Effects of air damping on quality factors of different probes in tapping mode atomic force microscopy

The AFM probe in tapping mode is a continuous process of energy dissipation,from moving away from to intermittent contact with the sample surfaces.At present,studies regarding the energy dissipation mechanism of this continuous process have only been reported sporadically,and there are no systematic explanations or experimental verifications of the energy dissipation mechanism in each stage of the continuous process.The quality factors can be used to characterize the energy dissipation in TM-AFM systems.In this study,the vibration model of the microcantilever beam was established,coupling the vibration and damping effects of the microcantilever beam.The quality factor of the vibrating microcantilever beam under damping was derived,and the air viscous damping when the probe is away from the sample and the air squeeze film damping when the probe is close to the sample were calculated.In addition,the mechanism of the damping effects of different shapes of probes at different tip–sample distances was analyzed.The accuracy of the theoretical simplified model was verified using both experimental and simulation methods.A clearer understanding of the kinetic characteristics and damping mechanism of the TM-AFM was achieved by examining the air damping dissipation mechanism of AFM probes in the tapping mode,which was very important for improving both the quality factor and the imaging quality of the TM-AFM system.This study’s research findings also provided theoretical references and experimental methods for the future study of the energy dissipation mechanism of micro-nano-electromechanical systems.

Dynamic Development Characteristics and Driving Factors of High Quality Development Level in China’s Five Major Urban Agglomerations

High-quality development is the primary task of comprehensively building a socialist,modern country,as well as the primary task of building urban agglomerations in China.Based on the five development concepts,this paper used the entropy method to measure the High Quality Development Index(HQDI)of the five major urban agglomerations.The results showed that the HQDI of the five major urban agglomerations shows a fluctuating upward trend.First,using the Dagum Gini coefficient to explore the sources of HQDI development differences in urban agglomerations,we found that the main source of HQDI differences in urban agglomerations was inter-regional differences,while intra-regional differences were not important.Second,kernel density estimation was used to test the dynamic evolution trend of HQDI within urban agglomerations.There was a polarisation phenomenon in the HQDI of urban agglomerations,such as the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration and the Chengdu-Chongqing urban agglomeration.But overall,the degree of imbalance had decreased.Third,using geographic detectors to examine the driving factors of HQDI in urban agglomerations,we found that the main driving forces for improving HQDI in urban agglomerations were economic growth,artificial intelligence technology and fiscal decentralisation.All the interaction factors had greater explanatory power for the spatial differentiation of HQDI,which can be divided into two types:two-factor improvement and non-linear improvement.This study is conducive to improving and enriching the theoretical system for evaluating the high quality development of urban agglomerations,and provides policy references for promoting the high quality development of urban agglomerations.

A Problem Not to Be Ignored: The Influencing Factors of Mobile Phone Addiction and Its Influence on Sleep Quality

Background and Objective: With the popularity and widespread use of mobile phones, the effects of mobile phone dependence and addiction on individuals’ physical and mental health have attracted more and more attention. The present study aims to analyze the current state of mobile phone addiction and its impact on sleep quality within the population, while also exploring the influence of related factors on sleep quality. Ultimately, this research will provide a scientific foundation for targeted intervention measures and strategies. Methods: A total of 253 permanent residents in Nanjing were randomly selected as study subjects. The Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to evaluate the degree of smartphone addiction and sleep quality of the study subjects. Body mass index (BMI) was measured according to standardized procedures. Independent sample t-test, Chi-square test, rank sum test and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the correlation between mobile phone addiction and sleep quality, and P Results: 117 people (46.2%) were addicted to mobile phones. Chi-square test showed that the rate of mobile phone addiction in drinking group was significantly higher than that in non-drinking group (P P P P P P P P P P Conclusion: Mobile phone addiction may lead to shorter sleep duration and reduce sleep efficiency. The withdrawal of mobile phone addiction may have a negative impact on sleep quality. According to the characteristics of the population, appropriate comprehensive intervention measures should be taken to build an effective evaluation system, so as to reduce the impact of mobile phone addiction and withdrawal problems on sleep and improve sleep quality.

Analysis and Strategy Research on Influencing Factors of Classroom Teaching Quality in Higher Vocational Colleges

In this study,the questionnaire“Influencing Factors of Classroom Quality in Higher Vocational Education”was self-compiled.By using the questionnaire survey method,the research conclusion was drawn that the main factors affecting the classroom teaching quality in higher vocational education were teaching and student factors,teacher factors,and classroom factors based on 2,683 samples.According to the research results,the measures to improve the quality of classroom teaching are put forward,in order to provide guidance for improving the quality of teaching in higher vocational colleges.

Epidemiological, Clinical Aspects and Factors Associated with Typical Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in the General Population of Parakou, Republic of Benin

Introduction: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a benign and chronic disease that can impair the quality of life. Objective: To study the epidemiological, clinical aspects and factors associated with typical GERD in the general population of Parakou in the Republic of Benin. Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study with prospective data collection which took place from May 1, 2019 to June 30, 2019. The study population consisted of any subject aged at least 15 years and living in Parakou. Subjects aged at least 15 years, present on the day of the survey and having given their free and informed verbal consent were included. The Short form of QRS®(Reflux-Qual Short form) questionnaire and the “Hospital Anxiety and Depression” score were used to assess the quality of life and anxiety/depression, respectively. The sampling was probabilistic through a 2-stage cluster sampling. The variable of interest was the presence of GERD. Results: Out of 390 subjects surveyed, 28 had symptoms of typical GERD, representing a prevalence of 7.18%. The average age of these subjects was 27.11 ± 7.88 years. Fifteen subjects (53.57%) were male, giving a sex ratio of 1.15. Fourteen (50%) had a secondary level of education, 12 (42.86%) were pupils/students, 18 (64.29%) were single. The monthly income of 22 subjects (78.57%) was lower than the guaranteed interprofessional minimum wage (40,000 FCFA). The average duration of progression of symptoms was 15.89 ± 4.97 months. Symptoms occurred less than twice a week in 22 subjects (78.57%). The clinical manifestations were both diurnal and nocturnal in 12 subjects (42.86%). None of the 28 subjects with GERD had clinical warning signs. Asthma, diabetes, consumption of high fat or spice foods, carbonated drinks, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alcoholic beverages and tobacco were statistically associated with the occurrence of GERD. Each of the 28 subjects had at least one associated factor. A significant impair in quality of life was observed in 27 patients (96.43%). Conclusion: Typical GERD is relatively common in the general population of Parakou in the Republic of Benin. It often affects young males. Among the risk factors identified, the most common are carbonated drinks, spicy meals and diabetes. GERD significantly impairs quality of life. Raising awareness about the disease and its associated factors is necessary among the general population.

Ecological environmental quality evaluation and driving factor analysis of the Lijiang River Basin,based on Google Earth Engine

For regional ecological management,it is important to evaluate the quality of ecosystems and analyze the underlying causes of ecological changes.Using the Google Earth Engine(GEE)platform,the remote sensing ecological index(RSEI)was calculated for the Lijiang River Basin in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region for 1991,2001,2011,and 2021.Spatial autocorrelation analysis was employed to investigate spatiotemporal variations in the ecological environmental quality of the Lijiang River Basin.Furthermore,geographic detectors were used to quantitatively analyze influencing factors and their interaction effects on ecological environmental quality.The results verified that:1)From 1991 to 2021,the ecological environmental quality of the Lijiang River Basin demonstrated significant improvement.The area with good and excellent ecological environmental quality in proportion increased by 19.69%(3406.57 km^(2)),while the area with fair and poor ecological environmental quality in proportion decreased by 10.76%(1860.36 km^(2)).2)Spatially,the ecological environmental quality of the Lijiang River Basin exhibited a pattern of low quality in the central region and high quality in the periphery.Specifically,poor ecological environmental quality characterized the Guilin urban area,Pingle County,and Lingchuan County.3)From 1991 to 2021,a significant positive spatial correlation was observed in ecological environmental quality of the Lijiang River Basin.Areas with high-high agglomeration were predominantly forests and grasslands,indicating good ecological environmental quality,whereas areas with low-low agglomeration were dominated by cultivated land and construction land,indicating poor ecological environmental quality.4)Annual average precipitation and temperature exerted the most significant influence on the ecological environmental quality of the basin,and their interactions with other factors had the great influence.This study aimed to enhance understanding of the evolution of the ecological environment in the Lijiang River Basin of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and provide scientific guidance for decision-making and management related to ecology in the region.

Analysis of status and influencing factors of mental health in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)is a heterogeneous autoimmune disorder with varied clinical courses and prognoses,not only did the patients suffer from physical impairment,but also various physical and psychiatric comorbidities.Growing evidence have suggested that mental disorders in SLE patients,can lead to various adverse consequences.AIM To explored the features and influencing factors of mental health in patients with SLE and clarifying the correlations between mental health and personality characteristics and perceived social support.The results would provide a basis for psychological intervention in patients with SLE.METHODS The clinical data of 168 patients with SLE admitted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University between June 2020 and June 2022 were collected.Psychological assessment and correlation analysis were conducted using the Symptom Checklist-90(SCL-90)and Perceived Social Support Scale,and the collected data were compared with the national norms in China.The relevant factors influencing mental health were identified by statistical analysis.A general information questionnaire,the Revised Life Orientation Test,and Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey were employed to assess optimism level and quality of life(QoL),respectively.RESULTS Patients with SLE obtained higher scores for the somatization,depression,anxiety,and phobic anxiety subscales than national norms(P<0.05).A correlation was identified between total social support and total SCL-90 score or each subscale(P<0.05).The factors significantly affecting patients’mental health were hormone dosage and disease activity index(DAI)(P<0.05).The average optimism score of patients with SLE was 14.36±4.42,and 30 cases were in the middle and lower levels.A positive correlation was found between optimism level and QoL scores.CONCLUSION Patients with SLE develop psychological disorders at varying degrees,which are significantly influenced by hormone dosage and DAI.Patients’mental health should be closely monitored during clinical diagnosis and treatment and provided adequate support in establishing positive,healthy thinking and behavior patterns and improving their optimism level and QoL.

Research on the Impact of China’s Foreign Trade Technology Spillover on Green Total Factor Productivity of Countries Along the“Belt and Road”:Based on the Institutional Quality Threshold Effect

China’s growing trade with countries along the“Belt and Road”Initiative is accompanied by a focus on green development.Based on the panel data from 2007 to 2018,this paper establishes a threshold regression model to empirically analyze the institutional quality threshold effect of China’s foreign trade technology spillover on the GTFP of countries along the“Belt and Road.”The results show that China’s foreign trade technology spillover has a significant institutional quality double threshold effect on the green total factor productivity of the countries along the“Belt and Road.”As the institutional quality of the countries along the“Belt and Road”crosses a specific threshold value,the impact of China’s foreign trade technology spillover on the green total factor productivity of the countries along the“Belt and Road”has a significant positive promoting effect,and corresponding suggestions are put forward.

Factors Associated with Diet Quality in Women of Childbearing Age in Southern Benin in 2022

Background: The nutritional status of women while in pregnancy influences foetus growth, infant development, and the mother’s health. The objective of this study was to assess diet quality and associated factors among women of childbearing age in the Comè community, Benin. Methods: The cross-sectional and analytical study involved 215 participants randomly selected by multi-stage sampling technique. Two non-consecutive dietary recall data were collected as well as sociodemographic information. The International Food Quality Index (IQD-I) was used to assess diet quality. Factors associated with the nutritional quality of the diet were identified by using linear regression. Results: Among 212 women, a diet quality of 175 (82.55%) was fair while 14.62% had good diet quality. Factors associated with the diet quality were the level of household possession, health issues, and nutritional advice at the health care facilities. Conclusion: Nutritional education interventions and income-generating activities may improve the diet quality among women of childbearing age in the Comè in Benin.

Structural characteristics and influencing factors of spatial correlation network for regional high-quality development in China

On the basis of measuring the regional high-quality development in China from 2011 to 2020,this study uses gravity model to build spatial correlation network,and uses social network analysis method to analyze the structural characteristics and influencing factors of correlation network.The results are shown as follows.First,from 2011 to 2020,the level of regional high-quality development in China is rising gradually,and the discrete characteristics between regions are gradually obvious,showing a step-like distribution structure decreasing from east to west.Second,the network density of regional high-quality development is generally low and tends to decline,but it has strong stability and correlation strength.Third,the spatial correlation network has an obvious core-edge structure.Shanghai is always at the center of the network and plays a significant intermediary role,while Qinghai and Xinjiang are always at the edge of the network.Fourth,the regional high-quality development association network can be divided into four major sectors:main benefit,net benefit,net spillover,and broker,showing the spatial correlation characteristics of inter-plate contact and intra-plate agglomeration.Fifth,the level of economic development,the level of urbanization and geographical proximity have a significant impact on the formation of regional high-quality development correlation network.

Quality of life of hospitalized patients after lung cancer operation and analysis of influencing factors

Objective:To explore the current status and influencing factors of quality of life in patients with lung cancer after surgery in a tertiary hospital in Hainan province.Methods:To investigate the influencing factors of quality of life of lung cancer patients after surgery in a tertiary hospital in Hainan province by cross‑sectional survey method.Results:The scores of insomnia,appetite loss,constipation and pain in 186 lung cancer patients after surgery in a tertiary hospital in Hainan Province were significantly higher than the reference value.Multiple linear regression analysis showed that older patients(>60 years)had lower scores in physical function domain(β=-0.193),and female patients had more appetite loss symptoms(β=0.245).Compared with other minority ethnic groups,Han ethnic group had lower scores in role function domain(β=0.179),more severe fatigue symptoms(β=-0.162),and higher general health level(β=0.166).Patients with employee medical insurance had lower scores of emotional function(β=0.194),cognitive function(β=0.281),the lowest score in social function(β=0.188),and severe pain in other parts(β=-0.227).Smokers had less cough symptoms(β=0.175)and more arm and shoulder pain symptoms(β=-0.21)than non‑smokers.Patients with secondhand smoke exposure had lower cognitive function scores(β=-0.158)and more obvious symptoms of oral ulcer(β=0.185).Patients who drank alcohol frequently(drinking frequency>1 time/day)had more severe cough symptoms(β=0.27).Patients with small number of children(0‑1)had milder cough symptoms(β=0.178).Patients who did not understand the disease had obvious symptoms of arm and shoulder pain(β=0.151).Patients with early pathological stage(stageⅠ‑Ⅱ)had more severe shortness of breath(β=-0.159)and pain(β=-0.181).The symptoms of appetite loss were more obvious in patients living in cities(β=0.192).The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy were more obvious(β=0.174).Patients who often consumed pickulated food had severe pain symptoms(β=-0.219),and pain in other parts was obvious(β=-0.149).Male patients had obvious alopecia symptoms(β=-0.306).Conclusion:Age,ethnicity,residence,type of medical insurance,number of children,pathological stage of lung cancer,smoking,second‑hand smoke exposure,alcohol consumption,and frequent consumption of pickled food were related to the quality of life of lung cancer patients in hospital after surgery.Medical staff and family members should pay attention to the emotional communication of patients during the treatment of lung cancer patients in hospital after surgery.Patients should avoid exposure to smoking,alcohol and second‑hand smoke,and reduce consumption of pickled food.

Factors influencing quality of life in Chinese patients with dementia: a systematic review

Background:Dementia is a group of nervous system diseases characterized by progressive cognitive decline,leading to a loss of self-care ability and a decline in well-being.This places a significant burden on the global healthcare system,with Chinese patients accounting for approximately one-quarter of the world’s dementia cases.Therefore,it is crucial to identify factors that impact the quality of life(QOL)among elderly Chinese individuals with dementia.Method:To achieve this,we conducted a comprehensive search of several databases,including PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,the Cochrane Library,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang Data,China VIP Database and China Biomedical Literature Database.We reviewed cross-sectional studies from the inception of these databases until March 27,2022.QOL outcomes were assessed using standardized scales in the studies included in this review.Results:The search yielded a total of 1,235 relevant articles,from which we finally included 21 cross-sectional studies and one longitudinal study after rigorous quality assessment.Among these,10 studies were classified as high quality,while 12 were classified as fair quality.Through our analysis,we identified 28 patient-rated QOL factors and 14 caregiver-rated QOL factors.These factors were categorized into three groups:patient,disease-related and caregiver.Factors commonly found to influence patient-rated QOL included age,education,marital status,depression,self-care ability,dementia severity,cognitive function,behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and caregiver burden.Similarly,factors commonly influencing caregiver-rated QOL included economic status,depression,self-care ability,dementia severity,cognitive function,behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and caregiving time.Conclusion:This review clarifies the factors that influence the QOL of Chinese individuals with dementia.When implementing interventions,it is crucial to consider the differences between patient-rated QOL and caregiver-proxy-rated QOL,as well as their respective influencing factors.

Investigation and Analysis of Factors Influencing the Quality of Community Nursing Services in Laishan District,Yantai City

Objective:The purpose of this study is to conduct an in-depth investigation and analysis of the factors affecting the quality of community nursing services in Laishan District,Yantai City,and provide suggestions for improving the quality of the services.Method:The community nursing services in Laishan District,Yantai City were investigated through questionnaires and on-site observations.Result:The content of nursing services was correlated with the professional titles of the staff.The guidance given to patients and caregivers was significantly correlated with the educational level of community nursing personnel.Therefore,this indicates that the professional titles and educational backgrounds of the community nursing personnel have a significant impact on the quality of service provided.Conclusion:The role of professional title evaluation can be optimized,further enhancing the educational level of nurses in surrounding communities,optimizing service content and methods,etc.,in order to improve the quality of community nursing services in the region.

Effect of Main Cultivation Factors on Quality Combination Parameters of High-quality Brassica napus Hybrids

[Objective] This study aimed to analyze the influence of five cultivation factors including sowing date, plant density, nitrogen fertilizer amount, phosphate fertilizer amount and potash fertilizer amount on the quality parameters of Brassica napus hybrid＆ [Method] Statistical analysis on the data from previous studies and our work was carried out [Result] The contents of erucic acid, thioglycoside, oil, oleic acid and linoleic acid were negatively correlated with the sowing date, while the contents of seed protein, palmitic acid, stearic acid and linolenic acid were positively correlated with the sowing date. The total amount of fat and protein, the ratio of unsaturated fatty acid （UFA） to saturated fatty acid （SFA）, the fatty acid （FA） of erucic acid chain, the total amount of oleic acid and linoleic acid were negatively correlated with the sowing date; the UFA content, the unsatu- ration index, the SFA content, the 18-C FA content, and the ratio of UFA to FA in erucic acid chain were positively correlated with the sowing date. The contents of erucic acid, thioglycoside, seed protein, oleic acid, linolenic acid and eicosenoic acid were negatively correlated with the plant density, while the contents of oil, palmitic acid, stearic acid and linoleic acid were positively correlated with the plant density. The total amount of fat and protein （F ＆ P）, and the ratio of UFA to FA in erucic acid chain were negatively correlated with the plant density, while the UFA content, the unsaturation index, the SFA content, the ratio of UFA to SFA, the 18-C FA content, the FA in erucic acid chain, and the total amount of oleic acid and linoleic acid were positively correlated with the plant density. The contents of erucic acid, thioglycoside, oil, protein in milled rapeseed, palmitic acid and eicosenoic acid were negatively correlated with the nitrogen fertilizer amount, while the contents of seed protein, oleic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid were posi- tively correlated with the nitrogen fertilizer amount; the total F ＆ P, the unsaturation index and the ratio of UFA to FA in erucic acid chain were positively correlated with the nitrogen fertilizer amount, while the UFA content, the SFA content, the FA in erucic acid chain, the total amount of oleic acid and linoleic acid, the ratio of UFA to SFA, and the 18-C FA content were negatively correlated with the nitrogen fertilizer amount The contents of erucic acid, thioglycoside, seed protein, linoleic acid and linolenic acid were negatively correlated with the potash fertilizer amount, while contents of oil, oleic acid, stearic acid and eicosenoic acid were positively correlated with the potash fertilizer amount; the total F ＆ P, the unsaturation index, the SFA, and the ratio of UFA to FA in erucic acid chain were negatively correlated with the potash fertilizer amount There were negative correlations between the contents of erucic acid, thioglycoside, seed protein, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid and phosphate fertilizer amount; positive correlations between the contents of oil, oleic acid, eicosenoic acid and phosphate fertilizer amount The total UFA, the unsaturation index, the 1843 FA, the SFA, the FA in erucic acid chain, and the ratio of UFA to FA in erucic acid chain were negatively correlated with the phosphate fertilizer amount [Conclusion] This study identified the correlations of the five cultivation factors with the quality parameters of high-quality Brassica napus hybrids, to provide theoretical basis for its cultivation.

Effect of Main Cultivation Factors on Oil Quality and Stability of Brassica napus Hybrids

[Objective] This study aimed to analyze the influence of five cultivation factors： sowing date, plant density, nitrogen fertilizer amount, phosphate fertilizer amount and potash fertilizer amount on oil quality and stability of Brassica napus hybrids. [Method] Statistical analysis was carried out based on the data from previous studies and our work. [Result] Sowing date had no significant influence on oil quality and stability of B. napus hybrids. The plant density shared a positive correlation with 18-C fatty acid （FA） content, unsaturated fatty acid （UFA） content, total content of linoleic acid and linolenic acid, index of unsaturated fatty acid （IUFA）, so a large plant density can improve the oil quality （by increasing18-C FA content, UFA content, total content of linoleic acid and linolenic acid）, but reduce the oil stability （by increasing IUFA）. The amount of nitrogen fertilizer had no significant influence on the contents of 18-C FA and UFA, but significant positive correlations with the total content of linoleic acid and linolenic acid and IUFA. So, the total content of linoleic acid and linolenic acid can be reduced by increasing nitrogen amount, meanwhile the oil stability was also decreased. Phosphate fertilizer amount did not affect 18-C FA significantly, but was negatively correlated with the UFA content, total content of linoleic acid and linolenic acid, and IUFA. So, increasing the amount of applied phosphate fertilizer can reduce UFA content, total content of linoleic acid and linolenic acid, thereby improving oil stability. Potash fertilizer had no significant influence on the IUFA, a significant positive correlation with 18-C FA content, an insignificant positive correlation with the the UFA content, and a negative correlation with the total content of linoleic acid and linolenic acid. The oil content of rapeseed shared an extremely significant positive correlation with 18-C FA content and UFA content, an negative correlation with the total content of linoleic acid and linolenic acid, and no significant correlation with IUFA. [Conclusion] This study identified the effects of five main cultivation factors on oil quality and stability of B. napus hybrids, and the correlations of oil content with 18-C FA content, UFA content, total content of linoleic acid and linolenic acid, and IUFA.

INTEGRATION OF HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Human factors engineering and quality management are different research branches in the field of industrial engineering.A basis for interaction based on the concepts and techniques of human factors engineering and quality management with some practical examples of cooperative effect is defined in this paper.The specific challenges about the quality management in manufacturing and service are presented to demonstrate that the human factors analysis of quality problems leads to new tends for integrated development.

Comparison of Mode Quality Factors for Equilateral Triangular, Square and Rhombus Optical Micro-Resonators

The mode frequencies and the quality factors for the equilateral triangular resonator (ETR), the square resonator (SR) and the rhombus resonator (RR) are numerically calculated by the finite difference time domain technique and the Padé approximation. The numerical results show that the resonant modes confined in an equilateral triangular cavity have much higher quality factors than those in the square or the rhombus cavities. The modes in the ETR are totally confined in transverse direction while those in the SR and RR are only partly confined. For the ETR with the side length of 4μm and the refractive index of 3 2, the mode quality factor of about 5 5×10 3 at the wavelength of 1 55μm has been obtained.

Analysis of quality factors for Rayleigh channel waves

To facilitate investigation of the effect of imperfect elastic dissipation on the propagation of Rayleigh-type channel waves and use of their quality factors in investigations of the properties of coal seams, a simple method for calculating the quality factor QR is proposed in this paper. Introduction of complex velocities into the dispersion function allows calculation of the dispersion function of Rayleigh-type channel waves in coal seams. By the control variable method, we analyzed changes in QR with changes in coal seam thickness and P- and S-wave Q-factors within the coal seam and adjacent rock layers. The numerical results show that the trend of the QR curve is consistent with the group velocity curve. The minimum QR value occurs at the Airy phase frequency; the Airy phase frequency decreases as coal seam thickness increases. The value of QR increases with increasing QS2(quality factor for S wave in coal seam). We can compensate for the absorption of Rayleigh-type channel waves using the computed QR curve. Inversion of the QR curve can also be used to predict the thicknesses and lithologies of coal seams.

Estimation of quality factors by energy ratio method

The quality factor Q, which reflects the energy attenuation of seismic waves in subsurface media, is a diagnostic tool for hydrocarbon detection and reservoir characterization. In this paper, we propose a new Q extraction method based on the energy ratio before and after the wavelet attenuation, named the energy-ratio method（ERM）. The proposed method uses multipoint signal data in the time domain to estimate the wavelet energy without invoking the source wavelet spectrum, which is necessary in conventional Q extraction methods, and is applicable to any source wavelet spectrum; however, it requires high-precision seismic data. Forward zero-offset VSP modeling suggests that the ERM can be used for reliable Q inversion after nonintrinsic attenuation（geometric dispersion, refl ection, and transmission loss） compensation. The application to real zero-offset VSP data shows that the Q values extracted by the ERM and spectral ratio methods are identical, which proves the reliability of the new method.

Factors influencing quality of bowel preparation for colonoscopy

Recent technological advances in colonoscopy have led to improvements in both image enhancement and procedural performance.However,the utility of these technological advancements remain dependent on the quality of bowel preparation during colonoscopy.Poor bowel preparation has been shown to be associated with lower quality indicators of colonoscopy performance,such as reduced cecal intubation rates,increased patient discomfort and lower adenoma detection.The most popular bowel preparation regimes currently used are based on either Polyethylene glycol-electrolyte,a non-absorbable solution,or aqueous sodium phosphate,a lowvolume hyperosmotic solution.Statements from various international societies and several reviews have suggested that the efficacy of bowel preparation regimes based on both purgatives are similar,although patients' compliance with these regimes may differ somewhat.Many studies have now shown that factors other than the type of bowel preparation regime used,can influence the quality of bowel preparation among adult patients undergoing colonoscopy.These factors can be broadly categorized as either patient-related or procedure-related.Studies from both Asia and the West have identified patient-related factors such as an increased age,male gender,presence of co-morbidity and socioeconomic status of patients to be associated with poor bowel preparation among adults undergoing routine out-patient colonoscopy.Additionally,procedure-related factors such as adherence to bowel preparation instructions,timing of bowel purgative administration and appointment waiting times for colonoscopy are recognized to influence the quality of colon cleansing.Knowledge of these factors should aid clinicians in modifying bowel preparation regimes accordingly,such that the quality of colonoscopy performance and delivery of service to patients can be optimised.