Simplifying living donor liver transplantation

BACKGROUND: Living donor liver transplantation is a complex surgical operation. Treatment policies and operative techniques evolved in the last two decades. DATA SOURCES: Our center's experience in living donor liver transplantation was reviewed in conjunction with relevant publications in the literature. RESULTS: The surgical techniques and perioperative surgical therapeutics could be modified towards simplicity. Examples include regular inclusion of the middle hepatic vein without compromising the venous outflow of the donor's remnant left liver. This provides excellent venous outflow, which is crucial for a small-for-size graft. Immunosuppression and hepatitis B suppression are steroid free and hepatitis B immunoglobulin free respectively. CONCLUSION: The most practical way to achieve high graft and recipient survival rates with an acceptably low donor risk is through design of a protocol that simplifies the surgery and postoperative management.

Thoreau's philosophy of “simplify”

The essay expounds the philosophy of Thoreau's "simplify" in aspect of meaning and reason.Closely connected with the relationship between human and nature,it enables us to see the point of a brooding,simple and sensible life of Thoreau.The end clarifies on a question:according to Thoreau,what is to have a simplify life? That's to care for little,listen to one's heart and do what one likes.The conclusion comes with an advocation that people keep a simple life with little greed,and take it as an ulti mate cure for the bothering life of today.

Simplifying the Integration of Petrophysics and Rock-Physics to Identify Hydrocarbon Bearing Rocks on Seismic

A considerable effort has been made in the literature for quality assurance (QA) and quality checking (QC) of the petrophysical log data for computation of reservoir rock property parameters. Well log data plays an integral role in building a rock physics model for quantitative interpretation (QI) work. A poor-quality rock physics model may lead to significant financial and HSSE implications by drilling wells in undesired locations. Historically, a variety of techniques have been used including histograms and cross plots for reviewing the feasibility of petrophysical logs for QI work. However, no attempt has ever been made to introduce a simplified workflow. This paper serves two-fold. It provides a simplified step by step approach for building a petrophysics/rock physics model. A case study has been presented to compare the synthetic seismogram generated from the simplified workflow with the actual seismic trace at well locations. Secondly, the paper shows how a few key cross plots and rock property parameters provide adequate information to validate petrophysical data, distinguish overburden and reservoir sections, and to help identify fluids and saturation trends within the reservoir sands. In the mentioned case study, the robustness of the simplified rock physics model has helped seismic data to successfully distinguish hydrocarbon bearing reservoir sands from non-reservoir shales.

simplifyEnrichment:A Bioconductor Package for Clustering and Visualizing Functional Enrichment Results

Functional enrichment analysis or gene set enrichment analysis is a basic bioinformatics method that evaluates the biological importance of a list of genes of interest.However,it may produce a long list of significant terms with highly redundant information that is difficult to summarize.Current tools to simplify enrichment results by clustering them into groups either still produce redundancy between clusters or do not retain consistent term similarities within clusters.We propose a new method named binary cut for clustering similarity matrices of functional terms.Through comprehensive benchmarks on both simulated and real-world datasets,we demonstrated that binary cut could efficiently cluster functional terms into groups where terms showed consistent similarities within groups and were mutually exclusive between groups.We compared binary cut clustering on the similarity matrices obtained from different similarity measures and found that semantic similarity worked well with binary cut,while similarity matrices based on gene overlap showed less consistent patterns.We implemented the binary cut algorithm in the R package simplifyEnrichment,which additionally provides functionalities for visualizing,summarizing,and comparing the clustering.The simplifyEnrichment package and the documentation are available at https://bioconductor.org/packages/simplifyEnrichment/.

Commentary on "Simplifying the ShangRing technique for circumcision in boys and men: use of the no-flip technique with randomization to removal at 7 days versus spontaneous detachment"

It has been 10 years since we published the first report describing use of the ShangRing for circumcision in boys and men. That report, by Peng et al.{ from China, showed that the device was safe and that ShangRing circumcision was quicker than with conventional surgical techniques commonly used. The ShangRing, pictured in Figure 1, isa novel collar clamp circumcision device that was invented by Mu Jian-Zhong Shang in China in the early 2000s to reduce potential surgical complications following male circumcision. Based on its successful use in 2006, Mr. Shang started SNNDA Medical Company to produce and distribute the ShangRing. The device has two parts consisting of an inner ring and an outer ring. The foreskin is sandwiched between the two rings, ensuring hemostasis without the need for suturing, which greatly simplifies the circumcision. The device is typically removed by a clinician 7-10 days later.

Neuroinflammation revisited through the microglial lens

Neuroimmunology is emerging as a pivotal field,shedding light on the intricate dialogues between the central nervous system(CNS)and the immune system.This exploration is particularly significant in understanding microglia,the CNS’s innate immune cells,beyond the conventional conflation of“neuroinflammation”and“microglial activation.”This conflation has clouded the true complexity of these processes,potentially stalling scientific progress and the development of new therapies.We challenge the long-standing perspectives that have oversimplified these interactions,advocating for a deeper exploration of the dynamic relationship between neuroinflammation and microglial activation.By dissecting specific molecular pathways,we aim to illuminate their elaborate roles in neuroinflammatory responses,especially in the context of Alzheimer’s disease(AD).Here,neuroinflammation is not merely a passive observer or a direct antagonist but a complex agent in the disease’s progression.This article calls for a significant paradigm shift towards an integrative,multi-omics approach to neuroimmunology.Adopting such a comprehensive framework is crucial for advancing our understanding of neuroinflammatory conditions and paving the way for targeted therapeutic strategies for brain diseases.

Rapid post-earthquake safety assessment of low-rise reinforced concrete structures

Many countries throughout the world have experienced large earthquakes,which cause building damage or collapse.After such earthquakes,structures must be inspected rapidly to judge whether they are safe to reoccupy.To facilitate the inspection process,the authors previously developed a rapid building safety assessment system using sparse acceleration measurements for steel framed buildings.The proposed system modeled nonlinearity in the measurement data using a calibrated simplified lumped-mass model and convolutional neural networks(CNNs),based on which the buildinglevel damage index was estimated rapidly after earthquakes.The proposed system was validated for a nonlinear 3D numerical model of a five-story steel building,and later for a large-scale specimen of an 18-story building in Japan tested on the E-Defense shaking table.However,the applicability of the safety assessment system for reinforced concrete(RC)structures with complex hysteretic material nonlinearity has yet to be explored;the previous approach based on a simplified lumpedmass model with a Bouc-Wen hysteretic model does not accurately represent the inherent nonlinear behavior and resulting damage states of RC structures.This study extends the rapid building safety assessment system to low-rise RC moment resisting frame structures representing typical residential apartments in Japan.First,a safety classification for RC structures based on a damage index consistent with the current state of practice is defined.Then,a 3D nonlinear numerical model of a two-story moment frame structure is created.A simplified lumped-mass nonlinear model is developed and calibrated using the 3D model,incorporating the Takeda degradation model for the RC material nonlinearity.This model is used to simulate the seismic response and associated damage sensitive features(DSF)for random ground motion.The resulting database of responses is used to train a convolutional neural network(CNN)that performs rapid safety assessment.The developed system is validated using the 3D nonlinear analysis model subjected to historical earthquakes.The results indicate the applicability of the proposed system for RC structures following seismic events.

A Simplified Method for the Stress Analysis of Underground Transfer Structures Crossing Multiple Subway Tunnels

According to the design specifications,the construction of extended piles involves traversing the tunnel’s upper region and extending to the underlying rock layer.To address this challenge,a subterranean transfer structure spanning multiple subway tunnels was proposed.Deliberating on the function of piles in the transfer structure as springs with axial and bending stiffness,and taking into account the force balance and deformation coordination conditions of beams and plates within the transfer structure,we established a simplified mechanical model that incorporates soil stratification by combining it with the Winkler elastic foundation beam model.The resolved established simplifiedmechanicalmodel employed finite difference technology and the Newton-Simpsonmethod,elucidating the mechanical mechanism of the transfer structure.The research findings suggest that the load carried by the upper structural columns can be transferred to the pile foundation beneath the beams through the transfer structure,subsequently reaching the deep soil layer and ensuring minimal impact on adjacent tunnels.The established simplified analysis method can be used for stress analysis of the transfer structure,concurrently considering soil stratification,pile foundation behavior,and plate action.The pile length,pile section size,and beam section size within the transfer structure should account for the characteristics of the upper load,ensuring an even distribution of the beam bending moment.

Parallel Light Fields: A Perspective and A Framework

Dear Editor,Light fields give relatively complete description of scenes from perspective of angles and positions of rays. At present time, most of the computer vision algorithms take 2D images as input which are simplified expression of light fields with depth information discarded. In theory, computer vision tasks may achieve better performance as long as complete light fields are acquired.

Analytical Solution and Simplified Formula for Added Mass of Horizontal and Vertical Motions of Truncated Cylinders Under Earthquake Action

This paper investigates the hydrodynamic characteristics of floating truncated cylinders undergoing horizontal and vertical motions due to earthquake excitations in the finite water depth.The governing equation of the hydrodynamic pressure acting on the cylinder is derived based on the radiation theory with the inviscid and incompressible assumptions.The governing equation is solved by using the method of separating variables and analytical solutions are obtained by assigning reasonable boundary conditions.The analytical result is validated by a numerical model using the exact artificial boundary simulation of the infinite water.The main variation and distribution characteristics of the hydrodynamic pressure acting on the side and bottom of the cylinder are analyzed for different combinations of wide-height and immersion ratios.The added mass coefficient of the cylinder is calculated by integrating the hydrodynamic pressure and simplified formulas are proposed for engineering applications.The calculation results show that the simplified formulas are in good agreement with the analytical solutions.

A utility and easily fabricated dual-mode fiber film for efficient and comfortable thermal management

Nowadays, the global climate is constantly being destroyed and the fluctuations in ambient temperature are becoming more frequent. However, conventional single-mode thermal management strategies(heating or cooling) failed to resolve such dynamic temperature changes. Moreover, developing thermal management devices capable of accommodating these temperature variations while remaining simple to fabricate and durable has remained a formidable obstacle. To address these bottlenecks, we design and successfully fabricate a novel dual-mode hierarchical(DMH) composite film featuring a micronanofiber network structure, achieved through a straightforward two-step continuous electrospinning process. In cooling mode, it presents a high solar reflectivity of up to 97.7% and an excellent atmospheric transparent window(ATW) infrared emissivity of up to 98.9%. Noted that this DMH film could realize a cooling of 8.1 ℃ compared to the ambient temperature outdoors. In heating mode, it also exhibits a high solar absorptivity of 94.7% and heats up to 11.9 ℃ higher than black cotton fabric when utilized by individuals. In practical application scenarios, a seamless transition between efficient cooling and heating is achieved by simply flipping the film. More importantly, the DMH film combining the benefits of composites demonstrates portability, durability, and easy-cleaning, promising to achieve large-scale production and use of thermally managed textiles in the future. The energy savings offered by film applications provide a viable solution for the early realization of carbon neutrality.

An efficient physics-guided Bayesian framework for predicting ground settlement profile during excavations in clay

Recently,the application of Bayesian updating to predict excavation-induced deformation has proven successful and improved prediction accuracy significantly.However,updating the ground settlement profile,which is crucial for determining potential damage to nearby infrastructures,has received limited attention.To address this,this paper proposes a physics-guided simplified model combined with a Bayesian updating framework to accurately predict the ground settlement profile.The advantage of this model is that it eliminates the need for complex finite element modeling and makes the updating framework user-friendly.Furthermore,the model is physically interpretable,which can provide valuable references for construction adjustments.The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through two field case studies,showing that it can yield satisfactory predictions for the settlement profile.

Operation optimization of prefabricated light modular radiant heating system:Thermal resistance analysis and numerical study

The utilization of prefabricated light modular radiant heating system has demonstrated significant increases in heat transfer efficiency and energy conservation capabilities.Within prefabricated building construction,this new heating method presents an opportunity for the development of comprehensive facilities.The parameters for evaluating the effectiveness of such a system are the upper surface layer’s heat flux and temperature.In this paper,thermal resistance analysis calculation based on a simplified model for this unique radiant heating system analysis is presented with the heat transfer mechanism’s evaluation.The results obtained from thermal resistance analysis calculation and numerical simulation indicate that the thermal resistance analysis method is highly accurate with temperature discrepancies ranging from 0.44℃ to−0.44℃ and a heat flux discrepancy of less than 7.54%,which can meet the requirements of practical engineering applications,suggesting a foundation for the prefabricated radiant heating system.

Influence of joint spacing and rock characteristics on the toppling stability of cut rock slope through a simplified limit equilibrium method

Toppling failure of rock mass/soil slope is an important geological and environmental problem.Clarifying its failure mechanism under different conditions has great significance in engineering.The toppling failure of a cutting slope occurred in a hydropower station in Kyushu,Japan illustrates that the joint characteristic played a significant role in the occurrence of rock slope tipping failure.Thus,in order to consider the mechanical properties of jointed rock mass and the influence of geometric conditions,a simplified analytical approach based on the limit equilibrium method for modeling the flexural toppling of cut rock slopes is proposed to consider the influence of the mechanical properties and geometry condition of jointed rock mass.The theoretical solution is compared with the numerical solution taking Kyushu Hydropower Station in Japan as one case,and it is found that the theoretical solution obtained by the simplified analysis method is consistent with the numerical analytical solution,thus verifying the accuracy of the simplified method.Meanwhile,the Goodman-Bray approach conventionally used in engineering practice is improved according to the analytical results.The results show that the allowable slope angle may be obtained by the improved Goodman-Bray approach considering the joint spacing,the joint frictional angle and the tensile strength of rock mass together.

Electron kinetic effects in back-stimulated Raman scattering bursts driven by broadband laser pulses

We examine electron kinetic effects in broadband-laser-driven back-stimulated Raman scattering(BSRS)bursts using particle-in-cell simulations.These bursts occur during the nonlinear stage,causing reflectivity spikes and generating large numbers of hot electrons.Long-duration simulations are performed to observe burst events,and a simplified model is developed to eliminate the interference of the broadband laser’s random intensity fluctuations.Using the simplified model,we isolate and characterize the spectrum of electron plasma waves.The spectrum changes from a sideband structure to a turbulence-like structure during the burst.A significant asymmetry in the spectrum is observed.This asymmetry is amplified and transferred to electron phase space by high-intensity broadband laser pulses,leading to violent vortex-merging and generation of hot electrons.The proportion of hot electrons increases from 6.76%to 14.7%during a single violent burst event.We demonstrate that kinetic effects profoundly influence the BSRS evolution driven by broadband lasers.

Research on Verification Method of Motor Startups in Nuclear Power Plants Based on Topology Recognition

There are many motors in operation or on standby in nuclear power plants,and the startup of group motors will have a great impact on the voltage of the emergency bus.At present,there is no special or inexpensive software to solve this problem,and the experience of engineers is not accurate enough.Therefore,this paper developed a method and system for the startup calculation of group motors in nuclear power plants and proposed an automatic generation method of circuit topology in nuclear power plants.Each component in the topology was given its unique number,and the component class could be constructed according to its type and upper and lower connections.The subordination and topology relationship of switches,buses,and motors could be quickly generated by the program according to the component class,and the simplified direct power flow algorithm was used to calculate the power flow for the startup of group motors according to the above relationship.Then,whether the bus voltage is in the safe range and whether the voltage exceeds the limit during the startup of the group motor could be judged.The practical example was used to verify the effectiveness of the method.Compared with other professional software,the method has high efficiency and low cost.

A Light and Simplified Branch Bending Method for Young Pear Trees

Aiming at high cost and low efficiency of conventional branch bending method in the modern intensive planting and labor-saving cultivation mode of young pear trees,this paper provides a new branch bending method with wide source of raw materials,cheap price and simple operation,which is also suitable for the management of low-age branches in the process of high grafting and upgrading of traditional big trees.

Innovative approaches in high-speed railway bridge model simplification for enhanced computational efficiency

In the realm of high-speed railway bridge engineering,managing the intricacies of the track-bridge system model(TBSM)during seismic events remains a formidable challenge.This study pioneers an innovative approach by presenting a simplified bridge model(SBM)optimized for both computational efficiency and precise representation,a seminal contribution to the engineering design landscape.Central to this innovation is a novel model-updating methodology that synergistically melds artificial neural networks with an augmented particle swarm optimization.The neural networks adeptly map update parameters to seismic responses,while enhancements to the particle swarm algorithm’s inertial and learning weights lead to superior SBM parameter updates.Verification via a 4-span high-speed railway bridge revealed that the optimized SBM and TBSM exhibit a highly consistent structural natural period and seismic response,with errors controlled within 7%.Additionally,the computational efficiency improved by over 100%.Leveraging the peak displacement and shear force residuals from the seismic TBSM and SBM as optimization objectives,SBM parameters are adeptly revised.Furthermore,the incorporation of elastoplastic springs at the beam ends of the simplified model effectively captures the additional mass,stiffness,and constraint effects exerted by the track system on the bridge structure.

Agronomic Performances of Manure Composts in Simplified Soilless Tomato Cultivation

Composts are recognised as an important source of nutrients for crops. The study aims to valorise agricultural by-products by composts made from broiler (A), laying hen (B) and bovine (C) manures in soilless tomato cultivation. Treatments consisted of these three composts and controls consisting of coconut fibres fed with a nutrient solution. The system is a randomised Fisher block with three replications. Each elementary plot consisted of nine tomato plants. Chemical parameters of the substrates and agronomic parameters of the plants were recorded from 14 to 49 days after transplanting (DAT). The pH stabilised at around 6.2 after varying from 7.1 to 8.0 in the composts. The high electrical conductivity (5.9 - 6.01 dS/m) was less than 1 dS/m at 49 DAT. Agromorphological parameters were close to the controls. Fruit necrosis was higher in the compost-based substrates (13.75% - 32.22%) than in the controls (<2%). Healthy fruit yields from the composts (38.7 - 48.7 t/ha) were high, although lower than those from the controls (49.9 - 57.4 t/ha). Fruit harvested from these substrates had a longer average shelf life (38.23 days) than the controls (28.5 days). This study showed that composts have fertilising properties for soilless tomato cultivation, in particular that of laying hen manure (48.33 t/ha). These composts could provide an alternative to the use of chemical fertilisers in soilless tomato cultivation.

基于FDM 3D打印支撑添加的一体化教学

熔融层积成型技术(FDM)中的支撑添加的合理与否直接决定了产品的成功率及表面质量,为了快速合理地选用支撑的添加方法,从支撑添加原理出发,结合教学中的实际情况,充分运用多种信息化教学手段及教学评价方法,找到适合中职学生关于FDM 3D打印支撑添加的一体化教学方法。