Relationship between sonographically measured median nerve cross-sectional area and presence of peripheral neuropathy in diabetic subjects

BACKGROUND Neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus resulting from direct damage by hyperglycemia to the nerves and/or ischemia by microvascular injury to the endoneurial vessels which supply the nerves. Median nerve is one of the peripheral nerves commonly affected in diabetic neuropathy. The median nerve size has been studied in non-Nigerian diabetic populations. In attempt to contribute to existing literature, a study in a Nigerian population is needed.AIM To evaluate the cross-sectional area(CSA) of the median nerve using B-mode ultrasonography(USS) and the presence of peripheral neuropathy(PN) in a cohort of adult diabetic Nigerians.METHODS Demographic and anthropometric data of 85 adult diabetes mellitus(DM) and 85 age-and sex-matched apparently healthy control(HC) subjects were taken. A complete physical examination was performed on all study subjects to determine the presence of PN and modified Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument(MNSI) was used to grade its severity. Venous blood was taken from the study subjects for fasting lipid profile(FLP), fasting blood glucose(FBG) and glycated haemoglobin(HbA1 c) while their MN CSA was evaluated at a point 5 cm proximal to(5 cmCATL) and at the carpal tunnel(CATL) by high-resolution Bmode USS. Data was analysed using SPSS version 22.RESULTS The mean MN CSA was significantly thicker in DM subjects compared to the HC at 5 cmCATL(P < 0.01) and at the CATL(P < 0.01) on both sides. The presence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN) further increased the MN CSA at the CATL(P < 0.05) but not at 5 cmCATL(P > 0.05). However, the severity of DPN had no additional effect on MN CSA 5 cm proximal to and at the CATL. There was no significant association between MN CSA and duration of DM and glycemic control.CONCLUSION Thickening of the MN CSA at 5 cmCATL and CATL is seen in DM. Presence of DPN is associated with worse thickening of the MN CSA at the CATL but not at5 cmCATL. Severity of DPN, duration of DM, and glycemic control had no additional effect on the MN CSA.

Ultrasonographic measurement of median nerve cross-sectional area reference values in a healthy Han population from Guiyang,China

High-resolution ultrasonography was used to analyze the nerve cross-sectional area （CSA） of the median nerve at 7 sites： the wrist crease, pisiform bone, hamate bone, 6 cm proximal to the tip of the wrist crease, proximal forearm （where the nerve enters the pronator teres muscle）, 4 cm proximal to the tip of the medial epicondyle, and mid-humerus （mid-point between elbow crease and axilla） in 200 healthy volunteers from Guiyang, China. Results showed similar CSA values between the left and right sides, but the CSA 6 cm proximal to the tip of the wrist crease, proximal forearm, 4 cm proximal to tip of the medial epicondyle, and mid-humerus in males was greater than that of females. Moreover, CSA values at the wrist crease, pisiform bone, and hamate bone were greater in the middle-aged and old groups when compared to the young group, and correlated with body mass and height. Thus, reference values of median nerve CSA of the upper limbs can facilitate the analysis of abnormal nerve conditions.

Distribution Characteristics of Soil Total Nitrogen in Low-efficiency Forest Land in the Northern Windy Desert Area of Jingbian County

[Objectives]The paper was to investigate the distribution characteristics of soil total nitrogen in low-efficiency forest land in the northern windy desert area of Jingbian County.[Methods]The distribution of soil total nitrogen in the 0-40 cm soil layer of 5 towns in the northern windy desert area of Jingbian County was studied through field sampling and laboratory detection.[Results]The average soil total nitrogen contents of Hongdunjie Town,Haizetan Town,Huanghaojie Town,Ningtiaoliang Town,Dongkeng Town and windy desert area in the 0-20 cm soil layer were 0.259,0.224,0.242,0.248,0.431 and 0.275 g/kg,respectively.The soil total nitrogen content in Dongkeng Town was higher than those in other towns,while there was little difference among other regions.The average total nitrogen contents in the 20-40 cm soil layer were 0.239,0.285,0.113,0.262,0.349 and 0.241 g/kg,respectively.The soil total nitrogen content in Huanghaojie Town was slightly lower than those in other towns,while that in Dongkeng town was higher.The variation coefficient of soil total nitrogen content in the survey area was greater than 30%,and there was great difference in spatial distribution.With the increase of soil depth,there was little change in soil total nitrogen content,namely the soil total nitrogen contents in 5 towns and windy desert area were not statistically different in the 0-40 cm soil layer.According to the nutrient grading standard of the second national soil survey,the soil total nitrogen content in the survey area was in the deficiency grade.[Conclusions]The research will provide a scientific guidance for the healthy and sustainable development of vegetation in arid regions.

Does the ratio of the carpal tunnel inlet and outlet cross-sectional areas in the median nerve reflect carpal tunnel syndrome severity?

Although ultrasound measurements have been used in previous studies on carpal tunnel syndrome to visualize injury to the median nerve, whether such ultrasound data can indicate the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome remains controversial. The cross-sectional areas of the median nerve at the tunnel inlet and outlet can show swelling and compression of the nerve at the carpal. We hypothesized that the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel inlet to outlet accurately reflects the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome. To test this, high-resolution ultrasound with a linear array transducer at 5–17 MHz was used to assess 77 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. The results showed that the cut-off point for the inlet-to-outlet ratio was 1.14. Significant differences in the inlet-to-outlet ratio were found among patients with mild, moderate, and severe carpal tunnel syndrome. The cut-off point in the ratio of cross-sectional areas of the median nerve was 1.29 between mild and more severe（moderate and severe） carpal tunnel syndrome patients with 64.7% sensitivity and 72.7% specificity. The cut-off point in the ratio of cross-sectional areas of the median nerve was 1.52 between the moderate and severe carpal tunnel syndrome patients with 80.0% sensitivity and 64.7% specificity. These results suggest that the inlet-to-outlet ratio reflected the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Usefulness of the acromioclavicular joint cross-sectional area as a diagnostic image parameter of acromioclavicular osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND Acromioclavicular joint(ACJ)space narrowing has been considered to be an important diagnostic image parameter of ACJ osteoarthritis(ACJO).However,the morphology of the ACJ space is irregular because of osteophyte formation,subchondral irregularity,capsular distention,sclerosis,and erosion.Therefore,we created the ACJ cross-sectional area(ACJCSA)as a new diagnostic image parameter to assess the irregular morphologic changes of the ACJ.AIM To hypothesize that the ACJCSA is a new diagnostic image parameter for ACJO.METHODS ACJ samples were obtained from 35 patients with ACJO and 30 healthy individuals who underwent shoulder magnetic resonance(S-MR)imaging that revealed no evidence of ACJO.Oblique coronal,T2-weighted,fat-suppressed SMR images were acquired at the ACJ level from the two groups.We measured the ACJCSA and the ACJ space width(ACJSW)at the ACJ on the S-MR images using our imaging analysis program.The ACJCSA was measured as the cross-sectional area of the ACJ.The ACJSW was measured as the narrowest point between the acromion and the clavicle.RESULTS The average ACJCSA was 39.88±10.60 mm;in the normal group and 18.80±5.13 mm;in the ACJO group.The mean ACJSW was 3.51±0.58 mm in the normal group and 2.02±0.48 mm in the ACJO group.ACJO individuals had significantly lower ACJCSA and ACJSW than the healthy individuals.Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses demonstrated that the most suitable ACJCSA cutoff score was 26.14 mm^(2),with 91.4%sensitivity and 90.0%specificity.CONCLUSION The optimal ACJSW cutoff score was 2.37 mm,with 88.6%sensitivity and 96.7%specificity.Even though both the ACJCSA and ACJSW were significantly associated with ACJO,the ACJCSA was a more sensitive diagnostic image parameter.

Correlation between current and cross-sectional area of parallel fixed-movable dual electrodes in ESC

Electroslag casting with parallel fixed-movable dual electrodes is a new method for achieving better quality of castings in complex mold cavities.In this work,a mathematical model,y=kx^2+(k+1)x,was established to describe the ideal correlation between the current ratio(y)and the cross-sectional area ratio(x)of the dual electrodes,where k is the filling ratio.Investigation was conducted on the electroslag casting process with dual electrodes of various cross-sectional areas,but at a constant k value.The experimental results indicated that the ideal correlation was obtained at the stable casting stage,and the fitting results were consistent with the experimental results at certain k values.The experimental findings show that better castings can be obtained when the current ratio is greater than 1.536 and the cross-sectional area ratio is greater than 0.5.

An experimental method for quantitative analysis of real contact area based on the total reflection optical principle

The simulation of real contact area between materials is foundationally important for the contact mechanics of mechanical structures. The Greenwood and Williamson(GW) model and the Majumdar(MB) model are the basic models in this field, which are widely accepted and proven to be valid in many experiments and engineering. Although the contact models have evolved considerably in recent years, the verifications of the models are most based on the indirect methods such as electrical conductivity and contact stiffness, because of the lack of effective methods to directly measure the variation of contact surface. In this paper, the total reflection(TR) method is introduced into the verification of contact models.An experiment system based on TR method is constructed to measure the real contact area of two PMMA specimens. The comparison analysis between the results of experiment and models suggests that the experiment result has the same trend with simulation, the MB model has better agreement with the experimental result because this method can take into account the variation of radius and the merging of asperities, while the GW model has a huge deviation because of the dependence on resolution and the lack of considering the variation of radius and asperity's merging process. Taking the interaction of asperities into account could give a better result that is closer to the experiment. Our results and analysis prove that the experimental methods in this paper could be used as a more direct and valid method to quantitatively measure the real contact area and to verify the contact models.

Evolution of real contact area during stick-slip movement observed by total reflection method

We build an experiment system based on total reflection(TR) method to observe the evolution of real contact area of polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA) in the continual stick-slip movement. The bilateral friction is adopted to overcome the bending moment in the lateral friction movement. Besides some classical phenomena of stick-slip movement such as periodical slow increase of frictional force in sticking phase and a sudden drop when slipping, a special phenomenon that the contact area increases with the tangential force is observed, which was called junction growth by Tabor in 1959.Image processing methods are developed to observe the variation of the junction area. The results show that the center of the strongest contact region will keep sticking under the tangential force until the whole slipping, the strongest point undergoes three stages in one cycle, which are named as sticking stage, fretting stage, and cracking stage, respectively. The combined analysis reveals a physical process of stick-slip movement: the tangential force causes the increase of the real contact area, which reduces the pressure between the contact spots and finally leads to the slipping. Once slipping occurs,the real contact area drops to the original level resulting in the pressure increase to the original level, which makes the sticking happen again.

The scaling relationship of leaf area and total mass of sample plots across world trees

The scaling relationship between leaf area and total mass of plant has important implications for understanding resource allocations in the plant.The model of West,Brown and Enquist(WBE model)considers that a 3/4 scaling exponent of metabolic rate versus total mass to be optimal for each plant and has been confirmed numerous times.Although leaf area is a better proxy of the metabolic rate than leaf mass,few studies have focused on the scaling exponent of leaf area versus total mass and even fewer have discussed the diversification of this scaling exponent across different conditions.Here,I analyzed the scaling exponent of leaf area versus total mass of sample plots across world plants.I found that as the plant grows,it allocates fewer resources to photosynthetic tissues than expected by the WBE model.The results also empirically show that this scaling exponent varies significantly for different plant leaf habit,taxonomic class and geographic region.Therefore,leaf strategy in response to environmental pressure and constraint clearly plays a significant role.

Content Determination of Total Flavonoids in Tetracera asiatica from 10 Different Production Areas in Guangxi

[Objectives] To determine the content of total flavonoids in Tetracera asiatica from different production areas in Guangxi and provide a basis for improving the quality standards of crude drug. [Methods] Using 50% ethanol as extractor,NaNO_2-Al(NO_3)_3-NaOH as chromogenic system and rutin as the reference substance,the content of total flavonoids from the crude drug was determined. [Results] A method for determining the content of total flavonoids was established,the content of total flavonoids was 11.35-21.35 mg·g^(-1),and the average content was 17.64 mg·g^(-1). [Conclusions] The method had high repeatability and stability,and the method was simple,rapid and sensitive and suitable for quantitative analysis.

基于声发射断层总面积和b值的钢筋混凝土梁损伤表征

为研究钢筋混凝土构件破坏过程中的声发射特性,对钢筋混凝土梁进行四点弯曲加载破坏试验,利用声发射技术对破坏过程进行监测。为综合考虑声发射信号的事件数、幅度和能量等因素所反映的损伤特性,引用地震学领域的断层总面积理论与声发射b值理论进行联合表征。断层总面积反映事件数和能量的关系,声发射b值反映事件数和幅度的关系,两者的结合可以更好地反映钢筋混凝土梁的破坏规律。实验表明,该损伤表征方法可进一步提升对混凝土结构损伤预警识别的精准性,从而在实际工程运用声发射技术进行损伤识别和预警提出合理的声发射信号监测方法。

单元感知测试的优化方案

越来越多的半导体公司采用新型故障模型——单元感知测试(Cell Aware Test,CAT)来提高库单元内部覆盖率和低缺陷率,但CAT在自动测试向量生成(Auto Test Pattern Generation,ATPG)过程中使用的测试向量数量多,运行时间长,显著地增加测试成本。为了优化CAT,在ATPG流程中加入了总临界区域(Total Critical Area,TCA)和合并时钟域命名捕获过程(Named Capture Procedure,NCP)方法。TCA根据故障类型和最有可能出现故障的位置进行排序,合并时钟域NCP方法为被测知识产权(Intellectual Property,IP)管理时钟域、控制时钟、定义捕获方案。结果表明,结合TCA和合并时钟域NCP方法的CAT达到了提高覆盖率、降低测试向量数量、减少运行时间的优化目标。与以往的CAT优化研究相比,结合了TCA和合并时钟域NCP的CAT优化流程在优化覆盖率和测试向量方面达到了更好的效果。

政府行为和技术创新如何影响金融服务实体经济效率?——基于长三角四大都市圈的实证研究

当前区域间金融资源配置不平衡现象突出,地区金融服务实体经济效率存在较大差异。基于2012-2022年相关数据,以长三角四大都市圈为研究对象,从全要素生产率角度测算金融服务实体经济效率水平及区域差异;对政府行为和技术创新对金融服务实体经济效率水平的影响进行实证分析,并探究不同地区呈现的差异。研究发现,加强技术创新对提高金融服务实体经济效率有显著的促进作用,而政府过度干预则会降低金融服务实体经济效率。基于研究结论提出以下建议:促进金融资源跨区域流动,缩小地区间效率差异;政府适度干预,由“生产型政府”向“服务型政府”转型;以实体经济融资需求为导向,激励企业持续技术创新;改善实体经济融资结构,提高直接融资比重。

全面抗战时期陕甘宁边区乡村党员教育研究

全面抗战时期,陕甘宁边区持续开展党员教育,以提高农民党员的思想认识与政治水平,引导广大乡村党员干部坚定理想信念和政治方向,围绕党的政治路线和中心工作,坚持抗日民族统一战线,一切为战胜日本帝国主义而奋斗。在中共中央、西北局(边区党委、边区中央局)领导下,边区乡村党员教育以西北局高干会为界,分为前后两个阶段。前一阶段,乡村党员教育中的教条主义、主观主义比较严重,教学方式以照本宣科为主,教育形式主要是流动训练班,教材内容艰深、枯燥无味。后一阶段,结合全党整风,较好地纠正了党员教育中存在的偏差,面向乡村党员干部的扫盲教育与政治教育取得显著效果,基本实现了巩固和发展党员的目标。

绿色金融改革创新减污降碳效应研究

减污降碳是开展绿色金融的重要目标。本文以绿色金融改革创新试验区的设立作为准自然实验,运用双重差分模型分析绿色金融改革创新试验区对二氧化碳、二氧化硫、氮氧化物的减排效果。结果表明,试验区试点政策对二氧化碳、二氧化硫具有显著的减排效果,但对氮氧化物的减排效果不明显。机制分析表明,试验区试点政策未能通过促进技术创新实现二氧化碳、二氧化硫、氮氧化物的减排,但是能通过降低能耗总量与优化用能结构实现二氧化碳、二氧化硫的减排。异质性分析表明,试验区试点政策的减污降碳效果在东部地区、环境治理力度弱的地区、产业结构高级的地区以及金融发展水平高的地区更加明显。本文为如何优化试验区试点政策效果提供了一定的启示。

粤港澳大湾区规划能否提高企业全要素生产率?--来自中国制造业上市公司的证据

近年来,通过城市群规划重构区域发展格局,释放企业发展新动能,已成为国内外驱动经济增长的重要引擎。文章基于2015—2021年中国制造业上市公司数据,以粤港澳大湾区规划作为准自然实验,使用双重差分法考察大湾区城市群规划对企业全要素生产率(TFP)的影响。研究发现:(1)大湾区规划显著提高了区域内企业全要素生产率,在进行了一系列稳健性检验后,结论依然成立。(2)相比之下,大湾区规划更大程度提升了外资及其他企业、中心城市企业和传统制造企业的全要素生产率。(3)从机制分析来看,大湾区规划主要通过缓解融资约束和提高人力资本集聚来促进企业提高全要素生产率。文章丰富了区域政策效应的研究,为制定区域发展战略和促进企业全要素生产率提供参考。

典型黑土区坡耕地表层土壤活性有机碳变化特征

以典型黑土区3种地貌类型区(漫川漫岗区、丘陵漫岗区、平原低地区)坡耕地不同坡位表层土壤为研究对象,通过测定土壤总有机碳、高活性有机碳、中活性有机碳和低活性有机碳等指标,分析黑土区坡耕地不同坡位表层土壤活性有机碳的变化特征,探究不同地貌类型区坡耕地土壤活性有机碳变化特征的差异。结果表明,坡耕地各坡位表层土壤总有机碳含量变化范围为26.57~38.61 g/kg,土壤活性有机碳含量变化范围为1.85~5.67 g/kg。3种地貌类型区坡耕地不同坡位土壤总有机碳和活性有机碳含量变化特征不同。漫川漫岗区总有机碳、中活性有机碳和低活性有机碳含量变化特征均表现为坡上和坡中显著大于坡下、坡上和坡中无显著差异;高活性有机碳含量变化特征则以坡中最高坡下最低,且不同坡位之间高活性有机碳含量差异显著。丘陵漫岗区不同坡位土壤总有机碳和低活性有机碳含量差异显著,并表现为坡下显著大于坡上、坡上显著大于坡中;高活性有机碳和中活性有机碳含量的变化则呈现坡上和坡下显著大于坡中、坡上和坡下无显著差异。平原低地区总有机碳及3种活性有机碳组分的含量在各坡位间的差异均为未达显著水平。不同地貌间典型黑土区坡耕地表层土壤活性有机碳分布规律有所差异,漫川漫岗区和丘陵漫岗区坡耕地土壤有机碳活性最差的坡位分别是坡下和坡中,而平原低地区不同坡位间无显著变化。研究结果为黑土坡耕地生态建设与保护技术的针对性设计奠定了理论基础。

Spatial Distribution of Soil Salinization Based on GIS in Tianjin Binhai New Area

The distribution of soil salinization was investigated based on GIS and field sampling in Tianjin Binhai New Area. The results showed that the average soil total salt content was 0.818%, with an average pH of 8.43, and the average CI and Na＋ contents were 0.27% and 0.22%, respectively. Presenting zonal distribution feature, the soil total salt content increased gradually from west to east of Binhai New Area. Statistics on the distribution areas of different salinization degrees showed that the area of non-salinzed soils only accounted for 3.18% of the total area; with an area of 107.43 km2, mild saline soil accounted for 6.34% of the total area; the area of moderate saline soil was 173.51 km2, accounting for 10.24%; and the area of sal- inzed soils was 217.36 km2, accounting for 12.82% of the total soil area. The area of saline soils （total salt content 〉0.6%） was 1 142.8 km2, accounting 67.42% of the total land area in Binhai New Area. And the areas for the soils with total salt content of 0.6%-1.0%, 1.0%-1.5%, 〉1.5% were respectively 388.47, 411.82, 342.51 km2, accounting for 22.92%, 24.3%, 20.21% of the total area.

四川盆地东部上二叠统吴家坪组放射虫组合及其烃源意义

四川盆地东部(川东)红星地区上二叠统吴家坪组具备良好的页岩气成藏条件,是四川盆地二叠系页岩气勘探的重要接替领域,但对于该套硅泥质烃源岩的形成机理目前仍缺乏明确的认识。除了岩石矿物组成、地球化学成分、宏体化石组合等特征之外,以放射虫为代表的微体化石对于辨别硅质泥页岩沉积的成因也具有重要意义。放射虫是显生宙海洋浮游生态系统的重要组成部分,其组合可以指示沉积环境,而其丰度是古海洋生产力的良好指标。利用酸蚀法分离出放射虫化石,从而鉴别化石的形态组合特征并结合薄片镜下统计,分析了放射虫丰度与总有机碳(TOC)含量的相关性。研究结果表明,川东红星地区HY3井吴家坪组吴二段中发育大量放射虫化石,经鉴定为泡沫虫目和内射球虫目分子,属于典型的浅水放射虫组合(Se组合)。镜下统计表明吴二段放射虫丰度与TOC含量呈现较好的相关性。通过放射虫组合特征,结合吴家坪组沉积序列和古地理背景,推断吴二段烃源岩形成于水深小于60 m的较浅水环境。吴二段有机质富集可能受到初级生产力、氧化还原条件、陆源碎屑输入、上升流等多方面因素的影响,其中高古生产力是吴二段有机质富集的主控因素之一。

岩溶区峡谷型水库枯水期表层水体有机碳浓度分布特征

为揭示岩溶区峡谷型水库碳循环规律,以岩溶区峡谷型水库万峰、董箐水库为研究区,通过现场监测和水体样品采集,分析水库枯水期理化指标、有机碳(Organic Carbon,OC)浓度的变化特征和分布规律。研究结果显示:万峰水库水体温度(Water Temperature,WT)、电导率(Conductivity,COND)、总溶解固体物(Total Dissolved Solids,TDS)含量、氧化还原电位(Oxidation-Reduction Potential,ORP)、总氮(Total Nitrogen,TN)浓度、总磷(Total Phosphorus,TP)浓度均比董箐水库高,且变化范围较大,万峰、董箐水库WT、COND、TDS、TP的空间差异较小,ORP和TN的变异系数较大,具有较高的空间变异性;万峰水库总有机碳(Total Organic Carbon,TOC)、溶解有机碳(Dissolved Organic Carbon,DOC)浓度分别为3.11-6.66、2.35-5.12 mg/L,呈干流高于马岭河支流的分布特征,董箐水库TOC、DOC浓度分别为3.07-4.75、2.87-3.99 mg/L,呈库湾(D1)>码头(D4)>坝前(D2)的分布特征,万峰水库TOC和DOC浓度均比董箐水库高,且变化范围较大;万峰、董箐水库有机碳均以DOC为主,颗粒有机碳(Particulate Organic Carbon,POC)含量较少但高于其他水库。本研究为岩溶区水生态系统碳循环研究提供数据支持及参考。