Source and level of dietary iron influence semen quality by affecting inflammation, oxidative stress and iron utilization levels in boars

Background Boars fed a mixed form of inorganic and organic iron in excess of the NRC recommended levels still develop anemia,which suggested that the current level and form of iron supplementation in boar diets may be inappropriate.Therefore,56 healthy Topeka E line boars aged 15–21 months were randomly divided into 5 groups:basal diet supplemented with 96 mg/kg ferrous sulfate(FeSO_(4))and 54 mg/kg glycine chelated iron(Gly-Fe,control);80 mg/kg or 115 mg/kg Gly-Fe;80 mg/kg or 115 mg/kg methionine hydroxyl analogue chelated iron(MHA-Fe,from CalimetFe)for 16 weeks.The effects of dietary iron supplementation with different sources and levels on semen quality in boars were investigated.Results 1)Serum Fe and hemoglobin concentrations were not affected by reduced dietary iron levels in the 80 mg/kg or 115 mg/kg Gly-Fe and MHA-Fe groups compared with the control group(P>0.05).2)Serum interleukin-6(IL-6)and sperm malondialdehyde(MDA)levels in the 80 mg/kg or 115 mg/kg MHA-Fe groups were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05),and higher serum superoxide dismutase levels and lower MDA levels in the 115 mg/kg MHA-Fe group(P<0.05).3)Boars in the 80 mg/kg or 115 mg/kg Gly-Fe and MHA-Fe groups had lower serum hepcidin(P<0.01),ferritin(P<0.05),and transferrin receptor(P<0.01)concentrations,and boars in the 115 mg/kg MHA-Fe group had higher seminal plasma Fe concentrations compared with the control group.4)Boars in the 80 mg/kg and 115 mg/kg MHA-Fe groups had lower abnormal sperm rate and in situ oscillating sperm ratio compared to the control group at weeks 12 and/or 16 of the trial.However,the effect of Gly-Fe on improving semen quality in boars was not evident.5)Serum IL-6 level was positively correlated with hepcidin concentration(P<0.05),which in turn was significantly positively correlated with abnormal sperm rate(P<0.05).Furthermore,significant correlations were also found between indicators of iron status and oxidative stress and semen quality parameters.Conclusions Dietary supplementation with 80 mg/kg or 115 mg/kg MHA-Fe did not induce iron deficiency,but rather reduced serum inflammatory levels and hepcidin concentration,alleviated oxidative stress,increased body iron utilization,and improved semen quality in adult boars.

Effect of psychological nursing intervention on anxiety level and quality of life in patients with gastrointestinal peptic ulcer

BACKGROUND Peptic ulcer is a common gastrointestinal disease,and psychological intervention has an important influence on its occurrence and development.AIM To investigate the effect of psychological nursing intervention on the anxiety level and quality of life of patients with gastrointestinal peptic ulcers.METHODS Two groups of patients with peptic ulcer were selected from January to December 2012,with 60 cases in each group,and psychological nursing intervention and routine treatment were respectively performed.Psychological nursing interven-tions include cognitive behavioral therapy,psychological support and relaxation training.Self-rating anxiety scale(SAS)and quality of life questionnaire were used to evaluate the anxiety level and quality of life of patients before,during and after treatment.RESULTS The SAS scores of the experimental group significantly decreased over the course of treatment,from 52.3 before treatment to 30.5 after treatment,while SAS scores of the control group did not change significantly.Meanwhile,the experimental group's quality of life score(SF-36)significantly improved over the course of treatment,from 65.2 to 85.2,while the control group remained stable.Further analysis showed that sex and age had no significant influence on the effect of psychotherapy.Both men and women,young and old,showed similar trends in anxiety relief and improved quality of life after treatment.CONCLUSION Psychological nursing-based intervention program has a positive effect on the anxiety level and quality of life of patients with gastrointestinal peptic ulcer.

Affordability, Accessibility, and Quality of Maternal Health Care Services and Level of Satisfaction of Mothers in Rural Areas in China

Objective:This study aimed to understand the affordability,accessibility,and quality of maternal and child health services for postpartum mothers,and their impact on satisfaction.Methods:The study utilized the Anderson model and revised the Maternal Pregnancy and Perinatal Health Service Questionnaire.A survey was conducted among 289 mothers aged 20–49 in Feicheng City.Results:Regarding accessibility,most respondents(133)reported that travel time to healthcare services exceeded 60 minutes,while 99 respondents indicated a travel time of 16–30 minutes.The issue of affordability was highlighted,with 86.85%of participants perceiving maternal healthcare services as costly,indicating a significant financial burden.More than 50%of respondents were satisfied with two specific dimensions(P<0.05)regarding the quality of maternal healthcare services.Conclusion:The study found that accessibility,affordability,and quality significantly affect mothers’satisfaction with maternal health services.Future research should focus on developing more suitable service pathways for rural mothers.

The Accuracy Levels of Vehicle Detectors Commonly Used in Korea Based on the Results of Quality Certification Test

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Korea introduced the ITS system performance evaluation about six and a half years ago. The main purpose is to make sure that accurate and reliable real-time traffic data are collected from the ITS system installed. There are three types of performance evaluations, which are Quality Certification Test, Pre-Delivery Test and Periodic Check in Operation. In this paper the accuracy levels of vehicle detectors commonly used in Korea are analyzed based on the results of quality certification tests conducted during 2008-2012. The test items consist of volume, speed and occupancy. The analysis shows that loop detectors have the best levels of accuracy in all three test items and their levels of accuracy have been steady. Video image detectors do not have so good levels of accuracy as loop detectors, but the levels of accuracy have improved as time passes. Radar detectors do not have good levels of accuracy. However, their levels of accuracy have improved as time passes. The last vehicle detectors, geomagnetism detectors have the worst accuracy in the occupancy item.

Implementation of Level-3 Autonomous Patient-Specific Quality Assurance with Automated Human Interactive Devices

Purpose: Patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) requires manual operation of different workstations, which is time-consuming and error-prone. Therefore, developing automated solutions to improve efficiency and accuracy is a priority. The purpose of this study was to develop a general software interface with scripting on a human interactive device (HID) for improving the efficiency and accuracy of manual quality assurance (QA) procedures. Methods: As an initial application, we aimed to automate our PSQA workflow that involves Varian Eclipse treatment planning system, Elekta MOSAIQ oncology information system and PTW Verisoft application. A general platform, the AutoFrame interface with two imbedded subsystems—the AutoFlow and the PyFlow, was developed with a scripting language for automating human operations of aforementioned systems. The interface included three functional modules: GUI module, UDF script interpreter and TCP/IP communication module. All workstations in the PSQA process were connected, and most manual operations were automated by AutoFrame sequentially or in parallel. Results: More than 20 PSQA tasks were performed both manually and using the developed AutoFrame interface. On average, 175 (±12) manual operations of the PSQA procedure were eliminated and performed by the automated process. The time to complete a PSQA task was 8.23 (±0.78) minutes for the automated workflow, in comparison to 13.91 (±3.01) minutes needed for manual operations. Conclusion: We have developed the AutoFrame interface framework that successfully automated our PSQA procedure, and significantly reduced the time, human (control/clicking/typing) errors, and operators’ stress. Future work will focus on improving the system’s flexibility and stability and extending its operations to other QA procedures.

Combined effect of shading time and nitrogen level on grain filling and grain quality in japonica super rice

There is limited information about the combined effect of shading time and nitrogen （N） on grain filling and quality of rice. Therefore, two japonica super rice cultivars, Nanjing 44 and Ningjing 3, were used to study the effect of shading time and N level on the characteristics of rice panicle and grain filling as well as the corresponding yield and quality. At a low N level （150 kg N ha^-1, 150N）, grain yield decreased （by 21.07-26.07%） under the treatment of 20 days of shading before heading （BH） compared with the no shading （NS） treatment. These decreases occurred because of shortened panicle length, decreased number of primary and secondary branches, as well as the grain number and weight per panicle. At 150N, in the treatment of 20 days of shading after heading （AH）, grain yield also decreased （by 9.46-10.60%） due to the lower grain weight per panicle. The interaction of shading and N level had a significant effect on the number of primary and secondary branches. A high level of N （300 kg N ha^-1, 300N） could offset the negative effect of shading on the number of secondary branches and grain weight per panicle, and consequently increased the grain yield in both shading treatments. In superior grains, compared with 150N NS, the time to reach 99% of the grain weight （T99） was shortened by 1.6 to 1.7 days, and the grain weight was decreased by 4.18-5.91% in 150N BH. In 150N AH, the grain weight was 13.39-13.92% lower than that in 150N NS due to the slow mean and the maximum grain-filling rate （GRmean and GRmax）. In inferior grains, grain weight and GRmean had a tendency of 150N NS〉150N BH〉150N AH. Under shaded conditions, 300N decreased the grain weight due to lower GReen both in superior and inferior grains. Compared with 150N NS, the milling and appearance qualities as well as eating and cooking quality were all decreased in 150N BH and 150N AH. Shading with the high level of 300N improved the milling quality and decreased the number of chalky rice kernels, but the eating and cooking quality was reduced with increased chalky area and overall chalkiness. Therefore, in the case of short term shading, appropriate N fertilizer could be used to improve the yield and milling quality of rice, but limited application of N fertilizer is recommended to achieve good eating and cooking quality of rice.

The Effect of Varied Dietary Crude Protein Levels with Balanced Amino Acids on Performance and Egg Quality Characteristics of Layers at First Laying Phase

Four diets were formulated to study the influence of varying crude protein levels on the performance, egg quality, serum and haematological characteristics at the first phase of laying cycle of sixty Bovan Nera laying birds that were randomly allotted to dietary treatments. The four experimental diets had five replicates each and three birds per repli-cate. Diet 1 contained 14% crude protein (CP), while diet 2 contained 15% CP, diets 3 and 4 contained 16% and 17% CP respectively. The experimental birds were fed for 10 weeks and the data collected were statistically analysed. Apparent variations recorded for all the performance characteristics such as Egg number, Hen-day production, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and weight gain were significantly different (p < 0.05). The best FCR value were recorded by birds fed 17% CP (3.45), while the highest weight gain mean value were also recorded by birds fed 17% CP value. Findings indicated a direct relationship between dietary crude protein values and performance.

Nurse-staffing level and quality of acute care services:Evidence from cross-national panel data analysis in OECD countries

Background:Most of previous studies aimed to estimate the effect of nurse staffing on quality of acute hospital care have used stochastic methods and their results are mixed.Objective:To measure the magnitude of effect of nurse-staffing level on increasing quality of acute care services in long-run.Data:The number of practicing nurses'density per 1000 population as the proxy of nurse-staffing level and three Health Care Quality Indicators(HCQI)included 30-day mortality per 100 patients based on acute myocardial infarction(MORTAMIO),hemorrhagic stroke(MORTHSTO)and ischemic stroke(MORTISTO)were collected as a part of ongoing project by OECD.org in panels of 26 OECD countries over 2005-2015 period.Method:Panel data analysis.Results:There were committed relationships from nurse-staffing level to the enhancement of HCQI i.e.1%increase in nurse-staffing level would reduce the rates of patient mortality based on MORTAMIO,MORTHSTO and MORTISTO by 0.65%,0.60%and 0.80%,respectively.Furthermore,the role of nursestaffing level in increasing overall HCQI were simulated at the highest level in Sweden(-3.53),Denmark(-3.31),Canada(-2.59),Netherlands(-2.33),Finland(-2.09),Switzerland(-1.72),Australia(-1.64)and United States(-1.53).Conclusion:A higher proportion of nurses-staffing level is associated with higher quality of acute care services in OECD countries.Also,the nursing characteristics of Sweden,Denmark,Canada,Netherlands,Finland,Switzerland,Australia and United States would be good patterns for other countries to maximize nursing outcomes in the care of patients with acute and life-threatening conditions by reducing the risk of complication,mortality and adverse clinical outcomes.

Effects of Different Dietary Energy and Protein Levels on Meat Performance and Meat Quality of Jinghai Yellow Chickens

To investigate the effect of different dietary energy and protein levels on meat performance and meat quality of Jinghai yellow chickens, 480 43-day old Jinghai yellow chickens with similar weight were randomly divided into four experimental groups： experimental group 1 （protein 15%, metabolic energy 9.95 MJ/kg）, experimental group 2 （protein 16%, metabolic energy 10.95 MJ/kg）, experimental group 3 （protein 17%, metabolic energy 12.65 MJ/kg） and experimental group 4 （ protein 18%, metabolic energy 13.95 MJ/kg）, respectively. All chickens were slaughtered at 112-day old. The breast and leg muscles of Jinghai yellow chickens were collected, to determine the slaughter performance, conventional meat quality and muscle chemical indicators. The results indicated that dressing-out percentage and eviscerated yield percentage in four experimental groups were above 87.27% and 67.00%, respectively; other slaughter performance indicators exhibited no significant differences among various groups （P 〉 0.05 ） ; breast muscle color of hens in experimental group 4 varied significantly from that in other three groups （ P 〈 0.05 ） ; leg muscle color of hens in experimental group 2 varied extremely significantly from that in other three groups （ P 〈 0.01 ） ; water-holding capacity of breast muscles of hens in experimental group 3 was significantly higher than that in experimental group 4 （P 〈 0.05 ） ; thiamine content of breast muscles of cocks in experimental group 3 was significandy higher than that in experimental group 2 （ P 〈 0.05 ） ; however, other properties exhibited no significant differenees among various groups （P 〉 0.05 ）.

Study of the Effects of Water Level Depression in Euphrates River on the Water Quality

Abstract： The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers are the main sources of water in Iraq. Iraq used to receive 33×109 m^3 of river water per year at Hit, 200 km downstream from the Syrian border before the 1970s. In 1980s, the discharge decreased to as little as 8 × 10^9 m^3 per year at Hit. The decreasing of discharge and water level in the Euphrates River causes problems of both quantity and quality, such as the increasing salinity in the internal delta downstream, the TDS （total dissolves salinity） at Hit has increased from less than 500 ppm to about 700 ppm. By 1989, the Euphrates＇ salinity at A1 Qaim reached 1,000 ppm. Currently, the TDS of the river, at AI Qaim, is greater than 1,000 ppm. The problem of control salinity has received considerable attention particularly when the surface water is extremely limited with poorly available ground water supply. The field measurement has achieved for TDS, pH （hydrogen ion）, EC （electric conductivity）, coliform content and heavy metal for three sectors in the Euphrates River basin in Iraq as well as the lakes of Tharthar, Habbaniya, and AI-Razzaza. The statistical analysis was made to relate these parameter with discharge and water level, which are refered to the important effect of the flow in river on the water quality of Euphrates River. The storage of water in the lakes Al-tharthar, Al-habbanya, and A1-Razzaza has a negative effects on the water quality, and shows that the best method for storage water is the reservoirs along river stream.

Biofeedback therapy combined with Baduanjin on quality of life and gastrointestinal hormone level in patients with colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND With the change in people’s lifestyles,the incidence of colorectal cancer(CRC)is increasing.It is essential to study the efficacy of various treatment methods for CRC patients to prevent and treat CRC.AIM To investigate the efficacy of biofeedback therapy combined with Baduanjin in improving the quality of life and gastrointestinal hormone levels of patients with CRC.METHODS A total of 120 patients with CRC who were admitted to our hospital from June 2020 to June 2021 were included in the study.They were randomly divided into four groups(n=30):the control group(group A),the biofeedback therapy intervention group(group B),the Baduanjin exercise intervention group(group C),and the combination group(group D).Patients in group A adopted the standard nursing mode and necessary health education.Patients in group B were treated with biofeedback therapy based on routine nursing care.Patients in group C were given Baduanjin intervention for 12 wk based on conventional drug treatment and care.Patients in group D were treated with biofeedback therapy and Baduanjin exercise.In this study,patients’quality of life,gastrointestinal hormone levels,and clinical efficacy in the four groups were observed at baseline and 12 wk after intervention.Meanwhile,the correlation between gastrointestinal hormone levels and various functional areas of quality of life was analyzed.By comparing the observed indicators of patients in the four groups,the efficacy of biofeedback therapy combined with Baduanjin in improving the quality of life and gastrointestinal hormone levels of patients with CRC was explored.RESULTS At baseline,there were no significant differences in quality of life,gastrointestinal hormone levels,or clinical efficacy among the four groups(P>0.05).Twelve weeks after the intervention,the combination group’s quality of life,gastrointestinal hormone levels,and clinical effectiveness were better than those of the three other groups.CONCLUSION On the basis of routine nursing care,patients with CRC combined with biofeedback therapy and Baduanjin exercise can improve the quality of life of patients with CRC and the efficacy of gastrointestinal hormone levels.

Physical Activity Level and Adult Saudi Health Related Quality of Life

Purpose: Physical inactivity in Saudi Arabia is a growing challenge to public health. This study aimed to define the relationship between the physical activity level (PAL) and adult Saudi health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: Participants of this study were 100 Saudi adult aged from 18 - 70 years. The 36-Item Short-Form Health Status Survey (SF-36) was used to measure the participant’s HRQoL. The SF-36 is comprised of 8 domains. The electronic version of the General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to categorize participants in terms of physical activity level into;inactive, moderately inactive, moderately active, and active. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests were used to treat the collected data. Results: Results showed that only 17% of the Saudi adults had active PAL. The PAL had significantly positive relationship with 4 domains of HRQoL including: physical functioning (P = 0.004), role limitations caused by physical health problems (P = 0.048), vitality (P = 0.009), and general health (P = 0.044). Results also confirmed that the younger the subject, the higher the PAL (P = 0.0001) and the better the HRQoL. This is true for all domains except the role limitations caused by emotional problems and emotional wellbeing. Conclusion: The poor physical activity level of adult Saudi negatively impacts their HRQoL.

Effect of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression on Functional Level and Quality of Life in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Limited Ambulation Due to Leg Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background and Purpose: Walking difficulties are defined as any reduction in speed, balance, or change of gait, causing limited ambulation. These difficulties are a common problem in older adults and may greatly affect their quality of life (QOL) and restrict their personal independence and participation. This study aimed to determine the effect of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) on lower leg pain, walking capacity, functional mobility, ankle range of motion (AROM), and QOL of community-dwelling older people with walking difficulties. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 34 eligible participants with self-reported lower limb pain and limited ambulation were randomized either to the intermittent pneumatic compression intervention group (IPCIG) or static compression control group (SCCG). The IPCIG and SCCG were trained to receive IPC and SC respectively for both lower legs and instructed to continue the application independently at home for 15 minutes per session, 2 sessions a day, 7 days per week for 4 weeks independently at the home. Outcome measures of lower leg pain, AROM, walking capacity, and functional mobility were assessed at baseline and at the first, second, third, and fourth weeks after randomization. Quality of life was assessed at baseline and immediately after the intervention. Results and Discussion: IPCIG showed a more significant improvement compared to the SCCG at the post-interventional stage for QOL and all the subscales. The findings show that “80% improved QOL” is 53% higher with the application of IPC than with SC for 4 weeks. The IPCIG showed a more significant improvement in the 6-minute walk test (6 MWT) at the third and fourth weeks compared to the SCCG. A pairwise comparison of mean values of 6 MWT over 4 weeks within the IPCIG showed a significant difference between all the weeks. Pairwise comparisons between groups at each time point showed that the IPCIG showed a more significant improvement in the timed up and go (TUG) test at the third and fourth weeks compared to the SCCG. Pairwise comparison of mean values of TUG test within the IPCIG showed a significant difference over 4 weeks, except between the second and third weeks, fourth week, and third and fourth weeks. The IPCIG showed a more significant improvement in lower leg pain between all weeks except the first week compared to the SCCG. Pairwise comparison of mean values of lower leg pain over 4 weeks within the IPCIG showed a significant difference among all weekly outcomes except between 1 and 2 weeks. The IPCIG showed a more significant improvement in left and right ankle dorsiflexion ROM at the third and fourth weeks compared to the SCCG. Conclusions: The IPC was effective in reducing lower leg pain and increasing the AROM and improving the walking capacity, functional mobility level, and QOL of community-dwelling older people with walking disabilities. Walking disability in old age is a common condition requiring physical therapy. Intermittent pneumatic compression can be used as a physical therapy modality for this patient group.

Ordering and Pricing Strategies for Fresh Products with Multiple Quality Levels Considering Consumer Utility

In this paper, considering a scenario in which there are two quality levels of fresh products and introduction of consumer utility function, we studied the optimal ordering and pricing strategies under certain quantity. Our results showed that, facing the two quality levels of fresh products, retailers would not benefit from sales of lower quality of fresh products with the deterministic demand. In the pursuit of profit maximization, the initial order quantity is smaller than the potential demand for market.

Evaluation Method of Output Waveform Quality for Neutral⁃Point⁃ Clamped Three⁃Level Converter

An analytical evaluation method for output waveform quality of space vector pulse width modulation(PWM)strategies applied in neutral⁃point⁃clamped three⁃level converter(3L⁃NPC)is proposed in this paper.Low frequency error caused by neutral point voltage ripple and high frequency error introduced by space vector synthesis were both taken into account,and the unified error model of output current ripple was established.By taking continuous and discontinuous modulation strategies as examples,the unified error model was validated through Fourier analysis of the experimental results.The proposed evaluation method will be helpful for the switching sequence optimization and the modulation strategy selection.

Optimum Quality Level （OQL） ——The Main Proposition of Quality Economics

This paper discusses the Optimum Quality Level （OQL） controlling under the situation of competition and monopoly. While analyzing traditional OQL, we propose a new concept-Opportunity Revenue （OR）-to analyze the principle how enterprise pursues excellent quality to develop quality competition for OR. We further discuss how to decide Optimum Quality in monopoly market.

Effect of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Training on Sleep Quality and Mindfulness Cognitive Level of College Students

Objective:To study the effect of mindfulness-based cognitive training on sleep quality and mindfulness cognitive level of college students who score below the critical value of sleep disorders.Methods:The subjects were freshmen of a university in Shanghai who had scored below the critical value of sleep disorders.They were divided into the control group and experimental group by a random number table method,with 35 students in each group.No intervention was provided in the control group,and the mindfulness-based cognitive training(1 hour per day,5 days per week for 8 consecutive weeks)was performed in the intervention group.Eight weeks later,the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire(FFMQ)scores were compared between the two groups before and after the intervention for changes in the sleep quality and mindfulness cognitive level.Results:The sleep quality and daytime dysfunction were significantly improved,the sleep latency was shortened,the sleep duration was prolonged(P<0.05),and the mindfulness level of the subjects was significantly improved(P<0.05)in the intervention group compared with the control group.Conclusion:Mindfulness-based cognitive training can significantly improve the sleep quality of college students who scored below the critical value of sleep disorders.Furthermore,its psychological mechanism may be associated with the improvement of the mindfulness level of college students.

Spatial changes and driving factors of lake water quality in Inner Mongolia, China

Lakes play important roles in sustaining the ecosystem and economic development in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China,but the spatial patterns and driving mechanisms of water quality in lakes so far remain unclear.This study aimed to identify the spatial changes in water quality and the driving factors of seven lakes(Juyanhai Lake,Ulansuhai Lake,Hongjiannao Lake,Daihai Lake,Chagannaoer Lake,Hulun Lake,and Wulannuoer Lake)across the longitudinal axis(from the west to the east)of Inner Mongolia.Large-scale research was conducted using the comprehensive trophic level index(TLI(Σ)),multivariate statistics,and spatial analysis methods.The results showed that most lakes in Inner Mongolia were weakly alkaline.Total dissolved solids and salinity of lake water showed obvious zonation characteristics.Nitrogen and phosphorus were identified as the main pollutants in lakes,with high average concentrations of total nitrogen and total phosphorus being of 4.05 and 0.21 mg/L,respectively.The values of TLI(Σ)ranged from 49.14 to 71.77,indicating varying degrees of lake eutrophication,and phosphorus was the main driver of lake eutrophication.The lakes of Inner Mongolia could be categorized into lakes to the west of Daihai Lake and lakes to the east of Daihai Lake in terms of salinity and TLI(Σ).The salinity levels of lakes to the west of Daihai Lake exceeded those of lakes to the east of Daihai Lake,whereas the opposite trend was observed for lake trophic level.The intensity and mode of anthropogenic activities were the driving factors of the spatial patterns of lake water quality.It is recommended to control the impact of anthropogenic activities on the water quality of lakes in Inner Mongolia to improve lake ecological environment.These findings provide a more thorough understanding of the driving mechanism of the spatial patterns of water quality in lakes of Inner Mongolia,which can be used to develop strategies for lake ecosystem protection and water resources management in this region.

Auto-Scaling Framework for Enhancing the Quality of Service in the Mobile Cloud Environments

On-demand availability and resource elasticity features of Cloud computing have attracted the focus of various research domains.Mobile cloud computing is one of these domains where complex computation tasks are offloaded to the cloud resources to augment mobile devices’cognitive capacity.However,the flexible provisioning of cloud resources is hindered by uncertain offloading workloads and significant setup time of cloud virtual machines(VMs).Furthermore,any delays at the cloud end would further aggravate the miseries of real-time tasks.To resolve these issues,this paper proposes an auto-scaling framework(ACF)that strives to maintain the quality of service(QoS)for the end users as per the service level agreement(SLA)negotiated assurance level for service availability.In addition,it also provides an innovative solution for dealing with the VM startup overheads without truncating the running tasks.Unlike the waiting cost and service cost tradeoff-based systems or threshold-rule-based systems,it does not require strict tuning in the waiting costs or in the threshold rules for enhancing the QoS.We explored the design space of the ACF system with the CloudSim simulator.The extensive sets of experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the ACF system in terms of good reduction in energy dissipation at the mobile devices and improvement in the QoS.At the same time,the proposed ACF system also reduces the monetary costs of the service providers.

焦虑障碍患者的焦虑水平、述情障碍程度对其生活质量的影响

目的·评估焦虑障碍患者的焦虑水平、述情障碍程度与其生活质量之间的关系。方法·选择2020年10月1日-2023年3月31日期间在上海交通大学医学院附属精神卫生中心门诊收治的焦虑障碍患者为研究对象,经排除后最终纳入患者438例;其中,广泛性焦虑障碍患者271例,惊恐障碍患者101例,社交焦虑障碍患者48例,场所恐惧症患者12例,特定恐惧症患者6例。分别采用汉密尔顿焦虑量表(Hamilton Anxiety Scale,HAMA)、汉密尔顿抑郁量表-17项(Hamilton Depression Scale-17,HAMD-17)、多伦多述情障碍量表-20项(the twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale,TAS-20)、世界卫生组织生活质量测定简表(World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Brief Form Questionnaire,WHOQOL-BREF)评估患者的焦虑水平、抑郁水平、述情障碍程度及生活质量,并对不同亚型焦虑障碍患者的量表得分进行评估。采用Spearman相关系数对焦虑障碍患者的焦虑水平、抑郁水平、述情障碍程度与生活质量进行相关分析,并使用逐步回归模型探索影响焦虑障碍患者生活质量的关键变量。结果·不同亚型焦虑障碍患者在HAMA评分、HAMD-17评分、TAS-20评分间的差异无统计学意义,但在WHOQOL-BRIEF评分上差异具有统计学意义(H=10.076,P=0.039)。Spearman相关分析的结果显示,焦虑障碍患者的WHOQOL-BRIEF评分与HAMA评分、HAMD-17评分、TAS-20评分均呈负相关(r=−0.256,P=0.000;r=−0.311,P=0.000;r=−0.342,P=0.000)。逐步回归分析的结果显示,年龄、HAMA评分、HAMD-17评分及TAS-20评分均对患者的生活质量有较大影响(均P<0.05)。结论·不同亚型焦虑障碍患者的生活质量有所不同,焦虑水平、抑郁水平及述情障碍程度均是影响焦虑障碍患者生活质量的关键变量。