Determination of the cut-off score of an endoscopic scoring method to predict whether elderly patients with dysphagia can eat pureed diets

AIM: To identify the cut-off value for predicting the ability of elderly patients with dysphagia to swallow pureed diets using a new endoscopy scoring method. METHODS: Endoscopic swallowing evaluation of pureed diets were done in patients ≥ 65 years with dysphagia. The Hyodo-Komagane score for endoscopic swallowing evaluation is expressed as the sum(0-12) of four degrees(0-3) with four parameters:(1) salivary pooling in the vallecula and piriform sinuses;(2) the response of glottal closure reflex induced by touching the epiglottis with the endoscope;(3) the location of the bolus at the time of swallow onset assessed by "white-out" following swallowing of test jelly; and(4) pharyngeal clearance after swallowing of test jelly. We used receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve analysis to retrospectively analyze the association between the total score and successful oral intake of pureed diets. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-eight patients were enrolled including 113 men(63%), mean age 83 years(range, 66-98). One hundred and twenty-six patients(71%) were able to eat pureed diets during the observation period(mean ± SD, 19 ± 14 d). In ROC analysis, the cut-off value of the score for eating the pureed diets was 7(sensitivity = 0.98; specificity = 0.91).CONCLUSION: The Hyodo-Komagane endoscopic score is useful to predict the ability to eat pureed diets in elderly patients with dysphagia.

An in-situ study of static recrystallization in Mg using high temperature EBSD

It has been a common method to improve the mechanical properties of metals by manipulating their microstructures via static recrystallization,i.e.,through heat treatment.Therefore,the knowledge of recrystallization and grain growth is critical to the success of the technique.In the present work,by using in-situ high temperature EBSD,the mechanisms that control recrystallization and grain growth of an extruded pure Mg were studied.The experimental results revealed that the grains of priority for dynamic recrystallization exhibit fading competitiveness under static recrystallization.It is also found that grain boundary movement or grain growth is likely to show an inverse energy gradient effect,i.e.,low energy grains tend to swallow or grow into high energy grains,and grain boundaries of close to 30°exhibit superior growth advantage to others.Another finding is that{10-12}tensile twin boundaries are sites of hardly observed for recrystallization,and are finally swallowed by adjacent recrystallized grains.The above findings may give comprehensive insights of static recrystallization and grain growth of Mg,and may guide the design of advanced materials processing in microstructural engineering.

The Early Mesozoic NE-SW Extensional Model and Exhumation Processes at the Southeastern Margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt:Insights from the Strain and Kinematic Vorticity Analysis of the Sonid Zuoqi Ductile Detachment Zone

The Sonid Zuoqi ductile detachment zone is located at the southeastern margin of the Central Asian orogenic belt(CAOB),striking EW and dipping to the S.The major rock type of the Sonid Zuoqi ductile detachment zone is mylonite derived from granite.The sequence of mylonite features is:(1)S and C foliations of mylonite,and(2)extensional crenulation cleavage(ecc)or C′and the kinematic vorticity(Wk)value changed from 0.70 to 0.95 and from 0.37 to 0.69,respectively;the strain type of the mylonites within the Sonid Zuoqi ductile detachment zone is compressional to planar strain.The strong deformation mylonite and Halatu plutons yielded a zircon U-Pb age of 244 Ma and a zircon(U-Th)/He age of 214 Ma,respectively.Based on the strain and kinematic vorticity analysis,together with the zircon U-Pb and zircon(U-Th)/He ages and the regional tectonic background,the study area experienced three stage evolution:tangential simpleshear(244 Ma),simple-shear-dominated general shear represented by upper crustal extension(224 Ma)and pure-shear-dominated general shear represented by the Halatu pluton doming(214 Ma),which constrained the early Mesozoic NE-SW crustal extension at the southeastern margin of the CAOB.This NE-SW extension probably originated from the postorogenic extensional collapse of the CAOB,subsequent exhumation being controlled by the far afield effects of the closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk belt.

Effects of cold rolling path on recrystallization behavior and mechanical properties of pure copper during annealing

The recrystallization behavior,grain boundary characteristic distribution,and mechanical properties of pure Cu sheets that were subjected to different cold rolling paths,and then annealed at 400°C for 10,30,60,and 420 min,were investigated.Different rolling paths changed the grain boundary orientations of cold-rolled copper,causing recrystallized grains to nucleate and grow in an oriented manner.However,the evolution of the texture indicated that cold-rolled copper with different rolling paths did not show an obvious preferred orientation after annealing.The RD-60 specimen exhibited the smallest grain size(6.6μm).The results indicated that the grain size and low-ΣCSL grain boundaries worked together to provide RD-60 samples with appropriate mechanical properties and high plasticity.The yield strength,ultimate tensile strength,and elongation of RD-60 sample were 81 MPa,230 MPa,and 49%,respectively.These results could provide guidance for tuning the microstructures and properties of pure Cu foils,as well as designing fabrication routes for pure Cu foils through processes such as rolling and drawing.

Stable operation of highly loaded pure Si-Fe anode under ambient pressure via carboxy silane-directed robust solid electrolyte interphase

Incorporation of higher content Si anode material beyond 5 wt% to Li-ion batteries(LIBs)is challenging,owing to large volume change,swelling,and solid electrolyte interphase(SEI)instability issues.Herein,a strategy of diacetoxydimethylsilane(DAMS)additive-directed SEI stabilization is proposed for a stable operation of Si-0.33FeSi_(2)(named as Si-Fe)anode without graphite,which provides siloxane inorganics and organics enrichment that compensate insufficient passivation of fluoroethylene carbonate(FEC)additive and reduce a dependence on FEC.Unprecedented stable cycling performance of highly loaded(3.5 mA h cm^(-2))pure Si-Fe anode is achieved with 2 wt%DAMS combined with 9 wt%FEC additives under ambient pressure,yielding high capacity 1270 mA h g^(-1)at 0.5 C and significantly improved capacity retention of 81% after 100 cycles,whereas short circuit and rapid capacity fade occur with FEC only additive.DAMS-directed robust SEI layer dramatically suppresses swelling and particles crossover through separator,and therefore prevents short circuit,demonstrating a possible operation of pure Si or Sidominant anodes in the next-generation high-energy-density and safe LIBs.

A low-frequency pure metal metamaterial absorber with continuously tunable stiffness

To address the incompatibility between high environmental adaptability and deep subwavelength characteristics in conventional local resonance metamaterials,and overcome the deficiencies in the stability of existing active control techniques for band gaps,this paper proposes a design method of pure metal vibration damping metamaterial with continuously tunable stiffness for wideband elastic wave absorption.We design a dual-helix narrow-slit pure metal metamaterial unit,which possesses the triple advantage of high spatial compactness,low stiffness characteristics,and high structural stability,enabling the opening of elastic flexural band gaps in the low-frequency range.Similar to the principle of a sliding rheostat,the introduction of continuously sliding plug-ins into the helical slits enables the continuous variation of the stiffness of the metamaterial unit,achieving a continuously tunable band gap effect.This successfully extends the effective band gap by more than ten times.The experimental results indicate that this metamaterial unit can be used as an additional vibration absorber to absorb the low-frequency vibration energy effectively.Furthermore,it advances the metamaterial absorbers from a purely passive narrowband design to a wideband tunable one.The pure metal double-helix metamaterials retain the subwavelength properties of metamaterials and are suitable for deployment in harsh environments.Simultaneously,by adjusting its stiffness,it substantially broadens the effective band gap range,presenting promising potential applications in various mechanical equipment operating under adverse conditions.

Strongly Coupled Ag/Sn-SnO_(2)Nanosheets Toward CO_(2)Electroreduction to Pure HCOOH Solutions at Ampere‑Level Current

Electrocatalytic reduction of CO_(2) converts intermittent renewable electricity into value-added liquid products with an enticing prospect,but its practical application is hampered due to the lack of high-performance electrocatalysts.Herein,we elaborately design and develop strongly coupled nanosheets composed of Ag nanoparticles and Sn-SnO_(2) grains,designated as Ag/Sn-SnO_(2) nanosheets(NSs),which possess optimized electronic structure,high electrical conductivity,and more accessible sites.As a result,such a catalyst exhibits unprecedented catalytic performance toward CO_(2)-to-formate conversion with near-unity faradaic efficiency(≥90%),ultrahigh partial current density(2,000 mA cm^(−2)),and superior long-term stability(200 mA cm^(−2),200 h),surpassing the reported catalysts of CO_(2) electroreduction to formate.Additionally,in situ attenuated total reflection-infrared spectra combined with theoretical calculations revealed that electron-enriched Sn sites on Ag/Sn-SnO_(2)NSs not only promote the formation of*OCHO and alleviate the energy barriers of*OCHO to*HCOOH,but also impede the desorption of H*.Notably,the Ag/Sn-SnO_(2)NSs as the cathode in a membrane electrode assembly with porous solid electrolyte layer reactor can continuously produce~0.12 M pure HCOOH solution at 100 mA cm^(−2)over 200 h.This work may inspire further development of advanced electrocatalysts and innovative device systems for promoting practical application of producing liquid fuels from CO_(2).

“Component flow”conditions and its effects on enhancing production of continental medium-to-high maturity shale oil

Based on the production curves,changes in hydrocarbon composition and quantities over time,and production systems from key trial production wells in lacustrine shale oil areas in China,fine fraction cutting experiments and molecular dynamics numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the effects of changes in shale oil composition on macroscopic fluidity.The concept of“component flow”for shale oil was proposed,and the formation mechanism and conditions of component flow were discussed.The research reveals findings in four aspects.First,a miscible state of light,medium and heavy hydrocarbons form within micropores/nanopores of underground shale according to similarity and intermiscibility principles,which make components with poor fluidity suspended as molecular aggregates in light and medium hydrocarbon solvents,such as heavy hydrocarbons,thereby decreasing shale oil viscosity and enhancing fluidity and outflows.Second,small-molecule aromatic hydrocarbons act as carriers for component flow,and the higher the content of gaseous and light hydrocarbons,the more conducive it is to inhibit the formation of larger aggregates of heavy components such as resin and asphalt,thus increasing their plastic deformation ability and bringing about better component flow efficiency.Third,higher formation temperatures reduce the viscosity of heavy hydrocarbon components,such as wax,thereby improving their fluidity.Fourth,preservation conditions,formation energy,and production system play important roles in controlling the content of light hydrocarbon components,outflow rate,and forming stable“component flow”,which are crucial factors for the optimal compatibility and maximum flow rate of multi-component hydrocarbons in shale oil.The component flow of underground shale oil is significant for improving single-well production and the cumulative ultimate recovery of shale oil.

Clinical characteristics and analysis of vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss in different ages

BACKGROUND Numerous studies have found that patients experiencing sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSHL),with or without accompanying vertigo,often show impaired vestibular function.However,there is a dearth of studies analyzing vestibularevoked myogenic potentials(VEMPs)in SSHL patients across various age groups.AIM To investigate vestibular condition in SSHL patients across various age demographics.METHODS Clinical data of 84 SSHL patients were investigated retrospectively.Audiometry,cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials(c-VEMPs),and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials(o-VEMPs)were conducted on these patients.Parameters assessed included the latencies of P1 and N1 waves,as well as the amplitudes of P1–N1 waves.Moreover,the study evaluated the influence of factors such as sex,affected side,configuration of hearing loss,and presence of accompanying vertigo.RESULTS Among the 84 SSHL patients,no significant differences were observed among the three groups in terms of gender,affected side,and the presence or absence of vertigo.Group II(aged 41–60 years)had the highest number of SSHL cases.The rates of absent o-VEMPs in the affected ears were 20.83%,31.58%,and 22.72%for the three age groups,respectively,with no statistically significant difference among them.The rates of absent c-VEMPs in the affected ears were 8.3%,34.21%,and 18.18%for the three age groups,respectively,with significant differences.In the unaffected ears,there were differences observed in the extraction rates of o-VEMPs in the unaffected ears among the age groups.In the three age groups,no significant differences were noted in the three age groups in the latencies of P1 and N1 waves or in the amplitude of N1–P1 waves for c-VEMPs and o-VEMPs,either on the affected side or on the unaffected side,across the three age groups.CONCLUSION The extraction rate of VEMPs is more valuable than parameters.Regardless of the presence of vertigo,vestibular organs are involved in SSHL.Notably,SSHL patients aged 41–60 appear more susceptible to damage to the inferior vestibular nerve and saccule.

Design and Analysis of Power and Transmission System of Downhole Pure Electric Command Vehicle

Electric vehicles use electric motors, which turn electrical energy into mechanical energy. As electric motors are conventionally used in all the industry, it is an established development site. It’s a mature technology with ideal power and torque curves for vehicular operation. Conventional vehicles use oil and gas as fuel or energy storage. Although they also have an excellent economic impact, the continuous use of oil and gas threatened the world’s reservation of total oil and gas. Also, they emit carbon dioxide and some toxic ingredients through the vehicle’s tailpipe, which causes the greenhouse effect and seriously impacts the environment. So, as an alternative, electric car refers to a green technology of decarbonization with zero emission of greenhouse gases through the tailpipe. So, they can remove the problem of greenhouse gas emissions and solve the world’s remaining non-renewable energy storage problem. Pure electric vehicles (PEV) can be applied in all spheres, but their special implementation can only be seen in downhole operations. They are used for low noise and less pollution in the downhole process. In this study, the basic structure of the pure electric command vehicle is studied, the main components of the command vehicle power system, namely the selection of the drive motor and the power battery, are analyzed, and the main parameters of the drive motor and the power battery are designed and calculated. The checking calculation results show that the power and transmission system developed in this paper meets the design requirements, and the design scheme is feasible and reasonable.

PCTC货舱通风关键技术

为降低汽车运输船(Pure Car Truck Carrier,PCTC)的噪声,减小其电力消耗,对风机房和风道的主要组成部分、独立风机房和结构风机房的不同的特点进行分析,并对货舱内部流场、通风阻力、噪声控制等3方面的关键技术进行研究。结果表明:货舱内部流场主要取决于通风总体方案;控制风道通风阻力是设计的关键,对风机房选型和控制噪声有很大影响;计算流体力学(Computational Fluid Dynamics,CFD)分析可有效提高设计的准确性。研究成果可为PCTC货舱通风设计提供一定参考。

基于三阶段数据包络分析模型的苏浙沪皖经济圈医院运行效率研究

目的分析2019年苏浙沪皖经济圈内27个城市医院运行效率,为优化苏浙沪皖卫生资源配置和规划提供参考。方法选取苏浙沪皖27个城市医院指标数据,运用三阶段数据包络分析(data envelopment analysis,DEA)模型法,在控制环境变量和剔除随机效应后效率分析。结果苏浙沪皖经济圈医院综合技术效率、纯技术效率和规模效率均值分别为0.941、0.948和0.992。结论苏浙沪皖经济圈内医院运行效率有所差异,环境变量对医院运行效率影响较大,对外部的资源配置存在敏感性不同的差异,应统筹区域医疗资源,提高医院运行效率。

Underlying mechanisms of variation in yield asymmetry and strain hardening behavior of extruded pure Mg with Gd addition

Effects of Gd addition on the strain hardening behavior and yield asymmetry of pure Mg are investigated by subjecting extruded pure Mg,Mg–5Gd,and Mg–15Gd(all in wt%)to tension and compression tests along the extrusion direction(ED).As the amount of Gd added to pure Mg increases,the basal texture tilts toward the ED and the distribution of c-axes of grains becomes randomized.Under tension,the strain hardening rates of all the materials decrease until fracture.However,under compression,the strain hardening rate increases in the early stage of deformation in pure Mg and Mg–5Gd,whereas it continuously decreases in Mg–15Gd.Pure Mg exhibits considerably high tension-compression yield asymmetry,with a compressive yield strength(CYS)to tensile yield strength(TYS)ratio of 0.4.In contrast,Mg–5Gd exhibits excellent yield symmetry with CYS/TYS of 0.9 and Mg–15Gd exhibits reversed yield asymmetry with CYS/TYS of 1.2.Underlying mechanisms of these drastically different Gd-addition-induced deformation behaviors of the materials are discussed in terms of the crystallographic distribution of grains and the relative activation stresses of basal slip,prismatic slip,pyramidal slip,and{10–12}twinning under tension and compression.

Tensile and tear-type fracture toughness of gypsum material:Direct and indirect testing methods

In this context,four specimens,i.e.(i)circumferentially notched cylindrical torsion(CNCT),(ii)circum-ferentially notched cylindrical direct tension(CNCDT),(iii)edge notch disc bend(ENDB)and(iv)three-point bend beam(3PBB),were utilized to measure the modesⅠandⅢfracture toughness values of gypsum.While the CNCT specimen provides pure modeⅢloading in a direct manner,this pure mode condition is indirectly produced by the ENDB specimen.The ENDB specimen provided lower KⅢc and a non-coplanar(i.e.twisted)fracture surface compared with the CNCT specimen,which showed a planar modeⅢfracture surface.The ENDB specimen is also employed for conducting pure modeⅠ(with different crack depths)and mixed modeⅠ/Ⅲtests.KIc value was independent of the notch depth,and it was consistent with the RILEM and ASTM standard methods.But the modeⅢfracture results were highly sensitive to the notch depth.While the fracture resistance against modeⅢwas significantly lower than that of modeⅠ,the greater work of fracture under modeⅢwas noticeable.

Optimization of Process Parameters of Continuous Microwave Drying Raspberry Puree Based on RSM and ANN-GA

To improve drying uniformity and anthocyanin content of the raspberry puree dried in a continuous microwave dryer,the effects of process parameters(microwave intensity,air velocity,and drying time)on evaluation indexes(average temperature,average moisture content,average retention rate of the total anthocyanin content,temperature contrast value,and moisture dispersion value)were investigated via the response surface method(RSM)and the artificial neural network(ANN)with genetic algorithm(GA).The results showed that the microwave intensity and drying time dominated the changes of evaluation indexes.Overall,the ANN model was superior to the RSM model with better estimation ability,and higher drying uniformity and anthocyanin retention rate were achieved for the ANN-GA model compared with RSM.The optimal parameters were microwave intensity of 5.53 W•g^(-1),air velocity of 1.22 m·s^(-1),and drying time of 5.85 min.This study might provide guidance for process optimization of microwave drying berry fruits.

Mechanisms and anisotropy of serrated flow in Mg-Gd single crystals

Serrated flow has been primarily studied at the macron scale,yet the length and times scales at which the solute-meditated dislocation pinning and de-pinning processes that underlie the phenomenon occur are largely inaccessible by macroscopic tests.Moreover,direct insights into the dominant slip systems in the serrated flow regime,which is particularly critical in Mg alloys given their high plastic anisotropy,requires the use of small-scale testing methods such as microcompression.Thus,in this work,a combination of microcompression and TEM based EDS/STEM measurements have used to critically study the temperature and strain rate dependences in single crystals of pure Mg and a Mg-Gd alloy oriented for twinning,basal-,prismatic-,and pyramidal-slip.The results provide compelling evidence that the solute drag mechanism underlie serrated flow in the alloy;they also show that serrated flow in Mg alloys is markedly anisotropic.This anisotropy is caused by differences between the Burgers vector for slip/twinning,and between the impurity diffusivity along/perpendicular to the basal plane.

NMR diffusion analysis of catalytic conversion mixtures from lignocellulose biomass using PSYCHE-iDOSY

The component analysis and structure characterization of complex mixtures of biomass conversion remain a challenging work.Hence,developing effective and easy to use techniques is necessary.Diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy(DOSY)is a non-selective and non-invasive method capable of achieving pseudo-separation and structure assignments of individual compounds from biomass mixtures by providing diffusion coefficients(D)of the components.However,the conventional 1H DOSY NMR is limited by crowded resonances when analyzing complex mixtures containing similar chemical structure resulting in similar coefficient.Herein we describe the application of an advanced diffusion NMR method,Pure Shift Yielded by CHirp Excitation DOSY(PSYCHE-iDOSY),which can record high-resolution signal diffusion spectra efficiently separating compounds in model and genuine mixture samples from cellulose,hemicellulose and lignin.Complicated sets of isomers(D-glucose/D-fructose/D-mannose and 1,2-/1,5-pentadiol),homologous compounds(ethylene glycol and 1,2-propylene glycol),model compounds of lignin,and a genuine reaction system(furfuryl alcohol hydrogenolysis with ring opening)were successfully separated in the diffusion dimension.The results show that the ultrahigh-resolution DOSY technique is capable of detecting and pseudo-separating the mixture components of C_(5)/C_(6) sugar conversion products and its derivative hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis from lignocellulose biomass.

Sustainable remediation of failed slope using helical soil nails

The performance of a helical soil nailed structure is dependent on the installation torque required and the consequent pullout resistance developed.The present research work aims at proposing theoretical models to estimate the required torque during installation of helical soil nails.Moreover,theoretical models are also developed to predict the pullout capacity of single and group of the helical nail for uniform and staggered arrangements.The proposed model predicts the pure-elastic and elastic-plastic pullout behavior of different helical nails.An equation for estimating the capacity-totorque Ratio(Kt)has also been developed for different nail shaft diameters.The results from the proposed models are validated with experimental results obtained from model testing of both single and group of helical nails.The predicted results are also compared for validation with the published literature.The results for installation torque and pullout load depict that the developed models predict values which are in accordance with the experimental results and are also found in good agreement with the published literature.Thus,the proposed models can effectively be used by the filed engineers for estimating the required installation torque and corresponding pullout capacities for single or double plate helical soil nails in cohesionless soil under surcharge pressure range of 0–50k Pa.

Auditory function in symptomatic patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 and unexposed patients:An analytical cross-sectional study

Objective:To describe audiological symptoms,audiometric profile,and distortion product otoacoustic emission in symptomatic patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection(positive RT-PCR test)and asymptomatic patients(negative RT-PCR test).Methods:An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using data obtained from clinical charts,physical examination,audiometry,and distortion product otoacoustic emission on 40 patients[case patients(CP)]recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosed by a positive RT-PCR test and 22asymptomatic participants with a negative RT-PCR test[non-case(NC)].Results:Sixty-two patients(mean age:31.1 and 28.2 years in the CP and NC groups,respectively)were included.All participants were young without significant comorbidities,risk factors for hearing loss or otological history.Vertigo(5%),tinnitus(17.5%)and aural fullness/hearing loss(35%)were found in the CP group.A statistically significant difference was found in specific frequencies(1000,4000,and 8000 Hz)and pure tone average(low and high conversational frequencies with increased threshold in the PC group compared with the NC group),which was not found in distortion product otoacoustic emission.Conclusion:Audiovestibular symptoms are frequent in symptomatic patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection.SARS-CoV-2 infection was consistently associated with an increased audiometric hearing threshold at specific frequencies and low tone average.

Tension-Compression Asymmetry in Ultrafine-grained Commercially Pure Ti Processed by ECAP

A homogenous microstructure of ultrafine-grained (UFG) commercially pure (CP) Ti characterized by equiaxed grains/subgrains with an average grain size of about 150 nm and strong prismatic fiber texture were obtained after 4 passes of equal channel angular pressing (ECAP).Tension–compression asymmetry in yield and work hardening behavior of UFG CP Ti were investigated by uniaxial tension and compression tests.The experimental results reveal that UFG CP Ti exhibits a relatively obvious tensioncompression asymmetry in yielding and work hardening behavior.The basal and prismaticslip are suppressed either for tension or compression,which is the easiest to activate.The tension twin system{1012}<1011> easily activated in compression deformation due to the prismatic fiber texture based on the Schmidt factor,consequently resulting in a lower yield strength under compression than tension.ECAP can improve the tension-compression asymmetry of CP Ti due to grain refinement.The interaction among the dislocations,grain boundaries and deformation twins are the main work hardening mechanisms for compression deformation,while the interaction between the dislocations and grain boundaries for tension deformation.Deformation twins lead to the higher work hardening under compression than tension.