Solving the conformable Huxley equation using the complex method

We apply the complex method to build new exact solutions for the conformable Huxley equation. The results show that abundant new exact solutions were constructed, which extends the results of Cevikel, Bekir and Zahran. Further, we extend the undetermined form for the exponential function solutions in the complex method

Aquaporin-3 Attenuates Oxidative Stress-Induced Nucleus Pulposus Cell Apoptosis Through Regulating the P38 MAPK Pathway

Background/Aims: Previous studies have shown that oxidative damage is a main contributor to disc nucleus pulposus (NP) cell apoptosis. Aquaporin-3 (AQP-3) facilitates reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and thus alleviates oxidative injury in other cells. This study aims to investigate the role and mechanism of AQP-3 in regulating NP cell apoptosis under oxidative damage. Methods: Rat NP cells were treated with H2O2 for 48 hours, while control NP cells were free of H2O2. Recombinant AQP-3 lentiviral vectors were used to investigate the effect of enhanced AQP-3 expression levels in NP cells. NP cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry, caspase-3 activity, gene expression of apoptosis-related molecules (Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3), and protein expression of cellular apoptosis markers (cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase-3). Additionally, intracellular ROS content and activity of the p38 MAPK pathway were evaluated. Results: Compared with the control NP cells, oxidative damage in the treatment cells significantly increased cell apoptosis ratios and caspase-3 activity, upregulated gene expression of Bax and caspase-3, downregulated gene expression of Bcl-2, and increased protein expression of cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase-3, as well as increased intracellular ROS content and activity of the p38 MAPK pathway. However, AQP-3 overexpression partly alleviated cell apoptosis, decreased intracellular ROS content, and inhibited the p38 MAPK pathway in NP cells under oxidative damage. Conclusion: Oxidative damage can significantly downregulate AQP-3 expression. Enhancing AQP-3 expression in NP cells partly attenuates cellular apoptosis through regulating the p38 MAPK pathway under oxidative damage

Refusal of treatment among HER2-positive breast cancer patients in China: a retrospective analysis

BackgroundThere is a need to update the understanding of treatment refusal among cancer patients in China, taking into account recent developments. This study investigated how public insurance coverage of the first breast cancer targeted therapy contributed to the changes in treatment refusal among HER2-positive breast cancer patients in China. And it intensively examined and discussed additional barriers affecting patient utilization of innovative anticancer medicines based on the types and reasons for treatment refusal.MethodsThis retrospective study included female breast cancer patients diagnosed as HER2-positive who received treatment at a provincial oncology center in southern China between 2014 and 2020. Multivariable analysis was conducted using a binary logistic regression model. Subgroup analysis was performed with the same regression model.ResultsAmong the 1,322 HER2-positive breast cancer patients who received treatment at the study hospital between 2014 and 2020, 327 (24.55%) had ever refused treatment. Economic reasons were reported as the primary cause by 142 patients (43.43%). Patients diagnosed after September 2017, when the first breast cancer targeted therapy was included in the public health insurance, were less likely to refuse treatment (OR = 0.64, 95% CI:0.45 ~ 0.91, p = 0.01) compared to those diagnosed before September 2017. Patients enrolled in the resident health insurance were more likely to refuse treatment (OR = 2.43, 95% CI:1.77 ~ 3.35, p < 0.001) than those enrolled in the employee health insurance.ConclusionThis study reveals a high rate of treatment refusal among HER2-positive breast cancer patients, primarily attributed to financial factors. The disparity in public health insurance benefits resulted in a heavier economic burden for patients with less comprehensive benefits. Furthermore, the study identified challenges faced by patients seeking quality-assured cancer care in underdeveloped regions in China. By addressing economic barriers, promoting accurate health information, and improving cancer care capacity across the country can reduce the rate of treatment refusal

Game Approach for H∞ Robust Control Strategy to Follow the Production in the Singularly Perturbed Bilinear Dynamic Input-Output Systems

For simulating and analyzing the input and output problem of national economy more accurately, this paper considers the fast and slow production processes during the course of social production development, takes stochastic economic risks into consideration, and constructs a H∞ robust control model to follow the production in the singularly perturbed dynamic input-output systems. Further introducing ideas of noncooperative differential game theory, the H∞ robust control model is transformed into a saddle-point equilibrium game model, and a new method for solving dynamic input-output problem by using saddle-point equilibrium strategies is obtained. A numerical result is presented in the end to illustrate the effectiveness of the method

Does Digital Agricultural Technology Extension Service Enhance Sustainable Food Production? Evidence from Maize Farmers in China

This research aims to investigate the average and heterogeneous impacts of digital agricultural technology extension service use on eco-efficiency among 1302 maize-producing farmers from a major maize-producing area in Northeast China in 2022. The slack-based measure model with undesirable outputs is applied to calculate the eco-efficiency of maize production. To obtain an unbiased estimation of the average effect, the self-selection problem generated by observable and unobservable factors is solved by the endogenous switching regression model. Quantile regression is utilized to analyze the heterogeneous effect. Notably, the mediated effects model is utilized to examine the potential mechanism between them. Our findings indicate that digital agricultural technology extension service use can increase maize production’s eco-efficiency. Digital agricultural technology extension service users would have reduced the eco-efficiency of the service by 0.148 (21.11%) if they had not used it. Digital agricultural technology extension service nonusers would have improved the eco-efficiency of the service by 0.214 (35.20%) if they had used it. The robustness check reconfirms the results. Moreover, digital agricultural technology extension service use is more helpful for maize farmers who have lower eco-efficiency than those who have higher eco-efficiency. Digital agricultural technology extension service use can improve the eco-efficiency of maize production through the application of organic fertilizers, green pesticides, and biodegradable agricultural films. There are policy implications of these findings: there is an argument for using the publicity of the digital agricultural technology extension service to encourage farmers to use sustainable inputs; additionally, it might be worthwhile to implement a categorized promotion strategy based on the different real-world situations

Analysis of the Influence of Structure and Parameters of Axial Piston Pump on Flow Pulsation

In view of the working principle of a swashplate axial piston pump, a simulation model of the piston pump was built in AMESim and its output flow pulsation characteristics were simulated and analyzed. We mainly analyzed the influence of the speed of the prime mover, the swashplate angle, the diameter of the piston, and port plate structure on the flow pulsation of the piston pump. The result of this research shows that the port plate structure, the swashplate angle, and the speed of the prime mover have an important influence on the flow pulsation of the piston pump. In order to effectively reduce the flow pulsation generated by the piston pump and reduce the noise generated in the process of flow distribution, the opening of the pre-compression angle and misalignment angle of the port plate of the piston pump must be reduced appropriately and the swashplate angle and the rotation speed of the prime mover should be controlled within a certain range. The flow pulsation of the axial piston pump decreases with the increase of the piston number and the decrease in the misalignment angle. The research results provide a reference for reducing the flow pulsation of the axial piston pump