Platelet indices(PIs)including high mean platelet volume(MPV),plateletcrit(PLC),and platelet distribution width(PLDW)are associated with poor glycemic control.In addition,they can indicate prothrombotic and procoagula...Platelet indices(PIs)including high mean platelet volume(MPV),plateletcrit(PLC),and platelet distribution width(PLDW)are associated with poor glycemic control.In addition,they can indicate prothrombotic and procoagulation risk among patients with diabetes.PI measurement is cheap,quick and fits healthcare system needs in remote outreaching areas in low-income countries.However,a broader insight into their clinical implications in diabetes is lacking.To achieve a wider understanding,we reviewed PubMed/MEDLINE,Google Scholar and Cochrane Library for relevant articles investigating the role of PIs in diabetes mellitus.No limitation to the publication date was applied,which included all articles published up to August 17,2024.The terms used were MPV,PLC,PLDW,platelet large cell ratio,glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c),PIs,platelet activity and diabetes mellitus.Out of the 790 articles retrieved,187 full texts were reviewed,and 44 were included.PIs,when measurements are done promptly and within 2 h,could be short-term pointers to glycemic control in the life span of the platelets(2 wk).PIs are easy to perform,cheap and useful in remote outreaching areas with limited facilities where measurement of HbA1c is not available or cost-effective.However,PIs are not specific and are affected by demographic factors,such as pregnancy,renal failure,medications,hemoglobin and duration of diabetes.PIs could be implemented with daily blood glucose to inform doctors in low-income countries about their patients'glycemic control and cardiovascular risk.An important application might be when blood glucose control is needed quickly(before elective surgery).展开更多
The attenuation of the acoustic activity in marble specimens under uniaxial compressive loadingunloading loops is quantified in juxtaposition to that of the electric activity.In parallel,the existence of"pre-fail...The attenuation of the acoustic activity in marble specimens under uniaxial compressive loadingunloading loops is quantified in juxtaposition to that of the electric activity.In parallel,the existence of"pre-failure indiceso"warning about entrance into a critical stage,that of impending fracture,is explored.The acoustic activity is quantified in terms of the normalized number of acoustic hits,their average rate of production and their cumulative energy,and,the cumulative counts and their average rate of change.The electric activity is studied in terms of the pressure stimulated currents and the electric charge released.The analysis revealed that the acoustic and electric activities are linearly correlated to each other,suggesting that they are different manifestations of the same damage mechanisms.In addition,Kaiser's effect,governing the acoustic activity,is found to govern,also,the electric activity.Moreover,it is concluded that entrance into the critical stage is safely predicted by means of a simple criterion,based on the evolution of the average rate of change of the normalized cumulative counts in the natural time domain.These predictions are almost identical with those of the criterion based on the "varianceo" and the "entropies" of the time series of acoustic events in this domain.展开更多
Freezing–thawing indices serve as a comprehensive indicator of both the duration of the freezing/thawing periods and the degree of cold and heat in a given region.In-depth analysis of the freezing-thawing indices not...Freezing–thawing indices serve as a comprehensive indicator of both the duration of the freezing/thawing periods and the degree of cold and heat in a given region.In-depth analysis of the freezing-thawing indices not only enables the prediction of permafrost distribution and its dynamic changes,but also facilitates the assessment of damage risk to infrastructure under freeze-thaw action.In this paper,the air/ground freezing–thawing indices from 1987 to 2017,based on daily temperature observations from meteorological stations along the China–Nepal Highway(CNH),were calculated,and their spatial and temporal variation patterns were analyzed.The results showed that:(1)Both mean annual air temperature and mean annual ground surface temperature along the CNH fluctuated upward,with climate tendency rates of 0.43 and 0.52.C·(10a)~(-1),respectively;(2)The number of days with negative air temperature and ground temperature showed fluctuated downward,with change rates of-8.6 and-8.3 d·(10a)~(-1),respectively;(3)The ranges of air freezing index,air thawing index,ground freezing index,and ground thawing index over the years were 157.05-458.88°C·d,2034.20-2560.73°C·d,108.78-396.83°C·d,and 3515.25-4288.67°C·d,respectively.The climate tendency rates were-5.42,10.22,-6.79,and 12.14.C·d·a-1,respectively,showing a general warming trend;(4)The air freezing index,ground freezing index,and ground thawing index changed abruptly in 1999,2000,and 2002,respectively,evincing significant changes after 2002.The research results can provide a basis for the risk assessment of freezing–thawing erosion and the prevention and control of permafrost engineering diseases along the CNH.展开更多
BACKGROUND The nutritional status is closely related to the prognosis of liver transplant re-cipients,but few studies have reported the role of preoperative objective nutri-tional indices in predicting liver transplan...BACKGROUND The nutritional status is closely related to the prognosis of liver transplant re-cipients,but few studies have reported the role of preoperative objective nutri-tional indices in predicting liver transplant outcomes.AIM To compare the predictive value of various preoperative objective nutritional indicators for determining 30-d mortality and complications following liver transplantation(LT).METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 162 recipients who underwent LT at our institution from December 2019 to June 2022.RESULTS This study identified several independent risk factors associated with 30-d mor-tality,including blood loss,the prognostic nutritional index(PNI),the nutritional risk index(NRI),and the control nutritional status.The 30-d mortality rate was 8.6%.Blood loss,the NRI,and the PNI were found to be independent risk factors for the occurrence of severe postoperative complications.The NRI achieved the highest prediction values for 30-d mortality[area under the curve(AUC)=0.861,P<0.001]and severe complications(AUC=0.643,P=0.011).Compared to those in the high NRI group,the low patients in the NRI group had lower preoperative body mass index and prealbumin and albumin levels,as well as higher alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin levels,Model for End-stage Liver Disease scores and prothrombin time(P<0.05).Furthermore,the group with a low NRI exhibited significantly greater incidences of intraabdominal bleeding,primary graft nonfunction,and mortality.CONCLUSION The NRI has good predictive value for 30-d mortality and severe complications following LT.The NRI could be an effective tool for transplant surgeons to evaluate perioperative nutritional risk and develop relevant nutritional therapy.展开更多
BACKGROUND Diabetes is a chronic metabolic syndrome that has become a global public health problem with significant morbidity and mortality.It is a pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic condition characterized by increa...BACKGROUND Diabetes is a chronic metabolic syndrome that has become a global public health problem with significant morbidity and mortality.It is a pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic condition characterized by increased platelet activation and alterations in platelet indices.However,the use of platelet indices as predictors of poor glucoregulation has not been fully evaluated in this context,and evidence for their role as predictors of poor glycemic status in diabetic patients is limited.AIM To evaluate platelet indices and determine their prognostic significance in relation to inadequate glucoregulation among individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at Bishoftu General Hospital in Ethiopia,from June 15 to August 12,2022.METHODS A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in 261 participants including 174 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and 87 non-diabetic controls.The systematic random sampling technique was used to select participants.Data were collected using structured questionnaires,physical measurements,checklists,and laboratory tests.Platelet parameters and fasting blood glucose levels were determined from blood samples using Sysmex-XN550 and CobasC311 analyzers,respectively.The hematology analyzer output was checked and participants were also screened for malaria parasites using a prepared blood smear.Collected data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis.Theχ^(2) test,Mann-Whitney U test,Kruskal-Wallis test,post hoc test,Spearman correlation,and receiver operating characteristic curve were used for analysis.A P value<0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS The results of our study indicate that diabetic patients have significantly higher levels of platelet distribution width(PDW),mean platelet volume(MPV),platelet large cell ratio(PLCR),and plateletcrit(PCT)compared to healthy individuals(P<0.001).Furthermore,these indices were found to be significantly elevated in individuals with poor glycemic control in T2DM compared to those with good glycemic control and healthy controls.We also observed significant correlations between these indices and various anthropometric and clinical variables.Our findings suggest that PDW,with a cut-off value of 15.75 fL and an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.803,MPV,with a cut-off value of 12.25 fL and an AUC of 0.774,PLCR,with a cut-off value of 36.3%and an AUC of 0.775,and PCT,with a cut-off value of 0.24%and an AUC of 0.761,can serve as predictors of poor glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus.CONCLUSION The observed correlation between diabetic patients and a significant increase in platelet indices has highlighted their potential as predictors of poor glycemic control in diabetes.Therefore,regular screening and profiling of platelet indices is recommended as part of the follow-up process for individuals with diabetes mellitus.展开更多
Background: The ear and face are indispensable and distinctive features for hearing and identification. Objectives: This study was designed to generate anthropometric data of the ear and facial indices of females of E...Background: The ear and face are indispensable and distinctive features for hearing and identification. Objectives: This study was designed to generate anthropometric data of the ear and facial indices of females of Efik and Ibibio children in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, show morphological and aesthetic differences and ethnicity. Methods: A total of 600 female children (300 Efiks and 300 Ibibios) aged 2 to 10 years that met the inclusion criteria were chosen from selected primary schools in Calabar Municipality, Calabar South of Cross River State and from Uyo, Itu of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Standardized measurements of face length, face width, ear length, and ear width were taken with a spreading caliper;the facial (proscopic) and ear (auricular) indices were determined. Results: Efik subjects presented a mean face length of 8.36 ± 0.06 cm, face width of 11.04 ± 0.04 cm, ear length of 4.92 ± 0.02 cm, and ear width of 3.06 ± 0.01 cm. Ibibio subjects had mean values for face length, face width, ear length, and ear width as 8.17 ± 0.05 cm, 10.75 ± 0.05 cm, 4.77 ± 0.03 cm, and 2.94 ± 0.02 cm respectively. The mean facial index and ear index for Efik subjects were 75.68 ± 0.31 and 62.16 ± 0.27 respectively;while the mean facial and ear indices for Ibibio subjects were 74.79 ± 0.36 and 61.80 ± 0.34 respectively. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant differences in face length, ear length, ear width and facial index, with the Efik subjects having higher values than Ibibio subjects (p Conclusion: The results showed hypereuryproscopic face as the prevalent face type among females of both ethnic groups, therefore can be of importance in sex, ethnic, and racial differentiation, and in clinical practice, aesthetics and forensic medicine.展开更多
The goal was to compare body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist to height ratio (WHtR), and relative fat mas (RFM), to identify the best predictor of overweight and obesity in university students from M...The goal was to compare body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist to height ratio (WHtR), and relative fat mas (RFM), to identify the best predictor of overweight and obesity in university students from Mexico. This is a cross-sectional survey with 697 university students from northern and central Mexico (448 women, and 249 men aged 18 - 19 years). Data was collected during 2018. Overweight and obesity were calculated from those indices and for both, female and male students, the order of correlation between a pair of indices were WHtR vs. RFM > WHtR vs. WC > RFM vs. WC > WHtR vs. BMI > BMI vs. WC > RFM vs. BMI. It is concluded to use the WHtR and the RFM to better predict overweight and obesity in young Mexican university students.展开更多
The study of extreme weather and space events has gained paramount importance in modern society owing to rapid advances in high technology.Understanding and describing exceptional occurrences plays a crucial role in m...The study of extreme weather and space events has gained paramount importance in modern society owing to rapid advances in high technology.Understanding and describing exceptional occurrences plays a crucial role in making decisive assessments of their potential impact on technical,economic,and social aspects in various fields.This research focuses on analyzing the hourly values of the auroral electrojet(AE)geomagnetic index from 1957 to 2019 by using the peak over threshold method in extreme value theory.By fitting the generalized Pareto distribution to extreme AE values,shape parameter indices were derived,revealing negative values that establish an upper bound for this time series.Consequently,it became evident that the AE values had reached a plateau,suggesting that extreme events exceeding the established upper limit are rare.As a result,although the need for diligent precautions to mitigate the consequences of such extreme events persists,surpassing the upper limit of AE values becomes increasingly challenging.It is also possible to observe an aurora in the middle-and low-latitude regions during the maximum period of the AE index.展开更多
The contribution of spike photosynthesis to grain yield(GY)has been overlooked in the accurate spectral prediction of yield.Thus,it’s essential to construct and estimate a yield-related phenotypic trait considering s...The contribution of spike photosynthesis to grain yield(GY)has been overlooked in the accurate spectral prediction of yield.Thus,it’s essential to construct and estimate a yield-related phenotypic trait considering spike photosynthesis.Based on field and spectral reflectance data from 19 wheat cultivars under two nitrogen fertilization conditions in two years,our objectives were to(i)construct a yield-related phenotypic trait(spike–leaf composite indicator,SLI)accounting for the contribution of the spike to photosynthesis,(ii)develop a novel spectral index(enhanced triangle vegetation index,ETVI3)sensitive to SLI,and(iii)establish and evaluate SLI estimation models by integrating spectral indices and machine learning algorithms.The results showed that SLI was sensitive to nitrogen fertilizer and wheat cultivar variation as well as a better predictor of yield than the leaf area index.ETVI3 maintained a strong correlation with SLI throughout the growth stage,whereas the correlations of other spectral indices with SLI were poor after spike emergence.Integrating spectral indices and machine learning algorithms improved the estimation accuracy of SLI,with the most accurate estimates of SLI showing coefficient of determination,root mean square error(RMSE),and relative RMSE values of 0.71,0.047,and 26.93%,respectively.These results provide new insights into the role of fruiting organs for the accurate spectral prediction of GY.This high-throughput SLI estimation approach can be applied for wheat yield prediction at whole growth stages and may be assisted with agronomical practices and variety selection.展开更多
This article utilizes daily precipitation data from 28 national meteorological stations in northern Shanxi Province spanning from 1972 to 2020,and the US NCEP/NCAR monthly average reanalysis and ERA5 monthly average r...This article utilizes daily precipitation data from 28 national meteorological stations in northern Shanxi Province spanning from 1972 to 2020,and the US NCEP/NCAR monthly average reanalysis and ERA5 monthly average reanalysis data.The study employs techniques such as empirical orthogonal function(EOF)decomposition,MannKendall mutation and other methods to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of extreme precipitation index in northern Shanxi and their correlation with atmospheric circulation.The research results show that:the absolute index,relative index,intensity index and sustained dry period index(CDD)in the continuous index appear from southwest to northeast.The spatial distribution characteristics of the central region decrease,while the continuous wet period(CWD)decreases from the central to the east and west.The three indices Rx1day,Rx5day,and CWD mutated in 1978,1975,and 1983 respectively,and other extreme precipitation indices all appeared in a sudden change from a low-value period to a high-value period occurred around 2010.In the high-value years of the summer extreme precipitation index,there is a significant negative anomaly in the height field in the mid-high latitude regions of Eurasia.Northern Shanxi is controlled by a broad low-pressure trough in the Lake Baikal area.Water vapor transported via the east,west,and south routes converges in the northern Shanxi region and encounters cold air from the north.There is a strong upward motion anomaly at 500 hPa in the troposphere,and the dynamic conditions of upper-level divergence and lower-level convergence lead to more summer extreme precipitation in the northern Shanxi region.Conversely,in the low-value years of the summer extreme precipitation index,northern Shanxi is affected by a strong high-pressure ridge north of Lake Baikal.There is a downward motion anomaly at 500 hPa,and the northern Shanxi region lacks water vapor.The cold and warm air cannot converge,and both the water vapor conditions and dynamic conditions are poor,which is not conducive to the production of extreme precipitation in northern Shanxi.展开更多
This study aimed to investigate the effects of fermented puffed feather meal(FPFM)on growth performance,serum biochemical indices,meat quality,and intestinal microbiota in Arbor Acres(AA)broilers.A single-factor desig...This study aimed to investigate the effects of fermented puffed feather meal(FPFM)on growth performance,serum biochemical indices,meat quality,and intestinal microbiota in Arbor Acres(AA)broilers.A single-factor design was adopted,and four treatments were administered with five replicates to 240 one-day-old AA broilers.The control group(group A)received a basal diet,while the experimental groups received a basal diet plus 33%(group B),67%(group C)and 100%(group D)FPFM,respectively.Compared with group A,(1)the average daily gain(ADG)in group C decreased(P<0.05),and the feed conversion ratio(FCR)in group D increased(P<0.05);(2)the level of serum urea nitrogen in treatment groups decreased(P<0.05),and the levels of triglyceride,high density lipoprotein,low density lipoprotein,cholesterol,and glucose contents in group D increased(P<0.05)at day 21;(3)the serum immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G in group B and the immunoglobulin A in group C increased(P<0.05)at day 21,and the serum immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G in group D decreased(P<0.05)at day 42;(4)the share force of breast muscle and thigh muscle in group D increased(P<0.05);(5)the villus height to crypt depth ratio in the jejunum of group B increased(P<0.05)at day 21,and the villus height in group C and D increased(P<0.05)at day 42;(6)the proteobacteria counts in the cecum digesta in treatment groups decreased(P<0.05)at day 21.The basal diet supplemented with 33%FPFM promoted protein metabolism,enhanced immunity and improved meat quality,promoted the digestion and absorption of nutrients,increased intestinal microbial diversity,and improved the content of beneficial bacteria without affecting the growth performance,it was possible to be used as a good substitute for fish meal.展开更多
We use several spectral vegetation indices obtained from UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy to non-destructively evaluate chlorophyll, anthocyanin and flavonoid content in okra plants irradiated with 3 different artificial light...We use several spectral vegetation indices obtained from UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy to non-destructively evaluate chlorophyll, anthocyanin and flavonoid content in okra plants irradiated with 3 different artificial light spectra in the blue, green and red regions of the electromagnetic spectrum;thus leading us to assess the effects of specific wavelength on the plants’ biochemical compounds and physiological state. The results show that blue light gives the highest anthocyanin and chlorophyll content, whereas the highest flavonoid content is found under red light. Therefore, these biochemical compounds with a well-known impact on human health, may be adjusted by selecting specific wavelengths to improve the quality of plants.展开更多
In Côte d’Ivoire, the recurring and unregulated use of bushfires, which cause ecological damage, presents a pressing concern for the custodians of protected areas. This study aims to enhance our comprehension of...In Côte d’Ivoire, the recurring and unregulated use of bushfires, which cause ecological damage, presents a pressing concern for the custodians of protected areas. This study aims to enhance our comprehension of the dynamics of burnt areas within the Abokouamékro Wildlife Reserve (AWR) by employing the analysis of spectral indices derived from satellite imagery. The research methodology began with the calculation of mean indices and their corresponding spectral sub-indices, including NDVI, SAVI, NDWI, NDMI, BAI, NBR, TCW, TCG, and TCB, utilizing data from the Sentinel-2A satellite image dated January 17, 2022. Subsequently, a fuzzy classification model was applied to these various indices and sub-indices, guided by the degree of membership α, with the goal of effectively distinguishing between burned and unburned areas. Following the classification, the accuracies of the classified indices and sub-indices were validated using the coordinates of 100 data points collected within the AWR through GPS technology. The results revealed that the overall accuracy of all indices and sub-indices declines as the degree of membership α decreases from 1 to 0. Among the mean spectral indices, NDVI-mean, SAVI-mean, NDMI-mean exhibited the highest overall accuracies, achieving 97%, 95%, and 90%, respectively. These results closely mirrored those obtained by sub-indices using band 8 (NDVI-B8, SAVI-B8, and NDMI-B8), which yield respective overall accuracies of 93%, 92%, and 89%. At a degree of membership α = 1, the estimated burned areas for the most effective indices encompassed 2144.38 hectares for NDVI-mean, 1932.14 hectares for mean SAVI-mean, and 4947.13 hectares for mean NDMI-mean. A prospective approach involving the amalgamation of these three indices could have the potential to yield improved outcomes. This study could be a substantial contribution to the discrimination of bushfires in Côte d’Ivoire.展开更多
Chemical weathering can occur on Earth and other rocky planets with liquid water on their surfaces.As the Curiosity Mission has revealed that fluvio-lacustrine depositional environments once prevailed in Gale Crater,i...Chemical weathering can occur on Earth and other rocky planets with liquid water on their surfaces.As the Curiosity Mission has revealed that fluvio-lacustrine depositional environments once prevailed in Gale Crater,investigation of sediment geochemistry to interpret chemical weathering history and the possible influence of climate fluctuation seems feasible on Mars.This study examines the relationship between temperature and the degree of weathering inferred from weathering indices,and applies the suitable weathering indices to a compilation of published datasets from Gale Crater sediment.The selected weathering indices(CIA,CIW,PIA,V,W,and WIP)consistently suggest an increase followed by a more gradual increase and decrease in weathering intensity up-section,which might reflect climate variations.However,diagenetic and/or hydrothermal alteration seem to have overprinted the primary weathering signature.展开更多
Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the least recognized form of atherosclerosis and may even result in amputation if the diagnosis is delayed. Manual pulse palpation is the traditional way to diagnose PAD....Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the least recognized form of atherosclerosis and may even result in amputation if the diagnosis is delayed. Manual pulse palpation is the traditional way to diagnose PAD. Doppler ultrasonographic measurement of ankle-brachial index (ABI) is the gold standard diagnosing method but requires training and is not necessarily available as an outpatient procedure. Using automated oscillometric blood pressure devices has been suggested as an easier method for measuring the ABI. Methods: A single observer palpated the arterial dorsalis pedis, examined hand joints and measured the ABI of one hundred diabetic patients using both Doppler and oscillometric methods. The purpose of this study was to compare the oscillometric method and the manual diagnosing methods to the gold standard method of using a hand held Doppler device for measuring the ABI and detecting PAD. Results: ABI was abnormal in 24 patients (24%) (22 males, 2 females) when measured with the Doppler method. Of these 24 patients, the oscillometric method would have missed 12 giving 12 false negatives. We found that the sensitivity of the oscillometric method was 50.0% and specificity 90.8%. Clinical examination with palpation of ADP combined with limited joint mobility (LJM) scoring would have missed only four cases. Conclusions: Although the oscillometric method is easy and accessible, it is not sensitive enough to be used as the only method in measuring ABI. The simple and inexpensive ADP pulse palpation combined with testing for LMJ was able to find 20 of the 24 (83%) patients with an abnormal ABI measured by Doppler stethoscope.展开更多
Background: The irrational use of medicines remains a key health problem in many developing countries. The overuse of antibiotics is a key driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study surveyed antibiotic use a...Background: The irrational use of medicines remains a key health problem in many developing countries. The overuse of antibiotics is a key driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study surveyed antibiotic use and adherence to the World Health Organization (WHO) prescribing indicators at the Request Muntanga Hospital in the Kalomo District of Southern Province, Zambia. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2023 to September 2023 at Request Muntanga Hospital in Zambia and reviewed 600 medical record prescriptions which were issued from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 using the WHO prescribing indicators. The collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23.0. Results: From the 600 prescriptions sampled, 1246 medicines were prescribed, with antibiotics making up 86.7% of the encounters. Additionally, the average number of drugs prescribed per encounter was 2.1 and the prevalence of polypharmacy was 61.3%. Further, 17.8% of medicines were prescribed as injectables. Furthermore, 76.7% of the drugs were prescribed from the Zambia Essential Medicines List and 38.9% by generic names. Conclusions: This study found a high use of antibiotics and deviations from the WHO/International Network of Rational Use of Drugs (INRUD) core prescribing indicators at the Request Muntanga Hospital indicating non-adherence to the prescribing indicators. There is a need to promote adherence to the WHO/INRUD core prescribing indicators to promote the rational use of antibiotics and prevent the emergence and spread of AMR.展开更多
This study provides a systematic investigation into the influence of feature selection methods on cryptocurrency price forecasting models employing technical indicators.In this work,over 130 technical indicators—cove...This study provides a systematic investigation into the influence of feature selection methods on cryptocurrency price forecasting models employing technical indicators.In this work,over 130 technical indicators—covering momentum,volatility,volume,and trend-related technical indicators—are subjected to three distinct feature selection approaches.Specifically,mutual information(MI),recursive feature elimination(RFE),and random forest importance(RFI).By extracting an optimal set of 20 predictors,the proposed framework aims to mitigate redundancy and overfitting while enhancing interpretability.These feature subsets are integrated into support vector regression(SVR),Huber regressors,and k-nearest neighbors(KNN)models to forecast the prices of three leading cryptocurrencies—Bitcoin(BTC/USDT),Ethereum(ETH/USDT),and Binance Coin(BNB/USDT)—across horizons ranging from 1 to 20 days.Model evaluation employs the coefficient of determination(R2)and the root mean squared logarithmic error(RMSLE),alongside a walk-forward validation scheme to approximate real-world trading contexts.Empirical results indicate that incorporating momentum and volatility measures substantially improves predictive accuracy,with particularly pronounced effects observed at longer forecast windows.Moreover,indicators related to volume and trend provide incremental benefits in select market conditions.Notably,an 80%–85% reduction in the original feature set frequently maintains or enhances model performance relative to the complete indicator set.These findings highlight the critical role of targeted feature selection in addressing high-dimensional financial data challenges while preserving model robustness.This research advances the field of cryptocurrency forecasting by offering a rigorous comparison of feature selection methods and their effects on multiple digital assets and prediction horizons.The outcomes highlight the importance of dimension-reduction strategies in developing more efficient and resilient forecasting algorithms.Future efforts should incorporate high-frequency data and explore alternative selection techniques to further refine predictive accuracy in this highly volatile domain.展开更多
Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of blood test indicators in the differential diagnosis of anemia. Methods: Sixty patients diagnosed with anemia (disease group) from June 2021 to June 2024 were selected. Based ...Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of blood test indicators in the differential diagnosis of anemia. Methods: Sixty patients diagnosed with anemia (disease group) from June 2021 to June 2024 were selected. Based on the type of disease, the group was subdivided into iron deficiency anemia (IDA) with 31 cases, hemolytic anemia (HA) with 11 cases, and aplastic anemia (AA) with 18 cases. Based on the severity of the disease, the group was divided into mild anemia (30 cases), moderate anemia (19 cases), and severe anemia (11 cases). Sixty healthy individuals (control group) were also included, and all underwent blood tests. Comparisons were made between the red blood cell (RBC) indicators of the disease group and the control group, the blood test indicators of different types of anemia, and the serum iron levels of varying severity of anemia. Results: Except for red cell distribution width (RDW), the RBC indicators in the disease group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Comparisons of RBC indicators among different types of anemia showed significant differences (P < 0.05). Serum iron levels varied significantly among different degrees of anemia severity (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Blood tests can detect anemia, distinguish types of anemia, and assess anemia severity, offering high diagnostic value.展开更多
Objective Blood culture remains the gold standard for diagnosing bloodstream infections.Clinical laboratories must ensure the quality of blood culture processes from receipt to obtaining definitive results.We examined...Objective Blood culture remains the gold standard for diagnosing bloodstream infections.Clinical laboratories must ensure the quality of blood culture processes from receipt to obtaining definitive results.We examined laboratory analytical indicators associated with positive blood culture results.Methods Blood cultures collected from Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 1,2020,and December 31,2022,were retrospectively analyzed.The mode of transportation(piping logistics delivery vs.staff),source of blood cultures(outpatient/emergency department vs.inpatient department),rotation of personnel,and time of reception(8:00–19:59 vs.20:00–07:59)were compared between blood culture-positive and-negative results.Results Between 2020 and 2022,the total positive rate of blood culture was 8.07%.The positive rate of blood cultures in the outpatient/emergency department was significantly higher than that in the inpatient department(12.46%vs.5.83%;P<0.0001).The time-to-detection of blood cultures was significantly affected by the delivery mode and personnel rotation.The blood culture positive rate of the total pre-analytical time within 1 h was significantly higher than that within 1–2 h or>2 h(P<0.0170).Conclusion Laboratory analytical indicators such as patient source,transportation mode,and personnel rotation significantly impacted the positive detection rate or time of blood culture.展开更多
Additive Manufacturing(AM)can provide customized parts that conventional techniques fail to deliver.One important parameter in AM is the quality of the parts,as a result of the material extrusion 3D printing(3D-P)proc...Additive Manufacturing(AM)can provide customized parts that conventional techniques fail to deliver.One important parameter in AM is the quality of the parts,as a result of the material extrusion 3D printing(3D-P)procedure.This can be very important in defense-related applications,where optimum performance needs to be guaranteed.The quality of the Polyetherimide 3D-P specimens was examined by considering six control parameters,namely,infill percentage,layer height,deposition angle,travel speed,nozzle,and bed temperature.The quality indicators were the root mean square(Rq)and average(Ra)roughness,porosity,and the actual to nominal dimensional deviation.The examination was performed with optical profilometry,optical microscopy,and micro-computed tomography scanning.The Taguchi design of experiments was applied,with twenty-five runs,five levels for each control parameter,on five replicas.Two additional confirmation runs were conducted,to ensure reliability.Prediction equations were constructed to express the quality indicators in terms of the control parameters.Three modeling approaches were applied to the experimental data,to compare their efficiency,i.e.,Linear Regression Model(LRM),Reduced Quadratic Regression Model,and Quadratic Regression Model(QRM).QRM was the most accurate one,still the differences were not high even considering the simpler LRM model.展开更多
文摘Platelet indices(PIs)including high mean platelet volume(MPV),plateletcrit(PLC),and platelet distribution width(PLDW)are associated with poor glycemic control.In addition,they can indicate prothrombotic and procoagulation risk among patients with diabetes.PI measurement is cheap,quick and fits healthcare system needs in remote outreaching areas in low-income countries.However,a broader insight into their clinical implications in diabetes is lacking.To achieve a wider understanding,we reviewed PubMed/MEDLINE,Google Scholar and Cochrane Library for relevant articles investigating the role of PIs in diabetes mellitus.No limitation to the publication date was applied,which included all articles published up to August 17,2024.The terms used were MPV,PLC,PLDW,platelet large cell ratio,glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c),PIs,platelet activity and diabetes mellitus.Out of the 790 articles retrieved,187 full texts were reviewed,and 44 were included.PIs,when measurements are done promptly and within 2 h,could be short-term pointers to glycemic control in the life span of the platelets(2 wk).PIs are easy to perform,cheap and useful in remote outreaching areas with limited facilities where measurement of HbA1c is not available or cost-effective.However,PIs are not specific and are affected by demographic factors,such as pregnancy,renal failure,medications,hemoglobin and duration of diabetes.PIs could be implemented with daily blood glucose to inform doctors in low-income countries about their patients'glycemic control and cardiovascular risk.An important application might be when blood glucose control is needed quickly(before elective surgery).
文摘The attenuation of the acoustic activity in marble specimens under uniaxial compressive loadingunloading loops is quantified in juxtaposition to that of the electric activity.In parallel,the existence of"pre-failure indiceso"warning about entrance into a critical stage,that of impending fracture,is explored.The acoustic activity is quantified in terms of the normalized number of acoustic hits,their average rate of production and their cumulative energy,and,the cumulative counts and their average rate of change.The electric activity is studied in terms of the pressure stimulated currents and the electric charge released.The analysis revealed that the acoustic and electric activities are linearly correlated to each other,suggesting that they are different manifestations of the same damage mechanisms.In addition,Kaiser's effect,governing the acoustic activity,is found to govern,also,the electric activity.Moreover,it is concluded that entrance into the critical stage is safely predicted by means of a simple criterion,based on the evolution of the average rate of change of the normalized cumulative counts in the natural time domain.These predictions are almost identical with those of the criterion based on the "varianceo" and the "entropies" of the time series of acoustic events in this domain.
基金supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(STEP)(Grant No.2021QZKK0202)Shaanxi Provincial Youth Science and Technology Rising Star Project(No.2022KJXX-85)+3 种基金Key Scientific Research Project of Shaanxi Provincial Department of Education(No.22JS041)Youth Innovation Team Research Project of Shaanxi Provincial Department of Education(Nos.22JP099,21JP137)The Youth Innovation Team of Shaanxi Universitiesthe Support Program for Outstanding Young Talents of Shaanxi Universities(Dr.Tao Luo)。
文摘Freezing–thawing indices serve as a comprehensive indicator of both the duration of the freezing/thawing periods and the degree of cold and heat in a given region.In-depth analysis of the freezing-thawing indices not only enables the prediction of permafrost distribution and its dynamic changes,but also facilitates the assessment of damage risk to infrastructure under freeze-thaw action.In this paper,the air/ground freezing–thawing indices from 1987 to 2017,based on daily temperature observations from meteorological stations along the China–Nepal Highway(CNH),were calculated,and their spatial and temporal variation patterns were analyzed.The results showed that:(1)Both mean annual air temperature and mean annual ground surface temperature along the CNH fluctuated upward,with climate tendency rates of 0.43 and 0.52.C·(10a)~(-1),respectively;(2)The number of days with negative air temperature and ground temperature showed fluctuated downward,with change rates of-8.6 and-8.3 d·(10a)~(-1),respectively;(3)The ranges of air freezing index,air thawing index,ground freezing index,and ground thawing index over the years were 157.05-458.88°C·d,2034.20-2560.73°C·d,108.78-396.83°C·d,and 3515.25-4288.67°C·d,respectively.The climate tendency rates were-5.42,10.22,-6.79,and 12.14.C·d·a-1,respectively,showing a general warming trend;(4)The air freezing index,ground freezing index,and ground thawing index changed abruptly in 1999,2000,and 2002,respectively,evincing significant changes after 2002.The research results can provide a basis for the risk assessment of freezing–thawing erosion and the prevention and control of permafrost engineering diseases along the CNH.
基金Supported by The Self-Funded Research Project of the Health Commission of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,No.Z-A20230045.
文摘BACKGROUND The nutritional status is closely related to the prognosis of liver transplant re-cipients,but few studies have reported the role of preoperative objective nutri-tional indices in predicting liver transplant outcomes.AIM To compare the predictive value of various preoperative objective nutritional indicators for determining 30-d mortality and complications following liver transplantation(LT).METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 162 recipients who underwent LT at our institution from December 2019 to June 2022.RESULTS This study identified several independent risk factors associated with 30-d mor-tality,including blood loss,the prognostic nutritional index(PNI),the nutritional risk index(NRI),and the control nutritional status.The 30-d mortality rate was 8.6%.Blood loss,the NRI,and the PNI were found to be independent risk factors for the occurrence of severe postoperative complications.The NRI achieved the highest prediction values for 30-d mortality[area under the curve(AUC)=0.861,P<0.001]and severe complications(AUC=0.643,P=0.011).Compared to those in the high NRI group,the low patients in the NRI group had lower preoperative body mass index and prealbumin and albumin levels,as well as higher alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin levels,Model for End-stage Liver Disease scores and prothrombin time(P<0.05).Furthermore,the group with a low NRI exhibited significantly greater incidences of intraabdominal bleeding,primary graft nonfunction,and mortality.CONCLUSION The NRI has good predictive value for 30-d mortality and severe complications following LT.The NRI could be an effective tool for transplant surgeons to evaluate perioperative nutritional risk and develop relevant nutritional therapy.
文摘BACKGROUND Diabetes is a chronic metabolic syndrome that has become a global public health problem with significant morbidity and mortality.It is a pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic condition characterized by increased platelet activation and alterations in platelet indices.However,the use of platelet indices as predictors of poor glucoregulation has not been fully evaluated in this context,and evidence for their role as predictors of poor glycemic status in diabetic patients is limited.AIM To evaluate platelet indices and determine their prognostic significance in relation to inadequate glucoregulation among individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at Bishoftu General Hospital in Ethiopia,from June 15 to August 12,2022.METHODS A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in 261 participants including 174 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and 87 non-diabetic controls.The systematic random sampling technique was used to select participants.Data were collected using structured questionnaires,physical measurements,checklists,and laboratory tests.Platelet parameters and fasting blood glucose levels were determined from blood samples using Sysmex-XN550 and CobasC311 analyzers,respectively.The hematology analyzer output was checked and participants were also screened for malaria parasites using a prepared blood smear.Collected data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis.Theχ^(2) test,Mann-Whitney U test,Kruskal-Wallis test,post hoc test,Spearman correlation,and receiver operating characteristic curve were used for analysis.A P value<0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS The results of our study indicate that diabetic patients have significantly higher levels of platelet distribution width(PDW),mean platelet volume(MPV),platelet large cell ratio(PLCR),and plateletcrit(PCT)compared to healthy individuals(P<0.001).Furthermore,these indices were found to be significantly elevated in individuals with poor glycemic control in T2DM compared to those with good glycemic control and healthy controls.We also observed significant correlations between these indices and various anthropometric and clinical variables.Our findings suggest that PDW,with a cut-off value of 15.75 fL and an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.803,MPV,with a cut-off value of 12.25 fL and an AUC of 0.774,PLCR,with a cut-off value of 36.3%and an AUC of 0.775,and PCT,with a cut-off value of 0.24%and an AUC of 0.761,can serve as predictors of poor glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus.CONCLUSION The observed correlation between diabetic patients and a significant increase in platelet indices has highlighted their potential as predictors of poor glycemic control in diabetes.Therefore,regular screening and profiling of platelet indices is recommended as part of the follow-up process for individuals with diabetes mellitus.
文摘Background: The ear and face are indispensable and distinctive features for hearing and identification. Objectives: This study was designed to generate anthropometric data of the ear and facial indices of females of Efik and Ibibio children in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, show morphological and aesthetic differences and ethnicity. Methods: A total of 600 female children (300 Efiks and 300 Ibibios) aged 2 to 10 years that met the inclusion criteria were chosen from selected primary schools in Calabar Municipality, Calabar South of Cross River State and from Uyo, Itu of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Standardized measurements of face length, face width, ear length, and ear width were taken with a spreading caliper;the facial (proscopic) and ear (auricular) indices were determined. Results: Efik subjects presented a mean face length of 8.36 ± 0.06 cm, face width of 11.04 ± 0.04 cm, ear length of 4.92 ± 0.02 cm, and ear width of 3.06 ± 0.01 cm. Ibibio subjects had mean values for face length, face width, ear length, and ear width as 8.17 ± 0.05 cm, 10.75 ± 0.05 cm, 4.77 ± 0.03 cm, and 2.94 ± 0.02 cm respectively. The mean facial index and ear index for Efik subjects were 75.68 ± 0.31 and 62.16 ± 0.27 respectively;while the mean facial and ear indices for Ibibio subjects were 74.79 ± 0.36 and 61.80 ± 0.34 respectively. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant differences in face length, ear length, ear width and facial index, with the Efik subjects having higher values than Ibibio subjects (p Conclusion: The results showed hypereuryproscopic face as the prevalent face type among females of both ethnic groups, therefore can be of importance in sex, ethnic, and racial differentiation, and in clinical practice, aesthetics and forensic medicine.
文摘The goal was to compare body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist to height ratio (WHtR), and relative fat mas (RFM), to identify the best predictor of overweight and obesity in university students from Mexico. This is a cross-sectional survey with 697 university students from northern and central Mexico (448 women, and 249 men aged 18 - 19 years). Data was collected during 2018. Overweight and obesity were calculated from those indices and for both, female and male students, the order of correlation between a pair of indices were WHtR vs. RFM > WHtR vs. WC > RFM vs. WC > WHtR vs. BMI > BMI vs. WC > RFM vs. BMI. It is concluded to use the WHtR and the RFM to better predict overweight and obesity in young Mexican university students.
文摘The study of extreme weather and space events has gained paramount importance in modern society owing to rapid advances in high technology.Understanding and describing exceptional occurrences plays a crucial role in making decisive assessments of their potential impact on technical,economic,and social aspects in various fields.This research focuses on analyzing the hourly values of the auroral electrojet(AE)geomagnetic index from 1957 to 2019 by using the peak over threshold method in extreme value theory.By fitting the generalized Pareto distribution to extreme AE values,shape parameter indices were derived,revealing negative values that establish an upper bound for this time series.Consequently,it became evident that the AE values had reached a plateau,suggesting that extreme events exceeding the established upper limit are rare.As a result,although the need for diligent precautions to mitigate the consequences of such extreme events persists,surpassing the upper limit of AE values becomes increasingly challenging.It is also possible to observe an aurora in the middle-and low-latitude regions during the maximum period of the AE index.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32371990,31971784)the Earmarked Fund for Jiangsu Agricultural Industry Technology System(JATS(2022)168,JATS(2022)468)+1 种基金the Jiangsu Provincial Cooperative Promotion Plan of Major Agricultural Technologies(2021-ZYXT-01-1)the Postgraduate Research&Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province(KYCX23_0783)。
文摘The contribution of spike photosynthesis to grain yield(GY)has been overlooked in the accurate spectral prediction of yield.Thus,it’s essential to construct and estimate a yield-related phenotypic trait considering spike photosynthesis.Based on field and spectral reflectance data from 19 wheat cultivars under two nitrogen fertilization conditions in two years,our objectives were to(i)construct a yield-related phenotypic trait(spike–leaf composite indicator,SLI)accounting for the contribution of the spike to photosynthesis,(ii)develop a novel spectral index(enhanced triangle vegetation index,ETVI3)sensitive to SLI,and(iii)establish and evaluate SLI estimation models by integrating spectral indices and machine learning algorithms.The results showed that SLI was sensitive to nitrogen fertilizer and wheat cultivar variation as well as a better predictor of yield than the leaf area index.ETVI3 maintained a strong correlation with SLI throughout the growth stage,whereas the correlations of other spectral indices with SLI were poor after spike emergence.Integrating spectral indices and machine learning algorithms improved the estimation accuracy of SLI,with the most accurate estimates of SLI showing coefficient of determination,root mean square error(RMSE),and relative RMSE values of 0.71,0.047,and 26.93%,respectively.These results provide new insights into the role of fruiting organs for the accurate spectral prediction of GY.This high-throughput SLI estimation approach can be applied for wheat yield prediction at whole growth stages and may be assisted with agronomical practices and variety selection.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41575091)China Meteorological Administration Training Centre scientific research project (Study on impacting factors of regional climate in China)+1 种基金Shanxi Provincial Meteorological Bureau project (SXKMSQH20236329)Heze University Research Fund Program (Poverty Alleviation Project) (XY18FP08)
文摘This article utilizes daily precipitation data from 28 national meteorological stations in northern Shanxi Province spanning from 1972 to 2020,and the US NCEP/NCAR monthly average reanalysis and ERA5 monthly average reanalysis data.The study employs techniques such as empirical orthogonal function(EOF)decomposition,MannKendall mutation and other methods to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of extreme precipitation index in northern Shanxi and their correlation with atmospheric circulation.The research results show that:the absolute index,relative index,intensity index and sustained dry period index(CDD)in the continuous index appear from southwest to northeast.The spatial distribution characteristics of the central region decrease,while the continuous wet period(CWD)decreases from the central to the east and west.The three indices Rx1day,Rx5day,and CWD mutated in 1978,1975,and 1983 respectively,and other extreme precipitation indices all appeared in a sudden change from a low-value period to a high-value period occurred around 2010.In the high-value years of the summer extreme precipitation index,there is a significant negative anomaly in the height field in the mid-high latitude regions of Eurasia.Northern Shanxi is controlled by a broad low-pressure trough in the Lake Baikal area.Water vapor transported via the east,west,and south routes converges in the northern Shanxi region and encounters cold air from the north.There is a strong upward motion anomaly at 500 hPa in the troposphere,and the dynamic conditions of upper-level divergence and lower-level convergence lead to more summer extreme precipitation in the northern Shanxi region.Conversely,in the low-value years of the summer extreme precipitation index,northern Shanxi is affected by a strong high-pressure ridge north of Lake Baikal.There is a downward motion anomaly at 500 hPa,and the northern Shanxi region lacks water vapor.The cold and warm air cannot converge,and both the water vapor conditions and dynamic conditions are poor,which is not conducive to the production of extreme precipitation in northern Shanxi.
基金Supported by Harbin Applied Technology Research and Development Project(2016RAXXJ015)。
文摘This study aimed to investigate the effects of fermented puffed feather meal(FPFM)on growth performance,serum biochemical indices,meat quality,and intestinal microbiota in Arbor Acres(AA)broilers.A single-factor design was adopted,and four treatments were administered with five replicates to 240 one-day-old AA broilers.The control group(group A)received a basal diet,while the experimental groups received a basal diet plus 33%(group B),67%(group C)and 100%(group D)FPFM,respectively.Compared with group A,(1)the average daily gain(ADG)in group C decreased(P<0.05),and the feed conversion ratio(FCR)in group D increased(P<0.05);(2)the level of serum urea nitrogen in treatment groups decreased(P<0.05),and the levels of triglyceride,high density lipoprotein,low density lipoprotein,cholesterol,and glucose contents in group D increased(P<0.05)at day 21;(3)the serum immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G in group B and the immunoglobulin A in group C increased(P<0.05)at day 21,and the serum immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G in group D decreased(P<0.05)at day 42;(4)the share force of breast muscle and thigh muscle in group D increased(P<0.05);(5)the villus height to crypt depth ratio in the jejunum of group B increased(P<0.05)at day 21,and the villus height in group C and D increased(P<0.05)at day 42;(6)the proteobacteria counts in the cecum digesta in treatment groups decreased(P<0.05)at day 21.The basal diet supplemented with 33%FPFM promoted protein metabolism,enhanced immunity and improved meat quality,promoted the digestion and absorption of nutrients,increased intestinal microbial diversity,and improved the content of beneficial bacteria without affecting the growth performance,it was possible to be used as a good substitute for fish meal.
文摘We use several spectral vegetation indices obtained from UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy to non-destructively evaluate chlorophyll, anthocyanin and flavonoid content in okra plants irradiated with 3 different artificial light spectra in the blue, green and red regions of the electromagnetic spectrum;thus leading us to assess the effects of specific wavelength on the plants’ biochemical compounds and physiological state. The results show that blue light gives the highest anthocyanin and chlorophyll content, whereas the highest flavonoid content is found under red light. Therefore, these biochemical compounds with a well-known impact on human health, may be adjusted by selecting specific wavelengths to improve the quality of plants.
文摘In Côte d’Ivoire, the recurring and unregulated use of bushfires, which cause ecological damage, presents a pressing concern for the custodians of protected areas. This study aims to enhance our comprehension of the dynamics of burnt areas within the Abokouamékro Wildlife Reserve (AWR) by employing the analysis of spectral indices derived from satellite imagery. The research methodology began with the calculation of mean indices and their corresponding spectral sub-indices, including NDVI, SAVI, NDWI, NDMI, BAI, NBR, TCW, TCG, and TCB, utilizing data from the Sentinel-2A satellite image dated January 17, 2022. Subsequently, a fuzzy classification model was applied to these various indices and sub-indices, guided by the degree of membership α, with the goal of effectively distinguishing between burned and unburned areas. Following the classification, the accuracies of the classified indices and sub-indices were validated using the coordinates of 100 data points collected within the AWR through GPS technology. The results revealed that the overall accuracy of all indices and sub-indices declines as the degree of membership α decreases from 1 to 0. Among the mean spectral indices, NDVI-mean, SAVI-mean, NDMI-mean exhibited the highest overall accuracies, achieving 97%, 95%, and 90%, respectively. These results closely mirrored those obtained by sub-indices using band 8 (NDVI-B8, SAVI-B8, and NDMI-B8), which yield respective overall accuracies of 93%, 92%, and 89%. At a degree of membership α = 1, the estimated burned areas for the most effective indices encompassed 2144.38 hectares for NDVI-mean, 1932.14 hectares for mean SAVI-mean, and 4947.13 hectares for mean NDMI-mean. A prospective approach involving the amalgamation of these three indices could have the potential to yield improved outcomes. This study could be a substantial contribution to the discrimination of bushfires in Côte d’Ivoire.
基金supported by the NRF grant funded by the Korean Government(MSIT,No.2022R1A2C1004798)Global-Learning&Academic research institution for Master’s·PhD students,and Postdocs(LAMP)Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)grant funded by the Ministry of Education(No.RS-2023-00301702).
文摘Chemical weathering can occur on Earth and other rocky planets with liquid water on their surfaces.As the Curiosity Mission has revealed that fluvio-lacustrine depositional environments once prevailed in Gale Crater,investigation of sediment geochemistry to interpret chemical weathering history and the possible influence of climate fluctuation seems feasible on Mars.This study examines the relationship between temperature and the degree of weathering inferred from weathering indices,and applies the suitable weathering indices to a compilation of published datasets from Gale Crater sediment.The selected weathering indices(CIA,CIW,PIA,V,W,and WIP)consistently suggest an increase followed by a more gradual increase and decrease in weathering intensity up-section,which might reflect climate variations.However,diagenetic and/or hydrothermal alteration seem to have overprinted the primary weathering signature.
文摘Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the least recognized form of atherosclerosis and may even result in amputation if the diagnosis is delayed. Manual pulse palpation is the traditional way to diagnose PAD. Doppler ultrasonographic measurement of ankle-brachial index (ABI) is the gold standard diagnosing method but requires training and is not necessarily available as an outpatient procedure. Using automated oscillometric blood pressure devices has been suggested as an easier method for measuring the ABI. Methods: A single observer palpated the arterial dorsalis pedis, examined hand joints and measured the ABI of one hundred diabetic patients using both Doppler and oscillometric methods. The purpose of this study was to compare the oscillometric method and the manual diagnosing methods to the gold standard method of using a hand held Doppler device for measuring the ABI and detecting PAD. Results: ABI was abnormal in 24 patients (24%) (22 males, 2 females) when measured with the Doppler method. Of these 24 patients, the oscillometric method would have missed 12 giving 12 false negatives. We found that the sensitivity of the oscillometric method was 50.0% and specificity 90.8%. Clinical examination with palpation of ADP combined with limited joint mobility (LJM) scoring would have missed only four cases. Conclusions: Although the oscillometric method is easy and accessible, it is not sensitive enough to be used as the only method in measuring ABI. The simple and inexpensive ADP pulse palpation combined with testing for LMJ was able to find 20 of the 24 (83%) patients with an abnormal ABI measured by Doppler stethoscope.
文摘Background: The irrational use of medicines remains a key health problem in many developing countries. The overuse of antibiotics is a key driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study surveyed antibiotic use and adherence to the World Health Organization (WHO) prescribing indicators at the Request Muntanga Hospital in the Kalomo District of Southern Province, Zambia. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2023 to September 2023 at Request Muntanga Hospital in Zambia and reviewed 600 medical record prescriptions which were issued from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 using the WHO prescribing indicators. The collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23.0. Results: From the 600 prescriptions sampled, 1246 medicines were prescribed, with antibiotics making up 86.7% of the encounters. Additionally, the average number of drugs prescribed per encounter was 2.1 and the prevalence of polypharmacy was 61.3%. Further, 17.8% of medicines were prescribed as injectables. Furthermore, 76.7% of the drugs were prescribed from the Zambia Essential Medicines List and 38.9% by generic names. Conclusions: This study found a high use of antibiotics and deviations from the WHO/International Network of Rational Use of Drugs (INRUD) core prescribing indicators at the Request Muntanga Hospital indicating non-adherence to the prescribing indicators. There is a need to promote adherence to the WHO/INRUD core prescribing indicators to promote the rational use of antibiotics and prevent the emergence and spread of AMR.
文摘This study provides a systematic investigation into the influence of feature selection methods on cryptocurrency price forecasting models employing technical indicators.In this work,over 130 technical indicators—covering momentum,volatility,volume,and trend-related technical indicators—are subjected to three distinct feature selection approaches.Specifically,mutual information(MI),recursive feature elimination(RFE),and random forest importance(RFI).By extracting an optimal set of 20 predictors,the proposed framework aims to mitigate redundancy and overfitting while enhancing interpretability.These feature subsets are integrated into support vector regression(SVR),Huber regressors,and k-nearest neighbors(KNN)models to forecast the prices of three leading cryptocurrencies—Bitcoin(BTC/USDT),Ethereum(ETH/USDT),and Binance Coin(BNB/USDT)—across horizons ranging from 1 to 20 days.Model evaluation employs the coefficient of determination(R2)and the root mean squared logarithmic error(RMSLE),alongside a walk-forward validation scheme to approximate real-world trading contexts.Empirical results indicate that incorporating momentum and volatility measures substantially improves predictive accuracy,with particularly pronounced effects observed at longer forecast windows.Moreover,indicators related to volume and trend provide incremental benefits in select market conditions.Notably,an 80%–85% reduction in the original feature set frequently maintains or enhances model performance relative to the complete indicator set.These findings highlight the critical role of targeted feature selection in addressing high-dimensional financial data challenges while preserving model robustness.This research advances the field of cryptocurrency forecasting by offering a rigorous comparison of feature selection methods and their effects on multiple digital assets and prediction horizons.The outcomes highlight the importance of dimension-reduction strategies in developing more efficient and resilient forecasting algorithms.Future efforts should incorporate high-frequency data and explore alternative selection techniques to further refine predictive accuracy in this highly volatile domain.
文摘Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of blood test indicators in the differential diagnosis of anemia. Methods: Sixty patients diagnosed with anemia (disease group) from June 2021 to June 2024 were selected. Based on the type of disease, the group was subdivided into iron deficiency anemia (IDA) with 31 cases, hemolytic anemia (HA) with 11 cases, and aplastic anemia (AA) with 18 cases. Based on the severity of the disease, the group was divided into mild anemia (30 cases), moderate anemia (19 cases), and severe anemia (11 cases). Sixty healthy individuals (control group) were also included, and all underwent blood tests. Comparisons were made between the red blood cell (RBC) indicators of the disease group and the control group, the blood test indicators of different types of anemia, and the serum iron levels of varying severity of anemia. Results: Except for red cell distribution width (RDW), the RBC indicators in the disease group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Comparisons of RBC indicators among different types of anemia showed significant differences (P < 0.05). Serum iron levels varied significantly among different degrees of anemia severity (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Blood tests can detect anemia, distinguish types of anemia, and assess anemia severity, offering high diagnostic value.
基金supported by grants from the National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding(2022-PUMCH-B-074)Peking Union Medical College Hospital Research Funding for Postdoc(kyfyjj202320).
文摘Objective Blood culture remains the gold standard for diagnosing bloodstream infections.Clinical laboratories must ensure the quality of blood culture processes from receipt to obtaining definitive results.We examined laboratory analytical indicators associated with positive blood culture results.Methods Blood cultures collected from Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 1,2020,and December 31,2022,were retrospectively analyzed.The mode of transportation(piping logistics delivery vs.staff),source of blood cultures(outpatient/emergency department vs.inpatient department),rotation of personnel,and time of reception(8:00–19:59 vs.20:00–07:59)were compared between blood culture-positive and-negative results.Results Between 2020 and 2022,the total positive rate of blood culture was 8.07%.The positive rate of blood cultures in the outpatient/emergency department was significantly higher than that in the inpatient department(12.46%vs.5.83%;P<0.0001).The time-to-detection of blood cultures was significantly affected by the delivery mode and personnel rotation.The blood culture positive rate of the total pre-analytical time within 1 h was significantly higher than that within 1–2 h or>2 h(P<0.0170).Conclusion Laboratory analytical indicators such as patient source,transportation mode,and personnel rotation significantly impacted the positive detection rate or time of blood culture.
文摘Additive Manufacturing(AM)can provide customized parts that conventional techniques fail to deliver.One important parameter in AM is the quality of the parts,as a result of the material extrusion 3D printing(3D-P)procedure.This can be very important in defense-related applications,where optimum performance needs to be guaranteed.The quality of the Polyetherimide 3D-P specimens was examined by considering six control parameters,namely,infill percentage,layer height,deposition angle,travel speed,nozzle,and bed temperature.The quality indicators were the root mean square(Rq)and average(Ra)roughness,porosity,and the actual to nominal dimensional deviation.The examination was performed with optical profilometry,optical microscopy,and micro-computed tomography scanning.The Taguchi design of experiments was applied,with twenty-five runs,five levels for each control parameter,on five replicas.Two additional confirmation runs were conducted,to ensure reliability.Prediction equations were constructed to express the quality indicators in terms of the control parameters.Three modeling approaches were applied to the experimental data,to compare their efficiency,i.e.,Linear Regression Model(LRM),Reduced Quadratic Regression Model,and Quadratic Regression Model(QRM).QRM was the most accurate one,still the differences were not high even considering the simpler LRM model.
