Equivalent Effect Research Articles

Neurorehabilitation of the upper extremity - immersive virtual reality vs. electromechanically assisted training. A comparative study.

Severe paresis of the contralesional upper extremity is one of the most common and debilitating post-stroke impairments. The need for cost-effective high-intensity training is driving the development of new technologies, which can complement and extent conventional therapies. Apart from established methods using electromechanical devices, immersive virtual reality (iVR) systems hold promise to provide cost-efficient high-intensity arm training. We investigated whether iVR-based arm training yields at least equivalent effects on upper extremity function as compared to an electromechanically assisted training in stroke patients with severe arm paresis. 52 stroke patients with severe arm paresis received a total of ten daily group therapy sessions over a period of three weeks, which consisted of 20 min of conventional therapy and 20 min of either electromechanically assisted (ARMEOSpring®) or iVR-based (CUREO®) arm training. Changes in upper extremity function was assessed using the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) and user acceptance was measured with the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ). iVR-based training was not inferior to electromechanically assisted training. We found that 84% of patients treated with iVR and 50% of patients treated with electromechanically assisted arm training showed a clinically relevant improvement of upper extremity function. This difference could neither be attributed to differences between the groups regarding age, gender, duration after stroke, affected body side or ARAT scores at baseline, nor to differences in the total amount of therapy provided. The present study results show that iVR-based arm training seems to be a promising addition to conventional therapy. Potential mechanisms by which iVR unfolds its effects are discussed.

A two-dimensional friction-decoupling method based on numerical integration method and momentum theorem

This article introduces a simplified Two-Dimensional Friction-Coupling Model (TDFC) designed for typical surface-to-surface contact friction systems in engineering structures. With the assumption of a constant friction force magnitude within each calculation time step, the alteration of the friction direction of TDFC within each calculation time step can be visualized as the rotation of a circular radius under horizontal bidirectional dynamic loads. This dynamic force analysis approach is referred to as the “Circular making”. It is noteworthy that the friction direction change in each calculation time step demonstrates unidirectional rotatability. Leveraging this rotatability and assuming uniform rotation, the momentum theorem accurately determines the direction of the plane friction acting on the TDFC model at the end of each calculation time step. This allows for the decoupled calculation of plane friction and precise response calculation of the TDFC model. The study verifies the reliability of theoretical assumptions, such as constant friction force magnitude and uniform rotation, with a time step of 0.01 s. Additionally, by introducing an equivalent spring effect to modify the TDFC model, it is observed that the modified TDFC effectively simulates the behavior of the Friction Pendulum Bearing (FPB) under horizontal bidirectional seismic loads. Compared to the ABAQUS finite element model of FPB, the modified TDFC model provides a more efficient approach for rapidly and accurately calculating the response of various FPB types under horizontal bidirectional seismic loads by adjusting parameter values of the modified TDFC model.

Ultrafast THz probing of nonlocal orbital current in transverse multilayer metallic heterostructures

THz generation from femtosecond photoexcited spintronic heterostructures has become a versatile tool for investigating ultrafast spin-transport and transient charge-current in a non-contact and non-invasive manner. The equivalent effect from the orbital degree of freedom is still in the primitive stage. Here, we experimentally demonstrate orbital-to-charge current conversion in metallic heterostructures, consisting of a ferromagnetic layer adjacent to either a light or a heavy metal layer, through detection of the emitted THz pulses. Our temperature-dependent experiments help to disentangle the orbital and spin components that are manifested in the respective Hall-conductivities, contributing to THz emission. NiFe/Nb shows the strongest inverse orbital Hall effect with an experimentally extracted value of effective intrinsic Hall-conductivity, (σSOHint)eff~195Ω−1cm−1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${({\\sigma }_{{SOH}}^{{{{{\\mathrm{int}}}}}})}^{{eff}} \\sim 195{\\varOmega }^{-1}{{cm}}^{-1}$$\\end{document}, while CoFeB/Pt shows maximum contribution from the inverse spin Hall effect. In addition, we observe a nearly ten-fold enhancement in the THz emission due to pronounced orbital-transport in W-insertion heavy metal layer in CoFeB/W/Ta heterostructure as compared to CoFeB/Ta bilayer counterpart.

Effect of alkyl glycoside surfactant on the explosion characteristics of bituminous coal: Experimental and theoretical discussion

To reduce the risk of secondary dust formation and explosions of coal dust captured by spray with surfactant in coal mine working faces, the influence of alkyl polyglucoside (APG) on the explosion characteristics of bituminous coal was studied. The thermokinetic behavior of the APG-coal compound system was analyzed, and the chemical structural evolutions that occurred in coal powder before and after APG treatment were determined. Finally, the mechanism of effect by which APG affects bituminous coal explosion was discussed. The results showed that the carbonyl structure content of samples increased after APG soaking treatment, and the oxidation process of coal powder changed. Coal dust soaked in APG solutions reached a maximum explosion pressure earlier than the raw coal, resulting in a decrease of the boundary concentration. The maximum explosion pressure slightly decreased and the explosion induction time was extended. Additionally, the thermal decomposition rate of the APG-coal mixture system decreased and the maximum heat flow increased. The mechanisms by which APG affects bituminous coal dust explosion were summarized to be a barrier effect and an equivalent combustion effect. The results of this research serve as a reference for coal dust explosions control and for the preparation of new coal dust suppressants were provided.

Pan-antiviral effects of a PIKfyve inhibitor on respiratory virus infection in human nasal epithelium and mice.

Endocytosis, or internalization through endosomes, is a major cell entry mechanism used by respiratory viruses. Phosphoinositide 5-kinase (PIKfyve) is a critical enzyme for the synthesis of phosphatidylinositol (3, 5)biphosphate (PtdIns (3, 5)P2) and has been implicated in virus trafficking via the endocytic pathway. In fact, antiviral effects of PIKfyve inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola have been reported, but there is little evidence regarding other respiratory viruses. In this study, we demonstrated the antiviral effects of PIKfyve inhibitors on influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus in vitro and in vivo. PIKfyve inhibitors Apilimod mesylate (AM) and YM201636 concentration-dependently inhibited several influenza strains in an MDCK cell-cytopathic assay. AM also reduced the viral load and cytokine release, while improving the cell integrity of human nasal air-liquid interface cultured epithelium infected with influenza PR8. In PR8-infected mice, AM (2 mg/mL), when intranasally treated, exhibited a significant reduction of viral load and inflammation and inhibited weight loss caused by influenza infection, with effects being similar to oral oseltamivir (10 mg/kg). In addition, AM demonstrated antiviral effects in RSV A2-infected human nasal epithelium in vitro and mouse in vivo, with an equivalent effect to that of ribavirin. AM also showed antiviral effects against human rhinovirus and seasonal coronavirus in vitro. Thus, PIKfyve is found to be involved in influenza and RSV infection, and PIKfyve inhibitor is a promising molecule for a pan-viral approach against respiratory viruses.

A comparison of the carbon footprint of alternative sampling approaches for cervical screening in the UK: A descriptive study.

To understand whether self-sampling can reduce carbon emissions (CO2 e) from the NHS cervical screening programme (NHSCSP) by comparing the carbon footprint of three sampling strategies: routine cervical sampling, vaginal self-sampling and first-void (FV) urine collection. Descriptive study. National Health Service (NHS), United Kingdom (UK). Patients aged 25-64 years eligible for cervical screening in the UK. A carbon footprint analysis was undertaken for three cervical screening sampling approaches, from point of invitation to screening through to preparation for transport to the laboratory for HPV testing. A combination of primary and secondary data were used, with a bottom-up approach applied to collection of primary data. We report CO2 e per sampling approach, which is the unit used to express carbon footprint and harmonise the contributions of greenhouse gases with different global warming potentials. The total carbon footprint of routine cervical sampling is 3670 g CO2 e. By comparison, vaginal self-sampling had a total carbon footprint of 423 g CO2 e, and FV urine sampling 570 g CO2 e. The largest share of emissions for routine sampling was attributable to the carbon footprint associated with an appointment in a primary care setting, which totalled 2768 g CO2 e. Routine cervical sampling is up to 8.7-fold more carbon-intensive than self-sampling approaches with equivalent effectiveness. We found negligible differences in the carbon footprint of alternative self-sampling methods, supporting the need for an informed choice of screening options for participants, which includes sharing information on their environmental impacts.

Animal-free assessment of developmental toxicity: Combining PBPK modeling with the ReproTracker assay

in vitro screening platforms to assess teratogenic potential of compounds are emerging rapidly. ReproTracker is a human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-based biomarker assay that is shown to identify the teratogenicity potential of new pharmaceuticals and chemicals reliably. In its current state, the assay is limited to identifying the potential teratogenic effects and does not immediately quantify a clinical dose relevant to the exposure of chemicals or drugs observable in mothers or fetuses. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether the ReproTracker assay can be extrapolated in vivo and quantitatively predict developmental toxicity exposure levels of two known human teratogens, thalidomide, and carbamazepine. Here, we utilized Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling to describe the pharmacokinetic behavior of these compounds and conducted an in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) approach to predict human equivalent effect doses (HEDs) that correspond with in vitro concentrations potentially associated with adverse outcomes in ReproTracker. The HEDs derived from the ReproTracker concentration predicted to cause developmental toxicity were close to the reported teratogenic human clinical doses and the HED derived from the rat or rabbit developmental toxicity study. The ReproTracker derived-HED revealed to be sensitive and protective of humans. Overall, this pilot study demonstrated the importance of integrating PBPK model in extrapolating and assessing developmental toxicity in vitro. The combination of these tools demonstrated that they could improve the safety assessment of drugs and chemicals without animal testing.

Surgical Treatment of Patients with Sacroiliac Joint Syndrome: Comparative Study of Two Implants.

The treatment of patients with ISJ dysfunction is difficult due to the multifactorial causes of pain and various problems in clarification. Treatment includes physical therapy, corticosteroids, prolotherapy, radiofrequency denervation and sacroiliac joint fusion. A new option for the surgical treatment of ISG dysfunction is the Torpedo implant system. For a safe fusion, only 2 implants are needed, which are available in lengths of 30-50mm. The new implant system has been tested in pilot studies for efficacy and biocompatibility with good results. For further documentation for the Torpedo implant system, a comparative study against the iFuse system was carried out.Two different implants were used: Group 1: Deltacor Torpedo, Group 2: iFuse implants (Si-Bone). The data generated during admission and subsequent check-ups (VAS, ODI, opioid use) were entered into an evaluation file set up for this purpose. Follow-up appointments were set at 1 month, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively.The data of 65 patients were evaluated comparatively. In all comparisons, only very small effect sizes were found with regard to the differences in the decrease in pain intensities, so that equivalent effectiveness of the two methods could initially be postulated from a clinical point of view. Most patients in both groups reported taking opioids to treat pain before surgery. According to the decrease in pain intensity, opioid treatment could be discontinued in some patients after the operation. After 12 months, the number of patients treated with opioids decreases to 23% in group 1 and to 17% in group 2. The success of the fusions with the two methods can also be proven by image documentation, from which the position of the implants can also be clearly recognised. In no case was there any loosening.Overall, the evaluation of this study allows the conclusion that both implant systems can be successfully used for the treatment of patients with ISJ syndrome. The present results should be confirmed in further comparative studies with the proposed evaluation methods.

Online Psychological Care and Psychotherapy: Reality, Evidence, and Indicators

The provision of psychological care in its various forms using the Internet has been associated with the emergence of the Internet and the developments seen by various digital media. Multiple justifications exist for using media, including limited resources and difficulty accessing mental health services. The use of remote psychological care has significantly increased during the Covid-19 crisis. The references abound with various discussions and studies on the effectiveness and effects of this type of therapy, the differences from face-to-face therapy, and the qualification requirements of providers. Today, many studies and meta-analyses have examined the effectiveness of internet-based therapy, most likely cognitive-behavioral therapy. The matter still needs more research due to the variety and interrelatedness of the issues raised in this context, especially with reference to the effectiveness of different psychological trends, whether within the same direction or in different directions. It can be concluded that online psychological services are effective, and interventions that combine internet-based elements with organized face-to-face communication have equivalent effects to traditional therapy. Remote psychotherapeutic services should not replace traditional therapy. The provision of psychological services in most Arab countries in its various forms suffers from multiple problems, such as the lack of professional organization and randomness, the absence of philosophy oriented to the humanities and psychology. This review aims to supply a picture of several of the issues raised in the field of psychological services using the Internet and some supporting and opposing points of view without claiming inclusiveness in this presentation.

Endoscopic excision versus radical nephroureterectomy for non-muscle invasive upper tract urothelial carcinoma: A population-based large cohort study

BackgroundAs an important kidney-sparing treatment for upper urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), whether endoscopic excision can be performed without sacrificing oncologic outcomes remains indefinite. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and efficacy of endoscopic excision, in patients with non-muscle invasive UTUC (NMIUTUC) and compare them to those of radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). MethodsUsing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we reviewed 4347 cases with NMIUTUC (cTis/Ta/T1-N0-M0,≤ 5.0 cm) between 2004 and 2020. Surgical treatment modalities included endoscopic excision and RNU. Propensity score matching analysis was used to minimize the selection bias between endoscopic excision and RNU, selecting 1:1 matched patients in the two group. ResultsA total of 794 patients with NMIUTUC were included after matching (397:397). Patients who underwent endoscopic excision had worse survival outcomes compared with those of patients who underwent RNU (5-year OS: 65.3 % vs. 80.3 %, p < 0.0001; 5-year DSS: 83.2 % vs. 94.0 %, p = 0.00021). After stratification by anatomical sites, the effect of endoscopic excision for NMI renal pelvis cancer was worse than RNU (5-year OS, 62.9 % vs. 82.8 %; 5-year DSS, 78.8 % vs. 91.6 %), while in NMI ureteral cancer, there is no statistically significant difference in OS and DSS between endoscopic excision and RNU. Further stratification according to tumor grade revealed equivalent tumor control effects of endoscopic excision and RNU in low-grade NMI ureteral cancer (5-year OS: 67.7 % vs. 72.5 %, p = 0.23; 5-year DSS: 87.2 % vs. 93.1 %, p = 0.17); while for renal pelvis tumor and high-grade ureteral tumor, endoscopic excision was related with significantly inferior prognosis. ConclusionsOnly for low-grade NMI ureteral cancer, endoscopic excision and RNU are oncologically equivalent, indicating that endoscopic excision might be an effective option for low-grade NMI ureteral cancer. This result needs to be further verified in randomized controlled trials.

Description of Community Perceptions of Generic Drugs and Patented Drugs in Borimasunggu Village, Maros Baru District, Maros Regency

Today's drugs are widely circulated in society, both patent drugs and generic drugs, in general, consumers or the public are more interested in consuming patent drug products than generic products. The aim of this research is to know the public's perception of generic drugs and patent medicines. This type of observational/survey research is descriptive in nature, the sampling technique is purposive sampling so that the sampling will go through certain considerations used in the research. The research population is the people of Borimasunggu Village, totaling 920 people in 2022. Thus, a sample of 278 respondents was obtained. Methods of data collection using a questionnaire. The method used to obtain information through questionnaire sheets was then tabulated and tested using the SPSS version 20 program. Based on the results found, it can be concluded that the level of public perception of generic drugs and patented drugs in Borimasunggu Village, Maros Baru District, Maros Regency is categorized as sufficient with an average - average 3.19 for the respondent's achievement level of 63.7. The lack of public perception is caused by a lack of education. In other matters, the public must know when choosing drugs because in order not to make the wrong choice in terms of price, there is an assumption that generic drugs are cheap and of low quality. The public does not fully know that generic drugs have similarities with patent drugs starting from their active ingredients, equivalent therapeutic effects, concentration and strength of the type of preparation. So, don't hesitate to take generic drugs.

Damage and Deterioration Mechanism of Coal Gangue Mixed Pumice Aggregate Concrete Under Freeze–Thaw Cycles

The world is facing the problem of depletion of natural sand and gravel resources, and a large amount of coal gangue solid waste is produced in Inner Mongolia, China, which has low utilization rate and causes ecological pollution. In order to improve the gangue in the mining infrastructure construction of a wide range of application prospects, the use of coal gangue as the coarse aggregate of pumice concrete is of great significance. Inner Mongolia is a cold region, and gangue mixed aggregate concrete (MFC) will certainly face the damage caused by freeze–thaw cycles. Therefore, design gangue by different volume replacement rate (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%,100%) to replace pumice coarse aggregate. The results show that with the increase of gangue substitution rate, the mass loss rate, relative dynamic elastic modulus, and peak stress of MFC decrease, but the trend of peak strain increases. It is mainly attributed to the less Al2O3 and SiO2 content of gangue, which makes the MFC hydration products decrease with the increase of substitution rate and more original microcracks and pores in the specimens. In addition, the damage model of MFC was established by using Weibull statistical distribution theory and the principle of LEMAITRE equivalent effect variation assumption, and the damage evolution characteristics were explored by combining the experimental results. It can provide the theoretical basis for the application of MFC in cold regions.

Nebulized and intraperitoneal ketamine have equivalent antidepressant-like effect in the forced swim and tail suspension tests in mice

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating illness that affects millions of people worldwide. Currently available antidepressants often take weeks to months to reach their full effect, which leads to an increased risk of suicidal behavior in patients with MMD. Intranasally, esketamine has emerged as an alternative to current antidepressants because of its rapid onset and long-lasting effects in patients with MDD. Animal models are useful for the initial pharmacological screening and for a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the effects of new drugs with potential against MDD. There is a lack of data on alternative routes of drug administration, either oral or injectable, that can be used in preclinical studies. This study aimed to test whether ketamine has antidepressant-like effects in mice when administered via nebulization using a low-cost apparatus. When mice whose depressive-like behavior was induced by corticosterone were treated with nebulized ketamine at concentrations of 1.3, 2.6, and 5.2 mg/mL, immobility was reduced by 38.6 %, 62.0 %, and 61.1 %, respectively, in the forced swimming test (FST) and 43.6 %, 42.1 %, and 57.9 %, respectively, in the tail suspension test (TST). When depression-like behavior was induced by dexamethasone, nebulization with ketamine reduced immobility by 79.7 %, 49.2 %, and 44.4 % in the FST and 80.9 %, 71.4 %, and 80.4 %, respectively, in the TST. When depression-like behavior was induced by the association between dexamethasone and unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) exposure, immobility was reduced by 26.1 %, 55.3 %, and 19.1 % in FST. Mice treated with nebulized ketamine did not show significant changes in the distance covered or in the time spent moving in the open field test. The efficacy of intraperitoneal and nebulized ketamine is equivalent, which shows that nebulization can be an alternative inexpensive route of drug administration for behavioral studies in rodents.

Vaccarin alleviates cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury via decreasing NOX4-derived ROS

Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutant widely used in treating solid tumors, with the common side effect of acute kidney injury (AKI). Developing effective useful agent for preventing or treating cisplatin-induced AKI is of great importance. In this study, we investigate the protective effect of vaccarin, a chemical entity of flavonoid glycoside, against cisplatin-induced AKI. Cisplatin-treated C57BL/6J mice and human kidney-2 (HK-2) cells were used as the model of cisplatin-induced AKI. The levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatine (Cr) levels and periodic acid-Schiff staining (PAS) scores decreased when vaccarin was administrated. Vaccarin had no impact on renal platinum accumulation, which was detected by the ICP-MS 6 h after cisplatin injection. Moreover, vaccarin can significantly alleviate the product of reactive oxygen species and the expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 4 (NOX4) in cisplatin-induced AKI, both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, vaccarin decreased the receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) related programmed necrosis (necroptosis), cell apoptosis (shown by the protein levels of cleaved-caspase3 and flow cytometry) and inflammation (shown by the decreased levels of NLRP3, p-P65 and the mRNA of several inflammatory factors). NOX4 inhibitor GLX351322 (GLX) and NOX4 kowndown by siRNA have equivalent protective effect of vaccarin in vitro. When vaccarin was administered together with GLX or NOX4 siRNA, this protective effect of vaccarin did not further increase, as indicating by the index of oxidative stress, cell viability, necroptosis and apoptosis. In conclusion, vaccarin can alleviate cisplatin-induced AKI via inhibiting NOX4.

On the (in)effectiveness of standardized versus adapted international promotion strategies: Evidence from entrepreneurial firms

This study investigates how internationally active firms’ international promotion strategy is linked to international marketing performance. It addresses the issue of effectively balancing the economic benefits of standardized strategies with the potential performance gains achieved when adapting to local customer preferences and market situations. Based on contingency theory and the strategic fit paradigm, we argue that there is no panacea solution to the promotion strategy standardization versus adaptation debate. Instead, our empirical results from 298 international entrepreneurial product-market ventures based in Sweden support the view that international firms must fit the promotion strategy to relevant macro- and micro-environmental conditions in order to optimize their international marketing performance. Our results caution against assuming that all environmental factors exert an equivalent effect on the level of international promotion strategy standardization and reveal that neither standardization nor adaptation is a superior strategy in pursuing international marketing performance.

Screening uptake of colonoscopy versus fecal immunochemical testing in first-degree relatives of patients with non-syndromic colorectal cancer: A multicenter, open-label, parallel-group, randomized trial (ParCoFit study).

Colonoscopy screening is underused by first-degree relatives (FDRs) of patients with non-syndromic colorectal cancer (CRC) with screening completion rates below 50%. Studies conducted in FDR referred for screening suggest that fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) was not inferior to colonoscopy in terms of diagnostic yield and tumor staging, but screening uptake of FIT has not yet been tested in this population. In this study, we investigated whether the uptake of FIT screening is superior to the uptake of colonoscopy screening in the familial-risk population, with an equivalent effect on CRC detection. This open-label, parallel-group, randomized trial was conducted in 12 Spanish centers between February 2016 and December 2021. Eligible individuals included asymptomatic FDR of index cases <60 years, siblings or ≥2 FDR with CRC. The primary outcome was to compare screening uptake between colonoscopy and FIT. The secondary outcome was to determine the efficacy of each strategy to detect advanced colorectal neoplasia (adenoma or serrated polyps ≥10 mm, polyps with tubulovillous architecture, high-grade dysplasia, and/or CRC). Screening-naïve FDR were randomized (1:1) to one-time colonoscopy versus annual FIT during 3 consecutive years followed by a work-up colonoscopy in the case of a positive test. Randomization was performed before signing the informed consent using computer-generated allocation algorithm based on stratified block randomization. Multivariable regression analysis was performed by intention-to-screen. On December 31, 2019, when 81% of the estimated sample size was reached, the trial was terminated prematurely after an interim analysis for futility. Study outcomes were further analyzed through 2-year follow-up. The main limitation of this study was the impossibility of collecting information on eligible individuals who declined to participate. A total of 1,790 FDR of 460 index cases were evaluated for inclusion, of whom 870 were assigned to undergo one-time colonoscopy (n = 431) or FIT (n = 439). Of them, 383 (44.0%) attended the appointment and signed the informed consent: 147/431 (34.1%) FDR received colonoscopy-based screening and 158/439 (35.9%) underwent FIT-based screening (odds ratio [OR] 1.08; 95% confidence intervals [CI] [0.82, 1.44], p = 0.564). The detection rate of advanced colorectal neoplasia was significantly higher in the colonoscopy group than in the FIT group (OR 3.64, 95% CI [1.55, 8.53], p = 0.003). Study outcomes did not change throughout follow-up. In this study, compared to colonoscopy, FIT screening did not improve screening uptake by individuals at high risk of CRC, resulting in less detection of advanced colorectal neoplasia. Further studies are needed to assess how screening uptake could be improved in this high-risk group, including by inclusion in population-based screening programs. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02567045).

Optimal configuration of oblique air curtains for heat loss suppression from vertical solar-thermal receiver surfaces

An external solar-thermal receiver is critical to the operation of a solar-thermal power plant because it converts concentrated solar radiation into useful heat. However, as these receivers are surrounded by relatively cold air, they suffer from significant convective heat loss that is detrimental to their thermal performance. Air curtains, in the form of air jets directed obliquely from the top of the receiver surface, have been shown to provide significant local reductions in receiver heat loss. This study presents, for the first time, a rigorous optimisation of air curtain operation to increase the mitigation of overall convective heat loss. Two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulations in OpenFOAM were used to optimise jet speed, angle, position, and thickness. Performance was measured based on global effectiveness, with a maximum of over 18% achieved for a jet with speed Uac=5.5ms−1, angle α=45°, thickness b=30mm, and gap G=30mm. Increasing jet thickness yielded the greatest gains in overall effectiveness. An equivalent air curtain effectiveness was defined, with the optimal case having an effectiveness of around 14%. The effect of jet outlet temperatures on effectiveness was also examined, with effectiveness gradually decreasing with increasing jet outlet temperature.

Relationship between rate of glucose or propionate infusion and milk protein yield and concentration in dairy cows: A meta-regression

Although postruminal glucose infusion into dairy cows has increased milk protein yield in some past experiments, the same trend has not been observed in others. A meta-regression of 64 sets of observations from 29 previously published glucose and propionate infusion studies in dairy cattle, treating study and experiment (study) as random effects, was performed to establish the general effects of glucose equivalent (GlcE) infusion rate on milk true protein (MTP) yield and content, if any, and to identify independent, fixed-effect variables that accounted for the changes in MTP yield and content that were observed. Candidate explanatory variables included rate and site of infusion, diet composition and intake, body weight and lactation stage of the cows, and the change in nutrient intake between GlcE and control treatments. Across all studies, according to a model containing only the random effects of study and experiment, GlcE infusion at an average of 954 g/d increased MTP yield by 26 g/d, on average, whereas mean MTP content was not affected. Backward stepwise elimination of potential explanatory variables from a full mixed model produced a final, reduced model for MTP yield that retained a positive, second-order quadratic effect of infusion rate of GlcE and a positive, linear effect of the change in crude protein intake (CPI) between GlcE treatment and control. This change in CPI due to GlcE infusion ranged from -0.546 to 0.173 kg/d in the dataset. The model fit indicated that when CPI was allowed to drop during GlcE infusion, the effect of GlcE on MTP yield was smaller than when CPI was maintained or increased, in a manifestation of the classic protein:energy interaction. The final reduced model for MTP content contained the same explanatory variables as for MTP yield, plus a negative effect of intravenous compared with gastrointestinal infusion. Overall, the meta-analysis revealed that both MTP yield, and content were positively related to GlcE infusion rate and to the change in CPI between glucose treatment and control.

SAT397 A Low Dose Cyproterone Acetate In Feminizing Hormone Treatment

Abstract Disclosure: S. Korpaisarn: None. J. Arunakul: None. K. Chaisuksombat: None. T. Rattananukrom: None. Background: A feminizing hormone therapy (FHT) for transgender women (TW) who have not undergone gonadectomy consists of estrogens and antiandrogens. Cyproterone acetate (CPA) is the most common antiandrogen used in Thailand. A standard dose of CPA is 25-50 mg/day. Recent data showed that a low-dose CPA might be effective in testosterone suppression. However, the result was limited due to the small number of subjects. Our recent survey showed that CPA 12.5 mg/day was commonly used among Thai TW. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of CPA 12.5 mg/day in testosterone suppression. Methods: The retrospective cohort chart review was done on all TW receiving FHT in a transgender clinic at Ramathibodi Hospital between January 2014-July 2022. Among the TW who initiated FHT during the study period, the effectiveness and safety of CPA 12.5 mg/day were compared with the standard dose of CPA. Only TW with information at 3-month follow-up were analyzed for a median time of achieving the T level at the goal (&amp;lt;50 ng/dL) using a Cox regression analysis and a proportion of TW achieving T level at goal at 3 months using risk ratio regression model. All TW who initiated CPA were analyzed for changes in laboratory measurements using a generalized estimating equation (GEE). Results: A total of 89 transwomen were initially reviewed. Forty-one TW initiated CPA, and 37 TW had information at the 3-month follow-up visit. Among the latter, 22 TW (59.5%) started with CPA 12.5 mg. The median age of FHT initiation were 19 years (IQR 15-23) in CPA 12.5 mg group and 20 years (IQR 17-27) in the standard CPA dose group (p-value=0.504). Median follow-up time was 7.5 months (IQR 3-12) and 9 months (IQR 6-12), respectively (p-value=0.402). Baseline T levels were not different, with the median level at 518 ng/dL (IQR 173-787) in CPA 12.5 mg and 752 ng/dL (IQR 56-957) in control (p-value =0.653). In terms of effectiveness, the median time when T levels were suppressed at goal (&amp;lt;50 ng/dL) was 3 months in both groups. The proportion of TW who achieved targeted testosterone level within 3 months was 72.7% in CPA 12.5 mg and 86.7% in control with the risk ratio (RR) of 0.84 (95%CI 0.60-1.17, p-value= 0.295) for univariable analysis. The multivariable analysis showed an adjusted RR of 0.85 (95% CI 0.46-1.57, p-value=0.606). The multivariable GEE showed no difference between testosterone level changes. Only the LDL levels was significantly lower in the CPA 12.5 mg dose group with the difference of -13.72 mg/dL (95%CI (-25.86) – (-1.58), p-value=0.027). Other laboratories were not different among the 2 groups. There was no report of cardiovascular disease or new-onset depression in both groups.Conclusion: A CPA of 12.5 mg/day is effective in testosterone suppression as the standard dose of CPA in a FHT for TW with a comparable safety profile. This low-dose CPA regimen could be used as a FHT since it has a 50% cost reduction with equivalent effectiveness. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

Broadband noise absorption by time-varying devices

A resonator array can broaden the effective sound absorption bandwidth by using the structure with multiple cavities in parallel or in series in space. However, this kind of fixed mechanical structure cannot flexibly adapt to different noise sources, which severely limits the development prospect of the resonator array in practical applications. In this paper, a time-varying resonator is proposed based on a shunted electrical circuit, realizing the equivalent effect of multi-cavities in space. Based on the working principle of spatial and temporal resonators, the theoretical models are established, and the three designs for achieving broadband effects are analyzed theoretically. Through time-domain numerical calculation, the sound absorption performance of the two spatial designs and the temporal design with the same cavity volume is obtained. This study focuses on the scheme design and performance optimization of the temporal resonator. Compared with the traditional spatial resonator, the proposed temporal resonator has the advantages of tunable frequency and high adaptability to varying sources while achieving similar or even better sound absorption performance.