A Mathematical Modeling Framework for Analysis of Functional Clothing

In the analysis and design of functional clothing systems, it is helpful to quantify the effects of a system on a wearer’s physical performance capabilities. Toward this end, a clothing modeling framework for quantifying the mechanical interactions between a given clothing system design and a specific wearer performing defined physical tasks is proposed. The modeling framework consists of three interacting modules: (1) a macroscale fabric mechanics/dynamics model; (2) a collision detection and contact correction module; and (3) a human motion module. In the proposed framework, the macroscopic fabric model is based on a rigorous large deformation continuum-degenerated shell theory representation. Material models that capture the stress-strain behavior of different clothing fabrics are used in the continuum shell framework. The collision and contact module enforces the impenetrability constraint between the fabric and human body and computes the associated contact forces between the two. The human body is represented in the current framework as an assemblage of overlapping ellipsoids that undergo rigid body motions consistent with human motions while performing actions such as walking, running, or jumping. The transient rigid body motions of each ellipsoidal body segment in time are determined using motion capture technology. The integrated modeling framework is then exercised to quantify the resistance that the clothing exerts on the wearer during the specific activities under consideration. Current results from the framework are presented and its intended applications are discussed along with some of the key challenges remaining in clothing system modeling

Efficacy of mixed adsorbent in ameliorating ochratoxicosis in broilers fed ochratoxin A contaminated diets

The current study was conducted to evaluate the ability of mixed adsorbent (Na-MMT + YCW) for the preventing effect of Ochratoxin A in broiler productivity, biochemical parameters, histochemical changes and OTA residues. A total of 96 broiler chicks were grouped in three experimental and one control group (24 chicks in each group, 3 replicates each). Birds were fed basal dietary or that with Ochratoxin A and mixed adsorbent (Na-MMT + YCW) to determine the effect of this compound during mycotoxicoses. When compared with the controls, feed: gain (F/G) were significantly higher for broilers fed diets containing OTA alone (p < .05). No differences were found between the F/G of broiler chickens fed diets without OTA and those of chickens fed mixed adsorbent. The diet containing 2 mg OTA/kg without adsorbents added increased relative liver, kidney, spleen weights and decreased relative thymus, bursa weights. Alterations in the levels of serum TP, ALB, GLB, BUN and enzymatic activity of ALT, AST, ALP and GGT were observed for OTA diets, and moderate protection was provided by the sorbent. Supplementing mixed adsorbent group (Na-MMT + YCW) showed intestinal villus height and crypt depth similar to control chicks, and a significant reduction residue in livers and kidney tissue, as well as a significantly higher OTA content in the faeces compared with OTA- group were recorded. These results suggest that effects of OTA treatment were ameliorated when mixed adsorbent was used in the broiler chick diets

Endothelial Plaques as Sign of Hyphae Infiltration of Descemet’s Membrane in Fungal Keratitis

Background. To evaluate the relationship between corneal endothelial plaques and fungal hyphae infiltration in fungal keratitis. Methods. Retrospective cross-sectional study of 60 fungal keratitis patients who underwent keratoplasty between January 2013 and March 2017. The endothelial plaques were graded as follows: grade 1, 1–3 endothelial plaques; grade 2, 4–8 endothelial plaques; and grade 3, more than 8 endothelial plaques or dense, merging endothelial plaques. The fungal pathogen culture and histopathology of diseased Descemet’s membrane were evaluated. Results. According to endothelial plaque grading, 3 patients were grade 1, 29 patients were grade 2, and 28 patients were grade 3. The PK surgery was performed in 57 patients with endothelial plaques of grade 2 and grade 3 and DALK surgery in 3 patients of grade 1. The predominating fungal pathogens were Aspergillus species (63.2%). All 57 patients with grade 2 and grade 3 had fungal hyphae in Descemet’s membrane based on calcofluor white staining or PAS staining. In patients with grade 3, more hyphae and inflammatory cells were found in Descemet’s membrane. The immunohistochemical staining of endothelial plaques revealed that CD15 and CD68 were positive in most cells. During the follow-up, 2 out of 3 patients who underwent DALK had recurrent fungal keratitis. Conclusions. Endothelial plaques are considered as a sign of hyphae infiltrating Descemet’s membrane. PK should be performed once plaques are detected in endothelium during the surgery

AN ANALYSIS OF INFLUENCING FACTORS FOR SHORT-TERM PROGNOSIS AFTER ENDOVASCULAR TREATMENT IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH POSTERIOR CIRCULATION INFARCTION

Objective To explore the influencing factors for short-term prognosis after endovascular treatment in elderly patients with posterior circulation infarction (POCI). Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 50 elderly patients with POCI who received endovascular treatment in the Nuclear Industry 416 Hospital from January 2019 to December 2020. The clinical data included patients’ preoperative general status (age, sex, smoking history, and alcohol abuse history), past disease history (diabetes, hypertension, hyperuricemia, and transient ischemic attack), post-onset indicators [onset-to-door time (ODT), door-to-needle time (DNT), NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) on admission], and postoperative conditions (immediate postoperative NIHSS, revascularization, and postoperative complications). The patients were divided into good prognosis group and poor prognosis group according to modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 90 d after endovascular treatment and were analyzed for the differences in the above indicators. Meanwhile, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed on the influencing factors for patients’ short-term prognosis after endovascular treatment. Results There were 20 and 30 patients in the good prognosis group and poor prognosis group, respectively, demonstrating significant differences between the two groups in nine indicators [systolic blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum uric acid, total cholesterol, postoperative modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) grade, preoperative NIHSS score, immediate postoperative NIHSS score, ODT, and postoperative stroke-related pneumonia] (t=2.30-4.13,χ2=6.35,7.07,P&lt;0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HbA1c ≥6.5%, serum uric acid ≥420 mmol/L (male) or 360 mmol/L (female), postoperative mTICI grade (blood vessel obstruction), and immediate postoperative NIHSS score ≥10 were risk factors for patients’ short-term prognosis after endovascular treatment (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion HbA1c, serum uric acid, postoperative mTICI grade, and immediate postoperative NIHSS score are possible influencing factors for short-term prognosis after endovascular treatment in patients with POCI. It is important to enhance postoperative assessments of the above indicators and to receive active treatment for optimal outcomes

Genome-Wide Identification and Comparison of Cysteine Proteases in the Pollen Coat and Other Tissues in Maize

Cysteine proteases, belonging to the C1-papain family, play a major role in plant growth and development, senescence, and immunity. There is evidence to suggest that pollen cysteine protease (CP) (ZmCP03) is involved in regulating the anther development and pollen formation in maize. However, there is no report on the genome-wide identification and comparison of CPs in the pollen coat and other tissues in maize. In this study, a total of 38 homologous genes of ZmCP03 in maize were identified. Subsequently, protein motifs, conserved domains, gene structures, and duplication patterns of 39 CPs are analyzed to explore their evolutionary relationship and potential functions. The cis-elements were identified in the upstream sequence of 39 CPs, especially those that are related to regulating growth and development and responding to environmental stresses and hormones. The expression patterns of these genes displayed remarked difference at a tissue or organ level in maize based on the available transcriptome data in the public database. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis showed that ZmCP03 was preferably expressed at a high level in maize pollen. Analyses by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblot, immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy all validated the cellular localization of ZmCP03 in both the pollen coat and pollen cytoplasm. In addition, 142 CP genes from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), rice (Oryza sativa) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), together with 39 maize CPs, were retrieved to analyze their evolution by comparing with orthologous genes. The results suggested that ZmCP03 was relatively conservative and stable during evolution. This study may provide a referential evidence on the function of ZmCP03 in pollen development and germination in maize

Cross-Comparison between Sun-Synchronized and Geostationary Satellite-Derived Land Surface Temperature: A Case Study in Hong Kong

Harmonization of satellite imagery provides a good opportunity for studying land surface temperature (LST) as well as the urban heat island effect. However, it is challenging to use the harmonized data for the study of LST due to the systematic bias between the LSTs from different satellites, which is highly influenced by sensor differences and the compatibility of LST retrieval algorithms. To fill this research gap, this study proposes the comparison of different LST images retrieved from various satellites that focus on Hong Kong, China, by applying diverse retrieval algorithms. LST images generated from Landsat-8 using the mono-window algorithm (MWAL8) and split-window algorithm (SWAL8) would be compared with the LST estimations from Sentinel-3 SLSTR and Himawari-8 using the split-window algorithm (SWAS3 and SWAH8). Intercomparison will also be performed through segregated groups of different land use classes both during the daytime and nighttime. Results indicate that there is a significant difference among the quantitative distribution of the LST data generated from these three satellites, with average bias of up to &minus;1.80 K when SWAH8 was compared with MWAL8, despite having similar spatial patterns of the LST images. The findings also suggest that retrieval algorithms and the dominant land use class in the study area would affect the accuracy of image-fusion techniques. The results from the day and nighttime comparisons revealed that there is a significant difference between day and nighttime LSTs, with nighttime LSTs from different satellite sensors more consistent than the daytime LSTs. This emphasizes the need to incorporate as much night-time LST data as available when predicting or optimizing fine-scale LSTs in the nighttime, so as to minimize the bias. The framework designed by this study will serve as a guideline towards efficient spatial optimization and harmonized use of LSTs when utilizing different satellite images associated with an array of land covers and at different times of the day

Cross-Comparison between Sun-Synchronized and Geostationary Satellite-Derived Land Surface Temperature: A Case Study in Hong Kong

Harmonization of satellite imagery provides a good opportunity for studying land surface temperature (LST) as well as the urban heat island effect. However, it is challenging to use the harmonized data for the study of LST due to the systematic bias between the LSTs from different satellites, which is highly influenced by sensor differences and the compatibility of LST retrieval algorithms. To fill this research gap, this study proposes the comparison of different LST images retrieved from various satellites that focus on Hong Kong, China, by applying diverse retrieval algorithms. LST images generated from Landsat-8 using the mono-window algorithm (MWAL8) and split-window algorithm (SWAL8) would be compared with the LST estimations from Sentinel-3 SLSTR and Himawari-8 using the split-window algorithm (SWAS3 and SWAH8). Intercomparison will also be performed through segregated groups of different land use classes both during the daytime and nighttime. Results indicate that there is a significant difference among the quantitative distribution of the LST data generated from these three satellites, with average bias of up to −1.80 K when SWAH8 was compared with MWAL8, despite having similar spatial patterns of the LST images. The findings also suggest that retrieval algorithms and the dominant land use class in the study area would affect the accuracy of image-fusion techniques. The results from the day and nighttime comparisons revealed that there is a significant difference between day and nighttime LSTs, with nighttime LSTs from different satellite sensors more consistent than the daytime LSTs. This emphasizes the need to incorporate as much night-time LST data as available when predicting or optimizing fine-scale LSTs in the nighttime, so as to minimize the bias. The framework designed by this study will serve as a guideline towards efficient spatial optimization and harmonized use of LSTs when utilizing different satellite images associated with an array of land covers and at different times of the day

Family functioning and its predictors among disaster bereaved individuals in China: eighteen months after the Wenchuan Earthquake.

BACKGROUND: The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China resulted in great loss of life and property, and previous studies have focused on psychopathological symptoms in survivors after disasters. This study examined perceived family functioning and its predictors in disaster bereaved individuals eighteen months after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. METHODOLOGY/FINDINGS: This was a cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of 264 bereaved individuals. The instruments used in the study included Family APGAR Index, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation ScaleãÀ, Emotional and Social Loneliness Scale, and a range of items eliciting demographic characteristics and disaster-related variables. The results indicated that the rates of moderate family dysfunction and severe family dysfunction in bereaved individuals were 37.1% and 12.9%, respectively. Less financial loss during the earthquake was a significant predictor for positive family function. Better self-rated health status after the earthquake was significantly related to positive family function, cohesion, and adaptability. Scores on family cohesion and adaptability in bereaved individuals from extended or nuclear families were significantly higher than those from single-parent families. The ability to give birth to another baby of bereaved parents was a significant predictor for positive family function and cohesion. Poorer family function, cohesion and adaptability were significantly related to greater loneliness. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This study found a high prevalence of family dysfunction in bereaved individuals eighteen months after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Strategies can be designed to facilitate post-disaster recovery, particularly for the bereaved at high risk for family dysfunction. The study provides useful information for post-disaster rebuilding and relief work

Polyimide Nanodielectrics Doped with Ultralow Content of MgO Nanoparticles for High-Temperature Energy Storage

Advanced polymer dielectrics with high energy density at elevated temperatures are highly desired to meet the requirements of modern electronic and electrical systems under harsh conditions. Herein, we report a novel polyimide/magnesium oxide (PI/MgO) nanodielectric that exhibits high energy storage density (Ue) and charge–discharge efficiency (η) along with excellent cycling stability at elevated temperatures. Benefiting from the large bandgap of MgO and the extended interchain spacing of PI, the composite films can simultaneously achieve high dielectric constant and high breakdown strength, leading to enhanced energy storage density. The nanocomposite film doped with 0.1 vol% MgO can achieve a maximum Ue of 2.6 J cm−3 and a η of 89% at 450 MV m−1 and 150 °C, which is three times that of the PI film under the same conditions. In addition, embedding ultralow content of inorganic fillers can avoid aggregation and facilitate its large-scale production. This work may provide a new paradigm for exploring polymer nanocomposites with excellent energy storage performance at high temperatures and under a high electric field