AIM: To investigate the effect of the ‘‘minimizing tacrolimus' ' strategy on long-term survival of patients after liver transplantation(LT).METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 319 patients who rec...AIM: To investigate the effect of the ‘‘minimizing tacrolimus' ' strategy on long-term survival of patients after liver transplantation(LT).METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 319 patients who received LT between January 2009 and December 2011 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Following elimination of ineligible patients, 235 patients were included in the study. The relationship between early tacrolimus(TAC)exposure and survival period was analyzed by Kaplan Meier curves. Adverse effects related to TAC were eval-uated by the χ2 test. Routine monitoring of blood TAC concentration(TC) was performed using the PRO-TracTM Ⅱ Tacrolimus Elisa Kit(Diasorin, United States). RESULTS: Of 235 subjects enrolled in the study, 124(52.8%) experienced adverse effects due to TAC. When evaluating mean TC, the survival time of patients with a mean TC < 5 ng/mL was significantly shorter than that in the other groups(911.3 ± 131.6 d vs 1381.1 ± 66.1 d, 911.3 ± 131.6 d vs 1327.3 ± 47.8 d, 911.3 ± 131.6 d vs 1343.2 ± 83.1 d, P < 0.05), while the survival times of patients with a mean TC of 5-7, 7-10 and 10-15 ng/mL were comparable. Adverse effects due to TAC in all four groups were not significantly different. When comparing the standard deviation(SD) of TC among the groups, the survival time of patients with a SD of 2-4 was significantly longer than that in the other groups(1388.8 ± 45.4 d vs 1029.6 ± 131.3 d, 1388.8 ± 45.4 d vs 1274.9 ± 57.0 d, P < 0.05), while in patients with a SD < 2 and SD > 4, the survival time was not statistically different. Adverse effects experienced in all three groups were not statistically different. In Cox regression analysis, male patients and those with a primary diagnosis of benign disease, mean TC > 5 ng/mL and TC SD 2-4 had better outcomes.CONCLUSION: The early ‘‘minimizing tacrolimus' ' strategy with a mean TC of 5-10 ng/mL and SD of 2-4 was beneficial in terms of long-term survival after LT.展开更多
A class of variational problems with small parameters is studied. Their zeroth-order asymptotic solutions are constructed. It is shown that the zeroth-order asymptotic solution is just the minimizing sequence of varia...A class of variational problems with small parameters is studied. Their zeroth-order asymptotic solutions are constructed. It is shown that the zeroth-order asymptotic solution is just the minimizing sequence of variational problems as the small parameter approaches to zero.展开更多
Background:Right ventricular pacing disrupts atrioventricular synchrony and increases the risk of atrial fi brillation(AF).However,whether algorithms for minimizing ventricular pacing reduce the incidence of AF remain...Background:Right ventricular pacing disrupts atrioventricular synchrony and increases the risk of atrial fi brillation(AF).However,whether algorithms for minimizing ventricular pacing reduce the incidence of AF remains controversial.Therefore,we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the incidence of AF between minimizing ventricular pacing and conventional pacing protocols in patients with pacemakers implanted.Methods:The PubMed,Embase,and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to August 1,2017,for randomized controlled trials that reported the incidence of AF in patients with and without the use of algorithms for minimizing ventricular pacing.Results:Eleven studies comprising 5705 participants(61%males,mean age 71 years[standard deviation 11 years])were fi nally included in the analysis.The mean follow-up duration was 24 months.Use of algorithms for minimizing ventricular pacing signifi cantly reduced the incidence of AF,with an odds ratio of 0.74(95%confi dence interval 0.55–1.00;P<0.05).There was moderate heterogeneity among studies(I 2=63%).Conclusions:The incidence of AF was reduced by 26%with use of algorithms for minimizing ventricular pacing.The incorporation of such algorithms in routine clinical practice should in theory lead to a decrease in AF-related morbidity and mortality.展开更多
In order to optimize the transitional time during the successive exposure scans for a step-and-scan lithography and improve the productivity in a wafer production process, an investigation of the motion trajectory pla...In order to optimize the transitional time during the successive exposure scans for a step-and-scan lithography and improve the productivity in a wafer production process, an investigation of the motion trajectory planning along the scanning direction for wafer stage was carried out. The motions of wafer stage were divided into two respective logical moves （i. e. step-move and scan-move） and the multi-motionoverlap algorithms （MMOA） were presented for optimizing the transitional time between the successive exposure scans. The conventional motion planning method, the Hazelton method and the MMOA were analyzed theoretically and simulated using MATLAB under four different exposure field sizes. The results show that the total time between two successive scans consumed by MMOA is reduced by 4.82%, 2.62%, 3.06% and 3.96%, compared with those of the conventional motion planning method; and reduced by 2.58%, 0.76%, 1.63% and 2.92%, compared with those of the Hazehon method respectively. The theoretical analyses and simulation results illuminate that the MMOA can effectively minimize the transitional step time between successive exposure scans and therefore increase the wafer fabricating productivity.展开更多
Minimization of transportation time is a great concern of the transportation problems like the cost minimizing transportation problems. In this writing, a transportation algorithm is developed and applied to obtain an...Minimization of transportation time is a great concern of the transportation problems like the cost minimizing transportation problems. In this writing, a transportation algorithm is developed and applied to obtain an Initial Basic Feasible Solution (IBFS) of transportation problems in minimizing transportation time. The developed method has also been illustrated numerically to test the efficiency of the method where it is observed that the proposed method yields a better result.展开更多
It is common practice in science to take a weighted average of estimators of a single parameter. If the original estimators are unbiased, any weighted average will be an unbiased estimator as well. The best estimator ...It is common practice in science to take a weighted average of estimators of a single parameter. If the original estimators are unbiased, any weighted average will be an unbiased estimator as well. The best estimator among the weighted averages can be obtained by choosing weights that minimize the variance of the weighted average. If the variances of the individual estimators are given, the ideal weights have long been known to be the inverse of the variance. Nonetheless, I have not found a formal proof of this result in the literature. In this article, I provide three different proofs of the ideal weights.展开更多
This study is concerned with a new,explicit approach by means of which forms of the large strain elastic potential for multiaxial rubberlike elasticity may be obtained based on data for a single deformation mode.As a ...This study is concerned with a new,explicit approach by means of which forms of the large strain elastic potential for multiaxial rubberlike elasticity may be obtained based on data for a single deformation mode.As a departure from usual studies,here for the first time errors may be estimated and rendered minimal for all possible deformation modes and,furthermore,failure behavior may be incorporated.Numerical examples presented are in accurate agreement with Treloar＇s well-known data.展开更多
Using porous carbon hosts in cathodes of Li-S cells can disperse S actives and offset their poor electrical conductivity.However,such reservoirs would in turn absorb excess electrolyte solvents to S-unfilled regions,c...Using porous carbon hosts in cathodes of Li-S cells can disperse S actives and offset their poor electrical conductivity.However,such reservoirs would in turn absorb excess electrolyte solvents to S-unfilled regions,causing the electrolyte overconsumption,specific energy decline,and even safety hazards for battery devices.To build better cathodes,we propose to substitute carbons by In-doped SnO_(2)(ITO)nano ceramics that own three-in-one functionalities:1)using conductive ITO enables minimizing the total carbon content to an extremely low mass ratio(~3%)in cathodes,elevating the electrode tap density and averting the electrolyte overuse;2)polar ITO nanoclusters can serve as robust anchors toward Li polysulfide(LiPS)by electrostatic adsorption or chemical bond interactions;3)they offer catalysis centers for liquid–solid phase conversions of S-based actives.Also,such ceramics are intrinsically nonflammable,preventing S cathodes away from thermal runaway or explosion.These merits entail our configured cathodes with high tap density(1.54 g cm^(−3)),less electrolyte usage,good security for flame retardance,and decent Li-storage behaviors.With lean and LiNO_(3)-free electrolyte,packed full cells exhibit excellent redox kinetics,suppressed LiPS shuttling,and excellent cyclability.This may trigger great research enthusiasm in rational design of low-carbon and safer S cathodes.展开更多
We investigate different techniques for fitting Bézier curves to surfaces in context of high-order curvilinear mesh generation. Starting from distance-based least-squares fitting we develop an incremental algorit...We investigate different techniques for fitting Bézier curves to surfaces in context of high-order curvilinear mesh generation. Starting from distance-based least-squares fitting we develop an incremental algorithm, which incorporates approximations of stretch and bending energy. In the process, the algorithm reduces the energy weight in favor of accuracy, leading to an optimized set of sampling points. This energy-minimizing fitting strategy is applied to analytically defined as well as triangulated surfaces. The results confirm that the proposed method straightens and shortens the curves efficiently. Moreover the method preserves the accuracy and convergence behavior of distance-based fitting. Preliminary application to surface mesh generation shows a remarkable improvement of patch quality in high curvature regions.展开更多
In this paper, we mainly consider the complexity of the k-splittable flow minimizing congestion problem. We give some complexity results. For the k-splittable flow problem, the existence of a feasible solution is stro...In this paper, we mainly consider the complexity of the k-splittable flow minimizing congestion problem. We give some complexity results. For the k-splittable flow problem, the existence of a feasible solution is strongly NP-hard. When the number of the source nodes is an input, for the uniformly exactly k-splittable flow problem, obtaining an approximation algorithm with performance ratio better than (√5+1)/2 is NP-hard. When k is an input, for single commodity k-splittable flow problem, obtaining an algorithm with performance ratio better than is NP-hard. In the last of the paper, we study the relationship of minimizing congestion and minimizing number of rounds in the k-splittable flow problem. The smaller the congestion is, the smaller the number of rounds.展开更多
A common homework problem in texts covering calculus-based simple linear regression is to find a set of values of the independent variable which minimize the standard error of the estimated slope. All discussions the ...A common homework problem in texts covering calculus-based simple linear regression is to find a set of values of the independent variable which minimize the standard error of the estimated slope. All discussions the authors have heard regarding this problem, as well as all texts with which the authors of this paper are familiar and which include this problem, provide no solution, a partial solution, or an outline of a solution without theoretical proof and the provided solution is incorrect. Going back to first principles we provide the complete correct solution to this problem.展开更多
This paper introduces a novel numerical method based on an energy-minimizing normalized residual network(EMNorm Res Net)to compute the ground-state solution of Bose-Einstein condensates at zero or low temperatures.Sta...This paper introduces a novel numerical method based on an energy-minimizing normalized residual network(EMNorm Res Net)to compute the ground-state solution of Bose-Einstein condensates at zero or low temperatures.Starting from the three-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation(GPE),we reduce it to the 1D and 2D GPEs because of the radial symmetry and cylindrical symmetry.The ground-state solution is formulated by minimizing the energy functional under constraints,which is directly solved using the EM-Norm Res Net approach.The paper provides detailed solutions for the ground states in 1D,2D(with radial symmetry),and 3D(with cylindrical symmetry).We use the Thomas-Fermi approximation as the target function to pre-train the neural network.Then,the formal network is trained using the energy minimization method.In contrast to traditional numerical methods,our neural network approach introduces two key innovations:(i)a novel normalization technique designed for high-dimensional systems within an energy-based loss function;(ii)improved training efficiency and model robustness by incorporating gradient stabilization techniques into residual networks.Extensive numerical experiments validate the method's accuracy across different spatial dimensions.展开更多
The voltage generated by power plants is increased using step-up transformers and then transferred using high-voltage transmission lines. In a distribution system, the voltage is stepped down to certain levels and is ...The voltage generated by power plants is increased using step-up transformers and then transferred using high-voltage transmission lines. In a distribution system, the voltage is stepped down to certain levels and is utilized by consumers. The losses in distribution networks are very high compared with the transmission line losses because of the high value of the line resistance (R) compared with the reactance (X), high current, and low voltage. Distribution companies have an economic incentive to minimize network losses. Generally, the incentive is the difference between the actual losses and standard losses. Therefore, when the actual losses are greater than the standard losses, distribution companies are fined. If the actual losses are less than the standard losses, distribution companies earn profits. Consequently, the issue of power losses in distribution networks has attracted the attention of researchers. Numerous methods and techniques have been examined and implemented to reduce distribution system losses. These methods differ based on the selection of the loss reduction mechanism, formulation of the problem, technique utilized, and solution obtained. Many techniques are used to minimize losses, such as power factor correction, reconfiguration, distributed generation allocation, load balancing, voltage upgrades, and conductor upgrades. In this study, a literature review, general background on distribution loss minimization, and a comprehensive comparison of the main techniques are presented to examine the best methods for minimizing power losses.展开更多
In the practice of healthcare,patient-reported outcomes(PROs)and PRO measures(PROMs)are used as an attempt to observe the changes in complex clinical situations.They guide us in making decisions based on the evidence ...In the practice of healthcare,patient-reported outcomes(PROs)and PRO measures(PROMs)are used as an attempt to observe the changes in complex clinical situations.They guide us in making decisions based on the evidence regarding patient care by recording the change in outcomes for a particular treatment to a given condition and finally to understand whether a patient will benefit from a particular treatment and to quantify the treatment effect.For any PROM to be usable in health care,we need it to be reliable,encapsulating the points of interest with the potential to detect any real change.Using structured outcome measures routinely in clinical practice helps the physician to understand the functional limitation of a patient that would otherwise not be clear in an office interview,and this allows the physician and patient to have a meaningful conver-sation as well as a customized plan for each patient.Having mentioned the rationale and the benefits of PROMs,understanding the quantification process is crucial before embarking on management decisions.A better interpretation of change needs to identify the treatment effect based on clinical relevance for a given condition.There are a multiple set of measurement indices to serve this effect and most of them are used interchangeably without clear demarcation on their differences.This article details the various quantification metrics used to evaluate the treatment effect using PROMs,their limitations and the scope of usage and implementation in clinical practice.展开更多
In order to study the minimization of excess sludge production,the reduction in the excess sludge production in the presence of an inhibitor and uncoupler was studied in this work.The experimental results show that su...In order to study the minimization of excess sludge production,the reduction in the excess sludge production in the presence of an inhibitor and uncoupler was studied in this work.The experimental results show that such an addition could effectively reduce the production of excess sludge.With the energy uncoupling model established in this work,energy uncoupling coefficient(Eu)was used to evaluate the reduction in excess sludge production.The energy uncoupling coefficients in the presence of dinitrophenol(dNP),Zn^(2+),and Cu^(2+)was 0.75,0.46,and 0.18,respectively.The analysis demonstrated that energy spilling occurred in the presence of dNP,and that dNP was an effective uncoupler for reducing the production of excess activated sludge without affecting the microbial respiration activity.展开更多
The formal asymptotic analysis of D. Fox, A. Raoult & J.C. Simo[10] has justified the twodimensional nonlinear "membrane" equations for a plate made of a Saint Venant-Kirchhoff material.This model, which...The formal asymptotic analysis of D. Fox, A. Raoult & J.C. Simo[10] has justified the twodimensional nonlinear "membrane" equations for a plate made of a Saint Venant-Kirchhoff material.This model, which retains the material-frame indifference of the original three dimensional problem in the sense that its energy density is invariant under the rotations of R3, is equivalent to finding the critical points of a functional whose nonlinear part depends on the first fundamental form of the unknown deformed surface.The author establishes here, by the inverse function theorem, the existence of an injective solution to the clamped membrane problem around particular forces corresponding physically to an "extension" of the membrane. Furthermore, it is proved that the solution found in this fashion is also the unique minimizer to the nonlinear membrane functional, which is not sequentially weakly lower semi-continuous.展开更多
BACKGROUND Currently,very few studies have examined the analgesic effectiveness and safety of dexmedetomidine-assisted intravenous-inhalation combined general anesthesia in laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for ...BACKGROUND Currently,very few studies have examined the analgesic effectiveness and safety of dexmedetomidine-assisted intravenous-inhalation combined general anesthesia in laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for inguinal hernia.AIM To investigate the analgesic effect and safety of dexmedetomidine-assisted intravenous-inhalation combined general anesthesia in laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for inguinal hernia.METHODS In this retrospective study,94 patients scheduled for laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for inguinal hernia,admitted to Yiwu Central Hospital between May 2022 and May 2023,were divided into a control group(inhalation combined general anesthesia)and a treatment group(dexmedetomidine-assisted intrave-nous-inhalation combined general anesthesia).Perioperative indicators,analgesic effect,preoperative and postoperative 24-hours blood pressure(BP)and heart rate(HR),stress indicators,immune function levels,and adverse reactions were com-pared between the two groups.RESULTS Baseline data,including age,hernia location,place of residence,weight,monthly income,education level,and underlying diseases,were not significantly different between the two groups,indicating comparability(P>0.05).No significant difference was found in operation time and anesthesia time between the two groups(P>0.05).However,the treatment group exhibited a shorter postoperative urinary catheter removal time and hospital stay than the control group(P<0.05).Preoperatively,no significant differences were found in the visual analog scale(VAS)scores between the two groups(P>0.05).However,at 12,18,and 24 hours postoper-atively,the treatment group had significantly lower VAS scores than the control group(P<0.05).Although no significant differences in preoperative hemodynamic indicators were found between the two groups(P>0.05),both groups experienced some extent of changes in postoperative HR,diastolic BP(DBP),and systolic BP(SBP).Nevertheless,the treatment group showed smaller changes in HR,DBP,and SBP than the control group(P<0.05).Preoperative immune function indicators showed no significant differences between the two groups(P>0.05).However,postoperatively,the treatment group demonstrated higher levels of CD3+,CD4+,and CD4+/CD8+and lower levels of CD8+than the control group(P<0.05).The rates of adverse reactions were 6.38%and 23.40%in the treatment and control groups,respectively,revealing a significant difference(χ2=5.371,P=0.020).CONCLUSION Dexmedetomidine-assisted intravenous-inhalation combined general anesthesia can promote early recovery of patients undergoing laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for inguinal hernia.It ensures stable blood flow,improves postoperative analgesic effects,reduces postoperative pain intensity,alleviates stress response,improves immune function,facilitates anesthesia recovery,and enhances safety.展开更多
Pulpotomy,which belongs to vital pulp therapy,has become a strategy for managing pulpitis in recent decades.This minimally invasive treatment reflects the recognition of preserving healthy dental pulp and optimizing l...Pulpotomy,which belongs to vital pulp therapy,has become a strategy for managing pulpitis in recent decades.This minimally invasive treatment reflects the recognition of preserving healthy dental pulp and optimizing long-term patient-centered outcomes.Pulpotomy is categorized into partial pulpotomy(PP),the removal of a partial segment of the coronal pulp tissue,and full pulpotomy(FP),the removal of whole coronal pulp,which is followed by applying the biomaterials onto the remaining pulp tissue and ultimately restoring the tooth.Procedural decisions for the amount of pulp tissue removal or retention depend on the diagnostic of pulp vitality,the overall treatment plan,the patient’s general health status,and pulp inflammation reassessment during operation.This statement represents the consensus of an expert committee convened by the Society of Cariology and Endodontics,Chinese Stomatological Association.It addresses the current evidence to support the application of pulpotomy as a potential alternative to root canal treatment(RCT)on mature permanent teeth with pulpitis from a biological basis,the development of capping biomaterial,and the diagnostic considerations to evidence-based medicine.This expert statement intends to provide a clinical protocol of pulpotomy,which facilitates practitioners in choosing the optimal procedure and increasing their confidence in this rapidly evolving field.展开更多
BACKGROUND Minimally invasive esophagectomy(MIE)is a widely accepted treatment for esophageal cancer,yet it is associated with a significant risk of surgical adverse events(SAEs),which can compromise patient recovery ...BACKGROUND Minimally invasive esophagectomy(MIE)is a widely accepted treatment for esophageal cancer,yet it is associated with a significant risk of surgical adverse events(SAEs),which can compromise patient recovery and long-term survival.Accurate preoperative identification of high-risk patients is critical for improving outcomes.AIM To establish and validate a risk prediction and stratification model for the risk of SAEs in patients with MIE.METHODS This retrospective study included 747 patients who underwent MIE at two centers from January 2019 to February 2024.Patients were separated into a train set(n=549)and a validation set(n=198).After screening by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression,multivariate logistic regression analyzed clinical and intraoperative variables to identify independent risk factors for SAEs.A risk stratification model was constructed and validated to predict the probability of SAEs.RESULTS SAEs occurred in 10.2%of patients in train set and 13.6%in the validation set.Patients with SAE had significantly higher complication rate and a longer hospital stay after surgery.The key independent risk factors identified included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,a history of alcohol consumption,low forced expiratory volume in the first second,and low albumin levels.The stratification model has excellent prediction accuracy,with an area under the curve of 0.889 for the training set and an area under the curve of 0.793 for the validation set.CONCLUSION The developed risk stratification model effectively predicts the risk of SAEs in patients undergoing MIE,facilitating targeted preoperative interventions and improving perioperative management.展开更多
基金Supported by National S and T Major Program,No.2012 ZX10002004National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81373160 and No.81302074
文摘AIM: To investigate the effect of the ‘‘minimizing tacrolimus' ' strategy on long-term survival of patients after liver transplantation(LT).METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 319 patients who received LT between January 2009 and December 2011 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Following elimination of ineligible patients, 235 patients were included in the study. The relationship between early tacrolimus(TAC)exposure and survival period was analyzed by Kaplan Meier curves. Adverse effects related to TAC were eval-uated by the χ2 test. Routine monitoring of blood TAC concentration(TC) was performed using the PRO-TracTM Ⅱ Tacrolimus Elisa Kit(Diasorin, United States). RESULTS: Of 235 subjects enrolled in the study, 124(52.8%) experienced adverse effects due to TAC. When evaluating mean TC, the survival time of patients with a mean TC < 5 ng/mL was significantly shorter than that in the other groups(911.3 ± 131.6 d vs 1381.1 ± 66.1 d, 911.3 ± 131.6 d vs 1327.3 ± 47.8 d, 911.3 ± 131.6 d vs 1343.2 ± 83.1 d, P < 0.05), while the survival times of patients with a mean TC of 5-7, 7-10 and 10-15 ng/mL were comparable. Adverse effects due to TAC in all four groups were not significantly different. When comparing the standard deviation(SD) of TC among the groups, the survival time of patients with a SD of 2-4 was significantly longer than that in the other groups(1388.8 ± 45.4 d vs 1029.6 ± 131.3 d, 1388.8 ± 45.4 d vs 1274.9 ± 57.0 d, P < 0.05), while in patients with a SD < 2 and SD > 4, the survival time was not statistically different. Adverse effects experienced in all three groups were not statistically different. In Cox regression analysis, male patients and those with a primary diagnosis of benign disease, mean TC > 5 ng/mL and TC SD 2-4 had better outcomes.CONCLUSION: The early ‘‘minimizing tacrolimus' ' strategy with a mean TC of 5-10 ng/mL and SD of 2-4 was beneficial in terms of long-term survival after LT.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 10671070)the Fund for E-Institute of Shanghai Universities (No. E03004)the Open Research Fund Program of LGISEM(No. 05PJ14040)
文摘A class of variational problems with small parameters is studied. Their zeroth-order asymptotic solutions are constructed. It is shown that the zeroth-order asymptotic solution is just the minimizing sequence of variational problems as the small parameter approaches to zero.
文摘Background:Right ventricular pacing disrupts atrioventricular synchrony and increases the risk of atrial fi brillation(AF).However,whether algorithms for minimizing ventricular pacing reduce the incidence of AF remains controversial.Therefore,we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the incidence of AF between minimizing ventricular pacing and conventional pacing protocols in patients with pacemakers implanted.Methods:The PubMed,Embase,and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to August 1,2017,for randomized controlled trials that reported the incidence of AF in patients with and without the use of algorithms for minimizing ventricular pacing.Results:Eleven studies comprising 5705 participants(61%males,mean age 71 years[standard deviation 11 years])were fi nally included in the analysis.The mean follow-up duration was 24 months.Use of algorithms for minimizing ventricular pacing signifi cantly reduced the incidence of AF,with an odds ratio of 0.74(95%confi dence interval 0.55–1.00;P<0.05).There was moderate heterogeneity among studies(I 2=63%).Conclusions:The incidence of AF was reduced by 26%with use of algorithms for minimizing ventricular pacing.The incorporation of such algorithms in routine clinical practice should in theory lead to a decrease in AF-related morbidity and mortality.
基金the National Basic Research Program of China(No.2003CB716206)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.50605025)
文摘In order to optimize the transitional time during the successive exposure scans for a step-and-scan lithography and improve the productivity in a wafer production process, an investigation of the motion trajectory planning along the scanning direction for wafer stage was carried out. The motions of wafer stage were divided into two respective logical moves （i. e. step-move and scan-move） and the multi-motionoverlap algorithms （MMOA） were presented for optimizing the transitional time between the successive exposure scans. The conventional motion planning method, the Hazelton method and the MMOA were analyzed theoretically and simulated using MATLAB under four different exposure field sizes. The results show that the total time between two successive scans consumed by MMOA is reduced by 4.82%, 2.62%, 3.06% and 3.96%, compared with those of the conventional motion planning method; and reduced by 2.58%, 0.76%, 1.63% and 2.92%, compared with those of the Hazehon method respectively. The theoretical analyses and simulation results illuminate that the MMOA can effectively minimize the transitional step time between successive exposure scans and therefore increase the wafer fabricating productivity.
文摘Minimization of transportation time is a great concern of the transportation problems like the cost minimizing transportation problems. In this writing, a transportation algorithm is developed and applied to obtain an Initial Basic Feasible Solution (IBFS) of transportation problems in minimizing transportation time. The developed method has also been illustrated numerically to test the efficiency of the method where it is observed that the proposed method yields a better result.
文摘It is common practice in science to take a weighted average of estimators of a single parameter. If the original estimators are unbiased, any weighted average will be an unbiased estimator as well. The best estimator among the weighted averages can be obtained by choosing weights that minimize the variance of the weighted average. If the variances of the individual estimators are given, the ideal weights have long been known to be the inverse of the variance. Nonetheless, I have not found a formal proof of this result in the literature. In this article, I provide three different proofs of the ideal weights.
基金the support of the start-up fund from the Education Committee of China through Shanghai University(Grant S.15-B002-09-032)the fund for research innovation from Shanghai University(Grants S.10-0401-12-001)the fund from Natural Science Foundation of China(Grants 11372172,11472164)
文摘This study is concerned with a new,explicit approach by means of which forms of the large strain elastic potential for multiaxial rubberlike elasticity may be obtained based on data for a single deformation mode.As a departure from usual studies,here for the first time errors may be estimated and rendered minimal for all possible deformation modes and,furthermore,failure behavior may be incorporated.Numerical examples presented are in accurate agreement with Treloar＇s well-known data.
基金support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51802269,21773138)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(XDJK2019AA002)+1 种基金the Venture&Innovation Support Program for Chongqing Overseas Returnees(cx2018027)the innovation platform for academicians of Hainan province.
文摘Using porous carbon hosts in cathodes of Li-S cells can disperse S actives and offset their poor electrical conductivity.However,such reservoirs would in turn absorb excess electrolyte solvents to S-unfilled regions,causing the electrolyte overconsumption,specific energy decline,and even safety hazards for battery devices.To build better cathodes,we propose to substitute carbons by In-doped SnO_(2)(ITO)nano ceramics that own three-in-one functionalities:1)using conductive ITO enables minimizing the total carbon content to an extremely low mass ratio(~3%)in cathodes,elevating the electrode tap density and averting the electrolyte overuse;2)polar ITO nanoclusters can serve as robust anchors toward Li polysulfide(LiPS)by electrostatic adsorption or chemical bond interactions;3)they offer catalysis centers for liquid–solid phase conversions of S-based actives.Also,such ceramics are intrinsically nonflammable,preventing S cathodes away from thermal runaway or explosion.These merits entail our configured cathodes with high tap density(1.54 g cm^(−3)),less electrolyte usage,good security for flame retardance,and decent Li-storage behaviors.With lean and LiNO_(3)-free electrolyte,packed full cells exhibit excellent redox kinetics,suppressed LiPS shuttling,and excellent cyclability.This may trigger great research enthusiasm in rational design of low-carbon and safer S cathodes.
基金the funding of this project by the German Research Foundation(DFG,STI 157/4-1).
文摘We investigate different techniques for fitting Bézier curves to surfaces in context of high-order curvilinear mesh generation. Starting from distance-based least-squares fitting we develop an incremental algorithm, which incorporates approximations of stretch and bending energy. In the process, the algorithm reduces the energy weight in favor of accuracy, leading to an optimized set of sampling points. This energy-minimizing fitting strategy is applied to analytically defined as well as triangulated surfaces. The results confirm that the proposed method straightens and shortens the curves efficiently. Moreover the method preserves the accuracy and convergence behavior of distance-based fitting. Preliminary application to surface mesh generation shows a remarkable improvement of patch quality in high curvature regions.
文摘In this paper, we mainly consider the complexity of the k-splittable flow minimizing congestion problem. We give some complexity results. For the k-splittable flow problem, the existence of a feasible solution is strongly NP-hard. When the number of the source nodes is an input, for the uniformly exactly k-splittable flow problem, obtaining an approximation algorithm with performance ratio better than (√5+1)/2 is NP-hard. When k is an input, for single commodity k-splittable flow problem, obtaining an algorithm with performance ratio better than is NP-hard. In the last of the paper, we study the relationship of minimizing congestion and minimizing number of rounds in the k-splittable flow problem. The smaller the congestion is, the smaller the number of rounds.
文摘A common homework problem in texts covering calculus-based simple linear regression is to find a set of values of the independent variable which minimize the standard error of the estimated slope. All discussions the authors have heard regarding this problem, as well as all texts with which the authors of this paper are familiar and which include this problem, provide no solution, a partial solution, or an outline of a solution without theoretical proof and the provided solution is incorrect. Going back to first principles we provide the complete correct solution to this problem.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11971411)。
文摘This paper introduces a novel numerical method based on an energy-minimizing normalized residual network(EMNorm Res Net)to compute the ground-state solution of Bose-Einstein condensates at zero or low temperatures.Starting from the three-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation(GPE),we reduce it to the 1D and 2D GPEs because of the radial symmetry and cylindrical symmetry.The ground-state solution is formulated by minimizing the energy functional under constraints,which is directly solved using the EM-Norm Res Net approach.The paper provides detailed solutions for the ground states in 1D,2D(with radial symmetry),and 3D(with cylindrical symmetry).We use the Thomas-Fermi approximation as the target function to pre-train the neural network.Then,the formal network is trained using the energy minimization method.In contrast to traditional numerical methods,our neural network approach introduces two key innovations:(i)a novel normalization technique designed for high-dimensional systems within an energy-based loss function;(ii)improved training efficiency and model robustness by incorporating gradient stabilization techniques into residual networks.Extensive numerical experiments validate the method's accuracy across different spatial dimensions.
文摘The voltage generated by power plants is increased using step-up transformers and then transferred using high-voltage transmission lines. In a distribution system, the voltage is stepped down to certain levels and is utilized by consumers. The losses in distribution networks are very high compared with the transmission line losses because of the high value of the line resistance (R) compared with the reactance (X), high current, and low voltage. Distribution companies have an economic incentive to minimize network losses. Generally, the incentive is the difference between the actual losses and standard losses. Therefore, when the actual losses are greater than the standard losses, distribution companies are fined. If the actual losses are less than the standard losses, distribution companies earn profits. Consequently, the issue of power losses in distribution networks has attracted the attention of researchers. Numerous methods and techniques have been examined and implemented to reduce distribution system losses. These methods differ based on the selection of the loss reduction mechanism, formulation of the problem, technique utilized, and solution obtained. Many techniques are used to minimize losses, such as power factor correction, reconfiguration, distributed generation allocation, load balancing, voltage upgrades, and conductor upgrades. In this study, a literature review, general background on distribution loss minimization, and a comprehensive comparison of the main techniques are presented to examine the best methods for minimizing power losses.
文摘In the practice of healthcare,patient-reported outcomes(PROs)and PRO measures(PROMs)are used as an attempt to observe the changes in complex clinical situations.They guide us in making decisions based on the evidence regarding patient care by recording the change in outcomes for a particular treatment to a given condition and finally to understand whether a patient will benefit from a particular treatment and to quantify the treatment effect.For any PROM to be usable in health care,we need it to be reliable,encapsulating the points of interest with the potential to detect any real change.Using structured outcome measures routinely in clinical practice helps the physician to understand the functional limitation of a patient that would otherwise not be clear in an office interview,and this allows the physician and patient to have a meaningful conver-sation as well as a customized plan for each patient.Having mentioned the rationale and the benefits of PROMs,understanding the quantification process is crucial before embarking on management decisions.A better interpretation of change needs to identify the treatment effect based on clinical relevance for a given condition.There are a multiple set of measurement indices to serve this effect and most of them are used interchangeably without clear demarcation on their differences.This article details the various quantification metrics used to evaluate the treatment effect using PROMs,their limitations and the scope of usage and implementation in clinical practice.
基金This work was supported by the Key Technologies Research and Development Program of the Tenth Five-Year Plan of Anhui Province(Grant No.04013029)the Research Foundation of Hefei University of Technology(Grant No.050801F).
文摘In order to study the minimization of excess sludge production,the reduction in the excess sludge production in the presence of an inhibitor and uncoupler was studied in this work.The experimental results show that such an addition could effectively reduce the production of excess sludge.With the energy uncoupling model established in this work,energy uncoupling coefficient(Eu)was used to evaluate the reduction in excess sludge production.The energy uncoupling coefficients in the presence of dinitrophenol(dNP),Zn^(2+),and Cu^(2+)was 0.75,0.46,and 0.18,respectively.The analysis demonstrated that energy spilling occurred in the presence of dNP,and that dNP was an effective uncoupler for reducing the production of excess activated sludge without affecting the microbial respiration activity.
文摘The formal asymptotic analysis of D. Fox, A. Raoult & J.C. Simo[10] has justified the twodimensional nonlinear "membrane" equations for a plate made of a Saint Venant-Kirchhoff material.This model, which retains the material-frame indifference of the original three dimensional problem in the sense that its energy density is invariant under the rotations of R3, is equivalent to finding the critical points of a functional whose nonlinear part depends on the first fundamental form of the unknown deformed surface.The author establishes here, by the inverse function theorem, the existence of an injective solution to the clamped membrane problem around particular forces corresponding physically to an "extension" of the membrane. Furthermore, it is proved that the solution found in this fashion is also the unique minimizer to the nonlinear membrane functional, which is not sequentially weakly lower semi-continuous.
文摘BACKGROUND Currently,very few studies have examined the analgesic effectiveness and safety of dexmedetomidine-assisted intravenous-inhalation combined general anesthesia in laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for inguinal hernia.AIM To investigate the analgesic effect and safety of dexmedetomidine-assisted intravenous-inhalation combined general anesthesia in laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for inguinal hernia.METHODS In this retrospective study,94 patients scheduled for laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for inguinal hernia,admitted to Yiwu Central Hospital between May 2022 and May 2023,were divided into a control group(inhalation combined general anesthesia)and a treatment group(dexmedetomidine-assisted intrave-nous-inhalation combined general anesthesia).Perioperative indicators,analgesic effect,preoperative and postoperative 24-hours blood pressure(BP)and heart rate(HR),stress indicators,immune function levels,and adverse reactions were com-pared between the two groups.RESULTS Baseline data,including age,hernia location,place of residence,weight,monthly income,education level,and underlying diseases,were not significantly different between the two groups,indicating comparability(P>0.05).No significant difference was found in operation time and anesthesia time between the two groups(P>0.05).However,the treatment group exhibited a shorter postoperative urinary catheter removal time and hospital stay than the control group(P<0.05).Preoperatively,no significant differences were found in the visual analog scale(VAS)scores between the two groups(P>0.05).However,at 12,18,and 24 hours postoper-atively,the treatment group had significantly lower VAS scores than the control group(P<0.05).Although no significant differences in preoperative hemodynamic indicators were found between the two groups(P>0.05),both groups experienced some extent of changes in postoperative HR,diastolic BP(DBP),and systolic BP(SBP).Nevertheless,the treatment group showed smaller changes in HR,DBP,and SBP than the control group(P<0.05).Preoperative immune function indicators showed no significant differences between the two groups(P>0.05).However,postoperatively,the treatment group demonstrated higher levels of CD3+,CD4+,and CD4+/CD8+and lower levels of CD8+than the control group(P<0.05).The rates of adverse reactions were 6.38%and 23.40%in the treatment and control groups,respectively,revealing a significant difference(χ2=5.371,P=0.020).CONCLUSION Dexmedetomidine-assisted intravenous-inhalation combined general anesthesia can promote early recovery of patients undergoing laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for inguinal hernia.It ensures stable blood flow,improves postoperative analgesic effects,reduces postoperative pain intensity,alleviates stress response,improves immune function,facilitates anesthesia recovery,and enhances safety.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82170941 and 82370948 to Lu Zhang,82071110 and 82230029 to Zhi Chen)the National Key R&D Program of China(2018YFC1105100)。
文摘Pulpotomy,which belongs to vital pulp therapy,has become a strategy for managing pulpitis in recent decades.This minimally invasive treatment reflects the recognition of preserving healthy dental pulp and optimizing long-term patient-centered outcomes.Pulpotomy is categorized into partial pulpotomy(PP),the removal of a partial segment of the coronal pulp tissue,and full pulpotomy(FP),the removal of whole coronal pulp,which is followed by applying the biomaterials onto the remaining pulp tissue and ultimately restoring the tooth.Procedural decisions for the amount of pulp tissue removal or retention depend on the diagnostic of pulp vitality,the overall treatment plan,the patient’s general health status,and pulp inflammation reassessment during operation.This statement represents the consensus of an expert committee convened by the Society of Cariology and Endodontics,Chinese Stomatological Association.It addresses the current evidence to support the application of pulpotomy as a potential alternative to root canal treatment(RCT)on mature permanent teeth with pulpitis from a biological basis,the development of capping biomaterial,and the diagnostic considerations to evidence-based medicine.This expert statement intends to provide a clinical protocol of pulpotomy,which facilitates practitioners in choosing the optimal procedure and increasing their confidence in this rapidly evolving field.
基金Supported by Joint Funds for the Innovation of Science and Technology,Fujian Province,No.2023Y9187 and No.2021Y9057.
文摘BACKGROUND Minimally invasive esophagectomy(MIE)is a widely accepted treatment for esophageal cancer,yet it is associated with a significant risk of surgical adverse events(SAEs),which can compromise patient recovery and long-term survival.Accurate preoperative identification of high-risk patients is critical for improving outcomes.AIM To establish and validate a risk prediction and stratification model for the risk of SAEs in patients with MIE.METHODS This retrospective study included 747 patients who underwent MIE at two centers from January 2019 to February 2024.Patients were separated into a train set(n=549)and a validation set(n=198).After screening by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression,multivariate logistic regression analyzed clinical and intraoperative variables to identify independent risk factors for SAEs.A risk stratification model was constructed and validated to predict the probability of SAEs.RESULTS SAEs occurred in 10.2%of patients in train set and 13.6%in the validation set.Patients with SAE had significantly higher complication rate and a longer hospital stay after surgery.The key independent risk factors identified included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,a history of alcohol consumption,low forced expiratory volume in the first second,and low albumin levels.The stratification model has excellent prediction accuracy,with an area under the curve of 0.889 for the training set and an area under the curve of 0.793 for the validation set.CONCLUSION The developed risk stratification model effectively predicts the risk of SAEs in patients undergoing MIE,facilitating targeted preoperative interventions and improving perioperative management.
