Is it better to use two elastographic methods for liver fibrosis assessment?

AIM:To find out if by combining 2 ultrasound based elastographic methods:acoustic radiation force impulse(ARFI)elastography and transient elastography(TE),we can improve the prediction of fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.METHODS:Our study included 197 patients with chronic hepatitis C.In each patient,we performed,in the same session,liver stiffness(LS)measurements by means of TE and ARFI,respectively,and liver biopsy(LB),assessed according to the Metavir score.10 LS measurements were performed both by TE and ARFI;median values were calculated and expressed in kilopascals(kPa)and meters/second(m/s),respectively.Only TE and ARFI measurements with IQR<30%andSR≥60%were considered reliable.RESULTS:On LB 13(6.6%)patients had F0,32(16.2%) had F1,52(26.4%)had F2,47(23.9%)had F3,and 53(26.9%)had F4.A direct,strong correlation was found between TE measurements and fibrosis(r=0.741),between ARFI and fibrosis(r=0.730)and also between TE and ARFI(r=0.675).For predicting significant fibrosis(F≥2),for a cutoff of 6.7 kPa,TE had 77.5% sensitivity(Se)and 86.5%specificity(Sp)[area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUROC)0.87] and for a cutoff of 1.2 m/s,ARFI had 76.9%Se and 86.7%Sp(AUROC 0.84).For predicting cirrhosis(F=4),for a cutoff of 12.2 kPa,TE had 96.2%Se and 89.6% Sp(AUROC 0.97)and for a cutoff of 1.8 m/s,ARFI had 90.4%Se and 85.6%Sp(AUROC 0.91).When both elastographic methods were taken into consideration,for predicting significant fibrosis(F≥2),(TE≥6.7 kPa and ARFI≥1.2 m/s)we obtained 60.5%Se,93.3% Sp,96.8%positive predictive value(PPV),41.4%negative predictive value(NPV)and 68%accuracy,while for predicting cirrhosis(TE≥12.2 kPa and ARFI≥1.8 m/s) we obtained 84.9%Se,94.4%Sp,84.9%PPV,94.4% NPV and 91.8%accuracy.CONCLUSION:TE used in combination with ARFI is highly specific for predicting significant fibrosis;therefore when the two methods are concordant,liver biopsy can be avoided.

Synthesis methods of functionalized nanoparticles:a review

With the recent advancement in nanotechnology,nanoparticles(NPs)offer an ample variety of smart functions than conventional materials in various aspects.As compared to larger particles,NPs possess unique characteristics and excellent abilities,such as low toxicity,chemical stability,surface functionality,and biocompatibility.These advantageous properties allow them to be widely utilized in many applications,including biomedical applications,energy applications,IT applications,and industrial applications.In order to fulfill the increasing demands of NP applications,existing NP synthesis methods need to be improved based on the requirements of different applications to further their usage.A comprehensive understanding of the relationships between synthesis parameters and properties of NPs can help us better fine-tune them with designed properties and minimal toxicity.This review paper will discuss the commonly used synthesis methods of functionalized NPs,as well as future directions and challenges to develop various synthesis methods further.

Combining the complex variable reproducing kernel particle method and the finite element method for solving transient heat conduction problems

In this paper, the complex variable reproducing kernel particle （CVRKP） method and the finite element （FE） method are combined as the CVRKP-FE method to solve transient heat conduction problems. The CVRKP-FE method not only conveniently imposes the essential boundary conditions, but also exploits the advantages of the individual methods while avoiding their disadvantages, then the computational efficiency is higher. A hybrid approximation function is applied to combine the CVRKP method with the FE method, and the traditional difference method for two-point boundary value problems is selected as the time discretization scheme. The corresponding formulations of the CVRKP-FE method are presented in detail. Several selected numerical examples of the transient heat conduction problems are presented to illustrate the performance of the CVRKP-FE method.

Engineering Geological Zoning of Soft-Soil Foundation Based on Combination Weighting and Extension Methods

Different criteria and factors are used in different methods of soft soil foundation settlement calculation and engineering geological zoning.The methods used are not universally suitable for complex geological environments.The post-construction settlement of soft soil foundations are especially large and difficult to calculate.In addition,there are many deficiencies in the current methods used for engineering geological zoning.Focusing on the need of establishing engineering geological zoning for areas with soft soil foundations in the Tianjin Marine Economic Area,combination weighting and extension methods were introduced.An evaluation model for the settlement of soft soil foundations was established using multiple factors and large amounts of data.This evaluation model is accurate and objective for delineating engineering geological zoning.These methods eliminate deficiencies by considering both objective and subjective factors,and help obtain an objective and accurate result.

Research on Satellite Fault Diagnostics Technology Based on Combination of Several Methods

According to the different types and characteristics of satellite fault,a kind of fault diagnosis method is proposed,which integrates multivariate threshold,model-based and fault tree-based method.In order to optimize the fault diagnosis method,it takes the advantages and remedy of a defect with other methods.This can diagnose many kinds of satellite fault occurring in the on-orbit phase rapidly and accurately.Besides,it can analyze the damage degree of the failure and establish the measures to eliminate the failure.

A Class of Real-Time Parallel Combined Methods ofDigital Simulation for Large Systems

In this paper, a class of real-time parallel combined methods (RTPCM) of the digital simulation for a partitioned large system is presented. By means of combination of the parallelism across the system with the parallelism across the method, stiff and non-stiff subsystems are solved in parallel on parallel computer by a parallel Rosenbrock method and a parallel RK method, respectively. Their construction, convergence and numerical stability are discussed, and the digitalsimulation experiments are conducted.

Class of modified parallel combined methods of real-time numerical simulation for a stiff system

A class of modified parallel combined methods of real-time numerical simulation are presented for a stiff dynamic system. By combining the parallelism across the system with the parallelism across the method, and relaxing the dependence of stage value computation on sampling time of input function, a class of modified real-time parallel combined methods are constructed. Stiff and nonstiff subsystems are solved in parallel on a parallel computer by a parallel Rosen-brock method and a parallel RK method, respectively. Their order conditions and convergences are discussed. The numerical simulation experiments show that this class of modified algorithms can get high speed and efficiency.

Selection of surgical methods for thoracic ossification of ligamentum flavum combined with cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Objective To investigate the difference between different surgical methods for thoracic ossification of ligamentum flavum(OLF) combined with cervical spondylotic myelopathy(CSM) . Methods From January 1991 to January 2003,56 cases

Anisotropic shearing mechanism of Kangding slate:Experimental investigation and numerical analysis

The shear mechanical behavior is regarded as an essential factor affecting the stability of the surrounding rocks in underground engineering.The shear strength and failure mechanisms of layered rock are significantly affected by the foliation angles.Direct shear tests were conducted on cubic slate samples with foliation angles of 0°,30°,45°,60°,and 90°.The effect of foliation angles on failure patterns,acoustic emission(AE)characteristics,and shear strength parameters was analyzed.Based on AE characteristics,the slate failure process could be divided into four stages:quiet period,step-like increasing period,dramatic increasing period,and remission period.A new empirical expression of cohesion for layered rock was proposed,which was compared with linear and sinusoidal cohesion expressions based on the results made by this paper and previous experiments.The comparative analysis demonstrated that the new expression has better prediction ability than other expressions.The proposed empirical equation was used for direct shear simulations with the combined finite-discrete element method(FDEM),and it was found to align well with the experimental results.Considering both computational efficiency and accuracy,it was recommended to use a shear rate of 0.01 m/s for FDEM to carry out direct shear simulations.To balance the relationship between the number of elements and the simulation results in the direct shear simulations,the recommended element size is 1 mm.

Evaluation of soil erosion vulnerability in Hubei Province of China using RUSLE model and combination weighting method

Soil erosion has been recognized as a critical environmental issue worldwide.While previous studies have primarily focused on watershed-scale soil erosion vulnerability from a natural factor perspective,there is a notable gap in understanding the intricate interplay between natural and socio-economic factors,especially in the context of spatial heterogeneity and nonlinear impacts of human-land interactions.To address this,our study evaluates the soil erosion vulnerability at a provincial scale,taking Hubei Province as a case study to explore the combined effects of natural and socio-economic factors.We developed an evaluation index system based on 15 indicators of soil erosion vulnerability:exposure,sensitivity,and adaptability.In addition,the combination weighting method was applied to determine index weights,and the spatial interaction was analyzed using spatial autocorrelation,geographical temporally weighted regression and geographical detector.The results showed an overall decreasing soil erosion intensity in Hubei Province during 2000 and 2020.The soil erosion vulnerability increased before 2000 and then.The areas with high soil erosion vulnerability were mainly confined in the central and southern regions of Hubei Province(Xiantao,Tianmen,Qianjiang and Ezhou)with obvious spatial aggregation that intensified over time.Natural factors(habitat quality index)had negative impacts on soil erosion vulnerability,whereas socio-economic factors(population density)showed substantial spatial variability in their influences.There was a positive correlation between soil erosion vulnerability and erosion intensity,with the correlation coefficients ranging from-0.41 and 0.93.The increase of slope was found to enhance the positive correlation between soil erosion vulnerability and intensity.

Fracture propagation and evolution law of indirect fracturing in the roof of broken soft coal seams

Indirect fracturing in the roof of broken soft coal seams has been demonstrated to be a feasible technology.In this work,the No.5 coal seam in the Hancheng block was taken as the research object.Based on the findings of true triaxial hydraulic fracturing experiments and field pilot under this technology and the cohesive element method,a 3D numerical model of indirect fracturing in the roof of broken soft coal seams was established,the fracture morphology propagation and evolution law under different conditions was investigated,and analysis of main controlling factors of fracture parameters was conducted with the combination weight method,which was based on grey incidence,analytic hierarchy process and entropy weight method.The results show that“士”-shaped fractures,T-shaped fractures,cross fractures,H-shaped fractures,and“干”-shaped fractures dominated by horizontal fractures were formed.Different parameter combinations can form different fracture morphologies.When the coal seam permeability is lower and the minimum horizontal principal stress difference between layers and fracturing fluid injection rate are both larger,it tends to form“士”-shaped fractures.When the coal seam permeability and minimum horizontal principal stress between layers and perforation position are moderate,cross fractures are easily generated.Different fracture parameters have different main controlling factors.Engineering factors of perforation location,fracturing fluid injection rate and viscosity are the dominant factors of hydraulic fracture shape parameters.This study can provide a reference for the design of indirect fracturing in the roof of broken soft coal seams.

A Hybrid ESA-CCD Method for Variable-Order Time-Fractional Diffusion Equations

In this paper, we study the solutions for variable-order time-fractional diffusion equations. A three-point combined compact difference (CCD) method is used to discretize the spatial variables to achieve sixth-order accuracy, while the exponential-sum-approximation (ESA) is used to approximate the variable-order Caputo fractional derivative in the temporal direction, and a novel spatial sixth-order hybrid ESA-CCD method is implemented successfully. Finally, the accuracy of the proposed method is verified by numerical experiments.

Bayesian network model for traffic flow estimation using prior link flows

In order to estimate traffic flow a Bayesian network BN model using prior link flows is proposed.This model sets link flows as parents of the origin-destination OD flows. Under normal distribution assumptions the model considers the level of total traffic flow the variability of link flows and the violation of the conservation law.Using prior link flows the prior distribution of all the variables is determined. By updating some observed link flows the posterior distribution is given.The variances of the posterior distribution normally decrease with the progressive update of the link flows. Based on the posterior distribution point estimations and the corresponding probability intervals are provided. To remove inconsistencies in OD matrices estimation and traffic assignment a combined BN and stochastic user equilibrium model is proposed in which the equilibrium solution is obtained through iterations.Results of the numerical example demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed BN model and the combined method.

Application of combination weighting method in contract risk's evaluation of third party logistics

First,the analytical hierarchy process(AHP),which stands for the subjective weighting method,and the entropy method,which stands for the objective weighting method,are chosen to calculate the index weights of the contract risks of third party logistics(TPL),respectively.Then,they can determine the combination weights using the combination weighting method.Second,using the combination weights,the contract risks of TPL are evaluated through the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method.According to the combination weights,the most important risk factor of the contract risks of TPL is choosing sub-contractors.The results are basically consistent with the facts and show that the weights determined by the combination weighting method can avoid the man-made deviations of the subjective weighting method on the one hand,and prevent results opposite to the reality brought about by the objective weighting method on the other hand.Meanwhile,the results of the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation are that the contract risks of TPL are at a high risk level.Roughly this matches real situations,and it indicates that the combination weighting method can generate the comprehensive assessment more scientifically and more reasonably as well.

Comprehensive evaluation of the transformer oil-paper insulation state based on RF-combination weighting and an improved TOPSIS method

The accurate identification of the oil-paper insulation state of a transformer is crucial for most maintenance strategies.This paper presents a multi-feature comprehensive evaluation model based on combination weighting and an improved technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution(TOPSIS)method to perform an objective and scientific evaluation of the transformer oil-paper insulation state.Firstly,multiple aging features are extracted from the recovery voltage polarization spectrum and the extended Debye equivalent circuit owing to the limitations of using a single feature for evaluation.A standard evaluation index system is then established by using the collected time-domain dielectric spectrum data.Secondly,this study implements the per-unit value concept to integrate the dimension of the index matrix and calculates the objective weight by using the random forest algorithm.Furthermore,it combines the weighting model to overcome the drawbacks of the single weighting method by using the indicators and considering the subjective experience of experts and the random forest algorithm.Lastly,the enhanced TOPSIS approach is used to determine the insulation quality of an oil-paper transformer.A verification example demonstrates that the evaluation model developed in this study can efficiently and accurately diagnose the insulation status of transformers.Essentially,this study presents a novel approach for the assessment of transformer oil-paper insulation.

Function Combined Method for Design Innovation of Children's Bike

As children mature, bike products for children in the market develop at the same time, and the conditions are frequently updated. Certain problems occur when using a bike, such as cycle overlapping, repeating function, and short life cycle, which go against the principles of energy conservation and the environmental protection intensive design concept. In this paper, a rational multi-function method of design through functional superposition, transformation, and technical implementation is proposed. An organic combination of frog-style scooter and children’s tricycle is developed using the multi-function method. From the ergonomic perspective, the paper elaborates on the body size of children aged 5 to 12 and effectively extracts data for a multi-function children’s bike, which can be used for gliding and riding. By inverting the body, parts can be interchanged between the handles and the pedals of the bike. Finally, the paper provides a detailed analysis of the components and structural design, body material, and processing technology of the bike. The study of Industrial Product Innovation Design provides an effective design method to solve the bicycle problems, extends the function problems, improves the product market situation, and enhances the energy saving feature while implementing intensive product development effectively at the same time.

Study on Non-Isothermal Decomposition Kinetics of Ephedrini Hydrochloridum

The thermal decomposition processes of ephedrini hydrochloridum and its kinetics are studied by TG-DTG techniques. A combined method, which includes Achar method, Coats-Redfera method, and Ozawa method, is put forward for determining kinetic model under non-isothermal conditions. By applying the combined method, it is determined that the thermal decomposition of ephedrini hydrochloridum is subjected to cylindrical symmetric diffusion. And the reaction function is&#402;(&#945;)=2(1-&#945;)?, apparent activation energy (115.26±3.55) kJ·mol&#8722;1, pre-exponential factor 4.62×108 s&#8722;1. Results show that the combined method is feasible and simple.

The Testing Strength Curves of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete by Rebound Method and Ultrasonic-rebound Combined Method

The strength curves of lightweight aggregate concrete （LWAC） were tested based on detecting LWAC with density of 1 400-1 900 kg/m3 and LWAC with strength grade of LC15-LC50 by rebound method and ultrasonic-rebound combined method.The results show that the common measured strength curves tested by above two methods can not satisfy the required accuracy of LWAC strength test.In addition,specified compressive strength curves of testing LWAC by rebound method and ultrasonic-rebound combined method are obtained,respectively.

Reaction characteristics investigation of CeO_(2)-enhanced CaSO_(4) oxygen carrier with lignite

Calcium sulfate(CaSO_(4))has been verified as a promising oxygen carrier(OC)in the chemical looping combustion(CLC)for its high oxygen capacity,abundant reserve and low cost,but its low reactivity and deleterious sulfur species emission from the side reactions of CaSO_(4) should be well considered for its wide application in CLC.In order to promote the reactivity of CaSO_(4) and increase its potential to inhibit the gaseous sulfur emission,a CeO_(2)-enhanced CaSO_(4) OC mixed OC of core–shell structure was prepared using the combined template synthesis method.Reaction characteristics of the prepared CaSO_(4)-CeO_(2) mixed OC with a typical lignite was first conducted and systematically investigated,and an improved reactivity of the prepared CaSO_(4)-CeO_(2) mixed OC was demonstrated than its single component CaSO_(4) or CeO_(2) due to the fast transfer and exchange of oxygen from the CaSO_(4) substrate to coal via the doped CeO_(2).Furthermore,the solid products formed from the mixed CaSO_(4)-CeO_(2) OC with the selected coal were collected and analyzed.Especially,evolution and redistribution of the sulfur species of different forms were focused.At the latter reaction stage of YN reaction with the CaSO_(4)-CeO_(2) mixed OC,the SO_(2) emitted from the side reactions of CaSO_(4) was greatly diminished and the doped CeO_(2) was proven effective to directionally fix the SO_(2) released to turn into different solid sulfur compounds,which were determined as Ce_(2)O_(2)S,Ce_(2)S_(3) and Ce_(2)(SO_(4))_(3)·5H_(2)O and formed through the different pathways.In addition,good regeneration of the reduced CaSO_(4)-CeO_(2) mixed OC could be reached in spite of the unavoidable interaction between the included minerals in coal and the reduced mixed OC.Overall,the combined template method-made CaSO_(4)-CeO_(2) mixed OC reported herein was not only endowed with enhanced reactivity for coal conversion,but also owned the potential to directionally fix the gaseous sulfur emission,which is quite applicable as OC for simultaneous decarbonatization and desulfurization in the real CLC process.

IMPROVE EFFICIENCY OF BIOGAS FEEDBACK SUPPLY CHAIN IN RURAL CHINA

Feedback supply chain is a key structure in the supply chain system, and the development of feedback supply chain for biogas biomass energy is one of the important ways of the rural ecological civilization construction. Presently, the efficiency problem of biogas supply chain in rural China has been restricting the development of biogas biomass energy business. This article, on the basis of combination of regulation parameters, describes the dynamic changes in the system, using differential equations integrated with simulation to reveal the rules of regulation parameters to investigate the efficiency problem in the biogas supply chain. First of all, on the basis of the actual situation, the flow level and flow rate system structure model and simulation equation set are established for the biogas energy feedback supply chain from a scale livestock farm to peasant households; On the basis of the differentiability of the simulation equation a third order inhomogeneous differential equation with constant coefficients containing regulative parameters is established for the quantity of biogas stored in the feedback supply chain. A theorem and its corollaries are established for the operating efficiency of supply chain to reveal the change law of the quantity of biogas, the quantity of biogas consumed daily by peasant households and its standard-reaching rate as well as other variables.