EazyTrack: Exploring Next-Gen Technology and User Experience Design to Help Relieve Stress

In this competitive society with the pace of people’s life speeding up, stress is inevitable. Too much stress though will bring negative effects on people’s physical and emotional wellbeing. According to a survey the American Psychological Association conducted from 2007 to 2016, very few actions are being taken to prevent or relieve stress effectively even though an increasing number of people have realized that stress has an impact on health and wellbeing.¹ Untreated chronic stress can contribute to severe health problems including anxiety, insomnia, muscle pain, high blood pressure, and a weakened immune system.² Today, there are many stress trackers or guides on the market to help people solve this problem. However, most of these products lack effective solutions for a user’s individual situation and need design improvements from both a user experience and a visual design perspective to help solve people’s daily problems. This leaves a great opportunity open to help people with mental stress issues through wearable technology. The mission of this thesis project is using data visualization and user interface design to first, help people determine their stress level and second, to provide customized scientific methods for relieving that stress. The final project is an interactive prototype of a mobile application that works with a wearable device which tracks data related to the user’s stress. Overall, the project aims to create a tool with a friendly user experience and attractive visual elements for people with stress issues. It will help them to understand their stress and to manage it in an easier, intuitive and accessible way

The predictive values of monocyte–lymphocyte ratio in postoperative acute kidney injury and prognosis of patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection

ObjectivesPostoperative acute kidney injury (pAKI) is a serious complication of Stanford type A aortic dissection (TAAD) surgery, which is significantly associated with the inflammatory response. This study aimed to explore the relationship between blood count-derived inflammatory markers (BCDIMs) and pAKI and to construct a predictive model for pAKI.MethodsPatients who underwent TAAD surgery were obtained from our center and the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV database. The differences in preoperative BCDIMs and clinical outcomes of patients with and without pAKI were analyzed. Logistic regression was used to construct predictive models based on preoperative BCDIMs or white cell counts (WCCs). The performance of the BCDIMs and WCCs models was evaluated and compared using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, area under the ROC curve (AUC), Hosmer–Lemeshow test, calibration plot, net reclassification index (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement index (IDI), and decision curve analysis (DCA). The Kaplan–Meier curves were applied to compare the survival rate between different groups.ResultsThe overall incidence of pAKI in patients who underwent TAAD surgery from our center was 48.63% (124/255). The presence of pAKI was associated with longer ventilation time, higher incidence of cerebral complications and postoperative hepatic dysfunction, and higher in-hospital mortality. The results of the logistic regression indicated that the monocyte–lymphocyte ratio (MLR) was an independent risk factor for pAKI. The BCDIMs model had good discriminating ability, predictive ability, and clinical utility. In addition, the performance of the BCDIMs model was significantly better than that of the WCCs model. Analysis of data from the MIMIC-IV database validated that MLR was an independent risk factor for pAKI and had predictive value for pAKI. Finally, data from the MIMIC-IV database demonstrated that patients with a high MLR had a significantly poor 28-day survival rate when compared to patients with a low MLR.ConclusionOur study suggested that the MLR is an independent risk factor for pAKI. A predictive model based on BCDIMs had good discriminating ability, predictive ability, and clinical utility. Moreover, the performance of the BCDIMs model was significantly better than that of the WCCs model. Finally, a high MLR was significantly associated with poor short-term survival of patients who underwent TAAD surgery

Evaluation of coal preparation plant separation effect based on multi-level fuzzy comprehensive evaluatio

In order to reflect situation that whether products meet index requirements in coal preparation plant, a multi-level fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method was proposed. Taking production data of seven months in one coal preparation plant as research object， the heavy medium separation product index, the coarse slime separation product index and flotation product index were concentrated to form a fuzzy relation matrix, the weight vector was constructed by expert scoring method. And the production data of seven months was calculated by the multi-level fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. The evaluation results indicated that the optimal target was January and July, and separation effect of February to May was suboptimal. By contrast, separation effect of June was unfavorable. This conclusion is in conformity with field separation effect

Bioinspired 3D-Printed MXene and Spidroin-Based Near-Infrared Light-Responsive Microneedle Scaffolds for Efficient Wound Management

Biomedical dressings have been comprehensively explored for wound healing; however, the complicated manufacturing process and mono-function of the dressing remain critical challenges for further applications. Here, a versatile extrusion three-dimensional (3D) printing strategy to prepare MXene and spidroin-incorporated microneedle scaffolds with photothermal responsive and self-healing properties for promoting wound healing is proposed. Inspired by the cactus, the microneedle scaffold is composed of a top porous scaffold, and microneedles whose inverse opal (IO) photonic crystal (PC) structure and the ample space between the scaffold gaps endow the microneedle scaffold with high drug-carrying capacity. Furthermore, the excellent electrical and photothermal properties of MXene allow the microneedle scaffold to perform sensitive wound movement monitoring and controlled drug release under near-infrared irradiation. Moreover, the extensive hydrogen bonding and Schiff base between the spidroin, polyurethane (PU), and aloe vera gel (avGel) molecules conferred high self-healing and mechanical performance to the microneedle scaffold. In vivo experiments with rat models of wounds have shown that drug-laden microneedle scaffolds under near-infrared (NIR) light can promote the recovery of full-skin wounds. These unique characteristics suggest that 3D-printed multifunctional microneedle scaffolds show great potential for applications in facilitating wound healing and will find widespread applications in wound management

Hydrogeochemistry of Fault-Related Hot Springs in the Qaidam Basin, China

Hydrogeochemical characterization studies are regarded as an important method for determining the origin of hot springs. The major elements, trace elements, and stable isotopes of four groups of hot spring water samples and two groups of gas samples collected from the intersection of the Altyn Tagh fault zone and the East Kunlun fault belt were investigated in this study. The hot spring water temperature ranged between 6 °C and 14 °C. The water chemistry types of the hot springs were Na·Mg-Cl, Mg·Na-Cl·HCO3, Na-Cl·SO4, and Na-Cl·HCO3. The δD values ranged from −50.00% to −68.60%, while the δ18O values ranged from −6.90% to −8.60%. The hot spring water was recharged mainly by infiltrating precipitation, with a recharge elevation of 3390~3676 m. The heat storage temperature ranged from 66.7 to 164.9 °C. The circulation depth was estimated to range between 1043 and 2679 m. The strontium isotopic composition of the water samples in response to the main weathering sources comprised carbonate and sulfate. CO2 was the main component in the hot spring gas in the study region, and its content was over 95%. The 3He/4He-R/Ra relationship diagram revealed that the mantle-sourced helium from the Yitunbulake spring was 3.06%. In comparison, that from the Aiken spring was 7.38%, which indicated an intrusion of mantle-source material mixed into the hot springs in the study region. The crustal marine limestone contributed significantly to the carbon inventory of the hot spring gas samples (>75%). The dissolution of the marl aquifer resulted in the release of CO2. Carbon was primarily obtained through metamorphism and hydrothermal reactions in the basement lithologies. The Yitunbulake and Aiken hot springs are found near the intersection of the Arjin and East Kunlun fractures, where the water–rock response is relatively strong and the depth of circulation and thermal storage temperature are both high. This causes relatively high ambient pressure to be released from the deep fluid, resulting in microseismic activity in this region. The continuous observation of Aiken spring water chemistry allows for the monitoring of fracture activity in the region. The results of the study could serve as a foundation for further exploration of the relationship between geothermal water and deep faults, shallow geological formations, hydrogeological conditions, and geothermal resource development in the region

Soil gas CO2 emissions from active faults: a case study from the Anninghe—Zemuhe fault, Southeastern Tibetan Plateau, China

Introduction: Carbon dioxide emissions from non-volcanic areas are undervalued in the carbon cycle.Methods: First estimates of diffuse CO2 flux from the Anninghe—Zemuhe fault (AZF), Southeastern Tibetan Plateau, China, which suggests this could equal 15% emissions from all volcanoes in China. Following the accumulation chamber method, CO2 flux was investigated at 1,483 points, and along 67 profiles crossing the AZF. Results and discussion: Total CO2 emissions from the AZF were estimated 1.2 Mt yr-1. The relationship between soil gas CO2 fluxes, earthquakes, and fault activity was discussed. The intense fault activity in the southern part of the Zemuhe fault (ZMHF) and the northern part of the Anninghe fault (ANH) was inferred, which could have enhanced the porosity of the soil, and accelerated the water-rock interactions and soil gas emission within the fault zone. The chemical and isotopic data indicated that biogenic CO2 was the primary source of CO2 from the AZF. Produced by interactions between groundwaters and carbonates, soil gas CO2 could migrate to the near surface through cracks. Spatial variations of CO2 flux in soil gas indicate that seismic activity could be responsible for the jumpy variations of CO2 flux. The diffuse CO2 from deep faults may contribute considerably to the greenhouse gas cycles

Bioactive Dibenzo-α-pyrone Derivatives from the Endophytic Fungus <i>Rhizopycnis vagum</i> Nitaf22

Six new dibenzo-α-pyrones, rhizopycnolides A (<b>1</b>) and B (<b>2</b>) and rhizopycnins A–D (<b>3</b>–<b>6</b>), together with eight known congeners (<b>7</b>–<b>14</b>), were isolated from the endophytic fungus <i>Rhizopycnis vagum</i> Nitaf22 obtained from <i>Nicotiana tabacum</i>. The structures of the new compounds were unambiguously elucidated using NMR, HRESIMS, TDDFT ECD calculation, and X-ray crystallography data. Rhizopycnolides A (<b>1</b>) and B (<b>2</b>) feature an uncommon γ-butyrolactone-fused dibenzo-α-pyrone tetracyclic skeleton (6/6/6/5), while rhizopycnin B (<b>4</b>) was the first amino group containing dibenzo-α-pyrone. Rhizopycnolides A (<b>1</b>) and B (<b>2</b>) are proposed to be biosynthesized from polyketide and tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways. The isolated compounds were tested for their antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities. Among them, rhizopycnolide A (<b>1</b>), rhizopycnins C (<b>5</b>) and D (<b>6</b>), TMC-264 (<b>8</b>), penicilliumolide D (<b>11</b>), and alternariol (<b>12</b>) were active against the tested pathogenic bacteria <i>Agrobacterium tumefaciens</i>, <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>, <i>Pseudomonas lachrymans</i>, <i>Ralstonia solanacearum</i>, <i>Staphylococcus hemolyticus</i>, and <i>Xanthomonas vesicatoria</i> with MIC values in the range 25–100 μg/mL. Rhizopycnin D (<b>6</b>) and TMC-264 (<b>8</b>) strongly inhibited the spore germination of <i>Magnaporthe oryzae</i> with IC₅₀ values of 9.9 and 12.0 μg/mL, respectively. TMC-264 (<b>8</b>) showed potent cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines (HCT-116, HepG2, BGC-823, NCI-H1650, and A2780) with IC₅₀ values of 3.2–7.8 μM

Bioactive Dibenzo-α-pyrone Derivatives from the Endophytic Fungus <i>Rhizopycnis vagum</i> Nitaf22

Six new dibenzo-α-pyrones, rhizopycnolides A (<b>1</b>) and B (<b>2</b>) and rhizopycnins A–D (<b>3</b>–<b>6</b>), together with eight known congeners (<b>7</b>–<b>14</b>), were isolated from the endophytic fungus <i>Rhizopycnis vagum</i> Nitaf22 obtained from <i>Nicotiana tabacum</i>. The structures of the new compounds were unambiguously elucidated using NMR, HRESIMS, TDDFT ECD calculation, and X-ray crystallography data. Rhizopycnolides A (<b>1</b>) and B (<b>2</b>) feature an uncommon γ-butyrolactone-fused dibenzo-α-pyrone tetracyclic skeleton (6/6/6/5), while rhizopycnin B (<b>4</b>) was the first amino group containing dibenzo-α-pyrone. Rhizopycnolides A (<b>1</b>) and B (<b>2</b>) are proposed to be biosynthesized from polyketide and tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways. The isolated compounds were tested for their antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities. Among them, rhizopycnolide A (<b>1</b>), rhizopycnins C (<b>5</b>) and D (<b>6</b>), TMC-264 (<b>8</b>), penicilliumolide D (<b>11</b>), and alternariol (<b>12</b>) were active against the tested pathogenic bacteria <i>Agrobacterium tumefaciens</i>, <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>, <i>Pseudomonas lachrymans</i>, <i>Ralstonia solanacearum</i>, <i>Staphylococcus hemolyticus</i>, and <i>Xanthomonas vesicatoria</i> with MIC values in the range 25–100 μg/mL. Rhizopycnin D (<b>6</b>) and TMC-264 (<b>8</b>) strongly inhibited the spore germination of <i>Magnaporthe oryzae</i> with IC₅₀ values of 9.9 and 12.0 μg/mL, respectively. TMC-264 (<b>8</b>) showed potent cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines (HCT-116, HepG2, BGC-823, NCI-H1650, and A2780) with IC₅₀ values of 3.2–7.8 μM