This investigation deals with the intelligent system for parallel fault-tolerant diagnostic tests construction. A modified parallel algorithm for fault-tolerant diagnostic tests construction is proposed. The algorithm...This investigation deals with the intelligent system for parallel fault-tolerant diagnostic tests construction. A modified parallel algorithm for fault-tolerant diagnostic tests construction is proposed. The algorithm is allowed to optimize processing time on tests construction. A matrix model of data and knowledge representation, as well as various kinds of regularities in data and knowledge are presented. Applied intelligent system for diagnostic of mental health of population which is developed with the use of intelligent system for parallel fault-tolerant DTs construction is suggested.展开更多
Expanded polystyrene (EPS), a petroleum based plastic polystyrene, has an immense environmental impact with a degradation rate of over 500 years, and is a possible human carcinogen that may cause cancer in humans. Non...Expanded polystyrene (EPS), a petroleum based plastic polystyrene, has an immense environmental impact with a degradation rate of over 500 years, and is a possible human carcinogen that may cause cancer in humans. Nonetheless, EPS is the most commonly used material to produce takeout food containers, a single use item that is quickly discarded. With growing recognition of the high environmental costs of EPS products and their pressure on landfill resources, EPS food container bans have become increasingly popular in jurisdictions across the globe. Similar legislation has been introduced in the state of Hawaii, USA. However, since EPS is currently more cost effective than its alternatives, the widespread adoption of food containers produced with biodegradable materials remains a challenge. This study employs Conjoint Choice Experiment (CCE) to determine consumer preference and willingness to pay for plant-based EPS alternative takeout food containers and their various product attributes in the urban center of Honolulu, Hawaii. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) is used to cluster respondents into four distinct classes based on their observable attributes of choice. Results show that the majority of respondents (81.0%) are in favor of a ban on EPS takeout food containers. As an alternative, the majority of respondents prefer a container constructed out of a sugarcane material (66.49%) that is microwaveable (88.94%), water resistant (100%), and locally produced (51.23%). Moreover, this study demonstrates an increase in consumer’s willingness to pay for more environmentally friendly food containers, which may allow businesses to offset the costs of substituting EPS for biodegradable materials. These findings provide valuable information for farmers, manufacturers, and natural resource managers, and can help to guide decision makers when considering socially responsible and environmentally sustainable policies.展开更多
AIM: This study was undertaken to evaluate the hepatic effects of silybum marianum on non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: In 72 patients affected by NAFLD, main metabolic, hepatic and anti-inflammatory...AIM: This study was undertaken to evaluate the hepatic effects of silybum marianum on non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: In 72 patients affected by NAFLD, main metabolic, hepatic and anti-inflammatory parameters were assayed after 3 mo of a restricted diet and before silymarin treatment (twice a day orally). The brightness of liver echography texture (hepatorenal ratio brightness) was also defined at same time. These evaluations were repeated after 6 mo of treatment. RESULTS: Serum levels of some metabolic and anti-inflammatory data nonsignificantly lowered after 6 mo of silymarin. On the contrary, Steato test, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were significantly (P < 0.001) reduced. Instead, the AST/ALT ratio unchanged. Finally, the hepatorenal brightness ratio, as an index of hepatic steatosis, significantly (P < 0.05) dropped. CONCLUSION: The obtained results indicate that silymarin appears to be effective to reduce the biochemical, inflammatory and ultrasonic indices of hepatic steatosis. Some parameters indicative of early stage of atherosclerosis were also lowered.展开更多
Background: A new rapid Immunochromatographic test (ICT) kit (MPT64 TB Ag Kit) for detection of MPT64 Antigen in M. tuberculosis (MTB) isolates used for rapid identification of MTB isolates developed by SD (Standard D...Background: A new rapid Immunochromatographic test (ICT) kit (MPT64 TB Ag Kit) for detection of MPT64 Antigen in M. tuberculosis (MTB) isolates used for rapid identification of MTB isolates developed by SD (Standard Diagnostics) Bio line, South Korea was evaluated. The ICT is a rapid, reliable and cheaper method that can be used instead of conventional biochemical tests for confirming MTB in culture isolates in resource limited laboratories. The study also evaluated the ability of ICT to detect MPT64-Antigen before the micro MGIT could signal positive. Material/Methods: A total of 450 sputum samples of individual patients were used for the study. 152 isolates of Mycobacteria were recovered from solid and liquid media. These strains were tested for the detection of MPT64-antigen. H37Rv strain was served as the positive reference control and also used for early detection of Antigen experiment. Findings: The development of bands on both test and sample region when H37Rv strain was tested were seen (MPT64 antigen positive). When 138 MTB isolates were tested, it showed a similar banding pattern indicating 100% sensitivity. MPT64 band formation was not detected in any of the 14 isolates indicating 100% specificity. Both PPV & NPV were 100%. All the isolates negative for MPT64 Ag were confirmed as MOTT by conventional bio-chemical PNBA. The H37Rv strain showed a faint band from the 2nd day onwards from inoculation till 3rd day in the earlier Antigen detection experiment. Conclusion: Rapid identification of MTB culture isolate is a pressing need for diagnosis and proceeding to perform drug susceptibility testing. MPT64 TB Ag detection ICT kit is a rapid, reliable method, good substitute for molecular identification methods, and conventional biochemical test which is time-consuming and technically demanding. The early detection of Antigen can be used as an effective tool in diagnosis.展开更多
The stress on a test specimen during tensile testing is generally measured by a strain gauge. This method has some problems in that it would influence the measurement conditions of the tensile test and can evaluate on...The stress on a test specimen during tensile testing is generally measured by a strain gauge. This method has some problems in that it would influence the measurement conditions of the tensile test and can evaluate only the position at which the strain gauge is attached. The acoustoelastic method is proposed as a method replacing the strain gauge method. However, an ultrasonic sensor with a piezoelectric oscillator requires a coupling medium to inject an ultrasonic wave into a solid material. This condition, due to the error factor of the stress measurement, makes it difficult for the ultrasonic sensor to move on the specimen. We then tried to develop a non-contact stress measurement system during tensile testing using an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) with an SH0-plate wave and S0-Lamb wave. The EMAT can measure the propagation time in which the ultrasonic wave travels between a receiver and a transmitter without a coupling medium during the tensile testing and can move easily. The interval between the transmitter and the receiver is 10mm and can be moved along the parallel direction or the vertical direction of the tensile load. The transit time was measured by a cross-correlation method and converted into the stress on the test specimen using the acoustoelastic method. We confirmed that the stress measurement using an SH0-plate wave was superior to that with an S0-Lamb wave.展开更多
A growing body of studies and systematic reviews show evidence of the beneficial effects of physical exercise on core symptoms of ADHD. Furthermore, studies indicate that physical exercise as an adjuvant can enhance t...A growing body of studies and systematic reviews show evidence of the beneficial effects of physical exercise on core symptoms of ADHD. Furthermore, studies indicate that physical exercise as an adjuvant can enhance the effects of medication in the treatment of ADHD. Aerobic and coordinative exercises improve executive functioning through their effect on neurocognitive domains that are implicated in ADHD. It is postulated that through their specific modus operandi, aerobic exercise, by raising cortical arousal levels, improves impaired alerting functions whereas coordinative exercises improve the regulation of inhibitory control through the involvement of a higher variety of frontal-dependent cognitive processes. The increasing use of routine neurocognitive testing with continuous performance tests (CPT), such as the QbTest, at clinical assessments for ADHD allows for an innovative approach to identify the assessment impairments in alerting function and inhibition control that are related to ADHD and accordingly choose aerobic or coordinative physical exercise in a more targeted fashion.展开更多
Objective: The purpose of this study is to review the clinical experience and performance of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) method, using cell-free DNAto detect chromosomes 21, 18, 13, X, and Y abnormalities in o...Objective: The purpose of this study is to review the clinical experience and performance of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) method, using cell-free DNAto detect chromosomes 21, 18, 13, X, and Y abnormalities in over 7910 clinical samples from South Korean population. Method: Pregnant women between 1st of November 2015 to 18th of February 2018, with obstetric clinical findings participated in the study. NIPT was performed based on masivelly parallel sequencing with 0.3× low coverage paired-end sequencing using cell-free DNA in maternal plasma. Further invasive prenatal testing was recommended for pregnant women with positive NIPT results. Results: Of the total 7910 participants, 7890 (99.75%) were tested for NIPT and the remaining 20 (0.25%) were below the Quality Control (QC) standards. T13, T18, XXX, XXY and XYY had 100% of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV) and accuracy. The overall sensitivity was 100% and specificity, PPV and accuracy of all chromosomal abnormalities with further validation were 99.92%, 94.25%, and, 99.92% respectively. Conclusion: Our NIPT results showed high positive predictive value for the detection of autosomal trisomies and sex chromosome aneuploidies in our sample cohort.展开更多
Background: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of interferon-γ release assay (IGRA), a sensitive microbiological diagnostic method, in children and adolescents with suspected tuberculosis in a country ...Background: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of interferon-γ release assay (IGRA), a sensitive microbiological diagnostic method, in children and adolescents with suspected tuberculosis in a country with a high burden of tuberculosis. Method: This study included 581 children and adolescents aged 4 - 19 years who were suspected of having tuberculosis, were latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and had received at least one dose of BCG vaccine between April 17, 2019, and February 24, 2021. The study evaluated the TST results of 106 patients who had a positive Quantiferon test and were suspected of having tuberculosis. Results: The study included 581 patients aged between 4 and 19 years. Of these, 106 patients tested positive for the Quantiferon test, while 19 were indeterminate and 456 were negative. The Quantiferon test positivity rate was 18.24%. Among the 106 QFT-Plus-positive cases, 23 patients also tested positive for TST. The difference in distribution was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: The QFT-Plus test is considered an alternative to TST and other microbiological diagnostic methods for early tuberculosis diagnosis, particularly in children and adolescents.展开更多
The modified suction caisson(MSC) is a novel type of foundation for ocean engineering, consisting of a short external closed-top cylinder-shaped structure surrounding the upper part of the regular suction caisson(RSC)...The modified suction caisson(MSC) is a novel type of foundation for ocean engineering, consisting of a short external closed-top cylinder-shaped structure surrounding the upper part of the regular suction caisson(RSC). The MSC can provide larger lateral bearing capacity and limit the deflection compared with the RSC. Therefore, the MSC can be much more appropriate to use as an offshore wind turbine foundation. Model tests on the MSC in saturated sand subjected to monotonic lateral loading were carried out to investigate the effects of external structure sizes on the sand surface deformation and the earth pressure distribution along the embedded depth. Test results show that the deformation range of the sand surface increases with the increasing width and length of the external structure. The magnitude of sand upheaval around the MSC is smaller than that of the RSC and the sand upheaval value around the MSC in the loading direction decreases with the increasing external structure dimensions. The net earth pressure in the loading direction acting on the internal compartment of the MSC is smaller than that of the RSC at the same embedded depth. The maximum net earth pressure acting on the external structure outer wall in the loading direction is larger than that of the internal compartment, indicating that a considerable amount of the lateral load and moment is resisted by the external skirt structure.展开更多
At present,cancer is still an important factor threatening human health.Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the top three most common cancers worldwide and one of the deadliest malignancies in humans.The latest data showe...At present,cancer is still an important factor threatening human health.Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the top three most common cancers worldwide and one of the deadliest malignancies in humans.The latest data showed that CRC incidence and mortality rank third and second,respectively,among global malignancies.Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial to reduce the morbidity,mortality and improve survival of patients with CRC,but the current early diagnostic methods have limitations.The effectiveness and compliance of diagnostic methods have a certain impact on whether people choose screening.In this editorial,we explore strategies for the early diagnosis of CRC,including stool-based,blood-based,direct visualization,and imaging examinations.展开更多
Over the past few years, many researchers have attempted to develop non-invasive prenatal testing methods in order to investigate the genetic status of the fetus. The aim is to avoid invasive procedures such as chorio...Over the past few years, many researchers have attempted to develop non-invasive prenatal testing methods in order to investigate the genetic status of the fetus. The aim is to avoid invasive procedures such as chorionic villus and amniotic fluid sampling, which result in a significant risk for pregnancy loss. The discovery of cell free fetal DNA circulating in the maternal blood has great potential for the development of non-invasive prenatal testing(NIPT) methodologies. Such strategies have been successfully applied for the determination of the fetal rhesus status and inherited monogenic disease but the field of fetal aneuploidy investigation seems to be more challenging. The main reason for this is that the maternal cell free DNA in the mother's plasma is far more abundant, and because it is identical to half of the corresponding fetal DNA. Approaches developed are mainly based on next generation sequencing(NGS) technologies and epigenetic genetic modifications, such as fetal-maternal DNA differential methylation. At present, genetic services for non-invasive fetal aneuploidy detection are offered using NGS-based approaches but, for reasons that are presented herein, they still serve as screening tests which are not readily accessed by the majority of couples. Here we discuss the limitations of both strategies for NIPT and the future potential of the methods developed.展开更多
Liver cancer represents a grave hepatic condition and constitutes a significant global health concern.Surgical resection remains the principal therapeutic modality for liver cancer.Nevertheless,perioperative malnutrit...Liver cancer represents a grave hepatic condition and constitutes a significant global health concern.Surgical resection remains the principal therapeutic modality for liver cancer.Nevertheless,perioperative malnutrition exerts a notable impact on patients with liver cancer,emerging as an independent risk factor for disease mortality and adverse outcomes.Hence,precise nutritional diagnosis and timely nutritional support hold the potential to enhance therapeutic efficacy and quality of life for liver cancer patients.This study represents a meticulous foray into the literature,extracting data from PubMed,Web of Science,and EMBASE databases,with a focus on the past 5 years.It scrutinizes the impact of malnutrition on patients undergoing liver cancer surgery,the etiological underpinnings of malnutrition within this patient cohort,the critical assessment of perioperative nutritional status,and the strategic approaches to nutritional support.Utilizing rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria,the amassed scholarly works are meticulously synthesized,methodically organized,and categorically elaborated upon.Ultimately,the authors propose the incorporation of a multidisciplinary nutrition management team during the perioperative period,comprising nutritionists,pharmacists,physicians,nurses,psychologists,and rehabilitation therapists,among other specialized professionals.Together,they collaborate to devise and implement personalized nutritional support plans,monitor patients’nutritional status,and make necessary adjustments as required.Through comprehensive management and intervention,improvements in the nutritional status of liver cancer patients can be achieved,thereby enhancing surgical success rates and facilitating postoperative recovery.It is believed that this manuscript will offer valuable insights to advance the nutritional management during the perioperative phase of liver cancer,aiding in ameliorating patients'nutritional status and treatment outcomes.展开更多
BACKGROUND Carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)and cytology in pancreatic cystic fluid are suboptimal for evaluation of pancreatic cystic neoplasms.Genetic testing and microforceps biopsy are promising tools for pre-operativ...BACKGROUND Carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)and cytology in pancreatic cystic fluid are suboptimal for evaluation of pancreatic cystic neoplasms.Genetic testing and microforceps biopsy are promising tools for pre-operative diagnostic improvement but comparative performance of both methods is unknown.AIM To compare the accuracy of genetic testing and microforceps biopsy in pancreatic cysts referred for surgery.METHODS We performed a literature search in Medline,Scopus,and Web of Science for studies evaluating genetic testing of cystic fluid and microforceps biopsy of pancreatic cysts,with endoscopic ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration(EUSFNA)prior to surgery and surgical pathology as reference standard for diagnosis.We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy for:1-benign cysts;2-mucinous low-risk cysts;3-high-risk cysts,and the diagnostic yield and rate of correctly identified cysts with microforceps biopsy and molecular analysis.We also assessed publication bias,heterogeneity,and study quality.RESULTS Eight studies,including 1206 patients,of which 203(17%)referred for surgery who met the inclusion criteria were analyzed in the systematic review,and seven studies were included in the meta-analysis.Genetic testing and microforceps biopsies were identical for diagnosis of benign cysts.Molecular analysis was superior for diagnosis of both low and high-risk mucinous cysts,with sensitivities of 0.89(95%CI:0.79-0.95)and 0.57(95%CI:0.42-0.71),specificities of 0.88(95%CI:0.75-0.95)and 0.88(95%CI:0.80-0.93)and AUC of 0.9555 and 0.92,respectively.The diagnostic yield was higher in microforceps biopsies than in genetic analysis(0.73 vs 0.54,respectively)but the rates of correctly identified cysts were identical(0.73 with 95%CI:0.62-0.82 vs 0.71 with 95%CI:0.49-0.86,respectively).CONCLUSION Genetic testing and microforceps biopsies are useful second tests,with identical results in benign pancreatic cysts.Genetic analysis performs better for low-and high-risk cysts but has lower diagnostic yield.展开更多
Objective:To analyze the clinical value of non-invasive prenatal testing(NIPT)in detecting chromosomal copy number variations(CNVs)and to explore the relationship between gene expression and clinical manifestations of...Objective:To analyze the clinical value of non-invasive prenatal testing(NIPT)in detecting chromosomal copy number variations(CNVs)and to explore the relationship between gene expression and clinical manifestations of chromosomal copy number variations.Methods:3551 naturally conceived singleton pregnant women who underwent NIPT were included in this study.The NIPT revealed abnormalities other than sex chromosome abnormalities and trisomy 13,18,and 21.Pregnant women with chromosome copy number variations underwent genetic counseling and prenatal ultrasound examination.Interventional prenatal diagnosis and chromosome microarray analysis(CMA)were performed.The clinical phenotypes and pregnancy outcomes of different prenatal diagnoses were analyzed.Additionally,a follow-up was conducted by telephone to track fetal development after birth,at six months,and one year post-birth.Results:A total of 53 cases among 3551 cases showed chromosomal copy number variation.Interventional prenatal diagnosis was performed in 36 cases:27 cases were negative and 8 were consistent with the NIPT test results.This indicates that NIPT’s positive predictive value(PPV)in CNVs is 22.22%.Conclusion:NIPT has certain clinical significance in screening chromosome copy number variations and is expected to become a routine screening for chromosomal microdeletions and microduplications.However,further interventional prenatal diagnosis is still needed to identify fetal CNVs.展开更多
Each rock joint is unique by nature which means that utilization of replicas in direct shear tests is required in experimental parameter studies.However,a method to acquire knowledge about the ability of the replicas ...Each rock joint is unique by nature which means that utilization of replicas in direct shear tests is required in experimental parameter studies.However,a method to acquire knowledge about the ability of the replicas to imitate the shear mechanical behavior of the rock joint and their dispersion in direct shear testing is lacking.In this study,a novel method is presented for geometric quality assurance of replicas.The aim is to facilitate generation of high-quality direct shear testing data as a prerequisite for reliable subsequent analyses of the results.In Part 1 of this study,two quality assurance parameters,smf and V_(Hp100),are derived and their usefulness for evaluation of geometric deviations,i.e.geometric reproducibility,is shown.In Part 2,the parameters are validated by showing a correlation between the parameters and the shear mechanical behavior,which qualifies the parameters for usage in the quality assurance method.Unique results from direct shear tests presenting comparisons between replicas and the rock joint show that replicas fulfilling proposed threshold values of σ_(mf)<0.06 mm and|V_(Hp100)|<0.2 mm have a narrow dispersion and imitate the shear mechanical behavior of the rock joint in all aspects apart from having a slightly lower peak shear strength.The wear in these replicas,which have similar morphology as the rock joint,is in the same areas as in the rock joint.The wear is slightly larger in the rock joint and therefore the discrepancy in peak shear strength derives from differences in material properties,possibly from differences in toughness.It is shown by application of the suggested method that the quality assured replicas manufactured following the process employed in this study phenomenologically capture the shear strength characteristics,which makes them useful in parameter studies.展开更多
1) Background: Rapid and acurate diagnostic testing for case identification, quarantine, and contact tracing is essential for managing the COVID 19 pandemic. Rapid antigen detection tests are available, however, it is...1) Background: Rapid and acurate diagnostic testing for case identification, quarantine, and contact tracing is essential for managing the COVID 19 pandemic. Rapid antigen detection tests are available, however, it is important to evaluate their performances before use. We tested a rapid antigen detection of SARS-CoV-2, based on the immunochromatography (Boson Biotech SARS-CoV-2 Ag Test (Xiamen Boson Biotech Co., Ltd., China)) and the results were compared with the real time reverse transcriptase-Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (Gold standard) results;2) Methods: From November 2021 to December 2021, samples were collected from symptomatic patients and asymptomatic individuals referred for testing in a hospital during the second pandemic wave in Gabon. All these participants attending “CTA Angondjé”, a field hospital set up as part of the management of COVID-19 in Gabon. Two nasopharyngeal swabs were collected in all the patients, one for Ag test and the other for RT-PCR;3) Results: A total of 300 samples were collected from 189 symptomatic and 111 asymptomatic individuals. The sensitivity and specificity of the antigen test were 82.5% [95%CI 73.8 - 89.3] and 97.9 % [95%CI 92.2 - 98.2] respectively, and the diagnostic accuracy was 84.4% (95% CI: 79.8 - 88.3%). The antigen test was more likely to be positive for samples with RT-PCR Ct values ≤ 32, with a sensitivity of 89.8%;4) Conclusions: The Boson Biotech SARS-CoV-2 Ag Test has good sensitivity and can detect SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially among symptomatic individuals with low viral load. This test could be incorporated into efficient testing algorithms as an alternative to PCR to decrease diagnostic delays and curb viral transmission.展开更多
BACKGROUND Patatin like phospholipase domain containing 8(PNPLA8)has been shown to play a significant role in various cancer entities.Previous studies have focused on its roles as an antioxidant and in lipid peroxidat...BACKGROUND Patatin like phospholipase domain containing 8(PNPLA8)has been shown to play a significant role in various cancer entities.Previous studies have focused on its roles as an antioxidant and in lipid peroxidation.However,the role of PNPLA8 in colorectal cancer(CRC)progression is unclear.AIM To explore the prognostic effects of PNPLA8 expression in CRC.METHODS A retrospective cohort containing 751 consecutive CRC patients was enrolled.PNPLA8 expression in tumor samples was evaluated by immunohistochemistry staining and semi-quantitated with immunoreactive scores.CRC patients were divided into high and low PNPLA8 expression groups based on the cut-off va-lues,which were calculated by X-tile software.The prognostic value of PNPLA8 was identified using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.The over-all survival(OS)rates of CRC patients in the study cohort were compared with Kaplan-Meier analysis and Log-rank test.RESULTS PNPLA8 expression was significantly associated with distant metastases in our cohort(P=0.048).CRC patients with high PNPLA8 expression indicated poor OS(median OS=35.3,P=0.005).CRC patients with a higher PNPLA8 expression at either stage I and II or stage III and IV had statistically significant shorter OS.For patients with left-sided colon and rectal cancer,the survival curves of two PN-PLA8-expression groups showed statistically significant differences.Multivariate analysis also confirmed that high PNPLA8 expression was an independent prog-nostic factor for overall survival(hazard ratio HR=1.328,95%CI:1.016-1.734,P=0.038).展开更多
Cyclic loads generated by environmental factors,such as winds,waves,and trains,will likely lead to performance degradation in pile foundations,resulting in issues like permanent displacement accumulation and bearing c...Cyclic loads generated by environmental factors,such as winds,waves,and trains,will likely lead to performance degradation in pile foundations,resulting in issues like permanent displacement accumulation and bearing capacity attenuation.This paper presents a semi-analytical solution for predicting the axial cyclic behavior of piles in sands.The solution relies on two enhanced nonlinear load-transfer models considering stress-strain hysteresis and cyclic degradation in the pile-soil interaction.Model parameters are calibrated through cyclic shear tests of the sand-steel interface and laboratory geotechnical testing of sands.A novel aspect involves the meticulous formulation of the shaft loadtransfer function using an interface constitutive model,which inherently inherits the interface model’s advantages,such as capturing hysteresis,hardening,degradation,and particle breakage.The semi-analytical solution is computed numerically using the matrix displacement method,and the calculated values are validated through model tests performed on non-displacement and displacement piles in sands.The results demonstrate that the predicted values show excellent agreement with the measured values for both the static and cyclic responses of piles in sands.The displacement pile response,including factors such as bearing capacity,mobilized shaft resistance,and convergence rate of permanent settlement,exhibit improvements compared to non-displacement piles attributed to the soil squeezing effect.This methodology presents an innovative analytical framework,allowing for integrating cyclic interface models into the theoretical investigation of pile responses.展开更多
The following article has been retracted due to special reason of the author. This paper published in Vol.5 No. 2, 2013, has been removed from this site.
文摘This investigation deals with the intelligent system for parallel fault-tolerant diagnostic tests construction. A modified parallel algorithm for fault-tolerant diagnostic tests construction is proposed. The algorithm is allowed to optimize processing time on tests construction. A matrix model of data and knowledge representation, as well as various kinds of regularities in data and knowledge are presented. Applied intelligent system for diagnostic of mental health of population which is developed with the use of intelligent system for parallel fault-tolerant DTs construction is suggested.
文摘Expanded polystyrene (EPS), a petroleum based plastic polystyrene, has an immense environmental impact with a degradation rate of over 500 years, and is a possible human carcinogen that may cause cancer in humans. Nonetheless, EPS is the most commonly used material to produce takeout food containers, a single use item that is quickly discarded. With growing recognition of the high environmental costs of EPS products and their pressure on landfill resources, EPS food container bans have become increasingly popular in jurisdictions across the globe. Similar legislation has been introduced in the state of Hawaii, USA. However, since EPS is currently more cost effective than its alternatives, the widespread adoption of food containers produced with biodegradable materials remains a challenge. This study employs Conjoint Choice Experiment (CCE) to determine consumer preference and willingness to pay for plant-based EPS alternative takeout food containers and their various product attributes in the urban center of Honolulu, Hawaii. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) is used to cluster respondents into four distinct classes based on their observable attributes of choice. Results show that the majority of respondents (81.0%) are in favor of a ban on EPS takeout food containers. As an alternative, the majority of respondents prefer a container constructed out of a sugarcane material (66.49%) that is microwaveable (88.94%), water resistant (100%), and locally produced (51.23%). Moreover, this study demonstrates an increase in consumer’s willingness to pay for more environmentally friendly food containers, which may allow businesses to offset the costs of substituting EPS for biodegradable materials. These findings provide valuable information for farmers, manufacturers, and natural resource managers, and can help to guide decision makers when considering socially responsible and environmentally sustainable policies.
文摘AIM: This study was undertaken to evaluate the hepatic effects of silybum marianum on non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: In 72 patients affected by NAFLD, main metabolic, hepatic and anti-inflammatory parameters were assayed after 3 mo of a restricted diet and before silymarin treatment (twice a day orally). The brightness of liver echography texture (hepatorenal ratio brightness) was also defined at same time. These evaluations were repeated after 6 mo of treatment. RESULTS: Serum levels of some metabolic and anti-inflammatory data nonsignificantly lowered after 6 mo of silymarin. On the contrary, Steato test, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were significantly (P < 0.001) reduced. Instead, the AST/ALT ratio unchanged. Finally, the hepatorenal brightness ratio, as an index of hepatic steatosis, significantly (P < 0.05) dropped. CONCLUSION: The obtained results indicate that silymarin appears to be effective to reduce the biochemical, inflammatory and ultrasonic indices of hepatic steatosis. Some parameters indicative of early stage of atherosclerosis were also lowered.
文摘Background: A new rapid Immunochromatographic test (ICT) kit (MPT64 TB Ag Kit) for detection of MPT64 Antigen in M. tuberculosis (MTB) isolates used for rapid identification of MTB isolates developed by SD (Standard Diagnostics) Bio line, South Korea was evaluated. The ICT is a rapid, reliable and cheaper method that can be used instead of conventional biochemical tests for confirming MTB in culture isolates in resource limited laboratories. The study also evaluated the ability of ICT to detect MPT64-Antigen before the micro MGIT could signal positive. Material/Methods: A total of 450 sputum samples of individual patients were used for the study. 152 isolates of Mycobacteria were recovered from solid and liquid media. These strains were tested for the detection of MPT64-antigen. H37Rv strain was served as the positive reference control and also used for early detection of Antigen experiment. Findings: The development of bands on both test and sample region when H37Rv strain was tested were seen (MPT64 antigen positive). When 138 MTB isolates were tested, it showed a similar banding pattern indicating 100% sensitivity. MPT64 band formation was not detected in any of the 14 isolates indicating 100% specificity. Both PPV & NPV were 100%. All the isolates negative for MPT64 Ag were confirmed as MOTT by conventional bio-chemical PNBA. The H37Rv strain showed a faint band from the 2nd day onwards from inoculation till 3rd day in the earlier Antigen detection experiment. Conclusion: Rapid identification of MTB culture isolate is a pressing need for diagnosis and proceeding to perform drug susceptibility testing. MPT64 TB Ag detection ICT kit is a rapid, reliable method, good substitute for molecular identification methods, and conventional biochemical test which is time-consuming and technically demanding. The early detection of Antigen can be used as an effective tool in diagnosis.
文摘The stress on a test specimen during tensile testing is generally measured by a strain gauge. This method has some problems in that it would influence the measurement conditions of the tensile test and can evaluate only the position at which the strain gauge is attached. The acoustoelastic method is proposed as a method replacing the strain gauge method. However, an ultrasonic sensor with a piezoelectric oscillator requires a coupling medium to inject an ultrasonic wave into a solid material. This condition, due to the error factor of the stress measurement, makes it difficult for the ultrasonic sensor to move on the specimen. We then tried to develop a non-contact stress measurement system during tensile testing using an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) with an SH0-plate wave and S0-Lamb wave. The EMAT can measure the propagation time in which the ultrasonic wave travels between a receiver and a transmitter without a coupling medium during the tensile testing and can move easily. The interval between the transmitter and the receiver is 10mm and can be moved along the parallel direction or the vertical direction of the tensile load. The transit time was measured by a cross-correlation method and converted into the stress on the test specimen using the acoustoelastic method. We confirmed that the stress measurement using an SH0-plate wave was superior to that with an S0-Lamb wave.
文摘A growing body of studies and systematic reviews show evidence of the beneficial effects of physical exercise on core symptoms of ADHD. Furthermore, studies indicate that physical exercise as an adjuvant can enhance the effects of medication in the treatment of ADHD. Aerobic and coordinative exercises improve executive functioning through their effect on neurocognitive domains that are implicated in ADHD. It is postulated that through their specific modus operandi, aerobic exercise, by raising cortical arousal levels, improves impaired alerting functions whereas coordinative exercises improve the regulation of inhibitory control through the involvement of a higher variety of frontal-dependent cognitive processes. The increasing use of routine neurocognitive testing with continuous performance tests (CPT), such as the QbTest, at clinical assessments for ADHD allows for an innovative approach to identify the assessment impairments in alerting function and inhibition control that are related to ADHD and accordingly choose aerobic or coordinative physical exercise in a more targeted fashion.
文摘Objective: The purpose of this study is to review the clinical experience and performance of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) method, using cell-free DNAto detect chromosomes 21, 18, 13, X, and Y abnormalities in over 7910 clinical samples from South Korean population. Method: Pregnant women between 1st of November 2015 to 18th of February 2018, with obstetric clinical findings participated in the study. NIPT was performed based on masivelly parallel sequencing with 0.3× low coverage paired-end sequencing using cell-free DNA in maternal plasma. Further invasive prenatal testing was recommended for pregnant women with positive NIPT results. Results: Of the total 7910 participants, 7890 (99.75%) were tested for NIPT and the remaining 20 (0.25%) were below the Quality Control (QC) standards. T13, T18, XXX, XXY and XYY had 100% of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV) and accuracy. The overall sensitivity was 100% and specificity, PPV and accuracy of all chromosomal abnormalities with further validation were 99.92%, 94.25%, and, 99.92% respectively. Conclusion: Our NIPT results showed high positive predictive value for the detection of autosomal trisomies and sex chromosome aneuploidies in our sample cohort.
文摘Background: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of interferon-γ release assay (IGRA), a sensitive microbiological diagnostic method, in children and adolescents with suspected tuberculosis in a country with a high burden of tuberculosis. Method: This study included 581 children and adolescents aged 4 - 19 years who were suspected of having tuberculosis, were latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and had received at least one dose of BCG vaccine between April 17, 2019, and February 24, 2021. The study evaluated the TST results of 106 patients who had a positive Quantiferon test and were suspected of having tuberculosis. Results: The study included 581 patients aged between 4 and 19 years. Of these, 106 patients tested positive for the Quantiferon test, while 19 were indeterminate and 456 were negative. The Quantiferon test positivity rate was 18.24%. Among the 106 QFT-Plus-positive cases, 23 patients also tested positive for TST. The difference in distribution was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: The QFT-Plus test is considered an alternative to TST and other microbiological diagnostic methods for early tuberculosis diagnosis, particularly in children and adolescents.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.51639002 and 51379118)the SDUST Research Fund(Grant No.2015KYTD104)
文摘The modified suction caisson(MSC) is a novel type of foundation for ocean engineering, consisting of a short external closed-top cylinder-shaped structure surrounding the upper part of the regular suction caisson(RSC). The MSC can provide larger lateral bearing capacity and limit the deflection compared with the RSC. Therefore, the MSC can be much more appropriate to use as an offshore wind turbine foundation. Model tests on the MSC in saturated sand subjected to monotonic lateral loading were carried out to investigate the effects of external structure sizes on the sand surface deformation and the earth pressure distribution along the embedded depth. Test results show that the deformation range of the sand surface increases with the increasing width and length of the external structure. The magnitude of sand upheaval around the MSC is smaller than that of the RSC and the sand upheaval value around the MSC in the loading direction decreases with the increasing external structure dimensions. The net earth pressure in the loading direction acting on the internal compartment of the MSC is smaller than that of the RSC at the same embedded depth. The maximum net earth pressure acting on the external structure outer wall in the loading direction is larger than that of the internal compartment, indicating that a considerable amount of the lateral load and moment is resisted by the external skirt structure.
基金Supported by the Talent Scientific Research Start-up Foundation of Wannan Medical College,No.WYRCQD2023045。
文摘At present,cancer is still an important factor threatening human health.Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the top three most common cancers worldwide and one of the deadliest malignancies in humans.The latest data showed that CRC incidence and mortality rank third and second,respectively,among global malignancies.Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial to reduce the morbidity,mortality and improve survival of patients with CRC,but the current early diagnostic methods have limitations.The effectiveness and compliance of diagnostic methods have a certain impact on whether people choose screening.In this editorial,we explore strategies for the early diagnosis of CRC,including stool-based,blood-based,direct visualization,and imaging examinations.
文摘Over the past few years, many researchers have attempted to develop non-invasive prenatal testing methods in order to investigate the genetic status of the fetus. The aim is to avoid invasive procedures such as chorionic villus and amniotic fluid sampling, which result in a significant risk for pregnancy loss. The discovery of cell free fetal DNA circulating in the maternal blood has great potential for the development of non-invasive prenatal testing(NIPT) methodologies. Such strategies have been successfully applied for the determination of the fetal rhesus status and inherited monogenic disease but the field of fetal aneuploidy investigation seems to be more challenging. The main reason for this is that the maternal cell free DNA in the mother's plasma is far more abundant, and because it is identical to half of the corresponding fetal DNA. Approaches developed are mainly based on next generation sequencing(NGS) technologies and epigenetic genetic modifications, such as fetal-maternal DNA differential methylation. At present, genetic services for non-invasive fetal aneuploidy detection are offered using NGS-based approaches but, for reasons that are presented herein, they still serve as screening tests which are not readily accessed by the majority of couples. Here we discuss the limitations of both strategies for NIPT and the future potential of the methods developed.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No 81701888Science and Technology Program of Sichuan Province,No.2023YFS0206Scientific Research Project of Sichuan Cadre Health Committee,No.2022-211.
文摘Liver cancer represents a grave hepatic condition and constitutes a significant global health concern.Surgical resection remains the principal therapeutic modality for liver cancer.Nevertheless,perioperative malnutrition exerts a notable impact on patients with liver cancer,emerging as an independent risk factor for disease mortality and adverse outcomes.Hence,precise nutritional diagnosis and timely nutritional support hold the potential to enhance therapeutic efficacy and quality of life for liver cancer patients.This study represents a meticulous foray into the literature,extracting data from PubMed,Web of Science,and EMBASE databases,with a focus on the past 5 years.It scrutinizes the impact of malnutrition on patients undergoing liver cancer surgery,the etiological underpinnings of malnutrition within this patient cohort,the critical assessment of perioperative nutritional status,and the strategic approaches to nutritional support.Utilizing rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria,the amassed scholarly works are meticulously synthesized,methodically organized,and categorically elaborated upon.Ultimately,the authors propose the incorporation of a multidisciplinary nutrition management team during the perioperative period,comprising nutritionists,pharmacists,physicians,nurses,psychologists,and rehabilitation therapists,among other specialized professionals.Together,they collaborate to devise and implement personalized nutritional support plans,monitor patients’nutritional status,and make necessary adjustments as required.Through comprehensive management and intervention,improvements in the nutritional status of liver cancer patients can be achieved,thereby enhancing surgical success rates and facilitating postoperative recovery.It is believed that this manuscript will offer valuable insights to advance the nutritional management during the perioperative phase of liver cancer,aiding in ameliorating patients'nutritional status and treatment outcomes.
文摘BACKGROUND Carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)and cytology in pancreatic cystic fluid are suboptimal for evaluation of pancreatic cystic neoplasms.Genetic testing and microforceps biopsy are promising tools for pre-operative diagnostic improvement but comparative performance of both methods is unknown.AIM To compare the accuracy of genetic testing and microforceps biopsy in pancreatic cysts referred for surgery.METHODS We performed a literature search in Medline,Scopus,and Web of Science for studies evaluating genetic testing of cystic fluid and microforceps biopsy of pancreatic cysts,with endoscopic ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration(EUSFNA)prior to surgery and surgical pathology as reference standard for diagnosis.We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy for:1-benign cysts;2-mucinous low-risk cysts;3-high-risk cysts,and the diagnostic yield and rate of correctly identified cysts with microforceps biopsy and molecular analysis.We also assessed publication bias,heterogeneity,and study quality.RESULTS Eight studies,including 1206 patients,of which 203(17%)referred for surgery who met the inclusion criteria were analyzed in the systematic review,and seven studies were included in the meta-analysis.Genetic testing and microforceps biopsies were identical for diagnosis of benign cysts.Molecular analysis was superior for diagnosis of both low and high-risk mucinous cysts,with sensitivities of 0.89(95%CI:0.79-0.95)and 0.57(95%CI:0.42-0.71),specificities of 0.88(95%CI:0.75-0.95)and 0.88(95%CI:0.80-0.93)and AUC of 0.9555 and 0.92,respectively.The diagnostic yield was higher in microforceps biopsies than in genetic analysis(0.73 vs 0.54,respectively)but the rates of correctly identified cysts were identical(0.73 with 95%CI:0.62-0.82 vs 0.71 with 95%CI:0.49-0.86,respectively).CONCLUSION Genetic testing and microforceps biopsies are useful second tests,with identical results in benign pancreatic cysts.Genetic analysis performs better for low-and high-risk cysts but has lower diagnostic yield.
基金Dongguan City Social Development Project(Project number:20161081101023)。
文摘Objective:To analyze the clinical value of non-invasive prenatal testing(NIPT)in detecting chromosomal copy number variations(CNVs)and to explore the relationship between gene expression and clinical manifestations of chromosomal copy number variations.Methods:3551 naturally conceived singleton pregnant women who underwent NIPT were included in this study.The NIPT revealed abnormalities other than sex chromosome abnormalities and trisomy 13,18,and 21.Pregnant women with chromosome copy number variations underwent genetic counseling and prenatal ultrasound examination.Interventional prenatal diagnosis and chromosome microarray analysis(CMA)were performed.The clinical phenotypes and pregnancy outcomes of different prenatal diagnoses were analyzed.Additionally,a follow-up was conducted by telephone to track fetal development after birth,at six months,and one year post-birth.Results:A total of 53 cases among 3551 cases showed chromosomal copy number variation.Interventional prenatal diagnosis was performed in 36 cases:27 cases were negative and 8 were consistent with the NIPT test results.This indicates that NIPT’s positive predictive value(PPV)in CNVs is 22.22%.Conclusion:NIPT has certain clinical significance in screening chromosome copy number variations and is expected to become a routine screening for chromosomal microdeletions and microduplications.However,further interventional prenatal diagnosis is still needed to identify fetal CNVs.
文摘Each rock joint is unique by nature which means that utilization of replicas in direct shear tests is required in experimental parameter studies.However,a method to acquire knowledge about the ability of the replicas to imitate the shear mechanical behavior of the rock joint and their dispersion in direct shear testing is lacking.In this study,a novel method is presented for geometric quality assurance of replicas.The aim is to facilitate generation of high-quality direct shear testing data as a prerequisite for reliable subsequent analyses of the results.In Part 1 of this study,two quality assurance parameters,smf and V_(Hp100),are derived and their usefulness for evaluation of geometric deviations,i.e.geometric reproducibility,is shown.In Part 2,the parameters are validated by showing a correlation between the parameters and the shear mechanical behavior,which qualifies the parameters for usage in the quality assurance method.Unique results from direct shear tests presenting comparisons between replicas and the rock joint show that replicas fulfilling proposed threshold values of σ_(mf)<0.06 mm and|V_(Hp100)|<0.2 mm have a narrow dispersion and imitate the shear mechanical behavior of the rock joint in all aspects apart from having a slightly lower peak shear strength.The wear in these replicas,which have similar morphology as the rock joint,is in the same areas as in the rock joint.The wear is slightly larger in the rock joint and therefore the discrepancy in peak shear strength derives from differences in material properties,possibly from differences in toughness.It is shown by application of the suggested method that the quality assured replicas manufactured following the process employed in this study phenomenologically capture the shear strength characteristics,which makes them useful in parameter studies.
文摘1) Background: Rapid and acurate diagnostic testing for case identification, quarantine, and contact tracing is essential for managing the COVID 19 pandemic. Rapid antigen detection tests are available, however, it is important to evaluate their performances before use. We tested a rapid antigen detection of SARS-CoV-2, based on the immunochromatography (Boson Biotech SARS-CoV-2 Ag Test (Xiamen Boson Biotech Co., Ltd., China)) and the results were compared with the real time reverse transcriptase-Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (Gold standard) results;2) Methods: From November 2021 to December 2021, samples were collected from symptomatic patients and asymptomatic individuals referred for testing in a hospital during the second pandemic wave in Gabon. All these participants attending “CTA Angondjé”, a field hospital set up as part of the management of COVID-19 in Gabon. Two nasopharyngeal swabs were collected in all the patients, one for Ag test and the other for RT-PCR;3) Results: A total of 300 samples were collected from 189 symptomatic and 111 asymptomatic individuals. The sensitivity and specificity of the antigen test were 82.5% [95%CI 73.8 - 89.3] and 97.9 % [95%CI 92.2 - 98.2] respectively, and the diagnostic accuracy was 84.4% (95% CI: 79.8 - 88.3%). The antigen test was more likely to be positive for samples with RT-PCR Ct values ≤ 32, with a sensitivity of 89.8%;4) Conclusions: The Boson Biotech SARS-CoV-2 Ag Test has good sensitivity and can detect SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially among symptomatic individuals with low viral load. This test could be incorporated into efficient testing algorithms as an alternative to PCR to decrease diagnostic delays and curb viral transmission.
基金This study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Zhongshan Hospital,Fudan University.
文摘BACKGROUND Patatin like phospholipase domain containing 8(PNPLA8)has been shown to play a significant role in various cancer entities.Previous studies have focused on its roles as an antioxidant and in lipid peroxidation.However,the role of PNPLA8 in colorectal cancer(CRC)progression is unclear.AIM To explore the prognostic effects of PNPLA8 expression in CRC.METHODS A retrospective cohort containing 751 consecutive CRC patients was enrolled.PNPLA8 expression in tumor samples was evaluated by immunohistochemistry staining and semi-quantitated with immunoreactive scores.CRC patients were divided into high and low PNPLA8 expression groups based on the cut-off va-lues,which were calculated by X-tile software.The prognostic value of PNPLA8 was identified using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.The over-all survival(OS)rates of CRC patients in the study cohort were compared with Kaplan-Meier analysis and Log-rank test.RESULTS PNPLA8 expression was significantly associated with distant metastases in our cohort(P=0.048).CRC patients with high PNPLA8 expression indicated poor OS(median OS=35.3,P=0.005).CRC patients with a higher PNPLA8 expression at either stage I and II or stage III and IV had statistically significant shorter OS.For patients with left-sided colon and rectal cancer,the survival curves of two PN-PLA8-expression groups showed statistically significant differences.Multivariate analysis also confirmed that high PNPLA8 expression was an independent prog-nostic factor for overall survival(hazard ratio HR=1.328,95%CI:1.016-1.734,P=0.038).
基金the financial support provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42272310).
文摘Cyclic loads generated by environmental factors,such as winds,waves,and trains,will likely lead to performance degradation in pile foundations,resulting in issues like permanent displacement accumulation and bearing capacity attenuation.This paper presents a semi-analytical solution for predicting the axial cyclic behavior of piles in sands.The solution relies on two enhanced nonlinear load-transfer models considering stress-strain hysteresis and cyclic degradation in the pile-soil interaction.Model parameters are calibrated through cyclic shear tests of the sand-steel interface and laboratory geotechnical testing of sands.A novel aspect involves the meticulous formulation of the shaft loadtransfer function using an interface constitutive model,which inherently inherits the interface model’s advantages,such as capturing hysteresis,hardening,degradation,and particle breakage.The semi-analytical solution is computed numerically using the matrix displacement method,and the calculated values are validated through model tests performed on non-displacement and displacement piles in sands.The results demonstrate that the predicted values show excellent agreement with the measured values for both the static and cyclic responses of piles in sands.The displacement pile response,including factors such as bearing capacity,mobilized shaft resistance,and convergence rate of permanent settlement,exhibit improvements compared to non-displacement piles attributed to the soil squeezing effect.This methodology presents an innovative analytical framework,allowing for integrating cyclic interface models into the theoretical investigation of pile responses.
文摘The following article has been retracted due to special reason of the author. This paper published in Vol.5 No. 2, 2013, has been removed from this site.