver, and nervous system regeneration as well as skin wound healing are also summarized. Notably, the perspectives, potential challenges, and future directions for ADSC-related researches are discussed. We hope that this review can provide comprehensive and standardized guidelines for the safe and effective application of ADSCs to achieve predictable and desired therapeutic effects.

Rate-limiting enzyme 3b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (3βHSD1) encoded by HSD3B1 catalyzes the transition of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The HSD3B1 (1245C) variant renders 3bHSD1 of resistant to ubiquitination and degradation, leading to a large amount of protein accumulation in the cell. Multiple clinical studies have shown that this mutation was correlated with resistance to androgen-deprivation therapy in prostate cancer. However, the results were not consistent depending on different treatment strategy and in some researches, the number of observed cases was relatively small. To determine the effects of HSD3B1 (1245C) variant on resistance to androgen-deprivation therapy in prostate cancer, we performed a meta-analysis of the available literature. Electronic database searches identified appropriately designed studies that detected HSD3B1 in prostate cancer. We conducted a systematic search of studies in the following databases: PubMed, and EMBASE published until August 10, 2020 using the following search terms: (HSD3B1 AND ((((prostate cancer) OR prostatic neoplasm) OR prostatic carcinoma) OR prostatic cancer). Eight researches were included in this research. The result validated that the HSD3B1 (1245C) variant allele was associated with a shorter PFS (HR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.39–2.79; P = 0.0001) (homozygous wild-type group) in men with prostate cancer when treated with ADT, however, a higher PFS (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.48–0.96; P = 0.03) when treated with ADT and CYP17A1 inhibitor. The HSD3B1 (1245C) variant is a predictor of ADT plus CYP17A1 inhibitor response in prostate cancer.

External root resorption (ERR) is often a complication of traumatic injury to the teeth. Traditionally, external inflammatory root resorption is treated with calcium hydroxide. The outcome of ERR, especially replacement resorption, is unpredictable. The purpose of the present case report was to describe regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) for 1 replanted avulsed tooth with severe external root resorption and root perforation (tooth #9) and 1 extruded tooth (tooth #8). A 9-year-old girl was referred for the treatment of teeth #8 and #9 4 months after the initial trauma. Clinical examination showed that tooth #9 had a sinus tract present near the periapical area, was tender to percussion and palpation, and did not respond to pulp sensibility tests. Tooth #8 responded to pulp sensibility tests. Periapical radiographic and cone-beam computed tomographic examination showed that tooth #9 had a periapical radiolucent lesion and severe ERRs with a root perforation. Tooth #9 was diagnosed with a necrotic pulp and symptomatic apical periodontitis. Regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) were initiated. Tooth #8 became nonresponsive to pulp sensibility tests and developed a periapical lesion 12 months after REPs of tooth #9 and was also treated with REPs. The clinical symptoms and apical lesions resolved for both teeth after REPs. The severe ERRs were arrested, and root perforation was repaired for tooth #9. Teeth #8 and #9 underwent canal obliteration by hard tissue formation after REPs and were in function at 18 months and 30 months, respectively. REPs may be used to manage traumatized immature permanent teeth with a necrotic pulp and apical periodontitis associated with severe ERR and root perforation.

Statins, a class of commonly prescribed cholesterol‑lowering medications, have been revealed to influence the risk of multiple types of cancer. However, the antitumor effects of statins on pancreatic cancer and their differential efficacy among a variety of statins are not currently well‑defined. The aim of the present study was therefore to identify and compare the genes and related biological pathways that were affected by each individual statin on pancreatic cancer. Two human pancreatic cancer cell lines, MiaPaCa2 and PANC1, were exposed to three statins, lovastatin, fluvastatin and simvastatin. The inhibitory effect of statins on pancreatic cancer cell proliferation was first validated. Next, RNA‑seq analysis was used to determine the gene expression alterations in either low (2 µM) or high (20 µM) statin concentration‑treated cancer cells. Marked differences in gene transcription profiles of both pancreatic cancer cell lines exposed to high concentration statins were observed. Notably, the high concentration statins significantly suppressed core‑gene CCNA2‑associated cell cycle and DNA replication pathways and upregulated genes involved in ribosome and autophagy pathways. However, the low concentration statin‑induced gene expression alterations were only detected in MiaPaCa2 cells. In conclusion, a marked difference in the intra and inter cell‑type performance of pancreatic cancer cells exposed to a variety of statins at low or high concentrations was reported herein, which may provide insights for the potential clinical use of statins in future pancreatic cancer therapeutics.

BACKGROUND Many natural products confer health benefits against diverse diseases through their antioxidant activities. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is often used in animal experiments to study the effects of substances on liver injury and the related mechanisms of action, among which oxidative stress is a major pathogenic factor. AIM To compare antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of ten herbs and identify and quantify phytochemicals for the one with strongest hepatoprotection. METHODS The antioxidant activity of ten medicinal herbs was determined by both ferric-reducing antioxidant power and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assays. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu method and aluminum chloride colorimetry, respectively. Their effects on CCl4-induced oxidative liver injury were evaluated and compared in a mouse model by administrating each water extract (0.15 g/mL, 10 mL/kg) once per day for seven consecutive days and a dose of CCl4 solution in olive oil (8%, v/v, 10 mL/kg). The herb with the strongest hepatoprotective performance was analyzed for the detailed bioactive components by using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization source-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS The results revealed that all tested herbs attenuated CCl4-induced oxidative liver injury; each resulted in significant decreases in levels of serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and triacylglycerols. In addition, most herbs restored hepatic superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, glutathione levels, and reduced malondialdehyde levels. Sanguisorba officinalis (S. officinalis) L., Coptis chinensis Franch., and Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi root were the three most effective herbs, and S. officinalis L. exhibited the strongest hepatoprotective effect. Nine active components were identified in S. officinalis L. Gallic acid and (+)-catechin were quantified (7.86 ± 0.45 mg/g and 8.19 ± 0.57 mg/g dried weight, respectively). Furthermore, the tested herbs displayed a range of in vitro antioxidant activities proportional to their phenolic content; the strongest activities were also found for S. officinalis L. CONCLUSION This study is of value to assist the selection of more effective natural products for direct consumption and the development of nutraceuticals or therapeutics to manage oxidative stress-related diseases.

Fiber-shaped supercapacitors (FSCs) are promising energy storage devices that meet the growing demands for the miniaturization, flexibility and compatibility of wearable electronics. However, when compared with batteries, the low energy density remains the main limitation to practical applications. Conjugated microporous polymer (CMP) network synthesized using Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling reactions, featured tailorable porous structures, reversible redox chemistry and demonstrated highly efficient capacitive performance. Herein CMP network grafted on carbon nanotube fibers (CNF@CMP) with high areal specific capacitance (671.9 mF cm-2 at a current density of 1 mA cm-2) were successfully achieved for polytriphenylamine (PTPA)-based network. All-solid-state symmetrical twisted CNF@PTPA FSCs fabricated with PVA/H3PO4 as gel electrolyte exhibited a high specific areal capacitance of 398 mF cm-2 (0.28 mA cm-2), a maximal operating voltage of 1.4 V, and an energy density of 18.33 μWh cm-2. Moreover, they showed excellent flexibility and mechanical stability retaining 84.5% of the initial capacitance after 10000 bending cycles. These materials provide a new route to high-performance wearable supercapacitors (HPWS), with wide potential applications in wearable electronics, as shown by the examples provided.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a health disorder characterized by metabolic abnormalities that predict an increased risk to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes. Biomarkers can provide an insight into the novel mechanism for MetS and can be potentially used for personalized response to therapies. We exploited a targeted HPLC-MS/MS method to characterize plasma amino acids and carnitine metabolic profile in MetS patients. A training set (40 cases and 40 controls) and validation set (80 MetS patients and 80 healthy controls) were carried out to find the metabolic profiles. We discovered two carnitine metabolites including hydroxydecanoyl carnitine and methylglutarylcarnitine. Our results indicated that the decreased level of hydroxydecanoyl carnitine and methylglutarylcarnitine may be associated with the risk of MetS. These biomarkers may improve the risk prediction and provide a novel tool for monitoring of the progression of disease and response to treatment in MetS patients.

What is known and objective Gefitinib, an inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase, exhibited a wide interindividual variability in pharmacokinetics. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the metabolizing enzymes and transporters on gefitinib disposition in healthy Chinese subjects. Methods Fourteen single-nucleotide polymorphisms, including polymorphisms of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and cytochrome P450 enzymes, were genotyped by Sanger sequencing, and the concentration of gefitinib was measured by ultrafast liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The association between the pharmacokinetic parameters (peak plasma concentration [Cmax ], time to reach Cmax , plasma half-life, area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 168 hours [AUC(0-168h) ], AUC(0-∞) and plasma clearance [CL/F]) and genotypes was evaluated using unpaired t test or Mann-Whitney U test. A stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was applied to assess the relationships between multiple factors and gefitinib pharmacokinetics. Thirty-nine healthy Chinese male subjects were enrolled in the pharmacokinetic study. Results and discussion Subjects carrying an ABCG2 A allele (c.421CA + c.421AA genotypes) exhibited 33 and 37% increases in the mean gefitinib AUC(0-168h) and AUC(0-∞) values (P What is new and conclusion Our results suggested that a single-nucleotide polymorphism in ABCG2 (c.421C>A) significantly affected the pharmacokinetics of gefitinib. Further studies are required to evaluate the effects of single-nucleotide polymorphism on the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicity of gefitinib.

Based on the traditional numerical simulation and optimization algorithms, in combination with the layered injection and production “hard data” monitored at real time by automatic control technology, a systematic approach for detailed water injection design using data-driven algorithms is proposed. First the data assimilation technology is used to match geological model parameters under the constraint of observed well dynamics; the flow relationships between injectors and producers in the block are calculated based on automatic identification method for layered injection-production flow relationship; multi-layer and multi-direction production splitting technique is used to calculate the liquid and oil production of producers in different layers and directions and obtain quantified indexes of water injection effect. Then, machine learning algorithms are applied to evaluate the effectiveness of water injection in different layers of wells and to perform the water injection direction adjustment. Finally, the particle swarm algorithm is used to optimize the detailed water injection plan and to make production predictions. This method and procedure make full use of the automation and intelligence of data-driven and machine learning algorithms. This method was used to match the data of a complex faulted reservoir in eastern China, achieving a fitting level of 85%. The cumulative oil production in the example block for 12 months after optimization is 8.2% higher than before. This method can help design detailed water injection program for mature oilfields.

This study is aimed at defining the relationship between a set of environmental factors and childhood HFMD and then at estimating the related effect. The 16 environmental factors included meteorological, air pollution, and sunspot. A traditional TSR modified by using susceptible-infectious-recovery models and distribution lag nonlinear model was applied to estimate the short-term effects of daily environmental factors on children HFMD occurrence in 2014–2018 with adjustment of potential confounding factors. A total of 70,027 children aged 0–15 years with HFMD were enrolled. No significant effect was observed for daily sunspot numbers and average visibility. We found positive effects of the ambient average temperature, with an approximately m-shaped curve of the overall cumulative relationship, peaking at 25.6 °C with a relative risk (RR) of 1.45 (95% confidence intervals 1.21–1.73). The largest RR value of hot effect was achieved on the current day and then decreased by 2 days (total group, male group, and scatter group) or 1 day (female group and nursery group), and the effect lasted about 6 to 8 days from the lag 4 or lag 6 day. A greater association of temperature with HFMD for the female group and the scattered group was observed. This study suggests that ambient average temperature might be a risk factor for children HFMD in Tianjin. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

The development of all-dielectric metasurfaces vigorously prompts the applications of optical metasurfaces for the visible and near-IR light range. Compared to IR or longer wavelength light, visible and near-IR light have shorter wavelengths. As a result, surface roughness and imperfections of all-dielectric metasurfaces have larger scattering or absorption of visible and near-IR light, thereby directly affecting the performance of an all-dielectric metasurface. In this article, a volume-current method is adopted to study the effect of metasurface roughness. Numerical calculations based on the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method are also used to study the relationship between the effects of metasurface roughness and the optical resonant modes. Numerical predictions based on our theoretical studies fit the experimental data well. Further, the effect of different roughness levels on the all-dielectric metasurface performance is predicted. More importantly, a method utilizing resonant-mode engineering to enhance the metasurface performance (e.g. incident angle insensitivity) is also proposed and demonstrated. This work deepens our understanding of the working mechanism of all-dielectric metasurfaces and paves the way for their use in a broad spectrum of applications.

The deposition of an atomically precise nanocluster, for example, Ag44(SR)30, onto a large‐band‐gap semiconductor such as TiO2 allows a clear interface to be obtained to study charge transfer at the interface. Changing the light source from visible light to simulated sunlight led to a three orders of magnitude enhancement in the photocatalytic H2 generation, with the H2 production rate reaching 7.4 mmol h−1 gcatalyst −1. This is five times higher than that of TiO2 modified with Ag nanoparticles and even comparable to that of TiO2 modified with Pt nanoparticles under similar conditions. Energy band alignment and transient absorption spectroscopy reveal that the role of the metal clusters is different from that of both organometallic complexes and plasmonic nanoparticles: A type II heterojunction charge‐transfer route is achieved under UV/Vis irradiation, with the cluster serving as a small‐band‐gap semiconductor. This results in the clusters acting as co‐catalysts rather than merely photosensitizers., Multitasking: Metal nanoclusters are not merely photosensitizers, they can also act as co‐catalysts under appropriate conditions. Deposition of the atomically precise nanocluster Ag44(thiolate)30 onto a large‐band‐gap semiconductor such as TiO2 led to a type II heterojunction charge‐transfer route being achieved on irradiation with UV/Vis light, with the cluster serving as a small‐band‐gap semiconductor, rather than merely a photosensitizer.

In this paper, the average throughput maximization challenge with resources fairness consideration is proposed. In a multipoint wireless body area network (MP-WBAN), the time switching (TS) strategy and fairness algorithm are studied to improve system resources allocation performance. Under extreme circumstances, the sensors transfer command signals to the access point (AP) requesting the radio frequency (RF) energy from the source node. On the other hand, the sensors attached to the body surface transmit the perceived physiological information to the AP node. Owing to distance-dependent signal attenuation, the sensors near the AP node harvest more RF energy and time slots to achieve higher throughput. On the contrary, the sensors farther from the source node receive fewer RF energy and time slots to obtain lower throughput. Therefore, we design the common throughput maximization algorithm to allocate more time to farther sensors. At last, the effectiveness and accuracy of the studied fairness scheme are verified by simulation experimental data.

Machine learning techniques have been previously applied for classification of tumors based largely on morphological features of tumor cells recognized in H&E images. Here, we tested the possibility of using numeric data acquired from software-based quantification of certain marker proteins, i.e. key autophagy proteins (ATGs), obtained from immunohistochemical (IHC) images of renal cell carcinomas (RCC). Using IHC staining and automated image quantification with a tissue microarray (TMA) of RCC, we found ATG1, ATG5 and microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3B) were significantly reduced, suggesting a reduction in the basal level of autophagy with RCC. Notably, the levels of the ATG proteins expressed did not correspond to the mRNA levels expressed in these tissues. Applying a supervised machine learning algorithm, the K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), to our quantified numeric data revealed that LC3B provided a strong measure for discriminating clear cell RCC (ccRCC). ATG5 and sequestosome-1 (SQSTM1/p62) could be used for classification of chromophobe RCC (crRCC). The quantitation of particular combinations of ATG1, ATG16L1, ATG5, LC3B and p62, all of which measure the basal level of autophagy, were able to discriminate among normal tissue, crRCC and ccRCC, suggesting that the basal level of autophagy would be a potentially useful parameter for RCC discrimination. In addition to our observation that the basal level of autophagy is reduced in RCC, our workflow from quantitative IHC analysis to machine learning could be considered as a potential complementary tool for the classification of RCC subtypes and also for other types of tumors for which precision medicine requires a characterization.

Background Various guidelines recommend several sampling techniques to verify endoscope reprocessing, but a comparative study of the efficiency for recovering microorganisms was rare. Our goal was to compare different sampling techniques for the postreprocessing endoscope to assess residual bacterial contamination and analysis of the critical factors affecting the endoscope reprocessing failure. Methods From 2016 to 2018, 3 techniques, the conventional flushing sampling method, flush-brush-flush sampling method (FBFSM), and pump-assisted sampling method (PASM), were compared covering all 59 endoscope units in Tianjin, China. Results A total of 237 (84.64%) flushing channel samples and 110 (61.11%) final rinse water samples met the Chinese national standard. The univariate analysis showed that the qualified rates of endoscope reprocessing sampled by PASM (65.52%) and FBFSM (75%) were significantly lower than those of the conventional flushing sampling method (91.38%). Five other factors, including the final rinse water, dry, and hospital level, were potential factors besides sample technique. The multivariate logistic analysis indicated only 2 factors (sampling technique and final rinse water) remained in the model. FBFSM, PASM, and the purified water were significantly associated with the odds of endoscope reprocessing failure, with the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of which were 4.206 (1.757-10.067), 5.326 (2.463-11.645), and 0.309 (0.137-0.695), respectively. Conclusions The problem of residual microorganisms of the postreprocessing endoscope was severe. Sampling technique and final rinse water were critical for endoscope reprocessing verification.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms associated with the effects of propofol in a rat model of pain due to inflammation following subcutaneous injection with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). MATERIAL AND METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats were injected subcutaneously in the paw with CFA. Propofol or saline was administered by tail vein injection. After CFA treatment for 0 hours, 4 hours, 1 day, 4 days, 7 days, and 14 days, the behavior of the rats was assessed. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measured serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1s, and IL-6. Western blot and the quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used to detect levels of p38MAPK and NF-kappaB related mRNA and proteins, including p-p38, p38, p65, p-p65, NOD-like receptor family protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC) and caspase-1 in rat spinal cord tissues. RESULTS Injection of CFA significantly reduced the mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT), thermal withdrawal latency (TWL), and frequency responses to cold stimulation. Propofol treatment significantly reduced serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1s, and IL-6. Protein expression levels of p-p38 and p-p65 were upregulated in the rat model, which were inhibited by propofol treatment. CFA injection increased the expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 in the spinal cord tissues of rats, which were reduced by propofol treatment. CONCLUSIONS In a rat model of pain following subcutanous injection with CFA, propofol reduced CFA-induced pain and inhibited the inflammatory response through the p38MAPK-nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) pathway and the NLRP3 inflammasome.

Background Type 2 diabetic kidney disease is the most common cause of chronic kidney diseases (CKD) and end-stage renal diseases (ESRD). Although kidney biopsy is considered as the ‘gold standard’ for diabetic kidney disease (DKD) diagnosis, it is an invasive procedure, and the diagnosis can be influenced by sampling bias and personal judgement. It is desirable to establish a non-invasive procedure that can complement kidney biopsy in diagnosis and tracking the DKD progress. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we collected 252 urine samples, including 134 uncomplicated diabetes, 65 DKD, 40 CKD without diabetes and 13 follow-up diabetic samples, and analyzed the urine proteomes with liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). We built logistic regression models to distinguish uncomplicated diabetes, DKD and other CKDs. Results We quantified 559 ± 202 gene products (GPs) (Mean ± SD) on a single sample and 2946 GPs in total. Based on logistic regression models, DKD patients could be differentiated from the uncomplicated diabetic patients with 2 urinary proteins (AUC = 0.928), and the stage 3 (DKD3) and stage 4 (DKD4) DKD patients with 3 urinary proteins (AUC = 0.949). These results were validated in an independent dataset. Finally, a 4-protein classifier identified putative pre-DKD3 patients, who showed DKD3 proteomic features but were not diagnosed by clinical standards. Follow-up studies on 11 patients indicated that 2 putative pre-DKD patients have progressed to DKD3. Conclusions Our study demonstrated the potential for urinary proteomics as a noninvasive method for DKD diagnosis and identifying high-risk patients for progression monitoring.