Double⁃Shear Experiments of Cold⁃Formed Steel Stud⁃to⁃Sheathing Connections at Elevated Temperatures

The behavior of cold⁃formed steel(CFS)stud⁃to⁃sheathing connections at elevated temperatures is an important parameter for the fire resistance design and modeling of mid⁃rise CFS structures.In this paper,three kinds of sheathings,namely,medium⁃and low⁃density calcium⁃silicate boards and oriented strand board,were selected for double⁃shear experiments on the mechanical properties of 253 screw connections at ambient and elevated temperatures.The effects of the shear direction,screw edge distance and the number of screws on the behavior of the connections were studied.The results showed that the shear direction and the screw edge distance more significantly influenced the peak deformation,while their impacts on the peak load varied with the type of sheathings.Compared with the single⁃screw connections,the peak loads of the specimens with double⁃screw connections obviously increased but did not double.Finally,a simplified load⁃displacement curve model of stud⁃to⁃sheathing connections at elevated temperature was generated first by establishing the prediction formula for characteristic parameters,such as the peak load,the peak deformation and the elastic stiffness,and then by considering whether the curves corresponded to stiffness increase phenomena.The present investigation provides basic data for future studies on the numerical modeling of CFS structures under fire conditions.

Multi-aspect analysis of ureteral access sheath usage in retrograde intrarenal surgery: A RIRSearch group study

Objective:To evaluate the effect of ureteral access sheath(UAS)use and calibration change on stone-free rate and complications of retrograde intrarenal surgery(RIRS).Methods:Data from 568 patients undergoing RIRS for kidney or upper ureteral stones were retrospectively included.Firstly,patients were compared after 1:1 propensity score matching,according to UAS usage during RIRS(UAS used[+]87 and UAS non-used[−]87 patients).Then all UAS+patients(n=481)were subdivided according to UAS calibration:9.5-11.5 Fr,10-12 Fr,11-13 Fr,and 13-15 Fr.Primary outcomes of the study were the success and complications of RIRS.Results:Stone-free rate of UAS+patients(86.2%)was significantly higher than UAS−patients(70.1%)after propensity score matching(p=0.01).Stone-free rate increased with higher caliber UAS(9.5-11.5 Fr:66.7%;10-12 Fr:87.0%;11-13 Fr:90.6%;13-15 Fr:100%;p<0.001).Postoperative complications of UAS+patients(11.5%)were significantly lower than UAS−patients(27.6%)(p=0.01).Complications(8.7%)with 9.5-11.5 Fr UAS was lower than thicker UAS(17.2%)but was not statistically significant(p=0.09).UAS usage was an independent factor predicting stone-free status or peri-and post-operative complications(odds ratio[OR]3.654,95%confidence interval[CI]1.314-10.162;OR 4.443,95%CI 1.350-14.552;OR 4.107,95%CI 1.366-12.344,respectively).Conclusion:Use of UAS in RIRS may increase stone-free rates,which also increase with higher caliber UAS.UAS usage may reduce complications;however,complications seemingly increase with higher UAS calibration.

Effect of process parameters on sheath forming of continuous extrusion sheathing of aluminum

The effect of flow passage length in the die cavity and extrusion wheel velocity on the shape of aluminum sheath during the continuous extrusion sheathing process was analyzed by using finite element methods based on software DEFORM 3D and experimentally validated. The results show that by increasing the flow passage length, the velocity of metal at the cross-section of sheath tends toward uniformity, the values of the bending angles of sheath gradually approach the ideal value of zero and the cross-section exhibits a better shape. The extrusion wheel velocity has negligible effects on the bending shape and cross-section of the sheath product when a long flow passage is used.

Identification of New Resistance Loci Against Sheath Blight Disease in Rice Through Genome-Wide Association Study

Sheath blight(SB) caused by the soil borne pathogen Rhizoctonia solani is one of the most serious global rice diseases. Breeding resistant cultivar is the most economical and effective strategy to control the disease. However, no rice varieties are completely resistant to SB, and only a few reliable quantitative trait loci(QTLs) linked with SB resistance have been identified to date. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study(GWAS) of SB resistance using 299 varieties from the rice diversity panel 1(RDP1) that were genotyped using 44 000 high-density single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) markers. Through artificial inoculation, we found that only 36.5% of the tested varieties displayed resistance or moderate resistance to SB. In particular, the aromatic and aus sub-populations displayed higher SB resistance than the tropical japonica(TRJ), indica and temperate japonica sub-populations. Seven varieties showed similar resistance levels to the resistant control YSBR1. GWAS identified at least 11 SNP loci significantly associated with SB resistance in the three independent trials, leading to the identification of two reliable QTLs, qSB-3 and qSB-6, on chromosomes 3 and 6. Using favorable alleles or haplotypes of significantly associated SNP loci, we estimated that both QTLs had obvious effects on reducing SB disease severity and can be used for enhancing SB resistance, especially in improving SB resistance of TRJ sub-population rice varieties. These results provided important information and genetic materials for developing SB resistant varieties through breeding.

Prognostic values of optic nerve sheath diameter for comatose patients with acute stroke:An observational study

BACKGROUND Optic nerve sheath diameter(ONSD)measurement is one of the non-invasive methods recommended for increased intracranial pressure(ICP)monitoring.AIM This study aimed to evaluate the roles of optic nerve sheath diameter(ONSD)and ONSD/eyeball transverse diameter(ETD)ratio in predicting prognosis of death in comatose patients with acute stroke during their hospitalization.METHODS A total of 67 comatose patients with acute stroke were retrospectively recruited.The ONSD and ETD were measured by cranial computed tomography(CT)scan.All patients underwent cranial CT scan within 24 h after coma onset.Patients were divided into death group and survival group according to their survival status at discharge.The differences of the ONSD and ONSD/ETD ratio between the two groups and their prognostic values were compared.RESULTS The ONSD and ONSD/ETD ratio were 6.07±0.72 mm and 0.27±0.03 in the comatose patients,respectively.The ONSD was significantly greater in the death group than that in the survival group(6.32±0.67 mm vs 5.65±0.62 mm,t=4.078,P<0.0001).The ONSD/ETD ratio was significantly higher in the death group than that in the survival group(0.28±0.03 vs 0.25±0.02,t=4.625,P<0.0001).The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.760(95%CI:0.637-0.882,P<0.0001)for the ONSD and 0.808(95%CI:0.696-0.920,P<0.0001)for the ONSD/ETD ratio.CONCLUSION The mortality increased in comatose patients with acute stroke when the ONSD was>5.7 mm or the ONSD/ETD ratio was>0.25.Both indexes could be used as prognostic tools for comatose patients with acute stroke.The ONSD/ETD ratio was more stable than the ONSD alone,which would be preferred in clinical practice.

Study on the characteristics of non-Maxwellian magnetized sheath in Hall thruster acceleration region

The secondary electron emission(SEE) and inclined magnetic field are typical features at the channel wall of the Hall thruster acceleration region(AR), and the characteristics of the magnetized sheath have a significant effect on the radial potential distribution, ion radial acceleration and wall erosion. In this work, the magnetohydrodynamics model is used to study the characteristics of the magnetized sheath with SEE in the AR of Hall thruster. The electrons are assumed to obey non-extensive distribution, the ions and secondary electrons are magnetized.Based on the Sagdeev potential, the modified Bohm criterion is derived, and the influences of the non-extensive parameter and magnetic field on the AR sheath structure and parameters are discussed. Results show that, with the decrease of the parameter q, the high-energy electron leads to an increase of the potential drop in the sheath, and the sheath thickness expands accordingly,the kinetic energy rises when ions reach the wall, which can aggravate the wall erosion.Increasing the magnetic field inclination angle in the AR of the Hall thruster, the Lorenz force along the x direction acting as a resistance decelerating ions becomes larger which can reduce the wall erosion, while the strength of magnetic field in the AR has little effect on Bohm criterion and wall potential. The propellant type also has a certain effect on the values of wall potential,secondary electron number density and sheath thickness.

Experimental studies of plasma sheath near meshes of different transmissivity

The measurements of the potential distributions in the boundary layer near meshes with different mesh spacing were conducted in weakly collisional plasmas using a fine-structured emissive probe and the results of the sheath thickness and electric field at the sheath-presheath edge were compared with theoretical models of collisional presheath and collisionless sheath. It was shown that, because the meshes are partially transparent to ions, the sheath is thinner and the electric field is stronger for the mesh of higher transmissivity, owing to the increased ion density in the sheath contributed from the ions transmitted from the other side of the mesh. However, the potential profiles in the presheath remain almost the same for different meshes except for the shift of the sheath-presheath edge. The thickness of the sheath decreases while the electric field at the edge increases with the increase of the neutral gas pressure. Furthermore, depending on the pressure, the measured electric fields at the edge are close to that from the models of a transition region.

Study of Characteristics of the Radio-Frequency Sheath over a Substrate with a Circular Trench

Since processed substrates usually exhibit nonplanar surface structures in micro- electro-mechmfical-systems （MEMS） etching, a two-dimensional （2D） fluid model is developed to simulate the characteristics of the sheath near a conductive substrate with a circular trench, which is placed in an argon discharge powered by a radio-frequency （RF） current source. The model consists of 2D time-dependent fluid equations, the Poisson equation, and a current balance equation that can self-consistently determine the instantaneous voltage oll the substrate placed on a powered electrode. The effects of both the aspect ratio （depth/width） and the structure of the trench on the characteristics of the sheath are simulated. The time-averaged potential and electric field in the sheath are calculated and compared for different discharge parameters. The results show that the radial sheath profile is not uniform and always tends to adapt to the contour of the substrate, which is believed to be the moulding effect. Affected by the structure of the substrate surface, the potential and electric field near the inner and outer sidewalls of the trench exhibit obvious non-uniforlnity, which will inevitably lead to non-uniformity in etching, such as notching. Furthermore, with a fixed amplitude of the RF current source, the potential drops and the sheath thickness decrease with an increase in aspect ratio.

Study on plasma sheath and plasma transport properties in the azimuthator

A physical model of transport in an azimuthator channel with the sheath effect resulting from the interaction between the plasma and insulation wall is established in this paper. Particle in cell simulation is carried out by the model and results show that, besides the transport due to classical and Bohm diffusions, the sheath effect can significantly influences the transport in the channel.As a result, the ion density is larger than the electron density at the exit of azimuthator, and the non-neutral plasma jet is divergent, which is unfavorable for mass separation. Then, in order to improve performance of the azimuthator, a cathode is designed to emit electrons. Experiment results have demonstrated that the auxiliary cathode can obviously compensate the space charge in the plasma.

Study of Current Sheath Velocity and Its Distribution Using Tridimensional Magnetic Probe in Sahand Plasma Focus

The current sheath velocity in 0.25 Torr gas pressure of Filippov type plasma focus is studied experimentally. By using two tridimensional magnetic probes on top of the anode surface, the current sheath velocity is measured for argon, oxygen and nitrogen. Additionally, the effect of charging voltage on the current sheath velocity is studied in both axial and radial phases. We found that, the maximum current sheath velocities at both radial and axial phases are respectively 4.33 ± 0.28 （cm/μs） and 3.92 ± 0.75 （cm/μs） with argon as the working gas at 17 kV. Also, the minimum values of current sheath velocity are 1.48 ± 0.15 （cm/μs） at the radial phase and 1.14 ± 0.09 （cm/μs） at the axial phase with oxygen at 12 kV. The current sheath velocity at the radial phase is higher than that at the axial phase for all gases and voltages. In this study, variation of the full width half maximum （FWHM） of magnetic probe signals with voltage is investigated for different gases at radial and axial phases.

Femoral sheath removal after cardiac catheterization in the Jordanian hospitals: An explorative study

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the methods of sheath removal (femostop, compressor and manual compression) among Jordanian patients post cardiac catherization. Material and Methods: A descriptive explorative design utilized to collect data from 87 patients underwent cardiac catherization. Data collected on demographics, health remarks and complication pre and post cardiac catherization and in relation to sheath removal methods and complications. Results: The majority of the patients (94.2%, n = 80) had a manual sheath removal compared to 1% (n = 1) compression and 7% (n = 6) had femostop method. Kruskal-Wallis H test revealed there were significance difference in PTT and ACT reports in relation to type of procedures (0.24, p 0.015;0.32, p = 0.005 respectively). However, there were no significant differences between methods of sheath removal methods in relation to pain level, MAP before, MAP after, and heart rate with p value > 0.05. Patient’s age had negative association with HR after the procedure (BTAU = -0.19, p = 0.02), while no significant differences found in post catherization complication (hematoma and pain level) and all other health remarks (p > 0.05) in regards to patients’ age and gender. Moreover, patients’ MAP readings were significantly different in relation to number of rest hour that patients had post cardiac catherization (p = 0.049). Conclusion: The study found that most patients and health professionals preferred manual removal methods of sheath post cardiac catherization. Cardiac health professionals, has to consider health remarks and demographic characteristics of their patients when planning care for their patients and more research needed to explore these issues.

In-Plane Shear Performance of Wood-Framed Drywall Sheathing Wall Systems under Cyclic Racking Loading

A pilot study was conducted at Penn State University to determine whether the type of drywall joint compound would influence the shear strength of wood-frame stud walls sheathed with Gypsum Wall Board (GWB or drywall). In this study, five 2438 mm by 2438 mm specimens were tested under in-plane cyclic racking loading following the CUREE loading protocol for light-frame wall systems. Three specimens were finished using non-cement based joint compound while the other two used cement based joint compound. Based on the experimental testing of the specimens, the results show that the use of cement based joint compound on drywall joints produces higher shear capacity for the wall system as compared to similar specimens finished with conventional non-cement based joint compound. The result of the study is particularly important for high seismic regions where interior stud walls in residential construction effectively take part in seismic resistance even though wood shear walls are normally used on exterior walls.

Nursing Study on Reducing the Incidence of Bleeding and Exudation after PICC Catheterization by Blunt Separation Combined with Early Sheath Removal

Objective:To compare the effects of blunt separation combined with early sheath removal and conventional catheterization on the incidence of bleeding,exudation and subcutaneous congestion after peripherally inserted central catheter(PICC).Methods:250 patients with PICC catheterization in our hospital were selected,including 125 in the control group and 125 in the observation group.The conventional catheterization method was used in the control group:The sheath was removed by scalpel skin expansion and complete tube delivery in place.The observation group used blunt separation combined with early sheath removal.The success rate of one-time sheath delivery,immediate bleeding,24-hour bleeding and exudation were compared.Results:The success rate of sheath delivery in the observation group was 100%;The amount of immediate blood loss and blood loss 24h after catheterization in observation group was obviously lower than that in the control group,with statistical significance(P<0.05).There were 6 cases of exudation in the control group and no exudation in the observation group.There was significant difference in the incidence between the two groups(P<0.05);There were 10 cases of subcutaneous congestion in the control group and 2 cases of subcutaneous congestion in the observation group.There was significant difference in the incidence between the two groups(P<0.05);Conclusion:Blunt separation combined with early sheath removal can reduce the occurrence of local blood and fluid leakage after PICC catheterization.

Experimental study of sheath potential coefficient in the J-TEXT tokamak

Sheath potential coefficient α is a key parameter, which is used to estimate plasma potential(Vp)for edge plasma physics study. Recently, a series of experiments has been carried out under hydrogen plasmas in the J-TEXT tokamak with swept probe, which is employed for current–voltage(I–V) characteristic measurement. Electron temperature is evaluated from I–V curve by three-parameter fitting method, and the electron energy probability function shows that electron distribution is Maxwellian both outside and inside of last closed flux surface(LCFS). Plasma potential is obtained by crossing point between I–V exponential fitting curve and electron saturation current extrapolating line, which is in good agreement with first derivative probe technique. The α coefficient profile in the vicinity of the LCFS is obtained, which is in the range of 2.1–3, and decreases from outside to inside of LCFS.

Study of a collisionless magnetized plasma sheath with nonextensively distributed species

A weakly magnetized sheath for a collisionless, electronegative plasma comprising positive ions,electrons, and negative ions is investigated numerically using the fluid approach. The electrons are considered to be non-Maxwellian in nature and are described by Tsalli's distribution. Such electrons have a substantial effect on the sheath properties. The study also reveals that non-Maxwellian distribution is the most realistic description for negative ions in the presence of an oblique magnetic field. In addition to the negative ion temperature, the sheath potential is also affected by the nonextensive parameters. The present research finds application in the plasma processing and semiconductor industry as well as in space plasmas.

Some studies on transient behaviours of sheath formation in dusty plasma with the effect of adiabatically heated electrons and ions

Based on quasipotential analysis, a plasma sheath is studied through the derivation of the Sagdeev potential equation in dusty plasma coexisting with adiabatically heated electrons and ions. Salient features as to the existence of sheaths are shown by solving the Sagdeev potential equation through the Runge–Kutta method, with appropriate consideration of adiabatically heated electrons and ions in the dynamical system. It has been shown that adiabatic heating of plasma sets a limit to the critical dust speed depending on the densities and Mach number, and it is believed that its role is very important to the sheath. One present problem is the contraction of the sheath region whereby dust grains levitated into the sheath lead to a crystallization similar to the formation of nebulons and are compressed to a larger chunk of the dust cloud by shrinking of the sheath. Our overall observations advance knowledge of sheath formation and are expected to be of interest in astroplasmas.

Study on fishery biology features of spawning group of Pseudopleuronectes yokamae(Gunther) in the Sheath Bay

Pseudopleuronectes yokamae (Günther) is one of the most important economic fish species in the genus living specially in the northwest Pacific, and is distributed in the southern area of the far east sea of Russia, Japan, Korea, the Huanghai Sea, the Bohai Sea and the northern area of the East China Sea. Usually they live in nearshore waters of these areas as geographic subpopulations. P. yokamae in the Sheath Bay belongs to a local group of the Huanghai-Bohai Sea subpopulation and is distributed in the mouth and adjacent waters of the bay all the year round, and the catch of its spawning group has

Clinicopathological study of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors in the head and neck:Case reports and review of literature

BACKGROUND Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor(MPNST)is a rare and aggressive soft tissue sarcoma that poses a major diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.CASE SUMMARY We retrospectively reviewed patients with head and neck MPNSTs treated in our hospital from 2000 to 2021.The clinical features,pathological manifestations,treatments,and prognoses were summarized.We also reviewed the literature,focusing on MPNST in the mandible and maxilla.The study population consisted of five women and five men aged 22–75 years(mean age,49 years).Of the 10 patients,7 were initial cases and 3 were recurrent cases.All lesions were sporadic.The most common site was the mandible.The most frequently encountered symptoms were a progressive mass and local swelling.Complete or partial loss of trimethylation at lysine 27 of histone H3(H3K27me3)was evident on staining in four of nine cases(one case was excluded due to lack of tissue for evaluation of loss of H3K27me3).The 2-and 5-year disease-specific survival rates were 86%a nd 43%,respectively.The average survival time was 64 mo.CONCLUSION MPNST is a highly malignant tumor with a poor prognosis,prone to a high risk of recurrence and distant metastasis.Complete surgical resection is the main treatment.

Failure evaluation mechanism of cement sheath sealing integrity under casing eccentricity during multistage fracturing

A microannulus(MA) is the primary reason for sustained casing pressure in multi-stage fractured-shale gas wells. However, the effect of the casing eccentricity on the long horizontal section has not been considered. In this study, a full-scale integrity tester for cement sheaths is adopted to measure the cumulative plastic deformation. Numerical models are applied to evaluate the development of the cumulative plastic deformation and quantify the MA width considering casing centralization and eccentricity in the context of multiple loading and unloading cycles. Subsequently, the influences of the eccentricity distance and angle, cement-sheath mechanical variables, and different well depths on the cumulative sheath plastic deformation and sheath MA development are explored. The research results demonstrate that casing eccentricity significantly increases the cumulative sheath plastic deformation compared with that of the casing-centered condition. Consequently, the risk of sealing integrity failure increases. The accumulated plastic deformation increases when the eccentricity distance increases. In contrast, the initial plastic deformation increases as the eccentricity angle increases. However, the cumulative plastic deformation decreases after a specific loading and unloading cycle count. Affected by the coupled influence of the internal casing pressure and fracturing stages, the width of the MA in the horizontal section increased from the toe to the heel, and the casing eccentricity significantly increased the MA width at each stage, thus increasing the risk of gas channeling. Finally, an engineering case is considered to study the influence of casing eccentricity. The results show that cement slurries that form low and high elastic moduli can be applied to form a cement sheath when the fracturing stage is lower or higher than a specific value, respectively. The results of this study offer theoretical references and engineering support for the integrity control of cement sheath sealing.