Experimental study on heat transfer of concrete at high temperatures under hygrothermal environment

Safety of concrete structures could be threatened under fire exposure, especially for structures under hygrothermal environment. Existing studies have shown that concrete contains large amount of moisture could induce spalling failure and the temperature is a critical parameter for the damage. However, until now, the study for heat transfer of concrete with different saturation degree remains limited. In this paper, the temperature increase of concrete specimens with different saturation degree is experimentally studied. Results show that the temperature increase rate could be affected by the moisture content significantly, especially for the cases under higher temperatures. The test results could be significant for our future fire damage simulation of concrete structures under hygrothermal environment

A K -means Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Neural Network for Medical Diagnosis

Abstract(#br)This paper proposes a new medical diagnosis algorithm that uses a K -means interval type-2 fuzzy neural network (KIT2FNN). This KIT2FNN classifier uses a K -means clustering algorithm as the pre-classifier and an interval type-2 fuzzy neural network as the main classifier. Initially, the training data are classified into k groups using the K -means clustering algorithm and these data groups are then used sequentially to train the structure of the k classifiers for the interval type-2 fuzzy neural network (IT2FNN). The test data are also initially used to determine to which classifier they are best suited and then they are inputted into the corresponding main classifier for classification. The parameters for the proposed IT2FNN are updated using the steepest descent gradient..

XCloud-VIP: Virtual Peak Enables Highly Accelerated NMR Spectroscopy and Faithful Quantitative Measures

Background: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is an important bio-engineering tool to determine the metabolic concentrations, molecule structures and so on. The data acquisition time, however, is very long in multi-dimensional NMR. To accelerate data acquisition, non-uniformly sampling is an effective way but may encounter severe spectral distortions and unfaithful quantitative measures when the acceleration factor is high. Objective: To reconstruct high fidelity spectra from highly accelerated NMR and achieve much better quantitative measures. Methods: A virtual peak (VIP) approach is proposed to self-learn the prior spectral information, such as the central frequency and peak lineshape, and then feed these information into the reconstruction. The proposed method is further implemented with cloud computing to facilitate online, open, and easy access. Results: Results on synthetic and experimental data demonstrate that, compared with the state-of-the-art method, the new approach provides much better reconstruction of low-intensity peaks and significantly improves the quantitative measures, including the regression of peak intensity, the distances between nuclear pairs, and concentrations of metabolics in mixtures. Conclusion: Self-learning prior peak information can improve the reconstruction and quantitative measures of spectra. Significance: This approach enables highly accelerated NMR and may promote time-consuming applications such as quantitative and time-resolved NMR experiments

Case report: Distinct neurologic manifestation and cytokine profile of a child with COVID-19-associated acute fulminant encephalitis

The neurologic manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may range from mild symptoms such as headache or confusion to profound encephalopathy with variable outcomes and sequelae. Here, we reported a case of fatal COVID-19-associated encephalitis with acute fulminant cerebral edema, presenting first with visual hallucination and then a rapid progression into comatose status in a few hours. Serial brain computed tomography depicted cerebral edematous changes from bilateral ventral temporal lobe to the whole brain leading to brain herniation. Multiple cytokines in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were increased, with a more prominent rise in the CSF. Therefore, we postulated a hypothesis regarding the mechanism of this fulminant encephalitis that the SARS-CoV-2 virus attacked ventral temporal lobes initially, triggered a severe cytokine storm, and then led to subsequent disruption of the blood-brain barrier, diffuse brain edema, and brain herniation. The trend of cytokine profiles over time may aid in diagnosing and evaluating the severity and prognosis of COVID-19-associated encephalitis

Prognostic factors associated with the survival of oral and pharyngeal carcinoma in Taiwan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Taiwan, a distinct ethnic group variation in incidence and mortality rates has been suggested for most carcinomas. Our aim is to identify the role of prognostic factors associated with the survival of oral and pharyngeal carcinoma in Taiwan.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Taiwan Cancer Registry records of 9039 subjects diagnosed with oral and pharyngeal carcinoma were analyzed. The population was divided into three ethnic groups by residence, which were Taiwanese aborigines, Hakka and Hokkien communities. Five-year survival rates were estimated by Kaplan-Meier methods. Ethnic curves differed significantly by log-rank test; therefore separate models for Taiwanese aborigines, Hakka and Hokkien were carried out. The Cox multivariate proportional hazards model was used to examine the role of prognostic factors on ethnic survival.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The five-year survival rates of oral and pharyngeal carcinoma were significantly poorer for Hokkien community (53.9%) and Taiwanese aborigines community (58.1%) compared with Hakka community (60.5%). The adjusted hazard ratio of Taiwanese aborigines versus Hakka was 1.07 (95%CI, 0.86–1.33) for oral and pharyngeal carcinoma mortality, and 1.16 (95%CI, 1.01–1.33) for Hokkien versus Hakka. Males had significantly poor prognosis than females. Subjects with tongue and/or mouth carcinoma presented the worst prognosis, whereas lip carcinoma had the best prognosis. Subjects with verrucous carcinoma had better survival than squamous cell carcinoma. Prognosis was the worst in elderly subjects, and subjects who underwent surgery had the highest survival rate.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study presented that predictive variables in oral and pharyngeal carcinoma survival have been: ethnic groups, period of diagnosis, gender, diagnostic age, anatomic site, morphologic type, and therapy.</p

Analisis Strategi Penerapan Sistem Manajemen Keamanan Pangan HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) Di PT. Sierad Produce Tbk. Parung

Quality and safety food products problem was usually after thought in the food industry development issues, accordance with the consumer\u27s desirability that understand the importance of product quality and food safety. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) certification is one way for company to implementing food safety. Sierad Produce Corp. at this moment has obtained HACCP certificate to produce chicken carcasses.But the implementation need to be controlled, as the case of foodborne illness and foodborne disease can occur easily if not properly controlled. The main objective of this research is to develop the best strategy to implement HACCP and to maintain the food safety quality system at Sierad Produce Corp. The information and data that has been collected within this research were covering both the primary and secondary data based on the date of September 2012 to December 2012. The methods used in this research are descriptive analysis, Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE), External Factor Evaluation (EFE), Internal External (IE), Strength Weakness Opportunity Threat (SWOT) and Analysis Hierarchy Process (AHP). Based on this research, the best strategy for implementing HACCP and sustain the system on Sierad Produce are Critical Control Points (CCP) evaluation and improvement of production room

CpG-binding protein CFP1 promotes ovarian cancer cell proliferation by regulating BST2 transcription

Epigenetic alterations have been functionally linked to ovarian cancer development and occurrence. The CXXC zinc finger protein 1 (CFP1) is an epigenetic regulator involved in DNA methylation and histone modification in mammalian cells. However, its role in ovarian cancer cells is unknown. Here, we show that CFP1 protein is highly expressed in human ovarian cancer tissues. Loss of CFP1 inhibited the growth of human ovarian cancer cells, promoted apoptosis, and increased senescence. CFP1 knockdown resulted in reduced levels of SETD1 (a CFP1 partner) and histone H3 trimethylation at the fourth lysine residue (H3K4me3). RNA-sequencing revealed that deletion of CFP1 resulted in mRNA reduction of bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2 (BST2). Bioinformatics analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that CFP1 binds to the promoter of BST2 and regulates its transcription directly. Overexpression of BST2 rescued the growth inhibitory effect of CFP1 loss. Furthermore, depletion of cullin-RING ubiquitin ligases 4 (CRL4) components ROC1 or CUL4A had significantly inhibited the expression of CFP1 and BST2 similar to MLN4924 treatment that blocked cullin neddylation and inactivated CRL4s. In conclusion, CFP1 promotes ovarian cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis by regulating the transcription of BST2, and the expression of CFP1 was affected by CRL4 ubiquitin ligase complex

Acute kidney injury in patients with COVID-19 compared to those with influenza: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundCOVID-19 and influenza can both lead to acute kidney injury (AKI) as a common complication. However, no meta-analysis has been conducted to directly compare the incidence of AKI between hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and influenza. The objective of our study aims to investigate the incidence and outcomes of AKI among hospitalized patients between these two groups.Materials and methodsA systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases was conducted from December 2019 to August 2023 to identify studies examining AKI and clinical outcomes among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and influenza. The primary outcome of interest was the incidence of AKI, while secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, recovery from AKI, hospital and ICU stay duration. The quality of evidence was evaluated using Cochrane and GRADE methods.ResultsTwelve retrospective cohort studies, involving 17,618 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and influenza, were analyzed. COVID-19 patients showed higher AKI incidence (29.37% vs. 20.98%, OR: 1.67, 95% CI 1.56–1.80, p &lt; 0.01, I2 = 92.42%), and in-hospital mortality (30.95% vs. 5.51%, OR: 8.16, 95% CI 6.17–10.80, p &lt; 0.01, I2 = 84.92%) compared to influenza patients with AKI. Recovery from AKI was lower in COVID-19 patients (57.02% vs., 80.23%, OR: 0.33, 95% CI 0.27–0.40, p &lt; 0.01, I2 = 85.17%). COVID-19 patients also had a longer hospital stay (SMD: 0.69, 95% CI 0.65–0.72, p &lt; 0.01, I2 = 98.94%) and longer ICU stay (SMD: 0.61, 95% CI 0.50–0.73, p &lt; 0.01, I2 = 94.80%) than influenza patients. In our study, evidence quality was high (NOS score 7–9), with low certainty for AKI incidence and moderate certainty for recovery form AKI by GRADE assessment.ConclusionCOVID-19 patients had higher risk of developing AKI, experiencing in-hospital mortality, and enduring prolonged hospital/ICU stays in comparison to influenza patients. Additionally, the likelihood of AKI recovery was lower among COVID-19 patients