Laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma complicated with significant portal hypertension:A propensity score-matched survival analysis

Background: Significant portal hypertension(SPH) is a relative contraindication for patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). However, increasing evidence indicates that liver resection is feasible for HCC patients with SPH. Methods: HCC patients with cirrhosis who underwent laparoscopic liver resection(LLR) in two centers from January 2013 to April 2018 were included. Surgical and survival outcomes were analyzed to explore potential prognostic factors. Propensity score matching(PSM) analysis was performed to minimize bias. Results: A total of 165 patients were divided into two groups based on the presence(SPH, n = 76) or absence(non-SPH, n = 89) of SPH. Patients in the SPH group had longer operative time, more blood loss, and more advanced TNM stage than patients in the non-SPH group( P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the postoperative 90-day mortality rate( n = 0), overall postoperative complications(47.4% vs. 41.6%, P = 0.455), Clavien-Dindo classification( P = 0.347), conversion to open surgery(9.2% vs. 6.7%, P = 0.557), or length of hospitalization(16 vs. 15 days, P = 0.203) between the SPH and non-SPH groups before PSM. Similar results were obtained after PSM. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival(OS) and recurrence-free survival rates in the SPH group were not significantly different from those in the non-SPH group both before and after PSM(log-rank P > 0.05). After PSM, alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) ≥ 400 μg/L [hazard ratio(HR) = 4.71, 95% confidence interval(CI): 2.69-8.25], ascites(HR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.30-3.66), American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA) classification(Ⅲ vs. Ⅱ)(HR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.11-4.07) and tumor diameter > 5 cm(HR = 3.91, 95% CI: 2.02-7.56) independently predicted worse OS. Conclusions: LLR for patients with HCC complicated with SPH appears feasible at the price of increasing operative time and blood loss. AFP, ascites, ASA classification and tumor diameter may predict the prognosis of HCC complicated with SPH after LLR.

A Meta-Analysis of the Prognostic and Clinicopathological Significance of circZFR in Human Gastrointestinal Cancers

Background: Studies of gastrointestinal (GIT) cancers have shown that circZFR could be involved in the development and progression of various GIT cancers. However, small sample sizes limit the clinical significance of these studies. Here, a meta-analysis was conducted to ascertain the actual involvement of circZFR in the development and prognosis of GIT cancers. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched up to December 31, 2023. Hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled to evaluate the association between circZFR expression and overall survival (OS). Publication bias was measured using the funnel plot and Egger’s test. Results: 10 studies having 659 participants were enrolled for meta-analysis. High circZFR expression was associated with poor OS (HR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.20, 1.70). High circZFR expression also predicted larger tumor size (OR = 4.38, 95% CI 2.65, 7.25), advanced clinical stage (OR = 5.33, 95% CI 3.10, 9.16), and tendency for distant metastasis (OR = 2.89, 95% CI: 1.62, 5.11), but was not related to age, gender, and histological grade. Conclusions: In summary, high circZFR expression was associated with poor OS, larger tumor size, advanced stage cancer and tendency for distant metastasis. These findings suggested that circZFR could be a prognostic marker for GIT cancers.

Study on Technologies for Information Monitoring and Quick Response of Agricultural Focuses and Significant Events

This article analyzed the importance of information monitoring and quick response on agricultural focuses and significant events, proposed the workflow and technical framework for information monitoring and quick response based on modern information technologies, and explained key technologies during implementation and the functional structure for prototype system of the technical support platform.

Significant wave height forecasts integrating ensemble empirical mode decomposition with sequence-to-sequence model

As wave height is an important parameter in marine climate measurement,its accurate prediction is crucial in ocean engineering.It also plays an important role in marine disaster early warning and ship design,etc.However,challenges in the large demand for computing resources and the improvement of accuracy are currently encountered.To resolve the above mentioned problems,sequence-to-sequence deep learning model(Seq-to-Seq)is applied to intelligently explore the internal law between the continuous wave height data output by the model,so as to realize fast and accurate predictions on wave height data.Simultaneously,ensemble empirical mode decomposition(EEMD)is adopted to reduce the non-stationarity of wave height data and solve the problem of modal aliasing caused by empirical mode decomposition(EMD),and then improves the prediction accuracy.A significant wave height forecast method integrating EEMD with the Seq-to-Seq model(EEMD-Seq-to-Seq)is proposed in this paper,and the prediction models under different time spans are established.Compared with the long short-term memory model,the novel method demonstrates increased continuity for long-term prediction and reduces prediction errors.The experiments of wave height prediction on four buoys show that the EEMD-Seq-to-Seq algorithm effectively improves the prediction accuracy in short-term(3-h,6-h,12-h and 24-h forecast horizon)and long-term(48-h and 72-h forecast horizon)predictions.

Detection of Clinically Significant Warm Reactive Anti-A1 in a Post Red Blood Cells Transfusion Patient with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

The purpose of this article is to report that some anti-A1 that react at 37°C are IgG antibodies and are clinically significant, as they can cause the destruction of a proportion of A1 cells in vivo following the transfusion of red blood cells. Therefore, when a serum of an individual contains anti-A1, further testing of the plasma against group A1, A2, and O by referencing red blood cells and individual cells against anti-A1 lectin (Dolichos biflorus lectin) must be performed. Confirming the specificity of anti-A1 by referencing red blood cells is also important in selecting the appropriate blood for transfusion. ABO antibodies are naturally occurring and activate the complement cascade, making them more likely to cause severe transfusion reactions compared to antibodies to other RBC antigens.

Microstructure and forming mechanism of metals subjected to ultrasonic vibration plastic forming: A mini review

Compared with traditional plastic forming,ultrasonic vibration plastic forming has the advantages of reducing the forming force and improving the surface quality of the workpiece.This technology has a very broad application prospect in industrial manufactur-ing.Researchers have conducted extensive research on the ultrasonic vibration plastic forming of metals and laid a deep foundation for the development of this field.In this review,metals were classified according to their crystal structures.The effects of ultrasonic vibration on the microstructure of face-centered cubic,body-centered cubic,and hexagonal close-packed metals during plastic forming and the mech-anism underlying ultrasonic vibration forming were reviewed.The main challenges and future research direction of the ultrasonic vibra-tion plastic forming of metals were also discussed.

Flower morphology of Allium(Amaryllidaceae)and its systematic significance

Allium is a complicated genus that includes approximately 1000 species.Although its morphology is well studied,the taxonomic importance of many morphological traits,including floral traits,are poorly understood.Here,we examined and measured the floral characteristics of 87 accessions of 74 Allium taxa(belonging to 30 sections and nine subgenera)from Central to Eastern Asian countries.We then examined the taxonomic relationships between select flower characteristics and a phylogenetic tree based on ITS sequences.Our results confirm that floral morphology provides key taxonomic information to assess species delimitation in Allium.We found that perianth color is an important characteristic within the subg.Melanocrommyum,Polyprason,and Reticulatobulbosa.In subg.Allium,Cepa,and Rhizirideum,significant characteristics include ovary shape,perianth shape,and inner tepal apex.For species in subg.Angunium,the key taxonomic character is ovule number(only one ovule in per locule).In the subg.Allium,Cepa,Polyprason,and Reticulatobulbosa,which belong to the third evolutionary line of Allium,hood-like appendages occur in the ovary,although these do not occur in subg.Rhizirideum.Our results also indicated that the flower morphology of several species in some sections are not clearly distinguished,e.g.,sect.Sacculiferum(subg.Cepa)and sect.Tenuissima(subg.Rhizirideum).This study provides detailed photographs and descriptions of floral characteristics and information on general distributions,habitats,and phenology of the studied taxa.

Assessment of the Drafting Quality of Request Forms Submitted to the Malaria and Parasitology Units at the Institut Pasteur de Cote d’Ivoire

Biological tests provide information on the medical analysis requested by both the patient and the prescriber. It is a communication link between the prescriber and the laboratory staff. The lack of some information on request forms not only affects the drafting quality of the test and patient care, but could also make thousands of data produced by healthcare centers unusable. The aim of this study was to assess the drafting quality of request forms submitted to the Malaria and Parasitology Units at the Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire. Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study to assess the drafting quality of request forms of various prescribers received at the Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire. This study was conducted at the Malaria and Parasitology Units, department of Parasitology and Mycology (Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire), from 6th December 2020 to 6th December 2021. The information on each request forms was recorded on a data collection form designed for this purpose. Each data collection form corresponds to a request forms and each test to a patient. Results: Out of a total of 1990 request forms received, the patient’s age and sex were missing on 18% and 26.8% of the tests respectively. More than half (51.80%) of request forms did not indicate the patient’s place of residence. Clinical information was not provided on 45.90% of the tests. Prescribers omitting their signatures were 51%, stamps were 50.3% and contacts were 71.2%. Only 5.4% of request forms were of good drafting quality. Providing all the required information on the forms could facilitate the use and analysis of data and samples.

Shenzhou-4 spaceborne altimeter waveform processing and significant wave height retrieval

The Shenzhou -4 spaceborne （SZ -4） altimeter waveforms were processed, and then the significant wave heights （SWH） was retrieved on the basis of waveform fitting and waveform retracking. Waveforms processing includes the waveform ls averaging, the elimination of thermal noise and the waveforms normalization. Double peaks were found on each SZ - 4 waveform, and it was pointed out that the region of waveforms with the second peak is abnormal and its effects on the whole waveform in the waveform fit should be taken into consideration. To obtain the width of the waveform leading-edge, a method was proposed to find the starting point of waveform, and the half-power point of waveform was found by retracking the waveform. The normalized wavefornis were fitted with the Haynes model by using the weighting least square fit method. Then the selections of the weighting coefficients and their effects on significant wave hight retrieving were discussed, and the optimal five-region weighting method was proposed. At last, the SWH data of SZ -4 altimeter retrieved by using the proposed method were compared with those of ERS -2 and Jason - 1 altimeter, and it was concluded that the SZ -4 altimeter can detect significant wave height.

MPI/OpenMP-Based Parallel Solver for Imprint Forming Simulation

In this research,we present the pure open multi-processing(OpenMP),pure message passing interface(MPI),and hybrid MPI/OpenMP parallel solvers within the dynamic explicit central difference algorithm for the coining process to address the challenge of capturing fine relief features of approximately 50 microns.Achieving such precision demands the utilization of at least 7 million tetrahedron elements,surpassing the capabilities of traditional serial programs previously developed.To mitigate data races when calculating internal forces,intermediate arrays are introduced within the OpenMP directive.This helps ensure proper synchronization and avoid conflicts during parallel execution.Additionally,in the MPI implementation,the coins are partitioned into the desired number of regions.This division allows for efficient distribution of computational tasks across multiple processes.Numerical simulation examples are conducted to compare the three solvers with serial programs,evaluating correctness,acceleration ratio,and parallel efficiency.The results reveal a relative error of approximately 0.3%in forming force among the parallel and serial solvers,while the predicted insufficient material zones align with experimental observations.Additionally,speedup ratio and parallel efficiency are assessed for the coining process simulation.The pureMPI parallel solver achieves a maximum acceleration of 9.5 on a single computer(utilizing 12 cores)and the hybrid solver exhibits a speedup ratio of 136 in a cluster(using 6 compute nodes and 12 cores per compute node),showing the strong scalability of the hybrid MPI/OpenMP programming model.This approach effectively meets the simulation requirements for commemorative coins with intricate relief patterns.

Evaluation of Laboratory Request Forms Completion in a Tertiary Medical Laboratory of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Background: The inadequacy in the completeness of the Laboratory Request Form (LRF) has been reported as one of the major sources of errors during the pre-analytical step of laboratory analysis. To prevent the occurrence of such errors, this study aimed at assessing the level of completeness of LRFs. Methods: A retrospective analysis of laboratory request forms was conducted at the Clinical Biology Laboratory of the Kinshasa University Clinic, DR Congo, between November 2021 to May 2022. The LRFs were evaluated according to the completeness of all sections including administrative data of the patient, data of physician who ordered the test, relevant patient’s clinical data and data of the biological sample. Results: From a total of 2842 LRFs evaluated, none was fully completed with all required information. Particularly, patient’s clinical data including the medical history, provisional diagnosis and current treatment, were the most absent in 99% LRFs. However, two sections related to patient’s ID and prescribed test were informed in 100% LRFs. Conclusion: The results of this preanalytical audit can serve as an improvement opportunity focused on strengthening awareness about complete filling of LRF.

Nomogram to predict gas-related complications during transoral endoscopic resection of upper gastrointestinal submucosal lesions:Clinical significance

Transoral endoscopic resections in treating upper gastrointestinal submucosal lesions have the advantages of maintaining the integrity of the gastrointestinal lumen,avoiding perforation and reducing gastrointestinal fistulae.They are becoming more widely used in clinical practice,but,they may also present a variety of complications.Gas-related complications are one of the most common,which can be left untreated if the symptoms are mild,but in severe cases,they can lead to rapid changes in the respiratory and circulatory systems in a short period,which can be life-threatening.Therefore,it is important to predict the occurrence of gas-related complications early and take preventive measures actively.Based on the authors'results in the prepublication of the article“Nomogram to predict gas-related complications during transoral endoscopic resection of upper gastrointestinal submucosal lesions,”and in conjunction with our evaluation and additions to the relevant content,radiographs may help screen patients at high risk for gas-related complications.Controlling blood glucose levels,shortening the duration of surgery,and choosing the most appropriate surgical resection may positively impact the prognosis of patients at high risk for gas-related complications during transoral endoscopic resection of upper gastrointestinal submucosal lesions.

Analysis and Optimization of the Electrohydraulic Forming Process of Sinusoidal Corrugation Tubes

Aluminum alloy thin-walled structures are widely used in the automotive industry due to their advantages related to light weight and crashworthiness.They can be produced at room temperature by the electrohydraulic forming process.In the present study,the influence of the related parameters on the forming quality of a 6063 aluminum alloy sinusoidal corrugation tube has been assessed.In particular,the orthogonal experimental design(OED)and central composite design(CCD)methods have been used.Through the range analysis and variance analysis of the experimental data,the influence degree of wire diameter(WD)and discharge energy(DE)on the forming quality was determined.Multiple regression analysis was performed using the response surface methodology.A prediction model for the attaching-die state coefficient was established accordingly.The following optimal arrangement of parameters was obtained(WD=0.759 mm,DE=2.926 kJ).The attaching-die state coefficient reached the peak value of 0.001.Better optimized wire diameter and discharge energy for a better attaching-die state could be screened by CCD compared with OED.The response surface method in CCD was more suitable for the design and optimization of the considered process parameters.

Three-dimensional structural models,evolution and petroleum geological significances of transtensional faults in the Ziyang area,central Sichuan Basin,SW China

With drilling and seismic data of Transtensional(strike-slip)Fault System in the Ziyang area of the central Sichuan Basin,SW China plane-section integrated structural interpretation,3-D fault framework model building,fault throw analyzing,and balanced profile restoration,it is pointed out that the transtensional fault system in the Ziyang 3-D seismic survey consists of the northeast-trending FI19 and FI20 fault zones dominated by extensional deformation,as well as 3 sets of northwest-trending en echelon normal faults experienced dextral shear deformation.Among them,the FI19 and FI20 fault zones cut through the Neoproterozoic to Lower Triassic Jialingjiang Formation,presenting a 3-D structure of an“S”-shaped ribbon.And before Permian and during the Early Triassic,the FI19 and FI20 fault zones underwent at least two periods of structural superimposition.Besides,the 3 sets of northwest-trending en echelon normal faults are composed of small normal faults arranged in pairs,with opposite dip directions and partially left-stepped arrangement.And before Permian,they had formed almost,restricting the eastward growth and propagation of the FI19 fault zone.The FI19 and FI20 fault zones communicate multiple sets of source rocks and reservoirs from deep to shallow,and the timing of fault activity matches well with oil and gas generation peaks.If there were favorable Cambrian-Triassic sedimentary facies and reservoirs developing on the local anticlinal belts of both sides of the FI19 and FI20 fault zones,the major reservoirs in this area are expected to achieve breakthroughs in oil and gas exploration.

Method of fabricating artificial rock specimens based on extrusion free forming(EFF)3D printing

Three-dimensional(3D)printing technology has been widely used to create artificial rock samples in rock mechanics.While 3D printing can create complex fractures,the material still lacks sufficient similarity to natural rock.Extrusion free forming(EFF)is a 3D printing technique that uses clay as the printing material and cures the specimens through high-temperature sintering.In this study,we attempted to use the EFF technology to fabricate artificial rock specimens.The results show the physico-mechanical properties of the specimens are significantly affected by the sintering temperature,while the nozzle diameter and layer thickness also have a certain impact.The specimens are primarily composed of SiO_(2),with mineral compositions similar to that of natural rocks.The density,uniaxial compressive strength(UCS),elastic modulus,and tensile strength of the printed specimens fall in the range of 1.65–2.54 g/cm3,16.46–50.49 MPa,2.17–13.35 GPa,and 0.82–17.18 MPa,respectively.It is capable of simulating different types of rocks,especially mudstone,sandstone,limestone,and gneiss.However,the simulation of hard rocks with UCS exceeding 50 MPa still requires validation.

Boulder-induced form roughness and skin shear stresses in a gravel-bed stream

Boulder spacing in mountain rivers and near-wake flow zones within the boulder array is very useful for fish habitat and growth of aquatic organisms.The present study aims to investigate how the boulder array and spacing influence the near-bed flow structures in a gravel-bed stream.Boulders are staggered over a gravel-bed stream with three different inter-boulder spacing namely(a)large(b)medium and(c)small spacing.An acoustic Doppler velocimeter was used for flow measurements in a rectangular channel and the results were compared with those acquired from numerical simulation.The time-averaged velocity profiles at the near-wake flow zones of boulders experience maximum flow retardation which is an outcome of the boulder-induced form roughness.The ratio of velocity differences associated to form and skin roughness and its positive magnitude reveals the dominance of form roughness closest to the boulders.Form roughness computed is 1.75 to 2 times higher than the skin roughness at the near-wake flow region.In particular,the collective immobile boulders placed at different inter-boulder spacings developed high and low bed shear stresses closest to the boulders.The low bed shear stresses characterised by a secondary peak developed at the trough location of the boulders is attributed to the skin shear stress.Further,the spatial averaging of time-averaged flow quantities gives additional impetus to present an improved illustration of fluid shear stresses.The formation of form-induced shear stress is estimated to be 17%to 23%of doubleaveraged Reynolds shear stress and partially compensates for the damping of time-averaged Reynolds shear stress in the interfacial sub-layer.The quadrant analysis of spatial velocity fluctuations depicts that the form-induced shear stresses are dominant in the interfacial sub-layer and have no significance above the gravel-bed surface.

Xenia Materials将在FORMNEXT EXPO 2023上推出新型树脂材料

特种热塑性化合物领域的全球领先企业Xenia^(■)Materials宣布,在FORMNEXT EXPO 2023上推出其全新系列的3D打印材料。该系列包括与纤维和添加剂相结合的独特树脂,可用于任何基于颗粒的FDM打印机,既可用于LSAM生产也可用于高精度生产。这些高性能复合材料3DP MATERIALS在高温和低温条件下都能表现出令人印象深刻的刚度、尺寸稳定性、低密度、低热膨胀性和高耐用性。

A Hybrid Optimization Approach of Single Point Incremental Sheet Forming of AISI 316L Stainless Steel Using Grey Relation Analysis Coupled with Principal Component Analysiss

We investigated the parametric optimization on incremental sheet forming of stainless steel using Grey Relational Analysis(GRA) coupled with Principal Component Analysis(PCA). AISI 316L stainless steel sheets were used to develop double wall angle pyramid with aid of tungsten carbide tool. GRA coupled with PCA was used to plan the experiment conditions. Control factors such as Tool Diameter(TD), Step Depth(SD), Bottom Wall Angle(BWA), Feed Rate(FR) and Spindle Speed(SS) on Top Wall Angle(TWA) and Top Wall Angle Surface Roughness(TWASR) have been studied. Wall angle increases with increasing tool diameter due to large contact area between tool and workpiece. As the step depth, feed rate and spindle speed increase,TWASR decreases with increasing tool diameter. As the step depth increasing, the hydrostatic stress is raised causing severe cracks in the deformed surface. Hence it was concluded that the proposed hybrid method was suitable for optimizing the factors and response.

The Application of Formative Assessment in Interactive Comprehensive English Classroom Teaching

Teaching evaluation is an important part of the teaching process of college English courses,and effective formative assessment can reflect the entire teaching process from multiple perspectives and ensure the smooth achievement of teaching objectives.Formative assessment is an assessment that runs through the entire learning process,based on humanism and constructivism,with various forms of evaluation.

Urban Spatial Form Optimization Strategies Based on the Principle of Climate Adaptability of Regional Architecture: A Case Study of Traditional Cave Dwelling Villages in Northern Shaanxi Province

A multitude of climate-adaptive design approaches are embedded in regional architecture,which have a positive impact on addressing the deformed development of urban spatial patterns and the dual challenges of climate and resources.This paper examines the principles of climate adaptability embedded in the site layout and spatial organization characteristics of traditional cave dwelling villages in northern Shaanxi Province.The extracted climate adaptability principles are summarized,and the resulting design strategies that are well-suited to the contemporary urban space form are presented.Through analysis,it can be observed that traditional cave dwelling villages in northern Shaanxi are predominantly situated on south-facing slopes in proximity to water at low altitudes.These villages are characterized by compact building groups and east-west development,which is constrained by the elements of mountains and rivers.A two-level street system is generated,comprising streets parallel to the contour line and roadways perpendicular to the contour line.This results in the formation of a courtyard form enclosed by mountains.Such site layout and spatial organization exhibit excellent climate adaptability with regard to heat,ventilation,and wind storage.In light of the aforementioned considerations,the following urban spatial form design strategies are put forth:①the topographic height difference can be exploited to obtain sufficient sunshine;②the group shape can be optimized in order to reduce building energy consumption;③the best orientation of the building can be chosen to take account of both winter and summer conditions;④the height and length can be combined in order to form natural masking;⑤the D/H ratio of streets and roadways should be controlled to achieve a balance between heat gain and cooling of groups;⑥vents should be set appropriately to optimize group ventilation;⑦climate buffers should be established to increase the level of climate response.