Association of lipoprotein(a) and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with percutaneous coronary intervention.

Introduction(#br)The aim of the current study was to evaluate the association between lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treatment.(#br)Material and methods(#br)This was a retrospective study. The demographics, prior medical histories, comorbidities and laboratory parameters were collected from the electronic health record. All participants were followed up for 1 year after the indexed PCI. Studied end points were a composite of MACEs including all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), non-fatal ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack and stent restenosis.(#br)Results(#br)During 1-year follow-up, 87 MACEs occurred. Compared to patients who did not have MACEs, patients who had MACEs were older, more likely to have higher body mass index, diabetes mellitus and left main lesion, and also had higher baseline low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and Lp(a) levels. All patients in both groups were prescribed aspirin and clopidogrel at discharge. Nearly 97.4% and 95.4% of patients in both groups were treated with statins and a higher proportion of patients in the MACE group were treated with ezetimibe (11.5% vs. 3.5%, p < 0.05). In multivariate regression analysis, diabetes mellitus, LDL-C, Lp(a) and glomerular filtration rate were independent risk factors for MACEs; statin use appeared to be a protective factor for MACEs. Patients with increased Lp(a) level had significantly higher incidence of MACEs than the normal Lp(a) level group ( p = 0.001).(#br)Conclusions(#br)Baseline serum Lp(a) can be used to predict MACEs in patients after PCI treatment, which was independent of LDL-C

Factors Influencing Chinese Male\u27s Willingness to Undergo Circumcision: A Cross-Sectional Study in Western China

Background Male circumcision (MC) has been shown to reduce the risk of female to male transmission of HIV. The goal of this survey was to explore the acceptability of MC among the Chinese and to identify factors associated with circumcision preference. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted between September 2009 and December 2010. We interviewed 2,219 male community participants, from three high HIV prevalence provinces in western China. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on MC knowledge, willingness to accept MC, reasons to accept or refuse MC, and sexual behaviors and health. For those who refused MC, a health education intervention providing information on the benefits of circumcision was conducted. We used multiple logistic regression models to identify factors associated with the acceptability of MC. Results Of the respondents (n = 2,219), 44.6% (989/2,219) reported they would accept MC for the following reasons: promotion of female partners\u27 hygiene (60.3%), redundant foreskin (59.4%), prevention of penile cancer (50.2%), enhanced sexual pleasure (41.4%), and protection against HIV and STDs (34.2%). The multivariable logistic regression showed that five factors were associated with MC willingness: long foreskin (OR = 15.98), residing in Xinjiang province (OR = 3.69), being younger than 25 (OR = 1.60), knowing hazards of redundant foreskin (OR = 1.78), and having a friend who underwent circumcision (OR = 1.36). Conclusion The acceptability of male circumcision was high among the general population in China. Our study elucidates the factors associated with circumcision preference and suggests that more health education campaigns about positive health effects are necessary to increase the MC rate in China

Intrinsic Electronic Structure and Nodeless Superconducting Gap of YBa2Cu3O7−δ\mathrm{YBa_{2} Cu_{3} O_{7-\delta} } Observed by Spatially-Resolved Laser-Based Angle Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy

The spatially-resolved laser-based high resolution ARPES measurements have been performed on the optimally-doped $\mathrm{YBa_{2} Cu_{3} O_{7-\delta} }$ (Y123) superconductor. For the first time, we found the region from the cleaved surface that reveals clear bulk electronic properties. The intrinsic Fermi surface and band structures of Y123 are observed. The Fermi surface-dependent and momentum-dependent superconducting gap is determined which is nodeless and consistent with the d+is gap form

Factors Influencing Chinese Male's Willingness to Undergo Circumcision: A Cross-Sectional Study in Western China

BACKGROUND: Male circumcision (MC) has been shown to reduce the risk of female to male transmission of HIV. The goal of this survey was to explore the acceptability of MC among the Chinese and to identify factors associated with circumcision preference. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between September 2009 and December 2010. We interviewed 2,219 male community participants, from three high HIV prevalence provinces in western China. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on MC knowledge, willingness to accept MC, reasons to accept or refuse MC, and sexual behaviors and health. For those who refused MC, a health education intervention providing information on the benefits of circumcision was conducted. We used multiple logistic regression models to identify factors associated with the acceptability of MC. RESULTS: Of the respondents (n = 2,219), 44.6% (989/2,219) reported they would accept MC for the following reasons: promotion of female partners' hygiene (60.3%), redundant foreskin (59.4%), prevention of penile cancer (50.2%), enhanced sexual pleasure (41.4%), and protection against HIV and STDs (34.2%). The multivariable logistic regression showed that five factors were associated with MC willingness: long foreskin (OR = 15.98), residing in Xinjiang province (OR = 3.69), being younger than 25 (OR = 1.60), knowing hazards of redundant foreskin (OR = 1.78), and having a friend who underwent circumcision (OR = 1.36). CONCLUSION: The acceptability of male circumcision was high among the general population in China. Our study elucidates the factors associated with circumcision preference and suggests that more health education campaigns about positive health effects are necessary to increase the MC rate in China

Prediction of Low-Temperature Rheological Properties of SBS Modified Asphalt

The extreme learning machine (ELM) algorithm optimized by genetic algorithm (GA) was used to quickly predict the low-temperature rheological properties of styrenic block copolymer (SBS) modified asphalt through the properties of the raw materials. In this work, one hundred groups of survey data and test data were collected and analyzed. Fourteen vital raw material parameters, such as chemical composition indexes of matrix asphalt and technical indexes of SBS modifier, were selected as the input parameter. The stiffness modulus and m-value of SBS modified asphalt were taken as the output parameter. Then, the GA-ELM prediction model of low-temperature rheological properties was established. According to comparison and analysis with other prediction models, the accuracy and output stability of the GA-ELM prediction model were verified. The results show that the GA-ELM model had obvious accuracy and efficiency. It can be used to predict the low-temperature rheological properties of SBS modified asphalt. Compared with the traditional prediction models, the error of the GA-ELM model was reduced by 68.97–81.48%

Durability and Sustainability of Cement-Stabilized Materials Based on Utilization of Waste Materials: A Literature Review

The utilization of waste materials in cement-stabilized materials (CSMs) is an important way to promote the sustainable development of road engineering construction and solve the environmental problems caused by the accumulation of waste materials. With the increasingly prominent global environmental problems, the exploitation of natural aggravate and the production of cement are subject to strict management and restrictions. Different waste materials, such as industrial and mining wastes, construction and demolition wastes, municipal wastes, waste rubber and waste fiber, are utilized in CSMs, and this is beneficial to promote the sustainable development of CSMs. In order to promote the rational application of waste materials in CSMs, this paper systematically reviews the research on the durability and sustainable development of CSMs. The types and mixing forms of waste materials reutilized in CSMs are discussed. The effect of different waste materials on the durability of CSMs is objectively evaluated. The potential challenges of sustainable development of CSMs are proposed. This review may help to alleviate the apprehension of road workers about the utilization of waste materials in CSMs and provide useful suggestions for the large-scale application of different waste materials

Influence of excitation current on electromagnetic vibration and noise of rotor magnetic shunt hybrid excitation synchronous motor

To explore the influence of the excitation current in the rotor magnetic shunt hybrid excitation synchronous motor (HESM) on the vibration and noise of the motor, the finite element analysis of the hybrid excitation motor was carried out by using ANSYS Workbench software and noise sources for analysis. Firstly, air-gap flux density at different excitation currents and density vector diagrams are studied. Secondly, radial electromagnetic force’s order and frequency characteristics under different excitation currents are discussed. Finally, the modal analysis of the stator of the motor is carried out. The motor’s vibration response and noise variation under different excitation current conditions are summarized. The simulation analysis and experimental verify that the motor’s vibration response and noise increase obviously when the excitation current is significant, and the vibration acceleration of different orders increases

Analysis of the influence of zero potential live operation on protection

In the case of live working in the distribution network, a live method of live working that satisfies the requirements for personal safety and power supply reliability needs to be studied, because of the serious safety accidents caused by misuse and weak safety awareness. Based on the analysis of singlephase buck symmetrical operation characteristics, a new method of zero-potential live working of distribution network based on injection current is proposed. By injecting current into the neutral point, the zero-sequence voltage is regulated so that the neutral point voltage is equal to the value of the operating phase line voltage drop minus the operating phase power supply voltage, ensuring that the operating point voltage is zero. Based on the principle of current fast-break protection and time-limited overcurrent protection, it is analyzed that the zero-potential uninterruptible operation method of the distribution network will not affect the distribution network protection. Finally, the system model is established based on the MATLAB. The simulation verifies the feasibility of the method by the operating phase voltage curve and the correctness of the protection impact analysis by comparing the non-working phase current curve with the protection setting

Dynamic Modulus Prediction of a High-Modulus Asphalt Mixture

Dynamic modulus is a key evaluation index of the high-modulus asphalt mixture, but it is relatively difficult to test and collect its data. The purpose is to achieve the accurate prediction of the dynamic modulus of the high-modulus asphalt mixture and further optimize the design process of the high-modulus asphalt mixture. Five high-temperature performance indexes of high-modulus asphalt and its mixture were selected. The correlation between the above five indexes and the dynamic modulus of the high-modulus asphalt mixture was analyzed. On this basis, the dynamic modulus prediction models of the high-modulus asphalt mixture based on small sample data were established by multiple regression, general regression neural network (GRNN), and support vector machine (SVM) neural network. According to parameter adjustment and cross-validation, the output stability and accuracy of different prediction models were compared and evaluated. The most effective prediction model was recommended. The results show that the SVM model has more significant prediction accuracy and output stability than the multiple regression model and the GRNN model. Its prediction error was 0.98–9.71%. Compared with the other two models, the prediction error of the SVM model declined by 0.50–11.96% and 3.76–13.44%. The SVM neural network was recommended as the dynamic modulus prediction model of the high-modulus asphalt mixture