Noni juice, made from the fruit of Morinda citrifolia, is a health-promoting food from the Pacific Islands with an extensive history of traditional use. Human clinical trials have revealed that noni juice has antioxid...Noni juice, made from the fruit of Morinda citrifolia, is a health-promoting food from the Pacific Islands with an extensive history of traditional use. Human clinical trials have revealed that noni juice has antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Previously, regular noni juice consumers in Europe and traditional healers in Fiji were surveyed to identify potential noni juice health benefits. But to better understand the perception of its health benefits among those with no previous experience with noni juice, an in-home study was conducted in the United States. Three hundred and nineteen adults with untreated chronic health conditions were provided with a 90-day supply of a blinded (unlabeled) commercial noni juice product (Tahitian Noni<sup>®</sup> Juice), instructed to consume 4 fluid ounces (1/2 cup) each day, and responded to a questionnaire given on days 30, 60 and 90 to evaluate product appeal and perceived effectiveness. A total of 299 people (94%) felt that their health improved in some way after drinking TNJ for 90 days. More than 80% of the subjects reported feeling better or healthier in general. Most participants also concurred with more than two dozen additional positive health perception statements, especially on days 60 and 90. More than 70% of consumers also indicated that noni juice helped them feel better than other wellness supplements they had tried in the past, including other so-called “super fruit” products. These findings seem to corroborate the results of clinical trials and previous consumer surveys regarding the potential for noni juice to provide discernable health benefits when used consistently over time. Such findings may help guide additional placebo-controlled clinical trials in which specific effects may be evaluated more rigorously.展开更多
Increasing concerns regarding aquatic ecological health and eutrophication driven by urbanization and human activities have highlighted the need to understand primary productivity(PP)dynamics in aquatic ecosystems. Th...Increasing concerns regarding aquatic ecological health and eutrophication driven by urbanization and human activities have highlighted the need to understand primary productivity(PP)dynamics in aquatic ecosystems. This study investigated the spatial distribution of PP across the Weihe River Basin, China using inverse distance weighting and analyzed the influence of different land uses and water physical-chemical parameters on PP using Mantel test and Spearman analysis. Significantly spatial heterogeneity in PP concentrations, ranging from 0.458 to 3262.807 mg C/(m^(2)·d), was observed with high-PP sites clustered in the middle-lower reaches dominated by farmland-construction land mosaics.Core drivers included light availability(Secchi depth and sunlight duration) and phytoplankton biomass(chlorophyll-a(Chl-a)), while water temperature exhibited threshold-dependent effects. Total organic carbon played dual roles, promoting PP concentrations in low-Chl-a regions, but suppressing it under high-Chl-a regions. Dual-scale buffer analysis(500 and 1000 m buffer zones) revealed PP heterogeneity stemed from interactive land use configurations, rather than isolated types. Balanced construction land-to-farmland ratio(0.467–2.890) elevated PP concentrations in human-dominated basins(the main stem of the Weihe River and Jinghe River), whereas excessive agricultural homogenization reduced PP likely due to fertilizer saturation and algal self-shading. Ecologically sensitive basins(the Beiluohe River Basin) demonstrated distinct patterns, in which PP concentration was regulated through natural-agricultural synergies. These results deepened the understanding of land use effects on aquatic PP,providing a theoretical basis for optimizing land use strategies to reconcile eutrophication control with ecological productivity in human-stressed basins.展开更多
BACKGROUND Cognitive decline is common among older patients with cardiovascular disease(CVD) and can decrease their self-management abilities. However, the instruments for identifying mild cognitive impairment(MCI) ar...BACKGROUND Cognitive decline is common among older patients with cardiovascular disease(CVD) and can decrease their self-management abilities. However, the instruments for identifying mild cognitive impairment(MCI) are not always feasible in clinical practice. Therefore, this study evaluated whether MCI could be detected using the Japanese version of the Rapid Dementia Screening Test(RDST-J), which is a simple screening tool for identifying cognitive decline.METHODS This retrospective single-center study included patients who were ≥ 65 years old and hospitalized because of CVD.Patients with a pre-hospitalization diagnosis of dementia were excluded. Each patient's cognitive function had been measured at discharge using the RDST-J and the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(Mo CA-J), which is a standard tool for MCI screening. The correlation between the two scores was evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) analysis was also to evaluate whether the RDST-J could identify MCI, which was defined as a Mo CA-J score of ≤ 25 points.RESULTS The study included 78 patients(mean age: 77.2 ± 8.9 years). The RDST-J and Mo CA-J scores were strongly correlated(r = 0.835, P < 0.001). The ROC analysis revealed that an RDST-J score of ≤ 9 points provided 75.4% sensitivity and 95.2% specificity for identifying MCI, with an area under the curve of 0.899(95% CI: 0.835-0.964). The same cut-off value was identified when excluding patients with a high probability of dementia(RDST-J score of ≤ 4 points).CONCLUSIONS The RDST-J may be a simple and effective tool for identifying MCI in older patients with CVD.展开更多
Tractor hydraulic fluids are tested to maximize their performance levels and to ensure manufacturer′s standards are met.Common tractor hydraulic fluid tests include: Gear Wear Protection,Brake Chatter Reduction,Wet-C...Tractor hydraulic fluids are tested to maximize their performance levels and to ensure manufacturer′s standards are met.Common tractor hydraulic fluid tests include: Gear Wear Protection,Brake Chatter Reduction,Wet-Clutch Capacity,and Pump Performance tests.These tests are run by Southwest Research Institute,in the U.S.A.,for tractors built by John Deere and Case-New Holland.This paper details current methods for evaluating tractor hydraulic fluids.The tests that are described utilize full size equipment and were developed by the tractor′s original equipment manufacturers(OEMs).展开更多
A software security testing behavior model,SETAM,was proposed in our previous work as the integrated model for describing software security testing requirements behavior,which is not only compatible with security func...A software security testing behavior model,SETAM,was proposed in our previous work as the integrated model for describing software security testing requirements behavior,which is not only compatible with security functions and latent typical misuse behaviors,but also with the interaction of them.In this paper,we analyze the differences between SETAM with security use case and security misuse case in different types of security test requirements.To illustrate the effectiveness of SETAM,we compare them in a practical case study by the number of test cases and the number of faults detected by them.The results show that SETAM could decrease about 34.87%use cases on average,and the number of faults detected by SETAM increased by 71.67%in average,which means that our model can detect more faults with fewer test cases for software security testing.展开更多
Malaria is a major health problem in Nigeria that has as high as 25% of all global cases, and 30% of deaths attributable to malaria. In 2010, World Health Organization (WHO) recommended universal confirmation of diagn...Malaria is a major health problem in Nigeria that has as high as 25% of all global cases, and 30% of deaths attributable to malaria. In 2010, World Health Organization (WHO) recommended universal confirmation of diagnosis of malaria through blood parasitological test, prior to initiation of treatment. In addition to Microscopy, Malaria Rapid diagnostic Tests (mRDTs) are blood tests for malaria. Early diagnosis of malaria ensures that the correct treatment is commenced in good time, and this subsequently improves the prognosis. The objective of this study is to assess the use of mRDTs among medical doctors working in a tertiary hospital, Southeast Nigeria. This study was conducted in Enugu State Teaching hospital, Southeast Nigeria. The study was of cross-sectional design, and conducted in October 2016 among medical doctors working in the General Outpatient, Internal Medicine, and Paediatrics departments of the Teaching hospital. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 was used for data analysis. A total of 86 medical doctors, out of the eligible 91 in the three departments participated in the study, and were distributed as follows;24 (27.9%) in the General Outpatient, 30 (34.9%) in the Internal Medicine, and 32 (37.2%) in the Paediatrics departments. More medical doctors in the Paediatrics department (31.3%) used mRDTs in making diagnosis of malaria, followed by Internal medicine (13.3%), then General Outpatient Department (8.3%). Malaria rapid diagnostic tests are cost-effective, and useful tools in malaria control and elimination programmes. If tangible progress on the implementation of the WHO guidelines on confirming diagnosis of malaria before treatment;and the T3: Test, Treat, Track initiative is to be made;then the government and the Management of hospitals ought to take more determined efforts aimed at educating and informing health workers, especially medical doctors on the benefits of mRDTs.展开更多
Fertilizers use can be optimized through soil testing and leaf analysis. This paper deals with using soil analysis as a base for fertilizer use in maize. A field experiment was carried out in two summer seasons of 201...Fertilizers use can be optimized through soil testing and leaf analysis. This paper deals with using soil analysis as a base for fertilizer use in maize. A field experiment was carried out in two summer seasons of 2013 and 2014 with maize (triple hybrid) in Oraby Village, Mariut sector, Alexandria, Egypt. Soil testing shows that soil was clay loam, with high Na and CaCO<sub>3</sub> contents with high pH, low organic matter, medium P and K and low micronutrient contents (Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu), seven treatments were designed. The most promising treatment was when P and K were increased and micronutrients were added based on soil testing. This treatment resulted in the highest yield with better grain contents of protein and nutrients which indicated that soil-test based on fertilizer use was superior. Soil analysis at the end of the experiment showed higher P and K contents. This approach could be adopted for regions with similar soil conditions in other parts of the world.展开更多
The study employed a descriptive mixed-methods qualitative case study approach.Material and interview-based data were collected from two EFL classes in a private international school in central China.Findings from RQ1...The study employed a descriptive mixed-methods qualitative case study approach.Material and interview-based data were collected from two EFL classes in a private international school in central China.Findings from RQ1 suggest that teacher-made summative tests were largely dependable to the extent that the tests reflect the syllabus-based construct and address students’affective factors.Findings from RQ2 suggest that facilitating factors including in-school continuous professional development(CPD)and teacher collegiality practices may enhance FUST’s prospective role.展开更多
This study investigates the convergence hypothesis and stochastic dynamics of agricultural land use and ecological balance across 13 major agricultural countries from 1992 to 2022.The study's concentrated samples ...This study investigates the convergence hypothesis and stochastic dynamics of agricultural land use and ecological balance across 13 major agricultural countries from 1992 to 2022.The study's concentrated samples are Russia,the United States,the Netherlands,Brazil,Germany,China,France,Spain,Italy,Canada,Belgium,Indonesia,and India.The research uncovers notable variations in ecological balance by utilizing a comprehensive set of advanced panel unit root tests(Panel CIPS,CADF,Panel-LM,Panel-KPSS,and Bahmani-Oskooee et al.’s Panel KPSS Unit Root Test).The findings highlight significant improvements in Canada,contrasting with declines in the Netherlands,France,Germany,and the United States.The results indicate convergence in ecological balance among these countries,suggesting that agricultural practices are progressively aligning with sustainability objectives.The considered countries can determine and enact joint and collective policy actions addressing cropland sustainability.However,the univariate outcome also shows that the cropland ecological balance of Germany,China,France,Indonesia,and India does contain a unit root and stationary which means the presence of the constant-mean.The univariate actions from the mentioned governments will not promote persistent impact.Therefore,joint actions determined by the countries considered are recommended for the mentioned countries.However,the rest of the countries also enact local policies.The insights gained are critical for informing global sustainability strategies and aiding policymakers in developing effective measures to enhance agricultural practices and mitigate environmental impacts.This research provides a data-driven foundation for optimizing agricultural sustainability and supports international efforts to achieve long-term ecological stability.展开更多
Uncontrolled land use land cover change(LULCC) is impacting watershed hydrology,particularly in tropical watersheds in developing countries. We assessed the extent of LULCC in the southern portion of the Nyong River b...Uncontrolled land use land cover change(LULCC) is impacting watershed hydrology,particularly in tropical watersheds in developing countries. We assessed the extent of LULCC in the southern portion of the Nyong River basin through analysis of three land use maps in 1987, 2000 and2014. LULCC impact on hydrological variables of the Mbalmayo, Olama, Pont So’o, Messam, and Nsimi sub-watersheds of the southern portion of the Nyong River basin were evaluated by using the linear regression modeling and the Mann-Kendall test. This study reveals that dense forest cover decreased by16%, young secondary forest increased by 18%,agricultural/cropland increased by 10%, and built-up area/bare soil increased by 3% from 1987 to 2014.The decrease in dense forest cover at 0.6% per year on average was driven by indiscriminate expansion of subsistence agricultural/cropland through shifting and fallow cultivation farming systems. Nonsignificant trends in total discharge, high flows, and low flows were observed in the large sub-watersheds of Mbalmayo and Olama from 1998 to 2013 with LULCC within the watershed. In contrast, significant decreasing trends in stream discharge(up to-5.1%and-5.9%), and significant increasing trends in high flows(up to 2.1% and 6.3%), respectively, were observed in the small sub-watersheds of Pont So’o and Messam from 1998 to 2013, particularly with increase in agricultural/cropland cover and decrease in dense forest cover. However, we found nonsignificant trends in mean annual discharge and low flows for all and whole watershed with LULCC. The results reveal spatially varying trends of stream discharge, low flows and high flows among the subwatersheds with LULCC within the study watershed.The results suggest that the impacts of LULCC on watershed hydrology are easily detected in small subwatersheds than in large sub-watersheds. Therefore,the magnitude of dense forest cover loss must be significantly greater than 16% to cause significant changes and common trends in the hydrology of the sub-watersheds of the southern portion of the Nyong River basin. The Mann-Kendall and Regression approaches show appreciable potential for modelling the impacts of LULCC on the hydrology of the southern portion of the Nyong River basin and for informing forest management.展开更多
Alcohol use disorders represent a heterogeneous spectrum of clinical manifestations that have been defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5. Excessive alcohol intake can lead to damage of...Alcohol use disorders represent a heterogeneous spectrum of clinical manifestations that have been defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5. Excessive alcohol intake can lead to damage of various organs, including the liver. Alcoholic liver disease includes different injuries ranging from steatosis to cirrhosis and implicates a diagnostic assessment of the liver disease and of its possible complications. There is growing interest in the possible different tools for assessing previous alcohol consumption and for establishing the severity of liver injury, especially by noninvasive methods.展开更多
Tests of preoperative visual function and prediction of postoperative E chart visual acuity(ECVA) using laser interferometric visual acuity(LIVA) and electroretinogram(ERG) were performed in 16 cases(19 eyes) of catar...Tests of preoperative visual function and prediction of postoperative E chart visual acuity(ECVA) using laser interferometric visual acuity(LIVA) and electroretinogram(ERG) were performed in 16 cases(19 eyes) of cataract. The results showed that the coincident rate between preoperative LIVA and postoperative ECVA was 63.2%, and there was a parallel correlation between preoperative amplitude of photopic ERG b-wave and postoperative ECVA in 79.0% of the eyes. Comparing these two methods, the test of LIVA ...展开更多
BACKGROUND: Pain and sensory disability are greatly affected by subjective factors, there are no quantitative indexes to evaluate cervical spondylotic radiculopathy(CSR). The judgment on clinical body examination and ...BACKGROUND: Pain and sensory disability are greatly affected by subjective factors, there are no quantitative indexes to evaluate cervical spondylotic radiculopathy(CSR). The judgment on clinical body examination and chief complaint always causes nonobjective results with great individual differences. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) can be used to judge the nerve function of fibril. The application of QST for the quantitative evaluation of peripheral nervous system disease needs to be further studied. OBJECTIVE: The cold-thermal sensation and pain of patients with CSR are quantitatively analyzed by using QST technology in order to evaluate the nerve function of fibril in patients with CSR. DESIGN: Case-control observation. SETTING: Pain Center of Beijing Hospital of Ministry of Health. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty patients with CSR, including 8 males and 12 females, aged from 33 to 70 years, who received treatment between January and April 2005 in Pain Center of Beijing Hospital of Ministry of Health were involved in CSR group. All the involved patients presented symptoms in unilateral upper extremity (left side 10 patients, right side 10 patients). They did not undergo physical therapy or nerve block therapy in 1 week before examination. Eight non-CSR patients who received treatment in Pain Center concurrently were involved in the control group (2 patients with trigeminal neuralgia, 4 with osteoarthrosis of knee joint and 2 with lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion), and another 12 healthy volunteers were involved. Four non-CSR patients and 12 healthy volunteers, 8 male and 12 female, were aged from 23 to 75 years. The informed consents were obtained from all the involved subjects. METHODS: The volar thresholds of cold sensation, thermal sensation, cryalgesia of thenar eminence of both upper extremities of all the subjects were examined separately by limit method with type TSA-Ⅱ temperature sensation analysator made by Medco Company (Israel). The subjects were pre-examined to be familiar with the method for sensory discrimination and affirmation. Thenar eminence vola of bilateral upper extremities were detected. The infrared detector of a semiconductor was contacted with skin. The infrared detector could be used to heat and cool skin. A group of cold-heat water circulation device was given electric current to produce temperature gradient, which was higher or lower than skin temperature. The initial temperature of infrared detector was 32 ℃, stimulation temperature was increased or decreased progressively at 1 ℃/s, and temperature change range was 0 to 50 ℃. In the first step, subjects pressed down the button to stop the stimulation when the temperature of infrared detector was decreased progressively until the subjects felt, and the threshold of cold sensation was obtained; In the second step, the threshold of thermal sensation was obtained when the temperature of infrared detector was increased progressively until the subjects felt; In the third step, the threshold of cryalgesia was obtained when the temperature of infrared detector was decreased progressively until subjects felt; and in the fourth step, the threshold of thermalgesia was obtained when the temperature of infrared detector was increased progressively until subjects felt. Each step was conducted 4 times and the mean threshold was obtained. Before each measurement, the temperature was made to rebound to the initial temperature and kept for 10 s. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The thresholds of cold sensation, thermal sensation and cryalgesia, thermalgesia of thenar eminence vola of bilateral upper extremities of all the subjects. RESULTS: Twenty patients with CSR and 20 healthy subjects participated in the final results. ① In the CSR group, the threshold of cold sensation of affected side was lower than that of intact side [(29.00±1.26) ℃ vs.(30.00±1.06) ℃, P < 0.05], and the threshold of thermal sensation of affected side was higher than that of intact side [(35.04±0.87) ℃ vs. (34.14±0.99) ℃, P < 0.05]. There were no significant differences in the thresholds of cold and thermal sensation between affected side and intact side (P > 0.05). ②In the CSR group, the difference of threshold of cold sensation, thermal sensation, cryalgesia and thermalgesia between affected side and intact side was (-1.01±0.57), (0.89±0.39), (2.49±1.10) and (-1.62±0.86) ℃, respectively , the absolute value of which was higher than that of control group, respectively [(0.04±0.28),(0.05±0.26),(0.28±1.79),(0.17±1.10) ℃,P < 0.01]. In the CSR group, the threshold of cold sensation and thermalgesia of affected side was lower than that of intact side, respectively; and the threshold of thermal sensation and cryalgesia of affected side was higher than that of intact side, respectively. CONCLUSION: The superficial sensation of affected extremity of patients with CSR is lessened as compared with that of intact extremity. There are dysfunctions of small myelinated fiber (Aδ fiber) and demyelinated fiber (C fiber) in the affected-side extremity. QST, as a mean for quantitatively evaluating the function of Aδ fiber and C fiber, plays an objective evaluative role in the diagnosis and therapeutic effect observation of CSR.展开更多
Inconsistent condom use among persons on antiretroviral treatment (ART) is a major public health concern because of the risk of HIV transmission. This study examined the association between socio-demographic variables...Inconsistent condom use among persons on antiretroviral treatment (ART) is a major public health concern because of the risk of HIV transmission. This study examined the association between socio-demographic variables and knowing partners’ HIV status, multiple sex partners, and consistent condom use among 400 HIV-infected adults who had received ART for at least six months in Johannesburg, South Africa. The study used a cross-sectional survey and a structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Over half (n = 225, 56.3%) of participants were on ART for more than two years. Two thirds (n = 234, 63.2%) were aware of partner’s HIV status. Over a third (n = 136, 34.0%) reported having more than one sex partners. Three quarters (n = 279, 75.8%) reported consistent condom use with regular partner. Discussing HIV testing (aOR = 2.28, CI: 1.31 -3.95), awareness of partner’s HIV status (aOR = 2.59, CI: 1.50 -4.46), level of education (aOR = 0.64, CI: 0.42 -0.98), and duration on ART (aOR = 0.71, CI: 1.31 -3.95) were predictors for consistent condom use. Awareness of partner’s HIV status was associated with multiple partnership (aOR = 0.38, CI: 0.21 -0.66), living with partner (aOR = 4.75, CI: 2.86 -7.91), discussing HIV testing (aOR = 2.43, CI: 1.48 -3.99), and duration on ART (aOR = 2.04, CI: 1.43 -2.92). While gender (aOR = 5.68, CI: 3.46 -9.34), marital status (aOR = 0.44, CI: 0.25 -0.77), and awareness of partner’s HIV status (aOR = 0.52, CI: 0.30 -0.89) were associated with multiple partnerships. Risky sexual behaviours occurred in all types of partners and knowing partner’s HIV status was a predictor for consistent condom use with all types of partners. It is essential that HIV prevention strategies create an enabling environment for disclosure and reductions of risky sexual behaviours by HIV-infected persons on ART.展开更多
In software industry the major problem encountered during project scheduling is in deciding what proportion of the resources has allocated to the testing phase. In general it has been observed that about 40%-50% of th...In software industry the major problem encountered during project scheduling is in deciding what proportion of the resources has allocated to the testing phase. In general it has been observed that about 40%-50% of the resources need to be allocated to the testing phase. However it is very difficult to predict the exact amount of effort required to be allocated to testing phase. As a result the project planning goes haywire. The project which has not been tested sufficiently can cause huge losses to the organization. This research paper focuses on finding a method which gives a measure of the effort to be spent on the testing phase. This paper provides effort estimates during pre-coding and post-coding phases using neural network to predict more accurately.展开更多
Ⅰ The Indexes of Detecting Oil and Gas Resources The deeply buried reservoir which in a dynamic equilibrium state has a great pressure inside, and between it and earth surface there is a great difference of pressure....Ⅰ The Indexes of Detecting Oil and Gas Resources The deeply buried reservoir which in a dynamic equilibrium state has a great pressure inside, and between it and earth surface there is a great difference of pressure. Therefore the hydrocarbon must spread and move vertically to the surface along the pressure gradient orientation. Hydrocarbons in the reservoir along some small rifts, cracks, joints and cleavages penetrate the overlying strata and seepage onto the surface. Thus the hydrocarbons become unvisble oil and gas signs. This process is called the phenomena of hydrocarbon microseepage of reservoir. Hydrocarbons microseepage in the process展开更多
Hairdressers are exposed to numerous skin-damaging factors, such as wet work, skin irritants, and thermal changes. Skin protection is a very important factor for the prevention of occupational skin disorders. Therefor...Hairdressers are exposed to numerous skin-damaging factors, such as wet work, skin irritants, and thermal changes. Skin protection is a very important factor for the prevention of occupational skin disorders. Therefore, we evaluated a hand cream that was specially formulated for highly stressed skin with regard to its capability to reduce dry, rough, and scaly skin. The objective of this study was to conduct a controlled use test of a barrier repair cream containing pseudo-ceramide and demonstrate its efficacy for hairdressers with dry, sensitive hands and/or occupational skin disorders. A total of 30 hairdressers (29 females and 1 male, aged 20 - 67) participated in the study. All subjects suffered from dry hands. Subjects applied the test cream on their hands for 28 days (four weeks). For each subject, the skin surface topography of the hands was measured by the Surface Evaluation of Living Skin (SELS) system at day 14 (week 2) and day 28 (week 4). Dryness, scaling, cracking, redness, and itchiness were evaluated and graded by experts at week 2 and week 4, and then compared to baselines. All 30 subjects completed the study. A comparison of the changes from baseline to endpoint revealed a statistically significant reduction in skin roughness, scaling, and volume measured according to SELS. These data were confirmed by photographic documentation. The results were further supported by the expert evaluation. For the symptoms dryness and scaling, improvement could be observed in almost all regions of the hands. In addition, according to subjective assessments of overall hand skin condition and the hand cream, subjects reported clear improvement over time (p value below 0.001) and good efficacy of the product. In this study, the test hand cream showed excellent skin compatibility. Therefore, the hand cream may be effective for hairdressers with dry, sensitive hands and/or occupational skin disorders.展开更多
Gypsum is widely distributed in Tunisia occurring in the formation of Triassic age. The gypsum deposit of Mellegue is the alabastine type with a little of the porphyroblast type and contains traces of clay minerals an...Gypsum is widely distributed in Tunisia occurring in the formation of Triassic age. The gypsum deposit of Mellegue is the alabastine type with a little of the porphyroblast type and contains traces of clay minerals and calcite. It is a moderately strong rock in terms of its unconfined compressive strength of 16 Mpa and tensile strength of 3.35 Mpa. Triaxial testing values indicated an apparent cohesion of 10 Mpa and an angle of friction of 26°. The gypsum studied had a percentage of SO<sub>3</sub> of 41.71% and a percentage of CaO of 32.9%. All the samples had low densities according to the International Association of Engineering Geology (IAEG) classification and exhibited a moderate porosity whether effective or absolute. The gypsum proved to be moderately strong when tested in unconfined compression and tensile strength. Thermal analysis indicated a total weight loss of 20.27% and the whiteness index about 90%. This proved a high degree of whiteness. The time of setting can be considered short and medium, which is quite favorable for industrial application compared with other gypsum deposits currently operated.展开更多
文摘Noni juice, made from the fruit of Morinda citrifolia, is a health-promoting food from the Pacific Islands with an extensive history of traditional use. Human clinical trials have revealed that noni juice has antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Previously, regular noni juice consumers in Europe and traditional healers in Fiji were surveyed to identify potential noni juice health benefits. But to better understand the perception of its health benefits among those with no previous experience with noni juice, an in-home study was conducted in the United States. Three hundred and nineteen adults with untreated chronic health conditions were provided with a 90-day supply of a blinded (unlabeled) commercial noni juice product (Tahitian Noni<sup>®</sup> Juice), instructed to consume 4 fluid ounces (1/2 cup) each day, and responded to a questionnaire given on days 30, 60 and 90 to evaluate product appeal and perceived effectiveness. A total of 299 people (94%) felt that their health improved in some way after drinking TNJ for 90 days. More than 80% of the subjects reported feeling better or healthier in general. Most participants also concurred with more than two dozen additional positive health perception statements, especially on days 60 and 90. More than 70% of consumers also indicated that noni juice helped them feel better than other wellness supplements they had tried in the past, including other so-called “super fruit” products. These findings seem to corroborate the results of clinical trials and previous consumer surveys regarding the potential for noni juice to provide discernable health benefits when used consistently over time. Such findings may help guide additional placebo-controlled clinical trials in which specific effects may be evaluated more rigorously.
基金jointly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42230513)Key Program of the Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Monitoring and Forewarning of Trace Pollutants (SHJKFJJ 202307)Research Project on Ecological Protection and High-Quality Development in the Yellow River Basin,China (2022-YRUC-01-0101)。
文摘Increasing concerns regarding aquatic ecological health and eutrophication driven by urbanization and human activities have highlighted the need to understand primary productivity(PP)dynamics in aquatic ecosystems. This study investigated the spatial distribution of PP across the Weihe River Basin, China using inverse distance weighting and analyzed the influence of different land uses and water physical-chemical parameters on PP using Mantel test and Spearman analysis. Significantly spatial heterogeneity in PP concentrations, ranging from 0.458 to 3262.807 mg C/(m^(2)·d), was observed with high-PP sites clustered in the middle-lower reaches dominated by farmland-construction land mosaics.Core drivers included light availability(Secchi depth and sunlight duration) and phytoplankton biomass(chlorophyll-a(Chl-a)), while water temperature exhibited threshold-dependent effects. Total organic carbon played dual roles, promoting PP concentrations in low-Chl-a regions, but suppressing it under high-Chl-a regions. Dual-scale buffer analysis(500 and 1000 m buffer zones) revealed PP heterogeneity stemed from interactive land use configurations, rather than isolated types. Balanced construction land-to-farmland ratio(0.467–2.890) elevated PP concentrations in human-dominated basins(the main stem of the Weihe River and Jinghe River), whereas excessive agricultural homogenization reduced PP likely due to fertilizer saturation and algal self-shading. Ecologically sensitive basins(the Beiluohe River Basin) demonstrated distinct patterns, in which PP concentration was regulated through natural-agricultural synergies. These results deepened the understanding of land use effects on aquatic PP,providing a theoretical basis for optimizing land use strategies to reconcile eutrophication control with ecological productivity in human-stressed basins.
文摘BACKGROUND Cognitive decline is common among older patients with cardiovascular disease(CVD) and can decrease their self-management abilities. However, the instruments for identifying mild cognitive impairment(MCI) are not always feasible in clinical practice. Therefore, this study evaluated whether MCI could be detected using the Japanese version of the Rapid Dementia Screening Test(RDST-J), which is a simple screening tool for identifying cognitive decline.METHODS This retrospective single-center study included patients who were ≥ 65 years old and hospitalized because of CVD.Patients with a pre-hospitalization diagnosis of dementia were excluded. Each patient's cognitive function had been measured at discharge using the RDST-J and the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(Mo CA-J), which is a standard tool for MCI screening. The correlation between the two scores was evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) analysis was also to evaluate whether the RDST-J could identify MCI, which was defined as a Mo CA-J score of ≤ 25 points.RESULTS The study included 78 patients(mean age: 77.2 ± 8.9 years). The RDST-J and Mo CA-J scores were strongly correlated(r = 0.835, P < 0.001). The ROC analysis revealed that an RDST-J score of ≤ 9 points provided 75.4% sensitivity and 95.2% specificity for identifying MCI, with an area under the curve of 0.899(95% CI: 0.835-0.964). The same cut-off value was identified when excluding patients with a high probability of dementia(RDST-J score of ≤ 4 points).CONCLUSIONS The RDST-J may be a simple and effective tool for identifying MCI in older patients with CVD.
文摘Tractor hydraulic fluids are tested to maximize their performance levels and to ensure manufacturer′s standards are met.Common tractor hydraulic fluid tests include: Gear Wear Protection,Brake Chatter Reduction,Wet-Clutch Capacity,and Pump Performance tests.These tests are run by Southwest Research Institute,in the U.S.A.,for tractors built by John Deere and Case-New Holland.This paper details current methods for evaluating tractor hydraulic fluids.The tests that are described utilize full size equipment and were developed by the tractor′s original equipment manufacturers(OEMs).
基金Supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China(863 Program)(2009AA01Z402)the PLA University of Science and Technology Pre-research Project(20110202,20110210)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China(BK2012059,BK2012060)the PLAUST Outstanding Graduate Student Thesis Fund(2012)
文摘A software security testing behavior model,SETAM,was proposed in our previous work as the integrated model for describing software security testing requirements behavior,which is not only compatible with security functions and latent typical misuse behaviors,but also with the interaction of them.In this paper,we analyze the differences between SETAM with security use case and security misuse case in different types of security test requirements.To illustrate the effectiveness of SETAM,we compare them in a practical case study by the number of test cases and the number of faults detected by them.The results show that SETAM could decrease about 34.87%use cases on average,and the number of faults detected by SETAM increased by 71.67%in average,which means that our model can detect more faults with fewer test cases for software security testing.
文摘Malaria is a major health problem in Nigeria that has as high as 25% of all global cases, and 30% of deaths attributable to malaria. In 2010, World Health Organization (WHO) recommended universal confirmation of diagnosis of malaria through blood parasitological test, prior to initiation of treatment. In addition to Microscopy, Malaria Rapid diagnostic Tests (mRDTs) are blood tests for malaria. Early diagnosis of malaria ensures that the correct treatment is commenced in good time, and this subsequently improves the prognosis. The objective of this study is to assess the use of mRDTs among medical doctors working in a tertiary hospital, Southeast Nigeria. This study was conducted in Enugu State Teaching hospital, Southeast Nigeria. The study was of cross-sectional design, and conducted in October 2016 among medical doctors working in the General Outpatient, Internal Medicine, and Paediatrics departments of the Teaching hospital. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 was used for data analysis. A total of 86 medical doctors, out of the eligible 91 in the three departments participated in the study, and were distributed as follows;24 (27.9%) in the General Outpatient, 30 (34.9%) in the Internal Medicine, and 32 (37.2%) in the Paediatrics departments. More medical doctors in the Paediatrics department (31.3%) used mRDTs in making diagnosis of malaria, followed by Internal medicine (13.3%), then General Outpatient Department (8.3%). Malaria rapid diagnostic tests are cost-effective, and useful tools in malaria control and elimination programmes. If tangible progress on the implementation of the WHO guidelines on confirming diagnosis of malaria before treatment;and the T3: Test, Treat, Track initiative is to be made;then the government and the Management of hospitals ought to take more determined efforts aimed at educating and informing health workers, especially medical doctors on the benefits of mRDTs.
文摘Fertilizers use can be optimized through soil testing and leaf analysis. This paper deals with using soil analysis as a base for fertilizer use in maize. A field experiment was carried out in two summer seasons of 2013 and 2014 with maize (triple hybrid) in Oraby Village, Mariut sector, Alexandria, Egypt. Soil testing shows that soil was clay loam, with high Na and CaCO<sub>3</sub> contents with high pH, low organic matter, medium P and K and low micronutrient contents (Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu), seven treatments were designed. The most promising treatment was when P and K were increased and micronutrients were added based on soil testing. This treatment resulted in the highest yield with better grain contents of protein and nutrients which indicated that soil-test based on fertilizer use was superior. Soil analysis at the end of the experiment showed higher P and K contents. This approach could be adopted for regions with similar soil conditions in other parts of the world.
文摘The study employed a descriptive mixed-methods qualitative case study approach.Material and interview-based data were collected from two EFL classes in a private international school in central China.Findings from RQ1 suggest that teacher-made summative tests were largely dependable to the extent that the tests reflect the syllabus-based construct and address students’affective factors.Findings from RQ2 suggest that facilitating factors including in-school continuous professional development(CPD)and teacher collegiality practices may enhance FUST’s prospective role.
文摘This study investigates the convergence hypothesis and stochastic dynamics of agricultural land use and ecological balance across 13 major agricultural countries from 1992 to 2022.The study's concentrated samples are Russia,the United States,the Netherlands,Brazil,Germany,China,France,Spain,Italy,Canada,Belgium,Indonesia,and India.The research uncovers notable variations in ecological balance by utilizing a comprehensive set of advanced panel unit root tests(Panel CIPS,CADF,Panel-LM,Panel-KPSS,and Bahmani-Oskooee et al.’s Panel KPSS Unit Root Test).The findings highlight significant improvements in Canada,contrasting with declines in the Netherlands,France,Germany,and the United States.The results indicate convergence in ecological balance among these countries,suggesting that agricultural practices are progressively aligning with sustainability objectives.The considered countries can determine and enact joint and collective policy actions addressing cropland sustainability.However,the univariate outcome also shows that the cropland ecological balance of Germany,China,France,Indonesia,and India does contain a unit root and stationary which means the presence of the constant-mean.The univariate actions from the mentioned governments will not promote persistent impact.Therefore,joint actions determined by the countries considered are recommended for the mentioned countries.However,the rest of the countries also enact local policies.The insights gained are critical for informing global sustainability strategies and aiding policymakers in developing effective measures to enhance agricultural practices and mitigate environmental impacts.This research provides a data-driven foundation for optimizing agricultural sustainability and supports international efforts to achieve long-term ecological stability.
基金the Observatory for Environment Research (ORE) in the project “Experimental Tropical Watersheds” (SO BVET) funded by IRD, INSU, and OMP for making available the hydrological and climatic data of the Nyong River basin under open access
文摘Uncontrolled land use land cover change(LULCC) is impacting watershed hydrology,particularly in tropical watersheds in developing countries. We assessed the extent of LULCC in the southern portion of the Nyong River basin through analysis of three land use maps in 1987, 2000 and2014. LULCC impact on hydrological variables of the Mbalmayo, Olama, Pont So’o, Messam, and Nsimi sub-watersheds of the southern portion of the Nyong River basin were evaluated by using the linear regression modeling and the Mann-Kendall test. This study reveals that dense forest cover decreased by16%, young secondary forest increased by 18%,agricultural/cropland increased by 10%, and built-up area/bare soil increased by 3% from 1987 to 2014.The decrease in dense forest cover at 0.6% per year on average was driven by indiscriminate expansion of subsistence agricultural/cropland through shifting and fallow cultivation farming systems. Nonsignificant trends in total discharge, high flows, and low flows were observed in the large sub-watersheds of Mbalmayo and Olama from 1998 to 2013 with LULCC within the watershed. In contrast, significant decreasing trends in stream discharge(up to-5.1%and-5.9%), and significant increasing trends in high flows(up to 2.1% and 6.3%), respectively, were observed in the small sub-watersheds of Pont So’o and Messam from 1998 to 2013, particularly with increase in agricultural/cropland cover and decrease in dense forest cover. However, we found nonsignificant trends in mean annual discharge and low flows for all and whole watershed with LULCC. The results reveal spatially varying trends of stream discharge, low flows and high flows among the subwatersheds with LULCC within the study watershed.The results suggest that the impacts of LULCC on watershed hydrology are easily detected in small subwatersheds than in large sub-watersheds. Therefore,the magnitude of dense forest cover loss must be significantly greater than 16% to cause significant changes and common trends in the hydrology of the sub-watersheds of the southern portion of the Nyong River basin. The Mann-Kendall and Regression approaches show appreciable potential for modelling the impacts of LULCC on the hydrology of the southern portion of the Nyong River basin and for informing forest management.
文摘Alcohol use disorders represent a heterogeneous spectrum of clinical manifestations that have been defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5. Excessive alcohol intake can lead to damage of various organs, including the liver. Alcoholic liver disease includes different injuries ranging from steatosis to cirrhosis and implicates a diagnostic assessment of the liver disease and of its possible complications. There is growing interest in the possible different tools for assessing previous alcohol consumption and for establishing the severity of liver injury, especially by noninvasive methods.
文摘Tests of preoperative visual function and prediction of postoperative E chart visual acuity(ECVA) using laser interferometric visual acuity(LIVA) and electroretinogram(ERG) were performed in 16 cases(19 eyes) of cataract. The results showed that the coincident rate between preoperative LIVA and postoperative ECVA was 63.2%, and there was a parallel correlation between preoperative amplitude of photopic ERG b-wave and postoperative ECVA in 79.0% of the eyes. Comparing these two methods, the test of LIVA ...
文摘BACKGROUND: Pain and sensory disability are greatly affected by subjective factors, there are no quantitative indexes to evaluate cervical spondylotic radiculopathy(CSR). The judgment on clinical body examination and chief complaint always causes nonobjective results with great individual differences. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) can be used to judge the nerve function of fibril. The application of QST for the quantitative evaluation of peripheral nervous system disease needs to be further studied. OBJECTIVE: The cold-thermal sensation and pain of patients with CSR are quantitatively analyzed by using QST technology in order to evaluate the nerve function of fibril in patients with CSR. DESIGN: Case-control observation. SETTING: Pain Center of Beijing Hospital of Ministry of Health. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty patients with CSR, including 8 males and 12 females, aged from 33 to 70 years, who received treatment between January and April 2005 in Pain Center of Beijing Hospital of Ministry of Health were involved in CSR group. All the involved patients presented symptoms in unilateral upper extremity (left side 10 patients, right side 10 patients). They did not undergo physical therapy or nerve block therapy in 1 week before examination. Eight non-CSR patients who received treatment in Pain Center concurrently were involved in the control group (2 patients with trigeminal neuralgia, 4 with osteoarthrosis of knee joint and 2 with lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion), and another 12 healthy volunteers were involved. Four non-CSR patients and 12 healthy volunteers, 8 male and 12 female, were aged from 23 to 75 years. The informed consents were obtained from all the involved subjects. METHODS: The volar thresholds of cold sensation, thermal sensation, cryalgesia of thenar eminence of both upper extremities of all the subjects were examined separately by limit method with type TSA-Ⅱ temperature sensation analysator made by Medco Company (Israel). The subjects were pre-examined to be familiar with the method for sensory discrimination and affirmation. Thenar eminence vola of bilateral upper extremities were detected. The infrared detector of a semiconductor was contacted with skin. The infrared detector could be used to heat and cool skin. A group of cold-heat water circulation device was given electric current to produce temperature gradient, which was higher or lower than skin temperature. The initial temperature of infrared detector was 32 ℃, stimulation temperature was increased or decreased progressively at 1 ℃/s, and temperature change range was 0 to 50 ℃. In the first step, subjects pressed down the button to stop the stimulation when the temperature of infrared detector was decreased progressively until the subjects felt, and the threshold of cold sensation was obtained; In the second step, the threshold of thermal sensation was obtained when the temperature of infrared detector was increased progressively until the subjects felt; In the third step, the threshold of cryalgesia was obtained when the temperature of infrared detector was decreased progressively until subjects felt; and in the fourth step, the threshold of thermalgesia was obtained when the temperature of infrared detector was increased progressively until subjects felt. Each step was conducted 4 times and the mean threshold was obtained. Before each measurement, the temperature was made to rebound to the initial temperature and kept for 10 s. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The thresholds of cold sensation, thermal sensation and cryalgesia, thermalgesia of thenar eminence vola of bilateral upper extremities of all the subjects. RESULTS: Twenty patients with CSR and 20 healthy subjects participated in the final results. ① In the CSR group, the threshold of cold sensation of affected side was lower than that of intact side [(29.00±1.26) ℃ vs.(30.00±1.06) ℃, P < 0.05], and the threshold of thermal sensation of affected side was higher than that of intact side [(35.04±0.87) ℃ vs. (34.14±0.99) ℃, P < 0.05]. There were no significant differences in the thresholds of cold and thermal sensation between affected side and intact side (P > 0.05). ②In the CSR group, the difference of threshold of cold sensation, thermal sensation, cryalgesia and thermalgesia between affected side and intact side was (-1.01±0.57), (0.89±0.39), (2.49±1.10) and (-1.62±0.86) ℃, respectively , the absolute value of which was higher than that of control group, respectively [(0.04±0.28),(0.05±0.26),(0.28±1.79),(0.17±1.10) ℃,P < 0.01]. In the CSR group, the threshold of cold sensation and thermalgesia of affected side was lower than that of intact side, respectively; and the threshold of thermal sensation and cryalgesia of affected side was higher than that of intact side, respectively. CONCLUSION: The superficial sensation of affected extremity of patients with CSR is lessened as compared with that of intact extremity. There are dysfunctions of small myelinated fiber (Aδ fiber) and demyelinated fiber (C fiber) in the affected-side extremity. QST, as a mean for quantitatively evaluating the function of Aδ fiber and C fiber, plays an objective evaluative role in the diagnosis and therapeutic effect observation of CSR.
文摘Inconsistent condom use among persons on antiretroviral treatment (ART) is a major public health concern because of the risk of HIV transmission. This study examined the association between socio-demographic variables and knowing partners’ HIV status, multiple sex partners, and consistent condom use among 400 HIV-infected adults who had received ART for at least six months in Johannesburg, South Africa. The study used a cross-sectional survey and a structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Over half (n = 225, 56.3%) of participants were on ART for more than two years. Two thirds (n = 234, 63.2%) were aware of partner’s HIV status. Over a third (n = 136, 34.0%) reported having more than one sex partners. Three quarters (n = 279, 75.8%) reported consistent condom use with regular partner. Discussing HIV testing (aOR = 2.28, CI: 1.31 -3.95), awareness of partner’s HIV status (aOR = 2.59, CI: 1.50 -4.46), level of education (aOR = 0.64, CI: 0.42 -0.98), and duration on ART (aOR = 0.71, CI: 1.31 -3.95) were predictors for consistent condom use. Awareness of partner’s HIV status was associated with multiple partnership (aOR = 0.38, CI: 0.21 -0.66), living with partner (aOR = 4.75, CI: 2.86 -7.91), discussing HIV testing (aOR = 2.43, CI: 1.48 -3.99), and duration on ART (aOR = 2.04, CI: 1.43 -2.92). While gender (aOR = 5.68, CI: 3.46 -9.34), marital status (aOR = 0.44, CI: 0.25 -0.77), and awareness of partner’s HIV status (aOR = 0.52, CI: 0.30 -0.89) were associated with multiple partnerships. Risky sexual behaviours occurred in all types of partners and knowing partner’s HIV status was a predictor for consistent condom use with all types of partners. It is essential that HIV prevention strategies create an enabling environment for disclosure and reductions of risky sexual behaviours by HIV-infected persons on ART.
文摘In software industry the major problem encountered during project scheduling is in deciding what proportion of the resources has allocated to the testing phase. In general it has been observed that about 40%-50% of the resources need to be allocated to the testing phase. However it is very difficult to predict the exact amount of effort required to be allocated to testing phase. As a result the project planning goes haywire. The project which has not been tested sufficiently can cause huge losses to the organization. This research paper focuses on finding a method which gives a measure of the effort to be spent on the testing phase. This paper provides effort estimates during pre-coding and post-coding phases using neural network to predict more accurately.
文摘Ⅰ The Indexes of Detecting Oil and Gas Resources The deeply buried reservoir which in a dynamic equilibrium state has a great pressure inside, and between it and earth surface there is a great difference of pressure. Therefore the hydrocarbon must spread and move vertically to the surface along the pressure gradient orientation. Hydrocarbons in the reservoir along some small rifts, cracks, joints and cleavages penetrate the overlying strata and seepage onto the surface. Thus the hydrocarbons become unvisble oil and gas signs. This process is called the phenomena of hydrocarbon microseepage of reservoir. Hydrocarbons microseepage in the process
文摘Hairdressers are exposed to numerous skin-damaging factors, such as wet work, skin irritants, and thermal changes. Skin protection is a very important factor for the prevention of occupational skin disorders. Therefore, we evaluated a hand cream that was specially formulated for highly stressed skin with regard to its capability to reduce dry, rough, and scaly skin. The objective of this study was to conduct a controlled use test of a barrier repair cream containing pseudo-ceramide and demonstrate its efficacy for hairdressers with dry, sensitive hands and/or occupational skin disorders. A total of 30 hairdressers (29 females and 1 male, aged 20 - 67) participated in the study. All subjects suffered from dry hands. Subjects applied the test cream on their hands for 28 days (four weeks). For each subject, the skin surface topography of the hands was measured by the Surface Evaluation of Living Skin (SELS) system at day 14 (week 2) and day 28 (week 4). Dryness, scaling, cracking, redness, and itchiness were evaluated and graded by experts at week 2 and week 4, and then compared to baselines. All 30 subjects completed the study. A comparison of the changes from baseline to endpoint revealed a statistically significant reduction in skin roughness, scaling, and volume measured according to SELS. These data were confirmed by photographic documentation. The results were further supported by the expert evaluation. For the symptoms dryness and scaling, improvement could be observed in almost all regions of the hands. In addition, according to subjective assessments of overall hand skin condition and the hand cream, subjects reported clear improvement over time (p value below 0.001) and good efficacy of the product. In this study, the test hand cream showed excellent skin compatibility. Therefore, the hand cream may be effective for hairdressers with dry, sensitive hands and/or occupational skin disorders.
文摘Gypsum is widely distributed in Tunisia occurring in the formation of Triassic age. The gypsum deposit of Mellegue is the alabastine type with a little of the porphyroblast type and contains traces of clay minerals and calcite. It is a moderately strong rock in terms of its unconfined compressive strength of 16 Mpa and tensile strength of 3.35 Mpa. Triaxial testing values indicated an apparent cohesion of 10 Mpa and an angle of friction of 26°. The gypsum studied had a percentage of SO<sub>3</sub> of 41.71% and a percentage of CaO of 32.9%. All the samples had low densities according to the International Association of Engineering Geology (IAEG) classification and exhibited a moderate porosity whether effective or absolute. The gypsum proved to be moderately strong when tested in unconfined compression and tensile strength. Thermal analysis indicated a total weight loss of 20.27% and the whiteness index about 90%. This proved a high degree of whiteness. The time of setting can be considered short and medium, which is quite favorable for industrial application compared with other gypsum deposits currently operated.
