Fast Human Motion reconstruction from sparse inertial measurement units considering the human shape

Inertial Measurement Unit-based methods have great potential in capturing motion in large-scale and complex environments with many people. Sparse Inertial Measurement Unit-based methods have more research value due to their simplicity and flexibility. However, improving the computational efficiency and reducing latency in such methods are challenging. In this paper, we propose Fast Inertial Poser, which is a full body motion estimation deep neural network based on 6 inertial measurement units considering body parameters. We design a network architecture based on recurrent neural networks according to the kinematics tree. This method introduces human body shape information by the causality of observations and eliminates the dependence on future frames. During the estimation of joint positions, the upper body and lower body are estimated using separate network modules independently. Then the joint rotation is obtained through a well-designed single-frame kinematics inverse solver. Experiments show that the method can greatly improve the inference speed and reduce the latency while ensuring the reconstruction accuracy compared with previous methods. Fast Inertial Poser runs at 65 fps with 15 ms latency on an embedded computer, demonstrating the efficiency of the model.

[Daratumumab maintenance after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of daratumumab as a maintenance treatment after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) . Methods: The clinical data, hematological and renal response, and safety of 15 post-transplant patients with NDMM who had received daratumumab maintenance between May 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Fifteen patients (11 males and 4 females) with a median age of 58 (41-72) years were included. Thirteen patients did not receive daratumumab during induction therapy and auto-HSCT, 6 patients had renal impairment, and nine patients had high-risk cytogenetics. The median infusion of daratumumab was 12 (6-17) times, and the median duration of maintenance was 6 (1.5-12) months. The treatment efficacy was evaluated in all 15 patients, and daratumumab maintenance therapy increased the rate of stringent complete response from 40% to 60%. The renal response rate and median estimated glomerular filtration rate of six patients with RI-NDMM were also improved. During daratumumab maintenance therapy, the most common hematological grade 3 adverse event (AE) was lymphopenia [4 of 15 patients (26.67%) ], whereas the most common nonhematologic AEs were infusion-related reactions [7 of 15 patients (46.67%) ] and grade 3 pneumonia [5 of 15 patients (33.33%) ]. The five patients with pneumonia were daratumumab naive [5 of 13 patients (38.46%) ], with a median of 8 (6-10) infusions. Among them, the chest computed tomography of three patients showed interstitial infiltrates, and treatment with methylprednisolone was effective. With a median follow-up of 12 months, the 1-year overall survival rate was 93.33%, and only one patient died (which was not related to daratumumab treatment) . Conclusions: Daratumumab was safe and effective as a maintenance agent for post-auto-HSCT patients with NDMM, and AEs were controllable. The most common nonhematologic AE was grade 3 pneumonia, and a less dose-intense maintenance regimen for the first 8 weeks could reduce the incidence of pneumonia.

Fabrication of Optical Fourier Surface by Multiple-Frequency Vibration Cutting for Structural True Coloration

Optical Fourier surface is a unique patterned optical surface containing the precise sum of sinusoidal waves, each with a well-defined spatial frequency and amplitude. It can manipulate the desired diffracted light field through its Fourier transform, which brings a straightforward mathematical method for designing complex diffractive optics. However, the fabrication techniques typically have the drawbacks of low efficiency, limiting the large-scale industrial application of optical Fourier surfaces. This study presents a powerful approach, the multi-frequency vibration cutting (MFVC), to enable the high-efficiency fabrication of optical Fourier surfaces. A specific optical Fourier surface consisting of arbitrary frequency components of linear gratings has been fabricated on metallic surfaces using MFVC. Due to the capacity of multicomponent gratings in coupling red, green, and blue lights at the same incident angle, the RGB true color has been prepared. The additive and subtractive principles of mixing the three primary colors are demonstrated. The former relies on the light dispersion induced by grating diffraction, while the latter is based on the light absorption induced by the subwavelength grating-coupled surface plasma polarization (SPP). The experimental results of authentic structural true color on the aluminum surface verify the efficacy of MFVC in the fabrication of optical Fourier surfaces.

Anomaly Detection via Progressive Reconstruction and Hierarchical Feature Fusion

The main challenges in reconstruction-based anomaly detection include the breakdown of the generalization gap due to improved fitting capabilities and the overfitting problem arising from simulated defects. To overcome this, we propose a new method called PRFF-AD, which utilizes progressive reconstruction and hierarchical feature fusion. It consists of a reconstructive sub-network and a discriminative sub-network. The former achieves anomaly-free reconstruction while maintaining nominal patterns, and the latter locates defects based on pre- and post-reconstruction information. Given defective samples, we find that adopting a progressive reconstruction approach leads to higher-quality reconstructions without compromising the assumption of a generalization gap. Meanwhile, to alleviate the network's overfitting of synthetic defects and address the issue of reconstruction errors, we fuse hierarchical features as guidance for discriminating defects. Moreover, with the help of an attention mechanism, the network achieves higher classification and localization accuracy. In addition, we construct a large dataset for packaging chips, named GTanoIC, with 1750 real non-defective samples and 470 real defective samples, and we provide their pixel-level annotations. Evaluation results demonstrate that our method outperforms other reconstruction-based methods on two challenging datasets: MVTec AD and GTanoIC.

Locoregional radiotherapy improves survival outcomes in de novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with chemoimmunotherapy

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the efficacy of locoregional radiotherapy (LRRT) in patients with de novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (dmNPC) receiving chemotherapy combined with anti-programmed cell death receptor-1 monoclonal antibodies (anti-PD-1 mAbs) as first-line treatment and identify optimal candidates for LRRT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We enrolled patients with dmNPC receiving platinum-based palliative chemotherapy and anti-PD-1 mAbs followed or not followed by LRRT from four centers. The endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and overall survival (OS). We used the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to balance the baseline characteristics of the LRRT and non-LRRT groups to minimize selection bias before comparative analyses. Multivariate analyses were carried out using the Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

We included 163 patients with dmNPC (median follow-up: 22 months). The median PFS was 20 months, and the ORR was 92.0%; the median OS was not achieved. After IPTW adjustments, patients who received LRRT had a significant survival benefit over those not receiving LRRT (median PFS: 28 versus 15 months, P < 0.001). The Epstein-Barr virus DNA (EBV DNA) level after four to six cycles of anti-PD-1 mAbs [weighted hazard ratio (HR): 2.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22-3.92, P = 0.008] and LRRT (weighted HR: 0.58, 95% CI 0.34-0.99, P = 0.04) were independent prognostic factors. Patients with undetectable EBV DNA levels after four to six cycles of anti-PD-1 mAbs (early EBV DNA clearance) benefitted from LRRT (HR: 0.41, 95% CI 0.22-0.79, P = 0.008), whereas those with detectable levels did not (HR: 1.30, 95% CI 0.59-2.87, P = 0.51).

CONCLUSIONS

Palliative chemotherapy combined with anti-PD-1 mAbs followed by LRRT was associated with improved PFS in patients with dmNPC, especially for patients with early EBV DNA clearance.

A Hybrid Strategy for Profile Measurement of Micro Gear Teeth

A hybrid strategy is proposed to meet the challenge of obtaining the profile of micro gear teeth with a small modulus. Firstly, the contact probe segmentally obtained the falling flank profiles with an auxiliary lifting mechanism to avoid interference when it climbs on the rising slope. Then, the noncontact chromatic confocal displacement sensor efficiently acquired the gear peak positions to carry out the two-point error separation with the gear peak positions from the probe measurement. Finally, actual experiments were carried out to obtain the profile of a harmonic drive flexspline. Compared with the commercial ultraprecise profiler, the proposed method provides measurement results with a deviation of less than 20 μm. In conclusion, the hybrid strategy is feasible and accurate for drawing the micro gear teeth profile without any collision between the measuring probes and the measured workpiece.

Enabling Thin-Edged Part Machining of Nomex Honeycomb Composites via Optimizing Variable Angle of Disc Cutters

Machining Nomex honeycomb composites (NHCs), which are widely-used materials in the aerospace industry, is an imperative process to obtain desired profiles. However, when machining NHCs to obtain a thin-edged surface, some problems can arise due to large cutting forces. To avoid these defects, a method of ultrasonic vibration machining with variable angles of the down milling disc cutter was proposed in this study. The processing principles and motion characteristics of this method were elaborated. A theoretical model of its cutting process was established. The principle of cutting force reduction was qualitatively analyzed based on the model, and an experimental validation was conducted. The results demonstrated that, due to a smaller swing angle in each pass, the proposed method could reduce the fractal dimension of the machined surface by 6.01% compared to 1° with 10° of angle in each pass. And severe machining defects were decreased. Additionally, comparing the process of the fixed 10° angle of ultrasonic vibration machining with the process of a 1° angle in a pass, cutting force can be significantly reduced by 33.5%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method which improved surface quality by reducing cutting forces.

[A cross-sectional survey on the allocation of nursing human resources in burn centers in China]

Objective: To investigate the allocation of nursing human resources in burn centers in China. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Using a self-designed questionnaire, a survey was carried out from January to March 2022 to investigate the January to December 2021 status of 39 burn centers in China that met the inclusion criteria based on six strategic regions and other regions, including the hospital grade and the region, the number of nurses and opening beds in the burn centers and burn intensive care units (BICUs), the age, working seniority in burn specialty, educational background, professional title, personnel employment, and turnover of nurses and training of newly recruited nurses in the burn centers. Results: This survey covered 30 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China (excluding Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan region of China). A total of 39 questionnaires were collected, all of which were valid. The 39 burn centers were located in 38 tertiary A hospitals and 1 tertiary B hospital, with 26 burn centers in strategic areas. The nurse/bed ratio of burn centers in the Greater Bay Area of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao was the highest, while the nurse/bed ratio of burn centers in border ethnic minority area was the lowest. Except for the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, BICUs had been set up in burn centers in other regions. Among the 39 burn centers, the percentage of nurses aged 25 to 34 years was 51.21% (738/1 441), the percentage of nurses worked in burn specialty for less than 5 years was 31.16% (449/1 441), the percentage of nurses with bachelor's degree was 69.74% (1 005/1 441), and the percentage of nurses with nursing professional title was 44.14% (636/1 441), which were the highest. There were significant differences in the employment of nurses, the percentage of permanent nurses in burn centers in the collaborative development zone of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei was 82.48% (113/137), while the percentage of permanent nurses in burn centers in important military strategic area was only 9.42% (34/361); the turnover rate of nurses was 9.03% (143/1 584), among which the turnover rate of nurses was 18.14% (80/441) in burn centers in important military strategic area. The training for newly recruited nurses in 39 burn centers was mainly based on the guidance of senior nurses and the pre-job education+specialist training. Conclusions: The burn nursing human resources in strategic areas in China are seriously insufficient and unevenly distributed, with unstable nurse team and lack of standardized specialist training. In particular, the nursing human resources in BICUs need to be equipped and supplemented urgently.

Ultralight type I transvaginal mesh: an alternative for recurrent severe posterior vaginal prolapse

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze the medium-term outcomes of ultralight type I mesh for postmenopausal women with recurrent severe posterior vaginal prolapse (PVP).

METHODS

All participants underwent transvaginal ultralight type I mesh repair between April 2016 and April 2021 and were followed until May 2022. Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System (POP-Q) staging, mesh-related complications, Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) scale and quality of life questionnaire responses were evaluated. The primary outcome was composite surgical success rate at the last follow-up, composite success being defined as no vaginal bulge symptoms, no POP-Q point at or beyond the hymen and no re-treatment for POP. Secondary outcomes included anatomic outcomes (POP-Q score), symptomatic relief and complications.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 37.3 months. At the last follow-up, the composite success rate was 75%, and POP-Q scores for the vault and posterior wall and quality of life questionnaire scores were significantly improved (p < 0.01). The subjective satisfaction (PGI-I ≤ 2) rate was 83.3%. There were no mesh-related complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultralight mesh can achieve good clinical outcomes and substantially improve the quality of life of patients with severe recurrent PVP in the medium term, and may thus be a viable alternative for treating this condition.

Early pregnancy regulates the expression of prolactin and its receptor in the thymus, the liver, the spleen and lymph nodes in sheep

As a pituitary hormone, prolactin (PRL) is also synthesized by immune system cells, and exerts its effects on the immune system by binding to its receptor (PRLR) via endocrine and paracrine/autocrine pathways. The immune organs adapt to the presence of fetal alloantigens during pregnancy, and the immune system is composed of primary organs and secondary organs. The objective of this study is to analyze the effects of early pregnancy on expression of PRL and PRLR in maternal immune organs in sheep. In this study, the thymus, lymph node, the spleen and the liver were sampled at day 16 of the estrous cycle, and at days 13, 16, and 25 of pregnancy in ewes. Expression of PRL and PRLR was analyzed through quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Our data showed that there were an upregulation of PRL and PRLR in the thymus, lymph node and the spleen, and a downregulation in the liver during early pregnancy in ewes. In conclusion, it is reported for the first time that early pregnancy has tissue specific effects on expression of PRL isoform and PRLR isoform in the thymus, lymph node, the spleen and the liver, which may be owing to these organs exerting different functions during early pregnancy, and necessary for the successful pregnancy in sheep.

Impacts of menopause hormone therapy on mood disorders among postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the modulatory effects of menopause hormone therapy (MHT) on mood disorders among postmenopausal women.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit postmenopausal women, including patients (arranged MHT for over 3 years as the medication group) and non-MHT controls. All participants were asked to respond to the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7) questionnaires to assess their depression and anxiety status.

RESULTS

A total of 230 cases from the two groups were determined based on propensity score matching analysis by matching the menopausal age and menopausal durations. We found that MHT served as a favorable modulator in the depression status of postmenopausal women. Among the four factors of the CES-D questionnaire, our data indicated that the differences between the two groups fell primarily into two aspects: depressive emotion, and somatic symptoms or retarded activities. MHT was mainly involved in improving the depression of overweight women. However, no substantial effects of MHT were observed on the regulation of anxiety.

CONCLUSION

Postmenopausal women, especially the overweight population, who have experienced MHT exhibited an improved depressive status but not their anxiety condition.

Effectiveness of Oxygen during Sintering of Silver Thin Films Derived by Nanoparticle Ink

Silver nanoparticle (NP) inks have been widely used in the ink-jet printing field because of their excellent properties during low-temperature sintering. However, the organic dispersant used to prevent the aggregation and sedimentation of NPs can hinder the sintering process and result in the high resistivity of sintered films. In this study, silver thin films derived from silver NP ink with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) dispersant were sintered in different atmospheres of pure nitrogen, air, and pure oxygen. The effect of the oxygen content in the sintering atmosphere on the thermal properties of the ink, the electrical resistivity and microstructure of the sintered films, and the amount of organic residue were studied by using differential scanning calorimetry, the four-point probe method, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, etc. The mechanism of optimizing the film resistivity by influencing the decomposition of the PVP dispersant and the microstructure evolution of the silver thin films through the sintering atmosphere was discussed. The results demonstrated that an oxygen-containing atmosphere could be effective for silver NPs in two ways. First, the oxygen content could enhance the diffusion ability of silver atoms, thus accelerating the stage transition of microstructural evolution at low temperatures. Second, the oxygen content could enable the PVP to decompose at a temperature much lower than in conditions of pure nitrogen, thus helping to finalize the densification of a silver film with a low resistivity of 2.47 μΩ·cm, which is approximately 1.5-fold that of bulk silver. Our findings could serve as a foundation for the subsequent establishment of ink-jet printing equipment and the optimization of the sintering process for printing silver patterns on flexible substrates.

A temporal-spatial attention-based action recognition method for intelligent fault diagnosis

The intelligent fault diagnosis of video data has become a demanding task in industrial applications. However, existing models require expensive computational cost and memory demand, which makes this technology applied in factories impossible. To address this problem, a temporal-spatial attention-based action recognition method (TARM) integrating TAB (temporal-attention-based frame splitting model), SAB (spatial-attention-based agent focusing mode) and LSB (long-short term feature learning mode) is proposed. TAB first extracts important frames from raw videos. Then, SAB refines video data by reinforcing their essential features and weakening unnecessary features. Furthermore, LSB monitors action type of video data by establishing recurrent convolutional architectures. Finally, the performance of TARM in terms of training time and fault diagnosis accuracy are validated by comparing with six state-of-the-art video diagnosis methods.

A novel deep convolution generative adversarial transfer learning model for data-driven assembly quality diagnosis

As the service life of the assembly equipment are short, the tightening data it produces are very limited. Therefore, data-driven assembly quality diagnosis is still a challenge task in industries. Transfer learning can be used to address small data problems. However, transfer learning has strict requirements on the training dataset, which is hard to satisfy. To solve the above problem, an Improved Deep Convolution Generative Adversarial Transfer Learning Model (IDCGAN-TM) is proposed, which integrates three modules: The generative learning module automatically produces source datasets based on small target datasets by using the improved generative-adversarial theory. The feature learning module improves the feature extraction ability by building a lightweight deep learning model (DL). The transfer learning module consists of a pre-trained DL and a one fully connected layer to better perform the intelligent quality diagnosis on the training small sample data. A parallel computing method is adopted to obtain produced source data efficiently. Real assembly quality diagnosis cases are designed and discussed to validate the advance of the proposed model. In addition, the comparison experiments are designed to show that the proposed approach holds the better transfer diagnosis performance compared with the existing three state-of-art approaches.

A Fast and Accurate Frequency Tracking Method for Ultrasonic Cutting System via the Synergetic Control of Phase and Current

Ultrasonic cutting is a superior machining process for brittle materials, owing to its capability to reduce the cutting force and improve the surface quality. To avoid the destructive instability of ultrasonic vibration induced by the cutting force, the excitation frequency of the ultrasonic system must reliably track its resonance frequency. However, it remains challenging for the conventional frequency tracking methods via one parameter to simultaneously achieve both high response rate and high tracking accuracy. This study proposes that more than one parameter could be coupled to get advantages from each parameter. A frequency tracking method via the synergetic control of circuit phase and current of the ultrasonic system was proposed as an example. This method utilizes the phase to responsively determine the tracking direction and uses the characteristic current as the endpoint frequency to ensure accuracy. Theoretical analyses and numerical simulations were conducted to demonstrate that the proposed method can accurately track the frequency of maximum vibration amplitude with a higher response rate than conventional methods. Moreover, ultrasonic cutting tests were performed on Nomex composites to evaluate the machining performance of the ultrasonic system with the proposed method. The experimental results verify that the proposed frequency tracking method enables the ultrasonic system to reach a stable state with a shorter response time, which is beneficial for the reduction of cutting-induced defects.

[A prospective study on the associations between dietary intakes of energy and macronutrients before menarche and age at menarche among girls]

Based on the data from China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), 840 girls aged 6-15 years who had information about menarche and participated in dietary survey at least once within 1-5 years before onset of menarche between 1989 and 2015 were included in the study. The median age at baseline of the 840 participants was 10 (9, 11) years. The median age at menarche of the participants was 13 (12, 14) years. After adjusting for the age of birth, place of residence, body mass index Z-score, physical activity level and annual household income per capita, the average age of menarche was advanced by 0.036 (95%CI: -0.068, -0.004) years for every 10 g increase in daily fat intake before menarche. The average age at menarche was 0.008 (95%CI: -0.014, -0.001) years earlier for every 1% increase in the daily energy supply ratio of fat before menarche.

Investigations on a mathematical model for optimum impedance compensation of a giant magnetostrictive ultrasonic transducer and its resonance characteristics

Giant magnetostrictive materials (GMMs) have been widely used to fabricate transducers with high-energy output because of their excellent properties. However, there are few reports on mathematical models to optimize the impedance compensation and resonance characteristics of giant magnetostrictive transducers. In this study, a giant magnetostrictive ultrasonic transducer (GMUT) suitable for rotary ultrasonic machining systems is proposed. A mathematical model for optimum impedance compensation that considers the loss in energy conversion is established to maximize the use of ultrasonic energy. The frequency characteristics of the electrical feedback signal in the resonance state are investigated, and the resonance zone found is used for frequency tracking. An impedance analyzer is used to determine the parameters of the mathematical model, and the validity of the optimum compensation capacitance is verified by experiments. The frequency characteristics of the minimum current, active power, and amplitude are obtained to obtain the resonance zone in the GMUT with the lowest energy consumption. The results of this study provide a reference for frequency tracking.

An amplitude prediction model for a giant magnetostrictive ultrasonic transducer

Rotary ultrasonic machining (RUM) is widely used in the processing of brittle and hard materials. The application of giant magnetostrictive ultrasonic transducers (GMUT) with effective vibration performance is an increasingly popular field of research within RUM. A generalized amplitude prediction model for GMUT is obtained in this paper by first providing an equivalent kinetics model of the GMUT. Considering the influence on interaction force between Terfenol-D and the external mechanical mechanism, the prestress mechanism of Terfenol-D and the joint face of the horn are determined as equivalent to two spring-damping systems in series, and a general GMUT vibration equation is established. The equivalent stiffness of the prestress mechanism is then identified, and the mechanical quality factor of the vibration system is calculated by impedance analysis. The influence of the joint face of the horn and the prestress mechanism on the amplitude is then studied by nonlinear least square fitting. Based on a magnetostriction and magnetization model, an odd power amplitude prediction model with mechanical quality factor, excitation current amplitude, and excitation frequency is proposed. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model can effectively predict the output amplitude of the GMUT with different mechanical quality factors for different excitation signals, providing a method for system design and optimization of the GMUT.

Influence of an InGaN superlattice pre-layer on the performance of semi-polar (11-22) green LEDs grown on silicon

It is well-known that it is crucial to insert either a single InGaN underlayer or an InGaN superlattice (SLS) structure (both with low InN content) as a pre-layer prior to the growth of InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs) served as an active region for a light-emitting diode (LED). So far, this growth scheme has achieved a great success in the growth of III-nitride LEDs on c-plane substrates, but has not yet been applied in the growth of any other orientated III-nitride LEDs. In this paper, we have applied this growth scheme in the growth of semi-polar (11–22) green LEDs, and have investigated the impact of the SLS pre-layer on the optical performance of semi-polar (11–22) green LEDs grown on patterned (113) silicon substrates. Our results demonstrate that the semi-polar LEDs with the SLS pre-layer exhibit an improvement in both internal quantum efficiency and light output, which is similar to their c-plane counterparts. However, the performance improvement is not so significant as in the c-plane case. This is because the SLS pre-layer also introduces extra misfit dislocations for the semi-polar, but not the c-plane case, which act as non-radiative recombination centres.

Attitude and knowledge for menopause management among health professionals in mainland China

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to understand the attitude of health-care professionals (HPs) in mainland China toward menopause management (MM) as well as the knowledge they have received regarding MM during training.

METHODS

An anonymous survey recruited 3709 medical workers nationwide (including physicians, orthopedists, obstetricians and gynecologists, and general practitioners) through online surveys and on-site interviews at professional meetings.

RESULTS

Of the 3709 questionnaires completed, 3426 questionnaires met the inclusion criteria. Of the participants, 1532 HPs had not received menopause management training (MMT) in nearly 1 year. Among the residents and physician assistants, 103 reported they were not familiar with MM. Satisfyingly, 98.3% of HPs considered it very important or essential to accept MM. Although most interviewees replied some correct menopausal knowledge, nearly half of them could not correctly identify the contraindications for menopause hormone therapy (MHT). Additionally, 73.1% of HPs would advise patients with premature ovarian insufficiency to receive hormone replacement therapy at least until the average age of menopause.

CONCLUSION

This survey indicated that HPs have some knowledge regarding MM, but a gap remains to master the basic theory of MHT. In order to manage the growing menopausal population in China, creating more in-depth educational MMT programs for HPs is necessary.

[The association of pre-pregnancy body mass and weight gain during pregnancy with macrosomia: a cohort study]

Objective: To examine the association of pre-pregnancy body mass and weight gain during pregnancy with macrosomia. Methods: From January 2015 to December 2015, a total of 20 477 pregnant women were recruited by probabilistic proportional scale sampling with simple randomization in Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou Provinces. Basic information of pregnant women, weight gain during pregnancy and weight of newborn were collected. A multiple logistic regression model was used to assess the association between the pre-pregnancy body mass and gestational weight gain indicators with macrosomia. Results: 20 321 mother-infant were included in the final analysis. 20 321 pregnant women were (30.09±4.10) years old and delivered at (39.20±1.29) weeks, among which 12 341 (60.73%) cases were cesarean delivery. The birth weight of 20 321 infants were (3 292.26±431.67) grams, and 970 (4.77%) were macrosomia. The multiple logistic regression model showed that after adjusting for the age of women, compared to the normal weight group in the pre-pregnancy, the overweight and obesity group elevated the risk of macrosomia, with OR (95%CI) about 1.99 (95%CI: 1.69-2.35) and 4.05 (95%CI: 3.05-5.39), respectively. After adjusting for the age, the pre-pregnancy BMI, delivery weeks, delivery mode and infant's gender, compared to the weight-gain appropriate group, higher weight gain rate in the mid-pregnancy and excessive total gestational weight gain elevated the risk of macrosomia, with OR (95%CI) about 1.99 (95%CI: 1.66-2.39) and 1.80 (95%CI: 1.55-2.08), respectively. Conclusion: The overweight before pregnancy, obesity before pregnancy, the rate of weight gain in the second trimester and the high total weight gain during pregnancy could increase the risk of macrosomia.

Predicting cyanobacteria bloom occurrence in lakes and reservoirs before blooms occur

With increased global warming, cyanobacteria are blooming more frequently in lakes and reservoirs, severely damaging the health and stability of aquatic ecosystems and threatening drinking water safety and human health. There is an urgent demand for the effective prediction and prevention of cyanobacterial blooms. However, it is difficult to effectively reduce the risks and loss caused by cyanobacterial blooms because most methods are unable to successfully predict cyanobacteria blooms. Therefore, in this study, we proposed a new cyanobacterial bloom occurrence prediction method to analyze the probability and driving factors of the blooms for effective prevention and control. Dominant cyanobacterial species with bloom capabilities were initially determined using a dominant species identification model, and the principal driving factors of the dominant species were then analyzed using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Cyanobacterial bloom probability was calculated using a newly-developed model, after which, the probable mutation points were identified and thresholds for the principal driving factors of cyanobacterial blooms were predicted. A total of 141 phytoplankton data sets from 90 stations were collected from six large-scale hydrology, water-quality ecology, integrated field surveys in Jinan City, China in 2014-2015 and used for model application and verification. The results showed that there were six dominant cyanobacterial species in the study area, and that the principal driving factors were water temperature, pH, total phosphorus, ammonia nitrogen, chemical oxygen demand, and dissolved oxygen. The cyanobacterial blooms corresponded to a threshold water temperature range, pH, total phosphorus (TP), ammonium nitrogen level, chemical oxygen demand, and dissolved oxygen levels of 19.5-32.5 °C, 7.0-9.38, 0.13-0.22 mg L^-1, 0.38-0.63 mg L^-1, 10.5-17.5 mg L^-1, and 4.97-8.28 mg L^-1, respectively. Comparison with research results from other global regions further supported the use of these thresholds, indicating that this method could be used in habitats beyond China. We found that the probability of cyanobacterial bloom was 0.75, a critical point for prevention and control. When this critical point was exceeded, cyanobacteria could proliferate rapidly, increasing the risk of cyanobacterial blooms. Changes in driving factors need to be rapidly controlled, based on these thresholds, to prevent cyanobacterial blooms. Temporal and spatial scales were critical factors potentially affecting the selection of driving factors. This method is versatile and can help determine the risk of cyanobacterial blooms and the thresholds of the principal driving factors. It can effectively predict and help prevent cyanobacterial blooms to reduce the global probability of occurrence, protect the health and stability of water ecosystems, ensure drinking water safety, and protect human health.

Quantitative assessment of the effects of human activities on phytoplankton communities in lakes and reservoirs

Global algal blooms have been severely threatening safety of drinking water and development of socio-economy. Effective prevention and accurate control of algal blooms require a quantitative assessment of the influence of human activities and identification of priority areas. However, previous studies on the quantitative assessment of the effects of human activities on algal communities are lacking, severely hindering the effective and precise control of algal blooms. This paper proposes a quantitative assessment model to evaluate the impact intensity of human activities on phytoplankton. Applications showed that the proliferation of phytoplankton were more limited by nutrients such as total phosphorus and ammonia where waters are less influenced by human activities, yet were less limited by these nutrients where there are highly intensive human activities. The density of phytoplankton in waters increased with an increase in human activity intensity, particularly in concentrated agricultural areas, which are priority areas for the prevention and control of algal blooms. The methodologies can clearly identify key areas for algal bloom prevention and control and can provide scientific evidence for water and nutrient management throughout the world, reducing the risk of algal blooms and ensuring aquatic ecosystem health and potable water safety.

Development of a three-wave far-infrared laser interferometry and polarimetry diagnostic system for the C-2W field-reversed configuration plasmas

Great advancements in modern field-reversed configuration (FRC) experiments motivated the development of a 14-chord three-wave far infrared (FIR) laser interferometry and polarimetry diagnostic system, which can provide simultaneous high temporal resolution measurements of density and Faraday rotation profiles with high accuracy. The unique challenges facing FIR diagnostics in high beta FRC plasmas are the extremely small (<0.5°) Faraday rotation angles, and severe laser beam refraction effects due to high density gradient and choice of long wavelength. The diagnostic system design and development are described with methods to overcome the challenges, and initial experimental data are also presented.

Investigations on the critical feed rate guaranteeing the effectiveness of rotary ultrasonic machining

Rotary ultrasonic machining (RUM) is a well-known and efficient method for manufacturing holes in brittle materials. RUM is characterized by improved material removal rates, reduced cutting forces and reduced edge chipping sizes at the hole exit. The aim of this study is to investigate the critical feed rate to guarantee the effectiveness of RUM. Experimental results on quartz glass and sapphire specimens show that when the feed rate exceeds a critical value, the cutting force increases abruptly, accompanied by a significant decrease of ultrasonic amplitude. An analytical model for the prediction of critical feed rates is presented, based on indentation fracture mechanic and the theory of impact of vibrating systems. This model establishes the theoretical relationships between the critical feed rate, idling resonant ultrasonic amplitude and spindle speed. The results predicted by the analytical model were in good agreement with the experimental results.

Enhancing the rate performance of spherical LiFeBO3/C via Cr doping

Spherical LiFe_1−xCr_xBO₃/C (x = 0, 0.005, 0.008) has been successfully synthesized by ball-milling and spray-drying assisted high-temperature solid-state reaction.

High sensitivity far infrared laser diagnostics for the C-2U advanced beam-driven field-reversed configuration plasmas

A high sensitivity multi-channel far infrared laser diagnostics with switchable interferometry and polarimetry operation modes for the advanced neutral beam-driven C-2U field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas is described. The interferometer achieved superior resolution of 1 × 10¹⁶ m^-2 at >1.5 MHz bandwidth, illustrated by measurement of small amplitude high frequency fluctuations. The polarimetry achieved 0.04° instrument resolution and 0.1° actual resolution in the challenging high density gradient environment with >0.5 MHz bandwidth, making it suitable for weak internal magnetic field measurements in the C-2U plasmas, where the maximum Faraday rotation angle is less than 1°. The polarimetry resolution data is analyzed, and high resolution Faraday rotation data in C-2U is presented together with direct evidences of field reversal in FRC magnetic structure obtained for the first time by a non-perturbative method.

Anti-CII antibody as a novel indicator to assess disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects a variety of organ systems. Anti-dsDNA Abs and complement factors have been used as indicators of lupus activity for more than 50 years. A novel indicator of activation in SLE is reported in this paper. Anti-collagen type II (CII) Ab was obviously elevated in patients with SLE compared to those patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and healthy controls (HCs). Anti-CII-Ab-positive patients with SLE showed significantly higher levels of serum IgG and higher titers of ANA but lower levels of C3 and C4 than controls. A positive correlation was demonstrated between anti-CII Ab and serum IgG in SLE patients (r = 0.50, p < 0.0001). The negative correlations of anti-CII Ab with C3 and C4 were observed in SLE patients (r = -0.36, p = 0.0013; r = -0.37, p = 0.0006, respectively). The reduced anti-CII Ab level was accompanied by decreased level of serum IgG and increased levels of C3 and C4 after regular treatment. Therefore, anti-CII Ab could be a novel indicator for monitoring activity of SLE.

Monoenergetic positronium emission from metal-organic framework crystals

Recently it has been discovered that positronium (Ps), after forming in metal-organic framework (MOF) crystals, is emitted into vacuum with a high efficiency and low energy that can only be explained by its propagating as delocalized Bloch states. We show that the Ps atoms are emitted from MOFs in a series of narrow energy peaks consistent with Ps at Bloch-state energy minima being emitted adiabatically into the vacuum. This implies that the Ps emission energy spectra can be directly compared with calculations to obtain detailed information about the Ps band structure in the MOF crystal. The narrow energy width of the lowest energy Ps peak from one MOF sample (2-Methylimidazole zinc salt ZIF-8) suggests it originates from a polaronic Ps surface state. Other peaks can be assigned to Ps with an effective mass of about twice that of bare Ps. Given the immense catalog of available MOF crystals, it should be possible to tune the Ps properties to make vastly improved sources with high production efficiency and a narrow energy spread, for use in fundamental physics experiments.

Far infrared laser polarimetry and far forward scattering diagnostics for the C-2 field reversed configuration plasmas

A two-chord far infrared (FIR) laser polarimeter for high speed sub-degree Faraday rotation measurements in the C-2 field reversed configuration experiment is described. It is based on high power proprietary FIR lasers with line width of about 330 Hz. The exceptionally low intrinsic instrument phase error is characterized with figures of merit. Significant toroidal magnetic field with rich dynamics is observed. Simultaneously obtained density fluctuation spectra by far forward scattering are presented.

Magnetic diagnostic suite of the C-2 field-reversed configuration experiment confinement vessel

Magnetic measurements are a fundamental part of determining the size and shape of field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas in the C-2 device. The magnetic probe suite consists of 44 in-vessel and ex-vessel probes constructed using various technologies: ultra-high vacuum compatible mineral-insulated cable, nested triple axis coils hand-wound on ceramic bobbins, and commercial chip inductors mounted on printed circuit boards. Together, these probes measure the three-dimensional excluded flux profile of the FRC, which approximates the shape of the separatrix between the confined plasma volume and the scrape-off layer. High accuracy is achieved by using the extensive probe measurements to compensate for non-ideal effects such as flux leakage through the vacuum vessel and bulk motion of the FRC towards the wall. A subset of the probes is also used as a set of Mirnov arrays that provide sensitive detection of perturbations and oscillations of the FRC.

Comparative evaluation of a phage protein ligand assay with real-time PCR and a reference method for the detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in raw ground beef and trimmings

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 is an important pathogen associated with infections caused by consumption of undercooked raw meat. Sensitive and rapid detection methods for E. coli O157:H7 are essential for the meat industry to ensure a safe meat supply. This study was conducted to compare the sensitivity of the VIDAS ultra performance E. coli test (ECPT UP) with a noncommercial real-time (RT) PCR method and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) reference method for detecting E. coli O157:H7 in raw ground beef. Optimal enrichment times and the efficacy of testing different types of raw meat, either as individual samples (25 g) or as composites (375 g), were examined. For 25-g samples of each type of raw ground beef tested, 6 h of enrichment was sufficient for both the VIDAS ECPT UP and RT-PCR methods, but for 375-g samples, 24 h of enrichment was required. Both the VIDAS ECPT UP and RT-PCR methods produced results similar to those obtained with the USDA-FSIS reference method after 18 to 24 h of enrichment. The primer specificity of the RT-PCR assay and the highly specific phage ligand used in the VIDAS ECPT UP for target recognition enabled the detection of low levels of E. coli O157:H7 in 25 g of various types of raw ground beef. The tests also allowed the detection of E. coli O157:H7 in composite raw ground beef and trimmings in samples of up to 375 g.

Effect of an α-lactalbumin-enriched infant formula with lower protein on growth

Background/Objectives:

Protein concentration is lower in human milk (HM) than in infant formula. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an α-lactalbumin-enriched formula with a lower protein concentration on infant growth, protein markers and biochemistries.

Subjects/Methods:

Healthy term formula-fed (FF) infants 5–14 days old were randomized in this controlled, double-blind trial to standard formula (SF: 14.1 g/l protein, 662 kcal/l) group (n=112) or experimental formula (EF: 12.8 g/l protein, 662 kcal/l) group (n=112) for 120 days; a HM reference group (n=112) was included. Primary outcome was weight gain (g/day) from D0 to D120. Secondary outcomes included serum albumin, plasma amino acids insulin and incidence of study events. Anthropometric measures were expressed as Z-scores using 2006 World Health Organization growth standards.

Results:

A total of 321 of the 336 infants (96%) who enrolled, completed the study. Mean age was 9.6 (±2.9) days; 50% were girls. Mean weight gain (g/day) did not significantly differ between SF vs EF (P=0.67) nor between EF vs HM (P=0.11); however weight gain (g/day) was significantly greater in the SF vs HM group (P=0.04). At day 120, mean weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ) and weight-for-length Z-score (WLZ) did not significantly differ between SF vs EF nor EF vs HM; however the WAZ was significantly greater in SF vs HM (P=0.025). Secondary outcomes were within normal ranges for all groups. Incidence of study events did not differ among groups.

Conclusions:

α-Lactalbumin-enriched formula containing12.8 g/l protein was safe and supported age-appropriate growth; weight gain with EF was intermediate between SF and HM groups and resulted in growth similar to HM-fed infants in terms of weight gain, WAZ and WLZ.

Dynamic formation of a hot field reversed configuration with improved confinement by supersonic merging of two colliding high-β compact toroids

A hot stable field-reversed configuration (FRC) has been produced in the C-2 experiment by colliding and merging two high-β plasmoids preformed by the dynamic version of field-reversed θ-pinch technology. The merging process exhibits the highest poloidal flux amplification obtained in a magnetic confinement system (over tenfold increase). Most of the kinetic energy is converted into thermal energy with total temperature (T{i}+T{e}) exceeding 0.5 keV. The final FRC state exhibits a record FRC lifetime with flux confinement approaching classical values. These findings should have significant implications for fusion research and the physics of magnetic reconnection.

The effect of clomipramine on wake/sleep and orexinergic expression in rats

We have previously found that neonatal treatment with clomipramine (CLI) induced a decrease in brain orexins during the juvenile period and that these changes were reversed at adulthood. This study investigated the effect of CLI on the orexinergic component and sleep/wake states. Two groups of adult male rats were conducted for 48-h polysomnographic recording. One group of rats was treated with CLI (20 mg/kg every 12 h), and a second group was treated with equivolume of saline (SAL) simultaneously after the first 24 h of polysomnographic recording. Rats were killed 2 h after the third dose of treatment. Brain tissues were collected for radioimmunoassay quantification of orexins and real-time PCR analysis of prepro-orexin and orexin receptor mRNA. The CLI group had significantly shorter rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and longer REM latency compared with both the baseline day and the SAL group and had significantly less active wake and more quiet wake. Compared with the control rats, the CLI rats had significantly higher mRNA expression of prepro-orexin in the hypothalamus and the frontal cortex, but not in the hippocampus. The CLI rats also had significantly less orexin B in the hypothalamus than the control rats. These results suggest that suppression of active wake and orexin B by CLI may be a factor responsible for CLI-induced depression and that the increase of prepro-orexin mRNA may be a sign of increased brain orexins found in this model.