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Demand response (DR) with the participation of load aggregator (LA) has received extensive attention in recent years due to the increasing energy demand. However, LA has to face the risk that consumers may refuse to be controlled by LA due to the uncertainty of energy consumption on demand side. Therefore, this paper proposes a joint game-theoretical optimization for LAs in DR day-ahead market and intraday market considering the breach of residential consumers. In day-ahead market, LA will compete with other LAs and obtain the optimal bidding amount through a non-cooperative game process, to obtain the maximal self-profit. In intraday market, in order to make up for the breach amount of consumers, DR resource-deficit LAs can purchase resource from DR resource-surplus LAs via Nash bargaining process. Basically, Nash bargaining model is formulated and solved by translating the optimization problem into two sub-problems. Finally, a case study is performed to show the effectiveness of the proposed DR framework. Simulation results show that the whole profit of all LAs increases 25.9% compared with the scenario where LAs only participate in day-ahead market and will be punished by DR market due to the bidding breach.

PurposePatients with lung cancer with bone metastasis (LCBM) often have a very poor prognosis. The purpose of this study is to characterize the prevalence and associated factors and to develop a prognostic nomogram to predict the overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) for patients with LCBM using multicenter population-based data.MethodsPatients with LCBM at the time of diagnosis were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program database of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) from 2010 to 2015. Multivariable and univariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with all-cause mortality and lung cancer (LC)–specific mortality. The performance of the nomograms was evaluated with the calibration curves, area under the curve (AUC), and decision curve analysis (DCA). Kaplan–Meier analysis and log-rank tests were used to estimate the survival times of patients with LCBM.ResultsWe finally identified 26,367 patients with LCBM who were selected for survival analysis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated age, sex, T stage, N stage, grade, histology, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, primary site, primary surgery, liver metastasis, and brain metastasis as independent predictors for LCBM. The AUC values of the nomogram for the OS prediction were 0.755, 0.746, and 0.775 in the training cohort; 0.757, 0.763, and 0.765 in the internal validation cohort; and 0.769, 0.781, and 0.867 in the external validation cohort. For CSS, the values were 0.753, 0.753, and 0.757 in the training cohort; 0.753, 0.753, and 0.757 in the internal validation cohort; and 0.767, 0.774, and 0.872 in the external validation cohort.ConclusionsOur study constructs a new prognostic model and clearly presents the clinicopathological features and survival analysis of patients with LCBM. The result indicated that the nomograms had favorable discrimination, good consistency, and clinical benefits in patients. In addition, our constructed nomogram prediction models may assist physicians in evaluating individualized prognosis and deciding on treatment for patients.

Objective: To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of resveratrol (RES) in rat models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.Data sources: PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Chinese databases were searched from their inception dates to July 2022. No language restriction was used in the literature search.Date Selection: Studies were selected that RES were used to treat cerebral I/R injury in vivo. Two reviewers conducted literature screening, data extraction and methodological quality assessment independently.Outcome measures: Cerebral infarct volume was included as primary outcome. The secondary outcomes included cerebral water content and neurological deficit scores. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were used to evaluate oxidative stress during medication.Results: A total of 41 studies were included, and only a few of them the methodological quality was relatively low. Compared with the control group, RES significantly reduced the cerebral infarct volume (29 studies, standard mean difference (SMD) = −2.88 [−3.23 to −2.53], p < 0.00001) and brain water content (nine studies, MD = −9.49 [−13.58 to −5.40], p < 0.00001) after cerebral I/R injury, then neurological function was improved (15 studies, SMD = −1.96 [−2.26 to −1.65], p < 0.00001). The MDA level (six studies, SMD = −8.97 [−13.60 to −4.34], p = 0.0001) was decreased notably after treatment of RES, while the SOD level (five studies, SMD = 3.13 [−0.16 to 6.43], p = 0.06) was increased unsatisfactory. Consistently, subgroup analysis of cerebral infarct volume suggested that the optimal therapeutic dose is 30 mg/kg (eight studies, SMD = −5.83 [−7.63 to −4.04], p < 0.00001). Meanwhile, 60 min of occlusion (three studies, SMD = −10.89 [−16.35 to −5.42], p < 0.0001) could get maximum benefit from compared with 90 min and 120 min of occlusion. On the other hand, the publication bias cannot be ignored. The pharmacological mechanisms of RES on cerebral I/R injury models as reported have be summarized, which can be used for reference by researchers to further plan their future experiments.Conclusion: RES might have a good neuroprotective effect on cerebral I/R injury in rats, then 30 mg/kg RES may be the optimal dose for treatment, and early administration of RES should be more neuroprotective. Also it need to be further verified through exploration of dose effect relationship, or delay administration or not.

Abstract Background Restoration with locking-taper implants is a widely used methodology. However, conical connection systems such as locking-taper implant systems have rarely been examined. This study provides a retrospective investigation of locking-taper fixed restorations, mainly focusing on prosthetic complications. Methods Patients undergo treatment with conical connected implants from 2008 to 2010 were examined. Preparation of the implant sites was performed according to the standard procedures for the Bicon system. Bone healing took over 6 months, and the prosthetic procedure was initiated thereafter. Integrated abutment crowns or gold porcelain crowns were used, and the prosthesis type was a single crown or a fixed dental prosthesis. Once the crown was in place, its occlusion was thoroughly checked and adjusted, and then the crown was glazed or finely polished. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to calculate the cumulative complication-free rates for 5 and 10 years. Additionally, a Cox regression model was used to identify the factors that independently influenced the results. Implant survival and marginal bone loss were also investigated. Results A total of 392 patients who underwent 541 implants and 434 locking taper implant-based restorations from 2008 to 2010 were examined. The overall 5-year cumulative complication-free rate was 83.34%. The most common prosthetic complication was veneer chipping, with a frequency of 67.53%. According to the Cox regression model, the complication-free rate of integrated abutment crowns was significantly higher than that of gold porcelain crowns, that of molar regions was significantly higher than that of premolar regions, and that of females was significantly higher than that of males. Only three implant failures happened, and the mean marginal bone loss values at 1- year, 5-years and 10- years were 0.25 mm (95% CI ± 0.12), 0.40 mm (95% CI ± 0.03) and 0.51 mm (95% CI ± 0.05), respectively. Conclusion Veneer chipping was the most common complication with locking-taper implant-supported fixed restorations. The incidence of complications for IACs is significantly higher than that for GPCs. Age, location, and prosthesis type are not determinants of prosthetic complications. Besides, the long-term clinical effect of locking-taper implant can meet the clinical needs. The bone tissue level around the implant can maintain long-term stability.

Abstract Purpose Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a multimodal approach to perioperative care that aims to reduce patient perioperative complications, accelerate patient recovery, and improve patient satisfaction by refining and optimizing all perioperative management processes. By comparing two groups of patients before and after the implementation of ERAS for intertrochanteric fracture (ITF) with a matching analysis of propensity score (PS), we aimed to demonstrate that the implementation of ERAS protocol shortens the length of hospital stay (LOS), reduces pain, decreases the incidence of postoperative complications, and promotes functional recovery of the joint. Methods We selected 2 periods of 1 year, before (n=98patients) and after ERAS implementation (n=92patients). Data were collected on patient demographics, operative and perioperative details, LOS, VAS score, Harris score, and 30-day complications. ERAS-trained nurses are engaged to support patients at each step of the pre/per/postoperative process, including completing a satisfaction survey, with the help of a mobile app. PS analyses were used for dealing with confounding bias in this retrospective observational study. Results After PS matching, the outcomes of 124 well-balanced pairs of patients were compared (conventional vs ERAS). LOS was significantly reduced from 24.3±3.9 to 15.2±2.9 days (P

BackgroundTo critically evaluate the neurological recovery effects and antioxidant effects of erythropoietin (EPO) in rat models of spinal cord injury (SCI).MethodsThe PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science were searched for animal experiments applying EPO to treat SCI to January 2022. We included studies which examined neurological function by the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scale, as well as cavity area and spared area, and determining the molecular-biological analysis of antioxidative effects by malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in spinal cord tissues. Meta-analysis were performed with Review Manager 5.4 software.ResultsA total of 33 studies were included in this review. The results of the meta-analysis showed that SCI rats receiving EPO therapy showed a significant locomotor function recovery after 14 days compared with control, then the superiority of EPO therapy maintained to 28 days from BBB scale. Compared with the control group, the cavity area was reduced [4 studies, weighted mean difference (WMD) = −16.65, 95% CI (−30.74 to −2.55), P = 0.02] and spared area was increased [3 studies, WMD =11.53, 95% CI (1.34 to 21.72), P = 0.03] by EPO. Meanwhile, MDA levels [2 studies, WMD = −0.63 (−1.09 to −0.18), P = 0.007] were improved in the EPO treatment group compared with control, which indicated its antioxidant effect. The subgroup analysis recommended 5,000 UI/kg is the most effective dose [WMD = 4.05 (2.23, 5.88), P < 0.0001], although its effect was not statistically different from that of 1,000 UI/kg. Meanwhile, the different rat strains (Sprague-Dawley vs. Wistar), and models of animals, as well as administration method (single or multiple administration) of EPO did not affect the neuroprotective effect of EPO for SCI.ConclusionsThis systematic review indicated that EPO can promote the recovery of the locomotor function of SCI rats. The mechanism exploration of EPO needs to be verified by experiments, and then carefully designed randomized controlled trials are needed to explore its neural recovery effects.

Study DesignBibliometric analysis.ObjectiveOver the last several decades, the field of thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (T-OPLL) has evolved unprecedentedly, and the literature on T-OPLL has increased significantly. The purpose of this study is to identify and review the top 50 most cited publications related to T-OPLL.MethodsThe most frequently cited 50 articles in this field until 30 October 2021 were identified by searching Web of Science. We ranked the articles based on the citation number. Through the bibliometric method, we evaluated the following information: article title, first author, year of publication, journal of publication, total number of citations, country, and study topic.ResultsThe number of citations of included studies ranged from 20 to 108, with a mean number of 45.4. The journal Spine published most articles (20), followed by Spinal Cord (5), and European Spine (5). All of these articles were contributed by 38 first authors, Yamazaki (4), Fujimura (3), and Aizawa (3) who published more than 2 articles. In the respect of productive countries, Japan (39) contributed most papers. Tomita contributed the most cited article in 1990 on Spine, which was the first-ever report of circumferential decompression for thoracic myelopathy due to T-OPLL.ConclusionThe top 50 influential articles on T-OPLL were identified and analyzed in this study. It will undoubtedly provide a comprehensive and detailed basis for the orthopedic and neurosurgery physicians to make a clinical decision and assimilate the research focus of spine surgery.

Abstract Billions of Internet of Thing (IoT) devices are deployed in edge network. They are used to monitor specific event, process and to collect huge data to control center with smart decision based on the collected data. However, some malicious IoT devices may interrupt and interfere with normal nodes in data collection, causing damage to edge network. Due to the open character of the edge network, how to identify the credibility of these nodes, thereby identifying malicious IoT devices, and ensure reliable data collection in the edge network is a great challenge. In this paper, an Active and Verifiable Trust Evaluation (AVTE) approach is proposed to identify the credibility of IoT devices, so to ensure reliable data collection for Edge Computing with low cost. The main innovations of the AVTE approach compared with the existing work are as follows: (1) In AVTE approach, the trust of the device is obtained by an actively initiated trusted detection routing method. It is fast, accurate and targeted. (2) The acquisition of trust in the AVTE approach is based on a verifiable method and it ensures that the trust degree has higher reliability. (3) The trust acquisition method proposed in this paper is low-cost. An encoding returned verification method is applied to obtain verification messages at a very low cost. This paper proposes an encoding returned verification method, which can obtain verification messages at a very low cost. In addition, the strategy of this paper adopts initiation and verification of adaptive active trust detection according to the different energy consumption of IoT devices, so as to reliably obtain the trust of device under the premise of ensuring network lifetime. Theoretical analysis shows that AVTE approach can improve the data collection rate by 0.5 ~ 23.16% while ensuring long network lifetime compared with the existing scheme.

Abstract Background Intertrochanteric fracture (ITF) is increasing with the rapid increase in the aging population, often causes a high mortality rate in old patients and increases the economic burden of the family and society. ERAS (Enhanced Recovery after Surgery) is a powerful guarantee for patients to accelerate their recovery after surgery. TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) promotes repair of injured tissues and eliminates traumatic aseptic inflammation. Therefore, this prospective randomized controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the clinical effect of the evidence-based ERAS pathway of integrating TCM with western medicine on perioperative outcomes in ITF patients undergoing intramedullary fixation and provide reliable evidence-based data for applying the program to clinical practice. Methods/design We will conduct a prospective randomized, blinded, controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of ERAS care pathway with traditional care pathway and to investigate whether the ERAS care pathway can improve the perioperative outcome in ITF patients undergoing intramedullary fixation. A total of 60 patients with ITF will be enrolled and treated with the two care pathway, respectively. Length of stay, economic indicators, Harris score, VAS score, time to get out of bed, 30-day readmission rates, postoperative transfusion rates, discharge to home, and mortality will be evaluated. Any signs of acute adverse reactions will be recorded at each visit during treatment. Discussion Although an evidence-based process using the best available literature and Delphi expert-opinion method has been used to establish an ERAS pathway of integrating TCM with western medicine, there is a lack of consensus about its effectiveness. This trial will provide convincing evidence about the effect of ERAS pathway. Trial registration Registered on 12 October 2019. Trial number is ChiCTR1900026487 .

Study DesignNarrative review.ObjectiveThe purpose of this review was to consolidate the current literature related to ponticulus posticus (PP) and to improve the systematic understanding of this anatomical variant of atlas among spine surgeons.MethodsArticles reviewed were searched in PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Embase. All articles of any study design discussing on PP were considered for inclusion. Two independent authors read article titles and abstracts and included appropriate articles. The relevant articles were studied in full text.ResultsA total of 113 literatures were reviewed and consolidated in this narrative review. These articles are roughly divided into the following five subcategories: (1) epidemiology, (2) pathology and anatomy, (3) clinical presentation, (4) surgical significance, and (5) radiographic examination.ConclusionThe PP is non-negligible with a high prevalence. The PP compresses the V3 segment of the artery, the suboccipital nerve, and the venous plexus, consequently contributing to the incidence of neurological pathologies. When a PP is observed or suspected on a lateral radiograph, we recommend that a computed tomography (CT) scan of a patient who is about to receive a C1 lateral mass screw (C1LMS) should be performed, which could determine a safe entry point and the right trajectory of screw insertion.

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an independent risk factor of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and populations with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have high incidence to suffer from AD. Therefore, discerning who may be more vulnerable to MCI, among the increasing T2DM populations, is important for early intervention and eventually decreasing the prevalence rate of AD. This study was to explore whether the change of plasma β-amyloid (Aβ) could be a biomarker to distinguish MCI (T2DM-MCI) from non-MCI (T2DM-nMCI) in T2DM patients.Methods: Eight hundred fifty-two T2DM patients collected from five medical centers were assigned randomly to training and validation cohorts. Plasma Aβ, platelet glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotypes, and olfactory and cognitive functions were measured by ELISA, dot blot, RT-PCR, Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) olfactory test based on the diluted butanol, and Minimum Mental State Examination (MMSE) test, respectively, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied.Results: Elevation of plasma Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40 is an independent risk factor of MCI in T2DM patients. Although using Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40 alone only reached an AUC of 0.631 for MCI diagnosis, addition of the elevated Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40 to our previous model (i.e., activated platelet GSK-3β, ApoE ε4 genotype, olfactory decline, and aging) significantly increased the discriminating efficiency of T2DM-MCI from T2DM-nMCI, with an AUC of 0.846 (95% CI: 0.794–0.897) to 0.869 (95% CI: 0.822–0.916) in the training cohort and an AUC of 0.848 (95% CI: 0.815–0.882) to 0.867 (95% CI: 0.835–0.899) in the validation cohort, respectively.Conclusion: A combination of the elevated plasma Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40 with activated platelet GSK-3β, ApoE ε4 genotype, olfactory decline, and aging could efficiently diagnose MCI in T2DM patients. Further longitudinal studies may consummate the model for early prediction of AD.

Abstract Background Symptomatic degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) presents spinal problems in daily life. Shi-style lumbar manipulation (SLM), as an alternative treatment for DLS, is popular in China. SLM is based on the channels and collaterals theory of the traditional Chinese medicine, in which the symptoms are believed to result from channel blockage and joint displacement. However, there is no solid evidence to show the effect of the SLM on the management of symptomatic DLS. Methods/design We conduct a prospective randomized, blinded, controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of SLM with mechanical lumbar traction and explore whether it could be a potential therapy for symptomatic DLS. A total of 60 patients with symptomatic DLS will be enrolled and treated with the SLM or mechanical lumbar traction for 2 weeks. VAS score and SF-36 questionnaire were assessed at baseline and at 2, 4, 12, and 24 weeks. Any signs of acute adverse reactions, such as lower limb paralysis or syndrome of cauda equina, will be recorded at each visit during treatment. Discussion Although the SLM has been used in China for many years to treat symptomatic DLS, there is a lack of consensus about its effectiveness. This trial will provide convincing evidence about the effect of SLM on symptomatic DLS. Trial registration Registered on 6 January 2019; the trial number is ChiCTR1900020519.

Lead-free environmentally friendly piezoelectrical materials with enhanced piezoelectric properties are of great significance for high-resolution ultrasound imaging applications. In this paper, Na0.5Bi4.5Ti3.86Mn0.06Nb0.08O15+y (NBT-Nb-Mn) bismuth-layer-structured ceramics were prepared by solid-phase synthesis. The crystallographic structure, micromorphology, and piezoelectrical and electromechanical properties of NBT-Nb-Mn ceramics were examined, showing their enhanced piezoelectricity (d33 = 33 pC/N) and relatively high electromechanical coupling coefficient (kt = 0.4). The purpose of this article is to describe the development of single element ultrasonic transducers based on these piezoelectric ceramics. The as-prepared high-frequency tightly focused transducer (ƒ-number = 1.13) had an electromechanical coupling coefficient of 0.48. The center frequency was determined to be 37.4 MHz and the −6 dB bandwidth to be 47.2%. According to the B-mode imaging experiment of 25 μm tungsten wires, lateral resolution of the transducer was calculated as 56 μm. Additionally, the experimental results were highly correlated to the results simulated by COMSOL software. By scanning a coin, the imaging effect of the transducer was further evaluated, demonstrating the application advantages of the prepared transducer in the field of high-sensitivity ultrasound imaging.

Both tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and titanium dioxide nanoparticle (TiO2 NP) have widespread commercial applications, resulting in their ubiquitous co-presence in the environment and biota. Although environmental chemicals exist as mixtures, toxicity studies are nearly always conducted with single chemicals. Few studies explore potential interactions of different chemical mixtures. In this study, we employ the sensitive developing nerve system in zebrafish to assess the neurotoxicity of TBBPA/TiO2 NP mixtures. Specifically, zebrafish embryos were exposed to solvent control (0.1% DMSO), 2 μM TBBPA, 0.1 mg/L TiO2 NP, and their mixture from 8 to 120 h post fertilization (hpf), and motor/social behavioral assessments were conducted on embryos/larvae at different developmental stages. Our results showed that TBBPA/TiO2 NP single or co-exposures increased spontaneous movement, decreased touch response and swim speed, and affected social behaviors of light/dark preference, shoaling, mirror attack and social contact. In particular, many of these phenotypes were manifested with higher magnitude of changes from the mixture exposure. These behavioral deficits were also accompanied with increased cell death in olfactory region and neuromasts in the lateral line system, increased ROS in gallbladder, pancreas, liver, and intestine, as well as increased lipid peroxidation and decreased ATP levels in whole larval tissue homogenates. Further, genes coding for key cell apoptosis marker and antioxidant enzyme were significantly upregulated by these two chemicals, in particular to their mixture. Interestingly, the co-presence of TBBPA also increased the mean particle size of TiO2 NP in the exposure solutions and the TiO2 NP content in larval tissue. Together, our analysis suggests that TBBPA/TiO2 NP induced behavioral changes may be due to physical accumulation of these two chemicals in the target organs, and TiO2 NP may serve as carriers for increased accumulation of TBBPA. To conclude, we demonstrated that TBBPA/TiO2 NP together cause increased bioaccumulation of TiO2, and heightened responses in behavior, cell apoptosis and oxidative stress. Our findings also highlight the importance of toxicity assessment using chemical mixtures.

Purpose: To evaluate the wear of zirconia on natural teeth in humans in vitro and in vivo.Materials and Methods: Embase, the Cochrane Database, PubMed, and the Web of Science were searched (January 2014 to May 2019), and all references were retrieved. After preliminary screening of the literature, two researchers read the full texts of the remaining literature and determined whether the literature should be included. Data and information were extracted from the included literature, then analyzed and discussed.Results: A total of 49 in vivo experiments and 229 in vitro experiments were retrieved. After duplication removal and screening, 7 in vivo studies and 13 in vitro studies were included. The results of the in vitro studies showed that fine polished zirconia causes less antagonist wear on natural teeth than other treatments with zirconia or other restorative materials. The results of the in vivo studies showed the antagonist wear of zirconia on natural teeth was within the clinically acceptable range.Conclusion: Both in vivo and in vitro studies have shown polishing can reduce the wear of zirconia on natural teeth more than glazed or veneering porcelain. However, whether glazed zirconia causes less natural tooth wear after polishing is still a matter of debate. Due to the short observation period and heterogeneity of the experiment, the above conclusions should be carefully interpreted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]