Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a promising predictive and prognostic factor in breast cancer. We investigated its ability to predict disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with luminal A or luminal B-HER2-negative breast cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Pre-treatment complete blood cell counts from 168 consecutive patients with luminal breast cancer were evaluated to assess NLR. The study population was stratified into NLRlow or NLRhigh according to a cut-off value established by receiving operator curve (ROC) analysis. Data on additional pre- and post-treatment clinical-pathological characteristics were also collected. Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank tests, and Cox proportional hazards models were used for statistical analyses. Patients with pre-treatment NLRlow showed a significantly shorter DFS (HR 6.97, 95% CI 1.65-10.55, p= 0.002) and OS (HR 7.79, 95% CI 1.25-15.07, p= 0.021) compared to those with NLRhigh. Non-ductal histology, luminal B subtype, and post-treatment Ki67≥ 14% were also associated with worse DFS (p= 0.016, p= 0.002, and p= 0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, luminal B subtype, post-treatment Ki67≥ 14%, and NLRlow remained independent prognostic factors for DFS, while only post-treatment Ki67≥ 14% and NLRlow affected OS. The present study provides evidence that pre-treatment NLRlow helps identify women at higher risk of recurrence and death among patients affected by luminal breast cancer treated with NACT.

The bending performance of a basalt-polypropylene fiber-reinforced concrete (HBPFRC) was characterized by testing 24 400×100×100 mm3 prismatic specimens in a four-point bending test JSCE-SF4 configuration. The type and content of both fibers was varied in order to guarantee different target levels of post-cracking flexural performance. The results evidenced that mono-micro basalt fiber reinforced concrete (BFRC) allows the increase of the flexural strength (pre-cracking stage), while macro polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete can effectively improve both bearing capacity and ductility of the composite for a wide crack width range. Compared with the plain concrete specimens, flexural toughness and equivalent flexural strength of macro polypropylene fiber-reinforced concrete (PPFRC) and the hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete (HFRC) increased by 3.7~7.1 times and 10%~42.5%, respectively. From both technical and economic points of view, the optimal mass ratio of basalt fiber to polypropylene fiber resulted to be 1:2, with a total content of 6 kg/m3. This HFRC is seen as a suitable material to be used in sewerage pipes where cracking control (crack formation and crack width control) is of paramount importance to guarantee the durability and functionality of the pipeline as well as the ductility of the system in case of local failures.

Recent studies indicate that the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) aboard the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellite provides valuable information about ocean phytoplankton distributions. CALIOP’s attenuated backscatter coefficients, measured at 532 nm in receiver channels oriented parallel and perpendicular to the laser’s linear polarization plane, are significantly improved in the Version 4 data product. However, due to non-ideal instrument effects, a small fraction of the backscattered optical power polarized parallel to the receiver polarization reference plane is misdirected into the perpendicular channel, and vice versa. This effect, known as polarization crosstalk, typically causes the measured perpendicular signal to be higher than its true value and the measured parallel signal to be lower than its true value. Therefore, the ocean optical properties derived directly from CALIOP’s measured signals will be biased if the polarization crosstalk effect is not taken into account. This paper presents methods that can be used to estimate the CALIOP crosstalk effects from on-orbit measurements. The global ocean depolarization ratios calculated both before and after removing the crosstalk effects are compared. Using CALIOP crosstalk-corrected signals is highly recommended for all ocean subsurface studies.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular mortality, therefore new parameters regarding risk stratification are sought after. In patients admitted for acute PE we investigated associations between the initial coagulation impairment, expressed by prothrombin time international normalised ratio (INR), and parameters reflecting PE severity. Furthermore, in-hospital, 30-day and long-term mortality were also evaluated. The analysis included 848 patients who were divided into two groups: with normal INR≤1.2, and elevated INR>1.2 (252 patients, 29.7%). The group with elevated INR presented higher incidence of tachycardia and lower systolic blood pressure, higher CRP, d-dimer, and NT-proBNP. This group presented higher estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (49 IQR39-62mmHg vs 43 IQR32-53mmHg, p<0.001) and shorter pulmonary artery acceleration time (65 IQR55-85ms vs 81 IQR63-102ms; p<0.001). Patients with elevated INR had more often a sPESI of 1 or higher (78%vs60%, p=0.003). Cox regression model revealed that age, leukocyte level, SBP, neoplasm, and INR are associated with higher risk of death (p<0.001). Finally, elevated INR was associated with higher in-hospital (13%vs3%; p<0.001), 30-day (19%vs6%; p<0.001), and long-term mortality (p<0.001). Summing up, elevated INR on admission is frequent in patients with PE, reflects worse clinical condition and is related to PE severity and prognosis.

The influence of the Fe2O3 addition amount on the dephosphorization of hot metal at 1623 K with the slag of the low basicity (CaO/SiO2) of about 1.5 was investigated by using high-temperature laboratorial experiments. With increasing the Fe2O3 addition amount, the contents of [C], [Si], [Mn] and [P] in hot metal at the end of dephosphorization decrease, and the corresponding removal ratios increase. The P2O5 content in slag increases, and the CaO and SiO2 contents in slag decrease. The phosphorus mainly exists in the form of the nCa2SiO4-Ca3(PO4)2 solid solution in the phosphorus-rich phase and the value of coefficient n decreases from 20 to 1 with increasing the Fe2O3 addition amount from 5 g to 30 g. With increasing the Fe2O3 addition amount, the oxygen potential and activity at the interface between the slag and hot metal increase. When the oxygen potential and the oxygen activity at the interface are greater than 0.72×10-12 and 7.1×10-3, respectively, the dephosphorization ratio begins to increase rapidly. With increasing the Fe2O3 addition amount to 30 g, the ratio of the Fe2O3 addition amount to theoretical calculation consumption is around 175%, and the dephosphorization ratio reaches the highest value of 83.3%.

In public health literature the risk of death or disease associated with a dietary, environmental of behavioral factor is most commonly denoted by odds ratio (OR), hazard ratio (HR) or risk ratio (RR). The ratio indices have several desirable statistical properties. However, the most important question is whether there are some evolved innate norms of perception of risk that people use and what they are. We conducted a simple one question survey of 98 individuals with different age, sex, educational and professional backgrounds. The respondents were asked to judge the relative perceived risk of four different hypothetical habits for which data on the percentage of people affected by the disease with and without the habit was given. They were asked to rank the risks for the four habits. Results showed that the habits that had the highest difference between probability of acquiring the disease were ranked high on risk perception. The probability ratios did not affect risk perception significantly. Further age, sex, profession or formal training in statistics did not affect the response significantly. Even individuals that were formally trained to use OR and HR as risk indicators, preferred using probability differences over ratios for judging their own risk in the perceived context. This preliminary inquiry into intuitive statistical perception suggests that designing statistical indices based on people’s innate perception may be a better strategy than trying to train people to understand the indices designed by expert statisticians.

(1) Background: The CEO message of hospital homepage contain various contents such as the hospital's future vision, promises with customers, upgraded services and public activities. The CEO’s message of the homepage includes non-financial information as well as financial information of corporates. Also, it provides useful information for not only company's goals and vision but also firm performance and strategies for the future. This study aims to investigate associations between CEO’s message of hospitals homepages and financial status. We used the balanced scorecard frame to analyze what content on the hospital's homepage is related to the hospital's various financial ratios. (2) Methods: We adopt a text mining method to extract significantly repeated keywords from the CEO’s message of hospital website. And we classify these keywords by a balanced scorecard frame. To examine the relationship between keywords of CEO’s message of the hospital homepage and hospital’s financial ratio, T-test is conducted for the difference in the TF-IDF (Term Frequency is Divided by Inverse Document Frequency) mean of the home page contents and its relationship with the views of the balanced scorecard framework. (3) Results: According to empirical results on 65 samples collected from local hospitals, there are some significant relationship between the qualitative content of the hospital's homepage and the quantitative financial ratio that indicates profitability, activity, leverage, liquidity, and transfer to essential business fund (EBF) income. (4) Conclusions: The introduction section of a homepage is most accessible to customers, containing the aims and ideals of hospitals and reflecting their values and visions [1]. In addition, in view of financial status, they can either emphasize financial strength or focus on other areas to mask weakness of financial information. This study reminds us of the importance of hospital website’s disclosure, and it can be inferred from the financial status of the hospital. It also highlights the need for harmonization between quantitative data, financial statements, and qualitative data, CEO’s messages. (5) Implications: To our best knowledge, this paper is the first research attempting to investigate the relation between text of hospital homepage and financial ratio of hospital through text mining technique and balanced scorecard frame. Hospitals take a crucial part in a country’s welfare and healthcare backbone industry. Nevertheless, in many countries, hospital organization sectors tend to remain a source of critical fiscal deficits due to its ineffective and sloppy management. We expect that the result of this paper can provide hospital managers to useful information.

Drought stress is a major production constraint in crops globally. Crop wild relatives are important source of resistance and tolerance for both biotic and abiotic stresses, respectively. A breeding program was initiated to introgress drought tolerance in sunflower through hybridization between the wild species Helianthus argophyllus and the cultigen pool of H. annuus. Selection was carried out in the F2 to F5 segregating populations for high cuticular waxes, smaller leaf area, single heading and high oil content. The selected F5 breeding lines were compared with non-adapted elite sunflower germplasm in a replicated randomized complete block research project using different water treatments comparing fully irrigated (T0), with 75 (T1), 50 (T2) and 25% (T3) irrigation treatments. The comparison between the two types of germplasm showed that drought tolerant breeding lines had comparatively lesser decreases in leaf area, shoot weight and root shoot ratio 10 under the various drought treatments. Leaf area of the drought selected F5 lines were smaller than that of the elite germplasm under controlled irrigated treatments, but they maintained their leaf area under the drought treatments. Several drought resistant promising lines D-2, D-5, and D-27 were identified and showed high leaf area, great root length and increase root to shoot ratio under the highest stressed treatments (T3). Some of the lines could be directly used for the development of drought tolerant hybrids. Combining ability test indicated D-27 (F7) as good general combiner for seed yield plant−1 and oil contents when mated with male line RSIN.82. These hybrids could help to minimize seed yield losses due to water stress and to achieve profitable cultivation of sunflower in 18 arid regions of Pakistan.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is one of the most important oil crops in the world; however, drought significantly curtails its growth and productivity. Identifying drought-tolerant germplasm is an efficient and low-cost strategy for addressing water shortages. Using water loss ratio (WLR) as an index of drought tolerance, we screened a panel of 265 B. napus lines. We identified eight low-WLR and six high-WLR accessions, which were regarded as drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive, respectively. Further validated these selected accessions at the seedling stage under drought-stress conditions. The drought-tolerant accessions had significantly greater fresh and dry weights under drought stress than the drought sensitive accessions. Using RT-qPCR, we showed that a set of previously reported drought-adaptive marker genes were expressed at higher levels in the drought-tolerant lines than in the drought-sensitive lines. These results indicated that the drought-tolerant genotypes could be identified from natural populations using WLR. Then, we performed a genome-wide association study to identify loci harboring single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A total of 139 SNPs were significantly associated with the WLR, of which chromosome A10 harbored the largest number. Furthermore, four putative candidate genes were selected by combining the SNP–WLR association results and transcriptional expression data with the changes in drought tolerance. Thus, we have identified two drought-tolerant B. napus cultivars and uncovered genome-wide variation differentiating B. napus lines related to WLR, in addition to providing insights for further research into WLR-related drought mechanisms.

This paper considers estimating the ratio of two distributions with different parameters and common supports. We consider a Bayesian approach based on the Log--Huber loss function which is resistant to outliers and useful to find robust M-estimators. We propose two different types of Bayesian density ratio estimators and compare their performance in terms of Bayesian risk function with themselves as well as the usual plug-in density ratio estimators. Some applications such as classification and divergence function estimation are addressed.

The most cited evidence for (nonbaryonic) dark matter has been an apparent lack of visible mass to gravitationally support the observed orbital velocity of matters in rotating disk galaxies. Yet measurement of the mass of celestial objects cannot be straightforward, requiring theories derived from the known physical laws along with some empirically established semi-quantitative relationship. The most reliable means for determining the mass distribution in rotating disk galaxies is to solve a force balance equation according to Newton’s laws from measured rotation curves, similar to calculating the Sun’s mass from the Earth’s orbital velocity. Another common method to estimate galactic mass distribution is to convert measured brightness from surface photometry based on empirically established mass-to-light ratio. For convenience, most astronomers commonly assumed a constant mass-to-light ratio for estimation of the so-called “luminous” or “visible” mass, which should not be expected accurate. The mass determined from rotation curve typically exhibit an exponential-like decline with galactrocentric distance, qualitatively consistent with observed surface brightness. This fact scientifically suggests variable mass-to-light ratio of baryonic matter in galaxies without the need for dark matter.

Endometrial Cancer (EC) is the sixth most commonly occurring cancer in women with 380 000 cases in 2018. Sadly, EC morbidity and mortality are continuously increasing, therefore the medical society have a substantial need for an accurate and inexpensive diagnostic test for EC early detection and a prognostic tool for treatment planning and evaluation. Considering experience with different types of cancers C-reactive protein (CRP) appears to be a promising diagnostic and prognostic factor. Aiming to investigate its potential and in view of EC authors, this paper reviewed the following databases for metanalysis, randomized controlled trials and review articles published up to June 2020: Pubmed, Scopus, Google scholar and ClinicalKey. Studies indicate CRP >3.33 mg/l correlate with EC incidence with HR = 2.29 (p<0.05). Moreover, High-sensitivity CRP assay allows to detect CRP in very low concentrations and distinguish patients with endometriosis, soft tissue sarcomas and possibly EC. Preoperational and postoperational CRP, as well as its dynamic change are independent prognostic factors for EC and are more reliable if analyzed together. However, CRP-to-albumin ratio as well as Glasgow Prognostic Scale have greater prognostic value that CRP alone. Additionally, CRP is possibly a mediator of carcinogenesis and cancer progression through activation of inter alia FcgRs/MAPK/ERK, FcgRs/IL-6/AKT/STAT3 and FcgRs/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathways.

Three-temperature heating systems consist of a heat engine and a heat pump, enabling thus maximum usage of the primary thermal source for the heating of buildings. This analysis has revealed obvious advantages and disadvantages that the combining of thermodynamic systems has in future development, also with respect to environmental and economic issues. It appears that the combination of a Stirling engine or a similar heat drive with a heat pump is especially suitable. In order to analyze the effectiveness of such a system, a comprehensive calculation procedure is used: its basis lies in accounting for all types of energy and their relationship to the original natural resource. The present paper aims to point out that the combination of Stirling engine and a heat pump is a useful solution thanks to the most favorable resultant economic impact if compared to the usage of a diesel, four-stroke gas, or, most commonly used, electric drive.

Background: The manifestations, severity, and mortality of COVID-19 are considered to be associated with the changes in various hematological parameters and in immunity. Associations of immunoglobulin G antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome-linked coronavirus (IgG-SARS)-positive status with cardiac function and hematological and biochemical parameters in apparently health subjects are poorly understood. Methods: The present cross-sectional study included 307 healthy volunteers (24-69 years of age; 44.8±8.6 years; 80.4% men) and was initiated in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 episodes were confirmed by detection of IgG-SARS against SARS-CoV-2 S1 RBD to reveal 70 IgG-SARS-positive and 237 negative participants. Numerous ultrasound characteristics were assessed by echocardiography, and 15 hematological and biochemical parameters were assayed in the blood. Descriptive and comparative analysis was based on the IgG-SARS status of the participants. Results: The left ventricular mass index, mitral ratio of peak early to late diastolic filling velocity or flow velocity across the mitral valve, and deceleration time of early mitral inflow were decreased (P<0.05) in IgG-SARS-positive participants versus those in IgG-SARS-negative participants according to multivariate logistic regression analysis. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and platelet count were slightly increased, and blood hemoglobin was decreased in IgG-SARS-positive participants compared with those in IgG-SARS-negative participants. Conclusions: LV filling, inflammation, blood coagulation, and hemoglobin appear to be influenced by COVID-19 infection in healthy participants. These observations contribute to the development of a population recovery strategy after the episodes of COVID-19.

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic rheumatic disease characterised by the presence of inflammatory back pain. In patients with chronic low back pain, the lumbar flexion relaxation phenomenon measured by surface electromiography (sEMG) differs from that in healthy individuals. However, sEMG activity in axSpA patients has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to analyse the flexion relaxation phenomenon in axSpA patients. A study evaluating 39 axSpA patients and 35 healthy controls was conducted. sEMG activity at the erector spinae muscles was measured during lumbar full flexion movements. sEMG activity was compared between axSpA patients and the controls, as well as between active (BASDAI≥4) and non-active (BASDAI<4) patients. The reliability (using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC)), criterion validity and discriminant validity using the area Under the curve (AUC) for the inverse flexion/relaxation ratio (1/FRR) were evaluated. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed between axSpA patients and the control group in lumbar electric activity, especially during flexion, relaxation and extension and in FRR and 1/FRR (0.66±0.39 vs. 0.25±0.19, respectively). In addition, significant differences were found between active and non-active but also between non-active and healthy subjects. The sEMG showed good reliability (ICC>0.8 for 1/FRR) and criterion validity. ROC analysis showed good discriminant validity for axSpA patients (AUC=0.835) vs. the control group using 1/FRR. An abnormal flexion/relaxation phenomenon exists in axSpA patients compared with controls. sEMG could be an additional objective tool in the evaluation of patient function and disease activity status.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in particular multirotors are becoming the {\it de facto} tool for aerial sensing and remote inspection. In large industrial facilities, a UAV can transmit an online video stream to inspect difficult to access structures, such chimneys, deposits and towers. However, the communication range is limited, constraining the UAV operation range. This limitation can be overcome with relaying UAVs placed between the source UAV and the control station, creating a line of communication links. In this work we assume the use of a digital data packet network technology, namely WiFi, and tackle the problem of defining the exact placement for the relaying UAVs that creates an end-to-end channel with maximal delivery of data packets. We consider asymmetric communication links and we show an increase as large as $15$\% in end-to-end packet delivery ratio when compared to an equidistant placement. We also discuss the deployment of such a network and propose a fully distributed method that converges to the global optimal relay positions taking, on average, 1.4 the time taken by a centralized method.

This research presents the design and characteristics of new wideband polarizer based on the square waveguide with irises. Matching and polarization characteristics of the polarizer have been simulated and optimized. Frequency dependences of the characteristics are presented. Developed polarizer can be applied in satellite information systems.

The pulsatile flow rate (PFR) in the cerebral artery system and shunt ratios in bifurcated arteries are two patient-specific parameters which may affect the hemodynamic characteristics on the pathobiology of cerebral aneurysms (CAs). Accordingly, a systematic study was employed to investigate the effects of the two parameters on hemodynamic characteristics in two internal carotid artery sidewall aneurysms (i.e., ICASA-1 and ICASA-2) models. Numerical results indicate larger PFRs can cause higher WSS in some local regions of the aneurysmal dome that may increase the probability of small/secondary aneurysms generation than under smaller PFRs. The low WSS and relatively high oscillatory shear index (OSI) could appear under a smaller PFR, which has the potential to cause aneurysmal sac growth and rupture. However, the variances in PFRs and bifurcated shunt ratios have rare impacts on the time-average pressure distributions on the aneurysmal sac, although a higher PFR can contribute more to the pressure increase in ICASA-1 dome due to the relatively stronger impingement by the redirected blood stream than in ICASA-2. Simulation results also present the variances of shunt ratios have rare impacts on the hemodynamic characteristics in sacs, mainly because the bifurcated location is not close enough to the sac in present models. Furthermore, it has been found that the vortex location plays a major role in the temporal and spatial distribution of the WSS on the luminal wall, varying significantly with the cardiac period.

The C/N ratio is an extremely important parameter in the composting process, which is directly responsible for the growth of microorganisms. A low C/N ratio contributes to higher emissions of greenhouse gases and odorous substances, such as ammonia (NH3), which is formed by nitrogen mineralization. Due to the highly toxic effects of ammonia, it is a particularly unwanted by-product that can disrupt the composting process because it poisons microorganisms and cause environmental issues. The activity of anammox bacteria, so far analyzed only in wastewater treatment processes, is a particularly efficient method of nitrogen removal, having an advantage over the conventional methods used previously. Our study proofs the presence of anammox bacteria during composting, what gives an opportunity to improve the process and reduce its impact on atmospheric pollution. Despite the aerobic nature of this process, the composted mass of waste presents conditions conducive to the development of these ammonia oxidizing bacteria, as well as other strains of microorganisms cooperating with them. This makes it possible to compost at a low C/N ratio; in addition, there is no need for additional energy supply through aeration, as the processes carried out by anammox bacteria do not require oxygen.

Background and aim: The albumin-globulin ratio (AGR) is one of the indicators of inflammation and immunity and it has a prognostic significance in many malignant diseases. Previous studies have shown the relationship between inflammatory mediators and POPF. This study aimed to evaluate the relation of AGR, which is a relatively new indicator, with postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). Methods: Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) patients between 2017 and 2020 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into two groups as those with and without clinically relevant POPF (CR-POPF). They were compared in terms of preoperative-postoperative AGR and clinicodemographic characteristics. AGR was calculated as Albumin / (Total protein-albumin) and the cutoff point for AGR was determined according to Youden’s index. Results: CR-POPF developed in 21% of 121 patients who underwent PD. There was no difference between the groups in terms of age, gender, comorbid disease status, pancreatic duct width, and anastomosis technique. Preoperative and postoperative day-3 (POD3) albumin levels and AGR were found to be significantly lower in the CR-POPF group. Multivariate analysis showed that AGR and pancreatic tissue stiffness are independent risk factors for the development of POPF. Conclusions: Low AGR is an independent risk factor for the development of CR-POPF. To reduce the incidence of POPF, this ratio should be tried to be kept at an optimal level.

Whether resurfacing or not resurfacing the patella during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) still is a challenge to orthopedic surgeons. A significant reason for this controversy is the far from perfect outcomes of both techniques, resulting from inadequate knowledge of normal patellar dimensions in a diseased one. The primary purpose of the current study is to find the pre-diseased patellar dimensions and the ethnic differences in patellar dimensions. We measured the patella's dimensions on 927 normal young adult knee MRIs from seven different ethnicities. Besides comparing the dimensions between sexes, ages, and sides, we analyzed the differences among ethnic groups. The average thickness was 25.12±2.33 mm; the average width was 44.57±4.32 mm, the average articular surface length was 32.69±3.75 mm, with significant gender, age, and ethnic differences. There were also significant differences in dimensions among ethnic groups, except for between the Indians and Far Eastern Asians and between the Arabs and North Africans. We could also find a robust mathematical relationship between the patella's width, length, and thickness. The ethnic differences in patellar dimensions found in this study can help optimize surgical technique and implant designs for patellar resurfacing. The mathematical equation will help the surgeons find the normal, pre-diseased patella thickness to prevent over-or under-stuffing during the patellar resurfacing.

As in any other plant, in the grapevine roots play a vital role in terms of anchorage, uptake of water and nutrients, as well as storage and production of chemicals. Their behaviour and development depend on various factors, namely rootstock genetics, soil physical and chemical features, field agronomic practices. Canopy management, involving techniques such as defoliation and pruning, could greatly influence root growth. To date, most of the studies on grapevine winter pruning have focused on the effects on yield and quality of grapes, achievable by using different pruning systems and techniques, while the knowledge of root distribution, development, and growth in relation to winter pruning is still not well understood. In this contest, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of winter pruning on the root system of field-grown Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot Gris grafted onto rootstock SO4. We compared two pruning treatments (pruning-P and no pruning-NP) and analysed the effect on root distribution and density, root index and on the root sugar reserves. Root data were analysed in relation to canopy growth and yield, to elucidate the effect of winter pruning on the root/yield ratio. Our data indicated that winter pruning stimulated the root growth and distribution without compromising canopy development, while no-pruning treatment produced less growth of roots but a larger canopy. Information regarding root growth and root canopy ratio is important as it gives us an understanding of the relationship between the aerial and subterranean parts of the plant, how they compete, and finally, offers us the possibility to ponder on cultural practices.

Low serum alanine aminotransferase activity and high aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/ALT ratio may be associated with high mortality in older people. We aimed to confirm this in an 8-year retrospective cohort study. Clinical data for 5,958 people aged 67–104 years were analyzed for their relationships with all-cause mortality using artificial intelligence (AI; Prediction One [Sony Network Communications Inc.]) and conventional statistical analysis (SAS Enterprise Guide [SAS Institute Inc.]). In total, 1,413 (23.7%) participants died during the study. Auto-AI analysis with five rounds of cross-validation showed that AST/ALT ratio was the third largest contributor to mortality, following age and sex. Serum albumin concentration and body mass index were the fourth and fifth largest contributors, and the individual serum ALT and AST activities were the seventh and tenth largest contributors. Conventional survival analysis showed that ALT, AST, and AST/ALT ratio as continuous variables were all associated with mortality (adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals): 0.98 (0.97–0.99), 1.02 (1.02–1.03), 1.46 (1.32–1.62), respectively; all p <0.0001). In conclusion, both AI and conventional analysis suggest that of the conventional biochemical markers, high AST/ALT ratio is most closely associated with all-cause mortality in older people.

Background: Strong indicators of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), hypersensitive CRP (hs-CRP), and a series of hematological indices, including platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), hematocrit (HCT) and red blood cell distribution width (RDW), are regarded related with the incidence of contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) closely. Whereas, it remains unclear whether they can function as predictors of CIN onset. The objective of this meta-analysis was to determine the relationship between above indicators and CIN incidence among patients receiving coronary intervention. Methods: Clinical studies were retrieved from the electronic databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Clinical Trials, and science direct from their inception to June 3rd, 2020. Meta-analysis was performed on pool eligible studies. Two reviewers screened all titles and abstracts and independently assessed all articles. Results: A total of 26 studies involving 29,454 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled analysis results revealed that patients with higher CRP (odds ratio [OR]=1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.12, P=0.02), hs-CRP (OR=1.03, 95% CI: 1.01–1.06, P=0.004), NLR (OR=1.11, 95% CI: 1.01–1.20, P=0.02), RDW (OR=1.35, 95% CI: 1.19–1.53, P<0.00001), and lower HCT (OR=0.94, 95% CI: 0.92–0.97, P=0.0003) all exhibited significantly higher CIN rates, but there was no significant association between PLR and CIN risk (OR=1.12, 95% CI: 0.99–1.26, P=0.07). Conclusion: The meta-analysis reported here demonstrates that pre-angiography CRP/hs-CRP and some hematological indices are associated with CIN.

This study uses a recently developed theory and technique to examine post-acquisition evidence as to the motives for mergers and acquisitions(M&As), and decomposed the M/B ratio into three components: firm-specific error, time-series sector error, and long-run value-to-book. We make a multidimensional grouping according to the frequency of M&As , payment method, proportion of shares acquired, M/B ratio before the merger and total assets of the acquirers before the merge. The results confirm that M&As involve multiple motives, such as market timing, industry and economic shocks, agency and hubris. Using a sample of 2,035 M&As in China, we find that 59% are related to market timing, 68% are related to agency and hubris, 21% are related to industry and economic shocks, 51% are related to multiple motives. Our empirical research finds that the main motives for M&As of listed companies in China are value-decreasing, which have negative impact on the acquirers‘ sustainable development.

In thermal friction drilling (TFD) operations, the geometrical dimensions of bushing shape, height and wall thickness are the most vital consequences, due to increasing the connecting length and strength. In this paper, AA7075-T651 aluminum alloys with 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mm in thicknesses were drilled with TFD process in order to investigate the density, the volume ratio, and height and wall thickness of the bushings. The experiments were conducted at constant spindle speed and feed rate conditions by using HSS conical tools of 5, 10, 15, and 20 mm in diameters. It was experimentally found that the bushing height and the wall thickness were tendency of increase linearly with increasing both material thickness and tool diameter. The effect of tool diameter was found to have much of influence on the measured values than the thickness of the drilled material. The density of the bushing was changed inconsiderably. Approximately 70-75 % percentages of the evacuated material composed the bushing shape, in TFD operations.

A developed six-port reflectometry (SPR) system was integrated to measure the relative permittivity of tumor and normal breast tissue for medical diagnostic purpose. In order to obtain an accurate and precise measurement, the calibration process was done to the SPR using the well-known three-standard technique. Next, the studied dielectric probe was connected to the calibrated measurement-port of the SPR. The open end of the probe aperture was dibbed into the normal and tumor synthetic breast tissue samples to measure the synthetic breast tissues dielectric constant, ɛrʹ, and loss factor, ɛrʺ in the frequency range of 1.5 GHz to 3.3 GHz. Finally, the comparative studies were conducted between commercial VNA with Keysight 85070E dielectric probe and the studied SPR-probe system based on the measured magnitude of the reflection coefficient, phase shift, dielectric constant, and loss factor of the synthetic breast samples. The maximum absolute errors of the measured reflection coefficient magnitude, phase shift, dielectric constant, and loss factor were found to be 0.01, 1.07°, 1.12, and 0.75, respectively. It was ascertained that the predicted dielectric constant, ɛrʹ, is able to differentiate between normal, (ɛrʹ &lt; 50) and tumor, (ɛrʹ &gt; 50) breast tissues.

Deterministic-stochastic empirical mode decomposition (EMD) is used to obtain low-frequency (non-diffusive, i.e., background velocity) and high-frequency (diffusive, i.e., eddies) components from a Lagrangian drifter‘s trajectory. Eddy characteristics are determined from the time series of eddy trajectories from individual Lagrangian drifter such as the eddy radial scale, eddy velocity scale, eddy Rossby number, and eddy-background kinetic energy ratio. A long-term dataset of the SOund Fixing And Ranging float time series obtained near the California coast by the Naval Postgraduate School from 1992 to 2004 at depth between 150 and 600 m (http://www.oc.nps.edu/npsRAFOS/) is used as an example to demonstrate the capability of the deterministic-stochastic EMD.

The antibiotic residues and pathogenic resistance against the drug are very common in poultry due to usage of antibiotics in their feed. It is the need of the time to use natural feed additives as effective alternatives instead of synthetic antibiotic. The aim of this study was to investigate the immune response of Nigella sativa and Curcuma longa in broilers under biological stress against Pasteurella multocida. The total 100, one-day old chicks were divided into 5 groups. The Groups 1 and 2 were served as control negative and control positive. Both control groups were receiving simple diet without any natural feed additives but infection was given in Group 2 at day 28 with the dose of 5.14×107 CFU by IV. Groups 3A & 3B were offered 2% seed powder of Nigella sativa, Groups 4A & 4B were offered Curcuma longa 1% in powdered form and Group 5A & 5B were offered both Curcuma longa 1% & Nigella sativa 2% in feed from day 1 and groups 3B, 4B and 5B were challenged with Pasteurella multocida. The Haemagglutination inhibition titter against Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), feed conversion ratio, mortality, gross and histopathology were studied. The results of this study revealed that haemagglutination inhibition titers against NDV were highly significant (P< 0.05) in treated groups, highest titers (3A 6.8, 3B 6.4 and 5A 7.2) were obtained from treated Group. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) of Nigella sativa + Curcuma longa treated Groups (5A 1.57 and 3A 1.76) were higher as compared to other non-treated groups. The gross and histopathological changes were much severe in control positive, but less changes were seen in treated groups. Therefore, we recommend that natural feed additives; black cumin (Nigella sativa) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) act as immune enhancer in broilers against Pasteurella multocida.

The article is focused on detailed framework process for hierarchized construction of periodic freight train paths (PFTPs) – allocation of pre-arranged railway capacity to freight rail operators. The framework process considers fluctuations in demand for capacity from freight rail opera-tors, so the quality of a freight train path is related with its construction priority. Introduced framework process aims to offer freight rail operators attractive train paths, with low number of scheduled stops, and this way enhance competitiveness and decrease energy consumption of freight railway as a factor for sustainable development. The proposed generic process is in-tended for all time horizons of capacity allocation. Correctness of the framework process is tested on the example of mainline Prague – Dresden, in the context of prospective (denser) mod-el passenger timetable.

Background: The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) is a scoring system used for the evaluation of disease severity and prognosis of critically ill patients. The impedance ratio (Imp-R) is a novel mortality predictor. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the combination of SOFA + Imp-R in the prediction of mortality in critically ill patients admitted to the emergency department (ED). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed in adult patients with acute illness admitted to the ED of a tertiary-care referral center. Baseline SOFA score and bioelectrical impedance analysis to obtain the Imp-R were performed within the first 24 hours after admission to the ED. A Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate mortality risk of initial SOFA score plus Imp-R. Harrell's C-statistic and decision curve analyses (DCA) were performed. Results: Out of 325 patients, 240 were included for analysis. Overall mortality was 31.3%. Only 21.3% of non-surviving patients died after hospital discharge, and 78.4% died during hospital stay. Of the latter, 40.6% died in the ED. SOFA and Imp-R values were higher in non-survivors and were significantly associated with mortality in all models. The combination of SOFA + Imp-R significantly predicted 30-day mortality, in-hospital mortality, and ED mortality with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.80 (95% CI: 74-0.86), 0.79 (95% CI: 0.74-0.86) and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.66-0.84) respectively. The DCA showed that combining SOFA + Imp-R improved the prediction of mortality through the lower risk thresholds. Conclusion: The addition of Imp-R to baseline SOFA score at admission to the ED improves mortality prediction in severely acutely ill patients admitted to the ED.

Concern over potential antimony mediated toxicity from mining and smelting activities has instigated novel concepts toward removing aqueous antimony ions. The iron based adsorbent Fe3O4/HCO was found to be efficient for treating antimony-containing wastewater However, ineffective methodology for preparation limited its effective adsorption capacity and thus wider application. In this study, a new type of HCO-doped-(Fe3O4)x adsorbent was prepared by co-precipitation method for doping Fe3O4 into HCO sludge (HCO), thereby improving adsorption performance for Sb(III) and Sb(V) ions, with the maximum adsorbing capacity being 44.46 mg/g and 47.91 mg/g, respectively. According to the results of BET, SEM-EDS, XRD and XPS, it were confirmed that the FeOOH and X≡Fe-OH were formed during the preparation process, bring about the increased the surface area, thus resulting in further increase of surface area, hydroxyl groups and the net negative ionic charge. Moreover, the adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model which indicated that adsorption process of Sb(III)/Sb(V) by HCO-doped-(Fe3O4)x adsorbent was controlled by chemical reaction. The main adsorption mechanism is that antimony ion and amorphous iron oxide X≡Fe-OH undergo coordination exchange reaction and complexation reaction with CeO2 or Ce2O3. Furthermore, HCO-doped-(Fe3O4)x could adapt to wide pH and had stable adsorption ability after regeneration. The good adsorption performance of HCO-doped-(Fe3O4)x makes it a potential applications of adsorbent for removal of antimony.

Diffusion bonding is often used on pre-machined parts to generate internal cavities, e.g. for cooling injection molding tools close to the mold cavity. Only then, the workpieces are finished to their final dimensions. In the case of micro-process devices, however, it is essential to precisely control the deformation, as otherwise uncontrollable pressure losses will occur with channel cross-sections in the sub-millimeter range. Post-processing is not possible. The most important process parameters for diffusion bonding are temperature, dwell time and contact pressure, with the bonding temperature and contact pressure acting in opposite directions and showing a strong non-linear dependence on deformation. In addition, the deformation is influenced by a number of other factors such as the absolute size of the cross-section and the aspect ratio of the parts, the dimensions and distribution of the internal cross sections and the overall percentage of the cross-section to be bonded. In micro process engineering, small material cross-sections in the range of the materials microstructure can facilitate additional deformation mechanisms such as grain boundary sliding, which are not relevant at all for larger structures. For parts consisting of multiple layers, tolerances in thickness and roughness of multiple surfaces must be levelled, contributing to the percentaged deformation. This makes it difficult, especially in micro process engineering and in single or small series production, to determine suitable joining parameters in advance, which on the one hand do not cause unforeseen large deformations, but on the other hand reliably produce highly vacuum-tight components. Hence, a definition of a fixed percentaged deformation does not work for all kinds of components. This makes it difficult to specify parameters for surely obtain high-vacuum tight parts. For successful diffusion bonding, atoms must diffuse over the bonding planes, forming a monolithic part in which the original layers are no longer visible. Only then, mechanical properties identical to those of the base material, which has been subjected to identical heat treatment, can be achieved. In this paper, the impacts of different material cross section widths as well as of the aspect ratio on deformation were investigated. By accident, it was found that also accuracy of the temperature measurement may have a serious impact in terms of deformation.

B chromosomes (Bs) were discovered a century ago, and since then most studies have focused on describing their distribution and abundance using traditional cytogenetics. Only recently have attempts been made to understand their structure and evolution at the level of DNA sequence. Many questions regarding the origin, structure, function and evolution of B chromosomes remain unanswered. Here we identify B chromosome sequences from several species of cichlid fish from Lake Malawi by examining the ratios of DNA sequence coverage in individuals with and without B chromosomes. We examine the efficiency of this method, and compare results using both Illumina and PacBio sequence data. The B chromosome sequences detected in 13 individuals from 7 species were compared to assess the rates of sequence replacement. B-specific sequence common to at least 12 of the 13 datasets are identified as the “Core” B chromosome. The location of B sequence homologs throughout the genome provides further support for theories of B chromosome evolution. Finally, we identified candidate genes located on the B chromosome which may regulate the segregation and maintenance of the B chromosome.

Large intelligent surfaces (LIS) promises not only to improve the signal to noise ratio, and spectral efficiency but also to reduce the energy consumption during the transmission. We consider a base station equipped with an antenna array using the maximum ratio transmission (MRT), and a large reflector array sending signals to a single user. Each subchannel is affected by the Rayleigh flat fading, and the reflecting elements perform non-perfect phase correction which introduces a Von Mises distributed phase error. Based on the central limit theorem (CLT), we conclude that the overall channel has an equivalent Gamma fading whose parameters are derived from the moments of the channel fading between the antenna array and LIS, and also from the LIS to the single user. Assuming that the equivalent channel can be modeled as a Gamma distribution, we propose very accurate closed-form expressions for the bit error probability and a very tight upper bound. For the case where the LIS is not able to perform perfect phase cancellation, that is, under phase errors, it is possible to analyze the system performance considering the analytical approximations and the simulated results obtained using the well known Monte Carlo method. The analytical expressions for the parameters of the Gamma distribution are very difficult to be obtained due to the complexity of the nonlinear transformations of random variables with non-zero mean and correlated terms. Even with perfect phase cancellation, all the fading coefficients are complex due to the link between the user and the base station that is not neglected in this paper.

Herein, we offer a numerical study on the devising of a unique 2D-heterostructure Photonic crystal (PC) that can split two orthogonally polarized light waves. The analysis is performed via a two-dimensional finite element method (2D-FEM) by utilizing COMSOL Multiphysics software. The device consists of two discrete designs of PC formation. The first PC formation is optimized so that it permits both TE and TM-polarization of light to transmit through it. Whereas the second PC formation possesses a Photonic Bandgap (PBG) only for TE-polarized light. These two formations are combined at an angle of 45 degrees, resulting in a reflection of self-collimated TE-polarized light at an angle of 90 degrees owing to the PBG present in the second PC formation. While permitting the self-collimated TM-polarized light wave to travel uninterrupted. The proposed device has a small footprint of ~10.5 μm2 offering low transmission loss and high polarization extinction ratio which makes it an ideal candidate to be employed as an on-chip polarization division multiplexing system.

Quantitative biomarkers derived from positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) have been suggested as prognostic variables in immune-checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As such data for first-line ICI therapy and especially for chemotherapy-ICI combinations are still scarce, we retrospectively evaluated baseline 18F-FDG-PET/CT of 85 consecutive patients receiving first-line pembrolizumab with chemotherapy (n=70) or as monotherapy (n=15). Maximum and mean standardized uptake value, metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis and bone marrow-/ spleen to liver ratio (BLR/SLR) were calculated. Kaplan-Meier analyses and Cox-regression models were used to assess progression-free/overall survival (PFS/OS) and their determinant variables. Multivariate selection for PFS/OS revealed MTV as most relevant PET/CT biomarker (p<0.001). Median PFS/OS were significantly longer in patients with MTV≤70mL versus >70mL (PFS: 10 months (M; 95% confidence interval 4-16) vs. 4M (3-5), p=0.001; OS: not reached vs. 10M (5-15), p=0.004). Disease control rate was 81% vs. 53% for MTV≤/>70mL (p=0.007). BLR ≤1.06 versus >1.06 was associated with better outcomes (PFS: 8M (4-13) vs. 4M (3-6), p=0.034; OS: 19M (12-/) vs. 6M (4-12), p=0.005). In patients with MTV>70mL, concomitant BLR≤1.06 indicated a better prognosis. Higher MTV is associated with inferior PFS/OS in first-line ICI treated NSCLC, with BLR allowing additional risk stratification.

Archie model is the basis of calculating oil saturation, but there are some limitations when using this model to calculate oil saturation in water-flooded layer. The main reason is that the main parameters, such as rock resistivity and formation water resistivity, are constantly changing dynamic parameters in the underground with the influence of injected water. Considering that water-flooded layers changes with injection waters, influence factors of rock resistivity and formation water resistivity of primary parameters are analyzed. Considering the dynamic data of water cut is the most reactive underground fluid characteristics of real information, combined with dynamic and static, and the “double ratio” model of later development by the same sedimentary layer is established, which realizes the inversion of rock resistivity and formation water resistivity, then modified Archie model relating to water-flooded layers of the same sedimentary explaining formation. The explanation of actual data indicates that the “double ratio” model well considers the dynamic variation of production data, which makes the inversion of the flooded rock resistivity relatively accurate, besides, the modified Archie model can accurately calculate the oil saturation of water-flooded layers with a reasonable result, which offers scientific basis for the predicting of remaining oil distribution rules.

Soil water loss by evaporation influences the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) of irrigation drainage water. Evaporation concentrates sodium and magnesium but calcite precipitation has a more complicated effect on soluble calcium and alkalinity. Here we propose a revised sodicity hazard assessment that quantifies the impact of evaporative water loss and calcite precipitation on drainage water SAR. This paper shows sodicity hazard is determined by the initial composition of irrigation water as originally suggested by previous researchers, and provide a simple, accurate way to identify the potential sodicity hazard of any irrigation water. In particular, the initial equivalent concentration of alkalinity and calcium determine the salinization pathway followed during evaporation. If the irrigation water alkalinity exceeds soluble calcium expressed as equivalent concentrations, drainage water SAR approaches an upper limit determined by the initial relative concentration of sodium and magnesium. If irrigation water alkalinity is less than soluble calcium, drainage water SAR approaches a lower limit determined by the initial calcium, magnesium and sodium. In both cases the SAR is scaled by the square root of the concentration factor √Fc quantifying soil water loss. To assess the impact of evaporation and calcite precipitation on the SAR and test the accuracy of the new sodicity hazard assessment, we evaluated data from previously published lysimeter studies. We plotted water composition boundaries for each source water, comparing these boundaries to the drainage water composition recorded in the lysimeter studies. As salinity increased by evaporation, each drainage water followed a distinct salinization path.

Multiaxial fatigue experiments under asynchronous loadings with four different loading frequency ratios were carried out on 30CrMnSiA steel. The experimental results show that the fatigue life decreases when the axial or torsion frequency increases from 1 to 2, while there is no significant change when the axial or torsion frequency increases from 2 to 4. The surface crack paths are observed and show that cracks initiate on the maximum shear stress amplitude planes, propagate approximately tens of microns, and then turn to propagate along the maximum normal stress planes. The number of secondary cracks increases when the axial or torsion frequency increases. Subsequently, the Bannantine-Socie and Wang-Brown cycle counting methods along with various multiaxial fatigue criteria and Palmgren-Miner’s cumulative damage rule were used for fatigue life prediction. The experimental results are consistent with the fatigue life predicted by the Bannantine-Socie method with the section critical plane criterion for 30CrMnSiA steel under asynchronous loading paths.

Fatigue loading is critical to fibre reinforced polymer composites due to their anisotropic and heterogenous nature. This study investigated the tensile fatigue behaviour of polyester and vinyl ester based GFRP laminates to understand the critical aspects of failure mode and fatigue life under cyclic loading. GFRP laminates with two different resin systems (polyester and vinyl ester), two different stress ratios (0.1 and 0.5) and two different environmental conditions (air and water) were investigated at an applied stress of 80%, 60% and 40% of the ultimate capacity. Based on the investigated parameters (i.e., resin types, stress ratio, environmental conditioning and maximum applied stress), a fatigue model was proposed. Results show that the resin system plays a great role in fatigue failure mode while the stress ratio and environmental condition significantly affect the tensile fatigue life of GFRP laminates. The types of resin used in GFRP laminates and environmental conditions as input parameter in the proposed fatigue model is a unique contribution.

The KcsA is a prokaryotic potassium-oriented channel, which is sourced from the Streptomyces lividans soil bacteria. From extensive studies that have been carried over the KcsA potassium channel, it has been proved that various factors enable the gating and shuttling of the potassium ions into and out of the cells. Some of the factors include the different concentration of protons in the inside and outside membrane. The other factor is the existence of the selectivity filter equipped in the exit of channel pore, which enables the movement of the K⁺ ions. Not only are potassium ions present in the channel but also sodium ions. Potassium and sodium ions are the ions that are essential in the conductivity of a cell because of their charge. An intuitive idea about why K⁺ ions are at least 10,000 times more permeant than Na⁺ ions is presented in various entities. The hypothesis is that the selectivity ratio is probably related to the successive entry of Na⁺ ions, based on the premise that the ratio seems to be relevant to unpredictable quantities caused by Brownian corrosion of ions.

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) and age-related degeneration (ARD) are stimulants for the development of the fabella in the knee joint. This meta-analysis updates previous studies and reviews on the prevalence of the fabella in OA or ARD knee joints. In addition, it provides a quantitative estimation of the fabellar prevalence in knees having OA and ARD. Methodology: Twenty studies comprising of data from 11,056 knee joints were included in the analysis, consisting of 6,819 Knees of OA subjects (including those with age more than 40 years) and 4,237 knees of non-OA subjects (including less than 40years) knees, respectively. 2,434 knees had fabellae present in OA subjects (including more than 40years), and 844 fabellae were present in non-OA subjects (including less than 40years). The Odds and Risk Ratios were calculated. Sensitivity analysis and cumulative analysis were conducted to assess the robustness of the findings. Results: Prevalence of fabella was found to be higher in OA knees, where the Risk Ratio of developing fabella was 2.50 (2.07-3.01). Compared with this, the Risk Ratio for the incidence of fabella in OA with ARD knee was 1.84 (1.66-2.03). The bilateral occurrence of fabella was more common than unilateral. The risk of developing fabella in individuals aged less than forty-year was 63% less than individuals aged more than forty years. Conclusion: OA and ARD would increase the prevalence of fabella by 84%, thus acting as stimulants and risk factors for ossified fabella.

Abstract: This study was aimed to determine the influence of the volume fraction of steel fibers and on fracture parameters of concrete. Fifty notched steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) beams and ordinary concrete beams with dimensions of 100mm×100mm×515mm were cast and tested via three-point bending test. Among them, the type of steel fiber is milling type (MF), and the volume fraction of steel fiber added is 0%, 0.5%, 0.5%, 1.5%, 1.5%, 2%, respectively. The effects of the steel fiber volume fraction (VF) on the critical stress intensity factor (KIC), fracture energy (GF), the deflection at failure(δ0), the critical crack mouth opening displacement (CMODC) and the critical crack tip opening displacement (CTODC)were studied. Through the analysis of test phenomena and test data such as load-deflection (P-δ) curve, load-crack mouth opening displacement (P-CMOD) curve and load-crack tip opening displacement (P-CTOD) curve following conclusions are drawn: With the increase of steel fiber volume fraction, some fracture parameters increase gradually and maintain a certain linear growth. The gain ratio of fracture parameters increases significantly, and the gain effect is obvious. Through this law of growth, the experimental statistical formulas of fracture energy and critical stress intensity factor are summarized.

Artificial intelligence methods may help in unveliling information hidden in high-dimensional oncological data. Flow cytometry studies of haematological malignancies provide quantitative data with the potential to be used for the construction of response biomarkers. Many computational methods from the bioinformatics toolbox can be applied to these data but have not been exploited in their full potential in leukaemias, specifically for the case of childhood B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In this paper we analysed flow cytometry data obtained on diagnosis from 54 paediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients from two local institutions. We constructed classifiers based on the Fisher’s Ratio to quantify differences in expression levels of immunophenotypical markers between patients with relapsing and non-relapsing disease. The distribution of the marker CD38 was found and validated to have a strong discriminating power between both patient cohorts, thus providing a classifier.

Windows account for a significant proportion of the total energy lost in buildings. The interaction of window type, Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR) scheduled and window placement height would influence the natural lighting and heat transfer through windows. This is a pressing issue for non-tropical regions considering their high emissions and distinct climatic characteristics. A limitation exists in the adoption of common simulation-based optimisation approaches in the literature, which are hardly accessible to practitioners. This article develops a numerical-based window design optimisation model using a common Building Information Modelling (BIM) platform adopted throughout the industry, focusing on non-tropical regions of Australia. Three objective functions are proposed; the first objective is to maximize the available daylight, and the other two emphasize on the undesirable heat transfer through windows in summer and winter respectively. The developed model is tested on a case study located in Sydney, Australia, and a set of Pareto-optimum solutions is obtained. Through the use of the proposed model, energy savings of up to 16.43% are achieved. Key findings on the case example indicate that leveraging winter heat gain to reduce annual energy consumption should not be the top priority when designing windows for Sydney.

With the rapid spread of carbon trading in the global economy, the interactions of prices between carbon (or clean/renewable energy) and traditional fossil energies such as coal and oil have raised growing attention, but little research have discussed their dynamic volatility spillover and time-varying correlation. The purpose of this study is to investigate these issues, for the weekly data of EUA futures, Biofuel and Brent oil prices from 25 October 2009 to 5 July 2020. We employ the VAR-GARCH model with the BEKK specification. Our results are summarized as follows. At first, we identified the sudden changes and the volatility persistence in the three markets, and also confirmed that the volatility of the markets has changed significantly over time. Secondly, we find that there are a weak volatility spillover effect among the three markets, while a strong spillover effect between the EUA and Brent oil markets. Lastly, in financial markets, the EUA can be used as a hedging portfolio for the Biofuel and Brent oil markets. These results can help investors to well compose their portfolios and manage their investment risks, and help potential pollutant emission sources to join in carbon market in a cost-effective way.

The purpose of this paper is to explore which financial performance indicators (FPIs) evaluate the level of supply chain capability (SCC) that explicitly touches all of the business functions and processes within and beyond the company. The authors investigated nine FPIs that were selected from the financial statements of 155 companies within nine industries. The authors find that suitable FPIs to measure SCC for shareholders’ value are return-on-assets (ROA), days-sales-outstanding (DSO), and current ratio (CR). This means that higher ROA, shortened DSO, and an appropriate level of CR could reach a sustainable supply chain. These results will help the industry to avert a major disruption in supply chain processes and activities using suitable financial performance indicators.

Vibrational overtones in deeply bound molecules are sensitive probes for variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio μ. In nonpolar molecules, these overtones may be driven as two-photon transitions. Here, we present procedures for experiments with O₂⁺, including state-preparation through photoionization, a two-photon probe, and detection. We calculate transition dipole moments between all X²П_g vibrational levels and those of the A²П_u excited electronic state. Using these dipole moments, we calculate two-photon transition rates and AC-Stark-shift systematics for the overtones. We estimate other systematic effects and statistical precision. Two-photon vibrational transitions in O₂⁺ provide multiple routes to improved searches for μ variation.

Piezoelectric nanotransducers may offer key advantages in comparison with conventional piezoelectrics, including more choices for types of mechanical input, positions of the contacts, dimensionalities and shapes. However, since piezo-semiconductive nanostructures are generally much easier to fabricate and integrate into functional systems than insulating materials, modeling becomes significantly more intricate and the effects of free charges have been considered only in a few studies. The available reports are complicated by the absence of proper nomenclature and figures of merit. Besides, some analyses are incomplete. For instance, the local piezopotential and free charges within axially strained conical piezo-semiconductive nanowires have only been systematically investigated for very low doping (1016 cm-3) and under compression. Here we give the definitions for the enhancement, depletion, base and tip piezopotentials, their characteristic lengths and both the tip-to-base and the depletion-to-enhancement piezopotential-ratios. As an example, we use these definitions for analyzing the local piezopotential and free charges in n-type ZnO truncated conical nanostructures with different doping levels (intrinsic, 1016 cm-3, 1017 cm-3) for both axial compression and traction. The definitions and concepts presented here may offer insight for designing high performance piezosemiconductive nanotransducers.

The goal of this paper is to explore the relationship between the specific non-performing loan ratio (NPL ratio) and the corresponding impact on the bank’s profitability and lending behavior. It also seeks to investigate the macroeconomic impacts of economies with excessively high NPL ratios as well as the efficacy and impact of alleviation measures used by banks and governments around the world to help facilitate a decrease in high NPL ratios. The possible implications and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on NPL ratios is also addressed in this paper. It is found that when excessively high NPL ratios go unaddressed, the economy tends to suffer. On the other hand, this study shows that when measures are taken to reduce or eliminate the high NPL ratios, economic performance improves, and the reduction has a clear positive impact on the economy.

Disruptive technologies (DT) have featured prominently in almost every human activity since the advent of computerization. The likely effects of DT on economic processes and human professions have and continue to generate fears and debates which spurred this investigation. To break away from the traditional approach the operational breakeven theory and the discriminant analysis techniques of Altman’s Z-score, and Enyi’s Relative Solvency Ratio were used to examine the relationship between firms’ market-induced-survival-ratio (MISR) and the disruptive technology gains index (DTGI) of seventy-three firms drawn from Nigeria and India. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data generated. The results showed that a sizeable number of firms has profited from the introduction of disruptive technologies with MISR and DTGI returning a 10% significant relationship while others are still struggling to measure up to the requirements of disruptive technologies in their chosen economic fields. The implication of this is that businesses must brace up and embrace digital transformation if they must stay afloat in this era of disruptive technologies. This study recommends a revolutionary approach to digital transformation in view of the fast pace of global integration while managers and business owners should adopt more pragmatic approach in appraising the operations and finances of a firm for effective results and timely responses to potential business challenges.

The scale and accessibility of passive global surveillance have rapidly increased over time. This provides an opportunity to calibrate the performance of models, algorithms, and reflectance ratios between remote sensing devices. Here we test the sensitivity and specificity of Eucalypt chlorophyll-a reflectance ratio (ECARR) and Eucalypt chlorophyll-b reflectance ratio (ECBRR) to remotely identify eucalypt vegetation in Queensland, Australia. We compare reflectance ratio values from Sentinel-2 and Planet imagery across four sites of known vegetation composition. All imagery was transformed to reflectance values and Planet imagery was additionally scaled to harmonize across Planet Scenes. ECARR can identify eucalypt vegetation remotely with high sensitivity, but shows low specificity and is impacted by the density of the vegetation. ECBRR reflectance ratios show similar sensitivity and specificity when identifying eucalypt vegetation but with values an order of magnitude smaller than ECARR. We find that ECARR was better at identifying eucalypt vegetation in the Sentinel-2 imagery than Planet imagery. ECARR can serve as a general chlorophyll indicator but is not a specific index to identify Eucalyptus vegetation with certainty.

Seyfe Lake is an important part of the natural ecosystem of Central Anatolia and lies within a 1487 km² closed basin. Groundwater withdrawal for irrigation and recent climatic change have caused lake area to decrease for decades and to completely disappear briefly in August 2008. Groundwater quality is crucial for sustainable irrigation in the Seyfe Basin. A key finding of this study is the difference in the Hardie-Eugster alkalinity-to-calcium ratio of the lake water and that of most groundwater wells in the basin. This difference in the chemical signature of Seyfe Lake and basin groundwater means the evaporative salinization pathway of most groundwater discharged into the lake cannot account for the composition of Seyfe Lake. The ratio of actual evapotranspiration to precipitation will increase under current climate change projections. A second finding, with implications for soil salinization, is that most groundwater in Seyfe Basin has a Hardie-Eugster alkalinity-tocalcium ratio greater than unity, meaning soil alkalization will accompany soil salinization.

In this study, the thermal behavior of a PCM-based heat sink in the presence of horizontal fins was numerically investigated. These types of heat sink can be effective in electronic cooling applications. Independent variables included aspect ratio (AR), number of horizontal fins (n) and their length (LR), while the objective function was defined to maximize the safe operation time (tmax). The incorporation of horizontal fins has a positive effect (thermal conductivity enhancement) as well as a negative effect (latent heat reduction). Based on the results, the optimal number of horizontal fins was five. As the number of fins rises up to five, the incremental effect of thermal conductivity improvement (positive effect) was superior to the decremental effect of the latent heat reduction (negative effect), hence the objective function (tmax) improved. However, with a further increase in the number of fins upon five, the negative effect prevailed over the positive effect and therefore the safe operation time diminished.

The Golden ratio is an irrational number that has a tendency to appear in many different scientific and artistic fields. It may be found in natural phenomena across a vast range of length scales; from galactic to atomic. In this review, the mathematical properties of the Golden ratio are discussed before exploring where in nature it has been found; beginning at astronomical scales and progressing to smaller lengths, until reaching those of atomic and quantum physics. In making such a tour across length scales, it is illustrated just how prevalent this single number is within the natural universe.

Previous studies generally reckon that the full converter-base wind power generation (FCWG) is a ’decoupled’ power source from the grid, which hardly participates in electromechanical oscillations. However, it is found recently that strong interaction could be induced which might incur severe resonance incidents in electromechanical dynamic timescale. In this paper, the participation of FCWG in electromechanical dynamics is extensively investigated, and particularly, an unusual transition of electromechanical oscillation mode (EOM) is uncovered for the first time. The detailed mathematical models of open-loop and closed-loop power systems are firstly established, and modal analysis is employed to quantify the FCWG participation in electromechanical dynamics, with two new mode identification criteria, i.e., FCWG dynamics correlation ratio (FDCR) and quasi-electromechanical loop correlation ratio (QELCR). On this basis, the impact of different wind penetration levels and controller parameter settings on the participation of FCWG is investigated. It is revealed that if an FOM has a similar oscillation frequency to the system EOMs, there is a high possibility to induce strong interactions between FCWG dynamics and system electromechanical dynamics of the external power systems. In this circumstance, an interesting phenomenon may occur that an EOM may be dominated by FCWG dynamics, and hence is transformed into a quasi-EOM, which actively involves the participation of FCWG quasi-electromechanical state variables.

The study comprehensively evaluated the prognostic roles of PLR, NLR, MLR, BLR, and ELR in patients with acute exacerbation chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). 619 patients with AECOPD and 300 healthy volunteers were retrospectively included into the study. The clinical characteristics containing laboratory findings of the AECOPD patients and the blood cell counts (CBCs) of the healthy volunteers were collected. Compared with the healthy volunteers, PLR, NLR, and MLR were elevated in COPD patients in stable condition, and were further ele-vated during exacerbation. ELR showed the opposite trend. PLR, NLR, and MLR were all posi-tively correlated with hospital LOS as well as CRP. In contrast, ELR was negatively correlated with hospital LOS as well as CRP. Elevated PLR, NLR, and MLR were all associated with more serious airflow limitation in AECOPD. Elevated PLR, NLR, and MLR were all associated with increased in-hospital mortality while Elevated ELR was associated with decreased in-hospital mortality in AECOPD. A nomogram was construct to predict in-hospital mortality in AECOPD. The nomo-gram had a C-index of 0.850 (95% CI: 0.799 – 0.901) with good predictive value and clinical ap-plicability. In summary, PLR, NLR, MLR, and ELR served as predictors for clinical outcomes in patients with AECOPD.

Background: Vascular inflammation plays a crucial role in peripheral arterial disease (PAD), although the role of the mediators involved has not yet been properly defined. The aim of this work is to investigate gene expression and plasma biomarkers in chronic limb-threating ischemia (CLTI). Methods: Using patients from the GHAS trial, both blood and ischemic muscle samples were obtained to analyze plasma markers and mRNA expression, respectively. Statistical analy-sis was performed by using univariate (Spearman, t-Student, X2) and multivariate (multiple lo-gistic regression) tests. Results: 35 patients were available at baseline (29 for mRNA expression). Baseline characteristics (mean): Age:71.4±12.4 (79.4% male); TNF-α:10.7±4.9; hs-CRP:1.6±2.2; Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR):3.5±2.8. Plasma TNF-α was found elevated (≥8.1) in 68.6% of patients, while high hs-CRP (≥0.5) in 60.5%. Diabetic patients with high level of inflammation showed significantly higher levels of NOX4 expression at baseline (p=0.0346). Plasma TNF-α had a negative correlation with eNOS expression (-0.5, p=0.015) and hs-CRP with VEGF-A (-0.63, p=0.005). The expression of NOX4 was parallel to that of plasma TNF-α (0.305, p=0.037), especial-ly in DM. Cumulative mortality at 12-month was related to NLR ≥3 (p=0.019) and TNF-α ≥8.1 (p=0.048). The best cut-off point for NLR to predict mortality was 3.4. Conclusions: NOX4 and TNF-α are crucial for the development and complications of lower limb ischemia, especially in DM. hs-CRP could have a negative influence on angiogenesis too. NLR and TNF-α represent suita-ble markers of mortality in CLTI. These results are novel because they connect muscle gene expres-sion and plasma information in patients with advanced PAD, deepening the search of new and ac-curate targets for this condition.

Nowadays, in order to improve asphalt pavement performance, durability and reduce environmental pollution caused by asphalt binder, many researchers are studying to modify asphalt concrete (AC) and find alternative paving materials to extend service life of asphalt pavement. One of the successful materials used in a modification of AC are fibers. Different types of fibers have been reinforced in AC mixture and improvements have been observed. This research studies the performance of glass wool fiber reinforced in a dense-graded asphalt mixture. Generally, glass fibers are known to have excellent mechanical properties such as high tensile modulus, 100% elastic recovery and a very high tolerance to heat. The glass wool fibers are commonly used as a thermal insulation material. In this research to evaluate the performance of glass wool fiber in AC, laboratory tests Marshall mix design test, Indirect tensile strength (IDT), Tensile strength ratio (TSR) and Kim test were conducted to determine a proper mix design, tensile properties, moisture susceptibility, rutting and fatigue behaviors. Results show that addition of glass wool fibers does affect the properties of AC mixture. The use of glass wool fibers showed a positive consistence results, in which it improved the moisture susceptibility and rutting resistance of the AC. Also result showed addition of fiber increased tensile strength and toughness which indicates that fibers have a potential to resist distresses that occur on a surface of the road as a result of heavy traffic loading. The overall results showed that addition of glass wool fiber in AC mixture is beneficial in improving properties of AC pavements.

In the context of intelligent and integrative lighting, in addition to the need for color quality and brightness, the non-visual effect is essential. This refers to the retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) and their function, first proposed in 1927. The melanopsin action spectrum has been published in CIE S 026/E: 2018 with the corresponding melanopic equivalent daylight (D65) illuminance (mEDI), melanopic daylight (D65) efficacy ratio (mDER) and 4 other parameters. Due to the importance of mEDI and mDER, this work synthesizes a simple computational model of mDER as the main research objective, based on a database of 4214 practical spectral power distributions (SPDs) of daylight, conventional, LED, and mixed light sources. In addition to the high correlation coefficient R2 of 0.96795 and the 97% confidence offset of 0.0067802, the feasibility of the mDER model in intelligent and integrated lighting applications has been extensively tested and validated. The uncertainty between the mEDI calculated directly from the spectra and that obtained by processing the RGB sensor and applying the mDER model has reached ± 3.3% after an appropriate matrixing process and proper illumination characterization combined with the successful mDER calculation model. This result opens the potential of low-cost RGB sensors for applications in intelligent and integrative lighting systems to optimize and compensate the non-visual effective parameter mEDI using daylight and artificial light in indoor spaces. The goal of the research on RGB sensors and the corresponding processing method are also presented and their feasibility is methodically demonstrated. A comprehensive investigation with a huge amount of color sensor sensitivities is necessary in a future work of other researches.

Student mobility is one of the most important indicators to reflect institutional internationalization in a sustainable higher education system. While student mobility issues have been addressed persistently, the phenomenon is rarely discussed in association with higher education expansion. Since higher education sustainable development has received much scholarly attention, monitoring student mobility flows to adjust international strategies is necessary. This study explored practical approaches to detect student mobility flows in the process of higher education expansion. Targeting Taiwan’s higher education system as an example, we addressed the topic of system expansion and the core issues of student mobility. Target series data were collected from 1950 to 2021, including higher education enrollment, gross enrollment ratio (GER), and number of inbound and outbound students. The data were transformed with index formats, for example enrollment increasing ratio (IR) and net flow ratio. The cross-correlation function (CCF) and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) were used to determine the correlations of the series data and their future trends. The findings suggested that the effect of system expansion, with GER and IR, might influence the mobility ratios significantly in the process of higher education expansion. This study confirmed that the time series approaches work well in detecting the phenomena of higher education expansion and their effects on student mobility flows in the future.

Toshiba devised the bladeless fan (or Air Multiplier) concept in 1981. Researchers like James Dyson and Jafari et al. further developed it. Bladeless fans are more energy-efficient, safer due to the hidden blades, easier to clean, and more adjustable than conventional fans. From a performance point of view, bladeless fans are better because they multiply mass flow rate, eliminate buffeting, consume less power, and are quieter. This paper investigates the influence of the airfoil’s outlet slit thickness on the discharge ratio by varying the outlet slit thickness of an Eppler 473 airfoil from 1.2 mm to 2 mm in intervals of 0.2 mm. Results indicated that smaller slits showed higher discharge ratios. The airfoil with a 1.2 mm slit thickness showed a discharge ratio of 18.78, a 24% increase from the discharge ratio of the 2 mm slit. The effect of outlet angle on the pressure drop across the airfoil was also studied. Outlet angles were varied from 16∘ to 26∘ by an interval of 2∘. The airfoil profile with a 24∘ outlet angle showed a maximum pressure difference of 965 Pa between the slit and leading edge. In contrast, the 16∘ outlet angle showed the least pressure difference of 355 Pa. Parameters such as average velocity, turbulent kinetic energy, the standard deviation of velocity and outlet velocity magnitude was used to assess the performance of airfoil profiles used in bladeless fan.

Understanding surface water evaporation in tropical catchments is pivotal for effective water management, but limited research exists on stable isotopic (δ2H and δ18O) assessment of water evaporation losses. Our study bridges that gap, examining stable isotopes in meteoric water and surface waters across tropical regions, both humid and semi-arid. Using the Craig-Gordon model, we calibrated evaporation-to-inflow (E/I) ratios, identifying distinct E/I variations between seasons and regions. Notably, the semi-arid region consistently exhibited higher E/I ratios due to climatic characteristics. By integrating the Hamiltonian Monte Carlo and the No-U-Turn Sampler, we were able to quantify uncertainties in isotopic and meteorological parameters, resulting in E/I estimates within 68% and 95% confidence intervals. Our Bayesian model insights are critical for freshwater resource optimization and hydrological modeling in tropical regions.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus may be complicated with chronic complications including diabetic neuropathy (DN). Timely diagnosis is crucial in treatment and maybe reversal of this complication. C reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) is considered as a marker of inflammation in various diseases that characterized with acute or chronic inflammation. Since diabetic neuropathy and type 2 diabetes mellitus are also associated with chronic, low grade inflammation, we aimed to study CAR levels of type 2 diabetic subjects with diabetic neuropathy and to compare to those in patients without diabetic neuropathy. Type 2 diabetic patients presented to our institutional outpatient clinics were divided into two according to the presence of DN. Subjects with DN were listed as DN group and others were as non-DN group. Characteristics and laboratory data, including CAR, in DN and non-DN groups were compared. Median CAR of the DN and non-DN groups were 2,19 (0,2-49)% and 0,56 (0,02-5,8)%, respectively (p&lt;0.001). CAR was significantly and positively correlated with age (r=0.15, p&lt;0.001), weight (r=0.19, p=0.01), BMI (r=0.11, p=0.03), waist circumference (r=0.10, p=0.046), fasting plasma glucose (r=0.14, p=0.004), serum creatinine (r=0.25, p&lt;0.001), triglyceride (r=0.17, p&lt;0.001), and LDL-cholesterol (r=0.13, p=0.001) levels. Moreover, CAR was inversely correlated with eGFR levels (r=-0.16, p&lt;0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of CAR (when higher than 1,02%) in predicting diabetic neuropathy were 78% and 73%, respectively (AUC: 0.84, p&lt;0.001, 95% CI: 0,82-0,87). Moreover, high CAR level was an independent risk factor of diabetic neuropathy (p&lt;0.001, OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 0.48-1.62). In conclusion, elevated CAR levels could be considered as a marker of diabetic neuropathy.

Prosthetics have come a long way since their inception, and recent advancements in materials science have enabled the development of prosthetic devices with improved functionality and comfort. One promising area of research is the use of auxetic metamaterials in prosthetics. Auxetic materials have a negative Poisson's ratio, which means that they expand laterally when stretched, unlike conventional materials, which contract laterally. This unique property allows for the creation of prosthetic devices that can better conform to the contours of the human body and provide a more natural feel. In this review article, we provide an overview of the current state of the art in the development of prosthetics using auxetic metamaterials. We discuss the mechanical properties of these materials, including their negative Poisson's ratio and other properties that make them suitable for use in prosthetic devices. We also explore the limitations that currently exist in implementing these materials in prosthetic devices, including challenges in manufacturing and cost. Despite these challenges, the future prospects for the development of prosthetic devices using auxetic metamaterials are promising. Continued research and development in this field could lead to the creation of more comfortable, functional, and natural-feeling prosthetic devices. Overall, the use of auxetic metamaterials in prosthetics represents a promising area of research with the potential to improve the lives of millions of people around the world who rely on prosthetic devices.

Since 2012, the northeast of Tunisia has been experiencing an emergence of dog rabies. Published data revealed that the disease is widespread in the north of Tunisia. Even with studies on rabies, lacking knowledge on the associated risk factors was highlighted. Therefore, we conducted a case-control study on dog rabies in northeast Tunisia to identify potential risk factors for dog rabies occurrence. The cases group (n=77) included positive dog rabies confirmed at the referral laboratory using Fluorescent Antibody Test (FAT) in 2014 and 2018. The controls group (n=77) involved all negative cases received at the laboratory and 15-days quarantine dogs that received a certificate of absence of rabies after the observation period. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was conducted to explore the risk factors (age, sex, breed, confinement, vaccination status, presence of bites, owned or not and origin of dogs, sector, presence of rabies cases, and slaughterhouses, etc.…) related to the occurrence of rabies. The final logistic regression model revealed that unconfined dogs were almost twice as likely to be affected as confined dogs (OR=1.9; 95% CI: 1.17 to 3.27). The odds of rabies occurrence were 25 times higher in areas where rabies cases have been reported between 3 months and 1 year compared to the uninfected areas (25.7; 95% CI: 3.02-219.14). Similarly, the risk of rabies is significantly higher in dogs born in the home to the owner bitch (OR=2.41; 95% CI: 1.14-5.13). Living in areas with rabies cases in the last three months increases by 2.8 times the risk of getting rabies (2.8; 95% CI: 1.16-6.77). However, vaccination reduces by 1.6 times the risk of contracting rabies (0.6; 95% CI: 0.38-0.97). Our findings provide reliable data on dog rabies that will be very useful for decision-makers and could contribute to improving the ongoing national control program of rabies.

Gas turbine engines are widely used in various industries such as aviation, power generation, and marine propulsion due to their high efficiency and reliability. The combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine design contains a number of elements, including as the chamber's size and form, the fuel injection system, the ignition system, and the cooling system and it plays a critical role in the performance and efficiency of the engine. This research discusses the fabrication of a combustion chamber model for a gas turbine engine. The aim of this research is to develop a combustion chamber that is cost-effective, easily available, and can be fabricated in less time. The research covers the different types of combustion chambers used in gas turbine engines and compares their advantages and disadvantages. It then selects the best type of combustion chamber for the gas turbine engine based on its cost, availability, and fabrication time, Efficiency and high power to fuel ratio. The report also describes the fabrication process involved, including the techniques and materials used, along with safety precautions and environmental protection measures. Lastly, the research suggests future improvements and potential applications for the fabricated combustion chamber model.

A Savonius wind turbine is one of the simplest vertical-axis turbines. Several researchers have been attracted to it because of its simple structure, low noise, appropriate torque, and independence from wind direction. SR3345 and SR5050 blade profiles will be investigated for their effects on the performance of Savonius wind turbines. First, the fabricated wind turbine is placed in front of an open circuit wind tunnel with a velocity of 6 m/s. Furthermore, governing relationships are used to calculate power and torque coefficients as well as tip speed. In this study, the power and torque coefficients of the turbine are compared with the two profiles considered based on overlap ratios between 0 and 0.3. Despite its increased stability, the central shaft reduced the power coefficient of the turbine. For blade SR3345, the best performance occurs at tip speed ratios of less than 1, while for blade SR5050, the best performance occurs at higher tip speed ratios. Both blades SR3345 and SR5050 achieve the highest power coefficients at overlap ratios of 0 and 0.18 when a central shaft is present.

Higher salt (sodium) intake has been associated with a higher blood pressure (BP). The association degree may be influenced by factors such as age, origin and dietary components. This study aimed to evaluate the 24-hours urinary sodium (Na) and potassium (K) excretion in normotensive and hypertensive Dominicans adults and estimate their salt intake. 163 volunteers (18-45, 46-80 years) participated in a cross-sectional study. 24-hours Na and K urinary excretion were measured using an ion selective electrode technique. Na and K urinary excretion (99.4±46.5 and 35.0±17.5 mmol/24h) did not correlated with BP, except in the normotensive group in which K correlated with SBP (0.249, p=0.019). Na and K excretion were similar for normo- and hypertensive subjects. Na-to-K molar ratio (3.1±1.3) was higher in younger subjects (p=0.040). Na-to-K ratio was associated with DBP in the total group (r=0.153, p=0.052), in the hypertensive group (r=0.395, p<0.001) and in the older group with SBP (0.350, p=0.002) and DBP (0.373, p<0.001). In the older group, Na-to-K ratio and DBP correlated after controlling for subjects with hypertension controlled by treatment (r=0.236, p=0.041). The Na-to-K ratio correlated, when salt intake was over 5g/d (52.2%), with SBP (rho=0.219, p=0.044) and DBP (rho=0.259, p=0.017). Determinants of BP were age-dependent and in younger subjects were: sex (SBP, beta: 14.02±2.87, p<0.001) and body mass index (BMI) (beta:-12.07±3.72, p=0.001, beta:9.44±2.87, p=0.001, for SBP and DBP, respectively) and, in the olders, the Na-to-K ratio, for SBP (beta:6.7±2.4, p=0.005) and DBP (beta:3.8±1.1, p<0.001). The mean Na and salt intakes (2.3 and 5.8 g/d) were slightly higher and K intake lower (1.4 g/d) than WHO recommendations.

This paper reports on a series of dynamic simple shear tests conducted to investigate the influence of particle shape on the damping ratio of dry sand. The tests were conducted on sand samples subjected to simple cyclic shear tests to evaluate their cyclic behavior. The particle shape was quantified using three shape parameters: roundness, sphericity, and regularity. The sand samples were subjected to twelve different scenarios with varying vertical stresses and cyclic stress ratios (CSR), in both constant and controlled stress states. Each scenario involved five cyclic tests, using the same sand that was reconstructed from its previous cyclic test. After each cyclic test, hysteresis loops were created to determine the damping ratio. The results showed that the shape of the sand particles changed during cyclic loading, becoming more rounded and spherical, which resulted in an increase in damping ratio. Moreover, the paper presents two artificial intelligence models, an artificial neural network (ANN) and a support vector machine (SVM), which were developed to predict the effect of grain shape on the damping ratio. The models were found to be effective in predicting the damping ratio based on the shape of the grain, vertical stress, CSR, and number of loading cycles. Furthermore, a parameter analysis was conducted to identify the most important shape parameter, which was found to be vertical stress and regularity, while parameter CSR was the least important. Overall, this study contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between particle shape and damping ratio, which could have practical implications for geotechnical engineering applications.

Agarwood, a highly valuable fragrant wood of Aquilaria spp. has been widely used in perfumes, traditional medicine, religious rites and cultural activities. Due to the presence of aromatic and medicinal properties, the Agarwood has gained its economic importance in recent years. It has been providing livelihood and employment facilities to many people who are cultivating those. Owing to high demand and profitability, the people of Assam has started to cultivate Agarwood in a commercial manner in recent days. This study was conducted to examine the economic viability of Agarwood cultivation in Assam and to understand the problems of the cultivators to consider Agarwood cultivation as the primary source of income. The primary data were collected during the months of May and June, 2022 from 210 households using structured questionnaire. The cost-benefit analysis revealed that INR 100 of initial investment yields a net benefit of INR 623 which indicates that the return from the Agarwood cultivation among the cultivators are very high. Thus, the present study argues that the government should encourage the cultivators by providing the necessary support in the form of a legalized market, credit requirement, creating the awareness about the demand of Agarwood and making provision of training.

Bacterial transformation is the essential tool for introducing foreign DNA into bacterial cells in a host of recombinant technology applications useful for biomanufacturing and drug production. Thus far, chemically competent cells remain an important enabling technology for bacterial transformation given its facile transformation approach. However, many parameters affect transformation efficiency, and there is relatively little documentation of their cross-interacting effect in the literature. This work explores the roles played by incubation time on ice, competent cell concentration, and plasmid-to-cell ratio on transformation efficiency in Escherichia coli DH5α. Results revealed that increases in incubation time improve transformation efficiency, but 2 minutes incubation still yield appreciable efficiency. On the other hand, low concentration competent cells (10⁶ CFU/mL) yielded significant improvement in transformation efficiency compared to high concentration competent cells (10⁸ CFU/mL). In terms of plasmid-to-cell ratio, higher ratio increases transformation efficiency. Overall, bacterial transformation is incompletely understood particularly in the area of cross-interacting parameters. Experiments reported here revealed the possibility of short duration transformation where lower competent cell concentration and higher plasmid-to-cell ratio could improve transformation.

Earthworms and soil microorganisms contribute to soil health, quality and fertility, but their importance in agricultural soils is often underestimated. This study aims at examining whether and to what extent the presence of earthworms [Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826)] affected the a) soil bacterial community composition, b) litter decomposition, and c) plant growth (Brassica oleracea L., broccoli; Vicia faba L., faba bean). We performed a mesocosm experiment in which plants were grown outdoors for four months with or without earthworms. Soil bacterial community structure was evaluated by a 16S rRNA-based metabarcoding approach. Litter decomposition rates were determined by using the tea bag index (TBI) and litter bags (olive residues). Earthworm number almost doubled throughout the experimental period. Independently of the plant species, earthworm presence had a significant impact on the structure of soil bacterial communities, in terms of enhanced α- and β-diversity (especially that of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Myxococcota, and Verrucomicrobia) and increased 16S rRNA gene abundance (+89% in broccoli and +223% in faba bean). Microbial decomposition (TBI) was enhanced in the treatments with earthworms, and showed a significantly higher decomposition rate constant (kTBI) and a lower stabilization factor (STBI), whereas decomposition in the litter bags (dlitter) increased by about 6% in broccoli and 5% in faba bean. Earthworms significantly enhanced root growth (in terms of total length and fresh weight) of both the plant species. Our results show the strong influence of earthworms and crop identity in shaping soil bacterial communities, litter decomposition and plant growth. These findings could be used for developing nature-based solutions that ensure the long-term biological sustainability of soil agro- and natural ecosystems.

At present, aeroponic control is mainly regulated according to the environmental factors of aeroponics, such as the temperature, humidity, light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) of the nutrient solution. There is a lack of knowledge available in the literature for an aeroponic control system for plant growth information as the primary feedback signal. Therefore, a fuzzy logic-controlled aeroponics system was developed for the growth of lettuce as a feedback signal. After designing, the effectiveness test of system was performed with experiment having three treatments T1 (180C), T2 (220C) and without control (CK). The results show an increasing trend in shoot length, root length, and shoot area over time in all treatments. In terms of shoot area, the maximum of 345 cm² was observed in the T1 treatment, while the CK treatment had a minimum of 241.8 cm². Statistical analysis indicated that the T1 and T2 treatments were not significantly different, but both were significantly different from the CK treatment. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of the fuzzy logic control system and an 18°C nutrient solution temperature, resulting in improved lettuce growth and reduced root-to-shoot ratio. The findings suggest the potential of using fuzzy logic control in aeroponics for optimized cultivation outcomes.

Alum sludge is a byproduct of water treatment plants and its use as a soil stabilizer has gained increasing attention due to its economic and environmental benefits. Its application has been shown to improve the strength and stability of soil, making it suitable for various engineering applications. However, to go beyond just measuring the effects of alum sludge as a soil stabilizer, this paper explores the use of artificial intelligence (AI) methods to predict the California bearing ratio (CBR) of soils stabilized with alum sludge. Three AI methods, including two black box methods (artificial neural network and support vector machines) and one grey box method (genetic programming), were used to predict CBR based on a database with nine input parameters. The results showed that all three AI models were able to predict CBR with good accuracy, with coefficient of determination (R2) values ranging from 0.94 to 0.99 and mean absolute error (MAE) values ranging from 0.30 to 0.51. In a novel approach, the genetic programming method was used to produce an equation to estimate CBR, which included seven inputs and accurately predicted CBR. The analysis of sensitivity and importance of parameters showed that the number of hammer blows for compaction was the most important parameter, while the parameters for maximum dry density of soil and mixture were the least important. This study suggests that AI methods can effectively predict the performance of alum sludge as a soil stabilizer, and the proposed equation using genetic programming can be a useful tool for predicting CBR.

Academic and corporate research has been focusing on analyzing stock performances, financial markets, and investment strategies for decades. According to Lynch and Rothchild (1989), certain investments can be described as plays. In this work, the authors use the term for investments in value stocks, spin-offs, and turnarounds to analyze the long-term stock performance and risk-adjusted excess returns of up to five years for those stocks. Additionally, stocks with a supe-rior return performance are identified within an investment play based on low P/E and P/B mul-tiples. The study finds that value stocks, spin-offs, and turnarounds outperform the S&P 500 on average on a one-, three- and five-year investment horizon. The analysis of the three investment plays confirms earlier studies that investment plays constitute a profitable investment opportunity. Moreover, the research exemplifies that private investors could achieve an excess return (alpha) through a passive buy-and-hold investment strategy. Overall, the analysis provides a deeper in-sight into the long-term performance of value stocks, spin-offs, and turnarounds.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the second most common form of presenile dementia; however, its diagnosis has been poorly investigated. Previous attempts to diagnose FTD using quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) have yielded inconsistent results in both spectral and functional connectivity analyses. This study aimed to introduce an accurate qEEG marker that could be used to diagnose FTD and other neurological abnormalities. We used open-access electroencephalography data from OpenNeuro to investigate the power ratio between the frontal and temporal lobes in the resting state of 23 patients with FTD and 29 healthy controls. Spectral data were extracted using a Fast Fourier Transform in the delta (1–4 Hz), theta (4–8 Hz), alpha (8–13 Hz), beta (13–32 Hz), and gamma (32–45 Hz) bands. We found that the spectral power ratio between the frontal and temporal lobes is a promising qEEG marker of FTD. Frontal/temporal (F/T) theta/alpha, alpha/theta, al-pha/gamma, and gamma/alpha showed a consistently high discrimination score for the diagnosis of FTD for different parameters and referencing methods. The study findings can serve as reference for future research focused on diagnosing FTD and other neurological anomalies.

Background: Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal feline disease classified as either effusive (‘wet’), non-effusive (‘dry’), or a mixture of both forms (‘mixed’). The anti-FIP therapeutic effect of Mutian and molnupiravir, two drugs whose active ingredient is a nucleic acid analog, has been confirmed recently. Methods: Of the cats with FIP, we observed a total of 122 and 56 cases achieved remission after administration of Mutian and molnupiravir as routine treatments, respectively. Changes in clinical indicators suggested to be correlated with FIP remission (weight, hematocrit, and albumin to globulin ratio) before and after the administration of each drug and during follow-up observation were statistically compared for each FIP type. Results: In all three FIP types, administration of either Mutian or molnupiravir resulted in statistically significant increases in these indicators. Furthermore, the effect of Mutian on improving the albumin to globulin ratio was not observed at all in wet FIP, as compared with that of molnupiravir, but statistically significant in mixed and dry (P<0.02 and P<0.003, respectively). These clinical features were all due to differences in fluctuations of circulating globulin levels. Conclusions: These results indicate slight inflammatory responses might be elicited continuously by residual feline coronavirus non-disappeared through molnupiravir treatments.

The intensive variables, geochemical, mineralogical and petrogenetic constraints of the Iberian rare metal granites, many of them unknown, are presented. It allows to distinguish two main granitic types with contrasting characteristics: Nb-Ta-rich granites and Nb-Ta-poor granites. The former have lower emplacement temperatures, higher water contents and probably lower emplacement pressures than Nb-Ta-poor granites. Nb-Ta-rich granites also have higher fluoride contents, strong fractionation into twin pairs such as Zr-Hf, Y-Ho and Nb-Ta, and an abundant, probably exsolved, fluid phase, which is not or not as evident in Nb-Ta-poor granites, probably in part because the Nb-Ta-rich granites reach their solidus later (about 550 ºC). The geochemical signature of the Iberian rare metal granites follows the trends of mainly two-mica granites and P-rich cordierite granites, but also of granodiorites and even type I granites, suggesting that the rare metal granites may have different parental magmas. Thermodynamic modeling shows that many of the geochemical characteristics of the RMGs can be explained by a process of extreme differentiation, while others cannot, e.g. Na evolution. In terms of ore deposition, white mica plays a very important role in explaining the variation of the Ta/Nb ratio, although the latter could also be controlled by late Nb-Ta oxides crystallization and even by acidic fluids that remove Nb relative to Ta from earlier Nb-Ta oxides.

Resistive random-access memory has emerged as a promising non-volatile memory technology, garnering substantial attention due to its potential for high operational performance, low power consumption, and scalability. Two-dimensional nanostructured materials play a pivotal role in RRAM devices, offering enhanced electrical properties and physical attributes that contribute to overall device improvement. In this study, self-rectifying switching behavior in RRAM devices is proposed based on molybdenum disulfide nanocomposites decorated with palladium on SiO2/Si substrates. The integration of Pd and MoS2 at the nanoscale effectively mitigates leakage currents decreasing from cross-talk in the RRAM array, eliminating the need for a separate selector device. The successful demonstration of the expected RRAM switching behavior follows the application of a Pd nanoparticle coating. The fabricated Pd-MoS2 synaptic device showed a high current ratio for forward/reverse current higher than 60 at a low resistance state and observed a memory on/off ratio of 103 performing stable resistance switching behavior.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the study was to determine (a) the overall preclinical character; (b) the cumulative cutoff values and the risk ratio, and (c) the factors associated with severity by a unidimensional and multidimensional analysis on 2173 Sars-Cov2 patients. METHODS: The machine learning study population consisted of 2173 patients (1587 mild and non symptoms patients, 377 moderate patients, 209 severe patients). The status of the patients was recorded from September 2021 to March 2022. RESULTS: The Covid19 Severity directly links with a significant correlation to Age, Score index of the chest X-ray, percentage and quantity of neutrophils, Albumin, C reactive protein, and ratio of Lymphocytes. Their important cut off values (from regression analysis) respectively are: 77.56 years old (the mild-moderate group), 5.53 (the mild-moderate group) and 10.51 (the moderate-severe group), 84.80% (the mild-moderate group) and 87.74%(the moderate-severe group), 11.77G/L (the moderate-severe group), 29.73g/L (the moderate-severe group), 7.46mg/dL (the mild-moderate group), 6.32% (the moderate-severe group). Their significant (p<0.0001) R score correlation with the severity of Covid19, are: 0.44, 0.52 and 0.52, 0.33 and 0.44, 0.42, -0.43, 0.40, -0.41. Their significant risk ratio (p<0.00001) from the meta-analysis, respectively are: 4.19 [3.58-4.95], 3.29 [2.76-3.92] and 3.03 [2.4023;3.8314], 3.18 [2.73-3.70] and 3.32 [2.6480;4.1529], 3.15 [2.6153;3.8025], 3.4[2.91-3.97], 0.46 [0.3650;0.5752] (p<0.00001), 0.34 [0.2743;0.4210]. The pair ALT – Leucocytes and Transferrin – Anion Chloride get the most important correlation shift. ALT – Leucocytes show the important negative link (R=-1, p<0.00001) in the mild group to the significant positive correlation in the moderate group (R=1, p<0.00001). Transferrin–anion Chloride has an important positive association (R=1, p<0.00001) in the mild group with a significant negative correlation in the moderate group (R=-0.59, p<0.00001). The network map and HCA show that in the mild-moderate group, the closest neighbors with the Covid19 severity are ferritins, Age. Then there is C-reactive protein, SI of X-ray, Albumin, and Lactate dehydrogenase, which are the next close neighbors of these three factors. In the moderate-severe group, the closest neighbors with the Covid19 severity are Ferritin, Fibrinogen, Albumin, the quantity of Lymphocytes, SI of X-ray, white blood cells count, Lactate dehydrogenase, and quantity of neutrophils. CONCLUSIONS: Complete multidimensional study in 2173 Covid19 patients in Vietnam shows the whole picture of all the preclinical factors, which may become the clinical reference marker for surveillance and diagnostic management

The lattice reduction aided(LRA) algorithm has attracted widely attention of researchers in MIMO systems because of its low complexity to achieve full diversity. However, most lattice reduction auxiliary algorithms do not directly improve system performance. In this paper, a modified lattice reduction successive interference cancellation (SIC) algorithm is proposed for MIMO OFDM system mild changing the complexity of LRA algorithm. At present, the MMSE SQRD algorithm has the problem of regarding too much useful signals as the residual interference which cannot be cancelled by successive interference cancellation. Since the diagonal elements of useful signals are non-zero, the components of the symbols to be detected still present in the interference term, treating all the signals as interference will be resulted in performance loss. To solve this problem, the modified matrix is proposed.by moving this symbol component into the signal term, the proposed algorithm can provide the better performance than MMSE SQRD algorithm. The analysis shows that the LRA-MMSE-SIC algorithm of proposed in this paper significantly improves the system performance with mild increasing the complexity. The simulation results show that the performance of the proposed algorithm is improved by 1dB and 8dB compared with the comparison algorithm when the bit error rate is 10−3.

Obesity is a troubling public health problem worldwide as it increases risks of respiratory complications, systemic arterial hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, sleep disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndrome (MetS). As a measure to counteract comorbidities associated with severe obesity, bariatric surgery stands out. This study aimed to investigate the adiponectin/leptin ratio in women with severe obesity with and without MetS undergone Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) and to characterize the biochemical, glucose, and inflammatory parameters of blood in women with severe obesity before and after RYGB. Were enrolled female with severe obesity undergoing RYGP with MetS (n=11) and without (n=39). Anthropometric data and blood samples were obtained before and 6 months after RYGB to analyze total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high- density lipoprotein (HDL), non-HDL total cholesterol, and glucose; and circulating levels of adiponectin and leptin. Significant reductions in weight, body mass index, and glucose, total cholesterol, LDL, and leptin were observed after surgery, with higher levels of HDL, adiponectin, and adiponectin/leptin ratio observed after surgery compared to preoperative values. This study demonstrated that weight loss induced by RYGB in patients with severe obesity with or without MetS improved biochemical and systemic inflammatory parameters, particularly the adiponectin/leptin ratio.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a major health problem within the global cattle industry. This disease has a complex aetiology, with viruses playing an integral role. In this study, metagenomics was used to sequence viral nucleic acids in the nasal swabs of BRD affected cattle. Viruses detected included those well known for their association with BRD in Australia (bovine viral diarrhea virus 1), as well as viruses known to be present but not fully characterised (bovine coronavirus) and viruses that have not been reported in BRD affect cattle in Australia (bovine rhinitis, bovine influenza D, and bovine nidovirus). Nasal swabs from a case control study were subsequently tested for 10 viruses and the presence of at least one virus was found to be significantly associated with BRD. Some of the more recently detected viruses had inconsistent association with BRD. Full genome sequences for bovine coronavirus, a virus increasingly associated with BRD, and bovine nidovirus were complete. Both viruses belong to the Coronaviridae family, which are frequently associated with disease in mammals. This study has provided greater insights into the viral pathogens associated with BRD and highlighted the need for further studies to elucidate more precisely the roles viruses play in BRD.

The functional capacity of the cervical spine plays a central role in healthy living. This study evaluated and created a comprehensive strength, range of motion (ROM), and musculoskeletal pain profile of the cervical spine in young adults. 60 physically active individuals (30 males/30 females; 19-24 year-old) participated in the study. Cervical ROM (forward flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation), maximal isometric strength (forward flexion, extension, lateral flexion), and musculoskeletal pains were assessed using an electronic goniometer, a handheld dynamometer, and the Nordic questionnaire, respectively. Data analysis revealed that: a) fe-males had higher ROM values, during extension and lateral flexion, than males (p<0.05), b) males had higher absolute strength values than females in all movement directions, higher rela-tive strength values/body mass (at forward flexion) and flexion/extension ratio values (p<0.05), c) ROM and strength values were not significantly different between right-left sides (p>0.05), d) a great proportion (43.3%) of the participants had cervical pains (no sex-related differences) and e) cervical strength showed significant small negative correlation with pains (p<0.05; r=-0.225 to -0.345). The reference values created may be used by health and fitness professionals to exten-sively evaluate the cervical spine and to design specific exercise programs for injury prevention and rehabilitation.

In this study, long-term mortality effects associated with exposure to PM10, PM2.5, BC (black carbon), and NOx were analyzed in a cohort in southern Sweden during the period from 1991‒2016. Participants (those residing in Malmö, Sweden, born between 1923‒1950) were randomly recruited from 1991‒1996. At enrollment, 30,438 participants underwent a health screening, which consisted of questionnaires about lifestyle and diet, a clinical examination, and blood sampling. Mortality data were retrieved from the Swedish national cause of death register. The modeled concentrations of PM10 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than or equal to 10 µm), PM2.5 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than or equal to 2.5 µm), BC (black carbon), and NOx (nitrogen oxides) at the cohort participants' home addresses were used to assess air pollution exposure. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the associations between long-term exposure to PM10, PM2.5, BC, and NOx and the time until death among the participants during the period from 1991‒2016. The hazard ratios (HRs) associated with an interquartile range (IQR) increase in each air pollutant were calculated based on the exposure lag windows of the same year (lag0), 1‒5 years (lag1‒5), and 6‒10 years (lag6‒10). Three models were used with varying adjustments for possible confounders including both single-pollutant estimates and two-pollutant estimates. With adjustments for all covariates, the HRs for PM10, PM2.5, BC, and NOx in the single-pollutant models at lag1‒5 were 1.06 (95% CI: 1.02‒1.11), 1.01 (95% CI: 0.95‒1.08), 1.07 (95% CI: 1.04‒1.11), and 1.11 (95% CI: 1.07‒1.16) per IQR increase, respectively. The HRs were in most cases decreased by the inclusion of a larger number of covariates in the models. The most robust associations were shown for NOx, with statistically significant positive HRs in all models. An overall conclusion is that road traffic-related pollutants had a significant association with mortality in the cohort.

A new covered yarn system is proposed in this manuscript by controlling the tension of the spandex elastic yarn drawing.. By analyzing the relationship between the draw ratio and yarn tension, it has been verified that the new tension controlled drawing system is feasible and results in yarns with superior quality and process stability.

All severe cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections are characterized by a high risk of disease progression towards ARDS, leading to bad outcome. Respiratory symptoms in COVID-19 patients often do not correspond to disease’s worsening. A dysregulated host response to the large viral load could play a key role in the disease progression. In our sample median age was 74 years (72-75) and 54% were men. Median period of hospitalization was 9 days. Firstly, we observed an asynchronous trend of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in 764 selected among 963 patients who were consecutively recruited in two hospitals (Cannizzaro, S. Marco) in Catania, Italy. NLR values in deceased patients showed an increase from baseline over time. By contrast, CRP tended to fall from baseline to median day of hospitalization in all four subgroups, but steeply increased at the end of hospitalization only in ICU-admitted patients. Then we evaluated the relationships between NLR and CRP as continuous variables with PaO2/FiO2 ratio (P/F). Finally, we made mediation and moderation analyses to determine the link between inflammation (CRP), immune system (neutrophils and lymphocytes) and respiratory failure (P/F). CRP, neutrophils and P/F are linked in the same pathogenetic chain leading to respiratory failure.

In this paper, the performance of Cu-(In,Ga)-S2 (CIGS2) solar cells with adjusting composite CGI-ratio absorber is explored and compared through an improved three-stage co-evaporation technique. For co-evaporating CIGS2 absorber as a less toxic alternative to Cd-containing film, we analyse the effect of the CGI-ratio stoichiometry and crystallinity, and explore its opto-electric sensing characteristic of individual solar cell. The results of this research signify the potential of high-performance CIGS2-absorption solar cells for photovoltaic (PV)-module industrial applications. For the optimal CIGS2-absorption film (CGI=0.95), the Raman main-phase signal (A1) falls at 291 cm-1, which is excited by the 532-nm line of Ar+-laser. Using photo-luminescence (PL) spectroscopy, the corresponding main-peak bandgaps measured is 1.59 eV at the same CGI-ratio film. Meanwhile, the best conversion efficiency (=3.212%) and the average external quantum efficiency (EQE=51.1% in the visible-wavelength region) of photo-electric properties were achieved for the developed CIGS2-solar cells (CGI=0.95). The discoveries of this CIGS2-absorption PV research provide a new scientific understanding of solar cells. Moreover, this research undeniably contributes to a major advancement towards practical PV-module applications and can help more to build an eco-friendly community.

This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation of metal foam employment within polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) and compares it with conventional serpentine channels from both experiment viewpoints and computational fluid dynamics simulation. The experiments are designed to study the effects of material, area density, compression ratio, and final thickness of metal foam. Additionally, the influence of housing plate material and relative humidity (RH) is also tested for the first time. The results reveal that at RH=75-100%, the best distributor design is nickel foam with a compression ratio of 70%, a final thickness of 0.5mm, and SS-304 housing plate, which delivers 3110 mA cm^-2 as limiting current density that is scarce in the literature. The PEFC with this foam distributor shows a 10% improvement in maximum power density and 45% in limiting current density compared to the serpentine channel case. While at RH=30%, the same foam flow field with a final thickness of 1mm is a superior option. The experiments also indicate that maximum power density increases by 23% as the compression ratio rises from 0 to 70%, while reducing final thickness from 1 to 0.5 mm causes a 19% enhancement in cell performance. Simulation results reveal that metal foam is more successful in evenly reactant distribution so that the average oxygen mass fraction at the cathode catalyst layer is increased by 38% in the metal foam case compared to the serpentine channel.

In the Czech Republic, the Universal Soil Loss Equation provides the basis for defining the soil protection strategy. Field rainfall simulators were used to define the actual cover-management factor values of the most extensively seeded crops in the Czech Republic. More than 380 simulations between 2016 and 2021 provided data. The methodology focused on multi-seasonal measurements to cover the most important phenological phases. A comparison with the original USDA values for maize showed that it is desirable to redefine the C-factor. 71 fallow plot experiments showed that the rainfall-runoff relation is much easier to replicate than the actual sediment transport. For 30-minute intensive rainfall, the runoff ratio reached 62%, and the coefficient of variation was 25%. On saturated soil, the runoff ratio reached 81% and the coefficient of variation dropped to 12%. Soil protection techniques have a significant effect on runoff reduction. Maize seeded after cover crops and combined with reduced tillage or direct seeding can reduce the runoff ratio to 10-20% for ‘dry’ conditions and to 12-40% for ‘saturated’ conditions. Concerning soil loss, the variations are greater, with the coefficient of variation reaching 42% during fallow plot experiments. The reader should consider associated uncertainties.

The rise of digital technology and artificial intelligence has led to a significant change in the way financial services are delivered. One such development is the emergence of robo-advising, which is an automated investment advisory service that utilizes algorithms to provide investment advice and portfolio management to investors. Robo-Advisors collect information about their clients’ preferences, financial situation and future goals through questionnaires, then recommend ETF based portfolios supposed to fit investor’s risk profile. However, questionnaires seem to be vague, and robos do not reveal the methods used for investor profiling or asset allocation. This study aims at contributing by proposing an investor profiling method, based only on the level of relative risk aversion (RRA) of investors. We show how to determine RRA optimal portfolios and compare the performance of our portfolios with portfolios proposed by the Riskalyze platform.

Distracted driving is the leading cause of accidents, the cause of these distractions may include drowsiness, using cell phone, smoking a cigarette, etc. The proposed paper aims at monitoring the attentiveness of the driver and alerting the driver when his/her alertness goes below a certain threshold. It uses image processing using OpenCV (Computer Vision) and You Look Only Once (YOLO) algorithm to detect the eyes and object respectively and sounds an alarm when the driver is either drowsy or using his cell phone or smoking a cigarette.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a major public health concern with an increasing proportion of sufferers progressing to renal replacement therapy (RRT). Early identification of those at risk of disease progression could be key in improving outcomes. We hypothesise that urinary liver-type fatty acid binding protein (uL-FABP) may be a suitable biomarker for CKD progression and can add value to currently established biomarkers such as urinary protein to creatinine ratio (uPCR) 583 participants with CKD 1-5 (not receiving renal replacement therapy) entered a 2-yr prospective longitudinal study. UPCR and uL-FABP were measured at baseline and CKD progression was defined as either i) a decline in eGFR of >5ml/min/1.73m2 or an increase in serum creatinine by 10% at 1-yr or ii) a decline in eGFR of >6 ml/min/1.73m2, or an increase in serum creatinine by 20% at 2-yrs or iii) the initiation of RRT. A combined outcome of initiating RRT or death was also included. Approximately 40% of participants showed CKD progression. UL-FABP predicted CKD progression at both years 1 and 2 (OR 1.01, p<0.01). Sensitivity and specificity were comparable to those of uPCR (AUC 0.623 v 0.706) and heat map analysis suggested that uL-FABP in the absence of significant proteinuria can predict an increase in serum creatinine of 10% at 1yr and 20% at 2yr. The risk of the combined outcome of initiating RRT or death was 23% higher in those with high uL-FABP (p<0.01) independent of uPCR. UL-FABP appears to be a highly sensitive and specific biomarker of CKD progression. The use of this biomarker could enhance the risk stratification of CKD and its progression and should be assessed further.

With covid infection having a periodic occurrence and each wave affecting millions of people, there is an urgent need for healthcare providers to develop readily available biological markers to predict the severity and mortality of COVID-19 infection at an early stage of the disease to predict the most optimal management. The Neutrophil – lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), are novel inflammatory markers suggested to predict the severity of illness in COVID -19 patients. We evaluated a retrospective cohort of 224 patients with covid 19 illnesses from August 2020 to October 2020. We categorized the patients into 'mild' and 'moderate to severe as per the severity of their illnesses. The optimal cut-off values of the continuous NLR, PLR, and Age were calculated by applying the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios were calculated from ROC analysis. The results showed that Age, Hb, and NLR are significant predictors of the severity of illness. So we quantified the predictive contribution of those variables by its Z- score and showed that NLR is the strongest predictor followed by Age.ROC curve analysis revealed NLR to be an excellent predictor of disease severity (sensitivity 88.30% and specificity 82.60%) at a cut-off of > 4.24. A cut-off of 165.63 was obtained for PLR, which showed good predictive value for the severity of illness. A NLR > 6 was used as a predictor for mortality due to covid illness with good sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: NLR and PLR can be used as prognostic markers to identify the severity of covid illness and the probability of mortality in the future in low-resource settings. Given its low cost, easily available, accessible, and reproducible data, it can be used as a useful marker to assist the physician in early referral and treatment of covid 19 infected patients.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multisystem disorder that presents with a variety of phenotypes involving metabolic, endocrine, reproductive, and psychological symptoms and signs. Women with PCOS are at increased risk of pregnancy complications including implantation failure, miscarriage, gestational diabetes, fetal growth restriction, preterm labour, and preeclampsia (PE). This may be attributed to the presence of specific susceptibility features associated with PCOS before and during pregnancy, such as chronic systemic inflammation, insulin resistance (IR), and hyperandrogenism, all of which have been associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications. Many of the features of PCOS are reversible following lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise, and pregnant women following a healthy lifestyle have been found to have a lower risk of complications, including PE. This review summarizes the evidence investigating the risk of PE and the role of nutritional factors in women with PCOS. The findings suggest that the beneficial aspects of lifestyle management of PCOS, as recommended in the evidenced-based international guidelines, extend to improved pregnancy outcomes. Identifying high-risk women with PCOS will allow targeted interventions, early pregnancy screening, and increased surveillance for PE. Women with PCOS should be included in risk assessment algorithms for PE.

This study addresses the pressing energy constraints in nations like Bangladesh by proposing the implementation of photovoltaic (PV) microgrids. Given concerns about environmental degrada-tion, limited fossil fuel reserves, and volatile product costs, renewable energy sources are gaining momentum globally. Our research focuses on a grid-connected solar PV system model at Char Jazira, Lalpur, Natore, Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Through PVsyst simulation software, we assess the performance ratio (PR) and system losses, revealing an annual solar energy potential of 3375 MWh at Standard Test Condition (STC) efficiency. After considering losses, the system generates 2815 MWh annually, with 2774 MWh exported to the grid. We analyze an average PR of 78.63% and calculate a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of 2.82 BDT/kWh [1 USD = 110 BDT]. The financial assessment indicates a cost-effective LCOE for the grid-connected PV system, with an annual gross income of 27744 BDT from selling energy to the grid and operating costs of 64060.60 BDT/year. Remarkably, this initiative can prevent 33074.061 tCO2 emissions over the project’s 25-year lifespan.

A recent study has suggested that the age profiles for deaths due to COVID-19 variants differs between variants and shows male/female specificity. This study demonstrates the age and sex dependency is common among human pathogens. The often-reported higher susceptibility to infections among the young and elderly is true in general but does not apply to individual pathogens. Even among different types of pneumonia there are subtle differences in the age profile. The gender ratio between pathogens likewise shows wide variation from as low as 10% female admissions for leptospirosis to around 90% for gonococcal admissions. The observed age/sex variation observed for mortality due to COVID-19 variants is an expression of a far wider phenomenon with implications to the age/sex response to vaccines. We propose that such differences are likely to be controlled by small noncoding RNAs which act as potent regulators of gene expression leading to altered cell morphology, metabolism, immune function, and response to vaccines.

The results of physico-chemical studies of individual fruit parts, including crusts, partitions, juice and seeds themselves, extracted from immature (green), unripe and mature fruits of three harvest periods are presented: 20.VII, 01.IX and 15.X. The analyses were carried out in 2019-20 during the period of active growth and ripening of fruits in the varieties Spring, Iridanaly, Guleisha pink and wild pomegranate from the Geokchay region (Azerbaijan) using standard and generally accepted physico-chemical methods. The ripe fruit (130-288 g) consisted of 60-113% of the peel (peel together with partitions), 53-140% of the juice and 17-85% of the seeds themselves. The edible part of the ripened fruits (53.85-73.2 of the total weight of the fruit) consisted of 58.54-78.65% juice and 21.35 -41.46% seeds, fresh juice contained 15.7-17.7% solids, including 12.04-13.84% sugar, 0.17-0.30% protein, 0.15—0.23% pectin, 0.30-0.40% ash and 0.26-0.57% total polyphenols. The concentrations of solids, protein, ash and total polyphenols in the seeds themselves, remaining after the extraction of juice from the grains of ripe fruits, were 50.0-58.2, 4.13-5.75, 0.60-1.0 and 0.08-0.32%, respectively. There were fewer total polyphenols, flavonoids, chlorogenic acids, catechins and leucoanthocyanins in ripe fruits, and more ascorbic acid, anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins than in unripe ones. The period from the second half of July to the beginning of September is the time of a real “boom” of common polyphenols.