Background: A new rapid Immunochromatographic test (ICT) kit (MPT64 TB Ag Kit) for detection of MPT64 Antigen in M. tuberculosis (MTB) isolates used for rapid identification of MTB isolates developed by SD (Standard D...Background: A new rapid Immunochromatographic test (ICT) kit (MPT64 TB Ag Kit) for detection of MPT64 Antigen in M. tuberculosis (MTB) isolates used for rapid identification of MTB isolates developed by SD (Standard Diagnostics) Bio line, South Korea was evaluated. The ICT is a rapid, reliable and cheaper method that can be used instead of conventional biochemical tests for confirming MTB in culture isolates in resource limited laboratories. The study also evaluated the ability of ICT to detect MPT64-Antigen before the micro MGIT could signal positive. Material/Methods: A total of 450 sputum samples of individual patients were used for the study. 152 isolates of Mycobacteria were recovered from solid and liquid media. These strains were tested for the detection of MPT64-antigen. H37Rv strain was served as the positive reference control and also used for early detection of Antigen experiment. Findings: The development of bands on both test and sample region when H37Rv strain was tested were seen (MPT64 antigen positive). When 138 MTB isolates were tested, it showed a similar banding pattern indicating 100% sensitivity. MPT64 band formation was not detected in any of the 14 isolates indicating 100% specificity. Both PPV & NPV were 100%. All the isolates negative for MPT64 Ag were confirmed as MOTT by conventional bio-chemical PNBA. The H37Rv strain showed a faint band from the 2nd day onwards from inoculation till 3rd day in the earlier Antigen detection experiment. Conclusion: Rapid identification of MTB culture isolate is a pressing need for diagnosis and proceeding to perform drug susceptibility testing. MPT64 TB Ag detection ICT kit is a rapid, reliable method, good substitute for molecular identification methods, and conventional biochemical test which is time-consuming and technically demanding. The early detection of Antigen can be used as an effective tool in diagnosis.展开更多
This investigation deals with the intelligent system for parallel fault-tolerant diagnostic tests construction. A modified parallel algorithm for fault-tolerant diagnostic tests construction is proposed. The algorithm...This investigation deals with the intelligent system for parallel fault-tolerant diagnostic tests construction. A modified parallel algorithm for fault-tolerant diagnostic tests construction is proposed. The algorithm is allowed to optimize processing time on tests construction. A matrix model of data and knowledge representation, as well as various kinds of regularities in data and knowledge are presented. Applied intelligent system for diagnostic of mental health of population which is developed with the use of intelligent system for parallel fault-tolerant DTs construction is suggested.展开更多
The imminent danger of the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated research in pharmaceuticals that either target the viral Spike proteins fusion with ACE2 receptors,or the infectious RNA replication that often overwhelms i...The imminent danger of the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated research in pharmaceuticals that either target the viral Spike proteins fusion with ACE2 receptors,or the infectious RNA replication that often overwhelms immune defences.The scope of this review was to elucidate the main human vulnerabilities to Covid-19,including the accumulation of ACE2 receptors in testes,adipose tissue,thyroid,heart and kidneys that escalate viral affinity in males,the aged,and certain medical conditions,including diabetes,CVD,and pulmonary diseases.Pre-existing inflammation inherent in obesity may exacerbate the“cytokine storm,”a rampaging immune reaction during the course of Covid-19 that is deleterious to the host.We examined the molecular dynamics illustrating the action of new therapeutics necessary for Covid-19 patients;the estradiol advantage hypothesis;alternative therapies including hormone replacement procedures and mesenchymal stem cells;plus preventive and protective interventions.The current perspective also explored the primary components of dysregulated health predisposing individuals to Covid-19,including hormonal imbalance,increased lipids and lipoproteins,thyroid dysfunction,degraded fitness,and age-related testosterone decline accompanied by cortisol increase that provokes stress eating behaviours and weight accumulation.Obesity increases the probability of Covid-19 infection due to its abundance of ACE2 receptors;while physical activity may decrease Covid-19 vulnerability,by reducing fat and increasing muscle mass that manifests a relatively inhibited ACE2 expression.Several weight management solutions feature lasers and radiofrequency which diminish subcutaneous adiposity but do not enhance fitness.A data metanalysis of seven recently published clinical studies on 95 obese individuals,73 males and 22 females with an average BMI of 30.9,demonstrated visceral fat reduction combined with increased skeletal muscle mass.It also revealed a statistically significant decrease in BMI,lipids,lipoproteins,inflammation and toxicity as measured by CRP,Creatinine and Bilirubin respectively,juxtaposed by optimally healthier levels of Cortisol,Testosterone,Free T3,IGF-1,Insulin,and the appetite controlling hormones Leptin and Ghrelin.展开更多
The beneficial acclimation hypothesis (BAH) predicts that animals acclimated to a particular temperature have enhanced performance or fitness at that temperature in comparison with animals acclimated to other temperat...The beneficial acclimation hypothesis (BAH) predicts that animals acclimated to a particular temperature have enhanced performance or fitness at that temperature in comparison with animals acclimated to other temperatures. The BAH has been tested by a variety of empirical examinations, and was rejected by some of them. In order to provide new evidences for the BAH, the effects of acute and acclimation temperature (AT) on locomotor performance of Macrobiotus hufelandi (Tardigrada: Macrobiotidae) were investigated. The tardigrades were collected from Nanwutai, Qinling Mountains which traverse from west to east in central China. The subjects were acclimated to either 2℃ or 22℃ for 2 weeks. The animal was transferred onto a frosted slide and allowed to walk freely at the performance temperature (PT) 2℃ or 22℃. Only one individual was tested per test bout, which lasted from three to five minutes. To avoid occurrence of thermal acclimation effect, the standard adaptation time was limited to 1.5 min. Each subject was tested for once at the same PT, and was tested only at one PT. A total of 25 individuals were tested and measured at the same PT. The locomotor performance of the animals was recorded with a digital video camera mounted on a microscope at 4×10 amplification and replayed on a PC. Every subject was identified. Walking speed (WS) and percentage of time moving (PTM) at both PTs (2℃ or 22℃) were selected as the rate parameters of locomotor performance. The two-way repeated measures ANOVA with a significance level of α= 0.05 and Duncan multiple range test were used to analyze the data. WS of the animals acclimated to and tested at the same temperatures was significantly faster than that for animals acclimated to and tested at the different temperatures, similarly, PTM of the animals acclimated to 22℃ and tested at 22℃ was significantly greater than PTM of animals acclimated to 22℃ and tested at 2℃, which indicated that the animals acclimated to a particular temperature have enhanced locomotor performance in that temperature relative to the animals acclimated to that temperature in other thermal environment. WS of the animals acclimated to 22℃ and tested at 22℃ was significantly faster than WS of animals acclimated to 2℃ and tested at 22℃, PTM of the animals acclimated to 22℃ and tested at 22℃ was significantly greater than PTM of animals acclimated to 2℃ and tested at 22℃. These results supported the BAH. It could be concluded that the PT and thermal acclimation as well as the interaction between the PT and AT significantly influence the locomotor performance of M.hufelandi, and that, despite the existence of a few results of this study that don’t support the BAH, some results of this study support for this hypothesis, and that the animals acclimated to a particular temperature have enhanced locomotor performance in that temperature relative to the animals acclimated to that temperature in other thermal environment, implying that any performance temperature that deviates from the acclimation temperature could cause the reduction of the walking speed which is closely related to the fitness of the M.hufelandi.展开更多
Two new regularization algorithms for solving the first-kind Volterra integral equation, which describes the pressure-rate deconvolution problem in well test data interpretation, are developed in this paper. The main ...Two new regularization algorithms for solving the first-kind Volterra integral equation, which describes the pressure-rate deconvolution problem in well test data interpretation, are developed in this paper. The main features of the problem are the strong nonuniform scale of the solution and large errors (up to 15%) in the input data. In both algorithms, the solution is represented as decomposition on special basic functions, which satisfy given a priori information on solution, and this idea allow us significantly to improve the quality of approximate solution and simplify solving the minimization problem. The theoretical details of the algorithms, as well as the results of numerical experiments for proving robustness of the algorithms, are presented.展开更多
Long-span bridges are special structures that require advanced analysis techniques to examine their performance. This paper presents a procedure developed to model the Confederation Bridge using 3-D beam elements. The...Long-span bridges are special structures that require advanced analysis techniques to examine their performance. This paper presents a procedure developed to model the Confederation Bridge using 3-D beam elements. The model was validated using the data collected before the opening of the bridge to the public. The bridge was instrumented to conduct fullscale static and dynamic tests. The static tests were to measure the deflection of the bridge pier while the dynamic tests to measure the free vibrations of the pier due to a sudden release of the static load. Confederation Bridge is one of the longest reinforced concrete bridges in the world. It connects the province of Prince Edward Island and the province of New Brunswick in Canada. Due to its strategic location and vital role as a transportation link between these two provinces, it was designed using higher safety factors than those for typical highway bridges. After validating the present numerical model, a procedure was developed to evaluate the performance of similar bridges subjected to traffic and seismic loads. It is of interest to note that the foundation stiffness and the modulus of elasticity of the concrete have significant effects on the structural responses of the Confederation Bridge.展开更多
Members of the British Textile Machinery Association(BTMA)can look back on 2025 as a year marked by notable technological advances and continued progress in global trade,despite an uncertain and volatile market.“Our ...Members of the British Textile Machinery Association(BTMA)can look back on 2025 as a year marked by notable technological advances and continued progress in global trade,despite an uncertain and volatile market.“Our members have been very active over the past 12 months and this has resulted in new technologies for the production of technical fibres and fabrics,the introduction of AI and machine learning into process control systems and significant advances in materials testing,”says BTMA CEO Jason Kent.“There’s real excitement about what can be achieved in 2026 as we look ahead to upcoming exhibitions such as JEC Composites in Paris in March and Techtextil in Frankfurt in April.”展开更多
A maximum test in lieu of forcing a choice between the two dependent samples t-test and Wilcoxon signed-ranks test is proposed. The maximum test, which requires a new table of critical values, maintains nominal α whi...A maximum test in lieu of forcing a choice between the two dependent samples t-test and Wilcoxon signed-ranks test is proposed. The maximum test, which requires a new table of critical values, maintains nominal α while guaranteeing the maximum power of the two constituent tests. Critical values, obtained via Monte Carlo methods, are uniformly smaller than the Bonferroni-Dunn adjustment, giving it power superiority when testing for treatment alternatives of shift in location parameter when data are sampled from non-normal distributions.展开更多
For India to achieve elimination by 2030,the challenges posed by Plasmodium(P.)vivax cannot be overlooked owing to its burden and unique biology.In 2023,in India,about 224000 malaria cases were reported,and a signific...For India to achieve elimination by 2030,the challenges posed by Plasmodium(P.)vivax cannot be overlooked owing to its burden and unique biology.In 2023,in India,about 224000 malaria cases were reported,and a significant proportion(40%)were P.vivax cases.In P.vivax infection,the persistence of dormant liver stage of parasite,i.e.,hypnozoites,leading to relapses weeks or months later poses challenge in its elimination.展开更多
Highlights By conjugating the same anti-N monoclonal antibody(mAb4-mAb1)with colloidal gold or fluorescent microspheres,this study developed two rapid point-of-care antigen immunochromatographic strips for the detecti...Highlights By conjugating the same anti-N monoclonal antibody(mAb4-mAb1)with colloidal gold or fluorescent microspheres,this study developed two rapid point-of-care antigen immunochromatographic strips for the detection of porcine deltacoronavirus.The fluorescent microsphere-based lateral flow test strip demonstrated a sensitivity of 10^(1.7)TCID_(50)/0.1 mL,which is fourfold higher than that of the colloidal gold-based assay.Porcine deltacoronavirus(PDCoV)is a recently identified enteric coronavirus that causes an acute infectious disease in piglets,leading to diarrhea,vomiting,dehydration,and mortality(Hu et al.2015).展开更多
As the proportion of renewable energy increases, the interaction between renewable energy devices and the grid continues to enhance. Therefore, the renewable energy dynamic test in a power system has become more and m...As the proportion of renewable energy increases, the interaction between renewable energy devices and the grid continues to enhance. Therefore, the renewable energy dynamic test in a power system has become more and more important. Traditional dynamic simulation systems and digital-analog hybrid simulation systems are difficult to compromise on the economy, flexibility and accuracy. A multi-time scale test system of doubly fed induction generator based on FPGA+ CPU heterogeneous calculation is proposed in this paper. The proposed test system is based on the ADPSS simulation platform. The power circuit part of the test system is setup up using the EMT(electromagnetic transient simulation) simulation, and the control part uses the actual physical devices. In order to realize the close-loop testing for the physical devices, the power circuit must be simulated in real-time. This paper proposes a multi-time scale simulation algorithm, in which the decoupling component divides the power circuit into a large time scale system and a small time scale system in order to reduce computing effort. This paper also proposes the FPGA+CPU heterogeneous computing architecture for implementing this multitime scale simulation. In FPGA, there is a complete small time-scale EMT engine, which support the flexibly circuit modeling with any topology. Finally, the test system is connected to an DFIG controller based on Labview to verify the feasibility of the test system.展开更多
AIM: This study was undertaken to evaluate the hepatic effects of silybum marianum on non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: In 72 patients affected by NAFLD, main metabolic, hepatic and anti-inflammatory...AIM: This study was undertaken to evaluate the hepatic effects of silybum marianum on non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: In 72 patients affected by NAFLD, main metabolic, hepatic and anti-inflammatory parameters were assayed after 3 mo of a restricted diet and before silymarin treatment (twice a day orally). The brightness of liver echography texture (hepatorenal ratio brightness) was also defined at same time. These evaluations were repeated after 6 mo of treatment. RESULTS: Serum levels of some metabolic and anti-inflammatory data nonsignificantly lowered after 6 mo of silymarin. On the contrary, Steato test, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were significantly (P < 0.001) reduced. Instead, the AST/ALT ratio unchanged. Finally, the hepatorenal brightness ratio, as an index of hepatic steatosis, significantly (P < 0.05) dropped. CONCLUSION: The obtained results indicate that silymarin appears to be effective to reduce the biochemical, inflammatory and ultrasonic indices of hepatic steatosis. Some parameters indicative of early stage of atherosclerosis were also lowered.展开更多
Hydraulic stimulation technology is widely employed to enhance the permeability of geothermal reservoirs.Nevertheless,accurately predicting hydraulic fracture propagation in complex geological conditions remains chall...Hydraulic stimulation technology is widely employed to enhance the permeability of geothermal reservoirs.Nevertheless,accurately predicting hydraulic fracture propagation in complex geological conditions remains challenging,thereby hindering the effective utilization of existing natural fractures.In this study,a phase field model was developed utilizing the finite element method to examine the influence of fluid presence,stress conditions,and natural fractures on the initiation and propagation of hydraulic fractures.The model employs Biot's poroelasticity theory to establish the coupling between the displacement field and the fluid field,while the phase field theory is applied to simulate fracture behavior.The results show that whenσ_(x0)/σ_(y0)<3 or qf<20 kg/(m^(3)·s),the presence of natural fractures can alter the original propagation direction of hydraulic fractures.Conversely,in the absence of these conditions,the propagation path of natural fractures is predominantly influenced by the initial stress field.Furthermore,based on the analysis of breakdown pressure and damage area,the optimal intersection angle between natural fractures and hydraulic fractures is determined to range from 45°to 60°.Finally,once a dominant channel forms,initiating and propagating hydraulic fractures in other directions becomes increasingly difficult,even in highly fractured areas.This method tackles the challenges of initiating and propagating hydraulic fractures in complex geological conditions,providing a theoretical basis for optimizing Enhanced Geothermal System(EGS)projects.展开更多
The water Cherenkov detector array(WCDA) is an important part of the large high-altitude air shower observatory(LHAASO),which is in a research and development phase.The central scientific goal of LHAASO is to explore ...The water Cherenkov detector array(WCDA) is an important part of the large high-altitude air shower observatory(LHAASO),which is in a research and development phase.The central scientific goal of LHAASO is to explore the origin of high-energy cosmic rays of the universe and to push forward the frontier of new physics.To simplify the WCDA's readout electronics,a prototype of a front-end readout for an application-specific integrated circuit(ASIC) is designed based on the timeover-threshold method to achieve charge-to-time conversion.High-precision time measurement and charge measurement are necessary over a full dynamic range[1-4000photoelectrons(P.E.)].To evaluate the performance of this ASIC,a test system is designed that includes the front-end ASIC test module,digitization module,and test software.The first module needs to be customized for different ASIC versions,whereas the digitization module and test software are tested for general-purpose use.In the digitization module,a field programmable gate array-based time-todigital converter is designed with a bin size of 333 ps,which also integrates an inter-integrated circuit to configure the ASIC test module,and a universal serial bus interface is designed to transfer data to the remote computer.Test results indicate that the time resolution is better than 0.5 ns,and the charge resolution is better than 30%root mean square(RMS) at 1 P.E.and 3%RMS at 4000 P.E.,which are beyond the application requirements.展开更多
To investigate the seismic response of the steel-strip reinforced soil retaining wall with fullheight rigid facing in terms of the acceleration in the backfill, dynamic earth pressure in the backfill, the displacement...To investigate the seismic response of the steel-strip reinforced soil retaining wall with fullheight rigid facing in terms of the acceleration in the backfill, dynamic earth pressure in the backfill, the displacements on the facing and the dynamic reinforcement strain distribution under different peak acceleration, a large 1-g shaking table test was performed on a reduced-scale reinforced-earth retaining wall model. It was observed that the acceleration response in non-strip region is greater than that in potential fracture region which is similar with the stability region under small earthquake,while the acceleration response in potential fracture region is greater than that in stability region in middle-upper of the wall under moderately strong earthquakes. The potential failure model of the rigid wall is rotating around the wall toe. It also was discovered that the Fourier spectra produced by the inputting white noises after seismic wave presents double peaks, rather than original single peak, and the frequency of the second peak trends to increase with increasing the PGA(peak ground amplitude) of the excitation which is greater than 0.4 g. Additionally,the non-liner distribution of strip strain along the strips was observed, and the distribution trend was not constant in different row. Soil pressure peak value in stability region is larger than that in potential fracture region. The wall was effective under 0.1 g-0.3 g seismic wave according to the analyses of the facing displacement and relative density. Also, it was discovered that the potential failure surface is corresponds to that in design code, but the area is larger. The results from the study can provide guidance for a more rational design of reinforced earth retaining walls with full-height rigid facing in the earthquake zone.展开更多
BACKGROUND Carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)and cytology in pancreatic cystic fluid are suboptimal for evaluation of pancreatic cystic neoplasms.Genetic testing and microforceps biopsy are promising tools for pre-operativ...BACKGROUND Carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)and cytology in pancreatic cystic fluid are suboptimal for evaluation of pancreatic cystic neoplasms.Genetic testing and microforceps biopsy are promising tools for pre-operative diagnostic improvement but comparative performance of both methods is unknown.AIM To compare the accuracy of genetic testing and microforceps biopsy in pancreatic cysts referred for surgery.METHODS We performed a literature search in Medline,Scopus,and Web of Science for studies evaluating genetic testing of cystic fluid and microforceps biopsy of pancreatic cysts,with endoscopic ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration(EUSFNA)prior to surgery and surgical pathology as reference standard for diagnosis.We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy for:1-benign cysts;2-mucinous low-risk cysts;3-high-risk cysts,and the diagnostic yield and rate of correctly identified cysts with microforceps biopsy and molecular analysis.We also assessed publication bias,heterogeneity,and study quality.RESULTS Eight studies,including 1206 patients,of which 203(17%)referred for surgery who met the inclusion criteria were analyzed in the systematic review,and seven studies were included in the meta-analysis.Genetic testing and microforceps biopsies were identical for diagnosis of benign cysts.Molecular analysis was superior for diagnosis of both low and high-risk mucinous cysts,with sensitivities of 0.89(95%CI:0.79-0.95)and 0.57(95%CI:0.42-0.71),specificities of 0.88(95%CI:0.75-0.95)and 0.88(95%CI:0.80-0.93)and AUC of 0.9555 and 0.92,respectively.The diagnostic yield was higher in microforceps biopsies than in genetic analysis(0.73 vs 0.54,respectively)but the rates of correctly identified cysts were identical(0.73 with 95%CI:0.62-0.82 vs 0.71 with 95%CI:0.49-0.86,respectively).CONCLUSION Genetic testing and microforceps biopsies are useful second tests,with identical results in benign pancreatic cysts.Genetic analysis performs better for low-and high-risk cysts but has lower diagnostic yield.展开更多
In this paper, the mechanical properties of gas hydrate-bearing sediments (GHBS) were summarized and the instability mechanism of submarine hydrate-bearing slope (SHBS) was analyzed under the background of the test pr...In this paper, the mechanical properties of gas hydrate-bearing sediments (GHBS) were summarized and the instability mechanism of submarine hydrate-bearing slope (SHBS) was analyzed under the background of the test production of gas hydrate in the northern part of the South China Sea. The strength reduction finite element method (SRFEM) was introduced to the stability analysis of submarine slopes for the safety of the test production. Two schemes were designed to determine the physical and mechanical parameters of four target wells. Through the division of the hydrate dissociation region and the design of four working conditions, the range and degree of hydrate dissociation at different stages during the test production were simulated. Based on the software ABAQUS, 37 FEM models of SHBS were set up to analyze and assess the stability of the submarine slopes in the area of the test production. Necessary information such as safety factors, deformation, and displacement were obtained at different stages and under different working conditions. According to the calculation results, the submarine slope area is stable before the test production, and the safety factors almost remains the same during and after the test production. All these indicate that the test production has no obvious influence on the area of the test production and the submarine slopes in the area are stable during and after the test production.展开更多
BACKGROUND The quantitative faecal immunochemical test for haemoglobin(FIT) has been revealed to be highly accurate for colorectal cancer(CRC) detection not only in a screening setting, but also in the assessment of p...BACKGROUND The quantitative faecal immunochemical test for haemoglobin(FIT) has been revealed to be highly accurate for colorectal cancer(CRC) detection not only in a screening setting, but also in the assessment of patients presenting lower bowel symptoms. Therefore, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has recommended the adoption of FIT in primary care to guide referral for suspected CRC in low-risk symptomatic patients using a 10 μg Hb/g faeces threshold.Nevertheless, it is unknown whether FIT′s accuracy remains stable throughout the broad spectrum of possible symptoms.AIM To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess FIT accuracy for CRC detection in different clinical settings.METHODS A systematic literature search was performed using MEDLINE and EMBASE databases from inception to May 2018 to conduct a meta-analysis of prospective studies including symptomatic patients that evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of quantitative FIT for CRC detection. Studies were classified on the basis of brand,threshold of faecal haemoglobin concentration for a positive test result,percentage of reported symptoms(solely symptomatic, mixed cohorts) and CRC prevalence(< 2.5%, ≥ 2.5%) to limit heterogeneity and perform subgroup analysis to assess the influence of clinical spectrum on FIT′s accuracy to detect CRC.RESULTS Fifteen cohorts including 13073 patients(CRC prevalence 0.4% to 16.8%) were identified. Pooled estimates of sensitivity for studies using OC-Sensor at 10 μg Hb/g faeces threshold(n = 10400) was 89.6% [95% confidence interval(CI): 82.7%to 94.0%). However, pooled estimates of sensitivity for studies formed solely by symptomatic patients(n = 4035) and mixed cohorts(n = 6365) were 94.1%(95%CI: 90.0% to 96.6%) and 85.5%(95%CI: 76.5% to 91.4%) respectively(P <0.01), while there were no statistically significant differences between pooled sensitivity of studies with CRC prevalence < 2.5%(84.9%, 95%CI: 73.4% to 92.0%)and ≥ 2.5%(91.7%, 95%CI: 83.3% to 96.1%)(P = 0.25). At the same threshold, OCSensor? sensitivity to rule out any significant colonic lesion was 78.6%(95%CI:75.6% to 81.4%). We found substantial heterogeneity especially when assessing specificity.CONCLUSION The results of this meta-analysis confirm that, regardless of CRC prevalence,quantitative FIT is highly sensitive for CRC detection. However, FIT ability to rule out CRC is higher in studies solely including symptomatic patients.展开更多
It is challenging to diagnose isolated hyperbilirubinemia with rare and complex etiologies under the constraints of traditional testing conditions.Herein,we present a rare case of coexisting Gilbert syndrome(GS)and er...It is challenging to diagnose isolated hyperbilirubinemia with rare and complex etiologies under the constraints of traditional testing conditions.Herein,we present a rare case of coexisting Gilbert syndrome(GS)and erythropoietic protoporphyria(EPP),which has not been previously documented.CASE SUMMARY We present a rare case of coexisting GS and EPP in a 23-year-old Chinese male with a long history of jaundice and recently found splenomegaly.Serial nonspecific hemolysis screening tests yielded inconsistent results,and investigations for common hemolytic etiologies were negative.However,Levitt’s carbon monoxide breath test,which measures erythrocyte lifespan(the gold-standard marker of hemolysis),demonstrated significant hemolysis,revealing a markedly shortened erythrocyte lifespan of 11 days(normal average 120 days).Genetic testing subsequently confirmed EPP with a homozygous ferrochelatase gene mutation and GS with a heterozygous uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl trans-ferase 1A1 gene mutation.CONCLUSION The rapid,non-invasive Levitt’s carbon monoxide breath test resolved the diagnostic challenge posed by a rare and complex cause of hyperbilirubinemia.展开更多
文摘Background: A new rapid Immunochromatographic test (ICT) kit (MPT64 TB Ag Kit) for detection of MPT64 Antigen in M. tuberculosis (MTB) isolates used for rapid identification of MTB isolates developed by SD (Standard Diagnostics) Bio line, South Korea was evaluated. The ICT is a rapid, reliable and cheaper method that can be used instead of conventional biochemical tests for confirming MTB in culture isolates in resource limited laboratories. The study also evaluated the ability of ICT to detect MPT64-Antigen before the micro MGIT could signal positive. Material/Methods: A total of 450 sputum samples of individual patients were used for the study. 152 isolates of Mycobacteria were recovered from solid and liquid media. These strains were tested for the detection of MPT64-antigen. H37Rv strain was served as the positive reference control and also used for early detection of Antigen experiment. Findings: The development of bands on both test and sample region when H37Rv strain was tested were seen (MPT64 antigen positive). When 138 MTB isolates were tested, it showed a similar banding pattern indicating 100% sensitivity. MPT64 band formation was not detected in any of the 14 isolates indicating 100% specificity. Both PPV & NPV were 100%. All the isolates negative for MPT64 Ag were confirmed as MOTT by conventional bio-chemical PNBA. The H37Rv strain showed a faint band from the 2nd day onwards from inoculation till 3rd day in the earlier Antigen detection experiment. Conclusion: Rapid identification of MTB culture isolate is a pressing need for diagnosis and proceeding to perform drug susceptibility testing. MPT64 TB Ag detection ICT kit is a rapid, reliable method, good substitute for molecular identification methods, and conventional biochemical test which is time-consuming and technically demanding. The early detection of Antigen can be used as an effective tool in diagnosis.
文摘This investigation deals with the intelligent system for parallel fault-tolerant diagnostic tests construction. A modified parallel algorithm for fault-tolerant diagnostic tests construction is proposed. The algorithm is allowed to optimize processing time on tests construction. A matrix model of data and knowledge representation, as well as various kinds of regularities in data and knowledge are presented. Applied intelligent system for diagnostic of mental health of population which is developed with the use of intelligent system for parallel fault-tolerant DTs construction is suggested.
文摘The imminent danger of the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated research in pharmaceuticals that either target the viral Spike proteins fusion with ACE2 receptors,or the infectious RNA replication that often overwhelms immune defences.The scope of this review was to elucidate the main human vulnerabilities to Covid-19,including the accumulation of ACE2 receptors in testes,adipose tissue,thyroid,heart and kidneys that escalate viral affinity in males,the aged,and certain medical conditions,including diabetes,CVD,and pulmonary diseases.Pre-existing inflammation inherent in obesity may exacerbate the“cytokine storm,”a rampaging immune reaction during the course of Covid-19 that is deleterious to the host.We examined the molecular dynamics illustrating the action of new therapeutics necessary for Covid-19 patients;the estradiol advantage hypothesis;alternative therapies including hormone replacement procedures and mesenchymal stem cells;plus preventive and protective interventions.The current perspective also explored the primary components of dysregulated health predisposing individuals to Covid-19,including hormonal imbalance,increased lipids and lipoproteins,thyroid dysfunction,degraded fitness,and age-related testosterone decline accompanied by cortisol increase that provokes stress eating behaviours and weight accumulation.Obesity increases the probability of Covid-19 infection due to its abundance of ACE2 receptors;while physical activity may decrease Covid-19 vulnerability,by reducing fat and increasing muscle mass that manifests a relatively inhibited ACE2 expression.Several weight management solutions feature lasers and radiofrequency which diminish subcutaneous adiposity but do not enhance fitness.A data metanalysis of seven recently published clinical studies on 95 obese individuals,73 males and 22 females with an average BMI of 30.9,demonstrated visceral fat reduction combined with increased skeletal muscle mass.It also revealed a statistically significant decrease in BMI,lipids,lipoproteins,inflammation and toxicity as measured by CRP,Creatinine and Bilirubin respectively,juxtaposed by optimally healthier levels of Cortisol,Testosterone,Free T3,IGF-1,Insulin,and the appetite controlling hormones Leptin and Ghrelin.
文摘The beneficial acclimation hypothesis (BAH) predicts that animals acclimated to a particular temperature have enhanced performance or fitness at that temperature in comparison with animals acclimated to other temperatures. The BAH has been tested by a variety of empirical examinations, and was rejected by some of them. In order to provide new evidences for the BAH, the effects of acute and acclimation temperature (AT) on locomotor performance of Macrobiotus hufelandi (Tardigrada: Macrobiotidae) were investigated. The tardigrades were collected from Nanwutai, Qinling Mountains which traverse from west to east in central China. The subjects were acclimated to either 2℃ or 22℃ for 2 weeks. The animal was transferred onto a frosted slide and allowed to walk freely at the performance temperature (PT) 2℃ or 22℃. Only one individual was tested per test bout, which lasted from three to five minutes. To avoid occurrence of thermal acclimation effect, the standard adaptation time was limited to 1.5 min. Each subject was tested for once at the same PT, and was tested only at one PT. A total of 25 individuals were tested and measured at the same PT. The locomotor performance of the animals was recorded with a digital video camera mounted on a microscope at 4×10 amplification and replayed on a PC. Every subject was identified. Walking speed (WS) and percentage of time moving (PTM) at both PTs (2℃ or 22℃) were selected as the rate parameters of locomotor performance. The two-way repeated measures ANOVA with a significance level of α= 0.05 and Duncan multiple range test were used to analyze the data. WS of the animals acclimated to and tested at the same temperatures was significantly faster than that for animals acclimated to and tested at the different temperatures, similarly, PTM of the animals acclimated to 22℃ and tested at 22℃ was significantly greater than PTM of animals acclimated to 22℃ and tested at 2℃, which indicated that the animals acclimated to a particular temperature have enhanced locomotor performance in that temperature relative to the animals acclimated to that temperature in other thermal environment. WS of the animals acclimated to 22℃ and tested at 22℃ was significantly faster than WS of animals acclimated to 2℃ and tested at 22℃, PTM of the animals acclimated to 22℃ and tested at 22℃ was significantly greater than PTM of animals acclimated to 2℃ and tested at 22℃. These results supported the BAH. It could be concluded that the PT and thermal acclimation as well as the interaction between the PT and AT significantly influence the locomotor performance of M.hufelandi, and that, despite the existence of a few results of this study that don’t support the BAH, some results of this study support for this hypothesis, and that the animals acclimated to a particular temperature have enhanced locomotor performance in that temperature relative to the animals acclimated to that temperature in other thermal environment, implying that any performance temperature that deviates from the acclimation temperature could cause the reduction of the walking speed which is closely related to the fitness of the M.hufelandi.
文摘Two new regularization algorithms for solving the first-kind Volterra integral equation, which describes the pressure-rate deconvolution problem in well test data interpretation, are developed in this paper. The main features of the problem are the strong nonuniform scale of the solution and large errors (up to 15%) in the input data. In both algorithms, the solution is represented as decomposition on special basic functions, which satisfy given a priori information on solution, and this idea allow us significantly to improve the quality of approximate solution and simplify solving the minimization problem. The theoretical details of the algorithms, as well as the results of numerical experiments for proving robustness of the algorithms, are presented.
文摘Long-span bridges are special structures that require advanced analysis techniques to examine their performance. This paper presents a procedure developed to model the Confederation Bridge using 3-D beam elements. The model was validated using the data collected before the opening of the bridge to the public. The bridge was instrumented to conduct fullscale static and dynamic tests. The static tests were to measure the deflection of the bridge pier while the dynamic tests to measure the free vibrations of the pier due to a sudden release of the static load. Confederation Bridge is one of the longest reinforced concrete bridges in the world. It connects the province of Prince Edward Island and the province of New Brunswick in Canada. Due to its strategic location and vital role as a transportation link between these two provinces, it was designed using higher safety factors than those for typical highway bridges. After validating the present numerical model, a procedure was developed to evaluate the performance of similar bridges subjected to traffic and seismic loads. It is of interest to note that the foundation stiffness and the modulus of elasticity of the concrete have significant effects on the structural responses of the Confederation Bridge.
文摘Members of the British Textile Machinery Association(BTMA)can look back on 2025 as a year marked by notable technological advances and continued progress in global trade,despite an uncertain and volatile market.“Our members have been very active over the past 12 months and this has resulted in new technologies for the production of technical fibres and fabrics,the introduction of AI and machine learning into process control systems and significant advances in materials testing,”says BTMA CEO Jason Kent.“There’s real excitement about what can be achieved in 2026 as we look ahead to upcoming exhibitions such as JEC Composites in Paris in March and Techtextil in Frankfurt in April.”
文摘A maximum test in lieu of forcing a choice between the two dependent samples t-test and Wilcoxon signed-ranks test is proposed. The maximum test, which requires a new table of critical values, maintains nominal α while guaranteeing the maximum power of the two constituent tests. Critical values, obtained via Monte Carlo methods, are uniformly smaller than the Bonferroni-Dunn adjustment, giving it power superiority when testing for treatment alternatives of shift in location parameter when data are sampled from non-normal distributions.
文摘For India to achieve elimination by 2030,the challenges posed by Plasmodium(P.)vivax cannot be overlooked owing to its burden and unique biology.In 2023,in India,about 224000 malaria cases were reported,and a significant proportion(40%)were P.vivax cases.In P.vivax infection,the persistence of dormant liver stage of parasite,i.e.,hypnozoites,leading to relapses weeks or months later poses challenge in its elimination.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFF0703600)。
文摘Highlights By conjugating the same anti-N monoclonal antibody(mAb4-mAb1)with colloidal gold or fluorescent microspheres,this study developed two rapid point-of-care antigen immunochromatographic strips for the detection of porcine deltacoronavirus.The fluorescent microsphere-based lateral flow test strip demonstrated a sensitivity of 10^(1.7)TCID_(50)/0.1 mL,which is fourfold higher than that of the colloidal gold-based assay.Porcine deltacoronavirus(PDCoV)is a recently identified enteric coronavirus that causes an acute infectious disease in piglets,leading to diarrhea,vomiting,dehydration,and mortality(Hu et al.2015).
基金supported by the State Grid Science and Technology Project (Title: Technology Research On Large Scale EMT Real-time simulation customized platform, FX71-17-001)
文摘As the proportion of renewable energy increases, the interaction between renewable energy devices and the grid continues to enhance. Therefore, the renewable energy dynamic test in a power system has become more and more important. Traditional dynamic simulation systems and digital-analog hybrid simulation systems are difficult to compromise on the economy, flexibility and accuracy. A multi-time scale test system of doubly fed induction generator based on FPGA+ CPU heterogeneous calculation is proposed in this paper. The proposed test system is based on the ADPSS simulation platform. The power circuit part of the test system is setup up using the EMT(electromagnetic transient simulation) simulation, and the control part uses the actual physical devices. In order to realize the close-loop testing for the physical devices, the power circuit must be simulated in real-time. This paper proposes a multi-time scale simulation algorithm, in which the decoupling component divides the power circuit into a large time scale system and a small time scale system in order to reduce computing effort. This paper also proposes the FPGA+CPU heterogeneous computing architecture for implementing this multitime scale simulation. In FPGA, there is a complete small time-scale EMT engine, which support the flexibly circuit modeling with any topology. Finally, the test system is connected to an DFIG controller based on Labview to verify the feasibility of the test system.
文摘AIM: This study was undertaken to evaluate the hepatic effects of silybum marianum on non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: In 72 patients affected by NAFLD, main metabolic, hepatic and anti-inflammatory parameters were assayed after 3 mo of a restricted diet and before silymarin treatment (twice a day orally). The brightness of liver echography texture (hepatorenal ratio brightness) was also defined at same time. These evaluations were repeated after 6 mo of treatment. RESULTS: Serum levels of some metabolic and anti-inflammatory data nonsignificantly lowered after 6 mo of silymarin. On the contrary, Steato test, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were significantly (P < 0.001) reduced. Instead, the AST/ALT ratio unchanged. Finally, the hepatorenal brightness ratio, as an index of hepatic steatosis, significantly (P < 0.05) dropped. CONCLUSION: The obtained results indicate that silymarin appears to be effective to reduce the biochemical, inflammatory and ultrasonic indices of hepatic steatosis. Some parameters indicative of early stage of atherosclerosis were also lowered.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program(2021YFB150740401)National Natural Science Foundation of China(42202336)the CAS Pioneer Hundred Talents Program in China(Y826031C01)。
文摘Hydraulic stimulation technology is widely employed to enhance the permeability of geothermal reservoirs.Nevertheless,accurately predicting hydraulic fracture propagation in complex geological conditions remains challenging,thereby hindering the effective utilization of existing natural fractures.In this study,a phase field model was developed utilizing the finite element method to examine the influence of fluid presence,stress conditions,and natural fractures on the initiation and propagation of hydraulic fractures.The model employs Biot's poroelasticity theory to establish the coupling between the displacement field and the fluid field,while the phase field theory is applied to simulate fracture behavior.The results show that whenσ_(x0)/σ_(y0)<3 or qf<20 kg/(m^(3)·s),the presence of natural fractures can alter the original propagation direction of hydraulic fractures.Conversely,in the absence of these conditions,the propagation path of natural fractures is predominantly influenced by the initial stress field.Furthermore,based on the analysis of breakdown pressure and damage area,the optimal intersection angle between natural fractures and hydraulic fractures is determined to range from 45°to 60°.Finally,once a dominant channel forms,initiating and propagating hydraulic fractures in other directions becomes increasingly difficult,even in highly fractured areas.This method tackles the challenges of initiating and propagating hydraulic fractures in complex geological conditions,providing a theoretical basis for optimizing Enhanced Geothermal System(EGS)projects.
基金supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(KJCX2-YW-N27)the CAS Center for Excellence in Particle Physics(CCEPP)
文摘The water Cherenkov detector array(WCDA) is an important part of the large high-altitude air shower observatory(LHAASO),which is in a research and development phase.The central scientific goal of LHAASO is to explore the origin of high-energy cosmic rays of the universe and to push forward the frontier of new physics.To simplify the WCDA's readout electronics,a prototype of a front-end readout for an application-specific integrated circuit(ASIC) is designed based on the timeover-threshold method to achieve charge-to-time conversion.High-precision time measurement and charge measurement are necessary over a full dynamic range[1-4000photoelectrons(P.E.)].To evaluate the performance of this ASIC,a test system is designed that includes the front-end ASIC test module,digitization module,and test software.The first module needs to be customized for different ASIC versions,whereas the digitization module and test software are tested for general-purpose use.In the digitization module,a field programmable gate array-based time-todigital converter is designed with a bin size of 333 ps,which also integrates an inter-integrated circuit to configure the ASIC test module,and a universal serial bus interface is designed to transfer data to the remote computer.Test results indicate that the time resolution is better than 0.5 ns,and the charge resolution is better than 30%root mean square(RMS) at 1 P.E.and 3%RMS at 4000 P.E.,which are beyond the application requirements.
基金founded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51708163)Research Program of the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China(Grant No.2013318800020)Doctoral Innovation Fund Program of Southwest Jiaotong University(Grant No.D-CX201703)
文摘To investigate the seismic response of the steel-strip reinforced soil retaining wall with fullheight rigid facing in terms of the acceleration in the backfill, dynamic earth pressure in the backfill, the displacements on the facing and the dynamic reinforcement strain distribution under different peak acceleration, a large 1-g shaking table test was performed on a reduced-scale reinforced-earth retaining wall model. It was observed that the acceleration response in non-strip region is greater than that in potential fracture region which is similar with the stability region under small earthquake,while the acceleration response in potential fracture region is greater than that in stability region in middle-upper of the wall under moderately strong earthquakes. The potential failure model of the rigid wall is rotating around the wall toe. It also was discovered that the Fourier spectra produced by the inputting white noises after seismic wave presents double peaks, rather than original single peak, and the frequency of the second peak trends to increase with increasing the PGA(peak ground amplitude) of the excitation which is greater than 0.4 g. Additionally,the non-liner distribution of strip strain along the strips was observed, and the distribution trend was not constant in different row. Soil pressure peak value in stability region is larger than that in potential fracture region. The wall was effective under 0.1 g-0.3 g seismic wave according to the analyses of the facing displacement and relative density. Also, it was discovered that the potential failure surface is corresponds to that in design code, but the area is larger. The results from the study can provide guidance for a more rational design of reinforced earth retaining walls with full-height rigid facing in the earthquake zone.
文摘BACKGROUND Carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)and cytology in pancreatic cystic fluid are suboptimal for evaluation of pancreatic cystic neoplasms.Genetic testing and microforceps biopsy are promising tools for pre-operative diagnostic improvement but comparative performance of both methods is unknown.AIM To compare the accuracy of genetic testing and microforceps biopsy in pancreatic cysts referred for surgery.METHODS We performed a literature search in Medline,Scopus,and Web of Science for studies evaluating genetic testing of cystic fluid and microforceps biopsy of pancreatic cysts,with endoscopic ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration(EUSFNA)prior to surgery and surgical pathology as reference standard for diagnosis.We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy for:1-benign cysts;2-mucinous low-risk cysts;3-high-risk cysts,and the diagnostic yield and rate of correctly identified cysts with microforceps biopsy and molecular analysis.We also assessed publication bias,heterogeneity,and study quality.RESULTS Eight studies,including 1206 patients,of which 203(17%)referred for surgery who met the inclusion criteria were analyzed in the systematic review,and seven studies were included in the meta-analysis.Genetic testing and microforceps biopsies were identical for diagnosis of benign cysts.Molecular analysis was superior for diagnosis of both low and high-risk mucinous cysts,with sensitivities of 0.89(95%CI:0.79-0.95)and 0.57(95%CI:0.42-0.71),specificities of 0.88(95%CI:0.75-0.95)and 0.88(95%CI:0.80-0.93)and AUC of 0.9555 and 0.92,respectively.The diagnostic yield was higher in microforceps biopsies than in genetic analysis(0.73 vs 0.54,respectively)but the rates of correctly identified cysts were identical(0.73 with 95%CI:0.62-0.82 vs 0.71 with 95%CI:0.49-0.86,respectively).CONCLUSION Genetic testing and microforceps biopsies are useful second tests,with identical results in benign pancreatic cysts.Genetic analysis performs better for low-and high-risk cysts but has lower diagnostic yield.
基金This work is funded by National Key R&D Project (2017YFC0307605)the China Geological Survey (DD20160217,DD20190218)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (11572165)we would like to extend our sincere appreciation for these.
文摘In this paper, the mechanical properties of gas hydrate-bearing sediments (GHBS) were summarized and the instability mechanism of submarine hydrate-bearing slope (SHBS) was analyzed under the background of the test production of gas hydrate in the northern part of the South China Sea. The strength reduction finite element method (SRFEM) was introduced to the stability analysis of submarine slopes for the safety of the test production. Two schemes were designed to determine the physical and mechanical parameters of four target wells. Through the division of the hydrate dissociation region and the design of four working conditions, the range and degree of hydrate dissociation at different stages during the test production were simulated. Based on the software ABAQUS, 37 FEM models of SHBS were set up to analyze and assess the stability of the submarine slopes in the area of the test production. Necessary information such as safety factors, deformation, and displacement were obtained at different stages and under different working conditions. According to the calculation results, the submarine slope area is stable before the test production, and the safety factors almost remains the same during and after the test production. All these indicate that the test production has no obvious influence on the area of the test production and the submarine slopes in the area are stable during and after the test production.
文摘BACKGROUND The quantitative faecal immunochemical test for haemoglobin(FIT) has been revealed to be highly accurate for colorectal cancer(CRC) detection not only in a screening setting, but also in the assessment of patients presenting lower bowel symptoms. Therefore, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has recommended the adoption of FIT in primary care to guide referral for suspected CRC in low-risk symptomatic patients using a 10 μg Hb/g faeces threshold.Nevertheless, it is unknown whether FIT′s accuracy remains stable throughout the broad spectrum of possible symptoms.AIM To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess FIT accuracy for CRC detection in different clinical settings.METHODS A systematic literature search was performed using MEDLINE and EMBASE databases from inception to May 2018 to conduct a meta-analysis of prospective studies including symptomatic patients that evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of quantitative FIT for CRC detection. Studies were classified on the basis of brand,threshold of faecal haemoglobin concentration for a positive test result,percentage of reported symptoms(solely symptomatic, mixed cohorts) and CRC prevalence(< 2.5%, ≥ 2.5%) to limit heterogeneity and perform subgroup analysis to assess the influence of clinical spectrum on FIT′s accuracy to detect CRC.RESULTS Fifteen cohorts including 13073 patients(CRC prevalence 0.4% to 16.8%) were identified. Pooled estimates of sensitivity for studies using OC-Sensor at 10 μg Hb/g faeces threshold(n = 10400) was 89.6% [95% confidence interval(CI): 82.7%to 94.0%). However, pooled estimates of sensitivity for studies formed solely by symptomatic patients(n = 4035) and mixed cohorts(n = 6365) were 94.1%(95%CI: 90.0% to 96.6%) and 85.5%(95%CI: 76.5% to 91.4%) respectively(P <0.01), while there were no statistically significant differences between pooled sensitivity of studies with CRC prevalence < 2.5%(84.9%, 95%CI: 73.4% to 92.0%)and ≥ 2.5%(91.7%, 95%CI: 83.3% to 96.1%)(P = 0.25). At the same threshold, OCSensor? sensitivity to rule out any significant colonic lesion was 78.6%(95%CI:75.6% to 81.4%). We found substantial heterogeneity especially when assessing specificity.CONCLUSION The results of this meta-analysis confirm that, regardless of CRC prevalence,quantitative FIT is highly sensitive for CRC detection. However, FIT ability to rule out CRC is higher in studies solely including symptomatic patients.
文摘It is challenging to diagnose isolated hyperbilirubinemia with rare and complex etiologies under the constraints of traditional testing conditions.Herein,we present a rare case of coexisting Gilbert syndrome(GS)and erythropoietic protoporphyria(EPP),which has not been previously documented.CASE SUMMARY We present a rare case of coexisting GS and EPP in a 23-year-old Chinese male with a long history of jaundice and recently found splenomegaly.Serial nonspecific hemolysis screening tests yielded inconsistent results,and investigations for common hemolytic etiologies were negative.However,Levitt’s carbon monoxide breath test,which measures erythrocyte lifespan(the gold-standard marker of hemolysis),demonstrated significant hemolysis,revealing a markedly shortened erythrocyte lifespan of 11 days(normal average 120 days).Genetic testing subsequently confirmed EPP with a homozygous ferrochelatase gene mutation and GS with a heterozygous uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl trans-ferase 1A1 gene mutation.CONCLUSION The rapid,non-invasive Levitt’s carbon monoxide breath test resolved the diagnostic challenge posed by a rare and complex cause of hyperbilirubinemia.
