Red cell distribution width-to-albumin ratio is a simple promising prognostic marker in acute cholangitis requiring biliary drainage

Background: It is crucial to assess the severity of acute cholangitis(AC). There are currently several prognostic markers. However, the accuracies of these markers are not satisfied. The present study aimed to investigate the predictive value of the red cell distribution width(RDW)-to-albumin ratio(RAR) for the prognosis of AC. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated consecutive patients diagnosed with AC between May 2019 and March 2022. RAR was calculated, and its predictive ability for in-hospital mortality, intensive care unit(ICU) admission, bacteremia, and the length of hospitalization were analyzed. Results: Out of 438 patients, 34(7.8%) died. Multivariate analysis showed that malignant etiology [odds ratio(OR) = 4.816, 95% confidence interval(CI): 1.936-11.980], creatinine(OR = 1.649, 95% CI: 1.095-2.484), and RAR(OR = 2.064, 95% CI: 1.494-2.851) were independent risk factors for mortality. When adjusted for relevant covariates, including age, sex, malignant etiology, Tokyo severity grading(TSG), Charlson comorbidity index, and creatinine, RAR significantly predicted mortality(adjusted OR = 1.833, 95% CI: 1.280-2.624). When the cut-off of RAR was set to 3.8, its sensitivity and specificity for mortality were 94.1% and 56.7%, respectively. Patients with an RAR of > 3.8 had a 20.9-fold(OR = 20.9, 95% CI: 4.9-88.6) greater risk of mortality than the remaining patients. The area under the curve value of RAR for mortality was 0.835(95% CI: 0.770-0.901), which was significantly higher than that of TSG and the other prognostic markers, such as C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio, and procalcitonin-to-albumin ratio. Lastly, RAR was not inferior to TSG in predicting ICU admission, bacteremia, and the length of hospitalization. Conclusions: RAR successfully predicted the in-hospital mortality, ICU admission, bacteremia, and the length of hospitalization of patients with AC, especially in-hospital mortality. RAR is a promising marker that is more convenient than TSG and other prognostic markers for predicting the prognosis of patients with AC.

Red cell distribution width/platelet ratio estimates the 3-year risk of decompensation in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease-induced cirrhosis

BACKGROUND For compensated advanced chronic liver disease(cACLD)patients,the first decompensation represents a dramatically worsening prognostic event.Based on the first decompensation event(DE),the transition to decompensated advanced chronic liver disease(dACLD)can occur through two modalities referred to as acute decompensation(AD)and non-AD(NAD),respectively.Clinically Significant Portal Hypertension(CSPH)is considered the strongest predictor of decompensation in these patients.However,due to its invasiveness and costs,CSPH is almost never evaluated in clinical practice.Therefore,recognizing noninvasively predicting tools still have more appeal across healthcare systems.The red cell distribution width to platelet ratio(RPR)has been reported to be an indicator of hepatic fibrosis in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease(MASLD).However,its predictive role for the decompensation has never been explored.AIM In this observational study,we investigated the clinical usage of RPR in predicting DEs in MASLD-related cACLD patients.METHODS Fourty controls and 150 MASLD-cACLD patients were consecutively enrolled and followed up(FUP)semiannually for 3 years.At baseline,biochemical,clinical,and Liver Stiffness Measurement(LSM),Child-Pugh(CP),Model for End-Stage Liver Disease(MELD),aspartate aminotransferase/platelet count ratio index(APRI),Fibrosis-4(FIB-4),Albumin-Bilirubin(ALBI),ALBI-FIB-4,and RPR were collected.During FUP,DEs(timing and modaities)were recorded.CSPH was assessed at the baseline and on DE occurrence according to the available Clinical Practice Guidelines.RESULTS Of 150 MASLD-related cACLD patients,43(28.6%)progressed to dACLD at a median time of 28.9 months(29 NAD and 14 AD).Baseline RPR values were significantly higher in cACLD in comparison to controls,as well as MELD,CP,APRI,FIB-4,ALBI,ALBI-FIB-4,and LSM in dACLD-progressing compared to cACLD individuals[all P<0.0001,except for FIB-4(P:0.007)and ALBI(P:0.011)].Receiving operator curve analysis revealed RPR>0.472 and>0.894 as the best cut-offs in the prediction respectively of 3-year first DE,as well as its superiority compared to the other non-invasive tools examined.RPR(P:0.02)and the presence of baseline-CSPH(P:0.04)were significantly and independently associated with the DE.Patients presenting baseline-CSPH and RPR>0.472 showed higher risk of decompensation(P:0.0023).CONCLUSION Altogether these findings suggest the RPR as a valid and potentially applicable non-invasive tool in the prediction of timing and modalities of decompensation in MASLD-related cACLD patients.

Red cell distribution width to platelet ratio: New and promising prognostic marker in acute pancreatitis

AIM: To evaluate the accuracy of red cell distribution width (RDW) to platelet ratio (RPR) to predict in-hospital mortality in acute pancreatitis (AP).

Branching ratio and angular distribution of ejected electrons from Eu 4f^76p_(1/2)nd auto-ionizing states

The branching ratios of ions and the angular distributions of electrons ejected from the Eu 4f^76p_（1/2）nd auto-ionizing states are investigated with the velocity-map-imaging technique.To populate the above auto-ionizing states,the relevant bound Rydberg states have to be detected first.Two new bound Rydberg states are identified in the region between41150 cm^（-1）and 44580 cm^（-1）,from which auto-ionization spectra of the Eu 4f^76p_（1/2）nd states are observed with isolated core excitation method.With all preparations above,the branching ratios from the above auto-ionizing states to different final ionic states and the angular distributions of electrons ejected from these processes are measured systematically.Energy dependence of branching ratios and anisotropy parameters within the auto-ionization spectra are carefully analyzed,followed by a qualitative interpretation.

Study of Ratio of Proton Momentum Distributions with a Chiral Quark Model

The ratio between the anomalous magnetic moments of proton and neutron has recently been suggested to be connected to the ratio of proton momentum fractions carried by the valence quarks inside it. This moment fraction ratio is respectively evaluated by using constituent quark model and chiral quark model in order to check meson cloud effect. Our results show that the meson cloud effect is remarkable to the ratio of the proton momentum fractions, and therefore, this ratiois a sensitive test for the meson cloud effect as well as for the SU(6) symmetry breaking effect.

GAS AND OIL POWER DISTRIBUTION RATIO OF A NEW HYDRAULIC BREAKER

The working principle of a new hydraulic breaker operated jointly by gas and hydraulic flow which has a reasonable structure, high efficiency and long piston life-span, is analyzed, and the optimal power distribution ratio of the sealed nitrogen gas to the high-pressure oil in the process of piston impacting is studied. Through theoretical analysis, optimization simulation and detailed calculation, it is determined that the impact system has optimal mechanical performance and highest efficiency when the distribution ratio φ is between 0.3 and 0.5. The theoretical result is also verified by repeated tests.

Enhanced biological nutrient removal in modified carbon source division anaerobic anoxic oxic process with return activated sludge pre-concentration

A pilot-scale modified carbon source division anaerobic anoxic oxic(AAO) process with pre-concentration of returned activated sludge(RAS) was proposed in this study for the enhanced biological nutrient removal(BNR) of municipal wastewater with limited carbon source. The influent carbon source was fed in step while a novel RAS pre-concentration tank was adopted to improve BNR efficiency, and the effects of an influent carbon source distribution ratio and a RAS pre-concentration ratio were investigated. The results show that the removal efficiency of TN is mainly influenced by the carbon source distribution ratio while the TP removal relies on the RAS pre-concentration ratio. The optimum carbon source distribution ratio and RAS pre-concentration ratio are 60% and 50%, respectively, with an inner recycling ratio of 100% under the optimum steady operation of pilot test, reaching an average effluent TN concentration of 9.8 mg·L-1with a removal efficiency of 63% and an average TP removal efficiency of 94%. The mechanism of nutrient removal is discussed and the kinetics is analyzed. The results reveal that the optimal carbon source distribution ratio provides sufficient denitrifying carbon source to each anoxic phase, reducing nitrate accumulation while the RAS pre-concentration ratio improves the condition of anaerobic zone to ensure the phosphorus release due to less nitrate in the returned sludge. Therefore, nitrifying bacteria, denitrifying bacteria and phosphorus accumulation organisms play an important role under the optimum condition, enhancing the performance of nutrient removal in this test.

Red blood cell distribution width derivatives in alcohol-related liver cirrhosis and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND Looking for undiscovered blood markers of liver fibrosis and steatosis still remains an issue worth exploring.There are still plenty of unresolved issues related to the actual role of hematological indices as potential markers of liver function.AIM To study red blood cell distribution width(RDW),RDW-to-platelet ratio(RPR)and RDW-to-lymphocyte ratio(RLR) in alcohol-related liver cirrhosis(ALC) and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD).METHODS The study group was composed of 302 people:142 patients with ALC and 92 with MAFLD;68 persons were included as controls.RDW,RPR and RLR were measured in each person.Indirect and direct parameters of liver fibrosis were also assessed [aspartate transaminase to alkaline transaminase ratio,aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index(APRI),fibrosis-4(FIB-4),gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio(GPR),procollagen I carboxyterminal propeptide,procollagen Ⅲ aminoterminal propeptide,transforming growth factor-α,plateletderived growth factor AB,laminin].MELD score in ALC patients and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) fibrosis score together with BARD score were obtained in the MAFLD group.The achieved results were compared to controls.Then a correlation between assessed markers was done.Diagnostic value of each investigated parameter and its suggested cut-off in the research group RESULTS RDW,RPR and RLR values turned out to be significantly higher in ALC and MAFLD groups compared to controls(ALC:P<0.0001;NAFLD:P<0.05,P<0.0001 and P<0.0001,respectively).RPR correlated positively with MELD score(P<0.01) and indirect indices of liver fibrosis(FIB-4 and GPR;P<0.0001) in ALC patients;negative correlations were found between PDGF-AB and both:RDW and RPR(P<0.01 and P<0.0001,respectively).RPR correlated positively with NAFLD fibrosis score and APRI(P<0.0001) in the MAFLD group;a positive relationship was observed between RDW and FIB-4,too(P<0.05).AUC values and suggested cut-offs for RDW,RPR and RLR in ALC patients were:0.912(>14.2%),0.965(>0.075) and 0.914(>8.684),respectively.AUC values and suggested cut-offs for RDW,RPR and RLR in MAFLD patients were:0.606(>12.8%),0.724(>0.047) and 0.691(>6.25),respectively.CONCLUSION RDW with its derivatives appear to be valuable diagnostic markers in patients with ALC.They can also be associated with a deterioration of liver function in this group.

Distribution of Chemical Forms for Co, Cr, Ni and V in Typical Soils of China

Co, Ni, Cr and V in 25 typical soils of China were fractionated into exchangeable, carbonate bound (calcareous soils), Mn oxide bound, organically bound, amorphous Fe oxide bound, crystalline Fe oxide bound and residual forms using a seven-step sequential extraction procedure, so as to study the distribution of chemical forms of these metals as well as the effects of soil properties on the distribution. The results showed that most of soil Co, Ni, Cr and V were present in residual forms, and the distribution ratio averaged 48.2% for Co, 53.0% for Ni, 81.5% for Cr and 68.7% for V. The speciation of heavy metals was greatly influenced by soil physico-chemical properties and the chemistry of elements. The results also indicated that the recovery of metal elements by the sequential extraction procedure was satisfactory, with the relative difference between the sum of seven forms and the total content in soils averaging 9.5% for Co, 12.8% for Ni, 6.6% for Cr and 7.2% for V.

Development of a mass model in estimating weight-wise particle size distribution using digital image processing

Particle size distribution of coarse aggregates through mechanical sieving gives results in terms of cumu- lative mass percent. But digital image processing generated size distribution of particles, while being fast and accurate, is often expressed in terms of area function or number of particles. In this paper, a mass model is developed which converts the image obtained size distribution to mass-wise distribution, mak- ing it readily comparable to mechanical sieving data. The concept of weight/particle ratio is introduced for mass reconstruction from 2D images of particle aggregates. Using this mass model, the effects of several particle shape parameters （such as major axis, minor axis, and equivalent diameter） on sieve-size of the particles is studied. It is shown that the sieve-size of a particle strongly depend upon the shape param- eters, 91% of its variation being explained by major axis, minor axis, bounding box length and equivalent diameter. Furthermore, minor axis gives an overall accurate estimate of particle sieve-size, error in mean size （D-50） being just 0.4%. However, sieve-size of smaller particles （〈20 ram） strongly depends upon the length of the smaller arm of the bounding box enclosing them and sieve-sizes of larger particles （〉20 mm） are highly correlated to their equivalent diameters. Multiple linear regression analysis has been used to generate overall mass-wise particle size distribution, considering the influences of all these shape parameters on particle sieve-size. Multiple linear regression generated overall mass-wise particle size distribution shows a strong correlation with sieve generated data. The adjusted R-square value of the regression analysis is found to be 99 percent （w.r,t cumulative frequency）. The method proposed in this paper provides a time-efficient way of producing accurate （up to 99%） mass-wise PSD using digital image processing and it can be used effectively to renlace the mechanical sieving.

Log Likelihood Ratio-Based Relaying for Distributed Turbo Codes

A distributed turbo codes（ DTC） scheme with log likelihood ratio（ LLR）-based threshold at the relay for a two-hop relay networks is proposed. Different from traditional DTC schemes,the retransmission scheme at the relay,where imperfect decoding occurs,is considered in the proposed scheme. By employing a LLR-based threshold at the relay in the proposed scheme,the reliability of decoder-LLRs can be measured. As a result,only reliable symbols will be forwarded to the destination and a maximum ratio combiner（ MRC） is used to combine signals received from both the source and the relay. In order to obtain the optimal threshold at the relay,an equivalent model of decoderLLRs is investigated,so as to derive the expression of the bit error probability（ BEP） of the proposed scheme under binary phase shift keying（ BPSK） modulation. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme can effectively mitigate error propagation at the relay and also outperforms other existing methods.

Distribution ratio of sulfur between high alumina slag and carbonsaturated iron

High alumina slag is widely found in pyrometallurgical extractions of ferronickel,ferrochromium,and platinum group metals.The effects of MgO,Al_(2)O_(3),and CaO/SiO_(2) on the sulfur distribution ratio between high-alumina CaO–SiO_(2)–MgO–Al_(2)O_(3) slag and carbon-saturated iron were investigated.The slag consisted of Al_(2)O_(3) content in the range of 27.61–40.00 wt.%,CaO/SiO_(2) ratio of 0.8–1.1,and MgO content of 8–16 wt.%.The theoretical liquid areas of CaO–SiO_(2)–MgO–Al_(2)O_(3) slag were analyzed through the phase diagrams.The sulfur distribution ratio was measured via the slag–metal equilibrium technique at 1500ºC.It was observed that the sulfur distribution ratio increased with higher MgO content and higher CaO/SiO_(2) ratio largely due to the increase in free O^(2-)ions and the decrease in activity coefficient of sulfur ion in slag,but slightly decreased with the increasing Al_(2)O_(3) content because of the decrease in free O^(2-).

Equilibrium analysis of solvent extraction of yttrium (Ⅲ) and europium (Ⅲ) from hydrochloric acid with P_(507)

For the accurate prediction of equilibrium distribution ratios of rare earth metals during solvent extraction under non-ideal conditions, the extraction equilibria of yttrium （Ⅲ） and europium （Ⅲ） from the hydrochloric acid solutions with P507 in Shellsol D70 were studied. A chemically-based model was established and the extraction equilibrium constants were determined by the nonlinear least squares method. The proposed model involves the cation exchange reaction and the solvation extraction in the low and high acidity regions, respectively. In the model, the nonideality of the aqueous phase and was corrected by considering the complexation of the metals with Cl- and by replacing with its effective concentration, respectively. This model was verified by fair agreement between the calculated metal distribution ratios and those experimentally obtained in the single metal systems. The feed concentrations for the systems are in wide ranges of the metal （up to 0.1 mol/L）, hydrochloric acid （0.07-3.00 mol/L） and the extractant （0.25-1.00 mol/L）. The model enables the engineering prediction of the equilibrium distribution ratios with good accuracy in a binary metal system.

Behavior of vanadium during reduction and smelting of vanadium titanomagnetite metallized pellets

The effects of CaO content,MgO content and smelting temperature on the vanadium behavior during the smelting of vanadium titanomagnetite metallized pellets were investigated.The thermodynamics of reduction and distribution of vanadium was analyzed and the high-temperature smelting experiments were carried out.The thermodynamic calculations show that the distribution ratio of vanadium between the slag and the hot metal decreases with the increments of CaO and MgO content in the slag as well as the increase of the smelting temperature.The smelting experiments demonstrate that the vanadium content in iron and the recovery rate of vanadium in pig iron increase as the CaO content,MgO content and smelting temperature increase,whereas the vanadium distribution ratio between the slag and iron tends to decrease.Moreover,the recovery rate of vanadium in pig iron has a rising trend with increasing the optical basicity of the slag.The addition of MgO in the slag to increase the slag optical basicity can not only improve the vanadium reduction but also promote the formation of magnesium-containing anosovite,which is beneficial to following titanium extraction.

Reduction of chromium oxides in stainless steel dust

The recovery of metal oxides from stainless steel dust using C（graphite）, SiFe, and Al as reductants was investigated under various conditions. The apparent distribution ratio of Cr（L Cr ′^m/s ） in the recovered metal and residual slag phases was defined as the major performance metric. The results show that the recovery ratio of metals increases as the ratio of CaO ：SiO2 by mass in the residual slag increases to 1.17. The residual content of metals in the slag decreases as the Al2O3 content of the slag is increased from approximately 8wt% to 10wt%. The recovery ratio of Cr increases with increasing L Cr ′^ m/s , and a linear relationship between L Cr ′^m/s and the activity coefficient ratio of CrO in the slag and the recovered metal phase is observed. The combination of C and SiFe or Al as the reducing agents reveals that Si is the more effective coreductant.

Vanadium extraction and dephosphorization from V-bearing hot metal with fluxes containing CaO

Extracting vanadium and removing phosphorus simultaneously by adding CaO containing materials to V-bearing hot metal were investigated under the condition of simulating the process of vanadium extraction with insufficiently supplying oxygen in converter. Through preliminary experiments, 3 h and 1375 °C were chosen as the optimum holding time and reaction temperature for formal experiments, respectively. The results of the formal experiments suggest that making basic slag can extract vanadium and remove phosphorus simultaneously. The vanadium extraction rate(ηV) and phosphorus removal rate(ηP) both increase with an increase in the basicity of the original slag materials and the Fe2O3 contents. The vanadium distribution ratio)(V L′is about an order of magnitude greater than the phosphorus distribution ratio),(P L′but the latter is more sensitive to slag basicity than the former. The phosphorus distribution ratio is beyond 6 when the basicity of the original slag materials is beyond 1, which indicates a much better performance of phosphorus removal compared to the phosphorus removal in the current process. Therefore, it is very feasible to properly raise slag basicity to remove phosphorus with consideration of the grade of vanadium slag. The relations between ηV and ηP, and between L′V and L′P are linear under the experimental conditions.

Denitrogenization from Liquid Steel by Fluxes Treatment

By measuring the solubility of nitrogen in BaO-contained and TiO_2-contained fluxes at 1623K, the nitride capacity and nitrogen distribution ratio were calculated. Both fluxes had high nitride capacity and nitrogen distribution ratio. The results indicated that Both fluxes treatment were available for denitrogenizing steel. The kinetic studies about denitrogenization showed that nitrogen transfer in liquid steel is the controlled step of denitrogenization reaction, so to improve the mass transfer condition in liquid steel could accelerate the rate of denitrogenization. Under proper test conditions, it was proved to be possible to remove nitrogen over 70 percent from steel with TiO_2 contained fluxes.

Study on the Effects of Dome Fuel Distribution Ratio on Lean Blowout of a Model Combustor

The experimental studies and numerical simulation were conducted on the effects of the dome fuel distribution ratio on the lean blowout of a model combustor.The experimental results indicate that as the key parameter,the dome fuel distribution ratio,increases from 2.06%to 16.67%,the lean blowout equivalence ratio declines obviously at the beginning,and then the decrease slows down,in addition,the amplitude of the pressure fluctuation in the combustor reduces significantly while the dominant frequency keeps basically constant.In order to analyze the experimental results,the numerical simulation is adopted.The temperature and local equivalence ratio distributions are employed to explain the reason why the lean blowout performance improves with the increase of the dome fuel distribution ratio.

Cluster planting impact on cotton growth, yield and biomass accumulation in an arid region oasis

The cluster planting pattern （3 plants per hole） for cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L.） may increase economic yield over those of the traditional planting pattern （1 plant per hole） in arid regions of China. This increase in yield depends on either increased biomass production or greater partitioning to fruit. This study was conducted to determine whether differences in biomass accumulation or partitioning to reproductive growth contributed to higher yield in the cluster planting pattern compared with the traditional one. Growth parameters, biomass accumulation, crop growth rate and partitioning between cluster planting pattern and traditional planting pattern was compared in northwest of China. The biomass production and partitioning in cluster planting plot was higher than in traditional planting one. Biomass accumulation was faster early in the clustered treatment, and it was also higher at harvest time. Total dry matter production per unit area was significantly higher than in the traditional planting. On a per plant basis, dry matter accumulation was faster and total biomass production was significantly higher in the cluster planting pattern. Numbers of sympodia and boll sizes were also larger, indicating that facilitation among plants was promoting crop yield. The increase in yield in the cluster planting treatment occurred through increased partitioning of dry matter to fruits than in the traditional planting pattern, resulting in more bolls and increased lint yield in arid regions.

Study on separation of rare earth elements in complex system

The effect of the feed acidity,acetic acid concentration and rare earth concentration on the distribution ratio,separation coefficient and extraction capacity of light rare earth elements were studied in the P204(DEHPA)-HCl system and P507(HEH/EHP)-HCl system both containing acetic acid,respectively. The results showed that the distribution ratio and separation coefficient decreased with increasing of acidity,and increased with increasing of acetic acid concentration and rare earths concentration,and the extraction capacity increased with increasing of acetic acid concentration. When pH value of feed was 2.0,[RE]/[acetic acid] was 1:1 and rare earth concentration 0.35 mol/L,in P204(DEHPA) -HCl system with acetic acid,the maximum separation coefficient(β) reached to βCe /La=4.09,βPr/Ce=1.96 and βNd/Pr=1.53,and the separation ability of this extraction system was better than P507(DEHPA)-HCl system.