Optimal timing for plastic surgical procedures for common congenital anomalies:A review

Apart from listening to the cry of a healthy newborn,it is the declaration by the attending paediatrician in the labour room that the child is normal which brings utmost joy to parents.The global incidence of children born with congenital anomalies has been reported to be 3%-6%with more than 90%of these occurring in low-and middle-income group countries.The exact percentages/total numbers of children requiring surgical treatment cannot be estimated for several reasons.These children are operated under several surgical disciplines,viz,paediatric-,plastic reconstructive,neuro-,cardiothoracic-,orthopaedic surgery etc.These conditions may be life-threatening,e.g.,trachea-oesophageal fistula,critical pulmonary stenosis,etc.and require immediate surgical intervention.Some,e.g.,hydrocephalus,may need intervention as soon as the patient is fit for surgery.Some,e.g.,patent ductus arteriosus need‘wait and watch’policy up to a certain age in the hope of spontaneous recovery.Another extremely important category is that of patients where the operative intervention is done based on their age.Almost all the congenital anomalies coming under care of a plastic surgeon are operated as elective surgery(many as multiple stages of correction)at appropriate ages.There are advantages and disadvantages of intervention at different ages.In this article,we present a review of optimal timings,along with reasoning,for surgery of many of the common congenital anomalies which are treated by plastic surgeons.Obstetricians,paediatricians and general practitioners/family physicians,who most often are the first ones to come across such children,must know to guide the parents appropriately and convincingly impress upon the them as to why their child should not be operated immediately and also the consequences of too soon or too late.

An Experimental Study on the Optimal Timing for the Repair of Incomplete Facial Paralysis by Hypoglossal-facial‘Side'-to-side Neurorrhaphy in Rats

Objective To investigate the optimal timing for the repair of persistent incomplete facial paralysis by hypoglossal-facial ‘side＇-to-side neurorrhaphy in rats. Methods A total of 30 adult rats with crushed and bulldog-clamped facial nerve injury were randomly divided into 5 groups（n = 6 each） that were subjected to injury without nerve repair or with immediate repair, 2-week-delayed repair, 4-week-delayed repair, or 8-week-delayed repair. Three months later, the effects of repair in each rat were evaluated by facial symmetry assessment, electrophysiological examination, retrograde labeling, and axon regeneration measurement. Results At 3 months after injury, the alpha angle significantly increased in the group of rats with 4-week-delayed repair compared with the other four groups. Upon stimulation of the facial nerve or Pre degenerated nerve, the muscle action potentials MAPs were recorded in the whisker pad muscle, and the MAP amplitude and area under the curve in the 4-week-delayed repair group were significantly augmented at 3 months post-injury. Similarly, the number of retrograde-labeled motor neurons in the facial and hypoglossal nuclei was quantified to be significantly greater in the 4-week-delayed repair group than in the other groups, and a large number of regenerated axons was also observed. Conclusion The results of this study demonstrated that hemi HN-FN neurorrhaphy performed 4 weeks after facial nerve injury was most effective in terms of the functional recovery of axonal regeneration and activation of facial muscles.

Optimization method of refracturing timing for old shale gas wells

Based on the elastic theory of porous media,embedded discrete fracture model and finite volume method,and considering the micro-seepage mechanism of shale gas,a fully coupled seepage-geomechanical model suitable for fractured shale gas reservoirs is established,the optimization method of refracturing timing is proposed,and the influencing factors of refracturing timing are analyzed based on the data from shale gas well in Fuling of Sichuan Basin.The results show that due to the depletion of formation pressure,the percentage of the maximum horizontal principal stress reversal area in the total area increases and then decreases with time.The closer the area is to the hydraulic fracture,the shorter the time for the peak of the stress reversal area percentage curve to appear,and the shorter the time for the final zero return(to the initial state).The optimum time of refracturing is affected by matrix permeability,initial stress difference and natural fracture approach angle.The larger the matrix permeability and initial stress difference is,the shorter the time for stress reversal area percentage curve to reach peak and return to the initial state,and the earlier the time to take refracturing measures.The larger the natural fracture approach angle is,the more difficult it is for stress reversal to occur near the fracture,and the earlier the optimum refracturing time is.The more likely the stress reversal occurs at the far end of the artificial fracture,the later the optimal time of refracturing is.Reservoirs with low matrix permeability have a rapid decrease in single well productivity.To ensure economic efficiency,measures such as shut-in or gas injection can be taken to restore the stress,and refracturing can be implemented in advance.

Optimal Timing and Recycling Operation Mode for Electro-Mechanical Products Active Remanufacturing

The uncertainties of remanufactured products in multi-life cycle service, such as injury and restoration process route, are comprehensively analyzed in the present study from perspectives of cost and the environment. Based on life cycle assessment method and the life cycle cost analysis, the optimal timing model of active remanufacturing for electro-mechanical products is established considering these uncertainties. In addition, regarding the active remanufacturing as its guidance, this study explores the economic efficiency and corresponding operation mode of electro-mechanical products when recycling in the optimal timing. To validate the optimal timing model for electro-mechanical products active remanufacturing, a specific type of product is taken as a case study with mathematical statistics method and Monte Carlo simulation.

Timing of biliary decompression for acute cholangitis

Severe acute cholangitis(AC)exacerbates the risk of death because of the rapid progression of the disease.The optimal timing of biliary decompression(BD)as a necessary intervention in patients with severe AC is controversial.A recently report titled“Timing of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the treatment of acute cholangitis of different severity”in the World Journal of Gastroenterology that the optimal time of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for treating patients with severe AC is≤48 but not≤24 h,providing clinical evidence for selecting the optimal time for implementation of BD.Here,we discuss the controversy over the optimal timing of BD for AC based on guidelines and clinical evidence,and consider that more high-level clinical researches are urgent needed to benefit the management of patients with different severity of AC.

Gestational diabetes mellitus:The optimal time of delivery

Gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)is a common pregnancy complication strongly associated with poor maternal-fetal outcomes.Its incidence and prevalence have been increasing in recent years.Women with GDM typically give birth through either vaginal delivery or cesarean section,and the maternal-fetal outcomes are related to several factors such as cervical level,fetal lung maturity,the level of glycemic control still present,and the mode of treatment for the condition.We categorized women with GDM based on the latter two factors.GDM that is managed without medication when it is responsive to nutrition-and exercise-based therapy is considered diet-and exercise-controlled GDM,or class A1 GDM,and GDM managed with medication to achieve adequate glycemic control is considered class A2 GDM.The remaining cases in which neither medical nor nutritional treatment can control glucose levels or patients who do not control their blood sugar are categorized as class A3 GDM.We investigated the optimal time of delivery for women with GDM according to the classification of the condition.This review aimed to address the benefits and harms of giving birth at different weeks of gestation for women with different classes of GDM and attempted to provide an analytical framework and clearer advice on the optimal time for labor.

Urgent one-stage endoscopic treatment for choledocholithiasis related moderate to severe acute cholangitis: A propensity scorematched analysis

BACKGROUND During emergency endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP),the safety and feasibility of performing one-stage endoscopic treatment for patients with acute cholangitis(AC)due to choledocholithiasis are unclear.AIM To investigate the safety and feasibility of one-stage endoscopic treatment for moderate to severe AC.METHODS We enrolled all patients diagnosed with moderate to severe cholangitis due to common bile duct stones from January 2019 to July 2023.The outcomes were compared in this study between patients who underwent ERCP within 24 h and those who underwent ERCP 24 h later,employing a propensity score(PS)frame-work.Our primary outcomes were intensive care unit(ICU)admission rates,ICU length of stay,and duration of antibiotic use.RESULTS In total,we included 254 patients and categorized them into two groups based on the time elapsed between admission and intervention:The urgent group(≤24 h,n=102)and the elective group(>24 h,n=152).Ninety-three pairs of patients with similar characteristics were selected by PS matching.The urgent ERCP group had more ICU admissions(34.4%vs 21.5%,P=0.05),shorter ICU stays(3 d vs 9 d,P<0.001),fewer antibiotic use(6 d vs 9 d,P<0.001),and shorter hospital stays(9 d vs 18.5 d,P<0.001).There were no significant differences observed in adverse events,in-hospital mortality,recurrent cholangitis occurrence,30-d readmission rate or 30-d mortality.CONCLUSION Urgent one-stage ERCP provides the advantages of a shorter ICU stay,a shorter duration of antibiotic use,and a shorter hospital stay.

Winter Wheat Yield Estimation Based on Sparrow Search Algorithm Combined with Random Forest:A Case Study in Henan Province,China

Precise and timely prediction of crop yields is crucial for food security and the development of agricultural policies.However,crop yield is influenced by multiple factors within complex growth environments.Previous research has paid relatively little attention to the interference of environmental factors and drought on the growth of winter wheat.Therefore,there is an urgent need for more effective methods to explore the inherent relationship between these factors and crop yield,making precise yield prediction increasingly important.This study was based on four type of indicators including meteorological,crop growth status,environmental,and drought index,from October 2003 to June 2019 in Henan Province as the basic data for predicting winter wheat yield.Using the sparrow search al-gorithm combined with random forest(SSA-RF)under different input indicators,accuracy of winter wheat yield estimation was calcu-lated.The estimation accuracy of SSA-RF was compared with partial least squares regression(PLSR),extreme gradient boosting(XG-Boost),and random forest(RF)models.Finally,the determined optimal yield estimation method was used to predict winter wheat yield in three typical years.Following are the findings:1)the SSA-RF demonstrates superior performance in estimating winter wheat yield compared to other algorithms.The best yield estimation method is achieved by four types indicators’composition with SSA-RF)(R^(2)=0.805,RRMSE=9.9%.2)Crops growth status and environmental indicators play significant roles in wheat yield estimation,accounting for 46%and 22%of the yield importance among all indicators,respectively.3)Selecting indicators from October to April of the follow-ing year yielded the highest accuracy in winter wheat yield estimation,with an R^(2)of 0.826 and an RMSE of 9.0%.Yield estimates can be completed two months before the winter wheat harvest in June.4)The predicted performance will be slightly affected by severe drought.Compared with severe drought year(2011)(R^(2)=0.680)and normal year(2017)(R^(2)=0.790),the SSA-RF model has higher prediction accuracy for wet year(2018)(R^(2)=0.820).This study could provide an innovative approach for remote sensing estimation of winter wheat yield.yield.

Nitrogen and phosphorus changes and optimal drainage time of flooded paddy field based on environmental factors

While many controlled irrigation and drainage techniques have been adopted in China, the environmental effects of these techniques require further investigation. This study was conducted to examine the changes of nitrogen and phosphorus of a flooded paddy water system after fertilizer application and at each growth stage so as to obtain the optimal drainage time at each growth stage. Four treatments with different water level management methods at each growth stage were conducted under the condition of ten-day continuous flooding. Results show that the ammonia nitrogen （ NH4-N ） concentration reached the peak value once the fertilizer was applied, and then decreased to a relatively low level seven to ten days later, and that the nitrate nitrogen （NO^-N） concentration gradually rose to its peak value, which appeared later in subsurface water than in surface water. Continuous flooding could effectively reduce the concentrations of NH^-N , NO3-N, and total phosphorus （TP） in surface water. However, the paddy water disturbance, in the process of soil surface adsorption and nitrification, caused NH]-N to be released and increased the concentrations of NH4-N and NO^-N in surface water. A multi-objective controlled drainage model based on environmental factors was established in order to obtain the optimal drainage time at each growth stage and better guide the drainage practices of farmers. The optimal times for surface drainage are the fourth, sixth, fifth, and sixth days after flooding at the tillering, jointing-booting, heading-flowering, and milking stages, respectively.

Research into polymer injection timing for Bohai heavy oil reservoirs

Polymer flooding has been proven to effectively improve oil recovery in the Bohai Oil Field. However, due to high oil viscosity and significant formation heterogeneity, it is necessary to further improve the displacement effectiveness of polymer flooding in heavy oil reservoirs in the service life of offshore platforms. In this paper, the effects of the water/oil mobility ratio in heavy oil reservoirs and the dimensionless oil productivity index on polymer flooding effectiveness were studied utilizing rel- ative permeability curves. The results showed that when the water saturation was less than the value, where the water/oil mobility ratio was equal to 1, polymer flooding could effectively control the increase of fractional water flow, which meant that the upper limit of water/oil ratio suitable for polymer flooding should be the value when the water/oil mobility ratio was equal to 1. Mean while, by injecting a certain volume of water to create water channels in the reservoir, the polymer flooding would be the most effective in improving sweep efficiency, and lower the fractional flow of water to the value corresponding to △Jmax. Considering the service life of the platform and the polymer mobility control capacity, the best polymer injection timing for heavy oil reservoirs was optimized. It has been tested for reservoirs with crude oil viscosity of 123 and 70 mPa s, the optimum polymer flooding effec- tiveness could be obtained when the polymer floods were initiated at the time when the fractional flow of water were 10 % and 25 %, respectively. The injection timing range for polymer flooding was also theoretically analyzed for the Bohai Oil Field utilizing which provided methods for effectiveness. relative permeability curves, improving polymer flooding

Effects of Seed Maturity of Turf-Type Tall Fescue on the Seed Vigor and the Optimal Harvesting Time

By assay of accelerated aging germination, germination index, vigor index, seedling length, seedling weight, electric conductivity, dehydrogenase activity, ATP content and acid phosphoesterase activity during seed development of turf-type tall fescue, the seed vigor of tall fescue were studied. Combining with seed moisture content and yield, the optimal harvesting time of tall fescue was determined. The results indicated that the seed vigor increased continuously along with seed maturity, and the higher seed vigor was achieved at 19th day after perk anthesis and maintained continuously until 31st day after peak anthesis. At 25th day after peak anthesis, the highest yield of 3 533 kg ha-1 and the good quality of seeds of tall fescue were harvested with 32.19% moisture content. From 22nd to 31st day after peak anthesis, the seed yield of 3 300 kg ha-1 and the good quality seeds of tall fescue were harvested with 40 - 12. 43% moisture content, and the span was the optimal harvesting time.

Optimal Matching of Magnetic Pulse Compressor

Energy transmission efficiency in the magnetic pulse generators varies with saturated time of magnetic switch. An optimal matching time exists and depends on the compression ratio, under which, the energy transmission efficiency can reach approximate 100%. The equation of required magnetic core volume is obtained by taken into account the optimal matching mode. It indicates that a great reduction on the volume is feasible under the optimal matching mode. The circuit simulation code-PSPICE is also introduced to simulate a 3-stage magnetic pulse compressor, and the results are in accordance with those of equivalent circuit analyses.

Optimal ship imaging for shore-based ISAR using DCF estimation

The optimal imaging time selection of ship targets for shore-based inverse synthetic aperture radar （ISAR） in high sea conditions is investigated. The optimal imaging time includes opti- mal imaging instants and optimal imaging duration. A novel method for optimal imaging instants selection based on the estimation of the Doppler centroid frequencies （DCFs） of a series of images obtained over continuous short durations is proposed. Combined with the optimal imaging duration selection scheme using the image contrast maximization criteria, this method can provide the ship images with the highest focus. Simulated and real data pro- cessing results verify the effectiveness of the proposed imaging method.

Convergence and Superconvergence of Fully Discrete Finite Element for Time Fractional Optimal Control Problems

In this paper, we consider a fully discrete finite element approximation for time fractional optimal control problems. The state and adjoint state are approximated by triangular linear fi nite elements in space and L1 scheme in time. The control is obtained by the variational discretization technique. The main purpose of this work is to derive the convergence and superconvergence. A numerical example is presented to validate our theoretical results.

Optimal time point for the transplantation of neural stem cells induced to differentiate with retinoic acid

Previous studies have demonstrated that differentiated neural stem cells （NSCs） are more suitable for transplantation than non-differentiated NSCs. In this study, NSCs were expanded in vitro for two passages, induced with retinoic acid to differentiate, and harvested between 1 6 days later. They were subsequently cultured in artificial cerebrospinal fluid for an additional 3 days, dudng which their growth and morphology was monitored. NSCs induced for 4 days exhibited a peak rate of cells differentiating into neurons and robust growth. Our results indicate that the optimal time point for transplanting NSCs is following a 4-day period of induced differentiation.

Alexa Fluor 488-conjugated cholera toxin subunit B optimally labels neurons 3-7 days after injection into the rat gastrocnemius muscle

Neural tract tracing is used to study neural pathways and evaluate neuronal regeneration following nerve injuries.However,it is not always clear which tracer should be used to yield optimal results.In this study,we examined the use of Alexa Fluor 488-conjugated cholera toxin subunit B(AF488-CTB).This was injected into the gastrocnemius muscle of rats,and it was found that motor,sensory,and sympathetic neurons were labeled in the spinal ventral horn,dorsal root ganglia,and sympathetic chain,respectively.Similar results were obtained when we injected AF594-CTB into the tibialis anterior muscle.The morphology and number of neurons were evaluated at different time points following the AF488-CTB injection.It was found that labeled motor and sensory neurons could be observed 12 hours post-injection.The intensity was found to increase over time,and the morphology appeared clear and complete 3-7 days post-injection,with clearly distinguishable motor neuron axons and dendrites.However,14 days after the injection,the quality of the images decreased and the neurons appeared blurred and incomplete.Nissl and immunohistochemical staining showed that the AF488-CTB-labeled neurons retained normal neurochemical and morphological features,and the surrounding microglia were also found to be unaltered.Overall,these results imply that the cholera toxin subunit B,whether unconjugated or conjugated with Alexa Fluor,is effective for retrograde tracing in muscular tissues and that it would also be suitable for evaluating the regeneration or degeneration of injured nerves.

EQUIVALENCE OF THREE DIFFERENT KINDS OF OPTIMAL CONTROL PROBLEMS FOR STOKES EQUATIONS

This article presents an equivalence theorem for three different kinds of optimal control problems, which are optimal target control problems, optimal norm control problems, and optimal time control problems. Controlled systems in this study are internally controlled Stokes equations.

A Fast Approach for Time Optimal and Smooth Trajectory Planning of Robot Manipulators

In this paper,a fast approach to generate time optimal and smooth trajectory has been developed and tested.Minimum time is critical for the productivity in industrial applications.Meanwhile,smooth trajectories based on cubic splines are desirable for their ability to limit vibrations and ensure the continuity of position,velocity and acceleration during the robot movement.The main feature of the approach is a satisfactory solution that can be obtained by a local modification process among each interval between two consecutive via-points.An analytical formulation simplifies the approach to smooth trajectory and few iterations are enough to determine the correct values.The approach can be applied in many robot manipulators which require high performance on time and smooth.The simulation and application of the approach on a palletizer robot are performed,and the experimental results provide evidence that the approach can realize the robot manipulators more efficiency and high smooth performance.

Comparison of time optimal control for two level quantum systems

The time optimal problem for a two level quantum sys-tem is studied. We compare two different control strategies of bang-bang control and the geometric control, respectively, es-pecial y in the case of minimizing the time of steering the state from North Pole to South Pole on the Bloch sphere with bounded control. The time performances are compared for different param-eters by the individual numerical simulation experiments, and the experimental results are analyzed. The results show that the ge-ometric control spends less time than the bang-bang control does.

TIME AND NORM OPTIMAL CONTROLS:A SURVEY OF RECENT RESULTS AND OPEN PROBLEMS

We present in this paper a survey of recent results on the relation between time and norm optimality for linear systems and the infinite dimensional version of Pontryagin＇s maximum principle. In particular, we discuss optimality （or nonoptimality） of singular controls satisfying the maximum principle and smoothness of the costate in function of smoothness of the target.