Background: Brainwave entrainment using binaural beats has shown potential in treating tinnitus, but most studies have focused on one-month treatment durations. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the time-bound e...Background: Brainwave entrainment using binaural beats has shown potential in treating tinnitus, but most studies have focused on one-month treatment durations. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the time-bound efficacy of brainwave entrainment using binaural beats, comparing it to a standard tinnitus masker over a three-month duration. Method: Sixty-three individuals having tinnitus with normal hearing sensitivity were enrolled in the study. The participants were categorized into groups Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ. They were provided with delta(4 Hz) and alpha(10 Hz) frequency binaural beats and standard tinnitus masker, respectively, for a duration of three months. The tinnitus handicap inventory(THI) scores, Visual analogue scale(VAS) rating for tinnitus distress, and quality of life parameters were measured. The reductions obtained for each measure during the end of the first, second and third month were measured and compared across the groups. Results: All three groups showed considerable reductions in THI and VAS scores and improvements in the quality of life domains, focusing on physical and psychological health. However, groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ, who received binaural beats stimuli, showed higher benefits than those who received standard tinnitus masker. Conclusion: The results of the current study indicated that binaural beats can be an effective treatment technique for individuals with tinnitus having normal hearing sensitivity. Clinicians and otology/audiology practitioners shall adopt this innovative treatment after further validating these findings.展开更多
Clinical inertia(CI)is common in clinical practice.Sexual health issues are common in society,and CI is ubiquitous in sexual medicine practice.CI influences all aspects of healthcare,including prevention,diagnosis,and...Clinical inertia(CI)is common in clinical practice.Sexual health issues are common in society,and CI is ubiquitous in sexual medicine practice.CI influences all aspects of healthcare,including prevention,diagnosis,and treatment.In this short review,we briefly describe the various aspects of CI in sexual medicine practice and ways to tackle them.展开更多
The integration of academic research methodologies into design thinking processes presents a transformative approach to addressing complex challenges in group housing,fostering inclusive,sustainable,and user-centered ...The integration of academic research methodologies into design thinking processes presents a transformative approach to addressing complex challenges in group housing,fostering inclusive,sustainable,and user-centered solutions.This research explores how methodologies such as Participatory Action Research,post-occupancy evaluations,and Research through Design can be systematically embedded within design thinking to bridge the gap between academic rigor and empathy-driven,iterative design practices.By synthesizing these paradigms,the study proposes a framework for group housing design that prioritizes co-design processes,empathy-based data collection,and participatory evaluation,while emphasizing adaptability through sociocultural insights and user feedback.Case studies analysis demonstrate the effectiveness of flexible,community-driven design,while emerging technologies like IoT-enabled cohousing signal new opportunities for innovation.Challenges,including scalability,long-term validation,and reconciling user autonomy with professional expertise,are critically analyzed.Ultimately,this research advances a hybrid methodology to redefine the conceptualization,implementation,and assessment of group housing,offering actionable pathways to achieve affordable,inclusive,and context-sensitive housing solutions.展开更多
Wave reflection and refraction in layered media is a topic closely related to seismology,acoustics,geophysics and earthquake engineering.Analytical solutions for wave reflection and refraction coefficients in multi-la...Wave reflection and refraction in layered media is a topic closely related to seismology,acoustics,geophysics and earthquake engineering.Analytical solutions for wave reflection and refraction coefficients in multi-layered media subjected to P wave incidence from the elastic half-space are derived in terms of displacement potentials.The system is composed of ideal fluid,porous medium,and underlying elastic solid.By numerical examples,the effects of porous medium and the incident wave angle on the dynamic pressures of ideal fluid are analyzed.The results show that the existence of the porous medium,especially in the partially saturated case,may significantly affect the dynamic pressures of the overlying fluid.展开更多
The wave propagation behavior in an elastic wedge-shaped medium with an arbitrary shaped cylindrical canyon at its vertex has been studied.Numerical computation of the wave displacement field is carried out on and nea...The wave propagation behavior in an elastic wedge-shaped medium with an arbitrary shaped cylindrical canyon at its vertex has been studied.Numerical computation of the wave displacement field is carried out on and near the canyon surfaces using weighted-residuals(moment method).The wave displacement fields are computed by the residual method for the cases of elliptic,circular,rounded-rectangular and flat-elliptic canyons,The analysis demonstrates that the resulting surface displacement depends,as in similar previous analyses,on several factors including,but not limited,to the angle of the wedge,the geometry of the vertex,the frequencies of the incident waves,the angles of incidence,and the material properties of the media.The analysis provides intriguing results that help to explain geophysical observations regarding the amplification of seismic energy as a function of site conditions.展开更多
With the development and implementation of performance-based earthquake engineering,harmonization of performance levels between structural and nonstructural components becomes vital. Even if the structural components ...With the development and implementation of performance-based earthquake engineering,harmonization of performance levels between structural and nonstructural components becomes vital. Even if the structural components of a building achieve a continuous or immediate occupancy performance level after a seismic event,failure of architectural,mechanical or electrical components can lower the performance level of the entire building system. This reduction in performance caused by the vulnerability of nonstructural components has been observed during recent earthquakes worldwide. Moreover,nonstructural damage has limited the functionality of critical facilities,such as hospitals,following major seismic events. The investment in nonstructural components and building contents is far greater than that of structural components and framing. Therefore,it is not surprising that in many past earthquakes,losses from damage to nonstructural components have exceeded losses from structural damage. Furthermore,the failure of nonstructural components can become a safety hazard or can hamper the safe movement of occupants evacuating buildings,or of rescue workers entering buildings. In comparison to structural components and systems,there is relatively limited information on the seismic design of nonstructural components. Basic research work in this area has been sparse,and the available codes and guidelines are usually,for the most part,based on past experiences,engineering judgment and intuition,rather than on objective experimental and analytical results. Often,design engineers are forced to start almost from square one after each earthquake event: to observe what went wrong and to try to prevent repetitions. This is a consequence of the empirical nature of current seismic regulations and guidelines for nonstructural components. This review paper summarizes current knowledge on the seismic design and analysis of nonstructural building components,identifying major knowledge gaps that will need to be filled by future research. Furthermore,considering recent trends in earthquake engineering,the paper explores how performance-based seismic design might be conceived for nonstructural components,drawing on recent developments made in the field of seismic design and hinting at the specific considerations required for nonstructural components.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the detection of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) and analyze the performance of Mastalex MRSA(Mast,UK).Methods:Two hundred and ten Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus) strains were i...Objective:To evaluate the detection of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) and analyze the performance of Mastalex MRSA(Mast,UK).Methods:Two hundred and ten Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus) strains were isolated from different clinical samples and were tested for methicillin resistance by Oxacillin(1μg) and Cefoxitin(30μg) disc diffusion, oxacillin agar screen,and minimum inhibitory concentration of oxacillin and cefoxitin.S.aureus isolates were grown on the blood agar and mannitol salt agar with(2 mg/L) and without oxacillin for the analysis of Mastalex MRSA.Results:Out of 210 S.aureus strains tested,103 strains were detected as methicillin resistant by Cefoxitin disk diffusion,Cefoxitin minimal inhibitory concentration(MlC) and Mastalex MRSA test.Whereas oxacillin disc diffusion and oxacillin agar screen detected 91 and 97 MRSA respectively.The Cefoxitin MIC test performance was equivalent to Cefoxitin disc diffusion.103(100%) strains grown on blood agar without and with oxacillin,and 76(74%) and 93(91%) strains grown on mannitol salt agar without and with oxacillin shown positive agglutination with Mastalex MRSA test respectively.Conclusions:The cefoxitin disk diffusion/ Mastalex MRSA is very suitable for detection of MRSA and the tests can be an alternative to PCR for detection of MRSA in resource constraint settings.Mastalex test would be particularly useful when confirmation of resistance is urgently required.展开更多
AIM： To assess the efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii （S. boulardii） in acute watery diarrhoea and its role in reducing the frequency of episodes of diarrhoea in subsequent two months. METHODS： Childre...AIM： To assess the efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii （S. boulardii） in acute watery diarrhoea and its role in reducing the frequency of episodes of diarrhoea in subsequent two months. METHODS： Children from 2 mo to 12 years of age, with acute diarrhoea were selected according to inclusion criteria and randomised in S. boulardii group （treated with ORS, nutritional support and S. boulardii, 250 mg bid） and in control group （treated with ORS and nutritional support only）. Active treatment phase was 5 d and each child was followed for two months afterwards. Frequency and consistency of stools as well as safety of drug was assessed on every visit. A comparison of two groups was done in terms of number of diarrhoeal episode in subsequent two months. RESULTS： There were fifty patients in each group. Baseline characteristics such as mean age and the average frequency of stools were comparable in S. boulardii and control group at the time of inclusion in the trial. By d 3 it reduced to 2.7 and 4.2 stools per d respectively and by d 6 it reduced to 1.6 （5. boulardii Group） and 3.3 （control group）. The duration of diarrhoea was 3.6 d in S. boulardii group whereas it was 4.8 d in control group （P = 0.001）. In the following two months, S. boulardii group had a significantly lower frequency of 0.54 episodes as compared to 1.08 episodes in control group. The drug was well accepted and tolerated. There were no reports of the side effects during treatment period CONCLUSION： S. boulardii significantly reduces the frequency and duration of acute diarrhoea. The consistency of stool also improves. The drug is well-tolerated.展开更多
An analytical method to study the seismic response of a bridge pier supported on a rigid caisson foundation embedded in a deep soil stratum underlain by a homogeneous half space is developed. The method reproduces the...An analytical method to study the seismic response of a bridge pier supported on a rigid caisson foundation embedded in a deep soil stratum underlain by a homogeneous half space is developed. The method reproduces the kinematic and inertial responses, using translational and rotational distributed Winkler springs and dashpots to simulate the soil-caisson interaction. Closed-form solutions are given in the frequency domain for vertical harmonic S-wave excitation. Comparison with results from finite element （FE） analysis and other available solutions demonstrates the reliability of the model. Results from parametric studies are given for the kinematic and inertial responses. The modification of the fundamental period and damping ratio of the bridge due to soil-structure interaction is graphically illustrated.展开更多
The high Zoige Basin （Ruoergai Plateau） on the eastern Tibetan Plateau is a fault depression formed during intensive uplifting of the Tibetan Plateau. The wetland is globally important in biodiversity and is compose...The high Zoige Basin （Ruoergai Plateau） on the eastern Tibetan Plateau is a fault depression formed during intensive uplifting of the Tibetan Plateau. The wetland is globally important in biodiversity and is composed of marshes, bogs, fens, wet meadows and shallow water interspersed with low hills and sub-alpine meadows. Most of the Zoige wetlands have long been one of the most important grazing lands in China. Recent rangeland policy has allowed grazing, and usable wetland areas have been being legally allocated to individuals or groups of households on a long-term lease basis. Privatizafion of the wetland has impacted the Zoige wetlands in aspects of hydrologic condition, landscape and biodiversity. The uneven spatial distribution of water resources onprivatelands has led to the practice of extracting ground water, which has decreased the perched water table in Zoige. Fencing off the rangelands and grazing on expanding sand dunes have affected landscapes. Variation in the water table has led to the changes in vegetation diversity, resulting in the changes in wildlife and aquatic diversities and ecosystem processes. Making use all year round of the pasture that was previously grazed only in summer has shrunk the daily activity space of wildlife, and the newly erected fences blocked the movement of wild animals looking for food in the snow to lower and open areas. To maintain the favorable conditions of the Zoige wetland ecosystem, the author suggests that, in addition to biophysical research and implementation of conservation practices, there is an immediate need to initiate an integrated management program, increase public awareness of wetland functions and provide better training for the local conservation staff.展开更多
The effect of water compressibility on the seismic responses of arch dams is not well understood.In this paper,a numerical model is developed with rigorous representation of the dynamic interaction between arch dam-wa...The effect of water compressibility on the seismic responses of arch dams is not well understood.In this paper,a numerical model is developed with rigorous representation of the dynamic interaction between arch dam-water- rock foundation.The model is applied to the seismic response analysis of an arch dam with a height of 292m designed to a seismic intensity of IX.It is shown that consideration of the water compressibility clearly decreases the stress responses at key positions of the dam,while the added mass model gives a conservative estimate.展开更多
Objective:To detect and compare serum lipid abnormalities in patients diagnosed with different grades of non-alcoholic fatly liver on ultrasonography.Methods:A total of 70 cases which included 30 males and 40 females,...Objective:To detect and compare serum lipid abnormalities in patients diagnosed with different grades of non-alcoholic fatly liver on ultrasonography.Methods:A total of 70 cases which included 30 males and 40 females,diagnosed as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)on ultrasound were investigated with serum lipid profile.Then a comparison of lipid abnormalities between different grades of fatty liver diagnosed on ultrasound was done.P value was calculated by using analysis of variance lest(ANOVA)and P value<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results:Out of 70 cases which were diagnosed as NAFLD on ultrasonography,gradeⅠNAFLD cases were 47.15%,gradeⅡwere 42.85%and gradeⅢwere 10%.The mean age of the patients was49.14 years.Male to female ratio was 3:4.Serum triglycerides,total cholesterol,LDL and VLDL levels were raised in 67.14%,45.71%34.28%,25.71%of cases respectively.Low serum HDL levels were seen in 62.85%of patients.On statistical analysis we found increasing grades of NAFLD were significantly associated with increasing values of total cholesterol(P value-0.001),LDL(P value-0.000)and VLDL(P value-0.003)and decreasing HDL(P value-0.000).Conclusion:Most of the patients of NAFLD in India is asymptomatic,non-diabetic and non-hypertensive.Though liver biopsy is the gold standard melhod for diagnosis of NAFLD,Ultrasonography which is non-invasive,simple tool,can be used for the early detection of NAFLD in asymptomatic patients.展开更多
Objective: To predict the trend of cutaneous leishmaniasis and assess the relationship between the disease trend and weather variables in south of Fars province using Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average(...Objective: To predict the trend of cutaneous leishmaniasis and assess the relationship between the disease trend and weather variables in south of Fars province using Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average(SARIMA) model,Methods: The trend of cutaneous leishmaniasis was predicted using Mini tab software and SARIMA model,Besides,information about the disease and weather conditions was collected monthly based on time series design during January 2010 to March 2016,Moreover,various SARIMA models were assessed and the best one was selected,Then,the model's fitness was evaluated based on normality of the residuals' distribution,correspondence between the fitted and real amounts,and calculation of Akaike Information Criteria(AIC) and Bayesian Information Criteria(BIC),Results: The study results indicated that SARIMA model(4,1,4)(0,1,0)(12) in general and SARIMA model(4,1,4)(0,1,1)(12) in below and above 15 years age groups could appropriately predict the disease trend in the study area,Moreover,temperature with a three-month delay(lag3) increased the disease trend,rainfall with a four-month delay(lag4) decreased the disease trend,and rainfall with a nine-month delay(lag9) increased the disease trend,Conclusions: Based on the results,leishmaniasis follows a descending trend in the study area in case drought condition continues,SARIMA models can suitably measure the disease trend,and the disease follows a seasonal trend.展开更多
Soil temperature is a major effective factor on the soil and plant biological properties.Irrigation can affect soil temperature and thereby induces a temperature effect on plant growth,which may result in an economic ...Soil temperature is a major effective factor on the soil and plant biological properties.Irrigation can affect soil temperature and thereby induces a temperature effect on plant growth,which may result in an economic increase due to higher yield and plant nutrition.A ?eld experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of three irrigation strategies including full irrigation(FI),partial root-zone drying(PRD) and de?cit irrigation(DI) on soil temperature and the consequent results on the grain yield and N uptake of maize(Zea May L.).Soil temperature was measured by time domain re?ectometry(TDR) sensors during the 2010 growing season.Irrigation treatments were applied from 55 to 107 d after planting.The PRD treatment caused soil temperature to be in a favorable domain for a longer period(for over 60% of the measuring dates) as a consequent result of water movement to deeper soil layers compared with the other treatments;the PRD treatment also reduced soil temperature at deeper soil depths to below the maximum favorable soil temperature for maize root growth,which resulted in deeper root penetration due to both water availability and favorable soil temperature.Compared to the FI treatment,the PRD treatment increased root water uptake by 50% and caused no signi?cant reduction in total N uptake,while this was not observed in the DI treatment partially due to the negative temperature effect of DI on plant growth,which consequently affected the water and nutrient uptake.A longer vegetation period in the PRD treatment was observed due to higher leaf N concentrations and no signi?cant reduction in maize grain yield occurred in the PRD treatment,compared with those in the FI treatment.Based on the results,having 15.2% water saving during the whole growing season,the PRD irrigation would positively affect soil temperature and the water and nutrient uptake as a consequent,which thereby would prevent signi?cant reduction in maize grain yield.展开更多
The seismic capacity curves of three types of buildings including frame,frame-shear wall and shear wall ob- tained by pushover analysis under different lateral load patterns are compared with those from nonlinear time...The seismic capacity curves of three types of buildings including frame,frame-shear wall and shear wall ob- tained by pushover analysis under different lateral load patterns are compared with those from nonlinear time history analy- sis.Based on the numerical results obtained a two-phase load pattern:an inverted triangle(first mode)load pattern until the base shear force reaches β times its maximum value,V_(max)followed by a(x/H)~α form,here β and α being some coeffi- cients depending on the type of the structures considered,is proposed in the paper,which can provide excellent approxima- tion of the seismic capacity curve for low-to-mid-rise shear type buildings.Furthermore,it is shown both the two-phase load pattern proposed and the invariant uniform pattern can be used for low-to-mid-rise shear-bending type and low-rise bending type of buildings.No suitable load patterns have been found for high-rise buildings.展开更多
The National Security Strategy of the U.S.is an important document for understanding U.S.national security policy.This article uses Antconc software to analyze high-frequency word usage patterns in six U.S.National Se...The National Security Strategy of the U.S.is an important document for understanding U.S.national security policy.This article uses Antconc software to analyze high-frequency word usage patterns in six U.S.National Security Strategy documents from 1990 to 2010.From the micro level of language use,we try to interpret the 2010 U.S.National Security Strategy and explore Washington's strategic motives.展开更多
Fault parameters are important in earthquake hazard analysis.In this paper,theoretical relationships between moment magnitude and fault parameters including subsurface rupture length,downdip rupture width,rupture area...Fault parameters are important in earthquake hazard analysis.In this paper,theoretical relationships between moment magnitude and fault parameters including subsurface rupture length,downdip rupture width,rupture area,and average slip over the fault surface are deduced based on seismological theory.These theoretical relationships are further simplified by applying similarity conditions and an unique form is established.Then,combining the simplified theoretical relationships between moment magnitude and fault parameters with seismic source data selected in this study,a practical semi-empirical relationship is established.The seismic source data selected is also to used to derive empirical relationships between moment magnitude and fault parameters by the ordinary least square regression method.Comparisons between semi-empirical relationships and empirical relationships show that the former depict distribution trends of data better than the latter.It is also observed that downdip rupture widths of strike slip faults are saturated when moment magnitude is more than 7.0,but downdip rupture widths of dip slip faults are not saturated in the molnent magnitude rangcs of this study.展开更多
文摘Background: Brainwave entrainment using binaural beats has shown potential in treating tinnitus, but most studies have focused on one-month treatment durations. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the time-bound efficacy of brainwave entrainment using binaural beats, comparing it to a standard tinnitus masker over a three-month duration. Method: Sixty-three individuals having tinnitus with normal hearing sensitivity were enrolled in the study. The participants were categorized into groups Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ. They were provided with delta(4 Hz) and alpha(10 Hz) frequency binaural beats and standard tinnitus masker, respectively, for a duration of three months. The tinnitus handicap inventory(THI) scores, Visual analogue scale(VAS) rating for tinnitus distress, and quality of life parameters were measured. The reductions obtained for each measure during the end of the first, second and third month were measured and compared across the groups. Results: All three groups showed considerable reductions in THI and VAS scores and improvements in the quality of life domains, focusing on physical and psychological health. However, groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ, who received binaural beats stimuli, showed higher benefits than those who received standard tinnitus masker. Conclusion: The results of the current study indicated that binaural beats can be an effective treatment technique for individuals with tinnitus having normal hearing sensitivity. Clinicians and otology/audiology practitioners shall adopt this innovative treatment after further validating these findings.
文摘Clinical inertia(CI)is common in clinical practice.Sexual health issues are common in society,and CI is ubiquitous in sexual medicine practice.CI influences all aspects of healthcare,including prevention,diagnosis,and treatment.In this short review,we briefly describe the various aspects of CI in sexual medicine practice and ways to tackle them.
文摘The integration of academic research methodologies into design thinking processes presents a transformative approach to addressing complex challenges in group housing,fostering inclusive,sustainable,and user-centered solutions.This research explores how methodologies such as Participatory Action Research,post-occupancy evaluations,and Research through Design can be systematically embedded within design thinking to bridge the gap between academic rigor and empathy-driven,iterative design practices.By synthesizing these paradigms,the study proposes a framework for group housing design that prioritizes co-design processes,empathy-based data collection,and participatory evaluation,while emphasizing adaptability through sociocultural insights and user feedback.Case studies analysis demonstrate the effectiveness of flexible,community-driven design,while emerging technologies like IoT-enabled cohousing signal new opportunities for innovation.Challenges,including scalability,long-term validation,and reconciling user autonomy with professional expertise,are critically analyzed.Ultimately,this research advances a hybrid methodology to redefine the conceptualization,implementation,and assessment of group housing,offering actionable pathways to achieve affordable,inclusive,and context-sensitive housing solutions.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China Under Grant No.50309005National Key Basic Research and Development Program Under Grant No.2002CB412709
文摘Wave reflection and refraction in layered media is a topic closely related to seismology,acoustics,geophysics and earthquake engineering.Analytical solutions for wave reflection and refraction coefficients in multi-layered media subjected to P wave incidence from the elastic half-space are derived in terms of displacement potentials.The system is composed of ideal fluid,porous medium,and underlying elastic solid.By numerical examples,the effects of porous medium and the incident wave angle on the dynamic pressures of ideal fluid are analyzed.The results show that the existence of the porous medium,especially in the partially saturated case,may significantly affect the dynamic pressures of the overlying fluid.
文摘The wave propagation behavior in an elastic wedge-shaped medium with an arbitrary shaped cylindrical canyon at its vertex has been studied.Numerical computation of the wave displacement field is carried out on and near the canyon surfaces using weighted-residuals(moment method).The wave displacement fields are computed by the residual method for the cases of elliptic,circular,rounded-rectangular and flat-elliptic canyons,The analysis demonstrates that the resulting surface displacement depends,as in similar previous analyses,on several factors including,but not limited,to the angle of the wedge,the geometry of the vertex,the frequencies of the incident waves,the angles of incidence,and the material properties of the media.The analysis provides intriguing results that help to explain geophysical observations regarding the amplification of seismic energy as a function of site conditions.
文摘With the development and implementation of performance-based earthquake engineering,harmonization of performance levels between structural and nonstructural components becomes vital. Even if the structural components of a building achieve a continuous or immediate occupancy performance level after a seismic event,failure of architectural,mechanical or electrical components can lower the performance level of the entire building system. This reduction in performance caused by the vulnerability of nonstructural components has been observed during recent earthquakes worldwide. Moreover,nonstructural damage has limited the functionality of critical facilities,such as hospitals,following major seismic events. The investment in nonstructural components and building contents is far greater than that of structural components and framing. Therefore,it is not surprising that in many past earthquakes,losses from damage to nonstructural components have exceeded losses from structural damage. Furthermore,the failure of nonstructural components can become a safety hazard or can hamper the safe movement of occupants evacuating buildings,or of rescue workers entering buildings. In comparison to structural components and systems,there is relatively limited information on the seismic design of nonstructural components. Basic research work in this area has been sparse,and the available codes and guidelines are usually,for the most part,based on past experiences,engineering judgment and intuition,rather than on objective experimental and analytical results. Often,design engineers are forced to start almost from square one after each earthquake event: to observe what went wrong and to try to prevent repetitions. This is a consequence of the empirical nature of current seismic regulations and guidelines for nonstructural components. This review paper summarizes current knowledge on the seismic design and analysis of nonstructural building components,identifying major knowledge gaps that will need to be filled by future research. Furthermore,considering recent trends in earthquake engineering,the paper explores how performance-based seismic design might be conceived for nonstructural components,drawing on recent developments made in the field of seismic design and hinting at the specific considerations required for nonstructural components.
文摘Objective:To evaluate the detection of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) and analyze the performance of Mastalex MRSA(Mast,UK).Methods:Two hundred and ten Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus) strains were isolated from different clinical samples and were tested for methicillin resistance by Oxacillin(1μg) and Cefoxitin(30μg) disc diffusion, oxacillin agar screen,and minimum inhibitory concentration of oxacillin and cefoxitin.S.aureus isolates were grown on the blood agar and mannitol salt agar with(2 mg/L) and without oxacillin for the analysis of Mastalex MRSA.Results:Out of 210 S.aureus strains tested,103 strains were detected as methicillin resistant by Cefoxitin disk diffusion,Cefoxitin minimal inhibitory concentration(MlC) and Mastalex MRSA test.Whereas oxacillin disc diffusion and oxacillin agar screen detected 91 and 97 MRSA respectively.The Cefoxitin MIC test performance was equivalent to Cefoxitin disc diffusion.103(100%) strains grown on blood agar without and with oxacillin,and 76(74%) and 93(91%) strains grown on mannitol salt agar without and with oxacillin shown positive agglutination with Mastalex MRSA test respectively.Conclusions:The cefoxitin disk diffusion/ Mastalex MRSA is very suitable for detection of MRSA and the tests can be an alternative to PCR for detection of MRSA in resource constraint settings.Mastalex test would be particularly useful when confirmation of resistance is urgently required.
文摘AIM： To assess the efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii （S. boulardii） in acute watery diarrhoea and its role in reducing the frequency of episodes of diarrhoea in subsequent two months. METHODS： Children from 2 mo to 12 years of age, with acute diarrhoea were selected according to inclusion criteria and randomised in S. boulardii group （treated with ORS, nutritional support and S. boulardii, 250 mg bid） and in control group （treated with ORS and nutritional support only）. Active treatment phase was 5 d and each child was followed for two months afterwards. Frequency and consistency of stools as well as safety of drug was assessed on every visit. A comparison of two groups was done in terms of number of diarrhoeal episode in subsequent two months. RESULTS： There were fifty patients in each group. Baseline characteristics such as mean age and the average frequency of stools were comparable in S. boulardii and control group at the time of inclusion in the trial. By d 3 it reduced to 2.7 and 4.2 stools per d respectively and by d 6 it reduced to 1.6 （5. boulardii Group） and 3.3 （control group）. The duration of diarrhoea was 3.6 d in S. boulardii group whereas it was 4.8 d in control group （P = 0.001）. In the following two months, S. boulardii group had a significantly lower frequency of 0.54 episodes as compared to 1.08 episodes in control group. The drug was well accepted and tolerated. There were no reports of the side effects during treatment period CONCLUSION： S. boulardii significantly reduces the frequency and duration of acute diarrhoea. The consistency of stool also improves. The drug is well-tolerated.
基金U.S. Federal Highway Administration Under Grant No. DTFH61-98-C-00094U.S. National Science Foundation Under Grant No. EEC-9701471
文摘An analytical method to study the seismic response of a bridge pier supported on a rigid caisson foundation embedded in a deep soil stratum underlain by a homogeneous half space is developed. The method reproduces the kinematic and inertial responses, using translational and rotational distributed Winkler springs and dashpots to simulate the soil-caisson interaction. Closed-form solutions are given in the frequency domain for vertical harmonic S-wave excitation. Comparison with results from finite element （FE） analysis and other available solutions demonstrates the reliability of the model. Results from parametric studies are given for the kinematic and inertial responses. The modification of the fundamental period and damping ratio of the bridge due to soil-structure interaction is graphically illustrated.
文摘The high Zoige Basin （Ruoergai Plateau） on the eastern Tibetan Plateau is a fault depression formed during intensive uplifting of the Tibetan Plateau. The wetland is globally important in biodiversity and is composed of marshes, bogs, fens, wet meadows and shallow water interspersed with low hills and sub-alpine meadows. Most of the Zoige wetlands have long been one of the most important grazing lands in China. Recent rangeland policy has allowed grazing, and usable wetland areas have been being legally allocated to individuals or groups of households on a long-term lease basis. Privatizafion of the wetland has impacted the Zoige wetlands in aspects of hydrologic condition, landscape and biodiversity. The uneven spatial distribution of water resources onprivatelands has led to the practice of extracting ground water, which has decreased the perched water table in Zoige. Fencing off the rangelands and grazing on expanding sand dunes have affected landscapes. Variation in the water table has led to the changes in vegetation diversity, resulting in the changes in wildlife and aquatic diversities and ecosystem processes. Making use all year round of the pasture that was previously grazed only in summer has shrunk the daily activity space of wildlife, and the newly erected fences blocked the movement of wild animals looking for food in the snow to lower and open areas. To maintain the favorable conditions of the Zoige wetland ecosystem, the author suggests that, in addition to biophysical research and implementation of conservation practices, there is an immediate need to initiate an integrated management program, increase public awareness of wetland functions and provide better training for the local conservation staff.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China for Distinguished Young Scholar of China Under Grant No.50325826National Natural Science Foundation of China Under Grant No.50309005Science & Technology Development Project of Education Committee of Beijing Under Grant No.KM200310005017
文摘The effect of water compressibility on the seismic responses of arch dams is not well understood.In this paper,a numerical model is developed with rigorous representation of the dynamic interaction between arch dam-water- rock foundation.The model is applied to the seismic response analysis of an arch dam with a height of 292m designed to a seismic intensity of IX.It is shown that consideration of the water compressibility clearly decreases the stress responses at key positions of the dam,while the added mass model gives a conservative estimate.
基金Funded by the department of radiodiagnosis with approval by institutional ethics committce of G.R.Medical College,Gwalior,Madhya pradesh,Indiawith Grant no.-GRM/01/15/2009
文摘Objective:To detect and compare serum lipid abnormalities in patients diagnosed with different grades of non-alcoholic fatly liver on ultrasonography.Methods:A total of 70 cases which included 30 males and 40 females,diagnosed as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)on ultrasound were investigated with serum lipid profile.Then a comparison of lipid abnormalities between different grades of fatty liver diagnosed on ultrasound was done.P value was calculated by using analysis of variance lest(ANOVA)and P value<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results:Out of 70 cases which were diagnosed as NAFLD on ultrasonography,gradeⅠNAFLD cases were 47.15%,gradeⅡwere 42.85%and gradeⅢwere 10%.The mean age of the patients was49.14 years.Male to female ratio was 3:4.Serum triglycerides,total cholesterol,LDL and VLDL levels were raised in 67.14%,45.71%34.28%,25.71%of cases respectively.Low serum HDL levels were seen in 62.85%of patients.On statistical analysis we found increasing grades of NAFLD were significantly associated with increasing values of total cholesterol(P value-0.001),LDL(P value-0.000)and VLDL(P value-0.003)and decreasing HDL(P value-0.000).Conclusion:Most of the patients of NAFLD in India is asymptomatic,non-diabetic and non-hypertensive.Though liver biopsy is the gold standard melhod for diagnosis of NAFLD,Ultrasonography which is non-invasive,simple tool,can be used for the early detection of NAFLD in asymptomatic patients.
基金financially supported by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences(grant No.94-01-04-10456)
文摘Objective: To predict the trend of cutaneous leishmaniasis and assess the relationship between the disease trend and weather variables in south of Fars province using Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average(SARIMA) model,Methods: The trend of cutaneous leishmaniasis was predicted using Mini tab software and SARIMA model,Besides,information about the disease and weather conditions was collected monthly based on time series design during January 2010 to March 2016,Moreover,various SARIMA models were assessed and the best one was selected,Then,the model's fitness was evaluated based on normality of the residuals' distribution,correspondence between the fitted and real amounts,and calculation of Akaike Information Criteria(AIC) and Bayesian Information Criteria(BIC),Results: The study results indicated that SARIMA model(4,1,4)(0,1,0)(12) in general and SARIMA model(4,1,4)(0,1,1)(12) in below and above 15 years age groups could appropriately predict the disease trend in the study area,Moreover,temperature with a three-month delay(lag3) increased the disease trend,rainfall with a four-month delay(lag4) decreased the disease trend,and rainfall with a nine-month delay(lag9) increased the disease trend,Conclusions: Based on the results,leishmaniasis follows a descending trend in the study area in case drought condition continues,SARIMA models can suitably measure the disease trend,and the disease follows a seasonal trend.
基金Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University(SANRU),Iran for giving the site for field investigation and to appreciate University of Zabol for financial support of this research
文摘Soil temperature is a major effective factor on the soil and plant biological properties.Irrigation can affect soil temperature and thereby induces a temperature effect on plant growth,which may result in an economic increase due to higher yield and plant nutrition.A ?eld experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of three irrigation strategies including full irrigation(FI),partial root-zone drying(PRD) and de?cit irrigation(DI) on soil temperature and the consequent results on the grain yield and N uptake of maize(Zea May L.).Soil temperature was measured by time domain re?ectometry(TDR) sensors during the 2010 growing season.Irrigation treatments were applied from 55 to 107 d after planting.The PRD treatment caused soil temperature to be in a favorable domain for a longer period(for over 60% of the measuring dates) as a consequent result of water movement to deeper soil layers compared with the other treatments;the PRD treatment also reduced soil temperature at deeper soil depths to below the maximum favorable soil temperature for maize root growth,which resulted in deeper root penetration due to both water availability and favorable soil temperature.Compared to the FI treatment,the PRD treatment increased root water uptake by 50% and caused no signi?cant reduction in total N uptake,while this was not observed in the DI treatment partially due to the negative temperature effect of DI on plant growth,which consequently affected the water and nutrient uptake.A longer vegetation period in the PRD treatment was observed due to higher leaf N concentrations and no signi?cant reduction in maize grain yield occurred in the PRD treatment,compared with those in the FI treatment.Based on the results,having 15.2% water saving during the whole growing season,the PRD irrigation would positively affect soil temperature and the water and nutrient uptake as a consequent,which thereby would prevent signi?cant reduction in maize grain yield.
文摘The seismic capacity curves of three types of buildings including frame,frame-shear wall and shear wall ob- tained by pushover analysis under different lateral load patterns are compared with those from nonlinear time history analy- sis.Based on the numerical results obtained a two-phase load pattern:an inverted triangle(first mode)load pattern until the base shear force reaches β times its maximum value,V_(max)followed by a(x/H)~α form,here β and α being some coeffi- cients depending on the type of the structures considered,is proposed in the paper,which can provide excellent approxima- tion of the seismic capacity curve for low-to-mid-rise shear type buildings.Furthermore,it is shown both the two-phase load pattern proposed and the invariant uniform pattern can be used for low-to-mid-rise shear-bending type and low-rise bending type of buildings.No suitable load patterns have been found for high-rise buildings.
文摘The National Security Strategy of the U.S.is an important document for understanding U.S.national security policy.This article uses Antconc software to analyze high-frequency word usage patterns in six U.S.National Security Strategy documents from 1990 to 2010.From the micro level of language use,we try to interpret the 2010 U.S.National Security Strategy and explore Washington's strategic motives.
基金Ministry of Science and Technology of China(Grant No.2002DIB30076)China Seismological Bureau(Grant No.201009)
文摘Fault parameters are important in earthquake hazard analysis.In this paper,theoretical relationships between moment magnitude and fault parameters including subsurface rupture length,downdip rupture width,rupture area,and average slip over the fault surface are deduced based on seismological theory.These theoretical relationships are further simplified by applying similarity conditions and an unique form is established.Then,combining the simplified theoretical relationships between moment magnitude and fault parameters with seismic source data selected in this study,a practical semi-empirical relationship is established.The seismic source data selected is also to used to derive empirical relationships between moment magnitude and fault parameters by the ordinary least square regression method.Comparisons between semi-empirical relationships and empirical relationships show that the former depict distribution trends of data better than the latter.It is also observed that downdip rupture widths of strike slip faults are saturated when moment magnitude is more than 7.0,but downdip rupture widths of dip slip faults are not saturated in the molnent magnitude rangcs of this study.
