Assessment of duodenogastric reflux by combined continuous intragastric pH and bilirubin monitoring

AIM: To assess the diagnostic value of a combination of continuous intragastric pH and bilirubin monitoring in the detection of duodenogastric reflux (DGR), and the effects of diet on the bilirubin absorbance. METHODS: 30 healthy volunteers were divided into two groups: standard diet group (Group 1) 18 cases, free diet group (Group 2)12 cases. Each subjects were subjected to simultaneous 24-hour intragastric pH and spectrophotometric bilirubin concentration monitoring (Bilitec 2000). RESULTS: There was no difference of preprandial phase bilirubin absorbance between two groups. The absorbance of postprandial phase was significantly increased in group 2 than group 1. There was no difference between preprandial phase and postprandial phase absorbance in group 1. Postprandial phase absorbance was significantly higher in group 2. In a comparison of bile reflux with intragastric pH during night time, there were 4 types of reflux: Simultaneous increase in absorbance and pH in only 19.6%, increase in bilirubin with unchanged pH 33.3%, pH increase with unchanged absorbance 36.3%, and both unchanged in 10.8%. Linear regression analysis showed no correlation between percentage total time of pH【4 and percentage total time of absorbance】0.14, r=0.068 P【0.05. CONCLUSION: Because of the dietary effect, high absorbance fluids or foods should be avoided in detection. Intragastric pH and bilirubin monitoring separately predict the presence of duodenal (and/or pancreatic) reflux and bile reflux. They can not substitute for each other. The detection of DGR is improved if the two parameters are combined simultaneously.

Vibration Analysis for the Comfort Assessment of Superyachts

Comfort levels on modern superyachts have recently been the object of specific attention of the most important Classification Societies, which issued new rules and regulations for evaluating noise and vibration maximum levels. These rules are named "Comfort Class Rules" and set the general criteria for noise and vibration measurements in different vessels' areas, as well as the maximum noise and vibration limit values. As far as the vibration assessment is concerned, the Comfort Class Rules follow either the ISO 6954:1984 standard or the ISO 6954:2000. After an introduction to these relevant standards, the authors herein present a procedure developed to predict the vibration levels on ships. This procedure builds on finite element linear dynamic analysis and is applied to predict the vibration levels on a 60 m superyacht considered as a case study. The results of the numerical simulations are then benchmarked against experimental data acquired during the sea trial of the vessel. This analysis also allows the authors to evaluate the global damping ratio to be used by designers in the vibration analysis of superyachts.

Prying Force Assessment Using Nonlinear Finite Element Model

Steel connection design using pre-tensioned bolts depends significantly on the value of the Prying forces exerted from the end plate. The Egyptian Code ECP （205） suggested a formula that can determine the Prying force value. In this research, the Prying force is numerically computed in a T-Stub connection using nonlinear finite element techniques. The model uses plane stress four node elements with two degrees of freedom per node to simulate the flange of the T-Stub. The bolts are simulated using a truss element with large deformation capability to allow modeling of the pretension force. Surface to surface gap elements are used in order to simulate the contact between the T-Stub and the supporting element. Parametric study on the end plate thickness, bolt size, bolt arrangement and pretension forces is performed in order to calibrate the Code formula. The parametric study covers all the practical ranges of the variables. The study revealed that the Code formula, inaccurately, determines the Prying force in a certain range. Moreover, a new equation for the prying force is developed using regression analysis on the finite element results.

A Review on the Supply-Demand Relationship and Spatial Flows of Ecosystem Services

Research on spatial flow as it relates to the relationship between the supply and demand of ecosystem services supports a significant connection between the supply of ecosystem services and human well-being.Understanding the entire process of the production and flow,as well as the use of ecosystem services,accurately assessing the balance of supply and demand of ecosystem services,and establishing a two-way feedback relationship between supply and demand are vital for the scientific management of the ecosystem and ensuring the sustainable development of regional resources.Based on a large number of relevant publications,this paper comprehensively summarizes the concepts and assessment methods of ecosystem service supply and demand from the perspective of ecosystem service supply and demand,and discusses the impacts of land use and climate change on the temporal and spatial changes of ecosystem services under the background of global change.Then,an analysis of the research progress in the ecosystem services spatial flow indicated that there are still deficiencies in the quantification of cultural services,the dynamics of ecosystem service flow and the driving mechanism of ecosystem services.We also propose that clarifying the driving mechanism and transfer process of ecosystem services,and realizing the mutual conversion between different spatial-temporal scales of ecosystem services,is an important approach for improving the application of ecosystem services research in practice in the future.

Development of a mathematical model to evaluate the rate of aggregate risk of invasive alien plant species： Fuzzy risk assessment approach

This study presents a novel approach to evaluate the rate of aggregate risk of Invasive Alien Plant Species. Using risk values and grade of importance of weights of risk factors which may reflect invasiveness of plant species are considered. We use Linguistic Ordered Weighted Averaging operator to evaluate the grade of important of weights. Since the risk values and important weights are identified from two different linguistic term sets, fuzzy set theory techniques were used to combine the two sets. The rates obtained from the model were compared with NRA risk levels and the model was validated with data from known and non-invasive species. The model is improved by weighting the risk values of risk factors. The improved model produced significant results and resulted a better tracking system for identifying potential invaders than the conventional risk assessment.