Partial improvement in performance of patients with severe Alzheimer's disease at an early stage of fornix deep brain stimulation

Deep brain stimulation is a therapy for Alzheimer＇s disease（AD） that has previously been used for mainly mild to moderate cases. This study provides the first evidence of early alterations in performance induced by stimulation targeted at the fornix in severe AD patients. The performance of the five cases enrolled in this study was scored with specialized assessments including the Mini-Mental State Examination and Clinical Dementia Rating, both before and at an early stage after deep brain stimulation. The burden of caregivers was also evaluated using the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview. As a whole, the cognitive performance of patients remained stable or improved to varying degrees, and caregiver burden was decreased. Individually, an improved mental state or social performance was observed in three patients, and one of these three patients showed remarkable improvement in long-term memory. The conditions of another patient deteriorated because of inappropriate antipsychotic medications that were administered by his caregivers. Taken together, deep brain stimulation was capable of improving some cognitive aspects in patients with severe AD, and of ameliorating their emotional and social performance, at least at an early stage. However, long-term effects induced by deep brain stimulation in patients with severe AD need to be further validated. More research should focus on clarifying the mechanism of deep brain stimulation. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov（NCT03115814） on April 14, 2017.

Anisotropy of the crystallographic orientation and corrosion performance of high-strength AZ80 Mg alloy

A high-strength AZ80 Mg alloy was prepared through multi-direction forging,thermal extrusion,and peak-aged heat treatment.The microstructure,crystallographic orientation and corrosion performance of extrusion-direction,transverse-direction,and normal-direction specimens were investigated using scanning electron microscopy,electron backscatter diffraction,and atomic force microscopy,respectively.Experimental results showed that crystallographic orientation significantly influenced the corrosion performance of AZ80 Mg alloy.Corrosion rates largely increased with decreased(0001)crystallographic plane intensity,whereas the(10−10)and(2−1−10)crystallographic plane intensities increased.This study showed that the corrosion rates of alloy can be modified to some extent by controlling texture,thereby promoting the applications of high-strength AZ80 Mg alloys in the aerospace and national-defense fields.

Assessment of early-age cracking of high-performance concrete in restrained ring specimens

High-performance concrete （HPC） is stronger and more durable than conventional concrete. However, shrinkage and shrinkage cracking are common phenomena in HPC, especially early-age cracking. This study assessed early-age cracking of HPC for two mixtures using restrained ring tests. The two mixtures were produced with water/binder mass ratio （mw/mB） of 0.22 and 0.40, respectively. The results show that, with greater steel thickness, the higher degree of restraint resulted in a higher interface pressure and earlier cracking. With steel thickness of 6 mm, 19 mm, and 30 mm, the age of cracking were, respectively, 12 days, 8 days, and 5.4 days with the mw/mB = 0.22 mixture; and 22.5 days, 12.6 days, and 7.1 days with the mw/mB= 0.40 mixture. Cases of the same steel thickness show that the ring specimens with a thicker concrete wall crack later. With the mw/mB = 0.22 mixture, concrete walls with thicknesses of 37.5 mm, 75 mm, and 112.5 mm cracked at 3.4 days, 8.0 days, and 9.8 days, respectively; with the mw/mB = 0.40 mixture, the ages of cracking were 7.1 days, 12.6 days, and 16.0 days, respectively.

Influence of Early Quantitative Feed Restriction on Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chickens

An experiment was conducted to study the influence of eady quantitative feed restriction on the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. Two hundred 8-day-old commercial Avian male broiler chicks were assigned to four groups randomly, with 50 broilers each. At the age of 8 days the broilers were restricted to 90%, 80% or 70% of the ad libitum intake for 7 days. When the restricion was finished, all birds received feed ad libitum again. The results showed that diet restriction resulted in a reduction in body weight and daily gain during the restriction period （P 〈0.05）. The birds restricted to 90% of the ad libitum intake showed the occurring of growth compensation in the 3rd week. The birds restricted to 80% and 70% of the ad libitum intake had growth compensation in the 4th week. No significant differences between the effects of the restriction and the control on final body weight, growth rate, feed conversion efficiency and carcass characteristics （P 〈0.05）.

Early Maladaptive Schemas, Working Memory and Academic Performances of Moroccan Students

Our aim is to study the early maladaptive schemas and the memory span abilities and to evaluate the relationship between these schemas and the memory in one side and academic performance in the other side among Moroccan students. A cross-sectional study is conducted among 212 students, randomly selected from different institutions of the IBN TOFAIL University, located in the city of Kenitra (NW of Morocco). Three neurocognitive tests are used: the short version of the Early Maladaptive Schemas Questionnaire to evaluate the early maladaptive schemas (EMS), the sub-test of the Wechsler to evaluate the working memory among these subjects, and a general questionnaire about socio-economic data, nutritional and mental health status and also, academic performances of each student. The obtained results showed some significant negative correlations between forward memory span and activated schema, and significant negative correlations are registered between backward memory span and activated schema. More, thirty-three percent of students passed the exams of the autumn term against 67% who failed it. Moreover, significant negative correlations are registered between the schemas and the number of Units validated in the autumn term. In addition, fifty-three percent of students had a normal forward memory, 47% had an excellent forward memory and no one had pathological one. However, 63% had a pathological backward memory span, 28% had normal memory and 9% had an excellent backward memory. The EMS appeared in connection with the student’s working memory and the academic performance. Deeper investigations are needed to understand this relationship and also to study other possible factors that could affect this important neurocognitive function.

Correlation between DRD2 Gene Polymorphism and Early Egg Production Performance of Libo Yaoshan Chicken

To improve egg production performance of local chicken breed in Guizhou Province, Libo Yaoshan chicken, with dopamine receptor 2 （ DRD2 ） as one of the candidate genes, we detected its genetic variation in 196 Libe Yaoshan hens using PCR-SSCP （single-strand conformation polymorphism） and sequencing method, and analyzed the correlation between genetic variation and egg production traits. The results showed that TT and TG genotypes in mRNA SNlX）62 （C→T） loci of the DRD2 gene had extremely significant difference in egg production at 38 weeks age （P 〈0.01 ）, and significant difference in egg weight at 300 days age （P 〈0.05 ）. The single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） mutation induced synonymous mutation of the 312th amino acids （leucine） in DRD2 protein, from L （CTG） to L （TI＇G）. The mRNA SNP962 （C→T） loci had a larger genetic effect on egg production at 38 weeks age, and could be used as a molecular marker in early breeding of Libo Yaoshan chicken.

Reading Performance and Academic Achievement in Early Childhood Bilingual and Monolinguals

Relationship between reading performance and academic achievement is theoretically predictable. However, this relationship could be higher among early childhood bilingual (ECBL) students than monolingual peers. For evaluating this claim, two groups of randomly selected female second graders (150 Farsi speaking and 150 Farsi and Turkish speaking) were tested and compared on these characteristics. The measures used were Kormi-Nouri and associates’ tests of reading performance. Moreover, academic achievement was defined to be the average of scores obtained by students at their final school exams in Math, Science and Farsi. Analysis of regression was then performed to determine which construct served as the best predictor of academic achievement in both groups. Based on the results, ECBL girls were superior to their monolingual (ML) counterparts in all three areas. Findings also show that reading performance was a strong predictor of school achievement for both groups.

Influence of probucol-assisted retinal photocoagulation therapy on the visual performance and serum biochemical indexes in patients with early proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Objective: To explore the influence of probucol-assisted retinal photocoagulation therapy on the visual performance and serum biochemical indexes in patients with early proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Methods: A total of 170 patients with early proliferative DR who were treated in the hospital between December 2014 and May 2017 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into the control group (n=107) who received retinal photocoagulation therapy alone and the probucol group (n=63) who received probucol-assisted retinal photocoagulation therapy. The differences in the contents of visual performance indexes as well as serum angiogenesis indexes, inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress indexes were compared between the two groups before treatment and after 6 weeks of treatment. Results: Before treatment, the differences in the levels of visual performance indexes as well as serum contents of angiogenesis indexes, inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress indexes were not statistically significant between the two groups of patients. After 6 weeks of treatment, mean vision, 30 visual acuity and 30-60 visual acuity of probucol group were higher than those of control group;serum angiogenesis indexes HIF-1, VEGF and Ang-2 contents were lower than those of control group;serum inflammatory mediators ICAM-1, IL-2, IL-23 and TNF-α contents were lower than those of control group;serum oxidative stress index MDA content was lower than that of control group whereas TAC content was higher than that of control group. Conclusion: Probucol-assisted retinal photocoagulation therapy can effectively optimize the visual performance and promote the homeostasis recovery in patients with early proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Numerical Model Research on Rotational Performance of Beam-Column High-Strength Bolt Extension End-Plate Connection Node

The high-strength bolted end plate connection is widely used in the construction industry with its green environmental protection and excellent seismic performance. The joints of the joints are semi-rigid, the force performance is extremely complicated, and the experimental research cost is relatively high, and the cycle is very long. Therefore, the establishment of an efficient numerical model is of great significance for evaluating the force performance of high-strength bolt end plates. In this paper, the influence of different material models on the rotation performance of the joint is studied by numerical simulation, and the bending moment-rotation curve is obtained. The numerical simulation and the experimental results are in good agreement, so as to provide a reference for the design and application of this kind of joint.

Early Stage CAD-Compliant Energy Performance Assessment Method

A simple calculator for early stage energy performance assessment in residential buildings was developed and partially validated in this study. The calculator is based on the correlation of heat loss and energy need for heating and has fixed internal heat gains as intended for compliance assessment. With the calculator, the effect of any parameter implemented can be immediately seen on delivered and primary energy. Because of simple equations, it is suitable for implementation into CAD （computer aided design） design tools including basic BIM （building information modeling） data. Results showed that the accuracy of the correlation for the cases with practical relevance was not worse than 14% of the energy need of space heating. This applies for passive house insulation level; for less insulated building envelopes, the deviations were smaller. This 14% equals to only 3 kWh/（m2.a）, i.e., the percentage difference in the total delivered and primary energy was much lower because of other components in the energy balance. The deviations determined were implemented in the calculator as safety margin. Results prove that simple energy performance assessment based on specific heat loss coefficient is well justified for early stage energy analyses as well as for compliance assessment implemented in Estonian regulation.

Potential roles of the rectum keystone microbiota in modulating the microbial community and growth performance in goat model

Background Ruminal microbiota in early life plays critical roles in the life-time health and productivity of ruminant animals.However,understanding of the relationship between gut microbiota and ruminant phenotypes is very limited.Here,the relationship between the rectum microbiota,their primary metabolites,and growth rate of a total of 76 young dairy goats(6-month-old)were analyzed,and then 10 goats with the highest or lowest growth rates respectively were further compared for the differences in the rectum microbiota,metabolites,and animal’s immune parameters,to investigate the potential mechanisms by which the rectum microbiota contributes to the health and growth rate.Results The analysis of Spearman correlation and microbial co-occurrence network indicated that some keystone rectum microbiota,including unclassified Prevotellaceae,Faecalibacterium and Succinivibrio,were the key modulators to shape the rectum microbiota and closely correlated with the rectum SCFA production and serum IgG,which contribute to the health and growth rate of young goats.In addition,random forest machine learning analysis suggested that six bacterial taxa in feces could be used as potential biomarkers for differentiating high or low growth rate goats,with 98.3%accuracy of prediction.Moreover,the rectum microbiota played more important roles in gut fermentation in early life(6-month-old)than in adulthood stage(19-month-old)of goats.Conclusion We concluded that the rectum microbiota was associated with the health and growth rate of young goats,and can be a focus on the design of the early-life gut microbial intervention.

Artificial intelligence for early detection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: The future is promising

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC) is a worldwide public health concern. Despite extensive research efforts toward improving diagnosis and treatment, the 5-year survival rate at best is approximately 15%. This dismal figure can be attributed to a variety of factors including lack of adequate screening methods, late symptom onset, and treatment resistance. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma remains a grim diagnosis with a high mortality rate and a significant psychological burden for patients and their families. In recent years artificial intelligence(AI) has permeated the medical field at an accelerated pace, bringing potential new tools that carry the promise of improving diagnosis and treatment of a variety of diseases. In this review we will summarize the landscape of AI in diagnosis and treatment of PDAC.

Preparation for Retarding and High Early Strength Concrete

The primary objective of this research was to determine optimum dosage of mixing concrete containing plasticizers and fly ash, consistent with desirable structural grade concrete properties. Factorial tests were also conducted to investigate the four main factors： water-cementing materials ratio, water content, content of superplasticizers （SP） and fly ash content. It was found that the requirement for setting time played the dominant role in shrinkage and anti-cracking, and fly ash played a critical role in workability and reducing heat of hydration but showed insignificant effects on slump, early strength and initial setting time of concrete.

Early Building Design:Informed decision-making by exploring multidimensional design space using sensitivity analysis

This paper describes a novel approach to explore a multidimensional design space and guide multi-actor decision making in the design of sustainable buildings.The aim is to provide proactive and holistic guidance of the design team.We propose to perform exhaustive Monte Carlo simulations in an iterative design approach that consists of tw o steps:1) preparation by the modeler,and 2) a multi-collaborator meeting.In the preparation phase,the simulation modeler performs Morris sensitivity analysis to fixate insignificant model inputs and to identify non-linearity and interaction effects.Next,a representation of the global design space is obtained from thousands of simulations using low-discrepancysequences(LPτ) for sampling.From these simulations,the modeler constructs fast metamodels and performs quantitative sensitivity analysis.During the meeting,the design team explores the global design space by filtering the thousands of simulations.Variable filter criteria are easily applied using an interactive parallel coordinate plot w hich provide immediate feedback on requirements and design choices.Sensitivity measures and metamodels show the combined effects of changing a single input and how to remedy unw anted output changes.The proposed methodology has been developed and tested through real building cases using a normative model to assess energy demand,thermal comfort,and daylight.

基于综合性能试验的混凝土早期开裂行为研究

为提高混凝土的早期抗裂性能,突破单因素改善其早期稳定性,进行了多因素补偿混凝土各性能缺陷方面的研究.基于调控混凝土配合比开展了胶凝材料水化热、混凝土早期收缩试验和大板加速开裂试验.通过相关收缩机理分析了不同混凝土拌和物的开裂行为;运用双参数Weibull分布分析试验结果,得出了混凝土大板裂缝经时开裂规律.试验结果表明:采用高效稳定型聚羧酸减水剂可以增加浆体的和易性,结合66.7%矿物掺合料(粉煤灰和矿渣粉与水泥质量比)、较好级配碎石和0.29的水胶比有利于延长混凝土的初裂时间和控制裂缝宽度,即提高混凝土的早期抗裂性能.同时,该调控手段也可以降低浆体的水化热,提高混凝土的抗压强度.此外,混凝土裂缝宽度的经时变化规律很好地服从双参数Weibull分布.

不同饲喂方式对早期断奶“茶卡羊”羔羊生长性能、养殖收益及血清生化指标的影响

【目的】探究早期断奶后不同饲喂方式对舍饲羔羊生长性能、养殖收益及血清生化指标的影响。【方法】选取体重(5.94±0.34)kg、日龄(20±1)相近的健康茶卡羊公羔40只,用耳标标记,随机分为早期断奶组(A、B、C组)和随母哺乳组(D组,对照),每组10只。早期断奶组羔羊于21日龄开始断奶并用代乳粉替代饲喂至60日龄后进行不同日粮组合饲喂,即A组:开食料+燕麦青干草+玉米青贮;B组:开食料+燕麦青干草;C组:开食料+玉米青贮,饲喂时间为65 d。D组羔羊随母哺乳至试验结束。【结果】生长性能方面,A组羔羊增质量(16.43 kg)、平均日增重(156.48 g/d)、增重比例(362.32%)及饲料转化效率(4.28)显著高于其它各处理组(P<0.05,下同),B组和C组无显著差异(P>0.05,下同)。养殖收益方面,随母哺乳组羔羊收益最低(171.16元/只),断奶后A组饲喂方式显著提高羔羊养殖收益,为217.35元/只。不同饲喂方式显著影响羔羊血清部分激素、氮代谢及免疫功能;激素方面,生长激素(GH)、胰岛素生长因子(IGF-1)和胃泌素含量A组显著高于其它各处理组;氮代谢方面,A组显著提升羔羊氮代谢能力,主要表现为较低的尿素氮(7.12 mmol/L)和尿酸含量(122.25μmol/L);免疫功能方面,免疫球蛋白G(IgG)和免疫球蛋白A(IgA)含量在A组显著高于其它处理组。免疫球蛋白M(IgM)在各处理组间无显著差异。【结论】茶卡羊羔羊早期断奶后采用开食料、玉米青贮和燕麦青干草混合饲喂方式有利于其生长性能、养殖收益及机体各功能的发挥。农牧民应树立羔羊早期断奶观念,在早期断奶后通过科学的饲喂管理提升羔羊养殖水平,以期获得良好的生长性能及养殖收益。

绿色视角下的高铁站房腔体植入策略与模拟验证研究

由于体量和形式的特殊性,高铁站房的舒适度问题比一般建筑更为突出,以绿色视角审视其设计具有较大的优化潜力。近年来建筑学界对腔体的关注增多,而高铁站房方案设计中针对性地设置腔体、操作方法等方面的研究尚显不足。立足于方案设计阶段,针对空间特征与现存问题,从宏观层面上构建了对候车环境品质多重导控的腔体层级,探讨了“结构腔”、“功能腔”和“绿景腔”三类腔体的植入方式。构建典型模型并生成研究方案用于量化研究。通过性能模拟技术,验证了腔体植入对室内气流、采光质量有显著提升的效果。腔体植入策略打破了当前高铁站房固定的空间模式,为我国高铁站房的绿色创新提供参考,在实践中具有广泛的应用价值。

3D打印再生砂浆早期流变性能及结构经时演化研究

为深入探究再生砂浆在3D打印技术中的适用性,对不同取代率的再生砂浆开展研究,分析了再生砂浆的流/触变性在早期阶段的发展过程,采用数字图像技术对静载作用下3D打印试件的变形进行收集分析。结果表明:随着水化反应的进行,再生砂浆呈现较快的静态屈服应力和触变环面积的增长趋势,其20 min静态屈服应力为天然砂浆的1.47倍,表现出更好的可建造性。在荷载作用下再生砂浆打印试件的竖向突变高度损失和徐变位移明显较小,约为天然砂浆打印试件的1/2。根据再生砂表观特点揭示了水化过程中再生砂浆流/触变性的演化机理,从材料性能和3D打印试件结构空隙方面对3D打印试件在静载作用下的变形进行分析,为再生砂浆在3D打印中的使用提供理论支撑。

基于熵值法和功效系数法的林业企业财务风险预警机制——以福建省永安林业(集团)股份有限公司为例

林业是关系到国计民生的重要支柱产业,承担着促进国民经济发展、改善生态环境、提高民生福祉的多重使命。在以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的背景下,林业正在积极进行产业结构化调整,建构循环经济的现代林业产业体系。林业企业在做出战略选择时,应当时刻关注自身的财务状况。文中以2015—2022年永安年报数据为基础,运用熵值法从21个财务指标中筛选出7个最能反映永安林业财务状况的指标,并赋予指标权重,最后运用功效系数法进行绩效评价及风险预警;在此基础上,提出林业企业防范财务风险的相关建议:1)积极寻求政策扶持;2)健全风险评估体系;3)做好产业转型的准备;4)优化资本结构;5)加强技术投资。

广藿香精油对早期断奶仔猪生长性能、血液生化指标及抗氧化能力的影响

试验旨在研究饲粮中添加不同水平广藿香精油(Patchouli essential oil,PEO)对早期断奶仔猪生长性能、血液生化指标及抗氧化能力的影响,选取21日龄、体重(5.37±0.15)kg的杜×长×大三元杂交仔猪30头,随机分为A、B、C 3组,A组作为对照组饲喂基础日粮,B组饲喂基础日粮+100 mg/kg PEO,C组饲喂基础日粮+200 mg/kg PEO。预试期3 d,正试期21 d。结果表明:①与A组相比,C组可显著提高早期断奶仔猪的末重(FBW)、平均日增重(ADG),显著降低仔猪料重比(F/G)和腹泻指数(P<0.05);②与A组相比,C组能显著降低早期断奶仔猪血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)和天冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)水平(P<0.05);③与A组相比,B组和C组均可显著降低早期断奶仔猪血清肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)和白细胞介素-6(IL-6)水平(P<0.05),C组能显著提高早期断奶仔猪血清转化生长因子-β(TGF-β)和白细胞介素-10(IL-10)水平(P<0.05);④与A组相比,B组和C组均可显著提高早期断奶仔猪血清中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性和总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)(P<0.05),并显著降低丙二醛(MDA)含量(P<0.05);⑤与A组相比,B组和C组均可显著提高早期断奶仔猪血清免疫球蛋白G(IgG)、免疫球蛋白A(IgA)和免疫球蛋白M(IgM)水平(P<0.05)。综上所述,饲粮添加PEO能改善早期断奶仔猪生长性能、血液生化指标,提高机体免疫力,缓解氧化应激,提升抗氧化能力,以200 mg/kg的添加水平效果最佳。