A Multi-Phase Transport model for nuclear collisions at RHIC

To study heavy ion collisions at energies available from the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, we have developed a multi-phase transport model that includes both initial partonic and final hadronic interactions. Specifically, the parton cascade model ZPC, which uses as input the parton distribution from the HIJING model, is extended to include the quark-gluon to hadronic matter transition and also final-state hadronic interactions based on the ART model. Predictions of the model for central Au on Au collisions at RHIC are reported.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

PACIAE 2.0: An updated parton and hadron cascade model (program) for the relativistic nuclear collisions

We have updated the parton and hadron cascade model PACIAE for the relativistic nuclear collisions, from based on JETSET 6.4 and PYTHIA 5.7 to based on PYTHIA 6.4, and renamed as PACIAE 2.0. The main physics concerning the stages of the parton initiation, parton rescattering, hadronization, and hadron rescattering were discussed. The structures of the programs were briefly explained. In addition, some calculated examples were compared with the experimental data. It turns out that this model (program) works well.Comment: 23 pages, 7 figure

Multi-scale symbolic entropy analysis provides prognostic prediction in patients receiving extracorporeal life support

Introduction: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) can temporarily support cardiopulmonary function, and is occasionally used in resuscitation. Multi-scale entropy (MSE) derived from heart rate variability (HRV) is a powerful tool in outcome prediction of patients with cardiovascular diseases. Multi-scale symbolic entropy analysis (MSsE), a new method derived from MSE, mitigates the effect of arrhythmia on analysis. The objective is to evaluate the prognostic value of MSsE in patients receiving ECLS. The primary outcome is death or urgent transplantation during the index admission. Methods: Fifty-seven patients receiving ECLS less than 24 hours and 23 control subjects were enrolled. Digital 24-hour Holter electrocardiograms were recorded and three MSsE parameters (slope 5, Area 6–20, Area 6–40) associated with the multiscale correlation and complexity of heart beat fluctuation were calculated. Results: Patients receiving ECLS had significantly lower value of slope 5, area 6 to 20, and area 6 to 40 than control subjects. During the follow-up period, 29 patients met primary outcome. Age, slope 5, Area 6 to 20, Area 6 to 40, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score, multiple organ dysfunction score (MODS), logistic organ dysfunction score (LODS), and myocardial infarction history were significantly associated with primary outcome. Slope 5 showed the greatest discriminatory power. In a net reclassification improvement model, slope 5 significantly improved the predictive power of LODS; Area 6 to 20 and Area 6 to 40 significantly improved the predictive power in MODS. In an integrated discrimination improvement model, slope 5 added significantly to the prediction power of each clinical parameter. Area 6 to 20 and Area 6 to 40 significantly improved the predictive power in sequential organ failure assessment. Conclusions: MSsE provides additional prognostic information in patients receiving ECLS. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13054-014-0548-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

k=0Magnetic Structure and Absence of Ferroelectricity in SmFeO3

SmFeO3 has attracted considerable attention very recently due to the reported multiferroic properties above room-temperature. We have performed powder and single crystal neutron diffraction as well as complementary polarization dependent soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements on floating-zone grown SmFeO3 single crystals in order to determine its magnetic structure. We found a k=0 G-type collinear antiferromagnetic structure that is not compatible with inverse Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction driven ferroelectricity. While the structural data reveals a clear sign for magneto-elastic coupling at the N\'eel-temperature of ~675 K, the dielectric measurements remain silent as far as ferroelectricity is concerned

Quantifying the pathway and predicting spontaneous emulsification during material exchange in a two phase liquid system

Kinetic restriction of a thermodynamically favourable equilibrium is a common theme in materials processing. The interfacial instability in systems where rate of material exchange is far greater than the mass transfer through respective bulk phases is of specific interest when tracking the transient interfacial area, a parameter integral to short processing times for productivity streamlining in all manufacturing where interfacial reaction occurs. This is even more pertinent in high-temperature systems for energy and cost savings. Here the quantified physical pathway of interfacial area change due to material exchange in liquid metal-molten oxide systems is presented. In addition the predicted growth regime and emulsification behaviour in relation to interfacial tension as modelled using phase-field methodology is shown. The observed in-situ emulsification behaviour links quantitatively the geometry of perturbations as a validation method for the development of simulating the phenomena. Thus a method is presented to both predict and engineer the formation of micro emulsions to a desired specification

Application of the problem-based learning in the medical nursing course for baccalaureate nursing students

Objective To evaluate the effects of problem—based learning(PBL)in the medical nursing course．Methods 29 baccalaureate nursing students were selected and PBL method Was employed in the medical nursing course．Self-designed questionnaire Was administered to the students to evaluate the effects of PBL．The students’ performances were also examined from tutors’ perspective．Results Twenty-six students (89．7％)agreed that PBL Was helpful to master the knowledge of viral hepatitis and promote the understanding of patients’ rights．Twenty five students(86．2％)agreed that PBL may foster their team spirit．Twenty two students(75．9％)agreed that PBL Was good to critical thinking and communication skills．Twenty—one students(72．4％、agreed that PBL helped to understand patient’ psychological reaction and to improve information searching and utilization skills．However，only 1 2 students (41．4％)favored PBL compared to lecture—based learning．11 students(37．9％)disagreed that they had enough time and energy to prepare PBL；In the tutors’ performance evaluated by students，scores for process control and the ability to facilitate discussion were relatively low，that is，18．5±2．0 and 18．5±2．1， respectively，the lowest score was both 1 2；In the performance evaluated by tutors，except for the score of communication skills，statistical significances were found in the total score，the score of participation，preparation，discussion and team spirit between the first and the second session，z value ranged from 2．1 8 to 4．43，P<O．05．Conclusions PBL not only helps students to foster their multiple capabilities，but also help them learn viral hepatitis—related knowledge．Efforts should be made to help students gradually adapt to the PBL．Enough time should be ensured for students to well prepare for PBL，training for tutors should be strengthened as well

Relationship between overweight and obesity and insufficient micronutrient intake: a nationwide study in Taiwan

The aim of the present study is to examine whether overweight or obese people in Taiwan have an inadequate intake of selected micronutrients. A population-based study was conducted using data from the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT) 2013–2016. We evaluated fourteen nutrient intakes using the 24 h dietary recall method. The dietary reference intake (DRI) adherence was estimated by the prevalence of participants whose intake was lower than the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) or adequate intakes (AIs) for selected micronutrients. Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 27 kg/m2 and waist circumference (WC), with men having WC ≥ 90 cm or women having WC ≥ 80 cm, were defined as obesity. A total of 3075 participants aged 19 years and above were included. After adjusting for confounders, we found that obese women have a lower DRI adherence of vitamin C (odds ratio (OR) 0⋅73, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0⋅56, 0⋅95) and magnesium (OR 0⋅72, 95 % CI 0⋅54, 0⋅95), compared with normal-weight women. Obese men have a higher DRI adherence of vitamin B3 (OR 1⋅70, 95 % CI 1⋅29, 2⋅23), iron (OR 1⋅46, 95 % CI 1⋅06, 2⋅00) and zinc (OR 1⋅41, 95 % CI 1⋅07, 1⋅85), compared with normal-weight men. Similar findings were found using WC to define obesity. We conclude that obese women may have insufficient intakes of vitamin A, vitamin C and magnesium