Sub-Differential Characterizations of Non-Smooth Lower Semi-Continuous Pseudo-Convex Functions on Real Banach Spaces

In this paper, we characterize lower semi-continuous pseudo-convex functions f : X → R ∪ {+ ∞} on convex subset of real Banach spaces K ⊂ X with respect to the pseudo-monotonicity of its Clarke-Rockafellar Sub-differential. We extend the results on the characterizations of non-smooth convex functions f : X → R ∪ {+ ∞} on convex subset of real Banach spaces K ⊂ X with respect to the monotonicity of its sub-differentials to the lower semi-continuous pseudo-convex functions on real Banach spaces.

Early-diverging Titanosauriform(Dinosauria,Sauropoda)Teeth from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Southeastern Inner Mongolia,Northeast China

Three eusauropod teeth(SDUST-V1064,PMOL-AD00176,PMOL-ADt0005)are reported from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Ningcheng,southeastern Inner Mongolia,China.Two of them(SDUST-V1064,PMOL-AD00176)are assigned to early-diverging titanosauriforms in having slightly mesiodistal expansion at the base of the tooth crown,a slenderness index value>2.0 and<4.0,and D-shaped cross section.Furthermore,SDUST-V1064 and PMOL-AD00176 are referred as an Euhelopus-like titanosauriform on the basis of having a sub-circular boss on the lingual surface and an asymmetrical crown-root margin which slants apically,respectively.CT scan data of SDUST-V1064 reveals new dental information of early-diverging titanosauriforms,for example,the enamel on the labial side thicker than that on the lingual side,an enamel/dentine ratio of 0.26 and a boss present on the lingual side of the dentine of the crown.

Lower Extremity Arterial Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Prevalence and Associated Factors at the Libreville University Hospital Center

Introduction: Lower extremity arterial disease in diabetic patients has distinct characteristics. Objectives: To study the hospital frequency of lower extremity arterial disease and identify associated factors in diabetic patients at the Libreville University Hospital Center (CHUL). Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from July 1, 2023, to January 31, 2024, in the endocrinology department of the CHUL. All patients with type 2 diabetes over the age of 18 admitted to this department, regardless of the reason for hospitalization, who provided informed consent, were included. Socio-demographic data and cardiovascular risk factors were recorded. Personal and family cardiovascular history and functional symptoms were investigated. The physical examination included measuring blood pressure, heart rate, and the ankle-brachial index in all patients. Results: A total of 219 patients were included, of whom 75 had lower extremity arterial disease, representing a prevalence of 34.24%. It was compensated in 28 cases (37.33%) and decompensated in 39 patients (52%). In eight cases (10.67%), there was critical chronic ischemia. Cardiovascular risk factors associated with diabetes were physical inactivity (89.5%), hypertension (55.25%), overweight (49.77%), obesity (22.84%), and smoking (10.04%). In multivariate analysis, only hypertension (OR = 2.09;95% CI: 1.05 - 4.17;p = 0.035) and LDL cholesterol (OR = 2.75;95% CI: 1.10 - 6.85;p = 0.03) were significantly associated with lower extremity arterial disease in diabetics at the University Hospital of Libreville. Conclusion: Lower extremity arterial disease is common in diabetic patients at the University Hospital of Libreville. It is often asymptomatic, thus requiring systematic screening.[-rId11-]

Epidemiological, Clinical and Paraclinical Profile of Osteoarthritis of the Lower Limbs in Obese Patients at the Cocody University Teaching Hospital

Objective: To describe the epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical characteristics of osteoarthritis of the lower limbs in obese patients at the Cocody University Teaching Hospital. Methodology: This was an analytical cross-sectional study carried out in the rheumatology department of the Cocody UTH in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) from March 1 to April 30 2023. Patients who came for rheumatology consultation presenting with mechanical arthralgia of the lower limbs, who were obese, had radiographic images were included. All patients without radiographic images were excluded. Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m. The Chi2 test was used to compare proportions and determine the existence of associations between osteoarthristis and obesity, obesity severity and radiographic stage of osteoarthritis as well as the functional impact. A p-value below a predefined threshold (p = 0,05) indicates a significant relationship between the variables. Result: Out of 185 patients received for osteoarthritis of the lower limbs during the study period, 136 were obese (74%). There were 115 women (84.6%) with an average age of 56.03 with a standard deviation of 12.72 years (extremes: 22 and 84 years). The main socio-professional category was the informal sector (30%). The majority of patients had a low socio-economic level (80.2%) and lived in urban areas (92.6%). The most common past medical history was hypertension (33.08%) followed by peptic ulcer disease (16.91%). Patients had a body mass index class 1 (81.6%), class 2 (15.40%) and class 3 (2.90%). The average duration of symptom progression until diagnosis was 11 months. Genu varum was the main static disorder (56.10%) and the knee joint was the dominant topography (90.4%) with a bilateral localization (80%). The average Lequesne index was greater than 8 (59.5%). The Kellgren and Lawrence radiographic stages were stage 1 (9.20%), stage 2 (46.90%), stage 3 (29.20%) and stage 4 (6.90%). The Obesity severity was significantly associated with osteoarthritis of the knee (p = 0.042). There was no statistically significant association between obesity severity and radiographic stage of osteoarthritis (p = 0.163) or functional impact (p = 0.180). Conclusion: Osteoarthritis of the lower limbs affected obese women and was dominated by stage 2 osteoarthritis of the knee (Kellgren and Lawrence). There is an association between the severity of obesity and osteoarthritis of the knee.

Protocol for lower back pain management: Insights from the French healthcare system

In this editorial we comment on the article published in a recent issue of the World Journal of Clinical Cases.This article described a novel ultrasound-guided lateral recess block approach in treating a patient with lateral recess stenosis.The impact of spinal pain-related disability extends significantly,causing substantial human suffering and medical costs.Each county has its preferred treatment strategies for spinal pain.Here,we explore the lower back pain(LBP)treatment algorithm recommended in France.The treatment algorithm for LBP recommended by the French National Authority for Health emphasizes early patient activity and minimal medication use.It encourages the continuation of daily activities,limits excessive medication and spinal injections,and incorporates psychological assessments and non-pharmacological therapies for chronic cases.However,the algorithm may not aggressively address acute pain in the early stages,potentially delaying relief and increasing the risk of chronicity.Additionally,the recommended infiltrations primarily involve caudal epidural steroid injections,with limited consideration for other injection procedures,such as transforaminal or interlaminar epidural steroid injections.The fixed follow-up timeline may not accommodate patients who do not respond to initial treatment or experience intense pain,potentially delaying the exploration of alternative therapies.Despite these limitations,understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the French approach could inform adaptations in LBP treatment strategies globally,potentially enhancing patient outcomes and satisfaction across diverse healthcare systems.

Flood Risk Assessment in the Lower Valley of Ouémé, Benin

In response to the increased frequency of flood events in recent years, it has become crucial to enhance preparedness and anticipation through precise flood risk assessments. To this end, this study aims to produce updated and precise flood risk maps for the Lower Valley of Ouémé River Basin, located in the South of Benin. The methodology used consisted of a combination of geographical information systems (GIS) and multi-criteria analysis, including Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods to define and quantify criteria for flood risk assessment. Seven hydro-geomorphological indicators (elevation, rainfall, slope, distance from rivers, flow accumulation, soil type, and drainage density), four socio-economic vulnerability indicators (female population density, literacy rate, poverty index, and road network density), and two exposure indicators (population density and land use) were integrated to generate risk maps. The results indicate that approximately 21.5% of the Lower Valley is under high and very high flood risk, mainly in the south between Dangbo, So-Ava, and Aguégués. The study findings align with the historical flood pattern in the region, which confirms the suitability of the used method. The novelty of this work lies in its comprehensive approach, the incorporation of AHP for weighting factors, and the use of remote sensing data, GIS technology, and spatial analysis techniques which adds precision to the mapping process. This work advances the scientific understanding of flood risk assessment and offers practical insights and solutions for flood-prone regions. The detailed flood risk indicator maps obtained stand out from previous studies and provide valuable information for effective flood risk management and mitigation efforts in the Lower Valley of Ouémé.

Evaluation of Agricultural Contamination Level by Heavy Metals and Pesticides in Sediments of Rivers and Water Bodies for Shrimp Fishing in the Lower Ouémé: Case of the Aguigadji, Ahlan and Sele Stations in Benin

This study assessed sediment contamination by heavy metals and pesticide active ingredients linked to chemical inputs used in agricultural activities in the lower Ouémé. Pesticide residues from the organochlorine, pyrethroid and organophosphorus families were investigated by gas chromatography, and heavy metals (Cd, Pb, As, Ni, Zn, Fe, Mg, Cr and Hg) by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The metallic pollution indices, the contamination factor (CF) and the ecological risk index were calculated. The results revealed 8 active ingredients in the rainy season and 9 in the dry season. Glyphosate was the active ingredient with the highest concentration at all stations, 9.65 ± 0.84 mg/kg recorded in the dry season at the Aguigadji station. All glyphosate values were above the EQS. DDT, Atrazine and Endosulfan also showed high concentrations in the dry and rainy seasons. Emamectin, Abamectin and Lambda Cyhalothrin also showed high concentrations in the dry season at Aguigadji, Ahlan and Sele. Only glyphosate was recorded at the control station (Toho), but in very low concentrations. Lead showed the highest concentrations at all the stations, 265.96 ± 21.02 mg/Kg in the rainy season and 255.38 ± 79.09 mg/Kg in the dry season, all detected at the Aguigadji station and above the EQS. Zn, Ni, Fe, Cu and Cr were all representative in both the dry and rainy seasons at the contaminated stations. Manganese showed high concentrations in the rainy season. Pb showed very high contamination (FC ≥ 6) at the Aguigadji and Ahlan stations and significant contamination (3 ≤ FC 6) at the Sele station in both the rainy and dry seasons. Ni, Hg and Cd, showed either moderate or significant contamination at the contaminated stations. The risk values showed a considerable ecological Ri (190 ≤ Ri < 380) in the rainy season and a moderate ecological Ri (95 ≤ Ri < 190) in the dry season at these contaminated stations.

Organic Matter Accumulation in the Upper Permian Dalong Formation from the Lower Yangtze Region,South China

The Late Permian was marked by a series of important geological events and widespread organic-rich black shale depositions,acting as important unconventional hydrocarbon source rocks.However,the mechanism of organic matter(OM)enrichment throughout this period is still controversial.Based on geochemical data,the marine redox conditions,paleogeographic and hydrographic environment,primary productivity,volcanism,and terrigenous input during the Late Permian in the Lower Yangtze region have been studied from the Putaoling section,Chaohu,to provide new insights into OM accumulation.Five Phases are distinguished based on the TOC and environmental variations.In Phase I,anoxic conditions driven by water restriction enhanced OM preservation.In Phase II,euxinic and cycling hydrological environments were the two most substantial controlling factors for the massive OM deposition.During Phase III,intensified terrestrial input potentially diluted the OM in sediment and the presence of oxygen in bottom water weakened the preservation condition.Phase IV was characterized by a relatively higher abundance of mercury(Hg)and TOC(peak at 16.98 wt%),indicating that enhanced volcanism potentially stimulated higher productivity and a euxinic environment.In Phase V,extremely lean OM was preserved as a result of terrestrial dilutions and decreasing primary productivity.Phases I,II and IV are characterized as the most prominent OM-rich zones due to the effective interactions of the controlling factors,namely paleogeographic,hydrographic environment,volcanism,and redox conditions.

Management of Square Carcinoma of the Lower Lip Using Camille-Bernard Flap under Local Anesthesia: When Constraints Dictate Our Attitude

Introduction: Squamous cell carcinomas of the lip essentially pose a therapeutic management problem. In the West, their treatment is done under general anesthesia and follows the classic rules of oncology. In our context of exercise, we sometimes have a different attitude dictated by various constraints. Observation: 55-year-old patient with no notable history, seen in consultation for a very large ulcerative-budding lesion on the right 2/3 of the lower lip with mucocutaneous involvement without lymph node findings found on examination. Faced with this suspicious lesion and the patient’s financial difficulties, we decided to operate under local anesthesia to remove this tumor. The oncological excision was followed by immediate plasty using a Camille-Bernard flap with a good immediate aesthetic and functional result and postoperative day 7. The patient was unable to take his surgical specimen to anatomy-pathology and was lost to follow-up due to lack of financial resources. On anatomo-pathological analysis of the surgical specimen, the margins were healthy with confirmation of squamous cell carcinoma (anapathological reading made for scientific interest). Discussion: The particular mentality of certain patients and their difficult financial conditions push us to have an unconventional therapeutic attitude in oncology, but which nevertheless makes it possible to resolve certain problems that we often face. Local anesthesia is possible and realistic in cases like ours and the results can be acceptable and life-saving.

Monitoring and evaluation of the water quality of the Lower Neches River, Texas, USA

Increasing bacteria levels in the Lower Neches River caused by Hurricane Harvey has been of a serious concern.This study is to analyze the historical water sampling measurements and real-time water quality data collected with wireless sensors to monitor and evaluate water quality under different hydrological and hydraulic conditions.The statistical and Pearson correlation analysis on historical water samples determines that alkalinity,chloride,hardness,conductivity,and pH are highly correlated,and they decrease with increasing flow rate due to dilution.The flow rate has positive correlations with Escherichia coli,total suspended solids,and turbidity,which demonstrates that runoff is one of the causes of the elevated bacteria and sediment loadings in the river.The correlation between E.coli and turbidity indicates that turbidity greater than 45 nephelometric turbidity units in the Neches River can serve as a proxy for E.coli to indicate the bacterial outbreak.A series of statistical tools and an innovative two-layer data smoothing filter are developed to detect outliers,fill missing values,and filter spikes of the sensor measurements.The correlation analysis on the sensor data illustrates that the elevated sediment/bacteria/algae in the river is either caused by the first flush rain and heavy rain events in December to March or practices of land use and land cover.Therefore,utilizing sensor measurements along with rainfall and discharge data is recommended to monitor and evaluate water quality,then in turn to provide early alerts on water resources management decisions.

Hydrocarbon accumulation history in Lower Cretaceous in northern slope of Bongor Basin in Chad,Central Africa

Based on the analysis of the fluid inclusion homogenization temperature and apatite fission track on the northern slope zone of the Bongor Basin in Chad,this paper studied the time and stages of hydrocarbon accumulation in the study area.The results show that:(1)The brine inclusions of the samples from the Kubla and Prosopis formations in the Lower Cretaceous coexisting with the hydrocarbon generally present two sets of peak ranges of homogenization temperature,with the peak ranges of low temperature and high temperature being 75–105℃ and 115–135℃,respectively;(2)The samples from the Kubla and Prosopis formations have experienced five tectonic evolution stages,i.e.,rapid subsidence in the Early Cretaceous,tectonic inversion in the Late Cretaceous,small subsidence in the Paleogene,uplift at the turn of the Paleogene and Neogene,and subsidence since the Miocene,in which the denudation thickness of the Late Cretaceous and after the turn of the Paleogene and Neogene are~1.8 km and~0.5 km,respectively.The cumulative denudation thickness of the two periods is about 2.3 km;(3)Using the brine inclusion homogenization temperature coexisting with the hydrocarbon as the capture temperature of the hydrocarbon,and combining with the apatite fission track thermal history modeling,the result shows that the Kubla and Prosopis formations in the Lower Cretaceous on the northern slope of the Bongor Basin have the same hydrocarbon accumulation time and stages,both of which have undergone two stages of hydrocarbon charging at 80–95 Ma and 65–80 Ma.The first stage of charging corresponds to the initial migration of hydrocarbon at the end of the Early Cretaceous rapid sedimentation,while the second stage of charging is in the stage of intense tectonic inversion in the Late Cretaceous.

Th17/Treg balance and macrophage polarization ratio in lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans

Objective:To explore the balance of peripheral blood T helper 17 cells/regulatory T cell(Th17/Treg)ratio and the polarization ratio of M1 and M2 macrophages in lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans(ASO).Methods:A rat model of lower extremity ASO was established,and blood samples from patients with lower extremity ASO before and after surgery were obtained.ELISA was used to detect interleukin 6(IL-6),IL-10,and IL-17.Real-time RCR and Western blot analyses were used to detect Foxp3,IL-6,IL-10,and IL-17 expression.Moreover,flow cytometry was applied to detect the Th17/Treg ratio and M1/M2 ratio.Results:Compared with the control group,the iliac artery wall of ASO rats showed significant hyperplasia,and the concentrations of cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly increased(P<0.01),indicating the successful establishment of ASO.Moreover,the levels of IL-6 and IL-17 in ASO rats were pronouncedly increased(P<0.05),while the IL-10 level was significantly decreased(P<0.05).In addition to increased IL-6 and IL-17 levels,the mRNA and protein levels of Foxp3 and IL-10 in ASO rats were significantly decreased compared with the control group.The Th17/Treg and M1/M2 ratios in the ASO group were markedly increased(P<0.05).These alternations were also observed in ASO patients.After endovascular surgery(such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and arterial stenting),all these changes were significantly improved(P<0.05).Conclusions:The Th17/Treg and M1/M2 ratios were significantly increased in ASO,and surgery can effectively improve the balance of Th17/Treg,and reduce the ratio of M1/M2,and the expression of inflammatory factors.

The dawn−dusk asymmetry in mesosphere and lower thermosphere temperature disturbances during geomagnetic storms at high latitude

Utilizing observations by the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry(SABER)instrument,we quantitatively assessed the dawn-dusk asymmetry in temperature disturbances within the high-latitude mesosphere and lower thermosphere(MLT)during the main phase of geomagnetic storms in this study.An analysis of five geomagnetic superstorm events indicated that during the main phase,negative temperature disturbances were more prevalent on the dawn side than on the dusk side in the high-latitude MLT region.Results of a statistical analysis of 54 geomagnetic storm events also revealed a notable disparity in temperature disturbances between the dawn and dusk sides.At high latitudes,38.2%of the observational points on the dawn side exhibited negative temperature disturbances(less than−5 K),whereas on the dusk side,this percentage was only 29.5%.In contrast,at mid-latitudes,these proportions were 34.1%and 36.5%,respectively,showing no significant difference.We also conducted a statistical analysis of temperature disturbances at different altitudes,which revealed an increase in the proportion of warming disturbances with altitude.Conversely,the proportion of cooling disturbances initially rose with altitude,reaching a peak around 105 km,and subsequently decreased.These temperature disturbance differences could be explained by the day-night asymmetry in vertical wind disturbances during storm conditions.

Relationships between Quadriceps:Hamstring Strength Ratio and Lower Extremity Injuries in Netball Players

Background: Netball is a popular sport. Due to high impact and quick movement, there is an enormous load on the lower extremities which increases the risk for injury. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the quadricep and hamstring strength and the prevalence of lower extremity injuries in netball players. Setting: Twenty-five female netball players (age: 20.8 ± 1.4 years) voluntarily participated. Methods: The Cybex Isokinetic dynamometer was used to determine concentric knee torques. Quadriceps:hamstring strength ratio was determined. Occurrence of lower extremity injuries was documented bi-weekly. Results: Medium effect sizes were noted for flexion torque:work for the left leg and for the quadriceps:hamstring ratio (≥60%) for the right leg. All the other measured variables have a small effect size. 18.75% of lower extremity injuries and ConQ:ConH of Conclusion: Injuries to the ankle and knee are especially common among netball players. Hamstring and quadriceps muscle asymmetry (>10%) were found to be a potential indicator of lower extremity injury. Contribution: This study highlights awareness on lower extremity injuries and the strength ratio between the quadriceps and hamstrings. This can aid coaches and netball players to lower the risk for injuries and thus improve individual- and team performance.

Spatial-temporal Variation Characteristics of Water Quality in the Lower Reaches of the Nenjiang River

As an important river in the western part of Jilin Province,the lower reach of the Nenjiang River is an important wetland water source conservation area in Jilin Province.Within the watershed,it governs the Momoge Wetland,the Xianghai Wetland,and the Danjiang Wetland in Jilin Province.The main problem in the lower reaches of the Nenjiang River is the uneven distribution of water resources in time and space,and the intensification of land salinization.Zhenlai County and Da an City in the Nenjiang River Basin have sufficient surface water resources,with surface water as the drinking water source.Baicheng City and Tongyu County have scarce surface water resources,and both use groundwater as their domestic water source.The main polluted section in the basin is the Xianghai Reservoir,and the annual water quality evaluation is Class V.However,the water quality of the Tao er River,the main stream of the Nenjiang River,is significantly better than that of the Xianghai Reservoir.In order to better study the water environmental pollution situation in the Nenjiang River basin,monitoring data from five sections of non seasonal rivers in the basin from 2012 to 2021 were selected for studying water quality.This in-depth exploration of the water pollution status and river water quality change trends in the Nenjiang River basin is of great significance for future rural development,agricultural pattern transformation,and the promotion of water ecological civilization construction.

Optimization of Generator Based on Gaussian Process Regression Model with Conditional Likelihood Lower Bound Search

The noise that comes from finite element simulation often causes the model to fall into the local optimal solution and over fitting during optimization of generator.Thus,this paper proposes a Gaussian Process Regression(GPR)model based on Conditional Likelihood Lower Bound Search(CLLBS)to optimize the design of the generator,which can filter the noise in the data and search for global optimization by combining the Conditional Likelihood Lower Bound Search method.Taking the efficiency optimization of 15 kW Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor as an example.Firstly,this method uses the elementary effect analysis to choose the sensitive variables,combining the evolutionary algorithm to design the super Latin cube sampling plan;Then the generator-converter system is simulated by establishing a co-simulation platform to obtain data.A Gaussian process regression model combing the method of the conditional likelihood lower bound search is established,which combined the chi-square test to optimize the accuracy of the model globally.Secondly,after the model reaches the accuracy,the Pareto frontier is obtained through the NSGA-II algorithm by considering the maximum output torque as a constraint.Last,the constrained optimization is transformed into an unconstrained optimizing problem by introducing maximum constrained improvement expectation(CEI)optimization method based on the re-interpolation model,which cross-validated the optimization results of the Gaussian process regression model.The above method increase the efficiency of generator by 0.76%and 0.5%respectively;And this method can be used for rapid modeling and multi-objective optimization of generator systems.

Analysis of the Current Situation and Risk Factors of Lower Respiratory Tract Infection among ICU Patients in Guizhou,China During 2019-2022

Objective:This study aims to explore the prevalence,features,and risk factors of lower respiratory tract infections(LRTIs)in the intensive care unit(ICU)of a newly established hospital in Zunyi City.The goal is to devise strategies for preventing LRTIs in the ICU of new hospitals,thereby mitigating the incidence of nosocomial LRTIs in ICU patients.Methods:A case-control study was conducted from March 2019 to December 2022 to investigate the incidence rate of LRTIs in the ICU of a newly constructed hospital in Zunyi City.Patients with LRTIs constituted the case group,while those without LRTIs constituted the control group,where a 1:1 matching principle was adhered to.A single-factor chi-square(χ2)test was employed to analyze the risk factors,with independent risk factors being explored using a multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results:A total of 169 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated,comprising 66.28%gram-negative bacteria,17.75%gram-positive bacteria,and 15.97%fungi.The most prevalent pathogens included Acinetobacter baumannii(43.20%),Candida albicans(10.65%),and Pseudomonas aeruginosa(8.88%).Of the 82 strains infected by multidrug-resistant bacteria in patients with LRTIs,81.7%were carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii,9.8%were multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and 6.1%were carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli.Identified risk factors included smoking history,total hospitalization days,ICU stay length,hypoproteinemia,indwelling gastric tube,intubation type,duration of mechanical ventilation,usage of antibacterial drugs,and administration of protein drugs(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that these factors were independent risk factors for nosocomial LRTIs in ICU patients(P<0.05).Conclusion:ICU patients in our hospital were mainly infected by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.To prevent LRTIs in patients,tailored preventive measures should be developed and the rational use of antibacterial drugs should be promoted.

A Clinical Randomized Controlled Study of Low-Frequency rTMS Therapy on Lower Limb Motor Dysfunction after Stroke

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS)for the treatment of lower limb motor dysfunction after stroke.Methods:A total of 96 patients with stroke and lower limb motor dysfunction were enrolled in this study,and were randomly divided into the experimental group and the sham stimulation group using the method of calculator-generated random numbers.Both groups received conventional medication and rehabilitation therapy.The experimental group received 4 weeks of 1 Hz rTMS treatment in the primary cortical motor area(M1)of the healthy side,with the treatment coil tangent to the skull surface;the sham stimulation group underwent the same procedures as the experimental group,but the treatment coil was perpendicular to the skull surface instead.Lower-extremity subscale of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment(FMA-LE),Berg Balance Scale(BBS),gait analysis,and lower-extremity surface electromyography(LESEM)were performed in both groups before and after rTMS treatment.Results:All 96 patients completed the test with no shedding and no adverse reactions.After treatment,the FMA-LE score and BBS score of the 2 groups of patients were significantly improved as compared with the pre-treatment(P<0.05),and the TUG test time was reduced as compared with the pre-treatment(P<0.05).The true stimulation group had greater improvement in all assessment indexes than that of the sham stimulation group(P<0.05).After treatment,the electromyographic activity of the tibialis anterior and rectus femoris muscles in the true simulation group improved significantly.The step length,step speed,and step frequency were also significantly improved in both groups after treatment,and the symmetrical ratio of step length and support time was reduced(P<0.05).Comparison between the groups revealed that the true simulation group significantly improved after rTMS treatment as compared to the sham stimulation group(P<0.05).Conclusion:1Hz rTMS treatment safely and effectively improved motor and balance function in patients with post-stroke lower limb motor dysfunction.

Equilibria of the Abstract Economy under Almost Lower Semi-continuous Assumption

The purpose of this paper is to make a further study on the abstract economy. Here, for the constraint correspondences we assume that they are almost lower semi-continuous (n-lower semi-continuous), which is weaken than that they are lower semi-continuous. Several equilibria existence theorems are proved.

A New Species of Jiangxialepis(Galeaspida)from the Lower Telychian(Silurian)of Jiangxi and its Biostratigraphic Significance

A new species of Shuyuidae(Eugaleaspiformes,Galeaspida),Jiangxialepis jiujiangensis sp.nov.,is described from the lower Telychian(Llandovery,Silurian)Qingshui Formation in Jiujiang,Jiangxi Province,China.The new species differs from the type species J.retrospina from Wuhan,Hubei Province in its sharp and posteriorly positioned median dorsal spine and narrow spine-shaped inner cornual processes.The Silurian strata in Xiushui–Wuning area has provided a standard framework for the correlation of Silurian shallow marine red beds in South China.Thus,the finding of J.jiujiangensis from the Silurian Lower Red Beds(LRBs)in Jiangxi Province bears very important biostratigraphic significance.It can directly compare to Jiangxialepis retrospina from the Fentou Formation in Wuhan,Hubei Province in the genus level.This indicates that the age of the fish-bearing strata in Wuhan is most likely to be the early Telychian rather than middle Telychian as previously assumed.